Instead of giving you that extended quote I said I would give you at the end of my last post, I'm just going to let you know where you can find it for yourself. It is from a book by Rick Joyner entitled, THE CALL, which is the second book in the FINAL QUEST trilogy, one of the most incredible prophetic experiences I've ever come across. But this blog is not about quoting others (though I may still do that from time to time) - it is about finding my own voice and seeking to express what is developing within my own heart. So here are some more thoughts on that little word, "oh", which I wrote of previously.
As I already said, "oh" is a word that communicates emotion, and the context determines exactly what emotion is being expressed. In the context that this word was given, the emotion that I sense coming through is one of great longing and desire, and the specific desire is that we have a determination, a resolve - "do not fail to press ahead, do not fail to follow hard after Me!"
We are taught the importance of putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, so to speak, to understand them better. Shouldn't we do that with God? We know that He is personal, but we so often don't treat Him that way. He really does have emotions! And they aren't just the nice, positive ones. He feels sadness, pain and anger, as well as joy and happiness, He has all the emotions of someone in love, passionately in love, and therefore feels all the pain that a rejected lover feels. Just feel the pathos and emotion in these words of the LORD (YHWH) spoken through His prophet Hosea:
" Oh Ephraim, what more can I do with you? Oh Judah, what more can I do with you? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears . . ." (Hosea 6:4)
Don't you think that the more we can tap into and appreciate the depth of God's feelings for us, the more motivated we would be to please Him and want to make Him happy instead of sad? That is certainly true in our human relationships. I used to have a terrible habit that extremely offended someone very close to me. I would try to rationalize and justify this habit because I didn't want to give it up. But when I finally realized how much it hurt this individual I loved, the resolve to kick that habit increased dramatically and gave me the willpower to put an end to that behavior.
There is no one in this universe who I would like to please more, and who I would hate to offend, than my Creator and Redeemer. To know that He is cheering me on in my struggles - that He in fact knows how hard it will be for me to stay close to Him, to draw nearer - this knowledge goes a long way to helping my resolve to stay the course in my pursuit after Him.
Oh, but why is it so hard! Have you reflected on that? Why is it so easy to lose one's "first love"?
Ah yes, that first love. I tasted of that briefly at the human level, but I actually don't think I've ever experienced that with God. In fact, I would say that this has been my life-long quest - to have a genuine, deep-rooted passionate love for my God. But the haunting question still remains. When I do, finally, achieve and experience a passionate love for God, will I be able to maintain it, or will I too, like the first century church and so many others who have experienced revival and awakenings, slowly lose the fire and slip back into nominal, lukewarm faith? I suspect that this is one reason that God has made it so difficult to draw near to Him. Because He is in fact the single greatest treasure in the Universe, worthy of every effort, of every sacrifice, He is not going to let us "discover" or "acquire" Him too cheaply or easily. The harder it is to achieve or acquire something, the more we will value it and do all we can to make sure we will never lose it. I love this thought of Rick Joyner's, a profound prophetic statement - that when the first man and woman were placed in an ideal environment, Satan could boast that he was more attractive than God. But before this age ends, God will have men and women who, in the worst possible of environments, will turn their backs on the enemy's enticements and will finally, be a faithful and obedient bride who, as it says in Revelation, will have "made herself ready" for her marriage day. I don't know about you, but I long to be a part of that reality. And I know that it's not going to come about easily or automatically, just because we are Christians. There really is a danger of losing the reward of being an overcomer. Join me in being determined, in resolving, to NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Oh!
I really love the prophetic. God is so cool, so amazing. Because I am a "word person" I really love the way God communicates, the choice of words that He uses. Now some people think they've got God figured out well enough that they can tell if a contemporary prophetic message is from God or not because of the words used. My wife was told once by a good friend of ours, that a certain prophetic word she had been given could not have been from God because "God doesn't talk like that." But we have never doubted that God had indeed spoken that word because it was such an appropriate word for the moment - it spoke straight to our hearts and did exactly what prophecy is supposed to do - strengthen, encourage and comfort (I Cor. 14:3).
