Oh the Wonder...

"I'm alive because an Eternal God dreamed of me before the world began.  He then formed a plan within Himself to be with me forever."  -- David Sliker

The Secret of Contentment

Content (World English Dictionary definition)
— adj
1.	mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
2.	assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action...
— vb
3.	to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfied
— n
4.	peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction

We all know the declaration of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13, but tonight I am refreshing my memory and asking God to help bring within me an increase in this radical posture of heart...

...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I've been contemplating this "secret" of contentment more intentionally over the past week as I prepare to teach briefly on the "gift and calling of singleness" to the missionaries in training at Bethany College of Missions.  I've taken time to reflect on contentment in general as I realize more and more what a testimony it declares of the goodness of God -- that whatever our circumstances, whether married or single, rich or poor, experiencing great success or obscurity... contentment is not only possible, but ought to be a genuine characteristic of those who have encountered the love of Jesus and are being anchored in it.  I'm not convinced I fully pass the "contentment test" in all areas of my life, but I have my heart set to consistently pray for the Holy Spirit to give me grace to grow in it (and that, my friends, is the real secret!).

I want my life to speak of the reality David proclaimed of God in Psalm 16:11...

You make known to me the path of life;
 in your presence there is fullness of joy;
 at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

But, if I am to be honest, the hardest reflection of the night has been this little excerpt below that I came across online (hard because it exposes to me how much room for improvement I have in cultivating deep gratitude in both my heart and speech)...

Steps to Contentment

1. Allow thyself to complain of nothing, not even of the weather.
2. Never picture thyself under any circumstances in which thou art not.
3. Never compare thine own lot with that of another.
4. Never allow thyself to dwell on the wish that this or that had been, or were, otherwise than it was, or is. God Almighty loves thee better and more wisely than thou dost thyself.
5. Never dwell on the morrow. Remember that it is God's, not thine. The heaviest part of sorrow often is to look forward to it. "The Lord will provide."

—Published in G. F. Maine's "A Book of Daily Readings"

Holy Spirit, give us grace to testify of the goodness of God as You enable us to fully trust You, live out true contentment, and overflow with thanksgiving.

The Return of the King

When the King returns, He'll split the Mount of Olives in two - Zechariah 14:3-5

"Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal..."

Wondering and trembling at the thought...
As Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives to teach His disciples about the end of the age and His return (Mark 13) did He simultaneously feel the gravity of the awesome events foretold in Zechariah that would one day ensue upon this ridge that King David had also walked a thousand years before Jesus had (2 Samuel 15:30)?  Isn't it just like God to weave together dramatic events of desperation, destruction, redemption, and glory... all to unfold in a single location over the span of several millennia?

For thousands of years, devout Jews have hoped for a glorious king, a Messiah, to lead them victoriously to the fulfillment of the promises of God to turn their shame into praise and renown throughout the earth (Zephaniah 3:18-20 & Jeremiah 33).  Over the years, some 70,000 Jews have been buried on this ridge, believing that upon the return of the King foretold in Zechariah 14, those buried here would be among the first to be resurrected.

The next time you find yourself feeling the desire to be fascinated, instead of popping in a movie or picking up a written work of fiction, grab your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your mind and heart to "experience" the scenes that have unfolded on the Mount of Olives, and those that are still yet to come.  Let the Holy Spirit grip your heart with awe as you see how God has woven together so many significant moments in this one place... a nearly two mile long, olive tree dotted ridge which runs north to south just a half mile walk to the east of Jerusalem.

