A faith, a love and a hope that's come into this world

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth. Colossians 1:3-6 NKJV

A very good friend of mine asked me if I was a "shouter" this week. Do I let people know when I'm in need? I said I'm getting better at it. I am in need now. I really want you to pray these verses for us. I asked God on the weekend why I kept crying. He said to me that He was growing in me a deeper hunger to see His Kingdom flood this earth, to see His people rise up, link arms and be His hands and feet. He told me that He takes us into these deep places of emotional rawness to compel us with His heart for freedom and power in the lives of people. His heart is deep. Tapping into it can leave me shaky. I was shaking while playing the keys at church on Sunday. I watched my hands shaking and realised God is doing something new in me. My yearning desire is that this new thing will reverberate throughout my surroundings...This morning God encouraged me that His fruit has been amoung us since the day we heard and knew of His grace...

I've added a new link to this page - I'm slowly uploading the pages of a book that's been brewing inside of me since going through my darkest days almost four years ago now. It's called The Women of Virtue and it's a work in progress. I strongly believe that nothing with lasting impact comes without a story behind it worth telling. There is purpose in everything.

Fruit for the giver

For even in Thessalonīca you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphrodītus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:16-19 NKJV

I love Gods economy. In this passage it's the people doing the giving who end up getting their needs supplied. I am privileged to have as friends amazing givers who haven't waited till they had money to spare but often gave out of their own lack - God has supplied all their needs! There are so many testimonies out there of God's provision!

What's found at the end of my rope

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13 NKJV

I read these verses Saturday morning in the midst of chaos at home. Hubby has done something to his back that's kept him flat, and running a household of six with one man down is...stressful...but the show must go on - there are still babies to feed, clean, love and nurture, oh, and a church to pastor! I've had these words running through my head constantly - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Actually, at the moment I can't imagine doing anything other than lying in bed apart from Christ who strengthens me!

Reading these verses again today I was struck by this idea of people having opportunity to show they care. Amidst the tears there have been moves of kindness that have left me awestruck by the beauty of friendship and the depth of mate ship - near and far, some even intercontinental.

Thinking on things

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy— meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Pilippians 4:8,9 NKJV

I will never forget when one of my all-time heroes, my Nana, taught me this passage - I took it to heart and began throwing out things that didn't measure up. Dodgy music, grotty romance novels, I even made a point of not picking up trashy magazines in doctors clinics! The impact this began to have on my thought life was amazing! Things that had formerly been a bit of an escape became unattractive and I found myself filling my head instead with inspiring dreams, creative and uplifting ideas, plans to encourage people rather than complain...the list goes on. And the God of peace, the very source of all these ideas, has been backing them all along the way!