New Covenant: Follow Me

What Should I Do?

When I was really in a mess I used to pray even though I knew that this would do no good, and then I would cry out, "what do You want me to do?" and not hear any answer. There were times I would go out into the fields or the bush so I could really yell so God could really hear. This is the story of how I became able to listen to Him and to obey.

Sometimes I would ask Christian leaders I respected or conference speakers the same thing: "what should I do?" and feel that their answers were not helpful. Perhaps they were answering a different question. Maybe they were used to talking to Christians who had already got it together and didn't need my kind of help.

Among the first things which happened when Trish and I started to spend time with "born again" and "believer baptism" and "charismatic" Christians was that they went to prayer meetings and clearly found them to be rich and vital. We started to go as well, and have done ever since. Quite quickly I identified with Isaiah 62:6 and saw myself and our new friends as some of God's "appointed watchmen". Prayer was not only a "normal" activity for Christians, it was desirable and it was effective as many testimonies quickly came to show. I learned some of the Scriptural promises to God's people and would pray, reminding Him, asking why others seemed to be blessed with answers to these promises while I was left hanging in the wind.

Preachers would sometimes tell us to speak positively over our circumstances because "words have power". Well I was already a failed salesman and had been on all the courses and read "How To Win Friends And Influence People" by Dale Carnegie and much else besides. To me, these were just more promises, from the world rather than from God, which somehow did not work for me.

It was a desperate time. I had so much to live for but no idea how to live. Jesus said that His people would live "life to the full" (John 10:10). Before I was married to Trish and became a dad I had tried to find adventure everywhere (and succeeded pretty well). Now that I had responsibilities I had to think in different terms, to establish myself in a Christian way so my family would be secure and could grow .. But I did not want to just keep quiet, conform to those around me, and be a mouse.

When we come to know Jesus and our Father God we learn that the spiritual world is real and of huge importance, greater even than the physical. Life is more than a roof over our head and three square meals a day. We were designed and given breath to be "speaking spirits" (Genesis 2:7) and "to attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13), that is, to manifest the “image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:26).

Time and again Scripture talks about us as "spirit, soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). People tend to talk about "body and soul", ignoring our spirit, putting the physical first, then the soul which is our mind, will and emotions.

This, I think, is what I had to change in me, that I had to do something about. My spirit needed to wake up and be available to Jesus. It was not enough that I assented to the truth about Jesus and the Kingdom of God, my spirit had to assimilate into it; I needed to become a more spiritually aware person and allow Jesus to form relationship with this new me!

The change did happen .. I'm not sure how this was done, Jesus came to me in a way that I was able to bond with Him, it was something He did .. It changed everything .. (See "God’s Father Heart", my very first www.PsalmsOfJohn.com post).

Considering how much our Creator God puts into each one of us, our clear responsibility is to grow the spirit, soul and body elements of our person into the very best that their potential offers. The whole Bible teaches us this; so many stories tell of adventure where people go far beyond what they thought they could do (2 Samuel 23:20,22; Luke 1:26-80; Luke 10:1-24; Acts 8:30-39). Now I am constantly being surprised at the things Jesus does by using me, or Trish and me together.

This is where "follow me" comes in.

We're told that Jesus was a great teacher and the very best example of life and ministry. But I see that He was bringing something new to the world. Abraham, Moses, David and the other Old Testament heroes had a focus on God and godliness .. but they always seemed to struggle with what was beyond their grasp. Even when things were going well for Israel and her people they seemed much more earth-bound and concerned with the past than with living with God in His Kingdom. (This is pretty much how I felt .. life in my spirit, in my person and in my body, were not like our Maker's description ..)

So, in order to grow people in their hearts and spirits, Jesus recruited twelve young men into His team to disciple them. His methods were nothing like those used by professional recruiters and "head hunters" today. Jesus simply walked up to someone and said "follow me". Time and again we see this in Scripture (Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 10:38, 16:24, 19:21, John 1:43, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36, 21:19, 21:22 and others).

Jesus' main team turned out to be a very ordinary bunch; many do not get a mention in the Gospels beyond being named as one of the "twelve". Peter seems to have been top pick and he messed up badly until after Jesus was crucified; then Jesus so loved on Peter that he was transformed and is still remembered as a great teacher and leader in the early Church (John 21:15-19).

Jesus called those to "follow me" whom He planned to disciple. Discipleship involved sticking close and paying attention. In those days they used to say that a disciple would "walk in his rabbi's dust" because he would have to be very close to hear what was said as they walked from place to place. 

When I think of these twelve I see them trying to be good students but they would be like our oldest son, Tom, who is a carpenter. Tom's very good at learning things but, like most of the twelve, he much prefers to be on the tools, doing things, at this he shines. Those young men will have worked hard at their studies, but they also will have had a lot of fun together, letting off steam; I see them by the river where they would go to bathe as they traveled about. They would have been splashing water and flicking towels just like young men today. They would have squabbled over the food and joshed each other about the pretty girls they met. But the serious thing was to "follow me".

There are some Christian leaders here who I love; pastors Phil and Jeanette, intercessor Wendy, and theologian, teacher and intercessor John. These four clearly follow Jesus who, many years ago, led them into a particular aspect of ministry. Their work and their lives are unique. They've been given a vision and have continued to look to Jesus in that (growing) vision for decades. They are effective, inspirational and tireless. They love. They are disciples at work and in life. I am deeply honoured to know and love them and desire to have the kind of commitment and application that they demonstrate. They follow, they are disciples.

