My eyes are drawn to the mountains

My daily reading today is about God guiding his people. What is talked about was that God always takes us the best way and not the shortest way.

• Exodus 13:17-18 – When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle

That is such an important lesson for me, be patient, God is getting me to the destination but he knows the best way to go.  It may be longer, it may be more challenging but it will prepare me and build me on the way.  Everything he does, everywhere he takes me, everything he shows me is part of his amazing plan for my life.

• Ephesians 1:10 –  Then when the time is right, God will do all that he has planned, and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth.

GOD’S PATH

Everything in heaven and earth is coming together, when the time is right I will hear the crash of heaven touching earth, the plans God had since before my birth accomplished, the devil’s plans abolished as I claim all God has promised, the path is not so clear right now, the direct line obstructed but that’s OK for he has instructed me to fear not, his plans for me are full of success and promise, and just maybe he’ll use this diversion to demolish parts of me that are no longer needed, to water the seeds and tend to the soil, to oil the cogs and pull up the weeds, let’s face it his plans are sublime and as I reflect that I am his, I remember that he is mine, he holds me in the palm of his hands, so as I pass through desert sands, my eyes are drawn to the mountains where I know the fountain of living water flows, which way will he take me there, only God knows….

Satan tried to win through tempting me with sin

Was reminded today of the need to praise and thank God at all times.  It really is great to praise and thank God.  I challenged myself to pray and thank God for 5 minutes without stopping.   I did repeat myself a few times but had enough verses in my “treasure chest” of verses that I could use as a basis for the prayer (it showed me that I do need to learn more praise and thanksgiving verses).  But what it really showed me was how great it is to thank God, how great it is to recognise all the fantastic things he has done for me and what he means to me.  I know 5 minutes doesn’t sound long so give it a go and see how great you feel afterwards!

Ezra 3:11 – With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

PURE AND PERFECT LOVE

You are good, your love endures forever, and what that really means is your love never fails, not like human love, not like the kind of love that depends upon their mood or whether they’re having a good day, your love is here to stay and may I never grow tired of thanking you for all you do, may I never cease to praise you for answered prayer, for showing me that you really care, for providing over and above, for showering me with the type of love that makes me feel safe and secure, a pure and perfect love, thank you for the peace you give, for taking away all my stress, for changing my life from a bit of a mess to a life of satisfaction, a life where perfection feels attainable, a life where all my shame has gone, thank you for giving us your son, your son who intercedes for me, who wants nothing more than for all to be free, thank you for looking into my heart, for setting me apart since before time began, for watching me as I grew in my Mother’s womb, for taking time to write out plans that are so perfect for me, for giving me a chance to reclaim the years the locusts have eaten, for not allowing me to be beaten by Satan who tried to win through tempting me with sin, but you trampled on him and put him in his place, turned your face towards me, you blessed me, thank you God for your amazing grace, thank you for saving me a place in your heavenly Kingdom where I will live for eternity, loved, cherished and eternally free.

God delivers us from evil, redeems us from the life of the pit

God’s plans for us are so perfect.  I have been reading the story of Joseph again as well as the early years of Moses.  What struck me was how intricate God’s plans are and how things that happened years before happen to serve a purpose for his Kingdom.

ABSOLUTE

God’s absolute plan, absolutely perfect, intricate, a plan defined and refined by a God who knows what he’s doing, God delivers us from evil, redeems us from the life of the pit, how great are his miracles and how mighty his wonders, we may squander some opportunities but he never ceases to believe in us, never stops loving us, never gives up on us, his plans waiting for us to grasp, he restores the years the locusts have eaten, he keeps on leading us in his paths of righteousness, he knows where we’re going, he’s been there before us, his plans glorious, perfect for us so even if you feel like giving up, stand up, look into his eyes, ignore the enemy all his deceit and lies and look to your Saviour your Lord and your King, behold he is doing a new thing and believe me his plans for you are without rival, his plans are for victory and for revival.

Tell me what you like about me Jesus

So one of my friends gave her life to Jesus on Saturday at the Alpha course (AWESOME!!).  It has been so exciting to see the gradual change in her as she has started to explore faith and I am super excited to see her continue in that walk over the next weeks, months and years.

Got me to thinking how God designed us all and when he made us I am sure he had a perfect end product in mind.  When we become Christians I feel like that is the time that the refining process really starts.  Up until then we have been doing it our way but as soon as we ask Jesus in he can start the real work in us, moulding us into his perfect, special, new creations, gradually refining us to become more like him every day.

