Tuesday 30 August 2011

What Is In The Way?

This morning Jesus said to me let go, give over to me ALL your sins, sickness, and griefs, so that I can take care of them and you can be set free to live my life.

I ask: what are you holding onto that is getting in the way of Jesus working in and through you?

I am going to be open and honest with you, this is what I wrote down:

Sins - lustful and impure thoughts, anger and bitterness, greed (more, more), pride! fear of man and failure, selfishness ("my time").

I prayed through each one, one by one, giving them to Jesus to deal with, because I am not having very much lasting  success in trying to deal with them myself.
I heard Jesus speak specifically  to me about my fear, He said that these are crippling  me. Jesus said that it is my fear of pride, man and failure that is stopping me from acting in the fullness of the giftings that He has given to me.

This is a sin.
I am letting the enemy win in this area of my life.

This is not a victory that I can have on my own, I need Jesus to win it for me, which He already has, now I need to walk in that freedom.
Oh Jesus please help me. Amen.

Sickness - Dairy allergy, back pain, eye, hearing.
Please heal me Jesus.

I don't want my sickness to get in the way of the good works Jesus has prepared for me.

For example when I am in the Downtown Eastside I will not have the luxury of picking what I eat, I have to eat what is given to me. I don't want my diary allergy to cause me to be in pain and discomfort. I am asking Jesus to please heal me from my diary allergy (for at least my time in the DTES).
For that which Jesus choses not to heal me from, I give them into Jesus' hands and trust that He will take care of them, whatever that looks like, whither that is giving me a roomie that likes to give massages or protecting my eyes from the elements.

Griefs - moving from home, giving up my comforts and moving into discomfort.

At the moment those are the only three "griefs" that I came up with.

Not bad really. Yet I still NEED Jesus to be my strength and joy. I give these griefs to Jesus and trust that He will be strong when I am weak, that He will comfort me when I weep, and that He will fill me with His peace and JOY!

After I went through this process I started to write "every day: spend time…"

about half way through the list (which was actually a very good and useful list) I heard God say "Don't make a relationship with me a formula."

So I crossed the list out, and I am going to trust that God will lead me in what He has for me when I spend time with Him.
Amen!?

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Suffering and Hope

Yesterday morning I spent sometime reflecting on suffering in the context of my upcoming year in the Downtown Eastside. In Hebrews 5:8 it says “He (Jesus) learned obedience through what He suffered.” I looked up how “He suffered” is translated from Greek:

Original Word: πάσχω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: paschó
Phonetic Spelling: (pas'-kho)
Phonetic Spelling: (pas'-kho)
Short Definition: I am acted upon, suffer
Definition: I am acted upon in a certain way, either good or bad; I experience ill treatment, suffer

pásxō (a primitive verb) – properly, to feel heavy emotion, especially suffering; affected, experiencing feeling (literally "sensible" = "sensed-experience"); "the feeling of the mind, emotion, passion" (J. Thayer).  Copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc. For complete text and additional resources visit: www.TheDiscoveryBible.com


What I found particularly significant is the strong emphases on the feelings (thoughts and emotions) not necessarily the physical (which my mind directly goes to when I read “He suffered”).

We all suffer.

JESUS! The Son of GOD! Jesus, who was without sin, who is God learned obedience through suffering, what makes us think we can skip out on these lessons?

Not all of us will be physically persecuted (suffer) like many of our brothers and sisters around the World.

But Our Father knows what is best for us, and He loves us to much to leave us in the character state we are in (which I don’t know about you, but I am a bit of a mess!).

Our Father will teach us obedience through suffering (we should thank Him for this, because He is creating in us the beauty and likeness of His Son, Jesus).

Thank you Father God. Amen?

OK. We have established that we will suffer. Could you use some hope to set your eyes on? I know that I need some. After reflecting on suffering God gave me Revelation 7: 9-17:

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

   “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

   “Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

   And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,

   they are before the throne of God
   and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
   will shelter them with his presence.

