Season Of Joy

"Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world."
                                                              John Piper




Throughout the Bible, God calls His children to possess emotions that they are incapable of producing on their own. We are instructed to never fear or be anxious while the apostle, Paul, exhorts us to "Always be joyful" (1 Thessalonians 5:16, NLT). Because our flesh carries with it frailties and weaknesses and the propensity to sin if left to itself, these commands are not possible for us alone. Never and Always would be elusive at best.

The real question for us comes after we have been fearful or without joy. Will we then stuff our emotions or lean into the Holy Spirit to provide us what we never really could have provided for ourselves? Will we recognize that joy is both a gift from God and a response to the gift He has given?

The older I get the more acutely aware I am of how everything good in our lives comes from God. The beautiful sunrise, the air we breathe, the family we love, and the smile on a child's face are but a few of the blessings we can receive every single day. Too often, our frustrations come at the perceived things in our lives that don't go right rather than appreciating the plethora of things that do.

Yesterday I sat in a surgical waiting room for several hours watching the patients and families come and go. I saw very difficult diagnoses and challenges and watched time and again the physicians who had to explain the implications to the loved ones who waited. There were gasps and tears and instantaneous grief. There were also smiles of relief when the surgeries were completed. All of this really highlighted for me two things: how many true blessings I do have and how quickly life can turn on a dime. I wondered how people make it through crises without Jesus? Without real peace? Without real comfort? Without the assurance of salvation when this life is over?

I also really understood that joy is not contingent upon my circumstances. When Jesus is with you, you can find joy anywhere. It can be found in a hospital room, a classroom, a court room, a board room, or any other place on this planet. It is never conditional upon our circumstances; it is only conditional upon our relationship with the Lord.

Jesus said, "I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing" (John 15:9-11).

If I were to be completely transparent here, I would have to say that the first two places the enemy comes hard at me when I am my most vulnerable is by trying to convince me that God is not with me and that God does not love me. At times, this has not even been a hard sell for him. Too easily I have received the very lies that keeps joy at bay.

There have been other times when I really just needed to change my perspective on things. (Husbands can be good at pointing out this truth!). Whenever I tend to dwell on the dramatic or give way to the illusion that I am helpless in my circumstances, there usually comes a quick jolt back to what the truth really is:)

God has given us the fruit of His Spirit to assist us in all situations. He generously doles out: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our supply is never withheld or lacking in quantity. What He gives to us we can then generously give to others I our lives.

Life is sacred and it is precious and there is so much good that God brings to us on a daily basis. When we have the maturity to recognize the beauty in the Word and the beauty in the world, there is no limit to how we can bless other people. We literally can become the gift of joy for them that God has given to us. It is our life in Christ and it is our testimony.


There is a huge difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is temporary and contingent upon outward circumstances. Joy is permanent and cannot be destroyed by outside forces because it actually comes from the Holy Spirit inside of us. Joy understands that God is with us (Immanuel) and that He loves us like crazy no matter what. Joy trusts. Joy rests. Joy is our strength.

And yet, joy can be the easiest thing to lose at times. There can seem to be a killjoy around every corner. Even the prophet, Jeremiah, said, "There is no joy left in our hearts" (Lamentations 5:15).

So, if joy is something that you have lost, the first thing you need to do is to recognize it and admit it. If there was ever a time that you were more joyful in the Lord, recognize and admit it. Ask God for His help and His provision. David did when he prayed, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

Know Him and grow in Him because He is beautiful and captivating. His presence is refreshing, satisfying, and exciting. Allow Him to become large enough in your heart to eclipse all that troubles you. Spend time in His Word and look for His loveliness in the world.

During this hectic Christmas season (and all other seasons), it really is possible to continually possess true joy. In fact, Jesus died to make that possible for us. Receive His gift today and take a deep breath and enjoy this Season of Joy!


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you at abound in hope."
                                                            Romans 15:13

Season of Wonder...

"Wonder knows that while you cannot look at the light, you cannot look at anything else without it. It is not exhausted by childhood, but finds its key there. It is a journey like a walk through the woods over the usual obstacles and around the common distractions while the voice of direction leads, saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it.'"
                                                          Ravi Zacharias




When the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and Jesus lying in a manger they went and told everyone they saw. Over and over, they shared the Good News of what they had witnessed. Excitement flooded their hearts as they recounted every detail of the Newborn Child. And then, Luke tells us that "all who heard it were astonished and wondered at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:18).

Wonder overflowed in every person that witnessed any aspect of Jesus' birth. Merriam Webs9ter defines wonder as "a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable; desire or curiosity to know something; to feel admiration and amazement; marvel; rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience".

Our lives and world are filled with wonder. Truly, they are all around, and yet, I wonder how many of them miss our notice. G.K. Chesterton says, "The world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder."

Often, familiarity can rob us of the beauty and majesty that surrounds us. For example, if Springtime only occurred every fifty years, how much more intently would we pay attention to it? E.B. White, the author of Charlotte's Web said, "We must always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder."

Yet, there is a wonder that extends beyond the beauty and majesty of all that God has created. There is a holy wonder of who God is. Thomas Aquinas said that "wonder is the desire for knowledge." It is the amazement we feel when we really have an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Over time, it's easy for our flesh to lose our sense of anticipation and wonder. Think about a time in your life when things were new: a new school, a new job, a new marriage, etc. At first you are thrilled and your mind races with possibilities of the future. After awhile, when the homework piles up or the deadline looms or your spouse snores really loudly... You get the picture.

As believers, we can do the same thing. When we first accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are excited and jubilant. We tell everyone who will stand still long enough to listen. Yet, over time, where does that astonishment, attention, and curiosity go?

I believe intentionality is required. A few weeks ago, my family and I had the joy of visiting our son in Arizona for Thanksgiving and seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. It was the first of the seven natural wonders of the world we have been able to see. We planned which day to go, clothes to wear (because it was very cold), times to leave, etc. As a result of our intentionality, we all stood amazed at the beauty of it instead of being distracted by lesser important things.

The psalmist, David, said, "I will cry out to the God of heaven who does such wonders for me" (Psalm 57:2). David said this as he was fleeing from Saul and hiding out in a cave. He was intentional about discovering the wonders of God and not allowing anything or anyone to stand in is way. This is holy wonder.

Holy wonder will lead us to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. We will watch and we will be astonished. Our astonishment will extend beyond the created to the Creator. We will once again marvel at the manger and at the cross and we will see our Savior. Not a replica of who He is but the authentic version of a majestic God. We will join the angels at worshipping at the throne and we will wonder at the marvelous works of our Lord.

