Ramblings about Discouragement

Sitting here at my desk with my work currently caught up, I decided to scribble down a few thoughts and observations. I got some music playing in one ear and phone agents yapping in the background. I have just given a nickname to another coworker and I am only two days away from my Christmas vacation. Hopefully I can share some insight that’s remotely valuable. But definitely no guarantees. Haha

1) Messed up stuff can happen to anyone

Don’t think just because you’re a Christian (either new, experienced or somewhere between) that you are immune from crazy stuff happening. The wide spectrum of good through bad can happen to any one of us, though only God has the authority to remove the hedge of protection away from a Christian faithfully serving the Lord (Job 1:6-12). Think of God’s hedge of protection like an umbrella. If its raining outside as long as I submit myself to staying under the cover of the umbrella, the rain is diverted away from me. If I willfully sin, it’s the equivalent of setting the umbrella down and standing in a downpour. The umbrella was still capable of keeping me dry, but I’ve made a conscience choice to forfeit its safety and shelter.

So what if I’m that faithful Christian who’s standing under the umbrella of protection? The rain can still sometimes get you wet. Having lived in Mississippi and Alabama, I’ve seen some crazy downpours. I’ve seen rain pour down, come down in sheets, even seemingly move sideways with strong winds. The point being, if God allows the rain to pour down sideways with strong winds, you’re going to get soaked whether you’re under that umbrella or not. The primary difference between the Christian and lost, is not whether you get wet or not (Matthew 5:45), but that the Christian can always lean on God to help them through the trial. We are assured that trial will not be more than what you can bear (2 Corinthians 10:13). (side note: It might also be worth reading my blogs on weathering the storms too)

2) Leaning on God

“Leaning on God” – its not a phrase we hear very often but certainly anyone who has gone through a trial could eloquently describe what the term means to them. Unfortunately, since they’re not here to talk it over with you, you’ll have to tolerate my two cents on the topic. It seems to me that leaning on God is composed of several things. Leaning on the structural strength of a God that’s unchanging, is using His strength as a method of upholding your step (Psalms 17:5, 18:36, 73:2). Perhaps you’ve seen a frail person reach out for the hand of another person while going down steps or getting out of vehicle. They are relying on the strength of another to support and stabilize them as they move. Similarly, we can lean on the strength of God.

If you’ve ever seen me racing through the surrounding areas of my town on guest visitation, you might have spotted me glancing at a map or at my GPS screen. One of the most significant realizations a person can arrive at when travelling through an unfamiliar area is that I can’t “wing it” with any hope of actually reaching my destination. I need to rely on the confirmed directions that only an accurate map can provide. Relying solely on the documented experience of another traveler really comes down a pride issue. If you’re too proud to admit you need help getting through an unfamiliar route, you’ll never consult a map. When travelling through a new, unfamiliar area of crisis or trial, I’m not too proud to acknowledge the need for direction (Psalms 37:23, 119:133, Prov 3:5-6). Whether it be through prayer or the Word of God, truly we can lean on the guidance of God.

In my opinion, one of the kindest gestures a person can show to me in times of personal discouragement or sickness other than pray for me, is bring me a bowl of good potato soup. I am convinced that tasty potato soup is good for the soul. Someone should write a book about that. hehe All joking aside, why would I be goofy enough to make a statement like that? For two reasons. Firstly, I really like potato soup. Secondly, it’s a true, ground-level action of showing care for my well-being. Especially since I can’t cook. I don’t think that the prophet Elijah could cook either because God sent ravens to daily bring bread and meat to him at the brook Cherith. After that, God sent him to the home of a widow who cooked for him as well.

So let me get serious for a moment and talk about God’s provision. In I Kings 17, we see numerous examples of God’s provision. After Elijah declared to King Ahab that there would be a drought in the land, God instructed Elijah to go to a precise place to receive provision, brook Cherith. Then when the brook dried up and that provision ended, God immediately sent him to the next provision, the widow of Zarephath. Then God instructed Elijah that the very day that the widow’s meal and oil failed, would be the same day that God would provide the next provision (by breaking the drought with rain). Folks, God doesn’t starve His people out! He takes care of His people’s needs (Psalms 37:25, 84:4-7, Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-31). As His children, we need to learn to lean on the provision of God.

Earlier, I mentioned the example of Job, which spoke of God’s hedge of protection. Partner that with the many examples of deliverance throughout the scriptures and we learn we can lean on the protection of God.

3) Encouraging yourself in the Lord

I Samuel 30:6 and its surrounding verses describe a profound concept that we as Christians need to understand. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. When everything around him went haywire and there was no home crowd to cheer him on, David cried his guts out until there were no more tears to cry. His city was burned, laying in ruins. All women and children had been carried off captive. His world had come crumbling down and scriptures said that, “David was greatly distressed”. I can’t imagine all the things what went through his mind that day, but I do know what I would have done.

Firstly, I’d remember the promises of the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:20, 2 Peter 3:9). People may let you down, disappoint you or even betray you, but God is unchanging in His character and integrity (Hebrews 6:13, 13:8). If God declares a promise, it is ultimately backed by the integrity of his character and the strength of His power (Deuteronomy 32:4, Matthew 28:18). If God says He will do something, He will not allow His promise to fail as it would violate the perfection of His character and make Him a liar. Will He provide us with a cookie-cutter solution? Probably not, but He will always ensure the fulfillment of His promises.

Secondly, I would remember what God has done in my life. Take a few minutes and scribble down all of the God interventions that you can think of, big and small alike (Psalms 77:11, 105:5). These memories might bring a smile to your face, tears to your eyes, or any range of emotions but by remembering all the times when God has intervened, you are acknowledging God in your life. Then when the pen stops and all the memories are out of the table, call out to God and remind Him of His interventions. God, do you remember when you healed my body when I was a child? I need your healing touch in my life again today. I know without a doubt that you healed me back then, so I know you can heal me today! I remember when you walked with me through that trial last year; I need you to walk with me through my trial today. What God did yesterday, He can do again today!

Ultimately, these simple steps (among which there may be more) address a core Biblical concept: faith! By remembering His promises and recalling His interventions you are confirming to your mind and spirit that God is still capable of intervening in your trial. When you don’t have enough power to change the situation, God’s promises can release the power of the heavenlies. God’s promises are quite simply a method of action by which God has established to interact with humanity. God’s promises are the blueprints to future miracles. The promise, when joined with God’s power, builds a supernatural event in a person’s life – a God moment. By remembering what God has already done in your life, you are acknowledging that God has already created precedence for a future intervention. These recollections are the proof that God is already willing to intervene in your life, family, need, etc and they build your faith that God can, and will, intervene in your life again (Romans 10:17).

Wellllllll, I probably should get back to “corporate America” land. Not the land of promise or the land of milk and honey, but of the land of emails and paperwork. The land of computers and secured networks.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Be strong. Be encouraged. Be victorious!

