LOOKING FOR JESUS

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Can I ask what are you looking for?  This verse reminds us what we should be looking for  as we approach the new year 2021 - Jesus' return, His appearing.

I've been reminded recently that Jesus is coming much sooner than we think! Are we ready, are our families ready, is His church ready locally and worldwide? 

Yesterday we looked at what God's plans are for 2021 and part of that I believe is for His church to be looking for and preparing for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church and to be excited about it, but also to be prepared for Him to bring some changes first because He's coming for a spotless bride. 

So how do we prepare for His return? I think we'd all agree one of the main things is to be spending more time with Him, worshipping Him, listening for His instructions and guidance, don't you?  To spend time in His Word with the Holy Spirit and to get to know Him more before He comes back so that we're like the five wise virgins whose lamps were trimmed and ready for their master to come, listening for His knock at the door, looking for Him to appear. 

It is going to happen one day soon. Jesus is coming back! 

I knew one man who told us that every day he would look up into the sky and ask "Is it today, Lord? Are you coming today?"  He had such a strong expectancy, he knew it could be anytime and He was looking for Jesus.  

Just imagine for a minute if  the Queen of England said, "I'm coming to your house soon to take you to a new home."  What would you do?  You would get ready for her coming!  There would be an air of anticipation, of excitement, probably new clothes to wear, clean the house, etc; etc!  Get the picture?

But we're talking about the KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF GLORY, who is coming for us. This is the RISEN LORD JESUS we're talking about. Now do we have some excitement?  I hope so!😊

Lord help us to get ready for Your coming even if it were today. Amen.

GOD WILL MAKE A WAY

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

We're coming to the close of the year and God has been challenging me with some big questions. Maybe you're the same.

Are we asking God what His plans are for 2021 for us as individuals and for the local church? Just because we're on lockdown does not mean God or His plans for His kingdom are on lockdown. 

He says,'..I will even make a way in the wilderness'.   If ever we may have felt like we're in a wilderness it is  probably now. So maybe He wants far more for us, and from us, than we thought. 

He does have good plans for His church and I believe part of that will be bringing into His kingdom many many new believers this year across the world and for us to be prepared for that too. 

Looking back to the early church they lived lives on the edge. Theirs was no cosy, safe religion of order and routine. Far from it! Every day they saw God move and do something new. They expected it.  It was so radical that people were being saved daily because they were seeing miracles and healings,  and that was after Jesus had left for Heaven! Those occurrences are still happening today around the world, God has not stopped working that way. He gave us the gifts of the Holy Spirit because He knew we would need them and wanted us to use them.

God is supernatural and I believe He wants His church to be moving in and expecting the supernatural too because we are His children.

God has plans for 2021 but the only way to find out about them is to ask Him and what our part in it will be. 

There will be some exciting days ahead and I for one don't want to miss what He has planned, do you?😊

HEAR GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU

Psalm 143:8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you (NLT). 

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to you.(NKJV) 

What are you hearing this morning? What are you listening to at this moment? because God wants you to hear something very important, more important than anything else you will hear today.   God loves you!  

We can hear God's love every morning but if we're not listening but hearing something else we might be tempted to forget it. The wonderful fact that He loves us is the bedrock for our day, for our lives. He loved us before the cross had ever happened. It was because He loved us so much that He gave us His Son. He loved us so much He gave us Jesus to rescue us.

God demonstrated His love for us. He proved it to us! Our God is demonstrative! He didn't give us the concept of love and forgiveness He actually demonstrated it personally so we could never, ever doubt His love for us. Isn't that wonderful?

Why is it important to know that God loves us? The Psalmist goes on to explain - It is because he knows God loves him that he knows he can trust Him, and if he knows he can trust Him then he knows God can show him what to do, the way to walk for that day. Isn't that the cry of all our hearts?

So this morning hear God's love for you and say it out loud "God loves me!"  Then each and every morning say "God loves me!"  and join with the Psalmist "Let me hear Your unfailing love, Your lovingkindness each morning." 

It will set you up for the coming day no matter what happens! It will be your bedrock which will hold you steady. GOD LOVES YOU. 

GOD MAKES US DIFFERENT

Zechariah 8:23 And they will say, 'Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you'. 

Last time I wrote we were remembering that Emmanuel - God is with us, and we're so grateful for that.

Zechariah was looking forward and we read how there would come a day, and it is here now, when other people will look at us and see that 'God is with us' and want to go with us. They will recognize that there is something different about us and they will want it.  Why will they think like that?  Because we will be different to them! Not because we're kill joys but because we are filled with God's joy.

When God is with us we will have His attributes, His peace and joy, His wisdom. His Spirit of power, love and sound mind. People will want that when they see Him being manifested in us.

Having 'God with us' means we wont 'fit in' anymore with the world and it's way of seeing  or doing things.  If we strive to 'fit in' then as Christians we'll be missing it, and will be having to compromise all the time. It's only when we stand out that people will recognise that we are not like them, that God is indeed with us.  

If we are just like the man in the street why would they want to go with us, or walk with us? We would have nothing to offer them. But praise God we do have something to offer them - a Living Saviour, God is with us and they can know and walk with Him too and know His peace and forgiveness. 

God wants us to be different for a reason!😊  

HOW TO BRING BALANCE INTO OUR CHAOTIC WORLD

Psalm 34:4-5 I sought the Lord and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and became radiant...

The Angels came to the Shepherds in the dark of night. Then the Wise Men could only travel in the dark to enable them to see the light of the star. So be encouraged, when all appears to be dark around us that is when God's Light will shine the brightest in our lives. 

It shouldn't really surprise us when the enemy tries to get our eyes off the Lord and on to 'the darkness of the circumstances'.  King David knew all about that strategy but he also knew how to overcome it.  He says 'I sought the Lord...'

Can I encourage you to read the whole of Psalm 34 today, it is so good and helpful and brings balance into our chaotic world.  It teaches us to start with praise and magnifying the Lord, encourages us to seek His face and to know He answers us. It reminds us He delivers us from all our fears, saves us from all our troubles, that we have an Angel of the Lord camped around us! Please read it for yourselves.😊

Notice he says he sought the Lord, not other people's opinions, not the internet, not his friends. He knew there was only One person with the answers he needed and that is the Lord Himself. 

When we listen to the TV it's so easy for our spirit to be disturbed, to feel like the darkness is growing and for fear to come knocking at the door. When that happens there is only one solution for us too - Seek the Lord! Magnify Him and remember He is far bigger than any circumstance. Read His Word to receive His reassurance that He is our Shield, our Deliverer, our Provider and as we remember especially this time of year OUR WONDERFUL SAVIOUR.

HE IS EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US! 

So what is there to be afraid of? Absolutely nothing when we're trusting Him. He says over and over again to us DON'T BE AFRAID so let Him bring His balance into your world. It is His great love for us that drives out all fear. Receive His Love today.

Have a very blessed and peaceful Christmas everyone from my home to yours.😊

ENCOURAGED AND UPLIFTED

Luke 2:19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

Luke 2:51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 

In verse 19 Mary had just been visited by the shepherds and heard what the angels had declared about her newborn Son Jesus.  That was quite something to deal with after just giving birth a few hours before! But what an encouragement. Her baby was going to save mankind! An amazing thought and she hung on to it and thought about it often. 

In verse 51 we catch a glimpse of Mary 12 years later frantically looking for Jesus in Jerusalem and He just says she should have known where to find Him, in the Temple learning about His Father. She stored all that up in her heart too.

So here we are in 2020 after a very different year and we have the opportunity to store some things up in our hearts too. What will you store up?  The frustrations, the losses, the disappointments? Or will you go searching for Jesus like Mary till you find Him and let Him give you wonderful things to store up in your heart? Things you can think about often to encourage and uplift you. What you think about will determine how you feel!

Will you remember and think about them often like Mary? All the blessings, the happy friend and family moments we did have either on zoom, facetime, out in the openair, the odd times we were allowed together? The Words of God's wisdom from different sources, the worship songs, the kind words He gave us, His immense goodness to us, the fact He has kept us safe through it all and is continuing to do so?

For sure something will be stored up in our hearts and we are the ones who will choose. 

Lord help us to store up the good things in our hearts so we can think about them often and be encouraged and uplifted. Amen.

THE LORD'S TIMING

Luke 2:25 At that time there was  a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout... v.27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God ....

Here was a chap who actually lived in Jerusalem who was led by the Spirit of God that day to go to the Temple at the exact moment that Mary and Joseph would be there with Jesus. Talk about timing!  He'd been waiting forever for this day and I bet when he first woke up he didn't know what a momentous day it would be.  But it says Simeon was there!

