Last week we learned that God's 'will' is a progressive will, the fulfillment of which is a process rather than an event.

The whole pattern of the prayer, thus far, is one of progression, as reinforced in Corinthians.....

18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

.....or as the King James more literally puts it, from glory to glory.

What refers to us individually applies to the kingdom also, for we know that the kingdom is in us.

Let's now have a look at the two following words, be done.

These two words describe the manner of the link between heaven and earth.

The Greek word translated as 'be done' is ginomai. Its meanings include- to cause to be, to become or come into being, be brought (to pass), be fulfilled. From this word we get the "gen" in the English word generate.

We are literally calling out for the spiritual 'gen'esis of heaven to be established in the natural realm of the earth! This is not a nice thing to say in a prayer, nor is it just wishful thinking. It is an activating prayer that calls this transfer into being, one that causes it to happen! It is a such powerful prayer - even when we don't realize it!

To repeat, as we pray, Your will be done, our declaration reaches out into the spiritual realm and serves as a catalyst for His will to be 'gen'erated, a spiritual 'gen'esis to be established in earth, here in the natural realm. It is much more than just wishful thinking! It is a creative genesis! We are literally calling heaven down to earth!

Can we understand the implications? Earth is not simply a place of preparation for heaven, as is commonly taught! Heaven is indeed to be established upon earth through us! And at our request, through this prayer - even though we have not really understood what we have been praying!

What a change is required in our thinking - and in our living! Earth is not just a temporary place of habitation before we escape to heaven, but rather, is the place where God is progressively establishing His kingdom, through you, and through me!

Sorry about all the explanation marks, but I am excited to be a small part of God's kingdom establishment plan! I hope you are too!

Lord, may your will be done in and through me!

What a responsibility! What a privilege! What a motivation for living a holy and righteous life - now! As Jesus did!

14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. (Acts 3:14)

And, as Jesus did, we are to do so too.......

15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15)

....... as we ready ourselves for the wedding of the Lamb.

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:6-8)

Are we making ourselves ready?

(To be continued next week.)

PS: I understand that some of these concepts may be very different to you but I just ask you to read for the next few weeks, without rejecting them out of hand. Please pray about it also. Thanks. David.

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cotinthians 3:7-18)

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

"While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.' "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."" (Acts 3:11-26)

Be Holy

1058. Religion may well be the opiate of the masses, but God's kingdom is possessed by the godly, right now!

1059. Religion comes and religion goes, but God's kingdom goes on forever.

1060. God's kingdom now isn't freely given, but possessed through godly obedience.

1061. God reveals, while religion conceals.

1062. Religion is not a church but a mind closed to change.

1063. Revelation is from without, while the heart of religion is birthed within.

1064. Revelation sows, religion mows!

1065. Religion is not the church, but the church too easily becomes religion.

1066. Religion kills, God upskills.

1067. Religion is a gathering of like minds, God's kingdom, one of godly natures.

1068. Religion insidiously enters the church through repetition.

1069. Repetition is religion's close ally.

When he came into the kitchen, his wife noted that his face was all white, and she asked what the matter was. He said, "I just saw the death angel."

"So what are you going to do," she asked.

"I'm getting out of town as fast as I can - I'll go to my brother's in Ashfield."

Unbelieving, as soon as his car pulled out of the drive way, the wife rushed down to the bank. Sure enough, there was the Death Angel, still standing by the door.

Being more bold than her husband, she walked up to the Angel and told him that her husband had been very frightened to see him there.

The Death Angel replied, "Well actually, I was also somewhat surprised to see your husband here. I was sure I had an appointment with him later today in Ashfield."

308. THE ONE BOY WHO KNOWS HIS HOLIDAYS
Three 4th grade Sunday School boys were promised a free Bible trip if they can answer one simple question.

The teacher asks the first boy, "What is Easter?"

The boy replies, "Oh, that's easy! It's the holiday in November when everyone gets together, eats turkey, and are thankful."

"Wrong!," replies the teacher, and proceeds to ask the second student the same question, "What is Easter?"

The second boy replies, "Easter is the holiday in December when we put up a nice tree, exchange presents, and celebrate the birth of Jesus."

