Every where I turn, I hear people praying for revival.
Our church is praying.
The religious groups on TV are praying.
Perhaps Jesus is praying;
praying for revival in our homes, our community, our state,
our nation, and the world.
Several years ago, I read something in my Bible about revival.
I printed it out and put it on my wall and read it from time to time.
A few weeks ago, I was in a cleaning frenzy and took off
the faded writing from my bedroom wall.
As I was reading through Thessalonians the other day
I came across the teaching again.
It's taken from a Jack Hayford Study Bible.
I think that anyone who is interested
in experiencing revival in our land
may also be interested in this teaching.
"1 Thess. 5:19-"Do not quench the Spirit."
"Guard Against Dwindling Fires, REVIVAL.
Revival fires wane for various reasons.
Sometimes the purposes of God have been fulfilled
as believers have been quickened to evangelism
and new outreaches have been birthed and carried out.
Other times, genuine revival can be cut short
and the fire of the Holy Spirit quenched through unrealized compromise.
True spiritual fires dwindle
1) when we allow the excitement of crowds and miracles to dull our ears to hearing the foundational truths of the Holy Spirit's counsel;
2) when we look to the visitation of the Spirit to shore up weaknesses in the local fellowship rather than correct problems;
3) when we allow an attitude of pride and showmanship to distort the simplicity of God's workings, and the visitation is reduced to a cleverly publicized event;
4) when we fail to maintain the balance of the pastoral needs of the congregation, substituting the sheer energy of the meetings for shepherd care and faithful feeding of the sheep;
5) when we neglect to make disciples who would have multiplied the effectiveness of the revival;
6) when we allow breakdown of authority and unity in the leadership team through prayerlessness, weariness, or functioning outside the boundaries of individuals' giftings;
7) when we look to "professionals" to further the growth of the church instead of fostering the release of ministries that have bonded to the life and value system of the congregation;
8) when we lose the focus and object of loving worship by using "worship" as a means of stimulating desired responses in people;
9) when we allow the "busyness and excitement" of revival to take priority over vigilance in humble prayer and intercession; or
10) when we see revival as a way to advance a private local "kingdom" (congregation), rather than to benefit the whole body of Christ. "
It is obvious that someone has been through this before, either experiencing it themselves, or observing other's experiences. As we pray for revival, let's use the wisdom of someone who has gone before us, and pray for these concerns as well. ah
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Deepened
"I want to be deepened, not pepped up," she said to me this morning.
It got me to thinking.
How are we deepened?
How do we equip others to be deepened?
The first step is to be striving for depth ourselves.
Why be a mile wide and an inch deep?
Surface water gets brackish.
We need to make wells and dig deeper,
where the water is sweet.
A short time later, I was reading from 'The Celebration of Discipline'
by Richard J. Foster.
Chapter 5 is on 'The Discipline of Study.'
I think this holds the answer to being deepened.
"Many Christians remain in bondage to fears and anxieties
simply because they do not avail themselves
of the Discipline of study.
They may be faithful in church attendance and earnest in fulfilling their religious duties, and still they are not changed.
I am not here speaking only of those who are going
through mere religious forms,
but of those who are genuinely seeking
to worship and obey Jesus Christ
as Lord and Master.
They may sing with gusto,
pray in the Spirit,
live as obediently as they know,
even receive divine visions and revelations,
and yet the tenor of their lives remains unchanged.
Why?
Because they have never taken up
one of the central ways God uses to change us: study.
Jesus made it unmistakably clear that the
knowledge of the truth will set us free.
"You will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free."
(John 8:32)
Good feelings will not free us.
Ecstatic experiences will not free us.
Getting "high on Jesus" will not free us.
Without a knowledge of the truth,
we will not be free."
He went on to say that study involves four steps.
1)Repetition-"Repetition regularly channels the mind in a specific direction,
thus ingraining habits of thought."
2)Concentration-"Concentration centers the mind. It focuses the attention on what is being studied."
3)Comprehension-"Comprehension focuses on the knowledge of the truth. It leads to insight and discernment...providing a basis for a true perception of reality."
4)Reflection-"Although comprehension defines what we are studying, reflection defines the significance of what we are studying. Reflection brings us to see things from God's perspective. Jesus speaks often of ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see. When we ponder the meaning of what we study, we come to hear and see in a new way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, I study a topic, like fasting.
Then I read everything I can find on it.
I look up scriptures and read good books.
Other times, I read a chapter or a book in the Bible,
and pray, 'Lord, show me something new.'
He usually does.
Sometimes,
I go through a time where I don't seem to 'get' much.
But I keep reading.
I keep plowing the soil,adding bits of nutrients
and fertilizer to my garden, so that when I do get
an understanding,
my soil is plowed and ready to receive
the good seed.
The fields produce more when the soil has been primed.
If you are not a good reader,
just read a verse or a psalm.
