Month: August 2017

Happy I am to love God and give Him my heartfelt thanks, for His rescuing love and answer to my prayer this morning, when in need I cried out for resolution; and again it came.   It is a day for worship and praise.  Today is day for special study, meditation and renewed commitment.  It is also a day for more intense communication with God, and the resulting deep down happiness and acceptance of what is and must be.

I have again read the words of Jesus, spoken after Judas had just left the last supper before the final events in the life of Jesus, before His death.  The betrayal of Jesus by Judas, in the end would bring glory to Jesus, called the Son of Man, and to God His Father, with whom He is One.  Knowing these events would bring in a new stage in the spiritual life of His true followers, Jesus said in, John 13: 34, 35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Probably due to some insecurity about the future, these words did not get a mention by Peter, for he was evidently more concerned about, Verse 36 “…..’Lord, where are You going?’  Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.’”  As yet Peter did not understand why he could not go with Jesus right now, even if it meant also laying down his life.  He, like so many of us, had not fully understood the divinity of Jesus, nor His mission that only He could accomplish, to allow salvation and eternal life, for all who believed.  Again I suspect like all of us alive today, he did not understand, the fickleness of his own belief and self, and when put to the test for his Saviour, Peter in self-preservation, forsook Jesus.

Jesus in characteristic fashion, then spoke words of comfort, hope and direction, John 14:1-3 “ Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2  In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  As for me and (I suspect others) the disciples for lack of actual experience, still did not get the import of the words of Jesus, Verse 5 “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”  There was no loud rebuke from Jesus, but a rephrasing and repeat of instruction, Verses 6, 7 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you had known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”  Then another disciple reveals he has heard the words, but not understood the meaning, having processed them through earthly, sinful processes and expectations.  Verse 9 “………. He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”  How like us, living thousands of years later, when we through self-centeredness and unbelief do not understand the obvious teaching of Jesus!  It is only a pure and divine God who could be so loving, understanding and patient with them and us.

But there is hope for me and all others, for the disciples, did later, fully understand the teachings of Jesus, and in full hearted conversion, gave of their all to tell others, the gospel story of salvation.  The words of Peter in, Acts 4: 12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Dear God, I wish also to fully understand the gospel story, and in word and action reveal it to all those I meet.  I believe You have heard my prayer, and will continually teach me and pick me up and redirect me, when I fail in Your purpose for me.

I give praise to God, our Creator and King.  I am reminded of His love and power, when I hear the birds sing.  Some young birds have been practicing their new found voices at various times in the darkened hours of night and early morning.  It seems as if having found their voices, they must practice, practice sounds joyfully and constantly.  For a few weeks it was the kookaburras in the evening, and now in the early hours, it is the young magpies.  How lovely that God our Creator gave so many of His creation, the ability to communicate with each other in joyful tones.  Sometimes it seems as if the cares of this earthly sojourn, have robbed many of us people, the ability to frequently communicate joyfully.

When we look inward or around, there can be grey and sadness, but when we look up, there is a bright light that pierces any gloom and darkness.  The good news is, the love of Jesus Christ toward us is real, and He comes to earth again soon.  All we have to do is make ourselves available and test and try His promises.   The answer from Jesus will be beyond human comprehension.  Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I am coming quickly!  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Verses 20, 21 “He who testifies of these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen.  Even so, come.  Lord Jesus!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.”

In the Bible there is an account of a man who had lived for himself, and by defraud had become very rich.  To love God and place Him first, had certainly not been in his mind or practice; then like most people around, he began to hear of the love and works of Jesus Christ in various places, and his interest was piqued.  Jesus had begun to pass through Jericho.  Luke 19: 2 “Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.”  The Bible record goes on to tell us, that because Zacchaeus was of short statue, he could not see over the heads of the people, and had climbed up into a sycamore tree, so that he might then see Jesus, passing underneath.  What a shock he must have received, Verse 5, 6 “…..Jesus came to the place; He looked up and saw Him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make hast and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’  So he made hast and came down, and received Him joyfully.”  The evidence is that Zacchaeus, fell completely in love with Jesus, and in repentance exclaimed, Verse 8 “…..’Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.’  9 And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 ‘for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.’”  In the understanding of the religious people of the day, Zacchaeus was too bad a sinner to be bothered with, and it would have been demeaning for them to associate with such a person.  Jesus was judged to have erred, because he had done so: and in contrast to Jesus, there was no love or pity revealed in their attitudes.

Jesus taught, that all people living on earth have and do continue to sin, and all are equal in their need of Him, and before Him no man has anything to be pious or self-righteous about.  When our heart and mind is filled with His love, and resulting good works, Jesus planned that we would be His light in the world.  Zacchaeus became by his whole hearted repentance and change of life practice, a testament or ‘light’ of the power of Jesus in the heart.   Matthew 5: 14-16 “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Just from these Bible examples, it can be seen, that everyone has an influence and reputation, judged in part by observation and knowledge of what we say and do; at least in the location around us.   Sometimes our reputation is not accurate, because we do not make clear our motives and actions, and people form opinions based on little information and presumption.

