It is hard to believe after a solid year of sitting in Dr. Robert Clifford's office with Tucker I found myself there again with Turner. Dr. Clifford even looked shocked when he walked into the room and saw me there again. Tucker finally got fully released only a month ago.
Yet there we sat. Turner with an injured knee from playing basketball. We were there to review the MRI results. Dr. Clifford's diagnosis made my heart sink. "There is a torn ACL." My first thought was, "Not again."
Turner is an eighth grader. I immediately looked at him to see how he received that news. He sat stoically. I remember like yesterday when Dr. Clifford diagnosed Tucker with a torn ACL. Tears welled up in Tucker's eyes. He tried to be brave and wiped them away quickly. I knew his heart broke in that moment.
My heart hurt. I could not fix that problem for him. Nor I could I fix a torn ACL for Turner. Believe me. I prayed for healing. Supernatural healing. It did not come. Tucker had to have surgery. Two of them in fact. I prayed for Turner's healing as well. God chose to do it another way. He too will have to be operated on unless God intervenes between now and sometime in January.
When Turner and I got into the truck to leave asked him how he felt. Here is what he said. "Dad, I am not scared. God is in control. He will help me through this."
O that we all had child like faith. Lord help our unbelief.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Confirmation
I live a long way from west Texas. I have not lived there in five and a half years. God keeps drawing my heart to a small town out there called Kermit. That town keeps showing up over and over again in my life.
While I can't begin to go into all the ways God keeps confirming my call to go there and preach a revival, I will share the most recent one.
Two of my boys and I went grocery shopping a few days ago. Broookshire's Grocery has a rewards program for frequent shoppers. To access it you can use a card or your phone number. When I gave the cashier my phone number she asked, "Are you from west Texas?" The 432 area code gave it away. We never changed our cell phone numbers after we moved from Seminole.
I responded, "I used to. Are you from west Texas?" She used to live in west Texas. I asked her where she used to live. Her reply, "Kermit."
That grocery store is six hours form Kermit. What is the likely hood that she would live and work in the same area I live. What is the likely hood that she would have previously lived in Kermit? Of the two grocery stores in our area is it coincidence that I chose the one where she worked. What are the chances that I would just happen to be grocery shopping during her shift and furthermore randomly get into her line. She could have been off. She could have gone on break. Her line could have been backed up with several people. Three was only one person in front of the boys and I.
She could have been from a hundred different town in west Texas. The fact she was from Kermit seems more than random chance.. She could not have known about God giving me a burden for that town. She had no way of knowing about and my calling to trust the Lord for revival there. She could have just entered my phone number and never said anything about west Texas. It does not seem like coincidence to me. It seems more like confirmation.
While I can't begin to go into all the ways God keeps confirming my call to go there and preach a revival, I will share the most recent one.
Two of my boys and I went grocery shopping a few days ago. Broookshire's Grocery has a rewards program for frequent shoppers. To access it you can use a card or your phone number. When I gave the cashier my phone number she asked, "Are you from west Texas?" The 432 area code gave it away. We never changed our cell phone numbers after we moved from Seminole.
I responded, "I used to. Are you from west Texas?" She used to live in west Texas. I asked her where she used to live. Her reply, "Kermit."
That grocery store is six hours form Kermit. What is the likely hood that she would live and work in the same area I live. What is the likely hood that she would have previously lived in Kermit? Of the two grocery stores in our area is it coincidence that I chose the one where she worked. What are the chances that I would just happen to be grocery shopping during her shift and furthermore randomly get into her line. She could have been off. She could have gone on break. Her line could have been backed up with several people. Three was only one person in front of the boys and I.
She could have been from a hundred different town in west Texas. The fact she was from Kermit seems more than random chance.. She could not have known about God giving me a burden for that town. She had no way of knowing about and my calling to trust the Lord for revival there. She could have just entered my phone number and never said anything about west Texas. It does not seem like coincidence to me. It seems more like confirmation.
Monday, December 19, 2016
Pen To The Page
It has been nearly two years since I last put pen to page to write a book. While have written hundreds of flogs I have not written any books. had no desire to write another book. I did not have inspiration. It has never been my desire to just write books. My desire is to only write what God alls me to write.
