Still Alive and Loving Jesus in the Northwest!

There isn’t time for more than a quick hello and God bless you right now, but after more than a dozen failed attempts to write in the last 3 weeks I figured a few sentences are better than prolonged silence.

It’s been a trying season since joining the work force, in a position that often means working well over 200 hours a month. About 240 the last two in fact. But even through the stress, exhaustion and busyness the Lord keeps finding ways to get my attention, reminding me that He is forever faithful and true, regardless of the circumstances we are presently living and working in. Ultimately Jesus and His Kingdom are all that matters.

So what does that mean exactly, you may wonder? Well, for me it means desiring to be a blessing ( by Gods grace ) wherever we’re at, to whomever we’re with, in whatever we’re doing. Endeavoring to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with our words and actions while extending His love and grace to others, no matter how different they are from us.

I’d like to say that it’s been easy but it isn’t. There are days I’ve whined and complained about being tired, dearly missing having uninterrupted hours to read, study, pray and write; to travel and minister abroad…
In general, simply wishing my life was different than it is right now.

But most days I’m fine, as long as I open my eyes to see the needs around me; recognizing that today the mission field is where I am employed. I actually like my job and care about my co workers. I have the privilege of working somewhere where witnessing to our customers is not only all right, it’s even encouraged. There have been times I’ve prayed with people right in the showroom.

Yes, the Kingdom of God is within us! The Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus doesn’t reside in a building we call a church, but in you and I, the living stones which together form the Body of Christ, the church of the living God. The harvest fields are wherever we happen to be.

May we all lift up our eyes and see that the fields are white and ready to harvest. There are precious souls all around us who are lost and dying; hungry for the Fathers love; eternal souls who desperately need the Truth that will set them free, our Saviour who can deliver them from the bondage of sin!
Remember, “we are Jesus hands and feet”; citizens and ambassadors of the King of Heaven commissioned to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Let’s reach out and change the world with His love.

Moving Forward

When I pause to consider how much our lives have changed over the last few years I often wonder who’s life I’m living, because it sure doesn’t look anything at all like mine! At least not like it did before we moved overseas; even when compared to a year ago…
there’s not even the slightest resemblance to what it once was.

After launching into full time ministry nothing turned out like we planned or expected. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be working a more than full time secular job, in sales no less, but here I am.

Several months ago I wrote an -as yet unpublished- post with the same title ” Moving Forward”. It’s the slogan for Toyota, the company where I’m currently employed, and the post was a humorous account of how the Lord led me there. But long before that it was our slogan as well (and no doubt many others), for it’s what the journey in Christ is all about.
Sometimes we run, and sometimes we crawl, there may even be times when we stumble and fall, but we never stand still for long. We, by His grace, keep moving forward as we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

Tonight as I was reading Aaron and Stefs blogs it hit me; like it or not this IS my life and I need to accept it. Others are facing much bigger giants, have suffered much greater loss; I really have nothing to complain about.

It’s time to be thankful; to surrender to Gods will and embrace all the opportunities for spiritual growth each day affords. To let patience have it’s perfect work during this season, and allow Jesus love, joy and grace to fill my heart to overflowing, so that I may be a blessing and encouragement to others.
While my life is not what I ever wanted or imagined it being, it is what it is and at present there’s nothing I can do to change it.
But I can adjust my attitude.
I can bless the Lord at all times and let His praise be continually on my lips.
The truth is that I am blessed simply because I belong to Christ, and that alone is SO much to be thankful for!

Yes, it time to stop whining and grieving; longing wistfully for something that was, or might have been, even that which may yet be. To entrust every hope and vision for the future into the Fathers faithful hands, and focus on each moment as it unfolds.

No matter how much we think we would like the chance for a ” do over”, the truth is there’s no guarantee that we wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes or simply make a lot of different ones. The Lord knows I’ve made plenty.
Hopefully I’ve learned a thing or two along the way, and by Gods grace will continue to do so, all the while seeking the heart and mind of Christ and moving forward!

Philippians 3:7-16
” But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind”.

Catching The Wind

Have you ever been on a boat that is setting out into the sea and watched as the sails are hoisted up then maneuvered into position? There is a moment when the sails catch the wind that is powerful; they go from being slack to billowing, enabling the ship to move with speed and grace across the water.
One minute the boat is drifting with the current, then suddenly as the sails are filled it takes off towards the intended destination with seemingly little effort, empowered by the wind.

