...and the eyes of the nation are focused on Hurricane Sandy. "The Storm of the Century"? "The Perfect Storm"? I don't know what to call it, but I am intrigued by the meaning of the name. The literal meaning of Sandy or Sandra, comes from Alexander. It means "Defender of the People" or "Defender of Men".
I believe that this Defender has come to wake up or shake awake our nation during a time of major change. I believe this Sentinel also comes to make an indelible mark in the mind of us as individuals to be aware, to know the times, and to open ourselves up to the one true Soverign!
It is He, the Great "I Am" who is our Defender, our Deliverer. The One, who's Kingdom is forcefully advancing.
I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I surrender to Him. And I pray with my brothers and sisters for His Kingdom Come and His Will to be Done!
For those with eyes...let them see
For those with ears...let them hear
For those with hearts ablaze...let us love the One, our Eternal, Everlasting God!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
...all of me
"Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18)
If these 7000 did not "kiss the Baal", then I believe the reverse is true. By not kissing the Baal, they were actually kissing God. How many times in our culture have I had the opportunity to not only stand for what I believe but show my adamant love for God? I have stood many times, quietly out of obedience to honor God concerning moral issues in my generation. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I have determined to make a stand.
I have read the passage from 1 Kings many times. In fact the whole Elijah story; challenging The Baal prophets, the three year drought, prophecy spoken to Ahab, etc have always captivated me.
I would have to say that the Revelation from Mt Horeb is pretty awesome too! God demonstrates mighty acts before Elijah, but reveals himself to Elijah in a quiet whisper....Awesome! Now for verse 18...
I have been familiar with the 7000 persons that God had preserved in Israel. I have been aware that these ones had never bowed a knee in idol worship (I have prayed many times to be like one of those ones.), but somehow I managed to read right over the last part of the verse. It's this last portion that has me captivated "...and all whose mouths have not kissed him."
I have an immediate understanding of what bowing means both in definition and culturally to the people of that time. But I'm captivated. With the exception of maybe...intercourse...kissing is about the most intimate thing I can imagine. And I'm not speaking of the sloppy, wet, full mouth kiss necessarily.
The word kiss here is "Nashaq" which, more than intimacy, speaks of homage. These ones, preserved and protected have not only kept from serving the spirit of the age, but have not honored it with an intimate expression. They're regard is both physical and emotional.
The message to me is this...in the same way that they stood for God in a depraved generation, I believe I am called to stand, but here's where it becomes personal...
But my call is deeper. I believe God is calling me to an outward expression of love. And I think this is demonstrated through my emotions too. I have the opportunity to express my love for Jesus and "Kiss the Son" (Psalm 2:12).
So let me be counted with the ones who would be marked for righteousness, but also let me be marked as one who is radically in love with the One! Let me serve him with ALL that I am and kiss him with the kisses of my mouth.
I will love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
...our battle
http://youtu.be/e6uSLUnfna8
My heart and soul are very stirred yet again today...
Where is this Warrior Bride? Where is this one who is so marked by love, innocence, purity and kindness?
Answer...she is still in training. She is the Snow White character (Kristen Stewart) from the movie. She is being raised up through hardship: locked in a tower, bitterly chided, walking the road less traveled, facing adversity, having to learn forgiveness, tenderness, compassion, purity, and love in her journey toward intimacy and identity. She doesn't yet know that she is the love-sick, warrior bride. But identity is beginning to settle over her.
And all the heartaches and hardships are beginning to reveal a beauty that could only come from perseverance and brokenness.
What is the TRUE response of our heart, as created in the image of the Invisible? LOVE!!!
As intolerance rages against intolerance, LOVE will overcome. The tender and compassionate stare of the Bride will set things right. The kind touch of love (that looks to the heart and is not offended by the sin of another) will set things right.
Love will set things right!
My heart and soul are very stirred yet again today...
Where is this Warrior Bride? Where is this one who is so marked by love, innocence, purity and kindness?
Answer...she is still in training. She is the Snow White character (Kristen Stewart) from the movie. She is being raised up through hardship: locked in a tower, bitterly chided, walking the road less traveled, facing adversity, having to learn forgiveness, tenderness, compassion, purity, and love in her journey toward intimacy and identity. She doesn't yet know that she is the love-sick, warrior bride. But identity is beginning to settle over her.
