Three aspects of love

Recently the word 'love' has come up in a blogger friend's post.  The strange thing is that for days I have been singing the song  'A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you'.
I have several of my poems and pics in my workroom that speak of love so I thought I would put three of them in this post.  One of them I may have put in a blog post a while back, I am not sure. They speak of different aspects of love.

 

The first one is a love that a person would feel for a person they desire to spend their lives with, put in a romantic way.

 

PILLOW OF DREAMS

 

If I could take a blackbird's song and threads of golden twine   

and lily pads of palest green from ponds like sparkling wine

with fragrant herb and meadow grass and drops of morning dew

I'd make a pillow soft and fair and lie and dream with you

We'd dream of walking on a path of wonder and delight

midst fragrant rose and hyacinth where there would be no night

We'd bathe in crystal rivers 'twixt banks of luscious green

see dragon flies with whisper wings of colours never seen

We'd roam on hills of heather, no shoes upon our feet

and time would never matter ......life would be so sweet

I'd send my gift on swallows' wings, no words would need be said

For all the love I have for you would lie beneath your head

 

 

The second one is a love that I have received from my husband all our married life, a kindness that automatically causes someone to do something for someone they love ( put in a humorous way:-) )  This was a poem that I put in an anniversary card I sent to him.

YOU'VE JUST GOT A PEST

I'd like to send you special thanks for all you've done for me
and to wish you on our special day 'Happy anniversary'
But there's just one thing I'll ask of you before you settle down
Would you fix the carburettor so that I can drive to town?
and find a lead to trail behind to combat all that static
and when you've finished with the car put floorboards in the attic
And if you think these jobs are small, to do them you are able
would you go into our bedroom and mend my dressing table
Please don't think I'm nagging you or taking you for granted
I know you've laid the patio but the lavender's not planted
But after all is said and done I think that I'm quite blessed
to have a husband good and kind when you've just got a PEST !!!

The third poem is about a love that is above and beyond all that my heart could desire.  It is the love of God that I encountered when I became born again of God's Spirit through believing in His Son Jesus and being baptized.  I had to learn, and am continuing to learn, God's ways through the teaching of the Holy Spirit,  and know that His thoughts and ways are far above my carnal ways and thoughts.

YOUR LOVE IS .......
 
Your love is a power, a life giving line
that stretches from Heaven to this heart of mine
giving life to a soul that once was dead
lifting hands that hung down as if weighted with lead
and causing a tongue that sang only of fear
to sing a new song to all who will hear
Now this heart responds to Your love that heals pain
like a rose that unfolds to the gentle rain
My soul awakens and leaves the grave
reborn by Your Word that came to save
With hands lifted high, all heaviness gone
I honour my Saviour the Holy One
My tongue praises God for His two edged sword
and the song that I sing says .....
'Jesus is Lord'



'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you'   John ch. 15 v.13

 I continue to say .....

 

 

 

Is tradition cancelling out truth?

A few nights ago I had a very vivid dream.  I was stood outside the door of an office in a church.  Inside the office was  a man who had been allotted as the pastor of the church.  I had some money in my hand that I knew I had to give him, but he would not open the door to receive it.  It was as if in the dream I could see through the door and the man was sat at his desk, knowing that I was there with the money, but had no intention of getting up to come and collect it.

When I awoke the dream spoke spiritually to me almost immediately.  The spiritual meaning of money, as in silver and gold, is 'wisdom and knowledge (or understanding)', and if we have been given any spiritual wisdom or knowledge to share for the good of the church then it must be shared.  In my dream my gift of 'wisdom and knowledge' was not being allowed to be shared, as the person in charge was not accepting it.   This is not scriptural.

1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 7-11 states:-

'Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.'

 

This was the second vivid dream that I have had over the last few weeks speaking of gifts given by God .  The first one was as follows:-

I was stood in front of a man, holding in my hand a sheet of paper on which was written a song that I felt God had brought me to write some time back.  I suddenly put the sheet of paper down the front of the man's tee shirt up against his chest.  After a while I reached into his tee shirt to take it back, but it was not there. 
 I awoke knowing the meaning of that dream also.  I believe I was being shown that whatever God gives us to share is not ours to keep.  The song referred to not letting our hearts be hardened regarding learning the Father's ways, and that is why I believe it was put against the man's heart.

