WoMan

We have a high profile case currently making headline news in NZ, involving teenage males, public postings which brag about their prowess, naming and shaming on the internet the under-legal-age girl victims of their sexual conquest . 

This has generated a nationwide outcry with several public marches being held over the past weekend around the country, police procedures coming under scrutiny and many, many women finding things surfacing that have been deeply hidden, still tender wounds thrust back into their faces.  

As a survivor of rape, I am watching with interest how the dominating male patriarchal system deals with this challenge to their status and centuries held mindsets.   It interests me to observe the manner in how many women address the issue, where protective alliances come to the fore, how dismissive, misguided and misunderstanding to the point of contempt they can be of not only victims of sexual abuse, but other types of control and manipulation perpetuated through out their own family of origin.

It is something that many women simply do not wish to remember, discuss or even acknowledge in public.

The culture of degradation and violation of women is not new to mankind, coming into play as a weapon of the dark one with the tempting of Woman, our eventual succumbing to self and disobedience, Falling from intimate relationship with our Creator, and consequently our casting out from Eden.  

   

I recently read an excellent book which I recommend below. 

Keeping in mind we read under the direction and discernment of Holy Spirit, so any recommendations made do not mean blanket endorsement of any particular ministry or doctrinal belief.  We need to chew the cud and spit out the fat (gristle, peas, or carrots - any bits that aren't Truth therefore not healthy :o)

In the Garden, woman was taken out of man to stand by his side and co-reign with him. But Satan's schemes have robbed women of their rightful identity, disempowering and defacing them. The world aches for God's original partnership to be brought into balance once more - 

"We have failed to realize that Jesus founded the women's liberation movement more than two thousand years ago." Kris Vallotton

http://www.amazon.com/Fashioned-Reign-Empowering-Fulfill-Destiny/dp/0800795601

To any woman reading this blog who may be struggling with painful and devastating memories, with low self esteem, no sense of self worth or even trying to survive ongoing attacks of shame or guilt attached to being a victim of abuse,  I encourage you to please seek professional assistance in the first instance.  

As you walk through the valley of the shadow of death (which is what any abuse is as it causes our soul to die another little bit) I pray you will be able to know the Love of your Father who longs to walk through this journey of recovery alongside of you to bring you into a full and complete knowledge of WHO you really are. 

His beloved most precious one.  Made in His image.

One part of the whole.   A hand in a glove.

May Father's Peace roll like sea billows over and over you.... blessings in abundance.

Promises

Yesterday we went fishing at our local favourite beach.  On arrival reasonably early in the morning, we saw many more people than usual fishing and the sea was literally boiling with frenzied fish and sea birds.  The air was electric with excitement, and even though our line wasn't rigged to go it quickly became so and was duly cast out into the melee. Over the past few days on this long anniversary holiday weekend, we watched several spots of such activity on the ocean so we knew there were lots of fish in the water, but this was the closest inshore that they had come.   

However, our goal wasn't the masses of kawhai thrashing about, although one was caught and happily shared with friends with a well-chilled bottle of Hawkes Bay pinot gris, fresh greek salad and rice; (sorry there isn't a photo of that... I was too preoccupied with eating).

We were after the larger fish hidden in the depths that were chasing the shoals of smaller fish across the Bay. They are the real prize being sought, the one that takes more time to hook and land, requiring great patience, skill and even, it may seem, a measure of folly as the easier catch passes by.

Today we delighted in new bursts of growth around the garden and the first flowers emerged on our feijoa tree.  

The whole garden is looking lush and prolific and we feel abundantly blessed with masses of roses on all the bushes, two kowhai flowers appeared on a tree thought to be dead, buxis box hedging is wearing several shades of green, the lemon and mandarin trees have blossoms galore.  

I have never before enjoyed any garden as much as this one.

 

Additionally, our lovely new camera allows me to get up close to capture this beauty as it unfolds. I have been photographing all the development over the past few weeks since pruning everything back hard before Spring but anticipation has been surpassed by the creativity and reward that has come from a seemingly small amount of effort put into weeding, watering and nurturing plants thoughtfully planted by others long gone.

The most amazing thing happened this morning as I was downloading the latest picture of the feijoa flowers to share with my children who are currently overseas.  The ends of each stamen looked to me like a tiny heart shape attached and while I was marvelling at this sight, Pappa spoke, ever so gently; He simply said, "the promise of fruit".

I sat with tears streaming down my face as I contemplated the initial meaning of these words before walking to the lounge to share with Don what had transpired.

Often we wonder if what we are doing in our daily life is of any worth or value to Father, to mankind, our families, or our community, frequently exhorted to stop and take stock of what we are engaged with.  It is human nature to want to see some results but in God's Kingdom business it sometimes is never apparent as we are not seeking recognition, applause or reward.  

