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
Sunday, March 13, 2016
through the mouth of an ass
This has been a very unusual political season and what has made it especially intriguing to me is what some influential Christians have been saying recently about the Republican front-runner, Donald Trump. Lance Wallnau sees Trump as someone with a "wrecking ball annointing" and compared him to the Persian emperor, Cyrus the Great, whom God used to bring a remnant of His people back from the Babylonian exile. Lance points out that this is the 45th presidential election of our nation, and in Isaiah 45 God says this about Cyrus: "This is what the LORD says to his annointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: 'I will go before you and will level mountains, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, and riches stored in secret places. . . For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me..." (Isaiah 45:1-4).
Nita Johnson, a leading and influential voice in the prophetic community, recently published this word about Trump:
Nita Johnson, a leading and influential voice in the prophetic community, recently published this word about Trump:
"Four years ago the Lord spoke to me and told me that in the next election, He would put a Cyrus in the White House...I have had several dreams and visions about Donald Trump and each time, he seemed to come out of nowhere to take on the establishment! Then it began to happen.
If you want a religious man, you can have that in Ben Carson. He will be good in his place, in the season God has for him. However, God has not equipped him to do what our Nation needs at this time in history. I look for that to come later. If you want a Cyrus that will turn America back to the land of promise and deal with the high-level wickedness, you must look for the one who is anointed for this purpose: Donald Trump. The man at the top does not need a Cyrus mantel to turn America around if he is a spirit-filled Christian. He does, however if he is Trump. It's the mantel of Cyrus that will do the work. The man simply will be a tool in God's lofty and wise hands. I think a great pairing would be Trump as the President and Carson as the Vice President.
Trump may have need of grace in particular areas. Nevertheless, he is not evil like those of the shadow government. He will cause many of their tall and lofty mountains to fall. I promise you, as God is through Trump, doing that very thing. Trump is like a bull out of the pen, he sees red and heads for the target. He is as fearless as a lion being robbed of its cubs. With the mantle of Cyrus and the qualities God gave him, Trump will achieve as much as we, through our prayers, make a way for him to accomplish. It will take the whole team fighting for this nation, for us to win the war.
For our modern day Cyrus to achieve God's design he will need more than just desire. He will need solid prayer covering and divine enablement. The Church cannot keep thinking that the world will take care of us just because we are the Lord's. The world wants their government, not God's. The Church will end up in a den of suffering if we do not fight now through prayer and our actions by voting for God's will.
One person mentioned to me that they thought God could just put the Cyrus Mantel on Dr. Carson. He could, but the Lord does tend to make the personality of the bearer fit the mantel. This being the case, why do we trifle with God's selection? He is so much more than our little, and fearful boxes can visualize."
Does that offend you, that God would choose a morally repugnant person like Trump to do His work? The prophet Habakkuk was similarly offended that God would use the pagan nation of Babylon to punish Judah (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1). And we're all familiar with that Bible story of God using a donkey to rebuke the prophet Balaam. That's what I call an "out of the box" God! His ways are definitely not our ways!
So the question is, how can we position ourselves to be able to recognize what God is doing if He does things so differently than what we would expect? The answer is so simple, yet so incredibly difficult. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." The closer we are to God the easier it will be to recognize what He is doing. But how does one draw near to a consuming fire?! We are as close to God as we want to be. Are we willing to let His fire consume us?
Saturday, March 5, 2016
s.b.p. IV
A question that may have occurred to some of you, as it has to me, is, why would God bother to give us a sign like the Panthers winning the Super Bowl to indicate that revival or awakening had come to America? Wouldn't it be self-evident if revival was truly happening? Maybe not.
I've heard it said that Andrew Murray, a true man of God from South Africa, had prayed for years for God to send revival to his country. According to the source I heard this from, God sent John G. Lake to South Africa where He had a remarkable healing ministry and planted hundreds of churches. Was this the answer to Andrew Murray's prayers? If it was, Mr. Murray did not recognize it as such, presumably because Mr. Lake's ministry was not what he was looking for or expecting.
An even greater and more obvious example of a God-sent revival happening and most not recognizing it for what it was, was the coming of Jesus. As long-awaited as this present-day coming revival is, it pales in comparison to the long-awaited and much prophesied coming of Israel's Messiah. But when the Messiah finally came, he wasn't recognized! John the Baptist, the very herald of Christ, had his own doubts and had to send some of his disciples to ask Jesus up front, "Are you the One, or should we look for another?" Jesus' own disciples were filled with doubt when they saw their hopes for him dashed by the crucifixion.
When one studies the history of major, genuine moves of God, one finds that these moves are always "out of the box" and are therefore always resisted, if not outright persecuted by the status quo church.
Have you heard the saying, "God will offend our minds in order to test our hearts"? The spiritual elite of Jesus' day were offended that a carpenter's son from the sticks [Nazareth was literally a town built on a chalk hill, and the province it was in was derogatively called "Galilee of the Gentiles"] would consider himself as sent from God. Amazingly, many of them seemed able to accept that as strange a fellow as John the Baptist was, he was sent from God. But Jesus was just too offensive to their spiritual/religious sensibilities.
Are we any different? Would we accept a move of God if it were led by a Southerner speaking like a hillbilly? ...or by a black Pentecostal preacher? ...or by a woman? ...or by someone out of the L.G.B.T. community? We have a hard time realizing how offensive Jesus was to the religious leaders of his day, but he was just as offensive as any of the categories I just suggested. He surrounded himself with "sinners (i.e.harlots, tax collectors/thieves, etc.)" and used a despised Samaritan as a hero in one of his parables. He truly did not act or speak like the kind of Messiah the Jews were looking forward to!
Are we prepared to have our minds offended, to have our hearts exposed, by this coming move of God? Revivals are messy things, not neat and tidy like we would like them to be. A lot of garbage has to come to the surface for the cleansing to happen. Those who are not offended by the smells or the sounds or the sights of dirty people coming clean will be the ones to embrace this kind of "out of the box" move of the Spirit. God have mercy on us, that we might be among those who will embrace and not reject what He is about to do. I guarantee, it will not be what we are expecting!
"Truth is stranger than fiction, for fiction is limited to what we can imagine, and truth isn't."
- Mark Twain
"When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen." (Mark 16:9-14)
I've heard it said that Andrew Murray, a true man of God from South Africa, had prayed for years for God to send revival to his country. According to the source I heard this from, God sent John G. Lake to South Africa where He had a remarkable healing ministry and planted hundreds of churches. Was this the answer to Andrew Murray's prayers? If it was, Mr. Murray did not recognize it as such, presumably because Mr. Lake's ministry was not what he was looking for or expecting.
