The day with dianne Louise

The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him— our sins ! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him. Isaiah 53:2‭-‬6 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/isa.53.2-6.MSG Those of us who despare at our aging visage, or wrinkles and ...

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.53.5.NLT All that Jesus suffered we deserved. We are the ones caught in sin and needing a saviour. He became that for me. He was beaten, bruised, scourged, pierced and nailed to a cross. He was abused so that I could be free of the cost of my sin. I know there are times I deserve a beating, but know I can repent and accept the forgiveness given in Christ. I must walk in forgiveness, knowing that He is enough. Enough for me and enough for others. Amen!

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.19.NLT Jesus was the Father's way of bringing reconcilliation between us and Himself. Reconcilliation through forgiveness of sin, and an atoning sacrifice that covered sin, once and for all. We who have been forgiven, and walk in forgiveness, are then given the role of reconciling those in our world to Him. We do not have to shed our blood for others but rather shed our fleshly ways. This is the call, this is the challenge. Amen

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.15.NLT This scripture is at odds with our culture which pushes us to live for ourselves. Only of late have I recognised in myself an individualism that is at odds with this gospel. I live for the gospel but because I have had so much conflict with family I have set myself apart and carved a world out that did not require interactions with them. I have come to see a defensive self reliant attitude in me that needs to be broken. As I am compelled to sit in my son's home and be waited upon, because of broken ribs, I am being challenged. All my defenses are having to come down. It is good! A new phase begins!

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.34.NLT   How has Jesus loved me? He gave Himself for me when I was still a sinner. Nothing I do can make me worthy, yet faith in all He did makes me His. He gave His all for me, this is what He wants me to do for others, give my all. May I learn how to do this well. Amen!

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.34.NLT Last night, as my daughter in law was running her children to Hapkido and returning, I thought to put on noodles to complement the bolognaise already made and to warm up rhe bolognaise. It was not appreciated because I have two broken ribs and the effort was considered too great. Always, in healing I have pushed myself. I find I heal quicker this way, and I have invariably been left to heal alone anyway. Being made play the invalid whilst in someone else's home is a challenge to me. Yet, my grandchildren have been wonderful and attentive. To love my daughter in law I must allow them to wait on me. It can't be all bad. A valuable lesson to learn in responding to love. I am grateful!

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.53.6.NLT This scripture tells us that going our own way causes us to be deemed sinners requiring a saviour. The prophesy around the end times is: they will be lovers of self instead of lovers of God. 2 Tim 3:2. Loving ourselves to the point of idolatry has come. Everything we do is centered on satisfying ourselves. The Old Testament shows us how much God despises idolatry. Even though Jesus paid for our sins, judgement day is coming. We will be judged according to how we lived as Christians. Jesus Himself said: "on that day many of you will say, 'but Lord, Lord, we prophesied in Your name' and I will say, be gone from Me for I never knew you." Sobering truth! Let us walk in the light as He is in the light. Amen!

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.53.6.NLT It is so easy to stray from the path. Pride and ego are instrumental in this. Pride is not faith. It is arrogance and defiance of all God's ways. Two days ago I fell into pride and had a massive fall breaking two ribs. One of my sons friends was helping to care for one of my grandsons. He went with us on an outing. The grandchildren and I were scooting on push scooters. I asked him if he wanted to have a turn. He said "No, I am in a reflective mood today." He was listening to worship music. I scoffed at his unwillingness and took off with the family dog on a lead, as well as me being on the scooter. The dog ran in front of the wheel and I was history. There is a price for sin, immediate and eternal. The immediate is usually something going wrong, the eternal is separation from Christ. Pr...

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.20.28.NLT A ransom is paid to set hostages free. We were held hostage by Satan. He had captured rulership of the world from man. We were no longer in authority but under Satan's authority. Jesus paid the blood price to set us free from being hostages. We are free as long as we walk in that sacrifice. The walk is a faith walk. We can bring this freedom to others. This is our task. Share the freedom. Amen!

