Virgin of Vladimir (+ image by the hand of Stephen Allison 2008)

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Called out of darkness

Notes of meeting 24 August 2010

Picture of a great banquet in a room with many people seated at tables but some seats are empty.
There is a door to the banqueting hall that is closed and outside in the darkness is a man and the people inside are praying that the man may enter. Mary asks Jesus to give the man the extra grace he needs to enter and she opens the door to him and he enters in.

As at the Wedding Feast of Cana Mary intercedes with Jesus for him to satisfy others needs.

1 Peter 2 v 9 - 10
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


Ephesians 5 v 6 - 20
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.


Remember no prayer goes unanswered. Remember that the moment a thing seems wrong to you or a persons actions are not what you think they should be, at that moment begins your obligation and responsibility to pray for that person to be different.
Face your responsibilities what is wrong in your country, its statesmen ,its laws ,its people ? Think out quietly and make these matters your prayer matters. You will see lives you never touch altered. Laws made at your request ,and evil banished.
Yes live in a large sense. Live to serve. You may never go beyond one room and yet you may become one of the most powerful forces for good in the world. You may never see the mighty work you do, but I see it ,evil sees it.
OH it is a glorious life, the life of one who saves. fellow workers together with me. See this more and more. Live with me sharers of my life

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Magnify the Lord

We are united in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit.

Come closer to me in your praise, let go of your burdens as you enter into praise.
Come closer to my love, be open to the love I have for you.

Picture of Our Lady with the child Jesus in her arms - both with one arm outstretched in welcome. They have a welcoming smile and say 'Come'.
They invite many priests to come to them and enter into the golden light that surrounds them, as the priests come forward to the light they bring behind them a great number of people and as these people come forward they also bring a further great number of people. Then there is a lone figure who approaches, he cannot see that he has brought anyone - but - behind him as a result of his prayer and sacrifices and fasting there is a multitude of people coming to the light.

Our prayer and spiritual sacrifices bear fruit that we are not always aware of


Luke 1:46-55 (New International Version)

The Magnificat
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."



Thank you Lord that you call us to be united in you, to be one in the Spirit.
Thank you that as we praise you , you come closer to us. Help us let go of our burdens so that we may more fully praise you.
Thank you for the gift of Mary who you give to us as an example of submission, intercession and co-operation. Let us be submissive to your word and will, help us to intercede for those things you call us to intercede for. Help us to co-operate with you as you lead us forward. Amen

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Leave our burdens at the Cross

Notes of meeting 27 July 2010

Picture of Jesus on the Cross with blood and water flowing from Him over the earth, the people, wheat fields, crops and vineyards.
There is a rich harvest but the labourers are few.
We must leave our burdens at the Cross to make us more effective in our work and gain the Lord's strength.

I John 1 v 1 - 10
The Word of Life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.
Walking in the light
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.


We must build on the foundations we have started and move from milk to solid food. We are called to maturity as Christians.

See the following scriptures:

Isaiah 58 v 12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.


Zechariah 8 v 9
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.


Hebrews 6 v 1
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.


1 Corinthians 3 v 11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus
Christ.


I Corinthians 3 v 2
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.


Hebrews 5 v 14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.