My journeys have brought me here, to Rogers City Michigan, home of my beloved mother-in-law and the shrinking town where my beloved spent her years learning and growing into the glorious young woman of God back then, before I knew her. Our footprints have been and are being pressed forward by the fingerprints of our Lord, for those of us who choose to use the dust of the journey to strategically brush and reveal His fingerprints upon us. This blog is my attempt to 'lift' His fingerprints and expose them to anyone who would choose to read and then discover His fingerprints upon their own life.
Joining the millions of unemployed in our nation, for the past months I find that employment would only get in the way of the current opportunities and places to be Jesus where He leads. My days are filled with things to do, people to engage, listening, really learning to listen, and finding the balance between waiting and doing. A pastor (and accountability partner in faith) here has stated to me, some look at unemployment as a loss while others see it as an opportunity. I am in the second lot.
There has been a call upon my life to be intimate, nimble, authentic and effective for Jesus long before this time of worldly unemployment. I choose to look at this time not as being unemployed, but being redeployed fully for Christ. Did not God promise to care for us (Matthew 6 and a host of other places)? Do I really believe that I am His in my job and while I am at work? Then should it not be that as I continue to seek Him in this time that He would continue to 'employ me' in His work at His will, with His continued call?
You see, I am still employed by Christ as long as He gives me breath. I do not get my fulfillment from my 'job' or 'career path', but rather from Christ alone. If I truly trust Him, do I truly trust Him in this time of 'need'? Does my life fully and realistically reflect this trust? Are others, including strangers hearing my complaints, struggles and bad attitude? Or are they hearing and seeing that in fact, in faith and in fellowship that my life continues on as it has, being as Paul put it, content in abundance, and in want?
Phil 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV)
Many have told me that my 'comfort' comes from having a wife gainfully employed, and yes, that is partly true. I do not take His hand of blessing lightly, but it is my hope and belief that even should He take her and all I 'own' away, my faith would still remain undaunted. No one would wish such a thing upon anyone, nor do I wish to actually face such challenge, but if called to do so, should not He be sufficient? Only time will tell what He will ask of me or my loving partner in life, but many times I have been required and found God to be faithful!
This long separation from my wife (I came here to work on my mother-in-law's home to help her maneuver in and out without having to negotiate steps to the living level of her home as she is relegated to using a walker) has been set apart by the leading of my God, and I can see and feel His hand of pleasure upon me as I do so. While many praise me for such an endeavor, my response and full belief is that I am only doing what God has asked of me in this time. He will care for me, lead me and continue to guide my work as I live in each day as His servant for His glory, for His kingdom. Sure, it isn't without struggle. It isn't without the unknown. It isn't without heartache. But it is with Him. It is with His leading. It is in response to His call.
His fingerprints continue to press upon my life today and will do so for eternity! How freeing it will fully be, when one day, I will be relieved of this earthly struggle and angst, to revel in the fullness of His presence, His glory rising as easily as I take each breath here, for to live and breathe, is to serve at the table of our Master, Jesus, here, and in His completed, holy, heavenly dwelling.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Deeply Devoted Disciples
For years a pastor friend of mine and I have shared similar spiritual musings in parallel places, unbeknown to each other, he in Michigan (currently) I in California. Stephen has tried to entice me to ministry with him, but God has not seen fit to allow, yet in our current state, the opportunity seems to be moving such that we can minister together in separate places.
Something is afoot. The fingerprints of God touching, leaving His impression on listening hearts, as always, in similar veins within His deeply devoted disciples. What is Jesus doing now? Always asking this question, it seems that as I look around, I can see that His fingerprints confirm what is in my heart, His stirrings, the similar movement of His people everywhere I look; the movement to make disciples. If this is not evidence of Himself, then surely there must be some strange 'harmony' of deeply devoted, immersed leaders as followers in the church, my pastor, Brian, my friend and another pastor, Stephen, and others I engage as leaders in God's movement. I carefully chose not the word 'church', because it, like so many other forms of religion is too encumbered with baggage.
It is a movement. A calling. The essence of our 'job' here on earth. Jesus did and told us to 'go and make disciples'. Not of ourselves, disciples of Him.
You see, my pastor (Brian)at home, has been touting the lack of discipleship in the church, and pressing us via the spirit, his sermons, and leading, to engage in the deep accountability of our members for quite some time now, and I find it interesting that in the small church, and in the heart of my friend's small church, Stephen is wrestling with this as well. However, in his church, he finds his hands being tied by the people and all the 'church baggage' that they bring every week.
