Leave your baggage behind

During a group worship time this week I saw this picture.

It was of a person carrying an old suitcase. The person walks to the kerb and in a short moment a bus comes along. The person, 'leaves that old case on the kerb', gets on the bus with a looking forward not looking back. The doors shut, and the bus pulls away on to the next destination.

It was a picture where people can at times carry a bag holding things of the past and still be defined by them; shame, things that created pain, memory of sin, etc.

So, to me it was an encouragement for people in their journey with Jesus to leave those things behind. I love the word in Isaiah..."don't remember the former things, don't consider the things of old, behold I do a new thing" (Is 43:18).

Sometimes it seems hard to not pick up the old stuff again, and sometimes, to even let it go in the first place. But trust God's word when He says you are a new creation. Let Him do the work in you.

So if you are carrying some stuff, step into the freedom that is yours in Christ. Leave that old case there on the kerb.... don't look back and don't go pick it up again.

And for some help, some lyrics of an old song came to my thoughts as I wrote this..
If the enemy starts to remind you of your past (don't listen), you just remind him of his future.

(Carman - Revival in the Land).   :)

 

Encouragement - I am unlocking you!

Word of encouragement from Leon Bites.   06/2016

I heard the Spirit of the Lord say,

 

‘There is unlocked potential in you and promises spoken over you that have been unfulfilled. But see now ...that I am taking the keys and unlocking the dusty chest to release these things. You are going to form new skills and abilities that you never knew you had, even in areas that you struggle in, and promises once spoken over you are going to come to pass.’

 

This is a journey that He wants to take with you.

 

That you would sit with him when He opens the chest, to find the hidden potential together. And that you would co-work with God, to move and grow in these previously unknown abilities and know the promises that are going to be fulfilled.

 

For, just like a parent, God enjoys and loves seeing you thrive and do well with what you have. He wants to share in the joy with you as you rediscover yourself, and see blessings come into your life......Lion Bites

 

..................................................................................................................................................................

This was an encouragement that I saw on my FB page and it spoke to me.  I can see the Lord doing things in my life now, and thankfully I am responding like I have not done in the past.  I am responding with FAITH, and with obedience more than fear.

 

I have been asked to facilitate and share with new Christians and people who have gone through tremendous tough times the foundational studies in God.  This is all wonderful but I have always felt like...

 

Moses:        'Lord, I can't speak'.

 

Jeramiah:    'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth'

 

even though Jeremiah used the reason for I am a youth I have only just now seen that reason.  All I could see were my reasons... reason's why I can't speak.  Why I am not qualified.

 

But God said to  Jeremiah:

 

"Do not say, 'I am a youth' (or I am this or that), For you shall go to all to whom I send you. And whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord

 

But God said to  Joshua:

 

"Be strong and of good courage, Only be strong and of good courage, and finally...

Have I not commanded you, "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go".

 

 

It must be the Lord as I am walking through the fear and stepping out in FAITH.  I prepare the lesson and each time I drive to the ministry centre I am praying, Lord, today, give me the anointing to teach, to speak, to comprehend and share what I know is in my heart and spirit.  Holy Spirit, speak through me the words that the class needs to hear and be encouraged with.

 

Last week, although I have notes as a guide it was important to asked myself, what do I know that is real to me on this topic, so that insight flows from my heart to the heart of those here.

 

So, at the end, as we were packing up I heard one of the guys say 'that was mad' but meaning GOOD.  And I thought, thank you God, thank you.  Thank you Holy Spirit.

 

I was reminded of a time (approx. yr 2002) when I was listening to a visiting speaker and in his sharing a scripture, I knew that God was speaking to me as I felt the fire of God from the top of my head to the tip of my toe and it sat on me for a short while.  I was emotionally moved and thought, God, what are you trying to tell me, and I believe that God was encouraging me way back then but it really has taken me all this time to really trust and put aside my own view of inadequacies.