He has called me to write two books. I just finished the first. I am not certain about the title yet, but it is a book about the Seminole revival back in 2010 that lasted 23 straight days. I've felt compelled to write that book. I consider it my life's work to this point. I hope when it finally gets released God will use it to inspire people to pursue Him more. At this point I only have the rough draft finished.
I am working on a second book. It is the third edition of the 40 Days To Shake City Devotional. This book is more critical in that I hope to have it available 40 days from the start of the Kermit Shake The City Revival. That revival is scheduled to begin July 23, 2017. Time is of the essence. Like with all my books I have to trust God for the provision to get it into print.
There is much tedious wrk to be done. My aim is to be done with the revisions on the devotion book by the fist of the year. Then the tedious work of proofing and editing work begins. I hope to have the manuscript sent to the publishers in early January. I am trusting God to print 5,000 copies of this book. This will cost several thousand dollars.
Afterward, I will proof and edit the other book. Possible titles are The Glorious Pursuit: The Pursuit of God For Revival or I like 23 Days When Heaven Kissed Seminole In Revival.
I need your prayers. I need anointing to write and the stamina to finish these projects in a timely manner. No Compromise Ministries also needs God's provision to especially get the devotion book into print and available byJune 14, 2017. That is 40 days from the start of revival services in Kermit.
He has called me to write two books. I just finished the first. I am not certain about the title yet, but it is a book about the Seminole revival back in 2010 that lasted 23 straight days. I've felt compelled to write that book. I consider it my life's work to this point. I hope when it finally gets released God will use it to inspire people to pursue Him more. At this point I only have the rough draft finished.
I am working on a second book. It is the third edition of the 40 Days To Shake City Devotional. This book is more critical in that I hope to have it available 40 days from the start of the Kermit Shake The City Revival. That revival is scheduled to begin July 23, 2017. Time is of the essence. Like with all my books I have to trust God for the provision to get it into print.
There is much tedious wrk to be done. My aim is to be done with the revisions on the devotion book by the fist of the year. Then the tedious work of proofing and editing work begins. I hope to have the manuscript sent to the publishers in early January. I am trusting God to print 5,000 copies of this book. This will cost several thousand dollars.
Afterward, I will proof and edit the other book. Possible titles are The Glorious Pursuit: The Pursuit of God For Revival or I like 23 Days When Heaven Kissed Seminole In Revival.
I need your prayers. I need anointing to write and the stamina to finish these projects in a timely manner. No Compromise Ministries also needs God's provision to especially get the devotion book into print and available byJune 14, 2017. That is 40 days from the start of revival services in Kermit.
The Great Supplier
Philippians 4:19-20 (ESV)
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Do you believe God is able and willing to supply your needs? Do you believe His resources are unlimited? Do you believe He is mighty enough to get whatever provision to you when you need it?
If you answered yes to those questions then why worry and stress about money issues? If God is the great supplier of all we need why don't we trust Him more and live in peace? One of the greatest stresses on marriage is finances. You can see the weight and strain on people barely making it to no fault of their own. They do not live extravagantly. They work hard to live within their means.
Then life hits. A major house repair arises. The car needs repair. An injury occurs necessitating medical attention. The insurance premiums rise. One spouse loses a job. A test reveals a major medical issue calling for surgery and aggressive follow up treatments to battle the disease. One of the kids needs financial help. A little here and little there and a family can find their back up against the wall.
Even in all of this God is still a great supplier. He is a great provider. He makes available His abundant riches to help in our time of need. His resources are not limited to money. He supplies strength, peace. comfort, guidance, and wisdom in abundance too.
What will we ever need that He does not already have the supply? He already knows our needs before we are even aware of them and has the supply ready in waiting to meet the need of the hour.
Verse 19 starts off with "And my God..." Read that again but this time substitute your first name for the word my. It might read, Jimmy's God, Wende's God, Eric's God, Jeff's God, Missy's God, Mike's God, Lynn's God, Greg's God, Terri's God, Julie's God, Linda's God, Dale'sGod, Jane'sGod, or Christi's God. He is your God. You are His child and He is your Father. He personally relates to each of His children and cares for them.
Your God. My God. Our God will supply. That means He will provide and make available. Out of His riches. Superabounding wealth. God owns everything. Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
1
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
Psalm 50:10 (ESV)
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Do you believe God is able and willing to supply your needs? Do you believe His resources are unlimited? Do you believe He is mighty enough to get whatever provision to you when you need it?
