The day with dianne Louise

Jesus went on to make these comments: If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; If you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second Or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank. Luke 16:10‭-‬13 MSG I love it! You can't serve God and the Bank. Ha ha! The bank has been in the news, a lot lately, in Australia. We have had a Royal Commission into the banks and they did not come out smelling like roses. In fact they stank of rottenness. The love of money is bigger than 'the bank' the love of money and what it can do drives many. Lust for possessions fuel the greed for money. The marketers know this and throw all the ads they can at us through the media: "Buy! Buy! Buy!' Images of luxury, prestige and pleasure fill our screens. We are t...

Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. Luke 16:10 HCSB Very little here refers to small or insignificant. In other words if you cheat on pennies you will cheat on pounds. Faithfulness is all or nothing. We might deceive ourselves into believing we are faithful when we are only a little unfaithful now, but what we don't realise is we have taken unfaithful seeds into our heart and as for any seed, it grows and at the wrong time will bloom. The same goes for unrighteousness. Have you heard the scripture about the unrighteous judge, he judged unfairly in favour of his friends and the rich. However a little woman took him on and won. By persistence the woman fronted him, again and again and he had to help her not because he feared God but she wore him out. We cannot afford to be a little evil because small things grow. Things done in secret will be found out. Deception tells us otherwise ...

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1:19‭-‬21 MSG I love gardening and am grateful my plants dont uproot and leave. I am glad they dont give me cheek with I prune them or tell me they dont agree with me. They let me get on with my job. So should we! Getting angry and interfering are not wise. Humble submission is wise. Submitting to the hand of God is wise. Amen!

My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. James 1:19‭-‬20 HCSB In hearing there is more to be heard: what is God saying? What truth saying? What is righteousness saying? What is the heart of man saying. If we see our hearing platform as a room, a theater as a stadium there is a lot of room for sound to come from. If we limit our hearing to spoken word directly in front of us we can miss God in the mix. If we listen with our spirit the platform is bigger. If we listen with our spirits we catch everything and then can respond from our spirits. How would God have us respond? What would He have us say? What do others need us to say? Where is truth, compassion and righteousness? What accomplishes the righteousness of God? What would He do? If we spend more time listening as less speaking we will probably say more what needs to be said and therefore be more effe...

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:15‭-‬17 MSG Yes! Love this! Sing your heart out! I have been doing that a bit lately. So much so my mum has asked if I know another tune, but the words are life to me. All about God's faithfulness. He is so good! Singing puts a spring in my step, a light in my eye and fills my heart with joy, joy unspeakable. Amen!

And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Colossians 3:15 HCSB There are different types òf peace: peace from fighting and conflict; absence of noise; a quiet morning when you are alone with nature. Peace is a greatly sought commodity but one rarely found. Jesus talked about peace: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. John 14:27 The disciples were about to face fear and turmoil as Jesus was about to be crucified and yet here He was talking of peace. Jesus tells them it is different to what the world considers as peace. For His peace you can have in a busy, noisy city. Paul the apostle knew hardship, flogging, jail time, stoning, conflict, but he said the following: Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the pea...

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “ God , you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God ’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions ...

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord , “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” He Himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net, from the destructive plague. He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you. You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord — my refuge, the Most High — your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent. For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands so that you will not stri...

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6‭-‬7 MSG Being steadfast and consistent in the face of adversity is important! I am forever reminded of the scripture: if you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small. Proverbs 24:10. It reminds me to stand strong, if that is all I can do. Never give up! Never! Never! Never give up! (Winston Churchill) Giving up would have seen Britian ruled by Hitler. That is unthinkable. You face a similar unthinkable foe. Never give up! Amen!

