tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50913245996518458162024-03-13T21:07:36.061-07:00Write down the revelation...Then the Lord said to me,
“Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others." Habakkuk 2:2Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-23835025911797717402021-12-18T13:48:00.015-08:002021-12-22T14:21:37.293-08:00When Love is Forced<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3cqCLIkDkUjtobozkFtDhqizEfhxbMC-o0HX7dOfyZcA6al8gJE_LT4pjY-TuIURNJeGfjJRLK87oRC8uRaKiyUtpYOaT72yjrdq8fz0VJ2kF0wlzy-5nL8XU28FyO01TaFsLErkqpL7Xot6bqFJMpV-E28ddDMljhjVjGImMXWJ_wGL8pMRsvdgzTg=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3cqCLIkDkUjtobozkFtDhqizEfhxbMC-o0HX7dOfyZcA6al8gJE_LT4pjY-TuIURNJeGfjJRLK87oRC8uRaKiyUtpYOaT72yjrdq8fz0VJ2kF0wlzy-5nL8XU28FyO01TaFsLErkqpL7Xot6bqFJMpV-E28ddDMljhjVjGImMXWJ_wGL8pMRsvdgzTg=w640-h334" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-733bffbf-7fff-c120-4501-27733c07786d"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I posted something on social media that caused a bit of a stir. Perhaps you saw the original post and wanted to engage in a conversation but couldn’t because the original post was removed due to unintended reactions.</span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are here to have a genuine conversation, then this is your invitation to the table. For the next few days, I will read, contemplate, and thoughtfully respond to your comments. Plus, I have snacks.<br /></span></span><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4978fd11-7fff-4477-f475-82fa64b59096"><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTVcKA4i5IOJBNkHZovx9R1HWDAJsxedlHnx_33a_CO7luqZ05UBCS9wN-BPOz_YdbVYdFBdEeZWMtIuFTdm0C8_e6qtDtqZdQYjPKJ-rQqOv_0ijDvUUWMKPkqYSDI6LmSvb4sXQeYrFjXuGijY_6qtbtXiRvgset9nIPjidQRWlcQ9hJGCsDHTIe3w=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTVcKA4i5IOJBNkHZovx9R1HWDAJsxedlHnx_33a_CO7luqZ05UBCS9wN-BPOz_YdbVYdFBdEeZWMtIuFTdm0C8_e6qtDtqZdQYjPKJ-rQqOv_0ijDvUUWMKPkqYSDI6LmSvb4sXQeYrFjXuGijY_6qtbtXiRvgset9nIPjidQRWlcQ9hJGCsDHTIe3w=w320-h320" width="320" /></span></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c4ef8a8b-7fff-ad5c-2bbd-1b903411b00a"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>She Said What?!</b></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1968f305-7fff-cf60-d28a-f1d78a0b35d8"><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span id="docs-internal-guid-5cf342a9-7fff-ca05-e103-f7ac29001522"></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">For those who didn’t see the original post, I’m sure you’re curious. This is what I posted:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ7wFB-Gvo6CoeRytS2akSvjymQn5sN8IjK07k8BsDb9vIS2XczR1GWxnKsy3sX1TznHRWL2sPsExOHKi6yx3XKQ8GO1HOcjfGL7ElKXHMlJiHN7MxMpmgaXLELF6dUaJqnbxIflC4UvLyLpTTU3CmDueylDR0OhR8Bx4gJb51Yxv5kaUsh87X__q-0Q=s550" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="550" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ7wFB-Gvo6CoeRytS2akSvjymQn5sN8IjK07k8BsDb9vIS2XczR1GWxnKsy3sX1TznHRWL2sPsExOHKi6yx3XKQ8GO1HOcjfGL7ElKXHMlJiHN7MxMpmgaXLELF6dUaJqnbxIflC4UvLyLpTTU3CmDueylDR0OhR8Bx4gJb51Yxv5kaUsh87X__q-0Q=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-97491bd1-7fff-8ba5-58a6-47fc77173164"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The caption with the photo read, “Any forced ‘act of love’ is generally called rape.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It was a deliberate choice of words, and I intentionally set privacy to ‘public’ because I wanted to provoke a reaction that would cause widespread genuine contemplation and discussion. </span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba00ca40-7fff-ac84-cab3-a95fbab2f822"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-05f1987b-7fff-1025-0cbf-ab47090bea67"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">However, there were two matters that I didn’t fully consider:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first is that I wanted </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">to encourage discussion but I didn't exactly leave it open to invite a conversation with me. Besides, Facebook is full of washroom warriors and it's hard to have a thoughtful discourse with your pants around your ankles.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (I’m talking about myself, of course.)</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">The second is the word <i>rape</i> is </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">a trigger word for men & women who are still in the process of overcoming personal trauma.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-53f0907b-7fff-5c33-e2f3-67249c01190b"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I could say that words are just words, but that’s not true, is it? The world was created by a word, Jesus IS the word, and it’s by the name of Jesus that we are saved.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-004c697a-7fff-7e29-3f18-a308b59ad25e"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">So then, since you know that I know that words are powerful, why would I deliberately choose such an explosive word? Great question.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fa6735d2-7fff-a005-9ab1-7c655c13894e"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If “Love” is Required, Is It Still Love?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6e09e2a4-7fff-de90-6f9d-8aefab58988d"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a backstory and it starts with a dream… the kind you have while sleeping. </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Several years ago, I was wrestling with the Lord about a personal issue. I had a disturbing dream that I was being violently raped, but that wasn't the disturbing part. What disturbed me was that I <i>liked</i> it.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3ff79732-7fff-1040-8fd4-79c5ecb9c9b9"></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">I woke up and did everything I knew to do to get the “slime” off me. I rebuked the devil, I prayed a prayer of deliverance, I pleaded my case in the courts of heaven. Nothing seemed to alleviate the foulness I felt.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8ef118a7-7fff-433e-8b81-db0e1ecf0193"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">After three weeks of being disgusted and bothered by the dream, the Lord finally said to me, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">You know that dream you had?</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62d26398-7fff-65b2-16de-9a849652e284"><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f179dcb-7fff-9adf-c0ad-1cfc96b6a8fb"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Yeah?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, I replied.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2142eed4-7fff-d650-b78e-97feb27c2f69"></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t wasn’t from the devil. I gave you that dream to show you how disgusted I am with any forced act of love. It was shocking because you needed to feel how repulsive it is to me, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He answered.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4bc723e3-7fff-05ce-baaf-f10c10a88230"></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a lesson I can’t easily forget.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7ca823bc-7fff-2e61-95c9-51b8c3d7fda2"></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allowing people to act, think and speak freely is scary because they might use that freedom to abuse you. People will get hurt, they might even die. To safeguard our own personal sense of safety, we look to those who can make laws to keep us feeling secure.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;">True freedom requires self-control (the ability to control yourself) and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. In fact, love and self-control are the two cap ends to the list that makes up the fruit of the Spirit. Coincidence? I don’t think so.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-67033c31-7fff-58e8-05a2-9a13967172fe"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The topic of discussion I attempted to raise wasn’t about whether or not the Covid vaccine is good or bad. It was a one-line editorial about how I viewed the government mandate to receive the vaccine based on their media marketing campaign.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c8e9c203-7fff-0de3-fdd8-ff8d667a879b"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">What media marketing campaign?</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62150538-7fff-2a5a-3572-4e76f66e5fc6"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The media campaign says if you love your family, you should get the vaccine to keep them safe. What it not-so-subtly implies is that if you don’t get the vaccine then you </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">don’t</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> love your family.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTkW2DPqOP00O2W0pfsYY8XyyMJF6_XEXR8wn8tCVbTZo9qbQ8eXQFkgBFQpCFT6hjrHM9I5KfriAJuLkAXB9Mv0WsV8_EHv4qbmBcZo2MpN8jk-sAO7WjO817odjSKOc6-6_HAul6yLxCoSfyvnkPWncdN7nkOg3UcU9pSvSGa26hLSYeWY2rzemBpw=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTkW2DPqOP00O2W0pfsYY8XyyMJF6_XEXR8wn8tCVbTZo9qbQ8eXQFkgBFQpCFT6hjrHM9I5KfriAJuLkAXB9Mv0WsV8_EHv4qbmBcZo2MpN8jk-sAO7WjO817odjSKOc6-6_HAul6yLxCoSfyvnkPWncdN7nkOg3UcU9pSvSGa26hLSYeWY2rzemBpw=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-718d2568-7fff-786f-3fa8-4d8092c594cf"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Fighting Words</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-aaf40b26-7fff-9471-db1a-d9e173384f00"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It makes love the fighting point and distracts from the many other reasons why someone may or may not choose to get the vaccine.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21b71f08-7fff-b2c3-a1c3-e63dff8ad04a"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">In other words, the media has weaponized love. It’s being used in such a way that makes people who do not consent feel violated, powerless, and not in control of their own bodies. Hmm, the effects sound similar to a certain controversial word, doesn’t it?</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-130464f3-7fff-d4eb-7693-c83f2f6897f4"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">What To Do If You’ve Been Violated</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a6995330-7fff-f50f-7141-59b7d55170a6"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">When I feel violated or powerless, my go-to response is worship… with worship flags if possible. Instead of dwelling on what hell is doing, I focus on heaven’s response and worship is the best way for me to do that.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Instead of reacting in fear, I respond with the opposite spirit. If freedom is taken away, then I release freedom that is found through Christ alone. </span><a href="https://www.catchthefireworshipflags.com/products/freedom-worship-flags" style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Freedom worship flags</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> make it easy to do that.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-142d4d4c-7fff-156d-4e15-f98453cf8077"><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d57861ec-7fff-2dc2-00f1-01b66a639c23"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">When love is used as a weapon, I choose to use the circumstance to produce more fruit of the Spirit. </span><a href="https://www.catchthefireworshipflags.com/products/your-love-is-better-worship-flags" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your Love is Better worship flags</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> are wonderful prophetic tools to declare the things that are in your heart but what you don’t have the words to say.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e2a593ab-7fff-511c-f61d-395d8e6ae5e7"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Table Talk</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94fc031f-7fff-6eec-272b-ade314c7c53b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">There’s more to say, but I’m interested in what you think. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Should love, in the form of forcing people to get the vaccine, be mandated?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-22466054478934058902017-09-27T09:24:00.000-07:002017-10-03T20:48:27.469-07:00May I Have Another Serving of Law, Please?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">This morning, I’m challenged by the audacity of forgiveness. I mean, I’m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> feeling challenged and every time I want to justify punishment and due consequence the Holy Spirit drops the lyrics from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSFg1D-ipo" target="_blank">Freedom Reigns</a> in my mind: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Freedom reigns in this place<br />Showers of mercy and grace<br />Are falling on every face<br />There is freedom</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Argh! It’s utterly frustrating. A couple who was leading in the church I formerly attended have been charged with heinous crimes. Since their arrest in spring, I’ve been grappling with forgiveness, especially since there hasn’t been evidence of repentance. The charges have been laid and their cases are in the early stages of the Canadian criminal justice system. Their next court appearance will be to set the trial dates – it could be next month or next year.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">My honest desire is for them to be convicted, and sentenced to the maximum term – 10 years. And if I’m truly honest, I don’t want them just to go to prison, but I want their stay to be torturous. These thoughts are tormenting me because at the same time I love them and appreciate the fruit which has developed in my life because of their teaching and leadership. Ugh, how can these two conflicting thoughts occupy my emotions? Don’t answer, I don’t actually require a rebuttal, I’m merely venting my further frustration at being double-minded (‘cuz we all know what the scriptures say about being double-minded – James 1:8). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So, it’s Wednesday morning and I’m riled up. I’ve been reading books which are causing me to re-evaluate how I live according to the New Covenant – it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">completely</i></b> turned around. Seriously, the New Covenant is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">messed up</i>. My specific interest in the scriptures are the Old Testament books. I appreciate the tenderness I find of the Father in the OT, but Holy Spirit has been revealing how much I love the wrath of God for sins. Wrath, especially in the form of punishment, is something I understand. I do something wrong (i.e., sin) and there is punishment <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> restitution. It’s doubly true for others (*wink). I say I live by the New Covenant but secretly I keep the Old Covenant (Law) in my back pocket to whip out as the crime requires. Of course, Holy Spirit is right and I loathe being wrong so I’m having a bit of an internal struggle.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Last week, I had a conversation with a friend and we were discussing the charges and speculating on what might happen. In the eventuality the charges against the couple do not result in a conviction, she said to me one day they will stand before the Judge and get their due. As quickly as she said that, I commented that wasn’t true if they repented. Repentance is the “get out of heavenly jail” card. Argh! So maddening. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">At the time I was mad at the audacity of the gospel of the New Covenant to allow repented sin to go unpunished. Truly, I don’t want justice, I want punishment. Again Holy Spirit reminded me of something: Jesus didn’t suffer the punishment of the Father for sin; Jesus was the perfect Lamb. Sacrificial Lambs were not tortured or punished when they were sacrificed. In fact, they were set aside from birth and protected so they would not be tarnished by defect. Then at the right time, they were sacrificed as atonement (not punishment). Smarter people than I can explain it much better but that is essentially the gist of Jesus as the perfect Lamb. By His sacrifice, the need for further sacrifice (atonement) isn’t necessary.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Fast forward to this morning; I was having more conversation with Holy Spirit (resembling more of a debate) and I realized something even more scandalous and audacious than the removal of repented sin is that Jesus forgives even unrepented sin. CRAZY! I can’t even.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the sin of the world covers ALL sin – for ALL the world (non-believers, believers, and backsliding believers) and for ALL time (past, present &</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">; future). Sin has been dealt with. Period.* There is only one judgment left, which is to separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). The goats (unbelievers) will be punished and the sheep will be rewarded (praised), according to their deeds. Neither the sheep <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nor the goats</i> will have their sins splashed on the billboards at Times Square for all humanity to see. To think or teach differently introduces shame as the main fear factor.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Christians like to justify bad behaviour of other Christians by saying, they didn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> have a full conversion, or they didn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> pray the salvation prayer with sincerity in their hearts, and we throw around words like Calvinism or Arminianism. I’m not smart enough to remember which theory means what, nor can I argue for one side or another but I believe God’s ways are not as simple as that. His thoughts are lofty, whereas as ours are not. He looks at a whole other level of criteria.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Regardless, back to my dilemma at hand – I believe the couple who [allegedly] committed crimes are Jesus followers. Ergo, even if the justice system of Canada doesn’t convict them but they are guilty of what they’ve been accused, they will NEVER be eternally punished because Jesus has already forgiven them. That is why there is NO CONDEMNATION FOR ANYONE who is in Christ. That is what forgiveness does. It releases the guilty party from punishment or restitution.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Furthermore, regarding the Great Judge, ie., the Ancient of Days...Ancient of Days is introduced in Daniel 7:9. I love the description because in this scene, Ancient of Days shows up and passes a ruling – He judges in favour of the Saints (Daniel 7:22). Yay! We win and we will be vindicated. But wait. That means He judges in favour of the Saints – including the ones who’ve sinned (including the couple). Why? Because the truly Perfect Lamb has already been sacrificed and there is no more condemnation. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Gosh, I’m so mad about this but if I hold the standard of the Law toward the couple, then I have to examine my own life and I’m confident there are areas of my life where I am unrepentant. Two nights ago, I had a strongly worded quarrel with my Man, even stronger were the words I wanted to use and my thoughts were definitely not generous towards him. I didn’t want to forgive him and I was unrepentant - for 2 whole days! What if I died that night and this sin was left open-ended? What kind of eternal punishment would I face? Sin is sin is sin. If Jesus’ sacrifice for my sin is enough then it is enough for the couple’s crimes too.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It’s outrageous, and causing quite the rage in me, and yet, even as I write this, Holy Spirit is still humming <u>Freedom Reigns</u> in my ear as response.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Do you find the New Covenant gospel outrageous and audacious? Please share your thoughts. I want to learn and to walk in freedom, releasing myself and others from the Law.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">*Jesus declared only one sin is eternal – to blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 3:28), which I believe to be denying Jesus, whom Holy Spirit testifies about. The proof is whether or not your name has been erased from the Book of Life or not.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-19466059437468276292017-06-07T00:30:00.000-07:002017-06-07T00:30:25.598-07:00God Makes a Way<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’ve recently returned from a missions experience like nothing I’ve ever participated before. I joined three other women (from United States, South Africa and Malaysia) and together we travelled to Tibet for four days. After Tibet, another American joined the team and we travelled to Bhutan for another five days of missions. In total, I was away from home for a full 14 days.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wP8JmcvX-MI/WTcEY-jm1zI/AAAAAAAAj2k/jr8fZ94V5lckpAVgHXKkmkE3tU93XqUhACLcB/s1600/fruit%2Bbasket%2Bupset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wP8JmcvX-MI/WTcEY-jm1zI/AAAAAAAAj2k/jr8fZ94V5lckpAVgHXKkmkE3tU93XqUhACLcB/s200/fruit%2Bbasket%2Bupset.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Anxious thoughts plagued me for days, even before I left. I’m not typically anxious because I’m somewhat of a strategic visionary, which means I I like to plan and be prepared for all possible outcomes. This time, though, the airline called, “Fruit basket upset,” and I found myself without a flight home. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Adding to my anxiety was a friend (who has a prophetic gift I trust) telling me she felt God was asking me to trust Him, and not to make any other plans or arrangements. She said I should show up at the airport. Her words struck fear in my heart. Show up?! Without a plan?! I went into a full tailspin of a faith crisis but I knew she had heard correctly from Holy Spirit; my spirit was witness. I spent the next few days <s>whining</s> praying to the Lord. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The problem wasn’t if I could get home from Thailand. Of course, I could get home. I mean, there are plenty of flights daily from Bangkok to Vancouver. The issue was getting home on May 18 (because it’s my wedding anniversary and I had promised my Man I would be home to celebrate with him) without costing additional funds. The trip was not fully paid, even though I was leaving in eight days; I could hardly think to incur even more debt for a new one-way ticket. My conversation with the Lord went like this:</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lord</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: Do you trust me to get you home?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Me</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: No.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lord</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: Have I looked after you in the past?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Me</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: I can’t remember.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lord</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: Your vow to your husband is important to me. I want you to honour it. And I know the details of your finances, too.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Satan</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: You shouldn’t have booked on a budget travel site; they won’t do anything for you. You should make a contingency plan; your husband will understand if you can’t keep your promise.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Me</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> (to the Lord): Satan’s right, I shouldn’t have booked on a budget travel site and this is the consequence. No one will look after me and I have to do it myself.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lord</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: Is anything too hard for me? Do you really think an online budget travel site can get the best of me?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Me</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">And so, with tenuous faith, I decided to trust God – for the flights, for the money, and for peace. All the finances (plus an extra $50) came in the day before my departure but throughout the duration of the trip, I was constantly being tested in the area of faith and flights. For four of the 11 flights I took within a 14 days period, I was literally running to make the flight and/or connection, and two flights I missed entirely because of weather delays.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">And through it all, God was faithful. He made a way where there was no way - again, and again, and again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Man was there to greet me with a kiss on our anniversary, having made it home exactly as the Lord said I would AND without any additional costs. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Oh, and the extra $50 I received? It was exactly what I needed to rebook one of the missed flights. He knows what we need before we even need it. That’s our God – Lord above the mountains and budget travel sites, too.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMmADFRFTw8/WTcGNHRtmpI/AAAAAAAAj24/Vtfmv2sFjmUSfQ6H09i9mG4-aDBzPiBOwCLcB/s1600/Photo%2B2017-05-11%252C%2B8%2B22%2B31%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMmADFRFTw8/WTcGNHRtmpI/AAAAAAAAj24/Vtfmv2sFjmUSfQ6H09i9mG4-aDBzPiBOwCLcB/s320/Photo%2B2017-05-11%252C%2B8%2B22%2B31%2BPM.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire Flags by <a href="http://www.catchthefireworshipflags.com/" target="_blank">Catch the Fire Worship Flags</a> at Yamdrok Lake, Tibet </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-839657375898665652017-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:002017-05-15T07:00:25.466-07:00All the Talent I Never Had<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">My
favourite time of year is coming up. It’s two months away, and in kid-time it
may seem like an eternity but in adult-time, it’s only 7 weekends. That’s less
than a school term, less than a Beth Moore bible study, less than a pregnancy
trimester, and less than a season of my new favourite TV show, This is Us. I’m
away most of May for a worship assignment (with my worship flags, from <a href="http://www.catchthefireworshipflags.com/">Catch the Fire Worship Flags</a>
– shameless plug), and June is busy with year-end activities and trying to
schedule events before friends take off for the summer. So...in other words, if
I blink 3x fast, summer will be here.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsINxvJcTCw/WP_2a0gH7_I/AAAAAAAAjMw/YuJK301PV4Y4xTnr6HUCq87TVPwI-8uxgCEw/s1600/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsINxvJcTCw/WP_2a0gH7_I/AAAAAAAAjMw/YuJK301PV4Y4xTnr6HUCq87TVPwI-8uxgCEw/s200/summer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Summer is
the best time of the year. Summer means it’s my birthday, and my birthday means
gifts, and celebrations and people saying all sorts of nice things to me on
Facebook. Summer also means long evenings, late BBQ dinners, and friends – lots
and lots of friends. In particular, I look forward to my yearly girl’s weekend
getaway with my two longest and dearest friends. We’ve been friends since high school,
and since we’re turning 43 this year, it means our friendship spans almost
three decades.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ESaWk81Ot8/WP_2-BAxXlI/AAAAAAAAjNA/YqGgu8XYCoA1JA7qIXnbn-S81XC21PzoQCEw/s1600/high%2Bschool%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ESaWk81Ot8/WP_2-BAxXlI/AAAAAAAAjNA/YqGgu8XYCoA1JA7qIXnbn-S81XC21PzoQCEw/s200/high%2Bschool%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Last year,
one of the girls pulled out our old high school yearbooks – what a hoot. We
laughed and reminisced over the friends we loved and lost touch. Between the
three of us (and Facebook), we had a pretty good idea about what many of our
old schoolmates were up to. Some were doing exactly what said they would do,
and for more than a few we expressed amazement, “They’re doing what now?!”</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2AklvNvYUQ/WP_3SKTkEBI/AAAAAAAAjM4/_wx-6qnLu30Y3xjH1AWX-S5q3p1gS2CYACEw/s1600/high%2Bschool%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2AklvNvYUQ/WP_3SKTkEBI/AAAAAAAAjM4/_wx-6qnLu30Y3xjH1AWX-S5q3p1gS2CYACEw/s200/high%2Bschool%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="197" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’m one of
those people who turned out completely different than I was in high school –
well, not completely different...I’m still as bossy and determined (i.e.
stubborn) as I was then, but the passion of my pursuit is as different as the
east coast is from the west coast or the north is from the south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">This
afternoon I was online and I read some quotes someone else had posted on a
Facebook page. I was moved by the beauty and profoundness of the words and then
I realized they were quoting words I had written a while ago. Of course it
makes me feel proud, but not because I had anything to do with it – anything great,
and I mean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything and everything</i>
great about me is because of what God has developed in me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I hated
English and did poorly in it. I was much more inclined towards maths, sciences
and socials. I’m confident no one would have thought I would ever communicate
in writing in a way that touches the lives of people. And yet, God saw
differently. I respond to Him and the rest flows – it’s definitely not eloquent
all the time (or even most of the time) but God gets the glory for it all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dance is
another expression where God gets the glory. I’m not trained, and I have no natural
rhythm and yet God uses me through dance. I’m certain it’s one of those cases
where God takes the foolish to confound the wise. I contemplate all that I’ve
been invited to partner with God in my life and I’m astounded by His grace
toward me. My favourite question to ask God is, “Who am I, that you are mindful
of me?”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lb5sFGEWR5Y/WP_2c994EcI/AAAAAAAAjMw/QkeIITSllx89JUkUlqbAEZHuxfLX7oulwCEw/s1600/baggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lb5sFGEWR5Y/WP_2c994EcI/AAAAAAAAjMw/QkeIITSllx89JUkUlqbAEZHuxfLX7oulwCEw/s200/baggage.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I relate to
King Saul, when he was anointed to be king – he was hiding among the baggage
and said, “</span>Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of
Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?
Why then do you speak to me in this way?” (1 Samuel 9:21) <span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I don’t understand it, but yeah, it makes me
proud. It makes me proud of who God made me to be. I may not trust my own
abilities, but I trust God to come through for me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Even though
I’ve been a witness to my own life, when I was reminiscing with my girlfriends
I was as incredulous about what I’ve accomplished (because of Christ), as I was
by other classmates who were vastly different than who they were in high school.
