Seeds of the Kingdom

My Helper

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].John 16:7

I saw a video clip, some time ago, of a man called Derek Redmond. He was a brilliant 400m athlete who had been identified as a potential candidate to win the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, but only 100m into his race, Derek tore his hamstring. He was in excruciating pain but tried to hop along to get to the finish line. Out of the stands an elderly man ran, jumped over the fence, and rushed towards him. It was his father. Derek’s father told his son that he had done so well, and that it would be okay to stop running, but Derek had tremendous grit, and was determined to finish his race.

What caught my attention in this story was his father’s response. He put his son’s arm around his neck and became a support for Derek to lean on and to help take the weight off his injured leg. Together Derek and his father kept moving forward. Needless to say, when father and son crossed the finish line, the Olympic stadium exploded with applause for this brave man and his father.

This story reminds me of another person who does exactly that and even more for us when we are ‘limping’ in our lives - the Holy Spirit. In John 16:7, He is described as the Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Standby.

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for the fact that He would soon be crucified, resurrected and then returning to His Father in Heaven, He told them that He would not leave them as orphans, but would send them ‘another Helper’ (John 14:16-18). This meant they would never need to run their earthly race without support. I too am His disciple. This means that, when I need someone to encourage and comfort me, He is the One. When I need someone to speak up for me and to defend me, He is the One. When I need someone to help me to be strong, He is the one. For every situation and season in this life, He is the one.

How often do we battle along with some difficulty in our lives and try to lift our chin and be brave, only to find ourselves feeling completely overwhelmed by the weight of it? We try to cover up our hurts and wounds and wrap our own makeshift ‘bandages’ around them. And yet, all the while we have a Father, who did not leave us as orphans, but sent us a Helper, one who would lovingly catch us when we cannot walk another step. Deuteronomy 33:27 says, ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.’

Although we have a Helper sent by our loving Heavenly Father, we need to choose to trust Him, and to make Him the place we find rest and strength. Isaiah 30:15 tells us that we may need to repent of some of the ways we have tried to do things in our own strength and in our own way, perhaps even disobeying what God warned us about: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”’

We do not need to keep limping along life without support. All we need to do is to recognise our Helper, lean on His Everlasting arms, and choose to trust Him to carry us to the finish line.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for reminding me of the Helper You sent us when You returned to the Father. Holy Spirit, please forgive me for looking for comfort and strength in things that are temporal. Thank You for reminding me of this truth - that You are my Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Standby in every season of my life. I choose to trust You. Amen.
Today's Writer : Christel Baxter Christel Baxter joined the Associate prayer ministry team at Shere House, S.Africa in 2008 after attending the 20 day school. She is married to Gary, who serves with her on the associate team. Their children, Liezl and Wesley, are both married and they adore their son-in-law and daughter-in-law! Christel is passionate about seeing broken lives restored and especially loves ministering God`s love and healing to women of all ages.

Being at Peace When Life Happens

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV

There are moments in life when we become aware of our own heartbeat. Whether it races with fear, seems quiet in grief or irregular with anger, our natural reaction is usually to do whatever we can to bring it back to a steady rhythm. That’s because God placed a deep desire within us to be at peace.

That desire can’t be fulfilled by the world, because its view of peace is absence - the absence of conflict, trouble and fear. Living life in ‘avoidance’ mode and ‘side-stepping’ situations, people or even our emotions is exhausting. In contrast, the biblical view of peace is presence, and it brings fullness, wholeness, completeness and rest.

Jesus’ first response was always to go to His Father in prayer. Jesus knew that complete security and peace is found in God’s presence. The same is true for us. When we face trials and tribulations, prayer protects the position of our hearts. As we share our hearts with the Lord, our focus turns away from the circumstances around us towards Him. It’s here that our hearts become still, and we’re anchored in His steadfast love for us. It’s here that we’re reminded of His faithfulness, goodness and that His covenant of peace with us is everlasting (Isaiah 54:10). How wonderful that, despite the troubles of this world, we can let His peace rule in our hearts and minds!

Prayer: Father God, thank You that when life gets hard, we can talk to You. Help us today to become still in Your presence and to receive Your peace. Amen.

Today's Writer : Minette Koekemoer Minette Koekemoer Minette has a passion to see people restored in their identity in Christ so that they can fulfil their God-given potential. After completing NETS, she served on the ministry team at Pierrepont and is currently on team at Ellel Grange.

Before We Call God Hears Our Prayers

I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe.
Psalm 116:1-2, Living Bible

Reading Psalm 116 the other day, the first two verses really impacted me, because it brought into my mind something I’d seen recently; a father and his little two or three-year-old son.