Timing is so very important - to be in the right place at the right time. Only the Holy Spirit can lead us to be in the right place at the right time for us today and every day. Not everyday will seem like it has any momentous significance but if we're listening to the Holy Spirit He may cause us to be the one who can say or do something which will be so important to someone else.  Or maybe to meet someone who will start a new thought or divine connection for our own lives. 

When the Twin Towers were bombed there were so many testimonies of Christians that day who 'felt' an inner voice telling them to not go or be delayed so they missed the tragedy. God is speaking to us all the time and there are times when He is protecting us and telling us not to go somewhere.

There are no insignificant moments if we're walking with God, the very fact He is walking with us makes every moment significant and it's easy to overlook that.

So today I just want to encourage us all to be listening for the Spirit's leading to be in the right place at the right time and to say or hear the right thing to be blessed or be a blessing to someone else.

Lord help us today to hear your promptings and to obey them quickly with a glad heart. Amen.

WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE?

Micah 6:8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

We looked at some of the blessings God gives to us and how He has made us to be His lights to the world to show them Jesus The Light. 

Our verse today helps to show us how to be those lights for Him. 

Sometimes we know the right thing to do but then we're tempted to do the wrong thing, and to give in to the old nature. Maybe it would help us do the right thing if we just stop a minute and remember all that the Lord has done for us then we'll want to do the right thing and please Him and shine His light into the situation.

We'll want to love mercy when we're tempted to jump to conclusions and judge people, whether it's in the media, the government or our daily lives. We all love mercy when we're on the receiving end of it but not always quick to give it! When we show mercy we're shining His Light on people.

Lastly God wants us to walk humbly with Him, which is surely to get in agreement with Him and His Word, His thoughts and to let go of our own opinions, our own way of thinking if they are contrary to His Word.  To say "Yes Lord, whatever You say, whatever You want" which will help others see His Light shining.

Being a light for Him can be uncomfortable sometimes because light exposes what is trying to hide in the darkness and people don't always appreciate it! We're called to keep shining anyway, to not let the enemy snuff our light out because of pressure from others.

So, what does God require of us?  This verse tells us so we can know, and the lovely thing is, He will help us to do it.😊

Have a lovely weekend. 🎄😊

YOU ARE A SPARKLY LIGHT!

Philippians 2:15 ....Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (Nlt)

I was sitting looking at my Christmas tree just enjoying how lovely it looks with its twinkly lights when the Lord gave me this analogy.

The tree itself represents the world we live in both locally and globally. Scattered all over the tree are many shining, sparkling lights which represent His children, you and me, lighting up our small worlds wherever we go.

The baubles which are on my tree just happen to be red, silver and mother of pearl. My daughter calls baubles 'Blessing Baubles'. The red ones speak of the great Love of Jesus when He shed His blood for us, The Mother of Pearl ones scattered throughout are for the Peace of God which we, and the world, so needs. Then the silver baubles are for the many, Blessings which He pours down on us everyday. Those blessings which bring such Joy into our lives whether it's family, friends, finances, health, too many to list.

Then we have garlands of tinsel entwined all through the branches in silver and irridescent white, covering up the bare spots and it's really lovely. That is the love of God wrapping us all around making the whole thing twinkle and reflect the light we're shining for Him.

Without the lights a Christmas tree doesn't sparkle or have much life. Our world is the same, without us shining our light for Him this world will lack life and the light of God.

So today when you look at a Christmas tree, remember you are one of God's lights which may be small but together we light up this world and make things beautiful.

Whenever you see twinkly lights remember you are one of God's bright, shining, twinkly lights in this world and when we have the opportunity let's sparkle and shine for Him today!😊

GOD IS INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES

Jonah 2:1  Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said. 'I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.....'

A wind, a storm, a great fish, seaweed, a plant, a worm and an east wind. When we read the story of Jonah we find God arranged for them all at the exact time they were needed, even a worm!  We need never think God is not involved or doesn't know what is happening in our lives. He is and He does!

If Jonah had obeyed God's instructions none of the above would have been necessary but because He deliberately disobeyed then God had to arrange a sequence of events to bring Him back to carry out God's original plan because God was wanting to save the lives of 120,000 people! God had the big picture in mind not just one person's preferences.

In Jonah's case he (Jonah) brought about the very uncomfortable, distressing situation on himself, and he caused the men in the boat to lose their cargo as well. But behind all of it was the enemy who didn't want God's Word and warning to be heard, so he manipulated Jonah to disobey God.

Sometimes bad things do happen to us, some are just 'life happening' because we live in a fallen world and some are caused by ourselves,   But the good news is God can turn things around even when your head is wrapped in seaweed and you feel trapped! Ever felt like that, when it feels like you're being pulled down and down?

Jonah knew what to do. He called out to God for rescue. He offered the sacrifice of praise, and acknowledged that salvation comes from God alone. (Jonah 2:9)

Thank God we live this side of the cross where there is overflowing grace for every wrong,  every mistake, every failure, where there is rescue from every situation.  

Lord we praise and thank You that You love us unconditionally and we can call on your Name at any time and know You can turn things around for us. Thank You Lord for being so involved in our lives. Amen.

WHILE YOU SLEPT

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of (anxious) toil  - for He gives (blessings) to His beloved in sleep. (Amplified)

While you and I slept last night God was giving blessings to us, His beloved. What a picture of a caring Father God. He never sleeps, He's constantly thinking about us and finding ways to bless us. Doesn't that just make you want to praise Him and thank Him, to want to worship Him.

Even while we're sleeping He's sending His angels out to do His bidding, answering our heartfelt prayers, some of them so deep down we can't even utter them - but He knows them. He knows us so well, inside and out and He loves us.

I was watching the song video by King and Country of The Drummer Boy song and the little boy sings "I have no gift but can I play my drum for you?" The little boy is drawn to show his love and say what can I give You, how can I show my love to You. Jesus says 'whatever you do for the least of these you're doing for Me.'

So today, wherever we are, whatever we're doing, let's do it with a grateful heart to our wonderful Saviour Jesus, and do it for Him, for our loving Heavenly Father, because He loves us so.

And tonight, when you lay your head down on the pillow just rest all your worries down too, knowing that the One who loves you so much is blessing you all through the night even while you sleep.

Thank You Heavenly Father.

HOW KIND THE LORD IS

 

Luke 1:24-25  Soon afterward his wife Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. "How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace...."

The Lord is so kind to all of us in so many ways it would be hard to recount them all. Not least, at the cross, Jesus took away our disgrace whatever shape that has taken.  If we were asked we may all have a different reason to feel disgrace or shame.  Sometimes people have put labels on us saying what we did or said was disgraceful or shameful and labels can hurt.

So just what is disgrace? The dictionary says it's something to cause one to fall from a place of respect or honour or a position of favour.  Dis-grace. To come out of a position of grace, a position of favour.

For Elizabeth in her culture at that time, even though God called her righteous, (see v.6) the culture called her a disgrace just because she couldn't have a baby which in our culture is no disgrace. But for her it was huge.

How important for us to know and remind ourselves that God has given us His grace and called us righteous,  because of Jesus and the cross.  It makes no difference what our culture or the world calls us or labels us.  How God sees us and calls is all that counts!

How kind the Lord is to us! He has declared us righteous and holy in His sight.  We can go out today with our heads help up regardless of what the world says because we know what God has said about us.  We too can say with Elizabeth...

HOW KIND THE LORD IS!  HE HAS TAKEN AWAY MY DISGRACE!  Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus.

GOD'S WELL OF LOVE

Romans 5:5 the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Yesterday we were looking at the peace and joy deep down in our spirit man which we can draw from, anytime, anywhere. So what else is in our Well of Salvation that we can draw out?

When we remember that it is God Himself living in us and that God is Love then first of all we know that everything is flowing out from that place of Love. That's important to remember.

Now can I ask some questions? If you really love someone would you want the best for them at all times?  Would you want to see them well and healthy, healed of every disease? Would you want to see them prospering in every area of their lives financially, socially, emotionally?  Of course you would! 

Now transfer that to the God who loves you unconditionally, who loves you with no limits and who lives on the inside of you today. Even though He knows the very worst about you and me He still loves us! He not only wants all of the above blessings for each of His beloved children but He has bought and paid for all of it with the precious blood of Jesus on the cross. All of it is available on the inside of you for you to draw on, from your Well of Salvation.

We don't have to beg and plead for any of it because He has already given it to us because of His great love for us. Our part is to believe it, and by faith 'draw it out' with a thankful heart.

