It's incredible and unbelievable to be swept off your feet into the ocean of God's love which goes on to pour itself out into the lives of others.
Ephesians 3
Saturday 22 November 2014
Thursday 20 November 2014
THE COMING SON
We must be solar-powered by the Sun of Righteousness. He is the only One with healing in His wings.
We are called to 'kiss the Son, lest He be angry and we perish in the way'. He says He is coming quickly and will bring His reward with Him.
God is always alert and active, watching over His word to perform it. 'So be it' is His final word to us in Scripture.
Let us then sing the Messiah from true hearts this Christmas, doing homage to the Baby in the cattle stall as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the theme of all God's writings set to music inspired by the Author.
We are called to 'kiss the Son, lest He be angry and we perish in the way'. He says He is coming quickly and will bring His reward with Him.
God is always alert and active, watching over His word to perform it. 'So be it' is His final word to us in Scripture.
Let us then sing the Messiah from true hearts this Christmas, doing homage to the Baby in the cattle stall as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the theme of all God's writings set to music inspired by the Author.
Friday 14 November 2014
Monday 10 November 2014
CHIEF END OF MAN?
God's heart yearns for man to walk in intimacy with Him and will not rest until His chosen ones enjoy their heritage in Christ.
Our part is to die in the attempt to scale these heights of bliss. There's no room for two wills on the narrow way.
Romans 12 vs 1,2
Our part is to die in the attempt to scale these heights of bliss. There's no room for two wills on the narrow way.
Romans 12 vs 1,2
Wednesday 5 November 2014
ELECTIONS
Citizens whose birth is registered in heaven, form God's House of Representatives on earth.
The true meaning of 'ekklesia' in Scripture, a believing community founded on the confession of Jesus Christ as the unique Son of the living God and called to govern in His name. The place they gather is to be known as the House of Prayer from where they proceed as God's Gate Crashers into every domain on earth.
Not an earthly institution with hierarchy, powers, dogma, ritual and structure, which has no being or life of its own.
Matthew 16 vs 16 to 19.
The true meaning of 'ekklesia' in Scripture, a believing community founded on the confession of Jesus Christ as the unique Son of the living God and called to govern in His name. The place they gather is to be known as the House of Prayer from where they proceed as God's Gate Crashers into every domain on earth.
Not an earthly institution with hierarchy, powers, dogma, ritual and structure, which has no being or life of its own.
Matthew 16 vs 16 to 19.
THE SHAPE OF EVIL AND ITS DEFEAT IN CHRIST
The heart of evil is nothingness, a mass of nobodies living in the darkness of meaninglessness, no distinguishing marks, abhorring the light. It's shape is always with us, diminishing us, seeking to extinguish and gag us, terrified of truth and bright reality, hating and reviling every flicker of the light and life of God, who lightens every man coming into the world. Satan serves its purposes, holding all men captive through their choice of rebellion against their Maker.
Only the Man, Jesus, the unique Son of God, and only God of Salvation, could take it on, and defeat it in it's own headquarters. He now enables His brethren to do the same in His name, and hidden in His Being. We can storm its citadels on earth, God's 'gate crashers', assured the gates of hell will not be able to withstand us, rescuing His chosen and precious people, bringing them home.
This is the yolk we are called to take upon us, assured of His companionship and rest as we journey on. What other vocation can pay these wages?
God said to Moses 'My Presence shall go with you and I will give you rest'. He still promises the same to those who ask that He not leave them.
Only the Man, Jesus, the unique Son of God, and only God of Salvation, could take it on, and defeat it in it's own headquarters. He now enables His brethren to do the same in His name, and hidden in His Being. We can storm its citadels on earth, God's 'gate crashers', assured the gates of hell will not be able to withstand us, rescuing His chosen and precious people, bringing them home.
This is the yolk we are called to take upon us, assured of His companionship and rest as we journey on. What other vocation can pay these wages?
God said to Moses 'My Presence shall go with you and I will give you rest'. He still promises the same to those who ask that He not leave them.
Thursday 30 October 2014
ENERGY
In John it says to those who recognise and embrace Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, He gives the dynamism to be His children.
This world is driven by God-power not man-power and God puts us in the driving seat.
This world is driven by God-power not man-power and God puts us in the driving seat.
SONGS
Songs first teach us then become our testimony.
The word 'anan' in Hebrew stands for both singing and testifying.
The word 'anan' in Hebrew stands for both singing and testifying.
LIFT UP YOUR EYES
It seems C S Lewis had the insight he possessed because he viewed this world from the perspective of 'before all worlds'. It's the only way to understand this one. As Paul says 'from Him, through Him and to Him are all things'.