 

Both of these dreams have spoken to me about the necessity of, and reason for sharing, the gifts that have been given to each of us, as stated in the following two verses in the New Testament, and many more.

 

 

Ephesians ch. 4 v.12:-
 'to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up'

1 Peter ch.4 v.10:-
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others..."

Revelation ch. 22 vs. 18-19 states:-

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

If things are added to or taken away from scripture, then it adds to or takes away from the word of God.  Today there are many 'denominations' within the church, and within the doctrines of some of them words have been added and scripture has been taken away. 

If we jiggle some of the letters of the word 'denominations' around it can spell 'demonisation', and that is what is happening sometimes.  The devil is a liar and a thief, and can present himself as an 'angel of light' by bringing a lying spirit within the church through man made doctrines which add or take away from the truth.  A liar speaks something that is not true  and a thief takes something away,  and this is what the lying spirit is trying to do within the church.

I have this picture of my darling little cat in the garden.  I know and love my cat and recognize her no matter what might be partially hiding her.  So too do I know and love my Lord and recognize His Word of truth no matter what the spiritual enemy might be trying to add or take away from it through the doctrines of man.

Ephesians ch. 6 v. 12 says:-

'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,'


So this why we must always search the scriptures to see if what is spoken in church gatherings is true, and come together according to the instructions contained within 1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 7-11

Second chance

Once again I have felt led to repost something I wrote some years ago on my blog, to give all glory to God and His Son Jesus, and their presence in my life:-


The following is a song that I wrote after I had come to know Jesus as my Saviour, and was one of the songs I used to sing in the streets with a Christian friend.  I write this song on my blog as a testimony to the love and compassion that I have found in that Saviour.

Second chance

Listen all you people there's a story to be told
a wondrous tale of beauty talked about in days of old
It speaks about a mystery, a beautiful romance
how the God of all creation gave this world a second chance
A second chance to walk with God, to become His holy child
to be rescued from our wretchedness, and to Him be reconciled
by believing on Jesus, the lamb who was slain
that we might be accepted by the Father again
No more to be in torment, no more to be in shame
when we trust on our Saviour and the power in His name
Yes the Father sent Jesus just to save you and me
He's the bread sent from Heaven, He's the life-giving tree
So turn from your hard labour, come out from slavery
for the Son of God released you on that cross at Calvary
Don't let sin be your master, come shout sing and dance
for the Lord God of Heaven has given us a second chance

There are two other songs which I felt to put on this post.  The first one is a song in which I felt the Lord was speaking to me, and the second one is me speaking to God, in a prayer that I made, and still do make, for others.

Weep no more child

Lost in the world, I was entangled in sin and shame
Lord that was when I met You
Then from my grave I heard You calling, calling my name
with a voice that was gentle but true
'Turn around my child, and look at me'
were the words that were piercing my heart
'Turn around from your sin, be set free
come to me and make a new start'
Then water so pure and crystal clear
was washing away all my doubt and my fear
and the tears ran free, as you said to me......

'Weep no more child, I have bought your peace
I have suffered in your place
All the blows the world has dealt you
I have taken on my face
Turn around, turn around and I will forgive
Turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
Turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Strive no more child, I can bring release
I regained what you had lost
Righteousness was purchased for you
when they nailed me to that cross
Turn around, turn around, and I will forgive
Turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
Turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Sin no more child, turn and look at me
see that I have paid the price
So that you could have salvation
I became the sacrifice
Turn around, turn around and I will forgive
Turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
Turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Somewhere

Somewhere someone's hurting Lord
somewhere someone's hurting
A wife has left her husband
and he's crying in despair
he doesn't know there's a comforter
he doesn't know You're there
Lord reach out and comfort him
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's dying Lord
somewhere someone's dying
The doctors shake their heads and say
' There's nothing can be done '
but they've never seen a miracle
performed by God's own Son
Lord reach out and heal him
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love    