My first, personal encounter with receiving a "word" from the Lord was on our wedding day. Even though I had asked my Dad to officiate, I had also also asked my pastor at the time to come and be a part of the service. I knew he had a wonderful prophetic gift and I encouraged him to speak anything out during the service if the Lord gave him a word for us. Well, we were not disappointed. I had a tape recorder going through the whole service for that very purpose. I didn't want to miss a single word of what God might want to say to us. My purpose in this posting is to only highlight one little word in that prophecy - the word "oh". The last two sentences in this word was, "Oh, do not fail to press ahead! Do not fail to follow hard after me, for I have much for you to do."
Obviously, the main message here is a good follow up to my previous posting. How much do I really want God, to stick close to Him? The more I want it the better my chances of getting what I desire.
Until recently I never paid much attention to that little word, "oh", that begins those two sentences. But I believe that this little word is the key to what follows. This word clues us in to the emotions of God. It is when we tap into the emotional side of God (which requires Holy Spirit revelation) that I believe we will then have the requisite, or necessary passion, and therefore will, to keep drawing closer.
I don't think I've ever heard teaching or preaching that emphasized the importance of God's emotions. I was raised with the mindset that one related to God primarily with the intellect and that emotions were not to be trusted. But I've become convinced that nothing could be further from the truth. The favorite Scripture that is often quoted to support this distrust of emotions is the one that says that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. But what about the supreme command to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind?! (Notice which takes priority, and which is mentioned last!) The key is to live an integrated life where our hearts and minds are in unity, not somehow compartmentalized into separate quarters!
I wanted to include an extended quote at the end of this post, but instead I'm going to just put it in the next posting. To me, this is the most powerful explanation/description of God's emotions I've ever come across . . .
My first, personal encounter with receiving a "word" from the Lord was on our wedding day. Even though I had asked my Dad to officiate, I had also also asked my pastor at the time to come and be a part of the service. I knew he had a wonderful prophetic gift and I encouraged him to speak anything out during the service if the Lord gave him a word for us. Well, we were not disappointed. I had a tape recorder going through the whole service for that very purpose. I didn't want to miss a single word of what God might want to say to us. My purpose in this posting is to only highlight one little word in that prophecy - the word "oh". The last two sentences in this word was, "Oh, do not fail to press ahead! Do not fail to follow hard after me, for I have much for you to do."
Obviously, the main message here is a good follow up to my previous posting. How much do I really want God, to stick close to Him? The more I want it the better my chances of getting what I desire.
Until recently I never paid much attention to that little word, "oh", that begins those two sentences. But I believe that this little word is the key to what follows. This word clues us in to the emotions of God. It is when we tap into the emotional side of God (which requires Holy Spirit revelation) that I believe we will then have the requisite, or necessary passion, and therefore will, to keep drawing closer.
I don't think I've ever heard teaching or preaching that emphasized the importance of God's emotions. I was raised with the mindset that one related to God primarily with the intellect and that emotions were not to be trusted. But I've become convinced that nothing could be further from the truth. The favorite Scripture that is often quoted to support this distrust of emotions is the one that says that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. But what about the supreme command to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind?! (Notice which takes priority, and which is mentioned last!) The key is to live an integrated life where our hearts and minds are in unity, not somehow compartmentalized into separate quarters!
I wanted to include an extended quote at the end of this post, but instead I'm going to just put it in the next posting. To me, this is the most powerful explanation/description of God's emotions I've ever come across . . .
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Whiplash
I saw a movie last night called Whiplash. Helen had picked it to watch because someone she knows said it was their favorite movie. They like it so much because it shows what it takes to be the best at something. If you have the passion for something and are willing to sacrifice everything, including your own ego, you can attain great things.
