What's he talking about ?

That stirred up a hornet's nest of questions among the disciples: "What's he talking about: 'In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? And, 'Because I'm on my way to the Father'? What is this 'day or so'? We don't know what he's talking about." John 16:17-18 The Message

Have you ever heard God tell you something and think, 'I don't know what He is talking about?'  The Amplified Bible poses the question this way, 'We do not know or understand what He is talking about?' 

So often that is absolutely true, we don't know or understand what God is saying. Possibly because we are so consumed by our own understanding and agenda, that we don't make time to seek God and try to understand what He is telling us. We have the Holy Spirit in us, who is able to help us understand.

'But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and indeed, out of all that I have done and said.'  John 16:13 The Message

We have to make a decision to listen to the Holy Spirit. We have to seek His revelation, not our own revelation, no matter how convicting it is. This can be tough, I know from my own experience. Sometimes the revelation won't be 'pretty' but it will be necessary. Necessary for our character growth and moving to a deeper understanding of our Heavenly Father. The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians of the importance of this deeper knowledge and understanding, 

For this reason, we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things - that you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. Colossians 1:9-10 AMP

God wants us to lay down our own understanding and seek His understanding, not only so we experience personal growth, but so we can bear fruit in every good work. God has a plan and purpose for each of us.

Question for today, has God told you something and you don't fully understand what He is talking about? Why not take time today to be still and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more to you about what God has told you? The Holy Spirit is in us to help us, if we will let Him. As Jesus says,

'He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.' John 16:14 AMP

Completely satisfied

Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born again child of God enjoys His favour and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! Matthew 5:6 AMP

What makes you completely satisfied? Is it the presents you received this Christmas? Is it having a certain amount of money in the bank? What happens if that money is no longer there?  Is it having the best of best of a certain 'thing'? What happens if you can never obtain it, or if when you do, you lose it? Is it having the most delicious meal you have ever had? What happens when you are hungry again?

The Bible tells us we will be completely satisfied when we hunger and thirst for right-standing with God. Jesus teaches us again in Matthew 6, that our focus needs to be on our Heavenly Father, His kingdom and righteousness.

For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given to you besides. Matthew 6:32-33 AMP

Question for today, do you hunger and thirst for right-standing with God? We have the opportunity through our saviour, Jesus, to be in right-standing with God. So let's not hold back. Let's humbly seek Him and be completely satisfied.

The humble shall see it and be glad; you who seek God, inquiring for and requiring Him [as your first need], let your hearts revive and live! Psalm 69:32 AMP

I have come to consider

But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognising and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One). Philippians 3:7-8 AMP

It is Christmas Day. What are you going to celebrate today? Family, friends, good health, financial prosperity, biggest and best Christmas present ever? There are so many worthwhile things to celebrate today. 

But what happens if some or all those things are taken away? What if you don't have family with you today, for whatever reason? What if you are all alone today? What if your health is not good and getting worse? What if financially things are a mess? What if you don't get any presents?  Then, what will you celebrate today?

Read the scripture above again, specifically, 'I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.'

Even if we are physically alone and suffering, we have the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus, our Lord. Through God's grace, we have the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Let's celebrate Jesus today.

John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Who I said, He Who come after me has priority over me, for He was before me. [He takes rank over me, for He existed before I did. He has advanced before me, because He is my Chief.] For our of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favour upon favour and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favour and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known]. John 1:15-18 AMP

What do you want?

Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out - but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:16-17 The Message

We have a Heavenly Father who wants to have relationship with us. In 2 days time we are going to celebrate the birth of His Son on earth.  He wants to be with us forever, in eternity. God doesn't want us to be isolated from Him. God wants us to be in right standing with Him.

For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favour) and the free give of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Romans 5:17 AMP

What do you want? Why not ask the Holy Spirit to help you do a 'heart check' against the list in 1 John 2:16, how do you rate when it comes to :

 - wanting your own way?

- wanting everything for yourself?

- wanting to appear important?