If you answered yes to those questions then why worry and stress about money issues? If God is the great supplier of all we need why don't we trust Him more and live in peace? One of the greatest stresses on marriage is finances. You can see the weight and strain on people barely making it to no fault of their own. They do not live extravagantly. They work hard to live within their means.
Then life hits. A major house repair arises. The car needs repair. An injury occurs necessitating medical attention. The insurance premiums rise. One spouse loses a job. A test reveals a major medical issue calling for surgery and aggressive follow up treatments to battle the disease. One of the kids needs financial help. A little here and little there and a family can find their back up against the wall.
Even in all of this God is still a great supplier. He is a great provider. He makes available His abundant riches to help in our time of need. His resources are not limited to money. He supplies strength, peace. comfort, guidance, and wisdom in abundance too.
What will we ever need that He does not already have the supply? He already knows our needs before we are even aware of them and has the supply ready in waiting to meet the need of the hour.
Verse 19 starts off with "And my God..." Read that again but this time substitute your first name for the word my. It might read, Jimmy's God, Wende's God, Eric's God, Jeff's God, Missy's God, Mike's God, Lynn's God, Greg's God, Terri's God, Julie's God, Linda's God, Dale'sGod, Jane'sGod, or Christi's God. He is your God. You are His child and He is your Father. He personally relates to each of His children and cares for them.
Your God. My God. Our God will supply. That means He will provide and make available. Out of His riches. Superabounding wealth. God owns everything. Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
1
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
It is all His. Every creature. Every dollar and cent. He can access any of it as He pleases and share those resources with us when we need. He uses people to do this. Let me illustrate.
Brenda's car has 260,000 miles on it. We are blessed that it has lasted this long. Both of us hate car payments and are content to drive older cars with higher mileage than to be locked into a car payment. We have a great mechanic. He is a man of integrity, very thorough, and very fair.
On several occasions we've put Brenda's car in the shop for repairs. Each time our mechanic has found other issues that would have caused the car to malfunction if not addresessed. One time the bill ran over $900 a few years ago right before Christmas. Things were tight financially and we did not know how we would pay that bill. God prompted a couple to give us $1,000. We had not shared our need with anyone. We needed money to repair the car. God abundantly supplied.
Not long after we moved back to Paradise we had to put her car in the shop again. This time the bill totaled over $1,500. We did not have it. We had not sold our house in Seminole yet and I took a major cut in pay in our move. I can still remember this like it was yesterday. Kelly Hughes from Seminole was passing through with his wife Cassie. They stopped by to see us. Kelly handed me an envelope with $7,000 collected from several individuals from our previous church. With that money we paid the car repairs and I was able to purchase new tires for my truck as well. God supplied again.
Just about a month ago we had to put Brenda's car in the shop again. Our mechanic called to inform me of all the issues he found. The bill sept mounting. I finally asked him how much we were looking at. My heart sunk when he responded, "$2,500." He has always been wiling to graciously let us pay off the bills over time when needed. We hate debt. But on this occasion we had no choice.
Brenda and I both prayed for God's supply once again. We asked Him to reach into His storehouse and share from His abundance to meet our need. Weeks passed. Then our Heavenly Father stepped in again. A dear friend gave us the largest financial gift we have ever received unsolicited by us but solicited from God the Father. We used part of the money to pay off the car repairs and some college tuition for one of our boys.
Just in case you still really do not believe let me tell you one last story. Faith Community Church has never had an abundance of money. We have been forced to live up to our name repeatedly as the finances got tight and we put in our faith in God to help.
Recently I met with our leadership team in a grim meeting about finances again. Truth is we were about one month from not being able to make our monthly requirements. Several options were discussed. One of them was to cut back on some or all of our rent facilities. Even considering this and the elimination of utility payments by my calculations we would still have been about a $3,000 shortfall each month. We already operate on a scaled back budget.
We took the mater to prayer. Brenda and I were very concerned. God was not.
I was approached by a man recently who asked me a straight forward question. "How is your church doing financially?" I thought that an odd way to start a conversation. I responded, "Do you want the truth or me to tell you what you want to hear?" He wanted the truth. I told him everything.