An even greater and more obvious example of a God-sent revival happening and most not recognizing it for what it was, was the coming of Jesus. As long-awaited as this present-day coming revival is, it pales in comparison to the long-awaited and much prophesied coming of Israel's Messiah. But when the Messiah finally came, he wasn't recognized! John the Baptist, the very herald of Christ, had his own doubts and had to send some of his disciples to ask Jesus up front, "Are you the One, or should we look for another?" Jesus' own disciples were filled with doubt when they saw their hopes for him dashed by the crucifixion.
When one studies the history of major, genuine moves of God, one finds that these moves are always "out of the box" and are therefore always resisted, if not outright persecuted by the status quo church.
Have you heard the saying, "God will offend our minds in order to test our hearts"? The spiritual elite of Jesus' day were offended that a carpenter's son from the sticks [Nazareth was literally a town built on a chalk hill, and the province it was in was derogatively called "Galilee of the Gentiles"] would consider himself as sent from God. Amazingly, many of them seemed able to accept that as strange a fellow as John the Baptist was, he was sent from God. But Jesus was just too offensive to their spiritual/religious sensibilities.
Are we any different? Would we accept a move of God if it were led by a Southerner speaking like a hillbilly? ...or by a black Pentecostal preacher? ...or by a woman? ...or by someone out of the L.G.B.T. community? We have a hard time realizing how offensive Jesus was to the religious leaders of his day, but he was just as offensive as any of the categories I just suggested. He surrounded himself with "sinners (i.e.harlots, tax collectors/thieves, etc.)" and used a despised Samaritan as a hero in one of his parables. He truly did not act or speak like the kind of Messiah the Jews were looking forward to!
Are we prepared to have our minds offended, to have our hearts exposed, by this coming move of God? Revivals are messy things, not neat and tidy like we would like them to be. A lot of garbage has to come to the surface for the cleansing to happen. Those who are not offended by the smells or the sounds or the sights of dirty people coming clean will be the ones to embrace this kind of "out of the box" move of the Spirit. God have mercy on us, that we might be among those who will embrace and not reject what He is about to do. I guarantee, it will not be what we are expecting!
"Truth is stranger than fiction, for fiction is limited to what we can imagine, and truth isn't."
- Mark Twain
"When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen." (Mark 16:9-14)
Monday, February 15, 2016
s.b.p.III
To say it as clearly and concisely as I can, if God is telling us to prepare for what is coming, it is because that is precisely what He is up to at this present time. He is preparing us! The question is, are we recognizing what He is trying to do in us and properly responding to that?
One more thought. In my first s.b.p. post I mentioned that it was important to be forewarned about the good that is coming, not just the bad. Back when the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land God gave Moses a song for him to teach the people that was a prophecy of how the very blessings they would enjoy in the Promised Land would be a test to see if they would continue to faithfully obey God or be turned away to serve false gods. It predicts that they would flunk the test, turn to false gods and end up serving their enemies rather than serving the true God who had blessed them so richly to begin with. And this has been the history of God's people ever since! Will there ever be a time when God can pour out His blessings on His people and they will continue in those blessings, passing those blessings on to the next generation as well? Satan has a boast that although God can save people from hell, he is still more attractive than God because invariably the people that God has saved will lose their initial love for God and turn back to Satan's enticements. But this will end! God will have a people in the end who, as Revelation tells us, will "follow the Lamb wherever He goes, who will not love their lives unto death." If you are a true believer, a true seeker after God and a lover of the truth, understand that everything that is happening in and around you is designed to achieve this very thing. Every trial and every blessing is meant to achieve the same thing - to draw you closer, to become joined to Him who alone is Life in such a way that we will never again even be tempted away from the one and only true Love. In the end the bride will indeed have made herself ready and will indeed be dressed in a spotless wedding gown.
So, to make the point as clear as I can: if God is still withholding blessing (revival) it is because we are not yet ready. There is a time for everything, and now is the time for preparation. God is the one preparing us, but we need to recognize that this is what He is up to and live in agreement with what He is doing. Otherwise the coming glory (like I learned as a painter) won't "stick". So embrace the present trials (and blessings!), for they are all training tools designed to prepare us to fulfill the greatest command of all (which sums up all the others): Love God with all that we are, now and forevermore!
Sunday, February 14, 2016
super bowl prophecy II
Another key thought came to me in regards to what I wrote in the last posting that I thought was worth devoting another whole post to. The message that I felt God was speaking to me after the Panther's loss in the Super Bowl was, in a nutshell, "PREPARE!" It certainly would have been more exciting to have seen them win and expectantly look forward to the revival/awakening breaking out. That will happen soon enough. What's most critical and important now is to be prepared for that time. Much could be said about how to prepare. One book that I could recommend along these lines is Rick Joyner's recently published book, ARMY OF THE DAWN. Also, his book entitled, THE HARVEST I would highly recommend.
But the thought I would like to expand a bit on here has to do with how one responds properly to any command that God gives. If God is speaking to us at this time to "prepare for the coming harvest (which is now imminent)", what do we do? I would like to suggest that God's commands are themselves a form of prophecy. In one of the Gospels Jesus says, "the law and the prophets prophesied until John." Did you catch that? The law (i.e the commandments) are actually a prophecy! When God gave His people commandments to obey He knew good and well they were not capable of obeying them. So why did He give them?!!! First of all He wanted them to try and keep the commandments on their own so that they would learn that human flesh cannot do it. But once that became clear, those commands would become indicators that whenever they were observed as being obeyed/fulfilled, we would know that it was indeed God at work here, not merely human will. When we observe in someone else, or in one's self, the ability to truly and genuinely obey one of God's commands, it is an indicator that God is at work, He is present, He is fulfilling His
own word in us. When God commands us to love Him, or to love our neighbor (especially our enemy), it is a prophecy that when we find ourselves actually able to do that from our heart, it will be a clear indication that this is a "God thing" that is happening, not a human thing.
So, if God is speaking to us that we need to prepare for a coming move of His Spirit (call it what you will - revival, awakening, harvest), we need to increase our awareness (through prayer or any other means that will help us increase that awareness) of what God is actually doing within our own hearts and minds as well as in others around us. One of the most often repeated prayers of mine is, "Daddy, help me to be aware of what you are doing within me and around me. I want to be working with you and not against you!"
One last thought. Another way that one can prepare for revival/awakening is to learn about past moves of God in history. You will discover how unprepared God's people typically are! When God moves in new and dramatic ways it is invariably "outside of the box", not like what we would expect. In fact, this is so true that these moves of God stir up great controversy and divisions within the status quo Church. And there is probably a lot of that "status quo" within all of us that needs top get shook
up and disposed of before the Spirit will have the freedom to do His thing.
