YOU CHART THE PATH AHEAD OF ME…

.. AND TELL ME WHERE TO STOP AND REST.

Yesterday, I thinking how perfectly God fits things together, and I remembered a phrase that I’d read in the Living Bible years ago…

“You chart the path ahead of me…”

I managed to find a Living Bible on my shelf and looked it up. In Psalm 139:1-7 it says:

“O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit or stand.
When far away you know my every thought.
You chart the path ahead of me,
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment, you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say before I even say it.
You both precede and follow me,
and place your hand of blessing on my head.

“This is TOO glorious, too wonderful to believe!!
I can never be lost to your Spirit!
I can never get away from my God!!”

Amen!!

May I say SELAH!!! Let’s stop a moment and think about that!!!
Reread those verses and let them sink into your spirit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay…..

Now today, in my morning (or afternoon – I slept in) reading of Luke’s gospel, I was reading chapter 2. How awesome is our God? Look, He is there charting the path ahead of our Lord before He was born. He was preparing the right circumstances for Joseph and Mary so that the birth of Jesus would fit in with prophecy.

I want you to imagine Joseph and Mary there in Nazareth. They knew that within Mary’s womb was the Saviour of the world… the promised Messiah. They also would have known the prophecies given about the coming Messiah. One of those was that He would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. But they were in Nazareth.

Maybe they could have thought about this and tried to figure out how to get to Bethlehem so that the prophecy would be fulfilled? I know I may have done that. I possibly would have done some enquiring about travel and accommodation, and made sure that everything was in place. Sometimes we think we have to help God to get organised.

Or maybe Joseph and Mary didn’t think too much about it. All those prophecies were too confusing, so why bother to figure it out? And then they get this letter in the mail saying there was to be a census.  Caesar Augustus had decreed that all the world should be registered, and that everyone had to travel to their home town to be registered.  Here is Mary about 8 months pregnant and they are expected to travel, all over taxes!! I think many of us would have done a lot of complaining about the government of the day, and their unrealistic expectations.

BUT….

… let’s get our eyes off the natural circumstances, annoying as they may be. And let us look at what God was up to.

YES!! Here He is charting the path ahead of the Messiah to be born in the RIGHT place and according to prophecy. How awesome!! God used the everyday and frustrating circumstances to bring about His plan.

So then, let us remember that in our day-to-day life!

Dear Lord, may we not complain when things don’t go as we’d like them to.  May we not complain when people try and frustrate our plans.  Lord, may we trust you and know that You are working all things together for our good.  We praise You, Lord, that Your ways are PERFECT!!

“As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
(Psalm 18:30, NKJ)

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans
8:28, NKJ)

A NEW MINISTRY BIRTHED OUT OF ADVERSITY!!

MAY GOD BE GLORIFIED AS YOU READ THIS STORY! BE ENCOURAGED!!

“All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose.”

And someone has said that the more bitter the battle, the sweeter is the victory. This has definitely been the case for my friend, Pastor Atukwatse Onesmus, over the past 3 months. He has walked through this dark valley of adversity and despair.

I thank you for all the support you’ve given to Pastor Onesmus during this time. But praise God, He has used this experience for His glory. The Apostle James says,

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

I thank the Lord that He has placed me in a position to witness all this firsthand.

I first met Pastor Onesmus and his wife Bashabe back at the start of May. On one Ning network he shared his testimony with me. He wrote:

God met me at a time I was a wasted creature, lost in the world of sorcery, witchcraft, drug addiction, sexual perversion, one without purpose for life. In fact the Lord God met me at a time i was going to commit suicide after leaving a prison as an exconvict of attempted rape, a crime for which i served 3 years sentence to hard labor in prison.

As I was still thinking about committing suicide, i went to a cafe. On opening, a friend had forwarded a link to me which i opened and behold, these were the Campus Crusade online gospel preachers. I was convicted in my heart and I gave my life to Christ. It wasn’t easy for me to be emotionally healed, but God used the online correspondent I was given to teach me and help me overcome all the habits, find purpose in life, and understand the word of God .

She went ahead and sponsored me to join a bible school after God had called me into his service, three years after an encounter with him, and for the last 17 years, the Lord has used me and my experience to reach out to many degenerate people. That is why i have a crushing burden for people who have lost hope and purpose in life, God is calling me upon to begin internet ministry. As soon as i get a computer and a network modem, i will embark on that.

