This Is A Stick Up

"What can I offer the LORD for all He has done for me?" -- Psalm 116:12
It happened during worship this morning. As we were singing the line, "Everything that's in me praise the Lord," the phrase "this is a stick up" came floating toward me, seemingly out of nowhere, as I stood, hands raised high, worshiping the King. And I began to think about a stick up. Unlike the kind where a desperate person raises a gun to your head and demands your valuables, this one was as if the King of Kings was pointing all that He is -- all of His love -- straight toward my heart. This was a voluntary stick up. I wanted to give Him "everything that's in me." And then, to echo a line from Bob Hostetler's sermon, "What do you give to the God who has everything?" You give Him your thanks, with every breath that's in you. And if you missed the rest of his sermorn you truly missed a great blessing, for many people left this morning without their shoes. ;)

Pray Attention!

Woke up this morning with this phrase swirling about in my head: Pray Attention! So, of course, I figured God is up to something and true to His way with me I know we're about to embark on another treasure hunt, so I began meditating on this simple phrase: pray attention. I immediately thought of pay attention and what that entails: To heed; be attentive to; as in "pay attention" to these instructions.

There are over 25 scriptures where God says "pay attention."

Pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. -- Proverbs 4:20
Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. -- Isaiah 28:23

And so I think what God is saying to my heart is not only do I want my children to pay attention to my voice, but also to pray attention to my heart. Don't just come before me with your list. Come before me and let me give you MY list. In order to pray what the Father prays we need to "pray attention" to His voice in prayer. The more we recognize what He is doing the more he pours out his heart.

Today's prayer: "Father, I lay down my list and take up yours. What is on your heart today? Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts and prayers this day. May they line up completely with my Father's heart in all ways. Amen."

God Will Use Anything

He Owns the Elephants in a Thousand Jungles

Recently on the east coast of India there has been intense persecution of Believers, who are a small minority there. Church facilities were being destroyed and Believers murdered. Major political parties that had coalitions on state and federal levels turned the other way. Believers had no natural resources, and no one to intervene on their behalf. There was no one to bring justice. God worked in this intense situation to bring His people into fresh dependency on Him. They began to cry out to the Lord to intervene, and His ears were open to their cry.

Enter the elephants. In the capital city of this region, a herd of wild elephants had been coming into the city and causing all kinds of damage to vehicles, property, and businesses. As officials were trying to figure out a way of preventing the elephants from entering the city, they suddenly disappeared. Why?

God dispatched them. He gave them a very specific assignment. He had heard the cry of His people and decided to show himself strong on their behalf. The elephants reappeared several hundred miles from the capital city, and when they did, they had systematically gone through several villages absolutely destroying them and rendering them uninhabitable. The amazing thing is that the villages which were destroyed were the very same villages from which the most intense persecution had been based. Those villages and towns had been totally wiped out. However, the villages the Believers lived in remained untouched, even though they were in very close proximity to the destroyed villages.

God intervened on behalf of His people. No lives were lost in this demonstration of power, but the fear of the Lord gripped the region. Those who had formerly supported the persecution of the Believers began to say, "Don't do anything to harm the Christians, they have elephants!"
[post by Caleb Klinge, New Life Christian Center]

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." -- 2 Chronicles 16:9

So Long Self!

Woke up this morning to MercyMe singing "So Long Self" and I felt a since of freedom. Not so much because of the song, but because over the past week I've heard some excellent teaching on healing -- teaching that has set me free! I've been known to take on some sort of "false" guilt when I pray for people and they don't get healed (as if I have anything to do with it). Last evening's teaching by Roger Sapp helped me get off that roller coaster. It's not about me -- never has been. It's about Jesus Christ and the work He did on the cross. Healing belongs to us all and it has nothing to do with our character or our goodness or our works. It has everything to do with His goodness; His love; and Jesus' death on the cross. In fact, healing is not our idea; it's God's idea; and we don't have to convince Him. He wants to heal us more than we want to be healed. Freedom is a wonderful thing, and besides, I don't even like roller coasters! :)

So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self

Celebration is Key

"When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her." -- Matthew 8:14-15

Let's not grow desensitized with the supernatural healing power of God. We need to celebrate every healing -- from the fever that leaves to the blind eye that is opened. In fact, celebration is the key to more! Jesus took time to heal Peter's mother-in-law from a fever and it got recorded in the Bible. Don't accept even a headache or toothache. Jesus healed every sickness and every disease.

Dignity

Christians in general seem to have an obsession with the erroneous assumption that they must “maintain their composure at all costs.” Do you see evidence of this happening in the life and ministry of Jesus? Here's some examples from the Gospels where people "lost their composure or ditched their dignity” to receive something from Jesus:

In Matthew 15:22-28, a Canaanite woman pursues Jesus, crying out loudly for deliverance for her demon-possessed daughter ...

In Mark 2:1-12, four men carry their paralytic friend to Jesus and when they couldn't reach Him, they made an opening in the roof and lowered their friend to Jesus ...

In Mark 10:46-52, a blind man, Bartimaeus, shouted out for Jesus to have mercy on Him, even as others were trying to silence him ...

In Luke 19:1-10, Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus and ended up dining with Him that very day ...

Today's prayer: "Oh Lord, help me lose my dignity and composure for You. May I cry out for You and not be silenced by my own foolish pride or fear of man."

