Category Archives: Musing

Blogposts, Musing

The Wisdom To know The Diffference

Leave a comment

Years ago, I wrote a story for the newspaper on acceptance. I talked about the stages of grief for part of it and the acceptance or finality that was required to move ahead. Life is like that. Sometimes to make a change you have to “agree” with something or accept it to make the changes necessary.

For instance when you accept there is corruption in the government, you are posed with two choices. Do nothing or do something? No matter who you are, change and the ability to change are hardwired into you.

The results of acceptance are that you accept the outcome, deny the wanted answer or recognize the futility of something. But there is an also an acceptance of who you are and what you can accomplish.

Too often we “settle” for something because we assume it will not get any better or never change. I would be lying to you to say that I have not had a moment or two of that type.

There is a famous prayer.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Reinhold Niebuhr

My concern for a while has been people accept less than what is God’s best for them or His provision for them. Life is subject to change. All of it. Every time. Either you choose to believe the scriptures or you do not.

You can choose what you change.

Can God raise the dead? Have others raised the dead? So why not you?
Can God heal people from cancer? Have people been healed from cancer? So why not you?
Did God multiply the fish? Find the coin? Do you know people who have had magnificent provision in their lives? So why not you?

We do not have to “accept” the substandard or even the norm. Now, right here I will say what you believe will be important. Do you believe God raises the dead, heals the sick? Do you believe you have the ability to change? Do you accept the fact that you “deserve” good? We can choose excellence or better every time. And I accept and I never doubt that God is on my side and moving things ahead for me. What you accept will change over time. What you accept will determine going forward motion. Your acceptance can lead to reward and favor.

What you do with “answers” will have a lot to do with your responses. No does not mean never. It is not semantics but a reality founded in truth. You will always have the choice to accept or reject. Those actions will be based on the premise of what you believe. So, if you use that prayer, be sure to rely on His wisdom and not yours. You will find much of life is changeable to those who believe.

Blogposts, Musing

REST-He is in it!

Leave a comment

I woke up this morning from a dream where an old friend of mine was involved. We had been invited to a meeting. We were staying in a large hotel. We had beautiful rooms. And a noise.  In the dream there was this “mystery” sound. It took me all night to isolate and determine what and where it was. It has taken me much of the morning to understand the thought process behind it.

Yesterday I spoke about set at a table, set in place and set in motion. I believe that is where much of the church is right now.  What is going on? Where is the motion? Where is the “answer”?

I was talking to a friend last night. A savvy business person and good friend, we talked about the current state of life. Like he and myself, many have felt like the motion of things has stopped. We discussed the reasons. Without getting into lots of detail we cleared governments, economies and people. No, something has people in a place of “slowed” or a holding pattern. Even as I thought about the holding pattern, I thought what it was a prelude to. Landing, disembarking, new positions and places all follow. The holding pattern can be discouraging, as it can create impatience or anxiety. Especially when you look out the window and see others “in the air,” circling alongside of you.  (Die Hard 2 maybe?)

My answer is, many are in the place of “what’s next.” Often we see it in an individual or two, but it does seem like many are waiting. What if how well you wait determined how well you “land”?

In my dream we were distracted until late into the night, looking for the source of the noise. When we got close to it, it seemed as if it changed. Direction, sound, volume. I finally got into bed and got some sleep(rest) only to hear the sound a few hours later. I jumped out of bed, opening the door and I saw the source of the noise. A type of “knocker” had been affixed to my friend’s door. I opened the door and there he was, asleep. He was worn out from the night’s explorations. The sun poured through the window.

Only when I was in my room and resting was I able to determine the source of the sound. It was on a door. As we moved about the hotel the previous night, we heard it but could not locate it. There is a new day coming. The Lord is behind the “distractions” but not as you perhaps think. He is not making it hard for you, He is making it easy. There is rest He is calling you to. And only when you are in that rest will you hear the sound. The sound of Him at the door calling you to a new day. A day that is bright. Why a door? Because He is not making this hard or difficult.

I personally just went through a frenzied time. A time that began with a flat tire a few weeks ago. And then a car accident and my wife’s injuries. Finances, vehicle and residence, all seemed to take a hit. It is not “over” but I felt the Lord asking for trust. He is knocking. He has knocked at many people’s “door.” The answer is “open the door.” (It is like, how do you remove the darkness? Turn on the light!)

This is a season of unraveling of thinking, discarding of old thoughts and process and the listening for the sound. My answer in the dream was “right there.” But we could not find it. We did the room to room search, the examination, the interviewing of others…everything but “lie down.”

REST-He is in it!

