For some time I have heard one of the ladies in our church muttering, "Where your attention goes your energy flows." At first I did not think much of it until recently when the Holy Spirit brought into the forefront of my spiritual life. He asked me, "Where is your attention today?" "What was my focus?"
Once I realized where my attention was directed I realized that my energy really was flowing into those areas. If my attention was focused on a problem or a concern then my emotional energy was being spent around the same. If my attention, however, was on the Lord and His Kingdom, then I found that my energy was being renewed by what I was focusing on.
What disturbed me, however, was how often my focus was not on the Lord or His Kingdom. My focus was instead on the cares and concerns of this life. These were not necessarily "bad" things, but they were not holy things. My energy was draining out of me like pasta draining in a colander rather than being renewed by things eternal. "Where your attention goes, your energy flows."
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is actually occupying your attention today. Once He has shown you, confess it to the Lord. Allow Him to focus your attention on Him. Once you have done that, you will quickly find that is where your energy will flow. Instead of your energy draining out on worries seen, let your energy be renewed by things unseen.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A Cup Of Cold Water
Each of us go through seasons of trial. Trials are like trudging through a desert. They could take the form of a serious illness, economic worries, or marital difficulties. Whatever the trial, however, the emotional and spiritual landscape is parched and there is little quality to life.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that we see God's hand in the small things that happen to us along these journeys. I call them God's cups of water. Our flesh wants the trial over NOW. We want God to bring us to the end of the journey immediately! We do not always understand why certain trials have to take so long. When we pray, He does not answer by ending the trial, but by offering small cups of water along the way. If we keep track of each glass, we soon begin to notice that the trial is not marked by its beginning or its end but by the cups of water along the way.
When we realize that each cup of cool water is actually a miracle of love from God, we can then take our eyes off of the big problem and begin to thank Him for the daily blessing.
Each glass of water offered to a weary traveler is a kindness. It may be an encouraging note or balloons at the hospital or a well timed visit during a busy day. Whatever form it takes, however, it is the cool water of grace that refreshes the soul of the person in need. God uses these to keep us alive long enough to get to the next blessing. So the reality is that each hardship is really a string of blessings linked together from beginning to end. That is why there is no good deed too small for any of us to overlook because that small grace might possibly be the very glass needed to keep a fellow traveler alive.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
One thing I have noticed, however, is that we see God's hand in the small things that happen to us along these journeys. I call them God's cups of water. Our flesh wants the trial over NOW. We want God to bring us to the end of the journey immediately! We do not always understand why certain trials have to take so long. When we pray, He does not answer by ending the trial, but by offering small cups of water along the way. If we keep track of each glass, we soon begin to notice that the trial is not marked by its beginning or its end but by the cups of water along the way.
When we realize that each cup of cool water is actually a miracle of love from God, we can then take our eyes off of the big problem and begin to thank Him for the daily blessing.
Each glass of water offered to a weary traveler is a kindness. It may be an encouraging note or balloons at the hospital or a well timed visit during a busy day. Whatever form it takes, however, it is the cool water of grace that refreshes the soul of the person in need. God uses these to keep us alive long enough to get to the next blessing. So the reality is that each hardship is really a string of blessings linked together from beginning to end. That is why there is no good deed too small for any of us to overlook because that small grace might possibly be the very glass needed to keep a fellow traveler alive.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Back To Blinders
During the 1800's when horses were the main source of transportation, drivers would put blinders over the horse's eyes. Blinders were flaps used to keep horses from seeing from side to side. The horse could still see, but only what was directly in front of it. This kept them from becoming skittish or fearful in case something or someone came up quickly from the side.
Scripture tells us to look neither to the right or to the left. I.E. Put on blinders. The enemy tries to temp us away from what God has called us to in the given moment.
When we focus on the past and the mistakes made there we can end up suffering from guilt or depression. If we look into the future we usually encounter fear. In both cases, we are looking to the right and to the left. It is just today that the Lord gives us. He calls us to live in the present and to put blinders on re the past and future.
A week ago, I woke up to bad news re a person who was very sick that we had been praying for over an extended length of time. There would be several days of good news followed by a day of bad news. Good news then bad news. That particular morning, upon hearing the bad news, I immediately wanted to give up--despair tried to take over. I did not want to pray about this any longer. I was tired being on the medical report roller coaster.
It was then that the Holy Spirit said, "Put blinders on." This meant, don't look to yesterday's good report and do not take on tomorrow's fear. Just pray about today's issue.
Recently, I wanted to give a (critical) opinion of someone I did not even know. (How foolish is that according to Proverbs!) As I was cranking up, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Put blinders on. That is none of your business. It is a trap from the enemy to get you to sin and lose the grace that I am offering you."
