Now is the time ... To Make Way for Success

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:12

I recently unpacked some diaries of mine from the mid 1970s. It was good to read again of incidents I had long forgotten. One thing that made me smile was a note about having a book party. In those days we did have Tupperware parties but we also had Successful Living Christian book parties. I noted that I had spent $12. In those days no doubt that was a lot of money. (Colin still cringes when I go shopping in Christian bookstores, wondering how much I will spend!) I think the books were aptly named “Successful Living” for in them I found many helpful insights for my life.

I believe God wants each one of us to live life successfully. In preparing Joshua for leadership of Israel after Moses’ death, God said to him, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will God make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8.

In Proverbs (above) we read that there is a way that seems right but it is not the way of ultimate success, in fact its end is death. In other words we can have great ideas about how we should live our lives but unless it’s a ‘God idea’ it will not end in success. In Deuteronomy 12:8 it says, "You shall not at all do as we are doing here today--every man doing whatever [is] right in his own eyes--".

Just like Frank Sinatra sang “I did it my way”, many people believe they can ‘do life’ without God; that if they don’t do anyone any harm and live according to the laws of the land, they will have lived a successful life, therefore when they pass from this life to eternity they can plead their good works. Sadly that is very mistaken thinking which we should not let pass without a warning, lovingly given. Only by choosing God’s way, which is through Jesus Christ’s atoning death for us, can we live successfully on earth and for all of eternity.

It remains a challenge for Christians today to do things God’s way. In our pre Christ life we did what was right in our own eyes. Sometimes it may have worked, sometimes it failed dismally. Now, after we have submitted to Jesus Christ as Lord, we turn to a new way of living and doing life…… God’s way. The only way to real success is to do things his way. He wants us to prosper in all our ways and to lead a full and satisfying life. We must make way for our success by allowing his ways to become our ways.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that you want the best for me. You want to see me succeed in life so please grant me your grace to make good decisions that are based upon your Word and your way of doing things. Amen

Now is the time... To Release the Flow

….those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

I recently had afternoon tea with a lovely elderly lady who is ‘long and strong’ in the Lord. She had previously shared with me her struggles with the weaknesses of aging; lack of sharp memory, deafness and a growing fear of venturing out of her home or inviting others in. Later in our conversation she shared how she spends considerable time reading her Bible and praying each day and yet she feels very ‘dry’.

There are good reasons for her difficulties but as I pondered on that today I thought that it is very possible and easy for us to get into that spiritually dry position ourselves. I remembered again the illustration of the Dead Sea in Israel; a sea which is so full of salt that it cannot be used for irrigation. What is the reason for this strange phenomenon? The Jordan River constantly flows into the Dead Sea, a salt water lake 8 times saltier than the ocean, but there it stays. It doesn’t have any outflow – nowhere for the water to go. It evaporates and also leaches into the soil (I suppose), and the minerals just build up in the remaining water.

I think this may be one reason for my friend’s dryness. She is taking in fresh ‘water’ by spending time in the word of God but by closing herself off from the world around her she is stemming the flow of God’s Spirit through her to others. We are made for relationship and the blessing comes from being a blessing to others. Jesus said, that in giving we shall receive (Luke 6:38). We have to receive from God and allow his Spirit to move in our lives in order to have something worthwhile to offer to others, but in order to keep the supply coming in we have to use what we’ve been given.

If you have been feeling drying lately perhaps you need to see if you have been releasing the flow of God out of you to refresh others. The world around us is hungry for love, acceptance, friendship, peace and joy, all the things God freely gives to us as we spend time with him. Remember he also said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the flow of your Spirit freely given to me to enrich my life. Help me to use it, not just for myself, but also to be a refreshing blessing to others. Amen

Now is the time... To Prepare for Disruption

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past. Psalm 57:1-2 (NLT)

Earlier this year I was sitting in Wellington airport with a $6 refreshment voucher to spend at one of the many cafes. Air New Zealand was buying me a coffee and a muffin in an attempt to placate me for disrupting my day through flight delay. Fortunately I was not in a hurry and I had a good book to read, a ‘must have’ when travelling.

I have to admit that I don’t always deal well with disruptions in my life. I like things to run smoothly but life doesn’t always go according to our plans. This reality had been brought home to me in the recent hours spent in the waiting room of intensive care and at the bedside of my niece. I realised afresh that one’s life or the life of a family can be changed forever in a moment of time. I watched anxious faces waiting for news of their loved ones, and wondered what lay in store for them in their future; whether they would have to deal with a disabled person, weeks of therapy or even a death.

Disruptions come when we least expect them. Some are just minor inconveniences, others, life-changing catastrophes. How can we prepare for them, or is it even possible to prepare for them? I believe it is possible to be somewhat prepared. It all depends upon the strength of the foundation of our life.

We were designed to live life in relationship with God. He wants to be our strength and our help in times of trouble. He is the one who can be our shelter in the time of storm. We can only know the depths of the benefit of his help if we have developed a trusting relationship with him. We do this through an acceptance of his love for us and developing a knowledge of his willingness to be there for us in the tough times. Such an understanding comes through reading the Bible and learning to believe that what God says, he can and will do. Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would bring things that they had heard from his teaching back to their remembrance when they needed it. That can be our experience too. I have experienced it many times; but unless we have a storehouse of his word within us, we don’t have much to go on in times of difficulty.

Praying daily to commit ourselves and our loved ones into God’s care enables us to face our day confident that God is in charge and nothing can come to us that he doesn’t know about and won’t help us with. We are so blessed to know the One who holds us in his heart and shelters us in times of trouble. We have no need to fear disruption because we know that we have a place of shelter in him until the storm is past.

Prayer: Father in heaven, help me to hide your words in my heart and grow in understanding of your love for me. Then I will find help in my time of need as I trust in you. Amen

Now is the time.... To Embrace Your Place

Trust in the Lord in all you do and don’t lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in everything you do and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

A question that we hear often is “How could God let this happen?”Recently I watched the movie “The Hiding Place’; the story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family who hid Jewish people in their home in Amsterdam during World War II. They were caught and imprisoned for their kindness. As Corrie and her sister, Betsy “settled into” the horrors of Ravensbrook prison camp, Betsy began to share her faith in Jesus and read the Bible to anyone who would listen; this very same question came from their fellow prisoners. Betsy and Corrie could not give a satisfactory answer but stated their trust in God in spite of their surroundings.

Betsy was more able than Corrie to embrace the place they found themselves in. She didn’t like it any more than the others did, but she chose, in the midst of unbelievable hardship, to believe that God had a purpose for them there. Her gentle, faith-filled character drew many fellow prisoners to Jesus Christ and softened even the hardest and most selfish heart. Such was the result of her embracing these horrible conditions. Her peace and joy were evident to those around her. Corrie too came to see God at work in that place.

Do you find yourself in a hard place today? Has tragedy and heartache touched your family? Has sickness brought you low? Have doors of opportunity closed in your face and left you feeling rejected? Has age caught up with you making you feel that you have no more usefulness in God’s kingdom work? Each of these things marks a life change that we must deal with.
The challenge for each of us is to look through the eyes of faith and realise that each season of life is an opportunity for growth. As we embrace our new place, we will grow in grace and maturity, wisdom and faith. Never give up. Our usefulness on earth is never done till we move to heaven. If we can’t do anything but pray we are still useful. The busy, active people often lack the luxury of time to pray for long, yet the need for prayer is so great in our world today.

