Partnered for Purpose

Since the beginning of time God has desired that we would join forces with Him in order for His will to be done through us. In the garden when He simply could have created robots who would do His bidding, he opted instead to create Adam and Eve with their own free will so that they could choose to partner with Him to fulfill the purpose He had established for all mankind. Throughout the Old Testament when the people of God continued to stray, He never made them do His will but simply gave them the opportunity to return to Him over and over, experiencing His never-ending mercy and grace. When Jesus came to redeem us from our sinful condition, even He had the opportunity to choose to partner with Father God for His purpose when He came to the crossroads in the Garden of Gethsemane. And now when it comes to you and I, let's never forget that the Father always gives us the chance to choose His will and do our part in the process. He never makes you do anything, but He gives you the choice and provides the grace to fulfill whatever He's calling you to do.

Recently, a close friend shared an insight from Jentzen Franklin with me that ties in with this topic. He said that when Peter was being miraculously freed from prison by the angels of God (Acts 12), a peculiar thing happened. Despite chains falling off of his hands, walking through walls and a secure iron gate opening on it's own (with the help of the Holy Spirt :-)), the angel asked Peter to 'put on [his] garments and follow [him]' (v.8). Why with so much miraculous occurrence was there a need for Peter to do the simplest of things: putting on his robe and shoes? The reason that Jentzen Franklin shared is profound. Despite all of the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit, there was still a requirement of the step of faith by doing his part for Peter. Even in His working of the miraculous, the Father still wants us to partner through our obedience to Him. It's why Jesus had to come to the crossroads at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45) and why Peter had to step out of the boat to walk on water in Matthew 14. It's also why you and I must find out what God requires of us in partnering with Him for what we're called to do.

So today and everyday, I encourage you to do whatever Father God is requiring of you to remain partnered with Him, for your purpose in Him.

Your Great Name

Please take a few minutes to watch the the powerful story behind the song, 'Your Great Name.' Humble worshippers declaring the name of our awesome God. Just click on the video titled

'Your Great Name - Song Story' which is on the right side of this page. Enjoy!!

Follow the Cloud, Not the Crowd

As I was reading the most exciting book in the Bible this week: Numbers, insert sarcasm :-). I saw something in a whole new light. In Numbers 9, Moses and the children of Israel are commanded to follow the cloud - a tangible representation of God's presence - wherever it led them. Now of course we all know that's what happened throughout the sojourning of the children of Israel: the cloud led them by day and the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22). The key point which I had overlooked for so long in this passage was in verses 21-23. In it they were given specific instructions:

21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

This passage shows clearly that they didn't simply pack their things and start moving because it was a new day and then wrap it all up and stop because it was night time. They moved when He said to move and they stayed when He said to stay. Our lives are the same. We are truly not our own and we must remain in a posture that is humbly submitted to God's leading and direction by the Holy Spirit. Whatever season of life you're in, whoever you're called to care for or minister to, whatever your job is, whatever task or project you must take on, etc., know where you are called right now and be about following His will for your life. Just as the children of Israel, we need to follow the direction of the Father regardless of how we feel. Whether it's convenient or not, He knows the beginning from the end and has our best in mind. That means we need to stay when He says to stay and move when He says to move.

No matter what those around you are doing, it's imperative that you know who you are called to be, and what you are called to do as the Lord directs your steps (Proverbs 16:9). His ways and thoughts are higher than ours and He graces us to rise to the occasion (Isaiah 55:9). So in each day and in every season, always remember: follow the cloud, and not the crowd.

Good Friday Prayer

This was originally posted on the Blue Letter Bible Blog (http://blogs.blueletterbible.org/blb/).

O LORD, my God and Savior,

Mockery was a great ingredient to your woes.
Judas mocked You in the Garden;
the chief priests and scribes laughed you to scorn;
Herod set you at nought;
the servants and the soldiers jeered and harassed you with brutal insults;
Pilate and his guards ridiculed Your royalty, even though it was truth;
and on Your cross—where you bled through your hands, your feet, your brow—all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at You.