What was so troubling about this film, though, are the tactics used by the teacher to motivate his students, who are jazz musicians. Halfway through the film I said out loud, "Why in the world do these students put up with such a jerk of a teacher?!" The only ego that could exist in the practice room was the teacher's. Everyone else's was destroyed, and the only thing that kept those students doing what they were doing was their love and passion to be the best at what they loved the most.
In a previous blog I referred to Jesus' parable of the widow and the unjust judge. It seems blasphemous to compare God to an unjust judge, but that is exactly what Jesus is doing! Why? Because there will be times in life when it will look and feel like God could care less about you, like He is indeed an absent father. I need to go back and re-read a book by Chaim Potok, The Chosen, where you learn about the extreme tactic a rabbi uses on his son to achieve a desired result. The tactic was to stop all communication with his son once he reached a certain age. The closest I've come to experiencing such pain at the human level is when I've gone out for sports. The best coaches will be merciless in their training - pushing, pushing, pushing to get every muscle in your body in shape and toned up to do exactly what is required to accomplish the job at hand. Only those who have the passion to win will be willing to go through that kind of physical and mental abuse.
I've heard it said that king David's son Solomon was never allowed to get away with anything. His brothers could be spoiled brats, but he was in training to be a king. It was the discipline - I'm sure painful to the point of tears at times - of a loving and wise father that prepared Solomon to be the great king that he was able to become.
I don't think of my passion in terms of being a king, or even as being "the best" at something. The way I have thought of it is simply "to know God and make Him known." More recently, due to the influence of Rick Joyner, I would say my growing passion is to become a friend of God's, to walk with Him as Enoch did - of whom Scripture testifies, "he was no more. because God took him."
Is there anything more worthwhile than to get to know the Creator and Master of all things on a first name basis? To hear His voice, to know and feel His heartbeat, as John the Beloved did because he leaned on Jesus' breast?
This journey of mine to draw near to God has been the hardest thing I've ever done. It has led me straight into the wilderness where I've been stripped bare and where I've literally felt like I've been left to die. It has been said that the reason something is a treasure, is of such great value, is because it is either extremely rare (hard to find) or it requires an effort that few are willing to put forth to acquire it. Is an intimate knowledge of, or relationship with the Father, really worth it? We would all be quick to say, "Yes!" But are we willing to do what it takes to achieve it?
Some might say, "Oh, but Jesus has already done the hard part in making the way open and accessible to the the Father. It doesn't have to be that hard!" Oh really? Then why isn't it more common to see believers walking closely with the Father like Enoch (who didn't have the benefit that we have of access to God through Jesus)? We literally are as close to God as we want to be. The problem, dear friends, is not with the availability of God. The problem is with our desires.
What do we really want and what will we really sacrifice for? Are we willing to endure the whiplash of the three enemies of our soul (the world, the flesh and the devil) in order to draw near to God?
What was so troubling about this film, though, are the tactics used by the teacher to motivate his students, who are jazz musicians. Halfway through the film I said out loud, "Why in the world do these students put up with such a jerk of a teacher?!" The only ego that could exist in the practice room was the teacher's. Everyone else's was destroyed, and the only thing that kept those students doing what they were doing was their love and passion to be the best at what they loved the most.
In a previous blog I referred to Jesus' parable of the widow and the unjust judge. It seems blasphemous to compare God to an unjust judge, but that is exactly what Jesus is doing! Why? Because there will be times in life when it will look and feel like God could care less about you, like He is indeed an absent father. I need to go back and re-read a book by Chaim Potok, The Chosen, where you learn about the extreme tactic a rabbi uses on his son to achieve a desired result. The tactic was to stop all communication with his son once he reached a certain age. The closest I've come to experiencing such pain at the human level is when I've gone out for sports. The best coaches will be merciless in their training - pushing, pushing, pushing to get every muscle in your body in shape and toned up to do exactly what is required to accomplish the job at hand. Only those who have the passion to win will be willing to go through that kind of physical and mental abuse.