Maybe you are like me, on the outside, not appearing to want these things. But if you let the Holy Spirit reveal what is in your heart, you may find the truth is not so clear cut.  The motives behind some of my seemingly 'Godly' behaviours, are in truth, because I want my own way, or I want to appear important. It is a humbling, but necessary, experience to take time to let the Holy Spirit give you these personal revelations.

So I will ask the question again, what do you want? Do you want to be isolated from God? It may be that for you some parts of your life are aligned with God, but some are isolated. If this is the case, and you want to move from that place of isolation into God's will for your entire life, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what needs to be done. Repentance is always a good place to start.

But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything - and I do mean everything - connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside out and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces this character in you. Ephesians 4:20-23 The Message

God and sinners, reconciled!

I love the Christmas carol, Hark! The herald angels sing, particularly the words, 'God and sinners reconciled.'  Jesus, God's Son came to earth so He would die and we could be reconciled to our Heavenly Father.

And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. Colossians 1:21-22 AMP 

Jesus' coming to earth and sacrificing His life, made a way for us to be in right-standing with God. Jesus made a way for us to enter into eternal life. The Message Bible puts it this way,

But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole an holy in his presence.  Colossians 1:22 The Message.

Paul goes on to warn us, 

You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message. Colossians 1:23 The Message

In the busyness of this Christmas season, let's stay grounded, tuned in to The Message of Jesus. Through Jesus we have been reconciled to God. We are now Christ's ambassadors, sharing the message of reconciliation. 

So we are Christ's ambassador, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favour [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 AMP

We have been offered divine favour for a reason. Let's take hold of it, as God intended, and live our lives fully as Christ's ambassadors. Let's do all God calls us to do, to bring His message of reconciliation to this broken world.

But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favour, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing us to the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favour).  2 Corinthians 5:18-19 AMP

God with us

Jesus, God's own Son, came to earth to be with us. We declare this truth in the carols we sing at this time of year ....

'God with man is now residing' (Angels from the Realms of Glory)

'Word of the Father now in flesh appearing' (O Come, All Ye Faithful)

'Hail, hail the Word made flesh' (What Child is this?)

'How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name' (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen)

'Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail th' Incarnate Deity' (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing)

Question for today, when you sing Christmas Carols, do you sing out of habit and familiarity, or are you thinking about the meaning of their words? At this time of year, people all around the world are singing carols, whether it is at church, or community Christmas carols in the local park, at home or in the car. As they sing, they are declaring that God's own Son, Jesus, came down to be with us, our Emmanuel. Let's be one's who sing the loudest!

But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit. she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Saviour], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. 
All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet, Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel - which, when translated, means, God with us. Matthew 1:20-23 AMP

Safe and sound through Him

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. John 3:16-17 AMP

God knows our pain. God gave up His Son, Jesus, for us. Jesus understands our suffering. Jesus suffered here on earth.

Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says, Even I live by placing my trust in God. And yet again, I'm here with the children God gave me. 
Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Saviour took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.  It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself - all the pain, all the testing - and would be able to help where help was needed. Hebrews 2:13-18 The Message

God is our refuge and our strength, He understands. Question for today, if you are feeling fearful about this world we live in, lean on and confidently put your trust in Him. Jesus knows exactly how you feel. He can give you His peace.

The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation). And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity]. Psalm 9:9-10 AMP

In the nick of time

Some of you set sail in big ships;
you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw GOD in action,
saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:
With a word he called up the wind -
an ocean storm, towering waves!
You shot high in the sky, then the bottoms dropped out; your hearts were stuck in your throats.
You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,
you didn't know which end was up.
Then you called out to GOD in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time.
He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when the storm died down,
and he led you safely back to harbour.
So thank GOD for his marvelous love,
for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.
Psalm 107:23-31 The Message

There are some times and places in life when the only option is God. As I read this psalm this morning, I was recalling a time many years ago, when we were literally in a storm at sea, on a small 25ft yacht, off the coast of Sydney. The verse, 

You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out; your hearts were stuck in your throats.

brings back particularly traumatic memories. Every time we went over the top of one of the big waves, we did have our hearts stuck in our throats as we waited to see if we would 'land' safely on the other side. We had a small outboard engine on the stern (back) of the boat, and as the boat rose on the big waves, the outboard would be out of the water and make a 'sewing machine noise' as the propeller blades turned without any water. For six hours we experienced God's breathtaking ways with the ocean. 

