by Kim Walker-Smith of Jesus Culture
Like a flame, love burned in Your eyes,
Driving You to pay the greatest price,
You bought my life, so I could be Your light,
Reflecting You, reflecting love.
Everything good comes from You,
Father of lights,
Your love will always pierce through the darkest night.
Love has a voice,
Love has a name, Jesus, Jesus,
Your love is the light, filling my eyes, Jesus, Jesus.
You wore the weight of death upon your heart,
And Your last breath tore the veil apart,
You made a way, for me to walk in grace,
So I could love You face to face.
Everything good comes from You,
Father of lights,
Your love will always pierce through the darkest night.
Love has a voice,
Love has a name, Jesus, Jesus,
Your love is the light, filling my eyes, Jesus, Jesus.
Love has a voice,
Love has a name, Jesus, Jesus,
Your love is the light, filling my eyes, Jesus, Jesus.
I will never be the same,
Love has called my name,
From the ashes I rise to proclaim,
Your love is undefeated,
Forever You will reign,
Justice has won again.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
God's Provision... Wow.
Hannah Joy noticed a nice-looking dresser along the side of the road today. She asked the owner if there was anything wrong with it and was told it was great. So we have a new dresser! But even though I just went over expecting to pick up the dresser, I ended up with a whole lot more!
The family giving away the dresser is moving to the UK in a couple weeks. He has been looking for a job for a long time and an opportunity finally opened up, just on the wrong side of the pond! But his wife is from there, so they are packing up the kids and setting out to restart life there. But there is much that they will not be able to take along, so he took me throughout the house asking if I wanted anything!
He is a mild prepper, so he had a bit of stored food that was not very old. I ended up with some huge cans of beans, pickles, pumpkin, olives and bottled water. He took me to his garage and now I have a jigsaw, another jigsaw-like saw, a hand saw, more sockets and wrenches and a very long extension cord.
He asked if we were needing anything in particular and I told him we needed a 12" bike. He ran out of sight then returned with a little pink and blue bike!
On top of all that, he also gave us a big box of 60 watt light bulbs, dish soap, Pine Sol, kitchen sponges, a DVD player w/ remote, and two child-size camping chairs. Not bad!
While in his basement, I asked if I could pray for him for anything and he admitted that he did not have peace about what they were doing. Before he could move away, I put my arm on his shoulder and prayed in Jesus' name that he would be given peace, that he and his family would be blessed by their move, that Jesus would pour his love out on them in a new way, and that "they would find that their new home is actually their true home." When I said that last line and amen, he choked up and nervously said, "My goodness, you're making me cry or something!"
As I got ready to leave, he told me that he was Catholic, but doesn't really like the church. I told him about Jesus' great love for him and of his worth shown through Jesus' sacrifice. He responded, "Well, some people believe that Jesus loves you regardless of what you've done, but that's just not me." I told him to stop judging himself and instead accept Jesus' judgment of him, that he, Kenny, was worth Jesus' own death on the cross. Then I ended by telling him again how much Jesus loves him and wants to know him personally.
Now I am home praising Jesus for his wonderful, surprise provision for Hannah and me :-). Praise Jesus for his incredible blessings!!!
The family giving away the dresser is moving to the UK in a couple weeks. He has been looking for a job for a long time and an opportunity finally opened up, just on the wrong side of the pond! But his wife is from there, so they are packing up the kids and setting out to restart life there. But there is much that they will not be able to take along, so he took me throughout the house asking if I wanted anything!
He is a mild prepper, so he had a bit of stored food that was not very old. I ended up with some huge cans of beans, pickles, pumpkin, olives and bottled water. He took me to his garage and now I have a jigsaw, another jigsaw-like saw, a hand saw, more sockets and wrenches and a very long extension cord.
He asked if we were needing anything in particular and I told him we needed a 12" bike. He ran out of sight then returned with a little pink and blue bike!
On top of all that, he also gave us a big box of 60 watt light bulbs, dish soap, Pine Sol, kitchen sponges, a DVD player w/ remote, and two child-size camping chairs. Not bad!
While in his basement, I asked if I could pray for him for anything and he admitted that he did not have peace about what they were doing. Before he could move away, I put my arm on his shoulder and prayed in Jesus' name that he would be given peace, that he and his family would be blessed by their move, that Jesus would pour his love out on them in a new way, and that "they would find that their new home is actually their true home." When I said that last line and amen, he choked up and nervously said, "My goodness, you're making me cry or something!"
As I got ready to leave, he told me that he was Catholic, but doesn't really like the church. I told him about Jesus' great love for him and of his worth shown through Jesus' sacrifice. He responded, "Well, some people believe that Jesus loves you regardless of what you've done, but that's just not me." I told him to stop judging himself and instead accept Jesus' judgment of him, that he, Kenny, was worth Jesus' own death on the cross. Then I ended by telling him again how much Jesus loves him and wants to know him personally.
Now I am home praising Jesus for his wonderful, surprise provision for Hannah and me :-). Praise Jesus for his incredible blessings!!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Parables of Facebook
Then Jesus said to them...
The kingdom is like a man who posted a status on Facebook. Some who saw it immediately blocked the post and any future posts from him. Others "liked" the status, but when a few negative comments had been posted, they quickly "unliked" it. Still others saw the status and began to write a positive comment, but were distracted by annoying political memes and never got around to finishing it. But some who saw it not only liked it, but also shared it on their own walls so that many more could see and "like" it too.
Anyone who understands Facebook lingo, let him hear!
When you post a status, do you set it to "private" so nobody else can see it? Or do you post it and then comment on some friends' posts so they will be more likely to notice yours! But even those hidden status updates will be known, advertisers will feast off of them.
If you understand Facebook, listen to me!
If you interact and comment on other peoples' posts, they will be more more likely to comment and "like" your posts! For the more you interact with people, the more you will show up on their newsfeeds. But for those of you who do not interact, even what little visibility you have on others' newsfeeds will soon be gone.
And with many Facebook references he spoke to them, as many as could hear. But without a Facebook reference He did not speak to them.
The kingdom is like a man who posted a status on Facebook. Some who saw it immediately blocked the post and any future posts from him. Others "liked" the status, but when a few negative comments had been posted, they quickly "unliked" it. Still others saw the status and began to write a positive comment, but were distracted by annoying political memes and never got around to finishing it. But some who saw it not only liked it, but also shared it on their own walls so that many more could see and "like" it too.
Anyone who understands Facebook lingo, let him hear!
When you post a status, do you set it to "private" so nobody else can see it? Or do you post it and then comment on some friends' posts so they will be more likely to notice yours! But even those hidden status updates will be known, advertisers will feast off of them.
If you understand Facebook, listen to me!
If you interact and comment on other peoples' posts, they will be more more likely to comment and "like" your posts! For the more you interact with people, the more you will show up on their newsfeeds. But for those of you who do not interact, even what little visibility you have on others' newsfeeds will soon be gone.
And with many Facebook references he spoke to them, as many as could hear. But without a Facebook reference He did not speak to them.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Speaking Truth - Identity, Pt. 4
"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion useless." James 1.26
Did you know we can deceive our own heart by our words? The truth is that the words we say are exceedingly important. In the wisdom of Proverbs, we read: "There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health" (Proverbs 12.18). "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit" Proverbs 15.4. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit" Proverbs 18.21. "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles" Proverbs 21.23.
We can with our own tongue speak truth to what is right, or what is wrong. When we speak truth to what is right, we promote healthy lives. But when we speak truth to what is wrong, we can break our spirit and the spirits of those around us. The world we live in is full of lies, and it is our responsibility as Christians to speak truth to what is right.
To those outside of relationship with Jesus, we need to speak truth to the fact that they are special, unique creations by God, who are so loved by Him that He gave his own life for them on the cross. We need to stop speaking truth to what is wrong. What is accomplished by going on and on about how sinful people are? From our pulpits we continually condemn people and groups of people for sin, but we forget that Jesus said, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" John 20.23. Could it be that those people we condemn are actually stuck in their sin because we refuse to speak truth to their forgiveness in Jesus' name? I am convinced that if we would stop condemning our cities and people, the power of sin could be broken from them.
But who I want most to focus on in this post are those of us who follow Jesus. The Bible speaks many wonderful things about us, yet we have a tendency to speak the opposite about ourselves. Holy Spirit tells us in Ephesians 2.10 that "we are His workmanship." This means that our lives are a reflection of his work, not our own. Once we give our lives to Jesus, we are born again by the Spirit. In the past we were our own workmanship, but now we are his! So what does the Bible say that this "new creation" looks like?
The number one truth spoken of us throughout the New Testament is the fact that we are now "saints." This is in contrast to what we were before, "sinners." So if the Bible says we are saints, what right do we have to call ourselves sinners? I hear it from fellow Christians over and over and over again, "Well, we are all sinners" and "I know I am a sinner." But that is no longer our reality! Romans 6 explains that we died to sin and that because our old body of sin was done away with, we are no longer slaves of sin! But the apostle Paul takes it even further and tells us that we are now slaves to righteousness! THAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT US. If we live outside of this, it is not because we are sinners, but because we are believing lies within our minds that we need something outside of Him. But even if we do sin, it does not make us sinners, because the Bible tells us that we are saints. And I have mentioned before in blogs the important distinction made in 1 John where he says "if" we sin, not "when" we sin. Our default is no longer sin! So let's stop talking as if it still is. And also, let's stop taking Paul's words in Romans 7 out of context and presenting them as if they are the reality for those of us who are saved. If Paul's words there are about us, then they are in direct contradiction to what the rest of the NT says about us. Paul is clearly speaking of his experience BEFORE salvation, setting up a contrast between our old life before Christ and our new life after salvation.
Our words betray what we have faith in. If we speak as saints, we show that we have faith to live sinless lives. But if we speak of ourselves as sinners, we show that we have put faith into living lives of sin. Do you get what I am saying? If you say, "I know I am a sinner, and I know I am going to stumble" then you are putting faith in your stumbling or sinning. You are in fact saying, "I have faith that I am going to sin." Is that what we want to put our faith in? Instead, we need to speak truth to what we know from the Bible to be truth! The confession from the lips of Christians must always be, "We are saints and have been freed from sin!" When we speak that way, we are putting our faith in Jesus' work in us.
1 Peter 3.10 tells us, "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit." We need to stop speaking deceit and instead dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to only speak truth about ourselves and those around us. That is the kind of speech that leads to "life" and "health" and "good days." That is the kind of speech that glorifies Jesus, the "author and finisher of our faith."
Friday, September 7, 2012
A Love Encounter
I went to Walmart today to get some peanuts and love people. My time inside the store was relatively brief. I saw a woman who was struggling to walk, so I spoke to her for a minute and then she let me pray for her. She was blessed, it was nice. After I was done, I walked back to my car which was in the furthest spot in the parking lot (the farther back, the more chances I have to interact with people!). I saw nobody to love, but as I got in and started to leave the parking lot, I spotted a woman moving slowly along in a power wheelchair. I spun around, parked and got out to meet her.