Don't let the feeling of
inadequacy keep you from the very
source of adequacy.
I believe,
that the more you hear,
the more He will entrust you
with more to hear.
Also, you could get CD's or tapes of the scriptures
and listen to them.
Studying does not always involve
a desk, a pen, and some paper.
Focus on a well of study that you are interested in.
Why be a jack of all trades and a master of none?
You don't have to know deeply about everything.
That's what the body of Christ is for.
We give cold cups of water from our wells to each other
and so nourish our body with living water.
Sometimes, I read the Scriptures
like I eat a box of chocolates.
I nibble a bit from the top of each treasure,
enjoying the flavor,
and getting an overall taste of what is good.
Other times,
I read the Scriptures
like I eat a single Dove chocolate.
I let it melt in my mouth,
savoring every bit of
it's sweet dark deepness.
The important thing is that we taste
and see that the Lord is good,
and then sit down to eat.
It got me to thinking.
How are we deepened?
How do we equip others to be deepened?
The first step is to be striving for depth ourselves.
Why be a mile wide and an inch deep?
Surface water gets brackish.
We need to make wells and dig deeper,
where the water is sweet.
A short time later, I was reading from 'The Celebration of Discipline'
by Richard J. Foster.
Chapter 5 is on 'The Discipline of Study.'
I think this holds the answer to being deepened.
"Many Christians remain in bondage to fears and anxieties
simply because they do not avail themselves
of the Discipline of study.
They may be faithful in church attendance and earnest in fulfilling their religious duties, and still they are not changed.
I am not here speaking only of those who are going
through mere religious forms,
but of those who are genuinely seeking
to worship and obey Jesus Christ
as Lord and Master.
They may sing with gusto,
pray in the Spirit,
live as obediently as they know,
even receive divine visions and revelations,
and yet the tenor of their lives remains unchanged.
Why?
Because they have never taken up
one of the central ways God uses to change us: study.
Jesus made it unmistakably clear that the
knowledge of the truth will set us free.
"You will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free."
(John 8:32)
Good feelings will not free us.
Ecstatic experiences will not free us.
Getting "high on Jesus" will not free us.
Without a knowledge of the truth,
we will not be free."
He went on to say that study involves four steps.
1)Repetition-"Repetition regularly channels the mind in a specific direction,
thus ingraining habits of thought."
2)Concentration-"Concentration centers the mind. It focuses the attention on what is being studied."
3)Comprehension-"Comprehension focuses on the knowledge of the truth. It leads to insight and discernment...providing a basis for a true perception of reality."
4)Reflection-"Although comprehension defines what we are studying, reflection defines the significance of what we are studying. Reflection brings us to see things from God's perspective. Jesus speaks often of ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see. When we ponder the meaning of what we study, we come to hear and see in a new way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, I study a topic, like fasting.
Then I read everything I can find on it.
I look up scriptures and read good books.
Other times, I read a chapter or a book in the Bible,
and pray, 'Lord, show me something new.'
He usually does.
Sometimes,
I go through a time where I don't seem to 'get' much.
But I keep reading.
I keep plowing the soil,adding bits of nutrients
and fertilizer to my garden, so that when I do get
an understanding,
my soil is plowed and ready to receive
the good seed.
The fields produce more when the soil has been primed.
If you are not a good reader,
just read a verse or a psalm.
Don't let the feeling of
inadequacy keep you from the very
source of adequacy.
I believe,
that the more you hear,
the more He will entrust you
with more to hear.
Also, you could get CD's or tapes of the scriptures
and listen to them.
Studying does not always involve
a desk, a pen, and some paper.
Focus on a well of study that you are interested in.
Why be a jack of all trades and a master of none?
You don't have to know deeply about everything.
That's what the body of Christ is for.
We give cold cups of water from our wells to each other
and so nourish our body with living water.
Sometimes, I read the Scriptures
like I eat a box of chocolates.
I nibble a bit from the top of each treasure,
enjoying the flavor,
and getting an overall taste of what is good.
Other times,
I read the Scriptures
like I eat a single Dove chocolate.
I let it melt in my mouth,
savoring every bit of
it's sweet dark deepness.
The important thing is that we taste
and see that the Lord is good,
and then sit down to eat.
Sunday Sermon-Feb 7, 2010
Worship Reading-Psalm 91-My friend, Diane, had just sent me a book on Psalm 91. I started reading it on Saturday. It was moving to hear it read during worship. I've avoided it since Johnny died, but it was always my favorite psalm. It's coming back on its own; seeking me out. I have to taste and see what it wants from me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My take and understanding of Pastor Frank's sermon:
Think about Jesus and the woman at the well.
His disciples saw the woman,
But Jesus saw the city.
Many of us just see a Sunday service,
but God sees a city.
Many just see a city,
But God sees a nation.
Many see a cloud the size of a man's hand,
But God sees an abundance of rain.
