Dining With The King

Mephibosheth-Exterminator of shame

In the bible Mephibosheth is the son of Jonathan, King Saul's son, Prince of Israel.  When Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle and David rose to assume the throne in Israel, it was customary to slay all of the heirs to the throne.  This meant that David had the ability to kill Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, to protect his rule. 

David and Jonathan were friends with bonds akin to brothers.  Their friendship was absolute, both loved God, and both were honourable men.  David swore to look after Jonathan's family in the event of his death, and David kept his oath, even at the protest of some of his advisors.  He accepted Mephibosheth into his family and he became one of King David's sons, eating and communing with the king.  When Mephibosheth was condemned to death by his circumstance, David saved him. I love this history because it shows the absolute grace and mercy that God has for his children. It is a foretaste of what Christ would do for us on the cross.

Does this sound familiar to you?

God made a promise many years ago now, to provide a way for everyone to be made right with him.  While we were condemned by our circumstances, weighing heavy under sin and lost, God invited us to his home.  He keeps his word, and makes a way for us to become son's and daughters of the King.  We are now able to eat at his table, and are reunited in relationship with Him.  There is no condemnation for those who know Jesus. Even though we were destined for death, God showed us mercy and grace, that is beyond our comprehension.  We won't ever understand it with our minds but we know it in our hearts.

Often when the story of Mephibosheth is spoken about, the focus in is on his disability and injury.  God has shown me that there is much more to glean from this story.  I love that Mephibosheth's name means 'the exterminator of shame'.  God took his shame, and brought him to dwell with the king, and live a life of great privilege.  He was redeemed by David.

How much greater is our redemption that we have the opportunity to be kids of the King; our God who's kingdom will never end!

Lemon and Lime, Hold the Bitters

The last few weeks have been monumental.  Don has been continually studying/cramming for the last 7 weeks.  He passed two exams only to fail the third.  The boys and I have been to Qld, where I attended the Word Writers Conference in Brisbane and then had a few days holiday with family.  Since we have arrived home we have been very busy, and the boys and I have had a head/cold/fever.To top it off Centrelink called yesterday to inform us that they were decreasing our payments as they had made a mistake with their calculations. Oh dear.  I am sure that you have days like this, sometimes weeks even, where everything just seems to go pear-shaped.

The world suddenly becomes much to big for it's boots and you feel like you are about to be buried under a pile of rubble. 

Do not despair, God is there.

He has not gone somewhere just because things are not going swimmingly in your life, in fact if anything he is closer than the air your breathe.

Do not allow bitterness to settle in your heart, but let yourself be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2)

Do not compare yourself and your situation to others around you.  Each of us is on our own unique journey, and though we may encourage and uplift one another, comparing will do you no favours.  People will always be better off than you, people will always be worse off than you.  Your problems are as significant as the next persons and your troubles will not overcome you, if you give them over to God in prayer.

God can take what is broken in your life and turn it around for your good.

Harbouring self pity and bitterness in your heart bind God's ability to help you.  He will not force you to choose him.  He has always given us free will. 

I am not rebuking you today, I am reminding myself and sharing with you in the process.  I will not pretend to be more than I am.  I would be nothing but for the mercy of God.

We know many families going through life changing circumstances and unimaginable heartaches, we know people that are struggling to pay bills, have ongoing depression, some who are watching their kids struggle daily with their health, and some who have lost them this side of heaven.  But I will not take on their burdens or they will crush me.  Only Jesus was designed to carry the weight of the burden of sin.  He did it all on the cross for us so that we would not have to crushed under the weight.  I warn you, as I warn myself, do not harbour disappointment, anger, resentment and offence in your heart.

I will cry with them, I will laugh with them in victory, I will carry them to God in prayer.

'Father God refresh my mind and heal the wound left by bitterness in my heart.  Forgive me.  I love you.  I wait for your joy in the morning.'

When Your Children Suffer He Knows

Do you see how our children suffer Lord?

Do you see the pain in his eyes, and the fear that grips him, when he sees yet another syringe?

Do you see the look of absolute helplessness in his eyes, as I plead with him to sit still just for a moment and the pain will be gone soon?

Do you hear his laboured breathing, his eyes pleading with me to help him, just get one more breath?


Do you see my heart ache when I cannot help him?

Do you see him longing to run with the other kids, and not grow weary?

Can you feel the painful lump in my throat, and the tears stinging the back of my eyes, as I try to be strong for his sake?

