Categories
Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

Peace

I can think of 3 categories of peace: peace of mind, political peace, and the peace of GOD which passes all understanding….

No anxiety

When we seek to control, we are inevitably going to suffer anxiety because a situation will arise which we will be unable to control. 

The solution is to surrender our will to GOD’s and to trust His course and care.

No war

When there is disagreement within a nation or between nations, inevitably there will be debate that might then transform into physical battle. 

The solution is to give way to GOD, to Jesus the Prince of Peace, to the love, joy and peace of the Holy Spirit. Those who can, must pray for the nation(s).

No fear

“Perfect love casts out fear” (1John 4:18a) and when we allow the Father of Creation to rule in our hearts and in our minds, we have His peace, which goes beyond human reasoning, beyond understanding, to a joyous experience in His care.

The means to this peace is through surrender and trust. When we give our control, our will to the goodness of GOD, and when we trust the outcome of our lives and those of our loved ones to this same Creator, we are choosing peace. 

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

Let us abide in Him (John 15:4), in His shadow, in His shelter. 

Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” In Jesus, the Prince of Peace is a life of peace, a life without fear. 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

There is only one pathway to real and lasting peace, and that is the peace which GOD offers to us. I pray each of us reading this will receive His lasting peace today.

Categories
Reflections and Poetry

Joy can be natural

My heart is full of Joy! All the time! But is that natural? I testify that joy can be natural. The world is imploding, one disaster after another but we can keep our joy.

Right steps or Slip sliding

“By the works of Your lips,
I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

Uphold my steps in Your paths,

That my footsteps may not slip.” (Psalm 17:4b-5)

The Word of GOD can keep us on the straight-and-narrow path, in terms of right behaviour and also in terms of our state of mind. As we meditate on His Word, as we ask Him to keep us in balance and in righteousness, He will not fail us. We can rely on Him… and the subtext is we must rely upon Him in order to stay on the path. 

And what is the path? Joy!

In Romans 7:15 Paul says he doesn’t do what he wants to do but does do what he hates to do. So true of us all, isn’t it? Certainly, I fall into this cycle sometimes. How do we get out of it?

Speak it out!

Reading the Bible is good. Reading it aloud is better! Let us speak out the word, so that we hear as well as see it. It’s not just for reenforcement to our minds. It’s powerful too!

How numerous the times the Psalmist says he praises GOD. Just the Psalms alone repeat and repeat this encouragement. So reading the Psalms aloud, the Bible too, brings me joy, lifts me up as I lift up the LORD, and leads me in a right attitude to this life I carry on earth.

This is joyful living!

It isn’t frantic or frenzy; it’s pure joy

When we are weary, when we are down, we must praise!

When we are happy, it’s so easy to praise. But when we are down, it is not the first thing that comes to our minds is it… But we must!

GOD gives us the way to keep on the path of rightness with Him and of joy: Rejoice!

Rejoice in all circumstances. Not just because of the Gospel we share, but also because it is our walk in holiness, rightness and peace. 

Emotion is of the mind

And joy is of the heart… Joy is deeper, richer than happiness, and can aid, comfort, help our emotions to overcome pain, disappointment, disillusionment. Happiness is of the mind, but joy is of the spirit.

Overcoming sadness

It is not wrong to be sad or nervous — in fact it is rather natural and normal as part of the human experience. But a right perspective gives us a right proportion. “Rejoice in the LORD always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) We do not have to bow down to our circumstances, or be bent low.

Let His Word lead us above and beyond our circumstances and our emotions. Waves of happiness and sadness, come and go. Our joy remains, our hope in the Lord is everlasting.

Categories
Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

Stillness with GOD

Doing v Being

Too often we are pulled here and there as to what to “do” but Jesus has taught us that we are to “be”.

The more we try to do, the less there is of us to simply be. Are we like Martha, who strives to organise and prepare and do all that is needed? Or like Mary, who took the better place as Jesus’ feet.

Yes, as James has written, “Faith without works is dead”; but yet we must be still, because running around in our own strength is pretty much fruitless.

Why stillness

Out of the stillness we discover ourselves and in the discovery, our being will allow our doing to flow.

Allow GOD to wrap you in His arms, hold you in His grasp, keep you under His protection. Then, eventually, our being will flow toward our doing and we shall express our Call.

More of GOD means less of me. But that takes time: to empty and to only then to fill; to be and only then to do; to rest and only then to move.

More of GOD means we rest, then discover, and finally we express our rebirth through word and action.

I believe much of our destiny is wrapped in how we deal with stillness and our developing of a habit to listen with the LORD. Recently I was encouraging someone to listen to their heart before making a decision. I suggested they not pay attention to what they wanted (their will), nor how they felt (their emotions), nor what they thought they might do (their mind), but rather to be still, to listen and to seek to hear their heart…. it is here that we can find GOD’s voice.

GOD’s rest

“…. They shall (not) enter my rest” GOD has said (Hebrews 4:3). There are so many levels and much to dig to understand that phrase, but at a simple level, what does the LORD mean? What is His rest, and how do we enter into it?

GOD’s rest is…

Obedience, surrender, communion, peace with the LORD — these are aspects of GOD’s rest. There is much about the Sabbath entwined in this phrase, but that is for another time to discuss.

For now, simply let us extend our time and our

Doing v Being

Too often we are pulled here and there as to what to “do” but Jesus has taught us that we are to “be”.

The more we try to do, the less there is of us to simply be. Are we like Martha, who strives to organise and prepare and do all that is needed? Or like Mary, who took the better place as Jesus’ feet.

Yes, as James has written, “Faith without works is dead”; but yet we must be still, because running around in our own strength is pretty much fruitless.

Why stillness

Out of the stillness we discover ourselves and in the discovery, our being will allow our doing to flow.

Allow GOD to wrap you in His arms, hold you in His grasp, keep you under His protection. Then, eventually, our being will flow toward our doing and we shall express our Call.

More of GOD means less of me. But that takes time: to empty and to only then to fill; to be and only then to do; to rest and only then to move.

More of GOD means we rest, then discover, and finally we express our rebirth through word and action.

I believe much of our destiny is wrapped in how we deal with stillness and our developing of a habit to listen with the LORD. Recently I was encouraging someone to listen to their heart before making a decision. I suggested they not pay attention to what they wanted (their will), nor how they felt (their emotions), nor what they thought they might do (their mind), but rather to be still, to listen and to seek to hear their heart…. it is here that we can find GOD’s voice.

GOD’s rest

“…. They shall (not) enter my rest” GOD has said (Hebrews 4:3). There are so many levels and much to dig to understand that phrase, but at a simple level, what does the LORD mean? What is His rest, and how do we enter into it?

GOD’s rest is…

Obedience, surrender, communion, peace with the LORD — these are aspects of GOD’s rest. There is much about the Sabbath entwined in this phrase, but that is for another time to discuss.

For now, simply let us extend our time and our stillness with GOD, to ponder any scripture, to develop our submission, our following of Him: our rest in Him. Then, from that place of rest in GOD we can fulfil His will, our destiny in this world.

with GOD, to ponder any scripture, to develop our submission, our following of Him: our rest in Him. Then, from that place of rest in GOD we can fulfil His will, our destiny in this world.