Some years ago a couple in our local church put together a series of hands-on seminars called "Train To Reign". They were based on the notion that we each have a Kingdom destiny, that we were born for a purpose. 

It seems likely then that our Father and our Lord and Saviour will have shaped us by their Holy Spirit to be equipped for this purpose. The couple taught a vital aspect of discipleship; following. We were helped to identify our deep-down passion; for many of us, me included, this was a near impossible task. (What? Me? Look inside myself and describe what I see?) This couple were great, we all found that thing which God had sown in us. We were then shown how to brainstorm about our untapped treasure, and how to share with others. No committees were set up to manage all the new ministries that Jesus was showing us, no leaders were appointed to oversee us. We were encouraged to simply pray then talk to friends and family and get started.

Results for many individuals and couples over the next year or so were outstanding. Trish and I started new things based in our home which are still going and which bring life and joy to many, and immense satisfaction to us. We grow in Jesus because we are participating in what He is doing on the Earth, right now, right here. Sure our pastors know about what we do; they bless us and pray for us and these ministries, and sometimes they are included. But they do not manage what we do, it's not even completely part of our local church's activities. It's John and Trish's work with Jesus for the body of Christ and the world. Micro-ministries.

I now see a huge variety of micro-ministries everywhere I look in the Church. A family will travel in South-East Asia and encounter a school or orphanage and see that it needs help; so they help, this becomes part of their life. Others will see an opportunity to start a Bible study, or a fellowship time over coffee, or to be the only Christian guy coaching kids soccer at the local club, or to raise money for a tiny mission .. Fantastic! Isn’t this what the New Testament is asking us to do?

I truly believe that obedience outweighs anointing. When we obey our Lord, He makes the way and will provide all necessary anointing, and gifting too. He promises to meet “all our needs” (Luke 12:24), give Him the opportunity to do this. Obedience provides the fuel ..

So, pray and wait and listen for His soft voice .. Hear Jesus' call, the what, the where and the how of it. Hear His "follow me .." 

You will "see" an idea. Your heart will be stirred. You'll think "I can help there" or "I can do that". Do it. It's for you and it's unique. Not part of a program. Not overseen by a leader or a committee. Yours. You and Jesus, “Head of the Church” (Colossians 1:18), working together to accomplish His plans. Start small and you can use the resources you already have. There likely will be no worldly glory, mostly it will be hard work and unseen by the world. But Father God will see because it is His Kingdom work, and He will be delighted, filled with joy!

God does not make two snow flakes the same, nor two people. There is something only you can offer, no matter how broken or unready you think you are. Just follow Jesus ..

Bless you ..

Amen

Favorite Song

Probably a decade ago some of our kids came home excited about an American group of young Christians who like to sing to the Lord Jesus together .. they took me to see them .. these Christian musicians express my hearts desire .. I find their words achingly true:

      I don't want to ride on somebody else's passion

      I don't want to find that I'm just dry bones

      I want to burn with unquenchable fire

      Deep down inside

      See it coming alive.

      Help me find my own flame

      Help me find my own fire

      I want the real thing

      I want your burning desire.

(from Will Reagan And United Pursuit - Live At Bank's House - my kids took me to a show they did when they came here to our city - a lovely blessing)

Favorite Bible Verses

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work" (John 4:34). 

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

'And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"' (Matthew 4:19).

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

Prayer With An Ache

The Hope Of Prayer When No Change Can Be Seen

Do you sometimes think your prayers are just falling to the ground? Or falling on deaf ears? There are things on my heart which have been there for so long that there's a sense of desperation because nothing appears to ever change; the sickness or trouble remains despite so much being attempted in every way, and despite years of prayer; intense prayer, purposeful and personal.

Can it be that Jesus has forgotten about this trouble?

"Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favour again?  Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?" (Psalm 77:7-8).

I ask "Is it me? My sin? The way I'm praying? Am I not praying hard enough, or with too little heart? Am I full of pride or self interest?"

" .. has God in anger withheld his compassion?" (Psalm 77:9).

After a while I remember who I am, just like this Psalmist who goes through the exhausting process of doubt and self-doubt before he pours out praises to God.

Deep down I know that my name is written on God's hand, that God is my Abba Father (Romans 8:15), and not a stern, authoritative father figure. I know that Jesus delights to be my brother. I know that I'm in the midst of a dialog with Jesus, that we often share together, that He so very often directs my path and that I have known so many miraculous healings of spirit, soul and body, (Trish says my healings of spirit and soul are profound and life giving for our whole family).

The very fact that these www.PsalmsOfJohn.com articles are inspired, get written, and posted (a long slow process) is a continuing example of Jesus' loving kindness, (He does most of the work!)

So, is there a simple answer? Is there a reason some prayers are answered while others seem to persist in not being answered?

Our older daughter, Kate, has been sick, pretty much all the time but with varying symptoms, since she was 8 years old. At that time we lived on a hobby farm in our Southwest where I'd taken an IT job for a mining company. Kate will be 30 in a few months. Through all those years we, (and now as an adult, she), has seen every kind of medical doctor and had every kind of test, and seen many "other" health professionals, Christian healing ministers and counselors.

