Wake up sleeper, it’s time to glorify God

When God calls us to do his work there are probably three responses.

1. Here I am Lord send me
2. I’m not ready yet, give me time
3. Who me? No, think you’ve got the wrong person

I just feel that when God calls we have to be confident that he knows we are ready, he knows we are the right person (or why else would he be calling us) and respond in the positive, here I am Lord.

Haggai 1:2 – You say this isn’t the right time to build a temple for me

Haggai 1:8 – But first, go to the hills and get wood for my temple, so I can take pride in it and be worshiped there

Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:4 – “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

WAKE UP SLEEPER

Wake up sleeper, it’s time to glorify God, whilst you’ve been sleeping God’s been keeping his covenant of love, he has been with you, perfecting his plans for you, so now give careful thought to your answer, give careful thought to the path you will follow, God is not just with you, he is in you, so you go girl, you give God the glory, let God take pride in your story, if you never step up to the plate it may be too late, if you never put yourself out there, how can he finish the work that he started, when called change your answer, not why me, but what can I learn from this, called to walk in God’s strength, obedience is what he demands, you may not see it yet, but all things work together for good, without God in our lives nothing would happen, we would be left mapping out the course for ourselves and we know that ends in disaster, if God’s not in it, we might as well forget it, this is the right time, this is my time, time to shine, my body a temple of the Lord, a temple of which he can take pride, a temple where the Lord himself resides.

Times when we cry out to Jesus

We need you now – words of a song that resound today. With all that is going on in this country, let alone the rest of the world, we need you Jesus.  Actually, it brings it home how insular we are at times, when things happen in our own country it seems to impact us more.  The site of a burning tower block in London resounds, maybe because we can relate to it more than a burning building in Syria or Iraq.  But the result is the same, loss of life, loss of homes, pain and suffering.  Jesus we need you now to step into all these situations, come Lord Jesus.

COME LORD JESUS

Be truly glad, wonderful things are ahead, but there will be trials to endure, times of hardship, times of questioning, asking why, times when we will cry out in fear or anger, times that we face mortal danger, times when we cry out to Jesus, come take on this situation, come save our nation, we know that Satan is already defeated, we’re ready to see him depleted, unable to cause any more suffering, come with your comforting, come with your love, come down from heaven above and make this right, come shine a light that draws all men, come Lord Jesus we ask Amen

I gaze anxiously at the bucket of ashes until I see my beauty rising before me

Still reflecting on the words from the weekend and a picture I drew in a time of reflection with God.  My picture showed a mountain with a staircase coming down from heaven, at the top of the staircase was a heart, resembling God’s love.  Along the way was a broken chain and a broken heart.  I have been reflecting on this more and have written this to show how I interpret this scene.

MY INVITATION

Come run to the higher place, I will go to the mountain top, I see a secret staircase lowered for me, step by step I defy time as I rise towards the heavens, every step a victory over all the enemy threw at me, every step symbolic of my rise from obscurity, I can see the banner waving in the distance and as I peer ahead I make out my name emblazoned on the sign, my heart aligns with yours, I realise that you, the Lord have called me personally to share of your table, invited to the banquet as if I were a celebrity or someone famous, walking the red carpet I finally believe in my worth, I hear the trumpets heralding my arrival, you give me your arm to escort me in, I am soaring on wings like an eagle, Queenlike, regal, floating on a cloud as I allow you to take me to the place reserved for me, I step over the broken chains, the vials of tears, I gaze anxiously at the bucket of ashes until I see my beauty rising before me, I accept the robe of righteousness you wrap around me, you place a scroll in my hand, I unfurl it carefully and tears of joy fall down my cheeks as I read the words before me, “Adopted into God’s Family”, you pull the chair out for me, as I take my place my heart is racing for surely this is the “Amazing Grace” I’ve sung about, how precious does that Grace appear now that I am seated here.

Live beyond what if and find the Joy in what is

Sunday morning, a joyous day of praise and worship of our awesome God.  Sometimes I like to praise God iNs worship and song, other times in quiet prayer, but whatever I do and however I do it he never fails to fill me with a sense of immense Joy.

