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

How hot is your fire?

Pentecost weekend, it was so exciting to celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit 2000+ years ago. Imagine if we had to live like the Jews back then following all the rules and regulations. Following the ten commandments would be tough, but when the leaders (Pharisees) added a whole load more it would have made life impossible. I would have constantly been saying 'sorry' and adding more sacrifices for blood on the scapegoat once a year. In the mean time I would have been weighed down with guilt and shame.

Living with the Holy Spirit alive in us can be so exciting, Romans 8:11. From the day we start our new life following Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and enables us to have the power to obey all He leads us to do. And to walk in love which we were not even trying to do before our life change, or should I say, our eternal destination change. We now have a completely different destination and the power to walk headlong in that direction.

Our responsibility though, is to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit in our heart burning. 

This will not happen if we don't focus on it. Like a fire in the hearth of our home, if we don't keep stocking it up and adding wood, controlling the draft, and making sure it is not overcome by rubbish ash, it will die out. This will take some work to return it to a place of heat, warmth, even cooking ability. The same with us, our excitement, passion for the things of God, can turn sour or cold. So let us take time out to pray, and cry out for the help of the Holy Spirit to 'fan into flame the spiritual gift God gave us' 2 Timothy 1:6. Get back into studying the Word for ourselves. And have a friend who is excited about Jesus and share with them. When we are on fire with the Holy Spirit then He is free to flow out of us and touch all those round us, then life is exciting again, encouraging, and full of His joy. 

So I am really keen to stop being lukewarm and return to my passion for Christ. Jesus Himself said 'Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the scriptures declare, 'Rivers of Living Water with flow from his heart'. Sounds like a very exciting journey to me, walk in daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit and live like Jesus, nothing could be more exhilarating or exciting, life in all its fullness. 

For more about walking with the Holy Spirit see https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/living-with-jesus/living-with-jesus-study-5 

Then the JUDGEMENT

 When I wrote the two posts about 'Heaven here we come' little did I know of the horror that was coming. I got weaker and weaker, losing weight and had differing opinions from the doctors. I was admitted to hospital after Christmas for various investigations. My family were very supportive the only problem was that my son collapsed on January 2nd and he was in a different hospital. Heaven seemed very imminent for us both. I had hoped that I would be 'the woman of power for the hour' sharing the gospel with anyone who would listen in another bed. It wasn't like that at all, the sky felt like brass, I didn't know the power or the Presence of the Holy Spirit at all. I prayed for one other precious lady and the answer never came as I walked up and down the ward with her. 

The fear I had was tangible, so real. I couldn't imagine that if I was dying I was going to enter into the Presence of Jesus as when my faith was tested I was sadly lacking. Judgement seemed frightening.

Lovely people visited me and I shared my crisis of faith and was totally honest. They pointed me to some different giants of the faith who had messed up. When I came home starting to mend physically, I asked the Father how to mend my relationship with Him and He directed me to take up the 'Bible In One Year'. Slowly but surely as my body restored so did my spirit and Father had used the whole experience to help me recognise my total need for Him on an hour by hour basis. I no longer needed to walk in self-sufficiency, prayerless activities, and busyness to look good, but needed the Holy Spirit for everything. 

So I picked up my terror about the Judgement and went through some verses. I know that when we repent AND turn away from our sins, even habitual ones, He forgives them, 1John 1:9. 'He also doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. ...... And as far as sunrise is from sunset He has separated us from our sins.' Psalm 103:12 Msg. This so encourages me but also there are verses, 'For we will all stand before the Judgement seat of God.......' Romans 14:10 - 12 of this passage 'So then, each of us will give a personal account of himself to God.'  This is where the problem comes, I know me and I don't feel so bad about what I did before I gave my life to Jesus, but I feel so much shame about the things I have done and said since I knew better. I know the Word says 'don't gossip' 'don't slander others'. 'I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it.' Romans 7:19. But on the other side of the scales Psalm 103:12 - 14 'He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord ..... is tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.' AND joy of joys 'I- yes, I alone - will blot out your sins for My own sake and will never think of them again' Isaiah 43:25. 

