Well it's been exactly since I went back to work in Beckley on a part-time basis. Something just occurred to me as I was typing...I have 3 part-time jobs that are all really full-time if done properly...how funny!
Being back here in Beckley is a bit surreal. I had really written off this entire chapter of my life and never intended to come back here. I had joked in the past that I would go anywhere God would send me but please Lord don't send me back to my Egypt (Beckley). Well He has done that. I took on this job as a revelation from God that it was time for me to be a tent-maker again and like Paul use work in the secular world as a means to support Sarah's calling to be a full time mom.
So here I am. Back in the place that I wouldn't have necessarily chosen for myself but have been obedient to do what I believe He has asked me to do (in case you missed it, my FOUND MY TENT blog explains all of this...see posts from earlier in September).
As I writing this I'm thinking of many times in the Word that we may be asked to do something we don't necessarily want to do. Abraham was asked to take Isaac up to the mountain and offer him up as a sacrifice. I"m pretty sure that Abraham wasn't thrilled at the thought, but by faith he did it in belief that God would raise his son from the dead (as told in Hebrews). God honored his faith by providing the sacrifice and sparing Isaac.
I'm also thinking about this in a slightly different spiritual context. Egypt is symbolic of bondage in the Bible. The Hebrews were slaves and captives there and were treated terrible by their masters. They were freed and Moses led them from the land of bondage and on their way back to the Promised Land they whined and complained about how much better life was AS A SLAVE. They WANTED to go back to Egypt rather than make the sometimes challenging journey into what God had already prepared for them.
This journey to and in Beckley won't be easy, but it is what God has ordained. It may not even be fun, but it is He has asked me to do. I come here looking to set some captives free, not to become captive myself.
This blog is therapy for me today so let me thank you for allowing me to just flow with my stream of consciousness. As I sit here in my 3rd floor corner office looking at the rain pounding against the window I realize that I am blessed. I'm blessed to be asked to come back here so that God can use me here. Even in Egypt I will give Him praise because I know that He is bigger than me and gets it far better than I can or ever will. I have faith that I'm here for a purpose that is greater than building up this company's bottom line. God help me to find you here. Help me to see where you're at work while I'm at work and give me the courage and boldness to join you in it. Let me see beyond the circumstances and what I see with my eyes and trust your Sovereign ways.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN
I just read that our President shelved the missle defense system that was slated to be built in Poland to protect NATO nations against the growing Iranian threat from short-range missles.
Why are Presidents from the democratic party so anti-foreign policy that would do anything that would protect nations and people groups. Carter gave away the Panama Canal. Clinton avoided the writing on the wall with Osama Bin Laden and did nothing to stop his coming madness. Now Obama makes an attempt to appease the Russians because the Russians were unhappy with us sticking our missles in somewhere to protect these small, unarmed nations. I guess we're more concerned with hugging our trees and loving on our polar bears instead of worrying about the millions that could be affected by an armed Iran or a powerful Russian army...so yes...let's make our Russian friends happy...way to go Obama! You did it again...impressed us with your smart and wise choices about what's needed and good for American and what isn't it!
There is a spiriting aspect to this that I want to bring up. The US is letting our guard down when it comes to these impending threats. VP Biden said there's nothing to worry about now with Iran so why do it. Who is to say that in 3 years there wont' be a threat. We are naive to believe that there aren't any threats out there.
SO often in our own lives we let our guard down. We have these lapses in judgement that eventually lead to troubles and problems when we don't do things to try to prevent what we know is or eventually will come at us. We are reminded in the Word that sin lurks and is waiting. "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." GEN 4:7. Our flesh is weak...looking for outlets at every opportunity to lead you astrayj. Sin has crouched down and waits for the right time to strike.
We say "Iran is not an immediate threat" so we don't do anything to prepare for the other terror that is currently couching down behind the mask of religion and waiting to attack and destroy us. The same thing happens in our individual lives. We feel like we're doing everything right and everything seems to be going right so we get lazy in our prayer life, in our study time in the Word and then BOOM sin pounces on us and we cave to temptation, whatever form it may take.
We too often take off our spiritual armor that God has clothed His believers with and leave this amazing armor lying around in our spiritual closet. Before you know it, the fiery darts of satan have been shot in our direction and we didn't even know it was coming until it hit us square between the eyes.