Medical and the health sciences have leapt forward over those 20+ years, nothing has thrown light on Kate's problems, or helped in any real way.  We've never given up, never stopped praying. Strangely I'm not tired of the battle, although I think Kate is. She's moving back in with us, we all think this will be very good. Trish and I are determined to see Kate well and leading a full life, with her own family, making a way for herself as an artist where she shows such precious talent and aptitude.

As our first daughter, Kate has always been special and very beloved. She was the first in our family to show creative talent with the drive and desire to produce art works, and, I think, the first of our children to consciously come to Jesus as a believer.

(We also pray for others whose situations seem not to progress; people with bi-polar, ME, MS, diabetes and more, and for others with really sad relationship troubles).

When I think on these things I have more questions than answers. It appears from what we can see that God is inconsistent but we know that this is not so. Scripture is adamant that one of God's great attributes is that He never changes and is the same "yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), He is always "our Rock" (1 Samuel 2:2, Psalm 18:2).

PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE BIBLE

A major theme of Scripture is that of pain, suffering, affliction, tribulation and sickness. This is not an area we tend to emphasise, but it runs throughout God's wonderful story of humankind, from Adam and Eve in Genesis to Jesus, triumphant, in Revelation.

After speaking the Universe into existence, God found it "very good". Then Satan came into the Garden where Adam and Eve, as God's beloved and faithful helpers were participating with God to bring "much fruit", and he messed things up .. Satan is now called "the prince of this world" (John 12:31, Ephesians 2:2); he has been defeated by Jesus but continues to rule through this present age.

To Adam God said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it' cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life" (Genesis 3:17).

Our experiences show this still to be true .. Jesus' words confirm the situation but also encourage and give hope ..

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Jesus knows our situation, whatever it is, because He has experienced it:

He was despised and rejected by humankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain and grief. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem (Isaiah 53:3).

Jesus led the only perfect human life, we are encouraged to follow Him and emulate Him with all our heart and strength ..

"Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and follow after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).

Paul, that fabulous Christian minister and teacher who surely was the apple of God's eye, shared this testimony:

"Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,   I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.   I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.   Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.   Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?   If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness" (2 Corinthians 11:24-30). Paul wrote these words from prison.

PROMISED VICTORY

But Paul knew how to find the promised victory in Jesus ..

"Through Him we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope" (Romans 5:2-4).

"Perseverance" is one of my favourite Bible words. After an exciting and successful IT career, I was largely unemployed through the last 18 years of my working life. This left me badly broken on the inside. Sin grew in me and I hated it, especially the sin of envy! I clung to Jesus who brought me through .. In my spirit I knew: "where else can I go and find life and truth if not with you Jesus" (see John 6:68).

Over and over those godly writers of the Scriptures tell us:

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).

"For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God" (1 Peter 2:19).

" .. rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer .. " (Romans 12:12).

 "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13).

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Hebrews 10:36).

"Take care of yourselves; don't throw away all the labour that has been spent on you, but persevere till you receive your full reward" (2 John 8 J.B. Phillips).

ALWAYS PRAYER

And remember prayer .. always be ready to pray .. it's God's way to an answer ..

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves" (Isaiah 62:6 NASB).

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but spiritual, and have divine power to destroy strongholds and false arguments" (2 Corinthians 10:4). 

JESUS' GREAT PLAN IS ADVANCING

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.  And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:38-40).

We know from the vastness, complexity and beauty of the Creation that the Creator must be infinitely present and clever and purposeful and able. We wonder at and acknowledge the exact and delicate balance in which all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17).

We then remember many, perhaps hundreds, of Bible verses which describe God's mighty deeds for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and for Ruth and Samuel, David, Elisha and Job, then Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and His Twelve, and Paul and all the others; a compassionate caring God who is fully able and willing to keep up His end of the covenants He has made with humankind, right down through the ages. 

From our own Christian walk we take such strength from the signs and wonders we have heard about or seen or experienced or shared in because we prayed. I can remember supernatural events for so many, near and far, all around the world; there must be a thousand miracles that I know to be true!

Strangely I'm not even sure that this is where my faith comes from. I think that that comes from knowing Jesus, from being so beloved by Him, by Him bringing me to His Father and asking "Abba, here's John. Please make him a son, just as I am .." and Father God immediately accepting me, just as I am, because it was Jesus asking. The same Jesus who is the only perfect man, the God Jesus who was raised from the dead by a loving, just and holy Father because He is perfectly without sin and had willingly given His life to pay for all our sin forever. Jesus who is King of kings and Lord of lords now and eternally. The Boss!

A few years ago Jesus impressed on Trish and I that He wanted us to set aside one Saturday night a month to pray and to soak in His presence, to be free of all human clutter so we could hear what He had to say. Initially we advertised these evenings which meant we had to spring-clean the house and be home on that night. So it is sacrificial. But, wow! Are these nights special! We end with Communion then a time of spoken prayer as people feel called to speak, then a cuppa (or dinner) and a time of sharing. Amazing things happen. Every time.

We now can't wait for once-a-month so most Saturdays (or perhaps the Sunday) Trish and I have an hour or so of soaking prayer before dinner, just us and Jesus, Father God and Holy Spirit. We play simple spirit filled music, otherwise it is quiet. Invariably we are overwhelmed by the assurance that God is still who He says He is, and that we can leave all our problems with Him because ultimately He will deal with everything, fully and compassionately.

