God Descends To Reascend

"In the Christian story God descends to reascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity; down further still, if embryologist are right, to recapitulate in the womb ancient and pre-human phases of life; down to the very roots and seabed of the Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him. One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders. Or one may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then going with a splash,vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the death-like region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks surface again,holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing that he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colourless in the dark, he lost his colour too."

from Miracles by C.S. Lewis

City Church

The City Church is not found in one building or one congregation. It is one people walking in Kingdom purpose within a geographic area--within a city. Jesus tells us in John 3:3 "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God". God's Kingdom in the earth is not a physical place. Rather, it is a lifestyle maintained by believers, who seek to live in a manner pleasing to God. Like the Kingdom of God, The City Church is not something to physically behold. It is a strategic plan for uniting the saints of a City--each and every city--in one accord, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, class or denomination. Instead of asking, what about us as believers makes us different (i.e.,denomational traditions or customs), a City Church mentality asks what about us as believers is the same? Further, how can we embrace our shared destiny in Christ to advance the Kingdom of God? A City Church mentality is not so interested in growing their own local congregation as they are growing the City Church at large. For The City Church is one Church made up of many congregations !!

Prayer and Preaching

" The preaching man is to be the praying man. Prayer is the preacher's mightiest weapon. An almighty force in itself, it gives life and force to all. The real sermon is made in the closet. The man-God's man-is made in the closet. His life and his profoundest convictions were born in his secret communion with God.The burdened and tearful agony of his spirit, his weightiest and sweetest messages were got when alone with God. Prayer makes the man;prayer makes the preacher;prayer makes the pastor."

E. M. Bounds

Power Through Prayer

Our Greatest Need

"O, but we have need to be redeemed from ourselves rather than from the devil and the world;learn to put out yourselves, and to put in Christ for yourselves"

Samuel Rutherford

Grace

" Grace withereth without adversity. The devil is but God's master fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons"

The Loveliness of Christ
Samuel Rutherford

Over-Hope

"I hope to over-hope and over-believe my troubles"

Selections from Samuel Rutherford's Letters

Mighty in Spirit to Move Mountains

"... not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts" Zechariah 4:6

The word might in the Hebrew means power, force,valor, substance or wealth, often times relating to the force of an army. This word might deals more with mans strength or power, this why the Prophet Zechariah concludes this verse by saying "...but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts".

Jesus entered His ministry in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:1,18), and the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:8;2:4). Only if the Spirit continues to govern and empower man will we accomplish God's will for us.

As we read further in verse 7 we find one example as why we need the power of the Spirit. "What are you , O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain;and He will bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it"

Each of us face difficulties that seem as large as a mountain and the only way we can overcome is by the power of the Spirit working through us. Thus we can shout "Shout Grace, grace..." for it is His power working thorough us that keeps us from being overwhelmed and dismayed.

Prayer is the key to our accessibility to the power of the Spirit. You simply cannot be mighty in Spirit without prayer.

E.M. Bounds says in his book Power through Prayer " What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use-men of prayer,men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men-men of prayer"

The Priorty of Covenantal Education

Cornelius Van Til wrote, " We have found in the covenant and in the creation idea a divine ordinance for education. Our educational program as involved in the covenant idea is based upon the concept of creation, and the concept of creation is once more based upon our idea of God. And as for our idea of God, we hold to it not as a moral or mental luxury but as the very foundation of the structure of human experience"

The Christian Community in the Western world is lacking in the training, educating, and equipping in its broader community setting, primarily because its too individualistic and independent in its thinking. True Christian Education teaches truth about God from His Word, combined with practical life application and strong biblical and theological base. God gives this responsibility to the parents and churches; they are responsible to bequeath this gift to their children, this is why it is called Covenant education.

Our assignment to "make disciples" is beckoning is to take action. The inroads of modernism and postmodernism into our culture present a huge challenge to families and churches today. But it is a noble assignment and we must rely on His great grace to accomplish it.

True Covenant Education will enhance church growth, renew and revitalize the church, and help us to remember who we are, why we are here, and the legacy we must pass on to the present and future generations.

Nothing Shall Offend You

"Great peace have they which love thy law:and nothing shall offend them." Psalms 119:165

Nothing is an offence or stumbling block to the person who has the Word of God dwelling in him richly. He is neither stumbled by prosperity nor crushed by adversity, for he lives beyond the changing circumstances of external life. But whoever loves God's law shall enjoy richer blessings than the mere absence of hardship or misfortune. He shall experience the invigorating, faith-giving,cleansing powers of Him who is the Living Word of God.

