Saying Goodbye To A Friend

I lost a friend today.

I've known Peter for over twelve years. I knew him as Peter Jackson and first met him on a new thing called Twitter all those years ago.

It was actually my wife who first knew him and he sort of just became part of our lives as he joined in with our friends and family.

He lived in Winnipeg but he grew up in Montreal. We formed our bond together as he made comments about my biking excursions with my children along the Lachine canal. That's where he went biking with his dad.

I first met Peter and Nancy in the flesh when I had to got to a meeting in Winnipeg. I had an extra night layover so Peter thought it would be a great idea if he picked up this strange man and introduce him to his wife. Of course we had to go to the Forks and enjoy that wonderful dessert together.

Peter was a big man, in heart as well as body. His generosity was known from coast to coast as he touched people all around the world. Peter had friends all along his various trucking routes. He loved people and he loved being a part of their lives.

When Peter went back to trucking we got to see him often in Montreal. I have no idea how Bar-b-barn is going to stay afloat without him. That man loved his ribs.

He managed to bring Nancy a few times to visit with everyone in Montreal. By now he had a whole gaggle of friends here. We all loved him and he made us all feel important and special. Peter and Nancy had become part of the family.

Then there was the time that Peter convinced my wife and me to drive to Winnipeg to surprise Nancy. I have no idea how we managed to keep it from her but we did. You never really know a person until you see them in the security of their home. We also got to try Nancy's homemade ribs which puts Bar-b-barn to shame. I have no idea why Peter would have ever eaten ribs anywhere else.

Then we got the news. It wasn't devastating to us at the time because our little Church had experienced many different people being healed from that ugly disease. But we had no idea the battle we were in for.

We prayed at every prayer meeting. I encouraged everyone to keep fighting. My wife and I prayed every night for him. We prayed over the phone. We sent messages. We sent videos. We made declarations. We believed and we trusted.

To tell you what kind of man Peter was, during one of my last phone calls with him I told Peter I would pray with him. As soon as I was finished he said "Now it's my turn" and he started praying over me. This man dying of cancer couldn't stop himself from encouraging others.

We knew though that there were a lot of things stirring beneath the surface. He called home one day while I was out and he spoke to my wife. He asked about all the children, the weather, the church. She got the impression that Peter felt alone and just wanted to talk so she let him talk for as long as he wanted to.

He loved telling me of the Lord's provision. They had prayed about the car loan and the next week they received an unexpected cheque that covered the entire loan. They prayed for the mortgage as well. A couple of weeks ago he was so excited because provision was coming in from everywhere. He told me in one week they had received over $2000 in grocery cards. It seemed to recharge his batteries.

I would tease Peter about wheelchair races. He was a bit mischievous. One week I called he had been in bed for over four weeks. I told him he had better start getting up, that we had to get those wheelchair races going. I didn't know it but the doctor was in the room so Peter turned to the doctor and asked when he could start the wheelchair races. The doctor was confused at first but after he clued in he told Peter not this week but maybe next. 

It began to look like Peter wasn't going to be healed but we persisted in our faith. Peter believed and so we stood with him in his faith. I figured if king David could do it for his baby son then I could do it for my good friend. But Nancy was sounding tired. She told me she released him, that if he wanted to go to be with the Lord, who he loved, that it was okay. But Peter was his own man and refused.

I am convinced that Peter fought as hard as he did because he loved his wife. The easiest thing would be to let go and arrive in the place we long for. The hardest thing would be to stay and fight, experiencing all the pain and suffering that he did. He chose to fight because he loved Nancy and did not want to leave her alone. He knew how hard it would be. It was love that kept him here as long as it did. I can understand that and, for me, it spoke even louder of his generosity.

I got the call from Nancy this morning to say he was gone. It ripped the heart out of me, not for me but for Nancy. "I don't know how I will live without him", she said to me. No, I can't imagine how she will either. But she will, because Jesus will see that she does. We can't see it right now, but it's going to be brilliant. We will all continue on with Peter but his place will always remain empty in our lives. The older we live the more empty places we carry.

I went out for a walk this morning to reflect on this relationship and process the news. When I got home I told my wife that the world feels different today. She agreed. 

Sigh

Peter, I love you man. I'm going to miss you and all the encouraging moments we would have shared. Goodbye my friend. We'll see you soon. Thank you for the privilege of calling you friend.

What The Rain Does To Me

 I was out walking my dog a couple of nights ago when I was surprised by rain. It wasn’t in the forecast and it was too dark to see the type of clouds overhead so I did not venture out expecting it. 

At first it was like “Ugh” because it was not a warm night and I had not brought a jacket. But I realized I actually didn’t mind it. In fact, I was surprised that I was enjoying it. There was a strange sense of groundedness that it gave. So I went with that feeling and decided to explore the explanation.

Lately, things have seemed a bit chaotic, out of control. The pandemic has made everything a little more complicated and there is that subconscious stress that I keep talking about. We are in control of our waking conscious thinking but we are not always aware or in control of what is beneath the surface. This may become more evident as we get back to the routine of school, realizing that this routine is very different from what we have known in the past.

Let’s face it, if we have any routines none of them are what they used to be. This causes more stress than you may be aware of. It gives a false sense of having no control.

Then there is the rain.

There are things we can control and there are things we cannot. I can control when I go to sleep but I can’t control tomorrow’s weather. I can control what I eat but I can’t control my Prime Minister’s decisions. I can control what I watch but I can’t control the content of the news. I can control the thoughts I dwell on but I can’t control what my neighbour says and does.

Did you notice something there? I can control myself but I can’t control you. I can control myself but I can’t control the world. I can control myself but I cannot control the politics. I can control myself but I can’t control the weather. The only thing I have any authority to control is myself.

So that is what the rain is doing to me, grounding me in the reality of my Father’s creation. There is nothing I can do to stop the rain. The rain is something my Father put into motion. There is nothing I can do to stop the sun from rising in the morning. This too is something my Father put into motion. There is nothing I can do to stop him from loving me, from being with me, from desiring me, from believing in me. This is something he put in motion when he said “Let there be light” and he has not looked back since and the proof of it is found on the cross.

