The Hope of Glory

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

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

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

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

Matchless...

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

Let Them Love You Together

..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 Bethany 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!

Greater Love for the Word

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

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

Voluntary Weakness :: What?!?!

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

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

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...

Bethany House of Prayer Leadership Transition

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.