Dear Jesus, I again accept You into my life and heart and ask that You direct me how I best can follow Your example of being a clear light of love to all those who know and observe me, that I refrain from forming pious judgements, that actually show that You are not fully in control of my life and practice.  Thanks for continually loving and teaching me, and drawing me ever closer.

Amen

Dear God, it is very dark outside, for I have risen early so that I can talk, pray and worship with an uncluttered mind, and before the business of the day takes over.  I am thankful to be able to begin with the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.  Matthew 6: 9-13 “In this manner, therefore, pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’

I note that this beautiful prayer has much more depth than I can attribute to the words, when I almost unthinkingly repeat them.  I now understand more deeply that when the words are prayed with the full mind and heart engagement, of a surrendered person who understands their sinfulness and need, I can be challenged and changed by God.  It will mean that I come acknowledging that God Almighty is Supreme, and owns the world, and can do all things.  He does not force my submission, yet loves to hear and answer my smallest prayer.  When I really grasp what Jesus is saying about His Father, and how absolutely sinful I am, I will then truly approach God reverently, because physically and mentally I am bowed submissively before my beautiful Father, God.  In my heart and on the earth, the order of His Kingdom is the only answer to our sin problem, and the chaos it has caused and is causing.  I sincerely pray that Jesus will come soon, and the black consequences of our ‘tempter’ Satan, will be for ever ended.  In the words of Jesus our hope is valid, ‘for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.’

Even though we seem so self-sufficient in this western world, where food is always available in abundance; it is God that makes the crops grow.  In scripture we are told, that before the end of the world, Satan is allowed to show what he is really like, and as a result, much famine and hunger will come, and has come increasingly. Then for we spoilt ones, our prayer will be heartfelt as we pray ‘give us this day our daily bread’; as it is already, for those who grow what they eat, and do not rely on a shop to buy provisions.  With hunger stalking so many people, just like me, I realize there is no point dwelling on small life irritations, or the provocations of others in my life, but instead, on using Gods loving provision to me, to bless others as I share my substance and sincere prayer for myself and others, to fulfil the promptings of God.

Dear Jesus, how I love Your teachings, and long to be more attune with them, and take courage, that I can be; as I surrender myself and plans to You each day, believing that my prayer is answered.  For I know nothing was ever asked of us that You will not deliver to the heart and mind that is humbly sincere. Matthew 5: 3-10 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Again the implications of living a life that will reap the promised blessings of Jesus, is profound.  It would mean I lived as He did; and I know He blessed all with whom He interacted.  Jesus I pray today, that You will take my sin damaged self, and fill me with Your beautiful presence and be my strength, so that I can be blessed and more often be Your blessing.  I acknowledge that of myself I cannot make this happen, and pray that I be strengthened to be more surrendered to You, so that You can work with me, change and use me. Amen

Though there are gloomy, rain sodden clouds and ground outside, all is lighted by love inside, as I have fellow-shipped with You God this morning.  In the back ground is the sound of a melodious harmony of combined voices giving praise, via a CD player.  All the ugliness, injustice, suffering, blackness and hunger, that are so prevalent on this earth in these days, seem far away, even though I know that it is everyplace.  Father in heaven, please direct me and keep me sensitive, and positively engaged and helpful, to the needs of others in all areas, as You prompt me, and provide opportunities for my involvement.  Jesus had been speaking to a young lawyer, about the people who could be counted as a neighbour (a much wider interpretation than held by the Jews of the time), and then asked him, Luke 10: 36, 37 “’So which of these do you think was neighbour to him who fell among thieves?’  And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”  I am so blessed to have caring people in my life and those who call me neighbour.  You are calling all of us to take selfish and uncaring attitudes out of our life, and with the love of Jesus in our heart,  reach out to others near and far, in any ways we can.

The wickedness all around, combined with prophesies within scripture, point to a soon coming Saviour.  For many who read the scriptures, we are prompted, to heed the warnings and prepare our heart and life for the coming of the Lord; and live each day, as if it was our last. We really do not know how many days of life we have, or how many days before our God will declare, ‘enough with how things are on earth, it all must finish’!  Paul the great apostle and contributor to the New Testament, has much to say on loving God best and how to live a life pleasing to Him.  1 Corinthians 6: 17 “…..He who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit with Him.”  Paul makes the case, that it would be a travesty to undertake any behaviour that would sever our oneness with Christ.  Verses 15, 16 “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?  Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her.  For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’”  Paul is referring to his belief formed from scripture, that when a man and woman come together in a sexual bond, they have become one flesh, and are in a binding relationship.  This belief is also held by many present day Christians.  Genesis 2: 24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall be one flesh”

Jesus whilst on earth had cause to comment on related matters, when “The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?’  Matthew 19: 3, Verses 4-6 “And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female.’  And said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.” I also note that the young man said ‘just’ and the Pharisees divorced on the most trumped up and flimsy reasons, which was never the intention of God.  This story is another example of how Jesus taught obedience, love, respect and right doing not only toward the Almighty God, but people; all of whom God loves and values.

