Defining Love

I am convicted by current culture's posturing around "redefining" love. I felt the Lord minister to my heart that the definition of love was the embodiment of Jesus Christ. Only through him is love fully revealed.

That means our cultural perceptions of what love truly was, weren't correct in 1 AD, nor in 1800s, nor in 1995, nor are they correct in 2017. Nothing about worldly cultural change will bring a greater revelation of perfect love. They simply cannot if they are not fully consumed and aligned with the character of Jesus Christ.

I do think as believers our hearts need to be yield to his Spirit and his Truth/Word. I think that is how we position ourselves to yield to receive the revelation of his love in today's culture. I think that is the only way we are able to release a measure of the fullness of his just and perfect love. I strongly am convicted that as I am able to yield to him in this way, that the cultural surroundings I find myself within, will start to receive a measure of that perfect love - not because of who I am, but because of Christ who lives in me. I think as I gaze at Him, at the wondrous cross, at His character, His beauty, His majesty, and fall deeply in love, do I think that love would be expressed more wholesomely in me, and be released more completely in my life to others.

Love will only start with Jesus, coming to save the world, not to save himself, the suffering servant, the father who gave his only son... That is where true love originates, and that is the only true definition of love.

I do realize there is much more here to this, than I fully comprehend, but I wanted to capture what I felt the Lord speaking to my heart. Thank God for grace, but also for increase - I ask for more!

Dear reader, I bless you in Jesus name, to receive a greater understanding of God's perfect love, and with that a greater measure of his love which would be poured into you, so you would be become a river of life flowing out into the world.




On a related but separate note, I don't think we'll ever have a full revelation of love until we meet Jesus at the end of the age, and even then, I guess it may take eternity to understand a perfect and loving and infinite God. But that is something for another day...

Trust in the LORD

I have am challenged by the Lord whether I truly trust him. Searching my heart, I think there are areas where I honestly don't, especially areas where I can tend to be very controlling. God in his wisdom has continued to talk to me about those areas where I seek to control, and cannot surrender - and those areas I haven't, the enemy has been able to infiltrate and create fear (e.g. my fear of flying, which is rooted in my lack of ability to control the plane - crazy, yeah I know). I feel too often I have put my hope in my strength and not his - and almost every time I have done that, I end up failing myself. So I am learning to surrender, to be at peace when I cannot control, knowing that God in his goodness and faithfulness is able to carry me through those situations.

Psalm 37:1-11 (New International Version)

 1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
   or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.

 3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 5 Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.

 7 Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
   though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
   and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Open Arms

As I step back into the Lord's presence, it is so awesome to be welcomed in... My Father in heaven is there with his arms open, hunched over, waiting expectantly... Ready to pull me into a deep embrace... all by his grace, I am able to enter freely... able to step in without measuring up to a set requirement or meeting a pre-condition.

Luke 1:78-79

Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us]. To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.

Unfailing Love

Wow, it is good to be back in my blog... It has been a struggle, and I felt the Lord just nudge me today, to get it going again... So here we go!

Pastor Norm shared this morning, in a very vulnerable and genuine sermon, spoken from his heart - however I don't feel like I need to go into that, as it wouldn't help or bless anyone reading that, however I do just want to recognise it, and honour his humility and vulnerability. I know I to often can hide & cover my wrongs, and it is great to be in a place where we can be honest with ourselves, and with those around us - that is what the Lord desires! But that is seperate discussion for a different day...

He spoke on the unfailing love we have been given by God, and ultimately the response-ability we have to be those who love in that way.

The point which really hit home for was, "Why so often do we measure success by what we have accomplished, versus how have we loved?". It brought me back to my hearts cry when I created this blog, which can be seen in the name of the blog, which was to be somebody who was to compelled by love. I can only love if I have been loved - as I can only give from what I have received. So the Lord has been, and continues to take me on a journey of his love, and through that I know that as he continues to extrangantly shower his love over me, I will be to freely love those around me. Loving not out of duty, but of joy and excitement, being so captivated and overwhelmed by what he has given, and desiring for all to share in that.

So dear reader, know that he loves you, passionately, without hinderance... YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED!





Lamentations 3 [The Message]

 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
   the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
   and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:

 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail. 
23 They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness. 
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; 
   therefore I will wait for him.”

