Neil NRG

What does it mean to you to bless or to praise the Lord? To be so very thankful for His mercies and kindness. Look at David, when Nathan revealed what David had done. David fell on his face, truly sorry for what he had done and open to God's great mercies and kindness. In the laws of the land then and even parts of our land now, David would have been put to death for his deeds, yet God in His mercies gave David a reprieve. We all have hope! Hellelujah! Surely David to bless the Lord, for He is a merciful, kind, loving God, though we do not deserve His mercies. Surely, you and I, formed from dust and our bodies returning to dust, can BLESS THE LORD! Do you take time in your daily devotions to bless him, to praise him? Not enough. I miss worship in church! This world has changed so. I admire my wife, she can sing a song to the Lord, for she has come through great storms to be here where she is now. Like Job, yet as a young girl, the shame from other young girls at school yet so innocent a victim, so horrendous the story I cannot share; and to come home and say to who she thought was her mother, mum is it true, you are not my mother and who i thought was my sister was my mother? And the abuse that followed ... oh is there a God. Yes that little girl held to her faith, 9 years old, and now 62 her faith is being blessed! PRAISE GOD!!! What does it mean to you to receive a blessing from the One who made heaven and earth? I cannot fathom. I shake my head and say 'God, why have You blessed me, I didn't expect this?' BLESS THE LORD

Why does demanding answers from God lead to stress? I wondered what this was. For me, crying out to God and falling on my knees, or prostrate on the ground, exasperated for the answer I had been longing for. But then, yes it can lead to stress if I am are acting selfishly in anger for what I am seeking, no if I am are acting from a heartfelt desire for another that deserves a blessing. How have unexplained events in your life made you angry? My dad dying suddenly at my feet when I was 15 years old. He had just shared a joke with my sister in law, as was his way, turned to go out the door to the backyard as I came in, and collapsed. Two years before I had been confirmed in the church and was a young lad who loved God. But after dad died I used to sit in church asking God, why? Yes, it had made me angry and I stopped going to church and seeking God. 15 years later I returned as did the Prodigal Son, thank God. How do you actually go about calming and quieting your soul? It is a way of life, learning to walk with Christ and listening to the sweet still voice of the Holy Spirit. Some actions help, like now quietly studying His word, like going into my prayer "closet" (a gazebo in my backyard), like journalling my deepest thoughts and prayers, like praising God in worship (the best!), like admiring His beauty that surrounds us. What does it mean to “hope in the Lord”? Faith. Belief. Knowing.

How does knowing that God forgives us affect our lives? Our faith? We are all fallen. It is only through God's forgiveness that we are made whole. There's one thing particularly that saddened me as a young man, a moment in time, an incident, sort of became my thorn in my side. My girlfriend at the time, a young Christian lady to become my wife, opened my eyes to the still sweet voice of the Holy Spirit that I could be forgiven ... that Christ died for our sins ... days later I accepted Christ into my life. My life was changed from that day on. But knowing God took time and its continuing. So many ups and downs. Through the storms and battles we grow in faith, but it comes back to that one decision. How does knowing God forgives us affect our willingness to forgive others? Makes a big difference. Our concept of forgiveness changes, knowing Jesus died for our sins. How is your “expectancy level”? How is your hope? How is your faith? Very good, thanks to a wonderful spiritual mentor (my mum), my first wife, my son (a miracle baby), a faithful current wife who loves God and the great great blessings of God in our lives in the middle of a pandemic.

Think back on your own life. In what circumstances have you seen God deliver you from danger from others? Never any real physical danger from others, other than maybe on a football field at times. Even from danger from yourself? Made some silly decisions. One day I was repairing a wall above a high ceiling and window when the ladder slipped and finished against the window with my full weight on the window. Somehow I got down and didn't tumble through a shattered window. Who knows what could have happened? But God! How do you explain God’s undeserved love toward you? He is my creator, my Father. I'm a father, I understand His love to His child. What undeserving person comes to mind who can be the object of your love and mercy? Noone is undeserving, but if anyone does who has affected my life is a wolf in sheep's clothing who talked me into running a charity for affordable housing with me, who walked away with a lot of other people's money, including mine. Funnily, I have never felt badly towards him, but instead I feel sorry for him, hence mercy. It's just something that's part of me, by God's grace and love.