So we have to take the judgement seriously but keep it in balance according to the Word. We are accountable to God for every wrong we have done, but as we take responsibility for our thoughts and actions we have a clear way to the throne of God to confess them, not hide them, and receive all that Jesus has done to cover them and remove them just like the Lamb of God in the Old Testament. His grace is amazing but not an excuse to keep on sinning. So when I was in hospital I knew I had been walking in gluttony for years, yoyo dieting, and making food the idol of my life, but coming to the edge of life caused by my attitude to food has allowed me to focus on my responsibility to my Heavenly Father and to myself as the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and family. It truly has been life changing and the thought of me standing in front of the Judge of all the earth with all this sin has caused me to clean out the dirty larder of my soul. I have to ask the Holy Spirit when shopping, when going into the cupboard and fridge, and if I slip, turn away from that food, and be thankful.

When I stand before the judgement seat of Christ I want to know I am covered in His robe of righteousness that Jesus paid for with His Blood. But like Paul, I know it is a daily choice, and my motive now is far more 'no secrets' and I want to make choices that please Him not my dead flesh. There is so much to learn in His Word about the Judgement and our priority is to be ready at any time like the wise virgins in Matthew 25:6 'Look the bridegroom is coming'.   

'Now all glory to God, Who is able to keep us from falling away and will bring us with great joy into His glorious Presence without a single fault. All glory to Him Who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All Glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!' Jude 1:24,25. ARE WE READY?

See More https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/menu-bible-studies/menu-revelation

https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/menu-bouquets/menu-how-to-find-god

After Resurrection - Feed My lambs

 When I was first asked to do something for the women in my church in South Wales in 1993, I tried with my childish faith to ask the Father what was His plan for me. I knew I loved many of the women but I needed His plan. The first Bible verse that I got, that really jumped off the page to me, was the story of Jesus talking to Peter privately after He had risen from the dead, John 21:15-17. Peter had been warned by Jesus that he would betray His Lord but Peter adamantly denied he would do any such thing.

But after Jesus was viciously dragged away by the soldiers after Judas' kiss of betrayal, Peter in his usual impulsive way used his sword to cut off Malchus' ear, but Jesus healed it straight away, John 18:10,11. This resulted in Peter doing a runner. Then to add insult to injury he was seen by three different groups of people who accused Peter of being a Galilean  and a disciple of Jesus, John 18:25-27. He denied he knew Jesus, three times.

After the horrendous crucifixion, then the fantastic Resurrection, Peter and his friends had returned to what they knew, fishing. They never knew where Jesus would turn up next. Peter must have wondered even if  Jesus would have him back after his denial? This time Jesus turned up on the shore and told them where to fish. He then cooked breakfast for them. This was reminding them that although they had been through the worst trauma of their lives, lost their rabbi and they didn't yet understand what this new life was going to look like, He was still going to lead them every step of the way.

Jesus asks Peter 'do you love Me more than these?'

Such a loaded question, do you unconditionally love Me more than the fishing business? more than your work colleagues? Peter replies 'Yes Lord, You know that I love You.' Jesus says 'Feed My lambs' 
Jesus asks 'Simon son of John , do you love Me?' 'Yes Lord, you know that I love You.' 'Take care of My sheep.' 

The third time Jesus asked Peter the same question and Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time, and Jesus said 'Feed My sheep.' It was important that Peter saw that Jesus was reinstating him after his three denials. He was commissioning him to do the work that Jesus had started, 'feed My lambs', the new believers. Also 'feed My sheep', the more long term followers. Peter was beginning to see the vision Father God had for his future. From the example of following Jesus for three years, he had a small idea of the life changing  message. He also knew when Jesus finally left the earth He would send the promised Holy Spirit to help complete the work of preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth and making disciples of Jesus Christ.

And so 'Joy for Life' began to feed the sheep and encourage them to pass the life of Jesus on to their lambs. What a challenge to make disciples in our local area, in our city, country and to the ends of the earth. www.joyforlife.org

Heaven here we come Part 2

We have eternity planted by God in our heart, Ecclesiastes 3:11. All our lives, deep down in our hearts, we are looking for meaning and purpose. We have a God shaped hole that we may not recognise but  only He can fill.

When we are hurt in any way we build up a resistance to being hurt again and so can harden our hearts. This can make it harder to accept the Truth when we hear it. The wonderful part of this is, it is not our action to fill this great hole, Father God draws us by His Spirit in so many and various ways, we just need to respond. He never forces Himself on us, and thankfully He never gives up on us.

