Evidence of JoY

changing to be like Him

2011-01-24T16:26:00.005+11:00

There is no doubt that Gods desire for us is to be changed to be like Him…

2 Cor 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflectthe Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

For me personally an unveiled face looks like complete honesty. Nothing hidden…

When we bury our broken, proud, negative, and critical thoughts we are essentially hiding the very essence of the thing that holds us captive and yet if we continually bring to light our weaknesses then we position ourselves for freedom and transformation.

the Christmas gift...

2010-12-27T09:28:00.004+11:00

The gift of Christmas is all about Gods perfect plan and His PERFECT GIFT… given to humanity by the Lord of Eternity… The MOST HIGH…

As we unwrap this gift of Jesus (this is a gift that we will continue to receive, unfold and unwrap all the days of our life, we experience that this perfect gift is:

1. grace giving…

2. covenant keeping…

3. love leading…

4. life changing

5. completely forgiving

and

6. plan making…

He has a plan and even though we at times may not understand He is continually working on our behalf.

A beautiful day

2010-10-28T07:46:00.004+11:00

Bethany and I were walking along the beach the other day and the day was simply stunning… The sky and the ocean were so beautifully blue, the sand was a beautiful soft pink beige, and in places the water that remained on the sand reflected like a shiny mirror. It was a picturesque and divine.

We were both overwhelmed by how simply stunning the day was, and I couldn’t help but make this comment in reply. “Can you imagine what heaven will be like?

The older I get the more I realise that life really is just like a vapour and how simply ridiculous it is to waste it on selfish ambition. True joy can only ever be found in a life that is thankful and doesn’t hanker for position or things.

I think about Heaven a lot and constantly remind myself of the fact that this life is just a doorway to Eternity, and one day we will be face to face with our Lord and creator. It is an AWESOME thought…

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:1-5

Love

2010-09-03T07:34:00.004+10:00

The greatest teaching on love is found in 1 Corinthians 13 and one of the most challenging scriptures in the bible. Every now and then I like to take a piece of scripture and write my own paraphrase… I love the fact that real change is a decision of the heart and if I attempt to change everything else but my heart then I never really change at all. My challenge to myself is to change myself from the inside and that is an ongoing feat…

If I am brilliant in eloquence, can preach amazing messages and yet don’t have love then my words and cleverness amount to zero… I am considered to be nothing more than screechy noise. If I speak God's Word with revelation, expanding all his mysteries having great clarity, and if I have faith that moves mountains but I don't love, I'm nothing....

Love is uncomplaining and giving. Love is not resentful… It is unpretentious, meek, humble and unaffected. It does not demand its own way. It is not bad-tempered, envious and it keeps no record of being offended. It always shelters, always trusts, always believes the best and always persists.

(Joy H paraphrase)

be prepared to wait

2010-07-05T12:09:00.003+10:00

My husband Mark carries something upon His life that I completely trust, and for over 20 years I have been listening to him preach, teach and guide others to a better life. I never cease to love what comes out of him! He is one who calls it as it is, and he lives it how he calls it! Yes at times he can be strong… BUT he will stand before God one day, and therefore he is determined to preach truth.

Our roles as Pastors is to teach people to walk in the light as He is in the light… that means getting rid of anything in our lives that is in any way deceptive… as sneaky just causes us to walk in dark shadows with no freedom at all. Everyone has issues that they deal with but being up front and honest is the key to freedom. We have been able to help many people over the years because of honesty, but sadly the ones who are not truthful destroy their own future.

The one thing that we have seen over the years is people forfeiting their God given destiny because the desire for a relationship was greater than the ability to be prepared… and a future that could have been be so incredible forfeited because they were not prepared to go through the preparation.

An impulsive relationship can end up with broken hearts and I believe that there are those who are made ready, during the path of singleness…

Gods desire for us is that 2 become one… but be prepared to wait…

If Mark and I had not waited and gone through the preparation of many years of singleness… perhaps we would not be living in our destiny today.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

church...

2010-06-27T14:08:00.014+10:00

Church... it can evoke interesting conversation huh? Sadly over the years some have misrepresented its purpose and even its power and there are some who have not fully realized its incredible potential...

Oh, but to understand the reason, the function, the amazing destinty and the great possibilities that one can achieve through a life given to church and to service... then we fully live.

I love the fact that it is in church that we come face to face with the most incredible life changing truths...

It was Jesus that said "I have come to serve not to be served"...

If He is our greatest example then our churches should be the places that we build, we serve and we are committed to...

In selfless service, we imitate Jesus Christ... and as we imitate Him, we become more like Him...

WE serve for the sake of others...

