Worship Battle Plans

"Then the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.'"-Joshua 6:2-5
 
When we're about to enter a battle in life, it's a good idea to put the armor on. Even more so, it's important to pray & worship to lay the spiritual groundwork for what we're about to encounter. Whether it's an important board meeting, an audition, a Sunday morning service, or what we know might be a challenging meeting with a boss or client, it's vitally important we have times with God where we ask Him to cover us with His mercy and grace, and exalt Him for all that He is in our lives. This is only partially for Him - He knows we need continued reminders of His nature, and an infilling of His presence and love regularly. 

Joshua and his army were about to attack the city Jericho. But God gave them very specific instructions for this battle. He said, "March around the city once every day for six days, and then march around the city seven times on the seventh day, with the priests blowing the trumpets. Have the people shout when they hear the trumpets. When they do, the walls will fall down." (paraphrase of Joshua 6) 

Can you imagine what that must've looked like? Wow!! An entire city's huge stone walls crumbling to the ground. And all they did was follow God's instructions. As they obeyed Him, blew the trumpets and shouted, they claimed the city on behalf of the nation of Israel. 

What instructions has God given you? It's it fervent prayer on your knees, worship and praise to your favorite worship CD, reading a certain passage of scripture, or all of the above? Whatever it is, make sure you listen to the still small voice to prepare your heart for the battle ahead. The battle is already won.

Trusting in God

"Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel."  -1 Chronicles 21:1

In the Old Testament, David instructed Joab, the commander of the army, to take a census.  This may not ordinarily have been a noteworthy event, except for the fact that David suffered enormous consequences by taking this census.  God gave David a choice of three punishments: three years of famine throughout, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of severe plague.  (2 Sam 24:12) (Ouch!)

Whether or not it was Satan or God who influenced David (the scriptures say it was both), David sinned by counting the people.  In Moses' time, God gave instructions that if a census were to be taken, an offering had to be collected.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them. Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel,  based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.)'"  -Exodus 30:11-13

But it was David's and the people's disobedience that caused the plague.  He was trusting in numbers instead of in God.

It's great to have a budget, a schedule, or a way to organize or count what we're doing.  But when these types of details supersede our faith and trust in God, they can overshadow our very purpose in life, causing us to trust in our resources, instead of in Him.

Do you place your trust in God, even in the small things?  God knows what we need.  Allow Him to take any area you may struggle in and give it all to Him.  He knows the answer to everything we need.

New Things

"Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." -Isaiah 43:19
 
Has God recently done something new in your life? Often when we're going through the drudgery of life, in what can seem like a wilderness, we need Him to! When we're stuck in a rut we can't wait for God to show up to show us what He has. When we've stayed steady with our hand to the plow but haven't seen any results, when we've been faithful with little but haven't seen a return on our investment, we may begin to wonder when our ship will come in. But, are we looking in the right place? Are we looking for the new thing? Or are we looking in the same place, perhaps the most likely place, doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result? 

It's so interesting to me in the verse above that God makes "a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." In my mind, the last place I'd be looking for a road would be in the wilderness. And the last place I'd be looking for a stream would be in a desert. But that's where God says they are! Are we looking for a move of God not just in likely places, but in the most unlikely places as well? Are we not limiting ourselves in the ways God can provide? Are we allowing ourselves to be open to His plan? It's often not what we think. That's why trusting Him is so important. 

When my dad began writing his TGIF devotional he had no idea it would turn into a "stream" in the desert. In his mind, it was the most unlikely thing that God could've used to affect other people. But, it was that "new thing" that God was doing in his life. 

What new thing is God doing in your life? Look for God's activity in the most unlikely places. Be open to His movement in your life. You might be surprised where His Spirit leads you.

The Religious Spirit and Our Calling

"What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering." -Luke 11:52

Jesus was very popular among the religious leaders of his day.  However, it was not a positive popularity.  The Pharisees, because their power was threatened by Jesus, were the ones who plotted to kill Him.  The scripture says they hated him - they wanted nothing more than to put him away.  But it was the people who stalled the process of Jesus' crucifixion, because many believed He was the Messiah.

This gives us a weighty example about the truth of the religious spirit - it seeks to destroy true works of God in us, and it seeks to destroy our destiny. It reinforces the lie that we are required to perform religious rituals or duties in order to gain acceptance by God.

A man my dad knows owns a film studio in Hollywood.  He said for 30 years he felt ostracized in Hollywood - he was a black sheep to the church because he worked in Hollywood, and he was also outcast by the Jewish film producers in the area because he was a Christian. 

But the fact of the matter was, he was right where God wanted him to be.  When my dad met him and told him he had one of the greatest opportunities to make uplifting films that could change culture and draw people to hunger after Jesus, he said, "Boy, I wish I had known you 25 years ago." He had finally felt affirmed in his destiny.

