Heartbeat

Stirred to Stand in the Gap

2011-10-16T13:55:00.000-05:00

Did you know that over 27 million people are enslaved around the world and a child is trafficked every 30 seconds... and did you know that the injustice goes on in our own backyards, not just in foreign lands?

I was moved to tears last week as I attended a screening of the film Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. This exceptionally well made documentary unveils the appalling reality of the global human trafficking crisis. It is time for Christians to gain awareness and commit to pray for Jesus to redeem these broken lives. There is HOPE. That hope is Jesus, the only hope for true and lasting justice. Don't miss this eye-opening film... follow this link to find a free screening near you!

Psalm 9:8-10 "And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will minister justice to the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble. And they who know Your name will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

The Call to Return

2011-10-05T18:15:00.001-05:00

Luke 5:15,16 - But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

The Lord has been calling me once again to return to the place of sitting at His feet; to give Him my focused attention, worship, and a listening ear. In recent weeks priorities had become misaligned for me as the pressure of busyness drew my attention into a multitude of directions. I found that even my scheduled prayer times in the Prayer Sanctuary had become primarily task/agenda driven and void of His life. After a few weeks like this, the Lord graciously got my attention with a chorus I overheard while in a time of *distracted* prayer: “I wanna be like Mary, sitting at Your feet, lavishing my love upon You. I choose that one thing, I give all for love, surrendering everything for You. You are my great reward, You’re who I’m longing for. My beautiful inheritance, Jesus” (Ashley Prior). In the midst of being distracted by "much serving" I remembered what got me excited about prayer in the first place: Jesus is worthy to be sought and adored; He wants to be known and loved. Simple.

The passage above from Luke 5 inspires me to take Jesus' example to heart and be vigilant to take time to genuinely commune with God... no matter how busy the season. In the past two weeks, as I've been more intentional about letting God set the agenda for our time together in the Prayer Sanctuary (i.e. leaving the computer and to do list at home!), He has lovingly met me in fresh ways. He is so kind!

Luke 11:38-42 - Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Longing for More

2011-08-22T20:16:00.000-05:00

This prayer from A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God gripped me when I first read it over 12 years ago and ever since it's been one I've kept coming back to again and again. It speaks powerfully to where I often find myself... longing to be filled with more longing for God. I challenge you to join me in using this prayer as a launching pad into your own conversation with God today... Imagine the amazing outcome of this prayer being answered!

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Wise Vinedresser

2011-07-13T08:39:00.002-05:00

Having grown up surrounded by vineyards on the Central Coast of California, the vineyard illustrations in Scripture usually leave me feeling nostalgic. But a recent read through John 15 on the vine (Jesus), the branches (us), and the vinedresser (the Father) didn't exactly bring warm-fuzzy feelings...

"Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2

Ouch! I can't imagine that any "branch" feels comfortable during the pruning process... change, removal, or death of dreams, ministries, or relationships brings pain. Perhaps without the understanding that this temporary pain is unto more fruitfulness, the pruning process would be unbearable. Several years ago a missionary friend composed the reflection below on the vine and branches. Seeing the love and wisdom of God's ways as the Gardener within my life has helped to protect me from feeling offense toward Him. If you haven't already experienced God's pruning in your life, it is sure to come... so it is my hope that these reflections will encourage us all to trust that He does know what is best for each of us.

The purposes of pruning are several: the health of the plant, structure, and fruit production.

When a vinedresser prunes a vine, he looks at the following: is the branch diseased or healthy? If it is diseased, is it contagious and/or spreading? Is the branch structurally sound; are there any defects or branches interfering with one another? Lastly, the vinedresser wants the branch to produce the best possible fruit. For this to happen, he must remove enough of the branch so that much of the sap goes into fruit production and not into leaves and branches. But he must also not take too much of the branch or it may die.

Initially, the branch starts out as a bud or graft in the outer bark of the vine. The point of germination is in the outer layer of the vine. At this point, the branch is very vulnerable to injury. Its bark is soft and green and easily damaged.

In succeeding years the branch is pruned and the character of the branch changes. With each successive year the diameter of the branch increases and much more sap is able to pass through it. The outer bark becomes brown and rough and more resistant to injury. The join between the branch and the main vine becomes stronger as the main vine adds "wood" and embeds the germination point of the branch into the vine itself.

Over time, the "root" of the branch becomes stronger, both through its "root" being in the vine and through its increase in diameter. The increase in diameter allows an increased amount of sap to flow into the branch which can then support a larger amount of fruit.

The vinedresser always keeps the vine's sap-to-branch ratio high by never letting the branches get very long and by pruning off most, if not all, of each year's fruit-bearing branches. - Robert Baerg

Lord, give us grace by Your Spirit to love and trust Your leadership, that You might be glorified as we abide in You and bear much fruit to give back to You.

His Life in the Wilderness

2011-07-04T19:27:00.004-05:00

Tucked away in a screened-in porch in the woods,

all day long it was as if Jesus took this seat across from me:

And I encountered life in Him in the wilderness.

His refreshing came...

through the summer leaves.

His glory shone...

in the cascading sunlight.

His whisper echoed...

in the rustling wind.

His hope was declared...

through the pockets of blue sky.

His joy resounded...

in the bird songs.