As believers there will be times when we face unexpected difficulties in life, even persecution, things that can and will if we’re not careful, distract us and change the direction we’re heading in the Lord. We cannot control other people ( nor should we try to ) and when situations arise that are out of our hands we desperately need the grace and Spirit of the Lord to carry us through and help us stay the course.

When we’re busy and our thoughts and time are occupied by the cares of life it’s easy to be pulled into the current of the world unintentionally. A little drifting here, a little letting down our spiritual guard there and before you know it you are ever so slightly off course. But over time even one degree makes a big difference. You wind up somewhere you never intended or wanted to go, often without realizing it until a crisis hits.

While we cannot change the direction of the current, we can adjust the sails of our lives to reach our final destination in Christ. Let us never underestimate the power of prayer, of bringing every thought captive, of hiding Gods word in our heart and being led by the Holy Spirit!

May we place our very life and will completely in the Fathers hands, allowing Him to move us into position so we too, may catch the wind of His Spirit that is blowing across the earth. Like a ship we never stand still but will drift in the wrong direction if we are not moving in and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, lift us up above the cares of this life that we may catch the wind of Your Spirit and embrace it’s life giving power, even when we have no idea where it will take us!

John 3:8
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Standing on the Edge of Eternity

A little over a year ago we were looking ahead to another journey with the Lord to Scotland, one of many over the years. There were countless hours of prayer; experiences beyond retelling as the Spirit prepared our hearts; giving a glimpse of what was to take place in the sojourn now past, and those that still lie ahead.
Each one has been unique yet all have been connected as all have been part of the divine call on our lives to this nation across the Pond and Ireland as well…
A call that the Lord has not and I am certain will not rescind, though the enemy has sought to prevent us from fulfilling our part there. And we are not alone…
There are others, perhaps many others who feel the drawing of the Holy Spirit to places of His choosing to labor and be part of ushering in this last great awakening as the darkest night falls, just before the dawn of a new Age when time will forever give way to eternity.

Just as John the Baptist was called to prepare the way of the Lord when Jesus walked the earth; so are we called to prepare for His glorious return. But before He comes many things will take place, not all of them pleasant or what we would consider ( from a human perspective ) good, but indeed Gods ways are not the ways of this worlds, and from the Lords perspective whatever brings us closer to Him; whatever purifies our hearts and prepares our spirits to hold all He has prepared for us since the beginning of time is, in Spirit and Truth, Good.

For He our Lord is forever Faithful and True; He can be nothing else! And He will not allow anything to take place that does not serve an eternal purpose IF we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Our world is about to change, all we have trusted in apart from the Lord will flee; and we will stand naked and undone before Him if we have not bought gold tried in the fire before the shaking accelerates. The earth groans under the weight of sin; the innocent blood of the martyrs cries out from the ground, their spirits cry from beneath the throne “How long oh Lord, how long?” and all of creation awaits the revealing of the Sons and Daughters of the Most High God…

And as the Day of Jesus return draws near, the Enemy has engaged in an all out assault on those called to labor in the end time harvest. One by one those called to serve are being taken out of the race; sometimes through sin, but just as often by discouragement, sickness, pain, false accusations and slander; even just plain old weariness.

I don’t know about you but some days I tire of the battle, for it feels like we’ve been tried in the fire and sifted as wheat for such a long time. Periods of being in the refiners fire, then a little rest, then back in. Being turned inside out and upside down…
Trudging through the desert, to suddenly be caught up into the glory of God for a moment of refreshing, only to be plunged back in the wilderness again. And I wonder, how long oh Lord, how long? My spirit and heart long for release, for more of His presence yet circumstances dictate otherwise.
In my heart I must believe the Lord has placed us in this season to learn how to fully depend upon Him in in such times.

There are places around the earth where the Holy fire of God will ignite an awakening and Revival will burst forth bringing both unparalleled transformation in believers an unprecedented persecution. It will be “the best of times and the worst of times…”

But first each one of us must experience an individual awakening, prepared by the Holy Spirit to move in the purity and power such a time will require. I believe the desert / wilderness season that many of us have been going through are part of that preparation. For many will lay down their lives while taking a stand for our King. If we cannot draw upon the grace of God to stand and remain faithful now, what hope have we then?

Did you know that more christians have been martyred for their faith in the last hundred years than in the previous two millenia since Jesus walked the earth? Well hold on to your hats and the Lord Jesus Christ, because it’s about to increase.

