Lamp-Lighter/Legacies #161

We buried my brother today. Technically not "buried", as his earthly body was cremated, but we said our good-byes.
I am reminded of the 19th century lamp-lighters, who lit the street lamps on their routes one by one.
Getting to the end of their routes, they could look behind and see the results of their work.
We are all meant to be "lamp-lighters...the lamps are those whom we have a chance to ouch and illuminate. Our legacies are found in relationships and the measure of a person is found through love, not wealth or stuff.
What is your legacy...how are the "lamps" on your "route" doing?

May all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
- Steve Green, Find Us Faithful

Redemption 178

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:1, 2, 9, 12, 15, 16 NKJV)

My brother, Alvin Joel Nemets, Jr., died of a massive stroke on December 20, 2013, at the young age of 57. He was my only brother. He was 15 months older than me,  and bore our father's namesake.
We weren't very close between the years between of 20 and 50 years old. Each of us had gone our own ways. We exchanged occasional phone calls, and I brought Jesus as Lord and Savior up repeatedly over the course of the last couple years, especially after a tremendous awakening I had  followed by my suffering through health trials and nearly dying-passing over-myself.
He was a kind and gentle man, but he was plagued by decades of substance abuse.
Along with that were many relationships that were broken: relatives, friends, wives, and children.
I never knew for sure if he was really listening to me, whether he had really received Jesus as his Lord and Savior, or whether he really understood the gravity, importance, or urgency of this decision.
One day he told me that he had believed, confessed, and been baptized at the church where he and his wife had begun attending!
When he was found by a neighbor the morning of  December 21, he had died on his knees as if he had been praying when he passed into eternity.
Redeemed.
Jesus said that "the last shall be first". Redemption and salvation, a place in our Father's "big big house", is gladly extended by our Redeemer -Yeshua Himself.
It is a most comforting thought to know with certainty that I will see him-as well as so many
others who have passed before him-again.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3 NKJV)

True Identity 231

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,"(Romans 8:14-16 NKJV)

If you are asked who you are how would you respond? Often times the response is: " I'm a... (whatever that person's career/profession is).  We live in a world where identities are often mistaken. People confuse their professions, status and memberships, other attachments to temporal things as who they are, instead of the prospect of  identity given through the spirit of adoption by God the Father and sonship. If identity is related to profession, finances, what is left when there are shakings and these things are stripped away? The apostle Paul was of high birth and status, had a great job as a Gamaliel-schooled rabbi/Torah giant, and  highly respected ...he clearly had been one who identified himself through these things, and yet read what he wrote when he "got it": "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8 NIV). I have written this post not as an indictment against anyone, but because I am traveling down this road  and even now have not gotten to the end of it.  Our identities are meant to be wrapped up in knowing Jesus. My goal is singular: To know and be apprehended by Jesus, to remain focused on Knowing Him alone. I am focusing on the great truth that His worth surpasses everything else, but it's not always that easy. Nonetheless, my hope, my peace, my joy and content-my everything-can only be found in Him alone.  The demolition and transformation that life as a followers of Jesus brings will continue until last moment on earth. Ruth Bell Graham's gravestone reads:"End of construction...thank you for your patience!"

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." (John 1:12, 13 NIV)

Blue

"The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16

The holidays are again upon us, and although we are admonished to be filled with "Christmas cheer" there are many who have the holiday blues, living in the darkness brought on by depression, anxiety, worry, sickness, lack, and more. Caught in this web of darkness, they ...we...me can lose sight of the truth-the revelation that the Light dawned over 2000 years ago. The advent of God, Yeshua, coming down so that we could come up, Im-anu-el, God-with-us... God sending His only Son, forsaking heaven to bring the greatest gift to the race of men.
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2:9, 10 NIV
Good news...great joy...abounding mercy, grace, furious love, deliverance, protection, provision ...He is worthy of all adoration, worship, and our trust.
So beloved, not just in this season, but always, let us turn our eyes upward, not inward.

Overcoming Envy

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Thankfulness and gratefulness are essential keys to life. They are weapons that combat envy and covetousness, those dark emotions and desires that came from the devil himself. Envy creates focus on things that are not ours, but someone else's. Envy creates jealousy, fuels animosity and anger, and regardless of what is possessed or supplied to the envious it is never enough...envy is insatiable in its very nature. 

When we choose to thank God in all things, in spite of situations and circumstances that may be difficult, we exercise faith which by very definition is "things hoped for that are yet unseen " we please our Abba. Regardless of what difficulties may be in front of us or we are in the middle of,  the Word of God reminds us that we are not forgotten. We serve a mighty God who hears our praises and prayers and He is so good, even when current circumstances are difficult and uncomfortable. 

Give thanks to the Lord!

Fascinations 205

"Whatever fascinates us will guide us, so I pray that the only thing that will fascinate me is God and His marvelous glory."
~ AW Tozer

Fascination: A powerful attraction, something so overwhelming that everything else pales in comparison (my definition).
 I am fascinated, overwhelmed by the One who made me. Constantly fascinated by His love, His magnificence, and awestruck by Him.

"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
Psalm 27:4 NIV

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."
Psalm 42:1 NIV

I want to see my Father's glory,  to be awash in the radiance of all that He is.
I want to be overtaken by God's radiance, ignited as a tinder-dry forest is set ablaze.
Staying fascinated though means setting my face like flint, focused on Him.
To be honest it's not always that easy for me though.
Storms do come.
I cannot bow to distractions and pressures of this life, regardless of their origins.
The trials that come are not meant to discourage or distract, but rather to draw,
keeping me face to face with Him.
I don't want preoccupation with media, electronics (even my beloved Apple devices), sports,etc. to interfere with my Magnificent Obsession.
Nothing else is worthy of my devotion, my fascination with Him.
If I sound to you like an incurable lovesick fanatic I'm more than okay with that.
Like Tozer, I pray that the only thing that will fascinate me is God Himself-and His marvelous glory.