"And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7

The Fear of Men and The Fear of God

"Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. Deuteronomy 28:10 NIV


God's enemies fear God's saints. They may hate the saints,but they fear them, too. Remember Haman who trembled because of Mordecai. He feared him at the very time he was planning and carrying out Mordecai's destruction. But fear is not becoming to the Christian man or woman. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind. The bible instructs us to pray for our enemies and do good to them that persecute us, but never to fear them.


"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe"
Proverbs 29:25


"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
I John 4:18


May the fear of the Lord sanctify us in the truth of God's word (John 17:17) and cause us to turn from sin and evil and protect us from ourselves and the breakdown of our consciences and moral resolve.

Our Highest Calling Pt. III

"You shall be called priests of the Lord." Isaiah 61:6

"The Promise of God made to Israel belongs spiritually to all believers. Christians who let their light shine before men to serve Christ's saving purposes for the world. We may work or trade as others do, and yet we may be solely and wholly the ministering servants of God. Our chief occupation shall be to present the perpetual sacrifice of prayer, praise, and self-consecration to the Living God." Charles Spurgeon

So many people will do any amount of service (to God) rather than love. Unfortunately we are by nature are doer's and we struggle to just be what we already are. Instead of lovers and worshippers we would rather do tasks, push buttons and check lists. In doing this we feel better about ourselves and we feel in control.

God is seeking those who will love Him. He does not want nor seek workers but worshippers, those that will worship Him in Spirit and Truth. John 4:23-24

Only after that love relationship has been rightly established and all has been centered upon Him, can he safely send us out to work with Him.

"When Israel was a child I loved Him as a son and brought him out of Egypt, sacrificing to Baal and burning incense to idols. I trained him from infancy, I taught him to walk, I held him in my arms. But he doesn't know or even care that it was I who raised him."
Hosea 11:1-5
Living Bible

Man is made for God, but God is also in a sense made for man. He created us not only that we might give ourselves to Him, but that He might also give Himself to us. It was God who came down to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

God created us with the capacity to receive Him. How often it happens when we worship God, He comes to us. We see it in the scriptures and also in our experience. Worship brings God's presence near. As we worship God, and give ourselves to Him , He gives Himself to us.

In 11 Chronicles 5 We read and interesting story about the temple of Solomon being completed and the Elders gathered, the ark was brought in but the Glory of God did not come down. There were innumerable sacrifices made that day but the Glory did not come down. It was not until the trumpeters and singers "were as one" to make a sound to be heard in praise,worship and thanking the Lord" that the Glory of God came down.

"then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the Glory of the Lord had filled the house of God"

It was not when they built the temple. It was not when they offered sacrifices. It was when they praised and worshipped God that the Glory of the Lord came down.

We were formed for His Glory, and we must continually be transformed to escape the conformity of the world in order to full fill our Highest Calling as priests unto the Lord,"...which is our reasonable service of worship..." (Romans 12:1-3)

When God brought the four million Hebrews out of Egypt , it is significant to note that He planned in His heart to make them all priest's. `(Exodus 19:3-6) He did not want only a priestly tribe (tribe of Levi) He wanted to make the whole nation a "...a kingdom of priests and a holy nation..."

God promised them if they would fulfill two conditions they would be unto Him a peculiar and special people above all people. Those two conditions were 1. Obey His Voice 2. Keep His Commandments.

In Exodus 24:3 Israel responded and said "all the words which the Lord hath said will we do". But it wasn't long before they were worshipping a molten calf (one of the old gods from Egypt) and sitting down to eat and drink and rising up to play.

These two violations of against God caused Moses to become "waxed hot" as he descended from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments. The people had violated both of the conditions God had set up. He could not make or force them to be a kingdom of priests it must originate from their heart and manifest in obedience. They had become so dull and disobedient they could not endure His voice any more because of their sin and violation. (Hebrews 12:19-20)

Lord have Mercy on us, and forgive us of our blanant disobeience to your voice and your commandments. Teach us once again how to walk in your ways as priests unto the Lord.

Our Highest Calling Pt.II

Isaiah 61:6 "But you shall be called the priests of the Lord..."

One of the main reasons for the "power failure" today in christian church is that Christians have failed to Minister to the Lord!

Our ministry to the Lord must come before our ministry to men if we are to be effective. Likewise if we receive ministry from man before ministering to the Lord we will find ourselves relying on man and not God as our source and trust.

We need to once again dig down into the springs of God and bury ourselves in Him as our source, not forsaking Him the fountain of living waters, as the children of Israel did by hewing out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13.


As we are caught up in the wonder and grace of the person of Jesus Christ and long to know Him intimately we are fulfilling our first calling. When we go Godward as priests unto the Lord we discover a new freshness of power and compassion Manward.


There are many examples of Ministering to the Lord found in the Bible.

I Sam. 2:11;18 - "but Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child..."

