THE GIFT OF GRACE

Emma gave me permission to share the following powerful poem she wrote about GRACE, having been awakened in the night with these words in her heart. I felt this followed so well from Mary's story.

Gifted with Grace, a place to begin
Atoned for, redeemed, washed clean of sin
Grace builds the foundation for newness of life
Freed from our shame, our weakness and strife

Since our very beginning we've mirrored the fall
Lost in transgressions, empty and small
Our earthly desires and sins of the flesh
Are only self serving and fleeting at best

Turning from God, His praises unspoken
We're unshepherded, lost, fearful and broken
But Grace is our life line, the truth and the light
Revealing God's love, His mercy, His might

By Grace we are cradled, carried and grown
As children of God and heirs to His throne
Unconditionally given, offered to all
Claimed for by faith in response to His call

When we are weary, downtrodden and weak
Grace is the light in the darkness we seek
It shines effervescent, it leads us in hope
With Grace as our mantra we're strengthened to cope

Amidst war, persecution, injustice and hatred
Grace sees the world through eyes that are sacred
Righteous, restored and poised for salvation
Bringing heaven on earth, God's perfect creation

The trust deed to joy when all seems quite wrong
Grace is the blessing that bursts into song
No need to feel guilty with this parable of joy
Grace is God's gift for all to enjoy

By Emma Howe through the inspiration of The Holy Spirit

Mary, Mary!

'Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished' Luke 1:45 NIV
'And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord'. Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭45‬ AMP
'Blessed woman who believed what God said, believed every word would become true' Luke 1:45 MSG

All the things that happened to me and were spoken to me I kept thinking over and over as I knew they would be important one day.

I, Mary, was a very beautiful young woman living in Galilee, I was very excited as I was engaged to a wonderful man, Joseph, I had my whole future planned out.
We would be reasonably well off, after all Joseph had a good job and came from a lovely family; I could have several children, the blessing of Yahweh; a lovely home and I would be the best wife. But suddenly everything changed, an angel came to me, Gabriel, God's own messenger!..... Alone, no witnesses! What is happening?

'Greetings,....' YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME!! What was happening, who would believe me? Who would not think I was losing my mind? What would Joseph think?

Then more.... 'you who are highly favoured...... ' surely not, not me? Now I know I have talked to all my friends about the Messiah coming but never heard anyone talk about it maybe happening like this, 'YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME'??

'The Lord is with me' WOW I so long for this to be true, but I know how weak I am, how human I am! But then the challenge I need to hear, He seems to know exactly how I feel, every thought!

Complaints Department

'Wow' just had a knock between the eyeballs! Well that is rather an exaggeration! I am so very challenged about the simple word 'complaining'!

I have just been studying the book of Numbers where Miriam and Aaron complain against Moses taking a Cushite wife and criticise him, Numbers 12, and Miriam develops leprosy as a result. Miriam and Aaron together repent and apologise to Moses who prays, Numbers 12:13, and she is healed! BUT there are consequences and she is put out of the city for seven days. As a result of Moses' prayer God shows His wonderful mercy and she does not need to be cast out forever, WOW such mercy!

The children of Israel in their first year after crossing the Red Sea have three times where they complain to Moses, and look through rose coloured spectacles at their time in Egypt, Numbers 11:5. They come against Moses as their leader, Numbers 14:1-4. God gets really angry at their criticism and complaints as really the people are criticising and complaining against God Himself, showing unbelief, ungratefulness, selfishness and sin.

This whole study has really challenged me, so after asking the Holy Spirit to highlight when I am complaining out loud or in my thoughts I have been really horrified how much I complain about silly little things, but all these

 

words come from a heart that is NOT focusing on God and His ways. Jesus had so many opportunities to complain in a derogatory way but His heart of Love always spoke the Truth.

When we complain out loud it develops a darkness round about us. Also if we think 'complaints and criticism' we find ourselves getting more miserable in our minds. Lots of these thoughts are not even our business and if we share them with someone else it seems to add power to the complaint and justify our opinion and disobedience towards our Father.

Somebody Loves YOU

You may not receive red roses, chocolates or any other present saying' I love you' but there is One who passionately wants you to know He thinks you are ace, and loves you with a love that lasts forever just as you are today. His love will not change dependent on your behaviour or responses. He made a very public show of this fantastic, amazing, wonderful  love on the Cross so everyone knows you are worth it!

He took the beatings, handcuffs, demands,  all so you  don't have to,  AND  you can experience His very close presence every moment. He will never let you  down, pay you back or treat you  as you deserve! Run to Him and tell Him you want to know this love. He gave all His blood to demonstrate His Love and this, unlike the red roses, never fades so you can never again say 'Nobody loves me'. You are so special to the one who really matters, Jesus Christ.

God's Favourites

I know God doesn’t have any favourites, but there are times when I certainly feel like one of His because my life has been so idyllic, especially over the past three months. We have been visiting the family in Australia for 40 sleeps with one family near Perth and then 40 sleeps on the Sunshine Coast with our middle daughter and her family who have emigrated this last year (see previous blog). Fancy three months holiday! Well, not being happy to sit around while my hard working families were running around and giving us quality time as well, my precious daughters allowed me to do laundry duties and I loved it, an opportunity to pray, worship and listen to teachings.

