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!

Stone to Flesh/ Death to Life

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 
Ezekiel 36:26

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee Luke 24:2-6

This morning at our Resurrection Service (otherwise known as "Easter"), I had an revelation about, well, receiving revelation. Revelation comes from the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is gentle. He doesn't come unwelcomed or uninvited. In ancient times the dead were interred in caves, with disc-like stones rolled across the entrance,  stone sealing the tomb in permanence-in death.  Just as the stone was rolled away at the Resurrection, bringing revival and newness of  life, when a heart of stone is "rolled away" and changed into a heart of flesh, revelation can come forth. As the Holy Spirit fills us, we move from knowledge/ information to impartation. Not only can it come, but I  say with assurance that it does come, as those awakened can testify to!

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:19

Today is a new day, beloved.  Let us move forward, striving to apprehend that which has apprehended us.

The Acquisition/Sold Out

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Matthew 13:44

Imagine that you are an ordinary farmer, plowing the earth of an ordinary field, preparing the land for planting. You are working the land, having leased this property for years, doing what you've always done, just keeping both hands on the plow. The blade is carving through the ground as you concentrate to keep the furrows straight, then suddenly as a clod of earth is turned, you notice a glimmer, the rays of the sun reflecting something different, just for a moment. In all the time you've been tilling this land you have never seen anything like this before; stopping the plow you begin digging, sifting the dirt through your fingers. Then you find it: a huge diamond, and as you brush off the rest of the dirt even your untrained eyes can see its amazing color, clarity, and size.

Your mind is spinning, your heart is beating out of your chest. Looking about, you bury the diamond again, carefully marking the place, and acting nonchalant, you race home. As quickly as possible you liquidate every asset, selling off everything. Everyone close to you thinks you have lost your mind. There is nothing seemingly special about this property, those near and dear to you try to dissuade you, but you are determined. Approaching the land owner, you try not to be over eager and strike the deal of a lifetime, acquiring  the field, both the seller and buyer overjoyed at the outcome.

We sometimes use the term for a person who is on fire and focused on OneThing-Jesus our Messiah- as "sold out". When the Lord breaks through and plows things up, we find Him if we are seeking...  in the Spirit we catch a glimmer as the veil is parted. The sum value of  everything else is as dust on the scales, compared to the weight of glory found in Jesus, we strive to apprehend that which has apprehended us (Phil.3:12). 

Beloved, let's be "sell outs"...trade the good things in life for the best.

Staying Tender 310

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful,
unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”
so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
We have come to share in Christ,
if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Who were they who heard and rebelled?
Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
And with whom was he angry for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned,
whose bodies perished in the wilderness?
And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 3:12-19

The above text is read at Passover (the Hagaddah, meaning literally "The Telling") from the book of Exodus recounts the amazing story of God delivering the entirety of the nation of Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. The people saw the plagues, walked through a parted Red Sea, were led by a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, drank water from a rock, ate manna from heaven, never had to deal with shoes or clothes wearing out, and saw Moses speaking directly to God. Can you imagine that? What would be our response to such things? Yet these people, including Moses and Aaron, all died without entering into the Land of Milk and Honey, their bones scattered in the deserts, their children being the ones who claimed the inheritance. Only Caleb and Joshua, totally believing the Lord, the only two of the twelve who had spied out the land choose to believe, and brought back the good report, entered in. Two out of millions.
As strangers and sojourners in a strange land, we need each other. We are to share our testimonies, being transparent about our struggles and triumphs, lifting each other up when we stumble, encouraging one other. Rebellion comes when we take our eyes off the Lord, and turn our focus inwards towards ourselves.
Deception is not detected by the deceived ones.
We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers.
We are responsible for each other, provoking and sharpening one another in love,
right up until we cross the Jordan and enter our rest.
Hear His voice today beloved. Stay tender.

Vision 229

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”
― Aibileen Clark to toddler in The Help

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? 
My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 
Judges 6:12, 14, 15 

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Philippians 2:3, 4

How do you see yourself?
How do you see others?
How do you think our Father sees us?