Thank you for spending the day with me, my Dearest Friend!

The Wilderness Fellowship Prayer Cabins

July 2-4, 2011

Powerful Little Trumpets

2011-05-24T09:58:00.001-05:00

"Blow the trumpet in Zion... call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants..." (From Joel 2)

I love seeing little children come to Jesus in prayer, believing that He hears them and confident that He will answer!

Once a month we gather the band and invite people of all ages to come together to pray that God would be known, loved, and obeyed in our region. We call it the "Joel 2 Prayer & Worship Gathering" in the spirit of the call which the Lord gave to the prophet Joel for young and old alike to gather; giving their whole hearts to God while asking for His mercy before the day of His return.

There are few ways I'd rather spend a Friday night! We sing, we dance, we read the Word, and we pray. At our most recent gathering, many of our young ones responded to the invitation to come forward to pray for other children in Minnesota. They prayed for the poor, for unsaved friends, for God to send people to tell children about Him, they prayed that the children of this region would know the love of Jesus and love Him in return. My heart was moved, but most importantly, I believe that God's heart and hand were moved because they asked. These little voices are powerful little trumpets!

A Welcomed Wilderness Experience

2011-04-26T10:31:00.003-05:00

Spiritually Dry? Barren? Uncertain? Lonely?...

When Christians use the term "wilderness" to describe their spiritual state, what do you envision? A spiritual wilderness experience seems to imply an unpleasant time for the testing of one's faith. Let's be honest, no one really desires to go to a spiritual wilderness but if the truth be told, we have a Good Shepherd and He knows best how and where to lead our hearts. If He brings us to the wilderness, we can trust that it is for our good and in the end, we will be better for it (and hopefully grateful)... cue the perfect song, "Beautiful Mercy", in which Laura Hackett explores the Hosea 2:14-16 wilderness:

However, in the future I will allure her;

I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

From there I will give back her vineyards to her,

and turn the “Valley of Trouble” into an “Opportunity for Hope.”

There she will sing as she did when she was young,

when she came up from the land of Egypt.

“At that time,” declares the Lord, “you will call, ‘My husband’;

you will never again call me, ‘My master.’

Hosea 2:14-16 (NET)

This past weekend I was blessed with a different kind of wilderness experience; one that was deeply refreshing for my spirit. I willingly went to this wilderness seeking a quiet place to have a long conversation with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. I drove two hours from my home to The Wilderness Fellowship where I had reserved a little log prayer cabin in the woods for the weekend. Technology free, alone, still, quiet... just Jesus, His Word, the woods, and a few lakes... the ideal setting for me to focus on listening to God. To my readers in Minnesota: I highly recommend these cabins if you feel the need for a time set apart to encounter Jesus!

Here's a portion of what I wrote in the cabin's guest journal:

I was so in need of a simple, quiet, anointed place to allow the Lord to help still my heart and mind so I could hear from Him. I came seeking... to hear His voice; to give Him time to speak to my heart as a Shepherd. He did hear my cry and responded by speaking, comforting, and strengthening me.

This was my first visit to The Wilderness, but I am certain that it will not be my last. Now that I've experienced that I hear Jesus more clearly in this stillness it will be hard to stay away!

Returning to the Twin Cities today on Resurrection Sunday, my heart feels revived and ready for the next leg of the journey with Jesus... a little foretaste of the coming Resurrection!

If you're not yet convinced to reserve your own time at The Wilderness, perhaps my dear friend Angela's blog post on her own experience will help. (You'll notice I borrowed her pictures with permission as I forgot to bring my camera along.)

Resurrection Day Repost

2011-04-22T10:21:00.000-05:00

It's Good Friday and I'm headed off to a little prayer cabin in the woods for the next few days. I'm planning to quiet myself and spend most of the time letting Jesus do the talking... maybe I'll return on Resurrection Sunday with some fresh perspective?

This Sunday millions around the world will remember together the day Jesus conquered death and gave us hope for the Day when all death will be overturned. As I head out, I want to reflect again on the wonder of this very special day that is approaching. So, I'm reposting my Easter Sunday entry from last year - this truth never gets old and bears frequent repeating!

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.

Faithful Unto Death

2011-03-21T06:36:00.003-05:00

...Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Revelation 2:10

I've been wrestling through a look at what a human heart goes through in the midst of suffering and it's left me asking the Lord to strengthen my love and faith. I need the Holy Spirit's help to embrace His leadership even if it were to lead me to walk through tremendous suffering and sacrifice.

I cannot recommend the book "Perpetua" highly enough. To be honest, I’m not one to read novels often, but after a few strong nudges, I gave it a chance. What ensued was a journey for my heart that surprised me and provoked me to deeper hunger for Jesus... I was captivated. Nearly every chapter of this novel has brought me to my knees in prayer before the Lord; asking for His help, for His grace, for the refining of my heart, and for an increase in love for Him. "Perpetua" is based on the true story of a Christian woman who was martyred for her faith around 202 AD. The last several chapters of the book are filled with content from the real-life journals that this courageous young noblewoman wrote while being held in a Roman-ruled Tunisian prison awaiting her trial and execution before a crowd in an arena with wild beasts and all.

