Reflections of Ourselves…

What quality do you value most in a friend?

Receiving the above this morning, I tried to get my head around the line that reads “What you see in others – exists in you’. This is especially as I’ve heard it said time and time again that what you dislike in another is what you dislike in yourself.

What I admire in others, is when I see trustworthiness, honesty, compassion, a listening ear, joy, strength, weakness and love. That is the bear minimum, and from that flows many other things within each characteristic or trait.

  • Trustworthiness – there should be a relaxed flow of the sharing of information with the knowledge that what is said will not be shared with all and sundry! They should also be trustworthy in the sense that you can be sure any information or view, given by them, can be trusted.
  • Honesty – at times we just need a listening ear! However, if we do need opinions and advice, it should be given in all honesty and with love; taking into account how it will be received. The relationship should be one where there is no fear of being belittled or judged.
  • Joy – lots of happiness and laughter (at the right time!) I know of some who take great joy in the misfortune of others!
  • Strength and Weakness – at times where I am weak they can be strong and vice versa. Within that we should be able to give each other good advice or opinions, on a variety of things. It doesn’t have to be of an emotional aspect either, but in discussions on politics, state of the world, religion etc. We should also be able to agree to disagree!
  • Love – everything that is said and done should be with love. It is because of love that I will be trustworthy. All honest opinions and/or advice, should be because of love; not because of wanting to be right but because of love

By no means am I saying I possess an overflow of these traits; now and then my levels can go up and down! However, more often than not, friends should be able to provide each other with positivity, support, connection and interaction.

That which I don’t like is a character of being overly judgemental, having unsightly anger, being brash and hatefulness. That is hate because of a person’s race, status, ability or sex. To think that it could be because they are characteristics I have within, is not understood. In my opinion this is not a statement that can be used across the board.

It’s so important to choose friends wisely. Your choices should be that those you converse and spend time with, are ones you can learn from, grow with, be pulled to another level and can do the same in return. As a group of friends you should all be teachable and the possibility existing for you to rub off on each other, in some shape or form. You should be able to reciprocate and pull another to where you are. The key thing is to know yourself and allow yourself to grow. If you are not strong enough, then be wise enough to keep those with unsuitable characteristics at arms length. We all have friendships that are put into different pockets; what you would tell or do with one you may not tell or do with another.

With regards to everything else said on the image, it’s true that whatever you give out is usually the same that will come back to you. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone were to take into account things on relationships, taught by the Manual for Life (Holy Bible), treated their fellowman with love, and took the below Bible passage into account when going out each day.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

OR

Finally, [a]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s Word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Philippians 4:8 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Philippians 4:8 Lit brethren.

The below song, What a Wonderful World, came to mind. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong, in 1967. It was written by Bob Thiele (under the pseudonym George Douglas) and George David Weiss. The lyrics speak of (in my view) an idealistic/perfect world, which could be achieved. Taking both the above Scripture and below lyrics into account, it all feels so easy. Love should be at the core of everything.

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
I love you

I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes

Try to be the reflection of who and what you want to be. What do you want your world to be like. If we want to see a change in the world, more love in this world, then we have to be that change we want to see.

Self-reflect on what you feel, think and your habits. Sometimes you can become lost in the busyness of life. As a friend we should be able to be a mirror, show or remind our friends of their past accomplishments. The company you keep is also a reflection of who you are. There is a saying that if you lay with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas.

Our friends are often a reflection of ourselves.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Holy Mess

I am leading my bride, the church, into a season of what might seem like a holy mess. What you see as messy is just organised at a level you do not comprehend, because it’s never been seen before.

The things I am doing are not in your control, so why do you assume you need to tidy and order them? My intricate order, to your mind might seem like disorder. Learn to trust Me and follow My lead.  

Fall into step with My dance. I will be faithful to lead you. I am calling you closer to Me because it is My desire to partner with you.  

As I only did what I saw My Father doing, so you through My spirit must only do what you see Me doing. Give up control and let Me lead you in a dance of exquisite complexity that will be a sign and a wonder.
For you to be a part of what I am doing, I need to know you will be obedient to My direction. I have been seeking out people, those resigned to a life of obedience. Fall deeper in love with Me and learn to trust Me. I will not let you go. I will invite you into the greatest kingdom spectacle, front and centre, eyes on Me. It will be a sign and a wonder.

Activation: Do things around you seem chaotic? Do not try to organise them into an order you can grasp hold of. Instead, hand them over to Yahuah in prayer. Breathe in and remember to trust Him because His ways are perfect and He is trustworthy. Ask Yahuah to give you a glimpse of the wonderful intricate plan you are a part of.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares Yahuah.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Yahusha gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

John 5:19 (NIV)

Here am I and the children whom Yahuah has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.

Isaiah 8:18 (NKJV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Grow into Christ

I  am beginning to pull many people up out of the sticky clay ground that they are standing in. This idea brings rejoicing to those who want to be grown and matured by Holy Spirit to be released into deeper levels of service and understanding. This is my heart’s desire for you, to grow up into Christ, but large numbers are resistant to My urging, saying they find it too challenging.

