Dangerous Direction

“Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, ‘See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and it will come about when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” Genesis 12:10-13

Going down to Egypt was a symbol of entering, what would be considered, the heathen world. Abram rationalised this as the only way to preserve his family, but the cost was his integrity. This lie was just the beginning of his weaknesses of resolve.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Adrian with life changes. Barb to find satisfying work. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Jo in NZ for her new direction. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Virgil, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Keep Going

“So Abram went forth as the Lord has spoken to him; -- And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. – And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the West and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord, and Abram journeyed on continuing toward the Negev.” Various from Genesis 12:4-9

It was a long and seemingly pointless journey for these people. How tired they must have grown, wanting to settle down and just start this promised new life; yet God’s plan had them moving on and never knowing where they might end up. Along the way, God’s promises and provisions played out in ways they had not imagined...sort of like our lives.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Adrian with life changes. Barb to find satisfying work. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Jo in NZ for her new direction. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Virgil, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Leaving All

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;” Genesis 12:1

Could you imagine Abram saying well not now or not yet or after I do this or ask someone else? God had and has a plan; He worked and works His plan through those He created for His purpose. His promise continues in each of us!

“And I will make you a great nation; and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you , I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New: Pray for Adrian who needs strong prayer to hold him up right now. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Barb to find satisfying work. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Jo in NZ for her new direction. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Sky of Blood

“And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth; as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved out of their places.” Revelation 6:12-14

Sometimes we just need a little reminder:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/866749/dust-storm-turns-town-black-in-seconds

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glance/866546/dust-storm-turns-sydney-skies-red


Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New: Pray for Adrian who needs strong prayer to hold him up right now. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Barb to find satisfying work. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Jo in NZ for her new direction. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Determination Thwarted

“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel; because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:5-9

For over twenty years I have used a daily devotion called Operation World. It is rather difficult to get a copy that is easy to carry around nowadays. In it there is information about every country in the world, with many demographic and economic statistics, including the result of missionary efforts. What I have noted is the changes in language distribution as the world moves slowly and stealthy toward one language again.

“Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name;” Genesis 11:4

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New: Pray for Adrian who needs strong prayer to hold him up right now. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Barb to find satisfying work. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Jo in NZ for her new direction. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Determination to Stay

“Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. And it came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, ‘Come let us make bricks and burn them thoroughy.’ And they used brick for stone and they used tar for mortar. And they said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” Genesis 11:1-4

How clever were these first people! What a plan! What invention and industry of purpose! My, how they imagined their determination to stay was all it took to stand against God’s purposes. How surprised they must have been to realise, their will was not His will.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New: Pray for Adrian who needs strong prayer to hold him up right now. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Barb to find satisfying work. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Jo in NZ for her new direction. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Leaving Family

"These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.” Genesis 10:32

Noah’s family would have grown extraordinarily close after all that time in the ark, yet God called each to a separate ministry that depended on an individual call designed to “apply” gifts and abilities God gave each of them in an orderly and glorifying way.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. – But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” I Corinthians 12:4-7, 11

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Thank you for praying for Jo, a dear friend in New Zealand as she hears His guidance on her next direction. New: Pray for Adel for career guidance. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Leaving Safety

“Then God spoke to Noah, saying, ‘Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.’ So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. – Then Noah built an altar to the Lord,” Genesis 8 15-20a

It is great to cuddle into something or someone that makes you feel safe from all the storms and dangers of the world around you, however the Father knows when it is time to cuddle and hide and when it is time to come back out and face the new challenges of the new world you must deal with for Him.

