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!

Always Within God's Radar

God is so BIG and yet it amazes me that so few people actually believe this - even Christians. Even me at times! We have our problems, our frustrations, our hopes and dreams and because God doesn't fix things right now, or even tomorrow, we begin to doubt. For some of us it take years for these feelings to actually come - but eventually they do - if we are honest. We wonder if God has perhaps gone to get take aways, or check His emails or maybe He's having a little nap listening to the latest angelic choir.

As I was walking along the beach yesterday I was tempted to let my thoughts wander down this path too. But fortunatly I didn't because I had just been reminded that I was still in His radar. It wasn't that He was answering any of my prayers that day but instead He was using me to warn another one of His daughters about something they needed to be wary of.

God's daughters are important to Him. He likes to protect us.

Gaining Inspiration

I have just returned from my fortnighly drive to a wonderful almost deserted beach not too far from my home. This is where I go to refresh myself and hear from God on a longer-than-normal basis. There is nothing like the ocean waves and huge open spaces that seem to drift away, falling over the horizon, to help me get in touch with the BIGNESS who GOD is.

Today again He revealed His immense grace and love for me and I have no trouble lapping it all up, asking for more, and thanking Him for His endless mercy.

How BIG is your God today?

The Perils of Publishing

I attended an interesting workshop last week all about the difficulties of being published, then being distributed - not to mention being bought before you are returned. And they didn't even menion the perils of actually writing in the first place.

Add to this the prospect that the p-book sadly seems to be diminishing and the e-book is on an expotential rise - and you have a sad state of affairs for all dreamy writers! We would far rather have our heads in the clouds, be tapping away at our computers or drinking hot chocolates in a cafe stirring our creative juices than worry about all this practical stuff. At least I would!

They also delved into the rewards of self-publishing balanced by the almost impossible refusal of distributors to act on behalf of individual authors. And the extra financial rewards of e-books with the lack of international law governing use and reuse.

Where does this leave us? I'm sitting on the edge of my hot chocolate bowl splashing my feet in the sweet warm liquid, watching the cinnamon swirl as I kick it and wondering whether to jump in! I wonder what God would say about all this?

Exiting Nothingness

It is only God who can draw us out of this place of 'Nothingness' legitimately. Of course we can take ourselves out at anytime, we can get tired and frustrated with it, we can doubt that God is even involved, we can think He has forgotten us but if we have truely committed ourselves and become disciples then we will wait for God's timing.

It may take a long time. This can be part of the 'long trail' of discipleship. It helps to always remember that God wastes nothing and we are here for a reason.

And the time does come. Moses didn't stay in the desert forever, Joseph didn't stay in prison forever and David didn't stay in his cave forever and even though all these men of faith could have moved sooner, they waited. So did Jesus - about thirty years before He started His obvious earthly ministry. I am sure He was being prepared all those years just as we are in this period of apparent 'Nothingness'.

So watch and wait and let God surprise you!

The 'Something' in 'Nothingness'

As I am sure you can imagine the discovery that with God every moment is a miracle is a wonderful gift that is hard to retain. I say 'hard to retain' because we are such ordinary creatures. How fickle we are! We like excitement, we like adventure and change and when we are in this state of 'Nothingness' little on the outside seems to actually change.

Of course few of us want to seek change for change's sake. Those who do tend to leap head first into disaster, but the sameness of 'ordinary' needs God's presence to transform it into the wonderful 'Something' I am talking about. And it needs to do it on a moment by moment basis to retain its wonder.

And God is able!

It is as we seek His face, as we retain Him in the centre of our focus that the extraordinary takes place.

The Irrelevencies of Nothingness

Because 'the moment' is the focus of this state of 'Nothingness' you soon discover there is a heightened sense of awareness that accompanies each moment. Your senses are on the alert. Each component of life becomes magnified in a healthy balanced way that celebrates the depth of being. Your eyes see with a new clarity, your ears hear with a new awareness. Each flower presents its beauty as a gift, each song as a serenade of praise - even the birds will praise Him.

As we dwell in this place we will discover that even the 'stones' will praise Him. God's character is magnified, His holiness seen with a new light, His righteousness adored, His grace received with new appreciation and His love embraced with a new fervor.

Drink in the moment. Fill your spirit with the glory of who God is and come to know Him more.