There are so many books and YouTubes around with stories of people who had Near Death Experiences which are so encouraging. But let us look at what the Word says and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes for Truth that we can hold onto by faith. When we hold onto any promises by faith, (trust, belief) this always pleases our Father, Hebrews 11:6 

I love Jesus's own words in John 14:1-3 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. 2 There is more than enough room in My Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.'

We dont really need more words than that, what a promise. But what about these thoughts  'He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.' Revelation 21:4.😭 So even if Heaven is not what we imagined, to have no more crying or pain and death will be .............. Words fail me.

And the place itself is out of this world. All over the Bible are verses describing Heaven, but I get so excited when I focus on Revelation 21:1-27 and Revelation 22:1-21. Let us just feed our imagination with a few of these Truths. 'I am making everything new' 'It is finished. I am the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end.' Remember all He made at the very beginning, the amazing garden, sure He is planning a much more amazing Eden/ Heaven, when we all come together to worship Him and see Him face to face in all His Glory.

'All who are thirsty will drink from the springs of Life' There is also a river flowing from the Throne of God and the Lamb, as clear as crystal. It flows down the main street of Heaven and on each side grew a tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop every month and the leaves are used for healing the Nations.

One of the angels described in Revelation 21:10-23  took John in the Spirit up a great high mountain to show him the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God. It shone with the Glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone, as clear as crystal The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve Angels. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. Then the walls of the city had twelve foundation stones and on each of them were written the Names of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. These foundation stones were inlaid with twelve precious stones. The City was pure gold as clear as glass.. Each gate was from one single pearl. There is no Temple in the City as the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the place of worship and their Glory illuminates the City and Jesus is the Light, so no night and no darkness at all., so all whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 3:5) will be able to enter.

Then there are the flowers, like the colours from the stones, the indescribable grandeur and yet miniscule beauty.

The Father God, Who with His Son Jesus Christ and the inspiration and Glory of the Holy Spirit created each person. He chose each individual before the creation of the earth, making each of us with different eyes and fingerprints, surely He would make our eternal home just as individual and unique, our very own part of Eden. In the Book of Song of Songs 2:10-13 where love is described in such beautiful detail and lots of the description describes nature full of colour and variety all from our Father's heart. How excited He must be to show us all that He has done and planned for us, when we arrive at our eternal home, Heaven

There are still lots of questions but I am so thankful that I can trust Him completely as He is God and I am not meant to understand all He has prepeared for me, but I can look forward to being quite overwhelmed by all that my Heavenly home will be like when I arrive. 

'For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now, rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever' 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

We have so much to look forward to, let us pray for our family and friends and for a holy boldness to tell everyone about His amazing love for all who will listen💓💓.

Heaven here we come.Part One

My eldest daughter Sara and I are looking at a cruise together, on my 'bucket list', something I have always wanted to do and Dave never did. Sara's husband is not keen on this, unless he is captaining the yacht. I am researching on the web, asking companies for brochures, thinking about the size, destiny and comfort of the cruise liner, so much fun, full of dreams, divine appointments; ideas of comfort; trips on shore and good food. 

So we all know we are going to die, the only guarantee in life, and yet we don't have coffee shop chats about 'what will it be like? Where do you think you are going? 'Would you recommend it?' 'If you died tonight where do you think you will go?' It is the 'elephant' in the room. In the Bible it says, 'Look I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in My creation!' Isaiah 65:17

So how can I be ready for my forever life? It is not wise to not think through wherever I am going be? Seek out how I am going to get there? What will it be like? if it is a place, what will I be doing? or not doing? Who else will be there?

It says in Hebrews 2:14,15; that Jesus came to remove the fear of  death, and by being human He showed us that He has prepared the way.

I have been very fearful of dying, a bit like being pregnant and I know in order to have this precious baby I am trapped to having to go through the labour. So knowing that to go into an unknown eternity I have to let go of control of every person and place in this life, and trust Jesus.  I have set about in the last few months to find out what awaits me on the other side of death. The Bible has a lot to say about it and Jesus does not want us to be ignorant. In fact He would rather our minds were more focused on eternity than our everyday issues. Time is short, 'But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away'. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 

I have also been enjoying a few books and YouTubes about Near Death Experiences, especially where research included believers in Jesus Christ and non believers there were so many reports in common. From their experiences many found Jesus for themselves. 

