(take 2) Phillippians 2:7 ''He (JESUS) made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Jesus is the ultimate in "giving"......He gave & gave & gave ,until there was nothing left for Himself.
This thought inspires me in our "self-serving culture", the 'it's all about me syndrome' is so sadly alive & infecting the western culture at a fast rate of knots.
Today I want to speak into your life about choosing to live SELFLESSLY, instead of being drawn into the ever increasing consumeristic mind set. You see Jesus knew ( & knows ) that the deepest love is built not on passion and romance but rather on a COMMON MISSION & SACRIFICE. Jesus also wants us to know that we are merely pilgrims & that ETERNITY is so close that any "GOODBYE" for the cause of CHRIST , any sacrifice for JESUS' mission on earth is but in reality an opportunity to reflect all that JESUS has done for the whole world & that includes YOU dear friends!
Jesus is such a SAVIOUR & He will not ask of us what He was ( & is ) not prepared to do !
"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON (for you ) ........."John 3:16.
What is your response to that demonstration of RADICAL LOVE ?
MARNEY
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
JUST SOME OF THE POSITIVE ACTS JESUS DOES IN YOUR LIFE
Jesus is amazing listen to some of what He wants to do in your life & mine:
1.HE FORGIVES & FORGETS.
2.HE CREATES & HE CLEANSES.
3.HE RESTORES & HE REBUILDS.
4.HE HEALS & HE HELPS.
5.HE RECONCILES & HE REDEEMS.
6. HE COMFORTS & HE CARRIES.
7.HE LIFTS & HE LOVES.
8.HE SAVES & SETS FREE.
9.HE REVOLUTIONISES & RESTORES.
10.HE CALLS & COMMANDS.
11.HE CHALLENGES & CREATES.
12.HE REVIVES & RECREATES.
13. HE DELIGHTS & DESPAIRS OVER LIVES.
14.HE SPEAKS & SERVES.
15. HE CREATES & CALLS FORTH.
16. HE INTERCEDES & INVITES.
17.HE IS HOLY & WHOLLY AVAILABLE.
18.HE ANSWERS & ASKS FOR COMMITTMENT.
19.HE REFUSES COMPROMISE & REMINDS US TO DO THE SAME.
20.HE ALONE IS SAVIOUR & ALLOWS US FREE WILL.
HE IS THE GOD OF THE "FAT CHANCE", THE "SECOND & BEYOND"CHANCE , THE "SLIM CHANCE"& EVERY OTHER CHANCE THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER!
Who would want to refuse a SAVIOUR like this ? I won't , I can't and invite you to do the same today & every day.
JOHN 1 : 17 "...GRACE & TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS.''
Don't try and live life without Him ......you will be ETERNALLY regretting such a choice !
Praying for you all today.
MARNEY
1.HE FORGIVES & FORGETS.
2.HE CREATES & HE CLEANSES.
3.HE RESTORES & HE REBUILDS.
4.HE HEALS & HE HELPS.
5.HE RECONCILES & HE REDEEMS.
6. HE COMFORTS & HE CARRIES.
7.HE LIFTS & HE LOVES.
8.HE SAVES & SETS FREE.
9.HE REVOLUTIONISES & RESTORES.
10.HE CALLS & COMMANDS.
11.HE CHALLENGES & CREATES.
12.HE REVIVES & RECREATES.
13. HE DELIGHTS & DESPAIRS OVER LIVES.
14.HE SPEAKS & SERVES.
15. HE CREATES & CALLS FORTH.
16. HE INTERCEDES & INVITES.
17.HE IS HOLY & WHOLLY AVAILABLE.
18.HE ANSWERS & ASKS FOR COMMITTMENT.
19.HE REFUSES COMPROMISE & REMINDS US TO DO THE SAME.
20.HE ALONE IS SAVIOUR & ALLOWS US FREE WILL.
HE IS THE GOD OF THE "FAT CHANCE", THE "SECOND & BEYOND"CHANCE , THE "SLIM CHANCE"& EVERY OTHER CHANCE THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER!
Who would want to refuse a SAVIOUR like this ? I won't , I can't and invite you to do the same today & every day.
