A Place For You!

I saw a child happily skipping along a straight road. When asked why it was on it's own, yet so happy, the reply was " I'm on my way home and nearer than when I started. I am not afraid because my Father has just been along this way and made it safe for me".
Everything in our lives, things that happen to us, choices we make, all prepare us for Eternity. Even the bad things He can turn and use for good. We can go along with a happy heart in God's Way, or we can struggle and trudge along our own way. Every day that passes brings us nearer to our heavenly home. Our Father is waiting for us with a welcome beyond our dreaming. Even if the clouds are dark and dreary around us, we can have a warmth in our hearts knowing we are on our way home.
I was fortunate to have a mother that loved her children. When I ran home from school each day, she was always there with hot tea for me. I felt welcomed, warm and loved. At Christmas time we had presents waiting in their bright paper to be unwrapped. It was only Birthdays and Christmas that brought gifts. There was nothing else for children throughout the year, not like today! We always had an apple and an orange in our stockings and relished eating them at midnight, when we were supposed to be asleep!
But Oh! my heart was so warm at the thought of surprises at Christmastime. Often I would have a new dress that my mother had made. Wearing it gave me a sense of belonging and pride. Mother had made it 'for me'!
A whole new world is waiting for us. Heaven is a place prepared for you. There are lovely surprises planned by our Father for each loved child. There is a welcome beyond words, beyond any good thing experienced on this earth. There are no more bad things, no more sorrow or pain or sickness. No more loneliness or rejection or hatred. Just Perfect LOVE.
'I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut through bars of iron'. Isaiah 45:2

The Next Step!

'Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip,"Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunoch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians." Acts 8:26,27.
Don't look for great opportunities when the one that God wants you to take is just the next step that comes your way. The nearest opportunity is often the one that leads to something wonderful. Use your common sense and step forward into the obvious. The angel was just a messenger. He did not have wings! look out for God speaking to you through each day in ordinary ways. Don't miss the messenger!
Philip could have procrastinated and said "Why go into the desert, there is nothing and no one there." BUT he just happened to see the most important man, after the queen, in Ethiopia. And so the Gospel was preached, the man was saved and baptized, and he took the good news back with him to Ethiopia. This one man was more imortant to God, on that day, than ten thousand men!

That I May Know Him.

Dwelling on past failures or missed opportunities will not help your progress. Thoughts of 'if only', and 'why did it happen' or 'things could have been different' just keep you bound to an earthly level. Rise higher in your thinking! God can turn everything to profit as you yield to His word today. There are weights upon you that you need to release and lay at Jesus feet. You cannot change the past, but your attitudes can determine the future. Paul says from experience that he had to forget those things which were behind him and press on Philip 3:13. He could have lived in the morbid thoughts of how many believers he had killed and persecuted before he met Jesus. He could have thought about all those who forsook him; the awful stonings; the shipwrecks; the hunger and cold; the prison. So many dreaded things! But he knew that the mature let all these things go and press forward to the prize of the high calling v 14-15. As you look towards the sun the shadows fall behind! let us look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He is trustworthy!
'I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead'. Philip 3:10-11

Quietly Wait!

An important part of the Christian life is receiving instructions from God. We have the Bible to teach us, but also we need that word to come direct from the Lord in our particular need or circumstances. It has to be living and vital for each day. We can count on God to teach us His way, and show us His path in special difficulties or times of perplexity. Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice. And there is nothing more wonderful than when He speaks into the heart with a direct word of instruction, encouragement, and enlightenment.
There is something He wants to say especially for you! Not for others, but for YOU in your circumstances and life. He is so interested in your life and longs to communicate His purposes to you. But you need to wait quietly before God, in your times of prayer, in your heart as you go about your daily tasks. Show God that you are 'waiting' to hear what He has to say to you. He WILL speak, when you are ready to hear.
"Show me thy ways, O Lord; Teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: For thou art the God of my salvation: On thee do I wait all the day" Psalm 25:4,5

Day By Day!

We do not understand what God is doing in our lives and sometimes it makes us feel that He is doing nothing! But He is at work, little by little. He says "I will put My laws (My will) into your heart and write it in your minds. I will make you understand all that is needful to settle all the questions that need to be settled. As time passes and the days follow on, and the years roll by, and you see no settled future, I am present to unfold it all, bit by bit. You will understand, today, tomorrow, and the next day. Accept what I bring to you each day. Live in the moment for I AM NOW! leave the future in My hands and don't fret about unseen happenings along the way. Often they just fade away as each day unfolds to you. Worrying about what might happen weakens your faith. Quietly trust and praise. I am your strength for today and all you need for tomorrow".
He will not unfold ALL the future at the present time, because it will throw you into distraction by the flood of thoughts. It would make your brain reel, you would be overwhelmed, and your life would crumble under the pressure. He will come and speak little by little, just as you can bear it, just as you need it, day by day.
Jesus said,"What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this". John 13:7

God Of Miracles!