“There is an APPOINTED time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven –“ Ecclesiastes 3:1

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Thank you for praying for Jo, a dear friend in New Zealand as she hears His guidance on her next direction. New: Pray for Adel for career guidance. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

First Boat Trip

“Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms; and you shall cover it inside and out with pitch. – But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark – you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.’” Genesis 6:13-14, 18

Have you ever had a time in your life when you knew you were to leave something and you felt confused and unsure. That’s where trust comes to benefit us most --and most of us have the most need of more of the ability to trust. Adrian, a friend of mine, loves these verses from Proverbs; and I suppose knowing where his life has taken him, it makes perfect sense.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear (with reverence) the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:508

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Thank you for praying for Jo, a dear friend in New Zealand as she hears His guidance on her next direction. New: Pray for Adel for career guidance. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Disappeared

“Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:21-24

Can you imagine walking SO closely with God that you just transport to be beside Him one day! That is the depth of the relationship Enoch had with the Father! Perhaps we can walk just a bit more closely today.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Request: Jo, a dear friend in New Zealand, needs clear guidance on her next direction, as does Adel. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Second to Leave

“And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you; you shall be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.’ And Cain said to the lord, ‘My punishment is too great to bear! Behold, Thou hast driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Thy face I shall be hidden, and I shall be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and it will come about that whoever finds me will kill me.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven=fold.’ And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, lest anyone finding him should slay him. Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.” Genesis 4:10-15

God has plans for us and we can follow them or not and when we do not, He uses our decisions knowing the path we will choose to follow nevertheless to work out His plan, one way or another. None can stay His hand and no one can say to Him, ‘What are You doing in my life!’ And that is, for all of it, a comforting thought both when you are IN His will and when you are thinking to wander away from Him.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Request: Jo, a dear friend in New Zealand, needs clear guidance on her next direction. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

First to Leave

“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the Tree of Life and eat, and live forever: --therefore the Lord God sent him out from the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.” Genesis 3:22-24

The first to leave was the first to live and all because Adam did not trust God’s judgment. Sometimes we ARE where the Lord wants us and we fight because we think He is missing something...but He does know best for us, if we will only lean back and listen to Him.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Request: Jo, a dear friend in New Zealand, needs clear guidance on her next direction. Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Leaving

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

There are many stories in the Bible that talk about people leaving for places unknown in obedience to the Father’s call. (Moses, Lot, Paul, Jesus’ disciples & many others) Perhaps you have experienced the confusing time of moving on to something else, or someone else or a new place. The Father is omniscient and He alone knows the past present and future. We can trust that, you know.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Yokes

[Jesus said:] “’All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. [So,] come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.’” Matthew 11:27-30

Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul. I love that thought, but more so the thought that our God gives us hope when there seems nothing to hope in. When you are so weary that you do not know which direction to head, He is there for you; and yes He carries you many times you do not even realise as you journey through the worst! It is up to you to remember His promises and relax!

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails. Isaias, mission work in Philippines. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

Example

“’Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” Daniel 3:15-18

Standing up for what you believe or resolve, can be dangerous; but some things cannot be compromised in our lives. And when you must take a stand then you must trust God to bring the result that will most glorify His purposes.

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, the infection is gone & they await results of the chemo, Isaias, mission work in Philippines – has recovered. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better but tired. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian and Adrian’s ageing uncle.

In A Flash

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:13-14

“’For just as the lightening comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.’” Matthew 24:27

Yesterday, sitting at my desk on the 30th floor of a building in the middle of Sydney, it was calm and quiet, with only the sound of key-tapping and light whispers. Suddenly, as abrupt as a loud sneeze, a huge jet plane appeared at the window and veered off as quickly as an eye blink. Everyone's heart stopped, as together we contemplated the world as we know it and wondered if this would be the day. It was over in an instant and all those who witnessed it, seemed to expel their breath together and watched and listened to see if it would return.

“’For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? – But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.’” Matthew 6:25 & 33-34

Take care to know God’s Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, the infection is gone & they await results of the chemo, Isaias, missionary in Philippines - very ill. Barb to find work. Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better but tired. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

HOW Long Ago? !!

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind; cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind’; and it was so. And God make the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Genesis 1:24-28

Today, one of my great teachers sent me an article about scientists being unable to rationalise or justify the presence of soft tissue matter in the bones of, what they believe to be, creatures/dinosaurs who lived so many billions of years ago. I always love it when science gives a new opening for faith and discounts man’s theories to explain away God. If you would like a copy I will try to get it up on the Blog, but probably will be better if you just send me an email.

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, the infection is gone & they await results of the chemo; Isaias, missionary in Philippines - very ill, Barb to find work; Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better, but tired. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.