His restoration

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 2:22 AMP

This morning I find myself reflecting on the restoration God has bought into our lives, especially over these last eight months. 

It is with tears I think about those hours and hours in hospital and what our daughter went through, along with all the other children in there. 

For me, in those years, I found my world and purpose narrowed as I focused completely on getting through that appointment, that treatment, that night.  There was little space emotionally or physically to consider anything outside of that circumstance. It was extremely challenging for me when I was used to being so fully involved in life, with many connections in different places, to suddenly be essentially constrained out of sheer necessity. 

The fellowship with one another all but disappeared except for the core one or two people in my life. Resentment crept in. Continually I had to take that resentment to God and ask Him to help keep my spirit sweet.

So what a joy it has been over the past eight months to see restoration in this area of our lives. For me, I love people, I love being involved in people's lives, bringing encouragement, helping them to look for God in all that is going on in their lives. And over the past eight months God has graciously restored the emotional and physical resources to enable me to do more and more of that. 

But He has done more than restore it, unbeknown to me, in these past five and a half years He has re-built me. The way that I love people and encourage now is different, it comes out of heart that has been broken and glued back together with God's perfect love. A heart that is still not perfect, but filled with a lot more grace than before.  What a blessing to my soul.

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteous, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3 AMP

So why am I sharing this today? I don't really know, it is just what the Holy Spirit has led me to do. I am praying that what I have shared will bring hope to anyone reading this who has had challenging times in their lives and are waiting and believing for God's restoration. 

We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 AMP

 

Being thankful

Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. Hebrews 12:28 The Message

How thankful are we today? I am guessing that there are things in your life, just like there are in mine, that you don't feel very thankful for. But I have learnt if we can lift our eyes and see past those things, there is plenty to be thankful for. Especially God's grace and strength which empowers us to indeed lift our eyes.

We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. Colossians 1:11-12 The Message

I believe that being thankful opens the door to seeing more of God's plan for our lives. It is, as Psalm 100 says, like a password,

Enter with the password: "Thank you!"

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank him. Worship him.

For GOD is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.

Psalm 100:4-5 The Message 

He is a God who is always worthy of our thanks and praise. David knew that so well.

Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!"

Angels listen as I sing my thanks.

I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!"

Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness;

Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word.

The moment I called out, you stepped in; 

you made my life large with strength.

Psalm 138:1-3 The Message

Question for today, are you able to find 20 things in your life that you are thankful for? Maybe it will only take you a few moments to think of 20 things, maybe it will be a challenge. However it is for you, give God thanks for those things in your life, and ask Him to keep showing you more.

He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough - and he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:16 The Message

God is a safe place to hide

God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Psalm 46:1-3 The Message

Do you believe that God is a safe place to hide? What does that mean? How do we do hide in God? Does it mean all our troubling circumstances disappear? 

Here are a few of my thoughts about what hiding in God is, and is not ....

It isn't denying your circumstances. It is declaring that God is greater than your circumstances.

What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:31 AMP

It isn't isolating yourself from God in anger and disappointment. It is going to God, telling Him how you feel, and asking Him to help you process those feelings in a healthy way.

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls]. Matthew 11:28 AMP

It isn't looking at the circumstances and only seeing the negative aspects. It is asking God to help you see the things to be grateful for, and what He wants you to learn.

Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7 AMP

When we are hiding in God, look what we can do ....
 
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

And why can we do that ? Because we have learnt how to completely trust Him in everything.

Question for today, do you know how to hide in God? If not, ask Him to show you how. But remember, it doesn't mean hiding from your circumstances. It does mean that together, you go through the circumstances, trusting God every moment of every day. A trust that builds day by day until we can stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom and courageous in the seastorm and earthquake. Because we know, that we know, that we know ....

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us.
GOD of angel armies protects us.
Psalm 46:3 The Message



 

What is your fight song?

At the Colour conference this year I heard Fight Song by Rachel Platten for the first time (I am a bit slow when it comes popular secular music).  Anyway, this morning I was thinking about that song, and what would be my fight song?

All I could come up with was a list of scriptures. These scriptures are my weapons I use in battle and I have found they are the best kind of weapons. 