II Chronicles 5:11-14 - "the priests could not continue to ministering because of the cloud..."

Luke 1:46-55 - "My soul (mind,will,emotions) magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced..."

Acts 13:1-3 - "as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said..."

Luke 10:38-42 - "And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet..."


From the beginning of time God sovereignly declared that He made all things, including man for Himself, that is, for His pleasure and for His Glory.

Col. 1: 16-17 " For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

We were made for God's pleasure, to praise and worship Him forever. We are priests unto Him first. We are the Lord's portion and His inheritance according to Deuteronomy 32:9.

I encourage you today, minister to the Lord by loving the least in your midst, minister to the Lord with your tithes and offerings, minister to the Lord in praise,worship and prayer. Fulfill your chief occupation and consecrate yourselves as ministering servants of Living God.

“If a Thing is Worth Doing, It Is Worth Doing Badly”

The great English journalist, novelist, and wit, G.K. Chesterton once said, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” By that he did not mean that mediocrity was acceptable. By no means. He was a man whose entire life and career was a testimony to excellence. Chesterton was surely among the brightest minds of the twentieth century—a prolific journalist, best-selling novelist, insightful poet, popular debater, astute literary critic, grassroots reformer, and profound humorist. Recognized by friend and foe alike as one of the most perspicacious, epigrammatic, and jocose prose stylists in the entire literary canon, he is today the most quoted writer in the English language besides William Shakespeare. His remarkable output of books—more than a hundred published in his lifetime and half again that many afterward—covered an astonishing array of subjects from economics, art, history, biography, and social criticism to poetry, detective stories, philosophy, travel, and religion. His most amazing feat was not merely his vast output or wide range but the consistency and clarity of his thought, his uncanny ability to tie everything together. In the heart of nearly every paragraph he wrote was a jaw-dropping aphorism or a mind-boggling paradox that left readers shaking their heads in bemusement and wonder.Still, he insisted, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” What he meant was simply, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing.” If a thing is worth doing, but for the lack of resources; it is still worth doing. If a thing is worth doing, but for the lack of popular support; it is still worth doing. If a thing is worth doing, but for the lack of practical experience, or the lack of adequate facilities, or the lack of sufficient funds, or the lack of anything other material advantage; it is still worth doing. If a thing is worth doing, it is simply worth doing. No matter what.Of course, there is one little problem with such a philosophy: it is bound to get you into trouble. And lots of it. Guaranteed.Indeed, anyone who acts on principle is sure to attract criticism. Anyone who determines to follow a course of action is going to meet with opposition. It doesn’t matter what the course of action is and it doesn’t matter what the decisions are. Any course of action and every decision is liable to come under fire. People can only argue with a stated position. Critics can only rail against actual programs. Opponents cannot oppose nothing. In the same way that they cannot fight something with nothing, they cannot fight nothing with something.That means that if you want to remain in everyone’s good graces you’ll have to make sure to do nothing whatsoever, decide nothing whatsoever, and stand for nothing whatsoever. To not do the thing worth doing is always safer and more popular.Of course, it is also wrong.As Teddy Roosevelt proclaimed, “Better faithful than famous. Honor before prominence.” Likewise, James A. Garfield claimed, “It is a greater honor to be right than to be president—or popular, for statesmanship consists rather in removing causes than in punishing or evading results—thus, it is the rarest of qualities.” Both men would have wholeheartedly agreed with Chesterton’s maxim. And as a result, both men were reviled. Indeed, both men were ultimately shot down by assassins—Garfield succumbed to his wounds while Roosevelt survived.Doing the right thing is dangerous. It is bound to rankle the ire of some. It is bound to enrage others. It is bound to provoke a ferocious reaction. It always has. It always will.

Our Highest Calling

" You will be called priests of the Lord." Isaiah 61:6

This promise of God made to Israel belongs spiritually to all believers. Christians who let their light shine before men and purposefully reach out in God's Love are fulfilling His purpose in the earth.

We may work a job in the marketplace as others do but we are solely and wholly the servants of God. Our chief occupation is to present the perpetual sacrifice of prayer, praise, and self-consecration to the living God. This is our priestly calling.

"For you see your calling, brethren, that no many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." I Corinthians 1:26-28

"Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." II Tim. 1:9

The word "called" means to invite or summon and is especially used of God's call to participate in the blessings of the Kingdom.

We read the account in Exodus 19:6 where God is speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai and longing to draw Israel closer to Him to make covenant and be His "special treasure". He goes onto to say, "you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests an a holy nation......"

The Apostle Peter tells us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we are a chosen generation a royal priesthood and a Holy Nation unto Him.