In The Help,  Aibileen speaks life over her young charges, declaring that they are kind, smart, and that they matter (are important). I was reminded as I watched this that these are words not forgotten as we mature, just as words spoken that are hurtful are not forgotten.
They either nourish our lives or poison them.
Gideon is one of my favorite Bible personalities. In his self assessment to the angel, I see myself, and in my mind echo th words that were spoken over me by my mother that scarred me: " you'll never be half the man your father is."  Gideon grew up being reminded of what he couldn't do, as well as his family's diminutive position within Israel's tribe hierarchy. But God saw Gideon's heart, and He had a different plan.
Using our natural eyes we tend to see ourselves one of two ways: very low self esteem like Gideon, thinking they have nothing to offer, or an inflated ("legend in their own mind") conceited ego/mindset   as if  they're "God's gift", which causes them to look down on everyone else.
We can also look at others in their current state and see only their many faults, instead of seeing them the way God sees each of us-a work in progress. A vessel needing to be filled. A possibility. Worthy of receiving the same grace and mercy that our Heavenly Father has extended to us.  Revelation  comes from The Helper, the Holy Spirit, who creates a new mindset, revealing that all things are possible-for each of us- through and with Jesus.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 

Wrong in the Name of Righteousness 193

"When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him."
Luke 22:49-51

The disciples of Jesus were committed to their perception of righteousness.
The Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them...they were zealous in their own minds,
and so they raised their swords, thinking that they were protecting their Master and themselves. But they misunderstood. They had somehow missed the message of the first and second greatest commandments: loving God first, and loving others secondly, and therefore what would flow outwards as such a response.
Jesus restored an injured man of the harm that a disciple acting wrongly had caused.

In the history of the Church, countless wars have been waged in the name of Jesus and a wrong sense of righteousness. In my humble opinion, the Church has been fragmented by doctrines and dogmas, the Body of Christ  dismembered, by a wrong sense of what the righteousness of God really is supposed to manifest, namely unity, restoration, renewal, and reconciliation:
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:3-5, 10

Beloved, ask the Holy Spirit to enable us to extend the same grace to those we have previously judged, and probably misjudged, spoken against, or caused discord in the Body-just as our Father has extended so much undeserved grace and mercy on each of us. 

Father Knows Best

"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil."
Isaiah 57:1

“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

An amazing young man in Kansas City died this week, after being fatally injured in a terrible car accident.  The prayers  of thousands for his healing were going up to the heavens for 2 days as he lay in critical condition. He  loved the Lord with all his heart and he loved others as himself. He was actively involved in ministry, both locally and internationally. He was a worshipper, had a girlfriend he loved, and his whole life was before him, but the Father who had ordered his steps and the numbers of his days took his home. Why?
At least that is the way we, the creatures, see things. The good, the righteous are taken from among us, suddenly and without warning, and those who are left behind, find ourselves struggling to find answers to unanswerable questions. Why, God?
It is in this place, when there are no more tears left, when we are too exhausted to cry any longer, when we are finally quieted and still and falls into our Abba's comforting arms that we realize, yet again, that we are just the clay, and we must trust in a great truth: Father knows best. We can't not lean on our inadequate, shallow understanding.
Let us ask our Father to help us to see things from a heavenly perspective: "no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." John 12:24, 25

No mind can conceive what waits for us, but for those of us who have been caught up into heaven, who have been granted a brief glimpse into what is coming, we are rendered homesick and lovesick. The way time here is measured is changed, and everyday that passes is a day closer to going home,. Death has no sting-it has become a way-point, like changing planes at an airport.
So remember, beloved, Father knows best.

Shake Well Before Using 8

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat."
Luke 22:31

"Shake well before using".

These instructions are often on the labels of all sorts of products.
 It seems that when the container, or vessel,  sits for a while, the ingredients have a tendency to separate. The heavy, thick, and dense stuff settles to the bottom, the light stuff to the top.
The only way to reconstitute the ingredients and make it usable for what it is intended for is to follow the maker's directions: shake that container vigorously before using.
Similarly, our Maker knows that our "ingredients", especially our God- given gifts, have a tendency to settle.  As we sit , shelved and undisturbed or unchallenged, or perhaps frozen by a variety of fears- of man, failure, foolishness, rejection, discouragement, and more, we can become inert and ineffective. But the Lord in His omniscience knows that the very things we can often dread - upheaval, shaking, pruning, and refining- brings reconstitution and restoration to a vessel, as trials can stir our gifts. Instead of devastation, potency is restored, and the vessel (us) is no longer rendered inert but transformed into powerful and useful, each able to fulfill our destinies!
It is what we are created for.
So don't fear a shaking, beloved.
You are about to be used for His Glory.