16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
   never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
   nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
   will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
   ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Yes! I want to be there, I want to be wearing a white robe, and I want to be part of the great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, people and language!

This is why I will endure what little suffering I may encounter at War College in the Downtown Eastside, because I want to be one of these saints dressed in a white robe (maybe pink?) before the Living God. In a time not to far from now He will wipe every tear away from my eyes.

Thank you Jesus! 

You will suffer.

When you are suffering, reflect on this day (that may come sooner than you might think).

Be encouraged, anything and everything you endure will be worth it in the end.

When you are standing (or flat on your face) before the Living God, He will lift your face, wipe away every tear and says toYOU “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful, now enter into your eternal rest and let's celebrate together!”

Monday 22 August 2011

Your Only Responsibility

This morning a had a deeper revelation into a Truth I already knew but am still do not always live in.
 In Hebrews 12:2 Paul says “let us fix our eyes on Jesus; the Author and Perfector of our faith. – Jesus is the Author and Perfector of EVERYONE. I can not, will not and should not even try to perfect anyone.

In Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus invites is to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

-         Learn from Jesus

-         take to Jesus’ ways His teachings

-         His ways are freedom.

The most significant revelation for me at this time, considering what I am entering into in September is:

It is NOT my responsibility to change anyone. PERIOD.

It IS my responsibility to love and accept people, as they are (extending Jesus’ grace) and in so doing an environment will be created in which GOD can change people.

To sum up this very important Truth:

We can NOT change anyone (not your kid, brother, Mom, best friend, coworkers, a person with an addiction or someone who is jobless and homeless) NOBODY, you can change nobody! because you are NOT Jesus. ONLY God can change people. It is not your burden to change anyone.

Your ONLY responsibility is to LOVE God (fix my eyes on Jesus) and to LOVE people.

Friday 19 August 2011

Joel 2

BLOW THE TRUMPET! SOUND THE ALARM!

For the day of the Lord is coming, it is near.

The Lord is raising up a great and powerful people, like never has never been seen before or will ever be seen again.

Do you want to be apart of these people? I want to be a part of these people.

Jesus is raising up an army.
Will you enlist into His army? Yes. I am in. Amen.

It is not to late. Repent. Return to the Lord with ALL (your undivided devotion) heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning.

Repentance is no casual one liner, it is a get on your face, stop eating and cry out to God for forgiven.

He is quick to hear your cries and to forgive you. He will lift your face dry your tears, forgive you (100%) and fill you with His Spirit! YES! AMEN!

Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
And He relents over disaster.

Oh Church,

BLOW THE TUMPET!
Call the people to fast and pray,
as a group,
as the Church,
as an army,
as the Body of Christ,
together,
unite as one group,
crying out to our Father for mercy and to reveal Himself to our nations.
This is the calling of ALL followers of King Jesus,
weep and cry out “Spare your people, O Lord”

When we do this, when we humble ourselves before our God,
when we fast and pray,
He will pour out His Spirit,
and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved! Amen.

So, are you willing?
Will you sound the trumpet with me?
Will you fast and pray for your communities?
Will you be a part of the great and might army that King Jesus is raising up?

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Jesus: The First Avenger

Jesus: The First Avenger

Jesus is YOUR Avenger.
Jesus is you own PERSONAL Super Hero!

Jesus will never ever EVER leave or forsake you,
pinky swear.

When that bully beats you up,
when you get cheated on,
or when someone is just a plain ol’ B with an itch…

Jesus has YOUR back,
always
and forever,
so don’t worry.

No need to raise your fists,
plan an prank of revenge,
or even to Tweet!

No!
There is a better WAY (Warning: this is no walk in the park.)

Pray for the mean girls (and boys)
FORGIVE
treat them as you wish to be LOVED.

