Better is One Day

Better is ONE DAY in His presence than a thousand elsewhere. What does ONE DAY in His presence look like?

What would it look like to live each and every moment of your day fully aware of the Presence of God? Fully aware of what Heaven is doing? Fully aware of what the Father is saying in every moment, every circumstance, every situation? Heaven doesn't move or change. He is the EVER PRESENT God. He doesn't move or change, we do. We lose our awareness of Him. He never leaves us - it's His promise. He is always with us! I'm not talking about just "taking a moment in your day" to acknowledge God, but continual awareness of Him! Jesus only did what he saw His Father doing and only said what He heard His Father saying. Better is ONE DAY in His presence than a thousand elsewhere. Become aware of Him today! I dare you! Watch your life, your day change radically!

YOLO

It's the new popular phrase. If you don't know what it means, you should. You only live once.
Many people are using this mindset as an excuse to things that are foolish, harmful, painful, costly. You only live once is not a reason to be a fool. The Bible says quite the opposite - you only die once. "It is appointed unto man once to die and then comes judgement."(Heb 9:27)  When we die, we will give an account for the life we have been given. This life is not the end. It is only the beginning. Life is a gift. Don't waste it! Spend it, invest it wisely.

It is God's desire for you to live your life to it's fullest! So how does one get the most out of this life? How do you live your life to the fullest? Give it away! It truly is better to give than to receive. Why? Because in the Kingdom, the more you give away, the more you will receive. So if you want more out of your life - Give it away! Jesus said, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you give it up for me, you will find it."(Mat 10:39)

There is a difference between giving your life away and throwing your life away. The truth is you won't truly live until you have found the one thing worth dying for. Holy Spirit is called "Comforter" for a reason. Get out of your comfort zone and find out why! Live every area of your life in such a way that it will fail without God's supernatural intervention.

What is it in your life that you are willing to die for? What is it that you would lay down your life for? 

#YOLO

The Cost of Freedom

What is the cost of freedom?

We always talk about it or hear about it on the news... How soldiers have laid down their lives for our freedom, for our country's freedom and how grateful we are for it. But what about the cost of the freedom of our souls? The freedom of our minds? Our health? What is the cost of this?

We know that Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice and the paid the ultimate price for this - His life. It cost Him everything, but what did He gain in return?

The question I ask is this: What price are we willing to pay? Are we willing to pay any price? Are we willing to give whatever it takes, or whatever He asks of us?

There are some things we are willing to give up and some things we are not willing to surrender to Him. What is it that you are unwilling to surrender? Your pride? Your fear? Your addictions? Your reputation? Your income? Your possessions? Your comfort? Your time? Your life?

There are some things that seem like they are just too costly. The Bible is very clear in Luke 14:25-34 about the counting the cost: "Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."  Another verse says, "What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" Jesus paid the ultimate price for you. We must understand He didn't just die to get YOU into Heaven, He died to get HEAVEN into YOU!

All of law can be summed up in this: Love God more than anything! Are you willing to love God more than anything?  See God's Kingdom is an "upside down" Kingdom: The last shall be first, the least shall be the greatest, He uses the foolish things to shame the wise, if you try to save your life, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for Him, you will save it!

One thing is clear: In the Kingdom, the reward is ALWAYS greater than the cost/sacrifice.
It is mockery of God to think that He will not reward those who pay the price.(Galatians 6:7)
We must understand the Biblical concept of reward! 


(Matthew 19:27-29) Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life."


Christians in other countries clearly understand this, most Americans do not. Many Christians understand the willingness to lay down their life for Christ. Are we willing to lay down anything for Him?

So we must ask ourselves, which is more important, our comfort or His Kingdom?
Is the cost worth the reward? With God - ALWAYS!

God is...

Only once in the entire Bible is there such a clear description of our God. God has many names, many attributes to His character and His nature. He has many different emotions and feelings. But here in this moment  the Holy Spirit inspired the author to write one single word to encompass all of who God is. In three bold words he captured all of who God is. He was not describing one of God's many attributes. He was not telling us of some part of God's nature or character. He was telling us who God is.  His sentence contains three simple, yet profound words.

God is love.

He could have said, "God shows love," or "God is full of love," or "God loves..." but he didn't.

It seems that the weight of this statement and this word has been lost over time because so few of us truly understand or know what love really is. We say, "Oh I love that shirt" or "I love that movie" and somehow, with each of these careless uses of the word "love," it loses it's meaning. Combine that with the fact the devil does everything within his power to destroy our concept of love. Fathers and mothers who should love their children abuse them. Husbands abuse and mistreat their wives instead of loving them. Do we love our neighbors? The list goes on... So in the end, we have so little concept of the meaning of love. Our concept of love is often twisted, distorted, and polluted.

Love looks like something!
What is love? What does love look like?

I'm so glad you asked! Thankfully, 1 Corinthians 13 give us a glimpse into the answer:
If God is love... then ... God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking. Our Father is not easily angered and He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God, Our Father always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

God never fails.

Love is a person. His name is Jesus. Do you know Him? Do you know Love?
As I said, this is only "a glimpse" into who and what love is.
When you look into the eyes of Love, you will know the rest.

1 John 4:8 - Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Perfect Love casts out fear.
Jesus Christ is perfect theology!
Anything you believe about God that you do not see in the person of Jesus, you have reason to question!

Snowflakes, Fingerprints, & Sunsets

TRUTH

"I am the truth," Jesus said. What an incredibly bold statement to make!

Jesus didn't just say he knows some truth or even all truth. He said He is the truth. Not only that, He told Pilate that the reason He was born was because He came to testify of the Truth. (So basically Jesus was born to testify about Himself. He was born to reveal Himself, and in doing so He revealed the Father. If you want to know what God looks like, acts like, look at the life of Jesus.)