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6‭-‬7 HCSB When we are given a gift, the best thing we can do is use the gift. In Christ we are given new life in Him. Therefore the most sensible thing we can do is learn all about our gift and walk in the new life given. New life mean new ways, new habits and attitudes. The new life given is a growing gift. The experience can be new every morning, if we come expectantly. Scripture tells us: Because of the Lord ’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23 The Lord does not tire of having children or being good. It is us who grow weary. Let us strengthen those limbs that hang down. (Hebrews). When we are failing let us go to the rock who is higher than us.

That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: “In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.” Acts 2:14‭-‬21 MSG It is ironic that on a movie channel th...

I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:19‭-‬21 HCSB This day is coming. With all eyes turned towards heaven it will come. Part of the above scripture is a repeat of a prophesy given by the prophet Joel in the Old Testament, thousands of years ago. It is interesting that there has been an renewed interest in astronomy in this day. Yet this will not be seen coming, except in the hearts of God's people, who yearn for Him. Yet whomever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. God does not expect a holy performance before He accepts us. He accepts a repentant heart just as it comes. He is generous and good. My wonder is: when Jesus returns to take His people home, will He reveal Himself first giving people a further chance of r...

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. Galatians 6:9‭-‬10 MSG This scripture troubles me, because I see too many stay with their own little group and never venturing outside of it, not having much to do with lost folk. Therefore, I must pray through this personally. I also see, inside the church, the new lost people not always cared for, especially if they are single. So, what can be done about it? The grieving do not have the energy or tenacity to push through the crowd or beat down the doors and so walk away, often. Now, I am not saying churches are bad. Having been one who was lost and grieving this was my experience, it was me who had to push through. I am glad I did, I am still in church and now finding my way post emotional devas...

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 HCSB Getting tired is normal but staying refreshed is not. Staying refreshed is done through habit, being consistent is done through habit. Staying in God refreshes us, abiding in Him sees His life flow come to us. I have many beautiful shrubs as I love gardening. However I have noticed that even a branch from my strongest, most beautiful bush cannot sustain itself when cut from the bush. We have had continuous very hot weather. The cut branch withers and dies without the connection to sustenance provided by the roots and trunk. No matter how powerful a Christian we are, in isolation we shrivel and die through lack of communion with the saints. There are many 'do gooders' in our communities and they last longer and maintain their fire with support and a team. In isolation they will burn up, become jaded and scarred. So, consistent endurance is done best wit...

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “ God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything , inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. Isaiah 40:27‭-‬31 MSG I sure tire. I tire from work, lack of sleep and boredom (rarely). Yet my God never tries. Imagine that! What energy! What determination! This can be ours as we wait on the Lord. We can mount up as eagles and soar. I sit each night on my back patio and watch the sun set. This process takes over an...

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. Isaiah 40:28 HCSB Our God is faithful and true, everlasting and without fail. We can trust in Him and His promises: Faithful, You are. Faithful forever You will be. Faithful You are. All your promises are yes and amen. (Song) We must choose to trust Him through the storm. Today I have two people dear to me facing a cancer prognosis. Begon Satan! I will seek my God for these two. HE alone is faithful and true. His word is true. Amen!

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Galatians 5:22‭-‬23‭, ‬23‭-‬24 MSG Well said! Living God's way! How is that done? Definitely not by legalism! Being in love changes our behaviour. Try being IN love with God. Like really enjoying Him. Love empowers us, changes us and fills us with godly desires ...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 HCSB These fruits are an outworking of submitting to the Holy Spirit and yielding to Him. I cannot produce them without His help. Yielding to the Holy Spirit is giving Him room to convict us of areas He would like to change. If I am impatient, He will produce patience, if I am prone to be unkind with my words, He produces kindness, if I am faithless He creates faithfulness, He takes coal and creates diamonds. We are the raw material for God's handiwork. His goodness can be mine, His peace is mine. Our God has all the fruit and wants it to be ours. He works in us to produce a beautiful orchard from which others, and He, can pick good fruit. The works of the flesh are opposite and only please our enemy, none benefits from these. I have people give me fruit. When I taste a beautiful rock melon my tastebuds rej...