This world might look like it is out of control but none of it comes as a surprise to my Father. He was aware before I was born and he planted things in my path that I will need in every step of my journey. He knew it all and he planned for it. But I must exercise control over me, take my eyes off the problem and discover the solution he planted before I was born and that he has made available to me now. He doesn’t make it easy but he does make it simple. I just need to look for the things of the Kingdom.

In every dark moment, I am to turn from the darkness and find that gold nugget, that glimmer of light. All good things are from above so in the dark we look for the good things, the positives and there we will find him and our encouragement. We will find the treasures, the hope, the joy, the things to celebrate and lift up.

Face it, anyone can see the dark. It does not take any discernment to see the negative, the hopeless, the decay, the loss. It takes a heart determined to seek our Father and the things of the Kingdom to discern what the darkness tries to hide : hope! Let those who have ears to hear, hear. Let those who have eyes to see, see.

So this is what the rain does for me, it reminds me that the things I do not have the authority to control are in the hands of my Father. He’s in charge and I am glad he is. So I will control what is mine to control, and I will use that to chase after the things of the Kingdom, even, or maybe especially, in the dark.

Are We Avoiding Growing Up?

We are meant for maturity, yet day after day we either stay the same or grow worse. We have to actively acknowledge that our Lord intends for us to grow, to become more than we were yesterday. It is not simply for our selfish purpose but for the maturing of the Body and the salvation of the world. We must mature.

Maturity comes at a cost, it requires us to face and walk through situations we would rather avoid. It is hard but Paul's letter to the church of Colossae makes it clear that it is part of our purpose. Paul prays:

Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (1:9)

Notice what Paul stated was needed for spiritual maturity:
     1. knowledge of God's will
     2. wisdom
     3. spiritual understanding

Paul stated that the purpose of his prayer was:

We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way. (v. 10)

So, worthy of the Lord's sacrifice on the cross (a fruitful life instead of a wasted one) and one that would please him in the living. Paul names three ways that this will be done in our living:

     1. by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God (v. 10)
     2. by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience (v. 11)
     3. and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. (v. 12)

Good works, growing in knowledge of God, endurance, patience, and joyful thanksgiving; these are themes throughout the epistles and are the foundations to our growth. We need to pay attention and ask for these to increase so that we may mature and increase in Jesus.

We have fallen for the enemy's trick of getting us to focus on ourselves, seeking short cuts and comfort in life. Do you recognize any of these? Perhaps something that had been said to Jesus? Take a quick look at our society and then look in the mirror. Instead of running away from the discomfort, the hardships, trials, and storms, we need to trust the Lord for the strength to stand and to learn, growing into the fullness of Jesus.

There is much to learn and put into practice from this letter. I hope to spend some time in it with you over the next while.

Responding To Hate

Belgium has been attacked today, as France was attacked, as Russia was attacked, as many countries have been attacked in the past. It is a good illustration of how Jesus has transformed us to live by a different code than this world, to have different values and to live by a different perspective. It is vital that, as his followers, we die to the desires of our first nature and live in the Spirit, with our new nature.

Jesus called us to be something different, a new people, a new nation, to live in a new way so that the world would look in and Father would receive the glory for what they see. It is more than a love that we put on; it is a love that permeates everything that makes us unique. Let me remind you how it is suppose to look, as Jesus taught it. Remember, this cannot be achieved by our effort but instead in cooperation with the Holy Spirit:

 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you." (Luke 6:27-31)

Unfortunately too many of us call on the name Jesus without submitting to Jesus. We think it is okay to sing his praises and curse people. We think it is okay to react to the world in our flesh while fellowshipping with God in our spirit. We think this and use the excuse that we are human. But we aren't human. We are a new creation and we have been empowered to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to live differently than the rest of creation so Father will receive glory. Stop making excuses, we are going to be held accountable. Don't hate those who want to see you dead, and don't fear them; pray for them.

“If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:32-36)

There is no creature on this planet that should compare to the forgiving and generous character of a follower of Jesus. We are possessed by his Spirit and thus live by his character. When we fail we are corrected but we are never permitted to excuse the failure. When we fail we should understand that we have weakness in our relationship with Jesus. When we are intimate with him we are strong in his character, sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

“Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.” (Luke 6:37-38)

Why do we fail to know this is how we live, react, respond? When we fail why do we think it is okay? Why do we not understand the need to reject our error, to confess and repent of it, to ask Jesus for greater intimacy to live in the manner that pleases him? If Jesus is our Master we can't just ignore his words, they were given to enable life in us. 

We are different than all the rest because we have the character of Jesus. Hate is never justified. If Jesus could ask forgiveness for those who crucified him certainly we can ask for and give forgiveness to those who do harm to us. Our calling is a higher calling of sacrificial love. So let us love those who see themselves as our enemies, those who persecute us, those who want to do harm to us; just like Jesus.

Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

Last week I wrote that we need to be careful about the words that we allow to be spoken into our lives. When destructive words are allowed to take root they can undermine Yahweh's glorious purpose for us. In the same sense, we need to be careful of the words we speak. The easiest thing for us to do is complain. It is the most natural thing for our flesh to do and it does it often.

Our Father hates complaining.

That statement alone should cause us to sit up and take notice. Few of us would want to be engaged in any activity that our Father hates and yet every day we find ourselves complaining about people, situations, our perceived lack or the many great injustices in the world. Consider this one simple example from God's Word:

"When the people complained intensely in the Lord's hearing, the Lord heard and became angry. Then the Lord's fire burned them and consumed the edges of the camp." (Numbers 11:1)

Obviously we live in the age of grace, an age in which we are covered by the grace of our Lord as we grow into maturity. But just because the Lord does not punish us for the things we do does not mean they do not hurt him. Our God takes our complaints personally. That should mean something to us.

What really hurts is when we complain against his goodness. Our flesh has selective memory. It remembers the slavery of sin so much differently than the reality of it. It remembers the pleasure of it and forgets the consequences. It even exaggerates the pleasure so that we will complain about where  we are in freedom in Jesus and long to go back to slavery. Remember this:

"The riffraff among them had a strong craving. Even the Israelites cried again and said, 'Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. Now our lives are wasting away. There is nothing but manna in front of us." (Numbers 11:4-6)

Funny how these complainers forgot about their lack of freedom, forgot the chains, forgot the whips, forgot the hard labour, forgot the thousands of dead. We need to take warning from this moment in Israel's relationship with the Lord. Complaining goes beyond our Lord hating it; these words also have an effect on our trust relationship with the Lord. Every word of complaint is a testimony against the goodness of our God. We hold on to enough of these words and it will erode our trust in Jesus and his promises. We will begin to believe that there is something better for us elsewhere. When we get into a crisis we will try to find help from another source. And when it comes to the good gifts of our Lord, we will reject them.

