How do we know we’re hearing God’s Voice?

A sincere spiritually hungry pilgrim once asked, “How do I know I am really hearing the voice of Jesus, because I don’t want to miss him.”

Jesus said, those who are truly his will hear his voice and follow him. Could the affirmation of hearing manifest in the following? We can know we’ve heard his voice if we have acknowledged him as the Son of God, the Messiah, our Savior, Lord, and friend, when these once mere titles used to describe him woke us from our slumber and became life to our souls.

We know we’ve heard his voice when our cold, calloused, empty heart is filled with with joy, hope, peace, purpose, and love.

We know we’ve heard his voice when we would rather be in his word, in prayer, and in his presence than any other place or with any other person.

We know we have heard his voice when we choose to walk in the truth no matter the cost. When our hearts are grieved as darkness is deceitfully portrayed as light, when injustices are done, when innocence is lost.

We know we’ve heard his voice when we are willing to set aside our comforts to rescue the weak, needy, broken, and wounded, when we love the world’s less lovable and care for the abused and abandoned.

We know we have heard his voice when over flowing from us to others is genuine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control,when we get lost in serving others.

His is the voice of relationship, not religion.
His is the voice of purpose, not wandering.
His is the voice of hope, not despair.
His is the voice of light and life, not darkness and death.
His is the only voice of purity, power, and permanence.
His is the voice of God.

Craig

The Pattern for Life’s Success

Deep in the Buffalo River region of Arkansas is one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited. I have been there enough times now that it has become a familiar friend, a place for solitude and spiritual refueling. I hesitate to disclose the location for fear that it may become so popular it loses it’s quiet reclusive character, but then that wouldn’t be fair to others seeking shelter from the storm of life-clutter and distraction.

Within the small village of Ponca, sitting next to a very photogenic creek that runs through the distance of the township is a lodge called Cedar Crest. I usually stay there when visiting the area for several days. The main industries of Ponca are canoe and overnight cabin rentals and the Lost Valley General Store where you can pick up a few staples and an ice cream bar on a hot summer’s day. If you’re looking for a broad selection of food items, a longer drive will be necessary.  All of this is comfortably nestled at the north end of Boxley Valley, a place worthy of some National Geographic attention, but then I am a little biased.

Almost daily elk can be seen quietly grazing in large open fields against the back drop of breathtaking limestone cliffs and forest covered hills that host and escort the Buffalo River on its meandering southern journey to the White River. Not far away from the Cedar Crest, beaver and trumpeter swan can often be seen traversing an old spring fed millpond, and occasionally I have spotted a bald eagle or two perched on one of the many trees at water’s edge.

One cold January day while visiting there for a retreat, I was reading the Sermon on the Mount when I reached the Lord’s Prayer. Each time I read this section, it is always with deep honor and devotion. While slowly perusing its words, I found myself amazed at the brilliance of the mind of Jesus and his passionate heart of love for his Father in heaven, the Father’s will, and for those given to serving him. Within these brief sentences he strategically provided his new disciples and all who would later join them with his framework for a successful prayer life and the whole of life as well.

The prayer is as relevant today as it was the moment it flowed from his lips to the ears of those positioned around him. Though brief and woven with simplicity, it is embedded with power, divine brilliance, and instruction.

(from the book, “Vigil”)

7 Signs of a Pure Heart

1.  A pure heart is sincere.
·  A sincere heart loves God, what God loves, and loves serving God.
·  Is willing for God to assess it as David did in Psalm 139 “Search me O God and try me…”
2.  A pure heart breathes after purity.
3.  A pure heart hates sin.
4.  A pure heart avoids the appearance of evil.
5.  A pure heart performs holy duties in a holy manner.
6.  A pure heart will live a pure life.
·  2 Cor 7:1 “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” NIV
·  2 Cor 7:1 “With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.” MESSAGE
7.  A pure heart is so in love with purity that nothing can draw them away from it.

The pure in heart will see God.

(From Thomas Watson 1620-1686)

Don’t Let Up

“Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute. During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds…” (Acts 5:42-6:1, The Message) There are a few really exciting things about this passage.

First they are the words of the disciples right after they were mistreated by the authorities, and the disciples were obviously not discouraged from continuing to tell people everywhere about who Jesus was, what He had done for them, and what He wanted to do for others.

Secondly, they were not just showing up once a week in the “big service” to share what was going on, but they were in homes also. In fact at this point they were at it every day. We probably need to be on point everyday too. I know we have to use wisdom and be discreet in school and on the job, but let’s be honest, there are plenty of windows we could be sharing about Jesus in some way.

Thirdly because it was real, because it was life changing, because people weren’t just moving from church to church every few months or years, the number of people having changed lives because of Christ was on the increase. No billboards, smoking stages, circus tricks, and slick marketing, just the genuine power of God’s love manifest through the work of Jesus and spilling out into the streets through those being affected by His grace and empowered by His Spirit.

