As a child we learned a different way on some levels. I think part of my perspective as a child was predicated on asking the questions. Why? Where? What? I believe I was instructed and taught to look for answers. To be critical in my approach to things. Even skeptical. But to stop there would have been error. If I did not believe something, I wanted to prove my thinking. Continue reading What Is The Question?
Four times they invited me over to sit in and play drums. Four times I politely declined. But there was something about the music that was drawing me. I got up to go get a drink. And there it was. That bass line that need fill. That guitar solo that cried out. I watched the guys as they played and when they played those segments of music, they looked over to me, as if to say “please”. As I walked back with the bottle of water, I felt myself drawn to the drums. Continue reading A Chosen Generation – Chosen By God
Yesterday my grandson and I did a “whirlwind” of some cool places. One he did not want to got until we got there. But upon walking through the door, his mind changed. The second place we arrived that he had wanted to go, turned out that his interest was not in what we had come for, but something else there. And the third he wanted to kind of race through not understanding someone else’s value. And it was flowers…(The last time I had been there was with my mom.) Continue reading It May Not Be About Somewhere But Someone
Today we celebrate Jacob’s 7th birthday. (His birthday is actually tomorrow, April 20th.) He is already up and it is not quite 6AM. He wants to get the full treatment!
It is also the 1 year wedding anniversary of my daughter Amy and son-in-love Manley. Add in the fact that they are shortly (May 5th) adding a new baby boy to the household and it is a busy time in the Johndrow household. (Truth be told there are two new babies coming our way in the next few months.) Continue reading Joy Comes In The Morning
Today would have been my mom’s 88 birthday. Amazing how time flies. She left this planet in 2001 during the 9/11 week. Miss you mom!
Last night I felt like I took on some things that were hard to wrap my brain around. It was not an “easy” night. I awoke at 4:44 feeling like I had been through a battle. Here is a potpourri of thoughts. They do connect.
This morning I was saying to the Lord, “there is turmoil in the air” and I felt the nudge of the Lord say, “Last night was the beginning of decision”. Change is not always easy but sometimes necessary for the place we want to be. “The beginning”? I see choices opening and options fanned out. Some decisions are painful.
“Will you trust me” says the Lord.
Sometimes you must get the right “angle” of attack to make it through. Straight ahead in the canoe would have left us upside down in the waters of the lake. Listen to the Lord and hear His wisdom.
Yesterday was an amazing time in our church fellowship. From the very beginning with music that changed the atmospheres, to the testimony of a man healed from arthritis and could once again raise his hands and walk it was getting good, but soon to get better. As my friend Mark shared about the “whys” of deacons and elders in preparation for the installation of three dear friends as deacons there was an intensity building. We are in an awesome place. Far different than we were just a few short years ago. Why share this you might ask. Because what we are seeing, you can see!
As we prayed and prophesied over the deacons, the next was to let them pray for people. I want to tell you these people are my family. And if it is not fun in the family who wants to be there?
My mom left “unfinished” business and life she would not live. The choice to approaching storms requires wisdom. Don’t lock up “your keys”. Raise the dead and receive life. Watch your words. God’s structure is good for all. All good and all God!
The best life to be lived is where He is. He will never leave you nor forsake you. As my friend Mark said yesterday, “Freedom without relationship is just a long walk by yourself…”
[amazon template=thumbnail&chan=default&asin=B005C6FG0G]The last few days have been different for me. Not sure why. But as I 
have been putting together archives and older stories, testimonies and such I have been visited with a renewed sense of purpose. Let me be clear when I say I am not sure “what it is” entirely. Part of me feels like I have been relegated to a cave. With that left on the table…
I have cited the following story and teaching because I find myself back here every now and then. [amazon template=banner easy&chan=default&asin=B008TUE3WE]
Four lepers. Years ago my friend Jack Taylor shared from this passage 2 Kings 7. It is one of those teachings that never left my mind. “Can’t stay here. Can’t go back. Must go on. Got to tell somebody.” You need to read the story. Because the church clearly cannot be impregnated with the DNA of heaven and think it can go back or stay here. Impregnation connotes growth. Growth is a precursor to birth. And birth is a new creation. Your continued growth is because you were “born from above” and have to grow. Now the bigger question upon coming on such a collection of gems and treasures. (Like the lepers, their enemies had been scattered. You have authority as Jesus did over ALL the works of the devil. The devil is not strong but he is a liar. But you my friend are seated high above principality, rulers of darkness and all wickedness. It is time you TELL SOMEBODY.
