Life to the full

 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP


Just over a year ago we were told that the tumour in Victoria's brain was growing again and that she was looking at another 15 months of weekly chemotherapy, which would at the best, hopefully stabilize it. 

Three days later God graciously positioned us at a Camp Quality camp in Sydney, held at a Christian conference centre. On all the walls were posters saying, 'I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.' 

And there lay the challenge - Did I really believe this? Did I really believe that Jesus had come so our daughter could have life and have it to the full?

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 The Message

What a journey I went on, learning to trust God at a whole new level. Learning to really believe that Jesus did come so Victoria could have life and have it to the full. I am not ashamed to say that at first my heart was far from believing this truth. So I spoke it out with my mouth, declaring it in my car as I drove around, until eventually my heart started to receive this truth. I got to the place that I could declare John 10:10 with complete confidence in God.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV

In September last year, after the results of Victoria's next scan, the oncologist wrote these words on the request for the next scan - July - growth; Sept - stable. Life, thank you Jesus. No chemotherapy required. This year, in May, as many of you know, the scan results were - tumour is smaller than September. No medical intervention. Life, thank you Jesus.

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT

Question for today, in your life is there something that the thief is trying to steal and kill and destroy? If yes, then let's use God's Word as the weapon it is - to bring His truth into the circumstance and submit everything to the authority of the Name of Jesus.

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. Jude 1:25 NLT

 


 

Living God's way

Here is a pretty good recipe for how to have a good day .....

Don't worry ............ about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the LORD and do good. ...... then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD, ..... and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust Him, ............... and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the LORD,............... and 

Wait patiently for Him to act.

Don't worry ............. about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop being angry! .............. turn from your rage! 

Do not lose your temper - it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

Psalm 37:1-9 NLT

How different would our day look if we followed all these commands?  

It may seem like an impossible list to achieve.  And if we try to do it in our own strength, we might just make it for an hour, but not likely for a whole day. 

But, in God's grace and strength, and by listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit, we are likely to have far greater success. What a blessing we would be to all around us if we did indeed live like this.

Heavenly Father, please help us today to live as you want us to live, free of worry, trusting You completely, committing everything to You, waiting patiently for You and with self-control in everything we do. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Keeping our eyes on Him

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. Hebrews 12:2 The Message

You would think that after all we have been through as a family that I would know to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus despite the circumstances. Well yesterday I struggled with doing exactly that. Our daughter was once again in pain, muscles tightening, hindering her mobility. Feeling absolutely hopeless, I asked God for wisdom for what to do, and then went searching on the internet for solutions on managing chronic pain in children. 

And I did find some wisdom there - suggestions that a multidisciplinary approach is required - which is a track I believe God has been leading us down. However I also found a lot of other not so helpful information, painting rather negative pictures of the lives of children living with chronic pain. And that really messed with my mind. I went to bed fearful of what tomorrow would bring - more pain or less pain?

It wasn't until this morning when I sat down to have time with God and He showed me that I was a bit off track! He gently reminded me of these things ....

1. Keep your eyes fixed Me Wendy

2. Live in My strength, not your own

3. I know what is going on and I have the answers

In conclusion,  be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10 AMP

Yes, these are all messages He has spoken to me about many times before. Message that I obviously need to keep being reminded of.  

Question for today, is there something going on in your life that you need answers for? Are you, like me, trying to yet again work it out in your own strength? If yes, let's agree to keep our eyes fixed on Him, on Who He is and what He has given us - His love, His grace and His strength.

 

Before we ask

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139:16 The Message

Today I felt God wanted me to share a testimony of just how perfect His preparations are, to encourage you (and me) that whatever is happening now in our lives, is preparation for the future, for both us and who He is planning to bring into our lives.

Eleven years ago we moved from Sydney to Lake Macquarie, as directed by God. He planted us in a great church. I started attending the mums group and connected with some lovely mums. What a blessing they were to me in those early days of motherhood.

Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathising [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). 1 Peter 3:8 AMP

There was one in particular, who had a husband from New Zealand, common ground for me, and who was a midwife. We travelled through the years of having young children. And then unbeknown to both of us, our lives were about to 'fall apart' for different reasons. She was to be the person who graciously alerted us to there being something very wrong with Victoria. Over the ensuing three years we both pressed into God and grew in our trust of Him as we prayed for restoration in our families.

My steps have held closely to Your paths [to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before]; my feet have not slipped. I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. Psalm 17:5-6 AMP

Distance separated us as my friend and her family moved to New Zealand. Our communication was spasmodic, but we were in each other's prayers. I continually find it interesting how praying for and with someone knits people's hearts together.

