A Shepherd after God's own heart

Let God guard your heart

2010-09-11T23:14:00.000+09:30

We have an issue. Girls need to have a better handle on not lying to "protect" their emotions & feelings.

It's a bit hard to do that though if you're feeling like God is out to break your heart, and you're running from Him for that reason, and putting up walls around your heart.

Most girls I have seen start of in the world as innocent and beautiful. They are open emotionally, but usually they are happy. Then they get older. Someone hurts them. Justice is perverted. It breaks her heart. The smile disappears. They clam up. After a while they learn to smile again, but it's not the same. The innocence is gone. They are a good fake. They grow numb to some extent. They have walls around their heart, and they aren't going to let anyone in. They don't cry, but they don't smile either. Usually they get quite successful though, because they can be tough like the men. There is just one problem... they aren't men, and being tough is killing them.

Girls, putting walls up around your heart will starve it of the love it needs. Then you in turn start looking desperately for love, but on the same hand you're pushing it away. It's no wonder boys are confused with girls. On one hand you say you want him, but on the other hand, you are pushing him away.

You can't seem to admit the truth of something being wrong because that would be showing weakness, but you still want him to do something about it. When he believes you that "nothing" is wrong you get hurt further, so you build up the walls higher. I know lying is easier than being vunerable and telling the truth. We don't want to be weak, but being like fine china means being breakable. Being soft means being mouldable. Being a flower means you have to open up and risk getting crushed or wilt and die.

If you decided to be tough and brittle, it might work, but if you break, you will shatter. If you are soft, yes it will hurt, especially at first, but you will become strong, truly strong, in a way that you didn't realise was possible.

Now, I'm not saying you won't ever get hurt. Love hurts sometimes! But He will protect you. He will hold you. If you trust HIM rather than yourself.

Phillipians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God says to rejoice ALWAYS! These people were being persecuted. They were getting killed. How much more should we rejoice when things go wrong?! Praise God when it hurts. It glorifies Him, and it makes it hurt less. It's like you're a flower that has been crushed, so you give God your full fragrance and say do what you will with it God. I have spoken to girls (and been one myself), who find it hard to trust God in situations like this. We don't want to trust Him, because He might not do anything, and it terrifies us. He is not out to break your heart. Actually God is out to heal your heart.

Then He says to let your gentleness be known. Um, sorry to break it to you, but that hard-hearted feminist doesn't cut it. I'm not saying you have to be a pushover, but you do need to be gentle, and it needs to be visible to all!

God wants us to trust Him and not fear.

I Peter 3:6 (AMP)
It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].

Don't fear or let yourself give way to anxieties. Guard your mind. Instead pray, pray, pray! God hears your prayers!

Then the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Oh, the peace.

Yesterday was such an insane day for me. I was walking home, and I was thinking, it's been such a weird day. I mean, I don't feel bad about it, but seriously hasn't been that great as far as the external. (I guess this was part of the peace that surpasses all understanding is about too.) Then I realised part of the weird feeling was that everyone else was feeling sorry for Felicity (or would if they knew what was happening/happened), but I wasn't sorry for Felicity, and neither did I want to be. Sure I wanted some things to change, but I wasn't crushed or incenced.

In all that I realised that God didn't want my heart to get broken. He didn't want me to feel crushed, and want to throw emotions in a box and hide them in the closet or something as a result.

I guess it's about thinking about His protection going further than just not keeping you from getting run over by a car, mugged or whatever, but it's also about Him keeping my heart safe so that I'm not afraid to trust Him with my emotions and feelings.

Last night I was just reminded so much in my own life that God is NOT out to break my heart and He is not out to crush my feelings. So often people talk about "break my heart God" and it's supposed to sound holy... but seriously, He wants to protect it, and He wants me, and every other girl to trust Him to protect it rather than feeling like I have to get tough (hard hearted) after things go wrong, and it's just easier to be "mean" and "tough" and that's the only way to succeed in life. That's wrong.

Oh, hurting Girls. God loves you and He wants you to trust Him with your heart so that when things go wrong and you're getting pushed around, and your life is blue... (or your clothes!) when your team is losing, when the nation is in turmoil, when no-one likes you, when the electrician fixes everything excepting your problem, and you have a 7 minute walk in the rain. He wants you to be so secure in Him that when it happens, and while you may be flabbergasted and don't like is happening, you are not feeling sorry for you. You have the peace that surpasses all understanding, because God, is your God and He is taking care of you. It's not cliched. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true in my own life.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which can not be moved but abides forever. Psalm 125:1

True Love

2010-08-14T13:43:00.000+09:30

True love is not based on the merit of the recipient. It instead is based on the purity of heart from the giver. As we learn to love like He first loved us we start to grasp true love. People think that you can not love without getting it in return. To some extent that is true. You cannot love if you do not know how to, and the way we learn to love is because "He first loved us.", however just because one must have love to be able to give it does not mean that one must get it from the recipient. True love's source must be God, because His love alone is pure.

What do They Have in Common?

2010-06-27T12:33:00.003+09:30

What do Todd Bentley, Mike Guglielmucci, Roco Leo, and Paul Cain have in common?

2 Samuel 14:14
For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.

So pray for them. I am.