"What is truth?" Pilate asked Jesus this question, not realizing the answer was standing right in front of him. Truth is a Person. His name is Jesus.

How many denominations have been formed around a truth? How many churches, marriages, friendships have been divided over a truth?

I believe the Bible was written in such a way that you cannot know the truth contained within, unless you know the Author of Truth who wrote it. For so many years people have been and still are divided over "truths" in the Bible. There are so many truths that seem to contradict each other, yet they don't. These apparent contradictions cause us to fall in love with the Author rather than the "method." The problem comes when we decide to build a doctrine on a truth rather than the Truth. The issue then becomes not, "What is truth?" but, "What is truer?" or "Which truth is right?" We are missing the point!

Jesus was all things to all men: To the proud, arrogant rich young ruler, He was the Law. To the broken, humble woman caught in the act of adultery, He was Grace and Mercy and Compassion. To the cold, hard-hearted, religious Pharisees, He was the Judge who used the hammer of love to break their hearts of stone. To the thirsty woman at the well, He was the Living Water. To the man who was possessed by a legion of demons He was Freedom. To the blind, the lame, the sick, He was the Healer.

He still asks the same question of us that He asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?"

God loves diversity. He loves diversity in all things; Not just in snowflakes, fingerprints, and sunsets. God has made each of us unique. The Bible often refers to us as a body that is made up of many distinct, unique parts. Each part serves a different purpose. We need to realize that aside from Christ, we've all been given a truth, but none of us has the truth. We each have a piece of the puzzle. The next time you want to attack someone who has a different piece of the puzzle than you do, try slapping yourself in the face first and see how it feels. It doesn't make much sense to see a body that attacks itself. What does make sense is when a body works together in unity, in sync, as one. Learn to love what He loves. Learn to love diversity. Most of all, learn to love Truth!

Life & Death

Consider this: I am a spirit, I have a soul, I (currently) reside in a body. This body is not my home. This body is my current residence. This body is not who I am.

Everything we know is temporary. All things in this life have a beginning and an end. All things, but God. He has no beginning and no end. He created time. Before God created time, time did not exist. Try and wrap your mind around that one! When we come to the place where we realize that what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal, and real, only then we can learn how to truly live.

What is life? What is death? How is it possible that you can have a heartbeat and be dead? How is it that your heart can stop beating and yet you still live? Answer: We are born dead.

This is all Adam's fault! God told Adam, "...in the DAY you eat of it, you will surely DIE." So Adam ate of the forbidden fruit and in that day, he died. Adam died, yet his heart continued to beat.

As we read through scripture, we learn that when God speaks of life, He's not talking about whether or not you're breathing. When He speaks of death, He's not referring to your body's vital signs. This is NOT life and death. Death is separation from the source of all life - God. So then, what is life? Life is being connected with, and being one with, the source of all life. To know God is to live. Notice I didn't say, to know "about" God, but to KNOW God. Many people know "about" God and have no life. Life is not found in religion. Life is not found in you simply saying a prayer, or going to church, or having good theology. God doesn't have a 12-step program. He has a 1-step program: Death to Life! Life is found IN Him alone. Jesus didn't say 'I will "show" you the way, the truth and the life.' He said, "I AM the way. I AM the truth. I AM the life." Know Him and you will know life. Possess Him and you will possess LIFE!

Move Me

What moves you? A song? A painting? A beautiful sunset? A book? A movie? A dance? Why do you think our Creator made us so creative? We were created to be like Him. We were created in His image. He is so wonderfully and uniquely creative. Why do we feel the need to be like someone else? Why do we idolize others? Granted, it is in the very nature of our being to worship, but worship of anyone or anything other than our Creator is idolatry.

Some of are only moved by fear. What a miserable existence! Trust me, I know! I've been there. I hate being moved and or motivated by the "what if's" or "what will happen if..." or "I'd better do this, or else...." This is not living! God has so much more for us! He wants us to be MOVED by LOVE! He desires for us to be deeply expressive in and through our creativity! The church as a whole, by in large, has for too long, stifled creativity and uniqueness; All in the name of "safety".... fear really. We always try to control what we fear or do not understand.

Well I say, it's time to "throw caution to the wind!" Let's raise the "sails" of our creativity, catch the wind of the Holy Spirit and learn to soar with Him! It's time for the beauty of His bride to arise and shine! A bride does not put on her wedding gown and stay in her room. A beautiful bride is adorned and arrayed in splendor to be SEEN, not to be hidden! It's time for the church to come out of the bridal chambers and walk down the isle as the whole world watches; for ALL to see her in her beauty and glory! Let the world see the creativity of it's Creator! He made each of us in His image and likeness. Let's be MOVED by love. Let's be moved to dance, to paint, to sing, to write! There is NO shortage or lack on His end. He is infinite! Let's tap into heaven and bring it to earth in all of it's beauty!

God let your creativity and beauty arise in me! Let it shine through me! Let me be moved by Love. Let me be motivated by Love. Let all who see the radiance of Your beauty in me be captivated by You! You are the desire of every heart! Let the creativity of my heart beat with yours! Let us co-labor, co-create, and in doing so, co-love this world you died for!

Amen!

Freedom

I have been struggling with this concept for quite some time now. What is freedom? What does it look like? What is it's purpose? How do we live a life of freedom? I think I am beginning to find out...

I remember when I first came down here, they told me I was free. I am free to do whatever I want. OK! Well, that sounds nice... in theory. So now what? What do I do with this new found freedom? How will I manage it? How will I live my life?

