Skywatch #93

Osterley Window, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

'Balmy' is the word I tweeted and so it is. Spring is lovely here in London and the Met Office are telling us yet again that we are due a scorcher of a summer; don't laugh!

Image by duopastorale via Flickr

Here are all my skies so far . One of my friends recently asked me, "What's so great about Skywatch?". What do you think?

Shipwreck

Image by yeowatzup via Flickr

Thou shalt guide me
Psalm 73:24

If you want to avoid shipwreck, study Acts 27 carefully. First, they were dissatisfied with where they were. Listen; "Since the harbour was unsuitable...the majority decided that we should sail on" (Acts 27:12). God doesn't guide us by "dissatisfaction" or by "opinion polls," He guides us by His Spirit. (Romans 8:14). When things get difficult, you're called to overcome them, not try to escaped them. Next, they were impatient to get where they were going. Sound familiar? I don't know of a single Scripture that tells us to hurry up or we'll miss God. Israel learned that when the cloud moves, you move. But when the cloud stops, stay where you are and wait on God.

Then they failed to heed the Word; listen: "The centurion was more persuaded by the pilot...than...by Paul" (Acts 27:11). Be careful, if you look long enough, you'll find someone whose opinion confirms what you want to do. that's a dangerous place to be. Finally, they looked to the circumstances, instead of God, to guide them. (Acts 27:13) The idea that circumstances will always line up favourably with God's guidance is not scriptural. God often leads through the wilderness and He'll never lead you anywhere that doesn't require His provision and protection. If you can get there without God - He didn't send you.

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

Persevere

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere...
Hebrews 10:35-36

Quitting, giving up, throwing in the towel, calling it a day; whatever we call it I'm sure we have all been there some time or other. In fact if we're living fully for Christ then this is part of the enemy's battle strategy; to discourage us, tell us things aren't working, that God has given up on us and we need to bow out and take control of the situation ourselves. I've posted on this blog quite frequently on perseverance. It's something I struggle with; the tendency to dwell solely on the negatives and ending up in a place so bleak it's like wading through mud. It is part of the spiritual battle I face, but I also recognise that dwelling on the negative is part of my personality that I have to try and overcome.

In my experience, the only way out of this place is to hear God's Word on the matter. Not just reading, learning, memorising Scripture, but receiving that Rhema word from the Holy Spirit. Last night I heard that word in the scripture above from Hebrews. I have heard the word persevere very many times, but what leapt out at me this time was the word need. In a moment I understood that giving up was not an option, not just because it wasn't the 'right thing', but because God is teaching me something in the perseverance. James 1:4 says;

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

A good Christian friend recently said to me, 'But Jesus just wants you to be happy', and something inside me actually disagreed with him. In persevering through struggle and sacrifice and maybe even the giving up of happiness, God is leading us to a place where He has provided ALL things for us, including joy and all the things that we long for. In my Spirit inspired moments, I believe that with all my heart.

If, like me, you're in need of that special encouragement today, then listen to Joyce Meyer's video and be blessed.

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Our God Saves

Our God Saves - Paul Baloche

Our God is a God who saves!
Psalm 68:20

Cover of Our God Saves

I've been reminded again this week that I need to keep focused on the fact God Saves. If there's one guarantee in life, it's that we will face trouble and hardship. Sometimes things just make no sense at all and suffering comes, but the truth is still the same; our God saves! He has overcome the world and He wants us to show Him that we trust, we believe, that we are people of faith looking forward not back; looking forward to something better that He has for us! Have a blessed Sunday and let's pray for each other, that we can look beyond our circumstances to find that He is a Rock that cannot be moved.

Skywatch #92

Heath Sunset Stitch, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

The skies over Hounslow have been beautifully quiet over the last week. Some have been stuck in foreign parts and travel plans have been on hold, but for us who live next door to London's main airport, it has been bliss to be free of planes! The skies have been so clear it makes me wonder how much pollution is usually up there! Happy Skywatch Friday and have a great weekend!

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Life

Image by eqqman via Flickr

We live in a world full of cheap substitutes. For a culture too busy for depth and development, values replace virtues, celebrities replace heroes, style replaces substance, shame replaces guilt, and the self replaces God as the center of life. Source unknown.

Are You Bearing Fruit?

Image via Wikipedia

Be fruitful
Genesis 1:28

Jesus said, '...every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit' (John 15:2 NKJV). Without periodic pruning a vine will only produce a fraction of its potential harvest. Vineyards have only one purpose: to produce grapes. Energy spent on anything else is wasted. The pruner has four things in mind: removing what's dead or dying; making sure sunlight gets to the fruit-bearing branches; increasing the size and quality of the grapes; encouraging new grapes to develop. To make room for the kind of abundance Christ redeemed you for, He will cut away the parts of your life that are draining precious time and energy from what's truly important to Him.

To accomplish this, He will even risk you misunderstanding His methods. His purpose for your life requires the cutting away of bad habits and attitudes, wrong relationships, lesser priorities, and anything that distracts you from your highest calling. Are you praying for God's blessing in your life? Are you asking Him to make you more fruitful in His service? Then get ready for the shears! Pruning is how God answers such prayers. Sometimes we blame the devil or other people for the loss of certain things in our lives. No, 'He prunes.' Today, if God is pruning you,:1) pay attention; don't waste this season of preparation. 2) ask God whether you're being pruned for greater fruitfulness or disciplined because of sin - there's a difference. If it's sin, repent and get back on track as quickly as possible. 3) if your response to the pruning process is right, you'll begin to move from barrenness to blessing.