Why don’t you seek the Lord and ask him to show you what his plan is for this season of your life, and move into it with courage and determination, allowing God to work in and through you all that he purposes for your life………….. and the lives of others. Bloom where you are planted!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me to embrace this season of my life. Help me to give you the frustrations of it so that I can receive your grace to do what you want me to do this day. Amen

Now is the time.... To Regain Your Excitement

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.. Jeremiah 29:11

My alarm was set for 6.30 but at 5.20 the raucous cries of the kookaburras heralded the first light and they were soon joined by a multitude of other birds, all excitedly greeting the new day. It was the excitement of their chatter that got to me and I decided to join them rather than sleep away the first light of the new day.

My mother was an early riser and always said that it was the best time of the day – try telling that to a teenager!! But as I sit looking out on the beauty of God’s world, listening to worship music, I have to agree that it is something special; and now as the sky begins to change from almost colourless to a beautiful shade of blue, the joy and expectation of a new day cannot help but rise within me. I’m so glad I’m not still snoozing!

In the busyness of life it is so easy to lose the sense of excitement and expectation that each day can hold. Instead our minds get overwhelmed by the burdens or drudgery of the day. ‘Stress’ is probably the most used word in our world today. Sadly I have even heard young children using this word. But it’s not surprising because children get caught up in the craziness of their parents’ busy lives as well as having their own full schedule of extra curricular activities. The days of just playing in the yard, a family walk or a quiet swing in the park seem to have mostly gone. I’m so pleased that my own grandchildren still know how to be happy with these simple pleasures.

Taking time to worship the Lord, read the word and talk to him about our concerns is a key to de-stressing. The old hymn said ‘Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care, we should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.’ Time in the quiet of the day before the household starts to buzz can be time that restores excitement, anticipation and purpose to your life; all these things can and will work to de-stress you.

God has a purpose and a plan for each of us that will bring us joy and fulfillment. Tune into his heart and draw your daily strength from him along with peace and hope. He is always waiting to fellowship with us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, giver of abundant life, please help me to come into your presence and seek you early for refreshing and strength for each new day. Amen

Now is the time.... To Do the Taste Test

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him. Psalm 34:8

The makers of our much-maligned Vegemite have come up with something new; it has been in the stores with no name; the company has been running a competition for someone to come up with a name for it. That’s one way to get people to buy and try! I would have thought that one would have to taste it to come up with some enticing, tasty name but in this day of technology it seems not. The name that won the competition was – you’d never guess it – iSnack 2.0. Since that time there were so many people that objected that it is under review which is good because that name conveys absolutely nothing to me except that if I want to know what it’s like I have to taste it. So it is with God. We have to 'taste' him and his presence to know that he is good.

David, a young lad who went from singing praises to God in the sheepfolds to giant-slayer on the battlefield to king of Israel to ousted monarch and back to the throne again, experienced God in so many different situations. He knew the highs of life but he also knew what it was like to be in the depths of despair. It is he who wrote about the goodness of God to those who trust him. In the midst of singing the praises of his God he cries out “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good”. It was as if he was saying “I can’t really tell you just how good he is, you just have to taste his goodness for yourself”.

How do we taste anything? We have to put it in our mouth and try it. We can’t do that with God of course but we can get to know what kind of a God we have by coming near to him, allowing him to have a say in our lives. By allowing him permission to come and forgive our sins, heal us of our hurts, our sickness; allowing him to give us guidance in our daily lives. We taste him by walking in obedience to his Word and following his way and finding out that it is the best way, the way to life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

Today I needed to ‘taste’ God afresh. For me that meant becoming still in his presence and allowing myself to feel him again. We were worshipping in church and many people were being touched by his spirit, but I felt a little apart from him. That is when I deliberately moved closer, received again his forgiveness and love. He met me.

It’s so easy in the busyness of our world to become a little hardened to his presence unless we make a special effort. We can ‘do Christianity’, we can ‘do church’, but he wants us to move closer so we can feel that refreshing breath of his beautiful presence. Yes, taste and see that the Lord, in all his fullness, is definitely good.

Prayer: Lord thank you that you are close to me even when I can’t feel you. Help me to realise when I need to make that special move towards you and taste again that you are good. Amen

Now is the time ... To Do Your Heart Good

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

I don’t know how it is in your part of the world but here in Australia there is a lot of emphasis on ‘heart smart’ foods and exercise. This is all well and good, but what amazes me is that more and more young and fit people are dying suddenly of heart attacks. My own father died of a massive heart attack at the young age of 45. He was under a lot of stress at the time.

I do know that stress is a main contributor in most types of sickness and disease, because when the body is stressed it doesn’t function as it was designed to do. Our bodies have been ‘marvelously and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14), with such fine-tuning that stress throws the body into a state of self-protection, changing chemical balances. This is okay for the emergencies it is designed to cope with but we are not made to live in a long term state of anxiety which is really just fear. Remember Paul’s words to the Philippians ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto (God)’. (Phil 4:6). Also 1 Peter 5:7 says ‘Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares about you.’

Dr Caroline Leaf has studied the brain and it’s working for more than 20 years and she says that when the brain chemistry goes awry through fear, over time it actually rewires the brain making it impossible, or at best very difficult, for people to live in the fullness of life that God intended for us. They become attuned to living in a state of anxiety that leads to depression unless a deliberate and concerted effort is made to study and follow God’s way of living and doing things. This may require the intervention and help of others to make these changes.

In spite of God’s encouragement to give him our troubles, we sometimes still manage to put pressure on ourselves. We can so easily turn from the joy and peace that first came from knowing the grace of God in our lives, and go back to trying to do things to please God out of duty instead of out of love for him. Personally I have struggled with that performing to please thing for years, which is why it did my heart so much good to hear The Message version of Matthew 11:28-30. There is no stress with God. There is just an ‘unforced rhythm of grace’ constantly flowing, that if we allow it to flow through us will cause us to live ‘freely and lightly’. Do you want to join me in trying it out?

Prayer: Precious Jesus, thank you for the example you gave us by the way you lived out a life of grace, free from stress and strain. Help me to cast all my cares upon you…. and leave them there! Amen

Now is the time.... To Check Your Heart

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

In June my niece gave birth to her second child, a good sized little girl. At the time she had not been feeling well for some time but put it down to the pregnancy, she was wrong. Two weeks after the birth she found herself in hospital having a battery of tests and 3 days later she had open heart surgery. When the surgeon spoke to us after the very long operation he said that Tracey’s heart had been “an ugly mess”. Life threatening infection had entered into her heart and had eaten away at her aortic valve which had to be replaced.

The surgeon, fortunately, was able to save her life, but it was a very dangerous situation. After many hours sitting at her bedside, my sister and I were very relieved to watch her begin to progress back to health and now, 3 months later, she is doing really well. However, Tracey now requires a lifetime on medication to ensure that her blood doesn’t form clots and her heart continues to function properly.