I also remember one particular person saying that if you are used to living a life of control, you may feel very out of place and will actually LOOK for someone or something to control you and tell you what to do or how to live your life. I remember thinking, "Are you serious?! Who in their right mind would do such a thing?!" About a week later I found myself in that very situation, looking for someone to control me. When you get so comfortable and familiar with the prison bars around you, you don't know how to live without them when they are gone. Oftentimes you don't even realize they are there until they are gone. Then you find yourself searching for a way to bring them back. When this started happening to me, I realized it was happening and recognized it, because of the prior warning. I then reminded myself that I am free.

Love = Freedom NOT Control

This statement blew my mind! When I let it sink in...I thought, "I don't understand. How can this be?"

Let's look at a few examples of this truth:

1. Creation - God gave us the opportunity to reject and disobey Him. He gave us the opportunity to choose life or death. He gave us the most powerful force in all of creation - free will.

2. Judas - Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, yet He allowed him to sit and dine with Him as one of His closest friends. He gave Judas the freedom to be Judas.

3. Salvation - We still have the choice today to accept or reject the One who loves us more than life itself. He desires that NONE perish, but ALL come to know Him, yet His love for us is so great that He gives us the freedom to choose.

So if God, in His infinite wisdom and love has given us this incredibly powerful freedom, why and how do we feel the right or the need to control?

You see, we control what we fear. We control what we are afraid of(fear). We control what we don't understand(fear). Most all control is motivated by fear, not love. Most people think, "If I love someone, I need to tell them what to do, what not to do, and how to live their life." In other words, "I need to control them." This simply is not true.

I am discovering in life that most of the things that we think we control, we really don't, and some actually control us! The Bible says "There is NO FEAR in love. (not only that) But perfect love DRIVES OUT FEAR, because fear has to do with punishment. (but wait..there's more...) The one who fears is not made perfect in love." John 4:18

Speaking of punishment... I'm so thankful that Christ took all of my punishment upon Himself. I'm so thankful that God poured out all the wrath that was meant for me, on His Son Jesus! That means He has nothing but LOVE for me!

So what is the purpose of freedom? Why did Christ die to set us free? Why am I free? Are you ready, here it comes... It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free! Galatians 5:1

It was for FREEDOM that Christ set us free! Christ set you free for FREEDOM! The reason that Christ set you free is...FREEDOM! How many different ways can I say this? Are you getting it? Can you see it?

(The second half of that same verse says, "Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.") AND if you go back and read the verse in the context of the verses before and after, then the light really starts to go on! :) You see God knows that we are often more comfortable with control than with freedom. Don't put yourself back in prison. You are free!

What motivates you? Are you motivated by fear or by love? Do you perform FOR love or FROM love? Do you live your life to gain approval and acceptance from God and/or those around you? OR Do you live your life for God BECAUSE He loves you, BECAUSE you are accepted by Him?

God is breaking the chains of religion. He will break the chains of fear and control in your life, if you allow Him to. He is perfect love. He will drive out fear. Love is a person. Do you know Him?

Losing Everything

"He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." This statement was made by Jim Elliot; A man who left his comfortable home and college education in Portland to go be a missionary in Ecuador. His goal was to evangelize the unreached native Indians there and translate the Bible into their language. He was killed in the process. What did he give up? What did he gain? God's economy is so very different than ours.

In God's kingdom: The way up is down. If you want to save your life you must lose it. The more you hold onto (something) the less you have. The more you give away, the more you will possess. You cannot give away what you do not possess or own. Take love, for example... You cannot truly give love, unless you first possess it. Those who have never been shown true love are incapable of giving it away. They cannot give something that they do not possess. By possess, I mean, you must have ownership of it, not just something you are familiar with or using temporarily. It must be a part of who you are. Then that thing which has become a part you, you now own, and are able to give away. The more that you give it away, the more you will receive. The Bible says, "This is love. Not that we first loved Him, but that He first loved us." "Freely you have received, now freely give." It truly is so much better to give than to receive, but we must first receive from Him.

You can borrow many things from other people. You can borrow someone else's revelation or their vision, but you cannot give away something that is not yours. So then how do we own or possess something? We must first go to the source. God is the source. He is the source of life and love and all things. "This is love. Not that we first loved Him, but He first loved us. "

I have lost so much in the last few months, close to everything. I have gained more than I ever knew was even available. I have been connected to the source. He is the source of all life, love, purpose, existence. "In Him we live and move and have our being." As the song says, "Now I have a purpose. Now I have a destiny. You made me for your glory!" What I do does notdetermine who I am. I am who God says I am. I perform for Him, from His love, not for His love. I do because He loves me, not to earn His love. No longer does He call me a servant, He calls me friend. I am a friend of the King who is King over all kings! He likes to let me know what is on His mind and what He is up to. Not only am I His friend, but I am His son. I am a son of the Most High God. This means that I am a co-heir with the One who possesses everything. Not only am I His son, I am the bride of Christ. He is a Husband who loves, fights for, and protects His bride. He calls me Friend, Son, Bride, Lover. We are one. This is who I am. This is what I have gained. How can I be anything but grateful?

Jesus said, "...unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Lose you life and you will find it, you will save it. Let go. Stop striving. Give up. The more you give, the more you will gain.

Follow Me

"Follow Me"

Two words that will change the course of your life forever. If you heed these words they will ruin you. You will be forever ruined for the cause of your new King. When you hear the voice of God everything changes in your life. Nothing will ever be the same again. Jesus comes and He calls you. You are presented with a choice; Continue life as it has always been, or enter into a new life that you have never known, and leave the life that you know. Life as you know it will never be the same. With God, when you "pay a price," you will get "change" back. When change comes, you can fight it or you can embrace it. Jesus called 12 men to change the world. Their lives were turned upside down, then they turned the world upside down. There must be a revolution inside you before there can be a revolution around you. God wants to change the world inside you so you can change the world around you. Are you willing to pay the price? Do whatever it takes. Pay any price, go where ever He calls you. It will cost you. It will be worth it. Hear the voice of the Lord. When He calls, you will know it.