What is on each side of you today that is luring you to get off the straight and narrow path?
Keep your blinders on. Keep the face of Jesus and His Word in you. Ask what is the specific thing that He would have you do today!
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Scripture tells us to look neither to the right or to the left. I.E. Put on blinders. The enemy tries to temp us away from what God has called us to in the given moment.
When we focus on the past and the mistakes made there we can end up suffering from guilt or depression. If we look into the future we usually encounter fear. In both cases, we are looking to the right and to the left. It is just today that the Lord gives us. He calls us to live in the present and to put blinders on re the past and future.
A week ago, I woke up to bad news re a person who was very sick that we had been praying for over an extended length of time. There would be several days of good news followed by a day of bad news. Good news then bad news. That particular morning, upon hearing the bad news, I immediately wanted to give up--despair tried to take over. I did not want to pray about this any longer. I was tired being on the medical report roller coaster.
It was then that the Holy Spirit said, "Put blinders on." This meant, don't look to yesterday's good report and do not take on tomorrow's fear. Just pray about today's issue.
Recently, I wanted to give a (critical) opinion of someone I did not even know. (How foolish is that according to Proverbs!) As I was cranking up, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Put blinders on. That is none of your business. It is a trap from the enemy to get you to sin and lose the grace that I am offering you."
What is on each side of you today that is luring you to get off the straight and narrow path?
Keep your blinders on. Keep the face of Jesus and His Word in you. Ask what is the specific thing that He would have you do today!
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Is The Grass Greener Somewhere Else?
Many people spend their lives searching for greener pastures. This is an effective ploy of the enemy to cause discontentment and ingratitude. It also keeps us looking elsewhere so that we miss out on the joys and blessings somewhere.
I confess, I have been a "the grass is greener somewhere else person" most of my life. Yesterday, however, the Lord downloaded this truth into my spirit. If I am where He wants me to be each day, then I am in the greenest pastures possible. There is no place greener than where I am!
Yesterday, I attended a priests' meeting in Greenville, Alabama. En route, the Lord showed me that this meeting in this small southern town would be the greenest pasture for me of any place in the world. If I had the choice of being in London or Washington, outside of God's plan, or in Greenville, AL in God's plan, which would be the greener pasture? Greenville! (I don't think the name of the town was an accident either.)
How many times have we looked past the blessings of the present day because we believed the lie that "life" was happening somewhere else and we were missing it. No, life happens where God has planned for us to be each day of our lives. There is no greener pasture than where He calls us to be today.
When Psalm 23 says, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures...." The shepherd means it. Find God's place for your life today and you can be certain that it will not be any better somewhere else. The most exciting place in the world for us might be Greenville, AL rather than New York. Rest in that and give thanks that He makes us to lie down in green pastures.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
I confess, I have been a "the grass is greener somewhere else person" most of my life. Yesterday, however, the Lord downloaded this truth into my spirit. If I am where He wants me to be each day, then I am in the greenest pastures possible. There is no place greener than where I am!
Yesterday, I attended a priests' meeting in Greenville, Alabama. En route, the Lord showed me that this meeting in this small southern town would be the greenest pasture for me of any place in the world. If I had the choice of being in London or Washington, outside of God's plan, or in Greenville, AL in God's plan, which would be the greener pasture? Greenville! (I don't think the name of the town was an accident either.)
How many times have we looked past the blessings of the present day because we believed the lie that "life" was happening somewhere else and we were missing it. No, life happens where God has planned for us to be each day of our lives. There is no greener pasture than where He calls us to be today.
When Psalm 23 says, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures...." The shepherd means it. Find God's place for your life today and you can be certain that it will not be any better somewhere else. The most exciting place in the world for us might be Greenville, AL rather than New York. Rest in that and give thanks that He makes us to lie down in green pastures.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Monday, March 30, 2009
"Pray That This Will Not Take Place In Winter"
Mark 13:18, 19 refers to the Signs of the End of the Age. It says, "Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning when God created the world until now--and never to be equaled again."
Last week I was talking to one of the men after men's group. I was sharing how blessed I felt that a very lengthy, eighteen month trial, that had involved trusting the Lord for finances had taken place during better economic times than we are experiencing now. I shared that if it had happened at the onset of establishing Grace Church in 2000, then I might have been overcome with doubt that I had done the right thing by planting the church.
I also shared that if the trial had started during this severe economic down turn, then I might looked to the economy for my trust rather than the Lord. i.e. God's provision works while the stock market is high but He cannot do the same when it is low. Again, however, the Lord had graciously prevented me from having to learn that hard lesson during times that would have made a normally difficult time harder.
