Learn Of Me.

Every child of God experiences at one time or another His discipline. When we are saved we then enter into the plans the Father has for us. To fulfil those plans we need to be trained and disciplined. Just like a child needs the example, teaching and training of parents, school, and family. In the Holy Spirit's School we are taught to perfection! Every trial, test, and affliction can bring us into the place of surrender and humility as we become more like Jesus. Because the purpose of this training is that we will be 'like Him', and our lives will shine in the world as a light, just as He is the Light of the world.
There is no other way for us to become like Him. We have to go through many waters, but are not overwhelmed; through the fires of testing, but are not burned; through darkness, but are not stopped; through disasters, but are not killed. In prison, but delivered! sick, but healed! Yes, we pass through many trials on this earth as we make our way to heaven. And at the time they are not pleasant. We wonder why a loving God can let us experience these things; we sometimes lose hope, and feel that He has forgotten us; we wonder what we have done wrong, if we have brought this upon ourselves, or if we have strayed away.
But it is all for a purpose! Take heart. Lift up your feeble hands and rejoice! God is dealing with the flaws in your character. He is making a vessel of honour out of you. You will see the harvest and reap it. This time is not in vain.
'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however,it produces a harvest of righteousness asnd peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees'. Heb 12:11,12.

Only Believe!

Two blind men followed Jesus. In the hustle and bustle of the crowd they kept calling out "Have mercy on us Son of David!" They kept following and kept calling. They were determined to get an answer. Jesus went into a house and the blind men went in after Him. They came up to Jesus and He asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?". "Yes, Lord," they replied. So He touched their eyes and said, "Acording to your faith will it be done to you", and their sight was restored. Matt 9:27-30.
The question today is "Do you believe I am able to do what you ask?". What is your answer? can you simply say "Yes Lord".
'Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday and today and forever' Heb 13:8

You Can Begin Again!

You can get up! Everything is not over. There is a supply that you have not yet tapped into. There is a river flowing for you to drink from. A new fountain! you have not experienced the fulness of this supply before. It is ready for you to receive. Reach out to Me.
Drink from this supply. New waves of grace are falling upon your life. Do not look behind you. Lift up your eyes and gaze into My suffiency. Do you think that I am unable to meet your need? The things that I am asking of you are totally beyond your understanding or strength. That is my purpose. Have I not said that I will reveal myself to you in a new way? have you not asked to know Me, and partake of My power and great Love? For this to happen you have to be willing to lose yourself, lose your ideas, lose your ways, and come into My purposes for you.
You think it is all too hard? too much for you; too demanding, and you are unable to fulfill? but this is exactly the place I want you to be in! This is where I have brought you to. An end of yourself. Now you will see the riches of My supply. Multitudes have walked this way before you and found me sufficient and faithful. Now it is your turn! now you will see what I will do!
Begin again! be free again! You can! Rise up!

'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Matt16:25,26.

Start Preparing!

Nothing is accomplished as if by magic! Things have to be planned for, prepared for, and activated. A musician has to practice and prepare for the recital. An athelete  builds his body and strength for the race. A soldier goes into training before his orders are sent.
Anticipate. Expect my plans for future work to be revealed to you. Respond with diligence and willingness to pass through the training needed to get you to the place where you will accomplish new things for Me.
This new season will demand a deeper commitment than you have ever known. Do you want that? and are you willing to prepare, step by step?
Do not give in to the lies of the enemy that you best days are past. No! your greatest days are to come, says the Lord!
Put yourself in the position to receive. to receive new vision, new strength, new plans, new power, and a new mission! For I am preparing you for war. I am preparing you to be promoted to a new position. Therefore prepare yourself for this position. I will send the help you need and the encouragement. I am asking you to do what you cannot do in your own flesh, so that you will discover my power and strength in new way. You will be stretched, enlarged, and empowered. Do not fear! have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace Eph 6:15

'David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence, and fame and splendour in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparation for it." So David made extensive preparations before his death'.
1 Chron 22:5

Keep Praying!