Somewhere someone's crying Lord
somewhere someone's crying
her tears are shed for all mankind
she knows the end is near
but she doesn't know there's a perfect love
that casts out every fear
Lord reach out and love her
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's waiting Lord
somewhere someone's waiting
They've heard there's hope in Jesus Christ
the name above them all
so they're waiting for their Lord's return
responding to Your call
Lord, you've reached out to us
God sent help from above
He sent help from His sanctuary
when He sent You, His perfect love

In my thirty five years of knowing Jesus, I have come to know, and am still learning about, that perfect love of God  that wants to change us into the image of His Son, but understands that we are flesh.  I have never come across anything so compassionate, longsuffering and powerful.  That love has the ability to change me, not by force, but by placing in me the knowledge that the change would bring about the most beautiful peace in my soul that I could ever imagine.

The Substitute

 I just feel led to repost a post I put up a few years ago, as I feel very strongly about this subject.

Where will You be Lord this Christmas

Where will You be Lord this Christmas

as far as the world is concerned

out of all that You've taught us these two thousand years

is there anything anyone's learned

Do they know that Your judgement is coming to all

do they know there's an end to Your grace

that Your Spirit will not strive forever with man

that there's always an end to a race

Can't they see all the signs of Your coming

how your truths are all being unfurled

of the earthquakes, the wars and disasters

and the lawlessness gripping this world

Have we chosen to each go our own foolish way

do we all sing our own selfish song

are we doing what's right in our own blinded eyes

even though we know You say it's wrong

Has the world turned its back on You Jesus

do they think the cross lies in the past

can't they see it was just the beginning

that the end's spinning close very fast

Yes where will You be Lord this Christmas

in a world full of darkness and sin

will Your light be shut out of so many homes

while a Santa and tinsel come in

Will they close their ears to Your knocking

while You stand at the door one more time

and will they still be stood at the chimney

when the clock makes its final chime?

 

' For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away;  so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'   Matthew ch.24 vs.38,39

 

Do we really recognize the wiles of SATAN (which rearranged spells SANTA), and have we really noticed how Jesus is being replaced at this time of year.

 

The Substitute

 

He's trying to take Your place Lord

he's been at it for many years

he says 'I come with gifts for all

I'll wipe away your tears'                          

He wears a robe of scarlet

and a smile is on his face

but no one would guess the heartache

he will bring to many a place

He shows himself late November

in each home he will surely appear

he demonstrates toys on the tele

and says 'Christmas is nearly here'

Each year they get more expensive 

a computer or chemistry set

he slowly puts pressure on parents

who are tempted to go into debt

All children are told 'Santa's coming

he's got a great bag on his back'

but nobody seems to be bothered

that daddy has just had the sack

'I'll start with the youngest children'

says the 'Tempter' in disguise

never mind if mummy is crying

as to make ends meet she tries

He's trying to take Your place Lord

as he sits inside every store

and shouts a loud 'Merry Christmas'

to each person that comes through the door

But the spirit he drinks is not Holy

and the hands he holds out do not heal

the words that he speaks bring no wisdom

and the love that he shows is not real

 

How strange he should come at Christmas

and offering gifts like You do

and he's known to many as 'father'

while a baby child represents You

But for me there is only one Father

and of Him alone will I sing

while His Son is no longer a baby

He's a two thousand year old king!

