Want to become more effective in your ministry efforts?

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him.  Mark 3:7 NLT

How do you become effective in your ministry for Jesus?  There is a little or maybe big principle hidden with this verse.  I have been memorizing sections of Mark for the last six months.  It has been wonderful to catch some “manna” from even a simple verse like this.

To me this was just a connecting verse that gets repeated several times.  Jesus goes into the Synagogue and out to the sea of Galilee at just about every event.  So I use this verse as a marker for the timeline of his ministry and what is about to take place next in the story.  I did not feel much inspiration from this verse.

Then God began talking to me.  How did Jesus grow in his ministry? My answer was his miracles. In fact the next verse says that the news about his miracles had spread far and wide and vast number of people came to see him.  So one principle for growth is the movement of God in your ministry.  Not just busyness, but doing God’s business.  Others will begin talking about how God is moving within your ministry.  Pray for salvations to occur…people love talking about “new babies being born”.  This is also not limited to miracles of healing…although pray often for them to occur.  People will talk about any event that is God inspired, you just need to vocalize ALL the credit to Him.

BUT the main principle is even more primitive than Jesus doing miracles.  As I woke up this morning I felt God ask me, “Why did large crowds follow Jesus?”  I replied to Him, “the miracles”?  “No!  It was because Jesus was following my lead to the next place I wanted Him to be.”  If Jesus had gone to the mountains, the crowd would not have been able to follow...but he went to the lake.  This was exactly where God needed him to be in order for the large crowd's to find him.  God’s provision, your next big event, sermon, service opportunity, participation in church, and even going to work or school every day has the opportunity for impact when you are following His lead. 

Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and they follow me.  He leads them in and out to pasture.  God will bring that which is necessary in your life…as you follow Him.  We are more important than the birds of the air, the flowers in the field and He will take care of us.  Trust that your activities are in agreement with following Him, and he will bring the crowds, provision, wisdom, growth, effectiveness, or whatever is needed or lacking for Him to fulfill that which is pleasing in His sight in your life. 

We should focus on “being” where God wants us next, then let Him bring the crowds.  Trust that He will bring people.  In the story of Ruth, she returned home to Bethlehem, because she heard that there was bread again.  May God allow His “manna” to be at the core of all you do.  There are hungry people looking for the bread of life and many thirsty people looking for the true living water which is Jesus.  Let’s always offer the real thing.

How then shall we live....while we are waiting

How then shall we live…while we are waiting?

So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him. Hosea 12:6 NLT

When I was growing up there was something unique that happened while shopping in Kmart stores- the Blue Light Special.  “Shoppers, shoppers we have a blue light special in homewares for the next 5 minutes.”  When you arrived in homewares there would be a line of people waiting to get the discounted items before the time ran out. 

How should you act while you were waiting?  Some complained that they were too slow in getting to the line.  Some were evaluating the worth of waiting for the valued item.  Some complained that there should be a different way to distribute the items. Some were trying to figure out where the next blue light special was going to take place.  But all had to wait some length of time in order to receive the merchandise.

Hosea provides a straight forward instruction for us to follow while we are waiting on God.  First, our lives have to turn or return to God as the provider of all things.  In this passage, Hosea has been figuratively referring to Jacob and Ephraim as depending on their own strength and looking for idols to meet their needs.  Repentance means that we acknowledge we have been living life in our own strength, but now we look to God. Where there is no turning – there is no repentance. We are just continuing to walk in our old path of living with new ways of thinking.  Good thoughts are not repentance. Turning requires first a broken and contrite heart that we violated God’s path for our lives and then lifestyle actions reflecting our decision to turn.

Second, and probably the most instructive about what to do while we are waiting (living daily life), we are to keep covenant and justice.  The phrase “act with love“ is the Hebrew word “hesed” which is the most intimate term of covenantal relationship that we share with God.  Hosea is saying that above all guard, watch, keep, preserve, maintain, have actions in your life that nurture this love relationship with God as the primary activity in your life.  Going to church each week is just showing up to the game. We need to daily worship, pray, read his word, talk with God, obey his voice, let Him be involved in EVERY arena of your life.  When you do this, you are beginning to keep hesed. This is a rich word in the OT and worth more study.

