Love Everlasting

Have you ever pondered about God’s love for us? His everlasting, unfailing love. The love that crafted and designed us, knitted us together in our mother’s womb. That picked us out for Himself as His own before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, consecrated and set apart for Him, and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

With more people alive on the earth today than there has ever been before in the whole of history, God still took the time to craft my very existence because He loves me. Yet in our modern culture and Western society, do we truly understand the purity and source of His love, when all round us is love is displayed as ‘eros’, erotic love, based on beauty awakened by soulish desire. A love that strives for acceptance. A love that fades as the beauty fades. A love that has to be earned by pleasing others and craves acceptance.

And yet we can’t earn His love. It’s unconditional.

‘If God loves us to the degree that we please Him, then we are forever in doubt concerning His love toward us. And if we believe that we have attracted His love by our behaviour, we are filled with pride and congratulate ourselves that we, unlike others, have achieved the kind of life that makes us His beloved.’ (Malcolm Smith, The Power of the Blood Covenant)

God says:

I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! Jeremiah 31:3 (Message).

His love is for us, not against us. It is ever-expanding and advancing. He piles love upon love upon love without measure. Try to image that. His love for us is only ever-increasing!

We are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. 1 John 4:19 (Message)

God loves us despite our actions. In the garden of Eden, He came looking for Adam and Eve. Even though they did something He requested them not to, He still sort a relationship with them. Even though they submitted to another god who spoke half-truths and twisted the words of God, God still wanted to be with Adam and Eve.

As God moved in the garden, searching for His creation, they hid from His presence. Was it the fact that they had done something wrong that made them unable to be in the very presence of God?

I love what Psalms 139 says about the great dimension of God’s presence. And wherever He is we will find His love.

Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me and the night shall be [the only] light about me, Even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You. Psalm 139 AMP

Even though God knew Adam and Eve decided to change the god they served, submitting to another authority and ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge, He still pursued after them. He knew where they were, yet called after them, seeking to re-establish relationship with them.

God is love. He loves us because He is love. He is the source of love. He radiates love because it’s His nature. It’s His DNA and therefore it’s our DNA too as we are made in His image. Just as He is the Father of lights, He radiates His love.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:8-16

Receiving By Faith

Have you ever anointed yourself with oil as a prophetic act?

May be you should check out the significance of being anointed by oil in the Bible. Next time you spend time resting and communing with God, try anointing yourself with oil. Most edible, pure cooking oils in your kitchen would suffice. A dab of oil on your forehead will suffice. Go try it and see what happens.

Solitude with Father God is a great time to commune and dine with him. Have you ever shared a meal with God? Why not take one meal this week by yourself and set your attention on Holy Spirit. Invite him to come and dine with you. Set a place for him and engage in two way dialogue with him. Remember to listen as your conversation will be two way.

Afterwards, take a notepad or journal and write down the thoughts and dialogue you had between you.

If you find this difficult, maybe you need to become childlike again. Imagine you are just a couple of years old. In your childlike innocence, you might find this easier to do. Still need some help, go watch a friends child at play – you may well be inspired! Remember, they are learning in their creative play times, often taking risks and doing new things for the first time.

Set down your rational thinking and pick up your creativity. Don’t worry who is watching, as it’s just you and Holy Spirit.

As well as solitude, it’s highly beneficial to spend time together in God’s presence. Psalm 133 was probably sung as people ascended and went into the temple in Jerusalem. It’s important to enter his gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and with praise on our lips. Next time you meet up with others in a home group or church setting, come with praise on your lips. Bring a word of encouragement to speak into someone else’s life, one that will build them up and release hope into their life.

Psalm 133
A Song of Ascents. Of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.

It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing — Life forevermore.

Aim, Focus, Decree!

I love the gems hidden away in the book of Job. “You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.” Job 22:28 AMP

These thoughts spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite are echoed in those of King Solomon when he wrote in Proverbs 16:3 ‘Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.’ NKJV

So what are you currently focused on? What are you planning with God in the coming year? Seek His heart for revelation and wisdom as you set sail into the coming months. Then commit your thoughts and plans to Him. Decree the things that will be established on earth, then walk in God’s light they are manifest before you.

The times and seasons are not hidden from God – they are in His hands. And for each season there comes stability through Wisdom and Knowledge. Each generation faces uncertainty with conflict or strife, yet they only tend to focus on it or let in start to engulf them when things are portrayed as being overwhelming or when specific hardship impacts their life.