The worship song 'Shout to the Lord' by Darlene Zschech, had recently been released. I have a vivid memory of singing that song for most of the voyage. As we would rise up on the waves, I would sing at the top of my lungs, 

'The mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your Name, Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing, power and majesty, praise to the King.'

I know these lines are the opposite way to the chorus, but it worked better for me that way, almost as if, when we rose up on the waves,  I was commanding the waves, in Jesus Name, to bow down.

All the earth shall bow down to You and sing [praises] to You; they shall praise Your name in song. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 66:4 AMP

That truth sustained me for the six hour voyage. As the Sydney heads came into view, the fuel in our outboard engine ran out. As the Voyage had taken longer that expected, we had used up all our spare fuel. My declarations of God's sovereignty and power moved to a whole new level! With one very small sail up, we literally surfed through Sydney heads. God had led us safely back to harbour, in the nick of time.

Throughout the voyage I had declared (screamed is probably a better description) God's word, as loud as I possibly could, and drew on what my many years of sailing had taught me to do. At the end of the voyage, after experiencing God's marvelous love, I could do nothing other than weep with an ever grateful heart. In fact I wept for three hours non-stop,

Blessed by the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! God is to us a God of deliverances and salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escape from death [setting us free]. Psalm 68:19-20 AMP

Question for today, are you in the midst of an ocean storm with towering waves? You may not be screaming out on top of literally big waves as I was, however, you may be screaming out to God in your own particular 'storm'. Remember, He is there, He is listening, He will get you out in the nick of time. God is a God of deliverances and salvation.

I will look to the Lord

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 AMP

This is one of the scriptures that I hold very close to my heart. So often in my life things have gone on that I have had no control over. Not just minor things, but life-changing circumstances that no-one would every ask for. Situations in which I have had no choice but to seek God and wait on God. I have had to learn how to humble myself and look only to Him. 

Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. 1 Corinthians 8:6 AMP

I clearly remember one morning before a critical meeting, having no idea what to say or do, being in the shower, tears streaming down my face, crying out to God, 'Why don't they see what I see? What do I say to make them see the truth?' The outcome of this meeting would determine the well-being of our family. Of course the situation I faced was nothing compared to what Moses faced, but the message I got from God was the same, 

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall say. Exodus 4:12 AMP

And that is exactly what God in His grace did for me. In that shower, through the tears, he gave me a sentence to say, the exact words to speak, at the meeting that morning. At the meeting, when I was asked the question, I said the words God had given me. Immediately the direction of the meeting turned to the direct opposite way to which it was heading. God had prevailed! It was not me, not my strength, not my wisdom, not my power. It was God's Spirit that had given me the words to bring truth. 

So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 AMP

Yes there are still circumstances in my life that I am waiting with hope and expectancy for God to prevail in. But I am choosing to look to the Lord and be confident in Him.

Question for today, are you feeling weary from waiting for a circumstance in your life to change? Why not, stand tall, and daily declare, 'But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.'  Ask God to help you to learn to trust Him more, to trust that He is listening and He will answer in His time and in accordance with His plan and purposes.

Do not rely on your own insight

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Proverbs 3:5 AMP

It can be easy make decisions based on our own insight and understanding, and forget that there is a bigger picture, God's picture. Our own insight is minuscule compared to God's insight. He knows it all. We really don't even know ourselves! That is why he tells us that in all our ways, we need to know, recognize and acknowledge Him.

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:6 AMP

So often when things don't go as we planned or thought they should have gone, we can find ourselves questioning God. Where is He? What is He doing? The Bible tells us the answers to these questions:

Q: Where is He?
A: God is in the midst.  God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early [at the dawn of the morning]. Psalm 46:5 AMP 

Q: What is He doing?
A. He is perfecting us. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. Ephesians 4:12-13 AMP

Question for today, is there some aspect of your life that you are not happy about, or are feeling fearful about? Meditate on the scriptures I have shared today. Ask God to help you to trust that He has a bigger picture and it will be worked out in His timing. Ask God to help you allow Him to do the perfecting in your life that He is wanting to do. 

Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. Proverbs 3:7 AMP

Not to us

NOT TO us, O Lord, not to us but to Your name give glory, for Your mercy and loving-kindness and for the sake of Your truth and faithfulness! Psalm 115:1 AMP

Who are you giving glory to today? What is glory? In this context glory can be defined as 'adoring praise and thanksgiving' (The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary).

Have you taken time today to praise and thank God for His mercy and loving-kindness? I find I don't have to look far to find an example of His mercy and loving-kindness in my life. The fact that I am now in right-standing with my Heavenly Father is an indescribable act of mercy. Me, who, when I was 20 declared at the family dinner table, 'I don't believe in God anymore.' I had decided to completely turn my back on all I was bought up to believe. I was going down my own path of giving myself the glory. I traveled my own path for about six years, until through God's grace and some very faithful Christians, He bought me to a place of revelation and repentance. God had mercy on me.

It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP

Today, with all that has happened in my life in the past 20 years I am so thankful for His mercy. I am thankful for all he has changed in me over the years, for all the sharp and ugly edges He has chipped away. I know there are more to be removed, and that is good. I don't want to stay still in God, I want to keep maturing and living life God's way. I can say in all honesty,

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore I will hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. Lamentations 3:24-25 AMP

Question for today, who or what are you giving glory to? Let's take time today to consider the mercy and loving-kindness God has given us, and give Him our adoring praise and thanks.

It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises [with musical accompaniment] to Your name, O Most High, to show forth Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, with an instrument of ten strings and with the lute, with a solemn sound upon the lyre. For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing. How great are Your doings, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep. Psalm 92:1-5 AMP

Completely set free

And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives. For, as we all know, He [Christ] did not take hold of angels [the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand]. Hebrews 2:15-16 AMP

Jesus is here for you and me. His obedience to God, resulting in His sacrifice to overcome death, enables us to be completely set free. 

Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. Matthew 20:28 AMP

Jesus' act of setting us free from sin allows us to come into right-standing with our Heavenly Father. Jesus provides a way for us to becomes slaves of God, rather than slaves of sin.

But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. For the wages which sin pays in death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:22-23 AMP

The Message Bible says it this way,

But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 6:22-23 The Message

Question for today, have you accepted Jesus came to set you free in every area of your life? Jesus is offering you a helping and delivering hand for your entire life, not just the parts you want to give Him. Jesus wants you to have a whole, healed and put-together life right now! Why not take time now to surrender your whole life to Him and accept God's gift of real life, eternal life.

Blessed (praised and extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and brought deliverance and redemption to His people! Luke 1:68 AMP

Who then is this?

And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness). He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)? And they were filled with great awe and feared exceedingly and said to one another, Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him? Mark 4:39-41 AMP

Let's keep it simple this morning, who is Jesus? The Bible tells us He is the Son of God.

He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am. Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:15-16 AMP

What authority does Jesus have? Matthew 28:18 tells us,

Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Matthew 28:18 AMP

Jesus has all authority, so it was no wonder that He could calm the storm. He has the authority given to Him by God the Father, our Heavenly Father too.

Whereupon Jesus called out as He taught in the temple [porches], Do you know Me, and do you know where I am from? I have not come on My own authority and of My own accord and as self-appointed, but the One Who sent me, is true (real, genuine, steadfast)l and Him you do not know! John 7:28 AMP

Who are we when we have faith in Jesus? Paul, in the book of Romans, tells us,

[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favour and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 AMP

When we are in Christ Jesus, we are in right-standing with God. Right-standing with God, gives us eternal life.

So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favour) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord. Romans 5:21 AMP

What authority do we have in Jesus? Jesus gave His disciples authority and power.

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven. Luke 10:19-20 AMP

In summary, we know Jesus is the Son of God, and He has all authority in heaven and on earth. We know that when we have faith in Jesus, we have right-standing with God and eternal life, and we have the authority and power of Jesus Name. 