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Jn 18:37

"For this cause I was born," Jesus said "to be a King and to bring truth." This was why He came, for this cause He was willing to die. What is your cause? What is your purpose? Are you willing to die for your cause? Are you willing to let go? God may choose to use what is in your hand, or He may ask you to give up what is in your hand and place something else there. There are those all around the world who are willing to die for their cause. There cause is not truth, but lies.

How do you measure your life and the success of your life? When you begin to live for the cause that you were created to fulfill, you may or may not become rich. You may or may not become famous, popular, cool. You will be full of righteousness, peace, and joy unspeakable. You will be fulfilled in doing what you were created to do.

Drink the cup of the Lord. Take the cup. See what He sees. Feel what He feels. In His cup there is suffering, there is fullness of joy, there is provision from heaven.

So what do you say to the call? Do you say "Wait?" Do you say, "Later?" Do you say, "Not now?" Do you say, "No" or do you say "Yes, Lord, I will come. I will follow?" Where ever you lead me, I will go. Whatever you say Lord, I will do. I will hear your voice. I will hear your call. I will go.

I will experience true life. Your lungs take in air. Your heart beats, but are you alive? Do you want to live? Living is fulfilling the purpose for which God created you. When He calls, answer. Say YES, LORD! Here I am. Use me.

Facts VS Truth

The darker the night becomes, the more I long to see the Glory of His face shinning on me.

I remember when I got here God told me He was going to do a DEEP work in me. I had and still have no idea just how DEEP this rabbit hole goes.

I have been praying and believing God for breakthrough in my finances for quite some time now. I know I am where I am supposed to be. God has called me here to this place. God has given us words that He is going to bless us and our business.

My accounts are overdrawn. I am behind on my rent for each of my 3 business locations. I am in debt up to my eyeballs. I don’t know how I am going to pay rent for where I am living. I don’t know how I am going to pay payroll. I don’t know if I will even have a business or an income soon.

I was faced with a choice today. I find myself in a powerful time of worship. God’s presence is here. Here I stand in the presence of the King of all that Exists, the King of the universe. We were singing about how great and good God is. I don’t want to just give God “lip service.” I want my worship to be true and from my heart. I am faced with a question. Will you worship?
Could I declare, “He is good” “He is great”? Would I believe and declare what I know to be true or what I feel and what I see? I am torn. I am broken. I am battling facts VS truth. Truth is higher and greater than the facts.

The facts are things don’t look good. The facts are I am in an financially hopeless and impossible situation. The truth is He is always good. The truth is He is always faithful.

I know He is good. It doesn’t look like it. It doesn’t feel like it, but I KNOW it is true, so I will declare what I KNOW is true. He is good. He is great. He is faithful. His love NEVER fails! Greater things are yet to come.

I know I will look back on this season years or perhaps months from now and I will speak of His goodness and faithfulness. Why wait? I am choosing to declare it today. I am choosing to declare it now.

He is GOOD! He is for me! He is faithful. He is always GOOD! I will declare it! I will believe it!
In the beginning of this journey I made a declaration that “I know my God is faithful and He will deliver me, but even if He doesn’t, yet will I praise Him.” God is putting my words to the test. Job said, Even if He slay me, yet will I trust Him, yet I will hope in Him.

I am beginning to understand what it looks like to bring a “sacrifice of praise.”

David said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which costs me nothing.” I want to be like the woman with the alabaster box. I choose to pour my life out for Him, on Him. I will sacrifice that which costs me everything!!

Will you allow Him in? Will you give Him access to those hidden places? Some places you know exist, others you don’t, nonetheless, will you let Him in?

The darker the night becomes, the more I long to see the Glory of Your face shinning on me. I long to see Your face. God, let the light of Your face shine on me! In order to have peace that passes my understanding, I must give up my right to understand. I trust you completely. Nothing is impossible. All things are possible with You God! You can do whatever You want to do God. Have your way in me.

Worshippers First

What does "a life of worship" look like?

We are called to worship. We are created to worship. We are designed to live a life of worship for the display of His glory and splendor. In the world, a painting or work of art brings glory to the artist. A song brings glory to the writer. A building brings glory to the architect. The created thing brings glory to its Creator. Creation itself testifies of the glory of God. We are the only created beings that can have intimacy with the Creator. We can know Him. The trees, the mountains, the oceans, and the sky can all bring glory to their Creator, but they cannot know Him. They cannot have intimacy with Him. They simply exist to bring glory to Him. They have no choice. We have a choice. That is what worship is. Worship is a choice. Worship is not a feeling. Worship may involve and evoke a vast array of feelings, but it is not a feeling. It is a choice. Every moment of every day we have a choice. In each moment, in every action, in every circumstance, we can choose to worship and bring glory to Him or we can choose to not. The devil seeks to rob God of His glory and receive worship unto himself.

I love to play the piano, but I've never seen myself as a musician. Music is a gateway. Music is an instrument. Music is a conductor. Worship isn't just something I do. Worship is a part of who I am. It's all I've ever known. I exist to bring glory to Him. The glory belongs to Him. Why would I want to try to take what is His? The glory belongs to Him.

God can make anyone into a worshipper! I've seen musicians and non-musicians become worshippers. I've seen singers and non-singers become worshippers. The tragedy is I've also seen worshippers become simply musicians or worshippers become just singers. Many have limited worship to music, as if somehow, worship equals music, or worse, music equals worship. We've been taught that in order to worship we must have music. Worse yet, some have come to believe that if there is a band on stage in church playing music that worship is happening. While that may or may not be true, it does not mean that God is the one receiving worship.