Can you see any places where the religious spirit has operated in your life, living out rules and regulations in exchange for relationship and destiny?  Pray that God will redeem any areas where this has caused hurt, and that God would reveal His ultimate destiny for you, redeeming and restoring it for His ultimate glory.

“RELIGION: I obey; therefore, I am accepted. // GOSPEL: I am accepted; therefore, I obey.” - Caterina Santoro

No Fluff

"Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" (1 Corinthians 5:6 NIV)
 
Have you ever gotten involved in something only to realize a lot of it was hype? Marketing, promotion, and a lot of people believing in something (even thought it may not be true) can make something into something it's not, resulting in unrealistic expectations and false truth. It's the stuff celebrity obsession and cults are made of.
Jesus understood this leaven, and told people to watch out for it, especially when it came to the Pharisees: Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6 NKJV) 

Jesus was always speaking in parables, and sometimes this got the disciples confused. They thought Ge was really talking about bread! But then they finally understood He was talking about the "fluff" of the Pharisees. 

If you think about leaven, it's purpose is to puff up bread, making it up to ten times it's normal size. When Jesus was speaking of the Pharisees, he was speaking of the fact that they taught in such a way to make themselves look bigger, to make themselves look better and more important than they really were. They highlighted their own importance, which disgusted Jesus, and had the people take their eyes off of God and onto them. 

But Jesus was no fluff. He was the real thing. The unleavened bread the Israelites ate during Passover was a prophetic sign of the coming of Jesus, the true unleavened bread. 

Have you ever ran into "fluff" in your life? Pray that God would help you to recognize it, and stay away from it. God desires we stay humble, and close to the truth, which is Jesus.

Don't Sell Your Birthright!

But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:33-34
 
What is a birthright? According to WordNet online dictionary, it is "a right or privilege that you are entitled to at birth", or "an inheritance coming by right of birth". Did you know God gives each of us a birthright as His children? Did you know that we may not be aware of our birthright from Him, or, if we understand our birthright, we can also lose it? This is described in the story of Jacob and Esau. 

When we are born into the kingdom of God by accepting Christ into our lives, we are born not only into new life through salvation, but we also carry a new birthright. Like free education is a right to anyone born in America, when we are born again, a new creation in Christ, we have rights that people who do not know Him do not have. Peace, joy, hope, and spiritual gifts are in addition to the gift of eternal salvation are all part of this birthright. Our very purpose for existance is also our birthright. God gave that to us before we were born. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (Jeremiah 1:5) However, it is easy to "miss" our birthright by deception, or to exchange it for a life of self-gratification. 

Jacob stole Esau's birthright by offering him food when he was extremely hungry. Although Jacob acted as a maniuplator and deceiver, his brother didn't seem all that concerned with his inheritance in the present. He wanted his hunger for food met, now! He couldn't see past his desires, although legitimate. He tried to get them met in the wrong way. And he sold the only thing of true value in his life away for a bowl of stew. How angry at himself he must've been once his hunger had been satisfied!

Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" 

Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?" Gen 27:35-37

It says he "despised" his birthright. How many of us "despise" doing the things that Christ would have us do? Whether it's fear, or pride, or past hurts and rejections, or not feeling good enough - none of those reasons are good enough for us to miss the inheritance that God has in store for us. 

Don't let deception keep you from your birthright of who you are in Christ - from all the things that God has planned for you to bless you, give you a purpose, and to use you mightily for His kingdom.

Drawn by His Goodness

What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me?  -Psalm 116:12

Recently I went downtown to my school for the beginning of the semester’s classes.  Students were everywhere, hurrying to class and hanging out in the student courtyard.  As I was walking to the bookstore to buy some of my books, I walked past two men, one with a cardboard sign and the other with a megaphone shouting, “Repent! Judgment is near!  This is a corrupt generation!”

As I walked past the two men anger welled up in me.  I overheard a girl walking next to me say to her friend, “Creepy. That’s so weird.”  I thought it was weird too!  I was embarrassed about what these men were doing.  I even felt that they were ruining the credibility of any Christian witness I or others would have!

Of course, street corner preachers always mean well.  We can think that because we have the “great commission” we need to use any means possible to get the message across.  But it broke my heart to see all those students passing them that day, developing more misconstrued ideas, biases, and assumptions about Christianity.  This process of using a megaphone to preach and spew judgment didn’t invite relationship – it repelled it. Somehow I could not envision my Heavenly Father using that strategy to reach out to his sons and daughters.

Josh McDowell, the renowned Christian youth leader who has been in ministry for nearly 50 years and written 77 books, says “Sharing truth with others without relationship leads to rejection. Discipline without relationship leads to anger.”