Do you hear me, when I want to scream, but I don't because I am in the middle of a crowded place, so every fiber of my being shakes with distress and anger?

Yes, I see how MY children suffer.

Do you see the courage in your son's eyes, even when he has to endure another procedure?

Do you see the trust in him, when he resigns to let the doctors touch him, even when every part of him wants to get up and run?

Do you see me standing and holding his other hand, while his breathing labours and your heart breaks?

Do you see him content in himself even with his physical limitations, and how he draws the attention of the others in a room with his endearing and steadfast spirit?

Do you feel my heart break along with yours?  Do you feel my arms around you, strengthening you in every situation?

Do you hear me when I whisper quiet words to your heart in the midst of your anger, and how my unconditional love melts away every argument you bring?

Yes Lord, I know all of these things.

Take the fear of the future from me Lord, I cannot handle the thought of any more pain.  You have promised his healing, and so to you I turn my eyes and, in You I choose to place my hope. 

If someone you love is suffering, Jesus knows and you are not alone.

PS.  Sam and the rest of our family are well. I just wanted to share this discussion that I had with God today, to encourage anyone else who may face an ongoing battle.   Even on days when the physical pain is not so present, my heart aches at times, looking at the path we are walking.  Thankfully, Jesus knows, he suffered in my place, and is more than equipped to handle my feelings.  He waits to hear yours as well.

Renewed

For everyone will be tested with fire. (Mark 9:49, emphasis added)

None of us like the thought of walking through fire.  It does not seem logical that we would enjoy something that threatens to consume our very being.   From a young age we are taught to be wary of fire, to steer clear of it, and enjoy it's warmth from a distance. However being in the midst of it is far from enjoyable.  When my husband burned his finger many years ago, he said it was one of the most painful experiences he had ever endured.  A burn also takes a great length of time to heal, and in doing so still leaves a scar.

The above verses may initially may seem threatening, but are in actual fact a promise that we would do well to lay hold of.  

Everyone is going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you'll be well preserved from the eternal flames. (Mark 9:49 -The Message)

God does not allow the trials and tribulation in our lives to consume us.  He uses times of testing to refine us, to bring us into closer relationship with Him. 

A year before our youngest son Sam was born, God gave me a vision in the night, of our family walking through liquid fire, and being preserved in the midst of it.  We were spent, but preserved. 

In this way God controls the ferocity of the fire, much like a controlled burn of the woodland.

Controlled burning:
Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters.
Controlled burning stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest. (Source)


Just as in the forest, fire cleans out the debris in the underbrush, and prepares us for new growth.  It stimulates all of the seeds (truths), that God has been hiding in our hearts, and as they emerge the charred black remains begin to flourish, with vibrant green shoots, which stand in stark contrast to the barren wilderness.
These spiritual changes are what others see, when we emerge from times of hardship.  Outwardly, we seem to have been worn beyond recognition, overcome by past circumstances, and a shadow of our former selves. Then suddenly vibrant new growth appears, and transfixes those that thought we had succumbed to the fire.   I for one am thankful for the times of fire in our life.

(Picture source)

What appears in the charred ashes, is the most breathtaking new growth you will ever see, this side of heaven.

Prayers Answered!

I know, two updates in one day-crazy.

Jack will be starting school very soon, we visit the school in the morning and there will be no problem with him starting!

We have a home approved to rent!  We move in on Friday.  Halllllllellllujahhhh!!

Praise God with me :)  He is awesome!  Thank you for your prayer.  We feel like we are walking on the water. 

Pray that all goes well with the move and that we can settle in to this new place.  I look forward to sharing with you more regularly soon.

Stepping Out of the Bubble

I heard a very profound reminder over the weekend, that hit home like a slap across the face.

'Your bubble is not the world's reality'

I experienced the most wonderful times of worship over the weekend with many great women of God.  I had the blessing of hearing many anointed speakers and God spoke to me throughout it all.  However, it was the phrase above that humbled me the most.  I was challenged by this statement.  Our bubble is a comfortable place to be.  We like routine.  We like familiar environments, familiar faces and comfort.  However God has not called us to a comfortable life.  He has called us to an obedient life, one of daily obedience that regularly calls us out of our bubble.  There is a whole big world outside of our bubble.

The next profound challenge to me was:

The minute we become comfortable with  Jesus, we have made him in our own image".

