His Name is Wonderful

He replied "Why do you ask my name, seeing as it is Wonderful?" Judges 13:18 This is an Epiphany, an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

His name is Wonderful. His name is Jesus. So when I say to someone "May you have a Wonderful day" I am actually bringing Jesus into their lives that day. Have a Jesus-filled day! Because HIS Name is WONDERFUL.

Miracles and wonders

Wikipedia says "A miracle is an event attributed to divine intervention." Well, I have had a series of "miracles" in the past 24 hours that caused the impossible to be possible in more than one area of my life - business, financial, social, and practical. If one of these had happened it might have been said by some to have been a coincidence. But for the combination of events and circumstances to unfold the way they did, this could not have been done by any person. God was most definitely involved and I am grateful. And glad. Especially as one of these miracles means I can take up a holiday which I won earlier this year at an Exclusive Game Lodge bordering the Kruger National Park.

I am happy that once again, God proves to be Who He says he is. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Psalm 105:2

50 Good Years

Today I am thinking of my parents, Robert and Yvonne Pole who have been married 50 years today. A remarkable milestone in the era in which we live. Few people make it for one or another reason. Very often because they just cannot get along. My parents are still each other's best friends and such a wonderful example of what a great marriage should be. Always speaking good about and to each other. Always prayerful. Always hopeful. Never criticising. One piece of advice from my Dad I will always remember is "Never criticise, condemn or complain". He said he got this from a Dale Carnegie Course he once did. My mother's advice to me: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". Wow.

My father still spends hours in his home gym (he has always loved to exercise). He says that is when he talks to God. My mother spends hours tending her garden. And they both love to watch the birds, dozens of them come to feed at the bird feeder in their garden daily, and quite often I get a text message from Mom to tell me the woolly headed herons are once again in their garden. Sweet.

I know that Mom bombards heaven with her prayers every morning for a couple of hours. She once showed me a creased and torn prayer list which she'd prayed over for the previous 10 years. She pointed out 57 names on there that she was praying for, for financial release.She said that of those names, only 5 were still waiting for answers. There were other names there for other needs. Many of those prayers have been answered yet she continues to remember their names before heaven. Some of these people will never know that my Mom prayed for them, daily, for decades They are friends of friends of mine who live in other countries.

What a heritage I have. I feel so moved today just thinking about it. Joy and happiness to you, Mom and Dad! May the Goodness of God continue to be your portion. And many more years of happiness here and in heaven one day.

Seed for the Sower

"White Lightning" Iris

He who sows generously that blessings may come to someone will also reap generously and with blessings. And God Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your resources for sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity. Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and your generosity as it is administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6b,10,11)

How do we know when that which we have in our hand is seed, and when is it bread for our provision (since God provides seed for the sower AND bread for eating)?

If what is in your hand is sufficient for your need then that is what it is for. If what is in your hand is not enough to meet your need... it is seed! This is radical thinking but I have found it works. Every time.

Windows of Hope

The Beach at Torremolino - Edward Seago (painting available for sale from The Taylor Gallery in London)

Edward Seago (1910-1974) was one of England’s finest landscape artists of the 20th Century. His ability to portray magnificent clouds in endless variations of atmosphere and color was one of the hallmarks of Seago's finest masterpieces.

“Ill health caused Seago to spend much of his childhood in bed and he grew to accept these bouts of sickness as an ordinary event. However, they were probably the main factor in moulding his life. The heart defect which denied him ordinary boyhood activities, and kept him on his back for long periods, meant that he had to overcome boredom, and this he did by painting. Also, unlike other boys of his own age who were confined to a schoolroom, Seago was able to stay out of doors exposed to the delights of the ever changing skies above him. These skies provided him with a constant source of interest and challenge. The intense knowledge gained as he sketched the unending cloud formations of Norfolk, England from his garden chair made him a true artist. What had begun as a childhood diversion ended as a life’s work. It is possible, that had he not had a permanent heart problem, Seago might never have become an artist, but might have turned to a more active, strenuous profession.” (Quote from the book ‘Edward Seago: The Vintage Years’ by Ron Ranson).

This idea is repeated in Hosea 2:14-15 “I will make the Valley of Achor or Troubling to be for her a door of hope and expectation”. Mike Murdock says it this way:

• The problem closest to you is your door out of trouble
• Something you already have can create anything else you will ever want
• Something in your hand can create anything you want in your future.