It's time to man up. Be battle ready at all times and whether you see sin crouching behind your door or not, be prepared. Go on the offensive and pray first.
Why are Presidents from the democratic party so anti-foreign policy that would do anything that would protect nations and people groups. Carter gave away the Panama Canal. Clinton avoided the writing on the wall with Osama Bin Laden and did nothing to stop his coming madness. Now Obama makes an attempt to appease the Russians because the Russians were unhappy with us sticking our missles in somewhere to protect these small, unarmed nations. I guess we're more concerned with hugging our trees and loving on our polar bears instead of worrying about the millions that could be affected by an armed Iran or a powerful Russian army...so yes...let's make our Russian friends happy...way to go Obama! You did it again...impressed us with your smart and wise choices about what's needed and good for American and what isn't it!
There is a spiriting aspect to this that I want to bring up. The US is letting our guard down when it comes to these impending threats. VP Biden said there's nothing to worry about now with Iran so why do it. Who is to say that in 3 years there wont' be a threat. We are naive to believe that there aren't any threats out there.
SO often in our own lives we let our guard down. We have these lapses in judgement that eventually lead to troubles and problems when we don't do things to try to prevent what we know is or eventually will come at us. We are reminded in the Word that sin lurks and is waiting. "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." GEN 4:7. Our flesh is weak...looking for outlets at every opportunity to lead you astrayj. Sin has crouched down and waits for the right time to strike.
We say "Iran is not an immediate threat" so we don't do anything to prepare for the other terror that is currently couching down behind the mask of religion and waiting to attack and destroy us. The same thing happens in our individual lives. We feel like we're doing everything right and everything seems to be going right so we get lazy in our prayer life, in our study time in the Word and then BOOM sin pounces on us and we cave to temptation, whatever form it may take.
We too often take off our spiritual armor that God has clothed His believers with and leave this amazing armor lying around in our spiritual closet. Before you know it, the fiery darts of satan have been shot in our direction and we didn't even know it was coming until it hit us square between the eyes.
It's time to man up. Be battle ready at all times and whether you see sin crouching behind your door or not, be prepared. Go on the offensive and pray first.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
GUEST BLOGGER - MISSIONARIES
Hello everyone...this is a special Sunday morning blog post from our two trailblazers serving on the mission field in East Asia. THere have been many extreme challenges that have faced them over the past week and they have asked me to share with you some of their thoughts. Most of my updates on their circumstances have been posted on Facebook because of the immediate need to dispense the info. Here is their posting in full....please continue to lift them up to the Lord. Ron
From Trailblazers..."Many of you know about my emergency appendectomy and have been thinking (praying) for my healing, for our family and for our baby. I am so thankful for that! Your prayers have surrounded us with love and He has given us the strength to continue on. I was writing down some of my experiences and how He has spoken to me in this time when I decided to look back at some of my previous entries. The Father spoke to me mightily and my hope in sharing it is that He will speak to you also.
A couple of months ago I was reading John 11, the story of Lazarus’s resurrection. The differences between Martha’s and Mary’s reactions struck me. Martha express that she is upset that He wasn’t there because if He had been her brother would still be alive, but then she says that she knows even now the Lord will do what they ask. Martha puts on a brave face, gives a glimpse of how she is feeling and then follows it with a stoic intellectual response. Mary just pours out her heart to Him. It’s after Mary speaks that He is moved, after this He weeps, after this He goes to the tomb, thanks the Father and Lazarus is raised from the dead.
It just struck me afresh that the Father just wants me to pour out my heart and share my pain with Him. He wants me to be real with Him and share my true feelings with Him. He’s the one who will move and encourage me with His promises. He will bring comfort to me. Hope that this encourages you to really open your heart up to the Father and let Him do the work of comfort and restoration that you need!" END
Ron speaking...The song "Pour My Love On YOu" comes to mind as I read this. I want to encourage everyone out there to pour out your best to the Lord. Give Him your heart above all intellectual reasons and let Him be the Sovereign God that He is. He loves you and wants the best for His children. Worship HIm in the pain and sickness and trust Him to work and move, to heal and restore. Have a blessed Sunday!