Hosea also says that we should guard or act with justice.  Intimacy with God (hesed) leads to following his ways of living (doing justice).  He has provided his judgments that help us know how to conduct our affairs of living personally but more importantly with others.  God wants us to interact with people that reveal that we are living by a higher standard of conduct(God’s).  This just means that we should be involved in our work, neighborhood, communities and city in such a way that invites God’s kingdom life upon us.  We spread blessing in our words and actions. Jesus walked and lived among us and revealed much of the hypocrisy that was hidden to us in the way we treat people.  God wants us to be involved with his justice while we are waiting.

Finally, Hosea tells us that we need to wait or depend on the Lord.  What in your life are you waiting on God to fulfill? Family salvation, financial breakthrough, vocational opportunities, physical healing, or direction for your life are struggles that we all face while waiting on God to act.  While you are waiting….act in love and justice.

When Jesus said Thanks

When Jesus said thanks

Where did we get the pattern for saying a prayer before we eat? Jesus.  There are three main events recorded in the gospels where Jesus said “thank you”.  Two of those circumstances involved the eating of food and one was at the resurrection of Lazarus.  So why should you pray before you eat?

When Jesus fed the 5000 he prayed this prayer – “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” John 6:11 NIV.  So what did “gave thanks” mean?   From HELP’s studies (2168 euxaristéō (from 2095 /eú, "good" and 5485/xaris, "grace") – properly, acknowledging that "God's grace works well," i.e. for our eternal gain and His glory; to give thanks – literally, "thankful for God's good grace.").  In other words, it is not just a comment of gratitude.  Rather, this word acknowledges the underserved favor of God (grace) at work toward us for His glory.  Jesus knew the miracle of feeding 5000 people was an expression of God’s grace toward him and the people present. 

Have you heard people say that we need to say “grace” before we eat?  This is an expression taken from this Greek meaning of the word acknowledging God’s providential favor for the entire experience.  Yes, we are thankful for the food and for those who prepared it.  But we also are thankful for all who are gathered to share life together, no matter how big or small the gathering.  The whole experience of a meal can carry the attitude of gratitude for God’s favor.

Jesus gave thanks for the cup and the bread at his last supper with his disciples in which we now commemorate as Communion.  Jesus was giving thanks for  his death experience that he was about to endure.  Not because of the pain and brutality of the beatings, humiliation, and finally crucifixion on the cross.  Rather, He saw God’s good grace that would be experienced by all the followers  through His sacrifice of dying in their place.  Sometimes it is good that we have to sacrifice for others.  As parents we shield our children from unjust pain through our hard work.  Sometimes we are falsely accused and we turn the other cheek.  Sometimes we let God bring judgment on another, instead of pursuing our rights to make us look better.  In all we look to see how God’s good grace working through us will help bring about his eternal glory.

Finally, “41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me” John 11:41-42 NIV.  Jesus gave thanks before the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.  Wow, Jesus gave thanks for the knowledge that God heard his prayer.  Do we really believe that God hears our prayers?  When you pray for the sick…does God really hear you or do you think He is just amused at your prayer like listening to a child learning to talk?  The key is in the meaning of thanks.  Anytime we pray we are invoking God’s good grace and favor into our conversation.  We can do nothing on our own, but through His grace we are encouraged to approach the throne of God’s grace boldly and present our request.  I am praying for you and I right now that we will see an increase in our prayer lives as we experience God’s good grace working in us and through us for His good pleasure.  Jesus said in John 16:24 “24Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” NIV

Ask God to open your eyes to see the incredible abundance of the evidence of God’s good grace in your life.  I am sure that it will bring about a heart full of gratitude that you can share with others this Thanksgiving.

Come to Me even when I see all about you - Whisper from Father, God

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.  Luke 5:8-11 NIV

Why do you find it difficult to approach me?  What aspect of the ugliness of sin makes you afraid to be in my presence?  From the beginning Adam expressed fear and tried to hide from me after he violated my command.  It is true that when light and dark collide, all of the darkness has to flee.

Jacob had to run away from his home after stealing the blessing.  Judah hid behind self-righteousness while confronting Tamar’s sexual misconduct.  Joseph’s brothers put blood on their hands to escape the betrayal of selling out Joseph. Saul, the people made me do it, hid behind the fear of man.  David pursued the busyness of life (thinking I would forget because of the passage of time) until I helped him see “that thou art the man”.