So how do we do that?  Good question! It's the same as yesterday, you get quiet with the Lord and acknowledge Him and that you are joined with Him in your innermost being. You 'see' yourself drawing out your healing or whatever you need, from that Well of Salvation, which you could say is a Well of Love. You praise and thank Him for it and all through the day you keep drawing from it and from the knowledge that He loves you and wants you well.

Everyday keep 'drawing' out your healing, start seeing yourself healed, rejoicing in it. This is not a one time thing but an on going relationship with the One who loves you so deeply.  

It is from Him and His love that the healing is flowing to us whether for allergies, diseases, stress, anxiety or whatever else troubles us. Praise His wonderful name.

CURE FOR STRESS

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly (innermost being) will flow rivers of living water. 

If you're born again, then the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit,  lives inside you in your innermost being. Wherever you go He goes. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Counsellor, our Stand-by, our Wisdom etc.

Will you do an experiment with me? Just take a few minutes, get quiet and close your eyes and lay your hand on your belly.  Now imagine a Well for me in your head and you have a large bucket balanced on the wall at the top. Let down your bucket in your mind's eye deep down into your Well where your hand is resting.  Down in your spirit is where the Holy Spirit is and when you connect with Him you can draw out of your Well of Salvation all the peace, all the joy, all you need for any given situation. You can do it anywhere, anytime.

Allow Him to 'fill your bucket' as it were with His supernatural peace (regardless of what's going on), to fill it with His great joy (even though sad things may have happened), allow Him to 'fill' you with whatever you need at that moment. It may be you need to know the love of God. Just stop for a moment and connect with Him and allow Him to minister His love to you.

The enemy tries to stick his flag of hurt, anger, fear, guilt, shame on us so he can manipulate us but the only flag we have is the flag of love. God's banner over us is love.  Peace is Love resting and ruling. Joy is Love rejoicing. It's all coming out of His Love. Peace and joy are expressions of His presence and love in our lives. 

When we get stressed our emotions are being controlled by people or circumstances and that's when we need to stop momentarily and be controlled by Jesus instead, when we need to 'draw' His peace and love from within.

So next time you feel your stress levels rising, don't count to ten, instead put your hand on your belly, let your bucket down and draw out His peace, let Jesus rule in your situation. When you feel like you could do with some joy...get your bucket out and let the living water bubble up in you and over everyone else.😊 Release the anointing inside of you.

You may need to practice but I pray it will become second nature to us 'to draw from the wells of our salvation'. Maybe you could let me know how you get on?

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Psalm 35:9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me.

Always look on the bright side of life.  Remember the song? Now that is a healthy maxim for daily living isn't it?  When you start to feel a little down just hum that song for a few minutes and I guarantee you'll start to smile!  There always is a bright side if we'll just look for it.

The enemy makes it so easy to look on the negative, but the Lord turns it round. He says be glad for the good things that are happening, for all the things you can do, for all the hundreds of blessings you do have. You may not be able to meet together every week but you can still phone someone.  We can still show someone else we care about them.

Just because you might not feel as strong or bouncy today as you did before, keep praising the Lord for the strength you have got and believe for Him to restore strength to you again.  Get your Tigger back!

Plant seeds of kindness into people's lives this week and see a harvest of kindness being returned to you in the coming days. Plant seeds of hope for better days ahead and feel your own spirit lift. When we see the good in people instead of seeing their faults we'll be easier to live with. 

The Psalmist says in Psalm 121 I lift up mine eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.  Do you need help in cheering up? Then ask the Lord to help you cheer up, to lift your spirit. Do you need help in feeling positive about things, then ask the Lord to help you think positive thoughts, His God type thoughts, instead of depressing thoughts.  

You know what you need help with today and so does God, so why not go to Him right now and ask for that help?  He is more than willing to be our Helper today and every day.

THE LAND BEYOND TIME

Jude 1:25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. 

Beyond all time.  Some days we're so caught up in the 'now' because it is pressing in on us, that we forget we are headed for the Land Beyond Time.  

Do you remember the old film, full of dinosaurs called  'The Land That Time Forgot'?  Are we sometimes in danger of being a people who forget, not The Land that Time Forgot, but the 'Land beyond Time'!  We're all headed for an existence which is not bound by time any longer, with none of it's constraints.  It's hard to even imagine what that will look like isn't it?  But the amazing thing is, that is what God has saved us for - to spend an eternity with Him, in His presence where we will see His glory, power and majesty demonstrated before us all the time. 

There it is again, this concept of time. I can't even describe it because my mind is so boxed in by the  expression of time! 

We've all heard it said that God is outside of time, that He sees the Beginning of all things, the Cross of Jesus, and the last folding up of the universe all in one go. God is just so awesome and yet He has come to live in each one of us.  He has placed Himself and  eternity inside you and me, in our spirit man.

So when you have days when things seem to be going bonkers, when you don't feel on top of the world, when life has dealt you some hard knocks, just stop for a minute and remember you are a person with eternity inside you, and you are on your journey with Jesus to the Land Beyond Time. Hopefully it will give you a new perspective to carry on with a smile because all will be well for the godly. And even though this life is not all there is, He still wants us to enjoy it while we're here and has given us everything we need to be Overcomers and walk out each day in His triumph. Glory to God. It's a win/win situation isn't it?

Thank You Lord. Our eyes are on you, our amazing, wonderful, glorious Saviour, and where you are taking us. Hallelujah!

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

Luke 6:37 'Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.'

Sometimes we're tempted to blow things out of all proportion and they get bigger and bigger in our heads the more we dwell on them. When we do that we get all bent out of shape and often it ends up being taken out on someone else. It has a ripple effect.

I was in the supermarket yesterday at the checkout with Chris. He'd smiled and said hello to the lady. She ignored him completely she was so busy talking to her workmate and I actually had to interrupt her conversation to ask a question about my store card. I tried complimenting her on her Christmas jumper which drew a small response but then she was rude about another query I had. I was so tempted to retaliate!

It's hard isn't it to keep a tight hold on our rising irritation and just smile instead! But that's what Jesus wants us to do.  

I did go to the staff member on duty at the door and told her we'd been treated very rudely. I didn't say who it was specifically but suggested they ask their staff to treat their customers more kindly!  The Lord doesn't want us to be a doormat but neither does He want us to repay evil with evil. He says repay evil with good.

My guess is that checkout lady was like that all the time with everybody and she will be causing a ripple effect in others in a bad way all day long with whoever goes to her till. She probably has unresolved issues which she takes out on everyone else. How sad!  

The challenge is not to come down to their level but to rise up higher, to take the high road of forgiveness and even to bless them.  I confess I didn't quite manage that at the time!!

Can I encourage us all today to have a ripple effect on others of joy and peace and forgiveness? Let's spread a happy ripple effect today.😊

GREAT PEACE

 Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

We know that Jesus has given us His peace and He instructs us to not allow our hearts to be troubled by things but how do we do that?

This verse gives us a clue. When we love to obey God's instructions, when we love His Word and love to read it and meditate in it, the promise is that we will have great peace.  Not just peace, but great peace! 

I was hearing how when storms rage at sea and the waves are mountains high, when they heave and crash down, apparently if you go about 30 feet below the surface the sea is as calm as calm can be.  Peace is not the absence of storm, it is a calmness deep down in the midst of it.

So when storms blow up out of nowhere in our lives, when everything is battering at us from every side, dig down deep inside your spirit man, draw aside with God's Word, let Him minister His great peace to you to hold you steady. Allow His supernatural calm soothe your inner man and let you know all will be well, He has you in the palm of His hand safe and secure.

Even when you've watched something or heard something that disturbs your soul, get the Word out and read it aloud so your ears hear it and let the Holy Spirit speak His peace like an anointing oil into your spirit man.  Look up scriptures on Peace and speak them over your life. 

God has promised you Great Peace. 😊

DOUBLE BLESSING FOR THEIR TROUBLE

Zechariah 9:12  Return to the stronghold you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

I've just opened a beautiful 3D Adent calendar from my daughter which gave me such a buzz as I put it together I felt like a big kid! I find I can't wait to find and attach all the  'parts'!

What struck me was the sense of expectation that it brings with it finding the number and fitting it in, or in the case of the box of drawer calendars - finding what's in the drawer today!

I think the Lord wants us to feel like that, to have a sense of expectation of the good things He has in store for us, not just when Jesus returns and takes us to be with Him,  but in this life too.

Yes, there will be trials and tribulations along the way, and many have had their fair share of them this past year, but God wants us to see beyond the troubles and have a great expectation of good things too.

