Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Once we understand that faith is to ‘trust’ we can understand why it’s impossible to please God without faith. We can’t put our faith in someone if we can’t completely trust him. When someone distrust it can be a very painfully experience. God sent His only son, Jesus, who suffered and die for us. Jesus experienced distrust, pain and anguish.

Who else has given so much love as our heavenly Father? After all He has done, if we cannot put our trust and faith in Him, or believe He exist and rewards those who seek Him, then how can God be pleased with us?

Luke 15:7 says “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

He cannot help but bless those who love and trust Him. Faith is believing in His promises and that they are for us, His children.

Faith is the key to receiving God’s blessings and promises. We need to seek Him and have faith to believe in His promises. Without complete ‘trust’ in Him, we cannot expect His rewards.

Father, help us not to grow weary in seeking You and the promises You have for us. Help our faith in You to grow stronger. Thank You for all that You provide for us and give to us, Your children. Amen.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

The parable of the mustard seed is one we have heard many times. It’s the story of the tiniest of seeds, planted, that rose to be the biggest tree in the field; a place where birds found rest. We can find the parable told by Jesus in the first three Gospels of the New Testament—In Matthew chapter 13, in Mark 4, and in Luke 13.

Mustard seeds are typically about one to two millimetres in diameter. The tree referred to in the New Testament reading is thought to be grown from the black mustard seed and is actually a “woody shrub” that can grow up to three metres high.

According to rabbinical sources, Jews did not grow the plant in gardens, and this is consistent with Matthew’s description of it growing in a field. However, Luke tells the parable with the plant in a garden; this is probably because he reconstructed the story for an audience outside Palestine.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wondered why Jesus just didn’t use an oak tree to represent the Kingdom of God. It’s is a spectacular tree. It suggests power, prestige, glory, and steadfastness. It rises above challenges, it withstands the wind, and it is noble.

I came to the conclusion that Jesus was saying that Heaven is like a seed we plant—the tiniest of seeds—expecting to get a bush. But what we get is a tree, larger than anything else in the field, bigger and better than we would have ever expected—impossible for us to completely imagine. Better than our wildest dreams.

Jesus wasn’t referring to some vague tree, and as the Creator himself, he certainly knew that trees don’t grow from mustard seeds. What He wanted us to understand is what exactly what heaven is like—the impossible come to life.

If we held a mustard seed close to our ear, what would we hear?

Nothing.

Just silence.

How many of us find it easy to stand on a street corner and preach the Gospel?

How many of us are called to be a pastor or a missionary in a third world country?

However, just like this seed we can be a silent witness—in our homes, our neighbourhood, even in the church, we can share the Kingdom of Heaven through our deeds, our gifts, and how we live our lives.

The Kingdom of Heaven, as big as it is, can continually grow.  The only way it will continue to grow is by sharing the Gospel…and we don’t even need to be famous preachers. Just as of the birds that may have found shelter in the branches of the mustard tree, the Kingdom of Heaven can be a sanctuary. Perhaps we can offer a room or a meal.

A little of God’s Word goes a long way.

When nurtured, the Word of God grows. Just like the millions of mustard seeds that fall continuously to the ground, germinate, and grow. They fall, they germinate and grow. Fall, germinate and grow.

Recently when I was speaking on this topic, I gave each person in the congregation a mustard seed laminated onto a bookmark with the words The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed inscribed below it.

After the service, one of our quietest ladies said to me, “Now I can be a mustard seed, too,” and so we can. Spread the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven, because the Kingdom of Heaven is just like a mustard seed.

© Chrissy Siggee

Based on: Matthew 13:31-32

Theological references by: I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: A commentary on the Greek text, Eerdmans, 1978, ISBN 0802835120

Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

1 John 5:14-15
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Matthew 6:6
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

Prayer has to be my favourite topic and many related verses come freely. Prayer is an important part of my life and I wouldn’t survive without it. My months of pain in 2007 brought me closer to the Father than I could ever believe possible. Prayer had a remarkable impact on my healing and recovery, and on those who prayed and believed with me.