When the angel came to Mary and announced that she was highly favoured by God and would give birth to Jesus, she was 'greatly troubled.' She wondered, and replied "how will this be?" because she was a virgin. It is easy to look at the 'how' when God speaks to us, either through our convictions, or through His word, or through His servants. It was a natural question that Mary needed answered, and she got her answer to it.
The angel said that "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." That is how God does His works. And all we need to do is submit to His word, believe what He says to us, and receive the Holy Spirit. The angel told her that nothing is impossible with God. And she believed it!
We could think that if an angel came and spoke to us concerning God's will for our lives, then we would know it was true and then believe! But we are in the Church era, where we walk by faith, not by sight. Maybe He will send an angel, but more likely He is asking us to trust His word, and believe it. Even Mary had to surrender to the word of God for her. She said " may it be as you have said". Her hearts attitude was one of submission, and she said "yes" to what God was asking of her. God did the work, He performed His will in her life, she just had to accept it.
'Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished'. Luke 1:45

Give It Your Best!

Don't sink into complacency. You are just about to realise the results of months and years of prayer. So give that small extra push to your faith. Whilst you have been waiting things have been prepared for you to walk into. Opportunities will soon occur that will need your active involvement. So take them and resist the tendancy to spirititual slumber. Give it your best!
This is not a time to 'wait and see' because these opportunities will not present themselves again in your life. Do not be fearful, for I am with you to support your endeavours and to give you just what you need at the right time. You have given me the control of your life, so I am taking control, says the Lord, and you will surely see it in wonderful ways. There will be no doubt that I am with you.
'Arise from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you-rise to a new life! Shine, be radiant with the glory of the Lord, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!' Isaiah 60:1 (amp)

Promotion.

What you have passed through has been working for your good. In fact it is the answer to your prayer that you may know Me more. I know it was hard for you, but it was the best way to answer your prayer. Do you think that you know Me better? Was not your darkness just My presence in a new way? The clouds were heavy and dark, but they are bringing the rain that your parched soul needs. I was there through it all. I have never left you or forsaken you. Don't you feel stronger in faith? Cleaner and purer in your thoughts, and lighter in your spirit. I have drawn very near to you, because you were desperate for Me. You cast aside all outward comfort, no one could help your anguish of mind and soul. But I have kept you. In the fiery furnace I loosed your bonds. Bonds that have held you captive for many years. As you emerge from this dark season, you will experience a great freedom. When I call you , you will run to me. When I send you, there will be no doubt, no questioning. Your youth shall be renewed like the eagles, you will run with Me and not grow weary, and you will walk with Me and not faint. We shall walk together in a new way and the coming years will be your best! Now the rains of blessing come forth. Gentle at first, then stronger, then a mighty outpouring. We have much ground to cover and much to accomplish for the kingdom.
'Nebuchadnezzer said "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods"................They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed: their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them..............Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego' Read: Dan 3:13-30

Now Is The Time!

Things are about to change. You will start this happening through switching your prayer and petition to PRAISE. Change happens from within. It has to start there before any visible sign manifests!
You have stored up requests in heaven for many days, weeks, months and years. Now is the time for you to unlock them, and you will see visible release as you continue to PRAISE God that the answers are on the way, that your petitions are already answered, that the waiting time is over. Now is the time to see the fruition of your requests. Even the hard, impossible things, are now being answered as you start to PRAISE Him that His hand is now upon you. No longer will the heavens be as brass!
This PRAISE is like the rain from heaven that waters the dry ground and brings forth the new already seeded. It has to come in its right time.
There had to be the hard, barren years, the tears, the groaning, and the yearning for fruitfulness. It was the hand of the Lord. Hannah was distressed because the Lord had shut up her womb 1 Sam 1:6, her adversary provoked her sorely, she fretted and was unhappy within. She wept and did not eat. She was like Rachel who was not bearing any children for Jacob "Give me children or I die" she cried Gen 30:1.
But one day, Hannah's grief was turned to Joy! She bore the son that brought in a change to the nation of Israel. The long years of barrenness were preparing her to receive the blessing and give the child up to the Lord. She would never have let him go if she had not poured out her soul to the Lord for the gift.
Now is the time to effect that change! Now is the time for you to move into the new season. The key is your PRAISE that will prophetically work the change through your spoken words. Had you done this before it would not have been productive. The timing is crucial. Now is the time!!
'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him' 1 Sam 1:17

Something Is About To Happen!

