this i know..

 

 '...let us press on to know the LORD;
  his going out is sure as the dawn;
 he will come to us as the showers,
  as the spring rains that water the earth.”
(Hosea 6:3 ESV)

 

 

Sometimes in life it must be said that things just don't make sense. My (very wise) Mum has taught me (whether or not she realises) that when you find yourself in that position, or when things are hard or your plans fall apart, that this is what you do. You don't focus on what you don't know, or how things may not make sense, or the 'why?' in your situation. You focus on what you do know. And this verse tells me two things...

 

1 - God is faithful. As the sun rises every day and sets every night, God will hold true to His promises. That He has good things planned for us. That He loves us and will never abandon us. And that He can use everything for good.

 

2 - God will replenish, restore and rejuvenate (and any other words starting with an 'r') us every day.

 

'Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth, will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glorious face'

i can do everything...

 
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:12-13 ESV)

 

I have always loved this verse. Especially the 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me' bit. But it wasn't until a little while ago at when I was at Hillsong Conference that I think I grasped (at least a wee bit more) the meaning of these words. Which is a bit narrow minded of me as the explanation is right in the verses previous.

 

I used to love quoting this verse to myself, and it usually went like this...

 

I can achieve my dreams through him who strengthens me!

I can achieve everything I need to do today through him who strengthens me!

I can achieve all this work I've left overdue through him who strengthens me!

Now, to a certain (very small) extent, this is true. Except that really, what I'm saying is...

I can achieve everything I want to do through him who strengthens me!

What I am now coming to realise is that instead of this verse being used as a superman verse ('I can do everything...!!'), what it really means is...

I can do really hard times through him who strengthens me!
I can do illness and difficulty through him who strengthens me!
I can do lack through him who strengthens me!

How amazing, that this is how good God's love is! That even in trial, we can persevere in joy, because God is there throughout everything. This verse is not written to remind you that life is or can be difficult, but rather to encourage you, that even amidst those times, God will be with you and He will give you strength. So let me encourage you today. If you are in the midst of a hard time, God will give you the strength you need to get through. And as the Message translation puts it...

 



'I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. ' (Philippians 4:12-13 MSG)

this is my revelation...

My lovely husband and I are just back from 6 days in Europe, and I must say, 'twas a grand mini break! We spent 3 days in Amsterdam, soaking up the sun amongst the canals and tulip bulbs, cheese and clogs. So many clogs! I lost my phone at one point on a tram, and miracle of miracles, we got it back that evening. We walked a LOT, and saw a lot of beautiful flowers - hooray!  I can safely say it's one of my new favourite cities. However, before we were in Amsterdam, were were in Den Haag for Hillsong Conference Europe. And as always, when you go into His presence with expectation, you will hear and see God in all His glory. It was spectacular, encouraging, uplifting, challenging, filled with glorious worship and kind people seeking God. When singing one song (well, several really), it felt like heaven was raining down on us. But as usual, my biggest challenge is always when I arrive home. It's easy to be on fire for God when in an environment like Hillsong Conference, but how then do we put these things we have learnt into action when back in the daily routine of life?

The focus of the conference was on building the local church, and of course in building the local church, what first must happen is that we ourselves, personally, are being built into the person God wants us to be. Are we allowing the external to control and influence the internal? Or is it (hopefully) the internal changing and affecting the external? What measure do you take to protect your heart and soul? Are you spending time with God, listening to Him and learning to love Him more? And most importantly, as a Christian, are you living off other people's revelation of who God is and what He has done? Or have you been sitting at His feet enough that He has personally revealed Himself in all His glorious and magnificent slendour to YOU? What is your revelation? What is the 'why' behind your faith? Is it because of things you've been told, experiences other people have had? Or is it because you know Jesus through His revelation to you?

Coming back to Scotland, that is my greatest prayer. That God will reveal Himself to me. Because I know without a doubt, that will lead to a deeper relationship with Jesus every day.

Hello there! It's been a while, and I've been a busy bee! Last Monday my husband took me on a tour of Callander which was dee-lightful! Filled with sunny, leafy streets, colourful charity shop bargains, lunch by the meadows, visiting Hamish the Highland cow, the yummiest bakery outside of Sydney and a lovely cafe by a beautiful loch, it was wonderful! We also spent a good few minutes sniffing the air which smelt of shortbread - yummo!

Yesterday we went on a hunt for furniture without any luck, and currently I'm sitting amidst approximately a bajillion boxes all ready to be moved into our new flat on the river this weekend, which I am very excited about.

As I've been cleaning and packing (there is SO much cleaning and packing), I have come to the realisation that I should clean more often. Clever? I think so! But it also made me think of my Dad telling me that maintenance is better and much more efficient than the alternative. Christine Caine put on facebook this week, 'It's often the stuff you leave out that matters', and yet it seems that no matter how often we're told what's good for us, the easy habits are so easily abandoned. Do you pray? Do you read the bible? Do you make time in your day to spend time with God? I struggle a lot with these simple things, and yet I know that if I got them right, SO much would fall into place. I would begin to place my self worth in God and His view of me, I would grow into a deeper relationship with God, my confidence would no longer be placed in things of this world, but God, and I would be released to be free in the love of God.

Sometimes, I need a good shake, and a good question asked.
What is stopping you?! Because whatever it is, do you realise what it is you're sacrificing?

are you free?

What will your response be?

I wish I could make this all stop RIGHT now. If we all did, I think we'd stand a pretty good chance...

No one is free when others are oppressed.
www.thea21campaign.org

Peace I leave with you...

'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.' John 14:27

Peace is something that I don't think I realised I had, until it left. But amongst much soul searching, I have come to the realisation this peace was my own peace, my own confidence, my own understanding.

My body is often unwell, there are days when I miss home more than others, and there are times when loneliness is pretty hard to handle. And yet I am slowly beginning to recognise the peace of God that transcends all understanding. I am starting to realise that this peace is something that we as Christians do all have...but have you accessed it? Are you willing to let go of your own peace which will change with the seasons, in exchange for a peace that will NEVER leave you, and NEVER forsake you?

There was a moment at Colour London 2012 in which I knew God was asking me to let go of what I wanted, and trust Him. This was a real struggle, and be assured I only promised God I would try (the best you can do sometimes!), but He took me on, and immediately I was flooded with peace.
In my sickness, my heart stays calm. In my homesickness, my head trusts God has good things planned for me. And in times of loneliness, I know that spiritually I am never alone.

My prayer for you today is that any anxiety, agitation, worry, fear, stress, anything that keeps you from seeing the true splendour of God, will leave in a moment, and that the peace of God will overwhelm you, body, heart and soul.

'...Take my life
Take all that I am
With all that I am I will love You
Take my heart
Take all that I have
Jesus how I adore You...'

'Like an Avalanche - Hillsong'