Practical gospel helped me become who I am. That is why I believe in preaching practical gospel of love to the most unfortunate societies.

Since that first meeting, I have been supporting this pastor and his work, and so has my husband. I administer “Power in the Word” Ning network with him, and I’ve helped him get a web/blog site together. Their ministry is call REPEMU International. Please check out his sites when you have the time.

So now, I want to share with you the journey the Lord has had us embark on this past 3 months, and for Pr Onesmus that has been one of terrible affliction.

One Friday night at the end of May, Onesmus comes on the chats and tells me that his 10yo son, Ian, had been involved in a bad bicycle accident, and that he was in the hospital in a coma. This had happened when they were away from their home town. We prayed, and for 6 weeks he was in the coma… and they battled to get funds to pay for the operation and for medication. Then after the 6 weeks, the Lord woke Ian up, and now he is “extremely well” (as Onesmus says), and we rejoice.

But still there was one problem. The hospital wouldn’t discharge him until the bill was paid. But for some reason, even after appealing for people to help, the money didn’t come through. This made we wonder what God was up to. Why did He have them stuck at this hospital, away from their home and their other children?

Well, two weeks ago (Aug 24), something remarkable happened. Pastor Onesmus received a phone call from a young lass who had just joined the network. She and a few student friends had joined. While Onesmus talked to her on the phone, they realised that they were only a few block away from each other. Of course, Onesmus was able to meet up with her in person. Onesmus was able to minister to her. But that’s not all! That evening, she took him to the college to introduce him to the other students. They shared together and Pr Onesmus ministered to them for some time.

Over the past few weeks, Pr Onesmus has met with the students a number of times. What is remarkable is that he would not have met the students if young Ian had been discharged from hospital as we’d hoped. Instead, this time of affliction has birthed a brand new ministry.

Last Sunday, Pr Onesmus preached to over 200 students. The students are really hungry for the Word of God, and they want Pastor to plant a church for them. They have been looking for a building they could hire and it seems they have found a suitable venue.

So, could you please pray that God will provide them the funds for the rent and that he will provide chairs and the sound equipment they need. They also desperately need Bibles.

I pray this story encourages you to press on even in the midst of trials.

God will make a way where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness you lead me,
Rivers in the desert will I see;
Heaven and earth will fade,
but His Word will still remain;
And He will do something new today.

Bless ya!

My NEW MORNING!

Praise the Lord for this new day!! His mercies are new every morning.

Ahhhh!! We can start again, leaving yesterday’s hassles behind, and tackle the things that bothered us then with a new vigour and a fresh mind. Thank the Lord for a refreshing sleep.

And as I sit with Lord on our front verandah, enjoying my morning cuppa, I marvel in this day. For us it is the first of spring. As I soak up the warmth of the morning sun, I also soak up the warmth of my Lord’s love for me, and I sing:

“Whom have I in heaven but Thee; And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee; My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart, And my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)

And then our two rainbow lorikeets (Lorry and Lulu) fly in and delight me with their presence. They are after their morning treat of bread and honey. They have been around again for the past few weeks, and it’s hard to believe that it is 3 years since their first visit. They are not perturbed by Sir Bassy, the cat, sprawled out on a pillow. He learned long ago that they are too quick for him.

“Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits, the God of my salvation.” (Psalm 68:19)

So, I rejoice in this new morning and praise my Creator who does all thing well. I can see that He has all things in control, so why should I fuss? I CAN trust Him with the tasks ahead of me this day.

“I roll my works upon the Lord. I commit and trust them wholly to Him. He will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall my plans be established and succeed.” (from Prov 3:16, Amp.)

SHINE ON!!

SHINE ON!!!!

Light is a pretty powerful thing!!

For instance, say you and your family have been out all day, and you don’t get home until dark. You didn’t plan to be away for so long, so you didn’t leave any lights on not even outside. So you rummage around trying to find the key to open the door. Eventually you succeed and open the door to pitch black. So now, what is the first thing you would do?? Of course you would turn on firstly one light, and then another. The family charge inside. And if your kids are anything like our kids, soon just about every light in the house is on. The place is shining like a lighthouse.

So is it not true, that the more lights you turn on, the less darkness there is. DUH!!! Pretty obvious, eh?

Well, shouldn’t that be the same for us believers in this dark world? The more believers who have their lamps burning brightly, the less darkness we would have. So then, why should the darkness, and the powers of darkness scare us?

