God has been highlighting this verse to me of late ...

Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye?

Matthew 7:3 AMP

(This verse is even better in the Message version)

Jez encouraged us recently to look for the gold in each other, the treasures God has placed in all of us. We all have flaws and failures as we are not yet fully matured in Christ.

All of us have gifts and treasures given by God. They are all different and all can be used by him. One might be anointed in worship but hopeless in hospitality. Another gifted in sharing the good news but doesn't has the same joy serving in another area. All I know is when someone is serving in the area they should be, God really works through them. It's like they have such an ease and a joy serving in this area. Everyone is blessed by them serving.

Don't look at the faults in our brothers and sisters. Seek out the gold, the treasure and fan into flame the gifts inside us all.

I encourage us this week to see the gifting in someone and tell that person how awesome they are. Why they bless you so much and why by them serving they are extending God's kingdom.

Let's always see the gold, see the potential and look at others the way God sees them.

Be very blessed

This morning I was thinking and asking God what time share and this scripture came to mind:

1 Corinthians 14:1-5

14 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Following on from the teaching Jez brought, prophecy has been on my mind. The first line of the scripture says to “earnestly desire” prophecy and that made me think how often or how much, in my busy day to day life of work and family, do I earnestly desire to prophecy? Not as much as I’d like to or as much as this scripture encourages I think would be fair to say!

But reading this scripture definitely increased my desire and stirred me more to seek it. What excites me about prophecy is what it says in the scripture: “the one who prophecies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” and “the one who prophecies builds up the church”

For me this is deeply exciting and a rewarding venture! Being used by God to build up, encourage and console His people and to ultimately build up His church!

I pray that God would increase your desire for prophecy.

Despite having a very busy and, in some ways, a difficult few weeks, I can confidently say that I have known the love, grace, gentleness and peace of God. On multiple occasions He has made me feel so held, understood and filled with confidence to face the challenge. Praise God! I am so grateful that He is alive, active AND answers prayer! So this week, I pray the Lord gives you a fresh revelation of how He is our advocate (John 24:26 & Romans 8:34) and treasures you so deeply (Jeremiah 31:3 & 1 John 3:1). When thinking about what to share, I was reminded of this recorded word that I heard a number of years ago. You may want to listen to this when you have a spare or quiet(er) 10 minutes. God really spoke to me through it and I believe He can do the same for you. Be encouraged God’s beloved, He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)!

Yesterday I was talking with Loretta about God's timing.

We were reflecting on things that we can easily get anxious or concerned about because we can see what's best in a situation, and we pray into it, but time goes by and there's no change.

Yesterday God spoke to us about things 'coming to pass'.

In my experience, I have become convinced that God's timing is perfect.

It is often in the waiting that we have an opportunity to grow... as Kathryn shared yesterday, grow in our faith and trust in God.

And Lewellyn and Rejoice encouraged us yesterday, this growth/maturity often comes by our confession in the waiting. Being thankful and praising our Lord for who He is and for all He has already done for us.

There are times in our lives when the Lord is just waiting for us to mature (grow up) before the next step He has for us, and there are times when it is a simple change in our confession (how we speak) that we start to see breakthrough.

Be encouraged, no one knows us better than our heavenly Father. We can trust Him in the waiting, His timing is always perfect.