It seems that many of us, do not fully take in how loved and special we are individually to God, or what it cost Christ to obtain our freedom from the consequence of sin.  Surely if we had even a beginning idea of our worth in the estimation of God, we would not do anything to interfere with our communication incoming and outgoing with Him.  Verses 19, 20 “Or do you not know that your body, is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own.  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Dear God, I am thankful for my life and body and all Your blessings, so often bestowed.  Please teach and strengthen me to keep my body as Your temple.

I am thankful for the lovely sunny ending to this day, after an enjoyable time worshipping God, and interacting with grandchildren this afternoon.  It is now time, to once again to contemplate on themes from Gods Holy Word, to give praise and words to the prayers forming in my mind.

In Matthew 6 and 7, I read many wise statements about life and living, which Jesus said to His listeners.  Matthew 7: 24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fail, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell.  And great was its fall.”

It is so easy to think we are prepared, when we in fact have not fully gone into something, or consulted the instructions or map properly, and as a result unexpectedly go off course, or miss our connection etc.  When living on earth, Jesus often warned the people, about being obedient to the instructions of God, and making the effort to be prepared for His second coming. Matthew 7: 21 – 23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 and then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”   How sad to be rejected by Jesus, after thinking we were following the Him.  Apparently this happens, when we had not actually given Him service with an obedient, humble heart; but instead had been building up ourselves, with a heart that was not absolutely true to God.  I am thankful to Jesus for all His instructions, and warnings, so that today, we can ask the Holy Spirit to search our heart and motives, and have all deficiencies be made right through Jesus.

Because we do not truly understand how sinful we are, it is so easy not to appreciate the great lack in our spiritual expression, when compared to what we read in scripture, God would like for each of us.  Paul the mighty worker for God, in the early church has advice upon this fact and the remedy.  Romans 8: 8-10 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Father God, I am thankful again today, for all Your gifts and natural creative works all around me.  I appreciate Your merciful dealings with me, and that you would like all of us to be saved eternally.  I know that without the Holy Spirit prompting me, I could not draw really close to You, and would forever remain wrapped up in my sinful self and surrounding issues.  I am made happy, by the mind expanding expectation, of the second coming of Jesus and life in the heavenly realms.  Let us praise the Lord again today for His all-encompassing provision of and for life and universe.

 

   

Jesus came the first time, as promised, bringing healing and salvation to all who would accept His free gift.  Long has been the promise of Him coming a second time, to redeem those who believe and accept Him.  The prospect is such a joyous and deep expectation for me that I find myself longing to be pure, and able to be in heaven with Jesus, His Father, and all the angels and fellow redeemed people from earth.  Isaiah 59: 20 “’The Redeemer will come to Zion, and those who turn from transgression in Jacob’, says the Lord.”  Isaiah 60: 1, 2 “Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  For behold the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you.”  People all around can be in spiritual and emotional darkness, but the child of God during that time, be able to experience the light of God, in their mind and emotions, as they ask Him into their heart and plans and heed His word and instructions for life.

No person in Australia and other Western civilizations have to walk in spiritual darkness, despair and a sense of darkness; for God offers life and light, through His Son Jesus.  Ephesians 5: 13 – 16 “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. 15 see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’” 

God would not have us to be ignorant of anything that is essential to our individual salvation.  In the scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, has been supplied every word we need to know for our salvation, and for sharing with others about our knowledge and experience of our blessed Lord, leading to their opportunity for salvation in Jesus.  Ephesians 4: 11- 14 “And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” 

It is recorded in the gospels, that Jesus arose a great while before day, and spent much time with His Father in prayer: there lay the reason for His sinlessness, wisdom, discernment and power.  He knew that only when each of us follow His example, and pray much, could we have and manifest, true love, discernment, wisdom and power.  Luke 18: 1 “Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart”  Every Christian, that walks closely with Jesus, has always revealed, that they daily spent significant time in the study of God’s word and pray all throughout each day, and it cannot be different for all of us.  Especially in the troubled times, that lead up the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Colossians 4: 2”Continue 4: 2 “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”
Thank You Father God, that You hear my prayer tonight, and that You will continue to lead me, closer and closer to You, with each increasing day.  I do know I still sin way more than I would like, and that You answer my prayers all through each day.  It is sweet to read and pray to You at the beginning of each day.

Blessings to everyone, and let us not put off reading and praying each day, and celebrate Jesus Christ, soon to return to His globe, earth, and wipe away all sin, destruction and death.