"Venture" to the Mount of Olives for an hour or two and take in the sights, sounds, and emotions of these events that have and will take place there:

• Luke 19:28-40 ~ Jesus' "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem before the crucifixion
• Luke 19:41-44 ~ Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (with elevation 100 feet higher than the city, the Mount of Olives offers a great view of the city and Temple)
• Luke 21:37-38 ~ Jesus lodges here before the Passover
• Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:26-42, & Luke 22:39-46 ~ Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives before His arrest
• Matthew 26:47-56 ~ Jesus' arrest
• Acts 1:6-12 ~ Jesus' ascension into heaven
• Zechariah 14 ~ The coming Day of the Lord

I'd love to actually travel to Israel someday and walk the dusty path leading up the Mount of Olives... to ponder these scenes and tell Jesus that I long for the day when He will return to that very place at the culmination of His amazing age-old story... when He'll come as a zealous warrior and split the mount in two to provide a way of escape for His beloved people in their time of greatest need.  Lord, we're awaiting the return of our victorious King who rescues and saves and will establish everlasting justice!

Comfort for God's People (Isaiah 40:1-5)
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Jesus: The Great Intercessor

Sometimes my prayers feel weak, and I'm tempted to think they go unheard or could be left unanswered.  In times like this my heart gains confidence and hope in knowing that Jesus is before the Father in the heavens... PRAYING FOR ME and for you.  Think of it.  Before the throne of God you have an advocate, a mediator, an intercessor who, as you present your requests to Him, presents them to the Father.  He takes up our cause... and the Father will not deny the prayers of His Son.  Take courage, Jesus is praying for YOU!

Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Luke 22:31,32 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

John 17:20-26 "I [Jesus] do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one... so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory... that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

What Does Love Look Like?

I have come face-to-face with my own selfishness much too often lately.  Seeing it surface pains me, especially in those times when it catches me by surprise (come on, don't tell me your sin doesn't sometimes surprise you!).  And so I have been asking the Lord to send His Spirit to help me grow in selfless love... although I'm aware that I have got a loooooooong way to go, I am encouraged to know that I have a Good Shepherd who knows just how to lead me on this journey and He delights in doing so (praise the Lord!).

The following two Scriptures have been particularly meaningful in this season as I ask the Lord to transform my heart.  We know the first one so well, but the Amplified version of it has given me more to ponder and caused me to say "OUCH!" and "HELP!" over and over again.  The second is a self-proclamation of the beautiful nature of God that is a powerful revelation for us to remember and thank Him for...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (Amplified)  Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].  It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].  Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Exodus 34:5-7a (ESV)  The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin...

Secrets for Abiding

If you've read many of my blog entries, you'll know that I am passionate about learning to pray and to encounter God through studying His Word. It was a pleasure to be given the opportunity a few weeks ago to share some of this passion with the students at Bethany College of Missions in a class I entitled "Secrets for Abiding". Admittedly, I can't take the credit for much of the content as I have been taught by many others over the years -- first-hand, via books, and through online teaching... and by the best teacher of all, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

If you're interested in listening or reading more, you can find my notes and audio by CLICKING HERE.

Here's a sneak peek:

As we have real encounter with the Lord in His Word, the Word can more readily flow out of us from a place of personal, experiential understanding (Eph 3:19) and empower us to grow in love for Him and others (1st & 2nd commandments: Mat 22:37-40; Mk 12:29-31; Lk 10:27). Our first calling as believers is to wholeheartedly love God which is impossible without both cognitive and experiential knowledge of Him. As for other callings; preachers, teachers, prophets, evangelists, intercessors and worshipers can all be more effective in ministry when the “inner-storehouse” is filled with the Word of God, which comes from a lifestyle of abiding (Jn 15:7-11).

The Joy of Listening to God

In my own struggle to learn to pray and listen to the Lord, I've been encouraged by the writings of many others who have been on that journey as well. One such author is Joyce Huggett.
Here are three very practical points from her book The Joy of Listening to God:

Guarantee God a certain time each day [specifically for listening prayer]: five minutes in the morning, perhaps, and five minutes in the evening. Don't set your heights too high. You can always give God more time than you promised initially but if you earmark half an hour and manage only five minutes your listening will be drowned by guilt feelings.