Elijah was exhausted, downhearted, despairing and he wanted to die. He could not see any point in going on. He had confronted the prophets of Baal at Mt Carmel, struggled with Ahab and the drought situation, moved from here to there, and crossed Jezebel. He was finished, that is according to his mind!
So he hid in fear of his life and leaving his servant at Beershaba, went a day's journey into the wilderness to lay down and die. He must have despised himself for being afraid of Jezebel, when he had the courage to confront the prophets of Baal. He just wanted to give up and die. After all, how could God use such a coward anymore! Read 1 Kings 19:1-21.
He lay asleep under a Broom tree, hiding in it's shade and overshadowed by it's white blossoms. No one would trouble him there, and he fell asleep to the gentle humming of the bees. But God would not leave him alone, He had other plans for Elijah. He knew exactly where he was, how he felt, and provided a deliverance for him.
An Angel woke him up, then told him what to do "arise and eat" 19:5. After having eaten Elijah lay down to sleep again! So the Angel of the Lord came a second time and tells Elijah to eat again because the journey he was to embark on was too great for him. Something supernatural happened because Elijah journeyed forty days and nights in the strength of that food.
Be encouraged! God knows where you are at and has planned provision for you. He is not giving up on you. It is not the end of your journey! Something supernatural is about to happen that will take you on, lead you to a new encounter with God, and issue you with a new call!
'For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do' Eph 2:10

Remain Firm!

Much of life is a test of endurance. And to do that we need patience to pass through the difficult patches we encounter. How lovely it would be just to sail through life without problems!! That is what most people want. But an easy path does not make for godly character. To endure means: to harden: to remain firm under: to bear without sinking: to tolerate: to last.
Children always want things now! They have to learn the art of waiting. No one is born with patience, it has to be developed, and it is not easy.
When you read about the life of the early apostles you see that they encountered many hardships but were able to testify that God brought them through it all. Christians seem to want all the miracles, signs, wonders, blessings, without the work of the cross in their lives, without them having to work out their own salvation Phillip 2:12. Just because we read it in the Bible it does not mean that we can do what they did! The life of Christ has to be manifest in us before it works through us. We are not Jesus, or Paul, but we are becoming like them through a process of endurance.
Sometimes God does a miracle to proclaim His name and power. But often we have to pray through our situations, and difficulties, and pray through, and keep praying through!! Our flesh wants to 'enjoy' but God is calling us to 'endure'. As we pray through, we are changed. God works a miracle of grace in us that could not be achieved in any other way. Remember! He is making us like Him! So be encouraged, you will not always pass through this night, the morning will come. The answer will come, deliverance will be yours, just make up your mind to patiently endure until that happens.
'Behold we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen what God finally brought about; the Lord is full of compassion, and tender mercy'. James 5:11

God's Measure

Naaman was an important man. His name means 'pleasantness'. He was in favour with the king of Syria and was the commander of the army. Everyone respected him. But he was a leper. On one of the raids into Israel they captured a little servant girl, who became a maid to the Queen. She is not named in the Bible, but must have been well liked, and also liked Naaman. In passing she mentions that there was aprophet in Israel who could heal Naaman of his leprousy. The king gets to hear of it. Amazing how a snippet of news can travel to the right ears, isn't it? And without any requests from Naaman himself, a letter is written to the king of Israel, with gifts for him. So off he goes, to meet with the important dignitaries the country. Almighty God can pull a few strings when needed!
Naaman did not like it when Elisha sent his servant with instructions telling him to go to the River Jordan and wash in it seven times. Naaman expected some great happening with the Prophet calling on the name of the Lord and waving his hand over the leprousy. What he really wanted was some great display of magic! Not to be told to dip in the muddy Jordan. But he had good servants who told him that he should do what the prophet said. So he went to the Jordon and dipped in it seven times as instructed 2 Kings 5:13. No more, no less! And he was made clean.
It is so easy to think that God would have us do some great thing to accomplish the purpose at hand. However, He is looking for humble hearts that will obey. He often calls us to do things we don't want to do, or be with people we secretely despise, as a test of our willingness. God does not measure in small or great, He just measures in our obedience. Obedience can open a wide door! What are you putting off doing because it seems so small and insignificant?
'Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.' 1 Peter 5:5,6

A New Start.