So, the question for today, why do we still lack faith in some areas of our lives? Is it because we know of, but don't fully understand who Jesus is, just like the disciples in the boat? Today, let's ask Jesus for a greater revelation of who He is so we can live more fully for him.

But grow in grace (undeserved favour, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honour, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! 2 Peter 3:18 AMP

One body in Christ

For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, so we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them:  Romans 12:4-6a AMP

Praise God we don't have to be all things to all people! Each of us, in Christ has a purpose, a function that He has designed us for. A function that we are unable to do effectively apart from Christ. The Message bible puts it this way,

In this way we are like the various parts of the human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as part of his body. Romans 12:4-5a The Message

Christ must always be our focus, the place we go to check our heart attitudes, our thoughts and our plans. He is the Cornerstone.

You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit. Ephesians 2:20-22 AMP

Today, let's celebrate being part of the body of Christ. Let's take time today to do something to show how 'In Him, the whole structure is joined together harmoniously'. Let's use the gifts Christ has given us to be a blessing to one another. 

Is there anything too hard for Me?

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27 AMP

Now there is a big question, Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Is there something in your life that you want to see changed, but it hasn't changed yet? Do you find yourself asking, Can the Lord really change that person/circumstance? Be honest with your answer. Do you trust that God can? 

Perhaps your answer to that big question is 'Yes, of course God can do anything.'  And we know that is the truth according to the scriptures.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible fulfillment. Luke 1:37 AMP

So, knowing that God is able, perhaps it is another big question that we need to ask, do we trust that He will?

For me, this is a huge question.  I have come begging on my knees to Jesus, asking for healing, just as the leper did.

And a leper came to Him, begging Him on his knees and saying to Him, If You are willing, You are able to make me clean. Mark 1:40 AMP

We know what happened next, Jesus, 

'reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed.'
Matthew 8:3 AMP

So where does that leave me, and anyone else who knows and trusts that God can, and yet have not seen a physical manifestation of the change? 

For me, I am left in a continual state of 'I am choosing to trust you Jesus.' Daily I am having to leave my petition at the feet of Jesus. In the 'waiting' Jesus is teaching me how to live in His peace. 

To all of you that are in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), may there be peace (every kind of peace and blessing, especially peace with God, and freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts). Amen (so be it). 1 Peter 5:14b AMP

Questions for today, do you believe that the Lord can do anything? Do you believe that Jesus is willing? Is there something that you are waiting to happen in your life? How are you going with the 'waiting'? If you are struggling, ask God to show you what you need to do to stay trusting Him completely, and waiting in His peace.

I identified myself completely with Him

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20 The Message

Paul understood the freedom that comes when we identify ourselves completely with Christ.  He knew that there was absolutely nothing he, Paul, could do to restore the relationship with his Heavenly Father. Only Jesus's death and resurrection could allow us to be in right-standing with God. 

I am not going back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2:21 The Message

Paul knew there was only one way forward. And that was to receive God's grace and follow Jesus. 

For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favour) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Romans 5:17 AMP

Why is that we sometimes find it so hard to keep our faith journey so simple? Is it because the gift of grace and right-standing with God is free, and we are used to having to make payment for something good? Is it because to follow Jesus, we need to learn how to let Him be in control of our lives, every single aspect of our lives? We have to do life His way, not our way.

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Mark 8:34 The Message.

Questions for today, who do you identify with? Do you identify with Christ? Do you have a personal and free relationship with God? If not, ask God to show you how to receive His grace in your life and live in the freedom Christ has given you.

But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 6:22,23 The Message

Peace I leave with you

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 AMP

His peace. What a magnificent gift Jesus' peace is for us! How would our lives be if we lived every moment of our lives out in His peace? How differently we would cope with circumstances if we always stopped allowing ourselves to be agitated and disturbed. How much more would we enjoy life if we didn't permit ourselves to be fearful, intimidated and cowardly and unsettled?

