The day with dianne Louise

Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!” John 14:6‭-‬7 MSG If we want to know what Father God is like, look at Jesus! The gospels present a God who is compassionate, loving and not afraid to confront. Jesus paid the price to reunite us to the Father. He is no longer far removed from us. He is Abba Father! How good is that! Look at Jesus: He is the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father but through Him. He holds the keys! Amen!

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way? ” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:5‭-‬6 HCSB Although modern man claims there are many ways to God, Jesus, here, refutes this idea. Jesus has been telling His disciples He is going away and that they will follow, poor Thomas is anxiously saying: "But we don't know where you are going!" Perhaps Thomas was the kind of person who visualizes the trip ahead before he sets off. When Faith is involved we must trust. God does not always show us the path before hand. When Jesus had died and come back to visit the disciples Thomas was missing. He refused to believe unless he touched the wounds of Jesus. Thomas would be a 'seeing is believing' kind of guy. Again I say: 'faith is required!' We cannot have everything as we want. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence ...

“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.” John 14:1‭-‬4 MSG 'This' was the pending crucifixion of Jesus. The leader who had faced off all their enemies was going to give up His life. Why was Jesus leaving them? Why was He going to surrender to evil? I am sure the disciples thought these thoughts. The scriptures above were encouraging the disciples to not fear but to trust. History shows us they ran in fear, all but John was absent at the cross. Why did John stay? Was his love for Jesus able to trust? Was his love able to endure the cross? Will our love for Jesus strengthen us and enable us to endure the cros...

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. John 14:1 HCSB What we believe can give us peace or trouble us. If all the machinations of our mind continually creates a picture of chaos then fear will dominate. However if our eyes are fixed on Jesus we have peace in the storm. The three young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose to trust the Lord in the furnace and came out unburnt. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. In John 14 Jesus was encouraging the disciples to not fear as He went to the cross. Their whole world were about to fall apart as they watched their Lord brutally beaten and crucified. To believe that He could rise after such treatment would have been hard, unless they caught the power behind the words: 'Believe in God, believe also in Me.' Learning to believe was a part of their last three years with Jesus. Now...

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. John 14:1 HCSB What we believe can give us peace or trouble us. If all the machinations of our mind continually creates a picture of chaos then fear will dominate. However if our eyes are fixed on Jesus we have peace in the storm. The three young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose to trust the Lord in the furnace and came out unburnt. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. In John 14 Jesus was encouraging the disciples to not fear as He went to the cross. Their whole world were about to fall apart as they watched their Lord brutally beaten and crucified. To believe that He could rise after such treatment would have been hard, unless they caught the power behind the words: 'Believe in God, believe also in Me.' Learning to believe was a part of their last three years with Jesus. Now...

What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Philippians 2:12‭-‬13 MSG God's energy deep within, God Himself and working at what gives Him most pleasure. He is more interested in your growth than you are. He will take you to the best paths, where you will develop character and become more like God's Son. Remember, this life is not about you! Amen!

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Philippians 2:13 HCSB It is good to know God is working in me. As I come to Him daily I can trust Him to work His plans in me. Are you ever concerned that you will miss God's plans? Do you worry about being on the right track? Don't! Just stay close to Him and He will guide you. If you love God with all your heart, mind and soul that is the best you can do and He will lead. Jesus told us He is the vine and we are the branches. If the roots of the vine take in nutrients and water, if we remain attached, we receive it also. We can trust Him to guide us. Amen!

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Philippians 2:13 HCSB It is good to know God is working in me. As I come to Him daily I can trust Him to work His plans in me. Are you ever concerned that you will miss God's plans? Do you worry about being on the right track? Don't! Just stay close to Him and He will guide you. If you love God with all your heart, mind and soul that is the best you can do and He will lead. Jesus told us He is the vine and we are the branches. If the roots of the vine take in nutrients and water, if we remain attached, we receive it also. We can trust Him to guide us. Amen!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. John 15:5 HCSB I can do what God puts in my heart to do. What He leads me to do works but what comes from sentimentalism does not work. How do I know the difference? Pray and lay it down, pray and lay it down, pray and lay it down. On Sunday I saw the completion of a 4 year dream. It was birthed in love of people and not ego. He is in people not ego. A  new Skate Park came about because of love for the people who routinely used and old park near my office. God wanted me to do something and I did. It was challenging and stretched me but He was in it. I am now looking at further study to help new Australians. I am going back to study English so I can assist them in learning our language. There are many pathways and I need to choose the right one. On that path I will meet many people. It will challenge me but as my God is leading it will be ...

