Rejoice

 

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Philippians 4:4-10 KJV

Selfie

According to Wikipedia, a “selfie” is a type of self-portrait photograph often associated with social networking. They are casual pictures typically taken at arm’s length or in a mirror, and include either only the photographer and as many people as can be in focus.

As the number of these mini photos increases, I began wondering about their impact on our consciousness. I looked up the root word “self” and its meanings which included personality, nature, character, identity, person, and ego. Other words came to mind, such as selfish, self-centered, self-image, self-motivated, self-talk, self-contained, self-absorbed the more I studied.

The “selfie” catapulted the world into new layers of photography, and increased the desire to be noticed.  Lots and lots of people are taking “selfies” and some are being taken in exotic and challenging places because the technology makes it easy.   These snapshots capture our “selves” wanting to be exposed. With each one we become objects of curiosity.   These self-portraits may intensify the war raging between our spirit and our flesh, and create a hunger to be seen.

There are lots of things that divert our attention.  And the more and more our internal lens becomes blinded by self, the easier it becomes to yield ourselves to the “self.”  God created us in His image and likeness.  Are we worshiping the creation more than the Creator?

What do you think?  I am interested in your thoughts on “selfie.” Drop me a comment.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfie

Hold On to the Word

Looking for Greater is the theme for our organization’s annual convention and for our church.  Facing obstacles and challenges amid everyday life and major assignment there is need for hope.  Psalm 33:4 states, “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”  Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteous.  Our greater is wrapped in the truth of God’s word and work.  Our obstacles and challenges can withstand the power and majesty of God.  The word of the Lord carries truth, power, security, love, and his promises.  Whatever you are facing, hold on to the word of the Lord. 

 

My Purpose Dream

I awoke from a vivid, full color and clear dream this morning.  I was speaking with a group of men at a round table sharing with them how to work together.  I began by stating the need to understand that the person in front of them was created in the image of God. In order to achieve success, they must also understand the importance of purpose.   Purpose, I told them would help them to identify the accountant, the builder, the architect, or whatever the role that person was designed to fulfill.  I shared about Adam in the book of Genesis and his purpose.  Rather passionately, I stated God allows us to participate in His creative process.  I stressed the importance of recognizing one’s God-given purpose so that the creative process could occur.   There was agreement around the table as I continued my message.  The smiles on their faces let me know they understood what I was telling them.   Somehow it felt the roundtable location was important as well.  In any case,  I didn’t want to wake up because I instinctively knew that once awake I might allow other tasks to get move up on the cue and my purpose dream would be lost.  So I immediately began to write this blog.   It was clear this was an instructive dream which had to be shared. Because this is not just for me, there is someone out there who is struggling with their purpose.   Now, back to the dream.

I shared with my roundtable group that, “God created us to worship Him and for a specific purpose”.   I related when God created Adam He gave him dominion over the earth, and instructed Adam to multiply and subdue it.  As the process continued, God brought animals to Adam to see what he would named them, and whatever he called them, that was its name.  Adam’s assignments allowed Him to be a partner with God. Well, God named us…we are children of God. We are sons and daughters of the Most High. We are His instruments and servants on the earth. As His children we carry within us the creative seed, the DNA of our Creator.  As the scripture say [paraphrased], do you not know you are a temple of the living God?  What an awesome privilege?

We have the seed of God within us, and as such we were designed to create with God. Inside each of us is the ability to build, to plant, to nurture and grow.  We were to designed to re-established life and to bring God’s light to the world. To bring into existence those things that showcase the Creator God, His works and our purpose.   In order to do successfully, we must understand our relationship to one another, and to God. If we name or create a thing that is what it becomes.  And there is evidence of this taking place daily.  New phases, activities, roles, and discoveries are talked about and shared around the world.

Back to my dream.  I told the group of men that when working together it is important to realize who we’re working with.  We must see the person in front of us as the image of God with direct deposits from our Creator. This individual has been entrusted to fulfill a specific purpose going back to the Creator’s original design.   I instructed them to ask each person they are working with to identify their purpose, and what they really enjoy doing. If the person says, I enjoy working with numbers then you probably have an accountant.  If the person answers, my passion is teaching, then don’t let them be an accountant if they are a teacher. But whatever the function, once it is named or identified that person must be allowed to do that task.  Otherwise, you create chaos instead of order.  Order arises when there is clarity of purpose.  This will prevent confusion, mistrust, uncertainty and wasted effort.  Plus, you won’t spend time building a Tower of Babel, because there is understanding, and recognition of one’s purpose.  The men around the table smiled and nodded in agreement.  Then I woke up.

It was a powerful dream.  And as I am writing this I am also recalling conversations and interactions I had this past week, especially with close relatives and friends.  Our pastor preached a Mother’s Day message with the subtitle of Just Do It.   All this information I received was confirmation about the importance of understanding what is your purpose.   Many of us are sitting around a table waiting for someone to tell us what is our purpose.   And the only way we can truly be fulfilled is to know our purpose and to Just Do it.  Apparently, location is also important.  This message can’t be confined to just one area.  It must be broadly shared.  Real Estate agents tell us all the time location is crucial.  Well my friends keep this mind as you move about.  Expand and share this purpose message beyond just close friends and relatives.  There is a whole world out there waiting for you to share and show them how to Just Do It.   And let them know to go directly to the source-Our Creator for guidance, directions, and to obtain the critical answer to the question of what is our purpose.  Who better than God?  Only He knows why He created us.

As you begin to live out your purpose, always remember those you meet everyday are sitting around a table waiting.   Share with them how truly unique and awesome they are.  Let them know they carry the image of God within them.   In my dream, I told my roundtable group to say the words out loud (There before me is the image of God).  As I did, I was reminded of the power of the spoken word.  Practice saying the same phrase, so you will be ready when the time comes, speak a word into the life of some wandering soul.   This powerful affirmation counteracts the snares and traps of the enemy. It brings God’s transformative power into the atmosphere, identifies purpose and cements our relationship with God the Father.  It brings order out of chaos.

Take this message and share it.  Have faith that when you acknowledge others, believe the purpose seed has been planted, and their purpose journey has begun.   For once purpose is realized the door will open guiding them back to our blessed Creator.

Mothers

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Thank you God for blessing me with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, daughters and sister-friends.  Their demonstration of what it means to be a mother formed a community of hearts committed to the task of nurturing the next generation.  Surrounded by this unwavering devotion, and legacy, I extracted the precious seeds of motherhood to share as a sacred trust.

Grateful for this, I celebrate the gift of mothers not only this day, but throughout the entire year.    Happy Mother’s Day!

 

The answer is

God's Power

“This I declare about the Lord; He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him”. (Psalm 91:2 NLT). 

Psalm 91 was one of my grandfather’s favorite scriptures.   I recalled my grandfather would sit in his favorite chair reading the Bible.  There was always a calming presence about him during these special times.  When faced with a challenge, his reply was simple, seek the Lord.  It reflected his complete faith in God.  As the song writer once said, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”. He alone is our refuge and strong tower.

No matter the circumstance God is the answer.   No matter how many disasters God is the answer.  No matter the trial or tribulation God is still the answer.    The only answer to the problems in the world, in our lives, and in our homes is God.

There are Giants in the Land

Moses sent 12 spies to explore and report back on conditions in Canaan.  This hand-picked group spent 40 days exploring the land.  When they returned they reported it was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey.  The physical evidence of large clusters of grapes, so heavy it took two men to carry a single branch was proof positive of God’s provision.    What Moses told them was true.  The promised land was a reality.  Their sojourn in Egypt was over and now they could experience the promise.  But there was one problem.  There were giants in the Land.  And not only giants, but fortified cities and enemies all around.  Eight spies sounded the alarm, and spread the report that “we can’t go up against them, they are stronger that we are.”   Only two men stood up and said, “Let’s go at once to take the land.”

There are always giants in the land.  Giant problems, circumstances, challenges, and situations.   The stock market is down, unemployment is up;  wars and rumors of wars, party unrest, political leaders disgraced, scandals, businesses close,  discrimination, infighting, sibling rivalry, loss of life…there are giants in the land.

The two men who stood with Moses and said “Let’s go at once to take the land” had witnessed God’s power and presence during the Exodus.  Convinced of God’s word, Caleb and Joshua told Israel let’s go immediately and get our inheritance.  They had physical evidence of the fulfilled promise.  If God promised it, He would provide it despite “the giants.”   Every battle appears to be stronger than we are.  But that is not what God told us to do.  He told us to go and take the land.  He said I will be with you always even to the end of the world.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  I think the answer to that question is, no one and nothing.  In Joshua 1: 6-9; God instructed Joshua, as he assumed the mantle of leadership, to “be strong and courageous.”  As servant leaders, we are to take God’s power with us into the land of the giants; into those strongholds and get our inheritance.  The promises are true, and there is nothing stopping us from having all that God wants for us.   There are no giants in the land bigger than our God.

He is Risen

May the glory, majesty, dominion and power of this day filled your hearts and home. He is risen.
Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday.

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He is Risen

Stricken for Our Sins

Take Out The Trash

I’ve been reading through the Bible for the past few months, and I am always amazed by the majesty and the preciseness of our God.  The past two days, since the beginning of Holy Week, a persistence phrase keeps coming up – “Take out the Trash.”  It arose quite strongly yesterday during my meditation time, and again today while reading through the book of Numbers.  Now I know for some the OT can be a little confusing especially in Numbers and Leviticus, but this is where you see the majesty and precision of God.  Those wonderful details, if taken slowly and with reverence, can yield a mountain of revelation about our God.  What does this have to do with Take out the Trash?  Well in Numbers Chapter 4:1-49, God gives specific instructions to Moses and Aaron the priest on how to dissemble the Tabernacle, and whose is responsible for this enormous task.  There is a registration of men from the priestly tribe of Levi, those between the age of 30-50 years old who must prepare each sacred item for transporting during their wilderness journey. Meticulous planning and arrangements, even down to where these men are stationed within the camp were given by God to Moses and Aaron. Simply amazing.  And as I read this and reflected on the fact that this is Holy Week, I thought about how careless we’ve become during this sacred time leading up to Resurrection Sunday.  We go through the day not stopping to carefully arranged “sacred moments” for God, nor for ourselves.  Our Jewish brethren have begun Passover, where all “regular” activity has stopped, and story of the Exodus is told in great detail. This festival, commanded by God is a time of remembrance of about who they are and where they came from. It is shared, particularly with the young so they will know and understand their legacy and history, but more importantly how God brought them up out of bondage to freedom. There are preparations which included the purging and removal all food items containing “leaven” from their homes.  The house is cleared, and the “sacred” is highlighted, so mind and hearts can express appreciation to God for His gifts and blessings.

We, on the over hand spend nights watching “Scandal” or “Criminal Minds” filling our hearts and spirits with images designed to clog us with debris, and trash which robs us from experiencing God’s fullness.  The “sacred” is overshadowed by the fields of brokenness, pain, suffering, worry, pride, violence, envy, shame, guilt and the sin that so easily besets us.  Paul under the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16-17 NLT), stated “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and YOU are that temple.”  We failed to recognize who we are and where we came from.  This important announcement is highlighted God’s word.  We, who profess the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior have a duty; a sacred responsibility to maintain this temple(us) for God’s work.  It can’t and should not be littered with trash of this world.   He built us for greatness.  He created us in His image.  We are His workmen destined to show forth His majesty, dominion, power and love to the world.

Shouldn’t we consider how carefully we are approaching this sacred time?  Are we preparing our hearts and minds for His return?  Will Resurrection Sunday be just another date on the calendar, or will we show the world, by our example that we have taken out the trash?

Yes, there is much trash that needs to be removed, not just during Holy Week, but each and every day.  We must with intent and love, remove the build up of trash that has plugged, plagued and prevented our Holy Temples from being beacons of life, light and hope.  trash people 08

 

 

 

We need to stop feeding on the “dead carcasses” of the world, and prepare our Temples to transportation.  I guess that’s why the message of taking out the trash has been so pressing.  We all need to clear the way for Christ’s return, and prepare ourselves for his rightful position on the throne of our earthly temples.  Ready to take out the trash?  I hope so.  Let’s consider ways to consecrate this week to Him, and make His light shine.

Monday 4-14-14

Blessings to you.

Holy Week has begun, and it will culminate with Easter/Resurrection Sunday and Passover being celebrated on the same day.  This amazing time will never happen again in our lifetime.  It is truly remarkable that God would allow us this time in history to embrace and recognize our spiritual heritage and roots of faith.   Reflecting on this, I noted today’s date of 4-14-14.  This date will never occur again in history.  I wondered if what I would find if I went to the New Testament and look for 4-14-14.  The fourth book of the New Testament is the gospel of John.  In the 14th chapter and 14th verse Jesus said, “Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (NLT)  Jesus was explaining to his disciples that God the Father and Jesus were one.  He wanted to let them know that if they truly believed in Him they would perform greater works because of His relationship with the Father, and His immediate departure.  He wanted them to understand that everything had been arranged for the continuation of the divine mission, and nothing was left to chance.  He was leaving them with everything needed to accomplish their tasks, with one stipulation – “Ask.”   Knowing what lay ahead for each of them, the master wanted them to know He had matters well in hand.  A somber and sobering conversation mingled with hope.

As I completed my prayers, this same verse came up strong in my spirit. I was feeling the heaviness of many tasks before me, and wondered if I could rise up to the challenge.   I had also been praying for peace, and light as well as physical healing for myself and others in my community.   Thoughts of the tragic shooting in which three Jewish people were killed in Overland Park, Kansas. And thoughts of those families are still mourning the loss of those young people killed in FedEx crash, and of course there is the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing were very much on my mind.  However, Jesus offers all of Christendom the opportunity to approach Him and ask Him for provision, and the promise of new life.  So despite all to contrary, there is still hope on this day, and the opportunity to display in His love and light to those whose lives are in the shadows, because our blessed redeemer lives.  Ask for His peace, love and light to fill you, and let it carry you right up to Easter/Resurrection Sunday and Passover.

This moment lifted my spirits. There is hope because our redeemer lives and everything needed to perform, our Advocate, our strong tower, Our King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall supply.  We need only ASK.
Jesus