Prayers

For quite a time I have been praying a simple prayer. 'Holy Spirit perfect in me the Father's hearts desire for me'. I've just been relaxing and trusting the Spirit of God to answer that prayer in the way He knows best. Slowly but surely we have been moving deeper into the Bridegroom paradigm. I'm so excited at the prospect that God the uncreated One who created all we can see, and more, has betrothed Himself to me. He is the Husband, the Bridegroom, who revealed Himself to the tribes of Israel. Then as Jesus He appears on the scene 2,000yrs ago to confirm His identity as the Bridegroom betrothing a bride. How can I respond? Wholeheartedly!!

The Oasis

In the midst of the dust and the heat of this barren land I can always go in the Spirit to my private oasis. It's a place when the breeze blows gently through the leaves of the date palms, and the sun shimmers on the surface of the water. The temperature is ideal and there is not a cloud in the sky. As I approach I am glad no one is there except my Lover who is relaxing in the water waiting for me. No words are spoken as I enter the pool, we have met here so many times before. I just snuggle up close to Jesus and rest in the beauty of His presence. On other occasions we have been known to splash, and play, and swim in the water together, which is deeper than I thought. As a child I delighted in swimming, and I was good at it; but most of the time I swam alone. No longer am I alone. I can enjoy as much intimacy with Him as I desire, and spend as much time telling how much I love Him as I like.  

Reminder

God created us to be in a special relationship with Him. Adam and Eve ate the fruit, and a megga reversal took place. Self was promoted to the forefront, and God was pushed to the extremities. We have a culture now where God is eradicated, erased, and deliberately excluded. As believers it is good to remind ourselves that God is in truth God, we are not; and it makes for successful living to remember that Jesus is the King of Kings.
In practical terms continuous revival takes place when we are focussed on the character and the presence of God. Self is to take its rightful place in true humility, and our lives lived in love with Daddy. Can we get to a place where we don't even think of ourselves because we are so enamoured with the Godhead?
I'm not there but I'm going to start the journey.

Unfathomable

One of the most neglected subjects in the western church is transparency. It's a quality of our new natures that is often overlooked. God's thoughts are above our thoughts, we all know the scripture, but when it becomes real in our lives it is astonishing. Daddy wants to shine His light through us so we can be seen for who we really are in the world, so He fashions us intimately for Himself in only the way He can. It is said in Isaiah 11that part of the character of Christ would be His delight in the fear of the Lord. In the book of John it is often recorded that Jesus only desired to do the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit seems to work in my life by floating a lure past my heart, the lure being an attribute of Jesus, watching as I open my mouth as it were, and giggles when I'm hooked. Then begins a process of conversation that shows me the direction in which together we will be travelling. Everything in us that is not Christlike is going to be washed away in the ocean of His love, isn't that great?
I want no fears, bondages, or strongholds, in my life that restricts God from manifesting His desire in and through me. But do you know what? He is the only one that can accomplish what He wants, and it is different for all of us. What is required of  us? Just live in the love of Abba with Jesus and listen for His voice!

Secularism or Islam?

The global revival goes on unabated, but we live in a world that contains adversaries to our faith. While we are victors and never victims it is worth looking at the way global culture is moving. Lets look at the UK for a moment post 1997 when New Labour came to power. Recently we have had a law lord deciding that religious beliefs are subjective and are no grounds for being protected by law. We thought that the recent equality law made it illegal to discriminate in matters of religion, apparently not according to Lord Justice Laws. This is the case of Gary McFarlane a christian councellor refusing to give 'sex therapy lessons' to gay couples. The full story  is here. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/7664681/The-divisive-law-of-Lord-Justice-Laws.html

Next we look at the case of a Baptist preacher who has been charged him under the public order act for causing 'harassment alarm and distress'. This story involves a homosexual PCSO. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html

Social marxism, or PC advocates equality for all, but clearly some minorities are afforded 'special status'. Homosexuality is a 'special case'. The Muslin lad who spray painted a memorial in England recently was given a lower sentence as the CPS ruled that the act was not racially motivated. Islam is a 'special case'. Funny when you consider all religious belief is anathema to secularists. A man who put a sign in his window telling political party activists to go away was cautioned by the police as they had received 'a complaint' alluding to racism over his sign that was painted red white, and blue' demonstrates that secularism can, and is working, against common sense in Britain, but more so against christianity. I wonder why?

Shalom

All the attributes of Shalom, including peace, provision, health, security, and satisfaction; are found in the presence of the Father. Shalom is rooted in Agape, and God is Agape. Jesus said that on this day we would know that He was in the Father, we are in Him, and He is in us. If you are born again by the Spirit of God, you are one spirit with Jesus. John recorded that the only begotten Son of the Father had left the Father's bosom to come to earth. When Jesus returned there we now share that position. We are in the Father's bosom in Christ. Say it out loud, but more than that just sit quietly for a few moments meditating on the truth of your position in the Godhead. The power of that truth will set us free.