My prayer is that for anyone who is in the middle of a battle now, you will pick up these weapons, the word of the Almighty God and wield them with the power and authority that has been given to you through Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37-39 AMP

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 10:39 NIV

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Romans 8:31 AMP

What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] 

Joshua 1:9 AMP

Have I not commanded you? Be strong, vigorous and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Luke 1:37 AMP

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

Philippians 4:13 AMP

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Question for today, what scriptures make up your fight song? Are they written on your heart for when the day of battle comes?

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 7:1-3 NIV

 

 

 

Intimacy with God

But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognised as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]. 1 Corinthians 8:3 AMP

What is your depth of intimacy with God? What do you talk to Him about? What are you prepared to do for Him? What do you thank Him for? What is your expectation of Him? What do you do when you experience disappointment from unmet expectations? 

Just a few questions to get the day started. And here are some more ..... When you think about the people you are closest to, how do those relationships compare with your relationship with God? Who are your 'go-to' people? Is God on that list? And if yes, what number is He on that list?

I am asking these questions, not to bring condemnation, but rather to give us the opportunity to think about our level of intimacy with God. 

I know for me, my level of intimacy with God has certainly changed since I became a Christian about 20 years ago. It has deepened and widened as over the years God has taught me that He is the ultimate 'go-to' place. He is my secret place.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my fortress, my God, on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:1-2 AMP

The daily challenge though is to stay close to God in that secret place, and not get drawn into the busyness and stress of circumstances and issues that present themselves each day. 

Final question for today, when you reflect on your level of intimacy with God, is there room to grow? If yes, why not ask God to show you how, and expect to develop a deeper, more beautiful intimacy than you ever thought possible.

Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. 1 John 4:15-16 The Message

 

Surrender

Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty!
Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. 
Isaiah 55:1 AMP

Wait.

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him, for my hope and expectations are from Him.
Psalm 62:5 AMP

 
Listen.

I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him) - but let them not turn again to [self confident] folly. Psalm 85:8 AMP


Come.

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls]. Matthew 11:28 AMP
 


Buy.

Buy the truth and sell it not; not only that, but also get discernment and judgement, instruction and understanding. Proverbs 23:23 AMP



Eat.

O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 AMP


Today, let's wait, listen, come, buy and eat of all that God has for us. All that He wants to show us, teach us and give us. Let's surrender to Him and His ways.

The feet of Jesus

Something a bit different today .... let's start with a worship song ....

Find me at the feet of Jesus - Christy Nockels

What a beautiful way to start the day, at the feet of Jesus, not running around trying to get a head start on the day. 

But rather, choosing to lay aside all our plans for the day and 
sit with Jesus. Worshiping Him. Listening to what He has to say. Choosing to go and be with Him. He will always meet us.

And as they went, behold, Jesus met them, and said, Hail (greetings)! And they went up to Him and clasped His feet and worshipped Him. Matthew 28:9 AMP

In the scripture we read about people who went to the feet of Jesus for different reasons.

The man with the unclean spirits, after Jesus had commanded them to depart. He just wanted to be close to Jesus, his Saviour.

And [people] went out to see what had occurred, and they came to Jesus and found the man from who the demons had gone out, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right (sound) mind; and they were seized with alarm and fear. Luke 8:35 AMP
 
Jairus, desperate for Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter, ... knowing that Jesus had the power and authority to heal.

And there came a man named Jairus, who had [for a long time] been a director of the synagogue; and falling at the feet of Jesus, he begged Him to come to his house, Luke 8:41

The Leper who was healed and returned to thank Jesus, ... so grateful for all Jesus had done for him.

Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing and thanking and praising God with a loud voice; And he fell prostrate at  Jesus' feet, thanking Him [over and over]. And he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16 AMP

Mary, in grief, not afraid to express her thoughts, coming to Jesus for comfort ....

When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:32 AMP

Mary, full of love for Jesus and all He had done, anointed the feet of Jesus ...

So they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him. Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:2-3 AMP


Today, we have access to come and sit at the feet of Jesus. There are no barriers except the ones we erect. Whatever we feel - gratitude, desperation, grief or love, we are welcome at the feet of Jesus. Let's choose to go there today.