You may not wear a clerical collar or preach sermons from a pulpit but if you are a believer in Christ, you are called to fulfill your calling as priests unto the Lord. What an honor to be chosen to minister to Him. I encourage you today to revisit these scriptures and let God speak to you. You first belong to Him and your Highest Calling is to praise Him and offer yourself as a living sacrifice.

Jesus Lays Down His Life

The Bible does not say that Jesus bled to death or that He was killed. Rather, Jesus died on the cross of His own free will. He willingly laid down His life. He said:

"...I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father" John 10:17,18

Christ's blood, which was shed on the cross, had in it his very life. The blood which was shed on the altar by an animal sacrifice under the old covenant was only able to atone for or cover our sins. The blood of Christ was able to do much more. His blood was not only to cover our sins, but His blood was able to completely remit or put away our sins as though they had never been.

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls;for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
Leviticus 17:11

Therefore, when the Bible says that through His blood we have redemption, it is saying that through His death, we have life.

Worthy is the Lamb to receive Glory, Honor , Power and Dominion !

Let God Love You

Let God have time to love you as His child. He delights to love you. Practice praying prayers like, "I give you me Lord, enjoy yourself".

One reason we flee from God's presence is that all we can do is be still and let him love us. We have no buttons to push in order to feel in control so we feel incompetent and flee to the work environment where we feel in charge, secure and competent.

The major function of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus more and more in our daily lives. But we don't want to lose control. We often times fear the things we can't control and try to control the things we fear.

We are afraid to let God in because we lose control. The great Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5 that "...the love of God is shed abroad into our hearts by the Holy Spirit..."

Welcome the Holy Spirit, let him show you the area's of wounding and offenses that need the cross of Christ applied in order to bring to death the defense mechanisms that have been established and allow the healing presence of His love to flow.

Men Without Chest

We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful." C.S. Lewis

Restoration "In the Beginning"

I have been thinking allot lately about the subject of loss and restoration some of it prompted from personal experience and also with people that are in my life that I care about as well as what our nation is currently going through.

In the book of Genesis Chapters 1 -3 we read the account of how God created man is His won image-male and female. Man enjoyed the image of God and the intimacy of God with unbroken fellowship. When man decided to take his life into his own hands, he broke covenant with God. Fear and deception of God's provision for for them opened the door for this doubt to be conceived by Eve. (Gen. 3:1-7) But God's restoration work began immediately , helping the now self-conscious man trying to cover his nakedness and shame. God provided restorative clothing by blood sacrifice from animals which typified the Great Sacrifice of the Lamb of God to restore us the Father.

The Restoration of Intimacy with God must first begin with our thoughts!! Our thoughts about the one we love creates Images in our minds that sustains, nurtures and causes us to persevere in our relationships.

Jeremiah 29:11 We read "I know the thoughts I think toward you..." Thoughts create images and images provoke our worship and intimacy in relationships. God's thoughts of us are for "a future and a hope". God our Father is thinking of your future right now!

I Chronicles 28:9 " As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you;but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever"

Isaiah 55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In future posts I would like to discuss more on this crucial subject.

My Prayer "Father I pray that my thoughts would be of a loyal heart and a willing mind and that I would rest in the fact that your thoughts toward me are for peace not evil to give me a future and hope according to Jeremiah 29:11."

Days of Restoration

I would like to encourage you during these days of economic uncertainty, fear, and loss that God is in the restoration business. Restoration, in every dimension of the human experience, is at the heart of the Gospel. It is woven throughout the Scriptures and must be at the forefront of our ministry of truth and a reality in our everyday lives.

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times (or days) of restoration of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all His Holy prophets since the world began."
~Acts 3:19-21

Restore means to bring back to a former state or original condition. According to Scripture, when something is restored it is always increased, multiplied, or improved so that its latter state is significantly better than its original state.

" So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, and chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And my people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel; I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame." ~Joel 2:25-27

When God restored Job after the terrible trials he endured, He gave him twice what he had lost and blessed him more in his latter days than in the beginning.

"And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers , all his sister and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. How the Lord blessed the later days of Job more than this beginning..." ~Job 42:10-12

Jesus told his disciples that anyone who gave up anything to follow Him would it restored one hundredfold.

Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "assuredly, I say to you , there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time --houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life." ~Mark 10:28-30

I hope to be writing on the subject of restoration for the next couple of days, so if this is of interest to you please visit again and tell a friend about Locus Life.

Real Change

There is a lot of talk these days in the media about change. People want change in their government, change in their jobs, cars, and careers. Some go as far as wanting to change spouses and sexual identity. Are we becoming a people obsessed with change?

The Japanese have a term called "Kaizen" which means, "continual improvement". It is a never ending quest to do better, and you seem to do better by changing. "Standing still", the Japanese say, "allows your competitors to get ahead you".