Each day is God's opportunity to prove Himself faithful. And each day is our opportunity to prove our willingness to continue along the pathway of faith leading to eternal life. The only thing He asks of us is our love and obedience. It is best to keep short accounts with God, because any unbelief, sinfulness on our part blocks the relationship until we put it right. He is HOLY and has made a way for us to be holy too, each day, aswe avail ourselves of His shed blood.
We have a conscience that sharpens as we grow in our relationship with Him. We find that any slight failure on our part shows up clearly in His Light. Holding a grudge, proud attitudes, unforgiveness, unkindness, quarrelling, all need to be regularly dealt with. Come to Jesus today. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal where you have gone wrong. Even one little fly can spoil the ointment! Often it is little things that marr our fellowship with God and others. If you are 'out of sorts' feeling disgruntled over something, deal with it and let it go. You can start over again with a clean sheet. He does not hold anything against you. Say sorry and ask Him to help you to do better, and you will feel His nearness again.
' If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness' 1 John 1;7-9

Pushed To The Limit?

I saw a picture of someone caught in a whirlpool surrounded by rocks. The water was up to their neck and they could not get out. They were continually being dragged down. Their emotions were in turmoil and their strength was gone. They felt that there was no way out and the end was about to come upon them. Suddenly from seeming nowhere fresh water flowed under them and the tide began to rise, as the water rose so the person rose with it. Soon the rocks could not be seen, they were deep under the current. And as the current flowed it took them with it.
When we feel pushed to the limit God has ways of rescuing us. When all seems lost and there is no turning back, endless Grace steps in. Nothing will stop His purposes from being fulfilled in our lives as we yield to Him. There is a fresh supply of Grace on its way. There is no end to His sufficiency. You might feel like a little fish swimming in the ocean, and saying to itself "I've come to the end of my resources I can't swim anymore because there is not enough water!" when there is the whole ocean. You cannot reach the end of God's Grace, because there is more and more and more, and to discover the more, you have to need it!
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness' 2 Corinth 12:9

Call To Me!

I have many things to share with you about My Love and the Eternal Kingdom, that you are a vital part of. Do not think that I have forgotten to include you in My plans. Everything is being made ready and I am preparing you also. You are not insignificant, or cast aside. Wait and look for My revealing. Seek out these truths.Walking with Me is an adventure and the things that I share with you are unsearchable with the natural eye. Silence yourself and listen to the still small voice. Just as two friends share secrets and the pleasure of conversation, so I share with you. I love to hear your requests and have not forgotten even one. The very hairs on your head are numbered, so how can I forget more important things! Off load your cares onto Me. I will carry them and give you freedom from the burden. Trials are allowed in your life to show forth My power and might within you. How else would you know that I am the Lord if you do not experience my deliverance and upholding power? You actually have to pass through life, not watch a video of it! The treasures of hidden places become yours as you passage through this earthly life, and you have them stored in heaven for you to claim when you arrive. You receive a down payment now as you deposit your life, bit by bit, day by day, into my bank. The full payment, with interest, is waiting for you!
' Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know'
Jer 33:3

He Is Able!

He is able to meet your need. He is able to change your circumstances. He is able to heal and save. He is able to deliver. He is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work 2 Corinth 9:8. Praise Him continually that He is ABLE, and WILL do through you what is needed. He desires to pour through you to others.
But remember this:Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 9:6.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. 2 Corinth 9:10,11. Don't store seed just for yourself. Sow generously, sow with a cheerful heart. GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU! OVERFLOW IN EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD. HE IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARDS YOU

Feed On Me

Those that come to me I will not turn away empty. There will always be the power, help, and the comfort that you need. Just make sure that you still your heart and listen to my whispers of love. My motives towards you are always kind, and I never drive or force you in any way. Yours is always a free will choice and there is no fear attached to my commands. Perfect Love has come and cast out fear. In your relationship with Me, in the new covenant I have made in My blood, there is no room for fear. All is LOVE. You can approach Me at any time, I am always waiting for you, and open to your pleas. You have afriend in me. I will support you and help you to stand when your heart and flesh fail. They will fail! But I never fail! I will not fail you or forsake you.
Fill your hungry soul with My word and through it you will be strengthened for each step of your journey. Feed on Me. There is more for you to have, much more. You will not be disappointed. If you feed continually on Me you shall live because of Me. You will possess eternal life now, and forever.
'I Am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world' Jn 6:51