I believe we are wasting some valuable resources in the church. We have often worked so hard to be relevant, that we have downgraded our thinking some times. We have lost some of the things that truly make the church the church. Many of those resources are the folks who went through powerful times. Impartation, meetings and revelation. Maybe they did not handle it right. Maybe others did not. But we can not live our lives as “been there-bought the tshirt” and expect results. There is a cry in the church for change. There is a cry for change in our country and in the globe. Some, perhaps many of those older folks have some keys. Continue reading This Is The Day, This Is The Day…
Tag Archives: joy
The Rest That Refreshes!
One of the big topics in my life is rest. Not fall asleep kind of rest, but the one where you relax in Him. Yesterday began to remove my peace, my sense of well being. A manufacturer had done me wrong. They have a rule and they broke it. Their answer was “maybe the next time”. Meanwhile the pain went from being done wrong to being angry and needing to go for multiple walks.
I want to share something I wrote in February of 2008 about the beginnings of my truly catching more and more about the rest of God. Hebrews 3:19 Continue reading The Rest That Refreshes!
Love Is In The Air
Love is in the air.
I awoke this morning with a sense that there was going to be a season of love that would dwarf the summer of love in Haight-Ashbury in 1967. And it was going to be leading up to this year’s Christmas. Some of it has been by design (National economies and policies.) while some of it has been by “happenstance”. Regardless of how we got here, the scuffing of our hearts has revealed the need for love. Continue reading Love Is In The Air
Eat The Fruit Of The Spirit
The other day while taking in the beginning of the fall colors and the warmth of the day the Lord began to speak to me about the fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
There was a period of many years where I would “work” hard to exhibit that fruit. And then I realized it was the fruit of the spirit…not me. I did not see apple trees working hard to “squeeze” out their fruit, so why was I trying. I had not yet wrapped my mind about grace and rest, but I think the plane was circling the field.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
So how, where does fruit come from? What is the need?
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
A man must be planted in the soil by water, receiving from the sun(Son). If we are people of the light(sun) we must remain where there is light. We must drink from the river of God. It is in remaining planted that fruit has a chance.
Revelation 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
This is heaven we are seeing in the scriptures and there is fruit! (And no tree of good and evil. How does the tree of life stand on both sides?) And we are people who are called to bring heaven to earth. We are trees of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:1-4) People will “eat” from us. We will be rebuilders of broken cities. Carriers of light.
In Galatians 5:21 it talks about people who “practice” the previous sins, so there must be a practice of the fruits of the spirit. There also must be a willingness to eat of the fruit of the Spirit. Will you eat love? Peace? Joy?
And while you could have had a V8(Eight vegetable juice) you can have a Spirit9. 9 fruits of the the Spirit. And while an apple a day might keep a doctor a way, eating of the Spirit’s fruit, will keep darkness away and usher in His presence.
Are you showing signs of unhappiness? Begin to feast on His joy! feeling ornery? Feast on His kindness. Out of sorts? eat of His goodness.
Feast on the fruit of the Spirit, that you might manifest His goodness in the earth.
Letting Go And Letting God
Grace Happens. Let Go And Let God. First Things First. Live And Let Live.
My Mom had found Al Anon and those bumper stickers began to appear everywhere in our home. Most notably the refrigerator. And frankly I did not understand them so much as I was thinking I should. Especially that one that said “Let go and let God”. What does that mean? I heard a lot of people tell me what they thought it meant. And that one upset me. In part because my relationship with God was non-existent. (Being told God can’t help you by a well meaning minister when it came to drugs, caused me to walk away from anything “God related”. So my mom’s new found “love’ was getting to me.) Continue reading Letting Go And Letting God
Trading Your Peace? Consider The Consequences.
In my dream, I had walked out the door. There was a little child who chasing a large winged creature. He was so happy. (The child…not the creature!) I walked back in the building with this sense of trepidation. I met with the editor of the paper. He spoke to me about me “making money” writing and left the room. I looked at the ledger board and I knew what I was making. I also knew what another was making. I felt this sense of competition rise up. Instantly, I judged my feeling. I refused to let myself be cajoled or dragged into someone else’s urgent place or even their thought process. Continue reading Trading Your Peace? Consider The Consequences.
Relax. There Is Joy!
Life is to be lived. As I woke this morning, I thought about the things that do not live and the energy folks put into them. It may be a phone, a website or a program. I am not saying “do not use” or enjoy, but what is life in the midst of it?