Yes he's trying to take Your place Lord

'though he knows that his time is short

but the presents he brings can never compare

to the wonderful gift You have brought

For whatever disguise he may come in

and whatever good thing he might bring

the one thing he never will offer

is salvation through JESUS the king

So never a red robed Santa

will ever adorn my front door

it's the blood of my Lord on my doorpost

brings me peace and goodwill evermore

' They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts; but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of His hands. '              
 Isaiah ch.5 v.12


Oh light of Heaven - Holy king

of whom the hosts of angels sing
rekindle flame in darkened Earth

by stirring those of second birth
to speak with boldness of the love

sent by the Father from above
                       ********
When on a night so dark and cold

was prophesy fulfilled of old
a child to maid of no renown

was born to wear man's thorny crown
to bear the shame and take the place

of mankind fallen from God's grace
                        ********
Who now, with sin beneath His feet

stands at the side of God's own seat
declaring peace forever more

to those who enter through the door
of righteousness gained by God's Son
.......the Father's gift to everyone

 

 

'and the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah ch.9 v.6

How far will you follow me?

About a week ago, early one morning, there was a loud knock on our front door (we were actually still in bed 😍).  My husband put his jeans quickly over his pyjamas and went downstairs.  A builder was at the door, with his van parked outside.  'You want a new staircase' he said.  My husband told him that it appeared he was at the wrong house.

Later, after I had got up, I noticed that the builder was two doors down, carrying equipment from his van into that house. 

As usual with me, I began to see a spiritual reference to what had happened regarding the needing of a new staircase.  It reminded me of Jacob's ladder and his connection with God.  One sentence in this story stood out to me.   God says to Jacob:-'for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.'  These words reminded me of God's promise to me of healing and His revealing to me that all His promises are 'yes' in Jesus, and increased my trust in what He has promised me.  They were showing me that in order to receive from God, and for His words to me to prove themselves true, I have to stay connected to that Word spoken (as in the 'stairway to Heaven' connection Jacob had with God), and not allow the spiritual enemy in the carnal mind to rob me of it coming to pass.
The day before yesterday I saw the words 'Don't quit' come up on the television screen, and I believe that this was a sign to encourage me in this area.  God can speak in the most amazing ways - even through an ass.
 

Yesterday morning I came down into the living room and put the television on.  I scrolled through the channels and came to a Christian channel where a man called pastor Shelley was speaking about having faith, and the importance of not giving up on that faith.  Every word he spoke and every scripture he referred to was  speaking about what I have been given by the Lord concerning my faith and the trial I have been going through for many years.  I was absolutely amazed.

I listened to him for about half an hour and then I heard my husband coming down the stairs.  There was conflict in my thoughts, part telling me to continue watching and part telling me that my husband would want something else on the television.  I allowed myself to be influenced to turn the program off and put another one on that I knew my husband liked.  Immediately I felt it was wrong, that I should carry on listening, but I had not taken note of which channel it was.  The number 587 came straight into my mind, I pressed those numbers and was taken back to pastor Shelley's programme. 

What he spoke from then to the end of the programme was all about not letting anything of man cause us to stray from the faith that God is building within us, which reminded me of myself not continuing to listen to what I believe God wanted me to listen to by being influenced to listen to what I believed my husband wanted to listen to.

 

Jesus says in Luke ch. 8 v. 10 that it has been given to His disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and goes on to explain the parable of the sower.

The parable speaks of those who hear the Word of God - there are four different 'hearers' of that Word. 

One is the hearer who has the Word taken away from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved.  He goes on to say that there are those who hear the Word, receive it with joy, but have no root and fall away in a time of testing.  Also there are those who hear the Word but are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, whose fruit does not mature.  The last ones He speaks about are 'those who hold fast the word they hear, in good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.'

 

I have to say that it is the fourth 'hearer' that I wish to identify with, and these verses are the perfect Words, especially the Words 'patient endurance', to encourage me to listen to and act on the Words God speaks to me so that my faith might increase.

