Category: Kingdom of God

Freedom of Love

You are defined by my love.
You asked, and I gave.
I gave, and you received.
You received, and I increased.
I increased, and you rejoiced in my abundance.
 
As you rejoice in new found freedom, I strengthen you to move forward into more. Freedom requires strength. Law does not. The fallen mindset hearkens back to the fruit it ate and falls so easily into the lie of self-sustenance. But you my child I strengthen to walk in the freedom of my love, my joy, my kingdom, my provision. You were born again in Christ to receive an inheritance that I prepared for my children. Receive it like a child.
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Will The Broken Stand

Pieces fall
Like torrents of tears
Washing away
The dust of years

Can they be caught
Gathered in mercy's hands
Kept in safety
Will the broken stand

Lifted up
Like the guardians of time
Remembering a past
Promising a new sign

But can they be caught
Held in mercy's hands
Kept in safety
Will the broken stand

Spirits

Broken spirits
Rising
Dust stirring, earth falling away
Spirits buried
Hidden beneath the concrete of civility

Stone faces
Turning
Wind blowing, glaciers crumbling
Spirits frozen
Invisible in sight of polite society

New lives
Emerging
Hearts rousing, darkness fleeing
Spirits resurrected
Revealed by the light of the kingdom

The Poor In Spirit

Can we look upon our own poverty –  our own emptiness and inability?  Earthen vessels easily broken and destroyed – formed out of clay and half-baked in the kiln – fragility in motion. An empty clay shell waiting to be broken, crushed by the world.  No strength to withstand the battering forces of the world.  The darkness concealed within released when the exterior shatters.

If we gaze upon and accept our total emptiness, poverty, helplessness, what is left?  What is the meaning of what has gone before –  a shadow, a dark turning of mere existence without purpose, direction, substance?

No! Jesus promised more than this.  He promised to fill the earthen vessel with his Spirit, His light.  The glory of God shining forth from every crack and imperfection.  Darkness banished and weakness replaced with His strength.  Divine destiny and purpose revealed.

Are we willing to admit our utter poverty to receive the marvelous riches of His glory?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10, ESV)

Journey to the Mountain

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Distant memory

Hazy blue rising

Calling, beckoning

 

Moving forward it remains

Looming, growing

Shrouded in mystery, inviting

 

Gone the distant vision

Shifting scenes

Journey and vision meld

 

The vision consumed

Clouds swirling, embracing

Cool breeze touching dry skin

 

The destination beginning

Valleys, hills, rivers singing

Journey here with me

Journeys

pathwayThere are journeys to

journeys through

and journeys from

There are journeys of remembering

and journeys of forgetting

There are journeys of discovering

and journeys of giving

Cherish each journey

Missing a journey is missing life

My Simple Testimony of Facing Down Fear

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Fear has stolen my life.  Now I am taking back territory.

Sometimes we hear a teaching that really changes our life.  For me a message by Danny Silk did just that.  It was a simple message about our comfort zone and “Championville”.  Championville is out there in that terrifying place that is out of our control.  Something about Championville lit a spark in my spirit.  I wanted to be in Championville.

So I drew out his illustration from the lesson and kept it on my desk for a long time.  I would look at it and wonder, can I go there?  Finally I decided if I didn’t do something now, I would never do anything.  So following the motto go big or go home, I picked the craziest, most radical group I knew to join for a missions trip to South East Asia – the Banov’s from Global Celebration.

As I prepared to go, I knew if God didn’t show up, I would be an utter failure and failure was my biggest fear.  However, if God did show up, then what I believed in my head would become what I actually experienced and knew in my heart.

God, of course, showed up as he always does when we step out in faith.  And even though to the world’s eyes I might not have been the most outgoing, “successful” team member, just being there was a great victory.  Father wrapped me in his love and peace the entire trip.  I simply rested in that place and followed along.  Fear did not and could not infiltrate his wings of love.

We experienced amazing things – healing, salvation, love, joy.  We were blessed with getting to love on and minister to orphans, individuals in the red light district, individuals who lived and worked at the garbage dumps, and in the slums. It was an amazing and life changing experience that would not have happened if I had listened to the voice of fear.

2 Timothy 1: 7 (AMP): “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control.”