To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.- Anatole France

The familiar yields something new when I open my mind to discovery and with discovery to those connections to all else that I know-J Wilson

Walking Humbly With My God

I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity - 1 Chronicles 29:17a

This last week I came once again, face-to-face, with the notion that God uses all things to accomplish His will. That means no evil occurs that He does not get the glory and honor as well as every gift and good grace that we deem a blessing.

 

God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. He uses every tool, object lesson, event and contingent event to do so.

 

He has not as of yet, run out of new and creative ways to do this.

 

For God the key is relationship. God's desire for each of His children is to walk in relationship with Him, to glorify Him in word and deed as we uphold His righteousness and integrity. It is a high calling that we will fail to achieve without complete dependence on Him.

I am convinced, having watched God's people over the last few years here in the United States and abroad that the greatest tests come not in great adversities, but in great prosperity. In having much we begin to lose the sensitivity to particular kinds of sin in our lives. Greed, selfishness and pride come to mind as the top three sins in my own heart that I must be on guard about when things are going well.  On the other hand adversity motivates us to righteousness out of a desire to see our plight changed. I'm not sure this is the primary reason we are in our predicaments but, none the less, we are more sensitive to a lack of God's presence when times are tough. We go seeking Him. We want to know if He is still there, hearing us and available to us. Prosperity fails to provide this motivation for obedience. We fall into a satisfaction and confidence in life that is based on our riches rather than on God and truly on our need for Him everyday.

In the little verse of scripture at the top of this posting we find Hezekiah who was a great godly king of Israel speaking. He was a faithful, God-honoring king most of his life, but toward the end he became proud. How many of us know we can even become proud in that we have established a relationship with God?

 

God wanted to find out if Hezekiah would still honor Him and recognize His blessings in his life. He failed the test when God sent an envoy to his palace to inquire about a miracle that God performed on behalf of Hezekiah. The test was designed to find out if Hezekiah would publicly acknowledge the miracle performed on his behalf. But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicle 32:31).

Hezekiah's failure resulted in his children failing to carry on as rulers of Israel, and the nation would eventually be taken over by the Babylonian Empire. The lesson of Hezekiah is clear. If we remain faithful to our Lord, we also remain steadfast in our obedience to Him. Prosperity can be our greatest test. In your mind who made you wealthy? Ask the Lord to give you the grace to be a faithful follower during times of prosperity so that in the times when things are a little thinner, a little leaner, you understand and are sensitive to those messages as well.

 

I remain...

 

InHISgrip, ~J~

 

 

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

When the Minutiae Does Count - Life Virtually Always!

Who despises the day of small things? - Zechariah 4:10

Over the last several  weeks I have been working on developing a new tract of thinking as it relates to Life Purpose Coaching, my own franchise consulting work and the purpose for the individuals who are God's people; heck, even the individuals who currently are not God's people.

The reason I make that second statement is that none of us get's to any of our favorite words without our getting to the place where we understand we were made to enjoy a life-long and intimate relationship with God. We do not get there by doing "good work." We can take care of our families and our responsibilities and excel in education and vocation and we will not get to happy, joyful, fulfilled, complete, satisfied or any other superlative that is associated with those if we do not start with the premise that I was made to worship and adore God and take my greatest joy in Him forever. So, it's quite a thing isn't it if you do not even recognize Him at all.

All of this has me reading particular books and authors and points of view. Many of these I have read more than once. And I am now in the process of "splitting hairs" at a very finite degree. I have had to show discipline and in a life that is ordered like mine where my time is often mine to order indiscriminately it isn't always easy.

Life is filled with daily routines and many of them we are not big fans of; I am sure you are the same way. We do things we don't necessarily enjoy but we do them because they need to get done. In my current project that is precisely where I am at.

To cap this thought quickly for you the landscape against which I am thinking has to do with great expectations for God. Attempt great things for God - expect great things from God. But apparently the Holy Spirit is in the details. The great things are, at this moment in my life, a whole bunch of little things.