Ron and Sarah
From Trailblazers..."Many of you know about my emergency appendectomy and have been thinking (praying) for my healing, for our family and for our baby. I am so thankful for that! Your prayers have surrounded us with love and He has given us the strength to continue on. I was writing down some of my experiences and how He has spoken to me in this time when I decided to look back at some of my previous entries. The Father spoke to me mightily and my hope in sharing it is that He will speak to you also.
A couple of months ago I was reading John 11, the story of Lazarus’s resurrection. The differences between Martha’s and Mary’s reactions struck me. Martha express that she is upset that He wasn’t there because if He had been her brother would still be alive, but then she says that she knows even now the Lord will do what they ask. Martha puts on a brave face, gives a glimpse of how she is feeling and then follows it with a stoic intellectual response. Mary just pours out her heart to Him. It’s after Mary speaks that He is moved, after this He weeps, after this He goes to the tomb, thanks the Father and Lazarus is raised from the dead.
It just struck me afresh that the Father just wants me to pour out my heart and share my pain with Him. He wants me to be real with Him and share my true feelings with Him. He’s the one who will move and encourage me with His promises. He will bring comfort to me. Hope that this encourages you to really open your heart up to the Father and let Him do the work of comfort and restoration that you need!" END
Ron speaking...The song "Pour My Love On YOu" comes to mind as I read this. I want to encourage everyone out there to pour out your best to the Lord. Give Him your heart above all intellectual reasons and let Him be the Sovereign God that He is. He loves you and wants the best for His children. Worship HIm in the pain and sickness and trust Him to work and move, to heal and restore. Have a blessed Sunday!
Ron and Sarah
Friday, September 11, 2009
I FOUND THE TENT
Hello everyone. Please forgive me as it's been many many days since my last confes..err...my last blog post LOL!
I must say that it has been a fast-paced week and many new and exciting opportunities have presented themselves. Many of you may remember a blog post that told of my trip to Tennessee for a pastor's conference. During that conference I was at the alter praying that God would provid supernaturally for our missions programs. I got up from the alter and a woman chased me down, told me she was praying for me while I was up there and that God had showed her that He would provide the tent! Now at the time I had no idea what she meant exactly as I was also praying that God would give us an opportunity to have a home of our own on our family land.
Many months have went by and I have always been asking, "What about the tent God?" What does it all mean?" Well I am happy to report that after months of looking for my "tent" I think we've finally figured it all out.
It will be two years ago this Januray that I resigned from my career and began working as a bi-vocational pastor at our church (PBC). It was so amazing just how God had called me and then moved everything in place for that to take place.
In mid July, on the very day that Sarah went back to work from her materinity leave and Chloe's 4 day in daycare, my old job called and begged me to come back...they were willing to do anything. I was dead set against. Sarah was very upset...she had just put our child in daycare and now there was an opportunity for me to make great money but only at a part-time level. She would then be able to stay at home and raise Chloe and Katie and any other little baby that has yet to arrive.
My spirit had NO, ZERO, ZILTCH peace about it. I was not going back to "egypt" unless Dad said to go and I was hoping he would say not to. I turned them down and vowed to get a job at night that would have insurance so that she could stay at home if that's where her heart really is.
Last week Sarah asked me if I had been looking for a new job. I said no because I thought that whatever was going to happen was just going to happen easily and that I wouldn't have to dig and work to find a job that would meet our needs. Sarah was still a little resentful that I had turned down what seemed like the perfect job.
The next day the phone rings. It was my old job...they wanted to just make sure because they were getting ready to hire some lady from Florida but really wanted me instead. The night before I had just said that it would be "easy" and just fall in my lap and now they were calling. This time I "felt" differently...not because I was worried that Sarah would be upset but I just felt like I should seriously entertain this.
I went for an interview yesterday. He offered me a great salary base plus bonuses, all of my gas and cell paid for, and my 11 years tenure reinstated and all of my medical benefits...oh and all I have to do is show up at the office for one week and train a class for a second week...I could do both my work at PBC and train at Stewart. I can go whereever whenever I want and I'll have the resources to do it now!
I walked away from the interview without accepting the job that he offered me. I had settled it in my mind that this was the logical thing to do, but my heart was still in question. I kept asking Dad to please stop me if I was wrong or to let me know if I should go on forward into the job.