We read of Jesus:

“His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:4a-5, NLT)

So, we too must shine, but how then are we to do it? Paul explains it very well for us…

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” (Phil 2:14-16)

And Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“Do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you will reap if you do not lose heart. Therefore, as you have opportunity, do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

(YES!!  We are also our brother’s keeper.)

So, may I encourage you, that as the Lord blesses you and your ministry, that you be a blessing to others?  As He said to Abraham:

“I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing.”

Please remember this:  We are channels for God’s grace; He doesn’t make us reservoirs.

And as Paul said to Timothy, so may I encourage you

“Don’t be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Do good … be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, and so store up for yourself a good foundation for the time to come, that you may hold on eternal life.” (1 Tim 6:17-19)

Also, be encouraged by this:

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” (Prov. 19:17)

“He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.” (Prov. 28:27)

We need to take what God said in Deuteronomy 15 to heart also:

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.  Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you.  You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’”

Finally, as Paul encouraged the Corinthians:

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each onegive as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:6-8)

“SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Mat 6:33)

May God bless you and may His love shine out of you to those around.  May the world be a better place because you are in it, shining for Jesus!!!

Jeanette Burton

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Reflecting God’s Glory!

Thank the Lord for His Blessings…

… that He has showered on us!!

May God send us spiritual showers of blessing!! May His glory be seen on the earth.

“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.” (Psalm 72:18-19, NKJ)

A glorious sunset the other day! I stopped along the side of the road on the way home from town. We’d had lots of rain over the past couple of weeks, and the paddocks were still covered with lakes of water. An added beauty for the sunset.

Golden Windows!

I’d often see this house on the way home from town, and loved how the windows would look like gold in the sunlight. And everytime I saw it, I would be reminded of a story about learning to be content with we have. The story goes like this:

A little girl lived in a small, very simple, poor house on a hill and as she grew she would play in the small garden and as she grew she was able to see over the garden fence and across the valley to a wonderful house high on the hill – and this house had golden windows, so golden and shining that the little girl would dream of how magic it would be to grow up and live in a house with golden windows instead of an ordinary house like hers.

And although she loved her parents and her family, she yearned to live in such a golden house and dreamed all day about how wonderful and exciting it must feel to live there.

When she got to an age where she gained enough skill and sensibility to go outside her garden fence, she asked her mother is she could go for a bike ride outside the gate and down the lane. After pleading with her, her mother finally allowed her to go, insisting that she kept close to the house and didn’t wander too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl knew exactly where she was heading! Down the lane and across the valley, she rode her bike until she got to the gate of the golden house across on the other hill.

As she dismounted her bike and lent it against the gate post, she focused on the path that lead to the house and then on the house itself and was so disappointed as she realized all the windows were plain and rather dirty, reflecting nothing other than the sad neglect of the house that stood derelict.

So sad she didn’t go any further and turned, heart broken as she remounted her bike. As she glanced up she saw a sight to amaze her, there across the way on her side of the valley was a little house and its windows glistened golden as the sun shone on her little home.

She realized that she had been living in her golden house and all the love and care she found there was what made her home the golden house. Everything she dreamed was right there under her nose!

Let us appreciate all that God has given! Let’s count our blessings!! In God’s light, everything can seem golden!!

New from the Old.

Sometimes we like to hold on to old stuff … old stuff that no longer bears fruit. But God wants us let go so He can do a NEW thing in us. Let’s not limit Him.

“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.”
(Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV)

Ouch!! Pruning hurts!!

This is a shot of my once busy-blossom (grevillea) tree near our front step. This is the tree where I got many bee and lorikeet photos from.

Sadly, this past summer, our tree hasn’t had many blossoms, and the branches and limbs were looking pretty sad…

Time for a pruning!!

Now it has lots of new shoots coming up, and I’m looking forward to more great shots when it flowers again in a couple of months.

As I was pruning, I was reminded of the words of Jesus:

““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

(John 15:1-8, NLT)

My Sun and Shield

My Sun and Shield, originally uploaded by Jeanette’s Ozpix.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
(Psalm 84:11, NKJ)

Like a Tree Planted by the Waters…

Like a Tree Planted by the Waters…, originally uploaded by Jeanette’s Ozpix.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8, NKJ)

I spotted this magnificent shot on my way home yesterday. I stopped the car in the middle of the bridge as I took the shot.