Thoughts

Thoughts

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."   Proverbs 23:7

Let's try a little self analysis. Ask yourself:

* What do I think of myself?
* What do I think about situations I meet on a daily basis?
* What do I think in general?

Our thoughts can control our day and life if we allow them too. We can have mental battles in our heads, followed by conversations that are potentially dangerous to relationships and life in general.
However, it's all in our heads but if we begin to believe it, we are sucked into thinking that it is really happening. It can be anything from what a person thinks about you to a marital relationship.

Romans 12:2 tells us that we need to renew our minds. This literally means, changing the way we think and what we focus on. It is seeing things differently and changing our perspective.

Philippians 4:8 reads:
"Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things."

Basically this scripture is leading us to think about Jesus because He has all of these characteristics and more. Just stop and think for a moment, if God was to write a report about your thoughts, how would they read? Would it be a good report or an embarrassing one?
Think, can I honestly say that what God finds in my mind is of a good report? If not, then perhaps this is the place to start work by renewing the mind Romans 12:2.

It is very possible to turn things around - to change things. However, it starts with changing our focus and perception; changing how we think and act and having the determination to succeed.

God thinks you're a nice person. He loves you more than words could ever say. He always thinks the best of you. Therefore, He is on your side and wants to help you change things around.

Start right now. Draw near to Jesus. His arms are open wide.

Blessings are coming

Blessings are coming

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think - according to the power that works in us; to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."    Ephesians 3:20 - 21

Read and meditate on these two verses. Let them speak to you and feed you. Pick the bones out of them and then chew them over in your mind. God is speaking to you. He can and is willing to do more than you could ever imagine but it is according to the faith we have; it is according to how much we let Him into our lives and let Him have His way with us. It is according to what we believe He can do. You may be praying for something very important right now. Do you believe God can do it? Do you believe that he wants to do it? Do you believe He loves you enough to do it for you? Of course he does. However, He is not a glorified Father Christmas, giving us everything we've ever wanted - a new house, car, more money than we have ever dreamed of or the finest designer clothes and shoes that we have only seen on the television or in a film. Of course he can do all of this, but He is interested in your needs not your wants.

I believe God is saying to His church:
* Get into place
* Let Me bless you
* I long to bless you
* Forget your pain-riddled history. There's a turnaround coming.
   Forget the confusion of the past. You have and can carry answers to your community

God is in control - if you put Him there. He is your provider - no one else.
Thank Him for all he has done. For the times he has rescued you from certain disaster. Thank Him for keeping your marriage together. Thank Him for your home, your family, your health - even if some fine tuning needs to be done there. Believe He can and wants to do it.

Get into place and let Him bless you

Bartimaeus

22 January 2019

Bartimaeus.  (Mark 10:46 - 52)
Jesus was becoming very popular and wherever He went, He drew crowds. Some wanting Him to meet their needs and heal them; some curious and wanting to see what all the fuss was about; and then, the people who were against Him and wanted to stir up trouble wherever they went. Nothing has really changed today when you think about it, except that Jesus doesn't walk around the area like He was here.

There was a young chap called Bartimaeus. He had been blind from birth and was like an outcast. he couldn't work because of his disability so He had to beg, as no one else was there to really care for Him. He had heard the stories about Jesus and excitement was beginning build within him at the news that He was visiting his area. He sat  the side of the road waiting.

To be born blind in Jesus' day was thought to be the result of sin within the family, either the parents or the child. (John 9:2ff.) Bartimaeus therefore, had little going for himself and no one loved him or cared what happened to him. There are many in our day and age who also fit into this category - people with certain addictions, ex forces and ex prisoners to name but a few. This is one of the reasons why our streets are occupied by homeless people. They are the misfits of our society. When I was pastoring a certain church, we used to have many of them visit us at our day centre and thereafter, at our services. I was asked if I would consider having two services, one for the church members and one for the 'Down and outs.' I told this person that if they could show me in the bible where Jesus was reported to have done this, I would consider it. Obviously that finished the conversation.

Jesus was here. Bartimaeus jumped to his feet when he heard that Jesus was walking by. He knew this was his only chance and he was going to take it. 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.' He kept shouting this over and over, despite people around him telling him to be quiet. Then the moment came he had been dreaming about. Jesus heard him and called him to come forward. Bartimaeus ran over to Him, leaving his cloak behind, possibly his only possession. Jesus asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He replied 'Rabboni - which means My Great One - that I may see.' Jesus told him, 'Go your way, your faith has made you well.' Immediately his sight was restored and he chose to follow Jesus.

Life would never be the same again for him. He had been healed - I know that feeling so well, see my testimony - he had called on Jesus and scripture was fulfilled, 'For whoever calls upon the name of the lord shall be saved.'  Romans 10:13. God is a God of the second chance.

Do you need a touch from Jesus? Are you sick? Do you believe Jesus can deal with this - that is the condition, faith. Why not get on your knees and cry out to Him now and listen for those lovely words, 'What do you want me to do for you?'

'Lord Jesus, I call out to You today. I want to be well, please heal me. Amen'

Send me, I'll go

21 January 2019

Send me, I'll go.   (Isaiah 6:1 - 9)
In this passage, we read about the calling of Isaiah who was to become a prophet for God. Isaiah saw the Lord. Now whether this was in a dream or in reality we don't really know. What we do know is that God certainly called him. The description of Heaven is amazing, with angels flying around and worshipping God and shouting,

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory". (Verse 3).
Now, if you ever thought that Heaven was a peaceful, serene place, think again. Verse 4 tells us,

"And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out and the house was filled with smoke."
Now that rules out the average church that we're used to. When they worship in Heaven they have a blast and one day, if we know Him as Lord and Saviour, we will witness this.