Battery Charger

"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." -- Acts 4:29-31

Car chargers, phone chargers, camera chargers, computer chargers ... it takes a lot of battery power to keep all these gadgets running. What happens when the battery is nearly drained? Performance slows way down. Our charge can also get low. How do we know when our charge is low? If our fuse is short, if we start becoming critical and accusatory with family and friends, or if our emotions are on edge, it's a good indicator that our battery is low.

When Peter, John and the early Christians were being persecuted for their faith, they didn't shrink back or complain to each other about their hard life. No. They went to the Lord and asked for boldness. They prayed and got recharged, and then they continued to speak the word of God with boldness!

This is a great reminder to us. We need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to keep an eye on our "gauge." I don't know about your gauge, but around 20% charge, I start getting on edge, finding fault, and wanting to give up. By 10% I don't even remember why I'm a Christian.

Today's prayer: "God, I know I need to be continually charged and filled with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I get lazy and others suffer the consequences. Your Word says to be continually filled. Holy Spirit come and fill this vessel to overflowing. Grant this servant boldness. In Jesus Name. Amen."

Rebuke

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." -- Revelation 3:19

I've come to love the rebuke of the Lord. It's a comfort to know that the Creator of the universe loves me enough to give me that kind of personal guidance. And the great thing about God is that when he rebukes he also gives the way out. I came across this quote today:

"I don't mind the rebuke of the Lord. When people rebuke us, they leave us feeling bad. But when the Lord rebukes us, He gives the answer to our lack. After telling us what is wrong, He says, "I will show you the way." -- Ruth Ward Heflin, "Glory, Experiencing the Atmosphere of Heaven"

God most often disciplines his children in private. And if we don't heed that warning, a public correction is sure to follow. With man we make excuses, try to hide our faults, and play the blame game. But with God there are no excuses. We can't fool him. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Best to throw ourselves on the altar and let him pick up the pieces. God will not despise a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Hallelujah!

Pray What You Pray

Have you ever paid attention to the prayers of Paul? Or Jesus?
Those prayers are quite different from what we tend to pray.
Those prayers are not about material things or for things to go easy. I would say they are focused on knowing Christ and being rooted in His love.

In Ephesians and Colossians, Paul prays for these things for the church:
-- the Spirit of wisdom and revelation
-- that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened
-- that they may know the hope to which he has called them
-- for strength in their inner being
-- that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith
-- that they will be rooted and established in love
-- that they will have power to grasp the depth of the love of Christ
-- that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
-- that they will be filled with the knowledge of his will
-- that they will bear fruit in every good work
-- that they grow in the knowledge of God
-- that they would have great endurance and patience
-- that they would be joyful and thankful

And, Jesus' famous prayer in Luke:
-- not my will, but thy will

Chase the Lion

This is how I want to live today. Every day. The rest of my life:

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Criticize by creating. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion.

Taken from the book "In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day"

Peace With You

Peace With You, by Ten Shekel Shirt

Chorus:
It's nice to be at peace with You
It's fine with me to be close to You

My eyes are fixed on You, oh Lord
I see You, I see You
My hands are clean
My heart is pure
You washed me, thank You

I used to be attracted to
The things of this world
And I used to be at war with You
Now I'm fighting on Your side

It's nice to be at peace with You
It's fine with me to be close to You

My love for You is unashamed
I love You, I love You
My guilt is gone, I'm free to fly
Inside, inside

I used to be entangled by
The things of this world
And I used to seem so far from You
Now I feel You by my side

Pick Me!

"For many are called, but few are chosen." -- Matthew 22:14

Grandkids are the best! And mine are no exception. Last week, we had the boys (Aiden, age 4 and Leland, age 18 months) for about 12 hours while their parents were out saving lives (or something along those lines -- a nurse and an EMT).

My husband and I raised two kids on our own but somehow there are times when two grandkids seem like more than we can juggle all at once. What's up with that? Anyway, on this particular day I needed to run a quick errand so I said to Mike, "I'll take one of the kids with me and you can keep the other." Aiden, who was playing nearby, jumped up and raised his hand, and then with all the enthusiasm of a 4-year old said, "Pick me! Pick me!"

Aiden's enthusiasm is etched on my heart. He expressed genuine love and affection for being picked (or chosen), and he told me about it repeatedly on the drive. I drove, he talked, and I smiled.

I think God also looks around to see which of His children have their hand held up high in the air saying, "Pick me! Pick me!" I've often said to God, "I'm available" but have never used the words "pick me." May we be forever watching and listening for our Father to give us an invitation to participate in an assignment.

Night Life

“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me.” -- Psalm 16:7

What do you think of when someone says night life? What does it conjure up in your mind? Darkened streets, neon lights? Excitement? Psychics love it; Hollywood makes movies about it; and yet that kind of night life is all counterfeit.

There is an entire supernatural realm available to us as Christians. We don’t even have to leave home to get it; it’s available to us every night and it’s the real thing – supernatural guidance, warning and correction, instruction, healing, comfort, destiny, insight and wisdom, answers to questions, information, revelation, counsel, and even the secrets of others' lives.

Believers in Jesus Christ should have the most exciting night life ever!