Rejoice Always

2010-03-09T21:11:00.004+10:30

A few weeks ago I was on my way to an evening church service on Monday night. I had worked that day and was exhausted. Just to prove the point that I was exhausted, Rebecca drove us there because I was too tired to drive. We had both had long, wearying days, and both were complaining a bit. I was so tired I didn't feel like I could handle her problems as well as my own (i.e. I can complain, but I can't handle you complain - oh dear, you probably can't really handle me complaining so well at the moment either), and so I suggested that we both just keep quiet for a bit. Suddenly I had a thought to sing. Mind you, I didn't exactly feel like singing or praising God, but I thought I would give it a go. I sang one line, "Rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice." Suddenly my spirits lifted. I didn't feel so down or worn out. I suddenly felt like the air must have cleared, and started talking as so, and realised that I was the only one who felt the difference.

The others had not had the moment of lifting that I had in my Spirit. They didn't lift Him above, and their feelings did not change. In the moment I lifted God above my feelings, my feelings changed. Yet previously I was the tiredest and grumpiest of the lot!

God says many times in His word to rejoice always, and to give thanks in all things. I would suggest that this is for more reason than "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." This is because as we praise Him, we are lifted up with Him. He lifts us up above the circumstances that weigh us down. In worship we are "casting our burdens (cares) upon Him".

And lest I make this sound dreary, rejoicing in the Lord is praising Him! It is joyful, and even if you don't feel joyful when you first make the choice to worship Him rejoice, and see how His joy (which is your strength) can make a difference.

"If I be lifted up... I will draw all men unto me."

"If I be Lifted Up"

2010-02-07T13:43:00.004+10:30

Jesus said, "If I be lifted up...I will draw all men unto me."

Maybe the reason the church is having trouble drawing people to Him is because we aren't lifting Him up and letting Him do the drawing.

Asking Advice From Whom?

2010-02-06T22:28:00.004+10:30

I wrote this for someone (haha do that a lot these days) however I decided against actually saying it to them in that context. I realise though, that there are probably a lot of people out there who don't know how to look for an appropriate person to ask advice from. This is for you.

Remember not to disregard younger people's advice, and don't just accept older One's advice simply because they are older or younger. ;) Weigh it up against scripture, and take all advice with a pinch of salt. Something I use as a guide with advice is simply who knows what they are talking about.

i.e. I don't take political advice from people who's worldview I don't agree with, and who don't really know the topic. - I take political advice from people who's worldview is similar to mine and who are strong believers in apologetics, study their topic, know their Bible and are likely to know more than I do. I don't take take Biblical advice from people who don't even know who "Ruth" was in the Bible. I ask for advice from people who can spit out the references as fast as you can fire the questions of where was that scripture found, and who understand what they mean, and don't read their own agenda into scripture. I don't take advice on relationships from people who are messed up, but from people who have many godly relationships, and know the godly worldview. (That worldview is incredibly important!) Hopefully you get the idea.

Coping

2010-01-14T17:59:00.002+10:30

"God won't give us more than we can handle" God has seen it all. He can handle anything. The reason we can't cope is because we don't "cast all our cares upon Him" and let Him carry our burdens.

What Does Love Look Like?

2009-12-20T16:22:00.005+10:30

So many people are confused about love. They think they know what it is, but really they don't. The following was written for someone who proved they didn't know what love was about.

I'll tell you the truth about love.

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not rude. Love is not puffed up. Love does not seek it's own (good). Love does not rejoice when it hears of other's shortfalls but rejoices in the truth. Love endures all things. Love believes all things. Love hopes.

Love looks like the friend that stays up until 3 in the morning talking to, and praying for the discouraged friend.

Love puts aside it's own feelings to help their friend who is grief stricken/broken hearted.

Love cares for the least. Love reaches out to the workplace outcast. Love talks to the person who no-one talks to. Love loves the unlovely.

Love forgives the "unforgivable".

Love protects. Love puts himself/herself between you and trouble.

Love defends a friend who's been shot.

Love doesn't leave when things get hard. Love doesn't leave at all. In fact love says, I don't care what you do or say, you can't make me stop loving you.

Love doesn't betray.

Love doesn't lead someone on. Love doesn't go around seeing how many hearts they can break.

Love is a refuge and a haven.

Love lays down it's life.

Love gives, and gives, and keeps on giving. Mostly in secret, but it can't be hidden, because love just keeps giving.

God is Love.

Love never fails.

Love the Least

2009-12-13T20:35:00.004+10:30

I've decided to do some short posts of two line sort of wisdom instead of always having to have a long explanation. I figure I'm more likely to post then, and even though it is simple it's still good.

Love the least. - You never know what affect your actions will have. You probably won't see results immediately, and sometimes you may never see results, but do it anyway.

John 13:35 (NKJV)
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Unseen Affect of Your Prayers

2009-11-26T21:15:00.003+10:30

I posted this origionally on a facebook group that was just people who are praying for their future spouse. After getting asked by the admin if they could send it to everyone in the group as a message, I thought it might be good enough to post here as a reminder to all of you too. :) I hope it blesses you!

I just want to remind you all that even though you probably can't see any results from praying for someone - especially if they aren't in your life at the moment, your prayers can be having an affect beyond what you would think they are. It can get discouraging to pray for someone and not be seeing results, but don't give up!

An example of this: Many years ago, when I was still a child I got quite upset about something, and was crying to God about it. (I don't remember what - just that I was pretty distressed.) While I was still crying and praying, He opened my eyes, and I could see and hear the worship leader from church praying for me...

Now she probably had no idea why God put on her heart to pray for me, and I never said anything about it to her for years, but God knew...

You might not have any idea why you get woken up at some rediculous hour to pray or why God suddenly drops in your spirit that so and so needs prayer, but they probably need it. ;)

Personally some time ago there were a few months where the Holy Spirit kept telling me to pray for my future husband - there and then. I have no idea what he was going through, but God knew what he was facing.