I will teach you to live a victorious life; choose to let Me show you how.

Be a people who decree, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Be well formed and fit for purpose, willingly signed up to My army like young David who heard my call as recorded in 1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV): Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with the sword, and with a spear, and with the javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’

I am drawing up strong, determined, worldwide sets of people to be wise as serpents to destroy the works of the evil one. Do not resist My pulling you up to the next level.

I am pulling you out of that sticky clay, digging you up out of the ground. I will plant you in a new place and put your feet on the rock.

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

I waited patiently for the Lord;
 He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear Yahuah and put their trust in Him.

Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Daily Timings

Rest a little while. Do not be unsettled by resting. I call you to listen to Me for your plans at the start of each day, and throughout the day. Living by hearing, feeling, and knowing Holy Spirit’s instructions will bring health to your soul.

You say, ‘I cannot do that. I’m too busy. I have responsibilities.’

I know the details.

Be sensitive to My prompts, for my plan is to grow your capacity to help you develop discernment to get timings in your life aligned with My timings.

You are My friend as well as My disciple and this is part of your training. Place your days, your minutes and your hours into My hands, and watch Me move.

Activation: Let Yahuah test you by putting this into practice and see if He will not share great wisdom for your daily life.

My life, my every moment, my destiny – it’s all in Your hands.

Psalm 31:15 (TPT)

Simply join your life with Mine. Learn My ways and you’ll discover that I am gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me.

Matthew 11:29 (TPT)

I am doing exactly what the Father destined for Me to accomplish, so that the world will discover how much I love My Father. Now come with Me.

John 14:31 (TPT)

#lionbites

Tuesday Morning Scripture – 1 John 4:7-21

Yahuah’s Love and Ours

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from Yahuah. Everyone who loves has been born of Yahuah and knows Yahuah.

8 Whoever does not love does not know Yahuah, because Yahuah is love.

9 This is how Yahuah showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.

10 This is love: not that we loved Yahuah, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11 Dear friends, since Yahuah so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 No one has ever seen Yahuah; but if we love one another, Yahuah lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 If anyone acknowledges that Yahusha is the Son of Yahuah, Yahuah lives in them and they in Yahuah.

16 And so we know and rely on the love Yahuah has for us. Yahuah is love. Whoever lives in love lives in Yahuah, and Yahuah in them.

17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Yahusha

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because He first loved us.

20 Whoever claims to love Yahuah yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love Yahuah, whom they have not seen.

21 And He has given us this command: anyone who loves Yahuah must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:7-19 (NIVUK)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Sit With Me

My dear friend:
You have been born on this earth because I love you. You have not been born because I have a list of jobs for you to do. It is more personal than that. I see you sometimes fretting about your calling.

Because I love you, and made you in My image, you already have purpose, and that is to love My Son. Be like Yahusha, declaring the great things of the Kingdom, be it through caring, loving, speaking, or through selflessness. I know this is hard sometimes. Your worth is in Me. Because I created your every tendon, blood, vessel, nail, and bone, bring your whole being to Me. I love you endlessly!

It is My call for you to sit at My feet. Your precious presence is
what I desire. Fundamentally, I made you for love. From when you were conceived in your mother’s womb, right up until the day that you join Me in paradise. Where you feel ‘not loved’ by others, sit deep in My arms spiritually and go forwards from that place.

16 And so we know and rely on the love Yahuah has for us. Yahuah is love. Whoever lives in love lives in Yahuah, and Yahuah in them.

17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Yahusha.

1 John 4:16-17 (NIVUK)

42 Then he said, ‘Yahusha, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.[a]

43 Yahusha answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.’

Luke 23:42-43 (NIVUK)
Footnotes
[a] Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – My Way

You and I are one. I am in you as I am in the Father and so together we are made completely one. You are My beloved and I want to rule and reign with you. To do so I am showing you My ways, how I rule and reign. I want you to reflect over the past 3 years and ask Me where I have shaken you and why. Then, ask Me to describe to you what that shaking looked like. I want you to understand why I act the way I do, why I make certain decisions.

My ways are higher than yours, and I want to show you those higher ways. I want you to see that I rule over the universe, not just your life. Do you understand why you have to go through certain things? Do you see why certain situations will give you growth and strength? Can you see the bigger picture? Your trials are not just for you, they are for the bigger picture.

If you understand My ways, I can give you more to rule and reign over. I can then increase your territory and let you occupy that space. You will then be able to help others conquer a situation, or change the atmosphere in a region. I want you to step into what you are meant to be doing. To rule and reign with Me, but you have to understand My ways first.

Activation:
Reflect with the Lord on the situation where He shook you.
What was shaken and why?
How does God shake and to what purpose?

Teach me your ways, Yahuah, that I may walk in Your truth; let me wholeheartedly revere Your name.

Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

As for Yahuah, His way is perfect; The word of Yahuah is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him.

Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)

#lionbites