Month: May 2016

Galatians 6: 1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Dear God,

I give thanks for my life on each new day, and for the health and strength to live out my life in God given love and wisdom, able to attempt to do the works that I am gifted to do.  I thank You that I can come freely and confess my sins, knowing that they will be forgiven and for the hope of eternal life I have in You.

In 2014 while I was still giving out tastes and original recipes, I was always thankful, that You showed me the way, as I developed recipes for sharing at the markets.  You knew who was to visit us on that day, and the type of food combinations that would be attractive to them,  as I show cased delicious natural food created by You, because they are healthful foods.  I was so in need of divine guidance, as I desired not to present tortured and distorted food designed by the evil one, that would bring people down in health and spirit, as well as deface another handiwork of Yours; each individual body.

Though I know this type of cooking does not appeal to most people, please continue to guide me as to when I should make these recipes available to people again.

I have always found in You my answer in all situations, and am thankful that You lead us every day, as I (we) accept and open ourselves up and invite You into our lives and heart daily.  Sadly, sometimes temptation and sin overtakes all of us and because we (I) have taken our eyes off You and in this separated condition, I become focused upon myself or worldly interests, and then My Saviour Jesus, becomes less important that day, or however long I remain distracted or separated.

Paul obviously knows about these actions, for though he loved You like we do, he was also a sinner in need of a Saviour, as were all those in the churches he established, V 1 in Galatians 6.  Thank You for inspiring him to share what the Spirit had taught him; it is best to treat the one who had trespassed, gently and attract them back to Yourself, so they could then confess their sin and be made right with You again.  He also reminds all his readers, that if we become judgemental and unloving, we ourselves will be opened up to sin again, and in our prideful state, will have forgotten our true place, which is at the feet of Jesus in humility.

I give praise, that Your grace is more than sufficient, and is for me and everyone; and that Jesus does not censure human weakness, but lifts us out with His strength and provision.

I choose today, to be a true, vibrant and happy child of God; because my confessed sins are forgiven and I am restored again.

Amen

John 6: 45, 47 “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

Dear God,

Thank You for all Your gifts and love, especially me today; even though out of Your perfect creation, now all are sin tainted; You love us still!  To me, that is amazing evidence of Your profound and infinite love.

Today I am feeling particularly unlovable, because my thoughts and prayers seem frozen and inept.  But even so, I know You hear my cry and even now will rescue me, so that I can form the true prayers of my heart and be forgiven my every sin.  You and I both want that You take this self-centred person and bring me to Yourself, and so be strengthened to focus on You and the others that You cause to cross my path or those that I seek out.

How good, that it was not only in the time of Jesus, that people were ‘taught by God’, for You still teach those who seek and will listen.  For me, I am glad, that when I hear and learn from You, Father God, it is then that I come to Jesus, My Saviour.  I grasp the promise from the lips of Jesus, that all those who believe in Him, will have everlasting life.

It would seem this promise is for each who come with their whole heart and whole mind, and not for the person who believes but produces no further action.  Jesus for me and all who believe and accept Him, is our ‘Bread of Life,’ because I (we) assimilate His teachings and allow Him to lead in my (our) life.  I also know that Jesus died for me (all) and I can only have life, as I accept His sacrifice for me, and practice how He taught mankind to live and do, (John 6: 48 – 51).  It is such a comfort to know, that because I accept Jesus into my life, I will also have His Spirit within me and His gift of spiritual food, which is described as His ‘flesh and blood’.  This is a nourishing experience, for whoever feeds on this ‘food’ achieves growth and ‘has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day’, Jesus said in V 53 – 55.

Thank You again for answered prayers, and that You have again lifted me up to Yourself, and fed me with spiritual food, and I have been nourished and strengthened.

I love You, Lord my Saviour.

Amen

 

 

John 8: 31, 32 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Dear God,

Thank You for this special day; whilst it is still dark, and in quiet and peace, I have come apart from all work and concerns, to reflect on Your love and care, and much more besides.  You are my Creator and my Saviour; there is nothing that counts in my estimation apart from You.  I would not be alive in a formed body, but for You, let alone live in Your hope and love, with the real promise of eternal life; because I have given You my life and ask that my heart be truly Yours.

