Have you got a problem you can’t fix?
– you may need a miracle, a healing, a reconciliation but the odds don’t look good.
Don’t Try to Work it out yourself..’Lean not on your own understanding.’
You’ve Got to Mean Business
My kiwi flatmate once told me a little story. She was buying a property in Romsey Victoria. She met a Real estate agent who told her the story of when his son was diagnosed with some hideous disease, leukemia? Anyway he went to a large church in the city and poured his heart out to God in a simple statement. ‘I will give you all my money (which was round a million) if you would just heal my son.’ He cried out with all his heart. From behind him in the empty church came a voice. The man looked around to see an old lady, ‘God has heard your prayer’ she said. He was kneeling and turned back to the front. On turning back again, the old woman had disappeared, or made a unnaturally quick exit.
The miracle happened. The boy was healed. Don’t know whether the man lost or gave the money but I suspect he didn’t need to, knowing God’s grace.
‘Whoever calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved.’
Get a Word from God about your situation
Easier said than done… ask God for a specific word for your situation, the jargon is ‘rhema’ and seek and expect to find the answer. It may come through the Bible, through friends, children, TV, any number of ways.. even through nature.
‘Delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.’
Keep a clear conscience. Forgive those who sin against you and God will hear you from heaven. If unforgiveness remains it’s like a barrier between you and God.
Believe that He is. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
If wanting healing. There are spiritual gifts listed in Paul’s Letters and one is the gift of healing. Look out for those with that gift and get them to pray for you. Even in a large church they’re not easily identifiable. Ask God.
Pour Your Heart out.
The following excerpt shows an example of one sentence that changed God’s mind. It also shows a relationship (from the New International Version)
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
His Mercies are new Every Morning and …
all power is in his hand despite the mess we create
He Knows
When you feel as if you’re under siege with a spate of events that knock you one by one, read the book of Job. He is the ultimate example of suffering and he was blameless. His well meaning friends came up with their theories as to why this was happening. And they were all wrong. Job passed all the tests, nor did he blaspheme as his wife suggested. Job went on to be restored though nothing could bring back his children. Job said ‘Though he slay me yet will I trust him.’ Like in the Refiners fire Job came forth as pure gold.
Thursday 28 June 2007
Saturday 23 June 2007
Sorry it is So...
I apologise to all you blog readers out there for the fact that I am writing through my own peculiar glasses or my autobiography. I know that’s what blogs are for, but just browsing at other blogs is a stark reminder of the uniqueness of the individual.
Having a quick flick through The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People also, I had to remind myself: Seek to understand before seeking to be understood.
Listening is divine.
As human beings we may have similar basic needs and desires and spiritual vacuums seeking to be filled but the tastes and talents of the human race are infinite. Assuming stuff about you is likely to leave me with ‘egg on my face’.
I suppose that’s what comments are for. This site is not SEOd and so I don’t attract much traffic. As I am studying this subject for other reasons may be one day I will apply tricks of the trade for lots of visitors apart from content, and with it negative comments as well as hopefully uplifting ones.
Having a quick flick through The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People also, I had to remind myself: Seek to understand before seeking to be understood.
Listening is divine.
As human beings we may have similar basic needs and desires and spiritual vacuums seeking to be filled but the tastes and talents of the human race are infinite. Assuming stuff about you is likely to leave me with ‘egg on my face’.
I suppose that’s what comments are for. This site is not SEOd and so I don’t attract much traffic. As I am studying this subject for other reasons may be one day I will apply tricks of the trade for lots of visitors apart from content, and with it negative comments as well as hopefully uplifting ones.
Friday 22 June 2007
How to Make Decisions
Some people are blessed with the ability to know instinctively how to make the right decisions. I had this idea today that okay if I had to choose between drinking tea and coffee I would have to use my imagination to taste both and then make a decision.
Then I thought may be decision making has a lot to do with the power of imagination. Anyway I am very decisive as a rule - does that mean I have a strong imagination? Probably. That doesn’t help those of you who are undecided and who probably hesitate for the main reason that you are wise and don’t want to make a mistake. Some mistakes are costly but then you can learn from them.
Some of us find out too late that despite everything appearing rosy the decision in retrospect was a bad one. I’ve done that with some major decisions but life is full of opportunities and by God’s grace, second chances.
One thing I have learned is that your gut feelings are the ones to go by. A feeling of chaos or unrest when considering something is a definite ‘no’ for me and, again contemplating a choice which gives me a sense of genuine peace is the way to go.
I also bear in mind this Scripture: ‘Acknowledge Him in all your ways and he will direct your paths.’
