Author: mistygullies

Hijacked by God

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I love to read the Christmas story early on Christmas mornings – a reminder of all Jesus has done for us – the sacrifice, the joy, the gift, the blessing to mankind. Emmanuel, God with us. Such a rich, poignant and terrible moment, where God gave His only Son to become human, to become Saviour and Redeemer. A moment to reflect on His great love for us.

If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all…

Romans 8:31-32 NIV

It‘s not the fun of Jingle Bells, or the ‘Ho! Ho!’ of Santa, the prawns on the barbie or the joy of family. It may seem quiet, boring to some, a sidenote, the stuff of carols, too meditative. And I do understand that for the world Christmas is often just about joy, food and family. And they are good things. But it doesn’t take into account the depth of joy, salvation, Jesus came to bring. So much of Christmas is taken up with the peripheral, distracting, irrelevant. Now in truth, I so want our carols to be more like Jingle Bells, where joy abounds, or fun like Santa coming to town, where little eyes grow wide with excitement. I want Christians to be able to express our Hope, our Light, our Emmanuel in loud, wonderful, exciting ways that the world would understand, so they are not distracted by the razzle dazzle of Rudolph and his reindeer friends, but instead are gripped with the overwhelming love and joy of their Heavenly Father and beautiful Saviour.

The Christmas message, the Christ child, God with us, is not just a moment of joy, not merely a day of celebration to then be packed away until next year. Christmas, Jesus, is so much greater. He is so much richer and life-changing!

And so, before the fun and presents and food and joyful gathering begin – appropriate expressions of God’s love and Gift to us – I love to read again His story of ‘coming’. I chose Matthew’s Gospel account this year and was drawn (astonished!) in a new way to the responses of Joseph, Mary’s betrothed (Matthew 1:18-25).

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Verse 18

Here was a chaste man awaiting marriage, a rare practice these days; a practice which is rich and honouring.

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Verse 19

Betrothed Jewish men were called husbands even before the wedding. We don’t know how he found out about the pregnancy to begin with, but his response speaks of a faithful, calm, thoughtful and prayerful man. Qualities all of us would do well to copy. He was a godly man, one who was ‘faithful’ to the law. Christians are called to be known as ‘People of the Book’, the Bible – a term some have for us, one that needs to be seen and heard again, instead of our wandering far from God’s truth into societal norms.

But after he had considered this…

Verse 20

Joseph’s love for Mary was so strong that instead of exposing her, humiliating her, having her punished (stoned?), he took the time to consider how he would go about this divorce. Instead of an angry rage, a quick decision out humiliation and embarrassment, Joseph considered. A prayerful, faithful person takes time to make good decisions, instead of reacting out of pain.

…an angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream and said: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Verses 20-21

Angels are God’s messengers to us. Thay have been instrumental in all of the major moves of God throughout history, as well as other moments in people’s lives. Joseph would not forget this dream! Joseph was reminded of who he was, the son of David. He knew his heritage. He was from the line of King David, through whom the Messiah would one day come. This would have been the catalyst, in my thinking, to awakening his heart and eyes to the grandeur of what was before him. How important it is to know who we are in Christ, so that we can fulfill the purposes He has for us.

I did wonder why God waited before sending the angel. What if Joseph had been angry and sought to put Mary away, or worse? Perhaps the Messiah may not have made it past the first trimester (like many babies in our selfish days). But, of course, nothing can stop God’s good plans. I believe the Lord waited to show the world an example of faithfulness, forgiveness, grace and mercy, through Joseph. Many (all) have sinned throughout all times and borne the brunt of judgement and unforgiveness, lack of mercy, harsh words or actions. Not to say sin isn’t… sin. It needs consequences, it needs boundaries and humble responses from parents, society, spouses, friends. Even before Jesus was born, God was giving us a, in Joseph, glimpse of his heart of love, compassion, covenant and grace. Beautiful!

