Windows On The Soul

In Acts 2:41-43 , there are two types of responses recorded from those who heard and saw the Apostles and disciples of Jesus. They were amazed and in awe at the wonders and signs performed by the Apostles. But more importantly, when they saw the changed lifestyles of the disciples, they “liked what they saw” (v41, Petersen’s paraphrase “The Message”). They saw believers:- living in wonderful harmony, pooling their resources so that each person’s needs were met, following a daily discipline of worship, sharing meals together, in joyful, exuberant celebration, praising God. Was it any wonder then that “ Every day their numbers grew, as God added those who were saved” , because people “ liked what they saw ”. When God created the world, He saw that it was “good”. When we share the Good News of the gospel of ‘re-creation’ through Jesus, it's no news at all, unless the hearer can see the results of this re-creation in us and be able to say “ it is good, I like what I see ...

These last couple of weeks have reinforced for me, the importance of having a store of precious memories. Not just remembering the past, but doing special things with family that will be our future special memories. As children, our special remembrance days tend to be self-centred - others remember us at birthdays and Christmas. In our youth, our focus is all on the future, and things of the past are rejected. In the parenting years we are confronted with the miracle of a new generation growing up and memories become important. As we walk in valleys of the shadow of death all our accumulated memories take on a poignancy. The bible calls us to remembrance as an act of worship. Memories of sins forgiven we are instructed to forget. Mostly we are called to remembrance as a discipline, to learn from the past, to call us to repentance, as a comfort or revival in the low times. Other references are to special affections and fellowship. ----xxxXxxx---- Lk.22:19 "This i...

Confession I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ... “ We have sinned and done wrong...been wicked and rebelled...turned away from your commands and laws. ”   Daniel 9:4-5 Intercession “ Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the Church to pray over him...prayer offered in faith will make the sick well. ”   James 5:14-15 Worship I prayed to the Lord my God..." O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands. ”   Daniel 9:4 Vision One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: " Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. I am with you. "   Acts 18:9

It was not enough that you made me like yourself, But you chose me, adopted me, joint heir with your only begotten Son. As I turn to you in prayer, your love engulfs me, pure, heavenly, undeserved love. "Daddy" I cry. "My child" you reply. I pour out my day to you, the highs, the lows, the bumps, the bruises, My needs and dreams, hopes and aspirations, we share, together. Father, I honour you, as only you deserve - Father knows best, it may seem trite, But I submit to your holy will, that it might, Be well with me and my children for ever. ---===X===--- Lk.11:1 "Lord, teach us how to pray!" Mt.6:8 "Your Father already knows your need before you ask" Rom.8:15 "...received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Daddy" Mt.7:9 "...if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone?" Eph.1:5 "...unto us the adoption of children by Jesus Christ." Deu.5:29 "...keep my ...

In earliest times, God appeared to dwell in nature, and made His presence known from time to time in fire, cloud and earthquake. As the Israelites settled down in the promised land instead of a nomadic life, a permanent ‘residence’ was built for God on Zion - The Temple. The time of building was a time of great joy as people sacrificially brought gifts of material, time and skill. When Jesus came on the scene, Temple tradition was upset, when Jesus claimed that God lived in him - Jn.14:10 (‘How can that be when God lives down the road in The Temple?’). Not only that, but Jesus declared and foretold the end of ‘Temple Worship’ ( Jn.2:19-21 ), in the rending of the temple curtain, the physical destruction of The Temple, and his own bodily death. In His resurrection, He instituted the era of God’s spirit indwelling the hearts of believers. But Jesus did not just bring about a spatial change, from centralised to distributed, but rather completion of God’s plan for His relati...