Waiting

Waiting...

There are some things in my life I feel I have been waiting forever for. And sometimes I think, maybe this will never happen. On days like this I take courage from this passage in Isaiah 30:18-23

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.
He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right—everything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he'll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road." ...

God will provide rain for the seeds you sow. The grain that grows will be abundant. Your cattle will range far and wide. Oblivious to war and earthquake, the oxen and donkeys you use for hauling and plowing will be fed well near running brooks that flow freely from mountains and hills. Better yet, on the Day God heals his people of the wounds and bruises from the time of punishment, moonlight will flare into sunlight, and sunlight, like a whole week of sunshine at once, will flood the land.

Waiting produces great fruit in our lives. Patience. Kindness. Compassion. There is nothing a person can do to speed things up. The best thing we can do is to relinquish every way we would try to force God’s hand to produce the answer, and just rest in Him. He will do it in His time. And Eternity is time enough.

New Beginnings

I love this time of the year. Whilst I know my friends and family in the Northern Hemisphere are going into autumn and experiencing the first hints of a winter chill, we have Spring in September where I am. Heady Jasmine fragrance fills the air, and there are new flowers and buds everywhere.

It always reminds me of romance, and that wonderful verse in Song of Songs: 

Look around you: Winter is over;
the winter rains are over, gone!
Spring flowers are in blossom all over.
The whole world's a choir—and singing!
Spring warblers are filling the forest
with sweet arpeggios.
Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,
and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. (Song of Songs 2:11-13)MB

New beginnings. Fresh oil. Fresh anointing, blessings, joy, new life, flowers and buds, bliss, rejuvenation, re-awakening, revival, renewal, energise, invigorate, excitement, refreshing.

Which leads my thoughts to one of the most powerful sentences in the Book of Acts, spoken by Peter:

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return to God, that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 TAB.

We need this. New beginnings. Yes we do!

Moving mountains

Cathedral Peak mountain range, Drakensberg, South Africa

Yesterday someone gave me a scripture linked to a prophetic word which made me research deeper into what God’s Word says about removing obstacles from our path. It could be that you need a financial or business breakthrough, or a healing, or a relationship issue resolved. All of these things can seem to be like a mountain, or like a solid metal gate that we cannot pass through. But God! My faith is strengthened and built up by meditating on these verses:

And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake 1 Kings 19:11

Is not My word like fire that consumes all that cannot endure the test? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock of most stubborn resistance? Jeremiah 23:27

I will go before you and level the mountains to make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name. Isaiah 45:2-3

For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart. Psalm 107:16

Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23

You cannot actually meditate on a verse if you don’t memorise it. The secret is to memorise it, and then to speak it out, often, during the day. Once memorized, you don’t need a piece of paper or Bible to help you. You can pull that verse back into your mind anytime you want to. In Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 2:8 God says we should meditate on His Word day and night. That word meditate from the original Hebrew means to utter, mutter, speak, moan, imagine, muse, roar, growl, groan. This is Biblical meditation. What I love is it is something real and tangible and practical that I can DO.

There is an amazing story of Simon the Tanner who moved the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo Egypt some time between 972AD and 975AD recorded here in Wikipedia.

Nothing is impossible to those who believe. So let’s move the mountains! Do it.

Thoughts Create Things

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Wisdom rests silently in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of self-confident fools is made known. He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. (Proverbs 23:7 Proverbs 16:32 Proverbs 14:33 Proverbs 25:28) 

The direction of our lives can be determined depending on our thoughts. If you are in turmoil, and your mind is agitated, confused or distracted, you cannot control your circumstances. You cannot do it if you don’t control your heart and mind. Whatever you think in your mind, it will happen in heaven, so it could well be a matter of life or death for us to control our mind, taking every thought captive. The power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and what we focus on and spend time dwelling on in our thoughts will eventually manifest in our words and and in the circumstances of our lives.. If we create a positive atmosphere around us, with positive thoughts, mind and heart, we will attract beauty into our lives, and good and beautiful things will start to happen.

