I was attending a seminar conducted by the awesome Selene Yu, Founder of the Potter’s Leadership Academy and a high ranking Executive for both the Volvo and Chevrolet Auto brands in the Philippines at a Catholic Parish in Cainta the other day. She handed a round ball of clay out to every participant and told us to in the next 5 minutes, make something that defines who we think we are.
You have to understand. I don’t like to create physical art work. I like to look at it but I don’t like to paint, draw, work with clay or anything of the sort. And just to set the record straight, I hate playing Pictionary. If I even think for one moment that someone wants to start a game of Pictionary, that is my cue to get tired and go to bed.
With my apprehension in full gear and the clock ticking, I began to work the clay with my fingers. My mind wandered and before I knew it, I had formed something that looked like a cup. But upon further inspection, it looked like a well. At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Remember, you are a well.”
The Lord has spoken that to me many times before but I needed to be reminded. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well that anyone who partakes of the water He gives us will have coming from them, a spring of living water.
I began to remember all of the times that I have been aware that the river of the life of God has flowed from my heart (or belly depending on the translation of scripture) as Jesus talked about and how often I have seen that river change somebody or a situation without my having said a word.
I remembered specifically, a lady on a bus as I was traveling through Athens a few years ago. The Holy Spirit pointed her out to me and I prayed for her from a distance without her being aware. I tangibly felt the presence of God flow from my heart to hers. I prophetically knew she was a wayward Christian and that I wouldn’t need to talk to her and that she would know what to do after receiving ministry from afar. Within minutes, she was weeping (I was also tearing) and she probably had no idea that any human was on that bus being a willing agent of God’s Spirit. After all, I was wearing sunglasses and not looking directly at her. I will see her around heaven on that great day most all of us are looking forward to…
At worship practice last night, the Spirit of God kept reminding me about it. And I talked to the worship team about being wells of God’s power and presence… about intentionally sending that river out onto the congregation every time we minister. And then the Spirit of God descended on us as we prayed together and we shared a powerful and holy moment as God’s Spirit touched us once again and prepared us for the various worship experiences we would be collectively leading this week. Wonderful!
You like me, like our worship teams at TFI are meant to be a well-spring of the life of God. Allow me to encourage you to intentionally let the river flow, let your light shine and be salt in a world that is desperate for the saltiness of genuine people of God!
As for me, I initialed my work of art and I have placed it on my car dash for now. Just to remind me of who I am supposed to be. Thanks for the project Selene! And Thank you God for reminding me once again!!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Hit by a Power Line
Yesterday as I was walking to run an errand near our home in Pasig City, Philippines, I rounded a corner and saw a power line falling towards me. I jumped to avoid it, but it hit me on the my left arm, right above my watch. It was a moment I will never forget. Was I feeling electricity? Was I going to die? Within a split second, I knew that there was no power surging through me and I saw that the reason why the line had fallen was because a power company crew was there and I could see the guy up on the pole with cutters in his hand.
I was angry. They had cut that line with the possibility of someone like me rounding the corner and it hitting them and had not used proper precautions. It was a big line, heavy and sharp and it hurt. I'm looking at the small scar as I write. It bled for a bit and I have applied anti-biotic ointment several times already. It's a good thing it didn't hit a little kid in the head! They apologized nervously while laughing. I wasn't laughing but I just continued on my errand and used a napkin I had in my pocket to deal with the bleeding.
I thought as I walked... How often has the enemy attacked me, provoked fear, drawn blood, hurt me to a degree, but he was ultimately powerless (limited) and could not kill me?!? More times then I can count! Sometimes several times a day! How about you?!? God is great and those who put their trust in Him shall be under His divine protection!
1 Peter 5:7-9 (NIV)
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
John 10:10 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
I was angry. They had cut that line with the possibility of someone like me rounding the corner and it hitting them and had not used proper precautions. It was a big line, heavy and sharp and it hurt. I'm looking at the small scar as I write. It bled for a bit and I have applied anti-biotic ointment several times already. It's a good thing it didn't hit a little kid in the head! They apologized nervously while laughing. I wasn't laughing but I just continued on my errand and used a napkin I had in my pocket to deal with the bleeding.
I thought as I walked... How often has the enemy attacked me, provoked fear, drawn blood, hurt me to a degree, but he was ultimately powerless (limited) and could not kill me?!? More times then I can count! Sometimes several times a day! How about you?!? God is great and those who put their trust in Him shall be under His divine protection!