JOHN 1 : 17 "...GRACE & TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS.''
Don't try and live life without Him ......you will be ETERNALLY regretting such a choice !
Praying for you all today.
MARNEY
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
VISION PRECEDES CALLING
Never doubt the vision God has placed in your heart .....this is a very important aspect of your CALLING!
What keeps you awake at night ? What burns within your heart to the point of distraction day after day ?
What injustices torment you & accelerate you into action and zeal.These issues are the basis of your tangible CALLING from God ( even if at this stage you do not acknowledge the reality)!
Visionless christians lead empty lives, visionless leaders lead vacuums , visionless parents lead children to assume this is 'normal'.
If anyone is confused about God's Call upon their lives there will be a contradiction of REVELATION & REALITY......confusion breeds doubt & paralysis of the spirit. Holy Spirit inspired vision can not be ....must not be ignored.
If there are concerns about a CALLING in your life ......listen..really listen to the voice of JESUS, hear His call , see His vision, feel His heart for a sad world that needs LOVE, HEALING & SALVATION.
Holy vision will always precede God's calling upon your life...."WITHOUT VISION PEOPLE PERISH."
People with large vision are large in obedience, large in prayer , large in the Word of God.....large in faithful endeavours, large in servanthood, large in joy , large in "LIFE".
Never ever doubt the Spirit-inspired vision God has placed in your heart....not today , not tomorrow , not ever!
JESUS SAID in Matthew 9:37-38 ''THEN HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST,THEREFORE, TO SEND OUT WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST FIELD."
Dear friends look up , look out , look & see desperate people , needing real answers.
The NEED is the CALL , and have eyes to see the NEED!
Blessings & Praying.
MARNEY
What keeps you awake at night ? What burns within your heart to the point of distraction day after day ?
What injustices torment you & accelerate you into action and zeal.These issues are the basis of your tangible CALLING from God ( even if at this stage you do not acknowledge the reality)!
Visionless christians lead empty lives, visionless leaders lead vacuums , visionless parents lead children to assume this is 'normal'.
If anyone is confused about God's Call upon their lives there will be a contradiction of REVELATION & REALITY......confusion breeds doubt & paralysis of the spirit. Holy Spirit inspired vision can not be ....must not be ignored.
If there are concerns about a CALLING in your life ......listen..really listen to the voice of JESUS, hear His call , see His vision, feel His heart for a sad world that needs LOVE, HEALING & SALVATION.
Holy vision will always precede God's calling upon your life...."WITHOUT VISION PEOPLE PERISH."
People with large vision are large in obedience, large in prayer , large in the Word of God.....large in faithful endeavours, large in servanthood, large in joy , large in "LIFE".
Never ever doubt the Spirit-inspired vision God has placed in your heart....not today , not tomorrow , not ever!
JESUS SAID in Matthew 9:37-38 ''THEN HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST,THEREFORE, TO SEND OUT WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST FIELD."
Dear friends look up , look out , look & see desperate people , needing real answers.
The NEED is the CALL , and have eyes to see the NEED!
Blessings & Praying.
MARNEY
Thursday, November 12, 2009
WHAT IS AUTHENTIC SURRENDER?
In the week that we remember with respect the many soldiers that have given their life for their countries, I would like to focus on the essence of "Surrender" in a spiritual sense.
To many people it is somewhat a fresh revelation that human beings need "salvation" at all, so many today profess to be self-made people.
I have heard many suggest to me quite arrogantly that they are where they are today because of their own efforts and give no credit at all to anyone or anything else(let alone giving glory to God).
But I know this to be truth , that life will normally lead you to some situation or relationship that you cannot fix, control,change, like, or even understand, and dear friends what does a "self-made person" do at these times ?
I have a great suggestion for us all : SURRENDER YOUR LIFE INTO THE LOVING ARMS OF JESUS TODAY.
Just come out with your hands & heart up and see what difference there will be with a GOD MADE MAN or WOMAN!
You see only when we are brought to the very raw edge of our own resources, perceived successes & achievements, will we realise that actually we all need a Saviour & today I am delighted to tell you : HIS NAME IS JESUS!