The Greatest of These (Abridged)

Love suffers long  and  is  kind to me when I don't deserve kindness, but judgement;
Love  does not envy me but rejoices in my success;
Love does not parade itself nor does it flaunt or agonizingly tease me in my downfalls or failures,
it is not puffed up nor does it behave rudely, even when every right to do so exists,
Love does not seek its own, is not provoked, love thinks no evil nor ever wishes me any harm;
Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but  rejoices in the truth;
Love bears all things, turning the other cheek to me,  in the face of offensive or wreckless behavior,
Love believes all things, and hopes continually for all things to my benefit and goodness,
Love endures all things even when I am thoughtless, causing pain and injury.
Love never fails. Love never fails. Love never fails.
Tongues, knowledge, prophecy....it will all fade away, and what will remain?
Faith, hope, love, these three stand ; but the greatest of these is love.
Lord, let me go and do likewise.
I Corinthians 13

King's Ransom

"Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit  who  is in you, whom you have from God,  and you are not your own.  For  you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

I Corinthians 6:19, 20 

" The bishop approached him and said, in a low voice, 'Do not forget, ever, that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man.' 

Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of any such promise, stood dumbfounded. The bishop had stressed these words as he spoke them. He continued solemnly, 'Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!" 

~Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

Believe it or not, last night was the first time I have ever seen any version of Les Miserables, although I heard a great deal. I was so struck by the truth that was spoken by the bishop to a wicked and depraved Jean Valjean, after this criminal was caught red handed with the bishop's silver wares. In the 1996 movie the bishop pulls back the hood shrouding this convict's face, the metaphor of moving from darkness to light, from evil to good, as he says the above words that changed a man, and everyone he touched, forever. 

As I tearfully watched this it hit me, yet again, but in a new and profound way: This is what God who loves us so furiously, beyond what we can fathom, has done for each of us beloved! He has paid a King's ransom for us-the price was the very life of His Son. Without His redemption we would only be what judgement measures: liars, thieves, adulterers, and worse.  As I watched that scene it was a reminder, and it was as if I was that criminal and Jesus Himself was pronouncing over me the words of the bishop. Ransomed by the love of the Father, now go out and do likewise. We are not to listen to the accuser, who like Inspector Javers, is always trying to use judgement and self righteous offense  to remind us of the old man, in ourselves and others. We have been forgiven and ransomed. Let us be ambassadors of love. 

This is the message of the Gospels.

Serendipity/ Kairos

ser·en·dip·i·ty  

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: "a fortunate stroke of serendipity".

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who  have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28 

I love the word serendipity.
The definition of serendipity is a"chance" development of events producing a beneficial outcome, but  in God there are no "chance" outcomes! What the world calls "coincidence" is what  I called God-incidence, when God does amazing things and chooses to remain silent. A better term would be "kairos"- Kairos (καιρός) an ancient Greek word meaning "the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment"). A momentous convergence of timing and opportunity, divinely orchestrated to glorify Himself and bless us simultaneously.
God works out all things for the good of those who love Him, even in the face of a seeming disaster;  when we are in the midst of trials let us remember that "it ain't over, till it's over, which means when God says it's over.
Furthermore remember the words of Jesus Himself: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But  seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
Jesus is the "author and finisher" of our faith (Heb.12:2)...it starts and ends with Him, and let us fix our gazes on Him, and not be overly concerned about the process, and rejoice even when we don't understand some things that may be happening in our lives currently.
Serendipity...Kairos... God is on the throne  and in control!

Peace Makers or Peace Keepers? 188

"Come now, let us reason together.."
Isaiah 1:18

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Proverbs 27:17

We all know the old adage, "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."
Perhaps this is rhetorically correct, but sometimes isn't an uncomfortable discussion or confrontation necessary - that may bring provocation and conflict-before reconciliation or peace can be achieved? Let me rephrase this: What happens when no confrontation comes?
Let me propose to you: Not peace, not reconciliation, but unrest and more trouble.
Matthew 5:9 reads : "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God".
Peace is the result, when contention and unrest are dealt with thereby bringing reconciliation and sought. Sometimes making peace is the result of a battle, or on a personal relationship level,
the result of  some wrestling and exposing things that may be unpleasant to discuss,
but nonetheless must be worked through, in love,  to resolution.
Peace keepers are not the same as peace makers;
peace keeping is nonconfrontational but never deals with the issues.
The UN "peacekeepers are the foremost example I can think of here.
Being confrontational doesn't mean being unloving...it means that you care enough to resolve, it takes courage, love and a sound mind, and may require even sacrificing personal comfort levels to remedy.  Offense, bitterness, and hurtful thoughts, real or imagined, grow and thrive in fertile pastures of nonconfrontation.
So, beloved, don't confuse the two: peace making or peace keeping.
Today, let's ask God to help make us peacemakers. 