Worship means to "ascribe worth to." To who or what do we ascribe "worth?" Worth can be measured in time, energy, money, resources, devotion, focus. Whatever you focus on gets bigger, or gets magnified. What are you focusing on? I often find myself focusing on my circumstances and my problems. God showed me that, in essence, I am worshipping my circumstances rather than worshipping the God of my circumstances. He is bigger than any circumstance in my life! I just need to focus on and magnify Him, and not my problems, otherwise my problems can become bigger than my God or can even become my god.

Do you worship worship? So often we get caught up in the music, or we get caught up in the song. What we need to do is get caught up in the One that the music is for, and get caught up in the One that the song is about! The music should not distract us from Him. It should point us to Him. When the artist, the music, the song, or the musician, starts to become the focus, we are missing the point. Mankind is so eager to idolize the seen that we miss the unseen. So often, we've made man the focus. We've made music the focus. We've made an idol out of the very thing that was created to bring glory to Him. The devil knows we won't worship him if he says, "hey, come worship me." He is much more subtle that that. So often the devil will use the very things of God to distract us from God. That's why the devil tries to twist and distort God's very own words. The devil is an imposter and an imitator, not a creator.

We are such an entertainment society. We say; "Entertain me. Amuse me. Impress me. Wow me. Delight me." We have taken the divine and made it common. Some have taken worship and reduced it to mere entertainment. We come expecting to be entertained, to receive, rather than come expecting to give. Worship must be given. How is it that we've confused times of worship with a concert? They are complete opposites. How is this possible? Perhaps it is because we have worked so hard to make worship look like a concert, that people don't know the difference.

I heard someone say once, "When we begin to worship the donkey that Jesus rode in on, instead of Jesus Himself, there is a problem!" This is a profound statement. Just as when Jesus was born, there was "no room" for Him in the inn; So too, there seems to be "no room" for Him in many churches today. We must make room for Him in our hearts and our lives, and our churches. He is enthroned on the praises of His people. As we worship, we build a throne. We create an atmosphere, a place for Him to dwell.

Some will say worship is not about us, it's about Him. This is true to an extent. While I believe we should not be the focus of worship, worship is about us and Him. Worship is about us connecting with Him and bringing glory to Him. He should be the goal. He should be the focus. When worship becomes solely about us, we have missed it altogether.

Worship is so much more than music, however, music is very powerful. Why is music so powerful? What's in a song? What is it about music and melodies that connects with something so deep inside of every person? Music is an expression of what is inside… Worship begins in our heart. Out of the abundance (or overflow) of the heart, the mouth speaks. I say, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth sings! Worship is an expression of the love and adoration from our hearts. With our mouths and our lives we are to glorify God. We must use our words and our actions to bring Him glory. (God help me!) I've heard it said that you can't do on Sunday morning what you don't do the rest of the week! This is so true.

A Worship Team should be a team of worshippers, not a band.

Worship practice should be the practice of worship, not just band practice.

If the team of worshippers happen to play instruments and sing, this is good, however, we must not lose focus.

Worship can be prayer, adoration, and exaltation, put to song, or put to music. Take away the instruments, and begin to worship God. Could we do it? Or would we be lost and uncomfortable? What a challenge!

We are to be worshippers first, musicians second; worshippers first, singers second; worshippers first, everything else second.

A flute without breath is simply a vessel, a piece of metal. Have a skilled flutist breathe into it and it will produce a beautiful sound. So too, we are His instruments. We must allow Him to breathe His life into us to produce what He desires. It is the response of God's Spirit in us to that Spirit in Him, whereby we cry out "Abba, Father," deep calling unto deep.

Consider this: Music is all about timing. God created time. In heaven there is no time…No beginning, no end. There is eternity. How do you have music without time? What does it sound like? Can you imagine? No beginning. No end. John was caught up into heaven and experienced this sound. He was unable to use words to describe it. The angels, the living creatures, the elders around His throne never stop singing, worshipping, and praising God. They never stop crying out Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. "But for how long?" we ask. There is no time. No beginning, no end.

We are told to bring to God a "sacrifice of praise." Some say this means praising and worshipping God when we don't want to or don't feel like it. What sacrifices does God ask of us? This is what He asks of us; a broken spirit, a contrite heart, and to offer your body as a living sacrifice. He wants our bodies, our contrite hearts, and our broken spirits. No longer are we to lay animals on the altar to be slain. We are to lay ourselves on the altar to be consumed by His presence in worship to Him.

God let my actions line up with my words. I surrender my body, soul, & spirit to you in worship. Let my life be an expression of worship to You. Let my life song bring Glory to You!

Unsatisfied

Are you satisfied? Are you content? Or do you want more of Him? Contentment can be a good thing, or it can kill you. Mediocrity is not death, but it's very close. Ask the frog who is in the "warm" water. It's not hot; it's just a 'little warm.'

The only time the Bible speaks of contentment is in relation is money. When it comes to His presence, I have as Tommy Tenny says, a "Divine Discontentment."

I will not be satisfied until I see His face. I cannot settle for anything less than His absolute best. I don't know what that is, or what it looks like, but I know I want it! I know I must pursue it! I must stop at nothing to get it! I want His best! I want all that He has for me, not just some or part. I want Him.

How often do we as Christians settle in life? We settle for less than His best. We've been taught to just simply learn to accept and "live with" whatever we are given. What a lie! We say, "Well, it must be God's will…." Or as the old saying goes, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well I say, "If life gives you lemons, send 'em back and ask for something else!" We serve a Great Big God! He either is or is not "able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or even imagine!" Either we believe this, or we do not! If you believe it, then start asking! Start imagining what God can do! He will do even greater!