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. John 15:5‭-‬8 MSG Imagine grape vine branches trying to produce grapes without being attached to the vine! Ha! It would not happen. The branch would wither and die. We are the same. We need to stay connected to Christ. He is the source or life for us! Amen!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. John 15:5 HCSB I can do what God puts in my heart to do. What He leads me to do works but what comes from sentimentalism does not work. How do I know the difference? Pray and lay it down, pray and lay it down, pray and lay it down. On Sunday I saw the completion of a 4 year dream. It was birthed in love of people and not ego. He is in people not ego. A  new Skate Park came about because of love for the people who routinely used and old park near my office. God wanted me to do something and I did. It was challenging and stretched me but He was in it. I am now looking at further study to help new Australians. I am going back to study English so I can assist them in learning our language. There are many pathways and I need to choose the right one. On that path I will meet many people. It will challenge me but as my God is leading it will be ...

I will remember the Lord ’s works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. Psalms 77:11 HCSB I am reading through the bible in a year and seeing all of God's wonders in both Old and New Testaments. This is about the third time I have done this. The process shows me the thread of Jesus through the whole bible. However, on Saturday I had to prepare for an event yesterday and had to go through some of my own history. There are times this is good as well. It reminds you where you were on certain dates and what God was doing in your life. We had the official opening of the new Skate Park, which I had pioneered, yesterday. As I looked back in my notes I had become interested in the people at the park in 2015. The memories came back of the love that drove me. When I visited the new park yesterday I met many of the original users and the love for them flooded back. I found myself awake at midnight to two a.m. filled with love for these people and praying for their salvation. Memori...

Once again I’ll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts. Psalm 77:11‭-‬12 MSG What God has done for us needs to be remembered. Each new morning He gives us a new day full of promise. Each evening He ends the day in glory, if we are watching. He gave us beautiful flowers, trees, mountains, lakes and wildlife. Sit and look, watch and see. Remember His deeds! Give Him thanks for the air you breathe. Thank Him for the food you eat. If you have somewhere to sleep, clothes to wear and food to eat you are far ahead of millions. Thank You Lord! You are so good! Amen!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 HCSB What do you think of this: the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding? So understanding is gained by knowing God? Ever said: " I just don't understand?" There is a lot we may not understand, they will be a lot of whys. However knowing God brings a whole lot of clarity to all misunderstanding. We can trust God! Amen!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 HCSB I can study all manner of subjects and become earthly-wise but if I fail to find godly wisdom, I am no more than a fool. We see many so called greats face death, some scoff at the existence of God and in their arrogance they defy the One who holds eternity in His hands. Imagine facing God after leaving this world and discovering we are not so clever after all and that our arrogance has doomed us to an eternal separation from this glorious One. Not only separation but being sent to an eternal flame with the demons who deceived us.How will all our earthly knowledge save us then? Godly respect for God is the beginning of wisdom. He opens our minds to His understanding and His ways. His knowledge is good. Amen!

“But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do. Matthew 18:6‭-‬7 MSG The disciples tended to see little children as a nuisance yet Jesus told them that they needed simple faith, just like a child. The above passage tells us quite plainly that children as special to Him and to not hurt them in any way or there is a consequence, a severe one. He is good! Noone who harms children will escape. Trust Him! Amen!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ” “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me. “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me — it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea! Matthew 18:1‭, ‬3‭-‬6 HCSB We all have ideas on who looks great. These people usually stir our emotions, be it sport, music or acting, these are usually the top three. Yet none of them are little children. Isn't it amazing that Jesus has appreciation for little children and their innocent faith. He beckons us to have such faith and to hon...

