I was reading this book ("Fix Your Eyes On Jesus") by Anne Ortlund and was really impressed with a couple things specifically . . .
"A work-centered life gets complex, and it leads to burnout. A Christ-centered life--even in the midst of work--stays basically simple, nourished, and rested."
"When your eyes are on Him, you begin to develop a reflex action inside you--it may take time--that shuns what's complicating, what's overwhelming. You'll find you want to do less (but do the most important things) to become more."
"Don't touch Christianity unless you plan to make Him first. If you put Him second, I promise you a miserable existence." Dr. Henry Drummond
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Prayer & Fasting
Fasting….it is an unfamiliar concept to many, and a seldom used means of intimacy with our Savior. Above all, fasting should be a personal expression of worship to our Lord from a heart devoted to Him. Fasting is very personal and individual in practice. When going beyond ritual, it is a very intimate form of worship and surrender as a person centers themselves in prayer and more frequent Bible study while focusing their attention on the Lord. Just as Job cried out, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12b).
(Taken from my pamphlet, "Worship Through Fasting")
We just finished teaching a two-part class on Fasting using the books, The Beginner's Guide To Fasting by Elmer Towns & God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis. It was such an encouraging series as we watched individuals really commit to participating and pursuing the Lord. It really was a joy and a learning experience. We were so awed by the fact that we only lost 1 person through attrition. That 5 chose to continue through a second class and remained committed to the end. They always communicated their absences and worked outside of class, bringing wonderful testimonies of the Lord’s work in their lives. We are humbled and so grateful that the Lord would allow us to lead others to His presence!
(Taken from my pamphlet, "Worship Through Fasting")
We just finished teaching a two-part class on Fasting using the books, The Beginner's Guide To Fasting by Elmer Towns & God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis. It was such an encouraging series as we watched individuals really commit to participating and pursuing the Lord. It really was a joy and a learning experience. We were so awed by the fact that we only lost 1 person through attrition. That 5 chose to continue through a second class and remained committed to the end. They always communicated their absences and worked outside of class, bringing wonderful testimonies of the Lord’s work in their lives. We are humbled and so grateful that the Lord would allow us to lead others to His presence!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Journaling
I have never liked to journal. Sometimes, I would try to journal my life, my prayers, or my spiritual journey--but it never lasted very long. I've read many Christian books that encourage journaling, so I tried again. Finally, I came to the conclusion that journaling worked for some, and not for others.
However, I now have a different perspective. Journaling what God has revealed to me is an important part of growth, whether I can see the results of it or not. I must be responsible for what God has shown me already, before I can expect Him to show more. This means having a system that works for me, being consistent with it, and coming back to review what I have learned.
Building consistency in journaling is similar to my past experience of building consistency in daily Jesus Time. It is a process. I'm not perfect and will have gaps. But the more I try and hold that as a goal while praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to change me, the closer I get to becoming who the Lord wants me to be.
May we always remember the voice of the Lord in experience and in writing. Happy journaling!
However, I now have a different perspective. Journaling what God has revealed to me is an important part of growth, whether I can see the results of it or not. I must be responsible for what God has shown me already, before I can expect Him to show more. This means having a system that works for me, being consistent with it, and coming back to review what I have learned.
Building consistency in journaling is similar to my past experience of building consistency in daily Jesus Time. It is a process. I'm not perfect and will have gaps. But the more I try and hold that as a goal while praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to change me, the closer I get to becoming who the Lord wants me to be.
May we always remember the voice of the Lord in experience and in writing. Happy journaling!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Summary of My Jesus Life currently
My constant prayers are that I would go deeper and become more desperate for Him.
My purpose statement is now: “With passion and humility, to know Him. With compassion and empowerment, to make Him known.”
Those 4 aspects are also a constant cry of my heart: passion, humility, compassion, and empowerment so that I would be an effective servant impacting people’s lives and that He would receive glory from my life.
A couple of key Scriptures for me are: John 14:12 and 1 Corinthians 2:4. (Along with my life verse Psalm 119:93).