Wow.  Let's explore that for just a moment.  The moment that we take Jesus for granted, answer him when we feel like it, obey him sometimes, and make him a part of our lives rather than him being our life, we have made God in our own image.  That is a powerful statement.  That draws us to account and brings us to a place where we have to repent.  We have no choice.  We do this, there is no denying it.  Even though every part of our spirit wants to serve and love God with reckless abandon, our flesh rebels and seeks what it thinks is best for us, contrary to God's plan. 

I don't want to serve a God I have made in my own image.  A God that I have put in a cage and open the door when I want to give him a cuddle and a pet.  I desire and declare that I want to serve God as he has always been, the Lord God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Hosts, The Great I Am.

Although I have stepped out of my bubble in the last 5 years, it has been a sometimes slow process.  And that is OK.  Sometimes God works quickly in our lives and at other times at a much more steady pace.  It is during the journey that God develops that character that he desires in each of us.  This is good news friends;  very good news.  We don't have to struggle to better ourselves.  We don't have to beg and plead and do ten courses on 'How To Be a Better Christian'. 

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOVE, LISTEN AND OBEY. 

Simple, unburdened, unbridled, unparalleled grace.

And so as I work through these things in my heart with God.  I leave you with the same challenge. 

Are you ready to step our of the bubble you have always known?

Are you prepared to let God be God of your life?

(The two profound statements above have been lovingly borrowed from Nicole Conner, of Citylife Church Melbourne)

Trio

I was listening to a message today, and as I did God began to speak to me about faith.  Faith is the appearance and reality of God's Word in our own Spirit.  Faith grows through trusting God and seeing his goodness and faithfulness unfold in your everday life.  The only way to grow your faith is by the Word of God and Holy Spirits guidance. It is a spiritual experience, not something that is a product of our hands and feet. 

In the midst of this God began to show me a field of clover.  The clover was thick in parts and in other parts, beautiful green lawn was apparent.  He showed me how the clover was strangling the grass.  How the lawn needed light to thrive and grow, and how the clover was slowly spreading over the top of the grass, blocking out the light.  As the grass was covered in darkness, it died leaving only the clover.


I then looked carefully at the clover and I noticed it had three distinct leaves. 

God then spoke to my heart:

Faith is just like this field of vibrant green lawn.  It relies on the light (My Word) to grow and flourish, it is watered by the morning dew (My Spirit).  The clover is sin.  It is a viscious unrelenting weed suffocating the life out our you faith. The leaves of the clover are three in number-fear, doubt and unbelief.  Fear doubt and unbelief rob you of your faith.  The enemy uses them without mercy to plant seeds in your mind and when you believe them, the clover grows, destroying the growth of your faith.  My Word is trustworthy and true.  I am faithful and my promises are always fulfilled.  Do not allow the enemy to plant these seeds in your spirit.  The unholy trio of fear, doubt and unbelief must be dealt with strongly and quickly.  Clover is a seasonal plant, it dies when the Summer comes.  So let the Word of God shine brightly and let my Spirit water you daily and soon the season will pass and the weed will be no more.

Recently I have been battling fear head on, and when I let the fear in, doubt quickly followed.  Thankfully I have a loving and faithful God who speaks to me and saves me when I call out to him.  I wonder if you will pray for me to overcome this season, with his strength.  I wonder if you too go through seasons such as this?  Sharing my weakness is not an easy thing to do, but I will do it for his glory. And perhaps God's words and my honesty will somehow help you, in your own walk with him.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)

A New Take on Footprints

On our recent trip to the coast God has been speaking to me about footprints.  The picture below represents my life before I knew God.  There were many different paths, some long, some short, some went in circles and most had no sure ending.  The footprints were confusing and choices were based on my previous understandings and experiences.  Following that maze of footprints was a game of chance, which always led me away from my true purpose.  And although it seemed fun at the time, I was worn out, tired and just wanted to find the right path; the footsteps that were tried and true.  The ones that would lead me on with certainty.

When I gave my life to God, all of the other footsteps dissolved away like the ebb and tide of the sea had smoothed them away.  One set of solid footsteps remained.  They were tested, true and strong in their conviction.  They were a narrow set of footprints, unlike the maze I was used to following.  They were ordered by the Word of God, my map of sorts, so I know that they are not based soley on my previous expeirences.  They are the footprints of many before me.  The footpints of a loving and merciful God, who did not leave us to meander through the wilderness, but gave us a path and map.  He also gave us the Holy Spirit who helps us to read and understand the map and guide us when the tide threatens to pull us off the path.  I know I am not alone on this path, God is with me, in me, each and every step of the way.

