6th August, 2008
The Huggers
Today, as I was driving through the mountains of Santa Cruz, I felt the Holy Spirit impress a thought into my heart. Here in California, more precisely, Santa Cruz and Berkley, there is a university called “University of California” each campus ends with the name of the city it is attached to.
Anyway in both locations there are radical students that live in trees twenty four hours a day. The reason they are hugging the trees, per say, is to stop any developers who want to build on and bring needed change because of desired growth. This could be defined as the vision for the university’s have come to the level where new building will bring new growth and opportunity for higher education processes.
The Spirit of the Lord gently placed this thought: These are tree huggers but they are not hurting the heart of the Lord like “church huggers” are. Church huggers, those that move into positions in the church and refuse to move out of the way when growth is necessary and needed to bring higher spiritual application. The Lord is wanting to build on to His Church but the church huggers refuse to vacate their position. As we know the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. However, God is wise, He will find a place where “huggers” are not going to implant their demands on Him and there is where growth will be. Yes, they want to keep religious traditions and political aspirations. They claim ownership to what belongs to God Himself.
Sanballat and Tobiah were “huggers” (Nehemiah 2:9;4-6) and tried to stop the rebuilding of the Wall of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah did what needed to be done, built the Wall and would not debate nor come down to discuss traditions and policies. The Lord gave the direction and the mandate. Nehemiah obeyed and did not give into the “huggers” demands to hug! Because of the obedience and preparation the exiles returned and all the peoples of Israel were in their towns. (Nehemiah 7)
Church huggers need to go and stop “choking” growth and retaining religious “stuff”
Best
Dennis
Posted at 11:14 pm | Comment (0)
12th April, 2008
Managing Your Own Soul
Could you imagine that if you were the manager of your own soul what you might do with life? I know that if I managed mine, life would become the most confused and difficult adventure I could ever be part of. Having the Holy Spirit manage my life is a real joy and pleasure. The journey has purpose and when reflected against what isd promised it really is quite exciting. Moving as directed by the Spirit has its advantages compared to moving as directed by emotions and a flawed perception of what is ahead. The Israelites moved by the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Certainly their conditions were harsh and often times deserved for their lack of trust and also the apparent lack of gratitude for what the Lord had done for them. We can find our own way or we can be managed by Him in all our ways. We can be thankful for what He has done and for what He has promised! We should never be like those wandering in the desert, complaining and never satisfied with the provision of the day. This journey that we are on is really serious yet, at the same time it full of spiritual stimulation, joy and peace. Keeping in touch with the Lord and following Him as He moves keeps us in tune with His plan and His remarkable wisdom in each circumstance. Even when the times come where you must see by the “eyes” of faith you are truly aware of His presence and promises. The full embrace of His love can only bring the deepest sense of purpose and comfort. Learn from the wanderers and stay focused on where He is going to go next. He will manage the path and the method.
My Heart To Yours
Dennis
Posted at 1:08 am | Comment (0)
4th March, 2008
Looking Into The Depth Of A Calling
Often, I sit and look into the depth of my calling. Deep into the thoughts of my mind, waiting for some new and fresh direction! Some adjustment that the Holy Spirit is doing that will sharpen my discernment or hone the obedience to His gifts that are active in my Spirit. Meditating on that power that dwells within my heart and motivates my soul to pray and too serve Him. Hungry for the essence of His presence to manifest in my being so that I can do more, so others would come to know His great love. These innermost depths that can only searched out by a true relationship with the Lord of all. Hoping that any new and dynamic statement that is breathed through His Being will will permeate my soul and bring an anointing that will pry loose the inner-man to obey and pray. This, my friend, is the essence of walking with the Master! Embracing every command as though it may be the last.
This I believe is what Paul was experiencing when He wrote:
“Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. ” (Philippians 3:8-11, AMP)
Peace
Dennis
All scriptures used in this blog article are The Amplified Bible, containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 1:30 am | Comment (1)
21st December, 2007
Receiving Your Breakthrough
Just imagine for a moment what it must have been like: to be crippled and carried your whole life! Not being able to breakout of survival mode. So many of the church today are crippled and need to be carried. They continue to live in that lower mode instead of walking in the position given to them by the action done at Calvary by Christ, Jesus.
