When I needed to know God as my Provider I discovered I was in need. Strange that!When you think about it of course there is no other way to discover you have a provider! It's the place of not knowing where your next hot chocolate is coming from, or more importantly if you can provide for your children, or what's around the corner while at the same time knowing you can't cope - not really! Or at least don't feel as though you can. You just don't have the energy let alone anything else!
In this place God steps in. He revealed Himself and, for me, I knew not only that I was not alone but also that I was loved. I had a DADDY in heaven who owned everything and was big and powerful enough to do something. And most amazing of all I discovered He is very generous.
As they say - It's all about who you know!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Peace in action
When I prayed for peace one year, knowing God is the 'God of Peace' (Romans 15:33),I experienced the most tumultous year you can imagine. Yet strangely and surprisingly it was through this hectic, busy, noisy, overwhelming year that God revealed Himself to me as the God of Peace.
I discovered that within chaos, as I sit with Him, walk with Him and talk with Him it is as though I am enveloped in a cloud of His protective Presence, and I experience, I know, peace regardless of my circumstanes.
He has drawn me here endless times even through difficult times such as having breast cancer, radiotherapy, being between homes with nowhere to live - just so many occassions. And the peace is real. It is so deeply ingrained, so deeply felt that it cannot be disturbed. It is solid, comforting and otherworldly because this is what it is. It is God's peace within me - not my peace!
God's ways are so different from ours they never cease to amaze me.
I discovered that within chaos, as I sit with Him, walk with Him and talk with Him it is as though I am enveloped in a cloud of His protective Presence, and I experience, I know, peace regardless of my circumstanes.
He has drawn me here endless times even through difficult times such as having breast cancer, radiotherapy, being between homes with nowhere to live - just so many occassions. And the peace is real. It is so deeply ingrained, so deeply felt that it cannot be disturbed. It is solid, comforting and otherworldly because this is what it is. It is God's peace within me - not my peace!
God's ways are so different from ours they never cease to amaze me.
God's continual revelation
God's continual revelation never ceases to amaze me. For years He has been revealing different aspects of His character to me and not just in words.
Each revelation has been cemented in experience.
Surely this is the only to way to get to know anyone!
Words are good, they can be very helpful and be brimming with truth but do they follow through with action? This is the question! Do they become reality?
Endless people have let me down in this area - seriously! And I believed them!
BUT
I have found God's words do become action - everytime!
Each revelation has been cemented in experience.
Surely this is the only to way to get to know anyone!
Words are good, they can be very helpful and be brimming with truth but do they follow through with action? This is the question! Do they become reality?
Endless people have let me down in this area - seriously! And I believed them!
BUT
I have found God's words do become action - everytime!
Loving God
God sent His Son to die on the cross - (think and feel pain): nails, thorns, humiliation here - to pay the price for our sins(not His) - (think unselfishness, compassion and humility) - so that we can spend now and through into eternity in intimacy with Him.
It was all to reveal that He loves us!
And He continues drawing self-centered, distracted, frightened people towards Himself revealing His character, purposes and ways and manifesing Himself to us. In other words sometimes we will feel His presence and it will not only be an idea, a thought or longing.
When He comes to visit me in this way I usually cry! And I am not a crier! Perhaps He affects you differently?
He also delivers, protects and provides for us in our relationship with Him.
So how do we show Him we love Him?
How do you love God?
He tells us how in John 14:21 'He who has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and manifest Myself to him'.
Love = Obedience!
It was all to reveal that He loves us!
And He continues drawing self-centered, distracted, frightened people towards Himself revealing His character, purposes and ways and manifesing Himself to us. In other words sometimes we will feel His presence and it will not only be an idea, a thought or longing.
When He comes to visit me in this way I usually cry! And I am not a crier! Perhaps He affects you differently?
He also delivers, protects and provides for us in our relationship with Him.
So how do we show Him we love Him?
How do you love God?
He tells us how in John 14:21 'He who has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and manifest Myself to him'.
Love = Obedience!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Holy Spirit Detective
Being a Holy Spirit detective is not becoming God's policewoman checking up on others. It is not pretending to be the Holy Spirit and trying to make things happen. Instead it is being alert to the work of the Holy Spirit.
It would be sad to miss His work because I was too busy, distracted, bored or so wound up in my own life that's I couldn't recognize it.
How to stay alert?
I will continue my Bible reading - He often speaks this way and always confirms this way.
I will continue my Bible study, seeking greater spiritual revelation.
I will continue to pray and be in communication with God.
I will continue to listen, to meditate onwhat He is saying and to praise Him.
I will continue to enjoy His company.You do that with someone you love!
It would be sad to miss His work because I was too busy, distracted, bored or so wound up in my own life that's I couldn't recognize it.
How to stay alert?
I will continue my Bible reading - He often speaks this way and always confirms this way.
I will continue my Bible study, seeking greater spiritual revelation.
I will continue to pray and be in communication with God.
I will continue to listen, to meditate onwhat He is saying and to praise Him.
I will continue to enjoy His company.You do that with someone you love!
Watching God
As I wait I am watching to see what God will do next. Of course as I watch and wait I pray too and listen. But really now the initiative must come from God.
Once you have obeyed all you know that is all there is left.
What am I watching for? An interesting thought because as God treats us all so individually and as He rarely spoke in the same way twice in the Scriptures I cannot follow a formular. I suspect it will be a big surprise!
I will have to remain alert so I don't miss it. Eyes, ears and heart open in anticipatiion - becoming a Holy Spirit detective!!
Once you have obeyed all you know that is all there is left.
What am I watching for? An interesting thought because as God treats us all so individually and as He rarely spoke in the same way twice in the Scriptures I cannot follow a formular. I suspect it will be a big surprise!
I will have to remain alert so I don't miss it. Eyes, ears and heart open in anticipatiion - becoming a Holy Spirit detective!!
Relaxing in the wait!
When you have at least two books waiting to go.
When you have an unpublished manuscript award for one and co-publisher deals for both, that if you go ahead will cost you dearly.
When you are writing another book.
When you feel God is saying wait and everything in you was rebelling in impatience. It is such a wonder to come to that place where at last you can give it all up and relax.
The timing is not mine. It is God's.There is no known sin holding things back. I'm eager for a continuing and growing intimacy with God and so the timing must be attached to mysteries unseen by me.
It takes me a long time to relax. There is always that tension between taking things into my own hands and not doing enough. Yet everywhere in the Bible, when God speaks in His unique way to a person, that person alway knows it is God. And they know exactly what He is saying.
All instincts may rebel, feelings of inadequacy may storm your senses as they did Moses, or doubt as they did Gideon - yet you still will know.
I know.
And for me it is to wait and watch!
When you have an unpublished manuscript award for one and co-publisher deals for both, that if you go ahead will cost you dearly.
When you are writing another book.
When you feel God is saying wait and everything in you was rebelling in impatience. It is such a wonder to come to that place where at last you can give it all up and relax.
The timing is not mine. It is God's.There is no known sin holding things back. I'm eager for a continuing and growing intimacy with God and so the timing must be attached to mysteries unseen by me.
It takes me a long time to relax. There is always that tension between taking things into my own hands and not doing enough. Yet everywhere in the Bible, when God speaks in His unique way to a person, that person alway knows it is God. And they know exactly what He is saying.
All instincts may rebel, feelings of inadequacy may storm your senses as they did Moses, or doubt as they did Gideon - yet you still will know.
I know.
And for me it is to wait and watch!
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