"But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish" (Psalm 9:18).

For me, this sense of assurance is enough. I'm still old and a little overweight with a list of medical problems; these things seem not to change week by week, or even year by year. But my big things have been dealt with; I'm a changed man, just ask Trish and our kids, and I no longer have the big health issues: no more melanoma cancers, my heart is fixed, the diabetes is gone, my skin is holding together and my knees and feet work well enough that I can still trek and ride a bike!

And Kate and the others I pray for? Lord Jesus, please give me the strength to continue to stand in the gap for all these ones, with your faith, hope and love. Amen.

"But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish" (Psalm 9:18).

Amen.

FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSES

" .. will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).

" .. that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13).

" .. through him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope" (Romans 5:2-4).

"God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

“Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life’" (John 6:68).

Bless you. Pray and give blessings. Amen.

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"Prayer With An Ache" is now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn

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Praise Jesus.

In Their Image: Marriage

In The Image and Likeness of God: Marriage

Our fourth son Peter is getting married this year to a delightful young woman whose name is Merci. We are all very excited. Peter is showing real maturity and appears to be accepting that his levels of responsibility are greatly increasing. The excitement is very tangible and so is this sense of growing maturity. As a father I find it all very satisfying, life is advancing ..

I have had a very high regard for marriage since my teen years. Now that I'm Christian I've also come to complete acceptance that marriage, children and families are a vital part of God's plan.

When I was about 15 I saw an older couple walking on the beach at sunset. They were holding hands and talking. Clearly they belonged together. This was a formative moment for me, I knew that this is where I wanted to be one day, and to have lived all the years that would have contributed to this lovely moment.

Around that same time I heard a wise person say "marriage is a conversation". Although I was a typical teenager at the time, something in me knew that this also was a formative moment. These words have been proven true to me time after time. Open and active communication is vital to a solid marriage. Trish and I have been on communications courses so that we continue to grow in our many-faceted "conversation"!

Now I can say that Trish’s and my marriage is one of the really good things about my life. (Trish tells me that it is the same for her). It's hard work too, but great. We've found that "love" and "marriage" are both doing words, they take much effort and require forward movement.

As humans, we hold the top position in the Creation: "God created humankind in their own image and likeness .. and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:27,31), the earlier parts of the Creation were simply called "good", and they are good, right?

We tend to regard the physical as our primary home; we use our five senses minute by minute and often forget about our spiritual life and the senses which let us "see" spiritually. Until my spiritual senses were developed, (which was not hard to do but did take prayer, effort and much time), I could not see much spiritual at all, it was very frustrating being with others who could see, specially as I felt I knew the Creator and His Creation well, and His Scriptures.

The Bible tells us "God is spirit" (John 4:24), "God is love" (1 John 4:16), "God is eternal" (Jude 1:25), "God is truth" (Psalm 31:5), "God is just" (2 Thessalonians 1:6), "God is kind" (Luke 1:78). (You can each add more lovely attributes of God which you've affirmed from your own lives). All of these qualities can only be seen in relationship; so God is first of all relational. We see this first in the God-head, then in the Creation.

God of the Bible is three yet one. One God and three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, inseparable. They always love one another, give to each other and work together, each contributing from His unique qualities. In many places the Scriptures call God "Elohim", a Hebrew plural word, plural because the writers knew that God was not simply one. (Hebrew was the original language of the Old Testament, and Greek the original language of the New Testament).

The constant and eternal closeness of Father, Son and Spirit is called perichoresis, this word can only be used to describe God, nothing and no-one in the Creation has a perichoretic degree of closeness. So, above all, God is relational within Himself.

"Perichoresis" is one of the very few "big" words I remember from Bible college; I can still remember my joy on reading Genesis chapters 1 and 2, and John chapter 1 after learning about perichoresis. Awesome. Father, Son and Holy Spirit together created everything! 

Now I see Jesus all through the Psalms, and our Father's and Holy Spirit's involvement in all Jesus' life and miracles.

It follows, as night follows day, that, because people are made in God's "image and likeness" we too are relational; we must also be love and kindness and be called towards truth and justice. Does this sound like how you want to be? It's only natural that we should, it's how we are made. (See Note 2).

Now I believe that human marriage is the nearest we can ever come to perichoresis, it is a permanent state of commitment, giving, love and intimacy here in the world. This is very precious and delightful, an essential and fulfilling part of God's design.

So our excitement for our son and his fiancé is natural and good .. Praise Jesus.

FAVORITE SCRIPTURE VERSES

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails .." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV).

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:15-20 NIV).

"Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth and faithfulness" (Psalm 31:5 Amplified).

Note 1: GROUPS

When our kids were still young (Peter and his twin Rebecca may have been just 5 or 6), Trish and I were blessed to hear a number of talks, always by young men or young couples, recommending that teenagers should spend their time with groups of friends rather than seek out one-at-a-time relationships and go through the serial dating-and-breaking-up which is so painful, (even soul destroying), but which seems to be the norm for Western teens over the past two or three of generations.

One guy reminded us that for every single person ever born in the world, God has a plan. If this is so, and it is well accepted amongst Christians, then He will already have our perfect life companion already picked out. 