I woke up this morning and still was settled on accepting the job in my mind, but my heart was still in limbo. I wanted to do it for Sarah and that made me happy, but I want to do it knowing that Dad said it was what He wanted...afterall, He did call me AWAY from that very same place almost two years ago...to go back seemed wrong and out of place.
I opened up facebook where I had posted something about taking a second job and sarah staying home and that I was going to take it...Bruce from Ukraine said, "You are a great man, husband and father. The road you are taking is the more difficult one but will allow Sarah to fulfill her calling." My eyes welled up with tears and my heart leaped when I read those words about Sarah's calling. I had never looked at it from that prespective. Sarah was behind me and was willing to happily embrace my calling and when He called me the doors were open and we went through...
Sarah's calling according to the Book is to be a strong Christian woman and mother and raise our kids...that was it entirely...it was like Dad was saying..."Now go there and let Sarah do what I'm calling HER to do."
I confidently called and accepted the job. Sarah's so thrilled. She's going to work through this flu season so she can make great commissions and we can save some extra dough and then she will likely quit in November. She is soooooo very happy. She will get to do some things that some women only dream about...now God has heard her heart's cry and given it to her.
ON to the tent...now part of what I was saying to Neal and Scot yesterday afternoon was that Paul was a tent maker and still did the work God told him to do and go where He told them to go so I was saying it's okay if I do this because Paul did this...just trying to justify and make myself feel better.
Amy told Scot last night that I missed it all along...she said that God had revealed it to me back at the conference...the tent wasn't necessarily having to do with resources that would be provided (because that's what I was praying) but it was a DIRECTIONAL arrow on what I needed to do for the next step...make tents...train salespeople...still do the work at PBC and around the world that Dad has called and asked me to but use the tent profession to make it easy to go and to bring harmony in our home...the tent was the next step...only I couldn't see it until all of those things had to happen first...I really believe that's what it means so it makes me feel even more excited to realize that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be so I should not worry about being out of step.
Scot also was asking the same requests to God and was offered a job on the same day as me with a fellow Christian that loves outreach work and loves that Scot loves it too...He offered him a great job with freedom to do outreaches whenever he wants for as long as he needs AND gave him a great signing bonus so that Scot and Amy's trip to Africa next month would be paid for entirely!!!!!!
How neat we were both praying the same prayer and together and He answered it in very similar ways on the same exact day.
I know it was a long story, but I didn't want to leave out the testimony of it all so God could get the praise that He deserves from it.
Sarah also asked if there was a sea of little black faces in Beckley that speak Swahilie LOL!!! I told her no and that she may not like the answer to that particular vision cuz it may mean some big changes.
It's neat that when God speaks to us sometimes it seems so complex and like a riddle until all of the cards have been played...then it all makes sense and all along he was showing and revealing what he wanted.
Well next MOnday will be my first day back and I'm truly excited at this new mission. I'll keep you "posted" for sure on how it goes.
I must say that it has been a fast-paced week and many new and exciting opportunities have presented themselves. Many of you may remember a blog post that told of my trip to Tennessee for a pastor's conference. During that conference I was at the alter praying that God would provid supernaturally for our missions programs. I got up from the alter and a woman chased me down, told me she was praying for me while I was up there and that God had showed her that He would provide the tent! Now at the time I had no idea what she meant exactly as I was also praying that God would give us an opportunity to have a home of our own on our family land.
Many months have went by and I have always been asking, "What about the tent God?" What does it all mean?" Well I am happy to report that after months of looking for my "tent" I think we've finally figured it all out.
It will be two years ago this Januray that I resigned from my career and began working as a bi-vocational pastor at our church (PBC). It was so amazing just how God had called me and then moved everything in place for that to take place.
In mid July, on the very day that Sarah went back to work from her materinity leave and Chloe's 4 day in daycare, my old job called and begged me to come back...they were willing to do anything. I was dead set against. Sarah was very upset...she had just put our child in daycare and now there was an opportunity for me to make great money but only at a part-time level. She would then be able to stay at home and raise Chloe and Katie and any other little baby that has yet to arrive.