 Our paths may vary in their terrain but the footprints remain the same.  All God asks of us, is to love him and others around us and obey his words.  Each day, one foot after the other is what he is looking for.  My path is not mundane by any account, in fact it is action packed.  There is no boredom and lack of freedom in loving God.  He is the One who made freedom possible. 

You see when I used to follow the footprints in the first photo I had no idea where I was going.  Now I do.  And my path doesn't end with death but life everlasting. 

Which footprints do you follow?  Who made the footprints you follow?  Do you trust them with your life?

Whispers To My Heart - I'm With Him

The time has now come when you can ask Father God for anything in my name.  I don't have to ask him for you, because he absolutely adores you and listens to your every word.  He loves you because you love me.  He loves you because of who you know, not what you do.
(Spoken to Nicole from John 16:26-27)

Don't you just love this passage?  We can ask God for anything and step into his holy presence anytime, because we know and are saved by Jesus.  We don't have to ask Jesus to go to the Father for us for anything,  because we are already known to Father God by our relationship with his Son.  We are eternally marked by grace, mercy, love and power because we are the children of God.  We are let into the throne room every time, not by the things that we do to try and please God, but because we have street cred with his son.  It doesn't matter what you wear, where you live, where you work or what you achieve.  If you are saved by Jesus, he can't love you anymore than he does right now.  His love is unconditional.  It doesn't wane because he already knows what you were going to do in the future anyway.  His love cannot grow any stronger because it is already perfect.  What an absolute privilege to have this kind of relationship with my Creator and Lover of my soul.
And if you don't know Jesus.  He waits for you to call on him.  He watches you lovingly and tries to get you attention in many different ways.  You know what I am talking about.  He can't wait to take you to meet his Father.  They miss you very much.
Do you know how much he loves you?

Help is on the way

Praise God there has been no reports of loss of life yet from cyclone Yasi.  How amazing it is that the cyclone slowed and delayed the huge storm surge they were predicting.  What great mercy God has shown!  I pray God gives each person in those communities today the courage and strength to go through the restoration they now face.

Don left this morning with the fleet of Blackhawks and they are headed to either Rockhampton or Mackay to help with the recovery and restoration.  Keep him in your prayers.  All of the helpers involved in the cleanup up there will need our prayers and support.  I don't know how long he will be gone.  We asked God if he wanted Don to go and he was asked at the last minute last night, so we know he is in the right place.

It was a bit disrupting for the boys as we had to wake them at 4.30am this morning to run Don to work and say goodbye.  They had no warning of him going to leave.  So pray for us too if you can that the next few weeks will be blessed at home.

Mercy From Yasi

If you aren't already, please spend some time praying for people in the path of cyclone Yasi.  This is now officially the biggest cyclone in Australia's history.  It is affecting a huge area of coastline and the adjacent inland.  The cyclone is due to cross the coast tonight and is estimated to take 24 hours to pass.  That is a long time to be bunkered down somewhere with kids and pets with massive gale force winds. 

Don has already been advised that he will most likely be flying out tomorrow for two weeks with the fleet of blackhawks to help with aid and recovery.  The government is not taking this storm threat lightly and neither should we.

God can protect people even in the midst of the biggest storm.  Call out to him for mercy and protection.

...And here on Earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring of the seas and strange tides.  People will be terrified at what they see coming on the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken... (Luke 21:25-26)

Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.

(Luke 21:36)

Pray for Mercy

The nearby town of Toowoomba was hit by tremendous flash flooding this afternoon.  We know people who have been affected by this disaster.  It happened really quickly and caught everyone unaware.  Don is at home and didn't go to work today when their was water across the road.  Praise God he turned around and came back home otherwise he would still be stuck at work now. 

Please pray for a group of three people that are related to friends of ours at church.  Three of their family are missing in floodwaters near Grantham.

Another of our friends works in a butchery in Withcott.  The butchery had over 1/2 meter of water rush through it.  Though they are all safe, the business has been badly affected.

Don has already been advised there is no work tomorrow for him due to road closures etc. However the Balckhawks are desperately needed to help in this flooding disaster which is state wide.  Only time will tell how all of this is going to pan out.  We wait on God for his guidance.