Some plough the ground, some plant, some fertilise, some reap the harvest.  By their fruit you will know them.   

Selah.

Pappa's Love

I love you with an everlasting Love, not in the manner in which humankind speak of or act out, but with a purity that every child of Mine is drawn to. 

Love that embraces, edifies, exhorts, and emboldens. 

Hold My Hand confidently as we continue our journey because it is in the closeness with Me that you bring My Light to others suffering in silence, a shame that is not their burden to carry.

My Presence in you flows forth to break the shackles and bondages that keep people bound.

  

All I require from you is to steadfastly walk with Me into places I have ordained you to travel and remain in intimate daily relationship with Me so My Love and Power flows out. 


Peace, blessings in abundance on all                 

Behind the Walls

This article was originally written and distributed in 2012

The peace-making Bride bears the message that the Bridegroom has already broken down every wall of separation, the greatest of which is between God and man, and she herself is both the good-news bearer and the living evidence.*

When staying with a friend last year we had some water indoors, as a leak from the shower through an interior wall into the hallway made a rather sodden carpet cause for concern. Trades people got on the job so we could relax knowing we weren’t about to ‘sail away’, the damage was limited and effectively tended to. Everyday while waiting for new wall board to be erected, we passed the cavity that allowed us to see into the internal structure of the house that was normally hidden; this became the inspiration for this article. 

Don’t you just love it when Father uses everyday things to communicate with us :o)  He drew my attention toward the exposed timber framework then asked, ‘What is hidden behind the walls?’

A small measure of mould was showing on the back of the shower lining and there was a solid concrete floor beneath the carpet and underlay but the question needed deeper contemplation. I found myself engaging in a lengthy chat with Him and He disclosed more of His purpose. 

Reading in Leviticus about the Israelites who were given instruction through Moses on what to do when mildew was found in a house or its contents there were specific directions given for stones to be removed one at a time and the mildew cleaned away before more detailed cleansing rituals were performed by the priest.  At that point the house was fit again for habitation, all of this was an intriguing matter leading me to further reflection of stones present at times in my own life and closer inspection as to what may be hidden behind my walls, i.e. physically or emotionally manifested in habits, mindsets, desire or those spiritually erected by tradition, teachings of man, or from eating off tables other than the one set by our Father.

It is in the heart of a man that intent or coveting lies hidden; behind walls of justification, behind tradition, behind culture, behind denomination, doctrine, ignorance, prejudice, discrimination, lust, greed and a myriad other excuses.

Father wants our hearts to be clean. He wants our hearts to become a true reflection of His Heart toward mankind, not full of rules and regulations that enslave, not unreachable from past hurts or violation, tainted by many injustices or tragedies we all suffer. He longs for us to be filled afresh every day with His wonderful Love so we can truly shine His Presence into the darkness we walk amongst, imparting His Peace and Hope to those who are despairing and hungry for Truth.  Once we acknowledge our hopeless state of the heart and agree that we are ‘in big trouble mister’ without Him, we access our Father directly through Jesus and His Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. To clean our mildew we simply need to apply the cleansing Blood of Jesus, our sacrificial lamb, daily.  We no longer have to go through lengthy rituals or wait for specific ‘qualified’ priests to come tend to business. 

He does not abandon us to removing the stones alone; He is our ever-present Help and Confidant. It is wise to have a brother or sister alongside as we pull down walls we have erected because there may be all manner of bugs and cobwebs uncovered, which is why we are counseled to be in fellowship with the Body of believers, for support, encouragement, praying in agreement and unity.

  

When we walk in the freedom the Jesus purchased for us by His sacrificial death we are required to remain transparent in all our ways. That means daily check ups to make certain we are not erecting more walls or carrying any hidden agendas; easier said than done as we are frequently bombarded in all our senses, and our humanness continually gets in the way. 

I believe one implication in praying these words in our Lord’s prayer, 'Let us not be led into temptation' is that we purposefully place ourselves under His protection so we can remain open and honest in all our dealings. This does not mean that we have no boundaries or no social awareness of appropriate behavior, because we are also warned to not place any stumbling block in the path of another which may cause them to depart from the Truth.  We daren’t use commitment to transparency as an excuse for bad manners; they could be the result of hiding anger behind a wall.  Diplomacy is not the same as political correctness, a man-made wall ruled by current popular influences of society.

Occasionally situations call for bluntness and direct speaking, which is why we learn from Jesus what it means to live as He did, speaking only what He heard Father say and doing only what He was told to do by Father.