How can I say that? Because of the verse above and in Isaiah 61:7 (if you have time look it up). God has promised double blessing for our trouble! What a wonderful God we have and what a wonderful promise. As we start believing Him for the double blessing for our trouble so we'll find our expectation for it growing.

So will you join me today in believing God to open His box of blessings each day for us, called "Double for their trouble" and see what joys He has for us to open and experience in the coming days?

Believing leads to expectation - it's called Faith, and faith pleases God. Faith calls forth the good things of God even before we see them. Zechariah calls us prisoners of hope and faith is the substance of things 'hoped' for.

So Lord we're believing Your promise of double blessing for all our troubles and we're thankful in advance for whatever joys You have planned for us. We can't wait Lord, You're giving us a buzz about it.😊 Amen.

SEND IN THE BEES!

Deuteronomy 28:7 The Lord will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way, but flee before you in seven ways.

A friend who keeps bees was telling me that they are very quiet at the moment as it's winter time. As she was looking at the hive this week a wasp came out of nowhere and flew straight into the hive. Suddenly there was pandemonium as at least six 'Bouncer Bees' who were on guard duty chased the wasp out and began to beat it up big time. They left it in do doubt it wasn't welcome, that they wouldn't let it stay and if it tried again they'd beat him up some more.  Needless to say the wasp left!

I was thinking about the bees and how we need some 'Bouncer Bees' in our minds when we come under attack from the enemy in our thought lives.

I expect you've had it too. You get this thought pop in your head from nowhere, you know it's not a God thought, it doesn't agree with God's word and it's negative or critical or depressing, whatever.

Sometimes we entertain the thought for a minute or even let it settle down - big mistake! That's when we need to get the bees out and annihilate that thought by using the Word of God against it. We can't afford to let enemy intruders in our minds!

For example, you maybe don't feel too well and the thought comes 'You're not well and you're not going to get your healing this time.'  As soon as that pops in your head send in the Bouncer Bees declaring 'God has promised me healing, He is causing this illness to be defeated, by Jesus' wounds I am healed. Buzz off you enemy thought.'  

How about the thought that you wont have enough at the end of the month and it worries you. Send in the bees with 'My God shall supply all my need. No good thing will God withhold from those who walk uprightly.'

Or maybe you're just having 'what if' thoughts that try to steal your peace. Send them packing with 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'  There are so many verses you know that will 'chase' those enemies away but we need to use them.

God says they will flee from us in seven directions! So let's do our part and put some guard bees on the door of our minds and beat those wasp thoughts up, send them fleeing with a flee in their wings! 😊

Tell them to buzz off!!

WONDERFUL JOY AHEAD!

Peter 1:6-7 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. v.7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (Nlt).

Have you ever wondered why you go through so many trials or how you're supposed to react to them?  I think these verses help explain some of our struggles don't you? God doesn't necessarily send the test but it allows us to see if our faith is weak and needs strengthening in some areas.

Scripture tells us every believer goes 'through' stuff,  no one is exempt, so we can take some consolation from that, but the challenge in these verses is to find the joy in the midst of it all.   

I think what Peter is trying to explain is that no matter how tough your trial is, it will bring you something to shout about at the end of it. Have you ever asked yourself why am I having to go through this, what is it all about?  The Holy Spirit is saying through Peter that our faith is being tested.  You never know how real or good something is until you test it to make sure it's working.

It's a bit like the brakes on your car, you don't know if they work till you try them out or you don't know if you will pass the school exam or test until you sit the test and get the results! 

Really he's trying to encourage us all to look beyond the trial because the rewards will be so big by comparison. 

He says when you pass the test, when you choose to stand strong in your faith and keep trusting God no matter what it looks or feels like, it will bring you so much praise and glory and honour when Jesus returns for us that you'll be so glad you kept standing. Not only that but we're pleasing our heavenly Father when we keep our faith strong, and Jesus' name is honoured and glorified too. 

So no matter what is happening with you, remember it's proving your faith is genuine, so you get a beautiful reward at the end of it.    One translation says Rejoice which means Jump for Joy! 

Be encouraged. It will all be worth it - there is wonderful joy ahead. Now that is something to be glad about and why we can rejoice in the midst of the trials.😊 Thank you Jesus.

WHAT GOD SEES IN YOU

 2 Cor 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his  glorious image.

When you looked in the mirror this morning, what did you see? A new wrinkle, a new grey hair maybe, eyes a bit bleary from waking up, hair all over the place? Or did you see what God sees?

He sees His child, blameless in His sight, His unique creation made especially for Him, fearfully and wonderfully made for His glory. He see His workmanship in you and He's never made anything second rate.  When He brought you forth from your mother's womb He called you and chose you because He loved you and wanted you.

He sees you being transformed by the Word of God, as you look into it, to be more and more like His Son Jesus, being changed from inside to be like Jesus to our world we meet each day.

He sees who you really are, a child of God, strong in the power of His might even when we feel weak.

He see the love He put in your heart, the peace and the joy He placed inside you by His Spirit.

He sees Jesus in you.

Next time you look in the mirror just take a moment and see how God sees you.😊

And next time you look in the Word of God remember the Spirit is actually changing you from one degree of glory to another to be like Jesus, as you read it.  Wonderful isn't it!

LET HIM RESTORE YOU

Psalm 23 He restores my soul.

I've been thinking about Peter this morning and how he gives us all hope as we identify with his struggles.

They were all there round the table with Jesus at the last supper, listening to Jesus teaching them for the last time. At that moment they were safe in the upper room. The next scene is the garden where Judas came with the mob to betray Jesus. The upper room was forgotten and Peter saw red. He was so angry he cut off a chap's ear and Jesus had to put it back on again. That was anger out of control, don't you think?

Then we see him at the trial of Jesus and fear gets a stronger hold. At that point he was pretty low anyway as he'd blown his top so badly and now he was vulnerable to fear, to such an extent that he denied the Lord three times.  Fear makes us think and do things that are out of character and takes us down paths we don't want to go.

I can't imagine how gut wrenching it was for him to see his best friend and Lord crucified and hanging in agony on the cross. He must have felt like all was lost, that nothing would ever be the same, that his life lay in tatters and had been destroyed. All his hopes and dreams gone, or so it seemed.  Ever been there?

Then we see him at the tomb where he finds out Jesus' body is missing and he's faced with the possibility of hope. Should he believe what he's being told? Is there hope that Jesus is really alive? Can you feel his confusion? He probably hasn't slept well in the last 3 nights and has relived his failures and 'seen' the Lord on the cross in his mind's eye over and over again. Maybe you have known those nights, reliving failures, things you've seen or experienced you never want to see again.

But wait, look what happens a bit later. Jesus really is alive, and meets him on the seashore with the others and they have breakfast together. 

Then we're given this glimpse of Jesus tremendous compassion and love for Peter as He singles him out for a one on one conversation where He restores Peter and puts his mind at rest. The moment where He lets Peter know he has been forgiven, that Jesus loves him unconditionally and gives him the opportunity to tell Jesus he loves Him too. Then Jesus goes on to commission him with a big undertaking and responsibility to feed His sheep when He leaves.

Peter knew every emotion in the book. He'd literally been on the mountaintop of transfiguration with Jesus and fallen into the pit of despair and hopelessness, then been pulled back out personally by Jesus Himself.

God made us all so very different. You may be the laid back, relaxed, nothing phases me type or you may be the emotional, more volatile type like Peter.  But the good news is, whatever type you are God loves you unconditionally. Whatever mess you've been in, or put in by someone else, God has a way out and His name is Jesus. He wants to restore you and tell you that you are loved beyond measure, that He wants to bless you and give you a purpose again in life. 

Our God is a rescuing God, a restoring God.  Do you feel battered by your emotions and feel you need restoring? Then why not have a 'one on one' conversation with Jesus and let Him personally restore you today?  He is a wonderful Saviour.

GOD'S FINEST AND BEST

Psalm 81:16 But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock. (sweet not bitter things).

In our house we usually only buy the 'Finest' range of food around Christmas or birthdays as a treat or if they come on offer. But here God is saying He wants to feed us with the "Finest Range" which comes from His supply houses.

He told the Israelites He was taking them to a land flowing with milk and honey. In other words somewhere with abundance and quality, where there would be no lack. That is God's heart for each one of us.

In Deuteronomy 32:13-14 it talks about the finest of foods that God gave His people - God is not into the least, or the Essentials range - He is thinking Finest Range! He is not mean and stingy but generous and a God of more than enough.

