There is no sacred and secular-it’s all His

“Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.” Psalms 2:8

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.” Psalms 24:1

“The heavens belong to the Lord,
but he has given the earth to all humanity.” Psalm 115:16

In the Kingdom, there is no seperation between sacred and secular. It’s all His and He has given us authority as His sons and daughters.

What’s in your hand today? Are you a parent, a teacher, a doctor, a business owner, or maybe a church leader- Let God do great exploits through you there!

All movements throughout history have started with ordinary people, not through the ones who looked like they had all the qualifications. All He is looking for are those that are willing to be obedient and step out of the boat,  not a list of qualifications.

Jesus Is….Peace

Jesus is…..Peace During the Storm

When many of us think of peace, we think of a hammock on the beach, laying with our eyes closed and just listening to the water.  In this place, we don’t have a care in the world.  Just in the moment, at peace and rest.

While this kind of peace and rest is good, there is a greater peace, a peace that when everything around us feels out of control, tells us we will never make it, we will never get past this point, this is when we truly need His peace. His peace is so wonderful that even the bad things in life, He will work them out in your life to bring you blessing. Now that is great peace.  I can think of when in my job, I got moved from full time to part time in the midst of a shaky economy. At first, I was concerned and worried, but then decided I was going to allow God to work this for good in my life. Everything has to be turned into a blessing, that’s His promise and that’s what I decided to expect. Truly, God worked it for good in my life by providing creative ideas for me to make the other part of my finances and cleared up some more of my time, so I would have the time to do more of the things He had placed on my heart.

I believe this is what Jesus talks about when He says, He is the author of peace. He is the Peace in midst of the storm. In Mark 4: 35-41, Jesus shows us this kind of peace:

³⁵ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

While you may say, well that was Jesus. He has the authority to do that.  In John it says, that even greater things (then Jesus did) we will be able to do because He have given us all authority.

Jesus wants to speak to your storm today.   He wants you to cast all your cares upon Him; your need of healing, your finances-He gives us the power to make wealth that through us and our children all the nations of the world will be blessed (that is the covenant He promises), your relationships, your family, and all your worries…..leave the how to’s and what if’s up to Him…He is the author of peace.

 

 

A rockpile can be turned into a catherdral

Think of some things that have been said about imagination:

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” -Anoine de Saint-Exupry

“Act as if you have already achieved your goal and its yours“-an American educator

“My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. Its the letter i use to spell yuzz-ama-tuzz. You will be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond ‘Z’ and start poking around.” -Dr. Suess

In Isaiah 55:8-9 it says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher then the earth so are My ways higher then your ways and My thoughts then your thoughts.”

God put such a vast imagination and creativity in each one of us, so we could bring a piece of Him, into creation. Imagine the most beautiful building you have ever seen, a brilliant painting, a song that just melts and sings to your heart….can it be that these things are just a small reflection of creativity in the earth?

Imagine if we learn to tap more into God’s creativity, the creativity that is within us, dwelling in the person of Jesus, how amazing everything around us would start becoming.

His thoughts are higher, His ways are higher…..more beautiful then the Taj Mahal?? More detailed then  Barcelona’s sagrada familia (I have been there, seriously one of the coolest places I have ever seen)…imagine that is only a small portion of creativity that is available. Whether it is for your business, relationships, or life in general ask God for His creative power to help empower you to do what you were created to do.

Generations Video!

Check out the new Generations Video!

Here is some of what is going on with the Generations Project around the world, by clicking here:   http://vimeo.com/9135252

The Generations Project:

• Is active and continually expanding in over 25 nations!  We have spread across Britain, Africa, Europe, North and Latin America, South Pacific, Asia, the Middle and Far East.
• Has over 100 groups/activities across the nations! Here is some of what is going on around the world and what some of our Generations leaders are saying:

“We are a vocal and dance company. This group permanently changes the lives of the young people involved, and we see some real lasting fruit.” –Darlene, Apple Valley, California.

“I want us to affect our world in every area that we live in! In Western Australia, we are connecting with an organization that is reaching out to the people who live on the streets. We also are setting up Bible training for young girls so they will know who God is.”–Hanna, Australia.

“We are the hope the world needs. We bring our friends together and have a time to meet with God. We bring food and clothes to those in need and do whatever brings the heart of God to our communities.” –Celso, San Paulo, Brazil.

“A place where babies play and mums pray. Ours is a group of young mothers from our apartment complex. We pray and work our way through the bible. We’re growing fast!”                      –Heather, Southport, England.