And truly... It is better to give than receive...

the question of the human heart

2010-06-16T22:16:00.001+10:00

How would you answer this question?

What is the main cause of corruption in the human heart?

It saddens me greatly, that many start with right motive and yet so easily can go off track.

From my personal observation of people it seems that the desire for power can ultimately have the potential to corrupt what is pure.

Fear can easily rob us of faith and give us a false sense that we need things and power and position. It is a lack of true faith… as true faith believes…

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted

Titus 1:15 (NLT)

The key for us is faith… pure faith… in a God who completely loves us

and a God who causes completeness within us.

You are a precious jewel

2010-05-10T01:13:00.004+10:00

You are a precious jewel

How wonderful that within the divine exchange we become heirs, sons, daughters, kings and princes, warriors, inheritors, fragrance, conquerors, reconcilers and more precious than rubies…

Maybe at times we don’t feel like a precious jewel but God sees us very differently to how we see ourself.

You will be a crown of splendor in the Lords hand a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isiah 61:3

Isiah 54:12 I will make your towers of rubies your gates of sparkling jewels and all your walls precious stones…

Rev 21:9b

come I will show you the bride the wife of the lamb

21:11 Its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel like jasper clear as crystal…

fruit that remains

2010-05-03T08:14:00.005+10:00

I just love the way that Jesus continually gathered his disciples and taught them. He often taught about seed and fruit... Mark 4... A sower went out to sow some seed...

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.

Seed and fruit are of great importance to who we are , what we become and what we produce.

Everything we do, everything we watch, everything we say, everything we listen or read has the potential for fruitful seed or unfruitful seed.

Truly it has little consequence how clever we are, how good we look, how talented we are. It is all about the seed bearing fruit that we produce.

we can go straight to the source...

2010-04-18T23:26:00.005+10:00

We live in a world that craves for things of the supernatural… we see it in what is now filling our TV's and movies.

They want to be in touch with something that is supernatural. It is interesting people will go to all sorts of new age experiences for direction and yet negate the one who made them... the one who really loves them…

The bible tells us that for everything God has the enemy has a counterfeit… and a counterfeit looks like the real thing yet has no value at all.

I so long for people to know the One who is... the One who loves with an everlasting love. We have access to the source of all life, and that is of eternal value...

Taste and see...

2010-03-16T22:23:00.006+11:00

Taste and see that the Lord is good.Psalm 34:8

One day recently I was walking through a local fresh produce market. The colors of the fruits and vegetables were so beautiful, it was quite breathtaking! My instant response was a sigh of thankfulness and I automatically said... "I love everything that God makes!"

There were stalls of so many varieties and all kinds of mouth watering tastings. As we sampled the tasty delicacies, I was so aware of the gift of taste and the gift of sight.

I love the taste of seasonal fruit I don't think that anything man makes compares to the flavors in creation!

I was introduced to a fruit in Singapore several years ago that is quite exquisite... It is called a mangosteen and to look at has some resemblance to a passionfruit in color but the fruit is distinct in taste and quite phenomenal. Its flesh is white and it is a sweet juicy yet slightly tart and it is all together fantastic. The incredible thing is the perfectly shaped etched flower on the bottom of the fruit... (Gods handiwork!)

When we were in Singapore recently, Bethany and I bought bags of them for a couple of dollars a kilo... They do import them here but the are at least $1 each! You need to try this incredible fruit someday... It is so yum!

Have you heard?

2010-03-12T21:08:00.010+11:00

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28

I am completely enamored by the Lord and His heart for Humanity! One of my greatest desires as a leader, is that I could be an influence that causes others to have an encounter with His goodness and love, and to also help them comprehend that His desires for their life (in Him) is one of revelation and freedom… To know Him to understand… that He does not grow tired or weary and He wants relationship…
I think it is so sad that there are many people who have a wrong perception about God and never enter into an understanding that His strength can be ours if we put our hope in Him.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

Love is why He came

2010-03-12T06:00:00.006+11:00

As we approach Easter I find myself breathing deeply at the thought of our Savior Jesus Christ.

He is the image of the invisible God and Love is why He came... Love is the reason that He lay down His life... It was His love for humanity that motivated His every purpose.

Our ONLY appropriate response to this incredible gift is gratitude.

The evidence of a thankful heart is one who forgives, loves, worships, serves and gives...

He did it for us... It is that simple!

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:4,5

every good and perfect gift...

2010-03-01T06:25:00.000+11:00

I never cease to be amazed by the hand of God on His creation, it really is an evidence of joy.

Whilst in Singapore on a short break for a few days last week we visited the bird park and also went for a walk around the Botanical gardens and the orchid gardens.