This complaining generation of Israel is the generation that failed to enter into the land of "milk and honey" that Yahweh had promised them. Because of their complaining attitude they could only see the giants, the fortified cities and the great armies that they faced. Their complaints turned their eyes away from the LORD God Almighty to the things of this world that, in themselves, they had no hope of overcoming. No wander our God hates a complaining tongue; he knows the effect it has on the heart.

If we are to remain his children we need to follow the example we find in the Word and fill our mouths with praise and thanksgiving. We need to put effort into this relationship and cultivate a heart of gratitude in all things. Whether in the desert or the land of plenty, our Lord remains the same, his love remains the same, his promises remain the same, his provision remains the same and all praise is due him. We can trust him. Today, let us sing with the psalmist:

Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Serve the Lord with celebration!
    Come before him with shouts of joy!
3 Know that the Lord is God—
    he made us; we belong to him.
    We are his people,
    the sheep of his own pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanks;
    enter his courtyards with praise!
    Thank him! Bless his name!
5 Because the Lord is good,
    his loyal love lasts forever;    his faithfulness lasts generation after generation.  (Psalm 100)

Are You Still Worshiping Goat Demons?

We all want more from our relationship with Jesus. We want more clarity, peace, joy, love, contentment, direction, vision, hope. The list can go on but the essence is we want to be closer to Jesus. We understand that this is exactly what Jesus wants. In fact, in the gospel of John Jesus prayed about our oneness with him. But we expect it to be handed to us on a silver platter.

Our attitude stinks when it comes to our expectations in this relationship. We expect to put in minimum effort for maximum gain. We look at salvation, which is free for those who believe, because of God's grace, and we think this also translates into a no-effort relationship. But that is not what the Word of God reveals. Relationships take work; "Seek my face", says our God and seeking is a thing of effort.

This relationship requires total honesty. The Spirit wants us to examine and understand our motivations so we can confess and repent of the selfish ones and seek our God in purity of heart and mind. Most of us will not do that. We won't even consider how important it is. We get good feelings now and then. The Spirit is manifested from time to time. We experience God's provision and we don't consider how much all of this is by his wonderful grace but not the fullness that he desires to give in proper relationship.

The Israelites also had the manifestation of Yahweh in a major way. He was always visible to them in the desert. How could they forget what happened in a very tangible way in Egypt. They heard his voice and were afraid. Yet, they never entered into the purity of relationship that Yahweh desired. Here is a little snippet:

"The Israelites must no longer sacrifice their communal sacrifices to the goat demons that they follow so faithlessly. This will be a permanent rule for them throughout their future generations." (Leviticus 17:7)

Goat demons? Really? The strange thing is that we are a crazy creature that would rather hold on to an ugly familiar thing instead of a new and wonderful thing. We will do stuff simply because it is what our parents did. We would rather hold on to demon worship than step into the most incredibly beneficial relationship with the Son of God, just because the former is familiar and the latter is not.

I guarantee that there are attitudes, thoughts and actions that are part of us that dishonour our God, just like worshiping the goat demons. Such things prevent us from growing up into the full measure of Jesus Christ. They are things that are so much part of us that we don't even realize what they are or the source of them. This is especially true of the way we think. If only we could grasp how positive our Father is toward us. If only we could see is desire and longing for us. If only our mental barriers would be taken down, the demons evicted, so that the joy and the peace that comes from the Lord's presence would be a permanent feature of our being.

These things could be discovered by every worshiper of Jesus Christ, if only we would pursue a growing relationship with him. If only we would lose our attraction to the things of this world, to goat demons, and rely fully on the Holy Spirit. If only we would learn to love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind, body and passion. If only we would be willing to lose our pride, dignity and allow those barriers to come down, even if it looks shameful in the eyes of the world. Jesus makes all things new, beautiful and full of himself, and if that is all that matters to us, we will have more of him

Controlled or Controller?

So much of our life is spent trying to control our life; the circumstances, consequences, behaviours and people. But control is an illusion in this world. People think they are in control but so many things control people. Just our habits alone exert a great deal of control over us. Food is a big controller. Entertainment also wields control over our thinking and behaviour. If you ever want to see what has control over you, do a 21 day fast, living on only water. It certainly reveals a lot.

It was coming out of just such a Fast that I was reading the passage about Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy tax collecter; a ruler of tax collectors. But he was also a man who had developed an interest in Jesus. Most people would remember him as the man who climbed a tree to see Jesus, because he was too short to see over the crowd. Jesus saw him, the effort he had made to climb that tree, and invited himself to Zacchaeus' home for a meal.

Something happened in that quick exchange, something wonderful in Zacchaeus' spirit. Salvation came to his heart and we can see it in his response to the criticism that followed. The religiously minded always criticize what they themselves have never experienced:

"Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.'" Luke 19:7

Praise the Lord that Jesus sees the heart. In this case Zacchaeus' response demonstrated that there was real change. The thing that had possessed him, controlling him, had lost it's control as he welcomed Jesus as Master of his life. That's what Jesus does, he strips away the things that had control over us and then hands to us the control over these things:

"Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.'" Luke 19:8

This is quite a change for a man who was a ruler of tax collectors; tax collectors being a group of men who were considered traitors of Israel and who liked to line their pockets by charging extra tax. So here this man repents of what he was and offers to give it all away. Jesus' reaction tells the full story:

"Today salvation has come to this household." 18:9

Contrast this to the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and who Jesus told to sell all he possessed and follow him. That man could not give up what possessed him and he walked away still under its control.

I appreciate this imagery that we have of one who was controlled becoming the controller because of Jesus. This is what Jesus has done for us, if only we would understand and embrace it. Nothing in this world has power or authority over you. "Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you really will be free." (John 8:36)

The enemy does not give up easily. He tries to convince us that nothing has control over us, that we are already free. Do circumstances get you down? Do people offend you? Does illness cripple you? Are you limited by finances? Does tiredness stop you? How much time on the Internet / television / music? Are you able to say no to your cravings? I think you may be surprised by how many things have power over you. But they don't really have control, they are only a shadow of what they were before Jesus took over your life. Jesus intends for you to be well with joy and peace constantly.