Don’t fret, don’t pout
because Jesus has you covered…

You have His Holy Spirit filling you up from the TOP of your head
to the bottom of your toes,
and everything in between.

That’s right,
you heard me right,
you got it, Jesus has given you a SUPER POWER:

Love.

You can be a super hero that LOVES the bad guys (or girls) in to the mind blowinglife crushing LOVE of God

Sounds like a fairytale?

It’s not!
because you serve a CRAZY BIG God who is the IMPOSSIBLE and LOVES you with a CRAZY IMPOSSIBLE LOVE.

Now that you know who YOU are,
and you have been given your mission

DO YOU ACCEPT?

GO FORTH Super Hero’s for Christ,
and LOVE ALL those who hurt you right into the arms of Jesus!

and NEVER fear for Jesus is HERE!

Amen!?

Monday 15 August 2011

The Burning Bushs

A couple days ago I was reading a devotional about Moses and the Burning Bush and I had this revelation:

We are the burning bush.

We are set on fire by God, it is His Fire (His love and The Holy Spirit) that burns bright in us, but we are no consumed, we are not burned up.

The Fire of God (His love) purifies us, burns up anything that is not of God, and fortifies all that is of Him.

This got me to thinking what is fire (the physical natural fire) what are its characteristics, what does it do?

I thought of forest fires, how they spread, how things catch on fire, how fire leaps to dry things. The Fire of God (The Holy Spirit) that is in us jumps, spreads, catches. Others will catch on fire when they come close to us. Flames leap to dry place (people with out the Holy Spirit are like dry land).

I thought about how people gather around fire for warmth and comfort. The Fire that is in us is the Comforter (the Holy Spirit), therefore we are a comfort, to those who are cold, tired, hurt and broken.

I got the picture someone walking through a dark windy cave with a burning torch. When we are set on fire by the Holy Spirit, we become a burning torch that guides in the darkness.

Lastly I thought about how fire is used to cook food. This is the least developed of all my thoughts. When we talk with people about questions, ideas and thoughts, these will be fully baked or cooked on the Fire of Truth. With out the Holy Spirit we can have some knowledge and some “good” ideas but they are “half baked” (probably even less then that). What I mean by “half baked” is that they are not fully developed, they have holes in them, and they are filled with lies.
When we are filled with the Spirit and we discuss, think and talk His Fire of Truth works on (cooks) are thoughts and fully cooks them. Just like when we cook meat we kill all the stuff that could harm us, the Holy Spirit’s Fire cooks out (kills) all the lies in are thinking.

I know that this metaphor can go further and deeper. Let’s do some cooking! What are your thoughts? Let’s throw in some ingredients, and let the Holy Spirit cook us up something Divine :)

Thursday 11 August 2011

The Key

The Secret to Life:

Simple, the secret to life is one thing.

The secret to life is to be completely given, sold out, submitted to God, your Creator, so that He can shape and shift you into the likeness of His character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.

Did you get that?

The key to life is one thing! Being completely given, sold out, submitted to God.

Simple? Yes, but not easy.

This might all sound like suicide (which it kind is), you might be asking “but what about me? What about my dreams and desires?”

When we submit ourselves, completely, 100%, when we completely give up our own wants, needs, and dreams, Jesus so fills us up full with His Spirit that we are 100% completely satisfied (guarantee or your money back).

This is what it means to die to self, but to gain life.

Note: The above works best when you do it 100%.

As my uncle told me years ago, it is so much more difficult to follow Jesus 99% then it is to follow Him 100%.

That is it! The meaning or key to life: JESUS.

When we sell out, give up, submit 100% to Jesus, into His loving hands we go and He will guide, teach, and shape us into more beautiful, lovely people then we could ever imagine (again, guarantee or your money back).

Jesus has a plan, a great big beautiful plan for your life.

He wants you to live the abundant life, but He will never force you into it.

You must choose to live the abundant life, with Jesus. To receive the full blessing of the plan that Jesus has for your life it is strongly advised that you give up, sell out, die to your own plan 100%.

