The day with dianne Louise

Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. 2 Corinthians 5:16‭-‬20 MSG God has al...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB What is 'therefore' there for? Let's look at what has gone before: And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15 In other words those who have Christ, we should see Christ in them and not themselves. This may take faith on our part. However, as we call forth Christ in them they may well rise to their calling. Christ in us is the hope of glory. Christ in us is the strength to do and will for His pleasure, not our own. What is He calling us to do? Lay down our lives for others. Laying down our own selfish ambitions and desires for others. We must have the mind of Christ not the mind of the flesh. As we plan for 2019 let's seek God for His mind amd give Him thanks for bringing us through 2018. Amen!

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. 1 John 4:13‭-‬16 MSG Jesus is Lord! We need to be able to confess this and not be robbed from this truth. If we do not stay vitally attached to Him we lose ground and if we fail to honour Him before others then Jesus said He will not honour us before the Father. Looks like we need to be intentional and mindful of who we are and who He is. What is done in a culture, from the beginning has a cost. Layer upon layer of dirt causes collapse. Yet we are surprised at the collapse. As we live in the light we can dispel the darkness. We are here to ...

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God — God remains in him and he in God. 1 John 4:15 HCSB Having a testimony and looking for opportunities to share it is remaining in God. If I stay committed to anything be it exercise or diet or lifestyle I will invariably talk about it. We can't but help talk about what we are committed to. John tells us the words of Jesus in the gospel of John. Jesus talked about abiding in Him in John 15. To abide is to remain. If I decide I will stay in a town and become a part of the community, I have chosen to abide there. If I decide to abide in Christ then I choose to stay in Him. Abiding somewhere is not just existing on the fringes, it is becoming involved. How can you become involved? Look for a need and step into filling that role. Start to love that role and those affected by that service. Jesus didn't stay hidden. He stepped into His destiny. His destiny was in service to His world. It is time to make plans for 2019. What wil...

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. Luke 6:35‭-‬36 MSG Being kind requires us to die to selfishness. Selfishness requires a payday for giving, generosity amd grace. Selfishness wants recognition. Yet Jesus tells us: "true love forgives amd keeps on giving expecting nothing in return." I have been visiting family in Brisbane. One of my grandsons has autism. For the longest time we all tried to fix him but now as we love him without reaction or demand for changes he is changing. He is gaining insight and a modicum of self-control. At least he understands the logic for it. Today I arrived home after a 4 hour drive, unpacked and shopped for groceries. Then I took my dog Oscar for a walk to see his buddy Harry. Harry's owner has been diffic...

But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:35‭-‬36 HCSB Being merciful to our enemies is good for us. If, rather, we are slighted by our enemies and speak evil about them, we will not be generous or merciful. Mercy begets mercy. Gods goal is that we be Sons of the Most High, that all earth see the revealing of the Sons of God. As we show forth mercy we reveal our Father's nature in the earth that is eagerly longing for a revelation of the Son. Earth has been around a long time. The earth saw Jesus and wants Him back again. If it sees Him in us, it rejoices. The trees clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12) Think about that which you have longed for for long time...how good was it when you received...especially if you had been parched waiting. The earth long for rain but h...

If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. 1 John 2:4‭-‬6 MSG Here is a test! Do I say I know Him well? Yes I would. However, I know there are times I am selfish, I am critical and I am unloving. Yes I realise as soon as I speak and Yes I repent. I would rather not need to repent but rather walk in grace and the Spirit more often. Therefore, I should rather say: " I am getting to know Him well. I am a working progress. I imagine that as we have a realist appraisal of ourselves, rather than an arrogant approach, then we would be humble enough to honour others better than ourselves. Prayer: Father forgive my sins as I forgive those who sin against me. Amen!

The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6 HCSB After a difficult day, a difficult or harrowing experience we can often take out our frustrations on those we love. They don't need this. I have read what many do to drain the emotion out of their systems before walking through the front door. This is especially true for firemen, policeman, ambulance drivers and especially our armed forces. We are not made to carry huge emotional loads. We must look at what Jesus did. He went away on His own and spent time with the Father. He uploaded. When the trauma is particularly bad we will need help to find our way there. Myself I found theophostic counseling the best. This is where you invite the Holy Spirit in to counsel. He knows us better than anyone. Apart from this every day in the office can be bad. We still need to debrief before going home. For me different ways work for differing situations. Go out for a drive, singing in the spirit; climbing ...