Every now and then, God takes us to the mountaintop to experience His presence in a dramatic way. This is not the norm. It was not the norm for those in the Bible either. Moses spent 40 years in preparation. Paul spent a great deal of his life working toward the wrong purpose until a dramatic event changed his life. For Paul, after that change he then spent years and years apart from the church and people so Jesus, through the Holy Spirit could speak to Him in an ordered way and provide you and I the great church teachings we depend on for our structures as New Testament Christians. In the case of Jacob he  spent 20 years working with his hands for his once and future father-in-law Laban all for the love of a girl; but, more than this all for the cause of a people.

God uses the tiny details of our lives to develop character qualities that He plans to use at the appropriate time. Often the small things and yes, the things we despise are the very tools for immortality. In the small things we develop trustworthiness in our relationship to Father God. He learns He can depend on us. We learn we can handle them in patience and endurance.

Here's the key: The day-in and day-out grind of working life molds us and makes us into what God desires. God is preparing you for something far greater. That isn't a question. It is a fact. For now, however, you are learning the daily lessons of small things. I'll make you a deal. You pray that I remain faith and I will pray that you will be faithful by those little things as well. Let's not look for the devil in the detail. May we find the Spirit of the Living God in every instance of our life.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~

The Greatest Light in Our Personal World Is...?

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. - Romans 3:3-5

As I grow older, ya know, just plain older; but also as I mature in faith I have become more concerned with what separates those who have a false sense of security in Jesus than I am worried about those who rightly and properly understand why it is they are bound for eternity with God. I hadn't thought about this much until I began, once more, reading John Piper's book Desiring God. In the book Piper makes a strong case for the joy of salvation that Christians properly feel emanating out of them from a shift in the primary focus on their love and affection. Who do you love most? Piper scripturally argues that if your foundational love; from which all other affection is drawn from; the source of all your love or happiness is your love of God then you can wrap your heart, mind and soul around your correct assumption that you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.

So what then is the wrong love focus? How might you wrongly assume the happiness you get from being saved is false hope? What then might it be that gives us a counterfeit sense of, "I am saved?"

In a recent message to his church John Piper spoke these words,

Millions of nominal Christians have never experienced a fundamental alteration of that foundation of happiness. Instead they have absorbed the notion that becoming Christian means turning to Jesus to get what you always wanted before you were born again. So, if you wanted wealth, you stop depending on yourself for it, and by prayer and faith and obedience you depend on Jesus for wealth. If you wanted to be healthy, you turn from mere human cures to Jesus as the source of your health. If you wanted to escape the pain of hell, you turn to Jesus for the escape. If you wanted to have a happy marriage, you come to Jesus for help. If you wanted peace of conscience and freedom from guilt feelings, you turn to Jesus for these things.

In other words, to become a Christian, in this way of seeing things, is to have all the same desires you had as an unregenerate person—only you get them from a new source, Jesus. And He feels so loving when you do. But there’s no change at the bottom of your heart and your cravings. No change in what makes you happy. There’s no change in the decisive foundation of your joy. You just shop at a new store. The dinner is still the same; you just have a new butler. The bags in the hotel room are still the same; you just have a new bellhop.

I believe Dr. Piper is right.

Genuinely being born again, saved, and a part of the new birth in Jesus Christ has the affect of changing our fundamental desires. Where I once desired my own selfish wants and needs primarily, I now simply wish, regardless at the cost to me to glorify my great God.

For each of us the question becomes this, "Am I loving God because He made me a big deal and did a lot for me, and in my future even more if or am I loving Him because I realize the magnitude of what He has done for me though I deserve not one bit of it?" Perhaps another way of saying it would be, "is my love of God founded in Him or founded, in some manner, in me?"

Those who desire to honor God might say it better than I and I am trying to get my arms around it but the core of this seems to be that I need to understand God did all He did for me so that His glory would shine forever. I need to get that into my heart. This is not about me primarily. It is about Him fully. There is verse after verse that point out the ways in which God reveals His great love to us for His Glory and His Own sake!