The vibrancy of color and the numerous varieties of bird and plant was completely breathtaking!

I was amazed to read that there are between 25,000 - 30,000 of orchid species alone and 1,500 species of ginger...

As our eyes took in the feast of color I kept thinking about the generosity and kindness of the Lord who is so concerned in our health and enjoyment.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

His infinite Love

2010-02-11T22:50:00.000+11:00

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

The greatest changes in my life, have always begun with a heart change. I don’t believe that we are ever too old to change, change is a decision. In the book of Deuteronomy it says that it is up to us to choose life. By making right choices we give ourselves permission to be all that we are meant to be. Today is a new day, we can choose to live in the stigma that is attached to our experiences and mistakes or we can choose to use them to help others. When I look back at some of my own and my families’ experiences, I can honestly say that they no longer dictate to me my ability to be victorious. In fact my life’s experiences have caused me to be able to compassionately help others who have gone through some of the things that I have.

There is a void in every one of us that only God himself can fill and that is through a living relationship through Jesus Christ. He is the author and creator of this universe and when we respond to Him, we change as He moulds us in His lovely way. Truly this is the most magnificent gift - the gift that gives us the opportunity to know infinite love.

deeds not words

2010-02-02T00:15:00.001+11:00

1 Sam 2:3 "Do not keep talking so proudly, or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.

We cannot hide anything from God… He is a God who knows!

He knows everything from beginning to end, in and out, upside down, front to back... every thought word and deed. He knows!

Although we may try to talk ourselves up, that means nothing to Him.

“By Him deeds are weighed!”

Wow our deeds are measured and weighed…

There are so many issues that seem to matter greatly to us and yet dont even register with God... and there are things that greatly matter to God and sadly they don't matter to us...

When all is said and done... It is not what we say we do, that matters... It is what we do! Let us make what we do... matter...

we are His workmanship

2010-01-27T15:22:00.000+11:00

It is an awesome thing to fully understand that God places infinite value on us! I love the fact that He hasn’t finished working in us... We are His workmanship... in process... and that which He has started, He will finish!

Isn’t it beautiful that the Lord sees us as a good work? The fact that He is willing to work on us tells us that He believes in us. There are times when we don’t believe in us... but He always believes in us.

The key to freedom is honesty and a deep trust that we are in good hands – God’s hands. (We don’t get better than that!)

The Lord loves us and if we are to fully receive the depth of His love we must face the fact He knows us and loves us completely, faults and all... otherwise we are mislead into believing that He loves us only when we are a certain way!

We continually need to go back to the deeper truth and keep reminding ourselves of His perfect gift!

For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future

Jeremiah 29:11

His presence... will bring a reflection of HIS essence...

2010-01-11T09:08:00.000+11:00

“Come unto me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest” Matt 11:28

“Come all you who are thirsty” Is 55:1

“Come” He said. Matt 14:29

“Come, follow me," Jesus said. Mark 1:17

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Rev 22:17

Do you ever wonder about the fact that the Lord constantly calling us to come, come, come into His presence and receive from Him…

Yet on many occasions we don’t heed His call.

The Lord wants our heart… our relationship

He can give us anything at all before we even ask… He knows what we need, He knows our deepest dreams... He just wants us to come…

We don’t have to work it all out… We don’t have to have all the answers…

We just need to come to Him…

Cause the LORD is… the greatest business manager in all the earth…

The Lord is… the greatest strategic planner in all the heavens…

The Lord is… the greatest creative genius of the whole universe…

Our greatest needs and desires will be found in His presence…

Our greatest gift from time with Him is that we become a reflection of HIS essence...

build His house

2009-12-30T08:35:00.000+11:00

I have come to the conclusion that the best place our heart can be, is to be passionate about building the church... His Kingdom...

When Mark and I first went to Bondi to begin the church we were excited at the prospects of doing something incredible for HIM... I remember our first big event where we sent out flyers and paper advertisements etc... and the day arrived... and we had ONE guest... I went to the bathroom and fell to my knees and cried out (with a sob) "Lord I don't know how to build your church!" and the answer came back so loud and clear "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" "You just keep fishing, and being faithful... and in a moment... the nets can be full"

I have held on to this promise for years now and I realise that building through the tough times has made us determined not to give up. If I can encourage anything in a person it would be live to build HIS church... build His house and He will build yours...

I love the rain

2009-12-28T07:52:00.001+11:00

A few weeks ago our daughter Bethany (with tears in her eyes) handed me an incredible book and said "take some time Mum and read this" It is a book constructed by Rob Bell called "Drops like stars" and it deals with human suffering, pain and loss... I sat and read it from cover to cover and found it quite breathtaking. He states that bad news and tragedy eradicate the need for the superficial and the unnecessary. We so need to remind ourselves of that which is important.