But all the time the verse of the Bible that I was meditating on more than any other was Genesis 3:16 ‘He told the woman, I’ll multiply your pains in childbirth; you’ll give birth to your babies in pain. You’ll want to please your husband but he will lord it over you.’ This was the curse that came on all people after Adam and Eve had chosen to disobey the only rule God had given them. ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat,…. ’ Genesis 2:16,17. They lived in perfect harmony with Him in the Garden of Eden but doubted His Love. Then again from the NET Bible ‘To the woman He said ….. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.’ And from the Amplified Bible ‘…….. With spasms of distress you will bring forth children. Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.’  

Joy Again

Well here is the update on being ‘joyful’ when life is full of tough situations. I don’t want to be glib or trite, I have spent too much of my exciting Christian life ‘talking the talk but not walking the walk’. 

‘Consider it sheer JOY, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way’. James 1:2-4 MSG

We sing such beautiful worship songs saying things like ‘You are all I need’ but when He is all we have, can we really say that?

Gone are the days of a comfortable 'Christian' life, church on Sunday and maybe a 'social' life group during the week. We are stepping into a time of real hatred against Christians, losing jobs, property, and freedom. So what did our wonderful Saviour do for us, He gave up the freedom of Heaven for 33 years because He loves us so much and longs to spend forever with us. Are we willing to get out of our 'comfort zone' to go next door or out on the street? 

In all our circumstances Jesus knows that our situation will work out for our good and His plan. He is good all the time (Romans 8:28) so He used joy as a powerful spiritual force to see Him through to victory. Psalm 16:11. We have to choose to look away from all that would distract us and turn to Jesus, Hebrews 12:2. Because of the joy awaiting Him, and all of us who believe in Him, He endured the Cross, disregarding its shame. Then we can choose joy in every circumstance! Then we can be strong in Him, His joy is our strength, Nehemiah 8:10.

How?

“.. continue in His Love with Me ........ I have told you this so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes your cup of joy will overflow.” John 15:9-11. Constantly receive His LOVE

Joy comes from walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, with believing. Romans 15:13.

Joy comes from being consistent in our relationship with Jesus Christ, Who is the source of all joy. Hebrews 12:2; John 15:11.

Joy comes when we constantly remind ourselves of His amazing love for us as proved at the Cross, giving us salvation. Isaiah 12:3; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Peter 1:8.

Joy comes when we OBEY the command to 'rejoice in all circumstances'. It is irrelevant of our feelings which will change as we thank God and worship Him for our salvation and the joy that comes with it. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18; John 16:20-22.

Joy comes by faith, just like love, when we act in obedience, the feelings follow. Habakkuk 3:17-19.  

Joy comes even if our circumstances are exceptionally difficult, e.g. Paul was in chains in prison when he wrote to the Philippians. Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 4:12-13. When he chose to praise God.

Joy comes by entering into celebrations that honour God and not ourselves, strengthening us with His joy. Paul and Silas praised in prison, God caused an earthquake, so all their shackles were unfastened. Freedom was for all, so as we rejoice we set others free. Acts 16:23-34; Psalm 126:1-3. 

Joy comes by living in harmony. Philippians 2:1-5.

Joy comes by speaking the Word with our mouths, in faith not feelings, knowing God is working every circumstance for our good, Romans 8:28; Proverbs 15:23; Jeremiah 15:16.

Jesus is the fantastic example of the power of joy. “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” Hebrews 12:3. He could walk in such joy because He had a heart overflowing with love for all people and NO selfish ambition, John 17:13. In the Old Testament there are so many warnings that come to God’s children when they moan and groan, with dire consequences, Numbers 11; Job 36:21. 

But we have so many modern ways to help us overcome grief and self-pity. I have used ‘Spotify’ daily to get the best worship music to focus my heart on Jesus. There is always ‘phone a friend’, and so many wonderful prayer lines, for example www.ucb.co.uk or www.cfan.org.uk.

I have to say I know that living a tough life Jesus’ way really works, and I have had many wonderful days since our daughter left focusing on Him, but not everyday. We shared a birthday party in Brisbane via FaceTime and today we have had a conducted tour of their new home and watched the excitement as they unpacked their precious belongings from the container via FaceTime!

And wonderful rejoicing when Ayesha had more tests and the mass had disappeared, the doctors don’t understand but we do - ‘God is good all the time’!

How can our hearts have the endurance Jesus had? By focusing where Jesus focused: on “the joy that God put before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). He lifted His eyes beyond the horizon and saw the table. He focused on the feast. And what He saw gave Him strength to finish — and finish strong. Joy comes from knowing this world is only temporary and that someday we will be with God forever. It comes from the fact that, although we do not yet see God, we “believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). It comes from a life of submission to the Holy Spirit - regardless of circumstances.

JOY

^‘Consider it sheer JOY, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way’. James 1:2-4 MSG

God’s will for our lives is joy in ALL circumstances: “Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4NLT.

BUT Father God what about when our precious second daughter with her wonderful husband and three children emigrate from the UK to Australia at the end of March? Where is JOY then?

I am naturally a cup half empty person therefore my default button is misery and complaining so I need to look at all the Word says about this. Surely Father God who lost His Son would not expect me to be full of ‘JOY’ in these circumstances??

I am not talking about happiness which I know comes and goes depending on circumstances - and the whole world wants to be happy! (I am so ‘happy’ with a special cup of coffee and chocolate biscuit – easily pleased!) I am talking about what God calls ‘JOY’! A fruit of His Holy Spirit living in me. That power that raised Jesus from the dead! The same power that gives me confidence and assurance that He alone has all things in His hands. The JOY that works along with love, peace, patience; kindness; goodness, faithfulness; gentleness and self-control, totally supernatural fruit from staying close to Jesus. What a challenge!