Real change, for the follower of Christ, is inspired and initiated by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of Truth" and will make truth known to the hearts of men and women longing for change, which will result in freedom and real lasting change, not change just for the sake of change. Repentance means to change the mind, a turning from sin to God. Let's welcome the real change in our lives through the act of repentance and the provocational power of the Holy Spirit.

“The Holy Spirit’s office, as defined by the Bible itself, is not to make known to us any truths which are not contained in the Bible; but to make clear to our understandings the truths which are contained in it that we might realize them experientially. The Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit. It is the instrument by which the Spirit worketh. and He worketh anew at all times and all places consistent with His Revelation. Thus, the Spirit is always provoking us toward change, growth, and the fulfillment of calling. Anything less and anything more is surely not of the Spirit.” ~Thomas Chalmers

The Lord is With You

"...and the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him," The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor" Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Then the Lord turned to him and said "Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" So he said to Him, "O my Lord how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my father's house." And the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man" ~Judges 6:13-16

I slept in a little later than usual this morning and made my espresso knowing that I have a full day ahead of me. Even now, as I type this, I'm battling within my mind to succumb to the pressures and demands of the day. As I picked up my Bible for my morning devotion's, the Holy Spirit seemed to guide me to this portion of scripture.

I found my fear was not much different than Gideon's great fear. We usually fear the things we can't control so we end up paralyzed due to the circumstances we face much like Gideon.

The Angel of the Lord had already affirmed that the Lord saw him and called him a "Mighty Man of Valor". Immediately, Gideon questions the Lord's affirmation and wants to know, "If I am what you say I am, where are all the miracles?" He went on to say that the Lord had abandoned him into the hands of the Midianites.

His response is very familiar to human kind. We seem to want God to do something for us that He has already done. The Lord's response to Gideon was, "Go in this might of yours...." Basically, Gideon was abdicating his responsibility (response-ability) his ability to respond.

Abdicate means to relinquish, give up, renounce withdraw. Abdicate also means to give up your rights or authority and responsibility. Gideon was seeking to abandon his post and God was not having it. "Go in this might of yours .....have I not sent you .....surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man".

Whatever you may be facing today I encourage you to draw strength from God's Word, even if you feel weak like Gideon. God delights in our weaknesses when we give them to Him. For it is then that He can show Himself strong.

"The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor.... Go in this might of yours...have I not sent you!!

Growing Into Christ's Image

I came across this quote by J. R. Miller that impacted me and in deep way. While walking through difficult circumstances in my own life, I recognized how self-absorbed I was becoming trying to find my own way out of the pain. It seemed as if the merry-go-round ride, trying to always catch the brass ring to find happiness and success, was elusive and Utopian. The first line of this quote is a powerful statement, and drew me in to realize that life has mysteries I can't explain and that I don't have answers for. But if I settled in my mind that the purpose of God for my life on earth is to grow into Christ's image, I can learn to be content in whatever circumstance I'm in, knowing that the image of Christ is being formed in me for His Glory.

My prayers is that you will have a settling in your own mind that the purpose of God is being worked out in the midst of the mysteries and the mess of life. "For whom He foreknew, He predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:29

“We should get it settled in our minds, that the purpose of God for our life on earth, is to have us grow into Christ's image. We are not in this world merely to accomplish a certain amount of work--but to be fashioned into strength and beauty of character. If we would always remember this, we would not be perplexed so often by the mysteries of our lives. If joy is ours--it is to make us better and a greater blessing to others. If sorrow is ours--it is to purify us and bring out some line of Christ's image in us more clearly. If our hopes are disappointed--it is because God has some better things for us, than that which we so earnestly desired. If we are called to endure pain--it is because the best in us can be called out only by pain. If bereavement comes and we are left without the strong human arm we have leaned upon heretofore--it is because there are elements of strength in our life, which never could be developed unless the human supports were taken away. If our burdens are heavy--it is because we grow best under burdens. If we are wronged by others--it is to teach us better, the great lessons of patience and sweet temper. If our circumstances are uncongenial and our condition hard--it is that we may be disciplined into self-control, and may learn to be content in whatever state we are in. The Master is always teaching us new lessons, making us into the beauty of the pattern He has set for us, and preparing us for greater usefulness and better service.” ~J.R. Miller

Missed Opportunities

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." --Thomas A. Edison

A Word For Those Asking "WHO"?

" (You shall be) satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord"

Deuteronomy 33:23

"The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety, and the Lord shall cover him all day long..."

Deuteronomy 33:12

With your eyes,

you will see Me make a distinction

between the believer and the unbeliever.

You will see believers bathed in light.

You will see unbelievers surrounded by a pallor of gloom, with a oppressive cloud over their minds.

My beloved

will dwell in safety.