The most unselfish prayer is the prayer you pray when you least feel like it. Then you pray out of love for God, not because it appears to benefit you.

The crucial time is when we are not formally praying at all. True prayer must be integrated into our life. There is something phoney about the person who 'lives' in church but has a very bitter tongue.

Sound of the Final Trumpet

My heart is exhilarated this morning as I study and pray in the Prayer Sanctuary! I woke up this morning remembering that today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Feast of Trumpets, and considered how in my own heart today I wanted to acknowledge longing for the sound of that trumpet and return of the King, Jesus Messiah. The musical prayer watch we're streaming in via the internet (check it out here!) is singing and praying around the New Testament passages of the Second Coming of Jesus Messiah with the sound of the final trumpet and the team even has trumpet accompaniment! My heart can't help but leap with longing for that Day... the reality, glory, and drama of it all will far eclipse that final battle scene in JRR Tolkien's "The Return of the King"... this previous post unfolds the story much more thoroughly than I will here.

I pondered these passages:
Revelation 10:7 - ...in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

And then received this email from some dear friends:

Today, the first day of the Jewish 7^th month, is the Feast of Trumpets (Numbers 29:1/Leviticus 23:24). The word Teruah means “shouting” or “raising a noise”. The sounding of the shofar during this Feast is calling for the Messiah to come. To the Messianic believer the Messiah has already come and we call for His second coming thus fulfilling the Feast of Trumpets. In traditional Judaism, this Feast has also been called Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year) and is considered the Jewish New Year.

It is very significant that according to Torah the shofar is to be sounded on this Feast day. For the sound of the shofar is also meant to stir fear in the heart and to inspire teshuvah (repentance) Amos 3:6 The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of a 10 day period of prayer and repentance which culminates on the fast day of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). These ten days are known as the Days of Awe.

Waiting for the return of our Mashiach Yeshua,

Dennis and Joy

Yes, Jesus Messiah, You alone are the King that I want and I join with many others around the world today in praying that You would come home!

Eyes Like a Flame of Fire

"But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you..." 
Jeremiah 12:3

"Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord" Jeremiah 23:23,24

This morning my heart is thanking the Lord for His love, mercy, and patience toward me. He is a relentless pursuer of my heart and continues to lead me back to the same truths, patiently determined, to help me "get it." Though since my childhood I've been taught the truth that He sees me and knows even my unspoken thoughts, I have often managed to find ways to forget that truth and behave as though I do not believe it. This "forgetting" conveniently comes when I'm tempted to seek my own pleasure and gain apart from God's way. How the words of this hymn ring true in my life: "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love..."

"...The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire..." Revelation 2:18

The first time that I really remember stopping to pray and ask God to reveal the weightiness of Revelation 2:18 was about a year ago as I was leading a group study on the book of Revelation. I was struck by the declarations that Jesus Himself speaks in Revelation 2 and 3 about who He is. I was confronted; forced to wrestle with the implications of His self-disclosures, like: "...I am he who searches mind and heart..." Revelation 2:23. Deep down, I knew that this statement of Jesus was true, and that I had been dull of heart; I had not consistently been living my life as if it were really, REALLY true.

"But he knows the way that I take..." Job 23:10

Now, of course, I'm talking about so much more here than outward appearances. I grew up in the Church; I have had a deep love for Jesus and passion for His Word ever since I can remember. But as I continue to study the Word, I'm seeing that beyond any outward appearances or good behavior, God cares much more about my inner motives from which these things flow. Does my ministry to God and others come from a place of humility and genuine love, desiring for Him alone to be glorified?

"...you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!" Psalm 7:9
"And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit..." Romans 8:27

The motives of my heart and my secret thoughts are seen by God and matter to Him... in fact, He even tests my heart and sets up opportunities for it to be refined, challenged, and strengthened in love and obedience. This testing is His mercy and love toward me, because He and I both know that without this work of His Spirit within me, the tendencies of my heart are toward selfishness, pride, greed, criticism... and yes, the list could go on! Fire, though it can bring pain, has great potential to purify. God has set His eyes on you and me in love, to help us through the journey of being refined and strengthened.

