A friend/former work colleague recently wrote to me with some deeply philosophical thoughts about Truth, and then asked for advice or a remedy for dealing with 'moody women leading up to periods'.
I share with you here my response:
Thoughts are powerful, words more so. My advice to you is that you write down in your journal or diary (some permanent record you can refer back to) this address to the Spirit of Truth:
Spirit of Truth, I grew up in a culture which widely believed that women differed from men in that their bodies were subject to monthly cycles which made them prone to mood swings; made them susceptible to pre-menstrual tension. Thank you that to date my experience has matched my belief, thus building my faith in the power of expectation. Now, Spirit of Truth, I want to set the world free of that belief. I want to release the world from all I thought it was - to allow myself to experience a world set free from my belief in pain and suffering. Spirit of Truth, please guide my thoughts that I might experience the peace that transcends all understanding. In all things may I know that God still is Love, and pain and suffering are not God's will for creation. Spirit of Truth, please continue to lead me into all truth, that I might forgive the world and set it free from all I thought it was. Touch my perception, that I might perceive the voice for Love in all things.
Having written down the above (perhaps in your own words), then declare it aloud - and each time you find yourself encountering something you think is due to PMT, invite the Spirit of Truth to remove the veil from your eyes/perception, and to refresh your understanding. Assign a new meaning to the acronym, eg. PMT = Practice Meditating Truth. Every now and then go back to the statement you wrote down and re-read it, to check out how close you are to fully receiving it.
Now I'm guessing that your expectation was for a different response. As I was writing my advice, a couple of scriptures came to mind. The first was from 2 Kings 5, the story of Naaman going to the home of Elisha and asking to be cured of leprosy. When Elisha didn't even come to the door, but sent a messenger to say "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed", Naaman goes away angry - he had his own expectations of what Elisha would do, and this didn't match his expectation. Fortunately Naaman's faithful servants talk to him and encourage him to do what he's been asked to do - and sure enough, he's cured of the leprosy.
The other scripture which came to mind was from Philippians 4:4 - 8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Quoted from New International Version)
It was especially this last sentence which came to mind - about focusing on the positive. This is how we invite more good stuff into our lives.
Hope this helps! Let me know either way.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Words during Worship + Sermon Notes
Peter T_: "Isn’t it a beautiful morning! As we were driving here, we were praising God for such a beautiful day!" Peter brought a reading from Acts 1:1 – 8 : In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After we had sung ‘We will wait upon the Lord’, Peter W_ asked: “Have you ever noticed how, when we do that, when we wait upon the Lord, something amazing happens – when we wait for the Lord to speak, when we wait to hear from God, things happen. Let’s do that now!
Yvette: Psalm 146:
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,
the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Julie S_ felt the Lord wanted to say to us: “Is that what you’re feeling? Are you feeling bowed down? Burdened? Come to me – I will give you rest; do you feel hopeless? Come to me – I will give you hope; do you feel you’ve reached the end of your resources? Come to me and I will resource you; do you feel you’ve run out of strength? Come to me and I will lift you up on wings like eagles. Come to me.
Paul: Wonderful thing to hear God’s people singing – reminded him of something: if you’ve had a curry or something and left the dirty dishes on the side for a while, when you try to wash it off, it may not come clean straight away but if you leave it to soak, then when you come back to it, the same effort now cleans it off beautifully. Feels the Lord is saying to us through this image: “Come to church, enjoy my presence if you want to see things happen – draw strength from me and you will see things happen”.
Janet B_: “When were you last totally surrendered to me? When you’re totally abandoned to me, that is when I can lean down from Heaven – I will pick you up, stand you on the solid rock – abandon yourself to me!”
Peter W_ : God has been speaking to us this morning – let your burdens go – come before God today.
Mark spoke from Colossians 3:15 – 17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
We hear a lot about stress & anxiety and depression these days. Recently he read a book, ‘Affluenza’, a study of depression across the world. In the Western world, the ‘developed’ world, incidence of depression/anxiety higher than in ‘developing’ world. 80% to 100% people in Western World likely to suffer depression at some point. Why?
Sources of anxiety/stress include: exams; jobs/job security; health; ageing; imaginary things – 80% of things we worry about can’t be controlled anyway.
May not be able to identify source of anxiety, BUT ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts’. This kind of peace is not just the absence of war, but the kind the dispenser/Prince of Peace gives = knowing you are right with God; knowing you are forgiven. In the midst of difficult/challenging circumstances, you can still know the peace of Christ in your heart. (Mark gave some examples of couples in the church family who are facing severely trying circumstances and who are displaying the peace of Christ in the midst of their troubles). When it comes to important decisions, let the peace of Christ be your umpire – let that peace guide your decisions – if you feel at peace about a decision, it is a good indicator that the decision is one you have made with God.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is a benefit of being filled with the Holy Spirit. We can know the peace of Christ whatever our circumstances/challenges. Can know his peace in our hearts.
