The key to success in life is a healthy supportive community. And that has to be more than anything first and foremost your own immediate family. We can all agree that without community life is empty and broken. We were created for relationship first with God and second with each other. Apart from that emptiness and disillusionment take over.
"When I am with a group of human beings committed to hanging in there through both the agony and the joy of community, I have a dim sense that I am participating in a phenomenon for which there is only one word... "glory"." M. Scott Peck
Gabby and I have found the invaluable worth of living in community. While studying in DLA the biggest focus outside of the pursuit of God was surrounding yourself with a community of believers who will stand with you through it all. We came out of the ministry immediately searching for whom would walk with us for the long haul in this journey of faith. It was quickly after we married a group of us began meeting regularly every Sunday afternoon to simply cook a meal together and seek Jesus. This went on for over 2 years and became more than just a sunday afternoon as we would gather as often as possible throughout the week and sometimes finding our schedules not matching up for a few weeks. It was such a rich season for us. Amazingly, all of us found ourselves being led by Jesus to other parts of the world, of parts of the U.S. and areas of ministry taking up our time and creating distance. Despite this we have all stuck together where we connect at the least every 2 months over Skype to catch up and pray for each other. It is a friendship God has forged among us.
Though we have these friends we now are in a season were it is usually just Gabby and I and the kids. Our ability to connect with our local church outside of Sundays is hard to maintain granted we live an hour away. We have been able to connect with many folks and attend a small group every so often but it is not as easy anymore.
What we are learning to be the greatest core value of our lives is to build and be the community within our own family that we had and desire to always be a part of wherever we go whatever we find ourselves doing in life. Specifically as a missionary when you get on the field you most often only have 1 or 2 other families or single people working with you. And it is essential to learn how to be a self-sufficient community within your own family. Where you are feeding each other with life and encouragement through the word, prayer, worship and reaching the lost. It has become more real to us how hard that is to do sometimes when your friends and family are no longer around to fill in the gaps. When you can't attend a local church that you can just sit in but are usually the one leading all the church services. There is a hidden failure in america amongst Christian families who are amazing people but if left to just themselves would struggle to continue to press hard after God leading each other to righteousness and walking in faith and truth. Granted I have seen tons of families pursuing hard after Jesus very well and can name several.
So this is what we are growing in as a family. Community has to happen now in our situation with our 2 young boys. We must gather together as a family and seek hard after God calling each other to righteousness and faith. It is up to us to raise our boys with a heart to pursue God in prayer and in studying the word. To teach them to confidence in preaching the gospel and praying for the broken, hurting, and dying. So that they don't find themselves upset because they don't have friends to go play with or family they can't see all the time. We desire that they would feel that just us is more than sufficient for life. And as a husband and wife to truly be one before the Father in every area of life.
We are grateful for this season to develop this to a greater measure. And I encourage you if you don't do this already with your family and or spouse. To take ownership and be the community you want to be a part of. We all may not always have people around us. Sometimes we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord when there is no one else to carry us. And who knows how many people you may find coming through your door to find Jesus and become a part of that Christ like family.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
To Know and Be Known By Jesus
Acceptance - Transparency - Enjoyment - Freedom. A beautiful thing for any man or woman to feel. Marriage is were most people find that in its purest human form. As we all still struggle with shame and guilt of our failures in the eyes of another despite of eternal vows made at our wedding day. It is a lifelong journey to rid oneself of the fear of judgement and inadequacy.
This past month God is showing me the importance of knowing Him and being known by Him. I have had multiple conversations with people that the Lord has really been teaching me what that really means and how quickly it changes everything for us.
Mike Bickle writes in his book "The Seven Longings of the Human Heart" one of them is "The longing for the assurance of being enjoyed by God." and summarizes it this way, "We were created with a craving to be pursued, delighted in, and enjoyed, first by God and then by our loved ones. Understanding God’s affection for us is where we begin to live exhilarated by His love. There is a great difference between rebellion and spiritual immaturity (that sincerely seeks to obey God)." And also "The Longing for intimacy without shame" "We each long for intimacy without shame in knowing and being known before the Lord. Jesus shares the secrets of His heart with His people (Ps. 25:14), and we will share the secrets of our heart with Him."
Just reading those two longings causes a stirring within my being that cries out "yes I need this". Like never before this reality has come alive to me and I am so grateful for the revelation of it. I wanted to share it with you briefly and encourage you to pursue making this a reality for you as I know it will release you from so much bondage, dullness of heart, bringing you to daily, vibrant fellowship with the person of Jesus.
Jesus confesses in John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you;" Stop there and meditate on that truth. To the degree that God loves His son, God loves you. With all of His fiery jealousy, passion, strength and joy, God loves us. God's love for Jesus was so powerful that twice He broke onto the seen verbally confessing to all who the people His love for Jesus. (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5)
The feeling of enjoyment causes us to engage deeper into the relationship. It tears down every wall of fear and uncertainty and establishes a strong bridge of trust to open ourselves up. Jesus in one act of selfless sacrifice proved to us not only does He tolerate us but His love is like that of bridegroom willing to die for his bride. He conquered the grave, rose again, ascended to the right hand of the throne of God and by the Holy Spirit of God the Triune God now dwells within us. He must really enjoy us to be willing to take up residence within our being.
