Destiny

P 2260 Kingdom farming!

/ DVH

Matthew 13:31-32 “He (Jesus) told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

The kingdom of God it is described by the Lord, as being like many things: a treasure, a pearl, many seeds, family treasure, leaven, sprouting seeds, a net, and for today’s blog – a mustard seed. The more we tend to His kingdom in our lives, the bigger it grows. The more we cultivate, acknowledge, and obediently interact with His kingdom in our lives, the more we will grow. This means that other people can come to our little ‘kingdom of God mustard tree’ and shelter in its safety.

We don’t make this tree grow by ourselves – the ground it is planted in does. A whole lot of people move around from one church to another in Christian circles, because they decide they don’t like the soil they were planted in! Imagine a tree that moves around?? In His kingdom we do not grow because of the soil – we grow as we accept that it is our destiny to grow, and dry ground or rocks provide us with the opportunity to adapt and grow stronger. 

Every time you and I do whatever the Lord says in the book, on purpose, His way … we are nourishing the kingdom of God within us. Just like we would fertilise and water a mustard seed plant. That seed inside us is nurtured by  obedience and by us choosing to abide where we were planted. Saying ‘no’ to yourself in difficult moments, and ‘yes’ to God’s way, can seem very insignificant, but when we live that way, we are providing the right atmosphere for the Kingdom of God to grow inside us. We are abiding!

Sadly, we can’t just speak about growth and claim it, and hope it will magically appear. Like I said a tree when it has been planted – does not pull up its roots if it doesn’t like the spot it is in and go walk-about. It yields to and adapts to its circumstances. This means WE will need to change. The major point of this parable is that this particular seed is destined for greater things. It is there to grow and provide safety for others. When we have deep roots, our ‘tree’ won’t just flop over when a storm hits. Storms, I have decided, are inevitable. We cannot prevent them. Despite all our efforts to the contrary, we can’t control much of anything. Sadly, in some circumstances, we can’t even control ourselves!

It is also important to take the time to meditate on the fact that His kingdom has no end. So every time we co-operate with His kingdom coming into our lives, we are touching the eternal… and the eternal is touching us. Like I said before, we are providing for others when we live this way. I’ve watched this happen through my husband’s attitude toward strangers. He believes in the kingdom of God within Him and He knows God wants to touch others! 

Recently our bank changed its system. Yay! We were told if we did thus and thus all would be well. Naturally, we promptly did thus and thus – BUT … all was not well! The bank had provided for this time of change by listing a number we could call. Hubby called the number. But as he was talking with the bank operator, he empathised with her about what a tough day she must be having, because she had to deal with so many calls. Hubby cared for her, instead of getting grumpy because this new system inconvenienced us. She opened up to him like a sunflower. The young lady came into his mustard tree’s shade and was able to rest. For a few minutes she was free from having to explain her work’s policy and she was able to be herself. They had a great chat and in the end, all was finally well!

Matthew 13:10-12 says this: “The disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance…”

The way to get an abundance of His love to give away, and provide shelter for others, is to cherish and nurture His kingdom within us. His kingdom must go deep inside us – this means it will challenge and expose flaws and hindrances to growth. But many many people will find rest, comfort, encouragement, healing and a greater knowledge of God Himself in our own personal mustard tree. This is why we need to be good Kingdom farmers – so people can personally, “…taste and see that the Lord is good!” 🌳 Bye 👋🏻

P 2253 One step at a time.

/ DVH

Our God is overwhelmingly limitless … so we must never limit what He is able to do with one person who is prepared to live their life for Jesus’ sake!  I love the Old Testament, there are huge glimpses of Almighty God’s Personhood for those who take the time to look.

Take the book of Job – he was a happy man. Then God and satan had a word war over what was the source of Job’s happiness. Job lost everything he owned, plus his wife, kids and friends! Then God did an amazing thing – He showed Job the difference between man’s wisdom and HIS. Almighty God shifted Job’s reliance over to Himself, and He made Job’s faith even deeper by revealing Himself. One step at a time.

Moses was a murderer. He ran away from his destiny as Pharaoh’s adopted son. Instead he was living a happy, quiet life, looking after his father-in-law’s sheep … when God confronted him. Through Moses we see how God handles perceived problems, situations and people. We get insight into His Ways. Our God moved that man from shepherding sheep, to boldly confronting Pharaoh and demanding that he let his Israelite slaves go. Moses followed the Lord’s instructions … one step at a time.

