Square Peg

A Word For All Those Who Feel They Have Never Quite ‘Fitted In’:

Have you gone through life always feeling out of place. Do you feel that you don’t fit in, that you are different. That the problem goes much deeper.

It is a common thing to feel rejected. When younger it is often hard to feel that you are similar to others.  Indeed it is probably quite normal to feel a bit different. But I am talking about something much deeper.  Not just feeling a bit different but feeling BROKEN. I mean feeling like you stumbled into life and even feeling like you where thrown from a plane.

In these days God is taking those which are rejected by life and discarded and placing them into a position where they feel at home and secure.

But it is God ALONE who is doing this. As people we are weak and often create more problems than we solve. It is time to take our hands of control from off of the situation and let God do what he wants.  But what does this mean. Well it means TRUST.  Can we trust God to turn up. That’s a tough call. In fact there is an example in the story of the raising of Lazarus where He didn’t seem to turn up until it was too late. In fact Jesus had all His followers leave Him and His work appeared to die a death. So TRUST is tough. So let’s be honest... I DARE YOU TO TRY AND BELIEVE AND ACT UPON WHAT HE SHOWS YOU... Jesus said that this was like building upon a rock. We have to much sand and are therefore unstable at times.

We need God’s kindness and patience and mercy. There is forgiveness with Him... therefore He is to be feared. But we have been afraid in the wrong sense of the word. We have a lot of fear. Is that ok.  Well God says DO NOT FEAR. Does that make it wrong to be afraid. It just means that you have something to begin your conversation with, when God comes to you. He said to adam and eve... why are you afraid and hiding. That’s a good place to start but do you honestly think that it will stop God transforming your life with His love... DEATH COULDN’T HOLD HIM!!

Daniel Chuter

Stop Your Striving

Too many hats?

Holiness and Righteousness are inputed... because of what Jesus Christ did for us all, not earned by us, or a transfusion of a dead "saint's" surplus virtue. (where's that in scripture?)
Works are evidence of our faith.

Let your good works be motivated out of thankfulness, love and because you heard the instruction from the Lord's heart. - because He is wonderful, brilliant.

If God hasn't asked it of you, please consider that it is also Obedience and Faith to NOT pursue it...
(Unless the Lord builds the house, the workers work in vain)
Alternatively, when God asks something of you... He'll equip you for it.
Hence... His yoke is easy and His burden light.

Jesus only did that which He saw the Father doing and spoke that which He heard. (See John 5:19)

There is a difference between busyness and diligence. Which are you operating in today?
If it's busyness... lay it down and inquire of The Lord! If it's diligence, go for it with all you have! (Until God says otherwise)

"Jesus answered and said unto them, 'This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.'" John 6:29

There you go! If you are born again into Jesus, you are doing the work of God! 

Anything beyond this, needs to be the fruit of your relationship with Him. 

David Robinson

Aroused From Your Sleep

In 1Peter 5:8, it talks of the need to be VIGILANT.  In it’s original meaning this word means...’to be aroused from sleep’.  We need to be watchful in these days.  We need to be humble.

When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, there came a point when an enemy tried to stop the process.  In this case Nehemiah made sure that every person building also armed themselves.

When Gideon's army was going forward  after the Midianites they where told to come down to the river where they drank.  The way in which they did this was interesting.  Those who got right down to the water and lapped like a dog where thirsty and occupied by this.  However some merely got on their knees and scooped water to their mouths.  These satisfied their thirst but kept an eye out for an enemy.  These were the chosen warriors because they were VIGILANT.  They were meeting their own needs and at the same time they were looking out and watchful.

There is a fine line between being watchful and fearful.  FEAR is a big problem today.  We need to look at the motivation and root of some of our thoughts and actions.

The enemy has paralysed much of the body of Christ.  It is sleeping and unaware.  Paul talks a lot in Ephesians about the need to be alive and awake. As a result of this condition for many christians, the enemy is alive and well... LYING AND CHEATING.

God wants to heal us.  Do not be proud.

Daniel Chuter

What do you say, Lord?

We must develop a trust in these days. We follow a God who can make us feel very insecure, if we need to know continually every option and outcome. All around us are well meaning people with good ideas and ways of seeing. However...

In Hosea 2 it talks of God’s relationship to His people at the time. His people had been running after different ideas and options, which very often indicated their insecurity. They pursued alternative ways of achieving the things that God had suggested . This was boldly described as similar to the relationship of a man to his wife. She was being unfaithful. This study goes on to talk of how God’s people would be stopped from doing this by being brought to a place where she had no alternatives... She was to be STRIPPED and EXPOSED. Graphic language here but describing our condition in this world. In Genesis 3 the first people sinned and the consequence was that they hid and felt naked. So, in this way we feel exposed at the root of our being.

This is a tough place to be. But in the end it draws us back to a safe place. The secure place of being set on the rock that is the Lord. When storms occur in life we need a rock.

So it is really a case of coming to the end of our plans and options, in as much a they limit the Lord.  Anxiety and fear can result from a continual need to control.

God WANTS US TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE... He wants us to be delighted and excited. He wants to surprise us.

But it means working with His specification. Submitting to His ways. 1Peter 5, talks of young mens pride. We are young in the ways of the Lord. HIS HAND IS MIGHTY AND WEIGHTY. We get into the position of embarking on adventure by working with His suggestions... in the meantime.

The ideal then is to say like Peter... WE HAVE FISHED ALL MIGHT BUT AT YOUE WORD WE WILL GO AGAIN... We will try again not knowing the outcome, because we trust you and know that you have good things for us. You have plans. You have HOPE.

So we just turn up and invite the Holy Spirit... What does God want to do. Who does He want to speak to. Who has been crying out and THE LORD HEARS THE CRIES. How does he want to do things.  What are His parameters. What is His order.

But surely we must have some STRUCTURE... what does that really mean. But surely we must work with some king of plan... Over the years god has trained us and given us specific things to work with in our characters. We can overcome negativity and develop Hope as well as respect and Honour each other. We know not to point the finger.

God has heard our cries. He knows our needs. He knows where we hurt. He made us so surely He knows how to put us back together. He is loving and kind and gentle. He knows what needs to be done... HE IS WITH YOU, MIGHTY WARRIOR... GO IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT.