The following is a good illustration of how God both commands and enables us to obey his commands (an Old Testament professor in college put it this way: "God's commandments are His enablements"):
In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God...High above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire; and brilliant light surrounded him...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD [YHWH]. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you!" As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me... (Ezekiel 1:1,26b-2:2)
Prepare (be aware of how He is speaking and working in you)!
But the thought I would like to expand a bit on here has to do with how one responds properly to any command that God gives. If God is speaking to us at this time to "prepare for the coming harvest (which is now imminent)", what do we do? I would like to suggest that God's commands are themselves a form of prophecy. In one of the Gospels Jesus says, "the law and the prophets prophesied until John." Did you catch that? The law (i.e the commandments) are actually a prophecy! When God gave His people commandments to obey He knew good and well they were not capable of obeying them. So why did He give them?!!! First of all He wanted them to try and keep the commandments on their own so that they would learn that human flesh cannot do it. But once that became clear, those commands would become indicators that whenever they were observed as being obeyed/fulfilled, we would know that it was indeed God at work here, not merely human will. When we observe in someone else, or in one's self, the ability to truly and genuinely obey one of God's commands, it is an indicator that God is at work, He is present, He is fulfilling His
own word in us. When God commands us to love Him, or to love our neighbor (especially our enemy), it is a prophecy that when we find ourselves actually able to do that from our heart, it will be a clear indication that this is a "God thing" that is happening, not a human thing.
So, if God is speaking to us that we need to prepare for a coming move of His Spirit (call it what you will - revival, awakening, harvest), we need to increase our awareness (through prayer or any other means that will help us increase that awareness) of what God is actually doing within our own hearts and minds as well as in others around us. One of the most often repeated prayers of mine is, "Daddy, help me to be aware of what you are doing within me and around me. I want to be working with you and not against you!"
One last thought. Another way that one can prepare for revival/awakening is to learn about past moves of God in history. You will discover how unprepared God's people typically are! When God moves in new and dramatic ways it is invariably "outside of the box", not like what we would expect. In fact, this is so true that these moves of God stir up great controversy and divisions within the status quo Church. And there is probably a lot of that "status quo" within all of us that needs top get shook
up and disposed of before the Spirit will have the freedom to do His thing.
The following is a good illustration of how God both commands and enables us to obey his commands (an Old Testament professor in college put it this way: "God's commandments are His enablements"):
In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God...High above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire; and brilliant light surrounded him...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD [YHWH]. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you!" As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me... (Ezekiel 1:1,26b-2:2)
Prepare (be aware of how He is speaking and working in you)!
super bowl prophecy
Those of you who have been reading my posts over the past year know that I highly value the prophetic. I agree with the teaching that Scripture is the standard by which all else is to be judged. But the prophetic gift is given to encourage and clue us in to what God is up to in the present. As Amos 3:7 tells us, "Surely the Sovereign LORD [YHWH] does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." If you check out both Biblical prophecies as well as non-Biblical ones you will notice that some of them don't fit into any neat category of how we think God should speak (once a friend responded to my telling him about a prophetic word by saying, "God doesn't talk like that."). The following may seem that way to some of you, but it has served to stir up some helpful insights which I'd like to share.
About 20 or so years ago one of the most respected of modern day prophets, Bob Jones (not the founder of the university with that name), who is no longer with us, said that the Lord told him that when the Carolina Panthers won the Super Bowl it would be an indicator of the beginning of a new Great Awakening. So you can imagine my interest in the Big game between the Panthers and the Broncos was quite high. And my emotional state was quite low at the Panther's loss. As I mulled over what significance to put on all this, if any, I was pleased that the following insight(s) came to me.
First of all it must be noted that there have been many, many prophetic words given over the last quarter century about a coming great revival/awakening that will usher in the final harvest of souls before the Lord's return. It will eclipse every previous revival/awakening in church history, including the first century one. None of these previous moves of God fulfilled Jesus' own prophecy that those who believe in him will be able to do even greater works than he did. This last move will also fulfill the prophecy that Jesus' first miracle (changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana) spoke of - God is saving His best wine for last. Nothing has grabbed my attention or fueled my passion more than to read and hear about (and of course, want to participate in) this last and greatest move of God's Spirit.
So, if this long awaited and longed for event has been postponed for at least another year, what am I to do in the meantime? The answer to that question is "preparation!" My take on this super bowl prophecy about the Panthers and their loss is that it was a reminder that Jesus' prophecy that "the harvest is the end of the age" is very close and God wants us to be aware and prepared for that time. Both Biblical and contemporary prophecies are given, not to stir up our curiosity and prove how cool God is to foretell the future. No! God wants us to be ready, to be prepared for what He is about to do.
As disappointed as I was that the Panthers lost the Super Bowl, once I began to think more deeply about it and ask God the meaning of it, I actually began to feel not so bad about it because I saw that indeed I and most others are probably, indeed, not prepared for what is coming. We tend to think that we just need to be forewarned about bad things that are coming. But in actuality we need to be forewarned just as much about the blessings that are coming or we would be in the greatest of danger of either missing them altogether (because they probably will not look like what we were expecting), or of squandering those blessings - not treasuring and handling them in an appropriate way.
Years ago God spoke to me as I was working as a painter, spending a lot of time trying to get a door ready for varnishing that had some cat scratchings on it. I was rather peeved at the time that it was taking to get this part of the door smooth enough and looking just right so that when the coat(s) of varnish were finally put on it would look just right. Even though I didn't hear these exact words (it was more of an impression), in essence what God said to me was, "Bruce, just as you as a painter are wanting to do good work, taking however long is necessary in the preparation part, so that the finished product will be of the highest quality, so am I spending a long time in preparing my people to be able to receive my glory." Any painter worth his salt will tell you that most of his work is taken up in preparation. The actual putting on of the paint is relatively easy and quick. If the preparation part is done too quickly and not carefully enough, the danger increases that the paint will either peel or simply not look as nice as it could have. The lesson I learned was so clear and equally applicable in the spiritual realm as in the physical: if you want something to last, to have enduring qualities, as well as to truly shine (radiate glory), devote the time necessary to preparation. God wants us ready for the awesome move of His Spirit that is coming! We have no time to waste. We cannot get sidetracked by things that are not in the flow of His moving. Our focus must be on drawing closer to Him every day, hearing His voice, and being quick to obey. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. If we lose our proper focus we are in danger of missing out (maybe not totally, but to some degree) on what will be the greatest move of God in history - the harvest, which is what will bring this present age to an end.
About 20 or so years ago one of the most respected of modern day prophets, Bob Jones (not the founder of the university with that name), who is no longer with us, said that the Lord told him that when the Carolina Panthers won the Super Bowl it would be an indicator of the beginning of a new Great Awakening. So you can imagine my interest in the Big game between the Panthers and the Broncos was quite high. And my emotional state was quite low at the Panther's loss. As I mulled over what significance to put on all this, if any, I was pleased that the following insight(s) came to me.