 

 

Blogposts, Musing

Was His Face Marred for a reason?

Leave a comment
Sloth-from the movie the Goonies
Sloth-from the movie the Goonies

I have been meditating on the marring or the misshaping of His face in the last week or so. I read this scripture…
Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.

What is the connection, I thought? People astonished at me? At you? The preceding verse speaks of not being in a rush. Of God going before you and being behind you.

But His face? When I felt touched to think about it, I thought it had to be “marred” not just fulfill a prophecy but to do something else.

It’s funny. The Lord had been stirring in me Psalm 27 and the phrase about “the land of the living.” And for nearly a week this statement has been typed on my computer with nothing added. “Was His Face Marred for a reason?” I would look at it multiple times a day. Today I began to clear the deck so to speak. And here just a few scriptures later in Isaiah 53, “For He was cut off from the land of the living;”

What is the land of the living? I felt this. A stream in a wilderness. A family of descendants. Where life is.

The other day, I felt that His face must be marred to “balance” it for us. He had no beauty it says, nothing to draw us. If the holes were still visible in His hands, what about other wounding?

I came to this conclusion about His face. I realized it while watching the Goonies with my grandkids. When Jacob saw Sloth he could only ask “why is his face like that?” I think we ask the same thing about the face of Jesus. Why is it like that? Why will it not draw you? “He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:2

With this, “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

Not only to accept him, but to serve Him, we must accept the difficult parts. I think we have looked at things through the human lens and made Him “palatable” to our way of thinking. Hence, we “mar” His beauty. We in our unredeemed state could not accept His goodness.

We often see people dealing with shame not able to look others in the eyes. Perhaps that is what happened. Or even in the “I am better than you” mode, underrating the spiritual value of goodness. Pushing it away.

Whatever the reason, my final thoughts are that we tried to make Him like us, when His goal was to make us like Him.

Musing

Preside Where You Reside

3 Comments
Hitting the target
A word for today.

Yesterday during worship I heard a few things and felt like I needed to set on them for a bit. During a dream last night I received more to what was in play. They had to do with the season we have entered into.

I heard three phrases-

Setting a table. I felt like two things were in play here. One was that we were to be a table. A place of community and respite for those who had needs of the Lord. Not needs of us, but needing Him, though we might be part of the answer. The second part was He was calling us to the table of His fellowship. We know that He prepared a table for us amongst His enemies. There is a calling to a place of rest in Him. The more we know of His rest, the more we know of Him.

Setting in place. This is a season where God is setting in place His people. To fulfill His purpose, I may not be able to fulfill my calling where I was so He moves me. God sets people in place. And He allows for people to be set according to God and one that will be done by man. I literally saw people being “screwed” into place for their purpose. God is allowing no “wriggle” room in that which He has called forth. No longer will short term vision suffice. This is clearly for the long haul.

At the same time, I saw a jewelry setting. Any real jeweler knows that a stone is crafted to produce the most goodness out of its cutting or shaping. In the natural a master jeweler will review the stone to faceted or cut. After research he will decide what is to be done in the process of faceting.  The Lord does this as well. It may be years of watching the “raw” stone before adding a facet. More before the stone adds another. At some point, the stone will be set. A proper setting is devised to release the largest amount of light and brilliance through a gem. A gem can be shiny laying on a piece of black velvet, but its fire and glimmer will never be fulfilled. Even a magnificent stone can be diminished by the wrong setting. The correct setting will allow light to bounce off the inner cuts deep within the stone, refracting and reflecting.

Be willing to be set. Not my will but your will be done.

Set in motion. There are motions that you have set in play and those that the Lord has set in motion. There is a rhythm of God that can be seen being revealed in lives. When the scripture spoke of “waiting” on the Lord, it was not talking of a sitting still, contemplative repose, but a tying in to what the Lord was doing, where He was going and how He was moving. Being “set in motion” is a place of moving. Why am I here? Where am I going? Those are familiar refrains of those who have tied into the Lord.

In the mid 90’s the Lord had given me a vision of a chess board and the pieces being moved about. He shared with me the value of each piece and what life would mean to myself and others moving forward. Too many have wanted to be like Peter and John and build a tabernacle where He is, never realizing He is not stopping or being constrained. There is something mystical about being in Him and knowing not where you go, but knowing it is Him. One of the largest ideas for me to conquer was the moves that I have encountered over my years in Him. And what about those times where it seemed like I was set aside or not moving?

No four….

And then I heard “preside where you reside.” The word “preside” means this: to exercise guidance, direction, or control; to occupy the place of authority. God has given you an influence. He has established you in heavenly places and yet He has given you a sphere of influence, according to the measure or metron He has established, you have received AND you judge to be in you!