We are not to pursue reward or covet hidden desires from the outcome of good works, and we need to be alert to our hearts natural yearning of following after ‘feel good’ aspects from latest teachings, revelations, programs, or initiatives into the community as a means of increasing the number of people brought into our churches.

  

It is easy to fall prey to duty-bound religious sacrificial service to others when we have not been instructed to do such things because it appeals to our senses. All these areas have encroached into westernized church mentality and are frequently accepted carte blanche without question as being the correct or normal way to live our spiritual life, or how we ‘do’ church. This erects more walls, hiding the poisonous mildew of self-gratification and ego stroking.

Erroneous thinking runs deep through society under the influence of spiritual manipulation, corruption and ignorance. Historically, men have generated such a complex impression of what is demanded of followers of Jesus - supposedly by God but in reality it comes from the hearts of men - leaving people spiritually resistant to hearing any good news. We have met people who frankly questioned that if they accepted the Gift of Salvation in Jesus, do they ‘have to put on a suit and pay to attend church with all its regulations and performance requirements. They may as well join the Lions or Green Peace. At least then they could still have fun while doing their good works.’ Such perception is disconcerting yet many are dissuaded from receiving The Good News because, as they see it, they would simply be trading one form of bondage for another.  More walls to be dismantled.

We have no hidden agenda, no desire to place anyone under any form of bondage.  We stand outside the milling crowd of lukewarm followers, Sunday Christians and pew warmers extending God’s Perfect Love to even them, with no judgment. Our sincere prayer is for the individual’s heart intent to be revealed so walls will be dismantled in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility as peace keepers and ministers of reconciliation to tell the Truth, i.e. that Jesus has broken down all the walls separating mankind from God.

It’s time to check what is hidden behind your walls.

Blessings and Love, Peace in abundance

*Bride-Atude Seven: The Good Will Ambassadors Cheryl McGrath, Bread for the Bride, 2012 
Leviticus 14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 5:16 – 6:2 

Boo Wabbitte

We have recently been richly blessed with another addition to the family, 

grandson Montana, born 2 September 2013

The birth of a new baby inevitably leads to remembering the birth of our own children, reflecting on the time and events, including anticipation beforehand, somewhat ignorant of what was about to transpire especially during labour.  

 Our individual expectations afterward, as we set our hearts to raising them in the best manner possible toward achieving the goal of holistically healthy human beings, were frequently threatened, even deliberately sabotaged.   

Stepping back to look realistically at the big picture,

I was ill-equipped for becoming a parent yet, in hindsight,  evidence is perceptible to verify success in achieving the goal. 

I carried baggage from my dysfunctional family that impacted on the young souls gifted into my care nevertheless doggedly  persevered in the quest toward empowering 

and unconditionally loving their tender hearts, 

desiring them to know how to live life in a more functional and enjoyable way than I had

As I pour myself out on the altar of parenthood I am immensely honoured by fringe benefits, living somewhat vicariously through their experiences 

while reframing my own state of being through the process 

I reflect on how much of this intricate process has been possible due to the Love of a Father for His daughter, being supported and encouraged by a community placed around me for this very purpose, with input so valuable it was frequently the difference between life and death

 I rejoice at the arrival of a new life to be nurtured, 

loved and guided

and commit myself to being actively present throughout our journey together

 a new generation

 

another precious child to tend and grow

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.......

Ephesians 3:14-19 

 Lord, I trust myself into Your Hands to make me well able to perform this important task, 

for Your Name sake 

Amen  

Today is Tuesday 

I've been for a half hour walk with my friend, helped solve her work issues for this day; 

watched NZ loose to USA again in the yacht racing; 

mowed the lawns, front, back and road verge; weeded some of the garden, pruned, trimmed overhanging branches; 

put the rubbish on the road side for collection, brought bin back in and cleaned it; filled it with next lot ready to go;

chatted to family on fb chat; 

had shower and cleaned it while in there - may as well, eh!; 

baked an apple, banana, cinnamon, 

oat and walnut cake; 

prepared and put macaroni cheese dish 

in oven for dinner;              

talked to step-daughter and grand daughter on phone for half hour; 

ironed, prepared curtains to sew for friend, broke sewing needle on machine;

remembered to have breakfast, and a sandwich for lunch;

did a 15 minute work out on my abs (at least that was the plan, time will tell);

now waiting for husband to get home from his day at work. Guess what he'll ask? 

"How was your day, darling?  

What did you get up to?"  

my reply? "oh not much, just the usual...."    

Wonder what Wednesday will bring?  

Check your heart

We recently watched a program on TV about the inner workings of the human heart.  Fascinating stuff to view and amazing that such documentation is possible. I was especially intrigued because not long ago I had a routine visit to the doctor for what I call a warrant of fitness so this visual information made much more sense of what medical tests are designed to look for. 

