Posts

How To Pray When Things Are Tough

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Praying is the most critical thing we can do as Christians. It's the intimacy of prayer and the power of prayer which can literally keep your life from sinking into despair.  One of the main reasons that Jesus went to the cross for us was so that we could have an intimate and real relationship with Him NOW. While we are still on earth. No matter who you are, how old you are, what social status you have, how long you've been a christian or what title you have, an intimate prayer life (and by this I mean a two way conversation and encounter) with the Father is available to you through Jesus. So if you feel that you have been neglecting prayer, that's probably just the Holy Spirit nudging you to go and spend time with Him; because the privilege cost a lot.    I am currently learning the art of crafted prayer. What I mean by this is, when I am in prayer and hear from the Holy Spirit on a current circumstance or situation or He responds to Me with what work He wants to

A Pep Talk From The Father

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The last few weeks has been a challenge for me. Just like any Christian, I need reminding of who God is toward me. Life can drain us sometimes and it certainly drains me. But He knows every detail about my life and I sometimes forget that He's not a hard nosed lawyer. I am glad He recognised and   acknowledged where I am at; and with a gritty determination, He chased me down (as He is my loving Farther, perfect in all that He does) and I woke up this morning with this song running through my mind; "Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me." And the Holy Spirit saying this; "The law points you to Jesus and only reveals your condition, BUT nothing can compete with the aggressiveness of My Grace. The law is not an end to itself and it's not the point to WHO I am; Freedom in My relationship with you is 'the point'. Come to Me. It's our relationship I care about. My burden is light, learn from Me. You've forgott

What's your calling?

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We are doing the 'Redefined' series at church, which is a 16 week series focused on searching out the truth from the sermon on the mount. We are currently in week 5 and I've loved every sermon so far.  I've realised the 'missional code' that the EN Melbourne church is searching for is wrapped up in the sermon of the mount.  Unfortunately the majority of Australians don't see the church (in general) as they see Jesus and this is the churches own doing. Over the generations we became a church that is hypocritical, ingenuous, abusive (toward church family, people outside of the church and especially children), we stopped loving our enemies (and more then that we fought with and tore at each other) and became pharisaical.  Here is the trap of the Australian church; we cared more about how we looked, with being right, with taking the moral high ground then dealing with the reality and struggle of sin through our relationship with Jesus. We forsook J

Getting guidance from God

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Often, people ask me to pray for them or ask me for a prophetic word for them in regards to guidance from God.  I know the first time a prophet came to my church, when I was freshly born again, I was praying and asking God for a prophetic word from the prophet. As I sat there, I felt the Holy Spirit say "stop asking Jay, you hear Me just fine." Lol. Who do I think I am? Do I hear better then a prophet?! I am only a new Christian!  I learnt an incredible lesson and it's not because I love to move in the prophetic! Every single Christian has the right and ability to hear from God themselves because of what Jesus did on the cross. We no longer have to go thru anyone else to know, understand and be in the presence of our God.  Two verses back me up on this;  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 ESV “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my

Hide and Seek; A Kingdom Game of Maturity.

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Ever played hide and seek? My boys love hide and seek and I've realised that I should be playing it more with them. Here's a thought process that I went through this morning after a 7 month growth spirt! Spontaneous is good, intentionality is better. The Father is always intentional toward me and this makes me secure. And to live in His intentionality means I can always be secure in sudden (both negative and positive) changes in circumstances.  But to really know His intentions toward me, I have to be less spontaneous in spending time with Him; instead, being more disciplined in seeking His face.  As like any good parent/child relationship, The Father loves to play hide and seek. Spiritually speaking, we feel this at times when God 'feels' far away. These are the times where spiritual discipline comes in handy and faith is tested. Not a pass or fail test; but a test that refines. These are my greatest moments of growth. But I'll miss it if all I am chasin