We can either let our surroundings and circumstances affect us, or we can affect our circumstances and surroundings! We can either be victims or victors! Jesus was NEVER a victim of His surroundings. Even the wind and waves obeyed Him!

Just to set the record straight, God does not "send people to hell." People choose hell by rejecting the free gift of salvation. In fact hell was not even created for people. It was created for the devil and his demonic hosts. God desires that none should perish!

It is not God's will for you to be sick or in pain and suffering, anymore than it would be God's will for you to go to hell. It is not! Otherwise, Jesus died in vain. The cross did not ONLY purchase our salvation. It also purchased our healing and freedom! It is His will for us to be saved, healed and delivered! God's will was expressed in and thru Jesus Christ. Jesus was the representation of God in the flesh. Jesus only did what the Father did. Jesus said to the leper, "I am willing. Be clean." He is willing. Every time the people came to Jesus to be healed, He healed them! He healed them all. He never turned anyone away then, and He will never turn anyone away now.

Hunger is very powerful. How long could you survive without food? How long before you get hungry? A day? A week? An hour? If enough time passes, you will eventually get hungry. You will start to search for something to satisfy that hunger. People are willing to do anything including murder to satisfy their "appetite." How long can I survive without Him? How hungry am I for Him? Am I satisfied? How long before I get hungry for more of Him? A day? A week? An hour? What am I willing to do to satisfy this appetite? What am I willing to sacrifice?

Hunger moves and motivates us to do crazy things. How hungry are you? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for THEY WILL BE FILLED!

Love is also a very powerful thing. What crazy things were you willing to do when you were young and in love? What are we willing to do for the One who loved us to death? Deut 4:29 says, "if you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him IF you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." From beginning to end the Bible tell us we are to Love God more than anything! Love God with all your being, with every part of you, with everything!

What does it look like to be completely sold out for Jesus? Set yourself on fire and let the world come watch you burn! How do you contain a blazing fire? You don't! It takes an army to contain it! If the flame has fuel it will burn and it will spread. How do you contain a church that is on fire for God? You can't! Do not put out the Spirit's fire. How easy is it to start a forest fire? Once the blaze begins to burn and spread, how DIFFICULT is it to put out that fire? Let's start some fires! Let's burn for Him!

God I know You love me just the way I am. I know You love me too much to leave me this way! I know I can't earn or deserve Your love. Nothing I can do will make You love me more than You already do. Nothing I can do will make You love me less. You demonstrated Your love for me by dying on the cross for me before I even knew You. While I was a sinner, and an enemy of God, You died for me. How great is Your love for me now that I am Your child! I want to please You. I want to know You more.

Teach me when to rest and "be still and know that You are God", and when to pursue You. Teach me to follow hard after You. I cry out as David did; "My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"

Rekindle the fire of love for You! God let me never be satisfied! I want more of You!

The Holy Spirit

So many misunderstandings, misrepresentations... Nothing to fear...

The Holy Spirit is the third PERSON of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is not a force or a thing. He is not an it. He is a person.

Do you know Him? Do you have a relationship with Him? You can!

The person of the Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus to bring glory to Jesus. Jesus always points us to the Father to bring glory to the Father.

With. In. Upon.

With you:
God is with you from conception until death. He says, "Before I formed you, I knew you." "I knit you together in your mother's womb" "I am with you always, to the very end..."

Jn. 14:16-17 Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

In you: (Salvation)
When you become a believer, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you.

Upon you: (Baptism)
This is the best part! This is also the part most people miss out on! Don't miss this!

Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." The phrase comes on you is the same Greek word used when the angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." How crazy is that?! The same phrase used to describe the conception of Jesus in Mary is the same phase used to describe the power we receive when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. You could say that the Holy Spirit also births something in us. That something is Jesus! That phrase come upon means

1) to come, to arrive
a) of time, come on, be at hand
2) to come upon, overtake one
a) of sleep
b) of disease
c) of calamities
d) of the Holy Spirit, descending and operating in one

To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is what will set you apart!

Baptism simply means to be immersed in.

When we are baptized with water, we are to be immersed in water. Water baptism doesn't save you. It is an outward expression of an inward commitment. It is an act of obedience symbolizing repentance.

To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. Now being filled with the Spirit is a daily, even moment by moment occurrence, however, there must be an initial filling. Just like being baptized in water doesn't happen automatically, neither does being baptized in the Holy Spirit. You have to want it. You have to ask for it. You have to purpose in your heart to be baptized! Just like salvation, it doesn't happen automatically. You have to choose Christ. You have to say yes to Him. Salvation happens once, but daily we are being saved. Every day I must give my heart to Him. So too with the Holy Spirit, every day I must be filled anew!

Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience after salvation. It can be at the same time as salvation, but not usually. It can be at the same time as water baptism, sometimes, but not always.

Acts 19:1-7 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Water baptism = Repentance! / Baptism in the Holy Spirit = Power!

The Holy Spirit is promised if you repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Remember, repent means to "change the way you think!" The Holy Spirit can be received without water baptism. (Acts 10:44-47) The Holy Spirit can be received by simply hearing, but often by laying on of hands.