Inside 'Nothingness'

As being in a place of 'Nothingness' in God is actually being in Him what does this mean? I believe it means being in the centre of His will - right where He wants you. In other words you are there because He wants you there - so there is no need to feel frustrated, irritated or confused.

Yet this place of 'Nothingness' is not nothing in the usual sense of the word. You are not bored or feeling helpless or hopeless instead there is a heightened sense of awareness. And this awareness is associated with God and also with where He has placed you.

There is nowhere that excludes God's presence. Even King David said, 'If I make my bed in hell,behold, You are there.' (Ps 139:8)

Sitting in the Space

In my book 'Kick Addiction' I titled a chapter 'Sitting in the Space'. I have had more comments about this chapter than any other.

'Sitting in the Space' is that space we often feel after temptation - when we have finally resisted our temptation - and expect, at the very least, some sort of reward even if it is just praise. We want the angels to sing, the violins to play, so we can hear them! And yet what we so often get is - Space. It is a type of the 'Nothingness' I wish to explore. But only a type.

As we continue to 'Sit in the Space' and keep resisting the temptation to walk away, to make something happen, to turn to one of our idols for sad comfort God will eventually, in His time, reveal Himself in a new way.

This process is a surprising gift. It builds our faith, stretches us and forces us to grow toward Him. Ofcourse we can resist and turn away at any time because we always retain our right to use our will as we choose. But if we are a disciple of Jesus Christ, more than simply a believer or even a follower, then we will have given up our right to ourselves and we will persevere. And we will wait in this pregnant space to see what God will do.

Nothingness

How strange it is. I have only just discovered how to find out how many people have been visitng my blog. There were far more than I ever imagined. But I didn't know and I felt as though I was just speaking to myself all the time. And I guess because I stopped being active you have all dropped off. I mean why would you look if there was nothing more to look at!

Anyway now I know so I hope you all come back and visit again and this time I will keep on going. This is the problem when you are not so computer literate but I am learning and isn't this what life is all about. How exciting that we can continue to learn not only about our world but even better - about our God.

Recently God has been speaking to me about 'Nothingness' and over the next few blogs I would like to share a little of what I am learning. Today I will just start with a quote from Oswald Chambers in his book 'Not Knowing Where'. I so love Oswald Chambers' work. He is my mentor.

This is what he writes, 'When God puts the dark of 'nothing' into our experience, it is the most positive something He can give us. If we do anything at this point it is sure to be wrong. We have to remain in the centre of nothing and say 'Thank you' for it. When God gives us nothing it is because we are inside Him, and by determining to do something we put ourselves outside Him. This is a great lesson that few of us seem to learn.' (Oswald Chambers 'No Knowing Where' Discovery House 1957,1989 p83-84)

Think about this.

Here is a real miracle. This wonderful man, Clinton, helped set up technical equipment for the women's groups we run on Tuesday mornings until he became ill. The following message was placed on Facebook by his wife.

'3 days ago my husband had a medical procedure done that proved he had a 50% chance of loosing his entire colon. He was admitted into hospital to undergo a series of tests & medication in the hope that it would calm the ulcers that spread throughout his colon all the way up to his oesophagus, 'ulcerative colitis' a disease that has... no known cause or cure... through the anointed ministry of (a man of God) who prayed for Clinton via a telephone call, Clinton experienced a warm sensation as the
healing power of God moved from his throat all the way down into his colon, restoring, perfecting, disintegrating ulcers in the name of Jesus!!
Today, all drips have been removed, tests revealed that not only did the ulcers calm down they've gone back to their place of origin which is the pit of hell! never to return again in the name of Jesus!!!! Clinton is HEALED!!! and will be coming home tomorrow... Our God is Elohim!, He is EL Shaddai!, He is the great I AM!!! The prayer of the righteous.

Our God - forever surprising!

Television Interview

Today I was interviewed on Word For Today to appear on Shine Television. We sat in my garden around the outdoor table and had just begun filming when the rain decided to anoint us. Rushing inside we waited enjoying hot drinks and hazelnut slice made by my daughter.

Soon it stopped and after drying the chairs we began again. This time succeeding. The topic was my divorce and subsequent recovery. It was great to recall how God has been my everything over these years. Helping me raise my children in the way He wants them to go, providing finances for training and on going living, being my Companion, my Friend, my Husband. Giving me wisdom and understanding. Being my Comforter, my Reality and bringing me out into a place of healing, freedom and joy.

