Her Life - a jewel in His crown

"She died on Sunday morning.I thought you knew.I am so sorry..."

Instead of shock, I felt God's overwhelming peace.

I had visited her in hospital the end of last week. As she sat propped up in her hospital chair she was frail and just a gaunt shadow of the energetic and glowing woman I had known these past twelve years. Her hands were swollen and she felt ice cold as I held her hand between mine. The physical deterioration in her had been so rapid since the onset of her cancer in May. The specialist nurse walked in and wanted to start her procedure.... one of inserting a tube into a deep vein in my friend's arm that would feed into the heart chamber... and I knew it was time to leave. Now, she was reaching the end. Her frame was a skeleton of her former self as I hugged her, knowing this may be for the last time. Her final words to me were: "I will keep you in my heart".

Back in the hospital car park, I sat and first said a prayer. I asked Our Father to take her home and grant her the rest that she now deserved, rather than prolong the suffering that she was clearly experiencing. Moments later, I started the car engine and drove home knowing that this dear, dear friend who had acted as a second mother to me, was finally going to be in the arms of Jesus.

In the days since that visit, I reflected on the great impact and influence that she has had on my life.....my teacher and my mentor. Every area of contact, every visit, every card, every phonecall, every conversation - she was the one person who always fed scripture and Christian teaching into my life. I knew that every encouragement was always backed with intercessary prayer. For twelve years, God brought me into a relationship with her, for a season in my life. A season that He has used to grow me and develop me. Many are the blessings that He has given me through this friendship shared with my dear friend.

I realise now more that ever, that to be a jewel in His crown as she has been, means loving God with all your heart and being refined by Him to be more like Jesus everyday. When God lives in you and His love shines through, you become the light in this dark world.
Friends, when Jesus spoke again to the people, we read in John chapter 8 verse 12: he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Praise God for my friend and may she now remain in His rest until Jesus comes again.

Amen.

When you feel like you are drowning

"It's a bad one.....very aggressive and incurable. At best the doctors will try and apply palliative care and make her as comfortable as they can." I wailed as the words hit home and the realisation hit me. This is my mother that the doctor is talking about.

As the realisation sank in, I felt an overwhelming sadness and such incredible tiredness. The truth was brutal when told like that, but I wouldn't have wanted to know anything but the truth.

Walking away from the surgery two nights ago, I felt a remarkable peace in the midst of the storm. And then I knew that this peace could only come from One... no-one other than my Father God could leave anyone with such peace in the face of such devastating news.

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

As I have spent many hours yesterday and today reflecting, I know with absolute certainty that my God is in control, that medicine is not an exact science and that He is our healer. I also know that He will use even these circumstances and this situation for good and so I have hope to carry on and face tomorrow.

May God's peace touch you today.

Selah

The Platinum Suite

Ever imagined what God's house is like?

I recently attended the Hillsong Europe Conference... and the venue was the Excel Centre in London....

There in front of me as I walked to the auditorium, were these bold words : The Platinum Suite...and as I stood there, God reminded me of the incredible Home that we are looking forward to.

And then I dreamt of what Our Father's home is like...The Platinum Suite - it has to be, like no other..... one that simply takes your breath away, finer than silver, finer than gold and one so illuminated by His Glory that even platinum will pale into the shadows in His presence.

Situated at the centre of the Universe - the Heart of where we will meet our Saviour and our King.

So you may ask, what are the characteristics of the Platinum Suite:

• Simple and yet inspirational
  
• He just requires you to turn up and to bring as many guests as you can
• The Owner is my best Friend - and I want Him to be your friend too
  

• His house hosts the biggest names in The business - Matthew, Paul, John, Peter, James, Luke.... need I go on?

• Halls and galleries, a mansion with many rooms - Jesus tells us in John 14 verse 2:

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

• To get rid of your daily stresses, all you have to do - is walk in (Matthew 11:28) - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
• He is waiting

I would recommend this home in eternity and for all eternity. It is your home to and to enter all you need to do is knock and the door will be opened. (Matthew 7: 7 ) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

What a wonderful promise, claim it as your own my friend. (Luke 11:9) "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

God bless you

Where is your focus today?

Isn't it incredible how when you have your focus on Jesus, everything else pales into the background and suddenly seems small and insignificant. What a wonderful thought, that as each step of suffering wants to drag you down, Jesus is there to pick you up and carry you ! Have you ever read "Footsteps in the Sand"... I have, many times and identified with it so often.

Yes, you've guessed it... life is challenging.. actually no, it's just pretty tough right now. A new day dawns and just as I want to reach out and enjoy the beauty and the glory of all God has created, the enemy strikes another blow.

I grow weary and my spirits sink... the storms of life are battering me from one side and then the next, I toss and turn and tumble....and then I just remember the great I am, my Master and my Maker....the Great Creator... and then I don't feel so grey anymore. God can calm the storm.

