Wondering or Sharing?

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  Luke 2:15-18

When the angels told some shepherds of Christ’s, the Messiah’s, birth they were excited and went to see Jesus.  What they witnessed was more than a baby.  In the child’s presence there emanated an awe-inspiring peace, a fulfilling love that overwhelmed them – the presence of God came on them.  They were thankful for the angel’s good news given them; they had to share this wonderful gift of the promised One to all.

But, there are two types of people who heard the “good news” of Christ, Immanuel.  There were the shepherds who shared the gift they had received.  There were those who heard the good news and “were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”  The shepherds were thankful and shared the gift, the good news.  There were “all who heard” the good news and “were amazed,” at the shepherds story, then the verse ends, period.

 

To be amazed, the Greek thaumazo, renders a meaning, to admire; to marvel, or wonder.  It is not an action word, merely how we consider what we have heard.  Hearing the good news is simply receiving an opportunity for a gift, we wonder about it, it is not a responsive action.  I’ve been amazed by many stories, but wondered how much truth was in it and how much is bologna.  I’ve also been amazed by a gift I have received, but never gave thought nor action to sharing it. 

Anyone who has received Christmas, as the shepherds did, will be thankful, and share the good news they have received. In example, philanthropist W. Clement Stone, of Chicago once asked a question, to which he immediately shared his heart’s answer, “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” Has the good news overwhelmed you, are you thankful for the news, and are you sharing the news of Christ, or merely amazed by the story and in wonder of the holiday?


Sharing,

 

Owen <><

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" – which means, "God with us.” Matthew 1:23 (Isaiah 7:14)

Forging a Family

“The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole family.”   Acts 16:34
We are born into family.  It is in family we have the opportunity to love and share ourselves; to exercise patience, kindness, forgiveness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.  Those attributes in life are how we become strong and refined, but you or I, our families, can only be forged, transformed when the Spirit of God makes us into who we were created to be. 

When the Spirit of our Lord comes into a family, miracles happen.  I am reminded of how a simple man, a jailer who believed the witness of Paul and Silas and their encouragement when they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Then the “jailer brought them into his house” because of the joy he was experiencing in Christ.  The jailer “had come to believe in God — he and his whole family” (v34).  In the middle of the night, “he and his whole family” were baptized.  God wants whole families, not just a family member, He desires to bless your family in the joy that the jailer and his family had, the joy of Christ.
 

Chuck Swindoll once stated, “A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living.”  When we share Christ with the family, as when the jailer brought Paul, Silas and their message of the gospel into his household, he was ready to forge–reform–his family.  When you and I live in Christ, walk in His law of love, we live a life surrendered to the anvil, there the fire of God’s Spirit has made us pliable.  Prepared to be hammered, and polished into God’s good and perfect will.  His Spirit embraces our life: you and I are hammered – strengthened and shaped; and we are honed – sharpened, polished, and perfected in Christ.  To be forged is to be changed; it is to be wrought, hammered and formed, into what God intended you and your family to be – members of His family, full of joy.

Living on the anvil, being forged, daily,    

Owen <><

Jesus said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."  Mark 5:19

Whispers in the Dark

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;

what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.   Matthew 10:27

To hear from God, our expectancy is to have a Charlton Heston, in the role of Moses, experience.  You'll be deluged by a blinding light from the Almighty of the Universe.  The light drowns out all shadows as your body reverberates to a booming proclamation that stuns you and everyone within a mile radius.

 

Or, as Jesus notes, in the evening or morning darkness, likely during your quiet time, you catch your breath, His still voice fills you with encouragement and with an embrace that consumes you within Christ’s compassion.  And, then, … a whisper enters your spirit, a soft breath whispers a few words of truth that burns upon your soul.  The words are faint, you hear it as though it's thunder and you're overwhelmed.  Not unlike the truth that burned upon Isaiah’s lips (Isa 6:5).  Or, as Job declared, “And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (Job 26:14).

What are we to do?  It begins when we are still, in quiet darkness… that is when God can pour his Spirit out upon you.  His whisper ignites a fire, its flame burns within you giving off His light as others hear God’s message coming through you.  It is from a rooftop, or maybe at a coffee shop table, you take his whisper and in broad daylight – where everyone can see – you openly give the ears needing encouragement, hope, peace, and joy in Christ the whisper burning within you.  