For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.” Matthew 20:28 TPT https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.20.28.TPT Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, came.down from His throne room to live as a paltry human being. Giving up His kingship for us was a divine act of grace. Grace given to win the unworthy and set the captives free, was divine indeed. Through this act of grace we were set free from stumbling, if we would only place our faith in Him. Faith is the only way to receive amd it is our role in this divine gift. Faith is powerful, mighty and able. Amen!

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.7.9.NLT The world tells us it is master, its ways are God. Yet, it is filled with frustration and human attempts to master and control. Our God paints a different story. Our time on earth is short. When this life is over we face eternity. Eternity is not a fiction, it is real. In the above image we see people dressed in white crying that salvation comes from only one source, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we continue to read around this passage we see the big picture. Whilst many talk of giving things up to the universe to sort, failing to acknowledge the lordship of Christ bring frustration. Jesus is Lord. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man or woman comes to the Father but by Him.

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 https://bible.com/bible/97/1jn.2.15-17.MSG  Wanting our own way has serious consequences. In the process of enforcing our will on others we rob them of relationship, love, honour, respect. I have watched this play out today. I have a grandson who is autistic and today he had a melt down and continued to rail against what he thought was unfair. Basically unfair was anything that was not what he wanted. Obviously I was the recipient of much of the angst as I was in charge whilst mum and dad were having a break. I called it for what it was and ...

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 1 John 2:15‭-‬16 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.2.15-16.NLT As a Christian we are to love others in the world in wanting God's best for them. Loving the world here refers to possessions, position, place and lust. I pray daily for the people in the world in particular places as I consider myself fortunate to live in peace and have enough, to be able to worship wirhout hindrance and share my faith. In seeking God for His abundance we need to be careful not to be caught in lust for things and the pleasures that the world offers. Jesus told His disciples that the rich have trouble trusting God, instead they trust mammon(money).

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.13.10.NLT Love does not disrespect God, parents or neighbours. Love does not steal, kill or destroy. Love is intensely good. Today I saw children playing well and considerately with each other, until they became tired. Then self became king. Generally my grandchildren are good to each other, but when they are bad, they are horrid. We could say we are the same. Only the love of God in our hearts prevents all evil. Probably that is why Jesus told His disciples to abide in Him. When we abide we do not listen to criticism and thoughts of jealousy or anger. Abide!

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.13.10.NLT Whilst love withholds us from doing wrong, it also compels us to do and speak good. These two are building blocks, they create good and bring change. We could go a step further and say, they do not allow condemning thoughts about others in either. We are God's workmanship, created for good in Christ Jesus. We have no authority to tear down God's creation, tearing down is reserved for powers of darkness. We must oppose the works of darkness and build up the kingdom of God. We are here to do good and not condemn. God is good. We are His family and carry His Spirit. We must do the work given us whilst there is still time. Amen!

The earth is the Lord ’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalms 24:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.24.1.NLT A lot of opinions and criticisms are flying these days on social media. Yet the tennet: you don't understand until you walk in someone else's shoes, still stands. Also: don't criticise someone else's kids. Today I arrived in Brisbane to visit family. They never told me that their house had been flooded. The house is still being repaired. It has been very traumatic. It explains why they have been quiet. Whilst a lot of assumptions came through my mind, never did I imagine this. This brings home to me that until you see someone face to face you cannot pass an opinion. We are God's children and He does not like us passing judgement on His kids.

The earth is the Lord ’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. Psalms 24:1‭-‬2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.24.1-2.NLT If I make a vase out of clay, I made it, I own it, unless I give it away. If I make a spectacular work of art or a brillantly engineered piece, I am its creator and even though I may sell it, credit for its creation is mine. Our God made the earth and all it contains, He made mankind, He deserves the credit and honour. He gave mankind the role of managing the earth, He has a right to it as it is His. Jesus told parables about masters of vineyards and farms putting men in charge of the place and going on a long journey. Eventually the master returns expecting a profit from his farm. The managers refuse and throw out His servants who go to inquire on His behalf. Eventually the master sends His Son. The managers do not respect Him, but kill Him. Jesus told ...