We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels— everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the...

For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 HCSB All rulers amd authority were created by Him and for Him. All authority on earth and in the heavens was created by Him and for Him. All authority? There is so much wrong authority. Is the authority wrong or has it been usurped? Authority is given, not taken. Real authority is not something that you can take, that you can purchase, that you can steal. It's something that other people give you freely of their own accord. ... Authority is better than power, because having authority means that people want to do what you tell them. Grahame Grieve. I googled authority given not taken and this is what I found. The whole article was insightful. Grahame maintains that unless a law or policy has authority it will not take. This is interesting. Jesus gave His disci...

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” Matthew 4:4 MSG Love this version! Yes bread can keep us alive, but barely! Being really alive, now there's the challenge. This comes from being IN Christ, not just knowing about Him or giving Him mental assent. He is so much more than that. Allowing the Holy spirit to guide and praying as instructed by Jesus Himself, there is life here. Real life! Fulfilled life! I am in Brisbane visiting family for Christmas and having the best fun! I have met my ex-husband and his wife twice and there is only grace there and a knowing it is not for me. They have their choices, not mine. I love more adventure. I am spending time, one on one with the grandchildren and it is precious to me. They are good fun! Tonight I took my autistic grandson out to dinner and the movies. We had fun. This morning I took my granddaughter shopping for material as we are sew...

But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 HCSB What did He answer? Who did He answer? Jesus had just fasted for 40 days amd nights and was hungry. At the end of this time Stan came and tempted Him to turn stones into bread. Satan wanted Jesus to use His power for selfish gain. I dont know about you but I would have been tempted as well. After fasting for that period of time I would be hungry. Yet Jesus was trusting His Father for provision which did indeed come when He had dealt with Satan. Jesus could not use His power to save Himself. He had come to depend on the Father. Adam was likewise tempted by Satan and yielded to the liar and gave up fellowship with God and favour, all for knowledge. Satan wanted to destroy the second Adam and attempted to seduce Him with fleshly appetites. God wants our fellowship and communion. He wants to be our provider and our all. We cannot resort to our way...

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 HCSB The Jewish people have long believed that when the Messiah comes He will govern. When Jesus came His disciples looked to Him to take authority and rule. Yet, at that time, He didn't. Jesus is returning, this time to govern. He will govern fairly, justly amd truthfully but the book of Revelation says He will not win all hearts. There will still be those who love evil and will oppose Him. Our queen Elizabeth did not want rule, however her father King George had lung cancer and died prematurely. As the eldest it was recognized that she was born to govern. I have watched many movies about young queen Elizabeth. She struggled to be a monarch, she would have rather been a housewife, but it was not to be. From a young age Jesus knew He was destined to walk in authority. When He ...

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 HCSB If you have ever experienced the joy at the birth of a child, be your own or someone else's you know this joy. Couple this with the new birth of salvation and you have a complete package. Especially when the baby was the saviour. Imagine being Mary, knowing she had birthed the Son of God and now having to nurture and raise Him through infancy and childhood and waiting for His revealing. Each of us went through a journey of waiting for salvation and experienced the joy of finally finding our saviour. The wise men sought the newborn king. We do not hear of them returning or coming to the saviour. May we be wise enough to seek Him and honour Him for coming and most importartly saving us from our sins. Amen!

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! Luke 2:13‭-‬14 HCSB Let us join in worship as we await the coming King! Happy Christmas everyone! Oh come let us adore Him, oh come let us adore Him, oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Amen!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13‭-‬14 NIV The first people to know about Jesus' birth, outside that of His family, were these shepherds. Why did God choose shepherds? Was there another David in their midst? Was this because Jesus Himself would later call Himself the Good Shepherd and God had honour for shepherds? Was it because He chose the humble to begin with? Was there a praying shepherd in their midst? We may never know, until eternity at least. What does this fact say to us? God love the simple and lowly and ignored the proud. Jesus did not have much time for the proud. Yet the next to come were three wise men from the east. They were not Jews yet they saw a star that had significance to them. They knew a newborn king was coming and came thousands of miles to worship this newborn king. Why did God show heathe...