"The pillow is the best counselor." And there is much truth in this saying, especially if we have first committed ourselves in prayer to God, and taken a prayerful spirit with us to our bed. Get some night life. :)

Meet With Me

Meet With Me, by Ten Shekel Shirt, was the opening song at OHOP this past Friday and I'm smitten with the lyrics and arrangement. Must have listened to it half a dozen times last night -- just couldn't sleep; can't get it out of my mind. Here it is:

Lyrics:

I'm here to meet with you
come and meet with me
I'm here to find you
reveal yourself to me

As I wait, you make me strong
As I long, draw me to your arms
As I stand and sing your praise
You come, you come and you fill this place
Won't you come, Won't you come and fill this place

I'm here to meet with you
Come and meet with me
I'm here to find you
reveal yourself to me

As I wait, you make me strong
As I long, draw me to your arms
As I stand and sing your praise
You come, you come and you fill this place
Won't you come, Won't you come and fill this place

I'm here to meet with you
Come and meet with me

Word Of God Speak

"The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together." -- Hebrews 4:12

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11

God does not speak to our sickness and disease; He speaks to our health. He does not speak to our poverty or lack; He speaks to our wealth and abundance. He does not speak to our failure or mistakes; He speaks to our success. He does not focus on the past; He speaks to the now and to the future. Word of God speak -- plans to prosper; not to harm; words that give hope and a future.

The Ocean

Ocean, by Ten Shekel Shirt

Lately, I've been thinking about You
And lately, I've been dreaming of You
And lately, I can't get You out of my head
Get You out of my head

Chorus:
Something about the ocean
Makes me rise up and praise
Something about the heavens
Makes me stand in awe again
Something about the sunrise
Reminds me of Your faithfulness
Something about the ocean
And I'm lost in love again

I'll sing until I sense a smile
Upon Your great and lovely face
And till I know Your glory's in this place
Your glory's in this place

On Turning 50

When I am old, I shall wear ripped jeans, Chuck Taylor tennis shoes in outlandish colors, and t-shirts with peace signs; I’ll ride on carousel zebras and drive kiddie cars and get soaking wet on log rides; I’ll hike up mountains and run through the rain and laugh at silly things like Krispy Kreme donut shops and Bubba Gump tennis shoes; I’ll dance like a fool on a Friday night; and sing praises to my King loudly and out of tune; I’ll jump up and down when the Spirit moves me and I’ll never look back to see who’s watching; It’s great to be 50 and act like 5; and just so people won’t be shocked when I’m old, I think I’ll do all of these things now. [Based on my interpretation of the book “When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple”]

Separation Anxiety

"God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." -- Hebrews 13:5b, NIV

Most babies experience some form of separation anxiety beginning around 8 months. But as adult Christians we too sometimes experience separation anxiety from our Heavenly Father. I have a plaque hanging in my closet that's been there for years -- I've had it since my teens. It reads: "If you don't feel close to God guess who moved?" The Bible is clear that God will never leave us or forsake us. We can also take comfort in this promise found in Romans 8:38: "... neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Since we know that God is always there, why do we become so anxious about his silence? For me personally when God is silent I run through this helpful list from Elmer Towns' book, When God is Silent.

"God is quiet when (1) He is not ready to speak, (2) He is testing me, (3) He has already talked to me, (4) He wants me to make an important decision, (5) He knows I won't listen, (6) I forget what He has said, (7) something is hindering my ability to listen to God."

It's certainly not an exhaustive list but it is a good place to start. What does a child need when they are feeling separation anxiety? They need to get into their parents arms. That's the best cure I know! Run to Him; in time, He will speak.

The LORD -- He is God!

In 1 Kings 18 we find the story of the showdown on Mount Carmel between the God of Elijah and the false gods of the prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal cry out frantically all day and there is no response from their false gods. But then Elijah steps forward with his sacrifice and offers his prayer:

"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD--he is God! The LORD--he is God!" -- 1 Kings 18:36-38

"When God's power is displayed through his people, the response from onlookers should always be "The LORD -- He is God!" All displays of God's power should point people toward God and not the vessel being used. I love how God displayed His power in such a manner that "when the fire of God fell it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench!" (1 Kings 18)
Question to ponder: When God's power is displayed through my(your) vessel, is it pointing people toward God? Are they exclaiming: The LORD -- He is God!

Assignments

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.' At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.' Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.' Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" -- Isaiah 6:1-8

In Isaiah Chapter 6, we see a beautiful depiction of Isaiah's amazing encounter in the throne room; the place of intimacy with God. Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up; he sees the glory filling the temple. And then something remarkable happens. Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?" And Isaiah says "send me." It is in the place of intimacy that the desire to do something for God is birthed. An assignment is there for the taking and in that glory God provides the grace and anointing to carry out the assignment. What assignments are you carrying out for God? Were they birthed in the place of intimacy or in your own ambition? The place of birth makes all the difference.

Vicinity

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose." -- Acts 16:25-26

I often tell people who are looking for more of God to hang out in the vicinity of some God Chasers. Houses of prayer, like the Oxford House of Prayer (OHOP), C-HOP, and IHOP are some of those places where you can expect to encounter a few God Chasers!

Paul and Silas got thrown in prison and being God Chasers they started praying and singing hymns to God. But don't miss what happened next ... everybody's chains came loose, not just the ones around Paul and Silas. This is one of those life-changing truths about God Chasing: When He comes, He tends to bless everyone in the vicinity! The only God Chasers in the prison that night were Paul and Silas and they began praising God through their circumstances. When they were done, God showed up and set everyone free. Lesson learned: It pays to be in the vicinity of a God Chaser!

