The Hands that Saved Me

The weight of this road grew heavy on me. The dark enemies multiplied around me on all sides. Their weapons were fierce and sharp and their intent was clearly my demise. Even my best efforts weren't enough. There were just too many of them. I tried to stand against them in my own power but it was ultimately futile. On the measure of strength and will I was clearly outmatched. Their black weapons drew closer every moment seeking to maim and destroy me. Then I remembered His words... "For when I am weak, then I am strong...". "I use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise..." I knew what I needed to do now. As so, immediately I dropped to my knees - not in submission and defeat before the countless enemies around me - but in honourable respect and humility before the One who holds my future and to whom the battle belongs. It would seem utter madness to lower yourself to a position of kneeling while in the midst of battle and even more insane to close off your senses of sight, hearing, feeling and perception when your enemy is right there at the door ready to make his largest assault on you. Yet it is the wisest thing we can do - to disconnect from this fleshly realm and to connect to the real world and the maker of all things... Jesus. As I quietly whispered His Name while kneeling there in the middle of chaos itself I could sense His presence... His unmatched peace. A peace the defies the logic and understanding of this world. A peace that just is and a peace that remains. A peace not of this world and not based on anything in this world but based on the eternal person who is Jesus. I briefly opened my eyes and glanced at the ground in front of me. The weapons the hordes held should have overcome and crushed my bones yet there I was... untouched. Unharmed. "No weapon formed against you will succeed". His words again echoed as an eternal whisper in my heart. I looked on the ground and saw fresh drops of blood appearing directly in front of me. Surprised, I raised my gaze and saw my Saviour standing there before me. His hands outstretched holding the dark ragged blades of my enemies so they could not harm me. His blood spilled on the ground as He clutched their blades and took the full force of their hate and malice in my place. I marvelled at how a King would step in to save and redeem such a lowly man as me. His Words came again... "For everyone who calls on the name of THE LORD JEHOVAH shall be saved". This is my King. This is my Saviour. These are the same hands that shed blood to save me and to cleanse me from my sins on that cross so long ago.

It's really interesting how powerful God really is. He is so amazingly powerful that He can use even the really bad things in your life for your good and the good of others. Even more astounding than that is God's ability to use what the Devil attempts to maim and destroy us to ultimately make us so much stronger than we ever were before. You see, God can use anyone and anything. He is sovereign and supreme and all powerful. So even when the Devil and people mean to harm us, God is fully in control and not short of power to use it for our good. It's a power that the Devil truly fears. I'll explain... The Devil saw Jesus walk this earth as the Son of God doing all He did healing the sick, bringing light where there was only darkness and bringing the good news that God has sent His Messiah to save the world and the Devil thought to himself "If I kill him, I'll stop Him and end all of God's plans..." So the Devil used those in power to capture Jesus, mock Him, beat Him, abuse Him and in the end murder Him publicly for all to see. The Devil thought to himself "we've won! We killed the Lamb of God!" But in His arrogance and blind ambition He did exactly what God wanted. You see, we humans are all fallen and corrupted by sin. Sin must have a payment and that payment is death. Jesus knew that we couldn't pay the price so He picked up the bill himself so to speak. He chose willingly to die in our place. Jesus knew the Devil was going to kill Him yet He didn't swerve or hide from His true destiny... The Saviour of the World. Why am I saying this? Because you don't need to fear the Devil and what He can do or bring. God is in control and can use even the worst the Devil can bring to produce good you would have never seen or imagined to be. So don't fear evil. God is so unfathomably powerful that He can even use the greatest of evil for your good. God is with you.

[ Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" ]

Resist the urge to judge others - you're not responsible for their behaviour or choices.

Romans 14:14 says "Who are you to judge someone else?"

Micah 6:8 clearly says to present yourself before God - not to make sure others are.

Be careful of unfair expectations you put on others in order to control your environment or in a vain attempt to bring peace to your chaos.

Failed expectations of others leads to dissapointed relationships - when often in truth the expectation was wrong to begin with. I know I've been guilty of this myself many times and need God's help to rid me of that horrible bane of self righteous judgment of others and instead to live and breath out God's mercy.

Free yourself of the chain of judgement of others, their choices and their sins. Focus instead on your heart being presented before God and have mercy for others - their faults and their weaknesses - just as Jesus has mercy for us and all our sins and shortcomings.

Only Jesus is the Righteous Judge so give that burden up to Him and instead walk in freedom. Just be you. A child that God loves enough to die for.

It's been nearly a month now. I had to step away from it all. It all got too much. Everything got muddy. Blurred. Foggy. Somewhere along the way I lost my reason. Everything I was doing was in reaction to the things that prodded and poked me and none of it was pure anymore. The words people said and the things they did haunted me day and night. I had become corrupted. I was told by God to step away indefinitely. No time frame... just step away from it all. In the past month I had to take stock of everything I was doing on here. Why was I here? Did it even make a difference? Had I just become some cliched entertainer just as my enemies in the past had thrown in my face? Had I become a marketable concept? Was I simply just a product to be consumed? I utterly despise all those things and at the risk of that being true I had to step away and closely examine myself and why I was here. It's been a very dark month. Like solitary confinement. But It was necessary. Isolation was needed to bring me the focus I desperately required. The words of my enemies assaulted and berated me day and night but God was there in it all.


In the amazing way that only He can - He used their words. This is the power of a sovereign God who is completely in control. Not even the onslaught of evil takes Him by surprise. Even the efforts of your enemies work in your favour if you follow God's voice. Unsurprisingly, He used their accusations to refine me - to correct me - to mould me. Like a sword struck, sharpened, and thrust into fire - I was being honed. It hurt... a lot. Losing the things I clung onto to so tightly - my vain, selfish ambition and false religion - but in everything I still followed Him and His voice. It was His quiet, still yet unwavering voice that led me through it all. The darkest night was last night. I had almost all but given up hope and faith. But it is always the darkest before the dawn... Absolutely true to His character, today He showed me what I needed to see. This afternoon, as I stood in a crowded room full of people God showed me a picture of myself on my hands and knees groping in the dark in a cave. His voice said to me... "Mark, how long will you hide in the darkness? - I made you for much more than this. You weren't made to hide. You were made to push back the darkness!"


