Finishing Strong

Have you ever noticed how when you come down to the last few weeks of school, or leaving any place to move on to something new you seem to run out of steam or just become complacent? I was just wondering this as I observe people coming to the end of this quarter. Then the thought came to my mind that it could very well be the reason that even Jesus does not know when He will return. Could it be that if we knew the date and the hour that we would loose steam, slow down, not be as diligent or endure through it all? Instead Paul heeds us to endure the race, keep going until you cross that finish line. Anyone who runs will tell you that that last bit of the race you actually try to run faster then at the start or in the middle. Our race is not over, we have to keep the pace going regardless if you are coming to the end of one season and entering into another. Acutally the end of your seasons should be the best because you should be leaving at the top of your game. Keep the goal before you, the Kingdom of God is now.

Living the Dreams

Have you ever had a dream? Has that dream ever come true? I don't know where to start or even when it began but I have been living out my dreams. I mean literally living them out. No, not in a weird way but I could go back in my dream journal and tell you the dates when some of these dreams have come true.

It is so amazing to walk with God. He truly blows me away almost daily but lately it is because of these moments not of deja vu but the reality that He has shared with me things I will be doing at some point in time. The reality started to hit me back in Central Asia. While there I had a moment that I recognized an area of the capital city from a dream I had years ago. In that dream I was with a group of people meeting in an underground church. As I wondered about that I questioned why would there be an underground church in this particular country but then it occurred to me that Muslims converting would bring the need for an underground church. It was right before we left that I discovered that there are many underground churches there and meeting near the area I had seen in my dream.

As I prepare to go to Israel my excitement level is increasing. As I ponder about all of the dream possibilities I have I grow even more excited and then my intercession level increases. Amazing to be living life with a living God who shares with us His secrets.

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3

The Joy Set Before Me

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Have you ever taken a moment to wonder why you may have to deal with certain issues, people types, situations, etc. over and over again. Or even at this moment in time taken a minute to wonder what is this trial for, why am I always dealing with this or that? In life God never promised it to always be perfect or easy but He did promise that He would be with us always. As we go through life and the bumps and bruises come up we can take it as an offense, hurt or worry or we can choose to take it to the One who can heal the bumps and bruises, the One who can help carry our load. The faster we choose to run to Him the faster we walk through this, He refines us and we move on. If we choose to keep that hurt or offense we miss out on learning His ways and then having to repeat the trial again.

With all of that said, take a moment, how big is all of that to have to endure when Jesus went through His own trial knowing what that endurance meant. It meant you and I being with Father, Son and Holy Spirit for eternity. It meant experiencing the love the Godhead has for each one of us and never reaching the end of it. It meant that we were so valuable to the Three of them to endure death, burial and resurrection. For me I have a new way of seeing the severity of what I am going through compared to seeing my family coming to a fullness in Christ. It also means enduring these trials in order for the nations I go to to come to the knowledge of the Holy One, the Lover of their souls. After a time in the prayer room as I was pouring out my heart over matters that is what I saw, the end result of endurance, people coming into right communion with the Great God Jehovah, the Mighty One. Words really can not express what is in that revelation but it is in my bones now and that helps me to endure for the joy that is set before me.