Edward Young, an English poet, said, "Wonder is involuntary praise". Our spirit rises within us to worship God as "The Wonderful One". Appreciation for redemption and grace percolates because we now can truly see the miracles that they are.

We will remember His wonders because "He has made His wonders to be remembered" (Psalm 111:4). There is power in remembrance that generates love and adoration. We not only remember the things God has done for us, but also the mercies we have received and the blessings He so generously gave that overflowed with His goodness.

Remembering means so much more than just recounting our past. It also means that we remember that God is present with us now (Immanuel) and is moving in our lives today. We live with the expectation of both seeing God and seeing Him move on our behalf.

Passions can be refueled and enthusiasm can brim within. Awe and wonder become the norm as we daily search for Him in everything. Again, David explained his daily awe by exclaiming, "I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever" (Psalm 145:1-2).

We remind ourselves that He is the God of Wonder. He is Wonderful. He floods our world with Himself; He floods our world with wonders.

The most awestruck people in the world should be believers in Christ. The Orthodox Jew prays three times a day "We thank Thee for Thy miracles which are daily with us, for Thy continued marvels" and they do not even know Jesus. Every night they declare that God "does great things past finding out, marvelous things without number" (Job 9:10). If they can praise God with wonder daily, how much more should those who actually know Jesus?

We are now in a season that remembers the birth of Christ. May we also remember His resurrection and all the other wonders He has done? May we believe that He is doing wonders now. May we regenerate our sense of excitement, like the children do, and know that this is the Season of Wonder!

"The Lord replied, 'Look among the nations! See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I am doing something in your days--You would not believe it if you were told."  (Habakkuk 1:5)

Season of Newness...

The child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."                                                                                                           
                                            Luke 2:40




There is nothing that inspires more hope for the future and for possibilities than to peer into the face of a newborn baby. They are pure and beautiful and they radiate much of what is good in the world. They usher in a season of newness into a family or church or any other group to which they belong.

When God chose to send Jesus as a newborn baby there was so much that He was revealing to us. In addition to the fulfillment of prophecies, He was saying, "Behold, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5). The old order has gone and the new order has come.

Everything surrounding Jesus' birth was a miracle. Again and again, God shows us that nothing is impossible with Him. He has the ability to breakthrough everything natural and burst forth into all that is supernatural.

He is limited by nothing or no one. His power trumps every law of nature and even what we can conceive in our minds. He is "able to [carry out His purpose(s) and] do super-abundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams]" (Ephesians 3:20). He can literally blow our minds!

As Jesus grew into a child, we are told that He grew stronger and wiser and He walked in grace. This is the word that I believe God has for us today. As we enter into this new season we should continue to grow in strength and in wisdom and grace.

The Bible tells us that as believers we "go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]" (Psalm 84:7). As our dependence upon and devotion to God grows, we find that our strength comes from Him alone. We receive what we need and then we give it out to others. In this, we grow stronger day by day.

He is our Light and our Salvation (Psalm 27:1) and He becomes our strength in times of trouble (Psalm 37:39). As we continually abide in Him regardless of our circumstances, He makes our soul like iron (Psalm 105:18, Jubilee). David said, "On the day I called You answered me; and You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life" (Psalm 138:3).

As we grow stronger, we also grow in wisdom. Biblically, there are things we can do to become wiser. Reading the Word of God is one of them. David tells us that God's Word "is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Another thing we can do is to seek wisdom. The book of Proverbs tells us that "if you will receive My words and treasure My commandments within you, so that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; yes, if you will cry out for insight, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver and search for her as you would hidden treasures; then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshipping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] and discover the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-6).

We can also ask for wisdom. When God asked Solomon what he desired, it was wisdom that he sought and God honored and blessed that decision. James tells us that, "if any of you lacks wisdom, [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God's willingness to help]" (James 1:5-6).

Insight will help us to genuinely learn from our trials and will allow them to train us (Hebrews 12:11). Each trial has a divine purpose and each one carries with it a reward. They develop our character and ultimately yield a crown of life (James 1:12). In the midst of every trial God will "provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Lastly, we can continue to grow in grace. Peter tells us to "grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This means we become more and more like Jesus. This happens as a result of what God does inside of us. We grow in our understanding of what Jesus has done for us and in our appreciation of the grace we have been given.

He sanctifies and transforms us to become more like Himself. The Holy Spirit convicts and gives us the power to transform into the image of the Son. Ultimately, our lives will prove what God has done within us when "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Like Jesus, we can become stronger, increase in wisdom, and grow in the grace of God. As we enter into this new season that God has for us, this should be our goal. This is what will bring God glory in this season of newness!


"Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
                                                          Isaiah 43:19

Season of Hope

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
                                                                                                                                         1 Peter 1:3




Christmas is a time that evokes a myriad of emotions in all of us. For some, it brings up images of family dinners and Candlelight services and it is joyful to its very core. For others, loneliness and sadness bubble to the surface at the thought of loved ones who have passed or family units that are separated or are no more. The joy of the season is no respecter of persons whether one has the ability to embrace it or whether one somehow believes that it has eluded them.

While at times our circumstances may appear less than ideal, there is a broader message of hope that God has given to each one of us. Deep down we know that it's there and the only contingency of us experiencing it is whether or not we let Jesus into those painful places in our hearts that are hurt or are broken. It is His resurrection power that has the ability to defeat every opponent of the Cross: loneliness, fear, disappointment, anxiety, discouragement, unresolved pain, unmet expectations, and anything else that would rob us of the hope that God brings to us.

Interestingly, the very first candle that is lit during the Advent season is the candle of hope. This is to remind us during the Christmas season of the hope God gave when He promised to send us a Messiah, a Savior, and a Deliverer. This promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born, and the rest of God's promises to us will be completed when He returns.

Jesus is the only hope of this world. Even seven hundred years before His birth, Isaiah prophesied of Him, "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

God is zealous to meet our needs during this sacred season. If we need counsel, He will provide. If we need strength, He will provide. If we need peace, He will provide. If we need companionship, He will provide. If we need restoration, He will provide. If we need wisdom and direction, He will provide. There is no need that we can have that God is not able to meet in abundance.

It is His resurrection power that fills our lack. It is His resurrection power that makes the impossible possible. It is His resurrection power that gives us both power and grace (Acts 4:33). Everything we need is found in Him. He is our hope.

Here are some of the promises of hope that God gives to us:

"You will be secure because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor"  (Job 11:18-19).

