Darlene and I have completed 21 days of fasting! What a great experience. We know that we will see the spiritual results for quite some time to come. But we also are more aware of God's purpose and will than before. It is so liberating to stop eating! Not fun! But liberating.
I believe the art of fasting as a spiritual exercise has been all but forgotten. It is still a very viable spiritual weapon to wage warfare against the enemy of our souls. One of the things I will mention that has happened during the fasting time is the fact that we have become more aware of things that we need to pray about specifically and have been able to pinpoint how to pray. It has been great.
Here is a scripture someone shared with me that has great impact. It's meaning was more pronounced while fasting as we realized that God had already prepared the answers to our fasting long before we planned to fast! This is an amazing truth. God knew and prepared exactly what He was going to do in response to our fasting and prayer long before we purposed to seek Him earnestly! Here is the scripture:
Isaiah 65:24 - "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."
Isn't it great to know that He has prepared to do for you and I things that we haven't even asked for yet!!! That just causes my faith and love in God grow immensely. He is so awesome!!
Have confidence, ask and seek Him for whatever is going on in your life! Let Him wow you with the answers!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Since last writing Darlene and I along with our church family began a fast. We are now in the fifteeth day consuming only juices. What a great experience. We are convinced by God's Word and experience that fasting has great benefits. The most important are spiritual but there are physical rewards as well. And remember Jesus says in Matthew 6 that when we fast our Father will reward us openly or publically. In other words we are going to see the results.
We are not making God do anything. But we are walking in obedience to His Word and Will. Jesus fasted 40 days before beginning His ministry and also before any miracles took place through Him. That is a strong enough case for me to consider fasting an important part of our walk in the Lord.
So back to where I started. We are planning to complete 21 days total. Feeling great! Has it been hard? Of course it is. But well worth it. And I will try to report more on the results later. What are we expecting? Breakthroughs for us and others that we love. Salvation and deliverance in peoples lives. Divine provision for our people. And much more.
We are also praying and believing for God to move on behalf of our children in many ways as well as in our own lives. Did you know that fasting helps to uproot and remove personal bondages? It can help us break strongholds in our lives to grow and mature in the Lord.
Oh and let's not forget least of all but equally as important is the fact that it promotes health and healing in our bodies. Personally my blood pressure was up a bit. Not high or bad but still at some upper thresholds. Already after seven days of fasting I had my blood pressure checked and it had dropped to a very good level!
Fasting has a lot of benefits for life! Try it!
We are not making God do anything. But we are walking in obedience to His Word and Will. Jesus fasted 40 days before beginning His ministry and also before any miracles took place through Him. That is a strong enough case for me to consider fasting an important part of our walk in the Lord.
So back to where I started. We are planning to complete 21 days total. Feeling great! Has it been hard? Of course it is. But well worth it. And I will try to report more on the results later. What are we expecting? Breakthroughs for us and others that we love. Salvation and deliverance in peoples lives. Divine provision for our people. And much more.
We are also praying and believing for God to move on behalf of our children in many ways as well as in our own lives. Did you know that fasting helps to uproot and remove personal bondages? It can help us break strongholds in our lives to grow and mature in the Lord.
Oh and let's not forget least of all but equally as important is the fact that it promotes health and healing in our bodies. Personally my blood pressure was up a bit. Not high or bad but still at some upper thresholds. Already after seven days of fasting I had my blood pressure checked and it had dropped to a very good level!
Fasting has a lot of benefits for life! Try it!
Monday, January 25, 2010
We just returned from a week long trip to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. It was very rewarding as I taught in a new bible institute during the week and then in 5 different churches both in the city of Merida and Cancun. Yes Cancun needs God too! Of course we were not in the tourist area but with the people that live there year round. The Economic crisis the United States has experienced has effected our neighbors below the border. Tourism has been way down. But they seem to be doing a lot better than America economically.