Gideon was another ordinary man, living an ordinary little life. He was hiding grain from the multitude known as the Midianites. The conversations that Gideon had with an angel the Lord sent, show us the way Almighty God takes into account our character, our weaknesses. The Midianites stomped all over the Jewish people, they stole everything that wasn’t nailed down, but God used an ordinary fellow to defeat the very people who oppressed them. One step at a time – that’s how the Lord taught Gideon. 

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were simple fishermen. But their Heavenly Father had other plans. One day an itinerant Teacher turned up and told them to follow Him, so they did. They saw more in their lifetimes than they ever imagined they could. God gave them a commission they couldn’t turn down, and they followed it – one step at a time.

Stephen in Acts, was Greek. He waited on tables, looking after widows and orphans, then God made him a deacon. He taught others about Christ, by what he did and said. Then he was arrested, and ended up preaching the gospel, going from Moses to Jesus in front of all the religious leaders of that day. A brilliant sermon. They promptly hated every word he said – and even as he lay dying, surrounded by their rocks, he pointed to their Messiah. He did all this … one step at a time.

Paul was killing Christians when God knocked him to the ground and made him blind. Truth be told, that man was already blind, spiritually! And Almighty God just let his outsides match his insides for a few days. However Paul was irrevocably changed by that encounter. He went into God’s private bible school – the accelerated course – for three years, and then he trundled all over the known world. He also spent time in jail on and off, and he wrote letters that are still changing our world. One step at a time.

I could go on and on – Mary was simply a devoted peasant girl. She had ordinary plans for her life, and Almighty God interrupted them with His own plans to bring His Son into this world. Esther was the town pretty girl, and God had plans to make her a queen so she could save her nation. Ruth was a widow, and so was her mother-in-law – yet God made her one of Jesus direct fore-bearers. Ordinary people living ordinary lives until an extraordinary limitless God transformed them all into sign-posts, keys, and examples of what His Grace can do with an ordinary life – one step at a time.

My point today is this: … what does He want to do with your life?? We will never know our real purpose for being here in this world, outside of His plans. Our lives may be ordinary and hidden – but when we read the Old and the New Testament, these people who went before us, are a blazing flashing neon sign in the sky that our God can do anything …if we will just follow Him … one step at a time. When we follow Jesus we don’t arrive, we begin a journey … one step at a time.

Will you let Him use you? It is highly unlikely that most of us will have a book written about our God-given exploits – but I believe, in heaven, there are books and books and books. Why? Because the things we do down here, are the things of faith, and they point to Jesus, just as surely as Job, Moses, Gideon, Paul, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Stephen, Mary, Esther and Ruth’s faith steps did… one step at a time. 👋🏻 

P 2237 Becoming like Jesus is meant to be costly.

/ DVH

Philippians 2:5-11 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,… 

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus is our example.The bible tells us that He had a singular mindset. He had a job to do and He did it. Even though He IS God, He did not use that fact to His own advantage. Imagine that. He had a special place with Almighty God’s favour and He did not use it to benefit Himself. Wow. That sure turns some theology on its head eh? Not only did He centre His thoughts on His Father’s agenda for His life, and subsequent death, Christ actively made Himself nothing. Some people around Him at that time were so unimpressed by Him that they could not accept who He was … because His Facebook page was not well liked. He only had 12 followers!

God Himself becoming a man is HUGE. Then Jesus topped that by serving us while He was here, and after He left! I get annoyed at people who take what the Lord did and use it to try and nag Him to give them this that or the other. How can we call ourselves His followers when we are looking for some benefit or angle? We are here to serve, both the Lord as well as each other – anything else is classified as… ‘all these things shall be added unto you …!’ 

But first, comes the kingdom. The Christian life is about focus. Every now and then we all need a reality check, what is our central focus? Devotion to Christ and His words – or –  whatever will be to my advantage? Christianity is not a gimme club. It is a conscious conviction and choice that this life is not all there is, so we choose to use our time here to do the things we’ve personally been assigned, to further His kingdom. Whatever that looks like, wherever you happen to be. 