Daniel Chuter

Uploading Our Minds By 2045

UPDATES to the Remote Control article:

"We'll be uploading our entire MINDS to computers by 2045 and our bodies will be replaced by machines within 90 years", Google expert claims.

Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google, believes we will be able to upload our entire brains to computers within the next 32 years - an event known as singularity.
Our 'fragile' human body parts will be replaced by machines by the turn of the century, and if these predictions comes true, it could make humans immortal...  ...humans?

So... they'll be racist, violent, rebellious computers? Passive/Aggressive iPads and Smart phones taking "selfies" of themselves? - scary days.

You can imagine reminiscing to virtual grandkids "Call me Old Fashioned, but I remember when we had to experience life in all it's fullness, feel the wind and sun on our faces... have a cuddle, go for a swim in the sea... them were the good old days... aw, look at your little avatars, you don't know what I'm talking about. You 'versions' today, you don't know when you were born!" (Literally)

The greediest, most selfishly ambitious get the best seats in this new world... those that can afford the biggest hard drives and network... they would rule such a world, but in nanoseconds - nothing changes in that respect. So what's the point?

It's Satan's old scam from eden, "ye shall be as gods"!

"Ohhh gotta get the new upgrade... gotta get the new upgrade!"

Think for a minute... while you still can!

David Robinson

His Hand Is Upon Us

At a time when it seems that breakthroughs are occurring and things are changing quickly it is very important to stay HUMBLE.


For Moses God revealed His glory.  He said that He would COVER THEE WITH MY HAND (Exodus 33:21).  There was something about this time that required God grace and revelation that we can never fully withstand.

In 1 Peter 5:6 we are encouraged to HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF THE LORD.  This statement is in the context of addressing the pride of young men.  As we grow it is important that we appreciate that we don’t have the full picture of what is going on and must go through stages of development, which can be quite inward looking at times.  This scripture goes on to talk about needing to express ALL our anxieties to the Lord.  HE CARES FOR US.  Although in a difficult time it seems hard to believe that God loves us... The image of the teenager who is convinced that everyone hates him, comes to mind... LETS GET HEALED.
In Psalm 32 it talks of David in a time of distress but it makes a similar point.  This context is of needing forgiveness.  We all need forgiveness.He states that his situation seemed to hinge on his need for the Lord to forgive.He says... WHEN I KEPT SILENT... my bones ached... things were worse for him.  We must know when to speak and when not to.  What we speak is becoming so important.   But David was talking about expressing all his deep and hidden fears and sins to the only one who can heal.  God knows our real fears and motivation.  It is time to tell Him EVERYTHING... AND BE HEALED.

We betray our true feelings when we are under pressure... the enemy wants us under pressure... but staying offended and broken... Go wants to heal ALL our pain so that the enemy has no point of access.

Submitt to Him.  If it seems unfair He will help us.  But be sure of this... HE CARES FOR YOU despite how you might believe otherwise, certainly the enemy will reinforce this.  The enemy LIES... WE HAVE BEEN LIED TO BECAUSE HE CARES FOR US... but remember that statement is in the context of needing to HUMBLE OURSELVES.

He came to brings us LIFE.  Even if your life seems to be awful... HE IS WITH YOU AND... HE CARES FOR YOU... the enemy wants us to be bitter... SUBMIT TO GOD RESISTING THE DEVIL... WHO ROAMS ROUND LOOKING FOR THOSE THAT HE MAY DEVOUR.

THE HOPE IS THAT HE FORGIVES ALL OUR SINS.

Daniel Chuter

The Only Way Forward...

THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IS TO STOP STRUGGLING AND LET THE FLOW CARRY YOU.

We are living in days of great revelation. God has indeed chosen the foolish things to confound the proud. The despised things are beautiful in His eyes. He will have the LAST LAUGH.

The flow of God’s spirit causes eyes to be open. It causes healing to occur. It causes wisdom and direction. It EXPOSES.

Sometimes the reality of God’s Spirit working amongst us is uncomfortable. It cleanses and puts right things that are wrong and unhealed. Sometimes it is all we can do to deal with everything. The irony is that many of us cry out for God to move. When He does start doing so we are very insecure. We want to be able to CONTROL what God is doing and to dictate the pace at which He does it.

Things ‘just happen’ under God’s anointing. Yet we want to analyse.

We don’t know as much as we think. We would like to tell God how He must turn up and what He must do. We look for certain criteria as evidence. We must HUMBLE OURSELVES AND KEEP QUIET WITH OUR OPINIONS.

God’s Spirit flowing has been likened to a river. God seems to like to do things in a fairly orderly and fluid way. It is like being in the flow of a river sometimes. In Ezekiel, it talks of a river flowing from the temple, which increased in volume and depth. At the outset God’s flow is gentle and manageable. As God begins to move the flow seems to increase.

Have you ever had that feeling of being out of you depth or even the discomfort of having your feet swept from beneath you. Sometimes the move of God’s Spirit is hard to define. Maybe it is for the benefit of other people. I hear you say that God is concerned about the things that concern us... that’s true... but perhaps THE EMPHASIS IS STARTING TO CHANGE. Perhaps we need the full force of flowing water to BREAK THROUGH the strongholds in cities and regions not just individuals.

So we can feel as though we are drowning.

Over the years we have been blessed to receive instructs that help us navigate through some difficult areas.  We have received instruction that didn’t seem to make sense, but it may need be important.  In terms of this analogy... we have had SWIMMING LESSONS over the years... YET IT SEEMED THAT THE LAND WAS DRY...well now you know why... because we must swim now. The river of God’s Spirit must smash through stronghold on a much larger scale.

So if we didn’t have the lessons when they were offered to us we are gonna find it tough going. BUT there is always HOPE but the hope comes through REPENTANCE. God cares for us deeply and wants to help us. When we cry out He is there for us. He has a place for us. He wants the best for us... but HE RESISTS THE PROUD AND GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. We are all out of our depth compared to God. But He has made a way for us. He has made an invitation to a feast. Are we going to make excuses.

Daniel Chuter

What Are You Anointed For...The Next Lap Of The Race.

When Paul was ministering in Corinth he faced much opposition.  In Acts 18:6 Paul declared...‘from now on I will go to the gentiles’.  This is because Paul was anointed as an Apostle to the gentiles.  It wasn’t an excuse because of his frustration.  But at this point GOD WAS FLINGING THE DOORS WIDE OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN.