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:15‭-‬17 MSG Wanting, wanting, wanthing is on the way out! How good is that to know. The smell of finance to someone who has not had it and wanting starts. However, spending time plotting and thinking about such things takes over. How about asking the Father instead. If it is His desire for you He will delight in bringing it to you as a surprise. Surprises are good! Remember love of the world and the things of the world squeeze God out. Not a good fit! Remember to make your requests to God and leave them there he will do it! Amen!

Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle — is not from the Father, but is from the world. 1 John 2:15‭-‬16 HCSB We cannot rid ourselves of the lusts of the flesh by scraping and scaling but by turning to Christ and seeking His kingdom. He said: "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well". It is all in the seeking. We can determine to seek God with our eye on the world and still fail because when we seek God and His kingdom we must do it, all in. Our motives are weighed and our motives determine the outcome, not our intentions. God is training us for eternity. We can obey because we want something or obey because we love. It is all down to motives. The love of money is a destroyer of our souls where the love o...

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God , search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” Jeremiah 17:9‭-‬10 MSG Not as they pretend to be. Mm! Yes the heart is deceitful above all else! We are kinder to ourselves, judging intent rather than behaviour whilst others are judged on behaviour. Not equal balances. Jesus knew this and encouraged his disciples to have just scales. We cannot allow ourselves off with intention. Often we hear: "But God knows my heart" referring to intention. God does indeed know our hearts and what caused the bad behaviour was a corrupt heart, a self-righteous heart. When children pretend to be someone other than who they are we say: they are playing make believe. Yes they are having a fantasy and it is in that fantasy they are the hero or the princess. At Kids Club we dress up...

I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve. Jeremiah 17:10 HCSB God is more interested in motive. If we do good do we want to be seen by others? If we do evil do we hide it? God is more interested in what is going on in the heart. Jesus taught us that we reap what we sow. Although we are not under law anymore certain principles remain. If I sow, I reap. However, God is still interested in heart motive and will uncover it for us so that we can deal with it and grow into the likeness of His Son. If God is interested in heart motive so should we, our own that is. I know we like to judge others but we should take time to be aware of motives. Jesus said: it is what comes out of the heart of man that defiles him not what he eats. I saw this in my own life yesterday. A new type of clothing is being worn by people we know and on some it is becoming and on others not so. My mum and I were discussing this on...

By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews 11:5‭-‬6 MSG I would love to have been around when Enoch went missing... He was a genuine missing person. How will it be when all believes leave the planet? Insurance companies will go nuts! I remember once having a seaman insured and he went misssing at sea. The insurance company would not pay a death claim because there was no body to prove death. Just imagine the dilemma they will have then. Jesus is coming soon folks...very soon!! Be ready!

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 HCSB We can have a spirit of helplessness across our minds when we come to God. We need to get rid of this as it is unbelief. If we have unmet expectations and disappointments we will not come in faith. All issues must be resolved and dealt with. The Lord's prayer is a good place to start. Putting God in perspective: He is holy, righteous, glorious, faithful amd true. Here we can ask Him for provision, repent of our sins and forgive others, we can ask for protection and deliverance from evil. Most of all He is 'Our Father.' Expect God's goodness. Pray that you might see the goodness of God in the land of the living. While mankind is not good, He is, totally, wonderfully, absolutely! If you struggle to find faith, pray, ask for help. He will give it! Prayer: dear Father forgive us our unbelief. We have cl...

Open up before God , keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. Psalm 37:5‭-‬6 MSG Today I found myself crying before the Lord. This morning I had shocking news of a friend's death. This man I knew through the astronomy club I belong to. Stu was not old or unwell, that I knew. However while playing tennis he collapsed and was taken to hospital only to die there. I had only last year made Stu a friend on Facebook and he had to endure my gospel messages. This morning I had to ask myself: "Did I do enough?" Will I see Stuart in glory? To my knowledge Stu did not know Jesus. However, what happened in the time before death? We are all in shock and my grief is not knowing where Stuart is in eternity. This morning our club had to run a BBQ at a local Bunnings store as a fund raiser. It was the last thing any of us wanted to do. I talked to the two men who were there abou...

Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. Psalms 37:5‭-‬6 HCSB If we trust in the Lord, we trust in the Lord. We do not say we do then complain or speak defeatist talk. Scripture tells us: They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death. Revelation 12:11 Jesus told His disciples: he who loves his life will lose it and he who lays down his life will gain it. John 12:25. So...the measure is: are you living for stuff and the pleasures of this life or for the kingdom of God? Do you live for yourself or others? We live in sobering times. The world is falling apart, debt is rampant, governments are failing because of foolishness, nothing is secure but God alone. In Him we must hope and trust. Scripture is still true and still stands! Amen!

Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I’m singing joyful praise to God . I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God ’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I’m king of the mountain! (For congregational use, with a full orchestra.) Habakkuk 3:17‭-‬19 MSG Seeing God amidst devastation and singing praises to Him unlocks a shower of grace. God's grace is what we need. Better than any complaints, criticism or judgement against our adversaries, praise to our God releases blessing. Two days ago the Lord showed me how He was using an injustice done to me to restore relationships. If I had fought for my rights and not yielded to the Lord I would not see this miracle. Jesus was treated cruelly on the cross, He did not deserve it yet He chose it willingly. His choic...

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17‭-‬18 HCSB These verses were once a scripture in song that ai learned back in the 70's. It was good to know this song as the verses became a part of me. No matter what I will rejoice in the Lord. Each of us can go through some very hard times yet if we remember to keep our eyes upwards, we will see God in the storm. He must be our focus. Because God had me learn a scripture in Hebrews: for you have need of endurance so that you might prove the will of the Fsther and receive what has been promised (10:36), I have been encouraged to keep going and keep seeking God. The tendency is to throw it all away and give up because it is too hard. As Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego discovered when thrown into ...

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG Loving extravagantly! Today is Valentine's Day and those fueled by passion will be spending up on roses, chocolates, wine and perhaps dinner. Yet an attribute of love is committment. Committment outlasts the feelings. Having babies brings gooey feelings, if the child is wanted, if not wanted the baby is disposed of. Feelings lead us to relationships until the feelings go, then we go. Loving extravagantly is what God does. He sent His prize to win the filthy and lowdown and to top this off, He now says that His Son's sacrifice is enough and forgives and forgives and forgives. Now! That is extravagant love! Amen!

Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 HCSB Love! Recently I had my Kids Club draft some 'House Rules' which they chose. The biggest was 'kindness'. If we look at verse 4 of this chapter we see: love is kind. What is kindness? I know it is fueled by grace. Grace loves without a cause. Modern love loves the cute. Of lot of life is not cute. So how do we love the uncute? By the grace of God. In the club we have several uncute behaving individuals. However love is winning them. In my astronomy club there is a lot that is not cute, I love them anyway. My God made them, I can love them. I know I am a woman of faith. I suppose that is why I have the job given to me: I will step out in faith. I stepped into my current roles: carer for my elderly mum and builder of a kids club, in faith. I think I have both roles because I am bold. I tackle the problems, don't cohabit with them and work out how to defea...

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care —then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:1‭-‬4 MSG Forget yourself to lend a helping hand. This works! Forgetting yourself is like forgetting fear and doing a parachute jump. Sure it is frightening getting to the place of letting go into space but the shute ride is so worth it. Lending a helping hand kills self-interest and arrogance. That must be good for the soul! There is so much focus on image and feeling good in the media, yet Jesus told His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him. Who is r...

