Settling into Good News

These are elements that I accumulated last fall during BSSM here in Redding. We had a day after our retreat to create a decoupage for a prophetic journal, and this is what came tumbling out of my heart.

I’ve been catching up on what it is I’ve experienced through the past 18 months, and I stand almost in disbelief of the space between where I stood, and now where I am. I think it is safe to say that I have been feeling my desires grow, what I would consider outlets or opportunities to express those passions move into the background, and settle into a place of rest that I’ve not yet known. I am thinking it’s safe to say that this feeling is a ‘settling’ one, in the best. Possible. Way. See below image for an explanation.

“My life, your style. Make the difference. - dwell - I want ten years of REAL SIMPLE GOOD NEWS.” I think I’ve begun to realize the potential in my heart that has been shaped by my upbringing, the word and Holy Spirit in my life, and am finding that I don’t need to stand up for myself and that I don’t have to build a reservoir of faith to see things accomplished in the future. I only need to believe Jesus is real, believe His words, and trust that the deep desires for truth and integrity to play themselves out in and through my life are ultimately His plan, and me, becoming more and more like Him in grace, will see the Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. See image below to see more about this passion.

“Pride is a sin, unless you are a craftsman. - 101 Architects -

An Introduction to  Architects - 

When you never compromise, people notice. In other words, we’re on a no limits rescue mission to the quintessential restoration.” “What do you believe – your eyes or MY words?”

I do believe I’ve now seen the most dramatic season of my life played out, in an environment, church, school, community and with family, where the Lord has successfully planned out the rest of my life with me. I’ve been touched by perhaps the most influential Kingdom endeavor in the Western world, and I’ll never be the same. I’ve learned language that I’ve always known I was supposed to know, I’ve learned about scripture in ways that I always knew I needed to learn it, and I’ve seen the culmination of an ongoing legacy in family, and in church where loyalty, honor, vulnerability, and an insatiable desire to reach the nations has developed a momentum so strong, that the nations are literally being changed through this place. See below in not so many words how I feel about this.

“That’s something I’m reminded of EVERY DAY – The POWER of REVIVAL - I will never fully  recover.” And now, I have so many places to go, so much identity and understanding to live out, and so much history to appreciate and consider as I move forward and carry the torch of revival into the rest of my life.

Thank you Jesus, for continuing to reveal the context of your relationship with me, in relation to who you are in the Father, and for offering to be with me in Spirit, not so that we can change the world, but so that we might represent the nature and character of Father in the earth.

I love you Father, for your steadfast love. 

I love you Jesus, for your steadfast love. 

I love you Holy Spirit, for your steadfast love.

Thankfulness – My Part of the Deal

Is the amount of thankfulness I exhibit toward the Lord commensurate with the level and nature of vision that I have a) for the Great Commission, and b) for my destiny and future?

Is it possible I don’t feel “called” or feel uncomfortable with a calling into a particular mission or area of ministry because I deny (or choose to remain unthankful for) the influence of that particular outpouring or revelation of God’s nature in my life?

Have I unknowingly left major revelations of God’s character and gifts for my life un-claimed because they don’t tickle my fancy or give me goosebumps? Perhaps I’ve neglected them because I chose not to see them as avenues (streets of gold) that were built into my person, into my destiny that lead to breakthrough?

Perhaps knowing God and believing in impartation and revelation are not as dependent on God’s ability and desire to dispense them, but instead they are more commonly experienced when we operate out of a place of gratitude (faith), the only belief/action that produces value, and adds meaning to any thing or situation – natural or spiritual.

Why does the world need Jesus? Because I’ve needed a Savior, because I have a relationship with God in Jesus, and because I have a perceived need to be with Him forever – and so should everyone (and because Jesus said that the world needs Him)!

This is the result of a two-fold revelation: the belief that Scripture is true and that my history provides a means for these truths to have become meaningful to me (application).

It’s my belief/understanding that ultimately the prior is true, but the greater truth in realizing that the world needs Jesus is because without a divine intervention, I have no reason for gratefulness, and all I have is a mere explanation for an analytical equation that tells me how ‘x’ and ‘y’ relate to each other – cause and effect (and so many times I’ve viewed Scripture this way.)

The goal of the Christian life is not to learn and abide by disciplines for the sake of becoming holy, but rather as God has given me a free will, preferring me, I have the ability to place my own value on what He presents. When my value system begins to transform and become righted with His, there will be an evident transition in that worldview, even in my perception of morals, because I will only begin to have appreciation for things and situations where preference is given to another – just as preference was first given to me.

I do not believe that the Great Commission is a mandate that requires us to do something we don’t understand, but preferably to be seen as something that should be sought after – looking to gain insight on/into why it was important to Jesus, and to the Father, and why it can become important (has potential to be relevant) to me because it means something, not just because it was a 'command’.

I don’t believe that this provides opportunity to deny and walk away from my disciplines that I pursue in faith, for I shall not ever full understand or “know” God. I must continue to do the things God has asked me (commanded) me to do, but simultaneously, I add meaning to those things by seeking God, to understand why they are important, not just try to make them important in my life because they are evidently important to Him in Scripture.