Radical Prayer

There is a secret in life that if we are able to do it, will unlock treasure in our lives. I have a friend who manages to put in many hours of training for triathlons beyond a normal working day. If we have a desire to achieve greatness in some area, we will set aside the time, energy and training required to make it a reality. I know that it is possible. I have not stopped thinking about this since I first read this testimony from Jaeson Ma on Prayer~

From Jaeson's website:

In November of last year I spoke at one of the largest churches in the world in South Korea. After I had spoken my first session from the pulpit, the Sr. Pastor rebuked me personally by saying, “Young man you don’t pray enough!” I was convicted when hearing this, although I do pray 1-2 hours a day, I knew the Sr. Pastor was challenging me to go beyond my norm. He then said, “If you pray 1 hour a day you can survive. 2 hours a day you can have a ministry. 6 hours a day God can use you to change a country. 8 hours a day and God can use to shake the nations!” After he said this, he made me promise him I would pray 6 hours a day when I returned back home to America. I did my best, but to no avail. I’ll be honest I haven’t been praying 6 hours a day since that challenge from the Sr. Pastor Yoon.

A few weeks after I returned from South Korea with this personal challenge to pray 6-8 hours a day I had a prophetic dream. In the dream the same Sr. Pastor walks up to me. He says to me, “Young man do you know the key to how I started this great church and ministry? The key is that I actually have a full time day job. I work 8 hours a day at another occupation while leading this great ministry.” I said, “How is it possible that you can work at another occupation 8 hours a day and still run this incredible ministry?” What is your occupation? Pastor Yoon then said to me, “My day time occupation is that I am a farmer. I sow and plant seeds 8 hours a day!” The dream ends.

When I woke up from this dream I knew the clear meaning and interpretation. This Sr. Pastor’s key to having such a great church and fruitful ministry was that he sowed seeds of prayer 8 hours a day. The occupation and priority of prayer was his ministry and the key to his success in obeying God by living a dedicated and disciplined lifestyle of radical prayer. Again, I was convicted about this and begin to ask the Holy Spirit to confirm my path to a disciplined life of 8 hours of prayer a day.

Amazing Provision

I lived in Cape Town for a season. During this time I shared a house with a friend, Belinda. Every week, on a Friday, she would invite people from the local community to a stunning meal which she would prepare with grace and imagination. Belinda is an amazing cook, and she always managed to turn each meal into a festive celebration of life. But this particular week, the money had run out. Literally. I said to her, ok, let’s trust God. I know that when you pray, you need to be very specific in your requests. So we prayed according to Mark 11:23 ..whatever you ask for in prayer, believe – trust and be confident – that it is granted to you, and you will get it. We asked for provision for a stunning roast chicken and vegetables home cooked meal. In faith, we actually invited all the guests and told them to be there at 6pm on Friday for dinner.

It had been raining heavily for at least 3 days, but on the Thursday, I walked out to the postbox at the gate, and found a thick sodden envelope posted to me by my sister in England. Inside the envelope were six soggy R100 notes (about $100 at the time)! Enough to create the most spectacular meal for our Friday night celebration meal. The envelope must have been sitting in the post box for 3 days, it was so wet. My sister had said she didn’t get to change her currency at the airport so posted it to me. Well, frankly, it was a miracle the envelope wasn’t stolen on the way (which happens 99% of the time). But it reminded me of the verse “Before you called, I answered” because the answer to our prayer was already on its way at the time we prayed. This is that verse in the New Living Translation: I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24. 

Amazing.

Despair and hope

Knysna Waterfront, South Africa

At one time I found myself in a place of darkness and deep despair. I had lost everything. The circumstances were such that I had actually PUT myself there, but everything I’d done I really thought was under the direction and leading of the Lord. I’d sold my car, wound down a business I’d been running (although not completely), I’d moved cities, believing a new opportunity was on the horizon. And then I hit a wall. Everything I’d believed would transpire, fell apart. Nothing turned out as I expected. I found myself feeling destitute, unsure of where to live, and what to do. And I’d completely lost the confidence I once had firstly in actually hearing God, and secondly in my abilities to achieve anything at all in life. 

Around that time, I received a phone call completely out of the blue from an old friend whom I hadn’t seen or spoken to for at least 10 years. He said, I heard what happened. But the night before, God had given him a dream about me. And a scripture. He said, God says, where you are right now is EXACTLY the place He wants you to be. There is no mistake. And the verse was Isaiah 46:11 “Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man Cyrus who executes my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, and I will do it.” 