Yet God has promised us stability, as He is a God that doesn’t change or waver. He is steadfast and true. Salvation, wisdom and knowledge are all part of His character and Spirit. He is our treasure as we come before Him with reverent fear to worship Him. And at the same time, we are the apple of His eye, for He delights in and rejoices over us. Zech 2:8, Is 62:4,5

‘And there shall be stability in your times, an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His.’ Is 33:5 AMP

Revelation of the Son

Just last week, two different events of God’s wonderful creation caught my attention and prophetically spoke to me.

The first happened as I was leaving work, looking over the valley leading away from the Malvern Hills. Earlier in the day I had gazed over the valley, watched layers of mist hovering over the ground. By the afternoon, thick clouds were covering the sky but breaks in the cloud were starting to show. As I looked up, I caught the glorious sun breaking though the clouds, with its light shining down on the earth.

With the humidity of the day, the rays of light were clearly visible. Over one field, a misty vapour was waving as it reached upwards from the ground, escaping into the atmosphere. Even though I was not near the sun rays, I felt a warmth of the sun impacting the atmosphere and was reminded of Habakkuk 3:3-4

“His splendor covers the heavens, And the earth is full of His praise. His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.”

The sight before my eyes was splendorous, especially as I love looking at manifestations of created light shining from the sun. And yet God, being omnipotent and omnipresent, His splendour was before me. I didn’t hear physical singing, yet the earth was surely praising the Creator of all things – but that’s a whole other thought for another day.

Our God is the Father of Light (James 1:17), whose heart as a loving father is to give us great gifts. Within His hands there is power to create, give, heal, restore and so much more. The sun rays that I saw shining down from the heavens reminded me of the healing power of God. As we go out representing Him throughout the earth, we can release His power through our hands, bringing healing and transformation, as a touch of Heaven is released.

I believe God was showing me that a fresh wave of His healing power is about to be released through His people that will see a transformation in the land. It’s closer than we think. It’s more powerful than we think. The Kingdom of God is at hand and the only limitations put on it’s manifestation are the limits we put on it ourselves. There is no measure to the greatness of God. Yet we are called to meditate on His great works and the splendor of His majesty. Psalm 145. As we dwell on these things, He has promised to reveal Himself. As the thoughts He has for us out number the grains if sand on the shore, He has a lot to reveal to us just about ourselves, let alone His mysteries contained within His word.

In the natural, there is power in the sun and the rays of light that shine on the earth. Without the sun we would not exist as the energy of sunlight supports life on Earth. It does this by photosynthesis and the rays of sunlight also drive the Earth’s climate and weather. Although some fear being in the light of the sun, incase they get burnt or get skin cancer. However, this is only comes about due to our covering having become ineffective. Changes in the earths atmosphere have seen increases in the amount of certain light that can lead to skin cancer, but we also have a responsibility in being covered. The sun is important as the body produces vitamin D from sunlight (specifically from the UVB band of ultraviolet light). Secluding ourselves from the sun can lead to deficiency in this important vitamin, which scientists believe leaves the body generally vulnerable to cancers.

In the spiritual, we need to make regular time to bask in the beauty and power of the Son. Take time to bask in God’s rays. To be in the light and warmth of His presence. Let the healing that is in His wings pulsate over us, influtrated by His affection for us. The energy of the Son brings refreshing and healing. As we are transformed and energised, we can trade on this exchange. We are called to minister to God in the inner court, an intimate time of us being with God and then minister to people in the outer court.

At the being of the year I was caught up in a vision high up above the earth, where I saw two angels turning a satellite to point towards the United Kingdom. This turned out to be a hugh ray gun that was being directed to a frozen Britain, covered totally in snow. As I watched I saw the nation being defrosted and a warmth coming back into the heart of the country, restoring a strong heartbeat. It was like the country was being healed by this healing ray, transforming it’s heart that had been packed in ice, gone cold and was hardly beating. The rays beaming down brought the country back to a place of passion and love for God. Through fear, deception and distraction our nation has been out of the sun too long, that is, out of the rays of the Son.

There are pockets of fire throughout villages, towns and cities in the UK. That can not be denied or overlooked. There are many who are doing good things, however, on the whole Western Christianity has been reduced to an event (or in some peoples lives many events!), where it must be a lifestyle. We need to be recognised as carriers of His Spirit, regardless who sees us. So not yet Christians need to see the Spirit of God in us and flowing out of us, oozing out of our very pores, reflecting and radiating His Glory.