They’d must have been shopping, because they had a number of parcels and the little lad looked very tired and evidently wanted to be carried. His father had stopped to talk to a friend and was distracted from his son for just a few minutes. However, to attract his father’s attention, the boy, first of all, stamped his little foot, then pulled on his father’s arm, and when that didn’t work, he proceeded to sit down on the ground, refusing to go any further.

After a moment or two, the father looked down at his son, smiled, bent down and said something to him. The little lad at that point raised his arms and his father scooped him up and put him on his shoulders. They walked off happily, laughing and talking to each other.

I have no idea what was said, but the little lad was obviously happy that his father had noticed his distress. He’d listened to him and had solved his problem of tiredness by carrying him on his shoulders. Be assured that our Heavenly Father will do no less and usually does much more!

There’ve been times when I’ve done the same as that little lad with my Heavenly Father. I’ve sat down in a similar frame of mind and said to Him, “This far and no further!” The wonderful thing is that God is not phased by our wrong attitudes, but He comes alongside, picks us up, and whispers His truth and love into our heart. Our relationship with Him is then fully restored, as He carries us on His shoulders through the difficulties which we’re experiencing.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that You know there are times when we’re so tired and feel we can’t go on. We need You to bend down and listen to our cry. We thank You that You’re always more than willing to do that for us, because, through Jesus, You’ve reached down to where we are in order to lift us up. Thank You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today's Writer : Ruth Hawkey Ruth Hawkey has had the privilege of working alongside Ellel Ministries from the very beginning. She and her husband Joe helped to begin the work in both Glyndley Manor and Canada. She has written a number of books including Healing Emotional Wounds, Healing the Human Spirit, Generational Blessing and Generational Sin, and Praying for Children. She and her husband also helped to develop prayer ministry teams in the local church.

Divine Duet

"Not in your own strength, for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire, both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight."
Philippians 2:13, Amp

My eleven year old niece, Christy, has been taking piano lessons for about eight months now, and really seems to have a wonderful, natural talent for music. She’s made great progress over this short period of time. Recently Christy’s piano teacher asked her to play a hymn she taught her at their school’s chapel service. Christy is very shy of public attention but courageously went ahead and ministered her song to the Lord. She’s a beginner piano student and her rendition of the hymn was simple and without frills. But then, somewhere in the middle of her performance, her piano teacher, an accomplished musician, joined her at the piano, and added a beautiful accompaniment to Christy’s simple melody. As student and teacher played this duet of praise together, it was transformed into the most beautiful, anointed music and touched the hearts of those listening, and I’m sure, God’s heart also!

As I listened to my sister telling me of this special moment in Christy’s life, I saw so clearly a picture of Father God, and the way He beautifies our simple efforts of service to Him. We often feel inadequate and unqualified to do things for Him. Our own insecurities and fear of failure cause us to hold back when His Spirit prompts us to step out in faith and to trust Him for the results. What we forget is that, because of the anointing and presence of His Holy Spirit within us, our human efforts are transformed into divine assignments as God joins us for a ‘duet’ that will touch lives and accomplish God’s purposes in and through us. When we lean on Him, and not on our own understanding or our own abilities, He’s glorified, and lives are impacted for His Kingdom! ‘Not in your own strength’, but ‘for His good pleasure, and satisfaction and delight’.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You never leave me to do things in my own strength. Thank You that You always come alongside me and beautify my human efforts with Your divine touch and anointing. I want to trust You more than ever, and step out whenever You call me to do so! Amen.

Today's Writer : Christel Baxter Christel Baxter Christel joined the Associate team at Shere House, S.Africa in 2008 after attending the 20 day school. She is married to Gary, who serves with her on the associate team and they have 2 beautiful children, Liezl & Wesley. She is passionate about seeing broken lives restored and especially loves ministering God`s love and healing to women of all ages.

Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you."
John 14:27, NIV

Recently my son and I had a special day together. He took time off work to come and spend the day fishing with me. We both like coarse fishing (that’s the sort where you catch freshwater fish and then return them to the water, rather than take them away to eat!) and we went to a very unspoilt lake near me, where we could relax, chat together and hopefully catch something.

The day was glorious with hot sun and no wind. The place was beautiful with a lot of interesting wild life around for us to see, including a bright blue and orange kingfisher flying backwards and forwards over the water. At one stage we just sat in the tranquillity and enjoyed the peace. My son remarked several times how peaceful it was, such a blessing. Of course peace was relative, as there were the usual sounds of farm machinery, small aircraft, and bird noises that you get when you’re in the countryside, but especially for him it was significantly peaceful, as he lives and works in and around London.