"The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love" (Psalm 147:13)

"Therefore, since we have been justified [acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Such hope [in God's promises] never disappoints us because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:1-2;5).


This year, in particular, I believe that God is speaking hope into our souls. Many of God's children have experienced difficulties and trials in this last season and some are battle weary. Not one thing that has happened to any of us will be wasted nor turned around for the good. There has been a greater purpose and plan for all that God has allowed into our lives.

Because of this past season, we are stronger and more patient and have learned to endure. In humility we have matured spiritually and developed our character in Christ. Now, we must stand in confidence and in hope with expectancy to see what God will do next.

Do not believe the lies of the enemy that tell you that things will never get better. Do not succumb to discouragement from what you see with your natural eyes. Stay focused on Jesus and invite Him in to every crevice of your heart.

Then, go share that hope with others. Here are the lyrics to Don Moen's song, entitled, Season of Hope:

                                 The prophet told us long ago
                                 A child will come to bring us hope
                                 A star lit up the night to show the way
                                For all the wise men seeking truth.

                                The child came as living proof
                                The Light of all the world still shines today
                                In a lowly cattle stall
                                Love was born to save us all.

                               It's a season of hope, a season of joy
                               And it all goes back to a Baby Boy
                               When God reached down and changed the world forever
                               We can reach out, we can believe.

                               In the power of love, we can all meet a need
                              And love can change the world forever
                              Behind the lights and the Christmas cheer
                              People try to hide their fear.

                              Many hungry hearts are lost and cold
                              But we can be the Light of Christ
                              Bring some joy to someone's life
                              And share the greatest story ever told.

                             Love can change the world, love can change the world
                             We are His hands, we are His feet
                             Across a thousand miles or across your street
                             We are His hands, we are His feet.

                             Across a thousand miles or across your street
                             We've got a gift,
                             Let's give it away
                             Make a difference today!

                   Be Blessed This Advent Season And Share Those Blessings!

                              
                                

Great Exploits

"First, before we can do great things for Christ there must be a sense of [our own] weakness. Secondly, there must be trust in promised strength; and thirdly, there must be fear removed by that promise: 'Fear not, for I will help thee.'"
                                                                                                                 Charles H. Spurgeon




Whenever God wants to move in a mighty way He often asks one or more of His children to step out onto a ground that appears to be very shaky. On this now fourth day of Advent, the most likely example of this is found in what God asked Joseph and Mary to do. Their story was one of challenge and intrigue and would leave every generation after themselves spellbound at the trust they displayed in their God.

My favorite Christmas movie is called The Nativity Story, produced by Temple Hill. The thing I love the most about this movie is that it really seems to depict the lives of Mary and Joseph in a very realistic manner. It does not hold back in telling their story from the vantage of the religious, traditional, societal, and emotional obstacles that they experienced in order to behold the greatest gift of God ever given to mankind.

Though the ground beneath them quivered and quaked, the truth was that God was with them and they were destined for victory. They continued in their journey with the assurance that God would help them and that He, alone, would see His mission through to fruition. They literally laid down their own agendas to see the fulfillment of the plans of God.

While none of us will ever again birth the Son of God in the flesh, there are many other great things that God wants to accomplish in the earth. And, in order for these things to be birthed, our lives must be laid down to the King of all kings. It will never be our will or our strength that will accomplish God's plans or will usher in a mighty move of God.

We must be conscious of our weaknesses before we can walk in victory. God will not go forward with a person that is walking in their own strength. As a matter of fact, God will empty out all we have before He will fill us up with Himself. Our emptiness is preparation for a mighty filling of God's Holy Spirit.

This is how we are assisted by divine strength. We contemplate our nothingness in light of God's greatness. Like the psalmist, David, said, "What is man that You remember him, the son of man that you look after him?" (Psalm 8:4).

Independence and self-sufficiency preclude us from bearing the eternal fruit that God desires. Charles Spurgeon said that the only fruit that God accepts is "the seed of which was sown from heaven, sprinkled in the heart, and harvested by the sun of grace." This is the fruit that is the result of a person who truly understands their own weaknesses.

Spurgeon goes on to say that if we really want to see God do great things through our lives that we must also trust in the promised strength that God gives. No matter what God asks us to do, if He helps us we can do it. Again and again, God promises us that He is with us and that He will help us. One example is Isaiah 41:13 which says, "For I am the Lord your God, the One who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, 'Don't be afraid, I am helping you.'"

To be helped by God is an honor. While we may never understand the timing or the methodology, there is no greater privilege as a child of God. He is with us and He helps us.

Therefore, we must work to put away all our fears. This is the number one tool that the enemy of our souls uses against us. We can literally "What if" ourselves into a frenzy. Fear is painful. It weakens us and it dishonors God.

Fear is focusing on the wrong things and anxiety (which is generalized fear) chokes out our faith in God. It keeps us from apprehending God's best in our lives. Charles Spurgeon said,

                                    "Ye trembling souls! dismiss your fears;
                                      Be mercy all your theme:
                                      Mercy, which, like a river flows
                                      In one continued stream

                                      Fear not the powers of earth and hell;

                                      God will these powers restrain;

                                      His mighty arm their rage repel,

                                      And make their efforts vain.

                                     Fear not the want of outward good;

                                     He will for His provide,

                                     Grant them supplies of daily food,

                                     And all they need beside.

                                     Fear not that He will e'er forsake,

                                     Or leave His work undone;

                                     He's faithful to His promises-

                                     And faithful to His Son.

                                     Fear not the terrors of the grave,

                                     Or death's tremendous sting;

                                     He will from endless wrath preserve-

                                     To endless glory bring.

If we live surrendered, humble lives and trust in His promises, we will walk in victory when we stand against fear. While I recognize that each of us may have a thousand things that we could focus on instead of God, I also see that God will reward a steadfast life. Interestingly, I believe there is a correlation that the more turbulent the times in which we live, the greater the reward. There is so much He wants to do in these times in which we live. Pray for a vision and revelation and then trust Him to do great exploits!

"You and I can do nothing of ourselves; we are poor puny things; but let us attempt great things, for God is with us; let us dare great things, for God will not leave us."

                                                                                                                             Charles H. Spurgeon

Blessed And Broken

"Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and BLESSED and BROKE the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."
                                                                                                                        Matthew 14:19




When Jesus saw that the multitudes who came to see Him were hungry, He was moved with compassion. The disciples in no way had the resources to feed such a crowd, but Jesus knew exactly how to meet their needs. They needed a miracle; that is His specialty. They were desperate to fill their emptiness and longing; He carried an abundance. Because their priority was being in His presence, He promised to add all the other things they would need.