As soon as I shared all of this, my friend blurted out...."Pray that this will not take place in winter!" When I heard it, I realized that he had spoken a very important truth from a verse that I had really never quite understood.
Winter is a hard time. Normal jobs become harder the colder it is. There are greater hindrances in winter as well as greater discomfort. Having to trust financially at the onset of a new ministry is normal, but if it is a severe testing, it can discourage and cause doubt. Or as times are now, learning to trust would just be more difficult than even a year ago when money was more readily available, etc.
Pray to the Lord that He will teach us His lessons when it is not winter so that when winter comes, we will be prepared and ready to serve Him to an even greater degree.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Last week I was talking to one of the men after men's group. I was sharing how blessed I felt that a very lengthy, eighteen month trial, that had involved trusting the Lord for finances had taken place during better economic times than we are experiencing now. I shared that if it had happened at the onset of establishing Grace Church in 2000, then I might have been overcome with doubt that I had done the right thing by planting the church.
I also shared that if the trial had started during this severe economic down turn, then I might looked to the economy for my trust rather than the Lord. i.e. God's provision works while the stock market is high but He cannot do the same when it is low. Again, however, the Lord had graciously prevented me from having to learn that hard lesson during times that would have made a normally difficult time harder.
As soon as I shared all of this, my friend blurted out...."Pray that this will not take place in winter!" When I heard it, I realized that he had spoken a very important truth from a verse that I had really never quite understood.
Winter is a hard time. Normal jobs become harder the colder it is. There are greater hindrances in winter as well as greater discomfort. Having to trust financially at the onset of a new ministry is normal, but if it is a severe testing, it can discourage and cause doubt. Or as times are now, learning to trust would just be more difficult than even a year ago when money was more readily available, etc.
Pray to the Lord that He will teach us His lessons when it is not winter so that when winter comes, we will be prepared and ready to serve Him to an even greater degree.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Washing With The Water of the Word
Last night, during Soaking Prayer, the Lord showed us another tool that was in our spiritual tool box. As we prayed for various people, issues and situations, the Lord said to wash them with the water of the Word.
As we prayed for different people, we would speak forth verses from Scripture that the Holy Spirit put into our hearts, whether they seemed pertinent or not to the situation. What we were doing was speaking the Word over depression, chaos, physical sickness, and so on.
Later, the group was led to wash the church with the water of the Word. As we stood around the chairs in the sanctuary, we spoke forth the verses the Lord put into our hearts. He made it abundantly clear that this was what He wanted and that it would have great effect in the heavenlies!
Next, the Lord showed us another aspect to this kind of prayer. We did not have verses memorized in order to wash others with the Word. The Holy Spirit directed us to stories in Scripture that would be too lengthy to memorize. He had us name the story and pray that particular event over the situation we were praying. Naboth's vineyard was one such story. Joseph's captivity and then later elevation as Prince of Egypt was another. We spoke the woman at the well encounter over a prayer situation, and so on.
The key to the tools that God gives us is that they be used under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit rather than us just thinking up verses that would apply or stories that would "preach the sermon better". Listen for His voice today. As problems arise in your life or in the lives of your "congregation", see if the Holy Spirit might not direct you to wash that problem with the water of the Word. Pray whatever God gives you over the person or situation. Declare the power of the Word over each and then wait to see what God will do.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
As we prayed for different people, we would speak forth verses from Scripture that the Holy Spirit put into our hearts, whether they seemed pertinent or not to the situation. What we were doing was speaking the Word over depression, chaos, physical sickness, and so on.
Later, the group was led to wash the church with the water of the Word. As we stood around the chairs in the sanctuary, we spoke forth the verses the Lord put into our hearts. He made it abundantly clear that this was what He wanted and that it would have great effect in the heavenlies!
Next, the Lord showed us another aspect to this kind of prayer. We did not have verses memorized in order to wash others with the Word. The Holy Spirit directed us to stories in Scripture that would be too lengthy to memorize. He had us name the story and pray that particular event over the situation we were praying. Naboth's vineyard was one such story. Joseph's captivity and then later elevation as Prince of Egypt was another. We spoke the woman at the well encounter over a prayer situation, and so on.
The key to the tools that God gives us is that they be used under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit rather than us just thinking up verses that would apply or stories that would "preach the sermon better". Listen for His voice today. As problems arise in your life or in the lives of your "congregation", see if the Holy Spirit might not direct you to wash that problem with the water of the Word. Pray whatever God gives you over the person or situation. Declare the power of the Word over each and then wait to see what God will do.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Cloud Between
Exodus 14 details the drama of Israel's exodus from Egypt. It was a harrowing experience for God's people! Pharaoh, with 600 chariots, were moving at great speed towards the slow moving mass of people who had been trained to make bricks not to wield weapons.