1. Nehemiah 8:10 –  Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
3. Psalm 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
4. 1 Peter 1:6 – In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials
5. James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance
6. Psalm 4:7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound

JOY

Joy, the embrace of life in all its turmoil, consider it joy when you face the trials of live, live beyond what if and find the Joy in what is, for to me the joy of knowing the Lord is my strength, thankful in all circumstances, truly glad, I sing and dance, because of the wonderful joy ahead, drenched in the grace and mercies of God, filled with joy in his presence, joy is the serious business of heaven, keep seeking God in all you do, on earth as in heaven joy will come to you, for God has filled our hearts with greater joy, a Spiritual fruit that cannot be extinguished, relinquish your worries and your fears, embrace the joy as God wipes your tears.

Oh to truly know the Lord

 God is great, whatever happens, wherever we are he is still there, just acknowledge him and he will appear.  And not just appear he comes like the rain, allow his love to wash over you, his blessings to bless you and don’t be afraid to press in to really know him, how awesome it is to start to really understand God’s nature and to press in to find out more and receive more from him

Hosea 6:3 – Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

ACKNOWLEDGE

In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths, press on and press in, trust him, as surely as the sun rises he will appear, like the rains that water the earth he will come forth and all flesh shall experience the Salvation of God, all people on the earth below will have a chance to know the Lord, oh to truly know the Lord, the depths of who he is, the truth of his love, to pursue him, press in to experience a relationship with him, to dance in the rain as the storms pass over, to let his living water wash over me, to experience his love, to fully believe so that I can freely receive the outrageous love of my Father above.

Eternity’s an awful long time to be in the dark.

One day no matter what, Jesus will be Lord of all, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.  I was thinking about this today and how urgent it is that we tell people now, not wait until that day in a kind of smug haze because we’re alright.  How sad that people we know and love might never know God in this lifetime and that by the time they do bow the knee it may be too late for them.  Let’s get busy witnessing in every way we can, the time to strike is now.

• Zechariah 14:9 – And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one
• Romans 14:11 – For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
• Philippians 2:11 – and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 YOU’RE GONNA BOW

OK so you might not believe this but one day you’re gonna bow your knee to Jesus and see this is how it goes, you can choose to fall to your knees now and reap the benefits of his friendship, a special relationship that’s yours for life, a holy alliance with earthly benefits and the emphasis is on those benefits, like who else protects you 24/7, loves you no matter what you do, provides for your every need, who else would die for you, like literally die to save you, literally lay down their life so that you could live, who else gives you love that never changes, never waivers, no argument, no hostility, who loves your fragility, your brokenness and who takes all that and gives you back beauty, beauty for your ashes, who else smashes every shackle, tackles your enemies head on because they want to, who else would do that for you?  You’re gonna bow your knee to Jesus one day, why not today, why not say to him, I’m here, ready to give it a try, just see what changes he’ll make in your life, why not ask him today to show you his love, like really ask him with a desire to find out the answer, I can only lead you to the water, you need to drink and if you think water is life giving you will be astounded when you accept the life giving water of my God who wants you to accept that he is real before it becomes a big deal, before it’s too late for you to say, “Jesus you are Lord” and “I’m sorry I never saw that before”, don’t end up sorry you didn’t get down on your knees and accept that only God could set you free and see it’s not just about freedom today sure that’s part of it but don’t forget that eternity’s an awful long time to be in the dark.

A dynamic duo, an unstoppable force for the work of the Lord

Sometimes I just crave time with the Holy Spirit, sometimes in church I feel like it is so Spirit led and other times I find it empty, like the Spirit didn’t show up.  I know the Spirit is with us always and I know I need to address this myself, if I’m not feeling the Holy Spirit I need to connect and talk to him, to get in the right place, to be filled to overflowing and to radiate that feeling to all those around me.

HOLY SPIRIT YOU ARE WELCOME

Holy Spirit fill me, Holy Spirit be present let me feel you here, Holy Spirit anoint me, fill my prayers with urgency, equip me to do your will, still me as your whisper drowns out the sound of this bustling world, transform me, renew me, guide and lead me, show me the way, not by might, not by power but by my Spirit says the Lord, so Holy Spirit work in me, work through me, burn within me so others are fascinated by the flames, may we become a dynamic duo, an unstoppable force for the work of the Lord, Holy Spirit you are welcome here, remain near, let me connect with you in every circumstance, let me hear you through every storm and every drought, take away any doubts and fill me to overflowing with streams of living water, daughter of the Sovereign God, fill and immerse me in your word fill me with the fire of your presence, fill me with the joy of heaven.