Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Believe, Declare, Stand!



"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow." Philippians 2:9-10 [NIV]

I love this verse! There is NO OTHER name that is higher than JESUS! There is power in His name!

There are so many names that bring fear, doubt, confusion, distress and anxiety to us. I wonder if the name cancer is hanging over your life today? I wonder if debt controls you? I wonder if you're allowing abuse, divorce, rejection, fear, uncertainty, regret, bankruptcy, sickness, loss, betrayal, brokenness, or abandonment to dictate to you? We live in a fallen world, a world where there is injustice, hurt and pain. But, whatever you are facing today, there is NOTHING that is more powerful than the name of JESUS! It's in His name that the oppressed are set free. It's in His name that we are healed. It's in His name that we can rejoice in the trial. It's in His name that chains are broken, lives are restored, and victory can be ours.

My prayer, firstly, is that wherever you are in life, that you would BELIEVE the name of Jesus. I pray that you would believe that He [Jesus] is willing and able. Believe He has the best in store for you. Believe He wants to do incredible things in your life. Believe the power in His name!



All God asks is that we believe [John 7:38, Mark 16:17-19]. Even when the world, circumstances and situations are coming against us, we must still BELIEVE! If we keep believing we will see God do miraculous things in us and through us.

Once we have decided in our heart to believe, we then need to step it up a bit, and DECLARE the name of Jesus!



Sometimes, in the situations we face in life, we just need to open our mouths, speak out and declare His goodness [Psalm 51:15]. When we DECLARE His name, it causes hope to rise up within us. It enables us to walk in victory. It gives us a clearer perspective. It brings peace to our hearts and minds.

God DECLARES that, our future is going to be amazing with Him. He has good things in store for us. He is FOR us and not against us. We can totally trust Him. We can put our faith in Him. We need to constantly declare His word, declare His name and believe it!

Once we have believed and declared His Name, we need to be bold enough to STAND on it!



No matter what is going on around us, we need to keep standing. Life [and people] may knock us down, but we need to make the decision to get back up, into our standing position and STAND on the power of His name.

Even when the ground around you is shaking, you can stand firm, on His name [1 Corinthians 16:13]. Jesus is our rock [as I shared in my last blog] and we can throw all that we are onto Him, and STAND strong in His power, love and grace.

The enemy will do all he can to knock you off course and get you out of your standing position. We need to put on God's armour everyday [Ephesians 6:13]. It is a daily choice to STAND! You can make that choice :-)

Let's not let the issues of life move us. We can choose to believe the voice of truth. Choose to declare His goodness. Choose to stand on His word. Choose to stand firm. Even when people around you are falling, choose to stand form. Even when life feels like its going to swallow you up, choose to stand firm. 

Stand firm in the power of His name, stand form in the promises He has for you. Keep standing, and when you don't know what else to do, just STAND!! 

I love the latest Hillsong album, "No other name". I've been listening to it, constantly, for the past 3 weeks! I love that it's ALL about JESUS!! He is the reason I live. He is my strength in the storm. He is my song through the fire. He is my salvation. He is my rescuer when I'm in danger. He is the restorer of the broken pieces of my life. He is my peace in the valley. He is my provider. He is my anchor in waters deep. He is the lover of my soul. He is my husband. He is my help. He is my portion. He is my victory. He is my redemption. He is my desire. It's in Him that I live and move an have my being. It's in Him that I have my trust, hope and confidence. It's Him that I serve. It's Him that I love. It's Him that delight in. My life has been forever changed by the name and person if Jesus Christ. There is NO OTHER NAME!!!! :-)

Monday, 21 July 2014

Are you standing on The ROCK??!



Last week I had the opportunity to do some rock climbing up the cliffs in Dorset. I was working with a group of 45 school leavers on the National Citizens Service programme. It was a great week with loads of adventurous activities and team building. I was pretty excited for rock climbing as I had never done it before on an actual rock! After we had walked all the way down the hill, and managed to find a safe way to the bottom of the cliff, we began to put on our protective gear. A helmet, to make sure we didn't get a head injury if we bashed our heads, and a safety harness, to make sure we didn't fall down the side of the cliff face as we were climbing. It was all very exciting and the kids were super excited. I kept reminding myself that I was the responsible adult here, and that I could not freak out if I became nervous of the activity. I was there to set an example, make sure they were overcoming their fears, and encourage them. Now, was not the time for me to be anxious, even if I was standing before a 40foot cliff face I was about to climb! I had to be brave.

