Author: words and signs

Earthquake!

Earthquakes abound in our world. Some we hear about, most we don’t. The earth is restless, waiting for the redemption and setting free of God’s people. These are the last days. Wars, rumours of wars, tourmoil in the natural world and in human society. This earthquake story happend some years ago in Turkey and the world was left stunned as we watched on our TV screens. This is Gods’ message in every human disatser. JESUS said “Come to me, all you who are troubled and deeply burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The shock of earthquake has hit Turkey, and once agian we are seeing on our TV screens, the impact of mighty tremours on the surface of our planet. Our buildings and roads are instantly turned into piles of rubble and concrete, and lives are torn in two and many lost forever to this world.

We watch the rescue teams who test, search and dig day and night, to try to rescue the few that may have survived the trauma, and perhaps bring them to the surface and safety.

Crowds of people wait, shout, pray, as they stand at the mouth of a hole in the mountain of debris, waiting incessantly for any sound or sign, that someone, anyone is alive.

Suddenly the cry goes up. She’s alive! A stretcher is passed over the heads of the orange-clad rescuers, carefully, gently, thankfully, and on to the waiting ambulance. There is cheering, clapping, high-fives, as the survivor is taken away to be cared for by those who can help.

There was once another rescue mission. A bid to save men, women, boys and girls, from death and destruction. You and I were among those, buried in the filth and trap of sin, unable to release ourselves from the certain death, which is waiting only a step away.

Jesus, our only hope of rescue, waits, searches, calls to us to come to him, and to be found by him. When he finds us, there is such rejoicing in heaven and earth, that someone has been taken from the wreckage of a sinful life, and is now safe forever. He takes them for the clutches of satan, and sets them free to live lives walking with him, and ultimately, to heavens reality.

The only problem for us, is that we don’t realise it and don’t feel our need. We have been trapped for so long, and are so numb toward God, that we die quietly and unsensingly. When he calls you, call out to him, and follow him. Why die when he is so near and loves you so much?

Greed

The face of greed is one that is attractive and monstrously hideous. The gospel of greed is constantly preached on every level of our society, and we are all encouraged to make money, build business, empire and all that is judged to make a country great. The few use the skills and talents of many to make an edifice of the factory and a money-making machine, so that the appearance of progress is seen and felt.

So many get squashed in the process, and their efforts are under recognized and under paid, and so the people at the top get richer and in real terms, the people who actually do the work, get persistently poorer. There are many others who have no hope of ever being able to even attempt such enterprise, and a cloying sense of failure inhabits the street of too many towns and cities.

Generation after generation suffer the after-effects of recession and the destruction of their local businesses, that have seemingly become out-of-date, but even after many years, nothing is put in their place. People have to live their lives in such sorrow, disappointment and the knowledge that it will not get better. They cannot move and have no access to learning anything that will change their lives.

The television shows a multitude of goods with glamour and necessity, but few can really afford such things and so the feeling of exclusion from the general society grows. Pictures of holidays to amazingly beautiful places that are the common destination, it would seem, must fuel the fire of resentment and poverty.

It is all a tiresome dream. Even those who are in the happy layer of society, experience breakdowns in their relationships and in business too, as the culture is now so volatile and fickle, so that nothing is certain and life becomes a turn on the roulette wheel.

Gambling has taken a hold and the high street is full of various types of betting shop. The stakes are so high and the winnings so low, that it becomes pointless to even worry about tomorrow and we just live for today, giving new meaning to the phrase “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” A cold and destructive sadness has gripped the nation and is set against the talking up of all the building and beautiful stuff going on around us, to try and sooth us in our sorrows and comfort us in our looses.

Schools have become sweat-shops where little children are maneuvered and manipulated into believing they are regarded as important, and that what they do is successful. The perpetual motion of the yearly cycle seems to bring changes, but in reality, nothing really changes.

The feeling of inevitability is crushing and outlook for the future shows empty hope and waking dreams. Who can address this situation? We are all caught up in it and the feeling of dread can be so destructive. It is easy to believe that no one is in control and we just have to put up with whatever happens, weather we like it on not.