Having looked at post death experiences and the Word, I know without doubt I will be received by overwhelming LOVE, after all God gave His precious Son so I can be accepted and stand clean before Him. Forgiven of ALLI have done, even my good actions have had wrong motives.

We can have decided what is going to happen to us after we die and give it no more thought BUT is this the Truth? Imagine waking up on our new holiday and finding out 'this is not how I thought it was going to be' but there is nothing I can do to change the destination, I could have made my choice, when listening to friends talking; watching YouTubes; behaviour of church people; but maybe they were not telling me the truth, I have to make my own choice. After all if I dont want to spend time with the God of the Universe here, why would I want to spend time with Him in the next life. He never rejects us we reject Him.

This is Dave's last painting of the narrow gate, he didnt realise that his days were very short but obviously he was focusing on his Heavenly home and the narrow gate to get there, Matthew 7:13. This is such a massive and wonderful subject after all who doesn't want to go on the most amazing holiday, perfect destination, all inclusive, and surrounded by Love so if you are not sure, Jesus promises 'you will find Me if you seek Me with your whole heart' Jeremiah 29:13 and Luke 12:31

Check out if you have a paid ticket to the right destination go to "https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/the-best-news"  

Enjoy the journey and see you there. 

If Only .........

Since Dave died I have had so many opportunities to say if only,  'If only I hadn't kept that grudge.' 'If only I had listened more when he tried to teach me on the computer.' 'If only I had found out where to fill the car engine with oil'.
'If only I hadn't made that comment'
'If only I hadn't posted that message'
'If only I had said sorry straight away or never made the comment in the first place'
'If only we had trusted Jesus more'.

When we lose a partner, a child, a friend from death or even a business, a house,..........  (fill in the space) there can be so many 'if onlys........' but it brings us to a massive place of regret, a regret we can do nothing about.

Imagine how many 'if onlys' Peter spoke and thought about coming up to Pentecost, Acts 2:14. He knew Jesus was the Messiah, the Father had shown that Truth to him and called him, Matthew 4:18. He saw the Transfiguration and wanted to tell Jesus what he could do for Him, Matthew 17:4. What about walking on water, imagine 'if only I hadn't looked down' Matthew 14:29.
If only I hadn't said I would never deny Him, 
If only I had slipped away and not tried to stick around the court house.
If only; .....  if only I had taken on board His warning to me,
If only I had been honest with Him and say I didn't understand,.....
If only He had made it all clearer, if only I had realised He didn't mean I was going to be important in His new Government.....

'If only' ........When Jesus was resurrected, He came straight to Peter to ask him if he really loved Him? John 21:15-18. What a challenge after the previous few days. Peter must have had so many 'If onlys' in his head. 'If only' I had been faithful to Him when I could; 'If only' I was there when He needed me the most..

.......
But now, none of this is helpful, positive or building Peter up, he now knows he is forgiven, Peter told Jesus three times that he loves Him more than anything or anybody. Peter knows too, he can look forward. Jesus has told all the disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8

Peter now experienced the life transforming power of the Holy Spirit and will obey His leading day by day with no regrets - no 'if onlys' so he can walk as Jesus walked and do what Jesus did. His first sermon when laying hands on the man sitting at the Temple door, 3000 people were saved, Acts 3:1-8. No more speaking without thinking. He now has a heart full of compassion for the marginalised, even those who killed his Saviour.

I am learning to  give all my 'if onlys' to Jesus, lay them at His feet and recognise He dealt with them all, at the time when they happened, and there is no need to allow them to hold me back. Let us like Peter make a new start, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, 'as without Him we can do nothing'.  Have a good day, and no more time wasted on 'if only.......'     
 

Praise in the storm.

Some time ago I went out my front door with slippers on, and a coat, no phone, just to pop a piece of paper into the neighbour's letter box. As soon as I stepped away from my front door I realised I did not have my key, and worse I had left it on the inside of the front door, and the door latch locks on contact. I have spare keys with neighbours for just such a time as this, but not when I have the key on the inside of the lock. AAAAAAAAH.

A kind neighbour suggested going in via the back door. 'I never leave my key on the inside of the back door', I stated boldly. I picked up my spare back door key from another neighbour, (good strategic planning), spent 20 minutes trying to get it to work. My amazing neighbour came round and realised I had indeed left my key in the inside lock of the backdoor as well. He managed to fiddle the spare key enough to allow him to use his key to unlock my house and let me in.

