My mom is really amazing.
But what's really amazing is what God can do with her life when His glory shows up.
Some of the places in her life that God could visit and transform.
She has a timeshare at the beach she hasn't used in years. Infinite possibilities.
Season tickets to the Carolina Panthers. Definitely not ordinary.
I'm not suggesting that she needs improvement. What I am suggesting is that I need to have a perspective change and realize that I am really blessed in life to have a relationship with her. She's really interesting when you get to know her.
God can transform a desert into a lush oasis in the blink of an eye.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5,6.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
About Midnight Part 8 - It's No Big Deal
My mom is pretty cool.
We watched a movie together today.
She liked it and so did I.
That's something that we have in common.
She likes the church that I go to.
She has never once complained about the music being too loud.
She maximizes her time and is able to accomplish alot with very little.
She lets me eat what I want to eat when I want to eat it.
She never gives me a hard time when I assert myself.
She totally respects that I'm my own person and I have the right to make my own decisions.
She doesn't hover and she's not clingy.
She's still very young at heart.
God is not through with her yet.
By Grace,
Travis
We watched a movie together today.
She liked it and so did I.
That's something that we have in common.
She likes the church that I go to.
She has never once complained about the music being too loud.
She maximizes her time and is able to accomplish alot with very little.
She lets me eat what I want to eat when I want to eat it.
She never gives me a hard time when I assert myself.
She totally respects that I'm my own person and I have the right to make my own decisions.
She doesn't hover and she's not clingy.
She's still very young at heart.
God is not through with her yet.
By Grace,
Travis
About Midnight Part 7 - The Sword
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:20.
There's a picture in my heart of a medieval broadsword. A broadsword was a heavy two edged sword which could be wielded either in one or two hands. It's definitely not a butter knife. It's not a toy either.
The meaning of it to me is this: it's time to put away our personal differences and personal preferences and rise up as one.
To be continued...
By Grace,
Travis
There's a picture in my heart of a medieval broadsword. A broadsword was a heavy two edged sword which could be wielded either in one or two hands. It's definitely not a butter knife. It's not a toy either.
The meaning of it to me is this: it's time to put away our personal differences and personal preferences and rise up as one.
To be continued...
By Grace,
Travis
Monday, April 23, 2012
About Midnight Part 6 - Refills
As he lay asleep under the broom or juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. 1 Kings 19:5.
I've got a coffee mug. Written on it are the following words.
Blessed is the man
whose delight is in the law
of the LORD.
He is like a tree planted
by streams of water;
which yields its fruit in season.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3.
For some reason that just puts a smile on my face.
By Grace,
Travis
I've got a coffee mug. Written on it are the following words.
Blessed is the man
whose delight is in the law
of the LORD.
He is like a tree planted
by streams of water;
which yields its fruit in season.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3.
For some reason that just puts a smile on my face.
By Grace,
Travis
Saturday, April 21, 2012
About Midnight Part 5 - Ingredients
Ingredients
As if a familiar voice broke through the steel bars of doubt and discouragement in the confines of his imprisonment Dzeekishah had a moment of clarity. Despite his chains he nearly bolted up off the floor.
Not because his life depended on it, but because the fate of Midgard rested on the knowledge that he had of the location of the stolen relics, Zeek listened attentively.
The simple yet compelling instruction was clear. “Trust.”
Zeek looked at the now cold plate of Alb food on the prison cell floor. The very sight of it initiated an unconscious gag reflex yet he was compelled by something deeper than hunger.
The voice called again, more strongly, “Trust!”
Picking up the fork in his dexterous hand Zeek lifted it up to about half the distance to his mouth. The smell assaulted his cerebral cortex and ignited a spark of protest that flared into a flame of hope.
“I can do this,” he muttered and put the fork to his lips.
He opened up. That first bite was sickeningly sweet. As he started to chew a flood of euphoria hit -intense grief, bitter sorrow and terrible affliction swept through him like a river. In it’s wake he was completely rejuvenated. Something miraculous took place where the ingredients in the food acted like an antivenom to the injuries that he had received. Every thing was in it’s rightful place and he felt good.
A word appeared, “Zeek. Get ready. We are coming to get you out. Wiggles.”
Thursday, April 19, 2012
About Midnight Part 4 - Sheaves of Joy
God can turn a desert into a lush oasis in the blink of an eye. Where you saw sand and bare rock and dry bones there can be teeming life. Where there was sadness there can be joy. Beauty for ashes.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5,6.