I do believe that Jesus intended for us to understand not only the Love of God, but all things according to Goodness and the nature of God. So in this I shouldn’t carry out a calling merely because of a reasonable (or unreasonable or irrational) commandment in Scripture, but because I’m compelled by why God trusted me with such a responsibility.

It is my belief that it is our privilege to accept God’s gifts that reveal His GOOD nature, which are for our mutual benefit. My receiving of good gifts isn’t what pleases God, but rather, my faith and belief that those gifts have value of divine, infinite, and even eternal proportions, and offering thanks, gratitude, honor, and worship because of my perceived value of the gifts is that which give Him pleasure.

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Perhaps the Church struggles to achieve it’s goals, and maintain revival because it has lost it’s sense of salvation, it’s sense of being thankful, it’s gratefulness that God even cares.

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God, I vow to You that my morals, values and belief systems will reflect your Goodness, and I am subject to discipline, rebuke, and correction, for there is no greater honor than to serve You, the most true form of Goodness and Perfection – for You created me to see it, love it, be sustained by it, and be perpetuated by it.

Your Presence is enough, and may my face always reflect Your Goodness with a graciousness that benefits all of those who deserve to be benefitted. Commission me Lord, to have increasing opportunity to love You, to be grateful for the offering of all your favor so that I might always extend that to a world fit for saving.

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Jesus, You are a perfect friend, an exemplary lover, and the perfect example of a covenant partner. You’ve brought me into the family, and I’ll never have a closer relationship to anyone because You cherish me more than a brother, and You’ve already given your life for me. You’ll forever be my hero, my go-to, and my inspiration to believe God only does Good Things.

Holy Spirit, the value of God’s greatness, and the weight of glory You’ve put on my life is unbearable, and I’ll forever welcome You to increase it, for the sake that I can represent my Father well. I’ll never cease to welcome Your companionship, and accept your challenges to dwell in the spirit more often, more deeply.

Father, my Father – Your love is immense, and I recognize that You’ve called me, desiringly, to come Home, to be with You. I will all of my days tarry to seek Your ways, wait for Your voice that beckons me, and I’ll respond, EVERY time I hear You. I promise to value my inheritance, and I promise to give as generously as You have. Papa, I have nothing without You. Your name is worthy to be praised in all of Heaven and all of Earth, by men and angels for you are Good, and Your mercy endures.

Teach Me Lord!

Holy Spirit – teach me longing! Teach me desire! Teach me the ways of King Jesus- the infinitely perfect and invincible grace that offers mercy and justice all the days of my life!

Teach me to see, to hear, to touch, to smell, and to taste the Kingdom.

Teach me to love the ways of God, and teach me how to speak, not with words, but with the gently offerings of one who has had the pleasure of experiencing the greatness of your Presence!

Holy Spirit – teach me to accept that I have nothing but what you’ve given, and by the same token, I ask you to teach me to give EVERYTHING away!

You’ve gripped my mind with unbending truth, the most absolute forgiveness, the most unwavering faith that believes in me, trusts in the power of my free will to submit to Your highness, full of the gift of life that extends from Your omniscient throne!

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Your words (WORD) are not opposed to the grave [for they are far greater and shall never compete], and death cannot be opposed to You, because it has, is, and will be continually and forever swallowed by the ever increasing glory of Your Kingdom, Oh Lion of Judah, Messiah, Mighty God who has not ceased in dispensing the power of life that consumes me like the oceans conceal the depths!

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Teach me to know the jealousy of your heart, the feeling of holy anger, and the gravity your love has toward me as I wander, and stray [so I no longer may do so].

Let me feel the pull of Your zeal and the passion of Your most intimate emotions for me!

Teach me Holy Spirit, to believe beyond the mere possibility that I could even stumble upon your Love, as if it were possible on my own.

Let me know what it means to be wholly and completely consumed by Your love – Your existence, goes beyond all parameters, further than any border, and beyond even the most irrational and impossible conceptions of greatness.

Teach me to want You even more, by pouring Yourself out upon me as you have poured Yourself out within me, so that I might not only feel Your nature growing inside me, maturing me, stewarding me for your purposes, but UPON me, so that I can see myself as you see me, and without mistake or misconception, know the pure Love of Your heart, and that I might give You everything You ever wanted.

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Holy Spirit, I love Your counsel, and your desire to see me grow in stature as an image of God crafted for His pleasure.

Messiah, I love Your obedience, AND your sacrifice. I will serve your throne of mercy and justice all the days of my life.

Father, I love Your love. I love Your perfection, Your unwavering Law, and Your insatiable heart of redemption. I will now and forever sing Your praise, for You inspired me, You planned my existence and benefitted me for Your benefit, to put your love on display for the entire universe, the whole of heaven to know Your most RIGHTEOUS POWER – a testimony that trumps all other attempts at anything and increases Your glory beyond all measurable or tangible bounds and means.

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All power in heaven is loosed in the name of Jesus, the Christ, Yeshua, THE MESSIA who takes away the sins of the world!