On the flip side, I know that there have been times that he has been praying for me when I needed it. I know that there have been times God has acted on my behalf as a direct answer to his prayers, and I've very grateful for that.

While I may not know who I'm going to marry yet, at least I know I'm gonna marry a praying man. :D

What About the Strong Women?

2009-10-31T16:38:00.007+10:30

After my previous post I had a bit of of feedback from people and almost everyone said something about women still being strong... as in they felt my previous post was lacking an explanation of where real strength comes from. Thus this post is a response to that.

When you have placed your trust in God you will stand stronger than those who are counting on their own will-power and the walls they have built around themselves to "protect" themselves.

The best way to explain this is to give another personal example.

Just a month ago my family was facing a bit of a mountain - we were getting our kitchen renovated. (Anyone who's been there will understand the pressure.) All the family was under extra pressure, some had assignments in before leaving the house for a week and a half, music exams were coming up... etc.

Some of the family were going to visit friends three hours away, and the few boys that needed stay in town were staying with Grandma. Everyone knew where they were going except for me. Because of my work situation I had no idea whether or not I needed to stay, and if I did stay, who with? Work messed me around, not giving me an answer until the last week, and well after they had said they would. I was also in the final stages of applying for a Bible college by correspondence.

With less than a week to go I found out that the course program had been changed, and if I wanted to enroll I would be two weeks behind. (Starting that day of course which couldn't happen!) The set up was completely different to what it was previously making it much harder. I went back and forth a bit. (Can I actually pull this off or is it just impossible/improbable?) I'm not someone to not try just because things look hard, and I knew I make it work, but at what cost? Particularly; what cost to my family? To make the decision harder different family members took sides as to whether they thought I should or shouldn't enroll in the course. (Talk about meat in the sandwich!)

After praying like mad and wishing for a lightning bolt from heaven which never came, I made a choice, and I knew from past experience that I would have to really firm on it, as I would be living with everyone's reactions to me not going with their idea for possibly months afterward. So I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught, determined that I was doing the best thing. - Not necessarily for me, but for a particular other family member who probably wouldn't cope with me studying from home like that. And when I made the choice something in me died.

Suddenly I went from knowing what was doing until I graduated (1-2 years) to being in total limbo. Anyone who has been in that place probably knows it's not pleasant. It's certainly not where I wanted to be.

So, I truly had to be unmoving and firmly convinced that this was where God had me next, therefore I had to trust Him completely and not waver. And trust Him I did.

At first almost everyone was telling me that I was mistaken, and trying to push me to change my mind. However, the day before I left to stay with friends for the two weeks (yes, God provided somewhere to stay), my mother said to me, "We're all falling apart and you're going on strong. I applaud you."

Now you have to understand a couple of things:

A) I was expecting the biggest opposition from my mum. This was a complete 180.
B) That was huge praise from her. She isn't liberal with her compliments.

So I felt a bit blown away. . .

Anyway, the only reason, I repeat; the ONLY reason I was able to be steadfast when everyone else was pulling their hair out was because I was trusting God. I wasn't passively trusting Him. I made a decision to trust Him regardless of circumstances and I didn't waver. That is how you are strong.

The 1 Peter 3:3-6 Women

2009-10-22T13:36:00.008+10:30

I've finally gotten around to writing the long awaited post on Godly Womanhood.

1 Peter 3:3-6 (NKJV)

³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

When you have that sweet attitude in adversity it's that same incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. (See, it's a quiet spirit. Not stressed and agitated, but at peace.) The holy women trusted in God. You can't be quiet in spirit if you don't trust God. You can sound quiet on the outside, but be a churning mess inside. God doesn't want us to just hide our feelings, and bottle them up, but to trust Him. If we trust Him we won't be a churning mess.

I remember a time in my life when I went through quite a bit of hurt. It was probably one of the worst times I have ever gone through. (Ranks in the top 5) I felt like almost everyone I knew (my family, my friends, my church, etc.) had abandon me to whatever came my way, and I was drowning in fear and hurting badly.

After a few months I got tough. I didn't feel the pain as much. I didn't cry anymore. I hardly flinched at pain. My heart was all bricked up. Somewhere after this God told me I needed to soften my heart and let the barriers come down. I told Him I couldn't do it. When I said I couldn't do it, I really meant it. So God broke them down for me. It was like He destroyed in one second all the walls I had built over the months... and turned up the heat on my emotions. I cried so easily for the next few months. Anything would make me cry. I couldn't help myself.

The strangest thing I found was I had been proud of the fact that I was finally a tough girl. It was something my older sister seemed to be good at, and was always criticising me for not being tough enough. However God did not want me tough. He wanted me soft hearted, sensitive, vulnerable. I couldn't understand it at first. Why, why why?! When all of the culture around me said that the tougher you are the better? That was my silver lining in all the grey clouds, and God took it away from me because He didn't like it?

I remember crying to God one day during this stage saying that I felt like no-one cared about me. No-one would protect me. No-one would stand up for me. Not to mention that I felt incredibly vulnerable - more so than I had been before the whole mess had started.

Merriam-Webster's defines vulnerable this way:

1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
2 : open to attack or damage

I didn't want to be any of that... and I don't know anyone who really likes being hurt.

Anyway after I had finished my spill, and started really crying God told me that He would protect me, He would vindicate me, He would provide for me, and take care of me, He cared and He loved me, etc. (A promise I've held on to many a time!)