Hearing Whispers in the Dark, sharing them in daylight,

Owen <><

 

No Smell of Smoke

 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king; that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”     Daniel 3:16-18

Standing in the smoky stench of the king’s smoldering denial of the Lord; three faithful servants of God simply said to the king:  “If a miracle occurs to save us … GREAT!  But, miracle or not, our God is our deliverer, our Lord is always with us, be it the flames.  Nor do we worship your gold, we bow to God alone.” 

Then, after throwing them into the furnace, the kings men looked in and could see the three walking around!  Then, they yelled: “Look! … four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed,” … yes, four!  Then, they walked out of the fire, not bound by anyone, not harmed … no hair singed nor clothing scorched, … in fact, “no smell of fire on them”—no smell of smoke!

Hallelujah!

The issue isn’t what you ask for, expect, or want.  It is by the sovereign promises of God, by His grace and mercy our Lord responds to those who serve Him.  A servant knows, without a doubt, “the God we serve is able to save us.”  It is a matter of complete humility to God that one receives complete deliverance, provision.  Jesus leads you out of daily fires and the eternal furnace, and you are un-scorched – without the smell of smoke.

In his service, no smell of smoke,  

Owen <><

Take Someone by the Hand

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up,

and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

Acts 3:7

As Peter and John were going to church to pray, they saw a beggar, a man who’d been cripple from birth at the Temple gate.  Peter, like most of us, didn’t have earthly riches, so he said to the hopeless man, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Peter gave everything that he had … access to Jesus.  By the good news Peter had been born again, received the Holy Spirit, and God’s power to share and witness in a fantastic manner.  By sharing the gospel and  complete healing power found in Jesus. 

Jesus gives all believers – yes, Peter, … and you, and I – the power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).  That power is the Spirit of God filling you in order that you can witness and proclaim the Word of God!  It is the power to enable your hands to be a tool for God’s miracles with the laying on of hands, your being accompanied with signs and wonders of God, and the ability to proclaim with your mouth that the sick be healed in Jesus name.  … O’ Hallelujah! … Wow, dare I say, even to raise the dead with the resurrection power of Christ Jesus! That’s what we have at our disposal as a witness. …  

Unless you are willing and have the compassion to witness, to “take people by the hand, help them up,” they will never instantly receive the gospel, receive spiritual healing, receive the power of the resurrection … And, never could they receive healing of body, and see the wonders manifest by God – unless you stop to help them up.  If God is in you, then you, as Peter did, can release the power of Lord’s Spirit by speaking into the empty the Name of Jesus. 

It is simple, take the crippled, the spiritually dead, by the hand and help them up.  Jesus will do the hard part.  So be it, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,  … “

Take someone by the hand,

Owen <><

Christian empowerment: Mark 16:15-18, Luke 9:1-2, 10:15-20, Acts 1:8, 4:29-33, 5:12, 6:8, 14:3; Romans 15:1-19, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; Hebrews 2:4, 1 Timothy 1:7 … there is more…

Are You Running On Empty?

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.    
– 1 John 4:12

Seeing God is something we hope for.  But, God is a Spirit, a wisp of power, a vapor of love … truly existing, nonetheless, never seen until we are dead to everything but him.  We have what looks like a quandary, a Catch-22.  How can we be full when we are Spirit filled?  After all, we can’t see the Spirit of God nor for that matter, the spirit of a person.  Even the Bible is very specific, it says, “No one has ever seen God” (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12).

But, things happen when this divine being, Spirit of God, comes into us, or fills us.  What can something nonmaterial make things happen?  Well, buildings shake, people become bold and tell others about God, … people are empowered to do the humanly impossible.  What an awesome sight we receive from someone we can’t see! (See Acts 4:32 & 6:8)

When Jesus gave a new commandment to his disciples, he told them they were to love one another.  Can we see love?  Isn’t love another wisp of vapor that is in our heart or soul, but not tangible?  If God is love, then, love is only divine and not natural?  It seems so.  That is why Christ had to explain why he commanded (not suggested) his disciples to love fellow disciples.  He gave them a simple reason why we are to follow what he tells us to do – why we are Christ followers.  Jesus said, this is why you have to do what I tell you, when you do what I say, when you love, then, “All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other."  When people see something that isn’t a natural or common sight, something unexpectedly seen, well, they desire such a power, such love, to fill their emptiness. 