Call To Me

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." -- Jeremiah 33:3, NIV

And, here is the number one reason to own an iPhone:

Goose Bumps

This excerpt is from Bill Yount and worth repeating:

Worshiping God through daily obedience is perhaps our greatest challenge. Obeying God will not always give us goose bumps but will often cost us something. Have you ever obeyed the Lord and you felt like you didn't get anything out of it? Do you know why? It is because God got it all! Our life is not for us. It is all for Him. "Sacrificial" worship, perhaps Heaven's greatest attention-getter, is when we don't feel like obeying or praising the Lord but we do anyway. But when we do, God's heart skips a beat to be with us, whatever the problem.

I am pretty sure Paul and Silas didn't "feel" led to praise the Lord at midnight in prison. Their backs were against the wall as a result of their obedience in preaching the Gospel. But they had learned by experience that the midnight hour was perfect timing to worship in their perfect storm. They knew God could not resist praise and worship. His foot was bound to tap on the earth again for them, and you know the rest of the story! The jailer got the "goose bumps" as he witnessed his whole household receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

What Do You Seek?

"The one thing I ask of the LORD -- the thing I seek most -- is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high, above my enemies who surround me. At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music. Listen to my pleading, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming." -- Psalm 27:4-8

Oftentimes we go seeking .... we seek for a miracle, a gift, provision, guidance. You name it. David sought after one thing, to live in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his temple. Everything we need is in the house of the Lord. When we seek after Him and only Him I believe everything we need will be provided.

If a 16 year old son wanted a car that his dad could provide, he would not go out seeking after the car. He would seek after his dad! This is a great word picture of how we are to seek after our Father ... for He alone is our healer, provider, protector, and deliverer.

Trees Walking Around

"Some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch and heal the man. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man's eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, 'Can you see anything now?' The man looked around. 'Yes,' he said. 'I see people but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.' Then Jesus placed his hands over the man's eyes again. As the man stared intently, his sight was completely restored and he could see everything clearly." -- Mark 8:22-25

My husband Mike has been blind for 12 years and has had no sight in his left eye for over 40 years. A couple months ago, and without any medical intervention, he began seeing glimpses of things out of that eye. On Thursday I witnessed him read five numbers off an eye chart. And right there in the doctor's office while he was weeping and the doctor was doing everything she could to keep her own emotions in check, God dropped Mark 8 into my spirit. It has been an amazing faith journey for both of us and in a couple weeks, with the help of a new lens, Mike will be seeing people "like trees walking around!" Just one more touch from Jesus and his eyesight will be completely restored. Just remember God does instantaneous healings (like my healing from MS) and he also does gradual healings. All are to be celebrated.

Prayer Voices

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." -- Psalm 133

I had the privilege of attending a prayer gathering last evening at the Oxford Vineyard. As we gathered in a circle and lifted our voices in prayer for the City of Oxford there was a moment when I paused in silence to take it all in. There were many voices expressing their heart in prayer ... each led by One Spirit but each one unique in the words they chose, the tonal qualities of their voice, and the pattern of their prayers. There is unity in the uniqueness of God's creation. He has given us many prayer voices and they beat in one accord and for one purpose -- to see God gloried in the city and nation, to see salvation come to the lost, to see the captives set free, and to see all healed. It was a beautiful picture of what Jesus prayed in John 17 (v. 22-23): "Father I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Oh how good and pleasant it truly is when brothers dwell together in unity. It is like the oil running down Aaron's beard and onto his robe. May the oil and anointing of His presence run down the streets of Oxford, Ohio just like the river in Ezekiel 47 ... ankle-deep, and then knee-deep, and then waist high, until it becomes a river of His glory in which all of Oxford will swim in the fullness thereof.

Armed & Ready

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." -- Ephesians 6:10-18

Armed & Ready 12-Hour Worship and Prayer Event
April 23, 2010 . . . beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Oxford House of Prayer (OHOP)
Location: Cobblestone Community Church, 4191 Kehr Road, Oxford
We invite you to join us for any portion of this event.

SCHEDULE:
7:00-9:00 pm: Worship & Praise with Cobblestone’s band, UnderCover and Vernie Strait (River of Life). Healing service during worship. (James 5:15-16) Prayer teams available to pray and anoint for healing.
9:00-10:00 pm: Radical Worship with Cobblestone’s youth band, Con Brio / Next Generation Blessing Session.
10:00-11:00 pm: Citywide Pastor’s Prayer Session & Blessing (OHOP band).
11:00-Midnight: Worship with Chris Owens (Catalyst Cullman)
Midnight: Prayer Walk – Claiming the City for Christ.
1:00-2:00 am: Armed & Ready Session / Authority & Action Plan (OHOP band).
2:00-3:00 am: Intercessory Prayer Session / Candle lighting.
3:00-4:00 am: Deliverance Session.
4:00-5:00 am: Soaking / Meditation Prayer Session.
5:00-6:00 am: Unity in the Body of Christ Session.
6:00-7:00 am: Sunrise Continental Breakfast & Fellowship in the Atrium.

Friend of God

What does it mean to be a friend of God?

We sing about it: “I am a friend of God; I am a friend of God; I am a friend of God; He calls me friend.” [lyrics by Israel Houghton and Cindy Cruse Ratcliffe].

