Who Are My Mothers and My Brothers

I had a dream this morning. I got up around 3:00 AM to commune with the Lord and when I was tired again, I went back to bed and fell asleep.

I dreamt that I was going over to my brother's house, his apartment. I got there and he answered the door saying, “Mom's not here.” He let me in. I asked him, “Where is she?” He replied, “She left.” “Well, where did she go?” I responded. Vague. His answers were vague and evading.

I felt he was not concerned with what concerned me and by the shortness of his answers he didn't care to tell me the truth. By the shortness of his answers, I felt I was not welcome in his home. He finally tells me that mom left to go to such and such a place, a place I could not remember, but was far away. In other words, are we done yet? Do you mind? Can you leave? You are not welcome here and I don't have time for you! That is how I felt. I left.

As soon as I left his place, I was at a place very near by where he lived. I stood at a door and knocked. My mother answered and stood at the threshold. “Mom, where were you? I looked for you, but you were not there.” She replied directly to me, unlike my brother. She said, “I left and I’m not coming back.” In other words, she was telling me she would not be my mother anymore. She had abandoned her place in my life and was about to close the door.

Puzzled, I said, “Mom?” and she closed the door. She left me outside abandoned and alone, with the feeling of confusion and rejection. Rejection is more than an angry response to a cry for help. It is also apathy: a cold, unfeeling disconnect that leaves the rejected one alone. I woke with the feelings of abandonment.

I immediately rejected the idea that my mother or my brother would ever reject me. We have had our trouble and there were times of distancing, but at the root of our relationship is family. Although strained at times, we are family. I prayed to cast off those feelings and stand against the enemy who brings wave upon wave of disruption to my walk with God. I felt this was the work of darkness.

But then these words came to me from the scriptures, My Mother and My Brothers. I remember reading that before. “Oh, gosh, Lord,” it says in the word that your mother and your brothers came to the door to question you about your ministry. They felt you were bringing shame on the family and they wanted to stop you. Yet you responded differently. You looked to those who were with you and said, “Who are My Mother and My Brothers? Those who do the will of My Father in heaven. Those are My Mother and My Brothers.”

Now that left me in a quandary. Was the dream from the enemy or was it a revelation about the way I felt towards the body of Christ, my Mother and my Brothers? Did I feel I was abandoned by the Family of God? While I strive to do the will of God, I hope in the end the body of Christ will accept me and I will no longer be alone. I have been alone for so long. They are, in fact, my Family and they have rejected me, but on what grounds? I do not know. 

 

It might be because I must do the will of God and not slip into a program or attempt to meet someone else's expectations of what is acceptable behavior. I am tired of trying to prove myself. I’m done with that. Is that the message my mother was leaving me? Is she done with that? Is my brother done trying to connect to someone there is no connection with or reason to care? I don't know. But this I know. God has not abandoned me. Christ is my Brother. He has called me to the Church and though they have not accepted me, God does.

So what do I believe? God is a way maker, a miracle worker, a promise keeper. This is the song I woke up to this morning, October 16, 2019. And this is my lesson, that while I live under an open heaven, God hears my prayers. He answers my cry. He knows what I ask for. He provides all I need and He will sustain me. I will continue because of who He is, not because I am yet acceptable. It is not a requirement of my performance.

Will I ever be acceptable to the Church? Will I ever meet their standard? By my lack of trying, I am telling myself to run after God, not men. Please your Father in heaven, even if you look abandoned. Even if you are perceived as rejected. Know this: God will not forsake you. Though your mother and brothers forsake you, God never will. He will complete what He has started in you. Only preserve in the work, run the race to win the prize forsaking all vanity and satisfying flesh. Please God only. And I will. I will.

So I reject those feelings inflicted on me in the dream. I reject the spirit of abandonment. I push off the spirit of rejection and press into my Father, who art in heaven. Let His kingdom come and His will be done, on earth, in my life, this day, in my heart and in the home of my spirit. Let me commune with Him. When He chooses the day to show me off, to bring me out of the cave of separation, as I lift Christ up and put on Christ, God will be glorified.

