Eat Up!

“He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find [in this book]; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll. He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll that I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” EZEKIEL 3:1-3 AMP

This has always been an interesting verse in the Bible to me as we can get asked by God to do some strange things! When we are looking for our purpose in life, it is so great that we have the Maker's Instructions. Even if we don't agree God is the Maker it helps to read the Bible and ask God 'if you are real show Yourself to me'. So here Ezekiel is told to eat what he sees and eat this book! A bit of a peculiar meal but in obedience he agreed and had a full meal and it tasted so good. 'So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.' 

Having just spent the last month doing a 'Joy for Life' study series with a very special friend who has had a very busy life and not spent a lot of time in the Word of God and to see her new excitement and the realisation that God's Word does 'taste as sweet as honey' it has made me realise afresh how vital it is to get stuck in to this amazing meal that God has given us.

No good just giving the Word a glancing contact. Pray for a passion for the Word, get so you don't want to put it down and you can hear God speak directly to you off the pages. 

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness He knew the Word to use to tell the devil to get lost. If He needed this how much more must we?? 

I realise more and more that we have to eat our own meal, There is no good in a Word that someone has got excited about and told us or preached to us, unless we get revelation knowledge for ourselves, personally. Other people's regurgitated food does not do us as much good as fresh food for ourselves straight from the voice of God. 

We can listen to a podcast or DVD but we have to go away and look up the Bible for ourselves and take that Word into ourselves by meditating over and over on it, like chewing the cud! We can't eat other people's food and think it will be good nutrition for our growth, anymore than we can think that taking on board what people say they have learned from the Word means we know that as well!

So consume the Word daily and your passion will follow your focus. We can be surrounded by all the different Bible versions we can get our hands on, but unless we read it, believe it, apply it and obey it,

God's Word will just stay on the shelf getting stale and mouldy. This can be hard work but so worthwhile especially if you need God's Word to help a friend or win a personal battle. 

It is no good when a burglar comes to the door to go and get into training, NOW is the hour to be prepared! Often it is not helpful to give our opinion but if we can give God's opinion then that can be Godly and life changing.

So sit down and have a fantastic meal, EAT up, it is the best meal ever. Maybe start at John's Gospel and see what Jesus says to you personally.
For help with this go to www.joyforlife.org or http://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/power-up-course-details/ for a free study in John's Gospel.

WITCH (which) GOD WILL YOU SERVE?

 Are you planning a Halloween party this year?

If you have children, you will want to enjoy the fun with them. If you are a teacher or leader, in a children or young people's organisation, the run up to the 31st October can be a hectic time of making costumes and decorations, dressing up and organising parties.

Harmless fun or.....?

A Halloween party may not be the harmless fun it appears to be ... it can invite young inquisitive minds to become interested in witchcraft, pagan religions and occultism.

Very close under the surface of the ordinary Halloween party is the reality of occult power, witchcraft and satanic activity. No responsible adult should be blind to the fact this kind of fun and games can be a subtle introduction to something very nasty, squalid and dangerous.

This may seem heavy condemnation of ‘harmless’ spooky fun, but we rightly condemn anyone who introduces a young person to the ‘fun’ of their first experiment with drugs. We should also condemn those who invite children to be careless about evil powers.

Jesus Christ gave one of His severest warnings to people who willfully or carelessly caused children to be spiritually harmed. “.....It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” (Mark 9:42). Strong words from the person whose teaching is universally respected.

What is Halloween?

The Medieval Church feast of All Hallow’s Eve’ was kept on the 31st October which had been the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of summer, laws were re-affirmed and land tenures renewed. It was the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon new year's eve, a festival when bonfires were lit to frighten away evil spirits. Witches, foul fiends and evil powers were thought to be loosed on that night to disturb the natural order of life.

Modern Halloween owes much of its popularity to a custom imported from America. Halloween American style, is a night of mischief. In the 19th Century, boys and young men went on orgies of vandalism. Today the custom is continued as children knock on doors asking for money, sweets or cakes as an inducement not to vandalise. Few, if any of us, will escape this mini threat of ‘trick or treat’ from neighbourhood children.

Fascinating or....?

There is something in each one of us that is fascinated by the unknown area beyond the physical, astrology, ghosts, unexplained happenings, horror films, weird ancient religions, but these are far from harmless. It is through such interests that evil powers charm their way into our minds to confuse and oppress.

