December 2012

Colossians 1:20 - 23 MSG   
He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone.  So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding.  Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.   

You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got  

But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence.   You don't walk away from a gift like that!You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted.   There is no other Message—just this one.


John 4:13-14 NLT   
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”


Dearly loved: 
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.  
Ephesians 1:5-7 NLT 


Ephesians 2:6 MSG 
It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live.  You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.  We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.  It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.


2/2  Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.  He did all this on his own, with no help from us!  Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Ephesians 3:19 MSG   

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. 1/2

2/2 And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Ephesians 4:3 MSG    
I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands.  I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.



When I survey the wondrous cross  on which the Prince of Glory died;   
my richest gain I count but loss,   
and pour contempt on all my pride.  
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,  save in the death of Christ, my God;   
all the vain things that charm me most,   
I sacrifice them to his blood. 
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,  
sorrow and love flow mingled down 
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,  
or thorns compose so rich a crown.   
Were the whole realm of nature mine,   
that were an offering far too small;  
love so amazing, so divine,  
demands my soul, 
my life, 
my all.

1 Peter 2:9 NLT
...for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Colossians 2:1, 4 MSG  ...know that I'm on your side, right alongside you.  You're not in this alone.  I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.  Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ...

The sun comes up, 
it's a new day dawning 
It's time to sing Your song again   
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me 
Let me be singing when the evening comes
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger 
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind 
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing 
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find  
 Bless the Lord, O my soul 
O my soul Worship His holy name 
Sing like never before 
O my soul 
I'll worship Your holy name.

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV  
The Lord  your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Have an astounding day :)  
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.  
Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

Colossians 2:10 MSG   
Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

Colossians 2 MSG   
Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets. So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.

Jude 1:24-25 NLT  
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.  All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;  grace me with your clear revelation.  I choose the true road to Somewhere...   
Psalm 119 MSG

Psalm 119:16 MSG  
How can a young person live a clean life?  By carefully reading the map of your Word.  I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.  I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt.

Poetry Thursday :) 
Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You have loved me Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause As I walk from earth into eternity Hosanna,  hosanna Hosanna in the highest

Busy day today end of the world  etc 
Nearby, out in the neighbouring paddocks there was a crowd of farmhands on nigtime sheep minding duties.  While they were nodding of an angel turned up. This made quite an impact. It.got incredibly bright. This was clearly something God was involved in and it scared the pants off them. The angel said "no worries you fellas ive got some absolutely stunning news... The Kiwi Bible


When the angels had taken off again, the farmworkers had a yarn "how about we head off down to Bethlehem then we can see for ourselves this special kid God's rep just told us about" Sure as, they found Mary &Joe and the wee bloke in a feeding box.  They spread the news among their mates-and everyone was pretty well blown away by all accounts. As for Mary, the kids mum, she was stoked by all of this & she kept chewing it over for a good while afterwards And the farmhands? They went back to wrk enthisiastically telling God how great they reckoned he was because of all the stuff they had seen. Whats more, it was word for word, frame by frame, exactly what they had been told to expect.  The Kiwi Bible p14

Now at this particular stage in history when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there was a guy clled Herod who happened to be king One day some smart researchers came wandering into town from some foreign parts. "Where's this new mini-king of the Jews?  We saw his sign when we were studying the stars & stuff, & we've come to wet his head as it were" Now this sort of put the wind up the present monarch and all his supporting cast too. He called the lawyers and religious leaders  "Can you tell me where this special God character is supposed to be born?" he asked them "That's easy" they told him "Bethlehem. The wise guys way back said so-they said "Bethlehem, your number's going to be called, & you're going to produce a significant leader to guide the people around here" #thekiwibible #christmasisfun

Herod summoned the smart blokes from...wherever and asked them on the quiet when the particular star they were watching had started its notable journey. Having got the requisite guff from them he sent them down the road to Bethlehem "go & see if you can suss out where this little fellow is" he told them "when you've got his location sorted give me a bell cos i'd like to go and be part of the shenanagins too" The smart blokes acknowledged his request and got their camels on the road again following the said star till it came to a dead halt. They were stoked. "This must be it" they said

They entered the house and saw the kid there with Mary his mum, and they got down on their benders and worshipped the wee bloke. Then they opened the presents they brought along - a good heap of cash, some flash perfume, and some high-quality, reputable medicinal stuff. Goods delivered, the wee lad blessed and praised, it was time to hit the road again... #thekiwibible  
May you have a blessed and relaxing kiwi christmas as you remember Jesus and the gift of hope and love that he gave to the world. :)

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:  compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.  Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.  
Colossians 3:14 MSG

Colossians 3:15 NLT  
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 
Col 3:16 msg

Proverbs 3:4 MSG  
Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.

In the quiet, in the stillness I know that You are God In the secret of Your presence I know there I am restored When You call I won’t refuse Each new day again I’ll choose  There is no one else for me None but Jesus

Crucified to set me free Now I live to bring Him praise  In the chaos, in confusion I know You’re Sovereign still In the moment of my weakness You give me grace to do Your will When You call I won’t delay  This my song through all my days All my delight is in You Lord All of my hope, all of my strength All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore

As we say hello to 2013 in the morning...  The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lam 3