I've heard it said that king David's son Solomon was never allowed to get away with anything. His brothers could be spoiled brats, but he was in training to be a king. It was the discipline - I'm sure painful to the point of tears at times - of a loving and wise father that prepared Solomon to be the great king that he was able to become.
I don't think of my passion in terms of being a king, or even as being "the best" at something. The way I have thought of it is simply "to know God and make Him known." More recently, due to the influence of Rick Joyner, I would say my growing passion is to become a friend of God's, to walk with Him as Enoch did - of whom Scripture testifies, "he was no more. because God took him."
Is there anything more worthwhile than to get to know the Creator and Master of all things on a first name basis? To hear His voice, to know and feel His heartbeat, as John the Beloved did because he leaned on Jesus' breast?
This journey of mine to draw near to God has been the hardest thing I've ever done. It has led me straight into the wilderness where I've been stripped bare and where I've literally felt like I've been left to die. It has been said that the reason something is a treasure, is of such great value, is because it is either extremely rare (hard to find) or it requires an effort that few are willing to put forth to acquire it. Is an intimate knowledge of, or relationship with the Father, really worth it? We would all be quick to say, "Yes!" But are we willing to do what it takes to achieve it?
Some might say, "Oh, but Jesus has already done the hard part in making the way open and accessible to the the Father. It doesn't have to be that hard!" Oh really? Then why isn't it more common to see believers walking closely with the Father like Enoch (who didn't have the benefit that we have of access to God through Jesus)? We literally are as close to God as we want to be. The problem, dear friends, is not with the availability of God. The problem is with our desires.
What do we really want and what will we really sacrifice for? Are we willing to endure the whiplash of the three enemies of our soul (the world, the flesh and the devil) in order to draw near to God?
a prayer
Daddy, I am but a dying ember. Unless You blow on me I will die. I offer to You all the deadwood of my failures so that You can burn them up in the intense fire of who YOU ARE. Blow on me, Holy Wind from God. Give life to this dying ember and turn this deadwood into a raging fire of Your making. All-consuming Fire, burn up the dross, the chaff - all that is burnable - so that all that is left is that Tree of Life, that Burning Bush, that is ever burning but never consumed.
It has been written that You make Your messengers flames of fire, I am willing, Lord. Blow on me.
It has been written that You make Your messengers flames of fire, I am willing, Lord. Blow on me.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
consider both
This morning I was really bummed out. I knew it was going to get well below freezing. Depending on the source, forecasts were calling the overnight low to be anywhere from 25 to 28 degrees. I knew my cold hardy seedlings could survive fine under the cover I pull over them, but I didn't have enough cover to cover my cilantro. I figured they could survive upper 20's without a cover, so I didn't bother to cover them, thinking that chances are it wouldn't get quite as cold as 25. Well it did, and I felt sick that I hadn't covered them with plastic or something (which I easily could have but felt too tired to bother). We love cilantro on our salads and here I had gone and blown it by not taking necessary precautions. Bum-m-m-m-e-e-e-r-r-r!!!!!!
My thoughts and feelings quickly devolved into depression and feeling sorry for myself. Why does it have to be so hard to grow some early veggies?! And this is just the last in a series of failures regarding various attempts I have made on the farm to expand my gardening horizons. From an attempt at edible forest gardening, to starting a large asparagus patch, to greenhouse/hoophouse gardening, to composting, etc., my efforts have either been total failures or only meager success at best. And this is not even mentioning much more serious issues having to do with personal relationships that to date continue to be so resistant to significant improvement. God, where are you?! You tell me to come before the throne of grace and mercy to find help in the time of need . . . to draw near to You, yet I have not felt much reciprocation from Your end when I've done my best to do my part. What's up?!
Amazingly, the depression that I started the day with dissipated during the day, and even though it wasn't the best day at work, I came home feeling okay. I took a look at what I feared would be browning (dying) cilantro and was overjoyed to see that they still looked a healthy green. They had survived!