He looked at his wife and they both smiled. God had prompted them to to give a financial gift to our church even though they attend elsewhere. My answer confirmed what God had already put in their heat to do. Once again God supplied abundantly.
I have walked out this truth for the past two decades. I have seen God supply over and over again. I have seen Him use creative ways to get the provision to where it was needed. I have witnessed Him use unlikely candidates to get His provision to the need.
My God is a great supplier. I tell my stories for one reason. It is not to get sympathy. It is not to manipulate people financially. I recently felt like this happened after I preached as a guest to another flock. I returned people's money out of conviction. I share my stories so God gets glory. I want people to know I serve a faithful, trustworthy, reliable, and dependable God. He knows the needs of His children. He cares. And He has the supply.
There are times when I wish He sent it earlier. There are times when I wonder why His children are tested so often. I may never know the answers. I do know this. HE Is A GREAT PROVIDER. He is more than able to supply anything you will ever need.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Peace In The Storm
I had just gotten Brenda home after a visit to a doctor and a minor test. We had barely walked in the door when her phone rang. It was the school nurse. Turner had swallowed a nail. He was fine but we needed to get him to the emergency room.
Turns out a classmate put the small nail in Tuner's water bottle. He told Turner it was there. Turner thought he could drink the water and catch the nail. He was wrong.
We were in panic mode. Brenda stayed home to recover. On the drive my mind raced. Turner just injured his left knee a few days ago playing basketball and we are still waiting the final diagnosis for that. It seemed we were being slammed.
While I stood waiting on Turner at school I walked outside. In those few ever so brief moments I exhaled the pressure and the trials. I asked God for His peace. Standing there alone God did the miraculous once again. He heard my brief prayer. He saw my burden. He met me in that crisis hour and flooded my heart with peace in the middle of the storm.
Everything else went smoothly. The nail passed the critical parts in Turner. No invasive procedures were needed. We got to go home later that day.
How many people have experienced the peace of God in the middle of life's storms. Millions. I am just one more to testify that God does not forsake us in our tough times. It does not mean we avoid every single storm. It does mean that God provides peace in the middle of them. For that I give God thanks and praise.
Turns out a classmate put the small nail in Tuner's water bottle. He told Turner it was there. Turner thought he could drink the water and catch the nail. He was wrong.
We were in panic mode. Brenda stayed home to recover. On the drive my mind raced. Turner just injured his left knee a few days ago playing basketball and we are still waiting the final diagnosis for that. It seemed we were being slammed.
While I stood waiting on Turner at school I walked outside. In those few ever so brief moments I exhaled the pressure and the trials. I asked God for His peace. Standing there alone God did the miraculous once again. He heard my brief prayer. He saw my burden. He met me in that crisis hour and flooded my heart with peace in the middle of the storm.
Everything else went smoothly. The nail passed the critical parts in Turner. No invasive procedures were needed. We got to go home later that day.
How many people have experienced the peace of God in the middle of life's storms. Millions. I am just one more to testify that God does not forsake us in our tough times. It does not mean we avoid every single storm. It does mean that God provides peace in the middle of them. For that I give God thanks and praise.
Thankful
I walked outside against the arctic blast of a blustery cold front. My first thought after shuddering in the morning chill was to thank God for my coat to give me insulation from the biting winds.
I walked across a parking lot to get into my vehicle. I thanked God the vehicle started and for the heat that blew once the vehicle warmed up.
On my drive I ran over something on a back road. I again thanked God when I returned the same way after the sun came up and saw I had run over a baby wild hog barely missing the much larger mother only feet away.
I thanked God for my breakfast later at Braum's. I thanked God for a hot meal and the money to pay for it.
Then I thanked God for the gift of eye sight. To see the yellow of the eggs. The red in the tomatoes. The green in the jalapeños and on my cup. I could see the brown of the pepper shaker, the blue of the ink as I wrote in my journal against the white backdrop of my spiritual page.
I am thankful for a wife I have shared twenty-five years of marriage together. I love her deeply and thankful that I get to share life with her. She stands with me. She is my true helpmate. I am thankful for the four boys we have that have brought innumerable joys to my life. I am thankful for true brothers and sisters in Christ who have been a continual source of encouragement and support in every season of life.