Her name was Hodge, a fun name :-). She suffered from arthritis and the effects of neuropathy caused by diabetes. When I asked her if I could pray, she immediately opened up about her life and what has been going on. Her family has suffered greatly over the last year from alcoholism, multiple cases of cancer, seizures and deaths caused by them. She nearly started crying as she told me her story.
I told her I loved her and Jesus loved her and I wanted to give Him a chance to show her how much. So I put one hand on her shoulder and took hold of her hand with my other and began praying. I was so radically filled with love as I began that I could hardly keep going. But I prayed that Jesus would fill her with his love and his peace and bring healing to her body and family. Then I felt led to pray for her dreams and sleep at night (though she had not mentioned anything to me about dreams or sleep), so I prayed that the bad dreams would go and that she would have wonderful dreams and sleep well at night. And when she was awake at night, I prayed that she would feel the wonderful presence of Holy Spirit all over her.
The prayer ended and she looked up with her beautiful face absolutely shining. She excitedly shook my hand and said, "Thank you so so much! That was exactly what I needed. And you were right on about my bad dreams and trouble sleeping recently, thanks so much! I will remember this. Thank you thank you so much!!!" Eventually she let go of my hand and then as I turned to head back to my car, she asked, "Why did you pull over and pray for me?" It was an easy answer, "Because Jesus loves you and I do to!"
That was a very fun love encounter :-).
Her name was Hodge, a fun name :-). She suffered from arthritis and the effects of neuropathy caused by diabetes. When I asked her if I could pray, she immediately opened up about her life and what has been going on. Her family has suffered greatly over the last year from alcoholism, multiple cases of cancer, seizures and deaths caused by them. She nearly started crying as she told me her story.
I told her I loved her and Jesus loved her and I wanted to give Him a chance to show her how much. So I put one hand on her shoulder and took hold of her hand with my other and began praying. I was so radically filled with love as I began that I could hardly keep going. But I prayed that Jesus would fill her with his love and his peace and bring healing to her body and family. Then I felt led to pray for her dreams and sleep at night (though she had not mentioned anything to me about dreams or sleep), so I prayed that the bad dreams would go and that she would have wonderful dreams and sleep well at night. And when she was awake at night, I prayed that she would feel the wonderful presence of Holy Spirit all over her.
The prayer ended and she looked up with her beautiful face absolutely shining. She excitedly shook my hand and said, "Thank you so so much! That was exactly what I needed. And you were right on about my bad dreams and trouble sleeping recently, thanks so much! I will remember this. Thank you thank you so much!!!" Eventually she let go of my hand and then as I turned to head back to my car, she asked, "Why did you pull over and pray for me?" It was an easy answer, "Because Jesus loves you and I do to!"
That was a very fun love encounter :-).
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
My Destiny: Purpose, Power, and Love
God has been working mightily in my life for a long time now. He has completely rewired me even in the last few months. While I have always wanted to move away from the city and set up my own little piece of heaven, I now have the most incredible drive to turn the city of Allentown into a great big piece of heaven! I have been given a love for the people of our city like I have never felt before. I feel like they are mine and I have authority to step into their world in Jesus' name and show them the gospel through my life. But as God has done this work in me and Hannah Joy, He has begun to focus it more and more. I have been rocked with dreams for the city, but now I feel I have been given a vision for the city which is the foundation of all I am doing and will continue to do in life. This vision is made up of Purpose, Power and Love. Hannah Joy has been a wonderful part in bringing out this incredible vision. What follows is our vision as I wrote it out a few weeks ago by the leading of the Spirit.
So what does this vision of Purpose, Power and Love look like?
With purpose, I am speaking of identity. We need to show the people of Allentown their true identities. All they hear are lies, all day long every day. As far as I can tell, there is nobody in the city heralding who they really are! They turn on the radio and hear that they are lazy. The Democrats tell them they are helpless and the Republicans tell them that they are not willing to help themselves. The majority of the church condemns them as murderers (specifically with the issue of abortion), thieves, racists, fornicators and otherwise perverse. And in the midst of all this, they hear demonic lies whispered in their ears that they are worthless, their lives are hopeless, and the only way to better their lives is to take part in things that will only damage them more and leave them burdened with guilt, shame and condemnation.
But that is not their identity! When Jesus died, He died for ALL! That means that they have been forgiven! Their value comes from their being children of God, special, unique creations made to glorify God by living lives of fulfillment and satisfaction in Him. Their worth was shown by Jesus’ giving of His own life to free them from all guilt, shame and condemnation! This is incredible, world-changing truth and yet there are very few if any who are truly preaching it! We need to make showing people their identity and purpose primary in our vision for the city.
By power, I speak of unleashing the power of God into the city through prayer. We have not because we ask not. This means that we need to devote our lives to passionate prayer for our city. This means taking spiritual authority over an area where the devil thinks that He has dominion, and proclaiming that the strong man has been bound and we are by the power of the Spirit and in the name of Jesus plundering his house! This means praying for our streets, our homes, our people suffering physically, emotionally and spiritually. Prayer unleashes the power of Jesus!
By love, I speak of a life of service. This of course is in conjunction with our ministry of prayer. This means adopting our part of the city. This means walking the streets, cleaning up trash, giving to those in need and bringing hope to those who feel they have none. This means giving a face to Jesus in the city. This means having every person within our area of authority knowing us by name and face as people who love them and are wholly sold out for them. This means knowing everything that happens in our city and being ready to respond in love at any moment. Just two days ago, less than two blocks from our church, a woman told her boyfriend she wanted him to move out. He went berserk and destroyed everything she owned, her bed, furniture, television and computer, and even went so far as to pour bleach all over her clothing. We should have been there that evening offering love to her and help to her in any way, giving her some gift cards for food and Wal-Mart to make things easier as she gets back on her feet. Jesus is love and we are called to be Him to the city. Let’s do it!
Let us in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit refocus our entire lives to be about sharing Purpose, Power and Love to everyone around us, but specifically those in our city. Let’s do it!
As I write this, I am shaking uncontrollably. These are exciting times and we are called to do greater works than even Jesus! This is our time and this is our moment! Let’s do it! Jesus is here and is ready to bless us once we step out. I feel it all over me! Do you?
PRAISE JESUS FOR ALL THAT HE IS DOING!!!!!!!!
So what does this vision of Purpose, Power and Love look like?
With purpose, I am speaking of identity. We need to show the people of Allentown their true identities. All they hear are lies, all day long every day. As far as I can tell, there is nobody in the city heralding who they really are! They turn on the radio and hear that they are lazy. The Democrats tell them they are helpless and the Republicans tell them that they are not willing to help themselves. The majority of the church condemns them as murderers (specifically with the issue of abortion), thieves, racists, fornicators and otherwise perverse. And in the midst of all this, they hear demonic lies whispered in their ears that they are worthless, their lives are hopeless, and the only way to better their lives is to take part in things that will only damage them more and leave them burdened with guilt, shame and condemnation.
But that is not their identity! When Jesus died, He died for ALL! That means that they have been forgiven! Their value comes from their being children of God, special, unique creations made to glorify God by living lives of fulfillment and satisfaction in Him. Their worth was shown by Jesus’ giving of His own life to free them from all guilt, shame and condemnation! This is incredible, world-changing truth and yet there are very few if any who are truly preaching it! We need to make showing people their identity and purpose primary in our vision for the city.
By power, I speak of unleashing the power of God into the city through prayer. We have not because we ask not. This means that we need to devote our lives to passionate prayer for our city. This means taking spiritual authority over an area where the devil thinks that He has dominion, and proclaiming that the strong man has been bound and we are by the power of the Spirit and in the name of Jesus plundering his house! This means praying for our streets, our homes, our people suffering physically, emotionally and spiritually. Prayer unleashes the power of Jesus!
By love, I speak of a life of service. This of course is in conjunction with our ministry of prayer. This means adopting our part of the city. This means walking the streets, cleaning up trash, giving to those in need and bringing hope to those who feel they have none. This means giving a face to Jesus in the city. This means having every person within our area of authority knowing us by name and face as people who love them and are wholly sold out for them. This means knowing everything that happens in our city and being ready to respond in love at any moment. Just two days ago, less than two blocks from our church, a woman told her boyfriend she wanted him to move out. He went berserk and destroyed everything she owned, her bed, furniture, television and computer, and even went so far as to pour bleach all over her clothing. We should have been there that evening offering love to her and help to her in any way, giving her some gift cards for food and Wal-Mart to make things easier as she gets back on her feet. Jesus is love and we are called to be Him to the city. Let’s do it!
Let us in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit refocus our entire lives to be about sharing Purpose, Power and Love to everyone around us, but specifically those in our city. Let’s do it!
As I write this, I am shaking uncontrollably. These are exciting times and we are called to do greater works than even Jesus! This is our time and this is our moment! Let’s do it! Jesus is here and is ready to bless us once we step out. I feel it all over me! Do you?
PRAISE JESUS FOR ALL THAT HE IS DOING!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wrapped In The Arms Of God
I spent the majority of last night wrapped in the arms of Father God. It might be the most incredible spiritual experience of my life. Before bed, Hannah and I had the most wonderful talk of spiritual things and forgiveness and of the reality we are living in as children of the King. Then she went to bed and I read some from a wonderful little book by Benny Hinn called Good Morning, Holy Spirit! I fell asleep as I read but then woke up later and went to our bed. I normally spend a significant amount of time praying as I lay in bed at night, but last night I was just too tired and fell immediately back to sleep.
What happened next blows my mind. In fact, just recalling it brings butterflies to my belly :-). I have a very vague memory of exactly what happened, but the emotions and feelings I felt are as clear as day. I was asleep, but I knew I was in my bed. I felt as if I was being held by Daddy God like a small child. It was warm and his arms and chest were soft. I never saw Him, but I knew where I was. I spoke to Him words of love which I can't remember now, and even thought I did not hear audible words from Him, everything He needed to communicate came to me in feelings. I felt the most incredible love, the most incredible safety I have ever felt. I was a child once again, in the arms of my Daddy.
This experience lasted for most of the night, until I believe AJ woke up and needed her covers fixed. I helped her and went back to bed. As if he wanted to try in a last-ditch effort to mess up what was an incredible night, the devil invaded my final two dreams before morning. Both were disturbing dreams of our precious PJ being kidnapped by evil people.
But he could not ruin the night. I woke refreshed and full of the love of God. Nothing can take that from me. I love that He took the time to give me that experience to remind me of his incredible, mind-blowing fatherly love for me. I really needed that.
Thank You!
What happened next blows my mind. In fact, just recalling it brings butterflies to my belly :-). I have a very vague memory of exactly what happened, but the emotions and feelings I felt are as clear as day. I was asleep, but I knew I was in my bed. I felt as if I was being held by Daddy God like a small child. It was warm and his arms and chest were soft. I never saw Him, but I knew where I was. I spoke to Him words of love which I can't remember now, and even thought I did not hear audible words from Him, everything He needed to communicate came to me in feelings. I felt the most incredible love, the most incredible safety I have ever felt. I was a child once again, in the arms of my Daddy.
This experience lasted for most of the night, until I believe AJ woke up and needed her covers fixed. I helped her and went back to bed. As if he wanted to try in a last-ditch effort to mess up what was an incredible night, the devil invaded my final two dreams before morning. Both were disturbing dreams of our precious PJ being kidnapped by evil people.
