Sunshine in Winter

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It has been so rainy, dull and semi-depressing outside recently. Somehow I think that the surroundings we are placed in can often reflect on how we respond to our circumstances... Well, for me anyway. For example, I know that when there is crap going on in my situations, and its dark and dreary outside- I find it a lot more difficult to smile and be cheery. Maybe, in a small way, it is being counter-culture: you know, beacause wearing a smile in the middle of a storm is a wee bit anti-normal.

And today I woke up and the sunlight was streaming through the windows, illuminating that which was once bathed in darkness. And as I was lying there I just listened to the birds sing, and I allowed myself to ponder on what the new day had brought forth. As I allowed what I was observing to speak to me, it hit me hard, that we have to look for the good in life.

Smack-bang right in the middle of days and days of darkness, light and life breaks open the sky. And I think it is like that in our lives. Perhaps not quite so obvious in our circumstances, but if you look- you will find it.

There is a verse in Job that says "I have decided to forget my complaints: to put away my sad face, and be cheerful."
That is so important. We need to rethink our situations... I know that so often I look at where my wanderings have taken me, I look at my family situation, I look at the desperate state of my city- and I say to myself "Can any good come out of this?: out of me?"

But I am learning to retrain my thought patterns to perceive the good through it all. So then I look at the places I have wandered off to, and instead of seeing how lost I have been, to see how great the mercy is of God who continues to search for and find me. To look at my family and instead of the first thing I see being the intensity of the bad that is occurring- to see the smiles on their faces as they treasure time we can spend together. To walk around my streets and look at the love that is being shown every time we have a shake- to see that our people have reached into thier reserves to grasp whatever tiny bit of energy they have left- to see- to actually see all that and not just be unable to get past the cracks I can see on the surface of this place.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

"I will extol You, Lord, for you have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to you, and you healed me; Lord, you brought my soul up from the grave; you have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of his, and give thanks at the rememberance of his holy name.
His displeasure may be for a moment, but His favour is for life.
Our tears may endure for a night- but joy will come in the morning."

Bless you heaps.
Much love,
Maddi

Sometimes the answer is where you forget to look...

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Why do bad things happen to good people?

Sometimes we just don’t have answers- but this I know: God is not the author of sickness, he is not the author of tragedy, he is not the author of disasters. And sometimes we may never have answers for these things.

Look at what Job went through: he lost his house, his wife, and all his children, all in one day. But you know the thing about Job that is so amazing? He didn’t blame God- he said, “Shall not the God of all the earth do right?” The Bible says to weep with those who weep, and mourn with those that mourn… sometimes its ok to not have answers- there is a place for it. We want to be known, not just as people of compassion, but also as people of power. Romans says “the whole earth groans in wait for the Sons of God.”

God raised Jesus, and sent the Holy Spirit and authorised us to act in His name; and as believers, we have the answers, we have authority to deal with situations in the earth that come against us that cause catastrophe and harm; the bible says that “the whole earth groans for the revelation of the sons of God.”

Some people say “where is God in all this? Where is the God of Elijah, who did mighty things?” But the earth is crying out…”where are all the Elijah’s? Where is the faith?” And I just felt God challenge me last night as I was grieving for my family- there is a place for that. I know God is a god of compassion, and I know he isn’t to blame, and I know heaven is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Do not despair in the hour of your fear
Tomorrow will come just the same
And He will be there, to watch over each care
So don’t let your heart drift away

Lift up your eyes, there is a heavenly horizon
Help will be soon on its way
He never meant for you to carry life’s cares
So don’t let your hope fade away.

Heaven is longing for the day of restoration, the day of revelation
The power of the sons of God
Heaven waits, the whole earth groans
Waiting for the sons of God

Don’t let us be offeneded at God for what is going on- if we abandon our connection with God, who would we turn to? Sometimes the worries we have get to much to bear, and we take it out on God and we get bitter, and turn away from him. But that will never solve anything... he is the one we need to get through this all.

Don’t let your heart be hardened, don’t let it drift away… it is God who we need in this hour- it is him who holds our hope; His truth that gives us the ability to stand when we fall.

Hope is described as being an anchor- it's what holds us in place when we feel like our ship is being knocked about. Hope isn’t just wishing for something to happen, it is more than that- it is a confident expectation that good WILL happen.

When we are built up in truth, it builds our hope- when we understand the truth of God and his word, it increase in us the hope that we hold. When we discover God's truth about a situation, we will always abound in hope. Whatever heartache I am experiencing, whatever situation that is looming in front of me looking like an unconquerable mountain, I will remember that God's truth brings hope. This is the knowledge that strengthens and is the anchor that holds us firm- regardless of circumstances.

So discover the truth in your situation. When you discover God's truth and perspective on situations, hope begins to rise. Once truth is planted in our hearts, once we begin to look for his truth, and to believe it; hope becomes less of a survival mode and more of a confident trust and anticipation that God is in charge. 'Cause He is our daddy- and he would never do anything that was not going to accomplish the best for us. He has our back. And he will never let you down.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13