First of all it must be noted that there have been many, many prophetic words given over the last quarter century about a coming great revival/awakening that will usher in the final harvest of souls before the Lord's return. It will eclipse every previous revival/awakening in church history, including the first century one. None of these previous moves of God fulfilled Jesus' own prophecy that those who believe in him will be able to do even greater works than he did. This last move will also fulfill the prophecy that Jesus' first miracle (changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana) spoke of - God is saving His best wine for last. Nothing has grabbed my attention or fueled my passion more than to read and hear about (and of course, want to participate in) this last and greatest move of God's Spirit.
So, if this long awaited and longed for event has been postponed for at least another year, what am I to do in the meantime? The answer to that question is "preparation!" My take on this super bowl prophecy about the Panthers and their loss is that it was a reminder that Jesus' prophecy that "the harvest is the end of the age" is very close and God wants us to be aware and prepared for that time. Both Biblical and contemporary prophecies are given, not to stir up our curiosity and prove how cool God is to foretell the future. No! God wants us to be ready, to be prepared for what He is about to do.
As disappointed as I was that the Panthers lost the Super Bowl, once I began to think more deeply about it and ask God the meaning of it, I actually began to feel not so bad about it because I saw that indeed I and most others are probably, indeed, not prepared for what is coming. We tend to think that we just need to be forewarned about bad things that are coming. But in actuality we need to be forewarned just as much about the blessings that are coming or we would be in the greatest of danger of either missing them altogether (because they probably will not look like what we were expecting), or of squandering those blessings - not treasuring and handling them in an appropriate way.
Years ago God spoke to me as I was working as a painter, spending a lot of time trying to get a door ready for varnishing that had some cat scratchings on it. I was rather peeved at the time that it was taking to get this part of the door smooth enough and looking just right so that when the coat(s) of varnish were finally put on it would look just right. Even though I didn't hear these exact words (it was more of an impression), in essence what God said to me was, "Bruce, just as you as a painter are wanting to do good work, taking however long is necessary in the preparation part, so that the finished product will be of the highest quality, so am I spending a long time in preparing my people to be able to receive my glory." Any painter worth his salt will tell you that most of his work is taken up in preparation. The actual putting on of the paint is relatively easy and quick. If the preparation part is done too quickly and not carefully enough, the danger increases that the paint will either peel or simply not look as nice as it could have. The lesson I learned was so clear and equally applicable in the spiritual realm as in the physical: if you want something to last, to have enduring qualities, as well as to truly shine (radiate glory), devote the time necessary to preparation. God wants us ready for the awesome move of His Spirit that is coming! We have no time to waste. We cannot get sidetracked by things that are not in the flow of His moving. Our focus must be on drawing closer to Him every day, hearing His voice, and being quick to obey. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. If we lose our proper focus we are in danger of missing out (maybe not totally, but to some degree) on what will be the greatest move of God in history - the harvest, which is what will bring this present age to an end.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Creator's signature
Where is it that we find God doing His most amazing (creative) work? Is it with the really smart people, or those who are the best managers, or those who really have their act together"? Does God do His best work in the well lit halls of academia, or in those churches with such gifted leaders that many flock to hear their "annointed preaching"? God surely does work in all of these situations. But what I'm asking is, where does He do His best work? Where do you think He really enjoys doing His stuff the most? What really gets His creative juices flowing?
Consider the very first recorded work of God in Genesis 1:1-2. Most carpenters will tell you that they prefer to build a house from scratch. To have to remodel a ramshackle place that has fallen into disrepair is such a pain (depending, of course, on how bad the condition is) because before you can even start on the construction part you have to tear down and clear out the broken and decayed parts first. If God thought like us I'm sure He would have preferred to start creating from scratch too. But did God really create this world 'ex nihilo', out of nothing, as most theologians will tell us? Well, maybe He did in Gen. 1:1, but what's with the next verse? "Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep." I had always assumed (and was probably taught) that Gen. 1:1 ["In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."] was like a heading, or a summary, of what was to follow. But I know of one Bible teacher who believes that a catastrophic event occurred between verses 1 and 2 that Scripture simply omits. His basis for this interpretation are the adjectives used in verse 2 to describe the "materials", as it were, that God had to work with in the beginning. The words translated "formless and void" are words that typically would be used to describe the aftermath of a great battle where complete devastation has occurred. So this commentator has posited the idea that between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 something very traumatic, like a cosmic battle, has occurred, leaving God with an earth that was "formless and void" to begin this most amazing creation that we are presently a part of.
If this seems a bit far out, fast forward to an even more incredible, out of the box, work of this most amazing God. It's what we call the work of redemption, most eloquently prophesied of by Isaiah in chapter 53. This was so far out of the box that Jesus' own closest disciples didn't get it even though he told them straight up and had spent 3 years preparing them for it. When Jesus died all their hopes died with him. They were convinced it had all been for naught. They had no hope whatsoever that God could turn this greatest of catastrophes around. It was Genesis 1:2 all over again. "Formless and void" would be a good description of how they felt then.
Years later, in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds them of this most creative way that God works. It was his signature in the beginning, at redemption, and continues to be in His dealings with humankind.
We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles . . . For the
foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's
strength . . .
Brethren, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish
things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the
strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are
not - to nullify the things that are . . . (I Cor. 1:23-28)
It is time for us to wake up to this most amazing truth. We have been lulled into a spiritual stupor by a religion that says all the right things but is devoid of the power that those words point to [The picture that comes to mind is the king of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings who has been stupified by his "counselor" who has been adding a poison to his drinks little by little.]. Like Robert the Bruce it is time to wake up to the devastation the enemy has wrought all around us and in us and say, "No more! I will stand up and do whatever it takes to take back my rightful inheritance, to be the king I was called to be!" It is time to follow the example of Francis of Assissi, who said, "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." Our leader, Jesus Christ - Yeshua Hamashiac - began his ministry with these following words, and he bids us to do the same:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD [YHWH] is on me, because the LORD [YHWH] has
annointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenheartened, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the LORD's [YHWH's] favor . . . to comfort all who mourn, and to provide for those who grieve in
Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD [YHWH] for the display of His splendor."