As I thought about this it made me think of the health of our spiritual hearts – the part of us that is influenced by God’s Spirit. God has offered us a ‘heart replacement’ – a soft heart in exchange for a heart that has become hard from sinful attitudes which lead to sinful actions. When we accept that new heart, it still needs to be maintained with spiritual ‘medication’. Reading and obeying the word of God regularly keeps us on track. Also asking God’s forgiveness when we revert to our old ways. This, together with regular fellowship with other believers, worship and prayer are all needed to help us live a truly healthy life which will give us peace and make us a blessing to those around us. Nothing clogging up our system.

Why not do a quick heart check up and see if there is any hardness sneaking in. Are you grateful for what you have? Are you open to God’s leading and correction? Is there any unforgiveness lurking that will prevent the blessing of God from resting on you? Are you allowing God to lead and direct you in your daily life or do you only involve him in the ‘big decisions’?

Remember that abiding in the vine (John 15) is the safest way to maintain a healthy spiritual life for apart from Jesus we can do nothing. He is our very life, for ‘in him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28). A good relationship with him is the key to our heart health.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart and see if there is any sinful way in me. Forgive me and cleanse me and lead me in the ways that please you. Amen

Now is the time... To Water

Jesus said to her, “Whoever drinks ……of the water that I shall give will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:13,14

Today is quite hot and windy and we are in need of some good rain. Fortunately our garden is planted with native plants which tolerate dry conditions but even today some of these were bending their heads in a silent cry for water. I was happy to oblige, not wanting to lose them because of my lack of attention to their needs.

As I stood in the sunshine with the hose for an hour or so my thoughts went to my own spiritual life. I thought about how dry I can get when I don’t ‘water’ my spirit with time in God’s word. Bible reading feeds and nurtures our inner man, and we need to give regular time to reading it, just as we eat and drink to keep our bodies well nourished.

In my early years I did not like to drink water at all. It wasn’t until later in life that I began to drink enough water for my body to function properly. I found that once I had developed the habit of drinking regularly, my body would tell me, I would feel thirsty. Up until then my poor body had learned to adapt to a lack of water.

In the same way, unless we develop a ‘hunger’ for God’s word in our early years of following Jesus, we may not realise that we are spiritually dehydrated. Therefore it is important to develop good discipline in spending time quietly reading God’s word so that we grow in spiritual understanding and maturity. Then when we neglect this time our spirit will remind us that we need to go back to God’s word for more life-giving sustenance. During his 40 day fast in the wilderness the devil tried to tempt Jesus to turn stones into bread, Jesus reminded Satan that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). Spiritual sustenance is just as important as food.

Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman (John 4:14) of ‘life-giving water’ that would spring up within the one who drank of it. This life is the life of Jesus within which we draw upon as we come to him through prayer and reading his word. We need to keep the life-flow going.

If you are feeling dry today perhaps you need to draw near to the well and draw some water to ‘drink’. If you are dry you will certainly have nothing to flow out of you to be a blessing to others. So come aside, spent time drawing water from Jesus’ well.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to recognise when I am spiritually dry. Let me be sensitive to the drawing of your Spirit and take time to refresh myself in your presence. Amen.

Now is the time... To Stop the Thief

Be sober; be vigilant; because your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8

Where we live there are many birds and amongst them are a number of Kookaburras (the ‘laughing’ Australian bird). They are very sociable creatures and happily sit on the verandah railings while we chat to them or hand them tidbits. The latter is not advisable as they may well take advantage, as you will see. Recently our neighbours were enjoying a nice steak on their verandah when a Kookaburra came for a friendly call. He sat awhile and watched them eat. Suddenly spying an area of opportunity, he swooped on a piece of steak. Only my friend’s quick-witted work with a fork averted the loss of the steak. (The bird lived; it was the steak that she speared!)

Peter warned his readers of a similar thief, Satan, who is always watching for his chance to rob us of abundant life; peace, joy, provision, growth, health and all the other good things that God wants us to have as his children.

Have you ever experienced a boost of faith and excitement when you read your Bible or hear a sermon preached? The word seems to just leap at you and touch your heart with hope but no sooner had you left that place; your quiet time place, church meeting, or retreat, and circumstances came upon you to totally rob you of the faith and the hope that had begun to grow within your heart. The strength you had drawn from that word is snatched away and you sink into gloom once more and hopeless thoughts and feelings overwhelm you.

Jesus spoke of the word of God as seed being sown into the various types of soil (Mark 4:13-20). He said that the seed can, if not sown into good soil, fall by the wayside and Satan will come (immediately) and take away the word that was sown in the hearers’ hearts (vs15). It is important to care for the soil of our hearts and prepare it to receive the word (rhema) from God that will build us up. We also have to water it and guard it, just like I have to guard my vegetable garden from the possums and birds that want to destroy it.

We are in a fight for our faith. We have to earnestly contend for it (Jude 3). How do we do that? Jude goes on to say “..building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God…. “ (Jude 20,21). We also need to feed on God’s word (even when we don’t seem to be ‘getting anything’ out of it), and fellowshipping with other believers.

Hold onto that word from the Lord as if your very life depended on it – it does. To walk in the abundant life requires persistence and faith. You can do it because God will give you the grace you need to contend. Just cry out to him when you feel weak and helpless, but whatever you do, don’t let the enemy snatch your ‘steak’!

Prayer: Jesus, Lord and giver of life, thank you for the life you have given me. Help me to contend for all the blessings that belong to me and faithfully trust you to help me through the difficult seasons. Amen

Now is the time... To Be His Special Treasure

Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; Exodus 19:5

Have you sensed in yourself a need to feel treasured, to feel special and yet that need seems to remain unfulfilled? If you have, you are not alone. God has built into each of his creation, mankind that is, the need for intimacy. He has done this because we are not meant to “do life” alone. We are made for inter-dependency, for intimacy. Family, friendships, and marriage can provide that for us but they are not the only way. Indeed they are not even the best way that we can experience that feeling of being special to someone.

Pursuing a relationship with God, our heavenly father is the ultimate way of experiencing that feeling of being special and treasured. This is the place where our heart can be truly satisfied and nurtured, but there is a price to pay. In any relationship, whether with family, friend, or marriage partner there is always a price to pay in order to have a good relationship. We need first of all to accept each other’s differences, learn to love in spite of them, be patient with each other, and learn to give as well as take; we also need to learn to understand how each other thinks. These are just a few of the many demands for building a good relationship.

God told his people, Israel, that for them to be his special treasure they needed to keep covenant with him – to stay faithful to his commands. To our modern way of thinking this seems rather stringent and dictatorial but this is where we need to understand the heart of God our father, and the difference between the old and new covenants. Under the old covenant there were many rules and regulations. In Deuteronomy 28 we see a list of “Do this and all will be well” and “Do that and it won’t go well for you”. Just like a good parent God set boundaries for his people. He also gave them the 10 Commandments, but he knew they would be unable to keep them. Was he setting them up for failure? No! He was trying to show them that they needed him to help them, that interdependency with him was the way to success.