God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His thoughts are for us to walk in the best of the land, not just in food obviously but in all areas of our lives. He wanted His people to get a picture in their minds of the land He was taking them to so they would have anticipation and a spirit of expectancy.

When He gave them that original promise and picture they were wandering in the wilderness. Sometimes we feel a bit like that - wandering about from day to day, one week flowing into another.

Well be encouraged because God wants us to have that same 'picture' of hope and expectancy for our futures.  He wants us to see beyond the now of our experience and seek His face so He can show us what our future will look like.

In John 16:13 Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would tell them of things to come and the Holy Spirit will do the same for us if we will ask Him. Let Him fill you with an expectancy for His "Finest" things, sweet not bitter things. 

Thank you Lord, we praise You for it in advance. We look forward to it with glad hearts. Amen.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE!!

1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. (Nlt)

A full experience of salvation. Hmm. That implies it's possible to have an even greater experience, a more in depth understanding of the salvation God has given us, don't you think? He says to grow into it, you must crave it.  That's strong language!  (I do sometimes crave liquorice allsorts  but don't tell anyone.😊)

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.  The Psalmist and the Apostle Peter instruct us to go on from the 'taster' we've had, the experience we've had so far, and go on and taste more, dig deeper in the Word.  What have I been missing? There's More! Wow, doesn't that get your taste buds going spiritually? Hope so.

That word Salvation (Soteria) in the original language means so much more than forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven. It doesn't stop there, and He wants us to go on from there to understand more of what it does mean.  He says cry out for it!  Dig into the word.

Part of it's  meaning is deliverance on a daily, moment by moment basis, healing for every sickness and disease, rescue from lack, deliverance from danger in all forms, returning to a place of safety. That's powerful!

Whatever the enemy has stolen or destroyed, that is what Jesus came to be a Saviour to deliver us from as well as our forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.  It's not either one thing or another they are all included in our salvation in Jesus - Yeshua our Saviour. Glory to His name.

God has made a covenant with us through the Lord Jesus, as our only Mediator, to be our Saviour, Deliverer, Healer, Provider, Protector, our Righteousness, I could go on....

Has the Holy Spirit inspired you to dig deeper into His Word and find out more of your covenant with Him, to find out more so you can grow in your salvation, to taste and see even more of the Lord's kindness, to crave it?  Let's not miss, or waste any of it, because it's bought and paid for with the precious blood of Jesus Himself.  

I hope I've stirred up a craving in you and I don't know about you but I want to grow more and more into a fuller experience of this amazing and wonderful salvation God has given us through the Lord Jesus. Praise His glorious name!

GOD IS INSIDE YOU

Isaiah 8:18 Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me. We are for signs and wonders.

God has put something amazing inside each one of us who are born again of the Spirit of God. He has breathed Himself into us. So whatever is inside God, is now inside us. He says we are for signs and wonders.

The Word tells us to be imitators of God, and that we are children of the Light. God spoke light into the darkness so we have a mandate to do the same thing. How can we do that?  Whenever we speak His Word into any situation we are speaking His light into it. Just our very being somewhere has brought the Kingdom of God near to those people. He has placed inside us an unstoppable and an invincible Spirit. He has declared us to be more than conquerors, that He always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. We may not feel like it but our feelings have nothing to do with the truth of what God has said about us. 

Remember a few weeks ago we looked at our hands and feet and saw God flowing through each of us? That's what this verse is talking about, to be available to the Holy Spirit for Him to do His signs and wonders through. God needs the gifting He has placed inside you!

When we step out in faith declaring what God says (speaking the Light) then the Holy Spirit moves on those words and brings them to pass.

God has placed Himself inside you, to be whatever this world needs at any given time, wherever you find yourself. You carry His anointing, the anointing of Almighty God is in you and on you. 

Because you have been born from heaven, you can think like God thinks and act like God acts because it's not you doing it, but the Holy Spirit doing it through you. He has called us to be imitators of God. That is quite a thought!  Lord help us to get in agreement with your Word.

When we get a God thought it will be higher and bigger than our own. God is waiting to do exploits through you and me, not someone else.  He has someone lined up today for you to be a blessing to. 

So be on the lookout remembering you are anointed by God Himself for signs and wonders, whatever that may look like.😊

GOD IS HOLDING US STEADY

Psalm 61:3-4  for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!

Psalm 62: 5-8 Let all that I am wait quietly for God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honour come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. (Nlt).

There are times when we get some news or something happens and we get knocked a bit sideways and think how did that happen?  Those are the times when we need to stop what we're doing for a minute and get alone with God. Why? Because He is our fortress where we will not be shaken. 

If you're feeling shaken this morning by anything at all, the Psalmist encourages us to pour out our hearts to God. Isn't it interesting he doesn't say to ring everybody else and see what they think! 

You see the enemy will try to shake us off the Word of God by producing circumstances, or 'experiences' whether they are our own or someone else's, because he knows if he can get us off The Word we will be shaken and start to fall apart because Jesus is The Word.  If you get off Jesus, you are off your rock, out of your place of shelter and safety and vulnerable to attack.

So whenever something comes to challenge God's Word we have a decision to make. What will I believe? Will I believe the way I feel, what I see, what I've just heard, or will I go to my God and declare He alone is my Rock, my place of safety. His Word is truth and whatever it says, is The Truth, and I trust Him. He is holding me steady and I will not be shaken. 

Be encouraged today, whatever has happened to 'shake your faith' just know that God hasn't changed one bit and nothing that has happened has altered His promises or His Word to you His child. You are His treasured possession, His beloved son or daughter, and you are precious in His sight.

God is waiting with compassion and understanding for us to get alone with Him. He wants you in His sanctuary (His presence) where He knows you will be safe under His wings. Let's do it personally now.

Father God, I run to You today to be in Your presence, for You alone are my Rock, my place of safety. Forgive me Lord for listening to any fears and doubts of the enemy. I choose life today, I choose to trust You and Your Word. Thank You for providing me with the shelter of Your wings and I thankfully come under them again today. I am so grateful to You Lord. Amen.

PEACE AND CONFIDENCE!

Will you imagine with me for a moment that you are sitting at your breakfast table this Monday morning (or whenever) and across the table from you Jesus is sitting eating His breakfast with you. You may smile but bear with me. You're there eating your tea and toast perhaps, thinking of all that this week may bring and maybe apprehensive about what else may happen in the world, and maybe weighed down with your responsibilities, be they family, work or just getting through another day.

As all these things are going through your mind Jesus starts to talk and at first you're so preoccupied you don't hear Him then He taps on the table to get your attention and you realise you've not heard a word He said.  So in case you missed it here is what He is saying to each one of us as we start this week afresh...

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome the world. (I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you). John 16:33 (Amplified)

Perfect peace and confidence!  Isn't that what each one of us would like to start out this week and Jesus is offering it to each of us every day no matter what is pressing in on us.

Perfect peace - that word also translates as 'rest'. Jesus wants us to remember He is the Great I AM.  He is whatever you will need Him to be this week and He offers it to us so we can have complete confidence in Him and rest in Him with such a great sense of peace that nothing will daunt us or disturb us.

So as you get up from the table and get ready for the day, remember what Jesus just said, put your armour on again this morning, knowing that you are surrounded by the favour of God like a shield, that you can be confident in His presence with you personally, and rest and lean on the sure knowledge that nothing is going to happen that He doesn't already know about and has already got an answer for. He has deprived the world of the power to harm you and He says it's Ok you can cheer up.😊

IT'S LOVELY AND UPLIFTING

Ephesians 4:29 Do not use harmful words but only helpful words, the kind that would build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. (Good News Bible).

We all know the reason for lockdowns is to stop us passing on the virus so we and others don't catch it.

But there is something else that can be passed on even when we are locked down and that is our attitude. Have you ever noticed how attitude is very catching and when you've had conversation with someone who has a 'bad attitude' you tend to come away feeling grumpy too! You don't have to be in close contact, you can pick it up over the phone, something you read on social media, a TV programme, or heard down the pipeline! The spirit behind those things tries to settle on us.

But there is something lovely that can be passed on which is very uplifting and it's a good attitude. I've heard it said that attitude determines your altitude. In other words a good attitude raises you up above your circumstances and a bad one has us grovelling round in the dust of despair and discouragement. 

I've been challenged this week to ask myself what am I passing on in my daily contact with people, at home, on the phone, wherever? It's so easy isn't it, to fall into the 'let's have a mutter about things' mode and before you know it the atmosphere has changed and everybody is fed up!

Our verse tells us to speak helpful not harmful words, so it's good to ask, will what I'm about to say build this person up or will it make them more miserable and add to their discontent and upset?

