A Shackle Breaker.

It was the Father's idea to choose us as His children in Christ before the foundation of the world. [Not my parent's idea, not the government's idea, not an angels idea; and certainly not satan's idea.] So I am set apart for Him, already holy, blameless in His sight, above reproach in His love. Eph. 1:4,5 my paraphrase.


THAT'S SHOUTING GROUND.

Shift.

Not so much a shift in speed, more like a shift into deeper experience. Replacing lies in our thinking with truth from God's word requires determination and perseverance, two manifestations of God's grace. But as we don't give up and continue to maintain our minds on a war footing, sowing and speaking truth little by little the shift begins. Why do I use war terminology? We christians have an enemy and we are at war, whether we understand it, or acknowledge it. Deception is the enemies main battle tank, and if we think we are immune to deception then the chances are we are already deceived. I remember an illustration John Wimber used to highlight this. Most christians he said thought that when they got saved they went on board a cruise liner, when the reality is they are drafted onto a troop carrier in full uniform.
One of the greatest truths I have been given these last few weeks is this. If I want change in my life, then I have to change my thinking. And I am the one who has to chose what I think.

The Just shall live by faith.................

Since the Lord brought up the subject of strongholds in Portugal, I have been in the reality of what Paul describes as wrestling against principalities, and powers. Not that it has made me dis-couraged, but it has in fact strengthened my resolve to press on in Jesus. Just this morning as I was meditating on Ephesians 1:4. 'Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.' I began to think about God's plan for man and I must have been wondering why it had to be the way it is, and maybe God could have chosen an easier route for us all to travel on. The Spirit interrupted my thoughts with a verse from scripture.
'For if by one man's offence death reigned through the one,....' Romans 5:17. It is certainly not my business to query why God has allowed His wonderful creation to be hijacked by satan, and knowing Adam would foul up, why there wasn't a plan B. But ever since the 'fall' we have been born of woman into a dysfunctional existence. But God chose me in Christ before the foundation of the world...........
' Son death has reigned in the earth since Adam's offence. It was part of my plan for you to be born when you were in the earth just as everyone else has been. You cannot yet see the future I have laid out for you, and yes it has been painful for you having to experience the reality of sin and all that effects the human condition. But this is My plan. I had to have a man on the earth who would obey Me so I came myself as the Word, and was born in the earth just as you were. So through Christ I redeemed you. But don't forget this present time and place you are living in is not your final destination. Just relax and use this as a time to learn about Me and My love for you. You and I are having a wonderful time getting up to all sorts of exciting things across the universe. Don't forget that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times I have gathered together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and in the earth-in Him.'

On the brink?

We may be standing on the edge of history. What is the most important factor of any countries well being? What caused the British Empire to fail, and for Communism to collapse? Money. Cash. Molah. Pounds shillings and pence. Green backs. In the case of  Europe, the Euro. Britain after the war hadn't the cash to maintain an Empire. Communism collapsed because it ran out of money. Sticking a number of diverse economies into a rigid monetary system was a recipe for disaster and I for one am waiting expectantly for the EU to collapse, as the Euro collapses. What is maddening is that the Europhiles will hang on to the discredited empire as long as they can by sucking in billions of pounds worth of your money to prop up a system that will eventually implode. Bring it on.

Friendship

Quite a bit has been happening over the past few weeks as God continues to work His will out in this frail human being. This morning the subject of friendship was raised once again. For those of us with a history of rejection we usually walk around shadowed by deep loneliness. Thankfully this is something Father wants to deal with in all of us, and His friendship is a vital ingredient. Remember when the Bible spoke of Abraham being a friend of God? Jesus said to His disciples that He called them friends because He had shared with them all His Father had shared with Him. Father told me this morning that His friendship was the antidote to my deep isolation, and loneliness. The subject of my loneliness was raised a couple of days ago in town. We are complex beings, motivated at times by the areas of our damaged personality's and we do things to meet needs in us that we are not always aware of. For example if we have recurrent addictive behaviour, deep down something is going on that we may not even comprehend.
Back to friendship. Friends have relationships that others don't. They share time together, give of themselves, and their resources. The levels of acceptance and openness to each other are at times phenomenal, and if the friendship is maintained it can provide a lifetime of satisfaction. It is a bit difficult for me to see the King of Kings, God Almighty, the Creator of all things wanting to fill a need in me for friendship, but that is exactly what Holy Spirit was talking about this morning. Friendship from God comes out of His character. God is love, His friendship flows from His love. A friendship that is pure, unconditional, and unchanging is offered to us as a gift.
I would be stupid to refuse such a gift. Like all gifts friendship with God is to be received, nothing more, nothing less.