Some see the present time of trouble,
But God sees us filled with His glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vindication by the Holy Spirit-John 12:1-8
Jesus came to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
It was six days before the Passover.
Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus while Martha prepared and served supper.
Mary took a pound of pure oil of spikenard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping His feet with her hair. (It was worth an entire year's wage.)
The whole house was filled with the fragrance of this oil.
But Judas, who was a thief and was in charge of the money box,
protested the extravagant act,
"Why didn't you sell this oil and give the proceeds to the poor?"
He didn't care about the poor,
he just wanted more money for the box because he helped himself to it from time to time.
But Jesus defended her, saying, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of my burial. For the poor you will always have with you, but I won't always be here."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, to be vindicated by Jesus.
The accuser of our brethren is constantly trying to raise up hindrances in our lives.
"I want to be vindicated-not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.
I want the church, my children, my life to be vindicated by the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, vindicate Your people again."
The same Spirit that chose me and drew me and called me will also vindicate me.
He will stand before me, after I have done my best for Him, and reveal the truth regarding me.
He will defend and vindicate me.
Vindicate means to clear, as from an accusation or suspicion; To validate worth in light of later developments.
Mary had an undeniable passion for the Lord.
People had come to their house, not only to see Jesus, but also to see Lazarus.
He was not only a phenomena, he was their friend, come back to life.
The house was full.
Mary didn't allow the presence of others to
deter her from her passion for Christ.
She poured out her passion on Him.
She spoke without speaking.
The test of a thief is this;
a thief opposes the extravagance of a passion.
A thief tries to steal your worship by reminding you of all your troubles
and of all the poor (needs) around you.
The enemy hates when we worship God without making requests from Him.
A thief wanted to rob the moment of passion from Mary.
He wanted her to second guess her motive and her love.
But, Jesus stuck up for her and said that even if no one else
understood what He was about to go through,
she did. She had listened well,
and it meant a great deal to Him.
This perfume was absorbed into His skin.
He would smell the worship poured out on His life every day
until His crucifixion. It would sustain Him and carry
Him through the crucifixion itself.
Why was she so passionate towards Jesus?
It was because there was a moment in her life
where Jesus had touched her and proved Himself real.
He raised her brother from the dead.
(I think He touched her many times before.
She often sat at His feet and listened to Him.
I think she loved Him so much that she was so disappointed
in Him when He didn't come and heal her brother.
She was looking for a healing,
but He disappointed her and broke her heart.
Then He gave her a resurrection.)
11 Cor. 2:14-"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life."
Our lives in Christ have such a fragrance that people have to make a decision to be attracted or to run away. The aroma of worship in this place is so strong, that it causes those who would cause disunity to leave or change.
What is in your home is so strong that people will either want to stay there or never come back. Your passion for God will either bring them in or cause them to flee.
1 Tim, 3:15, 16-Unadulterated Worship is "...knowing how to conduct ourselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth..."
"The mystery of godliness is this:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory."
Jesus was justified in the Spirit.
People said things like,
"Isn't this the carpenter's son?" and
"Can any good come out of Nazareth?"
He never said a word of defense in front of His accusers.
He never held a cruel thought.
He loved those who were abusing Him
as much as He loved the one who poured the oil on Him.
Someone was worried that Jesus was telling the truth
about coming back to life.
So, they placed a stone in front of the entrance to His grave.
He was vindicated by the Spirit-The stone was rolled away.
He rose from the dead.
He ascended.
One day every nation will bow down before Him.
He will be completely vindicated!
If the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead
dwells in you....what kind of vindication are you going
to see in your life?
People are soon going to find out that it was because of you that things turned around.
People will find out after the fact that it was because of you that tragedy was averted.
The thief is getting you to look at the extravagance of what is being poured out,
but God is breathing it in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spent some time at the altar,
with the lover and vindicator of my soul.
I desired not to lift my arms up to Him
but to place my arms around Him and hold Him close.
I felt Him pour His oil on my head;
warm and dripping it went down my arms
and off my fingers..
down my legs unto my feet.
"I am not going to wipe off your feet.
I want the oil of my fragrance
to leave footprints of My presence
wherever you go...
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring Good News..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote a song for Mary of Bethany 25 years ago.
I kept hearing it in my mind while Pastor Frank spoke.
Jesus, lover of my soul
I cannot bear to look into Your eyes
For they tell me you are leaving
They say that you are grieving
Why must you say good-bye
So I'll anoint your feet
with the oil of sweet perfume
And I will dry the tears
that are flowing down your cheeks
I'll hold you in my heart
even when You're gone
I'll say good-bye before they bury You.
Jesus, lover of My soul
I long to stay forever at Your feet
to hear the truth that sets me free
Your words of peace
they quiet me
Why must you say good-bye?