But God is a loving Father  who wants only the best for His family. He directly forbids any dealings with evil powers which corrupt and enslave

"......don't let your people practise divination or look for omens or use spells or charms, and don't let them consult the spirits of the dead” Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

God wants us to find our  spiritual happiness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He offers us nothing less than a sharing in the spiritual power which enabled Jesus Christ to live such an incredibly rich, full and influential life.

Mothers, fathers, leaders of young people, the responsibility rests with all of us. Yes! Let’s have a party, we do not want to be killjoys! But it does not need to have witches and ghosts to be enjoyable. Have a bonfire, a barbecue, music, games..... and make All Hallows Eve something really happy and harmless for all the children and young people.
What about a “Hallelujah Party”? !!! Or a "Light Party"?

“Fill your minds with those things that are good and deserve praise; things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honourable.” Philippians 4:8.

Finish well!

Why are we here ? What is it all about? My life hasn't been anything like I thought it would be! I had so many dreams as a teenager, the world was my oyster, so much fun, laughter on the surface, but even then lots of pain. I tried so hard to do life the way that I thought people did life, study, marriage, babies. Things went wrong outside my control, what is this? Am I not the authority over my destiny??

Then I invited Jesus into my heart, no more problems now! Isn't that what happens? Help this is not what I expected, isn't God in control? What is this I have inner issues and refusing to be led by His inner voice, No, No! Put a sticking plaster over it so I can keep on 'doing' in the Kingdom of God after all I am doing it all 'for God'. Busy, busy!

But now my three score years and ten have flashed past and I have lived as if I have another fifty coming. I am so thankful for all God my Father has given me especially 50 years with one amazing man who has kept me drawing closer to Him and four fabulous children who have trained me daily to know Jesus is all I need. And one precious son who has gone before to the throne room.

It is good to look back but wow, what a future to look forward to. No point in regrets about not trusting, obeying, loving God more and all the rest the inner voice accuses us of! God knows all about it anyway and He washed us clean, but we have to apply that to our heart otherwise we live the time we have left in the misery of condemnation.

1 Corinthians 6:17 says that when we were joined to the Lord we became one spirit with Him. He came into union with us so that He can talk to us heart to heart. God wants us in this harmony with Him so that His thoughts can become our actions. 

He wants us to walk so closely with Him that we never lack power to overcome the evil of this world. He wants us to be so in tune with His Spirit that we are able to feel His heart of compassion toward those around us who are hurting or bowed down with sickness and pain of all kinds. He wants to be one with us, so He can reach out through our hands and fulfill His purposes in the earth.

So let us make a fresh commitment to walk in union with our God. Give our attention to His Spirit in our inner man. Determine to yield to His voice and make every day count for eternity. Draw closer to Him, hear His voice daily and GO! It is so exciting, every person He puts across our path today needs to hear from their and our Father. The best is still to come.

Best Holiday Destination Ever!

We are thinking about a holiday, the one chance in the year to take time out, to rest, recuperate, and enjoy free time to do what encourages us in our relationships with Jesus Christ, with each other and review where we are going in the purposes for our lives, if we ever want to take time to face these issues?

We put lots of research into possible places, how we get there, what we shall do when we get there, will it suit our needs? We check Google, read books, papers, magazines, try a travel agent, even phone a friend! Choices, choices, choices! We can't try before we buy, we have to step out and trust we make the right decision on the basis of all we hear or see.

Why don't we research and check out all we can find out about the place where we have our longest holiday - HEAVEN? Are we sure we are going there? See 'How to find God'! Our destination is dependent upon accepting Jesus Christ. We won't have to come home after having gone there, in fact that will be our new home! 

Jesus himself said “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in Me. There are many dwelling places in My Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with Me, so that where I am you may be too." (John 14:1-3)

What an amazing home that will be. Imagine Jesus is our architect, He knows best what kind of home we would appreciate. Imagine walking into Heaven because of Jesus paying the full price for us for this home and Him showing us what He has designed for us and our hearts being totally overflowing with thanksgiving. 

Let's share together more about this amazing eternal holiday we are headed towards.

Surely if we realised this place that is prepared for us by the Almighty God, who created the delicacy of the rose, the enormity of the mountains and the beauty of all people, we would trust Him totally. There will be the biggest Hallelujah party ever, Revelation 19:1, a marriage feast for the Son to whom all are invited, Revelation 19:9. There will be lots of horses, Revelation 19:11-14. He also has a bigger plan, that when we are all with Him He will make a 'New Heaven and a New Earth', a city that possesses His Glory; it's brilliance is like a precious jewel, Revelation 21:11.