I knew this verse meant that all the promises God had given me previously would still materialize. Cyrus was the Babylonian king who provided all the Gold to God’s people for the rebuilding of the Temple when they were released from exile. For me, this translated into a promise for my own life from God that HE would provide everything I need to fulfil the purposes and promises He has given and destined for my life, and that He could do that in unexpected ways and from unexpected sources. It was a dramatic moment of great encouragement, and strengthened me for the journey at the time.

One more time

Fisherman on Wilderness Beach, South Africa

This is a prophetic word by Garris Elkins, published on Elijahlist. I give the link to the whole word at the end in case you would like to read it:


Recently, I was reflecting on Luke 5 where Jesus calls Simon to follow Him after he and his friends had fished all night and caught nothing. As I read the text, I thought of all who are now struggling with the implications of the global financial downturn and its effect on so many. People are doing their best to make things work, but their nets are coming back empty.

In this text Jesus took Peter back out into the deep waters where he had failed to catch anything the previous night. What followed was a supernatural harvest that caused those watching to be both awestruck and amazed at what they were seeing. As I reflected on this event I heard the Lord say to me, "Tell them to try it again – I am in the boat." I knew the Lord was asking me to encourage people who are living under the weight of financial despair without the hope of a new future.

As I prayed, I was hit with a deep sense of despair – I was literally carrying the pain of others. I asked the Lord what this was all about. His love was letting me feel what was taking place in the lives of people so I could speak words of hope fueled by His compassion.


Jesus Revealed Himself and His Abundance in Their Lack so They Could Trust Him With Their Future

Two thousand years ago a small group of fishermen, soon to become the first disciples of Jesus, were in a similar situation that some find themselves in today. Simon and his friends had fished all night and caught nothing. What worked before was not working. These men were about to be called to follow Jesus into a new season of life, but first the Lord needed to reveal Himself and His abundance to them in the midst of their current lack so they could trust Him with their future.

Read the whole word here on Elijahlist - Words 

Rare and Beautiful Treasures

I furnished my first home by turning scriptures into decrees:

By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures. (Proverbs 24:3-4) NIV

Daily, and several times a day I would say, thank you God that my house is built through wisdom and established through understanding, I thank you that through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. I have expensive tastes. Within 6 months, my home was filled with the most beautiful furniture and fittings, of a level that I would not have been able to afford in the natural through income I was receiving at the time. God opened the way miraculously for these things to happen. 

God seems to be reminding me once again to speak the Word of God over the circumstances that seem contrary to what the Word of God says or those situations which appear to be in contradiction to the Promises of God for my life.

(As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations in the sight of God in Whom he believed,) Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that He has foretold and promised as if they already existed. Romans 4:17 TAB 

We are made in the image of God. So we do as He does. He created the earth with His words. We CREATE (or destroy) with our words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Proverbs 18:21 TAB 

Amen

Manifesting the Unseen Future

Airbus A380 at ORT International, Johannesburg

Last night I dreamed I climbed onto a white aeroplane midair with a pilot. The plane had neither passengers nor crew and we were going to the front, the cockpit, to fly the plane. The pilot was taking the left seat and I was taking the co-pilot’s seat.


I was amazed at the interpretation although I suppose I shouldn’t be since this is what God is speaking about to me at the moment. From Hennie van Niekerk’s book ‘Interpreting Dreams and Visions’ Vol.1 p.118: “An aeroplane can symbolize our faith in the fulfillment of the prophetic (rhema) word of God. We have experienced that an aeroplane landing symbolizes a prophetic word that comes into fulfillment.” 

In my dream we were taking control of flying the plane in order to land it safely. I believe the captain (pilot) was the Holy Spirit and I would be the one actually flying the plane under His Guidance and Direction. From Hennie’s book: “As an aeroplane has time to reach its destiny, prophetic revelation also has a time to reach its goal. There is actually a responsibility for this plane before it lands. This speaks of our responsibility to maintain our faith in God’s prophetic word so that our destiny can be reached.”

This all ties in with God’s instructions on manifesting the prophetic via prophetic declarations and decrees, vocalizing to the atmosphere on a continual basis that which GOD has said, until that which is dead comes back to life and manifests in the earthly realm. Wow.

The plane was all white (no markings) which is also significant: He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:5 NKJ So the dream was an exhortation to be an overcomer: we need to continue to do this, to declare the Promises of God and the prophetic words over our lives until the manifestation of God’s truth, until the unseen reality shows up as fact. You can find more specific ways of doing that in "Raising the Dead".