Overcast 189

"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; 
weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. "
Psalm 30:5

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. "
Malachi 4:2 

This morning I was talking to a friend, whom the Holy Spirit uses to deliver a word to me quite regularly. 
To be honest, I was telling him that I felt heavy hearted, and the message he delivered to me was this: "Sometimes emotions can be like cloud cover that obscures the sun from our sight;
Go outside and turn your face towards the sun." 
Does this mean that the sun is not shining? 
No, of course not, even in overcast weather, or when we have "clouds" over us, 
the Son of righteousness is shining, and with this realization we are able to bask in his healing rays. God's mercies are new every morning, and in the morning sunlight we are meant to be. 
The power of the Son's love and His righteousness burns off dark emotions that are like clouds, fog, and other inclement elements...today beloved turn your face and your heart towards the Son....

Gifts in Unusual Wrapping 194

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28 NIV84)

Last night we had a couple over for dinner; and although we have been friends for some time,
they had only been to our home once before. As we stood in the kitchen, I began to recount some of our history in this house and how things happened,  seemingly terrible events that ended with incredible blessings. Take our roof, for instance...the original roof that really needed repair was dmaged in a windstorm that resulted in our house getting a new roof, that was much better than the original. Consider the floorings and master bathroom ... on a Thanksgiving Day the hot water heater which was located in the master bedroom closet (of all places!) burst a main water supply pipe and the floors were damaged throughout the house. We ended up with an insurance settlement more than sufficient to replace the grungy worn out flooring throughout the whole house and remodel our master bathroom .
The blessing that was really over the top for me was what happened as a result of my recent illness and hospitalization. I had prayed for some time for the Lord to give me more time to spend with my family. My youngest daughter was growing up so quickly, my job requiring so many hours.
I was stricken with a MSSA (staph) infection so severe that it brought me through heaven's threshold into the throne room of the Almighty, causing endocarditis which is an inflammation of the interior lining of the heart muscle. It damaged one of my heart valves and severely damaged my hearing.
I convalesced at home though for 5 months, at the same time we decided to home school Elli, and so I was able to spend 5 months with my wife and my youngest daughter. How many of us get to spend such a significant amount of uninterrupted real time with those we love, especially our children in their formative years?

Isaiah 61:3 reads that God will "give a crown of beauty for ashes"; how amazing is that thought?

Beloved, perhaps you are in the middle of trials, or sitting on an "ash heap", or  maybe you have just passed through one of life's valleys. Search your memories and recount how many times God has given you beauty for ashes, restored what locusts have devoured, or replaced mediocrity-with something extraordinary.

Forgiveness, Unforgiveness, and Honesty 313

When someone does something, whether intentional or not, that is hurtful or offensive, or both... what do you do? Sure, we all know that Jesus Himself told us how to handle offense:
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." 
Matthew 6:14, 15
Here's the truth: If we don't forgive others their sins against us, our Father will not forgive us! Jesus said it, and God is not just a man that He should lie.

I need to make a confession right here: Recently I was hurt by the actions of some folks I considered close to me. I was offended, I felt they were inconsiderate, and what they did made me feel like they didn't care. I had every right to feel this way, they were dead wrong, and I wanted to hang onto my own self-righteousness. I said that I was not offended, which was a lie. I lied to others about this, saying I was "fine" and I lied to myself, but I couldn't lie to the Lord. He sees into the core of our thoughts, our hearts. I was very much offended. Instead of addressing it and determining in my heart to forgive immediately, I let it fester and take root. I was not forgiving a man his offense against me. Some would perhaps argue that grace would cover my unforgiveness, but I take Jesus at His word, over the words of Paul.: "Your Father will not forgive your sins", and I will chose to forgive, and not just this infraction but all others who have offended or hurt me. The prospect of standing before my Father in heaven and instead of hearing Him say, "Well done good and faithful servant", He declares, " Cast him out into utter darkness, I never knew him" is  frightening, and this must be part of my walk, working out my salvation with fear and trembling. There is another facet of this, too, where I am not the offended, but in fact the offender. How many have I hurt and offended? What would happen or does happen when they walk in offense and there are other roots of bitterness? Is not gossip fueled by these very things?
I have been forgiven much, by others I've hurt who have loved me and covered me even when they had the "right"  not to. But even more than that, I have been loved, covered, and forgiven, really forgiven, the Son taking my place on the cross meant for me.