Such ridicule is always hard to bear, but all the more when we are in intense agony.
And all the more when it is so heartless, so cruel, that it cuts us to the quick.

As I picture you hanging on Your cross, my great God and Savior crucified, I cannot bear the thought. Your frail and beaten Self was racked with anguish far beyond all mortal guess. A motley mob wagged their heads and thrusted out the lip in bitterest contempt and insult toward you, a suffering victim. So humble a Savior!

O Jesus, “despised and rejected of men,” “acquainted with grief and sorrow,” how could You die for men who treated You so ill, so poorly, so horridly? How? Herein is love so amazing, love divine, yes, love beyond degree! We, too, have despised You in the days of our own unregenerate state, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet You bled to heal our wounds and died to give us life.

Oh, that we could set You on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Your praises over land and sea till men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject.

Your creatures wrong You, Oh sovereign LORD! And yet, Your grace comes down to us like a river from that Cross. You died and rose again that we might do the same. So we run to you, from the foot of that cross to the foot of Your throne, hearts bursting forth with thanksgiving and praise, “Oh God, take me! Like You there is no other! My life is purchased and Yours!”

(adapted from Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional)nd Evening devotional)

He Never Changes

Jesus. The name above all names. Healer, redeemer, restorer, savior, shepherd, friend and Lord of all. Today and everyday, Jesus is unchanging. He is the word of God, manifested to us in His time on earth, and continually manifested in us by the work of the word and the Spirit. No matter what you think based on what you can see, He is forever steadfast and immovable. He was present at the foundation of the world, at the fall of man, and clearly seen by all during the redemptive work of the cross. This same Jesus is here for us today. Accessible to the one who is yet to believe, and walking faithfully with the one who already believes by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 13:8 says it well: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We are afforded an incredible opportunity today to know the One who was, is, and will always be, who is more than able to work in our lives to will and to do for His glory (Philippians 2:13). Come what may, good or bad, remember that you can always trust Him. He truly never changes.

Look Up

My encouragement for you today is simple: look up. In Hebrews 12:1-2 we are encouraged to run the race of life faithfully as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus:

¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Day to day we are often distracted by things around us, but we can always receive renewed vision and strength in knowing that we can look to Jesus in every situation. He's been where we are as he put on flesh to bear our sin and make a way of salvation for us, and he is always with us by the Holy Spirit. Never forget as you go through your walk of faith that He really does perfect that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8). So the next time you get distracted and discouraged by what you see, remember to look up: Jesus will always be there.

Who Does He Say I Am?

The affirmation of a father is unlike any other. So many of us have a difficulty relating to this concept because of sub par experiences with natural fathers. Whether you've had a positive or a negative experience with your natural father, our Father in Heaven is always one who loves us, affirms us, speaks encouraging words over us, and has given it all so that we could be with Him. No matter what you have believed about yourself, remember that His thoughts toward you are good. His love is unconditional and He always has your best in mind, no matter what things look like in the natural. Let's take a look at what He says about YOU:

He has given you the right to become a child of God - John 1:12.

You were brought near by the blood of Christ - Ephesians 2:13.

You are a new creation in Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:17.

He directs your steps - Psalm 37:23.

You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength - Philippians 4:13.

All things are added to your life when you seek His Kingdom first - Matthew 6:33.

He leads you to victory - 2 Corinthians 2:14.

He has good thoughts toward you - Jeremiah 29:11.

He has created you for good works - Ephesians 2:10.

He works out all things for your good - Romans 8:28.

You have peace, given to you by Jesus - John 14:28.

You have been given power, love and a sound mind - 2 Timothy 1:7.

God's goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life - Psalm 23:6.

Obviously, I could go all day with statements of encouragement from God's word, but I won't. Instead, my proposition for you is to spend everyday tuning your ears in to what He says about you and those around you. The words you receive will be the door to fulfilling the two great commandments that Jesus declared - loving the Lord and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:34-40). We serve a great Father and YOU have been created in His likeness. Receive every word of life He has for you and remember that no matter what you or others say about you, you can always go back to this question: Who does He say I am? The answer will undoubtedly be one full of Father God's affirmation, life and purpose.