It was at that moment I saw it and felt it. A sword on the ground in the dust. I grabbed its hilt and immediately its power coursed through me like the output of an industrial power station. Instantly He brought one word to my mind.... "REDEMPTION". I knew now why I was here. I had found my reason. My purpose. My message. My Hope. I had cried out to God this past month and said "I never chose this... I don't have what it takes... I can't do this anymore..." His answer to me was "You are right. You did not choose this. I chose you. When I came to you - you were broken, lost, addicted, hopeless and chained in a prison. You had no hope of ever setting yourself free. Your attempts to escape from your prison only made the walls higher and the iron door thicker. You could never save yourself or even help yourself. It was I - God - that saved you, helped you and redeemed you." He was of course totally and completely right. I can't describe to you the freedom that is to know your purpose again, your reason, and your hope. I know now why Jesus chose me. Not because I had any merit of my own but exactly the opposite.


I was hopelessly lost, chained and full of hideous demons that haunted me day and night. For Him to use me to even speak of His Name and His goodness only highlights the very power of His redemption. There is not anyone that can't be saved or redeemed. No matter what you've done - Jesus did more on the cross. He took more, faced more and went further than your sin will ever go. I had lost heart when God opened my eyes and I saw the hordes upon hordes of my enemies that plague and enslave this world - the dark spiritual forces that control areas, territories and countries - but that wasn't the full picture. There is a weapon that we of the light possess. Redemption... It is the very power of conversion. It has the ability to take even the worst and highest ranking generals of the opposing force and turn them into comrades of the light. Remember the story of the terrorist Saul of Tarsus who killed innocent women and children who then became the Apostle Paul sent by Jesus. Redemption... A weapon truly feared by our enemy and one that highlights the very power of God Himself. After all, it's the very reason Jesus came. Redemption... 

Think for a minute about Jesus betrayer... Think about someone who ate with Jesus... Walked with Him... Laughed with Him... Cried with Him... Studied under Him... Learnt from Him... Someone who was His disciple who then when it the mattered the most  - out right betrayed Him in front of everyone and let Him be handed over to cruel murderers who mocked Him, beat Him, shamed Him and then killed Him in the most gruesomely public and horrible way possible. How do you feel about that man? What are your thoughts about someone who wouldn't stand by the Son of God and the Saviour of the World when it really mattererd but instead only showed selfish self preservation when darkness was descending on all sides? What do you think that type of man deserves for His betrayal? What should done to that man and how should he be remembered? Well, it may shock you but Jesus chose to use that man to build His church on. You most likely thought of Judas Iscariot when I described Jesus betrayer above but in truth I was describing Jesus' disciple Peter.

The same Peter that walked on water to Jesus, who ate with Him, learnt from Him and was one of His closest friends - betrayed Him at the very end publicly stating three times that He didn't follow or even know Jesus and even uttered profanities to establish his point of separation from Jesus. When it mattered the most and Jesus really needed Peter's support, companionship and loyalty he coldly betrayed the One who gave Him life, love,  purpose and identity. So why did Jesus later on choose to use this man to build something so important and something so precious as His church on and through? The answer is simple. It's called Mercy. Peter didn't deserve God's mercy but that's exactly what true and pure mercy is - totally and utterly undeserved favour and kindness irrespective of our choices and actions. This is the true heart of God and the power of His love. His mercy can't be explained or quantified - it must simply be received. God loves you and He knows you'll never measure up but it's His mercy and love that bridges the gap and brings us back to Our Father in Heaven through His Son Jesus Christ. I'm so thankful for His mercy that's new for me every single day because I stumble and fall so often like a cripple without his crutches but it's His love for me that picks me up over and over and gets me back on track. His mercy is there for me no matter how many times I betray Him. Thank you Jesus for saving me. Thank you...

[ Lamentions 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. great is your faithfulness. ]

I'd like to offer some wisdom in regards to relationships coming from a perspective God has given me. This is not some religious rant or something I've picked up from a book. It's just up front, basic wisdom that God gave me from walking with Him and I do hope it practically helps you guys. The thing is, whether you're in a relationship or not this all applies and I'll explain why. You've heard the statement "I'm looking for the right guy or right girl" but I believe it's less about finding the right person and more about being the right person. If you are living as the wrong type of person then you'll naturally attract the wrong type of person as your companion. The signal you send out is what you will attract or just like fishing the bait you use is the fish you'll catch. This all applies just as much if you're in a relationship already as far as the longevity of that relationship. So, the question is "What is being the right person?" Well, you can read 1000 books from 1000 different authors but personally I'd much rather get a far higher authority on it and you obviously can't possibly go any higher than what God says. So what does He say? Read Micah 6:8  "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God"

So put very simply, the person you should aim and pray to be is someone who has justice as a strong part of your character and identity. Why is justice important? Because justice is the root of loyalty, trust, faith and security. Those are all extremely good strong things to build a good relationship on. The next thing God says is to be merciful. Why? Because even the best people fall and fail but a merciful person will forgive and rebuild - that's the type of person you want to be and you'll also want to be in a relationship with when the going gets tough. Perfection is not reality when it comes to us humans but our weakness combined with forgiveness and mercy creates something truly powerful that can stand the test of time. Lastly, God says to walk humbly with your God. I'll explain this simply. It means to recognize that we are all just little children who need our Heavenly Father to help, guide, forgive, love and provide for us on a daily basis. In short - justice, mercy and humility are the three key traits you should aim to be and look for in others if you want your relationship to thrive and last the trials of life.  