Along with natural physical reactions and stresses on our human frame we also endure emotional and spiritual stresses which take a huge toll physically if left unchecked. Recent events have prompted me to check my emotional and mental attitudes and, on a deeper level, to see what may be residing in the inner workings of my heart. 

We know how to check for messages on a cell phone perhaps when waking in the morning, or before going to sleep, open emails, clear the letter box of old-fashioned postie delivered mail but do we know how to check our heart? Perhaps we could liken it to checking the fuel gauge in the car or the pressure in the tyres, the level of oil or brake fluid, tools you need to work with, or equipment you use for sport and recreation. It is imperative to check our heart daily so the incoming chaos and poison of the external, fallen world around us is filtered, and to top up the lubrication, pump some air in the tyres or refill the water tank by spending time aside from the madding crowd to deal with issues we tend to lightly skim over.

We may think or even be fully persuaded that our hearts and motives are in a surrendered state, saturated in love flowing from the Author of Love, but when did we last check that it really was in alignment with His will so we can be confident that His is the Voice we are following?  The tactics of the enemy are vast, the strategies are cunning plans laid to captivate, to lure away, derail and to deceive.

In the heart are many chambers where lint and grains of discontent can lie dormant until something comes against us that awakens our innermost response. It can come as a shocking revelation when our behaviour manifests in ways we believed were eradicated from being placed under the cleansing Blood of the Lamb; where old reactive habits surface from repressed emotion resulting in impatience, seething anger, violence, hateful language or lust pouring forth with deadly venom. The catalyst trigger may not be anything of much importance, indeed even something casually tolerated or deliberately dismissed but built up over a period of time, until we find ourselves in danger of becoming explosive and destructive. Rather than manifesting the optimum of a peace filled, patient person we’ve been seriously cultivating by mortifying the old nature for Father to heal and change, we erupt uncontrollably like a volcano, with damaging fall out. 

I admit occasionally I have been pleasantly surprised to find I have responded calmly with wisdom and authority and love where previously I may have reacted much differently, but then I become completely devastated when old ways return, shattering my serenity and confidence.  As well I come under the burden of condemnation, mainly from my self talk although the dark one is in there, like Flynn, sticking it to me as much as possible and causing an immense weight of pity, shame and embarrassment. 

When my heart is left untended to meander mindlessly through daily life without checking it (at the Throne of Mercy and Grace) I can be blissfully unaware of the build up like creosote or soot in a chimney clogging the valves, even intruding into other organs nearby, constricting the flow of Living Water so my whole being is thrown out of sync, needing stiff bristles of a brush to cleanse and renew under the deft Hand of the Chief Sweeper. 

Little things can fester and become serious blockages - i.e. regret over choices made which in hindsight we may chose differently; dwelling on past failures until they are disproportionate in our memory banks and hinder our ability to take risks; seeing others gain from delays in our decision making processes; small or large things that lead toward resentment, which unattended blooms into bitterness and eventually, putrifying into hatred, which is Murder.  Misplaced loyalty, anything stemming from pride, resulting in envy, growing into jealousy and harmful judgement can be spilled out in the open when circumstances are primed to have us react and reveal what has lain buried in the heart.

JESUS said “For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit;[i]unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride ([j]the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness).”

Mark 7:21-23

If we are not in relationship with Him, how will we know if our heart valves are blocked. We may be in desperate need of open heart surgery.  In and of my self, I can do nothing about those grains of filth that hide and fester in recesses beyond human detection. Ultimately that keeps me humble and dependent on Father, but I have a responsibility to seriously search my heart while turning to be reconciled with Abba, to enable my life to resume the production of good, healthy fruit of the Spirit, not displaying rotten decaying fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and death. 

I come to Jesus asking for His Light to pour in to illuminate any poison and once aware, confess my shortcoming so His Blood flows pure and freely cleansing and unblocking. His ermine robe of righteousness is what I wear, not humanistic philosophy or ability so instead of succumbing to condemnation, I bring the state of my heart to Father and on purpose choose to practice honest, genuine forgiveness toward myself, toward others and toward things that I have been threatened by. Then I am on the way to being an overcomer of all those little foxes that threaten to destroy my heart. 

By daily keeping short account, living a surrendered life of servanthood, cleaving to Him and putting His desires ahead of mine, remaining teachable as His disciple, praying unceasingly over all manner of everyday things, letting Him be involved in my heart attitude toward all relationships, pursuing my Beloved’s intimate Presence rather than keeping Him at arms length for a once-a-week formal encounter, do I enter a place of safety and rest in confident assurance that He will keep me from my own folly.

It’s not hard to be with the One you love when He loves you so absolutely.

How is your heart?