God never ceases to amaze me.

Further Depth and Progress in Mission

It is exciting to hear back from the Uganda church where the next box of KNOW GOD MORE books are heading. They are going to use the books in their discipleship programme called '360 degrees'. I believe it is open to anyone, including participants from all over the world - so the benefits, the growth in faith in God's majesty and power, will travel out over the globe.

Initially I was tempted to send an email suggesting they use the books only for Ugandian people but the Holy Spirit seems to have other ideas and made it clear to me not to do this.

The extent of God's plan is so often veiled from us.

May God's will be done

Surprising Results from the Book Fair

The Book Fair is over and when all the proceeds were added up - guess what! We were only 90 cents short of our goal of $1664.00. As I walked out of the bank marvelling at God's perfection I reach into my pocket and pulled out - guess what? A one dollar coin.

When I told the other two girls seperately, who had also helped organize the event, they also offered to pay the last 90 cents. And when one of them told one other women from our morning group - guess what? She pressed one dollar into my friend's hand.

God is never short of a dollar or two - or four!!

When God wants something done - He provides for it.

Our next goal is sending a box of books to Uganga! Do you want to help?

Reflections on the beach

A kindred spirit walking on the edge of the waves,
leaping the streams returning to their source,
listening to the soul melody of the waves soothing her heart's desire,
sinking into the rhythm of her Maker.
This is the place of life.
At one with my Creator,
walking in unison, in thought, in will, in love.
Listening to His thoughts as they caress my mind
infiltrating my heart.
I dwell on them, meditate, reflect,
cleanse my own prejudices, foibiles and desires
till I can hold them up pure in His piercing light.
To see His face relected in them.
How clean are they really in His eyes?
Probably filthy like the rags I used to wear
but in my eyes they are bright and shining clean.
Holy Spirit show me where I err
for without Your beam of truth
my heart is sadly decieved
even by my own whiteness.

God's goodness

After a few months of renovations in my new home I am finally starting to get organized. The thing I am astounded with is that so far I have not made any major mistakes. Even the new colour of the walls is just what I wanted. Most of them were too yellow, too grey too something but the one I finally chose is just right in the day and in the night light in front of my fireplace. It looks like melted white marshmellows. God is good. How wonderful it is to know this is all God's amazing provision.

I am a daughter of the King and He is looking after me with such care and love - just as He is for you. I am an heir to all He has in His kingdom and He is sharing some of it with me. He supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory - just as He is with you. I so love that it is according to His riches and not mine. And He really is supplying me. I feel very blessed at the moment in spite of all the normal things that go wrong in life. Just those usual and occassional things that interrupt. For example thieves have helped themselves twice to stuff in my garage and car since I have been here. They even tidily removed my car CD player and all my music! Well I hope they are blessed by them! They are not going to ruin my blessedness. They cannot take away my inheritance in Christ or anything else of real value.

New Vision

God just seems to continually open one door after another. Firstly, usually in my mind. Perhaps this is the main obstacle!!! Then He opens doors out in my environment - ones I may never have thought of before, or ones I hadn't thought were possible - and as I go through there just seems to be more and bigger open spaces.

I get the feeling this will just keep on happening more and more in my life until I finally step over the stream into His kingdom forever. It may seem like a river right now, but as I get closer to the end and closer and closer to God in the meantime, I believe it will just feel like a trickle of a stream when I finally close my eyes to earth forever. I will just be able to step over. Of course I am walking in His kingdom now too! But the reality will be clearer, everything will be clearer and all my questions will be answered - perhaps there will just be no need for any.

So the book fair is this weekend - to raise money to send Books to Missions and two boxes are already on their travels to PNG where they are going to students at a Bible College there. Each student will receive two copies. One for them and one to take back to their place of ministry back in the jungle or on the coast or in the mountains, wherever they are going to be, to give to a fellow worker there. 'Know God More' is all about building faith and my hope is that the book will strengthen them and deepen their love for and trust in God.

WOW! God is so surprising!!!

Since spending lots of time with God during the Christmas holidays it has been on my heart to help get my new book KNOW GOD MORE out into the mission fields.