Loving you,

Owen <><  

“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”    Acts 13:52

STUDY VERSES:  John 4:24; Matt 5:8, Rom 8:13; 1 John 4:13, 3 John 11; Acts 2:4, 4:31, 6:8, 13:52; John 13:34-35. 1 John 4:10, 12, 16; Gal 5:22. 1 Cor 13:13 and Song of Solomon 2:4. 

Wake Up in a Dream

"Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Ps 46:10 (NAS)

 

Stop and let God move in your life, let Jesus accomplish more than your mind could ever fathom or dream—no matter where you are with God.  There is always room for Jesus to do more good stuff in you—“far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Eph 3:20, The Message).  Simply, cease striving, relax and “Be still, and know that I am God” (NIV).  Let the Lord guide your thinking, place a good dream in you, and fulfill more in your life than you could ever imagine or dream.  The alternative is to live in a way that leaves you striving, restless, stressed, and depressed with everything.  That’s what happens when trying to control everything yourself.  But God, … oh yes, … BUT GOD … the completeness of  love, the giver of peace and giver of the breath of life, He can do what you can’t control, ... so, just “Be still” – cease striving!

 

Don’t get in the trap thinking that to be still means to sit on your rump and do nothing but vegetate or snooze—seek God more than you ever have before.  Being still, not striving—is acting in humility and letting God do something good for you.  Striving is being too proud to take God’s help; it’s being oblivious, unaware of the good life in Christ.  As Jacob learned, when he awoke after the dream of the stairway, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Gen 28:16).  We often reject the Spirit of Christ in various ways.  We sleep, ignoring God and his dreams for us.  We live unaware.  We live miserably.  Don’t snooze past salvation; actively respond, was that a tug by Christ’s Spirit on your heart, asking you to be one with Him?  …  Be still, get up daily to walk in God’s Spirit, listening to the Spirit whispering His counsel (John 14:26; Gal 5:25).  Don’t sleep through life, unaware of God’s never-ending presence.  There’s too much to miss, striving gets you groggy, and you miss out on Life—God’s comfort, mercy, grace, peace, advice, joy, healing, and miracles, all he has in store for you (Jeremiah 28:11-14).

 

 

When Jacob woke up, he declared, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”  God’s has a dream for you, be aware of it.  Shake the cobwebs.  Be aware that you can’t make God’s dream work, He does.  Be aware that your dreams, your striving leaves you sleeping and not aware; only when God is exalted – lifted high, given the glory – do we receive what He is dreaming for you.  Fulfill His dream of peace, joy, healing, and all that is the good life for you.  Jacob set an example for us, be like him, wake up, know that “the LORD is in this place,” exalt Him – stop striving, wake up, God’s dream will become reality.

 

Dreaming while walking with my eyes wide open,

 

Owen <><

 

 



 

Regret

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret,

but worldly sorrow brings death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

We are incapable of having lived a perfect life, having had a life that reflected the perfect glory of God.  That is no excuse to not strive to be better, nor is it a surrender flag to live in regret.  There are many things that can distress you – none of us are the exception to that.  Those mistakes are a part sin, a God’s Word says, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 6:23).  So, are we to live a life overwhelmed by the past, consumed by regret?  No!  Again, no! 

The love, mercy, and grace of God is why Christ came to cleanse us.  How is one renewed?  God’s promise is this, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor 5:17).  Christ’s Spirit moves in us and gives us a clean slate!  No more scribbling, you are His masterpiece.  There are no regrets in Christ, only hope and joy, only forgiveness and restoration, only redemption and righteousness.  When Christ is given control of our life, our very thoughts, then renewal comes, we transform in Him in new life!

To continue in regret is to wallow in guilt, shame, disappointment, sorrow, distress – sin triumphs and leaves you in regret, in need of redemption, repentance, hope, joy … having only the sorrow of the grave, death itself.  Regret is staying in satan’s chains of bondage, regret is rejecting the resurrection to life given in Christ Jesus.  Don’t regret, it only bleeds life from you; the blood of Christ has coved all you could ever regret, and its sorrow in death.  To regret, is to “to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

No regret, living in hope,

Owen <><

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:17-18 NLT

Celebrate Liberty

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

As Americans today we celebrate our liberty, freedom, and independence as citizens of the United States.  Spiritually, every day is a celebration of the freedom Christ has given us with his breaking the burden, the bondage from the “yoke of slavery,” sin.  In Christ we are free of sin—that is the good news of Jesus Christ.  It is by our Lord’s grace that he pours upon us a flood of power that pushes all slavery by the evil one in to the abyss.

Americans received independence, although there were those who resisted the revolution (Loyalist or Tories) in that day; likewise throughout American history there has been opposition (violent sometimes, e.g., the Civil War, other wars, riots, personal hateful actions) to other people whose ideas, politics, etc. differ.  Today some resist Christ, refusing to turn to him; without opposition we are to exercise love toward them.  Why?  Because the freedom given in Christ is love, grace, and humility—where the actions of sin has no place!  That is true freedom, because as Christ followers, “we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Rom 12:5-6).  Independence is therefore not of God, we have given independence up for unity and complete dependence in Christ!  As Andrew Murray states, “Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of the Christian.”

As we celebrate American national liberty, it is, nonetheless Christ who gives true freedom.  Our salvation is in Christ alone, if we live, and speak as though “being Christian and being American is indistinguishable, we lose the transforming essence of our faith” (Erwin Raphael McManus).  We must resist that confusion.  What are we to do?  We do as the Holy Spirit instructed the Apostle Peter, who wrote to believers everywhere:  “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:16-17).

Celebrate, and worship the giver of true freedom,

Owen <><

Telling Your Story

We have a lot to tell when God is given reign over our life.  My son’s has a story, see it below.

Owen <><

This Is My Story   by Pastor Tim Mannin

Here’s what’s been great about my story – it’s been about something greater than me. I became a believer when I was 14 years old. I graduated High School from Western Heights in OKCity. I started serving in a church that deepened my perspective on the church and faith and it caused me to get really involved and eventually started serving on staff at that church. I went to college, got married to my incredible wife Christie and started working full time as a student pastor and at that church for 10 years. We came to Journey in 2007 and today I lead our family ministries of children’s, student, and college ministries at Journey Church. Through those years of my life God has increasingly stretched and grown me. I am continually challenged and continually humbled in this life to be more courageous, to be show more humility, and to embrace love more deeply.

My story is all about adding to THE STORY. I’m not perfect, in fact I’m often pretty messed up. The scriptures talk a lot about messed up people being a part of His story.

God doesn’t include himself in our story – we join the larger story. We include ourselves in His.

So, I ask you…what’s you story?

Where do your dreams lie? Where do the highlights reside?

You have a story… are you telling it? How are you telling it?

My encouragement to you is to connect your story to the larger perspective of God’s Story.

He wants to weave through your story not as an additional piece, but as the centerpiece.

Our story is an ongoing, ever changing story that includes, heartache, adventure, pain, love, laughter, and so much more. In the end our story is all we have.

Jesus said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:18-20)

See original post of Apr 18 2012 by tim.mannin at:

http://journeychurch.tv/2012/04/this-is-my-story-tim-mannin/

Up Against the Wall

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.       
—Daniel 6:17

Daniel prayed under the shadow of Babylonian law that demanded the death penalty upon those praying to anyone but the king.  When Daniel was seen praying, the king stated, “The decree stands … [and the law] cannot be repealed” (v12).  Daniel was up against a wall, his fate seemed to be sealed when a “stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den [of lions]… so that no one could rescue Daniel” (v17).  Daniel’s wall was the ferocity of mankind’s intolerance of God, not of lions in the den.

