Foundations: Shaking

This message got started as an e-mail to a relative out of state and became a word on shaking, pruning and hope. So it sounds like this blog will be in three parts.

Acts 16:25-26 [in prison]"About midnightPaul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose." Not only is this word literal, it has a deeply spiritual meaning for us in the 21st. century. Those things we build that are of our own doing and not God's will be shaken, we can count on it. Sometimes what we go through in this shaking, feels like an earthquake; other times it feels like the grape vine that gets pruned at the end of the season, that it might bear great fruit the next year. We had a grape vine one year and my Dad pruned it that winter. By the time he was done, it looked like it would never recover. The next year, the vine that had not been well taken care of, had leaves that were larger, fruit that was larger and sweeter. Pruning was a good thing! But surely not in us Lord! Yes, that too is good. When everything around you seems like a pile of rubble because of the shaking, remember; faith and hope will bring us to a new level. This is a great work of God and the natural mind can't understand or receive it.

Let your spirit receive this; everyone's chains were loosed. The cutting and shaking may seem unending, but let faith arise in your heart, the open doors are coming, the multiplied fruit is coming.

Add On

And Phil did all the dishes!

Rachel and Phil

Our granddaughter Rachel and her friend Phil called and wanted to cook dinner for us. Of course we said yes!! (Phil is the chef). Phil was well prepared with a duffle bag full of good things. Out of this bag and Phil's talent for food we had pork roast, mashed potatoes, carrots with a slightly sweetened butter sauce with chives. For dessert we had butterscotch pudding with pears and whipped cream...all from scratch. We devoured the whole thing.

Later Rachel set up a Facebook thingy for me. Who would have thought? You should see all the Minnesota relatives that have come out from their Facebooks!! The four of us got in a game of Clue too. Rachel won, I knew it had to be Mrs. White that did the deed.

Thanks guys for the fun night.

Armor Up!

These are the two words going through my mind today, armor up. The amazing God we serve has given us all we need, all the equipment , all the grace and more to serve Him.

I was reading the epistle of Peter today. Peter and many other apostles spoke of their day as the 'end times'. So here we are, two thousand years later and closer than ever! The Lord has given us the armor we need to resist the fiery darts that come our way. We are not alone in this, we are part of this glorious Church born out of God's love for us. When you think of these blessings, look up in a good concordance: armor, endure, courage, strength, vision, zeal; you will be blessed.

Go

This past Sunday we heard from Pastor Lori, the fourth in a series on "The Dangerous Church." In this dangerous church are the mature, discipling those who are growing into maturity. Jesus has called all disciples to GO. That word is one of the most important words in the life of the Christ follower. Short word, packed with power because all authority and power has been given to the One we follow, (Matt. 28:18) the Lord Jesus. Every spiritual father and mother we have in the Bible has heard this word from God, if you would follow God, you too will hear the word GO.

We have the power and authority in His name to go because He has commissioned us, appointed us, anointed us and sent us to do His work in this world of 'gross darkness,' (Isa. 60:1-3 KJV). Jesus was quite clear when He laid out His plans for the disciples in His Church, (Matt. 10; Matt. 28:18-19). Go therefore!! Do what God has called you to do, to the praise and glory of His name. And do it with all your might, in the power and authority He has given us. What is there to fear when the power of the Living God is with us? God has provided everything we need behind that word GO. I'm strongly considering these things, what else is it that God wants me to do? Whatever He calls us to, we are already equipped through the Holy Spirit.

We are blessed in this life with the Son of God.

Thankful

Our friends Javier and Teresa are expecting their second child, a boy, in March. Sunday, Teresa told us of an experience she had while driving on a road with black ice. She started skidding, went in a ditch and the car rolled over. My jaw is open by this time. There is usually no traffic on this road, but there happened to be a man driving behind her and he immediately ran to her car and called 911. She was shaken, the car is a mess but Teresa and the baby are fine. She got a tiny cut on her hand and a little mark on her belly, and she lives to tell the story of God's protection and mercy. We are so thankful!

More on Patti

Just got a text from Patti, she is going HOME this afternoon! She had a 50' walk down the hall yesterday, now she's ready to go! Thanks for all your prayers.

