The Pilgrimgram: The Fighter’s Regrets#links

The Pilgrimgram: The Fighter’s Regrets#links

He really is the Reason

So I was sitting in our Christmas Eve service last night and the running theme from last Sunday and last night was how Christmas isn't about the event as it is about the purpose of the event, Jesus. As I sat there there was a manger which is now empty, then behind that on the wall is a wooden cross which is also empty, then I looked at an alcove area that reminded me of the tomb which is also empty. I was reminded that even though they are empty there was evidence left behind, His DNA marks all that He touches nothing is left the same.  But there is also the glaring fact that He is still alive and well, and He is no longer in these places because He is seated at the right hand of the Father and alive in all that call Him Savior. He is  Emanuel, God with us and He will never leave us or forsake us.

Jesus is truly the reason for the season!!!

thanksgiving

Today is the traditional day set aside to come together and give thanks for our blessings and the provision we have been given. It was started by a couple of different groups of people that had varying doctrinal beliefs that came together under their common belief in Christ to escape religious tyranny that was happening in England. They came together as"Pilgrims", trying to find a new place a "promise land" where they could worship freely without interference from the government. They were met with many tragedies along the way, but pushed on under their common Thread. They came together with the so called"heathens", that helped to teach them how to survive in this new land, and they had a big party and feast to gives thanks for the harvest. They came together and shared their first fruits together and no one was left out, status didn't matter, skin color didn't matter, clothing styles didn't matter. What mattered is that they came together in unity with a common bond and a common focus, to give thanks to the Creator of all things and for the abundance He provided them.
So today is not only a day to hangout watch football and eat turkey. It is a day set aside as a memorial to give thanks to Abba for all He has provided, it is a day to be shared in unity with others expressing the heart of the Father and His love for all of us.

Colossians 2:7 "Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

because He loves

This is one of those mornings where I went to read a couple of verses and ended up reading the whole chapter. The parts where the psalmist talks about how awesome the act of creation was really spoke to me. Having a reminder of how we were created to be in relationship with Him, that was His intent from the beginning we as people are the only things that He fashioned with His own hands, then He held us in those same hands and breathed His life and Spirit I to us. Pretty stinking awesome if you ask me. It also amazes me that after so many centuries of the people He created to love and be in relationship with turn their back on Him that He continues to love and make a way for them to come back to Him. Many times I see Him more like the father in the story of the prodigal son, as he sees his son coming home, he forgets that his son basically disowned his family, he doesn't care that the stinks and is filthy . In fact he covers the filth and throws a party. This is the heart of the Father that we need to show the world.

Psalm 33:1-22 "Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You."

kids and fruit...not what you think

It's an awesome thing to see and hear about your"kids" walking out their destinies and using the gifts that Abba placed in them and realizing their identity in Him. When you can bear fruit that bears fruit there is success and His Kingdom will be added to.

3 John 1:2-4 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. In fact, I greatly rejoiced when [some of] the brethren from time to time arrived and spoke [so highly] of the sincerity and fidelity of your life, as indeed you do live in the Truth [the whole Gospel presents]. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth."

Getting a little wound up here.

Getting a little wound up here.
Isaiah 55:8-11 “I don’t think the way you think.The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.
I was reading these verses this morning and when I got to the part where God says that His word will not come  back empty handed or void,but "They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them." When I read this I heard Him say "you are My word that I am speaking of, you and the rest of my saints. I spoke you into existence I breathed life and My Spirit into you, you are My message to the people I love, My desire is that all have the opportunity to know Jesus and to have a relationship with Me, through Him. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians you are a living epistle of Christ, you are to carry His message to the lost and broken, you are to bring His healing and reconciliation to Me, you are to reveal the loving heart of their heavenly Father this is reflected through compassion and love not through judgment."
Needless to say I'm a little wound up in my spirit this morning, partially due to excitement for what He is about to do. But also because of some conviction thinking about what letter people read when they see me, the Lord knows I need help, but also know He is willing to give it.
2 Corinthians 3:3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart

pride disguised as fear

I read this scripture the other day and it has stuck with me, probably for a couple of reasons.  One which many have a hard time believing and that is that I  used to not want to speak in front of groups of people, heck there was a time I didn't like speaking one on one much either unless I  knew you very well. There was a time when I I would stutter and stammer a bit when I talked. There were times I was made fun of for how I talked even as a kid moving to Connecticut and having a southern accent I was told I talked funny. This and other things caused me to be a quiet observer only speaking when I had or needed to. I wasn't and still am always good conversationally. But Abba had a different plan for me. It's hard to make disciples if you aren't willing to open your, you can't share the gospel or speak the things that Abba tells you into peoples lives if you can't or won't trust Him to give you what you need to say. If it's not from Him its generally pointless anyway. The you are afraid to sound stupid reason usually comes from one of two things. One is you were probably made fun of at some point and that stole your voice, so let's pray for you so you can get some healing and work through forgiveness. Or two you are more in tune with your pride and would rather be rebellious than take the chance of being exposed as not being spiritual enough.

The other reason I think this stuck with me is because one of the things that my wife and I do as part of our ministry is help coach people in how to pray in ministry settings. Generally in small groups where there is an environment of safety. The biggest reasons people give us for not praying are "I don't know what to say", "I'm afraid that I'll sound stupid" and "I don't want to say the wrong thing".  So, you don't know what to say, that's perfect. Why? Because He will give the words you need to speak and you are out of it other than being a willing mouthpiece. The I don't want say the wrong thing, is probably the most easy to work with. Why? Because for me that runs through my mind everytime I open my mouth, especially in times of ministry. Many times it means I am kinda willing to pray but it scares me a little and I have seen other people say things that were hurtful or judgmental in the past and I don't want to be that person.  My answer to that is trust that Abba is talking to you and if all other words fail you can never go wrong if you speak love and encouragement. And ma y times in just opening your mouth and trusting Him the words come and the people are blessed.

I guess what it comes down to is I don't want to be like Moses. I don't want Abba to use someone else speak the words He has given to bless others with. I want to walk in a place where I can fully trust that if He prompts me to speak that I will do so willingly, without argument, without fear and with love and grace. Because that is what He has created us to do, to bless others in His name. And like Moses, I want to set the captives free.

Exodus 4:10-12 "But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “OLord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”