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
Consider the very first recorded work of God in Genesis 1:1-2. Most carpenters will tell you that they prefer to build a house from scratch. To have to remodel a ramshackle place that has fallen into disrepair is such a pain (depending, of course, on how bad the condition is) because before you can even start on the construction part you have to tear down and clear out the broken and decayed parts first. If God thought like us I'm sure He would have preferred to start creating from scratch too. But did God really create this world 'ex nihilo', out of nothing, as most theologians will tell us? Well, maybe He did in Gen. 1:1, but what's with the next verse? "Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep." I had always assumed (and was probably taught) that Gen. 1:1 ["In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."] was like a heading, or a summary, of what was to follow. But I know of one Bible teacher who believes that a catastrophic event occurred between verses 1 and 2 that Scripture simply omits. His basis for this interpretation are the adjectives used in verse 2 to describe the "materials", as it were, that God had to work with in the beginning. The words translated "formless and void" are words that typically would be used to describe the aftermath of a great battle where complete devastation has occurred. So this commentator has posited the idea that between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 something very traumatic, like a cosmic battle, has occurred, leaving God with an earth that was "formless and void" to begin this most amazing creation that we are presently a part of.
If this seems a bit far out, fast forward to an even more incredible, out of the box, work of this most amazing God. It's what we call the work of redemption, most eloquently prophesied of by Isaiah in chapter 53. This was so far out of the box that Jesus' own closest disciples didn't get it even though he told them straight up and had spent 3 years preparing them for it. When Jesus died all their hopes died with him. They were convinced it had all been for naught. They had no hope whatsoever that God could turn this greatest of catastrophes around. It was Genesis 1:2 all over again. "Formless and void" would be a good description of how they felt then.
Years later, in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds them of this most creative way that God works. It was his signature in the beginning, at redemption, and continues to be in His dealings with humankind.
We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles . . . For the
foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's
strength . . .
Brethren, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish
things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the
strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are
not - to nullify the things that are . . . (I Cor. 1:23-28)
It is time for us to wake up to this most amazing truth. We have been lulled into a spiritual stupor by a religion that says all the right things but is devoid of the power that those words point to [The picture that comes to mind is the king of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings who has been stupified by his "counselor" who has been adding a poison to his drinks little by little.]. Like Robert the Bruce it is time to wake up to the devastation the enemy has wrought all around us and in us and say, "No more! I will stand up and do whatever it takes to take back my rightful inheritance, to be the king I was called to be!" It is time to follow the example of Francis of Assissi, who said, "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." Our leader, Jesus Christ - Yeshua Hamashiac - began his ministry with these following words, and he bids us to do the same:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD [YHWH] is on me, because the LORD [YHWH] has
annointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenheartened, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the LORD's [YHWH's] favor . . . to comfort all who mourn, and to provide for those who grieve in
Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD [YHWH] for the display of His splendor."
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
Saturday, January 16, 2016
the overcomer
I recently watched the movie Braveheart again and decided that this film is my all-time favorite. As compelling and moving as the main character William Wallace is, it is the subplot of that story, led by Robert the Bruce, that really grabs me. My mother named me after him because of the Scottish ancestry that I have. It's a shame that a sequel was never made to this movie showing how Robert the Bruce was able to finish the work of freeing Scotland from England's tyranny. Through most of Braveheart Robert the Bruce is seen as a weak and ineffective leader, unable to overcome the influence of his father and the other Scottish noblemen. These "noble"men had maintained their wealth, lands and status by compromising and acquiescing to the demands of the ruthless English king known as "Longshanks". Robert the Bruce was the recognized and rightful heir to Scotland's throne but was unable to assume that position because of the powerful grip that the English king had over his people, especially the landed nobility. When William Wallace led a successful grassroots, popular uprising against the English, Robert the Bruce greatly admired him and would have openly joined forces with Wallace. But his father and the the other "noble"men only saw Wallace as a threat to the cozy relationship they had with the English king and they succeeded in keeping Robert from following his heart. He was a tormented man. On the one hand he longed to follow the lead and the courage of this commoner, Wallace, and be the true king he knew he really was. But for so long he was unable to break free from the influence of his father and his peers.
The turning point finally came after a battle where he wanders amidst the corpses of his dead countrymen who had died trying to gain their freedom and he realizes how much he has contributed to that slaughter by his own cowardice and refusal to openly support Wallace. You can see the anguish on his face begin to change into a resolve, "Never again! Never again will I give in to my fears! I will fulfill my calling and my destiny!" He goes home to his father, who is near the end of his life which had become so perverted and twisted in the effort to maintain his position by any means possible (other than a truly noble means), and tells him, full of passion, that he is finally done with the sham that his father has tried to foist on him. He father responds, "Good! So you have finally learned to hate!" Robert turns to leave and his parting words to his father is, "My hate will die with you!" He had finally learned to love what a righteous and noble king is supposed to love - truth, justice, and freedom - and he could turn his back on fear and hatred.
In one of the final scenes of this film, the princess of Wales is in Wallace's prison cell begging him to give a show of loyalty to the English king so as to avert the certain torture and death that awaited him. In response, Wallace utters the most memorable lines of the whole movie, "All men die. Few men really live,"
Do you want to really live? Do you, do I, have the courage to really live? Are you aware that the first type of person on the list of those who are thrown into the lake of fire is not the sexually immoral or even the unbeliever, but rather the cowardly (Revelation 21:8)?!
Robert the Bruce is even more of a hero to me than William Wallace because he had to overcome even more than Wallace had to. Once Wallace had lost his bride to the English he had little else to lose. It didn't take that much for him to become a freedom fighter. Robert, on the other hand, had so much more to lose: his wealth, his status and his high calling to govern and lead his people as their king. It was no simple decision for him turn against the English king. To do that also meant turning against his own father and the lords and nobility who were his peers. He truly had become an overcomer. I want to be like him . . . and so can you.
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at
the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with
him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame
and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches."
(Revelation 3:19-22)
The turning point finally came after a battle where he wanders amidst the corpses of his dead countrymen who had died trying to gain their freedom and he realizes how much he has contributed to that slaughter by his own cowardice and refusal to openly support Wallace. You can see the anguish on his face begin to change into a resolve, "Never again! Never again will I give in to my fears! I will fulfill my calling and my destiny!" He goes home to his father, who is near the end of his life which had become so perverted and twisted in the effort to maintain his position by any means possible (other than a truly noble means), and tells him, full of passion, that he is finally done with the sham that his father has tried to foist on him. He father responds, "Good! So you have finally learned to hate!" Robert turns to leave and his parting words to his father is, "My hate will die with you!" He had finally learned to love what a righteous and noble king is supposed to love - truth, justice, and freedom - and he could turn his back on fear and hatred.
In one of the final scenes of this film, the princess of Wales is in Wallace's prison cell begging him to give a show of loyalty to the English king so as to avert the certain torture and death that awaited him. In response, Wallace utters the most memorable lines of the whole movie, "All men die. Few men really live,"
Do you want to really live? Do you, do I, have the courage to really live? Are you aware that the first type of person on the list of those who are thrown into the lake of fire is not the sexually immoral or even the unbeliever, but rather the cowardly (Revelation 21:8)?!
