The day with dianne Louise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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