What's Going On?

As I sit here and ponder my circumstances I realize a few things. My circumstances are beyond my control, most of the time. At least the changing of them. They are sometimes a result of my choices but so many other external factors come into play more often than not.

What I have found is that when I take my eyes off Jesus and focus on my circumstances the control is taken away from Him to do the good work in me He desires. Kind of like speeding down the highway at 70mph and choosing to stare out the side window at the scenery, the other cars, the sky, anything but the road ahead of you. Odds are you will wind up part of the scenery you are watching, only a more mangled version!

In the last 6 weeks or so God has blessed us with the opportunity to, once again, own our own home! The idea seemed so far off not too many months ago. But all things are possible when you align yourself with God's Will. The journey of this home buying process has not been easy. There have been struggles with man. There have been struggles with unseen forces and spirits. Yes I said spirits. Whether we like it or not there is an enemy. One that seeks to kill, steal and destroy. John 10:10.

But God has given us the keys to the Kingdom. Matthew 18:18 tells us "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." What exactly does this mean? Take Lazarus for example. Jesus raised him from the dead. Lazarus was loosed in heaven or from heaven. However, on earth he was still bound up in grave clothes. He had to be physically untied or loosed.

God is a big God and is capable of all things. But most of the time, if not all of the time, there is action required on our part. Walking it out.

Micah 2:13 tells us "One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head." This speaks of God as the breaker, or one causing a breakthrough. He breaks open the gate. But, in order to possess the land they have to "go out", meaning go through the gates onto the other side.

God told us this year that we would possess the promised land. Well, that can be looked at both literally in the form of a house and the house can be viewed metaphorically as well. Part of obedience to God's call is indeed walking it out. Going to what he has promised you. In this case it was our home. So we had to go to houses for sale. So we went. As God would have it, a local builder was in need of selling through numerous inventory homes. Currently built or being built but not yet having owners. Deep discounts were offered, upgrades galore! a price too good to pass up, literally!

So we began the process, no money, horrible credit, you name it, the cards were stacked against us. Except....God. God had told us this would be our home, and what God says, goes. All along the way we had to use our God given skills, cunning, wit, intelligence AND perseverence to remind people how to do their job, show people our faith in God, and push things along, WALK IT OUT!

All along the way God has moved mountains and broken through. New mortgage companies were obtained when others could not perform. Negative credit was removed when disputed, having previously been denied these disputes. Ex-spouse releasing court ordered alimony without being asked. Unexpected processing fees get paid as a result of other's obedience to God and His prompting to loan us money. (Subsequent obedience resulted in blessings in the form of signs and wonders. Children covered in heavenly gold dust, parents hands flowing with wonderfully scented heavenly oil!). Finding out that we qualified for the first time home buyer tax credit. Breakthrough after breakthrough!

So here we are, the night before our closing and God is still in this. Still moving. Moving in the hearts and minds and lives of those around us. Everything is aligning with His Will!

Do I doubt my God? NO! Do I doubt my circumstances sometimes? Sure. So I'm fixing my eyes on Jesus.

Pastor Jeff Yale

Today the Lord took home a great Brother in Christ, Pastor Jeff Yale. I first met Pastor Jeff at Real Life Church in Tampa in 2003. There he was serving as the church's youth pastor.

Jeff was such a warm, charismatic man. You felt immediately welcome in his presence. So many of us at the church and in the Tampa Bay area were and still are touched by Jeff's ministry. Our Wednesday night youth service was filled to overflowing by kids that weren't even regular members of our church. The local DJ's knew Jeff by name and helped him promote numerous community outreaches and local Christian bands of all genres.

Jeff leaves behind a legacy in Christ that we all would hope to leave. Touching so many lives, leading so many youth to Christ. Jeff trusted in Jesus knowing that He is our only hope as fallen creatures. He taught that to his flock God had entrusted to him. Jeff also leaves behind the legacy of two beautiful children. I pray that God would reign down on them His Peace, His Mercy and His Protection, in the name of Jesus!