Jesus, lover of My soul
You love the world as much as you love me
So I'll turn your face to Calvary
I know they'll hang You on a tree
But the time has come for me to
say good-bye
So, I'll anoint your feet
with the oil of sweet perfume
And I will dry the tears
that are flowing down your cheeks
I'll hold you in my heart
even when you're gone
I'll say good-bye
before they bury You.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My take and understanding of Pastor Frank's sermon:
Think about Jesus and the woman at the well.
His disciples saw the woman,
But Jesus saw the city.
Many of us just see a Sunday service,
but God sees a city.
Many just see a city,
But God sees a nation.
Many see a cloud the size of a man's hand,
But God sees an abundance of rain.
Some see the present time of trouble,
But God sees us filled with His glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vindication by the Holy Spirit-John 12:1-8
Jesus came to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
It was six days before the Passover.
Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus while Martha prepared and served supper.
Mary took a pound of pure oil of spikenard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping His feet with her hair. (It was worth an entire year's wage.)
The whole house was filled with the fragrance of this oil.
But Judas, who was a thief and was in charge of the money box,
protested the extravagant act,
"Why didn't you sell this oil and give the proceeds to the poor?"
He didn't care about the poor,
he just wanted more money for the box because he helped himself to it from time to time.
But Jesus defended her, saying, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of my burial. For the poor you will always have with you, but I won't always be here."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, to be vindicated by Jesus.
The accuser of our brethren is constantly trying to raise up hindrances in our lives.
"I want to be vindicated-not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.
I want the church, my children, my life to be vindicated by the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, vindicate Your people again."
The same Spirit that chose me and drew me and called me will also vindicate me.
He will stand before me, after I have done my best for Him, and reveal the truth regarding me.
He will defend and vindicate me.
Vindicate means to clear, as from an accusation or suspicion; To validate worth in light of later developments.
Mary had an undeniable passion for the Lord.
People had come to their house, not only to see Jesus, but also to see Lazarus.
He was not only a phenomena, he was their friend, come back to life.
The house was full.
Mary didn't allow the presence of others to
deter her from her passion for Christ.
She poured out her passion on Him.
She spoke without speaking.
The test of a thief is this;
a thief opposes the extravagance of a passion.
A thief tries to steal your worship by reminding you of all your troubles
and of all the poor (needs) around you.
The enemy hates when we worship God without making requests from Him.
A thief wanted to rob the moment of passion from Mary.
He wanted her to second guess her motive and her love.
But, Jesus stuck up for her and said that even if no one else
understood what He was about to go through,
she did. She had listened well,
and it meant a great deal to Him.
This perfume was absorbed into His skin.
He would smell the worship poured out on His life every day
until His crucifixion. It would sustain Him and carry
Him through the crucifixion itself.
Why was she so passionate towards Jesus?
It was because there was a moment in her life
where Jesus had touched her and proved Himself real.
He raised her brother from the dead.
(I think He touched her many times before.
She often sat at His feet and listened to Him.
I think she loved Him so much that she was so disappointed
in Him when He didn't come and heal her brother.
She was looking for a healing,
but He disappointed her and broke her heart.
Then He gave her a resurrection.)
11 Cor. 2:14-"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life."
Our lives in Christ have such a fragrance that people have to make a decision to be attracted or to run away. The aroma of worship in this place is so strong, that it causes those who would cause disunity to leave or change.
What is in your home is so strong that people will either want to stay there or never come back. Your passion for God will either bring them in or cause them to flee.
1 Tim, 3:15, 16-Unadulterated Worship is "...knowing how to conduct ourselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth..."
"The mystery of godliness is this:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory."
Jesus was justified in the Spirit.
People said things like,
"Isn't this the carpenter's son?" and
"Can any good come out of Nazareth?"
He never said a word of defense in front of His accusers.
He never held a cruel thought.
He loved those who were abusing Him
as much as He loved the one who poured the oil on Him.
Someone was worried that Jesus was telling the truth
about coming back to life.
So, they placed a stone in front of the entrance to His grave.
He was vindicated by the Spirit-The stone was rolled away.
He rose from the dead.
He ascended.
One day every nation will bow down before Him.
He will be completely vindicated!
If the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead
dwells in you....what kind of vindication are you going
to see in your life?
People are soon going to find out that it was because of you that things turned around.
People will find out after the fact that it was because of you that tragedy was averted.
The thief is getting you to look at the extravagance of what is being poured out,
but God is breathing it in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spent some time at the altar,
with the lover and vindicator of my soul.
I desired not to lift my arms up to Him
but to place my arms around Him and hold Him close.
I felt Him pour His oil on my head;
warm and dripping it went down my arms
and off my fingers..
down my legs unto my feet.
"I am not going to wipe off your feet.
I want the oil of my fragrance
to leave footprints of My presence
wherever you go...
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring Good News..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote a song for Mary of Bethany 25 years ago.
I kept hearing it in my mind while Pastor Frank spoke.