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/php.2.3.HCSB When our children marry we automatically lose the position we once had and are replaced by another. This one has more access because they become one flesh with our children. Letting go and allowing our children to be married men and women is challenging. We once had a position of authority, now we are outside the fence. I am sure they battle managing their relationships with us as well. For their marriages to be successful we must stay out, and mind our own affairs. If we have concerns then prayer is our avenue. Our God is interested in all our hearts and wants to see His kingdom come in us. Lord grant us parents the grace to stay out of the yard. Amen!

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.3.NLT This speaks to so many attitudes. Do you associate trying to impress others with being selfish? Paul does! You can ne sure that God sees through the front, or appearance. He sees motive. Why do we try to impress? We seek to influence for our own gain. We want something, and so we perform, much like a monkey in a circus. We may perceive that the one we are trying to impress has more power, authority or finance. We may see our lack and want what they have. Bad moove! If we sow to the flesh we reap a harvest from the flesh, and no eternal reward. Truth is not touchy feely! However, it can set us free!

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalms 23:1‭-‬2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.23.1-2.NLT Constantly the Lord whispers to me, "I will provide all you need." He does! Again, and again, and again. Always faithful!

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalms 23:1‭-‬2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.23.1-2.NLT Growing up in rurual NSW Australia, I had green paddocks to play in. I remember there was an uninhabitsted block of land next door to our little house, and it was full of clover. I loved to lie in it, and look up at the sky imagining what the clouds represented. It never bothered me that there could have been snakes and spiders there, or that the clover was a pest which would invade my parents lawn. In a land where drought is common green anything is a blessing. To a little child green clover is heaven. As a Christian I cannot be so prescriptive with the Lord as to what green plants He gives me to lie in. Nor can I dictate where the stream must be. I am grateful for His meadows, and His streams. They are full of rest. Amen!

“What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What do I make of you, Judah? Your declarations of love last no longer than morning mist and predawn dew. That’s why I use prophets to shake you to attention, why my words cut you to the quick: To wake you up to my judgment blazing like light. I’m after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God , not go to more prayer meetings. You broke the covenant—just like Adam! You broke faith with me—ungrateful wretches! Hosea 6:4‭-‬7 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/hos.6.4-7.MSG Yes, even us, the modern day Christian can be caught in form and religious rituals instead of heart. God wants true heart motives. Althought the language is colourful and a tad funny, it speaks truth. God is over performance. He allows us to discover the fruit of performance is empty shells, whereas the fruit of heartfelt prayer is results. Do we want praise from our peers or our God? Praise from our peers strokes our egos, yet bears no fruit. Prayer with heart bears fr...

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.6.6.NLT We can feel so good about our sacrificial patience, the work we are doing for God, yet not love the ones we are patient with. God here is challenging our self-righteousness. It is not about us, it is about others and Him. It is not how good I can be but how I can love enough to set others free. Let us seek Him today for His love for that difficult family member. What would He have us do or say?

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.16.24.NLT Honey is very tasty. On freshly baked bread it hums. If we value the taste of something bees make, surely we can value kindness, which the Spirit produces, as well. As a Christian I have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within. I need to let Him loose. Amen!

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.16.24.NLT Kind words are so different from angry or critical words. Kind words lift up and are filled with grace. Kind words come from a person willing to overlook failures of others and spend some grace. Grace is a godly gift from heaven above. Grace is an ointment on wounds, a healer of diseased personalities. Grace forgives the unforgivable and loves the unlovable. Kindness is its tool or manifestation. Spread kindness! Amen!

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.6.12.NLT If we are in a turbulent sea and sharks are zeroing in on us and a saviour arrive, when we are thrown a lifeline, do we throw it away or do we hang on for dear life? We hang on, don't we? Receiving Christ as our saviour means we have been rescued from eternal destruction. If we let go of the lifeline we must be very foolish indeed. Yet, many do. Why? They are deceived into believing that they are not in eternal, mortal danger, all is well, so let go. Do not throw away the line to eternal life. Hold on, and never let go!! Amen! Every day on the news we hear reports of young people killed suddenly in motor vehicle crashes. Did they know that today was their day to die? Did they have time to change rheir minds and accept Christ as their lifeline? No!