My spirit had NO, ZERO, ZILTCH peace about it. I was not going back to "egypt" unless Dad said to go and I was hoping he would say not to. I turned them down and vowed to get a job at night that would have insurance so that she could stay at home if that's where her heart really is.
Last week Sarah asked me if I had been looking for a new job. I said no because I thought that whatever was going to happen was just going to happen easily and that I wouldn't have to dig and work to find a job that would meet our needs. Sarah was still a little resentful that I had turned down what seemed like the perfect job.
The next day the phone rings. It was my old job...they wanted to just make sure because they were getting ready to hire some lady from Florida but really wanted me instead. The night before I had just said that it would be "easy" and just fall in my lap and now they were calling. This time I "felt" differently...not because I was worried that Sarah would be upset but I just felt like I should seriously entertain this.
I went for an interview yesterday. He offered me a great salary base plus bonuses, all of my gas and cell paid for, and my 11 years tenure reinstated and all of my medical benefits...oh and all I have to do is show up at the office for one week and train a class for a second week...I could do both my work at PBC and train at Stewart. I can go whereever whenever I want and I'll have the resources to do it now!
I walked away from the interview without accepting the job that he offered me. I had settled it in my mind that this was the logical thing to do, but my heart was still in question. I kept asking Dad to please stop me if I was wrong or to let me know if I should go on forward into the job.
I woke up this morning and still was settled on accepting the job in my mind, but my heart was still in limbo. I wanted to do it for Sarah and that made me happy, but I want to do it knowing that Dad said it was what He wanted...afterall, He did call me AWAY from that very same place almost two years ago...to go back seemed wrong and out of place.
I opened up facebook where I had posted something about taking a second job and sarah staying home and that I was going to take it...Bruce from Ukraine said, "You are a great man, husband and father. The road you are taking is the more difficult one but will allow Sarah to fulfill her calling." My eyes welled up with tears and my heart leaped when I read those words about Sarah's calling. I had never looked at it from that prespective. Sarah was behind me and was willing to happily embrace my calling and when He called me the doors were open and we went through...
Sarah's calling according to the Book is to be a strong Christian woman and mother and raise our kids...that was it entirely...it was like Dad was saying..."Now go there and let Sarah do what I'm calling HER to do."
I confidently called and accepted the job. Sarah's so thrilled. She's going to work through this flu season so she can make great commissions and we can save some extra dough and then she will likely quit in November. She is soooooo very happy. She will get to do some things that some women only dream about...now God has heard her heart's cry and given it to her.
ON to the tent...now part of what I was saying to Neal and Scot yesterday afternoon was that Paul was a tent maker and still did the work God told him to do and go where He told them to go so I was saying it's okay if I do this because Paul did this...just trying to justify and make myself feel better.
Amy told Scot last night that I missed it all along...she said that God had revealed it to me back at the conference...the tent wasn't necessarily having to do with resources that would be provided (because that's what I was praying) but it was a DIRECTIONAL arrow on what I needed to do for the next step...make tents...train salespeople...still do the work at PBC and around the world that Dad has called and asked me to but use the tent profession to make it easy to go and to bring harmony in our home...the tent was the next step...only I couldn't see it until all of those things had to happen first...I really believe that's what it means so it makes me feel even more excited to realize that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be so I should not worry about being out of step.
Scot also was asking the same requests to God and was offered a job on the same day as me with a fellow Christian that loves outreach work and loves that Scot loves it too...He offered him a great job with freedom to do outreaches whenever he wants for as long as he needs AND gave him a great signing bonus so that Scot and Amy's trip to Africa next month would be paid for entirely!!!!!!
How neat we were both praying the same prayer and together and He answered it in very similar ways on the same exact day.
I know it was a long story, but I didn't want to leave out the testimony of it all so God could get the praise that He deserves from it.
Sarah also asked if there was a sea of little black faces in Beckley that speak Swahilie LOL!!! I told her no and that she may not like the answer to that particular vision cuz it may mean some big changes.
It's neat that when God speaks to us sometimes it seems so complex and like a riddle until all of the cards have been played...then it all makes sense and all along he was showing and revealing what he wanted.
Well next MOnday will be my first day back and I'm truly excited at this new mission. I'll keep you "posted" for sure on how it goes.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF
I was watching the news last night and heard a story about a 3 year old that was cut by a tripod that had fallen on his head. He was injured and Sears had issued a statement said they regretted the accident and that the family was in their "thoughts."