Keep Digging 64

"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” "
Genesis 26:17, 19-22 NIV

There are times in our lives when things go so wonderfully. The wells we have dug are flowing with refreshing water. Plans execute with perfection, our cups run over brimming with dreams fulfilled, a full hearts, and life abundant.
But when we are in times and  seasons of dryness, trudging through a desert as our enemies clog up our "wells" how do we respond?
This is not theoretical or rhetorical to me. For those of you who read me regularly you have probably noticed my posts have been fewer, less regular.  It seems as if sometimes my "wells" have been messed with-by the enemy who are always doing all he can to shut me down, cutting off the flow of joy, creativity, spiritual insight, and all the gifts and blessings that emanate from my Father.
The solution which was spoken over and into me as a brother prayed over me today: keep digging! Keep shoveling through adversity, discouragement, fear, and doubt as The Lord Himself takes me into new seasons and wide open places, Rechovot, where hope and faith are restored as fresh waters revive and replenish.
Keep digging!

Perfect Timing/ Faith or Experience 180

"We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to The Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Covenant says Jesus Christ is! and then think of the despicable meager ness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, " I haven't had this experience or that experience"! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides- he can present us faultless before the throne of god, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified....How can anyone who is identified  with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief."
"Faith or Experience"
Oswald Chambers,
My Utmost For his Highest, November 13

Yesterday I did not get out of bed till 10:30.
To be honest I have had moody moments,
tough times of  roller coaster emotions as of late when selfish feelings have gotten the best of me.
But God's timing is always perfect for every reason.
Here is some of  the resulting prayer that I journaled:

"Father forgive me for allowing dryness and weariness to cover me instead of your glory, peace, and joy. There are times when I feel like disappointment and unfulfilled expectations overwhelm me and cause me to mope about like a spoiled child. Instead of rejoicing in your extravagant love, grace, and mercy, I've complained about small things. Forgive me when I've sat immobilized covered in the dust of doubts, fear, and faithlessness, even as you are before me, waiting for me to allow you to wash away these things. Help me, Lord, to step out out that sinking boat I've been sitting in, and walk where I didn't think possible because of thoughts that I was not gifted enough, holy enough, not worthy of your calling. Help me to hear your voice and embrace your words of love, tenderness, encouragement, affirmation, and grace."

Reminders 204

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
Matthew 6:26, 27 NKJV

This week I received a reminder from my Father that no situation is unseen by Him, not even the smallest of needs. We have a 5 year old Civic that has metallic paint. It has 100,000+ miles on it, it has been a great car and to be sure my attention to taking good care has contributed to the great condition. In the last couple months though, I had noticed that the paint on the roof of the car has started to become chalky and faded rather suddenly. I wondered how this happened and begun to wonder if the previous owner had done  undisclosed, shoddy repair work. There was no record of it if this was the case, but it really bothered me. I began to think of how I was going to manage to get this refinished as money has been tight.
Two days ago I received a notice in the mail from Honda informing me of a factory defect in the paint finish of certain Civics - and ours was one of them! Next week the roof of the car is going to be repainted compliments of Honda, but really, compliments of a Father God who chose to do small thing to remind a son that He loves me and that He's totally got this handled-as well as every other need.

Prayer: Father forgive us for sometimes worrying and wondering about how our needs will be taken care of. Help us to jettison any poverty mentality clinging to us, and walk in our true identities as sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, AMEN.

Remembrances/A Letter To My Father

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 
Exodus 20:12

Yesterday was October 22, and being the sentimentalist I am, I remember important dates. I find that I don't have to write some dates onto my calendar, they're just engrained into my consciousness. October 22 is such a date-the anniversary of my father's passing.
Below is a letter I've written to my father:

Dear Dad,
It's hard to believe that you have been gone 24 years. I am so thankful that you lived to be 82, and considering that you were 50 when I was born I consider myself blessed that I had you for 32 years.
I have some great memories of you, Dad, remembrances I cherish: the horseplay at bedtime when you tickled me till I couldn't breathe... you carrying me to bed when I was a little boy when I feigned falling asleep in front of the TV... the scent of your cologne...your amazing cooking when you were home. Your career managing restaurants kept you very busy and I didn't get to spend a lot of time with you when I was young. I find that I took your life span for granted, that somehow I never really considered the inevitability of your passing. I had so many questions I wanted to ask you, but I can't now. I knew that you wouldn't live forever. You had a couple bouts with cancer, but I did not rearrange my schedule in order to spend more time with you, especially the last 2 years.
I wanted to know so much more about your life but the opportunity never came. I wanted to share with you  the changes that Yeshua had made and continued to make in my life, and I know that you saw how different I had become, but time slipped away. I know that you did not understand my decision to believe in Him but you still loved me.  I was a newlywed and my job required many of my hours.
Although I wish that I could go back and do things differently I can't.
Today I choose to be thankful.
I thank God for you, for the love you gave me, and for those positive qualities I received as your son. I choose to embrace, cherish, and honor my memories of you. Today I only know in part, "seeing through the mirror dimly" as Paul said,  but one day "I will know and be fully known", and in that day I look forward to seeing you again.
I love you,
Hugh

Daily 184

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20

When I received Jesus as my Savior, I came just as I was, and He received me that way, covered in all my filth, brokenness, and corruption. I had no idea what it meant to be crucified with Him; I didn't understand what it meant to be baptized into His death. I thought that I'd just be able to put on the "saved and born-again coat" spotless and white, over the soiled personage of who and what I was, and that would suffice. 
His sacrifice, His effort, all to my benefit, yes, but I thought that I'd just coast along.
In the beginning of my walk, I thought just Jesus got up on His cross so I didn't have to, Praise God. Yes, He paid the ultimate penalty for me, but early on I had no idea there was a great transformation that would be required. 
He loved me so much He wouldn't-couldn't-let me stay the way I was(Romans 12:2).

"Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,and follow Me."

Luke 9:23

I didn't understand that there was a cross, custom-made with my name on it, if I were to follow Jesus, I would be required to pick it up daily. Luke 9:23..there it is...the term daily, not occasionally when I felt like it, no-it is written just like the dosage instructions for an important medication. If I wanted to follow Him then I had to carry my own, just as Jesus had.  Only room for one.
My natural fleshy nature has to die if my spiritual man is to thrive. 
The process prescribed is not elective, it cannot be transferred or allayed. 
My cross...daily...
Maybe I'm stating the obvious here. 
To most of us the Scripture I am referencing here are well known, as we nod with acknowledgement. 
No pain no gain, we say.
Yet how many of us can gladly carry their own crosses as if to say through every painful experience, "Thank you Lord, may I have another..."
I know that in and of myself I can't; I'm just being honest here, but thankfully the weight of it is offset by the easy yoke that He has promised to give me to lighten the load.

No Questions 179

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. 
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." 
I Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

I was having this conversation with my daughter the other day about one of God's saints, Corrie Ten Boom. I have been posting a few of her quotes lately on my Facebook;
I mentioned that I can't wait to meet her, that I have so many questions I want to ask  her.
As I said this I thought about all the others I can't wait to meet.
My Father-God, and the Son, let me not forget Holy Spirit, and all those in the great cloud of witnesses.
Holy Spirit showed me that there would be no need to verbally ask-
we will just know all of it!
Think about that: we will know and be known-instantly.
All of life's mysteries...the answers to all of the hardest questions here, such as the untimely deaths of those we loved and valued. The difficult times and circumstances that directed our paths as we journeyed through our earthly lives...we will have an ah-ha moment that will be like a supernova exploding. All of it driven by the furious love of our Father who always purposes all things to work together for good.
So, with this in mind I find myself at a greater level of peace knowing there will be only answers and revelation when we are finally face-to-face.

Called #164

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” "
Matthew 4:18, 19 NIV

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— "
Romans 1:1 NIV

How do you view yourself?
Do you ever feel like God can't use you because of your lack of diplomas and certificates, physical flaws or disabilities, or an unremarkable resume?
In the Old Covenant, God used people who were stutters, prostitutes, and wimps, and  when I think about  how Jesus picked the Twelve, I am always amazed. He didn't go to the Sanhedrin or the cohenim (the priesthood), or rabinical schools like Gamaliel's, advertising:
"Wanted - 12  Disciples, Now Accepting Applications". He wasn't interested in fancy resumes, the declarations of the proud and the self-aggrandizing. He was looking at the hearts of men, and He found what He was looking for in Simon called Peter, Andrew, John, and the others.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
Acts 4:13 NKJV

They did not have credentials or titles,  just pure hearts, willing to drop everything and follow Him.
Although Paul was highly credentialed, (a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, Gamaliel-trained, etc) this is not what he identified with. He wanted to be known as "Paul, a servant of Messiah Yeshua", counting everything else as garbage (Phil. 3:8).
Jesus is no respecter of persons, which is not to say that He doesn't respect each person as a person but it does mean that He has equal consideration and love for every one, regardless of their list of credentials, or lack of credentials.
I am blessed to be associated with a kaleidoscope of people and personalities in different walks of life, and the different ministries we are associated with, and I see among these brothers and sisters a commonality: they, like Paul, don't flaunt their credentials, because they know and understand that "the eyes of the Lord are run to and fro across the earth"... they possess pure and surrendered hearts, abandoning all else, for the highest calling...all servants and bond-slaves of Jesus.

As we respond to His call with willing hearts it is then that He qualifies and enables us to do extraordinary things through the Holy Spirit,  just as He did with twelve "ordinary"uneducated blue collar men. 

Truth/Decisions 181

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."
I Peter 4:12, 13 

My goal is to always be real and transparent-truthful and honest-in my writing, and I consider myself a victor and an overcomer. But I would be less than truthful to say that my state of being is always '4 stars and 2 thumbs up".
So in this spirit of transparency I want to share a bit:

The truth is that I'm not always as farsighted, visionary, and joyful  as I'd like to be.
The truth is that sometimes I feel like Elijah- slaying my "enemies" and running in the spirit so powerfully that I overtake my better equipped adversaries, but then find myself shaking like a leaf and high-tailing it to some hiding place ( but not THE HIDING PLACE) inside myself, trying to flee pain, fear, and anxiety..
The truth is that sometimes it is downright hard to "rejoice to the extent I am partaking of my Messiah's sufferings", hard to deny my "self" , hard to see past the pain that takes my breath away.
The truth is that sometimes I can't get out of the way of my own sense of suffering, which is most noticeable when the words, "Thank You, Lord" , seem to be missing from my vocabulary.
The truth is that I am just a flawed and weak man.
The truth is that when I forget that there is a direct correlation between suffering and the certainty of what's coming when His glory is unveiled  I lose sight of the fact that joy and gladness trump trials and suffering.
The truth is that when the conscious decision is made to realize and understand that suffering in this life as a follower of Yeshua our Messiah cannot be viewed as strange or unusual; He never promised a rose garden, and even if He had we must understand that roses bushes have thorns.
A greater revelation comes when I consciously deny myself, and praise and thanksgiving flows from my heart in place of groans and tears.
Suffering is meant to be transitionary, and when it comes it should be a reminder of the future glory that every moment that passes brings us closer to the everlasting experiences that "eye has not seen, nor ear heard".

