a matter to shatter..

There’s only one secure, and strong, safe place!!
It's found in God, who is real love - and some!!

He is the one who gives me strength to face

the battle, and the skill to overcome.

God’s Kingdom ain’t  a matter just of food,

or drink, to keep us going, but of life!

A life of goodness, peace and joy (not rude

ness,) in the Holy Spirit - when there’s strife.

And if you put these things first as you serve

God’s Christ, you'll find that you will please the God.

If God is standing with us, keep your nerve,

and tell me, who could stand where we have trod?

For as you seek, above all else, the reign,

the rule of God who only says what's true

and right. Then all these things (some would disdain),

you'll find then will be multiplied to you!

Refuse to worry, future things will come,

and you can deal with challenges as they

come on your way, and that is not so dumb,

a new day will come to you every day!!

---

There is only one strong, safe, and secure place for me!!
It's in God alone and I love Him!! He's the one who gives me strength and skill for the battle. Psalms 144:1 The Passion Translation

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you put these things first in serving Christ you will please God. Romans 14:17-18 (PM Version)

If God is standing with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us? Romans 8:31 (PM Version)

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and the righteousness that comes from God.
Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly!!
Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time!! Tomorrow will take care of itself!!  Mathew 6:33-34  (PM Version)

ringing out... holding out

Txt to man who's met and lives with God. Doing consulting work in God's World to help make it shine more with graceous-ness and truth.

---

Go well, with God.
Do tell (you've got
the smell of what
non-hell's a lot
like), shall we not
like bell, (or pot)
hold well... give out.

meet suite

Hi,... sorry,... (that meeting) isn't going to work for us. ...we already have plans for the evening. Thanks for trying to arrange a catch up. We look forward to meeting you all in God's perfect timing ...  after our holiday. Pray you have a very blessed day with Jesus. ... ☺

---

OK. Thanks.
You go well.
For God's banks
of Love tells

his story,
displays grace,
peace, and joy,
in his gaze.

Where-ever
on this Earth,
we never
find a dearth

of his love
(even pain)
from above
(can't disdain

or turn off
his glory,
it burns off
the hoary

untrue myths
to leave bare
love that shifts
all to share

more goodness
‘round about
so we bless
he, who "shouts"!

Freedom - to love!

The Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is FREEDOM.  2 Corinthians 3:17 (PM Version)

Yes, hallelujah!
Broods over this world,
God's Spirit here,
the half's not been told!

Father's still working,
as Jesus implied,
Spirit's not shirking,
God's love hasn't died.

God made us his own
not pets, but children!
So his freedom's sown
in us & 'sseen when

we use that freedom
to love as he does,
& thorns - to weed 'em
out of our gardens.

Where the Spirit of
our Yeshua is
we are bound to love
with his graciousness!

I know who - I am!

My old life and identity is based

on (gained it’s worth from) what “the people” said,

especially those who count within this place.

Don’t think it is worth rescuing. ... It’s dead!

And now the essence of this new life is

no longer mine, for Jesus now lives here

within this bag of skin. My new life is

empowered by faith in he who has appeared

on Earth, the Son of God who loved me so ...

so much that he gave all his self for me,

in giving up his rights while here below

and living as you meant for us to be.

For that’s the essence of that love of yours:

he “gave himself” at every turn (for me)

for God’s dead children to be raised because

he's Resurrection, and The Life, you see!

So then because of God’s true faithful love

we do not perish, as the dead should do,

(unless we won't be raised up from above)

his mercies never end. They’re always new.

And who would guess: as every rain-bowed cloud

could be the symbol of your promise true,

the colours of each morning sing aloud

your love and mercy that has been renewed.

For you are not just good one day a week,

or decade, or a life-time, century…

You keep your word, and keep on, so to speak,

your faithfulness is great! I would copy.

---

My old life and my old identity is gone. And now the essence of of this new life is no longer mine, for Jesus now lives in me. My new life is empowered by faith in the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me.   Galatians 2:20 (PM Version)

Because of the Lords  faithful love to us that we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22,23 (PM Version)

greater creator ...