That night, I was talking to a friend about my experience.  I asked her how she became a Christian, and how she would answer the question, “Why is Jesus the only way?” She said, “People just loved me.  They didn’t do anything else.  They didn’t try to change me.  Only when I asked about something would they tell me. After a while, they invited me to church.  But mostly, they just loved me, unconditionally. That’s what people need when they’re hurting and lost.”

The conversion of others to believe in Christ is a fruit of our love, (Jn 13:35) not a goal.  We can’t make people our project. The Bible says the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin.  (John 16:8)  We’re merely called to love and serve them, in whatever way we can. This is how people will be able to see God’s light in us.

Washing Others' Feet

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." -John 13:12-14
 
Feet washing. Hmm. Could you imagine washing people's feet every time they came to your house? Even though the thought of it today can bring looks of disgust to our faces, imagine what it must have been like in Jesus' day. People did not get pedicures, they wore sandals- all day, every day. If feet stink after wearing shoes, imagine what the feet back then must've smelled like after walking 15 miles in the sand and dust. It must have been pretty gross. I can't imagine Jesus enjoying this task of feet washing, but He did it anyway as a prophetic act born of love for His disciples. He desired that they do the same for each other. 

To us in the here and now, washing others' feet might mean something different. It might mean dealing with the stinky things in life and cleaning them up. In your workplace, it might mean you are the one to initiate washing the dishes or taking out the trash, or dealing with situations other people just don't have enough grace for. In our communities, it might mean picking up trash on the side of the road, or visiting a homeless shelter. For our relationships with those we desire to help, it might mean listening to their problems with grace and mercy, even though we may not agree. It might mean watching someone else's children or changing their diapers. In culture, this could mean "cleaning up the trash" where flies and bugs multiply. Often these acts of service involve inconvenience. 

Jesus was an amazing example of humility toward those He was called to serve. His washing His disciple's feet was an act of true servant leadership. He invites us to do the same. 

Is there someone's feet you need to wash?

The Law of Promotion

"Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'" -Matt 20:11&12

Have you ever been passed up for a promotion? Has anyone ever received something you thought you deserved? Have you ever seen someone less qualified than you get promoted or receive a blessing?

These types of situations can be difficult. We can question God's goodness in these moments. We can easily fall into blame - blaming our supervisor or leader, blaming God, blaming the situation - we may even blame ourselves. "Why am I not good enough to have that?" we may say. It is in these moments of feeling betrayed that God can do His greatest work in our hearts.

Life is not fair, but God is still just. When someone receives something we thought we were meant to have, we have to realize how God's kingdom works. "The first will be last, and the last will be first," it says in Matthew chapter 20, verse 16.

During these moments, God tests what's in our heart. Will He find jealousy and pride? Or will He find blessing and a loving spirit? God uses these moments to reveals what's in us, to see if we come forward as gold, or if our attitudes become sour and our hearts disfigured. It is the most important thing to keep our hearts pure before God, and most of all, to be secure in His love. We often have to become 'last', a servant of all, to be great in God's kingdom.

Has anyone ever been promoted before you? Have you ever been jealous of someone else's success? Decide to bless others in the midst of their promotion, remain thankful for what you have now, and create the fertile ground for blessing to grow in your life when the time is right.

Portals of Heaven

"But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative - that is, the Holy Spirit- he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”"-John 14:26&27

 

For too long, there have been too many inaccurate representations of God.  These representations would lead people to believe that God is judgmental, cold, unloving, and uncaring.  This has brought division in the body of Christ, and most of all, kept people away from the truth of God’s nature.  

I believe it is time for His true representatives who have His nature within them to stand up for the truth of God’s character, reflecting His nature throughout the earth.  In order for people to really know who God is and be able to choose the real Him, they need an accurate representation of who He really is.

The Bible says that we as Christians are to be His representatives, reflecting Him throughout the earth.  When we utilize our gifts, He is glorified.  We shouldn’t just be sitting in a pew on the sidelines - we should be out in the world, using the gifts He gave us to bring heaven’s culture to earth! 

But, in order for us to do that, we need a true revelation of God.  We need a true revelation of His creativity, His character, His grace, and most of all, His love.

What should this culture of heaven look like?  Well, we know that God is love, (1 John 4:8) God is creative, (Gen 1) and He is unlimited (Ephesians 3:16).  We know that the “fruit” of God in our lives is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22 & 23). So that must mean heaven is a pretty awesome place!  

“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” -John 14:13

Are you bringing God’s kingdom to earth through your gifts and talents?  I pray that each of us can use what God has given us, so that we can bring glory to our Father in heaven. 

Putting Our Plans Before God

"So David asked God, 'Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?' The Lord replied, 'Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.'" -1 Chronicle 14:10 NLT

 

Do you know the best way to plan for the future? Is there any way to ensure we're making the best decisions we can? 

When we're about to make a big decision, or any decision for that matter, it's a good idea to ask God about them. The types of decisions we make in our 20s can chart the course of the rest of our lives. Therefore, it's wise to get a heavenly perspective! 