We quote it: “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.” – James 2.23

But the question on my mind this morning is this: Do we really understand what it means to be a friend of God? The Bible says that “friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises.” (Psalm 25:14); and that “friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God.” (James 4:4)

The term "friend" is an intimate term and conveys a sense of closeness, trust, and sharing. There is mutual agreement, loyalty, dependability, and the ability to confide. Pointing to Abraham’s life, we see that Abraham was in agreement with God. He believed God and he obeyed God. But let’s not miss this very important point, it was God, the great, almighty, every-present and all-powerful, all-knowing God who called Abraham the “friend of God.” It was not Abraham’s assessment of his relationship with God, nor how he thought about God. It was a statement that God made about Abraham.

The relationship Abraham enjoyed with God was a remarkable one by human standards – but tremendously encouraging for us. God is not a partial God. He is not a respecter of persons. God doesn’t involve Himself in cliques or narrow, exclusive groups of people that only a few can enter. Rather, He extends the hand of friendship to all of those in His family. If we follow the example of our spiritual forefather Abraham by being in agreement with God, displaying loyalty and dependability towards God, and freely confiding in Him in all matters, then we too will be called the friends of God.

Proverbs 3:32b: “the LORD offers his friendship to the godly.”

Shalom

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." -- Numbers 6:24-26

This passage from Numbers is the blessing prayer given to Aaron and his sons to make declaration over Israel -- a people set apart by the favor of God's face shining down upon them.

The Hebrew word for peace in this passage is the word "shalom." Shalom basically encompasses all the goodness of Heaven. It is so filled with rich meaning -- the sum total of all blessings. It's a sound mind, wholeness, prosperity, divine health, protection, peace with God and man, blessing in all things (temporal and spiritual), and about anything else you can think of that's good. It's all found in this word.

Oftentimes, when I don't quite know what to pray over someone, I speak the "Shalom of Heaven" into their lives. And, one of my pastors, Bob Hostetler, regularly pronounces this blessing over our church as a benediction.

To be under the almighty protection of God our Savior; to enjoy his favor as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while he mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the heart, and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings. Shalom!

Enter The Cloud

"When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights." -- Exodus 24:15-18

To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire (v. 17) and then Moses entered the cloud (v. 18)! It's human nature to stand back from a consuming fire. But when the glory of God's presence comes the best way to conquer that fear is to be like Moses and enter the cloud. Some people are afraid of a supernatural God, when in reality God cannot be anything but supernatural. I want to be like Moses. Moses had an invitation to enter the cloud. And so do we. In fact, we don't have to wait for God to call us into the cloud. The invitation is open because of the work Jesus did on the cross -- no RSVP needed. When I see the cloud of God's glory I want to be a God chaser; a cloud runner; a full participant; not just an "Israelite" reporter. The Israelites said the glory looked like a consuming fire. I wanna know that it is. I'm diving in.

A Secret Name

"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name." -- Revelation 2:17, The Message

I love that God chooses our name. He whispers it into the ears of our parents and uses whatever method necessary to make sure they heard it. Case in point. My name was to be Paula, a derivative of my father's name, Paul. The name was set. The birth occurred and then something happened. My mom listened to a radio station in the hospital. On that radio station, Pat Boone mentioned his daughter Cheryl Lynn and God must have said, "that's your daughter's name also." And just like that I became Cheryl Lynn.

God has always been about changing names. For example, He changed Abram to Abraham; Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul. But He also promises in Revelation to give us a new secret name. The word "secret" used in this passage is the Greek word okeios. It means an intimate knowing. The word “secret” sure turns this verse on its heels. And according to my Matthew Henry Commentary, our new "secret" name is hidden from the rest of the world! The "new name" is Christ's (compare Re 3:12, "I will write upon him My new name"): some new revelation of Himself which shall hereafter be imparted to His people, and which they alone are capable of receiving. This new name is the name of adoption, a term of endearment and intimacy. When the Holy Spirit shows his own work in the believer's soul, this new name and its real importance are understood by Him.

Our names matter. Who we belong to and what is said about us affects our identity. The world has been murmuring names for us far too long. But God wants to rewrite our identities. Let us learn to practice hearing the name God calls us. He whispers it in the secret place of intimacy with Him.

I've been called many names; been labeled and teased; I've even called myself by some of those same names, but God named me Cheryl, "Beloved of Mine" and "Song of Joy!"

What name is God giving you?

Pray Hard

"News about Jesus spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed -- he healed them all." -- Matthew 4:24

What does it mean to pray hard? I'm actually puzzled by this statement, mostly because if you can "pray hard" then surely you can "pray harder" or maybe even you can "pray easy."

Let's look at healing. Do you find yourself praying harder for a serious condition like cancer and maybe not as hard for something like an ear infection? Since God is doing the healing, then why would one healing be more difficult than another? To quote Bob Hostetler, "there is no hard or harder with God."

Does our inconsistency in how we pray reveal that we think that one healing is harder than another? Do we believe that what Christ has done is enough or do we think that we must somehow add something to accomplish the healing? Do we doubt God’s willingness to heal? If we believe that Christ has already paid the price for healing, then a healing simply must be received by faith as a gift. We must learn to rest completely in the completed work of Christ and Christ’s revelation of the will of the Father to heal all who come to Him in childlike faith.

