Is your Bible collecting dust?

Every day I am continually overwhelmed, blown away, challenged and encouraged at how much my Bible [God's Word] speaks to me. It brings so much hope, peace and stability to my life. 

I don't know about you but there have been times in my life when I have let my bible sit on a bookshelf collecting dust. Then, when something bad happens, I run to it, open it and search the pages for an answer to what I'm going through. Then, when God brings everything back to order in my life, it seems to find it's place back on the bookshelf again! We can sometimes get in a cycle in life, we are busy, we have loads going on, that we forget where our strength and hope come from.

Throughout my life The Bible has always been my source of strength. I have poured tears over it in the quiet of my bedroom, I have covered it in sand and watched the oceans waves drench the pages in salt water while reading with friends at the beach [and then tried to dry it out!!], I have laughed at the hope of my future, I have read it on planes, trains and ferries. I pack it in my suitcase wherever I travel too. It is not only my manual and guide for my life. But, more importantly, it is my relationship with God. As I turn the pages of this most incredible book, as I apply things to my own life, as I meditate on the verses, and write down my questions and longings. I find out who He [God] is, and who I am in Him. Over the years I have learnt that...

He is my healer
He is able
He is good
He is my defender
He heals the broken hearted
He rescues, restores and redeems
He is with me
He is for me
He is in control 
He has a great plan
He scatters my enemies
He causes those who accuse me to be disgraced
His love is unconditional and limitless
He is powerful
He is bigger, greater and stronger than anything I face
He offers me a brand new start
He orders my steps
He hears my prayers
He collects my tears
He is gentle and kind

He never puts me to shame
He has given me authority to walk in victory
He is justice and mercy
He has washed me clean

He is the same yesterday, today and forever
He offers me new life
He encourages me to move forward
He is on the throne
He tells me to relax and trust Him
He gives me rest
He restores my soul
His ways are higher than my ways
He loves humanity
He never fails
He can be trusted
He is a place of safety and security
He is our Father
He is magnificent and mighty

I don't know what season you find yourself in right now. But, whether it is a good one, or a bad one, I encourage you to open up the bible. Read it, find a friend to read it with. Get to know the author. Spend time allowing God to minister to your heart and soul. Search the pages and find the passages that encourage you. Soak in His promises for you. Rise up in victory. Rebuke the devourer. Think about the good things. Ask questions. Dream about your future. Find inspiration. Seek to know your maker.

Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is ALIVE and POWERFUL. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit,between joint and marrow...." 

The Bible is alive and it will change your life if you let it!

I promise you will have a better day if you take a few moments to open the greatest book that has ever been written [fact] and allow it to be outworked in your life :-)

He will never leave you!

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV)

God has promised us that He will NEVER leave us, that He will NEVER forsake us. He promises He will always be with us, and won't abandon us, or leave us on our own. I love that promise. I think it's my favourate. No matter what I face in life, I have a rock solid, confident assurance that God is with me, every moment of every day, wherever I may be :) 

I'm not sure what you are facing today, bankruptcy, a broken family, a bereavement, a chronic illness, whatever you are facing YOU ARE NOT ALONE and you will get through this. 

It may take some time, but if you keep your head held high, if you keep your focus on Jesus, if you stay connected to great friends, if you choose to stay joyful and keep your attitude right, you will rise from the trauma, from the pain and you will be triumphant. God will restore you and redeem you and He will cause your heart and life to sing and to flourish!

One of the dangers of being in a storm is that we can become very self-foucussed. All hell is breaking out in our lives, we feel battered and beaten and we feel we don't have the strength to think about anything else in the world. I encourage you, in the midst of your pain, to reach out and help someone else. Smile at everyone you meet, bake a cake for a neighbour, offer to do someone's laundary. Bless someone. Anyone! 

Once you have experienced Gods hope and joy in your life, don't just keep it to yourself, share it and give it away to others. The bible tells us that "those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed". Step out and do something good today, for someone else. Healing comes to our own lives and hearts when we think about others, and not just ourselves.

When Jesus was dying on the cross feeling abandoned and alone, He gave hope to the thief on the cross beside Him. How beautiful is that? He would have been in absolute agony as He hung there, beaten, accused, despised and rejected. Yet, Jesus chose to reach out and minister to the man beside Him. Let's never forget that as we reach out to someone else, even if we may feel broken, betrayed and weak, God is right there with us. I believe that healing comes when we take the attention off of ourselves and choose to be a blessing in this world and to this world.

Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and to bind up their wounds. There are so many people walking around life with broken hearts, broken minds, broken homes, broken relationships and broken dreams. Don't let brokenness be your portion. You can be whole, you can be free and you can walk in victory. Jesus died a brutal death not only so you could live in eternity with Him, but so you could be free and whole today. 

Don't disrespect Jesus by clinging to your brokenness and bitterness when He went to calvary for you so you wouldn't have to carry it anymore. Choose to let go, choose to forgive, choose to move forward, choose life. I know it's not easy, I know the pain of betrayal, abuse, abandonment and hatred. But I refuse to let the devil drag me down. Life is for living and while there is a time to mourn, a time to weep, a time to be silent, a time to recover. There is also a time to laugh, to sing, to dance, to love, to give, and a time to be healed!

So what can we do today, this week to reach out to someone else? And let's NOT forget... GOD IS WITH US!! :-)

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

"No matter what, once in your life, someone will hurt you. That someone will take all that you are and rip it to pieces, and they won't even watch where the pieces land. But through the breakdown, you'll learn something about yourself. You'll learn that you're strong and, no matter how hard they try to destroy you, you can conquer anyone." Sarah Jakes.

People say that, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger", in fact, it's even lyrics to a song. The truth is that if we knew before, what was sent to kill us, we would think it would! But it's when you are in the middle of a storm, that you realise what's in the middle of you.

When you are under attack, you fight like you've never fought before. When you life is in danger, God provides a place of safety. When you loose everything you own, you realise that everything you own is not what sustains you. When you go through the fire and go through the trial, when all you have left is breath in your lungs [& honestly, you don't know how you still have that], you realise that what is IN you is more powerful that what is around you.

Life is full of set backs, hardships, losses, trials and tribulations. But when all is said and done. It's what's left on the INSIDE OF YOU that counts.

When you live a life of integrity and honour. When your hope and trust is in God. When you walk in truth and righteousness. When you do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening. All hell can break loose in your life, they can try to destroy you, they can take away everything you own, they can lie about you, abuse you, mistreat you, violate you and use you. They can attack from more sides than you even thought possible. But if you just stand your ground. If you keep your eyes on Jesus. If you keep doing THE RIGHT thing. If you bite your tongue and shut your mouth. If you love when they hate. If you sing when you want to cry. If you choose to be a victor rather than a victim. If you'll run into Gods arms and trust His sovereignty. He will scatter your enemies and enable you to walk in victory. He will give you a sound mind. He will fill your heart with peace. He will be your defender. He will vindicate you. He will protect you.

Sometimes life throws us a mighty blow. But if you keep your eyes on your mighty and magnificent God. If you set your face before Him, determined to do His will. You will come out with MORE on the INside of you than you ever realised you could contain. He will bless your mind. He will bless your spirit. He will bring restoration to all the broken pieces of your heart. It may be a journey, but He will bring Great Glory out of the ruins of your life.

When the ones who were meant to have your back start stabbing you in the back, it's hard to know who [and where] your real friends are. But when the ones who were meant to love and protect you are no longer there, God brings people into your life to care for you that you never thought possible.

Don't ever let anyone steal your peace or your joy. Don't let anyone cause you to loose your faith. Stand your ground. Fight your fight. Keep doing what is right.

They can take everything from you, but no one, no man, no woman and no demon in hell can EVER separate you from the love of God! Ever!!

Stuck in the mud

I was recently remembering the game we used to play at school "stuck in the mud". We would play chase and when you got tagged you had to stand with your arms and legs out, at that point you were, "stuck in the mud". It was up to your team mates, while they were still being chased, to slide under your legs and free you so you could continue with the game. I remember times being "stuck in the mud" and waiting for a friend to free me. One time the other kids were so busy playing 'their' game that no one came to free me. I screamed and waved my hands like a crazy five year old, but no one came.

What about when you're on your own and you see everyone else being freed & people coming to help them. You're stuck, you feel alone, it feels like no one is on your side. Fear is crippling you and you can't move forward. You feel as though the world is against you, the enemy is surrounding you. You're stuck and there's no way out!

My bible tells me that Joseph was stuck in a pit, Jonah was stuck in the belly of a whale, Moses had the entire Israelite nation stuck in slavery, Gideon was stuck in a wine press, and, Abraham & sarah were stuck in barrenness. But God rescued, redeemed and delivered each of them, and He will do the same for you too.

You may feel like no one sees, no one understands, no one is on your side..

But God is FOR you! He is not against you. He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Victory is in sight.

Look up, take your eyes off your situation and turn your face to Jesus. He will not fail you. He did not bring you this far to abandon you. He will hold your hand through the storm. 

Don't magnify your problem, magnify your God. You don't have to feel stuck. Take a deep breath. Remember to inhale and exhale. Focus on that which is good. Always focus on the good things. Don't let one negative voice drown out ten positive ones. Don't allow one negative friend make you think you have no friends. Don't allow anyone or anything to crush your hope, or steal your joy.

Gods plans for you are big and good. He will not fail you. Cling to Him and trust Him with your days. Your future is bright. You will see the goodness of The Lord in the land of the living.

Reach out to Jesus and He will bring freedom and victory to your life.

"When the lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the lord has done for them.” Yes, the lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Restore our fortunes, lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." (Psalms 126:1-6 NLT)

Walk in truth

John 8:32, "Then you will know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you FREE..."

I am determined to always speak truth, to live truth, to walk in truth and righteousness. When we walk in truth if offends darkness. Don't let darkness and deception intimidate you. Hold your head high, walk in the freedom that Jesus offers, stand up for what is true and right. There will always be people trying to destroy and tear you down. But, trust God, cling to Him. Let His truth set you free. Don't listen to the lies of the devil, or the lies of other people, they will not prevail. Weapons may come against you, but they will not prosper, if you keep your attitude and heart pure, and do the right thing. The truth always comes out. God will defend and vindicate you. I'm so glad that God's truth has set me free and I can walk in complete wholeness and victory :-)

Jesus did not take painkillers

A few weeks back I had a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. It struck me in the early hours of the morning, and was so excruciating that my whole body was doubled over, I threw up and passed out. I frantically tried to get pain killers into my mouth to take away whatever was attacking my body. I felt weak and unwell and needed to get to a doctor. I finally got to the doctors surgery later that morning and was checked over. Fortunately I didn't have anything majorly serious, just a severe virus that was causing the pain. My doctor gave me some strong medication and after taking the maximum dose, I began to feel an ease. In fact, I was feeling quite chilled out and relaxed! The medication did a great job at keeping the pain at bay.

A couple of days later when the virus had passed and the prescribed drugs were no longer needed, I was reflecting on the pain I had experienced. I was so grateful for a national health service in our country, where you can receive high quality medical care 24/7, and receive medicines to treat the problem. I was so grateful for the medication and would have spent my time rolling around on the floor, throwing up and passing out, if I had to continue to endure that acute pain.

None of us like pain, physical or emotional. I got to thinking about Jesus on the cross. We know that He was brutally tortured, whipped, beaten, and crucified. He endured so much suffering, for you and for me. He did not have painkillers! But what He did have was the authority to kill all pain, for all time, through His pain on the cross. He shed His blood for you and me. He took the punishment for humanities sin, all the rubbish stuff that had separated us from God the Father.

'For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross...' When He hung on the cross, beaten and tortured, He had YOU on His mind. He broke the power of sin for you. He defeated the power of death, for you. He was accused, abused, rejected and scorned, for you.

Life is full if heartache and pain. We only have to walk down the street to see so much injustice. But Jesus died so we could be free and walk in victory. He opened the door for us. Once we allow Him to be Lord of our life,  we are no longer slaves to sin or bondage. 

Don't settle for brokenness. Jesus came to HEAL the broken, & make us WHOLE, to release us from everything that weighs us down.

I don't know about you but I'm so glad I can walk through life, in victory, even if things come against me. I'm not saying that bad things won't ever happen and that people won't hurt us. Jesus never promised life would be easy. What He did promise is that He would ALWAYS BE WITH US! Which means we can walk through trials with our heads held high. Knowing that God is FOR us [even when others arent], that He will vindicate us, make our wrongs right, and carry us through tragedy with a smile :-)

Thank you, Jesus for nailing my sin, shame, sickness, brokenness, hurt and pain to the cross. Thank you for making a way for me to have access to God the Father. Thank you for the victory you extend to me. Thank you for your love and grace, thank you for the complete and finished work of the cross.

I'm choosing to walk in victory, how about you? :-)