Well, it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything. I took myself up on the last invitation to just sit at our Father's feet and have Him reveal who He is for the last month a a half. And our Father, who is always faithful, has been pouring great things out before me. Today has been the first time though that I was really nudged to start sharing some of those things...so here goes!
Our Father says "I am who I am." So I asked Him, "Show me who You are to me." (Yes, I believe that we can have these incredibly intimate conversations with our Father and that the God who created the universe and everything in it longs to speak to each of us...that's why He sent His Son, also known as The Word!)
His first revelation was "I am infinite." Great! Awesome! I know that in my head...but what does that mean for me today?
"I am infinite. I am inexhaustible...I never grow weary, I never grow tired. My resources are unlimited. I am measureless...you will never "use up" all My love for you and you will never fully comprehend the depths of My love for you. I extend beyond anything that you see in this physical world. I am subject to no limitations. I am subject to no one or any external influences. I am endless...there is no beginning and no end in Me. I see all your yesterdays. I see your today. I see all your tomorrows."
"Really? I thought, "Because my today is not so good...it's actually a bloody mess, with people walking around wounded and hurting in ways that break my heart. I've been calling out to You asking You to come and heal and restore...but I don't see You doing this. Where are You?
"Remember, you are finite." He answered. "You are exhaustible. Your love is limited. You have a dificult time seeing past your physical circumstances. You are subject to others and all sorts of external influences. You have a beginning and an end. You can only see your yesterdays and today. You cannot see your tomorrows. Remember my unfathomable love for you?
"Yes."
"I love you so much and I am so for you that I will not answer your today and ruin your tomorrow."
Let that sink in a moment. Go ahead, re-read it.
My friends, I don't know what your today looks like. Maybe your husband had a stroke and your wondering if he'll make it. Maybe you found out a friend has cancer. Maybe your marriage is falling apart. No matter what your today looks like, it is no surprise to Him. He saw it before you were born and He sees your tomorrow. He knows His plans for you, plans to prosper and not harm you. He loves you so much that He's willing to not answer your today and ruin your tomorrow. This is why we can still worship and sing and shout His praises in the midst of our storms. Will you join me now with Megan Isaacson and worship the infinite Creator of the universe and our Dad?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
I Am Who I Am
This was God's response to Moses, when he asked God what His name was. "I am who I am." I was thinking and praying into this yesterday and asking our Father what that really meant. His response was very convicting.
"I am not the God of your father."
"I am not the God of your mother."
"I am not the God of your friends."
"I am who I am...not who you or they think I am."
oohhh...ouch! This immediately led to a time on my face asking our Father to reveal to me all my misconceptions, misunderstandings and just flat out wrong thoughts about Him and who He is. I realized many of these were just what I had come to learn and believe through family, friends, teachers and various other folks in my life. All well meaning folks, but all just people in the end with their own filters.
I then read Deuteronomy 30:11-14-- "Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it."
Do you see the great invitation in this truth? "Come, sit at me feet, in my Presence and learn from Me. I will reveal Myself to you and you will know I am who I say I am!
When was the last time you accepted your Father's invitation to sit at His feet and let Him speak to you?
"I am not the God of your father."
"I am not the God of your mother."
"I am not the God of your friends."
"I am who I am...not who you or they think I am."
oohhh...ouch! This immediately led to a time on my face asking our Father to reveal to me all my misconceptions, misunderstandings and just flat out wrong thoughts about Him and who He is. I realized many of these were just what I had come to learn and believe through family, friends, teachers and various other folks in my life. All well meaning folks, but all just people in the end with their own filters.
I then read Deuteronomy 30:11-14-- "Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it."
Do you see the great invitation in this truth? "Come, sit at me feet, in my Presence and learn from Me. I will reveal Myself to you and you will know I am who I say I am!
When was the last time you accepted your Father's invitation to sit at His feet and let Him speak to you?
Friday, April 2, 2010
There is no Easter, without Good Friday and there is no Good Friday without the Garden-Part 2
What possess an innocent man, one who has lived His entire life in love and peace to lay His life down for a guilty one? How does He endure being arrested as a common criminal, bound and dragged before the religious people, who had already decided that "it would be good if one man died for the people?" It was clear that a fair trial would not be possible among the very people He had actually come to save. How did he stand silently during the false testimony of paid witnesses? Did His heart break at the abandonment of his closest friends and their denials of even knowing Him?
What possess a man to endure being beat and whipped, having His very flesh torn and pulled apart for the very people who rejected Him? What causes Him to pick up and carry the very cross that He would soon be nailed to? What enables Him to allow the Roman soldiers to nail His wrists and feet to this cross? What causes Him to pray for the very people who are insulting Him as His life blood runs out where they are walking?
What possess a man to do these things? A man who has been swept away with the knowledge of who his Father is, who He is in His Father's kingdom and what He was created for.
Do you know these things for yourself?
Take a few moments today, on God's Friday, to be swept away and reflect on these questions as you listen to this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DIWlqa3xds
What possess a man to endure being beat and whipped, having His very flesh torn and pulled apart for the very people who rejected Him? What causes Him to pick up and carry the very cross that He would soon be nailed to? What enables Him to allow the Roman soldiers to nail His wrists and feet to this cross? What causes Him to pray for the very people who are insulting Him as His life blood runs out where they are walking?
What possess a man to do these things? A man who has been swept away with the knowledge of who his Father is, who He is in His Father's kingdom and what He was created for.
Do you know these things for yourself?
Take a few moments today, on God's Friday, to be swept away and reflect on these questions as you listen to this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DIWlqa3xds
Thursday, April 1, 2010
There is no Easter, without Good Friday and there is no Good Friday without the Garden-Part 1
Holy Thursday. A night filled with great highs and bottomless lows. It was on this night that Christ established the Lord's Supper. It is what we partake in each time we celebrate communion and reflect upon the breaking of His body and the spilling of His blood, which established our covenant with God and allows us to enter into our Father's holy presence.
It was during this meal that Christ got up and washed the disciples feet. His action was one of the greatest lessons in humility and would set forth the principle of selfless service. Here, the Lamb of God, perfect and faultless, greater than anyone sitting at the Passover table, gets up and does the most menial task that could have been done that evening. It was only a foreshadowing of the greatest selfless act in history, which would take place the next day, Good Friday.
After the meal, Jesus goes with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and takes Peter, James and John to pray. He shares that his "soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." He asks them to "Stay here and keep watch with me." They fall asleep and leave Christ to pray alone.
Later the authorities come, being led by Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples. The night's first betrayal, in a long night filled with betrayals, lies and denials. Jesus knew all of this would come, including Good Friday, yet he chose to bear your sins and die on your cross. Know that whatever may be going on in your life today, whether filled with great highs or bottomless lows, that our Savior loves you more than His own life and chose you that evening in the garden.
Will you come to the edge of the garden and "watch and pray" with the One who loves you more than His own life? You see, there is no Good Friday without prayer and the choice made in the garden.
It was during this meal that Christ got up and washed the disciples feet. His action was one of the greatest lessons in humility and would set forth the principle of selfless service. Here, the Lamb of God, perfect and faultless, greater than anyone sitting at the Passover table, gets up and does the most menial task that could have been done that evening. It was only a foreshadowing of the greatest selfless act in history, which would take place the next day, Good Friday.
After the meal, Jesus goes with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and takes Peter, James and John to pray. He shares that his "soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." He asks them to "Stay here and keep watch with me." They fall asleep and leave Christ to pray alone.
Later the authorities come, being led by Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples. The night's first betrayal, in a long night filled with betrayals, lies and denials. Jesus knew all of this would come, including Good Friday, yet he chose to bear your sins and die on your cross. Know that whatever may be going on in your life today, whether filled with great highs or bottomless lows, that our Savior loves you more than His own life and chose you that evening in the garden.
Will you come to the edge of the garden and "watch and pray" with the One who loves you more than His own life? You see, there is no Good Friday without prayer and the choice made in the garden.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Heaven's Delivery Agent
I just finished reading "You Were Born For This" by Bruce Wilkinson. (Great book! Get it, read it and then do it!) In his book he introduces the term "Heaven's Delivery Agent," as someone who has committed to partnering with our Father by following His leading to deliver everyday miracles to people. So I've been starting my last couple of days off by asking God to show me who He desires to meet with today. Today He answered loud and clear!
I had gone to a funeral for a close friend's mom. It was mostly family and I didn't really know most of the folks there. I noticed this one woman by herself, sitting off to the side of the gravesite. Our Father "nudged" me to go talk to her. "What am I suppose to say?" I thought to myself. I introduced myself and asked if she was ok, she seemed like she was taking the loss pretty hard. She shared that she was having a hard time letting go because she had really started getting close to her aunt only recently. She talked about dying and that she had died once. This caught my attention, so I asked her what it was like.
She shared her story of how 18 years ago she was driving home from work and was involved in a head on collision with a 19 year old who was racing. She shared how the wreck had stolen her life away because of the physical damage to her body (over 70 broken bones) and brain trauma. She was incredibly bitter towards the young man and shared how she wanted to see him suffer in the same way that she has had to suffer. She was carrying so much resentment and anger and hurt that I could see the torment that she was in, because of the unforgiveness in her life towards this young man.
I said, "You seem like this has tormented you for 18 years, you must be incredibly tired of living this way. Are you?" She looked up through tears and softly said, "That's exactly how I have felt for the last 18 years and I am tired of feeling this way." I shared with her that I knew how she could feel better immediately, which really caught her attention. She asked how. I shared my story of being hit by a hit and run driver 3 years ago while out running and shared how I had forgiven the driver. I also shared the story of the Unmerciful Servant found in Matthew 18:23-35. I shared with her that when we refuse to forgive someone that we are the ones who are actually placed into prison and that we become the ones who are tortured.
She lifted her head and stared intently at me and said, "Oh my gosh, I've never thought of it that way. You're right, I have been living the last 18 years in a prison and allowing myself to be tormented. How can I get out?" I answered, "You must forgive this young man from your heart and let our Father be his judge." She answered, "I don't know if I can do that." I asked, "Do you want to try?" She shook her head yes. I led her in a prayer of forgiveness. When we got to the part of saying I forgive (the name of the driver) she stopped and said "I can't do it right now. I need some time. I feel like you just showed me how to deal with all this anger and resentment I've been carrying around for 18 years, but I just can't say I forgive him right now." I responded, "No problem, when you're ready to walk out from the prison our Father will be there to walk every step with you."
I'm confident that my new friend will soon be walking out from her prison door and stepping into a new day very soon! My friends, as believers in Christ we are called to be about our Father's business...to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and release the oppressed.
Will you be Heaven's delivery agent?
I had gone to a funeral for a close friend's mom. It was mostly family and I didn't really know most of the folks there. I noticed this one woman by herself, sitting off to the side of the gravesite. Our Father "nudged" me to go talk to her. "What am I suppose to say?" I thought to myself. I introduced myself and asked if she was ok, she seemed like she was taking the loss pretty hard. She shared that she was having a hard time letting go because she had really started getting close to her aunt only recently. She talked about dying and that she had died once. This caught my attention, so I asked her what it was like.
She shared her story of how 18 years ago she was driving home from work and was involved in a head on collision with a 19 year old who was racing. She shared how the wreck had stolen her life away because of the physical damage to her body (over 70 broken bones) and brain trauma. She was incredibly bitter towards the young man and shared how she wanted to see him suffer in the same way that she has had to suffer. She was carrying so much resentment and anger and hurt that I could see the torment that she was in, because of the unforgiveness in her life towards this young man.
I said, "You seem like this has tormented you for 18 years, you must be incredibly tired of living this way. Are you?" She looked up through tears and softly said, "That's exactly how I have felt for the last 18 years and I am tired of feeling this way." I shared with her that I knew how she could feel better immediately, which really caught her attention. She asked how. I shared my story of being hit by a hit and run driver 3 years ago while out running and shared how I had forgiven the driver. I also shared the story of the Unmerciful Servant found in Matthew 18:23-35. I shared with her that when we refuse to forgive someone that we are the ones who are actually placed into prison and that we become the ones who are tortured.
She lifted her head and stared intently at me and said, "Oh my gosh, I've never thought of it that way. You're right, I have been living the last 18 years in a prison and allowing myself to be tormented. How can I get out?" I answered, "You must forgive this young man from your heart and let our Father be his judge." She answered, "I don't know if I can do that." I asked, "Do you want to try?" She shook her head yes. I led her in a prayer of forgiveness. When we got to the part of saying I forgive (the name of the driver) she stopped and said "I can't do it right now. I need some time. I feel like you just showed me how to deal with all this anger and resentment I've been carrying around for 18 years, but I just can't say I forgive him right now." I responded, "No problem, when you're ready to walk out from the prison our Father will be there to walk every step with you."
I'm confident that my new friend will soon be walking out from her prison door and stepping into a new day very soon! My friends, as believers in Christ we are called to be about our Father's business...to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and release the oppressed.
Will you be Heaven's delivery agent?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Greater Things than These
What would happen if what we said we believed, we really believed and not only believed but moved it to faith, something we actually experienced? Then we chose to live it out in our every day lives? I know one thing, we would not be living life as usual. We would be living life as unusual! We would be living life as Christ promised and the Father intended:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” -John 14:12, NIV
This was no small promise! This came from the man who calmed a storm, walked on water, healed physical diseases and deformities, healed mental and emotional diseases, cast out demons, raised the dead, including himself. Greater things than this? Really? REALLY!
Here's a question: Are we doing greater things than these, as His disciples?
Here's another question: If we're not, why not? He promised us we would and our Father is faithful to fulfill all His promises.
Tell me your thoughts!
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” -John 14:12, NIV
This was no small promise! This came from the man who calmed a storm, walked on water, healed physical diseases and deformities, healed mental and emotional diseases, cast out demons, raised the dead, including himself. Greater things than this? Really? REALLY!
Here's a question: Are we doing greater things than these, as His disciples?
Here's another question: If we're not, why not? He promised us we would and our Father is faithful to fulfill all His promises.
Tell me your thoughts!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Anointed and Sealed...Can't touch this!
Spending time at the retreat was awesome! But if you're like me, chances are, reality has started to creep in and our enemy may have already attempted to try and steal your joy. Well if that's the case remember, you have been anointed and sealed with our Father's Spirit. (2 Cor 1:21-22) His Spirit, which He deposited in each of us as believers is what marks us as one of the King's kids. You can bet when you belong to the King of Kings, He is the one who protects us.
While the enemy may come to try and rob, kill and destroy all he can really do is mess with us and he can only do that if we engage in conversation with him. He really can't hurt us, because no-one can take us out of our Daddy's hand...not even ourselves. (John 10)
So here's my new policy: I will choose to no longer engage in conversations with the father of lies, without bringing my Father to the conversation. "You want to talk to me Satan? You have to go through my Daddy first!" My experience so far with this approach, is that he turns and slinks off like the coward that he truly is.
Are you wrestling with our enemy? Remember, you are anointed and sealed...he can't touch you!
While the enemy may come to try and rob, kill and destroy all he can really do is mess with us and he can only do that if we engage in conversation with him. He really can't hurt us, because no-one can take us out of our Daddy's hand...not even ourselves. (John 10)
So here's my new policy: I will choose to no longer engage in conversations with the father of lies, without bringing my Father to the conversation. "You want to talk to me Satan? You have to go through my Daddy first!" My experience so far with this approach, is that he turns and slinks off like the coward that he truly is.
Are you wrestling with our enemy? Remember, you are anointed and sealed...he can't touch you!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
WOW, What a weekend!
I don't know about you, but after our time together this weekend I am on my face praising God for His incredible outpouring of unconditional love that lead to many being set free from the shackles of fear, lies and unforgiveness! Man, life does not get any better than watching people walk into freedom and start experiencing life as our Father intended us to experience it!
I've set this blog up for us to share what God revealed and will reveal to us as we start living life in His supernatural power! Will you take a couple of minutes to share what our Daddy did for you this weekend by posting a comment?
I will also use this blog to post words of encouragement and exhortation to spur us on in living Life as Unusual!
I've set this blog up for us to share what God revealed and will reveal to us as we start living life in His supernatural power! Will you take a couple of minutes to share what our Daddy did for you this weekend by posting a comment?
I will also use this blog to post words of encouragement and exhortation to spur us on in living Life as Unusual!
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