Recently I was in limbo about buying a pair of shoes. I was swinging between the idea of the bigger pair and the smaller pair. There was no in-between and they were on special! My heart said buy the smaller pair, my logic said ‘no get the bigger pair and I can put insoles in them, thick socks etc. Well I bought the larger pair, wore them once, felt like Bozo , ‘some clown from the 60s’ (George Costanza), and haven’t worn them since. As I see those shoes I sigh. I learnt a valuable lesson as there is no exchange at that shop.
Then I thought may be decision making has a lot to do with the power of imagination. Anyway I am very decisive as a rule - does that mean I have a strong imagination? Probably. That doesn’t help those of you who are undecided and who probably hesitate for the main reason that you are wise and don’t want to make a mistake. Some mistakes are costly but then you can learn from them.
Some of us find out too late that despite everything appearing rosy the decision in retrospect was a bad one. I’ve done that with some major decisions but life is full of opportunities and by God’s grace, second chances.
One thing I have learned is that your gut feelings are the ones to go by. A feeling of chaos or unrest when considering something is a definite ‘no’ for me and, again contemplating a choice which gives me a sense of genuine peace is the way to go.
I also bear in mind this Scripture: ‘Acknowledge Him in all your ways and he will direct your paths.’
Recently I was in limbo about buying a pair of shoes. I was swinging between the idea of the bigger pair and the smaller pair. There was no in-between and they were on special! My heart said buy the smaller pair, my logic said ‘no get the bigger pair and I can put insoles in them, thick socks etc. Well I bought the larger pair, wore them once, felt like Bozo , ‘some clown from the 60s’ (George Costanza), and haven’t worn them since. As I see those shoes I sigh. I learnt a valuable lesson as there is no exchange at that shop.
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Desal Disaster?
Inge Light sent me this today
Desalination No Answer to Water Crisis - WWF
GENEVA - Removing salt from sea water to overcome a worldwide shortage of drinking water could end up worsening the crisis, environmental group WWF warned on Tuesday.
Desalination, the filtering and evaporation of sea water, is very energy-intensive and involves significant emissions of greenhouse gases that scientists say are a factor in the shrinking supplies of freshwater, the Swiss-based group said. Spain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and other arid countries should rely more on water conservation and recycling and avoid huge desalination projects that have been linked to pollution and ecosystem damage.
'The quite possibly mistaken lure of widespread water availability from desalination ... has the potential to drive a major misdirection of public attention, policy and funds away from the pressing need to use all water wisely," it said.
Concerns about global warming, which could exacerbate droughts and erode the world's icecaps and glaciers, which provide 69 percent of global freshwater supplies, are expected to spur investments in the technology.
Some farmers have used water from desalination to grow "unsuitably thirsty crops in fundamentally dry areas," the WWF said, an unsustainable trend given its high energy costs: "It seems unlikely that desalinated agriculture is economic anywhere".
'Regions still have cheaper, better and complementary ways to supply water that are less risky to the environment," it said.
The WWF, or World Wildlife Fund, estimated there were more than 10,000 desalination plants around the world. It said the sector would likely grow exponentially in coming years as governments seek to supply water to fast-growing arid areas in the United States, India, China and elsewhere.
Half of the world's desalination capacity is in the Gulf area, where wealthy oil-producing nations use it for about 60 percent of their water needs.
Australian cities have also relied heavily on the technology and Spain has used it extensively to support real estate development, agriculture and even golf courses along its Mediterranean coast.
Large-scale desalination engineering could also endanger sea life, the WWF said, urging further research into the tolerance of marine organisms and ecosystems to higher salinity and brine waste, byproducts of the salt removal process.
While desalination could have important uses in some cases, such as environments with brackish water, the WWF said that big plants ought to be approved only in circumstances where they meet a real need and must be built and operated in a way that minimises broader environmental damage.
Story by Laura MacInnis
Story Date: 19/6/2007
All Contents© Reuters News Service 2007
Check out Planet Ark on the web at www.planetark.com
Desalination No Answer to Water Crisis - WWF
GENEVA - Removing salt from sea water to overcome a worldwide shortage of drinking water could end up worsening the crisis, environmental group WWF warned on Tuesday.
Desalination, the filtering and evaporation of sea water, is very energy-intensive and involves significant emissions of greenhouse gases that scientists say are a factor in the shrinking supplies of freshwater, the Swiss-based group said. Spain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and other arid countries should rely more on water conservation and recycling and avoid huge desalination projects that have been linked to pollution and ecosystem damage.
'The quite possibly mistaken lure of widespread water availability from desalination ... has the potential to drive a major misdirection of public attention, policy and funds away from the pressing need to use all water wisely," it said.
