Stepping into a new life

 " I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me." Gal 2:20

It's hard for us to let go of things. I will often go through my wardrobe to see if I can find things I haven't worn in a while to send on to the charity shop. I start the process determined to be ruthless but I often convince myself of the need to keep hold of things that I haven't worn just in case I might suddenly need them. Trusting that God will give me everything I need for every circumstance is a stretching experience even in the area of our clothing!

The truth is that when we come to Christ we become brand new. The old us no longer exists anymore. We have been created anew in Jesus.

Galatians 3:27 says "For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” The way our heavenly Father sees us is through the perfect work of Jesus. He sees us without spot or blemish. He doesn’t look at us with impatience and frustration He admires His workmanship. We are beloved children with whom He is well pleased.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to enjoy this freedom. Our part is to honour that sacrifice by letting go of everything that we thought about ourselves, every limitation we put on ourselves, every disappointment we’ve had with ourselves and others and walk with confidence into a life of assurance and peace

His perfect faith

 "He is the author and perfecter of our faith" Hebrew 12:2

I spent many years waiting for a break through around having another child. I spent many hours in

prayer and study. I had come to a place where I understood that God was a loving Father who

would not withhold anything from me. I had revelation on the fullness of the gospel and knew it was

God's will for me to be fruitful but despite this knowledge I found my emotions on a continual rollercoaster journey. One day I would feel full of faith and hope and expectation but the next I would

find myself falling into doubt and fear. I would then begin to condemn myself and believe that I was

the barrier to receiving my break through as I wasn't standing firm in my faith.

Then I came to a place of revelation. Whilst listening to teaching I heard this verse being

expounded. The teacher talked about Jesus being the author and perfecter of our faith. He

gave us the faith in the beginning and he completes the work in us. It is not our faith to keep steady

it is his faith to rest in and allow his work to be perfected in us. It was a moment of heart revelation

for me when all the truth that I had heard and studied finally took root in my heart and confidence in

my loving Father burst forth in a way I'd never known before. After 5 years of trying for a baby I

announced to my husband next month I'll be pregnant and ...I was!

Keep holding on and believing for your breakthrough and let that perfect work of Jesus' faith

overwhelm your situation.

Being uncomfortable...in a good way

 "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”” Jonah 4:11 ESV

Life can be confusing, sometimes we can experience things that leave us feeling uncomfortable. These things can be experiences or feelings, sometimes they can be in witnessing how people treat others. As Christians we are called to a life of being uncomfortable, but in a positive way.

Here we see a glimpse of what that real discomfort is! Jonah was uncomfortable and angry with God, so much so that he wished to die! But why? Jonah's discomfort came from experiencing Gods unmerited forgiveness & love for the people of Nineveh. It challenged his every paradigm, shook him into horror that God could just forgive someone like that!

The reality is, we too are called to make others uncomfortable in how we flow graciously in Gods love and forgiveness! Our love and grace should rock some boats and challenge some paradigms, if it's not - you need to get a bigger view of the God who is living within you!

The more the love, forgiveness and grace of God flows through you, the more people will rocked!

Stop trying to be a Jonah!

 “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:1-3 ESV

Sometimes in life we can all feel a little bit like Jonah. Sometimes it's easy to think, whether consciously or subconsciously, that it's easy just to get out of the way, leave God over there in a box, and go about doing our own thing. I'm not ashamed to admit it, and neither should you be!

Somehow we think there is a way to "flee from His presence". At times we try to run from a difficult situation or task God has called us to. We might even feel at times like it's "easier" to keep God at a distance. The reality is this.

The whole time you think you are somehow out of his presence, he is only using it to bring you closer to him, using it to lavish his love over you, using it to bring you into a greater level of intimacy with him! You can't escape his love, you can't out run his compassion, and you can't hide from his forgiveness!

You can chose to imagine that He isn't there... But that can never, and will never, change the fact that you have a God that is in constant pursuit of you, that is consistently cheering you on from the sidelines, and that won't stop relentlessly loving you!

Kindness and love

 ‬‬"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul writes to Titus to remind him to hold on to the truth that Christ brings. He reminds Titus of the bondage we used to be under and points towards Christ as bringing an answer to our freedom. We do not have to live that way any longer, there is no excuse when we collide with the "kindness" of our saviour.