Robert the Bruce is even more of a hero to me than William Wallace because he had to overcome even more than Wallace had to. Once Wallace had lost his bride to the English he had little else to lose. It didn't take that much for him to become a freedom fighter. Robert, on the other hand, had so much more to lose: his wealth, his status and his high calling to govern and lead his people as their king. It was no simple decision for him turn against the English king. To do that also meant turning against his own father and the lords and nobility who were his peers. He truly had become an overcomer. I want to be like him . . . and so can you.
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at
the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with
him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame
and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches."
(Revelation 3:19-22)
Sunday, January 10, 2016
the joy of diversity
In politically correct thinking, diversity has been an important word to describe the need to include all types of people in the political process and in ensuring equal human rights for all, regardless of race, gender, creed, or (and here is where many of faith or conservative values take issue) sexual orientation. As a result, to many, "diversity" has become a kind of dirty word, a word with a negative connotation. I would like to retrieve it and give it the positive connotation it deserves, but for a better reason than to be politically correct.
What is the very first picture we are given of God in Scripture? Creator. In John 1 we are told that our Savior, Jesus, is in fact the Creator, the one who spoke all things into existence. Creativity is central, foundational, to who God is and our understanding of Him. And anyone who has a creative bone in their body will tell you that diversity and creativity go hand-in-hand. It doesn't take the mind of a brain surgeon to see and appreciate the incredible diversity that is evident in God's creation. It simply boggles the mind to think that of all the countless billions upon billions of snowflakes that have ever fallen, no two have ever been alike. In every realm and sphere of nature, of this universe (or "multiverse" as some are now calling it), one is met with mind-boggling creativity and diversity!
Just having the privilege of being the father of 9 children is enough to help me appreciate both the creativity and diversity of our Creator. Aren't you glad that God isn't into cloning? I couldn't imagine anything more boring than to live in a world filled with people just like me!
And yet, though we appreciate and celebrate creativity/diversity, there is a fear that can grip us when we encounter people or situations that are too different than what we are familiar with. At such times we need to remind ourselves of the Creator-God whom we worship, who loves diversity. He loves to do things differently than how He did it in the past. Have you noticed the many different ways in which Jesus healed people? No cookie-cutter approach there! Why did he appear to the two on the road to Emmaus "in a different form" than what they were familiar with (Mark 16:12)? Why did he choose Paul to be an apostle way after his choosing of the twelve (I'm sure Paul would have liked to have been in on the inner circle of the disciples while Jesus was still alive!)?
The reason this is such an important reality to me is because I've had to come to terms with the fact that God is working in me in a very different and unique way than He is in others. I used to want to be mentored by another more mature believer who could have helped me in my own spiritual maturation. But God never supplied such a mentor for me. I've searched for a church where I could grow and develop spiritually, but that has also eluded me. Where I do find comfort is in the examples of Moses and Paul, two men whom God was able to develop spiritually quite apart from the "normal" means. I can identify with the years that they both spent in the wilderness trying to figure what in the world God was up to in their lives. And I especially appreciate looking over the list of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and noticing that the only thing they all had in common was that God did a unique work in each of them - there were no two experiences alike. That's why they ended up in the faith hall of fame!
So I want to encourage any of you out there who may be struggling, as I have been, in understanding what God is up to in our lives. His ways are certainly not our ways, that is a certainty! Instead of trying to look like others or fit in with the crowd (yes, even if it's a spiritual crowd), let's remind ourselves that we serve and worship a creative God who takes real delight in diversity. Let that stimulate our faith and drive away the fear that would rob us of His joy, which indeed, will be our strength.
"O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones . . .
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD [YHWH],
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD [YHWH].
(Isaiah 54:16-17)
What is the very first picture we are given of God in Scripture? Creator. In John 1 we are told that our Savior, Jesus, is in fact the Creator, the one who spoke all things into existence. Creativity is central, foundational, to who God is and our understanding of Him. And anyone who has a creative bone in their body will tell you that diversity and creativity go hand-in-hand. It doesn't take the mind of a brain surgeon to see and appreciate the incredible diversity that is evident in God's creation. It simply boggles the mind to think that of all the countless billions upon billions of snowflakes that have ever fallen, no two have ever been alike. In every realm and sphere of nature, of this universe (or "multiverse" as some are now calling it), one is met with mind-boggling creativity and diversity!
Just having the privilege of being the father of 9 children is enough to help me appreciate both the creativity and diversity of our Creator. Aren't you glad that God isn't into cloning? I couldn't imagine anything more boring than to live in a world filled with people just like me!
And yet, though we appreciate and celebrate creativity/diversity, there is a fear that can grip us when we encounter people or situations that are too different than what we are familiar with. At such times we need to remind ourselves of the Creator-God whom we worship, who loves diversity. He loves to do things differently than how He did it in the past. Have you noticed the many different ways in which Jesus healed people? No cookie-cutter approach there! Why did he appear to the two on the road to Emmaus "in a different form" than what they were familiar with (Mark 16:12)? Why did he choose Paul to be an apostle way after his choosing of the twelve (I'm sure Paul would have liked to have been in on the inner circle of the disciples while Jesus was still alive!)?
The reason this is such an important reality to me is because I've had to come to terms with the fact that God is working in me in a very different and unique way than He is in others. I used to want to be mentored by another more mature believer who could have helped me in my own spiritual maturation. But God never supplied such a mentor for me. I've searched for a church where I could grow and develop spiritually, but that has also eluded me. Where I do find comfort is in the examples of Moses and Paul, two men whom God was able to develop spiritually quite apart from the "normal" means. I can identify with the years that they both spent in the wilderness trying to figure what in the world God was up to in their lives. And I especially appreciate looking over the list of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and noticing that the only thing they all had in common was that God did a unique work in each of them - there were no two experiences alike. That's why they ended up in the faith hall of fame!
So I want to encourage any of you out there who may be struggling, as I have been, in understanding what God is up to in our lives. His ways are certainly not our ways, that is a certainty! Instead of trying to look like others or fit in with the crowd (yes, even if it's a spiritual crowd), let's remind ourselves that we serve and worship a creative God who takes real delight in diversity. Let that stimulate our faith and drive away the fear that would rob us of His joy, which indeed, will be our strength.
"O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones . . .
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD [YHWH],
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD [YHWH].