Out of his love for us he gave us the answer to the problem – Jesus, who came to free us from the slavery to our sinful nature so that we could keep covenant with him. Through relationship with him we are given grace and strength to live the kind of life that will result in us feeling special and treasured. It does require a working relationship with God the father through the indwelling Holy Spirit. As we learn to relate to Jesus in similar ways to how we would relate to a precious friend or spouse, we will reap the benefits of being his own special treasure.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to develop a new level of intimacy with you that will fulfil my need to feel special to someone. Amen

Now is the time... To Cry Out to the Lord

And the people complained against Moses saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord…… Exodus 15:24-25

The story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt gives many lessons and is worth re-visiting now and again. God brought them out from the Egyptian’s oppression and out of great bondage. They did not leave empty-handed as slaves normally would but they came out with wealth, handed over to them by neighbours who were glad to see them go.

It was a great deliverance followed by the crossing of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh’s army who had pursued them to their death. In the last verse of Exodus 14 it says, “so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and his servant Moses.” In hindsight we could add, “….for the moment”, because it didn’t take them long to find something to complain about.

They travelled 3 days in the wilderness and had finally found water. Their joy soon turned to anger as they discovered the water was no good for drinking. They were tired, thirsty and probably anxious about their future; this was just too much to bear, so Moses again bore the brunt of their displeasure. But Moses knew where to turn in his dilemma. His immediate response was to cry out to the Lord and the Lord showed him how to make the bitter waters sweet. The answer was ‘just a call away’.

Perhaps you have come through a difficult time and then, just when you think you have the victory all sorted out and the battle behind you, another challenge blocks your way forward, and you are faced with your own bitter “waters”. You have a choice; either you can whine and
complain and find someone to blame, or you can run to the Lord and ask him to show you how to make your bitter waters sweet.

The good news is that there is never any need for us to face our challenges alone; our God is always available, Psalm 34:15b says that his ear is always open to our cry. We just have to ask him how we should handle whatever arises. James 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” That is God’s promise for whatever situation we face.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that I can run to you in my troubles and in my joys. Help me to avail myself of your great wisdom and not to try to ‘go it alone’. Amen

Now is the time... To Be Pruned

…..every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2

The view from our loft bedroom’s dormer window looks out to the generously wooded French countryside and the ridge of a forest in the distance. The open double-glazed window allows the birdsong to drift in – along with the muffled barking of dogs on the neighbouring farm.

What has really taken my attention though, is the Deodara Cedar tree a few metres away from the window. I can only see the topmost branches but they look rather like a ragged, lopsided, multi-armed scarecrow leaning forward and waving in the gentle breeze. This is not the type of tree to be pruned and its “Raggedy Ann” appearance has a certain appeal to the creative side of my nature. However, the other part of me that likes uniformity would not want to plant this tree in my own garden. Hence thoughts of pruning come to mind!

There is a time for pruning in our lives and then the Master Gardener comes to trim or even to do a major cutting back, whatever is required at that time. In the garden the time for pruning is when the fruit bearing or flowering is over; when the sap stops flowing in the trees and the flowers have all died. This is the time of dormancy or rest for the plant; time when it recovers from the energetic activity of the season past and prepares for the season to come.

In my life I have experienced many times of pruning and they have often felt uncomfortable until I learned to recognise their purpose and to understand that these times of rest and recovery do not mean that God has no further need or use for me, but rather he is preparing me for the next season of fruitfulness. In John 15:2 it says that he prunes every branch that bears fruit that it may bear more fruit.

Perhaps you are in such a season right now, wondering if your usefulness is finished. No, my friend, so long as you walk this earth God will have his purpose for your life as you give yourself to him each day. It may be to minister to a friend, a neighbour, family or stranger, or it may be to minister only to the Lover of your soul. The latter often gets overlooked in the busyness of life. To spend time in his presence is the most precious thing we can do for God, and is so necessary for restoration of our soul. Use your pruning time to draw near to Him.

Prayer: Lord God, lover of my soul, I give myself to you this day to do with me as you will. Help me to be content with doing as much or as little as you allow this day. Amen

Now is the time.... To Develop Character

…..and we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope. Romans 5:3-4

I have been reading again the story of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers who had sold him into slavery in Egypt many years before (Genesis 37). What a man of character Joseph turned out to be. But how did that happen? Through much tribulation, perseverance and hope.

As a youth Joseph had a dream about him being in a place of power and authority; a dream that was given by God, but for a future time. Before the dream could become a reality Joseph had to endure many hardships. He was rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongly accused by an employer’s wife, imprisoned and forgotten…… until the appointed time! Through it all Joseph developed a solid character and a humility which gave God the glory that was due to him (Genesis 41:16).

Tribulations – challenging, difficult, painful times are often God-given opportunities to develop our character in order to prepare us for His purposes, as we see was clearly the case in the life of Joseph. Though persecuted, ridiculed and cast out by his brothers, Joseph maintained an attitude which allowed the favour of God to rest upon him. Even in prison he was given a position of trust. He was a man of humility, with a willing spirit to serve and this did not go unnoticed by those around him. For him to be this way I truly believe he must have trusted that God had a future and a purpose for him, even in his darkest days.

Finally his dream of long ago became a reality and he found himself in a position of high authority in Egypt, his brothers bowing at his feet (Genesis 45). When he revealed his true identity to his brothers it was not with recrimination but he comforted them with, “But now therefore do not be grieved and angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life……. and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Perhaps you are the first believer in your family or amongst your friends, and find yourself persecuted or at least viewed with suspicion, if not ridicule. Can you glory in the difficulties knowing that there will come a time when you will be given the opportunity to bring deliverance to those you love? Now is the time to develop patience and character and wait for God’s appointed time. He will not disappoint you.

Faithful Father, thank you for calling me into your kingdom of light and love. Please help me to follow Joseph’s example and keep a forgiving and faithful heart so that I can be found pleasing in your sight. Amen

Now is the time... To Become Mature

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Recently we were having some wild rainstorms passing through and at times the wind was quite strong. Our home stands among gum trees (eucalypts), of varying age, and it was interesting to watch the wind effects on the trees. The young trees with their thinner trunks were bending over in the winds but the two large tree trunks I could see from my window were standing strong, unmoved by the onslaught.

I was reminded of this Bible verse which uses the illustration of a tree being like the man who trusts the Lord. When the drought comes the tree is not affected because it’s developed a strong root system under the ground and can draw on the nearby stream when necessary.

The young trees in my garden can be likened to young believers. In stormy times they get tossed to and fro in the winds of adversity which come at various times and seasons of life. Just as the natural wind causes a tree to develop strength and become firmly rooted in the ground, in the same way adversity in our lives can develop and mature us if we stay firm, trusting in the Lord.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”

I cannot say that I have ever found it easy to consider my trials ‘pure joy’, but I know that over time I have learned that I need these ‘stretching times’ in order to strengthen and mature me. As I choose to trust God in those times, and commit my way to him, I find that praise comes more easily to my lips and peace to my heart. In knowing God has a purpose in the difficulties, we are given strength to stand through them.

If our faith is to mature and be strengthened it must be tested. Trials are God’s grace for growth in our lives. Just as we have to stand by and watch our children experience difficulties in learning to crawl, then walk, then run, so our loving Father watches over us, allowing us to fall and rise again…. and again…. and sometimes, again! Like a loving parent, he is never very far awa,y but he needs to let us do it ourselves.

Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for the trials of life. Help me to have a correct perspective when difficulties arise and help me to learn to trust you increasingly so that I grow strong and mature. Amen

Now is the time... To Walk in God's Wisdom

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Psalm 1:1

In the process of unpacking all my books that have been stored for over a year I came across a Daily Devotional Bible and decided to begin using it again. The readings follow through the Bible in a year with passages from the Old and New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs. As I read the story of creation again I was struck by the words, “And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind” (Genesis 1:25), and “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image”…. So God created man in his own image.” (Genesis 1:25,27).

This made me think again about the evolutionists who would have us believe that we evolved from apes. Clearly animals were created separately and differently from man. Men (and women) were the only ones to be created in the likeness of God, and, on a separate day in creation (however long that “day” might have been).

Then as I read Psalm 1 verse 1 I was struck by a connection between these two passages. The counsel, or wisdom, of the ungodly would have us believe in evolution’s ape to man theory, but that is not what God’s word tells us. To follow God’s wisdom, which is truth, is to trust his word. This will bring us into blessing, and as we go on to learn of him and his ways we will receive more insight and clarity.

We may not always fully understand what we read in the Bible. Some things may appear strange or sometimes even contradictory to our “natural” mind. However I have found that it is possible to commit those things to God and perhaps at a later time he will bring more understanding to me. That’s where our faith comes in.

The key thing is to trust the wisdom and counsel of God because it is the truth and the way to a full and satisfying life.

Prayer: Holy Spirit please be my teacher and guide me into understanding God’s word and his ways so that I may be blessed in all I do. Amen

Now is the time…… To Share the Message

…but they did not heed Moses because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. Exodus 6:9

The Israelites had been in tremendous bondage in Egypt, oppressed and enslaved, their cries had reached God (Exodus 6:5) and he had a plan for their deliverance. Moses was minding his business, and the sheep, out in the countryside far from Egypt when suddenly a bush bursts into flame and a voice speaks from the bush…..forever changing his life.

God was in the bush and he shared with Moses his plan – Moses had been chosen to go lead the Israelites out of their cruel bondage. It would be done under God’s guidance, direction and protection. Moses was not at all happy about the task God had set for him and tried desperately to wriggle out of it. If he’d known just how difficult it would be he probably would have run fast in the opposite direction as Jonah later did.

However God did convince Moses that he was the man for the job so Moses duly presents himself to the Israelites with this wonderful message of promised deliverance and restoration of their own promised land. But there was a problem; scripture tells us that they didn’t listen to Moses because of the anguish of their spirit and the cruel bondage they were under. They couldn’t hear the sound of hope that he brought to them.

All around us people are in anguish of spirit and under the bondage of Satan in fear, worry, anger, depression, hopelessness, sickness and much much more. We have been given a message of hope and deliverance to speak to them and we need to pass it on. We have good news – Jesus the deliverer has come to set them free, heal them and give them hope. They may not at first hear us because of their pain but we need to demonstrate God’s powerful love to them, keep listening to God, and, as Moses did, go on to be obedient to his further instructions. It may be that we need to minister love to them, acceptance, practical help or healing prayer, but through it all we should pray that their ears will be opened to receive the truth, and that their hearts are attuned to the deeper need of their spirit. Pray that faith will come to them and that they experience a peace previously unknown as you pray for them.

Because people don’t hear or heed the message doesn’t excuse us from speaking it to them. Watch for your opportunities.

Prayer: Faithful Father, make me watchful and prayerful for opportunities to share your message of deliverance and hope with those who need to hear it. Give me a love for the lost that will make me passionate for this hurting world. Amen

Now is the time... To Laugh

There is a time for everything…… a time to laugh and a time to cry. Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

At the moment I am reading a very interesting story, a novel, called “The Shack” by William P Young, a book which is unusual in the way it portrays the central character Mack’s encounter with the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It was one incident in the book that sparked my thoughts for this devotional….

Mack suddenly hears a loud crash from the kitchen where Papa (God) is preparing the evening meal. There is silence for a moment then peals of laughter from the ‘three’. Mack observes as Jesus goes for a bowl of water to clean up the mess. In the process Mack sees the loving interaction of the threesome as they laugh and clean their way through the mess.

I remembered with some sadness how many times I have gotten angry with the children (and my dear husband) over the years when they made a mess. I have been equally, if not more, angry with myself when I have had a spill of some sort. Happily I can say that more recently I have learned (mostly) to take things more in my stride, and sometimes even manage to laugh about them. It’s much more pleasant for all concerned if an accident doesn’t become a time of shame and blame even to yourself.

The example of household spills is a very simple one, but for me, learning to laugh at my mishaps and my own mistakes has been a huge growth in grace. I have found that when I learned to extend grace to myself, then it was much easier to extend it to others. Oh that I had learned it earlier in life and so saved my loved ones a lot of pain! The old adage “It’s no use crying over spilt milk” is a good one. Why waste time crying when laughter will help us (and others) heal.

I remember a Sunday School song we used to sing, “With Christ in my vessel I can smile (read laugh) at the storm.” Why is that? I think it’s because Jesus gives us perspective and grace, and his presence evokes faith in us to know that no matter what comes our way, we will be okay if we allow him to take control of the things that concern us.

The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like medicine (Proverbs 17:22). I think we can never have enough of that medicine. Next time a challenge comes into your life, instead of getting angry, anxious, worried or fearful, just remember that Jesus is with you and with him you can smile at the ‘storm’.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please come and fill me again with the joy of your presence and the peace that will carry me through every storm of life. Help me also to laugh at my messes with you. Amen

Now is the time... To Keep Your Balance

Surely the righteous will never be shaken. Psalm 112:6

Tonight I watched as two Miner birds landed on a fragile branch where Mr Kookaburra sat surveying the late afternoon scene, no doubt hoping to spot a juicy meal in the grass below. He was totally minding his own business and I’m not sure that the intruders were at all welcome. As the branch shook with their careless and noisy arrival Mr K gave them a brief glance then totally ignored them and held tight to his perch. The visitors soon flew off to annoy other neighbours.

This little incident made me ponder the circumstances of life; the people that cross our path, unwelcome circumstances that come our way like sickness, loss of employment, family problems, even difficult people. All these things can “shake our branch”. In the current economic climate it can be very easy to get distracted, fearful and nervous. It can be so easy to lose our ‘balance’ on the branch of life if we allow such things to become our focus. The secret is to take a firm foothold of faith in our good and faithful God; to stand in faith that “The LORD will work out his plans for my life-- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever." Psalm 138:8.

I cannot over stress the importance of knowing God’s word. The psalmist spoke of hiding God’s word in his heart that he might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11). This is the secret of keeping our balance. God wants us to walk in faith and trust in him. To do otherwise is actually to sin against him. Yes, we do have times when we are thrown off balance but it is vital when that happens to focus on the truth of God’s word and allow it to keep us balanced. Like Mr Kookaburra we can glance at the distraction but we must immediately focus back on God’s promises. Psalm 112 verse 7 tells us that “those who trust the Lord have no fear of bad news.” Why? “Because their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” How good is that?