I know there's at least one person out there this is for today but I've got a feeling that it's more likely a stack of you. 

Listen, God knows your pain. He knows what happened and how it seems not even close to being fair or right... but it did happen. God isn't afraid of your pain. He knows why you do what you do to cope and get by and He doesn't judge you. He isn't afraid of you being angry about it either. He doesn't say "when you've got a big smile on your face and a great attitude then come talk to Me..." No. He just says "Come...As you are..." He knows the deal straight up - all the gritty details, all the ugly stuff, all those internal conversations that just repeat over and over. And that's exactly why Jesus came - to help and save us any time we need it. We were never designed to carry the burdens this life brings on our own - but He can. Psalm 50:15 says "Call on Me in your day of trouble and I will rescue you". That applies to everyone by the way - not just those who "meet the standard". Truth be told, no one meets the standard. We all fall short and God knows that. So don't walk that road alone. Call out to God and He'll carry your pack and walk with you. He's got big shoulders and the best ears for listening. Seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). 

God loves you.  

So what is love? I've heard science say it's a chemical reaction. So does that mean love can be induced by a drug? How cold and absurd to liken love to a test tube. So what is love? Is it mutual compatability? Is it an agreement that honours both parties? Is love simply an emotional state? Is love the equivalent of pleasure and bliss? Is love comfort and safety? I believe all of the above are totally incorrect. As someone who grew up in a broken home barely ever hearing the words "I love you" from a genuine heart - I began a search in my late teens as to what love really was. There seemed to be so many that spoke of love but I felt as if so few really knew what it meant. That search came to a conclusion when an event happened in my life that God used to bring everything I had ever known and built come crashing down around me. In such a moment of cataclysmic destruction God used something so small to create a mirror of sorts in my life that allowed me to see what love really was. Love in its purest form is a choice. You don't find love - you choose to love. A love that is found is a love that can be lost. Falling in love is also something you can fall out of. But when love is a choice - then only you can break it. If that choice is maintained every single day then love becomes an impenetrable force that grows. The Bible says in 1 John 4:19 "We love - because God first loved us". The very notion of love is only possible and known to us as humans because of God himself. God is love embodied. It's not a part of His character - It is who He is. He is love. He chooses to love us even though we fail, even though we sin, even though we blatently disobey - He always has love for us. Put simply, He looked at a world full of His own creations that had become corrupted by sin and knew they couldn't ever help or save themselves - so He chose to die to save us. That's love right there. A choice. God chose you. He didn't need to do that but He chose to for one simple reason... Love.  

Quick story for you guys from the Bible. God promises the nation of Israel a home in a place called "the promised land". They travel a long time to get there and the journey is tough. Many die along the way straying from God's direction and safety. Eventually they get to the outskirts of the land so they decide to send in 12 spies to gather intel and search out the land in order to formulate a battle plan. 10 of the spies return saying "it can't be done, giants live there and the cities are heavily fortified". Two of the spies strongly disagree saying "God is with us so it can most definitely be done". One of those spies was Joshua who went on to lead the people after Moses died and was one of the nation's best and most decorated leaders. The other was Caleb - a guy who goes down in history as asking for his retirement gift to be the hill county that's full of savages and barbarians so it's some sort of challenge to him. Needless to say even as an old man he drove out all the bad guys and made a nice home in the mountains. The question is... Who are you going to be? One of the 10 spies who says that what God promised you can't be done... Or are you going to be like Joshua and Caleb who didn't count the odds but trusted in a big God? I'll say it straight - Soldier up and see God match your fervour with His might and power. I chose a long time ago to take His hand and follow where He leads and He's never let me down once. I know Him well enough too that He ain't gonna start now. "If God is for us who can stand against us?" Go make it real because we have a God who is really strong.

What happens to a small puppy that grows up in society neglected, forgotten, abused, teased, mocked and beaten in home after home after home? Soon, it learns to find its place in the wilderness. It learns to fend for itself, it learns to feed itself, it learns to fight for itself, it learns to learn for itself. So then what do you think happens to that dog when you tell it that it now needs to go and exist again in the confines of urban society? There's no way that dog could ever live again under the laws imposed by mankind. Do you know why that dog can never go back? The answer is simple. In the wilderness it found out what it really was. In the wilderness it found freedom. Do not fear your wilderness. God uses the wilderness to shape and form us. Check your Bible. Moses, David, Rahab, Samson, Gideon, Caleb, Elijah, John the Baptist... God often uses wild things. He has a purpose for you.

You are not defined by what you produce - you are defined by who you belong to.

God loves you for who you really are - even if you have absolutely no idea who you are.

His love isn't based on your performance. His love is based on His character.

Love based on performance is an invention of mankind called false religion.

God loves us long before we love Him.

The best thing you can do is simply accept and receive His love. We are simply sinners saved by accepting God's grace as a gift.

God loves you.

1 John 4:10 - This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

I'll share something thats been on my heart lately that God's opened my eyes to. I've been asking and praying to God for direction in life right now and He's answered in an interesting yet not surprising way. God's like that I've found - His wisdom is so simple that we so often miss it or overcomplicate it. What He opened my eyes to was this... Do what you've been given to do the best you can and with all your heart - and be content with that. Resist those voices and impulses to be "more" and instead do what you are actually called to do the best you can. I'll clarify. If you're single - do that really well. Enjoy life, enjoy your freedom, be thankful. The voices will say "if only you had that guy or that girl then you'd be happy..." Ignore the lies. The devil wants you to focus on what you don't have - not what you do. The same if you're married. Be the absolute best husband or wife you can be. Don't ever think that's a small thing. Divorce and transient relationships are so common these days and take it from someone who came from a broken home that all I ever wanted as a kid was for my parents to get back together. If you're a parent - be an awesome parent. Your kids need you for guidance, discipline and love. After all you're shaping priceless lives. So many kids these days grow up with disconnected and absent parents. So whatever it is you are given to do - do it well. Dont play the game of doing or being "everything" - instead focus on what you're actually called to be the very best you can. Be thankful, content and enjoy it with all your heart and God will help you and reward you with His peace. Have an awesome day! 

