mummy says...

I was busy when my daughter came to me crying that her brother had done something to upset her. Being busy and not wanting to deal with it in person, it was enough to say to Josie, "tell Luke Mummy says stop or you'll be in big trouble!" Josie ran off to deliver this message happy that I meant business. This was enough to calm the situation. It would not have had the same effect if Josie went back and simply said "stop it", because Luke would have probably carried on. But because I told Josie to use my name it carried some weight. I did not have to be there in person and say it. Luke understood the words as if I was saying them, even though they were coming out of Josie's mouth.

This helped me to understand that the authority we carry in this world is the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the
Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the
Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I
am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of
the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will
do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I
am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that
the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my
name, and I will do it.

John 14:10-14 (NIV)

Jesus said that we can do even greater things than what He did just by having faith in him. We need to know what the Father is saying. I don’t feel I fully understand the power of God displayed through Jesus, but having a relationship with my heavenly Father means I can heal the sick and, yes, perform miracles! All the things I read Jesus did and is still doing.

Our close intimate relationship with God is one whereby we know what he would do. Therefore when we speak into a situation we can expect the same result as if it was Christ himself speaking into that situation. Because it is!

We're In America

Richard and I arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan yesterday. We will both be ministering in the church here (http://www.newlifegr.com). We will be back at the end of next week. I hope to be blogging and fill you in when I get back.

What a Lovely Day

While it was raining everywhere in Britain so it seems, we had a glorious day by Lake Windemere in the Lake District. We went to a wedding on Saturday. It was great to meet old friends and make some new ones.

One thing I really love about weddings is how it reminds me of the importance of my own relationship with my husband. Richard and I don't usually take our children to weddings. So it ends up being a great time just the two of us, where we both can get dressed up and enjoy being with each other and having a lovely meal. We were on a table with some great people which only added to the fun.

I really cherish moments like these with my husband. With the busyness of life and looking after the children, making time for each other enables us when we are all together to have a life that is exciting and full of adventure.

Come To My House

Because I was expecting some people to come to my house last night, I spent the day shopping for food, tidying the house, preparing food and making sure the kids were ok in the meantime. It was such a hectic day, but the end result was a great time of fellowship with the fantastic group of people, you can see above.

I love having people round at my house. I love it when we eat together. I would love to do it more than just once or twice a week. But anything more than that is such a challenge. Why is this such a challenge. Is it because we like our own space more, or we get tired or is it that we like to make sure we get our own family time. When we read in Acts 2 how the people were devoted to one another and met daily, it is so different to how we live today.

Some people are so gifted at being hospitable. These are the kind of people you can drop in on at anytime and know that you will be made welcome whatever. It may mean that you might have to muck in with whatever is happening within the family, help do some cleaning or help with the children, but you know they are genuinely pleased you came. You are able to make yourself at home because you are allowed to be part of the family.

This is what I want for my family and home; to enjoy fellowshipping with people while living out my life. Last night was great but it took a lot of preparation. But I know that if I am going to live my life the way it talks about in Acts (how the early church were devoted to one another) I need to not worry about always being organised, or making sure my house is absolutely spotless. I need to allow the Holy Spirit to prompt people to come to have a time of fellowship. Be prepared though, you may have to do the washing up!

Hanging Basket

Well I wish my hanging basket looked like that one you see on the right! I was sat looking at my hanging basket in my garden thinking how pathetic it looks. I started remembering baskets I'd seen in other places and how wonderful and flourishing they looked. I wondered why mine looked so bad. It did not look that bad when I first bought it. Then I remembered back to when I did buy it. I specifically asked for an easy maintenance one, preferably one that lasts all year round.

Sometimes our lives can look a little brown round the edges. Or we can feel a little tired and need some of the old stuff pulled out. I have not really maintained my hanging basket the way the shop attendant suggested. When I went to pick it up I remember her saying to me you will need to pull out this and that, pointing to some flowers. Bring it in to me and I’ll put in some new ones for you. I just wanted a nice looking maintenance free basket. I hung it up, and apart from the occasional water in dry weather, that’s all it got.

When we spend time with God it can sometimes be what is the least amount I can get away with. We only get out of it what we put in. The beautiful hanging baskets I see in other places has probably had quite a lot of time and effort spent on them.

We can often look at other peoples lives and see how great they have become, or how in tune with the Spirit they are. We have no doubt in our minds that they will have spent many intimate moments with God. Maybe we need to look at the amount of time we spend in the presence of God. Maybe it is enough by the grace of God to keep things looking green all year round, and still growing a little, but is it enough to make us flourish and become outstanding in the Kingdom of God.

with the top of your voice sing a new song

When we go on any kind of journey in the car at some point we all have to sit quietly and listen to our daughter sing a song. The song is generally one she is making up on the spot there and then. If any one dares to speak or sing a long to her catchy tune then we get into trouble. She likes us to listen to her and not to interupt her. Josie loves to sing at the top of her voice. Her made up songs are generally about Jesus. Although she sings about pretty much anything. She has a lovely sweet voice but her songs don't always make sense. Sometimes we have to give her a time limit, because she can make up a song that will last for quite a long time!

It's not that difficult to sing a new song to the Lord. It's great to do it. I would encourage anyone when they get into the presence of God to have a go at singing at the top of your voice a made up song to the Lord. A song that speaks from the heart.

I Know that when Josie is singing at the top of her voice it allows her to express herself and she enjoys herself. It is fun to her. To everyone else in the car it can sometimes (not all the time) be an endurance test! When I sing a new song in the presence of God or going about my business in the home I feel like my spirit is rising. There is a praise that is rising like a sweet aroma to the Lord. I have not got the most gifted voice. But when I lift my voice to the Lord, and I'm singing from the heart it does not matter what I sound like, I know I'm touching God.

A new song to the Lord

I wait patiently for you O Lord

I wait patiently for you.

I desire to hear you Lord

I desire to know your voice.

Help me to be sensitive to your Spirit

Help me be attentive to your voice

You are my Lord

You are my Salvation

You are my Joy

You are my Peace O Lord my God

Creator of heaven and earth.

My King and my God

You have created all that is good.

You deserve all our praise and worship.

You deserve nothing less than our whole lives.

Magnificent God,

that you would choose to have me as your child.

Your grace is so amazing

You are so amazing.

by sja