Today I want to take a moment and talk about “you can’t stay here.” Sometimes when you are “up to your butt in alligators it is hard to remember that the purpose was to drain the swamp.” Too often we are going down the paths of life and interruption appears. It does not need to be the “elephant in the room” traumatic interruption, but sometimes it is just the “shoe string” broke. But depending on your focus and thought process it can stop you dead in your tracks.
Needless to say we have an enemy, but sometimes it is just life. Your car blowing up is not an attack if you never put oil in it. Regardless, you are stuck.
But I have found that often in our lives God changes His method of communication. He might take you from dreams to the word of God. Or from the word to listening for the still small voice. And that is hard. “Is anybody out there?!?!?!”
God never changes His purpose, but I suspect other things including His way of communication may occur. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we are doing He may have to “force” us off the spot. In our “old language” we used to say that “comfortable” season was a mountaintop and now it is time for the “valley” experience. I do not believe moves on us to be uncomfortable but like having a child I think there is a dynamic of being in “one position” too long. Sometimes you may need to move. I am not saying once you were an evangelist and now you are not. But is it not possible God might want to hang out with you a little and allow for things to change or to shift? Now granted that is part of my experience and the experience of others but it may not need to be yours.
So where “can’t” you stay? How about you cannot remain a baby all your life? Or mine? How about the process of growing up is happening, “like it or not”? “Ready or not-here I come!” (Said all unborn children and the expression of God through you!) Perhaps you need to make a geographic? Perhaps the season of your job has met your needs but was but a step in the purposes of God.[amazon template=thumbnail&chan=default&asin=B005C6FG0G]
As a prophetic voice I see lots of words given and received. I also see that there are lots of “wow’s” while it is happening. But let me tell you when a word is “truth” it may mean your life is about to change. Joseph had a dream. He announced it. How many years did it take from the pit to the prison to the palace? How many coats (bearing identity) were lost in the process?
Everyone wants a great God word! I do. But in the process, you might not be able to go back. I am going to share the following story with you. Let me tell you what changed.
As “Nick at night” (Nicodemus) once asked “can a man return to his mother’s womb?” Sometimes you just can’t go back. You got to move on. That is what happened to Tina and I.
A Quandary
Like so many these days, I feel as my life is a quandary. Perplexing. I read the news. I look at the changing events across nations. I watch economies shift and slide. And in the midst of it, my natural self rebels at the changes I am forced to “go through.” Why? Because I am caught in the issues of the globe! I have watched my business change as other businesses have floundered and gone out of business. I wonder what is going on as so many do. But I trust God.
A few years ago, my wife and I were the owners of a home. Two bedrooms up and 3 converted rooms down. The home produced income. A radio station paid for a small portion for their transmitter. We thought we would be there forever. A smaller home, beautiful views.
My then, handicapped son (God has healed him from the traumatic brain injury and given him a great wife!) was living there, as were my daughter and her three children (A newborn baby was one) and my youngest daughter. Family…
And then the enemy sneaked in. A contractor had been hired to remove the underground oil tank(Required by our insurance and mortgagor.) With in twelve hours of pulling away, my lower level was flooded. Three months of doing all that I could while I waded (Yes, pun intended!) through paperwork for insurance companies, etc., while I was working 24/7 to keep the water from the $50,000 transmitter. (In retrospect, I should have let the water destroy it. Had I let it be ruined, insurance would have had to kick in.) Finally respite came in the form of winter, drying up the water source. During the winter my wife and I gutted the destroyed living area. (Over $60,000.) That spring we had installed an inside drainage system.) We thought we had it knocked. And while we worked out of pocket waiting for insurance companies to step up to the table and did what we could, one night as I lay in bed I could not breathe. Black mold. The story goes on and on. (You can read about it at this Facebook link if you are interested.) The upshot was we lived off site for the next three years.
We devoted a lot of time and energy to this property. We never received a dime of insurance and spent all our savings trying to recover. We are in a a financial crunch as the result of it. 4 years later we still own the property, are trying to negotiate a way through with the bank, and may or may not lose it.
Why share a story like that? Because God is still Lord over our lives. He has not changed, was not surprised nor worried. And neither should we be.
Paul tells us in Philippians 4: 4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Only last year many lost their homes and their properties in tropical storm Irene. did I have compassion? You bet!