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 HCSB How do I do this? What is important for others? What are they going through? What are their challenges? What is God wanting me to do for them? My church is in a time of fasting and prayer. It is so easy to compare fasts and prayer schedules. This is not what it is about. We fast and pray for breakthrough in self and for others but more importantly for a closer relationship with God. He is an 'other.' Life is not just about me. It is about 'others.' What would God have me do for 'others?' Prayer: dear Lord I ask for my eyes and ears to be opened to others, that I might see and hear what you would have me see and hear. Amen!

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 1 John 3:18‭-‬20 MSG How do I practice love? Selflessness is a start, then I might just see you and your need. We all want to be loved. We desire to be heard and as all the children in Kids Club last week said: "Be Kind." Kindness is an out working of love, the God kind of love. Try it! It comes from the spirit within. A renewed spirit is full of God's power and love, if only we submit to it. Amen!

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need — how can God’s love reside in him? Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action. This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, 1 John 3:16‭-‬19 HCSB Laying down our lives, what does that look like? Allowing you to inconvenience me? However, laying down my life for you does not mean I will kill, destroy or stand by while you do. The modernists believe Christians should shut up and put up with all manner of things. Yet if I do not raise my voice for the unborn, who will? If I do not defend the elderly, who will? Justice demands that I oppose wickedness. So then, what does laying down my life really mean? Willing to be ill thought of for justice, willing to be unpopular for those w...

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. Ephesians 2:7‭-‬10 MSG What is God's plan? When Jesus came to earth He disputed the plan in place: that Israel would be segregated, holy and not touching anything unclean, that sickness, demonization would be the norm and the righteous were self-made religious bigots. What is God's plan today? Jesus taught us to pray: may Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Forgive us as we forgive, keep u...

For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 HCSB We were not created to do evil but good. We were created with a plan. God has a plan for each of us. This might be hard to fathom but it is true. It would be wise for each of us to discover that plan and walk in it. Walking in the fulfillment of that plan is the best place to be. In January we had 'Youth With a Mission' visit and one of ours went off to do a discipleship course. This man wanted to discover his plan that God had for him. I have a girlfriend in Japan who did this course and ended up on missions in Japan all her adult life. I am not saying you only discover your plan this way, however it is a good way. Jesus told His disciples to 'go.' We must go and do what we have been given to do. Why not start with asking God what that plan is and then being willing to obey. Prayer: Jesus I ask You to show ...

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 No backyard footy match, no Sunday afternoon cricket match, life is full on and in your face. The battles we face are not with people, although that is where they happen. People are manipulated by our enemy to dump ice on us, drive over us and generally ruffle our feathers. This happened to me today. Lovely brothers rock up on their motor bikes and use parking best designated to the elderly, leaving the elderly in a difficult spot. I spoke to the perpetrators but my challenge was my own attitude. Jesus told us to b...

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 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. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 HCSB At present we are facing two elections: state and federal. The political machines are in full force and it is full of character assassinations. The policies of both parties are laid bare and dissected. In this time it is easy to believe that wickedness is rampant amd we are lost. Yes we are in a battle but our God is mighty and He has called us to be mighty also, tearing down strongholds about our own lives and being a force for change in our countries. Too many sit...

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or de...

For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, Romans 8:38 HCSB There is nothing that can remove us from God's love. We might look at our track record and hit the gong button but God's love continues. Jesus told His disciples a story about a young man doing just this in the Prodigal Son. This son went to his father and asked for his inheritance and went away and squandered it all. He did not come to his senses for a long time and when he did he realised his father's servants were being paid better than him, as after wasting his inheritance he had a job feeding pigs. His father was waiting for him to come home. When he did come he was not berated but welcome and his father threw a party. Nothing, nothing you have done is greater than God's love! Come on home!

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV There you have it folks! God's word is alive and active. It is not dead as some would believe. I know it to be alive and is found as we seek truth. Faith unlocks the power available in God's word. We have to step out and believe and test God's word. God says to us: test me now and see if I don't throw open the windows of heaven. Malachi. In this particular verse God is challenging people to tithe in faith. Tithing is a step of faith. Faith turns God's crank. Try it! You will have fun.