Psalm 18:19 – He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

DESIGNED

God designed me exclusively, his plans for me perfect and I am worth it, see everything I know about God shows me that I must be worth it, his thoughts for me outnumber the grains of sand, my name is engraved upon his hand, he died for me, what other explanation can there be but that he loves me so completely, so perfectly, do I dare take a look at what he sees, ask him to reveal to me the glory of my perfect body in eternity, ask him to tell me what he likes about me, what part of my personality is most appealing, what part of my thoughts are most revealing, ask him to mould me, shape me, continue to refine me in his burning fire, breathe life over me, source the rivers of living water flowing through me, delight in the truth that God designed me exclusively and rescued me simply because he delighted in me.

The view from here is quite spectacular

https://youtu.be/FgzXXKjaPZA

I was watching this video yesterday and oh my word how it blew me away.  I know that God loves me but to hear his prophetic word and realise that there is nothing I can do to change how much he feels for me, all I can do is change my own ability to receive his love is amazing.  So next time I muck up or make a mistake I don’t need to berate myself cos it hasn’t changed God’s love for me one iota, he still loves me whether I make a mistake or not, he will love me the same into eternity and beyond….

TO BE LOVED OUTRAGEOUSLY

Amazing grace, outrageous love, to be loved outrageously, dangerously even, for perfect love casts out all fear, perfect love negates the hate, the fear inside subsides, love brings alive a world of beauty and wonder, God’s perfect love for me will never change, it’s me that needs to change in order to receive, I will not let the devil deceive me, telling me that my past actions have left me devoid of love, that my past defines me, that God abandoned me long ago, oh no, my God has never loved me more and never loved me less, yet while I was still a sinner he loved me 100 per cent, his perfect love casts out all fear that now is clear, God’s love has crushed all fear, the atmosphere saturated with perfect love from my Father who never fails me, my life full of joy and the view from here is quite spectacular, I shall shout out my praise as I receive the love and roar my approval as finally I seize the day and soar on the wings of his amazing grace.

God’s plan is perfect, his project management extravagant

I was reading today about stepping out in faith.  Sometimes easier said than done but it is amazing how God provides for people.  I was given a book to read this week with a strange title – Two Pork Chops, but in it the author is telling of a number of miracles that happened in his life including the provision of two pork chop dinners (found frozen and covered in foil in a hedgerow!) when he was working for God in faith.  If God says to us, do this work, he will provide, we know his plans are even greater than we can imagine, the question is are we strong and bold enough to do what he asks us to do?

• Isaiah 6:8 – Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’
• Proverbs 3:6 – in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight
• Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’

AN INVINCIBLE FUTURE

Step into an invincible future but don’t forget to listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go, he’s the one who will keep you on track, don’t look back, fix your eyes on the prize ahead, press forward, follow God even when you don’t know the way, here I am Lord send me, can you say that confidently, to boldly follow, to do the impossible, to be more than a conqueror, to step out in faith, don’t stay in the boat when God’s calling you to walk on the water, don’t think I can’t do that I don’t have the resources, God’s plan is perfect, his project management extravagant no stone will be left unturned, no detail overlooked and OK so you may be nervous but how can you do his service if you fail to step out of the comfort zone, yes there’s safety in apathy you see you can’t fall if you don’t climb but what joy is there from living your whole life on the ground? God wants you to let go of you and hold on to him, take the step of faith and go places you never dreamed, he’s nudging you right now and the way I see it your only method of transportation is to take that leap of faith, for it is by grace you have been saved, not to hide in the shadows like a dazed rabbit but to take control, walk through the valley, keep going for no evil can overcome as God guides your footsteps, one small step and OK so it may seem impossible but let me remind you our impossible is God’s reality and he is waiting to see that spark, that glimmer of light that convinces you that the time is right to confront your fears, claim your fearless spirit, look into the eyes of your heavenly Father and say OK this is it.

You have great plans up your sleeve reserved for me

How frustrating it is not to know exactly what God’s plans are for my life?  Not sure if others feel the same but sometimes I feel I know the way and then something else happens and I’m like, “OK God so what does that mean?”.  However I can hold on to God’s word and believe passionately that all things are planned and work together for good.

John 13:7 – Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.

PLANS FOR ME

Hey God, what’s up, like I just got my head around my plans and you moved the goalposts, showed me another way so today I’m kind of left scratching my head, do I go right or do I go left, or do I just get down on my knees and listen to what you have for me, so here’s the thing, I’m gonna sing your praises anyway, worship your name night and day, cos you are great and your plans are perfect and I know that you think that I am worth it, I know whatever you have in store is more than I can imagine, a life of simply amazing love, a peaceful heart, calm surrounding me, you know the plans you have for me and in reality what more do I need to know except that you loved me so much your son died on the cross for me, you love me so much you rescued me from my sin and I don’t think for a single minute that you did that for no reason, I see now that you believed in me to pick up my cross and follow you, you renewed me, you set me free and I believe you have great plans up your sleeve reserved especially for me.