Because of my Son’s death on the cross, he made a pathway for you to come to me.  David expressed that I have all knowledge about him, yet he still asked that I reveal any wicked way in him that remained hidden.  I want you to come to me, because I alone have the ability to remove the scum that sticks to you because of sin.  There is a moment of pain, as I remove the thorns of stupid life actions.  You will hurt just a moment as I wipe the dirt out of that scuffle when you said such awful things.  My hug of love may reveal some back tension from the weight of unconfessed sin that you have been carrying.  But my closeness is necessary for me to unravel the sin that so easily entangles.

Come to me all of you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  I want you close enough to me that you can see the reflection of yourself in my eyes.  For there you will see yourself as I see you…my beloved child.

Whispers from your Father, God

You Must be Born Again

³ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,^[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  ⁴ “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” ⁵ Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.^[b] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.^[c] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You^[d] must be born again.’  John 3:3-7 NLT

On Saturday October 22^nd at 9:00 a.m. my 3^rd grandchild, Stephen Gregory, was born to Jonathan and Melissa.  I arrived at the hospital shortly after 7 am and prayed with them.  With little sleep the night before she was ready to have the baby.  At that time she was only dilated at 4cm. About 8:40 Jonathan and I stepped outside the room for a few minutes.  When they invited us back in she was ready to start pushing.  10 minutes later, Stephen arrived.

Not every delivery is this quick nor uncomplicated.  In fact many times there are complications with the deliveries or problems with the  health for the mom and the baby.  However, Jesus uses this event to describe the parallel for every person to enter into the spiritual kingdom.  He says that there is NO other way to be a part of His Kingdom.  We must be born again by the work of the Holy Spirit.

I wanted to encourage all of us about this event.  After 9 months, the delivery was fast.  There was an increased acceleration at the end.  You and I may have been praying for someone to become a follower of Jesus.  You may have become discouraged seeing no signs that God is moving in their lives.  But when their hearts become tender through the moving of the Holy Spirit, it can happen quickly.  One event can cause them to contemplate life differently.  One scripture can break the stronghold of unbelief- “I believe, help my unbelief” or “At your word, I will cast my nets on the other side”.  One act of love can melt the hardness of sin.  One word of humility can disarm years of unforgiveness and bitterness that has caused them to be unable to take a step toward the freedom of God’s love and forgiveness.  Don’t give up on your wayward child, your hardened spouse, your belligerent coworker, your arrogant sibling, your picky neighbor, your gossipy church member, or the Muslim friend who rejects you. 

If you are concerned for their spiritual condition at all…God is still reaching out to them.  He is inviting you to participate in the delivery.  Your hope and your intercession are part of God’s imploring for them to be reconciled to him.  Again, if it is on your heart…it is on God’s heart.  Today is the day of Salvation….it can happen sooner and quicker than you think.  Don’t let outside appearances cause you to loose heart.  Faith is the evidence of things unseen.  Believe that God is working and will continue to work.

Don’t grow weary in well doing…for we shall reap.

Would your speech change if more words were coming from God?

¹⁹ When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.²⁰ For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:19-20.

I asked Papa (my stepfather) to choose one of his favorite verses for the devotional this morning.  He said this verse brings encouragement to him because he trusts that God will help him speak His words at the right time.  How would our speech change if more of our words were coming from God?

To be sure this verse found its first fulfillment when Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin after preaching that the Jesus they had crucified was now risen (Acts 4:1-22).  The rulers recognized that they were uneducated but bold and articulate.   We also know that Paul was taken before  leaders and tried to persuade them to become Christians in their own “courtroom”.  Are there other opportunities for this verse to find application in our lives?

A marinated steak is good not only because it is juicy, but because the mixture of sauce and spices had time  to permeate its flavor throughout the whole piece of steak.  Likewise, when we spend time in intimacy with our Heavenly Father in worship and meditating on His word, we become available for Him to use.  His thoughts and words overflow from that which we are full of…His Spirit.  The converse would also be true…our lack of preparation of time with Him, would limit the opportunities for maximum effectiveness.

In Proverbs 25:11 we find another corollary encouragement.  “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”  How many times do we wish we had the right word for the moment?  In Matthew we find this wonderful promise that the Holy Spirit will provide those needed words of life. 

