Thursday/February 28 - Tuesday/March 4

Thursday, February 28 2008

When Satan Attacks Your Destiny

"When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king of Israel, they tried to capture him; but David was told that they were coming and went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. Then David asked the Lord, 'Shall I go out and fight against them? Will you defeat them for me?'" (2 Sam 5:17-19).

When you are about to enter your destiny, there is always opposition from Satan designed to prevent you from fulfilling your destiny.

When Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill him. When Jesus was baptized and fasted 40 days, Satan came to tempt Him in an effort to derail his destiny. When David had been anointed king over Israel, God?s destiny had been revealed for all to see-even Satan. So, Satan raised up the Philistines to try and kill David's destiny.

However, in response, we see David do two things. First, he retreats to his stronghold. It is a place of protection. It is a quiet place. Second, he inquires of God. It is here that he inquires of God for the strategy to defeat his enemy. God reveals it to him and he goes on to defeat the Philistines. In fact, David NEVER lost a battle because he learned to inquire of God for the strategy to defeat his enemies.

Do you know God's intended destiny for your life? Beware of Satan?s strategy to attack you in the place of your destiny. His desire is to take you off this divine path.

We must follow David's example in response to the enemy of our souls. We must retreat to our stronghold, seek the Lord, and listen for His answer. Then, we will fulfill the purpose for which God created us.

Friday, February 29 2008

Fulfilling Your Purpose

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD" (Ps 139:1-4).

Your purpose in life is chosen by God. It is not negotiable. It is like calling water wet-there is no changing that fact, and there's no changing God's purpose for your life. While you may not fulfill the purpose for which you were made, you still have a purpose that God intends for you to fulfill. This is your blueprint from God. In the same way that He had a specific purpose in mind for Jesus when He sent Him to the earth, He has a specific purpose in mind for your life.

This doesn't mean, however, that there is one highly specific niche for you to fill and that if you miss it, too bad. We must believe that we can achieve our purpose in many different and creative ways. This should take the pressure off. You won't throw your entire life off course by choosing the wrong college, job or mate. God is much bigger than any miscalculation or disobedience on your part. "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me" (Ps 138:8). Isn't that comforting to know?

Defining your purpose will help you to determine the activities that you should be involved in. Like Jesus, you should not involve yourself in activities that contradict His purpose for your existence. Jesus? purpose was to do the will of the Father and become the salvation for mankind.

Each of us must ask why we are involved in an activity. Is it a God-activity, or just a good activity? Remember, Jesus only did something if He saw the Father doing it, and He was able to see what His Father was doing because of His intimate relationship with Him.

Today, take steps to insure you are aligned with your purpose.

Monday, March 3 2008

The Filter of Life

Mt. 15:18 – ‘But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.’

Having a son who has a heart defect from birth gave me a real lesson of human biology. To be healthy a human body really needs a healthy heart. Not to discount all other essential organs, but the heart is the only organ that pumps in and out the very substance that gives the body life - blood. Blood carries oxygen that enables each and every organ in the body to function properly so that eventually the whole body can function properly and thus the body can be healthy. Nothing can replace a healthy heart – regardless how healthy our other organs are, but if we have a defective heart, somehow other organ can’t function as they’re supposed to be.

And here Jesus gives a stunning fact to the Pharisees and to all of us that our heart is the source of evil. The heart is the filter through which we act, think, speak, and eventually live. We can beat up, in a sense, our physical bodies with many restrictions and severe disciplines. But the body is not the problem, our heart is the problem.

And if the heart is the problem, then we need a very serious solution – because no one and nothing can touches and cure the heart, only God can; only Jesus and His cross. Friends, if our problem is real, then our solution is real. It’s a matter of acknowledging and admitting that our heart is in a real need of mending and healing. Let’s get our hearts right today.

Tuesday, March 4 2008

The Diseases of the Heart – Part 1.