Check these verses out:

• Luke 2:10-14 is the manger story and ends this way, "... glory to God in the highest!" (We get a savior and God gets the glory!)
• Isaiah 43:6,7 commands God's prophets to bring forth his children with the end reason, "...whom i created for my glory."
• Ephesians 1:5, 6 tells us through the giving of His Son God adopted us back into his family. Why? "...to the praise of His glorious grace."
• Psalm 79 essentially says that God pursues us for His Glory. Verse 9 resounds, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for Your name’s sake!" I might get a benefit but my God ultimately gets something far superior-GLORY. This is how the truly saved might pray.
• John 17:24 and this is how Jesus prays when speaking about this very subject of our right standing and salvation with God. Check this out: Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Jesus wants us with Him. To be sure He has and will yet do many things for us (Check out the book of Revelation sometime to see what is, in small part, yet to be done for us...HUGE!) but what is our joy and our happiness? ... to see His glory!

This could go on and on but I point these out to express that the love of God is meant to lead us back to His glory and His honor and our praising Him and it is an end in itself and that is how the born again, he saved, the truly blood washed see their salvation. Where once I had no desire to love on God now I cannot help but see how everything points back to Him that is good, right, pure, peaceful, loving and full of His glory.

So what's in it for you and I? Well I think you can probably answer these questions yourself; at least partially. I've already made this way too long but here is a short list and you look up the scriptures to validate it:

• I receive eternal life because He receives the glory
• I receive riches beyond this worlds count because He receives the glory
• I receive His purpose for me in this life because He receives the glory
• I receive His personal direction and instruction because He receives the glory
• I received and continue to live in His great love through Jesus Christ because in His having given that to me He receives the glory

This is truly the short list...judge angels, joint heirs, ruling and reigning, it goes on and on doesn't it...and for it I weep for joy and bow down and worship the great God of all because He deserves all honor and power and glory for ever! God gives us so much and loves us so much and makes so much of us because in doing so, in the way that only He can do it true and fulfilling love, God's love and loving God is regenerated.

Don't let all God has done and will be done for you become the reason for your love of God. Don't make some aspect (love, wisdom, freedom, power, healing, gifts, etc.) become the reason for your love of God or others.  We can love Him because He first loved us, gave His Son for us and now, by opening up our eyes of understanding, allows us to glory in the unfathomable love that is our God.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~

And Your Reason Is? - This is More of a Rant

Recently a relative of mine called words I had directed toward her in reflection on something she had written a "sounding gong and chiming cymbal." Actually I believe she was calling me those things as she quoted from I Corinthians 13:1. Perhaps she merely was expressing that to her it sounded like I was correcting her without love. It was a response to something she had posted on Facebook about a video that can be found here: http://vimeo.com/11501569. You should cut and paste and take a look at it. It's pretty slick and insightful. Go ahead, open another browser window; I'll wait here.

Nice job fellows at North Point Media (a ministry of the multi-campused mega-church North Point Community Church in the Atlanta, GA area.)

But I think this very cool video is not what some might interpret it to be. You see, the same guys who gave us this http://vimeo.com/8637774 gave us this http://vimeo.com/11501569 - perhaps they were simply providing themselves and the other 220 mega churches throughout the USA and the other 1200 around the world with a little wake up call.It certainly is a funny parady to them.

The rest of the churches who would want to emulate this kind of production couldn't if they tried and can't afford it as it is.

Still all in all the message in the video saddened me but it doesn't surprise me (Though given who they are really did sort of confuse me). That my sweet and loving relative would call me or think I was unloving toward her a noisy gong or clanging cymbal likewise saddened me.

The video as an inside joke is funny. If, its primary intent be to shoot holes in 21st century church, well then guys I would tell you that this is old news about contemporary ills of the Church. This particular piece is wrapped in the very technology that it criticizes; using the same "vices". That's weird.

Perhaps it is "the heart" of the church, the minister or the worship leader that the video, "Sunday's Coming". But who is it? It never says. It just seems to criticize some church (or ministry), somewhere, at some time. But it is just so totally random.