Today, I declare, I will put my lamp up for all to see, even if some won't look. I will not be persuaded to abandon my assignment or forsake what I know deep in my heart, in all that you do, do it unto Lord. I will do it with a cheerful heart.

Amen.

Step Upon the Water

I took a step and the water beneath my feet was as firm as solid ground.

I saw this morning a picture of Jesus' foot stepping out onto the water, that first step. The water did not give room to his weight but held him light as a feather. He opened my eyes to show me that when I gave to him without reserve, I gave to him in an act of faith. The act of giving without reservation, is to him, like walking on the water.

Oh, I have been giving for years and years, and some more. If anyone asked me, I would tell them to give as a regular devotion. But over the years, my devotion began to be tried by circumstance and when found wanting or in need, my devotion to God became devotion to myself. I mean, let's be real.

Now, I would never say I whole heartedly turned my devotion to God upon myself. At least, never willingly or with intent. But nevertheless, I did, in this regard. This is what it looks like:  outwardly I would give to the purposes of God. However, if when what I did involved the “purposes of God,” I would support my efforts in it. Me, me, me.

And the struggle compounds. When the act of giving is weighed in convenience and later, when not so convenient, the tempter shows up and begins to ask these questions:  “Does He not see? Does it matter? Does He care?” I'm telling you the truth.

Know this. If ever your act of devotion becomes like murky waters, it will eventually become like sinking sand. Deeper and deeper, until the mud grabs hold of your foot and the suction will not let you go. My act of devotion to me, for me, “if I-will he? Had to be broken by blind faith.

So I took a step without reservation. I made my offering first and did not consider myself or my budget. Lord, I'm stuck in the mud and have been tempted to doubt you, but today I say, NO MORE, in Jesus name. I'm done with the spirit of doublemindedness. My offering is no longer negotiable. I will give, no holds barred. No more holding back. You say go, I will follow. I am yours and that includes all I have.

Today, I make my offering and give wholeheartedly. I know it's the right thing to do, and I never argued that point. But now I do it as a deeper level of trust. Today, I humbly surrender and make my devotion to you alone, Lord. This curse, this spell, that has only deepened my debt, is broken. It is over. Someone once wrote, "Faith is not hope without proof, but trust without reservations." And now I understand. Faith without reservation is likened to walking on the water, for it will bear the weight of my worries as light as a feather.

Stir Up the Gifts Within You

While at Bethel Firestarters, we were instructed to provoke laughter as a means of stirring up the gifts within us. After the whole room is chuckling and hoho'ing (and believe me, watching it is enough to trigger a giggle in me, too), some start to speak out in tongues, while the leader exhorts us on toward good works. I'm mean, it is what were here for, right? Good works, that is. And here's the scriptural proof:  Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." So, how do you stir up the gifts within yourself?

We are told in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV), "...to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." As a point of discussion, how are we to do that? How do you do that? Charisma Magazine says the Greek meaning of the word "stirring" is likened to kindling a fire, or to rekindle one; it also means to resuscitate something in context to a fire. They go on to give four points on how to do that: 1) By looking back to what God has done before, by remembering, 2) By sharing the gospel and sometimes, for the suffering of it, 3) By studying the Word of God, and 4) By guarding the gift by using it joyfully as it was intended. Whala, the laughter. Laughter is keenly tied to Joy. (https://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/26587-4-ways-to-stir-up-your-spiritual-gift)

My thought is this:
It's hard to share the gospel. Do I stand on a ladder? Maybe I should use a loud speaker and preach at the park. I mean, I study the word and I remember what God has done. I even guard my gift, but as a means of stirring it up, how do I go about sharing it? The other day, I noticed a homeless man with a sign saying, 'Anything.' As I got out of my truck, I asked him if he wanted something to eat. (Of course he wants food, but asking is a good ice breaker.) He said, "Yes." So I responded by inviting him in the store so he could pick out his own food. With a happy look on his face, he jumps up, all ready to go.