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 NIV Has God given you a sign? Although God gave His people a sign they failed to see it. They were looking in the wrong place. When their promised saviour came they rejected Him. Have you been given your promise and rejected it because it was not packaged as you expected? Remember, stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit. What is He saying? Do not put too much weight in your feelings. Jesus still came and to those who received Him He became their saviour and deliverer. We have what we have longed for. May we accept Him as He is. Amen!

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 HCSB Isaiah was written 8th Cantury BC. He was a prophet and spoke about the birth of a saviour. We know this saviour to be Jesus. At this time of the year we celebrate the coming of our saviour. Matthew 1:21 says: and He will save His people from their sins. Do you agree that sin is a problem? I know cultures who do not recognize the concept of sin. Nepalis have this issue, so do the Japanese. Modern men and women do not like you to tell them they sin. They believe in their own goodness and do not care for a God who tells them they are sinners. How dare you! Being aware of sin is good, we can then come to the Lord in repentance, receive forgiveness and move on. In the Lords Prayer we are taught to ask for forgiveness but then to forgive others as well. A part of sin is not wanting to face or admit it. Yet in doing so we receive grace. Being aware of our ...

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16‭-‬18 MSG Jesus came to make a way for us to escape the judgement on sin. Anyone who refuses to accept this gift chooses instead judgement. They are willing to face God amd be judged. If they want to be judged on their ability to keep the 12 commandments, they will fail, as noone is good enough. If they believe they can stand before God with their own righteousness, they fail. N...

For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17 HCSB We often feel condemned for the things we have done, the wrong things which the bible calls sin. Sin is wilful acts against God and His word. However, rather than condemn us our God offers forgiveness through Jesus. He paid for all our willfulness. As we come to Christmas we are faced with the coming of Jesus, humbly and being born into a manger. He could have chosen a palace but He chose humility, because humility is a way of the kingdom of God. As we prepare for Christmas let us prepare Him room in our hearts. Let's give Him praise amd glory for His sacrifice and welcome for His coming. Amen!

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 NIV That we might live through Him. Yes! This is the only way to live. Jesus told us in John 15: “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. John 15:9‭-‬10 As we remain we live in Him. If He is our four walls, what can Satan or man do to us. He is our protection but we must remain. We have all seen horror stories where little children and told to stay inside to be safe and for some reason they wander outside into danger. When we dont remain we wander into danger. Remember the Lord's prayer: deliver us from evil. Jesus taught us to pray this. It must be important. Amen!

God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9 HCSB Babies bring hope and joy but Jesus brought life. To plan to send His Son as a baby was spectacular and generous. Babies are so vulnerable and dependant and the dangers are great, yet The Father sent to Son anyway. I am sure He sent legions of angels as well to watch over Him. The Father picked Mary and Joseph to parent Him, He knew what He was doing and He stepped into faith to do it. The Father had a plan to redeem us. The Son was the plan. I am grateful for the plan, it did save me. Therefore, I can trust Him for the plan He has for my life. His ways are good. As we approach Christmas let's renew our focus. Don't be caught up with the red guy. Keep your perspective in Christmas. This is the time we celebrate our Lord's coming. This is a special time for us. rejoice! Amen!

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NIV Imagine if Joseph decided to name Jesus some other name or even refused to believe the angel and also refuse to marry Mary. I am sure God would have chosen another man and Joseph's life would have been void of the experience of raising the Son of God. When God sends a messenger, it is important and for a reason. I have had a few angels visit amd each time it was important. When I was four I saw and angel and began a lifelong quest for truth and reality in my God. The next two encounters were in my 50s. The first to give me an invitation to be a bride of Christ. I was working in a hospital doing a pill round when I had to go down to another department and as I went by a certain place there was an angel. I said hello and did not know what else to say. He followed me around to where I was working and held our his hand. In his hand was beautif...

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 HCSB These words were spoken by an angel to Joseph. Joseph had just found out his future wife Mary was pregnant. Joseph was caught with a difficult situation and was about to break their engagement. God is good at creating difficult situations to test our faith and trust in the Lord's word above our circumstances. We need to know, at all times, where we stand with God. God tends to create these in my life to move me on. My challenge is to be grateful for the storm. Last night as we planned our street Christmas party a huge storm arose. Only the faithful and brave came. Yet the storm forced us to huddle and this was good for conversation. There is always a bright side of every problem. For Jospeh the bright side was he would be involved in raising the Son of God. We know he was not around at the crucifixion but as to when he died we do not know. H...