It is exciting to see answers to prayer! It makes us realise that God is alive, interested in our pleas, and able to keep His promises. In fact, prayer is vital. Sometimes the answers come in surprising ways. Other times the answers come softly and slowly. But one thing is sure, praying for others involves compassion, and self abasement. It can be hard work praying for other people day by day when we don't get any feedback, or even thanks. But when we do pray we join Jesus in His great high priestly ministry of intercession. To know the power of His resurrection we have to enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. And we can do that through prayer. One day we will see the result of our sacrificial prayer and be amazed! Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, you can pray. And prayer does change things. Someone has said that prayer is the Christian's vital breath. Jesus brought all His petitions to His father. He spent nights on the mountainside because His work in the day was dependant on His life of prayer. His life was one long prayer poured out to God for the world and those around Him. True prayer brings 'action', it calls forth the power of God upon the earth and into the lives of those we pray for. Through prayer we become the answer to others. We become His heart, His hands and His feet, that others might find Life. Through prayer we become Jesus on this earth giving ourselves that others might see what God is like.
'And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends' Job42:10

Do Not Stray!

It is wise to keep close to Me during this season. Do not stray! I know the hidden dangers of allowing your comittment and love to grow luke warm, even cold. You are living in difficult times where the love of many is growing cold. Where the truths of the Kingdom are becoming watered down by men. Even Christians are not taking the signs seriously. You are only safe as you abide in Me. Keep the oil in your lamps, and the wick sharp. Pray always in the spirit, by the Spirit. Let Me fill your spirit as you sit before Me. The evil of unbelief, slackness, and lethargy, prey upon the lukewarm believers. You think it does not matter! But I way that it does matter. You will have to pay a price, one way or the other. The price of seeking Me, waiting on Me, receiving revelation from Me, is solitude, aloneness, and the world passing you by. The price for laziness, and slackness in spiritual things is missing your destiny, no fellowship with me, and you will come out of My protection. Be aware that you are either moving forward or slipping back.

'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' Phillip 2:12

Surrender Again Today!

Give God ALL your worries. Because He cares about you. Carrying them around with you will wear you out. It is like taking huge amounts of luggage,hoisting them on your shoulders, stretching your arms around them, and making such slow progress! You were not made to carry all that burden.
The Bible speaks about 'casting' our care on the Lord. It is like a fisherman with a rod flinging the line high and purposefully into the deep. Fling everthing on the Lord, deliberately, decisively, desperately! in an act of abandonment and surrender. Don't hold back anything. Give it all to God as soon as you feel concerned, heavy, even depressed..
In that way you are humbling yourself before the Lord. You are saying 'I can't manage this thing, but YOU can'.You are handing over the control, and He will take the strain. Surrender yourself again today. He will not let you down. If you continue to hold onto it you will be saying that you are better than Him at managing your affairs, that He can't cope with it, and that amounts to pride.
'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you' 1Pet 5:7.

A Large Place!

You are moving in the right direction. Step by step; little by little you are gaining ground. You are growing, though you cannot see it! Do you perceive a flower bud opening? or a tree gaining height? Can you observe a child developing? Don't you just say 'my! you have grown', but cannot actually see the growth happening moment by moment. But I see your growth as it happens. I see you develop and mature for you are ever before Me. And I am pleased with your development.
I take pleasure in watching you learn new ways. For my thoughts are not like yours, and when you come into a new understanding of Me I am so pleased. It means that we can commune together, share together, in greater friendship and understanding.
I am watching as you enter a new place, a larger place, even as you have asked Me. That large place is Me, where you are in freedom to love as I love. Where you can abide with Me without fear. I will show you many new things that will cause you to wonder in amazement, like a child open-eyed in delight. I only have good things for you, so keep moving forward in trust. Soon you will see what has been accomplished in your life through this testing time. And you will rejoice!

' He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me' Ps 18:19

Choose!!