As the events of the past few weeks unfold I cannot help but think of the lives of the people that have departed the Earth. I've pondered their faults, failures and struggles. I've marveled at their positive contributions to our culture and society. But no matter the size, stature, grandure or celebrity of these people, I cannot help but really ponder their place with Christ. Not standing in judgement of any of them but wondering if they truly knew Jesus and hoping they were face to face with Him right now! Right now, only the Lord knows for sure the eternal placement of each of their souls. What I do know for sure is that the soul IS eternal! What I do know for sure is that Jesus' offer of eternal life in Him is free! What I also know is that time is running out. Jesus is returning for His very soon!

As you watch the news and see people come and go, live and die, take time to think and ponder on this Gift of eternal life God has offered you and embrace it!

John 16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

God Bless!!!

natural versus supernatural

Did you ever have the most wonderful experience at Church, or receive an awesome word from God? Then Monday morning comes and or maybe you just simply step out of the church into the "real" world and everything feels less powerful or less special?

Have you every known that "you know, that you know, that you know" that God's revelation to you was God, IS God, speaking into your life, but everything you are currently seeing in the natural is telling you different?

It's amazing how you can stand and witness the most amazing, supernatural acts of God and then be completely brought back to where you were by the everyday natural.

This is where faith in action comes in to play. This where you walk it out. Where "the rubber meets the road" as the saying goes.

Mat 18:18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” What truly made me understand this verse more clearly was Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave. What was loosed in heaven was the miracle of Lazarus being brought back to life. What had to be loosed on earth was the physical grave clothes that Lazarus was bound up in.

To many of us receive a Word from God and cherish it, hold it close to our heart and then put it in figurative "keep sake" box. Never actually putting it into action, never taking it for a spin. Kind of like you praying for a car so you can go to work, God sends you one and you leave it in the driveway only to stare at it day after day, never doing with it what you had needed and asked God for.

Heavenly Father I pray today that you continually reveal your Glory to me and continue to strenthen my faith, continue to strengthen my resolve to walk out your blessings! In the name of JESUS!

Listening to MWS's "This Is Your Time", thinking of the events of Columbine and admiring the strength and courage of admitting faith in God!

Acts 11

Acts 11

Peter Explains His Actions

1The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."

4Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'

8"I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

9"The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' 10This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. 13He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'

15"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with^[a]water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"

18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

The Church in Antioch

19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Observation and Application

Sometimes I feel compelled to comment on the whole chapter rather than a single verse. Other times the opposite will be true. To quote "Top Gun" the Word is a target rich environment when it comes to seeking God's truths. As Peter began to speak the Spirit came on those that were listening and he remembered his dear Lord tell him and the other disciples of the coming Holy Spirit and subsequent baptism by the same. Here God is showing his jewish disciples that they are not the only one's He came to Earth to save. So why should Peter keep this live saving Grace to himself?

God has given me life. He has given me faith, hope and joy. Should I hide my candle under a lampstand or share it with the world?

Prayer

Dear Jesus, please fill me up with Your Holy Spirit that I may pour myself, and Your Word into others. Amen.

Pslam 19

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. ^[a]

4 Their voice ^[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Observation and Application

God is sovereign. He reigns and rules over everything. He is just. He is right. Let God reign supreme in my life. Let me see His glory in everything around me. It is there whether we like it or not. Whether we acknowledge it or not. I choose to see it and embrace His sovereignty.

Prayer

Father God, in the name of Jesus, show me your Glory! Amen.

Exodus 38

Exodus 38

The Altar of Burnt Offering

1 They ^[a] built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits ^[b] high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. ^[c] 2 They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze. 3 They made all its utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. 4 They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. 5 They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating. 6 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7 They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards.