The teacher looks at the second boy, shakes his head in disgust, tells him he's wrong, then peers over at the third boy and asks, "What is Easter?"

Confidently he looks the teacher in the eyes, "I know what Easter is."

"Oh?" the teacher says incredulously.

"Easter is the Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish celebration of Passover. Jesus and his disciples were eating at the Last Supper and Jesus was later betrayed and handed over to the Romans by one of his disciples. The Romans took him to be crucified and he was stabbed in the side, made to wear a crown of thorns, and was hung on a cross with nails through his hands and feet. He was buried in a nearby cave which was sealed off by a large boulder."

As the Sunday School teacher smiles broadly with delight, the third student continues, "Every year the boulder is moved aside so that Jesus can come out...and, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter."

307. LIL JOHNNY
One Sunday morning the Pastor noticed little Johnny was standing staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The young man of seven had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up and stood beside him and gazing up at the plaque he said quietly, "Good morning son."

"Good morning Pastor" replied the young man not taking his eyes off the plaque. "Sir, what is this?" Johnny asked.

"Well son, these are all the people who have died in the service," replied the pastor. Soberly, they stood together staring up at the large plaque.

ANSWER:
It is a merging of the Latin words 'tri' (three) and 'via' (road). To educate the public, news and information was posted on boards at crossroads (where three roads met) and so the word 'trivialis' was applied to the snippets of un-related information. The word trivial is derived from this 'Trivia' as a word on its own dates to about 1920. (Trivial by name, triffling by nature!)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
From where does the saying 'Hobson's Choice' originate?

SOME FUN FACTS

100. PERSISTANCE PAYS
It may take a chicken longer than two days to break out of its shell. (Often takes humans longer! Some of us never come out!)

101. WRITE IT DOWN
In 1995, each American used an annual average of 731pounds (332kg) of paper, more than double the amount used in the 1980s. Contrary to predictions that computers would soon displace paper, consumption is growing. (Paper remains the victor in the 'Paper Wars')

102. A LOVE AFFAIR
In 1900, there were but 8,000 cars in the United States, but by 1919, it had multiplied to 6 million. (Re-cars-t society!)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

IMPREST

A - 30
B - 40
C - 50
D - 60

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

!!!!!!! Christ is a substitute for everything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ. (Ironside)

!!!!!! No one who really wants to count for God can afford to play at Christianity.

!!!!! If lips and life do not agree, the testimony will not amount to much.

!!!! Time is given us to use in view of eternity.

!!! No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.

!! Christianity is Christ!

And the old man, with a wise look, said, "Not yet."

168. EXCESS BAGGAGE
A porter loaded down with suitcases followed the couple to the airline check-in counter.

As they approached the line, the husband glanced at the pile of luggage and said to the wife, "Why didn't you bring the piano, too?"

"Are you trying to be funny?" she replied.

"No, I really wish you had" he sighed. "I left the tickets on it."

167. YOUR PERSPECTIVE
A man had his first appointment with a psychiatrist and when asked why he was there, the man said, "Doctor, I'm tired of being on the outside looking in."

"Well," responded the doctor, "sounds like we have to try to improve your self-image. Let's get a few basic facts first. What do you do for a living?"

The patient replied, "I'm a window washer."

166. WHO DUN IT ?
Once there was a millionaire, who collected live alligators. He kept them in the pool in back of his mansion. The millionaire also had a beautiful daughter who was single. One day he decides to throw a huge party, and during the party he announces, "My dear guests...I have a proposition to every man here. I will give one million dollars or my daughter to the man who can swim across this pool full of alligators and emerge unharmed!" As soon as he finished his last word, there was the sound of a large SPLASH!! There was one guy in the pool swimming with all he could...the crowd cheered him on as he kept stroking.

Finally, he made it to the other side unharmed. The millionaire was impressed. He said, "My boy that was incredible! Fantastic! I didn't think it could be done! Well I must keep my end of the bargain...which do you want, my daughter or the one million dollars?" The guy says, "Listen, I don't want your money! And I don't want your daughter! I want the person who pushed me in that WATER!!!