Daily I battle to give You all of me, or else that selfish sinful person I am apart from You, rises up and takes control.  It was such a release to learn, that the Holy Spirit enables me to use my will, and ask Jesus to take my heart, otherwise I in my sinfulness, will always battle to give Him all of me.  Jesus, You truly are worthy of all worship and adoration

Today as I have read in John 8 and Romans 7, am again reminded of my vulnerability to lapse into, sinful thought and practice that sneaks unrecognized at first.  But I praise Your precious and holy name, for I do not need to dwell on this or stay in that place.  I am again reminded by the words of Jesus, John 8: 31, 32 “…..If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  As Your disciple, I understand that I have been set free by the truth that Jesus speaks into my mind again this morning.  Hallelujah!

I determine to believe in Jesus, His word and to do His works and not the works of the father of lies.  It truly is a wonderful thing not only to contemplate His words, but really assimilate them, V51 “Most assuredly, I say to you if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”  I understand dear God, that this means eternal death, for many of Your followers have died down through the ages, and now after death they quietly wait in their resting place, for the call of Jesus to life.

Jesus, You came from God Your Father, and brought life to us, thank You.  I believe and accept Your words, for You came with all authority from Your Father, as God, His Son.

In the time of Jesus, the dissenting priests were proud of their connection to Abraham, having missed discerning His heavenly connection, V58 “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Please keep me ever focused on Jesus, the I AM, the One who has always been, and came from God His Father, to save the human race.  Whatever I am, and have and want to be in human terms, is as nothing when compared to what Jesus offers me, and will make of me, when He abides in me and I in Him.

I give all my praise and adoration, this morning to the One, who wants to be my forever Friend.

Amen

 

John 5: 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.”

Dear God,

Thank You for the scriptures, and that I have the peace and ability to read them freely.  Please fill me with Your Spirit, so that I will not just read them, but understand and assimilate them correctly, with selfless, whole heartedness; which is not how Jesus spoke about the priests and scribes.  John 5: 39 “You search the Scriptures, but in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”  It is a fearful thing if I (we) knowingly put out own preconceived ideas or constructs into the reading of Your word, and thus miss Your intended message; as was the case with the priests in Christ’s day.

Please again open my heart and mind, so that I not only have the understanding from Your words, that You intended, but also a humble desire to open my heart and mind and give You my whole heart, life and practice, and not be as the priests, as I mentioned previously.  In John 5: 46, 47 Jesus told the priests and leaders, that they read and believed Moses and yet did not believe or accept Himself, of whom Moses wrote about under Your inspiration.  If we form and allow such a closed view to grow, we will essentially be worshipping ourselves. We have no supernatural powers to get us out of our mess of sin, and we cannot get to heaven without Your powers to overcome the sin that precludes us from heaven.  So for me the sum of it is, to rely on myself instead of You, would give the end result of my missing out on heavenly delights, as well Your full blessings in the here and now. I think in this case I make a poor prospect to myself, apart from You.

How grateful I am Jesus, that You are still our God given, Life, Light and Saviour, and that the two of You are in all ways as one.

Proverbs 28: 24 “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

 

Dear God,

Thank You that we are never left or forsaken by You, and I know that Jesus also always loves and cares for me.  He even now inter-cedes His spilt blood on my behalf, in heaven with You His Father.  Not that You Father God, are against me (we) or need persuading to forgive my sins, or accept me as one of those saved by the blood of Jesus=which makes me Your spiritual child.  It as I understand, just that Jesus completed His mission on earth that You and He had decided upon.  And it can only be the shedding of His sacrificial body on the cross that is able to atone for my every confessed sin.

It is often hard to grasp, that Jesus loves every sinner without reserve, and when I approach Him and ask to be forgiven, it is His delight to do so; and He is free to do so.  Jesus truly is my Savour and friend, closer than any earthly person can be.  Yet despite His strong care and love for me, He awaits my permission to fill this position in my life, during which time, I have absolute freedom to express myself.

I am blessed indeed to be called a child of God and loved by You both as one.

Amen

 

 

John 5: 6 – 9 “…Jesus……He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’  The sick man answered…….  Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk,’ and immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.”

Dear God,

A new day is here!  Thank You for creating all things. I am ever grateful that the order of things for the sun, moon, stars and seas is maintained, despite the general apostasy and non-thinking ungratefulness to our God, for most of us living upon earth at this present time.