It can happen again if we get the right focus!

Prayer – Maybe the Most Untapped Power Source in the Christian Life

In 2009 the average household spent about 20 hours a week watching TV, twice that much on the internet, 17 hours on the phone, and that doesn’t include the average teen that texts 1.5 hours a day.

Even though prayer should be the mainstay in our lives, the average Christian spends only around 15 to 35 minutes a week doing it. Some results:

• We are only a shell of what we could be.
• We’re ignoring the most powerful source available to us for overcoming worry, fear and living full purposeful productive lives.
• Prayerlessness equals ineffectiveness, lack of directional clarity, and powerlessness.

Maybe the most perplexing thing is why we often forfeit the invitation and opportunity for mere mortals to commune with the God of immortality, to enjoy relationship with the Creator of all that exists and the knowledge of His will and exchange it for temporary shallow interludes unable to supply us with the needed sustenance for body, soul, mind, and spirit as designed and required by our loving Father God.

James 5:13-18 “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

Jesus said His house would be called a house of prayer; it appears we have reduced it to a small closet given its lack of emphasis.

 

7 Prayer Points

1.  Be persistent! Don’t give up on prayer and don’t give up on what you are praying for.

Lk 18:1-8

• If you don’t pray, start!
• If you have stopped, start again!
• If you have decreased praying in your life; increase!
• If you have a great prayer life, keep it up!

2.   “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Col 4:2,3

3.  “Pray without ceasing…” 1Thess 5:17

4.  Pray in the Spirit Eph 6:18

5.  Pray for spiritual growth Col 1:9-14 “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you

• complete knowledge of his will   and to give you
• spiritual wisdom and understanding.

RESULT: Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”

• We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.

6.  Pray believing Mark 11:24-25

7.  Pray God’s plans (His will, selflessly):  James 4:1-3 “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”

Overcoming Worry & Fear

This past Sunday I shared how Satan attempts to use worry and fear to intimidate and distract us from experiencing the life God wants us to live. Unfortunately, this strategy of the enemy often works effectively for him and against us. (Listen Online)

Near the end of the service I asked for those to stand who felt worry and fear were effecting, dominating, or controlling their life, and many did stand. In fact someone wrote me an e-mail the next day saying, “I don’t normally look around during altar calls but for some reason yesterday I did. And I was amazed at the response! So many people fearful.”

The main Scripture used Sunday was from Psalm 56:3,4 but I would like to draw your attention for a moment to the beginning verses also.

This Psalm was written with 1 Samuel 21:10 as the background, as David is fleeing from Saul and is alone. This is just before the cave of Adullam experience when about 400 men joined him.

“Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.” (Ps 56:1,2) First let me highlight the word pride. Often that is what causes unjust or unfounded attacks on us. Some root of jealousy in someone gives way to criticism, fault finding, and then the pecking begins. Don’t let yourself get drawn into the same type of thing as your defense, remember what Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” I’m not condoning the actions of the attacker or attackers, nor am I justifying them or their actions, but it’s possible they may not even be aware themselves that pride is their root problem and why they are on the attack. Let your response and actions be those of Christ’s and let the battle be the Lord’s.

Now look at David’s next words, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” David did not deny the presence of danger or the fear he experienced, but he quickly got his heart realigned when he embraced these words, “I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust” and thus, “I will NOT be afraid.”

I want to end by sharing a list of Scriptures for you to pray and stand upon when you battle against worry and fear, but before I do there is a most important question to ask yourself. Is the purpose of your life truly given to love and serve the purposes of Christ? If it is not then your life is out of alignment with its intended purpose, and until it is, you will never experience the life God wants you to experience in its zenith of freedom, fullness, and destiny. And frankly, you should worry and fear if you are attempting to live life your way and outside of the love, purposes, and boundaries of Jesus Christ.

We do not have the resources in ourselves alone to adequately conquer worry and fear, but God does and if we have chosen to live under His guardianship, He is our deliverer, our refuge, and our protector. He is God and there is nothing that can come against Him and win. Here are a few weapons to use against worry and fear:

• Isa 35:4 “Say to the faint-hearted: “Be strong; do not fear!”
• Isa 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.
• Ps 27:1”The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?
• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
• Isa 54:17 “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, “declares the Lord.”
• Zeph 3:17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

Be encouraged and stand on the Word of the Lord!

Good News About Salvation

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”             (Gal 1:2-5)

WOW!! Now there’s some great news for us. We all have access to the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those first words reveal to us that God wants to be known in part to humanity as a father. I say in part because the Bible shows us several characteristics God wants us to know about Him, but here He is again presented to us the perfect Father. God as our Father has no flaw in Himself, in His plans for us, or His plans for the world. He knows just what His children need, where He wants them to go, and what He wants them to do. And, He has limitless ability to supply for them as He sees fit. He will not leave or abandon us; He will not do anything or ask anything from us that will harm us, only that which will ultimately be best for us. His father heart wants all of humanity to know Him and His intent toward them and He makes that grace and peace available through the redemptive work of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “Lord” indicates for us that He has no superior to yield to, Jesus is the final authority, period. There is no greater force than He, so we need not worry as long as we find our hope, our trust, our life, in the person of Jesus Christ.