After the instructors had given us an In-depth safety briefing, and explained all the necessary instructions to us, it was time to conquer the wall! A load of questions flooded my mind. How was I actually going to climb the wall? Where would I put my feet? What would my hands grab hold of? What happens if I slip? What if I get stuck? What if my safety harness fails? My mind was full of 'what if's' as I leaned back and stared upwards to the massive cliff face that stood before me. 

[my amazing and crazy sister with her safety helmet on. Love working with her!]


I began my climb, and I quickly noticed that it was way easier to climb looking up than it was looking down! If I looked down, I saw the teenagers holding the safety ropes for me! The instructors were there and the kids were following all the instructions, but it made me feel a bit nauseas haha! If I looked up, even though the cliff face seemed huge and daunting, and I wasn't sure how I was going to complete the challenge, it was just easier to climb, to reach up with my hands, and anchor my feet on the side of the rock. Looking up, although still hard, I knew I could do it! Looking down made me want to have a panic attack. I managed to climb the cliff face safely, and it was fun! :-)

[trust me, it was scarier than it looks!!]

After I came down, I continued to encourage the teenagers. I watched them as they worked together as a team. I saw how steady the footing of the ones who were holding the safety rope was. I heard them offering words of encouragement and support, cheering each other on. I saw the look on the kids faces when they got to the top, and the joy they expressed when their feet were back on the ground and they realised how much they had accomplished. 

You see, sometimes in life we are faced with mountains. Sometimes the obstacle seems too high, too far, too dangerous, or too daunting to overcome. I've learnt in life [and I'm still learning], that the greatest way to overcome fears, obstacles and mountains, is to stare them right in the face, tackle them head on. We need to realise there is an overcomer, a victor, a history maker, on the inside of us, and keep moving forward, one step at a time. That's how I got up that cliff face last week. I looked up and I kept moving, one step at a time.

[Dancing Ledge, Dorset. The cliffs we climbed!]


When we look up, we not only realise WHO we are, but we also realise WHOSE we are. If you have said yes to God, and committed your life to following Him, then He IS for you and He IS on your side! He is [and I ABSOLUTELY know from personal experience] bigger, stronger, greater and more powerful than ANY challenge you will EVER face! He has overcome sin and death, and He empowers us, you and me, to overcome in our own lives.

Life is crazy and although I'm sure all of us wish we hadn't had to go through certain things. The fact is, when you are faced with a humongous mountain, a treacherous obstacle, when it's like the enemy is staring you down, it's in THAT time, in THAT moment, that God's power and Glory is revealed in your life! I never thought I would say this, but when you have God on your side, when HE IS YOUR ROCK, when you LOOK UP, you CAN absolutely face ANY challenge and GET THROUGH IT! [Please hear my heart, I am by no means minimising what you have experienced, some things are plain evil, unjust, unfair, and not ok. There is an enemy who is out to destroy us. The truth is that in the pain, in the chaos, in the abuse, in the fire, God IS bigger, and if you keep clinging to Him, He will bring you through].

Life happens, bad stuff happens to good people all the time! Is it fair? No! But, life happens, and going through bad seasons is part of the journey of life. The great thing is, that we have God. He promises He is always with us. He is our ROCK. He is our ANCHOR. He is our HOPE. He is our STRENGTH. It's in His power that we overcome and conquer.

My prayer, for my life and yours, is that we would know who our ROCK is. I pray that we would be anchored! Rooted in the One that NEVER fails or leaves us. I pray that the seasons of life would not toss us too and fro, but would make us EVEN STRONGER!

The world is watching. The world needs you to be strong, to be brave, to be secure, to succeed, to conquer, to rise up and shout truth.

How do you handle challenges and obstacles? Do you overcome, or do you let the obstacles overcome you?

Next time you are facing a challenge, an obstacle, a mountain, a wall... Remember, that the ROCK on which you stand [JESUS] is far bigger and stronger than the thing you face. I dare you to stare that fear, that challenge, that mountain right in the face. I dare you to speak to your storm, and shout you will overcome it. I dare you to keep putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward in freedom and victory. I dare you to listen to the voice of TRUTH, the voice of HOPE, the voice of LIFE. 