He has given me a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, and worship in seeking Him passionately. Wow!
My purpose statement is now: “With passion and humility, to know Him. With compassion and empowerment, to make Him known.”
Those 4 aspects are also a constant cry of my heart: passion, humility, compassion, and empowerment so that I would be an effective servant impacting people’s lives and that He would receive glory from my life.
A couple of key Scriptures for me are: John 14:12 and 1 Corinthians 2:4. (Along with my life verse Psalm 119:93).
He has given me a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, and worship in seeking Him passionately. Wow!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Secret Place
I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged! Just life, I suppose. But in the midst, the Lord continues to capture my heart and ravish me with His Love, teaching me through the Holy Spirit and casting a vision before me of the Secret Place which is becoming a reality in my life.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
"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; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:6
The Secret Place . . . a place of protection definitely, but also a place of intimacy and revelation. Oh how we as believers would know the love of Christ as a Bridegroom who desires His church to become lovesick for Him!
Along this line, a wonderful resource is "Secrets of the Secret Place" by Bob Sorge, a book with a flexible format that could be used in personal devotions, discipleship relationships, small group studies, or church-wide exhortations. Chapters are short, but powerful and challenging.
Similar to Francis Frangipane's writings, this book can be read repeatedly throughout a Christian's life to encourage them and spur them on to deeper intimacy with the Lord. It is an easy read that can give surface understanding to new believers as well as deeper understanding for those who are digging for treasure from the Lord. It presents a journey of passionate relationship, not ritualistic discipline. This will definitely be at the top of my recommend list!
Believers can read books about marriage, parenting, and finances; spiritual gifts and spiritual warfare. However, if we never learn to enter the Secret Place and dwell there, we have missed the precious relationship that the Lord desires for us to have with Him. It must be the highest priority in our lives! From our love relationship flows all other matters of our lives. Without it, we are settling for the mundane.
May you grow so desperate for Him in the Secret Place that you must return again and again.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
"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; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:6
The Secret Place . . . a place of protection definitely, but also a place of intimacy and revelation. Oh how we as believers would know the love of Christ as a Bridegroom who desires His church to become lovesick for Him!
Along this line, a wonderful resource is "Secrets of the Secret Place" by Bob Sorge, a book with a flexible format that could be used in personal devotions, discipleship relationships, small group studies, or church-wide exhortations. Chapters are short, but powerful and challenging.
Similar to Francis Frangipane's writings, this book can be read repeatedly throughout a Christian's life to encourage them and spur them on to deeper intimacy with the Lord. It is an easy read that can give surface understanding to new believers as well as deeper understanding for those who are digging for treasure from the Lord. It presents a journey of passionate relationship, not ritualistic discipline. This will definitely be at the top of my recommend list!
Believers can read books about marriage, parenting, and finances; spiritual gifts and spiritual warfare. However, if we never learn to enter the Secret Place and dwell there, we have missed the precious relationship that the Lord desires for us to have with Him. It must be the highest priority in our lives! From our love relationship flows all other matters of our lives. Without it, we are settling for the mundane.
May you grow so desperate for Him in the Secret Place that you must return again and again.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
God Sings Over Me!
What an amazing thing to begin to understand that the God of the Universe, the Living God, sings over me!
"The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8
"You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
I believe that this happens in the spiritual realm from which we experience the benefits. But I also believe that He uses His people as His voice. Such an incredible opportunity to be used as the Lord's voice! I pray that He would use me to sing His song over individuals in an empowered way that would invite the Lord into the situation and usher in the power of the Holy Spirit to collide with the hearts and the needs present for His glory!
This is a great article on the subject entitled "Sing Over Me" by Dennis Jernigan:
http://www.navpress.com/EPubs/DisplayArticle/2/2.39.3.html
"The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8
"You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
I believe that this happens in the spiritual realm from which we experience the benefits. But I also believe that He uses His people as His voice. Such an incredible opportunity to be used as the Lord's voice! I pray that He would use me to sing His song over individuals in an empowered way that would invite the Lord into the situation and usher in the power of the Holy Spirit to collide with the hearts and the needs present for His glory!
This is a great article on the subject entitled "Sing Over Me" by Dennis Jernigan:
http://www.navpress.com/EPubs/DisplayArticle/2/2.39.3.html
Monday, June 23, 2008
Being Passionately Loved by the Lord
Lately, I have been struggling with the concept of being loved and valued by the Lord. In my head, I understand that God loves me and my identity is set in Him. I know that, as Psalm 139 says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." I could not adequately describe what I was struggling with or why. But one scene in the movie, Prince Caspian (Narnia), especially was moving to me. It was the scene in which Lucy meets Aslan (a type of Christ). She runs to him, and he delights in her and embraces her.
"That's what I desire," I thought, "for the Lord to delight in me, to enjoy me."
Skimming through Terry Teykl's book, The Presence Based Church, has given language to my struggle. I have been approaching the Lord with a Mary heart but through Martha's eyes. (See Luke 10:38-41). I have a heart passionate to sit at the feet of Jesus and worship. However, I somehow thought He was seeing me as a Martha--having good intentions, but needing correction and not quite good enough.
Alicia Britt Chole also brought clarity through some audio CDs from her Women's Bible Study material on Choices. Father God values us regardless of what we do or what we look like, but simply because we are . . . His Creation and meant to worship Him! In that way, my perceptions of myself and the Lord impact my perceptions of others and the Lord.
So from Teykl's material . . . . I want to break away from loving Jesus and working so hard to please Him and move to being completely dependent on His Holy Presence in my life.
“David was a private worshiper throughout all the phases of his life . . . And because he worshiped personally, the Presence spilled out from his spirit and overflowed into his public life. David, like Moses, had a habitual hunger for God.” Teykl p. 170
“The Presence based church, like Mary, ‘gets’ Jesus at a whole different level—it is a church so overwhelmed by the revelation of His Presence in their midst that they can’t help falling at his feet in worship at every opportunity. They share with Jesus a unique love relationship. They don’t count the cost nor worry over their own reputation as they lavish upon Him their love and adoration. They are the offering, humbled and smitten by the Lord of glory. So extravagant is their love that they will expend any or all of their resources just to minister to Him. In return, Jesus defends the Presence based church and bestows on it His favor and blessing. It is special to Him because it ministers to Him in a way that only He really understands.” Teykl p. 234
"That's what I desire," I thought, "for the Lord to delight in me, to enjoy me."
Skimming through Terry Teykl's book, The Presence Based Church, has given language to my struggle. I have been approaching the Lord with a Mary heart but through Martha's eyes. (See Luke 10:38-41). I have a heart passionate to sit at the feet of Jesus and worship. However, I somehow thought He was seeing me as a Martha--having good intentions, but needing correction and not quite good enough.
Alicia Britt Chole also brought clarity through some audio CDs from her Women's Bible Study material on Choices. Father God values us regardless of what we do or what we look like, but simply because we are . . . His Creation and meant to worship Him! In that way, my perceptions of myself and the Lord impact my perceptions of others and the Lord.
So from Teykl's material . . . . I want to break away from loving Jesus and working so hard to please Him and move to being completely dependent on His Holy Presence in my life.
“David was a private worshiper throughout all the phases of his life . . . And because he worshiped personally, the Presence spilled out from his spirit and overflowed into his public life. David, like Moses, had a habitual hunger for God.” Teykl p. 170
“The Presence based church, like Mary, ‘gets’ Jesus at a whole different level—it is a church so overwhelmed by the revelation of His Presence in their midst that they can’t help falling at his feet in worship at every opportunity. They share with Jesus a unique love relationship. They don’t count the cost nor worry over their own reputation as they lavish upon Him their love and adoration. They are the offering, humbled and smitten by the Lord of glory. So extravagant is their love that they will expend any or all of their resources just to minister to Him. In return, Jesus defends the Presence based church and bestows on it His favor and blessing. It is special to Him because it ministers to Him in a way that only He really understands.” Teykl p. 234
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