Today I have read in the Old Testament of the final end of Judah and reign of their kings.  The moral slide had initially started with Saul and finished with Zedekiah.  You had always cared for them, and maintained their life and sustenance, even whilst chastising them for their wayward wickedness.  Still generally they did not listen, repent of their sinful apostasy or seek to love their provider; God first.  But despite this record, there were always a few people who were humble and faithful to You, through and despite all circumstances.

On the earth today You have a remnant of the people who love You first and follow the light of all the knowledge they have.  Whether it is physically or spiritually, today as in former times, we are asked through Your living and eternal word ‘Do you want to be made well?’  Surely we would be unwise, not to say yes?  We do not have to stay in sin and in life habits that draw us (me) from You leading not only emotional unwellness, but spiritual and sometimes physical unwellness, also.  Because of the love of Jesus and our free choice to accept His offer, we can leave all the chaos of the pool of uncertainty behind; for now we have the reality of the care of Jesus, instead of our hope to be healed by some mysterious event or ‘potent’ as did the sick man at the pool.  I am reassured that even if not healed in this life, our full physical healing comes at the second coming of Jesus!

Thank You dear Jesus that judgement and healing for sins, reside with You, and You are one with Your Father as given in John 5: 20 – 23.  I believe and rejoice in the good news, that You can lift me out of wrong thinking that leads to emotional distress, negativity or a critical spirit; both of which

are not positive for my mind and physical body, or how I receive You into myself.

The healed paralytic was thankful for the intervention of Jesus, as I am thankful for Your answers to my many prayers.  The healed man went to the temple and was giving praise about being healed there.  Jesus found him, V 14 “…… and said to him, ‘See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.’”

Today in Your strength, in joy and thanksgiving, I plan to walk in Your light and not intentionally keep sinning.

Amen

 

Proverbs 15: 30 “The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.”

Dear God,

It is good to read about Your blessing of Solomon with wisdom, in answer to his request, shortly after his taking office. At this time Solomon knew that all true wisdom is with God and whence a departure from this wisdom would take a person, V 33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.”

In fact for a good period of his life afterwards, liaisons with numerous idolatrous woman, plus his pride, love of wealth and honour, led him into apostasy and wickedness toward You his God and Your requests; which obscured his spiritual wisdom.

What a lesson for us!  It is evident that You love to bless Your children and for some, this will be in riches and fame, and for others it is in spiritual matters, or teaching and many other numerous ways that enhance others and dispense Your blessings.  Sadly very few can stay focused upon loving You after being in receipt of the blessings of money, possessions, recognition and praise etc., for some time, without thinking it all came due to their own efforts.  It seems for many, in typical sinful human gratitude, they stop loving and acknowledging the giver of the gifts and blessings.

Even though I am retired now after never accumulating great wealth, honour and accolades to a much lesser degree than was the case for Solomon or people in public life now.   I even now have risks to my spiritual life, for distractions come in numerous guises.   It only takes one step to start a journey, or push off to start a slide downhill.

Because I have been made aware of the risks, I will arm myself with prayer and will keep praying for the protection of Your Spirit to surround me, along with angels sent from heaven.  I have found that looking upward to Jesus; my Light bestows upon me happiness and restores my heart.  It has been found that every piece of good news, which includes the good news of salvation, is good for the health of the heart and bones.

I have sometimes found that it is hard to accept correction.   Unless I come to You, and in the wisdom and strength of the Spirit, I then am able to humble all of myself before You in prayer.  I know that it must be during our life on earth, the rebukes of life will come, and if I heed them and learn from them, I am more likely to be improved mentally as well as be more spiritually wise.  It is by so doing that I will gain understanding about many of the things in life and be capable of enhanced interactions with others; including some of the things of God.  Proverbs 15: 31, 32 “He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, and he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.  The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.”

In Your given wisdom, I can see that it is an honour for You to love me, and to seek me out, communicate with me and plan for me to be in heaven.  I desire to never make Your gifts and plans for me to come to naught.  By using every one of my senses, I give You praise!

Amen

Proverbs 28: 25 “He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.”

Dear God,

Thank You for Your written word that addresses every spiritual and emotional need I have on every day I read from the sacred pages.  I also appreciate all lessons the Holy Spirit teaches me from these words; when I acknowledge my need and accept the lessons given.  I have found all through the scriptures, incidents  recounted, showing human pride regarding what that person had achieved, or how they had worshiped, etc., to such a degree, that their mind had become set in such a way that it was closed  to what You had asked of them, or wanted to reveal to them.