In this little cameo when I was stepping out of my front door I realised I had a choice, while my stomach was churning and my head was full of 'what ifs', I was thinking through every scenario of potential problems especially as I was meant to be on my way to a Zoom meeting. OR I could call on the Holy Spirit to lead me and listen to Him instead of all the reasonings in my mind and just praise Jesus with all my heart so I walked along my garden path praising Him with my hands in the air, that He had a plan, He wouldn't leave me homeless for the night. With some wiggling of my backdoor key, my neighbour managed to loosen the key, and it fell to the floor and he was able to unlock my back door and I gained entry to my home. I certainly had a praise party that night and learnt a big lesson from my Father, praise in the storm.

Prayer 'Father God when I have any problem please help me to focus more on YOU rather than the problem. You are so much bigger than any problem. Guide me Holy Spirit to throw my heart into praise rather than panic in Jesus Name and for His Glory, Amen.

Joy Always

Just think about this for a few moments, JOY ALWAYS, it is enough to lift our spirits in any trial. And this is the JOY Jesus had, even when He faced the Cross, James 1:2-3. I am sure He didn’t feel happy as the circumstances were dire in every area of His life; the Cross itself; leaving His Mother, who He knew would hurt so much; His closest friends would desert Him, and all the people, whom He loved so much would hate Him. 

But He had the bigger picture, of the ‘joy set before Him’. He encourages us to have the same eternal perspective in every situation, even when our hearts are breaking, Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1-3

We may feel that we have no joy in our present tough situation but Jesus said in John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." So His joy is available to us on a moment by moment basis. Just think of it - Jesus has put His own joy in our heart from the moment we were born again by the Spirit of God.

How do we put that force of joy to work in our life? Just like we put the force of salvation to work in our life, by faith.

First, we trust we have received it.

Then we speak it out with our mouth. (In other words, quit crying and start shouting "Hallelujah" instead!)

Then we start agreeing we have joy by doing it, praising Him, worshiping, His promises.

 The Holy Spirit will teach us how to develop Jesus’ joy., take time out to lay aside every thought, every weight, and every care and get your heart focused on Jesus.

No matter what our circumstances we can be full of joy.

We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

We can draw on the joy of the Holy Spirit within us and come out in victory!

We can just keep thinking about that and talking about it until the joy of the Lord starts to bubble up within us. Then we'll be strong enough to whip any kind of trouble that comes our way! 

  

 Paul desired for the disciples to be strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to HIS'  glorious might and to attain every kind of endurance and patience WITH joy, giving thanks to the Father. That's what Paul did, he certainly had trouble, he'd been stoned, and whipped and imprisoned, and ridiculed - and yet he was always rejoicing, never in self-pity. He kept re-energizing joy by drawing on the supply of the Holy Spirit within himself. Joy kept his attitude right. Joy kept him looking to God and flowing in Holy Spirit power. We can do the same, His power within us.

 Joy doesn't depend on our constantly fluctuating emotions.

Joy affects the mind, making it alive and receptive.

Joy makes the human will vibrant and yielded to God.

Joy even affects the body. 'A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed strugles with sickness and depression' Proverbs 17:22 TPT

Just over a week ago I got a call at 5am asking me to return home for a serious family health situation. According to Google I was 3hrs 12 minutes away. While packing my case I put the situation into Father's hands and had a deep sense that He was working this situation out and I could trust Him. I certainly wasn't happy with this situation but all the time while driving home in the bucketing rain, I had a deep seated joy.  So when any anxious thought came I just kept praising. All I could remember to focus on was the Lord's prayer, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven' and there is no death in Heaven. His joy was overwhelming at times. If I had not been driving I probably would be jumping up and twirling around. The outcome was just as the Father had promised me.

 

Each of the fruit of the Holy Spirit supports the others. It takes them all, working together, to make us complete. Joy is not just a state of mind. Joy is a very real force. The devil doesn't have anything that can stand up against faith, joy, love, peace,  longsuffering, goodness or self-control. Discouragement, disappointment, disaster, disorder, disputes, divisions, doubts,  all have to yield to joy. We dont need to stir ourselves up to be overcome by JOY just allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in us. Go for it BE JOYFILLED and the world will see JESUS.