1 Peter 5:7-9 (NIV)
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
John 10:10 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Do I Need to Pray More Earnestly?
A Life Group Teaching by Pst Steve McKinney
Luke 22:39-46 (NIV)
39 “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
1. Jesus went out to pray “as usual”
a. He had a habit of prayer which He drew on for this very important prayer right before His arrest, trial and crucifixion
b. When facing difficulties, it is important to have that special relationship of prayer well established
2. He instructed His disciples twice to pray so that they would not “fall into temptation”
a. This is important for us to remember… when we are being tempted, the most powerful thing we can do is pray
b. Jesus, just as on that day will speak to our hearts today and warn us when we should pray in anticipation of coming trials even when we don’t know they are coming
3. “He withdrew” and thereby set an example that sometimes we need to withdraw from the crowd and even from close friends so as to be isolated with God
a. But He also showed us that sometimes He will withdraw from us to a “stone’s throw” distance so that we will overcome things like our sleep and press in to prayer
i. If we can overcome in the spirit, this helps us to overcome in the physical
4. He prayed “not my will, but yours be done”
a. We have authority when we pray and even freedom to express our feelings, but we also must function in humility and respect as Jesus did
5. An angel of the Lord appeared and “strengthened him”
a. After being strengthened, Jesus was then able to Pray More Earnestly to the point that His sweat became like drops of blood
b. How do we get to the point that God will supernaturally strengthen us to pray even more earnestly?
i. You should already be praying
ii. You must pray according to God’s will and not your own demands
iii. Pray specifically for strength to pray more earnestly
Luke 22:39-46 (NIV)
39 “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
1. Jesus went out to pray “as usual”
a. He had a habit of prayer which He drew on for this very important prayer right before His arrest, trial and crucifixion
b. When facing difficulties, it is important to have that special relationship of prayer well established
2. He instructed His disciples twice to pray so that they would not “fall into temptation”
a. This is important for us to remember… when we are being tempted, the most powerful thing we can do is pray
b. Jesus, just as on that day will speak to our hearts today and warn us when we should pray in anticipation of coming trials even when we don’t know they are coming
3. “He withdrew” and thereby set an example that sometimes we need to withdraw from the crowd and even from close friends so as to be isolated with God
a. But He also showed us that sometimes He will withdraw from us to a “stone’s throw” distance so that we will overcome things like our sleep and press in to prayer
i. If we can overcome in the spirit, this helps us to overcome in the physical
4. He prayed “not my will, but yours be done”
a. We have authority when we pray and even freedom to express our feelings, but we also must function in humility and respect as Jesus did
5. An angel of the Lord appeared and “strengthened him”
a. After being strengthened, Jesus was then able to Pray More Earnestly to the point that His sweat became like drops of blood
b. How do we get to the point that God will supernaturally strengthen us to pray even more earnestly?
i. You should already be praying
ii. You must pray according to God’s will and not your own demands
iii. Pray specifically for strength to pray more earnestly
Monday, March 1, 2010
God Looks at the Heart
1 Samuel 16:6-8 (NIV)
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
The Prophet Samuel was on a mission to find the next King and anoint him. We know that this King was to be David, son of Jesse. But Jesse had other sons and it seems Jesse thought all of them more likely then David since he left David out in the field.
Looks can be mis-leading. Samuel thought for sure that he had found the one in Eliab. But God dealt with Samuel by explaining to him that He is little concerned with outward appearance, but instead, looks at the heart.
In the next chapter, 17:28 when David is about to have his encounter with Goliath which would propel him to his destiny, Eliab publicly attacks David’s character. Could it be that Eliab was still upset about getting passed over by Samuel? Rejected by the Lord? Oldest brothers usually can’t take it when youngest brothers get the ultimate favor. Eliab would have derailed David if he could have, even though he had seen the greatest Prophet, Judge and Priest in the land anoint David to be the next King.
This is profound. But wait a minute… I’ve seen this before… I’ve seen it often! I see it in the Church! The ones who men think would be the greatest, when the Lord chooses someone else, they have no capacity to recognize the Lord’s anointing on the life of the one God has chosen even though they hear the prophetic confirmations and see the fruit and the favor. At least at first and definitely while they are still dealing with their jealousy and hurt feelings.