While there we take in some culture when we have a bit of down time. This trip we saw several cenotes among other things. What is a cenote? Basically I think it is a sink hole since most of the peninsula is limestone. These are generally where you can find fresh, cold water. There is always one or more near ancient ruins. Great source of water.
Two of the cenotes we saw were very close to the ocean. It was amazing to see that fresh water was flowing in these sink holes within yards of salt water. It made a scripture come alive for me more than before. That is James 3:10-12 which says that very thing. A spring cannot produce both fresh and salt at the same time. Only one or the other. And then he says our mouths should only be used to bless and not to curse. You can't mix the two.
Well that is quite a lesson. Because we do try to do both constantly. We curse and bless. We really don't like it when someone does something to us so we speak badly or down at them. Or we speak against people to others. We are supposed to function just like a spring and only allow one kind of water come out.
Hmmm we are to be like a spring. Didn't Jesus tell us that we would have springs of water flowing from within us? John 7:38 So those springs that flow out of us should produce only one kind of water! Water that blesses. It should also praise our God. Wow that is something to think about for this year. Let's work on producing what we were called to produce. Sweet water full of blessing for others.
While there we take in some culture when we have a bit of down time. This trip we saw several cenotes among other things. What is a cenote? Basically I think it is a sink hole since most of the peninsula is limestone. These are generally where you can find fresh, cold water. There is always one or more near ancient ruins. Great source of water.
Two of the cenotes we saw were very close to the ocean. It was amazing to see that fresh water was flowing in these sink holes within yards of salt water. It made a scripture come alive for me more than before. That is James 3:10-12 which says that very thing. A spring cannot produce both fresh and salt at the same time. Only one or the other. And then he says our mouths should only be used to bless and not to curse. You can't mix the two.
Well that is quite a lesson. Because we do try to do both constantly. We curse and bless. We really don't like it when someone does something to us so we speak badly or down at them. Or we speak against people to others. We are supposed to function just like a spring and only allow one kind of water come out.
Hmmm we are to be like a spring. Didn't Jesus tell us that we would have springs of water flowing from within us? John 7:38 So those springs that flow out of us should produce only one kind of water! Water that blesses. It should also praise our God. Wow that is something to think about for this year. Let's work on producing what we were called to produce. Sweet water full of blessing for others.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
In reading the book of Acts of late I have been spending time looking at the not so obvious information that is written. In particular I read where as Paul began traveling back to Jerusalem on what is known as his third missionary journey, there were several extra travelers. This is found in Acts 19 and 20 if you want to look it up.
Anyway with Paul seems to have picked up people that wanted to see the world and have an adventure. Well maybe that wasn't the reason the went along. But for certain they traveled with Paul because they had a desire to serve the Lord in some capacity like Paul. And it is very much as likely that Paul recognized their passion and call to ministry and as a result asked them to join him.
We know they traveled all the way from Asia to Jerusalem because we find them being mentioned in Jerusalem. And we also know that these men were not all Jews. At least one was a Greek. So all of this is very interesting.
The reason it is interesting is because I can see how Paul trained people utilizing everything available. Hands on ministry rather than seminary or bible institute. They were able to ask questions since they had a lot of time while traveling. Not like a 2 hour plane ride today. We don't have the story of what these men went on to do after this time. We only have the mention of them joining Paul on this journey.
So here is where we add conclusions based on other biblical passages that Paul wrote. In particular we can look at both epistles of Timothy. Surely Paul treated these men like a Timothy. he spoke into their lives, nurtured the call of God on their lives, and more. So even though Acts is silent about what they did we can assume a lot of things from these other scriptures to give us a better picture.
What speaks to me on this point even more than all of that is the fact that these guys chose to travel with him. They must have sensed the hand of God on their lives and needed to do something about it. They wanted to learn more and be better prepared. Their love for God must have been the number one motivator in the decision to travel all the way to Jerusalem. And there is no telling what each of them went on to do. One thing is for sure. They made a decision to leave whatever they were doing to follow Jesus. Not Paul, but Jesus.