We will never know about whom this specifically was aiming at. We will have to call the character who plays the guy who knows it all, Pastor Guru since whomever this charismatic charmer is in the clip has no name. It just doesn't say.

I guess, since the message is posted for the world to see on YouTube, then the whole message appears should just be taken as a think piece much like you might have gotten from the Wittenberg Door guys back in the 70's and 80's (Shades of Mike Yacconelli). That job, policing and sarcastically criticizing has now been replicated in 10,000 blogs. The difference is that this one is great media. It's well produced. A few magazines of the Christian ilk have attempted to be a helpful policing agent for all things Christian in the past but it was hard to take them seriously across from a full page ad by Zondervan by the latest greatest book by the latest greatest writer, teacher, pastor, expositor, celebrity.

But I have a problem with the video "Sunday's Coming". It has no target. It's an old, worn out misdirected method of trying to cure an ill (or ill's) in the church. The strategy becomes this:

"We, the concerned, will talk about things in a general way that will be validated by the many who view themselves as "not this." I can't say for sure but "not this" offends me and therefore anything that I define as "not this" will be struck from my professional, objective, and classically trained spiritual eye as to be brushed aside. After all "not this" has no place in the 'Kingdom of God.'"

Now, before I get too far you may ask, "John what do you mean by, 'not this?'"

Well I'll give you some examples. Let's say I go to a small church of 45-65 which "preaches the pure word." "Not This" then becomes highly polished, well orchestrated ministry. Perhaps my church has no electrical instruments nor electronics of any kind to wow the masses.  "Not this" is then the fancy electronica, sound and lighting affects of the world being used in less than spiritual churches. And certainly our pastor isn't that slick, cool, knowledgeable, Steve Jobs-esque fellow depicted in the video "Not this" becomes any pastor who has charisma, delivery and uses current terminology. Further, no one walks up front with a logo'd t-shirt, sneakers and cool glasses in my church because we honor God by our Sunday best! "Not this" becomes multi-media used to present the announcements or anyone who acts as the Master of Ceremonies of a spiritual service. (Really? Those were cool glasses?) Or, and I am "not this" might say/believe I am not in a big church. I am not in a modern church. I am a Christian but I am not in church at all. These examples could all be a part, in this instance, of the "not this."

And, since you are "not this" don't you just feel better knowing it?

It gives you great comfort in knowing that you are far off the hell bent path of "not this" and therefore much you are much closer to "what it is!" What it is, in my verbiage, is your idea of the right thinking and correct path to follow Jesus.

The problem brothers and sisters is this; In this us and them strategic ideological division you would say to yourself, "I understand 'what it is' because 'not this' makes me convulse to think about it!" I spend time with my fellow believers (or disbelievers) and we all shake our heads in disapproval at "not this," grateful that we have a clearer if not crystalline, objective and abiding understanding of "what it is." I thank my God I live under His protection in "what it is."

So I watched "Sunday's Coming." And in it I recognized the "anti-spiritual" players and realized in 46 years of church attendance I have only seen all of them on the same team, at the same time and place, espousing a similar format and mission twice. I had seen all of those things that Sunday's Coming espoused separately but not all in one place and to think it was the mission and vision of those ministries to succor people on slick stylings would be the subjective rant of an infidel attempting to justify their disbelief in Jesus Christ. ("I don't believe because Christians are hypocrites." Somehow, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher..." is lost in that line of thought for me...I'm just sayin'.)

Jesus was contemporary for His time. He did things that woke people up. He changed up the way to ask questions and to speak to people...even WHO He would speak with changed. Using the language of the day, the tools and technologies of the day to reach the churched better to disciple and the unchurched to deliver them into God's kingdom, though must come with God's anointing and direction (as would anything) certainly isn't patently anti-god or anti-church.