There is another life, and inner life that no one can touch or destroy, a life that has such quality that it can overwhelm and counteract that destitution on the outside world. Human beings who have this life are the ones who hold the future and the sure and certain hope of a glorious day ahead.

If you are one such person, what are you doing about this state? Do we bury our heads in the sand of our own family, church and friendship group? Or do we use all our powers and resources to reach out. What would you be prepared to do? How much does God require of you?

If you have hope of heaven and are silent towards other people, what does that mean? I am not talking about setting up missions for a week, or some rather lame outreach into the community to salve our consciences. This is a serious and eternal business. God wants all. He is not willing that any should perish in the pit of destruction- what about you?

Gone are the days of philandering with friends in church and we now have the years ahead of deeply committed Christian service for the Master, Jesus the Lord. He calls you… do you hear. If you don’t obey, what does that mean?

The joy of knowing His presence with you and His power sustaining you, will be enough to keep you going. All the earthly props and pretences will melt away, and only Christ is left.

He is able to do more than we would ever ask or imagine! What a life to live in that blessed place, where His Spirit enervates and teaches and applies the Word of God to our lives.

“Lord, I lay myself down a your feet, that I might serve aright in this life, and forever enjoy the delights of perfect service above.”

Do you really?

As Christian people we continue to have so many problems and issues that dog our lives and hurt us. We are supposed to be people of the scriptures, reading, believing and working out the principles demonstrated there, in our lives, with the Spirit of God dwelling in us and motivating and giving us power to live right. And yet our lives are so taken up with trivialities and the reflection of Christ is hard to see.

Why is it so hard for us to follow the light? Why are we dragged down by responsibility and the hardships that life brings for us?

To be like Christ is a very difficult road, because, in our natural state, we are sinful and selfish, and we are really most comfortable doing what we want to do with the people we best relate to. We find a position in life that suits us and settle into it like a comfortable armchair, believing it to be our destiny.

We do not need to read far in the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life, to see that this was not his mind set, nor reason for being on this planet. He came to do his father’s will and to give his life, deliberately, as a ransom for creatures that hated him and had no intention of believing what he taught. Everything he did and said was for others, from the words that stilled the storm, to the intentional laying down of his very life to pay for our sins.

He was poor, a man of sorrows and aquainted with griefs. No one understood him, he had no confidant, except his father in heaven, and no fellow-human could care for his Spirit or deep emotional needs. Yet he reached out his hands continually to the needy and forgave the sins of the worst kinds of rotters imaginable. He had no prejudice, no ill-will, no spite, no self-righteous cravings and no hope of reaching a ripe old age. The people of his age would see to that…

This perfect person stood out above and beyond anyone, not because of cleverness or fake celebrity, but because he was true and honourable and loving. We don’t like this kind of thing, as it shows us up and makes our conciences hurt and blames us. We like those who are like us and who keep us lulled into a false sense of comfort, and justify our selfish ways.

The closer we seek to be in our walk with God, then the more conscious we become of our own wrong ways and the more painful it is to examine ourselves.

When we pray “Lord, make me as you are” what exactly are we asking for? Are we asking for hardship, pain and loss, or some sort of angelic-like aura around our heads? Perhaps we need to re-evaulate that particular prayer and think carefully about what we ask for. The Jesus of the scriptures, was such a loving and giving person, that we hated him. Is that really what we want? Surely this prayer, above all others, is the most dangerous, indeed perhaps even reckless?

To walk the narrow way is dangerous and only the convinced in heart can manage it, the recklessness of seeing beyond the here and now and seeing the joy of the presence of this amazing God, Jesus.

Can my problems all melt away, or am I doomed to fight endlessly with them, never quite overcoming the deadening grip they hold on me? We can find victory, as our Lord did as he walked this gloomy planet, but the fight is real and our weaknesses and sins will not be finally finished, until we step over the threshold into the glorious home, where Christ’s presence is bodily real.

However, as we learn to overcome them, we can know the power of Christ, daily, and the issues and skirmishes seem lesser and easier to put down. The power of his resurrection is real and his joy knows no bounds, and it is the Christians pleasure to know it and feel it.