Wouldn't it be a great idea then to pray into God's plan? To pray for this one girl or boy, starting now, today; praying for their family, that the child would respect their parents and be kind, be a conscientious student, care for their health, brush their teeth, eat properly, learn to say "no" gracefully at appropriate times yet develop a healthy sense of adventure, and care for their spirit and soul too, that they grow to know and love Jesus, and develop rich and healthy friendships ..

Trish and I were amazed at these ideas which sounded so radical, yet for the generations before ours (before the idea of "teenagers" was invented), they would have been considered sensible and normal. So we prayed with our children; we prayed, (and still pray),  for the ones intended by Jesus' plan for our children's good and very productive and satisfying lives .. It made sense to also pray the same thing for our own children so that they would be worthy of these chosen wives-and-husbands-to-be Jesus was watching over, in which-ever family and in what-ever country and people-group they may be!

We also kept talking up this "group-of-friends" idea. When the kids were going out we encouraged them to go with a sibling or two and to think in terms of the group. Even for school dances and balls, we would suggest that the kids got a table together rather than find one special girl or boy and put their entire focus on her or him. Rather that they plan to have a great night with a group of real friends, where everyone makes sure that they all have fun and do plenty of dancing and enjoy the meal together, even hiring a limo so they all travel together.

Well, our efforts seem to have paid off, we're delighted at how our kids have turned out and at the really good decisions they have made. Of course this is not universally so .. we've all had our moments! There has never been a month when we've not had to be parents. There have been sadnesses and mistakes. Well, we only have to look at our own lives .. 

We are so grateful to be Christians, that we have our Father in Heaven looking out for us, and Jesus guiding us and ceaselessly praying for each one! We pray blessings into their life choices, and specially into their marriages.

Note 2: PAIN AND EVIL IN THE WORLD

Though God is love, sadly there is more than love in the world. Satan has affected so much, the Bible calls him the "prince of this world" (John 16:11) and "the spirit of the world" (1 Corinthians 2:12), he stands condemned because Jesus paid for all sin when He died on the cross 2000 years ago, but he is still active almost everywhere. We are all affected by this, even the most holy people we know (see Romans 7:14-25). Only in Jesus are we safe. As Christians we have power and authority in the spiritual world over sin and Satan (Luke 10:19, Colossians 2:10).

Note 3: NURTURE

Maggie Dent, an Australian author and broadcaster, discussing "Live Fast, Die Young"  a book and a community program, on Australian Radio ABC1, "Talking Heads", 14th July 2010. Quotes:

"Human connectedness is what keeps us alive. Nothing Else. Relationships".

"So, build pastoral care among our young people. Give them your relationship if there are no others. Make sure they eat properly, get good sleep and laugh. Exhausted, unloved, hungry kids are liable to make crazy, costly decisions".

Kids who have known tough times are often ill equipped for adult life; to have been rescued by someone like Maggie Dent will be much more ready to live a full life and to marry and be a parent. Praise Jesus for big hearts.


Bless us all.
Amen.

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• Public link to podcast

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Praise Jesus.

Promises Promises

Awesome New Covenant Realities For Us

A conversation with a friend got me thinking about faith, hope and love. As Christians we are taught that these are fundamental to our life; Scripture assures us:

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

"But since we belong to the day [that is, to this world], let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet" (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Experience confirms this in our testimonies; that when we truly believe that Jesus, our Saviour God, is still for us and always praying and working on our behalf, then we see miracles (often not the miracle we were asking for but a change in our heart, or a change in circumstances which meets our needs and brings peace).

From there I started to ponder Bible promises I've been hearing for most of my life. It was like a light shining when I realised that the promises I remembered best were from the Old Testament and were practical, to do with the physical world; they assured me that my enemies would be totally defeated and I would gain their wealth, and that all would go well for me and my family, and for my tribe. Suddenly I saw that these are old promises; they are but a shadow of what God intends for His people. The New Covenant is here ..

For many, many years I expected to see my life improve in physical terms in line with these old promises; it was ages before I saw the reality that I am in full-time relationship with Jesus and that now my life is centred on the spiritual. Now I live largely in peace, satisfaction and joy! My relationships have all blossomed and I want for nothing (though I am still far from rich in worldly terms).

Our country is at peace, and we don't have enemies as did ancient Israel, but the life I see around me is not full of overwhelming victory even though almost everyone I know is Christian .. there is sickness and debt, and many have very difficult relationship issues. The news from TV, radio and the press about politics and corporations and drugs and wars is almost all bad. Or worse, the news sounds good but is full of the upside-down ideas and the un-truths of political correctness.

Thankfully I remember Who I belong to, and how He alone brings peace and the ability to carry on. Jesus is the source of all my faith, hope and love.

Here are some of the promises I remembered, and some thoughts on how much better off we all are with Jesus as our constant companion in His New Covenant:

Victory

There are many promises that we'll have victory in all our contests here on Earth, and our troubles will flee from us:

"Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword" (Leviticus 26:8).

"And every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the Lord, until He has driven out His enemies from before him" (Numbers 32:21).

The truth is that we don't have to defeat people or nations to reach our "Promised Land". We are the "New Jerusalem". We are children of God, the betrothed of Jesus!

"And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2). That's us!

Remember too: "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

We have been given full authority in the spiritual world in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 and throughout the Gospels and Letters:

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all [all!] the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).