These timely words are for all occasions in our lives, not just when we will be called to court. Such as…knowing when to say I’m sorry instead of demanding my rights; sharing wisdom with a coworker struggling in life; not being silent over racial concerns in our country; discussing politics with family and friends with whom you disagree; how to turn a conversation to contemplate Jesus role in our lives; and how to diffuse and argument.

There are so many lost people who do not know Jesus.  Could we ask for the Holy Spirit to help us lead a person to Christ within this next week by the words that we would speak to them?  Could we trust that our Father could empower us with boldness to actually lead someone to be a follower of Jesus?  We do not have to worry, because He told us not to.  We do however need to trust by faith, that God will fulfill his promise to speak through us at just the right time. 

May our prayer be the same as Paul’s, “And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike”.  Ephesians 6:19.  If God does not have our mouths to communicate His love to the world, then whose?

Remain Salty

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ESV Matthew 5:13

The Essence – Salt

Salt is one of the five abilities that we have as taste. Salt as sodium chloride is so stable a compound that almost no natural element can turn salt into another compound.  Salt is needed in the body for survival.  Salt kills bacteria and can preserve meat for years.  As late as the 19 century salt blocks were used as currency in the country of Abyssinia now known as Ethiopia.  The first Roman Road was made for the Salt trade.

The Problem – Dilution

Water and other chemicals can dilute salt or contaminate it where it is no longer usable for consumption.  The life giving qualities have become useless and also harmful.  It will kill grass and all sorts of vegetation.  Hence it is to be thrown on the roads to keep them clean of vegetation and ease of travel. 

The Application – As a child of God, he compares our influence in the world as salt.  We need to guard against activities that would dilute our witness to the world as salt.  This means – wanting to be like the “world”, engaging in worldly thinking that influences our world view (music, tv, talk/ sports radio, reading materials, philosophies in education, pursuit of entertainment movies…most Christians can quote more movie lines and song lyrics than Bible verses.).  I am not saying boycott all forms of media…BUT how do you know when the spiritual salt in your life is becoming diluted? How can we guard against diluting the purity of the Jesus life in us?  Look at where you spend your time! If we lose our saltiness, we will NO longer be effective in leading people to Jesus for the eternal life that is needed.  SALT IS FOR OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE CHRIST!  Have we become tasteless and ineffective?

The Hope – We can walk humbly ask God to forgive us of the dilution that engagement in media has had on us.  And Jesus will forgive us!  We can ask for him to make us salty again so that others begin asking what makes us different.  We can ask for him to lead us to people that are thirsty to know about salvation.  In and through Jesus we can be made useful again….even when we have blown it from our perspective.  His grace upholds those who are broken and contrite in heart.

You Are the Salt of The Earth.

That makes me so angry, really?

⁵ Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. ⁶ When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.  1 Samuel 1:5-6

Saul heard that the Ammonites were going to gouge out one eye of the inhabitants of Jabesh as a sign of their becoming servants.  The Spirit came upon Saul and he became angry. When was the last time that you became angry after hearing about an injustice?  God’s Spirit is never neutral about injustice.  Jesus came to set the prisoners free, heal the broken hearted and proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.  The Holy Spirit guided Jesus to help people at the very core of their problems, this led him to ultimately die for their salvation.

Just to be clear, I am NOT suggesting that our anger from God lead us to physically hurt or kill someone.  However there are at least 3 helpful ideas that can help us from this passage

1.       God speaks to us during our mundane activities of our lives.  Saul was returning from working in the field when he heard about the plight of his kinsmen.  It was not after worship at the temple or an all night prayer meeting or just after he prophesied with the prophets.  He was on his way home from work.  Maybe that car ride home just became a sanctuary for an encounter with God.

2.      He was attentive to the people around him.  He asked, “why is everyone weeping? God’s Spirit came upon Saul AFTER he became sensitive to their needs.  Sometimes people don’t listen to the news, because they say…”it’s only bad news”.  True that news should not be the only diet of information that you listen to....but don’t close your ear to the plight of those struggling.   This does not mean that every bad thing that you hear needs to be your focus.  But not responding causes a hardening of your heart to the moving of the Spirit in your life.What kind of news could you possibly respond to?  Education of children, plight of family issues like divorce, foster children, or tragedy and so many more. 

3.      Righteous anger from God is the motivation for us to get off our butts and engage in the injustice of people.  Later our grandkids will ask….”what did you do while your country was aborting all of those babies? When America was becoming less Christian (numerically), what did you do?  How did you respond during the racial crisis?  Were you involved in sacrificial prayer events for the plight of the nation?  Did you ever share the gospel message with someone who was lost?  Did you really think people are so lost that  they will spend eternity in hell because they never accepted the good news of Jesus as the only way of salvation to God?”

We NEED the Holy Spirit to move upon our lives.  We need to give Him permission to stir up our thoughts to righteous activity.  We need the full flow of living water running its course in and through our lives to those in need.

What will you do…now that your heard the plight of your neighbor?

Who can help me sleep?

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early  and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—  for he grants sleep to^[a] those he loves. Psalms 127:1,2

What does it mean to cooperate with Me in the tasks of life?  How do you know if you and I are working together or if you are relying on your own strength to accomplish these tasks?  Underlying motives reveal the foundation of faith that rests on Me or in your own understanding.

I want to be involved in your daily work.  I love your life of mundane activities and your creative expressions.  But it major league annoys me when the pride of your accomplishments forgets My gifts to you, involvement and presence in your life. No matter the strength of the material in which you use for building, it cannot withstand the pressures of life.  Invest in that which lives on through eternity.

Fear has dominated your lives ever since Adam and Eve hid themselves in the garden.  Weapons and walls give security, but fear can infiltrate through the strongest barriers.  My son, Jesus defeated fear when he faced the cross and trusted that He would live again.  Fear loses its grip when it stands before My love.  I am above and beyond the grasp of fear.  That does not mean that you will be excluded from pain and suffering, but My Spirit will comfort and lead you into My peace which goes beyond all understanding, yet remains tangible.

My Son told you not to worry about what you will eat, drink or wear.  This includes being anxious, troubled or concerned.  I ordained work when I created Adam.  But I also created the earth to bring forth food for your lives.  I made provision before I made man.  So, also, I make provision for your life.  My Son was not using a metaphor when He taught you to ask daily for bread, your food for the day.  Trusting me for your needs will teach you to be a good steward all that you have, including your food.  You do not have to be greedy or miserly.  Just listen to My Spirit guide you in your eating habits.  Following His lead will always be good for you.

Open your eyes and what do you see?  I am present all around you and I am guiding your steps.  Open your ears and what do you hear?  You hear my Son’s voice calling you to follow him into green pastures to restore your soul.  Open your mouth and taste and see that I am good.  I will fill your life with good things and you can declare to the world that I gave my Son because I love the world.  Open your hands and they may look empty to you.  But I see hands that have let go of trust in themselves and are ready for me to place my abundance upon them.  Open your heart, please.  I have removed the stony heart and replaced it with a warm and responsive heart.  Common union at this deepest level will last for eternity and has the capacity to grow more intimate day after day.  It is at this place that I grant life giving sleep to those who love me and are trusting their lives into my care.

Whispers from your Father, God.

Praise da Lord

While on my recent trip helping flood victims in Baton Rouge I heard a great sermon with three sentences.  Actually, I experienced a sermon that has continued to roll around in my thoughts.  One of our team members, Ryan Alford, recently graduated from high school.  His automatic response to almost every encounter was, “Praise da Lord, God is good and He loves me.”  It was genuine and simple.  In fact, it was catchy enough to repeat it with him.  Before the 3 day trip ended I was thoroughly intrigued by Ryan’s consistency (probably said this phrase 50 times) and downright good theology in his expression.

Praise da Lord – Psalms 103 starts with the psalmist reminding himself to “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.”  This side of heaven we get the privilege to open our mouths and declare aloud praises to our God.  This is not limited to church activities.  Just think of all of the words that flow forth daily through our lips.  How many times does our tongue declare praise to our God?  We are the only one controlling what comes out of our mouth.  Repetition of a phrase may not lead to genuine praise, but forgetfulness and silence rarely lead to an example of a worshipper.  When we truly see his infinite presence in every aspect of our lives our heart bursts forth in gratitude of praise and worship.  O for a thousand tongues to sing our great redeemer’s praise.

God is good -  The goodness of our God is the hook that all of God’s attributes hang on to display the splendor of his glory.  His holiness would be unapproachable save for the goodness of Jesus substitutionary death on the cross.  His justice is executed with such fairness that all proclaim His is good.  In our pain and struggles in life, we have hope because we are in love with a God who is good.

He loves me – Why? Not because he is obligated. Why? Not because I am somehow more worthy than others. Why? Not because I am the center of his universe.  Why? Not because of any works of good on my own...my righteousness is as filthy rags before him.  Why? Because as many as believe on the Lord Jesus shall became children of God.  Our heavenly father loves his children.  How great a love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God…and that is what we are.

I challenge you to say these 3 sentences together aloud throughout your day.  Don’t be afraid if someone else hears you…it may encourage them.  Believing God is good becomes even more real when you understand that everything that you are experiencing in life right now is filtered through a God that loves you.  The stress of life in all of it’s yuck that you are experiencing in relationships, health, finances, vocationally, or fatigue all falls under the category of God’s goodness and His love for us.

PRAISE DA LORD! GOD IS GOOD! AND HE LOVES ME!

Faith to walk on the storm waters in your life

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Matthew 14:27-30. NIV

“Take courage” - 2293 /tharséō ("emboldened to show courage") refers to God bolstering the believer, empowering them with a bold inner-attitude (to be "of good courage” – a warming of the inside.) HELPS word studies. Bible Hub

How does faith grow in you when you are in the middle of a storm?  Maybe your storm is the culmination of a lifetime of seemingly wrong decisions or negative events.  Maybe your storm is the constant barrage of health struggles, lack of finances, loneliness, depression that you can’t wade out from underneath.  You probable agree all too often with Jesus- “in this world you will have troubles”.  These struggles can be so overwhelming that they narrow you vision so that you remained focus on the next wave that you see approaching.  Some have felt that their lot in life will only be managing the effects of wave after wave.

As a believer you have the wonderful gift of ears to hear Jesus voice, even in the middle of your storm.  Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice and follow him.  He is saying the same thing to you that he said to Peter on that night.  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 

The root meaning of “take courage” means a warming on the inside.  As you hear Jesus voice, you begin to sense something.  It is called hope.  As you acknowledge that seed of hope, boldness takes root in the foundation that Jesus is now present in your situation.  Responding to his voice allows the aroma of faith to fill your mind, like the smell of freshly made coffee filling the home.

Faith was rising in Peter, but he still needed to know if it was truly Jesus.  “If it is you” is a question of faith not doubt.  Discerning his voice is of upmost importance in our walk of faith.  Some of you already know that Jesus is asking you to follow him onto the waves.  Be settled and know that if he says “Come” then you should go.  Speak it aloud.  “I trust you, Jesus, with my life”.

Every step of faith is like walking on water.  Trusting God for the outcome allows for no crutches.  Believing that you have made a step toward him means you have left the safety of the boat.  Trusting God means that you believe his way is more secure that your own way of thinking.  Believing God means that you can no longer remain idle trying to decide, you must move in the direction of his leading.  Trusting God means releasing the grasp of your fingers on what is familiar and taking hold of the warmth of his loving hand.  Believing God looks like an entirely poor decision from the world’s perspective, yet it will inspire others to follow in your steps.  Trusting God is like walking on an icy river it only has to be thick enough to carry you not dense enough to require no faith.

“Take courage.”  Let hope arise for your life in which Jesus is moving.  He is speaking to you about your present, your future, your family, your vocation, your finances, your today and your tomorrow.  He has great plans for you which include faith that he is with you in your next step.  His word is a lamp unto your feet.  Trust him today to be so secure that he will lead you at the pace that is right to fulfill his purpose in and through your life.

Trust in a faithful God

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
    Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
² Your unfailing love will last forever.
    Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalms 89:1-2 NLT

One of the most intimate parts of our relationship involves the growth of your trust in my faithfulness.  I keep all of my promises.  I am not like you in that I change often, rather I am steadfast in all that I do.  So why is it hard for you to place your continued trust in me?

Disappointment creates a fog that keeps you from seeing how I am leading.  You were hoping for a different outcome for the thing that was so important to you, but the end result has left you aimless about my leading.  You feel as though I am distant, unconcerned, too busy, or that I just don’t care enough.  You have convinced yourself that you are not worthy of my intervening.

You are my child! I will never fail you.  My faithfulness toward you means that I always keep my promises. As sure as spring time and harvest, summer and winter I will be present in the seasons of your life.  As a small child jumps by faith into his father’s arms, you can also learn that I am trusted to catch you.   To know me as faithful is to learn that I am always trustworthy.

My word can be trusted.  My son was asked “if it is truly you, command me to walk on water?”  He told Peter to come and he walked on water with my Son.  Peter’s walk was totally dependent on his faith in the command to come.  Trust my voice as I invite you to walk with me.  Even if you start to sink, I will lift you up for I am faithful. 

The bond of trust strengthens as you recount my faithfulness in your life.  The singing and remembering helps you to focus on my involvement in your life.  Others find my path trustworthy as you engage them in the retelling of my involvement in your story.  King David sums up my faithfulness to his life as he wrote, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or His children begging for bread.”

Trust me when I say that I am faithful

Whispers from your Father, God

Something Big Standing In Your Way?

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
​mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.  ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” ⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  Mark 16:2-4 NIV.

 What’s the biggest thing standing in your way from accomplishing what you desire to do?  Sometimes we wait for the obstacle to be removed before we start.  Sometimes we never take the necessary steps to begin a project because there appear to be too many hurdles to overcome.   Yet our passage today encourages us to begin with what we have purposed in our hearts.

 These ladies bought spices for Jesus tomb.  We are not sure if they bought them in the market that morning or if they already had spices.  They did, however, coordinate who was bringing which spice and how much of it to bring.  It was customary to place the spices in the tomb to help with the smell of the decomposing body. 

 They also started their journey to the tomb without having all questions answered.  Not one male disciple or a son was present who would have been helpful to roll the stone away.  Nor did they have authorization for the soldiers to roll the stone back so they could add their spices.  But they went to the tomb.

 Talking about difficult circumstances can cause discouragement.  Some have turned back and some have quit their journey altogether because of hopeless dialogue.  Yet these women continued to the tomb with no knowledge of how to remove the stone.  It was a true fact that the stone was large.  Some believe the stone to be in the shape of a wheel that sits in a track or sloped ramp.  Several men would roll the stone back up the ramp to gain access to the tomb.  This procedure truly was difficult, but they continued to the tomb to perform their ritual.  Even though they discussed about how the stone would be removed, they did not turn back.

 Prior to their making it to the tomb, the stone was pushed over.  Not up the ramp, but falling flat out from the tomb.  One gospel records an angel siting on the tomb, while Mark records the angel inside the tomb.  Regardless, the stone was removed and Jesus had risen from the dead

Now these ladies were partakers of a new mission.  They were the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.  They started their day with one mission in mind, but God had other plans.  Look what they would have missed if they had stayed home until all of the details were figured out. 

 Remember the last word that God spoke to you.  Then take the steps necessary to complete the task.  Be watching, for the journey may have a very different ending.  You may encounter your stone removed, and a whole new purpose to steward.  Plan well, but don’t remain idle.  Jesus commanded movement…He said go. And through the presence of the Holy Spirit, He will be with us always.

Eating words of life

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

⁴ He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.  Ezekiel 3:1-4. NIV

Don’t you realize that you can speak my words to others?  My words are not just symbolic.  My Son showed you that mankind does not live on bread alone, but My words of life and light can sustain you.  When I gave my scroll to Ezekiel he ate and his stomach was full.  It’s that feeling of being satisfied at a meal…when you say “enough, I’m full”.

When was the last time that you read my word with the anticipation that I was placing My word in you?  It is an infinite treasure to be explored and never disappointed.  I reveal My son, My purpose, My love for mankind through the entire story.  Take time to read.  I have placed a spiritual hunger for my word that is like the longing that a baby has for milk to survive.  Nothing in this world will satisfy that hunger and thirst.  Though there are many cisterns from which you try and drink to quench this longing inside, they will leave you empty and more thirsty than before.

Eating my word and filling your stomach is only half of my purpose.  My word is to flow forth for others to hear and digest, and that comes from you.  You are the path through which My word chooses to go and not return void.  My word is active and sharp and searches for opportunities to go into the ears of those who would listen.  It is through you that I desire to speak to all those in your sphere of influence.  But you cannot share what I have not given you.  TAKE time to let me fill you spirit man with the words of life.  Look at the revelation that flowed forth from Peter as he responded to My son, “where else could would go, you alone have the WORDS of life.”  Spending time reading My word and listening to My Spirit will always have immediate and long lasting impact. 

I am waiting to fill your life with good things and it begins with what you eat.  Read, memorize and meditate on my words of life.  Don’t let a day go by that these words depart from your mouth, they will bring life to your whole body.

Whispers from you Father, God.

Staffs of Favor and Union

So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. NIV Zechariah 11:7.

These two staffs reflect My heart’s desire for your life as the one who shepherd’s you.  I am known as the one who rains on the just and the unjust.  My favor is the aroma of my presence that brings the constant gentle breeze of refreshing in your life.  Although you can’t see it, you know it is with you.  One who walks in favor is like the acknowledgement of honor that accompanies royalty or someone famous.  I place that honor upon my children who love my Name.

My staff of Union is the guidance of peace among all of your relationships.  My heart breaks for you as there is so much discord.  The closest relationship in the world exists between husband and wife, yet their lack of unity results in divorce damaging the lives of those around them.  Even though my Son broke down the dividing wall, there still exists dividing walls between people of race, color, origin, regions, wealth, education and more.  When brothers intentionally dwell together, my staff of Union is present and I command a blessing over their efforts.  There exists perfect unity among Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and I desire the same fellowship among my children.  It is possible and it is good.

Many of you don’t bask in the warmth of my favor because you feel as if you don’t deserve it.  You are still thinking you can earn my favor.  Deep down you wonder how I could choose you, especially when I know all of the yuck in your life.  Your attempts of “cleaning up” your life has never impressed me, because I love you just as you are.  Your faith in my Son to forgive you of your sins opened the path for my favor to pour forth in your direction.  When my favor is present, I will even confirm the work of your hands (Ps. 90:17).  My favor is never static, but you may continue to grow and increase in favor (I Sam. 2:26).  Seeking wisdom draws favor as two magnets that attract (Prov. 8:35).  I’ve even provided a path for you to extend my blessings through your proclamations over each other (Numbers 6:23-26).  Open your mouth and declare my blessings of favor over your life, the lives of your loved ones, and those among whom you live, work and play.

My favor lasts for a lifetime.

Whispers from your Father, God.

Merciful Father,God

Who is a God like you,

    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.  NIV Micah 7:18

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NIV Luke 6:36

I am holy and I am just, but I also delight in showing mercy.  Don’t get me wrong, every sin is offensive to me and must receive its payment.  I never overlook one sin, even the smallest of transgressions from your perspective is vomit in my mouth.  I can not tolerate it for even  one second.  Because of my holiness most of you only see me as an angry Father who has no time for people who violate my demands for right living.  Because my Son took all of the payment of your transgression on the cross, I wanted you to know how much I desire expressing mercy.

My Son expressed our heart for mercy through his interaction with my people.  He ate with Zacchaeus who had no friends, he partied with Matthews friends who were known to be sinners, he healed those noisy and bothersome annoying people, he was merciful even when misunderstood, he was patient with Nicodemus who was trying to understand this new kingdom thinking, he healed the gentile (those who were considered not My people) woman’s daughter AND he talked, walked, laughed and ate with Judas who would betray him to his death.

Your brokenness is the candidacy for my mercy.  Your independence will shield you from walking in my mercy.  Let down the walls and receive.  I will restore the freshness of a clean relationship that has no barriers.  For those who call on Me, I show mercy from generation to generation.  I desire to overshadow you with good things, because the blood of my Son covers your transgressions.  You cannot earn mercy.  I am not impressed by your intentions of doing better in the future.  I am never fooled by misdirected excuses of responsibility for your actions.  I know all that you do, say and think.  And still I love you and desire for you to experience the continual aroma of my Mercy.

Can you show mercy to others?  When you do, it is my mercy that they are experiencing.  Mercy is the antithesis to acts of the sinful nature.  Forgiveness is encapsulated in the whole experience of mercy.  When you show mercy there will be those who say you are weak and just being taken advantage of.  But trust my voice to lead you into showing mercy.   Your spouse needs mercy, your children need mercy, your parents need mercy, your coworkers need mercy, your boss needs mercy, your pastor needs mercy, and your neighbor needs mercy.  Show them what I am like…a Father who loves showing mercy.

Whispers from your merciful Father, God.