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. Galatians 6:7‭-‬8 MSG As I live in an agricultural part of the state I am very aware that if I plants wheat I will harvest wheat. However in my own life I must admit I am not always so aware and often see, after the fact, this principle in action. God's kingdom operates on principles. I have seen the media howl at godly aspirations and agendas as not being separate from work ethics, as in church and state. If a godly man or woman is in authority they recognize that their authority comes from above. They will honour God in all their ways. They cannot be duplicitous. Christianity in...

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. Galatians 6:7‭-‬10 HCSB We all become weary and tired and especially for those who have been on the road a long time, it can be easy to be disillusioned and be tempted to quit. Before quitting I recommend you become refreshed in your first love and then make the decision. During the week I met with such a group. They said: " If I dont have a job to do a church I am tempted not to go." The joy, the anticipation had gone. Jesus dealt with such a church group in the book of Revelation. He commended all their works b...

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16‭-‬18 MSG We cannot judge how we are doing spiritually by how we physically feel. Our physical body is where we feel. However, we can soar in our spirits. Last night after Connect group I returned home and did this blog and my spirit was soaring. It wanted to worship and so I let it run. A good time! Stay more in tune with your spirit and you will not be on the ground with the turkeys. Amen!

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 HCSB Although we buy jars of cream for the outer person, we need to spend time on the inner man. This is the real us that will live for an eternity with our God. The outer us is like a jar made of clay. It becomes broken, chipped, worn and it loses it's integrity but the inner man is made to last forever. If it becomes weary it can be renewed in God's presence as it is made of spirit and He is spirit. Yes! Spend time in worship and allow Him to fill you and then you will rise up as an eagle. Amen!

“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 In politics we see opposite sides condemn the other side's policies. When they overstep and start character assignation this is when things are ugly. In the recent elections in Australia the opposing party to the government had a group called Get Up do their dirty work. Fortunately their plot failed and God had His way. God never attacks our...

Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. John 3:18 HCSB I would like to ask: what constitutes believing? Is it merely mental assent? Is it attending church on Sunday? Jesus told us that even the demons believe and some of them go to church. Note the text says: believes in Him. Am I believing in Him and loving Him when I awake each day or is my mind filled with selfish thoughts? Do I long for Him, pant for Him as a deer pants for water? Scripture tells us that in the last days the love of many will have grown cold, having a form of godliness but denying the power of it. How does this happen? Slowly! In the book of Revelation we see the end of being lukewarm- we are spat out! Jesus cannot abide lukewarm! How do I become warm again? Enter in to the fire of God. Seek Him, repent and ask for a new heart! Amen!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 MSG There is no place for worry when Christ is at the centre. He displaces the noise and the clouds. His peace is paramount! Seek Him and His peace will be there! Amen!

And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 HCSB Have you ever thought of peace as a guard? We usually associate it with a feeling and an absence of fear. The reason we have an absence of fear is the guard is on duty. Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Comforter. One of the roles of the comforters was to bring peace. This peace makes no sense as we can be in the midst of turmoil and be at peace. This is how good the Holy Spirit is. This Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus takes all that belongs to Jesus and reveals it to us. He is our guide in the storms of life. We can trust Him. Amen!

Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 HCSB Our God is an awesome God! He is worthy to run to, to hope in and lay our confidence in. Two days ago we had a miracle election. Although many now try to dissect the results I know God's people had humbled themselves and prayed, seeking Him for the best for our country. His best is what we got. A Christian prime minister who believes in miracles and who is an ordinary 'bloke.' However, he has an extraordinary God on his side and His God showed Himself strong and wrought a miracle. Thank You Lord! We God's people trusted Him for the best outcome. We did not instruct Him and He brought His best to the table. We have learned something from this. If we pray in earnest we will see Him move in a mighty way. We also must follow Him and continue to pray, in humility for the care of our country. It has been noted that more than ever before young people signed up to vote but they did n...