As we walk around the store shopping (I forgot what I went for), I started asking him questions about his situation. He said he lost everything in a divorce, but it was after a vehicle accident when he lost the full use of his leg, he could no longer work. So now the guy is alone, without any means, and semi crippled. I would imagine there is more to the story, but I'm not there to judge him. I choose to buy him a meal and get to know him so that I could share the gospel. We finished shopping and settled up at the check out stand. The food was put in a reusable bag I brought. We left the store and sat down to divvy up the goods.

I asked him if I could pray for him. He was happy, again, and said, "Yes." I asked the Lord to shift his season and to light his path. I asked him to be his provision and to bring him a greater sense of joy for life. I added, "Lord, hold him in the warmth of your arms and keep him safe in the night." I actually forgot to pray for his healing (duh), but he was touched by my prayers and now I am feeling the joy, too. I left his stuff in the bag and took out my own. I handed him the bag and told him to take it. That way he wouldn't have to carry around each item, possibly dropping them on his way. He said, "Oh, no. I can't take your bag." "Why not?" I asked. I mean, "It's just a bag. Please, take it." He smiles and thanks me, but noticeably, his demeanor changes, as if he is remembering.

He tells me, hours before I showed up, while he was standing there with his sign, someone drove up to him and handed him a bag. He took it with a smile and said, "Thank you." They then drive off leaving him to discover the contents. He opens it to look inside only to find it full of garbage. That's right. Garbage! Seriously, some people lack so much compassion today, they would help a man out by giving him garbage, as if to gift him in mockery. I can't imagine how that must have made him feel. Maybe he, too, felt like garbage. Like he was thrown away as refuge, waiting for the dump truck. But God!

God saw this man and knew the potential curse that could have landed on him, possibly causing him to give up on life completely. When a person is out on the streets and they don't have hope, what do they have? Nothing. But God saw this man and sent this simple woman, who finds simple conversation and simple food as a means of promoting the gospel. Did I convert him? It wasn't my intention. I only intended to simply show him the love of God. Anything I did, I would have done for a friend. But God knows the power in a simple act, powerful enough to reverse a curse, and clearly, set a soul on a path toward life. I pray he finds it in abundance. In Jesus name. 

Maybe stirring up the gifts isn't as complicated as I thought. In fact, I'm feeling kinda fiery right now. Can't wait to do it again. 
How about you?

The False Anointing

The False Anointing

I told the Lord I wanted to fast in order to begin again with my writing. "I'm ready," I said. Although I have a jumble of ideas in my head that have accumulated over the last several years, each of which I have made strong attempts to begin, for various reasons I stopped in the pursuit. Really, all this stuff just needs to funnel into one small space called-the space of being useful. For that, I would need the Lords help.

So thus, the desire to fast. I set Sunday through Tuesday aside to be without food, but when the time came, BOOM, it completely slipped my mind. Gone, as if I never spoke the thought. I didn't even struggle with the idea to put it off (which I do on occasion). Then, when I did remember, the Dreams & Visions Interpretation and Prophetic Practice Facebook group I belong to, they called a fast. "Oh, okay, Lord. You must have had other plans for me. Perfect. I'll do it with the group." And we fasted together. Most fasted Facebook, but I felt lead to stick with my original plan and make it a food fast, while seeking the Lord for my writing and now the group.

Tuesday came and like I agreed, I started. Unless the Lord is in it, going without food is never fun. It came easily for me this time. The day passed, I left work and as I'm driving home, I hear this, "You can eat now." I thought, what? and said, "Lord, I'm fasting. What do you mean I can eat?" No response. Puzzled, I still felt the impression to eat, but hesitated. I said, "I better make sure this is not me playing food games." I felt serious about seeking the Lord and I didn't want to mess it up. I'm clear now more-so than at any other time. In order for me "to do" this thing, I need God's help.

At home, I said, "Lord, I'm not feeling good about this. How can this be?" Now quieted before him and waiting for a confirmation, he responds, "What you are looking for is not found in the fast. It's going to come through repentance." Whoa! I am reminded about the piece I just wrote, Pen to Paper. He already made clear that by spending time with him that is how I'm going to hear him. First devotion, then hearing, followed by the doing. And like he showed me in the previous letter, my devotions to him are actually a sweet thing, not laborious. To experience him, is to be in the anointing. It's him who I really sought after. It's always been him. However, in order to break the pattern of my resistance, there was yet more I needed to see and understand.