Mat 3:11 "…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Fire?? What? Why fire? I'm not sure why fire. But here's what I think: #1 On the day of Pentecost there were what seemed to be "tongues of fire" that came to rest on each person before they began to speak in new languages. #2 Water washes. Fire burns! The instrument used to baptize for repentance is water, symbolizing the washing away of sin, filth, old man, etc.. The instrument used to baptize in the Holy Spirit for power is fire. Fire burns! Burn away anything that is not of God! Burn away the dross! Refine us! 'Set yourself on fire for God and let the world come watch you burn!' (John Wesley)

Facts about the Holy Spirit from the Bible: The Holy Spirit = Counselor, Comforter, He Speaks to Us to Teach All Things, To Remind us of what Jesus said, Strengthen & Encourage (Acts 9:31), He gives us Power to do the will of the Father. He wants to fellowship with us. He gives us Gifts. (Heb 2:4) The Holy Spirit is a mark, a seal upon us. (Eph 1:13) He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit can speak through us, (Acts 1:16) so can the devil. (Mat 16:23) The Holy Spirit is a person. The Bible says He can be lied to, resisted, quenched, grieved, and pleased.
Jesus did amazing things in His three years of ministry. None of the things He did was simply because He was God, or the Son of God. He was 100% man, just like you or I (only without sin). The reason Jesus was able to do ALL of the things He did is because of and through the power of the Holy Spirit! Yes, He was God, but He was not operating as God. He humbled himself and became a man. He set aside His Glory as God to become a man. Other than being born without sin, He was in every way, just like you or I. There was nothing special about His appearance. He was a man filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, in perfect fellowship with the Father. So often we think, oh yeah, sure, Jesus did that because...well...He's Jesus...or He's God...No! Don't limit yourself by thinking that way! You and I have the same access to the Father that Jesus had because of the cross! We have the same access to power that Jesus had through the power of the Holy Spirit! This is why Jesus said, "You will do the same things I have done, and even greater!"

Today, it's all about the Holy Spirit!

I think there should be 3 time periods, not just two. I think we should have B.C., A.D., & A.C.! Let me explain:

B.C. - Before Christ came God would often speak to people audibly or He would send angels or messengers to speak to His people.

A.D. (Anni Domini - Meaning, "in the Year of our Lord") - When Jesus walked the earth, He was a representation of God in the flesh. God spoke through Jesus and used Him to demonstrate the Father's heart. Jesus said, "Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."

A.C. (After Christ) Now/Today - God connects with us, reveals Himself to us, and speaks to us through the Holy Spirit!

What is the purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit?

To feel good? To get spiritual goose bumps? To be weird and act drunk and crazy? NO! The purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit is for power; Power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, power to accomplish all signs and wonders and good works God has prepared in advance for us to do! Without this power, we as Christians and the Church will remain powerless and Heaven will only be something we get when we die. With this power, Heaven will invade our lives and this earth! His Kingdom will be manifested in us and through us!

The person of the Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus to bring glory to Jesus. Jesus always points us to the Father to bring glory to the Father.

The Holy Spirit is a gift freely given. This gift cannot be earned or deserved. It can only be freely received. However, it's hard to be filled up with something when you are already full of something else! Sometimes we must first empty ourselves of self before we can be filled with Him! Be it pride, lust, jealousy, envy, strife, hatred, unforgiveness, bitterness, self, rage, anger, the list goes on…

Are you hungry for Him or are you full of something else?

God, cause me to hunger for more of You. Holy Spirit I want to be full of You. God, let love be my highest goal. Let me earnestly seek and desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. Change my heart. Change my mind. Change the way I think. Renew my mind. Transform me. I want to be filled with power from on high to be a witness for You, and to do whatever you ask of me.

Pursue Him

So often we spend our whole life chasing after something or someone, only to find ourselves tired, exhausted, and disappointed. It seems to be like a dog chasing the ever elusive tail... So close but yet just out of reach. The faster you run, the faster it goes! What are you chasing? Are you chasing success? Money? Friendship? Relationship? Fame? Peace? Happiness? Security?

I remember one thing I wanted more than anything was to find the person I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I thought I knew what I wanted. I spent 7 years pursuing what I thought I wanted. I had my mind set. I even let God know what I wanted. I asked and begged Him for it. Still nothing. Then, I gave up pursuing the thing and starting pursuing Him. Shortly after, God brought to me what I didn't even know I wanted! He brought me what His word promises, more than I could ask or even imagine. He brought it to me without me even asking. God let me know He knows what I want and need even more than I do! He knows me better than I know myself. He is a Good God!

When you stop pursuing that thing and start pursuing Him, He will give you or bring to you that which you always wanted and needed and may not even know it! Did you know He knows you better than you know yourself? Did you know He wants what is best for you? Did you know that He will allow you to choose His best or what you think is best? That's the beauty of freewill.

My God will supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory... And He is very rich in Glory! God promises to give you the desires of your heart. Did you know that? This is His promise to us. But this promise comes with a pre-requisite. Do you want to know what it is? OK. Here it goes. Are you ready? This is it... You must "delight yourself in Him!" That's it! If you want God to give you the desires of your heart, simply delight yourself in Him. Don't believe me? That's what the Bible says. See for yourself: Psalms 37:4.

Why is this? I'm glad you asked! You see, when we are delighting ourselves in Him, the desires of our heart begin to change to match the desires of His heart! Oh how He loves to grant those desires!

The first commandment is this: Love God more than anything! Boy... You could pretty much do away with the other nine and: #1 Spend a lifetime living this one out; #2 Fulfill the other nine if you do! If we truly love Him more than anything, everything else will fall into place. All that we need and want is found in Him. He is our all in all. Our peace, our joy, the supply of all of our needs is found in Him.

Stop pursuing things! Start pursuing Him! Even good things, it doesn't matter... Finding your soul mate is a good thing. Raising a family is a good thing. Building a church or a business is a good thing. Fulfilling your dreams and desires is a good thing. Getting a job, a house, a car, whatever, good things. Stop pursuing things! Start pursuing Him! Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you! Believe it!