My friends, it is time to rise up and take control with the authority Jesus has given you through him. Be a Zacchaeus and give it all away; Jesus has something better for you.

Is The Church Presenting The Reality Of Jesus?

Don't you ever get the feeling that we are getting it wrong? Don't you ever sit in Church and feel that we are being presented with a sanitized God? After all, this is the God who sacrificed his Son, killing him on the cross, so that we could be adopted as his children. It seems odd that this same God desires to give us everything we want and to spoil us with what we ask. Is he really interested in seeing us all wealthy, healthy and satisfied in this place? (There is a difference between satisfied and content) If that is how you see Father then you are not being presented with the true revelation of our God found in the Bible and understood through the Spirit.

There are two things going on in our life when we serve the Lord in this world. First, there is our service to him as we deal with people with compassion and grace while presenting them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to make disciples. But while we are doing this, our wonderful God is also developing us, helping us grow and mature. He does this in the messiness of life and ministry.

Our Father has no desire to spoil us but he wants to bless us, equip us with what we need in our service to him. If we need a bicycle to get around to minister in our neighbourhood he will provide the means; if we need a multi-million dollar jet he will provide it. He tells us to ask. He will provide for where he has placed us. He will also lead us through the mess and ugliness of life in our development. The world is a messy and ugly place in comparison to his glory. We need to understand that these two things, his provision and our development,  are not contrary but have different purposes.

At the very foundation of our relationship is dependence. That is hard for us because from birth we have been taught to be independent, but when we come to Jesus we are taught to depend on him for everything. He isn't interested in what we have to offer. He wants us to empty ourselves and allow him to use us as he needs us, in whatever capacity, with the tool of a bicycle or a jet. Sometimes, he needs to lead us through difficult times in our training so we don't rely on ourselves but learn to turn to him in every situation. Paul the apostle wrote:

 Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be unaware of the troubles that we went through in Asia. We were weighed down with a load of suffering that was so far beyond our strength that we were afraid we might not survive. It certainly seemed to us as if we had gotten the death penalty. This was so that we would have confidence in God, who raises the dead, instead of ourselves. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

I don't know about you but I have had periods in my life that felt like I was going to be destroyed. I had a choice in each incident to try to help myself (which was actually beyond my ability or anyone else's) or to turn to the Lord. I spent hours, days, weeks, in worship, reminding myself who my Lord is and what he promised. I washed myself in Scripture and soaked myself in worship. It felt like I was at the point of death but sustained me and eventually interceded and rescued me. In those moments I learned that my strength was not sufficient but my Lord's was. I need him for everything and I dare not try to serve him in my limited abilities.

Maybe that is hard for you to understand. Just keep in mind that you have been raised by your parents and society to be independent, so the thought of not relying on yourself can be foreign and frightening. But the only way we can serve our Lord is understanding our constant dependence on the Vine (Jesus). A branch cannot support itself, but from the sap we receive through the vine (Jesus) he is able to produce fruit through us. The fruit is not for the branch but for those who would eat from it.

Our life is a classroom and Father is the teacher, training and transforming us in the power of the Spirit to be like the Son, Jesus. So let us submit ourselves, learn our lessons and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ. Doing this will mean that we never lose our joy or peace, when we realize that our God is in all the messiness of life. Never stop singing his praise. Trust. Obey. Lean.

Experiencing The Holy Spirit

The premise is simple.

There has to be change in order for change to happen.

If things remain the same then change is denied.

The old must go in order to allow the new to enter in.

Many of us do not experience Jesus because, at the heart of it, we do not want to change. But when Jesus possesses, things change. He told us, as he told Nicodemus, that there must be a second birth, a moving from the state we are in to a new state. He calls us a new creation. But it can't be new if we are doing what we have always done, thinking as we have always thought, and valuing what we have always considered to have value.

Most of us want all the good stuff Jesus promised but we want to limit the cost. Some would say there is no cost as Jesus paid the cost but Jesus said it will cost us everything and we would be glad to pay that cost if we understood what we would possess, or what would possess us. If you know the Word then there are all kinds of verses that Jesus spoke that are just now flooding your thoughts via the Holy Spirit and what you have hidden in your heart.

Read:

"Because of the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the disciples were overflowing with happiness." (Acts 13:52)

This was penned concerning Paul and Barnabas as they were just ejected from a town. There was no confusion in them; no distractions; no philosophies pounding at them through movies, music, news, television. They had a mission and everything they did was focused on that mission and because they did not try to fit other things in, they had the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit, and that made them happy. Imagine that.

The one thing we all say we want to experience, the overwhelming presence of the Lord, is available to us, if only we would let go of the old. If only we would be absorbed by the new. If only we didn't try to live a dual life. If only we understood carnality and rejected it while understanding our mission. If only we could understand that Jesus did not rebirth us to live a life of duplicity.

But is it too late for us? Are we too far gone to understand? Is it possible to silence the other voices? Is it possible to experience the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in this age? The Church seems to have multiple personalities on this subject but I know what Jesus said and I have decide to trust his words and his words alone as he declares to even this generation:

“It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.” (Matthew 19:26)

If you really want to experience the presence of God, he will help you silence those voices. You will have to make some decisions to simplify your life but he will empower you to do it. After all, Father's great desire is fellowship with you. Be still and know that he is God.

We Are Not Without Hope

Have you ever seen anyone happy about going through tough times? We all face them. We all have had our hearts broken, torn apart, stomped all over. We all have faced financial challenges and lost sleep not knowing what we were going to do. We all have faced some sort of bullying and intimidation. We have all been students and had to face the impossibility of it all. We all have had to walk through those dark valleys not knowing where we were going and what it would result in. But have you ever seen anyone glad to be in such times?

We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 4:3-5)

We take pride in our problems? Paul the apostle obviously came from a different planet. Our perhaps he lived in a completely different reality, with a different set of priorities shaped by a vastly different perspective. Most of us will never live what Paul went through and yet we have been invited to live in his same reality; a reality based on the principles of Jesus Christ, governed by a set of spiritual laws provoked in us by the Holy Spirit, made possible by the re-birth we experience through Jesus. Let's consider three statements Paul made before this declaration concerning troubles.

Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness combined with our faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (v. 1)

Our new reality states that we have all that we need in Jesus. Because we are guaranteed eternal life, the forgiveness of our sins, we have peace. When we understand the value of this great gift and its importance over everything else, nothing can disturb the eternal peace that is ours.

We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him. (v. 2a)

Praise the Lord, nothing he has done for us is dependent on us. We are in his grace. All things are covered. When we mess up all we have to do is confess it to him to keep the relationship honest but the sin is already covered. It may feel awkward at first because all religion says that you have to pay penance, that there must be some cost for that sin but Jesus paid our cost. We stand in his grace. Oh the wonderful peace we possess.

We boast in the hope of God’s glory. (v. 2b)

Amen! Ours is a living hope every day. We get to experience hope in the best and worst of times. If the sun fails to rise today we still possess hope because Jesus Christ has done it all and we possess his promises. And all of this is worked out in us as we mature in the challenges of living in a fallen world.

We are being perfected for eternity by Father. He is using everything we experience to benefit us. We are in a process of growing up, maturing, so we can grow into the fullness of Jesus. This is why we can laugh and sing and rejoice when the storms are upon us, because we know who Jesus is, who we are in him and what we possess. Trouble benefits us because Father transforms it that way. Trouble produces stuff in us. Trouble produces, endurance. Endurance produces character. Character produces hope. It is a vastly superior reality in which we walk with Jesus.

You are not without hope!

I Am Afraid And Anxious. How Can I Have Peace?

It is crazy how we walk through our day as if we are clueless about the incredible spiritual realm all around us when we have a direct view of it through God's Word. We are not normal so why do we act normal? Why do we act as if the natural laws of this world apply to us? Do we not realize that Father wants to glorify himself through us so the world will see him and know him? This means that we need to learn to live by the laws of the Kingdom. Let's pick a simple example.

It is a disservice to Jesus for us to be worried and filled with anxiety about anything. In fact, it reveals either our ignorance of the Word or our unwillingness to apply it. Yes, it is not good enough to know the Word, you actually have to do the Word, live it, put it into action. Let's pick our example here from Philippians 4:6-7:

"Do not be anxious about anything..."

There you go, a direct command that we are not to have anything to do with anxiousness. You tell me that is impossible because anxiousness is a natural reaction to our environment. And I remind you again that we are not governed by the natural laws of this world but by the laws of the Kingdom, as we are in relationship with the King. So how is it possible for us not to be anxious because of our environment?

"Do not be anxious about anything...
"but in everything..." 
"by prayer and petition..." 
"with thanksgiving..." 
"present your requests to God."

I broke it down there so that you can see we are given specific instructions on how to walk with Jesus as invincible super heroes in this world. "In everything"; doesn't matter what the circumstances are, does not matter your situation, doesn't matter how big or small it is, it doesn't matter if it looks impossible to you, you are to present your requests to God.

How do you present the requests? Sack clothe and ashes? Cutting yourself? Laying in bed for days? Laying on your face on the floor for days? No. It is by prayer and petition. You don't have to do anything to earn Yahweh's favour, you already have it. You accepted the sacrifice of the Son and are part of the family. He enjoys responding to your needs. It is not a burden to him.

Take note though that it is with an attitude of thanksgiving. No long faces. No great tears. No expressions of "IF". We are to come before him remembering everything that he has already done for us. We come to him with praises of thanksgiving because we are thankful for his love, presence and his desire to help us. We come with an attitude of joy that happens in a relationship of trust. We don't come expressing doubt of his favour but with thankful joy for his assurances.

Then something incredible happens, something that cannot be understood by hearts governed by the laws of this world. If you are trying to live by those rules you will not understand it or perceive it but those of us who walk in the Lord, trusting and obeying, can testify to the truth of the matter.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Notice this doesn't take place when we simply sit back and play the part of the victim. We are not a victim when we are citizens of the Kingdom. Father uses everything for our good, to benefit us, to mature us and bring us closer to him. When we bring everything to Jesus in prayer, he gives us a peace that does not make sense in the natural but that's because it is supernatural peace. It is this peace that guards us, preserves our hearts and minds as we live in Jesus.

It's all as simple as that, if we choose for it to be that simple. Or we can make it as complicated and horrible as we want. All of this and so much more is ours if we would simply trust Jesus, learn the Word and apply it to our living. Why would anyone choose not too? The answers are all there, just apply them.

Happiness Is Not That Difficult

We all want to do well. We all want a successful life. We all want to be content with who we are and with what we are doing. We want to be happy. It is a reasonable desire and one which we make a lot more complicated than it is. It is unfortunate that in our Western society we equate success with "things". We fill our lives with "stuff" that we think will bring us happiness and pleasure. This "stuff" can be possessions, toys, gadgets; or it could be finances, healthy bank accounts, money to do stuff with; or it could be relationships, people we lean on. This "stuff" might also be academic achievement, education degrees, or perhaps our profession, the thing we dedicate our life to doing. But happiness is not that difficult.

All this "stuff" that I listed above are temporary. They look solid but really they are here today and gone tomorrow. We don't have any control over them at all. We may work hard to gain them but in a blink of an eye they can be taken from us. Our expectations can be shattered in an instant. One wrong word, one thoughtless decision, one indiscretion; gone. One accident, one disaster, someone else's mistake; gone. Life happens and in a flash we can go from victor to victim. What of happiness then? But happiness is not that difficult.

What of your expectations? What happens to you if you fall short of your goals? What if you don't obtain the stuff that you think will provoke your happiness? What if your grades are not good enough to get into that specific university which would allow you to apply for that certain career? What if in not getting that career you had to be satisfied with a lesser salary which would not allow you to buy all that "stuff" that you believe brings happiness? What if your investments don't work out and you end up closer to poor than rich? What if you can't support that great life-style? What if your perfect relationship turns out to be a nightmare of abuse? What happens when your expectations are not met? Is your life an unhappy ending? But happiness is not that difficult.