So what does this mean and how does it flesh out? Because we all find the place of prayer often times dull and lifeless and lonely. Where is God and why isn't he speaking? Why isn't he showing up blasting the walls off the prayer room and laying everyone out on the floor? It doesn't always have to be like that but it should be like this from my personal experience. This is what Jesus tells us "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place." Matthew 6:6 Yes!! Our Father is already waiting in the secret place for us. He has been there all night or all day waiting for us to be with Him. And often He doesn't need to talk but He just enjoys us and wants us to feel the enjoyment burning on His face. To see the fiery jealous love in His eyes for His beloved ones. Come expecting to walk right into Him because He is there.
Understanding that He is waiting there for us with great delight enjoying us fully is our greatest motivation in the place of prayer, worship, and studying the scriptures. And this is the greater truth that goes on top of it. The other longing of the heart. "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to who we must give account." Hebrews 4:13 God knows everything! And yet He has great delight over us. Before His eyes nothing gets by and He understands us to the greatest degree, greater than we can understand ourselves. God can look at us in the context of eternity and in the context of His Holiness and still take delight in us frail, fickle, broke, humanity! Praise God for His mercy endures forever. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
Take time to really look into the eyes of Jesus. Ask God to help you see Him. Jesus Christ is a real man who is alive today seated at the right hand of God and He wants to spend time with you. See the delight in His eyes and feel the love in His heart toward you. When I get just a glimpse of His face and how He looks at me it chases all my fears away. It overwhelms my soul with joy and peace. It brings life into perspective and gives me hope for tomorrow. It makes it hard to walk away from. If we do this long enough we actually learn to walk with Him. We become familiar with His facial expressions and tendencies in any situation. We develop the "mind of Christ"(1Cor. 2:16) because we have been learning what is on His mind all those times in the secret place.
So I challenge you to go after God afresh today with this truth in mind. You are enjoyed by God to the degree He enjoys Jesus. And it is with full understanding of where you are at today in life.
"Love is powerful enough, without the fear of punishment." Amanda Cook - Kind
This past month God is showing me the importance of knowing Him and being known by Him. I have had multiple conversations with people that the Lord has really been teaching me what that really means and how quickly it changes everything for us.
Mike Bickle writes in his book "The Seven Longings of the Human Heart" one of them is "The longing for the assurance of being enjoyed by God." and summarizes it this way, "We were created with a craving to be pursued, delighted in, and enjoyed, first by God and then by our loved ones. Understanding God’s affection for us is where we begin to live exhilarated by His love. There is a great difference between rebellion and spiritual immaturity (that sincerely seeks to obey God)." And also "The Longing for intimacy without shame" "We each long for intimacy without shame in knowing and being known before the Lord. Jesus shares the secrets of His heart with His people (Ps. 25:14), and we will share the secrets of our heart with Him."
Just reading those two longings causes a stirring within my being that cries out "yes I need this". Like never before this reality has come alive to me and I am so grateful for the revelation of it. I wanted to share it with you briefly and encourage you to pursue making this a reality for you as I know it will release you from so much bondage, dullness of heart, bringing you to daily, vibrant fellowship with the person of Jesus.
Jesus confesses in John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you;" Stop there and meditate on that truth. To the degree that God loves His son, God loves you. With all of His fiery jealousy, passion, strength and joy, God loves us. God's love for Jesus was so powerful that twice He broke onto the seen verbally confessing to all who the people His love for Jesus. (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5)
The feeling of enjoyment causes us to engage deeper into the relationship. It tears down every wall of fear and uncertainty and establishes a strong bridge of trust to open ourselves up. Jesus in one act of selfless sacrifice proved to us not only does He tolerate us but His love is like that of bridegroom willing to die for his bride. He conquered the grave, rose again, ascended to the right hand of the throne of God and by the Holy Spirit of God the Triune God now dwells within us. He must really enjoy us to be willing to take up residence within our being.
So what does this mean and how does it flesh out? Because we all find the place of prayer often times dull and lifeless and lonely. Where is God and why isn't he speaking? Why isn't he showing up blasting the walls off the prayer room and laying everyone out on the floor? It doesn't always have to be like that but it should be like this from my personal experience. This is what Jesus tells us "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place." Matthew 6:6 Yes!! Our Father is already waiting in the secret place for us. He has been there all night or all day waiting for us to be with Him. And often He doesn't need to talk but He just enjoys us and wants us to feel the enjoyment burning on His face. To see the fiery jealous love in His eyes for His beloved ones. Come expecting to walk right into Him because He is there.
Understanding that He is waiting there for us with great delight enjoying us fully is our greatest motivation in the place of prayer, worship, and studying the scriptures. And this is the greater truth that goes on top of it. The other longing of the heart. "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to who we must give account." Hebrews 4:13 God knows everything! And yet He has great delight over us. Before His eyes nothing gets by and He understands us to the greatest degree, greater than we can understand ourselves. God can look at us in the context of eternity and in the context of His Holiness and still take delight in us frail, fickle, broke, humanity! Praise God for His mercy endures forever. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
Take time to really look into the eyes of Jesus. Ask God to help you see Him. Jesus Christ is a real man who is alive today seated at the right hand of God and He wants to spend time with you. See the delight in His eyes and feel the love in His heart toward you. When I get just a glimpse of His face and how He looks at me it chases all my fears away. It overwhelms my soul with joy and peace. It brings life into perspective and gives me hope for tomorrow. It makes it hard to walk away from. If we do this long enough we actually learn to walk with Him. We become familiar with His facial expressions and tendencies in any situation. We develop the "mind of Christ"(1Cor. 2:16) because we have been learning what is on His mind all those times in the secret place.
So I challenge you to go after God afresh today with this truth in mind. You are enjoyed by God to the degree He enjoys Jesus. And it is with full understanding of where you are at today in life.
"Love is powerful enough, without the fear of punishment." Amanda Cook - Kind
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