God, let everything else fade in the light of You! I want You to be first, before anything and everything else. I want to have 'no other gods before You!' Let my love for everything else seem like hatred compared to my love for You. I trust You. I know that You have my best interests in mind. I know that You created me, and You know me better than I know myself. You know my heart's true desires, and You want to fulfill them. I was created to know You and to love You.

When HE Comes

How much time and energy do we spend trying to get people to show up for church, when what we should be doing is trying to get God to show up for church!?!? When people hear that God is there, the people will come! Don't get me wrong, it's great to invite people to church, but we want them to meet Someone when they get there! We want them to have an encounter with the Living God!

Bono, of all people says, "Religion is what you are left with when the Spirit leaves the building." The way I see it, if God is not there, it's just a bunch of people getting together. Again, nothing wrong with that but... As the song says, "There must be more than this..." (Consuming Fire)

In fact, anything that can be done inside or outside of church that is not completely dependant on the power of God or His Holy Spirit leaves me wanting and unsatisfied. I want to be set apart from the average, the ordinary. We don't serve an average, ordinary, natural God. He is an Extra-ordinary, Super-natural, Awesome God!

When the King shows up, His entire Kingdom (Heaven) accompanies Him. What does that truly look like? Can you imagine... The King and His Kingdom here on earth? What does it look like when Heaven comes down?

In His Kingdom there is no sickness or disease. In His Kingdom there is no poverty or lack. In His Kingdom everything bows before Him. God let Your Kingdom come. Let Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven!

Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. What does this mean? What does it mean to "seek His Kingdom?" Before anything else (first), we are to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.

John the Baptist and Jesus both preached saying "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Repent simply means to "think in a new way" or "change the way you think." At hand, means - it is very near. In Mat 10:7 Jesus told us we are to preach the same. Then in the next verse (verse 8) He said, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Maybe this is what it looks like! Jesus said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has COME UPON you." (Mat 12:28) You see, when His Kingdom is at hand (or near) THIS is what should be happening! It shouldn't be something we have to strive for or work at. It should be as natural as breathing. We shouldn't have to chase miracles, they should follow us!

The Bible says these signs will follow them that believe... "In my Name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues..." Do you believe?

God what is following me? Is it signs and wonders or is it something else? I must decrease that You may increase in me. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You! Let my thoughts and my mind dwell continually on You, that Your Spirit may dwell continually in and upon me. I want to see the miraculous! I want to experience You and Your Kingdom while I still live. I know Heaven isn't just something I get to experience when I die. It is for me here, now, today! Let Your Kingdom come! Let Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!

The Power of Faith

Some say faith has enormous power. A better way would be to say faith has the ability to connect us to/with enormous power. Faith is like water in a pool. Put your hand in the water on one end of the pool and nothing will happen, but throw some power (a plugged in hair dryer for example) in on the other end of the pool and you WILL feel the effect! Faith in and of itself is powerless. It is the object of your faith that matters. It is the object of your faith that contains the power. Who or what is your source of power?


I can have faith in the microwave, and believe that it has the power to heal my body or take me to heaven when I die, but this simply is not true. No matter how much faith I have, or how strong my faith is... It does not matter. It will not heal me. It will not save me. The microwave is powerless to do these things. It will, however, cook a good bag of popcorn. So too, those who put their hope, their trust, their faith in anything but Jesus Christ (the one from the Bible) will be sadly disappointed. There are those who have put their faith in homes or possessions or money or friends or false gods that look a lot like Jesus, but all of which are powerless to save them from sin and death. Like the microwave, the enemy does have some power. He may be able to cook a good bag of popcorn, but he cannot ultimately save us.


So where does our hope lie? It lies in Him alone. "I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." He alone has the power to truly save, heal, and deliver. Through faith, He has the power to move mountains. He has the power to raise the dead, heal the sick, set the captives free.


God I believe... Help my unbelief. God fill me with you. Give me the faith of a mustard seed and allow me to connect and plug in to an Awesome, Holy, Powerful God, You.

Rumbling...

There is a rumbling….

Look at what Jesus did. Look at the disturbance that He caused and the aftermath that reverberated throughout the known world at that time. Now that was the work of the Holy Spirit through just one man and then 12. Now the question I ask is this: What kind of disturbance do you think would be caused by thousands or millions of people who lived and walked with the power and authority that Jesus did? I think we are about to find out…

People are tired of hearing about God and what He is able to do. They want to see and experience God for themselves. Don't just tell me about God and how great He is…Show me! Let me feel His grace. Let me experience His power. Let me know firsthand how deep and wide the Father's love is for me. Let me taste and see that the Lord is good.

Entire nations will be turned to serve a new King. The word is getting out! The church is breaking free from its walls. The sons and daughters of God that all creation has been longing for are being revealed. It's ABOUT TIME! The Kingdom of Heaven IS invading the kingdom of earth! As the Kingdom of Heaven invades earth, it brings with it the King and all His Kingdom represents and has to offer; salvation from destruction, complete healing, complete deliverance, the storehouse of Heaven.

Have you seen? Have you heard? Have you witnessed? Have you experienced the power of God being displayed all across the globe? Most importantly; Have you participated in bringing His Kingdom to this earth?

The lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. We have gone from, "we will see it" to "we are seeing it;" from "someday" to "today!"

For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power! (1 Corinth 4:20)

Jesus said "…anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works…" (Jn 14:12)

Holy Spirit, I invite you to come and not only be with me, but live in me, work thru me. Baptize me. Immerse me in You. May I be filled to overflowing. Let Your presence be evident to all who are near me. Let Your gifts be manifested in me. Let Your power flow thru me. Here am I Lord, use me!