Skywatch #74

Evening Walk, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Healing

Image by lepiaf.geo via Flickr

Then Abraham prayed to God,
and God healed...

Genesis 20:17

After my previous post about witnessing amazing healings in Oxford, I thought I'd share a few sound bites from Mark Marx's seminar. They are simply scribbles from my notebook so please take or leave them. By the way, my friend R whose leg was lengthened during healing prayer, has experienced continuing improvement with her back pain. Praise God!

1. The Kingdom of God goes wherever you go.
2. We are handicapped in the West because of what we have been taught about the Kingdom.
3. Exercise authority!
4. When Jesus and his disciples prayed for healing, they never prayed petitionary prayers. They commanded healing and drove out spirits with a word. Asking God to do it is like asking the boss to do a job he's already told you to do yourself!
5. Always begin prayer for healing with affirmation of God's love.
6. No one sickness is more difficult than another.
7. You can hinder what God is doing by believing the opposite.
8. In the Kingdom of God, nothing is impossible.
9. Even Jesus was unable to do many healings in Nazareth because of the unbelief.

What 'Sells'

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Another Jesus...a different spirit... a different gospel

2 Corinthians 11:4

In an old Peanuts cartoon strip, on the first day of the new school year students are told to write an essay about returning to class. Lucy wrote, 'Vacations are nice, but it's good to get back to school. There's nothing more satisfying or challenging than education, and I look forward to a year of expanding knowledge.' The teacher was pleased and complimented Lucy on her essay. In the final frame of the cartoon Lucy leans over and whispers to Charlie Brown, 'After a while, you learn what sells.' The temptation to preach 'what sells' is always with us. Paul warns the Corinthian church to be on guard against anyone who preaches 'another Jesus...a different spirit...or a different gospel.'

Like Jonah, we are called to preach to people who'd rather hear something different. But running away didn't work for Jonah, and it won't work for us. 'The Lord sent out a great wind on the sea...so that the ship was about to be broken up' (Jonah 1:4 NKJV). If He has to, God will shipwreck our plans in order to get us to go where we need to go, and to say what He's called us to say. One pastor recently acknowledged that his message was attracting big crowds but not turning people into disciples, so he changed direction. The first thing God told Jonah to say when he reached Nineveh was, 'Repent.' The Gospel does two things: It comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. The truth that sets us free will make us feel bad before it makes us feel good. God's goal is not our comfort; it's producing in us the character of Christ so the world will be drawn to Him.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

He Is Here

Brian Doerksen - He Is Here (album Holy God)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Doing Your Best For God

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So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!— to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.

8-13 Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along. It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now—but God's Word isn't in jail! That's why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:

If we die with him, we'll live with him;

If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him;

If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us;

If we give up on him, he does not give up—

for there's no way he can be false to himself.

14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.

2 Timothy 2:1-18 (The Message)

Skywatch #73

Snooze Zzzz, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

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Resilient People

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We are hard pressed

2 Corinthians 4:8

Traits resilient people share are:

1) They allow pain to spur growth: At the peak of her career when photographer Linda Joy Montgomery learned she was going blind, an inner voice said, 'This isn't the end; it's the beginning.' She began writing poetry, discovered her calling as a motivational speaker and created the True Vision Institute, teaching kids to tap into their inner resources. The Bible says: 'Though good people may be bothered by trouble...they are never defeated' (Proverbs 24:16 NCV). Finding purpose in your pain isn't a new idea. Survivours of life-threatening illnesses, natural disasters and the Holocaust, and parents of chronically ill children continually demonstrate how over-comers find the proverbial silver lining by reinventing themselves. Paul talks about being 'battered by troubles, but...not demoralised...thrown down, but [not] broken' (2 Corinthians 4:8 TM). Meeting challenges helps develop confidence and a can-do attitude that says: 'I've been there, done that, and I'll survive.' Michael Jordan once said, 'I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career...lost over 300 games...26 times I've been trusted to make the game-winning shot, and missed. I've tried and failed over and over again. That's why I succeed.'

2) They insist on changing what they can: Paul says: 'Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord' (Ephesians 6:8 NKJV). Workers digging through the rubble to help rescue survivours of the Oklahoma City bombing, though understandably distressed, showed fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder later on. In concentration camps POW's who routinely gave away their last morsel, proved that you can choose your attitude in any given set of circumstances. How? By drawing strength from God and learning to control the one thing you can control - yourself.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Healed!

Image by duopastorale via Flickr

Yet I will certainly bring health and healing to it and will indeed heal them.
Jeremiah 33:6

Two days ago I visited Oxford and attended a training day with Mark Marx who pioneered the Street Healing model which is spreading around UK churches. Our church has been involved with this ministry for about 6 months so we were eager to hear from people who had more experience than us.

The day began with some inspiring and faith building teaching and also some hands on training. Mark asked if anyone present had lower back problems and R from my group stood up with some encouragement from those sitting near her. She has been suffering from back pain for some time and we have prayed for her healing before. She sat on a chair in the middle of the group (about 80 people) and she was asked to stretch her legs out in front of her. As we looked, we saw that one leg was longer than the other, the likely cause of lower back pain. The leg was simply commanded to be healed and people began to gasp as we saw the short leg move until both legs were completely the same length. It was like watching the hand of a clock move, very slow but definite.

Later on on the streets, this man in the photo received very lengthy prayer. You can see how serious his problem was. He began to draw a crowd as he was holding up his shoes and telling everyone that he had been healed. The proof was that he was standing quite normally and had needed to go to the nearest shoe shop to buy some new shoes!