We all know how great it is when we've had a phone call with someone who is upbeat and positive. So  next time you want to have a good old moan, how about stopping for a moment, and think of at least three things you can have a good old praise up for first, and then see if you can carry on with what you were going to say. 😊 

Yes, there may be umpteen things to legitimately mutter about but is it helpful? Do you remember the character Polyanna had a habit of  finding something to be glad about and spread cheerfulness wherever she went, even when things had gone pear shaped?  I think she'd been reading our verse don't you?

And don't forget there is a reward for planting helpful seeds......

James 3:18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Have a great uplifting weekend.😊

ALL ABOUT JESUS

Acts 2:33 Now he (Jesus) is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

Everything good in our lives, as believers, is about Jesus, His love and forgiveness, His grace, His righteousness, His mercy.

Everything good we have in life, as believers, is because Jesus came to this earth, suffered the cross and rose victorious from the grave. 

Everything good we do in life, as believers, is because he has equipped us to do it, say it, write it, give it, receive it, whatever.

OUR WHOLE LIVES ARE A REFLECTION OF WHO JESUS IS IN US AND THROUGH US.

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

If we're any good at anything it's because God has given that ability, it's not our 'smarts' that enable us, it is God Himself.  It is His goodness that is blessing us with every gifting we have.

So today, I just want to exalt Jesus and give Him all the praise and glory for any good that is coming to anyone through this blog.  I give Him all the honour and thanks because without His inspiration and enabling it wouldn't happen. 

I am giving a shout out for Jesus and thank Him for His grace in helping each one of us to do whatever He asks us to do. Maybe it's in phoning and encouraging someone, maybe it's in making a cake or giving a plant, or just telling someone they matter to you and you're glad they are in your life.  Just listening and being there for someone is a gifting from God. It all comes under the banner of encouragement and building one another up and all of that comes from the Holy Spirit who Jesus has poured out on each of us.  God knows we all need encouraging.

So let's exalt Jesus together each day for all His goodness that comes to us, but also for any goodness that flows through us to others. 

We give Him all the glory and pass on all the thanks to Him for every person He uses to make our way brighter and lighter. 

And do you know who that person is?  It's YOU! 😊 

KEEP RIGHT ON GOING

Hebrews 11:27  It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the King's anger.  He kept right on going because He kept his eyes on the One who is invisible.

Moses kept right on going by faith. He didn't let fear stop him or what the King or other people were saying stop him - he kept right on going - he endured. How could he do that when such pressure was being put on him?

He had learned the secret of keeping his eyes on the One who called him, on the One who gave him the promise, who gave him the command.

When he started out by faith to do what God called him to do, he probably thought this will be over soon, all I have to do is throw my stick down a few times to turn it into a snake and Pharaoh will give in.  He may not have expected it to drag on week after week, maybe months. Everyday brought him a new challenge. His people were moaning about worse conditions than when they started. They probably kept on at him "When Moses? How long is this going to go on? Can't you see the difficulties this is causing? Someone else died in the brickpits today Moses! When is God going to rescue us?"

BUT MOSES KEPT HIS EYES ON GOD.  He didn't give up, he endured, he kept right on going. He just kept obeying God and believing for better days to come.  Even when he faced the impossible at the Red Sea he kept listening for the next instruction. He knew His God was bigger than his impossibilities. And he was proved right wasn't he!

He didn't focus on what he could see, he focused on what he couldn't see - on God Himself - and His promises. He knew if God had promised it He would fulfil it.

Can I encourage each one of us today to be like Moses? Just keep right on going by faith in the One who loves you, who holds you in the palm of  His hand, who has promised you a future and a hope, to bless you and not to harm you. 

Each one of us has been called by God to be here at this moment in time. He has a reason for that and our job is to be always listening for His next instruction, to read His word to see what He's saying today.

So JUST KEEP RIGHT ON GOING. Keep our eyes on God, the One who is bigger than our impossibilities, our problems. 

God has a plan and He will work His purposes out. 

Thank You Lord you are always here with us strengthening us to keep right on going. Amen.

IN GOD'S BUBBLE

Psalm 115:11 All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield. v.12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us. 

We've heard a lot of talk about people being vulnerable and that they need to shield themselves from the virus. 

According to the dictionary, a vulnerable person is one who may be unprotected, exposed to danger....

But praise God we, as God's people, are not unprotected! GOD HIMSELF IS OUR SHIELD. HE HIMSELF IS HELPING US.  HE HIMSELF IS PROTECTING US.

Psalm 116:6  The Lord protects those of childlike faith...

Of course it is important to obey the government guidelines, but we should never forget that at base level GOD is shielding us. 

He doesn't call us to have huge faith, He calls us to have Childlike faith in Him, in His goodness, faithfulness and love, in what He says.

Our verse says God is shielding us. WE ARE IN GOD'S BUBBLE! It's a bubble of God's protection we are in. That means we can go into the workplace and into the shops or wherever, when we have to, and know that God's bubble of protection is surrounding us, and nothing can by any means harm us.

When you tell a child something, if they know and trust you, they just believe what you say. They trust you to tell them the truth, they trust you to look after them and provide for them, and that's the way it should be.

Now we are God's children aren't we? We know He never lies, that He loves us dearly and that He is guarding us so we can go out holding God's strong right hand this week knowing He goes with us. He is not only helping us but He is shielding us. He doesn't want you anxious about it.

Go out with peace in your heart and rest in your soul, knowing you are inside God's bubble with Him. Get your childlike faith out and trust Him. 

Actually 'see yourself' inside the Bubble of God's Protection, inside that bubble walking through your day with God holding your hand. Are you seeing it with me? I pray so.

Have such a blessed week inside God's bubble of protection.😊

WE WISH TO SEE JESUS

 John 12:21 Then they came to Philip...and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." nkjv

Why did they wish to see Jesus? Probably because they'd heard He did miracles and healed the sick. Jesus is just the same now as He was then. He still works miracles and still heals people but the big difference is He's doing them through us, His people.

Two of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are miracles and healings and these gifts are available to each one of us through the Holy Spirit. The only reason we don't see more of the supernatural miraculous works of Jesus is because we're probably not believing we can be the instrument they come through.

Jesus is here - but He is in us, waiting for us to be available to lay hands on people believing He'll touch them through us. He's waiting on us to believe for, and call for, the miraculous to happen in people's lives.  You'll sometimes hear people saying 'we're just waiting on God to do such and such'. May I suggest they will wait a long time because all the time He is waiting on us!

We are His hands, feet, voice and whatever it is people need.  When we say or think 'I couldn't do that, I'd need to get more holy before I could do that', then we've been deceived by the enemy because God says, and Jesus says we can!  Why? Because it's not us doing it, we're just the channel for Jesus to do it.  His treasure is hidden in our earthen vessels, scripture says.

We are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. What do believers do? They believe Jesus is in them, He's the same yesterday, today and forever and He's still working through them to bring glory to His Father.

Let's believe we can be what God says we can be, do what He says we can do and have what He says we can have.  Let's be imitators of God, bringing healing, restoration, miracles and whatever else God has for people. 

Let's be Jesus to people because we are Jesus Carriers! Healing Carriers! Miracle Carriers!

It's not us doing it - it's Jesus through us. Let's ask God to help us to stop seeing ourselves as 'can't do people' but to really see ourselves as He does - people who carry His anointing for the supernatural touch of God in others' lives. 

Just stop for a minute and see yourself laying hands on the sick and Jesus using your hands to allow Him to heal them. See it with your spiritual eyes of faith.

Jesus said you will do greater things than I have done and more besides! Believe it, it's true. Jesus said so!😊

There are people out there who are still wishing to see Jesus but they will only see Him through you and me. I know I find it challenging and expect you do too but God will lead us and strengthen us to do what He calls us to do.

Enjoy being a Jesus Carrier, a Christ One, today😊

LET'S BELIEVE!

Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."

What are you, what am I, believing Jesus for today?

Most people you talk to are believing for a financial down turn, for economic crisis, for their jobs to be lost, etc. But we need to be wary of agreeing with any of that because Scripture tells us clearly that what you believe for is what you get. It works both ways, positively and negatively.

As believers in the Word of God we read something quite different to the doom and gloomers and we have to decide whose word to believe and to act on.

God says in His Word ....

That His plans for us are good and not to harm us

We shall be the head and not the tail. 

We shall be above only and not beneath. 

Everything we set our hand to shall prosper.  

We shall not borrow but lend to others. 

God wants us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers. 