Things that are not possessed of eternity will never bring us happiness because they do not touch the deeper place of our life. There is a hunger in us, a desire to be in relationship with the One who created us. We try to satisfy this longing with "stuff" but "stuff" cannot reach the deeper place. "Stuff" cannot satisfy the longing of our soul. Only Jesus can respond to the longing of our soul and only that relationship brings us eternal satisfaction. Once possessed, nothing can touch that relationship because Jesus will never fall away no matter what we go through. Happiness, or what we know as joy, is simple and it is found in a passionate relationship with Jesus Christ.

There is a Scripture that best describes the attitude of those who walk with Jesus, who find their satisfaction in him, who exude joy in all circumstances of life. This is their code:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

To those who are pursuing happiness in all the wrong places this sounds like a fine sentiment that they may put on a plaque on their wall. But to those whose entire purpose is found in Jesus, this is the reality they live every day and it comes from they joy that they live. It doesn't produce the joy because the joy comes from the relationship but it is found in the river of joy that flows from the relationship. People who make Jesus their everything trust nothing else but him. They do not trust their own thinking on matters but desire to live the truth of his Word. They do not segregate their relationship with Jesus from what they do in the world. Jesus becomes their reason for what they do; all action and decisions are provoked by this relationship. In living in this relationship Jesus directs their affairs, their decisions, their paths, their direction and everything is for his purpose.

Happiness is not that difficult. It is found in a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship causes the colours of this world to fade in comparison so that the false joy of the "stuff" is replaced by the genuine joy of eternity. We are an eternal creature living in a temporary circumstances longing for relationship with our eternal Creator; and when we have it we know the experience of real joy.







 

Having Trouble Sleeping?

One of the blessings I have always enjoyed from the Lord is sleep. Within seconds of laying my head on my pillow I am gone and I don't wake up until it is time. Usually I wasn't even disturbed by dreams, although I am currently going through a season of prophetic dreams. Sleep is a blessing I have always trusted in and given thanks for because it tells me all is right with my relationship with the Lord. It tells me that my confidence is found in him and that I am trusting him in a life filled with so many disturbances.

King David understood this same blessing. Even when his son Absalom had taken the kingdom from him, forcing David to flee for his life, he wrote:

I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around. (Psalm 3:5-6)

The reason David had this blessing of sleep even in the midst of the worst period of his life is because he understood and accepted one simple truth:

Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. (v. 8)

In the following psalm David expressed the same blessing for the same reason:

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

Sleep has always been my measuring rod for my relationship with Jesus. One of the fundamental elements of our relationship with him is confidence and trust, no matter the circumstances of our life. If my sleep is disturbed I know that something is not quite right about my relationship. I go to prayer first about the relationship and then after to lift up the circumstances to him. The relationship is the priority over everything else.

Let's face it, the biggest hurdle to get over in our life was our sin. If Jesus loved us enough to take care of our sin then how can we not trust him with everything else? Sometimes our biggest problem is being afraid that he will not want for us what we want for us, and in this you may be assured that we are wrong. Our relationship and love for Jesus is such that we no longer care about what we want, making our only desire to be the Father's will. We trust the Scriptures that tell us he uses everything for our benefit, so we place our confidence in him.

Worry, fear, anxiety, stress, depression are all robbers of our sleep. They are all negative things, none of which are from the Lord. He showers down on us the blessings of love, peace and joy. In fact, these are the first of the fruits of the Spirit produced in us when we walk with the Lord. If these are not being produced we know for certain that all is not right with the relationship. If we want a right relationship we need to give everything up to Jesus, stop longing for what we want, and make it the purpose of our heart to seek out what he wants. Simply put: Trust Jesus. It is the Christian way. In this you will be blessed with incredible sleep every single night.

Sleep well my friends.

Blessed For Eternity Are The Poor

A morsel to chew on as you progress through your day:

"Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." (v. 20)

The Spirit tells me this is exactly as Jesus said it. Blessed are the poor, happy are the poor, smiled upon are the poor. You are lacking nothing. We are lacking nothing because we are right where Father can interact with us the most.

The poor have no resources. They have no support. There is no one to back us up. When we are sick Jesus is the only one who can bring healing because we can't afford anything else. This is a good thing because we are forced to do exactly what Father wants us to do, to lean on him, to turn to him, to trust, to hope, to cry out.

When we have no food, when we can't pay the bills, when we can't do what we need to do, we are right where he wants all his children to be: completely dependent on him. It is not a position of shame but one of strength. The poor have much greater spiritual muscles than the rich because we have to exercise them far more. We are more often upon our knees. We have no pride left. We are desperate enough to believe, to trust and to live in faith; praising him for everything we have, with thankful hearts.

Being poor is not a position of weakness but a place of strength. Scripture again and again tells us that Father looks to glorify himself through our weakness and when we don't have the things of this world to lean on we are in a better position to see him glorified through us. But we really are not poor. Far from it. We are rich beyond understanding. We lack nothing because he is our provider. Only to this world do we look poor but in the Kingdom we are rich because we have Jesus.

"Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation." (v. 24)

What a sad life to live, to have only what is seen and miss out on the greater things that cannot be seen. What a sad existence if this is all there is. It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom. There is so much stuff filling up a rich man's existence. So much harder to let it go. So many more options. So many different thoughts and perspectives. So much garbage filling their heads.

To follow Jesus we have to be willing to lose it all, to give it away, to become nothing so he can become everything. How much easier it is to do this when you already have nothing than if your life is filled with possessions and perverse thinking. Those who rely on such things had better enjoy them while they can because that is all they are getting.

Rich or poor, the only way is Jesus Christ. Rich or poor, it will still require your death. Rich or poor, it still costs your all. It is the realization that the only thing that satisfies is Jesus. The only blessing is Jesus. The only peace and joy is Jesus.

It isn't impossible for the rich to possess the kingdom, it's just easier for the poor.

Seeing Mondays Differently

It's Monday morning and the whole week lies before you. What makes this day, this week, any different than any other? Or are you stuck in a cycle of repeating dull and useless Mondays? That is what it feels like without direction, dreams, vision and hope. Without these things from the Lord we are only existing, scraping through, maintaining. It makes for a very dull life. We eat. We sleep. We die. But we have been made for so much more.