 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
   to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
   for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
   while he is young.

 28 Let him sit alone in silence,
   for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
   there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
   and let him be filled with disgrace.

 31 For no one is cast off
   by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
   so great is his unfailing love. 
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction 
   or grief to anyone.

My Father's Eyes

On father's day, our pastor spoke about the prodigal Father. The word prodigal means lavish, extravagant, abundant and excessive. In Luke 15 we see a Father who is lavishes his love on his son. The power to become all God intends comes from looking into Fathers eyes - all can know the lavish love that comes from knowing the eyes of our heavenly Father. When we see Fathers eyes, we are enabled and empowered to  love unconditionally, trust undoubtedly, serve untiringly and proceed unhesitatingly.

I felt such a strong connection with what he spoke of, as I remember so often when I looked into my father's eyes I saw that genuine love and compassion. I saw his joy and delight in me - and in that I found security and stability that cannot be matched by earthly things. From a young age, I felt enabled to do things - to love those around me, to give and to serve, to trust... all because he first had chosen to love me.


During the sermon he played Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes.

Sailing down behind the sun, 
Waiting for my prince to come. 
Praying for the healing rain 
To restore my soul again. 

Just a toe rag on the run. 
How did I get here? 
What have I done? 
When will all my hopes arise? 
How will I know him? 
When I look in my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
When I look in my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 

Then the light begins to shine 
And I hear those ancient lullabies. 
And as I watch this seedling grow, 
Feel my heart start to overflow. 

Where do I find the words to say? 
How do I teach him? 
What do we play? 
Bit by bit, I've realized 
That's when I need them, 
That's when I need my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
That's when I need my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 

Then the jagged edge appears 
Through the distant clouds of tears. 
I'm like a bridge that was washed away; 
My foundations were made of clay. 

As my soul slides down to die. 
How could I lose him? 
What did I try? 
Bit by bit, I've realized 
That he was here with me; 
I looked into my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
I looked into my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 

My father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
I looked into my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes.

Fix our thoughts on Jesus

Hebrews 3:1-2
 ¹ Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

Fix your eyes/thoughts on Jesus. Those who fix their thoughts on Jesus see through Jesus eyes, those which fix their eyes on Jesus get the mind of Christ - we become what we behold. Fixing our thoughts, brings healing, and restoration of our sight. To fix our thoughts on Jesus is to order our lives by the obedient submission to Gods word.

The enemy attacks us subtly - sin easily begins with a sympathetic thought toward evil. The challenge is that we have an 'express yourself' culture, in a 'deny yourself' kingdom. We need to be active in our thoughts, to turn toward Jesus. We need to be humble with our feelings, until they are filtered and validate through the word of God.

Norm Willis, 14 April 2013

Faith & Doubt

Marcy Willis - 28 Apr

> Faith works by love - love for God and for people. God wants to take away doubt and unbelief.
> Root of doubt is dubious - distrust, fluctuation of mind. Doubts are built into our misunderstanding.
> Did we miss the point on fearing the Lord, sacrificing? Did we take only what God says as fact, and the contrary experience as false?
> Peter sunk because he took my eyes off me, because he doubted me and my call. Not because it was his time to sink, or it was part of his perfect plan.
> Matthew 21:22-23... do not doubt. James :
   1. Faith in his willingness, restoring, bringing out of bondage, making us into his likeness
   2. Doubting will prevent receiving.
   3. Doubting person is double minded and unstable... Being willing to identify and resolve doubts overshadowing and destabilizing and making us double minded.

Doubts caused by:
    Pain of the heart. If we do not process a wounding or tear biblically, it allows a daemonic entry, it justifies our right to hold onto the pain... Subconsciously hold against the Lord. Calcification of soul through hardness of heart. Antidote. proverbs 16:6 - mercy and true love, fidelity to God and man.
    Judgement. Be merciful and forgive. We do not understand context, our reactions are based on judgement not reality, and that is what causes us pain. Discernment comes out of love - Phillips 1:9 humility and mercy, Matthew 18:32 forgive from you heart.
    Unclear conscience. Keep his commandments, believe in him and love one another. If we do not have clear conscience, we won't be able to believe him. 1 Timothy 3:9 , 1:19