God will use you if you allow Him to.

  • By your fellowship He will increase you and your revelation of who He is and who you are.
  • By your placement and where you are set.
  • By your acceptance of His movings.

 

 

Blogposts, Book Thoughts, Interrupted Process, Musing

Clarifying Problem Solving

Leave a comment

Over my life time I have worked hard to not make mistakes. Apparently a lesson in futility. I have made lots of mistakes. The result of mistakes hopefully brings you to a better place, with fewer mistakes and better outcomes.

For instance a young driver might make more mistakes than a more practiced one. A golfer who practices AND gets good advice will usually drop points from his game.

Many rely on life for the response to see if something works or not. Fortunately not everything is by trial and error. Usually you can find someone who has done what you are readying to do and save yourself the “shooting blind” exercise. I often say, “experience is a wonderful teacher, but it can also be rough on your life.” I have told my kids and others that you do not have to experience all of life to know what works and what does not. I do not need to put my hand in a bag of rattlesnakes to know that it could be painful!

While writing the “technical” portion of my book on interrupted process, I found that so much of my problem solving measures I respond with is learned behavior. The behavior developed by study, practice and education. Now practice without study may not better a golf swing. Learning to ride out a skid and turn into it requires one to over come “instinctual behavior” which would turn away.

Clarifying my process of response to interruptions has taken more time than I thought it would and is certainly more complex than I initially would have thought. And certainly one size, one answer will not fit all. There are sometimes those “I have never been here” moments. Sometimes all you can do is pray, hope and make a decision. And not every good decision works out well.

For instance when my home flooded, I quickly moved to remove the 6” of water to protect furniture and our tenant’s $50,000 transmitter. Unfortunately I could not save the furnace. BUT, after a year of doing what had been recommended, I also found that I would have been better off if I had allowed all to be destroyed. The tenant would have sued me and ultimately my insurance company. Because of my salvage actions, insurance never kicked in and my wife and I lost $179,000 over the next few years. I feel I did everything I knew to protect our finances, our home and our reputation. Looking back I see the problem. but if that happened today I would still feel guilty about not doing something.

Decision making will never always be easy or fun, but it does show you are growing up!

Lee Johndrow, Musing, Uncategorized

Who’s Hand Are You Watching?

Leave a comment

sleightofhandI grew up in a generation where magic was fun. I would watch people like Kreskin, The Amazing Randy and Mark Wilson. I would read about Harry Houdini and collect books on magic. And you would be told “always watch the hands.” (Now one must watch the government for their own version of sleight of hand, but…)

Over time I have watched the people of God look for the “hand of God” in what He is doing. (I learned in most cases it is better to keep your eyes on His face.) Where is He going, what is He doing and those things will lead. But at some point one must ask “Why” is that happening. I am not talking about mistrusting or doubting God, but why is there a pattern or a theme.

One of the most difficult things to witness is people trying to superimpose their thinking, their understanding, their thoughts from their “inferior” position and see no results. Isaiah 55 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” We are also told that “and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6) Our position is important in our decision making and thought process.

Recently I have seen this picture. It is a small hand reaching up into the sky. I felt the Lord say to me, that the small hand represents “man’s thinking” and the sky all of Christ. “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.”  He is the victory. Our thinking has been swallowed up in Him, for our way of thinking when not renewed in the goodness of God leads us to death.

I felt the Lord say to turn the picture “upside” down. From my place above, I take my thinking and drop it into the “skies” of Him. Not only is my thinking renewed but no longer do I have to understand everything, seek out every answer.

The result is I am comfortable in me, I do not have to strive or work hard to please. I can walk past things that once held me up and caused me stress.

Wisdom from Above

(James 3) 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

It is a top down(From heaven to earth) life we must engage.

(You may want to order one of our books, The Drones of Heaven.

Blogposts, Lee Johndrow, Musing

Family and Friends (More than a cellphone program…)

Leave a comment

Even as I write that, I chuckle, because the latest revelations about snooping indicates we have a wider circle of “friends” than we thought!

Yesterday during our time of worship, I felt the Lord say that many can comprehend “unity” or the concept of family, because of their upbringing. I made a note and wrote the thought and went back to worship.

During the “sermon” time my friend Mark said something about it as well. I wrote this scripture down. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ. ”

We are one. I began to think about this. If we do not see from God’s perspective that we are to be one, we “act” out unity from our perspective, from our “location.” One of the symptoms of dysfunction is the need to “isolate.” I am not talking about times of respite or retreat, but the continued move away from others. I get it. Perhaps you have been hurt. But, when one is “hardwired” from the get go for community, moving against that sets up a tension that can move to an unhealthy place.