Peace and joy cannot be bought. It doesn't matter how many toys you have, what kind of vacations you take, how many friends are listed on your FaceBook. Such things are ever changing and can never be depended upon for happiness. We can have three cars in the driveway, a healthy portfolio, the best job in the world and Mondays can still feel dull, boring, empty. These things are all temporary and have no eternal impact on us at all, unless they are part of the visions, dreams, and direction the Lord has given to us.

Think of the worse possible thing that could happen to you. Could you praise the Lord in that situation? If you were left with nothing, reduced to great poverty and even your health was taken from you, could you still praise him? Would he be your only desire? The purpose of our life is not work. The purpose of our life is not play. It is not accomplishment. It is not about feeling good. It isn't even about knowledge. The purpose of our life is relationship and relationship happens regardless of situations and circumstances.

You aren't only married if you are well off. You have promised to love in all situations in life because you are companions from beginning to end. However, you have a relationship that is far greater than marriage, although there are similarities. It is a covenant relationship where you have promised to love with all your heart, soul, mind, body and strength. Our relationship with Jesus is higher, deeper and wider than any marriage and this relationship exists in all situations and circumstances of our life. He is our one desire as Job expressed after everything was stripped from him:

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

This is our reality on this Monday morning. He is our living hope who adds colour to everything we do. My "doing" does not bring me joy but my being in him causes joy to overflow in me to everyone around me. The type of job I have, if even I have one, does not sustain me but my relationship with Jesus provides me with everything I need to have an abundant life.

I don't expect people without the Spirit to understand our shared hope but I expect you to know and to treat this day with great respect because it is the day the Lord has given to us. It is a day with him. It is a day of celebration. It is a day of expressed hope. It is a day of joy, trust, love because he is with us in it. He is the giver of all things, including dreams, visions and direction. All these things are focused on him, for his purpose and walking in it gives us tremendous joy. On this Monday morning we know that our Redeemer lives and we know it with an assurance that surpasses Job's.

So sing, dance, shout and praise him with all you have within you. Let the world know that we see Mondays differently, that we see every day differently. He has given us the air to breathe but more than that, he has given us himself that we would know the greatest joy, of seeing him and knowing him today.

Obedience Comes With Promises

Every parent dreams of children who will be pleasant and a joy to be around. And what is the foundation of a pleasant child? Obedience. Obedience makes it easy for a parent to be loving, kind and generous to their children. Obedience creates a wonderful atmosphere in the home. Obedience allows everything to flow wonderfully. But obedience is a hard thing to maintain.

Children are governed by instinct, by their sin nature. It is only natural for them to test the waters. It doesn't matter their age, if they see the "forbidden fruit" they are going to want it. They need correction, guidance, patience but all we are doing is controlling them. The sin nature cannot be destroyed by control. Real obedience only happens when each of us die to ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to take control. This only happens when Jesus becomes Saviour and Lord.

Jesus Christ did not come to teach us morality but to set us free from our slavery to our sin nature. Whether you are a child or an adult, without Jesus Christ you have no choice but to sin because it is your master. That is why it is useless to correct a child in anger. They are doing what comes natural. Correct them yes, but in a way that will not take away from your witness of Jesus Christ.

Yet, even when we are freed from our sin nature we still have choices to make. Just because we are no longer slaves to it does not mean that we cannot choose to disobey. But just as an obedient child makes a home pleasant, so our obedience allows the blessings and plans of the LORD to flow. Disobedience is like a dam, holding back the blessings of our LORD, blessings he intends for us to enjoy and pass on to the nations. Our entire relationship is built on trust and obedience and obedience comes with promises. To the Israelites' Yahweh promised:

Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea,[c] shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand against you; the Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you. (Deuteronomy 11:24-25)

Jesus gave believers promises as well which flow in a relationship of trust and obedience. They are promises of provision, of joy, peace, direction, instruction, strength, hope, purpose, power and presence. But when we are in rebellion, selecting a course of disobedience, we cannot expect to hold on to those promises. Sometimes we contend with the enemy believing he is trying to rob us of these things whereas, the truth of the matter is, we are robbing ourselves.

Everything matters. Nothing is insignificant. You can't take part of Jesus' commands and ignore others. You can't love some people really well and hate someone else. You can't go part of the way and say "good enough". You can't follow Jesus' calling and then decide you know better and take a different course. You can't hear clearly from the Lord and then decide that you misinterpreted it and it meant something else. Obedience should be our great desire. Knowing and doing the Father's will should consume our day. Standing in the flowing stream of the Lord's great blessings should be our constant experience as we live lives surrendered and dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ.

From Discouragement To Joy

As a father I understand the importance of hands-on lessons. Verbal instructions are important but they are not as effective as practical learning. It is for this reason that I allow my children to face situations that seem impossible for them. Of course it seems impossible because they have yet to learn what they are capable of doing. They are capable but they have yet to learn it. I would never allow them to be in any danger or allow anything to harm them but I have been known to let them fail at a task.

Am I a mean father? Some may think so but I hope that my children can see my love in all that I do. It is always my plan to encourage them in their failure, to try again, and I stand with them to lend them the strength and encouragement they need. Sounds ideal, if my humanity didn't get in the way. Often times frustration comes in when a child fails from lack of effort or simply because they didn't want to. This is the reason why our Heavenly Father is the perfect Father, because our failures do not frustrate him, no matter the cause.

However, we do discover many examples in the Word where God teaches practical lessons through our living, and sometimes he uses our failures as the greatest lessons. In the beginning this can be hard for us to understand and accept but the longer we know him the better we understand to trust him. If we have lived and served him long enough to have grey hair and yet still panic in places where we should trust, there is a problem with our spiritual maturity level.

The longer we spend with God the clearer certain lessons should be for us. For instance, we should easily understand that God is for us, not against us. We should also know that we can do everything through Jesus because he gives us the strength to do all things. And one question that should be answered early on in our infancy with God is this one thing:

Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14, NKJV)

In fact, the passage where this is taken from is a great example. Sarah and Abraham were old but God had promised them a child. Sarah's reaction to God's promise was a mocking laughter. It was an internal laughter, something we all do, but God knows our heart and he heard the mocking. It is funny how the God of the impossible can turn our doubt, fear, anxiety into joy. A few chapters later, as Sarah has given birth, she testifies:

And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6, NKJV)

A much different laughter. From mockery to joy. From sorrow to joy. From anxiety to joy. From fear to joy. Is anything too hard for the Lord? That is the question you have to answer for yourself. As a father, I just want to assure you that God has purpose in everything that you face. The enemy is not in charge and has no say over you. It is our God who is sovereign and who knows all your days before you have lived them. It is our Father who has plans to build us up and not tear us down. And it is Jesus who said to us:

 “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me." (John 14:1, CEB)

 Let 2014 be a year of trust and spiritual growth as our Father turns all things to joy in you.