You will see Me hiding, covering and protecting My

own. Have I not said that even in your dwelling

place I would give protection? Have I not said that

My name is a strong tower into which the righteous

run for safety?

Therefore

you shall know that I make a distinction between

those who are serving Me in love and devotion, and

those who are rebelling against Me in resistance

and unbelief.

Those who know Me

will be strong,

doing great exploits,

With your eyes,

you will see Me

making a distinction

between the believer

and the unbeliever.

Your won soul within you will tell you that those

who follow Me do not stumble in darkness, but

walk in light.

You will see Me protecting the believer. The disasters, the calamities, the destruction's and distresses of life will not shake My beloved ones--for they have a secret not known to the world.

My beloved ones are hidden

in the palm of My hand.

I keep them safe.

"...there is a reward for the righteous..."

Psalms 58:11

Taken from He Spoke and I was Strengthened by Dick Mills

For Those Asking "When"?

"...I the Lord will hasten it in its time"

Isaiah 60:22

I have a time

in which I will manifest My power,

in which I will show forth My energy,

in which I will allow My purposes to be fulfilled.

You have become impatient.

You have become over-anxious.

You have tried to speed up the process.

But

My thoughts are not your thoughts.

My ways are not your ways.

I know what is best for you.

I would have you surrender yourself to My will. My

way is best. My way is perfect There are no flaws

or defects in My dealings. I shall hasten it in My

time. When I arise, the work of the enemy will be

scattered. I will do a quick work in the earth.

Know this:

You need not be anxious.

You need not fret.

You need not worry.

I will soon intervene.

I will stand between you and the power of the enemy.

The wicked shall flee when no one is pursuing.

But the righteous shall be bold as lions.

In that day, you will say,

"Truly, the Lord does all things well.

This is His day. This is His time"

You will rejoice

that you have waited for Me.

You shall see My great deliverance.

I will hasten it in My time.

My time is the perfect time.

It shall sere My purposes.

You will be joyful in it.

"... I will hasten my word to perform it"

Jeremiah 1:12

Taken from He Spoke and I was Strengthened by Dick Mills

A Word For Those Asking "How" ?

"Not by might, nor by power, 

but by my spirit, saith the Lord

of hosts.''  Zechariah 4:6

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by My Spirit,

saith the Lord.

This is how you shall go forth.

This is how you will win your victory.

You have leaned

upon your own understanding. But your own understanding has failed you. Therefore, I will give you the Spirit of understanding.

You have run

in your own strength. But your strength has drained away. There, I will strengthen your spiritual man.

You have applied

your own wisdom. But your wisdom has not been sufficient. Therefore, My Spirit of wisdom shall rest upon you.

You have spoken

your own words. But your words met with strong resistance. Therefore, My Spirit shall rest upon you, and you will speak the words I give you. 

You will then be irresistible.

Therefore, know this--

that in all you set your hand to do, My Spirit will

empower you--and My Spirit will prevail against

the power of the enemy.

My Spirit will work a miracle for you,

and glory and honor will come to Me.

Look not to your own weakness.

Look not to your own inabilities.

Look not to your lack of education. 

Look not to your lack of resources.

Understand this:

My power is made perfect in human weakness. In 

your weakness, you will be made strong in Me 

and in the power of  My might. Whatever is done

will be accomplished by the power of My Spirit in you.

You will see tremendous victory

wrought by My hand.

"Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered"  Psalms 68:1 

Taken from  He Spoke and I was Strengthened  by Dick Mills

For Those Asking "Why?"

"......in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth." Exodus 9:16

I have chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. I have chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. I have chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised to bring to nought things that are--so that no flesh should glory in My presence.

This is why I have chosen you that I might do supernatural things in your life--things which will bring glory to Me.

This is why I have chosen you-- that I might work miracles in your life, bringing glory to My name.

This is why I have raised you up--that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth.

In all this, I, and I alone, shall be glorified.

You shall not glory in your pedigree,

in your education,

in your resources,

in your position,

in your achievements,

in your accomplishments.

I, the Lord, will be exalted in My day, and that which man has done will be as nothing. That which I have done will fill the earth.

Know this:

I have raised you up. I am using you. And I will continue to use you. I will do many more things in your life than I am doing now.

I am pleased with your desires--your consecration--your willingness. I rejoice in using you because you are not heaping the glory to yourself, but glorifying My name.

Never forget:

I alone shall receive the praise.

No flesh shall glory in My presence.

But Know this also:

I will reward you,

because you were the channel of blessing.

"......and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."