God did keep His word to me. He has protected me, and after He pulled down the walls I had built around myself He did guard my heart and keep me from further pain. Over the next few months He healed the pain and dealt with all the problems that had arisen physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

This actually had some interesting "side affects". I used to be a very happy child. (Well... my name says it all!) However over the years I had gotten more and more serious, and it was like I had forgotten how to laugh to some extent. I just didn't have much reason to be happy. Once God healed my heart I was able to laugh - and laugh at lot. I'm one of the happiest people I know now!

God had to teach me a different sort of courage. It was several years before I was able to reach the point I have now, where I can truly say I trust God despite circumstances. I can only be at peace because I've put my trust in God completely.

It takes more guts to trust God to take care of you, and to love when it hurts than it does to be tough as a man and fight your way to the top. (And God bless the men with their strength. We need them like that, but that isn't how He made us.)

So, that is why I've come to the conclusion that God doesn't want us women to be tough like the men. He didn't make us men, He made us women. He made us gentle and breakable. That doesn't mean that our only emotions are those that fall into these categories, but that we shouldn't trample our emotions, and try to be tough like the men.

God's Worldview Part Two

2009-10-14T20:42:00.003+10:30

So what are these controversial examples of God's worldview?

Now I don't want to be accused of putting words in God's mouth. So I'm going to pull things straight out of scripture. If you think you have a valid argument as to why I have taken the scripture out of context you can say something, but I'm not here to have a debate... I'm here to challenge your thinking - to think more like God.

Example One: Marriage. One of the reasons God gives that he wants marriage is that He wants godly offspring. Malachi 2:15 Ouch... I bet that stepped on a few religious toes. Don't children hinder your ministry opportunities? God thinks not.

But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

Which leads me to:

Example Two: Divorce. God says He hates it. So much so that He says He will not receive your offerings if you have "dealt treacherously with the wife of your youth". Malachi 2:13-16 Jesus says that God only permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts". Matthew 19:3-9
Jesus also said in Mark 10:11-12

So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

(Do I need to send you back to the ten commandments here?)

Example Three: Global Warming (Oh whoops... this isn't pet doctrine - it's pet ideology.)
In Genesis 8:22 God says,

While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

Don't we believe that God means what He says anymore?

I could give many, many other examples, but those who will get the point understand. Please, if you haven't already, read your Bible and actually believe what it says. God and His Word are one. (John 1:1) Some people think that God changes - particularly from the old covenant to the new one. Yes, we are under a new covenant, but He is the same yesterday today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

God's Worldview Part One

2009-08-27T15:30:00.004+09:30

Before we get started let me give some definitions here:

Worldview: the way you see the world - this is shaped but just about anything and everything: religion, education, family, culture, friends, etc.

Beliefs: the things that you believe. (Truth is not a factor in you believing it.) What you believe shapes your worldview. You usually believe that what you believe is truth, though most people acknowledge the fact that they can not have everything right. (Even though they act like it.)

God sees this world, and He has a perfect worldview. If you are in Christ you should see the world the way He does, thus have the same worldview as God - not expect Him to have the same worldview as you.

But I can't understand the mind of God I hear someone say. Well actually - You have the mind of Christ. Just read 1 Corinthians 2: 14-16

14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

The natural man doesn't understand the things of God because they are foolishness to him. So it makes sense that this world's general view of the world does not line up with God's view.

It is only by the Spirit of God that we understand the things of God, but we have the mind of Christ. That is Christ has given to us, by His Holy Spirit, His mind.

So do you want to know God's worldview? Start by reading your Bible. Perhaps starting in Proverbs.

In part two I will explain with examples of this.

Don't Waste Your Life!

2009-08-26T13:36:00.005+09:30

As some of you would know I have been a leader in a book club discussion the book: "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper.

I also have friends that speak wisdom occasionally. - Especially if they are male and I say the word advice.

Anyway between reading Piper, and talking to some friends... well maybe brothers in Christ fits better, but whatever the creatures were, I talked to them. *ahem* between reading Piper and talking to them I had a few things to think about while waiting in the airport for two hours and on planes three weeks ago.

And think I did. I have one life. Only one. I don't know how long that life is, but I do know that I said it belongs to God. What I do with my time now is what I am spending the one life I have to give on. Is what I am spending my life on worth it in eternity?

The more I thought about it the more I realised, "If I don't want to waste my life I need to be brutal with everything in it. If it does not bring God glory, if it is not edifying me and building me up in my walk with Him, then it should be removed immediately."

"Wow! Isn't that a bit drastic?" I have heard.

I suppose it is a bit "extreme" but really, Jesus said if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out. He wasn't joking if you haven't noticed... What ever is not leading you closer to God is drawing you away from Him - directly or indirectly. If we want to live in such a way that our short time on earth will not leave us regrets for the rest of eternity, than we need to live every moment of our lives for Him.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you can't ever have a break, or take a holiday, and you should be a miserable Christian that never does anything happy or fun. I'm on holidays at the moment. When I was in Townsville, I commented to someone about it, and they looked at me sideways, but I went on to point out that I was greatly blessed and edified because I had been able to relax I had gotten in a lot more time than I usually do to pray uninterrupted. I felt like I was close to heaven. (And no it wasn't the sun, pool, and ice cream that did that even though some of you may beg to differ with me on that.) It was the presence of God that surrounded me and made me to be at perfect peace. But things in the physical allowing me to draw near without distracting or interrupting made it very easy to do so.

So here is my challenge to you: Get rid of anything - absolutely anything (relationships, games, thoughts, habits, etc.) that is not leading you closer to God. It might hurt a little bit now, but you will reap the rewards if you are willing to pay the price now.