Matthew, our author, then fills the readers in on the back story which Joseph already knew as a faithful Jew.

All this took place to fulfill what the lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us.”)

Verses 22-23

Joseph’s obedience and faithfulness is now seen in such a practical way –

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home to be his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Verses 24-25

Joseph held off on marital intimacy until after Jesus was born. He showed honour and respect for God’s mighty move in his day. I wonder if he pored over the prophecies of the coming Messiah in preparation for the birth of this miraculous son. Joseph, given the privilege to be Jesus’ father on earth, to teach him to be a carpenter, to protect him from the wickedness of Herod and settle him eventually in Nazareth (Matt1 :13-23), showed us a picture of God’s heart for us.

As I pondered this, I imagined what Joseph had expected of his life prior to this Heavenly intervention. God had ‘hi-jacked’ Joseph’s life and took him on journeys he never would have thought up! But what an incredible legacy – to be the earthly father of the Christ child, the Saviour Jesus.

I’m not sure I want such a drastic testimony! But I do want God to hi-jack my plans, my expectations, and gift me an opportunity to reflect faithfulness, receive miracles, show love, mercy and grace; to have an unwavering desire to follow the Lord’s commands, no matter how unusual, no matter how much they may go against cultural norms, to display the heart of our wonderful God to this world.

             Blessings,

Jenni

Just Believe

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I’ve been reading the book of Mark again. I love reading about Jesus. Reading the Gospels keep you focussed on the important things, the wonder, the joy, the sacrifice, the love.

Mark skips Jesus’ first thirty years to get straight into His ministry time, His purpose – Son of God, Son of Man. Jesus preaches, teaches, heals, performs miracles, forgives, calls disciples… It is wonderful.

But very early in the picture, we see that some are not impressed with paralysed men walking, blind eyes being opened, or demon-possessed people set free. In fact, they are incensed, angry, indignant (2:7,16, 24; 3:2, 6, 22).

Go figure!

Oh, the crowds loved Jesus. Disciples followed. Towns and villages were transformed, but the Pharisees, teachers of the law, were unimpressed. Jesus healed on the Sabbath! Agh! How dare He! He told a man to stretch out his hand to be healed. How evil! He forgave someone. Who does He think He is?

Religious rules, forgetting the heart of the good news, pride, lording it over others, position, traditions… all these can silence the beautiful, the holy, the incredible.

But God!

One of the synagogue leaders, Jairus, had a terrible situation. His little girl was dying. I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine Jairus as one of these detractors of Jesus, alongside the Pharisees.

Until now.

It’s amazing how desperation, hopelessness, and love for your own, can shift wrong thinking, pride, stubborn beliefs.

And so, Jairus approached Jesus. Not with pride, but humility, falling at Jesus’ feet. He pleaded earnestly, eyes and heart pouring out repentance (in my mind), along with faith and belief –

‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and

put your hand on her so that she will be healed and live.”

Matthew 5:23

There is no scolding, no reprimand from Jesus. Just a willing, compassionate heart to do as Jairus asked.

Jairus must have felt relieved, hopeful.

And then a test. A woman who had been bleeding for many years interrupts Jairus’ miracle. ‘Hinders’ Jesus from the task at hand. Delays the opportunity, the miracle.

Perhaps Jairus is too scared to hurry Jesus, concerned he may lose the opportunity if he complains or makes demands. But his heart must have been racing. He watched Jesus’ love and tenderness, His compassion and power as this lady, a Jewish woman, broke those very rules Jairus burdened the people with. (She was not meant to be in the crowd while bleeding.) He watched her treasured and blessed by Jesus, healed, made whole, congratulated –

“Daughter, your faith has healed you.

Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:34.

As synagogue leader, Jairus could possibly have had her punished for even being there, removed the delay. But he didn’t. Perhaps he remembered the true calling of the priests, the joy and prayer and Presence of God that was meant to be in the House of God, the hope that should have been found by the people in the synagogue. Instead of rules. Perhaps this woman’s miracle gave hope for his own!