Mt. 15:19 – ‘For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality…’

I’ve noticed, among other things, there’s a growing frequency on TV’s advertisement in corresponds to heart issues – such as how to lower your cholesterol. One of the reasons might be that research has shown that more people have been diagnosed for some kind of heart diseases. And they’re pinning down on some common cause that could serve as a threat to the health of a heart.
And knowing those threats could be a life saver because now we know what to do to prevent any issues for the heart. Just as knowing common threats to our physical heart can be a life saver, and so is knowing the common threats to our hearts can prove to be a life saver to our spiritual life. So what are the threats to our heart? There are at least 4 of them. And we’re going to look at 2 of them today.

One is ‘anger’. And ‘anger’ says, ‘You owe me…’ Something – an opportunity, a position, a person, etc – has been taken away from you and you demand that the other person pays you back: he or she owes you something. The only cure or prevention for this is to forgive.

Second is ‘guilt’. And ‘guilt’ says, ‘I owe you…’ You’ve wronged someone in a significant way and you knew you owe them some sort of explanations and apology. And the simple cure for this is a simple confession – you confess your sins, not only to God but to those whom you’ve wronged.

wednesday, February 27 2008

Withholding Your Natural Gifting

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:3-5).

In the work world, we are trained to press through obstacles, no matter the cost. However, perseverance that is not directed by the Holy Spirit is only sweat and toil. We must learn to walk the fine line between these two concepts. On this subject of relying on our human strength, Watchman Nee wrote:

"I believe many people are so rich and strong that they give no ground for God to work. I frequently recall the words, 'helpless and hopeless.' I must tell God, 'all that I have is yours, I myself have nothing. Apart from you I am truly helpless and hopeless. We need to have such a dependent attitude toward God that it is as if we cannot inhale or exhale without Him. In this way we shall see that our power as well as our holiness all comes from Him. Oh how God delights in seeing us coming hopeless and helpless to Him. A brother once asked me, 'What is the condition for the working of the Spirit?' To which I replied that . . . the Holy Spirit must first bring us to a place where we can do nothing by ourselves."

Of course, God gives us our natural skills and He will use them, although it can be hard at times to tell whether it is God working through us or if it is our natural skill alone making things happen. We need to try to distinguish the difference even as we resist over-analyzing (which can result in paralysis by analysis).

The apostle Paul understood that it was not his ability to deliver eloquent sermons that changed people. It was the power of God working through him. If God?s power comes through our work, that brings glory to the Father.

Tuesday, February 26 2008

Do You Know Who You Are?

"Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart" (Ps 36:10).

Someone once said, "Success is when those who know you the best are those who love you the most."

Years ago a man named Jahari developed a self-assessment tool that helps us understand how we relate to others. The Jahari Window helps us realize where we are in our ability to know who we are and for others to know who we are Real transparency in communication takes place when those we associate with us know who we are after we discover who we really are. See if you can identify what category you might fall among these four:

Transparent Life The transparent life is the life we should desire. I know who I am and others know me. There is nothing hidden. I have come to know who I am as an individual and basically people get what they see in me.

Bull-In-The-China Shop This person is blinded to the things that others recognize about him. The solution to becoming a transparent person is to get feedback from those around us about the blind spots in our personality. We must ask for the feedback and be willing to respond to their input.

Aloof/Hidden Secrets This person lives in a secret world. They don't allow others to know about themselves. They know themselves but are fearful of letting others know. Those around them do not know them either. What do others really know about you? Have you allowed yourself to get close enough to others to share who you really are inside?

Hidden Potential This is a combination of Bull-In-A-China Shop and Aloof/Hidden Secrets. It is the saddest of all conditions. These people don't know themselves and others don't know them either. This means both parties have to invest the energy to communicate and get feedback from one another.

How about you? Why not take a step to find out who you really are in the eyes of others. It could change your life.

Monday, February 25 2008

University of Adversity

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" (2 Cor. 4:8-10).

It's hard to find anyone in Christian history who became a great leader without earning an advanced degree at the University of Adversity. John Bunyan (1628-1688), the author of The Pilgrim's Progress, grew up in poverty and taught himself to read. As a young man, he struggled with feelings of not being forgiven by God and was tortured by visions of eternal punishment. His devout wife helped him to overcome his fear, but then, while she was still in her twenties, she died of a sudden illness. In his grief, Bunyan devoted himself to preaching. The English government, however, repeatedly imprisoned him for preaching without a license.

On one occasion, Bunyan was sentenced to three months in prison, but when he told the officials he intended to go on preaching, his sentence was extended to 12 years. John Bunyan experienced God's presence in a special way while he was in prison. In fact, it was in his cell that he penned his enduring classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. It's a book that could only have been written by a soul that was refined by the fires of adversity.

A. W. Tozer once wrote, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God has a mission for your life and mine. But before we can carry out that mission, we will often go through the boot camp of adversity. If this is where you find yourself today, ask God to give you His grace to walk through this time with you. He promised He would never leave or forsake us.

Friday, February 22 2008

How Many Signs Do You Need?

"And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint on the LORD to save by many or by few... And his armor bearer said unto him, Do all that is in your heart: turn you; behold, I am with you according to your heart." (1 Sam 14)

Here's a man (Jonathan) that wanted to take territory for the Lord. He seeks out the enemy's camp and upon finding it; he reasons that God can save by many or few. It matters not. Not being certain whether it was God's will or not to attack a garrison of enemy soldiers where they were greatly outnumbered, Jonathon took a risk. They would taunt the enemy and if the enemy invited them down for a fight instead of going up to them, they would take that as a sign from God of His deliverance and attack the garrison. Just one man and his armor bearer would attack a garrison because the enemy returned the taunt!

How many of us would go against overwhelming odds even after having three prophetic revelations and two dreams? Jonathan is looking for any sign that God might be with him on this venture. He didn't ask God to confirm it by making the sun go backwards or by showing him the heavenly army in the sky. He made it easy... If the enemy acts normally, we will take that as confirmation! I love his spirit and his courage! And I especially love his faith! We don't see that as much today.

But that's about to change. There's a new breed arising with fire in their eyes, faith in their heart, confidence in their step and with absolutely nothing to lose. Will you be numbered among that group? Do you want to? One who takes risks and steps out, one who looks for the enemy's camp and attacks it...? God positions you in the most strategic place – the marketplace and bring godly and positive influence there.

Thursday, February 21 2008

Jesus Could Not Heal the Sick

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know" (Acts 2:22).

In his book, When Heaven Invades Earth, Pastor Bill Johnson makes an insightful observation about Jesus. "He could not heal the sick. Neither could He deliver the tormented from demons or raise the dead. To believe otherwise is to ignore what he said about Himself, and more importantly, to miss the purpose of His self-imposed restriction to live as a man."

Jesus Christ said of Himself, "The Son of can do nothing" (John 5:19). In the Greek language that word nothing has a unique meaning--it means NOTHING, just like it does in English! He had NO supernatural capabilities whatsoever! While he is 100 percent God, He chose to live with the same limitations that man would face once He was redeemed. He made that point over and over again. Jesus became the model for all who would embrace the invitation to invade the impossible in His name. He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship to God... not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God--then they would be unattainable for us. But if he did them as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle. Recapturing this simple truth changes everything... and makes possible a full restoration of the ministry of Jesus in His Church.

What were the distinctions of His humanity?

1. He had no sin to separate Him from the Father.
2. He was completely dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit working through Him.

What are the distinctions of our humanity?

We are sinners cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Through his sacrifice he has successfully dealt with the power and effect of sin for all who believe. Now nothing separates us from the Father. There remains only one unsettled issue - how dependent on the Holy Spirit are we willing to live?

Wednesday, February 20 2008

Strange Instructions

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands" (2 John 6).

A distinguished Indian evangelist named Sadhu Chellappa was on a mission trip to a village north of Madras, when in the middle of the night he suddenly sensed God speaking to him: "Leave this house quickly and run away!"

Not exactly a convenient thing to do. But Chellappa was accustomed to accepting even strange instructions from the Lord without debate, so he dressed quickly and ran into the darkness.

After a while, he was in open country. As he passed beneath a large tree, he felt God tell him, "Stay here and start to preach!" Now, even for an experienced evangelist, this was puzzling--because there was no one to be seen. Why did God want him to preach to an empty field in the middle of the night? But he stopped under the tree and began to preach the gospel.