Do not keep thinking about things in the past. If you do you will give them power over you and it will keep you in bondage. Christ died so that you might be free! You cannot change yesterday. Thinking unduly about it keeps those things alive in your mind. No good will come of that! you just inflict suffering upon yourself. To keep going down the same road, or round the same mountain will get you nowhere. Bring it all to God in prayer and ask His help for you to discipline your mind. You have the mind of Christ, but you have to let that mind control your thoughts. You need to renew your mind with the Christ mind. Let it take precedence. You can choose what or who you listen to! if you choose to dwell on unhelpful things, then your attitude in life is tinged with darkness. A shadow is cast over your thinking and it affects how you live. You can be free! Face the fact that part of you is dwelling on seperation, hurt, unforgiveness. Do not relive the pain. Start by forgiving yourself for not thinking wholesome thoughts and then ask God to cleanse and restore the mind of Christ again in you. THEN LET THEM GO!
'Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with the yoke of bondage' Gal 5:1

Don't Worry!

Jesus tells us not to take anxious thought about tomorrow. He does not say that we are not to think about tomorrow, make plans, or to pray about the future. But we are not to worry as it is fruitless and unprofitable. None of us can control our circumstances, or add anything to our lives by worrying. It is a habit pattern of thinking that can cause us great distress and halt our progress in life. We are really saying that our heavenly Father does not care about every detail of our lives, when we worry! Has He not said that even the hairs on our head are numbered?
Most of our troubles are imaginary. Our forebodings about the future, our forecasts about what will or might happen are just predictions and unfounded fears. The Lord can, and does deliver from them. So if you are burdened today, bring it all to Jesus, with thanksgiving, because He cares about you. As you discipline yourself to lay the weights down at His feet, so you will experience release and deliverance from the scourge of worry. The thing to concentrate on each day is to put God first in every thing and live righteously in our relationship with Him and with others. As we seek His kingdom first everything else falls into place. Our heavenly Father knows what we need, and will take care of the practical things in our lives. Our job is to seek Him and feed our souls on the spiritual things available to us. What does it profit us to gain the whole world , yet lose our own soul?
'Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will begiven to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own' Matthew 6:33,34.

Strength To Overcome.

I have heard it said that God gives grace as we overcome. We have to determine to overcome through His help, and He does help us. But we have to take the first step, out in the cold, as it were, almost as if God was not there! And that can be painful, but when we know what we have to do, then we have to get on and do it. We may not feel like it, it may seem almost impossible, but no one can do it for us. However, as we take one little step towards victory and decide to overcome, then God steps in with all the power of heaven for us!
The battle may be hard, but the victory is assured with God on our side! God is for us, not against us. He wants to work things out for the very best, but we have to go along with Him in it all. Even if we draw back, there is help available for us to start over again! It is our very circumstances, afflictions, difficulties, that are an opportunity for God to work a godly character within us. How we would love to be blessed without any effort involved! let us co-operate with the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, and as we overcome, be partakers of the peacable fruit of righteousness.
'To him who overcomes I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God'
Rev 2:7

Spring Up O Well!

Today I will give you water. Water in abundance. Everlasting water that will quench your thirst and flood your dry soul. Are you thirsty for Me? Then sing! You may not feel like it. It may seem strange to you, but do it. Sing! Allow your innermost being to rise up and petition Me for streams to flow out of you. You do not need people to bless you. You have Me. I will bless and restore your soul.
Where there is no water, where you are in spiritually dry conditions, and all those around you are in unbelief, you can call to Me. I will refresh YOU. Dig your own well. Sing! sing! to it. The water will begin to bubble and rise and then you can move on in the refreshing that will come to you.
'They continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, "gather the people together and I will give them water." Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up O well! Sing about it." Num 21:17 Beer was a place that had involved weeping and mourning for the Israelites. It was there that they sang the song of the well!

 "Spring up O well! Sing about it." Num 21:17

Small Buds.