Hold thy Tongue!

2009-05-16T21:07:00.006+09:30

Proverbs tells us of wisdom.

Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat it's fruit."

Uh, God, isn't that a bit drastic? Can't you just make it a bit nicer?

What sort of Christians are we anyway? Do we believe what God says? (If we don't - why be a Christian - He might not have meant it when He said He took away your sin.) If we do - Why don't we live like it?!?

So what is He saying? That what we say has power to give death and life. If you love to talk you will eat the fruit of what you say.

Some verses to look at about things to do with the mouth:
Psalm 15:1-4 ¹LORD, WHO shall dwell [temporarily] in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on Your holy hill? ²He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart, ³He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbour; ⁴In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he who honours those who fear the Lord (who revere and worship Him); who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Proverbs 12:3 He who hides hatred is of lying lips, and he who utters slander is a [self-confident] fool.

Proverbs 26:22 The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim's nature].

Proverbs 31:26 "She opens her mouth in skilful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]."

and

Proverbs 31:27 "She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat."

Psalm 37:30 "The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with justice."

So for all the maths people:

Slander = death
Gossip = death
Wisdom = life
Kindness = life
Truth = life

And so on.

In James 3:2 "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."

Last night coming home I was feeling rather cranky. I had a heavy headache, and I had nearly an hour's further drive home by myself at 10:00.

So I started complaining to God about it. Pleading with God to get me home sooner. Somehow...

After praying (yes I was praying) for a few minutes I had the guts to pray something real and I thanked God for what He had done for me. Then I spoke to my body. I commanded the headache to leave. And told a few other things to be right. (I can't remember what.) But afterward I felt so much better. The heaviness was gone.

Now note that while I did pray, I did not ask God to take away my headache. I just commanded it to go. And it left. Why? Because I have power in my mouth, and it had to obey.

So if that is what I can do for good, what is all this complaining, finding fault, gossip, slander, etc., doing to us?!

James 3 gives us a lot of instruction on the effect of our tongues. I suggest you go read it now. :)

And next time you want to say something bad - about yourself, someone else, a situation, etc., remember you have power in your mouth - power to change that situation.

Peace in the Storm

2009-04-11T17:38:00.003+09:30

Lately I've been very busy. Which is partly why I haven't been posting here. I will try to keep up a bit better than I have been in future.

Thus I have been thinking about contentment, and peace in the middle of storm. So I thought I would ask you if you know the answer to the question, "What is peace?" God's peace.

Jesus said, peace I leave you, my peace I give you - not as the world gives.

So why is God's peace different to the world's idea of peace?

Peace is an absence of aggression, violence or hostility. (According to wikipedia)
The article goes on to say,

"[Peace] also represents a larger concept wherein there are healthy or newly-healed interpersonal or international relationships, safety in matters of social or economic welfare, the acknowledgment of equality and fairness in political relationships and, in world matters."(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace)

So that is what the world thinks peace is. So now what does God call peace.

"Be still and know that I am God."

That's it.

By the definition of the world around us you can not be at peace if you are in the middle of a war. But by God's definition you could be in the worst turmoil ever known to mankind, and have perfect peace because God promises us,

"[He] will keep in perfect peace him who's mind is fixed on [God]."

So next time you start to worry think about God. Don't just think about Him though, fix your mind on Him. Fix your thoughts on Him. (Remember, "His burden is easy and His yoke is light.") And know peace.

Getting Answered Prayers!

2008-12-22T16:49:00.004+10:30

Remember how I was talking about faith.

I don't actually have trouble having faith. It's just that sometimes I'm not totally convinced of God being more sovereign than what I am looking at. So thus I need to learn to become totally convinced and persuaded of God's sovereignty.

Let me explain. Last week I realised that it hadn't rained for a while. (Who cares that it is summer.) So I did what I always do when it's a bit dry...

"God some rain would be good. Thanks. Oh, could you make it rain for a few days? Hang on, make that a week. Oh, but with intervals so it soaks in a bit and they* don't get wet tonight. Thanks"

And I expected it to rain. It always does when I pray. In fact I can always get made to order weather. I don't have any trouble believing for the weather. Like I said, I always get what I ask for. I pray and God does it. You saw the gist of my prayer... nothing special. Just faith.

James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Interestingly the verse before says:

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

And to prove the point Elijah and the weather is used. He prayed that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't. But then he prayed again. (This time it is mentioned in 1Kings 18.) And it rained all right!

After praying, the next thing they predicted rain for the next week. (Yep, just as I had prayed.) I was wondering what the weather would be like as soon as the week was up. In the low Thirties.

Meanwhile everyone else was saying about how strange the weather is... I started agreeing with one person and God reminded me, "This is what you asked for!"Oh, yeah whoops... I nearly forgot. I mean, once I prayed I knew I would get it so I didn't think about it anymore.

So Curry Blake says we should apply the same to all of our Christian walk... (Don't worry; I didn't tell him about what I do to the weather guys here.)

I had a cut, so I prayed for it... well more like told it to stop hurting and heal quickly in Jesus name. Well it stopped hurting. The next day I looked at it. I could see the new skin coming up already. (It was cut like you get from a knife. However I can't remember how I cut myself.) Normally takes a few days to heal... and stings because it takes a while for the new skin to grow up. I was pretty happy with that result.

So I'm learning.

*My family, who were out in the open that evening.

What Would Jesus Have me Do? (Part 3 of 3)

2008-12-13T19:48:00.001+10:30

Our next question should be then:

"What does God want me to do?"