At one point this morning I thought I would write a blog entitled "the severity of God". In Romans 11:22 Paul tells us to "consider the kindness and severity of God." It seems to be a pet peeve of mine that Christians love to hear about the kindness of God, but not His severity, Unfortunately I seem to be drawn more to understanding and emphasizing His severity. Can you believe that the book I chose to read on our honeymoon (or shortly thereafter) was A SEVERE MERCY? It's a great (true) story, but definitely not one for honeymoon reading! Early in our marriage I came up with the phrase "T T time" (Tribulation Training time) as a way to give meaning to any hard times we were having.
My wife was a good sport about these things, but years later I've finally realized that she needed much more of the "kindness of God" taught and exhibited to her. Paul commands us to consider both
the kindness and the severity of God. (Notice that he places the kindness of God ahead of severity.)
Having said all that one still has to come to terms with the difficulties of life that don't want to let up, My wife and I feel that our married life so far is very well summed up in the proverb, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Fortunately, there is more to that proverb. "but a promise fulfilled is a tree of life." I leave you with that. As the black preacher said who preached his Good Friday sermon by repeating just one sentence over and over again with varying degrees of emotion and intonation: "Tod-a-a-a-y is Friday; but Sund-a-a-a-y is a-comin!"
My thoughts and feelings quickly devolved into depression and feeling sorry for myself. Why does it have to be so hard to grow some early veggies?! And this is just the last in a series of failures regarding various attempts I have made on the farm to expand my gardening horizons. From an attempt at edible forest gardening, to starting a large asparagus patch, to greenhouse/hoophouse gardening, to composting, etc., my efforts have either been total failures or only meager success at best. And this is not even mentioning much more serious issues having to do with personal relationships that to date continue to be so resistant to significant improvement. God, where are you?! You tell me to come before the throne of grace and mercy to find help in the time of need . . . to draw near to You, yet I have not felt much reciprocation from Your end when I've done my best to do my part. What's up?!
Amazingly, the depression that I started the day with dissipated during the day, and even though it wasn't the best day at work, I came home feeling okay. I took a look at what I feared would be browning (dying) cilantro and was overjoyed to see that they still looked a healthy green. They had survived!
At one point this morning I thought I would write a blog entitled "the severity of God". In Romans 11:22 Paul tells us to "consider the kindness and severity of God." It seems to be a pet peeve of mine that Christians love to hear about the kindness of God, but not His severity, Unfortunately I seem to be drawn more to understanding and emphasizing His severity. Can you believe that the book I chose to read on our honeymoon (or shortly thereafter) was A SEVERE MERCY? It's a great (true) story, but definitely not one for honeymoon reading! Early in our marriage I came up with the phrase "T T time" (Tribulation Training time) as a way to give meaning to any hard times we were having.
My wife was a good sport about these things, but years later I've finally realized that she needed much more of the "kindness of God" taught and exhibited to her. Paul commands us to consider both
the kindness and the severity of God. (Notice that he places the kindness of God ahead of severity.)
Having said all that one still has to come to terms with the difficulties of life that don't want to let up, My wife and I feel that our married life so far is very well summed up in the proverb, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Fortunately, there is more to that proverb. "but a promise fulfilled is a tree of life." I leave you with that. As the black preacher said who preached his Good Friday sermon by repeating just one sentence over and over again with varying degrees of emotion and intonation: "Tod-a-a-a-y is Friday; but Sund-a-a-a-y is a-comin!"