One of the ways we can consult God about our decisions is through prayer. When David prayed to God, God answered him. But, we shouldn't assume that God answered our prayers the same way he did the first time. When David consulted God again for a subsequent battle, God told him something different. "And once again David asked God what to do. 'Do not attack them straight on,' God replied. 'Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.'" (1 Chronicles 14:14&15) This is why it is so crucial that we continue to consult our Heavenly Father in every step we take. 

Another way to put our plans before God is to put them before trusted people who know God and have walked the path we are going to take themselves. In the book of Proverbs it says, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success." (Proverbs 15:22) Do you know anyone who can speak spiritually into your life? Don't be afraid to ask for perspective from others - often this can save us danger and hardship down the road. 

Do you put your plans before God? Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Born This Way

"For I was born a sinner - yes, from the moment my mother conceived me." -Ps 51:5
 
Have you ever thought about how much we are born the way we are? ...or are we really "born this way"? 

There is often debate about the "nature" vs. "nurture" perspective of the way each of us turns out. While I believe we are a combination of both, I believe, like the Bible says, that we are born sinners in need of salvation. (Romans 3:9&10) This is evidenced by all the evil that goes on in the world, through the actions of human hands. 

Many times, we can think that we are "born a certain way," and there is no changing that. While I believe this to be true in some cases, like the color of our hair, the color of our skin, our eyes, and how tall or short we are and some aspects of our personality, I believe that sometimes we allow our "born this way" mentality to get in the way of our salvation, and our healing. We allow the excuse, "that's just the way I am," get in the way of the fullness that God desires for us, and in the way of His love for us. 

C.S. Lewis once said, "The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. He invented us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be. . .It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own." 

We might very well be "born this way," but inviting God into our lives brings us back to the way He created us before the womb, and begins to free us from our human condition. We are made alive in Him, because of His salvation. The Bible says we "go from glory to glory", (2 Cor 3:18), meaning when we've accepted Christ as our redeemer we are constantly being shaped into the person He originally designed us to be, becoming more and more free from the power of sin and death. (Romans 6:6) 

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." -1 Cor 15:22
 
Are there any areas of your life that God might want to redeem, so that you might be fully free? Ask God to help you lay those down today. God desires that we be free from any hindrance to being our true selves, and worshipping and serving Him, our creator.

As Joy Is My Witness

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-23
 
When I was working in a secular environment, people used to ask me why I seemed so happy. "I want whatever drug you're taking!" they would say. I would often just reply, "Jesus!", trying to keep it light. Although I wasn't joking, this got the message across in a non-offensive way, (we have so much stigma with Christianity in our culture), but I kept myself open for questions if they asked. 

The cool thing about being a Christian with the fruit of the Spirit active in our lives is that we don't have to tell people about our faith. It should be evident that there is something different about us. People are done with words about Christianity that don't seem to mean anything. I love the quote of Sir Francis Assisi which says, "Preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words." To me, this means that we're dependable, honest, consistent, and all the things that go along with being a "good" moral person. But, the truth is that anybody can be a good person if they choose to be, no matter what they believe. The second element to complete the witness factor is the fruit of the Spirit. 

Fruits of the Spirit are supernatural - and they can be active in ANY circumstance, whether good or bad. A mature Christian is able to be at peace in any circumstance. Do you know the fruits of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Are the fruits of the Spirit active in your life? I pray that they are, so that others might see your witness and "Taste and see that the Lord is good." -Psalm 34:8

Peace in the Midst

"God makes His people strong. God gives His people peace." - Psalm 29:11

Recently I was preparing to read the Bible when I asked God what I should read. Immediately I heard Psalm 29, so I jumped over to that chapter on my Bible app.
 
It goes like this:

"God thunders across the waters, brilliant, His voice and His face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters.

God's thunder tympanic, God's thunder symphonic. 
 God's thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars.

The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.
God's thunder spits fire. God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. 
 

God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing - A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees - we call out, 'Glory!'" -Ps. 29:3-9 MSG

Just before reading this chapter I had been watching video clips of recent storms, earthquakes, floods, and dust storms that have happened all over the world in the last several years - so I knew that this was fact! But at the end of this chapter the verse states, "God makes His people strong. God gives His people peace." (v.11)
 
What an interesting juxtaposition of events! First the psalmist describes everything God can do, talking about lightning, fire, earthquakes, and wind - natural events that can seem scary or even life-threatening. Then he says, "God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace."
 
We have a magnet on our refrigerator that says, "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
 
Where does that kind of peace come from? It comes from unwavering trust in our unfailing God, no matter the circumstances that surround us. God does not want to instill His children with fear. He wants to instill us with strength and peace, which comes from a reverence & trust in Him - all-powerful Almighty God.
 
