I Promise

Lake Wakatipu (Central Otago) viewed from the 'Remarkables' after the rain. When we see a rainbow, God sees it too, and remembers his promise to us.

Hi. Thanks for coming with us to Lake Wakatipu -

'Lakeside' is a little inspirational treat featuring some of New Zealand's prettiest spots. If you prefer a different lake today, just click the button. But if you like it at this place, we can have lunch right here.

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A special sign
My child
I Am
Not a mistake
The Gift

Often when a covenant or pledge is made between two parties a token is given. A case in point is marriage where the ring is the visible symbol.

Thus the glory that God displays in his rainbow, is his tangible token to us that he remembers that we are flesh - merely human - and that he has pledged to care for us. Not only is the sight of a rainbow an object of beauty but, if we will allow him, God will use it to reassure us of his abiding faithfulness. Glimpsing a rainbow is like glimpsing the faithfulness of God. Reflecting upon his covenant will re-create in us a sense of security that is often depleted in the day to day stresses of life.

But God, knowing our humanity took his rainbow and placed it in the clouds so that we could see and understand in part, not only his creative greatness, but also his concern and compassion for us and for all living creatures.

Rainbows, reflectors of light and colour, shades of love, prisms of concern, canopies of care - all the thoughts that go through our minds as we feast our eyes on the heavenly splendour can only serve to reinforce our confidence, strengthening and equipping us for life's journey.

Thank you Lord, for your message in the rainbow. Let the smile that plays on our lips at the sight of your sign in the clouds, spread across our face and let the delight that tugs at our heart defuse into laughter, enabling us to enjoy the gifts of God.

"A SPECIAL SIGN"

Maureen Gedge
"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."
(Genesis 9:13 NIV)

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My child, you may not know me, but I know everything about youPsalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise upPsalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your waysPsalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numberedMatthew 10:29-31 for you were made in my image.Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your beingActs 17:28 for you are my offspringActs 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceivedJeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creationEphesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistakePsalm 139:15-16 for all your days are written in my bookPsalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would liveActs 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully madePsalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mothers’ wombPsalm 139:13 and bought you forth on the day you were born.Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know meJohn 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love1 John 4:16 and it is my desire to lavish my love on you1 John 4:16 simply because you are my child and I am your father.1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever couldMatthew 7:11 for I am the perfect fatherMatthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my handJames 1:7 for I am your provider and I meet all your needs.Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hopeJeremiah 29:11 because I love you with an everlasting loveJeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashorePsalm 139:17-18 and I rejoice over you with singingZephaniah 3:17 will never stop doing good to youJeremiah 32:40 for you are my treasured possession.Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soulJeremiah 32:41 and I want to show you great and marvellous thingsJeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find meDeuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heartPsalm 37:4 for it is I who gave you those desiresPhilippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you can you could possibly imagineEphesians 3:20 for I am your greatest encourager.2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are broken hearted, I am close to youPsalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heartIsaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyesRevelation 21:3-4 and I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:4

I am your Father and I love you even as I love my son, JesusJohn 17:23 for in Jesus my love for you is revealedJohn 17:26 He is the exact representation of my beingHebrews 1:3 and he came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against youRomans 8:31 and to tell you that I am not counting your sins2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your loveRomans 8:32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me1 John 2:23 and nothing will ever separate you from my love again.Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has never seenLuke 15:17 I have always been Father and will always be FatherEphesians 3:14-15 My question is ... Will you be my child?John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Father

Almighty God

"MY CHILD"

Author Unknown
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand."
(Psalm 139:13-18)

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I was regretting the past
And fearing the future
When suddenly my Lord spoke to me:
'My name is "I AM"

The Lord paused.
I waited. The Lord continued

'When you live in the past
With its mistakes and regrets
It is hard. I am not there
My name is not "I WAS"

'When you live in the future
With its problems and fears
It is hard. I am not there
My name is not "I WILL BE"

'When you live in this moment
It is not hard. I am here
My name is "I AM"

"I AM"

Author Unknown


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It was never a mistake to trust him.
To help me never fussed him - never bust him.
It was never a mistake to follow.
He ain't hollow.

I made my mistakes; it's true,
But even then he knew. He bought me through.
It was never a mistake to love him.

Do this. Do that, and you will please him!
You will appease him - grease him.
This is the formula to go by!
No boy!

I tried to do the things they told me,
The things they sold me, that he might hold me.
But that's not the point.

It was never a problem for him to reach me - teach me
He never beached me.
Choices made and life's decisions
Took me down mistaken path.
He didn't laugh.

Take his hand and he will show you.
He won't go you - blow you - throw you.
And if one is broken on this road of gravel,
That we travel:
He can fix him. Nothing licks Him.
It was never a mistake to trust the Lord.

"NOT A MISTAKE"

Christian Gedge
"I lay ... a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed."
(Isaiah 28:16)

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Led by a star they came that night
Across the lonely desert
A King they sought and with them brought
Their gifts of priceless merit
Gold, frankincense and myrrh
Lavish, costly treasure
Well named were they those ancient three
"Wise Men" to give thee pleasure

Dear Lord, if I could clothe my words
So like wise men's gifts they would appear
Then thou shouldst have this part of me
Gladly your message I would bear
But small and mean appears my best
Besides such dazzling splendor
A minute part of what they gave
Is all that I could render

A small boy stood and midst a crowd
Of eager, hungry men
He heard with ready ears and heart
Such words that man could never pen
His heart was touched by these strange words
He knew at once what he would do
He'd give his lunch. It was all he had
The gift was small and mean 'twas true

A gift, not costly, but of priceless worth
Was placed that day within the Master's hands
And as he blessed and broke the bread
The debt of hunger in that crowd
Was met unto its last demands
Five loaves were the 'first fruits' of a blessing
Which not only to those hearers reached
But blessing comes to every soul
Who sits and hears the gospel preached

My words are like that small boys lunch
Inadequate to reach the world's great need
But blessed by thee they can be used
A multitude of hungry souls to feed
So as they flow from tongue and pen
Accept them Lord, though crude they be
And grant that others too may learn
To give their first fruits unto thee.

"THE GIFT"

Joyce Shaw


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