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[Leader] “Tell me, whose side are you standing on?”
[All] “I’m standing on the Lord’s side.”
[Leader] “Whose side are you standing on?”
[All] “Standing on the Lord’s side.
I stand, I stand, I stand–
standing on the Lord’s side.
I stand, I stand, I stand, I stand–
standing on the Lord’s side.”

The words of an old chorus/hymn came to mind today as I read the ongoing story of Israel in Exodus 1.

TIMES had changed in the land of Egypt, where Israel had been exiled by the Lord, during the seven years of famine. Times are also changing in the world today and we need to be determined to ‘stand on the Lord’s side’, the winning side!

6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:6, 7

God began to develop the nation of Israel, His own people, but they became too numerous for the Egyptians and were ruthlessly oppressed by them. They had been a favoured people under Joseph and that Pharaoh, but the new Egyptian king turned against them. Despite their harsh life under the new regime God’s people continued to increase and Pharaoh decided to murder all the male babies.

In the middle of the story of the growth of a nation, two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are recorded by name. They were told to murder all the boys at the point of birth.

The midwives, however, FEARED GOD and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Exodus 1:17

We shouldn’t read this and think that these two women didn’t fear Pharaoh, who could have had them removed in an instant, but they did Fear God! In our present age many unborn children have been removed without any Fear of God, a very sad fact and no small matter in God’s eyes.

Pharaoh called them to ask why they hadn’t obeyed his orders. They told him that Hebrew women gave birth too quickly, before they arrived. The building of a people was central to God’s purposes for the salvation of mankind, He could not have allowed that to be prevented, though the enemy didn’t give up easily.

20 So God was kind to the midwives and THE PEOPLE INCREASED AND BECAME EVEN MORE NUMEROUS. 21 And because the midwives FEARED GOD, he gave them families of their own. Exodus 1:20, 21

God protected and blessed the midwives and His people. Their conditions were harsh but God blessed them and they thrived in their tough environment. There’s plenty of evidence in history that the Church can also grow rapidly under persecution. We on earth can be discouraged by tough conditions, BUT GOD! God is working out His plans for the return of the Lord and His coming Kingdom. He will have His way and we need to STAND ON HIS SIDE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Luke 10: 38-39 Amp Version.

And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.
But Martha ( overly occupied and too busy) was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me (to lend a hand and do her part along with me)!

We can be anxious like Martha or we can be like Mary and build a relationship and spend precious time with Jesus.

Mary wanted to sit at His feet to listen, look and learn. She knew she needed to feed her spirit.

Jesus said Mary had chosen the better thing.
Our lives will bear little or no fruit if we make the wrong decision.

We all understand that the food was important to Martha and who would not want it to be perfect if we were entertaining Jesus.

I ask tonight has something taken your focus away from Jesus?

Do you live a frantic lifestyle always busy with work, hobbies or television rather than a life focused on Jesus.

Martha is frustrated and annoyed because Jesus is not rebuking Mary as she was not being helpful in a way that was pleasing to Martha.

Who are you trying to please in your life that is more important than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I once heard my spiritual father say …you can select the best and have the rest.

May we choose the better way that we can be refreshed and used for His Service.

Forgiveness – opening our hands and our hearts and letting go the pain of the past.

The story of Jacob/Israel ends, Genesis 50, with a further act of reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. They were afraid that now that their father Jacob was gone, Joseph might turn on them for revenge after the way they’d treated him. Wrong Motive – Right Outcome!

16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions(Jacob never did, they feared Joseph) before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to FORGIVE YOUR BROTHERS THE SINS AND WRONGS THEY COMMITTED IN TREATING YOU SO BADLY’ (there were real wrongs to forgive). Now please FORGIVE THE SINS of the servants OF THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER (brothers in the natural and the spiritual). When their message came to him, Joseph wept. Genesis 50:16, 17

The word Forgive is translated in other Bible versions as, ‘FORGET THE WICKEDNESS of your brothers’, don’t think about it again. A visiting preacher said, ‘You’ll know you have forgiven something when you stop talking about it’, good point. Put the wrong behind you and move on!  Another version says, ‘BEAR WITH’ the wrongs of your brothers and Strong’s Concordance also has the thought, ‘LIFT, CARRY, TAKE’. Jesus bore/carried people’s sins and we’re called to do the same.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:18-21