Today, I am convicted that I am at risk of this same mind block, due to spiritual or human pride, and I ask to be forgiven.  I wish to be reminded that I was made by You God; to live in obedience to You and  give You glory.  I have been and will always be a sinful, human person.  In Your great love, You use we human people in all ways to reach out to others, even though we often wreck it, for the other, because we are self-opinionated. Very often we do not do not even know that, or how far we have erred.

I am immensely comforted and give thanks that You have always loved me and have promised to continue, even when my own thoughts and actions reveal a self-focus that blocks You out.  Forgive me Lord for erring again, and send your Spirit to teach me Your way, and to change me, so that I know deep in my very being, that to You, we all have infinite worth, which is why Jesus came and died for me (all) so that each could repent of sin, and be forgiven, then saved from eternal death.

It seems that I forget and am strangely surprised, when reminded that I was born in sin and have absolutely no righteousness of my own. s It is important to remember that I have nothing that would recommend me for heaven, and all righteousness has been imputed to me, and it is the righteousness of Jesus, that will recommend me for heaven.  Release and peace come when I fall upon my knees to acknowledge my sin and need.

How happy I am that my heart has been filled with the living water promised by Jesus, John 4: 14 “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

I give You praise, Jesus for Your words of life, that are as water to my soul, and I thirst without them.

Amen

John 3: 14, 15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Dear God,

Once again, I thank You, because You love us so much that You have rescued us from sin, if we so choose to accept, John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  At first for the Jews who heard the messages of Jesus, it was hard for them to understand, the role of the Holy Spirit, as it may be for us.   By experience I find that it can be a reality for me today when putting sin aside, I pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit; and as Jesus promised when returning to heaven, the Holy Spirit will be sent to me.

I pray again this morning, that my sins be forgiven, and that I will be filled with the Holy Spirit, who brings me to Jesus, my Saviour in all ways needful.

It is sometimes shocking to me, just how inherent sin is within me, for today when reading the Holy Bible, the irritation I recently felt toward someone else, has been remembered.  Even if my emotion is humanly justifiable; it is not wise to entertain such an emotion, especially when reading and meditating upon Your word, for the result is always that I am robbed of the blessings and peace You have for me.  Praise Your Holy name, for when I pray my unloving attitude will be dispelled by Your intervention and in love and wisdom, Your pathway will be lighted up before me, and a new heart and attitude is put within me.  You will bring about the best answer to my dilemma; which most probably it will not require me to say the thoughts that burn within in me.  In the love and comfort given my soul, I stop thinking about myself and the need to be recognized for my contribution or whatever has been ignored by another.  I find, sadly, that it is very easy to be sinful, when I look to prideful self; and finally I am bought to recognize the original author of these emotions within me = Satan himself.  Do I want that? No!

As Jesus reminded us, after the Israelites had apostatized by worshiping a golden calf, during the forty days Moses was away, You instructed Moses to place a bronze serpent upon a pole making a type of cross shape, and any person who believed in the Your power, symbolized by the cross, did not die of the literal snake bite, from the serpents You allowed into their encampment as the result of their sin.  I believe that these serpents were all around them in the wilderness, but by Your intervention the Children of Israel, were normally protected because You kept the serpents away from them.  A lesson can be drawn for us from this happening, because we have ‘serpents’ of temptation all around us, and You will protect us from the bite of sin, when we stay on Your pathway.

Today I am afflicted by the ‘snake bite’ of sin, and I can look backward to the cross, as they looked forward, and in the reality of my faith in Jesus, the Son of God, who died for my sins upon the cross and be forgiven of my ‘snake bite’ of sin and know I will live.  God did not send Jesus into this world to condemn all mankind for our sins, as we deserve, but for us to be saved from our sins.

Today I will indeed look up to Jesus, as my only answer, in the sure knowledge, that He never refuses me.  Hallelujah!

Amen

 

John 3:5 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Dear God,

How good the recent rain was giving us sweet scented mornings.  Now I also appreciate the bright sunshine, cheering everything up after a chilly night.   I give thanks, for every blessing that is bestowed upon me, as well as all of creation around me and the entire universe, that was spoken into existence perfect.  No fault was found in all creation.  Then sin arrived onto this planet, and everything was changed by Satan, for no longer was creation on this earth perfect, as everything now had a time limit on its life; for sickness and death were also bequeathed to every living thing because of the changes sin made.