Beloved, remember that although we will deal with weakness and trials, it is God's will for us to walk in a strength not fueled in or of ourselves, but fueled by the greatest joy-the joy of the Lord.

For with God all things are possible.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Questions For The Potter 299

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 
Exodus 20:17 

Have you ever been envious of another's gifts, talents, ministry- their life- dealt with or perhaps dealing with right now-feelings of inferiority as you measured yourself against that person, and to your mind come up short? Have you ever lamented the fact that you are you and asked God: "Lord, why couldn't I have been that other person?Why couldn't I  look like them, have their gifts, their house, their cars & boats, their job, their wealth, their spouse, etc.?
You, the clay, asking the Potter why He made you the way you are?

"... And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1a-3

God, who is omni-everything, loves and values each of us most highly.
He doesn't make mistakes.
We are all running the race marked out for us, but on varied and unique tracks, paths that He has mapped out especially for each of us. These paths are illuminated step by step  ("Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105 NIV). We see just far enough so as to not stumble, but not like headlamps on a car that illuminate way ahead. But additionally and more important  to remember is that because we each have our own journey, it is necessary that we not jealously compare our lives and the gifts God has given us, as well as our own races to those of our brothers and sisters, no more than Cain jealously compared his situation with Abel's.
Taking our eyes off of Jesus, and looking  jealously across the track at others who have different and varied gifts, is a dangerous thing.
So beloveds, let's persevere, and remain focused on Jesus, our prize.
In so considering the Author and Perfecter we will not weary, nor shall we lose heart. 

Unbound

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.  Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 

Daniel 3:19-25 NKJV

The other day I read this passage for the umpteenth time, and I noticed something I never saw before: The bindings.
Bound at the orders of the king these 3 faithful men of God were thrown into the furnace. 

Not only were they protected by God from the heat and smoke, no bruises from falling down, but the bindings that they had been tied up with were disintegrated! Their oppressors watched in amazement as they walked freely with a fourth being whose appearance was so glorious that Nebuchadnezzar himself referred to him as "the Son of God". In the flames, the only things burnt off were the ropes that they had been bound with!

"Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free Indeed."
John 8:36

Often times we must go through refiner's fires in order to have the various ties that have bound us burnt off. Sometimes these shackles are the doings of the devil and others, but more often than not it is us- we have stretched out our own arms, legs, necks and bound ourselves. You know what some of them are: addictions to drugs, alcohol, sex, being double minded, and struggling with unbelief to name a few....
Although we may have stepped forward for deliverance, been prayed over, etc. many times, until we are thrown into that superheated "furnace" nothing changes, and we already knew that it wouldn't ... We want to blame the devil for everything, but every time those ties are loosened we ourselves cinch them tight again.
Only when we realize that it takes the glorious revelation of Jesus our deliver being right there with us, walking with us that we can truly become set free and unbound.

Beyond the Boat/Comfort Zones

"And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus."
Matthew 14:28, 29 

We have all read this scripture where Peter joins Jesus for a stroll on the Galilee.
The scriptures tell us that the lake was tempestuous, with high winds that had kicked up whitecapped waves. The small boat with the disciples on board-without Jesus-was taking the brunt of it.
There are no comments of the disciples recorded here, but I am sure they were not very happy about Jesus making them head out to the other side of the Galilee (Matt.14:22) without Him accompanying them. I'm sure they may have felt stranded, abandoned. They were "up the proverbial creek with a paddle", or so they thought.
Out in the middle of that stormy sea, just before dawn, they see something, or someone-walking across the waves! Thinking with their natural, unbelieving minds they surmise it's a ghost, but then they hear the voice of the Shepherd! How could it be ? After all, aren't they in the middle of this body of water that has a 33 mile circumference? But Peter calls to Him: "Lord, if it's You, bid me to get out of ths boat (paraphrased) and come to you on the water!" Jesus says."Come!" and as his astounded companions watch, he throws comfort and convention to the wind, swings his legs over the side, fixes his eyes on Jesus and does the seemingly impossible.

I find myself getting "out of the boat", maybe even being thown out of the boat,to be totally honest, out of the established comfort zone, jettisoned from my Egypt, my Ur... I'm headed down (or up) a new path that is directed by faith, not the convention or  wisdom of the world.
It is the voice of my Shepherd that guides me and I reach forward to grab hold of His hand.
Fixing my eyes on the Perfecter (Heb.12:2), I desire to do what Peter failed to do here...
he sank because He took his eyes off Jesus and let his worldly thought overwhelm him.
Jesus continues to tell me that nothing is impossible when He is with us and this is what I concentrate on. He calms my anxieties, squashes my fears, and  illuminates my journey step by step.
It is faith, not sight that directs me.  (2 Cor. 5:7).