And all the heartaches and hardships are beginning to reveal a beauty that could only come from perseverance and brokenness.
What is the TRUE response of our heart, as created in the image of the Invisible? LOVE!!!
As intolerance rages against intolerance, LOVE will overcome. The tender and compassionate stare of the Bride will set things right. The kind touch of love (that looks to the heart and is not offended by the sin of another) will set things right.
Love will set things right!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
...porn kills
...the mind!
I don't know many who would deal directly and honestly with the main downfall in the lives of Christian men today. There is a battle taking place in the mind. And since we don't talk about it directly, it becomes our own private battle, destructive and plaguing. I believe the battle is toward purity. Men are bombarded daily with pictures that could potently defile the eyes.
For those who deal with exposure to pornography, it can feel especially hopeless when you are trying to walk worthy of a calling to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. I believe it is a battle that takes place in the mind...played out behind the eyes and has the potential to keep us isolated and feeling stranded. But we are not alone.
The Holy Spirit of God is the one who dwells within us, giving us strength, and we have an Abba Father who knows all about us and loves us completely, Psalm 103 and 139. Our place as a believer is one of Sonship. And He takes great delight in us, and from that place of Sonship, we can know that we are first of all LOVED! From that place of love, we run to the Father and not away. And the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, loves us with an Everlasting Love. Love is who He is, and He cannot go against His nature!
So there remains one last detail...talking about it. I think as men, we must talk about it openly, vulnerably, and freely. We must find ourselves living out what takes place behind the veil of our eyes with one another. I believe it's here where we will not only encourage one another but find grace to help each other in our time of need. I would encourage you to take the risk. Find someone you trust and allow them to hear, see and be a friend. Who knows, they may be waiting to have someone be real with them too!
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your........mind. This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37, 38 NKJV)
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:14-16 NKJV)
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV)
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NKJV)
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)
I don't know many who would deal directly and honestly with the main downfall in the lives of Christian men today. There is a battle taking place in the mind. And since we don't talk about it directly, it becomes our own private battle, destructive and plaguing. I believe the battle is toward purity. Men are bombarded daily with pictures that could potently defile the eyes.
For those who deal with exposure to pornography, it can feel especially hopeless when you are trying to walk worthy of a calling to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. I believe it is a battle that takes place in the mind...played out behind the eyes and has the potential to keep us isolated and feeling stranded. But we are not alone.
The Holy Spirit of God is the one who dwells within us, giving us strength, and we have an Abba Father who knows all about us and loves us completely, Psalm 103 and 139. Our place as a believer is one of Sonship. And He takes great delight in us, and from that place of Sonship, we can know that we are first of all LOVED! From that place of love, we run to the Father and not away. And the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, loves us with an Everlasting Love. Love is who He is, and He cannot go against His nature!
So there remains one last detail...talking about it. I think as men, we must talk about it openly, vulnerably, and freely. We must find ourselves living out what takes place behind the veil of our eyes with one another. I believe it's here where we will not only encourage one another but find grace to help each other in our time of need. I would encourage you to take the risk. Find someone you trust and allow them to hear, see and be a friend. Who knows, they may be waiting to have someone be real with them too!
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your........mind. This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37, 38 NKJV)
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:14-16 NKJV)
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV)
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NKJV)
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
...ardent sacrifice
This evening I returned to my barracks (I've been away for military duty) to 4 military guys watching the movie Red Tails. I had never heard of it before tonight, but it looked pretty good to me! The scene I walked in on was an air battle between the Ally forces and the enemy. One airship had already been badly damaged and had turned around in retreat. It was under escort when it was attacked again by a Nazi plane.
One of the fighters was being chased aggressively when he saw his friend approach him from the front. In an ardent act of valor, his friend told him to dive out of the way. And when he did, the oncoming pilot began to engage the enemy. He fiercely fired upon his foe, killing his enemy and in the process took direct fire, which fatally ended his own life. The rest of the squadron watched in disbelief and shock as his aircraft, plummeted to earth, the pilot's life now expired.