The Israelites got to the very edge of the Red Sea and found themselves trapped between a mass of water and the army of the Pharaoh. There was no evident of hope. Death was on either side of them. Yet listen to what God says: "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water..." (Ex 14:15-16).
Exodus 14:19-20 continues with, "Then the angel of God, Who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long."
That is a marvelous and mysterious passage. The cloud that was leading God's people went from the front of the line to the back of the line. That night, there was nothing between the most powerful army of that day and God's people except the angel of God (Jesus) and the pillar of cloud (God the Father)... Nothing but the condensation of water between these two groups all night long.
Isn't it interesting also that the cloud between each people was darkness to one and light to the other. How great is our God?! All through the night the winds blew and created a way of escape for Israel where there had been no way.
The power of this event is that God stood between two opposing groups...protection for one and prevention to the other. Whatever you are struggling with today, ask the cloud to move from before to behind and give you light while giving darkness to your enemies.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
The Israelites got to the very edge of the Red Sea and found themselves trapped between a mass of water and the army of the Pharaoh. There was no evident of hope. Death was on either side of them. Yet listen to what God says: "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water..." (Ex 14:15-16).
Exodus 14:19-20 continues with, "Then the angel of God, Who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long."
That is a marvelous and mysterious passage. The cloud that was leading God's people went from the front of the line to the back of the line. That night, there was nothing between the most powerful army of that day and God's people except the angel of God (Jesus) and the pillar of cloud (God the Father)... Nothing but the condensation of water between these two groups all night long.
Isn't it interesting also that the cloud between each people was darkness to one and light to the other. How great is our God?! All through the night the winds blew and created a way of escape for Israel where there had been no way.
The power of this event is that God stood between two opposing groups...protection for one and prevention to the other. Whatever you are struggling with today, ask the cloud to move from before to behind and give you light while giving darkness to your enemies.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Watchmen on the Wall
In Biblical times, cities had walls. The walls protected the people within. The city gates were opened at dawn and closed at dusk. As a secondary precaution, watchmen were posted on the walls. This gave them the advantage of height so that they could see great distances, preventing enemies from sneeking up on the city.
Watchmen were the city's lookouts. They watched for encroaching armies. They gave commentary to those in the city during battles. They sounded the alarm if they saw smoke or fire during peace times, and signaled the king's return to the city.
God has posted watchmen over His church throughout the centuries. Men and women in every generation have been raised up to watch on behalf of God's people and to sound the alarm in the day of battle. Isaiah 62:6 says, "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest." Jeremiah 6:17 says, "I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.'"
Billy Graham and Mother Theresa have been watchmen during our time. There are others. Recently, a number of the watchmen have all been sounding the alarm. David Wilkerson, head of Teen Challenge and of "The Cross and the Switchblade" fame, has sounded the alarm: a judgment is upon us. Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Upon Precept Bible Study, has sounded her trumpet: judgment is upon us. On Sunday, after worship, I heard from two of Grace Church's watchmen. Both their messages that they received from the Lord Sunday (one was a picture and the other a brief word) was that judgment is upon us (our nation). Each of these are warnings beyond what the United States is currently experiencing in this economic down turn.
So what do we inside the walls do with this information? First, we do not fear. "Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed, I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness." Fear can prevent blessings from arriving at their destinations. Fearalso caused unnecessary stress and havoc in our lives.
We remind ourselves that God has said that this area is a Goshen area (Cindy Jacobs prophecy in October, 2008). Goshen was the province in Egypt where the Israelites lived during their sojourn in Egyp. The plagues that ravaged Egypt, stopped at the very border of Goshen leaving God's people untouched while decimating the Egyptian culture and economy!
Finally, we pray. We listen for God's Spirit to carefully guide us in each day's activities. We look for open doors to minister in the Name of Jesus. Judgment was never sent out of hate. It was God's way of getting people's attention. They were missing His best by wanting God out of their lives. They were speeding through life without Him and were being continually being clawed by the enemy. It is God's hope that since blessings have not turn our nation back to Him that judgment might. We'll see.
God has placed His watchmen on our walls. They see things we do not. We can ignore them to our down fall or we can heed their call and live.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Watchmen were the city's lookouts. They watched for encroaching armies. They gave commentary to those in the city during battles. They sounded the alarm if they saw smoke or fire during peace times, and signaled the king's return to the city.
God has posted watchmen over His church throughout the centuries. Men and women in every generation have been raised up to watch on behalf of God's people and to sound the alarm in the day of battle. Isaiah 62:6 says, "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest." Jeremiah 6:17 says, "I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.'"
Billy Graham and Mother Theresa have been watchmen during our time. There are others. Recently, a number of the watchmen have all been sounding the alarm. David Wilkerson, head of Teen Challenge and of "The Cross and the Switchblade" fame, has sounded the alarm: a judgment is upon us. Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Upon Precept Bible Study, has sounded her trumpet: judgment is upon us. On Sunday, after worship, I heard from two of Grace Church's watchmen. Both their messages that they received from the Lord Sunday (one was a picture and the other a brief word) was that judgment is upon us (our nation). Each of these are warnings beyond what the United States is currently experiencing in this economic down turn.
So what do we inside the walls do with this information? First, we do not fear. "Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed, I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness." Fear can prevent blessings from arriving at their destinations. Fearalso caused unnecessary stress and havoc in our lives.
We remind ourselves that God has said that this area is a Goshen area (Cindy Jacobs prophecy in October, 2008). Goshen was the province in Egypt where the Israelites lived during their sojourn in Egyp. The plagues that ravaged Egypt, stopped at the very border of Goshen leaving God's people untouched while decimating the Egyptian culture and economy!
Finally, we pray. We listen for God's Spirit to carefully guide us in each day's activities. We look for open doors to minister in the Name of Jesus. Judgment was never sent out of hate. It was God's way of getting people's attention. They were missing His best by wanting God out of their lives. They were speeding through life without Him and were being continually being clawed by the enemy. It is God's hope that since blessings have not turn our nation back to Him that judgment might. We'll see.
God has placed His watchmen on our walls. They see things we do not. We can ignore them to our down fall or we can heed their call and live.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Self Saving-Savior Saving
One of the problems in being a Christian is that we often forget that we have a Savior. Since birth, we have been trying to save ourselves. The child that tells a fib is trying to not get caught. They are convinced that their lie will save them. The adolescent who cheats on a test is trying to save him/herself from failing. The adult who worries and schemes about how to solve whatever problem is on that day's agenda is trying to save him/herself.
After Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they hid, thinking that they could save themselves from the one person who could actually save them. They made apron's of fig leaves and chose darkness rather than light, thinking that by hiding, they would not be seen. Ever since, we, as fallen men and women, have unsuccessfully tried to make broken situations work. We have tried to save ourselves from unforseen consequences.
MostChristians spend the majority of their time trying to save themselves. We might not do it intentionally, but it happens. Why do we worry? Worry is our attempt to work out a plan to save ourselves.
When we become our own saviors it never works. The only way we can save ourselves is to turn to the darkness to hide us. Darkness, however, always betray us. Darkness will never save us, yet we believe its lie and agree with it by our actions. Look at Judas. Look at Ananias and Sapphira.
One of the most powerful prayers that we can ever pray is, "Lord, I cannot save myself. Will you come into the problem and solve it for me." That is the prayer of surrender....."I cannot save myself." "I need a Savior." It is powerful because we are turning to the light rather than to the darkness for aid.
Ask the Lord to show you areas in your life today where you are trying to save yourself. When He shows you, rejoice! Declare, "Lord, I cannot save myself!", and then wait for Him to act on your behalf. He is both Savior and friend.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
After Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they hid, thinking that they could save themselves from the one person who could actually save them. They made apron's of fig leaves and chose darkness rather than light, thinking that by hiding, they would not be seen. Ever since, we, as fallen men and women, have unsuccessfully tried to make broken situations work. We have tried to save ourselves from unforseen consequences.
MostChristians spend the majority of their time trying to save themselves. We might not do it intentionally, but it happens. Why do we worry? Worry is our attempt to work out a plan to save ourselves.
When we become our own saviors it never works. The only way we can save ourselves is to turn to the darkness to hide us. Darkness, however, always betray us. Darkness will never save us, yet we believe its lie and agree with it by our actions. Look at Judas. Look at Ananias and Sapphira.
One of the most powerful prayers that we can ever pray is, "Lord, I cannot save myself. Will you come into the problem and solve it for me." That is the prayer of surrender....."I cannot save myself." "I need a Savior." It is powerful because we are turning to the light rather than to the darkness for aid.