But he could not ruin the night. I woke refreshed and full of the love of God. Nothing can take that from me. I love that He took the time to give me that experience to remind me of his incredible, mind-blowing fatherly love for me. I really needed that.
Thank You!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
We're Christians too!
I heard a knock at our door yesterday, and opened it to find a nice Jehavah's Witness woman outside. She smiled, handed me an invite to a local event and said that they enjoy reading the Bible and praying. I excitedly told her I enjoy those things too and asked if there was anything in her life that I could pray for her about. She responded quite guardedly, "No, we pray for ourselves." I said, "Ok, I just..." Then she then threw her arms in the air and said, "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!" So I politely said, "Well you be blessed in Jesus' name."
Today I was surprised to find another at our door. It was a man and his young son. He was following up after the weird encounter yesterday. Apparently he knows how to deal with people better than she did. He seemed to be expecting some sort of confrontation.
Instead, I said the exact same things to him that I had said to her yesterday. He politely responded that He is doing well and does not need any special prayer. Then he said, "We believe prayer is great. Just like Jesus said." He opened his Bible to Jesus' model prayer for his followers. I joked how funny it is that we call it the "Lord's prayer" when He was giving it as a model for them. The Lord's prayer would technically be in John 17. He chuckled and said, "Yeah, what's with that!" He then said, "We're Christians too, you know."
I had never said anything negative to him, but he felt he had to say that. I then closed my eyes and prayed out loud for him and his son, asking that Jesus would bless them and give them a brand-new revelation of his love. Then the man pointed out again that he was a Christian too.
We smiled, shook hands and I went back inside. I continue to pray that Jesus will really rock him, his son and that woman from yesterday. I was not looking for a fight, I just wanted to love on them. Love never fails.
Today I was surprised to find another at our door. It was a man and his young son. He was following up after the weird encounter yesterday. Apparently he knows how to deal with people better than she did. He seemed to be expecting some sort of confrontation.
Instead, I said the exact same things to him that I had said to her yesterday. He politely responded that He is doing well and does not need any special prayer. Then he said, "We believe prayer is great. Just like Jesus said." He opened his Bible to Jesus' model prayer for his followers. I joked how funny it is that we call it the "Lord's prayer" when He was giving it as a model for them. The Lord's prayer would technically be in John 17. He chuckled and said, "Yeah, what's with that!" He then said, "We're Christians too, you know."
I had never said anything negative to him, but he felt he had to say that. I then closed my eyes and prayed out loud for him and his son, asking that Jesus would bless them and give them a brand-new revelation of his love. Then the man pointed out again that he was a Christian too.
We smiled, shook hands and I went back inside. I continue to pray that Jesus will really rock him, his son and that woman from yesterday. I was not looking for a fight, I just wanted to love on them. Love never fails.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
"Take My Life and Let It Be"
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
(Words by Frances R. Havergal, February 1874)
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
(Words by Frances R. Havergal, February 1874)
"Intimacy With God" Class 2 Notes
The three realms of prayer are:
Asking - Where we make requests and ask forgiveness from the Lord.
Seeking - This is where we are no longer giving Him our needs, but are instead seeking His fellowship. This is initiated by God and is the "waiting" portion of prayer.
Knocking - This is when we arrive at his home and enter into heart-to-heart communion with Him.
This is where we experience the promise of Isaiah 40.31:
"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
This is where we enter into the "secret place" of Psalm 91, where we enter into the fullness of intimacy with God and are completely safe and protected.
Not many make it to this stage of fellowship with God, but stay at the asking stage.
God works from the inside out. When He gave Moses the plans to build the tabernacle, He instructed Him to build the Ark of the Covenant first. Outward transformation starts from inward communion with God.
God desires our fellowship, the fellowship of human hearts. Unlike the angels, He made us for fellowship.
If we live where our needs are, we will be defeated. But if we go beyond our needs and experience fellowship with God almighty, our needs vanish and our hearts become knit together with his. This is where communion begins.
Rushing in and out of God's presence insults his glory.
If you are repeatedly repenting of the same sins, you are not living in freedom and are not in fellowship with the Lord.
It takes time and persistence.
Angels live in God's presence. If we want the help of angels, we need to enter into God's presence. We don't see and experience angels because we don't live in his presence.
Psalm 103:20 tells us that angels "excel in strength" and hearken to the word of God spoken. And who speaks it? We do. Peter's release from prison was an example of this, as angels responded to passionate, persistent prayer on his behalf.
We need to bask in his presence.
Healing takes place in his presence. If He is not there, healing will not happen. But sickness dies in the presence of Jesus.
The deeper the worship, the quieter the soul. When you get that close, anything can happen. You can ask for anything and it will happen.
We can experience Jesus' presence as real as Peter, James and John when He was on the earth.
When in fellowship, when in intimacy beyond words, the words that we pray are not of the flesh. In this place, the words we pray will surprise us.
The intimacy we have with our human spouse is only a shadow of the intimacy we will have with God.
Many people experience the soulish realm and call it spiritual. Our emotions are soulish because they are all about feelings. But if a person is just experiencing feelings and emotions, once they leave the atmosphere of that moment, they are just as empty as they were before.
When you experience the spiritual, you take it with you. You don't leave empty.
You can only "pray without ceasing" in the spiritual realm.
In the ‘Third Realm’, where the voice of God is now clear; your words actually become offensive because it is here where silence rules. In that realm tears become your language and the Holy Spirit is in full control.
God will not allow us experience this realm if we are distracted. When we let go of the things that come to take our attention away; then what will happen will be so intense, so powerful it will absolutely impact your life.
Even entering this realm just one single time is enough to change your life.
Asking - Where we make requests and ask forgiveness from the Lord.
Seeking - This is where we are no longer giving Him our needs, but are instead seeking His fellowship. This is initiated by God and is the "waiting" portion of prayer.
Knocking - This is when we arrive at his home and enter into heart-to-heart communion with Him.
This is where we experience the promise of Isaiah 40.31:
"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
This is where we enter into the "secret place" of Psalm 91, where we enter into the fullness of intimacy with God and are completely safe and protected.
Not many make it to this stage of fellowship with God, but stay at the asking stage.
God works from the inside out. When He gave Moses the plans to build the tabernacle, He instructed Him to build the Ark of the Covenant first. Outward transformation starts from inward communion with God.
God desires our fellowship, the fellowship of human hearts. Unlike the angels, He made us for fellowship.
If we live where our needs are, we will be defeated. But if we go beyond our needs and experience fellowship with God almighty, our needs vanish and our hearts become knit together with his. This is where communion begins.
Rushing in and out of God's presence insults his glory.
If you are repeatedly repenting of the same sins, you are not living in freedom and are not in fellowship with the Lord.
It takes time and persistence.
Angels live in God's presence. If we want the help of angels, we need to enter into God's presence. We don't see and experience angels because we don't live in his presence.
Psalm 103:20 tells us that angels "excel in strength" and hearken to the word of God spoken. And who speaks it? We do. Peter's release from prison was an example of this, as angels responded to passionate, persistent prayer on his behalf.
We need to bask in his presence.
Healing takes place in his presence. If He is not there, healing will not happen. But sickness dies in the presence of Jesus.
The deeper the worship, the quieter the soul. When you get that close, anything can happen. You can ask for anything and it will happen.
We can experience Jesus' presence as real as Peter, James and John when He was on the earth.
When in fellowship, when in intimacy beyond words, the words that we pray are not of the flesh. In this place, the words we pray will surprise us.
The intimacy we have with our human spouse is only a shadow of the intimacy we will have with God.
Many people experience the soulish realm and call it spiritual. Our emotions are soulish because they are all about feelings. But if a person is just experiencing feelings and emotions, once they leave the atmosphere of that moment, they are just as empty as they were before.
When you experience the spiritual, you take it with you. You don't leave empty.
You can only "pray without ceasing" in the spiritual realm.
In the ‘Third Realm’, where the voice of God is now clear; your words actually become offensive because it is here where silence rules. In that realm tears become your language and the Holy Spirit is in full control.
God will not allow us experience this realm if we are distracted. When we let go of the things that come to take our attention away; then what will happen will be so intense, so powerful it will absolutely impact your life.
Even entering this realm just one single time is enough to change your life.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Identity, Pt. 3
I was writing the message on a door-hanger to advertise our new children's program at Christ Fellowship Church today and mentioned that we teach the children their "worth and value." The phrase "worth and value" is common, but I could not actually define the difference between the two words. So I looked them up! The words are certainly related, but have very distinct meanings.
Value is inherent to the product, meaning value is built into it. All items have a certain value often based on who made them and what products were used to make them. A product's worth is often used as a measure of its value, but the words are not interchangeable. Worth is the highest price a person is willing to pay for a product.
So an item's value comes from its origin and its worth comes from what one is willing to pay for it.
We all have both worth and value. Our value come from the fact that we are each unique, special creatures made by God. We are his children and He loves us because of it. So what then is our worth? What is the price one is willing to pay for us? Our worth to God was settled when Jesus died on the cross. We are worth the death of God.
There are no creatures or other creations with as much worth and value as God has given us. If we learn to look at each other and honor our worth and value, we treat each other as God wants us to. It's a matter of perception. I know my own worth and value, so I know yours too. No person has more worth or value than another. If we see each other in this way, loving our neighbors and enemies will no longer be a religious struggle but will be a natural reaction to who they are.
My worth and value was settled by God, and so was yours. Let's honor that together.
Value is inherent to the product, meaning value is built into it. All items have a certain value often based on who made them and what products were used to make them. A product's worth is often used as a measure of its value, but the words are not interchangeable. Worth is the highest price a person is willing to pay for a product.
So an item's value comes from its origin and its worth comes from what one is willing to pay for it.
We all have both worth and value. Our value come from the fact that we are each unique, special creatures made by God. We are his children and He loves us because of it. So what then is our worth? What is the price one is willing to pay for us? Our worth to God was settled when Jesus died on the cross. We are worth the death of God.
There are no creatures or other creations with as much worth and value as God has given us. If we learn to look at each other and honor our worth and value, we treat each other as God wants us to. It's a matter of perception. I know my own worth and value, so I know yours too. No person has more worth or value than another. If we see each other in this way, loving our neighbors and enemies will no longer be a religious struggle but will be a natural reaction to who they are.
My worth and value was settled by God, and so was yours. Let's honor that together.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Identity, Pt. 2
"You can't work hard enough to 'be holy' or to become holy. Holy is a by-product of receiving and agreeing with our 'complete' status in Christ--holy being a 'condition' not an activity." -Scott Schang, The Rhema Code.
How often do we spend our energy trying to make ourselves into what we already are? Can we add to what Christ has already done on our behalf? Did his sacrifice fall short of redeeming us, leaving us with the responsibility to finish what he was obviously unable to accomplish? Do we really have such a low regard for his death and resurrection?
I, for one, want to live every moment of every day out of the reality He purchased for me. And if I do stumble, I know it was a case of my living a false reality, not a matter of me being incomplete.