Do you long for others to have what you have and know this Chirst? Now is the time to be brave and speak up, not allowing tedium and mediocrity to infest your spirit, but to share the love of Christ to those who happen to be around you. Then you will know him working through your weakness to bring people to the one who can turn them around and make them, also, like him.

Prophet of the Lord

A prophet is someone who knows God in a deeply personal way and who has weighty insight into the Word of God. This person has the gift of wisdom and can explain the mysteries of God revealed by the Holy Spirit who dwells within that person. Their souls are overcome with Christ and their desires are for the spread of the truth about God and the witness of the gospel of grace to outsiders.
This person is often lonely and sidelined as it is difficult for light to dwell with darkness.
However, the power of God is able to make that person to stand and speak graciously and bring people who are antagonistic to the way of Christ and His glorious kingdom to follow and obey and share.
Lord, may this prayer be of me.

let all of us as God’s people seek Him.

Making waves

We watched on news footage as a huge, destructive tsunami broke over a small Japanese fishing village. A dark, onimous wave of death, seeping quickly over the landscape. As it swept all before it, homes, shops, churches – everything, we watched as it swelled nearer and nearer to a small figure, walking along a path, oblivious to what was right behind. The small body continued in quiet, progress with neither hurry nor panic, not knowing that is seconds, he or she would be swept away forever. People watched in horror, as the tiny figure was engulfed and finally feeling the cold embrace ot the wave, another soul was swept into eternity.

As we walk along the road of our lives, we are often unaware of the enormous surge of things we have done wrong. Hurtful words and selfish deeds that blight our lives and mount up as a mighty ocean of debt to our maker. This tsumani of sinfullness will eventualy catch up with us and sweep us away. Somehow we forget what we do, and we can become very efficient at silencing our conciences. Sooner or later, it will spring into life, and cause us great pain.

There is one who’s immeasurable love caused him to suffer and die on a cruel cross, to pay for our sins and wrong doing. He is the only one who can deal with the mountain of sin and guilt, which rightly belongs to us. We need to seek him and find him, before we also are overcome by the wave of death. God warns us and speaks to us by allowing waves of adversity to overcome our lives and the world we live in, in order to jolt us out of our complacency. He lovingly calls to us to seek him with all our hearts and have our moral debts settled everlastingly. At that point we enter the calm and safe haven of fellowship with God.

Working life

NOTE: I wrote this article in 2011. It seems cogent to bring it up again. Our country is going for an election and massive changes yet again. I have seen some changes happen and some movement away from the strident power hungry oligarchs we see on TV, except for one, who is a bit different. I pray that God will raise up a bold and honest person, who will have little regard for himself and turn the clock back to times of provision, sharing and lovingkindness…

queen joke

Working life

I have worked in paid employment all my life, except for the early years in my children’s life, when it was decided that I stay at home and give them the best possible start to face the world they were born into. I will never regret this, in fact I sometime wish I had lengthened it rather than returning to work when they were both at school.

This period of time was one of shortages for us with no frills and doing without, but we had a quality of life as a family, that money could not provide. There were times of not being able to pay for the weekly shop at the supermarket, but we never went hungry or felt hard done by. There was no car, holiday or new clothes, but the ability to make things good with what we already had. There is such nobility in allowing God to order each seemingly small circumstance of our lives, and experience His sovereign ruling on all fronts.

When a second salary was available, we moved to a bigger house in the city, as the tiny flat we lived in became too small for four people. It all seemed to happen at the right time. Our home is where we all live and breathe and think and plan. It was an investment for our children in the future and to help them get their own lives and ease the burden of earning and digging their own way out of debt and expense.

Because of recent events in politics and economics, that will probable not be the case. Unless we as parents keel over one day soon and leave the scene, we will eat up all the savings and when we do go, our children will be left with no inheritance or financial back up that we had planned. This is the way of the world.

They will also have huge debts, which have built up as university fees, and student loans, and this will hang like an albatross around their necks. This is not what they were promised by the politicians. They will find it increasingly hard to get a job, specifically the job they studied hard to prepare for, and will end up doing whatever jobs are available in a shrinking job market.