Our God of Salvation is the Alpha and Omega, and even now celebrated as such by 'countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering in the heavenly Jerusalem.' What a vision to hold over this world of chaos!
Read it for yourself in Hebrews 12 verses 22 and 23.
Our God of Salvation is the Alpha and Omega, and even now celebrated as such by 'countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering in the heavenly Jerusalem.' What a vision to hold over this world of chaos!
Read it for yourself in Hebrews 12 verses 22 and 23.
Saturday 18 October 2014
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Three pegs on which to hang our thoughts each day.
God produced the world and all things in it.
Acts 17 vs 24
John 1 vs 3
Jesus, the true God of Salvation, is now reigning over heaven and earth, seated on the right hand of His Father as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Revelation 11 vs 15
Matthew 28 vs 18.
God has appointed Him to judge the world with righteousness when all His enemies are His footstool.
Acts 17 vs 31.
Matthew 25 vs 31, 32.
Three movements of the same symphony, composed before the foundation of the world.
God produced the world and all things in it.
Acts 17 vs 24
John 1 vs 3
Jesus, the true God of Salvation, is now reigning over heaven and earth, seated on the right hand of His Father as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Revelation 11 vs 15
Matthew 28 vs 18.
God has appointed Him to judge the world with righteousness when all His enemies are His footstool.
Acts 17 vs 31.
Matthew 25 vs 31, 32.
Three movements of the same symphony, composed before the foundation of the world.
Friday 17 October 2014
OBEDIENCE
Sometimes a concept I've been mulling over takes shape and takes off. Perhaps a movement within a larger symphony.
Today it's the thought that Jesus died, not to make obedience irrelevant to our lives as God's sons and daughters, but to make it possible. Our Father ' looks with favour towards those who are humble and of a broken spirit, and who tremble at My word and revere My commands.' Isaiah 66 vs 2
The symphony repeats the same theme in Philippians when Paul says 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work within you to will and to do His purposes'.
Today it's the thought that Jesus died, not to make obedience irrelevant to our lives as God's sons and daughters, but to make it possible. Our Father ' looks with favour towards those who are humble and of a broken spirit, and who tremble at My word and revere My commands.' Isaiah 66 vs 2
The symphony repeats the same theme in Philippians when Paul says 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work within you to will and to do His purposes'.
Monday 6 October 2014
DESTINY DETERMINED BY SERVICE
In the here and now it is what I think about God that determines my future. When He comes it will be what He thinks of me that will shape my destiny. All He asks is that I love Jesus, our God of Salvation, the Father's unique Son who lived only to serve Him. Even now He lives to serve us and bring us safely home.
Thursday 2 October 2014
WHAT A RELIEF TO BE A FAILURE!
Only now, after many years of knowing God, I have a growing comfort in realising that as His child, I have the freedom to face up to my growing sense of failure and infirmity without a loss of His favour. Indeed He values contriteness, essential to growing into the likeness of my Older Brother. He doesn't expect perfection from the start. As I know only too well, such a view leads only to meltdown. As the Captain of my salvation, He provides the freedom to discover just how imperfect and inadequate I really am.
When I don't feel like opening the door to yet another unwanted intrusion into my life, I own up and tell Him so. He doesn't seem to mind, but somehow puts a true smile of welcome on my face. That's how I know He is real.
When I don't feel like opening the door to yet another unwanted intrusion into my life, I own up and tell Him so. He doesn't seem to mind, but somehow puts a true smile of welcome on my face. That's how I know He is real.
Sunday 28 September 2014
COSMIC GOSPEL
Paul is caught up in declaring the ultimate purposes of God in and with His creation in the letter to the Ephesians. This message, unknown by the masses but revealed to those who fear Him, culminates in the glory and centrality of Jesus, God's Son of Salvation. It is a cosmic proclamation of God's glad tidings for a global world.
Those whom He has known intimately and loved before the foundation of the world are called and adopted as sons of the Living God, transformed by spiritual graces available to us as we live in mysterious union with His Son, the Redeemer King, being transformed into His image in order to magnify Him as Head of all things. Joined together with all believers we become a multi-faceted, multi-coloured glory, reflecting God's wisdom to all heavenly beings, caught up into the Godhead and becoming partakers of the Divine Nature.
You don't believe it? Read it for yourself. Our faith may be childlike but our calling is profound, and requires great discipline of our minds and hearts to perceive God's truth. That, too, is our calling and we are at all times strengthened, enlightened and encouraged by both the Son and the Holy Spirit, as Paul and John make clear.
So let us then ' study and be eager to become approved as workmen with no cause to be ashamed, correctly handling the Word of Truth'. Our lives depend on it.