At this point the gospel entered TURKEY. This was a place of importance to us all as the early churches addressed in the book of Revelations were here. We need to pay attention here!

Paul came to Ephesus and we have a very relevant story and lesson for us all.  In Acts 19:13-17 we read that itinerant Jewish exorcists saw an opportunity.  However they were clearly not able to deal with this.  There is a very interesting point to be gleaned here.

WORK WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AT THIS TIME.

Only the blood of Jesus is able to deliver.  We have nothing apart from His grace and mercy.  Cry out for His mercy.  Allow anything in your life at the moment to break you that the life of Jesus can flow out.

THE ENEMY DELIGHTS TO MAKE US BITTER at this time... COME IN THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT

Look for ease and LIGHTNESS in the things of God.  He that calls you wants to give you an adventure.  Yet we have an enemy whose nature is to destroy.  STAND FIRM at this time.

Ask God about your life....what is it meant to be like... what does He intend.  You can guarantee that the answer will be LIFE TO THE FULL.

Daniel Chuter

What are you LED BY?

We are all motivated and guided through life by something. People want to believe that they are being different and unique but at the end of the day we are all subject to our human nature. Our human nature can tend to be SELFISH. This is why we need a Saviour. To SAVE US FROM OURSELVES.

In the years after the WW2, to look at our study on art and creativity and society this century, many were still influenced by a desire to study the nature of the individual and his expression of particular emotions. “Automatism’ was a style that influenced many painters, particularly Jackson Pollock. This was to let go of the will and be led, often by wrong influences, to produce random form and pattern.  This is significant in our study of the context of society at the time. To use this as an example it brings to mind a larger subject of interest.

To discover what people are led by one can look at the fruit it produces. In art of this time it led to problems within the lives of these painters and society. Problems such as a general despair and fear.

The fruit of the flesh is listed in Galatians. It might be useful to look at the FRUIT that your life is displaying at the moment. Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted to prove that He wanted nothing but His Fathers will.

THE NATURE OF THE SPIRIT IS SELFLESS... THE FLESH IS SELFISH. We have been conditioned to believe that if we look deeply inward we will discover answers to our condition... the only ANSWER IS, A NEW HEART.

Now is not the time to got caught up in looking inward. The healing that we need is in being SELFLESS. Being selfless is only possible through the Spirit of God.

TEST THE SPIRITS AT THE MOMENT; but most importantly LOOK AT THE FRUIT.

Beware Of Self

Sometimes we are in a place where it is just too hard to get ourselves ’up and out’. This is understandable in view of some of the awful things that some folks go through. Sometimes we are just left in a state of shock at some of the things that happen. It just isn’t fair. It’s ok to voice this to God... He understands.
Surely if God is saying that He is with us then why do some things happen. It just doesn’t seem right.  Why do good things happen to people who don’t deserve it but bad things continue to happen to good people. We must have done something wrong. Are there curses working against us. Are there things that make us unacceptable. Sometimes, very often, there is NO REASON. But maybe if we dug a bit deeper...

DON’T DIG WHERE THERE IS NOTHING TO FIND. The enemy will keep you busy all day and too confused and tired to go forward.

It is sometimes helpful to look inward and indeed we are encouraged to. But TURNING is good when we admit to a problem.

When God spoke to Elijah it was deep in the darkness of His cave. He spoke to Him and said... WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE... Do you think that was because god didn’t know where he was.  Surely it’s the same as what happened to Adam and Eve. THEY HID because they had done what God had said not to do. What has God said to do that you still need to do.

IF GOD IS SAYING GO FORWARD IT’S FOR A REASON.

Let Us Move On

It is interesting studying the relationship of art and society over history because there are things that we can apply in our approach to today. After ww2 society was quite inward looking.  Painting was still dominated by the work of the EXPRESSIONISTS such as Kandinsky, Van Gogh and Edvard Munch.  These focused on the study of the individuals emotion and freedom to express. This is fine but it not only became self indulgent but was rooted and many ideas which were not God's values. Here is an interesting point that while we are in a state of inner pain if we are not seeking healing from the right place then we are open to lots of wrong approaches. I think this is true of today. We, as christians, sometimes need to face the REAL ROOTS of why we are not really healed and focus more on our need for a God of comfort and SELF.

The bible talks, in Hebrews, of having become DULL OF HEARING. We must be careful not to become cynical. Sometimes we wander from meeting to meeting in search of healing and inwardly become HARDENED. We might think that we have heard the same thing over and over and there is no more. This is a terrible lie. We must MOVE ON.

In the days of Jeremiah the people claimed to be ok and were oblivious to their real state. God seemed to be saying... they were not healed. Society under the modernists was outwardly proud of new technology and science but there was an inner despair. Two world wars and a bigger threat in the COLD WAR, had proved that there was NO PEACE.

IF GOD IS SAYING MOVE ON THERE IS A REASON AND IT IS FOR OUR OWN GOOD AND SAFETY.

Daniel Chuter

How Can You Know What Spring Is Like?

"IT’S ALWAYS BEEN WINTER, SO HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHAT SPRING IS LIKE?"
(don’t let bitterness defile you or anyone around you)

How can a slave know and enjoy freedom. We have always been slaves to fear.  It takes maturity and responsibility and humility to enjoy liberty.

"…I uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not"
Job 42:3

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."  Isaiah 64:4

"…But God hath REVEALED THEM TO US BY HIS SPIRIT…" 2 corinthians 2:10

If we were honest we would look around us and admit that we are in times that are often devoid of God’s values.  We need to be honest with God. Is this all there is... you say... no.

We know a lot in theory been it has never really been tested, and even when it is we soon find out where we are really at.

Many of us have been hardened through adversity, however, we must be careful not to ‘camp here’.

It is wise to ask God what season you are in and look at the real roots and patterns around you. But there is a choice. What is your real motivation. We all like to please people, but you can’t. In fact your’e probably going to upset someone.

We need HEALING. But first we must admit that there is NOTHING that we can do to change and improve your life. Do we merely move furniture around the room in the place of our hearts or are we going to allow the God who came to CHANGE HEARTS, to change.

Daniel Chuter

Bitterness Defiles Many (Part 3)

It is time to take responsibility. This is the one thing that Adam and Eve failed to do and the thing that we least feel. King David took responsibility, eventually, when he sinned with Bathsheba - BECAUSE OF THIS HE WAS FORGIVEN. This is recorded in psalm 51. David recognised that his sin first and foremost, was against God Himself.