I gained confirmation when my youngest daughter came home from Uganda after looking after baby orphans for 5 weeks. She had attended a church while there and almost the first thing she said when we were still at the airport was 'Gosh Mum, they really need your book KNOW GOD MORE over there.'

I grinned. I felt so excited 'I know!' I said, 'God has been speaking to me about this.'

When I mentioned it at a leaders meeting for our women's group three other women wanted to become involved. And so now we are about to launch 'Books for Missions' (if we end up calling it this! If you have a better idea let me know!) And we will raise money to send KNOW GOD MORE books to English speaking missions. Perhaps you would like to join us.
You can donate books through my website annelaidlawministries.com . Just label it carefully so I know this is what it is for - otherwise you will receive it in the post!

God is so exciting!

Kick Addiction

Perhaps it's time to introduce my books and explain why I wrote them.

Kick Addiction came about after the work I had done with a client who had a severe addiction. Her addictive behaviours had lasted over ten years and they were destroying her life. She had been to psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and tried government agencies, but nothing had worked. She rang and asked me if there was any hope. I knew in God there was, and so I said yes. The book is the result of the work we did together over a year. She is now totally free.

I soon realized the insights God gave us that resulted in dramatic changes in her life could be translated into other lives too. Hence the book! We’ve used Kick Addiction now in courses in Auckland for five years and it has changed many more people’s lives. God is so faithful.

New Understanding

While I was away on holiday soaking up the sun, sights and silence at Taupo God reminded me of a Scripture He had given me a few years ago to define what He wants me to do. It is in John 21 when Jesus is restoring Peter and giving him his ministry. After asking Peter three times if he loves Him, Jesus says 'Feed My lambs...Tend My sheep...Feed My sheep'. Hence my books 'Know God More' and 'Kick Addiction' and the ones I have written waiting to be published. I am answering my call to feed His sheep and I have also tended them for years through my counselling practice and 'Kick Addiction' courses to help people become free.

But now God was saying something new. Something I had not thought of before. He asked me 'Who are My lambs?'

Prior to this, for six months last year I had worked part-time as a counsellor at a Counselling Centre with mainly non-Christian clients and I had been amazed by the lack of basic wisdom within their lives. I was starting to see the need of writing a book for the secular market but somehow could not reconcile this with my calling.

God's question changed all this.
Who are His lambs? They are those people who are going to be His sheep. They just don't know it yet!! His lambs need to know more about His ways so when they are called to be His sheep they can hear His voice.

Once again God has surprised me!

Tomorrow I go away on holiday. I need God to come with me. Of course I know He will because He is everywhere, but I need to know He is with me. I am hoping He will surprise me again with His presence in some tangible way as He does sometimes. It is usually when I least expect it, or am just praying and talking to Him as usual, or even praying about a problem or question I have and suddenly He seems to open the windows of my spirit and suddenly I can see and understand and know what I need to know.

I have learnt at these times that I have to write down what I discover as otherwise I will forget.

New Beginnings

At last a New Year has budded full of new opportunities, hopes and dreams. And it's time to put some things from last year to rest, and leave them there! I am leaving behind my old home where I lived and brought up my three children for 21 years. I was pregnant with my third child when we bought the house and celebrated her 21st birthday with over a hundred guests just before we left. My two eldest children are now married and so I have moved on with only my youngest daughter. Doesn't life change!

But the new is good and God's grace shines through every day and in so many ways. My new house is only ten minuets walk from the beach! It faces the sun all day long and has a lovely tree-filled outlook from almost every room. It is small - less to clean and it has a wonderful relaxed feel to it. I am already filling it up with prayer. Of course I know God found this house for me. He had already been here preparing it for me. I feel His presence. He knows what He is doing. And this morning as I lay in bed - it's Saturday - I asked Him to open the windows of my spirit and soul to hear and understand His thoughts. Only then can I know His will. And He is speaking! What is He saying to you?

Adventures with God

Welcome to my new blog.I have never done this before so you are in on this new adventure with me! I love new adventures. And life with God just seems to be a continual one.

Almost every day He surprises me with who He is and what He does and how He works within me and within those around me. Sometimes I get frustrated because He doesn't seem to work fast enough - so I think! But then - as I learn to wait He often slowly reveals why. I love it when He does this.