I am thankful most of all for Jesus. His love, grace, salvation, and guidance mean more than I can ever put into words. He took a wretched, troubled, and sullen east Texas teenager and saved him. He gave me a purpose and a calling. He gifted me to write and preach. He planted passion in me. He has given me so many opportunities even when I have made critical mistakes.
Thanksgiving Day is weeks behind me but I am still thankful. There are many blessings if I will just take time to think about them and maintain approach life with a thankful attitude.
I walked across a parking lot to get into my vehicle. I thanked God the vehicle started and for the heat that blew once the vehicle warmed up.
On my drive I ran over something on a back road. I again thanked God when I returned the same way after the sun came up and saw I had run over a baby wild hog barely missing the much larger mother only feet away.
I thanked God for my breakfast later at Braum's. I thanked God for a hot meal and the money to pay for it.
Then I thanked God for the gift of eye sight. To see the yellow of the eggs. The red in the tomatoes. The green in the jalapeños and on my cup. I could see the brown of the pepper shaker, the blue of the ink as I wrote in my journal against the white backdrop of my spiritual page.
I am thankful for a wife I have shared twenty-five years of marriage together. I love her deeply and thankful that I get to share life with her. She stands with me. She is my true helpmate. I am thankful for the four boys we have that have brought innumerable joys to my life. I am thankful for true brothers and sisters in Christ who have been a continual source of encouragement and support in every season of life.
I am thankful most of all for Jesus. His love, grace, salvation, and guidance mean more than I can ever put into words. He took a wretched, troubled, and sullen east Texas teenager and saved him. He gave me a purpose and a calling. He gifted me to write and preach. He planted passion in me. He has given me so many opportunities even when I have made critical mistakes.
Thanksgiving Day is weeks behind me but I am still thankful. There are many blessings if I will just take time to think about them and maintain approach life with a thankful attitude.
Are You Satisfied?
How old is the clothing you are waring? A few months or perhaps a few years? I asked that question in our service this morning. One man won hands down. He wore a church two decades old. That is older than three of my sons.
It is impressive that the shirt still fit. It is equally impressive that the quality of the church was such that it lasted for such a long time. I am also impressed the man did not discard it for a newer version.
I recall a trip I made with one of my sons to the "Pioneer Village" in Fort Worth. The village has real life log cabins from pioneer days. Upon walking through one of the cabins I was struck by the smallness of the cabins. In a closet hung two lady's dresses. One for everyday. The other for worship services or special occasions. Can you imagine anyone only have two changes of clothes. Now we have walk in closets. We have dress clothes. Casual clothes. Recreational clothes. Work out clothes. A far cry from pioneer days.
Now let me ask you a few other questions. What would have to happen for you to be happy? Really happy. If you only had __________ then you would be satisfied, you can fill in the blank. How few really know true contentment. We are convinced if we had a new gadget or a new widget our life would be complete.
Paul said he knew how to get along with abundance or to live with little. He said he had learned a real secret to contentment. His secret might surprise us. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
It is impressive that the shirt still fit. It is equally impressive that the quality of the church was such that it lasted for such a long time. I am also impressed the man did not discard it for a newer version.
I recall a trip I made with one of my sons to the "Pioneer Village" in Fort Worth. The village has real life log cabins from pioneer days. Upon walking through one of the cabins I was struck by the smallness of the cabins. In a closet hung two lady's dresses. One for everyday. The other for worship services or special occasions. Can you imagine anyone only have two changes of clothes. Now we have walk in closets. We have dress clothes. Casual clothes. Recreational clothes. Work out clothes. A far cry from pioneer days.
Now let me ask you a few other questions. What would have to happen for you to be happy? Really happy. If you only had __________ then you would be satisfied, you can fill in the blank. How few really know true contentment. We are convinced if we had a new gadget or a new widget our life would be complete.
Paul said he knew how to get along with abundance or to live with little. He said he had learned a real secret to contentment. His secret might surprise us. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Paul said he did not speak from need. Paul knew need. He went hungry. He knew exposure to the elements. He knew needs and suffering but he also knew contentment in the middl4e of it. True satisfaction. Because Jesus gave him the strength to endure any situation. He learned to content himself in Jesus. A lesson it appears few in theUnited States have learned.
We have bigger and bigger houses so we can accumulate more and more stuff. We periodically have garage sales to make more room for more stuff. We are enamored with the latest, the newest, and most improved versions of most anything.