We are people. Prideful. Arrogant. We want our way. In fact we even want God our way. He sits in heaven humored by our meager attempts at being Him and conjuring up our 'take' on Him while saddened by where it leads us; away from His love, His blessing, His glorious desires for His people. He is not interested in our perception of He and His leading; He is God. He is not interested in catering to us, giving in to our bane requests, or empty hearts, He is God. He will respond to the request of genuine hearts, seeking hearts and transforming hearts, He is God. He sees clearly and purely into each heart, unwrapping the complexities of our motives and desires, knowing at our deepest level, if our hearts are genuine, He is God!
For those who choose to listen and do, quietly, gracefully, honorably, powerfully, He moves in the hearts of His people. It is a movement that will warm the weary while winding up the wrath of the arrogant. Interestingly, never before in our nation has there been a time where most have seen 'church' but not seen God. The God they have seen is a contortion of those who claim to be His followers, Phariseeical in word and deed, respected by others who have bought their form of leadership, and most want no part. Like the leaders of the synagogue the Pharisees) at the time, Jesus took them on and they rose to stir the people to confirm and require His death; Jesus himself winding up the wrath of the arrogant.
One true test of a diligent follower of Christ is the lack of such arrogance, or, when it wields its ugly head, the beating down of such acts and brokenness before their Master. I have seen such in others, and desire such in my life. The life of the apostle Paul was lived as one such person, bold for his leader, humble in service. Paul was one such deeply devoted disciple, in discipline, service, calling and life. Most of us make the excuse that we are nor never will be a Paul. Is it time to release the excuses and press toward being more like a Paul every day? In the words of D.L. Moody, why can't I be 'that man'? Or at least more like him?
Something is afoot. The fingerprints of God touching, leaving His impression on listening hearts, as always, in similar veins within His deeply devoted disciples. What is Jesus doing now? Always asking this question, it seems that as I look around, I can see that His fingerprints confirm what is in my heart, His stirrings, the similar movement of His people everywhere I look; the movement to make disciples. If this is not evidence of Himself, then surely there must be some strange 'harmony' of deeply devoted, immersed leaders as followers in the church, my pastor, Brian, my friend and another pastor, Stephen, and others I engage as leaders in God's movement. I carefully chose not the word 'church', because it, like so many other forms of religion is too encumbered with baggage.
It is a movement. A calling. The essence of our 'job' here on earth. Jesus did and told us to 'go and make disciples'. Not of ourselves, disciples of Him.
You see, my pastor (Brian)at home, has been touting the lack of discipleship in the church, and pressing us via the spirit, his sermons, and leading, to engage in the deep accountability of our members for quite some time now, and I find it interesting that in the small church, and in the heart of my friend's small church, Stephen is wrestling with this as well. However, in his church, he finds his hands being tied by the people and all the 'church baggage' that they bring every week.
We are people. Prideful. Arrogant. We want our way. In fact we even want God our way. He sits in heaven humored by our meager attempts at being Him and conjuring up our 'take' on Him while saddened by where it leads us; away from His love, His blessing, His glorious desires for His people. He is not interested in our perception of He and His leading; He is God. He is not interested in catering to us, giving in to our bane requests, or empty hearts, He is God. He will respond to the request of genuine hearts, seeking hearts and transforming hearts, He is God. He sees clearly and purely into each heart, unwrapping the complexities of our motives and desires, knowing at our deepest level, if our hearts are genuine, He is God!
For those who choose to listen and do, quietly, gracefully, honorably, powerfully, He moves in the hearts of His people. It is a movement that will warm the weary while winding up the wrath of the arrogant. Interestingly, never before in our nation has there been a time where most have seen 'church' but not seen God. The God they have seen is a contortion of those who claim to be His followers, Phariseeical in word and deed, respected by others who have bought their form of leadership, and most want no part. Like the leaders of the synagogue the Pharisees) at the time, Jesus took them on and they rose to stir the people to confirm and require His death; Jesus himself winding up the wrath of the arrogant.
One true test of a diligent follower of Christ is the lack of such arrogance, or, when it wields its ugly head, the beating down of such acts and brokenness before their Master. I have seen such in others, and desire such in my life. The life of the apostle Paul was lived as one such person, bold for his leader, humble in service. Paul was one such deeply devoted disciple, in discipline, service, calling and life. Most of us make the excuse that we are nor never will be a Paul. Is it time to release the excuses and press toward being more like a Paul every day? In the words of D.L. Moody, why can't I be 'that man'? Or at least more like him?
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