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.6.12.NLT We fight many battles, when only one holds real significance. We are called to fight for our faith. What does this mean? It means we fight to apprehend all God's promises through faith in His willingness, and ability to provide. We fight our laziness, we fight the enemy's condemnation, temptations, discouragement. I watch my young nephews going off to soccer practice, out on the road playing soccer, football, basketball, never failing in their zeal to be a good player. Some sit on the couch watching TV, playing games. These are the two opposites. We have a choice: sit and complain or go for the promise. Hold on tight to God's promise amd step into into it in faith. Amen!

O Lord , I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. Isaiah 25:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.25.1.NLT Two days ago I said to the Lord: " I would love a basketball." Yesterday I was given a very nice basketball, black with gold lettering. Today I pumped it up and my nephews and I played ball. Such fun! Mind you the joints are telling me my age. Tonight I am going to the movies with friends. While this is trivial to most, I am grateful that the Lord is happy to be involved. Our God is all about relationship building. Communities work better with open communication. Yesterday I befriends two neighbours who I had previously had problems with. It is amazing how we view people we know better than a surface relationship. Make friends. It is worth it!

O Lord , I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. Isaiah 25:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.25.1.NLT We make plans and are excited when they come to pass. Yet, God's plans surpasses them all. Last Christmas a young neighbour, directly across the road from me, received a basketball hoop for Christmas. The young man set it up right on the edge of the road so all and any could use. I was surprised when it stayed there. Yesterday I was out with my nephews, and another aunt, playing, along came some more neighbours and they joined the game. I have had  heart for my street being one. We now have our own Facebook page thanks to COVID. More and more are joining in and loving the community we are creating. Praise God! Now, I know my God planned this long ago. How good is He!

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.6.6.HCSB Prayer is directed towards God, unless you are  a pharisee. Jesus criticised these for elaborate prayers out on the open, to be seen by people. They prayed to impress. Praying to be heard by God is more important as it is He who answers prayers. He is the One with all the power and the glory. Amen!

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.6.6.HCSB Each of us does things to impress others. We do this by how we dress, the way we do our hair, the car we drive, the house we live in. Yet, when it comes to God, He is not impressed with the outward, but rather the inward parts of us. What is our heart's desire before Him. Do we, like David, long to be in His presence? Or are we attempting to manipulate Him for our own ends? The above scipture tells us how to pray. These are Jesus' words. In His earthly life He always went off by Himself to a quiet place, He did not have His own home, or the luxury to shut the door behind Him. As I live alone I can sit on the couch, with my dog and look out into the changing sky. Amazing! We are called to commune with our Father. Jesus gave us  the Lord's prayer as a type of prayer ...

“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. Matthew 23:11‭-‬12 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/mat.23.11-12.MSG  The unassumingly clever never fail to impress. Yesterday I read an article about a young 20 year old man who solved a quantum equation. His accomplishment saw him sought by AMAZON. Yet this young man is unaffected. These sort of people solve the problems of mankind and just like many who gave their discoveries to all, and claimed nothing in return, bring us the most joy. People like Mother Theresa who served the poor in a foreign land, humbly, gladden our hearts. We can bring most joy when we forget ourselves. Amen!

The greatest among you must be a servant.  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11‭-‬12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.23.11-12.NLT Jesus is our exanple. This scripture is taken from a passage in which Jesus lays into the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They had wandered so far from the truth that they laid heavy burdens on people, making ridiculous rules about tithing and making oaths. Tithing bits of mint, yet not tithing mercy and grace. We need to read this in light of what God wants of us, especially if we have been on the road for a long while in our faith. We cannot lay heavy burdens on people. I have a passion for souls and must be mindful of their culture, and not transgress their boundaries. Our God is interested in their eternal souls, and we cannot hinder this. Amen!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10 ASV https://bible.com/bible/12/psa.46.10.ASV When God said: "I will be exalted among the nations", this was a prophesy about what is becoming. More and more nations are turning to Him. When He said: "I will be exalted above the earth", now, more than ever before is mankind grappling with the magnitude of His creation. When the James Webb telescope is launched in October this year, what is known will become insignificant in what will be known. Our God is great and will be praised. Amen! 