"And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:10), we have the authority and power of Jesus in the world.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:12-13).

We have been given "the ministry of reconciliation" to work as "ambassadors" and help "reconcile the world" to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). This is the opposite of seeking the defeat and destruction of our enemies ..

Wealth From Others As Spoils Of War

"But the women, and the little ones, and the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its spoil, you shall take for a prey to yourself; and you shall eat the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God has given you" (Deuteronomy 20:14).

"That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies" (Psalm 68:23).

In Jesus we have no need to covet the assets or the humility of our enemies, or to grab from others. We are given all that we need (Luke 12:22-34). Instead we are required to love our enemies, and bless them. The great commission includes these very people, they are part of "all nations".

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

The greatest blessing we can ever give another person is to introduce Jesus to them .. we have the Spirit (and the task) of "reconciliation"(2 Corinthians 5:17-19) and our Lord Jesus is the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Again and again Jesus tells us: "follow me" (Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 10:38, 16:24, 19:21, Mark 1:17, 2:14, 8:34, 10:21, Luke 5:27, 9:23, 9:59, 9:61, 18:22, John 1:43, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36, 21:19, 21:22). 

This "follow me" command from Jesus is very important and precious to me! It calls for obedience which is given a high place in the New Testament (Matthew 28:20, Luke 11:28, Acts 5:32, Romans 16:26). We are to do the works Jesus specifically asks us, each one.

Special Giftings

"Many nations will go and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths'. For out of Zion will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  And he will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off. They will beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more" (Micah 4:2-3).

What great promises .. physical safety (though somewhere in the future). But the benefits spoken of here all come through the good works of people and nations; sadly this has never much happened in all of history.

Never mind, we have so much more with Jesus, we Christians have become the "house of the God of Jacob". "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" (1 Corinthians 6:19), we have become what the Arc of the Covenant used to be, and are never separate from God. The "Word of the Lord" is Jesus, we do not just hear "the Word", He lives inside us; His Holy Spirit will "teach us all things" (John 14:26). "The anointing you received from Him [Jesus, by His Spirit] remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you" (1 John 2:27).

In our world today many warn us, as Jeremiah did in Bible times: "Don't go forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy, and terror, are on every side” (Jeremiah 6:25).

But this is worldly talk and takes no account of our Lord's protection, nor of his spiritual authority and power which we carry all the time (Luke 10:19).

Testimonies by the thousands support these truths. When Jesus calls each one of us "a new creation" He is speaking a profound truth. The world has never seen anything like the renewed humanity of us Christians who have the God of all the Creation indwelling in us.

So please, cleave to the truth. You are continuously being given all that you need to lead the full and satisfying life your Father in Heaven has always planned for you (Ephesians 2:10). Ask Jesus, "how shall I follow you? What is it you want me to do as my unique share in your work on the Earth?" Ask often. Don't worry when you fail. Persevere. And cling tightly to the faith, hope and love our Lord Jesus gives you.

Bless you.

Amen.

Favourite Scriptures

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:16).

"For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favour upon favour and gift [heaped] upon gift" (John 1:16) Amplified.

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

New Covenant: In His Presence

Testimonies and Jesus

My testimonies are always about Jesus. Recently I've noticed that they're also about New Covenant life. This is far more than simply being saved after hearing about Jesus and believing in Him. The New Covenant is an entirely new kind of life which is only available to Christians, who have supernaturally been made new creations so that they can live this way.

When I read the Old Testament stories I am often saddened that those heroic and dedicated men and women had so little of God while a very ordinary Christian person like me has so much. Abraham didn't know Jesus, salvation or the New Covenant, neither did Moses, David, Esther, Ruth or Ezekiel. Yet,  "All these people were still living by faith when they died" (Hebrews 11:13,14). Christians are full citizens of the Kingdom of God; and we fully share in all of Jesus’ inheritance.

My life is now embedded in Jesus' presence. Matthew 28:20 is such a reality to me: "behold, I am with you always". At so many critical times have I been aware of Jesus being right there with me, understanding, sharing in everything. Whenever I look back to a difficult time, or a very special time, I can see Jesus loving me and being part of all my life. This is relational, not religious. (Note 1).

The 2015 school year is still new for my wife, Trish, already there have been big changes at her school, some exciting and some shocking. The upshot for Trish is that her rôle as Jesus' missionary there is increasing. As each piece of news arrived, or each story unfolded I was aware that our Jesus was right there, with Trish, and all that's before her, and with all the students and faculty, indeed with the whole school. Present. Caring. Active. Involved. Our God. Jesus.

"God is love" (1 John 4:16). Love is who He is, He can’t be something else!

When I think on these things I'm surprised that I'm surprised that Jesus is so closely with us. Sure, the Bible tells us again and again that He's always present, and never not present! So why am I surprised?

Some of the surprise comes from my church experiences; being with hundreds, or even thousands, of people and everybody singing their hearts out as though their love is falling into a vacuum; begging God to show up, to bring His presence .. Where did all these songs come from? Don't the music people know? (And their pastors?) Jesus is already fully here, fully loving .. He is present with each one .. He's in the room with us, singing too, worshiping our Father with us. Joyous, glorious!