Are you able to live in God's peace, no matter what circumstances are in your life today? Pray today that God would make you strong and give you peace, as this Psalm states, no matter what situation or obstacle might come your way.

Resting in God

 
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." -1 Timothy 6:6
 
The drudgery of life can sometimes get to us. Bills that need paying, a job that's less than ideal, goals yet to be reached; we want to be thankful but find ourselves feeling more and more discontent. "Doesn't God have anything better for me?" we may ask ourselves. "Why can't I get where I need to be?" 

It is in these moments of dullness and restlessness we can experience the fullness of God's life in us - now. Contentment doesn't have to wait for a day when we reach a certain goal, or have certain things. It is attainable in the present, by the blood of the cross. True contentment is not born of us. Contentment is not dependent on our performance in life, or the things that we have, although we may believe that somehow it is. His blood on the cross was sufficient for our completeness in the present. 

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5
 
If you find yourself feeling discontent, consider what you have right now. Friends, family, or spiritual leaders that have been a blessing to you are a good place to start. Confirmations from God on the journey we've been on are also good reminders of His love for us. What has God done in our lives? As people we tend to get bored with things that are status quo. But we have to learn to recognize our accomplishments and be content in the moment, while still pressing on toward the goal. That is the place where we find true contentment. 

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Phil 4:7
 
May we rest in God's love and peace for us today, and every day.

Why Judgement?

 

“I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.”  -Exodus 34:7

All throughout the Old Testament it seems like the Israelites are getting judged.  They are good for a while, then they get a bad king, and he leads them into idol worship.  Then God sends a prophet to judge and save the nation and they get cleaned up again and worship God.  Then they get a bad king and they start all over.  It’s like being on a roller coaster ride!

I used to think that God was angry and judgmental.  I couldn’t relate to Him because I thought He was sitting on His throne, furrow-browed and uncaring, judging the world of their sin.  I certainly didn’t measure up.  Finally, I had a REVELATION of Him and His love...

But recently, I had a revelation of judgement.  It may sound strange, but I finally understood why God judged people back in the Old Testament. 

God was angry with the people when they worshipped idols.  Why?  Why couldn’t the people just do what they wanted?  When idol worship was happening, sin was rampant.  There was MUCH more crime, abuse, corruption, greed, sexual promiscuity, orgies, and all sorts of craziness happening when a bad king who worshipped idols was in power.  (Habakkuk 2:15) Because God created people, He knew that the best thing for us was to place Him on the throne of our lives, worshipping and loving Him.  His heart broke when the people didn’t do what He said, not because of the mere fact that they disobeyed Him, but because of everything it entailed.  Most of all, it was because they were separated from Him and His love.

God could not let sin go un-judged, because that would mean the injustice the people did to one another meant nothing. Because God is a God of love and justice, He cares when we get hurt. So, He has to step in and set boundaries so we won’t continue to get hurt, continue to hurt ourselves, or continue to hurt others. Most of all, He needed them to know that He was their God, and by following and serving Him, they would experience long life, blessing, and God’s presence and love with them. God's judgement was because of His love.

Now, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are living in a season of grace.  But, we can choose whether or not we want to live within God’s protection, experience His healing, and live in eternity with Him.  Will you decide to live under His protection, so that His blessings can forever follow you?  (Ps 23:6)

Planting Seeds

"When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body." -1 Corinthians 15:37 & 38

Do you have any dreams or goals you want to pursue? I'm sure you do. Because God has placed the seed of eternity within every person, (Ecc 3:11) there is a desire for something bigger than us in each of us. And each of us was created for a unique purpose in mind. (Jer 1:5)

When we have goals, when we have things we want to pursue, to do, to be, it's easy to get caught up in those things vs. God our Savior. Although we know we need to be diligent and focused for these things to come to pass, we need to recognize where our life and dreams come from. I heard a friend say, "You think that in order to have it all together you have to make everything happen immediately, when in reality God is saying, 'Just plant the seed - leave the outcome in my hands.'"

The truth is, when we place our things, our objectives, hopes and dreams in between us and our God, we can fall into depression. We can so easily turn our focus from Him and onto ourselves. What we have, and what we don't have can be a wall between us and Him. It's only up to us to plant the seed. What we feed grows. What we water becomes bigger. But Jesus created us. He knows our thoughts, our hopes, and our dreams. He wants nothing more than the seeds in us to be birthed, to be made manifest. But, He desires we put Him before any of those things. Because without Him, our dreams lose their redemptive power. And because He loves us so much, He wants our hearts more than anything else.

Are there any goals or aspirations that you need to step out in? Or, are there any dreams in your life that are bigger than God? Scripture says, "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21) We can make plans, but we need to leave them open to God to lead us into the purposes and plans He has for us. Often they are different than we may think. But it is our job to keep Him first, and plant the seed.