It came in a dream, but not before wrestling it out. Sleep evades me these day. Concerning health issues, eating patterns, and my teeth, there are some nights when I toss and turn for hours before finding sleep. Then when it's time to spend it with the Lord, naturally, I'm tired. I have to make a decision and ask myself, how badly do I want this? Can't say I always answer correctly. It took a friend's encouraging words to try something different. Thank you, Henry Gruver. No, I don't know him, but I do call him a friend. He says, "If I wake in the night and can't go back to sleep, I don't toss and turn. I get out of bed and spend the time with the Lord. After two or three hours have passed, then I go back to sleep. I can still catch a couple of hours, and I wake up refreshed and at peace, having spent time with the Lord." Yeah, I can see how that would make a difference.

Once again, sleep evaded me. I woke up at two and by 2:30 AM was out of bed making coffee. I must have stayed up for about three hours before going back to bed. Big surprise, although I lay resting, the coffee prevented me from sleeping. As an alternative, in my attempts to sleep, I fell into the twilight - it's the place in-between sleep and the wake, where dreams are drempt. It's actually very vivid. You're almost dreaming, slight imagination, and, for me, thoughts of ministry. I see myself doing the things I hope for, those things I look forward to, where I envision my future. I find it in the twilight.

All of a sudden, the scene changes. As if transported, I'm now in someone's dining room. The room is creamy white, very comfortable with a large rectangle dining table and big chairs. The fire place is framed in a molded mantle now burning with wood, while the family enjoys a meal. Clearly, they are upper class, but not grossly rich. A handsome, middle aged woman with dark brown hair sits at the head of the table with her older teenage son, equally as handsome, sitting on her right side. Across from him is a figure of a man, who is not in focus, nor does he have their attention. The son and mother are bantering back and forth in conversation, enjoying each others company. She laughs, almost annoyed, as he begins to tease her.

Then, very quickly, as the son holds a tall crafted iridescent green bottle, he pretends to hand it to her, as if in a jest, to pour the contents of the bottle over her head. But as soon as he reached over, the bottle left his hands, rose over her head, and began to spin. As it spun, it turned into the shape of a pyramid. There appeared to be something within it, like the shape of an eye, but even that evades me. As the pyramid spun, energy, like an electric light, began to come out of it and go into the woman. She tilts her head up to see and, as quickly, is overtaken. The energy poured into her mouth and her head shot back in an unnatural angle. As the energy poured into her, she began to scream a horrifying scream. And everything stopped.

It happened so quickly, in less than a minute, and ended so abruptly. I woke up out of the experience going, what was that? I wanted to rebuke it. What from hell was that? Out loud I say, "This woman, was she being possessed?" The energy that came out of the pyramid, put on her by her teasing son, screams for interpretation. I must share it with the group, but as the day went on, I never did. We are now back on Facebook, speaking of our experiences, they say, "Tell us yours." But there is so much to it, I still had not written it out and wasn't sure what to say. Then, while showering (back to idle time), it hits me. The spirit I saw go into the woman, it is the "False Anointing." In fact, that is the man at the table, sharing in the conversation. "Eww." I think my mouth remained open in shock for several minutes as the Lord connected the spirit at the table to my twilight fellowship. I had actually dined with demons. "Eww."

In my early days with the Lord, while in ministry, I use to spend time in this twilight place thinking I was fellow-shipping with the Holy Spirit. For a time I enjoyed it, but what I saw in this place always evaded me in the waking hours. I would try to write what I experienced, and couldn't. After a long while and feeling like a failure, trying to grasp the wind, I gave up. I felt I did not have the capacity-talent or gift, to DO the will of God in my life. So I pushed it away, not in repentance, but in failure. Although I had experienced times of the anointing, it was not a place I knew how to stay.

However, today is a time to speak into its face and end any and all agreement. 