Assurances and Fears/Amazing Grace

"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 
You know when I sit and when I rise; 
You perceive my thoughts from afar. 
You discern my going out and my lying down; 
You are familiar with all my ways. 
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 
Where can I go from your Spirit? 
Where can I flee from your presence? 
Psalm 139:1-4, 7 NIV

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling"
Philippians 2:12

The Holy Scriptures tell us that the Lord is omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign, and all powerful, halleluyah! If you are like me, you find these considerations to be very reassuring...but I must confess that at the same time they can be quite frightening. This means that He sees all of our trials, every situation, tribulations and triumphs. This also means that everything that I have thought or will think about, every action, every holy or fleshly thought, is laid bare before Him.  His grace is more than sufficient, but the very thought of my unholiness being on display before my Most Holy Magnificent God...can be unnerving to say the least. Now don't get me wrong; my love for God and the realization that Jesus paid the highest price to redeem me from sin and death, and the fact that I live, move, and have my being in Him through the Holy Spirit are driving forces. I am acutely aware though that He sees every trace of leaven, every speck of darkness, and He desires that we just be honest and real with Him. It makes no more sense to try to hide anything from Him anymore than when Achan hid golden idols under the floor of his tent, or Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter  about holding back money. Let us be thankful for His amazing Grace that covers our mess-ups, and let us exercise this same grace abundantly with each other.

Striving and Resting 9

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; 
against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22, 23 NASB

I know of very few things that are more difficult for me to accomplish than waiting.
Waiting requires patience, and patience has not been a historically strong attribute of mine.
Waiting requires resting, the time and place when you can't do anything on your own.
I want things to happen my way, now.
My flesh often has already predetermined a desired outcome or decision,
and therefore I have crafted prayers in my heart that I want  to make happen, or so I think.
The trouble with that is rarely the outcome I have desired for past decisions the outcome that God had desired.
I can trace most of the problems I have brought on myself because I was unwilling to wait for the answer from my Father, and in so doing, I have created a striving.
In Galatians 5:22-23, notice that patience (NIV translation reads forbearance-) is sandwiched by the the other fruits of the Spirit. Patience places one in a position of waiting/rest...the balance of the fruits accompanying. Now consider replacing patience/rest with striving-the opposite position, and replace the other fruits with their opposites...you may well find yourself in an atmosphere where you are immersed in the bitter fruits of anger/hatred, unhappiness/depression, strife/quarrels, STRIVING, mean-spirited,  evil, unfaithfulness, harshness, reprobate mind/ selfish.  Ouch.
So, I find myself in a place of physical disability-unable to strive- where God has brought me, kicking and screaming, to a place of rest. Unable to force anything,  I hear Him say, "ssshhh", as a parent comforts a wailing infant,  as my spirit is quieted and I fall into His rest, knowing that whatever the situation, He's got it under control, and I am comforted by His inexhaustable grace, mercy, and love.
As the song goes: "He's got the whole world in His hands..."

Between Rocks and Hard Places/ Desolation 5

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
II Corinthians 12:9-10

I am in a very difficult spot; between the proverbial "rock and a hard place". 
Allow me to explain: After enduring a life threatening, extended illness that kept me out of work for more than 6 months I returned to work for about 4 months. I was so happy to return to a relatively healthy state of being with all it's busy-ness. Then the unthinkable happened... I injured my back.
So with a great deal of pain, two trips to the ER including another 2 day hospital stay over the last 6 weeks, I find myself unemployed, all my benefits terminated, no financial resources, and in need of surgery. There are so many questions swirling about - my mind  just has a great big cerebral "?", like the big question mark on the pole that grocery chain Trader Joe's employees carry about the store -and honestly, many tears of anguish, physical pain from my spinal injury, loss, and the realization that a chapter of my life is ending. 
A rock and a hard place.
But I have choices of what I allow in that space between rocks and the hard places. I can allow desolation to be a place of hopelessness and negativity (which are not thoughts from God but from the devil), or  I can realize that the place between the rocks and hard places is my Mt. Horeb, where both Elijah and Moses found renewal as they were stripped of all but His presence. It was at this desolate place that they thanked, worshipped and dwelled with Him. They were prepared for their greatest revival and exploits. New beginnings. Double portions. The knowledge that God has not forsaken or abandoned me, but has brought me here for times of intimacy and "FaceTime", just me and Him. My problem with being busy is that although I desire to keep Him first, and give the first fruits of my time to The Lord, I have a hard time keeping this commitment, and He is Jealous.
So I will treat this new season as a gift from God...I have no idea where I am going, but I know that He is with me, leading and guiding me, and He is God over everything, especially over my circumstances.

Hope and Faith

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

“Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. ”
― Charles Spurgeon

The definition of faith is things that are hoped for that are yet unseen. 
It is hope that drives what we call faith. We hope and believe for certain things and can rest in an assurance that is driven and given to us through God's Holy Spirit. 
Elijah was assured in the Spirit that rain would come even when he prayed under a hot and cloudless sky from atop Mt. Carmel, and as he prayed on in faith and hope the sky was filled with dark rain clouds, pregnant with promises.
Even when we don't yet see the fruit of His promises yet, we know that if He said it, we can believe it - there is hope and faith, working together.
We are strengthened. We are believers. God's Word is true.
Jesus said, "if it were not so, I would've told you so." John 14:2b
It is the devil who wants to rob us of hope and faith, leaving us sick and despondent, if we listen to his whispers of dark and doubtful things.
He incessantly tries to whisper to us, "did you really hear God say that to you?"
Do not listen to the lies of  the great liar, beloved!
Today, say YES and AMEN to God's promises...let faith and hope arise anew in each of us!