Ask the Lord to show you areas in your life today where you are trying to save yourself. When He shows you, rejoice! Declare, "Lord, I cannot save myself!", and then wait for Him to act on your behalf. He is both Savior and friend.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Friday, February 27, 2009
It Is All About The Kingdom
Recently, I have found myself talking about "the kingdom" rather than "the church" or ven "being a Christian". In fact, I have had this growing irritation with most anything that hints of "denominations" or "old wine skin church work". It is amazing how many conversations with "church people" end up talking about the maintenance and administration of an organization rather than THE KINGDOM!
Oh....the Kingdom.....now there is a concept dear to the heart of any true believer in Jesus Christ. The time is way too short to spend it on things temporal such as the organization and administration of "church". I often tell people that most church members will give an average two hours a week to their church (ie. the Sunday morning service). Therefore, if someone gives me two hours of their time each week, how do I want to spend it? Do I want to talk about the church and aspects of denominations, etc. or do I want to tell them about the Kingdom!
Nine out of ten times when witnessing to a non-believer, church will be brought up. (It seems everyone at some point or another has had at least one bad experience with "the church", no matter where.) If I go down that path with them, then usually the evangelism conversation is over. The church almost always ends up being a "witness killer". However, if instead, I talk to them about the Kingdom and THE RELATIONSHIP then life begins to happen.
Jesus spoke very little about "church" but papered the Gospels with "the Kingdom". The Lord's Prayer ends with, "For Thine is the Kingdom....". Elsewhere it says, "The Kingdom of God is neither meat nor drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." We have all sung this before: "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you." THE KINGDOM.
In conclusion, it is all about the Kingdom. At Grace Church it is our goal that we always be about the Kingdom. The Kingdom breeds life. The Kingdom is where the heart of God is. The Kingdom is not about territorialism that so often follows church work. Instead, the most important thing is not where a person goes to church but are they a part of the Kingdom? A key question we might continually ask ourselves is, "Am I doing this for my church or for THE KINGDOM?!
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Oh....the Kingdom.....now there is a concept dear to the heart of any true believer in Jesus Christ. The time is way too short to spend it on things temporal such as the organization and administration of "church". I often tell people that most church members will give an average two hours a week to their church (ie. the Sunday morning service). Therefore, if someone gives me two hours of their time each week, how do I want to spend it? Do I want to talk about the church and aspects of denominations, etc. or do I want to tell them about the Kingdom!
Nine out of ten times when witnessing to a non-believer, church will be brought up. (It seems everyone at some point or another has had at least one bad experience with "the church", no matter where.) If I go down that path with them, then usually the evangelism conversation is over. The church almost always ends up being a "witness killer". However, if instead, I talk to them about the Kingdom and THE RELATIONSHIP then life begins to happen.
Jesus spoke very little about "church" but papered the Gospels with "the Kingdom". The Lord's Prayer ends with, "For Thine is the Kingdom....". Elsewhere it says, "The Kingdom of God is neither meat nor drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." We have all sung this before: "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you." THE KINGDOM.
In conclusion, it is all about the Kingdom. At Grace Church it is our goal that we always be about the Kingdom. The Kingdom breeds life. The Kingdom is where the heart of God is. The Kingdom is not about territorialism that so often follows church work. Instead, the most important thing is not where a person goes to church but are they a part of the Kingdom? A key question we might continually ask ourselves is, "Am I doing this for my church or for THE KINGDOM?!
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Opening the Other Eye
Recently, the Lord gave one of our members a vision for me persnoally. In the vision, I was looking at a large automobile and dangling over the automobile's hood was a huge spider. However, in the vision I was looking at the scene with one eye closed. When I opened the other eye, the perspective changed and I saw that the spider was not huge at all, but was instead small (normal size) and I flicked it away without a thought.
When we close one of our eyes, the perspective changes. Small things looked out of proportion, sometimes looking larger or closer than they actually are. The interpretation had to do with how I (we) view life. Things that look huge and scary from the point of view of one eye come into their actual size when we see them with both.
So what are our two eyes? The first eye views life from the human perspective. It is how we see life as if there is no God and we are on our own. When we view life in this way (and yes, Christians view life this way more often than we would admit), circumstances look substantial and overwhelming. When we open our other eye, we view life from God's perspective. Once we open both eyes, large dangling spiders are seen as they actually are-- simply small, annoyances.
Look at Numbers 22:21-35 for example. Balaam's ass saw the Angel of the Lord poised with sword in hand in front of them and tried to veer away from it. (The ass had both eyes open, however, his human rider did not.) Because Balaam had only one eye open he became furious at his donkey and began to beat it and curse it. Numbers 22:31 is the key verse to this story: "Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes (see--the other eye opened), and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown."
2 Kings 6:8-23 is another "eye opening" story. Elisha's servant had gone out to get water from the well one morning and saw that the Assyrian army had surrounded the city. He cried to his master, "What shall we do?!" Then 2 Kings 6:17 says, "And Elisah prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
The other eye opened in both these stories. Balaam and Elisha's servant both saw something very different when both their eyes were open verses versus when they only saw from a human perspective. Life will be very scary and terrible if we view it from only a human perspective. Large spiders, however, will become normal size when we open our other eye and view problems and difficulties from a God perspective. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your other eye today.
Blessings,Father Scott +
When we close one of our eyes, the perspective changes. Small things looked out of proportion, sometimes looking larger or closer than they actually are. The interpretation had to do with how I (we) view life. Things that look huge and scary from the point of view of one eye come into their actual size when we see them with both.
So what are our two eyes? The first eye views life from the human perspective. It is how we see life as if there is no God and we are on our own. When we view life in this way (and yes, Christians view life this way more often than we would admit), circumstances look substantial and overwhelming. When we open our other eye, we view life from God's perspective. Once we open both eyes, large dangling spiders are seen as they actually are-- simply small, annoyances.
Look at Numbers 22:21-35 for example. Balaam's ass saw the Angel of the Lord poised with sword in hand in front of them and tried to veer away from it. (The ass had both eyes open, however, his human rider did not.) Because Balaam had only one eye open he became furious at his donkey and began to beat it and curse it. Numbers 22:31 is the key verse to this story: "Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes (see--the other eye opened), and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown."
2 Kings 6:8-23 is another "eye opening" story. Elisha's servant had gone out to get water from the well one morning and saw that the Assyrian army had surrounded the city. He cried to his master, "What shall we do?!" Then 2 Kings 6:17 says, "And Elisah prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
The other eye opened in both these stories. Balaam and Elisha's servant both saw something very different when both their eyes were open verses versus when they only saw from a human perspective. Life will be very scary and terrible if we view it from only a human perspective. Large spiders, however, will become normal size when we open our other eye and view problems and difficulties from a God perspective. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your other eye today.
Blessings,Father Scott +
Monday, January 19, 2009
Rehearsing Troubles
Each morning I read Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. On January 16 it says, "Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur. "
So, how do we stay in the presence of God when I have work and responsibilities that require focus? We stay in the presence by disciplining our minds. Work when the Spirit says, "Work". Yet, when we have a free moment, rest in the presence instead of running back to worry. Giving thanks for five things that are going right or for five loved ones who bring us joy or for five friends who delight us can quickly bring us back into the presence. Gratitude rapidly ushers us into the presence of the generous and living God.
What is the alternative? We can worry about five things that are going wrong or we can we can worry about five loved ones who are in trouble or we can be angry at five people that have wronged us. Worry tortures the moment because there is no grace present. Patience and rest in Jesus Christ are meant to bring solace to the moment. That is where grace abounds. It is our choice.
"Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur. "
Blessings, Father Scott
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Ventriloquist
Have you ever had a conversation in your head where you told someone off? Recently, this happened to a friend while skiing in Colorado. This friend saw a man who had "done him dirty" in a business deal several years ago. Immediately the friend heard this scathing conversation in his head where he was telling this man off and letting him have it.
After a few minutes, however, the friend realized that this was not what he wanted to be doing with his time while on vacation. He was a Christian and truly believed in forgiving those who had wronged him. So why was he having this acrid conversation in his mind? He realized that it was the enemy using his own voice to get him started down the slippery slopes of hatred, bitterness, and anger.
After realizing that satan was the one picking the fight in his mind and not himself, this friend turned on the real perpetrator and told satan to get behind him! He then began to wash his mind with the cleansing water of the Word.
How many times have we been minding our own business when we see a former enemy and retaliatory conversation begins in our own voice, saying something judgemental or condemning about that person. Husbands might hear a thought in their own voice that causes them to condemn their wives. Wives hear words that remind them of painful events and begin to judge their husbands. Church members find themselves responding to themselves about one of their brothers or sisters in Christ that they are not happy with at the moment. Once the dart goes in, it must be extracted quickly or else.....or else we begin to succumb to its poison.
Satan is a ventriloquist. He throws his voice and makes it sound like us. He tempts us with thoughts that have just enough of the truth to cause us to believe the we are justified in our sin. Once we begin to dialogue "with ourselves", we then take on the duties of judge and jury.
But Satan is a ventriloquist. The voice you hear in your head that sounds like your own may not actually be your own. II Corinthians 10: 4,5 tells us to take captive every thought or feeling to Christ. Ask yourself, "Is this really who I am?" "Is this where my heart is to accuse and condemn others?" Or is my heart to love in the Name of Christ? Instead, is my heart's desire to pray for my enemies and to see God heal them?
St. Paul states that he was not unaware of the enemy's schemes. I believe this is one of his most effective schemes--to sound like us so that we begin a dialogue with ourselves whose purpose is to lead us away from the Kingdom instead of towards it.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
After a few minutes, however, the friend realized that this was not what he wanted to be doing with his time while on vacation. He was a Christian and truly believed in forgiving those who had wronged him. So why was he having this acrid conversation in his mind? He realized that it was the enemy using his own voice to get him started down the slippery slopes of hatred, bitterness, and anger.
After realizing that satan was the one picking the fight in his mind and not himself, this friend turned on the real perpetrator and told satan to get behind him! He then began to wash his mind with the cleansing water of the Word.
How many times have we been minding our own business when we see a former enemy and retaliatory conversation begins in our own voice, saying something judgemental or condemning about that person. Husbands might hear a thought in their own voice that causes them to condemn their wives. Wives hear words that remind them of painful events and begin to judge their husbands. Church members find themselves responding to themselves about one of their brothers or sisters in Christ that they are not happy with at the moment. Once the dart goes in, it must be extracted quickly or else.....or else we begin to succumb to its poison.
Satan is a ventriloquist. He throws his voice and makes it sound like us. He tempts us with thoughts that have just enough of the truth to cause us to believe the we are justified in our sin. Once we begin to dialogue "with ourselves", we then take on the duties of judge and jury.
But Satan is a ventriloquist. The voice you hear in your head that sounds like your own may not actually be your own. II Corinthians 10: 4,5 tells us to take captive every thought or feeling to Christ. Ask yourself, "Is this really who I am?" "Is this where my heart is to accuse and condemn others?" Or is my heart to love in the Name of Christ? Instead, is my heart's desire to pray for my enemies and to see God heal them?
St. Paul states that he was not unaware of the enemy's schemes. I believe this is one of his most effective schemes--to sound like us so that we begin a dialogue with ourselves whose purpose is to lead us away from the Kingdom instead of towards it.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
Monday, January 5, 2009
Your Future
Sarah Young writes in Jesus Calling, p. 174, "Since I (the Lord) went to such extreme measures to save you from your sins, you can be assured that I will graciously give you all you need."
The logic behind that sentence is so simple! If Jesus went to such extreme measures such as becoming a human being, giving His back over to be beaten, and finally dying shamefully on a cross so that we might be save then why would He allow us to waste away after that?
Of course the Lord is going to provide for us after going to such great extremes. We have so much more worth to Him than we realize. It is elementary yet how easy we forget! Satan spins his lies telling us that the Father will not or cannot provide all we need. Our circumstances echo the same untruths until we forget our value to God. Why would He waste the cross on us to simply let us perish?
Once we have this truth down, we can begin to draw strength from its reality. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." The focus is on the present tense. It reminds us to take one day at a time. It calls to our remembrance the manna in the wilderness that came each day but would spoil by the next. God's bread from Heaven was daily and one day only. Jesus tells His disciples to ask for today's sustenance and then to keep blinders on our eyes re tomorrow which holds enough trouble all its own.
Jesus Calling is a devotional. However, what is written there is a truth that has its roots in Scripture. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I found my faith strengthened as I realized its validity and I hope you do to. So let's remember, "Since I went to such extreme measures to save you from your sins, you can be assured that I will graciously give you all you need."
The logic behind that sentence is so simple! If Jesus went to such extreme measures such as becoming a human being, giving His back over to be beaten, and finally dying shamefully on a cross so that we might be save then why would He allow us to waste away after that?
Of course the Lord is going to provide for us after going to such great extremes. We have so much more worth to Him than we realize. It is elementary yet how easy we forget! Satan spins his lies telling us that the Father will not or cannot provide all we need. Our circumstances echo the same untruths until we forget our value to God. Why would He waste the cross on us to simply let us perish?
Once we have this truth down, we can begin to draw strength from its reality. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." The focus is on the present tense. It reminds us to take one day at a time. It calls to our remembrance the manna in the wilderness that came each day but would spoil by the next. God's bread from Heaven was daily and one day only. Jesus tells His disciples to ask for today's sustenance and then to keep blinders on our eyes re tomorrow which holds enough trouble all its own.
Jesus Calling is a devotional. However, what is written there is a truth that has its roots in Scripture. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I found my faith strengthened as I realized its validity and I hope you do to. So let's remember, "Since I went to such extreme measures to save you from your sins, you can be assured that I will graciously give you all you need."
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