Obviously mankind could never enter heaven in this condition, where all is perfect in form, function and death is unknown.  Since Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven, disobedience in heaven is now also unknown there, as it was before Satan’s jealously of Your Son progressed into a full rebellion.  I read in the scriptures, that in heaven all the angels delight to obey their Creator, and live in harmony with one another, in the light that comes from God the Father and His Son; for there is no darkness in God’s city.

Moses who was bought back to life after death and taken to heaven, in a symbolic action, pointing to what would happen to Christ after His death; is to be followed by many of God’s faithful ones, when Jesus comes a second time, and will raise those who have been sleeping in the grave, (and the living) awaiting His arrival.  Elijah and Enoch were both taken by God to heaven, never having seen death, pointing to the certainty for some, the same will happen to them, at the second coming of Jesus.

An important man from the temple came to see Jesus secretly at night, and was amazed with what Jesus had to tell him.  For Nicodemus and all mankind on earth the message from Jesus was, we will not enter heaven, unless our spiritual natures are born again through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was baptized, not because He had sinned and needed to be born again through the Holy Spirit, but as an example for all people from earth to follow.  We are to be baptized by water signifying that we are commencing a new life with Jesus and all our old sinful thoughts and ways have been washed away.

Nicodemus schooled in the religious restraints of the time, did not understand the phrase, ‘to be born again’.  He thought ‘physical’ when Jesus referred to spiritual.  Jesus gave an example that we can all understand, as the wind cannot be seen, yet its effects can be; so with the Holy Spirit.  When the Holy Spirit comes into my heart and mind, my outward works and actions, should now be new, signifying my inner changed thoughts, attitudes and life purpose etc.

Thank You, dear Jesus, that I was given the opportunity to learn of You, and that I in turn, have taken my stand in baptism, signifying my changed life and purpose, and that I have been accepted by You as a new person; then and every day as I recommit myself to You.  Sadly I have found that after my baptism declaration that I am Yours, it does not mean that I will never sin again. Thankfully, because I purpose to be yours, and in repentance confess my sins and am forgiven, I can again be strengthened to progress ever upward, upon my new life with You.

Again I give thanks for my being a recipient of Your love and the salvation story, with the hope that one day I will go to Your perfect heaven, taken by the lovely, perfect Jesus.

Amen

John 1: 15 “John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

Dear God,

Your ways are not ours, because Your wisdom is absolute and infinite.  Because You are God, You know our thoughts and intentions, and choose to use we mere mortals who love You; in service.  It seems to be Your purpose, to bless us through service by assisting us to do so within our talents and sphere, to bring the salvation story, so a person has an opportunity to believe and accept You.

I give thanks for the talents that I have been gifted with, and any more that could be developed when I answer Your direction and allow new abilities to develop.  Please open my heart and mind to understand and obey, when I am called to be used in the way and place of Your choosing.

The parents of John, Elizabeth and Zacharias when chosen by You and were advanced in years and were childless.  They reportedly were good people, Luke 1: 6 “And they were both righteous before God, walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”  As with Mary the cousin of Elizabeth, an angel announced the coming pregnancy to Zacharias beforehand, as well as the mission You had for John; V15, 16 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

In Your wisdom, John was also raised up and inspired to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus.  It was the Spirit who had educated John as well as filled him with His gifts.  John proclaimed who Jesus was and who he himself was, and his place in Your work, which was preparing hearts and minds to accept the saving work and message of Jesus.  John reports he had been told to baptize with water, and how he would know Jesus when He came to be baptized, for there would be a manifestation of the Holy Spirit over Him, John 1: 33, 34 “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. “

As with the parents of John and Mary the mother of Jesus, You have a plan and purpose for all of us, even though it is most often not auspicious or generally known by numerous other people.  As I read these passages of scripture I am humbled by Your great love for mankind and power to bring all that is prophesied to pass; on time.  I also am impressed by the fact, that I can freely ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  I can as did John seek You in quietness and whole hearted persistence, and be sure to find and be led by You.

After Jesus was baptized and the affirmation from You His Father, came from heaven, and rested upon Him, for all to see and hear; some wondered about Him.  John again promoted Jesus, John 1: 35, 36 “Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’”

I most importantly have the example of Jesus, who despite His busy life, made time to pray in the early hours of each morning.

Thank You for hearing my prayer of intention to seek You each day in the morning before the activity of the day begins; and please accept my worship today.

Amen