We have been defiled. Many of us have been abused and hurt by those that we love. Many of us are broken by grief and pain... I am so glad that we have a friend and Saviour, that is fully able to help and HEAL. Right now He sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding and pleading our case. He was despised and rejected from the word go.

Many of us have lived in very abusive environments and been continually effected by someone else’s behaviour. Especially when this person is a loved one. They are bitter and hurt and react through this, effecting and influencing everyone around them.

The heart of God must break for the pain in this world.

However we, in turn, continue to effect everyone around us. This can be in a good way, but also not so good. Jesus talked of the need to forgive FROM THE HEART.

We are not responsible for the actions of others but we can change how we react. It is time to look at those areas in our lives that could change, if we wanted. Let’s be honest with God... He knows anyway. Perhaps we have learned to live with certain things and even see them as the norm. Perhaps we base what we believe and don’t even question some of our judgements.

God is waiting... He can do above and beyond what we ask or imagine. It is time to look again.  Perhaps you don’t have the whole picture. Maybe it is different to that which you are convinced of. It is time to let God show us how HE SEES IT.

Paul COUNTED IT ALL LOSS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST... AND TO BE FOUND IN HIM (Phillipians 3)

Daniel Chuter

Dawn

When we find ourselves in the midst of a trial, that never seems to lift God’s grace is indeed sufficient.  Paul talked about joy to the Phillipian church when he was in prison in Rome.
We, in the West, find it hard to understand the sufferings and state of some christians lives in difficult situations. The bible is full of examples of this. Yet there is an annointing from The Lord that IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION.

Thanksgiving and Praise is a very powerful weapon in the process of renewing our attitude in a situation. It takes true faith to see in a negative situation in a positive way.

In Song of songs 2:17 it declares...‘until the day BREAKS and the shadows flee’. Only God can cause the day to break. When it’s night it seems unbearable at times, but we also have a problem here. People can base their theology and perception of God on this. THIS IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO STOP HERE.

We need Him to smile upon us...

This is merely preparation.  FIGHT THE LIES... IF HE IS SAYING GO FORWARD, IT IS FOR A REASON - DON’T STOP AND DEBATE IT.

Daniel Chuter

Ease

When we find ourselves in the midst of a trial or difficult ‘valley’, things can get intense and HEAVY.  This is not to say that there is something to be said for diligently seeking God in prayer and fasting. There are many times in the life of the psalms that emotion is expressed, frustration and confusion.
WE NEED THE VOICE OF GOD TO BREAK IN.

Like the sun breaking through the clouds or like the fresh air on a hot day.

Jesus declared that His yoke was easy and His burden was light. (Mathew 11:29)

We must push in until that breakthrough comes. When people say what is it like... well, it is when a lightness and an ease comes. We will eventually learn to live in this REST. That is our hope. We are FOUND IN HIM AND KNOWN AS HIS and this has got nothing to do with what you can or can’t do or nothing you have achieved. It is His RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Eventually God brings stability and we must press in, but whatever we get up to it doesn’t change the fact that Jesus says the same thing to everyone, everywhere... COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE BURDENED AND HEAVILY LAIDEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

Daniel Chuter

Bitterness defiles many (part two)

It is important that we police our own emotions. Whilst we are blaming everyone else and refusing to let go and let God heal us we are actually in more danger of letting the enemy in to our lives. We each have a door before us. A choice. One door leads to LIFE. The other to death and destruction.

We effect others, by our attitude, when we refuse to let go of things that make us angry and hurt. This seems strange because we are the ones who feel hard done to.

When Israel reached the red sea, which was shut before them, the enemy was pursuing them.  If they had stayed where they were, Pharaoh would have caught up and destroyed them. In this day and age God gives us instructions which may seem strange but ARE FOR A REASON... SO WE CAN STAY AHEAD OF THE ENEMY.

Moses reached out in faith and the waters parted. God wants to open a way for us. A WAY OF ESCAPE.
Jesus declared... I AM THE DOOR. In the old testament book of Hosea it talks, in the second chapter, of A DOOR OF HOPE. But this door opens FROM WITHIN the wilderness. Expect God to open a door of hope from within the place of difficulty.

Jesus declared to the church at Laodicea, in Revelation 3, that… "I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK". Do you hear Him knocking? Answer before it’s too late.

There is Hope....even now!!!

Bitterness defiles many

Sometimes we cry out to the Lord in situations that are of our own making. We are trapped in prisons that are self inflicted.  We blame others.

When we are babies we cry out and are comforted immediately because we are helpless. But when we grow we must move forward with more determination. Jesus comes to us but beckons us forward, and often everything in us groans and aches.

If God is saying go forward there is a reason. Often it is because He knows that there is danger if we stay where we are.

We need healing and we have a choice. Sometimes we allow that pain to get the better of us. In that distress we can effect others in a negative way.

We all have a choice, but sometimes it is impossible to see it. God has made available ALL that we need to GO FORWARD. THERE IS A REASON THAT HE IS SAYING THIS.

Often God waits for us to stop blaming everyone else and to take responsibility for our own hurt.  Sometimes when we are younger we are deeply hurt and affected by the negative choices of other people, often our parents.  However our choice and response can in turn IMPRISON US. We are then the only ones that can UNDO VOWS that were made in anger and pain. The enemy is a legal expert and knows that he can block or way. We may put a wall around ourselves to protect but he will make it a prison.

Let’s get to the roots and get free. Nothing can stop His LOVE TOWARD US if we ask Him.

Daniel Chuter

The Ultimate Creator

The Ultimate Creator, the God of social justice.

When it comes to being creative we have a God who leaves everyone standing in awe. He is the advanced guard. He is the forerunner.
He looks at society from His Holy Temple and steps INTO IT when people cry out to Him for help.

With relevance He invades and Heals. His Spirit Creates when we give the chaos of our lives to Him.  As when He created in the beginning. No darkness is too great, in fact He comes into the storm.  He steps in when things seem impossible.

But His signature is unique. He takes our hearts desires and CREATES. He asks what we have that He can use. He uses it to fulfil us and those that we love.

He is AVANT GAURD when everyone else is trying to conform. He stands against the flow. He knows when to intervene and when to be so gentle.

He knows what is about to happen and what has already happened and what will happen in the future.  He anticipates us. He does above and beyond.