As we come to the end of a decade I have an excitement as we go into the new one. It feels as though these last 10 years have contained great tragedy... but also a dryness in both the natural and the spiritual. I am personally praying for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit... (for the times most likely wont get easier but in His strength and revelation the light will shine brighter.)

As I sit here writing, the rain is pouring down outside and I feel that it is very significant... It sounds so wonderful... I feel that it is a sign from heaven for what is to come...

because of love

2009-12-17T00:27:00.000+11:00

How incredible IT IS... that the the one who always WAS and IS... had a plan from the beginning... a plan of salvation - and how incredible it IS that He chose us to BE before the foundation of the earth... and how incredible it IS that when we come to Him and receive Him, He begins a journey of seeking out the weak and broken areas in our lives and orchestrating opportunities for us to overcome.

It actually IS quite humbling to get a revelation of this most amazing, hallowed and most HOLY lOVE...

It IS this one thing... this incredible lOVE that gives me the desire to overcome... It IS because I know that everything IS within His plan is totally perfect and wonderful and His plan IS always about freedom...

the power of LIGHT

2009-12-09T19:04:00.000+11:00

All of creation points to Jesus Christ, He is pure light and His light transcends into the darkest places of our lives.

One needs to consider the power in the statement that came from the beginning and the end of eternity “LET THERE BE LIGHT”.

When God said, this completely powerful, authoritative, glorious AND breathtaking proclamation… I am positively sure, that all of the heavens shook with the magnificence that came from I AM…

THIS FOUR WORD DECLARATION caused His presence to pierce the chaos that was over the earth.

This declaration also gave us a picture of what was to come through Jesus Christ, and that was salvation, hope, grace, order and eternity.

the evidence is discipleship...

2009-12-08T13:56:00.000+11:00

The decision to follow Christ has been the most wonderful life changing, liberating decision, that I could have ever made. I cannot imagine life without a living relationship with the Lord...

The decision to be HIS DISCIPLE was as equally life changing and liberating...

The date was Thursday 6th September 1984 when I was at a midweek music rehearsal. I listened intently as the words COMMITMENT and DISCIPLE resounded in my heart and spirit... I remember the moment I made that decision...

That was it... NOT MY OWN... I have been bought with a price...

To be completely honest I have seen many a person make a decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour and sadly slip away... in attitude and in passion...

But for those who make the commitment to discipleship they understand the cost... and marvelously with the cost... there is such a glorious opportunity to living close to the heartbeat of the ALMIGHTY...

who am I?

2009-12-06T00:06:00.000+11:00

Jesus said to His disciples…

“Who do men say I am?”

Jesus was not swayed by what people said about Him. It didn’t deter Him from His course… He knew who He was and He knew His purpose!

The Bible says that He was despised and rejected and a man of no reputation… but did that stop him, did it paralyse Him from fulfilling His destiny?

There are people all over this earth whose lives are ruled by what others say about them. Can you imagine if we were that steadfast and not rocked by what others say about us… that if we set hearts and minds on the goal and we really understood our purpose?

We would be fearsome awesome creatures and nothing would stand in our way!

the journey of faith

2009-12-04T18:05:00.000+11:00

Throughout the journey of faith, there is a joy that becomes evident…
The tangible evidence is that… we reflect HIS divine nature and character.
Above all else… my desire is that Christ is so evident in my life, that I continually reflect His loveliness.
Throughout life we wrestle and grapple with many things that in the end wont really matter at all.
I wonder just how much time, we actually waste on negative responses and pessimistic thought processes!
The processes of faith are made evident in the Bible and HIS WORD has the ability to transform us if we allow it.
The Bible is a map, a light; it reveals Gods character and His divine nature. It is a guide, and an instruction manual. It is our hope and it is the greatest love story that ever existed. His love is written on the pages of this incredible book!

Reflections of Joy...

2009-12-01T21:04:00.000+11:00

True freedom is an incredible gift… AND… a gift that is freely given through a most generous and kind Saviour!

Oh to fully live free... where we are at complete rest with our soul…

Most of us throughout our life have needed to wage war against many an internal battle. I have learned that the answer does not lie in spending inordinate amounts of time focussing on personal issues… although strategies and skills will always help.

It is important to live life with a right perspective.

Therefore…

Let us always continually fix our eyes on Jesus… the author and perfector of our faith.

When we look outward and upward, (to One WHO IS greater) our view will always be broader, higher, deeper, wider…

When we look inward at our difficulties, our faults and failings… our view is lower, inferior, lessor, narrower…

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal…