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So here is the story behind this Photo! We were in Big Bear since Thursday with Rob Chapman and Katherine Chapman when my 6 year old Alexa who has kidney and bladder issues starting losing control of her bladder and was urinating through all her clothes! I knew she was getting another infection in the bladder and kidneys. I came prepared with urine dips to check for blood and infection as a just in case! So happens we needed it.....not for diagnoses which is what i originally thought but it was to prove a healing from the hands of God! Before I left to Big Bear I felt a heavy pull to Grab these tests. I normally wouldn't because I don't want to over kill a vacation with worry, But this time I just felt like I needed to bring them! So I decide after a day of Alexa feeling badly that I would go ahead and check her urine for infection of the bladder and kidneys! Sure enough the test reads highest level of blood and Nitrates! So sad :( Now I have to call a DR. And somehow convince them to call me in a prescription to Big Bear because my only other option is the Hospital! And I knew If I left this untreated the kidneys would be infected quick and she would be throwing up in no time! We called different doctors and everyone said to bring her to the nearest hospital. Finally a doctor office calls us back and says I will call in some Septra but i'm not supposed to do this don't say a word to the office! So here we are thinking "oh God you are so good you gave us this medication so we can heal Alexa and enjoy the rest of the Vacation!! Well it gets better"....... Rob Chapman says wait!!! we should pray for her and see if the lord will heal her first!! And so we did we prayed God's healing over her body!! And if you look in the picture that is a negative result im holding up above the photo that says God! I did not save the Original test but it was a very deep purple meaning high blood count and infection! Now we are cleared of infection!! And the test reads light and pretty! Thankyou Jesus you really are a healer!!

True Worshippers pt 2

Those who worship in spirit & truth are able to do so regardless of their circumstances because it goes beyond feelings.

Is this to say that we should live as cold robots with no emotion?
Of course not! We were designed to have emotions. It's in our DNA how we respond to acts of love, acts of wrongdoing... Thankfulness, for instance is an action that is an emotional response. if we don't feel thankful, we're basically not.

Job's experience brought a lot of emotion! Was he thankful that God allowed everything and everyone to be stripped of him, living in physical pain and sickness? No! He was distraught! His heart was torn and broken. He was confused and hurt...
Yet he still KNEW that God is who He says He is. That was the basis of his relationship with The Lord. "God is God and I am not."

When we think of worship in the western world, we typically think of singing (which is totally biblical by the way - I love how people will use the "worship is more than singing songs, it's a lifestyle" catch phrase to explain why they don't "get into" singing worship... Again it's biblical. Look it up) and with singing there is usually some sort of emotion tied to it. Whether its the music or the lyrics, it is meant to evoke emotion to a point, in order to call to remembrance His goodness & His love or His majesty and therefore respond. But whether music is used or poetic lyricism, worship is a proclamation of God's attributes.

But what happens when we DON'T feel like it? Maybe we had a bad day... Maybe, like David, we lost a child or like Job, everything! Yet they worshipped The Lord. They stood firm on the goodness of God.

How that possible?

Because fortunately neither prayer nor worship require emotions, but faithfulness, because its what is right.
The emotions only effect our ability to make good decisions in right doing.

True worshippers worship Him because it is right.

True Worshippers

One of the greatest Worshippers we know of in the bible is David. David was said by God Himself to be a man after His own heart. We attribute that to David for many reasons, but one in particular is most famous is the heart of a worshipper.
We imagine David having this wonderful heart to heart time with The Lord daily while sitting out in the field tending sheep...which may in fact be very true... But I would venture to say it was more than that.

David truly understood who God is. It's one thing to have an intimate relationship or dialogue with God, but its another to fully have the mind and heart of The Lord.
We see this in many instances where he's tested and tempted in his flesh - refusing to take Saul's life more than once; being rebuked by a stranger for being a murderer of thousands, but yet rebuking his men for wanting to kill that man, recognizing that it could've been from God; or when seeing Goliath and hearing his taunting of the lord's chosen he rebuked & killed him; or fully repenting when rebuked by Nathan over his sin against Uriah & with Bathsheba - but one most famous times was when, in 2 Samuel 12, the first child born of Bathsheba (the bastard child), after David's fasting and praying died and yet he worshipped The Lord.

We typically read that section of that passage and translate it as "worshipping in our adversity or pain" or "worshipping despite our circumstances" as a reminder or adverse reaction to the negative. These are all good and true to an extent, but what David exuded, much like every other aspect of his life, was not a reactive worship, but a worship based on truth.

We read in John 4 how Jesus met the woman at the well and said "...But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We usually understand what worshipping in spirit means, but what does it mean to worship in truth?

We typically say of course that it's worshipping truthfully, not with lying lips or giving Him "lip service" yet being far from Him in our hearts. Again, this is true. But even more, the one who worships in truth is the one who knows the truth. He or she KNOWS who He is, what He's like... They KNOW His heart. "One who is after His own heart"

We have in many ways become "reactive worshippers". We praise Him "because of what He's done" or we worship Him "even though..." But the true worshipper that worships Him in spirit and in truth, just WORSHIPS HIM.
Regardless of our circumstances, it is what we do because He is who He is.

Kindle Afresh

In a time when God is pouring out His Spirit, touching many lives, speaking prophetically through His saints to minister to one another and the lost, and there is an increasing passion growing in our hearts, let us not be silent nor dismayed. Let us not allow our flesh or the flesh of our brothers and sisters return to its place of dominion, but instead encourage one another through the power of testimony. Do not keep silent about the deep workings that are being done among and through us.
Silence brings discouragement and disbelief, but the power of testimony breeds faith and sustained assurance.

 

2 Timothy 1:6-8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁶ For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of ^[a]timidity, but of power and love and ^[b]discipline.
⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

 

Mystical Pride

Pride is a mystical poison hidden deep in the heart.
It is like a beautiful expensive garment to the one who wears it. Made from the choicest materials, it feels so soft and even gratifying to the flesh and so full of color and sheen it is attractive to the eye of the wearer. But to everyone else it is an offense and detestable.
Because of its mysticism, it isn't until the garment is removed does one know how detestable it truly is.

But how wonderful when it is removed in humility and laid at the feet of the cross. It is like sweet perfume poured over the feet of Jesus.
Yet to the one who refuses to remove it, it is removed by force and brings humiliation.

Either way, God is more gracious than we and forgives those whom at one point or another find themselves at the foot of that cross in repentance.

Sharpen Your Axe!

Just stumbled upon some of my old memory verses (great memory, eh?) and this among many stood out for today:

"If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success." (Ecclesiastes 10:10 NASB)

(Oh how this verse has taken its shape and full meaning!)

In a season where there is much spiritual activity in and out of the church, there are two extreme responses -
Passionate exuberance or skepticism and resistance.
Both are wise in their own estimation, because they believe wholeheartedly in their position.
One would say, "how can you not see that this is God?!" where the other would say, "how can you say 'this is God?!'"
Both have strong and well founded positions based in a level of experience, along with a certain amount of knowledge and understanding.
But what if to either one you stepped back long enough to hear Wisdom?
Wisdom doesn't necessarily make you wrong and the other right, it instead brings absolutes.
The Lord is Lord over all. He speaks to all clearly in one way, if nothing else, through His Word. Yet He also speaks to the heart and His Spirit to our spirit. He gives wisdom and discernment to all who seek it.
One may have one experience and one another. One may have one belief or opinion and one another. But the same Spirit ministers to all and in all there is a level of self or flesh.
The only measuring stick is the Word of God & the wisdom He breathes through it.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NASB)

It is LIVING. And ACTIVE. It is not a book of rules, but of truth. It is not a debating tool, but a measuring tool. Yet it alone is powerful enough to divide and to mend. It is succinct in its purpose in that within it lies ALL wisdom to those who seek it.

Those who search it to defend their position will find it, but in human reasoning will not see the truth.
Those who seek it to have knowledge will find it, but knowledge will not save you.
But those who seek Wisdom will know truth that stirs deep within the soul, refining and aligning the spirit with His.
It sees beyond experience and into the very heart of God.

"When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2 NASB)

Wisdom and humility are inseparable. He who thinks he knows, knows nothing. But He who seeks wisdom in its purest form is humble, otherwise he will not find it.

"My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you..." (Proverbs 2:1-11 NASB)

Sharpen your axe!

Take Up Your Cross Daily

"And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:23-25 NASB)

We've heard or read this so many times that its become cliché more than the actual standard of truth we're commanded to live by.

What is "denying yourself?"
Most of us who are married or have kids already get a basic idea... Life will never be the same! But yet American Christianity still seems to speak a different truth.

I'm not speaking of the church model itself, that is a whole different subject. What has been lost in Christianity today is the selflessness that Jesus and much of the Bible speaks of.
Today's Christian measures their level of servanthood with how much time or money they have "left over" rather than it becoming an attribute of their character.
The problem is, it ALL belongs to Him. To "steward" our time or money cannot be done with human reasoning, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We all know that everything about the Lord's principles are upside down.
-if you give Him at least 10% of His money back, our 90% will stretch further. Even more, if we become cheerful givers, the windows of Heaven are opened to us.
-When you seek FIRST His kingdom, THEN our needs will be taken care of.
-Jesus spent more time with the despised and defending the sinner than rebuking them.
-He had more compassion on the hurting and healed those that later spat on Him...

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'"(Galatians 5:13-14 NASB)

Denying yourself and taking up your cross daily is more than just choosing to follow Jesus. It's more than just being a good person.
(This is also reflected in how much time is spend entertaining ourselves.)

It's when preferring one another becomes the core of who you are... It's when you're so unconcerned about the possible negative effects or inconveniences you might incur when serving or preferring someone else over yourself that you literally don't even think about it. And when the messy, inconvenient, negative effects do happen, it doesn't phase you.
Selflessness is the attribute of a person that gives without measuring the cost. One who when praised for their "sacrifice" the respond with "what do you mean?"

Let us deny ourselves [completely], pick up our cross daily & FOLLOW Him.