The video is funny. I hope every minister who watches it gets that he/she better not become "not this." But to my loving relative and anyone else who validates feelings, experiences and media as well as sentiment to discredit "the church," it isn't that easy. I cannot get past the true, obvious, "smack-you-in-the-face" plain teaching of scripture about why some people would embrace it to validate a particular point. It doesn't make any of us right to acknowledge we know worship leaders who just want to sell CD's (usually to shore up some paltry salary they try to subsist on) or some pastor who has learned the delivery of a teaching or sermon with professionalism and competency.

The video does not say that churches, bodies of Christ are whack; stay away! It does NOT say that. The Bible is plain...

• It says Jesus died for His body - the church (and though we are members of that body...the body is still recognized with ALL it's members working together) - Colossians 2:19; I Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 5:23

• Oddly enough something we hold very personal, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, is for the Church. You have spiritual gifts. And since you do they are to be used in a corporate body of Christ setting. Check it out - Acts 10:44,45 & 11:15-17

• It says we are to be those who organize as the parts of the body to better attack the gates of Hell (the gates don't attack back) and that Jesus is the churches (not the individuals) leaders - Ephesians 1:22,23 & I Corinthians 12:27

• 47% of those who profess Jesus as Savior in America don't go to church or involve themselves regularly with a body of Christ and I suppose since God allowed, slavery, polygamy, divorce, a taxed society He doesn't kick anyone out of eternity for not attending church but they certainly can't call themselves disciples of Jesus Christ either

• 37% of that group indicate they do not go to church because of deep wounds caused by past associations and that includes being guilted into service and other personally viewed harms.

• The Church body is a unique place where God's glory is illuminated - Ephesians 3:21

I do not know what your "not this" is or if it relates to the church of Jesus Christ at all. But, let me suggest that nothing in life reflects on those who are able-bodied and capable or taking their place as a member of a local body of Christ and do not do it as the kinds of hypocrites that the world finds unbelievable. Secondly, God has few people that He expects to act as a sort of internal KGB to police His own army. He doesn't use believers to ambush His own. It's time we all were part of the solution instead of spy's in the land sent to throw rocks indiscriminately and make self feel better for both agreeing that error lives in the church as a sort of general statement (duh!) and pointing out the errors of our brothers and sisters...where is the love in that? More to the point how loving, in grace, is it and where is the lack of hypocrisy you hope to avoid?

I remain...

InHISgrip, ~J~

The Master Maker of All Things Good...

Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. - Exodus 31:1-5

So I got up this morning and I was thinking back on all the great pieces of art that the Lord has allowed me to play as a guitarist. I have had several Gibson guitars, a Martin, a Taylor, and 3 Fender guitars (all American made). In addition I had a Swedish handmade Hagstrom, a Guild and an original Epiphone (before Gibson bought them and took them to Korea to be mass produced.)

God entrusted me with many fine instruments. And, in some cases I did not do very well by the work of the fine men and women who created them. This morning as I looked over at my Black Fender Stratocaster Ultra I realized how someone's gifting had changed my life and created in me a whole new reason to glorify God.

In the little verse above we have an example of a man called of God to perform for the Kingdom of God. Bezalel was called by God to perform a most important work for Him. I am sure that Bezalel believed that he was naturally gifted with his hands to make fine crafts with gold, silver, and bronze. In his original thinking this man may not have associated his artistry with God's work. But the Scripture tells us that God chose Bezalel and filled this dude with HIS own Spirit to enable him.

Does God call men and women into their vocations to fulfill His purposes - to fulfill that which needs to be accomplished throughout the world? Have you ever thought about how many occupations there are in the world? How did that balance of interest among each human throughout the world happen? Did it just happen? Was it by chance that we have only so many doctors, only so many accountants, only so many geologists? Now, I realize that mom's can call doctors. And I know that dad's can push hard for sons to become engineers but nonetheless everything that needs to get done (Well, quite most of it) seems to.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ your interest in your vocation if understood rightly in the light of scriptures should not be born of your own making. Certainly whatever it is that you do would be best done should the work of it be given to God as an offering. So many believers and even pastors have made the mistake of encouraging us who have a deep desire to walk with Christ in our profession to pursue vocational ministry. To remove us from the world at large where the greatest harvest is yet to occur would be to remove us from where God called us. Do not take this bait. Serve the Lord in the place where He has gifted you and called you. Where is your skill? Where is your passion? Marry those two things and expect God to honor the work of your hands.