And then the news.

“Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Mark 5:35

I might be reading too much into this, but I imagine these folk were not impressed when Jairus told them he was seeking Jesus out. It’s like they were almost glad the daughter died so that Jesus could not heal her and so receive more attention and praise.

Such a lack of compassion. Heartless.

But Jesus hears them.

Without even looking at them, Jesus tells Jairus,

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Mark 5:36

These words are some of the most powerful we should have in our memory bank, our heart, our mouth.

Jesus’ instructions to Jairus are the most powerful, important words this man will ever hear.

I hear so much more than those few words. I imagine Jesus saying, ‘Will you trust Me? Will you believe Me, believe in Me? Will you follow and obey, correct your faulty and religious thinking? Will you serve the people instead of lord it over them? Will you remember who your Father God is, and His heart of love and compassion for His people?’

Jairus believed.

As they came to the home, the wailers were in full flight.

Those who heard Jesus’ next words, “The child is not dead, but asleep,” laughed at Him – in front of their friend and leader whose daughter had just died. What?!

So, Jesus sent them away and said –

“Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

Mark 5:41

This twelve-year-old girl stood up and walked around. The people were astonished. Yes!

Incredible.

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Blessings,

Jenni

A Bouquet of Flowers

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The Lord gave me a picture of a bouquet, handed to me at a picnic. He touched my heart with what he showed me. I’ll go back a bit, though, to explain why he gave me this picture.

I was contemplating the words of a song, taken from Psalm 34:4,

‘I sought the Lord, and He heard, and He answered.’

It really challenged me. I’m leading this song at church this week. Do I really believe this, that God hears and answers me? Have I really been seeking Him? Sure, I study and ponder the Bible. I pray and worship and fellowship. I seek Him for words of encouragement for others. I pray with people and believe God for them.

But truth be told, I’ve been a bit discouraged with my personal level of answered prayer, seeing my own goals met; feeling like my dreams and hopes aren’t coming to pass. And so, I beat myself up, ‘You don’t have enough discipline, you haven’t prayed enough, you haven’t been speaking the Word of God over these dreams and callings, you haven’t stepped out in faith or started the actions necessary, you haven’t…’

I’m sure I’m not the first or last person to think like this. All those practices are great, even necessary, but guilt and shame should have no place, no authority, in a faith walk. Worry or discouragement need not be our negative default. On top of that, we have an adversary who loves the lies, the hints of failures he whispers, the poking of our disappointments, or our weaker character traits. He loves to sprinkle fear into our musings, shifting our hearts and words to worry instead of faith and decree. It is also easy to confuse his attacks, his insinuations, with our own emotions, and fall for his wicked ploys.

This may all seem a bit depressing! But I sense God lifting my eyes to see my situation, my heart, with fresh eyes; to recognise enemy tactics. I am reminded of who I am, that I have a relationship with Jesus (that alone is magnificent!), a purpose; plans, activities, giftings, designed by God Himself for my life. This is both thrilling and daunting. When I listen to the devil, or when I look at my own failings and weaknesses, I am discouraged. So, my attention needs to shift.

Lately, the phrase, Dream Again, has come to mind. I’ve heard it preached in the past. It brings hope and an injection of faith to our walk. So, I feel I need to believe again, instead of feeling like God or I have failed. (And God never fails!) Then, I read a message which prophesied this very thing, to get out our dreams and speak with God about them, injecting life and faith back into them. I love it when God confirms the areas He is bringing to our attention, bringing insight for my contemplation.

‘I sought the Lord’ – When I took the time with the Lord – to purposefully stop at that moment to listen for His voice, (accompanied by the usual interruptions and distractions – so don’t give up!), I saw a picture in my mind –

A picnic basket was placed on a rug in an open field, a woman sat down waiting. A stunning bouquet of flowers was given to the woman. I sensed it was God giving me the arrangement. I enjoyed their beauty and scent and was grateful. I love flowers!

