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?