Are we wiling to learn contentment. To drive an automobile showing its age. To live in a smaller dwelling. To wear clothes that have a little wear and tear on them. To be as satisfied with a sandwich as with a gourmet meal.
I have a pantry and refrigerator full o food. I have no worries about my next meal. We have leftovers after lunch today and dinner last night. Many people in the world have never seen such. They don't even know what it like to have a second helping at any meal. Such abundance of food should make us satisfied.
Jesus strengthens us to enjoy sumptuous feasts as well as to endure being famished. He strengthens us to endure ill health and riches as well as sickness and poverty. Jesus is our source of contentment. He satisfies the soul not just for the here and now but for all of eternity. We want to learn this.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
The Tent Of Meeting
Exodus 33:9 (ESV)
9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
The tent of meeting was set up as a place for people to meet with God. When Moses entered the tent God showed up in a special way. Moses talked to God. What is more important is God spoke to Moses.
While I do not have a literal tent of meeting I do have two sacred spots to meet with God alone. My home office and my actual office. In those places God shows up. Just like today while I was my actual office reading through Exodus 33. That is when I came across this verse.
I sat back in my office chair to reflect on that verse. Then I voiced a prayer in my mind but from deeper in my soul. I asked God to meet with me and speak to me like He did with Moses. I am not asking God to speak to me face to face like He did with Moses. I just want God to speak to me consistently, daily and clearly.
I cannot think of one single thing I desire more from God than to hear from Him clearly and consistently day in and day out. I want that for the rest of the days of my life.. In my times with Him I find what I look forward to most is when He opens His word and speaks to me through His Spirit. I love those moments. I live for them. They are the highlight of my everyday. The tender voice of His spirit is louder than a teenager's high powered sound system in his vehicle. His still small voice can be so loud in our souls it is almost deafening.
We should love to be alone with the Father. We should enjoy our time with Him. Those days when we truly connect with Him and hear from Him we need to be reluctant to leave our tent of meeting to keep other commitments. The tent of meeting should be a sacred place. A place set apart. A holy place. I place devoted to meeting with The Great I Am. Our Creator. Our Sustainer. Our Savior. Our Redeemer. Our Deliverer. Our Counselor. Our Provider. Our Comforter. And so much more. Much much more.
He reveals Himself in tents of meetings. He casts visions there. He gives directions that changes the course of history in the tent of meeting. We cannot afford to neglect that place. God waits to be wanted there. If we steal away from the crowds He will meet us there. He will touch us deeply and speak to us intimately. Make meeting with Him in your tent of meeting a lifelong habit.
9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
The tent of meeting was set up as a place for people to meet with God. When Moses entered the tent God showed up in a special way. Moses talked to God. What is more important is God spoke to Moses.
While I do not have a literal tent of meeting I do have two sacred spots to meet with God alone. My home office and my actual office. In those places God shows up. Just like today while I was my actual office reading through Exodus 33. That is when I came across this verse.
I sat back in my office chair to reflect on that verse. Then I voiced a prayer in my mind but from deeper in my soul. I asked God to meet with me and speak to me like He did with Moses. I am not asking God to speak to me face to face like He did with Moses. I just want God to speak to me consistently, daily and clearly.
I cannot think of one single thing I desire more from God than to hear from Him clearly and consistently day in and day out. I want that for the rest of the days of my life.. In my times with Him I find what I look forward to most is when He opens His word and speaks to me through His Spirit. I love those moments. I live for them. They are the highlight of my everyday. The tender voice of His spirit is louder than a teenager's high powered sound system in his vehicle. His still small voice can be so loud in our souls it is almost deafening.
We should love to be alone with the Father. We should enjoy our time with Him. Those days when we truly connect with Him and hear from Him we need to be reluctant to leave our tent of meeting to keep other commitments. The tent of meeting should be a sacred place. A place set apart. A holy place. I place devoted to meeting with The Great I Am. Our Creator. Our Sustainer. Our Savior. Our Redeemer. Our Deliverer. Our Counselor. Our Provider. Our Comforter. And so much more. Much much more.
He reveals Himself in tents of meetings. He casts visions there. He gives directions that changes the course of history in the tent of meeting. We cannot afford to neglect that place. God waits to be wanted there. If we steal away from the crowds He will meet us there. He will touch us deeply and speak to us intimately. Make meeting with Him in your tent of meeting a lifelong habit.