Overcoming a spiritual siege

I was racing through my day and this particular topic came to my mind. I hadn’t previously been researching this topic, nor thinking of it. Take it for what it is, a spontaneous consideration of a spiritual matter. You might not be under a spiritual siege right now, but sometime someplace you will have to face this potential obstacle. I initially had chosen the phrase “potential reality” but reality could be described by some as merely a matter of perspective by our physical senses. You don’t have to physically see a spiritual siege to feels it’s presence or effects though – so perhaps “obstacle” is a more accurate description for the purpose of my ramblings.

A siege is described as... a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit".

Historically, when overcoming a city through a brute-force assault wasn’t a possibility, sieges were often looked to as a viable military option. Usually a siege afflicted the enemy through any combination of three actions: a) restriction of food provisions resulting in death by starvation, b) restriction of water resulting in death by dehydration or c) restriction of communication / transportation between neighboring cities and their fresh troops. Sieges, though a much longer and more painful method of victory, could be brutally effective. Just cut off all entrances going in and all exits going out of the city. Cut off water supplies and access to outside food-sources. Aggressively patrol all routes that could provide replenishment of supplies or troops. Cut off all resources; overcome through isolating the enemy.

Sound familiar? It might, if you have ever experienced a spiritual siege.

To properly set the backdrop for discussion, let me reference a few Biblical symbols (though certainly not an all-encompassed list in regards to examples): We, the people, are compared to walled cities (Proverbs 18:19). Bread, our provision for hunger, is compared to the Word of God, also to Jesus Himself (John 6:33-35,48-51, Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, Amos 8:11). Living water, our provision for thirst, is compared to the Spirit (John 4:13-14, John 7:38-39).

I have said it many times through the years that one of the most effective tactics of the enemy is isolating people from the things of God and from the people of God. If Satan can isolate you, it’s just one-on-one combat with him, a battle he will always eventually win. No isolated Christian can overcome and conquer the enemy. With many Christians, the siege rages on.

Let me give you a few observations regarding a spiritual siege.

Satan will attempt to cut you off from the bread of provision. He will do everything to distract you from receiving the Word of God. Bible reading and study? That takes way too much time and concentration, he would say. Listen to the preaching of the Word of God? Surely not! The preacher preaches too loud, or too soft. He wears ugly ties, he has annoying preaching habits. You’ve already heard that sermon text before. Sometimes the enemy will even present you with new excuses to keep you from the Word of God. Different times, different places, different people, different excuses but always the same tactic. To cut you off from the Word of God, a spiritual provision needed to help satisfy a spiritual hunger.

Satan will attempt to cut you off from the living water of provision, from workings of the Spirit. Find time to pray and purposely submit the carnal flesh to the Spirit of God? Most certainly not! You’ve put in long working hours and you could use that time elsewhere. Wake up early to pray? That’s a near impossible task with kids that need to get to school or a work-schedule that just won’t relent. And besides, prayer can be so stodgy and old-school. What could you talk to God about that He doesn’t already know? Besides, the last time you prayed you didn’t feel any goose-bumps or chills; was God even there that day? I can’t believe the preacher is pushing you to go further in worship again. You can do your “usual” worship thing and still be perfectly fine. Besides, this week has been crazy and you deserve to coast a little. To charge the batteries a little. Unfortunately, if the enemy can cut off your access to prayer and worship, your spiritual man will begin to quickly wither from dehydration.

Satan will attempt to cut you off from the people of God. Murphy’s Law, in it’s purest form, may very well be an occasional, physical manifestation of a spiritual opposition. Crazy things that never happen, will happen when you’re about ready to go to the house of the Lord. A flat tire. A phone call from a long-lost friend. A longer-than-usual work-day. A killer headache that just won’t give up. Running out of lunch-meat for the kid’s lunches tomorrow. Plus a million other possibilities that might do the trick.

Ohhh, and fellowshipping with so-n-so. Forget that! The last time you fellowshipped with them they rambled on and on about the troubles of their life. He’s an Tennesee Vols fan. Acccccck. She always wears last years’ styles. How drab. 9:45am Sunday School morning class?!? Tuesday night church prayer meeting? Thursday morning ladies prayer meeting? Friday night youth? You could be at church every day of the week if pastor had his way. Just because God doesn’t have to sleep, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to. God certainly doesn’t get any glory from you always being worn out, you deserve the right to sit down and catch your breath. Wouldn’t it be so much better to just pick a church service or two, show your face for an hour or so then get back to your normal everyday routine? Suggestions all whispered with a devious smile on his face.

Perhaps some of my devil’s advocate commentary hit home. Maybe not. But regardless, it gives us a possible example of how the enemy tries to lay siege to our lives as Christians. He’s subtle. He’s clever. If tempting you with committing big-time sins like robbery, murder, adultery, etc won’t work, then he might tempt you just to “not do” what you know would be excellent, Godly things. If he gets you to stop getting in the Word, the siege wins. If he gets you to stop listening to the preaching / teaching of the Word, the siege wins. If he gets you to stop praying, the siege wins. If he gets you to stop worshipping, the siege wins. If he drives a wedge of division between you and your brethren, the siege wins. Stop participating in the things of the Kingdom, the siege wins. The list goes on and on. The finer details of what the siege specifically attacks isn’t as important as what the siege seeks to accomplish: isolation.

The enemy never has to worry about ten thousand being put to flight (Duet 32:30, Eccl 4:9-12) if he’s always successful at isolating you in one-on-one battles. Isolation always results in the diminishment of spiritual strength. Victory through attrition can only be accomplished by your continued weakness. Can you rely on the strength of the Lord if you are always isolated from prayer, the Word and worship? Can you benefit from the spiritual strength and encouragement of your brethren if you have become isolated from regular corporate worship and fellowship? The only strength a spiritual siege has, comes from isolating you. Notice the Latin origin means “to sit” The siege’s effectiveness lies in breaking your will to act, essentially causing you to “sit down” because of discouragement / depression / bitterness / etc. The spiritual siege holds no power within itself once the isolation is broken.

So want to know how to overcome a spiritual siege? Quite simple. Break the barricades. Break the isolation. Be reunited with prayer. Be reunited with the Word. Be reunited with worship. Be reunited with God. Be reunited with the people of God.

Break the isolation. Break the siege. Break the enemy.

Gain victory. Through Christ. Today. Now.

Stop And Look At The Road

Several years ago the Lord was dealing with me and I prayed a prayer that I have added to my daily prayer. "God show me where I'm at, so I will know where I am going." Some times we wander through life and make decisions with no thought of where it is taking you. We get so caught up in the external motions of living for God we ignore the internal movements away from God. I don't want to substitute movement for motions. In case you have forgotten there is a difference in taking a jog on a treadmill and a jog through the country. You can go through the motions of running on the treadmill and when it's over, your sweaty and tired, then you get off in the same room you started in. You have gone no where, with the feeling you did. 
Sometimes we let the feeling make us forget to check where we are. So, STOP! LOOK DOWN! And make sure the road your on is taking you where you want to go. 

Jeremiah 6:16 Prov. 16:25 Prov. 21:2 Psalms 119:104

What a Difference a Year Makes

For those who know me, know I have lived the same place my entire life. That is, until, last year in August. August 15, 2008 I moved away from everyone I loved to come to Gateway College of Evangelism to pursue the ministry. It was the scariest thing I have ever done, but it has changed my life. While I am still the same ridiculously loud, crazy, emotional, "scatter brained" person I always was, there has definitely been a change in my life.
I came to bible school with the intentions of changing the world. Wow! I had some crazy ideas. I definitely tried jumping in over my head and definitely fell on my face. I also found myself and what I believe to be part of God's purpose for my life. Finding His purpose forced me to get out of my comfort zone. It forced me to think about someone other than myself. I was talking to someone the other day and I thought to myself, if the world is depending on me, am I worth being depended on? Am I doing my job, my duty, my purpose? Or am I pretending like I am? Somehow I don't think sitting in my perfect bubble without reaching out to anyone is doing any of those things. I don't recall Jesus sitting on the ground hoping people would just come sit by Him. No! He went out to where the people were and showed them who He was. Am I doing that? That's why I came to bible school. I was tired of sitting on the ground hoping people would come to me.
So I came, I moved, I relocated, and I cried because I was alone! LOL!! I got over it though, really fast! I came and made friends who are a little too much like me and started a life here. I also have seen so many things happen. Our school does weekend outreaches and I have been a part of a few of those and they change me every single time! I love going to small churches who hope we can change them in 3 days. We try and they usually end up changing us. Funny how that works.
I have been privileged to be a part of Chorale and Choir and they are fun for me because I love singing, but Chorale tour '09 changed my life forever. I prayed for random strangers I didn't know and saw them find what they need. Wow it was amazing! This year I get the opportunity to audition for United which is our ensemble, and only the best get asked to try out, and then there's me. LOL! We shall see what happens this weekend.
Oh and also since being here, remember now I am a music major, my little music major bubble has been bursted!! I have found that while music is a love for me and I would looooovvvveee to be a music director I believe God is calling me somewhere else (along with music directing I believe I can do both) I hate to rain on someones parade, and this is so just a personal belief so don't get mad! I believe being a music director is a ministry to edify the church and while it helps the spirit to come in and help people worship I don't believe it is something I should devote my all to. So while that's my fun thing I can do or my passion, I feel called to young people and troubled young adults, so I want to be go into counseling. I have felt it a long time and just kind of ignored it, but I am working on taking it seriously. So this spring I am changing my major to either Pastoral or Biblical studies with a minor in Music. Right now I am taking more bible than music anyways so it doesn't matter. Pray for me that I make the right decision.
I have said all this to bring encouragement to anyone who wants to go to bible school or if you just wanted to see what I am up to. I will try to keep everyone posted but I have lots of work this year and am trying to carry my financial burden on top of my academic. Pray for that too! I know God wants me here and I want to stay until He says otherwise.
I probably won't be back this summer for different reasons. Home isn't home anymore, and I'm not the same as I once was. I pray I make the right decisions in all I do. I love you all and pray revival comes your way!
I'll try to keep you posted on my life...

Explore, Dream and Discover

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Wow. I could try to reword this but I think this says it all. Don't waste today it may affect tomorrow. Influence someone's life, pray for someone, give to someone, pray a little more, sacrifice.....Give and it shall be given you...press down..shaken together and running over....

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for. John A. Shedd.

Let these three words challenge your day "Explore. Dream. Discover"

The Pearl of Great Price (03/25/09)

During my lunch hour, I was trying to catch a quick catnap and instead received a direct (Heaven-to-Earth) HtE data connection. I grabbed a pen and on the back of an old church prayer list started scribbling stuff down as quickly as it began to fill my mind. Now that I’m back at the office, I’m typing those insights out in more detail and clarity.

Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Matthew 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Folks, we are all merchants in life. We’re always buying and selling. Buying the good things of life, trying to sell the bad things of life. The stuff of life is always changing, like the waves and tides of a vibrant, living sea.

As much as we are always buying and selling, we are also seeking. Seeking for something better. Something fulfilling. Something precious. Something special. Something that can mean everything to us.

And here we find the merchant man - Joe, the merchant. Seeking and searching. With a willingness to buy and sell. Look deep into his eyes and you will see your own. Seeking, searching; buying, selling.

And as sure as he sought for something valuable, he found it. The greatest find. The Pearl of Great Price.

Let me tell you a little about this Pearl; some of that HtE data I received this afternoon.

A pearl is formed when a foreign, unnatural object lodges itself into a oyster’s inner body and cannot be expelled. To address the irritation, the oyster starts to secrete a substance (nacre/mother-of-pearl) around the irritant which eventually over time encases it completely, forming a pearl. This could be a grain of sand, a small particle, parasites or a handful of other possibilities.

I can think of another irritant – one that entered our world many, many years ago.

It happened back in a perfect garden, where God daily walked with man. Where a sly serpent tricked Adam and Eve to partake of a forbidden fruit. Where a pollutant entered our world. A parasite known as sin. Introduced into humanity, never since expelled.

The introduction of sin into the Garden of Eden upset and irritated the perfect communion that God was enjoying with humanity. Adam and Eve’s willful act of sin couldn’t be expelled out of them, so Adam and Eve were expelled from God’s presence and the Garden instead.

But God had a plan. He always does.

He expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden due to sin not being able to co-exist among God’s perfect holiness and righteousness, but like a pearl He began to address the culprit of sin. Throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament, His immeasurable love and long-lasting patience was secreted into the midst of humanity, covering the sin pollutant with layer and layer of mercy. In the Old Testament, this mercy was extended through sacrifice, as the people’s sins were pushed forward year after year through time until the ultimate sacrifice would be offered for the sins of the world.

With each labored step, the pains of his scourging surged through His body. Fighting past the pain of being whipped and beaten, His life-long purpose was going to forever address the pollutant of sin and its power over humanity. Surrounded by two thieves on either side and mocked by a crowd, He hung on Golgotha hill as a sacrificial lamb, without spot or blemish. He knew He had been born to die. He understood the importance of His willing sacrifice. Moments after He spoke, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” with his last weakened breath, Jesus spoke out to eternity and proclaimed,

“It is finished!”

Victory over the power of sin was finally secured. Since the fall of man in the Garden, God’s magnificent plan of salvation and redemption had been forming and developing. Prophets and holy men had divinely spoken of this purposed act of mercy and gr ace. The sins of the world, of all humanity, had just been nailed to His cross. The battle was won. The redemptive work of Calvary was bought and paid for.

Just like a pearl, redemption had taken on it’s final shape. The shape of Calvary. The shape of a cross.

Though the contaminant of sin has never been expelled from the midst of humanity, Christ took the stains of our sins and turned our worthlessness into something of beauty and worth. Friend, the precious blood of Jesus is what saves us; it is what paid for the redemptive work of Calvary. Though sin has never been expelled, it has been overcome. Overcome by the power of the blood of Jesus!

Folks, the Pearl of Great Price is the kingdom of heaven. An eternal promise paid for by the redemptive work of Calvary. Paid for by the blood of the Lamb.

Just now when reading about the proper care for pearls, I read this, “Try to wear your pearl necklace as often as possible as your skins natural oils help to keep them lustrous.”

Folks, your salvation experience, your promise of heaven, your Holy Ghost power isn’t meant to be a one-time experience. Certainly, a lady whom has paid much money to purchase a pearl necklace would be sure to wear it and care for it to ensure those pearls kept their shine and luster. If not worn and handled on a regular basis, pearls will begin to lose their elegant beauty. The pearl’s owner gives the pearl something it cannot maintain by itself – it’s continued beauty. This is why it has been said that wealthy and established museums / banks from time to time hire a person for the sole purpose of wearing the valuable pearls in their possession – so the pearls won’t lose their natural luster.

Yet there are those among us that have bought the Pearl of Great Price and haven’t worn or handled it in years, long since forgotten it on some bookshelf or buried in some closet. To them and the people around them, the Pearl has lost its appearance of luster and beauty. The composition properties of the Pearl have never changed, but the Pearl which was rarely worn or held has lost its natural appeal and become dull.

Have the promises of heaven eternal become lack-luster and boring to you?

When was the last time you pondered the power and workings of the cross of Calvary?

When was the last time you experienced anointed Holy-Ghost power working “through” you?

If it’s been a long time, you need to get the Pearl out and wear it around for awhile. Take hold of it and show it to a friend. The more exposure and contact the Pearl has with your everyday life, the more it’s appearance will begin and shine and glow.

Why is this the key? Because the Pearl has to daily be in contact with the oil in your life.

Remember what the pearl care recommendation said? “…your skins natural oils help to keep them lustrous”

The “oil” is the anointing power of the Holy Ghost abiding in your life. Acts 1 described this power as, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” The Holy Ghost brings power and anointing into your life. In the Old Testament, the anointing is described as like the thick oil that was poured out upon Aaron the priest. It covered him from the top of his head to the sole of his feet.

When the anointing oil, that Holy Ghost power, is poured out on your life, you are empowered to do the Lord’s workings (just has the priests did on a “daily basis”). There’s that “daily” thing again. When you speak and act according to God’s will, that oil is secreted “through” you, making you a vessel to do His work. And not just any vessel, but one acting and speaking with God’s power and might!

So now those “oils” come through you and back in direct contact with the Pearl of Great Price. Those oils then rejuvenate it’s luster and enhances it’s appeal.

You are a person of power in possession of God’s greatest gift and promise – the promise of heaven and the redemptive work of Calvary!

Now, when you consider that spiritual connection between the power of the anointing oil and power of the cross or when you ponder the great price Jesus paid for our redemption and the promise of heaven – that Pearl shines brighter than ever before. You further treasure the greatest Treasure.

When others recognize you as a person working and speaking with the power of God (that oil) and they hear you speak of the redemptive work of Calvary and the promise of heaven – that Pearl which you possess will appeal to them as it shines in your life. It’s luster is not cold and darkened like so many others who claim the same thing – but never connect the Oil with the Pearl.

Folks, sell everything to be able to buy the Pearl of Great Price.

Daily connect the Oil with the Pearl.

Love it and treasure it!

God is Good!

References:
Genesis 3:
Psalms 103:11-12
Colossians 2:13-14
Luke 23:34
Isaiah 64:6
1 Peter 1:18-19
Psalms 133:1-2
Acts 1:8
I Corinthians 15:21-22
II Timothy 3:5
http://www.pinkfridge.com/s_necklaces/pearl-necklace.htm

What if the storm continues?

Last October, my brother-n-law emailed me an insightful quote that I’ve been recently been reminded of: Sometimes God calms the storm and other times He calms the sailor. I think writing that Perfect Storm blog triggered my memory of that email. Let me share my observations – perhaps they will be helpful to you…

“This kinda goes along with how my prayer-style has changed through the years… I used to always pray, “please Lord, get me OUT of this storm now!”…

then when I realized that we can grow in spiritual maturity going through our storms, my prayers changed to, “Lord, give me the strength to endure this storm”…

then as I realized that we often learn spiritual lessons going through storms, my prayers changed to “Lord, give me the wisdom and understanding to maneuver through the storm and learn it’s lesson”

Though I hardly have prayer down to a science by any means, I see that my prayer-style has changed from the focus of God evacuating me out… to God getting me through the storm via the brute force of strength… to God getting me through the storm via the finesse of wisdom and understanding…

Now days I’ve come to the realization that I need to pray that God gives me the proper combination of strength and wisdom… the proper balance between enduring the storm and maneuvering the storm…

So it is true that God sometimes calms the storm, while other times calming the sailor… here’s another way of viewing this… sometimes He doesn’t change the storm, He just changes the sailor…”

Do I believe that God can speak directly into our storm and bring immediate peace? Absolutely! I have experienced this in my own life and have observed it in the lives of many people through the years. Divine intervention can take on many forms.

But what if God doesn’t calm the storm and lets it continue on? Does that mean that He’s abandoned us or somehow failed us in the midst of our storm? Absolutely not! Does that mean that it’s our fault or our faith was weak? That may not be the case either.

We can’t fit God into a box, as if He has to do this or has to do that. Certainly His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than ours (Isaiah 55:9). None of us can pretend to have God completely figured out. Perhaps He weighs out all the possible outcomes of divine intervention and chooses what He feels is best for our souls, regardless of our physical convenience or personal preferences.

It seems that there are several possibilities of divine intervention during a storm: a) God may speak peace into the storm and the environment which initially caused the storm is changed, b) God may speak peace into the sailor, allowing him / her to continue on through the remainder of the storm or c) He does not intervene and allows us to experience whatever the storm deals out. Perhaps there are even more possibilities that aren’t immediately coming to mind at the moment.

Ummmm, I don’t like option three. Can we just remove it? I wish I could, but I can’t.

The only promise we have regarding option three is if we built our life upon Christ, the rock / cornerstone, that the rains, floods and winds would not overcome us (Matthew 7:24-27, 21:42). Though the picture painted is that of a house built upon a rock foundation rather than a boat out in the water, the overall concept of deliverance is the same.

The rains, floods and winds will all hit our lives sometime, someplace but God is always there with us. Which option of deliverance is ultimately His choice. That choice may not yield the results we want, but God always has it under control. Regardless of which choice He makes, remember that there is no better place to be than in God’s hands.

Just some more thoughts to ponder…

15 Tools every Christian needs

The other week I was reading my newest May ’09 Popular Mechanics magazine, and boy, oh boy did it bore me out of my mind. I should have definitely renewed my PC World magazine instead. Anyhow, one article that caught my attention was 50 Tools every Man Needs. Talk about the ultimate “home-improvement” wish-list, this was it. Socket wrenches, circular saws, extension ladders, chalk lines, you name it, this list had it.

As I read through their list, I was quickly convinced that I’m not a “home improvement” guy at this particular stage in my life. I think I only had five or six of these items and I’ve rarely used them but a few times. Though as I thought about it more, being more of a tech guy, I have a million and one computer utilities and programs that I use to keep my “digital age” adventure racing smoothly forward. I took the thought a step further and came to realize that we, as Christians, should have a few tools in our toolbox as well.

I’ll try to keep my observations brief, so if any of you out there dispute that any of these items should be on my checklist, just send me an email inquiry and I’ll happily give you some more in-depth info to ponder. =)

Buckle your seatbelt, as I sense some colorful “Tim commentary” on the literary horizon. Please don’t be offended if I accidentally, and unknowingly, step on your toes. If your toes got stepped on, there might be a chance that you were standing in the wrong place to begin with. haha Here we go (though in no particular order):

1. A handful of favorite worship CDs – Pick your vice. Some people like old-school southern gospel, some people prefer Hillsong. Personally, I like Lindell Cooley, Jason Upton, Jeff Deyo, Clint Brown or Israel Houghton for my usual worship selections. Burn CD’s (if you own the original, of course), load up your iPod or iPhone and get that music cranking in your house, your apartment, your car or your prayer place. Wherever and whenever. It doesn’t make a difference if you can’t sing or not, just find a way to glorify God in praise and worship, hum along or howl out the musical tabs. Just get to worshiping God!

2. A favorite prayer spot you can call your own - I’m all about dim lighting, a long straight path to pace back and forth on, none of those yester-year instrumental prayer CD’s, post- 10am and it preferably dark or raining outside when I pray. But to each their own. The rain actually doesn’t have anything to do with how I pray, I just happened to like it. hehe Some people like bright lighting with background music, that’s fine. Whatever fits your fancy, just as long as you’re communicating with God. Not just *talking to* God, but also *listening to* God as well. Two-way communication. It's my observation that if you don’t have a spot (place) you consistently go to, its quite possible you won’t make a spot (time) to get with God.

3. A favorite Bible, preferably heavily worn due to usage - If your supposed “favorite Bible” is somewhere in the back of your car covered in last week’s Burger King garbage, you’re already in a world of hurt. Is your Bible on your bookshelf collecting a layer of dust? Get in that book! Read it on the web, on your phone, on E-Sword, or even *imagine this* in an old-school printed copy of the Word. Just find a way to read it! The Word of God is our manna from heaven and you gotta keep getting a steady dose of the Word or you will gradually grow weak and hungry. An impoverished Christian walk is no way to live!

In my opinion, the devil has within the last several generations, yet again, implimented an effective plan to hinder many people from getting into the Word of God – through illiteracy. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults is illiterate or barely at a 4^th or 5^th grade reading level (nostudentleftbehind.org). Amazing, yet today’s reality. Worse case scenario, buy an audio Bible and let someone read the living Word of God to you.

4. A devotional guide or a supplement book resource – Ask around of your fellow Christians, you may come across a real winner. Through the years, I’ve found that reading books and resources is much like mining for gold. Sometimes you end up going through a TON of dirt and nothingness to occasionally come across an absolute gold-mine of valuable info that can add a spark to your Christian walk. Be careful not to get caught up reading books about The Book, though mixing in a good variety of materials can really add depth to your personal devotions and study times.

5. A blank spiritual journal or prayer diary - I confess this is one of my blindside areas and I sincerely hope that most folks do better in this area than I do. Get one of those cheap $1 journals (for guys) or girlie-looking diaries (for girls) haha. Then start scribbling stuff down in it. Stuff you get in prayer. Stuff that makes you happy or sad. Spiritual mysteries that you want to learn about. Victories and defeats. Write an unabridged, and unedited, version of “this is what’s happening in my spiritual life”. From time to time read through it and you may find that God is trying to help you put puzzle pieces together in your life or has helped you rattle off an encouraging list of victories over the last few weeks/months/years.

6. A truth-preaching “on-the-mark” pastor you’ll submit to – You might not like his quirky personality, his ugly ties or distinct mannerisms, but whatever you do acknowledge and submit to the shepherd that God has placed in your life and circumstances. God isn’t ignorant and He knew that we, like sheep, sometimes need a physically-present shepherd to help us along in our journeys. In spite of their willingness and desire to help, sometimes pastors get a bum rap. I think that some people actually expect pastors to be on becon-n-call 24/7 for any personal trouble they may experience, then come Sunday or Wednesday they’re thought of as some lowly hired-hand who “certainly can’t know more about where I am in my spiritual life than me”. Wake up folks! God commissioned and called pastors to help us avoid shipwreck, working as an extension of His very own voice. We need to follow our pastor, as He follows Christ. God never approves of “lone-ranger”, independent spirits because it undermines His structure of authority and blessing.

7. A Godly mentor or spiritual life coach (if you’re one of those modern types) – This could be a pastor, an elder in your church or even a wise parent/gparent. You have to find someone who is interested in you succeeding as a Christian. Someone that will invest some of their time and wisdom in you. Then when they speak, listen up! If you want to have an Elisha experience, you’re going to need to have an Elijah to help you get there. You can’t cut corners in regards to submitting to a pastor, nor you can’t cut corners in regards to rubbing shoulders with a mentor. If you don’t have one, find one ASAP! And preachers and pastors, you like Elijah, need to go out of your way to spot an Elisha that you can mentor… because these Elishas are our future…

8. A person or small group to which you remain accountable – On my phone I have a few people who could call me anytime, day or night, and ask me *any* tough question about who I am as a person or the direction I’m heading. I have placed these people at the highest level of respect and I trust they always have my spiritual well-being in mind. I give them full occasion to bring to light any place in my life where I may be straying off course and need to change. Personal accountability has become a dirty word in today’s society and the very thought of having another person to whom you remain accountable makes some people cringe. Guess what folks, you *never* get too big, or so established/accomplished, in life that you don’t need at least one person to whom you always remain accountable, under any and all circumstances.

9. A good handful of church folk you enjoy being around – Christian folks aren’t meant to become dull and boring. Get out and socialize with those of like-minded faith. Don’t get into such a regimented routine that you can’t, or won’t, make time to fellowship with Christians in your local assembly and/or neighboring churches. And whatever you do, don’t form clichés! Fellowship with new people or even people you might not otherwise socialize with and show yourself friendly. You never know how a simple conversation or fellowship over Starbucks coffee may brighten a person’s day. Ohhhh, and I like strawberry-n-crème frappichinos. =)

10. A handful of sinner folk that you are showing God’s love to – We need to make sure that we never forget the hurting people that are out in this world. People experience depression, anxiety, life-shattering addictions or even family troubles. They might have just lost their job or are buckling under the stress of a trying medical condition. There are a million and one possibilities out there. But we need to show love to these people. I SOOOOOOOO need to step up in the area of compassion and empathy. Apparently, sarcasm doesn’t compliment compassion too well. Regardless, it’s been said that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. So show God’s love to them for awhile and you might be surprised at the interest they show when you begin to talk about Jesus with them.

11. A God-given sense of duty and faithfulness to God – This is a pretty easy concept to verbalize I think… God gave His all for you and He expects that you will give your all to Him. Living for God should never be lowered, or degraded, to a mere decision of convenience or inconvenience. We live for God because He lived and died for us. We have been bought with a price and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. If you’re basing your decisions to live for God on convenience, you need a “Calvary” reality check. Read and pray about Calvary, about the ultimate price He willingly paid and how He pulled you out of a miry pit of sin… then duty and faithfulness to God shouldn’t be a problem for you anymore.

12. A “kingdom-minded” ministry you are actively serving in – You’d better be doing something in the Kingdom. Teaching Sunday School kids, preaching in nursing homes or jails, feeding the hungry, worshipping in the choir, teaching the Word of God, running a sound or media booth, etc etc. Something. Anything, great or small, that God places on your heart to do. If you are a seasoned saint and you are just sitting on a pew, you need to get in gear and find a place where you can minister. You never have served enough time to retire in the Kingdom of God, nor are you ever too young to do something special that furthers the Kingdom. If you’re just a kid, be the best kid you can be. Memorize Bible verses, pay attention and respect your teacher(s) during Sunday School – you can be a valuable part of the Kingdom of God too you know!

13. A Bible-driven moral compass that you actually follow – Guess what folks, your opinion isn’t on equal grounds with the Word of God. The Word of God trumps our logic and opinions by a LONG ways. The wisdom and understanding that God possesses supersedes our own, that’s why we need to obey the truth of the Word of God. It’s not a book of suggestions or ideas, but the inspired Word of God, written and delivered as God’s letter to humanity. If we grasp and understand this to be the truth, the Word becomes the moral compass that drives our every thought-process and decision.

14. A Christ-centered focus in all aspects of your life – I have been wearing this point out like a broken record. Living for God isn’t a Sunday / Wednesday thing. It’s a 24/7 lifestyle that has to become who you are. Not apart of who you are, but who you are. You can’t compartmentalize your walk with God. It doesn’t make a difference who your Daddy is, or who your pastor is, or who your grandma is! We all gotta personally experience God for ourselves. We can’t embrace a mindset of entitlement (I might post an entire blog just on the “broken mindset of entitlement” in Pentecost), we have to give our all to Him! Not some of our lives, but all of it! 24/7!

15. A deep passion and hunger for more of God – Simply, if we ever become content with where we are in God, we will stop moving and growing at the exact moment we came to that conclusion. We need to always be striving to draw closer to God, to experience more of who He is, to explore more of His limitless depths and dimensions…

If you find you are missing anything on this checklist, you owe it to yourself to get your "Christian toolbox" up to speed, as you don't want to find yourself in a situation where you are ill-equipped.

God bless... y'all be good! =)

The Perfect Storm

This morning I was digging around in the Word and this thought came to me. It’s nothing amazing or profound, but I wanted to share it nevertheless. A few years ago, a book called The Perfect Storm came out and though I never read it I was always secretly humored at the crazy idea of a violent storm ever being “perfect”. Haha How can a storm which can result in sunken boats and drowned people ever be considered “perfect”? Anywhoooooo…

I was in Mark 4 and Luke 8 and read where the disciples found themselves in a violent, yet perfect, storm:

Mark 4:37-41 KJV 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Luke 8:22-25 KJV 22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

It seems to me that in the spiritual realm, there *can* be such a thing as a Perfect storm. Each individual Perfect storm may be at a different place, a different time, even different people in the boat, but will always contain several common components:

1. Your boat will get filled with LOTS and LOTS of water, but not sink (surely God never places a burden on us that is more than we can bear/endure – I Corinthians 10:13). It doesn’t take rocket science to realize that every boat (life) can only take on so much water before it *will* sink. Thankfully, God knows exactly how water that is and will answer our cries “Master, master, we perish!” before the storm destroys us.

2. Jesus is always willing to be in your boat, with you, through the storm (He never leaves us or forsakes us – Hebrews 13:5). Nor is He ever going to deviously send us on some suicidal task… Ohhh by the way, you’re going to experience a bit of a nasty storm that’s going to sink your boat. But I’ll be here waiting at the shore when you get back. *If* you get back. =)

3. The danger of the Perfect storm will cause you to cry out to Jesus (it will cause you to transition from self-reliance to God-reliance – Psalms 34:4, Proverbs 3:5-6). As much as I believe that God is a gentleman, I also believe that He enjoys opportunities to show off His chivalry and gallantry. He enjoys coming to our rescue! He enjoys seeking and saving the lost! He happily looks forward to occasions when we willfully choose to draw near to Him. As much as an earthly father treasures it when his child runs to him when they’re scared, so God gladly embraces us in His arms to ease our fears and doubts.

4. Jesus will hear your cries and speak peace into your storm (certainly what we could not do, Jesus CAN do! Psalms 107:28-29, Matthew 19:26). Your storm may be big or small, short or long, during your sunrise years or in your horizon years, but regardless of the dimensions of the winds and waves, His voice still commands the same respect. His spoken, “Peace be still…” will immediately calm the raging winds and waves. The same voice that spoke the worlds into existence can instantly create peace in the midst of your chaos!

5. Your faith and trust in Jesus will be stretched and challenged (your faith and trust will grow stronger – John 11:11-15). Certainly, as we see Jesus stand in the midst of our “perfect storm” and boldly speak peace, our faith and trust in Him deepens. Perfect storms are unique in that they will always include a “God moment”… a special moment between you and God that would not have otherwise happened. God may impart unto you an expanded level of faith and boldness, special insight or understanding, a renewed boldness and passion, etc. The possibilities are limitless and infinite. When the divine connects with humanity, the impossible becomes possible! Fear and doubt is changed into peace! Disaster and crisis is converted into deliverance! Pain and misery is overcome by healing and restoration! With God all things are possible!

Any storm of life that we experience is inherently dangerous and can cause failure and destruction, but when Jesus is added to the equation the storm can become the Perfect storm. When we cry out Jesus, the winds and waves meant to batter our boat (life) are subdued by the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6)! Always remember this spiritual formula:

Violent Storm + Jesus in your boat + Calling out to Jesus =

The Perfect Storm

Some folks look for the silvering lining in every dark cloud, others are always saying, It looks like rain, but I want to have the expectation that every storm and trial of life has divine potential. That every storm has the potential to become The Perfect Storm!