Nothing can take God by surprise. He has surveyed our entire life and the preparations are complete. When He instructed Moses to take His people out of Israel, he said to Moses “What is in your hand”. The seed for a thing is in itself. (Genesis 1:11). God has already provided every resource we need to fulfil our purpose and destiny. Every provision has been made for the appointed task. We just need to reach out and access it. Just as Edward Seago did. He painted. His paintings are considered investment art and reach extremely high prices to this day, decades after he has passed on.

Prosperity

This verse hit me like a ton of bricks recently.

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers 3 John 1:2 (King James 2000 Bible)

If we have a problem in the area of the soul (mind/will/emotions) for example an area of emotional distress or hurt that is unresolved and unhealed, this will have a direct effect on our financial prosperity. It could also affect our health. Research has been done on psycho-sematic illnesses so it is documented how our physical body can manifest a lack of prosperity in our souls. But it works for our money too. I remember watching a Television program where a homeless person was "given" $100,000 and "followed" by the TV crew. Within just over a year that homeless person was back on the streets in a worse-off financial condition than previously (and with additional debt). It all came back to the lack of healing in this person's "soul" area especially over money issues. There have been stories done on lotto winners too often with similar results.

I have read that verse for years over and over, and even memorised it. But this week a light went on. It is vital to ensure we are healed of emotional scars in the Light of God. Unless we have dealt with emotional pain and received emotional healing for issues around finances, we do not have the mental and emotional resources required to retain large wealth.

 Our financial health depends on it.

Tickled Pink

The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven

No other book on heaven impacted my life as much as this one. I finished reading it in 2 days this past week. What I loved the most is the tangible presence of God in the room whilst reading it also Alex's relationship with God and the fact he has such a continual link with heaven, angels and God that is available to us all...by faith. And I really got the sense of time - present, past and future - being an earthly dimension and that heaven is right HERE, right NOW and we can all experience it if we only believe. Living each moment in the light of eternity.

Here is the publisher's description of the book:

In 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, suffered an horrific car accident. The impact from the crash paralyzed Alex-and medically speaking, it was unlikely that he could survive. "I think Alex has gone to be with Jesus," a friend told the stricken dad. But two months later, Alex awoke from a coma with an incredible story to share. Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels that took him through the gates of heaven itself. Of the unearthly music that sounded just terrible to a six-year-old. And, most amazing of all . . . Of meeting and talking to Jesus. The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven is the true story of an ordinary boy's most extraordinary journey. As you see heaven and earth through Alex's eyes, you'll come away with new insights on miracles, life beyond this world, and the power of a father's love.

If you haven't already read it, buy a copy this week - and a spare one for a friend, it is definitely the kind of book you want to pass on.

Unrelenting Disappointment

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. (TAB)

In The Message Bible the same verse is translated:

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, 

but a sudden good break can turn life around.

I guess I am still waiting. That is all I have to say today.

Planning for Success

Call unto 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 recognise, have knowledge of and understand. Jeremiah 33:3

I have not spoken in secret, in a corner of the land of darkness; I did not call [you] to a fruitless service saying, Seek Me for nothing but promised a just reward. I the Lord speak righteousness-the truth [trustworthy, straight forward correspondence between deeds and words], I declare the things that are right.

God will always give us the exact right answer and plan of action if we seek Him. God’s plans for our lives are already blessed.

Roll your works upon the Lord-commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and succeed. Proverb 16:4

No Future Without Forgiveness

Archbishop Desmond Tutu gestures after receiving the Jamnalal Baja International Award in Cape Town, June 25, 2001.  The award, named after a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, recognises the promotion of Gandhian values outside India. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings --- Image by © Reuters/CORBIS

It is Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday today, an event which has been widely publicised in local press this week. This is a man who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his role in changing the landscape of South Africa and standing boldly against the Apartheid system in the face of great opposition. In the New South Africa he led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (April 1996 - June 1998) which at the time brought great healing to many hearts.

What impresses me most about his life is that he is known to be a Man of Prayer, punctuating his daily life with hours of private (personal) and corporate prayer.

In his book “No Future Without Forgiveness” (©1999), the Archbishop says “We happened to have been blessed with leaders who were ready to take risks – when you embark on the business of asking for and giving forgiveness, you are taking a risk. If you ask another person for forgiveness you may be spurned; the one you have injured may refuse to forgive you. The risk is even greater if you are the injured party, wanting to offer forgiveness. The culprit may be arrogant, obdurate or blind; not ready or willing to apologise or ask for forgiveness in their turn. He or she thus cannot receive the forgiveness they are offered. Such rejection can jeopardise the whole enterprise. Our leaders were ready in South Africa to say they were willing to walk the path of confession, forgiveness and reconciliation with all the hazards that lay along the way. And it seems their gamble might be paying off since our land has not been overwhelmed by the catastrophe that had seemed so inevitable.”