Isaiah 43:1 – 5
But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
Note the scripture doesn’t say you will be taken out of the difficult circumstances, but that He will be with you!
Colossians 3: Called to peace
Do you reflect peace to others? Does your life reflect peace? Or do you exhibit the symptoms of OCD – is your life full of frenetic activity? Do you exhibit ‘hurry sickness’?
Jesus said: John 20: 19 – 22 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
In the news this week was the story of a man who had been a nurse for 30+ years who referred to US/UK research which showed regular churchgoers are less prone to stress/anxiety, and suggested at an NHS workshop that it might be good to go to church as a means for alleviating stress. He was sacked for making those observations. It’s now going to tribunal.
‘And be thankful’. When we adopt an attitude of gratitude, we are able to defeat the power of anxiety/stress and some symptoms of depression. Thanksgiving lifts us and lifts our spirits. The Israelites lost their way in the desert when they began grumbling about what they had left behind (onions!?!).
Devote yourselves to prayer – be watchful and thankful.
Let the word of God dwell in you richly (give yourself time with the Word of God each day).
Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom – Mark spoke about Simon Cowell’s honesty with aspiring artists on Britain’s Got Talent. Don’t let your politeness rob you of honesty.
Sing Psalms, hymns, songs.
Mark spoke about how often when he wakes in the morning, his thoughts turn to his day and he begins his agenda with God with prayer. He felt gently rebuked/admonished by the Holy Spirit: “Stop and enjoy me!”
Larry Crabb – after 50 years in the counselling ministry: ‘Most problems in the counselling room are due to the fact that we don’t know how to worship God’.
Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord – do it with all your heart.
(Scripture quoted from New International Version)
After we had sung ‘We will wait upon the Lord’, Peter W_ asked: “Have you ever noticed how, when we do that, when we wait upon the Lord, something amazing happens – when we wait for the Lord to speak, when we wait to hear from God, things happen. Let’s do that now!
Yvette: Psalm 146:
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,
the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Julie S_ felt the Lord wanted to say to us: “Is that what you’re feeling? Are you feeling bowed down? Burdened? Come to me – I will give you rest; do you feel hopeless? Come to me – I will give you hope; do you feel you’ve reached the end of your resources? Come to me and I will resource you; do you feel you’ve run out of strength? Come to me and I will lift you up on wings like eagles. Come to me.
Paul: Wonderful thing to hear God’s people singing – reminded him of something: if you’ve had a curry or something and left the dirty dishes on the side for a while, when you try to wash it off, it may not come clean straight away but if you leave it to soak, then when you come back to it, the same effort now cleans it off beautifully. Feels the Lord is saying to us through this image: “Come to church, enjoy my presence if you want to see things happen – draw strength from me and you will see things happen”.
Janet B_: “When were you last totally surrendered to me? When you’re totally abandoned to me, that is when I can lean down from Heaven – I will pick you up, stand you on the solid rock – abandon yourself to me!”
Peter W_ : God has been speaking to us this morning – let your burdens go – come before God today.
Mark spoke from Colossians 3:15 – 17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
We hear a lot about stress & anxiety and depression these days. Recently he read a book, ‘Affluenza’, a study of depression across the world. In the Western world, the ‘developed’ world, incidence of depression/anxiety higher than in ‘developing’ world. 80% to 100% people in Western World likely to suffer depression at some point. Why?
Sources of anxiety/stress include: exams; jobs/job security; health; ageing; imaginary things – 80% of things we worry about can’t be controlled anyway.
May not be able to identify source of anxiety, BUT ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts’. This kind of peace is not just the absence of war, but the kind the dispenser/Prince of Peace gives = knowing you are right with God; knowing you are forgiven. In the midst of difficult/challenging circumstances, you can still know the peace of Christ in your heart. (Mark gave some examples of couples in the church family who are facing severely trying circumstances and who are displaying the peace of Christ in the midst of their troubles). When it comes to important decisions, let the peace of Christ be your umpire – let that peace guide your decisions – if you feel at peace about a decision, it is a good indicator that the decision is one you have made with God.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is a benefit of being filled with the Holy Spirit. We can know the peace of Christ whatever our circumstances/challenges. Can know his peace in our hearts.