And faith. I am convinced that God is the only one who can impart or grow faith. Don’t we get our faith from seeing His faithfulness? Our own witness shows Jesus’ love and good work in our lives, as do the testimonies of others, I have seen hundreds or even thousands of testimonies. Our faith does not bring God into an event, He’s already there; His faith in His great eternal plan ensures His faithfulness and His presence  .. "I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground - the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end .." (2 Timothy 1:12 Message).

And morality. Where does our morality come from? Certainly not from our good will which lasts only so long as we can keep up our motivation. Every year the media pundits talk about the massive failure of New Years resolutions. We seem to be powerless to mend our weak or ratbag ways, (except just occasionally). Paul was well advanced in his ministry when he wrote Romans 7 about his inability to live as clean a life as he wanted to; "wretched man that I am" he wrote in verse 24, "who will deliver me from this body of death"? His only answer is Jesus. For me too; the decrease in sin in my life is all attributable to Father God accepting me, welcoming me into His family and giving me Jesus whose love and faith in me is so constant and profound that I change and grow. Jesus places me in His Church where I mix with people who love me in ways the world neither sees nor understands. Hallelujah! (Note 2).

Jesus is called "Emanuel", "God with us". More, He's not just with us, Jesus is in us (John 14:20). This is an essential part of each Christian being a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). I see myself as a radically changed person since Jesus came into my life:

•   Firstly, Jesus accepted me, this is still doing wonders for my lifelong problems with rejection and striving to please.

•   Secondly, He forgave my sin, this happened quickly but took a long time for me to accept into myself .. but in recent years I've been free from guilt and the burden of sin; O how I love Jesus for this!

•   Thirdly, He filled me with Himself (John 14:20) and His lovely Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18); immediately I grew in communication with God and in my awareness of His presence.

•   Fourthly, I have been given authority and power in the spiritual realm; this affects everything in the physical world and in life. Everything! I share in miracles!

•   Fifth, my dear Jesus took away my heart of stone, and replaced it with a soft heart; I now believe that I am a more gentle and compassionate person and am far more generous in every way.

•   Sixth, Jesus gives me things to do, Works. It is always clear what He wants, initially in outline and then details are also clear. I find that it is often scary as He wants me to go beyond my present experience and to mix with people and learn new skills, but it is always immensely satisfying. And Jesus does give me the words to say (Matthew 10:19)!

A new creation? Yes. Perfect? Not yet. Growing? Certainly. Thank you my always present Lord and Redeemer Jesus!

How can I put any one of these changes above any other? I can't. They are all part of God’s plan to completely re-make me. I was originally made in the image and likeness of God (awesome!) but now I’m becoming conformed to "mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). New Covenant man.

"Encouraged" (Colossians 2:2). "Free to be free" (Galatians 5:1). "Filled" (Acts 13:52). "Christ in me the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27)!

Favourite Scriptures

"God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:52).

".. I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me" (2 Timothy 1:12).

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Favourite Quotes

"For me, the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity and embracing Christian spirituality, a nonpolitical mysterious system that can be experienced but not explained" (Miller, Donald. 2003. Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality, 115).

"Christianity is a relationship with a living God who, as a man as well as God, can be experienced – this experiential life is modelled on marriage (or marriage on this heavenly relationship?) It is not an intellectual assent to a set of ideas; it is not propositional" (Miller, Donald. 2003. Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality, 115)

"The theme of union with Christ is vital to an understanding of what He has done. It is grounded on His union with us. It is foundational to every aspect of our salvation" (Letham, Robert. 1993. The Work of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 75-76).

Notes

1.   The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God told Israel "I will never leave you nor forsake you"; we know from present day news from the Middle East that these words are still true - God continues to protect and keep Israel and His people there despite vast and hate-filled opposition on every side.

2.   All the communist and utopian nations and communities which ever existed have failed, with terrible costs in human suffering. Every single one. More people died under the communist regimes of Stalin and Mao than have died in all the wars that ever took place in the world! Perhaps 100 million of their own people ..

Praise Jesus for His love.
Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

In Their Image: Friends

It’s relationship .. not religion ..

Do you find that learning by doing is the best way?

Trish was asked to teach some classes for another teacher who was going to be in hospital. The children were originally to have cooking classes and prepare, cook, and present food. But Trish was told, "don't bother with the cooking, just teach some theory classes you've already prepared". Trish was upset, she told me: "but the children learn so much from actually doing, and they remember what they've learned because of their new accomplishment, it's always far beyond what they thought they could do! They achieve and grow by doing and then eating what they've cooked and through sharing". (Some kids have become the family "go to" person for shortbread or muffins or spaghetti bolognaise because of the lovely life skills they learned in Trish's classes).

I find the same thing with Christianity. It's also like friendships which mature by doing and sharing life and thoughts with others, and growing together.

So with Jesus. Christianity is not really a religion. Sure it's spiritual and to do with God, but it's so very relational! Jesus is so real to me. We know from recorded history that He lived and worked miracles and was crucified and then was seen alive by at least 500 people. Jesus rose from death and is alive today. Jesus, God, Son of God, Emanuel, God with us, man (made like you and me in God's image and likeness).

I've learned to give Jesus time and conversation and silence (quiet time) so that I'm present when He speaks to me, or even whispers, or gives me an encouraging (spiritual) punch on my arm or a warm hand on my shoulder.