 

Unity in Diversity Part 2

So as we made the point in Part 1 if we are believers in Jesus Christ, we are all born of the same Holy Spirit, so united in our spirit and all part of the Body of Christ

 But we are also very unique, being made in His image, making us the person He wants us to be. We can celebrate our individuality. God doesn't want us to be like everyone else so why do we kick against His pricks to copy those we admire, or feel inferior because we are not the same.

Even Paul and Barnabas had their differences of opinion 'Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways.....' Acts 15:37-41. They were both working for the Kingdom of God, but they saw, at that time, what they felt the Holy Spirit was leading them into individually and they did not agree. They differed on how to go about it. Paul wanted to take Silas but Barnabas 'full of the Holy Spirit and faith' (Acts 11:24), wanted to take John. But according to Paul 'he wasn't about to take along a quitter who as soon as the going got tough, had jumped ship on them in Pamphylia' Acts 15:39 msg. I am sure Paul and Barnabas had not meant to fall out or hurt each other. They had been through so many challenging  experiences together, pointing people to Jesus, setting up churches, surviving persecution. Now they chose to recognise this was not a close friendship at this time but to let it go and move on. Both their priorities was to not hold up God's Kingdom work, but to constantly keep the eternal goal in front of them.

Even Mary and Martha had their differences and built up resentment against each other. Martha even getting Jesus involved in the conflict, (Luke 10:40) but dear Martha, was put in her place very lovingly by Jesus. This hasn't seemed to cause her to change her behaviour at this time,  'There is only one thing worth being concerned about, Mary has discovered it......' Luke 10:42. After Lazarus died and Jesus, Who had waited on God's timing to go to the sisters, Martha is going out to meet Him, but Mary stayed in the house. John 11:20. So had Martha's priorities changed, and was she now thinking like her sister?

As believers we are called to love one another whatever we feel. I can feel wrong and do what is right then I can walk in the Holy Spirit. Then the world knows that Jesus is real and relevant for today. We are even asked to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us, (Matthew 5:44) this is so different from the world, and helps to bring us into unity.

So in the light of what the Holy Spirit is saying to us let us really ask Him to show us where we are NOT united in His way and what He wants us to do about it? We are told if we look into the Word and then do nothing we are fooling ourselves..........James 1:22-25, 

Remember Jesus, He had Judas in His team, He didn't go 'I am not going to hang around with you lot because of that traitor Judas'. He didn't even gossip to His closest disciples about Judas putting his hand into the money purse. He didn't even try to show Judas up by trying to trap him. There must have been so many opportunities for Him to expose Judas's corruption and yet right to the end, He was washing Judas's feet, and sharing the Passover meal, our amazing merciful Jesus gave Judas lots of opportunities to repent. How did Jesus love him so much? He gave us the most amazing example of how to walk in His footsteps on the earth and to have a heart of love for all people, even willing to lay down our time, reputation, money for those we don't even like, just to show Jesus to the world. We can only do that by walking in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:5 NLT 'For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love' So let us be proactive in loving with His love and bringing about unity for His Name's sake.
 

Unity in Diversity Part 1.

 All through my Christian life I have felt challenged about the Bible's instructions about being 'united'. I can understand in a small way being 'united with Christ' (Ephesians 1:11) but that is my personal relationship with Jesus that He bought for all people at the Cross. But 'all believers were united in heart and mind.' (Acts 4:32) that is a whole different picture.

What does that look like in my relationships? I recognise that I am the clay and He is the potter (Isaiah 64:8). I understand that our Father chose to make every person unique, He gives me His love for each person He made and wants me to show that love to all. As a parent He wants His children to love one another as He has loved us, John 15:9.

How can we be united in the church, for example, when we can see people across the room who we know haven't talked for months because of an offense. How can we be united when I know someone has judged, I have forgiven them but they find me difficult to be around?

This week when talking to Father about this I was so thrilled to realise that all born again believers are born of the same Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4). Without Him we are not born again or a child of God. It is the Father Who draws us (John 6:44) and it is the Holy Spirit, Who raised Jesus from the dead, Who comes to live in us (Romans 8:11) So we all come under the same Name. But just like children in the same family have the same surname, but can be very different, or like peas in a pod, so it is similar in the Body of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes the variety in Christ's Body so well. 'God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us............. We are one body with many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body....... we all share the same Spirit'.