Is It Sacrifice Or Privilege?

Too often we Christians can be accused of allowing our society to influence our perspective. It's hard not too considering how much of our mind and heart we lend to the world. With the music, the tv shows, the movies, books and other things that are produced by unspiritual minds, our spiritual senses are dulled and destroyed. Our sensitivity to the Spirit is lost and we become spiritual zombies; still walking but dead inside. We are getting to the point where there is little difference between those who go to church and those who don't, except for the church going thing.

Perhaps this is why attitudes toward sacrifice are either poor or religious in nature. The fact that we would even consider anything God asks of us as a sacrifice speaks to our spiritual condition. It should not be a sacrifice to be generous, kind, gentle, loving, but often it is for us. It becomes an extraordinary thing we do instead of a natural part of our day. So if we have trouble with the small sacrifices in our daily walk, what happens to us when we are called upon during extraordinary times? Do we rise to the occasion or disappear within our self-centered perspective?

Where are the heroes of the literature of old? Where is a Frodo Baggins, who rose above his lot in life, leaving behind his self-centered society to lay down his life for the benefit of everyone? Forget about literature, what about people like apostle Peter, Paul, John? Where are the Stephens; those who set aside their own interest for the benefit of the whole? What about Mary? Yes, what about the woman who was asked by God to give up everything she considered ordinary and important so that Jesus, the Son of God, could enter into our history and complete his mission.

Was this a sacrifice that God asked of Mary? Of course it was. Most of us know what was at risk for her. What if her fiancee rejected her? What about when society found out and people wanted to apply the law? What about the reputation of her family? It was a huge sacrifice to ask of someone so young, but to those who love and trust our God, we know this to be a privilege not a sacrifice. This is what we find in Mary who obviously loved the LORD God with all her being. Her's was not a song of complaint or regret but one of joy and thanksgiving:

Mary said,

        “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!

              In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. 

           He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. 

             Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored

                   because the mighty one has done great things for me.

         Holy is his name." (Luke 1:46-49)

We say that the Spirit Of Christmas is about giving instead of receiving, but the only sacrifice that is worth anything is what we "give unto the Lord". God has not told us to become humanistic in our attitude. He has told us to love as we have been loved; to forgive as we have been forgiven. Generosity in everything is a sure sign of someone who has given themselves fully to the Lord.

Jesus told us to not just love those who love us but to love those who hate us. The only way this is possible is when we understand that we love our God with our entire being and because of such we are loving him when we love everyone; we are giving to him when we give to others; we are serving and sacrificing to him when we serve and sacrifice for others. When we are doing these things because of God's love for us and ours for him, it is done with a genuine joy and attitude that shows we consider it a privilege.

Use this Christmas season as an opportunity to evaluate where to stand in your relationship with Jesus. What is your attitude? How self-absorbed are you? Who is shaping your perspective? Are you a Christian zombie? Or are you totally sold out to Jesus? Is it sacrifice or privilege?

To Be A Producer Of The Kingdom Of God

Lord, I believe you want to bless me with riches so I am trusting that you are going to help me win the lottery. Lord, I believe you want to bless me with an easy life so I am trusting you are going to make all my problems disappear. Lord, I believe you want to bless me with fame so I am trusting that you are going to overlook the things I have to do to get there.

Sounds ridiculous to me. How about you? Yet so often it is our attitude as we make God into our own personal genie. We seem to have missed the point that the Christian life is about producing, not consuming. Where did we go wrong with what Jesus taught us? How did we get is so twisted? Jesus stated:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. (John 15:5)

I find this whole passage to be one of the most profound in John's purpose of revealing the incredible relationship Jesus made possible between us, Jesus, the Spirit and the Father. Yes, I could simply say God but I want to make this a little more personal than the title "God" allows.

We have the purpose of remaining in Jesus, allowing him to remain in us and to be producers. The emphasis has to be on all three here because our purpose is to produce but we can't do it unless we remain in Jesus and he in us. But let me also point this out to show just how important it is to produce:

My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples. (John 15:8)

How wrong we are to believe that God's desire is to make us comfortable here. Jesus did not take on the torturous cross so we could be comfortable but instead so that we could spend eternity with our Father. We are here so that our faith would be developed, to mature spiritually, to become producers as mature citizens of the Kingdom. It is the selfishness of our sin nature that pushes us to be consumers, to take from God and consume the seed he has given us instead of sowing it as we are intended to do. But that is only part of the issue.

We would understand our place so much more if we would but remain in Jesus and allow him to remain in us. We can't do anything without him. Sure, we can produce great things according to this world but with no value in the world to come. Jesus told us to "lay up" our treasures in heaven where nothing can touch them. The principle is so simple but we often complicate the application.

We complicate it by never really dying to ourselves. The things of the sinful nature we died to still lick at us, producing selfishness, envy, conceit, unforgiveness, hate, depression. These things and so much more are produced in a life that is not found in Jesus and in which Jesus has no part. So before we can become producers who glorify the Father, we have to possess Jesus and be possessed by him.

This is not a self-will endeavor. It is not accomplished by intellectual pursuit. It cannot be grasped by an unspiritual mind. It cannot be helped by psychology or science. It is born of the conviction of the Holy Spirit who plants a seed in us that we must desire. "Seek my face" God told a disobedient nation, "and you will find me." God gives us the desire for him but we have to act on it. He convicts us but we have to act on it. Jesus has shown us the way "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me" but we have to desire it. In desiring it the Spirit will do all that is necessary for us to die to ourselves with great joy as we are possessed by the only one who truly loves us.

We have to be possessed by Jesus and not our selfish desires in order to fulfill our purpose of being producers. Examine your day; it should be quite easy to tell what you are and if you find you are something you don't want to be, you know what to do to see it changed.