Jesus, lover of my soul
I cannot bear to look into Your eyes
For they tell me you are leaving
They say that you are grieving
Why must you say good-bye
So I'll anoint your feet
with the oil of sweet perfume
And I will dry the tears
that are flowing down your cheeks
I'll hold you in my heart
even when You're gone
I'll say good-bye before they bury You.
Jesus, lover of My soul
I long to stay forever at Your feet
to hear the truth that sets me free
Your words of peace
they quiet me
Why must you say good-bye?
Jesus, lover of My soul
You love the world as much as you love me
So I'll turn your face to Calvary
I know they'll hang You on a tree
But the time has come for me to
say good-bye
So, I'll anoint your feet
with the oil of sweet perfume
And I will dry the tears
that are flowing down your cheeks
I'll hold you in my heart
even when you're gone
I'll say good-bye
before they bury You.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Dove Love or Pigeon Religion
I heard a teaching the other day on GodTV by R.T. Kendall-
He told this story.
He was standing in front of a large group of people, worshiping God, singing with the congregation, "Praise the Lord, the God of Heaven," when he looked out and saw someone in the crowd who had done irreparable emotional damage to one of his children. He began to get very upset as he thought about what they had done. "How could they have done that? How can they stand there and worship God?"
Then the Lord spoke to him and asked, "You are praying for revival, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Would you rather that I judge that person or would you rather have revival?"
"I want revival."
"Pray for them."
"Lord, I pray for them."
"That's not good enough. Ask me to bless them."
"Bless them."
"Say it again."
"Bless them."
"Say it again."
"Bless them."
"Do you mean it?"
"Yup."
"What if I really bless them?"
"Lord, you wouldn't do that, would you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was through that personal interchange with the Lord, that he was able to get up and address the crowd with peace in his soul, rather than torment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John 1:32-The account of John baptizing Jesus-"And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him."
John knew that Jesus was the Messiah because the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Jesus and stayed .
A dove is a shy, peaceful bird. It won't stay around if it's treated unkindly.
The Holy Spirit, like the dove, will fly away if we grieve Him.
A pigeon is not as reserved as a dove. It's more pushy and insists on having its own way. But people confuse the dove and the pigeon because they are similar in appearance.
The Holy Spirit will not come down and stay with a person who is bitter; who is always pointing the finger. When we point the finger, the dove flies away and we are left to ourselves.
When we totally forgive the one who did us wrong, we won't tell anyone what they did.
We punish people with our tongue. We can't bear the thought of anyone looking up to them anymore. The lack of control of the tongue causes the dove to fly away. Too often, we just have to say something to get it off of our chest.
John the Baptist said, " I knew He was the Messiah, because the dove came down and stayed."
Sometimes, we think that people need to know what they did; that we shouldn't forgive them unless they ask to be forgiven. But on the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."
Sometimes, people not only don't ask for forgiveness, they don't even know that they've hurt us. Our problem is, we want to make sure they know.
When the ungrieved Spirit in me recognizes the ungrieved Spirit in you, our fellowship in the Spirit is sweet.
We keep records of wrongs and we lose the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Tear up the record of wrongs. Denying that the person wronged you is not walking in forgiveness. Face the awfulness of what they did, and then forgive them. Forgiveness is an act of your will. This does not mean that we trust the offender. We forgive them. We let them off the hook. But we are not foolish with our trust. (The speaker forgave the one who offended his child, but I doubt if he allowed him to have a relationship with his child again.)
Do you want the anointing of the spirit more than you want personal vindication?
If our church body and the body of Christ became void of bitterness and walked in forgiveness, who knows what could happen to this part of the world, because we want His glory and His honor more than we want to look good and be right?!(RTKendall)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We cannot make a peaceful home for the dove to remain if we are bitter and unforgiving. We waste our breath, praying for revival, asking for the Holy Spirit to come, if we have not cleansed our lives of 'pigeon religion', the appearance of the dove without its pure heart.
Sometimes, we might forgive a person, but make an inner vow to never let anyone ever hurt us like that again. Other people are held at a distance because of what someone else did to us. If we are truly going to love others and be loved by them, we have to take the risk of being hurt again. If God gave us grace to forgive once, He will give us grace to forgive again. If we withhold fellowship from others because of our fear of being hurt, we are rejecting them in another's name, and we give them something to forgive in us. And, we may miss a great blessing that God had in store for more than just us. If we truly believe that it is 'all about Him', we won't be so afraid of having relationships with others. We won't be so fearful of being hurt. Jesus related to Judas and He knew he would betray Him. This is no easy task. I don't know a human being on earth who hasn't said in his/her heart, 'Never Again.'
Sometimes, that's good. Sometimes, it isn't. God give us discernment beyond the hurt in our heart.
Help us, Lord, to love one another with a pure heart.
Help us to forgive, as You forgave.
Let Your Spirit come to us and remain.
Let Your Dove alight on us and stay.
He told this story.
He was standing in front of a large group of people, worshiping God, singing with the congregation, "Praise the Lord, the God of Heaven," when he looked out and saw someone in the crowd who had done irreparable emotional damage to one of his children. He began to get very upset as he thought about what they had done. "How could they have done that? How can they stand there and worship God?"
Then the Lord spoke to him and asked, "You are praying for revival, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Would you rather that I judge that person or would you rather have revival?"
"I want revival."
"Pray for them."
"Lord, I pray for them."
"That's not good enough. Ask me to bless them."
"Bless them."
"Say it again."
"Bless them."
"Say it again."
"Bless them."
"Do you mean it?"
"Yup."
"What if I really bless them?"
"Lord, you wouldn't do that, would you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was through that personal interchange with the Lord, that he was able to get up and address the crowd with peace in his soul, rather than torment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John 1:32-The account of John baptizing Jesus-"And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him."
John knew that Jesus was the Messiah because the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Jesus and stayed .
A dove is a shy, peaceful bird. It won't stay around if it's treated unkindly.
The Holy Spirit, like the dove, will fly away if we grieve Him.
A pigeon is not as reserved as a dove. It's more pushy and insists on having its own way. But people confuse the dove and the pigeon because they are similar in appearance.
The Holy Spirit will not come down and stay with a person who is bitter; who is always pointing the finger. When we point the finger, the dove flies away and we are left to ourselves.
When we totally forgive the one who did us wrong, we won't tell anyone what they did.
We punish people with our tongue. We can't bear the thought of anyone looking up to them anymore. The lack of control of the tongue causes the dove to fly away. Too often, we just have to say something to get it off of our chest.
John the Baptist said, " I knew He was the Messiah, because the dove came down and stayed."
Sometimes, we think that people need to know what they did; that we shouldn't forgive them unless they ask to be forgiven. But on the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."
Sometimes, people not only don't ask for forgiveness, they don't even know that they've hurt us. Our problem is, we want to make sure they know.
When the ungrieved Spirit in me recognizes the ungrieved Spirit in you, our fellowship in the Spirit is sweet.
We keep records of wrongs and we lose the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Tear up the record of wrongs. Denying that the person wronged you is not walking in forgiveness. Face the awfulness of what they did, and then forgive them. Forgiveness is an act of your will. This does not mean that we trust the offender. We forgive them. We let them off the hook. But we are not foolish with our trust. (The speaker forgave the one who offended his child, but I doubt if he allowed him to have a relationship with his child again.)
Do you want the anointing of the spirit more than you want personal vindication?
If our church body and the body of Christ became void of bitterness and walked in forgiveness, who knows what could happen to this part of the world, because we want His glory and His honor more than we want to look good and be right?!(RTKendall)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We cannot make a peaceful home for the dove to remain if we are bitter and unforgiving. We waste our breath, praying for revival, asking for the Holy Spirit to come, if we have not cleansed our lives of 'pigeon religion', the appearance of the dove without its pure heart.
Sometimes, we might forgive a person, but make an inner vow to never let anyone ever hurt us like that again. Other people are held at a distance because of what someone else did to us. If we are truly going to love others and be loved by them, we have to take the risk of being hurt again. If God gave us grace to forgive once, He will give us grace to forgive again. If we withhold fellowship from others because of our fear of being hurt, we are rejecting them in another's name, and we give them something to forgive in us. And, we may miss a great blessing that God had in store for more than just us. If we truly believe that it is 'all about Him', we won't be so afraid of having relationships with others. We won't be so fearful of being hurt. Jesus related to Judas and He knew he would betray Him. This is no easy task. I don't know a human being on earth who hasn't said in his/her heart, 'Never Again.'
Sometimes, that's good. Sometimes, it isn't. God give us discernment beyond the hurt in our heart.
Help us, Lord, to love one another with a pure heart.
Help us to forgive, as You forgave.
Let Your Spirit come to us and remain.
Let Your Dove alight on us and stay.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hertzler Doings-Feb 1-7, 2010
Mon.-no school due to snow leftovers. Took down the manger scenes and put up other mementos. Ryan and Philip were trapping on river. Philip got wet right away in the morning and was wet all day. Michael worked in afternoon and eve. at Krogers and got the info that there will be no school tomorrow either. Phil in office most of the day. Michael got his tags moved over to his new car. Freeman organized his possessions and went to see Alli. Susan and I watched The Bachelor in the eve. and it is plain weird. How can a guy be in love with 5 different girls at the same time?
Tues.-No school. Michael worked at Kroger in eve. Took him 50 min to get home. Almost went off the road into the ditch and the cliff 5 times on his way down our lane. They sent him home early. Eating too much and not getting a whole lot done.
Wed.-No school. We weren't going to go anyway because we couldn't get out of our lane.
Made some bread. Did a few things. Feeling foggy. Loved the sun. Michael tried to get out to Farmville but our lane wouldn't let him so he backed back down it and came home.
Chatted with Susan's teacher on facebook. She will fax her work to her if we can't get in. Now, that's a friend and a teacher! I haven't been out since last Wed. night. I could become a very chubby hermit at this rate. Two hour delay tomorrow. We'll see...Need to get groceries. Wish I felt motivated. I am just waiting. Waiting. Not nervously or with fear, but just waiting. I guess I'll know what I am waiting for when it happens.
Thurs.-Got out the lane. Ran errands and waited in a long line at Krogers. Went to Dr. Forand. She said my thyroid is enlarged..explains the sluggishness. Ate some Rye bread when I got home with Susan. Threw up. Could it be the rye bread?
Fri.-feel like cement was poured into the mold of my body. Dragging all day. Snow turned to freezing rain turned to snow. I dreamed about Abie last night. We were at a large retreat center with my side of the family. He was suddenly in a room with my mother, Freeman, and I. I asked him how he was and what Heaven was like. He shook his head side to side, searching for words, 'Heaven is...wonderful.' Mother asked him what he would be studying and who his professor would be if he had not died and he told her. His face was filled out nicely and his hair was tousled. After awhile, he said, 'It's time for me to go,' and he went straight up in the air through the ceiling. I was telling everyone about seeing him. I remember walking hand in hand with my Uncle Merv telling him about seeing Abie. When I told Phil my dream, we both had to cry. It was a nice start to my lazy day. Susan and I watched 'Paris when it Sizzles'. Audrey Hepburn plays in it. I had borrowed it from Lindsay. It was written by someone with severe ADHD. It was awful. Afterwards, I said to Susan, "I'm not sure if I can be friends with Lindsay anymore." That struck us both so funny we couldn't stop laughing. Ryan and Philip caught a beaver or an otter, I forget which. Daniel Petersheim came over in the eve. to weather the storm here since he lives alone. He is so polite and friendly. Our whole family loves him. I made baked blueberry oatmeal, scrapple, and homemade mac and cheese with Christmas ham bits scattered in it. Mike made some Kroger pizzas and the guys played video games in their apartment. Phil, Susan, and I watched Twister until the electricity went off permanently around 11. Went to bed but Phil got up after about an hour because he was concerned about the pipes freezing. Michael helped him hook up the generator and they slept next to each other in the hay until the tractor warmed up. It took them a couple hours and when he came back to bed, he couldn't get warm. I finally got him two heating pads and that did the trick and he was off snoring, and then I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up.
Sat.-Hung around together, playing games, eating, etc. Electricity came back on around 11:30. Phil plowed lane in eve. Naomi called. They have 2 feet of snow.
Sun.-So happy to go to church and hug people and talk with them. Held Adi in church and she fell asleep. Lindsay's 29th birthday. Freeman had spent the weekend with them at The Chi Alpha Retreat. Travis and Chace here in afternoon. Phil, Susan, Freeman and I watched alot of Monk in the afternoon. Philip at Harvest Youth's Super Bowl party. Freeman went to Chi Alpha's Super Bowl party. Susan threw up after eating rye bread and I feel sick on it too. I wonder if I throw out the rye flour and the rest of the bread if the chickens, or birds, or dogs will start throwing up too. Maybe I should burn it. It's the oddest thing.
Phil had to run out Sunday eve. to our furnace guy and get a thing to fix the fan. The house was getting really cold because the fan wasn't working. School is starting 2 hours late tomorrow.
Tues.-No school. Michael worked at Kroger in eve. Took him 50 min to get home. Almost went off the road into the ditch and the cliff 5 times on his way down our lane. They sent him home early. Eating too much and not getting a whole lot done.
Wed.-No school. We weren't going to go anyway because we couldn't get out of our lane.
Made some bread. Did a few things. Feeling foggy. Loved the sun. Michael tried to get out to Farmville but our lane wouldn't let him so he backed back down it and came home.
Chatted with Susan's teacher on facebook. She will fax her work to her if we can't get in. Now, that's a friend and a teacher! I haven't been out since last Wed. night. I could become a very chubby hermit at this rate. Two hour delay tomorrow. We'll see...Need to get groceries. Wish I felt motivated. I am just waiting. Waiting. Not nervously or with fear, but just waiting. I guess I'll know what I am waiting for when it happens.
Thurs.-Got out the lane. Ran errands and waited in a long line at Krogers. Went to Dr. Forand. She said my thyroid is enlarged..explains the sluggishness. Ate some Rye bread when I got home with Susan. Threw up. Could it be the rye bread?