But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6‭-‬7 HCSB To stand as a Christian and not adopt the worlds ways can put us at odds with the world. We have seen many examples of Christians making a stand to not cook cakes for gay rights couples; not wanting to photograph weddings of same couples and more recently a young footballer in Australia dared to put up a scripture post on social media that condemned gays, drunks, etc from Romans and He lost his job. He made a point that Jesus was more important to him. Walking away from large amounts of money, in the case of the footballer, is walking away from worldly ways. This decision will come with the test. The lack of worldly wealth is very different to having it. Israel, the player said: "I have never been without money since I began playing football in my youth." He was acknowledging that...

The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18 HCSB I am so grateful for Jesus and the gospels. In the gospels we see a man, Jesus, who said: he who has seen Me has seen the Father. John 14:8 Jesus presents a loving, just and caring God who wanted relationship with His creation. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead and performed many miracles that proved He was who He said He was. So, when Jesus shows comfort and tells us: blessed are those who mourn as they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 We can trust Him. Yes we will mourn but He is there to comfort us. Amen!

Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalms 34:19 HCSB Our elections are over and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a devout Christian, led his party to a miraculous victory. The hate brigade were out in force with their bad press and bad predictions and they failed. Praise God! Many of the opposition claim that our country was not progressive on climate change and medical advancement. (Abortion on demand) considering that the earth has heated less than 1% I am grateful that we have a government who will not pay huge amounts of money to the Paris Accord. Yes we must care for our planet but someone needs to use unaltered facts and not manipulated figures. I am an environmentalist at the most basic level, I pick up trash, recycle plastics and limit the purchase and use of same. Many of the 'climate change' brigade trash the environment and could best start there. We must be personally responsible and stop yelling at governme...

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Ephesians 6:10 HCSB To be able to do this you must switch off the noise. Today I went for  long walk and voted then returned home and did housework then I had a nap. Last night my church held a dinner for farmers and I was involved. I loved talking to these folk. What a joy! I shared my faith in God with one women and also my trial. Today is election day and there would be a lot of noise around. So I switched it off and prayed as I went through my day. This afternoon I read a good book called: No God But One. I am learning a lot about Islam and the differences between it and my Christianity. Much better use of my time. I pray God's will will be done in the elections. Amen!

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 Today we face the most momentous of elections in Australia. If good men fail to do anything and go with the flow, evil will prevail. However if good men amd women make a stand righteousness will flourish. We get to choose. My pray is that there is such amd outpouring of God's Holy Spirit for truth and justice and that righteousness will prevail! May Your Kingdom come Lord! Your will be done! Amen and Amen!

Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7 NLT Today I had an opportunity to rely on my own wisdom and refused. Tied to my own wisdom is anxiety and 'How can this be!' My accountant has been preparing my tax return from 2017-2018 which is normal for business. She came back with: You owe the tax office $8,500. I know we submitted the quarterly returns as required and when you do these the tax office programme tells you what tax you owe. The figure given me is far and above what I had already paid in the past. Anxiety would drive me to all manner of machinations and accusations. However, I prefer a 'But God' moment and I am seeking Him for His resolution. Mistakes can be made and we have to assume something is amiss until everything is checked. However, have you ever checked a row of figures and found a different result three times in a row? I have. It all depends on what else is on your mind. Tonight min...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬8 HCSB Just as a child does not need to consider himself to be the bank, as he can trust his parents to support him so can we trust the Lord to be the bank of wisdom for us. It is only when we become elated with self and think we have done all the winning that we lose the ability to trust as a little child would. Jesus told us to be as little children. We can trust our God to be there for us. This does not mean that we do not study and work hard, but the wise answer belongs to the Lord. It is He who gives us the victory. I have just completed a graduate certificate in financial planning and I had to trust the Lord for that passing. It definitely does no...