If you are discouraged, your faith faltering or your vision dim please, please don’t give up! If deep in your heart you know that God has called you Now is the time to press in, draw upon the grace of Jesus and stay the course. If we draw near to Him, He WILL draw near to us. The desert is not where we belong!

Seek the Lord with all your heart, let go of the world with it’s multitude of illusions that dull our heart, mind and soul… be carried by the Spirit of the Lord to the mountaintop where vision is restored.
Look out and see that we are standing on the edge of Eternity!
The hosts of darkness are gathering and the final battle is about to begin.
Hear the trumpet of the Lord sounding in the distance, calling us to come!
It’s time to put on the armour and take up our swords, for the glory and honor of our God and King!

A Faith That Remains

Not long ago we spent the evening with a brother who had been on Iona at the same time as I a year ago, listening to his stories of how the Lord touched his life while there and how he deeply desired to more fully experience the things of the Spirit. As he spoke I thought upon my own journey there, which held a life changing encounter in the Lord resulting in a deeper call to intercession.

After he left I thought about how quickly the cares of this life crowd out the eternal; for up until a few weeks ago I wrestled with discouragement after returning from this last trip to Scotland.

Months of intercession and prayer had been spent preparing spiritually for the journey, which in turn held precious moments of fellowship and a most amazing time in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. Mere words cannot express the impact these experiences have had on my life.

As we are facing some major changes the Lord reminds me to hold fast to every memory of His faithfulness throughout the years; not only those times when the veil is lifted, or in times of miraculous healing and provision, but also in the less noticed circumstances leading up to them where His hand is moving obstacles out of the way in order for His will to be done in our lives.

Those sacred and precious moments in the Lords presence leave an eternal mark on us that if we allow them to, help shape and define who we are in Christ, and how His Spirit moves in and through our lives. They are catalysts for change and transformation, used by the Holy Spirit to conform us into the glorious image of our beloved Lord and Saviour.

They are the bright threads of light woven into our lives, whose eternal worth is beyond compare. As we behold and are touched by the glory of Jesus, our precious, holy, awesome Redeemer and King, the cares of this life disappear.
Be it in worship, intercession, or any of the other encounters we have had the honor and blessing of being able to partake; we for a moment stand on the mountaintop, removed from the darkness of this present age and the world in which we live.

And there, in the presence of the Lord everything is clear as we are filled with, and are one with the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. His sight and hearing becomes ours as our spirits awaken; filled with His life, His light and His love.
The joy and wonder of those times seem like they will never fade, how could they?

The Battlefield of the Mind

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The fiercest, most important battles mankind has ever fought have not taken place on foreign shores, nor in jungles, woods or fields, but in the minds of mortal men. Every war ever fought began with a thought. Every deed ever done, whether righteous or unrighteous was first conceived in the mind.
It has been, is now, and will remain until our Lord’s return, the spiritual battleground wherein victory is secured or forfeited, depending on the choices we make.

The enemy knows this and therefore constantly assaults us where we are most vulnerable, for everything we see, hear, taste and touch and smell is processed automatically by our brains. However it is also processed through our spirit. The unregenerate person’s mind may be programmed to respond to certain stimuli in a manner that leads to sin, be it anger, lust, coveting, addiction etc. But the christian is not to be subject to the flesh, but rather the Holy Spirit of God.

The same grace that drew us to the cross, that saved our souls from being eternally separated from God is the grace that transforms and renews us day by day, conforming us into the very image of Christ. But it is not automatic; we still have a choice whether to yield to Gods gift of grace and yield to the life of the Holy Spirit within or not.

When Satan tempts us, will we entertain sin, giving it a foothold? Or avail ourselves of the grace of God available to us, and nip it in the bud by refusing to dwell upon that which tempts or discourages us.

A Blessing From Psalms

Psalm 20

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

O LORD, Answer us when we call!

The Days We Are Given

It was a typical northwest day, the sky was grey and the rain fell softly but steadily as we drove from the church to the cemetery where Josh was to be interned. The memorial service was beautiful, and a clear presentation of the gospel was given with an invitation to pray at the end.

This was important as the sanctuary was filled with men and women from Portland from every walk of life who probably hadn’t considered their eternal destiny in a long time, if ever. Most were in tears throughout the day, facing how fragile life really is as they mourned the loss of a friend who was known for his and quick wit and bravado.

