November 18

I read this passage like a text book today – does that ever happen to you? I got the information and then sat there thinking; “what is God saying to me today?” This is a book of life and needs to be read for the life it brings. So I read again, looking for the life God has for my day.

Jesus was forsaken. He said it while on the cross. “Why have you forsaken me?” He was talking to His Father. His Word to me today --- I will never leave you or forsake you. In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, Jesus will never forsake me. That is His decision and I know it well. However, it sure does my soul well to hear it again. He won’t leave me to be on my own. Thank you so much Jesus, keep reminding me for I can be forgetful of these simple truths. Not that my memory is erased but that don’t reckon this truth from time to time when I feel alone or pressed.

November 17

What a passage to read for my birthday! The false charges, the hatred, the beating, the rejection of all Jesus is had to have been so emotionally tough for Him. This was a road that He had to travel, but what an awful road! I just taught on this in OSL last night and I must say that I am moved when I think of what my Jesus has done for me. He didn’t just take a bullet to the head, he suffered in every way possible. The physical suffering was no doubt indescribable and the mental and emotional torture was astoundingly tormentous. He did it – for me – I am forever in His debt.

There is another interesting thing that I saw. Judas Iscariot somehow came to his senses and realized that he did wrong. However the religious leaders had no such revelation. The man who Satan himself indwelt had a revelation, but the Pharisees were worried about breaking God’s law by accepting blood money back into the treasury – that it came from! Religion twists you like no other sin – stay away from it – it’s dangerous!

November 16

Jesus is getting jacked up! He is getting strung up for what? Doing good! He is suffering and about to suffer something terrible and it is not His fault. Yet, He knows that He must go through this suffering in the body and soul to become the sacrifice of sin for the world (spiritual). He is being wronged so He could make things right! Convicted yet? I am! How many times do I allow myself to be wronged or accused and condemned or anything else for the sake of something greater from the Father? How many times? Being like Jesus is a high calling and a tough thing. No wonder He said that we have to die to ourselves. To be wronged for the greater good – the will of the Father – is difficult to anyone who cares about His life. God, help me die all the more to myself and live for you.

November 15

There is nothing that I can produce or do on my own! Even when my church doubles or triples or whatever, even when my salary is restored and my earnings doubled, it is not because of me, my standing on the Word, my faith, my faithfulness or anything else. It is ONLY because I am connected to the vine and the blessings come from the vine. The danger with blessings and growth is that you become deceived to think that you brought it about. I did this or put this strategy into place or preached this Word, but all production in my life comes from the vine and my connection with the vine – Jesus Christ.

Twice Jesus talked about our joy being complete. It seems to me that He wants us to have joy! How do we get it and how do we get a complete joy? The simple lesson that God impressed on me is this, remain in Jesus and ask for the stuff that He wants us to have. Whenever I think stuff I think supernatural, and being in relationship with Him and really being one will bring the joy I so desperately need. With that comes the wonder of relationship and asking and receiving because of that relationship. Joy, joy joy!

November 14

Another Sunday jewel! Jesus washed the disciples feet. This doesn’t affect us too much because it isn’t that strange to us – although a little strange. To them it was incredible! The thing I saw was right before Jesus did the washing.

John 13:3 (NIV)
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

If we know who we are and who God has called us to be, then we will do ANYTHING no matter how low or high it may be.

November 13

When I have the faintest hint of the fear of man, of what people will say or the price I will pay for doing such and such, I am going to be diving into unbelief. I realize that I am not a Pharisee, however it is a principle that God showed me. Consideration of man before God is a trap that sends you towards unbelief. First you are really trusting man more than God for the outcome, and you certainly are not fearing God which produces faith. Whatever consideration of man I have must be what God would have as well – my heart and His heart have to line up. I really want to stretch and believe for things that I have never seen before and God has showed me today one of the keys to getting there. Don’t be a people pleaser, be a God pleaser.

November 12

There are two things that spoke to me. First there was the “worthless” servant. Did you get that? Worthless! What did he do to be called worthless? He didn’t do anything with the gift that God gave him. He is lazy, unmotivated, unaware of the impact he could have, and even if he was aware, he was unwilling to do anything beyond normal living. He just lived his life and did nothing with what God have him. Hmmm….

The second thing was that righteous people are known for what they do and not what they don’t do. It wasn’t there moral way of life (not doing all those things a Christian shouldn’t do) that was a factor in this parable, (although the righteous would certainly live morally), it was what they DID. They did have mercy, they did help the needy, they did care, they were hospitable. For me it is not how good I preach or lead worship that God is making me aware of, it is how I treat the individual and care for their needs. I will start by supplying a Thanksgiving dinner to someone needy. God help me to have a lifestyle in which I give to you through the people on this earth.

November 11

Jesus is stunning the Pharisees with blow after blow. First He answers all of their questions with words of wisdom, then he talks about them in parables, and then he goes into what we call the 7 woes. Jesus is not out to win friends, He is here to preach the truth! Although this truth has been truth (about the Pharisees) since the beginning, it is now time to let it loose. (Timing) He is not afraid – Jesus make me like that.

I was talking to a friend of mine about some hard decisions he had to make at the church he pastored. He had to tell another church which was renting their building to leave. I said, “that would be awful, I would hate to do that”. His reply was, “I am Kingdom focused, so whatever it takes to expand the Kingdom of God, I am willing to do – no problem.” I want to be more like that, more like Jesus.