As sons and daughters of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ and with our complete allegiance to His Lordship, we are indeed free, “rescued from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”

If you have made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, you have much to be grateful and rejoice about today.

Blessings,
PC

Side Road Adventures

I just returned from a two week mission trip in Belize. I visited several villages, was greeted and hugged by some familiar faces, as well as met many new folks in this small Central American country. There are many stories to tell, but for now I would share only this one which occurred at one of the Mayan ruins on the one free day our team had.

I had climbed the ruins two years ago with another team, but because of a knee injury that occurred a few months ago that is still healing, I choose the smaller mound in the photos.

Once I reached the top I took a few steps into the trees and quickly caught movement of something in my peripheral vision. I turned and there seated on the ground leaning against a tree trunk was a soldier holding an automatic rifle. I said hello, he responded with a head nod and then I walked over to introduce myself which I could tell by his facial expression was not the norm. His name was Phillip, he has been in the army for nine years and his assignment now was providing security for the visitors to the ruins protecting them from bandits that sometimes cross the Belize Guatemala border to rob tourists. I asked if I could take his photo but he declined and clutched his rifle. I’m not sure what he meant by that action, but I thought putting the camera away might  be a good idea.

Not much time passed before I was sitting a few feet away from him on the ground exchanging stories and asking questions about his job and family, to which he became open, receptive, and even smiling.  In a few minutes more the husband and father of two little girls was sharing requests and letting me pray for him, his family, and his future. After I said amen, through a grateful smile he thanked me and asked if I would return and visit him again.

We are all on mission, and  if we will be a little open and discerning, we can contribute to someones life in a valuable way. We do not have to have the attention of thousands or be the center of media attention, though if that is the Lord’s leading, there is certainly nothing wrong with that. There are no minor or lesser important side roads when it comes to following the leading of the Lord. Every task or mission that is God led carries great value. When we are led by and obedient to the Holy Spirit, what may seem a side road to us, is still a main and good highway to God.

The Potter’s House

“Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my words to you.” (Jer 18:1) These are words once given by God to a prophet named Jeremiah. It was necessary for Jeremiah to act on them in order to know the next step he was to take in a very important mission God had selected for him to carry out.

Jeremiah did just as the Lord had instructed and once he arrived at the potter’s house and watched what the potter was doing, he received a vivid illustration for a message God wanted to deliver to His people Israel through him.

I have often been asked the question, “How can I know what God wants me to do?” I have to admit I wanted to reply with, “Go down to the potter’s house.” But I realize that would make no sense to most people.

For me the potter’s house represents getting in the presence of God by reading the Bible and drawing from it His desires for my life, and then once having done that begin to pray for the particular details and steps for application. How can I ever know the details of His incredible plans for me if I spend most my time in other places and looking at other sources? Can God speak through anything? Of course He can, He even used a donkey once, but if I know where He abides, shouldn’t I be seeking Him there?

My earthly father lives in Louisville, Kentucky. I have always enjoyed hearing stories about his life. When I am talking to other family members I ask how he is doing or enjoy hearing them tell me what he’s been up to recently, but what I love most is being in his presence, hanging out with him, and getting information directly from the source.

God has given us the opportunity to learn more about Him, what He desires for us, and the details of how to live the best earth life possible. We can learn about Him from others, visit dozens of other places and sources to get a bit of information here and there, nothing wrong with that, unless it’s a substitute for going to His house, the place where He abides.

We can see movies about God, read novels about God, hear the experiences of others and what they think about God, or we can seek His presence and live our own experience with Him.

There is a potter’s house for each of us, and there we will hear from the Lord, but we have to make the effort to get there.

Significance

Have you ever been part of a late night conversation about what’s significant in life? I have several times. Conversations around a table with empty coffee cups and half filled water glasses, napkins scribbled with a word here and there or a rough drawing to illustrate something.
Conversations where the subject of what really matters in life is being seriously considered and attempted to be better defined.

For the older ones around the table the comments are often reminiscent in nature and about how to best use the time left. For the younger it’s fulfilling dreams, avoiding pitfalls, and what will make a difference in the world?

For me significance is a pretty deep word, and it probably should be for all of us. Start asking friends and acquaintances about what is significant and you discover varying answers.

My hope is that deep in all our hearts most want to do the things in life that will contribute to helping others and to see them connect with the Giver of Life. There may be varying answers, but I can give you at least one significant thing to do today if you’re not already involved in something truly significant for the day.

The little girl in the picture is Matha Balita, she lives in Uganda and wants to attend school, but her parents have no work and cannot afford for her to go. Prayer matters and can be significant to this little girls future, please pray for her.