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10 ASV https://bible.com/bible/12/psa.46.10.ASV The words: 'be still', reminds me of words I have spoken: 'be quiet and listen!' God is commanding us to be still and know He is God. It helps if we are gazing into the night sky or on a high mountain overlooking a beautiful valley. I recent did this. It made me want to fly. At times we need to be gobsmacked so that we cease from thinking about us and are in awe of God and His creation. In all the turmoil taking place in the world today, God is still on His throne and completely in charge of His kingdom, while we discover we are not in control of our kingdom. Today take time to be still and wonder. Amen!

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2‭-‬4 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/jas.1.2-4.MSG This version put this scripture passage together well. Our faith-life is what is tested. This is because we are called to live by faith. Our faith is a treasure to the Lord, and it is this which He is vitally interested in seeing grow. Faith pleases the Lord. So...when tested, don't crumble. Know that you are faith pumping! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2‭-‬3 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.2-3.NLT I don't know anyone who likes pain, yet pain is necessary to grow muscle, grow up, grow character. Character is what this verse is about. Hebrews tells us that we need endurance so that we might proove the will of the Father and receive what has been promised. Hebrews 10:36. What is the will of the Father? That sons and daughters of His been shown and seen as His representatives, that the world might know Him. Endurance does produce a reward. Every athelete who endures has a chance to win a gold medal and be honoured above their peers. Our medal comes from the Father, we will receive a crown of righteousness. Endure!

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.16-17.NLT The word of God teaches us, prepares us and gives us tools to serve Him. He is vitally interested in us behaving as His sons and daughters, ready for every good work. I am caught unaware when my spirit rises up to a task. I am inspried to a challenge. The Lord knows I love challenges and places them before me. He has given me one right now. It has to do with the Australian indigenous people being one with the white folk. It is a huge challenge, but if God is in this, it will happen. He has led me to meet or know key links in the chain and annointed me with boldness, not afraid to speak to royalty, if needed. Prayer will bathe all I do, the word will be my food, and...

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.16.NLT Scripture is indeed good for cleansing our spirits. It challenges me, corrects me and encourages me all at the same time. Yesterday I spent time in Romans. So good! Loved every minute. Today is a good day to turn off all distractions, grab your bible and read. Let it reset your paramaters. Amen!

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. Proverbs 29:25 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.29.25.MSG Fear of people can cause us to become people pleasers. We are constantly buffetted between conflicting opinions, and it can be quite draining. It also causes us to disappoint many because of failed plans that we create with them. The plans fail because another opinion causes us to doubt our plan, and we run after that plan. Our lives become disjointed and fractured, and we bleed emotion a lot. Not a very satisfactory life. The apostle Paul asked: " who will deliver me from this body of sin?" Fortunately he knew the answer and went on the say: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:24,25) Jesus taught: a wise man builds his house upon a rock, so that when the storms come, it will stand. The rock is the truth found in the word of God. Amen!

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. Proverbs 29:25 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.29.25.MSG Fearing human opinions causes us to act falsely, covering our true opinions that simmer away underneath, and burst forth at the most inopportune times, exposing us. Whereas fearing God lays those opinions at His feet, and yield them to His better judgement. Admittedly I don't do this often and find myself repenting afterwards. It shows me I need to spend more time in the Lord's presence to clean away those attitudes and opinions. After all there is only One opinion that matters. There may be places where this is more a problem than others. When I am with the astronomy group there is a particular man that talks all the time. It aggravates me a lot and I find I am prone to speak out and tells him "enough". The man can't be quiet unless he is in the kitchen cooking, he loves to cook. Whereas he is a very knowledgeable astronomer, he ...

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.13.13.NLT It is good to know that faith, hope and love will last forever. In fact I suspect they have always been, because God has always been, and these three are attributes of His. They also work together. We can have faith for a person when we love them. We can hope for a good outcome because we love our God and know He loves us. Amen!

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.13.13.NLT I grew up through the 60s and 70s, the flower power generation, and the Beetles singing: All you need is love. Mankind does belive that love is the answer, it just has warped ideas about what love looks like. The takeaway from that era was: its all about free sex. Unfortunately this warped notion started a sideways dance away from truth. What then is the truth? What is love? Paul tells us in the same chapter of 1 Cor 13: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. This is the kind of love Jesus demonstrated. His ultimate act of love was ...