Reconciliation worked here because there was humility and good will on both sides. Joseph, the wronged and ill-treated brother, was twice referred to by Jacob as the ‘prince/one over his brothers’. Genesis 49:22, 50:26 Joseph CHOSE LOVE AND RECONCILIATION WITH HIS BROTHERS, RATHER THAN THE RIGHT TO DICTATE TO THEM. Many times human nature wants to rule over others, wants to be boss in place of showing love, bearing with one another. Be warned, it’s not the Kingdom way.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray;

And forgive us our debts, as (in that manner) we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12

In the way we forgive or with the measure we forgive, in that way, we too will be forgiven.

Sadly hurts and wrongs often arise with those nearest and dearest to us, natural families and within the family of believers. Jesus himself was betrayed by ‘one who shared his bread’.

Unforgiveness is a prison that will hold us in the past. We can choose by an act of our wills to forgive the past wrongs and move on. Our feelings will catch up if we’re whole hearted and don’t allow ourselves to dwell on the past.

Choose to go forward and not be locked in painful memories.

God bless and keep you today.

John 14:27 Amp Version.

Peace I leave with you; My(Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. ( Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).

I started to think about this verse and how Jesus spoke those words the night before His crucifixion.

What a message He was giving to the disciples and also to us today.

Only He can give us real lasting peace, and we can live in that peace if we choose, everything else is only a temporary fix.

The enemy is always close by to help us to become anxious, so we try to justify and that causes us to be in sin.

When we become anxious we tend to run to everyone else , tell them the problem, ask their opinion, why do we never stop to think that we are portraying a wrong picture of our loving Father that we value their opinion rather than coming before God.
Allowing that person to see us being weighed down with the trial that has appeared in our lives.
We know trials will come, we live in a broken world.

The Scripture says don’t let your heart be troubled, nor let them be afraid.

Being anxious …. is the root of the problem. The enemy sets out to intimate and tempt us. No one is exempt from satan. He goes about seeking whom he can devour. We need to be on our guard day and night.

Prayer …. Is the answer, In all things give thanks that sometimes is hard to do but we need to start following the instructions.
When we pray we need to remember we are coming to God face to face and be quick to repent.

Psalm 66:18 If we regard wickedness in our hearts God will not hear our prayers.

Peace.. is the answer to our prayers. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding is the perfect peace that we all need today.

Come to your loving Father today and allow Him to give you His peace.

Jacob’s life ended with blessing, that is, blessing for others. Genesis 48 & 49

He probably assumed that when he got back to Canaan with his wives, families and livestock that his days of wandering were over; not so. Jacob still had to pack up everything once again and go down to Joseph in Egypt.

14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[a] 15 I AM WITH YOU and will watch over you wherever YOU GO, and I will bring you back to this land. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:14, 15

3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT, FOR I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION THERE. 4 I WILL GO DOWN to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” Genesis 46:3, 4

God met with Jacob twice as he embarked on both of his long journeys, relocating to other lands(there were no removal companies in those days). He spoke and reassured him that He would go with him, watch over him and bless him, which he surely did.

The first point was Jacob had TO GO! He didn’t know on either occasion what awaited him, only that God promised that He’d GO WITH HIM.(Jacob went in faith and under force of circumstances, NB sometimes God doesn’t offer us any choice)! Jacob left the land God had promised and moved off in a different direction, twice. The crux of the matter is, not where we’re headed, but is God with us? Jacob was moving under God’s hand and His guidance, therefore God would be with him and bless him.

Jacob received the blessings of God on his life but it still wasn’t easy or comfortable, the opposite at times. God wouldn’t allow Jacob to finish his life until he had blessed each of his children, spoken God’s prophetic destiny over them. Genesis 49

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:21

Jacob still had his staff in hand, all he’d taken with him to go to his uncle Laban and now at the end, ‘he worshipped on his staff’, probably another staff.

Jacob’s blessing over Levi was not a good blessing, but Moses spoke a powerful blessing to Levi. Deuteronomy 33:8-11 God changed their blessing after they stood with Moses when he returned to the camp with the first set of the commandments. The camp was in uproar and the people were running wild, the Levites stood with Moses on the Lord’s side and restored order. They changed their destiny and God honoured them among all the tribes. It’s possible to change our destiny as we serve our Lord faithfully.

May God bless and keep you today.

 

 

1 Corinthians 16: 14 Amp Version.

Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God’s love for us).

Yesterday was supposed to be a special day in the calendar where we show love to each other ….. I know for many this sadly might not have been the case, but as Christians we should be showing it every day and not just yesterday.

John the Apostle tells us that if we do not love…..We do not know God .

GOD IS LOVE 1 John 4:18.

We need to demonstrate love every day to people we find it difficult to be around and not just some days.
Oh what precious love we carry as God’s children.
We are His ambassadors and we need to show His love to all mankind.

I was in Nigeria a few years back and I was being taken to a meeting. I was amazed by the volume of horns being blasted so I said to the driver .. is this how you show love. That man told me later that God used me to speak to him.
I was in a place where God could use me.
The love of God melts the hearts of people because there is no love like it.

Love is the currency of Heaven…. and we carry that love because of Jesus on the inside of us . Keep using that currency.

Love demonstrates itself in action. When was the last time you did something to demonstrate the love of God to someone who was not your husband or wife.

Sometimes we need to view that person through the eyes of Jesus.
That very thought can transform relationships in our workplace or family.

Jesus went to the cross in love for that other person as well as going to the cross for us.

Our thoughts, feelings and actions should be done with Godly love towards God and everyone else.

I thank God for His love and mercy while I was still a sinner .

Psalm 46:10 Amp Version.

Let be and be still, and know(recognise and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the Earth!

What an encouraging Scripture for all of us who find it difficult to be still and quiet before God.

Let be and be still…. means to rest and allow rest to come, allow others to rest, be quiet and be at peace.

Quite often in our home you will find my husband and myself in different rooms. That’s not to say we don’t want to be together but we both know we need to let the other be quiet and allow each other to rest in His presence so that we can be with God.

We live in a society where we have so many distractions and demands on our lives that it has become difficult to take the time to just sit at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to minister to us in a way that only He can.

What is the demand on your life today that is more important than your walk with God?

We need to recognise and understand for our spiritual well being , time spent with Jesus is a daily necessity.

Be still is an instruction …means doing nothing, just allowing Jesus to fill you to overflowing and to bask in His presence… a beautiful place to treasure.

Know that He is God and that He can take the crisis you are in and turn it around for your good and His Glory.

We need to focus on this Scripture today and not just know that He is God but allow Him to be God in our lives.
Give God that time today and be still to hear what He has to say.

It could be a life changing moment.

Verse 11
Goes on to say He is our Refuge ,our High Tower and stronghold.

A refuge is a place of shelter and safety. A place to find comfort.
In times of trouble we all need to turn to Jesus and find comfort there.

There is a verse in the Hymn
What a friend we have in Jesus where it says;

In His arms he’ll take and shield you.
Thou will find a solace there.

Jesus is calling you today to come and spend time with Him as your refuge, you will not be disappointed .

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord. Proverbs 21:30, 31

The final outcome of human history has already been written – NO PLAN, earthly or demonic can succeed against the Lord(our Lord!).

Joseph means may ‘He add’ and in Egypt God built a nation.

Three things from the time of Joseph that happened during a SHIFT OR SHAKING(Famine) of the Mediterranean area;

SILVER, they didn’t trade in currency (no mints in those days), the Israelites tried to buy grain with precious metal. (Joseph returned the silver in his brothers’ sacks, Genesis 44) I don’t want to be alarmist but Currencies may become worthless in the future.

Joseph was alone when he revealed himself to his brothers. Genesis 45:1 Jesus will reveal Himself to His brothers, the Jews, at a time of His choosing with no one else present.

GOSHEN, the place prepared by Joseph and the Lord for His people in Egypt. A ‘Community of God’s people’ in the midst of a land dominated by false gods. Communities of peoples, under God’s government will appear on the earth. People will flee there in desperation to find help as life becomes more difficult under harsh anti-God rulers. The Bible talks of Cities of Refuge and the Church has known places where powerful Revival broke out; God is well able to provide for His people in any and every situation.

