There's a lot of pressure in this world to be a lot of things... A lot of people want you to be their savior, to fix all their problems and to ease their pain. There's also people that want you to be the scape-goat for all the wrongs they've experienced and to take the blame for their hurt. There's people that want you to be some sort of exalted leader, something to follow, something that gives them hope. There's even some people that want you to be perfect - flawless and without fault being the perfect representation of their cause. Can I share some wisdom with you today? You don't need to be those things. As a matter of fact, you don't need to be any of the things people want you to be. When God made you - He made you with a purpose - His purpose. When He made you - He made no mistakes. What God says about you and His plans for you are far, far more important than the opinions of others. Even if those opinions come from people with great power or from hundreds, thousands or even millions of fans - what God says still sits much, much higher.


One of the most important names of God is that He's called "The Great I AM". Why is this so important? Because He is what we don't need to be and can never be. You don't need to be famous... Because He says "I AM". You don't need to be the scape-goat... Because He says "I AM". You don't need to be someones saviour... Because He says "I AM". You don't need to be Mr or Mrs Fix-it... Because He says "I AM". You don't need to be an amazing role model... Because He says "I AM". You don't need to be perfect... Because He says "I AM". God gives you a message in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, plans for a hopeful future". Jesus is already all those things listed above so all that leaves you to be is... You. Just be you. Who are you...and what is your purpose here? I can't tell you that because only God knows. But that's the best part, finding that out is only found through relationship with Him - not through someone else - and that's what He's always wanted with you. Relationship. Simple relationship of a loving Father to a valued, planned and extraordinary child. God loves you. 

Consider the famous discourse from the disciples to the crippled man in Acts 3:6 "Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have I give to you... In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... Rise up and walk!"

The disciples had not a cent to their name yet the power of God flowed and healed a lame man making him walk, run and leap for joy because of the healing that came through the power of Jesus Name.

Why doesn't that happen in our churches much today? Is it because unlike the disciples we have money in excess yet very little of the simple faith and obedience the disciples had to move forward in the Name of Jesus?

Remember... The love of money is the root of all evil. You cannot love God and selfish gain.

Maybe if there wasn't so much money making the rich even richer it would make us draw closer to the true heart of God...

Your Kingdom Come FatherConsider the famous discourse from the disciples to the crippled man in Acts 3:6 "Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have I give to you... In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... Rise up and walk!"

The disciples had not a cent to their name yet the power of God flowed and healed a lame man making him walk, run and leap for joy because of the healing that came through the power of Jesus Name.

Why doesn't that happen in our churches much today? Is it because unlike the disciples we have money in excess yet very little of the simple faith and obedience the disciples had to move forward in the Name of Jesus?

Remember... The love of money is the root of all evil. You cannot love God and selfish gain.

Maybe if there wasn't so much money making the rich even richer it would make us draw closer to the true heart of God...

Your Kingdom Come Father

When is the last time you went down to the ocean - not to skate, not to eat an ice cream, not to hang out with your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or kids. Just you... When's the last time you walked to the end of the jetty and just stood there gazing over the massively wide expanse that is the ocean and just thanked God for the simple gift of life itself. No requests, no complaints... just thank you. If its been a while for you can I encourage you to take a trip to that place. Trust me when I say it'll make a massive difference. Being thankful changes everything. Have an awesome day guys. God loves you. 

The message is simple. God is above all things. This world is broken and we needed help. So God sent down Love to save us. His Name is JESUS. 

There is no greater love than for someone to die in your place so that you can live. That's a soldiers love. That's a Kings Love. A love that spits in the face of Death then comes back with Death itself chained up like a dog completely submitted telling it when to sit, stay and be quiet. 

[ John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.]

God chooses to use the weak things of this world to showcase His strength and the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. So if needing Jesus help every single day makes me weak - then I'll gladly be called weak. And if believeing in the power of the cross makes me a fool - then fool it is. Unashamed †

Hey, God loves you. Far more than words. He loves you so much He doesn't want you to be stuck there in what happened in the past. Yeah that stuff happened, there's no point denying it and you probably feel like you're a prisoner because of it. Maybe it's something you did to someone... Maybe it's something you did with someone... And now you're chained up in past hurt, shame, guilt, anger and regret. God never wanted you to live like this... He wants you to be free. Free to move forward. Free to think clearly. Free to choose. Free to love. I was like you for a long time. Locked up in past hurt that tormented me every single day. I thank God that I finally found the key to freedom that unlocked my prison. It's JESUS. Nothing else even came close by comparison. If that's you, just call out to God and ask for His help and He will hear you. Next He'll guide you on what to do. Just listen and obey and He'll start setting things right again. That's what He does... Creates and Restores. You're not a lost cause. Everyone's story can be rewritten if - only you let Him... God loves you.

