Burn

I will never forget what a wise man once told me. He painted a picture of a great storm that struck fear in to the hearts of many. This fear forced them to leave the fields they were plowing and run for shelter that was later completely destroyed by the storm they so feared. But for a single man, a supernatural peace came over him. With an intense focus, he held the plow with both hands and kept moving forward. The rain from this destructive storm then watered the field he was diligent and faithful to plow. Crops and fruit from that land were rich and abundant. He described the desire to be that man—and placed the same gut desire in me—who did not run out of fear but remained faithful about his Fathers business with his hands to the plow.

In response to the shooting that recently took place in Oregon, I respectfully acknowledge the loss and my heart is moved with compassion for the people and loved ones affected by it. Now a word of encouragement for them and the church at whole. Let us be the one who doesn’t run out of fear, but remain faithful about our Fathers business knowing that no matter what happens Jesus is worth it all. Great is our reward in Heaven for those who remain faithful, those who are persecuted because of Christ (Mathew 5). Let us remember the beautiful words of Jesus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:24-26)

My friends, don’t let anything keep you from serving and following Jesus. Don’t let anything keep you from obedience, both in the small and big things alike. Let us live a life dead to ourselves and alive in Christ. Let not fear, sickness, persecution, self, comfort or any other thing keep you from loving Jesus! Follow Him. Meet Him secretly. Allow the revelation of the Father’s heart to overcome you. Bless the one who so willingly laid His life down to give us real life. Eat of Him, be with Him, meditate on Him, and love Him. Then, go out and pour His love and that which you were freely given to those who desperately need it—to those around you.

Friday September 11, 2015 was a rough day but had amazing fruit in the end. All that week I felt great amounts of opposition. It’s easy to believe the lie that you won’t be able to withstand the pressing. That it would just be better to crumble now and quit. But let me tell you, DON’T QUIT! If you don’t quit you’ll win. There is too much at stake to believe the lie. And may I point out, it is a lie. Lie’s may feel real, sound like truth, and be extremely convincing, but it is still a lie. The truth is, if you said yes to Jesus then you are a child of the King, and He is with you always. The Holy Spirit lives and dwells with in you and you CAN DO all things through Christ Jesus who gives you strength.

On the 11^th our church took prayer and worship to the streets of Charlotte on the corner of Trade and Tryon, one of the busiest intersections from what I hear. That morning I woke up sick. I’m talking gnarly eww sick. The bathroom was my closest friend that day. I felt weak, clammy and just plain icky. I was wrestling with whether I should go or not. I wrestled with thoughts like Don’t go. The worship team doesn’t really need you. They will be fine without you. It won’t make that big of a difference if you don’t show up. Besides you really don’t feel well. You should just rest.  Warring mentally, emotionally, and physically took a toll on me, but by God’s grace a few people started praying.

As I was laying on the couch, minutes before my ride was about to leave, I heard the voice of God say “Get up. Arise and Go.” Even though I still felt crummy I decided to go in faith, and I am so glad I did! God showed up! By the time I reached the event I was feeling 100 % better. As we declared the name of Jesus through worship I could feel the chains break off of me, let alone many others who joined us. Business people with suits and ties stopped out of curiosity to see what was happening. People were being healed and set free merely by the worship without anyone laying hands on them. Hearts were being softened to the Lord Jesus, chains were being broken and freedom was released on the streets of Charlotte. Holy Spirit was active at work. The body of Christ started to move as one. People from other churches happened to walk by, decided to minister in the crowd, and set up a prayer tent. The Spirit was moving! There was worship, prayer, and street evangelism taking place all at once. There were many testimonies of what Jesus did that night. He is amazing! To Him be all the glory! He alone deserves it all!

Keep running! Keep loving! Keep your eyes on His!

Faith Leaping

There is so much that I could talk about now that a month has almost gone by, but I don’t ever want my words to be wasted. I want everyone to count for the Kingdom of God. So today, I will share with you a piece of my heart and pray that God moves on yours.

“My friends let me encourage you to move past fear. Don't let fear or what seems right in our own eyes keep you back from living a lifestyle of faith leaping. There is such a unique rich blessing for those who listen and obey. Who walk in faith and NOT BY SIGHT. Who encounter loneliness, brokenness, and the unknown out of a crazy love for Jesus. He never fails! He is true, and He is alive! So stop and breath. Breath deeply of the sweet presence of God. When you walk in radical faith, is when you experience fitting in the Father like a hand in a glove.”