Satan, our enemy will try to distract us and tempt us to fear but the word says to resist the enemy and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Just like those Miner birds that got no attention from Mr K and flew right off to find someone who would socialize, the devil will flee when you ignore his taunts and give your attention and praise to God.

To get to that place of security and trust takes time. It takes time to know God and grow in our confidence and faith in his faithfulness. It takes time in the word daily and a determination to believe God’s word. The result of doing this will be a wonderful peace in the midst of any storm, no matter how big or small. This is our testimony to those who don’t know Jesus Christ – we have no fear because we are trusting in the Lord. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Faithful Father, thank you that your word is true and a stronghold for me in any time of trouble. Help me to store your word in my heart and grow in love and trust in you which will help me keep my balance in life’s storms. Amen

Now is the time... To Receive His Grace

…….His grace by which He made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)

A few years ago Philip Yancey wrote a book called “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”. It’s a good question isn’t it? John Newton penned the song Amazing Grace over 200 years ago and it is still a favourite today. He had previously been a slave trader till God touched his heart.

The apostle Paul had experienced God’s amazing grace during a mission to capture, jail and kill the followers of Jesus whom Paul considered to be enemies of the truth. The grace and mercy of God so captured his heart that he began all his letters to the churches with the greeting “Grace and peace to you….” The apostle Peter had experienced the amazing grace of God after his denial of his Lord in his most difficult hour. He too wrote greetings of “grace and peace” in his letters to the churches.

Like John Newton, Paul and Peter, we too are subject to failure during our walk with Jesus. It can be so devastating when we thought we’d succeeded in overcoming a particular area of sin in our lives, only to fall flat on our face in defeat….again. Many times I have thought “I’ll never be good enough, God can’t possibly be bothered with such a failure.” How wrong that kind of thinking is. God knows us, he knows that our spirit is willing but our flesh weak. That is why he provides his strength by which we can overcome, and his grace by which we are made acceptable to him. That’s what Jesus’ death was all about – he died for failures such as me and you. It is challenging to the pride in us to have to come (again) to God and ask his forgiveness for a besetting sin, and receive his grace to begin afresh, but that is what we must do.

Receiving God’s grace makes us acceptable to him, and when we find acceptance by God we find a new acceptance of ourselves. Being released from the treadmill of trying to “be good enough” and realizing that we need God’s help, deals a deathblow to pride. It is then that his grace within us will spill over in blessing and acceptance towards others so that they too can experience the love of God through seeing his grace working in and through us.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you so much for your work on the cross which enables me to be made acceptable to God. Help me to humbly receive your grace and walk in your peace with joy. Amen

Now is the time... To Check for Termites

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

On a recent walk I was fascinated to see a termite tunnel crossing the gravel path I was on. In the same area there is a lot of termite activity but the tracks usually wind their way up trees where the termites proceed to busy themselves making a large nest which often later becomes a nest for local birds. Termites also make their way into houses and destroy the inner framework. They can go undetected for a long time and do enormous damage. I have heard of houses having to be demolished because termites had totally destroyed the frame and only the walls were holding the house up. I also read that termite damage in Australia costs $910 million annually.

So what was the message from the termite track? It started a train of thought for me about the habit of these particular termites. The first thing about them is that they don’t just walk across the path or up the tree in the light. They hate the light so they build themselves a nice dark tunnel from which to do their undermining work.

I was reminded of the verse “……….men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19). In Christ we are children of the light and we should beware of any temptation to hide from the light. If there is anything in our life that is hidden, any critical spirit, any unforgiveness, any pride, jealousy, selfishness, sexual sin, anything at all that is contrary to what is pleasing to God, then it has to be brought to the light, confessed and forsaken. If not, it does an undermining work in our life just like the termites do, until eventually we are destroyed or, at the least, crippled by it.

In Song of Solomon 2:15 it says, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines.” It’s often the small things that we think don’t matter that can do a lot of damage. We are encouraged to be holy. 1 Peter 1:15 says “….be holy in all your conduct because it is written “Be holy for I am holy.”

God does not give us instruction to spoil our fun or to make our lives dull. His desire is for us to live life in all its fullness. Doing things His way will bring us freedom and joy. Get rid of those termites that are “spoiling your vines”, quietly yet purposefully eating away at your freedom and your joy. Be who you are, a child of the light.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you bought my freedom from the hidden works of darkness. Help me to walk in your light and know the joy of total freedom in you. Amen

Now is the time... To Play It Safe

My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run. Carry out my instructions; don't forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life. Proverbs 4:10-13 (NLT)

A few months ago news came of two young men in their 20’s who died when part of a glacier in New Zealand collapsed on them. What increases the impact of this tragic event is that it didn’t need to happen. These boys made two obvious mistakes (as far as I can tell from news reports). Firstly they chose not to take a guide who knew the area with them, and secondly they actually ignored warning signs and crossed over safety barriers. I’m sure their parents and friends have asked themselves many times, “Why, why, why?” Such is the impulsiveness of youth. So sad!

King Solomon, known as the wisest man who ever lived took time to write at length, in the book of Proverbs, warning his son about the importance of listening to advice and walking in the ways of wisdom. Read the first 5 chapters of Proverbs and you will see that again and again the writer pleads “listen my son” and “pay attention to my words”. This is always followed with the promise of a good, safe and blessed life if wisdom is adhered to. Isn’t that what each of us ultimately desires? I want to tell you that we can have just that. Not a life without challenges – we need those to make us strong, to test our faith and to build our character – but a life that is uncomplicated by the consequences of sin and folly.

We live in a world that is overtaken with the results of people’s refusal to follow not only God’s ways but also the laws of the land. People wanting to do things their way with disregard for others. Laws are put in place for our safety and the safety of others. If we read and understand God’s word and walk in his ways, not leaning on or trusting in our own understanding, God will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). To walk with God is sometimes scary in that we are led out of our comfort zone, but it is always safe. Staying within his “guard rails” is the place of safety.

God gives us boundaries for our benefit, not for his pleasure. They are to keep us safe and to save us from paying an awful price of grief and shame. If you’ve crossed the boundary, you have a choice to come back inside the fence to safety. Waste no more time, do it today!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when I am tempted to take matters into my own hands and do it ‘my way’, will you please give me a check in my spirit and remind me that the risk is not worth it. Your way is best. Amen

Now is the time... To Check Your Diet!

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight……. Jeremiah 15:16

Did you groan when you read today’s heading? Be honest now! Yes, the western world seems to be consumed with diet; eating too much, eating too little, what is good for you to eat and what is not; even when and how often we eat can be an issue. I think I am with the writer of Ecclesiastes who said this: ”A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God…” (2:24). As an aside, we do need to keep in mind that word work though, it brings an important balance to life. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 it says that if one refuses to work, he should not eat. Mmmm!! Interesting social implications there for the day we live in, where second and third generations are living on social welfare in my country. Anyway, enough of that…… the diet I want to speak of will not make you fat or thin, but it will enrich you spiritually. Does that sound more interesting?

