He's better than we think

The Reformation was a time when men went blind, staggering drunk because they had discovered, in the dusty basement of late medievalism, a whole cellar full of fifteen-hundred-year-old, two-hundred proof Grace–bottle after bottle of pure distilate of Scripture, one sip of which would convince anyone that God saves us single-handedly. The word of the Gospel–after all those centuries of trying to lift yourself into heaven by worrying about the perfection of your bootstraps–suddenly turned out to be a flat announcement that the saved were home before they started…Grace has to be drunk straight: no water, no ice, and certainly no ginger ale; neither goodness, nor badness, not the flowers that bloom in the spring of super spirituality could be allowed to enter into the case. -Robert Capon 

The church is whispering in the hallways, "I think He might be better than we thought He was"

"For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life, the path to bliss  that leads me face to face with you" (Psalm 16.11 TPT)

I used to think mankind's biggest problem was sin.  And the truth is, it WAS.  But the truth is sin in its entirety has been dealt with by Jesus on the cross.  When He said "It is finished" He meant it.  We were rescued from sin, death and hell once for all in that amazing self-giving act of ultimate love.  He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (1 Peter 2.24)

Our biggest problem now for the followers of Christ is ignorance and unbelief.  We need the ongoing revelation of resurrection life. We are apt to believe the lies of the enemy who wants us stuck in self/sin conciousness. We don't know or we don't fully believe in our hearts  this amazing good news gospel, perhaps we can quote it, but it hasn't quite made that 8 inch journey to our hearts from our heads.

The Lord wants us to live in freedom from sin-conciousness, and we will never be able to fly high in the Spirit until we let go of our past regrets and sins, trusting that one drop of His blood was more than enough to remove all our debt and to take all our shame away.  When we fully understand this, Oh the BLISS! The face to face encounters!  This is what freedom looks like! We are free from ruminating on the shackles of sin and self obsession to lift our eyes and our hearts in wonder and worship, and just enjoy being loved so completely.  And the remarkable truth is, when we stand in this place of wonder and adoration, we are gifted the ability to go far higher into true freedom (the fruit of righteousness/holiness) than we ever could with a sin- conciousness.

As John Bunion, author of the Pilgrim's progress wrote while meditating on these truthts "Run, John, run, the law commands, But gives us neither feet nor hands. Far better news the gospel brings: It bids us fly and gives us wings."

Little bird

Psalm 84:3

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your alters, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house ever singing your praise!

I enjoyed my visual meditations on one of my favourite Psalms this afternoon.  I get to be the little bird, raising her young in the Presence of the Most High and making this her great habitation.

How lovely is Your dwelling place!

Timing is everything

"He who watches the wind (waiting for all the conditions to be perfect) will not sow (seed) and he who looks at the clouds will not reap (a harvest)" Ecclesiastes 11:4

I have suffered now and then with the foolishness of wanting to wait until everything is just so, perfect, before branching out and taking the initiative, or doing that thing I feel called to do.  I feel challenged this morning to wait on God for His timing, but when He says the timing is right, it is right away!  If Joseph had waited till the morning to get up and get out of Bethlehem, like the angel told him, it would have been too late.  He had to get up and get out right then, and he did!  He had learned the importance of immediate obedience to the Word of the Lord.

The timing is everything!  I want to be one who obeys straight away without waiting for everything to be 'just so' or 'perfect'.

Thou treasure inexhaustable

Thou treasure inexhaustable
Thou source of true delight!
What care I for the world's applause
Or for it's diamonds bright?
More prized by far one smile from Thee
Than all the Earth holds dear;
I want for nothing man can give
For I have Jesus here.

Yes Yes, this loved One is my own;
Could I any richer be?
When all He has and all He is,
All, all belong to me!
For He is bread that can sustain,
And living wine to cheer,
And there's a heart that beats for me,
For I have Jesus here.

Tis sweet to linger by His side,
To listen to His voice;
For O He speaks in melting tones,
Which make my heart rejoice.
And when His Name, His own dear Name,
Resounds upon my ear
I can but weep for very joy,
For I have Jesus here!

And often now I love to sit
And watch for His return!
For though in Spirit He is here,
I still His absence mourne.
But soon shall dawn that brighter day,
Soon soon He will appear;
And, Oh! I must be with Him then,
For I have Jesus here.

(Author Unknown)

Pentecost prayer

As it is Pentecost Sunday this Sunday, and today I was at my favourite retreat http://www.hopeweavers.co.uk/) I had some time to reflect on what I have been hearing here and there from (it seems) all over the South's prophetic community.

The Brink.

The atmosphere is changing,
Can you feel it in the air?
The oxygen is growing
The breath of God through prayer..

Awakenings are stirring,
Whispers here, longings there
Can you feel it? Can you hear it?
The heartbeat we all share....

His people are awakening;
And stirring in the night;
The darkness is receding
Replaced with burning light.

All it takes is but a spark;
Just one flicker from a match;
In the charged electric atmosphere
An inferno quickly catch.

Revival! Is our heart-cry;
Once whispered hushly in the dark;
And yet as light grows brighter
Hope awakens in our heart.

Could it be here, could it be now?
I scarcely dare to breathe..
And yet this piercing longing
In His bride He loves to weave...

Sleeping Beauty! Church! Awaken!
And harken to His call,
Though He alone provides the match
Our prayers provide the oil.

Rags to riches

I wrote a poem at hopeweavers the other day.  My story, and I believe the story of all who share the Christian faith.


All-seeing God, I tremble low
My face towards the ground,
My filthy rags in tatters worn

My soul I fear hell-bound.

And at the point of greatest need
Destitute I scramble
His burning Holiness to great
In fear and shame, I tremble.

And then, that One, with burning eyes
Whose voice is as the thunder;
He comes so near, I fear I'll die
Bracing myself, I shudder

And yet-what grace! This mighty King
Who fashioned galaxies
He stoops so very tenderly
And lifts me to my knees.

I meet His gaze, and as I do
My stone-heart starts to melt
His liquid-love pierces my soul
Waves of washing mercy pelt.

I see the blood-red welts
Upon His hands and side,
Reminders of the bitter cost
He paid to save my life.

He takes a garment clean and white
As dazzling as the sun;
His pure and Holy righteousness
On ME He puts it on!!!

He carries me- lame as I am
At His table now I sit
A feast He's laid before me
And invites me now to eat.

From pauper now to princess
A true rags-to-riches tale
Nothing can snatch me from His grasp
His love will never fail....