Now that was easy!

Sorting

Jesus prayed:
"And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father -- that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are -- I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me." -- John 17:19-23, NLT

I recently listened to a podcast by Danny Silk and I had to laugh out loud when he began describing how he sorts out his M&M's by color before he eats them. I do the same thing! First I sort them into groups by color. Then I eat select M&M's from each pile until the piles contain the same number. After that, I eat my least favorite colors (bye bye red!). Before you call the OCD police, let me explain where I'm taking this. Sorting. We all do it. And sadly, we do a lot of it in the Body of Christ (think denominations). We like to sort. It helps us decide who's in our group and who's not. But Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would be ONE. There is no sorting in the number ONE. Can't be done. The Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are ONE and that's God's desire for us. In fact, Jesus said that's how the world will know we belong to Him -- when we become ONE. I know I will never be able to eat M&M's again without remembering that Jesus prayed for us to be ONE.

Time Machine

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power." -- Colossians 3:1

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." -- Hebrews 13:8

I am constantly looking for anything to help train me to pray for the sick. Books, teaching tapes, articles, etc.... I'm intrigued by what everyone has to say. But, the Word of God should always be the beginning and our default position. In some ways we need to get in a time machine and go "back to the future." Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he healed ALL who came to him. No exceptions.

It might be helpful to picture a time machine when praying for someone's healing. If I inwardly remind myself that if that person standing before me were able to get into a time machine and go back to one of the healing events described in the New Testament that Christ would heal them. He healed all who came to Him. The person I am praying for is coming to Jesus in the same way. They are demonstrating simple faith by asking for prayer. Nothing has changed. The very same Jesus in those events 2000 years ago is seated at the right hand of God. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Amen.

A Noble Cause

Have you ever petitioned God for a "noble cause"? Or pleaded for someone's healing by reminding God that this person has small children at home or that they're a good person? To some degree I think we all have. We sometimes forget that Jesus Christ himself already became the noble cause for us.

I love the scene in the movie, Princess Bride, where Inigo and Fezzik take Westley to Miracle Max. (In my opinion, it's one of the greatest scenes in the movie.) Inigo and Fezzik are in a "terrible rush" to get Westley revived so they can storm the castle and rescue Buttercup.

Here's the brief exchange:
MIRACLE MAX: "Don't rush me, sonny. You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles. You got money?"
INIGO: "Sixty-five."
MIRACLE MAX: "Sheesh! I never worked for so little, except once, and that was a very noble cause."
INIGO: "This is noble, sir."(pointing to Westley)"His wife is crippled. His children are on the brink of starvation."
MIRACLE MAX: "Are you a rotten liar."
INIGO: "I need him to help avenge my father, murdered these twenty years."
MIRACLE MAX: "Your first story was better."

Roger Sapp (in "Healing Hints) presents it this way: "Occasionally someone will try to receive healing by presenting what appears to be a noble purpose in their healing. They may want to raise their children. They may want to "glorify God" in their healing. While sounding noble, these people are often unable to receive healing until they simplify their motives and simply accept that Christ wants them well. Often these "higher purposes" for their healing reveal that they do not really believe that Christ wishes them well simply because they are sick and in pain. Jesus Christ never had complex responses for hurting people. When the sick came to Him, He felt compassion for them and that compassion was enough to motivate Him to heal them. The people coming to Him did not need a noble purpose to receive healing. God is glorified in Christ's simple but profound love and ministry to hurting people."

Familiarity

"When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left that part of the country. He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was astonished and said, "Where does he get his wisdom and his miracles? He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers -- James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. What makes him so great?" And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family. "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. -- Matthew 13:53-58

It has been said that "familiarity breeds contempt." I would like to discuss this phrase as it applies to the Matthew 13 passage above. We are told in Acts 10:38 that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he [Jesus] went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." Jesus did great works everywhere he went but we see that when he returned to his hometown the people were deeply offended and refused to believe him. Why is that? And what can we learn from this?

It is often human nature to not respect someone (or the anointing on their life) when we know them well enough to know their faults, their family, or their history. Most people who answer the call of God on their life do not answer it at infancy. Therefore, and in some cases, that call comes only after many years of working it out, making mistakes, and growing up. Those years are riddled with mistakes and bad choices that are well known to those closest to them.

Fortunately for us, God equips the called and he is the one most familiar with our frame. He doesn't wait until we've grown up in the faith to start using us. God will always supply the anointing to accomplish the call on our life. If, for example, we have a call to perform miracles, they will most often (but not always) be best received by those not familiar with us. Our family members and even our closest friends may not recognize the very anointing that God has put right in front of them because it looks like "us." It's too familiar and it weakens their faith. Even Jesus did not perform many miracles in his own hometown because the people did not have faith. They knew Jesus' family and they knew him to be a carpenter's son.

I've heard stories of incredibly gifted evangelists who've seen thousands saved and yet their own family members won't listen to a word they preach. Or what about the miracle worker who God has used to heal and deliver hundreds from illness and yet their family members are stricken with all sorts of diseases? Let's not discount the familiar because that "familiar" person may just be the one God put in your life to carry the anointing you need for your situation.