Through prayer we have direct access to the throne room of God the Father, the almighty and living God. We can take anything to God in prayer and He hears us. Sometimes we need to wait for answers and sometimes his answer is no, but He does answer. Whether it is prayer for healing, finances, or salvation of a loved one, whatever the need, we ought to be diligent in our prayer requests.

Whatever is on your heart right now, tell Him. God already knows your need but we need to tell him what’s on our hearts and also give thanks for His answer, even before he gives it.

Father, you are my rock and my salvation. I hand all my circumstances over to you. Teach me how to pray. Give me the desire to draw closer to you so I may give all things over to you, believing your will and plan will be fulfilled in your perfect timing. Amen.
© Chrissy Siggee
Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

James 1:5-7 (King James Version)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

God has promised to give us guidance. Many Christians have trouble finding God’s guidance. They want to know, and they want to be sure that they are in God’s will. They don’t want to take the wrong path.

Sometimes guidance seems to be vague, and this encourages fear. I read somewhere that there are more Christians today who are not concerned, or not bothered about God’s guidance in their lives, and that many are contented to make their own decisions and to work through their own life as they see fit. However, it’s those who are troubled about the issue of guidance and want to know the will of God, in every situation in their lives, who I want to address.

If you are confused about the issue of guidance and God’s will for you, you need to be very careful. Satan’s intention is to confuse Christ’s followers about guidance and God’s will. Satan has been a liar and a cheat from the very beginning and he doesn’t want any of us to find God’s perfect plan for our lives.

If you have made wrong decisions in your life you need to know that you aren’t the only one. You also need to know that the Son of God can set us free. He can break through into realms of confusion and set us back on the right track again. When you’re confused, not only that you have chosen the wrong path in the past, satan can confuse you in regard to how to discern God’s will in the future.

So how do you know which way to go? Are there great flashes from heaven to point to where you can visually see His divine will for your life? Most likely not, but it’s important that as children of God you know how God guides. You must know how to discern God’s will.

God’s guidance is always obvious. You might have to wait for a time for it to becomes clear, but when it comes, it’s always clear.

1 John 1:5 says “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

If God is light, then in Him there is no darkness. God’s guidance will never be vague.

The first thing you need to do to find guidance in God’s will is to already have an obedient heart. Whatever God reveals it will also be at a price–a cost to your very life and will.

If you want to know God’s will, and have God’s will revealed to you, then be prepared to obey God’s will. God is not going to reveal His will to anyone if disobedience is in their lives, because there won’t be obedient to the guidance He will give. Obey and take up your cross and follow Him – daily. You’ll not only anticipate guidance, you’ll see it – God will lead you clearly into the plan for your life.

© Chrissy Siggee

John 15: 1 & 2

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

I’ve found these two verses very thought provoking. A few months ago, I was prompted in the spirit to devote a whole month to His Word and prayer. I needed to revaluate my time and priorities and I could only do this with His help. These words from John’s gospel often came up, even when I wasn’t actually meditating on them.

Pruning is often the hardest thing to deal with in the Christian walk; I know it is for me. It’s amazing though how at times it seems like a continual trimming, and sometimes it hurts. When areas of our lives no longer produce fruit, when a daily task no longer seems meaningful or a love for a mere diversion becomes a total time waster, we need to evaluate.

And evaluate I did. With God’s guidance, pruning and direction, my love for writing became prioritised and finally found direction. A renewed love for an old hobby replaced a diversion that now complements my writing. There wasn’t anything wrong with my diversion, I just needed to prioritise with God’s guidance.

Father, when you take me through times of pruning away the dead areas of my life, give me the strength to accept your changes. I know your changes in my life are always because you love me and because you have plans for my life that can only be fulfilled when I trust you and allow your pruning to take place. Amen.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

Hebrews 12: 1-3
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Sometimes life puts us in places where we don’t want to be, nor understand why we are there. Yet God knows why we need to be there, and for how long. Jesus himself knew trust when he came to earth to do his father’s will.