In the past 8 days His love looked like my husband cooking all the meals, and driving 1500 kms with a sore hand. Unfortunately I was unwell for most of the time we were away, I am still wrangling with my health now, so I was no help to him. He did all of it so gladly without complaining. Plus he did stuff like loading up the car, then unloading it. 

He has to help me with showers – showers are often the wrong shape for someone like me – climbing into a bath to take a shower is like climbing Mt. Everest – forget about how slippery it is! He prepares all the food, we do not eat the same things, so he prepares 2 meals for every single meal. He got up at least twice during the night for 5 nights in a row to get cold packs for my vastly overheated face. Yet he STILL stopped for the one in front of us over and over again, as the Lord led us. My hubby is my inspiration. He has visibly taught me to love others in a sacrificial fashion because of his daily efforts to facilitate my life. 

In our time away we gave away 386 things, in 6 days – I was so unwell for 2 other days he had to look after me. Those thing included 285 bibles, 21 bookmarks, plus three $30 supermarket cards, 4 thank you cards with $5 for coffee for the maids and cleaners. We spoke to people in caravan parks, motels, as well as a women’s refuge, and a shelter for the homeless. We left at least three people who had never ever read the bible before, with a bible and they said they were going to read it right away. I wonder if we realise that it is not easy for non-Christians to find a bible in today’s society. Even if the person went looking for one there are too many other things to distract them!

Hubby also gave away 9 of his paintings. The recipients cried. Some of them had tears dripping off their faces, and others started to cry the minute he began to speak. We also gave 12 prophetic words to totally unchurched people. I said all that to finally say this – if we do not go – who will tell them? Jesus humbled Himself, and became a man just like us, to give us the power to humble ourselves and become like Him. You won’t find a finer destiny than that one. 👋🏻

P 2158 Hope.

/ DVH

The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of things to come, as well as our treasure – right here, right now. We need to treat His favour as our greatest prize. The Holy Spirit’s continual Presence with us, is Father God’s gift to us. He is guiding us, teaching us, and assuring us, that we belong to the Lord Jesus, over and over again  That is a far greater treasure than all the wealth in this world. 

One day we will leave our mortal bodies behind and go to be with Jesus forever. So right now, even if our bodies, emotions, or minds betray us, we can rest in the fact that we are not alone, without hope or help. Our help is in the Name of the Lord Who made heaven and earth! Our hope is in Jesus our Saviour, our Redeemer, our Friend. Our hope is in the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us to help us manage this life, from one minute to the next. Our hope is that THEY ARE ALWAYS FAITHFUL… It’s in the book!

2 Corinthians 5:5:  “And this is no empty hope, for God Himself is the One who has prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, He has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee.” Our hope is not empty, because it is not about feelings, it is about an utterly reliable Person! He is our constant companion. God gave us the Holy Spirit so we could have His hope in the midst of difficulties. Just call out for His help at any time.

The Holy Spirit is SomeOne we can rely on, because He put the sun, moon and stars in the sky. Plus He made you and I inside our mother’s wombs. While we are here on this earth, we are continually assured and surrounded by His Love and involvement – whether we feel like it or not! His Presence in our lives is our guarantee that God is in charge, He’s got you and me firmly in His hands. Like the infant in my picture today.

Things around us can change in a heartbeat but He will never change. There are moments when we desperately need to escape from difficult circumstances, because our flesh can grow tired. However, we can escape despair by remembering WHO GAVE US THOSE PROMISES.  Let’s look at this life through the eyes of faith – the Holy Spirit gave them to us. There is no room for fear in His kind of love, even though we have been attacked on every side, and we feel like all is lost, our feelings are not facts. But the bible is a book full of facts about our God.

The Love of God, and the Presence of His Holy Spirit is so all encompassing, He is all over us, IN us, and around us. So when we use our eyes of faith we can see Him at work. I put the picture above today to illustrate what enfolded means. It means wrapped around, surrounded so carefully you can barely see that little child’s feet – because the parent’s strong hands are enfolding them. The Holy Spirit wraps Himself around us like a cocoon wraps itself around a butterfly. We are safe inside His care. His Presence within us reassures us, over and over again, that we belong to Him now. Always. We are held so completely, so tightly by His Love, that love fills our vision. Remember, what you focus on grows bigger – focus on the One Who has come to be with us here and now and He will never leave us. 

