Too often I see well-meaning people complicate simple things. It can be a recipe, a task even the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Frequently church has become a place of “higher education” only to be challenged in circumstances or situations where the rubber meets the road. Continue reading Simple Is Good
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 NIV
Last night while in our class, as I “closed” with prayer the power of the living God showed up. He really likes to be talked about “like He is in the room.” The results were tangible as people just wanted to hang out in the presence of the One who has given us life. People shared how good things were. (The whole class was a testimony to God but this was like “extra.”) One woman sang wonderfully over another as others prayed. I want to be clear, so often I get caught up in what I am to do I forget what He is there to do! Continue reading Encouragement And Love Found In The Seedbed of Grace & Community
Yesterday I made a note to others that I thought this was the time where God was going to change people who we had prayed for, been in contact with, etc.. He was making them aware of His love. They were “coming in!” Little did I know that one of my “encounters” would be a woman whom I have never met, but knew of her through her spouse who had worked with me.
Last night a message to me indicated a conversation with her daughter that had left her troubled over the issue of heaven. Her daughter did not want to go. The little girl is 5 and I would ask that you would pray for her. We went back and forth. It was hard for me, because I do not type fast, do not know her, but just kept relying on God and saw her crying. Moments later. Continue reading Pre-Christians and You
This morning I saw a young girl caught up in the dance of romance, much like I think Samuel might have danced as a child. With abandon.
Enjoy!
From time to time I have needed healing in my body, just as others have. I had to trust God for my healing. You may be in that place yourself. God wants you healed and made whole. (1 Chronicles 16:34; 1 John 4:16).
When we are sick it is always God’s heart to heal and restore health and life to you.
Jesus paid the full price for your healing, health and wholeness so you could experience His abundant life. Today, there is no symptom in your body that is too insignificant for Him to care about, and no condition that is greater than what His finished work has accomplished. Continue reading In Need Of A Healing?
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s the world of Facebook, Reddit and news blew up over the VMA’s and Miley Cyrus, my heart was crushed. As a dad, I can only imagine the parent’s internal responses to all of the news. The finger pointing, the accusations and the pain. Does anyone ever really comprehend how hurtful legalism and gossip really are? (I am pretty sure my own children did some pretty dumb things. I never stopped loving them. Ask them. I never waffled about grace, truth and love, but loved them. ) Is it really what she wore? What she did? Or just that unlike so many bound in the church, you just happened to see it? Continue reading Experiencing Grace Truth and Love
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?
When They Come
This may be more for our friends where we gather as a fellowship, for our region, but overall I think the principles and the truth behind it are true for many.
When I first came through the doors of Christianity I am not sure what I expected. Probably not what I saw or even where I ended up. I know in retrospect, the idea of women in dresses and men in suits and that all had to “look the same” might have been tucked in there. My difficulty was I identified with those who could not afford a suit or had never been out of jeans and t-shirt. I have been in the services where people have been asked to “cover up.” (I once had friend who was told he had to wear a tie to church and someone gave him one. He was young black man sporting an Afro. When he showed up at “church” the tie was wrapped around his Afro! He died while doing missions in Tanzania some years later.) Where all the men looked the same, all the women in the flowery dresses and big hair and yes I have been irreverent about it. I do apologize for some of that. Not all, but some.
My walk was orchestrated by Him and no other. I remember falling in love with an album by Steve Taylor and thinking “I don’t want to be a clone.” I remember taking flak over it and my thinking. When I first started in church, I ended up in an “inner circle” of sorts. I began to look the part. But there was always a part of me that hungered for the life of being with those less fortunate. I began to bring them to church. Why? Because He loved me and I loved Him and I wanted to spread it around.
My first two weeks as a believer 23 young people came to the Lord. The man with Tourette syndrome (TS) and his verbal outbursts and crazy mannerisms. Rick got saved in our living room. My former “body guard,” a refrigerator with a head screwed on who was a blackbelt. He gave his life to Jesus in my store as the presence of God filled the room and a “mist” began to manifest. A young army veteran gave his life to the Lord, moving out of his girlfriend’s house and in with us. A practicing homosexual who while buying a gift found himself shaking under the power of God in our store. A man who “found” me, showing up at our home after a truck accident with one leg shorter by nearly 5 inches than the other. He was headed to the Social Security office when I encountered him. The Lord miraculously healed him and he began pounding nails with us that summer. Prostitutes, porn stars, thieves; men and women convicted of all sorts of debauchery. Continue reading When They Come – The Power Of Grace
The culture of grace is at hand…
This morning I received an amazing letter from a friend of mine. He has not be around that long. It was pretty amazing. Over the last few weeks, He has seen the blessing of God and His hand move. Last night he wrote me to tell me of many new blessings, but here is the last part.
“So last night for the first time in 17 years I ran 2 miles . When I got off the treadmill I was sweating but hardly winded. AMAZING .I realize that 2 miles may not seem like much but for me with all my “issues” that was like running a marathon. God is amazing , his word is true, and he is always faithful. Thanks for listenin.”
Frankly , I needed to hear it. The last few days have been rough. Lots of amazing things have been happening. But lots of difficult things have happened too. I have felt like “lots” has been on fire. Finances, health, etc.. But you can never give up or stop contending. God did not promise you a rose garden. I rejoice in the fiery trial because there is a promise at the end. 1 Peter 4 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Continue reading The Garden Culture Of His Grace
When I was a child on the corner of my dresser sat a sock monkey my grandmother (Gunther) had made me. Each night my mom or my grandmother would come in and pray with me.
“Our Father who art in heaven…”
For whatever the reason, I accepted that sock monkey as God. Crazy as it sounds that was my thought process.
I told many that story.
A few years ago I was teaching and sharing about the love of God. A very nice lady made me this sock monkey. His name is “Jesus.” Yes, he has a mohawk, a vest, a nose ring and a tattoo. But until one understands the love of God and how close He is, sometimes we just have to have something we can hold.