Here is one more thing that I gleaned as I read this. Paul wasn't the only one called to do it all as the great apostle. There were other people that were preparing to carry on. Another generation was being prepared.
Anyway a lot more could be said about this but I will stop for now. It has caused me to do some thinking and I hope it feeds your curiosity as well.
Anyway with Paul seems to have picked up people that wanted to see the world and have an adventure. Well maybe that wasn't the reason the went along. But for certain they traveled with Paul because they had a desire to serve the Lord in some capacity like Paul. And it is very much as likely that Paul recognized their passion and call to ministry and as a result asked them to join him.
We know they traveled all the way from Asia to Jerusalem because we find them being mentioned in Jerusalem. And we also know that these men were not all Jews. At least one was a Greek. So all of this is very interesting.
The reason it is interesting is because I can see how Paul trained people utilizing everything available. Hands on ministry rather than seminary or bible institute. They were able to ask questions since they had a lot of time while traveling. Not like a 2 hour plane ride today. We don't have the story of what these men went on to do after this time. We only have the mention of them joining Paul on this journey.
So here is where we add conclusions based on other biblical passages that Paul wrote. In particular we can look at both epistles of Timothy. Surely Paul treated these men like a Timothy. he spoke into their lives, nurtured the call of God on their lives, and more. So even though Acts is silent about what they did we can assume a lot of things from these other scriptures to give us a better picture.
What speaks to me on this point even more than all of that is the fact that these guys chose to travel with him. They must have sensed the hand of God on their lives and needed to do something about it. They wanted to learn more and be better prepared. Their love for God must have been the number one motivator in the decision to travel all the way to Jerusalem. And there is no telling what each of them went on to do. One thing is for sure. They made a decision to leave whatever they were doing to follow Jesus. Not Paul, but Jesus.
Here is one more thing that I gleaned as I read this. Paul wasn't the only one called to do it all as the great apostle. There were other people that were preparing to carry on. Another generation was being prepared.
Anyway a lot more could be said about this but I will stop for now. It has caused me to do some thinking and I hope it feeds your curiosity as well.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
I was meditating on one of the most vital things we do as Christians That is the Lord's supper or communion by some. Do this in remembrance of me Jesus stated. Bread and wine(or grape juice by most). Simple elements that hold tremendous spiritual meaning. As a matter of fact these two items represent the blood and body of our Lord Jesus. It speaks of His redemptive nature and salvation. The very core values we believe in.
It is a very important time and one that we should not participate in lightly. We do need to remember His death and resurrection. We need to remember His life as well. Also the body and all Jesus suffered for us and His body whose members are all that believe in Him. There are so many aspects and facets of truth held in what can be described as the 'gospel'. Every time we do it we are remembering what Jesus did for us. But as we remember we are also peeling away layer after layer of truth that is contained in that one act. We are forever learning about the eternal value and completeness of what He has provided for us.
Here is one thought I had in examining the Lord's supper. Actually it has to do with the 'time' in which Jesus instituted this christian tradition. Specifically His first time of teaching was at His last supper but equally important is the fact that He did it before His death. Not after the resurrection when He still walked on the earth for 40 days appearing to the apostles and others. But before He went to the cross. Hmm... This do in remembrance of me.....
Listen to this thought. We always remember His death and yes we are proclaiming His crucifixion or death every time we do it. But He hadn't died yet! Is it possible that we are also to remember His LIFE? Remember how He lived, how He loved?
Didn't He come to show us the Father? He is the manifest glory of God on the earth. He showed us how to live didn't He? And because of the resurrection His LIFE is available for us. I have a renewed desire to SEE how Jesus lived. I believe that I will discover more of how I am to live with His power working in and through me. You see the apostles couldn't remember His death at that moment since He had not yet died. But they could remember His LIFE!