 

1 Cor 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God, For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

I still am not sure what God is doing as I am not a natural teacher, but often God will use people where they are not necessarily 'natural' in, for His 'supernatural' purposes.  But, to be confident in who my God is and to know that I am a vessel.  To not be afraid of the faces, and to do my best, and if I fail... it is OK.  It is OK.  To trust God.  He is working.  He is doing something.  I know this is God leading me to this moment.  To let Go and Trust God.

 

Amen.

 

 

Miracles

You, every one of you are God the Father's special miracles. His miracle working power has given you life where there was no light or life in or of yourself.

 

He formed you and then (in Christ) He transforms you.

 

 

 

 

 

I wrote the above on my FB page and had the hashtag   #believe

 

Here I will elaborate further...

 

The scripture that I was going to add to #believe was Rom 10:13

 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

 

It is very important, although a miracle - our birth - who we are - we being thought of before time by God, and our form and frame fashioned by Him, the miracle of a new birth still awaits us.

 

Salvation in Christ.

 

Yes, He formed you and then (in Christ - the new birth) He transforms you.

 

Like the picture below

 His miracle working power has given you life where there was no light or life in or of yourself.

 

 

 

 OPEN YOUR HEART AND RECEIVE JESUS

 

 Amen

 

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Let Peace Rule

I was listening to a message on Col 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

It is pointed out that in this context he is helping the Colossians to live in unity and ensure peace within their fellowship. To get along with each other. To put off things which mar your communication and put on mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing and forgiving one another ...as Christ has forgiven you; so, let the peace of God rule in your hearts; members together, peace in your hearts for each other.

I always saw peace rule in your hearts as individual, and our help for guidance (peace through the Holy Spirit - an umpire), which it is, but within the above context - the preacher is encouraging the dwelling together in unity and in love. Let peace rule!

Be together and dwell together.... having:
The peace of Christ in our fellowship
The word of Christ in our fellowship
The Lordship of Christ in our fellowship

I just shared it with my friend and she said
in joyfulness..... 'oh, its a ONE ANOTHER verse'. 

(Simon Manchester - St Thomas Anglican Church, North Sydney)

T

The

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Intimacy with God - Father's Day 2015

When I came to the Lord, the very first revelation I was overwhelmed with was that God loves me. I remember the moment when the light went on.. I spoke to myself and said - 'Someone loves me, GOD loves me'.

I tended to accept this idea that I was always down the list on people's hearts and agenda's and thought that was OK, as that was where I accepted myself to belong.

A recent J.Prince post about kids who grow up feeling they are not accepted prompted me to write this. I am overwhelmed when God starts to squeeze me, tight, with His love, and all that He is.

So, In this season, I feel God has tenderly brought more healing, healing I didn't even realise I needed. Even deeper than before, confirming His love to me.

So, on to the Fathers day message at church....

Point 1.
God chooses us. He chose us. For me, I really felt orphan-like as a kid. Over the years and restated on Sunday, God has reminded me that I was always wanted by Him. That He planned me. I was not a mistake! None of us are mistakes in God's eyes, each one is known by Him.

Point 2.
He listens to us.
The lie I lived was one of being unheard, and in being born, I tended to think my life was created to be like one of those extras in a movie, you know, the back ground space filler that is not there to say anything. I was reminded again, that God cares about what I have to say. That I mean something to Him. And it was an encouragement to ALWAYS continue to commune and converse with Him.

Point 3.
He pursues us.
I thought I would cope with this one, but actually can't elaborate,...o oh, more tears, but I managed to keep it together!

Point 4.
He loves us. Yes, He really does. The pastor quotes his favorite scripture... This very scripture is the one I wrote out in calligraphy style and framed it to put on my wall, when I was first saved......

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ..... Be persuaded that this is so. Meditate on this.

Then the closing song.... Your a Good Good Father. I am singing along when the words ...
Oh its love so undeniable
I can hardly think as You call me
Deeper still, as You call me
Deeper still, as You call me
Deeper still, into love love love.