Concerns about global warming, which could exacerbate droughts and erode the world's icecaps and glaciers, which provide 69 percent of global freshwater supplies, are expected to spur investments in the technology.
Some farmers have used water from desalination to grow "unsuitably thirsty crops in fundamentally dry areas," the WWF said, an unsustainable trend given its high energy costs: "It seems unlikely that desalinated agriculture is economic anywhere".
'Regions still have cheaper, better and complementary ways to supply water that are less risky to the environment," it said.
The WWF, or World Wildlife Fund, estimated there were more than 10,000 desalination plants around the world. It said the sector would likely grow exponentially in coming years as governments seek to supply water to fast-growing arid areas in the United States, India, China and elsewhere.
Half of the world's desalination capacity is in the Gulf area, where wealthy oil-producing nations use it for about 60 percent of their water needs.
Australian cities have also relied heavily on the technology and Spain has used it extensively to support real estate development, agriculture and even golf courses along its Mediterranean coast.
Large-scale desalination engineering could also endanger sea life, the WWF said, urging further research into the tolerance of marine organisms and ecosystems to higher salinity and brine waste, byproducts of the salt removal process.
While desalination could have important uses in some cases, such as environments with brackish water, the WWF said that big plants ought to be approved only in circumstances where they meet a real need and must be built and operated in a way that minimises broader environmental damage.
Story by Laura MacInnis
Story Date: 19/6/2007
All Contents© Reuters News Service 2007
Check out Planet Ark on the web at www.planetark.com
Friday 8 June 2007
What Matters?
All that matters in this life is RELATIONSHIPS.
This was the first point I read in Simon McIntyre’s book, ‘Know All.’ Pondering this idea is life changing because it puts things into perspective. It’s nice to have a roof over our heads, clothes and food but that’s not what counts. When we develop healthy relationships we can achieve so much more than a lone ranger. And it’s not even about achieving.
And it’s not about us or how many friends we have but about seeing ourselves as God sees us – valuable and out of that comes respect and love for others either for a small circle or on a larger scale.
If we are in partnership with God and others there’s a better chance we will do the special things designed for us. And hopefully keep a good attitude while doing it. We are carefully placed, as in a jigsaw puzzle. Occasionally we will experience the harsh sandpaper effect certain others will have on us but it is for our benefit.
Some Legacies...
A guest speaker at a recent women’s conference, Marie Cartledge (who was married to the late great Australian faith man David Cartledge) said ‘It’s all about what you leave behind,’ the legacy. Everything else melts away.
David had brain cancer and though he couldn’t read, write or even talk in the end, out of his Spirit came songs to God on his way out. What a sweet man he was. He left a great impression in the earth. I knew him a little from brief phone conversations over 5 years when he wrote articles for Evangel/Now magazine where I worked. I had a file of his photos going back and when he formed Southern Cross Bible College, Melbourne, I enrolled.
And then there’s the wonderful lady Irene Gleeson who as a widow took off overseas sat under a tree in Uganda and drew orphans to herself. One day as she sat in a caravan some aggressive natives burst in. She called on God and was saved from what could have been. Now, what has grown from small beginnings is a phenomenal work - orphanages, water wells etc. Those beautiful children will grow into fine adults because of Irene – not by herself but in partnership with God. Of course she's still going strong. Her heart was with those orphans. We can’t all be ‘Irenes’ but find our own niche. We can all be as Rev Awdrey says ‘really useful engines’ from Thomas the Tank Engine. Sorry, couldn’t help the comparison.
This was the first point I read in Simon McIntyre’s book, ‘Know All.’ Pondering this idea is life changing because it puts things into perspective. It’s nice to have a roof over our heads, clothes and food but that’s not what counts. When we develop healthy relationships we can achieve so much more than a lone ranger. And it’s not even about achieving.
And it’s not about us or how many friends we have but about seeing ourselves as God sees us – valuable and out of that comes respect and love for others either for a small circle or on a larger scale.
If we are in partnership with God and others there’s a better chance we will do the special things designed for us. And hopefully keep a good attitude while doing it. We are carefully placed, as in a jigsaw puzzle. Occasionally we will experience the harsh sandpaper effect certain others will have on us but it is for our benefit.
Some Legacies...
A guest speaker at a recent women’s conference, Marie Cartledge (who was married to the late great Australian faith man David Cartledge) said ‘It’s all about what you leave behind,’ the legacy. Everything else melts away.