I only do what I see the Father do...........

Jesus's teaching in John ch. 5 has always intrigued me. Not only that it has been in my heart for years to live like that. Forgive me for mentioning it again.
This morning Jesus spoke to my heart. 'I want to go to the library.'
'OK Lord, no problem I'll get right onto it.' I replied. Alighting from the bus He said, 'Go upstairs in the library sit down and have a read.'
We have that facility in the town library so that is what I did.
After a bit He said, 'I want to go to the Post Office.'
Oh! I forgot to mention I had missed the bus I intended to catch, you will see why that is important in a minute. After hanging about outside the Post Office in the rain for a while He asked, 'Would you like to catch the quarter past bus home?'
'Not a bad idea.' I replied. I walked back up to the bus station with 5 mins. before the bus came. I got there in time and shortly after my arrival the bus came into view and I got off my seat and went to a door that leads me out to the end of the queue for my bus. As I approached the door I encountered K. a young woman I used to work with in ASDA. She left to give the tourist industry a try and I hadn't seen her for a bit. I embraced her and putting my mouth close to her left ear I whispered.
'God loves you so much, and you are special to Him.'
We only had time for a couple of pleasantries before I had to get on my bus.
God knew who He wanted me to speak to today. He knew where K. was going to be and at what time, so he organised the whole thing.
My part? JUST TO LISTEN AND OBEY. Just like Jesus.

This blessed me.....

'I remember when I began Life In The Word Ministries. The first week I was to conduct a meeting, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to teach and He responded, 'Tell My people that I love them.'
'They know that,' I said. 'I want to teach them something really powerful, not a Sunday school lesson out of John 3:16.'
The Lord said to me, 'Very few of My people really know how much I love them. If they did, they would act differently'.  [Joyce Myer. Battlefield of the Mind page 169].
Joyce went on to say that she realised as she studied the subject of receiving God's love she was in desperate need herself.
God told me to tell His people He loved them many years ago. Because it was so far out of my ball court it has taken me many years to come to the place of real obedience. The Lord told me this morning that He chose to call me in an area that I was weak in, in the natural. If He had given me something to do that I felt strong in naturally I would have been off and running without Him.
'My strength is made perfect in your weakness'.
'Thanks Daddy I always want to be dependent on You'.  

What is the highest goal you can think of for your life?...........

That wasn't the question God asked me yesterday, this is the question He asked me this morning. I believe not only does He know the answer to the question, but in some supernatural way He had already placed it in my heart. Have you ever been asked that question? I sincerely hope so. One thing a question like this does is it activates faith, because you know it's not going to be fulfilled by natural resources. I turned to Romans chapter four for some encouragement.
Abraham got a promise from God. He had no human reason for hope so he activated his faith. He didn't weaken in faith when he considered the impotence of his own body, and he didn't waver through doubt or mistrust. He was fully satisfied and assured that God was true to His word, and had the power to keep the promise. Interestingly God changed Abram's name when he was 99 yrs. old to reflect who he was to become. So Abraham went around talking the promise about himself.
'I am Abraham the father of many nations, and Sarah is a mother of nations.' Gen. 17.
Here we see the God who gives life to the dead, and speaks to those things that be not as though they were, actively involved in Abraham's life not only to bless him, but to bring about His own divine will.
God hasn't changed. Give Him a chance to let Him ask that question of you, and then see what happens.

Whoa, where did that come from?................

Have you ever been going along quite nicely, and BAM, something catches you on the blind side. I was having a good time with Pop this morning and out of the blue He asked me a question that was like, whoa! where did that come from. Whenever I am asked a question by God like this I get the distinct knowledge that He is gazing right into my soul aware of all that's going on in there. I will not be less than honest with God, so I answered.
'I don't want to go there,' pause. 'Just yet.'
Has this ever happened to you?