Can you think of times in your life when God has delivered you from affliction? I would have to say my wife leaving me the day after my mum's funeral, after 28 years of a peaceful marriage born of God. I was at my lowest, yet 4 weeks later I was renewed and 8 weeks later my life had changed dramatically. I struggle a little with what happened but it was in God's plan that I meet and fall in love with my new wife, I love both, but my first wife shortly after died from the sudden onset of pancreatic cancer. I know now it was God's plan and though there's been many battles these past 8 years I am now in a place in my relationship with God with my new marriage that would not have happened in my first marriage. The struggles and challenges these past 8 years have hastened my growth in faith, much more than my previous 28 years as a born again Christian. Or perhaps from “the cords of the wicked”? A wolf in sheep's clothing! Charismatic, bigger than life, generous, seemingly a 'Christian' but after he disappeared I found out he was a super criminal. Thank God I kept my faith and integrity and he soon disappeared! How have you dealt with the bitterness that comes from oppression? Absolutely! Thank God I'm not one to hold a grudge or bitterness, but to quickly forgive and continue to love those who afflicted me. I take a bigger picture view of life and note we are all imperfect. Who's to say one thing is worse than another? There is no value in bitterness or holding a grudge. Have you been able to forgive? Thankfully, yes I am quick to forgive, for at times I have been truly stretched. Only. by the grace of God. If not, what would it take to enable you to forgive your enemies and offer them a blessing? Stop thinking about yourself and consider the other

What does it mean to “fear the Lord”? I don't know if fear is the right word. It is respect and holy reverence to the One who gave me life and chose to benefit me with knowing Him. It's like deeply desiring to please someone you love in every little way. Call it fear if you want. I call it love. What kinds of blessings has God showered over your life? O Lord, where do I start. Knowing Him is the greatest blessing. Knowing He is real. Knowing He is here, listening to my thoughts, my breath, my moves of my fingers on the keyboard, the hairs on my head - He knows each one. My parents, my childhood, my brothers, my children, my wife, my job, my home, my animals, the great beauty that surrounds me. So many stories to share. Confirmation, scholarships, born again, engagement ring, my miracle son, Atitaki, forgiven debt, jobs-jobs-jobs *2, My Prince will Come, mantle, Caleb, Yarralumla, Nicholls, Forest, Jacobs - God knows each one, for He orchestrated them all! One story, short version. I never imagined I'd live and work where I do now nor enjoy my work and role and life so much, even 3 months ago, certainly not 12 months ago it just wasn't in the picture of my wildest imagination. I thought I was too old (65), there would be no jobs, or if there was one I'd have to take a big pay cut, no jobs that suit my expertise anyway, and I thought the bank wouldn't lend us the money for another home, let double. My wife thought differently - she was right. I got three great job offers from cold calls where there was no ads to apply for in an isolated town of 250,000 people in far north Australia, 2000 miles from where we lived and worked for 40 years, with a 25% increase in pay. Coming from having 3 homes at 55 to be nearly broke and homeless at 60 and to now (last 3 months) to be in the most amazing house and property in the most amazing street at 65 with the best most enjoyable job, I just walk around shaking my head thanking God. And no I did not receive an inheritance or prize; God just brought the right people into my life at the right time and right circumstances. Its not just the home, its a change in inner peace and joy, its seeing the most remarkable changes in the one I love and adore; the One I love, my Father, my Saviour, my Counsellor, my Healer, doesn't change. I have been praying, studying and journaling for well over 15 years and have seen many ups and downs, but I endured, kept faith in the love of God and one day and another day and another day I was blessed, left shaking my head saying what happened? Just keep praying, keep studying, keep believing, keep serving, keep giving, keep thanking God for every little blessing in your life and then, now and again, He will bless your socks up quickly and unexpectantly. I continue to live in faith and look to let go and let God. Why does he allow remaining struggles? It is through struggles that we grow. Having worked through struggles, praying earnestly, to be blessed builds my faith. Our hope is after the storm there is a rainbow. Does faith always result in prosperity? Yes, but not necessarily the prosperity of the world. The prosperity that comes with knowing God and reverently fearing His Word. How do you define prosperity? A lot of something good and worthy - peace, love, joy, beauty, lots of cattle from the hill.