I almost made this same mistake when God drew me to Himself when I was 18 years old. I concluded that I must be called to be a full-time pastor. I took steps to fulfill this by leaving my job and entering a Bible school for training. Upon completion, I took a job as an assistant pastor in a church. But God's mercy allowed me to be removed from that position only a few short years into it. I was "forced back into business," where God wanted me in the first place. It was a great lesson. I was never cut out to be a "conventional" pastor in a church, but a "pastor" in the community; to include business, and church, and teaching, training, and applying the growing knowledge God was giving me from His word to be more directly applied to everyday life.

If you struggle today with who you are in Christ and what you do it isn't necessary. Give God what you do now. Expect Him to move you into the place where you affect more for His Kingdom and watch Him work.

One day our friend Bezalel was merely a recognized skilled and talented goldsmith. The next day he was GOD'S goldsmith. Let's all get on THAT bandwagon.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~

Whatcha Got There? Faith? Or Is It Faith in Faith?

..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty - Zechariah 4:6

One of the things that always bothered me was just how dour a Christian might be. Typically it is some form of, "Well just look at the world would you. The world is going to Hell in a hand basket."

It's this very situation that gives us peace and joy and a right and positive attitude because despite this our God is in control Our God is still mighty. Our God still has each of us in the palm of His hand; knows our ways and will never leave or forsake us!

God's people should be the most positive, joyful people on earth. This joy should be a by-product of a healthy, intimate relationship that Jesus came to restore between each of us and God the Father.

As I got up this morning I was thinking about business. Usually during the work week my mornings are given especially to interaction with my clients. In today's business climate, we are barraged with every possible means of becoming more productive believers both in our work and our homes. Though I would have thought it would have passed from the scene like another fad, positive thinking and self-help philosophy are still promoted as tools for the career minded and vocational believer to fulfill their potential and overcome the mountains in their lives. A sort of god sprinkled, "go go go - rah rah rah" attitude about our faith, the power of believing, the upside of knowing all we have in Christ still permeates much of today's literature aimed at giving us purpose and provision.

So, I want to run something by you and let's see if you agree with it, "God calls each of us to be visionary leaders, but we must be careful that vision is born out of His Spirit, not the latest self-help program." A godly power point cradles us in the peace and knowledge that our God reigns in our life. Any idea that leads us away from dependence on God, though it calls His name to bear to bless our effort is nothing more than a self-based psychology designed to falsely provide us with a sense of more power, prosperity, and significance. The problem is that God is in the small still voice. God is in the service and not in the lording to be great. God is in the desperate understanding that it is in HIM and not His principles that we are strong towers. We are weak and that is our strength. He is strong and that is sufficient for me!

When we put faith in our faith the result is heresy. Our faith in God must never be defined as faith in faith. Faith in faith is born out of hard work, mental toughness, positive thoughts and diligence rather than obedience to God's Spirit. The problem lies in that these philosophies of have faith sound good, and can even be supported by Bible verses. Beware of anything that puts the burden of performance on you rather than God. There are times in our lives when God doesn't want us to climb every mountain. Sometimes He wants us to go around it. Knowing the difference is the key to being a man or woman led by the Spirit.

God has called us to affect the workplace through His Spirit, not by our might. Have you tapped into the real power source of the soul? Jesus left earth so the Holy Spirit could show up (it says so, look it up) Ask the Lord to reveal and empower you through His Spirit today. Then you will know what real positive thinking is.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~

What Steals Your Personal Peace of Mind (& Heart & Soul)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me - Psalm 23:4a KJV

Today I counted...

I counted how many times some small thing stole my peace of mind away from me. I enumerated each time something in the world around me caused me to lose my grip on this fact:

God is on His throne which is in my heart and yet as close as He is I lost touch with Him and made this earthly minutiae, this temporary interruption, this less than significant obstruction greater than He and bigger than what He had given me to do.