Our God is greater, mightier and more powerful than any multitudes of armies sent out to battle. He protects us on every front and when we stand to face Him, the enemy is always behind us and Jesus is covering our backs. Hallelujah, what a mighty Saviour !! So why don't we call on Him, why do we always try and solve ours and the worlds problems on our own?

Today I was reminded by Joyce Meyer's daily note, of one of God's rich promises over my life (Romans 5: 3 and 4) "...we continue to shout our praise even when we are hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we are never left feeling shortchanged. ...we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit..." Message Bible.

My friend, the enemy has strategies to break you down, to tire you out, to eat you up and then spit you out, to beat you relentlessely - and all to take your focus away from the God given gifts that you are blessed with and that you want to put to God's purposes. Don't let him overcome you, don't let him get the upper hand...Our Father, God with his almighty armies will not let the enemy have his way. Focus your eyes on Jesus and I promise you, you will be the victor.

God has so much planned for you, just as He has for me.... His plans are to prosper you and bless you and to make you His mighty warrior. So if you are feeling low today, just lift your eyes towards the heavens, speak to Jesus and call on His help - and you will see the Glory of the face of Jesus and the darkness will chase into the shadows.

He loves you and never gives up on you !

God Bless you

The light in the night.

"What I'm getting at, friends, .... Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.... Go out into the world , ...a breath of fresh air .....Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night "Philippians 2:13-16: The Message

If ever there was a time to hear good news , it is today, right now.

Have you stopped today to:

• look up at the clouds and see the blue sky
• listen to the birds singing
• noticed the beautiful fragrance in the flowers

• been grateful that you had a good meal last night
• said thank you that you had a bed to sleep in
• celebrated that you woke up to a new morning today

• been excited that you are loved,
• yes, loved by a majestic and heavenly Father
• He is alive and well and in control of every area of our lives,
• You and I don't have to worry , all we have to do is accept His love for us.

Praying blessing into your life today.

Amen

I'm not just a number !

I'm not just a number......this is what I read on a poster as I walked into work.

It rang a chord, or shall I say "dis-chord". How many times have I found myself in earthly slavery and bondage under the guise of the Corporation. How many times have you found yourself crying out that same plea, I am not just a number and tried to convince yourself that you really do matter to the business and hoped that someone would stop and notice ? The rewards are few and far between and sometimes the recognition just never materialises, not even a small gesture of being thanked. A senior staff member I have worked for once, even referred to the people as "bums on seats", how degrading.

This world of commercialism, company mergers and acquisitions, business take-overs, outsourcing and managed services, survives many times by the ugly head of exploitation rearing up onto it's hind legs and manipulating, controlling and emotionally blackmailing or guilt tripping you into just giving more and more and more of yourself and resulting in you sacrificing things that are important and precious times with people that really matter. The enemy is subtle in his robberies. It's an exploitation with an ugly face, one that sacrifices people for profits.

As a manager of various resources, people are key to the solutions and deliveries that are demanded from the business environment that I work in. Daily, I am challenged by the spoken and unspoken needs of the people I work with. The one that cries out at me, is the one that I find often the most difficult to share (by God's strength I am being given the words to now speak out, and share this blessing) ...... and yet, it is the greatest and most precious gift, powerful solution and recognition and reward of all. It is the love of God for us (John 3:16)

I am learning that as God's Holy Spirit is at work in my life, He bubbles over inside me and I have to let Him out......

He has the answers !
He understands it all
He knows our needs and weaknesses
He reveals our imperfections in a loving way-
and then He has the lessons
He guides and steers us
He heals all the hurts
He binds all the wounds
He gives us New Life
He is the Solution (John 11: 25)

My God loves you ... and you... and you.... and yes, even me, warts and all. Won't you give Him the chance to be that answer in your life so that along with me you can stand on the roof tops and shout:

I am not just a number, I am a child of the God most High and my place under His wings with Him, is for eternity.

Hallelujah !!

Deliver your love lettter

We live in a parched and thirsty land, a land that is hungering and doesn't know what it hungers for..... a time when the earth is dry and barren and a sense of darkness prevails. People are searching and are burdened and barely have time to smile. They brush past each other without so much as a second glance. There is not time to lend a helping hand and spend a few minutes listening.

There is an urgent longing for a sense of reality and authenticity in a world filled with gloss, glamour, sensationalism and smokescreens.

Everyday in every area of our lives that you turn to and and every newspaper, tv channel, radio broadcast you watch or read echoes the same headlines. It's all pretty much a picture of doom and gloom, sadness, fear and destruction.

So how in the midst of all this can you even begin to cast your mind into an area of beauty, or even more so, how can you think of delivering a "Letter of love" ?

Today, nothing is needed more than a portrait of Jesus Christ, love itself. God's urgent nudge to us today is to take the message of the love of Christ and the love of God our Father out to the desolate, hungry and helpless in our world and to share with them this incredible message of hope and love and life eternal.

He instructs us in 2 Corinthians 3: 3 :" You.. are a letter from Christ... written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.." We just need to be bold enough to take Him into our everyday lives in our everyday world and He will use us as His "love letters" to deliver His message to His people.