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality; faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. Hebrews 11: 1 TAB

Hennie van Niekerk's 3 volumes "Interpreting Dreams and Visions" are available only from the Publisher. I have found them to be the best books of everything "out there" on dream interpretation. Let me know if you'd like contact details under "Comments".

God’s Secrets

God loves to share his Secrets with us. Today I thought it would be good to meditate on what the Word says about God's secret’s..

• The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law.
• Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know-do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand. 
• And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! 
• The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.
• HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
• And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name.
• He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him!
• Daniel answered the king, The [mysterious] secret which the king has demanded neither the wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor astrologers can show the king, But there is a God in heaven Who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that shall be in the latter days (at the end of days). Your dream and the visions in your head upon your bed are these: As for you, O king, as you were lying upon your bed thoughts came into your mind about what should come to pass hereafter, and He Who reveals secrets was making known to you what shall come to pass.
• The king answered Daniel, Of a truth your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a Revealer of secret mysteries, seeing that you could reveal this secret mystery!
• Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.
• To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
• He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend.
• What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny]. 

References (The Amplified Bible used above):

Deuteronomy 29:29

Jeremiah 33:3

Job 11:6

Psalm 25:14

Psalm 91:1

Isaiah 45:3

Daniel 2:22

Daniel 2:27-29

Daniel 2:47

Amos 3:7

Matthew 13:11

Luke 8:10

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Cease Recalling Disappointments

"Girl at a Window" painting by Valerie Pole

I had just spent some time and 2 pages (in my private journal) listing all the ways someone had disappointed me over the past few years when God spoke to me out of Psalm 48:13. The whole Psalm is speaking of the goodness of God. He does what he said he’d do! But those words in the Amplified version “cease recalling disappointments” stopped me in my tracks. 

We need to focus on the good points in people around us, especially those whom we love. This reminder from God helped me direct my thoughts to  the positive attributes of this person. Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Phil 4:8-9 


Those things which we magnify or draw attention to, whether in praise or criticism, in ourselves or those around us, grow. It’s a wonderful world. 

Let us focus on the good.

Interpreting dreams

God does speak. All the time. Most of the time I find He speaks to me through His Word. Of course, we know His voice (Jesus assured us “my sheep know my voice”) and it’s possible that if we are NOT hearing His voice maybe we aren’t following Him all that closely. And that is our choice. We are each as close to God as we want to be. Most dreams are natural dreams. They work the way defragmenting or downloading the hard drive of a computer prevents a breakdown. Dreaming is one of the things that prevents me needing a psychologist. Sometimes, God speaks to me in a dream. I love it when I wake up with a clear and vivid memory of a dream and I just KNOW God is speaking through it. I immediately write it down. And then, God helps me with the interpretation of it. Pharaoh said to Joseph in Egypt, it is said of you that you can understand a dream and interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh, It is not in me; God, not I will give Pharaoh a favorable answer of peace. (Genesis 41:15-16). 

I have had spectacular warnings in dreams. I once received a warning in a dream, not to drive on a particular road and the specific situation was shown in the dream. Later I heard that an acquaintance was caught in the very situation that I avoided, when driving on that exact road at the exact place I was warned of in the dream, within 12 hours of that dream. Of course, had I known I would have warned that person. But I think God through this allowed me to see that the warning was not a figment of my imagination, so that I could learn to trust the ways God speaks to us. Unfortunately the consequences whilst not life-threatening, took that person at least 2 months to overcome. The outcome might have been different (perhaps worse) for me had I not heeded the warning in the dream. 

Chesil Beach, UK

Other very precise instructions have been given to me in dreams. Dreams have also brought insight into something good about to happen, giving me a sense of how to conduct myself in a new situation or relationship. God is sovereign, and He chooses how he will speak. “God always answers, one way or another, even when people don’t recognize His presence. In a dream, for instance, a vision at night, when men and women are deep in sleep, fast asleep in their beds- God opens their ears and impresses them with warnings To turn them back from something bad they’re planning, from some reckless choice, And keep them from an early grave, from the river of no return.” (Job 33:14-17) 

Dreams are good things.

How to Raise the Dead

Raising the Dead promises and dreams of God over your life..