Moving out of the family home will not be an option, because they can’t afford deposits for rent or mortgages and cannot earn enough to support that lifestyle. There are many who continue to be denied the opportunity to have their own lives, and make their own decisions about basic human choices, and this will become the norm, as money is squeezed from households already feeling deep cuts.

For the next generation after, it will be worse. European countries and banks are collapsing and in desperation governments are propping them up with citizens money, just to give the impression that it is not too bad after all. But the effects of these incidents will reverberate though the years and the bill has to be picked up by someone.

It is foolish to put your hopes in what this world says or offers. We must be wise and subtle when making decisions and thinking about the future. Consider what will last and what will not get destroyed in the meddling in the systems of human machinations. The future really is very uncertain and we are experiencing this in a direct way, which will affect the outlook of everyone.

Fortunately we are more then breath and appetite. There is the internal world of our true selves, which goes on regardless of outside agencies. We must guard that and treasure that and keep it pure and in tune with what is right and true.

The infestation of regret, disappointment and bitterness will destroy us more than not having enough money to go to the movies. This is going to be the biggest problem facing future generations and also the greatest opportunity for our country to think again about what is real and worthwhile.

It is positive to know that there is one who cares and who provides for all His people no matter what. I think it must be so difficult for our children to think about what to do, and my hat goes off to them as they forge ahead and put their all in to what they have been given to do.

It is amazing how positive we can be, even in discouraging days and we must trust in the one true God that he will give us strength and hope as we face each day. Just as my family faced lean times all those years ago, so we will prevail in these seeming difficulties too.

I continue to work part time, in the strength that has been given me. The circumstances of workplaces are so pressurized, unstable and consumed with this life and this world. The power we have comes only from a soul renewed and given spiritual life by the God who made it and has planned the future for the person. We do His will and keep His precious precepts and rejoice each day in His love.

None of us are promised tomorrow, but we walk by faith and not sight. This is the way to heaven and the delight of walking in his presence every day.

Will everyone be saved?

The Apostle Pul wrote to Timothy regarding the salvation of the world.

1 Timothy 2:4 “God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

This would seem to be a declaration of the false doctrine of universal salvation. Universal salvation holds to the idea that God is love and will not let people be punished by going to hell. It purports to be the kind and gentle alternative to the harsh realty of the law of God and the depths of depravity of the life of sin.

God’s heartfelt desire is that every human being will come to Him and enjoy His love and forgiveness forever, but God is bound by His own holy law and the eternal justice that makes Him God over all.

God is holy. This is a fact that we can never really grasp. His holiness reach far beyond the skies and even hell itself is a reflection of that burning goodness. Hebrews 12:29 “God is a consuming fire” There is no messing about with God, duping his wisdom or hiding from that all searching eye. His holiness is maintained by Himself.

Those who are fearful are the wise ones. Salvation is not given by God to everyone, and that should drive us to our knees and entreat the Father to save us. This is why God sends out His messengers to preach and reach out with the truth in love. Men and women who will be honest and warn people of their need and tell them that Christ has died for them.

The Lord Jesus Christ holds out His hands of mercy- wounded by the love that kept Him on the cross, to die for sinners. This is the offer of grace.

God’s desire is love. His will is perfect and good and he has chosen a people for his name. They will all be saved and come to that knowledge of the truth. Why not every one? Because God in His holiness is bound by that same holiness. No evil will ever enter the eternal kingdom. God is God and cannot break His own moral law, and become a hypocrite. He is true and only He is true. The difficulties arise for us when we think we can take on that mighty intellect and come up with an argument that will surprise or thwart the Holy God!

Our response to him is the bended knee and the heart of repentance which He then fills with faith. As we exercise that gift of faith, we are instantly saved. A point in time and space when God met man and preformed a miracle of grace, also known as the foot of the cross. What a Saviour…!

Revealing the secret things of God

2017-04-11 16.23.12

Maybe no particular human being should do so. Maybe the place for these treasures are not in sermons or in talks or public discussions. These secret things are revealed to the Believer as they read the holy scriptures and the Holy Spirit reveals to them the things of God. Things that God wants is people to know in their personal, deep and holy spiritual lives. There are things that only God can show His people. This is why we need to draw aside by ourselves and be in God’s presence and keep company with Him.