Basin for Washing

8 They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

The Courtyard

9 Next they made the courtyard. The south side was a hundred cubits ^[d] long and had curtains of finely twisted linen, 10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11 The north side was also a hundred cubits long and had twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12 The west end was fifty cubits ^[e] wide and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 13 The east end, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits wide. 14 Curtains fifteen cubits ^[f] long were on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 15 and curtains fifteen cubits long were on the other side of the entrance to the courtyard, with three posts and three bases. 16 All the curtains around the courtyard were of finely twisted linen. 17 The bases for the posts were bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver; so all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.

18 The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer. It was twenty cubits ^[g] long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits ^[h] high, 19 with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks and bands were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver. 20 All the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

The Materials Used

21 These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which were recorded at Moses' command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 22 (Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything the LORD commanded Moses; 23 with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan—a craftsman and designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.) 24 The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels, ^[i] according to the sanctuary shekel.

25 The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, ^[j] according to the sanctuary shekel- 26 one beka per person, that is, half a shekel, ^[k] according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men. 27 The 100 talents ^[l] of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base. 28 They used the 1,775 shekels ^[m] to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.

29 The bronze from the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. ^[n] 30 They used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar with its bronze grating and all its utensils, 31 the bases for the surrounding courtyard and those for its entrance and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and those for the surrounding courtyard.

Observation and Application

The first thought is, "what is a shekel?". That, apparently is up for some debate. The general consensus is that it was around eight ounces. Given the going rate of gold, silver and bronze, the total amount (by my "educated" calculations) would be upwards of $35 million US dollars. That's some serious coin! This from a group of people wandering around in the desert! To serve a living God the Isrealites brought all they had, gifts, talents and finances. To have a relationship with the God of Abraham they "scrounged" up millions! They put their talents to good work. They fashioned a temple where this God could reside and be with them.

Through the work of His Son Jesus, God the Father has done away with the need for such a place. Jesus resides in those that choose to accept His work on the cross and follow Him. I should be willing to do the very same thing. Bring all I have, mind, body and soul. He has taken all of the "work" from the experience, which should cause me to desire to work for Him all the more!

Prayer

Father God, in the name of Jesus, instill in me the desire to give you all that I am, for without you I am nothing. All I have is from you. Let my actions and words glorify your name! Amen.

Exodus 37

Exodus 37

The Ark

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. ^[a] 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6 He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ^[b] 7 Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

The Table

10 They ^[c] made the table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. ^[d] 11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12 They also made around it a rim a handbreadth ^[e] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 13 They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14 The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. 16 And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

The Lampstand

17 They made the lampstand of pure gold and hammered it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms were of one piece with it. 18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 21 One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 22 The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23 They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24 They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent ^[f] of pure gold.

The Altar of Incense

25 They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high ^[g] —its horns of one piece with it. 26 They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27 They made two gold rings below the molding—two on opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer.

Observation and Application

God gives his people very specific instructions. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Sounds like He has nothing better to do than boss people around. Sitting on His thrown, bored, what can He think up to amuse Himself. On the surface this may be the only thing a person might be able to come up with. Look deeper. If you desire a closer relationship with the Father you have to. You have to look deeper. Go deeper. Farther down the rabbit hole if you will.

These instructions in Exodus 37 are not merely busy work. They are an exercise in discipline, obedience, patience. These were the directions on how to construct the Ark of the Covenant. God's throne in His dwelling place in the Tabernacle. In order for God to be with His chosen people they needed to follow His specific, good and perfect instruction.

This is where this chapter can be applied to our lives. Pay attention to what God has laid out for us. Follow His details. Be disciplined in the pursuit of His will and enjoy the fruit of that obedience; quality time with the Father. Of course we don't have to go through the process of constructing our own Ark, our own Tabernacle. Jesus' work on the cross tore that separation away. Now we can boldly go before the Father and enjoy His presence, His peace. However, this is not done without listening to Him and following His instruction.

Prayer

Father I pray, in the name of Jesus, you would show me your will. Show me where you want me to go. Give me a finely detailed plan. Continue to instill in me the wisdom to follow that plan, that I may enjoy the fruits of your discipline and obedience. Refine my heart o Gos, make as pure gold in your sight! Amen.