I was so encouraged recently when I listened to Marc Bredenkamp’s teaching on “Raising the Dead”. If you click on the link you can listen to it online too and gain more insight. In fact, you will probably want more after reading my notes (where I quote practically verbatim, I was blown away by this teaching and the words are powerful): 

When God gives you a Promise, He is giving it to you in order for you to FIGHT with it! As a rule God will give you the promise and He will never tell you the problems but there will always be a satanic contradiction. FACTS are always subject to change by the power of truth! So when you receive a promise from God in whatever way God chooses to speak to you, you have the Sword of the Spirit which is also known as the judicial punishment of the breath of God* which also gives you the ability to punish all disobedience in relation to any demonic force that chooses to exalt itself against the knowledge of God concerning your life. Once we receive that Promise we need to respond and obey according to the Word of God. 1 Tim 1:18: This charge I commit to you concerning the prophecies previously made over you that BY THEM you wage the good warfare. 

Question:  How do you wage a good war? 

Answer:   With your Promise, with your prophecy. 

God is speaking but nothing is happening until someone on earth begins to prophesy relating to the subject according to the WILL of God, not according to the “suggestion” or the “facts”. 

WHEN you do that, in the spirit, there is an establishment that takes place. IT COMES TOGETHER! In Ezekiel 37:9 “prophesy to the breath” in Hebrew means, prophesy to the air, prophesy to the atmosphere. 

We need to vocalize to the atmosphere that which God has said, on a continual basis, UNTIL that which is DEAD, comes back to LIFE.

* One of the definitions of the word used for the sword of the spirit (Eph 6:17) machaira is "judicial sword" for a full explanation listen to the teaching by Marc Bredenkamp by clicking on this Link:Sermon: Marc Bredenkamp

God you Promised..

There are days when the promise of God over our lives seems to fade and we wonder if there ever will be a season when things might be different than the present reality. It seems especially hard when the promise is for something quite spectacular. It seems the bigger the dream or promise or vision over our lives is, the longer the wait and delay in its turning into a reality. We can know why. We can even know how to get there (although the “way” is sometimes blurred and obscured from our vision) It doesn’t make the journey any easier. In these moments I continue to take comfort from God's Word. 

Stay alert! I am God, the God of everything living. Is there anything I can't do? Jeremiah 32:27

The day is coming when I will fulfil the good promise which I made to you..Jeremiah 33:14

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I was once in a desperate situation where I needed an answer literally within that day. It was one of the most challenging moments in my life. I said, God I really feel as though I’m between a rock and a hard place. I didn’t know which way to turn, and I didn’t know any person on earth who would be able to resolve the problem.

My devotional reading that morning happened to be Isaiah 43. It is important to keep a Bible reading program going, because God is always speaking to us through his Word, daily. We lose out if we don’t. I was reading that day from the Message version. I was amazed to find a direct answer to my question. In most versions, that passage says “when you pass through deep waters, I will be with you, they will not overtake you, when you walk through the fire, you won't be burned”. However, this time, in The Message, it was as if God was in the room.  

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God

Within 2 hours there was a knock at my door. The fiancé of a good friend walked in, and made a proposition to me that resolved my serious dilemma in such an amazing way that in the process, I was also the answer to a difficulty she needed resolved in her own life! God fixed two problems in one breath-taking move! That’s my God. He will do the same for you if you just ask.

Persistent Prayer

We have all experienced times when we’ve felt disheartened because our prayers weren’t answered quickly. Jesus said that we are not to give up but must continue to pray, even though it takes time for our prayer to be answered.

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus gave the parable of the widow and the indifferent judge. She was facing a desperate situation and was unable to find help anywhere. She had an adversary, it was a difficult situation and involved spiritual warfare. It was extremely hard to keep on praying. Her answers were delayed. But even the disinterested judge gave an answer to the widow’s plea as a result of her tenacity.

When facing a situation like this, we need to continue to cry out to God and and to pray frequently, and stay focused on our prayer, do not give up. Pray in the early mornings, pray late at night. Pray with fasting. Know that we are loved in Jesus. Believe and trust in God, do not give up, do not pull back.

Inspired by a teaching on the subject by Dr David Yonggi Cho.