Those whom He has known intimately and loved before the foundation of the world are called and adopted as sons of the Living God, transformed by spiritual graces available to us as we live in mysterious union with His Son, the Redeemer King, being transformed into His image in order to magnify Him as Head of all things. Joined together with all believers we become a multi-faceted, multi-coloured glory, reflecting God's wisdom to all heavenly beings, caught up into the Godhead and becoming partakers of the Divine Nature.
You don't believe it? Read it for yourself. Our faith may be childlike but our calling is profound, and requires great discipline of our minds and hearts to perceive God's truth. That, too, is our calling and we are at all times strengthened, enlightened and encouraged by both the Son and the Holy Spirit, as Paul and John make clear.
So let us then ' study and be eager to become approved as workmen with no cause to be ashamed, correctly handling the Word of Truth'. Our lives depend on it.
Friday 19 September 2014
GOD'S SYMPHONIES IN HIS WORLD
We are God's Stradivarius violins, His carefully crafted chosen ones. When the Master touches our lives we are transformed into heavenly beings, reflecting His glory as we play out His symphonies to the world around us, bringing Him great delight. The more we recognise His handiwork in and around us, the more those symphonies resonate with His majesty and beauty.
Let us play on with ever increasing joy till He comes to take us home.
Proverbs 8 vs 30, 31
2 Corinthians 3 vs 18
Zephaniah 3 vs 16 to 20
2 Peter 1
Let us play on with ever increasing joy till He comes to take us home.
Proverbs 8 vs 30, 31
2 Corinthians 3 vs 18
Zephaniah 3 vs 16 to 20
2 Peter 1
Thursday 11 September 2014
DWELLING IN GOD'S SECRET PLACE
How amazing. God rewards us for taking refuge in Him!
It is the guarantee that we will remain secure and safe as we rest in His the shadow of His wings. When we declare Him to be our refuge He will ensure our deliverance, not ashamed to be called our God.
We become spectators of His anger poured out on the godless, those who hate Him and would murder Him all over again if they could. Those who hate His people, seeking to bring them into public disgrace and imprison them. They must be silenced at all cost.
This is the work of Satan, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning, having no grain of truth in him.
How this perspective encourages us and sustains us as we live on in this world, interpreting events both global and local. It makes sense of our pilgrimage and so daily renews our trust and confidence in our Redeemer, increasing our love for Him as we trace His love for us minute by minute. Only when we constantly die to all human refuge does He open our eyes to see Him in all of life.
Psalm 91 and Hebrews 11
It is the guarantee that we will remain secure and safe as we rest in His the shadow of His wings. When we declare Him to be our refuge He will ensure our deliverance, not ashamed to be called our God.
We become spectators of His anger poured out on the godless, those who hate Him and would murder Him all over again if they could. Those who hate His people, seeking to bring them into public disgrace and imprison them. They must be silenced at all cost.
This is the work of Satan, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning, having no grain of truth in him.
How this perspective encourages us and sustains us as we live on in this world, interpreting events both global and local. It makes sense of our pilgrimage and so daily renews our trust and confidence in our Redeemer, increasing our love for Him as we trace His love for us minute by minute. Only when we constantly die to all human refuge does He open our eyes to see Him in all of life.
Psalm 91 and Hebrews 11
Tuesday 9 September 2014
THE GAME OF LIFE
George MacDonald reminded me this morning that we are to be God's playfellows, sipping nourishment from the 'beauty which all around us lies', then each to his own calling, radiating truth clothed in something of that beauty.
'Being good' is the greatest stimulus to the creation of imagination and true intellect.
'Being good' is the greatest stimulus to the creation of imagination and true intellect.
Sunday 7 September 2014
THE SUPREME GOD
Amazing to look on nature in all its local glory of fields freshly ploughed, myriads of trees, flowers of the ditches, a hovering butterfly and an open sky and think that I am at peace with the God who made it all and in whom I live and move and have my being.
Paul caught the attention of the Athenians by proclaiming this God. It is He who determines the lives of rulers and nations so that they may seek Him. He calls on men to turn their minds to think His thoughts and live His ways.
One day His Son made Man, now risen from the dead and appointed Judge Supreme, will hold all to account for how they regarded Him, the only Mediator between God and man.
Paul caught the attention of the Athenians by proclaiming this God. It is He who determines the lives of rulers and nations so that they may seek Him. He calls on men to turn their minds to think His thoughts and live His ways.
One day His Son made Man, now risen from the dead and appointed Judge Supreme, will hold all to account for how they regarded Him, the only Mediator between God and man.
Friday 5 September 2014
GRUMPY
Why should I have toothache as well as 'endure the hostility of sinners'? I can't even sleep properly. I guess it's all part of my daily 'bread and water'. The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, the diet of God's true children.
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