The Point of It All

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have  the  gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith,  so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And  though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love  does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but  rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are  prophecies, they will fail; whether  there    are  tongues, they will cease; whether  there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  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. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these  is  love."
I Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV

Refuge 195

"I will say of the  Lord ,  “He is  my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 
For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 
In  their  hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; 
I will set him on high, because he has  known My name. 
He shall  call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; 
I will deliver him and honor him."
Psalms 91:2, 11, 12, 14, 15

Today I was discussing with a friend some of my testimonies regarding close calls,
situations where I was sheltered from impending serious injury and disasters.
There were 3 bicycle accidents where I was thrown over the handlebars,
one of which was late at night on a drawbridge 40 feet above Biscayne Bay.
I was not wearing a helmet in any of these, I could've broken my neck or other bones, got a concussion or worse. Just a few scrapes and scratches.
I had a motorcycle accident where I car turned right in front of me,
3 serious car accidents, 2 involving pick up trucks, 1 with a big delivery truck while I was driving a small Datsun (Nissan) car, and yet I was protected. He delivered me yet again from a near accident involving a gasoline tanker that jack knifed on a wet highway that had been right next to me only seconds before, shortly after I was born again...Hallelujah!
There have been many other close calls, too many to count.
The Lord has been my refuge and my shelter, and He is yours too.
Beloved, look back at your life,  recount with joy the goodness of the Lord, and give thanks always.
A mighty fortress is our God!

"Be strong and of good courage,  do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the  Lord  your God,  
He  is  the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 

A Practical Lesson

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Romans 8:24, 25

Have you ever heard someone say, "God, please give me patience, and give it to me right now?"
Well, this is my prayer. It's not just mine though, I would have to say that most of us struggle with grasping the discipline of  learning to be patient, learning to wait on the Lord.
One of  my most recent blogs deals with this very thing; it's indeed a major struggle!
Yesterday was Shabbat and we were having a guest over for a Shabbat meal, and I needed a loaf of challah bread. Now, we normally just buy one from a supermarket bakery...it's fast, easy, and convenient. So I'm thinking to myself, "I'll just go buy a challah", but the Holy Spirit breaks in and whispers: " this Shabbat, Hugh, you and Elli are going to make your own challah." I google "challah recipes" and as I am reading the recipe I notice the primary ingredient : patience.  It takes over 4 hours to mix, knead, proof and bake challah, but the end result was this big, beautiful challah loaf, and I thanked my Father for that small and practical lesson.
Patience. It is required, not easily attained, and of course, it takes time. Embrace it,beloved,  learn it, and enjoy the fruit it will ultimately bear.

"But those who  wait on the  Lord shall renew  their  strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. "
Isaiah 40:31 

Deferment/ Expectation v. Reality

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
Proverbs 13:12

Stricken with a life threatening illness and hospitalized for a month, followed by 5 months of healing and convalescence...I was more than ready to start back to work, or so it seemed.
 I had been approved to start driving a car again. I had been going faithfully to rehab for cardio and vertigo issues, completed the sessions, and so I scheduled my return. I was welcomed back with tremendous warmth from all my colleagues, which was really great! But that day I fell flat on my face. I encountered difficulties I had not expected.  I had high expectations for myself; for my performance and ability to adapt, but I left confused and tired.
My hopes had not been realized, my expectations were in fact not realistic.
I was reminded by everyone that I needed to take it easy, take it slow, and learn to be patient and learn to wait on my Jevovah Rophi, my Healer.
It's true; hope deferred makes the heart sick. I have had more than my share of weariness and weaknesses. I confess here and now that I am impulsive and am inclined to run ahead on my own, not waiting on the Lord. Like an impatient Abraham who couldn't wait for the Lord to bring him a son without Sarah's bright idea, or Moses, who when dealing with a thirsty Israel struck the rock twice,  not waiting for the water to gush out as an always faithful God said it would.
My impatience.  I struggle to acquire and apply patience,  the very thing that is essential to reaching higher, diving deeper and really getting the fullness of the relationship that the Father promises.
Do you?
"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 40:29-31