This was such an amazing sacrifice of self to save his friends. I had only meant to casually watch for a moment, when I walked up. But was immediately drawn in when I watched this heroic scene. And that's when I looked up and noticed two other men had also walked up and been drawn in. They stood...quietly fixated. Their fascination peaked as they heard the sounds of battle. You could have heard a pin drop! I was very struck by this! Intrinsically, we are greatly moved by sacrifice. We are grieved, relieved, caught off guard, etc... These men had been very moved by this temporal sacrifice. But this is exactly what Jesus did for us. But how would they know and be moved with great emotion? There must be a power encounter within us, in order to stir and impact the ones around us. The testimony of Jesus must radiate in all of us! I must not only be a testimony of His love and sacrifice. I must be ARDENT!
"...always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:10 NKJV
Only the supernatural work of His Spirit makes this possible!
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:12, 13 NKJV
This was such an amazing sacrifice of self to save his friends. I had only meant to casually watch for a moment, when I walked up. But was immediately drawn in when I watched this heroic scene. And that's when I looked up and noticed two other men had also walked up and been drawn in. They stood...quietly fixated. Their fascination peaked as they heard the sounds of battle. You could have heard a pin drop! I was very struck by this! Intrinsically, we are greatly moved by sacrifice. We are grieved, relieved, caught off guard, etc... These men had been very moved by this temporal sacrifice. But this is exactly what Jesus did for us. But how would they know and be moved with great emotion? There must be a power encounter within us, in order to stir and impact the ones around us. The testimony of Jesus must radiate in all of us! I must not only be a testimony of His love and sacrifice. I must be ARDENT!
"...always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:10 NKJV
Only the supernatural work of His Spirit makes this possible!
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:12, 13 NKJV
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
into the heart...
"One thing I have desired of the Lord,That will I seek...
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple."
Psalm 27:4 (bold me)
This is our first and most necessary calling. One Thing!
And this is where I seek to find myself....everyday...growing more in love with Jesus Chirst! It's is from this place that I learn to love as I am loved and to gaze, behold and dwell with Him. It changes me!
In Matthew 22:39, we are also called to love our neighbor as ourselves. I don't know that I have ever rightly grasped this. But grace and mercy lead me everyday by the hand to understand.
Last week, I went to the premier of "Snow White and the Huntsman". I felt compelled that I would have to see this when the teasers ran during the past few months. And I would put in on my list of "must sees". I could write a small book explaining how clearly the Biblical comparisons are as it deals with identity and destiny for the Bride...
...but let me share only one scene...
One the way to discovering her truest identity and step into destiny she is walking through the Dark Wood with the Huntsman, and they come across a bridge. At the moment they try and cross the bridge, a troll jumps up at them and begins battling with the Huntsman. The Huntsman, though powerful, brave and full of valor is not match for the mighty troll and is soon thrown unconscious across the creek. And is quickly in danger of being smashed to death by the creature. It is at this point that Snow does the only thing she can do. She stands in the way of the creature and locks gaze with it; her life now threatened in it's path.
At this point the troll lets out a terrrible roar, shaking her to the ground. But she doesn't take her eyes off the creature. Instead, her face softens as if there is something greater going on in her. And as she gazes, it becomes apparent that she actually feels compassion for this creature that appears completely evil and malicious.
It is at this moment that the Holy Spirit quickened to me that this is where the Bride of Christ is in her journey to destiny. The Bride is at a place of understanging TRUE compassion, kindness and mercy. To me it spoke volumes of love! I believe that our culture is at a place of explosive hatred. And at the forefront of this is the agenda for same sex rights. The Church is having to face the hypocrasy that it has created over many generations as it has so causally reacted to infidelity in the church, divorce, abortion and more. I am not poinitng a finger at the church. Instead, I am evaluating my own heart and actions.
Also, I am NOT pointing a finger at Homosexuals, or anyone else dealing with sexual issues. But let me ask...if the Church of Jesus Christ is expected to dwell in a place of fierce love and burning desire for purity and wholeness before the Lord...how could we do anything less than follow His example? I believe we are called to gaze wholeheartedly into the eyes of everyone that we percieve as vile or evil and have nothing but compassion and act out of selfless love.