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 HCSB My bible is alive. I especially love it when God quicken part of it to me, it penetrates into my innermost being. Here it challenges my thoughts and intentions. At times it will be a stop sign, go slow sign, wait or Yes go for it! I can rely on God's word. It is faithful and true. It does not lie to me. It is honest. When it tells me I can find rest, I can, in Jesus. Leading up to this verse the author is teaching about God's rest. We enter His rest from striving through Jesus. Jesus paid for our sins and made us right with our Father God. Through Him we can truly be free from striving to be good enough. I am enough in Him. He is my sufficiency! Amen!

Hurry with your answer, God ! I’m nearly at the end of my rope. Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me! That would be certain death. If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God — you’re my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland. Psalm 143:7‭-‬10 MSG I love early morning and sunset. At sunrise I love to see the sky become pink as glory arrives, at sunset I love to sit and watch the glory set in the west. Today before sunset I was watering the garden and just lay back on the grass and looked up. High, very high up was an eagle soaring. Ah! To be there myself! At these bookends of day I seek my God and watch His beauty in creation. Tonight when we came indoors I was playing my mum cards and the chorus kept circling around me: faith...

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalms 143:10 HCSB Stepping out in faith is foreign to some. Unless God does it they will not move. Consequently they are still waiting disillusioned. While others pray: "God I am stepping out, if I am going the wrong way stop me." Peter understood faith. He saw Jesus walking on the water and said: "Lord if it is You bid me to come." Jesus said: "It is I, come." We all know what happened. Peter walked on water for a time until he looked at the waves. Waves made 11 disciples stay in the boat but at first Peter did not see them. Are waves making you stay in the boat? Step out and see what walking on water is like.

Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.” Matthew 19:26 MSG I can do all things..through Christ who strengthens me. Not of myself but Him alone. My Lord does not expect me to be strong in myself buy rather to be strong through Him. He died for me and He lives through me. His gift to me is His power to do all. There is nothing He asks me to do that I cannot do as if I do all through Him, I can do ALL things! Amen!

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 HCSB The above comment by Jesus comes after He had told the disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. In fact Jesus had said it would be easier for a camel to go through 'the eye of the needle' (a particular gate that was very small and for a camel to get through everything had to be taken off the camel and it had to squeeze through). This comment was the same given to Abraham regarding having a child in old age. It came to pass. In fact, if anything, we can be encouraged by him, as he is the father of faith. When Jesus spoke the above words the disciples asked:" well what about us?" They had left family businesses and various work to follow Him. Jesus tells them that they would be judging the 12 tribes of Israel in glory. Not a bad reward. So...are you looking at an impossible situation? Are you seeking God fo...

Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 HCSB Ours eyes amd ears might be smarting with the onslaught of the attacks against Christians and the infanticide that heartless, godless men amd women are clamoring for. However, God is at work in a new way. Souls are coming to Him in unprecedented numbers. It behooves us to keep our eyes on what God is doing. Where do we fit in? We usher in the new move through prayer, fasting and sharing our faith. We are the light of the world. We cannot hide our light under a bushel. We have to stand and be a voice for good. Dont spend too much time listening to the negative brigade. Tune in to God's wavelengths. Listen to His priority and run with that. Amen!

Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 HCSB In this chapter God is lamenting the hardness of heart of His people but in the verse before the above He is saying: forget the past and let's move on. As someone who has seen moves of God and is now looking at a dry and dusty land, a new thing would be good. We are desperate for our God. We need to see Him in our land. Yet, as a Christian who has experienced God in the past, I cannot look to those moves and insist the move of God that is coming be the same. Our God delights in surprises amd new things so we must let Him loose and rejoice in what He does. Currently our church is in a time of prayer and fasting and we are seeking God. Yesterday we had the most people ever to our early morning prayer meeting. It was good. As we seek our God we will see a new thing. Amen!