In the battles we face in every day life most of us need to confess, right now, that those battles are over next to nothing. It's not monsters that sidetrack us from following hard after God and enjoying, praising, loving and worshipping Him in our everyday life. We are thrown off course by small things. We might even be embarrassed if our friends and family knew just how easily tiny things keep us from enjoying our God and living our faith. Moreover it is self defeating. Why? Because what we tend to forget (or perhaps never even knew) was that our peace is actually a weapon.

Daily life creates many opportunities to rob us of our peace. Cash flow concerns, deadlines, relationships, something not where it belongs, someone doing what we believe they should not - all have been designed by a very creative enemy of your soul to drape stress on us like a heavy wet blanket. The Biblical axiom we must embrace is this: Our confidence in the God of peace declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. He cannot take from you what God has given you. You can hand it over however and often we give up this eternally valuable gift for NOTHING!!!


All of us desire more control. The way we gain it is to lose ourselves in God's rulership in our life. We gain spiritual authority in a similar manner. You see the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, He did not confront satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any voice other than His Heavenly Father's. Jesus' peace overwhelmed satan; His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.

There is a place of walking with God where you simply fear no evil. David faced a lion, a bear, and a giant. In this Psalm he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he "feared no evil." David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "...for Thou art with me." Because God is with you, every adversity and adversary, both real and imagined that we face will fold before you in victory as you maintain your faith in God!

In this Psalm David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Ps. 23:5a). The promise is this, as you live in God's rule, in the Kingdom, with a grateful and remembering heart, the battle we are in will soon become a meal for us; an experience that will nourish and build us up spiritually and emotionally.

Only true peace, God's peace will quell our fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God's peace is God Himself. God is the Gospel...HE is the good news and HE is the peace. If anger, bitterness, frustration or fear has been knocking at your door, begin to face them with God's peace. It is God's secret weapon to destroy the hinderances of our life.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~

Reflecting on the Impossible

But He answered, "You give them something to eat." - Mark 6:37a

As I was in my study on Mark 10:46-52 in preparation for this weeks message on blind Bartimaeus, I ran back across the feeding of the 5000. And, it sort of struck me as funny. Jesus turned to a group of outcasts, and dropouts and gave; them the aforementioned command, "Feed all these thousands dudes!"

Has anyone ever asked you to do something that seems totally ridiculous? The very suggestion of their instruction may have brought laughter or, once you realized they were serious even anger for proposing the idea.

I imagine that the disciples may have felt this way when Jesus responded with this direction when they asked Him how they were going to feed the 5000, who had stayed around to hear Him speak (and heal and amaze). The disciples, showing a high level of practicality, suggested a logical answer to the problem, "Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat" (Mk 6:36).

But, as you may have guess that wasn't the answer Jesus wanted. He saw the need of the people. He had compassion on them. He wanted to solve the problem with a Kingdom of God kind of response; a response that would bring honor and glory directly to the Father and not obvious and common sense.

So, Jesus asked them what they had in their hand. And, if they were confused and perplexed and certain their leader was 2 bricks short of a load for previous wild thinking and actions this simply sealed the deal.

Jesus' point was is this, often what we already have in our hand is what Jesus wants us to use to solve our problem and to provide the solutions to what is proximate to our current situation but, perhaps more than this, it is the solution to those to whom God has put in our care. We must add hearing ears (What is God telling you to do?) to our faith to what we already have in our hand. Then we will see the gospel of the Kingdom manifested to solve problems in a supernatural way. Then we will see our God show up mightily.

Jesus wanted to meet a need in which God would receive the glory. Sending the people away did not meet that overarching goal or their immediate need.

Do not settle for the gospel of salvation only. Jesus came that we might experience the gospel of the Kingdom in its fullest sense. Our job is to look past our logical reasoning and see how God might want to solve our problem in a supernatural way. After all, we are the generation of "greater works than those that I have done will you do..." Perhaps we need to sharpen our spiritual ears and start expecting it!

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~