Here is a description of the peace that Jesus has given to us,

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 AMP

Over the past few years I have had times when I have experienced that beautiful peace. Times when I have pressed into God completely and trusted Him with everything. Had I not done that, I know my life would look very different today. But I am not perfect and there have been many times that I have let fear come in and take over my thoughts and actions. In these times of fear I somehow lose sight of who Jesus is in my life and become consumed with my circumstances. I forget to put God's hedge of protection around my mind. I forget to do exactly what the next scripture tells us to do, focus on what is true! 

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Philippians 4:8 AMP

Question for today, are you experiencing the gift of Jesus' peace in your life today? If not, ask God to help you take every thought that is preventing you from living in peace, captive into the obedience to Christ. 

I love the way The Message bible tells us to how to take captive our thoughts.

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 The Message.

Then get ready to receive the peace of Jesus Christ that passes all understanding!

Earnest prayer

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16 AMP

Every morning during my devotions I pray specifically for a group of young people. It started with four people that God put on my heart. It has now grown to seven. For at least half of the youth on this list, if I met them in the street, they would have no idea who I was. However, I believe that God has asked me to intercede for them. The first part of my prayer for them is always, 'to have the mind of Christ.'

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP

After that my prayer is whatever the Spirit prompts me to pray. Today it was God 'please wrap them in your love and let them know that that they are accepted by you today.'

Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgement on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him. Romans 14:3 AMP

What a privilege it is to pray for people. I may never know the impact of these prayers. But I trust God that 'tremendous power, dynamic in it's working' is and will be released in their lives. 

How can I trust God with this truth? I can trust Him because I know literally thousands of people have prayed for our daughter, many who will never meet her. Today, Victoria is a living example of God's dynamic power here on earth. We are so very grateful to everyone who has said a prayer for her and those who continue to pray for her today. Thank you.

Question for today, has God put someone on your heart to pray for? Please be obedient to His prompting and pray for them. If you are in communication with this person, why not take that obedience one step further, and ask God for a word of encouragement or specific scripture for them. When you received the encouragement or scripture, use wisdom in the way you communicate it to them. 

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. ... Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 17 AMP

Be of good courage

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 AMP

Just recently I found myself in a situation that required an immense amount of courage. I hadn't expected to be faced with this circumstance. At first I wanted to 'run away and hide' because I felt emotionally it was too difficult to cope with. I prayed with some friends and asked God to change the situation. But even as I prayed that prayer I felt the still small voice of God say to me, 'I will decide what is going to happen here.'

When I heard that response, I knew I needed to ask God to help me be brave and have good courage. In fact, it felt like I physically reached out to God and 'took courage' from Him, just like the Israelites did.

But the people, the men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day. Judges 20:22 AMP

This was a battle I had lined up to fight previously too, but here I was again,  having to rely completely on God to give me the courage to stand firm and believe in His Goodness alone.

I remembered listening to the audio book, Talent is never enough, by John Maxwell. In the chapter, Courage tests your talent, he spoke about 'growing in courage by deciding to do the right thing instead of the expedient thing, and watching your horizons expand with each courageous act.' 

As I remembered the teaching from that book, I thought, 'I know I am here for a reason. God has something He wants to do in me, and possibly through me. So I will be brave. I chose to trust in God's plan.'

Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight. 1 Chronicles 19:13 AMP

God did help me to be brave. He gave me good courage and I was blessed. My horizons were widened. I experienced His goodness in the land of the living. I am glad I didn't 'run away and hide' but rather, chose to face my fear in His strength.

Question for today, do you need good courage for a circumstance you are facing? Ask God to give you the courage you need. Reach out and take it. Trust that God will do what is good in His sight. Make a choice to believe that He will not fail you or forsake you. He loves you.

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 AMP

Your calling

With this in view we constantly pray for you, that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your] calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness, and with power may complete in [your] every particular work of faith (faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). Thus may the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified and become more glorious through and in you, and may you [also be glorified] in Him according to the grace (favour and blessing) of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 AMP

What is your calling? Do you believe that God has a specific purpose for your life? The older I get and the more Christians I meet, I am amazed at how our beliefs are the same, yet we each have such unique gifts and talents to enable us to fulfill God's calling on our lives. Even among the each of hundreds of categories of gifts and talents there are so many variations! To try to fathom how God made us each so beautifully individual is unfathomable for me. 