52 Days 182

In spite of tremendous odds against them,
Nehemiah and a relatively small group of God's people
rebuilt the broken down walls around Jerusalem in just fifty-two days.
Their enemies tried everything:
lies, fear, discouragement, false prophets, threats, and more,
and the more the work progressed the stiffer the opposition became.
Nehemiah, though, knew the voice of the Lord,
and he also recognized the lies of his enemy, and was not deceived!
We are not to be deceived either.
As sons and daughters of the one true living God who are building or rebuilding that "wall", or whatever that work He has commissioned in our lives , the enemy tries to sneak in and sow his tares.
 A few seeds of fear here, a few of discouragement there,
some lies sprinkled in for good measure…
but God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of courage and a sound mind,
planted and rooted deeply in God's love.
Perfect love, specifically God's love, casts out all fear,
and when God is for us, nothing, absolutely nothing, can stand against us. 
NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US WILL PROSPER.

So think on those such as these, beloved...Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, David, Gideon, Barak, Abraham, Noah, Peter, Paul, and so many others in that great cloud of witnesses that some day we will be part of...our God is an awesome God!

"When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—  They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”    One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”    But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”  I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.  Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.  
So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days."
Nehemiah 6:1, 9-12, 14, 15 

Coming Out The Other Side 190

"In all this greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. "
1 Peter 1:6, 7

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”    He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” "
Daniel 3:24, 25

February 1 is a milestone for me, as I returned to my "day job",
6 months and 1 day after I was hospitalized and almost died.
 I am here though, to testify of the goodness of the Lord.
Yes, there was travail, pain, tears, losses, but there were relationships revived,
spiritual gains for many,  encouragement that came from my friends and family,
amazing provision and love shown to me and my family.
Through all of this ordeal I never was depressed, rather,
I was joyful at the goodness of the Lord, and how He drew me closer,
and closer still.
In His presence is fullness of joy!
My Abba's tenderness and furious love was so evident in spite of what could've been taken as a dark time. I was pressed down, but not abandoned or destroyed!
Beloved, we are never alone; God is always with us, especially in the fire,
just as Jesus was in the furnace with Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego.
As I continue down the road of recovery, I know that I do not travel alone.  It is with the knowledge that God is with me, with those who seek Him, a very present help in the best of times and troublesome times alike.


"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 NIV

The Right Kind of Slave

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:1

"But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.  You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. "
Romans 6:17, 18 

I was reflecting during worship recently on one of the manifold attributes of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit brought to mind my life before Jesus, when I was a slave to sin, not righteousness. Interestingly, I thought of myself as a liberated, intelligent free thinker, my own man, and I followed the ways that seemed right to me, but I wasn't free at all. Inside of me there was a desperation, the sickening knowledge of being chained to evil and hopelessness, and the desperation was sometimes quiet, sometimes raging...the whole point of my life then was to eat, drink, and party to try to cover that desperation just like asphalt and black top paving covers a parking lot, but inevitably what is underneath sprouts through...
Then God came down, Jesus came to my heart because I believed, confessed, and asked Him to.
He broke off of me the crushingly heavy yoke of sin,  and I took up a new light and easy yoke that Jesus custom made to lift me up.
I am now a slave to righteousness, and my Master is not a cruel slave driver.
He has delivered me, revealed Himself to me as I seek Him,  given me precious gifts from on high. He has  made me a co-heir along with Him, and  calls me brother and friend.
His banner over us all is love, and woven into this fabric is His mercy, grace, lovingkindness, long suffering, power perfected in weakness, wisdom perfected not in reason but in obedience and faith, joy, and much more.

Power in His Name/Correlations

"Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)  When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground."
John 18:4-6

There is power in the name of Jesus! In this scripture the soldiers, officials, priests, and others came looking to arrest Jesus, I am uncertain exactly how many gathered to take one "man" into custody, but there was quite a crowd, and they got much more than they bargained for.
At the mere proclamation of Jesus revealing Himself,  "I am He", there was a supernatural shock wave that radiated outwards from Him, and they were literally blown off their feet!
As Christians, imitators of Jesus, we have been given authority to preach the Gospel, and over all m
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:18-20
Jesus tells us, encourages us, to use His name when we pray, as we work, as we live:
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
John 14:13, 14
It's His power, not ours; it's by His Spirit, not by our strength or might, beloved, that Kingdom work is done. There is an inverse correlation regarding our weakness/ strength quotient: we are most likely to call on the name above all names when we realize how powerless and weak we really are. It is in the place of weakness that pride and arrogance have vanished and the heart cries are uttered...
"In the name of Jesus..."

A Valuable Lesson 206

"King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.  They were from nations about which the  Lord  had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.  As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the  Lord  his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.  So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the  Lord ; he did not follow the  Lord  completely, as David his father had done. The  Lord  became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the  Lord , the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.  Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the  Lord 's command.  So the  Lord  said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates."
1 Kings 11:1, 2, 4-6, 9-11

King Solomon was visited twice by God Himself, you'd think that would be enough to keep him on the path of righteousness, right?  Wrong. Solomon, known as the wisest man to ever rule a nation, was warned, over and over again, not to take foreign wives, not to intermarry,  because his heart would be turned away from God, but he didn't listen. The very heavy price paid was his loss of godly wisdom, and on his descendants his sins were visited: the splintering of the kingdom and a legacy of heartbreak and disaster, as the descendants of Solomon did evil, following idols instead of El Shaddai, who had delivered them, loved them, cut a covenant with them, and performed so many miracles.
Are so many of us not like Solomon? God Himself has delivered us from our own slaveries, loved us furiously, provided for us, healed us, sent His Comforter and Helper, the Holy Spirit, and yet...many follow Solomon's path embracing the world.
God's eyes roam the earth looking for those with lovesick hearts, those who hunger and thirst for Him;  He desires relationship with us, but yet so many in the  Eklesia have been diluted and polluted spiritually, loving the things of this present darkness, having opened doors that should never have been opened.  A floodgate of evil then is released- the equivalent of Solomon embracing and fusing himself with unholy things, even after hearing the voice of The Lord. Conscience and discernment becomes dull, hearts become hardened and cold, and before you realize it, you are so far away from God, just like the Prodigal Son, or Solomon here in 1Kings 11:11.
But there is hope! The Lord says, " Return to Me and I will return to you" Zech. 1:3
No matter where you are beloved, God is still waiting with arms outstretched towards you!
As you run towards Him you will find that He meets you-with even greater vigor.

The Miracle of Grace 207

Pride  goes  before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18

There is a way that seems  right to a man,
But its end is the way of  death.
Proverbs 16:25

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the  Lord  a man avoids evil.
Proverbs 16:6

As a new believer reading the holy scriptures, I remember the shock and surprise I felt when I read about the fallings of  people in the Bible. I am talking about the fallings of many, who had the blessings of the Lord on their lives, ministries and kingdoms: Saul, David, Solomon, Samson,  and so many others, from days of old right up till today. Somehow I expected them, because of legend, to be flawless and perfect heroes, not to actually have been real people who had to deal with lust, anger, jealousy, and the corrupting impact of wielding absolute power. They all had confidence and pride in themselves- the result of forgetting that it is God alone who is our everything.
I remember thinking, even saying to the Lord, just as Peter said, reflecting the opinions of ten of the other disciples -"Jesus, I will never deny you, never turn my back on you, never be one of the fallen that I've read about in yout Word.  How naive of me, as I did not know what lay ahead of me, wasn't aware of the trials and temptations that would present themselves. I, like us all, would (and will) be tried, sifted, and refined, and as the storms swirl about the only safe place is found in Jesus, through the amazing grace He affords us.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– Ephesians 2:8 
All of us-all of us-sin and fall short (Rom.3:23),  and in these days as even the elect fall like flies,  my goal is simple:
Cling to Jesus as tightly as I can, thanking Him for His abundant grace, mercy, and redemption because of His finished work on the cross and strive to abide in Him.
I share the lyrical sentiments of the late Rich Mullins:"So hold me Jesus, I'm shaking like a leaf..."
Beloved, let us be ever mindful, never prideful...maintain our straight ahead focus, and not turn to the left or right.
As John Bradford said," There but for the Grace of God go I".

The Value of A Life 202

"In the beginning  was the Word, and the Word was  with God, and the Word was  God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and  the life was the light of men."
John 1:1-4

My daughter and I watched the classic 1946 movie, It's A Wonderful Life tonight.
Normally a holiday staple for us, the busy-ness of the season delayed its viewing until tonight.
This viewing  was a bit different for my daughter because she is at an age now of increased understanding, and asked a lot of questions.
In the movie, the main character, George Bailey, in the throes of feeling sorry for himself,
wants to end it all by committing suicide, but he  has an opportunity to see what the the impact of his life would be, and as most of us know, his never being born changed everything-for the worst.
He momentarily had taken his eyes off the prize, and when faced with the most seemingly difficult debacle of his life, he considered ending it all by suicide, but of course the movie has a very happy ending. Clarence the angel showed George the truth about the value and impact of his life on so many around him, even from a young age. In one scene, George saves his brother, Harry, from drowning in an icy pond, which cost him some of his hearing in his left ear. Harry grows up, thrives, joins the Air Force as WWII breaks out, and as a fighter pilot, shoots down two enemy planes that were about to attack an Allied troop transport. If George had never lived, Harry would've drowned in that pond, would not have been there to shoot down those enemy planes to keep them from sinking the troop transport and all those on board, hundreds of men, would've died, dramatically impacting the lives of countless others.

Jesus tells us to walk the narrow path as we imitate Him, to love God with all we've got, and to love  each other. We are to pick up our crosses daily, crucifying and denying our "selves", all the while understanding how valuable we are to our Creator God.
The path is narrow and it not level, no, it is rife with hills, steep dips, potholes, and all manner of "hazards".
Jesus tells us that "in this world we will have trouble, but we can take heart, because He has overcome the world."  In other words, it ain't easy!
This life is all about intimacy: knowing and loving God our Father,  the people that God has placed in our lives, and developing an understanding that however sometimes mysterious,
we all impact each other.
Beloved, you are so valuable! Think on these things today, as you as live, move, and have your being, reflecting His love and light, fulfilling God's purposes for your life, and being used to impact others.

Shining and Salty 196

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:13-16

Are you salty and shiny?
I was just at a conference where there was more than 25,000 fiery believers,
the ONETHING 2012 conference at International House of  Prayer Kansas City
(www.ihopkc.org ).
As a believer, it is so great to be in that environment where we are surrounded by others of similar mind and spirit. We are not made to remain in the "salt-shaker", however; Jesus calls us,
commands us, to go into all the world and preach the Good News and to make disciples.
We are all missionaries...have you ever thought of yourself in this way?
We often think this means a missions trip to Africa, India, China, the Middle East, the farthestmost parts of  the world-but the reality is that the mission field is immediately around us...from right inside the four walls of our own homes, that we would be most excellent examples, in word and more importantly, in deed, first to our own children and families. We are to be reflections of Jesus, and to radiate outwards...in every place we go, at our jobs and in the marketplace, every relationship,
God is arranging divine appointments.

Remember: We are in the world, but not of it, beloved! We are the ones that are called to "overcome the world", to be people of  the Jesus culture in these last days that will affect changes in our culture. We are to counter the pagan post-modern culture, by being imitators of Jesus and not to losing our "saltiness"-  having our witness diluted and polluted, thereby becoming ineffective for the Kingdom.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world." 
1 John 2:15, 16 

Contenders

Behold,  children are a heritage from the  Lord , 
the fruit of the womb a reward. 
Like arrows in the hand of  a warrior 
are the children  of one's youth. 
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! 
He shall not be put to shame when 
he contends with his enemies  in the gate. 
Psalms 127:3-5

Yesterday I bid my 19 year old daughter goodbye, at least for the time being.
It is difficult as a parent to let go, and yet is so necessary
She has begun a new phase of her life at university 600 miles away,
she has a new residence, and is an adult now,
stepping into all the privileges and responsibilities that go along with that.
There is separation anxiety, to be sure, mostly on my part I think,
but my anxiety is mitigated by what I know to be so true about her:
she loves the Lord Jesus, and mercy, grace, and lovingkindness
will follow her all the days of her life,
she has within her the spirit of Deborah...
wisdom, bravery, and a warrior's heart.
She is learning to be a contender for the Kingdom of God.

"Praise be to the  Lord  my Rock, who trains my hands for war,  my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge"
Psalms 144:1,2a

Trials & Triumphs 199

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

It is by trial that we are strengthened; in the furnace of tribulation our faith is forged.
There are situations and times of testing that are necessary.

However uncomfortable, it is under pressure and fires of affliction,
that in the Lord makes us bright and shiny.
Rough edges are burnished off and impurities burned out,
just as a diamond is created from common coal.
Rare and precious perfumes are created by the crushing of petals.

Let us cling tightly to the great promises, provision, and protection of a sovereign God who is our Abba-Father, for He purposes ALL THINGS, especially trials, for our good- and our growth.