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

About three months ago my friend found out that one of her daughters was unwell. The week that she was to undergo major investigation in a hospital a few hours away from their home, just happened to be the week I was in New Zealand visiting my mum and dad. Without my normal family and other responsibilties I was able to speak and pray with my friend each day as they had tests and more tests and waited for results. Having been in a similar situation I could really empathise, knowing the pain of a mother's heart when your child is seriously ill. 

God knew what support my friend would need that week and He had provided for it, in advance. Just as He had done for us all those years ago when He bought us to Lake Macquarie, planted us at Macquarie Life Church and connected me with this beautiful woman of God. He answered before we asked.

And it shall be that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 AMP

And now I have the privilege of standing with her in prayer for her daughter, using all that God has taught me, to support her and encourage her in this new journey.

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10 AMP

As I reflect on what God has done in this time, here are some of the key things he has taught me ..... 

1. Stay connected with the body of Christ in a local church.

2.And when in that body, don't isolate yourself, allow yourself to be vulnerable and make connection with people. 

3. When the times of disappointment come, keep talking to God about it, keeping your spirit sweet allowing Him to minister to you.

4. Ask Him to show you what He wants to teach you. 

5. Be open to what He wants you to do with what He has taught you.

6. Keep trusting that He has a plan and it is good.

Thank you Jesus that you don't leave us or forsake us, but that you do have a plan and it is good. Thank you that you do go before us. Thank you that you answer us before we ask. Please help us to keep trusting you no matter what. Thank you that you love us and are faithful always. Amen.

 

God has a plan

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

When life is difficult this is one of my 'go to' verses. Those truths - He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it - how much comfort do those words bring when the heat is on?

The Amplified Bible expands the second part of the verse ....

But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13b AMP

Basically, He has it all covered. We just need to walk with Him, keep taking every thought and action to Him, asking for wisdom, listening to what He says, doing what He says, and wait with a supernatural abundance of patience.

It sounds so simple. But I know it isn't, we have our own ideas, our own plans and a free will. We have to learn to yield, which is definitely not so simple.

So today, let's thank God for being faithful and for providing all we need for every aspect of our lives, in the past, today and in the future. And let's ask Him to teach us how to better yield to His plans, trusting that He is a good God, always.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message

Be alert

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. 1 Peter 5:8 The Message

Stay alert. Over the past month there has been a lot going on in our family. We have been alert to somethings, but not to other things - not to the subtle things that can cause distraction, disappointment, disharmony and ultimately disunity - just what the devil wants. Thankfully last night one of our children was alert, and  declared, 'Our family needs prayer'. And they were exactly right.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

So this morning God spoke to be about staying alert to what is happening within our family, and not letting that core responsibility He has blessed me with, be overtaken by other responsibilities. God then reminded me of a conversation I had with a wise woman from church a couple of months after Victoria was diagnosed. I was complaining that Victoria only wanted me to help her, and this woman simply reminded me, 'Of course, you are her mother.' I had to take that response to God and learn that He has given me all I needed to indeed be her mother. And that if I carried that responsibility in His strength, not my own, I would get through.

So that was another example of me needing to stay alert, but this time, being alert to what God was wanting to teach me and change in me. 

Here are some other scriptures in which God tells us to be alert ...

Keep your eyes open for GOD, watch for his works; be alert for the signs of his presence. Psalm 105:4 The Message

Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Isaiah 43:19 The Message

Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing  you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. Matthew 26:41 The Message

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Colossians 4:2 The Message

Question for today, how alert are you to what is going on in and around your life? Are you alert to the enemy's plans? Are you alert to God's plans? If like me you get distracted sometimes, repent and ask God to open your eyes to what is going on, and to help you stay alert and see things from His perspective.

Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Colossians 3:2 The Message

 

God's love

O praise the Lord, all you nations! 
Praise Him, all you people!
For His mercy and loving-kindness are great towards us, and the truth and faithfulness of the Lord endure forever.
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Psalm 117 AMP

Verse 2 starts, 'for His mercy and loving-kindness are great towards us.'

The Message Bible says it this way, 'His love has taken over our lives.'

There are so many things that can take over our lives - illness, financial pressure, the hurtful words of others, the enemy's lies we believe about ourselves. But what would happen if everyday we truly let His love take over our lives?

Let's have a look at some of the scriptures about His love ....

Give thanks to GOD - he is good and his love never quits. 1 Chronicles 16:34 The Message

God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost. Psalm 26:5-6 The Message.

Blessed be God; he didn't turn a deaf ear, he stayed with me, loyal in his love. Psalm 66:20 The Message

Oh, thank GOD - he's so good! His love never runs out. Psalm 107:1 The Message

So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. Psalm 107:8 The Message

Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. 2 Corinthians 5:14 The Message

So here are some characteristics of God's love - it never quits, is meteoric, is loyal, never runs out, is marvelous and it moves us.

Question for today, what will you let take over you today - life and it's ups and downs, or God's love?


Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Ephesians 4:4 The Message