For the past several weeks I’ve been facilitating a book club for women to journey through this heart-gripping novel together. I’ve marveled each week as the Lord has helped us to share openly with one another, brought us to tears, and drawn us to Him in prayer. We’ve all been stirred by the way Perpetua lived in constant awareness of the presence of Jesus and learned to cultivate ongoing communication with Him. It was this strong relationship with Jesus that helped Perpetua to remain faithful to Him without fear of persecution or of a martyr’s death.

Lord, grow this kind of inner reality within me...

Grace

2011-02-28T07:24:00.000-06:00

Pure and simple.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works..." Ephesians 2:8,9a

Thank you, Jesus. Lord, may I be ever mindful that it's ALL You.

Hearing His Heartbeat

2011-02-15T20:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight there was a resounding "YES!" within me as I reread these words written in 2002 by my dear friend and mentor, Nita Steiner. I remember feeling a great big "amen" in my heart nine years ago when I first read this... and with every passing year since, I'm more and more certain it's true:

"No matter what the primary focus of God's call and destiny is for their lives, each one must learn to hear His heartbeat and move with Him, and this kind of partnership is only possible through a lifestyle of intimacy with Him.

The missions movement that is emerging today will be fueled by the love and affection of One Who endured the cross for the joy of having a Bride to rule and reign by His side forever. And that which will empower the Bride to endure the suffering necessary to gather in the final harvest from all nations will be her desire for the heavenly Bridegroom. May the grace and power of the Holy Spirit take us into the heart of God and back out to the nations with His fiery love!"

Pray Without Ceasing?

2011-02-10T09:42:00.000-06:00

The Apostle Paul boldly claims that the will of God for us is to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, among other things (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). But what does he really mean and how is such a mandate possible? Today I appreciated the notes on verse 17 from the ESV Study Bible:

"Pray without ceasing suggests a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, and consciousness of being in his presence throughout each day."

The truth is, I am utterly and completely unable to truly live this way no matter how disciplined I try to be. That is, this is impossible apart from the constant help of the Holy Spirit. But then, it seems to me that this is the idea: continual communion with the Lord, empowering from the Spirit, utter and total dependence on God. The more I learn, the more that I experience, the older I become, the more I realize that I am weak, my heart is prone to selfishness, pride, independence from God... I frequently (more than just once daily) need to consciously acknowledge that I need Jesus, that I need the empowering of the Holy Spirit to help me to love, to obey Him, to serve well. Because I know I cannot do any of this without Him, I must humble my heart before God and invite Him to keep me mindful of my need. I invite Him to remind me to pray for His leadership in my thoughts, words, and actions. I invite Him to live this day with me, to lead me in every way. And my heart thrills at the knowledge that He actually wants to live this day with me, by my side, in constant communion.

We Will Be Like Him...Kingdom of God (part 8)

2011-02-02T10:24:00.002-06:00

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus]." - 1 Corinthians 15:49

Few things overwhelm me with wonder like this topic. You and I were created to be fascinated, so take a moment to muse [to gaze meditatively or wonderingly] with me on the ultimate destiny of all lovers of Jesus: the coming resurrection of the body; a physical body within which Christians will dwell in the presence of God forever. Scripture tells us some of what will not be in the resurrection: no more sickness, no deterioration (gray hairs, wrinkles, stiff joints...), no death or pain... But what will be? Could it be that you and I will perpetually appear 33 years old and in pristine physical condition? The ESV Study Bible notes on 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 claim:

"the Christian's resurrection body will be physically attractive beyond anything imaginable... by spiritual body Paul does not mean an immaterial body but a body animated and empowered by the Holy Spirit."

What could it possibly look like to be "raised in glory"?

Daniel 12:2,3 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Will we have the ability to pass through walls, as it seems the resurrected Jesus did when He suddenly appeared among the disciples who were in a locked room?

And what about food? Will we actually need to eat, or just have the privilege of eating simply because it is pleasurable? Revelation 2:7 speaks of overcomers eating from the tree of life in the paradise of God, but will this actually be necessary for their sustenance? And, of course, there is the all-important question that has made for many amusing conversations with the guys who tease me for not appreciating meat: will we eat meat or be vegetarians?

I've often tried to picture the moments in which this will all take place... the sounds, the sights, the emotions, the physical feelings, and the mechanics behind it all. Will God use any of our original physical matter to form these glorified bodies? What will my heart feel the first moments I realize the culmination of the age has been accomplished and a whole new age which will never end has been ushered in... and I've been transformed?

Matthew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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.

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, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

What will it feel like to be completely and utterly without sin (this part really excites me!)? The ESV Study Bible notes on 1 John 3:2 speak of being "intellectually without falsehood or error, physically without weakness or imperfections, and filled continually with the Holy Spirit."

What will it be like to dwell in the presence of God forever?

2 Corinthians 4:14 ...we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

There are endless questions to ponder, most of which will remain unanswered until Jesus returns.

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.

What aspect of the resurrection most thrills your heart? What about the resurrection seems hardest for you to fathom?

1 Corinthians 2:9,10 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

11 Prayers for 2011

2011-01-08T11:54:00.003-06:00

Some biblical prayers I'm asking the Holy Spirit to help me keep coming back to again and again this year:

#1 Lord, help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

Mark 12:30 ...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

#2 Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in Your Word!