“But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, ” (2 Corinthians 2:14, AMP)
Here, he is looking into those eyes of authority when he hears words that made no sense to him. Words that normally would have been accepted as cruel or damaging, like acid poured on an open wound. But these words were different, the command in the voice, the certainty of the authority. His body reached up as he was lifted to his feet. What warmth is this that he feels for the first time in his memorable life? What strength he feels as he senses movement in his lower extremities. Movement, feelings, finally independence! Dreams that may have been buried for years now become realities and impossibilities become possible. These emotions now have taken control of a crippled man from birth. Why? Because he decided to listen to the impossible and believe the unbelievable. How often do we hear that voice, that command, that directive but we evade somehow the possibilities as though it was a passing thought or uncomfortable moment in our lives. Just think if we would have reached up and accepted the command, the authoritative statement, which would have brought restoration beyond false decoration in our lives. So many hear but do not respond. So many are living in the survival mode and they are just an action of obedience way from being blest. How about the widow women in 1 Kings 17?
“So he did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook. After a while the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land. And the word of the Lord came to him: Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you. So he arose and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her, Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. And she said, As the Lord your God lives, I have not a loaf baked but only a handful of meal in the jar and a little oil in the bottle. See, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it—and die. Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth. She did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. ” (1 Kings 17:5-15, AMP)
She was prepared to die. She was following her instinctive reservoir of womanhood. Preparing a meal for herself and her son, the last meal! Yes, the prophet comes by and states the impossible: Make me some first, then for you and your son. How can this be? Can this prophet mean this? There was a certainty in his voice, as though he had witnessed the same himself! A familiarity of results that he himself experienced in the near past. Yes, God brought Him from the dried up brook to a widow women who had also dried up! But God was going to bless them both out of the impossible! Listen, God wants to provide out of the impossible for those that love Him! To be continued…
Peace
Dennis
All scriptures used in this blog are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 10:41 pm | Comment (0)
20th December, 2007
What He Thought Is Not What He Received
With an almost intruding glare he must have looked into the eyes of both disciples. Shifting back and forth with his eyes as one would watch prey for their very next move. What could this man mean “Look at us”? Could he not see that I am the one that is needing assistance at this very moment. There must have been a sense of deep security in the man’s heart though, as he obeyed the voice of Peter. Then as though it came from around a dark corner, from a place of darkness and void a statement that would change the life of this man forever.
Peter stated: “But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have; but what I do have, that I give to you: in [the use of] the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! ” (Acts 3:6, AMP)
The moment of change! The instance of a new future. He is commanded to walk! Peter was stating that what he had to give could not be spent nor held in a pouch. The jingle of coins would not bring comfort this day! It was the need for change, and not pocket change! Change that can only come from an anointing! Change that would last for eternity, not till the next day. The effect of those words would forever be imprinted in the pages of His Glory! Pages written before the earth was formed and the heavens saw created light.
Walk, how can I walk. This survival mode has been with me so long! My daily carriers will come and get me at the end, I just know it! I need money to eat and money to have for boarding. What is this man doing, why, why, he is reaching out to me: lifting me up to my feet, my feet and legs have not been useful that I can remember!
“Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady, ” (Acts 3:7, AMP)
Often times we stop but do we obey? Does faith resemble the impossible or does it resemble what could be done? Peter knew that it could only be Jesus! Both Peter and John had business that day. They could have winked an eye and stated ‘we will pray for you and thanks for the glance, the intense stare you gave’. But no, they knew it had to be Jesus that causes such an abrupt statement! He reached and picked him up! How many times has the business of the moment held back the miracle of the hour?
I must mention here about the widow women who had her last two pennies and put them in the offering horn! (Mark 12:42-44). She changed her life by putting all that she had in the offering! Not to mention the widow women who was gathering for her last meal (1 kings 17:10). She made a change that day from survival to blest by simply obeying the directive of the prophet! To be continued…
Peace
Dennis
All scriptures used in this blog are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 11:21 pm | Comment (1)