God wants me to show off, and to display,

embody his creative nature lots -

and his hard working love, that works at play,

makes all his children & helps those who’ve got

some reasons to believe that he's their Dad.

"You made a world for them to live within,

show off in ways more brill-i-ant than sad

-  your same creative love that’s hard working!

You know oh God, I'm doing that with you,
as much as I can, and with gifts you've gi'en.
I love to see the things you like to do
and try to do like them on Earth, - as Hea'en.

Encourage who lives with me and connects,

to do the same, that we might in this mist,

know motives matter. Love covers, protects,

it frees up fun, lets jolly joy exist.

Please help us see creative ways for’ard

(you might need to give us new eyes to see).

We ask this of you now our living Lord,

that we might see new options. We believe

that you are able to do this, for you

are linked to all those prophecies of old

and "hopes" that were for good that would be true,

so now to ask you for this, I am bold!"

We need to reimagine our work as

our service to this God (and others too)

that all our methods, products, and motives,

would shine in this community, with you!

---

“No philosophical theory which I have yet come across is a radical improvement on the words of Genesis, that 'In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth.'" - C. S. Lewis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Gen. 1:1 NIVUK

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Gen. 1:27 NIVUK  

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.  Romans 12:6‭-‬8 NIVUK

“One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give, and so fail to realize your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.” - C. S. Lewis

“The meta-narrative of work today is that it is the primary means by which we make a name for ourselves in this life and prove to the world that we are important, valuable, and worthy. …  Because Jesus said, “It is finished,” we no longer have to use our work as a means of saving ourselves. Like Lewis, the gospel frees us to create for the pure joy of creating, not seeking fortune or fame, but the fame of the One who has called us to create.” [from “C.S.Lewis and the call to Create” a Bible reading plan available within the YouVersion Bible App for Apple and Android devices, accessed Jan/Feb 2018 (CSLATCTC).]

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20 NIVUK

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.  Prov. 16:2 NIVUK

“... after his conversion to Christianity, Lewis allowed his faith in Jesus Christ to impact everything he did, including the products he chose to create.” (CSLATCTC)

“… All my seven Narnian books began with seeing pictures in my head. [The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe] began with a picture of a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood. This picture had been in my mind since I was about sixteen. Then one day, when I was about forty, I said to myself: ‘Let's try to make a story about it.’ At first I had very little idea how the story would go. But then suddenly Aslan came bounding into it...once He was there He pulled the whole story together.”

(Like Lewis, our product ideas will likely not come from brainstorming sessions where we focus intensely on how we can create a product that reveals God’s character. But…)

“as we begin to create, and we “let the Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly,” (Colossians 3:16) we will undoubtedly see how we can use our creations to reveal the character of our Creator. If our work is to feel like a calling, we, like Lewis, must be willing to allow the True Aslan to come “bounding into” every aspect of our lives, including our work.” (CSLATCTC)

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:16‭-‬17 NIVUK

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIVUK

Wow, I'm over awed as I consider this... A mate who's worked with the United Nations in peacekeeping and providing for refugees/locals in unrest in the Middle East said a year or two back something like:

~“What shows that the Creator God is really with us, is if in the difficulties and stale-mates and dead-ends of life, we can come up with creative options”  
Ash 2016 (?) - in personal conversation.

I have been led to the conclusion that he is right.

“What I owe to [the Inklings] is incalculable. Is there any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?” - C. S. Lewis

As we’ve seen modeled in the life of C. S. Lewis, reimagining our work as a calling from God changes our motivations for creating and the products we choose to create. As we’ll see today, following God’s call to create also changes how we create. …  (trustingly moving into unknown (- by us) chaos)

Like these (Charles Williams, Hugo Dyson, Owen Barfield, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and his brother Warnie Lewis) creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we create.