Isaiah 43:1 – 5
But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
Note the scripture doesn’t say you will be taken out of the difficult circumstances, but that He will be with you!
Colossians 3: Called to peace
Do you reflect peace to others? Does your life reflect peace? Or do you exhibit the symptoms of OCD – is your life full of frenetic activity? Do you exhibit ‘hurry sickness’?
Jesus said: John 20: 19 – 22 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
In the news this week was the story of a man who had been a nurse for 30+ years who referred to US/UK research which showed regular churchgoers are less prone to stress/anxiety, and suggested at an NHS workshop that it might be good to go to church as a means for alleviating stress. He was sacked for making those observations. It’s now going to tribunal.
‘And be thankful’. When we adopt an attitude of gratitude, we are able to defeat the power of anxiety/stress and some symptoms of depression. Thanksgiving lifts us and lifts our spirits. The Israelites lost their way in the desert when they began grumbling about what they had left behind (onions!?!).
Devote yourselves to prayer – be watchful and thankful.
Let the word of God dwell in you richly (give yourself time with the Word of God each day).
Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom – Mark spoke about Simon Cowell’s honesty with aspiring artists on Britain’s Got Talent. Don’t let your politeness rob you of honesty.
Sing Psalms, hymns, songs.
Mark spoke about how often when he wakes in the morning, his thoughts turn to his day and he begins his agenda with God with prayer. He felt gently rebuked/admonished by the Holy Spirit: “Stop and enjoy me!”
Larry Crabb – after 50 years in the counselling ministry: ‘Most problems in the counselling room are due to the fact that we don’t know how to worship God’.
Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord – do it with all your heart.
(Scripture quoted from New International Version)
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Words during Worship
Simon B_ drew our attention to the fact we had just sung about making a joyful noise to the Lord and the rain sounded louder on the roof of the hall - Simon gave thanks that even the rain was making a noise to praise the Lord.
We gave thanks for an answer to a 5 year old boy's prayer: his sister had hurt herself on a trampoline and couldn't walk on one leg - whilst mum was wondering whether to take her to the hospital, her son laid his hands on his sister's leg and prayed for her - she was healed!
Antonia sang a spontaneous song of praise about how love rises in our hearts, bringing freedom through the Holy Spirit and inviting the King of Heaven to come down and meet His people in this place.
We heard that God is saying it breaks His heart that some of us have rooms in our heart which are locked - rooms of unforgiveness, anger, judgment - He wants you to open those rooms, open those closed doors so He can give you the forgiveness you need to forgive others.
Another word was about a picture of a sheep trying to run away from the flock, away from the shepherd - the Lord wants to say to that person who is contemplating leaving the church: 'come back to the flock; stay close to the shepherd'.
The Lord would also say to us today: It is worth pursuing me - worth opening yourself up to the Holy Spirit - there is an eternal reward in Heaven, riches in Christ - and it was worth it for God to send His son into the world for our sake - it was worth dying on the cross - worth it to redeem that broken relationship between God and His people.
We gave thanks for an answer to a 5 year old boy's prayer: his sister had hurt herself on a trampoline and couldn't walk on one leg - whilst mum was wondering whether to take her to the hospital, her son laid his hands on his sister's leg and prayed for her - she was healed!
Antonia sang a spontaneous song of praise about how love rises in our hearts, bringing freedom through the Holy Spirit and inviting the King of Heaven to come down and meet His people in this place.
We heard that God is saying it breaks His heart that some of us have rooms in our heart which are locked - rooms of unforgiveness, anger, judgment - He wants you to open those rooms, open those closed doors so He can give you the forgiveness you need to forgive others.
Another word was about a picture of a sheep trying to run away from the flock, away from the shepherd - the Lord wants to say to that person who is contemplating leaving the church: 'come back to the flock; stay close to the shepherd'.
The Lord would also say to us today: It is worth pursuing me - worth opening yourself up to the Holy Spirit - there is an eternal reward in Heaven, riches in Christ - and it was worth it for God to send His son into the world for our sake - it was worth dying on the cross - worth it to redeem that broken relationship between God and His people.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Sunday evening Prayer Meeting
In response to the Gift Day, David D_ brought the following reading to the Sunday evening prayer meeting:
Ezra Chap 2 v 68 and 3 v 7 v11 to 13
Ezra 2:68
When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.
Ezra 3:7
Rebuilding the Temple
Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.