"...I will set my eyes on them for good... and they shall be my people and I will be their God..." Jeremiah 24:6,7
"...I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares the Lord" Jeremiah 29:23

Over the past year, I've often prayed that the Lord would take this truth beyond knowledge in my head and work it into my heart in such a way that it changes the way I think, the way I view reality, God, and others. I can see that God's been answering that prayer as I've been reading the Bible and the words of the passages I've included in this post have seemed to jump off the pages. These revelations of who He is are a gift to us, a gift that is meant to be received and pondered. As we meditate on the truth and ask His Spirit to make it real to us, we can be changed. I want to be changed more into His likeness. Holy Spirit, thank You that You are more than able to sanctify me as You "wash me with the water of the word" (Ephesians 5:26).

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar... and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it all together... Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?" Psalm 139:1-4,7

Photo Journal

It's rare for me to use my blog for personal updates as I ordinarily have it dedicated to reflections from time in prayer and in the Scripture, but technology troubles have led me to use it on this occasion for giving friends and family a pictorial glimpse into recent happenings... enjoy!

In the midst of helping to see the Daniel Institute through its "birthing" stage as a new ministry these past few months, there have been additional happenings in my life...

..Family visit in Boston..In early June I had a wonderful week in Boston visiting my sister Katrina's family. Erik and Kat were wonderful hosts and little "Sophi" brought me much joy and refreshing! AND, she's due to become a big sister just before Christmas!

..Ladies' Study..
I'm half-way through leading a summer-long study with a group of 10 ladies (a few pictured with me below). We're dialoguing and praying through the book of Daniel and weekly having our hearts stirred to go much deeper into knowing and loving the Lord. Their hunger for God is spurring me on, not to mention the life of Daniel!

..Lakeside Fellowship..
My "home group" (five young families I gather with weekly to pray, worship, and study the Word together) have been enjoying the (unpredictable) Minnesota summer weather these past few weekends. With seven little ones under five, we've loved play time and BBQs in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". Though our adventures usually end with tornado warnings and thunderstorms, we haven't been deterred from spending time building stronger friendships and sharing our love for Jesus (and food!).

Photo credits to Kerry Bowman

..China Team Reunion..
My China teammates and I had the joy of reuniting this week after 2.5 years since we'd all been together. I love these two families and marvel at the way God is pursuing each of our hearts as our life journeys unfold. You may have been praying for these friends of mine leading up to and throughout the two years we ministered together in China, so I thought you may want to have the opportunity to take a peek into the Bupp & McQueen families online (click on their names to go to their respective sites).

..Goodbye Childhood Home..

My parents just sold their home of 31+ years on California's Central Coast and have bought a new place on the other side of the country! They'll be moving to Boston in mid-July to be more hands-on grandparents to Sophia and her new sibling on the way. I'll miss having regular visits to beautiful California where many dear friends, extended family, and church family are... but I'm proud to have parents who are so filled with love and faith that they would obey Jesus when He asks them to do something so unlike what they've previously known!

Mom & Dad (Nanna & Papa), summer 2009
with their two granddaughters in their California backyard

Stylin'! Me (the youngest) with my siblings, Katrina & Jeremy,
circa 1981 & 1983 at the house Mom & Dad have just sold in Paso Robles, California

Thank you for sharing in the journey with me!

Joy When Your World Turns Upside-Down

I've been told many times to view prophetic words of encouragement as invitations into prayer rather then as guarantees from God that He will bring about what was prophesied. Perhaps they are an invitation into deeper intimacy with God; into getting to know His heart and into giving time to ask God to bring to pass what has been spoken in the given word of encouragement. If this is true, friends, tell me how you would pray upon receiving a word like the one I'm about to share.

Before I give the explanation that was given with the work of "prophetic art" shown, it's interesting to note that in the past two months three other people have approached me to share very similar words, impressions, or visions they felt the Lord had given to them for me (most of these words were unsolicited and from people uninformed of the details of the things I had personally been laying before God and processing with Him). If ever I doubted, there is no longer any room for me to deny that the Lord truly knows me, sees my heart and circumstances... and cares enough to help prepare my heart for what lies ahead.

Several of the young women I know like to regularly take time to ask the Lord to use them to give words of encouragement from His heart for others. Two weeks ago these ladies got out their art supplies and used their creativity to portray what He brought to mind. Only after the art was completed did the ladies exchange names to discover who their prophetic art piece was for (all of the recipients were to be people that were not present). The one who created the work pictured here chuckled when she saw my name on the paper she'd chosen, confessing that I had come to mind a few times during the exercise, but she had told the Lord she hoped it wasn't for me because my world had already been turned upside-down a few times recently and I probably wouldn't like hearing about more to come.

She sensed that my world was about to be flipped on its head in surprising ways, but that I would be filled with laughter and joy as I followed Jesus in the midst of it all. It was as if the more extreme the intensity of the change, the greater the release of joy.

Friends, I'm not a big fan of frequent change. On the Myers-Briggs personality test I'm an "ISTJ". They claim that I have a "deeply driven desire to promote security and peaceful living," and they are so very right! But God is bigger than personality types and really good at bringing each of us beyond our comfort-zones. He's been doing that repeatedly with me over the past five years and I've learned new things each time the winds of change come along. If this lesson is coming around again, I would love to contend for this prophetic word to be true; that my response would be joy that flows from a heart the trusts that the leadership of my God is perfect and loving.

Another friend recently thought of me when she read a quote from Heidi Baker's book Compelled By Love in the chapter entitled "Blessed are the Meek". "We must all be pliable in the Master's hands. For He wants to turn you upside down in order to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). God is saying, 'Lay down more. Lay down.' So there is only one direction in ministry: Lower still."

Lord, as I seek to say "YES!" to the invitation to go "lower still," I pray that You would continually fill my heart with joy and laughter, confident that You alone are in control and completely trustworthy.

Still Want to be Hungry for God?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

Have you ever looked back on heart-felt, yet "dangerous prayers" you've prayed in the past and realized you had no idea what you were really asking for? Back in December I wrote an entry entitled Hungry for God, in fact, this entire blog is intended to be all about the pursuit of a hungry heart after a loving God. While the path I've walked since writing that entry in December has included many rich times with the Lord, there have also been significant challenges... a mini-crucible, if you will.

In the midst of this season I have been increasingly convinced that the Lord is pursuing my heart infinitely more than I am pursuing His. While praying for me recently, one friend said she felt as if God had a big bullseye on my heart and I just needed to sit still and allow Him to hit the target. In God's wisdom and love toward me He seems to be using some testing to increase my spiritual hunger and dependence upon Him... perhaps right on target in answering my very own prayers.

Reading Bob Sorge's Pain, Perplexity, and Promotion A Prophetic Interpretation of the Book of Job, has helped me gain perspective on how and why God uses the crucible to refine those who are pursuing Him. I've found Sorge's principle true in my own journey: gaining understanding of God's purposes for the trials we face helps us respond with a trusting and open heart toward Him. "If you will cooperate with Me... I am giving you the opportunity to discover what extravagant love is all about."

The following excerpts are what prompted my writing of this post today. I pray that they will encourage you on your own journey of growing in hunger for God.

"Perhaps you've prayed. 'Lord, make me hungry for You,' or perhaps you've asked God to make you desperate for Him. I believe those are good things to ask, but we're rarely prepared for how God answers them.

All of us instinctively collect comforts around ourselves to make our lives as free of stress and pain as possible. That's normal and not necessarily wrong. However, some of us have become so comfortable with the good things of this life that we don't feel a compelling need for God's help and intervention. Often it takes sovereign acts of God to pull out from under us the props that keep us comfortable. We pray, 'Lord make me desperate for You,' but then when He removes our support system, we say, 'That's not what I meant, Lord!'

God knows how to make us desperate for Him. He knows how to place a cry deep within our souls. He puts the cry there with the intention of answering it.

I have defined grace as 'God reaching out to man.' Grace is God taking the necessary initiative to draw man unto Himself. It is grace and grace alone that causes man to raise a desperate cry to God, and then it is grace that empowers man to respond and take hold of God. In other words, our coming into the higher things of God is totally His initiative. All we can do is express our need and cry to Him for help. How He answers that cry is all of grace."

Be Still and Know That He is God

As I read the May 10th entry from Streams in the Desert this week I thought of the life journey of many close friends and even my own journey of late. Perhaps this exhortation from L.B. Cowman can offer us perspective and help us all in asking the Holy Spirit to give insight for how to posture our hearts through the seasons of life.

That reading also prompted me to look back on some other blog entries I have written in seasons of difficulty... if you're in that kind of season, perhaps these might encourage you too: Positive Results of God's Shaking, Coming Up Leaning, and He's Always Been Faithful.

Here's the May 10th Streams in the Desert entry:

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord... Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage. (Psalm 27:13,14)

Do not despair!

Oh, how great the temptation is to despair at times! our soul becomes depressed and disheartened, and our faith staggers under the severe trials and testing that come into our lives, especially during times of bereavement and suffering. We may come to the place where we say, "I cannot bear this any longer. I am close to despair under these circumstances God has allowed. He tells me not to despair, but what am I supposed to do when I am at this point?"

What have you done in the past when you felt weak physically? You could not do anything. You ceased from doing. In your weakness, you leaned on the shoulder of a strong loved one. You leaned completely on someone else and rested, becoming still, and trusting in another's strength.

It is the same when you are tempted to despair under spiritual afflictions. Once you have come close to the point of despair, God's message is not, "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:6), for He knows your strength and courage have run away. Instead, He says sweetly, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Hudson Taylor was so weak and feeble in the last few months of his life that he told a friend, "I am so weak I cannot write. I cannot read my Bible. I cannot even pray. All I can do is lie still in the arms of God as a little child, trusting Him." This wonderful man of God, who had great spiritual power, came to the point of physical suffering and weakness where all he could do was lie still and trust.
 
That is all God asks of you as His dear child. When you become weak through the fierce fires of affliction, do not try to "be strong." Just "be still, and know that He is God." And know that He will sustain you through the fire. 
 
God reserves His best medicine for our times of deepest despair. 

Be strong and take heart. (Psalm 27:14)

 
Be strong, He has not failed you
In all the past,
And will He go and leave you
to sink at last?
No, He said He will hide you
Beneath His wing;
And sweetly there in safety
You then may sing.

His Unending Glory...

Over the past few days I've been frequently praying a prayer that goes something like this: "Lord, help me to worship You simply for WHO You are rather than primarily on the basis of what You do for me." It's been burning in me since the sermon I heard last Sunday while I was visiting Forerunner Christian Fellowship in Kansas City. Stephen Venable preached on the worth of Christ to receive incessant worship for all eternity.

The quote that inspired this prayer in my heart and has kept me wrestling with my own selfishness and lack of revelation of His worth is this: "The Seraphim and the larger angelic host who are enraptured with ministry to Him have never had a single sin forgiven, never an ailment healed, and never a financial need met and yet their testimony is that His unending glory warrants their unending praise."

Venable was referencing Revelation 4:8 "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" and Isaiah 6:1-3 "...I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'"

I don't know about you, but my heart is prone to being fickle... worship and thanksgiving to God often flow more readily when life is going well and I am keenly aware of the benefits God offers. During times when things just don't seem to be going smoothly; when life is hard and the fire of testing feels too hot, I'm usually less likely to offer up prayers of thanksgiving to God. Selfish? In my case, the answer is too often "Yes!" I need a deep revelation within my being of the magnificent greatness, holiness, power, glory, and love of God that I couldn't help but adore Him through every high and low. Help me, Holy Spirit!

Here are links if you're interested in watching, hearing, or reading this sermon from April 25th.

Resurrection Day!

It's Easter morning and I suppose it shouldn't surprise you that I've got the resurrection on my mind. Truth be told, this morning I've been thinking that Easter has just recently become my favorite holiday (and that has nothing to do with chocolate!). I've always believed that Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead, but it's only recently that I have been wrestling through what the Bible says about the earth also being "raised" or restored to original perfection under the leadership of Jesus after His Second Coming... and that has changed a lot in my mind!

If you are like me, you may have often pictured heaven with lots of clouds, streets of gold, perpetual singing... but not really tangible... and honestly, a little boring when you think about being there for millions upon millions of years. But, consider the thought of heaven and earth becoming one and actually being able to work in and enjoy creation as it was always meant to be known, in a body that will never die. I'm not sure about you, but to me, that sounds like something to look forward to! I've recently reflected on much of this more fully in other blog posts, so dig deeper there and into the Word itself if you're raising that "she sounds nuts" eyebrow that I would have raised if I had read this a few years ago.

This Resurrection Sunday I want to leave you with a few Bible passages that ought to fill your heart with joy and hope and blow your mind if you take some time to ponder the implications:

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Philippians 3:20,21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body...

1 Corinthians 15:52 - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

The Hope of Glory

What is the one and only solid hope in which to see our hearts anchored? Joshua Hawkins articulates so well what has been churning in my own heart this past year. Below is an excerpt from a recent blog post of his:

"The restoration of true biblical hope, the hope of glory...

"The western church today is almost completely disconnected from the New Testament idea of “hope”, minimizing it to an emotion to help sustain us before we have power, dominion, influence, or lasting peace and joy in this age. But the New Testament idea of hope is completely anchored in the age to come, in which Jesus will come, establish His kingdom, and abolish death forever. Signs and wonders, healings, joy, and revival are not manifest evidences of Christ's kingdom breaking in to the earth today, but are something much more important - they are heightened, undeniable evidences to the coming day of the Lord where He will establish His messianic kingdom on the earth, give the saints a resurrected body free of imperfections, and deal with sin and death forever.

If we set our hope on “now” so that we believe that our mandate is societal transformation, great revival, or some great influence of the church on the world in this age, will we be found disillusioned and offended at God if those things do not come to pass in the way we think they will? The biblical hope does not disappoint in any way (Romans 5:5), because the resurrection of Christ and the Spirit living in us guarantees the promises of God (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Cor 1:20). God raised Jesus from the dead as the clearest evidence of His identity as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), and this is what provoked the Jews to believe in His return to make all things new (Ephesians 1:9-10). Every time someone is healed or delivered, every time someone shakes or is overwhelmed by God’s presence, and every time our hearts are filled with God’s joy, God is giving us an undeniable, divine witness to His promise, and this is what anchors us in the hope of the restoration of all things. We must not minimize these witnesses, but see them as divine assistance to propel our hearts deeper in the "hope to which He has called us" (Ephesians 1:18)."

Matchless...

"The mystery of the gospel alone is worth exploring forever, yet beyond an exhilarating message of the extravagant love of Christ is the Man Himself, unmatched in glory, splendor, and beauty." - David Sliker

How's This For Drama?... Kingdom of God (part 6)

Under the glow of the moon and stars, Mom and I marveled at the reality of the incarnation of Jesus during a late night chat in the backyard this past Christmas. "I don't think I've ever really thought much about the fact that even today Jesus is still in a human body and will be in that body forever...," Mom said with awe in her voice. I replied, "Doesn't it give you a whole new appreciation for Christmas? Jesus didn't just temporarily humble Himself when He came as a baby that first Christmas, but He took on human flesh forever... Who else has ever loved like that?" Our hearts swelled with more love for Jesus and wonder at the story He is continuing to unfold.

It's pretty amazing that the King of kings took on human flesh forever, died, rose from the dead, then ascended into heaven and remains there today in a resurrected human body, isn't it!?!?? (Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22) What thrills my heart even further is the rest of this story yet to unfold... Jesus has promised that He will return one day in His resurrected body at the sound of the final (7th) trumpet (Revelation 11:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:29-31). When He returns (Jesus in the flesh; a Jewish man), He will remain here, restoring the earth and establishing His rule from His throne in Jerusalem (as God promised David that there would forever be one from his lineage reigning on his throne - 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:2-4; Psalm 132:11,12; Psalm 2:6-8). During this time, every enemy to righteousness and justice will be put under the feet of King Jesus (Acts 2:34-35; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26). How's that for drama?

I'll leave you with scriptures that tell this very real and yet unfolding story better than I can:

Isaiah 9:6,7 - For to us a child is born [Jesus, Messiah], to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Luke 1:30-33 - And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Revelation 10:7 - ...in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets [see Amos 3:7].

Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

Matthew 24:27 - For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Daniel 7:13,14 - "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man [Jesus, Messiah], and he came to the Ancient of Days [the Father] and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

To sum it all up...
Philippians 2:5-11 - ...Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Nothing That Eclipses JOY... Kingdom of God (part 5)

In the New Heavens and New Earth there will be NOTHING that eclipses JOY... those who love Jesus in this age will experience endless joy in that age which will be far better than any great expectation my finite mind could conjure up.

"No death, no suffering. No funeral homes, abortion clinics, or psychiatric wards. No rape, missing children, or drug rehabilitation centers. No bigotry, no muggings or killings. No worry or depression or economic downturns. No wars, no unemployment. No anguish over failure and miscommunication. No con men. No locks... No mourning. No pain. No boredom.

No arthritis, no handicaps, no cancer, no taxes, no bills, no computer crashes, no weeds, no bombs, no drunkenness, no traffic jams and accidents, no septic-tank backups. No mental illness. No unwanted e-mails.

Close friendships but no cliques, laughter but no put-downs. Intimacy, but no temptation to immorality. No hidden agendas, no backroom deals, no betrayals.

Imagine mealtimes full of stories, laughter, and joy, without fear of insensitivity, inappropriate behavior, anger, gossip, lust, jealousy, hurt feelings, or anything that eclipses joy..."
- Randy Alcorn, Heaven

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied [then]. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh [then]. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven...” Luke 6:20-23

Death Swallowed Up In Victory... Kingdom of God (part 4)

Behold! I tell you a mystery... we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ...then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

In a world where death seems so inescapable, it is astounding to ponder the reality that we were never meant to die. With this curse that sin has brought, so much of our life now is oriented around death and the fear of it. Our great hope that will certainly be realized is that Jesus is returning to conquer death forever and redeem our bodies too! I'm beginning to pray for and interpret miraculous healing today as a tiny foretaste of what the power of God will do in THAT DAY -- a sign to anchor hearts in the hope of what is coming when the King returns.

Our coming resurrection is spoken of throughout the Bible. Here are a few passages to whet your appetite:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 tells us to comfort one another with these words : "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus... For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

1 Corinthians 6:14 - And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 - But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father... For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Romans 8:22,23 - For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

We Will See His Face... Kingdom of God (part 3)

"...And they will
see His face..."
Revelation 22:4

"...We will likely wonder if we ever lived before we saw his face!... To look into God's eyes will be to see what we've always longed to see: the [One] who made us and for whom we were made... Seeing God will be like seeing everything else for the first time...."
- Randy Alcorn, Heaven