You may be facing a wall, a rock barrier blocking your only way out of a dire situation.  It blocks your every effort, threatens your very life, it overwhelms you, it looks insurmountable.  But, what of our hope; how is your faith?  On Easter Sunday we celebrated the removal of a huge rock barrier at the entrance to a burial tomb, ah, and, who walked out!?!  God removes barriers, and overcomes death with life.  Daniel, like Christ Jesus, walked out of a place of death into life.       

Daniel’s fate wasn’t sealed by a rock, nor blocked by a wall in denial of God.  Daniel had been praying.  Though the king had his rock in place, swearing it “cannot be repealed,” he soon learned about the power in prayer—prayer that moves barriers.  Today, prayer—as with Daniel—prayer is a moving force.  Being up against a wall is nothing, as, Jesus said, “you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matt 21:21-22).      

Praying, rolling stones, going through walls, tossing mountains aside,

Owen <><

Chimayó Healing

I recently I was in a favorite place.  A place on a simple two-lane back road, in a land dried and parched by drought, among a people of simple means.  Yet, as my journey took me down a narrow roadway, my heart was enriched by a people’s culture, and a sandy, dry spring.  This place is one I need to be at more, to sit and think, indeed to pray and embrace the living well.

That place?  Oh, it is a small, new church in the dusty, small, New Mexico, village of Chimayo.  In the dusty village is a church, El Santuario de Chimayó, which has been a parish church for a mere 200 years, unlike the established, older 300 year old church body in a nearby village.  The older church’s parishioners volunteer as guides, to answer questions and assist gawkers like me and the families coming on pilgrimage to this sanctuary of healing.   

El Santuario de Chimayó is a church well known for miracles, in particular healings of crippling, long term health problems.  It is a place to test your faith in a church that looks rundown and in need of renovation or possibly abandonment.  

But, here is a place that wants you to pray in the spirit and to turn an attentive, spiritual ear.  Yes, you’ll hear Christ Jesus respond, he speaks and works in word and Spirit to all who ask and listen to him.  That day on my dusty, back road journey, Jesus was the same as when He traveled the narrow byways in small, dusty villages.  Jesus responds to all of us with, “the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.”

Inside the church, I looked down in the healing chapel’s floor, I saw a hole with dry sand where a spring once flowed.  What could be “magic” in the cups of sand taken by the people?  I learned from the saintly man, who was from the old church, … it is not dry sand in a dead spring that is magic, but the spring of life that wells up through faith—bringing the miracle of Christ's healing. 

Are you in an impoverished, dry place?  Go to the living well, not to a dry hole as I looked into.  The well in Chimayó reminded me of what Jesus said, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).

Hearing the Good News, Embracing Christ’s healing by faith,

Owen <><

Suggested study passages:  Matt 7:13-14, Mt 9:22, 15:28; Mk 5:34, 10:52; Lk 8:48, 18:42, Acts 14:9

The Matter of Relationships

“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.
Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.” 
·         Matthew 5:23-24 The Message

Reading these two verses renders one truth, in all that we do as a Christ follower we’re required to build good relationships.  The cost—love, humility—will build relationships that reflect our obedience and love to our Lord Jesus Christ … reflecting our relationship with God.       

Jesus thought relationships were important in the lives of His followers – 2,000 years has not changed his everlasting Word of truth.  More than a suggestion or preferred lifestyle, Jesus said:

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."  (John 13:34-35 NLT)

Christ Jesus commanded us to love fellow believers; be obedient, build the relationships.

Recognize what Jesus said:  1) you cannot worship Him if you don’t have a good relationship with those in the body of Christ (Matt 5:23-24). You contradict your testimony.  2) You are not obedient to him if you don’t love others in the body of Christ (John 13:34).  If you are not in a worshipful relationship with God, if you are not in obedient to Christ by building good relationships with fellow believers in the body of Christ—3) you “will prove to the world” they don’t need Christ, your witness nullifies your evangelism (John 13:35).

Owen <><

Popeye Theology

“… in quietness and trust is your strength …”

Isaiah 30:15

Popeye was a quiet guy and often talked and chuckled to himself, above all, he relied on his source of strength, spinach. He was never without a can of spinach nearby. When trouble came, Popeye would pull a can out from under his shirt, where he kept it next to his heart. He relied on all the strength in that can of spinach to take on his nemesis Brutus—Popeye could take on the world and always come out the conqueror, a victor. Popeye always claimed to be what he was and nothing more, as he confessed, “I yam what I yam!” He was weak in himself, and had total reliance in the source of his strength to make him a conqueror.    