Ezra 3:11 – 13
With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
John F_ picked up on the theme of foundations:
John spoke about the church being built on the solid rock foundation of the Word of God and of the Holy Spirit – about all our individual lives being built on that sure foundation, upon Jesus Christ. John spoke about how if a house’s foundation is on sand, when the streams of water come, they wash away the sands – the church needs to be built on the solid foundation of Word and Spirit so that it doesn’t move – doesn’t get swept along with any shifting doctrine or give way to any fashionable ideas, not going by modern thinking or our own ideas but standing firm with the Word of God as the final authority.
Ezra Chap 2 v 68 and 3 v 7 v11 to 13
Ezra 2:68
When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.
Ezra 3:7
Rebuilding the Temple
Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.
Ezra 3:11 – 13
With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
John F_ picked up on the theme of foundations:
John spoke about the church being built on the solid rock foundation of the Word of God and of the Holy Spirit – about all our individual lives being built on that sure foundation, upon Jesus Christ. John spoke about how if a house’s foundation is on sand, when the streams of water come, they wash away the sands – the church needs to be built on the solid foundation of Word and Spirit so that it doesn’t move – doesn’t get swept along with any shifting doctrine or give way to any fashionable ideas, not going by modern thinking or our own ideas but standing firm with the Word of God as the final authority.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Notes from Morning Service
Words during Worship:
Laurence: God is here! God is beside you!
Denise: His grace is enough. We need to be yielded in our hearts, surrendered to God.
David D_: Christina sang in tongues - he had been reading a prophecy in Daniel and felt it related to that, about the 'Ancient of Days' - a name for God - about God seated on the throne - about God seeking to fight for us. David spoke about moving out in the authority of the living God.
Adrian: God is my all sufficiency for all eternity.
Sermon from Peter W_: What sort of God is He? What sort of things does He ask us to do? Can we trust Him? There was an ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in uncertainty" - These are uncertain times.
1 million people now living in negative equity -v- article in the press that the house market is showing signs of recovery, has turned the corner.
New economist appointed to the board of the Bank of England - he believes the worst of the recession is over -v- International Think Tank that has predicted UK will not be out of recession until 2012.
GE - huge corporation - announced profits down by one third -v- another huge corporation which has just reported the best results for 2 years.
Peter's conclusion in the face of all these contradictory stories: the world hasn't got a clue! The world doesn't know what is going on. He goes back to God - if he's experiencing uncertain times, he looks in his favourite passages in the Bible - goes to the book of Psalms.
Psalm 1:
Psalm 37 - Peter says that as we go on with God, surrendering to Him, he changes the desires of your heart - our heart's desire becomes centred in Kingdom building.
Trust in God even in difficult times - that is the SAFE thing to do - shelter in the shadow of His wings. Come before Him, choose to align ourselves with God's will - that is the SAFE thing to do (even if it seems foolish). God promises safety, security, prosperity to those who live in this way.
Ps 17: 8 - 9
Ps 36
Ps 57:1-3
Ps 61: 2-5
Ps 63: 7 - 8
2 Cor 8:1-5
Ps 91: 1-4
Laurence: God is here! God is beside you!
Denise: His grace is enough. We need to be yielded in our hearts, surrendered to God.
David D_: Christina sang in tongues - he had been reading a prophecy in Daniel and felt it related to that, about the 'Ancient of Days' - a name for God - about God seated on the throne - about God seeking to fight for us. David spoke about moving out in the authority of the living God.
Adrian: God is my all sufficiency for all eternity.
Sermon from Peter W_: What sort of God is He? What sort of things does He ask us to do? Can we trust Him? There was an ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in uncertainty" - These are uncertain times.
1 million people now living in negative equity -v- article in the press that the house market is showing signs of recovery, has turned the corner.
New economist appointed to the board of the Bank of England - he believes the worst of the recession is over -v- International Think Tank that has predicted UK will not be out of recession until 2012.
GE - huge corporation - announced profits down by one third -v- another huge corporation which has just reported the best results for 2 years.
Peter's conclusion in the face of all these contradictory stories: the world hasn't got a clue! The world doesn't know what is going on. He goes back to God - if he's experiencing uncertain times, he looks in his favourite passages in the Bible - goes to the book of Psalms.
Psalm 1:
Psalm 37 - Peter says that as we go on with God, surrendering to Him, he changes the desires of your heart - our heart's desire becomes centred in Kingdom building.
Trust in God even in difficult times - that is the SAFE thing to do - shelter in the shadow of His wings. Come before Him, choose to align ourselves with God's will - that is the SAFE thing to do (even if it seems foolish). God promises safety, security, prosperity to those who live in this way.
Ps 17: 8 - 9
Ps 36
Ps 57:1-3
Ps 61: 2-5
Ps 63: 7 - 8
2 Cor 8:1-5
Ps 91: 1-4
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Personal Words
Last Saturday I went into London to see Barbara Dickson in concert and on the drive in as I was chatting with my friend I suddenly interrupted myself to exclaim with delight, "Cherry blossom!" My attention had been momentarily captured by the vivid pink beauty of an ornamental cherry tree in full bloom. It stood out in marked contrast to the subdued tones of suburban houses made grimy by the fumes from the busy road, and all the more surprising for being so early in the season. It was the first cherry blossom I had seen this year. At Sunday evening's prayer meeting we broke into small groups and prayed together, and Christina asked me tentatively, "Have you passed some cherry blossom today?" Whilst praying, she had had a mental picture of a mass of cherry blossom and wondered what the significance was.
Then at tonight's Cell group meeting again we broke into small groups to pray and prophesy over each other, and this time Christina's word for me was 'parenting'. Recently I have been thanking God for having re-parented me to repair deficiencies in the parenting I had received through childhood (don't get me wrong, I think my parents were great and loved me very much, but I also recognise that I didn't get much socialising experience as an infant and through childhood and that this and my shyness meant I had a lot of ground to make up as an adult especially in respect of interpersonal and social skills). I've also been praying that He will in the same way re-parent my own (grown up) children to overcome any deficiencies in their upbringing.
Then at tonight's Cell group meeting again we broke into small groups to pray and prophesy over each other, and this time Christina's word for me was 'parenting'. Recently I have been thanking God for having re-parented me to repair deficiencies in the parenting I had received through childhood (don't get me wrong, I think my parents were great and loved me very much, but I also recognise that I didn't get much socialising experience as an infant and through childhood and that this and my shyness meant I had a lot of ground to make up as an adult especially in respect of interpersonal and social skills). I've also been praying that He will in the same way re-parent my own (grown up) children to overcome any deficiencies in their upbringing.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Words during Worship
Peter W_ introduced Amanda B_ by explaining that she had come prepared to contribute, having woken in the night and written down the words she felt the Lord was wanting to say to us this morning, a love letter from the Father:
My Children my Children how I love you!
Everyone of you is precious to me, from the unborn to the eldest.
I love you with a passion you will not understand.
I know you, nothing is hiden from me.
Even the secret things you hide from yourselves.
Come to me, give me all that no longer belongs to you.
Give me the things my Son paid for with His blood and death.
Lay at the foot of the cross, your sorrows, doubts and fear.
Your loneliness grief and dissapiontment.
All your regrets and sickness.
They are no longer yours but mine.
My heart yearns for you, my arms are open to you.
Take up my yoke, it is light and fits you like a glove.
It is made for you and you are made for it.
I love you.
Since before time began I have loved you.
Forever I will love you.
I will never leave you or let you down.
I Am forever faithful."
Love from your Dad xxx
Denise shared a vivid mental picture that came to her as we were singing, of Lazarus coming out of the tomb still covered in the grave clothes. The clothes were binding him, he couldn't take them off. Denise felt we needed to take off those things that are binding us, to take the grave clothes off and face Jesus this morning.
Katia had been reading in Genesis this week and in the story of Jacob he receives from God an invitation to build an altar - he has a new encounter with God. Katia reminded us that God is living and inviting us to a new encounter - inviting us to let go of the dead, bury the dead, and to come to a new encounter with the Living One.
My Children my Children how I love you!
Everyone of you is precious to me, from the unborn to the eldest.
I love you with a passion you will not understand.
I know you, nothing is hiden from me.
Even the secret things you hide from yourselves.
Come to me, give me all that no longer belongs to you.
Give me the things my Son paid for with His blood and death.
Lay at the foot of the cross, your sorrows, doubts and fear.
Your loneliness grief and dissapiontment.
All your regrets and sickness.
They are no longer yours but mine.
My heart yearns for you, my arms are open to you.
Take up my yoke, it is light and fits you like a glove.
It is made for you and you are made for it.
I love you.
Since before time began I have loved you.
Forever I will love you.
I will never leave you or let you down.
I Am forever faithful."
Love from your Dad xxx
Denise shared a vivid mental picture that came to her as we were singing, of Lazarus coming out of the tomb still covered in the grave clothes. The clothes were binding him, he couldn't take them off. Denise felt we needed to take off those things that are binding us, to take the grave clothes off and face Jesus this morning.
Katia had been reading in Genesis this week and in the story of Jacob he receives from God an invitation to build an altar - he has a new encounter with God. Katia reminded us that God is living and inviting us to a new encounter - inviting us to let go of the dead, bury the dead, and to come to a new encounter with the Living One.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)