Please notice what Jesus said at the end of the woes, He said He LONGED to gather Israel in His arms. What He said to the Pharisees was not because He hated them, it was because He loved His people. His motivation is always love. Jesus make mine love too! Don’t let me rise up in some fake righteous indignation to reprove people, let it be for the sake of love only.

November 10

Jesus talked about believing (acting out what has been revealed to you) while you still have the light. Darkness will come in the future so do it now! That was interesting to me. He seems to be saying that even though they had the revelation about Him that NOW was the time to act on it and not later. Later was going to bring darkness, which I believe was a swayed public opinion which made it much harder to believe (the acting out of what has been revealed).

When God gives me a revelation in regards to my life, family, ministry or anything else, I need to act on it immediately. Those times when I haven’t, that instruction got a little cloudy and much easier to refuse. The further you get away from the revelation or instruction or opportunity, the harder it will be to step into. Terry – act on it immediately! Don’t wait! When it is from the Lord, then do it!

November 9

“I came to serve, to give my life as a ransom for many.” Our lives can’t ransom anyone’s life like Jesus’ could. However our lives can make an impact! John and James were going to be baptized like Jesus, but I don’t think that was talking about the kind of death since John didn’t die a martyr. It was a baptism of different proportions of sacrifice. It was thinking long and hard about the phrase, “to give his (my) life”. What does that mean? I think that I have given my life – at least most of it. Then the recurring theme this year came to me; minute by minute give your life away. What time I wake up, what I do, when I go to work, what I do for a work out, what I do when I go to work, when do I answer the phone and when do I study for the next teaching – I must give every aspect of my life to Him who has sent me to serve and give my life as a gift to the church.

Lord, I know I do sacrifice but I feel like I fail most days on the minute by minute thing. I feel like the minutes rush towards the meeting that night or the dinner time at home. I start out well and well intentioned, but I end being pulled by demands. I am asking for your strong intervention – I want to be like you, maximizing all that you have given me.

November 8

Jesus delayed on purpose so on his arrival, Lazarus was dead. He delayed 2 days and Lazarus was dead for 4 days and probably more because the Jews didn’t bury people right away. The fact of the matter was that Jesus did delay and that delay meant more suffering. In fact Lazarus had to die twice for this God glorifying act. That is a bummer! Dying of any disease isn’t easy – I was thinking about the suffering he must have gone through and how hard it may have been. God didn’t rescue him from his suffering, but Jesus did raise him from the dead. God didn’t save Mary and Martha from their suffering/mourning either. That is what I was thinking about while I read. In fact I think this fact really hit Jesus and he broke down in tears twice! Even though He knew He was about to raise Lazarus up from the dead, He was overwhelmed with the thought of all the suffering. He doesn’t like us suffering, but He knows it is necessary at times. His heart aches when we suffer.

Thank you for your constant revelation Papa.

November 7

I usually don’t blog on Sunday, but there is something that just has to be said. Jesus said, “I will heal and cast out demons today and tomorrow and the 3rd day I will reach my goal.” Jesus had goals in ministry. I don’t think it was a number, but rather time. My time must be my Father’s to do with. Not even a threat of death would persuade Jesus to move on early. Don’t let anything persuade me to move on early Lord, not until my goal (your goal) has been reached.

November 6

Will I ever read the account of Martha and Mary without hearing God’s voice instructing me to choose the “better” option? I guess it is a character flaw of mine that is very resistant to the Holy Spirit. I would like to explain it away by stating that hyper Type-A people like me get things done, invent things, start businesses, etc…, but the words of Jesus seem to indicate that there are better things, like sitting at His feet and listening to Him. That was Mary’s choice, the question is will it be mine or will go I go out and work for God? For me, I choose God – again! It is easier to work and accomplish, not because I don’t like being with Him, but because I like accomplishing. I am afraid that for many in the body of Christ, they don’t spend time with Jesus because they are uncomfortable with it.

Our prophetic call jumped out at me. We are obviously all called to evangelize and heal the sick – right? How about when we enter a house “saying” “peace on this house”? How about that? That is crazy radical. I determine whether a house receives a blessing of peace or not! How about my own house? If it is crazy and the kids are going wild and out of control (never my children – it’s just an illustration), maybe, just maybe if I would wear my mantle of prophet, speak peace (command), the household would “chill”. I don’t use my privilege enough! God help me to see all my benefits in you!

November 5

God give me miracles! Work signs and wonders by my hand! Glorify yourself and your Son with healings and deliverances! Those who doubted couldn’t argue with the eyes of a blind man being opened. BUT, they still wouldn’t believe. YET, there were plenty of others who saw and heard and did believe!

The familiar shepherd passage stuck out to me, especially where Jesus said that the hired hand flees when the wolf comes. Am I a hired hand? Will I flee in the face of opposition? I don’t want to – that is for sure. Then I began to think about it… I am not a hired hand, I am one with the shepherd! I have the shepherd’s heart for the sheep and within me is the propensity and ability to stand up to the wolves and lay my life down for the sheep. Jesus, I want to be like you – able to say it so straight that people want to kill me, but willing to lay my life down for the sheep.

Acts 4:29-30 (NIV)
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”