Sunday, April 3, 2016
wind damage
This morning I was out uncovering the early spring seedlings (cabbage, lettuce, onions, etc.) that I had tried to protect from a hard frost and high winds. I had grown these seedlings indoors over the winter under grow lights in order to plant them in my greenhouse/hoophouse late in the winter to get a jumpstart on garden veggies this year. The only problem was that after two attempts at covering my hoophouse frame with platic sheeting and having it blown off in very high winds (50+ mph gusts), I decided to try putting my seedlings out in the garden bed under the protection of remay cloth. But again, the wind wrecked havoc with my efforts, and although many of my seedlings have actually survived, many didn't. I have yet to perfect a way to grow early vegetables so that they can survive not only freezing temperatures, but also high winds. The high winds that we tend to get this time of year are by far the bigger challenge than freezing temperatures.
The Holy Spirit is also a wind, as Jesus told Nicodemus, and as the account of the Spirit coming at Pentecost indicates. You may have heard of the book by Mel Tari, LIKE A MIGHTY WIND (which I highly recommend). It is an eye witness account of one of the most remarkable revivals of the 20th century, which took place in Indonesia, and contributed to the beginning of the charismatic renewal that literally swept around the globe and impacted every branch and denomination of Christianity in the 1970's. Here in the Midwest we have what are called "storm chasers" - professional meteorologists as well as average, non-professionals who are fascinated by midwestern storms that so often are the sources of violent, damaging winds and tornadoes. These "storm chasers" literally will drop whatever they're doing and head to the vicinity of where a storm is brewing in order to observe as close as they dare, the inner makings of a tornado.
In some respects I consider myself a spiritual storm chaser. Because I'm married and have a family I can't just up and run to wherever the Holy Spirit seems to be stirring things up. But I did move my family halfway across the country to North Carolina to where I felt God's Spirit was moving in an especially powerful way, back in 1997. When I was in high school in California I especially enjoyed visiting a Jesus Peoples house in the city where we lived, called Home for His Glory. It was a place where I sensed a special, unique moving of the Spirit. Throughout my adult life I have been drawn and attracted to places where I felt the Spirit was moving in a new and fresh way. I longed to experience that abundant life in the Spirit that Jesus promised that those who followed him and obeyed him could experience.
Have I been satisfied that my "storm chasing" has born the fruit I have longed for? Yes and no. Very few literal storm chasers have the satisfaction of finally seeing "the big one" up close. I am no longer wanting to go to some geographical location to experience a "move of the Spirit". But that hunger and longing has never waned within me. I cry out for it almost daily. I believe those who have a proven track record with prophetic words who say that we are on the verge of the greatest move of the Spirit the Church and the world has ever seen. It will be like a tidal wave, carrying to new heights those who are prepared, waiting and ready. If we aren't prepared, that same wave that can carry a surfer so high and so far, can also wreck havoc of our status quo.
I am convinced more than ever that "winds of change" are now blowing across the land and they will only increase in intensity. It is happening in the physical realm to alert us to the fact that it is also beginning to happen in the spiritual realm. There's nothing automatic about catching and riding on the energy of the wind of the Spirit. I believe that the single most important way that we can prepare to catch and ride the wave (or wind) that is coming, is to simply want it more than anything else. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If we let other things take first place they will suffer wind damage. I have never surfed, but I do know what it is like to be caught on the underside of a big wave and be tossed and turned head over heels. It's much better to ride the energy of the wave than to feel its destructive power pummeling your body!
There is a mighty wave coming. We must get in the proper place to catch and ride it, or we will suffer loss. I don't know the reference, but there is a scripture that says we can either "fall on the rock (i.e.Jesus)" - and suffer whatever pain that may bring. Or else the rock will fall on us - we will suffer the consequences of going our own way. Are we aware of the way that God is moving in our world today, and are we making the necessary adjustments to move with Him? Or will we be caught unawares?