(Isaiah 54:16-17)
kairos time
I can't remember if I've talked about the difference between "kronos" time and "kairos" time in this blog, but it's an important enough reality that it's worth repeating if I have. These are two Greek words used in the New Testament. Kronos refers to time as we normally think about it. It is the passage of time that can be measured by a clock or a calendar. Kairos, on the other hand, refers to a special time - the right time, a critical time, God's timing. You may be familiar with the Scripture, "at the right time (kairos) Christ died for the ungodly". But why is it important to know the difference between these two kinds of time? Here's one good reason. We will never develop patience if we are more focused on kronos time then kairos time, and without patience we will never see the fulfillment of God's promises to us. The author of Hebrews tells us that it takes both "faith and patience to inherit the promises (6:12)." Once we understand the importance of God's timing it becomes much easier to exercise patience. It is this awareness that has helped me so much over this past year as I have sought to draw near to God. At times I tend to doubt or get discouraged, thinking, "I've done my part to pray and seek Him out - why has He not responded and fulfilled His side of the bargain ('Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.")?" When these thoughts rise up within me I have to remind myself, " . . . in due time (kairos) He will raise you up (I Pet. 5:6)."
For those of you who have seen the film Braveheart, you may remember the scene at the beginning of one of the battles where William Wallace is instructing his men on the proper timing for raising the long, pointed stakes that are intended to impale the first onslaught of their enemy's cavalry. William's rag-tag army seemed desperately out-manned and out-gunned by the far superior, professional forces of the English. But William was depending on the element of surprise and proper timing to overcome those odds. If those spears or stakes were raised too soon, the English cavalry would simply veer off and come at them again from a different direction. But if William's men were patient enough to wait until the horses were almost upon them, and then raise those spears, the mounted knights would not be able to stop their momentum and their doom would be ensured. In the early days of the use of guns, when the guns could not shoot very far and were not very accurate, you may have heard the expression, "Don't shoot until you can see the whites of their eyes" - same idea as Wallace's with the spears. The tendency, in the heat of the battle when the adrenaline is flowing, is to jump the gun and thereby lose your advantage. It takes well-trained soldiers to wait until that critical moment (kairos) to spring the trap on the enemy. In Braveheart, as the heavily armed cavalry is gaining speed and quickly closing the gap, you hear Wallace shouting out to his men, "Not yet! Not yet!" Your own heart is racing as you observe this very tense scene, wondering and hoping if these men will get the timing right and be able to successfully halt this terrible onslaught.
I think this can give us a clue as to why it is so important to wait for God's timing. The most often used title for God in the Scriptures is not Savior or Redeemer, but rather "the Lord of Hosts (Armies)". He has a divine strategy for overcoming our enemy and it behooves us to develop a keen ear to his commands. If we fail to hear His voice at the critical (kairos) time we will lose our advantage over the enemy. It is one thing to know the will of God but it is just as critical to know when to carry out that act of obedience. Jesus knew that he had come into the world to die for our sins, but more than once he would say to his disciples, "my time (kairos) is not yet," and he would evade those who sought to kill him. But when the time was right, he submitted to his captors willingly. How did he know the right time? He lived his whole life doing that simple (but not easy) thing James tells all of us to do - "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The closer you are to the Father the more clearly you will hear His voice and discern the right timing in the carrying out of His commands.
Because of a prophetic word I'd received years ago (see my July 14 and 29 blog) I was hoping this Fall would be a breakthrough time for me, because it was in the middle of the Jewish (sacred) calendar year, which begins in the Spring with Passover. But nothing noteworthy happened this Fall, so obviously I was not hearing the Father's voice clearly in that regard. I could pout about it and let discouragement get me down. Or I could continue to exercise patience and perseverance in my pursuit of God, knowing that no one who puts their trust in Him, and continues to seek Him, will ever be put to shame or let down. Did Jesus ever promise that following him would be easy, or that the Father would answer our prayers when we wanted them answered? It has been said that anything that comes too quickly or easily is either not worth very much or will not be properly valued. There are a few things that we will go through "hell and high water" for in the physical realm. Why should we be surprised if it's not the same in the spiritual realm? Are we willing to pursue Him, and wait on Him for the right (kairos) timing to carry out His will in our lives?
This is what the LORD [YHWH] says -
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel -
to him who was despised and abhorred . . .
the servant of rulers . . .
"In the time of my favor [kairos time] I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you . . .
(Isaiah 49:7-8)
For those of you who have seen the film Braveheart, you may remember the scene at the beginning of one of the battles where William Wallace is instructing his men on the proper timing for raising the long, pointed stakes that are intended to impale the first onslaught of their enemy's cavalry. William's rag-tag army seemed desperately out-manned and out-gunned by the far superior, professional forces of the English. But William was depending on the element of surprise and proper timing to overcome those odds. If those spears or stakes were raised too soon, the English cavalry would simply veer off and come at them again from a different direction. But if William's men were patient enough to wait until the horses were almost upon them, and then raise those spears, the mounted knights would not be able to stop their momentum and their doom would be ensured. In the early days of the use of guns, when the guns could not shoot very far and were not very accurate, you may have heard the expression, "Don't shoot until you can see the whites of their eyes" - same idea as Wallace's with the spears. The tendency, in the heat of the battle when the adrenaline is flowing, is to jump the gun and thereby lose your advantage. It takes well-trained soldiers to wait until that critical moment (kairos) to spring the trap on the enemy. In Braveheart, as the heavily armed cavalry is gaining speed and quickly closing the gap, you hear Wallace shouting out to his men, "Not yet! Not yet!" Your own heart is racing as you observe this very tense scene, wondering and hoping if these men will get the timing right and be able to successfully halt this terrible onslaught.
I think this can give us a clue as to why it is so important to wait for God's timing. The most often used title for God in the Scriptures is not Savior or Redeemer, but rather "the Lord of Hosts (Armies)". He has a divine strategy for overcoming our enemy and it behooves us to develop a keen ear to his commands. If we fail to hear His voice at the critical (kairos) time we will lose our advantage over the enemy. It is one thing to know the will of God but it is just as critical to know when to carry out that act of obedience. Jesus knew that he had come into the world to die for our sins, but more than once he would say to his disciples, "my time (kairos) is not yet," and he would evade those who sought to kill him. But when the time was right, he submitted to his captors willingly. How did he know the right time? He lived his whole life doing that simple (but not easy) thing James tells all of us to do - "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The closer you are to the Father the more clearly you will hear His voice and discern the right timing in the carrying out of His commands.
Because of a prophetic word I'd received years ago (see my July 14 and 29 blog) I was hoping this Fall would be a breakthrough time for me, because it was in the middle of the Jewish (sacred) calendar year, which begins in the Spring with Passover. But nothing noteworthy happened this Fall, so obviously I was not hearing the Father's voice clearly in that regard. I could pout about it and let discouragement get me down. Or I could continue to exercise patience and perseverance in my pursuit of God, knowing that no one who puts their trust in Him, and continues to seek Him, will ever be put to shame or let down. Did Jesus ever promise that following him would be easy, or that the Father would answer our prayers when we wanted them answered? It has been said that anything that comes too quickly or easily is either not worth very much or will not be properly valued. There are a few things that we will go through "hell and high water" for in the physical realm. Why should we be surprised if it's not the same in the spiritual realm? Are we willing to pursue Him, and wait on Him for the right (kairos) timing to carry out His will in our lives?