There is a shift taking place. The tide is turning to an emphasis outside of corporate gatherings, which are vital, but are only 2 hours in a 168 hour week. The shift is towards Kingdom lifestyle, Kingdom presence, Kingdom glory.

The Moon

The other event I saw took place a few days later, when a strange effect could be seen in the evening sky. There was a slightly eary lighting effect in the night sky. There were a few clouds in the initially hiding the moon. But soon its radience was lighting up a gap in the clouds, as if car headlights were breaking over the brow of a hill before you actual get to see the car itself. This brought about a high contrast in the clouds, with bright light shining through the gap in the clouds, with darkness on the other side.

It was the last day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the beginning of the autumn season and it perfectly coincided with a full moon – a Harvest Moon.

As the summer sun set during evening it started to blend with the rising autumn moon to produce a unique sight. During this time of twilight there was a 360 degree light in the sky as the two light sources illuminated the lower portions of the sky but from opposite sides of the heavens.

Apparently this is not the first time that the seasonal calendar and the moon have matched up to create such an event like this. However, it’s interesting to note that it was the closest the two events have been together. The time between the official autumnal equinox (11:09 p.m. September 22, according to Science@NASA) and the full illumination of the Harvest Moon was down to just 6 hours. The closest its come to this in the past was 1991, but with a 10-hour difference. The next we’ll see something like that again will be 2029.

Moon is an interesting example to us. It reflects the glory of the sun. Without the sun becomes ineffective as a luminary as it does not create it’s own light. Infact its not far off from being a massive lump of coal. But it does an amazing job at reflrcting ling, not just any light but light of the light of the sun.

At the point where the seasons changed, the moon was at its fullest. A full moon. And with the sun out as well, we experienced a 360 degree illumination from both the sun and moon. This spoke to me of an increase in his people passionately pushing through into a new season and reflecting His glory; also seeing an increase in his manifest presence. We will become greater inmatators of Jesus Christ we will become a sign pointing to the sun.

The Moon’s gravitational influence produces the ocean tides and the minute lengthening of the day.
Influence of moon brings high tides. Changing seasons.

Not take much to realise the moon reflects light rather than a source of light. It points to a greater revelation. Greater promise of light.

Isaiah 60
ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.

Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] [a]Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.

A multitude of camels [from the eastern trading tribes] shall cover you [Jerusalem], the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all the men from Sheba [who once came to trade] shall come, bringing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

Time For Prophetic Wisdom

There is no question that we are seeing some interesting, yet often tragic events take place around the world. The last few years in particular have seen major financial unrest in the global financial markets and institutions, causing devastation and significant changes to the economies of the nations. Stresses in the earth have been released through catastrophic events resulting earthquakes transforming the structure of cities and regions. Rain, drought and fire have seen landscapes transformed in short periods of time. The impact of these has tragically seen thousands of lives lost and livelihoods destroyed, either by loss of crops, buildings, land or finances.

In this season we are in need of revelatory prophetic wisdom to rise up, understanding the signs and situations, releasing wisdom into the lives of government and institutions. The modern-day banking and trading system that has been established over centuries, is straining to meet the needs of individuals and businesses, not just in the Western world. The farming and cultivation of land has seen major forests reduced to almost nothing and replaced by farming of cattle or crops. This results, among other things, in soil erosion and flooding in some areas, pollution and drought in others.

Within the UK, along with many other nations, we have over stretched our financial borrowing to the point where the current government needs to make cuts of millions of pounds across its departments. However, some of these cuts will impact the country for many years ahead and may result in a higher long-term cost. Over the last ten years, finance companies relaxed their requirements for loaning money, causing increased debt and bankruptcy for individuals who were tempted by the desire to have something before they could afford it and then lived beyond their means.

My focus here, would appear to be on a negative view of the world situation. However, my point is that some of the decisions made by leaders of companies, institutions and nations have lacked the wisdom or Heaven or been significantly impacted by external forces. And once it has impacted them, it has consequences on individuals, either directly or through making similar decisions.