I was walking in the countryside enjoying the changing colours of the trees. Red, orange, and gold leaves danced in the sunlight as the cold wind whipped through the branches. I stopped and looked closer at some small branches, and reached out my hand to touch the frail, dying leaves. Some fell into the palm of my hand, and as I peered even closer, I saw small buds, already forming along the branches. They had been forming for awhile, waiting for their time to burst forth, but were hidden by the obsolete leaves about to fall.
God spoke to my heart and said 'you think that your life is over because all you see are dying leaves that were once fresh and young, that once adorned the tree of your life with the beauty of My life. And now they are fading because they are no longer needed and the wind is releasing you of the encumbrance of obsolete things. They have had their season. But hidden away are new buds that have been developing in your life whilst the old leaves were changing colour and dying. But you could not see them because they have developed in secret. They will be seen openly, and become a source of healing to the nations.

'And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations' Rev 22:2

Smile!

Today is a day to thank God for His goodness in your life. Has He not kept you? When you passed through the waters did they overwhelm you? When you passed through the fire were you consumed? Are you still alive today? Is He still watching over you, or have you been forgotten?
When you fell and hurt your foot did you recover? When you cut your finger, did it heal? Have you ever starved to death? Are you totally friendless? Does He send the rain to replenish the earth, and the sun to cause the flowers to grow? Have you breath in your lungs, and hope in your heart? When He shut a door, did He not open another for you?
Then smile! For God loves you! Let your heart skip for joy! Be a child again, just for a while! Sing!!!!!!!!!
'Don't trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy' 1 Tim 6:17

Abounding Grace!

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

Rise Up!!

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)

Live In The Present!

God is ever present with us. In fact He lives in the present, in the NOW. That is why Jesus taught us to live one day at a time, for God is always in that day. We are to rest in His will for us each day. Sometimes that is easier said than done! We fidget, fuss, waver, grieve over yesterday, fret over tomorrow, and allow our thoughts to rush around.
He said that we were to pray 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven'. I'm sure there is no panic, fear or despondancy in heaven! God's will is done there. Have you got an agenda pressing in on you? have things got to be done your way, because you think it is God's way? let your agenda go! Leave the arrangement of each day and season to God. It doesn't matter if things don't get done in your way and time. Stop pressurising yourself and others, and God. Let yourself have some space and come into the contentment that knowing the Lord can bring to you. Let His peace rule in your heart. You can only live one day at a time, so determine to enjoy each moment as it comes and rest in His will for your life. Only one pair of hands can hold the reins!
'But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is cetain that we can carry nothing out'. 1 Tim 6:6

Cheer Up!

Jesus told His disciples that in Him they would have peace, but in this world they would have trouble. "But", He says " Take heart", cheer up, do not be afraid, "I have overcome the world" Jn 16:33. He is telling them that because He has done it, they can do it too! There is a WAY through it all, there is an end to it. We cannot overcome by running away. There comes a time when we have to face all that is against us, and STAND in faith, trusting that He who has overcome will give us the strength to overcome too! Like father, like son! We have the same family trait as Jesus, if we believe in Him and have His Spirit within us. He leads us in triumph, and we are more than conquerers. We are able to do all that He requires of us through faith in Him. Feed your soul on His word. It brings a boldness and tenacity that can come no other way. Multitudes have gone before, experiencing all that you go through, and have prevailed because of their undying love for Jesus.
'Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all' Psalm 34:19.

He Teaches Us

When we don't know how to pray, or what to do, or how to proceed, there is Someone just waiting to help us. He is ready to be called upon every moment of every day. What problems we cause for ourselves because we don't avail ourselves of His help. The Holy Spirit is our Helper in every situation. He gives us boldness and power with God. He gives us access into the very presence of the Father. He prays for us with groans and sighs that words cannot express. He makes loving intercession in us for all the saints. It is our highest privilege as priests to be intercessors. How amazing that our prayers can move Almighty God! we can pray for people thousands of miles away; people we have never met, and God hears our hearts and answers our petitions. Ask for the Holy Spirit to help. He teaches us how to pray. He reminds us of the things that God has told us, so that we can use them in our intercessions. We cannot pray without Him. He can go where we cannot go, do what we cannot do, attend to the very root of a situation, all because we ask! Don't be put off just because you cannot see the answers to your petitions. One day you will see, and marvel at all God has accomplished through your prayers. And you may think "I wish I had prayed more". All the time you pray, you are developing a relationship with your heavenly Father and discovering that He cares about you and your concerns. And discovering that He can only change things through your prayers.
'But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you' Jn 14:26

Rewards of Patience.