Finally, he reached the point at which he called on his unseen listeners to give their lives to Jesus. He was surprised to hear a voice from the top of the tree and see a man climb down, crying. The man tearfully gave his life to Jesus. When Chellappa asked why he was in a tree out in the middle of nowhere, the man admitted, "I came out here to hang myself."

How is your obedience quotient? God calls us to be obedient to that small voice inside that can direct us to sometimes do strange things. Jesus was obedient in ALL things. "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Rom 5:19). God can do exceedingly great things through one man or woman who is willing to be obedient to God's voice. Ask for His grace today to be obedient to His voice.

Tuesday, February 19 2008

Deep Things

"He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22).

One of the great mysteries of the Kingdom is how God uses the darkest times in our lives to reveal greater depths of understanding of His ways. The only way we can receive these deeper things is to be driven to the depths of darkness. It is here that we discover important truths that He plans to use in our lives and the lives of others.

There is a process God uses to draw us into greater levels of intimacy. The first phase involves a depth of soul experience that causes great pain in our lives. We seek God for deliverance from the incredible emotional pain this causes. Our primary motivation for seeking God is to get out of our pain.

During this time, God meets us in the depths of darkness. We discover that He never left us but is in the midst of the darkness. We develop a new relationship with God. Gradually our motivation turns from removal of pain to love and intimacy with God. This is the place our Heavenly Father desires us to be.

During this season God will make spiritual deposits into your life. Others will be making withdrawals in the future from your life as well. You see, God reveals deep things in darkness that will be revealed in the light.

If you find yourself in great distress, know that God will bring your deep shadows into the light. The key to your deliverance is becoming satisfied in God. He becomes your all. He is your life. You will know your deliverance is near when your circumstances simply don't matter to you anymore.

Love the Lord your God with all your soul and see what things He will show you in the deep things of darkness.

Monday, February 18 2008

How God Uses Pain

"I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things" (Isa 45:7).

God will use pain in order to create a love relationship with His creation. This statement may challenge your theology. However, consider that God allowed Jesus to experience incredible pain in order to create an opportunity to have a relationship with His creation. Consider how Jesus created a relationship with Paul. He blinded him and used a crisis in his life in order to bring him into a relationship with him and use him for God's purposes. Consider how God recruited Jonah for the mission He had for him.

This is not God's first choice for His creation. Romans 2:4 reveals that God's preference is to show mercy and kindness: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" The problem is there are few people who respond to the goodness of God. God loves people more than He loves their comfort. He invests a great deal into mankind. He desires relationship with us and will go to great lengths to create such a relationship in order for us to receive the rewards and inheritance He has for us.

We can observe this process in the scriptures in working with people through years of ministry. There are three distinct stages. First, we live based on convenience. Our obedience is largely based on circumstances in our lives. We choose to obey based on the circumstances.

The second stage is the crisis stage. God allows a crisis to come into our lives. We are motivated to obey God in order to get out of the pain of our situation. Many times God allows us to stay in this condition in order to demonstrate His love and faithfulness during our pain. Gradually, we discover something knew about God and often have a personal encounter with Him that changes us. Our very nature is affected by this God-encounter.

This begins to move us into a third phase that is a relationship that is motivated now by love and devotion instead of pain. This is where God desires us to be. Another way of saying this is we are no longer seeking His hand. We are seeking Him. We want to know God personally.

Obedience will not last when the motivation is only the removal of our pain Obedience only lasts when the motivation is loving devotion. Where are you in your obedience and what is the primary motivation? If it isn't love, why not tell the Lord you love Him today and want to know Him for who He is and not for what He can do for you.

Friday, February 15 2008

The Death of Community

Phil. 2:4 – “Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others.”

Working and living in a big city is a real challenge. Not only the competition for employment that devastated people, but the competition for a living space pretty much holds the same weight in the mind of the people. As the people density of big cities are on the rise, we would expect then that people would have more meaningful interactions with others as they rub shoulder to shoulder almost everyday. Not so. In fact, meaningful interactions have gone down to zero…! Individualism is on the rise, and community is dying.

We’ve tried all of the excuses – tired, busy, family time, personality – but the bottom line is we have lost the passion and interest to get to know others in a more meaningful ways. ‘What’s up…’ and ‘Later…’ has become the most common phrase in our conversation today, yet it is so empty in meaning. Where do we go from here…?