The apostle, John, tells us that Jesus "knew what He was intending to do" (John 6:6). Using the bread as His example, He blessed it and broke it for all the people to see. This began His teaching on living a life of faith and a life of surrender before the Lord.

It all begins by giving Jesus all we have, including our brokenness. So often, we only want to share what we perceive as the "good" parts of ourselves with others and with God. Either consciously or subconsciously, we try to bury the less attractive aspects of our personalities or testimonies family history.

We hold onto our broken hearts, minds, dreams, and lives, hoping that someday they will miraculously get better. And yet, this is rarely the methodology God uses to bring about restoration. He asks us to trust Him with our brokenness and to give it to Him in full. Then, He asks us to trust the process that is required to bring about total redemption and restoration.

This is much easier said than done. If perfectionism is part of our DNA, the work required by the Lord is even more detailed and lengthy in the process. That is because perfectionism throws a veil over our brokenness and tries to pretend it just isn't there. To make matters worse, within the Christian community, we can immerse ourselves in good deeds to try to really convince ourselves of our own "goodness". And yet, this is not at all why Jesus died for us.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1). No matter how much we try to cover up the brokenness, there is always still a nagging sense that our lives are not yet completely free in Christ. And, it is the faithfulness of God to continue to prod us until we succeed in the freedom for which He died.

Our lives are messy and God requires that we give our mess to Him. Human nature wants to wrap it up and put pretty little bows all over it pretending it doesn't exist. God's way is to expose it to the light and deal with it in a way that will ultimately yield the abundant life.

If we give the worst of ourselves to Him, He will bless it and give it back to us so that we can then share it with others. At times, He will even break it more so that it can be used in a greater way. Remember, brokenness is  openness. And, openness is a good thing!

If you've walked with God for any length of time at all, there will be a time when something or someone will break your heart. Somewhere inside of us there is a place that believes that this just shouldn't happen to children of God. C.S. Lewis said, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken."

And yet, loving others is the whole point. In Ann Voskamp's book, The Broken Way, she says, "I am what I love and I will love you like Jesus, through the strength of Jesus. I will love you when I'm not loved back. I will love you when I'm hurt and disappointed and betrayed and inconvenienced and rejected. I will simply love, no expectations, no conditions, no demands. Love is not always agreement with someone, but it is always sacrifice for someone."

She goes on to say that God calls us to the givenness of others. She states that our "Bad brokenness is broken by good brokenness", which is the giving out to others. C.S. Lewis said, "For in self-giving, if anywhere, we touch a rhythm not only of all creation, but of all being."

If we try to avoid suffering or mask it or attempt to comfort it, we miss out on the miracles and blessings that God intended for us. If we, instead, allow our suffering to propel us further into the heart of Jesus, we will be transformed. This is the transformation that brings freedom and healing to others.

As children of God, we are abundantly blessed. Simultaneously, for the greater good, God also allows us to be abundantly broken. Blessed and broken. For some of His children, this is the perpetual path He calls us to.

The promise He gives us if this is our path is that He will comfort us. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo. Kaleo means to "call by name" and para means "near". It is ironically within our brokenness that we have the privilege to experience God and the comfort He brings in unprecedented ways. There are special blessings found along  broken path that are found in no other places. Our faith and surrender to Him are evidenced as we learn to trust Him in the process on our broken road.

This year, as we thank God for the abundance of our blessings, could we also thank Him for our brokenness too? His Light refracts through every broken place and yearns to touch other lives that are even more broken than our own. What if we intentionally seek out others who are hurting to show them the love of Christ? This is how we live the abundant  life in the midst of a broken path.

We are living in a season where God is calling us to be bolder and more intentional. No excuses. No hindrances- not even our own brokenness. We are a people who are abundantly blessed even if we are also abundantly broken. All brokenness will never fully be alleviated until we go home to be with Jesus. In the interim, may we be moved with compassion the way that Jesus is to find others along our path who are also blessed and broken. It is worth the risk!

                                        HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!


"By believing against all odds and loving against all odds, that is how we are to let Jesus show in the world and transform the world."
                                                    Frederick Buechner

True Trembling

"His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying,
'YET ONCE MORE I will shake not only the earth, but also the starry heaven.'

Now, this expression, 'YET ONCE MORE', indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken-- that is, of that which has been created-- So that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is indeed a consuming fire."
                                                     Hebrews 12:26-29




Before the tribulation comes there will first be a season of Good News where the Gospel is shared throughout the earth (Matthew 24:14). The prophet, Daniel, speaks of this season when he says, "And in the days of these [final ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break and crush and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever" (Daniel 2:44). Daniel explains that the kingdom God establishes in the earth will forever endure.

This knowledge should cause believers to have the true reverence that God calls us to possess. However, because our society as a whole has become so irreverent, there are many who do not. It is much easier to focus on God's love and kindness, and, in doing so, we can easily forget just how great and powerful God really is. This is why God tells us, "this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My Word and reveres My commands" (Isaiah 66:2).

God literally looks for those who are humble, contrite (showing sincere remorse) in their heart, and who tremble at His Word. He is not seeking what we can do; He seeks who we are. He promises that as we draw closer to Him that He will draw closer to us. Interestingly, the closer we get to God, the more our hearts will tremble before Him.

Error in the church occurs for two basic reasons. Jesus said, "You are wrong because you know neither the Scriptures nor God's power" (Matthew 22:29). While He was speaking to the Sadducees and Pharisees, the inference was that they really didn't know God. They could talk the talk and fake the walk, but they really didn't have the kind of relationship with God that is intimate and abundant.

Knowing God was definitely something that Moses accomplished in his life. He spoke face to face with God in the sacred tent. And, when he did, his face was so radiant that the sons of Israel had to turn away. The trajectory in his life was to hear from God and to seek hard after Him.

When God gave Moses His Word in the form of the ten commandments, Moses did not eat or drink for forty days. He carefully handled God's Word and then shared it with the Israelites. When "the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and saw the mountain smoking, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen, but let not God speak to us or we will die.' Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; for God has come in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin'" (Exodus 20:18-20).

God shook Mount Sinai when He gave the law and He will once again shake the nations before Jesus returns. His voice thundered and shook the people at Mount Sinai and His voice will once again thunder throughout the earth. We will either be a people who trembles at His Word or we will be among those who ignore it which would be to our peril.

The book of Revelation tells us that during the tribulation seven thunders will be given a voice and will utter their message in distinct words (Revelation 10:3). The apostle, John, heard their message and started to write it down but was prohibited from doing so. He "heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!'" (Revelation 10:4).