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 HCSB The bible is full of promises. We can believe them and stand on them. Paul tells us: when you have done all you can do, just stand. Ephesians 6:13. We must be mindful that this verse comes after being told to put on the full armour of God. Our enemy can flood our minds with negative, fearful thoughts about our children or grandchildren but at some point we must stand in God's promises, faithfully. I like to go on the offensive and so I pray: 'thank You Lord that my daughter is preaching you word; my son is a mighty man of God'. I see them as perhaps as they are not now, but as they will be. These sorts of prayers are higher than: 'oh Lord rescue my child from this or that.' I can't stay under the problem I must rise above it and speak faith over them. This type of prayer sure helps my faith and my children as well. So you can see you play a big part a...

But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 2 Timothy 3:14‭-‬17 MSG The times when I do not like scripture are the times I need it. I have to be sensitive enough to know the problem is in me and then go to God and ask for His help. Repentance is not easy at times, in fact it is a gift from God. When I do not want to repent, this is when I need to repent and have to ask God to help we want to repent from deep within. Some sins are deep and we are reluctant t...

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 HCSB In John 1 we learn: in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and was God. That Jesus was the word made flesh. All scripture points to Jesus and Jesus said: he who has seen me has seen the Father. So..in seeing Jesus we see the Father and understand His word. Jesus rebuked wrong thinking and the greatest proponents of this wrong thinking were the Pharisees. Jesus showed a God who reached out to sinners, healed the sick and restored to wholeness. He taught a liberty not heard before. He taught kingdom principles. Today Jesus is challenging wrong thinking still. We cannot bend truth to suit our fleshly desires. God's word is truth and a firm foundation on which to build our lives. Amen!

Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands. Deuteronomy 7:9 HCSB Those who trust in Jesus know this love. This love is eternal, never ending. There is no love like this love! Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you; that you love one another, as I have loved you." John 13:30 Jesus is drawing us together in prayer and washing us with the water of His word. He is preparing His bride in these end times. She is beginning to shine like the sun. May He be glorified! As we pray for our countries, our neighbours, our planet He is moving and drawing all men to Him. Souls are coming alive in Him! We are now in a battle, a battle of freedom, truth amd justice. May You be glorified oh Lord! Amen!

“If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God , then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God .” Joshua 24:15 MSG Joshua chose the good portion. I choose the same. One day, in eternity we will meet. I want to meet Caleb as well, along with the young women who claimed their territory. Today chose life that you might live! Amen!

always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 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. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. Philippians 1:4‭-‬7 HCSB Do you have those in your life who you give thanks for, I have those who I should give thanks for. I spend most of my time praying for those who need prayer. This morning I decided to give thanks for the faithful. I have faithful friends who stand firm in their faith. They are there when I need them and their love for me is a blessing. Today is mother's day in Australia. My mum is still living at 87 and I am grateful for her faithful love. I have a son and a daughter who love me, grandchildren who ...

God ’s Message: “I’ll pour robust well-being into her like a river, the glory of nations like a river in flood. You’ll nurse at her breasts, nestle in her bosom, and be bounced on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I’ll comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:12‭-‬13 MSG Generally mothers are caring. We all know stories about women who are not. Yet when God says He will care for us like a mother we can trust Him to care for us as a good mother. Us mothers who have birthed children know how we are smitten by our little babies. Our Father is like that. He is good and we can run to Him for comfort. Amen!

As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:13 HCSB I love the book of Isaiah. In it God speaks through the prophet Isaiah. He tells of the coming of Jesus. In this very chapter we see the message of how God was going to send out missionaries to all nations. Yet the above verse deals with God comforting His people. As a Christian I know He is my best comfort. He is trustworthy and reliable. Last night I watched TD Jake's message from last Sunday. He used the story about David and how they had been out fighting and came home to find all their families gone and all their stock. Scripture tells us: 'David encouraged himself in the Lord.' We all must come to this place. Our God is indeed God and able to comfort us and show us the way forward. People will let us down. They are not God and we should not expect them to behave like Him. That's His job! Amen!

But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. Romans 1:18‭-‬23 MSG Today our sky was covered in an amazing cloud formation. It was bus...

For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 HCSB Tonight I experienced another type of godly grief. My mum went back to hospital and I was over it. I had two Christian friends come and pray with me. I said: "I want a different result. No more bowel blockages!" We agreed together and prayed and it was so. The pain subsided and mum became alert. Things were different. The scan showed no blockage. Yes! I realised I had tolerated evil and repented. Thank You Lord! Amen!