Why is work without trust inadequate? I have to kick myself every now and again, because I can get so engulfed in my work that I forget God. I have learnt over the years (40 years as a civil engineer and 36 years as a born again Christian) that I can get a lot more done, win more work when needed and meet the right people at the right time if I hand it to God, trust God. I labour in vain otherwise. Work is a good thing and whilst I would have loved to have been a golf pro, just like life, work is what you let God make it. Let go and let God. Like life, work is to be enjoyed, and with God it is a joy, all things are a joy, no matter the circumstance. I have loved working from home these last 6 months and been mightily blessed. Praise God! Why is trust without work an illusion? All the best thoughts and intentions and prayers are useless without work. Faith with no works is dead. How can we achieve the kind of balance that affords us good rest? What is good rest. A peaceful sound sleep, waking happily ready for the next day? 6 hours, 8 hours? It's different for each of us, but I recall someone saying you can get rest every moment of the day, don't be anxious for anything, but rest cradled in Jesus' arms as you go about your day. This is my prayer for myself, my wife, my children, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Why do you think the psalmist stresses that children are both a "heritage" and a "reward"? Heritage, that sounds like something that lives on into the ages. God said let their be light, then not much later said be fruitful and multiply. We hear of the Israelites (and Gentiles) talking of Abraham, I am his heritage so to speak, having Jewish heritage. My mum, my mentor, literally threw her mantle with her last breath to me, like Elijah threw his mantle to Elisha. My mum was thrown the mantle of her father just before his passing, the last time she saw him he asked that she sit on his lap. A bit awkwaard as she was a young teenager, not a little girl, but she did and he reached to his bible and said 'girlie, take this and follow what it says and all will be good'. That young girl followed the Lord all her life, a shining light to people she touched. Reward, could be a thank you, an encouragement, a gold star for work well done, a smile. All rewards give us a good feeling we enjoy. Children give us joy, for God made us man and woman for a reason - to multiply and have children - to form families loved of God and loving each other in the love of God, like no other love. To see a child born, the miracle and awe of birth - for me, my first born still born and my wife told she probably will never have children in the same breath as, 'oh, look here at this image of your baby who is dead in your womb'. My God! Then on the morning of being induced into labour our pastors visit the hospital and pray; I remember my wife been told 'and your nest shall be restored!' Later that morning we were told later the whole church prayed. Megan was born about 10 hours later, so tough. Some time later my wife had a curette to remove any remains of tissue in her womb and the doctor was amazed, he could not believe what he felt in that womb, formerly misformed in the image we saw in his office. Now restored! Matthew was born next, a gift from God is his name, and I held that baby cradled in my arms, wit my wife by my side, telling the church the miracle that was Matthew and thanking them for their prayers on the day my firstborn Megan was born. Matthew is a reward. Madelaine and Annaleise who followed are rewards. Now guys, I would like your prayers to reconnect me with my children. Like the prodigal son, I want to be that father running to hug my son Matthew.

First, it is a blessing and privilege to be back on this forum again after a number of years away and the passage I looked at today was so full of the truth of my life for many years and now recently unexpectantly changed, which I shared with someone else yesterday. I chose or was led to look at today's passage rather than the first in this series and now I know why. Why doesn’t God always do the stupendous miracles of which he is capable? The depth of faith that comes from what's unseen is far greater than what's seen, so it we can not establish an undying faith without striving and instead drawing on the emotion and faith that comes with waiting and believing. How can we develop such faith if God was always doing miracles in our life? Mind you, take a look around you, what miracles do you see? The miracle of life and beauty that surrounds us and I am so grateful for, knowing it was created by a loving Father who yearns to say when we kneel down before Him seated on His throne, 'well done good and faithful servant'. So stick in there, there are far greater rewards in building our character to reflect Christ and the promise of a room in heaven, than anything we can imagine here on earth. But enjoy the miracle of life we have, that is what Jesus would want for each one of us. Why is patient obedience over the long haul necessary to both the success of our labors and our own spiritual maturity? A young lady gave me a word in prayer after a church service about 5-6 years ago. The word was endurance .. meaning stick at it, have faith, don't give up, walk in God's ways, continue to pray, things will change. At the time I thought that's an unusual word, but I guess that's how God gets your attention. The change we pray for comes in God's time, quickly and unexpectantly; it may be in minutes (like finding a great parking spot at a shopping centre) or it may take 8 years or 62 years, as I know. For our growth in faith and belief in His message is strengthened and founded in stone by our patient waiting and endurance in prayer and study. Can we shout for joy now, even before we receive the answers to our prayers? Well I wish I had that faith! I'm used to waiting quietly, well most of the time, but when exacerberated or desperate I will shout out to God. It doesn't always work, but as I sit here I just shake my head in awe of what God has done in the lives of my wife and I this past year. In prayer I often said, and still do, 'remember Atitaki', when Jesus saved me from drowning on my honeymoon in the middle of the Pacific caught in a rip between two islands. The instant (milli-second) I thought of calling on the name of Jesus to save me I felt an amazing peace and strength that got me to shore and at school the most I could swim was 25 yards across the pool - I couldn't swim the length of a pool. Now I have a new saying from a completely unimaginable turnaround in our life situation, and no we didn't win lotto or gain an inheritance, other than maybe some of the 10,000 cattle on the hill so to speak. I cannot share the details as it is personal, but simply to say I was stunned and I sit here amazed, I am amazed each day I get up and I am amazed and am so very grateful each day as I go about my day. For 6 months ago and 12 months ago I shouted out to God, the first time in desperation and the second time in impatience for no answer; this goes back 62 or 8 years for either my wife and I. Then something happened. People in our life we didn't know a year ago worked miracles in our life with God's help, when I didn't think it was possible but my beautiful wife did all along, dreaming for a new morning of joy for so so long. All those dreams have come true. OK I didn't shout for joy but I shouted, not in anger, desiring so deeply for a change and imploring God to answer our deepest most prayers. And as someone so wonderfully pointed out yesterday, I have been praying for you guys, even before I shared the turnaround in our lives. Wow, so blessed, I felt tears of joy well up. What might prompt that in us? Remembering what God has done in our lives, seeking God earnestly, drawing near to Him and relying on God's mercies. They are new every day! My wife just sent me a message saying "God's in control, He's the Refiner"; indeed He is, let us remember, and I read Ps 37 that she sent with the message - it is a Psalm to live by, to read again and again!