If our work is to feel like a vocation—a true calling on our lives—we must be willing to follow the example of C. S. Lewis and reimagine our work as service to God and others. When we do, we will find the lordship of the True Aslan, Jesus Christ, changing our motivations for creating, the products we choose to create, and how we go about creating them, in community with others following the call to create.(CSLATCTC)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2 NIVUK

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  Prov. 27:17 NIVUK

---

go ahead..

So thank you Lord, you go ahead of me,

preparing all the way, and kindly you

will follow right behind me so to see

no harm from all my past can land and do

it’s hoped-for damage to the good that grows

within this life where I can choose for good.

For you are now the only one who knows

what I can do (because I really should)!

And with your hand of love upon my life,

you bless me as you enter, please don't leave.
Some knowledge is too wonderful, and rife,

and deep, incomprehensible, it weaves

the kind of fabric that helps trust to grow.

Your understanding of me makes me sing,

with wonder and with strength I did not know

could be borne on this Earth. That’s what you bring!

---

Thank you Lord, you go ahead of me, preparing the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart blessing to me.
This is just too wonderful, deep and incomprehensible!!
Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength!! Psalms 139:5-6 (PM Version)

---

2 folk us ?

---

I was thinking on the loo today, about those two ways of living you identified.  By hate, and getting back at people, ... or ... by some other way that involves polite acknowledgement (where you "can", or ignoring, where you "can't"), and contributing what-ever you can. I've seen you actually living out something of that second way.

(Though for me Yeshua, seemed to do a better job of modelling this way, than me or you)
Got me thinking ... and exploring with words.

---

The question is can we be weaned off from

our focus on the needs we have (to live)?

-  as though this life had everything upon

which could be counted, so to really give

a meaning, and a purpose big enough

for all the human spirit which exists.

And learn to live another way - by love.

That’s giving out; not taking, grinding grists

to keep our little lives here going strong

(as though God’s saving from that Tree of Life

to live forever down here was quite wrong).

Dependence on this Other is quite rife,

if we acknowledge life from A to Zed,

-  we start without agreement from ourselves,

pure gift to us from those who were ahead

(sometimes they did not do so very well),

so ow-a part’s to play till we are dead.

Some gratefulness for little parts we played

in helping this ol’ world at water-sheds,

we know is right and proper when displayed

with honesty, and not fork-tongued, but true.

And when folk do this, and let it become

the strength of life in them (well, me & you)

this change in focus, can seem really dumb

as they said to that fellow lifted high:

“You saved those others, what about yourself?”

He trusted who was bigger than this life,

and following his Way, saves us from “hell".

who can be trusted?

Well, can you trust in God, The One who IS,

who makes the world - imagining it up,

and keeps imagining in mind (of his),

so we can live here longer, come to supp

with him, the God, and Lord, of all the gods

and lords that ever lived, who made all else

and plans to birth us out of this, with wads

of life like his, to save us from all hells ?

For “Hell”, meaning the rubbish dump of dreams

and hopes for reconnection with this One,

leaves only room for what we see, or seems

to make sense to our puny selves, that’s done

to try to work things out all on our own.

Instead I will acknowledge “God” and call

on him for help in everything (full blown)

as though he's Senior Partner, that is all,

(well) all in all (events, and places too,

& people who have rulership in them)

and he'll direct the path in front of you
for God makes all things beautiful, just when

the timing is just right. He’s planted in

the human heart, eternity that calls

us on to bigger things (so we can grin),

his view sees more than where our own eye falls.

The Lord the everlasting God, avails.

Creator of more options than we know.

His pow’r and understanding never fails,

he loves to help all who’ll give him a go!