We do not know why John was not permitted to write what the seven thunders uttered. Those utterances were to be sealed in an otherwise unsealed book. We will have to wait until the end of time to know what they spoke (Daniel 12:9).

The angel that told John about the seven thunders apparently had the authority of God's throne. His posture was that of a conqueror possessing his territory. Only the victorious Christ could make such a claim.

Between now and the end of time, it is imperative to know what God is saying. In times as critical as these, it is the only true thing that matters. We cannot be intimidated to draw close to Him, even if trembling is the end result of it. We may even hear the rumble of thunder:

"The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders" (Psalm 29:3).

"Thunder crashes and rumbles in the skies. It's God raising His voice!" (Job 26:11).

"God thunders with His voice wondrously" (Job 37:5).

"Then there came a voice out of heaven... the crowd of bystanders heard the sound and said that it had thundered"  (John 12:28-29).


More of God is coming to the earth. A season of fulfillment of the Word of God will occur. The light of God will be turned up. May we be a people in this season who are humble, contrite in spirit, and who hear and truly tremble at His Word!


               "Indeed, [at His thunderings] my heart also trembles and leaps out of its place."
                                                                  Job 37:1

And The Lord Remembered...

"And God [earnestly] remembered Noah and every living thing and all the animals that were within the ark; and God made a wind blow over the land, and the waters sank down and abated."
                                                                                                                                         Genesis 8:1




When times are turbulent or when we face major storms in our lives, it can become easy to believe that God has forgotten or forsaken us. Feeling forgotten and forsaken is a normal human emotion that most people have experienced at some point in their lives. David asked, "Why do you stand afar off, O Lord?" and "Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1). Even Jesus cried out from the cross and said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"

Most likely, this is how Noah felt, as well. After living through the incredible trauma of watching the earth be destroyed, he and his family had drifted in the ark for over a year. Loneliness and isolation must have seeped in because, to the visible eye, it appeared that nothing had changed. Same surroundings; same circumstances. It is at this point, though, that the Bible tells us that "God remembered" (Genesis 8:1).

This became the game changer! It wasn't really that God had forgotten Noah and his family. Quite the opposite was true. The word remember in this context means "to pay attention to, to fulfill a promise, or to act on behalf of somebody". The word implies a previous commitment that God has made and the declaration that God is now going to fulfill that commitment.

It is impossible for God to forget or to forsake His people, not only because of His promises, but also because of His character. He is love and He is faithful and He is unchanging. We can depend on Him no matter how bad our circumstances are or how we feel.

There will always be a greater purpose and plan than what our natural eyes can see. Too often, we try to assess our situations with such limited data that it would be impossible for us to understand things the way that God does. He tells us, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).

When God remembered Noah, He remembered him in three ways. First, He removed His judgment when He began to remove the water. We are told that, "He [that is, God] sent a wind over the earth and the waters receded... The water receded steadily from the earth" (Genesis 8:2).

Suddenly, there was new life and new power in the place of barrenness and death. God's Spirit ushered in the start of a new season and the fulfillment of God's covenant. Supernatural miracles once again displayed the glory of God.

The second way God remembered Noah was by giving him a sign. When Noah sent the dove out again for the second time, it returned with the olive branch in its beak. This sign symbolized the renewal and peace that God was restoring to the land.

It required patience and perseverance on Noah's part before he received the sign. He sent the raven out and nothing happened. He sent the dove out the first time and nothing happened. When he refused to give up, God gave him the confirmation he sought.

God is faithful to comfort and reassure us in our distress. He lets us know that He has not forgotten us or forsaken us and that He still is sovereign. He assures us that He is working all things together for our good.

The third way God remembered Noah was by His words. He said to him, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives" (Genesis 8:16). It seems that God broke the silence in Noah's life by speaking to him once again. It was when God spoke that Noah knew with certainty that God had remembered him.

When God began to speak, He gave Noah purpose and direction for what He was calling him to do. He said, "Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you- the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground so they can be fruitful and increase in number upon it" (Genesis 8:17).

Fruitfulness and multiplication were the order of the day then just as they are now. With the renewal and rest came the mandate to do God's work in the earth. The directive is always to increase the kingdom of God.

Grateful beyond words, Noah then remembered God and all that He had done. He received his mandate and obeyed God's will. He recognized the times he was living in and knew what he was to do.

This is where I believe we are today as believers. In this country, no matter how you feel about the politics at hand, we have been given a reprieve. We now have a reprieve of the assault against religious liberties. Full-term unborn babies have a reprieve from the slaughter that besieged them. Our supreme court has been given a reprieve. There is more I could add to this list, but you get the idea.

God has heard and answered the pleas of His people and He has acted on our behalf. Already, lives are being saved. Just today, in Brent's practice, he was told that all the Christians in Egypt were praying that Trump would win the election. The reason they prayed so fervently is because the Muslim Brotherhood issued an edict that if Clinton won, they would begin slaughtering Egyptian Christians and would begin demonstrations intended to oust President Sissi and replace him with a Muslim Brotherhood president.  They knew a Clinton victory would enable this because they knew there would be no consequences to their heinous actions.  Because Trump won, that isn't going to happen.

We live in wicked times. In order to see our culture changed from the inside out, we must have revival. That starts with you and I. We can no longer afford the luxury of time to not be diligent in our efforts to evangelize the lost. We must remember what God has done on our behalf and follow the same directive He gave to Noah. The Lord remembered... Will you?


"Arise [to a new life] and shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!"
                                                                  Isaiah 60:1

When Truth Is Trampled

"Justice is turned away backward and righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) stands far off; for truth has been trampled in the street (the city's forum), and uprightness cannot enter the courts of justice. Yes, truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice."
                                                                                                                               Isaiah 59:14-15




The conflict in our nation continues to escalate. If you had to narrow the scope of what is so conflictual, you could narrow it to the battle of truth and lies. What once was upheld and honored and esteemed is tragically being trampled underfoot by the masses. It would seem that the only apparent standard we hold as a nation is that we have no standards.

There was a day when we could count on the judicial system or the F.B.I. or the Department of Justice or even the media to sound the alarm of the injustices in our land. However, that is no longer true. Partisanship is the order of the day and it no longer bears any resemblance to the Biblical truths outlined for us in God's Word.

During the lifetime of the prophet, Isaiah, he also encountered the battle between truth and lies. The rulers of his time were so wicked that he compared them to pregnant women giving birth to sin (Isaiah 33:11; 59:4). He also noticed similarities of them to snakes hatching their eggs and to spiders weaving their webs (Isaiah 59:5-6).