NO EAR HAS HEARD NOR EYE HAS SEEN NOR THE HEART OF MAN HAS NOT CONCEIVED what He has prepared for those that love Him.

Nice as a Photoshopped image is, it is not even close

to what awaits those, who have trusted in Him

Daniel Chuter

Influence

Should our creativity reflect or be in influenced by society. Surely as prophetic people we should be relevant to what is happening around us. It is for every generation to find out which way the wind of God’s Sprit is blowing and how fast His heart is beating and move with that pace.
However we are called to stand against the flow. Against the mainstream. But surely the Spirit of God is in tune with the needs of society. Of course but it meets that need in a way that defies our understanding. The greatest need of man is to be reconciled to the one who made Him so knows exactly how to repair him. And further more Knows exactly how to speak and appeal to him.  This might be where creativity comes in.

How can we reach a generation that is so lost. What language do they respond to. There is nothing more powerful than a meaningful expression of creativity.

But what is our motivation. Creativity can be a very self indulgent thing. People through history are often influenced by anger and rebellion in their desire to be different. There is none of this in the Spirit of God just LOVE. LOVE FOR OTHERS AND LOVE FOR GOD.

We are born with a strong sense of social justice, but it must be tempered. We need to have the right foundations.

We can look back at many periods of history and see what social reformers have done. One example is at the turn of the last century where we can see that individuals pioneered new ideas and expressions which continue to influence society.

So should we, as a church, be producing creative expressions that are relevant to what needs there are around us. Creative expressions can be a very powerful way of speaking to someone in a deeper way.  We don’t always recognise that what is weird to one person might be just what someone else needs to hear and see.

Daniel Chuter

New Wine. (cracks appear)

Jesus said that cracks would appear and the old wine skin would be ruined, if we tried to pour new wine into it.

Often God seems to choose the most rejected and broken people. He choses what the world rejects to make a point, that the world in its pride and what it considers wisdom, is foolishness compared to God.

As the New Wine of God’s Spirit is poured out, CRACKS APPEAR. These must be addressed and healed otherwise they can lead to problems in the future. These areas are often to do with long standing rejection, they are often to do with PRIDE as we seek to WHITEWASH THE ISSUES.

One of the expressions of God’s New Wine is creatively communicated. Through art and music and written work we can begin to understand some of the facets of God’s character that we are not necessarily familiar with. “Avant garde’ and unusual ideas.

But as a matter of caution we must look at the problems in each of us that this reveals. For example our own insecurity and desire for control can make change difficult to handle.

As an example new and different expressions have often been seen in creative history but are often motivated by anger and rebelleous pride which in turn result in further problems.

Like a volcano there are deep cracks and fissures beneath the surface which, when pressure builds up, leads eventually to disruption and destruction.  The bible says that... bitterness defiles many. We must overcome these problems. Be healed of them.

As God pours out His new Wine among us, let us look at the problems that it reveals, perhaps they are long unhealed areas.

Social justice

For someone with a strong sense of what is wrong and right within society, as they see it, it seems clear what changes need to be made. This is a strong quality of the emerging prophetic person. However the need for deep healing, cannot be emphasised enough.

In the time of the Judges, in biblical history, it was said that...‘everyone did what was right in their own eyes...  i.e. REALITIVISM. This can be a problem.

We are living in times where there are an increasing number of people ‘on the edge of society’. We must cater for so many needs, can there be a way of catering for all this?  We must be motivated to be aware of all these needs!

People have an in built sense of justice and judgement, but can we trust our own hearts? Are we qualified to judge?

It is not the aim of this study to offer a solution, merely to suggest that we must look beyond our own sense of justice. Jesus was motivated by a genuine desire to help and include all.

It is good to have a sense of social justice but it can be filtered through a lot of pain and unresolved issues. At the turn of the last century this birthed huge changes. Avant garde developments in society were actually initiated by this sense, but by people motivated by their own view of society.

Pioneering change puts us in a position of responsibility, because many others are influenced. I am so glad that Jesus showed the best way. One man pioneered and it affected everyone, in a good way.

Jesus fore-ran social justice. I am glad He made a way. He deserves ALL our worship and Praise.

Daniel Chuter

Updated to Remote Control Article

UPDATES to the Remote Control article:

BBC news have just published this article HERE

Someone else just launched this WEBSITE... interesting a?

Plus this found this ARTICLE 

Legal Issues in the U.S. described HERE - which uninformed country will be the Guinea pig then?

What went wrong?

Creative people can tend to be very sensitive. They were made to be that way. But this gift must be harnessed. It comes from God and we must be healed.

Continuing the study on the ‘avant garde’ and modernist tradition of the recent century we shall look at a very interesting pattern. Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian had a christian tradition and background. Indeed Van Gogh’s father was a leader of a local church and Kandinsky grew up with all the tradition bible story teachings.

Vincent van Gogh, in fact, trained and studied as a preacher in Belgium for a while. He was a great pioneer and from an early age wanted to honour God with His work. But he didn’t get on with his dad.  Deep healing was needed. We know later that this man was tormented and in the end took his own life.

Kandinsky wrote much about the spiritual theory and meaning of art.  He listened to piano playing whilst painting and spoke much of his findings and expressed a new form of abstraction which has a huge influence. Yet he and Mondrian began to portray how they felt through form and colour.  Mondrian was best known for his Purist approach to his work where he removed emotion and expressed spiritual purity through a n absence of clutter, something which we do “outwardly’.  However both these painters arrived at a time when Europe was about to explode in the form of war and rebellion. They both subscribed to an occult based belief system. Called Theosophy, it was a new age thinking about a new order coming out of the chaos around them. The fruit of this was the destruction about to occur all over Europe but the influence and indeed seeds of this work continues.  This needs rooting out.

God needs to be central in our thinking and motivation. We need to get the deep roots and pain healed.  We can influence so many and defile so much at the same time. It is like a volcano to which immense pressure is applied beneath the surface. It can explode and effect many. Or it can effect many in a good way, but only when God is allowed to be in charge.

Daniel Chuter

Creativity, reflecting & influencing society

I talked recently of the ‘avant garde’, a term that conjures up things that go against the expected norm... things pioneered... things that we are not used to seeing... NEW THINGS. However in terms of the discipline of painting and music particularly, we must be very careful about the original roots and birth of these. We need to have new expressions of creativity birthed by the Spirit of God. These will be of lasting value and ultimately they even change the atmosphere and pattern of society.