Reflections

"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." 
Genesis 2:7 

I began reflecting on why our Creator chose to fashion mankind in His glorious image from the dust of the earth. Why didn't He make us from something else, something precious and rare, perhaps gold or silver? No, He chose the most common, the dirtiest, the lowest stuff that is nothing more than cast-off material. He formed Adam and breathed His Ruach HaKadosh into him, and made mankind just a little lower than angels. But there was a Fall.
Without the Father's love, grace, mercy and the revelation of all that He is and has for us, that comes only with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, what are we really?  
Before Jesus apprehends us, we are walking dead, not knowing that we aren't  really alive, never knowing what real love is, never even knowing why we truly exist.  We are just empty vessels,  a valley of dry bones. We strive to find purpose and meaning to answer the questions:
Why am I here? What is my purpose?
We are just fancy arrangements of dust, until His Holy Spirit changes everything in us.
By  Him, and Him alone, our hearts are transformed from stone to flesh.
We can live, move, and have our being, and able-no,  more than able, to reflect God's glory in all that we do, not because of ourselves, but because Christ, the Hope of Glory, lives in us.

Rerouting

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand ,
Or whenever you turn to the left."
 Isaiah 30:21

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (
Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 

Most of us are familiar with GPS or navigation devices these days. When we go the wrong direction or make a wrong turn, the device will quickly let us know by proclaiming, " REROUTING", followed by the new directions to get us back on track headed to our destination. The most sophisticated systems take into account  where the heavy traffic is and avoid it, and can be tailored to avoid certain types of roads, or not, even picking the shortest distance, or the fastest time to arrive. Sometimes the path we are directed towards is unfamiliar to us and is contrary to the way we would've naturally chosen.
The Lord lays out the best path for us, and gives us his Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, who speaks to us softly, whispering to us: " This is my way, the way that you should go."  Sometimes that direction may seem like the wrong way, but as we move forward trusting the Lord with all our hearts, and not leaning on our own understanding, we eventually see a great outcome. Without the Holy Spirit GPS we would just pick another way that may seem right to us but actually leads to a dead end. Hearing His voice and following Him requires that we spend time before Him in prayer and meditation, "presenting our supplications" and "being still and knowing that He is God".
If you hear that still small voice staying REROUTING follow  it.
There is no plan that is as good as His.

Gatekeepers/ Fatherhood

Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son — blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Genesis 22:15-18

Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord : ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
II Samuel 12:9-12

This weekend I attended an Encounter Weekend workshop. In one of the sessions the speaker spotlighted Abraham's willingness and obedience to God  even to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the angel of the Lord stopping Abraham's hand as he began the downstroke to kill his beloved son, against King David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and subsequent murder of Uriah, and all the adversity, intrigue, rape, perversion, near overthrow of his kingdom by his son, Absalom, (who's very name meant "Father of Peace"), death, darkness and a kingdom ultimately divided and conquered.
Abraham's descendants were blessed because of his faithfulness, but David's descendants paid a heavy price because of his shortsightedness, even though David was forgiven.
I began to reflect on my (our) personal responsibility as a father(s) to be a gatekeeper and guardian both of my (our) current generation(s) and those to follow. My (our) sins would be visited on my (our) descendants to the third and fourth generations and possibly even to the tenth generation, but so will my (our)obedience..."obedience is better than sacrifice..." 1Sam 15:22.
In the light of such impact my actions are guided by viewing the big picture. choosing today to obey God and unleash supernatural long reaching blessings on our families, those who follow us, who in turn will be empowered to obey the Lord, becoming gatekeepers, and in turn, setting up a supernatural chain reaction of blessings not curses.

Trials and Joy 186

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"
James 1:2

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; 
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him."
Psalms 28:7

We all know James 1:2... When trials come that we are to count it all joy, right?
We all nod our heads affirming this.
We read it and say that we understand it, right up until that moment when the trial of trials sucker-punches us right in the face.  We struggle even to catch our next breath,
so devastated at that moment that tears and cries of anguish haven't  come yet.
Debilitating fear and the uncertainty of the future can immobilize,
if we do not acknowledge and activate a promise and great spiritual acknowledgement:
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!
I know that Daniel laughed in the lion's den, Paul never ceased to rejoice in the Lord- ever!
Enduring stonings, shipwrecks, put on trials, scourged,
these men of God had caught the revelation of God's great love and power, and God's great promises.
Trials are meant to bring joy, and joy releases supernatural strength!
Remember this beloved, and as I write this,
I too invoke these principles of promise for supernatural strength in the face of  natural weakness.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Romans 8:28, 31, 32, 35-39 NKJV

Transitions/Moving Day 185

I wrote this from my hospital bed today.
It seems that some heavy lifting I did while trying to hoist a couple 50lb.bags of mulch from my wife's van caused a re-injury to previous  damage to my lower back.
Apparently I'm not 29, 39, or even 49 any more.
The plain facts of mortality.
The older I get, the more I grow in maturity in Jesus as I seek after Him.
It comes, though, with the realization that my body is aging, wearing out.
Everyday is a day closer to my  'moving day" when I will finally be "clothed in my heavenly habitation".
I must decrease so that He must increase...in every conceivable and inconceivable aspect,
in every facet of my earthly life.