We have programs that denigrate family because we came to a place where we ascended to unity rather than a place of moving to unity from the working of Christ in our lives.

Using this statement, “I am only human” attacks the fabric of Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is in opposition to 2Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” A new creation may resemble the old, but is NOT. It is new! A supernatural being with roots in heaven and the DNA of the Father. You can not say “I am just human.”

And if we are not “just human” than not only has our identity changed, but it compels us to change our perspective and outlook on community and family. We need to examine what it looks like from His place and His purpose. “”that they all may be one, as You, Father, [are] in Me, and I in You;”

When we change our thoughts about one another, shaped by the likeness of Him, we will see a move in family that will shake the world. Fathers and mothers rising up with a destiny to be sown, not held on to. A future so bright that worry not enter.

And when we see it is not about our purpose, but His purpose, we will live on purpose.

Blogposts, Lee Johndrow, Musing

Concentrating On Him

Leave a comment

Too many seem to focus on what will be, where they will go and what they will do.

There is a reason this is is relevant. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” It speaks of being the change where you are.

I have watched too many make “sacrifices” in the name of Jesus, that have cost them financial freedom, families and peace. Peace is our referee, when He is coupled with wisdom.

If you can’ t take care of dishes in the sink, what makes you think you can do it out there.

I have watched way too many “sacrifice” for selfishness and self serving measures only to bankrupt themselves, lose families and destroy credibility with friends.

On the other hand I am not saying make your “home” so comfortable you never leave it or ever see the value in carrying the gospel to other lands.

Too many friends have gone into debt over the sake of the ministry believing that was God, to the place if He called them for a cup of coffee they would need to borrow it. Too many have walked away from the calls on their lives in disappointment because of the money, the prestige and the “glory.”

I would like to suggest that we can “do this thing” with integrity, long lasting fruit and enjoyment.

It begins with you, then family and friends, communities, regions and then to all the world.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Blogposts, Musing

Praise Is The Answer

1 Comment

have been noticing a couple of things that seem to be affecting the body of Christ across the board.

One is the area of health. It seems to have “kicked” up a notch the last couple of weeks. Before we attribute things to the weather, pollen, etc.., we must remind ourselves that we are NOT under the curse. Sickness is not one of the sufferings of Christ you see in the scriptures. We are called to lived above and not “under.” That is not to condemn but to point.

The other is finance. I hear “what about me” as someone else is blessed.

Because people look at those two things and relate it all to them, the enemy works over time, bringing up the third area.

“Will I ever get it? Will I ever fit in?” All three are lies of the enemy.

God showed me that “praise” will be the answer.

Praise is not worship. My personal definition of worship is to tell God who He is in your life. Abba, Father, etc.. Praise to me tends to be “Aggressive” because it is telling God who He is according to who He is.

I read one time that worship was “I don’t have a car, a home or money, but I will worship you.” Praise is thanking Him. (When I am feeling down, I turn on the praise!) A lot of it is calling things that aren’t as though they are.

If you have been going through the “rough patch” and do not “feel” like praising Him, I am going to challenge you. It is your job to make earth like heaven.

Musing, Tidbits & snippets

What Can I Do?

Leave a comment

Maybe it’s my culture or how I was educated, but I am a history buff. I have been there for a lot of recorded history. I have seen amazing things.

As I read the news, I see a growing acceptance of what is wrong, coupled with a sense of hopelessness. Yet I also see an inability of people to determine what to do about it.

The average person probably has never written a letter to a congressman or senator, is unaware of the process to do so and most likely can not name the three branches of government. (Consider taking the simple test here and if you are willing post your score. http://www.expandedschools.org/blog/could-you-pass-us-citizenship-test)

But this is not about politics. I have also noticed a growing trend in the church to revert to “worldly” measures rather than putting faith into play. Do you realize faith can work against you? For instance if you believe the government is corrupt and never be healed, you will never exert your faith in prayer. (Nor will you write letters, vote, put people in play locally or serve.)

Many in the body of Christ have needs. I agree. At the same time, are we not the people who can administrate change? Are we not the eklesia who carries the word of the Lord.

The “citizenship” test for believers is simply to believe. What do you believe? What rights do you exercise? I have noticed growing sickness, addictions and more the last few weeks. It simply should not be.

James 2:14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? CAN THAT FAITH SAVE HIM?15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (Emphasis mine.)

There is a faith that saves and a faith that changes,

Wisdom from Above

13Who among you is wise and understanding? “Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Today I make a personal decision to praise Him.