Friday, December 9, 2016
21
I was visting a church member who had just undergone surgery at the hospital. Before being released the patient had to walk 20 laps around the floor of hospital. Up and down the hall I could see several patients doing their laps with their I/V stand in tow and tubes.
I decided to take a stroll with our member. Each step painful. Slow and methodical steps up and down the long corridors. I was proud of the patient. At first they could only do one lap. Before being released they were doing sexts of three.
What made me the most proud was the moment this determined soul decided to do more than was asked and completed a twenty first lap. What an inspiration. I am sure the twenty first lap was not comfortable. I am confident the path of least resistance would have been to go get back in the bed like I saw another patient do after just walking two laps.
What if we all had the mentality to do more than was asked of us. To go the extra lap or the extra mile. What if we were all willing to push ourselves beyond what is comfortable or what is easy. It is so easy to take the path of least resistance.
After that visit in the hospital I left inspired. Inspired to overachieve. To do the extra lap. The twenty first lap. To work a little harder. To labor a little longer. To overachieve.
I decided to take a stroll with our member. Each step painful. Slow and methodical steps up and down the long corridors. I was proud of the patient. At first they could only do one lap. Before being released they were doing sexts of three.
What made me the most proud was the moment this determined soul decided to do more than was asked and completed a twenty first lap. What an inspiration. I am sure the twenty first lap was not comfortable. I am confident the path of least resistance would have been to go get back in the bed like I saw another patient do after just walking two laps.
What if we all had the mentality to do more than was asked of us. To go the extra lap or the extra mile. What if we were all willing to push ourselves beyond what is comfortable or what is easy. It is so easy to take the path of least resistance.
After that visit in the hospital I left inspired. Inspired to overachieve. To do the extra lap. The twenty first lap. To work a little harder. To labor a little longer. To overachieve.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Relentless
There are three characters in the Bible that stand out to me as being relentless. David. Job. Paul. David was relentless in His desire to know God. Job was relentless in His worship even on the worst day of his life. Paul was relentless in His service to Jesus even in the midst of suffering.
Let's first consider David. David desired to know God. Take two passages he penned in the Psalms. Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV)
1
As a deer pants for flowing
streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
O God, you are my God; earnestly I
seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry
and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Acts 20:24 (ESV)
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Let's first consider David. David desired to know God. Take two passages he penned in the Psalms. Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV)
1
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Do you see the intense craving David had to know God. Far too many people are content to spend their whole lives learning more about God. Yet they never draw any closer. They never get lost in the wonder and thrill of new encounters and fresh experiences with the living God. David thirsted for God like a deer parched for water. He does not stop there.
Read what takes writes in another Psalm. Psalm 63:1-2 (ESV)
1
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Again notice the craving, the desire, and the intense hunger David had for more of God. To know God. David was relentless in his pursuit to know God. Does that define your relationship with Him? Are you craving more of Him? More revelation of Him? More time with Him? More understanding of Him? May that also be our relentless desire. May we never settle for anything less than the relentless lifelong pursuit to know God. May we earnestly seek Him day in and day out for a lifetime.
Job was a relentless worshipper. Even when it everything went wrong. Even when the world toppled in on top of him. Job loved God, revered God, trusted God, and praised God even when there was pain in the offering. Read this lengthy passage. Pay very special attention to the last couple of verses.
Job 1:1-22 (ESV)
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?
10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?
10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
When Job lost everything he did not lose his faith in God or His desire to worship. There are few verses in all the Bible that inspire me more than these do. Job was relentless in His worship even when he lost almost everything he valued including his ten children.
I had a similar conversation with one of my boys facing some major disappointment. I told him what he believed about God in that moment was critical. He had to make the choice to keep worshipping, to keep trusting, and to keep glorifying God even when things were not turning out like he wanted. Relentless in worship.
Finally there is Paul. What more can I say about Paul's relentless service for Jesus that has not already been said or written many times before. Perhaps two scriptures will say it all.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (ESV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Is that not the personification of relentlessness. David. Job. Paul. All relentless. All examples for us to follow. May we be relentless in our pursuit to know God, relentless in our worship even in the worst of times, and relentless in our service to Jesus to the end of our lives.
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