 

The following  are words that I felt were spoken to me through the Holy Spirit to encourage me long ago to follow the Lord,  and to do what I believe He has called me to do, knowing that all things are possible with Him:-

How far will you follow Me
along this narrow track
When the path becomes too lonely
will you think of turning back
Will you yearn for the things you left behind
when I called you to be apart
Are there things that belong to your world of sin
lying dormant within your heart　

How far will you follow Me
along this lonely road
When you suffer man’s rejection
 will it prove too great a load
Will you stand within my guiding light
no matter where it leads
and will you listen to my Father’s voice
saying ‘ Child, go plant the seeds’　

Yes how far will you follow me
along the path to life
Will the trials be too much for you 
 of sickness and of strife
Or will you hold on fast to faith
remembering what I have said
that faith in your Lord has a power
that can even raise the dead
 

Father, I ask You in Jesus' name to continue to cause me to trust in the Words that You guide me with, keeping my eyes focused on them and not on what the carnal mind is telling me.
I pray also for brothers and sisters that may be going through trials, that Your Word will be their strength.  Amen and thank You Lord.

 

 

 

Joined as one in the Spirit

The only way we can be one with God is to be joined in the Spirit.

If we look at a crowd of people they are many, not one, because they all have separate minds which can differ immensely according to what thoughts are in those minds.  If we look at a cloud of smoke, if it separates into many pieces  by being blown by the wind in various directions it is still one, as it does not have the same issues.

This is an example to me of the difference between the carnal mind and the mind of Christ.

Something that speaks of God's promise in the scriptures is the rainbow.

In Genesis ch. 9 vs. 15-17 God says:-

'and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.' And God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.'… 

 

We now have a new covenant which is God's promise of eternal life if we believe in Jesus being the Word of God made flesh,  Who became the sacrificial lamb that enabled us to become children of God, and act on what is spoken to us daily from that Word as we work out our salvation.

I was looking out of the window of my workroom yesterday, down onto refuse bins in the street.  On top of the large bins are house numbers.  There were two on opposite sides of the road, a number 6 and a number 7.   Number 6 in the Bible symbolizes  'man', and human weakness, while number 7 represents 'completeness'.  The large number 7 on the one bin was made up of rainbow colours, and I immediately saw a message here. 

 

It is no good relying on sinful man to get rid of the spiritual rubbish inside us, we need to rely upon the promises of God (symbolized by the colour of the rainbow on the bin), which are all 'yes' in Jesus  (2 Corinthians ch.1 v.20), to get rid of the rubbish inside us.

Paul the apostle said in 2 Corinthians ch. 1 vs.18-22.

'But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.   For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.   For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.   Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,   who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.'

There is a warning in Colossians ch.2 vs.8-12:-

'Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power: In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, in which also you are risen with Him through the faith of the working of God, Who has raised Him from the dead.'

The two previous verses in this chapter -Colossians ch. 2 vs. 6 and 7 read:-

'As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.'

'Walking' in Jesus is a process that we have to work out gradually as we learn God's ways in Him through the Holy Spirit Who leads us into all truth (John ch. 16 v.13), and although we can  error as we travel on this journey (sometimes through the trickery of the enemy) God is merciful and understands we are flesh.  This was portrayed to me through an incident in my life recently.

I had been to a church about five miles away and was returning home.  As I am not used to the roads here yet I accidentally missed a turning and carried on down the road.  I came to a turning which I thought was the one which led back to our house and there was a sign saying 'Diverted traffic'.  I thought 'Oh, the road must be closed for some reason'.  I carried on down the country road following more signs saying 'Diverted traffic'  and finally came to a seaside town.  I asked a man how I could get back to where I lived and he gave me directions.

 

This incident reminded me of how we can all make mistakes on the road to salvation by missing what the Lord is saying to us sometimes.  There can be two types of diversion.  One can be that the Lord diverts us away from sin, but the other can be that the enemy diverts us from the Lord, and this is why we have to learn God's ways.  Our mind is being renewed in Christ and this is a process, not an immediate action.  However, we are all given gifts of the Spirit in the Lord and they are for a reason.





1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 4-11 tells us:-                       

'There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.   There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.   And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.   But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:   for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,   to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.   But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.'

 

When one of us makes a mistake, as we all do on our spiritual journey 'through the wilderness to the promised land', then just as I was physically directed back to the right road by the man  who knew the direction I needed to go on my journey home from the church, we can all  be directed spiritually back to the road to salvation by one another through each of us activating the gifts that God has given to  us.  The gifts must all be used to build one another up.