Notice how it says, "the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared...". God's kindness is not some abstract thought, His love is not a sentimental idea, it is a person! It is Jesus himself who appeared and it is Hime who saved us. God's kindness and love does does separate itself from us but meets us where we are. He meets us when we are foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved and He sets us free! 

So often, we look to Christ merely as an example of how to live, but He is so much more. He is the provision of Grace, He provides the change in us from the inside out, He is the power that makes change possible. Not because of anything we have done or can do but because of His mercy.

"He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,”

It is done...He has saved us, don't insist on living in bondage!

In His time

 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Waiting isn’t easy. I’m not a fan of it.

I like my news immediate and my solutions high speed. The buffering symbol on my ‘on demand’ television shows makes me more than a little annoyed.

The story of Jacob after he had escaped with the birthright from his family often makes me think of waiting. As the story goes, Jacob fell in love with Rachael, the daughter of his Uncle Laban. In exchange for commitment to seven years work, Laban offered Jacob his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Although when the time came to marry Rachael, Jacob (who had previously been the professional trickster) was outsmarted by his wily old uncle. He was given Leah, Rachael’s older sister to marry. If Jacob wanted to marry the girl of his dreams he would have to wait a further seven years.

When I look at my own life and the plans that Daddy God has for me I remember Jeremiah 29:11 where he tells me that he has plans to give me a hope and a future. I realise that despite the length of time I have to wait. I shouldn’t be downhearted, I have a father who is goodness personified.

God’s word also tells me that his timing is perfect. He makes everything right in his time, not ours. Although we cannot see his whole plan from beginning to end, we can be sure that we are an important part of his plan of redemption.

The life giving God

 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Here Jesus makes a very clear distinction. God is life giving, He is good. Jesus has come, so that we may have life and life to the full. Not lacking. He sets it straight- there is a thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy. There is a thief who wants to rob your life of joy and fullness.

But that is not the nature of God.

To God it was never about our position or about our ability to come towards Him. Notice here that Jesus says that HE came, it is His initiative, His action - all so that this full life can be ours. It is there for the taking!

If we can truly stand in agreement with this, and if we can believe it and get our perspective right... We can experience life as God has set out - life in its fullest.

The source of my joy

 “Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).”1 Thes 3:7 (AMP)

I love how the amplified version translates this verse. The truth is we will always have times when we're under stress; many difficulties can arise from family issues to financial strains.

We get especially stressed about our children. Their normal world now includes high tech expensive gadgets that open them to an online platform that can cause all sorts of problems.

However, what blesses me today is that despite the fact that I have recently had  periods of stress through poor choices at a financial level, and although I have a family who enjoy online activities with these 'gadgets', I get excited about the fact that I am right now filled with comfort and cheer, because of my faith in God.

The leaning of my whole personality on God who loves me so much can’t help but put a smile on my face. This is the source of the joy that rises in me.

As a result my family get to see me functioning as a good father or husband! Why? I have internal comfort and cheer because of my eternal perspective and they get to see me externally, emotionally Happy!!

Isn't it lovely to know that despite the stresses and difficulties life throws at you, this verse reminds us of a better way to process our thoughts to enable us to be comforted and full of cheer!

A brand new thing

 “For I am about to do a brand new thing. See, I have already begun!...” Isaiah 43:19,

Can you see the “brand new thing” God is doing in your life? Sometimes we can see the hand of God moving, and other times the storms of life can cloud our vision. No matter where you are in life today, focus on the fact that God is working behind the scenes!

You can trust Him because He is always faithful. His plan for you is good, and He wants to give you a future and a hope.

Ask the Lord to show His plan for you today. Ask Him to show you the new thing He is doing. Set your mind on things above and let go of the old. Take a step of faith and embrace the blessing and victory God has in store for you!

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me even when I don’t see it. Thank You for doing a brand new thing in my life. I open my heart and set my mind on You today

Pleasant words

“Pleasant words are as honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.” Proverbs 16:24,

Are you speaking pleasant words? In other words, are you looking for good and kind things to say about yourself and others? As you spend your day, make a point of praising people. Saying kind words to everyone you talk to!

The Bible tells us that pleasant words are healing to the body. They can bring healing physically, spiritually, and emotionally. When you speak words of life and encouragement, it’s like sowing seed for your own healing.

Today and every day, choose your words carefully. Sow good, pleasant seeds and reap the sweet harvest of healing God has prepared for you!

Father, thank You for Your Word which is truth that sets me free. I choose to speak pleasant words of life to others so I can experience life and healing in return.