Identificational Repentance

"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."  -Luke 23:34

There was a lady who felt very called to prayer who experienced something unusual one day.  All of a sudden, she began to feel very depressed and hopeless, and felt very angry toward her spouse and her children.  This was very out of the ordinary for her, and couldn't explain the reasons for her feelings.  The woman confided to her husband how she felt.

“Hmm,” he said.  “Do you know anyone who may feel that way?”

The woman began to think and a lady came to mind in her small group at church. 

“Yes, actually, I do,” she said.  Her husband said, “I’m wondering if maybe the feelings you’re experiencing aren’t really yours, since there is nothing you can think of that might have caused them.  Let’s pray together for this person, that God would turn their heart to forgiveness for whatever might be happening in their life during this time.”

So, the woman interceeded for the lady she knew, pressing into God and asked forgiveness for any feelings of bitterness, resentment or anger the woman might have been feeling, especially toward her spouse and children.  She knew she could not do what Jesus did and take away the sin or take the feelings away completely, but she knew that by her standing in prayer on behalf of the woman she could shift the spiritual atmosphere around her life and hope to create a fertile ground for openness, blessing, and healing.

A few weeks later, she met the woman at the Bible study.  “How are you doing?” she asked.  “Oh my gosh, I’m a lot better,” the woman confessed.  “I had had a lot of anger going on against my husband and children and I was very overwhelmed.  But something changed in me a couple weeks ago and I began to thank God for the things He had put in my life, trusting Him for the outcome even though I can’t see the end right now.

The woman smiled but didn’t say anything, knowing there was a reason for her feelings and for her heartfelt prayers.*

Is there anyone you feel called to interceed for today?  Pray that God would give you the discernment and grace to know how to pray for those He brings to mind. 

*Story adapted from the book "A Royal Priesthood" by Dennis Wiedrick

Unless Your Faith is Firm

"Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah. Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm." - Isaiah 7:9 NLT
 
There are so many "unless..." verses in the Bible. It seems that a walk of faith doesn't just encompass God's movement in our lives - it encompasses our movement that activates God's movement. 

I've heard it said before, "God isn't moved by need; He is moved by faith." 

Faith is always the prerequisite for God's activity in our lives, whether it be a miracle, healing, provision, or any kind of need we might have. God is moved by faith. It says in Hebrews 10:38, "The just shall live by faith." 

In the time of Isaiah, two kings, King Rezin of Syria, and Pekah the King of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. King Ahaz of Judah was worried. But God sent a message from Isaiah saying, "This invasion will never happen; it will never take place... Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm." 

Is your faith firm in God? We have to be sure we keep our hearts aligned with God's in order to see His activity in our lives.

Drawing the Line

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." -Matthew 18:18

"You... shall... not... PASS!!!" - Gandolf, The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Rings
 
A pastor came into town to speak at our church for our annual summer conference. He told a story in which he was having a conversation with God, and God asked him a question.

"Bob," (not his real name), "Why do you think you get attacked by the enemy?" he said.

The pastor replied, "Well, Lord, it's because I'm you're servant and I've got a mark on my back! I'm a threat to the kingdom of darkness."

God said, "No, it's because you let him attack you."

There is a famous moment in The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gandolf stands in the gap on behalf of his friends. Here we see an important principle. Gandolf knew that if he did not stand against the beast Balrog the fellowship would not be able to continue on to fulfill their mission. So he drew the line - and appears to have lost his life in the process. As Christians, we are called to draw the line against the enemy in our lives. Our option is a little safer - we don't literally have to die in the process, but we will be changed as a result. Gandolf comes back to life later as Gandolf the White.

There is something to be said for upholding God's promises on the earth. Is there an area in your life where you need to draw the line in faith? Is it provision, restored relationships, health, or a dream you want to see fulfilled? Is it overcoming something for you or on behalf of someone else through prayer, like an addiction, a belief, thought pattern, or attitude?

Draw the line for what you will or will not accept in your life. When you make that stand that's within God's plan for your life, God will be standing with you.

Love One Another

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." -John 13:34&35
 
Life can get stressful at times. The bills need paying, the job is insane or isn't quite what we hoped for; the kids are running around crazy, we've gotten a cold. During these times of pressure is when we're pushed to our limits-and our true colors show. Whatever is in us comes out of us - and it can be quite revealing - and embarrassing. 

But what we need to remember during these times of pressure is what really matters. Seeds may have been planted early on in our lives to suggest we're nothing without stellar performance, we're nothing without money, we're nothing without achievement, we're nothing without beauty & a sleek physic. Yes, these things are nice to have, and we should set goals for our lives. But the reality is, without LOVE, it means nothing. 

What remains in our lives after we're gone and all is said and done is our love for others. The Bible says only three things will remain - faith, hope, and love- the greatest of these being love. So the next time we are tempted to think our performance is what matters, the amount of money that we make is what matters, or how much we've achieved is what really makes us count, we need to think again. Love is the only thing that truly matters. Have love, and we win the world over. Lose love, and we lose all that Jesus died for. 