David had brain cancer and though he couldn’t read, write or even talk in the end, out of his Spirit came songs to God on his way out. What a sweet man he was. He left a great impression in the earth. I knew him a little from brief phone conversations over 5 years when he wrote articles for Evangel/Now magazine where I worked. I had a file of his photos going back and when he formed Southern Cross Bible College, Melbourne, I enrolled.
And then there’s the wonderful lady Irene Gleeson who as a widow took off overseas sat under a tree in Uganda and drew orphans to herself. One day as she sat in a caravan some aggressive natives burst in. She called on God and was saved from what could have been. Now, what has grown from small beginnings is a phenomenal work - orphanages, water wells etc. Those beautiful children will grow into fine adults because of Irene – not by herself but in partnership with God. Of course she's still going strong. Her heart was with those orphans. We can’t all be ‘Irenes’ but find our own niche. We can all be as Rev Awdrey says ‘really useful engines’ from Thomas the Tank Engine. Sorry, couldn’t help the comparison.
Saturday 2 June 2007
Divine Connections and Widows and Orphans
I wasn’t going to put this into my blog but when Joel Osteen talked about the story of 'Ruth' last night on Austar in a message titled Divine Connections I felt it was a timely word…
When Rick Warren wrote ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ it was so popular worldwide that a by-product was fortune and also fame. So Rick asked God what was the purpose of all this and the answer came, fame (not exact wording) comes to people who then can defend the powerless and those who can’t stand up for themselves.
After Saul’s radical conversion and a name change to Paul (what a good idea considering Christians didn’t trust him after he killed a few of them), this man wrote. ‘Pure religion and undefiled is to look after the widows and orphans’ – (among the poor, bruised and broken hearted).
When my best friend I’ll call Sue lost her sister in a head on crash, she was called upon to look after two little children and to live in a remote place. God had prepared her well, living with a single mother, being a nurse. Some Christians and others scorned her when she married her brother-in-law many years later, but she had a dream some time before which was clear and interpreted easily. She would marry John and when Sue went to church on one occasion, the teaching was on ‘Ruth.’ Ruth, a widow, went to look after her widowed mother-in-law and ended up meeting Boaz as a result. Boaz was known as the ‘kinsman redeemer’. God is merciful and rewards those who do his will. Life has its storms and we don’t always know his plans but he works everything to the good of those who love him. Sue went on to have 2 boys of her own. She is very blessed.
Jesus came to do those things he read out one day from Isaiah’s scroll after a stint in the desert: Luke 4: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.’ When Jesus was on the cross he let one of his best mates, probably John, know that he should look after Jesus’ mother. He was to be a son to Mary when she was about to lose Jesus. Mary wasn’t that old at the time and had a number of other children. Jesus was merciful in his last breath, a defender of the poor, bruised, brokenhearted such as orphans and widows and I’m sure, single parents. There was a prophecy about Him in the Old Testament, ‘a bruised reed he will not break,’ such was his mercy and gentleness.
When Rick Warren wrote ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ it was so popular worldwide that a by-product was fortune and also fame. So Rick asked God what was the purpose of all this and the answer came, fame (not exact wording) comes to people who then can defend the powerless and those who can’t stand up for themselves.
After Saul’s radical conversion and a name change to Paul (what a good idea considering Christians didn’t trust him after he killed a few of them), this man wrote. ‘Pure religion and undefiled is to look after the widows and orphans’ – (among the poor, bruised and broken hearted).
When my best friend I’ll call Sue lost her sister in a head on crash, she was called upon to look after two little children and to live in a remote place. God had prepared her well, living with a single mother, being a nurse. Some Christians and others scorned her when she married her brother-in-law many years later, but she had a dream some time before which was clear and interpreted easily. She would marry John and when Sue went to church on one occasion, the teaching was on ‘Ruth.’ Ruth, a widow, went to look after her widowed mother-in-law and ended up meeting Boaz as a result. Boaz was known as the ‘kinsman redeemer’. God is merciful and rewards those who do his will. Life has its storms and we don’t always know his plans but he works everything to the good of those who love him. Sue went on to have 2 boys of her own. She is very blessed.
Jesus came to do those things he read out one day from Isaiah’s scroll after a stint in the desert: Luke 4: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.’ When Jesus was on the cross he let one of his best mates, probably John, know that he should look after Jesus’ mother. He was to be a son to Mary when she was about to lose Jesus. Mary wasn’t that old at the time and had a number of other children. Jesus was merciful in his last breath, a defender of the poor, bruised, brokenhearted such as orphans and widows and I’m sure, single parents. There was a prophecy about Him in the Old Testament, ‘a bruised reed he will not break,’ such was his mercy and gentleness.
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