THE END OF THE WORLD CONTINUED........

The worst three days of their lives, Jesus has gone and all that they relied on has been finished, crumbled in front of their eyes, their lives are over and the future for the  country, free of Roman occupation also over.

But  a couple of the women, who had purchased burial spices to anoint His body on Sunday morning, are now saying that He is not there and the tomb is empty. We have been to check it out and seen for ourselves it is true. We had all been devastated but what now, as it wasn't clear what we should do, so we headed back to Jerusalem. 

Jesus is so personal He met up with Mary Magdalene and called her by her name, just what she needed. Then He appeared to Thomas who so wanted to see the nail marks in Jesus's hands to prove the point that He is real. Then there was poor Peter who felt wretched because of his three denials after confirming he would never let Jesus die. Jesus appeared privately to him asking him three times if he really loved Him? Peter was able to confirm he was totally commited to Jesus and Jesus was able to show Peter He is the God of the second chance. But still some slipped away, the price is too high, all the way through the Bible this happened.

So what about us? How is this relevant to our life crises? Just in the last two months I have come up against problems, some smaller but upsetting, some life changing and it is tough when these things all come together. But Father, Papa, knows all about each situation. He knew that they were coming, and He is going through them with me, even if it doesn't feel like it. Just like the disciples feeling lost, lacking direction, and close connection and uncertainty with their leader. So we all have to choose how we will deal with each crisis. The best way is to run to Jesus, call out to Him in prayer and trust the leading, comfort and counsel of the Holy Spirit. Even if we run away from Him or blame Him 'You could have done something about this; You could have stopped this.' Don't harden your heart but try to pour out your pain and complaint and seek His Word for this situation, then pray it, meditate on it, and worship Him. His Word will always accomplish what He planned for it.

Isaiah 58:11 NLT 'The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring'

Psalm 8:2 NIV 'Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.'

Further help from the Word www.joyforlife.org/real-love/real-love-study-4

What happens next....?

When we get time to stop for a few minutes and consider where our lives are headed, like a long weekend, we can sometimes wonder how we got to this place, into this situation, is this really where I am meant to be? Have I just drifted into this position, been pushed by good or bad circumstances, held onto a position as it is so comfortable, ok not challenging but does it matter as long as I hold on.

Now consider Jesus, He knew where He was heading and for what reason, but His disciples who were preparing to eat the Passover in Jerusalem were so excited. This was going to be the setting up of the new Kingdom, and they were going to enter into the important places that they had planned, and argued over, for three years. Coming into the city just reinforced their excitement, with all the people throwing palm branches in front of Him as He rode on a donkey. Well not quite royalty, a white stallion would have been better, but the crowds were supporting them all, this is so encouraging and Jesus is going along with it. They all really love Him. 

What a time in the city, but He started to get more and more serious, warning the disciples that  He is going to die, - no way will they let that happen, - they will defend Him to their death. He is their King. Jesus says this is their last night together and when they share the next meal with Him it will be in His Kingdom, but where will that be?

And He just wants to pray alone in the Garden, but they all fell asleep, it had been such an exciting and busy week, they did feel rather guilty when He asked, 'couldn't you wait with Me for one hour?' They were concerned when He was so distressed and then it all happened. Mayhem let loose, the guards came and took Him away so violently, how could they treat Him like that but then they all did a runner incase the guards came after them next.

Where are our lives headed now........?

Read more www.joyforlife.org/power-up/power-up-study-30

What a mess!

Her husband died, her brother in law died, and her father in law had gone before, what a mess. Death adding to death! Whose next? Not even living in her own home country, a refugee. Where did she belong? What hope did she have, no children to support her? No reliable income! What sort of support could she be to her mother in law who is elderly? In all the mourning she is so miserable BUT she wants to return to her home country!! She wants to see if any blood relative would take care of her, the only hope she has? 

So if your life feels unstable in this season—if circumstances feel shaky or uncertain—take heart by discovering Who is with you in it.

Read an example of this dilemma in the Bible. 

www.joyforlife.org/real-women/real-women-study-11

New Beginnings?

We were having a party to say goodbye to 2025. 

Some were pleased but others were uncertain what the future holds? 

Then the loaded question 'what is your New Year's resolution?' 

So many responses 'I decide the same resolution every year but have broken it by, one week; one month; or never even started it'. 

'I know I will fail so there is no point in trying.' 

'God knows I try but it makes me such a failure, I should have the victory without making a resolution'. 

Guilt on guilt, not a good start to a New Year.

Jesus had lived a relatively 'normal' life but as a guest at the marriage feast at Cana it was all a 'New Beginning', John 2:1-11. He was put on the spot by His Mother 'dear woman why do you involve Me, My time has not yet come.' But He responded with compassion for the couple whose wedding feast had run out of wine. How embarrasing!! His mother simply said to the servants 'do whatever He tells you to do'. She was not  put off by Jesus' words to her, she knew her Son. The men did exactly what was needed filling six stone water jars, holding twenty to thirty gallons of water to the brim. They then went to the master of ceremonies with a taster. It could have gone so wrong, imagine giving him a cup of water!!! But Mary's faith was rewarded, after all there were disciples who had been learning as new students from their Rabbi Jesus. They hadn't yet seen His daily healings, so their faith level was not sky high. Here they were just at the beginning of their new journey into the unknown. But as a result of Jesus turning all that water into top quality wine 'His disciples put their faith in Him'.

Like us, we don't know what is ahead personally, or the world around us. We cannot even guarantee another day. But we have to be prepared to draw closer and closer to Jesus today, this month and this year, by the power of His Spirit. We are so blessed as if we 'walk in the Spirit we shall not fulfill the lust (cravings) of the flesh' Galatians 5:16-18. So resolve today to chuck the resolutions and to know nothing this year but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, 1 Corinthians 2:2-5. We can focus on all He did for us on the Cross and accept 'it is finished' and walk in the power of that authority. We can be prepared for anything, by the Holy Spirit that lives in us  that same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

So ask the question 'Jesus what do You want to say to me right now?'  Listen  'What do you want me to do?'  Obey  'What am I holding onto that is stopping me from being free?' Being a Christian is so simple, die to self and allow Christ to live His life through us.

This will be our most valuable year for eternity yet, step out and try it, one foot in front of the other.

Disappointment

Disappointment can be such a debilitating experience, disappointment with😞 myself - why did I do that?

Disapointment when a friendship breaks down - why did she do that to me? Disappointment we are not pregnant this month - how many more months/ years? Disappointment with the sale of our home - it is not happening?

Disappointment ......... fill in your own blank. 

Then there is all the disappointment with God. He could have sorted that, answered my prayer, stopped that happening, stepped in before it was too late. Does He really love me?

Disappointment can be quite overwhelming and prevents us from seeing things from God's perspective. It prevents us from going back to what Father God says about us, it tells us that what we were believing can't be true.

So we are in a battle. 

Having been walking with God for many years I know that so many disappointments can change into divine appointments. Some we can see very quickly and some take much longer. Always when we look back we can be thankful to God for the way it worked out, even death, as Father sees from an eternal perspective.🙏

1. Choose praise to silence the thoughts ☝ Ps 8:2; Ps 38:21,22

2. Put the situation into God's hand and leave it there, Ps 27:13

3. 'What do You want me to learn in this situation?' Matt 7:7,8 

4. Bring Glory to God whatever the outcome Phil 1:20,21; Is 44:8

5. Be patient 'this too will pass'. Romans 5:6

'Father God I am so disappointed with what is happening in my life at present, please give me Your GRACE to learn more about YOU through this, in Jesus Name and for His Glory, Amen.'🙏🙏

What are you thinking about?

 Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are. So Proverbs 23:7 says 'For as he thinks in his heart so is he', or as I like to say, 'so as I think in my heart so am I'.