"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. "
II Corinthians 5:1-8

Someday in the future, at a predestined time known only to my Father, I will be present with the Lord. This of course means that I will be absent from my earthly body, just as all who have gone before me, and those who will have their own "moving days" after mine.
Not a morbid thoughts, rather glorious ones as we consider beholding Him in all His glory!
How exciting, beloved!
So the next time you are faced with sickness, aches, pains, & tears,
remember that we are headed to one Neighborhood, to mansions crafted for us by our Shepherd/Carpenter, where illness,anguish, tears, and fears are banished.
Joy and love are standing orders in this Place of Endless Worship.
Rejoice in The Lord!

The Quest 312

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?" Psalms 42:1, 2 

My days are spent in one of two modes: either I am in the presence of  my almighty Father/Abba, or I am in search of Him. The difference in the modes? My heart. Am I striving in my own strength, or resting in His? Am I looking at my circumstances at the moment, or am I gazing into His face as I sit in His lap. Am I feeling the palpitations of my own stessed out heart beat, or feeling the steadiness, love, and power of His?
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me." Psalms 139:7-10 
So I choose the path that leads to the fullness of life. My quest is Jesus and all that He is.
The promise of abundant life-joy, a realization that He is right here with me, that His hands are holding me and guiding me. In the remotest parts of the earth and the remotest corners of my heart..."Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me." Shir HaShirim 2:6
Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27
Beloved, my prayer is that the greater the search, the more fervent the quest and hunger for Jesus, the greater the presence and in dwelling of His fullness in us all.

Head Over Heels/Compulsion 311

"... that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19

"We love Him because He first loved us."
I John 4:19

Recently I had an opportunity once again to share Jesus with a close relative.
The objections popped up over and over as my wife and I tried to explain why it is that we believe.
The usual questions arose: how can we know for sure there is a God?
How can God allow terrible things to happen to innocent people, what about aliens,
if there is a God how do you know we have the right "religion"?
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Corinthians 2:14 
I was compelled in our discussions to keep coming back to my testimony and the very thing that won my heart and soul: that God loved me and knew everything about me even when I thought of myself as a lost cause, with a love so furious that He sent His only Son to bear the penalty I (we) deserved, making a way for me (us) out of hell and into eternity in heaven.
I was aware of all his questions, all his issues, because I was in the very same place, BC- before Christ- but every pre-BC paradigm has been overturned- "for the love of Christ compels me" (2 Cor.5:14a). It is my prayer for him, and for every other "pre-believer",  that they would be seized by the revelation of God's love, falling head over heels in love with the Ultimate Lover, and be compelled, drawn and driven, receiving all that God has for them.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Church in Unlikely Places 192

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20

I had a praise and worship session recently with a brother and sister in the Lord in an unlikely place: my showroom office. I am not at all unaccustomed to having"church" anywhere and everywhere, but how breathtaking when He chooses to just show up!
These friends came looking just for a car, or so they thought…it was a divine appointment.
There was laughter, testimony, praise, prayer, and tears as we fellowshipped about spiritual things, and testified about things the Lord is done, and is doing even now.
Jesus told his disciples: "For where two or three gather in my Name, there I am with them."
There is no better purpose or reason to gather together than under the banner of Jesus.
In Him we are meant to live, move, and have our being-living epistles, living stones…
each of us an important addition branching out from the Chief Cornerstone.
Take any and every opportunity to gather, beloved, exalting His Holy Name-
as there is no "inappropriate" place or time for events such as this.

Water and Stone

There are times in our lives where we find ourselves in a desert. 

We may feel parched, dry, covered with the dust of our toil and struggles. 

Weary and  exhausted, we find ourselves spiritually panting for the refreshment of "mayim chaim"- living water.  

The revival and restoration that only the Ruach HaKodesh, 

the Holy Spirit, can bring: 

"As the deer pants for streams of water,

    so my soul pants for you, my God.

² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.    
When can I go and meet with God?"
    
Psalm 42:1-2

It is times like these that we must go to the Rock:

"From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;    lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

The children of Israel sojourned in the desert and water poured from a rock as Moses followed the Lord's commands. To my spirit rock (stone) is a picture of strength, stability, and the basis of where renewal and revival emanates from.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:28-31


Lean on the Rock today beloved, and be restored as you soak in the mayim chaim.

A Conversation with An Atheist 187

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"
1 Peter 3:15

"They overcame  by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. "
Revelation 12:11

Recently I had an opportunity to share my testimony with an Jewish atheist. Yes, there is such a thing...and in fact I was also one. When I think about what an atheist should "look" like  she did not fit that bill at all.  She was an older woman in her 70's, very cordial. She told me that she was a "rational and intelligent thinker", and was an epidemiologist. She only believed in what she could see, measure, and evaluate.
But there was something in life that is missing for her...
I didn't debate with her, instead the answer I gave her was what Yeshua had done in and is doing through me, my history. As I recounted  how I came to know this Yeshua/Jesus, the tremendous impact of reading the bible (Gospel of John) for the first time, the tears welled up in her eyes as they did mine, and I could see that her hardened heart was touched, that a seed had been planted.

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."
1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Eric Liddell, the Scottish runner/missionary immortalized in the film, Chariots of Fire, said:
"We are all missionaries…wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ."

We never know how the things we say or do may influence those around us.
Sometimes it is not the "information" but what has been imparted that makes an impact.
Sometimes we plant, sometimes we water, and sometimes we harvest.
Those around us are watching and  listening.
Let's remember that the fields are ripe with the harvest,
and we are all called to tend those fields.