On the other hand Satan can turn a lush oasis into a graveyard in an equal amount of time. Hell has an address and it's name is SIN. Sin is both a tyrant and a slave driver. It never stops demanding.
Sin will take you for a trip and leave you in the middle of nowhere.
By Grace,
Travis
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5,6.
On the other hand Satan can turn a lush oasis into a graveyard in an equal amount of time. Hell has an address and it's name is SIN. Sin is both a tyrant and a slave driver. It never stops demanding.
Sin will take you for a trip and leave you in the middle of nowhere.
By Grace,
Travis
About Midnight Part 3
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Psalm 104:20.
The type of angels the Psalmist is writing about are the kind that do God's will in heaven.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught His disciples to pray, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10.
We proclaim the Word of God. We proclaim the Word of God in places where the kingdom of darkness holds dominion in order to establish God's Kingdom. Proclamation releases God's power into our situation in the same way that praise releases the glory of God:
But thou are holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3.
Paul and Silas. Two men sent by God. Filled with the Spirit. Singing praise. In agreement. Heaven came down.
By Grace,
Travis
The type of angels the Psalmist is writing about are the kind that do God's will in heaven.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught His disciples to pray, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10.
We proclaim the Word of God. We proclaim the Word of God in places where the kingdom of darkness holds dominion in order to establish God's Kingdom. Proclamation releases God's power into our situation in the same way that praise releases the glory of God:
But thou are holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3.
Paul and Silas. Two men sent by God. Filled with the Spirit. Singing praise. In agreement. Heaven came down.
By Grace,
Travis
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
About Midnight Part 2 - Let Them Come
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Acts 16:37.
What gets me in this passage is how Paul and Silas and all the other prisoners were freed from prison by an act of God yet here the Roman authorities were still trying to tell them where to go and what to do.
They weren't prisoners anymore.
And neither are we.
I don't need a jailer to keep me out of trouble, I've got the Holy Spirit. I don't need bars and walls to keep me from sin I've got the Word.
If you really want to take it one step further than that:
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them. Ezekiel 37:26-27.
Hold on! Before I close this one down I want to say something perceptive. I don't really think that Paul was rubbing it in their faces here. He was doing it for the glory of God first and foremost. Secondly he was giving them one more chance to repent and he was being very gracious after what they had been through.
Aren't we called to do that as Christians? Don't we sometimes have to just let it go, or let them go as the case may be. Whatever they did to us is not worth staying upset over. God can use it for His glory.
Let them come!
That's what Joseph did. Joseph was beaten and robbed and thrown into a well and sold into slavery by his own brothers. God turned the whole thing around.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20.
Let them come!
By Grace,
Travis
What gets me in this passage is how Paul and Silas and all the other prisoners were freed from prison by an act of God yet here the Roman authorities were still trying to tell them where to go and what to do.
They weren't prisoners anymore.
And neither are we.
I don't need a jailer to keep me out of trouble, I've got the Holy Spirit. I don't need bars and walls to keep me from sin I've got the Word.
If you really want to take it one step further than that:
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them. Ezekiel 37:26-27.
Hold on! Before I close this one down I want to say something perceptive. I don't really think that Paul was rubbing it in their faces here. He was doing it for the glory of God first and foremost. Secondly he was giving them one more chance to repent and he was being very gracious after what they had been through.
Aren't we called to do that as Christians? Don't we sometimes have to just let it go, or let them go as the case may be. Whatever they did to us is not worth staying upset over. God can use it for His glory.
Let them come!
That's what Joseph did. Joseph was beaten and robbed and thrown into a well and sold into slavery by his own brothers. God turned the whole thing around.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20.
Let them come!
By Grace,
Travis
About Midnight Pt 1
I woke up last night a little before Midnight. I didn't really want to get out of bed, but the bed was on an incline and I eventually rolled out onto the floor. Maybe I need to check the hydraulic lift.
Thinking about Pastor Holly's sermon the other day. I was really convicted by it.
I'd like to do alot of things now that CBS is officially through. For instance, I'd like to do that Onward Christian Soldiers Bible Study at http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/. I definitely feel like that would help me to dress for the wedding.
Strong Conviction! Do I do something I've been longing to do? Or do I listen to that conviction?
It's like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure Stories that I loved growing up.
Hmmmm.....
By Grace,
Travis
Thinking about Pastor Holly's sermon the other day. I was really convicted by it.
