Pain of tragedy

So much pain! Not only in Christchurch but also Japan. My own children visited that nuclear power station only a few years ago. Their host family are alright they assure me. But so much pain! Thousands of families grieving and most of them don't know God.

And what can we do? We can give money of course but what else? Most of us feel helpless. Tonight I am reading in the Auckland Libraries Fundraiser for Christchurch. I will be reading from the Introduction of 'Know God More' and they will not be a Christian audience. I wonder how they will respond to the questions I bring up about God, the scriptures as part of that text, and my own heart as the book describes my search to know more about God, what He is like, to know Him personally so I can at least try and understand Him a little more.

'Know God More' was the result of me trying to do just this - get to know Him - in the face of pain and tragedy in my own life. And I did succeed. I still don't know Him fully of course but I do know Him so much more than I ever did before even though I had been a Christian for years and attended Bible studies, retreats, home groups, ocnferences and more.

It is a knowing, at the end of the day, that is a revelation. A gift from God. And yet locked in this longing to know Him even more intimately we can continue to explore, read, pray and yes, even in the midst of terrible tragedy we can find Him.

Christchurch Earthquake

Last week a huge earthquake hit Christchurch - the greatest disaster in our nation New Zealand - and very few people are left unaffected in some way. Auckland where I live is at the opposite end of the country. My closest friend's youngest brother's wife's sister is missing - now presumed dead. She was the mother of two small children. It may seem like a distant relationship but this is just one of many, many similar connections. And where is God?

What a huge question to ask in such trauma, pain, loss and grief. And how dare one ask? But we must. For God is always present, always powerful and always loving. People can surmise. Perhaps we will never know why He has allowed this catastrophe to occur. But He has? And He is still always present, always powerful and always loving.

Lord we need more love, more grace, deep healing and Your Spirit of goodwill, of generosity, of loving kindness to permeate even the hardest hearts now at this time. Use even this for Your glory.

New Beginnings

The holidays have been and gone and so now I sit once again thinking about God's surprising interactions with His people on planet earth. During my time away I reveled in His creation, absorbed His beauty and felt my soul and spirit refreshed by new surroundings.
This freshness, I am constantly reminded, is available every single day as I come and sit quietly in God's presence. Ignoring the needs around me, the noise, the thoughts in my mind, the hopes and dreams that constantly assail me I am left with God. His presence fills in a way that nothing else can. It embodies a fullness, a newness, a hope that never disappoints and never runs dry.
Every day, every moment as I walk in His Spirit this is available to me - and to you also. Great is His faithfulness.

Christmas and Forever

Christmas is here and it's time to jump for joy and wave our hands in the air to thank God for sending His precious Son to be born to die so that we can be with Him forever.

Forever seems like a very long time and isn't it amazing we get to choose where we will spend it! I know where I want to be and I hope you do too!

Jesus thank you for obeying your Father so we don't have to earn and work our way to forever.

Imagine if we did - the long hours of labour over work we may not enjoy; the years saving to buy our tickets; the number of souls we would 'have to ' Bible bash; the strain of having to be holy every single moment; the number of socks we would have to put in our mouths to stop our tongues running wild. Jesus I am so grateful You died to set us free from all this trying and strain.

Instead we learn to walk in Your kingdom, empowered by Your Spirit, changed from the inside out - to bask in Your love.

Thank you!

God in Cyberspace

Cyberspace is not a mystery to God, even though it is to me. His word travels to create just as the words I am typing right now shall translate through air waves onto your screen if you are reading this. These words, invisible yet powerful, will also create in you - an idea, a thought, an attitude, an emotion that will add to your life either positively or negatively. My motivation is to add postive input so let's get focused.

What was the last word God spoke to you through spiritual space? And what have you done with it?

Did you allow it to bounce off and fall into your detete tray where you purposefully ignored it? Did you hide it,saved in your mind for a more convenient time, delaying obedience? Or did you embrace it and welcome it into your heart and let it transform you from the inside out?

What is He saying to you today and what will you do with this new creative word. A love letter from God to produce new, vibrant life within you?

Writing in God's Kingdom

Once a manuscript is completed ready for an editor to point out finishing touches a new adventure begins. Some writers hunt down their contract first so they won't be wasting their time but I'm not a fan of pressure, especially with something as delicate as writing, so I wait until I am almost finished.

I reason that if God has whispered in my ear and nudged and convicted my spirit for months during the writing process then surely He can whisper in an editor's ear also!

This of course is going beyond the ways of the world into the kingdom of God where He dwells and from where we were created. And as one of His daughters I live here - even though I still walk around on planet Earth - so I am part of the atmosphere.

I have spent years studying His kingdom and exploring it and I am becoming more familiar with it's landscape. I love living in it! It's so much more bizarre, interesting, surprising and gracious than the world. My pick everytime!

Writing with God

Writing with God is a surprising adventure! When I am writing I feel He is so close - whispering in my ear, playing hide and seek among the pages of Scripture, concealing then revealing, laughing at my questions then pouncing on me with His answers.

Writing is a time of wonderful intimacy for me. No wonder I love it so much.

And then there is always a new adventure - once the manuscript is almost complete - one that I am still grappling with. And He is still hiding!