A similar healing was witnessed by a BBC reporter in April 2008. Here is the video.

Listen to this girl's testimony as she was interviewed on the BBC afterwards.

Throne Of Praise

Throne of Praise - Don Moen

As long as I have breath
I'll find a way to say that I love You
Ev'rything may change and the world may pass away
I'll still love You

What a wonderful song of worship! Things are changing in my life, waves come in and go out and the storms blow. My head hurts trying to work out what He is saying to me, what even my own heart is saying to me. But here is where I find peace. Saying to Jesus, "I love You. I don't understand and I'm tired. Take me Lord, to that place where I can see You, touch You, embrace You and that will be enough for me!"

Failure Is Not Final

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Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:31

I once heard the quote "God never gets disillusioned with us as He never had any illusions in the first place!" There is a reassurance that God, knowing all about us with all our faults and weaknesses, still chose to save us and comission us in His service.

It's interesting to note here in this scripture that Jesus prayer was not that Peter wouldn't fail, but that his faith would not fail. Jesus had confidence in Peter that he would respond to the trial with an unfailing faith and that he would be restored.

I have a real problem with failure. I have the feeling that I have surprised and shocked God yet again with my inadequacy. But the truth is He knows me better than I know myself. He knows every word before I say it and every action before I make it. I have been encouraged recently to recognise that failure is never final and that these times of trial and temptation are to sift us. They have a very important purpose. I wonder if Peter would have been able to stand up on the Day of Pentecost and be so wonderfully used of God if he had not been through such testing?

Satan wants to remove faith from me but every time I get back up and learn from my fall, he is defeated yet again.

Skywatch #72

Autumn Skies, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

For who in the skies can compare with the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?

Psalm 89:6

Autumn Trails

Autumn has begun, with some lovely colours already. We still have several weeks of turning to go here in London. Yesterday I found two leaves performing a ballet for me right on cue. When I walked back half an hour later, they were gone. I love this season :)

Lessons From Lazarus

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But even now I know

John 11:22

Lesson one: Jesus knows how you feel. At Lazarus' funeral, 'Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how He loved him!'' (John 11:35-36 NKJV). This story proves we serve a God who can not only raise the dead, but can 'sympathize sympathise with us' (See Hebrews 4:15 NKJV). So if you're grieving today turn to God and allow Him to comfort you.

Lesson two: Jesus can give you back what life's taken from you. He can 'restore to you the years' that life has stolen (See Joel 2:25). Claim that promise; take it to the place where you've lost so much, and ask God to replace and renew. Martha said, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You' (John 11:21-22 NKJV). Instead of saying 'if only,' pray 'even now I know.' It's not too late, God can move on your behalf.

Lesson three: Jesus can set you free. 'He cried...'Lazarus, come forth!' And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes...Jesus said...'Loose him, and let him go' (John 11:43-44 NKJV). God's Word is greater than the thing that has bound, limited or enslaved you. Even though your mind doesn't fully comprehend it, let your spirit respond to God. Pray with the Psalmist, 'Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it' (Psalm 119:34-35 NKJV). When you pray such a prayer your faith will grow, and the circumstances that seem impossible will be changed by God.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Only Grace

This one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Phil.3:13-14

Skywatch #71

Bushy Park, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
Psalm 23:2

They Did Not Thirst

Image by Hamed Saber via Flickr

They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
Isaiah 48:21

The Roller-Coaster Ride Of Life

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He has made everything appropriate in its time.
Ecclesiasties 3:11

Giving up in mid-ride isn't an option - it's foolish!A depressed church member told his pastor, 'I'm tired of trying. I've been down so long, I can't muster up the faith to believe God for deliverance anymore.' The pastor said, 'First, you can never justify quitting, because you have the Lord on your side. He won't quit on you, He promised He'll 'never leave you nor forsake you [so]...do not be discouraged' (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV). Second, His Word says, 'If we believe not, he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself' (2 Timothy 2:13). It's not just a matter of your faith, it's a matter of His faithfulness.

When you can't seem to believe, instead of focusing on your faith in Him (or the lack of it), begin to focus on His faithfulness to you!' What great counsel for the roller-coaster ride of life. Now, let's add some more encouraging observations, God doesn't owe us an explanation so we shouldn't look for one, but He promises us an exit. He 'will with the [testing]...make a way to escape, that ye [might] be able to bear it' (1 Corinthians 10:13). Until He gets you out of it, He'll get you through it. Your part is to stay on the roller-coaster. He's producing good in all your circumstances. 'And we know that all things work together for good to them...who are the called' (Romans 8:28). God puts pits and peaks together, and out comes your good. Fifth, while He does so, the Son and Spirit intercede with the Father for you, daily (See Romans 8:26-32 and 34-39). With all that going for you, how can you fail to make it?

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

I Long to Worship You

Long to Worship You, originally uploaded by loswl.

For You, LORD, rescued me from death my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, even when I said, "I am severely afflicted." In my alarm I said, "Everyone is a liar."

How can I repay the LORD all the good He has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and worship the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.
Psalm 116:8-14

September 2009 Retro

September was mainly occupied with travelling, swimming and eating.

The scenery was beautiful...

...and just got better and better!

Good to meet new friends and laugh. It's been a long time since I laughed so much it hurt. Thanks Rachel.

Fortunately we returned to some September sunshine and I could resume my daily walks.

2 weeks off church duties was nice, but it's also good to get back to friends.

School beckons...

...and more Autumn walking.

Skywatch #70

Montenegrin Skywatch, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.
Psalm 68:34