As we give so it will be given back to us, good measure, pressed down and running over. 

God's favour surrounds us like a shield. 

Nothing shall by any means harm us. 

We'll be blessed going out and blessed coming in. 

God is restoring our souls. 

Goodness and mercy are chasing us down, so even if we lose our job we shall find an even better one because God is our Source, not our employer.

God is providing all your needs by Christ Jesus according to His riches in glory (which are limitless). 

Whatever seeds we sow we shall reap a harvest in due season. 

God is for us, so who or what can successfully be against us - no one! 

God is strengthening us when we feel weak. 

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

We are anointed for such a time as this.

God wants us to believe He can do all of the above for us because He says He can. He is not a liar and He is waiting on us to agree with Him in faith for all of the above.

AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED, SO LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU.

What are you believing for? Will you join with me and decide to believe for all of the above because Jesus bled and died so we could have them and countless more blessings besides. 

The wonderful thing about God's grace is that He pours all of these blessings on us just because we believe it - we believe Him - we believe in Jesus - we believe His Word and act on it, not forgetting to thank Him for it all in advance!

Our wonderful Saviour has done it all for us.  

Let's do our part - let's believe!

JESUS IS WONDERFUL!

 Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change...

I just want to encourage us with those words this morning. Jesus hasn't changed one bit and neither has God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus has redeemed us out of the kingdom of darkness and we've been put in God's Kingdom. God still forgives us and calls us holy and righteous in Jesus. Jesus is still our Redeemer, Healer, Provider, Protector, Counsellor, our Prince of Peace....I could go on.  

Glory to His wonderful name! Jesus is still wonderful and always will be.

The things of this world are changing on a daily basis but that doesn't need to disturb us in light of Jesus always being the same and God being for us.

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth.

What is your mind 'set' on today? Jesus told us to 'let not your heart be troubled'. If we repeatedly look at the 'things' going on at the moment on earth we will be troubled and sucked into the doom and gloom.

I believe the Scriptures are Holy Spirit breathed and inspired, don't you? So the command the Holy Spirit gave to the early Christians He gives to us today...Set your minds on things above. He is calling us up higher in our thought life.

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God's entire house. And we are Gods's house if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

Ephesians tells us we are chosen and called from before the foundation of the world. Jesus wants us to put all our confidence in Him, not in anything else. He calls us to be salt and light in our troubled world. He calls us to bring His message of hope to people who have no hope. He hasn't called us to join in the hopelessness. God is still on the throne and He wants us to focus on Him and His Kingdom which is unshakeable.  We are 'in' the world, not 'of' the world. Our citizenship is in Heaven. We are just here for a short time but our real home is Heaven. Sometimes we forget that.

Hebrews 13:14 For this world is not our permanent home, we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

Regardless of what each day brings we can keep looking to God our Father, knowing He hears our prayers for our family, friends and the world situations that keep coming up.  He has the answer to every situation and every problem. But He has commanded us nevertheless to set our minds on things above. It is not a suggestion, it is a command from the Lord of Heaven.

God hasn't changed and never will and He is for us. Jesus is still our Wonderful Deliverer. What more could we possibly want?😊

GUARD YOUR HEART

 Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Above all else!  Why is that? Let's look at Luke 6:45 "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart."

 It's good sometimes to examine what we are allowing in our hearts, and what is already in there, and what maybe needs digging out before it pours out!

Proverbs explains our heart determines the course of our lives.  To put that in practical terms here is an example. Have you ever met a bitter person? Something has happened and they allowed bitterness to enter their hearts and then that bitterness keeps flowing out of them in their conversation and their attitude to others. You could use the same analogy for all sorts of things. If condemnation comes out of people then that is in their own heart. If forgiveness comes from them then they have a forgiving heart. If they spread joy and hope then that is what is in their heart.

The wonderful thing is we have a great High Priest called Jesus and we can go to him at any time and ask Him for His help to cleanse our hearts of all iniquity, whether it's fear or anger or resentment, bitterness or condemnation - whatever it is Jesus can wash us clean, and give us a new heart.

A prophet once told King Saul that God was taking his stoney heart out of him and giving him a new heart.

Be encouraged, if you recognise anything in your heart that shouldn't be there just go to the Lord, confess it and ask Him to cleanse you of it. Let Him fill your heart today with His great love so it can flow out to others, let Him fill you with His forgiveness today so you have some to forgive others with, let Him fill your heart with His joy and peace.

And above all else guard your heart today. Don't let anything in that shouldn't be there. Don't let fear come in from watching the media, don't let offence in from anything people may say, don't let the enemy's lies in, but surround your heart with the Word of God. It will guard your heart better than anything!

Whatever else you have to do today GUARD YOUR HEART ABOVE ALL ELSE!

Lord please help us today to guard our hearts from anything that would steal our peace or spoil our walk with You. Forgive us Lord and wash away anything in there that's not pleasing to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

LET HIM RESTORE YOUR SOUL

Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Another week has gone by and you've either been to work or you've been at home for whatever reason, but I'm sure there have been some things that have happened which have upset your soul at some point! 

It's part of life and God is well aware of it so, as always, He provides for it. He provides restoration.

Our soul is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions and when any one, or all three of those are out of kilter then we could do with going into the secret place for a restoration job.  Just at the minute I think we all might need it!

At 3.20 a.m. this morning we had a huge Car Off Loader, with zillions of lights flashing, roll up opposite our house which proceeded to off load someone's car with all the engines running, doors banging, etc. etc. Can I tell you my 'soul' got somewhat ruffled!!  After we shared a cup of tea and had several muttering moments I said as I went back to bed, "Well I'm not going to let them steal my joy and I forgive them for waking me up." (I knew it would be more than likely I wouldn't get back to sleep).

You may smile but I had a choice. I could stay ruffled, really annoyed at their thoughtless waking the neighbourhood up at some unearthly hour, lose my joy, or I could just let it go. 

I'm sure you've all had stuff like that happen, but instead of just bottling it up, or pushing it down on top of all the other upsets, we need to go to the Lord and let Him be our Good Shepherd who restores our souls, let Him restore the joy of our salvation. 

Just sit down with Him for a while, maybe let Psalm 23 wash over you and cleanse you again of all the junk. Meditate on each verse and ask Him to speak to you. See yourself walking by His side leading you to a restful spot and sit down on the grass with him. Let Him walk with you along the river bank refreshing you, hear the water gently running by with the sun twinkling on the water and let Him restore your soul. Let Him whisper His peace into your troubled mind. Let Him put things back into perspective. 

Whatever passage ministers to you, read it,  go over it in your head because God says His word cleanses us.  I need regular cleansing I don't know about you.

So two thoughts today:

1) Let the Lord be your Shepherd by letting Him restore your soul, your equilibrium. We need to draw aside to let Him do it.

2) Don't let people or circumstances, steal your joy today or in the coming days (or nights, as the case may be). Let it go! Just forgive them.

Why not spend some time this weekend just letting Him RESTORE YOUR SOUL. Glory to His wonderful name.

JESUS IN YOUR BOAT

John 6:17  the disciples got into the boat, and went over the sea..And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. v.18 the sea arose...great wind was blowing v.20 they had rowed 3 or 4 miles...they saw Jesus v.20 He said 'It is I, do not be afraid.' v.21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat.

Does it seem 'that it is already dark'? Does it feel like Jesus has not come to you? Are the winds howling and everything is tossed up in the air and threatening to overturn your world? Have you rowed and rowed, you've kept going, gone forward, made some headway, then been pushed back by the waves and lost ground, so you have to keep rowing harder and harder?

The disciples knew just how you felt. They were in the same boat!

In Mark 6:48 Mark tells us Jesus came to them walking on the sea and would have passed them by. That's terrible you say, why would He pass them by when He could see their desperate struggle and could see their fear?

But He does speak to them. He must have shouted actually for them to hear Him over the storm and He shouts 'It is I, be not afraid'.  At that point they had a choice - do we carry on in our own efforts and being fearful, or do we invite Him into our boat?

You see Jesus will never force Himself on us and even though He sees our struggles, our fears, He always waits to be invited in.

Jesus is shouting to us today over our storm we're all in at the moment. He says the same thing IT IS I, BE NOT AFRAID.   Remember this is the Great I AM declaring HE IS HERE, HE IS CLOSE BY, DON'T BE AFRAID. 

The thing is, is our storm shouting so loud in our minds we're not hearing Jesus? 

He is waiting for us to willingly invite Him into our boat, where the virus is tossing things upside down, or whatever your storm might be. He wants to bring our lives safe to shore, to the other side of it all.