Jesus does not ask us to be successful or greatly accredited for this often merely gives us a false sense of self-importance & an over inflated ego.
The Lord Jesus asks for our humility to confess our need of His love, forgiveness & salvation which in the light of ETERNITY will be all actually that really matters.....not our funds,not our personal achievements, not our self-made successes.........just our relationship with JESUS & our desire to be perfectly surrended to His loving & perfect will .
That is authentic surrender as clearly understood in PSALM 51 ( why not prayerfully read these radical, life-giving words).
Jesus surrendered His life for you & I that we could be saved from ourselves : Philippians 2:7 "Jesus made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness ." In fact for your own delight why not have another read of all of Philippians Chapter 2 then you will be given a very clear desription of how Jesus led the way in ''SURRENDER".
Praying for my readers today . SHALOM!
MARNEY
To many people it is somewhat a fresh revelation that human beings need "salvation" at all, so many today profess to be self-made people.
I have heard many suggest to me quite arrogantly that they are where they are today because of their own efforts and give no credit at all to anyone or anything else(let alone giving glory to God).
But I know this to be truth , that life will normally lead you to some situation or relationship that you cannot fix, control,change, like, or even understand, and dear friends what does a "self-made person" do at these times ?
I have a great suggestion for us all : SURRENDER YOUR LIFE INTO THE LOVING ARMS OF JESUS TODAY.
Just come out with your hands & heart up and see what difference there will be with a GOD MADE MAN or WOMAN!
You see only when we are brought to the very raw edge of our own resources, perceived successes & achievements, will we realise that actually we all need a Saviour & today I am delighted to tell you : HIS NAME IS JESUS!
Jesus does not ask us to be successful or greatly accredited for this often merely gives us a false sense of self-importance & an over inflated ego.
The Lord Jesus asks for our humility to confess our need of His love, forgiveness & salvation which in the light of ETERNITY will be all actually that really matters.....not our funds,not our personal achievements, not our self-made successes.........just our relationship with JESUS & our desire to be perfectly surrended to His loving & perfect will .
That is authentic surrender as clearly understood in PSALM 51 ( why not prayerfully read these radical, life-giving words).
Jesus surrendered His life for you & I that we could be saved from ourselves : Philippians 2:7 "Jesus made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness ." In fact for your own delight why not have another read of all of Philippians Chapter 2 then you will be given a very clear desription of how Jesus led the way in ''SURRENDER".
Praying for my readers today . SHALOM!
MARNEY
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT JESUS IS GOING TO DO NEXT
I have been quite challenged in recent days to hear many people suggesting that the days of miracles happening in these years is "over ".
I am afraid that I totally disagree.......you see I don't only BELIEVE in miracles ,I live my life DEPENDING on them!
For those of us who love Jesus as Lord & Saviour there is much historical & current evidence to validate the power of God's Holy Spirit moving in peoples lives, & this is as evident as it ever has been.I personally am a recipient of such a blessing from the Lord , as has many in my friends & family circles .
I am sad that many do neither acknowledge or have personal experience of God's miraculous presence happening in their lives. So today I want to inspire some of you to dare to believe that JESUS' power is still very much a reality for you and your life. However, be very aware that Jesus ' promises of faith are not some kind of 'santa claus' gift there is much more that you need to know about God's provision in your life.
1. Jesus loves you & died for your sins.
2.He longs for you to become His son or daughter.
3. His peace which passes all intellectual understanding can be your inheritance today.
4.Be absolutely convinced the day of miracles is NOT OVER.
5. Believe JESUS' words from His own lips from John 14:12-14 "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.
v.13 AND I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME, SO THAT THE SON MAY BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER. v14. YOU MAY ASK ME FOR ANYTHING IN MY NAME , & I WILL DO IT."
6. Do not demand your personal miracle , just lay your legitimate request before God.
7. Check your motivation for even requesting God's intervention.
8. Remember even God is a respecter of free will in your life & the lives of others.
9. Trust the Scriptures in these matters of FAITH & PRAYER.
10. Be grateful when the Lord says either" YES," "NO" or" WAIT".
11. Be assured of this certainty : YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT JESUS IS GOING TO DO NEXT IN YOUR LIFE.
