What Makes You Jump?

What makes you jump?

1 Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible
Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

Our corgi has always howled so pitifully every time he hears some sort of siren. So, I wondered what would happen if I downloaded a siren sound on my phone and played it. Sure enough, when I played that sound he howled the most pitiful howl you have ever heard.
This made me think. This is like what the enemy does to us. After years of observing us, he has figured out what makes us jump. Perhaps it's harsh words from a coworker. Maybe it's a thought of not being able to pay a bill. Maybe it's just a feeling.
perhaps our hearts have strings like a guitar and the enemy knows how to pluck the right combination to get us feeling blue. Just like the strumming of a minor chord on the guitar can elicit a sad mood in a person, perhaps the enemy only heard by the ears of our soul but yet it brings on a sour disposition. It can turn a totally happy day into a day of doom and gloom without us even knowing why.

So, when this happens to you the next time take back the strings of your heart and your emotions from the enemy and begin to play your song of praise.

Don't let the enemy dictate to you how you are going to feel and react. YOU choose the song! And YOU choose the dance!

70X7? For Real?

I once heard a wonderful message on forgiveness.  One of the main verses that was used was
Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

I was thinking about the message through out the day yesterday and focused in on this verse. I had a thought on this verse. Perhaps.. one of the meanings of this verse deals with the practicality of our God and the process of this thing called "forgiveness".

Perhaps one of the applications of this verse deals with the tenacity that unforgiveness tries to hold onto us. (can I get a witness). How many times have we thought that we had forgiven someone, then only to have strong feelings of hatred, hurt, and avoidance rise up on the inside of us? So. perhaps one of the issues that Jesus was addressing in regards to 70x7 forgiving concept is that hey... we might just have to reforgive that person 490 times for that one offense. It might be a daily or even an hourly act of forgiveness. Perhaps, it is an act of forgiving them all over again.. months later when we see that person or think of that person. Unforgiveness is a very tricky enemy and one of the most powerful ones out there. Why? Because at the core of God's nature is forgiveness and love. Unforgiveness is one of biggest things that will stop up God's flow of grace and love in our lives. So no wonder Jesus gives us this scripture to show us how persistant unforgiveness can be.

Now... if you are a close friend of mine or even a casual friend... you can close your ears (eyes) to this next thought because you have heard me ramble on about this subject so many times.... in fact.. I have probably given you the tshirt.
One of the practical ways to do this "forgiving" thing is by using a simple prayer. The simple prayer is this. 

 "God I forgive (so and so) and I ask that You forgive (so and so) and I ask that You richly bless them." 

 The first response from people is this, " I can't do that. I wouldn't mean it." I tell them.. you don't have to mean it. This is something that works just because you do it. Many times I will write this prayer down on a peace of paper and have them read it. I ask them to keep it close and pull it out many times each day and repeat that prayer. Our soul (mind, will, emotions) will not want to say that prayer. But this prayer is based on God's word and Spirit. No other area can you see the battle between the soul and the Spirit than in the area of forgiveness. This prayer is based on Luke 6:28

bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

This verse says nothing about doing it only when you feel like it. It just says do it. If time would allow, I could tell you so many amazing stories of how I have used this prayer (with much repetiton) and God has done so many amazing things. The biggest fruit from this prayer has been it has kept me from getting all tied up in the web of anger and bitterness.

Just try it.  It WILL work.    

So guys, write this prayer down somewhere. Pull it out of your pocket and use it...... frequently. Walk in forgiveness. You need it...... so give it!

God Is Always At Work!

God is always at work!


Philippians 1:6 NKJV
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;


Jesus began a GOOD work in you when you accepted Him. Please know IT is still going on. You might now see it... but His word says that He WILL complete it. One thing (there are many) God is good at is keeping His Word. He is not fickle like we humans are. We get sidetracked, give up, etc.. But God is not like us. He is committed to you.


A picture that came to mind this morning.. thinking about this verse is that of an artist chiseling marble. Sometimes he knocks off large pieces of marble that he does not want. Other times, he is meticulously making small cuts in the subject.... and then in an instant.. a large piece of marble comes tumbling down. Or perhaps the fine chiseling is to fine tune your gifts. But please know.. God is at work... He doesn't sleeep, slumber, or go on vacation. He's in there working.. because He loves you!