It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” Romans 1:16‭-‬17 MSG The good news is good news. Today I took my palliative care patient out for coffee. We had a very good talk. My lady told me of her dark past and said she was ashamed. I told her we all have a dark past but that it was ok. She thought I was special for not judging her. I told her: " my God has forgiven me for my sin, I can forgive you." This is good News. Tonight we had our street party. The best part was spending time with my nephews and niece as we prepared for the event and the next best was that our Indian neighbours came and enjoyed themselves. Grace is so important. Give people time, give...

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 HCSB This scripture challenged me when I first met it and it still does. Hebrews tells us: For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 The scripture in Romans does this to me. Am I going to hide my light under a bushel and not show Christ in me, nor share the good news? Fear of man does this to us. However as we step out and show our faith, we realise we can do more. I have used Facebook to an advantage. I have shared positive sayings for years and this year I have shared a scripture a day. Some like them, however I am praying that the word of God on a picture background challenges them with the gospel. I have made a point of inviting p...

The path of right-living people is level. The Leveler evens the road for the right-living. We’re in no hurry, God . We’re content to linger in the path sign-posted with your decisions. Who you are and what you’ve done are all we’ll ever want. Through the night my soul longs for you. Deep from within me my spirit reaches out to you. When your decisions are on public display, everyone learns how to live right. If the wicked are shown grace, they don’t seem to get it. In the land of right living, they persist in wrong living, blind to the splendor of God . Isaiah 26:9 MSG The level path is a steady path, a patient path, a generous path. I am watching my God win hearts and souls as I am bold enough to step out and spend time in relationship with my neighbors. Tonight two children dressed as Mary and Joseph went looking for a place to stay. As I had prepped the neighbours, they went along. The culmination is our street party tomorrow night and would you believe we have our very own new...

I long for You in the night; yes, my spirit within me diligently seeks You, for when Your judgments are in the land, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9 HCSB Jesus taught us to pray:' our Father who art in heaven, holy is your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.' Jesus was telling us that we need to be involved in worshipping our God and inviting Him to rule amd reign on earth. This is our need and our delight. To have Jesus rule and reign on earth would be spectacular. To have righteousness reign would be something else. We God's people are a part of the answer and we need to pray as instructed and herald in the kingdom of God. By our involvement and our prayers we see a change. We have a part to play. We must pray and say. Pray in God's kingdom and tell of His goodness. Prayer: our Father, You are holy and Your ways are best. We invite You to come to earth and rule and reign. May we, Your pe...

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” Luke 6:37‭-‬38 MSG Today I had my first palliative care patient. Such a good experience. The daughter of the woman suffering cancer had a need to come back to God. She said she wanted to come amd I prayed for her. What a blessing! I gave them a gift of homemade almond bread and jam. They loved the gift. This afternoon I organized two young children to dress up as Mary and Joseph. The father of the girl offered to dress up. Tatts, nose ring and all. Mmmm! Not as Mary thanks! We laughed. If you go out there and get involved you have such fun. Try it!

Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 HCSB This whole chapter is worth reading. We are to be merciful as our heavenly father is merciful. As we learn from our Father we learn to give grace and mercy. As we give we will receive. If we give good things, good things will return to us pressed down, shaken together and running over into our laps. If we give bad judgemental things and lack grace, this will also be measured back to us. As we sow we reap. I live in a farming community. If the farmers want a harvest of wheat, they sow wheat. We must be the same. If we want a harvest of financial blessing, sow it. If we wants grace, sow it. If we want anything at all, sow it. Amen. Remember as you do to others it will be done to you. Prayer: Father have mercy and forgive me my stinginess towards others. Forgive my si...

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Ephesians 6:10‭-‬12 MSG We are in this for keeps! We are in a battle. I see so many people caught in awful health problems and I wonder: is the enemy stalking who he can trap through fear and wrong thinking? Yes! I believe he is. After returning from Nepal I had a nasty cold and cough and it did not want to leave. I had a fight. Finally I decided to confess it away with a confession of divine health. Surprise surprise! It left! However with things we allow to take hold we now have strongholds. These are harder to shift. However, we are gi...