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.10.NLT A person who is not a homemaker would probably be ill advised to take on the role of hospitality. Whereas they may have the gift of encouragement. People who are awkward around strangers should keep away from people services and become involved in behind the scenes.They are all valid and necessary. A body has many different parts. Not all can be toes or fingers, where would the voice be? We each must use what we are good at to serve others. 

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:10‭-‬11 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.10-11.NLT It is interesting that with the term 'spiritual gifts' Peter includes practical gifts, not the ones we usually think of: faith, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, miracles, healing, discernment of spirits, speaking in various types of tongues. Each one of us has a gift, whether it be in serving joufully, mowing lawns, baking, singing, playing a musical instrument, speaking or even hospitality. If we can do several, then we should do them. They key is using what we have, not withdrawing because w...

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/col.4.6.NLT Being gracious to ungrateful and unkind people does not come naturally. Our flesh wants to fight the perpetrator amd justify our own stance. However, here we are confronted with a biblical truth. Be kind and loving because your heavenly Father is kind and loving. We must choose which father we will display in our responses. Being kind, giving a smile to a stranger, giving compassion to a stranger wins smiles and a change in the one we give the gift to. Being patient and steadfast to troublesome, emotional people can calm them down amd bring them to peace. We are God-changers. Let's change the world, one step at a time, and not complain. Anyone, and almost everyone complains. Make the change! Amen!

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5‭-‬6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/col.4.5-6.NLT Being wise is not something we automatically do. Wisdom is sought like gold, Solomon says, in Proverbs. Jesus tells His listeners about the kingdom of God being a pearl of great price. When a man finds it in a field, he goes and sells all he has to buy the field. The kingdom of God is filled with wisdom. Living wisely among unbelievers is imperative. What we say, how we say things to them is vital. Our conversation needs to be seasoned with salt. When I cook a meal I season it. It has to taste just right. Our words are the same, they need to be just right. Amen!

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3:13‭-‬17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.13-17.NLT Suffering for doing wrong is a part of justice. However, suffering for doing right is not. This is called persecution. There are many in our world who suffer for doing good. These need our prayer and financial support.  Jesus, again, is our example. He did no wrong, and was crucified. Thr religious leader...

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.1.NLT We know what it means to belong to a team, a family, a class. When we beling to Christ, we are in His team or more importantly His family. A good family knows how to share and care. Jesus is the head of His family, He earned the right by purchasing our freedom. As the head He shares all His power and authority with us all. How cool is that? Easter represents the beginning of our new family, and the aurhority that is held in it. It is more important that Christmas as it was based upon an existing celebration called the Passover. Pasover celebrated the protection afforded to God's people as they painted the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. Jesus became our passover lamb. His blood was shed for out freedom. Praise Him!

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.1.NLT Years ago I had a friend say that as he aged he was becoming more impatient. I have a girlfriend who exhibits this often, especially in games. Yesterday I saw it in myself. I was attenpting to collect a young man for church. He was not where we agreed and did not respond to my telephone call. As it was  Easter, and he lived in shared accomodation, I did not want to disturb the whole house knocking, so after 7 minutes I left. The action in itself was not a problem but my attitude of annoyance was. This is a bit of a pattern. I found myself in church repenting and asking for the grace to be kind. Being impatient and annoyed comes easily but kindness only flows out of a spirit that is new. This verse from Romans gives me hope, the previous chapter was dealing with the old fleshly nature, impatience for example, and the Spirit was given to me as a result of belie...

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Matthew 28:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.28.6.NLT Today I watched the Jesus movie with a new Christian friend of mine. I was struck with how Peter would have felt at seeing Jesus crucified as he was no longer able to make his blunder (denying knowing Jesus) right. Then, on the Sunday have the women return with the news that Jesus' body was gone. He would have been bereft. What joy Peter would know when Jesus appeared to them all, at the same time, what shame, with again knowing he needed to make things right. The movie did not show the time that Jesus turned up at the sea shore when Peter was fishing. Jesus invited him to have breakfast. Over breakfast Jesus questioned Peter about his love for Him, not once but three times. These three times were the cleansing of the three denials Peter had made. By the end of the discourse Peter was made new again. It is amazing that...