I'm sick of it. Of course with our politically correct obsession and our even more tilt to avoid making any reference to religion at all, we now make statements that say we're thinking about you. I don't know about you but if someone offers me their "thoughts" I just as soon tell them to keep their thoughts to themselves. How about instead, if you really care at all about what I'm trying to go through or deal with, that you offer up some PRAYERS instead. Thinking about someone or a circumstance never changed that situation one bit.
The only hope we can ever have is to PRAY to the One that lives to intercede for us to the Father. That's right we should keep people in our PRAYERS...uh oh...I said it. Why would we think about someone when we can pray to the God that is Sovereign and who is the only one capable to strengthen us when we are weak, to encourage us when we are down, and save us when we are sinners?
Satan "thinks" about us I'm pretty sure. He schemes to work to deceive and tempt us with the things he knows will throw us off of walk with God.
Jesus on the other hand sees us in all of our weakness and brokenness and intercedes for us. We bring our prayers and petitions to His feet and identify ourselves as His follower when we call on His name and He HEARS our prayers and intercedes for us. Can't you just see it now...Jesus saying to the Father, "Dad, Ron is here lifting up his friend who has lost his wife of 31 years. Would you please use Your Spirit to comfort him in this time?" Thanks DAD! Even on the cross as He he was left to die Jesus is praying on our behalf asking the Father to forgive them. He wasn't up there saying, "Father I'm thinking about these people right now."
I know my mom is a prayer warrior...no holes barred prayer warrior. I've been through some really difficult times and challenges in my life. I'm glad she wasn't some limp wristed liberal new age THINKER. I'm so very thankful that she was/is a praying mother. I often wonder what our lives would look like if there was no one earth praying for us? Thank you mom for all of your years of faithful prayer on my behalf...I know it has made a difference on our lives because I know what Jesus does with those petitions and strong arguments!
You just have to call a spade a spade. Pray people. It's not that difficult. If you're afraid or embarrassed or ashamed to also tell people you're praying for them then perhaps it's an indication that you aren't a prayer or that you're just too embarrassed to let them know that you trust in the power of prayer. Step up to the plate and represent the Kingdom in even the smallest of expressions that we may often take for granted...I'm praying for you friends to be bold and courageous and full of the Spirit as you pray!
I'm sick of it. Of course with our politically correct obsession and our even more tilt to avoid making any reference to religion at all, we now make statements that say we're thinking about you. I don't know about you but if someone offers me their "thoughts" I just as soon tell them to keep their thoughts to themselves. How about instead, if you really care at all about what I'm trying to go through or deal with, that you offer up some PRAYERS instead. Thinking about someone or a circumstance never changed that situation one bit.
The only hope we can ever have is to PRAY to the One that lives to intercede for us to the Father. That's right we should keep people in our PRAYERS...uh oh...I said it. Why would we think about someone when we can pray to the God that is Sovereign and who is the only one capable to strengthen us when we are weak, to encourage us when we are down, and save us when we are sinners?
Satan "thinks" about us I'm pretty sure. He schemes to work to deceive and tempt us with the things he knows will throw us off of walk with God.
Jesus on the other hand sees us in all of our weakness and brokenness and intercedes for us. We bring our prayers and petitions to His feet and identify ourselves as His follower when we call on His name and He HEARS our prayers and intercedes for us. Can't you just see it now...Jesus saying to the Father, "Dad, Ron is here lifting up his friend who has lost his wife of 31 years. Would you please use Your Spirit to comfort him in this time?" Thanks DAD! Even on the cross as He he was left to die Jesus is praying on our behalf asking the Father to forgive them. He wasn't up there saying, "Father I'm thinking about these people right now."
I know my mom is a prayer warrior...no holes barred prayer warrior. I've been through some really difficult times and challenges in my life. I'm glad she wasn't some limp wristed liberal new age THINKER. I'm so very thankful that she was/is a praying mother. I often wonder what our lives would look like if there was no one earth praying for us? Thank you mom for all of your years of faithful prayer on my behalf...I know it has made a difference on our lives because I know what Jesus does with those petitions and strong arguments!