You and I, when in a quiet moment need to chuckle to ourselves, knowing we can rely on the source of our strength—He, who has victory over our nemesis!

When trouble comes, you simply pull out all the strength you need. God is always, in your heart: reach in for Him! The Bible shakes us up when it says, “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!” (Prov 24:10) We can’t fall apart; we must be like Popeye and rely on all the strength of whom we claim to have faith in. When life deals you a Brutus, a problem you can’t bear, a disease you can’t imagine living through, a fear you can’t overcome—what do you do? It is time to simply reach into your shirt, there next to your heart, and remember where you strength is. Be honest, “I yam what I yam!” I am who is in me, Christ, who has all strength, all power, all ability, all courage to overcome Brutus—“because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Like Popeye, you are weak in yourself, “you are who you are,” but you are more in Christ.

O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Psalm 59:17

I Yam, What I Yam
Owen

Donkey in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember five simple rules:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive. (Like 6:37)
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen. (1 John 4:18)
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have. (Like 12:15, 33)
4. Give more. (Luke 6:30)
5. Expect less (Philippians 4:12-13)

Blessings,

Owen

Uncomfortable Moments

“We wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.”  1 Thessalonians 2:18

We Christians sometimes become selective, we ignore what is revealed and taught in Scripture about living as a follower of Jesus—simply, some verses are uncomfortable.  We are uncomfortable with the stories of Jesus casting out demons, uncomfortable with teaching on spiritual armor used in demonic battles, and uncomfortable with Jesus declaring that “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).  Those are superstitious topics and a narrow-minded, conditional demand.

Our tendency is to embrace the promises that give us pleasure and our perception of freedom.  We embrace only we want for a comfortable religious life.  Subjects on Satan, demons, sin, hell, obedience, etc., are not comforting.  We avoid what our time views as old school or superstitious.  We stop witnessing Christ, or stop loving others as Christ commanded.  Why?  Was it uncomfortable?

Embracing a half-faith, a half-truth, a half-demon, a half-heaven, or half of a command of Christ gives you absolutely nothing.  The apostle Paul must have been extremely uncomfortable, but he tried, as he said, “again and again” to carry out his call.   When ceasing preparation to battle demons, when refraining from witnessing Christ, when severing friendship with Christ—was it due to being uncomfortable, or was it with ease that “Satan stopped” you?

Uncomfortable, Obedient,

Owen <><  

 

No Strength Left?

“I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.”  Daniel 10:7-8

Daniel’s companions, when face to face with a messenger (angel) of God, were more than helpless, they were terrified.  A story was similar to the shepherds who were terrified by the angels delivering the message of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:9).  Jesus promised his followers of divine encounters by the Counselor, His Holy Spirit—we’re not to be terrified like Daniel’s friends and the shepherds—Jesus lifted our spirits by saying, “do not be afraid” (John 14:25-27), just as Daniel was told (Dan 10:12). 

Daniel was a humble seeker, wanting to know God better—he received an incredible answer, a divine experience.  Can you imagine what would it would be like to have an angle in your presence, or better, God’s Spirit envelope you?  Such an encounter—a spiritual revelation, a manifestation, or a vision—changes your thinking about a lot of things.  Your faith turns into action.  Your worship ignites with passion.

Daniel tells us that he, “had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.”  Are you a seeker of a deep, relational experience with Christ—have you ever had a divine experience?

·         If your answer is yes, then you mind is transforming, your spirit is on fire to worship with passion, and your craving is to follow Christ.

·         If your answer is no, but within you is a whisper wanting to shout, “Yes,” then, transform your mindset to know God better, through humility set out to follow Christ—whom, you are helpless without.   Do you seek Christ for such a moment?

You can have an encounter with Jesus, because a divine presence is more than a Bible story—it is a true to life story waiting to happen.  Only when you know that you have “no strength left, [your] face turned deathly pale and [know you’re] helpless” without God, can you experience an embrace of his awesome presence.

No strength left,

Owen <><