This is a time for action and not to be quiet, a time to stand up and be counted as one of His own in spreading the Big story of His love and the hope we have in Him through faith in Jesus Christ.


====Selah====

Life changing Profit

If you think this article is about financial profit, let me explain that whilst the world is in a financial recession, it isn't in money that we find the answers or the solutions.

Money comes and goes! Even for those who invest it seemingly "wisely" in the eyes of the world and store up huge bank accounts and investment portfolios in any number of guilts, bonds, securities, trusts and range of financial instruments, it is a passing material wealth. It has high value and as valuable currency is only applicable to life here on earth. The real truth is it is a useless currency and has no value in the Kingdom of heaven.

I worked in the heart of London, in the financial centre of the City - where the heartbeat and pulse of the financial institutions, was its bankers, investment managers and portfolio managers.... and their ability to gamble and make money and more profit and more money and more profit as they played with hedge funds, futures and options..... until one day, it all came crashing down.

The outcry and outcome as thousands of people lost their security blankets reached far and wide and impacted homes across the country and the world; and in a few instances a few even lost their lives, unable to cope with the burden and pressures of their financial losses taking their own lives. How could this be part of God's plans that He has to prosper us and to grow us ? This is not the life changing profit I have dreamt of. Wherever we go, there is always a financial transaction involved but do we want to invest in a financial transaction for profit that leads to a path of destruction, despair, anger and hopelessness?

Where is the "key" then that unlocks this Life changing Profit if it is not in material wealth? Have you ever considered that it is not about your wealth but about the wealth of others around you and what you are doing as your part in building God's Kingdom?

As you deposit of your time and energy, other things can become richer. Examine this in the context of what is in your immediate world and sphere of influence.....a family member or a friend. They may have a desperate need. How aware are you of that need and are you willing to get alongside them? If you give of yourself and give of your time to them, your relationship can have an opportunity to flourish and become richer. You may be making a deposit into their lives at a crucial turning point or a life-changing moment.

God has blessed you and loves you, continually making huge deposits into your life and if you share that blessing or pass it on, you are making a life lasting deposit. Isn't that an investment worth making? Taking your experience and depositing into someone else's life, is what life changing profit is all about.

Our God has invested so much in you and me and His investments never end...... now it's our turn to enable some life changing profit in the lives of those around us as we follow God's will in extending His kingdom and letting Him use us as His instruments for investment.

Selah

My conversation with God

God in conversation with you ? Hmmm, you may say, far fetched and not likely !!

I would ask you in return ... and why not? My Father is not a figment of my imagination. He is real, almighty and all powerful, alive and He talks to me.....

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matt 5:16

.......

I send my angels to touch you and My Word is your food and water - like My body is the bread of life and My blood is shed for your eternal life. I don't shout or breathe fire, you will hear My voice as "gentle whisper". Watch out for me and listen for My voice. You are my beloved child and I am taking you to be light in dark places, that people may know and hear My Word.

You may feel like Daniel in the lion's den but I am with you and my presence surrounds you like an invisible mantle. You will have My strength and know my protection as I send you out for my kingdom purposes.

Praise be to God, Amen

There's no time like the present to be with God !

To simply stop in a busy schedule and say "How amazing is our God". Amen.

I have been privileged to have some incredibly powerful and life changing ministry sown into my life in the past year, with where God has led and taken me and He is directing this pen to share some of that teaching with you my friends.

This is the one of those lessons and each lesson I am being taught is a pearl that God is depositing in my life. Pearls are also blessings and blessings need to be shared.

When life gets busy and we are frenetically busy finding little or no time to be with God, God never gets too busy to be with us or to spend time with us. One of the important lessons God taught me through a message given by Pastor Stovall Weems of Celebration Church, Jacksonville, Florida is how critically important it is to protect our personal time with God and how we should do everything in our power to protect this with all we have. Everyday now when I wake, I say: My God, I'm coming after you.

For us to stay fresh and on fire for God, we have to spend daily time with Him. How can we expect a relationship to grow and flourish if we aren't prepared to invest of ourselves into it ? What is one of the things that we have and can give of freely .... our time !

This is not a lesson in how to manage our time, rather it's about understanding how we spend our energies. As Pastor Stovall described it, " Time with God is number 1 !!" and if we don't have a freshness to give our best energy to God, we start to compromise and lose our passion for Him. Is that really what you want ? I know I don't. It's where I used to be and I thank God everyday now that He has brought me from that desert and dryness to a place where I hunger for Him and want to be with Him daily and spend time with Him. You should see how grumpy and disoriented I become when I have compromised starting my day with Him.

He waters and feeds me daily from a life spring and living bread.

At first I thought it was about a regular quiet time with God or a particular place or structure that was necessary, until I realised that I have that conversation with God all day now and it's anytime, anywhere and anyplace. The time I spend with His Word and in quiet prayerful conversation with Him now is awesome. I know I am talking to my Father and I know He hears and leads me.

Perhaps something in this little pearl will touch you too and cast a light into a dark space for you.

God Bless