"Lord, set me free. Break this spirit off of me. Break the bondage I've been under and the sense of failure it has brought. Set me free to receive from you, greater and better works. God, you have so much for me, and not because I have entertained the thought, but because you have shown me in your word. And to confirm, you have manifested your presence in my life. I live to tell of the wonderful acts of your great love for me, of my future and hope in you. My faith remains, not because I claim it or decree it, but because you spoke it over me and you breathed life into it. To that I cling. Your word is my Rock and there I stand. My faith resides in you. For the love of God and the fellowship of all who believe and will believe in the glorious name your Son, Jesus Christ, set me free."

God opened my eyes again to see the face of the man, this time, staring at me. Before the alarm, like a sun dial, it's form protrudes to press me into the state of dreams. I lay there in the early hours and recognize its only motive is to prevent me from doing the will of God by keeping me from His presence. I don't have to bind it. I don't have to rebuke it. I just have to speak the name of Jesus and then do the will of God. Demons flee at the sound of Jesus. "Lord, I make my life a devotion to you. I repent of supping with demons. I choose to sit at your table, to wait on you, to recognize the goodness of God in my life and to make it one of thanksgiving. Only you deserve the praise. Only you, Lord. My time in the false anointing is broken, in Jesus name. I repent from it and will rise to the voice of your calling. Father, I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

My Dear Christian

My Dear Christian, 

My brother, my sister, my friend, and my family. I only share my deepest secrets, or mysteries, with those I can trust. I trust you, Christian. I trust you.

Let me ask you something. Do you know the end? Can you see it? Because I have you fixed in my scope and the way is mapped and charted. I am guiding your ship.

I foreknew these storms you've experienced recently and I see where you have landed. You're on the beach, exhausted, emptied, confused and dazed. I knew of this when I planted the seed for your life in your heart. I knew you would eventually try to paddle, but the waves overcame you. 

 Where is my seed? Is it still in your heart? Are you questioning your abilities or mine? Because I already know how far you can go. I've always known that about you. But now you know the depth of your limitations. You now know what I've always known about you.

Do this for me. You know I will show you where to find your misplaced keys. You lost them, you can't find them, and you've looked everywhere. You know there's no going anywhere without your keys. So in your great wisdom you've learned to cry, "Daddy, help me find my keys," and I do. "There they are. Look here." Amazing. You are always humbled in amazement and joy. I see you and smile. Let me ask. Do you think I have reached a limitation in showing you where your keys are? 
DO NOT EXCHANGE YOUR MAJOR FOR A MINOR. 
There is so much more. Let's keep going.

Now that we've put that into perspective, we can talk about what it is you seek from me. In fact, let's qualify it:

What do you seek? Go ahead and answer me.

"Lord, I seek to do your will."

Good. That is correct. You do seek to do my will. Answer this:

How do you claim to know? Is it through your understanding of my will or through the revelation of my will? You can answer.

"Lord, it is through visions and dreams and your word and my meditation upon these things."

That's good, as well. Let me ask this, then:

If you've been given visions; if you've been given dreams; if my words has been revealed to you, then how is it you continue to struggle? You can answer.

"Lord, because, like that dream you gave me, when the ocean was stirred, and like in a whirl wind, the water became a mist, splashing, like in a wind tunnel, expansive, deep and dangerous. In it, I am overcome. I am overwhelmed."

Yes, very good. You answered correctly. You are overcome and overwhelmed by my word, yet I have chosen to reveal it to you.

Let's switch gears. Let's talk about what I want to talk about, how you do the will of what has been revealed to you within the deep waters of my word, where you are overcome. Let's talk about that. 

What does my word say about starting in the Spirit only to end up operating in the flesh?
Write it.

"Galatians 3:3 and 4: Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain."

Yes, stop there, because my next question to you is this:

Is it yet in vain?

"No, Lord. Absolutely not. I plead my case to you. I plead my cause. I plead the outcome of my life as one fully engaged in you, for you and by you. Please, Lord, do not take your Spirit's purposes from my life. Let me be the expression of your praise. I will go on to proclaim, God loves you. God wills for you. God is able. Only in him, by him and through him. Lord, bring me back to the vine. Let my life be the expression of your praise, is my life's blood. Let the blood of Jesus flow through me. In His precious name. Amen."