---

Trust in The Lord with all your heart, don't try to work out it out on your own. Acknowledge God in everything you do and He will direct you on the right path. Proverbs 3:5,6 (PM Version)

‘I am the Lord , the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?  Jer. 32:27 NIVUK. https://bible.com/bible/113/jer.32.27.NIVUK

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,. Gen. 14:18 NIVUK. https://bible.com/bible/113/gen.14.18.NIVUK

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.  Deut. 10:17 NIVUK. https://bible.com/bible/113/deu.10.17.NIVUK

God has made everything beautiful in its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of Gods work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (PM Version)

The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:28-29. (PM Version)

covenant (partnership) blessings

Then, Jesus turned around and said to her,

"My Daughter, be encouraged! Faith of yours

has really had effect, don't be deterred -

our God is into partnering because

you are his daughter - so you are a god!

a baby one, with heaps still yet to learn,

but "faithful" is the first trait that you've got

to grow like him in love (that’s not to earn,

but to respond, to his great love and grace)"

so I say yet again, “this faith of yours

has healed you, and now you look in my face,

you heard my word and trusted more than laws!"

And straightaway, the woman, knew for fact

the healing had occurred - the words he said

confirmed and drew attention to her act

of faithfulness (not words, or thoughts in head).

Oh Lord, you are the one, and only God!
What miracles! - & wonders are from you!

What great love and what wisdom you have got!

Yet you would share them with your children too!

Unless they want to brag and boast themselves,

as though they didn't need you, what a lie!

Teach me more how to work against the hell

(the dump for rubbish, that won't even try,

just like that servant who would bury his)

Oh God I want to take on your good Way

and Truth, until my everything that is

brings honour to your great & glorious name!

---

Jesus turned around and said to her, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed instantly. Matthew 9:22 (PM Version)

Lord you are the one and only God!!
What miracles!
What wonders!
What greatness belongs to you! Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move, so I can walk in your ways and truth, until everything within me brings honour to your name.
Psalms 86:10-11 (PM Version)

One won

God, help from above
me to open self
to your own great love,
& your life, and health.

Thank you for the sleep
I've just had last night.
I would rather weep
and have you in sight,

than be happy, smile,
have "never a care",
but all of the while,
be my own god there!

You are the true one
worth learning stuff from
and you've just begun
to teach all who'll come

to you for lessons,
then even in sleep
your spirit beckons
us all on a heap.

...

My one-ness - puny!
-  from my existence:
a baby's journey,
needy insistence,

focused on this one
that's so small it fits
in this world, begun..
well, "yesterday" 's it!

Your One-ness is big
involving what's born:
& making one fig-
-ure from the lines drawn.

One loving purpose,
that's not drawn by force,
more like a Circus
of who loves their cause,

where each one who's good
with diff'rent strengths too,
"wants to" not just "should"
at length contribute.

When love's come to each,
when they love their skills,
and lovingly reach
for watchers on hills

or seat's, the whole while;
it becomes bigger
than a painted smile.
Now it's a "figure",

not just dots or lines
it's one-ness draws in
some more dimenshines,
& more fun. Amen.

my rock

The Lord's my rock, the one I walk upon,
my ground of being, where I can exist,
my world, the one whose dream  I live within,
my strength, my conqueror,  not to be dismissed.

---

The Lord is my rock, and my strength, and my saviour. 2 Samuel    22:2 (PM Version)

Yeshua's "commandment"

So since the God who spoke to Abraham
(& who confirmed his covenant again
with Isaac, and with Isra'el and fanned
it more with Moses and all those there when

he ratified that cov'nant, & appeared
straight to a motley group of descendants
and bound himself to bless (and curse) who feared,
(or just ignored this God), and payed the rent.

So, he's the God who acts, and brings about
all worlds, and all their populations too.
He kept his word, and even though a "lout"
(he won't do all the things he's told to do),

if he is on my side, like he's "with" us,
I'll not be led by fear, if he is near,
I'm strong, and also very courageous.
I'll keep repeating God's Word - so it's here!

And I will meditate both day and night
on what he said, imaginations grow
'til all done; and enacted as is right.
Yeshua's God's image-in-nations, so! ...

---

'I am strong and very courageous. I have no room for fear. I keep God's Word always on my lips; I meditate on it day and night and I am careful to do everything written in it. Then, I am prosperous and successful! My God is truly with me wherever I go...'. Yeshua 1:7‭-‬9 (CR Version)