Paul said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ."

So we should imitate Christ.

Jesus said, "If anyone hears My Words and does them I will liken him to one who built his house on the rock..."

And obey Him.

Often called the great commission:

Mark 16:15 - 18

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
I can't believe this... what do I have to do!!! Oh, hang on, those signs will follow me. Hmm does that mean if I go, and I believe (according to 1 John 5: 14 -15*) that they will follow me?

1 John 5:14 -15

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

That means that God will do anything for us if it is in line with His will and we ask with confidence (in Him)

His Word is His revealed will. So I guess He is saying that if we preach they will believe, and if they believe than those mentioned signs will follow. I guess they will follow me too, if I believe. Which I do!!! (Just in case that needed to be mentioned.)

So what would Jesus have me do?

Obey Him, and fulfill the great commission.

What did Jesus Do? (Part 2 of 3)

2008-12-07T13:46:00.004+10:30

First off I will start by saying that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. So therefore if we want to know what Jesus would do we should be asking, "What did Jesus do yesterday?" because that is what He will be doing tomorrow.

So this is what I found:

Jesus only did what He saw The Father doing.

Jesus fulfilled God's Word.

Jesus healed all who came to Him.

Jesus set the captives at liberty.

Jesus preached the good news to the poor.

Jesus raised the dead... when He came across them.

Jesus blessed the children.

Jesus promised us that we would always have the poor with us. (I thought I would chuck that one in for good measure.)

Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows.

Jesus bore the chastisement for our peace.

Jesus' wounds heal us.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. (Just in case you missed that before.)

Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus defeated death and hell.

Jesus fulfilled the will of God.

Jesus gave His disciples the great commission. (If we are His disciples we have the same commission.)

Jesus told His disciples to wait until they received the Holy Spirit.

Jesus ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of The Father. (Oh, and some angels told His disciples that He will return as He left.)

What Would Jesus Do? (Part 1 of 3)

2008-12-06T22:39:00.007+10:30

I remember when the whole WWJD movement started. Oh how I hated it! What would Jesus do if he saw the poor and hungry? What would Jesus do if he was walking down the main street? What would Jesus do if he saw an old man with a walking frame trying to open a shop door?

I remember the things that people said, and still do say about that.

Well, we should do what Jesus would do, so we should sponsor a child, smile at the people we walk past, and open the door for the man. Right? Wrong!

Let me tell you what Jesus did.

He multiplied the food for everyone! (With leftovers)
He cursed the fig tree on one of His visits. He also generally preached where ever He went. Oh, and He "healed all who were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him."
I guess that means he would have healed the lame man... like He did on many different occasions.

I guess being like Jesus has a different meaning to what we have been taught...

Walking with God

2008-10-26T17:44:00.005+10:30

His mercies are new every morning.

Something a lot of people seem to have trouble with is walking with God on a daily basis. Some things that you have probably heard and possible even felt.

I forget to do my devotions.

I don't like the books they have out there, and can't find anything I like and that makes it hard.

Even if you find a book you like doing devotions with it does not last forever.

I just run out of time in the morning.

It's just too hard.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I don't know what to do.

I have personally thought all of them. I was wanting somehow to draw near to God, but feeling like the assistance I needed was not there, and that I did not have what it took to seek God until I found Him.

Then I realised something. When I was a young girl, and first saved I used to talk to God at any time of the day about anything, because Jesus was my friend and the Holy Spirit my guide. God taught me His wisdom, to fear Him, and His ways were burnt in my heart.

I did not find it hard to pray. I was praying all the time. I did not feel that I needed some book to guide me to have devotions, the Holy Spirit guided me towards God.

I didn't read my bible out of duty. I loathed the very thought of reading it religiously. But I read it regularly, and also every time I was in a church service were I didn't understand the preacher... or it was boring.

He wanted me. If He has my heart, He has all of me. As I learn to love, and lean on Him, He teaches me more, and I'm one of the happiest people on earth!

Answered Prayer Part 2 - Pushing for Breakthrough

2008-10-04T19:49:00.001+09:30

I realised after posting my previous post that I had covered a fair amount of what was supposed to be a separate post to make things less complicated.

One thing that is taught to us a lot in our Western culture is something very dangerous. It is something that will destroy life, lose wars, bring hopelessness, promote apathy, and wreck havoc on society. What is this thing that is so deadly to us and will take away our hope and our future.

I will sum it up for you in two words:

Give up!

What words! Daniel prayed until something happened. In fact he prayed for 21 days. With prayers and fasting. (Whoops, did I say something wrong?) The truth is that you will have to pay a price for what you are asking for... How much are you willing to pay? 1 hour with God? 1 meal missed? 1 Day? What a great start! Did you know that Jesus prayed all through the night regularly? One day I was thinking about how I wanted to do all the things that Jesus did, and then I suddenly realised that Jesus' sacrifice was His sleep, and suddenly it was not as attractive... Now I'm not telling you to stay up all night tonight, so that in the morning you will be amazingly like Jesus. I'm just letting you know what sort of regular sacrifice He did that removed every hindrance from Him seeing the power of God.

My pastor was telling a story on Wednesday night of how he was praying for something and God called him in the morning getting him out of bed with the words, "Purpose your heart." So he eventually got out of bed. When he sat down to talk to God what do you think God said? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He went back to bed 2 hours later disappointed. Then next night God woke Him again... Same story, for nine days!!! Finally God spoke to him, and he wrestled with obeying what God told him, because it was so hard, but eventually he did obey, and God blessed him because of it.