165. TO BE OR NOT TO BE (rescued)
The shipwrecked mariner had spent several years on a deserted island. Then one morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a smaller vessel pulling out toward him.

A crowd appeared to offer their condolences. Seldom is something broken enough to foil an African. Yet between the laughter and sympathetic tongue clicking, I heard several mutter in French, "This is serious, my friend." My co-worker Dierke echoed the sentiment in Mbelime, the language she was analyzing: "Na the, momomeh!" It's REALLY bad!

What to do? We were handed a bicycle spoke, a large rock and a piece of wood resembling a rolling pin. Good luck, brother! There wasn't a policeman around to slim-jimmy the lock; out here you've got to make your own device. Half an hour later, with mounting frustration, I was ready to bash in the window with the rock.

I had the rock in hand when Kurt, one of the team members, spoke. "This is impossible. We really need to pray." I HAD been praying! And hadn't we been trying with what God had given us? What if we smashed the window after praying? Wouldn't they conclude that the God we pray to is powerless? The others insisted, so we formed a circle and I prayed out loud, "Lord, it's got to be that bicycle spoke that opens the door or else the rock. I don't want to break that window, Lord. We need a miracle. Now. Amen." My prayer sounded pretty feeble and demanding, but it was the best I could muster. Then it was Kurt's turn. "Lord, You are mighty and able to do all things. You have given us an audience, and we pray that You will use this occasion to bring glory to Your name. Amen." Now that was a prayer!

We barely finished praying when a man approached through the crowd. "I heard about your trouble" he said, "I have a key. It's the key to my moped. Would you care to try it?" You betcha! He went and got it, a tiny piece of brass one-fourth the size of the Toyota key. He held it up and gave it to Kurt. With a flick of his wrist, Kurt unlocked the door! I was speechless. The farmer grinned. "You prayed to God to help you and I came with the key!"

A miracle indeed. And the crowd knew it. I got in the Toyota, locked myself in the cab and rolled down the window. "Kurt," I said, "try that key again." He did and could not unlock the door. That's when the village onlookers began to shout.

Source: Mike McHenry, Wycliffe Bible Translators

Via Joel News www.joelnews.org

Written 20 years ago now, but still true today. The photo was taken on our 40th Wedding Anniversary, last year.

BESIDE ME

When I look back on all we have done together,
Picking the daffodils in the wind and the rain,
I am so grateful that whatever the weather,
And bearing the back that gives you pain,
You have walked beside me.

At times it has been a lot of fun,
We have laughed, cried and had the odd thrill.
But more often you have had to run,
To race, to get the job done, but still,
You have walked beside me.

And now, when my life has collapsed around my ears,
Your strength has helped me to keep my sanity,
When I have been down and experienced new fears,
While I have suffered great blows to my vanity,
You have walked beside me.

I have worked so hard all these years,
To yours and the family's cost.
It is hard sometimes to fight back the tears,
Yet no matter how much we have lost,
You have walked beside me.

Your beauty has always drawn me to you
Like the bee to the flower of the honeysuckle tree,
To me I know you have always been true
While surely, sometimes you have wanted to be free,
You have walked beside me.

And though life at times seems bitter, twisted and curled,
Your love gives me strength to go on fighting.
I am just the luckiest man in all the world,
To have your name next to mine in writing.
You have walked beside me.

Now the emphasis has changed to the recovery of bodies. So far 165 bodies have been recovered and the eventual total is expected to rise to 200.

The good news, over the weekend, has been that the Anglican Cathedral, a central icon of the city, which has effectively been destroyed, has been searched and no bodies were found inside, when it was thought that there could have been up to 22 people incarcerated there.

The way both the community and the country has unified and pulled together in the face of tragedy is amazing. Differences are put aside for the benefit of the greater good. People are helping people, many of whom they have never previously met. Neighbours have got to know neighbours they previously ignored. Many wonderful stories and friendships have been born out of tragedy.

It reminds me that Jesus is to return for a unified church, one in which differences are set aside and we are focused on doing the Father's will. We all know that the end times will bring persecution and natural disasters aplenty. Surely these will be a factor in setting our eyes upon the Lord rather than ourselves.

Are we prepared?

Until next week___

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: PERMITS