A song that I love that encourages me so much along this thought is "It Ain't Over" by Maurette Brown Clark. Give it a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQer9GkTMSw

Needed: Time Alone

Matthew 14:23 NKJV And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. If the Son of God needy frequent alone times with the Father, how much more do we? Now, don't let the phrase "to pray" throw you. I know when I read that... I think... ho hum.. time to twiddle my thumbs.. but on the other hand.... I love spending time with God.. during that time I pray, I listen. Sometimes I will sit at my piano and just play. sometimes I will just sit there and think about how good God is or some other cool concept about God. but.. back to point... If Jesus, being fully man and fully God needed quiet time away from everything and everyone.... how much more do we need that as mere mortal men? We need to give ourselves permission to take this time and get away. Whatever that means to us. Sometimes for me it is just getting in my car and driving (sometimes to Minneapolis and back, lol) ... I know that Jesus' disciples and the crowds did not agree with Jesus just "taking off". He had things He HAD to do. There were too many people that had needs to be met. Let me break some shocking news to you.... if the world could do without the Son of God for a few hours...... it can do without you for a bit as well. Sometimes our schedules, stresses, our emotions get the best of us and we become overwhelmed. We need that alone time with the Father. To hear His voice, to let Him calm that storm that is raging in us. To sense His love again. To have Him refocus His plan for our lives. Better yet... don't wait for everything to come apart at the seams...... frequently have little get aways with the Father... and also develop the practice of His presence. (see book by Brother Lawrence) http://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Gods-Presence-Brother-Lawrence/dp/157683655X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316767707&sr=1-2 Let me say this to the ladies..... You work so hard and you do it all... and we men appreciate that... but give yourselves a break! Let things go for a half a day and get away. Take a hike! (in a good way) Find a chuch that might be open and spend some quiet time there. (Monday night Burn sessions at Freedom House, 39 South Mulberry St. (behind Sack and Save) in Chillicothe is a good place and time for that.) The Burn is also for us brothers as well... But find a way to get some alone time with the Father. Now, I could go on and on... but I am going to spend some alone time with the Father... Peace! ;-)

Who is the Head of the Church?

 The church has somehow migrated to this mindset that Pastors are the Head of the church... they aren't! Christ is the head! Pastors are a just a tool to help the members grow and point to Christ!

What does discipleship look like?

I am being more and more convinced that discipleship with new believers is not teaching doctrine.. but teaching new believers how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.. How to hear his voice.. how to worship Him.. how to rely on Him.. all else will fall into place.

Are Your Buttons Being Pushed?

Do you have issues that keep on coming up. If they keep on coming up.. that is because God wants to deal with them.. and heal them. Don't ignore them! Let Him heal you!

I mean, you don't have to deal with it.. but don't you get tired of people pushing your buttons?

Don't you get tired of letting other people's actions determine how you feel and what kind of day you will have. It doesn't have to be that way

 The quickest way to healing in this area is to keep our eyes on the Father. Let our source of joy and accomplishment be pleasing Him. Everyone else can and will be fickle at times. I know because I have my times of fickleness. But.... we have a ficklelessness Father!

Don't let the only time you hear "well done good and faithful servant" be at the end of your life. Listen for those words everyday! Listen for the affirmation of the Father throughout the day! I am sure that the Father pronouncing over Jesus "this is my Son in whom I am well pleased" was not just a once in a lifetime occurence. I am sure that it happened on a daily basis.\\

God should always be the source of our joy and fulfillment. He does use others to flow through though. Today it might be our spouse, our children. Tomorrow it might be the homeless man that we give a little money to or the coworker that helps us with a project. He likes to change it up like that so we do not look to people as our source... but Him

If the Jesus needed to frequently get away alone and spend time with the Father, how much more do we need to do that. I don't think that we need to always sequester ourselves for long periods of time.. but we dinfintely need to develop an attitude of keeping in touch with the heart of the Father. The more we keep touch with the heart of the Father, the more fulfilled we will be and much more usable vessel to be poured out for others.

There is a book I read about a year ago that helped me develop this mindset.. It is called "Practicing the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. If you get it.. try to get the modern day translation as it was writen in the 1600s. Here is an Amazon link.. and it is available for Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/Prac​ticing-Gods-Presence-Broth​er-Lawrence/dp/157683655X/​ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=131​3153774&sr=8-2