I wrote this the first week after I moved. I was sitting in my kitchen crying. My dad flew back to Washington and the reality of life hit me, I’m alone. Now what? I felt broken and lonely as thoughts of defeat and fear of failure bombarded my mind. What did I do? In the little faith I had, in the slightest strength I had, I worshiped. As I blasted Kim Walker’s song I Still Believe, I felt a faith rise up in me. My Father called me to say goodbye to everything. He called me to sell or give away everything but a few suitcases, to say goodbye to my family and friends, quit a job that I absolutely loved, leave a massive blessing of a church, and move somewhere where I’ve never been. My Father wouldn’t tell me to do all of this just to leave me abandoned. No! I could feel this faith arise in me, and as I started to profess, even though the feelings were not yet there, I still believe, that’s when it happened. The Spirit of God walked in to the kitchen. He heard the silent prayers in my tears and stood right behind me. I could hardly move once I realized who was in the room. But then I was overtaken by His tender love. The Father wrapped His arms around me and we fit together like a hand in a glove.

How sweet, how precious, how breathtaking, how glorious is the love of God! I’ve heard this before, but now I’m learning this through experience. Just as the Lord will fill you to the level that you’re hungry, so the level of faith that you step out in is the level you will experience Him. He will meet you, and you will know Him. In other words, when you step on a limb that might break because you love Jesus enough to walk in radical obedience, watch how close the Father will come behind you. He is faithful! He will never, and I mean never, leave you. He will never drop the ball. So don’t walk in fear! Now is not the time to fear! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, put your hope in the Lord, walk in obedience, live a life of faith leaping, and experience the tangible touch of the Father.

Joy In Suffering

My friends I want to share with you the great joy my Heavenly Father has graciously bestowed upon me. I desire to share my heart with you so that God may graciously impart the same joy and hope with in you. This joy and hope does not come from the things that you can see with your eyes, but rather things you can only see in the Spirit. This joy and hope I’m speaking of is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

I’ve been a Christian practically my whole life. I’ve loved Jesus through this journey, yet each time He brings me to a deeper level of Himself I’m challenged in thinking did I really love Him? I ask myself this not because I believe I’m a heathen heading towards hell, but because this new found joy, love, and freedom makes my past love for Him look like a lukewarm pale gray. He is so good and faithful to start and finish the faith within us. He is so faithful to bring us from glory to glory—there is no end, only an eternal loving Father.

I’m not sure how to articulate all that is within me. I feel like the bride to be after her engagement—so overwhelmed words cannot express, but I’ll try.  “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” Philippians 3:10. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20.

My friends I have such joy and excitement in picking up my cross. What a privilege it is to bear the name of Jesus, what an honor. In the past I have chosen to die to myself and pick up my cross, but it wasn’t out of joy or powered by the Spirit. I did this foolishly the only way I knew how. By mustering up some kind of faith and choosing to do something with fear, timidity, uncertainty, and concern, all of which are not from God. Because it wasn’t out of a position of humility and love with my eyes stubbornly fixed on Jesus, and because I wasn’t truly allowing Jesus to be Lord in all areas of my life (although I thought I was), I wasn’t able to truly die to myself and pick up my cross. Instead, I was beaten and broken near death by condemnation and a twisted view of faith.

This time I have found the joy in experiencing a life upside down and backwards. I laugh with excitement in the thought of suffering for Christ. Not because I’m twisted or desire to experience pain, but because I see Christ. I see my Love. I see Jesus, and I’ve tasted something that in all my walk with the Lord I have never tasted before. My friends Jesus is Lord! No really, Jesus is Lord. He is Lord over my thoughts, words, actions, my heart, and my whole life. This great standard of Holiness—to be Holy as He is Holy— is unattainable on my own. It must be powered by the Holy Spirit, and that is why He gets all the glory. Do I mess up? Yes, don’t we all? But when I do, I repent and run violently towards Jesus and my loving Father.  

I know my sufferings are not the same as my brothers and sisters in this world, but whatever my future may hold, I know that I can rest in this hope and joy and certainty in Jesus. For I will not be distracted any more, but fix my eyes on my loving Jesus and allow Him to overflow my being.  

As a bride wears her wedding ring—a token of the covenant of marriage, so I wear a token of the covenant with my Lord in the form of a cross—my cross, as I fellowship with Him in His sufferings. What an Honor to bear the Name of Jesus, the one who takes away the sins of the world!