I'd like to do alot of things now that CBS is officially through. For instance, I'd like to do that Onward Christian Soldiers Bible Study at http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/. I definitely feel like that would help me to dress for the wedding.
Strong Conviction! Do I do something I've been longing to do? Or do I listen to that conviction?
It's like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure Stories that I loved growing up.
Hmmmm.....
By Grace,
Travis
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Greater Reach 40 - Coming and Going
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: Isaiah 58:10.
I've always wondered how my mom seems to hold on through such great difficulty. Then I realized, It's not as dark to her because she dwells in the light. She is constantly drawing out her soul to the hungry, and satisfying the afflicted. She has her own ministry, her own little flock.
Tyler is doing real well, coming and going. It's hard keeping him out of the trees.
By Grace,
Travis
I've always wondered how my mom seems to hold on through such great difficulty. Then I realized, It's not as dark to her because she dwells in the light. She is constantly drawing out her soul to the hungry, and satisfying the afflicted. She has her own ministry, her own little flock.
Tyler is doing real well, coming and going. It's hard keeping him out of the trees.
Travis
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Greater Reach 39 - Don't Mention It
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14.
Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Romans 12:10.
Family secrets. I guess it means you've passed the acceptance test. Learn to drive properly! Just a few things the Holy Spirit brought to my attention at Church today.
My personal favorite,
Remember the pillow, the bag of popcorn and the movie.
By Grace,
Travis
Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Romans 12:10.
Family secrets. I guess it means you've passed the acceptance test. Learn to drive properly! Just a few things the Holy Spirit brought to my attention at Church today.
My personal favorite,
Remember the pillow, the bag of popcorn and the movie.
By Grace,
Travis
Friday, April 13, 2012
Greater Reach 38 - TGIF
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13.
Today was a relaxing day. I spent a good part of the afternoon watching a good adventure flick.
Speaking of adventures I never finished that parable I started.
Low blows. Do you remember awhile back how I was talking about low blows and how many times Satan has tried to take me out?
Sometimes the battle is raging so strong it's hard to tell based on appearances who is on our side. Thank God He has given us His Word to base our responses on and we walk by faith and not by sight.
If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. Written by one of the greatest Seers of all time, and my all time favorite apostle, John the Beloved.
Last item today is an email I got from Claire. Check it out! http://thekitchykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/04/beauty-recipes.html
By Grace,
Travis
Today was a relaxing day. I spent a good part of the afternoon watching a good adventure flick.
Speaking of adventures I never finished that parable I started.
Low blows. Do you remember awhile back how I was talking about low blows and how many times Satan has tried to take me out?
Sometimes the battle is raging so strong it's hard to tell based on appearances who is on our side. Thank God He has given us His Word to base our responses on and we walk by faith and not by sight.
If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. Written by one of the greatest Seers of all time, and my all time favorite apostle, John the Beloved.
Last item today is an email I got from Claire. Check it out! http://thekitchykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/04/beauty-recipes.html
By Grace,
Travis
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Greater Reach 37 - Visit
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18.
LOL. Wouldn't it be exciting if Jesus walked into the church and started ministering to folks without following protocol? I'm sure it happens more often than we realize. We may pass it off as a normal occurrence or we may see think it is odd but not odd enough to say anything about it.
What if He got up, started leading worship and the choir and everybody got caught up in it? Then what if He just handed the mike over to the Pastor and went and sat down in one of the seats?
Think about it.
4/11/12
I'm thinking of calling these push-ups. I suggest doing 3 sets of 40 reps. I have my friend Steevo to thank for the inspiration! Thanks Steevo!
LOL. Wouldn't it be exciting if Jesus walked into the church and started ministering to folks without following protocol? I'm sure it happens more often than we realize. We may pass it off as a normal occurrence or we may see think it is odd but not odd enough to say anything about it.
What if He got up, started leading worship and the choir and everybody got caught up in it? Then what if He just handed the mike over to the Pastor and went and sat down in one of the seats?
Think about it.
I'm thinking of calling these push-ups. I suggest doing 3 sets of 40 reps. I have my friend Steevo to thank for the inspiration! Thanks Steevo!
Greater Reach 36 - Favorite Show
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
Sometimes I get a real boost out of watching Plank. But don't take my word for it, watch it yourself.
http://ed.wikia.com/wiki/Plank
By Grace,
Travis
Sometimes I get a real boost out of watching Plank. But don't take my word for it, watch it yourself.
http://ed.wikia.com/wiki/Plank
By Grace,
Travis
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Greater Reach 35 - Mercy Call
Mercy triumphs over judgement.
We live and breathe in a sea rocking back and forth.
There are basically two solutions.
1) Don't judge.
2) Show mercy.
Mercy is the stronger of the two.
Look at the bright side Jonah. What can God do in Nineveh that has never been done before?
We live and breathe in a sea rocking back and forth.
There are basically two solutions.
1) Don't judge.
2) Show mercy.
Mercy is the stronger of the two.
Look at the bright side Jonah. What can God do in Nineveh that has never been done before?
Monday, April 9, 2012
Greater Reach 34 - Pleasure and Joy
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
The blood of Jesus speaks a better word.
My pleasure and joy are complete.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom.
My heart rejoices greatly at His voice.
The best is yet to come...
The blood of Jesus speaks a better word.
My pleasure and joy are complete.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom.
My heart rejoices greatly at His voice.
The best is yet to come...
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Greater Reach 33 - Healthy Fear Part 2
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
I saw something here in this verse for the first time. It's odd that I'm just now seeing it considering that it occurs twice. Do you know what it is?
The word is must. He MUST increase. I MUST decrease. Must is a strong word. It actually can be either a verb or a noun. In this case it is a verb.
Must -
I saw something here in this verse for the first time. It's odd that I'm just now seeing it considering that it occurs twice. Do you know what it is?
The word is must. He MUST increase. I MUST decrease. Must is a strong word. It actually can be either a verb or a noun. In this case it is a verb.
Must -
- indicates that the sentence subject is required as an imperative or directive to execute the sentence predicate, with failure to do so resulting in a negative consequence
I think the tendency all Christians have is to think that once you get to a certain place you're going to be able to set the thing on cruise control and coast. Just last night I found myself pushing against a barrier of fear. I encountered fear and resistance and I instinctively began to resist it (as I have been trained to do in the Word) but I stopped short of going all the way. I went about 2/3rds of the way and then I stopped. I thought it would subside when I resisted it, but the struggle lasted a little bit longer than I thought and I decided to call it quits.
Relating that back to yesterday's blog helps complete the picture:
God said to Joshua...
Be strong and of a good courage...Joshua 1:9.
To Gideon He said.
thou mighty man of valour...Judges 6:12.
This adds a whole new dimension to it.
Come back tomorrow for Part 3 of Strong, Healthy, Fear. ;)
With Love,
Travis
Friday, April 6, 2012
Greater Reach 32 - Healthy Fear Pt 1
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
Gideon was in a winepress beating wheat to hide it from the Midianites, when God appeared to him.
God saw Gideon's potential.
The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. Judges 6:10b.
Same God, same message, different recipient,
for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9b.
Joshua was facing the biggest challenge of his life and his mentor had just checked out for good. Gideon needed more than a pep talk.
Ponder that for a moment... I'll be back.
By Grace,
Travis
Gideon was in a winepress beating wheat to hide it from the Midianites, when God appeared to him.
God saw Gideon's potential.
The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. Judges 6:10b.
Same God, same message, different recipient,
for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9b.
Joshua was facing the biggest challenge of his life and his mentor had just checked out for good. Gideon needed more than a pep talk.
Ponder that for a moment... I'll be back.
By Grace,
Travis
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Greater Reach 31 - Hen Rewrite!
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
I was talking with Jeff Hughes, and something he said got me thinking about the Hen blog I posted some time ago. I wasn't aware that it needed revision, but with a friend's perspective and an ounce of humility I have to admit I can go off on a tangent. As it was one of my favorite blogs I was reluctant at first to take his advice. But Jeff is usually on target and the more I thought about it the more I liked his idea.
You see I started thinking about Barnabas a couple of weeks ago. Jeff's approaching me about the Hen blog is like Barnabas coming to the church in Antioch and encouraging them.
When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Acts 11:22.
Okay. I don't need the Holy Spirit arm twist. Rewrite the Hen Blog.
By Grace,
Travis
I was talking with Jeff Hughes, and something he said got me thinking about the Hen blog I posted some time ago. I wasn't aware that it needed revision, but with a friend's perspective and an ounce of humility I have to admit I can go off on a tangent. As it was one of my favorite blogs I was reluctant at first to take his advice. But Jeff is usually on target and the more I thought about it the more I liked his idea.