When he received news that he had prostrate cancer, journalists asked him if he was worried now that he had a terminal disease. He said, “We are all living with a terminal disease. It is called life.”

He also said, “when you have a potentially terminal disease this gives new intensity to live”. By allowing the mind to focus on the important things in life you are able to live your remaining life to the fullest. You spend time with the things that matter to you - love of family, sounds of music, and the beauty of nature, God’s own creation.

A remarkable man. An amazing life.

Heavenly Language

The greatest gift I have in my life is the ability to pray in tongues. It is the most incredible and wonderful thing that we have Help when we have no idea how to pray or even (sometimes) what to pray. Apostle Paul boasted that he spoke in tongues more than anyone (1 Corinthians 14:18).

I love my heavenly language. I experience through it exactly what the Bible says about it. I get insight into secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding (1 Cor 14:2) and interpretation of the divine will and purpose over areas in my life. By spending time daily, praying in tongues, I find that God moves the wrong people and situations out of my life and path and instead moves the right people and situations into my life. He also fixes wrong attitudes in my heart. And brings clarity into confusing situations.

An amazing gift. Free and available to everyone. I am astonished when people don’t tap into it and use it. And when people use it sparingly like a quick shower. What a waste of an incredible resource. Do yourself a favour: if you would like to a comprehensive insight into this gift, Dave Roberson wrote an amazing book on the subject. It will transform your life in extraordinary ways. You can download it free in PDF form here: "Walk of the Spirit Walk of Power".

Extravagant Giving

A number of years ago a friend of mine, at that time a school teacher earning a very low salary, told me she had just been through a period of several months where many of the people in the community (staff, students, parents and others) had approached her constantly for cash loans or gifts. The needs were great, and she had recently given half her monthly salary to  help someone to pay for a funeral. She had begun to struggle financially as a result and was feeling "used". And resentful. And then God challenged her with Luke 6:30 where it says Give away to everyone who begs of you who is in want of necessities, and of him who takes away from you your goods, do not demand or require them back again.

She said, Well God, I will do as you say but then I need you to keep me in the black and not allow me to go into the red in my bank account. Something changed. From that moment the "asks" dropped off dramatically and she knew that the ones who did ask were somehow sent to her by God. And her bank account never looked better.

This week God highlighted another similar verse which appears later on in the same chapter - Luke 6:38 Give, and gifts will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into the pouch formed by the bosom of your robe and used as a bag.

Well, soon after being reminded of this verse I went into a supermarket with only a little cash on me. A well-dressed man approached me and said he had just got out of prison. He was asking me for money. To my shame, although I have always thought of myself as a generous, giving person, I did not give that man the last of my cash. I said I can't help you. I felt dreadful within minutes after the lost opportunity to be a blessing to someone in need. May God forgive my stinginess and give me another opportunity to be generous.

In the past, I have always found God is so generous, and when I do give away my last cent (or bank notes) I am always abundant and overflowing in blessings soon after. I remember hearing a testimony once of a wealthy businessman who said, before he "made it" in business, he often gave away the last of his cash to someone in need and had to walk hours home after a meeting instead of catching the tube or train since he'd given away the money he would have spent on the tube (he lived in London). At the time (years later) of giving this testimony the man owned a major international corporation that brought him a personal income of £25 million per year. I have no doubt that Mark 4:25 is true. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.

God rewards our generosity to those in need and pays us back with interest at a level way beyond our giving. I need a bit more practice it seems. At living generously.

The Thunderings of God

There is something about thundering that brings life. Yesterday I quoted from Psalm 29 where the whole psalm is talking about thunder and the voice of God thundering then, in verse 9 it says “the voice of the Lord makes the hinds to bring forth their young”.

Then in Ezekiel 37:7-10 “thundering” brings life and healing to dead bones..

So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a thundering noise, and behold, a shaking and trembling and rattling and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I beheld, and lo, there were sinews upon the bones, and flesh came upon them, and skin covered them over; but there was no breath or spirit in them, Then said He to me, Prophesy to the breath and spirit, son of man, and say to the breath and spirit, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds O breath and spirit, and breath upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath and spirit came into the bones, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great host.

