Month: December 2017

It is a full and filled unfolding memorial, to ponder over the year that is closing, as the last hours, then minutes, tick away on the 31^st, December.  For 2017, as for other years, there will memories that evoke all types of emotions; some joyfully remembered, others with pain, anxiety and on it can go.  But one thing is sure, for some, they will have found, their gain to be an enduring sense of light within the mind and soul, even when the body is sick, dying or being assaulted and traumatized, by outside human forces or nature events in turbulence and chaos.  Jesus invited us to leave our ‘load’ with Him, and when I really believe His words, and give Him my ‘burden’ (over and over again, when I am taking up again) the peace and light that He gives, is profound, and great acceptance, along with restfulness comes.

Many times in scripture, we are encouraged to express our praise and gratitude (through all situations), and receive more and more blessings as a result.  I have had many blessings, even amidst shock and trauma in 2017, for which I am thankful, but for now, I will use words from the Holy Scriptures to express my praises, in this talk/prayer.  1 Samuel 2; 1”And Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.’”  These words, in themselves give the therapy for peace within, for how can we grouch or be afraid, when rejoicing, and exalting the Lord, along with smiling at our enemies, whom we have entrusted into Gods care?  Habakkuk 3: 18, 19 “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”  With the love of God in his heart, it was possible to pen these words of praise and trust, out of great tragedy and hardship.  I have found the same is true for me today, and I also rejoice.  1 Chronicles 16: 8. 9 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord!  Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!  Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Verse 11 “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!” 

When I am filled with God’s love, it is praises that find expression, by word and deed.  Also I desire everyone else to be filled with the love of God and experience His blessings and ‘comforts’.  1 Timothy 3: 5 “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”   It is my desire, that many family, friends, and other people, experience Jesus for themselves, and have their own praise and story to offer up to Him.  1 Peter 1: 3 ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” Verses 8, 9 “…..Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of Your faith-the salvation of your souls.”

Dear God, thank You for the gift of Jesus to this earth, and for sustaining Him, as He lived a sinless life and represented You before and during 3 years of ministry, then as He died at the hands of men, for whom He came to save.  It all had been prophesied, and occurred as predicted.  There are biblical prophesies that Jesus will return for His faithful followers.  These prophecies appear to be being fulfilled more and more, and my hope is upon the soon coming of our Lord.

I on this last day of 2017, I pray come soon Lord Jesus.

 

Dear precious Jesus, for those who know, love and serve You, life is so blessed by our interactive relationship, that saves us from sin and death, and then sustains us all through each difficulty and trial.  Because of Your deep unchanging love for every person who has ever lived upon earth You gave all for us the opportunity of eternal life, through Your death.  When we are truly in love with You, we can only respond with our whole heart, no matter the cost, or trial.  All true love comes from You, and so when we have it within, we can do no less, than express this love to all we meet.  Matthew 10:32, 33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” I so much want a new heart, and a pure love for You that is expressed through Your leading.

In thankfulness and love, I meditate upon some of the recorded words of Jesus, and other portions of scripture.  Matthew 10: 29 – 31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  These words Just now are so welcome and needed for me to dwell upon and absorb into my very being, and thereby be comforted and sustained.  I am so glad; these are only a few of the texts within scripture that give relief and comfort; for I have read many more.

When I pray, praise and intercede, I know heaven loves to receive my prayers, as well as answer them, when they are in God’s infinite will.  Jesus knew the value of prayer, and sometimes spent whole nights in prayer with His Father, before embarking upon the busy day with many people coming to Him.  How little we sometimes pray during the day, in comparison, to our lovely Lord Jesus?  But as we determine to keep Jesus in our prayerful thoughts all through the day, the direction and blessings come as promised.  In the words of Jesus, Luke 18: 1 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Verse 27”but He said, ‘the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 

Thank You Jesus for your tender love, as I am lead closer to You.

Amen

It is a good time of the year, in the portion of the earth, in which I live; for summer has just begun, and the harvest of fruit and grain is beginning.  I love looking at the growing green fruit, through to the enlargement and change of colour that indicates maturity is almost here.  The taste buds are in full appreciation and anticipation.  Last week it was the picking of dark sweet cherries and now the aroma and golden colour of apricots.  I consider myself very blessed, to be able to grow and harvest, the bounties from God’s creative hand.  Friends are willing to help with care and picking of the harvest, as I soon take some time off from such things.  I am glad I have some produce to share, and friends that really are caring and kind people.  As with the fruit harvest, these kind friends are also Your, loving gift to me dear Jesus and I am grateful.  Nothing would be worse, than wasting such tantalizing and beautiful ‘toothsome’ delights; after being gifted them!

The Bible talks of a salvation harvest of people, to be garnered into the keeping of God, at the second coming of Jesus.  In a dream Jesus revealed Himself to John, and spoke a number of things pertaining to living a life of purity, and service as He did, in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, so the scriptures could be applied in each life as a result of reading God’s word, in an earnest prayerful manner, He also gave detailed warnings about end time events, and the need for us to put all else aside, and prepare for His second coming, so as to not miss out, on His promised reward.  The preparations needed were not casual or light hearted, but whole hearted and all-encompassing in each mind and practice.  Revelation 3: 19-21 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.  To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

These revelations, from Jesus to John, follow on from His teaching when living on earth.  In answer to the disciple Thomas, on where Jesus was going, and could they know the way there, John 14: 6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit or “Helper” would come to bring people to Himself.  The Holy Spirit came with power, and has never been withdrawn from this world.   John 16: 8 “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

The Son of God, Jesus was given a hard and tortuous time for most of His ministry on earth, and does not promise any of His true followers will have untroubled easy times; for they also will be targeted by Satan and his agents.  I am so very glad, that no true prayer for support and the presence of God, goes unanswered.   2 Timothy 4: 17 “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear…….”  Verse 18 “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen!”