It is a very important time and one that we should not participate in lightly. We do need to remember His death and resurrection. We need to remember His life as well. Also the body and all Jesus suffered for us and His body whose members are all that believe in Him. There are so many aspects and facets of truth held in what can be described as the 'gospel'. Every time we do it we are remembering what Jesus did for us. But as we remember we are also peeling away layer after layer of truth that is contained in that one act. We are forever learning about the eternal value and completeness of what He has provided for us.
Here is one thought I had in examining the Lord's supper. Actually it has to do with the 'time' in which Jesus instituted this christian tradition. Specifically His first time of teaching was at His last supper but equally important is the fact that He did it before His death. Not after the resurrection when He still walked on the earth for 40 days appearing to the apostles and others. But before He went to the cross. Hmm... This do in remembrance of me.....
Listen to this thought. We always remember His death and yes we are proclaiming His crucifixion or death every time we do it. But He hadn't died yet! Is it possible that we are also to remember His LIFE? Remember how He lived, how He loved?
Didn't He come to show us the Father? He is the manifest glory of God on the earth. He showed us how to live didn't He? And because of the resurrection His LIFE is available for us. I have a renewed desire to SEE how Jesus lived. I believe that I will discover more of how I am to live with His power working in and through me. You see the apostles couldn't remember His death at that moment since He had not yet died. But they could remember His LIFE!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
So I am reading in Hebrews and meditating on the idea of God's rest. Something that we all need to keep in mind as we go through life. Especially as christians because all of us know that you can get too tired and not get the rest you need to function properly.
Anyway I am reading the verses in Hebrews about entering into God's rest and remembering a lot of what I have already learned about it. And I see something that really ministered to me like never before. I will get to that in a minute.
First let me state the obvious. The people of God, Israelites never entered into God's rest because of unbelief or a lack of faith. The Word of God must be mixed with faith in order to work. They were always complaining and never entered rest. So this rest is still available and waiting on those that will learn and endeavor to believe. You see the work we do to enter into rest (by the way you don't need to rest if you haven't worked right?) is all about believing or having faith in God. We learn to trust Him at His Word. We learn to be secure in who He is. Then we will not miss out on His rest. It even says in these two chapters that God worked creating for 6 days and the seventh day He rested from His work. That is where the principle of sabbath comes from. Resting after working 6 days. Boy do we need to learn that right?
So it wasn't sin as we think of sin. But it was still sin which is simply not believing the Lord. We don't think of that as sin but it is because it keeps us out of all that God has for us. It prevents His provision from coming into our lives.
It is as I was looking at this statement that we are to enter into God's rest that He has prepared for us that I began to see it in a new light. Here is what I see: enter into the REST of God! Now you may have missed that so let me say it another way. Enter into more of Him, into the part we haven't experienced yet! You see the more of God we come to know the more we actually can REST. We can rely on, trust in, believe in. We can have peace knowing what God will do and more than that knowing who He is. So the rest of God is not simply stopping and taking a breather but it is knowing HIM better as we believe and trust more in all that He has for us.
Anyway I am reading the verses in Hebrews about entering into God's rest and remembering a lot of what I have already learned about it. And I see something that really ministered to me like never before. I will get to that in a minute.
First let me state the obvious. The people of God, Israelites never entered into God's rest because of unbelief or a lack of faith. The Word of God must be mixed with faith in order to work. They were always complaining and never entered rest. So this rest is still available and waiting on those that will learn and endeavor to believe. You see the work we do to enter into rest (by the way you don't need to rest if you haven't worked right?) is all about believing or having faith in God. We learn to trust Him at His Word. We learn to be secure in who He is. Then we will not miss out on His rest. It even says in these two chapters that God worked creating for 6 days and the seventh day He rested from His work. That is where the principle of sabbath comes from. Resting after working 6 days. Boy do we need to learn that right?
So it wasn't sin as we think of sin. But it was still sin which is simply not believing the Lord. We don't think of that as sin but it is because it keeps us out of all that God has for us. It prevents His provision from coming into our lives.