Isaiah 2:11

Taken from, He Spoke, and I was strengthened by Dick Mills

A Living Historical Churchman

I would like to introduce to you a very dear friend of mine. His name is Dick Mills. I first met Dick in 1980 in Southern California where I was serving on staff at a very large church. Because of it's mega size and influence, this church had become an "international landing strip" for well-known ministers from all over the world. However there was one man that was different from all the rest. His down-to-earth genuineness and humility set him apart. If that wasn't enough, his profound gifting certainly was.

Dick Mills has been a father/friend in my life for almost 30 years. My wife and I actually received a portion of our premarital counseling from his teaching entitled, Hearts and Flowers from the book Song of Solomon. Through the years of our relationship, I have observed first hand the fruit of Dick's ministry. Seven years ago, Melinda and I flew out to celebrate his 80th birthday and had the privilege of spending time in his home with his beautiful family. One of the most amazing things I experienced, and will always treasure, was to take a tour through his expansive study and library filled to capacity with his writings, as well as his Greek and Hebrew research which, I was told, is valued at approximately $150,000. Dick ministered in my church many times and always left us encouraged and edified.

As a young man, Dick recognized the great power of God's Word to encourage people and lift them up, so he committed to memorizing over 1,500 verses for the purpose of encouraging God's people. Combine God's word with a true compassion for people and a unique prophetic gifting and you have Dick Mills.

The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel ordained Dick in 1949, and he and Betty have traveled as an evangelist all over the U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. In 1966, Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world. He has ministered with: the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups as well as CBN, TBN television networks and many independent Christian TV Stations. He has also appeared on numerous radio talk-shows, written magazine articles and has spoken at many Bible conferences and universities. He has also served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries. Dick has authored and co-authored numerous books and tapes. For a list of currently available books and tapes please visit his web site: http://www.dmm.org/About_Dick.html. Dicks' ministry is characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services inform, enlighten, and motivate people to a higher level of commitment to God.

One of Dick's books that I have kept close by my desk for years is He Spoke And I Was Strengthened. This small book is filled with powerful words of encouragement to help people in their daily walk. I will be posting excerpts from this book from time to time. Please take the time to leave a comment if they are a blessing to you.

Thanks for stopping by Locus Life. I pray that you are encouraged and edified.

Putting Two and Two Together

There is a story about the boy Jesus at 12 yrs old, sitting with the scholars and teachers of the day in the Temple, listening, and asking questions. Luke records it like this, "...and all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

This word, "understanding" is very interesting in that it means "a putting together, a quickness of apprehension, the critical faculty for clear apprehension, intelligently assessing a situation". This word, understanding, is derived from two Greek words, phronesis and sunesis. "phronesis", acts while, "sunesis", judges. Phronesis is the practical side of the mind, while sunesis is the analyzing and discerning side.

My prayer is that God grant me understanding and the ability to put two and two together as I walk with Him daily through life.

Turning

"Turning from something takes courage, turning to something takes
faith."

		Turning from something takes courage, turning to something take faith.

Turning from something takes courage, turning to something take
faith.

Turning from something takes courage, turning to something take
faith.

Turning from something takes courage, turning to something take
faith.

Looking for God

"We habitually and instinctively look to other things besides God and His grace as our justification, hope, significance, and security. We believe the gospel at one level, but at deeper levels we do not. Human approval, professional success, power and influence, family and clan identity--all of these things serve as our heart's "functional trust" rather than what Christ has done, and as a result we continue to be driven to a great degree by fear, anger, and a lack of self-control. You cannot change such things through mere willpower, through learning Biblical principles and trying to carry them out. We can only change permanently as we take the gospel more deeply into our understanding and into our hearts.We must feed on the gospel, as it were, digesting it making it part of ourselves. That is how we grow." (excerpts from The Prodigal God by Tim Keller)

A Good Indication

"We will never find God unless He first seeks us, and He can do this in many different ways. Sometimes He jumps dramatically into our lives and shows His hand print and other times he quietly patiently argues with us even though we continue to turn away. How can you tell if He is working on you? If you begin to sense your lostness and find yourself wanting to escape, you should realize that that desire is not something you could have generated on your own. Such a process requires Help, and if it is happening it is a good indication that He is even now at your side." (excerpts from The Prodigal God by Tim Keller)

Happiness and Peace

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." ~ C.S. Lewis

An Interesting Thing Happened to Me...