Persistence

Salvation and Glory

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God! (Revelation 19:1) NAS

For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4) AMP

Glorious sky over Yeovil, Somerset, UK

I have been doing a study of the Glory of God since it has been the topic of discussion in my Acts Christian Church circles for the past few months. The Glory has been showing up with tangible evidence of the Presence of God in meetings. Sometimes there has been such an amazing sense of God’s Presence that at the end of a service, nobody moved, they did not want to leave, but remained seated in absolute silence and reverential awe for ten to fifteen minutes after the usual closing time of the meeting. That is, over 700 people in the auditorium stayed just where they were, quietly, and not a rustle, an amazing feat just in itself. We have also had a substantial increase in new believers, with literally hundreds of people coming forward for salvation every week (we have 4 services to fit the entire congregation in until the new 5000 seater church building is completed). There is a strong link between “glory” and “salvation”. We know that Jesus said if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself. If we give Jesus the Glory which belongs to Him anyway, salvation will come as unbelievers begin to have the veil lifted, and can see Him for what He is: the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Have you ever seen a worried bird?

For many people, life on earth can be extremely stressful. Whichever end of the spectrum you live, whether you are barely surviving or have millions in your personal bank account, happily married or desperately seeking, it doesn’t matter. In the flash of an eye, everything can change. For better or for worse. The news is full of stories about people who have been on both sides of the coin. We hear almost every day of a billionaire banker, politician or celebrity who fell from grace. Or a story of someone who suddenly comes into a great inheritance, changing their life circumstances dramatically. Or a lost love coming to light again.

In our most desolate moments, all we need to do is look outside at the birds. Even just one little bird can make all the difference to our outlook on life. They don’t worry, they’re always singing. And they always look pretty and well nourished. Jesus said, “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.” (Luke 12:27-30)

Seagull on Wilderness Beach, Garden Route, South Africa

One thing never changes

This day in history, 11 September 2001, changed the world we live in, forever. Even if you are not American, everything changed. Here in South Africa, on the southern tip of Africa, it has changed everything about the way we live and do business: laws have been amended affecting the banking system, property (whether you rent or buy), and even cell/mobile phones. Most people can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing the moment those planes hit the Twin Towers. I was having tea with one of my favourite friends. We had been told to turn the TV on after the breaking news came with the first Tower being hit. Only to have the shock in real time of watching the second plane fly into the South Tower and flames appear everywhere.

Wells Cathedral, Somerset, UK

The fallout at the time caused many people to search for answers. Places of worship were full, every Sunday, for weeks and months afterwards. Somehow the stresses of life take over and the  deep spiritual yearnings in us get shelved after a while and we just carry on, putting one foot in front of the other.

There is one thing though, that never changes. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever... (Hebrews 13:8)

New King James Version(NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Signs and Wonders

On November 1, 2010 something amazing happened in the skies over Johannesburg. The vision was so arresting that it shook the City and was the sole topic of conversation on local media for the several hours that it lasted. The halo effect around the sun was magnificent, and so large that my camera could not fit the whole of it into one screen. I had to take several shots to somehow create a perspective:

Sky over Johannesburg, Nov 1, 2010

Signs and Wonders: Johannesburg Nov 1, 2010

Some people who called into the Radio station were wondering if it was the end of the world.

This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. (Jeremiah 10:2)*
He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:27)*
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (Acts 2:19)*

More recently, we also had a manifestation of signs in an evening meeting at Acts Christian Church, during a Healing Conference led by the Team who visited us from Christ Healing Center, San Antonio, Texas. The photo below was taken by a friend on her cell/mobile phone. I was in the meeting and saw the photo on her phone moments after it was taken. At the exact time the photo was taken we were experiencing what felt like a thick, heavy mist of the Presence and the Glory of God which seemed to last for a couple of hours, although photo’s taken from the same position after the worship ended, did not have the orb in them. It was quite phenomenal. Several people in the meeting received healing, and I watched a man who'd been wheelchair bound 4 years, get out of the wheelchair and walk to his car (this happened during the same Healing Conference a few days before)

Acts Christian Church, evening service 13 July 2011

I can’t wait to see whatever may be next. I am expectant!

*  New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

What is the Glory of God?

The best definition I have heard was by Dr. Michael Eaton, who has been called by many people “the world’s greatest living theologian”. I feel privileged to have been able to listen to him in person. I was working at Carmel Christian Holiday Resort when he was the keynote speaker at one of the Conferences there. You can download an 8 part teaching series by him on the subject of “Glory” here. What the Glory of God is the outshining of God’s character. The radiation of His character: His goodness, grace, favour, mercy, His Name, loving-kindness, His Will, His sovereignty.