[ Philippians 3:13 - Dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead ] 

Proverbs 17:28 - "Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent." 

I've said some really dumb things in my life I wish I could take back. As a matter of fact I still often do. The truth is though... You can't take them back. What's said is said. You can apologize and ask for forgiveness but far better than that is to just not to say selfish harmful things in the first place. Wisdom is not a mouth full of big words babbling on and on about a subject full of your own opinion. Wisdom is like chosen gold, pearls or diamonds. You don't just flash them about everywhere and to just anyone. You choose the right time, the right place and the right people. Be wise, learn to control your tongue and you'll save yourself and others a lot of pain and suffering. Choose to actively say no to gossip, slander, lies, accusation and hate and instead choose to let your tongue be used to build up, encourage, speak faith, life and light. God loves you. 

[ Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ] 

"He who tries to save his life will lose it.. but he who loses his life for my sake - will find it"  - Luke 9:24. What a truly profound truth. For all my life these were only words in a book... just letters in black and white penned thousands of years ago. Just words  until my life grinded to a halt and I needed out. My way didn't work anymore and I knew it was only a matter of time before I lost everything. My sanity, my relationships, my job, my home and ultimately my life. It was at that crossroad that Jesus finally opened up my eyes. I needed to die. Not physically but the ego and hubris that was me needed to die. I needed to admit I was wrong and my way didn't work at. Everything I had built was a lie and a waste - and the more I built... the more I weighed myself down with pain and sorrow. Even though it was years ago now I still remember that day like it was yesterday. The day Jesus opened my eyes and showed me the prison I was really in. Dark, ominous walls surrounded me on all sides. Far too high to climb and far to thick to ever escape from using conventional methods.


The walls were made of heavy stones. Old stones. Some far older than me and that had been there for generations. But behind the walls I could hear a whisper... A name being called out.  It still gives me that chill like electricity coursing through me just recalling it. What was this name... And why did it sound familiar to me yet I never knew it. It whispered again... "let go... of everything..." Somehow it made sense. Deep, deep inside it resonated with something that had been dormant for so long. Asleep all my life in fact. Yet now it was waking up. Like a heartbeat at first but it grew in rhythm and intensity. "it's time you woke up child..." the voice echoed again. A small, unwavering voice yet it held absolute authority. I could sense He was outside the walls now. He was near. The One. The Son of the Living God. Somehow inside I could just tell. I knew He was outside with His hand up waiting for me to respond. I knew what to do now... It was time. I was done with my way. It was time to wake up. It was time to respond. And so I raised my hand to where I knew His was raised outside the walls and immediately all the stones that made up the walls lit up with ancient text.


Even though the words were beyond my language or any language I'd ever seen on this earth - I knew every single word all at once. Ancient Words. Unholy words. Hatred, Fear, Shame, Addiction, Lust, Greed, Rebellion, Witchcraft. Hundreds of them. Then as I called out His Name the mortar that connected all the stones lit up in brilliant white light with such intensity that can't properly be described. Inside me erupted a fire - an inferno birthed not from this plane - but out of love. A white, hot fire placed there by my Maker. The war drums now pounded to a deafening and thunderous roar yet even as loud as they were I could clearly hear His voice. "Child, you were never meant to live in a cage... Be free... Show them what I can do... show them freedom..." Yes, a truly profound truth indeed. The day I finally learned how to lose everything was the day I finally found who I truly was and what I truly am.  I am His.

  

I'll say this as straight as I can... Jesus beats depression. Actually, I'll phrase that better... Jesus totally and utterly annihilates depression so badly He makes a total and complete mockery of it by completely changing the person to become a showpiece of His Power, His Majesty, His Love and His Mercy to save, heal and deliver. Jesus is the Lion that roars thunderously, without apology and in complete unchallanged authority in the face of the mouse that is depression. How do I know? Because I had depression once. I suffered at its cruel hands for most of my life. Dosed up with antidepressants and with addictions as long as a kids Christmas list. Robbed, tormented and suppressed by its evil will. That is until I let Jesus in to deal with it. Oh and DEAL with it He did... I never knew power till I saw and felt what His love can truly do. No one down here can truly set you free. Only He can do that. If it's freedom you want, it's Jesus you need. Let pride die, call out to Him and see His power for what it really is. Have an awesome day :)