It is as I was looking at this statement that we are to enter into God's rest that He has prepared for us that I began to see it in a new light. Here is what I see: enter into the REST of God! Now you may have missed that so let me say it another way. Enter into more of Him, into the part we haven't experienced yet! You see the more of God we come to know the more we actually can REST. We can rely on, trust in, believe in. We can have peace knowing what God will do and more than that knowing who He is. So the rest of God is not simply stopping and taking a breather but it is knowing HIM better as we believe and trust more in all that He has for us.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Heart Failure
Hard Hearts Lead To Heart Disease!
I began researching the idea of a hard heart and discovered quite an amount of material. In examining the scripture of course the first person that comes to mind with a hard heart was the Pharaoh in the times of Moses. Actually the word says that God hardened his heart so that he would not let the people of God go and this ultimately ended up in his demise. But it is easy to define from this story what a hard heart is.
Basically we find a hard heart is an unwilling heart. It describes a person that will not listen to reason and mostly basis decisions on what is good for them. They do not consider others but only what is best for them.
Jesus even spoke of people with a hard heart frequently. He made mention of the fact that those that let their heart get hard or callous will not be able to hear or see clearly. That is definitely not the way I want to live. As a matter of fact I believe we can find that many relationships in life are destroyed because of hardness or unwillingness to forgive and love the way Christ loved us. Our stubbornness can actually separate us from the LIFE of God! Wow now that is reason enough to take a closer look at our lives and make sure our heart is pliable, teachable and reachable.
You see our hearts hardened through the course of life over little things that build inside us. We let things get to us and we finally get to a point that we become callous in that situation.
You can lose compassion over time and all desire to forgive or be merciful due to a constant bombarding of similar circumstances. Have you ever said in a situation " i don't care anymore what happens". Your heart has closed in that area. We lose our direction and sight. We lose understanding.
We have to allow the Lord to help us keep an open sensitive heart. Let's not lose hope or faith by letting our hearts stop caring. Let's keep some simple basic truths alive in our life like; repentance, forgiveness, mercy, and love. Don't be robbed of true life by allowing your heart to get hard or stay calloused. Let's fall on our knees before our Father and let Him take from us the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh!
Scripture References you can study:
I began researching the idea of a hard heart and discovered quite an amount of material. In examining the scripture of course the first person that comes to mind with a hard heart was the Pharaoh in the times of Moses. Actually the word says that God hardened his heart so that he would not let the people of God go and this ultimately ended up in his demise. But it is easy to define from this story what a hard heart is.
Basically we find a hard heart is an unwilling heart. It describes a person that will not listen to reason and mostly basis decisions on what is good for them. They do not consider others but only what is best for them.
Jesus even spoke of people with a hard heart frequently. He made mention of the fact that those that let their heart get hard or callous will not be able to hear or see clearly. That is definitely not the way I want to live. As a matter of fact I believe we can find that many relationships in life are destroyed because of hardness or unwillingness to forgive and love the way Christ loved us. Our stubbornness can actually separate us from the LIFE of God! Wow now that is reason enough to take a closer look at our lives and make sure our heart is pliable, teachable and reachable.
You see our hearts hardened through the course of life over little things that build inside us. We let things get to us and we finally get to a point that we become callous in that situation.
You can lose compassion over time and all desire to forgive or be merciful due to a constant bombarding of similar circumstances. Have you ever said in a situation " i don't care anymore what happens". Your heart has closed in that area. We lose our direction and sight. We lose understanding.
We have to allow the Lord to help us keep an open sensitive heart. Let's not lose hope or faith by letting our hearts stop caring. Let's keep some simple basic truths alive in our life like; repentance, forgiveness, mercy, and love. Don't be robbed of true life by allowing your heart to get hard or stay calloused. Let's fall on our knees before our Father and let Him take from us the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh!
Scripture References you can study:
- Mark 8:17-18
- Acts 28:26-27
- Ephesians 4:17-18
- Matthew 13:15
- Matthew 19:8
- Hebrews 3:7-15
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