For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12 HCSB When Jesus was born and the wise men called by Herod to ask where the new king was born, this created a problem for Jesus. The spirits of darkness had control of Herod and they wanted Jesus dead. They inspired Herod to kill all the babies born around a certain time. He failed, because God was one step ahead. In a dream He instructed Joseph to take his family to Egypt for safety. God had a clearer picture on who the enemy was, He still does. In anything we seek to achieve our enemy, Satan, seeks to destroy it. This week I am planning to put on a street Christmas party and take unchurched nephews to my church for a day of play. Yesterday my mum became ill. I had forgotten to cover her in prayer. My mum is not the enemy. When we want to step out in God and do His will, al...

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 HCSB I live in Tamworrh NSW Australia. My city was one of the first to have the electric light in Australia. For a country city that is an achievement. Having street lights sure makes for a safer city. Evil dwells in darkness. We are the light of the world. If my city installed the lights but never turned them on, they would waste an asset and would be called wastrels. We have the light within us. The battery is fully charged. However if we never turn the light on we would waste our resource. Turn on the light folks and do your community a service it desperately needs. Amen!

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 HCSB Jesus had just told His disciples they were the salt of the earth. Some cultures eat a lot of salt and thus have higher blood pressure. The Japanese are such a people. I cannot eat such salty food. In fact I go for low salt soy sauce. Recently when in Nepal I found myself eating a lot of packet noodles to intersperse by Dhal Bhadt diet. As a consequence I ate more salt than I would like. I felt like an piece of salted pork and was glad to eat less on my return to Australia. As a result my blood pressure dropped dramatically. However, Jesus is stressing the need for salt and light. For a world without flavour needs salt and in darkness needs light. A bland world full of wishy washy ways needs flavour as does a darkened world devoid of light, desperately needs a source of light. Both salt and light are essential and both can be found in the Christian. Jesus knew well that there would be...

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 MSG Bringing God colours! How beautiful and how apt! God's many sides nature is in His people and when they live for and in Him they bring colour to a black and white world. I am watching the colour leak out of my world into the lives of those around me. Today I had a hair cut and the hairdresser was not chatting and I knew she could. I asked her questions about her life and found common ground, the garden. My hairdresser was an Irish punk....

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 HCSB Having just been in Nepal where there are no street lights or adequate paving and there is a dangerous terrain, a light up ahead is very welcome. This is like life nowadays. Where is truth? Where is the right and safe path? Jesus told us He was the Light but that we Christians are the light of the world. In the Old Testament God promises to be a light before our feet. However, for us who have found Christ, we now are those lights. Back to Nepal. The light that is welcome is not a street light, just a light given off by a feeble lamp or a fire. We don'tmlm have to be as capable as a minister or a church, all we have to do ...

If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4:20‭-‬21 MSG There are so many causes wanting our support, there is so much opinion on social media but what is really important? According to God: love me with all your heart, soul and mind; love your brother and sister as yourself. Simple! Therefore we must allow God to dictate the terms and priorities and turn down the noise. Loving others means thinking good of them; speaking good of them and behaving good to them. Opinion is just that. Often highly inflated by hot emotion. Where is the truth in emotion?

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20‭-‬21 HCSB This scripture is a filter for us: do I really know what love is? Jesus taught us that love forgives. When told this the disciples asked how many times should we forgive, seven times? Jesus surprised them by saying 70 x 7. In our modern world this concept is foreign. Therefore, according to Jesus: love forgives. Paul tells us in 1 Cor 13 that: love endures long, love is patient and kind, it does not keep a record of wrongs. Hold it right there. Do you remember all the wrong done to you? Have you forgiven the perpetrator of this wrong? Perhaps it is time to forgive. In the Lord's prayer we are taught to ask daily for forgiveness, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Now, back to the memory of wrong don...

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? Mark 8:34‭-‬37 MSG Brilliant! Love this! Although we still have drivers in cars and within 10 years this may be a forgotten memory, for now we all understand. Only one person can drive the car. The same goes for our lives. Only one person can, really, be in charge of driving, or leading our lives. Our Lord does such a good job as leader. We should let go and trust Him more. Prayer: dear Lord I want a life of adventure with You. Please come in and be my Lord. Amen!

Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. Mark 8:34‭-‬35 HCSB Just prior to these verses Jesus had be teaching His disciples around what must happen to Him, that He would die on a cross. We also have Peter's famous attempt at intervention only to have Jesus rebuke him. Jesus then draws His disciples and the crowd and starts to teach about picking up one's personal cross and following Him. This is an opportune time for the disciples as they watched the altercation between Peter and Jesus. This teaching is new and not what they expect. The fact that Jesus uses a cross as an example would cut deep as the cross is abhorrent to the Jew. The cross was a Roman invention for suffering. Here was Jesus using a cross to explain daily attitude and life. ...

“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God ’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”— God ’s Decree—“bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. Jeremiah 29:13‭-‬14 MSG God is looking for the genuine not the half-hearted or no-hearted (as in religious). What do we think of friends that don't treat you0 well, who in fact act as enemies? God is the same. He is drawn to the hungry, the genuine seekers rather than the religious. How do we know if we have become religious? Have we become an automaton rather than an intentional seeker? I spent 19 years in religion and know exactly what it is like. I don't want religion. I want relationship! Amen! As I sit on my couch I can smell Christmas. I don't know about your country but in Aust...

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 HCSB Whole hearted involvement in anything in life is the best for a miraculous outcome. We see story after story after story how those who dedicated themselves to victory overcoming obstacles and found that victory. With the finding of God, it is no different. Our God is a lover seeking the ardent and true. If we give Him a minute a day, He will know we are not serious. If we are hungry for His presence He knows we are desperate for Him. Desperate people go to desperate measures to win the mate, the prize, the medal. I am not responsive to users and abusers and neither would you be. So let's not behave as these towards our God. He is the creator of all things, worthy of respect and honour. Let's give this to Him. Amen! Oh Lord! You are worthy of all praise and glory! You are more than glory, than provision, than mercenary things. You are worthy! Worthy! Worthy! Amen!

Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love . Romans 13:8‭-‬10 MSG I love this version! Don't run up debts! Why do we run up debts? More often than not....because we want it now and are not prepared to wait...or ask God for it. If it is good for us and what we need we will get it. If not, no way Hosea! I love the way God answers my prayers. There are many times I have had a hearts desire to have to give but it does not come. I have realised that God did not want me to give at that time. He knows what is the b...

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and whatever other commandment — all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8‭-‬10 HCSB As we approach Christmas, remember, dont go into debt with gift purchase. Read the above again and again. Allow your priorities to be kingdom priorities. Let you giving be in grace and thoughtfulness towards others. I approach Christmas trying to put on a street party for my neighbors. I have asked them all to bring something to share, a chair and their own drinks. In any organising it is important that we not do everything but rather make room for everybody to contribute. They need to love their neighbors as well. Whilst in Nepal recently I read a book which talked about Latin Americans in S...

Mark well that God doesn’t miss a move you make; he’s aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end. Proverbs 5:21‭-‬23 MSG We cannot assume God does not yet see or that He is irrelevant, until things go wrong and then blame Him for interfering. We are not God, we might feel like we are but the test is.....are you immortal? Do problems affect you or are you greater than the problems, as in above them? Only a true God is above all. Who do we turn to when things go wrong? Who can solve the biggest mess and who can heal all ills? Noone alive, but a God who is above all things can, because things do not affect Him. Let's get real and turn it over to Him. Allow Him to be God. Bring it all the Him, in humility. Prayer: Dear Jesus, forgive me my arrogance, please help, please come into my life. I give...

For a man’s ways are before the Lord ’s eyes, and He considers all his paths. Proverbs 5:21 HCSB All that is done on the earth is seen by God. Good and bad He sees it all. We may think He is not bothered to look, that our ways are not important, but they are. For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 The above is spoken by the prophet Hananai to King Asa. The king had thought he had to solve a war threat by depending on His own strategy. Have you done this? I have. However God wants us to learn to depend on Him and His solutions. When our heart is totally His we run to Him first. Amen! Are you facing a difficult situation? Are you in fear and is your mind whirling as to how to solve your problem. Go to God first. Ask for help and be genuine. Amen! Lord forgive me for not coming to You. I ask for Your ...

Righteousness guards people of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. Proverbs 13:6 HCSB Wickedness undermines. What starts out as a little here and a little there can become a consuming disaster. There is no such thing as a little wicked for the length of one's life. A little leven levens the whole lump. A little bit of wickedness corrupts good character. Better to stay with righteousness and be guarded by it. If you recognize you have been caught in wickedness, repent. No sin is too big for God to forgive. Repent and turn again to right living. Let's pray: dear Lord forgive me for running with wickedness. I feel dirty and ask you to cleanse me and fill me anew with your Holy Spirit. Amen!