Just give Him free access & watch your attitude, world , relationships, outlook, and life changed for the better .
Praying for my readers.
MARNEY
I am afraid that I totally disagree.......you see I don't only BELIEVE in miracles ,I live my life DEPENDING on them!
For those of us who love Jesus as Lord & Saviour there is much historical & current evidence to validate the power of God's Holy Spirit moving in peoples lives, & this is as evident as it ever has been.I personally am a recipient of such a blessing from the Lord , as has many in my friends & family circles .
I am sad that many do neither acknowledge or have personal experience of God's miraculous presence happening in their lives. So today I want to inspire some of you to dare to believe that JESUS' power is still very much a reality for you and your life. However, be very aware that Jesus ' promises of faith are not some kind of 'santa claus' gift there is much more that you need to know about God's provision in your life.
1. Jesus loves you & died for your sins.
2.He longs for you to become His son or daughter.
3. His peace which passes all intellectual understanding can be your inheritance today.
4.Be absolutely convinced the day of miracles is NOT OVER.
5. Believe JESUS' words from His own lips from John 14:12-14 "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.
v.13 AND I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME, SO THAT THE SON MAY BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER. v14. YOU MAY ASK ME FOR ANYTHING IN MY NAME , & I WILL DO IT."
6. Do not demand your personal miracle , just lay your legitimate request before God.
7. Check your motivation for even requesting God's intervention.
8. Remember even God is a respecter of free will in your life & the lives of others.
9. Trust the Scriptures in these matters of FAITH & PRAYER.
10. Be grateful when the Lord says either" YES," "NO" or" WAIT".
11. Be assured of this certainty : YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT JESUS IS GOING TO DO NEXT IN YOUR LIFE.
Just give Him free access & watch your attitude, world , relationships, outlook, and life changed for the better .
Praying for my readers.
MARNEY
Thursday, November 5, 2009
RACISM .... A STAIN THAT WILL ONLY BE ERADICATED FINALLY WHEN JESUS IS LORD
I seem to be hearing many strong racist comments & intentional discourteous comments over these last few weeks.
I can only say that these attitudes & comments are an offense and appalling to me as I listen to these words spoken from other people, all sorts of people (men , women, youth, more mature, academics,practioners, and many others). The sad truth is that there are so many sad attitudes between people right around this world & Australia is not exempt from this cancerous attitudinal curse.
I want to light a candle instead of just cursing the very tragic darkness .....the truth is JESUS can give us all a whole new perspective on everybody & everything if we would just listen to His voice of love , forgiveness & healing.
Wherever Jesus went on earth He comforted the disturbed & disturbed the self-serving comfortable.
To the outcasts , the rejected people of His society there was much grace , mercy, love & healing shown. He was always leading the way with grace towards people who were different to Himself and for me that is an example & a model I would want to imitate.
Just imagine for a moment if all RACISM throughout the world ceased............
Just imagine if all BITTERNESS between people was released.........
Just imagine if all people regardless of race or creed were loving & tolerant of each other..........
Just imagine if you & I were people who actually lived , loved , forgave , respected others the way JESUS did & does..................
Today when someone is a different colour to you , displaying a different attitude to yours , has different thoughts to you how about showing some of the love , grace & respect towards them that JESUS displayed(displays).
Red & yellow , black & white they are all precious in His sight ..........Jesus loves the little (big) children of the world....a good example to follow, why not try it.
Read REVELATION 7:9 (have some vision of what could be)''AFTER THIS I LOOKED AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE & LANGUAGE, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE & IN FRONT OF THE LAMB. THEY WERE WEARING WHITE ROBES & THEY WERE HOLDING PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS.''
I can only imagine , how about you?
Praying for all readers today .
MARNEY
I can only say that these attitudes & comments are an offense and appalling to me as I listen to these words spoken from other people, all sorts of people (men , women, youth, more mature, academics,practioners, and many others). The sad truth is that there are so many sad attitudes between people right around this world & Australia is not exempt from this cancerous attitudinal curse.