This is what the LORD [YHWH] says -
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel -
to him who was despised and abhorred . . .
the servant of rulers . . .
"In the time of my favor [kairos time] I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you . . .
(Isaiah 49:7-8)
Friday, January 1, 2016
traumatized ducks
Life is difficult. Have you noticed? For some, it goes beyond difficult to traumatic. We've heard a lot about soldiers returning from combat who experience "post traumatic stress disorder", PTSD. A sister-in-law of mine recently went to a workshop to understand better how PTSD is a very real reality among the civilian population, not just in the military. That's because in the spiritual realm we are all soldiers in a life and death battle against an enemy who doesn't fight fair, who delights in turning families and churches into war zones. In the very places where there should be healing and restoration, all too often we find tension, distrust, criticism, even out and out attacks and tearing down of others. Some seem able to survive such conflict relatively unscathed, but many with more sensitive natures show all the same symptoms of a soldier who's been traumatized by the horrors of the battlefield.
Animals can also be traumatized. This Fall we were given 5 ducks to take care of. The only facility we had for them was with our chickens, so that's where they ended up. They had been raised in someone's backyard where I think there may have been a few chickens around as well. It's always somewhat traumatic, though, to move an animal (or a person) away from the familiar environment they grew up in to a new and unfamiliar place. But what made this transition even more traumatic for these ducks was that all of a sudden they were thrown together with 25 chickens who already had their pecking order figured out. So these newcomer ducks were forced to the bottom of this societal order, even if they were birds of a different feather. And yes, birds of a feather do indeed flock together, whether it's to pick on the new guys or if it's to flee from the persecution from the "higher uppers".These poor ducks would spend the whole day huddling together in a corner of the chicken coop, refusing to go outside unless I chased them out, which I did. Of course, when the chickens saw me chasing the ducks to get them to go outside, they were more then happy to join in the chase and would set up a gauntlet for the ducks to have to run through before they made their escape outside. And when it was dark, I would have to chase them back into the coop because if left to themselves they would have spent the night huddled in the corner of the chicken yard. I never saw them eat while the chickens were around the feeder (which was all the time), so I guess they scrounged food at night when the chickens went to bed.
Well, I thought that eventually things would settle down and everyone would learn to get along okay. But when weeks passed with no seeming improvement, I decided I'd better set up a different arrangement where these ducks could be on their own without having to live under the harassment of 25 chickens. So I moved them to the barn where they could share the pasture with 2 cows we recently got, which turned out to be the right move. The cows were inquisitive and curious at first with the ducks, but made their peace much quicker then the chickens had. But the ducks still haven't gotten over their nervousness and will run away as fast as they can, quacking all the while, if you try to get too close to them. Fortunately, they're finally getting used to the idea of going outside without having to be chased out. But one time when I did chase them out, they didn't stop running, and made a beeline for the fence which divides the pasture from the chicken yard. And then I witnessed a most amazing sight! Two of the ducks took to flight. Now I have seen some chickens fly a short distance, high enough to get over a five foot fence. One of these ducks did a chicken style flight. It was of short duration and not very high. But the other one - wow! - it just kept climbing higher and higher, about 20 feet up in the air, It easily flew over into the chicken yard where I guess it thought that maybe now it would be granted special privileges for showing such an awesome display of aerial skill.
There has only been one more display of this feat by the same duck, but it now seems to be content to stay more grounded. But I suspect Flying Ace has gotten a new lease on life, like those spent hens. She (or he, I don't know its gender) has discovered that she was created for more than just waddling along the ground. When the time is right I have no doubt that she will again take to flight with greater confidence and maybe even with a tinge of joy, don't you think?
Were we created for more than "waddling along the ground." nervously trying to keep our distance from everything that threatens us?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD [YHWH] 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 wait on the LORD [YHWH]
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31)
Animals can also be traumatized. This Fall we were given 5 ducks to take care of. The only facility we had for them was with our chickens, so that's where they ended up. They had been raised in someone's backyard where I think there may have been a few chickens around as well. It's always somewhat traumatic, though, to move an animal (or a person) away from the familiar environment they grew up in to a new and unfamiliar place. But what made this transition even more traumatic for these ducks was that all of a sudden they were thrown together with 25 chickens who already had their pecking order figured out. So these newcomer ducks were forced to the bottom of this societal order, even if they were birds of a different feather. And yes, birds of a feather do indeed flock together, whether it's to pick on the new guys or if it's to flee from the persecution from the "higher uppers".These poor ducks would spend the whole day huddling together in a corner of the chicken coop, refusing to go outside unless I chased them out, which I did. Of course, when the chickens saw me chasing the ducks to get them to go outside, they were more then happy to join in the chase and would set up a gauntlet for the ducks to have to run through before they made their escape outside. And when it was dark, I would have to chase them back into the coop because if left to themselves they would have spent the night huddled in the corner of the chicken yard. I never saw them eat while the chickens were around the feeder (which was all the time), so I guess they scrounged food at night when the chickens went to bed.
Well, I thought that eventually things would settle down and everyone would learn to get along okay. But when weeks passed with no seeming improvement, I decided I'd better set up a different arrangement where these ducks could be on their own without having to live under the harassment of 25 chickens. So I moved them to the barn where they could share the pasture with 2 cows we recently got, which turned out to be the right move. The cows were inquisitive and curious at first with the ducks, but made their peace much quicker then the chickens had. But the ducks still haven't gotten over their nervousness and will run away as fast as they can, quacking all the while, if you try to get too close to them. Fortunately, they're finally getting used to the idea of going outside without having to be chased out. But one time when I did chase them out, they didn't stop running, and made a beeline for the fence which divides the pasture from the chicken yard. And then I witnessed a most amazing sight! Two of the ducks took to flight. Now I have seen some chickens fly a short distance, high enough to get over a five foot fence. One of these ducks did a chicken style flight. It was of short duration and not very high. But the other one - wow! - it just kept climbing higher and higher, about 20 feet up in the air, It easily flew over into the chicken yard where I guess it thought that maybe now it would be granted special privileges for showing such an awesome display of aerial skill.
There has only been one more display of this feat by the same duck, but it now seems to be content to stay more grounded. But I suspect Flying Ace has gotten a new lease on life, like those spent hens. She (or he, I don't know its gender) has discovered that she was created for more than just waddling along the ground. When the time is right I have no doubt that she will again take to flight with greater confidence and maybe even with a tinge of joy, don't you think?
Were we created for more than "waddling along the ground." nervously trying to keep our distance from everything that threatens us?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD [YHWH] 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 wait on the LORD [YHWH]
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31)
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