Paul’s solution is real and simple: welcome others in our mind and consider them as we think about ourselves. Have some space for others to come in and let them come closer to you. It’s not that we can’t have space or time for ourselves, but we’ve used them all for ourselves.
We can’t afford to lose that sense of community as believers of Christ. Church after all is a community of believers and followers of Christ. Let’s keep it that way then for the glory of Christ.

Thursday, February 14 2008

Comfortable leaving people uncomfortable

Mt. 13:11 – “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but them it has not been given…”

Jesus loves to teach people, yet He’s never being afraid of loosing His audience. He lets people ask questions, yet He’s not afraid being second guessed by people. He knows and confident of His message, He lets people chew it and then let them decide whether they want to swallow it or reject it. Jesus is comfortable leaving people uncomfortable.

One of the most awkward moments in our effort of sharing the gospel is probably the moment when we’re about to share the gospel in words – Jesus, sin, the cross, God’s righteousness. It’s an excruciating experience, but yet that’s what they really need to hear. Whether they want to accept or reject it, it’s a different story.

Jesus sheds an important light in this verse – people can respond positively to the message of the gospel because God has revealed it to them – otherwise, they can’t and won’t understand the secret of the kingdom of heaven.

To the physical ear it may sound foolish but when the spiritual ears are open, people will respond positively to the message of the gospel. Let the gospel do its work no matter how it may make people feel. Leave the uncomfortable part to the gospel – because that’s its job.

Wednesday, February 13 2008

There is something about Pain

Ps. 119:67 – “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Research tells us that in America people spend $1 of every $7 that they earned to ease some sort of physical pain. In conjunction with that, pain is also blamed for the lost of productivity in companies and also the top reason for people seek medical attention. On the other hand, pain is also effectively used to exert discipline both on adults and children. It’s like a double edge sword, where on one side it cuts us, yet it protects and heals us with the other. There is something about pain.

The great Christian writer, C.S. Lewis says that, ‘Pain is God’s megaphone’ – it directs our attention to a higher power above us – God. When there is no found cure, pain leaves us helpless. God, in His infinite and perfect wisdom, inflicts pain in our lives so that He, once again, can turn our eyes back to Him, the ultimate and powerful Healer.

God does not leave us with cuts; He also heals our cuts. God does not leave us broken; He also mends us back together. God does not leave us hang to dry; He also showers us with His living water once again. God wants us back, back to Him and to His Word.

Just like a parent who knows best for their children, with tears and compassion, God inflicts us with pain – just to have us so that we can have Him.

Tuesday, February 12 2008

The Love for Soul

Mark 2:17 – “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees when He was getting really comfortable being around ‘tax collectors and sinners’. It didn’t stop Him or even shake Him out even a moment. He knew his mission, He knew his goal, He knew his ministry – it is for the lost soul. He loves soul, regardless how it might look like from the outside – tax collectors, prostitutes, homeless, murderer, etc. He is constantly looking for soul to minister to. He knows that people are not the problem, but people have problems.

It is exciting to meet new people and making friends with them. But more often than not, as we get to know them more deeply – knowing their problems and who they really are behind the closet – we have this feeling of dislike toward them. We got so tangled up trying to get close with the person so that we missed their souls blurred out by their bad habits and characters. We lost our passion for their soul once we come face to face with the real person. Jesus never did.

Ministry can be exhausting and friendship can be hard at times, but our love for the lost soul should not be extinguished for any reason. We, Christians, are called to love and seek the lost souls – in whatever outlook and appearance there might be. Just like Jesus, we are called not to seek and call the righteous, but rather to seek, call, and love sinners – just like ourselves.

Monday, February 11 2008

Imaginative imagination

Ps. 119:37 – “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”

We’re living in the era of visual media explosion – especially in the area of advertisement. The ultimate goal of an advertisement of any product is to draw people in to believe the advertise messages and finally to buy the products.

If you can imagine, then you will believe and then you will buy – or at least the picture will stuck in your mind which will give you a compelling reason to consider the product sooner or later. Much in every ways, implicitly communicated in any advertisements today, or even the media itself (e.g. TV, radio) are lifestyles or mindsets – ways of life. Not only then products are being advertised, but new lifestyles or new mindsets are also introduced to be absorbed, unconsciously, in the mind of the people.

Here in Psalm 119: 37 the Psalmist reminds us of how life offers much option. Yet if we are not full of discernment, we might end up with worthless things that don’t give life at all. We even might find ourselves deviate much farther than we thought from what we perceive as God’s way that leads to life.

Let’s turn our eyes from looking at worthless things and ask God to lead in His way that leads to life. May our eyes be faithful - discerning and choosing what we see, that we may have life.

Friday, February 8 2008

It Has Begun...

We are beginning a new year, one that many predict will be the most tumultuous, exciting and challenging year to date for most people. The stock market will make roller coaster rides at Disney seem tame and nations will rise up and be more threatening than ever. And God saw to it that we were born in this time. Do you think that was so we could find a cave and hide? Or is it possible that in the midst of the tumult, the trials and the tests, the Desire of the Nations (a term for the Messiah found in Haggai 2:7) who resides in us, may actually want to be found in us as one who brings hope and help in time of need?

But that conflicts with the theology most of us hold. We believe Christ's return is imminent and it may well be, but that doesn't mean we should rejoice as we see the darkness approaching, watching from the supposed safety of our fallout shelters as God brings judgment on the systems of this world. We use phony currency backed up by impossible promises made by unscrupulous men who profit from our collective misery.

But we were born for such a time as this! Let us arise and like the sons of Issachar discern not only the times in which we live, but apprehend the wisdom to know what to do! And you wonder if it's God's will to prosper and have tangible answers for a world that is beginning to be gripped by panic??? Now more than ever, the world needs to see the Desire of the Nations rise up in us and demonstrate wisdom in a time of collective ignorance and outright stupidity. The world is looking for answers and even more so as their pension funds disappear and stock portfolios diminish.

You don't know what to do yet?. Not fully? But what we at least should know what we should do. Let us step out in what we do know. Let us launch out in the direction of our dream, the one we got when we spent time in His presence and not the one we got from "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." There are so much more to say on this topic but that will have to wait till next time. Until then, seek Him like your life depended on finding Him. It just might!

Thursday, February 7 2008

Beware the Trap

Did you know that you can be so obsessed with knowing God's will that you can be trapped in paralysis? Afraid to step out because you are not sure if it is God's will. I would wager that nearly everyone reading this post has struggled or is currently struggling with this issue and it's something we need to revisit now.

Some people are so obsessed with knowing God's will for their life they ask God what clothes to wear or what restaurant to eat at today. Can you imagine having adult kids that checked with you daily over simple matters like that? Now thankfully most of us aren't stuck in that rut, but still we wonder if the dream we have is of God or not. We want three signs, a prophecy and advance payment just to be sure! Where is your sense of adventure?!?!

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he quoted God who had previously said that He had "chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David..." (1 Kings ch.8) Solomon goes on to explain that it was David who had it in his heart to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. This was not something God ordered, but it was in David's heart and David perhaps more than any Old Testament figure delighted in God's presence and God delighted in him - and blessed the building of the temple.

Want to know if the dream you have or the work you are doing is God's will for your life? Do like Augustine suggested... Love God, and then do as you please. When you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. The key is to truly love God, and then your desires will be in line.

Wednesday, February 6 2008

Creating a Memory

"The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matt 23:11).

Ken Blanchard, the author of the One Minute Manager, once shared a story about what can happen when individuals in a company model servant leadership, no matter where they are on the totem pole.

A business consultant was training more than 3000 employees of a mid-western grocery chain to approach their jobs with a goal of creating a memory for their customers. She stated that "this is what will distinguish your store from all others."

Johnny was a 19-year old bag boy that had down-syndrome. His first response to the consultant's suggestion was "I'm just a 'bag boy.'" Nevertheless, he went home and shared what the consultant said with his mother. They began to ponder the consultant's words about how he could create a memory for his customers. Johnny had a habit of collecting inspirational thoughts that he would often read. He decided he would begin printing these sayings and place one in each of the bags of his customers. When customers came through the line he would place the sayings in their bag and say, "I've included some of my favorite sayings in your bag in hopes it will encourage you today. Thanks for shopping with us."