You just have to call a spade a spade. Pray people. It's not that difficult. If you're afraid or embarrassed or ashamed to also tell people you're praying for them then perhaps it's an indication that you aren't a prayer or that you're just too embarrassed to let them know that you trust in the power of prayer. Step up to the plate and represent the Kingdom in even the smallest of expressions that we may often take for granted...I'm praying for you friends to be bold and courageous and full of the Spirit as you pray!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
MY DEAD FAN and HEARING GOD
I was walking through Wal-Mart 5 days ago shopping for groceries (go figure). I passed a display that had pedestal fans at an end-of-the-season cheap rate. It was only $15 and I had the thought that perhaps I should buy that fan. I walked on however, resisting the urge and thinking that I was going to be a smart shopper and not buy it until I need it.
I sleep with a fan on every night. I don't care if it's -10 outside that fan will be on. I guess I like the noise. I have been using the same fan every night for the past 14 years...yes I'm serious (in human years that must make my fan like 106..ha ha). Last night I went to turn on my fan and it would barely move. It just spitted and sputtered and then died right there on the spot. Instantly my mind went back to that fan at Wal-Mart. I smiled and shook my head that I wished I had purchased it then.
As we were getting ready for bed I jokingly said to Sarah, "Why is it I felt so strongly that I should buy a stupid fan and I can clearly here the small voice in me telling me to do it, yet when it comes to whether we should buy a house or move or whatever, it's some major act just to hear God's voice?"
Now do I believe that the Holy Spirit was revealing to me that I should buy a fan? I don't know...perhaps for the sake of the lesson that I've learned through this He did. Don't roll your eyes. I'm not crazy. I just think it's weird that the fan display caught my eye after all these years and that I felt so much like buying but walked away instead.
So this morning Sarah made a very good point to this discussion that we had about the fan and about the bigger choices we face in life. She reminded me that perhaps we get so over the top serious with what we think are big decisions that we can no longer hear the clear voice of God because we insist on clouding up our thougths with OUR thoughts. I wasn't looking for the fan she reminded me but there was that voice saying buying it. I knew I should have bought it but didn't. I didn't know the fan would go out a few days later, but God did. God is so good that He was trying to spare me the agony of going back to Wal-Mart...or He's trying to break my addiction to the fan!
Sarah and I have been praying about our "home" and whether we need to buy, build, or just stay put and satisfied with where we are. Everything "feels" so complicated and we talk about how hard it is to "know" what we should do when there are signs seemingly pointing in different directions. Perhaps we've so overblown and overcomplicated it in our heads that we can't hear God on what He wants. Sometimes He just wants us to do things when He tells us and not belabor the point and pray and pray and pray about it. Don't get me wrong, it's important to pray and seek God's plan and His counsel, but when you get your answer stop asking and start doing it already.
I think we often know when God is speaking to us and yet we push it away and say we're going to keep praying about it. How many times have you known what to do and yet you do your own thing anyway. God gave us His Holy Spirit to be His voice inside of us and yet we write it away as emotion or nonsense thoughts...remember that God's ways may sound like none sense to the human mind because His ways are so much higher than our own.
God told Abraham to leave his country, his relatives, and his father's house to go to the land that He would show him. Abraham was obedient to the point of going but he took his father (Terah..which ironically means delay) with him along with another relative named Lot...even though God said to leave them behind. As a result, Abraham actually got delayed in Haran for a considerable amount of time because he didn't do exactly what God had already told him to do.
Jonah ended up in the belly of a big fish because God had told him to go to Nivenah and he didn't want to go...so Jonah ended up in a fishy pit=stop for a few days until he finally figured out he should be obedient.
I submit that we are too often living in the bellies of big fish and think that we can get by with partial obedience (like Abraham)! The cell phones are ringing, praise and worship is playing on the radio, kids are asking you to do something, the TV is on, and you can barely even begin to think what you're going to fix for supper let-alone hear from God on the big things and even the small things. Yes we live our lives in the bellies of these fish because we choose not to hear or listen. We may hear, but we don't listen (there is a difference between the two).