The time is coming when the earth fills up with awareness of God's glory as the waters cover the sea. (Habbakuk 2:14)

There are two ways of obtaining Glory. You can glorify yourself. Or you can let God do it. The Glory of God will not stick around where there is too much sin. And yet sin is burned up in the Glory! When Isaiah was faced with the Glory of God, he said, I'm as good as dead!

Every word I've ever spoken is tainted—
   blasphemous even!
And the people I live with talk the same way,
   using words that corrupt and desecrate.
And here I've looked God in the face!
   The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!"
Then one of the angel-seraphs flew to me. He held a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal and said,

   "Look. This coal has touched your lips.
   Gone your guilt,
   your sins wiped out." (Isaiah 6:5-6)

One of my favourite songs at the moment on the Glory is by Jaeson Ma. I love the lyrics, especially the bridge:

I’ve been waiting my whole life

for this one special moment

i got just to be with you

For me the song really points to purpose. We were designed to glorify God and love Him forever.

Snow and Glory

Ladysmith Gazette headlines

We experienced unusual snowfalls in South Africa during August. Two separate snowfalls necessitated the closing of the Van Reenen's Pass which is the main route between the major cities of Johannesburg and Durban. The last time this happened was in September 1981.

Van Reenen's Pass closed due to snow

Cars and trucks were stuck for days

Another thing that has been happening over the past month or so is that we are experiencing and hearing reports of a remarkable manifestation of the Glory of God in church services and prayer meetings throughout the country. I did a bit of research and came across wonderful verses in the Bible about snow and what it symbolises for our lives.
Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the life of his masters. (Proverbs 25:13)*

The snow seems to have ushered in a time of spiritual refreshing. Snow also represents the GLORY of Jesus Christ:

Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of Glory may come in. (Psalms 24:7)*
His clothes became glistening, shining, exceedingly white like snow (Mark 9:3)

His head and His hair were white as snow...(Revelation 1:14)*

Snow represents answered prayer. In the Elijahlist, Dr Mahesh Chavda says: When you are in a dry place and praying for breakthrough, far away in the mountains, God's snow is falling. When spring comes, that stored up snow is going to melt and pour down off the mountains, filling rivers to overflowing and touching your life with blessing, deliverance, healing, provision and power. 

For as the sky soars high above earth,

   so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
   and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
   and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
   producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
   not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
   they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

(Isaiah 55:11)

Snow indicates that the answer to your prayers is already upon the ground.

* Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Eternity

There always has to be a beginning, and then I want to know, who was there to watch the start?

One of my favourite passages is in the Book of Proverbs: 

 ^22-31 "God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—
   before he did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago,
   well before Earth got its start.
I arrived on the scene before Ocean,
   yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes.
Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape,
   I was already there, newborn;
Long before God stretched out Earth's Horizons,
   and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather,
And set Sky firmly in place,
   I was there.
When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean,
   built the vast vault of Heaven,
   and installed the fountains that fed Ocean,
When he drew a boundary for Sea,
   posted a sign that said no trespassing,
And then staked out Earth's Foundations,
   I was right there with him, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
   always enjoying his company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
   happily celebrating the human family.*

Today I felt challenged and inspired to put some thoughts down in response to a friend (on Facebook, yes I am there along with about half the planet). He was wondering out loud as people do on social media how many days he had left to live (it was something like 16,659 days left if he lived to a hundred) and he asked the question: "How old are you? How many days do you have left for purpose, passion, prosperity and love?" After giving it a few moment's thought, this was my gut-felt response:

"Today is the first day of my life in eternity...living each day in the light of Eternity.. what can I do today that will impact someone's life in a positive way forEVER? So I have infinite days yet each day counts as a treasure." It is so easy to let the essence of our lives slip through our fingers, not living fully present in the moment. And we all do that, to varying degrees in our lives. When I was 16 I wrote an essay at high school on how I wanted to live every moment to the full. And today I am reminded of that. Amazing and wonderful things are happening all around us. We just need to pay attention. My favourite moment today was when a little bird sat on the top of my open window frame and started serenading me  with a pretty song. Had I been too absorbed in my work at that moment I would have lost something special - a moment of communion with nature and somehow through that, with the Creator of us all.