Throughout this world, people hear the call of God and devote their lives to serving Him. Some become vicars and pastors. Others nuns, chaplains and padres. Most dedicate the whole of their working lives to this calling.
The thing is, God isn't just looking for this type of servant. He is also very interested in ordinary people just like us. People who will carry on with their careers but include Jesus in it. Many are policemen, HM Forces personnel, bank clerks and managers, even refuse collectors. No one is excluded from God's plans to serve Him.

We  don't all need to serve God in such an official way. He is calling us all to: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15. Not everyone attends church on a Sunday but most go to work each day or we have neighbours who have all types of needs. We are in the harvest field and God wants to use us by getting alongside people who may have marital problems, financial worries and general problems in their lives. Just getting to know them and being a listener can open the door to bringing Jesus into their situation. You don't have to be a bible student or carry around the biggest bible you can find. You just need to be available for God to use you.

Perhaps, you're thinking of someone at this moment who is having a rough time. Why not get alongside them, without rushing in like a bull in a china shop spouting off all types of scriptures to them. No, why not just let them see Jesus in you by being their friend at this time.
Go on, Jesus will help you.

Why are you still worrying

20 January 2019

Why are you still worrying
Sometimes we worry about things that we can do nothing about. If you can change the situation, then fine, go along and do that. However, if there is nothing you can do, then all worrying about it will do is to make you ill.
Jesus told us not to worry:

"Therefore do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  Read the whole passage in Matthew 6:25 - 34.

In verse 33 note He says, 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.'

Jesus said not to worry. Therefore when we do the opposite of what He tells us, are we not in disobedience? Kenneth Copeland says that, 'Worry is the conclusion of believing the lies of the devil. It brings fear.' Think about that statement for a moment. Fear is the opposite of faith. If we are worrying about this, that and the other and we belong to Jesus, firstly we are not obeying Him and secondly we are in error because we are getting entangled in a web of lies and fear that the evil one is trying to put us under.
Fear unhooks us from faith and the supernatural. It puts us in bondage to the natural realm. We begin to feel defeated, that there is no point, that it's all going to go wrong or that answer to prayer will not come. But we're not defeated. We belong to Jesus, the King of kings. He has the final say in whatever happens. He is the miracle worker.

'God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' Philippians 2:9 - 11.

Worry has a name, so it has to bow the knee to Jesus. Fear has a name so that too must bow to Jesus. What I'm saying here is that we are not defeated. We belong to a miracle working God. As we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Verse 33), He will change the situation. However, you must believe He will. He has the final say.
So stop that worrying and turn to Jesus and trust Him to change whatever it is that has gone wrong.

'Lord I come to You and confess that I've been worrying about..................................................
Lord I realise that I can do nothing, but I know You can because You're the miracle worker.
Lord I give my worry and concern to You. Amen'

Stop Complaining

19 January 2019

Stop Complaining

Philippians 2:14 reads: 

"Do all things without complaining and disputing."

In other words, stop being a whinge bag, arguing all of the time. When we act like this, we end up hurting:

* Yourself   Complaing leads to anger and depression

* God.         Complaining questions God's care for us; His character and His competence. We're 

                    basically telling God that, "You blew it Lord. You had Your chance to fulfil my demands

                    and You chose not to. (This is dodgy ground to place yourself on)

* Others.    Your words affect people around you and no one wants to spend time with a moaner.

                    Complaining changes nothing. You explain your pain for no gain and raise your blood

                    pressure too.

                    Perhaps you didn't start out as a complainer; you became that way. but by God's Grace 

                    you can become a thanks-giver.

                    Stop the habit of complaining  - NOW! "Don't use foul or abusive language . Let 

                    everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to 

                    those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29    New Living Translation

Watch what comes out of your mouth. Sometimes the mouth can erupt when we're not in control of it, especially when one is driving. If you're anything like me, I own the road and feel others shouldn't be on it. But I've had to learn to share this and Zip my Lip.

Have you got a short fuse? Perhaps now is the time to sort it out and bring this to Jesus.

Fear and Anxiety

18 January 2019

Fear and Anxiety

"You will keep him in Perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on You, 
Because he trusts in You."   Isaiah 26:3

"Perfect Peace, means Shalom, Shalom, a Hebrew method of putting great emphasis on a word. Shalom implies - health, well - being, happiness and peace. The word translated 'Mind' is not the usual Hebrew word but means 'Creative imagination.' Isaiah's thoughts that he whose creative imagination, the seat of plans and ideas, is firmly founded on the eternal Lord, will enjoy Shalom in all its implications."  (Data paraphrased from the Spirit Filled Bible).

As we focus on fear - just the thought of it, we can begin to be affected by it. Even though we may  not be going through any particular situation concerning a fearful element, we can suffer fear as if we were. It's all in the mind, and if we allow it, the mind can play havoc. Kenneth Copeland's Grandfather once said:

'If we allow the devil into the back seat of the car, pretty soon he's gonna want to drive.'

Think about that statement for a moment. If we allow the devil into our lives - our thoughts, he will soon get us thinking and doing the things we should not be thinking and doing.

Focusing our minds on Jesus can bring relief to a fearful situation, thus diminishing our anxiety levels. Focus your mind on Jesus and allow Him to give you Shalom, Shalom - Perfect Peace.