Righteousness guards people of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. Proverbs 13:6 HCSB Want to be protected? Walk in God's ways. Let Him be a shield to your life. God loves His people and goes to defend them. He is good to His people. In Australia we are facing elections next year and the howl of the unrighteous is deafening. My prayer is righteousness will rule. I am praying for a miracle. Yesterday we had one. The opposition had tabled a wicked bill in the Senate and our prime minister appeared cornered into tabling a bill that was a compromise. However righteousness prevailed and the opposition's bill was withdrawn. My prayer for my country is that righteousness rules. That God be in charge and not wickedness. May the Lord prevail. Amen! Lord have mercy on Australia. May she be cleansed of all wickedness may she walk in righteousness. Amen!

The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service — yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote — Isaiah 29:13 HCSB If we find ourselves in such a religion where repetition of prayers without heart engagement is the norm, then perhaps it is a time for change. I was one such person but at the age of 19 He invaded my world. First He made me very dissatisfied with my state and then He came to me and led me to the answer. Knowing Jesus personally is the way. When Jesus was on earth the biggest opposition He received was from those who knew God from an distance and didn't want to know Him personally. I put up a similar fight but He won and I am so glad He did. Give in, He is the best. Lord Jesus forgive me for fighting You, I ask You to come into my life and make me new. Amen!

The Master said: “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it, I’m going to step in and shock them awake, astonish them, stand them on their ears. The wise ones who had it all figured out will be exposed as fools. The smart people who thought they knew everything will turn out to know nothing.” Isaiah 29:13‭-‬14 MSG Every now and then God gives me a reality check and shows me my heart. I am always surprised to see how shallow and selfish I have become. God's word is good for a reality check. We must let it smack us up the head and convict our hearts. Have I slipped from vital union to lazy prayers? Have I taken my God for granted? Have I slipped into meism? If so then I need to repent and turn again to my first love. First love is fresh and alive, loving the One who found us. His presence is real and necessary for us. Let's take time to turn again. Dear Lord forgiv...

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. 1 Corinthians 16:13‭-‬14 MSG A soldier in battle knows that to stay alive he has to give all he has, stay alert and committed to the mission. We are soldiers for Christ committed to advancing the kingdom of God. A driver also knows the importance of staying awake, alert and focused. Distractions, such as mobile phones and TVs can distract the driver and cause a serious accident. We are on a journey. We are going somewhere and cannot afford short cuts or distractions. We cannot be lulled into a false sense of security and miss the danger. James tells us we having an enemy who is like a prowling lion, looking for someone to devour. Stay alert! Amen!

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. Your every action must be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13‭-‬14 HCSB Have you heard the saying:"Man up.' I have a brother-in-law who is a man's man. My sister took me to have a pedicure and manicure for my birthday on Monday and whilst my feet were soaking a screen before me brought up images of services provided. One was a similar service for men. I mentioned this to my brother-in-law. He said:"no way!" He sees anything that smells like a woman is for women only. Men, in his book, lift weights, go kayaking, do man stuff. Paul is possibly speaking to only men here or the text may be badly interpreted. If he is only speaking to men, and in the remaining chapter he mentions many men, it could be understood in that vein. However, we know Paul was not a sexist and that the church in Corinth had female members. Therefore, I would opt for bad translation. So, in context what is Paul saying? Be al...

But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3‭-‬4 HCSB Give in secret. Be the secret Santa or better. We are entering a giving time. Look for ways to give and be a blessing. If you dont have anything to give ask the Lord to supply so you can give. Giving is good for you as well as others. Giving releases blessing. If you are feeling stuck, give and watch the water flow. If you dont know who to give to ask the Lord. He has plenty of people He wishes to bless. Amen!

But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3‭-‬4 HCSB For my left hand to not know what my right is doing requires an attitude of humility and an emptying of self. I cannot say in all honesty I am always here and therefore miss out on the potential reward that my Father has for me. I wonder what that reward looks like? The imagery of this act: the one hand not knowing what the other is doing shows a complete automatic and unaware act of giving, that it comes from the core and not motivated by anything but God. This is surely to be desired. How good is our God. Jesus was like this. He did not seek or need the accolades of men as He knew He had His Father's eye. This is all I need. He is the One to please. Amen!