Oh dear, I am overwhelmed! God IS calling me deeper; calling me deeper, deeper still into love love love. Well, with face in my hands, I can sing no more, tears flow, there is an exchange going on, knowing that I am having a moment with God. How overwhelming is God the Fathers love toward us. There is always room for deeper still, deeper still, into HIS love love love.

Now, to the J.P post...

Meditate On
…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to GRASP how wide and long and high and deep is the LOVE of CHRIST, and to KNOW this LOVE that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17–19, NIV
Be Rooted In Jesus’ Love
Can you imagine a young child growing up and always wondering in his heart, “Am I pleasing to Daddy? Am I pleasing to Mummy? Do Daddy and Mummy accept me?”

This child will grow up emotionally warped if he does not have the security and assurance of his parents’ love and acceptance.
Beloved, that is why Jesus wants you rooted, established and anchored in His unwavering love for you. He demonstrated His love for you when He became your sin on the cross so that you could become His righteousness. And when you meditate on and are rooted in His love for you, you will be filled with the fullness of God. How can you not be successful then?
Joseph Prince

When the morning finished, I had literally cried at least half the way through the preaching, maybe more. I reached over to the lady sitting next to me, one who I had recently met through home group, and with a smile I said 'I made it!!'. ie. I didn't completely break down during the service and cause a scene!

God's LOVE! God is a God of wholeness. He transforms and He reaches in deep. He knows the places that need His touch.

Yes, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

That is Intimacy, That is Belonging. That is Love.

All Who Are Thirsty

This post started with one word - Nailed!

The Cross of Jesus - The Blood of Jesus - The Risen Jesus; He has set us free.

When Jesus calls, it is a beautiful thing. My heart is stirred!

The Word of God says:

Isaiah 55 An Invitation to the Needy 1 Come, Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2"Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.…

A commentary

55:1-5 All are welcome to the blessings of salvation, to whom those blessings are welcome.

In Christ there is enough for all, and enough for each. Those satisfied with the world, that see no need of Christ, do not thirst. They are in no uneasiness about their souls: but where God gives grace, he gives a thirst after it; and where he has given a thirst after it, he will give it. Come to Christ, for he is the Fountain opened, he is the Rock smitten. Come to holy ordinances, to the streams that make glad the city of our God. Come to the healing waters, come to the living waters, Re 22:17.

Our Saviour referred to this, Joh 7:37. Come, and buy; make it your own by application of the grace of the gospel to yourselves. Come, and eat; make it still more your own, and enjoy it. The world comes short of our expectations; we promise ourselves, at least, water in it, and we are disappointed; but Christ outdoes our expectations. We come to him, and we find wine and milk. The gifts offered to us are such as no price can be set upon. The things offered are already paid for; for Christ purchased them at the full price of his own blood, 1Pe 1:19.

Our wants are beyond number, and we have nothing to supply them; if Christ and heaven are ours, we see ourselves for ever indebted to free grace. Hearken diligently; let the proud heart stoop; not only come, but accept God's offers. All the wealth and pleasure in the world, will not yield solid comfort and content to the soul. They do not satisfy even the appetites of the body; for all is vanity and vexation. Let the disappointments we meet with in the world, help to drive us to Christ, and to seek for satisfaction in him only. Then, and not before, we shall find rest for our souls. Hear, and your soul shall live. On what easy terms is happiness offered us! By the sure mercies of David, we are to understand the Messiah. All his mercies are covenant mercies; they are purchased by him, they are promised in him, and out of his hand they are dispensed to us.

We know not how to find the way to the waters, but Christ is given to be a Leader, a Commander, to show us what to do, and enable us to do it. Our business is to obey him, and follow him. And there is no coming to the Father but by him. He is the Holy One of Israel, true to his promises; and he has promised to glorify Christ, by giving him the heathen for his inheritance.

.....

Hearts be opened, Hearts be healed, in Jesus name, Amen.