I want to light a candle instead of just cursing the very tragic darkness .....the truth is JESUS can give us all a whole new perspective on everybody & everything if we would just listen to His voice of love , forgiveness & healing.
Wherever Jesus went on earth He comforted the disturbed & disturbed the self-serving comfortable.
To the outcasts , the rejected people of His society there was much grace , mercy, love & healing shown. He was always leading the way with grace towards people who were different to Himself and for me that is an example & a model I would want to imitate.
Just imagine for a moment if all RACISM throughout the world ceased............
Just imagine if all BITTERNESS between people was released.........
Just imagine if all people regardless of race or creed were loving & tolerant of each other..........
Just imagine if you & I were people who actually lived , loved , forgave , respected others the way JESUS did & does..................
Today when someone is a different colour to you , displaying a different attitude to yours , has different thoughts to you how about showing some of the love , grace & respect towards them that JESUS displayed(displays).
Red & yellow , black & white they are all precious in His sight ..........Jesus loves the little (big) children of the world....a good example to follow, why not try it.
Read REVELATION 7:9 (have some vision of what could be)''AFTER THIS I LOOKED AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE & LANGUAGE, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE & IN FRONT OF THE LAMB. THEY WERE WEARING WHITE ROBES & THEY WERE HOLDING PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS.''
I can only imagine , how about you?
Praying for all readers today .
MARNEY
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF GREAT SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Recently I have been preaching in Alice Springs , & Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory over a number of days and the Lord Jesus was so graciously present as I shared with many of God's people. But this is what I am being impressed with ( both in my travels & coming back to Melbourne), there is a great spiritual war for those who have eyes to see & hear, particularly those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.................... If you doubt that ,then you have already been deceived.And please understand that 'spiritual warfare' is not a war against flesh & blood ( other people ), it is as the Bible suggests a sad spiritual reality of the world we live in . If you have a Bible please read EPHESIANS 6:10-18 ( if any reader does not have a Bible please let me know & I will supply one for you).
The truth is that within Australia & beyond there are so many tragic . sad , evil injustices that are occuring every day to men , women & children of all colours , creeds, genders, and age groups.
One just has to read a newpaper or watch the evening news and it is overtly , blatantly obvious that as a society none of us are in a particularly safe environment ( spiritually , physically , emotionally),. Jesus even spoke about this when He was with us in MATTHEW 24( again have a
thoughtful read & reflect), but not all is doom & gloom because despite the climate that we find ourselves in there is HOPE , HELP , FREEDOM, & SALVATION.
The way forward for you ( readers & I ) is through giving our lives fully into the hands of JESUS CHRIST LORD & SAVIOUR , for as the Word of God succintly tells us in ACTS 4 : 12 "SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED."
So today do not be alarmed , do not be paralysed by world events, don't even attempt to misinterpret what I am merely reminding us all of ( that we are in a spiritual war). Let Jesus ' life fill & bless you and you will know His gracious ,loving victoryu.
Praying for you all !
MARNEY
The truth is that within Australia & beyond there are so many tragic . sad , evil injustices that are occuring every day to men , women & children of all colours , creeds, genders, and age groups.
One just has to read a newpaper or watch the evening news and it is overtly , blatantly obvious that as a society none of us are in a particularly safe environment ( spiritually , physically , emotionally),. Jesus even spoke about this when He was with us in MATTHEW 24( again have a
thoughtful read & reflect), but not all is doom & gloom because despite the climate that we find ourselves in there is HOPE , HELP , FREEDOM, & SALVATION.
The way forward for you ( readers & I ) is through giving our lives fully into the hands of JESUS CHRIST LORD & SAVIOUR , for as the Word of God succintly tells us in ACTS 4 : 12 "SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED."
So today do not be alarmed , do not be paralysed by world events, don't even attempt to misinterpret what I am merely reminding us all of ( that we are in a spiritual war). Let Jesus ' life fill & bless you and you will know His gracious ,loving victoryu.
Praying for you all !
MARNEY
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