Let His love enfold you, this very second. Then continually practice hiding in that love. Especially when the world misunderstands you, ignores you, or abuses you. We are NOW enfolded into Christ. When Father God looks at us He sees Jesus. V14: “For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly, because we are convinced that He has given His life for all of us…” V17-19 “… Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to Himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God.”

This is our message of hope – God is not mad at people. The Holy Spirit has come here personally to help human beings every single day to discover more about the God of heaven and earth Who saved them. Our HOPE lies in Christ and everything He has already done for us. 👋🏻  

P 2134 How old are we, again?

/ DVH

“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I SET ASIDE my childish ways. For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”  1 Corinthians  13:4-13 TPT

Here is a further point from that same chapter -V31b: “And now I will show you a superior way to live that is beyond comparison …”  That verse comes under the heading: ‘LOVE IS INDISPENSABLE.’  Hmmm. All this could need a great deal of thought and prayer. I put the biggest part of this chapter in Corinthians here today because we need to constantly revise what love looks like to Father God. We don’t get to define it, He does. And just because we don’t always feel like it, that doesn’t mean He didn’t give it! ✝️ We will have to exercise our faith.

However, love does not look like tolerating someone. Sometimes the childish things we bring into adulthood, come from inter-personal attitudes we’ve developed over the years from having to deal with difficult people who did not want to change. Maybe they did not understand us, or we did not understand them … and yet we need to still interact with them. Some of us will want to fight with them, and others are resigned to letting them win because, sigh, it seems like they always do. Suffice to say neither of those responses qualify as the kind of love the Lord is looking for! What to do? Choose to grow up! Realise that your bad temper or pouting as a child had a limited shelf-life …a-n-d …determine in your heart to put it away. The Holy Spirit will help you, but He won’t do it for you!

Just because your teacher, parent, pastor, youth leader hadn’t met someone like you before, that does not mean you must remain stuck back there with that kind of disapproval from the past. Hold the Holy Spirit’s hand and walk out of that childish place, forgiving these people with every single step you take. However, don’t be like many people  who are constantly being healed from their past, but they never actually arrive at being whole in the present! Sometimes you’ve just got to be bigger than that other person! That’s what maturity looks like, and it can hurt like crazy. But otherwise you will stay stuck in the prison that someone else designed for you, to keep you under control, and you will give up your God-given freedom to bloom where He planted you. 

There is nothing sadder than a mature person with childish manipulations and attitudes. Our new life of love is not meant to be controlled by anyone but Jesus. And He started out as a baby and then He grew up to be a MAN. He had plenty happen to Him that He could have let limit His personhood! Somewhere in there Jesus Christ, who started His life as a poor refugee, and went on to become the family bread winner, who was raised by a single mother. Let the bible decide who you are, not your feelings.

The Lord’s kind of Love is a tall order and it isn’t weak or able to be manipulated. Jesus believed in absolutes so He didn’t tack codicils onto the end of the laws given by Moses! Things like: “Of course you are exempt from being  changed because your parent didn’t care about you when you were little. Poor you.” God saved us because He loved us like 1 Corinthians 13 says, and the cross was His final word on that subject. I’ve seen so many bright and shiny Christian stars fall from the sky because they did not learn to deal with themselves. It takes humility to put away the past and be changed, and it will continue to take humility until we die. Learning to be humble is not fun…

… and forgiving the people who hurt you is just the beginning. After that we have to go past forgiveness and march right on into God’s kind of Love – by our choices. We are so blessed to have an on-the-spot Helper Who knows how to get us there! Father God daily gives us His love, grace and forgiveness so we can give it away to other people who don’t deserve it either. There are no small sins or big sins – there is remaining in Christ Jesus in fellowship with the Holy Spirit – or not. Just because the Lord does not shout at us to stop behaving like a three year old, that does not mean He is winking at the way we treat other people! We can’t blame Mummy or Daddy or the State any more. We are responsible for our own responses and the way we treat others. 

Personally, I have to repent, and backtrack all the time because my own unresolved childish responses can get in the way. But we are destined for far more – so we cannot get stuck in the past: Ephesians 4:13, NIV: ‘… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Let us not let our earlier bumpy life catch us up in childish responses that prevent us from going on into why we are still here on earth! 👋🏻