For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 HCSB The Apostle Paul had written a letter  rebuking  the  Corinthians about ungodly behaviour in their midst.  We can read this in 1 Corinthians. Now here he is writimg again rejoicing that the Corinthians had changed their ways. He knew this as he had sent Timothy to see them and he returned with a good report. Worldly grief makes us sorry we were caught or exposed and often statements like  : " I feel so bad" are stated. Feeling bad and repentance are not the same. Feeling bad comes from a desire to be seen as good. Yet repentance has a seeking God element and a desire  for a clean heart and correct behaviour before Him. I find repentance in my own heart comes as  I need to forgive someone and let go of anger. I know the result of anger is violence in attitude and speech and for some pnysical abuse. It ends in g...

Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 HCSB Peter goes on the give examples of gifts: speaking, serving, hospitality. Today I had a problem. My mum, recently home from hospital could not get into her bed. Her legs are very swollen and heavy. At first I looked up equipment hire as I thought to get her steps but then I knew what to do: the bed frame is metal and I deduced, 'we need to cut off the legs and make the bed lower'. My nephew lives next door and is a builder. I went to see him and asked him to help. He did and within 30 minutes mum's bed is manageable. One of my gifts is problem solver and I have trained myself to act quickly and not procrastinate. I am not a builder. Yes I could probably buy the equipment and do the job but I know it would not have been good. However, my nephew was able to show his love for my mum and myself. He is a good young man. We are blessed! Know you gift...

Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 HCSB The grace of God has many sides, much like a beautiful diamond. When God does something beautiful He does it well. For His body to remain strong He provides gifts to individuals in it. How good is God. Imagine a thoughtful father giving his children each a gift and teaching them:"This is not just for your own pleasure but for you to use for the whole family." This is the same with our heavenly Father. He gave His church such gifts to use in ministry. Today, let us pray: Father forgive me for my selfishness. I ask You to open my eyes to the gift You have me and how I can use it for others. Amen!

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnec...

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT When I was a child I loved fairy stories. My favourites were the fair princesses being rescued by the handsome prince. In Sleeping Beauty we see the prince having to cut through walls of briar to rescue Sleeping Beauty and face off with the dragon. I have been rescued by this prince and His name is Jesus. My enemy, the devil did not want me to know who I was, a child of the King and had me in a sleep, a death sleep, kept away from eternal life. Yet Jesus came! He rescued me and now I live for Him! I must shine for Him! Rule and reign for Him for He is good, so good! Yesterday ended two battles: my mum came home from hospital and I discovered I had finally won acknowledgement that all of my prior experience in the finance industry allowed me credit towards earning a degr...

The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the Messiah, who then puts everything right for those who trust him to do it. Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying? The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” a...

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 HCSB Today believing and confessing can be two different things. I can say: "I should keep the speed limits!" But in actuality, when it suits me, speed, I am what is called a dichotomy. Both opinions are mutually exclusive. Why would I behave in opposition to what I say? The reason is: deep down I don't believe it. In the case of speed, I really think I am Lord of my speed. This is foolish as a policeman would assure me I am not and prove it by finding me or jailing me, if my offence is bad. This example highlights the problem and the truth of the matter. If I say: "Jesus is Lord!" Then in reality I am judged by my actions that display my true heart attitude. However, if I trurely do believe and confess it, I belong to it and am in fact held by this truth. This truth sets me free and does not bind me. God's truth is...

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Romans 12:11‭-‬13 MSG I have a hand pump which I use in my garden. I can prime it with 20 compressions and the flow coming out the spray lasts, say 30 seconds. It I want the spray to last longer I pump more air into the container. My spirit requires filling, regularly. If I know I have a large load, a challenging week, a difficult confrontation, I need to spend more time before the Lord being filled by His Spirit. Jesus told a parable about virgins invited to a wedding. The groom was delayed in coming and their lamps began to run out of oil. 7 wise virgins had brought spare supply, 7 didn't. Those who had not brought a supply of oil with them asked those who had to give to them but they replied:" if we give you some of ours we will not have enough, go and bu...

Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Romans 12:11‭-‬13 HCSB Be all in or get out! There is no halfway! Have you heard this saying? I am sure I would not last long on a football team if my game was halfhearted. A marriage does not last when a couple are not fully committed. As a Christian I must be all there or not there at all. In the book of Revelation we see what Jesus had to say about the lukewarm: Be either hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-17 If I am all in then I am diligent, fervent, forgiving, patient, persistent and rejoicing. I can only be these as I rely on the Holy Spirit, who fills me. Amen!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 MSG In our earnestness to make money, sometimes we compromise. Fear can drive us to a mindset that compels us to take action that had we trusted God, we would not take. If we be honest fear drives us a lot when it comes to money. We might convince ourselves we are being wise or prudent but deep down it is fear. Being content with who we are and who God has called us to be comes first. Allowing Him to lead is important. I am not saying we should sit and do nothing. I am saying we must pray and obey. Sony let anxiety lead, let faith in Him amd His provision. Amen!

But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life , eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 6:23 NLT What a good version of this scripture! As a previous financial planner I understand the analogy. It now comes down to: which employer will I choose? It is that easy! Eternal life or death! In the Old Testament God said such words in Deuteronomy 30:19. Today I set before you life and death, choose life that you might live. 'Life' is more than earthly pleasures, it is long life walking with our God and an eternity with Him. As I have been at a hospital all week I have seen a lot of sickness. I want life in this life as well, not sickness. I want the path that leads to life. J...

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 MSG Well yesterday I was caught off guard and had to enter the fray for my mother. Today was a plodding day but it too came to a point of push. The arrangement, yesterday, was for my mum to be transferred to a private hospital and today that procedure was protracted and even looked like failing. We were informed that there were no beds and that the current hospital would transfer my mother to a rehab facility in the current hospital grounds. That was not acceptable. The rehab facility was also old and not what I wanted for my mum. At this point I decided I would take my mum home, as the specialist had mentioned this prior. I took all her luggage down to my car in the carpark. Upon my return, lo and behold the private hospital had a bed after all. I offered to take mum as planned but 'No!'they could tran...

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 MSG Our circumstances, at times, attempt to rob us of our cheer or determination to worship and praise. In Psalm 52 David says: I will praise you forever for what you have done. In the presence of your faithful people, I will put my hope in your name, for it is good. David had his share of difficulties: he was chased by a mad king for years; his wife was given to another man; one of his children died in infancy because of his sin; one of his sons tried to usurp his throne and again David had to flee, one of his sons rapes one of his daughters. Yet he determined to praise God. Our trials can prove us and refine us as gold or destroy us. We must choose. Diamonds come from charcoal. We can choose, if we do nothing we have chosen. Yet will I praise Him for He is worthy and in my praise and worship I fi...

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 HCSB I use a prayer list to make sure I pray for all I know I need to pray for. Yesterday it was hard going. My mind kept wandering and I could not shake an awareness that something was wrong. I put on some Bethel music and began to worship and then things became clear. Praying under a cloud of worship was where God was at for me. My mother is still in hospital and I spent the day there yesterday. She slept most of the time so I listened to music and preaching messages. However I could not shift a sense of hopelessness....until midnight when I awoke and worshipped and said to the Lord: I choose to praise amd worship and leave this with You as You alone are God and I am not. I then brought many of the things I pray for before the Lord, in worship, and He was there. In Australia Christians are praying and fasting for our up-coming elections, those seeking election and for the state of our nation and its...

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1‭-‬2 HCSB Jesus shows the way. We all must endure through trial and difficulty. Jesus faced the cross but He despised the shame that came with it and endured, for us. He looked beyond the cross to the prize. We must look beyond our difficulty to the promised end. The difficulty and shame shout that the promise is false, but God's promises never fail. Jesus endured what appeared to be the end of Him, but He rose again into new life and was seated at the right hand of God in honour. He made a way for millions to come to the Father. What will our endurance do? What wi...