• Has grown to over 397 people under age 35, in leadership positions across Aglow!
• Cameroon produced the first Generations CD, and the 2^nd will be recorded live this year at the Australian National Conference.
• Has worked with Dr. Victor Khalil to create 18 episodes of GlobalCallTV, a talk show format geared toward young people, especially in the Middle East.  This show has a potential audience of 100 million viewers!
  • Some comments we have received from viewers:

“I was thinking about running away from home, but watching your program is changing my mind.”  – Suzanne, NJ

“My family is not from the U.S., they don’t understand my needs, I was born here, and I have many American friends. My parents don’t encourage that, I am confused. Why did they bring me to America and continue to live the Middle Eastern way?”  – Lila, MI

• Has been featured in over 12 Radio interviews, magazine articles, and/or TV interviews!
• Is in the process of developing an internship program that will send interns all around the world to mentor, give vision, and release them in the call of God on their lives.

2010-A year of new beginnings

2010

Happy New Year!!

What are you believing for in 2010? When January 1 comes every year, I reflect on the year before and on what I believe for in the New Year.

This year is more than simply moving into a new year, it’s a turning of a decade.  If I think about where I was and what was going on a decade ago, one thing in particular that comes to mind is—Y2k. Do you remember all the craziness around Y2K…it was “the end of the world as we knew it.” “The world’s computer system’s would crash.” etc.. People were selling everything, moving to farms, buying cows for their back yards and generators for their homes. Stocking up. We know what the end result was barely a blimp on the radar.

It would be denial for me to stay the world is not in time of stress, there are many impending situations from foreign affairs, to security threats, to a recovering economy. Though, it is important that we keep our eyes on Him and not on situations that are here one day and gone tomorrow. When I think about what even my grandfather’s generation witnessed in their lifetime, I am reminded that situations come and situations go. But we must put our trust in the One that is unmovable, unshakable, a Solid Rock that promises even if 1,000 fall at our right and 10,000 to our left…no harm will come near are dwelling.

In the last century, the world has seen and defeated; the Great Depression the Holocaust, the gloom of the takeover of communism to the falling of the Berlin Wall,…just to name a few. We also have new and old problems still to address—from global hunger and poverty—aids epidemics—children that are left as orphans—human trafficking, to name a few—and still so many people that have yet to hear of the One who gives life and life more abundantly. The Lord is going to show Himself strong and mighty in this time, we are His hands and feet to the world around us.  He tells us:  “be of good cheer, for I have already overcome the world. “He has given us the keys of the Kingdom”

I believe this is a year of new beginnings.  The year that long waited dreams that have been in your heart—need to become a reality. What do I mean by that? If God has placed something in your heart, this year we need to step out of the boat in every area of our lives, under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  If not this year, when? This is our finest hour as the people of God.

We need to rely on the Holy Spirit more than we did yesterday: I believe that those who have been prepared and those that will allow themselves to be uncomfortable, and step out of the boat that God wants to give back places of influence that His people were intended to reign in. He is calling us to live, see, and speak the heart of God into every area of society. This is the year that God will make Himself known in all the earth through His people.

The Favor and Blessing we have as a Follower of Jesus

It’s like you are given in all access pass…and God is saying you ahve been given all access…but because of limited understanding, or because of preconceived ideas, what we feel we have to offer what we don’t have to offer, doctrine…we hold ourselves back from going into and discovering another room of what He has to offer.

My grandfather, a Methodist minister of 60+ years, use to think that it was righteous to have lack..he told me a dream that changed his beliefs.  One day he had a dream.  The dream was that he went to heaven…and Peter took him around heaven…and showed him room after room…they came into one room and it had washers and dryers, and so many other things that my grandparents had needed over the years…my grandfather said in the dream, “what is this?” Peter answered, “these are all of the things we had prepared for you, but you never asked for them.”

Mal 3:9-11

“Try me now in this, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes. So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground.  Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for  in the field, says the Lord of hosts.”

Notice it says, Try me now in this….how do we try Him.

About two years ago, I had a flood in my house.  I had just finished finishing my basement.  Which was a very long process..and finally it was finished.  Well, heavy rain came to Seattle, which isn’t normal. Heavy rain…that is…it rained more in those 3 days then in 100 years.

My basement flooded.  I had 8 amazing friends who came over and helped me all day keep it out. But alas…my brand new carpets were ruined. I had to get new carpets, dry out the basement and all of that.

At church…they were taking an offering for a church that had flooded and pretty much lost everything.  I felt the Lord say, I want you to give this amount to that church…I thought, “Lord, I also had a flood and am in need…I need this money.” But I gave it anyway…my insurance wasn’t supposed to cover anything, but the amazing thing was is about a week or so later, I received way more then i needed to cover all the repairs and more. I believe that my gift opened the door for that.