I am reminded of the story of David on the run. 1 Samuel 21 tells us that upon inquiry, he finds the sword of Goliath, wrapped in an ephod. Two chapters later, we see David wrapped in the ephod, while all that is stolen is restored. Sometimes we need to be reminded of a previous victory to get over the hump, the quandary we are in to see the restoration. In David’s case it was the sword that slew Goliath.
My wife and I have had some down days, even some down weeks over our nearly 20 years of marriage.
Like so many, I could list many, many more. But the Lord is faithful and worthy to be praised. That scripture from Philippians has been worth it’s weight in “gold” to me over the last 20 years.
Some of you have faced death and won. Tell someone! People need to know that the Lord is still Lord over our lives. No matter what.
Yep. That’s me. No rules.
I hate rules.
I am a believer in small government, trust in God and helping others. Rules do not make it for me. Laws do not make people better. Taxes do not cause people to be better givers. And I do not need the government to help me help others.
I was not always that way. For instance giving for me was difficult thing. (Having any joy over anything was hard.) Becoming a believer in Christ changed that for me. But I struggled with the rules about giving. Now I just give because I want to. Not because I believe I have to or I ought to. (If you want to tithe or give imputed offerings that is your deal.) Continue reading Why I Don’t Believe in Rules
I called my daughter last night and my grandson Jacob answered. He wanted to tell me all about his new clothes and his news shoes and how excited he was for school to begin today. I asked him if I could pray for him and he said “yes.” As he said “amen” he began to tell me that Jesus talks to him every day. That He was going to school with him. “I see Jesus every day at school.”
Now let me be very clear. As much as I love Jacob and all my grandchildren, I know Jacob has a child’s side that can cause trouble for him and his mom. He can be stubborn, develop an attitude and more. But if I have learned one thing it is this. His grace is sufficient for Jacob. For me. For you. Continue reading Jacob and Jesus – A Walk With Grace
Everyone has choices. And from the choices, come results. The last week has been a continuing reminder to friends in conversation that we do one of the following, prior to making a choice.
From that place of faith, (Trust in our fears or trust in God.) we make our decisions.
How do I know? I have walked in both those areas over my time with Jesus.* Faith is what is settled for us or what we know. When we do not trust God, we automatically move to the other side.
Most know this story about my grandson Jacob. When he was younger I would put him on the coffee table (Or he would climb up on it.) and he would jump into my arms. He would not do that if he thought I would fail him. If he thought there was the possibility I would drop him to the floor, He would never jump. How much better is our God? There is not one record of God leaving you behind or “dropping you.”
Too often I have witnessed the “paralysis of analysis” when true faith (not hope) does not even look or question. It is settled. It walks “naturally.” One of my own choices came when my daughter Amy, announced her wedding in St. Lucia. Years before I had been schooling for my pilot’s license. Suffice to say my instructor chose to do something not in the “handbook” that week. It “scarred” me. I had to make the decision to trust God in returning to the air. But there was a season where I trusted my “fear.” The result of that season’s fears cost me relationships, value and finance while my trust in fear had gained ground. My trip to St. Lucia was without incident (Unless you call being pulled out of line and checked for gunpowder an incident.) and I was able to enjoy my time.
Tip-The longer you let fear rule an area the harder it is to trust God.
The difficult thing is God is not man. Yes, we have put our trust in man and seen man fail. God does not fail. He always is there. One of the reasons I believe God is “not trusted” is because church has made Him there ATM. Put your “card” in and pull out your answer. He is not like that nor does the Bible describe Him as that. While I believe in a powerful God I do not believe He always says “yes.” And I believe He has given over authority and dominion to us and much of what people blame God for is really in their hands. Continue reading Where Do You Put Your Trust?
I often find myself thinking about seasons of goodness, of increased relationship, of tremendous change. I just went through a season, so to speak. It was as if my family pulled in “tight” so to speak. I am in a different season now. It is a season where we have not “lost anything” and I can see the gains, but growth and change are not explosive.
Last week, while we were getting ready to sleep, Jacob asked me “how old is God?” I worked some of the easier answers, but he persisted with “how old is He?” I finally told him a “googleplex and more.” Fortunately he was tired enough, not too much more conversation happened. (When I was a child, I remember being his age and lying in bed in this old farmhouse, thinking about infinity and the universe and feeling the “frustration” of not being able to wrap my brain around it. My teachers were frustrated I would not let up on the topic !) Continue reading Relationship Changes – Are We Open?