Going to church is not enough. Listening to sermons is not enough. We need to draw close to Him and build our own personal lives with Him, so that what is revealed to us is first hand and is precious to us, because He himself showed it to us, by the Living Spirit within.

Some might say, well people will get it wrong. They need a mediator to explain everything and make sure everyone stays on track. This sound very like a religious movement, or even a new religion! This is often this is how these organisations/denominations/religions start. They have a form of “godliness” but the power is denied. A few years into the new schemata, and things are going a bit wrong, so we feel the need of help from the outside to make our ideas cogent.

There is a choice at this point. Do we carry on regardless with fingers crossed, or do we earnestly repent and call on the living God to come down and change us from the inside out. Really, for the Christian there is no choice.

The dependency culture is propagated, and very quickly, “Christians” are asleep and the personal life in and with the Spirit is gone. We all need guidance and it is good to share and listen to others, but pushing church leaders into role of priest and king, is not helpful for them, or for those who depend on them. Every Christian is called to be priest and king

The bigger the organisation, the greater the problem. It becomes a kind of trap, and complacency takes hold and soon we are a social group, serving each other with very little love for Christ or others.

Reading books, especially of people who are gone before, can be very helpful. It is good to read and listen, but we do so with the Bible open before us and the witness of the Holy Spirit in our souls. The bottom line for truth is the Word of God, and the discerning power of the Spirit.

This is not a free for all.

Women

God us not thrilled about the attitudes displayed towards a His daughters, in these modern church days. The attitude of Jesus was not the same as is displayed in many church situations. When we view Him as He walked this earth, He spoke and treated women as actual beings, and dealt with their inner and deepest needs of forgiveness and communion with God. It was revolutionary in the male- orientated culture, and it is still different to the prevailing culture today.

The interactions of Christ with women of all sorts and backgrounds was opposite to the way women were treated in their culture at that time. He spoke to them respectfully, and with honesty and challenge to show them who He was and their need of Him. They reacted in faith and love and gave their lives to Him, to serve Him always. The devotion of women has always been remarkable, and their mindset is often one of great piety and love for Christ.

We see Jesus interacting with women who lived sinful lifestyles and speaking to them with love and the desire to bring them to Himself. We see The Lord speaking with a woman believer and interacting with her as they discussed theology. He was able to meet each one as they needed and treated them as individuals, who He had made for Himself.

Jesus knew their devotion and cherished the care and support He and His disciples received, in the women’s homes. Working women financially and practically supported The Lord in His earthly ministry and He was accepted without reservation into the homes of His daughters. He did not treat them as servants or children, but knew the depths of their love and worship of His person.

In these days, we seem to have lost that idea of offering everything to the Lord, and we tend to think it is all about strategy. We focus on the practicalities of activities, rather than the spiritual elements. This is reflected in our prayers and the lack of personal love to Christ.

Perhaps we need to examine the lives of women and find our way back to holiness and personal devotion to The Lord Jesus.

Devotion to Christ is directly linked to the strength of our faith and our ability to keep going in His service. There are many women who serve silently and unseen who’s work will only be revealed on the last day. Love keeps going regardless and rests on the love of the Saviour. Women are blessed with this gift, and God values it highly. Even if others do not, let us not give up our reward, for worldly recognition and social gain.

All Christians need to re-examine their attitudes to each other, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and adjust attitudes in a just and spiritual way. To exercise control strategies towards women, makes everyone less and all miss out the blessing of women being free to serve God as He decides.

Let us speak in love

Ephesians 1:17-21 ”I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

Paul rejoices in the power and work of the Spirit, but appeals to us to stick to “sound doctrine” which we learn for the study of the word. We learn wisdom, knowledge, discretion, judgment and gain insight from the Word of God applied to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God will always prevail and God will raise up whoever He chooses to speak the truth in love. Let it be me, let it be us…. Lord, take away my indolence and apathy and fill me with the FIRE of your HOLY SPIRIT to live and speak for you.

Daughters of the Kingdom

Women who glorify God