As soon as Jesus got in their boat He did bring them safely to the other side. But they had to willingly invite Him in.  When they thought Jesus hadn't come to them He was already on the waves but they just hadn't seen Him yet.  Jesus by His Holy Spirit is already here, but He's waiting for our invitation to come in and still our fears and uncertainties again today. Will you join with me?

Lord, we invite You once again to come into our individual boats where the storm is trying to toss us up and down. Come in and calm us down and bring us safely through and out the other side of it all. Thank You Lord You are here to uphold us, strengthen us and help us. There is nothing to fear when You are involved.  We praise You for victory over the virus. We praise You for the vaccine on it's way. We praise You for deliverance for our nation. We praise You for giving wisdom to our leaders in authority over us. We praise You because You are our Waymaker, our Miracle Worker. We praise You Jesus because we know our praises bring down the enemy's strongholds and stops the mouth of the destroyer. So we praise You and praise You again and will carry on praising You. Amen.

THE SECRET TO MORE THAN ENOUGH!

2Corinthians 9:8-10  'Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything-every moment and in every way.

He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.  Just as the scriptures say about the one who trusts in him: Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor, his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten.      This generous God who supplies abundant seed for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals, is even more extravagant toward you. 

First he supplies every need, plus more. Then he multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity will grow.  '(The Passion Translation)

Paul wrote all that and more to the Corinthians to encourage them in their giving and praised them for it. He reveals the secret to having more than enough.  

First he explains that God is ready to overwhelm us with His generosity. That's good news!

Then God wants us to trust Him because then we ourselves will sow generously into God's work locally, nationally and globally.  God's kingdom is growing, but it takes finance for the Good News of Jesus to be sent to people so they can get saved, or fed and clothed, etc. God wants us to have a heart for His big picture not just for our own small world and our own needs. God is so big He can take care of it all!

Paul says as we sow, then it will be multiplied by God.  He explains that God gives us a seed to sow in the first place.  So whatever God has put in our hand He says you keep the 90% but when we give Him the tithe, (the 10%), then we're trusting Him to multiply that 10% back to us in an overwhelming, multiplied way so not only will our bills and needs be met but we shall have overflow!

Have you ever said 'But I've got bills to pay, how can I give to Your work first? I'll just give what I can afford after I've paid the bills.' That's an easy trap to fall into but the reason we haven't had enough is sometimes because we have it backwards!

Jesus praised the widow who gave her last penny because He knew she trusted God to provide for her.  Don't let us ever deprive people of the privilege of giving and having their seeds multiplied. That's back to front thinking or human reasoning.  If we do it God's way we will, in fact, be giving people the opportunity to prosper! They're not losing something they're gaining a harvest! God's ways are definitely not our ways are they?

We don't give to God because we have to, we give to God because we're allowed to. Big difference. It's a privilege to be allowed to be part of God's plan and work don't you think?  He's giving us an amazing opportunity to be part of what He's doing.  This is not us paying a debt we owe, Jesus paid all our debt. It's us giving out of our love for Him. The Old Covenant was paying the tithe as a debt owed but that is finished now and we're now in the New Covenant way of giving.

I think it's lovely that God doesn't tell us to try to think of ways to raise the money we need for church or ourselves. He just tells us to be givers and follow the leading of His Holy Spirit and He'll multiply it back to us and be responsible for the rest.  

The secret to more than enough is to give to God first, with love, trust Him to multiply it back to meet our need, and He will. God loves a cheerful giver.😊

LET'S HAVE A CLEAR OUT!

 Proverbs 19:11  A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offence.

When you go to your fridge do you sometimes have to have a clear out because there may be an unpleasant smell, or things are out of date?

Our lives are like a container and some things may smell a  little bit or be outdated. Depending on what our lives are full of will decide how much we are giving off a nice fragrance for Jesus. Have you ever noticed a negative person doesn't exactly reflect Jesus?

I've heard it said we may have 10% offence at someone or something, 12% resentment, 12% bitterness, 15% doubt, 16% worry, 5% envy or jealousy. In other words a little bit of all, or any of them, but when you add them all up they come to around 70% filled with junk which only leaves 30% or so for all the good things God wants to fill us with. 

Interesting concept isn't it? So when you think about that, how much of your container is full of 'stuff'? And how much would you like it to be full of God's mercy, grace, joy, peace, favour and victory? We only have a limited amount of space.

Well if you're anything like me you want all of God so that means we have to do some emptying out of the other things.  Let's have a clear out and make room for more of God.

Today though, we shall just look at one of those blockages. Our verse talks about it being to our glory to overlook an offence. It's so easy sometimes to take offence at the government, the media, that person who cuts us up on the road or steals our parking space. Maybe someone in the family or a friend said something hurtful.  The offence may have happened 20 years ago but it still bothers you today. The list goes on but God says He will give us glory when we forgive the offence, however or whenever it came. Taking offence blocks the flow of God's grace and goodness. 

Holding on to an offence (which we've all done from time to time) not only allows the person to harm you initially but it goes on harming you the longer you hold it. It's a form of unforgiveness, just in disguise.  

You may only be  a 'little bit offended', but can you afford to add it to the other stuff ? I know I can't!

Let's empty it out and forgive the offence by God's grace and be free of it. God will be pleased to give us glory to our account for it.  What a lovely thought.

As for all the other 'little things', whatever amount of each one we have, let's ask the Lord to help us by His Spirit to dump them out one by one as well, so we can receive the full flow of God's overflowing love and favour in our lives.

Let's have a clear out! 😊

SURPRISES FOR YOU!

Isaiah 30:18 And therefore the Lord (earnestly) waits (expecting, looking, and longing) to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who earnestly wait for Him (for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship)!  (Amplified Bible)

This is just a quick update on God's surprises.

The other day we looked at how to nearly miss it.  Well this time I DID NOT MISS IT!!!!

Last Friday was my birthday and my daughter popped round with my birthday pressies which was lovely but then she said "There is one more thing but it's very heavy, I'll just bring it from the car".

It was a secondhand, now new to me, PC console to replace my very old PC.  

I've been praying about new equipment with several other things which are wearing out but I was thrilled to bits.  It came free to her husband whose company were relocating and discarding their old equipment for brand new in their new building. It was being thrown away and as he knew I needed a new one they let him have it free!!

How amazing is our God and what a wonderful surprise. Now all I need is someone to help me transfer all the stuff from my old one!! But that will come too.

Anyway I'm just here to remind us all how our God knows what we need and I believe He loves to surprise us even with things we don't 'need'!  Do any of you like nice surprises?  Then start believing God, like I've been doing, for Him to surprise you too.  

We have a wonderful Saviour, a wonderful God, whose heart is for us, to bless us, and be generous towards us.  No-one deserves it, but that is the wonder of His grace, isn't it?  We don't qualify for lovely surprises in ourselves, but Jesus has qualified us. That just thrills my soul. Jesus has qualified you too. Glory to His wonderful name.

START BELIEVING FOR GOD'S LOVELY SURPRISES, for His LOVING-KINDNESSES, because that is what a surprise is, isn't it?  

God is lifting Himself up, off His seat, looking for someone who's looking for Him and for His kindness and mercy.😁 God wants to surprise and amaze you too!

YOU ARE SO VALUABLE!

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Just in case you might have forgotten, or you don't feel much like it, God wants to remind you today just how valuable you are to Him, how very precious you are and that you are His treasured possession.  

So no matter whether you think you might have messed up or not 'done enough' in your eyes, God says turn your eyes on Jesus because He has done it all for you.  Our performance may well not be perfect, but Jesus is perfect and we are so valuable to God that He has hidden us IN CHRIST. 

He loves us like He loves Jesus Himself which is an amazing thought.(John 17:23 and 26)

In these verses Matthew talks about us being more valuable than the birds, and God looks after them so well.  He is saying if God can look after the birds He can surely look after us and provide for us so there's no need for us to worry or be anxious about tomorrow, next year, or any year.  

God doesn't want us to be anxious about things.  When these verses were written, the Jews were under Roman dictatorship. They crucified them if they felt like it and Caesar who was a foreign king, had the power to do what he liked with them.  Despite all that, Jesus says to the people listening, don't be anxious, you are so valuable to God that you can rest and relax in the sure knowledge that He will take care of you. 

God is saying the same thing to us today if we're listening. 

"You are valuable to Me. Don't be anxious. I'm looking after every single thing that concerns you, now and in the future and if ever you're tempted to doubt that - consider the birds."

So the next time you see a bird - remember how valuable to God you are and how He's looking after you. 😊