Let me give you an example, in the negative:
New avant garde ideas were being produced at the turn of the last century. Society was very disillusioned and the seeds of war existed. This in turn was reflected in creative terms. Philosophy at the turn of the century, about 1910, declared... ‘God was dead’(Nietzsche). German expressionist art tried to vent emotion whilst new developments in technology were de humanising society. Out of all this ‘Dada’ was born as a rebellious art movement, and in turn ‘surrealism’. All this of course was rooted in the thoughts that God had turned away or in fact that He didn’t even exist. These brief movements led to massive changes in the way in which we now see creative expression. We know what came later, maybe not directly as a result of art but this had a huge influence and effected the perception of many.  Creativity should be an indicator, RELEVANT to what is really going on.

God is raising up many different ways of expressing Himself.  But it must be rooted in His peace and order and pure motivation.

We are products of our society but only God can change what needs to be changed.  God’s creativity must be harnessed. When unchecked you get true innovative people but in rebellion.

What is happening in our society that must be reflected in creative expressions. But we must go further and reflect God’s values so that God is once more declared as ALIVE.  The Spirit of God comes to every generation and we all have a part.

So lets look at the roots. Lets come up higher and see what must happen.

Daniel Chuter

Remote Control: Rise of the “armchair generals”.

It seems there is currently, an arms race to produce improved, even Independent, ‘drone’ warplanes; rail-guns; depleted uranium ordinance; sonic cannons, brainwave interpretation research, There’s the development of (rather creepy) all-terrain, robot “mules” for logistics, Infantry Heavy Duty Exoskeletons (think the movie Avatar); and then, down the road, cognitive, but unemotional robot troop units? (It’s the unemotional bit, that is a real concern)


All this to say - sci-fi is here, now!

The most visible manifestation of all this arms-development, is in the area of ariel drones, either equipped with weapons or surveillance cameras. If news reports are to be believed, missile strikes by air-drones are used extensively in the “middle east” today. However, it's easy to forget, with the remote drone strikes, that there are human beings (or were) at the end of it. The point of writing part of this article, was to draw attention specifically to an aspect of this “REMOTE” warfare, where the controls and execution (literally) are in the hands of a service personnel, sometimes many miles away from the “killing-zone”. It’s the potential for a culture of "sociopathic warfare" to develop in a person, that this particular way of conducting military tasks could bring; especially when they leave service. i.e. regarding natural feelings of guilt or more worrying, having No guilt or empathy at all.

The second area for concern, is where all this new technology can affect a “national” CULTURE. Here, in the safety of our bedrooms, we can play 'Call of Duty' or 'Assassin’s Creed' on our Xbox, without the responsibility of people, in reality, dying. This whole TV/movie violence thing, is a bigger issue in itself, of course.

More so, because of the coverage in the media. The gulf war in the early 1990’s, brought to the news coverage, via the nose-cam footage of smart-bombs and cruise missiles etc for the first time; and brought an illusion that this was a clinical, precise tool of war. Only the bad guys, copped it! Compared to cluster or carpet bombing, yes, that’s probably true (relatively) Initially the “Shock and Awe” of these new weapons, brought pride and confidence in our allied forces. These weapons did the job!!! However, a consensus arose that it felt like we were watching a realtime “video-game”. There then dawned a sense of, oh “someone” just got incinerated.

Prince Harry stated in a recent television documentary, whilst on tour in Afghanistan, the midi-cannon he operated, mounted on the apache attack helicopter, had a control system reminiscent of his Xbox 360 hand held controller.

In nazis Germany, the Jews were reduced to “sub-human” in the eyes on that nation. The propaganda machine, made sure that public were groomed to accept this attitude. The result was a (general) lack of empathy towards the mistreatment and then murder of the Jews in Europe. Of course not everybody in Germany, was so convinced. e.g. Bonhoeffer etc... it is a concern for human life and righteousness he had, that we need to champion!

When a group, be it identified as a “racial group” or  even socially, are marginalised and viewed as somehow “sub-human”, it puts in place a deluded precedent, for justifying all sorts of ill treatment and evil.

This is the crux of the matter with remote "tech"... that people are thought of only as a target-reticule on a computer screen, and not someone’s son or daughter... with a name. The caveat to this of course, is that in war, tactical decisions have to be made. I know, they would not be made lightly and that I certainly, would not like to be the one to make them! But my hope is, that care is taken, in this technology, that it does not become an "emotionally remote" thing. When someone pushes a button somewhere and a missile is launched, it's going to take a life... take away all somebody has! I guess my heart in all this, is for the populations that governments are elected to serve. The innocent. They say, in war the first casualty IS innocence.

Rapid advances in technology, in a civilian context, are a concern also!!!
Why? Well, we can delete a "Friend" from our Facebook, with the click of a mouse. Virtual relationships. You upset me there - goodbye, click. It is so easy to play god on the internet. Some young people have committed suicide after becoming the victim of cyber-bullying. But to the bully, it was an offhand swipe of the heart and a click of the mouse. Jesus said when you "hate" someone, you've murdered them in your heart. That's an everyday thing we all have to guard against, but technology makes "dismissing people", slander, gossip and "detached sniping" much easier. When we send that text or post a comment on (Two)Facebook, is that click of the mouse button like a pilot sending a missile on it's way? There's somebody's daughter or son on the other end of that... please be careful and let God's love bring wisdom and His Spirit develop the fruit of "self-control".

Also, market forces pushing these advances, via the sale of the latest gadgets, could see a race into what is essentially trans-humanism.
An example of this change in culture is with the smartphone advances in the last few years... every five minutes a new feature is integrated (driven by the need to make money); and it is bought by the public (driven by the urge to have the latest advantage now!)

In a few years, will the advantage in life, (for those that can afford it), be to those that get themselves “upgraded”. The whole issue of trans-humanism is a potential article in itself. Nano “creatures” and cyber implants, silicon tattoos, GM virus/vectors in our blood, designed to repair us from within. Will such “trans-humans” think of the rest of us as lesser? The same temptation is there in the area of consulting dark occult forces too of course.

The heart of this article is about, how we as Men and Women, God’s creation! could loose ourselves and our compassion for others. Without receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour, individuals are lost anyway. However, some of the technology used for our "defence" and some we may selfishly and ambitiously  “integrate” physically or genetically, could result in the mutilation of our bodies and conscience before The Lord God, Creator of all.

