Time of Reflection

 It makes your parents happy to know that you know they love you!  So true.  To be loved is something we all crave.  We can hide ourselves away, build walls and be inverts, but ultimately at some time those walls will be disrupted and love will intrude.

Our Heavenly Father loves us with a passion that even we do not understand.  He provides us with everything we need and then some.  It pleases him when we acknowledge that we are loved by Him.

When I wrote this, I was sitting in the sun on the lawn in front of the Bach belonging to my brother at Waihou Bay on the East Cape of New Zealand.  A gentle sea breeze lightly caressed my shoulders and a vista of rich blue water sparkled in the sun intermingled with Pohutakawa trees, their flowers beginning to bloom a scarlet red.  The sound of the sea gently crashed against the rocks and stony beach across the road and beneath the trees.  A fat wood pigeon (Kereru) flew slowly between the trees, its traverse displaying command of the area.

Does this sound idyllic?  Well yes it was and my sister and I appreciated this time to bond with our brothers and enjoy their company.  Our mother had just passed away two weeks previously, but this holiday had been planned many months ago.  How apt that this has been provided for healing and reflection.

God created the first family and although the entrance of sin had spoilt what he had created, yet the establishment had been made.  He loves family and the unity that can be enjoyed.

Can God be Trusted?

Imagine what it would be like if the personality of God were to change -  we would not have a sure foundation - He would be like shifting sand. We would not know if we were pleasing Him because He might have changed His mind. We would not know if He had moved from us. We would not be able to trust Him -  BUT our God is immutable.  He does not change. His promises are true, He cannot lie.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. All things were created by Him and without Him was not anything created that was created.  He holds all things together by the Word of His Power.  He sent His son Jesus Christ to this earth to die in our place only to rise again victor over all the works of the devil.

 

And He has promised to be with us by His Holy Spirit. Just think on that -the Spirit of the Eternal One, Yahweh, Jehovah, The Almighty God who formed the universe, who created us, wants fellowship with you and with me. He yearns for us jealously. That tells me God is passionate about me, and loves me. You cannot be passionate about something you do not care for.

How can I know this God you may ask - You have only to open your heart. Come as a little child, He is waiting for you with outstretched arms. Ask and receive. He wants to love on you - He wants to provide for you. He wants to show you great and mighty things which you do not yet know. He can be trusted.

 

Will you come?

 

 

 

The Goodness of God

Do we reflect on the goodness of God?  Do we take time to sit in His presence and just ponder on Him and all He has done for us?

Life can be very busy and very complicated.  It can overwhelm us if we don’t have a right perspective of the way it should be lived.

The topic “the way life should be lived” encompasses a vast array of views, and opinions.  As I am not a philosopher, I can only speak about what I have learnt in my three score years.

Every day is a gift – I believe that totally.  So many friends and family have passed on to the next life already.  We have no say in the number of our days; we are allotted only three score years plus ten, more if we have the strength.  Therefore, it behoves us to “Live life to the fullest”.  Take risks, and follow our dreams – launch out – be bold and brave.  Don’t be robbed; see life as a joy with new opportunities – so many things to do and achieve; so many places to go.

Shake off doom and gloom because that is what the world would throw at you.  Don’t let it settle – keep an optimistic view – it’s going to get better.

Well you say – you must have had a great life – yes, up to now I have, but not without challenges.  I think we would all be lying if we said – hey, my life is great, I’ve got no problems – everything is sweet.  The Lord has said “in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”  That word can be trusted. 

There is one who in all things has suffered as we have and yet he did not succumb to sin.  That is where the problem is – sin, our selfish natures wanting what we cannot have, and riding roughshod over anyone who would stop us. 

Oh, that’s not me you might say – I would never do that – but hey, have you never ever manipulated someone to get what you want.  It’s inherent in all of us – and that’s why we need a Saviour.  God knew us even before He created us.  He knows our frame – “there’s none good, not one” and so he sent His perfect Son Jesus to carry our sin on his body at Calvary; he was punished so we wouldn’t have to be.  Why – because He loves us – His creation. He provided a way for each of us to be reconciled to God.

When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, God sees us covered with the righteousness of His Son.  We are washed in the blood – remember that old hymn – Are you washed in the blood, in the precious blood of the Lamb, are your garments spotless, are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Jesus’ blood was shed at Calvary – and nothing can stand against the blood.  You can plead the blood over your lives, over your family’s lives, and the devil cannot touch you. 

It is God who is sovereign.  He is all knowing, all forgiving, all loving – he is altogether Good.

Put your trust in Him.  He will never let you down.  He is totally faithful. 

 

Time to Face your Demons

What does it mean - to face your demons?  I believe it is to confront that thing in your life that is negative, and say “no more”.

The word “demon” can instil fear into us if we let it. 