A few weeks back God took me on a journey. There were some things in my life and in my character that needed work and as such I needed to completely disconnect from all social media and outside influences so He could speak clearly and I was able to understand His wisdom without distraction. God's asked me to do this several times before so I knew it was something quite serious and very important. You see, God's wisdom is not like our wisdom. His wisdom is not just logic based or knowledge gleaned from life experience. His wisdom cuts far, far above all that and is in itself timeless wisdom. This is why Proverbs 3:5-6 is so true.  So what He's told me to do is to share some of what I learnt over my 7 days with the Master. If it helps and encourages you - that's great. If you vehemently disagree - that's fine too. Either way, it doesn't change a thing for me. I know my relationship with God and I'm not here to negotiate or debate it - it just is what is is. What I am here to do is share my heart and what you do with that is completely up to you. Put simply, my job is to be a humble messenger.


With that said I do sincerely hope the things I share encourage you as I believe that is the true heart of God to lift and build each others lives. Ok, so the first thing He spoke to me was this. "Learn to draw in the sand". I knew immediately what He meant when He said this as He brought to mind the story of the woman who the religious leaders of Jesus day had dragged into the street before Him in John chapter 8. They had a claim that she had been caught in the act of adultery and wanted to test Jesus on how He would react to this. Now, there's a lot to be learned from this story but the main thing Jesus got me to focus on was the very first thing He did when they confronted Him with a challenge. He drew on the ground in front of them in plain sight. Have you ever wondered why He did that? I'll tell you why. He did it for our benefit and to teach us something. Keep in mind Jesus was perfect in all His wisdom and didn't ever need to even think twice about giving the proper response - yet He paused and drew on the ground. Why? He did it to teach us what to do when someone puts a challenge in front of you which is designed to manipulate a response.


I'll put this as a plain as possible - manipulation is witchcraft. Even in it's smallest form it's still witchcraft. And witchcraft always has it's origin from darkness. Jesus was light so He knew and could sense in His spirit immediately that what was happening was a lot more than just some religious leaders pulling a poor woman into the street. It was behind that a deliberate attack on His authority, His identity and on what and who He believed. It was an underhanded, cowardly attack from the devil himself and Jesus saw right through it. Now the drawing the ground bit is important and I'll explain it like this. God made the world in 6 days on the seventh day He rested. Did God really need to rest? Was He really tired? Absolutely not. He is infinite in power. So why did He rest on the seventh day? He did it to teach us that we also need to rest. Jesus drawing on the ground was exactly the same. He didn't need to take a minute to think of His response or to calm down so He didn't react to the tricks and deception going on - He was perfect. But Jesus knew that we so often do need to take a moment to chill out, think and hold your tongue before we run our mouths.


He knows we are only human and that we are weak and react easily to manipulation. There are many references in the Bible that mention how much trouble our tongues get us into and that if someone can control their tongue they are considered very wise. What Jesus wanted to teach us here by drawing on the ground was to learn self control even in the face of an offensive challenge. Does this mean we become pacifists that defer all conflict? Absolutely not. Jesus said "Let you yes be yes and your no be no" He wants us to be deliberate in all we do but He also wants us to make conscious choices for our actions and for what comes out of our mouths. What Jesus was teaching us is to it slow it down and to give God the room and ability to talk to you in that brief moment before you just naturally react as we all so often do. Put simply... Don't react - Choose then Act. It may be the difference between starting and averting a war - or keeping and losing a relationship.  I'll be sharing more of what I learnt over the next weeks and months and I hope that it does help you in your day to day life and interactions with others. Have a great day guys. 

How do you make the perfect soldier was the question... She sat alone in her dark dingy cell. Her fingernails were chipped and broken from scratching the walls. She was barefoot and her face covered in dirt. Her dress was filthy and tattered. Tall stony walls surrounded her far too high to climb. A giant locked steel door was the only way out and there was no way she had the strength to break it. She was trapped. Alone. Hurting. A prison that she didn't choose but had no escape from. A lone tear began in her right eye and travelled down her cheek leaving a clean section of skin. As the tear slowly made its way down her lifeless face she mouthed the words... "Jesus... please... help me...." It sounded like distant thunder at first but somehow it was different. I was led outside the giant tower where the girl was imprisoned and I saw an angelic army standing in formation. These were not your fat cherubs that so many have incorrectly described before. These were fearsome beings of war outfitted in divine armour and with weapons not forged on this earth.


They were creations of immense power far beyond our comprehension and there were hundreds of them. What I saw next though was far more remarkable. I saw towards the rear of the ranks the army begin to split to make room for a lone runner. He wore brown. A man. He had a beard. He looked normal in every respect yet at the same time there was something about Him that seemed so abnormal to my perception. Everything about Him was strangely perfect. The way He moved was with such deliberation and purpose. When He ran it was as if the very ground itself urged Him on and aided Him. He looked to me like what I would have imagined Adam from the Garden of Eden to look like if he were here today. Was this Him? As the ranks split to give Him room He increased His pace to a sprint at which lightning flashed above and the mountains quaked as if to cheer Him on. I saw Him nearing the giant stronghold and its two large iron outer doors. I imagined what He would do when He reached the doors. I was sure He would charge them and bust them into oblivion showering shards of shrapnel in every direction. But that's not what happened at all... Something far, far greater happened.


As He neared the doors my eyes were fully opened for just a moment. For only a tiny fragment of time I was able to see who He really was. The world around me faded to black and white and all sound hushed as His true identity was revealed. His eyes were a blaze of fire and left a trail of embers in the air as He moved. His hair was brilliant white - whiter than any light source I'd ever seen. In His hand was a scepter and He wore a long flowing robe of which the lower sections appeared to be stained by blood. On His thigh was words written in an ancient language that read "King over all Kings. Lord over all Lords". The same words lined the lower section of His robe. It was Him. The One. He effortlessly passed right through the outer doors as if they didn't exist and proceeded deeper inward with unmatched passion and fury in each step. Nothing held Him back. Nothing slowed Him. At last He reached the final door of her cell and He stopped. He stood there for a moment then softly knocked three times. She knew who it was. Her words "Please come in and help me..." changed everything. I heard the lock break and He slowly and gently opened the door and walked in then knelt down to where she sat in the cold dirt.


He put His hand under her chin and raised her head and said "Do not fear. I AM here. I will make you strong". I expected Him to get her out of there immediately but He didn't. He helped her to her feet, wiped her tears from her eyes and then told her to extend her arms. She willingly obeyed and I saw Him begin to outfit her with armour. First her arms, then her legs, her upper body and then a helmet. Lastly He gave her a small sword that suited her perfectly. I watched as He began to teach her how to fight right there in the cell. Blocking, dodging, parry, strike. In a matter of just minutes her form was almost perfect. He really was the Master teacher. Then He looked at her and said "Child, let's take this place down..." as He extended His hand for her to hold. She took His hand and smiled at Him as they started their path from the inner cells towards the outer walls. This time He wasn't using any doors. He choose a new way that caused maximum damage to the structure on their way out. Each stone wall they came across shattered and crumbled exploding outwards and leaving a wake of perfect destruction behind them. Wall after wall tumbled to the ground until at last she was outside. Freedom at last.


I saw Him talking to her about something but couldn't hear the words. She clenched the sword in her hand then smiled and nodded. Then He began His path running back through the ranks again. The scene faded as time marched on several years... This time I saw the same girl standing on a hilltop. She was older now. Wiser and stronger too. Her armour seemed to fit her better now. But out of everything I noticed about her the thing that stood out a mile was her eyes. They looked just like His. I could see in them an inferno of passion for the freedom of others. Her hand tightened on her sword and she raised it above her head and let out a battle cry like the shriek of an eagle. It was only then I could see the army standing behind her. They were men and women. Boys and girls. Dressed in armour, with swords and all with the same eyes as hers. They were soldiers just like her. Prisoners set free now fighting for the freedom of others. They answered her cry with theirs and the sound was utterly deafening so much that the earth itself quaked and shook in applause.


Then moving as one in perfect unity they began their decent down the hillside towards hundreds more towers that littered the horizon each with prisoners inside... The question He asked me before He showed me all this was "How do you make the perfect soldier?" My answer now was "You find a prisoner of war. You bust them out of their cage. You show them value and kindness. You feed them truth and teach them how to fight for others. You give them purpose by enlisting them in the Kingdom of Heaven. Then you tell them there are others out there like you..."

[ 2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ]

There's going to be a thousand reasons to give up. Your enemy the devil is going to find all the best ones and rub them right in your face. He hates you more than anything else and do you wanna know why? It's simple. You remind him of God. We are all created in God's image. That means we resemble Him. The devil also really really hates and despises you because God loves you. He's that bitter and twisted and messed up. Now I know I'm gonna pay for this and he's gonna send some of his worst my way but I ain't going down without a fight. You see there was this scrappy looking kid who once stood up to a war machine of a giant... And He won because God had his back. The Bible says "If God is for us then who can stand against us". I never asked to be a soldier. It just happened the day God opened my eyes and I saw the war raging around me. So... Like the heroes of old... Never Give In, Never Give Up! Because God is with you. Do not fear the enemy. Fear God and He will give the battle into your hands.  

Interesting paradox... I prayed a prayer I was led by the Holy Spirit to pray after seeing so much rehearsed useless vanity in the churches I've attended in the past. A wasteful parade of showmanship yet very little to make the Kingdom of God reach those outside who are lost and in need of Jesus. The prayer was simple... "Father, Your Word calls me to be like Jesus so teach me how to become a friend of sinners like He was. To love people for who they are not what they do - yet not become totally corrupted in the process. Please teach me in Jesus Name". I prayed in faith but didn't expect the outcome that ensued. My heart became transformed by compassion for the lost and sinners to help them - but my heart also became so strongly opposed in utter distain to self-righteous false religion. I now fully understand Jesus seemingly harsh responses towards the religious leaders that eventually killed Him. Jesus was the absolute opposite of them. Jesus came to save - not judge and enslave. It's false religion that kills. Jesus came to bring life.

God knows you're going to have worries and concerns. He knows what you're made of and that at the end of the day we're all just dust. Fragile, broken and hiding our pain from others.

God knows what's going on and cares about your situation. He cares about your health, He cares about your emotions and He cares about your spiritual state. He knows that things bother us and weigh on us causing us to worry.

What His Word does say is to bring those worries, concerns and cares to Jesus and to throw them to Him. It doesn't say throw them on your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, Mum, Dad or friends. It says to throw them on Jesus.

He's the only one that can truly take the weight off of you. In return He will give you peace and wisdom for your life.

1 Peter 5:7 - Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 

I had my day all planned out today then I'm driving along and "bang" my clutch cable snapped flat to the floor. Managed to get it in first and limped it to a mechanic down the road. Probably going to be about $350 to get it fixed which I don't have right now but I trust God that He knows and will provide. Stuff happens, that's just life. God always cares. This is what God told me yesterday. I hope it encourages you. "Plans fail... Wounds are made... Things die... But just remember I AM the One who can revive even the most charred ashes into beauty and strength. I send small boys to behead the most fearsome and oppressing of giants when an army of men quiver and shake frozen in fear. I bring back to life little girls cold and lifeless held suffocated under the power and slavery of death when all hope is lost. I AM life. My Words never fail. [ John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ] 

Thought for you.. There's a guy in the Bible called Samuel. He's a guy that loves God and delivers God's messages to His people. He's called a prophet and he has special abilities in order to do his job. Often these unique gifts would allow for heightened perception and knowledge far beyond human capacity. Now one of his jobs was to find the new king of Israel. This king was a young boy called David but Samuel didn't know this yet. All he knew was he had to go to a house to find this new king. Samuel sees one of David's older brothers and immediately thinks "this has to be the new king". The guy is tall, distinguished, mature, strong, good looking. Ticks in all the right boxes. Then God speaks to Samuel and says "No, it's not him. You look on the outside but I look on the heart...". Why am I saying this? Because this is how God wants us to see people. Not for how they look, how popular they are, what they can do or what they give you. Look at people for who they really are inside. And how do you do that? Well, you test the fruit of their heart. Watch and listen and in time you'll see what's in their heart because it will undoubtedly show in their words and actions. Dont be deceived by just the outer shell even if it seems to tick all the right boxes. Learn to see hearts like God does and you'll gain invaluable wisdom for life. Goodnight guys. 

Welcome to my Ninja Training Ground. Hey, can I offer a little bit of advice to those younger than me? For those older maybe you'd agree. Please don't waste your life trying to get people to like you. Don't change just to be popular or to get noticed by "that person". It's called selling your soul and all it leaves is emptiness down the track. This may or may not come as a surprise to you but Im actually very hated for the way I am. I've been accused of being too religious as well as not religious enough. I've been told "I'm too much...just too intense". I've been told I'm not good enough, not tall enough, not young enough just not enough. Here's the thing... Follow me long enough and I'm sure you'll find 10 things to hate about me. But here's another thing... Several years ago before God healed me of depression I was one of those guys who did everything I could to get people to like me. I tried so hard to fit in and fill that hole inside. At the worst part of depression when I considered suicide something remarkable happened... God gave me a gift. Two actually. One was that I stopped caring what people thought of me. I cannot even describe the immeasurable freedom that came from seeing that prison shatter and crumble around me. The second gift was skateboarding. You see, you can't skate while you're worrying about what everyone thinks. Both gifts went hand in hand and every single day I thank Him for both. So what I'm really saying is this... Learn to love yourself the way God does. Don't worry about what people think. God never told us to do that. That's false religion that says that while holding a giant measuring stick at which you can never attain. God on the other hand says... "I love you. You're worth dying for. You're worth saving. You're worth relationship with Me". So go with what God says instead of the cold empty embrace of the worlds opinion. 

Just something God put on my heart last night while I was praying and walking through the mountains. I know there's a stack of people out there that feel like this... Forgotten, discarded, lonely, failures. Here's God's take on what you're going through... "You're not forgotten. Trust My process. I use seclusion to highlight weaknesses that need to be strengthened. Keep seeking Me in your wilderness and you will find Me.  Find me and I will also help you find yourself in all this. Still your beating heart and listen for My voice. It whispers like the gentle summer breeze but holds the power of the rock splitting hurricane. Learn to be still. Learn the ways of My peace even in the storm. Remember those who went before you... Joseph in the prison, Moses in the desert, Ruth in her loss, David hiding in caves. I use these times to refine those I have a special and unique purpose for. Trust in Me. I AM with you." Never forget God loves you. 

Hey, so I was driving to work today and thinking and praying about some things that happened in the past few years. The thing is this... Share your heart and even if you're loved for it - you're most likely also gonna get hated for it too. Wanna know the simple reason why? Because we live in a corrupted, broken world and just about everyone around us is in some type of pain. People so often think, speak and act from that pain and if you present something like happiness, peace, confidence and identity to them - well, it's likely those in pain will try to get you to join them in their pain rather than them join you in your happiness. So is the answer not to share your heart and become guarded with high, towering stony walls? I don't believe so. I believe this world needs an answer to its pain and the only one true answer is JESUS. So when you get hated for sharing your heart - don't let that hatred in to poison you, change you and stop you - instead remind yourself that God's love for you is so, so much greater than any cheap shots that hatred makes. Nothing compares to God's love for you. Nothing at all. Have a great day guys :D 

The Spirit of God led my spirit away in a vision to a wide open field. I stood in the middle. A gentle breeze blew across the long flowing green grass. He told me to turn and look to the edge of the field. "What do you see child?" He asked me in an calm yet authoritative voice. I looked and towards the tall wooden log fence I saw a large dark horse. As I studied its form and it's movements I could tell it was dangerous. It's movements were wild and abrupt. It seemed constantly agitated and furious at the same time. "Go closer and see..." The voice told me. As I moved towards the fearsome beast I saw it's eyes. Bright red and bloodshot, bulging from its head. It was truly terrifying to even be in proximity of this animal. It turned and stared at me in disgust stamping thunderously with it's hooves as if to warn me of it's murderous intent. "It's name is Chaos...a wild beast, untamed, savage and beyond reason..." the voice echoed over the now still air. "Now, turn and tell me what you see child..." I cautiously turned my back on this dark fiend and shifted my gaze across the field to the opposite corner. In the distance I could see another horse. From first glace it seemed unremarkable.


As I got closer I saw it was just a normal horse. It's eyes were closed as it stood in the shelter of a small stable. "Go and see..." The voice whispered in a welcoming tone. I slowly walked across the field and entered the old dusty stable. The horses eyes were still closed as it stood motionless - like it was waiting for something. As I got closer it moved its front hoof and gently shifted a wooden bucket towards me. I heard water inside sloshing to and fro. "Did it want me to wash it?" I asked myself. It nodded seemingly to be able to hear my thoughts. I gently grabbed a stiff bristled brush from the bucket and began to wash the sides and back of the horse. It remained perfectly calm the whole time. Motionless. Eyes closed. Waiting. As I finished washing the last inch of the horses front leg and it began to step out of the stable and into the sun. It walked several paces until fully bathed in the sunlight and then it paused just standing there... It turned it's head towards me opened it's eyelids to reveal perfect ethereal blue eyes that gazed deep within me. Then it reared up on it's hind legs and came crashing down to the earth sending every drop of water away from it in an explosion of power. I was totally dumfounded to see that the horse I first considered totally unremarkable now stood before me as a perfect white stallion.


I knew now this was no ordinary horse... this horse belonged to someone truly important. I knew immediately this horse belonged to the King. What happened next left me even more puzzled. This utterly majestic beast then looked at me again then lowered it's stance to a crouching position as if to invite me to climb atop it's back. There was no saddle. Nothing at all. Just a horse I'd never met and me. Yet it remained there. Patiently waiting for me to accept it's uncanny invitation. "What have you to fear child...?" The voice whispered as I slowly approached the white horse. I gently climbed onto it's back and took hold of it's neck trying my best to balance as it slowly returned to it's full posture. Something was different about this horse. It was like it was helping me to ride it. As my weight shifted to the left the horse adjusted it's upper muscles intuitively keeping me upright and in perfect balance. Strange. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before. A synchronicity not from this world. Then it stood there. Motionless again. Like it was waiting for something. I knew what it was waiting for now... me. I shifted my gaze from one corner of the field to the other and instantly the horse responded in a full gallop. It's speed and power was unmatched yet I felt completely safe and at peace.


"It's name is Serenity...." The voice echoed as I put it through it's paces. Nothing phased it. I looked towards the gated fence and immediately it realigned it's position and prepared itself to jump. "Would it even make it over that huge fence?" I thought but was proven absolutely wrong as it effortlessly sailed through the air clearing the fence with several inches to spare. Before me lay an open hillside scattered with rocks and small shrubs. The horse again waited motionless for my bidding. I gazed at a hilltop far in the distance and then uttered the words I was led to form "Ish... Naman... Kichto... Piras!" The horse began at first with a gallop but then unleashed it's full power and speed. I had never in my lifetime seen or felt anything like it. The world around me faded from colour to black and white and the outlines of everything heightened. Such ferocious world bending speed. It's hooves struck the ground in a unique and distinct rhythm that I could hear what could only be described as distant thunder trailing behind me. In only moments of my mind I was there on the hilltop... motionless. I looked down across a shadowed valley and saw hundreds of black horses. They looked exactly like the first one I saw but if it were possible even more menacing. On the opposite side of the valley I saw open fields.


I knew what I had to do. I had to pass through them. As I began my decent the dark horses immediately sensed my presence and began the chase. While my horse was graceful and fluid they were the complete opposite. Their overly muscular legs while enormously powerful seemed to hinder their speed somewhat. What they didn't have in speed though, they made up for in sheer madness and aggression. They charged entire trees sending them splintering and shattered large rocks in their stride. The ground was left split in a wake of destruction as they poured themselves over the landscape. "The forest..." The voice guided me. I knew that's where I needed to be. As I weaved in and out of towering pines and oaks my horse effortlessly shifted it's posture and weight to counter-balance me. This truly was an amazing animal. It's ability to read me was nothing short of astounding. I glanced over my shoulder to see the dark rabble forging a path through the forest albeit not with the speed and agility the white horse possessed. I saw a clearing up a hill with sunlight peeking through and headed for it at full speed. The dark stallions increased their pace matching mine with only seconds between us now.


Then I saw it... the chasm. A giant split in the hillside with no end. "Do not fear child..." I heard the voice reassuringly say so I shifted my gaze to the sunlit fields across the divide. The world again faded it's colour and this time even sound was bent to a still whisper. Effortlessly the white horse sailed the unseen torrents of the wind and in perfect balance landed the other side totally un-phased. I looked back and saw the dark horses stamping and breathing out disgust, hatred and malice at their inability to cross the ravine. Now standing in the field atop the majestic stallion the voice of God asked me "So what did you learn My child...?" I learned to trust your peace God. That despite appearances peace is greater than chaos and that God will always make a way.

[ Isaiah 54:10 - Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. ] 

Get back up soldier.

I know you're hurting, I know you have wounds, I know you have scars...

I saw their actions of hate. I know their words cut deep. I know injustice was dealt.

But I know what I made when I made you... I made a soldier for My Kingdom.

Get back up. You're not done yet.

Get back up Soldier!

Stand, not in your strength - but in Mine.

Get back on your feet and I'll help you stand.  The battle belongs to Me.

I will bind up your wounds, restore and heal all your pain. I will strengthen weak hands, I will make weak knees like the mighty oaks of old.

Open your ears and listen to the drums of war... They beat for you child. The hosts of Heaven look on eagerly. They watch to see if there is another who will stand...

In your day of trouble you will call my Name and I will answer you with Power, with Strength, with Majesty and Might. I will display openly the power of my redemption.
I will outfit you with divine armour. I will equip you with a broad impenetrable shield to deflect all of your enemies attacks. I will give you a sword - made not from this world - wreathed in My perfect undying Holy fire. My voice will ignite a blaze in you that no one can quench. Fear me - and I will make all your enemies fear you.

I will stand beside you and roar on the battlefield scattering your foes like ants in the rain. I will turn every weapon and every scheme that the enemy sends against you on their own heads.

Get back up Soldier... Because I AM with you!

You will be victorious because in victory you give Me glory.