My friend, Meesh, didn’t have insurance a few years ago, when we were in college.  He got in an accident while snowboarding…and broke his collar bone…and thus the cost was $100,000 to him personally.

Someone had church, came and gave him $100…and he started to put his $10 tithe to the Lord….and He felt God say, “No I want you to give it all to me..”  Meesh thought, “I need this money Lord..”  Then he thought, well what’s $100 when you owe $100,000…later that week, he got a call from the University of Washington hospital they told him your whole bill will be covered by the hospital.

Meesh felt the Lord say, if you would have given me 10% I would have given you 10% too..

Wow!  So today, try the Lord in something….that’s the currency of faith…to step out of the boat.

Inside Scoop on what is going on in Honduras

Here is some information from people within the country on what is really going on in Honduras:

Information about what is really happening in Honduras from missionaries who live there. Please pray. We are all well here, thank God. Please don’t believe everything you hear in the news; most are broadcasting Manuel Zelaya’s version, (expresident of Honduras).

The Wall Street Journal is one of the few who seems to be saying the truth. No military coup here. The president was impeached and removed from office after a special committee, appointed unanimously by Congress, declared him unfit to govern. The Secretary of Finance explained to the media that Zelaya has not submitted a national budget to Congress this year, has not given an account of his spending, has halted social programs and spent his time campaigning for an illegal and unconstitutional referendum, and has ceased to pay the salaries of teachers, doctors, nurses, for the past several months.

He suddenly and forcefully doubled the minimum wage, trying to “buy” the popular vote, thereby causing several companies to close their doors, thus increasing the enormous unemployment in this country, and scaring away foreign investment.

Violent crimes have surged in the past year. Several of his cabinet members resigned because they did not approve of his actions. Even congressmen from his own party warned him that they would not support him in his push for constitutional reform, in order to be able to stay in power for life (under Hugo Chavez’s advice). The Association of Private Entrepreneurs of Honduras repudiated his actions. The illegal referendum that he wanted to carry out last Sunday was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Congress, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Electoral Tribune, and other government entities warned him to refrain from his intentions or he would have to be arrested for violating the Constitution once again.

He responded that he did not fear them and proceeded as planned. Accompanied by an armed mob, he broke into the place where the military was guarding the confiscated ballots for his referendum. When his Army General opposed this action he fired him on the spot, but the Supreme Court reinstated the general to his position. Early on Sunday morning, by a judicial order, Manuel Zelaya was arrested in his home and deported to Costa Rica, in an effort to prevent violent confrontations on the streets and needless bloodshed. Congress has since sworn in a new interim president, Roberto Micheletti, the former head of Congress.

All government sectors want to guarantee to the people that there will be free, democratic, and constitutional presidential elections this coming November. Meanwhile, Hugo Chávez, from Venezuela, who supplies all the oil used in Honduras, has publicly threatened to “do whatever necessary” for Manuel Zelaya to achieve his objective of getting himself reelected into power indefinitely.

Whatever He says to do, Just do it.

Your thoughts our higher then mine, your words our deeper then mine..your love is stronger then mine..

Yesterday, listening to a message by my Pastor, Judah Smith. Listen here: ( In Him We Preach by Judah Smith)A lot started stirring in my heart about getting back to the basics of knowing Jesus. In this culture, especially within the United States where we have the luxury of having so much information on everything, we can overcomplicate the simplicity of the gift of life, and fullness of life, from Jesus. How can it be where they may not have a bible, where they don’t have all the books on what it means to know Jesus, all the music to worship Him….they can know Him in even a simpler more indimate way.

What ever He says to do, Just do it….this is what Mary told Jesus. This is what launched Him into His “calling.” Arranged at the perfect time. Some may wonder, how can I complete whats in my heart? How can I find what I am supposed to do with my life? How do I get there? What if I don’t make it? What if I never get there? What if God never speaks? Bottom line, do as Jesus did…”Whatever He tells you to do, just do it.”

His thoughts are higher then our thoughts, His ways our higher then our ways (Isaiah 55) In Him, the master architect of your life has the blueprints for your life…and knows every step that needs to be made.” Don’t build the house before consulting the master designer, architect of your life. What someone can work for 40 years to complete, God can do overnight. He can bring it to pass. In Him, all wisdom, creativity, understsanding exisit. “Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your posession, the whole earth as your inheritance.” -Psalm 2:8 The same one who sets the ways of Kings, and is the King of all Kings…..is the ruler of the universe wants to know you intimately.