The Presence of God Gives Courage

People seem to be worrying about so many things: the credit crunch, job losses, house prices, stabbings, gang culture…so many things!

There is actually a list of things people can have fears and worries about:

1. Fear of failure
2. Fear of rejection
3. Fear of public speaking
4. Fear of criticism
5. Fear of what others think
6. Fear of being alone
7. Fear of financial collapse
8. Fear of failing health
9. Fear of success
10. Fear of death

The Presence of God gives us courage. Courage is not having no fear, it is moving ahead in spite of your fear, knowing God is with you.

The Ark, the Presence of God, was with the people at the fall of Jericho.

“So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it." And he ordered the people, "Advance! March around the city, with the armed guard going ahead of the ark of the LORD."

When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD's covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. But Joshua had commanded the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.

Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding. So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.” Joshua 6: 6 - 14

It took courage for Israel to do this; Israel was wide open to attack during this time, and it would have been easy for the people of Jericho to attack them from the high position of the walls. With the Ark with them – the Presence of God – they had courage.

What are you fearful of, what do you worry about? When we have the Presence of God in our lives we can have supernatural courage.

This courage is not just for us but others, those God wants us to support, encourage and cheer on.

Billy Graham said: "Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened." This is part of our witness.

So as 2010 approaches maybe you need to make a change: take whatever you are worried about, give it to God and draw close to Him - as you do this you will become strong and courageous. If you don't need to make this change - you're there - then look to those who God wants you to support, encourage and cheer on.

Negativity Kills...YOU & OTHERS

Numbers 13:30-33: “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

10 spies saw the problems - the walls are too big, the people are too big - 2 saw the promise.

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: "I feel all alone”
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Behold God's perspective! Believe God's promises! Be like the 2 spies!

Why Pray?

I’ve been reading R.A. Torrey’s book ‘How to Pray’. This is a powerful book. I thought I would share some text extracted from the first chapter on 'The Importance of Prayer'. A couple of my thoughts are added in italics.

"But why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful?’

1. First of all, because there is a devil. He is cunning, he is mighty, he never rests, he is ever plotting the downfall of the child of God; and if the child of God relaxes in prayer, the devil will succeed in ensnaring him…

2. Prayer is God’s appointed way for obtaining things, and the great secret of all lack in our experience, in our life and in our work is neglect of prayer…

3. Those men whom God set forth as a pattern of what he expected Christians to be – the Apostles – regarded prayer as the most important business of their lives…Read Acts to see how prayer and Holy Spirit empowered ministry went hand in hand

4. Prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important part in the earthly life of our Lord…If so important for Jesus, how much more should it be for us

5. Prayer is the most important part of the present ministry of our risen Lord…He intercedes for us now

6. Prayer is the means that God has appointed for our receiving mercy, and obtaining grace to help in time of need…

7. Prayer in the name of Jesus Christ is the way Jesus Christ himself has appointed for his disciples to obtain fullness of joy…

8. Prayer, in every care an anxiety and need of life, with thanksgiving, is the means that God has appointed for obtaining freedom from all anxiety, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding…

9. Prayer is the method that God himself has appointed for our obtaining the Holy Spirit…

10. Prayer is the means that Christ has appointed whereby our hearts shall not become overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so the day of Christ’s return come upon us suddenly as a snare…

11. Because of what prayer accomplishes…

- Prayer promotes our spiritual growth as almost nothing else…
- Prayer brings power into our work…
- Prayer avails for the conversion of others…
- Prayer brings blessings to the church…"

I hope this has informed, refreshed and blessed you.

How is your prayer life?

MEMO FROM GOD

I can't remember where I read this, but it's quite powerful...

MEMO FROM GOD:

As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.

When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy. At one point you had to wait, fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long.

With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet.

You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.

Bedtime - I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay.

I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. And once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time.

Have a nice day! Your friend, GOD

Forgiveness - The Healthy Option

Job 18: 4: "You who tear yourselves to pieces in anger..."

Scanning through some old work I came across this article I had saved on forgiveness:

The Times - January 3, 2008 - To err is human, to forgive good for your health by Rebecca Newman

"What could you never bring yourself to forgive – some transgression so heinous that the very idea of forgiving the treacherous toad responsible makes your blood boil? But what if forgiveness were good for your health? Forgiveness is, of course, a tenet central to most religions. Every Christian knows by heart the lines “forgive those who trespass against us . . .”

But it is not just balm for the soul. A ten-year research project reveals that “forgiveness interventions”, where patients are guided into forgiving thoughts, benefit their well being. Even one or two “interventions” can improve cardiovascular function, diminish chronic pain, relieve depression and lower blood pressure.

At the same time, the study found that an inability to pardon can raise a person’s risk of heart disease and mental illness.

Happily, for those to whom forgiveness does not come so easily, the researchers assert that it is behaviour that can be learnt, like eating well and taking exercise."