Stand child... You Are Loved.

[ Proverbs 24:16 - A just man falls seven times and rises up again... ] 

Can I encourage you as your brother in Christ? Test all things.

[ 1 John 4:1 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ]

Jesus warned us that in the last times there will be many false teachers and false prophets...

Don't just assume that because someone talks "about God" that they are sent from God. Test the "fruit" of their life.

Do they call sin as it is - or do they cleverly excuse it so as not to offend and create a larger crowd? Don't be fooled, God is often not in the crowd.

Do they merchandise "the gospel" and get rich from the house of God? Keep in mind Jesus had no house or any possessions and the disciples that became the apostles (sent ones) that carried the gospel to us the gentiles also were so often penniless.

Remember the statement "Silver and Gold I do not have but what I do have I give to you... In the Name of Jesus - Rise up and walk!" Jesus drove out of the temple those making gain from God's house. Riches and Corruption are so often synonymous.

Do these heralded teachers help set people free and show them the truth? Do they expose the evil that so often exists in us as the demonic entities they are that need to be cast out as Jesus clearly instructed - or do they treat it just like the world does? As emotional or physiological conditions? Do they reveal the true nature of so many diseases that plague us in our 21st century western world? Or are they just popping pills like the world and blatantly ignoring the power of the Name of Jesus to heal?

Do they really see what's going on in this world today or are they the "blind leading the blind" as Jesus called the false leaders of His day?

Do they attack any and all forms of holiness and right living and instead promote corruption and a misunderstood perversion of God's Grace? Remember... Grace enlightens us to live better, not stay the way we are. Do they teach and live transformed lives and show they are the 'New Creations' that Jesus spoke of?

Do they invite the world to come to know Jesus and give them the true message of salvation in all its bloody, gruesome details? Do they tell the full story that Jesus came to save us from our sins? Do they teach about a Jesus that came to destroy the works of the devil? Do they even mention the devil at all?

Have they used "God's love" as a catch-all to include everyone in their thronging congregations? Is the church a place or prayer or is it a rehearsed stage show run by polished actors?

Are they "friends" with the world and do they look, speak and sound just like the world? Or have they "come out and become separate" as God asks and expects us to be as His children? Remember... Jesus said "Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy"

Look for the money trail my brothers and sisters. The love of money is the root of all evil. Where the money flows the evil grows...

Ask God for wisdom and He will make it very easy to see. He can guide even a little child to avoid the harm of this corruption.

It's now sweeping the globe at an alarming rate. Nearly everywhere I look now in the Church this infestation of corruption has spread like a cancer eating away at the souls of men and women. It always has links. Pray and God will reveal them to you.

This is not an excuse to become cold, cynical, negative, suspecting, harsh Christians who tear down everything - instead it is a call to become wise and discerning. Remember, the Bible says "do everything in Love". Test things for your own sake and for the ones you love so you don't get caught up in this and get hurt.

And if you don't think it's going to hurt - trust me when I say I've seen where this leads and what it let's into your life and your home. These things won't stop with just you, they'll keep destroying until there's nothing left to destroy. Your finances, your relationships, your children, your future, your peace, your sanity and even your lives.

I dont write these things to scare you, I write them because even though I've never met you I care about you in the love of Christ. I want no gain from you and I get nothing for writing this. I am simply a servant of God and I obey when He asks me to write to you.

I want no one to suffer the things I have seen presently and things to come.

Ask God to open up your spiritual eyes and He will.

Trust in Him alone as so many of the Psalms tell us.

God loves you.

Hey brothers and sisters, Just want to share with you a Psalm that really encouraged me. Last week I was really struggling with some unanswered questions and unresolved scenarios and I prayed before bed for God to help me. It wasn't a long eloquent prayer - just a simple cry to my Father in Heaven for help.

I was woken up by His voice at around 3am and was clearly told to read Psalm 86. I immediately did so and it was precisely the answer I needed from Him. My mind was put at ease, my heart was still and my body became at peace.

We serve an amazing God who loves and hears us. If you need Him... Call out to Him.

He wont give you the same answer He gave me - instead He will give you the answer that's perfect for you.

God loves you.  

Be still... And know I AM God. 

I've been on a bit of a journey the past few weeks. A journey that's revisited some of the most painful experiences of my life. Not really a journey I wanted to take or one that anyone else would sign up for but now I understand God's purpose in it. You see, He has a plan in everything and has the ability to use everything for our good. It displays His sovereignty over all things - even in chaos. So... This journey has come to a conclusion. I was woken up at 3 am New Years Day and knew I wasn't going to be getting back to sleep because there was a question that needed to be answered. On my phone I have 3 daily Bible verses that I look at every single day the very first thing when I open my eyes in the morning expectantly wanting to hear from God. They are three completely different apps and always three completely different verses... But not today. The first one I looked at really hit me. It was exactly the answer I needed. I checked the second verse and today it's the same as the first. So then lastly I checked the third and... well it different than the others. But then I realized it was displaying yesterdays verse so I hit refresh.

That's right. The third verse was exactly the same. Take what you want from that but I knew in my heart exactly what it meant. Now the question at the end of my journey was this... "Mark, what is the answer to pain?" I knew the answer immediately because of what God's done for me in my life so many times before. It was simple. The answer to pain is... Love. The answer has and always will be Love. It was love that rescued me from all the pain of my life but somehow I'd got lost and overwhelmed in the pain again and forget the way out. The way out isn't a person, it isn't a drug, it isn't money, it isn't sex. The way out isn't down here. The answer is inside you. In your heart. The answer is Love because you are loved by God for who you really are - not what you've done or whats happened to you. It's Gods love that saves us from our pain. Thankyou God for hearing me and helping me out of my pain yet again. Oh and that verse is below. Happy New Year. God loves you.

[ Isaiah 43:19 - Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ]