My feet were dragging as I sniffled my nose and said a prayer as I walked into the building. I wasn't feeling well and my heart was in a difficult spot. Yet the call of duty was to go and serve and bless and share life with so many youth and their families. It's amazing what a smile can do; lifting the heaviest of hearts and easing the biggest of burdens. Hugs were given, hands were high-fived and the turkey was served. The flow of traffic was minimal at best, so with body aching, I decided to go sit down and rest a minute.
In that moment as I literally sank into the chair, I heard God whisper to me to look up, and that's when I saw her. Covered in pink and purple and bundled in well-worn clothes, she sat on the bench talking to herself, all alone. My heart was moved and I walked over and met a new friend. Her name was Ruth, and she was waiting for a church service to start. With no family here, she said she is friends with many "holy people" and doesn't have many teeth left. I gave a little smirk as my heart was warmed by her sincerity, her authenticity. With great joy I went and got her a heaping plate of hot, delicious Thanksgiving food, carefully wrapped with foil for the road ahead.
I came back and she was beyond grateful, all for a warm plate of food. A student of mine, one trapped in such anger and bitterness from not having a father, walked up and was curious as to what was going on. I made the introductions and asked if we could pray for her. The two of us laid our hands on her and we prayed as the tears began to flood my eyes and my heart began to soften. I knew the Lord was doing something, yet I didn't know what...but I knew it would be good. We said our Amens and our eyes met, tears in both of our eyes tinted by the redness...and a smile swept across all of our faces in that sweet moment.
Something had shifted in that moment, clearly Jesus was there in our midst doing what He does best. You see, it goes deeper than a face. Every face has a name behind it, every name a story that goes with it, and yes, the eyes are the window of our souls. (Matthew 6:22-23). And somehow, in that moment, it was as if God was literally calling out each of our names. In the midst of our pain, covering 3 generations represented by the 3 of us, all with a different story and different issues, yet all alone prior to this moment...we were now together, united and calling on the name of Jesus.
The hardened and tough student walked away, grinning from ear to ear with a bounce in his step. I watched as she slowly made her way outside into the brisk air of the night, plate in hand. And I sat there reflecting. Where would she sleep tonight? Does she know she is not forgotten? And then as a tear rolled down my cheek I was reminded of how incredible my God is. No, we are truly never alone. Yes, love wins every time...
Tuesday, November 16
Monday, November 15
Cheese and Crackers
It was another day full of clearing brush, watering the fold, and scooping the sheep poop. Yes, David was a keeper of the sheep. And yet little did he know that his miniscule duties would lead him to a momentous destiny. Cheese and crackers, that's it. He was instructed by his father to take some cheese and crackers to the men in battle and to check up on his brothers. It was time for the youngest brother to stand in the gap for his father, delivering food and checking on the others. So with staff in hand and grazing cotton balls left behind, David took off.
As David approached he saw the landscape of the battle that had been unfolding: 2 teams, 2 mountains, 1 valley, and 1 giant. Perhaps the greatest moment of David's life was about to explode, all with cheese and crackers in hand. There are 4 words in verse 23 that forever changed history that day: "And David heard him." Remember, he was sent to check on his brothers and deliver the goods. But God had something greater in progress.
The people of Israel had faced this giant for 40 days. Can you imagine? Wake up each morning, put on the armor, have a little bread and then go and take your stand...facing the same enemy day after day? Not moving forward, no gaining ground, but just standing there. You're fully suited, and yet not fully equipped. Gripped by fear and insecurities, all you know to do is stand there. And on top of all of this, day after day, the giant named Goliath would come out with the ranks of the Philistines and torment the Israelites, laughing in their faces as he mocked not only them, but their God.
You see, it's not the mere presence of a giant that causes one to fight. The land is filled with giants, and is also filled with the people of God suited up and ranked out just standing there. But something is shifted when a child of the King hears the giant mocking his God. David heard him. And David ran to the battle line to stare this giant in the face, for he knew that victory was his through God. Go ahead, read the rest of the story in 1 Samuel 17...I dare you!
So I leave you with this. What is your giant(s) speaking against you and your God? Unplug your ears. Do you hear him? They are defying the very God that has rescued you and redeemed you. Does that not move you? Does something within your chest rage at the enemy that laughs in your face? If we are not moved to fight when we hear the giant mocking our God, maybe we need to check our alliances. Can you hear him?
I believe that David not only heard the giant, but he also heard the voice of his champion, God, that day. His champion was cheering him on, "Come on David! That's my boy! I'm with you! You have victory through me!" Oh Goliath was offended at the sight of a young shepard boy, but God will you use anyone who is willing. Anyone who has ears to hear. Anyone who has complete faith and unshakeable confidence in his God. It is the voice of our Beloved that beckons us, calls us deeper, speaks with more authority and power than a stupid giant. Can you hear Him?
Yes the land is filled with giants. Yes the enemies laugh in our faces and mock our God, the only true God. Yes the Father is looking for ones to stand in the gap. Yes, our champion is cheering us on. Yes, mere cheese and crackers can lead one to their destiny. Be faithful in the small things. And yes, unplug your ears and hear. For our God is greater, our God is stronger, God You are higher than any other. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what can stand against us?
As David approached he saw the landscape of the battle that had been unfolding: 2 teams, 2 mountains, 1 valley, and 1 giant. Perhaps the greatest moment of David's life was about to explode, all with cheese and crackers in hand. There are 4 words in verse 23 that forever changed history that day: "And David heard him." Remember, he was sent to check on his brothers and deliver the goods. But God had something greater in progress.
The people of Israel had faced this giant for 40 days. Can you imagine? Wake up each morning, put on the armor, have a little bread and then go and take your stand...facing the same enemy day after day? Not moving forward, no gaining ground, but just standing there. You're fully suited, and yet not fully equipped. Gripped by fear and insecurities, all you know to do is stand there. And on top of all of this, day after day, the giant named Goliath would come out with the ranks of the Philistines and torment the Israelites, laughing in their faces as he mocked not only them, but their God.
You see, it's not the mere presence of a giant that causes one to fight. The land is filled with giants, and is also filled with the people of God suited up and ranked out just standing there. But something is shifted when a child of the King hears the giant mocking his God. David heard him. And David ran to the battle line to stare this giant in the face, for he knew that victory was his through God. Go ahead, read the rest of the story in 1 Samuel 17...I dare you!
So I leave you with this. What is your giant(s) speaking against you and your God? Unplug your ears. Do you hear him? They are defying the very God that has rescued you and redeemed you. Does that not move you? Does something within your chest rage at the enemy that laughs in your face? If we are not moved to fight when we hear the giant mocking our God, maybe we need to check our alliances. Can you hear him?
I believe that David not only heard the giant, but he also heard the voice of his champion, God, that day. His champion was cheering him on, "Come on David! That's my boy! I'm with you! You have victory through me!" Oh Goliath was offended at the sight of a young shepard boy, but God will you use anyone who is willing. Anyone who has ears to hear. Anyone who has complete faith and unshakeable confidence in his God. It is the voice of our Beloved that beckons us, calls us deeper, speaks with more authority and power than a stupid giant. Can you hear Him?
Yes the land is filled with giants. Yes the enemies laugh in our faces and mock our God, the only true God. Yes the Father is looking for ones to stand in the gap. Yes, our champion is cheering us on. Yes, mere cheese and crackers can lead one to their destiny. Be faithful in the small things. And yes, unplug your ears and hear. For our God is greater, our God is stronger, God You are higher than any other. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what can stand against us?
Monday, May 10
We Never Lose!
Nearly every Saturday for the last few months, I have found myself sitting at a peewee league soccer game, perhaps becoming a most obnoxious fan at times. I have found a special place in my heart for the "Mighty Ladybugs", a team of 10 year old girls loving to play soccer. I have watched them grow and develop in skill over the last year or so. They have always been the underdogs, one of those situations where you hope you don't lose the game by a slaughtering type. But recently they have figured out what it takes to win, and they like it (and so do we the fans!). There is a tenacity about these youth that has caused the typical yawn of a Saturday morning soccer game to have grown into quite the hootin and hollerin of yet another big W for the Mighty Ladybugs! A couple of weeks ago, we were beating one of the most arrogant teams in the league. I was having such a good time with my friend as we cheered them on and celebrated their hard work, when I heard something from another fan just behind me. The girl, in her not-so-innocent voice said, "This is the team that never wins. They always lose!" Instead of backhanding the youth like my prideful Ladybug Fan wanted to do, I turned and shared that with my friend and we laughed it off. Ever since she said that, I can't stop thinking about it.
We all know that as Christians we wage a spiritual battle against our enemy, Satan. We live in a fallen and broken world, and evil seems to prevail. It doesn't take but a few moments in the day to realize that we truly are engaged. The Bible even tells us of such things: That our enemy is out to destroy us, that we don't battle flesh and blood but principalities of darkness, and there is no neutral. One is either for God, or against God. The Lord has been using this simple peewee league soccer moment, to stir up my spirit and remind me of some things.
We all face different giants in our lives, some have been around for years and some just show up on the spot in the middle of what would otherwise be a glorious day. The week after that game, I ended up with 2 migraines. Headaches are a giant in my life. I have been to the doctor and taken pills and to no avail, nothing but the blood of Jesus will suffice for my need. As I woke up with intense pain and frustrated, I heard the enemy whisper into my heart: "This is the team that never wins, they always lose!" Oh how this has stirred such a tenacity in my spirit! Tell me I can't do it, watch me prove you wrong. Just like Goliath defying the army of God, I hear Satan again and again defy the army of God.
So often we forget that this is a fixed fight, meaning the end results have already been determined. You see, in Jesus name, we win! We are victorious, we are more than conquerors through Him. We also know that our enemy is a bluffer, it is not possible for him to tell the truth. So the question remains: Why do we hear his lies as truth and live our lives by them? Is it because our lives line up with what he is speaking? Oh I understand exactly. The Bible says that by His stripes, we are healed! So why do I have migraines? I don't know! But I will tell you that I reach a point of extreme frustration every time my reality conflicts with what my God says! So I will not give attention to his whispers any longer.
I am tired of seeing the saints running from their giants and crying over their bruise on their leg from the enemy. I am tired of watching the enemies of God defy the very people of God and laugh in our faces. I am tired of the devil having his way instead of God's truth reign supreme in our lives. I am tired of letting the enemy come and plunder our goods, taking what is not his. When will the mighty warriors of God rise up and encroach on the enemy's camp and take back what is ours? When will the mighty warriors of God rise up and go head first and swords up into battle? When will the people of God refuse to live their lives according to anything but the Word of God?
Merely looking at the greatness of a giant will lead one to a timid runaway of hiding in a cave, until your destiny is missed forever. Simply hearing a giant defy the greatness of God will lead one to a tenacious encroachment of the enemy's camp, until the giant is slain forever! We are the team that always wins, we never lose in Jesus name!
We all know that as Christians we wage a spiritual battle against our enemy, Satan. We live in a fallen and broken world, and evil seems to prevail. It doesn't take but a few moments in the day to realize that we truly are engaged. The Bible even tells us of such things: That our enemy is out to destroy us, that we don't battle flesh and blood but principalities of darkness, and there is no neutral. One is either for God, or against God. The Lord has been using this simple peewee league soccer moment, to stir up my spirit and remind me of some things.
We all face different giants in our lives, some have been around for years and some just show up on the spot in the middle of what would otherwise be a glorious day. The week after that game, I ended up with 2 migraines. Headaches are a giant in my life. I have been to the doctor and taken pills and to no avail, nothing but the blood of Jesus will suffice for my need. As I woke up with intense pain and frustrated, I heard the enemy whisper into my heart: "This is the team that never wins, they always lose!" Oh how this has stirred such a tenacity in my spirit! Tell me I can't do it, watch me prove you wrong. Just like Goliath defying the army of God, I hear Satan again and again defy the army of God.
So often we forget that this is a fixed fight, meaning the end results have already been determined. You see, in Jesus name, we win! We are victorious, we are more than conquerors through Him. We also know that our enemy is a bluffer, it is not possible for him to tell the truth. So the question remains: Why do we hear his lies as truth and live our lives by them? Is it because our lives line up with what he is speaking? Oh I understand exactly. The Bible says that by His stripes, we are healed! So why do I have migraines? I don't know! But I will tell you that I reach a point of extreme frustration every time my reality conflicts with what my God says! So I will not give attention to his whispers any longer.
I am tired of seeing the saints running from their giants and crying over their bruise on their leg from the enemy. I am tired of watching the enemies of God defy the very people of God and laugh in our faces. I am tired of the devil having his way instead of God's truth reign supreme in our lives. I am tired of letting the enemy come and plunder our goods, taking what is not his. When will the mighty warriors of God rise up and encroach on the enemy's camp and take back what is ours? When will the mighty warriors of God rise up and go head first and swords up into battle? When will the people of God refuse to live their lives according to anything but the Word of God?
Merely looking at the greatness of a giant will lead one to a timid runaway of hiding in a cave, until your destiny is missed forever. Simply hearing a giant defy the greatness of God will lead one to a tenacious encroachment of the enemy's camp, until the giant is slain forever! We are the team that always wins, we never lose in Jesus name!
Monday, April 26
"Splintered Love"
The foot of the blood-stained cross is the best place to be, knowing that in this place is only where we can be free.
But it's not over here just yet, for from the grave has our Jesus left.
And now seated at the right hand of the Father in all of His splendor, at His holiness and awesomeness we can only tremble.
I can't wait to look into His eyes of fire and hold His strong hands, knowing for eternity that satan is a liar and this earth is not my eternal land.
Jesus keep us near the cross; splinters, blood, tears and all...
But it's not over here just yet, for from the grave has our Jesus left.
And now seated at the right hand of the Father in all of His splendor, at His holiness and awesomeness we can only tremble.
I can't wait to look into His eyes of fire and hold His strong hands, knowing for eternity that satan is a liar and this earth is not my eternal land.
Jesus keep us near the cross; splinters, blood, tears and all...
Tuesday, April 20
Crashing Down
Oh that we could ever fully grasp the magnitude, power, and glory of our risen King Jesus! What a mighty God we truly serve! I am convinced more and more just how living and active the Word of God is. It truly is sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing bone and marrow. There is so much life, truly life abundant, in the Lord! I had read something recently that the Spirit has continued to stir in my heart. Please take a moment to read 1 Samuel 5:1-4 before proceeding.
During this time, the Philistines had captured the ark of the Lord. Now the ark contained the 10 Commandments, but it also represented the very presence of God. The ark was with them on their desert wanderings (Numbers 10:17, 33). It was carried with them into battle (Joshua 6). The ark was of great importance to the people of God, but now it had been taken.
So when the Philistines took it, they placed in the house of Dagon. Dagon was the god of the Philistines. It was some type of a fish-god with "dag" meaning "fish." Dagon's worshippers had a deep affection to their supposed deity. It's interesting to me that they would put the ark of the Lord right next to Dagon, but they did and they went to bed.
The next morning they arose to find Dagon had fallen and facedown before the ark of the Lord. So they resituated him and stood him back up and then proceeded to bed. Again the next morning, they awoke to find Dagon having fallen over and facedown before the ark of the Lord, but this time his head and hands had been cut off.
Now it's helpful to remember, this was a statue of sorts! How does a non-living thing fall down and facedown for that matter? Ironic? Convenient? I think not! Now sure, maybe an angel brushed by and whacked it really hard with it's wing. Maybe whoever set it up to begin with didn't do a very good job. Or perhaps it's just true what God has said, that He alone is to be worshipped and exalted. Maybe it really is true that there is no god like our God! Maybe there's a good chance that the presence of God is so powerful it causes demons to flee and lame men to walk and the dead to rise and statues to fall and crumble and giants to be slain! Yes it is truth!
Oh people of the living God, are you getting this?! When I read this, I couldn't help but laugh in reverential fear at the powerful, all-consuming presence of God. I was quickly reminded of the Scripture that says that every knee must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Yes He truly is! There is none that can stand up against Him! No fake deity or arrogant people could ever demote God, the One and only true God!
Oh that we would see the magnificent beauty in this, God cannot and will not be mocked! God is omnipotent, meaning all-powerful. There is nothing in life, whether in the world or in our lives, that can alter the character of God. He is unchanging and faithful to the end! 1 Corinthians 4:20 says this: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
May this reign true in our lives this day! May we walk in the truth, the truth of God's Word. May His presence be so thick upon you that it causes idols to come crashing down! May the crowns in our lives that we have taken time to treasure and polish and set up be thrown down at the feet of the holy One! May the Jesus in us cause demons to shudder and flee! May the power of God's manifest presence in our lives change and rearrange everything! May dagons be destroyed in Jesus name and may each of our knees be the ones to bow, may our tongues confess, that yes Jesus, You alone are Lord!
During this time, the Philistines had captured the ark of the Lord. Now the ark contained the 10 Commandments, but it also represented the very presence of God. The ark was with them on their desert wanderings (Numbers 10:17, 33). It was carried with them into battle (Joshua 6). The ark was of great importance to the people of God, but now it had been taken.
So when the Philistines took it, they placed in the house of Dagon. Dagon was the god of the Philistines. It was some type of a fish-god with "dag" meaning "fish." Dagon's worshippers had a deep affection to their supposed deity. It's interesting to me that they would put the ark of the Lord right next to Dagon, but they did and they went to bed.
The next morning they arose to find Dagon had fallen and facedown before the ark of the Lord. So they resituated him and stood him back up and then proceeded to bed. Again the next morning, they awoke to find Dagon having fallen over and facedown before the ark of the Lord, but this time his head and hands had been cut off.
Now it's helpful to remember, this was a statue of sorts! How does a non-living thing fall down and facedown for that matter? Ironic? Convenient? I think not! Now sure, maybe an angel brushed by and whacked it really hard with it's wing. Maybe whoever set it up to begin with didn't do a very good job. Or perhaps it's just true what God has said, that He alone is to be worshipped and exalted. Maybe it really is true that there is no god like our God! Maybe there's a good chance that the presence of God is so powerful it causes demons to flee and lame men to walk and the dead to rise and statues to fall and crumble and giants to be slain! Yes it is truth!
Oh people of the living God, are you getting this?! When I read this, I couldn't help but laugh in reverential fear at the powerful, all-consuming presence of God. I was quickly reminded of the Scripture that says that every knee must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Yes He truly is! There is none that can stand up against Him! No fake deity or arrogant people could ever demote God, the One and only true God!
Oh that we would see the magnificent beauty in this, God cannot and will not be mocked! God is omnipotent, meaning all-powerful. There is nothing in life, whether in the world or in our lives, that can alter the character of God. He is unchanging and faithful to the end! 1 Corinthians 4:20 says this: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
May this reign true in our lives this day! May we walk in the truth, the truth of God's Word. May His presence be so thick upon you that it causes idols to come crashing down! May the crowns in our lives that we have taken time to treasure and polish and set up be thrown down at the feet of the holy One! May the Jesus in us cause demons to shudder and flee! May the power of God's manifest presence in our lives change and rearrange everything! May dagons be destroyed in Jesus name and may each of our knees be the ones to bow, may our tongues confess, that yes Jesus, You alone are Lord!
Thursday, April 15
War Cry
Oh heavenly Father,
I look to my left and to my right and in the mirror, and I see him (satan) just having his way, like it's burger king, with the people of God. We seem to be just a chew toy in the mouth of the deceiving enemy and at the mercy of his evil intent. Well I have had it! No more in Jesus name! It's time to rise up against this thing and slay it once and for all! It's a fixed fight, and we win in Jesus name! I long to see the glory of God, to see mighty warriors of the Lord chasing down the enemy while screaming "Jesus!" It is time for us to have our way with him. It's time for things to change. I refuse to be a slobbered on, lied to, shredded apart chew toy any longer!
We are the head, not the tail. We are victorious, not defeated. We walk in the truth, not run in fear. The darkness cannot overcome the light. We slay giants, we don't dread them. We battle tenaciously, not crawl into foxholes sheepishly. We stand against the enemy, we don't shrink back. We burn with the fire of God and not from the flaming arrows of the evil one. We run as ones to win the prize, we don't merely play games like the rest. We cause demons to scatter, and we don't turn and scatter. We diminish strongholds, they don't have dominion over us. We bring heaven to earth, we don't just long for heaven. We go and take back what the enemy has stolen from us, we don't give him more. We move mountains with our faith, our mountains don't move us. We stand upon the truth, even when others fall.
Rise up mighty warriors of the living God, we cannot and must not quit! We are just getting started. While Sunday services are predictable, trained warriors are unpredictable. Like David going to deliver some crackers and cheese, we will not leave until the enemy flees! We serve the living God, the One and only true God! The One who says: "I am that I am." There is nothing and nobody that can alter the character of God. Jehovah our Warrior is fighting for us and we win! I'm a warrior, I'm a worshipper. When I lift my hands, demons have to flee. When I lift my voice, mountains have to move. When I lift up my sword, giants have to fall! I'm a warrior, I'm a worshipper.
Oh that we would have a relentless spirit, a tenacity that is unbroken! Give us warrior spirits like you Jehovah, Jesus mighty Jesus! We wage war and we move forward. We follow you and we will not stop until we are throwing our crowns at your feet in absolute awe and total worship of you King Jesus! Let the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
I look to my left and to my right and in the mirror, and I see him (satan) just having his way, like it's burger king, with the people of God. We seem to be just a chew toy in the mouth of the deceiving enemy and at the mercy of his evil intent. Well I have had it! No more in Jesus name! It's time to rise up against this thing and slay it once and for all! It's a fixed fight, and we win in Jesus name! I long to see the glory of God, to see mighty warriors of the Lord chasing down the enemy while screaming "Jesus!" It is time for us to have our way with him. It's time for things to change. I refuse to be a slobbered on, lied to, shredded apart chew toy any longer!
We are the head, not the tail. We are victorious, not defeated. We walk in the truth, not run in fear. The darkness cannot overcome the light. We slay giants, we don't dread them. We battle tenaciously, not crawl into foxholes sheepishly. We stand against the enemy, we don't shrink back. We burn with the fire of God and not from the flaming arrows of the evil one. We run as ones to win the prize, we don't merely play games like the rest. We cause demons to scatter, and we don't turn and scatter. We diminish strongholds, they don't have dominion over us. We bring heaven to earth, we don't just long for heaven. We go and take back what the enemy has stolen from us, we don't give him more. We move mountains with our faith, our mountains don't move us. We stand upon the truth, even when others fall.
Rise up mighty warriors of the living God, we cannot and must not quit! We are just getting started. While Sunday services are predictable, trained warriors are unpredictable. Like David going to deliver some crackers and cheese, we will not leave until the enemy flees! We serve the living God, the One and only true God! The One who says: "I am that I am." There is nothing and nobody that can alter the character of God. Jehovah our Warrior is fighting for us and we win! I'm a warrior, I'm a worshipper. When I lift my hands, demons have to flee. When I lift my voice, mountains have to move. When I lift up my sword, giants have to fall! I'm a warrior, I'm a worshipper.
Oh that we would have a relentless spirit, a tenacity that is unbroken! Give us warrior spirits like you Jehovah, Jesus mighty Jesus! We wage war and we move forward. We follow you and we will not stop until we are throwing our crowns at your feet in absolute awe and total worship of you King Jesus! Let the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
Thursday, April 1
Knucklez Up With Satan
My hunch is to punch, while my swing is to sing. Round three, round four, I've got to have more. I can't do this without my Jesus, I be walkin by faith and trustin that He seein me. You may give me a jab and a killer left hook, but in the end you will be defeated cuz I'm living by the book. I will not go down without a fight because I'm fixin to keep walkin in this marvelous light. At the end of round ten you gonna be knocked out, and then in victory with my King Jesus I will give a shout. I sure ain't scared of you, cuz my Jesus is the ultimate truth. So go ahead and try to play around, after all, you fixin to be the only one left on the ground...
Tuesday, March 9
King of Glory
Who is like our God, mighty to save and merciful enough to do so? A great and mighty warrior is our King Jesus, the one and only true God. He is the King of kings and the Lord of all lords; Who can truly fathom His awesomeness? He outstretches His mighty arm to deliver His people, crushing the head of the enemy again and again and again. Unchanging in all of His ways, He is faithful to the end. He is a good Father who loves His children, who inclines His ear to those who call aloud to Him. He is a God of justice and righteousness, how fair and lovely He is. There is none that can stand up against Him, He is the beginning and the end. He has all power and authority, His glory fills the earth like the waters the seas. He is a jealous God, longing for the hearts of His people. He is an all-consuming fire, the ultimate sacrifice, the purest love, the absolute truth, the deepest of treasures and sweetest of fragrances. Just one glimpse from His beautiful face, just one touch from His tender hand, just one word from His powerful voice changes everything. He is the dream giver and destiny fulfiller. He is the fulfillment of all prophecies and the great champion; There is none like Jesus, Mighty Jesus. We will never fully comprehend and understand all of who He is. If we did, worship would not exist. There is such a depth to the Lord that we truly cannot fathom. He is Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim. What a great and mighty God we serve! He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, power and praise. Yet how often we forget and neglect this truth.
We may tragically negate this truth in our lives, but God cannot be fooled. He alone will receive the glory, and He will make sure He gets the glory. Journey with me to Judges 7 where we meet Gideon and his army about to encounter the Midians. Of course shortly before this the Lord tells Gideon that He is going to save Israel through Gideon. Gideon, unsure and unsettled, lays out the fleece and asks the impossible. Of course, God shows up and does His mighty and miraculous work. Gideon now has the boldness and courage to know that he is truly following the voice of the Lord. They then begin dwindling down the army of Gideon for it is much too big. Did you just catch that? They were going into battle and needed to minimize the number of troops going in. Why? So that all would see and know that it was Almighty God who won the battle! Of course in the end, Yahweh through Gideon and his 300 men defeated the enemy and they were oppressed no more!
I guess one could say it was "rigged" so that in human terms, there would be no way that they could win. But with God on their side, they had the victory. God is longing for a people that will cry out to Him and ascribe the glory that is due His name, to proclaim aloud the splendor of who He is. Perhaps this is why it says that if we fail to cry out, the rocks will. We get so caught up in ourselves and puffed up with pride that it robs the glory due His name. We try to cheat the Lord out of the picture, only dreaming half-hearted dreams and doing the things we are already comfortable with and/or good at. When the enemy comes and encamps upon our lives, we scurry and hide or just surrender, settling instead for his deceptive lies.
Oh, how I long to live a life in desperation for the power and presence of omnipotent God. To live in such a way that if God doesn't show up, I am in trouble. To step out and follow His leading, even if it is to somewhere I have never been. When will the church arise and dare to dream big dreams? When will we go and take back, with Godly courage, those things with which the enemy has taken from us? When is it we will go and crush his head, and stand up against his lies? If God be for us, who can be against us? If what we say and pray and sing about our great God is true, we live contradicting lives.
Only if and when we choose to live lives of such radical desperation for the presence of God, will He come in with His radiant splendor and majestic glory and deliver His people! When we begin to humble ourselves and reflect on who He is, we will be blown away by the awesomeness and hugeness of who He is. We can crowd Him out, we can steal the show. But a life lived without God is no life at all. God is not longing to be a part of our precious little puppet shows in which we assign Him a part and give Him His lines. He is yearning and burning to make Himself known, to be glorified and exalted!
To You alone King Jesus, be all glory and honor and praise! You are worthy of so much more than we could ever say about you or give to you. Our human language fails to even begin to adequately ascribe the greatness that is due Your name. We are nothing without You, such wretched, sinful little mortals. We constantly gratify the sinful desires of our flesh, putting You into a box for a rainy day. But oh great and glorious God, forgive us for such tragedies! Oh how we long for You, how we need You! Only a God like You can deliver Your people. Only a God like You can give victories and heal us and give us eternal life! Would you give us the courage of Gideon and teach us to trust You entirely? We desire for You to be exalted in all the earth King Jesus! Be exalted in our lives! We lift up Your name! King of glory, have Your glory!
We may tragically negate this truth in our lives, but God cannot be fooled. He alone will receive the glory, and He will make sure He gets the glory. Journey with me to Judges 7 where we meet Gideon and his army about to encounter the Midians. Of course shortly before this the Lord tells Gideon that He is going to save Israel through Gideon. Gideon, unsure and unsettled, lays out the fleece and asks the impossible. Of course, God shows up and does His mighty and miraculous work. Gideon now has the boldness and courage to know that he is truly following the voice of the Lord. They then begin dwindling down the army of Gideon for it is much too big. Did you just catch that? They were going into battle and needed to minimize the number of troops going in. Why? So that all would see and know that it was Almighty God who won the battle! Of course in the end, Yahweh through Gideon and his 300 men defeated the enemy and they were oppressed no more!
I guess one could say it was "rigged" so that in human terms, there would be no way that they could win. But with God on their side, they had the victory. God is longing for a people that will cry out to Him and ascribe the glory that is due His name, to proclaim aloud the splendor of who He is. Perhaps this is why it says that if we fail to cry out, the rocks will. We get so caught up in ourselves and puffed up with pride that it robs the glory due His name. We try to cheat the Lord out of the picture, only dreaming half-hearted dreams and doing the things we are already comfortable with and/or good at. When the enemy comes and encamps upon our lives, we scurry and hide or just surrender, settling instead for his deceptive lies.
Oh, how I long to live a life in desperation for the power and presence of omnipotent God. To live in such a way that if God doesn't show up, I am in trouble. To step out and follow His leading, even if it is to somewhere I have never been. When will the church arise and dare to dream big dreams? When will we go and take back, with Godly courage, those things with which the enemy has taken from us? When is it we will go and crush his head, and stand up against his lies? If God be for us, who can be against us? If what we say and pray and sing about our great God is true, we live contradicting lives.
Only if and when we choose to live lives of such radical desperation for the presence of God, will He come in with His radiant splendor and majestic glory and deliver His people! When we begin to humble ourselves and reflect on who He is, we will be blown away by the awesomeness and hugeness of who He is. We can crowd Him out, we can steal the show. But a life lived without God is no life at all. God is not longing to be a part of our precious little puppet shows in which we assign Him a part and give Him His lines. He is yearning and burning to make Himself known, to be glorified and exalted!