It made me reflect on Jesus’ words in John 14:27; ‘peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives’. For us the term peace usually means an absence of sound. This can’t really be achieved in normal life, as there’s always something there to break the silence. In fact most people couldn’t cope with no sound at all for very long, as we need sounds to help us survive. Those who’re profoundly deaf struggle with more than just the lack of noise. Many people search for peace as a place of tranquillity, but something always breaks the silence.

The peace that Jesus refers to is a relational peace with God. Our human spirit longs for that sense of peace with God, and when we become believers we rejoice in the relationship restored so we are no longer in the place of inner turmoil. However, the effects of our past experiences and the constant battle from the enemy all around us can damage our sense of peace within. As God brings inner healing into our spirit and soul so our bodies can begin to relax and be at rest.

No matter how tranquil the surroundings, it’s only the inner peace from Jesus that can really bless us deeply and refresh the spirit.

Oh yes, and we did catch some nice fish that day, which was a real bonus.

Prayer: Jesus thank You for giving us Your peace through the restoration of our relationship with the Father, which You achieved for us on the cross. In the midst of a noisy world help us to find the space to be still, to reflect in the tranquillity and to know that inner peace to quieten our hearts. Amen.
Today's Writer : John Berry John Berry John Berry (JB) is Manager of the Modular Schools and part of the Leadership Support Team at Ellel Glyndley Manor. He also leads the Church Liaison Team for Glyndley which includes his wife Jennie, and was in Baptist Ministry for over 30 years before joining Ellel Ministries. His heart is for the equipping of the church for its ministry, and he sees the healing and deliverance ministry of Ellel as an essential part of this. John has travelled widely in the course of his work, and enjoys being a grandfather 7 times over.

Gifts To God That He Delights In

"Moreover because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that He delights in, for as part of God’s sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be His and all things happen just as He decided long ago."
Ephesians 1:11, NLB

The Lord doesn’t want us to pretend any more, either to Him or to others. In His gentleness He wants us to realise the real worth He sets on us. As Jesus said `you are of more value than many sparrows, yet he takes care of them`.

We`re so valuable that we`ve become gifts to God, because of what Christ has done for us on the cross, in making us clean. How incredibly great is His power to help those who trust in Him. He knows and understands our troubles, and so He can change and restore the real `me` deep inside. We can be transparent before Him without fear, as His gentleness and love are so great and His presence that He puts within us is a guarantee that He will give us all that He promises.

And when He becomes that precious gift to us we realise that we`re His precious jewels, and our hearts begin to praise Him. This really delights and blesses Him. It says in Zephaniah 3:17 that it causes Him to sing over us with great rejoicing. This is God`s plan for His children. Although we`re weak, poor, and sinful, and we feel worthless, yet the truth is the Lord has made us strong, rich, clean, confident, beautiful, and genuine people.

`I will change your name,
you shall no longer be called, wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid.
I will change your name,
Your new name shall be confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one, faithfulness, friend of God, one who seeks my face` (D.J.Butler).

Paul`s prayer: `I pray that your hearts be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future He has called you to share. I want you to realise that God has been made rich because we who are Christ`s have been given to Him` (Ephesians 1:18).
Today's Writer : Pam Smith Pam Smith has a background in art and nursing, has a son and two daughters and six grandchildren. She has been a friend and helper of Ellel Ministries since l992, and has been involved with Healing Through Creativity Courses. As writer of the Shepherd Love Series, she has a passion for the comfort and encouragement that leads people towards enjoying abundant Life in Jesus.

Which Way Do I Go, Lord?

"And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left."
Isaiah 30: 21, (Amp)

It has been quite a time of readjustment for me recently. My husband died just over two years ago, after forty two years of marriage, and I know the Lord has a new direction for me. Very shortly after he died, I heard the Lord say in my spirit the words of Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome’, so I have been waiting – and waiting!

I don’t want to give the impression that I am doing nothing, or that I am running around in all directions looking to see what I should be doing. I am learning, again, that the Lord doesn’t work in a hurry and that His time scale isn’t the same as ours. Life would be so simple if He lit up a huge neon sign over the right pathway, but it seldom happens like that. What I have been doing is waiting, trying to be patient, pushing gently at a few doors to see if they will open and then waiting some more. Nobody has come to view the house and friends keep asking if I am worried about that, but I can honestly say that I am not. Why would I want to leave this beautiful house where I have lived for 30 years in idyllic surroundings? I know that when the time comes it will be a huge wrench, but that too is in the Lord’s hands.