C
From a purely natural perspective, children and young people aren’t supposed to die, but they do. For even the strongest and bravest of them all are frail in their humanity. Young or old it matters not, at any moment on any day, our time here on earth could come to an end unexpectedly. We all know this and yet I wonder how often most of us live each day as if it were our last?

This really hit home at the funeral yesterday. Death comes to us all and no one is exempt. All we have for certain is this day, right now; there is no guarantee for tomorrow.
So the question arises…
What are we doing with the days we’ve been given?
Do we see them as the gift that they are? Do we live each day to it’s fullest; seeing it as an opportunity to bless and honor the Lord while touching the lives of others with His truth and grace?

Throughout the day I pondered these things, feeling convicted in my own heart for allowing the pressure at work to negatively affect my attitude. Some days all I think about is how I can’t wait for this season to end and the Lord releases us back into full time ministry.

While I believe it’s important to have and keep the vision God has given us for the future alive in my spirit, I don’t want to be so focused on what’s ahead that I miss what’s happening now; failing to see the needs around me, or missing precious moments to touch someone’s life with a kind or encouraging word. The truth is, every one of us who loves Jesus is called to be a minister of His grace and truth to everyone we meet, whatever season of life we’re in.

The foundation for tomorrow should we live to see it, is being built today. The trials we face are not only preparation for what lies ahead, but opportunities for the grace and love of Jesus Christ to be manifest to others now. The person we minister life to today, may become a mighty warrior in the Kingdom of God tomorrow. We must not fail to see and reach them!

As my dad often said; ” life is what happens while you’re waiting for something esle. Don’t be so focused on tomorrow that you miss out on today.” He was a very wise and wonderful man.

By Gods grace, may we all take this kingdom principle to heart, seeing each day as a gift to live to it’s fullest unto the Lord Jesus Christ. The only way to do this is seek His presence until we see every person and situation through His eyes and not our own.
May we learn from what’s behind, look ahead with joy to tomorrow, while living each day we are given with thankful hearts in the grace, strength and presence of our Saviour, Lord and King!

The Father is Calling us to come

Last night I read the following post after coming home from work; was blessed upon reading it and wanted to pass it along. To Move Beyond is an anointed cry from our brothers heart that needs to be heard, for it is the Fathers cry for His people in this hour.

This link was part of another post but somehow it just wasn’t right. I realized this as I was walking this evening; the sun had just set and the sky, while still illuminated by the suns dying light, had that ethereal quality of the time between times…
No longer day, but not yet night. A reflection of where we are now as we near the end of this Age.

The air was perfectly still, softly perfumed by the scent of cherry blossoms. Across the road towering fir trees were beautifully silhouetted against a deep blue sky still touched with hues of gold and pink from the sunset, and a deep sense of peace washed over my soul. Last night I was still in winters icy grip, but tonight Spring was in the air.

Once again our family is mourning the loss of a loved one, but in the midst of sorrow and uncertainty the Lord has reached down with comfort and assurance that while death may part us in this life, we who know the Lord will be reunited forever in Eternity.

While I am so very thankful for the Fathers loving kindness, mercy, and unfailing faithfulness, I believe it is wise to have a healthy fear and respect of the Lord in our lives. We do not know when our time will be up, and Jesus is after our heart now, ALL of it! He wants us to genuinely know and love Him, even as we are known and loved. To hear and know His voice and follow wherever He leads.

He is calling us to lay everything down; every single thing that in any way hinders our walk with Him. He is calling us to come into His presence, be filled with His love and His life; set apart wholly for His Kingdom. He is waiting for us to ask what we can do for Him instead of always asking Him to do things for us! And then be willing to do it no matter how wild or unreasonable or crazy it may seem, for this has often been the lot for those God has used mightily in the Kingdom.
So do not hold back any part of your heart or life from Jesus today, come in complete surrender to the throne of grace! It is time to awaken and embrace His life; we need to press in to the Lord Jesus Christ deeper than we ever have before!

The Lamb

The precious blood wherein is Life
Still flows from Jesus hand
Cleansing all who come to Him
From each and every land

It heals, restores, makes new again
this fount from heavens Lamb
His life for ours, upon the cross
Oh blessed great I Am

He suffered undeservedly
And bore the sin of man,
Then rose victorious over death
that we might live again

Through every trial and sorrow
We’re kept safe in His hand
Covered by the precious blood
of Christ the risen Lamb

John 1:29
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”