I praise and thank You Jesus, for the love and mercy, You have extended to me, on many occasions.  Though I do not teach or preach, You can preach a sermon, through how I reflect and allow You to use me, to Your glory not my own.  Please take this flawed and sinful child, and use me in a way I could not plan or be able to implement.

Amen

All through scripture, we read of people who professed to follow the God of heaven, actually doing things that God had specifically asked them not to do.  Of course God wants professed followers to be committed and true and only worship Him.  In Bible times and now, the professed followers of God many times place/d much of their time and affections upon things other than God in heaven.  We are then in affect worshipping items other than God; for we cannot properly serve two Gods.  Ezekiel 20: 7 “Then I said to them, ‘each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.’” Not that an nonliving or unknowing item can care, but our living all-knowing God in heaven certainly does care, as does the ‘living other’ in any earthly partnership.  Verse 19 “O I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them.”  

Sometimes it seems like that it is impossible to walk in the way of the Lord and serve Him truly.  I am so grateful that the only living God never leaves us without His help.  He has a thousand ways of helping us that we never see or properly appreciate.  Paul the intrepid apostle, often prayed for those he knew, and told them so.  Part of one of these prayers finishes with how God strengthens us, so we can come close to Himself, Colossians 1: 11, 12 “Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”  I am so glad that God not only does everything for me a repentant sinner to bring me into a joyful obedient walk with Him: but then I am given the assurance of an inheritance in heaven, along with all others who are true and obedient.  For me there is even more good news, of deliverance, and safe passage to salvation.  Verse 13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”  The ‘power of darkness’ certainly comes gunning for me (and others) when I promise to be faithful to God.  I ask that I will remember that not only is Satan a defeated foe, but God will deliver me from the ‘power of darkness’.  God knows, just what that promise means to me, at this present time; and I thank Him for reminding me.  The ‘Son of His love’ becomes increasingly more precious and essential in my life, as each day goes past.  Verse 14, 15 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”  God gave us of the divine, Jesus, the image of Himself, who created and is in control of all creation.  Verse 17 “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

In unity and partnership, God the Father and His Son, Jesus, have actively planned and are completing for all who accept and believe, the delivery of salvation from sin, with eternal life in heaven, to follow.   Titus 2: 13, 14 “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Interestingly and consistently, throughout the scriptures, the message is repeated, believe and accept Jesus, and in His strength, go out and tell others about what Jesus has done within us individually and for the whole world.

So again I pray, that You Jesus, will be my strength and Director, so that my life actions and words can be used positively to tell about You and what You increasingly mean to me.   It is such a pleasure to know and praise You my Creator and Saviour.

I am very grateful to God for another day of life, and that He is and will continue to show love to me and all that ask of Him; as we come with various needs, questions and distress.  God Himself says, Come unto me, and I will give you rest”.  In my experience, reading and observation, there is no other offer that matches the one from Jesus; in that it is free, does not come with hidden strings attached, and the answer matches the need, (though we may not appreciate that at first).   Many times I have experienced unexplained rest and acceptance, after I have prayed with full mind and heart involvement; in humble, needful supplication.  As also written in the scriptures, ‘taste and see for the Lord is good.’

Jesus Himself is recorded by the disciples, as having had much to say on love from His Father and Himself and upon the availability of this love, for every person who asks, and how we as Christians, should not only love the Father and He first, but every other person upon this earth: because He does, and we have accepted Him, as our Lord and Saviour.  Mark 12: 28 “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’” Verse 29 “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”  Jesus was quoting (Deuteronomy 6: 4, 5) from the words of Moses, spoken before they were to into the Promised Land.  Jesus knew how to deliver the heart of the message, with what happens when we ‘hear’ that God is all we need and He not only loves us, but will fill us with His love, and an increasing ability to love Him, and others.  Mark 12: 30, 31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Such profound teaching has great implications, and ground for misapplication, if brushed over quickly.  This is all of me, total mind and heart involvement for God; devoid of what I may think I must do, or addressed by saying’ I am loving to others, so that is all that matters’; this means loving God with my whole being, so that I am entirely motivated by love: His love.

With obedience to God’s requests and acceptance of His Divine will, come great spiritual and emotional rewards.  Jesus is our perfect example, of living in the strength and will of His heavenly Father, and this we can also do.  For example, Philippians 2: 3 – 5 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” 

I am again stirred by the words, of the prophet and apostle Paul, Philippians 2: 12, 13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.”

Father again I understand that it is be putting Christ first in my priorities, and allowing Him to work through me, that I become a person more able to love, and be like Him.  Please humble my heart so that I can truly do that.  Thank You for hearing my heartfelt prayer.

Amen