Isaiah understood that no matter how intricate or organized their web of deceit was that ultimately that would prove to be the very thing that brought about their destruction. The apostle, James, confirms this when he states that "every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire. Then, the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin. When it is fully matured, it brings forth death" (James 1:14-15).

God is never pleased with injustice. When we see it in our land it is a clarion call from heaven to intercede and intervene. Prayer and fasting for our nation is a necessity. And, when we see that truth is being trampled, it is incumbent upon the people of God to lift it up, exalt it, and make it known. Only God can save our nation, but He does call His people to partner in what He is doing.

We cannot shrink back or profess ignorance (Proverbs 24:11-12). The more critical the times, the more vocal we should be. There are too many people being deceived by the lies. There are too many people on the slippery slope of destruction.

The Truth is not democratic, or republican, or libertarian. It is not opinionated or biased. We do not need political correctness in our land; we need Biblical correctness that will revive us into the nation we are called to be. The Truth is not a nebulous construct; The Truth is a person and that person is Jesus Christ.

It is His words that need to be lifted up. It is His characteristics that need to be emulated. It is His heart that needs to be sought in the midst of so much chaos and turbulence in our land.

When we do this collectively, there are certain promises that God makes to us that we can take to the bank. One such promise is found in the very same chapter of the book of Isaiah. It states, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]" (Isaiah 59:19).

In other words, God will intervene on our behalf. He will zealously and divinely mediate what we cannot. The result of His intervention will be salvation and the fear of the Lord, and He will be glorified!

He will covenant with every person that turns from their sin and walks in the truth. He says, "As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord: My Spirit, Who is upon you [and who writes the law of God inwardly on your heart], and My words which I have put inn your mouth shall not depart... nor will they depart out of the mouths of your [true, spiritual] children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord from henceforth and forever" (Isaiah 59:21).

When God's glory shows up, all things are made new. It begins with His grace in our lives and ultimately becomes His glory. Jonathan Edwards said, "Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected."

For so many Christians in our nation, this past season has been an extremely difficult one. Could it be that God is perfecting His grace within us? Could it be that it is God's plan in this next season to be glorified in His Church?

His glory dwells within us. It is the Light that will pierce our dark culture and our dark world. It is what God will use to draw all men to Himself, when we look up and lift Him up.

Lovingly and mercifully, we extend our hand to those who are being deceived. Not to prove we are right or that we have all the answers. We reach out as the tangible hands of Jesus so that others know they are valued. They are loved.

We let go of judgment and defuse the conflict that we see. When we humbly and truthfully recognize that we are all merely sinners saved by grace, we will joyfully extend that same grace to those around us. This is how genuine believers respond when we acknowledge that The Truth has been trampled in our land.


"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?"
                                                               Micah 6:8

Synchronized Heartbeats

          "He's a man whose heart beats to my heart; he will do everything I want him to do."
                                                                Acts 13:22




Even outside the Labor and Delivery room, you could distinctly hear the differences in the two heartbeats. Twin "A" sounded like a bounding, rapid gallop, while twin "B" was slightly quieter at a much slower pace. It was ironic to me that even identical twins would never be identical in regards to their cardiac function- the very beats that gave them life.

Synchronicity in their heartrates still does not occur even after the twins are born. Each heartbeat is separate and unique; it is solely their own. No matter how many similarities, likenesses, or commonalities they share, they will never share a synchronized heartbeat. That is reserved for our relationship with God.

The man in the Bible who gets the lofty praise of such synchronicity is David. He is referred to as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). At first glance it may appear that David  lived a perfect life and made no mistakes. However, this could not be further from the truth. His sin repertoire includes: lying, parenting mistakes, murder, and adultery, to name a few.

Yet, why would God commend David for his heart? What characteristics of his life stood above the rest? What caused his heart to beat the way that it did? What made David's heart beat the way that it did? How in the world did it beat in synchronicity with the Creator of the universe?

Immediately, this pulls my mind to the wonders of the human heart. This single muscle, that weighs no more than a pound, reliably beats more than 2.5 billion times in the average lifespan. It pumps over two thousand gallons of blood per day. It perfuses all the cells of the body with oxygen, as it simultaneously draws out the waste. It begins beating four weeks after conception and doesn't stop until we go home to be with the Lord. It is an amazing organ!

Similarly, when I think about David's heart, I think in terms of its: position, persistence, perfusion, and power. The intimacy of his relationship with God was of the utmost of importance as he longed to be as close to God as he possibly could. He desired what God desired and he did what God asked him to do. Even when life was challenging. Even when God's desires defied human logic.

The position of David's heart was bowed down. He was both humble and reverent. He rightly ascribed God's position, as well as the position of man. He said, "Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath" (Psalm 62:9).

He understood that when we are in right position with God that we are protected. Throughout many precarious situations, God delivered him again and again. He said, "The Lord will protect [me] and keep [me] alive; [I] will be called blessed in the land; and You shall not deliver [me] to the will of [my] enemies" (Psalm 41:2).

Despite the many people and circumstances that tried to take David out, he was persistent in his walk with God. There were times and seasons when he felt like he had lost everything- that is, everything except God. David used these opportunities to grow closer to the Lord.

Oswald Chambers says, "If God allows you to be stripped of the exterior portions of your life, He means for you to cultivate the interior."

And that is what David did. His faith both pleased God and was rewarded by Him. David was grateful in the times of peace and prosperity and he was grateful in the times of fear and despair. He never forgot to thank God for all he had- that was one of his finest characteristics.

David's life was perfused with adoration, devotion, and love for God. He delighted in His commands and he adored God's Word. Again  and again, he states that he meditates on them both day and night. David chose a heartbeat that was steady and strong.

He recognized the blessing of obeying God's precepts and walking in communion with Him. He shouts out his love for God and admits his life would be meaningless without Him. He states, "Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways" (Psalm 119:2-3).

All of these characteristics enabled David to live in the power of God Almighty. He trusted God with all his heart no matter how difficult his circumstances were. He said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

He was faithful, obedient, and repentant. His heart broke when he hurt God's heart. He cried out to God and said, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1-2).

David accomplished God's will in his life. He did not allow distractions, deterrents, or despots to get him off track. When God told David to do something, he did it without hesitating. He did it with love and passion.

David's heart beat for God and in synchronicity with God. It was the driving force of  his life. The God-shaped vacuum in his heart was gigantic and he was always mindful of God's presence in his life. Because of this, he knew what things to add to his life and what things to delete. He knew God's will and purposed in his heart to accomplish it. David understood that the most important thing in this world was to have a synchronized heartbeat that beats in rhythm and melody with the Lord!