I am reminded of Abraham and Isaac. A sacrifice needed to be made, but before Abraham could sacrifice Isaac, God stopped him and provided a ram for the sacrifice. So Isaac climbed down off the altar and Abraham sacrificed the ram. But how disturbingly wrong would it have been for Isaac (having already been saved from the sacrifice) if he had then jumped into the fire with the ram which had been given in his place! My point is this, what good is a substitutionary sacrifice if we feel we need to jump into the flames with it?
Jesus was our substitutionary lamb, and He took all judgment and condemnation upon Himself on the cross. We have no right to subject ourselves to the fires of self-judgment and condemnation.
When Jesus said, "It is finished" He was telling the truth.
So are we going to live out of his finished work? Or are we going to live a false reality, trying to make ourselves into what we are already are?
I know who I am. I am his. And I am going to live out of the reality of his finished work.
A Testimony of Jesus' Love
Riley Joy came to me this morning and her belly was hurting (she ate too much or something). She asked me to give her something for it. We are out of papaya enzyme, so I gave her what we always do have :-). I excitedly told her, "Jesus is going to heal your belly, come here and we'll pray." I put one hand on her shoulder and the other on her belly and prayed, "Thank-You Jesus for Riley Joy's perfect belly and perfect digestive system. Belly be perfect in Jesus' name, no more pain and no more discomfort. Digestive system be perfect in Jesus' name, no more pain or discomfort. Thank-You Jesus." As I started to say "Thank-You" Riley Joy had a small burst of giggles and grew a big smile. She told me her belly did not hurt any more and bounced off to play.
That seriously rocks my world. It it one thing to tell her over and over every day that Jesus loves her, but it's another for her to feel His love in a tangible way like that.
Miracles have become common in our household, but that was the first time Jesus has healed Riley Joy on the spot. I pray for Hannah and myself most often and we currently see nearly 100% of headaches, stomach pain and even mild back pain leave instantly. Amity had her first bellyache healed a few days ago before bed.
This just gets neater and neater. Bill Johnson has said, "If you can't praise Jesus for a headache gone away, He won't trust you with an empty wheelchair." I have not yet experienced an empty wheelchair, but I am praising Jesus constantly every day for His wonderful love displayed in our home. I have been praying for healing in our family (an in public) since 2010 and it is only within the last couple months that we have begun seeing instant results. Outside of our family I have seen a co-worker healed of a headache and minor neck-ache. I look forward to seeing much, much more.
Isn't Jesus' love incredible! Praise Jesus!!!
That seriously rocks my world. It it one thing to tell her over and over every day that Jesus loves her, but it's another for her to feel His love in a tangible way like that.
Miracles have become common in our household, but that was the first time Jesus has healed Riley Joy on the spot. I pray for Hannah and myself most often and we currently see nearly 100% of headaches, stomach pain and even mild back pain leave instantly. Amity had her first bellyache healed a few days ago before bed.
This just gets neater and neater. Bill Johnson has said, "If you can't praise Jesus for a headache gone away, He won't trust you with an empty wheelchair." I have not yet experienced an empty wheelchair, but I am praising Jesus constantly every day for His wonderful love displayed in our home. I have been praying for healing in our family (an in public) since 2010 and it is only within the last couple months that we have begun seeing instant results. Outside of our family I have seen a co-worker healed of a headache and minor neck-ache. I look forward to seeing much, much more.
Isn't Jesus' love incredible! Praise Jesus!!!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Identity
It breaks my heart how few Christians understand their true identity. They live lives at the mercy of their present and past circumstances. Their faith becomes a pain management program.
I want to live in my identity in Christ. I want to be so completely built on the completed work of Christ in me, that I can live without offence. When I am hurt or abused by people around me, I respond with love toward those persecutors because I understand that Jesus' blood was shed for them too. There is no person alive who is not worth the death of God. Jesus did not just die for me, He died for everyone.
And even when people hurt or abuse me (by the world's standards), I leave without scar or bitterness because they truly cannot hurt me. Rather than me being the victim, the reality is that they are the victims, as ecvidenced by their actions toward me. They are victims of false identity, the Satanic lie that we need to spend our livs trying to find in this world the peace, fulfillment and joy that can only be found in Jesus.
I have no right to judge my persecutors because Jesus alraedy took their judgment upon himself up on the cross.
Nobody in this world can hurt me, becuase I live out of the identity Jesus purchased for me on the cross. I am not trying to make my life better, I am already a "new creation" in Him. I am perfect and complete and this world cannot hurt me.
Praise Jesus for what He has done for us!!!
I want to live in my identity in Christ. I want to be so completely built on the completed work of Christ in me, that I can live without offence. When I am hurt or abused by people around me, I respond with love toward those persecutors because I understand that Jesus' blood was shed for them too. There is no person alive who is not worth the death of God. Jesus did not just die for me, He died for everyone.
And even when people hurt or abuse me (by the world's standards), I leave without scar or bitterness because they truly cannot hurt me. Rather than me being the victim, the reality is that they are the victims, as ecvidenced by their actions toward me. They are victims of false identity, the Satanic lie that we need to spend our livs trying to find in this world the peace, fulfillment and joy that can only be found in Jesus.
I have no right to judge my persecutors because Jesus alraedy took their judgment upon himself up on the cross.
Nobody in this world can hurt me, becuase I live out of the identity Jesus purchased for me on the cross. I am not trying to make my life better, I am already a "new creation" in Him. I am perfect and complete and this world cannot hurt me.
Praise Jesus for what He has done for us!!!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Asking, Seeking, Knocking
I began a new course today on the topic of "Intimacy With God." I am happy to say that the opening class was well worth the money I paid for the entire course. I wanted to record some notes here on what I took away from the class because it really blew me away.
Speaking of prayer, Jesus told his followers, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." More than this just being three ways to petition God, it is a pattern for prayer which leads us into deep fellowship with Him. One way to look at this is in terms of Israel's temple. "Asking" is the Court, "Seeking" is the Holy Place, and "Knocking" is the Holy of Holies.
When we pray, we start by asking. The tragedy is that many stop at that. So at the end of our prayer time, we have done nothing but laid out our problems to God. We have not necessarily received anything other than peace, and peace is good, but peace is not fellowship with God. For some people, the asking can take five minutes and for others it could be hours, but we will not grow closer to God or receive directly from Him if we stop there.
When prayer extends beyond asking, it becomes seeking. Having laid out our troubles to God, we then seek Him, to feel Him and his presence, to know him, hear his voice, etc. This is us drawing near to Him and trusting Him to respond by drawing near to us. But if we stop here, we have still not actually met Him in deep communion.
When we diligently seek Him in prayer, He will meet us. This becomes the knocking stage of prayer, where we have arrived at His house and enter in to dine with Him. This is where we hear from Him and receive more than we could ever ask for. This is the wellspring of a life like Jesus. This is the point of prayer, this is fellowship.
The goal of prayer is fellowship with Jesus, but unless we press in through each step, we will not find the fellowship we were made to enjoy. For some this might take hours of prayer to move from asking to seeking to knocking on a daily basis. Fellowship is to be had everyday. This is where diligence and passion come in. If we are passionate about meeting God and diligent to seek Him all the way into fellowship, we will find it is easier and easier to meet Him there. What might have taken hours of diligent prayer might only take ten minutes to one who have been passionately and diligently fellowship with Jesus every day. But if our loves grows cold and we let up from seeking Him daily, it will take longer and be more difficult to reach that deep place of fellowship.
Many ministers begin their ministry out of deep fellowship with God, but then over time lose the fellowship while maintaining the ministry and just going through the motions. Many even are unaware that they have little or no Spirit in what they are doing. But those with discernment will notice that something is missing.
It is our place to draw near to God, to get so close that we understand the "fear of the Lord." Not that we are afraid of Him, but that we get so close to Him that those things in our lives which are not totally surrendered to Him must drop off of us or we must step back from his presence. It is in that deep communion and fellowship that we become the people that God has made us to be.
I have decided to follow You, Jesus, and I will press in daily for that deep fellowship with You. I will let nothing hold me back or distract me from You. There is nothing in life more important than You and I know I will never truly be love to everyone around me unless I receive your love in the secret place. I am yours and You are mine, and I love You, I love You, I love You. Take my heart and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee.
Amen
Speaking of prayer, Jesus told his followers, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." More than this just being three ways to petition God, it is a pattern for prayer which leads us into deep fellowship with Him. One way to look at this is in terms of Israel's temple. "Asking" is the Court, "Seeking" is the Holy Place, and "Knocking" is the Holy of Holies.
When we pray, we start by asking. The tragedy is that many stop at that. So at the end of our prayer time, we have done nothing but laid out our problems to God. We have not necessarily received anything other than peace, and peace is good, but peace is not fellowship with God. For some people, the asking can take five minutes and for others it could be hours, but we will not grow closer to God or receive directly from Him if we stop there.
When prayer extends beyond asking, it becomes seeking. Having laid out our troubles to God, we then seek Him, to feel Him and his presence, to know him, hear his voice, etc. This is us drawing near to Him and trusting Him to respond by drawing near to us. But if we stop here, we have still not actually met Him in deep communion.
When we diligently seek Him in prayer, He will meet us. This becomes the knocking stage of prayer, where we have arrived at His house and enter in to dine with Him. This is where we hear from Him and receive more than we could ever ask for. This is the wellspring of a life like Jesus. This is the point of prayer, this is fellowship.
The goal of prayer is fellowship with Jesus, but unless we press in through each step, we will not find the fellowship we were made to enjoy. For some this might take hours of prayer to move from asking to seeking to knocking on a daily basis. Fellowship is to be had everyday. This is where diligence and passion come in. If we are passionate about meeting God and diligent to seek Him all the way into fellowship, we will find it is easier and easier to meet Him there. What might have taken hours of diligent prayer might only take ten minutes to one who have been passionately and diligently fellowship with Jesus every day. But if our loves grows cold and we let up from seeking Him daily, it will take longer and be more difficult to reach that deep place of fellowship.
Many ministers begin their ministry out of deep fellowship with God, but then over time lose the fellowship while maintaining the ministry and just going through the motions. Many even are unaware that they have little or no Spirit in what they are doing. But those with discernment will notice that something is missing.
It is our place to draw near to God, to get so close that we understand the "fear of the Lord." Not that we are afraid of Him, but that we get so close to Him that those things in our lives which are not totally surrendered to Him must drop off of us or we must step back from his presence. It is in that deep communion and fellowship that we become the people that God has made us to be.
I have decided to follow You, Jesus, and I will press in daily for that deep fellowship with You. I will let nothing hold me back or distract me from You. There is nothing in life more important than You and I know I will never truly be love to everyone around me unless I receive your love in the secret place. I am yours and You are mine, and I love You, I love You, I love You. Take my heart and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee.
Amen
Monday, July 16, 2012
My Joy
My joy comes from Your presence, Jesus,
Increase my joy.
My joy comes from Your peace,
Increase my joy.
My joy comes from Your love,
Increase my joy.
My joy flows out of all You have done,
Increase my joy.
My joy is to know You and be known by You,
Increase my joy!
Increase my joy.
My joy comes from Your peace,
Increase my joy.
My joy comes from Your love,
Increase my joy.
My joy flows out of all You have done,
Increase my joy.
My joy is to know You and be known by You,
Increase my joy!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Homeless Lunch
Lunch time is a fun time for me. I often head out to see who I can show love to. Today I was going to meet an old friend of mine, Jeremy, and hang out at the park. But on my way, I noticed a homeless man walking along 29. I recognized him from a couple years ago, when I gave him some food and prayed for him, but I could not remember his name.
I have been striving to live out what Jesus commanded in Luke 6, "Give to EVERYONE who asks, and from him who takes away your goods, do not even ask for them back." I made a commitment a while back to do just that. It has been a blast. I and my girls know one homeless man around here pretty well named Michael. We have given him prayer along with food and money countless times and now also give him rides when possible (he got very excited when he heard we had air conditioning!). Michael often hangs around Hamilton and Cedar Crest holding up a small cardboard sign which says, "Will work for food."
I also know a man named Claude. He is different from the other homeless guys. He walks along with an easy swagger, as if he is always the most content man on the face of the earth. He does not associate with the others in the homeless community (he says they are always begging and getting in trouble with the law), but is just a contented homeless loner. I most often see him walking along Cedar Crest.
But today when I saw this man again, I knew I had to stop. So I raced to the park and picked up Jeremy and we headed over to Weis and picked up baked beans and water. We found him still walking along 29 near Emmaus. It turns out his name is Cisco. We were able to pray with him and give him the food. Jeremy even gave him some cash. Then we left and he waved to us as we drove away.
There is nothing more fun than helping someone out. The more I learn the scriptures, the more I realize that it is never wrong to love. We feed the hungry, give to those who ask, love and encourage those who need it. That is the redeemed life, and it sure is a blast :-).
I have been striving to live out what Jesus commanded in Luke 6, "Give to EVERYONE who asks, and from him who takes away your goods, do not even ask for them back." I made a commitment a while back to do just that. It has been a blast. I and my girls know one homeless man around here pretty well named Michael. We have given him prayer along with food and money countless times and now also give him rides when possible (he got very excited when he heard we had air conditioning!). Michael often hangs around Hamilton and Cedar Crest holding up a small cardboard sign which says, "Will work for food."
I also know a man named Claude. He is different from the other homeless guys. He walks along with an easy swagger, as if he is always the most content man on the face of the earth. He does not associate with the others in the homeless community (he says they are always begging and getting in trouble with the law), but is just a contented homeless loner. I most often see him walking along Cedar Crest.
But today when I saw this man again, I knew I had to stop. So I raced to the park and picked up Jeremy and we headed over to Weis and picked up baked beans and water. We found him still walking along 29 near Emmaus. It turns out his name is Cisco. We were able to pray with him and give him the food. Jeremy even gave him some cash. Then we left and he waved to us as we drove away.
There is nothing more fun than helping someone out. The more I learn the scriptures, the more I realize that it is never wrong to love. We feed the hungry, give to those who ask, love and encourage those who need it. That is the redeemed life, and it sure is a blast :-).
Saturday, June 9, 2012
That Time of Year
Summer time is here again, and with it comes extra work. During this time of year I work on the weekends for the owner of our company doing things that he and his wife are too busy or unable to do. Today I cleaned part of their roof (it's a reflective metal roof that needs sweeping and scrubbing to be effective) and also gutters. It's fun work. Working during the week in an underground shop often with large amounts of paperwork can become tedious, but it is so refreshing to work outside under the sun. I absolutely love outdoor cleaning. I love taking something dirty and applying time and energy to it and then seeing a dramatic result. It is some of the most refreshing work I can think of. Next week I will clean the rest of the roof (regular shingled roof) and the rest of the gutters. There is quite a bit more they have for me and I'm excited to do it. But now, having finished my work for the day I must rush home to be with the family. I love working, but what I love even more is being with them. I woke up this morning and saw Hannah next to me and could not help but just pray and pray and thank Jesus for her. I love my Hannah Joy and our little family more than words could possibly describe. God has been so very gracious to me. Life is goooooooood.
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Journey
Life really has been such an incredible journey. I love looking back and seeing how Jesus has used my circumstances to guide me more and more into His transforming truth. Seeing how far I have come blows me away, but what gets me even more excited is the thought that if He has done this much so far, I can't imagine what all He has left to do in me over the rest of my life! Life truly is an adventure. But for the moment, I want to take a look back, to trace briefly part of my journey over the last seven or so years.
Many young Christians reach a crisis point around college age as they leave their Christian homes and are faced with the world. I know of many who at least for a time set aside their former beliefs and searched into all sorts of other non-Christian beliefs. Well, I never hit that point. But what I did hit shook me for years.
I began attending Bible college and was inundated with more perspectives on the Christian faith that I could possibly deal with. I generally followed whoever seemed smartest at the moment. But by the time my second semester was over, I was in overload. I left college to get married and though I had been an avid reader, I did not pick up a book or even the Bible for about two years. I went to church and was a "good Christian" but was confused to a huge extent.
It was in December of 2008 when I hit a crisis of conscience regarding my vote in the presidential election that I finally cracked open a book. What was wonderful was that while reading had been so difficult or impossible for the last few years, I was suddenly back where I was before college and started devouring book after book. I was looking for answers to political, economic, philosophical and moral questions, but found so much more.
As I devoured books on history and economics, I found someone within the pages that I had not expected to find--God. As I looked at the universe and studied the interactions of humanity over history, I began to see how everything was connected. Human action, natural laws, physical laws, happiness and contentment and so much more started coming together into the most incredible whole. I realized that the different aspects of life can not be separated from each other. Everything is connected and the whole beautiful web points to Jesus. I still could not bring myself to read the Bible, but began finding Jesus in everything I read. Studying economics became times of worship for me and I was utterly in awe of our omnipotent Creator.
As I grew closer to Jesus, I did begin reading His word again and absolutely fell in love with Him all over again. I was particularly blown away by John 1 and the concept of the Word becoming flesh. I was able to see how looking at flesh, or the physical universe as a whole, you could see the Word clearly displayed. This truth blew me away and drove me to see what else the Word had to say. I dove into the gospels and poured over Jesus' every word, finding that the truth in His words fit perfectly with the truth I had been learning through observing history.
But the more I pondered His words, the more I saw how far we (the church) have strayed from them. This led me to search for those in history who best represented Jesus to the people around them. Those who stood out most clearly to me were the early Anabaptists and the Quakers. They devoted their lives to being like Jesus and paid dearly for it. (Jesus wasn't kidding when He said that persecution would follow His true disciples)
Something surprised me, though, as I studyied these people. It was that even though they had a healthy respect for the scriptures, their lifeblood came from direct revelation with Holy Spirit. This mystical side of Christianity intrigued me and as I studying more into it, I realized that that was exactly the kind of relationship I wanted to have with Jesus.
So that leads me to where I am now. One might call me some sort of neo-Quaker charismatic. I could care less for the labels, but what I know for sure is that I know Jesus, I hear His voice, and I follow Him. That is my belief system in a nutshell.
It has been a wonderful journey so far and I can not wait to see what is next :-).
Many young Christians reach a crisis point around college age as they leave their Christian homes and are faced with the world. I know of many who at least for a time set aside their former beliefs and searched into all sorts of other non-Christian beliefs. Well, I never hit that point. But what I did hit shook me for years.
I began attending Bible college and was inundated with more perspectives on the Christian faith that I could possibly deal with. I generally followed whoever seemed smartest at the moment. But by the time my second semester was over, I was in overload. I left college to get married and though I had been an avid reader, I did not pick up a book or even the Bible for about two years. I went to church and was a "good Christian" but was confused to a huge extent.
It was in December of 2008 when I hit a crisis of conscience regarding my vote in the presidential election that I finally cracked open a book. What was wonderful was that while reading had been so difficult or impossible for the last few years, I was suddenly back where I was before college and started devouring book after book. I was looking for answers to political, economic, philosophical and moral questions, but found so much more.
As I devoured books on history and economics, I found someone within the pages that I had not expected to find--God. As I looked at the universe and studied the interactions of humanity over history, I began to see how everything was connected. Human action, natural laws, physical laws, happiness and contentment and so much more started coming together into the most incredible whole. I realized that the different aspects of life can not be separated from each other. Everything is connected and the whole beautiful web points to Jesus. I still could not bring myself to read the Bible, but began finding Jesus in everything I read. Studying economics became times of worship for me and I was utterly in awe of our omnipotent Creator.
As I grew closer to Jesus, I did begin reading His word again and absolutely fell in love with Him all over again. I was particularly blown away by John 1 and the concept of the Word becoming flesh. I was able to see how looking at flesh, or the physical universe as a whole, you could see the Word clearly displayed. This truth blew me away and drove me to see what else the Word had to say. I dove into the gospels and poured over Jesus' every word, finding that the truth in His words fit perfectly with the truth I had been learning through observing history.
But the more I pondered His words, the more I saw how far we (the church) have strayed from them. This led me to search for those in history who best represented Jesus to the people around them. Those who stood out most clearly to me were the early Anabaptists and the Quakers. They devoted their lives to being like Jesus and paid dearly for it. (Jesus wasn't kidding when He said that persecution would follow His true disciples)
Something surprised me, though, as I studyied these people. It was that even though they had a healthy respect for the scriptures, their lifeblood came from direct revelation with Holy Spirit. This mystical side of Christianity intrigued me and as I studying more into it, I realized that that was exactly the kind of relationship I wanted to have with Jesus.
So that leads me to where I am now. One might call me some sort of neo-Quaker charismatic. I could care less for the labels, but what I know for sure is that I know Jesus, I hear His voice, and I follow Him. That is my belief system in a nutshell.
It has been a wonderful journey so far and I can not wait to see what is next :-).
Monday, June 4, 2012
"Stand Up"
This song has been speaking to me so much recently.
"Stand Up"
By Bob Hartman, Performed by Petra
The Battle cry is getting louder
The countdown's close to the final hour
The enemy is on every side
Still no match for the Crucified
Victory unto victory
We are soldiers in His army
[Chorus]
Stand up, take a stand for Jesus
Stand up, so the whole world sees us
Showing the way to a world gone astray
Shining our light with all of our might
Stand up, take a stand for Jesus
Stand up, so the whole world sees us
Following Him, and serving Him
Fighting the fight that we know we will win
Out of our pews and into the streets
Making some use of our beautiful feet
Redeeming the time for the days are evil
This whole world's in such upheaval
We wrestle not with flesh and blood
But when the enemy comes in like a flood
[Chorus]
Gotta lay our lives down
And stand up for the truth we've found
"Stand Up"
By Bob Hartman, Performed by Petra
The Battle cry is getting louder
The countdown's close to the final hour
The enemy is on every side
Still no match for the Crucified
Victory unto victory
We are soldiers in His army
[Chorus]
Stand up, take a stand for Jesus
Stand up, so the whole world sees us
Showing the way to a world gone astray
Shining our light with all of our might
Stand up, take a stand for Jesus
Stand up, so the whole world sees us
Following Him, and serving Him
Fighting the fight that we know we will win
Out of our pews and into the streets
Making some use of our beautiful feet
Redeeming the time for the days are evil
This whole world's in such upheaval
We wrestle not with flesh and blood
But when the enemy comes in like a flood
[Chorus]
Gotta lay our lives down
And stand up for the truth we've found
Who I Am
I am Ryan Burgett, a mighty man of God. I have been redeemed and renewed by the blood and body of Jesus Christ given for me. I live in Him and through Him as a new creation, a resurrected and perfected super-human by the power of His holy name. I love Him and He loves me. My life is His life, lived on the earth. When people see me, they see Him.
I devour His Word, both day and night. I commune with Him in my spirit constantly. I am righteous and live with a completely pure heart. I do not battle with sin, but fight the enemy who wants only to steal, kill and destroy. In those cases where I do miss the mark and walk outside of love, I repent and fellowship is immediately restored.
I have given my life, my possessions, my family, my time, my energy, all that makes up my present reality to Him. Nothing do I hold as my own, but freely release to my Lord, Savior and lover. My eyes water when I think of Him, when I ponder the depth of His love. I love to spend time with Him and soak in everything He has to say.
I have opened myself up to be completely possessed by He who has always loved me. He fills me, completes me, makes me His own. My joy comes from knowing Him. I shake in His presence, laugh with joy at His touch. Life is an adventure because of Him and I am wholly and completely sold out. In Him do I find joy, rest, sustenance and shelter. I need nothing in this world and want nothing that would hinder our fellowship. His presence is LIFE to me and I am His.
That is who I am now, and that is who I will always be.
All praise and glory and honor be to Jesus my Savior, Lover, Creator, King and Friend!
I devour His Word, both day and night. I commune with Him in my spirit constantly. I am righteous and live with a completely pure heart. I do not battle with sin, but fight the enemy who wants only to steal, kill and destroy. In those cases where I do miss the mark and walk outside of love, I repent and fellowship is immediately restored.
I have given my life, my possessions, my family, my time, my energy, all that makes up my present reality to Him. Nothing do I hold as my own, but freely release to my Lord, Savior and lover. My eyes water when I think of Him, when I ponder the depth of His love. I love to spend time with Him and soak in everything He has to say.
I have opened myself up to be completely possessed by He who has always loved me. He fills me, completes me, makes me His own. My joy comes from knowing Him. I shake in His presence, laugh with joy at His touch. Life is an adventure because of Him and I am wholly and completely sold out. In Him do I find joy, rest, sustenance and shelter. I need nothing in this world and want nothing that would hinder our fellowship. His presence is LIFE to me and I am His.
That is who I am now, and that is who I will always be.
All praise and glory and honor be to Jesus my Savior, Lover, Creator, King and Friend!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Tongues
This is a controversial post, I know. But the reason I write it is not to stir up controversy, but to be honest. I try on this blog to be as honest as possible about what is going on in my life. What is big in my life right now, praise Jesus, is tongues. If anyone reading this is opposed to the thought of praying in tongues, please don't bother reading past here. I am not here to convince anyone of anything, I just want to share my experience.
I have been finding more and more over the last few years that I am a pentecostal outside of the pentecostal community. In fact, most of what I heard growing up about pentecostalism was negative. I had two experiences at more charismatic churches during high school and those just served to strengthen these negative views in my mind. But in the midst of it all, I knew that God can and will do anything to further His glory, including work through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There was once in eighth grade when I briefly decided that things like tongues did not happen anymore, but my dad sat me down and took me to First Corinthians and explained that speaking in tongues (both known and unknown languages) is right in there and though people abuse it sometimes, it still remains a gift available to us.
That night stuck with me. I did not want to be part of what I saw as insanity taking place at the only two pentecostal churches I had ever seen, but at the same time I was interesting in seeing how the gifts actually play out in real life.
Now fast forward to post-college. At this point I was attending a church which left me feeling starved. It felt like a spiritually dry place at that time grasping to be relevant and hip by modern worldly standards. Hannah and I left there, looking for something that better fit the church we read about in the New Testament. We eventually settled on a Calvary Chapel church which found itself the exact center between "charismania" and traditional Bible churches. But even that was not enough. (We ended up leaving there in 2011 and are now part of a Spirit-led Mennonite fellowship)
Following some long talks with my siblings following a conference they attended, I began looking for more. I threw out the old labels and negative connotations and just began searching into the mystical realm of Christianity. That's where I have been for the past two years.
Now fast forward to now. I began online attending Harvest Chapel School of Kingdom Living in September of last year and just finished it this week. Wow. It was about our identity as followers of Jesus and our call to live like He did. This includes doing the things He did.
Flipping back to first Corinthians, let's take a moment to talk about giftings. I have before experienced in at least a small portion the gift of teaching. In times in the past when teaching, I have felt Holy Spirit mightily take over my words and speak truth out of me clearer than I ever could have articulated it by my own power. It was incredible. But other than that, I have not had much conscious experience with the other gifts, particularly the power gifts.
A week ago, Sunday the 20th of May, I felt an incredible impression that this was going to be a week of "breakthrough." I knew it to be Holy Spirit so I began reaching out for what he had for me. I had a feeling that the gift of tongues was going to be at least part of that. On Wednesday the 23rd I started jabbering. None of the other gifts come without reaching out to God, so I was reaching out to Him. I told Him that I was willing to speak in tongues and I was going to jabber until He took control of my tongue... and He did! I took some time to sit in the parking lot of a park nearby, turned up the music loud so I could not hear the sounds I was making, and then started speaking what certainly would have sounded like jibberish. I had reached out half-heartedly before but this time I felt something. It was not like the mind-blowing spirit exploding experiences I had heard of, but it was something. All I knew was that I was literally speaking another language and knew that Holy Spirit was involved. But it did not feel very spiritual.
I kept reaching out and then some more breakthrough came on Friday the 25th. In my car during break time at work I spoke and it flowed and it was incredible! In less than fifteen minutes of praying in tongues I was as fired up as if I had just left an awesome, long worship service. As I walked back into the Shop I was hopping and laughing almost uncontrollably! To my physical body it felt like some sort of incredible high. At that moment I realized that I was actually doing it! Holy Spirit was actually praying tongues through me! It was mind-blowing!
But while that was a neat experience, last night took the cake. I was praying in tongues late at night when I lost control of my lips. I suddenly felt like words (not just sounds) were bursting out of my belly (literally I could feel them in my belly)! The tongues I had spoken earlier had all sounded the same, like a single language. But this time these words started bursting out of me totally apart from my own control and I realized I was switching languages! I do not know if there are many dialects of the spiritual form of tongues (I assume there are) but what I realized was that I was being led into other earthly languages! These were not heavenly languages! For a moment I knew in my spirit that I was speaking some sort of European language, German I think. Then I watched the earth as a globe in my mind turn until I saw Asia and suddenly I was speaking some sort of Asian language! I know the sound of many Asian languages from my short time in Hawaii and I would not be surprised if it was Vietnamese. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!
I could have gone on doing this for hours (and most certainly would have), but Hannah came out and I stopped so I could be with her.
So Holy Spirit was right, last week was a week of breakthrough. Praise Jesus! I now by the Holy Spirit can pray and worship in tongues... And it is INCREDIBLE!!! But I don't see this as an end in itself, I see it as an entrance into more. If Holy Spirit will graciously give me tongues, I know He will give me the others. I am asking and begging for the love and grace to heal people by prayer and the laying on of hands. Jesus said that sign would follow believers, and I believe! I am so beyond excited about what Holy Spirit is doing in me and I don't know if I've ever been more excited about the future than I am now in the midst of all this. Freaking wow. Thank you Spirit!!! Praise Jesus!!!
I have been finding more and more over the last few years that I am a pentecostal outside of the pentecostal community. In fact, most of what I heard growing up about pentecostalism was negative. I had two experiences at more charismatic churches during high school and those just served to strengthen these negative views in my mind. But in the midst of it all, I knew that God can and will do anything to further His glory, including work through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There was once in eighth grade when I briefly decided that things like tongues did not happen anymore, but my dad sat me down and took me to First Corinthians and explained that speaking in tongues (both known and unknown languages) is right in there and though people abuse it sometimes, it still remains a gift available to us.
That night stuck with me. I did not want to be part of what I saw as insanity taking place at the only two pentecostal churches I had ever seen, but at the same time I was interesting in seeing how the gifts actually play out in real life.
Now fast forward to post-college. At this point I was attending a church which left me feeling starved. It felt like a spiritually dry place at that time grasping to be relevant and hip by modern worldly standards. Hannah and I left there, looking for something that better fit the church we read about in the New Testament. We eventually settled on a Calvary Chapel church which found itself the exact center between "charismania" and traditional Bible churches. But even that was not enough. (We ended up leaving there in 2011 and are now part of a Spirit-led Mennonite fellowship)
Following some long talks with my siblings following a conference they attended, I began looking for more. I threw out the old labels and negative connotations and just began searching into the mystical realm of Christianity. That's where I have been for the past two years.
Now fast forward to now. I began online attending Harvest Chapel School of Kingdom Living in September of last year and just finished it this week. Wow. It was about our identity as followers of Jesus and our call to live like He did. This includes doing the things He did.
Flipping back to first Corinthians, let's take a moment to talk about giftings. I have before experienced in at least a small portion the gift of teaching. In times in the past when teaching, I have felt Holy Spirit mightily take over my words and speak truth out of me clearer than I ever could have articulated it by my own power. It was incredible. But other than that, I have not had much conscious experience with the other gifts, particularly the power gifts.
A week ago, Sunday the 20th of May, I felt an incredible impression that this was going to be a week of "breakthrough." I knew it to be Holy Spirit so I began reaching out for what he had for me. I had a feeling that the gift of tongues was going to be at least part of that. On Wednesday the 23rd I started jabbering. None of the other gifts come without reaching out to God, so I was reaching out to Him. I told Him that I was willing to speak in tongues and I was going to jabber until He took control of my tongue... and He did! I took some time to sit in the parking lot of a park nearby, turned up the music loud so I could not hear the sounds I was making, and then started speaking what certainly would have sounded like jibberish. I had reached out half-heartedly before but this time I felt something. It was not like the mind-blowing spirit exploding experiences I had heard of, but it was something. All I knew was that I was literally speaking another language and knew that Holy Spirit was involved. But it did not feel very spiritual.
I kept reaching out and then some more breakthrough came on Friday the 25th. In my car during break time at work I spoke and it flowed and it was incredible! In less than fifteen minutes of praying in tongues I was as fired up as if I had just left an awesome, long worship service. As I walked back into the Shop I was hopping and laughing almost uncontrollably! To my physical body it felt like some sort of incredible high. At that moment I realized that I was actually doing it! Holy Spirit was actually praying tongues through me! It was mind-blowing!
But while that was a neat experience, last night took the cake. I was praying in tongues late at night when I lost control of my lips. I suddenly felt like words (not just sounds) were bursting out of my belly (literally I could feel them in my belly)! The tongues I had spoken earlier had all sounded the same, like a single language. But this time these words started bursting out of me totally apart from my own control and I realized I was switching languages! I do not know if there are many dialects of the spiritual form of tongues (I assume there are) but what I realized was that I was being led into other earthly languages! These were not heavenly languages! For a moment I knew in my spirit that I was speaking some sort of European language, German I think. Then I watched the earth as a globe in my mind turn until I saw Asia and suddenly I was speaking some sort of Asian language! I know the sound of many Asian languages from my short time in Hawaii and I would not be surprised if it was Vietnamese. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!
I could have gone on doing this for hours (and most certainly would have), but Hannah came out and I stopped so I could be with her.
So Holy Spirit was right, last week was a week of breakthrough. Praise Jesus! I now by the Holy Spirit can pray and worship in tongues... And it is INCREDIBLE!!! But I don't see this as an end in itself, I see it as an entrance into more. If Holy Spirit will graciously give me tongues, I know He will give me the others. I am asking and begging for the love and grace to heal people by prayer and the laying on of hands. Jesus said that sign would follow believers, and I believe! I am so beyond excited about what Holy Spirit is doing in me and I don't know if I've ever been more excited about the future than I am now in the midst of all this. Freaking wow. Thank you Spirit!!! Praise Jesus!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Blown Away
I have recently been blown away by life, by the endless possibilities and unimaginable adventure of it. I realized yesterday that I am a free man with no shackles, nothing holding me back! I am a free man with a wife and three children. It is incredible how blessings can be misinterpreted to be chains. Work, responsibilities, wife, very needy children, all together these can sometimes make a person feel stuck. And I have felt stuck for a long time. I don't mean that I have resented my life, but I have felt that I am not free, that I don't actually have the option to dream.
But guess what! I do have the option to dream! I have been blessed with a job, a Christian community, and a wonderful family. Rather than hindering my dreams, these are all assets I have been blessed with to aid in the fulfilling of my calling! This verse from Galatians has been bouncing around in my head today, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Oooooeeeeee!!! Jesus died but then three days later busted out of the grave in victory with all freedom and power and authority... and I have been crucified with him! I have been buried with him and have risen up a new person!
I am Ryan Burgett, follower of Jesus. I live, work and love for His glory and I am free to pursue the dreams He has put in my heart by the power of His holy name. Woohoo! That BLOWS MY MIND! The life of faith is the most exciting life imaginable. I am a blessed man. Praise Jesus!!!
But guess what! I do have the option to dream! I have been blessed with a job, a Christian community, and a wonderful family. Rather than hindering my dreams, these are all assets I have been blessed with to aid in the fulfilling of my calling! This verse from Galatians has been bouncing around in my head today, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Oooooeeeeee!!! Jesus died but then three days later busted out of the grave in victory with all freedom and power and authority... and I have been crucified with him! I have been buried with him and have risen up a new person!
I am Ryan Burgett, follower of Jesus. I live, work and love for His glory and I am free to pursue the dreams He has put in my heart by the power of His holy name. Woohoo! That BLOWS MY MIND! The life of faith is the most exciting life imaginable. I am a blessed man. Praise Jesus!!!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea
After all these years of wanting one, I finally got a tea infuser! I researched the best way to make authentic green and white tea and have put together the following procedure to make the perfect brew. I have not yet made white tea using loose leaves, but I have made green and it was wonderful!Here is my procedure (or recipe?):
1. Bring fresh water to a boil in the kettle.
2. Remove from heat, open spout and leave for 3 minutes.
3. Add tea to infuser (1 tsp for Green or 1 tbsp for White).
4. Place infuser into tea cup.
5. At this point, the water should be between 165 and 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour water over the tea and into the cup.
6. Cover and leave to steep (2 minutes for green or 5-8 minutes for white).
7. Remove infuser and set aside to use again (the same leaves can be used 3-5 times, just add 2 more minutes of steeping time for each additional brew).
8. Enjoy!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Love and Grace
Much has been going on recently at home. Through Hannah's weeks of intense prodromal labor, things have been anything but normal. But now--praise Jesus--Piper Joy Burgett has been born and we can begin moving toward what can only be called the "new normal." We're ready for things to settle down.
The ones who have taken these changes the hardest have been Riley and Amity. Everything with them has just become more difficult, from getting dressed to eating to going to bed. It has not been easy. I have been talking to Jesus a lot recently and they tend to come up often. One of the most common things I have talked to Jesus about and asked for is grace. Grace is traditionally defined as "unmerited favor." In my mind, that has been exactly what I need. I need grace so I can treat them right even when they are acting nuts.
Well tonight I was laying down with the girls, putting them to sleep. I prayed with them as usual and commenced singing and stroking Amity's hair until they fall asleep. The process was taking longer than I wanted and I started to become impatient. In this moment, I turned to Jesus and almost said what I often say, "Jesus, please give me grace for this moment!" But before I could say the words, I heard in my mind, "Is grace really what you need?" That was exactly what I needed to hear.
As I pondered those words, I realized that my request came out of impatience stemming from selfishness. There is nothing wrong with asking for grace, but what I should have been asking for was love. Grace stems from love. If I love someone, I will treat them well regardless of how they treat me. To ask for grace in order to satisfy my own selfishness is absolutely wrong!
I am reminded of our heavenly Father, who loves us with perfect, unconditional love. And the grace and mercy He shows to us flow out of that. That is where my grace should come from. It should flow from the unconditional love that I have in my heart for my precious family. There is no place for selfishness in being a husband or father.
So in the name of Jesus, I repent of impatience and selfishness. I ask now for You to fill me with Your perfect, unconditional love. Let everything I do come from that love. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
The ones who have taken these changes the hardest have been Riley and Amity. Everything with them has just become more difficult, from getting dressed to eating to going to bed. It has not been easy. I have been talking to Jesus a lot recently and they tend to come up often. One of the most common things I have talked to Jesus about and asked for is grace. Grace is traditionally defined as "unmerited favor." In my mind, that has been exactly what I need. I need grace so I can treat them right even when they are acting nuts.
Well tonight I was laying down with the girls, putting them to sleep. I prayed with them as usual and commenced singing and stroking Amity's hair until they fall asleep. The process was taking longer than I wanted and I started to become impatient. In this moment, I turned to Jesus and almost said what I often say, "Jesus, please give me grace for this moment!" But before I could say the words, I heard in my mind, "Is grace really what you need?" That was exactly what I needed to hear.
As I pondered those words, I realized that my request came out of impatience stemming from selfishness. There is nothing wrong with asking for grace, but what I should have been asking for was love. Grace stems from love. If I love someone, I will treat them well regardless of how they treat me. To ask for grace in order to satisfy my own selfishness is absolutely wrong!
I am reminded of our heavenly Father, who loves us with perfect, unconditional love. And the grace and mercy He shows to us flow out of that. That is where my grace should come from. It should flow from the unconditional love that I have in my heart for my precious family. There is no place for selfishness in being a husband or father.
So in the name of Jesus, I repent of impatience and selfishness. I ask now for You to fill me with Your perfect, unconditional love. Let everything I do come from that love. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Loooooong Day
I know I'm not pregnant, so I really have no room to speak, but I just
wanted to say that this has been one of the longest days ever. I have
been fighting a cold and have it nearly defeated, but for some reason
this day has been just plain slow. Last night was very weird, I tossed
and turned most of the night and never got into deep sleep. And when I
did sleep I had very weird dreams. In fact, I met Mitt Romney last
night. He was dressed like a normal person, but was talking in his
normal robotic tone and told me, "You might wonder why I am dressed like
a normal person. Well, it is because I am a normal person just like
you." Thanks for that, Mitt. I still don't believe you. I would much
rather have met Ron Paul in my dream. Now it's back to work. The worst
part about missing work is that paperwork piles up like nothing else
then I am doomed to sometimes multiple days of never leaving my desk
just to get caught up on paperwork. I would much rather prefer to be
putting something together. There's a sense of accomplishment to that,
but no such feeling comes from moving a pile of papers from one side of
my desk to the other. I look forward to leaving in less than an hour.
Maybe the baby will come tonight, but I am really just hoping for a good
night's sleep. Then maybe the baby can come first thing in the morning.
That sounds good to me.
wanted to say that this has been one of the longest days ever. I have
been fighting a cold and have it nearly defeated, but for some reason
this day has been just plain slow. Last night was very weird, I tossed
and turned most of the night and never got into deep sleep. And when I
did sleep I had very weird dreams. In fact, I met Mitt Romney last
night. He was dressed like a normal person, but was talking in his
normal robotic tone and told me, "You might wonder why I am dressed like
a normal person. Well, it is because I am a normal person just like
you." Thanks for that, Mitt. I still don't believe you. I would much
rather have met Ron Paul in my dream. Now it's back to work. The worst
part about missing work is that paperwork piles up like nothing else
then I am doomed to sometimes multiple days of never leaving my desk
just to get caught up on paperwork. I would much rather prefer to be
putting something together. There's a sense of accomplishment to that,
but no such feeling comes from moving a pile of papers from one side of
my desk to the other. I look forward to leaving in less than an hour.
Maybe the baby will come tonight, but I am really just hoping for a good
night's sleep. Then maybe the baby can come first thing in the morning.
That sounds good to me.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Work
We had our annual employee "reviews" today at work. Normally we have done it on an individual basis, but because of the many changes in leadership structure over the last year it was decided that at least for this year we would do group reviews. While we normally leave reviews feeling beat up and discouraged, we all left this year feeling encouraged and excited for the new year. Each department has strengths and weaknesses and our plan is to make the most of our strengths and reverse our weaknesses (or "challenges" as our boss so kindly put it). For the department I am in--Production--there are five action points we need to focus on in the next year. Our company goal for this year is to "work smarter, not harder." In our industry, we are the BEST, hands down. Nobody has products comparable to ours or production quality as high as ours, so that is not the problem. Our challenge is that we now need to find ways to continue with the same high standards of quality while doing it smarter and more efficiently. In order to work smarter this year, we need to:
Work Hard
This is pretty self-explanatory. When given a task, I need to work hard and get it done. I am being paid to work, so that is what I must do.
Work Smart
Working hard only goes so far. Working smart is what makes my work profitable. This involves checking myself throughout every task to make sure I am not wasting movement or time in my accomplishing of it.
Listen First
This is what I have always struggled with the most. When I am given a task, I immediately think of a number of questions which I feel I need to have answered before I start. What I often find is that while I am thinking of the questions, my supervisor is still talking and answers most if not all of them before I even have a chance to speak. Then when I ask my questions he is annoyed that he has to repeat himself. LISTENING COMES FIRST! When I am given a task, I need to listen first and not question until I have thoroughly heard everything my supervisor has to say. I have gotten much better with this over the years, but still need to work on it.
Speak Little
This follows close on the heels of listening first. I need to speak only the minimum in order to be most efficient. Why go into pointless detail or waste time trying to make myself sound smarter when a simple question or answer is all that is needed? This also goes for pointless talk. If the talk does not pertain to the task at hand, it is not worth speaking.
Stay Focused
This involves actively keeping my mind on the task at hand and making sure my surroundings make my work more efficient rather than slowing me down. Sometimes listening to music or in my case, books and sermons, is a detriment to my focus. Most always speaking of non-work matters to co-workers causes me and whoever I am talking with to lose focus or at least have less focus on our work causing mistakes or increased production time. Staying focused is key to profitable, quality work.
Be Flexible
When I began work at Walkers, this was my biggest problem. My mind naturally systematizes and works logically. I see things in absolutes. This does not work well for a company that does 100% custom work. I do a task one way and expect to be able to do it that way next time. But when the next time comes, I get thrown off because it has to be done differently in order to serve its purpose for this particular job. Also, in a small company, everyone wears many hats and everyone depends on everyone else. It is not uncommon to be called away from a task to do some other task that at that moment has now become most important. This is true in any company, but especially to very small companies like ours. I cannot sit down with my one task, lock my mind into it and sit and do it the entire day. I instead need to be flexible enough to easily move from task-to-task as is necessary and be able to change my focus as need be. I have come a very long way in this and think it has now become one of my greatest strengths. I can be simultaneously working at many tasks and not be mentally thrown for a loop when something else come down that I need to do.
So that is me. That is what I have learned already, am learning still, and what I am still working on. I hope that by writing this out and thinking it through I will continue to grow into being the best and most profitable employee in our company.
- Be more production-minded
- Spread the load
- Suck-it-up and get unwanted tasks done ASAP (no more working slow doing a task just because we don't enjoy doing it)
- Focus and avoid distractions
- Keep our work areas clean and uncluttered in order to make it easier to work efficiently. (It's incredible how physical clutter around us can slow us down and clutter up our minds as well!)
Work Hard
This is pretty self-explanatory. When given a task, I need to work hard and get it done. I am being paid to work, so that is what I must do.
Work Smart
Working hard only goes so far. Working smart is what makes my work profitable. This involves checking myself throughout every task to make sure I am not wasting movement or time in my accomplishing of it.
Listen First
This is what I have always struggled with the most. When I am given a task, I immediately think of a number of questions which I feel I need to have answered before I start. What I often find is that while I am thinking of the questions, my supervisor is still talking and answers most if not all of them before I even have a chance to speak. Then when I ask my questions he is annoyed that he has to repeat himself. LISTENING COMES FIRST! When I am given a task, I need to listen first and not question until I have thoroughly heard everything my supervisor has to say. I have gotten much better with this over the years, but still need to work on it.
Speak Little
This follows close on the heels of listening first. I need to speak only the minimum in order to be most efficient. Why go into pointless detail or waste time trying to make myself sound smarter when a simple question or answer is all that is needed? This also goes for pointless talk. If the talk does not pertain to the task at hand, it is not worth speaking.
Stay Focused
This involves actively keeping my mind on the task at hand and making sure my surroundings make my work more efficient rather than slowing me down. Sometimes listening to music or in my case, books and sermons, is a detriment to my focus. Most always speaking of non-work matters to co-workers causes me and whoever I am talking with to lose focus or at least have less focus on our work causing mistakes or increased production time. Staying focused is key to profitable, quality work.
Be Flexible
When I began work at Walkers, this was my biggest problem. My mind naturally systematizes and works logically. I see things in absolutes. This does not work well for a company that does 100% custom work. I do a task one way and expect to be able to do it that way next time. But when the next time comes, I get thrown off because it has to be done differently in order to serve its purpose for this particular job. Also, in a small company, everyone wears many hats and everyone depends on everyone else. It is not uncommon to be called away from a task to do some other task that at that moment has now become most important. This is true in any company, but especially to very small companies like ours. I cannot sit down with my one task, lock my mind into it and sit and do it the entire day. I instead need to be flexible enough to easily move from task-to-task as is necessary and be able to change my focus as need be. I have come a very long way in this and think it has now become one of my greatest strengths. I can be simultaneously working at many tasks and not be mentally thrown for a loop when something else come down that I need to do.
So that is me. That is what I have learned already, am learning still, and what I am still working on. I hope that by writing this out and thinking it through I will continue to grow into being the best and most profitable employee in our company.
Friday, January 6, 2012
"Jesus Wouldn't Use Bad Words!"
This morning I was reminded of a funny experience I had with the young child of a co-worker a couple of months ago. He was talking with me while I was cleaning walls about how much he likes superheroes. I said, "Well do you know that Jesus is even more incredible than those super heroes?" He asked me what I meant. So I said, "Well, do you know what happened when Jesus was in a boat with His disciples during a terrible storm?" He said "No." So I continued, "It was a terrible storm and his disciples were terrified! But Jesus was not afraid and looked up at the sky and said, 'Shut up!' and it did! The storm stopped immediately! Now that's pretty incredible, I have never heard of a real superhero doing that!" I looked down at him and saw his face white as a sheet with the most incredible look of shock. I asked what was wrong and he forcefully told me, "Jesus would not use bad words!" Oops. I agreed with him and explained that Jesus actually said, "Peace, be still" to the storm. I still can't believe I used such bad words.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
What Fires Me Up
I was quite surprised to see that the former PA senator, Rick Santorum, did so well in the Iowa caucuses last night. It shocked me, to be perfectly honest. On Facebook this morning I mentioned how he appears to me to be an angry person and I often refer to him in my mind as the "angry evangelical." What popped into my mind next what the question, "What about you?" The question was less of an accusation and more of a gut check for me. I am an evangelical (though I am significantly opposed to many of the views of the modern "evangelical" movement) and I do have some very strong feelings and do find myself fired up on occasion. So the question is whether I have a right to say in an accusatory way that one person is an "angry evangelical" and I am not. The big difference between me and say, Rick Santorum (or other evangelical conservatives like him), is WHAT and WHO we get fired up about.
I do not get fired up when I see non-Christians that do not act like Jesus. If a person does not follow Jesus, why would I expect them to try and live like him? This is in stark contrast to most of the evangelical church today. They get fired up over "sin" that is "rampant" in this country and in "hollywood" and the "public schools." Then they take that often angry passion to the government where they use violent force force to compel people to look more like Jesus. This manifests itself in laws of prohibition against sexual activities, drugs, bad language, abortion, etc. The question becomes, is this a good thing?
Jesus was a good person and lived a perfect life. He told His followers to be like Him, so that's what we strive by the power of His Spirit to do. But where did He say that we are to use violence to force people to look on the outside like Him even though in reality they don't follow Him? The fact of the matter is that He never said that. Jesus said, "Those who live by the sword die by the sword." Violence gives birth to more violence. What Jesus brought was an alternative to government violence as a means to get people right with God. That was tried by the Israelites in the Old Testament under the Mosaic law and proved to be a miserable failure. By the time Jesus came, the people of Israel were not followers of God, but hypocrites who followed the law on the outside (because of force of violence) even though they were not right with God on the inside where it really counts. What Jesus brought was a better way than force of violence. He brought love and told His followers that they will be known by their "love" not violence.
What fires me up is when people who claim to follow Jesus today, ignore His message and go back to the old way of using violence to make people look right. That is what the vast majority of evangelical conservatives are trying to do today. By doing that, they are misrepresenting Jesus to the whole world. Rather than Jesus being the one who paid the penalty for our wrong so we don't have to, He becomes the policeman ready to hurt you for not doing what is right. THAT IS NOT JESUS.
Jesus showed us what the antidote is to a world drowning in pain and sorrow. The antidote is love, Jesus' love. We don't fight with the weapons of the world, we fight with love. If that's how the church lived, then the world would truly know us for our love. I turned on the Michael Savage show last week and heard a popular evangelical say we need to "wipe [fundamentalist Islamist Palestinians] off the map." It broke my heart. That sounds more like Hitler than Jesus.
The world may use hate against us, but we are called to show only love. It might cost us dearly (in fact, Jesus promised it would), but it is the ONLY way to accurately be Jesus to a lost and dying world.
“Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him... Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” -Jesus (John 13.31-35)
I do not get fired up when I see non-Christians that do not act like Jesus. If a person does not follow Jesus, why would I expect them to try and live like him? This is in stark contrast to most of the evangelical church today. They get fired up over "sin" that is "rampant" in this country and in "hollywood" and the "public schools." Then they take that often angry passion to the government where they use violent force force to compel people to look more like Jesus. This manifests itself in laws of prohibition against sexual activities, drugs, bad language, abortion, etc. The question becomes, is this a good thing?
Jesus was a good person and lived a perfect life. He told His followers to be like Him, so that's what we strive by the power of His Spirit to do. But where did He say that we are to use violence to force people to look on the outside like Him even though in reality they don't follow Him? The fact of the matter is that He never said that. Jesus said, "Those who live by the sword die by the sword." Violence gives birth to more violence. What Jesus brought was an alternative to government violence as a means to get people right with God. That was tried by the Israelites in the Old Testament under the Mosaic law and proved to be a miserable failure. By the time Jesus came, the people of Israel were not followers of God, but hypocrites who followed the law on the outside (because of force of violence) even though they were not right with God on the inside where it really counts. What Jesus brought was a better way than force of violence. He brought love and told His followers that they will be known by their "love" not violence.
What fires me up is when people who claim to follow Jesus today, ignore His message and go back to the old way of using violence to make people look right. That is what the vast majority of evangelical conservatives are trying to do today. By doing that, they are misrepresenting Jesus to the whole world. Rather than Jesus being the one who paid the penalty for our wrong so we don't have to, He becomes the policeman ready to hurt you for not doing what is right. THAT IS NOT JESUS.
Jesus showed us what the antidote is to a world drowning in pain and sorrow. The antidote is love, Jesus' love. We don't fight with the weapons of the world, we fight with love. If that's how the church lived, then the world would truly know us for our love. I turned on the Michael Savage show last week and heard a popular evangelical say we need to "wipe [fundamentalist Islamist Palestinians] off the map." It broke my heart. That sounds more like Hitler than Jesus.
The world may use hate against us, but we are called to show only love. It might cost us dearly (in fact, Jesus promised it would), but it is the ONLY way to accurately be Jesus to a lost and dying world.
“Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him... Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” -Jesus (John 13.31-35)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Frustrating
So Hannah is now thirty-eight weeks along in the pregnancy, we are certainly in the final stretch. I took yesterday off of work in order to spend time with Hannah and give her some really good rest and focus time so she would be in a good place for the last few days or couple weeks. It was a good day. But then came the night...
Amity was a TOTAL mess the whole night through. I can safely say that was the WORST night I can remember. She kept Hannah and me up basically the entire night, and that is no exaggeration. Amity cried and screamed the whole night through, "Mommy! I want Mommy!" So we would snuggle her and she would enjoy it but not go to sleep. Then we would put her down in her bed next to ours and the whole process would start again. It was awful. Normally it is not a problem to get her down when she wakes up during the night and I can do it without issue. But last night was just a mess.
I feel like prayer is the only thing that will be able to break the cloud over last night and this morning.
Help us Jesus!!!
Amity was a TOTAL mess the whole night through. I can safely say that was the WORST night I can remember. She kept Hannah and me up basically the entire night, and that is no exaggeration. Amity cried and screamed the whole night through, "Mommy! I want Mommy!" So we would snuggle her and she would enjoy it but not go to sleep. Then we would put her down in her bed next to ours and the whole process would start again. It was awful. Normally it is not a problem to get her down when she wakes up during the night and I can do it without issue. But last night was just a mess.
I feel like prayer is the only thing that will be able to break the cloud over last night and this morning.
Help us Jesus!!!
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