God supplies all our needs, including friendships when we need them most. He places people in our lives through times and circumstances, to help us through. It’s when to let go of those relationships and trust in the Father, and in ourselves, that is hard.

Often our past relationships put us through hurts and pain and when we dare to trust again, when we dare to be a friend and accept friendships, we realize that there’s still hope. Trust is not always easy to find in a friendship, and when we find that friend, it’s hard to say goodbye for whatever reason.

Yes, situations change again and again through time and circumstances. We need to step out in faith and allow the Lord to close one door so He can open another. There’s no shame in daring to hope but God’s plan is made for our benefit and so His glory can be revealed. Our Lord will never leave us. He will take us and move us forward in a strength, which we once had thought we had lost forever. He will supply all our needs, including friendships.

Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Father, you are always with us and you know our every situation. You know exactly what we need at the very time we need it, and who is needed to guide us through.  You also know when we need to let go and step out in faith, trusting in new a tomorrow and thank you for opportunities to know true friendships Amen.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

Waiting is always difficult and so often we feel it’s wasted time. Patience can be difficult to find in many situations.

Some ‘waiting’ pet hates…

* Waiting in a doctor’s surgeries, especially when the doctor is getting close to being an hour late.

* Being stuck in traffic.

* Standing in a queue at the supermarket.

* Waiting for that important phone call or email.

And my favourite:

* Being kept ‘on hold’ on a phone call so you can speak to the right person/department after pressing numbers in reply to mechanical voices. *sigh*

Maybe you can add more of your own pet hates that take all the patience you can muster up.

We struggle at times to wait patiently on the Lord’s timing. Sometimes we are aware that our waiting could hold a human factor, which can be both aggravating and disappointing; especially when the person involved speaks of God’s timing.

Someone told me once that ‘wait’ is God’s middle name. Is God always the instigator of waiting? Or does he use these waiting times for His glory and purpose? It’s is something to think about. Answers to these questions can cause further frustration in the waiting game, but God can use all these kinds of waiting to build patience for His Glory.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Romans 5:3-5
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Christ teaches us patience through His Word. Experience also teaches patience. We can’t always see God working in the times of waiting but if we take a look back after the event, we’ll see that He was there all the time.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

I love this verse. It’s full of hope, and the delight I feel when I’m in His presence bathes my soul with the joy of the Lord and brings an overwhelming transformation to my spirit. To worship the Father takes me into another realm of emotional joy that takes me in to His throne room of prayer.

Even when sadness touches my life, when pain is always near, or when a friend or family member is hurting, His presence always brings joy back into my spirit.

Isaiah 51:11
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Praise God, I often feel like singing, (I pity the neighbours though) and I can’t get enough of His presence that comes with the joy that He gives me. But, even when I don’t feel like singing or praising God, He can give me back that joy, when sadness threatens to overtake me. I can still go out in joy and be led forth in peace, giving thanks in all circumstances; he does replace my sadness and grief with the joy of the Lord.

Let your week be filled with the joy of the Lord.
© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Philippians 4:12
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Some days I feel overwhelmed by the busyness of life itself. Sometimes it’s physical pain or tiredness. Being aware of the pain that family and dear friends are going through can also overwhelm.

Going through tough times needs courage and though I don’t always feel I have enough, God is always there to see me through. His Word is true and I can do everything through him who gives me strength. I always know that… He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29

Father, I am weak but you are strong. Through the struggles of day-to-day busyness, pain and weariness, I look to you for the courage to go on. Help me to do what I need to do in your strength. Amen.
© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

What is peace?

The meaning of peace:
Calm
Quiet
Stillness
Tranquility
Silence
Harmony
Serenity

My thoughts on peace:
When the storm is over, peace stretches like a rainbow.
Peace is the beautiful presence of my Saviour while in prayer.
When there are no more tears, peace surrounds me like a hug.
Peace flows like a river through my soul.

Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 32:17
“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Peace isn’t always easy to find in the midst of stress, pain and struggle.
Peace is not always found among those we love and care about.
Peace needs to be a desire of our heart.
Peace can be our goal.

Peace be with you.

May God give you peace.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible