2007
The Cross Roads
02/12/07 11:19
I had this picture of the cross that came with a revelation that was amplified and confirmed as I lay in bed reading 'The Shack'. I saw the cross as two paths of direction, like 2 roads, the vertical and the horizontal. The vertical clearly spoke of our relationship with God, our communication with Him. The horizontal speaks of our communication with each other. The two of them are crucial and together make the cross. It's not one without the other and it's not about prioritizing one over the other. They both must happen. The two commandments so often quoted, "Love God with all your heart, soul and strength" and "Love your neighbour as yourself fit in perfectly to this picture of the cross, where Jesus, son of God and son of man, demonstrated love and showed us what it is. The love of God must flow both ways, from us to God, God to us and to and from our brothers and sisters, to one another. God is love and he who lives in God lives in love.
I'll quote a little section of The Shack:
Holy Spirit says: "The trouble with living by priorities is that everything is a hierarchy ...If you put God at the top what does that really mean and how much is enough? How much time do you give me before you can go about the rest of your day, the part that interests you so much more"
Papa says: You see, I don't just want a piece of you and a piece of your life, even if you were able, which you're not, to give me the biggest piece, that's not what I want. I want all of you and every part of your day.
Jesus spoke: I don't want to be your first among a list of values. I want to be at the centre of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than a pyramid, I want to be at the centre of a mobile, where everything in your life, your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities i s connected to me, but moves with the wind (Holy Spirit), in and out, back and forth, in an incredible dance of being.
So basically I feel this extract from The Shack helped bring some clarity to this sense that I have of the cross being all encompassing and this unity of us in Him, Him in us, living through every breath, not in a 'religious' compartment of our life but in all. With this in mind, while not using it as an excuse to avoid focused prayer, I find liberty from falling into condemnation for not 'praying' enough. Our efforts can never be enough. To pray continually (24/7) would be impossible in that way but if all I am is His and I live and move and have my being in Him, then every breath I take is in Him and nothing separates me from His love and presence.
I'll quote a little section of The Shack:
Holy Spirit says: "The trouble with living by priorities is that everything is a hierarchy ...If you put God at the top what does that really mean and how much is enough? How much time do you give me before you can go about the rest of your day, the part that interests you so much more"
Papa says: You see, I don't just want a piece of you and a piece of your life, even if you were able, which you're not, to give me the biggest piece, that's not what I want. I want all of you and every part of your day.
Jesus spoke: I don't want to be your first among a list of values. I want to be at the centre of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than a pyramid, I want to be at the centre of a mobile, where everything in your life, your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities i s connected to me, but moves with the wind (Holy Spirit), in and out, back and forth, in an incredible dance of being.
So basically I feel this extract from The Shack helped bring some clarity to this sense that I have of the cross being all encompassing and this unity of us in Him, Him in us, living through every breath, not in a 'religious' compartment of our life but in all. With this in mind, while not using it as an excuse to avoid focused prayer, I find liberty from falling into condemnation for not 'praying' enough. Our efforts can never be enough. To pray continually (24/7) would be impossible in that way but if all I am is His and I live and move and have my being in Him, then every breath I take is in Him and nothing separates me from His love and presence.
Comments
The rhythm of God
12/05/07 11:18
12 May
The rhythm of God
Here are some thoughts that came on an early morning walk with God while the sun rose…
The rhythm of God. Keep in step with the rhythm of God, walk with Him and flow with Him, step by step by step, breath by breath, moment by moment. Appreciate the moments… the light on the green leaves as the day awakens, the sound of the birds singing, the magical colours reflecting on the peaceful waters, the reflection of the sky, the warmth of the rising sun, the people walking by, each with their own peculiar ways, distinctive things, unique only to themselves, individually crafted by the Creator.
As I climbed the hill and pondered upon the distance I had walked another revelation came to my mind…
Step by step, one at a time and you’ll get there. Don’t look at the destination and see how far you have to go, that can be discouraging, just walk in the rhythm of God, the rhythm of life, live in the ‘now’. It brought to mind the words of Jesus, “Don’t worry about tomorrow”. We don’t need to have it all figured out and know all that lies ahead… Faith, trust and putting our feet forward one step at a time.
‘What about being transported in the Spirit?’ flashed through my mind… God can do that if He wants, but it’s His work by His Spirit and it’s rarely the way we reach our destination. Mostly it’s a walk and the journey is rich, not always pleasing but always something to learn, absorb into our spirits, meditate on and communicate our meditations to God.
It’s a prayer walk, life is like a prayer walk, no wonder Paul said ‘pray continually’… always online with our Maker, walking in step with the Lover of our souls who came to earth to walk among us, by our side. What a wonderful journey this is and what a glorious destination, beyond my comprehension.
The rhythm of God
Here are some thoughts that came on an early morning walk with God while the sun rose…
The rhythm of God. Keep in step with the rhythm of God, walk with Him and flow with Him, step by step by step, breath by breath, moment by moment. Appreciate the moments… the light on the green leaves as the day awakens, the sound of the birds singing, the magical colours reflecting on the peaceful waters, the reflection of the sky, the warmth of the rising sun, the people walking by, each with their own peculiar ways, distinctive things, unique only to themselves, individually crafted by the Creator.
As I climbed the hill and pondered upon the distance I had walked another revelation came to my mind…
Step by step, one at a time and you’ll get there. Don’t look at the destination and see how far you have to go, that can be discouraging, just walk in the rhythm of God, the rhythm of life, live in the ‘now’. It brought to mind the words of Jesus, “Don’t worry about tomorrow”. We don’t need to have it all figured out and know all that lies ahead… Faith, trust and putting our feet forward one step at a time.
‘What about being transported in the Spirit?’ flashed through my mind… God can do that if He wants, but it’s His work by His Spirit and it’s rarely the way we reach our destination. Mostly it’s a walk and the journey is rich, not always pleasing but always something to learn, absorb into our spirits, meditate on and communicate our meditations to God.
It’s a prayer walk, life is like a prayer walk, no wonder Paul said ‘pray continually’… always online with our Maker, walking in step with the Lover of our souls who came to earth to walk among us, by our side. What a wonderful journey this is and what a glorious destination, beyond my comprehension.
Houses of Prayer
03/04/07 11:15
so what exactly is the point of this ihopmalta thing? 24/7 prayer? constant prayer and worship in a building somewhere in Malta? Well, I've been meditating on this and while i like the idea of that and hope for a day it will manifest in Malta, I see something else going on...
His house, His temple, is no doubt, a house of prayer... and we are no doubt, His house, His temple, the dwelling place of the living God here on earth. I believe God is raising up a people who carry the burning flame of His love, full of passion and devotion for their King... mobilized houses of prayer that live in the presence of God, in communion with Him, as a way of life.
I have found a lot of my own times of intercession take place while i'm driving my car, worshiping my Father with singing and groanings of the heart, prompted by His Spirit within. So wherever we go, we can usher in His Kingdom and wherever we come together, we can join hearts and amplify the power of that. I'm thinking, more than a specific place of prayer and worship, He wants a people, an army of warriors that have their faces set like flint to His will being done in our lives and on earth as it is in Heaven.
Having said all that, I am still very keen on seeing focused gatherings of prayer and worship, more and more and more... until His Glory covers the earth.
His house, His temple, is no doubt, a house of prayer... and we are no doubt, His house, His temple, the dwelling place of the living God here on earth. I believe God is raising up a people who carry the burning flame of His love, full of passion and devotion for their King... mobilized houses of prayer that live in the presence of God, in communion with Him, as a way of life.
I have found a lot of my own times of intercession take place while i'm driving my car, worshiping my Father with singing and groanings of the heart, prompted by His Spirit within. So wherever we go, we can usher in His Kingdom and wherever we come together, we can join hearts and amplify the power of that. I'm thinking, more than a specific place of prayer and worship, He wants a people, an army of warriors that have their faces set like flint to His will being done in our lives and on earth as it is in Heaven.
Having said all that, I am still very keen on seeing focused gatherings of prayer and worship, more and more and more... until His Glory covers the earth.
The Kingdom
28/03/07 11:12
As I lay in bed this morning after hearing the Word on dailyaudiobible.com I was meditating on the community of believers around the world that tune in to it and couldn't help but think about the Kingdom of God... a Kingdom that in reality is without dividing walls... a Kingdom of hearts that have fallen in Love with the Lion and the Lamb, our Heavenly Bridegroom, King Jesus.
I thought, when yielded hearts can simply come together under the banner of the Love of God, and the Word of God, with the knowledge that they don't have all the answers right, and that we all fit together as a body with our giftings, callings and destinies to be fulfilled...then we see the true unity of the body of Christ, reflecting Jesus on earth.
There is only one Kingdom of God and only one King. The unity of the Kingdom starts in the heart of each of us. It's a choice to love, to humble ourselves and to be poured out for others.
Oh, how I love the Kingdom! Oh, how I love the King! Let's embrace Him and allow His pure river of Life to flow through our lives and give life, hope, healing and freedom to the desperate souls we encounter.
I thought, when yielded hearts can simply come together under the banner of the Love of God, and the Word of God, with the knowledge that they don't have all the answers right, and that we all fit together as a body with our giftings, callings and destinies to be fulfilled...then we see the true unity of the body of Christ, reflecting Jesus on earth.
There is only one Kingdom of God and only one King. The unity of the Kingdom starts in the heart of each of us. It's a choice to love, to humble ourselves and to be poured out for others.
Oh, how I love the Kingdom! Oh, how I love the King! Let's embrace Him and allow His pure river of Life to flow through our lives and give life, hope, healing and freedom to the desperate souls we encounter.