Paul writes, ‘I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better’ (Philippians 1:23 NKJV). God had already given Paul a glimpse into heaven. David felt the same way: ‘In your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore’ (Psalm 16:11 KJV). I can't say it any better, keep meditating on all that means.

Check out 'Heaven' in www.biblegateway.com if you want to know more about our last everlasting holiday. What will we be doing and who will be sharing it with us? See www.joyforlife.org study 'Revelation'.

So you think Yoga will help?

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced Yoga along with Transcendental Meditation to the Western world as a religious exercise and philosophy. As most people were skeptical, the Maharishi revamped the movement, marketing it as a scientifically sound, non-religious psychological exercise designed to relieve stress, and to bring peace to what he described as the inner man. It was promoted as having a positive effect on society and enabling the advanced practitioner to participate in astral projection (described as a person's soul leaving the body) and levitation.*


Let me tell you the story of my friend 'Sonia' who became a passionately exciting Christian, when I first met her. After the birth of her third child, Sonia decided to join the local Yoga class to get her figure back and de-stress. She returned to class the second week to tell her teacher that when practising her exercises on her bed she had an 'out of body experience'. Her teacher praised her and informed her she must be a very good student!

Prophecy given in 1911

I just had to share this prophecy from 1911 as Lydia prayer groups for women started at that time. I realise also that 'Joy for Life' is part of the answer to the prayers of wonderful faithful women of God who trusted Him for answers.

Many years ago God drew my attention to Psalm 2:8 'Ask Me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property'. 

I thought it was impossible as I thought I would need to travel, but now with the Internet all we post can go world wide. So I am thrilled that there have been over 6,500 downloads of Bible study material from 'Joy for Life' from all over the world, in nearly four months.

I know Revival is on it's way. Are we ready to make disciples of every Nation? 

This is the prophecy of 1911 passed on to Mother Barbara by Bishop Aristocoli shortly before his death:

• Tell the women they must belong absolutely to God. 
• They must believe in the great things that are happening that God is doing on the earth. 
• They must prepare their souls, their children and their husbands. 
• And they will have very much work to do for God. 
• Oh, what a great work the women will have to do in the end time, and the men will follow them.
• Not one country will be without trial – do not be frightened of anything you will hear.
• An evil will shortly take Russia and wherever this evil comes rivers of blood will flow. This evil will take the whole of the world and wherever it goes rivers of blood will flow because of it. It is not the Russian soul but an imposition of the Russian soul. It is not an ideology or a philosophy, but a spirit from hell.
• In the last days Germany will be divided in two.
• France will be just nothing.
• Italy will be judged by natural disasters.
• Britain will lose her empire and all her colonies and will come to almost total ruin, but will be saved through praying women.
• America will feed the world, but will finally collapse.
• Russia and China will destroy each other. 
• Finally, Russia will be free and from her, believers will go forth and turn many nations to God.

WOW check out what the Holy Spirit is saying to you about this prophecy and  watch as God fulfills His Word. 

We need to grow in Him in such a way that what the Bible says is more real and dependable in our hearts than any of the things we see in the news.

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Be Free

We have just had a wonderful time in Australia with two of our daughters and their beautiful families. We saw really extravagant nature which reminded me of an interesting picture that our Wonderful, Amazing, Giving, Almighty Father showed me when I was a new Christian.

I was babysitting for a neighbour and they had a beautiful bird who was in a cage on a stand close to their open window.
Several birds flew past the open window and I saw how both are birds but a bird in a cage was in such a safe place. All his food was provided, he had human company, warm and very safe. He didn't need to do without, be uncomfortable or even be worried about any enemies! His owner provided his every need. Even when allowed into the sitting room to fly round with a little bit of freedom, he never made a fly for the sky, he knew his limitations and where he was well off and provided for.

I don't like my hips, my.......

So many of us have a problem with some part of our body that we find so hard to accept. We know the verses from Psalm 139 that tell us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God and He knows and loves everything about us, but we still think we are messed up.

Romans 9:20-21 says 'But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why did You make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?' Paul is not saying that some of us are worth more than others, but simply that the Creator has control over the created object. So we have no right to criticise anything that our Creator made, the amazing thing is He has freely given us all things because He is LOVE. 

This is an amazing picture of all God has done for us and how we have been rescued to walk in the light of Jesus Christ.  When Jesus met a man described in Luke 8:30 the man identified himself as 'Legion'.