Deeper 228

"The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east).
The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.
He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep.
He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.
He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.
He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.
He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea.
When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 
Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. 
There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.
Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.
But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.
Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.
Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them.
Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Ezekiel 47:1-12

The Lord has been speaking to me about the direct correlation in this scripture
between the distance travelled to the depths of the river of living water.
The distance travelled is our walk.
As we move forward seeking the things of the Spirit,
going farther, persevering and reaching forward to "apprehend
that which has apprehended us",
Jesus takes us deeper, and deeper still.
Standing 'still" leads us to a place of stagnation where we can become like swamps and marshes,
not able to receive the "living water" and the deeper things that the Lord desires us to experience and possess.
Today beloved, move forward, go deeper, fix your gaze on Jesus.
He is faithful to complete the good works He has begun in each of us!

Hearing Aids/The Voice

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."

John 10:27, 28 

Recently because of a 60% hearing loss stemming from a life threatening illness this year, I got hearing aids. They are technological marvels, and a great help ( I guess that's why they are called "aids"!). After using them from the last month I have realized something crucially important: they amplify all sound, background noise, etc., not just that which is my focus, and the greatest "aid" is my ability to focus my senses on the source, that which I strive to hear and understand.

In the world we live in we are surrounded by a cacophony of noise, from countless sources, spiritual perhaps even more so than environmental.These 'noises" attempt to distract us and obscure the most essential of voices: the Shepherd's. He is constantly but quietly calling us, leading and guiding us. The Holy Spirit, the Ruach HaKodesh is our "hearing aid" .
His voice quietly cuts through the "white noise"calling to us as we must use our hearts and all of our senses we hear Him: "This is my Way...walk in it." 
Beloved, tune in today, listen intently to the Voice and follow Him.

(Ungodly) Thoughts About God 4

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “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

We live in a performance based, conditional world. We are bombarded with media that worships perfection. The influences from worldly sources can factor into our own belief processing and form suppositions -incorrect and ungodly ones- that adversely affect our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Here are a few of them:

#1: "I am loved by God as long as I perform well."
Well, no! God loves us just the way we are, calling us with amazing love and grace. Diplomas, trophies, credentials, wealth, in and of themselves mean nothing.
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 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 Jesus. 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. We love because God first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19

#2: "God isn't interested in the small details of my life."
Wrong!   "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:30, 31
It is beyond comprehension for the natural mind to realize that the same God who hangs every celestial body in the heavens and created the universe also has each of us on His mind, and knows our most intimate thoughts. He desires for us to have the faith of children, climb up onto His lap in prayer, and confide in Him. No concern of ours is too small to give over to Him.

#3: "God uses suffering and sicknesses to teach me a lesson."
Wrong again! "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10  If God is the fountainhead of abundant life, than who is the one who brings illness, pain, lack, and suffering? That's right...the devil, who is a thief, accuser and deceiver. But I found that even in the midst of life threatening illness that God met me, took me to my future heavenly home for a quick tour, and sent seraphim to minister to me. In the depths and the heights I could feel God's love billowing over me.

#4: My life is mine to fix...I messed it up so I am the one who needs to fix it."
You can't. Broken can't repair broken.  But Jesus can, will, and does! He is the Restorer, hallelujah!
 "Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

It is only when we cast all our cares on Jesus and totally surrender that such paradigms are overturned. Beloved,  remember that a steady diet of God's Word and getting frequent "facetime" with Him will give us a right perspective, and true knowledge of the Holy.

- Thanks to AJ Jones

Losses and Gains

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ"
Philippians 3:7, 8

The most important lesson that I have learned in the last 7 years is about losses and gains. When we arrived in Tennessee I had substantial finances, was going to build our dream home. My mind was centered on earthly things and material gains, not Jesus. I had turned aspirations and goals into idols. Thoughts about my messiah? Usually lasted  for about 2 hours on Sundays. But then came  trials, losses, and stripping away-of hundreds of thousands of dollars,  a business, 60% of my hearing, health for a season. It has been said , "You never know Christ is all you need, until He is all you have."  Having had all these things stripped away there is nothing now to keep me from the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord". Weighed on the scales of eternity that stuff I chased after was like dust, just garbage, compared to the richness of having been brought so near to my Saviour. In the grand scheme of things these have been small losses and great gains. I concentrate on He who is worthy to receive all glory, honor, power, and praise. Our needs continue to be met, and I am grateful to still have 40% of my hearing...everything emanates from Him. 

Beloved, dwell on Jesus, who is our greatest gain, and forget the losses.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Jim Elliot

The Source

The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. 
1 Kings 18:46 

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. 
Habakkuk 3:19 

In 1Kings 18, we read that Elijah was a very busy prophet!
Over the course of a couple days on Mt. Carmel he faces off against 450 false prophets of Ba'al. Then he goes to the top of the mountain, praying relentlessly until the downpour begins. This all sounds so exhausting, and he probably was.
But the scriptures tell us that the power of the Lord came on Elijah and in the middle of the downpour he ran the 17 miles to Jezreel, outrunning Ahab! 
Standing on his chariot, as he grasped the reigns of his steeds, Ahab must've thought that he was really moving. Down the mountain pass, towards his home in Jezreel, he thundered...but then out of the corner of his eye he catches sight of something unbelievable, no-impossible! In my spirit I can see him wiping his eyes, wondering if his eyes playing tricks on him. Can you imagine the look on Ahab's face?
Elijah on foot, with his cloak tucked into his belt, blows past him, leaving him in the proverbial "dust".
Beloved, our own lives are often so busy, exhaustion and stress are so common in the world we live in. But don't ever forget or doubt, that the same spirit, the Holy Spirit, that raised Jesus from the dead, and supercharged Elijah is available to us!