Remember Eden... do not be be overly impressed with this availability and acceleration in knowledge. Aw, that won’t happen to me? No? Got the latest SmartPhone, yet? Do you feel disadvantaged, if you haven't? What if in a few years they can feed the screen directly into your mind? What if those with upgrades get the job, you want. What if... you need a mark on your right hand or forehead to do any trading. What if? what if? The nations are being groomed into a culture of coveting right now. The motive is selfish advantage. The next “must have” is just around the corner!

I’m not against technology, by the way, but let us NOT loose ourselves or sight of others (also fearfully and wonderfully made), because of it. Please pray for your government and regarding the motives for producing technology.

Pray for your news media. Let us not loose ourselves as a nation, by becoming sociopathic* to the suffering of others, because we think “they deserve it”.
*If we do... what exactly is it, we are fighting to defend anyway?

UPDATE 27/3/2013 :

BBC news have just published this article HERE

Someone else just launched this WEBSITE... interesting a?

Plus this found this ARTICLE 

UPDATE 24/4/2013

Hello!!!? OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDY

UPDATE 24/5/2013


UN concern about autonomous "killer robots"... article HERE




David Robinson

Avant Guard

Avant Garde (guard) is a French term used to describe a group of soldiers going ahead of the rest.

Society as we now see it has been hugely influenced by the influence of modern art and creative thinking. In the disciplines of music, poetry, painting, dance and theatre the effect of this can clearly be seen. However, at it’s origin, this new movement was unpopular.

Obviously we must trace the real roots of this thinking, because it has had such a profound effect. You wouldn’t have to go far to realise that much of it was rooted in the anger of society and the rebellion of man. However it has now worked it’s way into every creative expression today.
In time we could do an in-depth study of the origins of the modern movement within many creative disciplines.

What is interesting is to look at the ways in which God births a lasting change in society. It is birthed in the creative heart of God and often the result of a generation asking for change. However the answer that God gives isn’t popular, or even understood. When Jesus came to earth, He wasn’t exactly welcomed as the answer to what people thought they needed.  There is a pattern within the way in which God has worked in the past.  It often involves the complete ABSTRACTION of what we have been led to expect and believe. The early church turned society upside down.

Are we witnessing this change. Modern art has changed everything, but it’s architecture resulted in awful modern flat units. Obviously, in principle, we can’t go too far in pursuing this.

However, something has to CHANGE.



Daniel Chuter

Living In Today

Perhaps the greatest assault on the hearts and minds of men has been on the tendency to fantasise and comfort and live in unreality or non-acceptance. This is an understandable consequence of rejection, but the bible speaks a lot about living each day and hearing His voice each day and indeed walking one day at a time, making the most of every day.

Jesus spoke much about this, in fact He spoke of trusting God and not letting anxiety take over. But in the letter to the Hebrews we see a lot written on this subject. In chapter 3:7, there is a warning not to harden the heart but take every opportunity. He is wanting to speak to us every day. In fact the original intention in making man, is to walk and talk with him. In verse 13 we are encouraged to help each other daily, this is so important when going through a trial.

This does not get away from  the daily pressure the people face through work and finance but it is saying that when things distract from our relationship with God they are a problem. That is why I talk in terms of the assault to make us over-busy.

God is a God of clarity and order. But we often self-comfort or, in fact, hide and distract ourselves. We are deceived that "doing", is responsibility. Responsibility, is admitting our need for God.

Most importantly it is a question of our motivation. Who are we trying to please. Against whom do we compare ourselves. There is nothing we can do to cause God to change the rules. When God sees the sacrifice involved in an anxious person trying to stop his or her fear and be aware of Him, it gets His attention and approval.

The Lord justs wants us to seek Him... ...AT LEAST TRY.

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river, 

And your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

Isaiah 48:18

Daniel Chuter

The Fast Show

Q. “What are you giving up for Lent?”

A. “LENT !”

Q. “Whaaaaaat???? Filthy heretic, wash out your mind by thinking about a wire brush and soap!!!”
(so say’s the local Cardinal)


Sorry if this offends some readers… but accepting unscriptural traditions without question, is a pious form of O.C.D.*

Lent (c/o of the papacy) is supposed to be like the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. This enforced fast, apparently prepares “the church” for Easter.
Firstly, Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days/nights to be tested before His ministry, three and a half years before His crucifixion at Golgotha.
Secondly, He was led into the wilderness by The Holy Spirit!!! - Not a tradition of man.
A Holy Spirit led/inspired fast, is very beneficial - when and with the reasons The Lord would have; but a set fast, called for by a mere temporal power? and the mixing in of the Ishtar festival at the end??? …don’t get me started on that. Lent prepares “the church” for Easter, does it? - grooms the undiscerning, to come under Rome as "head of Christendom", more like.

This article is absolutely NOT against remembrance and thanksgiving for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ made for us, on the cross and of His wonderful resurrection! Before Jesus died ONCE, for ALL, He said/commanded we should remember Him in His death, with the bread and wine… as often as you eat and drink it, till He returns.

We ARE free to celebrate according to our conscience before God. As a ministry we've often been accused of being "religious" about investigating popular traditions and making a stand against aspects of them, if in all conscience (after "searching the scriptures") we cannot be party to them anymore.

I repeat, we ARE free to celebrate according to our conscience. Ironically, the times and dates traditionally set by “mother” Rome (under the guise of "unity" and "apostolic succession") are a subtle cage, curtailing this - if you would just think about it for a second. Do you feel any pressure from the majority to “go along” with Lent? - if so, why? Is it us being religous then, or you? "What will everyone around me say?" - that's your issue maybe? You are free to completely disagree with all this, as well - I just hope you know why you do. Where is it in scripture?

Do you think fasting will be of benefit? Ok, no problem, but do that after inquiring of The Lord, not because history say’s so. Just because something is old… it doesn’t make it right.
I mean... Babylon is old!

*(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)


David Robinson (yeah, him again)

Book review "Powerful and Free" by Danny Silk

A Book review from Moya Boardman, of "Powerful and Free" (confronting the glass ceiling for women in the church) by Danny Silk:

" ..in the same way a kingdom marriage requires a powerful man and a powerful woman, a Kingdom church culture requires powerful men and powerful women partnering in church leadership at every level. Right now we don't have them. Instead we have a male-dominant leadership structure that continues to send the message to the Church that women aren't as valuable, gifted or anointed as men."