"My thoughts are nothing like you thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than you thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT 

So what of our calling? Are we living it? Are we harnessing the power that God has given us to complete our particular work of faith? I just love this description in the Amplified Bible, 

(faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). 2 Thessalonians 1:11 AMP

It is often that kind of faith that we need to live out God's calling on our life. It is that kind of faith that helps us to keep going when the time of trial comes and our flesh is saying, 'give up, it's not worth the time and effort.'  Keeping our hope in God, knowing He is faithful and trustworthy, enables us to press on and in His time, see the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be more glorified.

But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure. Romans 8:25 AMP

Question for today, what is the calling God has deemed you worthy of? Are you leaning on God, trusting in His power, wisdom and goodness, to enable you to fulfill your calling? If not, why not make a decision today to ask God to show you how to lean on Him and trust that He can give you everything to fulfill you calling. And remember, His ways are higher than our ways. Always!

Sticking with God

And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when they hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and stand aloof)...But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:13,15 AMP

This morning I have been reflecting on some of the traumas our family has experienced, and where we are now. A friend visited our home this week. She commented on what a very different  household it was to 12 months ago. God has done some amazing things in all our lives. The restoration he has bought to us is incredible.

During this time of reflection, I wondered momentarily what the outcome would have been, if in the midst of the very dark times, we had given up on God. What if we had walked away from all we believed in, because our circumstances seemed so hopeless? I am pretty sure we wouldn't be where we are today, with a marriage that continues to thrive, children who are learning who they are in Christ, all of us actively involved in our church and wider community.

I will be forever grateful that we made the choice to position ourselves to continue to hear God's word and hold it fast in our hearts, despite the circumstances. As The Message bible puts it, we chose to stick with God.

But the seed in the good earth - these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest. Luke 8:15 The Message

Please don't thinking I am boasting about making this choice. I am not. I am merely saying that we had a choice to make, and we chose to stick with God. And now, as the years pass by we are seeing that harvest both in our own lives and in those around us. What a blessing it is to see. Please be encouraged to stick with God when the going gets tough. I have this verse at the front of my diary, to remind me of the decision I have made.

But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what GOD will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me. Micah 7:7 The Message

Sometimes it is only in the years after the trials and tempting, that in reflection you can see just how amazing God's grace on your life has been. That has certainly been the case for me. Don't give up on God. Stick with Him, so in the years to come, you too can see the harvest, and share about His grace in your life.

Question for today, where are you planted? on the rock? or in the good soil? Ask God to show you what needs to change in your life so you can be planted in the good soil. If you are already planted in the good soil, ask God to show you what you need to do to grow your roots stronger and deeper.

The Spirit of life in Christ

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. Romans 7:25 - 8:2 The Message

Thank you Jesus that you acted to set things right in this life of contractions. Thank you Jesus that because of you we don't have to 'live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.'  Thank you Jesus for being our sacrifice so we are not 'fated' for a 'lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.'

What a life we have set before us in Jesus.

I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.... Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the lesson of My patience with the expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth. Revelations 3:8,10 AMP

Jesus has 'magnificently cleared the air for us' and given us a way to live our lives to the full. However, we have a personal responsibility to listen to The Spirit and follow His instructions for our lives. As it says in Revelations we are expected to keep and guard God's word; not deny God's name when times are tough; and be patient and wait expectantly on God's word to manifest.

None of these are simple tasks. I know! But not only has Jesus set life before us, He has left us with the Holy Spirit to help us with every step we take in that life. We are not expected to do it all alone, struggling in our own strength. We can seek the guidance and truth of the Holy Spirit.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26 AMP

Question for today, are you living in the freedom that Christ has given you?  If not, today, why not make a decision to live in the freedom Christ won for you? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the first step to take to living fully in Christ. He is there to help you, your Comforter and Counselor. You don't have to do it alone.