The Holy Spirit is also a wind, as Jesus told Nicodemus, and as the account of the Spirit coming at Pentecost indicates. You may have heard of the book by Mel Tari, LIKE A MIGHTY WIND (which I highly recommend). It is an eye witness account of one of the most remarkable revivals of the 20th century, which took place in Indonesia, and contributed to the beginning of the charismatic renewal that literally swept around the globe and impacted every branch and denomination of Christianity in the 1970's. Here in the Midwest we have what are called "storm chasers" - professional meteorologists as well as average, non-professionals who are fascinated by midwestern storms that so often are the sources of violent, damaging winds and tornadoes. These "storm chasers" literally will drop whatever they're doing and head to the vicinity of where a storm is brewing in order to observe as close as they dare, the inner makings of a tornado.
In some respects I consider myself a spiritual storm chaser. Because I'm married and have a family I can't just up and run to wherever the Holy Spirit seems to be stirring things up. But I did move my family halfway across the country to North Carolina to where I felt God's Spirit was moving in an especially powerful way, back in 1997. When I was in high school in California I especially enjoyed visiting a Jesus Peoples house in the city where we lived, called Home for His Glory. It was a place where I sensed a special, unique moving of the Spirit. Throughout my adult life I have been drawn and attracted to places where I felt the Spirit was moving in a new and fresh way. I longed to experience that abundant life in the Spirit that Jesus promised that those who followed him and obeyed him could experience.
Have I been satisfied that my "storm chasing" has born the fruit I have longed for? Yes and no. Very few literal storm chasers have the satisfaction of finally seeing "the big one" up close. I am no longer wanting to go to some geographical location to experience a "move of the Spirit". But that hunger and longing has never waned within me. I cry out for it almost daily. I believe those who have a proven track record with prophetic words who say that we are on the verge of the greatest move of the Spirit the Church and the world has ever seen. It will be like a tidal wave, carrying to new heights those who are prepared, waiting and ready. If we aren't prepared, that same wave that can carry a surfer so high and so far, can also wreck havoc of our status quo.
I am convinced more than ever that "winds of change" are now blowing across the land and they will only increase in intensity. It is happening in the physical realm to alert us to the fact that it is also beginning to happen in the spiritual realm. There's nothing automatic about catching and riding on the energy of the wind of the Spirit. I believe that the single most important way that we can prepare to catch and ride the wave (or wind) that is coming, is to simply want it more than anything else. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If we let other things take first place they will suffer wind damage. I have never surfed, but I do know what it is like to be caught on the underside of a big wave and be tossed and turned head over heels. It's much better to ride the energy of the wave than to feel its destructive power pummeling your body!
There is a mighty wave coming. We must get in the proper place to catch and ride it, or we will suffer loss. I don't know the reference, but there is a scripture that says we can either "fall on the rock (i.e.Jesus)" - and suffer whatever pain that may bring. Or else the rock will fall on us - we will suffer the consequences of going our own way. Are we aware of the way that God is moving in our world today, and are we making the necessary adjustments to move with Him? Or will we be caught unawares?
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Mother's legacy
When my Dad passed away last Fall I posted an open letter to him, expressing my love and appreciation for his life. My mother is still with us and I'd like to do the same for her so she can hear these words while she is still alive.
Dear Mother,
The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and the subject of eating new and different foods came up. He had been to a conference where meals were provided once a day, but he said he didn't care for the food - it was too "weird". Now this was an organic growers' conference so I figured the food was perfectly good and healthy, but because it wasn't the standard American fare my friend had turned his nose up at it. I told him that it was probably the kind of food my family liked to eat! I then went on to explain that I was raised by a mother who taught us that if food was healthy and good for you one could learn to like it. One's tastes could be developed, in other words - not a common American value, but one that you taught me to embrace. A favorite phrase of yours, Mother, was, "people just need to be taught!"
Mother, you were the first and most important teacher I ever had. You not only taught me the value of eating well but also how to prepare foods in as healthy a way as possible ("don't overcook the broccoli!"). More importantly you taught me the critical need to have a vital, living relationship with Jesus. You were a deep believer in prayer and would often respond to needs that would arise with a quiet, but firm statement, "We need to pray about that." It took a long time for that lesson to sink in, but in the last few years prayer has become increasingly important to me. Thank you, Mother, for modeling that value to me. I can still picture the earnestness on your face and in your voice as you raised your concerns to the Father in prayer.
Mother, I can remember an evening when I was with you and Dad at a home Bible Study, at the home of the Waltzes. We had been going through one of the Psalms, having an open-ended kind of a study, and I had felt free (as a high-school age person) to share some insights during the discussion. On the way home, Mother, you were quick to affirm that I had a gift. I don't know if you exactly labeled it a teaching gift, but I think it would have generally fallen into that category. I believe you have that gift and were recognizing it in me. Thank you for that encouragement you gave me way back then. I probably didn't think a whole lot of it at the time, but the memory of that has stuck with me so I know that must have been an important affirmation that I continue to take seriously.
Mother, you are nearing the end of your life. Believe me when I tell you that you have run your course well. I know that at times you have expressed concern that you didn't do this or that right in how you raised me. But I want you to know that there was only one human in history that did everything right - and that's why we put our trust in Him to save us! I have no regrets with how you and Dad raised me. I count my childhood and growing up years at home as very blessed years and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Our faith is in a loving Father who takes even our failures and turns them into opportunities to show His power to transform them into blessings. So be at peace, Mother, as you reflect back on the past. It is His faithfulness that has brought you to this place and has preserved and nurtured all the good seed that you planted, not only within me but within many others as well.
I love you Mother. I bless you for being a blessing to me.
Bruce
Dear Mother,
The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and the subject of eating new and different foods came up. He had been to a conference where meals were provided once a day, but he said he didn't care for the food - it was too "weird". Now this was an organic growers' conference so I figured the food was perfectly good and healthy, but because it wasn't the standard American fare my friend had turned his nose up at it. I told him that it was probably the kind of food my family liked to eat! I then went on to explain that I was raised by a mother who taught us that if food was healthy and good for you one could learn to like it. One's tastes could be developed, in other words - not a common American value, but one that you taught me to embrace. A favorite phrase of yours, Mother, was, "people just need to be taught!"
Mother, you were the first and most important teacher I ever had. You not only taught me the value of eating well but also how to prepare foods in as healthy a way as possible ("don't overcook the broccoli!"). More importantly you taught me the critical need to have a vital, living relationship with Jesus. You were a deep believer in prayer and would often respond to needs that would arise with a quiet, but firm statement, "We need to pray about that." It took a long time for that lesson to sink in, but in the last few years prayer has become increasingly important to me. Thank you, Mother, for modeling that value to me. I can still picture the earnestness on your face and in your voice as you raised your concerns to the Father in prayer.
Mother, I can remember an evening when I was with you and Dad at a home Bible Study, at the home of the Waltzes. We had been going through one of the Psalms, having an open-ended kind of a study, and I had felt free (as a high-school age person) to share some insights during the discussion. On the way home, Mother, you were quick to affirm that I had a gift. I don't know if you exactly labeled it a teaching gift, but I think it would have generally fallen into that category. I believe you have that gift and were recognizing it in me. Thank you for that encouragement you gave me way back then. I probably didn't think a whole lot of it at the time, but the memory of that has stuck with me so I know that must have been an important affirmation that I continue to take seriously.
Mother, you are nearing the end of your life. Believe me when I tell you that you have run your course well. I know that at times you have expressed concern that you didn't do this or that right in how you raised me. But I want you to know that there was only one human in history that did everything right - and that's why we put our trust in Him to save us! I have no regrets with how you and Dad raised me. I count my childhood and growing up years at home as very blessed years and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Our faith is in a loving Father who takes even our failures and turns them into opportunities to show His power to transform them into blessings. So be at peace, Mother, as you reflect back on the past. It is His faithfulness that has brought you to this place and has preserved and nurtured all the good seed that you planted, not only within me but within many others as well.
I love you Mother. I bless you for being a blessing to me.
Bruce
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