YOU, Yes, I'm talking to YOU! You, are awesome! God loves YOU, and He is for YOU, and He is cheering YOU on, He has already overcome, and He put the spirit of an overcomer on the inside of YOU. If you are facing a hideous mountain today, my heart goes out to you, and, I hope you know you are not alone. I pray that your feet would be so grounded on the ROCK [Jesus], that NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, you would STAND! You would be STRONG. You would be VICTORIOUS! You would be IMMOVABLE, and you would NOT be shaken! I need you to be strong, and so does this world. :-)

Let's stare the enemy in the face this week, let's be people who overcome life's challenges, let's move the mountains, let's walk in victory. I refuse to live any other way, I hope you do too?! :-)

Here's a few verses that I love. I hope they encourage you today :-) xoxo

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. (Psalms 62:6 NKJV)

But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. (Psalms 94:22 NKJV)

Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. (Psalms 78:35 NLT)

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. (Psalms 40:1-3 NLT)

Saturday, 12 July 2014

He loves us!

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:14-16 NLT)

I have a photo in a frame of a little girl and her Father. The girl has her arms wrapped tightly around her Fathers neck, she looks safe, secure and confident in his love for her. The photo gives me goose bumps every time I look at it.

The little girl in the photo is me, and the man is my Dad. I am so blessed to have a loving earthly Father, who has been my greatest cheerleader and supporter, he has walked with me through the toughest seasons of my life, he has protected me, cared for me, provided for me and fought for me. He has allowed me to be the person I am and always encourages me to run after my dreams. He says I can when others say I can't, he will fly across the world for me, and he loves me without condition. I will be forever grateful for, My Dad.

[photo: me and my dad, about 25 years ago!]


But, when I look at that beautiful photo, it reminds me of the love my Heavenly Father has for me. Although I will often tell my Dad he is the best Dad in he world, no earthly Father is perfect, and no earthly Father can meet all your needs.

A good Father desires the absolute best for his children. You may, like me, have a good Father. You may have a not so good Father, or even an absent Father. Whatever journey life has taken you on, I want you to know that you DO have a Father in Heaven who loves you, believes in you, accepts you just the way you are. He is a GOOD Father. He desires nothing but good for your life. He wants you to experience His love.

His shoulders are strong enough to carry your burdens, His arms are long enough to to wrap tightly around you when forgiveness and grace are needed, His hands are big enough to keep you safe when protection is required, His eyes are ever open keeping watch over you and His face is always towards you.

He is a Father, who fights for you, when others seek to destroy you. He is a Father who never sleeps nor slumbers, He sings over you and you can find peace and strength in the safety of His embrace. He will provide for you, in ways you never imagined, He will rebuke the plans of the enemy, He will crush your enemies, cause you to rise up in victory, and He even prepares a feast for you in the presence of your enemies [love that!], He is your judge and your defender. He will never leave you or forsake you, and His love for you is absolutely limitless.



So this week, why don't you choose to throw your shoulders back, lift your head high, and walk in the confidence that your Father in Heaven loves you. He is on your side, He is for you, not against you. He has incredible promise for your life. Your Father in Heaven loves you without condition and nothing in this world will ever separate you from His love [Romans 8:38-39].

Sunday, 6 July 2014

When did you last take a risk?



Jesus replied, “‘You must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37 NLT)

I read a quote by Matthew Barnett on Twitter that said "life is too short to play it safe when you could be taking risks that could change the world". It got me thinking about taking risks in my own life. I never want to get to the end of my life and say, "you know what? I played it safe". I don't want to ever settle for a boring, mediocre, safe existence.

I was at a theme park with some friends and I was queuing to go on 'Stealth', it has been known to be the faster rollercoaster in Europe, going from 0-80mph in under 2 seconds! I noticed a warning sign, listing all the risks of going on the ride. They seemed so small [to me] in comparison to the sheer exhilaration I was about to experience.



I thought about my walk with God and the crazy journey I have with Him. There will always be risks if you live a life of faith. When you LOVE God, no cost is too much, no distance too far, no dream He puts on your heart is out of reach. God did not create us as robots. You have a choice every day to step out of the boat, out of your comfort zone, to take a risk. With God, risk is the bridge to get you to where He wants you to be.

[me being a bit risky up Table Mountain, CT, 2010]

[My amazing skydive! Great risk, but one of the best things I've ever done, hehe!]



Whenever I feel afraid because I have the opportunity to take a risk, I always take courage because it was God who modeled risky love first. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for us. He had no security that we would say yes. But, He loved us so much, that He took that risk. He did however know that if He didn't take that risk, then you and I would not be able to have a relationship with Him, and live a transformed life.



Jesus was [and still is] the ultimate example of risky love. I encourage you to take a risk for God, and do something radical, because people's eternal salvation is at stake.