A “God moment” that can forever change and impact my life, for the better!

Jump starting your devotional walk with God

A few years ago a good friend of mine told me that she was experiencing a prolonged “slump” in her devotional walk with God. She expressed that she was kinda bored, kinda frustrated, kinda in a “broken record” mode. A little bit of everything mixed in. After listening to her for a few minutes, I sensed she was sincerely trying to break through the slump, but she just felt stuck. Stuck in a rut. Just plain stuck.

Some people may describe a devotional slump as “going through a valley”, “going through a dry season” or it feels like God isn’t nearby and “my prayers are hitting the ceiling” and falling back to the ground. I suppose each devotional slump may be a little different for each person and may have resulted from something that person was doing (good, neutral or bad) or even God Himself. I’ve observed that sometimes God loudly speaks to us (which we usually like), sometimes Gods speaks softly (which we sometimes miss – either because we’re busy talking or not listening) or sometimes God is just silent (usually to test our obedience, faith, resolve, etc etc). I’m not going to dive into the mechanics of “why” we may go through a devotional slumps, just how to get out of one.

First off, before you dive into the possibilities of revamping your current devotional walk lineup, get with God and ask yourself a few simple questions. Do you have sin in your life? If so, repent and get that out of your life. Has God told you to do something that you haven’t done or already started doing? Maybe God is waiting for you to obey Him. Is God getting the left-overs of your week? Maybe you need to schedule some consistent devotional time into your schedule (morning, afternoon, evening, etc). Do you always finding yourself doing the “right things” because you “have to” not because you “want to”? You might need to ask God for more passion about the things of God. Get with God and ask the “gut-wrenching” questions about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. You may find something wrong in your life *other than* your actual devotional routine. After you’ve done that and still feel that you’re in a devotional slump, then some of these suggestions might be for you.

A devotional walk with God is generally composed of three main areas: a) reading and studying the Word, b) communicating with God in Prayer and c) exalting and acknowledging God in Praise and Worship. I’ll spend the majority our time discussing the first two. Personally, I’ve found that if these first two devotional areas (Prayer and Word) are where they need to be, that my desire to Worship naturally follows as a result. Sometimes I try to shake things up though by getting a heavy dose of Psalms and/or willfully choosing to praise and worship God in a different way than my “usual” praise / worship words / actions. Sometimes I may hop around, wave a white hanky, or walk around the altar during a worship service. Sometimes, as I’m driving back and forth from work I may crank a worship CD and just “make a joyful noise”! Sometimes I sing a song to the Lord in the morning that He put on my heart. I’ve found that the more I understand / experience “who” God is, the more I want to find a way to worship and praise Him.

Your devotional walk with God is your spiritual life-line. It’s what keeps us spiritually alive, healthy and strong. You can’t cut corners on your natural-life health and you can’t with your spiritual-life either. Preserving our spiritual-health is that much more important because our souls will live on for eternity, long after our mortal bodies are gone. Eternal is for keeps. Eternity knows no length and knows no measurement. Regardless of how you try to describe it, it’s a LONG, LONG time of either a) pleasure in God’s presence or b) suffering / misery in a fiery judgment. The final destination of your eternity will be a direct result of the state of your devotional walk with God and your obedience to His Word. It’s important!

Einstein once said that, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Sometimes we can shake up our “In the Word” rut by changing the methods of how we study the Word. Compliments of some random devotional website, here’s a few study methods, along with my own personal commentary:

1. The Devotional Method - reading a passage, meditating upon it’s meaning to us and finding it’s application in our lives
2. The Chapter Summary – reading an entire chapter, understanding it’s context: Who? When? Where? Why? How?
3. The Character Quality - studying verses / passages to learn about a personal characteristic – “the guts of who we are”
4. The Thematic Method - studying verses / passages to better understand a particular theme (love, grace, hope, etc)
5. The Biographical Method - studying verses / passages to learn about a Bible character in detail – the “people” microscope
6. The Topical Method – is similar to a Thematic study, but also investigates the relationship between themes – it’s more of a “bird’s eye view”
7. The Word Study Method - studying verses / passages to learn about a particular Biblical word – its meaning, origin, context, etc
8. The Book Background Method - an entire book, learning it’s context, message (exa Jonah – Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration, Revival)
9. The Book Survey Method, 10. The Chapter Analysis Method, 11. The Book Synthesis Method, 12. The Verse by Verse Method, etc etc

I’d suspect that most people stay at the Devotional - Chapter Summary level of reading and studying. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Reading any part of the Bible for any amount of time with a desire to draw closer to God is never a bad thing. Though if you “feel” like you’re in a rut and your current reading is not drawing enough depth out of the Word, then be encouraged that there are other study methods available. Shake things up. Study about Christian characteristics. Study about a Biblical word, theme or principle. Or about a Bible character that you most relate to, or would like to become more like. Study about the armor of God or the fruit of the Spirit. Take your pick.

If you think that these study methods are too complex or over your head, wander over to your neighborhood Christian bookstore and browse the bookshelves or ask one of your church leaders for suggestions of new resources. Pick up a Strong’s Concordance or download E-Sword. Maybe test-drive a different Bible translation or transliteration (I enjoy the Amplified or The Message) - though be warned that some translations can deviate from the purest, original meaning of verses. Regardless of what resources you end up reading / using in your efforts to stir up your “In the Word” devotional walk, don’t get caught up in always reading books about the Book. Make sure any “changes” you make point you back to the Word.

Also, when you are in the Word, keep a devotional journal or note-card bookmark handy to quickly scribble down things that God may show you. If your Bible has wide margins and you’re comfortable doing so, scribble notes down there. Don’t let a faulty memory let a potentially life-changing insight slip through your fingers. Just because the Word is forever settled in heaven, doesn’t mean your memory is. hehe

Well, on to communicating with God in prayer. People have written a TON of books on the topic, much has been said. How can a person shake up their “Prayer walk”? That’s certainly a loaded question. Here’s a few possibilities to help. Want to increase the quality of your prayers? Try praying the Word more frequently; by praying the Word you are assured that you are weaving God’s promises and blessings into your life and spirit. You are also praying wisdom and understanding into your daily life decisions and actions. Find yourself running out of things to say and praying the same phrases or requests over and over again? Before you go to pray – write down 5-10 things on a note-card you’d like to pray about. Then just start verbalizing your concern, request, or thanksgiving to God. Spend a few minutes on each point and before you blink an eye you will have covered a LOT of quality ground without wandering aimlessly through your prayer time. Remember your prayer list isn’t law; if you feel to linger on a particular point just keep praying about it. If you don’t cover all the points, don’t lose sleep. You’ll be able to come back to them some other prayer time.

Sick of struggling with the same hindrances and battles? Study up on spiritual warfare and learn to battle in the Spirit with your prayers. Identify your allies and enemies. Investigate the battles to be won and how the Bible says they can be won. Get passionate about praying. Pray your guts out. Intercede, as the Spirit compels you. Get serious about shaking the heavens with your prayers. Bind in heaven and bind on earth, loose in heaven and loose on earth. If your battles aren’t being won on your feet, it’s possible that you haven’t fought enough on your knees.

Do you feel like your faith is weak? Read about the promises and blessings of God and ask God for a deeper level of faith. Faith is a key component in a successful prayer-walk. God responds to faith, so if it’s lacking in our lives we need to take the necessary steps to build / rebuild it. Do you feel like you’re not as passionate about your relationship with God as much as before? Thank Jesus for the cross and the price He paid. Pray about how He redeemed you with His blood and pulled you out of the miry clay. Pray back into *your* remembrance all the things that God has done in your life. Do that long enough and your love / passion for God will be rekindled like never before.

Don’t hear much from God in prayer? Make time to be quiet and give Him a chance to talk! He’s not going to talk over you if you’re always busy talking. Communication is a combination of two factors: speaking *and* listening. If you sense a lull in your own prayer, stop talking for a little bit. He may be wanting to show something to you. Prayer is two-way communication! That means you get a chance to talk and He gets a chance to talk. He listens to you, so take time to listen to Him. If you like talking 100% of the time, write a book or start a talk-show.

Don’t get stuck in the “Thank God – Ask for Stuff – Thank God – Ask for Stuff” cycle. Shake things up. Venture out into the deeper waters of prayer. Become more focused and passionate about communicating with God. Identify the weaknesses of your “Prayer walk” and shore them up with appropriate changes. Remember any break-downs in a prayer-walk isn’t because of God, it’s because of us. Apply some of these principles and you should sense yourself eventually breaking through that “Prayer walk” slump.

Remember these are just a handful of simple suggestions to help you break out of a devotional walk slump. There are many, many more suggestions and ideas out there.

Just some food for thought….

He Loves Us

POWERFUL SONG AND TESTIMONIES. Don't ever forget what he has done for you. I have shared this across the internet and listened and watched a 1000 times. Don't ever forget how he loves us.

Fallen Heroes

Today I just finished listening to Bro Yonts II’s final message, Narrow, Inwards Looking Windows. It disturbed me how much his voice sounded older, weak and frail. I admit that its put me in a melancholy moment. I wanted to go home and lock the doors. I wanted to cry. I realized again how much I miss Bro Yonts.

In our mind’s eye, heroes aren’t meant to die. They aren’t meant to fall.

They aren’t meant to grew old or grow weak. Or fall wounded in battle.

They are meant to remain bold and strong, leading their troops into battle.

They are meant to stand tall and true. Unchanged by the winds of time.

Bro Yonts II has been a hero to me.

I remember you as the PE instructor of Midway Christian Academy and teaching us how to play baseball and football. I remember when you and Bro Solberg tried to drench the entire school by pouring water off the top of the roof. I remember your ugly round, bottle-cap glasses.

I remember Bro Y as my youth pastor when I was a young, sarcastic teen. I remember the times when the youth group would all be invited to come over to his house on Weimar Street and watch movies and play board games. Other times, when un-invited, would TP his house and car. I remember your ugly red Yugo. I remember Sis. Y’s cat Trooper and the time Eric M wanted to shave “RA” in it’s fur. I remember when Trooper ran away; Sis Y was so sad. I remember Bro Y’s Trooper Jeep that he was so proud of. I remember the many Friday night rides home (I only lived a few blocks from the Yonts at the time). I remember reading about your machete-wielding neighbor across their street (I think I still have the news article).

I remember how you liked listening to the Winans, DC Talk and Bryan Duncan. I remember how much you liked deer hunting (the only real reason to ever miss church, huh? haha). I remember the story about how you cut off your hand in Atlanta. Apparently I followed your bad example by accidentally cutting off one of my fingers years later. I remember you telling the story about how you first met Sis Y in Atl and lost your sweat pants playing football! I remember your message “The Key” – I still have the key you gave me almost 20 years ago now - I’ve shared your lesson with many people since, young and old alike. I remember you always scrapping with me, John & Jerry S and Eric M. I remember how much I hated selling cases of that stupid candy (I think one year I just bought a case and half, just so I wouldn’t have to sell it). I remember when you’d tell us to “defer to our brothers” even for something as simple as picking whether to go to Taco Bell or Burger King. I remember when the youth group got kicked out of Burger King. haha

I remember some of your youth messages and when you’d take the RA on trips and to youth services. When you came out into the church sanctuary wearing a gorilla mask, jumping around to the music of Geoff Moore music “Evolution Redefined”. I remember your small, cramped youth office barely big enough for a desk and two chairs. I remember all the times you’d come play Capture the Flag with us at City Park (before the cops told us we couldn’t play there anymore), even if you were tired or Sis Y wanted to go home. I remember the RA youth. The ski trips. The old broken down bus; when you accidentally, hmmmm maybe purposely, left me at a gas station on the way to Whitecap. I remember the Shire. I remember the Pink Elephant story you told one time us on a ski trip. I remember the RA ski video License to Ski. I remember the time the RA got in trouble for watching a PG13 movie License to Drive after youth group. Bro Lemke got so mad! haha

I remember when you were still strong enough to play the drums and the saxophone. I remember when you left the first time to go evangelize. I remember when you came back as pastor. I remember your conversation when you encouraged me before I left for JCM (I still have what you said). I remember when you and Bro Sharp came and visited me after BOTT. I remember when you shared what Bro Clark told you about me. I remember when you called me late one night after I left you a voicemail about being scared for my safety. I remember being the first one from Appleton to see Lily in Tupelo, MS. I found out that morning you were in MS and we drove 4-5 hours to get there just in time for your altar call. Thank you for paying for our meals, so me and Waylon wouldn’t starve. I probably didn’t have $5 to my name at the time.

I have many memories of my hero: many good, some bad.

I think some of the lessons we’re meant to learn from our heroes is:
a) Make every day, every step count – “As if it were your last”
b) Remember the important things in life – keep your priorities in check
c) Remember times change, people change, seasons change. Life is composed of change.
d) You can learn from everyone – sometimes the good, sometimes the bad
e) Be passionate about God, about family, about church family and reaching the lost
f) Always stay in the Word, prayer and worship – don’t ever let yourself become complacent
g) Ohhhhh and as you most eloquently told me “Don’t date ugly chicks” haha
and many, many, many more…

I haven’t forgotten.

I remember feeling prompted to call you in Nov 2007. I regret not calling.

We’ll talk again soon enough. I do miss you alot.

As if it were your last…

Tim