The Bible makes it clear that the Christian church is Jesus' bride, and that each Christian is His betrothed. That is, you and I are promised to Jesus in marriage .. I find this awesome and exciting. It also makes me realise that even if I think I'm pretty small potatoes, and a bit of a mess up in many areas of life, Jesus thinks I'm wonderful enough to want to marry me! Believe me, any wonderfulness in me comes from Him!

All this implies a big degree of intimacy and that's the "in their image" connection. Even from Genesis Chapter 1 we can see intimacy within the God-head:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  And God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light" (Genesis 1:1-3).

The original Bible language calls God "Elohim" which is a plural word and includes Father God, the Son Jesus and Holy Spirit. In these verses Father announces the launch of all Creation. Jesus creates and is light, He brings light to the cosmos, and Holy Spirit fills it all with life and order. (The sun, moon and stars were not created until the fourth day!) Later in the Bible we learn that "God is spirit" (John 4:24) and "God is love" (1 John 4:16), but already we see a tight and inclusive fellowship.

Favourite Bible Verses
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you" (Jesus' words in John 15:15).

Friends
No wonder Jesus wants us to be His friends, it's who He is. Not only did He bring us to Father God and ask that we be made sons and daughters and to be included in their family, their big plan is that we are also to be included in the intimacy and understanding of ruling and reigning, and being stewards of everything on the earth; participating with Jesus in His continuing, and vast, ministry here.

Friends. Beloved. Betrothed. Saved. Empowered. Healed. Us! All over the world. Millions and millions of us. He is so generous, and kind, and patient!

The word "rejoice" is often in the Bible and in those old church songs; I can see how surely it belongs there. At a big praise meeting a year or so ago we were taught the song "My Dad is the best Dad in the whole world". Well, a song in my heart is: "My friend Jesus is the best friend in the whole world .. in the whole world". That's a great comfort to me .. I don't easily make friends ..

Jesus My Friend And Saviour
Here's a true story about my friend Jesus:
For more than 20 years I had a sometimes irregular heart beat. This was called Atrial Fibrillation and dramatically increased my chance of developing a blood clot and bringing on a stroke or other awful thing. AF patients have to take blood thinners and other medications.

For many of my illnesses I go to public clinics at our city's biggest teaching hospital, Royal Perth. There I was assigned to one of Australia's top cardiologists; he's on the heart transplant team. Mostly the clinic patients like me see registrars, not the top person who oversees and reviews; a registrar is a qualified doctor who is learning the skills of a specialist and may have another three years to go before having his or her own patients. One day a registrar told me I was to have a cardioversion; they would put me under general anesthetic and apply a substantial shock to my heart (using the metal paddles you see on TV hospital shows, where they shout "clear" just before the electric jolt makes the patient's body jump about). This procedure has shown good results with people like me.

Well, my hospital booking and pre-admission instructions arrived and I followed them to the letter. I arrived at Royal Perth on time and full of confidence, I believed that prayers (many, over 20+ years!) were being answered. Soon I was prepped and ready.

It seemed very strange then, as I was being wheeled to the cardiac operating theatres, that I should feel real fear. "Jesus", I prayed under my breath, "I'm afraid, why am I suddenly so scared?" Immediately I was aware that Jesus was walking alongside, He was relaxed, smiling love at me; He didn’t speak but I knew not to be afraid, He had everything in His hands. Then I was in a reception area, nurses were bustling about and doing people's notes. I'd found a magazine and was absorbed in a great recipe, I planned to memorise it and cook it for my family. Despite my concentration I clearly heard one nurse say to another, "his INR level is 2.3", and their conversation continued.

Why I then spoke I cannot tell you, but I know that dear Holy Spirit prompted me. There were several patients there that day, and likely all of them, except me, would have INR (blood thin-ness) levels well over 2.0. I found myself saying, "is that INR level of 2.3 for me?" Yes, it was. "But my instructions clearly told me to stop taking blood thinners 5 days ago, my INR will be about 1.5 or 1.6".

"O that can't be", replied the nurse, "your instructions would never have told you to stop your medication before a cardioversion!"

Pandemonium ensued. A brand new register was told to take blood from my arm so they could test the INR. He was shaking with fear at this responsibility and I had to ask him to step away. The nurse became impatient and told me I had to have this test ..

Eventually a very nice young man appeared by my gurney and asked what was up. This was the famous heart transplant cardiac surgeon whom I was meeting for the first time. He asked for the instructions I'd been sent. "They are pinned to the calendar in our kitchen, I can bring them in later if you like". My procedure that day was cancelled; it would have been extremely dangerous to go ahead when my INR was so low, I could have been paralysed or even died. Subsequently I had a cardioversion which went well but did not fix my AF; that is a longer story, but reflects extended blessing from this incident. My AF is now healed.

My lovely cardiac doctor had me bring the erroneous instructions to the hospital. He commenced a departmental review so that in future all pre-admission instructions would be labelled and managed in an improved fail-safe manner.

So my life was saved? I believe so. Saved by Jesus, who, by His Spirit, interrupted my recipe reading and told me to speak to the nurses. So simple. No wonder He smiled at me earlier .. He was planning to make some profound good come out of a potential tragedy!

I think of Jesus as my friend, He has my back, He looks out for me all the time. Not everything in my life or our family is perfect, and I still have serious health issues, but I have lots of vitality and I'm filled and surrounded by faith and hope and love .. Grace upon grace ..

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.