The prophet Jeremiah spoke of eating God’s words which is a rather unusual concept to us today but you can read in Ezekiel 3:1 where Ezekiel was called by God and in a vision was told to eat the scroll containing the words of God that was put before him (figuratively speaking). In the Old Testament the Israelites were sustained on ‘manna’ which was a heavenly food that God fed them with supernaturally every day for almost 40 years. It kept their bodies nourished and healthy which is miraculous. Jesus referred to himself as ‘the bread of life’. He was also called ‘the word made flesh’ (John 1:1,14).

When he was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread, he told him that ‘people need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God’ (Matthew 4:4). Jesus was, in effect, saying that regular food was not a complete diet for mankind. Our spiritual food is just as vital to us as our breakfast, lunch and dinner. The word of God is what will sustain us spiritually and emotionally which, in turn, strengthens our body. Have you noticed how weak you feel when your spirit is not strong? Christians will not survive very long if they don’t feed on God’s word regularly, preferably daily. It always amazes me that when I feel a bit down and I go read my Bible, my spirit gets stirred up and excited and I suddenly feel motivated again.

Are you feeling a bit stale in your spirit, a bit unmotivated and lacking in faith and vitality? Open your Bible and begin to ‘eat’ God’s word. The heavenly ‘bread’ makes for a great diet.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, bread of life, feed me from your word today. Fill my heart and my mouth with your words. Amen

Now is the time... To Say 'No' To Insecurity

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

A recent incident brought this topic of insecurity to my notice again. It caused me some pain in the process of working through the situation that happened, but the good thing is, it’s given me something to think about and write about.

A year or more ago I was watching a TV programme on which two very well known and well loved actors were being interviewed. Watching them and spotting their obvious insecurity first caused me to want to address this topic but obviously, now is the time! Here were two people, very experienced in their profession, very high profile in their field and their insecurity showed so clearly. I asked myself, “Why in the world would these two be insecure?” This was the answer that I came up with….

It doesn’t matter how learned, gifted, wealthy, or well known a person is, they can still struggle with insecurity. It is a very human trait and common across the board. It is rooted in self consciousness. I suspect it has quite a bit to do with our personality and how we are raised. If we are raised to be people-pleasers we will probably have a problem with insecurity because we are always worried about what others think about us. We want them to like us and be pleased with us. If we were not raised with good affirmation insecurity has chance to spawn. If we are raised in loving homes by parents who are secure in themselves and don’t demand that we perform to please, we will be more likely to be secure too.

I want to expose insecurity as a tool of our enemy. Satan uses it to great effect to keep people thinking more about themselves which effectively keeps them from making good, healthy relationships. Insecurity spoils relationships (including marriages) as it manifests itself in lack of trust, inability to receive love, lack of self esteem, jealousy, competitiveness and the feeling of always needing to prove one’s worth or be right. Relationships cannot be maintained successfully where insecurity is allowed to run free.

If you are one who struggles with insecurity it is time to stand up to the devil and say a big ‘NO’. Remind him (and yourself) that God considers you worthy to be called his child, that he sent Jesus Christ to die for you because you are just that precious and important to him. That God has a special place and plan for you in this world that only you can fill. You don’t have to fight for it, just find it.

Romans 12:3 warns us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, but to think with sober judgment. That means that we are not to think less of ourselves than God does either. He made you and saw you while you were still in your mother’s womb. Read Psalm 139 to remind yourself from God’s word, (which is the basis of our truth), just how special and loved you are; then walk in confidence and shine brightly in the knowledge of that love, for then you will be one who attracts others rather than turning them away. You really have nothing to feel insecure about, but if you think you do, then ask Jesus to help you see yourself as he sees you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see myself through your eyes, to know my value to you and be satisfied and secure in that knowledge. Help me to be more concerned with loving others than focusing on myself. Amen.

Now is the time…… To Take Cover

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

Right at this moment the worst bushfires ever seen in our Australian State of Victoria are thundering through the countryside, destroying lives, homes, property, pastures and forest. Survivors are shocked, and broken, thankful and grieving, some are angry at their loss; firefighters are exhausted, endangered and some are wounded in action. Communities are wiped out and the death toll rises daily. It is a truly devastating situation.

A survivor who was interviewed on TV this morning told how the fire approached too fast for them to do anything but run down the paddock where they took cover under wet sheets and blankets in a wombat (Australian animal) hole until the fire had passed.

We surely live in days where uncertainty surrounds and sometimes overwhelms so many in our world. Finances, health issues, families in crisis, and a world in recession cause questions to loom in our minds concerning not only the future, but also the present. The sad truth is that many have no one or nowhere to turn to in their distress.

As Christians we are blessed that we know to whom we can turn in our trouble. As the hymn writer wrote so many years ago; ‘there is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God, a place where sin (fear, anxiety, stress) cannot molest, near to the heart of God.’ Yes these certainly are troubled times but believers have a place of refuge and strength. Our God is always ready to help us in times of trouble. We only need to call out to Him and He will help us.

What a wonderful comfort that is and what reassurance these words of the psalmist offer to us today. We can take cover, or refuge, in God. There is no better place to be. He is always there BUT, we need to come to Him. It is all too easy to forget that He’s there waiting and so we struggle along ‘doing the best we can’. How foolish is that, when help, strength, protection, provision and whatever else we may need is there waiting to be tapped into?

Faith is action. If we say we believe, we need to actively walk in the provision of God. His provision is a place of rest. Our lives lived in stress, anxiety and fear bring no glory to God at all. We are then no different from our unbelieving neighbours, but when, in the midst of uncertainty, disaster and loss we can snuggle into our Father’s arms and find peace and rest, then we show the world the benefits of a life of faith in the living God. The world may be more inclined to listen to our words of witness when they see our faith in action.

Prayer: Lord God, my Saviour and my strength, help me to trust you more and to actively show the power of your peace in my life every day, no matter what life brings. Amen

Now is the time... To Say "No" To Bitterness

“Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant)”, she responded, “Instead call me Mara (bitter) for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full but the Lord has brought me home empty.” Ruth 1:20-21

One of my husband’s favourite sayings is “Hindsight is a useless gift.” In other words it’s easy to look back on difficulties and see why something happened and what (if anything) we could have done to prevent it, but by then it is too late to do anything. We are left with “if onlys”; “if only I had done this,” or “if only I had not done that”, “if only I had listened to that advice”, if only……..

I wonder if Naomi regretted having left her home to go into a far country with her husband; a country which had robbed her not only of her husband but also the lives of her two sons. Yet at the time it had seemed the right thing to do.

The good thing was that she had gained 2 daughters-in-law, one of whom returned with her. Refusing to stay in her home country, she was determined to keep Naomi company on her return home. I wonder how Ruth felt though when she heard Naomi’s words to her kinfolk, “The Lord has brought me home empty.” I wonder if Ruth’s heart was grieved when she heard these words spoken out of the grief and bitterness of Naomi’s heart. Did she wonder why she’d made the sacrifice to leave her own homeland?

Sometimes in the heat of the moment we lose our perspective and our trust, as well as our thankfulness for God’s blessings. Our pain is so great that it casts a huge black shadow over our blessings. Bitterness will always blind us to blessings. Pain in our lives is inevitable but we must allow ourselves to process our pain and grief in a way that does not allow bitterness to take root in our heart. Hebrews 12:15 warns us to be careful and not allow any root of bitterness to spring up within us because it will cause trouble and affect others.