Fri.-feel like cement was poured into the mold of my body. Dragging all day. Snow turned to freezing rain turned to snow. I dreamed about Abie last night. We were at a large retreat center with my side of the family. He was suddenly in a room with my mother, Freeman, and I. I asked him how he was and what Heaven was like. He shook his head side to side, searching for words, 'Heaven is...wonderful.' Mother asked him what he would be studying and who his professor would be if he had not died and he told her. His face was filled out nicely and his hair was tousled. After awhile, he said, 'It's time for me to go,' and he went straight up in the air through the ceiling. I was telling everyone about seeing him. I remember walking hand in hand with my Uncle Merv telling him about seeing Abie. When I told Phil my dream, we both had to cry. It was a nice start to my lazy day. Susan and I watched 'Paris when it Sizzles'. Audrey Hepburn plays in it. I had borrowed it from Lindsay. It was written by someone with severe ADHD. It was awful. Afterwards, I said to Susan, "I'm not sure if I can be friends with Lindsay anymore." That struck us both so funny we couldn't stop laughing. Ryan and Philip caught a beaver or an otter, I forget which. Daniel Petersheim came over in the eve. to weather the storm here since he lives alone. He is so polite and friendly. Our whole family loves him. I made baked blueberry oatmeal, scrapple, and homemade mac and cheese with Christmas ham bits scattered in it. Mike made some Kroger pizzas and the guys played video games in their apartment. Phil, Susan, and I watched Twister until the electricity went off permanently around 11. Went to bed but Phil got up after about an hour because he was concerned about the pipes freezing. Michael helped him hook up the generator and they slept next to each other in the hay until the tractor warmed up. It took them a couple hours and when he came back to bed, he couldn't get warm. I finally got him two heating pads and that did the trick and he was off snoring, and then I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up.
Sat.-Hung around together, playing games, eating, etc. Electricity came back on around 11:30. Phil plowed lane in eve. Naomi called. They have 2 feet of snow.
Sun.-So happy to go to church and hug people and talk with them. Held Adi in church and she fell asleep. Lindsay's 29th birthday. Freeman had spent the weekend with them at The Chi Alpha Retreat. Travis and Chace here in afternoon. Phil, Susan, Freeman and I watched alot of Monk in the afternoon. Philip at Harvest Youth's Super Bowl party. Freeman went to Chi Alpha's Super Bowl party. Susan threw up after eating rye bread and I feel sick on it too. I wonder if I throw out the rye flour and the rest of the bread if the chickens, or birds, or dogs will start throwing up too. Maybe I should burn it. It's the oddest thing.
Phil had to run out Sunday eve. to our furnace guy and get a thing to fix the fan. The house was getting really cold because the fan wasn't working. School is starting 2 hours late tomorrow.
Friday, January 29, 2010
What matters?
-From Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom
"Let us think about our prayers,
yours and mine;
think of the warmth,
the depth and intensity of your prayers
when it concerns someone you love
or something which matters to your life.
Then your heart is open,
all your inner self is recollected in the prayer.
Does it mean that God matters to you?
No, it does not.
It simply means that the subject matter
of your prayer matters to you.
For when you have made your passionate,
deep, intense prayer concerning the person you love
or the situation that worries you,
and you turn to the next item,
which does not matter so much-
if you suddenly grow cold,
what has changed?
Has God grown cold?
Has He gone?
No, it means that all the elation,
all the intensity in your prayer
was not born of God's presence,
of your faith in Him,
of your longing for Him,
of your awareness of Him;
it was born of nothing
but your concern for him or her or it,
not for God."
"Let us think about our prayers,
yours and mine;
think of the warmth,
the depth and intensity of your prayers
when it concerns someone you love
or something which matters to your life.
Then your heart is open,
all your inner self is recollected in the prayer.
Does it mean that God matters to you?
No, it does not.
It simply means that the subject matter
of your prayer matters to you.
For when you have made your passionate,
deep, intense prayer concerning the person you love
or the situation that worries you,
and you turn to the next item,
which does not matter so much-
if you suddenly grow cold,
what has changed?
Has God grown cold?
Has He gone?
No, it means that all the elation,
all the intensity in your prayer
was not born of God's presence,
of your faith in Him,
of your longing for Him,
of your awareness of Him;
it was born of nothing
but your concern for him or her or it,
not for God."
Spinach or cake?
by Vance Havner
"There are alot of questions the Bible
doesn't answer about the Hereafter.
But I think one reason is illustrated
by the story of a boy sitting down
to a bowl of spinach
when there's a chocolate cake
at the end of the table.
He's going to have a rough time eating that spinach
when his eyes are on the cake.
And if the Lord had explained everything to us
about what's ours to come,
I think we'd have a rough time with
our spinach down here."
"There are alot of questions the Bible
doesn't answer about the Hereafter.
But I think one reason is illustrated
by the story of a boy sitting down
to a bowl of spinach
when there's a chocolate cake
at the end of the table.
He's going to have a rough time eating that spinach
when his eyes are on the cake.
And if the Lord had explained everything to us
about what's ours to come,
I think we'd have a rough time with
our spinach down here."
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