If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 HCSB Love acts, love forgives, love gives grace, love is not selfish. Looking with understanding is loving. Heal the hurt, take the time to listen, loves walks through the fire, through the pain and love continues to reach out. Love is generous, love is quiet and determined. We can want to have God use us in prophesy and the working of miracles because of us and our need to be someone or to be seen. Won't work! God prefers the behind the scenes miracles more than the public 'look at me!' Miracles come out of compassion and genuine love for people. Get love then get compassion and miracles will flow. Amen!

If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 HCSB There are times when God will use me to prophesy and I love being His voice, but if I then turn around and roast a fellow believer for a perceived failing, then I am a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. In the last few days in Nepal I was unwell and my travelling companion did his best to provide for me but then took off for two days leaving me alone. My flesh was resentful but my spirit knew different. My friend had other responsibilities and interests and although I was in need God provided through others. The day we left Nepal I had to deal with my attitude of 'why did you leave me alone?' Flesh wants spoiling and it is not always right, in fact it is downright selfish. I am glad I sat on my attitude because it would have spoiled what was a good trip. God does provide, His way a...

The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 HCSB My God is good. The trip from Nepal to Australia took 16 hours with a brief stop in China to change planes. All went smoothly and no luggage was lost or flights delayed. My youngest sister met me at the airport in Sydney and brought me back to her home in Gosford. She took me out to have a pedicure and manicure for my birthday. Meanwhile well wishes flowed in from all over and I am grateful. My second sister called to say how much she enjoyed my photos on Facebook as she has never done what I did. She said: "I can go as a tourist but you got in there and spent time with these people on their level". I had never thought of it like that. I actually came away disappointed that I did not have the results I wanted. But hey, God is good. However, through all that transpired God was there and He was good. He is so faithful! Thank You Lord! Amen!

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 HCSB Coming from a works background in Catholicism I can say this verse took time to settle into. Paul the apostle could identify with this struggle. He spent his young life as a Pharisee of Pharisees only to have a divine encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Yet as we study Paul's epistles we find he found this grace and embraced it wholeheartedly. Jesus has paid the price for my eternity with Him and I am grateful and like Paul I now live in that grace. How good is our God! I now know there is nothing I can do to earn this grace as it is freely given. Grace, abundant grace! Yet in this grace I find a work given to me. I am to share this grace to all who will receive it. Amen!

For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Romans 8:38‭-‬39 HCSB This is a powerful statement! Nothing can separate us from God's love. We have all had people let us down, walk away, turn their backs on us but our God promises to never leave or forsake us. This is an awesome promise when we consider how we have behave towards Him. God's love is not dependant on actions or merit. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves good enough. His love is dependant on Himself and His choice. We make our love dependant on the behaviour of others. If you behave well I will love you; if you behave badly I will withdraw. Unless we have God's love throbbing through our veins we will turn love off. There are many things fighting against us to turn our love off. Trust God...

No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 HCSB What are 'all these things'. Verse 35 tells us: Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Things will happen to us. We may be persecuted for our faith, cut off from family, treated as dung. Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors. Amen! How are we more than conquerors under persecution? We are more than conquerors through Christ, who Himself was persecuted. He loves us but calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. For each of us, our cross is different. It may be actual persecution from evil religious leaders as in the case of Asia Bibi, it could be being cast out from family as seen in Nepal, it could mean losing a business as happened to a couple in Australia, it could be any number of things. Our cross is ours to bear and we can trust Him to care for us. Christ is ou...

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 HCSB None of us like to be judged. We are hurt when others condemn us. Rejection is tied up with condemnation. I have suffered much under this one over the years but now things are changing. The very place we seek acceptance is usually where rejection comes and where we do not expect acceptance we receive it. I am in my final days in Nepal and the place we stay at: United Vision Nepal has been running training days and all staff have been busy. I have been unwell with an annoying cough and today things went south and I developed vomiting and diarrhea. Fortunately I have a nursing background and came prepared. The bowel is sorted and the cough is coming to heel. I had a visit from a previous staff member who gets things done. My cold room now has a heater and an electric jug for hot water. I was also given an omelet on toast with a special barely ...