Let me ask you this? What is it that you feel like God has been saying but you're afraid to get out of your fish? Is He telling you to leave your job (you know who you are out there...yes this is for my emotional twin sister in Beckley). Is he telling you to spend more time in the Word so that you will be prepared for the next trial? Is He telling you to buy a seemingly insignificant fan for your bedroom so you'll get the rest you'll need in order to be productive and fruitful for His Kingdom? I don't know, but YOU DO! Stop suppressing His voice and start following it instead...I guarantee you'll sleep a lot better, with or without the fan, knowing that you're walking in obedience to Him.
I sleep with a fan on every night. I don't care if it's -10 outside that fan will be on. I guess I like the noise. I have been using the same fan every night for the past 14 years...yes I'm serious (in human years that must make my fan like 106..ha ha). Last night I went to turn on my fan and it would barely move. It just spitted and sputtered and then died right there on the spot. Instantly my mind went back to that fan at Wal-Mart. I smiled and shook my head that I wished I had purchased it then.
As we were getting ready for bed I jokingly said to Sarah, "Why is it I felt so strongly that I should buy a stupid fan and I can clearly here the small voice in me telling me to do it, yet when it comes to whether we should buy a house or move or whatever, it's some major act just to hear God's voice?"
Now do I believe that the Holy Spirit was revealing to me that I should buy a fan? I don't know...perhaps for the sake of the lesson that I've learned through this He did. Don't roll your eyes. I'm not crazy. I just think it's weird that the fan display caught my eye after all these years and that I felt so much like buying but walked away instead.
So this morning Sarah made a very good point to this discussion that we had about the fan and about the bigger choices we face in life. She reminded me that perhaps we get so over the top serious with what we think are big decisions that we can no longer hear the clear voice of God because we insist on clouding up our thougths with OUR thoughts. I wasn't looking for the fan she reminded me but there was that voice saying buying it. I knew I should have bought it but didn't. I didn't know the fan would go out a few days later, but God did. God is so good that He was trying to spare me the agony of going back to Wal-Mart...or He's trying to break my addiction to the fan!
Sarah and I have been praying about our "home" and whether we need to buy, build, or just stay put and satisfied with where we are. Everything "feels" so complicated and we talk about how hard it is to "know" what we should do when there are signs seemingly pointing in different directions. Perhaps we've so overblown and overcomplicated it in our heads that we can't hear God on what He wants. Sometimes He just wants us to do things when He tells us and not belabor the point and pray and pray and pray about it. Don't get me wrong, it's important to pray and seek God's plan and His counsel, but when you get your answer stop asking and start doing it already.
I think we often know when God is speaking to us and yet we push it away and say we're going to keep praying about it. How many times have you known what to do and yet you do your own thing anyway. God gave us His Holy Spirit to be His voice inside of us and yet we write it away as emotion or nonsense thoughts...remember that God's ways may sound like none sense to the human mind because His ways are so much higher than our own.
God told Abraham to leave his country, his relatives, and his father's house to go to the land that He would show him. Abraham was obedient to the point of going but he took his father (Terah..which ironically means delay) with him along with another relative named Lot...even though God said to leave them behind. As a result, Abraham actually got delayed in Haran for a considerable amount of time because he didn't do exactly what God had already told him to do.
Jonah ended up in the belly of a big fish because God had told him to go to Nivenah and he didn't want to go...so Jonah ended up in a fishy pit=stop for a few days until he finally figured out he should be obedient.
I submit that we are too often living in the bellies of big fish and think that we can get by with partial obedience (like Abraham)! The cell phones are ringing, praise and worship is playing on the radio, kids are asking you to do something, the TV is on, and you can barely even begin to think what you're going to fix for supper let-alone hear from God on the big things and even the small things. Yes we live our lives in the bellies of these fish because we choose not to hear or listen. We may hear, but we don't listen (there is a difference between the two).
Let me ask you this? What is it that you feel like God has been saying but you're afraid to get out of your fish? Is He telling you to leave your job (you know who you are out there...yes this is for my emotional twin sister in Beckley). Is he telling you to spend more time in the Word so that you will be prepared for the next trial? Is He telling you to buy a seemingly insignificant fan for your bedroom so you'll get the rest you'll need in order to be productive and fruitful for His Kingdom? I don't know, but YOU DO! Stop suppressing His voice and start following it instead...I guarantee you'll sleep a lot better, with or without the fan, knowing that you're walking in obedience to Him.
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