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Ephesians 1:17,18 ...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints...

#3 Lord, help me to fully love others with my thoughts, words, and actions.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

#4 Jesus, teach me humility & meekness - that I may please You and be great in Your eyes.

Isaiah 66:2 All these things my hand has made... declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

#5 God, help me to grow in receiving Your amazing love and believe that You delight in me.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Ephesians 3:17-19 ...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

#6 Lord, make Your name to be the praise of ALL the earth, for You are worthy of nothing less!

Psalm 96 ...Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

#7 Holy Spirit, strengthen me to be steadfast (pleasing to You) in difficulty.

Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.

#8 Jesus, help me to grow in trusting Your leadership; loving Your ways in my life and in the earth.

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Luke 7:23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

#9 Help me to be quick to repent and receptive of Your grace to help me obey You.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

Psalm 51:12 ...uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 119:133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

#10 May I be pure in heart, that I may see You.

Psalm 24:3,4 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart...

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

#11 Come, Lord Jesus! Things are not right here on earth without YOU!

Titus 2:13 ...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...

Revelation 22:17;20 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price... He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Oh the Wonder...

2010-12-18T08:52:00.000-06:00

"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

2010-11-28T18:43:00.016-06:00

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
Allow thyself to complain of nothing, not even of the weather.
Never picture thyself under any circumstances in which thou art not.
Never compare thine own lot with that of another.
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.
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

2010-11-17T10:57:00.008-06:00

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

2010-11-01T09:43:00.003-05:00

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?

2010-10-26T19:53:00.004-05:00

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

2010-09-28T16:32:00.004-05:00

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

2010-09-28T11:17:00.005-05:00

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

2010-09-09T11:50:00.005-05:00

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

2010-08-14T10:47:00.003-05:00

"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

2010-07-06T15:37:00.007-05:00

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

2010-06-25T16:31:00.000-05:00

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?

2010-06-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-16T09:05:00.006-05:00

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...

2010-04-27T11:32:00.003-05:00

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!

2010-04-04T08:17:00.001-05:00

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

2010-03-20T10:06:00.008-05:00

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...

2010-03-10T17:45:00.001-06:00

"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)

2010-03-09T11:17:00.003-06:00

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)

2010-02-22T07:46:00.006-06:00

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)

2010-02-16T18:42:00.003-06:00

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)

2010-02-13T17:36:00.007-06:00

"...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

Where Righteousness Dwells... Kingdom of God (part 2)

2010-02-09T13:34:00.003-06:00

But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Will it be like breathing air for the first time?... the purest, most refreshing breath of air imaginable... breathed in by a resurrected, glorified body on the restored earth where righteousness dwells. No more sin, no more curse of death, no more pain, no more sorrow... ahhhhh...

Rather than me unpacking that weighty thought here today, I want to encourage you to dig into the Scriptures yourself and take your time... enough time to actually begin to imagine the glory of it. Most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit to fascinate your heart with the plan of God as He gives to you wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). Revelation 21 is a great place to start!

Longing For a Better Country... Kingdom of God (part 1)

2010-02-05T15:50:00.003-06:00

...They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for He has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11:16

..I still remember it today..
As a child, fear mixed with awe and excitement would come over me nearly every time I saw sunbeams breaking through the sky on a cloudy day. "Is Jesus coming back today?," "Will He be taking me with Him?," I would wonder through my heavily clouded understanding of eternity. Now, years later, much stronger hope, longing, and expectation have begun rising up within me surrounding the subject of eternity and the Kingdom of God.

..Who doesn't long for all wrongs to be made right?..
Every election season, don't we all itch for quality governance in the land; for wise and good leaders to be elected? There is something knit within the fabric of every human heart that longs for all to be well, for everyone to get along, for genuine love to be what naturally flows in interactions between all people. We literally ache for a cure for cancer, for there to be an end to death, suffering, and pain. Could such a reality ever be possible?

I am more convinced than ever that most, if not all, of our hopes in human efforts toward peace, well-being, and love at home and abroad are misplaced. These days my expectation is being anchored in what I believe is the one and only lasting solution. There is hope; this reality we live in today is not the end of the story. Isaiah 42:4 promises God "will not grow faint or be discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for His law."

..Could it be that there is such a King who really will come?..
There's a conviction within my heart that the perfect leader really is coming in the flesh; that Jesus Himself will lovingly rule within a real government over a real domain... a real kingdom... and "His glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea," Habakkuk 2:14. The overarching message of the Bible is that from the beginning of time, the plan and desire of God has been to actually dwell among us, the people He created and loves. I believe it will happen... my prayer is that it will happen soon.

Imagine what you would feel inside at hearing this oracle yourself: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore...'" Revelation 21:3,4

..More to come..
This is a massive topic that's threaded throughout the Scriptures... way too much for one blog post! How will I ever find words to begin to describe the thrill of the thought of having an indestructible body that lives forever on the fully restored earth where God Himself dwells among men? I'll have to unpack these thoughts another day (I suppose for all eternity). Stay tuned for more verses and snippets of revelation as I continue to reflect on the abundance of Scriptures on the subject...

Let Them Love You Together

2010-01-23T21:21:00.009-06:00

..Allen Hood's Prophetic Prayer Over Bethany..
My eyes filled with tears and my heart leapt with expectation yesterday as I prayerfully paced the aisles of Betha ny Church. Our little gathering of intercessors prayed along with the recording of this prophetic prayer that Allen Hood from the International House of Prayer prayed in Bethany Church back in 2005. Lord, as we see Your hand setting the stage to bring these things to pass, we say we long for this in our day!

I'd encourage you to take a few minutes to listen and agree in prayer!

Day of the Lord Church

2010-01-22T11:07:00.009-06:00

..Living with expectation and being made ready..
The Lord is stirring in our midst at Bethany Church and bringing some weighty matters to the forefront. One of the key themes He is highlighting is the call to participate in orienting a people around "The Day of the Lord." We pray that God's grace would help the Church in the Twin Cities be a people who live the moments of our lives as though we could personally see the return of Jesus to the earth. Whether or not He returns in our generation, we desire to live as those who hunger for it in prayer, who proclaim it in evangelism and discipleship, who are gripped by it, and who hunger to bear the characteristics of the fiery holiness and love that Jesus says He is looking for in His Church in Revelation 2 & 3.

I've been struck by how the Lord is bringing passion for this to the hearts of the leaders of Bethany Church. To read more from them on this topic, see these compelling blog entries:

From Matt Hedrick, Senior Pastor

From Dave Willcock, Administrative Pastor

Greater Love for the Word

2010-01-16T07:23:00.003-06:00

Open my eyes,
that I may behold
wondrous things
out of your law.
I am a sojourner
on the earth;
hide not your
commandments
from me!
Psalm 119:18,19

In the midst of encountering the Lord in tangible, experiential ways as I have noted in recent posts, there has been growing hunger within me. It's a longing to REALLY know the Word... to study it, to soak it in, to digest it, to have it become even more a part of who I am; starting within and working outward, transforming what I feel, think, say, and do.

This was my constant personal prayer to God all throughout the day on Wednesday as I ran errands, turning the car into my very own prayer room. Then, that night, faith and encouragement rose in my heart as I watched the IHOP Awakening service and they spent more than an hour in song and fervent prayer asking for this very thing! I stretched out my open hands as I listened, posturing myself to receive from God a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17).

I've realized how easily I can slip into dullness, distraction, and boredom when I set aside time to encounter God in the Word. Somehow in my independence I often forget to simply, humbly ask and believe for the help of the Holy Spirit as I read and ponder the Word that He has given. Jesus' word in John 16:13,14 is a powerful promise: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Lord, light the way!

Gift of Joy

2010-01-15T16:32:00.006-06:00

Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Psalm 126:2,3

..What a birthday gift!..
Last week I celebrated my 31st birthday with some dear friends. We had traveled to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City together to attend a leadership summit for those involved with house of prayer ministries. My friends went out of their way to celebrate my birthday... but it was by far God Himself who gave me the most unexpected and unforgettable gift!

..A little background..
For over two months now the 10 year old International House of Prayer community has been experiencing an unusual outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked by physical and emotional healings, breaking of addictions, nearly 1000 water baptisms, many salvations, the anointing of boldness for evangelism, and the Holy Spirit manifesting within individuals in dramatic ways. Click here to read more or view these awakening services.

..Diving in..
On my birthday, my pastor prayed over me in light of the season I am coming out of. It was a season that closed with some disappointments and unrealized hopes. He prayed: "Grace to open her heart again, not to be guarded, to give herself passionately and fully, not fearful of how her passion and desire might not be realized, but to dive in with You again, Jesus." With that prayer in the back of my mind the next day, at one of these IHOP awakening services, I decided to "go for it!" As soon as the invitation was made for people to come to the front to receive from the Lord I went forward, joining hundreds of others, and set my heart to dive in; to worship the Lord and celebrate His beauty. I asked the Holy Spirit to come and help me worship God with all that is within me... with every cell in my body.

..Overcome with JOY..
I take it that He couldn't resist my request. As I sang and thanked Jesus for His matchless love I began to literally feel joy welling up within me in a way I have never felt before. I was overcome with joy and gladness, my soul rejoicing in the love of God. Soon I could no longer contain the joy and it bubbled out in exuberant laughter, bringing me to my knees and then face to the ground. This uncontainable joy came in waves throughout the evening and then again even more dramatically the next day. Today, one week later, I still feel like there is a reservoir of the joy of the Lord within me that is more tangible than the joy I have had previously in 30 years of knowing Him. I feel empowered to hope again and pursue with passion the dreams God has put in my heart.

A NetBible article on joy has shed some light on the topic for me: "Paul speaks of joy as one of the fruits of the spirit (Gal 5:22) and of "joy in the Holy Spirit" as an essential mark of the kingdom of God (Rom 14:17). This joy is associated with faith (Phil 1:25), hope (Rom 5:2; 12:12), brotherly fellowship and sympathy (Rom 12:15; 2 Cor 7:13; Phil 2:1 f). To rejoice in the Lord is enjoined as a Christian duty (Phil 3:1; 4:4; compare 2:17 f; 1 Thess 5:16). In Christ, the Christian "rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet 1:8), in spite of his temporary afflictions (1 Pet 1:6). Christian joy is no mere gaiety that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it (Acts 5:41; Rom 5:3 f; Jas 1:2,12; 5:11; 1 Pet 4:13; compare Mt 5:11,12).

Joshua Hawkins, keyboard player at IHOP, has several great blog posts with Biblical background on manifestations of the Holy Spirit (in light of these awakening services). One in particular has challenged my thinking and resonated with my recent experience. Here's an excerpt: "Most of our understanding of the order and culture of a church service comes from our current experience. We read the book of Acts and are completely disconnected from the power dimensions that were seen in the early church as normative. The Old Testament accounts of God’s dealings with Israel and New Testament Christianity were never seen without the spiritual, heavenly realm interacting with the earthly, physical realm. This was the norm for them. Early Christianity was known for its spiritual power and its utter foolishness to the human intellect (1 Cor. 1:20-31). But today, we live in a world where Christianity has abased its concept of God and His dealings with men to things that are abstract and detached rather than concrete and experiential.

Our whole spirit, soul, and body were made to experience the presence of God. Christianity was never meant to be a religion of mental ascent and enlightenment, but rather an experience of power and love connected with the truths of God’s person."

..Continuing in joy..
My desire is that all that is within me would bless His holy name. I want to allow the Holy Spirit to come and move within me -- whatever that looks like. I'm "in" whether I respond calmly or like David before the ark of the Lord: "I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes." 2 Samuel 6:21,22

Hungry for God

2009-12-23T17:37:00.001-06:00

..My soul longs for You Lord in a dry and weary land..
As Dad and I prepared dinner together last night we reflected on the state of our hearts and how they regularly seem to need a real, tangible encounter with the living God. Earlier in the evening we heard a Bible teacher remark on how his heart so easily slips into disillusionment and depression unless he has a vision or dream from the Lord at least every six months...

Wow!... think about it... is that true for your own heart? We often try to prop ourselves up with reading truth in the Word and reminding ourselves of the hope we have in the age to come with a resurrected body, living under the reign of Messiah... but without real-time touches from the very present God, the weak human heart easily slips into unbelief. Is He really real and present? Does He really love me? Does the Holy Spirit really dwell on the inside of me? We were made to tangibly experience the living God.

After we prayed a blessing over our meal, Mom, Dad and I asked that God would stir expectancy in our hearts... we asked for dreams and visions from Him. Lord, I want to intentionally pursue the knowledge of You... to encounter You TODAY!

It's good to be in California with Mom and Dad this Christmas and take much time to talk together about our journeys into the heart of God and to pray for deeper hunger for Him.

Voluntary Weakness :: What?!?!

2009-11-21T09:43:00.010-06:00

Nita, pictured here with with me and my dear friends Kerry & Angie

"Prayer is the ONLY means to access grace... divine favor and power..."

- John Harrigan (teacher at IHOP-KC)

I've been blessed this past month to sit under the teaching of two of the most humble and anointed Bible teachers I have ever been privileged to know: Nita Steiner and John Harrigan. They've been teaching me about prayer and how to live my life today for the age to come.

Here's a little nugget that has been "messing with my mind" and beginning to change the way I order my life:
"The hearers of the Sermon on the Mount were people who understood all about a coming Messiah who would destroy wickedness and rule on David’s throne in Jerusalem, restoring the earthly paradise that was in the beginning. They saw in Jesus the signs of the Messiah and were following Him around because they wanted to be in that Messianic kingdom; knowing this, Jesus preaches this sermon, showing them the nature of His kingdom and of those who would be part of it; then He tells them what the lifestyle must be in order to persevere in this age and prepare for the age to come – it’s a lifestyle of watchful prayer and voluntary weakness in the areas of food, time, energy, money, and words. Through the activities of praying, giving, serving, blessing our enemies and fasting food (Matt. 6:1-18), we voluntarily embrace weakness and declare to God that we derive our life and strength from Him alone. Unless these are practiced with a heart motivated by love, they are vain and empty."

How contrary to everything we've grown to know and embrace in this life! We love strength, wealth, pleasure, receiving, free-time... and yet, if we are really honest with ourselves, none of that truly satisfies us in a lasting way, right? I know I was made to be satisfied in God now and for all eternity... God, I pray that You would give me grace to embrace voluntary weakness.

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

He's Always Been Faithful

2009-11-05T09:31:00.001-06:00

Questioning God's faithfulness? I'm sure you can relate...
Recently I've been praying for my own heart; for grace to be given to me to wait on the Lord, for His voice in His time, for the unfolding of His plan in His way. As I've asked God for this grace to wait and trust, I've been asking myself questions: "Do I genuinely expect and believe that God will answer me by giving the grace I am asking for? Do I have faith to believe that He hears and will move? Do I REALLY believe?"

And so I dove into the Word, devouring Hebrews 11 ("The Great Chapter of Faith"); reflecting on the testimonies of the faith of those who have gone before us... and the words jumped off the page: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

And then God answered my request! I'm pretty sure something actually shifted within me as I read that verse and listened over and over again to this Sara Groves song "He's Always Been Faithful" (Listen by clicking this link)

I can't remember a trial or a pain He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can't remember one single regret in serving God only and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

Yes and amen! Lord, cause my belief in Your faithfulness to increase!

Positive Results of God's Shaking

2009-10-29T15:56:00.006-05:00

Have you ever been bumped, tweaked, suffered loss, disappointment, uncertainty... and wondered... "God, what are You doing with my life? Don't You see? Don't You care?"...

A dear friend of mine is a full-time caregiver for her husband of 50 years as he suffers with Alzheimer's. This week, to encourage me in my own journey and time of personal "shaking" she wrote: "I am learning that God is more interested in my growth than my comfort." Oh, that my heart would be unoffended with what God allows in my life for my growth, for my good.

My pastor at Bethany Church, Matt Hedrick, recently reminded me of what he believes are positive results that God desires to accomplish through the shaking He allows in our lives, families, work, ministries:

1. To bring things closer to their foundation
2. To mix together things that are separate
3. To sift out things that don't belong
4. To harvest fruit that is ripe and ready

I am encouraged as I am reminded again to trust God's leadership and I desire to allow Him to bring about the results He is looking for with an unoffended heart. "Come, have Your way, God."

Strangers & Pilgrims on the Earth

2009-09-27T12:37:00.003-05:00

..living for the age to come..
How do I live TODAY for THAT day when Jesus will return? Do the moments and decisions of my days declare that I love Him and desire to stand before Him without shame when He comes? Do I live as a "stranger and pilgrim" in the earth? Do I love this life, this world, more than I long for and live for the one that is to come?

God's been rearranging much in my heart this year. I've been stunned to see how much the Bible speaks of living blameless and holy today, on this earth, in light of our permanent residence being in Jesus' coming kingdom (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 1:6-8; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23; 1 Timothy 6:11-14; Hebrews 12: 28,29; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 2 Peter 3:13-14; Revelation 3:4-5). I'm beginning to believe it really is true that the best this world has to offer, with every last one of it's pleasures, cannot compare to the glory we can know in the age to come.

Hebrews 11:13,16 These [fathers of the faith] all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth... But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

1 Chronicles 29:15 - For we are aliens [sojourners, temporary residents] and pilgrims [transients] before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow...

This has been the overarching theme that has helped to guide my days since 2009 began and I wouldn't trade the fruit that has come within my heart for anything this world has to offer! To hear more, listen to my recent teaching entitled: "Strangers & Pilgrims ..living for the age to come.."

Coming Up Leaning

2009-09-12T21:15:00.006-05:00

Leaning on some dear friends, Kerry, Nita, Angie, & Elizabeth - photo by Susan Shetler

Today's daily reading from Streams in the Desert is particularly significant to me in this season when I feel the need to be in a constant posture of leaning upon God even more consciously than ever.

Here's a brief excerpt from it:

Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?
- Song of Solomon 8:5

"Child of My love, lean hard,
And let Me feel the presence of your care;
I know your burden, child. I shaped it;
Balanced it in Mine Own hand; made no proportion
In its weight to your own strength,
For even as I laid it on, I said,
'I will be near, and while she leans on Me,
This burden will be Mine, not hers;
So will I keep My child within the circling arms
Of My Own love.' Here lay it down, nor fear
To impose it on a shoulder that upholds
The government of worlds. Yet closer come:
You are not near enough. I would embrace your care;
So I might feel My child reclining on My breast.
You love Me, I know. So then do not doubt;
But loving Me, lean hard."
--L.B. Cowman

In Every High and Every Low I Know You're in Control

2009-08-30T16:32:00.004-05:00

On stage (far left) with the BHOP team during this week's
new student orientation for Bethany College of Missions.
I love worshiping the Lord together with this team and these young people!

It's been a week of wonderful highs and challenging lows... at every turn, in my spirit I've heard that whisper from the Lord: "Do you trust me? Do you really believe in Your heart that My leadership is perfect? You can trust Me; I want you to deeply love My leadership even when it hurts."

I went on a long run in the woods this afternoon to take some time to process and seek to get my heart right before Jesus. It was on this run that He reminded me of the gift He has given of having truth sung over my heart for many years, and in joining with others in singing and declaring it in the BHOP prayer room. There's something unique about music that takes words from the head to the heart like nothing else can! Music creates an inner receptivity within me and locks truth in. Then, in times of testing or blessing, highs or lows, these songs come to my lips and remind me of truth... an anchor for my soul. It is a beautiful gift!

As I ran, I said aloud: "Jesus, I do trust Your leadership, even if I don't understand it," and I was immediately reminded of a wonderful song that lifted my heart -- got my eyes fixed on Him rather than the circumstances. I believe it's the kind of song that all of us need cemented in our hearts to remind us to trust and love Him through the highs and lows of life.

"I'll Praise You Now" written by Tim Cone of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

When I'm on the mountain I will bow to honor You
When I'm in the valley I'll arise to worship You
Even when the rain comes and when the sun shines through
You'll have all my devotion, You will have the praise You're due

In every season of the soul
When You give and withhold
In every high and every low
I know You're in control

And I'll praise you now and evermore
Lord Your praise shall be upon my lips as long as I endure
You're always good, of this I'm sure
You're the same, You never change
Lord You are faithful and secure

As long as I have lived You have not forsaken me
When my feet had stumbled I did not fall utterly
When I was surrounded, Lord You came and rescued me
I am Your beloved, Oh how You delight in me

Lord with all my heart, I make melody...
I will always sing to You

I rejoice in Your goodness!
Let my whole being worship You...

Calling Forth "Budding Virtues"

2009-07-05T22:26:00.002-05:00

Death and life are in the power of the tongue... Proverbs 18:21. Words have the power either to destroy or to cause faith to grow. With our speech, we have the opportunity to help people come into maturity and agreement with God’s truth and plan for them.

God has been challenging me to look for the budding virtues (the destiny; the good yet to come) that He sees in others and then to partner with Him in calling them forth through affirmation. I'm beginning to literally think of encouragement as putting courage in the heart of another. I recently taught in BHOP on the importance of praying positive prayers -- speaking life, destiny, and encouragement over the church, regions, groups, and individuals (follow these links for teaching Audio and Notes). This doesn't often come naturally, and so we ask the Holy Spirit to give us insight into what God sees and how He feels. Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works… encouraging one another… Hebrews 10:24,25

To ensure that I press into growing in this, God has opened the door for me to step into a new role as BHOP's Director of Operations. In addition to bringing sharpening to BHOP's structure and daily operations, I will be seeking to help each team member excel in their roles. Jesus most effectively motivates me through the power of cherishing, and so I am asking Him to help me to do the same in this team.

The Righteous Judge

2009-04-30T11:33:00.005-05:00

“The most neglected subject in the Kingdom of God is God. The knowledge of God is the Mt. Everest of the Kingdom... we must have a steady resolve in our spirit to press on... it takes a lifetime to climb and the Holy Spirit is our escort...” - Mike Bickle

I've found the above statement to be very real in my own life lately as I've just been beginning to dive deeper into studying what the Bible says about Jesus as Coming King and Righteous Judge. I was asked to teach on this subject this past Sunday night at our weekly BHOP "Forerunner Gathering". I thought I'd share the notes and audio of my message if you're interested in a deeper glimpse into my work at BHOP, or if you too are looking for a little paradigm tweaking!

Sneak peak from my notes: "In the season of His return, it is critical that the Church embrace these three expressions of Jesus [Bridegroom, Judge, and King]. Today, Jesus invites us to know His whole character, the plans that are in His heart, and how He will carry them out so that we will be in agreement rather than in offense on that Day. Eschatological understanding of Jesus' judgments steeped in His jealous love and desire for a pure Bride with whom to reign when He returns in victory, will help us overcome offense, anger, fear, and confusion so that people trust Jesus' leadership and mature in love."

Enjoy! And feel free to dialogue with me if you have questions, thoughts... I know this can be a provoking subject (it's been ruffling my feathers a bit too!)... but the intention of the provocation is that we each be drawn into getting to know Him better - He's beautiful!

Easter... Mortality Swallowed Up By Life - 2 Cor 5:4

2009-04-11T16:12:00.005-05:00

My heart has been exhilarated throughout the past week as I have been reflecting much on the significance of Jesus' resurrection and looking toward the age to come when the Ever-living One will return to the earth. Below are just a few Scriptures to reflect on as you celebrate His resurrection and it's glorious implications of hope and victory!

Revelation 1:18a I am He who lives [the Ever-living One], and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore...

2 Timothy 1:10 ...Our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light...

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

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

Revelation 1:8b I am the Alpha and the Omega... who is and who was and who is to come...

Hebrews 2:9,10 But we see Jesus... now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory...

Titus 2:13 ...While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 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. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Lord bless you as you celebrate the One who is ALIVE FOREVERMORE!

Stirred to Know the Word

2009-02-15T12:12:00.001-06:00

Not long ago, David Sliker came to teach a week-long eschatology (the study of the end times) course to the Bethany college students, so everyone in BHOP sat-in on the classes. We were all on the edge of our seats and getting stirred to know the Word better for ourselves. I loved seeing this hunger in the faces of these young missionaries in training and hearing their desire to live more wholeheartedly for Jesus in response to the teaching.

"God's promise to all believers is that the verses we find most troubling when taken literally, will make sense as we pray, fast, study and spend-time with Him. It is the common sense meaning of the Scriptures that stirs true fascination with God, not someone else's symbolic interpretation of those Scriptures. When we have an intimate connection with the end-time plan of God, the passages begin to come alive and make sense. The possibilities of understanding and knowing God become endless as He moves us beyond our notions of what we think should be into the realm of what He knows can be. When we believe God is big enough to fulfill His prophetic plans as literally as they are described in His Word, He will become to us more awesome, more glorious and more beautiful." - David Sliker, End-Times Simplified

Bethany House of Prayer Leadership Transition

2008-12-16T22:05:00.004-06:00

What a tremendous blessing Nita Steiner has been to us at Bethany House of Prayer! Her faithful example has forever impacted the lives of each one of our young leaders and she will be missed as she relocates to Kansas City to spend a season in prayer at the International House of Prayer. As Nita retires at the end of December, BHOP is anticipating with excitement the addition of Richee Parks to our team of Intercessory Missionaries. Richee will be joining us in January as the new director of Bethany House of Prayer. Richee's heart for prayer and discipleship will be a tremendous gift to our team. Thank you for your prayer for me and the BHOP team as we say goodbye to Nita and receive Richee as our new leader.