The point is though, that sometimes you will have to keep praying and you won't see any answers, and it won't make sense, and you have to push for a breakthrough.

Jesus told a story of a persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

God wants us to seek Him until He does something. Too often we give up before our breakthrough comes.

I started writing this post a few weeks ago and as I was writing I felt convicted of all my half-hearted prayers, and decided to take one thing that I had been half-heartedly praying for and pray seriously. So I picked something and decided to write down my prayers for 21 days. So every evening before I turned out the light I did just that and I was amazed at how God changed my perspective on that situation.

At the end of the third week I didn't feel like stopping, I was starting to talk to God about other things too, and it was a really amazing. Now I tend to talk to God for a few minutes before I go anywhere in the morning too. It hasn't been any effort to do that, now I have made a habit of prayer. It's just getting easier and easier. I think of praying a lot and it is making my thoughts much more peaceful.

Now I still haven't seen the results of what I was originally praying for, but I have seen God change my heart and draw me closer to Him, which was indirectly what I was praying for. Just thinking about it now, I realise that God had previously told me that what I needed to see my answer was my heart changed. Well, He has been doing that and I didn't even realise what He was doing, I was just blown away by Him again.

As you push for your breakthrough it teaches you to trust Him, and He can work on your heart. I was/am praying for about 5 minutes in the evening, but it has become more extended. I remember Him when I arise. I remember Him through out my day. I feel His presence throughout my day, and it affects how I see the world. I speak to Him at odd moments, and it isn't like it is a hard push to make this relationship work.

I am seeing a restoration of the relationship I had with God before I first got distracted by the things of this world. (Don't get me wrong; it's not like I haven't spoken to God since, I have - heaps, but it hasn't been as close as it was when I was a child, and I have struggled with staying close off and on.) Isn't He amazing!?!

So believe me when I say to get on your knees and pray regularly. It will do you a world of good, and you will not be the same afterwards.

I personally think that the more time we spend with God the happier we will become!!

Answered Prayer Part 1 - Abiding in Him

2008-08-23T00:15:00.002+09:30

John 15:7-8

7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
8When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. (AMP)

What does abiding mean? Is that verse true saying that if we abide in God we will ask whatever we will and it shall be done?! I guess most of us don't abide in Him and His Word in us seeing as we do not see all that much prayer answered, let alone all of it in the church.

In Mark 16:15-18 I find an interesting scripture that seems to defy all normal Christianity these days. It reads:

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (NKJV)

Now may I ask you, do you meet all that criteria? Do you cast out demons, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, and lay hands on the sick and see them recover? Do you believe? I can tell you straight. I haven't done all of them!

It is rare to see anyone doing that in the church and when we do find someone that manages to do all of the above we idolize them, and put them on a pedestal. But Jesus said it was for the entire church. So regardless of what anyone else is telling you that you can and can't do: this is a criteria of believing God. Wow! That means that you can do it if you believe God.

Then the question is, 'Why aren't we seeing more of it in the church?' I guess the answer is: because we don't believe God, and we haven't realised that it is available for us.

I should mention here that I am not saying that if you don't cast out demons, speak with new tongues, etcera that you aren't saved.

What I am saying is that God says that this is available for you if you believe. It isn't just for super Christian with the wonderful ministry. It is for you!!!

So how do you access it? Prayer of course! That is why you ask God.

Hebrews 11:6 says:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)

God wants you to diligently seek Him!

Tell me, what is eternal life? Did you answer knowing God? How do you get to know God? (John 17:3*) By diligently seeking Him. (In prayer.) Prayer is not about some religious ritual. Prayer is about a relationship with God, and talking to Him, speaking with Him, asking Him things, and listening to Him.

As you learn to shut out some of the other voices in this world that scream for your attention and listen to Him you will learn of Him. Bring yourself to the Lord and surrender your day to Him. Whether it is just starting, or it is half way through, or finishing He still wants your day. He wants you. All of you. So bring yourself as a living sacrifice and ask Him to speak to you, and be with you.

Perhaps the hardest thing you will need to do is quieten yourself. Sometimes I find it helpful to read a book of prayers and just reflect for a while. Another thing you can do is read a passage out of the bible and reflect on it. Being somewhere you won't be disturbed will make it easier for you. If you are having trouble ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Remember that is what He is there for. :D

* John 17:3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent. (AMP)

Trusting the Almighty God - What is so Hard About That?

2008-07-13T21:20:00.005+09:30

What makes faith so hard? Why can't we trust the Almighty God to take care of us? Why don't we take God at face value for what He says that He is, He is, and what He says that He does, He will do?

Think about it. If for some reason God doesn't do what we wanted Him to do, or what we expected Him to do, and then we get all bent out of shape and say, "God doesn't do things for me." Yes, He does. (Just not the way you think.) Romans 3:4a says, "...Let God be true and every man a liar." (If only the church preached that a little bit more often.) I hear you say, "What?! But I am right!" Let me ask you, "Are you more right than God?"

Let me ask you a different question. Since when did God completely make sense to anyone? Does He like to be put in a box? Just in case you do not know the answer I will give it to you. He does not like us to put Him in the proverbial box. Jesus intentionally offended the religious. To top it off He did on a regular basis. In Isaiah 55:9 He says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Just because you do not understand God does not mean that He is not who He says He is.

Many times God revealed Himself in the old testament as "I am". He is. He does not lie. He is Truth. He is Righteousness. In Him there is no sin. He is Love. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) If something is going wrong it is you, not Him.