               "We cannot always trace God's hand, but we can always trust God's heart."
                                                           Charles Spurgeon    

Going Dark

"Remind them to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men."
                                                                                                                                              Titus 3:1-2





As lawlessness escalates in the country around us, so does the absurdity of the presidential campaign before us. No matter on which side of the aisle you find yourself today, we can probably all agree that our governmental leaders lack the character and gravitas that once made this nation great. Corruption and moral decay careen out of control at unprecedented levels and it would seem that all that is right and good is being ridiculed and mocked.

Social media, for some, has become the coward's platform to say all manner of evil things towards those who hold opposing views. It is used to insult, disrespect, chide, and deride the very people that God has called us to minister to. And while we rant and rave towards the unfortunates that are less knowing than ourselves, we are being distracted from seeing the Only One who can effectively change things- Jesus!

The roar of the hatred and division crescendos to a tone that deafens and deceives. Every time we respond in anger and vitriol we disobey the very commands that Jesus gave to us. He warned us that these times were coming and that people would hate us just because we are His. Jesus tells us how to respond. He says, "What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops" (Matthew 10:27). We go dark when we quiet our hearts before the Lord to hear what He has to say. It is quiet and it is personal.

The problem we have is that too many believers are trying to wage war in the natural realm. The truth is that these battles can only be won in the supernatural realm. The apostle, Paul, tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

Still other believers have chosen to disengage from public debate and go radio silent. This also is not a Biblical stance. In the Old Testament, when the nation of Israel was divided (Israel and Judah) and without hope, God sent Ezekiel to tell them that He was going to restore their land and regenerate their people. He called His remnant to the ravaged land and told them to rebuild. Their assignment was to build up what had been torn down.

The Holy Spirit showed Ezekiel this by giving him a vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37). These were the skeletons of many bodies who had been dead for a very long time. They were dormant and desecrated- unable to do anything of value during a time that was crucial in their history. Then God asked Ezekiel a question. He queried, "Can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3).

Ezekiel did not have the answers because, from a natural point of view, this was certainly an impossibility. However, from a divine perspective, we know that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). It wasn't that Ezekiel lacked the faith of what God could do; it was that he was uncertain of what God's plans were.

Then God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dead bones that God's breath would enter them, they would be covered with flesh, and that they would live and know the power of God (Ezekiel 37:4-6). Ezekiel obeyed the Word of the Lord and saw that God's Word is powerful and alive and that it also imparts life (1 Peter 1:23). The dead army of bodies became a living one and they rose to their feet to accomplish God's will.

Interestingly, all the promises that God gave to Ezekiel were not fulfilled at that time. They were a prophetic message for believers living in the last days prior to the return of Christ. These believers would become the bride of Christ that Jesus would return to reclaim for His kingdom and His glory. This is the army that would one day move across the earth preparing others for the return of Christ.

It is my belief that as a nation we are at a critical junction for our future- both naturally and supernaturally. I believe this is the time that God wants to pour out His Spirit on the earth and do great things. This will require the sacrifice of repentance and radical obedience.

He is calling us to grow closer to Himself and hear the Words that He is speaking. These are the Words that we are to shout to the world. Not our own- only His. Jesus is the One who matters right now and we need to put our eyes back on Him.

We cannot focus on those who are "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power" (2 Timothy 3:1-5) because they distract us from the Only One who can bring revival and regeneration to our land.

God has a plan for this election cycle and it is incumbent upon each one of us to not assume what that plan may be. We have to seek His heart regarding the things that are important to Him: advancement of the Gospel, loving one another, preparation of His bride, and Him being lifted up in our individual lives and in the earth. We will never truly know His heart if we are focusing on the chaos and lawlessness we see in the natural.

I honestly do not know if our nation is barreling towards God's judgment or if He will mercifully give us a reprieve to be about His Kingdom agenda. What I do know is that whatever decision He makes will be the one that ultimately ushers in the greatest number of souls in this end-time harvest. God is good and what He does will always be for the greater good.

The thing we can do as believers is to recognize the times we are living in and not get sucked into the vortex of unholy speech, attitudes, and deception. Jesus is the anchor of Truth when we approach Him in reverence and humility. He will lead us into all truth and righteousness. Self-righteousness will rapidly lead us to destruction.

Pray for all of our leaders and presidential candidates. Recognize that these representatives merely represent the sin that is so rampant in our land. God is allowing us to see in the natural what is so prevalent supernaturally. Instead of hostility, how about some repentance?

God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the only good options for our nation today. Charles Spurgeon said, "Decayed churches can most certainly be revived by the preaching of the Word, accompanied by the coming of the heavenly breath from the four winds." Prayer is the essential catalyst.

On an individual basis, we need to conduct an honest assessment of our relationship with Jesus. Is it alive and vibrant and bearing good fruit? Do you know what Words He is telling you to speak?  Or, is it on life support that barely survives from week to week? It is not enough to only be spiritually fed once a week. The more uncertain the world around us becomes, the more important it is to have daily, one on One time with the Lord. This cannot be done solely in the public square. This is the kind of relationship that only happens by going dark!


"The coming revival must begin with a great revival of prayer. It is in the closet, with the door shut, that the sound of abundance of rain will first be heard. An increase of secret prayer with people will be the sure harbinger of blessing."
                                                                                                                                   Andrew Murray

Lightning Inside The Eyewall

"Out of the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
                                                                                                                                   Revelation 4:5




This morning, as I am writing this blog, I am watching the Storm Tracker on the Weather Channel. They are tracking Hurricane Matthew, which will affect approximately 11 million people in Florida and the Carolina's. Currently, Hurricane Matthew is a Category 3 storm, but because of the lightening that is occurring inside of the eyewall, it is poised to quickly become a Category 4 storm.

When there is inner core lightning, it means that the storm is very strong and continues to strengthen as it moves. Studies have shown that these bursts in the inner core that are accompanied by electrical activity will cause a deepening of intensity. They will cause the storm to quickly escalate into a formidable force that wreaks much havoc throughout it's path.

Interestingly, the majority of storms have no lightning inside the eyewall. It is a very rare storm that does. That is because only the most powerful storms have the flashes of lightning within them.

Pondering these truths made me stop to consider some of the storms that I have personally experienced in my life. To be honest, the vast majority of them had little or no lightning inside the eyewall. Often, I would revert to survival mode and try desperately to avoid the discomfort of the storm that raged around me.