To You alone King Jesus, be all glory and honor and praise! You are worthy of so much more than we could ever say about you or give to you. Our human language fails to even begin to adequately ascribe the greatness that is due Your name. We are nothing without You, such wretched, sinful little mortals. We constantly gratify the sinful desires of our flesh, putting You into a box for a rainy day. But oh great and glorious God, forgive us for such tragedies! Oh how we long for You, how we need You! Only a God like You can deliver Your people. Only a God like You can give victories and heal us and give us eternal life! Would you give us the courage of Gideon and teach us to trust You entirely? We desire for You to be exalted in all the earth King Jesus! Be exalted in our lives! We lift up Your name! King of glory, have Your glory!
Tuesday, March 2
Prayers That Penetrate
I was reading something recently that has stirred something within my spirit. Prayer: It's a concept that most of us use on a daily basis, remembering to say "grace" before each meal and maybe talking to God a few minutes before bed, perhaps we're even daring enough to seek the Lord in the midst of a crisis. But I have read something recently that has led me to ask a very important question: What kind of prayers do I pray?
Before continuing on, you will need to read Numbers 27:1-11. Yes there are many big names here in this passage, and this may be one of those "breezers" that we rush on through, thinking it has no pertinent significance to our time. But I would beg to differ. While I am no Biblical scholar, it is my understanding that when the patriarch of the family died, the blessing and inheritance would be passed to the sons. So here we have 3 sisters who beseech their great leader, pointing out that this tradition is seemingly biased. So Moses, being the great man of God and leader that he was, goes and seeks the Lord about the matter.
What we have next is a beautiful picture of intercession as Moses begins to plead their case before the Lord. And then it happens. In verse 6 we see that the Lord agreed with the daughters and told Moses to change the laws. Did you just catch that? The courage those women possessed to go before Moses and ask that a tradition/law be changed is just outstanding. But with boldness and confidence they presented their request. But there is something that happens when we take those things before the Lord.
Moses pleaded their case with the Lord, and his prayers shifted something within the spiritual realm. I don't know what would have happened had these 3 sisters not been so bold in their approach. And had Moses not stood in the gap, would things have changed? This raises several important questions for me as I read this and chew upon it.
We live in a time in which we must pray dangerous prayers. We don't have time to waste with our self-centered wish lists before the Lord! We must not pray according to our faith or lack thereof, it would be a tragedy to pray according to how we feel. But we must pray with a tenacity that is unreleasing, praying according to the character of who God Almighty is! Do our prayers line up with the Word of God? Do they carry the same heartbeat as our Maker? Do the prayers we pray shift things in the spiritual realm? Oh Holy Spirit, that you would teach us how to pray...
Before continuing on, you will need to read Numbers 27:1-11. Yes there are many big names here in this passage, and this may be one of those "breezers" that we rush on through, thinking it has no pertinent significance to our time. But I would beg to differ. While I am no Biblical scholar, it is my understanding that when the patriarch of the family died, the blessing and inheritance would be passed to the sons. So here we have 3 sisters who beseech their great leader, pointing out that this tradition is seemingly biased. So Moses, being the great man of God and leader that he was, goes and seeks the Lord about the matter.
What we have next is a beautiful picture of intercession as Moses begins to plead their case before the Lord. And then it happens. In verse 6 we see that the Lord agreed with the daughters and told Moses to change the laws. Did you just catch that? The courage those women possessed to go before Moses and ask that a tradition/law be changed is just outstanding. But with boldness and confidence they presented their request. But there is something that happens when we take those things before the Lord.
Moses pleaded their case with the Lord, and his prayers shifted something within the spiritual realm. I don't know what would have happened had these 3 sisters not been so bold in their approach. And had Moses not stood in the gap, would things have changed? This raises several important questions for me as I read this and chew upon it.
We live in a time in which we must pray dangerous prayers. We don't have time to waste with our self-centered wish lists before the Lord! We must not pray according to our faith or lack thereof, it would be a tragedy to pray according to how we feel. But we must pray with a tenacity that is unreleasing, praying according to the character of who God Almighty is! Do our prayers line up with the Word of God? Do they carry the same heartbeat as our Maker? Do the prayers we pray shift things in the spiritual realm? Oh Holy Spirit, that you would teach us how to pray...
Friday, February 5
"The Crossing"
We be praying to our God, asking for deliverance...
To be freed from all of the things that have so easily entangled us.
He faithfully leads us through the stormy waters...
As we learn to fully trust Him as our Abba Father.
Fearful we start to look to the left and to the right...
Not seeing Jesus now, we have lost our sight.
We dare not look behind at the enemies that pursue us...
For if we do our faith will shrink, becoming less and less.
Teach me to be still and follow only You...
I cannot and will not quit, until this Red Sea...You have brought me through.
To be freed from all of the things that have so easily entangled us.
He faithfully leads us through the stormy waters...
As we learn to fully trust Him as our Abba Father.
Fearful we start to look to the left and to the right...
Not seeing Jesus now, we have lost our sight.
We dare not look behind at the enemies that pursue us...
For if we do our faith will shrink, becoming less and less.
Teach me to be still and follow only You...