Eye of the Needle

"Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -- Luke 18:25, NIV

If we're going to have riches we will have to stay on our knees! This passage speaks of a gate in Jerusalem called the eye of the needle. When I was young I thought it referred to the eye of a sewing needle. There is no way anything could pass through that kind of needle (except, of course, a piece of thread). A camel could not pass through this gate unless it stooped and had all its baggage removed. After dark, when the main gates were shut, travelers or merchants would have to use this smaller gate, and then the camel could only enter unencumbered and crawling on its knees!

We need riches because as Joyce Meyer always says, "Ministry is expensive." God blesses us so that we can partner with him in ministry, not so we can stock all our barns with stuff. Riches won't keep you from entering the kingdom of God, but the love of them might. :)

A Thousand Generations

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6)

Have you ever thought about four generations versus a thousand generations? In four generations, you have thirty ancestors, and in ten generations you have 2,046. God says if we love Him and keep His commandments He will show love to a thousand generations. Wow! Can you wrap your head around that? What we do today will impact many generations to come. Never underestimate the obedience of one life.

Worth Repeating?

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Our speech matters to God. And as the Bible's Golden Rule says, "Do unto others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). What we dish out will come back to us. We can be sure that if we have loose lips, our words will eventually return to haunt. I came across these words of wisdom this week and thought they might be worth repeating. I certainly hope to keep them in mind.

We should run our words, including prayer requests, through these two tests:

1) Is the news "approved" for sharing? It's easy to spread gossip under the guise of being well-meaning, even prefacing the news with "I wish you'd pray for … " But just because my "sharing" is well-meant doesn't mean it's appropriate.

2) Would I want this news shared about me? This is the real kicker. If I were sitting in a room with others blatantly talking about me, would I want what I had told them to be shared? Or would their chatter make me feel as though I'm in my underwear, and everyone's inspecting me?

Gently deflect a gossip-prone conversation before it gets off-track. Our speech really does matter to God [and to us].

Be Mindful To Be A Blessing

"Be extravagantly generous." (1 Timothy 6:18b, MSG)
"Be generous." (Ecclesiastes 11:1a, MSG)
"Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor." (Proverbs 22:9, MSG)

I was at a restaurant the other day with a group of friends and something occurred to me about tipping. Suppose two customers walk in at the same time and are seated within moments. Customer #1 orders a sandwich and glass of water for a total of $3.99. Customer #2 orders a sandwich and soda for a total of $5.98. Both customers finish and receive their bills at the same time. Supposing that each customer tips the waiter/waitress 20%. Based on the bill total, customer #1's tip is $0.80 and customer #2's tip is $1.20. Here's the question: Was it easier for the waiter/waitress to serve customer 1 or customer 2? I say it was equal but look at the difference in the tip. Just makes you stop and think about basing your tip on generosity rather than the total of your bill.

Can You Dig It?

"If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within."-- John 7:38, NLT

"That year Isaac's crops were tremendous! He harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him. He became a rich man, and his wealth only continued to grow. He acquired large flocks of sheep and goats, great herds of cattle, and many servants. Soon the Philistines became jealous of him, and they filled up all of Isaac's wells with earth. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. And Abimelech asked Isaac to leave the country. "Go somewhere else," he said, "for you have become too rich and powerful for us." So Isaac moved to the Gerar Valley and lived there instead. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham's death. Isaac renamed them, using the names Abraham had given them." -- Genesis 26:12-18, NLT

We are called to be flowing vessels of living water; flowing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our well gets clogged up and stagnant. Sometimes, as in the case of Isaac, it's our enemies who fill in our wells with dirt. But as Isaac did, and so should we, he continually re-dug them. There are five things in particular (although there are others) that will cause our wells to clog up: 1) legalism; 2) opinion; 3) debate; 4) judgment; and 5) criticism. When we engage in these five activities, I believe we are the ones throwing the dirt into our own well. Let's take a brief look at each one:

1) Legalism opposes grace. It is rule bound. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. The apostle Paul warns us of legalism in Colossians 2:20-23: "You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, "Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch." Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires." Legalists may appear to be righteous and spiritual, but legalism ultimately fails to accomplish God’s purposes because it is an outward performance instead of an inward change.

2) Opinions (and their cousin "preferences") are subjective statements or thoughts about an issue or topic, and are the result of emotion or interpretation of facts. I've always heard "no responsibility = no opinion" and I kind of like that statement. If you don't have responsibility in an area then you probably haven't earned the right to an opinion.

3) Debate: Matthew 7:6 "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." Sometimes the priceless jewels of Christianity cannot be appreciated by those who have not yet tasted of the goodness of the Lord. In fact, the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:14 that "... the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ." I refuse to debate theology with people. In the first place I don't have the knowledge to do so and I've never heard testimony of a debate converting anyone to Christ.

4) Judgment: Matthew 7:1-2 tells us "Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged." Clear enough and yet most of us don't adhere to this verse.

5) Criticism: Several verses in Proverbs tell us to listen to constructive criticism as a tool for correction, but I haven't found a verse yet telling us to dish it out.

Legalism - Opinion - Debate - Judgment - Criticism
Let's make a decision to dig out the well so that rivers of living water will flow.