I remember a number of years ago hearing a story of when Jesus cast out demons – something inside me reacted in fear - so I can write about this having experienced it myself.  When I look back, I can see I was riddled with fear, but now I am free!  And yes, Christ set me free.

The devil loves to bind us up – he will do anything to prevent us from reaching our destiny.  But God is stronger – His purposes and desires for us will overcome anything the enemy is throwing at us.  Jesus has said – He has come to set the captive free.  We only need to ask Him to do so.

Do you know it is possible to love God and be disobedient, just like a child.  Sometimes, God asks us to do something that we don’t want to do.  We wriggle and squirm and find any way we can to avoid doing that something.  Does that sound like someone else?   

Jonah didn’t want to do what God asked him so what did God do?  He let Jonah go his way for a time, and then he put him in a totally intolerable situation until Jonah surrendered and repented.

At times, God will put pressure on us to bend us to his way.  Remember though “a bruised reed, He will not break, and a smouldering wick He will not snuff out”. (Isaiah 42.:3)  He knows our frame.  We are not made to be “yes” men.  We all have a will and we make choices.  Sometimes those choices are not good – they lead us up the garden path – even worse, they can lead us to destruction or to miss out on our destiny.  However, God is continually for us – He works all things together for good to those who love him.  Ultimately, when we look back, we can see the hand of God working in that situation. He does not treat us as we deserve.  He loves us so much He is continually moulding us and making us to be more like his Son.  We are being changed from glory to glory.

Sow in Tears

“Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.” 

The Word is the infallible truth. 

Have you experienced a time when you just couldn’t figure life out and things seemed to be going from bad to worse?  Yes, it happens to all of us at some time or another; and we need to do all we can to fix the problem, but in some situations, there isn’t a lot we can do except to cry out to God and ask Him for help.  Perhaps we need to put the situation on the altar – “Here God, I give it to you.  I can’t do anymore.”  Just watch what He does.  He loves it when we put our trust in Him.  It’s saying, "I can’t but you can". 

Can’t you see the golden harvest – sheaves – the blessing, the fulfilment of hard work, and the resulting joy? 

……………………………………………………........……..o0o……………………………………………………………………..

 

Joy unspeakable and full of glory – that’s the believer’s lot – we can have this if we choose. 

Jesus has promised to leave us his peace – “When you draw near to me, I will draw near to you”. 

When you spend time with the Lord, all the cares and worries of this world will fade away – and the peace of God which passes all understanding will flood your inner being.

I’m not talking about being religious– “thou shalt read the Bible for one hour a day and pray for two”.  No, when you’re walking down the street, whisper a prayer; “thanks for today Lord, may I be a blessing to someone.  Be with my family, keep them safe and bless them”.  You will find you will want to spend more time with Jesus because He loves you and you will feel that love. 

He says in the Word that He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it. And He said “if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself.”  We just need to be willing to come.

Isaiah 61: 1

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound.”

Aliens in the World

Do you feel like you don’t fit?  No matter where you go, you get the impression there’s something more – something big is about to happen – I mean this in a good sense.

If you are a believer in Christ, then this is absolutely normal.  Why, because we are aliens in a foreign land.  Our home is not the earth – it is in the heavenly realms. 

What, you might say.  Yes, when you are “born again”, born of the Spirit of God, you become a new creation.  The old has passed away – all things have become new.  You become a child of God belonging to the Kingdom of God.  You will have the DNA of heaven coursing through your veins.  How exciting!

How do I get “born again” you say.   The Lord says “you will seek me, and when you seek me with your whole heart you will find me”.  The Lord has a way of enticing us to him.  When we surrender – “God, I give my life to you. Forgive me for my wicked ways - I acknowledge that your son died on the cross for my sins, I thank you.”  Wahoo – welcome to a whole new life.  You will never be alone again – why, because He now lives in you.  Your spirit has come alive again.  You will find you have new desires, old bondages will drop away – sure some won’t want to go for a while – but hey a new born baby doesn’t eat meat straight away either.

Read the Bible – this is all you need to grow.  Start with John’s gospel.  Find someone to tell what has happened to you – you will know you are different!  Find a church where you can share with other believers – they will encourage and support you – and have some FUN!

Lenie's Musings

"The sea looked like blue velvet; a slight swell caused gentle waves to softly wash an outcrop of rocks and then dissolved into the peaceful water below.


How refreshing to ponder on such a scene, when life itself creates such turmoil and you find yourself wound up like a spring - to see such a scene of peace and tranquility reminds us that God Himself is our peace.  He says "Come unto me all you who labour and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light"."


I wrote this while on my morning commute to Wellington by train, shortly before I found out my job was to be disestablished.  How like the Lord to provide comfort and reassurance that He is in control.


After a particularly difficult disestablishment, I once again have a new position in a similar department. 


He surely is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider!