by Pastor Marvin Williams
I follow the Radical Rabbi named Jesus, but I am too safe, too comfortable, too undisturbed.
I hang the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door of my life because I don't like my comfort, safety and status-quo living being interrupted by the turbulence of big dreams, the deep waters of radical obedience, the rough seas of suffering, and the dark nights of uncertain adventures.
The other day, I ran across a prayer, written by Sir Frances Drake (explorer and naval pioneer during the Elizabethan era), that disturbed me. This prayer affected my spiritual equilibrium so much, that I want to share it with you, in hopes that it will disturb you like it did me.
Don't just gloss over the words; sit with it for a minute and then spend some time, dissecting and parsing its content. Then ask God to help you identify "smooth sailing" areas of your life. Next, ask him to disturb the places in your life where you are safe, comfortable, undisturbed.
Here's the prayer:
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
I know I have been sailing too close to the shore lately and I am asking Jesus to disturb me to action.
In what areas have you become too comfortable and need to pray: "Lord, disturb me?" In what areas in your life have you been traveling too close to shore and need to pray: "Lord, disturb me?"
Scripture Of The Day: "You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." - Deuteronomy 13:4
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
OVERCOMING OUR PAST
by Os Hillman
"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah." - Judges 11:29a
We've all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease - these are all difficult circumstances to overcome.
Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God's sight. He was born to Gilead, a result of his father's adulterous encounter with a prostitute. Jephthah's half-brothers decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman." Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.
This experience taught Jephthah to become a hardened warrior. Today he probably would have been part of a street gang. As he got older, his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.
"Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house?" he responded. He overcame his hurt and pain, and responded to the call God had on his life.
It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.
The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.
"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah." - Judges 11:29a
We've all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease - these are all difficult circumstances to overcome.
Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God's sight. He was born to Gilead, a result of his father's adulterous encounter with a prostitute. Jephthah's half-brothers decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman." Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.
This experience taught Jephthah to become a hardened warrior. Today he probably would have been part of a street gang. As he got older, his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.
"Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house?" he responded. He overcame his hurt and pain, and responded to the call God had on his life.
It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.
The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
A MOTHER'S LETTER
by Pastor Marquis Boone
Late one night my mother sent out an e-mail that captured my attention. In this email she began to pour out wisdom; and in the email I could hear and feel her heart. In this letter, she began by saying this:
"As a mother, sister, daughter, auntie, cousin, friend and woman, I'm asking and praying that you all find peace with any situation that is bringing unnecessary stress into your life. Sometimes the situation is just what it is. There is nothing you can do about it. Burger King's slogan doesn't work on everything -- you can't always "have it your way." You have to free your mind, heart and body, or you could internally cause your body to develop an illness you really don't want. I challenge you all to take better care of your bodies. Sit down, learn to do less and relax, or your body will shut you down and you will have no choice in the matter!"
My mother continued on in the email to say..."your job does not dictate your happiness. A failed relationship does not dictate your happiness. You have to make life what you want as God leads, but also remember nothing comes easy. Make the best of a situation, but if it becomes too much, it's time to let go."You solve nothing by sending yourself in circles for someone or something that is not reciprocating your worth. Something better is bound to happen, remember when you learn to close a door another one is ready to be opened. Be willing to open that door, it may be the one that sets everything in order!
There is nothing like a mother; wisdom drips from her lips, and kings and queens are birthed from her womb. Mothers are blessed by God and without them we would not be here. I challenge you today -- regardless of the problem or issue -- make an effort to call your mother and say thank you or I love you. Life is too short. Close a door and get ready to open a new one. I leave you with this poem:
My Tears Don't Come Cheap Anymore (By: C. `Tillery Banks)
I don't want to cry anymore about something that ain't nothing
The price of my tears comes high now;
They come from a deeper well than before.
A well filled with knowledge I didn't have before
Filled with visions I have never seen before
Filled with emotions I have never felt before
secrets I've never known before.
Filled with children I have yet to birth
Joys I have yet to live and give
Magic I have yet to perform
Dreams yet to dream
Songs to sing that have not been sung
Dances to danceAnd words to rhyme.
The well is deep.
No, my tears don't come cheap anymore
Scripture Of The Day: "And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." - Genesis 17:16 (NJKV)
Late one night my mother sent out an e-mail that captured my attention. In this email she began to pour out wisdom; and in the email I could hear and feel her heart. In this letter, she began by saying this:
"As a mother, sister, daughter, auntie, cousin, friend and woman, I'm asking and praying that you all find peace with any situation that is bringing unnecessary stress into your life. Sometimes the situation is just what it is. There is nothing you can do about it. Burger King's slogan doesn't work on everything -- you can't always "have it your way." You have to free your mind, heart and body, or you could internally cause your body to develop an illness you really don't want. I challenge you all to take better care of your bodies. Sit down, learn to do less and relax, or your body will shut you down and you will have no choice in the matter!"
My mother continued on in the email to say..."your job does not dictate your happiness. A failed relationship does not dictate your happiness. You have to make life what you want as God leads, but also remember nothing comes easy. Make the best of a situation, but if it becomes too much, it's time to let go."You solve nothing by sending yourself in circles for someone or something that is not reciprocating your worth. Something better is bound to happen, remember when you learn to close a door another one is ready to be opened. Be willing to open that door, it may be the one that sets everything in order!
There is nothing like a mother; wisdom drips from her lips, and kings and queens are birthed from her womb. Mothers are blessed by God and without them we would not be here. I challenge you today -- regardless of the problem or issue -- make an effort to call your mother and say thank you or I love you. Life is too short. Close a door and get ready to open a new one. I leave you with this poem:
My Tears Don't Come Cheap Anymore (By: C. `Tillery Banks)
I don't want to cry anymore about something that ain't nothing
The price of my tears comes high now;
They come from a deeper well than before.
A well filled with knowledge I didn't have before
Filled with visions I have never seen before
Filled with emotions I have never felt before
secrets I've never known before.
Filled with children I have yet to birth
Joys I have yet to live and give
Magic I have yet to perform
Dreams yet to dream
Songs to sing that have not been sung
Dances to danceAnd words to rhyme.
The well is deep.
No, my tears don't come cheap anymore
Scripture Of The Day: "And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." - Genesis 17:16 (NJKV)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD
by Os Hillman
05-11-2010
05-11-2010
"So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision, I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless." - Daniel 10:8
Daniel received a vision that troubled him greatly. He wanted understanding of this vision. He set himself out to understand the vision by fasting for three weeks. Three days after his three weeks of fasting, a messenger of God appeared to Daniel. The messenger explained that Heaven had heard his prayer from the first day, but the angel was temporarily prevented from coming by the prince of Persia, a demon angel, who sought to thwart God's messenger from coming to Daniel.
There are times in our lives when we must set ourselves to seeking God with all our hearts. It is in these times that we hear from Heaven in ways we may never have experienced before. Daniel's perseverance in prayer was rewarded with a personal encounter with Heaven. However, in order to receive from God, Daniel had to be left alone, have his strength removed, and be placed in a helpless condition. When we have no ability in our own strength to move Heaven or the events around us, we are in position to hear from Heaven. It is the acknowledgment of our humanity and our frailness that places us in a position to have a personal encounter with the living God.
Do you need a personal encounter with God today? Do you need God to intervene on your behalf? Seek Him with all your heart. Demonstrate to Him you are serious. Get alone and acknowledge your helpless condition before Him. He will reward you with His presence.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
by Mike Bickle
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. —Ephesians 2:6-7
Do you ever imagine standing in heaven's throne room as you worship and intercede? Picture a mighty throne, immersed in flames, standing in heaven. Imagine an indescribably glorious person with hair and garments as white as snow, seated upon that throne. Picture twenty-four lesser thrones surrounding the great thrones on the right and the left and twenty-four elders clothed in white and wearing golden crowns sitting upon those thrones. Listen to the mighty roar of praise ascending from the myriads and myriads of angels on every side of the throne. Jesus is there at the right hand of His Father. His loveliness and His splendor are beyond description. He is welcoming you to the throne of grace, smiling and bidding you to come. As we come there, day after day, year after year, our spiritual lives will surely be enriched. Our spirits will be invigorated, and our minds will be renewed.
Monday, April 26, 2010
THE POWER OF PRAISE
by Maggie A. Escoto
A Warfare of the Unusual Kind
Who ever heard of a bunch of musicians and singers lead an army? If you read 2Chronicals 20, that is exactly what happened.
There were three kingdoms that had made alliance with each other to come against Judah. King Jehoshaphat received word of this plan of attack and knowing that his army was no match for theirs immediately turned to God for help. Jehoshaphat announced throughout the land a time of prayer and fasting and the people poured into the capital to take part in it.
Then in the midst of all the people while praying, the Spirit of the Lord came upon the son of Zachariah, Jahaziel, who prophesied and said, “"Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
The next morning as they prepared for battle Jehoshaphat consulted some people and it was decided that there would be singers and musicians leading the troops into position. It was a step of faith which declared that they believed that God would keep His promise to them and fight the battle. Never was an army so defeated as that of the enemy. When the men of Judah arrived at their position, the only view was that of dead bodies. And not only was the enemy already defeated when they got there, but God blessed Jehosphathat’s army with all of their valuables. There was so much they could not carry them all alway!
What a powerful testimony to the power of praise, faith and prayer. In all threats or trials, public or personal, our first order of business should be to seek help from God. If we believe the word God has given us, with praise and thanksgiving in faith that you have won the victory, then He too will help us come up against the attacks that are formed against us and be able to proclaim triumph over them and be blessed in addition.
A Warfare of the Unusual Kind
Who ever heard of a bunch of musicians and singers lead an army? If you read 2Chronicals 20, that is exactly what happened.
There were three kingdoms that had made alliance with each other to come against Judah. King Jehoshaphat received word of this plan of attack and knowing that his army was no match for theirs immediately turned to God for help. Jehoshaphat announced throughout the land a time of prayer and fasting and the people poured into the capital to take part in it.
Then in the midst of all the people while praying, the Spirit of the Lord came upon the son of Zachariah, Jahaziel, who prophesied and said, “"Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
The next morning as they prepared for battle Jehoshaphat consulted some people and it was decided that there would be singers and musicians leading the troops into position. It was a step of faith which declared that they believed that God would keep His promise to them and fight the battle. Never was an army so defeated as that of the enemy. When the men of Judah arrived at their position, the only view was that of dead bodies. And not only was the enemy already defeated when they got there, but God blessed Jehosphathat’s army with all of their valuables. There was so much they could not carry them all alway!
What a powerful testimony to the power of praise, faith and prayer. In all threats or trials, public or personal, our first order of business should be to seek help from God. If we believe the word God has given us, with praise and thanksgiving in faith that you have won the victory, then He too will help us come up against the attacks that are formed against us and be able to proclaim triumph over them and be blessed in addition.
GOD LIKES YOUR COMPANY
By R.T. Kendall
Evangelist J. John told me about a trip he made to India a few years ago. Shortly after he arrived, he heard about a saintly woman called Sister Theresa (not Mother Teresa) who had a powerful gift of the word of knowledge. J. John was able to meet her, and he said to her, "If you have a word for me, I would be so grateful."
He said she turned around and left. He feared he had offended her. But she came back to him an hour or so later with a list of 13 items (some of which almost bowled him over they were so accurate), ending with these words, which he will never forget: "God likes your company and asks that you give Him two hours of your time every day. That's all. Goodbye." Wow!
J. John took her seriously, and he has told me more than once that he was never to be the same again.
What does prayer do for God? For one thing, He likes your company. I can't imagine a greater motivation for me to pray than knowing that God enjoys having me in His presence. He enjoys my company. He delights in listening to me! He doesn't get bored with my repeated requests. He doesn't moralize me if I get it wrong with what I ask for. He doesn't laugh at me if I put out silly, even impertinent requests. He never makes me feel stupid. There is no rejection, only total acceptance.
It doesn't get better than that. David said: "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you" (Ps. 139:17-18, NIV).
When God speaks to us face-to-face as He did with Moses, it is impossible to say who enjoys it most—God or us. I am moved to know that God spoke to Moses face to face, "as a man speaks with his friend" (Ex. 33:11). God loved Moses' company. He loved Abraham's company, also calling him His friend (see Is. 41:8; James 2:23). What a compliment to the disciples that Jesus would say, "I have called you friends" (John 15:15). Spending time with another person develops friendship.
The thought that God likes my company thrills me more than I can explain to you. And if He likes my company, He likes yours too—He is no respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34; 1 Pet. 1:17). The same blood that purchased Peter's and Paul's salvation bought yours and mine. Moreover, it is the blood that gives all of us equal access into God's presence (see Heb. 10:19). Therefore, I can put out of my mind the thought that some people are more acceptable to God than others. One's profile in church has nothing to do with being accepted by Him—or loved or enjoyed. We are all on level ground. No one is at the head of the line just because she has a higher profile in the church, has been a Christian a longer time, has been on a 40-day fast, or has fame in the world. Being a head of state gives you no leverage. As St. Augustine put it, "God loves every person as if there were no one else to love."
I hate the thought of being a bore. I hate wasting people's time. I can sometimes tell by the look on their faces if they are not happy to see me. I fear rejection. And if I'm not careful, I can carry this fear of rejection right into the presence of God, assuming I am boring to Him too. Why should God care about me? Why should He listen to what I have to say? And why should He like my company?
It is such a dazzling thought, that the same God who has countless billions of angels worshiping Him 60 seconds a minute, day and night, to whom the nations are but a drop in the bucket and who knows all about every leaf on every tree in the world, also welcomes my company—because I am important to Him.
Indeed, I can think of no more amazing thought than this: "God loves me as much as He loves Jesus." That's right! You and I are co-heirs with Jesus (see Rom. 8:17). Jesus even prayed that we would grasp the fact that the Father loves us just as much as He loves Jesus (see John 17:26).
If there's anything that will make us blush in heaven, it will be the realization of how much we were loved on this earth—but didn't appreciate it. And if we knew how much God welcomes us when we turn to Him, we would almost certainly pray more than we do. God loves our company.
Evangelist J. John told me about a trip he made to India a few years ago. Shortly after he arrived, he heard about a saintly woman called Sister Theresa (not Mother Teresa) who had a powerful gift of the word of knowledge. J. John was able to meet her, and he said to her, "If you have a word for me, I would be so grateful."
He said she turned around and left. He feared he had offended her. But she came back to him an hour or so later with a list of 13 items (some of which almost bowled him over they were so accurate), ending with these words, which he will never forget: "God likes your company and asks that you give Him two hours of your time every day. That's all. Goodbye." Wow!
J. John took her seriously, and he has told me more than once that he was never to be the same again.
What does prayer do for God? For one thing, He likes your company. I can't imagine a greater motivation for me to pray than knowing that God enjoys having me in His presence. He enjoys my company. He delights in listening to me! He doesn't get bored with my repeated requests. He doesn't moralize me if I get it wrong with what I ask for. He doesn't laugh at me if I put out silly, even impertinent requests. He never makes me feel stupid. There is no rejection, only total acceptance.
It doesn't get better than that. David said: "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you" (Ps. 139:17-18, NIV).
When God speaks to us face-to-face as He did with Moses, it is impossible to say who enjoys it most—God or us. I am moved to know that God spoke to Moses face to face, "as a man speaks with his friend" (Ex. 33:11). God loved Moses' company. He loved Abraham's company, also calling him His friend (see Is. 41:8; James 2:23). What a compliment to the disciples that Jesus would say, "I have called you friends" (John 15:15). Spending time with another person develops friendship.
The thought that God likes my company thrills me more than I can explain to you. And if He likes my company, He likes yours too—He is no respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34; 1 Pet. 1:17). The same blood that purchased Peter's and Paul's salvation bought yours and mine. Moreover, it is the blood that gives all of us equal access into God's presence (see Heb. 10:19). Therefore, I can put out of my mind the thought that some people are more acceptable to God than others. One's profile in church has nothing to do with being accepted by Him—or loved or enjoyed. We are all on level ground. No one is at the head of the line just because she has a higher profile in the church, has been a Christian a longer time, has been on a 40-day fast, or has fame in the world. Being a head of state gives you no leverage. As St. Augustine put it, "God loves every person as if there were no one else to love."
I hate the thought of being a bore. I hate wasting people's time. I can sometimes tell by the look on their faces if they are not happy to see me. I fear rejection. And if I'm not careful, I can carry this fear of rejection right into the presence of God, assuming I am boring to Him too. Why should God care about me? Why should He listen to what I have to say? And why should He like my company?
It is such a dazzling thought, that the same God who has countless billions of angels worshiping Him 60 seconds a minute, day and night, to whom the nations are but a drop in the bucket and who knows all about every leaf on every tree in the world, also welcomes my company—because I am important to Him.
Indeed, I can think of no more amazing thought than this: "God loves me as much as He loves Jesus." That's right! You and I are co-heirs with Jesus (see Rom. 8:17). Jesus even prayed that we would grasp the fact that the Father loves us just as much as He loves Jesus (see John 17:26).
If there's anything that will make us blush in heaven, it will be the realization of how much we were loved on this earth—but didn't appreciate it. And if we knew how much God welcomes us when we turn to Him, we would almost certainly pray more than we do. God loves our company.
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