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

Hiding Place

Hiding Place - New Life Worship

Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

I have found myself a hiding place
I have found myself a secret space
In the shelter of Amighty's love
In the safety of the Saviour's arms

I will run to the hiding place
I will run to the hiding place
Draw me ever closer to look upon Your face
I will run to the hiding place

I found myself a hiding place
I found myself a secret space
In the refuge of the Father's care
In the cleansing blood of Jesus there

I will run to the hiding place
I will run to the hiding place
Draw me ever closer to look upon Your face
I will run to the hiding place

Though my fear may overwhelm me
And troubles, they surround
Though
The wind rise up to take me
My hiding place is already found

I found myself a hiding place
I found myself a secret space
In the shelter of Almighty's love
In the safety of the Saviour's arms

Oh, I wanna look upon Your face
I will run to the hiding place

Skywatch #91

Steven, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

It's A Test Of Faith

Image by . SantiMB . via Flickr

...you... tested us... refined us like silver... brought us to a place of abundance
Psalm 66:10-12

When Jesus explained the cost of following Him, some of His disciples walked away. Yet the impact of those who didn't is still felt in the world today. By the time they wrote their epistles, His apostles had learned to see every test in life as a chance to strengthen their faith and multiply their effectiveness.

Tests of faith are opportunities to surrender something of value to God, even when we have the right not to. In a test of faith you'll feel assaulted and stretched by circumstances, yet not distant from God; tried by them, but not judged or guilty. The Psalmist writes, 'For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver... you brought us to a place of abundance' (Psalm 66:10-12 NIV). A test of faith doesn't really test anything unless it pushes you beyond your last test - past what you've already proven! If you try to run or pull back each time you reach what seems like your limit, you'll never know how much you can trust God - or how much He can trust you.

The fire that refines us like silver can come as a job lost, a relationship lost, good health lost, or a reputation lost. But with God, the end result is never in doubt. If you're wondering today, 'How much more can I take?' listen to the words of Bishop JC Ryle: 'This only we may be assured of, that if tomorrow brings a cross, He who sends it can and will send the grace to bear it.' In God's kingdom it works like this: 'Faith tested, character refined, abundance given.'

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

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Good News Bad News?

Image by spisharam - AWAY via Flickr

..without holiness no one will see the Lord... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Hebrews 12:14 Romans 3:23

I had some good conversations this weekend and several trains of thought have begun. One has been on sin and holiness. After looking at some of the Levitical laws and reading laws such as, Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother and deserves to die. Lev. 20:9. I found myself saying to S, "Do you think God really said that?". It seems so barbaric, over the top, unreasonable. He thought for a moment and said, "I suppose it's about holiness". I guess that was God moment because I realised again in that second that God's holiness and our sinfulness are so diametrically opposed that there is no way they can come together. He is life, and sin is death, whatever sin it is. But I am guilty of making out some sins to be worse than others, hence my reaction to Leviticus.

It is humbling to think that if I lived a perfect life and then told just one lie, I would deserve to die. That shocks me, as I think on all the sins in my life, the ones I have committed and the ones I still struggle with. I took these thoughts to worship with me last night and it was transforming. I was not just singing some great worship songs, but lifting up the One who has rescued me from all my sin. He became my sin for me and has taken away the punishment of death that I deserve. This realization, that I am corrupt and deserving of death is good news! Why? Because it takes me again to the cross where I find the solution and receive His life! Without the truth we shall never be free.

Ha Ha

Image by jaxxon via Flickr

Children said:

Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark.

Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.

A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony.

The minister took a little girl visiting with him one day. Upon entering a very old lady's home, the child had the audacity to ask the lady how old she was. "Oooo, I don't know, sweetheart. I'm so old I can't remember." "Well, you should look in your knickers then," came the chirp reply. "Cos in mine it says age 3-4!"

Skywatch #90

Wimbledon Common, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Image by carmen_seaby via Flickr

It's been a BEAUTIFUL day here in London. Blue skies and clean crisp Spring air. The birds are also celebrating. This morning I drove over to Wimbledon Common for a much needed walk. I hunted for Wombles without success but have just found a photo of Orinoco on Flickr (see left). The trees were beautiful against the sky and the shadows crisp. Perfect.

The Sting Has Been Removed

Image by duopastorale via Flickr

O Death, where is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:55

The story's told of a boy and his father driving down a country road on a beautiful spring day when a bee flew in the car window. The boy who was allergic to bee stings, was terrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it into his hand and then released it. The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There, stuck in his flesh, was the stinger of the bee. 'Do you see this?' he asked, 'You don't need to be afraid any more. I've taken the sting for you.'

The message of Easter is, as a believer you don't need to fear death because Christ has died and risen again. The sting has been removed. Death is not the end, it's just the beginning! Job, who'd experienced the tragic loss of seven sons and three daughters in a single day, asked, 'If a man dies, shall he live again?' (Job 14:14 NKJV). He needed an answer! We all do. Five chapters later he got one: 'I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!' (Job 19:25-27 NKJV). The Psalmist rejoiced in the same hope: 'As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness' (Psalm 17:15 NKJV). Rejoice: Christ's resurrection guarantees yours!

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

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Easter Joy!

Then Came The Morning - Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead
1 Corinthians 15:20

This is by far the most special day of the year! I am celebrating Him! He's my friend, Saviour, God, hope, strength, comfort, direction, peace, future, Lord. He's my JOY today end everyday, the One who never ever fails me and has gone before me to prepare amazing things for me. I know He's alive and my heart is full of worship. Thank you Jesus for all You've done! Thank you for sticking with me and never letting go. Thank You for Your Presence sustaining, guiding and strengthening. I worship You...