There you have it, the Key to life. Now are you going to unlock the door to the abundant life, open it and walk through it?

Remember it is all about Jesus, He is the Key.

Thursday 4 August 2011

The Apple Tree

Song of Solomon 2:3 (New International Version)
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
   is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
   and his fruit is sweet to my taste

Jesus you are my apple tree, in you I find shade, rest, beauty, sweet smells, and nourishing delicious fruit… in you Jesus I find delight and I am delighted!

I need you Jesus, because this “world” cannot give me consistency, nor can any human, you alone Jesus are constant. You alone I can turn to all the time, every time and you will never ever disappoint or leave me. Thank you Jesus.

In the Trinity I find and I am in relationship with the perfect Father (Mother), brother/friend/lover and teacher/counsellor. Thank you Father God, Brother Jesus and Teacher Holy Spirit.

On a day like today, with the sun shining, birds singing and the sweet smells of summer I can find delight in my surroundings (though if I think about it, I am finding delight in God’s creation, therefore in Him), but the clouds are coming and the sun’s heat will turn cold…

Do not worry, do not fear! Jesus is ever near and you can find your rest, peace, joy, excitement, love and delight in Him no matter the circumstances. Amen.

Zephaniah (English Standard Version)
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD

Jesus is our refuge. We must seek our peace, joy, comfort and rest in Him and Him alone, because He alone can and does deliver us from all our troubles. This does not mean He will take our troubles away, but when we seek Him for help He will give us peace, joy, comfort and rest (and so much more) to make it through the troubled times.

The key is we must seek Him, ask Him for help. I know that I all too often turn to my mom, movies, ice cream, and/or anything else for my peace, joy, comfort and rest, instead of and before Jesus. All these things can only give me temporary, superficial relief. Jesus is the only one who will give me perfect, everlasting peace, joy, comfort and rest.

Turn to Jesus, He is here! Jesus wants to deliver you. Jesus is mighty to save YOU! There is no problem or pain to big or small for Jesus to deal with.

Will you let Jesus be your perfect Friend/Lover/Saviour?

Monday 1 August 2011

It’s BC Day… Stop Whining!

Today is BC Day… whatever that means. I actually did google it and basically all this day means is a day off for us all to have fun in the sun (that finally decided to show up!) and recognize the pioneers of this province.
BC Day made me think of the recent Canada Day which got me reflecting on the many freedoms and luxuries we experience as Canadians.
I went for a walk, on my lunch break, in the warm sunshine with a fresh ocean breeze keeping it at a perfect temperature, and I praised God for the blessings of being born in Canada and even better yet Victoria. Not only do I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I have a job, and I have a job that pays me a fair wage (despite how others might complain) and I get breaks! This is not the norm for much of the world. To many people do not have a job, and if they do have a job it is not fair pay and they don’t get breaks, they are over worked,  they are abused, they work in dangerous and deplorable conditions.
Do you have a job? Do you get paid a fair wage (I know you might not make as much as you want or it might not be a “living wage” in Canada, but try and keep it in perspective to the rest of the world)? Are your working conditions safe and workable? Do you get breaks?  Do you work 8-12 hours a day 5-6 days a week? * If you can answer yes to these questions be thankful! YOU ARE BLESSED!
Take sometime today to count your blessings, one by one.
*Note: I know that some of you do not have a job, and I am not taking that lightly, but even without a job, living in this country with the opportunities that it offers you, you are blessed. For those of you who are underpaid, over worked and are working in poor conditions, I ask are you self-employed and/or are you choosing to be in this situation? I know that there are injustices that are happening right here in Canada, but I think that we need to keep them in perspective with the rest of the world. I am not saying we should disregard the injustices in Canada. We do need to remember that while injustices do occur, I believe that the opportunities we have for justice far out way the injustices and the situation is far more hopeful than much of the rest of the world.