It takes patience to wait on the Lord. Being still takes practise and perseverance. But as we get into that place of stillness our strength is renewed by God. He gives us His strength Is 40:31. Then we need to flap our 'wings' of faith and trust. We can rise above our circumstances that worry us daily if we put our trust in God who is Almighty, the Everlasting one, who never faints or grows weary. But it is not 'magic', we actually have to DO something, that is put our trust, by choice, in God mercy and goodness towards us. And not in anything else!
Faith is the currency of heaven. We receive everything from God by faith. By believing in His absolute goodness and power toward us. When I go into a shop to purchase something I use money, and expect to get the goods I have paid for. So likewise when I go to God I use my faith in Him, to receive all that I need for that day. Just a day at a time!! not the whole of my life in one lump! Just for each day. It is easier that way because life can get very complicated if I am worrying too far ahead!
So TODAY use your wings of faith and trust and see what God will do for you, and who He will BE to you. Having a close, loving relationship with someone wonderful is what we all need. And that someone is the all loving, all powerful, kind and gentle Jesus. He does care, He does want things to change in your life, He is able to help you, so flap your wings!
'Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him' Ps 37:7
'I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry' Ps 40:1
'Sit still my daughter until you know how the matter will fall' Ruth 3:18

He Never Fails!

Who are we trusting to help us today? In what are we putting our faith? some trust in chariots! They put their hope in winning the Lottery, making good investments, buying larger houses, and bigger cars. Some put their trust in horses, the company they work for, their boss who might give them promotion, the friends who will help them get to where they want to go in life! But trusting in these things can bring your downfall. Just as the Egyptians chased the Israelites across the red sea and got stuck in the mud, thinking they were powerful because of the iron and flesh they had, so putting confidence in wordly things can bog us down. Eventually they rust and die away!
God knows that we need help, things, finances, and advancement. But His way for us is that we seek His kingdom and righteousness first. Our trust must be in the Lord He is the only unchanging One, faithful One, honest One and all powerful One. He never fails.
'Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God' Ps 20:7.

Dance With Me!

It is time to give your mind an overhaul! Take some thought about your thoughts! Stop allowing yourself to dwell on imaginary disasters that 'might' happen in your life. There is no need to wallow in morbid thoughts and plans for I have a bright future for you. My plans, says the Lord, are for good and not for your harm. My plans are for your fulfilment and enjoyment, not for sadness and emptiness. There is work for you to do on this earth. Lives need touching and changing. My Gospel needs to go forth. And I want to use you!
Get rid of the dark imaginings and renounce negative thinking. Discipline your mind again to take hold of My blessings of freedom and love. If you continue to feed on unhelpful thoughts your days will be heavy and unfruitful. I desire you to dance with Me into your future, expecting that I will always provide the grace you need for every situation. It is time to lighten up! leave your baggage behind and let regrets go. You will find that the healing you need will become a reality and sorrow will vanish as a shadow.
'Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ'. 2 Corinth 10:5

Digging Holes?

God has given gifts and talents to each one of us. It is our responsibility to use them. He has given; we must be good stewards. One of the reasons we bury our gifts in the sand is that we are afraid of what others think. If we have been put down, despised, criticised or mocked, it is difficult to rise above the things others have said. But today is a day to leave all that behind and start anew. What is your gift? God has given great diversity. Start using it again. It may be spiritual, but it may be natural. Decide to use what you have and it will grow. Jesus used what He had in the motley band of His disciples and trusted them to continue the work He started. He gave the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to come and dwell within them and be alongside them. So we are not alone in using our gifts. There is a Helper to show us what to do. Don't look at what others are doing, their particular gifts, or how successful they are. But look to Jesus and use what you have been given out of thankfulness to Him. He can show His love through you in seemingly small ways to accomplish much. Don't make the mistake of despising your own gifts!
' But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money' Matthew 25:15-18