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Matthew 28:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.28.6.NLT There were many who wanted Jesus to stay in the tomb: the religious leaders, the Roman guard, the haters. Yet Jesus didn't stay put. Divine power raised Him from the dead and then He was a new man. This same divine power is offered to all, not only the Jews, but all mankind. The Jewish nation rejected their saviour, but the Gentiles received Him. Today marks the day  when the door was opened to all races and creed. Today, as we celebrate the risen Christ, we are welcomed to enter into a relationship with a loving God. Praise Him! Oh praise the One who took my debt and raised this life up from the dead. (Song)

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. John 3:14‭-‬15 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.3.14-15.NLT Eternal life is desirous. To know that earthly death is not the end is comforting. How to obtain it? Jesus said He was the Way, the truth and the life. He is the door. Eternity is mine. Knowing that I will spend it with my Lord doing amazing things excites me. It will not be dull! The God who created the universe is not dull. What am exciting adventure! Thank You Jesus for making a way!

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. John 3:14‭-‬15 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.3.14-15.NLT I love all the interconnected symbolism in the Old Testament, everything that was woven into the fabric of faith and relationship to God. Even an act performed over one thousand years before by Moses had significance. The people had been disobedient, and grumbled yet again. God sent serpents in their midst, killing many. Moses interceded and God told him to make a bronze serpent on a pole and hold it up, and whoever looked on it would be healed from snake bite. (Numbers 21:4-8) Jesus was lifted up on a cross and paid the price of our sin, finishing forever the breech between us. Praise Him!

Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, “He saved others. Let’s see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!” Luke 23:34‭-‬35 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.34-35.MSG It relating to others we can be hurt, and let down repeatedly. Do ee harden our hearts, become bitter and unforgiving, and walk away? Jesus watched soldiers gamble for His clothes, He was jeered at and condemned by passers by, yet He forgave. Today we are reminded of the depth of love and compassion of Christ. Was it only the soldiers He was speaking about? Or was it the pharisess, the rabble, King Herod, Pilate, and His disciples who ran away from Him? Who was He willing to forgive? I would hazard to guess it was everyone. He was not being choosy. He dies for all sin, not just those He considered not against Himself, or not so severe....

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Luke 23:34 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.23.34.NLT People who have power will use it wickedly, shamefully amd brutally. Jesus suffered at the hands of the ruling Romans, and the leaders of His own people. In our time nothing has changed,  if we happen to have a good leader his opponents make a campaign to so rip and tear at him, the public believe he is wicked, and not his accusers.  Jesus was a good man, He was God in the flesh, and His opponents murdered Him. Yet He willingly went to the cross to save us from our sins. When Jesus prayed: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." This was a divine act of forgiveness. This was agape love in action. Through this love we have all been forgiven and restored, all of the undeserving, unforgiving, brutal, and wicked are also forgiven. All! Amen!

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:7‭-‬8 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.7-8.NLT Choosing the life of a servant is rare in human circles, more often it is the only option. Always there is a buring desire to do better. Yet Jesus gave up His very high postion, a position that involved Him as a creator, and designer of life. Many new Australians come to our shores with qualifications of engineers, dentists, doctors etc but are forced to take menial, low paid work because employers continue to look for white people. I have a friend who did a masters in accountany at uni here, and is a trolley collection boy at Coles. The reason for this is he cannot break into the exclusive market of accountancy, yet, anyway. However, there are many Australian-born white folk who will not consider me...

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:7‭-‬8 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.7-8.NLT A lot of what happened above we did not see. Jesus humbling Himself to lay aside His deity to be born a man would be huge as He would have seen in advance the cross, the shame and rejection of the mankind He sought to save. Jesus would also know that those He was closest to would desert Him. He would have to walk the difficult path alone, except for the presence of the Father it would be unbearable. Jesus' cry on the cross: "My God my God why have You forsaken me?" Does this show He did not forsee this? This was the ultimate loss, the devastation of soul, yet the fulfilling cost. The cross represented all our sin, Jesus was the lamb that was slain for our sin.  His desolation is our gua...