After just a few weeks, an amazing thing began to happen. One day the store manager noticed that all the customers were lined up at only one cashier station when there were other stations open. He began to panic, thinking the other stations were broken. After further investigation he found this was not the case. Actually, customers wanted to come through Johnny's line in order to get his saying of the day.

One woman came up to the manager and said, "I used to come to the store only once a week, but now I come everyday!" Johnny's example spread to other departments in the store. The florist began giving a flower to each florist customer. The meat department put Snoopy stickers on each meat order with a special greeting. This one act by a bag boy changed the entire climate of the store.*

How can you create a memory for someone in your workplace today? Jesus was all about creating memories.

Tuesday, February 5 2008

Manifest vs. Market

"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water" (Num 20:7-8).

The Bible says that Moses had a unique walk with God. God said Moses was the most humble man on earth and He spoke with him face to face (Num 12:3 and Exodus 3:11).

When Moses met God at the burning bush God said, "Moses, I'm going to perform miracles through your staff." And He did. He turned his staff into a snake. He brought plagues upon the nation and even parted the Red Sea with his staff. He even struck the rock with his staff to bring forth water.

But later, God called Moses to operate on a new level. Instead of using his workplace tool (his staff) to perform miracles, God was calling Moses to manifest the miracle through his words. "Speak to the rock Moses!" But Moses, frustrated by the stiff-necked people, struck the rock instead out of anger. Amazingly and in spite of his disobedience, God still allowed Moses to get water out of the rock. God will often work through your anointing, even when you do it in your flesh, just for the sake of others. But beware my friend, it will be at a great cost. Like Moses, you will not enter your promised land and may lose your inheritance.

God is calling us to manifest breakthroughs by operating at times as God did? By speaking to the problem. Be available to the Holy Spirit at times when God calls you to use your authority in your calling to manifest His power in a situation that needs a breakthrough.

Friend, God is calling you to manifest His Kingdom through a higher level of relationship with Him. Are you willing?

Monday, February 4 2008

Forty Days

"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy." (Luke 24:51--52)

During the 40 days from His resurrection to His ascension to heaven, Jesus was constantly appearing and vanishing before the disciples. He was getting the disciples accustomed to the fact that even when He was not visible physically, He still would be present and available spiritually.

Before this time, the disciples had expected the Messiah of Israel to come and establish His kingdom, and they would reign with Him. There was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was the Messiah. But when He was crucified, it seemed like a colossal blunder. Now in the days following the Resurrection, they began to realize that this was the plan all along. They understood that the Scriptures predicted that the Messiah would first suffer and later would come and rule in glory on Earth.

In the meantime, Jesus told them they were to "go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," and to "teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you" (Matthew 28:19--20).

After instructing them to wait in Jerusalem, where they would receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus led the disciples to Bethany and blessed them. Then, before their eyes, He was taken up to heaven.

The Father's promise, the Son's plans, and the Holy Spirit's power united in making these unlearned disciples the most invincible weapons ever to be held by the hand of God.

The disciples worshiped Him. They witnessed for Him. They would wait for Him until He returned. We should do the same.

Friday, February 1 2008

Changed Your Name

Romans 10:13 – ‘Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Names are important. Parents may spend months researching and deciding on the perfect name for their baby. Often the final decision is based on its sound, uniqueness or meaning.

One woman took on a new name because she disliked her original name. She mistakenly believed that changing it could alter her destiny. That’s not likely, for those who trust in Jesus as their Savior and are from that time on identified by His name, a radical transformation does take place.

There is a powerful significance attached to the name of Jesus. The apostles performed miracles and cast out demon in His name. They spoke and taught in the name of Jesus. They baptized believers in the name of Jesus. And it is only through the name of Jesus that we gain access to the Father.

When we become Christians, we share in that worthy name. And as we follow Christ, we are able to reflect His light to any darkness we encounter, whether in our neighborhood, our workplace, or even our home. Our prayer should be that when people see us – they will see Christ. Our names may have meaning or significance. But to bear the name Christian is life-transforming. (ODB-CHK)