By anyone’s best guess, I should have landed somewhere very different than
where I am today. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5WRdBy4tBZc/WP_3rPL6Y3I/AAAAAAAAjM8/eOmVZo2uDdI8UvDR_0K41X45wOGS0kH9gCLcB/s1600/high%2Bschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5WRdBy4tBZc/WP_3rPL6Y3I/AAAAAAAAjM8/eOmVZo2uDdI8UvDR_0K41X45wOGS0kH9gCLcB/s200/high%2Bschool.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’m not
even sure if I have a point to my musings, except maybe this, God makes a way
(or give a talent) where there wasn’t a way (or any talent), and He makes it
glorious.</span></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-4256830357685353692017-05-01T11:00:00.000-07:002017-05-01T11:00:06.852-07:00Eenie Meenie Miney Moe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Eenie meenie miney moe... What feelings do those words invoke? Are you poised for action, ready to make a quick dash if the pointing finger lands on you? Does your mouth water, anticipating the sweet savour of a delectable dessert choice? Or do you experience dread, reliving high school gym class and never being picked, or picked last for a team?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e4rxG97zoVY/WOU8McSaUzI/AAAAAAAAjLw/cOkfd4S8LHoIcIsHvVrLzMySTfRF3BLOwCLcB/s1600/eenie%2Bmeenie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e4rxG97zoVY/WOU8McSaUzI/AAAAAAAAjLw/cOkfd4S8LHoIcIsHvVrLzMySTfRF3BLOwCLcB/s1600/eenie%2Bmeenie.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I love choosing. Sometimes the stakes are high and it’s difficult to choose. Like when you’re at Costco, and there are 12 cashiers with lines of 15 people deep. You need to gauge the contents of the carts from shoppers in front of you and at the same time, discern the speed and agility of the cashier and bagger team. Or at the US/Canada border and the single lane you’ve been waiting in for an hour all of a sudden opens up and is spread over eight booths. Which one do you choose? It’s tough, but once you’re locked in, you’ve got to stay there because if you give up on your choice and make another one, your original lane starts to move but you’ve missed out.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Seriously though, I have a cousin (my age) who was adopted. I don’t remember how old I was when my parents told me but I was young, probably 4 or 5. They told me because I had asked why I had a new cousin, when my aunt hadn’t gotten fat. In my young mind, fat equaled new baby. The new cousin appeared and I was curious, so my mom and dad told me...my cousin and her new brother were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chosen</i>. They didn’t say adopted, they said chosen.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Funny the things we remember, huh? Instantly I knew I wanted the option of choosing. Even as a little girl, I liked the things I liked and I was proactive about getting them. The idea of choosing a baby had merit. But more than choosing a baby (since that wasn’t an option because I was 5), I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being chosen</i> was better than the other option – accepting what you received without knowing there might be something better. What if you got fat, had a baby but didn’t want it? Now what? You’d be stuck with a baby you didn’t choose. But being chosen meant something...it meant your parents went to the baby store (wherever it was), looked at babies, and made a choice. You were picked from among all the other babies. Being chosen means you’re special; someone wanted you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysXZ3cyP4DQ/WOU9ReOJDRI/AAAAAAAAjL8/GLqtGKwAsu4VYXxCabqdnPEx_Kuof90FwCEw/s1600/chosen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysXZ3cyP4DQ/WOU9ReOJDRI/AAAAAAAAjL8/GLqtGKwAsu4VYXxCabqdnPEx_Kuof90FwCEw/s200/chosen.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’m not a psychologist, so I’m not an expert, but I’m confident the need to be validated, the need for significance is a basic human need. We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> to know we matter to someone. We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need </i>to know someone chooses us. And here’s the beautiful truth – God, the Creator of ALL things, chooses you. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Let</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">it</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">sink</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">in.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">God chooses you. He is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i> choosing you; again and again.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1 Peter 2:9, </span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.</span></i></div>
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<span data-redactor-style="line-height: 115%;" data-redactor-tag="span" data-verified="redactor" rel="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like my cousins, who were chosen to be adopted into their family, God adopts each one of us into His family. We are chosen. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eenie, meenie, miney, moe...God chooses you! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G37lWSv5wpQ/WOU9tiE28xI/AAAAAAAAjMA/hTYn36edoF0k0p1WEo0Z60qnDHXKyVbggCLcB/s1600/IMG_5731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G37lWSv5wpQ/WOU9tiE28xI/AAAAAAAAjMA/hTYn36edoF0k0p1WEo0Z60qnDHXKyVbggCLcB/s320/IMG_5731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chosen Worship Flags, by <a href="http://catchthefireworshipflags.com/shop" target="_blank">Catch the Fire Worship Flags</a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-68340717163022667942017-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:002017-03-31T06:00:12.799-07:00Thriving, Not Just Surviving (in the desert)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I love the desert. I grew up in the prairies among rolling hills and wheat fields – I didn’t love it. I left my parent’s home in 1992 to spend a year living in the Austrian Alps - I loved it. For the past 24 years, I’ve lived on Canada’s west coast, virtually at the water’s edge - and I love it, even when it rains. I’m a West Coast girl through and through but still, I love the desert. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhocXjrEyjo/WNsbAR4p96I/AAAAAAAAjKQ/X_kZAmpaJeEUHRh29Om-GV1IbkssEgbTgCEw/s1600/IMG_2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhocXjrEyjo/WNsbAR4p96I/AAAAAAAAjKQ/X_kZAmpaJeEUHRh29Om-GV1IbkssEgbTgCEw/s200/IMG_2242.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Over the last 4 years I’ve driven 20,000 miles traversing across the western USA, mostly with my Boy and sometimes with my Man when his schedule allows it. The world is big and I want to see all of it. I usually don’t like to spend time returning to a place when there is so much more to experience, except the desert. I keep going back to the desert.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The desert surprises me, and I love surprises. At first impression from my vantage point inside the car, there isn’t much to see and it’s hard to imagine the desert being able to support much life. Once I step out of my air conditioned vehicle and into the hot sun, I don’t have to imagine anymore. I know there’s no possible way <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything </i>can survive the heat. I think to myself, “This is what hell must feel like,” and I’m grateful because that is as close to hell as I’m ever going to be. But no matter, I’m there for an adventure so I slap on some moisturizer, drink a bottle of water and forge ahead into paths unknown. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Before too long, it’s obvious there is life in the desert; there’s lots of little animals and short, low-to-the-ground vegetation. It’s hard not to be impressed with what is able to survive in the desert, especially in comparison with where I live – perpetual green, and huge, towering vegetation and large wildlife, in and out of the water. You don’t even have to try to grow something on the coast. I’m a terrible gardener but even I can’t muck it up. If I forget to water the garden, it rains making me look like I have a green thumb. In the desert, though, only the toughest and meanest survive. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhSoBht33-M/WNscrggi_MI/AAAAAAAAjKk/ybh63MAHCWsBQtwYOSFO9o_J11bQS55VQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhSoBht33-M/WNscrggi_MI/AAAAAAAAjKk/ybh63MAHCWsBQtwYOSFO9o_J11bQS55VQCLcB/s200/IMG_2267.JPG" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The desert gets a bad rap because it is hard to survive there, but not impossible. It requires grit and endurance. But even in the desert, you can find an oasis. An oasis is a fertile spot, where water is found. But what does it take to make an oasis in the desert? It’s still in the desert, in the middle of scorching heat and dry winds, but vibrant, rich and full life exists.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Our natural world provides an incredible visual understanding of we can’t see or understand, but still feel in the spirit realm. Scripture speaks a lot about the desert (wilderness). The Israelites literally walked through it for 40 years. Elijah was sequestered for three and a half years. Even Jesus was lead into the wilderness for 40 days. If the Father didn’t spare his chosen people, or a powerful prophet, or His own Son, then it’s unlikely anyone who is in relationship with the Father should expect to avoid a desert experience.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I won’t go so far as to say I love the desert - spiritually speaking – but almost. I definitely like it, and if a desert experience is eminent, I’ll run toward it willingly. I don’t love working out, but I love the overall wellness it adds to my life. I am resolved to go after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i> the Lord has available. The Bible is full of testimonies of individual men and women, and nations who went through a desert experience and came out the other side. They are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i> blessed because of it. The Israelites received the Promised Land, and Jesus returned – full of power.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Recently, I’ve turned my attention from only surviving a desert season, to wanting to thrive in the midst of the trial. I want an oasis to spring up, and I want there to be life in the process, not just on the other side. The Father revealed His thoughts on how to make it happen. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPiRdJ1qrtQ/WNsdK5GT5nI/AAAAAAAAjKs/zAEvdsCEcgIQliTeWoTmemubepTssNcogCLcB/s1600/oasis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPiRdJ1qrtQ/WNsdK5GT5nI/AAAAAAAAjKs/zAEvdsCEcgIQliTeWoTmemubepTssNcogCLcB/s200/oasis.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Are you ready to have your head blown? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It’s...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">(drumroll please)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">...worship.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">God wants worshippers. He’s wanted it from the beginning and it’s the only way to thrive in the desert; the only way to become an oasis.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><b>Exodus 3:12</b></span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span>God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain."</i></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRFySwjtsrY/WNsbPybp-WI/AAAAAAAAjKc/vLDasuAeYqckB8dPySU6yQL6-xGchN_SQCEw/s1600/worship%2Bbreathe2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRFySwjtsrY/WNsbPybp-WI/AAAAAAAAjKc/vLDasuAeYqckB8dPySU6yQL6-xGchN_SQCEw/s200/worship%2Bbreathe2.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
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In some ways I’m like a petulant child, I hate being told what to do. I love to worship but being told I have to makes me want to dig my heels in, and refuse to open my mouth. I’ve struggled and complained and argued with God a lot over the years about this exact issue…until, I finally shut my mouth and quit my whining long enough for God to show me who He is. Once I understood who He is, the only choice I have is to worship.</div>
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When God said to Moses, He was bringing the Israelites out of Egypt so they could worship Him, or when Jesus said (John 4:23) He was looking for worshippers, what He is saying is that He wants to demonstrate Himself so fully to us – his children, our only response is worship. Therefore, worship is the fruit of knowing God. When the right condition exists, i.e. God reveals Himself so we may know Him and His ways, then worship proceeds as a natural response.</div>
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Even the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) is not really a sacrifice (something we give but don’t want to) because the sacrifice of praise is the <u>fruit</u> of lips that continually confess His name. Fruit is produced because of the environment where it grows has the right conditions for growing fruit. In the case of Hebrews 13:15, the right condition are lips that continually confess His name.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">A desert experience, then, is designed to allow us an opportunity to know Him better, so we in turn will worship. Worship creates an oasis, a place where we thrive, even in the midst of the desert. Worshipping in sight of our enemy is a pleasure we will not be able to participate in eternity. When we are finally with Jesus in glory, there will be no more enemy, and the opportunity to worship in the midst of the desert, or in the midst of a trial is lost. He delights in our worship at any time, but thriving in an environment where, by all accounts, it looks impossible, gives God even greater glory and He responds back by turning His face more fully toward you.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><b>John 4:23</b>, </span><i>Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for <u>they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks</u>.</i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-35117680450853080402016-11-01T11:25:00.000-07:002016-11-01T11:25:03.614-07:00Does Faithfulness Equal Blessing?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fayr6FSW_dc/WBjbt3i4WII/AAAAAAAAf94/ybPgtdQuVRULXOs2M34KYMSY4YytZOL4wCLcB/s1600/pressed%2Bdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fayr6FSW_dc/WBjbt3i4WII/AAAAAAAAf94/ybPgtdQuVRULXOs2M34KYMSY4YytZOL4wCLcB/s200/pressed%2Bdown.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’ve been
under the heavy hand of the Lord lately. I'm feeling like a cup of packed brown sugar, pressed down – not from rebuke or correction, but
from blessing and overflow. I’m not complaining at all. Given a choice between
rebuke or reward, anyone would choose reward. As I’ve shared my experiences
with friends close to me, they’ve celebrated what’s happening for me and offer
comments, such as, “The Lord is blessing your faithfulness,” or “You’ve been
faithful all these years, and the Lord is rewarding you.” I appreciate their
sentiments, but is it really because I’ve been faithful, or is it because He is
faithful?</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">For every
outward witness of faithfulness on my part, there are at least as many (and
much more) times when I’ve been faithless. I know my heart, and my thoughts –scandalous
at best and heinous at its worst. Paul said, “There is nothing good in me,
except Christ,” (paraphrasing Romans 7 & 8). Sadly, how much more true it
is of me. So, no. To my friends I say, “Thank you for observing Christ in me,
but His blessing has nothing to do with my faithfulness, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i> to do with His faithfulness.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">2 Timothy 2:11-13</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span>The saying is trustworthy, for: If we
have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also
reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny
himself.</u></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">He remains
faithful. He is faithful to the ones who are more mature in their faith than me,
and He is also faithful to the believers who put themselves under opposition
because they believe lies rather than walk in truth. He sends rain on the just
and the unjust. It’s who He is, and He can’t BE anything different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It’s
dangerous thinking to say, our being faithful equals God’s manifest blessing. It
leads to performance, which is something I struggle with already; I don’t need
further justification to move in that direction. But then, what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can </i>be said of the recent blessings and
forward movement? If there is a correlation between something I’ve done, and
the subsequent blessings it is this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgvWmieyGZ0/WBjdDwOfwAI/AAAAAAAAf-M/OwPT21r02XwCvgr_rjzcy7u74DTJNZLpQCLcB/s1600/bee%2Bleaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgvWmieyGZ0/WBjdDwOfwAI/AAAAAAAAf-M/OwPT21r02XwCvgr_rjzcy7u74DTJNZLpQCLcB/s200/bee%2Bleaf.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Luke 1:45</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blessed
is she who <u>believed</u>, for there <u>will be a fulfillment</u> of those
things which <u>were told her</u> from the Lord.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’m not the
only beneficiary of this promise. What has He whispered to your heart? What
plans is He making with you? Dear one, believe His words. Hold them onto them
as your hope. They are true and trustworthy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Lord
spoke some specific words about my life, my future and my legacy – the works He
had planned for me; and for those works to come to fulfillment, it required His
blessings (open doors, opportunities and favour). I believed His word to me. He
did everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">All
Christians everywhere are included in the promises we’ve been given, which are
in the Bible. God is working out history to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His story</i>. God is all about the big picture and yet He is in the
details too. He’s incredibly intimate and personal with each one of us, and He
has a purpose and plan just for you. It’s unique, and tailored to your
expression of His character on the earth. For some it may coincide with earthly
riches and fame with influence which is deep and wide. For most of us, let it
be enough that your name is celebrated in heaven and feared in hell. No matter
what though, enjoy His blessings in the process – it’s not what you do, but
what He does.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">God alone
is faithful, He cannot deny Himself, and His promises to you - to us - are
faithful to fulfillment.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lubX9KN4f1E/WBjcFTe1zAI/AAAAAAAAf-A/t8-bKmvBBpYYFlMRJtLIbVdnobY-ecJdwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lubX9KN4f1E/WBjcFTe1zAI/AAAAAAAAf-A/t8-bKmvBBpYYFlMRJtLIbVdnobY-ecJdwCLcB/s320/DSC_0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-45348302432524684992016-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:002016-10-01T00:00:13.422-07:00Loving Well<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RAcVFPRL0Ws/V-r-2_u0WDI/AAAAAAAAf5s/gXsb75e8XhwSE-H5_tK4NnEeSyiUWSUOwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RAcVFPRL0Ws/V-r-2_u0WDI/AAAAAAAAf5s/gXsb75e8XhwSE-H5_tK4NnEeSyiUWSUOwCLcB/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">On a recent
trip to New York, I found myself swept up with a crowd of tourists just off
Wall Street. Amidst the sea of tourists and foreigners (myself, being one of
them – both a tourist and a foreigner), I looked for a local to help me locate
the correct subway train to take me to midtown. I was distracted by a soapbox
preacher. He wasn’t literally on a soapbox, it was a little step ladder and he
was loudly condemning passersby for their sin which God was compelled, by His
nature, to judge us for. Mildly amused and cringing internally, I stood
listening for a few minutes and watching the effect on the crowd. No one was
paying much attention to him – he was just one of the many “spectacles” on
display.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Looking
around, focussed again on my task to find a local to assist me, I noticed a
fellow wearing a </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdagyQLShuM/V-r-3BuKh5I/AAAAAAAAf5w/1902M6cjWK0Fsp7j8H5uPB-0Ubzgske5wCLcB/s1600/IMG_1130.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdagyQLShuM/V-r-3BuKh5I/AAAAAAAAf5w/1902M6cjWK0Fsp7j8H5uPB-0Ubzgske5wCLcB/s200/IMG_1130.PNG" width="111" /></a></div>
suit and tie and thinking he might be a professional who worked
on Wall Street, I asked him if he could direct me to the correct subway
station. I found out he wasn’t local and although he couldn’t help me with
directions, he wanted to give me something. I looked down at what he offered
and saw it was a Christian tract. Great. (insert eye roll) I’d found the
“partner” to the soapbox preacher.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I decided I
was going to have some fun so I looked down at it and asked, “Is this going to
tell me Jesus loves me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">He replied,
“It’s not that simple.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Say WHA-?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hold up.
Now I was curious. How could it be more complicated, than Jesus loves me? I
needed to find out, so I asked him. He said sin is in our DNA, holiness is in God’s
DNA and holiness must deal with sin (meaning, judge) because holiness has
nothing to do with sin. Hmmm. That’s not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i>
what he said, but something similar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Jesus began
and ended with love. He loves, we love, end of story. It’s simple, it’s not complicated
and in the process of the story, we are changed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because</i> we’ve encountered love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’m in
pursuit of love – not working for it because there’s no way I could earn it,
but to understand the depth and the breadth of Christ’s love for me, for all
humanity, and for His creation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I
encountered love in New York – not from the preacher man, but from my friend,
Kate whom I was visiting there. She and I are almost complete opposites, and
yet our friendship works really well. I’m extremely blessed to have a lot of
love in my life, but Kate loves me particularly well. It made me stop and ask
myself, “How well do I love others?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pGhKJZBjGa8/V-r-2nalfvI/AAAAAAAAf5o/_iHVRQlyMYAe58DmVne7Lr8KZHnTtvi8ACLcB/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pGhKJZBjGa8/V-r-2nalfvI/AAAAAAAAf5o/_iHVRQlyMYAe58DmVne7Lr8KZHnTtvi8ACLcB/s200/IMG_1162.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What Kate
does so well is adjust her expression of love to suit the one she loves. For
example, we travelled around NYC on bicycle. I’m not an avid cyclist but when I
do, I cycle<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through parks, moving at a
snail’s pace because the goal is the journey, not the destination. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> cycle in the streets of Vancouver
because in my mind, it’s extremely dangerous (even though it is a very
bicycle-friendly city). But here we are in NYC, and she cycles everywhere –
that is when she isn’t running to train because she’s a super-marathon runner.
I rarely cycle, but I never, (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not ever</i>)
run. – So anyway, when in Rome...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wM9THK365g0/V-r-3pUik-I/AAAAAAAAf50/pxWbjVMqb5QX5kLVJ1gQKZQDy3JVCvWowCLcB/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wM9THK365g0/V-r-3pUik-I/AAAAAAAAf50/pxWbjVMqb5QX5kLVJ1gQKZQDy3JVCvWowCLcB/s200/IMG_1215.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">For the
first day, Kate leads and I follow because I have zero sense of direction and I
have no idea where we are going. It’s nerve-racking – not only am I cycling in
NYC (without a helmet – because apparently they are trying to use natural
selection for population control so there isn’t a helmet law), but I feel
wildly out of control because I don’t know when the next turn into oncoming
traffic is going to happen. Kate acknowledges my heart is out of control and
for the remainder of the weekend, she explains where we are going and how we
will get there. It was a seemingly small and insignificant gesture, but it was
the single-biggest action which demonstrated her love for me. She noticed, and
she adjusted herself to meet my needs, and loved me in the place where it was
needed. In the process of her loving me, I was changed. I became more confident
and less fearful. I was changed because I was loved. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">In many
ways, Kate is like Jesus personified. While I had several goals to accomplish
on my weekend trip to NYC (sightseeing, eating, connecting with Kate), she had
just one goal: connection. Jesus has one goal too, and it’s to share connection
and intimacy with you, with me, with us. Love comes first, then we change. It’s
never the other way around. “For God so loved the world, that He gave...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">How well do
I love others? Is it like Jesus? Like my friend, Kate? Or do people first know
what I don’t love about them, like the preacher man? I desire to love well,
like Jesus, to love others into being their best self; to love them into their
identity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">How well do
you love others?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-75326520879111536142016-09-01T05:25:00.000-07:002016-09-01T05:25:05.126-07:00What is God Consuming in Your Life?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span id="goog_2070114267"></span><span id="goog_2070114268"></span>I have one
child. Not many people are bold enough to ask why. It’s a touchy subject. There
may be pain involved and you may not be prepared to respond to the emotional
need. Others feel judged by their choice and feel like they need to justify
their choice to have one child in a culture where the “perfect” family consists
of mom, dad, and two children. You definitely don’t want to ask someone like
that for fear of having your head bit off and handed back to you after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only after</i> a tirade of a women’s right
to choose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VlS_n1yz1FY/V8C0zCd3IfI/AAAAAAAAfjs/xBnBAhhpbO4IKgdxi8Gsn6UIxMYRDAXOQCEw/s1600/IMG_2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VlS_n1yz1FY/V8C0zCd3IfI/AAAAAAAAfjs/xBnBAhhpbO4IKgdxi8Gsn6UIxMYRDAXOQCEw/s200/IMG_2242.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Me? I
wanted four children. It didn’t work, and yes, it was painful. Month after
month, my body betrayed me and my desperate desire continued to grow. I went to
see a fertility doctor and after several months and rounds of test, we were
told we were incapable of having a baby – despite our having had a successful
pregnancy (anomaly, they said). I was devastated. And I was mad. Mad at my
body. Mad at my Man. Mad at my having to give up a desire. And I was mad at
God. Why would He surprise me twice (I also miscarried), make me change my
plans, make me hope for a family and then deny me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I started
to believe God intended to give me a bigger family, and this was a test. I
played mindgames with God. Believe me, it doesn’t work. I was determined to
achieve my plan; my desire for another child consumed me. It was all I thought
about. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One day during
worship on a Sunday morning, the words of the song read something like, “I
surrender my desires to your Consuming Fire.” I stopped. I couldn’t sing those
words. I realized I was being consumed by my desire for a baby more than
anything else – more than I wanted God. It had become an idol. It was a moment
of horrible realization; followed by months, and months of repentance as God
began to become my Consuming Fire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTuIQVz7bsk/V8Cz64pKhWI/AAAAAAAAfjg/J0lWOtpuRGs907XPeFhLoY5vhfQdkJ_FwCEw/s1600/consuming%2Bfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTuIQVz7bsk/V8Cz64pKhWI/AAAAAAAAfjg/J0lWOtpuRGs907XPeFhLoY5vhfQdkJ_FwCEw/s200/consuming%2Bfire.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Lord is
introduced as a Consuming Fire in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is Moses’ last
hurrah, if you will, before the people enter the Promised Land. He’s reminding
them who they are, and who they belong to. He’s teaching them (again) how to
live in view of those two things when they enter the Promised Land. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span id="goog_2070114259"></span><span id="goog_2070114260"></span>Moses
called him a Consuming Fire (Deut 4:24) because He is a jealous God. There is
no hidden meaning in the term. Consuming Fire isn’t ambiguous – it really means
a fire that consumes. It eats, it slays, it destroys, and it burns up. God will
not share His Glory; He’ll burn up anything that is set up as an idol. He is a
Consuming Fire. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The
Consuming Fire also goes before them and devours their enemies; the ones who
stand in the way of their receiving their inheritance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa0wP2SVD-Q/V8C1c4BVSqI/AAAAAAAAfjw/4XK-l0UNIS433Pl02kBgtfMGdTYx_UxXACLcB/s1600/bible%2Bbattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa0wP2SVD-Q/V8C1c4BVSqI/AAAAAAAAfjw/4XK-l0UNIS433Pl02kBgtfMGdTYx_UxXACLcB/s200/bible%2Bbattle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Joshua and
Caleb were the only leaders who took possession in the Promised Land. Why?
Because they had confidence God would give it to them. Numbers 14:8, “...He
will bring us into this land...[do not] fear the people...<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for they are our bread</i>; their protection has departed from them,
and the Lord is with us.” It didn’t matter they were warned there were enemies
bigger and stronger than they in the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God is a Consuming Fire and He would destroy their enemy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Time and
again, the Bible shares story after story of God fighting the enemy – like a
fire wipes out the forest, God wipes out our enemy. Who can forget Jericho?
What did the people do? Did they fight? No, they walked in a circle. What about
Gideon? How big was his army? 300? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The
beautiful gospel is that God, the Consuming Fire is still fighting our battles,
so that we too, may take possession of our inheritance, which is the Kingdom of
heaven.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Jesus was
consumed by something too...zeal for His Father’s house. John witnessed Jesus
in the temple, throwing out the crooked sellers. Jesus, who was so full of
love, seemed to suddenly become violent – throwing around tables and money.
Jesus might have looked like we look when we are consumed with something – eyes
wild, passionate, and ready to attack anything that threatened it. The
disciples remembered Psalmist’s words, “Zeal for Your house consumes me.”
(Psalm 69:9) His Father’s house is meant for holiness, and nothing less would
satisfy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-99ToLkSOwNQ/V8Cz9I7zQlI/AAAAAAAAfjk/4GYZ-xod8KYjsoDSmlWo0M1TS9FMOpk2ACEw/s1600/forest%2Bfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-99ToLkSOwNQ/V8Cz9I7zQlI/AAAAAAAAfjk/4GYZ-xod8KYjsoDSmlWo0M1TS9FMOpk2ACEw/s200/forest%2Bfire.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There is a
benefit to forest fires; despite the devastation, some types of seeds need a
fire to release the seed inside themselves. What happened after the Consuming
Fire destroyed their enemies? They took possession of the Promised Land. What
happens once the Consuming Fire burns up our idols? It leaves available the
only spot God is willing to occupy in our lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgdP9_c-e2o/V8CzNzqt4aI/AAAAAAAAfjc/epjRpIxl6jo-FuuRsMQqTQpad5WKrzgKwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="149" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgdP9_c-e2o/V8CzNzqt4aI/AAAAAAAAfjc/epjRpIxl6jo-FuuRsMQqTQpad5WKrzgKwCLcB/s200/DSC_0133.JPG" title="Consuming Fire, Catch the Fire Worship Flags" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The
Consuming Fire is on the move in this season, among believers around the world.
I see evidence of this by the increased sales of a flag pair called Consuming
Fire. Most of the 70+ flag choice amount to less than 3% of my overall yearly
sales, but not Consuming Fire flags. Not last year, and definitely not this
year. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">God is at
work, consuming what threatens to replace Him as Lord, and consuming our
enemies. He wants us to have possession of the Kingdom of heaven, our
inheritance. And He’s ramping up – all over the world.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In 2015, Consuming Fire worship flags represented 5.9% of overall yearly
sales. This year, as of July 31, Consuming Fire flags represent 10.5% of sales
to date; the number is low because I’ve been out of stock. The fabric for these
flags, which was supposed to last more than three years, is gone in just two
years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">God is a Consuming Fire because He is holy. He burns up anything unholy.
He will not share your worship or passion, nor will he allow anything to stand
in the way of your inheritance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What is God consuming in your life? If someone or something is in your
top spot, repent. If you need an enemy removed so you can take possession of
the Kingdom, which is your inheritance, stand aside and let the Consuming Fire
devour it. Finally, let what consumes Him, also consume you; be zealous for His
church. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-11042416342792837502015-08-17T09:56:00.000-07:002015-08-17T09:56:07.722-07:00God Loved, so He Gave...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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If I err, I want to err on the side of generosity – in finances,
in time, in thought and in works. I fall short often. Yesterday morning at
church as my pastor was preparing to receive tithes and gifts, I heard the
first part as he quoted John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gave</i>...” but then my mind began to
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My Boy is visiting a friend’s cabin on Vancouver Island. The
journey there includes a ferry ride which costs just under $17 for each way. We
gave him $60 with express instructions to not spend the extra money unless it
was absolutely necessary. While he was there, he texted me to tell me he had
bought something for me. Instead of feeling grateful, I was annoyed. As much as
I love presents, a gift for me is not necessary. I intended to speak with my
Boy when he returned about the value of money and honouring through obedience.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ioc0oNMtZMg/VdIROE6F0yI/AAAAAAAAErY/0U6ArYOLcHA/s1600/child%2Bgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ioc0oNMtZMg/VdIROE6F0yI/AAAAAAAAErY/0U6ArYOLcHA/s320/child%2Bgiving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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God had a different perspective about it. To my Boy, his dad
and I represent heaven’s abundance. He’s never experienced deficiency in
finances because he lacks nothing of necessity. That’s not to say he receives
everything he wants or is spoiled (that’s definitely not true). God loves to
give, and as lovers of God who are being transformed in His image, Christians
should be the most generous people on the planet. </div>
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<br /></div>
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God reminded me my Boy wasn’t willfully disobedient; he
loves me and wanted to express his affection for me with a gift. How can a
parent punish love? My Boy doesn’t have many opportunities to earn money so
what he has is because we’ve given it to him. That sounds similar to me.
Everything I have comes from God; I have nothing to offer Him except what He’s
first given to me. And you know what? I’ve never experienced displeasure from
God when I’ve brought Him a gift – my worship, my tithes, my time. How can I be
displeased when my Boy gives me a gift?</div>
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My Boy is generous; my desire to err on the side of
generosity has become his value too. I’m still learning about wisdom in
stewardship but I learn best when I can feel the heartbeat of the Father. I
need to extend the same grace to my Boy as the Father extends to me. And for
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-13751768716701696052015-01-05T13:45:00.001-08:002015-01-05T13:45:08.383-08:00Do the Next Thing...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xv1Miiss-T4/VKsFsN196hI/AAAAAAAAEgE/dVrufCDxLqo/s1600/resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xv1Miiss-T4/VKsFsN196hI/AAAAAAAAEgE/dVrufCDxLqo/s1600/resolutions.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></a></div>
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Do you make resolutions? I don’t make New Year’s resolution
per se but the rollover into new digits is an opportunity to reflect and evaluate
the previous year, and consider expectations for the year ahead. For many years
I’ve asked the Lord for a verse or Bible passage that will guide my year. Not
everyone appreciates a clear path, but for me and my personality, having
direction helps me stay on-point, even when good distractions come along. I
want to finish well, and I want to always be moving forward.</div>
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Over the years, moving forward doesn’t always mean moving
forward. Sometimes moving forward means not moving backward. Sometimes moving
forward is small steps, like the way the earth’s oceans are receding from land
– we’re told it’s happening but it’s so incremental, most people wouldn’t have
the ability to perceive it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are your thoughts and expectations for 2015? Several men
and women in public ministry have made outspoken declarations about the big
moves of God for this year. Their words excite our ears and tickle our fancy
(what is a ‘fancy’, by the way?). Wouldn’t it be nice if it is true? I wonder
what the prophets of the day declared each new year when the Israelites were in
the desert, set adrift from their old life of captivity but not yet living in
their Promised Land?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I love big moves. I believe I am one of many who are on the
precipice of entering the Promised Land. It sounds exciting and fast-paced with
lots of action but the reality is lots of activity with very little forward
movement and more [a lot more] of what sustained me in the years prior. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I wish the words of big moves were true. For some, they will
be. And possibily the Holy Spirit will surprise me (he knows how much I love
surprises) but truthfully I’m subdued about expectations for the year. An
informal poll of friends over the past few weeks seem to have the same thoughts
as myself. This is a year of abiding. It’s not lack of faith or lost hope which
compels my contemplative thoughts; it’s deep faith in the words already spoken.
John 15 promises: abiding in Him produces fruit. It’s gonna happen. The passage
is referring to grape vines. Grapes take three years to begin to produce, and
before they do, they continue to do the next thing – they grow their roots,
they grow their limbs and they grow leaves to absorb the goodness of the Son
(sun).</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSIRYENFmYg/VKsFz56c9dI/AAAAAAAAEgM/uA3czMZBYQE/s1600/next%2Bthing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSIRYENFmYg/VKsFz56c9dI/AAAAAAAAEgM/uA3czMZBYQE/s1600/next%2Bthing.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you aren’t feeling as excited as you think you should be,
relax. Do the next thing and keep abiding. If you are feeling this is your
year, then go for it, but still do the next thing.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-37453887333238919342014-11-04T13:01:00.000-08:002014-11-04T13:01:25.811-08:00Piece of My Heart<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m enjoying the age and stage of my Boy; he’s emerging into
manhood, but the vestiges of childhood still linger. He bears the wit of his
father and the hilarity of his mother. It pleases me how others respond to him –
young, old and peers are charmed by his charisma; and as long as homework or
chores are not involved, he and I have a good, solid and well mannered relationship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tSEjcy3Cbak/VFk-V80CqvI/AAAAAAAAEV0/wkNB3Kt6j4w/s1600/lollapalooza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tSEjcy3Cbak/VFk-V80CqvI/AAAAAAAAEV0/wkNB3Kt6j4w/s1600/lollapalooza.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Man and I love our Boy and he loves us in return, but he
really only knows one small part of the person I am. (Except for the visit to
the Music Experience museum in Seattle when he saw footage of Lollapalooza
festivals from the 1990s and his father confided to him that his mother was
among the crazy-eyed, bare-breasted guys and girls - although, I was definitely
not bare-breasted at any point.) The exception aside, my Boy knows I love him,
provide for him and will comfort him, but also I am a disciplinarian and enforcer
of the “rules”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my Boy grows and matures, I desire to extend myself to
him more – to let him understand the things that make me laugh or the things
that touch my heart. This past weekend, I decided it was time to include him in
a part of my life I only show people who are close to me. I offered him a piece
of myself he’d never seen or known and you know what my Boy did? He rejected
it. He wasn’t rude about it, but the experience I wanted to share with him
ranked low on things he wanted to do with his time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOP0d9x2BRk/VFk-esVjtII/AAAAAAAAEV8/IrOigkpnJu8/s1600/piece%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOP0d9x2BRk/VFk-esVjtII/AAAAAAAAEV8/IrOigkpnJu8/s1600/piece%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bheart.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I nursed my wounded heart, I reflected on the Israelites
in the desert and how God invited them into His presence, and they rejected it
(Exodus 20:18-21). Only Moses, the man whom God called a friend, entered into
where He was; the rest were content to know God from a distance. They had known
and experienced his salvation and his provision, not dissimilar to the way my
Boy experiences me to be his caregiver; the Israelites were satisfied with as
much as they knew God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s incredibly sad and grievous to me to think there is
more of God that He desires to reveal and I (or anyone) would reject Him
because I was content to stay and be where I was. Who wouldn’t agree that when
someone opens up their heart and is vulnerable with us, it is a gift? Marriage
couldn’t be successful if each of the partners doesn’t learn to give of ourselves
and receive from another.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I speculate how history would have been different
had the Israelites understood things differently and/or sooner. I am loath to
see myself as better, but I am strongly inclined to learn from the history of
others, so I don’t need to repeat history. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#40lessons</b>: God
is the same now, as He was in the desert. He offered himself to people and He
still offers his heart. Will I be too busy doing my own thing to respond? Will
you?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-44631429730908993092014-10-20T09:42:00.000-07:002014-10-20T09:42:17.442-07:00Fair is Where You Get Cotton Candy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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My thoughts have been all over the place for the past while which
is also why I haven’t posted in several weeks. I’m fed up with what I’ve been
witnessing around me; I could extend my anger and frustration to what’s
happening worldwide with Ebola health threats, ISIS terrorists, and conflicts
in Israel but there’s enough happening close to home to keep my thoughts drowning
in negativity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zIyA9Cezi0/VEU7BjJ_huI/AAAAAAAAETs/pzvyltEZmt4/s1600/cotton%2Bcandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zIyA9Cezi0/VEU7BjJ_huI/AAAAAAAAETs/pzvyltEZmt4/s1600/cotton%2Bcandy.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble.” Guess
what? It’s true. I hate it, I really do but I’m most frustrated by people
(friends) who should know the second part to what Jesus said, “But take heart
(have courage), I have overcome the world.” I want to say to anyone who
complains life is hard, life isn’t fair, “Quit your belly-aching and believe
the word. Fair is where you buy cotton candy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m baffled when people are surprised when trouble comes. A friend
tells me I don’t understand because I had a good childhood, with parents who
love and support me. I agree; I don’t understand everyone’s struggle but my
first thought when I heard even a hint of complaint against life, “Who are you
to deserve better?” Of course, I don’t actually say that. (That’s probably why
my friend won’t let me minister or counsel the troubled women she speaks to; I’m
only allowed to minister in prayer intercession - at a distance.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My life is not immune to trouble or pain but overall, yes, I’ve
been very blessed. I don’t deserve the blessings I’ve received, and I certainly
don’t understand why I’ve received them. It’s one of the many mysteries of God,
however, when I was going through hell, I took Winston Churchill’s advice and
kept going. Okay, I hadn’t heard Winston’s advice at the time (as good as it
is), but I did claim <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hebrews 12:1-3:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span class="text">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>let us
throw off everything that hinders </u></i>and the sin that so easily entangles.
And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>let us run with perseverance</u></i>
the race marked out for us,</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30215">2 </span></sup><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>fixing
our eyes on Jesus</u></i>, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set
before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30216">3 </span></sup><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Consider
him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary
and lose heart.</u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZc7bdjn1cs/VEU6_zQDjyI/AAAAAAAAETk/wpToTilaB8s/s1600/sin%2Bcrouching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZc7bdjn1cs/VEU6_zQDjyI/AAAAAAAAETk/wpToTilaB8s/s1600/sin%2Bcrouching.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two plans for everyone’s life: a plan which leads
to a good, and hopeful future (Jeremiah 29:11) and a plan which leads to death,
pain and destruction (John 10:10). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genesis
4:6-7</b> says, The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your
face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do
well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule
over it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sin desires you. In every situation there is a choice – sin,
which leads to death or righteousness, which leads to life. We do not need to
be a victim in everything. We have choices. If we live life believing it will
be fair to us, we’ve already been deceived. There is no one worthy of goodness,
and apart from God, there is no goodness. We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> fall short, but take heart, He’s already overcome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Philippians, Paul writes he can do all things, through
Christ who gives him strength. The strength which Jesus lends us is
supernatural, but the verse doesn’t mean supernatural phenomena as is often
interpreted. What Paul is saying is that he can maintain inner joy, peace and
all things of the Spirit, no matter what the circumstance or situation. Paul didn’t
belabour or complain that life wasn’t fair, he fought back and ruled over the
thought that he must give in to the tragedy around him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even my Man was complaining about something this past weekend.
I looked at him and agreed: life stuff sucks at the moment, but he didn’t have
lines of defense available. There seems to be a message being taught that says
we are saved by grace and there is nothing further we must work at. Even Paul,
the greatest defender of Christian grace, said he worked out his faith with
fear and trembling. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_W4RaJDeihI/VEU68EhS01I/AAAAAAAAETc/5Z1GwGudJDM/s1600/American%2BNinja%2BWarrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_W4RaJDeihI/VEU68EhS01I/AAAAAAAAETc/5Z1GwGudJDM/s1600/American%2BNinja%2BWarrior.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overcoming something is hard work; it’s never easy but it
can be rewarding. Have you ever seen American Ninja Warriors? Their fitness
level didn’t just happen. If I attempted to try anything like that now, I’d
damage my body severely. Would I have a right to complain life isn’t fair if I
was hurt as a result? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My eye is on the prize, I want to hear the words, “Well
done, good and faithful servant. Come and share in your Master’s joy.” I don’t
want to be taken out or disqualified because I failed to do my part. To win the
prize, I prepare. It takes discipline and hard work and perseverance. I’ve given
up food, sleep, time, and even good opportunities to pursue the prize – it’s
part of my working out my faith with fear and trembling, just like Paul.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not be the most merciful, or compassionate counsellor
but I am good at reminding my friends of this: In this world, you will have
trouble, but have no fear, Jesus has prevailed and overcome, which means you
can overcome as well. Now do what he has commanded you to do and rule over the
sin that desires you. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-20190617707774369122014-09-22T14:32:00.000-07:002014-09-22T14:32:21.345-07:00Created to Worship? I don't think so...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDaQcZ6TWLs/VCCUWzoN3gI/AAAAAAAAELo/F96vr7DU7Ps/s1600/worship2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDaQcZ6TWLs/VCCUWzoN3gI/AAAAAAAAELo/F96vr7DU7Ps/s1600/worship2.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a></div>
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Yesterday during song worship at the Sunday morning
gathering, the worship leader began sharing what was on her heart. She said, “We
were created to worship. We were born to worship God.” I felt a familiar rebellious
thought begin to invade my mind. I hate being told what to do. (Clearly, I have
authority issues. I’m working on them.) I don’t want to be told to worship.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I consider myself a worshipper but worship, like love, must
be given freely otherwise it’s not authentic or sincere. Since I was a child
with a rebellious nature, I’ve struggled with a so-called Christian’s requirement
to worship. I had no trouble with the disciplines of Christian life – reading my
Bible, praying, doing good works, fasting and interceding, but I drew the line
at worship being mandatory. Despite my rebellious heart towards worship, I
understood even as a child, worship was/is an internal response.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart attitude towards worship began to change several
years ago when I was challenged by a volunteer who worked with girls trapped in
a cycle of drugs and prostitution. She gave God [genuine] praise for each night
a girl was kept safe, and off the streets. It didn’t matter if it was for one
night, or one month, or one year. I began give God praise for blessings in my
life, even if the matter wasn’t totally resolved. I praised God in the process;
and in the process, my heart changed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My knowledge and understanding expanded again when I heard
Bill Johnson say, “We praise God for what he’s done, we worship God for who he
is.” I was confronted by lies and untruths I believed. I didn’t differentiate
between praise and worship, except for praise songs were a little faster, more
drums and got your toes tapping and worship songs were slower, more contemplative,
and they typically ended the singing portion of a Sunday morning service.
Praising God for what he did, does, and will do makes sense. Worshipping God
for who he is makes sense too, the problem is, many Christians (me included)
don’t know who God is. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s impossible to worship what you don’t know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the thoughts swirling around my head yesterday,
and as I’m attempting to meditate on truth, and not lies, my mind
simultaneously began to think of what the Lord promised Moses when He
commissioned him:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 42.55pt; margin-right: 42.55pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exodus 3:12</b>
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is
I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will
worship God on this mountain.”</div>
God gave me a new understanding
(a lesson, if you will) about what He planned to do for his people. It wasn’t a
plan to get them out of Egypt so they could worship God, as if he needs
validation. He is complete in himself. A few verses later, God declares his
name to be I AM WHO I AM. He is complete, and needs not requires any validation
from us or any of creation.
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rjMOo1bHTIA/VCCU8kBgNOI/AAAAAAAAELw/9DyOtlAbk-Y/s1600/come%2Bnear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rjMOo1bHTIA/VCCU8kBgNOI/AAAAAAAAELw/9DyOtlAbk-Y/s1600/come%2Bnear.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 42.55pt;">
<br />God rescued his people to show
himself to them, so they could know God, intimately and relationally. It’s
impossible to worship what you don’t know. God is so complete in himself, he
knows when we, his people, get to know him, and his heart, the only response is
worship. Throughout their salvation and exodus from Egypt, there was many
exhibitions of God’s power and might and there was much to praise him for but
he wants us to know more than what he does, God wants us to know him. When we
know him, we worship. </div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#40lessons:</b> God wanted to bring his people out of Egypt to worship
him, because his intention was to show himself to them. You can’t worship what
you don’t know, and to know God is to worship him.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-44310254047477356692014-09-09T10:03:00.000-07:002014-09-09T10:03:35.024-07:00God is Faithful<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ysy-tWdTa04/VA8yvBDqghI/AAAAAAAAEKw/N3yt3hohPRU/s1600/God%2Bis%2Bfaithful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ysy-tWdTa04/VA8yvBDqghI/AAAAAAAAEKw/N3yt3hohPRU/s1600/God%2Bis%2Bfaithful.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God is faithful. That’s all she wrote.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, okay. That’s not exactly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> she wrote but it’s all anyone needs to know. If only we
believed it, there would be such a radical shift in human behaviour the world
would turn on its end and we would experience “heaven on earth”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason we can’t or won’t believe God is faithful is because
we see him through our own <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">un</i>faithfulness.
When Peter declared Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of God, it was a revelation
of the Father, by the Holy Spirit and not of himself (Matthew 16:16-17). The
same is true when we grasp the revelation of God’s faithfulness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to dictionary.com, faithful means: strict or
thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word, promises, vows; steady
in allegiance or affection, loyal; reliable, trusted, or believed; adhering or
true to fact, a standard or an original.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God is faithful to his word. For simplicity, and for
argument’s sake, pretend God hasn’t uttered a word or promise since we’ve been
handed the Holy Scriptures. If the Bible is the only word(s) God has given his
church (it’s not because he continues to speak today), he is faithful to finish
every incomplete promise. Nevermind about the length of time it may take. When
God spoke to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, He gave him a directive, “Go, to the land
I will show you...and I will make you a great nation.” When Abram set out, he
didn’t know where he was going, but God was faithful to give him a glimpse
(Genesis 12:7). In Genesis 13:14-17, God reiterated the promise of land and a
nation of descendants. Again, in Genesis 15:1-21, God again gives Abraham a
promise and add to it - it won’t be fulfilled for another 400 years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mankind’s lifespan was already shortened to 120 years by the
time Abram received this promise so he knew it he wouldn’t be around to
personally collect, but still God remains faithful. Despite the obvious setback
(Abram and Sarai were old, and past childbearing years when the promise was
given), or the tests (God tested Abraham to sacrifice Isaac – the only heir to
the fulfilled promise), God was still faithful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We read about the commencement of the fulfillment of the
promise in the exodus story. The literal seed of Abraham had become a great
nation, and the Lord brought them to the land he had already promised and shown
Abraham would be for his descendants. The fulfillment is still unfolding, even
to this day because the promise also included the blessing would be for all
nations, which includes Israelites and Gentiles alike. It was a promise, and it
was meant to continue on expanding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the Psalms, David tells us to taste of God’s goodness
(Psalms 34:8) but to feed on his faithfulness (Psalm 37:3). A taste is a taste,
fleeting and not sustaining, but when you feed on something, it’s like gnawing
on a bone. It takes time and it will sustain you. You can grow fat from what
you feed on, but a taste won’t make you fat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I encourage myself and remind others of God’s faithfulness to
his promises – the ones we read in the Bible, and the ones He gives to us
personally. If they haven’t been fulfilled, then the story isn’t finished. Keep
eating, feeding on his faithfulness.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>#40lessons</b>: Isaiah reminds us the word of the Lord does not
return void, and no plan of God’s can be thwarted. His plan is unfolding to
bring about his promises. He is faithful, that’s all we need to know and believe.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-65305570798092686012014-07-29T10:47:00.000-07:002014-07-29T10:47:07.409-07:00It Takes One to Know One<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_ubpjGF8nU/U9fdwB8E7hI/AAAAAAAADyo/3cRDKnU-B84/s1600/takes+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_ubpjGF8nU/U9fdwB8E7hI/AAAAAAAADyo/3cRDKnU-B84/s1600/takes+one.jpg" height="137" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you remember being on the playground as a child and
hurling a verbal insult at another child and him or her replying, “It takes one
to know one.” Perhaps you were the one being insulted. Or perhaps you were like
me – observing but not participating in the cruel nature of playground behaviour
(*wink). There is truth in the old adage – it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does</i> take one to know one. Of course there are exceptions and it
shouldn’t be a hard and fast rule (another day, another post), however the
truth is, we respond or react to the ‘me’ we see in others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YLL-PFRvFtU/U9fd18VKVHI/AAAAAAAADyw/eWCOPCJA3F8/s1600/pharaoh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YLL-PFRvFtU/U9fd18VKVHI/AAAAAAAADyw/eWCOPCJA3F8/s1600/pharaoh.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned something new (or at least remembered afresh) from
my Boy’s middle school’s lesson on ancient civilizations in Socials Studies.
Many cultures, including ancient Egypt, believed their leaders were god-man
beings; both god and man and as such no one else would be their equal, except another
god-man. When I reread Exodus 7:1, “You will be like god to Pharaoh...” another
layer of revelation was revealed. Not only did Moses need to be set apart from
the Hebrew slaves (he was raised in the palace), but he needed to be at least
equal to Pharaoh. Pharaoh saw himself as god; nothing less than being a ‘god’
would suffice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul said he became like all men, just to win a few (1
Corinthians 9:22). My heart is tender towards the new age community; I feel called
to free the captives locked in the world of occult and inferior power. To do
that, I’m being trained to develop my prophetic gift and know their language so
that the light and the truth I carry will be clearly seen and received. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is the task before you? You will win favour and a place
to engage because God will equip you to “be like them” so they will receive
your message (the gospel).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#40lessons</b>: God
will give you the reputation you require to finish the task prepared for you.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-462856689611654022014-07-21T14:21:00.004-07:002014-07-21T14:21:59.918-07:00As the Crow Flies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’m quick. In school I was usually the first one to finish
exams, I can be showered, and ready (with make-up and hair styled) within 15
minutes. I eat quickly. (Yes, I know. It’s not good for me.) I read quickly,
and even my flag and dance movements are more hurried than others. I live in
anticipation, and I want to be ready and grounded for what’s coming.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QyC4gv3Fkc/U82EDJhz0GI/AAAAAAAADyE/2tc-NfdSIbQ/s1600/crow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QyC4gv3Fkc/U82EDJhz0GI/AAAAAAAADyE/2tc-NfdSIbQ/s1600/crow.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
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Some things can’t be hurried; you can’t hurry the time it
takes to grow a human, nor can you hurry character development in the Christian
life which is why I could have also titled this post: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lies Christians Believe #7, The Promised Land was only 11-days Away</i>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever heard the term, “as the crow flies”?
It’s supposed to be the shortest distance between two locations but in reality,
how often have you ever travelled ‘as the crow flies’? I’d bet it hasn’t been
many times; even if you start out on a shortcut, inevitably something blocks
the path and we have to go around it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It maddens me when I hear (usually with some pompous
disdain) the Israelites journey from Egypt to the Canaan would have been 11
days, but the reason it took 40 years was due to their continual disobedience.
It makes me mad because somehow I feel I might have taken a wrong turn, and my
[real] life should have started a long time ago. The truth is, God never
intended to lead his people ‘as the crow flies’ (Exodus 13:17).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsy-QXOpJ9s/U82ELehEi5I/AAAAAAAADyM/wnpoyf2A4Vc/s1600/behind+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsy-QXOpJ9s/U82ELehEi5I/AAAAAAAADyM/wnpoyf2A4Vc/s1600/behind+time.jpg" height="183" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God’s plan was (and is) to lead his people into victory. Sometimes
I feel as if I’m behind time, like I should be further along my journey than I
currently am. It makes me anxious. Joshua 3:4 tells us to keep our eyes on the
Lord and he will guide us. Why? Because we have not gone this way before. It’s
one of my favourite verses; it calms me down and I can trust the One who leads
me. God is leading me to victory and if I have to go around the mountain,
instead of through it, I’m okay with it because that’s the way of victory. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylCpCOM0wJU/U82EWJLtZjI/AAAAAAAADyU/V8xgYn0qK34/s1600/short+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylCpCOM0wJU/U82EWJLtZjI/AAAAAAAADyU/V8xgYn0qK34/s1600/short+cut.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
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Sometimes victory isn’t fighting any battle, sometimes
victory is avoiding it altogether. Just like he lead the Israelites into the
wilderness instead of into the middle of the Philistines territory which would
have been a shorter route. Time is in his hands, he’s not bound by time, nor
are we bound by anything when we rest in his hands. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>#40lessons</b>: God leads us into victory, and it isn’t always
the shortest route. You are not behind his timing if you are looking at him.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-64330859159503370942014-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:002014-07-07T14:03:00.233-07:00This is 40!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’ve had my eye on my 40<sup>th</sup> birthday since I was 25.
It’s been an increasing build-up of anticipation, looking toward to the promise
of the Promised Land. Fifteen years ago, the Promised Land was merely a
pleasant idea of wealth and surplus but most of all my goal was ease – in life,
in love, in finances, and a spiritual cakewalk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nasYK01O_TM/U7sKYvBmPuI/AAAAAAAADwM/7NVW_FYr0l4/s1600/promised+land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nasYK01O_TM/U7sKYvBmPuI/AAAAAAAADwM/7NVW_FYr0l4/s1600/promised+land.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As each year passed and I grew closer to my 40<sup>th</sup>
year, my mindset changed from my goal being an easy life, to desiring my life to
be built up and rooted in a loving covenant relationship with the Father, Jesus
and the Holy Spirit. I realized it’s what I would require to sustain me for the
long haul because the Promised Land may be my inheritance but it was going to
be occupied. Like the Israelites before me the current tenants didn’t know they
were being evicted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Knowing I would be facing a battle to claim my Promised
Land, I began serious training several years ago. Too often history tells the
stories of men and women who started out admirably, but failed to finish well.
They ended up either failing completely or continuously living with a thorn in
their side. I don’t want to be among those who fail to finish. I want to finish
well, and leave a legacy of abundant inheritance for my Boy and his generation
and the generations after him. I don’t want to be disqualified for lack of
focus, or burn up energy on battles I was never intended to wage. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Training is most effective with a knowledgeable coach; who
is better than the Holy Spirit? I learned new weapon training (2 Corinthians
10:4), received new armour (Ephesians 6:10-18), and totally became a new person
(2 Corinthians 5:17). I’m ready and I’m primed for the Promised Land. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkMW-_ZVBKA/U7sKgHFv9fI/AAAAAAAADwY/5-BRyRWi-aw/s1600/fabulous+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkMW-_ZVBKA/U7sKgHFv9fI/AAAAAAAADwY/5-BRyRWi-aw/s1600/fabulous+40.jpg" height="192" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday, I finally completed my 30s and joined the 40s
club. The Israelites learned everything they needed to know in the desert which
would enable them to take possession of their inheritance and their promises.
The first five books of the Bible have long since been my “go-to” Bible
reading. The books are rich with life lessons, to know myself and even more
importantly to know my God. The lessons aren’t just for me; come along for the
journey this year. It will be #40lessons from the desert to the Promised Land. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is 40!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE-OYuIb4i8/U7sKxbXWKdI/AAAAAAAADwk/KqlegptmjqU/s1600/promised+land+-+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE-OYuIb4i8/U7sKxbXWKdI/AAAAAAAADwk/KqlegptmjqU/s1600/promised+land+-+cartoon.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-18141665710586658802014-06-23T11:47:00.001-07:002014-06-23T11:47:22.787-07:00Be Original<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
When I travel, I always take Oswald Chambers with me. He’s
been dead for nearly 100 years but his most popular book, My Utmost for His
Highest, a 365-day devotional is timeless. It’s not the Bible, but I do put it
on the same shelf. (*wink) I correspond my daily reading (while travelling) with
the correct calendar date, and it never seems to fail but the words usually confirm
a lesson the Lord is already teaching me. Last weekend, when I was in San Francisco,
Oswald spoke to me again. He said, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Never make a principle
out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as he is with
you.” </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWoYR2YVBKk/U6h1pgTcoOI/AAAAAAAADu4/NVFczCB87sw/s1600/comparison+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWoYR2YVBKk/U6h1pgTcoOI/AAAAAAAADu4/NVFczCB87sw/s1600/comparison+2.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m different from you, and you are different from me. It’s
a no-brainer, right? Wrong. It’s the hardest thing to understand (and keep
understanding) that we are different than each other. As Danny Silk teaches: most
often what we like or understand about someone is the part of ourselves we see
in other people. We view and judge others by our values, gifts, experiences and
personal expression. I’ve done it to others, and lately I’ve been experiencing
the other side by others’ expectation and judgement of me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example, I don’t like to pray. Yep, I said it. Don’t
judge me. I’m an intercessor and I don’t like to pray. I’ve just admitted I don’t
like to do the one thing the [global] church deems important. Not only is it
important, many people in the church probably agree it is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">most</i> important discipline in the
Christian faith. Specifically, there are several people around me who are
particularly gifted in prayer and can easily pray for hours at a time, praying and
travailing for the same thing. Because I don’t like it, if I view myself
through their eyes, I feel I don’t measure up. In my defense, I do pray but usually
I prefer to be alone and it’s done in worship – either as I actively flag and
dance or even in my work, as I sew and make flags. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoFMXUmkDsA/U6h1qEtuVUI/AAAAAAAADu8/88i-wekZbU8/s1600/value.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoFMXUmkDsA/U6h1qEtuVUI/AAAAAAAADu8/88i-wekZbU8/s1600/value.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
What I don’t like is to pray for other people in the [usual]
way we’ve been taught to do it. You know the drill: you’re at a Bible study,
and the evening is coming to a close and everyone begins to rattle off their
prayer requests; someone has terminal cancer, or their house is in foreclosure,
or their child is strung out on drugs and is working as a prostitute – you know
the stuff. Then just when the prayer requests are complete and it’s time to
pray, someone looks at the clock and says, “We’ve got to run but we’ll pray for
you during the week.” Nothing is resolved and all this crap has been left on
the table so we pick it back up and leave feeling deflated. After a meeting
like that convinced I’m a bad Christian because I dislike prayer or prayer meetings.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week, someone asked me if I could come over and
pray for her because she is going through a period of anxiety and depression
and my first reaction was, “NO!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truthfully,
my first reaction has H-E-double hockey sticks in front of the No. Of course, I
can’t say that because then I look like a first-rate jerk, who is probably
going to h-e-double hockey sticks so I wonder how can I get out of it without
looking like a jerk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to want to make time to pray because I know it’s
important (nothing happens without prayer) and instead of getting out of it,
the Lord gave me a win-win strategy; I could combine worship with prayer.
Worship focuses on the goodness and greatness of God, and our problems are no
longer insurmountable in the face of such an amazing and great God. It’s easy
to declare victory in every problem. I can worship my big God, pray for the
small problem and finish feeling hopeful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point I’m trying to make is a reminder to myself, “Be
original.” Allow others to be original and don’t only celebrate the way other
people are the same as me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup> </sup>We
have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift
is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="text"><span id="en-NIV-28253">if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;</span></span>
<span class="text">if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is
giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to
show mercy, do it cheerfully.</span></i><span class="text"> ~Romans 12:6-8</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOXKVq7wHK8/U6h1ppXATWI/AAAAAAAADvI/rlaDlz4ssEM/s1600/comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOXKVq7wHK8/U6h1ppXATWI/AAAAAAAADvI/rlaDlz4ssEM/s1600/comparison.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span class="text"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-2980535053304977752014-06-09T10:53:00.000-07:002014-06-09T10:53:02.346-07:00No Fear of Punishment<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHQF3wq9qaY/U5X0LalaK9I/AAAAAAAADmI/j1WhA3NNTDA/s1600/stoning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHQF3wq9qaY/U5X0LalaK9I/AAAAAAAADmI/j1WhA3NNTDA/s1600/stoning.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I finally watched Son of God last night with my family. I’ve
read the book, so the storyline wasn’t a surprise but I usually like the visual
of the drama-come-to-life and this movie was no exception. The account of the
woman caught in adultery was particularly impacting for me. It’s familiar to
many so I’ll spare the details but whenever I read it (or in this case see it
portrayed), I put myself in place of the woman. I may have not committed
adultery but there are plenty of sins I’ve been caught red-handed; I’ll assume I’m
not alone in this experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman expected stern punishment; certainly she knew
nothing of kindness when it came to sin. She was taken to the Rabbi, the
current media sensation whom everyone was talking about. She may have heard he
was different than the other teachers and religious leaders but how different
could he be? Sin was sin and it needed to be reprimanded and punished –
severely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was ashamed and she wouldn’t
raise her eyes to the Rabbi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like the harlot, time and again I’m reminded how I fear the
wrath of God when I am caught in sin. Instead of fearing God, I fear the wrath
I’ve been taught to expect. The reality of God is quite the opposite, as
Hebrews 10:14 gives proof. The wrath of God was satisfied through Jesus’ death
on the cross (Romans 5:9) and by his sacrifice, we are made perfect forever,
even as we are currently being sanctified (being perfected). In other words, he
sees us as if we are perfect, even though we are still undergoing the
perfecting process. There is no need for wrath or punishment when we have
already been made perfect. (Rebuke and correction are different than
punishment.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems like it’s too good to be true, doesn’t it? It’s a
mystery but that’s the gospel in a nutshell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a confession: last year I was part of an inaugural ministry
team to partner with a Global Outreach team operating in Cambodia. The
connections and relationship I developed during the 16-day trip went deeper
than would seem possible in the natural. My heart and life were knit into the
weave of several people on the team. A year later, another North American
ministry team partnered with them again, and I couldn’t help but wonder if my
new friends liked the new team better. It’s definitely not a Godly, or
spiritually mature thought but isn’t the point of a confession is to admit my
vulnerability?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon as the thought was expressed (to myself), I was
ashamed and expected a reprimand and some sort of punishment. What I received
was different. The same day I had the thought and the consequent shaming
thoughts, I received a text from my missionary friend, saying it was great to
have a team there but it wasn’t the same without me. Awwww, it made my day, not
just because I was loved and not forgotten by my overseas friend but because
Jesus didn’t punish me at all. Instead, in his kindness, he covered my
insecurity and vulnerability with affirmation and love. Experiencing the love
of God does a whole lot more to motivate me to repent than fear of punishment.
You could say the love of Christ compels me towards holiness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The harlot received the same love. Jesus didn’t condemn her
even though he could have. He loved her and by his love, he compelled her to, “go
and sin no more.” He didn’t condone her sin, nor did he excuse it. It was
evident to all, and still he loved her. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John
4:18). Sin has been punished; what’s left is love. What a beautiful and
glorious thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-88207166767128871852014-06-02T12:14:00.000-07:002014-06-02T12:14:09.276-07:00Building vs. Doing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’ve stayed at 2-star hotels and I’ve stayed at 5-star hotels.
I like 5-star hotels better but it’s not just because the beds are better
quality, or the bathroom is big enough to fit my entire master bedroom. It’s
not even because when I make a call to any of the hotel service areas, my call
is personalized by their greeting, “Good afternoon Mr. & Mrs. York, how may
I assist you?” I like all those reasons (especially the personalized greeting),
but the one reason that stands out the most is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> the staff, from the General Manager to the new immigrant hired
in housekeeping, are working toward a higher purpose. They are building a
company; everyone and every role is important. They have a common goal, and
they believe it can be accomplished together. The staff in a 2-star hotel is
simply doing their job; they aren’t building anything, and it shows.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoHfTyjO8QU/U4zMyKGM7nI/AAAAAAAADl0/ndgJdy58w6U/s1600/bob+the+builder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoHfTyjO8QU/U4zMyKGM7nI/AAAAAAAADl0/ndgJdy58w6U/s1600/bob+the+builder.jpg" height="200" width="151" /></a></div>
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I’ve been thinking about building vs. doing for the better
part of the last school year. In years prior, I was quite involved in a
supernatural school ministry, taking on a leadership role because I was invited
to help build the school which I was part of. Last year there was a change in
leadership at the Director level. I approved and readily supported the new
Director. Initially I was prepared to continue in the supporting leadership
role I had been in but it was different year, with different leadership. There
were other changes happening in my life, and I felt God leading me to step
back. The final confirmation came when the new Director approached me and
asked, “What do you want to do?” The question bothered me and I’ve been
thinking about it ever since.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I come from a Christian culture that values hard work, and
pitching in to serve others. It’s a great value but there was a danger, at
least for me, to believe I needed to work for love, rather than knowing I was
already loved and work from there. The question grated me because I felt I had
been working hard for the past few years to understand the incredible love the
Father has for me, and in one single remark I was back to where I had started. </div>
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<br /></div>
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(The Director’s question was not intended to send me into a
tailspin of self-contemplation. I know the Director’s heart, and it was an
innocent question meant to include me in the future of the school, and not
minimize my role or influence. The Lord was working on an issue in my heart,
and I have not needed to communicate my thoughts to the Director, who I consider
my friend.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Vision is important to building. Proverbs 29:18 says, where
there is no vision, the people perish. A vision, when it is communicated well,
brings unity and gives purpose. At the heart of communicating a vision is the
invitation to participate and help build. Someone who is building, and knows
why they are building is a much better worker than someone who is just doing
the work. Both involve the same type of labour but the one building is reaching
for something greater.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nehemiah had a vision to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem; he
invited others to [literally] build with him. He gave each family
responsibility to build where it mattered to them. It created ownership and a
sense of purpose and as a whole he accomplished something even better.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 Kings 10:4-5 describes the Queen of Sheba’s response to
King Solomon’s household items and his palace staff. I’ve always thought it an
odd inclusion to the Scriptures but in studying it, I believe it’s a great
lesson on leadership. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solomon
communicated his vision for building his kingdom, and everyone, from the
greatest to the least served their role well because they were part of building
something bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus is building his church. A relationship with him is an
invitation to build with him. I no longer want to labour in vain (Psalm 127:1);
I want to partner with him to build something that will last. How about you? Do
you want to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> something, or do you
want to build?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-80629005603101649952014-05-27T11:03:00.002-07:002014-05-27T11:03:45.642-07:00Is "If it be your will" a Valid Prayer, pt. 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Teaching my Boy to grow in faith, relationship and Christian
disciplines has made me question so many area of the way I do life – in action
and speech. Not big questions, like ‘is the Bible true?’ or ‘is ‘God the one,
true God?’, but other stuff that I give no attention to and I do anyway out of
habit. It’s important to know what God says, but it’s equally or more important
to understand what he says. As my Boy grows and starts thinking and questioning
why we ask him to do ‘such and such’, I’m forced to ask myself, “Why do I do
that, and why should I teach my Boy to do it too?”</div>
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Ever since I read “<a href="http://stuffchristianslike.net/2008/03/31/96-using-gods-favorite-word/">Using
God’s Favorite Word</a>” by Jon Acuff I’ve been conscious about the language of
prayer. (Click on the link and be prepared for prayer to never be the same for
you again; plus you’ll laugh because you know you can relate.) Last week I
wrote <a href="http://andreayorkmuse.blogspot.ca/2014/05/is-if-it-be-your-will-valid-prayer-pt-1.html">part
1</a> of a 2-part post questioning the validity of using the common prayer
addendum, ‘If it be your will...” In the post I suggested it was either
arrogant or ignorant to pray those words. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aPT95m2LTM/U4TSH5kfuvI/AAAAAAAADjs/Oe7D-ti55uk/s1600/ignorance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aPT95m2LTM/U4TSH5kfuvI/AAAAAAAADjs/Oe7D-ti55uk/s1600/ignorance.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
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Jesus taught us to pray by using two teaching methods. Teaching
by example is a great way to learn, and we have numerous examples of Jesus’ prayers
to model. He also explicitly taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. Modelling is
fantastic but I favour the direct approach because I prefer no ambiguity or
loose interpretation. In v.10, we are instructed to pray for God’s will to be
done on earth, as it was [already] in heaven. It seems easy and straightforward,
until you actually try to do it so we like to add one little, two-letter word, ‘if’.
As a conjunction, if indicates there is a condition for which the action to be
executed and as a noun, if indicates an uncertain possibility. By adding the
word ‘if’ we throw all certainty out the window and we demonstrate, by our
words, we are simply guessing. In other words, it is ignorant to pray, “if it
be your will...”</div>
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Jesus instructed us to pray a specific way because he
expected it to be possible. Jesus was fully man; when he said and did what he
saw the Father saying and doing, he did so as a man and thereby giving us an
example, a model, in which to follow. I imagine Jesus to be a ‘man’s man’. His
father would have taught him the carpentry trade so he probably had rough,
working-man’s hands, he palled around with his buddies and he enjoyed a
fermented drink when the occasion called but in all his manly attributes, none
of them allowed him to know the Father’s will, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">except</i></b> by the Holy Spirit
so we are also without excuse.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuEVj02h6Ag/U4TTI4apIoI/AAAAAAAADkE/xR3_dVb6fIo/s1600/knowing+which+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuEVj02h6Ag/U4TTI4apIoI/AAAAAAAADkE/xR3_dVb6fIo/s1600/knowing+which+way.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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I used to take comfort in Biblical examples of uncertainty
because it validated my lack of knowing and took the onus of responsibility from
me until I realized all of my examples were found in the old testament (1 Samuel
14:6, Esther 4:16, Daniel 3:27 to name a few) but the new testament changes it.
In Jeremiah 31:34, Jeremiah prophesied the new covenant, and how we would no
longer need teachers but everyone could know God personally and individually. We
are given the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth to guide us into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> truth (John 16:13). The gift of the
Holy Spirit takes away uncertainty, even to the point where Paul could go
confidently to Jerusalem even knowing it would end in his capture.</div>
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Multiple times Jesus
spoke to the disciples saying the mysteries [of heaven] were given to them to
know. Paul reiterated it in Ephesians 1:9, saying God made known the mystery of
his will. How? In Christ (who is the word of God), and by the Holy Spirit who also
testifies and confirms the truth (Hebrews 10:15, 1 John 5:6, John 15:26). Paul
also exhorts us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, be transformed in our
minds. Why? So we can know the will of God – the good, and acceptable and
perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2).</div>
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Is anyone moved by this revelation? I’m excited all by
myself, and I’m writing myself happy; the Holy Spirit is witnessing to and I
feel the crescendo in my spirit. Truly this is good news. It is fantastical (made
up word) to imagine we could know the will of the Creator of the universe. </div>
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Let it sink in. </div>
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God, the Infinite One, the One who is complete in himself,
makes his will known to mankind. And not just broad, all-encompassing
knowledge, but his intimate and definable will for our lives. It’s incredible,
and if that doesn’t bring you to your knees in worship then I have just one
word: repent (change your thinking).</div>
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Last week I wrote about the arrogance of prayer; I see and
hear it from some Christians but by and large the greatest reason people use
the phrase, “If it be your will...” is because we don’t know what God’s will
is. If it applies to you (it does to me, in many areas), spend time with God,
develop intimacy because intimacy is where secrets and mysteries are shared and
may you, and may I never, never use the word ‘if’ where God’s will is concerned
because may we always, forever and ever know it.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-23426981488010992772014-05-20T12:45:00.000-07:002014-05-20T12:45:48.451-07:00Is "If it be your will," a Valid Prayer? pt. 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbBC-HWerUI/U3uwhHtApQI/AAAAAAAADiE/PXRvfVfizLM/s1600/people+praying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbBC-HWerUI/U3uwhHtApQI/AAAAAAAADiE/PXRvfVfizLM/s1600/people+praying.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christians pray. I pray and I’ve heard a lot of others prayer
over the years. One phrase I hear often is, “If it be your will...” I used to
say it myself, I don’t anymore but I still hear it being spoken wherever prayer
is being prayed, especially in prayers over sickness, disease or other dark
circumstances. I hear it so often I began to wonder where it’s found in the
Bible. Since the beginning of 2014, I’ve read through the entire Bible once and
I’m on my 3<sup>rd</sup> round of reading through the New Testament. Each time
I’ve read in different translations and you know what I’ve found? There is only
one example of this being spoken...by Jesus, just before the events leading to
his crucifixion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m puzzled, and whenever I am puzzled I have questions. Is
praying, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If</i></b> it be your will...,” a valid prayer phrase?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked the Lord about it, I’ve looked at the Scriptural
reference, and I’ve researched what other [wise and scholarly] Christians have
said about it and this is my conclusion: it is either arrogant or ignorant to
pray, “If it be your will.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWg7xlibzGg/U3uwhHkSvMI/AAAAAAAADh0/G1PuP7ed6dY/s1600/arrogance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWg7xlibzGg/U3uwhHkSvMI/AAAAAAAADh0/G1PuP7ed6dY/s1600/arrogance.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></div>
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It’s arrogant because the underlying thought behind it is, “If
I were God, I would do better.” Imagine a scenario where this kind of prayer
takes place. A friend or family member is has stage 4 cancer and he or she is
in pain. We love our friend and we don’t want to lose them from this world. Every
belief or value we have that God is good is questioned and we pray out of
desperation, and we put ourselves in the place of God. In essence we are
saying, “If it was up to me, I’d heal you. I want to heal you but you know God...sometimes
he doesn’t want to heal.” It’s arrogance. Anytime we set ourselves above God it’s
arrogance. Period. It’s the worst kind of arrogance too, because we tack on a
pious-sounding phrase so no one can argue because if our friend doesn’t get
healed, well then, we blame God and it absolves us from any liability. We did
what we could.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s arrogant and it points to the fact we don’t believe
Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. Not really. This prayer is only mentioned once
when Jesus was struggling – whether in his humanity or deity, I don’t know. The
bible gives us account of his last hours, and we are privy to an exchange Jesus
has with the Father. It’s honest, it’s raw, and we know how it ends. The Father
turned his face away from the Son, and Jesus died to become the one and final
sacrifice that restored humanity [and all creation] of all that was lost (Luke
19:10).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hebrews 10:14 says, “By his one sacrifice, we are made
perfect forever.” Jesus already suffered and died. It’s finished, and there is
no more need for sacrifices. When Jesus commanded we pick up our cross and
carry it, he meant carry it to Golgotha with him where he was crucified instead
of us, for us, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as us</i></b>. It is finished. Finito. Fertig. Fini. There is no need
for anyone else to carry the punishment, or hold sickness and disease. It has
no hold on us because it had no hold on Jesus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without getting too nerdy and technical with linguistic
analysis (mostly because I understand it but not enough to explain it) we are
healed by his stripes (Isaiah 53:5), and Peter reminds us we have [already]
been healed (1 Peter 2:24). An action has taken place at a definite point in
time (Jesus was whipped, tortured and crucified), and by that action a
different action (healing) is both finished and on-going. To suggest another
action must take place (i.e. sickness or disease to be willed by God) is to
negate Jesus’ sacrifice.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A7FZU5G56L0/U3uwhOWMNXI/AAAAAAAADiI/ws2YMwSb6Xg/s1600/arrogance+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A7FZU5G56L0/U3uwhOWMNXI/AAAAAAAADiI/ws2YMwSb6Xg/s1600/arrogance+3.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fear I’ve only scratched the surface, and perhaps I didn’t
even do that well. I’ve been thinking about it, about the things we say,
without giving our words any thought. I want my words to communicate and line
up with Scripture. I hope it caused someone else to think about it too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next post is about the ignorance of saying, “If it be your
will.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-41740303512011763792014-05-12T11:34:00.003-07:002014-05-12T11:34:56.207-07:00And All God's People Said...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lynr6uuJWr0/U3ETh5mlUrI/AAAAAAAADhY/f7Qfq15rs3U/s1600/amen+corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lynr6uuJWr0/U3ETh5mlUrI/AAAAAAAADhY/f7Qfq15rs3U/s1600/amen+corner.jpg" height="147" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
I absolutely love it when I’m at
church and the speaker is leading the congregation in prayer and instead of
finishing the prayer him or herself, he says, “And all God’s people said?”
Then, the congregation speaks jointly and says, “Amen.” Not only do I value
being included as one of God’s people, but I love the collective agreement to
what was spoken to God. Amen means, ‘so be it’, it is an expression of
concurrence or assent (<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/amen?s=t">dictionary.com</a>).
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
For years, I misunderstood 2
Corinthians 1:20 to be, “for all God’s promises are yes, and amen in Jesus,”
but as the Lord is opening up the mystery of intimacy with him, things that
were hidden or unnoticed prior are now seen as if for the first time. I more
fully understand the verse. I don’t even have to change the translation I read
to see the full meaning. The verse actually says, “For no matter how many
promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">spoken by us</i> to the glory of God.”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Whatever the Father promises
through Jesus is a sure thing, but it requires our assent (our ‘amen’) for the
promise to be birthed.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Stop, and think on this revelation
with me for a moment. This is an ‘aha’ moment. Agreement (for God’s promises to
develop, or be born) is complete in the context of covenantal relationship. In
other words, intimacy is required. The dilemma with intimacy in any
relationship is that it demands time to develop. Any fulfillment outside of
intimacy, an ‘Ishmael’ is birthed.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Huh?
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Did you miss the jump I just did
there? Allow me to explain...
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
When Abram was called by God, he
was already an old man from a polytheistic family, but God had plans for Abram
and wooed him to a monotheistic covenant relationship and made some spectacular
promises, among them that Abram would be the father of many nations. The
promise may not have been much of a stretch for <a href="http://www.duggarfamily.com/">Jim Bob Duggar</a> but it was for Abram,
who did not have children and his wife Sarai was long past menopause.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
The Bible doesn’t mention whether
Abram deliberated for long on God’s first instruction to “go to the land, I
will show you,” so I can only assume Abram was agreeable. A transnational move
might have been a large undertaking but the intimate investment required by
Abram was minimal.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
God promised Abram his descendants
would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram believed God (gave his ‘amen’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I could poll other Christians, I am
confident many would be found in the same position as Abram – a promise is
given, and we believe it. But also like Abram, I move ahead of God to force the
promise into existence, just like he did with Sarai/Hagar relationship triangle.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Several months ago, I wrote a <a href="http://andreayorkmuse.blogspot.ca/2011/11/forced-intimacy-is-not-intimacy.html">post</a>
about forced intimacy. It’s not pleasing to God. He wants us to come into
intimacy in a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with him as a freewill
offering of ourselves. It can’t be forced, and whatever is birthed in it is born
in strife – just like Ishmael. He was born to Abram but he was not the child of
promise. It took another 12 or 13 years before Isaac, the child of promise, was
born. The Bible doesn’t elaborate further on what took place in those years but
let me suggest that’s how long it took to build true intimacy in a covenant relationship.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know God.”
The word know is the Hebrew word, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yada</i>,
which has as part of the meaning, a carnal knowledge – the kind of ‘knowing’ in
which children are born. How long does it take to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> God? It’s relative but from most discussions with friends or
reading testimonies in Scripture, a common response is we lack patience and
move ahead of God to try to force the promise, ahead of what intimacy will
allow.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
If we were still with God and just
knew him, the natural progression of the relationship is to birth something – a
promise. In Christ, it is already yes but it requires our agreement to bring
about the glory which God intends. Abram already received the promise; his
participation was in learning the practice of stilling himself before God, to
know him. And from there, Isaac was born.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpb6NG1rsqo/U3ETqR2j8_I/AAAAAAAADhg/T8qSDA8Wv5k/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpb6NG1rsqo/U3ETqR2j8_I/AAAAAAAADhg/T8qSDA8Wv5k/s1600/baby.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Outside of intimacy in a covenant
relationship, you get Ishmael, but inside covenant relationship you get Isaac,
the child of promise. God has already pre-ordained us to receive his promises
and blessings. The question is will we say ‘Amen’?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091324599651845816.post-53861038527079021562014-05-06T13:12:00.000-07:002014-05-06T13:12:58.586-07:00An Invitation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-szb70a89LEA/U2lAXYb45pI/AAAAAAAADgw/o0tKYkQdQRE/s1600/invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-szb70a89LEA/U2lAXYb45pI/AAAAAAAADgw/o0tKYkQdQRE/s1600/invitation.jpg" height="200" width="179" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I returned from a leadership conference, and I
could have left before it begun. There is nowhere I could park my
disappointment; nor would I even say I was disappointed. Before I went to
register and sign-in, I spent some time with one of my favourite men in the
whole world. He’s like a father to me but because we live in different countries,
I see him two or three times a year. While he was speaking, he said something
which made my world stop. He said, </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Presence [of God] is the invitation to intimacy.”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boom! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent 12 hours driving and had been in Redding for less
than 24 hours but I knew I could have driven home at that moment because I had
just received everything I needed to hear. Do you have seasons where God is
teaching you something but you don’t have language to express what it is, and
then when you finally hear the language, the idea becomes fully formed in you? That’s
what happened for me in that moment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am in a culture where I hear speakers, preachers, and
others talk about the Presence – needing the Presence, developing the Presence,
staying in the Presence, hosting the Presence. I’ve also been writing, and
speaking about it. It’s ‘all Presence, all the time’ but as of late, I’ve been
feeling like there’s something more but I didn’t know what it was, or how to
get it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Presence [of God] is the best thing I’ve ever known. (Can
I even call such a wonderful experiential awareness a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thing</i>?) I didn’t grow up in a church culture where the presence of
God could be tangibly felt or experienced but I’ve learned a better way. I love
everything about the Presence because when God is present, then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>all</u></i> He is, is present also –
Healer, Comforter, Peacemaker, Provider, Father; the impossible becomes
possible. </div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
In that season a few short years
ago, I was learning something new about God which was (and still is)
revolutionary. It wasn’t for a few years before I started to think being in the
same room with Jesus isn’t good enough. I want more. The Presence is not the goal;
it’s an invitation to true intimacy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Simply being in the Presence doesn’t
change you; it may change your circumstances (sick to healed, mourning to joy,
hunger to filled) but we’re changed in the context of relationship. When Jesus
walked the earth, many gathered to be in his presence and he healed everyone
who came to him but where were the 5,000 and 4,000 people he fed when the crowd
was calling for his crucifixion? At the time of his greatest sacrifice, only a
handful remained (and even they didn’t do a great job of staying close). The
ones who remained were the ones who were in true relationship with him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
If Christianity is a relationship
and not a religion then I want intimacy. I want to be vulnerable and
transparent but true intimacy flows both ways. It requires for my God to be
intimate with me as well. Could anyone deny there are intimacy problems if a
one half of a married couple refuses to get naked? Or if one person is sharing her
secrets, and the other one only listens but doesn’t contribute his own secrets?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Intimacy with God is still a
mystery to me. It’s hard for me to understand how God, the one who is complete
in himself, can be vulnerable. He does [be vulnerable] otherwise what is his
invitation for? Is it for us to pour out our body, soul and spirit to a
counsellor and not to expect we will be called upon to reciprocate? God gave us
the model of a marital relationship. Marriage isn’t just a nice idea for humans
who are too needy to do life on their own. Marriage is a heavenly concept, not
an earthly one. The Father is looking for a bride for his Son.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oiXbvvPL4RA/U2lBNu9YdeI/AAAAAAAADg4/Jo7D0StWzyM/s1600/bride+&+bridegroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oiXbvvPL4RA/U2lBNu9YdeI/AAAAAAAADg4/Jo7D0StWzyM/s1600/bride+&+bridegroom.jpg" height="144" width="200" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
There is an increased understanding
of the concept of sonship but there is a whole other level of intimacy and
relationship that can only be found between a bride and a bridegroom. My Boy
may have a key to our house and can eat what he wants from the fridge; he will
inherit everything we’ve built and acquired but I share way more with my Man
than I do with my Boy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For two and a half days, I was immersed in an environment
where his Presence saturates everything and everyone but I was wrecked, not by his
Presence but because it was an invitation to greater intimacy. I was part of a
crowd of 800+ and still I was intensely lonely for Jesus and my heart
[literally] ached for him. Finally, during the last session I excused myself
from the crowd and went to be with Jesus on my own. I took my journal,
anticipating a conversation worth remembering, but I didn’t even crack it open.
I met with Jesus and he met with me, and we just were. And it was the best
session of the whole conference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVvm24iA1iU/U2lBtMA1wFI/AAAAAAAADhA/en8aS2Uv9FA/s1600/holding+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVvm24iA1iU/U2lBtMA1wFI/AAAAAAAADhA/en8aS2Uv9FA/s1600/holding+hands.jpg" height="157" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being in the same room isn’t enough; we need to grab hold of
the opportunity to enter into relationship with him. When Jesus came to the
disciples, walking on the water, he would have passed them by if they hadn’t
called out to him. How often has Jesus been by, and we haven’t responded? I’m
resolved never to pass an opportunity for intimacy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m saying yes. Are you?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0