new wine skins – Larus Press

Breathing new life into my own, I recognise that God fills me with creativity and as I burst open with expression, I wonder: is this a new wine skin or an old one.

Because I know that only the new wine skin will hold the refreshment that others need.

An Examined Life was a wonderful blog I loved to write up to about 28 months ago, week by week, to those who liked a look into the life of a woman, such as me, who was open enough to share her walk in life honestly and earnestly.

I’ve tried to re-open the Blog as A Life Examined Continues, but while my life continues, the blog hasn’t really. The flavour has changed. I think it was “in the old wine skin” that I was creating and so it didn’t really flourish.

Now I jot my personal notes in Reflections.

This is a new wine skin. This skin has a prophetic edge, is very much based in my walk with Jesus. Time is short, I think, and in this lifetime, I’d like to make every word, every deed, every attempt to reach out to others count; in counting time I’m counting my efforts. So A Life Examined mustn’t continue as I thought, but Reflections must grow out of the seed that was A Life Examined.

Jesus leads me. Where he leads me is into all truth. The truth is, I’m much more surrendered to the Holy Spirit as day proceeds onto the day. My reflections now are less about my life and more about the world around me. Now, as I reflect on the world around me, I share.

Today, I share that new and old wine skins are not the same. The new expands, the new has a sweeter taste, the new has grown beyond the old.

And I share that I am acutely aware that the time for passing by opportunity, for hesitating and procrastination are over. As I gaze out my window and see traffic pass by on the windy road in front of me, I ask: do the drivers know where they are going? And will they arrive where and when they expect?

Reflections is a look at society and how my life fits into it. Reflections is about family, work, play and how it can be fruitful and fulfilling. Reflections is about this life we have and about making the most of it as we live it, not taking any part of it for granted.

“Then He [Jesus] spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.” Luke 5:36-39

But the old is not better, it is just what the drinker is used to. I urge you to try the new, and you’ll acquire the taste:)

Blessings.

During December 2016 I had a prompt from deep within me: “Focus in 2017 because if you don’t do it now you won’t do it ever.”

So, what drives me is this sense of urgency to do all I’ve been called to do, now. To give all to God:

following His lead obediently and passionately, as I surrender to the New Man within me, who is free from angst, self-will, frustration and impatience (which otherwise so often leads me into a state of emotional distraction that prevents me from living the joyful life Father has for me).2.
publishing the documents – books and blogs – which have been on the shelf or in my heart and need to see the light of day, so that others can gain from the insights our Creator has given to me.
supporting my family as wife and mother, so that my husband and son can be all they have been created to be, and express their love for Father in their unique and special ways.

I think storms lie ahead. In fact, we are in the storm even now, perhaps even in the eye of the storm.

Matthew 24 describes the latter days, the End Times before Jesus will return in glory, to judge the earth and to receive his Bride, also known as the Church of Believers….

So many of the earthquakes, rumours of wars, persecutions…. are in full swing already.

How do I cope? I focus on His call, and the responsibilities He’s given me to fulfil, now.

As I dig into God, I will overcome the trials and see His purposes fulfilled in my life.

Hebrews 6:19 reads, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”

And there’s an old song based on this scripture:

First of five verses:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

I feel as though I’m on a stream train. At the start of 2017 it left the station, and I’m riding, not driving but nevertheless moving forward, gaining momentum. I’m moving from Calling into Ministry, gaining clarity, gaining speed, gaining momentum.

The fulfilment of God’s promises are imminent. He is intentional, and I join Him, carrying this sense that what I do now is imperative to His purposes.

This is the End of the Age.

Jesus will return.

There is already an almighty battle in the heavens which is manifesting on the earth.

Is the Battle of Armageddon imminent? Who knows when such things will come to pass?

My Call has been and is to inspire, encourage, equip, and empower Believers. Like Peter, who ministered to the Jews and who was convicted of His call to righteousness, my first call is to reach to those already following Jesus, and to compel them to complete their course, to fulfil their Call.

Never have I felt so compelled to be ordered, focused, alert, ready… never have I felt the promises of God so close to fulfilment. And so I choose to live as though “It’s now or never” because I think it is! And I encourage each of you to do the same.