The next few paragraphs that are “snap shots” of the week. I am certain you will see the thread. Continue reading Relax. There Is Joy!
The Restoration Of Vehicles
I walked down each row of vehicles. I was looking for the right car. (Funny, my wife has been asking me lately “if you could have any car…”.)The problem was that all the cars seemed to be “white” and they certainly all look the same! (One of my pet peeves as I have grown.) Finally, somehow, after what seemed to be hours I found “the car”. Lines, color and awesome. I went over to the sales person and we assembled the deal. I had my car! I went and drove it home. I enjoyed the feel, the looks, the features. But most of all, I think I enjoyed the atmosphere!
I had the car for a week or so and one morning there was a knock at the door. “Mr. Johndrow, we have come for the car. We apologize, but we sold you the wrong car. You can have another choice.” “Uhh…no… I am not sure what you are talking about, but let’s go down to the dealer together.” And we did. I walked in the office and I began to speak to the sales manager. Apparently this was not a used car but a new car and they had sold it for thousands less. I simply told them, it was not my problem and as sorry as I was for the difficulty, it was not going to happen. I called my lawyer and he spoke to them. Sheepishly, they turned to me after the call and said “enjoy the car”.
“Thanks, I will!”
Awakening from that dream, I thought for the second time in less than 24 hours that the enemy is trying to play havoc. That he is trying to take the promises of God and reduce them to nothingness. God gives promises. He bestows callings and He establishes mantles of call.
I believe the vehicle represented calling in this case. (Not always what I believe, but here I do.) Something unique to me had been given. (He has given a unique call and calling to you as well. Even this morning I am reminded of words of Bob Jones to me in 2002. And his last words I heard in 2013. I believe they are light and light and need to be held.)And true to the enemy’s nature, he is running about working hard to diminish the gift, to tarnish the blessing, even that which was “paid for”.
Yesterday, I was reviewing a dream with someone and I said, “comfort is not rest”. Since I said it, I have thought a lot about it. You can be comfortable and not be in the “rest of God”.
The enemy has been defeated, but it is you and I who must enforce the victory.
Last night’s dream showed me there are many who have been called and have been “sure” of it, but somehow the enemy has worked his way in to their thinking. It may be circumstance or situations, economics or health, but they are struggling with the idea that they were “ever really called”. I am here today to tell you this is a deception of the enemy. (I truly understand those cave days!) “Am I really called to this?”
Today I hear the winds of God blowing across our land. I see fog covered thinking being cleared. I see clouds of despair being moved away. I see the restoration of minds and of health. Even as I look over New England I hear this word, “sanctuary”. Today there is a change in the air.
My prayer is for those who have questioned the call of God in their lives. Today I encourage you to go to the Lord and seek His answers, His heart for you today.
I looked at the landscape of our region and I saw cars that were “taken” back because folks did not understand their rights or their ministry and calling. I saw vehicles parked by the road because of the enemy. I believe in this area we will see the restoration coming and again I hear “sanctuary”. I see men and women being brought into New England homes and seeing their health restored and them being made whole. No longer is New England to be considered the “frozen chosen” or a “hard place” or a “reserved people” but I see a “place of embrace” coming.
Even now I watch a broken down couple walking down the path to a beautiful home in the woods. As the hosts walk with them I see their spirits begin to lift. I hear bits of conversation. “Why would you do this for us? We never thought we would be able to think about it again.” (The other day a young woman was returned to her home after being held hostage for 9 months. Her name in Hebrew meant “my father is joy”. I remember she represents destiny.)
Here is to the restoration of men and women and their destiny, their calling and their joy.
Results More Than Reasons
As the young child stretched forth his hand the baby came to life. No longer blue in color, but quickly recovering and having color restored the child began to coo softly. Life had returned. What was it that brought such instantaneous change to the dead baby? Was it faith? Was it it Jesus? The mystery of the ages? Continue reading Results More Than Reasons
What Are You Saying? A Few Thoughts On Facebook
My wife has gone away for a few days with a friend. I am excited for her. The beach is her love. Me, I am lake kind of guy. So, the big question is what will I do with a few days of quiet on my hand. Not all that long ago, I would find plenty of things to fill my “quiet times”. These days I will probably write or sleep. And tonight after work I will be getting Jacob so all in all a good weekend is on tap. Continue reading What Are You Saying? A Few Thoughts On Facebook