Rituals

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine needs new wineskins." -- Luke 2:22, NLT

Our prayer times with God ought to resemble, to some degree, a waiter waiting on a customer. We should be asking God, "What would you like?" Since God, the creator of the universe, has created such a vast plethora of color, shape, sight, fragrance, sound, taste, creature, and plant life, why would we think that He would be satisfied with the same prayer ritual from us, day in and day out? I find myself going in and out of prayer seasons -- at times I best connect with Him by prostrating myself on the floor and other times the most intimacy comes through kneeling. I'm not convinced that God prefers our 4-step prayer programs. Even as humans we prefer variety in our relationships. For example, date night with our spouse would get a little old if we did exactly the same thing every time. If you find your prayer time becoming dry, try a different posture, a different venue, or a different method. Put the new wine into a new wineskin. The Holy Spirit will lead you.

Your Hands

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)

This morning I awoke to JJ Heller's song, Your Hands
The lyrics are powerful. Soak them in:

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

True Worship

"The Church's worship today must correspond to the worship that is going on in heaven." -- Chuck Pierce, The Worship Warrior

Worship is not just a time when we gather at church and sing a few songs. It is not just a ritual that we perform, nor a duty to be carried out. It is not silently striking a pious pose with heads bowed and eyes closed or with hands raised. True worship is not found in an act of performance, but rather in a life of heartfelt dedication and commitment. In other words, it is not relegated to a specific time or place, but rather becomes an all encompassing lifestyle. [excerpt from the book, "The Deborah Company: Becoming A Woman Who Makes A Difference" Chapter 18: Deborah the Worshiper]

True worship before the Lord is a multifaceted experience that:

PRIORITIZES -- "The one thing I ask of the LORD – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple." -- Psalm 27:4

EMPOWERS -- "For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high, above my enemies who surround me. At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music." -- Psalm 27:5-6

AWAKENS -- "Awake, my glory! Awake, lyre and lute! I will awaken the dawn." -- Psalm 57:8

MAGNIFIES -- "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." -- Psalm 34:3-4

TRANSFORMS -- "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." -- 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

TEACHES -- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." -- Colossians 3:16-17

CONNECTS -- "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" -- Psalm 133:1

Habits

"First we build our habits; then our habits build us." -- Author Unknown

I came across this quote recently and it caused me to stop and ponder. Lately, I've been examining some of my habits and looking around at the world to compare. This is not good and I don't recommend it. God will call each of us to certain disciplines tailored to our own personal walk with Him and they are often tied to our destiny and purpose. I'm not talking about things like prayer or Bible reading. Those disciplines are for ALL Christ followers. I'm talking about the fuzzier issues (e.g. what television shows we watch, what we do with our spare time, whether or not we drink an alcoholic drink with dinner, how and where we shop and for what purpose, those kinds of everyday decisions). First thing I decided is that I should never compare my habits to my peers -- that fringes on judgment, which is sin. Second, I should not feel sorry for myself if God has asked me to abstain from certain things because He has probably called someone else to abstain from something I am free to participate in. And third, I must never waiver in those things that I know God is asking me to do. I found this list of three "principles in breaking sinful habits/acquiring new ones" and I think it applies here. I especially like number two. NEVER let an exception occur. Once you make the decision to not do something -- stick with it. Be consistent. The world is watching.

Principles in breaking sinful habits and acquiring new ones:
1. Habits are developed and reinforced by frequent repetition.
2. Never let an exception occur.
3. Diligence in all areas is required to ensure success in one area.

Vision

"You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can't read the obvious signs of the times!" -- Matthew 16:3, NLT

If 20/20 is perfect vision, then 20/10 is keener vision. I believe that the church will come into some very keen vision in the year 2010. Good visual acuity is important for a variety of everyday tasks, but probably is most important for reading text and interpreting symbols. Spiritual vision is more important – to be able to see what God is doing and flow with Him; to interpret the signs of the times.

God is always speaking to us, all of us. We are often moving too fast or are too busy to perceive His presence in our lives. Learning how to hear God's voice is a matter of training our own spirit to be still. In Psalm 139:17-18 we find that God's thoughts toward us are innumerable. In fact, they outnumber the grains of sand. Think of the last time you were at the beach. Picture the vastness of the sand! Now, add up all the sand in the earth ... and God's thoughts toward you outnumber that! How many of those thoughts have you caught lately? I keep a large hour glass on my dresser to remind me that God's thoughts toward me outnumber sand. I have no idea how much sand is in that hour glass, but it's probably more grains than I can wrap my mind around. Now if I could only wrap my mind around all the sand in the entire earth. For now, I'll just focus on God's thoughts for me today. God's thoughts provide the key to great vision. Catch those thoughts and you will know what He's up to. Blessings!

Prison

"The shouting grew louder and louder, and the men were tugging at Paul from both sides, pulling him this way and that. Finally, the commander, fearing they would tear him apart, ordered his soldiers to take him away from them and bring him back to the fortress." -- Acts 23:10, NLT

"Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden." -- Genesis 39:20-21, NIV

Here we find two scriptures where innocent men are put in prison and God is with them. I believe that God sometimes puts us in prison to protect us from our enemies and accomplish His purpose in our life. The prison can be an uncomfortable situation, illness, or circumstance. We may even lose our job because God needs to move us out; or we may have a friend just turn and walk away. As Christ followers, we need to know and trust that God is always up to something that will benefit us; He will bring us hope and a future. Next time you find yourself in prison, ask God: "Who or what are you protecting me from?" And even if He doesn't answer, you can know that His timing is perfect.

Today's prayer: "God, I've been in the "prison of illness & circumstances" and I've seen others thrown in there. But you O Lord are faithful and the One in whom I put my trust."