The church without equality in leadership is like a single parent family, something is lost, missing, " empowering women releases men ". The traditional Pastor/teacher driven government has a hierarchy with one or a few powerful people at the top, Apostolic government is positioned at the bottom of the pyramid. It supports, equips and empowers every member to be fully who God created and called them to be.The church is not just a body but a family.

"The truth is that male religious leaders have had  - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the later. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world"   Jimmy Carter. Losing my religion for Equality

When I started to write a review on this book I thought I would underline sentences to include in the review. However after a few pages I found I was underlining so much  I wouldn't be able to include it all! I have quoted some in the above paragraphs however I can only say - read it! But read it knowing that you, male or female, have been part of the problem. Read it from a vulnerable and strong place - willing to see where you have been wrong and willing to fight to change.

This book more than any in my life has stirred deep passion and anger. I have been on the receiving end of the church's treatment of women in a way that has caused great suffering and hardship in my life. I have also  been unconsciously compliant with the teaching and therefore allowed it to continue.

From the garden in Eden satan has targeted women, as he has men, to kill, steal and destroy their lives, however the church has been the most complicit in helping him with his plan on women.

"A girl can grow up to be almost anything today - the commander of a NASA space station like Eileen Collins, US Secretary of State like Condoleezza Rice or a Fortune 500# CEO like Anne Mulcaby of Xerox - but not a minister or even a teacher in some of the larger Christian denominations". (#  Fortune 500 ranks the top 500 U.S.  corporations as ranked by their gross revenue.)

Danny Silk shares his journey from childhood traumas, self protecting destructive behaviour in marriage to how God showed both him and Sheri how to step out of self protecting into true Kingdom relationships. Teaching these truths about marriage brought them into contact with many churches. They found that however much they taught in church if the leadership structure was not showing the same value to women then their teaching was limited in its effect. Not only does Danny share these truths in the book but he also backs them with solid scripture and does not hesitate to address those key scriptures which many have use to subjugate women.

Do not think that because we are extremely fortunate to be in a church with a woman apostolic leader that we are free from this problem. We ourselves bring our own ingrained subconscious belief systems with us wherever we are, read the book and see what God puts His finger on for you.

"Spousal abuse is just as common in evangelical churches as it is anywhere else. Approximately 25% of Christian homes experience abuse of some kind. One study asked 6000 pastors what they would do if a woman came to them for counsel about domestic abuse. Here are the shocking results:

26% would counsel the wife to continue to submit to her husband, no matter what.
25% would tell the wife the abuse was her own fault for failing to submit in the first place
50% said that women should be willing to "tolerate some level of violence" because it is better than divorce"

As Danny writes - "Jesus' mother, Mary had to confront deep ingrained cultural systems to follow the calling God gave her. She also needed a partner's help to do this. Joseph defied his culture and proved a faithful courageous man. Together they brought God's answer to the world. Sheri shares how God challenged her that" it was easier to watch power than to walk in it".

I see many women who have been so crushed in early life (or just life in general) that they settle, sometimes subconsciously, in a position of allowing the man to "be the head" and not see themselves as powerful and equal. Wether it is a husband, a boss, a church leader or a pastor, sometimes it is us women who slip into a inferior mindset. I speak to myself when I challenge you women to fully walk in your calling and gifting as powerful people; read this book and take heart.

Men this book may shake you and surprise you, certainly stretch you on some level, fighting this battle needs warriors on both sides, will you take the challenge?

To Lynne Hamilton, the apostolic leader of Forerunners Ministries, thank you for the unseen battles you have faced and won.

Moya Boardman

This book can be purchased HERE at Origin Books (These suppliers, if asked, may give a discount on larger orders) or from your local Christian bookshop.

Adopted

One of the greatest problems for this generation, and indeed one that has effected the entire human race is the division and fracture that sin has caused.

The ORPHAN spirit in these days runs deep in the heart. No sense of identity or purpose. NO HOPE.  A fatherless generation is a huge problem for our identity but the issue runs much deeper.

When sin entered the heart of man it disconected and broke us. It fractured the core of who we are and called to be. A seed was planted that spread decay and disease in the heart.
It initiated RESTLESSNESS and double minded fear was set in motion. Division in the heart established a struggle.  Even the Apostle Paul expressed this in Romans 7. Here he cried out to be delivered.

The SOLUTION was TO BE ADOPTED (Romans 8:15) whereby we cry out for a new Father in a new relationship.  We have been grafted in to the vine.

Only IN CHRIST do we have this stability and security.

SO NOW WE HAVE A HOPE.

To say that we are so broken and had a terrible start in life doesn't have to be the only side of the story.  It may well be true BUT doesn’t have to be the whole story. But it is a choice and to that we say "we have no choice", BUT he bore our GRIEF!

IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON...he gave us,who were poor and weak and insecure, His security and stability and HOPE. But it is a choice. Is our identity and self esteem in being broken. Our hearts have been crushed and our hope deferred but surely He gave us a new heart.

When there is a problem it is always at our end of the bargain ...He did His bit.

Daniel Chuter

Crying

‘If your presence doesn’t go with us, do not bring us up from here’ Exodus 33:15.

This is the cry echoed by so many in the church these days. Because of the continued rebellion and pride of the people in the wilderness God had kept a distance from the camp. Indeed Moses had to go outside the camp to fellowship with God. Exodus 33:7. The tent of meeting was merely a rough prelude to what came later as the tabernacle.

The Tabernacle was the pattern of approaching a holy God, who described Himself as a consuming fire.Exodus 33:3 He made this point again to the Hebrew christians who so wanted to give up... Hebrews 12:28.

We have gone outside the camp in so many ways over time. Special outpourings of God’s love, special locations, but we must remember what has been shown to us as individuals. We have found grace and favour. This is what was said to Moses and is said to us as we learn to trust.  So we have a response to make.

Let us repent where we need to and remember the cost paid to let us enter the presence of God. There is a way...an order...a legal ground. Exodus 33:21 says...‘there is a place by me on a ROCK’

The solid ground on which we stand is nothing but His mercy and kindness. We deserve nothing. He owes us nothing. We like sheep have gone astray... BUT ...the iniquity of us all is laid on Him.


Daniel Chuter