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Philippians 1:3‭-‬6 MSG What a joy it is to know we bring others joy! Paul is highly praising the Philippians. Do you have such praise for anyone? Does anyone have it for you? Being the source of blessing is something we can do. We cannot control others but we sure can control ourselves. Be a blessing!

I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 HCSB Our God's goal is to faithfully complete a good work He begun in us. What is that good work? That we would reflect the image of Jesus Christ. Christ in me is the hope of glory. It is Him working in me that brings the change. He is the yeast hidden in the flour, gradually He causes the whole lump to be affected with the raising agent. As I am changed into His glory I show forth His works and these works are those He said I would do: making disciples, healing the sick, raising the dead and more. I just awoke from a dream. In that dream I rose a young girl from the dead, not intentionally or with any strain on my part but by the Spirit of God. I sensed His presence had come upon me and I was walking in Him. I knew that this was not me but that it was a desire of my heart. Wow! Let us yield to Him! Amen!

So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God—you won’t regret it! Psalm 2:10‭-‬12 MSG I love this language! Imagine telling the judges and leaders of today, who do not believe this! It would not go down well. Our arrogance is beyond measure. Have mercy Lord! Yet, the humble will find God and in finding God they will find the only answer! Jesus is the answer! Amen! He alone is worthy to be praised!

Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. Psalms 2:11 HCSB This whole Psalm is a prophetic Psalm about Jesus. We know this for in acts 4:25 we are told it referred to Jesus and was written by king David. The tone of the Psalm is the pomp and Authority given to Jesus by His Father and how the world rulers need to understand this fact. Our God is mighty, enthroned on high and coming again in the clouds of heaven. He has all power and glory and although He has given grace for us to live under on this earth our time is coming to stand before Him. Then will we see His authority and rulership. That day is coming like a thief in the night. We cannot say: "He is not coming, He said He would and look at the state of the world, man rules!" Ha! This is the great deception. That day is coming and has come for many. God's delay is God's kindness so that more might come to repentance. When He comes there will be no more grace but the record books wi...

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change. 2 Peter 3:8‭-‬9 MSG God's timing is perfect. I cannot begin to defend Him as nothing I say can change Him or perhaps how you see His promises to you. The answer will come when the answer is no longer as important, or more important than loving now, loving Him and letting go. We become so fraught with anxiety about how a matter should resolve and really we cannot change one dot of how it will actually be. I long for the Lord to return but He alone knows when the time is right. I need to trust Him and love Him and His timing as it is. Amen! Tonight at astronomy we were having an interesting discussion regarding time travel and the theory of relativity. As...

Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 2 Peter 3:8‭-‬11 HCSB Peter, in his letter, is dealing with false prophets and scoffers, whilst encouraging believers to walk a holy and blameless life. We ourselves live in the time of the scoffer. All that is godly and of good repute is made out to be evil and of Ill repute. Life previously considered precious and protected is now able to be legally destroyed. Both in America a...

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 MSG I am reminded of this principle, daily. Each evening God gives us a glorious sunset and we face the west and see it every day, should we choose to. The past two days I sat outside watching the sun set and the last final burst of red that suffused the whole sky. What threatened to be dull grey was lit with a radiance that promised more. Tonight I was inside watching a show with my mother. I happened to glance up as the final burst of red appeared and I lamented the choice I had made. The Christian walk is like this. We can shuffle along with our minds captured with negative thinking and miss God's glorious appearance aro...

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 HCSB Is Jesus worried about your weight or fitness? No! Probably not! Is He worried about you studies, your work, your promotion? He would be aware and well confident that you could do anything in Him. What does concern Him? Where is His focus today? What is going on in the kingdom of God? Where is there movement? What is God focused on? Probably souls and the cry of those desperate for Him. How can we become involved? Become hungry for Him and pray and you might discover His heart. Fasting helps. Amen!