You see I started thinking about Barnabas a couple of weeks ago. Jeff's approaching me about the Hen blog is like Barnabas coming to the church in Antioch and encouraging them.
When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Acts 11:22.
Okay. I don't need the Holy Spirit arm twist. Rewrite the Hen Blog.
By Grace,
Travis
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Greater Reach 30 - Pour it Out!
I want to make a slight shift this time and go over to the Amplified translation. And I want you to know that I don't endorse any particular translation. I use many different translations in my study and I encourage you to use the one you love. Let His Word be a love letter to you!
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros - a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra - a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades, (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. Matthew 16:18.
Here we are on number 30 and we're still working on extending that reach. We've seen that God is on the move and the He is unstoppable. We've also seen opposition, and resistance. I hope you have been blessed as I have.
I couldn't do any of it without God. That's why I keep doing it. That's why I keep repeating these verses day after day because it's all about Him. This morning I'm brought back to a favorite of mine in the OT. David's last words. An ode to the men who stood by him. David's mighty men. The thirty.
I'm not trying to prophesy or analyze it this time. I don't fully understand it with my mind. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down and demolishing strongholds.
Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; then Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod,
Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,
Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,
Heleb son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai
son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites. 2 Samuel 23:24-29.
I'm sure it wasn't a honeymoon everyday. I'm sure it took plenty of grace. Grace upon grace. If you think about the fact that God didn't leave David to fend for himself in the wilderness, but surrounded him with warriors, that's an act of grace in itself. Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; James 5:17.
Before you get to that passage there is another one that is of vital importance to the Body of Christ. Confess to one therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16.
I'm sure it was a vital part of their fellowship. Corporate prayer and worship. You can't hang around a group of men for years and not get to know something about their true nature. Unless they just insist on hiding behind a facade all the time. Thank God that I'm anointed with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Truth to penetrate those barriers and He gives me wisdom and truth.
You could understand if David men had come to him when he ascended the throne. But these were lean times. People who will stick with you through lean times are worthy of remembrance. And they were desperate. Hungry for God. Hungry for the glory of God. If one man (Elijah) could withhold the rain for 3 years imagine what thirty men could do.
That's just a partial list. God does answer our prayers exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond what we can ask for and imagine. When it rains it pours!
By Grace,
Travis
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros - a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra - a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades, (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. Matthew 16:18.
Here we are on number 30 and we're still working on extending that reach. We've seen that God is on the move and the He is unstoppable. We've also seen opposition, and resistance. I hope you have been blessed as I have.
I couldn't do any of it without God. That's why I keep doing it. That's why I keep repeating these verses day after day because it's all about Him. This morning I'm brought back to a favorite of mine in the OT. David's last words. An ode to the men who stood by him. David's mighty men. The thirty.
I'm not trying to prophesy or analyze it this time. I don't fully understand it with my mind. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down and demolishing strongholds.
Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; then Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod,
Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,
Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,
Heleb son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai
son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites. 2 Samuel 23:24-29.
I'm sure it wasn't a honeymoon everyday. I'm sure it took plenty of grace. Grace upon grace. If you think about the fact that God didn't leave David to fend for himself in the wilderness, but surrounded him with warriors, that's an act of grace in itself. Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; James 5:17.
Before you get to that passage there is another one that is of vital importance to the Body of Christ. Confess to one therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16.
I'm sure it was a vital part of their fellowship. Corporate prayer and worship. You can't hang around a group of men for years and not get to know something about their true nature. Unless they just insist on hiding behind a facade all the time. Thank God that I'm anointed with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Truth to penetrate those barriers and He gives me wisdom and truth.
You could understand if David men had come to him when he ascended the throne. But these were lean times. People who will stick with you through lean times are worthy of remembrance. And they were desperate. Hungry for God. Hungry for the glory of God. If one man (Elijah) could withhold the rain for 3 years imagine what thirty men could do.
That's just a partial list. God does answer our prayers exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond what we can ask for and imagine. When it rains it pours!
By Grace,
Travis
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Greater Reach 29 - Second Wind
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. St. Matthew 5:13.
I find it fascinating that the verse before that says rejoice and be exceeding glad.
I'm also amazed at Acts 5:41, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
On the one hand Jesus said that if we lose our saltiness we are good for nothing but to be trodden under foot by men. On the other hand if we open our mouth and preach the gospel it brings persecution with it.
What's the key? Rejoice! We can celebrate being rejected for our faith, praise God!
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