If  we then pray asking the Holy Spirit to lead, and meditate on this verse for as long as possible, then we know for certain how we can move forward in our thought life. Don't rush, just listen for the quiet whisper. 

What am I thinking? over thinking? Be honest. Release every thought to our Father, Who knows anyway. 'Finally I confessed ALL my sin to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt'. Psalm 32:5

Ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up to overflowing with Himself and to remind us of another Bible verse to back up His plan for us to move on. This may just be a little step or a massive life changer. We ask Him what He has planned in His book for our future, then Listen. 

We capture EVERY rebellious thought; and teach them to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5

A few days ago I was meeting my siblings at a restaurant in London. I needed a taxi upon arriving at the station from Wales. I was directed to these really easily and he gave me a fun ride, sometimes showing me the sights and sometimes sharing family stories.

I arrived at the restaurant about an hour early and as I went to order a coffee I recognised that I had lost my mobile phone. I knew straight away to take control of my thoughts and ask the Holy Spirit to give me instructions. I asked for His peace as I really wanted my siblings to know that God is real in everyday life problems. I was determined that my phone was not going to ruin or dominate our precious time together. My brother phoned my son back home and they worked through the possibilities which I appreciated but they couldn't help. I had a real confidence in the Lord that He would return it, I just didn't know when. I declared twice that 'the taxi man will bring it back'. That is exactly what happened, nearly two hours later. I stood up in the middle of the restaurant and shouted very loud 'Alleluia'. I was mega thankful. We don't like having these tests but that is where our testimonies come from

What a great boost to my faith that God would do all that was needed to return my phone to me when I could do absolutely nothing towards it myself except trust Him. 

Replace all thoughts that are not giving you peace with His word, repeating this over and over. Or maybe try singing a worship song, the one you can't get out of your head.  As it says in Psalm 8:2 'Strength rises up with the chorus of infants, This kind of praise has power to shut Satan's mouth. Childlike worship will silence the madness of those who oppose you'. Let the praise begin.

Move forward

I love being old, as I have told so many, when I was little and did something wrong I got a ……… now I can be as naughty as I like and I can’t get into any trouble, but I give family and friends a laugh and they say ‘Oh Mother….’ 

I am writing this today before the funeral of a very close friend and we loved sharing life with Jesus and she daily had stories of what the Holy Spirit was saying to her.  How can I make the most of the rest of my life? I don't want to be stuck at the crisis point, the pain, the loss. I want whatever time Father has given me, and is written in my book (Psalm 139:16), to be spent with eternity in mind. I know I can't take any 'stuff' with me but I can take people as the fruit of my labour by the power of His Spirit. We sing ‘He is all I need’ but we don’t know whether we can mean it till He is all we have got. What a challenging place to be.

I can't use the time I have left the way the world does, 'eat drink and be merry for tomorrow I die'. 'Let God transform me into a new person by changing the way I think, then I will know God's will which is good and pleasing and perfect', Romans 12:2

I can put my feelings in a box and bury them as deep as possible, but I don’t want my body to react and come out with some horrible disease because I haven’t allowed God to heal me from the inside. Or when I come to another trauma situation again and all the old feelings come back to the surface and I feel completely overwhelmed. Jesus said, 'I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace.....' John 16:33. How? How?

Avoiding pain is not an option unless we want to lock our emotions up or harden our hearts, as that means we cannot love again in case we get hurt again. We can insulate ourselves from relationships but that is not Father's way. Praise Jesus and thank Him as He doesn't cut us off every time we hurt Him.

To be vulnerable in life means allowing ourselves to be hurt, but learning how to put mechanisms in place, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for healing to take place. We are the most blessed of people, as when we do go through trauma Jesus has put in place some stepping stones to allow us to choose how to navigate life on a daily basis and to prepare for future trauma with Him at the centre of our storm. 

see https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/power-up/power-up-study-11