As we look back (with hindsight) we are able to see that, tragic as the situation was, God used it to bring Ruth, who was a gentile, into the lineage of Christ. She married Boaz and became the great grand-mother of King David into whose line Jesus, our Saviour, was born. Because of this Naomi also has a place of honour in history. God brought something special out of her tragedy.

Yes, we are allowed to grieve, be disappointed, feel hurt, anger and other emotions, but we should not allow them to become a foothold for bitterness because if we do, others will be affected and perhaps wounded by us.

Is there any grief or bitterness in your life today? If there is, will you bring it to Jesus and lay it at his feet? He is the One who will heal your heart and restore your peace and joy.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I bring my hurts, my disappointments and all my sorrows to you. Please heal my heart and remove any hint of bitterness that may be hiding there so that I can see what you want me to learn from these difficulties and not be blinded to your blessings. Amen

Now is the time... To Look for the Rainbow

All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining through the clouds. This was the way the glory of the LORD appeared to me. When I saw it, I fell face down in the dust, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me. Ezekiel 1:28

Recently I received news that one of my aunts had passed away. She had been sick for a few short years but she and her husband of many years had fought a good fight together and stayed positive and thankful to the end. I know my uncle will miss her greatly, as will her older sister – they spoke on the phone for an hour every night – but I know that both will have many happy memories to draw upon in the days when their grief seems to overtake them.

Earlier this year as I was learning to settle back into Australian life after many years abroad and feeling a bit sad, I sent a friend some pictures we had taken of beautiful rainbow lorikeets in the tree across from our home. She wrote back “Isn’t God wonderful to give you rainbows at your door.” I realized as I read her words that indeed God had given me my ‘personal rainbow’ to cheer my heart when I was feeling a bit ‘undone’.

Later as I sat writing on my balcony the rainbows were back in their tree, reminding me that we need to actively look for God’s goodness and encouragement in each disappointment, loss or difficult time. He sure is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4) who comforts us in all our troubles …. so that we can comfort others when they are troubled. We can give them the same comfort God has given us, or at least point them to Jesus who is our hope and strong tower.

Today I prayed with a friend who is trying to see the rainbow right now. Their business is in difficulty because of a dishonest partner. My friend now has the added burden of stepping in to work in the business so that they can overcome this disappointment. She has every reason to be angry at the person who caused this predicament but as a Christian she refuses to think that way, but rather to ask God to give her a forgiving heart. I know that she is going to be able to say in the future as Joseph did, “What you meant for evil, the Lord meant for good.” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph refused to be bitter, he continued to do a good job wherever he found himself and God blessed him.

Our trials can be opportunities for us to go deeper; to stop and listen for God’s voice of comfort and encouragement or to look for the beauty of a rainbow, a rose, or even a smile, and be thankful. In our darkest days we can make the choice to turn to our God of all comfort and ask him for a ‘rainbow’. When we look for the rainbow, we are most likely to see the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, open my eyes today to see the rainbows around me. Open my ears to hear your words of comfort when my days are dark, and help me to be ready to pass on the comfort I receive from you to others who are in dark times. Amen

Now is the time... To Hope

…my hope will go down with me to the grave. We will rest together in the dust. Job 17:16

What hopes do you have for this new year? Are you carrying hopes yet unfulfilled from the old year into the new? I hope you are because that means you haven’t given up hope of those things coming to pass.

Job refused to let go of his hope, in spite of being severely tested. He determined to hold onto it and, as he put it, take it with him ‘to the grave’. Those were the words of a wise man, one who trusted God and refused to be defeated. Proverbs 13:12 says ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick’, and it surely can if we let go of our hope, if we refuse to trust in the faithfulness of God.

Speaking of Abraham Romans 4:18 says ‘Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken.’ There was absolutely no human basis for Abraham to hope that he might become a father or Sarah a mother. For more than 20 years he had to totally rely on God’s promise to him before their promised son was born.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we are told that there are three things that will last forever, they are faith, hope and love. Hope is something that will last forever; therefore it is something worth holding on to. A person without hope is a sad person indeed. However our hope needs to be based on the right foundation.

Heading into this new year there are many reasons for people to loose hope, with the economy in downturn mode, people losing their jobs, families falling apart, loved ones diagnosed with serious illness, and seemingly unsolvable problems of famine and war in various countries.
If we look too long at these things we can lose hope.

Perhaps you are facing a mountain of difficulty right now. Don’t let go of your hope. King Jehoshaphat found himself faced with enemy invasion. He knew that his resources were not sufficient to fight such a huge army so he prayed, “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Jehoshaphat’s hope was in the Lord God Almighty and that is where our hope needs to rest too. Too often we live our lives in our own strength and God has to bring us back to the place where we have to trust him and him alone, because our lives are to be lived on a level above the normal. We have been born to a living hope (1 Peter 1:3) and that hope is through faith. Encourage yourself in God’s word today by reading 1 Peter chapter 1.

Prayer: Father God, refresh in me the gift of faith as I begin this new year. May my eyes always be on you, in the good times and in difficulties. You are my hope and my strong tower. Thank you for your unfailing patience and kindness toward me. Amen

Now is the time... To Live Life

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. John 10:10

I have decided to continue the theme of “Now is the time….” into this new year because this moment, now, is all we can ever be assured of having. We have ‘now’ to live; to praise God, to love others, to extend forgiveness, to be kind and thoughtful, to persevere when we feel like quitting, to stir up our gifts, to change direction, to do today what we have been putting off….. the list is endless. We have this moment to live life to the full.

Perhaps you are feeling that you have failed to accomplish anything, or made little progress in your life this past year; I have good news for you, God is the God of new beginnings. Every day we can have a fresh start. Lamentations 3:23 says “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day: (NLT). If he is merciful towards you each day then surely you can be merciful to yourself. What do I mean? I mean that often the thing that prevents us from making a new start is our unwillingness to forgive ourselves, learn from our mistakes and believe that with God’s help, we can go on.

Nothing, I repeat, nothing, not one thing is beyond God’s mercy if your heart is set on following and trusting him. No situation you face is beyond his ability to help and change it – unless you refuse to believe and trust in him. He is the God of the impossible. Impossible is only relative to our humanity, it is not beyond God’s realm of possibility. I sometimes think that we only think things are impossible because we don’t really want to change them or see them change. We get comfortable in our ‘mess’. To step out and step up is uncomfortable so we avoid making the decision to change and make anyone or anything but ourselves the excuse for not living life to its fullest.

As we face this year let us count each moment as a precious gift and live it with a thankful and believing heart. If we can do that I believe we will accomplish much. NOW is the time to start whatever we have been putting off, avoiding or just plain refusing to do. Believe in God, believe in yourself. Believe that you can do whatever he asks you to do. Believe that God’s word is your authority and standard for life and live according to its truth. “My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart, for they will give you a long and satisfying life.” Proverbs 3:1-2.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this moment in time that you have given me. Thank you for the love you shower upon me right now. Thank you for the gifts you have given me to bless others with and accomplish your purposes for me on this earth. Show me whatever I need to do to make the most of my “nows” this year. Amen