An interesting thing happened to me this week. I have most recently been engaged in a very busy and stressful season of life, however, I felt impressed to pray for my older brother, Steve, who lives in Arkansas. Even with so many things screaming for my attention, I was continually nudged in my spirit to pray for my brother. As I paid closer attention to the nudging, I heard the words "distraction & danger". Those words didn't mean anything to me, personally, so I knew it must have something to do with my brother, Steve. As a result, I carved out time to make a phone call in between my log-jammed schedule. As I talked with him, I told him what I was hearing in prayer and just wanted to check on him. He thanked me and said he, too, was extremely busy but everything was fine; nonetheless, I continued to pray for him. The next day I received a call from my brother Steve, and he unfolded this incredible story about what took place and his discovery later in the day after my phone call of concern. Before my call to him, he had cleaned out the ashes from his fireplace insert in order to make a new fire for the evening. He placed the ashes in a bucket on the back porch, as he usually does, and enjoyed time with his wife before retiring for bed. Later, in the night, they were awakened by the smell of smoke. He went outside to find the plastic bucket melted to the ground with the 2-day old ashes. After dousing it with water he went back to bed, only to be awakened by his wife several hours later saying, “I smell smoke again". My brother said, "It’s OK honey, I already took care of it and it’s just the lingering smell." Well, she didn't believe him and made him get up and check things again. Unable to find the cause, he made a more extensive examination and found that the bucket containing the ashes had heated up the metal kick plate at the bottom of the door so hot, it caught the wood on fire behind the kick plate. It had begun to spread along the side of the house and had melted the vinyl siding down the back of the house. If he hadn’t discovered it in time, the whole house would have gone up in smoke!! This put a new definition on "distraction & danger"! Although this sounds rather bizarre, a similar incident happened years before when my brother, Steve, called me after his normal early morning prayer time. He called saying he had great concern for my safety and asked if we were OK? He went on to describe how deeply troubled he felt in prayer for us and was actually feeling grief as if someone had died. I assured him everything was fine and that it may be a "prophetic prayer" for the something in the future; I thanked him for his sensitivity and concern. Well, later that day, a pastor friend and I took our children out 4 wheeling on the church property. My oldest son was around 2 ½ yrs old and sat in my lap as I drove the 4 wheeler—that was before laws were changed and dangers were discovered about 4 wheelers. We were having a blast climbing small hills and riding the terrain when all of sudden we hit a dip and the 4 wheeler flipped up in mid-air and threw both of us off! I can still remember watching the machine flying up in the air and landing inches from my son’s head! I could not believe it! It all happened so fast and we were being so careful. I rushed over to my son, grabbed him up in my arms, and began to thank God for his safety. He was still in a daze, scratched all over, with a gash in his chin, and bleeding. As we got in the car, rushing him to the hospital, and weeping and praying for my son Kimble II, it came to my memory, as I was holding my boy that my brother had called that very morning in a panic and concern for our safety. I truly believe that his prophetic intercession that day released God's angelic protection that saved my son's life. If that huge machine would have landed inches the other direction, it would have crushed his little skull. In the emergency room, we rightfully got a tongue lashing from the doctors as I was told how “lucky” we were that something more tragic didn’t happened. My son, Kimble’s scratches were cleaned and treated, and a butterfly bandaid was put on the gash on his chin without stitches. We were able to walk out of the ER that day, shaken but grateful to the Lord that he was alive. So, I encourage you to do as I do today, live life with a listening ear to the prodding of the Holy Spirit. It’s invaluable to not only have people in your life, but to be that person in others lives that know how to listen, pray, and act.

Worldviews Matter

"The most practical and important thing about a man is his view of the universe. For a landlady to consider a lodger, it is important to know his income, but still more important to know his philosophy. For a general to fight an enemy, it is important to know the enemy’s numbers, but still more important to know the enemy’s philosophy . The question is not whether the theory of the cosmos affects matters, but whether, in the long run, anything else affects them." G.K. Chesterton "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." King Solomon "Worldview is the most important thing that we can know about a man. Ideas have consequences. And those consequences affect everything in the practical realm as well as in the theoretical realm. Discernment of worldview is therefore the most necessary of all the tasks of wisdom." Richard Weaver

Lord I Believe

Jesus said to him, ''If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes'', Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!"

~Mark 9:23-24

In His Hands

"Oh that You would hide me in the grave,That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint a set time, and remember me! If a man dies , shall he live again? All the days of my hard service (struggle,warfare) I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You;You shall desire the work of Your hands".
Job 14:13-14

How May We Know Our Lord?

"And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you , inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." ~Matt. 25:40 Whenever you and I give, or plant our seeds of faith, we are doing it for Jesus. The person we feed becomes as Jesus to us. The person we visit in prison or in the sickbed becomes as Jesus to us. How may we know our Lord? We know Him by putting our arms around those who are desperate or alone. He said that when we do this we are putting our arms around Him--Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior.

Concerted Effectual Prayer

Truly there is great power in concerted prayer among God’s people and “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much”. Oh to be able to see into the realms of the invisible and “look beyond the obvious ..” to witness the great power that is wielded by the Holy Spirit through the prayers of the Saints, I believe it would greatly encourage us to pray all the more!!! Oh God give us eyes to see what we believe….

Great Way to Start Off The New Year!