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 2 Samuel 22:14

The Lord also thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, amid hailstones and coals of fire. Psalm 18:12-14

The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind, the lightnings illumined the world; the earth trembled and shook. Psalm 77:17-19

You called in distress and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder. Psalm 81:6

The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. John 12:29

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 4:5

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Revelation 6:1

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. Revelation 14:2

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19:6

Glory and Strength

Over the last few days we have had the first thunderstorms heralding the beginning of Summer in Johannesburg. The kind of African thunderstorm you have to actually experience to understand. A friend of mine when she first moved out to South Africa from England a number of years ago said that after living most of her life in England (with soft, soaking, constant rains most of the year), she was absolutely shocked and thought the world was about to end the first time it rained here. Rain here very often is accompanied by thunder and lightning. More people die in South Africa being struck by lightning than any other country which just shows the level of violence and drama in these storms. As children we were always warned to move away from trees and preferably be indoors when there is a storm. The local Golf Courses have a warning siren at the first indication of lightning so the golfers will know to move out of danger.

There is something special about thunderstorms. I love that we have such dramatic ones here in Africa. It makes me think about the Voice of God “thundering”.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon many great waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yes the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon...

The voice of the Lord splits and flashes forth forked lightning.

The voice of the lord makes the wilderness tremble; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to bring forth their young, and it strips bare the forests, while in His temple every one is saying, Glory!

The Lord sat as King over the deluge, the Lord still sits as King and forever!

The Lord will give unyielding and impenetrable strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalms 29 TAB

Sing Your Hearts Out to God!

There is an amazing truth in the Kingdom of God relating to singing over barren areas in our lives.

Sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Col 3:15

I heard a story once of a group of women who’d been unable to have children, who got a hold of Isaiah 54 and took it to heart.

Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women." God says so! Isaiah 54:1

For a year, 9 or 10 woman met every week, and sang together (worshiped God) for an hour. By the end of that year, every one of them, who had previously struggled to conceive, was pregnant. Barrenness was broken over their lives.

When I was 21 I ended in hospital for a series of serious eye operations over a period of 3-6 months. I was told that should I refuse the operations I would most certainly go blind. The ophthalmic surgeon warned me to anticipate going into deep depression over the next few months. He was quite insightful. He said, the eyes are the window to the soul so when we operate on the eyes the soul becomes hurt and depressed. I found this quite interesting, and he was right, that “Eye Ward” in Bloemfontein National Hospital was the most depressing atmosphere I’d ever walked into. The place was dark, a heavy cloud of depression hung over it and I could sense a deep despair over the other patients there. However, I knew from Isaiah 61:3 that we need to “put on the garment of praise and the spirit of heaviness will flee” from us. So I did. I was in a private Ward and I had the music player next to me with praise and worship songs playing all day. I would sing, and sing, and sing and sing. The nurses would come and stand at the door to listen to me! I never got depressed once. The Specialist actually asked me to please help the other patients to get some of what I had. The operations were a success beyond their expectations (to this day I have not had repercussions) and my eyes healed after these operations in half the anticipated time.

All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. Psalms 30:4

Daughters of Zion, sing your hearts out: God has done it all, has set everything right. Psalms 97:7b 

Geographic Transitions

I believe it is important for us to recognise not only the times and seasons in our lives (and opportunities) but also the places. There is definitely a purpose for us in the sense of being at the right place at the right time geographically.

And He made from one common origin, one source, one blood all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:26-27 (TAB)

Abraham followed this principle.

Urged on by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. Hebrews 11:8 (TAB)

At one time I became aware of a change of location coming up in my life. I was living in Cape Town and the wind blew literally for 6 weeks nonstop. The wind was so strong that some days it felt one had to hold onto a lamp post to prevent being blown away. People who came down for their summer holidays at that time complained bitterly because they could not have "beach days", the sand would just blow into their eyes and made everything most unpleasant. But to me it felt like a "wind of change". At the time I asked a friend to pray for me and I knew God would give him a "Word" for me. When the "Word" came, it was a confirmation of something I already knew in my heart. I knew that I had to move cities, from Cape Town to Johannesburg. So I bought a one way ticket. Within a few weeks of moving, I found myself in a completely new field, and success in that field was instantaneous. Many things changed which confirmed that I was in exactly the right place at the right time.

This is so important because where we live affects so much in our lives. Who we will meet. Opportunities for success in the fulfilment of our destiny. And enjoyment of the present moment.

“You will go out with joy and be led forth with peace” (Isaiah 55:12). I know I am in the right place at the right time when the Peace of God rules like an umpire in my heart.