Oh, Christian. I so love you. You are so enthusiastic and filled with my heart. And your prayers have already been heard and answered. But the way is narrow. Let me explain.

For a sinner who walks the broad path, they are lead to destruction. They  follow after the delights of their heart, their passion, their evil desires into the pit. A day is coming which will reveal the works of man. Some will be called on my right, and others on my left into destruction. Because they did not know the voice of their Shephard, they could not heed the warning. They were blinded by their lust, greed and vanity. 

But my sheep know my voice. This is how you can write a letter from my heart to yours. You didn't know where you were going when you began, but you have faith and believe and therefore listen and respond. Pen to paper, by the Spirit, in the Spirit, and through the Spirit. When you woke up today, did you plan to seek me, to hear me, or to write of me? Did you foreknow you would do my Father's will, today? No.


Instead, you woke with a song in your heart and you sang it out, in sweet surrender. You prayed and pushed through into this new season and began to recognize, by giving thanksgiving and praise to me, something has changed. You realize, your health has been restored and peace is in its place. There is a new sound. You can hear, once again, the beckoning of a restored purpose, in me. 

You realized, "Wait. If I'm not crying out for healing, because I am, my prayers have been answered, what am I crying out for? To Do His Will."

The tables have turned. You've received your healing and your prayers have been heard. You are forgiven, healed and now, it's about your complete restoration, your gifting and your calling. It's time to be restored in the purposes of God for your life. 

Let me ask: Am I put off my by (your words) "unbelieving faith suckers who diminish miracles?" The answer is, No. I am not. Let's keep going.

I am not put off by man's reasoning and doubt. I am, however, motivated by those who believe; those who wait on me; those who seek me in their trials and struggles; those who still believe in the midst of opposition, even in the darkest hour of the night. With that, I am motivated.

Okay. This is about you. You need to understand, you believe me to your advantage, not to a fault. You've settled for the less to gain my all. Your mountain of disability is removed by your seed of faith. The faith you exhibit will SOON become a covering for many to find shelter. They will come because, through your efforts, I have been exahaulted. I am lifted up and therefore, I will draw those to me, who are forknown for thier own walk of faith, beyond their own struggles and trials.  For the I AM has declared it. I will be found. 

Who do you seek? Me?
For what end do you seek? Me?
In what manner do you seek? In Me and through Me; by Me and because of Me. You can do nothing apart from me. you know this, but now you believe it. Have you come through enough that my word has become for you the truth you seek? Let me answer this: YES.

Let us begin again, only this time, when you cast your net, prepare for the many. This time it will not tear. 

~Jesus

That Blessed State

That Blessed State

Blueprint to Glory Study Series, By Christine Huck © 2015

Introduction

I use to think of the bea-attitudes listed in Matthew five as a menu from God’s banqueting table. Depending on my need, want, or desire, I might choose something vaguely applicable. Are we supposed to understand the elements of God’s kingdom, anyways? However, in my early years I could barely move past poor in spirit, or the act of mourning. Stuck in a pattern, as soon as I needed God I would resort to this stance – when I cried out to God from a broken and contrite heart, every time, I would get an answer. And many times I did. I knew then like I know now, attitude is everything, but I never progressed. No wonder after ten plus years I became tired and slightly angry towards God. In an irreverent tone, “Is this what you want out of me? I’m done. No more crying.” As if pushing through a fog, I wanted to be rid of all the grief in my heart.

In an attempt to convince me and God, I would say, “Jesus said his burden is light. There must be a better way.” Leaving my tears behind, I decided to risk what I considered a wrong attitude more than a godly one. Although surprised, I moved into a state of confidence. I wasn’t yet aware of a pattern, although I remained aware of God’s presence, I did progress. Moving on from being mournfully poor, my spirit quieted down, as if to listen. I didn’t know enough of the attitudes to recognize a spirit of meekness. As the years went on, I could see one attitude begetting a response from God, and that response forming a new attitude within me, and on and on. I’m seeing a progression. One after the other until, like the disciples, a person is completely surrendered and given over to the advancement of God’s kingdom, even to the point of death. I could see easily, if I remain underdeveloped, how can I ever expect to be a part of what God is doing in this world? How can anyone?