Recent revelation and understanding has taught me how to really lean in and experience God's presence and power in the midst of my storm. Instead of hunkering down and trying to minimize its effects, I realize that when I actively participate and cooperate with what God is doing that there are treasures to be found in the darkness. The primary treasure that we receive is more of God, Himself.

There is so much of Himself that God wants to give us when we are experiencing difficulties. Instead of shielding us from trials and tribulations, God reveals to us that He has something even better in store for us. What is better is the goodness, kindness, mercy, and love that flows from the very heart of God.

Over and over in His Word, He promises that we are never alone in the midst of our storm. He promises hat if we lean into our circumstances and lean into Him that He resides with us in the eye of the storm. He says, "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14).

The problem that we have, however, is that the noise of the storm around us is loud and sometimes it is hard to hear God while it rages relentlessly. Yet, as we acknowledge Jesus by faith and appropriate the truth of His Word, we will begin to see and hear Him more clearly. And, when we worship Him, we will feel His manifest presence in our lives.

As we ask Him to give us a "Spirit of Wisdom and revelation" (Ephesians 1:17), He will begin to teach us in the midst of our storm. This enables us to interact with His Word (which is what God uses to speak to us). The book of Hebrews tells us that "the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Ultimately, God is after our hearts. He wants to cleanse them and make them fully alive and functioning to Himself and His purposes. This is when He releases His power in our lives to accomplish His will.

God's power is the demonstration of His presence. His power and His presence are inseparable. This is what strengthens us and gives us the grace to be steadfast in our walk. This comes from truly knowing the depth of His love for us personally. Intimately.

The apostle, Paul, said, "May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ, through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]- to Him be the glory! (Ephesians 3:16-21).

No matter what we do (or do not do), we will experience storms in this world. We do get to choose whether or not we will just brace ourselves merely to survive the affront or whether we will press in to experience God's presence and power. For goodness sake, if we have to go through them anyway, please let there be lightening inside the eyewall!


                                   "No pressure is greater than God's power."
                                                      Charles R. Swindoll

*** Please pray for the people in the path of Hurricane Matthew

True Redemption

"The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out."
                                                                                                                                        Luke 8:1-2




She was the last one to leave the Cross, and the first one to visit His grave. She expressed much love, gratitude, and servitude to the Lord because she owed Him her very life. She would never forget that Jesus had healed her and liberated her from seven demons because torment defined her very existence until she met Him. The power of His touch propelled her heart to beat faster and her respirations to accelerate along with it. This was no ordinary Man. No, this was the Son of God. This was her Redeemer.

Mary Magdalene responded by passionately devoting her days to: loving, faithfully ministering to, and anointing her Lord. The fire of her love and compassion was fueled by her remembrance of the depth of her bondage. She determined in her heart to commit her whole life to following Him and allowing His goodness to flow through her to others.

Propelled by a force that was greater than her own, she pressed on to the destiny God had planned for her life. She opted to leave the past and press into her future. She left her home in Magdela to become a disciple of Jesus. In turn, she was redeemed and made whole; she would never be the same again.

Jesus transformed her life in every way. He took the love and devotion she gave to Him and turned it into a heavenly revelation of her Resurrected King! He honored her sacrifices to Himself by still allowing her story to minister to people in need. He helped her mature in every level of His grace to become everything He had created her to be. She wasn't just redeemed spiritually. No, every aspect of her life was transformed and redeemed to the glory of God!

It still amazes me how God runs His redemptive thread through the whole of our lives. He takes the tiny mustard seed of our faith in Jesus and imputes all of our sin to Him so that we stand righteous before Him. The book of Romans tells us that "All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

But, He doesn't stop there. While grace displays God's heart for us and pays for our sin, He still has so much more for us as His children. He takes all of our failures and shortcomings and He uses and redeems each one. When He adds His redeeming touch to all that is broken or not working, He makes it count for profound purpose and His great glory!

More often, it is our failures to which people can relate, and not our successes. This is how we become conduits to help those around us. Max Lucado says, "Blessed are the available, blessed are the conduits; the tunnels, the tools. Deliriously joyful are the ones who believe that if God has used sticks and rocks to do His will, then He can use us."

There are so many people around us who have very real challenges and struggles. While it is true that we are more than conquerors in Christ (Philippians 4:13), and that God does give us victory in all things to triumph, it is also true that hurting people need to know the places that we have struggled and failed. They need to see our humility, along with God's power.

Failure will never define us if we are determined not to be the same person coming out of something as we were going into it. God will always be glorified if we allow Him to touch our circumstances and bring redemption to them. Jack Hyles says, "Failing is not a disgrace unless you make it the last chapter of your book."

We are reminded that we are not God when we fail. We are also reminded of just how much we need God in our lives. We need Him to redeem us, which means "to buy back, recover, and to make up for". It is not just about being redeemed eternally; it is also about living a redeemed life, which is the only kind of life that brings God glory.

God intentionally made humanity dependent upon Himself. We are lesser beings through which He might be glorified. We are told that "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to bring forth the light of the knowledge of the clarity of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay vessels that the excellency of the virtue may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).

He sends His message through jars of clay so that He will get all the glory. It all starts with Him and it all ends with Him. In eternity, the glory of the redeemed will all go to God and not to man.

Throughout the whole Bible, God's desire is to redeem a broken humanity. Over and over, He proves that He will redeem all things that are given to Him in submission. He redeems: people, families, relationships, broken hearts, dreams, purpose, and destiny. We find that some people are involved in the redemptive process and some are not.

For those who are involved, God empowers them by His Spirit to live redeemed lives. He gives us revelation to hear and know Him so that we are not left on our own to try to figure things out. He also speaks through other Spirit-filled believers to convey His heart and message to us. He also illuminates His Word to light the path in front of us.

His Spirit also teaches us how to live sacrificial lives that prefer others before ourselves. He shows us how to walk in humility and to apologize to the people we hurt. God uses sacrifices in a mighty way to bring about redemption in the broken places of our lives.

The Holy Spirit also brings us to a place of maturity in our walk. He shows us how to receive God's grace at every level to be all He is calling us to be. We walk life out with others in order to hear more and be more like Jesus. We make a decision to not let our past define our present or our future in Christ. Only Jesus has the power to define our destiny.

Redemption is a beautiful gift that is placed upon us. It is not earned, nor is it deserved. Lavishly, God pours out His very best on us so that we can be His ambassadors of grace to those around us. His heart is to always "seek and to save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10), and we are graciously part of His loving plan. That, my sweet friend, is true redemption!


"Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I'm not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things- things which could be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him."
                                                                                                                               Oswald Chambers