When I was working as a volunteer in a women's prison doing 'Joy for Life', a lovely girl came up to me prior to the start of class and said she had just become a Christian. She explained that the other Christians, who I knew were about to attend the 'Joy for Life' time, had told her that she couldn't be a Christian as she was a lesbian. After a quick arrow prayer I gave my sister in Christ a big hug and just said to her 'welcome, 

you lesbian, me proud'. We all have stuff to deal with. She went on after six months of attending class to tell me she had broken off her relationship, and after a further six months, to say Father God had shown her she was no longer a lesbian.

Do we expect the believers we mix with to be all in the same mold and anyone slightly different in their beliefs, or actions, or the way they pray, we keep away from? I am learning to not be judgmental of believers who have different ways of doing things or opinions to me. I pray that Father shows me how He sees them and bring my thoughts into line with His love. This is all so exciting, not that we feel so great when seeing people we are not drawn to, but the wonderful Holy Spirit will show us how to love every other person in His Body with His power not our own natural reactions, 1 John 4:7

In Summary - 'Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children too' 1 John 5:1

For further study https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/real-love/

Perfect LOVE drives out fear

A week ago I took a very precious friend to a nearby hospital to have her monthly eye injections following all the guidelines for being a volunteer driver. Having dropped her off I wait in the car park for a couple of hours. I needed a comfort break so walked into the hospital where staff check your temperature and you say your business. I felt as if I was hit by a wall of fear, it was tangible in people's mannerisms and their eyes when we can't see smiles. Even when in the Eastern Block in the Cold War I didn't feel this. I wanted to stop and talk to people about God's amazing love and I felt so sad and more determined than ever to talk about the amazing LOVE we all have poured into our hearts when we choose Jesus as number one.

Fear causes us to say things like 'I could never....... do that,..... go there,..... speak to them..... be any good at......' and the rest! Think about what you declare with your mouth, is it a truth or a lie?

It is hard to talk about LOVE and focus on 'fear' and yet that is the very powerful force that limits love working in our lives and is often at the root of many problems we have.

1 John 4:18-19 'There is no fear in LOVE (dread does not exist). But perfect (complete, full grown) LOVE drives out fear, because fear involves (the expectation of Divine) punishment, so the one who is afraid (of God's Judgement) is not perfected in LOVE (has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God's LOVE). We love, because He first Loved us.'

Fear can be so deep rooted that we respond to situations and don't even know why we react like that. Of course there is the fight or flight automatic reaction which saves us from many dangers. Recently I was about to fall over and the first word out of my mouth was 'Jesus' (not as a swear word) and as I landed on the concrete slabs nothing at all was damaged much to the surprise of all around me. So let us have His Name forefront in our talk.

Fear is a very massive response in most situations today as the TV News is full of horror stories, as is the multimedia. We are in danger of our mind picking up these stories if we do not protect ourselves by speaking His Word out of our mouth as a weapon in this war for our spirit.

FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. So when we get symptoms in our body which we often accept, not recognising them as false evidence from the enemy, then we have a battle on our hands.

But let us focus on His LOVE as the Word says that this is what deals with 'fear'. This LOVE is not a happy feeling it is GOD Himself. Our love is very varied. We use the same word for our children and chocolate. There is no comparison but I believe this verse is not calling for a head response, a knowledge that we have lots of verses to back up that Father loves us. It is not an intellectual relationship, using our brains to prove the point. It is receiving His heart into our heart and allowing Him to give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us. He takes away our heart of stone and we let Him give us a new heart of flesh, that is responsive to His touch. Ezekiel 11:19.

Without a doubt this has been the biggest change in my life this last year. The light bulb moment of recognising that lots of good things I have said about God's love has now dropped from my head to my heart. I no longer need to be driven by activity for acceptance and approval. I can just rest in my LOVE relationship with Him alone and KNOW that just the way I am is just right for HIM and this overwhelms me. All the wasted years striving and manipulating to be loved when I am totally unconditionally loved from the beginning of time. I love the Word far more, I want to spend more time just enjoying Jesus and obey His leading as this is the most exciting life.

The Father's Love Letter says it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsBhvSMQUk4

If you want to study further look at 'Real Love' in Joy for Life Bible studies looking at the book of 1 John