Having said that, if something goes wrong He will help you. Hebrews 13:6 says, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (italics mine) Psalm 118:7 says, "The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies." Deuteronomy 33:29a says, "Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD ? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword." Psalm 50:15 says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." You can ask God to teach you things and He will. Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit and He would teach us all things.

In essence, you can trust God, and if you are not getting the results that you are after do not just give up. Pray about it!!!

Hearing or Listening - In Church

2008-06-22T21:37:00.005+09:30

I remember the first book of Joshua Harris' that I read. It was a small book called "Stop Dating the Church". I was at a friend's house, and was just after some light reading to pass the time. I did not realise at the time that my life and the way I viewed church was about to be changed for good. I started reading it, and at first was agreeing with everything he said, about some people not being willing to commit, and it being the same people serving day in and day out. (My parents have both been in ministry somewhat, mum running a kids club for years, and dad being 2IC at church.) It was not until he spoke about not getting anything out of the sermon, and how it is a personal choice to listen. (Sorry this is going from a few years ago memories from reading the book...) I realised that I had been hearing, but not listening. No wonder I was not getting much out of it. I was stunned when I started listening again how much I was getting out of the sermons. Now that does not mean I have been perfect since. Far from it, but now I know what is the most likely problem, and if I do not get fed it is my own fault.

Now it has been a few years since then, and the most recent memory of teaching on this is John Bevere's books. (He mentions it in several of them.) This will not be an exact quote, but he says that he was talking to God one day complaining about his pastor and how he was not getting fed at church; and this is what God said to him, "The problem isn't with your pastor. It is with you!" The reason you do not get feed sometimes is the pastor, but a much more common problem is that you are not listening. If you are having trouble concentrating try taking notes. Have breakfast before church so you are not hungry. Get to bed at a decent hour the night before. Of course do not forget to ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your understanding. If you expect to get something from God you most likely will.

Drawing Near

2008-06-21T21:19:00.005+09:30

Last post was on how much God wants to be with us, and why we should draw near. I thought that I should expand a little bit more than I did there on how to draw near. Please forgive me if it sounds a little elementary. I am trying to make this as easy to understand as possible.

First let me just say one thing: Relax!!! This is not hard.

Some of the more commonly mentioned problems with prayer is that nothing seems to happen, and that it is hard to pray for long extended periods of time. This is not hard.

There are two problems mentioned there.

Firstly is that nothing seems to happen. Firstly let me tell you that a young man named Daniel once prayed for 21 days with prayer and fasting before he got an answer. Usually we give up too soon, or we do not even try in the first place. The other thing that causes people not to get answers is this: A double minded person can expect to receive nothing from God.

The other often heard is that praying for a long time is hard. Again think of it as a friendship. I do not pray for long, painful, extended periods of time. I just talk to God all day. He is your friend. Just talk to Him about everything... and then sometimes wait to see if He will say something back. You might be surprised at His responses. If you are okay with the idea pray in tongues for a change. I have some friends that I can talk to for hours... literally. How about a 45 minute phone call, that gets interrupted, so you call back and talk for another hour... yeah I did that once. We would have talked for longer if we did not have to go. My point is that God is not boring, you just have to get to know Him and then all sorts of things will come out!!!

Knowing God

2008-06-17T21:19:00.000+09:30

It has never ceased to amaze me that people in the church think it normal to not converse with God, not read their bibles, or pray and still they think that they know God. I suppose you compare it to a normal friendship. I don't listen to them, I don't read their letters, or written communication, and I don't talk to them either... Great relationship? OF COURSE NOT!!!

How then do we expect to know God oh so well, if we haven't had any contact lately? He knows you because He knew you before He formed the heavens. He watches over you every moment of the day. He sees your deepest thoughts, and knows the intents of your heart. If you do not cultivate a relationship with God, you will not know Him.

Does God want it to be this way? Of course not!!! He made us to have fellowship with Him, and that is the reason He sent Jesus; to reconcile us to Himself that we might be one with Him! God wants to draw you to Himself; the problem is that we are too lazy to make time to be with Him!!!

I know; I've been close to Him, and drifted a long way away, and suddenly woken up to find that I wasn't anywhere near where I needed to be! The wonderful thing was that I could come to Him, and He would forgive me, and draw near to me as soon as I drew near to Him. However it was much harder to come back, and I had to learn to trust Him again. I felt that I was not worthy, and that God was so far away from me, when He was watching, waiting, drawing nearer and drawing me nearer.

So when you come to God remember, He has been waiting for you, and it's not like He doesn't want to be with you, or that He won't forgive you. You need to forgive yourself, and sometimes the only way we become strong enough to forgive is in His presence.

How do we come near? What if your Bible reading is boring, and nothing happens when you pray? The thing with drawing nearer is to talk to God. Then when you talk to Him expect Him to talk back. Now it might not be what you are expecting (usually God likes to disturb our ideas of Him when they aren't accurate...), however He will speak to you and He will teach you.

Quickly on how to read your bible so you don't get bored:
1. Try something a little lighter than Leviticus to start with. (John, Hebrews, Acts, etc.)
2. Read more than one verse. (yes you heard me correctly!!!)
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to come and teach you. (The bible says that He will if we ask.)
4. Relax for goodness sake!!! No-one is going to eat you.
5. Get rid of distractions. (Now I can hear some people saying, but it's always noisy here!!! How can I do that?! That is not true for most of you I am sure. Think about it! If it really and truly is never quiet, and you can not get somewhere there is not a lot of noise and distractions then you will have to learn to tune out in a crowd.)
Remember GOD LOVES YOU, and He wants to talk with you sometime... soon!