I shared something on FB last evening that challenged me even as I wrote it. I was speaking about what our response should be to someone who is gay. And my point was, someone who has never known the love of the Savior and the depths to which we are so unconditionally loved, will only react with venom to a condemning even hypocrytical finger. Here's what I posted, "...and many times I didn't even understand how badly I had blown it until I understood how clean his blood made me." Even now it blows me away. Without the revelation of the Father's great love even some in the church will never understand what that means. But for me, I am blown away by this AMAZING LOVE!!!
It was the church of Laodecia that was called to repent and turn to Jesus. And I beleive this is the call over us in this generation.
"Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:17-20
Holy Spirit, help me to have revelation of the far reaches of Jesus' love. Chanllenge my paradigms and change my judgemental, frustrating spirit. I want to do what Jesus does, see as He sees, speak what He speaks, feel what He feels and LOVE AS HE LOVES!!!
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple."
Psalm 27:4 (bold me)
This is our first and most necessary calling. One Thing!
And this is where I seek to find myself....everyday...growing more in love with Jesus Chirst! It's is from this place that I learn to love as I am loved and to gaze, behold and dwell with Him. It changes me!
In Matthew 22:39, we are also called to love our neighbor as ourselves. I don't know that I have ever rightly grasped this. But grace and mercy lead me everyday by the hand to understand.
Last week, I went to the premier of "Snow White and the Huntsman". I felt compelled that I would have to see this when the teasers ran during the past few months. And I would put in on my list of "must sees". I could write a small book explaining how clearly the Biblical comparisons are as it deals with identity and destiny for the Bride...
...but let me share only one scene...
One the way to discovering her truest identity and step into destiny she is walking through the Dark Wood with the Huntsman, and they come across a bridge. At the moment they try and cross the bridge, a troll jumps up at them and begins battling with the Huntsman. The Huntsman, though powerful, brave and full of valor is not match for the mighty troll and is soon thrown unconscious across the creek. And is quickly in danger of being smashed to death by the creature. It is at this point that Snow does the only thing she can do. She stands in the way of the creature and locks gaze with it; her life now threatened in it's path.
At this point the troll lets out a terrrible roar, shaking her to the ground. But she doesn't take her eyes off the creature. Instead, her face softens as if there is something greater going on in her. And as she gazes, it becomes apparent that she actually feels compassion for this creature that appears completely evil and malicious.
It is at this moment that the Holy Spirit quickened to me that this is where the Bride of Christ is in her journey to destiny. The Bride is at a place of understanging TRUE compassion, kindness and mercy. To me it spoke volumes of love! I believe that our culture is at a place of explosive hatred. And at the forefront of this is the agenda for same sex rights. The Church is having to face the hypocrasy that it has created over many generations as it has so causally reacted to infidelity in the church, divorce, abortion and more. I am not poinitng a finger at the church. Instead, I am evaluating my own heart and actions.
Also, I am NOT pointing a finger at Homosexuals, or anyone else dealing with sexual issues. But let me ask...if the Church of Jesus Christ is expected to dwell in a place of fierce love and burning desire for purity and wholeness before the Lord...how could we do anything less than follow His example? I believe we are called to gaze wholeheartedly into the eyes of everyone that we percieve as vile or evil and have nothing but compassion and act out of selfless love.
I shared something on FB last evening that challenged me even as I wrote it. I was speaking about what our response should be to someone who is gay. And my point was, someone who has never known the love of the Savior and the depths to which we are so unconditionally loved, will only react with venom to a condemning even hypocrytical finger. Here's what I posted, "...and many times I didn't even understand how badly I had blown it until I understood how clean his blood made me." Even now it blows me away. Without the revelation of the Father's great love even some in the church will never understand what that means. But for me, I am blown away by this AMAZING LOVE!!!
It was the church of Laodecia that was called to repent and turn to Jesus. And I beleive this is the call over us in this generation.
"Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:17-20
Holy Spirit, help me to have revelation of the far reaches of Jesus' love. Chanllenge my paradigms and change my judgemental, frustrating spirit. I want to do what Jesus does, see as He sees, speak what He speaks, feel what He feels and LOVE AS HE LOVES!!!
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