I cannot and will not quit, until this Red Sea...You have brought me through.
Monday, January 18
Glory in Intercession
There was something that I read recently that has penetrated my heart and shifted something within me. We speak of the glory of God and how it fills the earth and we long to know His glory. We talk it, preach it, sing it, we yearn for it. The splendor and majesty of God Almighty we will never fully fathom until heaven one day. I think sometimes we tend to think that the glory of God is like a freebie at some garage sale, "while supplies last." Oh how we have belittled the omnipotent and sovereign God of the universe to fit into our little boxes. So then the question at hand is this: Where can one encounter the glory of God? While I propose that I know much of anything, I would like to turn our attention to perhaps a familiar passage of Scripture:
And the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen." Exodus 33:21-23
Wow! Can you imagine?! Like God just totally told Moses that He would allow him to see as much of Him as possible, but that He would protect him too. Could you imagine God's huge hand covering you? The very thought overwhelms me. What is even more significant to me if you begin reading in verse 12 of this same chapter, Moses is actually interceding for the people of God who have sinned yet again. Moses is pleading and reminding God that they too are His people. As always is the case with our Faithful Father, He keeps His word and says He will do the very thing being pleaded for (vs. 17).
There is glory in intercession beloved! Of course that is not the reason we plead our case before God. We go to Him in the darkest of valleys and in the midst of our fiercest giants and we stand in the gap and wage war with our prayers. We don't pray according to our state of mind or faith, or lack thereof. But we tenaciously pray according to the character of God Almighty. And our prayers and intercession begin to line up with His will as the Spirit intercedes for us and teaches us how to pray. It is in these trenches that I believe God's glory is found.
Too often we want to pray a 1 minute prayer and see the results we're looking for and gaze into His eyes of fire as an added bonus. Oh saints how we have lost the art of intercession and true communion with the Father. No war is fought and resolved in 1 day. Moses had already been given the 10 Commandments on the 2 stones after time with holy God on the mountain. When he came down and saw that the people had sinned greatly and worshipped this golden calf that came out of the fire, his fury raged and he threw the tablets to the ground, crushing them to pieces.
Perhaps just when Moses thought he was on a breakthrough, things turned for the worse. Maybe just when you thought your prayers had been answered, things turned out to be otherwise. Moses persisted and climbed that mountain again, and he interceded. Not only were his prayers heard and answered, but the glory of God was made known in a very real way to Moses that day. Moses was in the trenches of intercession yet again, but in those trenches was the mighty hand of God moving to cover, protect, save, and deliver.
There is something that shifts in the spiritual realm when we dig down deep into the trenches of intercession and plead our case before a just and sovereign God and remind Him of His promises. It is no longer a matter of the giant at the top of the hill taunting you, or the enemy who surrounds you on every side, but a matter of God's mighty hand resting above you and doing the very things that only our omnipotent God can do! Oh saints, there is glory in intercession. May you climb the mountain yet again to drink deeply and wage war...
And the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen." Exodus 33:21-23
Wow! Can you imagine?! Like God just totally told Moses that He would allow him to see as much of Him as possible, but that He would protect him too. Could you imagine God's huge hand covering you? The very thought overwhelms me. What is even more significant to me if you begin reading in verse 12 of this same chapter, Moses is actually interceding for the people of God who have sinned yet again. Moses is pleading and reminding God that they too are His people. As always is the case with our Faithful Father, He keeps His word and says He will do the very thing being pleaded for (vs. 17).
There is glory in intercession beloved! Of course that is not the reason we plead our case before God. We go to Him in the darkest of valleys and in the midst of our fiercest giants and we stand in the gap and wage war with our prayers. We don't pray according to our state of mind or faith, or lack thereof. But we tenaciously pray according to the character of God Almighty. And our prayers and intercession begin to line up with His will as the Spirit intercedes for us and teaches us how to pray. It is in these trenches that I believe God's glory is found.
Too often we want to pray a 1 minute prayer and see the results we're looking for and gaze into His eyes of fire as an added bonus. Oh saints how we have lost the art of intercession and true communion with the Father. No war is fought and resolved in 1 day. Moses had already been given the 10 Commandments on the 2 stones after time with holy God on the mountain. When he came down and saw that the people had sinned greatly and worshipped this golden calf that came out of the fire, his fury raged and he threw the tablets to the ground, crushing them to pieces.
Perhaps just when Moses thought he was on a breakthrough, things turned for the worse. Maybe just when you thought your prayers had been answered, things turned out to be otherwise. Moses persisted and climbed that mountain again, and he interceded. Not only were his prayers heard and answered, but the glory of God was made known in a very real way to Moses that day. Moses was in the trenches of intercession yet again, but in those trenches was the mighty hand of God moving to cover, protect, save, and deliver.
There is something that shifts in the spiritual realm when we dig down deep into the trenches of intercession and plead our case before a just and sovereign God and remind Him of His promises. It is no longer a matter of the giant at the top of the hill taunting you, or the enemy who surrounds you on every side, but a matter of God's mighty hand resting above you and doing the very things that only our omnipotent God can do! Oh saints, there is glory in intercession. May you climb the mountain yet again to drink deeply and wage war...
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