How can pride corrupt our hearing from God? With pride we can pollute what God might say to us, for we are more led by our own self interests, rather than having a servant heart and being wholly reliant on God. How do we protect ourselves from being deceived by our pride? We need to get a right attitude and right heart toward God. We need to be continually in prayer, studying God’s Word and listening for God during each of our days.

Why is a willingness to obey without understanding the reasons for God's commands so important? God has a larger plan that we generally cannot see. He is all knowing – Father knows best. How does obedience sometimes help us understand God's workings. I often question, is that the still voice of God, or is that just my own conscience? Last Sunday at church there was an alter call only part way into the service, basically asking who wants more trust in God, following an example of our trust in our equipment when we sky dive (say). Surely we can trust God who made us, if we can trust the sky diving equipment made by someone we don’t know? We will never know what God is doing unless you obey. I eventually obeyed the call, but it took a bit of inner convincing and I was blessed with a wonderful prophecy, giving me hope for blessings in my latter years.

Why is a desire for a relationship with God more important than seeking to hear his voice? How can we be receptive to God’s voice and act on His word without first a desire for a relationship with God and the development of such a relationship through our prayers, thoughts, words and actions? How does hearing his voice contribute to the relationship? We can’t see God, so His encouragement through what good happens in our life, through words or overcoming circumstances means a lot in contributing to our relationship with Him. Why are we commanded to "press in" to know the Lord? We are constantly bombarded by a negative world with many hurt people. This can destroy our mind and soul if we allow it. We need to be constantly on guard. The Lord is our source of peace and strength. He lifts us in our fear or sorrow as we press in to better know Him. Our mind is more focussed on things eternal than the many negative things of this world How does Paul's passion for a relationship with God inspire you? He reminds us that God first chose us, giving us the desire to know Him. He tells us to continuously look forwards to do our best and not to be dismayed by our mistakes of the past. He tells us to always move on, straining towards the goal that God has placed in each one of us.

What was Eli's counsel to Samuel, when he recognized that God was calling to the boy? Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”’ Was it good counsel? Yes, for indeed it was God speaking to him. What is the significance of Samuel recognizing that he is a servant? One who truly listens and is obedient to his Lord, humble and privileged to be His servant.

Why does God sometimes not talk to us? It is in God’s good time, not ours. Our perception of time is very different. Often, it seems, he talks to us in the 11th hour when we are most in need. Is it always because we aren't receptive? No, it’s when God sees it right for a particular moment and bigger purpose that we often don’t imagine. What should we do when we don't hear anything from God? If truly from God, an inner knowing tells me to act.

Sometimes God nudges you by giving you insight into the spiritual state of people around you. What should you be asking God about once you receive this insight about them? Some insights and words to minister to their needs. Have you ever had a nudge from God that resulted in a person receiving help? I recall feeling great compassion for an older Asian lady who had recently lost her husband, leading others in prayer in a bible study I had never attended before. She was the mother of the couple who hosted that Sunday afternoon bible study. What did you learn from this? Don’t be afraid to act when you get a strong feeling inside, a certain stirring, a gut feel of knowing when to act and speak.

What's the similarity between God's brief, inarticulate nudges or promptings, and David's use of the Urim and Thummim to receive direction? Yes, no and maybe. What happens when David needs more than a "yes" or "no" answer? It comes through a clear word of prophecy from the Holy Spirit.