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Cor 13:13

Are You In Tune?

"Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." Psalm 33:3
 
Did you know that God made us like instruments? He is always singing a song over our lives (Zeph 3:17). He made us as "instruments" of His glory, to dispense His music (His nature & life) into the world. We don't have to play gospel or Christian music to be truly inspired by Him, or any type of music from real instruments for that matter. Music occurs as we play to our strengths and talents in Him. Sometimes the song is loud and jubilant. Sometimes the song is soft and quiet. But if we allow God to play though us, the music we create can be absolutely out of this world, (Literally!!) to bring others to a saving knowledge of Him.

Problems arise in our lives when we become "out of tune". We're responsible for tuning ourselves, according to His nature. What I mean by this is keeping our hearts in check - keeping our motives aligned with His. Are we letting go of offense or are we holding grudges? Are we meditating on the truth or thinking lies? What is our thought-life like? How do we treat others - do we apply the Golden Rule? And what are we doing when no one's looking? Do we experience joy in our lives?

I love guitars. I think guitars are one of the most beautiful instruments. There are all sorts of guitars, styles, designs, colors - they all create a unique sound. The most difficult thing for me in playing a guitar is to get it tuned just right. And boy is it frustrating when an instrument continues to get out of tune when you keep on tuning it!

God can help tune us, but it requires our assistance. We can learn to be open and inclined to His voice (having an open heart and seeking Him.) We can ask for the input of leaders we know and trust, who have been proven in areas where we need a thoughtful check-up. We can read the Word and worship Him, getting to know the person of God. As we do this, we will continue to conform to His likeness. And His likeness for us, though exhibiting the same fruits of the Spirit, (Gal 5:22,23) is an expression of Him through a song different from anyone else.

Are you in tune? Ask the Holy Spirit if there are areas in your life where you may need to get in tune, in order to allow Him to play through you.

Fighting with Light

“for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?” -1 Cor 3:3

Have you ever been short or ill-tempered with somebody?  I know I have, and I am not proud of it. We can say we are Christians but we still have bad days - days where we’re tired or stressed out, days where it doesn’t seem like anything is going right.  It is during those days where we can easily succumb to our flesh, or we can choose to let God flow through us in the midst of the challenges we face. 

The Bible talks about the kind of weapons we use as the redeemed of God. Our weapons are not the same as the world’s.  “On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”  1 Cor 10:4  Every day, we have a choice to make - to fall back into the defenses of our flesh or deciding to trust God and let Him take over, letting ourselves be influenced by His Holy Spirit.  We realize it’s not up to us to change something - we just need to be obedient and let God work. 

The enemy wants nothing more than to get under our skin - to kick us into our flesh so that we will sin.  That is his ultimate goal - to keep you and me from the victory zone God intends for us! 

We can’t fight flesh with flesh if we are going to win a spiritual war.  We have to let the Spirit flow through us in order for the light to overcome darkness.  All that has to happen for darkness to flee is for true light to shine.

Are you fighting with God’s love and light today?  Let God’s spirit flow through you, so that every day you can walk in His wonderful mercy, grace, peace, love, truth and joy. 

What the World Needs Now

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16
 
What does the world need now? We could brainstorm all day about what we think the world needs- less war, more peace, less poverty and certainly less problems. But how on earth can we solve all of them?

You've probably heard the above verse at one time or another, if not a hundred million times. But instead of reading the words "only begotten Son" I want you to imagine your name there. "For God so loved the world that he gave 'Mary', that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

How does that sound to you now? It's a little daunting isn't it?

Now I don't want you to think I'm being sacrilegious here - Jesus was perfect and He paid the ultimate sacrifice. But what if we took the words "you will do greater things" (John 14:12) seriously? What if we really took Gods promises to heart and said, "I am God's chosen- the earth is mine, heaven is within reach, and hell is beneath my feet", what would happen then?

The truth is, you ARE what the world needs now. Your talents, your gifts, your abilities, your dreams - the things that make you alive, will in turn make the rest of the world alive. As you speak with the unique voice God has given you, people will turn their heads, because they will recognize the truth, an authentic voice who has discovered who it really is and it's true source; it's true north.

So whatever problem you are called to solve (the thing that perhaps agitates you the most or is your greatest passion) I pray you go out there and solve it. Whatever dream you have (that you can't stop thinking about) I pray that you go pursue it. Whatever obstacle you face (that keeps on getting in the way) I pray that you slay it. And by doing so, you will have liberated others to pursue the dreams that God has called them to pursue, too.

Don't get comfortable! Your life is waiting for you. What the world needs now is you.