Stay with me as I look at kingdom attitudes in the light of cause and effect. Let’s start where God begins, with a poor spirit, but keep going. Let’s move forward until we find the place we are at, fully embrace it, and then look to see what God has next for us. It might be whatever we hoped for in God is attainable, but it first begins in the right attitude. Where is that for you? Let’s search out the matter together by studying Matthew 5:1-16, so that when we enter into the land, like Abraham, who entered in by faith, we will know, this is the place God is calling us. Are you ready to sojourn?

Join me every Friday night at 6:00 PM PST for my weekly Bible Study via. conference call. Follow this link for more details. Blueprint to Glory's "join me."

Calling All Disciples - Olly Olly Oxen Free

For years I've been working hard on developing a bible study centered around the issues of growth in the Lord, from that initial contact to full immersion. I love it. I love how it's coming together, how it applies, how it can be used, and how it makes the scriptures clear. "What on earth is God doing? can be, in part, understood simply. But what do I do with that, pray tell? The thought came to me, Have a Meet-Up (http://www.meetup.com/Calling-All-Disciples-Olly-Olly-Oxen-Free/. Teach God's word using Blueprint to Glory, impart it to believers, and take it to the streets where it can be put to practical use. That's what we're going to do!

But I wasn't entirely ready yet. After spending time at a neighboring park in San Rafael. I said to myself, where is the church? There is such a need for outreach at the parks. Minus the tents, it's like tent city. Many people with no where to go, doing who knows what, wasting away. I know they are hungry. Yes, there are City programs, only God didn't call governmental services to meet the needs of the poor. He called His body. We are His hands. We are His feet. But I needed more than an opinion. I needed a heart change. What followed left an impression and made clear a direction.


Wanting cream in my coffee, I drove to a 711.  As I pulled in the parking lot I could see a lonely soul sitting near the corner of the street. I called out to him, "Would you like some coffee?" He was quick to say yes. After making our purchase of food and drink, we stood outside in the cold of the morning and talked. As I asked questions, he began to open up. He told me he loves to write out his prayers. He said it helps him to work through his thoughts and experiences. "Some were even published!" he said. I was impressed. I asked harder questions, "How did you end up on the street? Where do you live? Where's your family? Are you alone?" I wasn't drilling him. I was taking a genuine interest, but after awhile, I began to sense the Lord's heart concerning him.


He said he had been on the streets for five years after falling victim to his addiction on crack cocaine. He lost everything, including his kids. The courts took them where they currently live as foster children. He said he couldn't bear the shame and has since been running. My heart broke. Finally I asked, "Can I pray for you?" I held his hands and began to pray. Tears were streaming from his eyes. We attracted the attention of another person, too. I kept praying. "I break off shame, in the name of Jesus. Out! Get out! Lord touch this man. Cover him with the blood of Jesus. I hear the Lord saying, "You are forgiven. You are forgiven," He cried deep delivering tears, right in front of 711. Go figure. I just went out for coffee with no other intentions and look what God did.


Can you imagine, if a group of people with the same heart, serving the same God, with the same vision, can do with intention? We are called to effect change in our community, and here's an opportunity. Together, with the Lord's guidance, all we have to do is show up and be willing servants, brothers and sisters in Christ, and disciples of God. The call isn't to the poor and the needy. The call is to those who have filled up on the goodness of God, even to the point of gorging. The word is clear, if we hide our light, it can be put out. If we bury our talent, it can be taken away. Our best option is to give it away and how better to do it together.


Join me each week while we learn of the Lord and His kingdom, while planning our monthly outreaches. Who knows where we'll go if we ask God to open doors for us. We can cook, we can feed. Permits? Let's get them. Finances? Let's ask for them.  But remember, while we make our plans, the Lord will direct our steps (Prov 16:9). Let's follow Him.