But I knew they needed to be placed in a jug of water as soon as possible so they didn’t wilt and die. I could take them with me, into my activities, but they wouldn’t last long. Unless the flowers were ‘contained‘ (this was the word I sensed) in a vase of water, the gift would wither, die. The bouquet wouldn’t fulfil its purpose.

I was encouraged by this, to know God has a specific place for my gift, my bouquet, to serve, to bring life, even to enjoy. It was a reminder to me of my place in his story. It wasn’t a place of limitation. It spoke to me of the need for his Living Water to keep any gift I have been given alive. I must be ‘contained’, kept where God wants me to be to use his gift. I must be restrained from doing my own thing so that His purposes are fulfilled.

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV warns,

‘My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water.’

This is a challenge, to trust God in everything. I don’t want other things to be more important than Jesus, ‘…exchanging their glorious God for worthless idols‘ (verse 11). I don’t want my own desires to dominate my time and efforts. I don’t want to dig my own ‘cisterns’ (trying to provide and live for myself) just to be dry and broken.

Jesus invites us –

‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’

John 7:37-38 NIV

Come. Drink. Believe. Place yourself within the waters of life, as a bouquet is placed in a vase of water. Be happy with where God has you right now. Flourish there. Be refreshed. Imagine the overflow from your very position.

‘Come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.‘

Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

This has been a verse I’ve been considering all year. The Lord gave me a word, Effortless, for my year. Not that I could be lazy, inattentive to him, or let go of the call of God. Rather, that I could find my rest and refreshment in him, so that all that I do is a flow from his Living Water, his power, not my own. A union, a yoking with Jesus – ‘Take my yoke upon you’ (Matthew 11:29 NIV). He carries the load, bears the brunt, directs the path, teaches me on the journey. He makes it easy for me, even when it doesn’t feel like it! This is trust. That Jesus is carrying the heavy burden, he is listening and answering, he is guiding my path and appointing the works he has for me.

One night, Zechariah 4:1-6, the prophet was woken by an angel and had a vision. He’d seen vases on either side of olive trees, a gold lampstand and more. When asked what it meant, he had no idea. The angel then gave him a message for Zerubbabel (a godly governor -see Haggai 1:1)

‘ “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” says the Lord Almighty.‘

This added to my ‘picture’ of placing my flowers in a vase of water. I can’t do things on my own. We’re not meant to! Haggai was called to build a temple, Noah was called to build an ark, Abraham was called to build a family, Mary was called to birth Jesus. No matter what we are called to, gifted to do, we need God’s power, his Spirit, his strength. It has to be impossible – for us – if God has called us to do it! He wants to do incredible, miraculous, life-changing, wonderful things in, to and through us. And these can only happen through His Spirit and power.

I need the Holy Spirit.

‘But you will receive power when the when the Holy Spirit comes on you...’

Acts 1:8

‘Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit wo was given to us…

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Romans 5:5; 15:13.

This is so wonderful. Instead of worry and shame, I can experience ‘joy and peace in believing‘.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness and grace. I come to you with gratefulness that you are carrying the burden. I join myself to you, going where you go, staying where you place me. I trust the ‘containment’, the place you have for me. I trust your Living Water to flow over, in and through me; that I live from a place of refreshment, life and confidence in you!

Refresh my faith for the ‘impossible’. Help me to believe again. Remind me of your promises. Light my path so I can follow you. Fill me fresh with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your joy and peace.

Thank you to Zoe @ Fine Flowers Katoomba for the beautiful bouquet photos. https://linktr.ee/fineflowerskatoomba?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=2b3fb68a-e9fb-43dc-b056-922711ec8dc8

Check out the song, Trust in God by Elevation Music. I hope it encourages you as it has me. https://youtu.be/QS04WbSnxok