Occupy : Luke 19:11-27

I love this verse in the KJV: "...Occupy till I come." Luke 19:13. The word occupy in the Greek is pragmateuomai, (recognize the word? pragmatic) to busy oneself. It's from a root word prasso in Greek. The primary verb means to practice, perform repeatedly or habitually, to execute, accomplish, commit, keep. The root word prasso means do business, work.

While it is comforting to know we have a church we call our home church, sooner or later we come face to face with the call to occupy! Then it's no longer just coming to church once in awhile after we realize there is work to be done. Maybe you aren't in a place where you realize what the gifts are that God has given to all of us, but the gifts are there. He promised.

Remember all the land that God gave to Israel? Beautiful land, full of plenty for God's people. Only thing was, someone else occupied the land that belonged to Israel. In our own lives, we have the promise of a fruitful heart and life...here it comes again, occupy. That means we have constant business in our hearts just like Israel had in the land. When they obeyed God's commands, they overcame all obstacles, when they didn't obey, they lost the land. Have you ever had the feeling you are in the same old territory? Be of good cheer, I have too, so have millions of other Christians. We have the Lord, who will never leave us or forsake us.

One of the important things in this occupation is to watch and pray. When Nehemiah and the other leaders were rebuilding the temple, they had their sword in one hand and a tool in the other. Watchmen stood guard on the wall night and day. Be vigilant!

Are you wondering what you can possibly do in the church that looks like they have all the volunteers they need? First of all, love God with all your heart and strength, love and support the church, love and support the leaders of the church. If you love kids, they need you. Does your church have guest services? Volunteer and make the stranger welcome, just as you were when you came. Have you got a musical talent you've been hiding? Sing and praise the Lord out loud! Whatever your gifts are, Jesus makes room for you.

The servant that really delivered the goods was given more. Serving in the church is about pleasing God, doing it for Him and it turn we bless the people we help, and the Lord blesses us. If you are a volunteer in your church, encourage other people who are hanging on the sidelines looking in. They really do want to know they have an eternal purpose of this great big plan of God's.

Let's do business. After you start, never look back.

Construction

The type size in the "Dangerous Church" blog just doesn't cut it, does it? So I'll stick with the first try. That's construction for ya.

Patti

Sunday after church, we went to St. Clare's Hospital in Lakewood to visit Patti. She recently went through a day surgery and two days after she got home, she got sick with a fever and cough. Last Friday she was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia; a softball size infection in her lung. She is doing much better, thanks to lots of prayer and good care at the hospital. She will be there three more days. Keep praying!

Patti's kids were there, Chariti, Nikki, Macaiah and Heidi. It was a blessing to watch Patti and the kids laughing and loving being in each others presence. God is good.

When we see her next, we're going to bring her something that will help in her pulmonary exercise, big bottle of bubble soap and a bubble wand and she can do her breathing exercise. When she's back home, Mom's homemade chicken soup would be in order, maybe enough for the whole gang.

Dangerous Church: Jesus Has a Dream for the Church

That dream is found in Matthew 16:18; "Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Here are some of the high points from my notebook. If you are thinking of getting DVD's of P. Jeff's messages, this is the series to get!

• there are 'safe' churches that try to please everyone, and then there's the dangerous Church that takes on the challenges and conquers in His name
• the dangerous church is fervent is effective
• we are different, we are not our own
• Jesus puts His dream in ordinary people

Come, see, hear, experience what Jesus is doing in the dangerous Church today.

Miracle on the Hudson River

Thursday, January 15 will be a day remembered by many, especially those passengers and crew that were on Flight 1549. It was early in the reports that the media began calling this event a miracle. There were many things about the pictures worth thinking about. First of all, the 155 passengers standing on the two wings, looking like they were standing on the water. The body of the plane was in tact, except for the one engine, the water was calm that day, dozens of boats and ferries in the water for rescue and not one accident and best of all, there were no deaths. Do you believe that God gives miracles today? I do. For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, God will reveal Himself. Did you see the reunion between the father and his grown son who had been on their way to a golfing vacation? They had gotten separated and when he saw his son, all he could say was, "thank God," over and over. People on the plane turned to God in prayer, they knew. This event was completely out of their control but they knew Who to turn to.

Still Under Construction

So many choices, it's like building a house! Colors, fonts, design. Beige is a great color, I like it; but it needs something like cayenne red with it. With the help of my husband and good guy, Jim, it's coming together. I love the idea of communication in this day and age, quick txt to Jim when he is at work, or to grandchildren, friends. It's great! More to come.