Is it easy being in a sort of limbo? No, it isn’t, but I am beginning to sense that things aren’t going to remain like this for much longer and there is a feeling of gradual detachment as the roots are getting ready to be pulled up.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your plans are best and You know the right time to put them into action. Please help me to wait patiently for Your perfect timing and to be ready for the new things You are doing in my life. Thank You that I can wait in trust, knowing that You know what is right for me. Amen.
Today's Writer : Angela Weir Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress before moving to Cumbria, where she taught drama in a girls’ school. She now teaches and ministers at various Ellel Centres.

Today's Seed...The Repair Shop
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus, so after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
1 Peter 5:10, NLT

I enjoy watching a program on TV called ‘the Repair Shop’, where people bring along their treasured, but often battered, items to be repaired and brought back to life by master craftsmen. You see the most dilapidated items being brought in, but, in the craftsman’s hand, they are beautifully restored to their former glory. The process always seems to be one of stripping down, so that the restoration procedure can begin. It is painstaking and skilled work, and I’m sure it takes many hours of hidden work which we don’t see on screen, stripping, repairing, replacing and reassembling, before the hidden and distorted beauty is restored.

It reminds me of what God wants to do in each one of our lives, if we give Him permission. Many of the items brought to the repair shop have been hidden away in attics and drawers for years, and the owners have had to make a conscious decision to bring them to the restorer. Some are rather fearful of what the end result will be, if they are particularly treasured items.

How much more our Heavenly Father, the master craftsman, wants us to come to Him in His repair shop with all our brokenness, our damage, and our shame which we’ve kept hidden away! After years of heartbreak, hurt and pain, our shattered lives may feel broken into so many pieces that we’ve lost all hope of ever being restored.

I have seen many items on the programme arrive in a bag of bits and fragments, and watched how they are lovingly cleaned, glued and restored. When the work is finished you cannot even see where all the damage was, and there’s no trace of the ugly glue marks.
This is such a picture of how our loving Heavenly Father longs to restore us, however battered, crushed or damaged we may feel. Today, why not approach Him and give Him permission to heal any hurt and damaged places in your life and bring you back to the fullness of life that He desires for you? Perhaps you would like to pray the following prayer.

Prayer: I thank You that You are the Master Craftsman, the One who knit me together in my mother’s womb. I release myself into Your loving arms today, for Your work of restoration in my life. Amen.

Today's Writer : Margaret Davies Margaret Davies is married to Trevor whom she met and married in Israel where she worked in various ministries for almost 10 years. They joined Ellel Ministries in Scotland in 2002 where they served for almost 13 years, and have just recently left the full time team at Blairmore House. They are presently living in a small village in North Essex, and Margaret enjoys baking, gardening and walking.

Today's Seed...The God Who Sees You
Driving along the highway, the following words on a huge billboard caught my attention: “We see you. We get you. We got you.” Thinking about this slogan, I realised that it describes what the Lord does for me. He sees me. He gets me. He’s got me! I am known by the One who created me!
Hagar uttered these words in the wilderness after she had run away from her mistress, Sarai, who had treated her so harshly that she couldn’t take it anymore. She was alone and pregnant with no one to turn to. Why would anyone even notice her – a servant? She must have felt completely destitute and heartbroken.
But then we read, in Genesis 16:7, that the angel of the Lord found her beside a spring of water along the road. The Lord saw her. He understood why she was in the wilderness all alone and He filled her with hope. He met her where she was at and in that moment, she knew that she was not alone. She knew that she belonged to the Lord and that He would care for her.
This gave her the courage to return to Sarai and submit to her authority. The Lord had given her a promise: “Then”, He added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count” (Genesis 16:10). Her focus shifted with this realisation, and she was no longer completely caught up in her difficult circumstances. She was no longer only a servant to Sarai. She belonged to the Lord God. Psalm 3:3, in the Amplified version, describes it so beautifully: ‘But You, O Lord, are a shield for me. My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head’.
The Lord sees you too, wherever you may be in this season of your life. He understands you and makes sense of all the confusion going on in your heart, even when it feels as if no one else understands you. He gets you. And He has got you. ‘He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection’ (Psalms 91:4).
The moment we realise that we are not forgotten and completely alone is the moment when hope springs forth in the midst of our situation. It may be the slightest glimmer of hope, but it’s real and it’s from Him. It doesn’t necessarily mean that my circumstances will suddenly change, but I can lift my eyes and look to the Lord who is my Help and my Hope. His promises are my armour and protection against the enemy’s lies. He will direct my steps and show me the way forward. ‘God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:9, AMP).
Prayer
Thank You, Jesus, that You see me. You get me and You have got me. You understand me and where I am at. To realise that I am known by You fills me with hope. Please show me the way forward and teach me how to hold on to Your promises as my armour and protection. Amen.