We must forgive for our own physical and spiritual well-being.

Sometimes we as Christians can simply forgive others because the Bible teaches us we must. Other times we need to ask God to help us forgive others, and He does. God may give us someone to help us on the pathway to forgiving. Through whatever means - FORGIVE.

Who do you need to forgive?

Eat This Book!

I love this quote I read recently in ‘Life With God’ by Richard Foster, taken from ‘Eat This Book’ by Eugene Peterson. I also love the title ‘Eat This Book’!

“Christians feed on Scripture. Holy Scripture nurtures the holy community as food nurtures the human body. Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism and justice in Jesus’ name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in company with the Son.”

Do we see the Bible in this light? I know when I spend time reading the word of God my spiritual heartbeat picks up, there is an alertness in me, I know what I need to do, how I need to live.

Hebrews 4:12 - “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

How often are you eating this great Book?

Refreshment and Restoration

Acts 3:17-26 - Read about times of refreshing which we can access now (v.19) and a time of restoration which is to come (v.21).

Be Filled With The Holy Spirit

Acts 4:8 -10 - "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed."

Acts 2:4 - "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Acts 4:31 - “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Points to remember:

1) Prayer can precede being filled with the Holy Spirit. . When we step out to witness we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why only ‘can’? We have to have the knowledge of this and the desire to be filled. We need to ask. When we ask and we receive these times of prayer and witnessing are powerful.

2) We can be filled individually and we can be filled corporately. In Acts 2:4 and 4:31 the corporate infilling came after a time(s) of prayer.

3) Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit more than once. He was present in all three situations mentioned in the Bible verses above. Ephesians 6:18 tells us that we need to be continually filled: “…be filled with the Spirit.” It is not clear in the Bible as to why (unless someone can enlighten me), but many a great man and woman of God have said in the past that we ‘leak’ as we sin (light and darkness cannot dwell in the same place) or as we minister and witness to others.

Cat and Mole (Not Mouse!)

Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…”

We recently moved house from a very urban area to an area with more green space. Our cat, Gracie, in the urban area would always bring home feathers to play with from the local pigeon coop one of the residents owned. These feathers had fallen out of the pigeons already. They were the evidence that pigeons existed, but Gracie had not been with them!

Since moving, in the space of one week she has bought home 6 baby moles. Being a gentle soul she brings them home alive to share the joy with us! She drops them in our living room or takes them upstairs to run around the house. Bless! I have caught two now and put them back in the field (locking Gracie in for 50 minutes or so to give the poor thing a head start!), but I usually chicken out if my husband is around and scream for his assistance.

We have had Gracie for just over 4 years now. The majority of her life has shown little opportunity to go hunting and catch small furry animals, an innate instinct she has, but as soon as the opportunity has arisen in this more countryside surrounding those instincts have naturally surfaced and gone into action.

As Christians we need to put ourselves in group or individual situations where there is a spiritual ‘countryside’ before us – an opportunity for our supernatural instincts to surface, which is to witness to those that do not know God. If we do not put ourselves in those surroundings then all we will bring home are feathers – the evidence that those who are lost are all around us, from what we see and pick up on in our daily lives, but we have not been with them.

How do we do this? As a church and as individuals we need to meet with non-Christians. Not, as some would suggest, to create false friendships merely to see these people become Christians, but to create friendships where as a friend we have to tell them about Jesus and the love of God, or what kind of friend are we?

The Manifest Presence Of God

I recently read Leonard Ravenhill’s book ‘Why Revival Tarries’ and then Rodney Howard-Browne’s book ‘The Touch of God’. There is restlessness in me to see more of the supernatural manifestations of God. Not because I am one of those ‘flaky’ or ‘OTT’ Pentecostal Christians, but because I know that God wants to show His manifest presence in the church. Acts 2, and many other scriptures, shows us that the church should be displaying signs and wonders as part of its meeting together. A relevant excellent church and the manifest presence of God can go hand in hand when handled by mature Christlike leaders.

Acts 2:15-18:“These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’” (NIV)

Sometimes...

Philippians 3:14: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Sometimes, I feel like Elijah - passionate and fearless (well apart from the Jezebel incident!).

Sometimes, I feel I’m displaying some of the character and personality of Jesus. Well rounded in my emotions, strong when I need to be, compassionate, and at times full of sorrow. Looking towards God to empower me to do His work - seeing what He wants me to do.

Sometimes, I feel like Jeremiah full of sadness over the state of the world, the state of God’s people.

Sometimes, I feel like Judas or Peter. Not that I would deny or betray Jesus, but betray who He is in my actions, attitude and attentions.

To say this journey is easy is to be complacent and shows a life that has stopped moving forwards in their faith. We need to die daily to ourselves. To say we should not struggle is to not understand the tension between this earthly life and the heavenly destiny we yearn for.

Sometimes is one step forward towards most of the time.