Adam was given governance over the land that God had created and we need to see an increase the Godly wisdom over the cities, regions and nations we live in, as we a guardians of this kingdom. The strategies of man are in need of a divine Heavenly wisdom. There are many good and great things happening around the world that don’t make headline news, however, there is a requirement for us to rise up with fresh hope to see our individual and corporate dreams fulfilled. This will see some of us called to local or national government or places of significant influence that will see major changes to the ways things have been done in the past.

In the 2010 film ‘Legends Of The Guardians’, a brave young owl must embark on the journey of a lifetime to save the owl kingdoms. Soren, a young barn owl, has always been enthralled by tales of the legendary guardian owls of Ga’Hoole. And Soren must soon call on them for help when his brother Kludd pushes him from the safety of the family nest! He falls into the talons of the Pure Ones and is taken to St. Aggie’s orphanage. It soon becomes clear that these evil owls are intent on taking over all the owl kingdoms, and are building their own army. Soren and a group of brave young owls must escape and fly through the mists of Ga’Hoole in search of the Great Tree, home to the fabled band of winged warriors. But will they find these mythical owls in time to save their world?

In the words of Misty Edwards, it’s time to awake and rise up. It’s time for the wise prophetic owls to be kicked out of the nest, take flight into the night to save their kingdom. Owls are often seen as a symbol of being wise. They also see into the dark with excellent vision. Interestingly, their sight is enhanced by their ears – they hear well. Owls are known to be solitary birds and we can learn from them in the need to withdraw and spend time in relationship with our Heavenly Father. However, we will need to work together in this hour to see the Kingdom of Heaven come. Interestingly, a collection of owls is called a parliament and we need to influence and infiltrate the decision-making bodies of our nation with Heavenly wisdom.

We don’t know the day and hour that Christ is returning. But we know that He is! There is a lot that needs to be done right now. We can choose to sleep until His return, which I don’t believe is a valid option or choose to get on with the business that we have been commission with.

Drawn out of loving relationship with our Heavenly Father, spending time in His presence, we can draw on His wisdom and insight for our lives. That can include wisdom for our family, our workplace and business, our communities and our nation. It’s time to plug into the revelation of Heaven and speak out what we hear and see. With practise, this can become a daily discipline for us, releasing revelation and application to our daily lives and situations, while not becoming detached from the world around us and its needs.

We have a responsibility to this generation of over 6 billion people alive on the earth, to release prophetic wisdom and revelation, which I believe will see the spirit of might act on the words we release as there is a clash of kingdoms resulting in a change of power and influence, transforming the ways things have been done, bringing about a new divine order to earth.

This will require us to refocus out attentions and thoughts on to God’s plans, rather than our own. Lead by His voice and not ours. Not that God won’t bless what we turn our hands to, but there are needs beyond our own particular circumstances that need our attention. Maybe for some that will require a redistribution of our time and efforts between God, family, ourselves, our community/nation and our passions. For others, it’s about removing distractions and interruptions. Or maybe it’s just a case of assessing where we are at and what’s in store, even if it confirms that we have made the right choices, things are on course and in balance. Though often there are opportunities to make small changes, which when you are steaming across an ocean in a transport or cruise ship, result in a totally different destination many miles ahead.

Calling Forth Your Dreams

I returned to my PC late on Saturday afternoon to discover I had a missed Skype call.  I had popped out to the local shop to buy a few things, so didn’t notice I had received a call earlier when I wasn’t around.

It was from a ministry that is run in church where it is possible to receive healing prayer via Skype.  I hadn’t contacted the healing prayer ministry, so just typed them a chat message thanking them for the call, noting that I hadn’t called them.

About 30 minutes went by when I received a Skype call which I answered.  It was the church ministry calling again, so I explained that I hadn’t contacted them.  As I talked to the person on Skype, I remembered I did have a need for healing and explained my situation.  The person gladly prayed for me then proceeded to encourage me with a prophetic word, speaking into my situation.  They reminded me of my dreams, that God had not forgotten them and to continue to press in to making them a reality.

We were carefully created and formed by God for His pleasure.  He knows the desires of our hearts, but it requires a partnership between us and God to see them come into reality.  And God loves us to dream big.  If our dreams are too small, there is a possibility that we will try to achieve them in our own strength, using our own abilities.  However, I love dreaming impossible dreams, as then I know when they came about, it was through the bountiful provision of my loving Heavenly Father.

At this point in your life, are you doing what you always dreamt you would be doing?  What is your dream & how can you make it happen?  Is it time to dream again with God?