In the time of Jesus and the early Church, Roman rule extended over a vast area – an empire (the legs of iron of the statue in Daniel 2). Roman government, roads and currency saw a huge explosion in trading. The Greek language was also the common language of the people. God and the Church used it all to carry the message of the Messiah’s coming throughout the known world.

Today we have the Information Highway or the Internet. Huge quantities of data are being collected/mined by governments and private companies on people right across the earth, but God has also used the technology for His purposes. Despite attempts to silence or manipulate world news, God’s plans for the close of the Age are advancing.

God used Laban to trick Jacob and birth a large family. He used the ‘Iron Furnace of Egypt’ Deuteronomy 4:20 to birth a nation/people for Himself. He used the Roman Empire and Greek language to spread the Gospel message and enlarge the Church.

God will use the technology and the WORLD WIDE SHAKINGS/SHIFT of the present time for His Kingdom purposes. There will be birth pains, a normal part of the process, but God’s purposes will prevail and they’re the only hope for mankind.

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. Daniel 2:34, 35

Father’s Love would welcome your support for this Ministry, please Donate on our webpage today;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap.

We’re available to seek personal words for those who want them. Please contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service. We also provide online counselling for any who wish individual ministry.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Jesus’ journey to the cross began with His anointing, by an unnamed woman – the last act of kindness He received.

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” John 14:1, 2

Passover, the time for sacrificing the Lamb had come. John the Baptist had initially identified Jesus as THE LAMB OF GOD;

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

The time for Jesus’ sacrifice had come and this unnamed woman understood what was about to happen. He’d told His own disciples, but perhaps they didn’t believe things had progressed so far.

…a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. John 14:3

She poured out the most expensive thing she could give in preparation for Jesus’ death. This woman understood what was coming for the Lord. There was no point in praying against it, it had to be accepted. Nor was there any good in fighting it in the Flesh as Peter swung the sword(the Flesh will often rise up to fight when threatened). She prepared the Lord’s physical body for death, the best she knew how and this act of kindness was recorded for all time.

Some of those who witnessed the scene ‘Reacted strongly’(they could have just said nothing) and attacked the ‘waste’ of pouring the expensive perfume on the Lord’s body. They measured her action with the wrong yardstick, just using earthly value. Maybe they were jealous they hadn’t thought to do it, but more likely, they wanted to hold on to the money for themselves. A loving Father gave His best, Jesus the Son, for sinful men;

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

In John 12:41-44 Jesus praised the poor widow, another unnamed woman in the Bible and said she’d given more than all the wealthy people in the Temple. Surely God is looking for those who are willing to serve Him, to give now and be rewarded in time AND eternity.

God bless and keep you today.

John 14: 14-15 Amp Version.

(Yes) I will grant (I Myself will do for you) whatever you shall ask in My Name (as presenting all that I AM).
If you (really) love Me, you will keep(obey) My commands.

This morning as I was praying God stooped me in my tracks and ask me the question
‘What is your prayer life like’.

All I could think was what a question, and it did take me unawares because I knew God knew exactly what my prayer life is like.

What concerned me was He knew the amounts of times I had not involved God in my problems but had carried on in my own thinking and ways.

Leonard Ravenhill once said – No man is greater than his prayer life.

What is your prayer life like today?

I am sure like many you started the New Year by making prayer part of your daily routine but has it dwindled because of not seeing answers to what you have need off.
Do we keep coming to God with a list of I want, I need … is it always pleading for ourselves or does our prayer list bring Glory to God.
We must be in relationship with Jesus that we can trust Him and ask Him with sincere hearts.
Jesus has said … I will personally answer your prayers whatever you ask in my name ( again what brings Glory to the Father).

Pray often… if we only prayed when we felt like it, I know the enemy counter attacks you with don’t need to or you feel tired and busy. The list would be endless to stop us praying.
Unbelief keeps us from praying.

Pray honestly… Nothing is hidden from God, He knows our hearts.
Be honest and tell God why you feel hurt, tired, disappointed or sick.

Pray without ceasing…We need and can bring everything to God in prayer. How many of us send a shooting prayer to God when we find ourselves in situations
LORD HELP.

Sometimes I can honestly say they are the best prayers because God is all knowing and seeing.

Take your problems and your needs to the lord in prayer ( be specific) and see the miraculous happen.

If you (really) love me. Is God your everything today.