Paths of Righteousness

"The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'" -Psalm 32:8 NLT

 

Did you know that when we develop habits or thought patterns, we actually begin to create a "rut" in our brains?* That's why habits can become so hard to undo! It's also the reason addictions can be so difficult to break free from. 

But, when we chose to live for God, He promises to lead us along the best pathways for our lives. All of this involves learning how to make good choices, have good habits, good boundaries, and live a peace-filled, love-filled, joy-filled life, serving Him. 

When I was younger, I had a lot of depression, and a poor self-image. I couldn't understand why anyone would like me! But when I started learning more about God and what He thought about me, I realized I didn't need other people's approval to feel secure. In effect, God was re-wiring my brain to have a more accurate understanding of how He saw me and how He made me. And what a difference it made! Some of this involved un-wiring the lies the enemy had placed in my mind, and replacing the negative thought patterns with God's truth. When I discovered the roots of these beliefs and allowed God to fill them, I didn't struggle with depression any longer. 

Are there any negative thought patterns or paths the enemy has led you down? Ask God to heal your heart and mind so that you can experience a greater level of His love and peace. God desires that we align our minds with His. 

"He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." -Ps 23:2-3 NLT

*For more on this, see Paul Hegstrom's book, Broken Children, Grown Up Pain.

Measures of Love

Photo credit: http://mll4ever.deviantart.com/art/Cup-of-love-191991269

"Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” -Matthew 6:18

Have you ever thought about what heaven will be like?  I have heard many stories about people visiting heaven, and it is all very cool to think about! 

One thing I often think about is how much our actions here on earth make a difference, and what they mean in terms of eternity.  Though we don’t know for certain until we get to heaven, the Bible does say, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:20) and “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as ‘foreigners in the land.’” (1 Peter 1:17)

What does this all mean?  I think it has to do with what we do with what we’ve been given.

There is a story in a book by Rick Joyner, called The Vision.  In this book, he describes a vision he is having with Jesus in heaven, and he is shown the life of a man named Angelo. 

Angelo was a homeless man, who was deaf and could not speak.  When Angelo saw a kitten on the street, it took all the willpower he had not to kick it; he instead nudged it out of the way. As a child, Angelo was abused and kept in a cold, dark attic until the authorities found him at eight years old.  He then went into a series of foster care homes, and finally, the streets.

The author was shown a vision of another man who was very zealously serving God, teaching the Bible, and praying for the sick.  However, God was more impressed with Angelo, and now that Angelo was in heaven, he was seated in a place reserved for martyrs and kings.

Jesus shared that the second man had been raised in a great family, and had gone to one of the best Bible colleges in the country, but he was only using 75 measures of the 100 portions of love the Lord had given him.  The Lord had given Angelo just 3 portions of love, and it had taken Angelo all 3 to keep from hurting the kitten. 

Eventually, Angelo learned to read from a gospel tract he had been given, and he got saved. God doubled his shares of love, and he used all of them to stop stealing food even though he often went hungry, and he earned money by selling bottles or doing yard work.  God again multiplied his love, and Angelo spent half of everything he earned to buy tracts.  Angelo finally led one other homeless person to the Lord before he died, keeping a wino warm on a cold night.

Things are often not as they seem.  Are you using all of your measures of love?

Transformation vs. Conformation

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 2:12
 
I love the movie Alice in Wonderland. Yes, the Tim Burton version is a little on the strange side, but the story is great and the design, costumes, graphics, and set are so creative!

There is one point in the movie, and in the book, where Alice is trapped in a room filled with doors. She can't seem to open any of them. Then, she notices a really small door on the far side of the room. "How am I ever going to fit through that door???" she must've thought. She becomes distraught with the idea that she could possibly be in this room forever. But she is determined not to let it happen. 

Alice notices the vial that says "Drink me", and the food that says, "Eat me." She does both and discovers the outcomes of each. With one she becomes larger, the other smaller. And finally, with key in hand, she is able to go through the small door that was originally intended for her, the small her, as she ventures off into Wonderland.

I believe our lives can be much like Alice's experience in the room sometimes. Alice had to transform herself to fit through the door she was supposed to go through. It makes me think of the verse in scripture that says, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14. 
 
God is all about our complete and total transformation. Christianity is the only religion that is about transformation, versus conformation. We can live out a bunch of rules and say that we're Christians, but what God is after is a heart change. When we encounter obstacles in life, sometimes it's us that needs to change. Sometimes we are the ones who need to fit through the door - we are the ones who need to either become bigger people (full of grace and mercy for humanity), or smaller (becoming more disciplined, more focused, learning to listen to the still small voice of God). But the key to this is that we have to be willing - we have to be willing to try anything to get to the next place. Because Alice knew there was no other way but to go through that door, she was determined to make it happen, one way or another. Sometimes God puts us in these types of spots to grow us, to change us, to help us become all He intended.

Are you willing to be transformed?