The beginning stages when God promotes a younger, less experienced person who hasn’t “paid the price” who nobody thought a likely candidate are heart-wrenching at best and even dangerous for the unity of the Body. If David dealt with it and he had the stamp of approval by God through Samuel, how much more will you or I deal with it when our stamp of approval comes through a mere modern day Pastor, Evangelist or Apostle... The answer for us is the same as the answer for David. Words and oil flowing from a horn by a great man of God though necessary and powerful, prove little. The time for advancement will come from being tried, tested and proven on the battlefield. This includes the battlefield both against a mutual enemy and also the internal one in the Palace as David would later face, the equivalent of inside the Church itself.
With every promotion of a person (or of a Church) will come a power shift at some level and more then likely, even a power struggle. Even if you try to avoid one within an established organization by starting your own, it’s still going to happen and you had better be ready for the “sheep stealing” accusations and worse.
What’s with that anyway? Nobody belongs to any one Pastor, Mentor or Church! If somebody “got” your member, then either there was something wrong with you, something wrong with them, or something wrong with the both of you! Learn your lesson, close the gap that they fell through and do better next time and release them, blessing them in their new situation. I really wish we could grow up on this one… You’ll have to excuse me. I have been to way too many Pastors luncheons hearing way too much of this kind of foolishness in my short time. We even have technical terms for it so as to purposefully avoid “transfer growth” and we say things like “transfer growth isn’t real growth.” OK, so you’re telling me that the Church down the street isn’t a real Church because their members transferred in from another Church where they weren’t happy or growing? That is jealous and competitive crazy talk!
I think we can agree that Churches which do a better job will attract more people. Just like a mechanic who actually fixes cars with better customer service better will attract more clients. Not that Church goers are clients, but they need fixing. You get my point. Now you could argue that a bigger Church isn’t necessarily a better Church and that they may be using watered down methods or whatever. I can sometimes agree with that too, but I still have to admit that a bigger Church is reaching more people. It’s simple math.
And so the question I need to ask is “where do you fit in all of this?” Are you like the older brother Eliab, the seasoned man of God Samuel, the younger brother David or some other person watching from the side lines, commenting on everything you see? What can we learn from God’s words to Samuel? Allow me to submit one more scripture and I’ll leave the rest to be managed between you and the Holy Spirit of God:
Galatians 6:3-5 (NIV)
3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
The Prophet Samuel was on a mission to find the next King and anoint him. We know that this King was to be David, son of Jesse. But Jesse had other sons and it seems Jesse thought all of them more likely then David since he left David out in the field.
Looks can be mis-leading. Samuel thought for sure that he had found the one in Eliab. But God dealt with Samuel by explaining to him that He is little concerned with outward appearance, but instead, looks at the heart.
In the next chapter, 17:28 when David is about to have his encounter with Goliath which would propel him to his destiny, Eliab publicly attacks David’s character. Could it be that Eliab was still upset about getting passed over by Samuel? Rejected by the Lord? Oldest brothers usually can’t take it when youngest brothers get the ultimate favor. Eliab would have derailed David if he could have, even though he had seen the greatest Prophet, Judge and Priest in the land anoint David to be the next King.
This is profound. But wait a minute… I’ve seen this before… I’ve seen it often! I see it in the Church! The ones who men think would be the greatest, when the Lord chooses someone else, they have no capacity to recognize the Lord’s anointing on the life of the one God has chosen even though they hear the prophetic confirmations and see the fruit and the favor. At least at first and definitely while they are still dealing with their jealousy and hurt feelings.
The beginning stages when God promotes a younger, less experienced person who hasn’t “paid the price” who nobody thought a likely candidate are heart-wrenching at best and even dangerous for the unity of the Body. If David dealt with it and he had the stamp of approval by God through Samuel, how much more will you or I deal with it when our stamp of approval comes through a mere modern day Pastor, Evangelist or Apostle... The answer for us is the same as the answer for David. Words and oil flowing from a horn by a great man of God though necessary and powerful, prove little. The time for advancement will come from being tried, tested and proven on the battlefield. This includes the battlefield both against a mutual enemy and also the internal one in the Palace as David would later face, the equivalent of inside the Church itself.
With every promotion of a person (or of a Church) will come a power shift at some level and more then likely, even a power struggle. Even if you try to avoid one within an established organization by starting your own, it’s still going to happen and you had better be ready for the “sheep stealing” accusations and worse.
What’s with that anyway? Nobody belongs to any one Pastor, Mentor or Church! If somebody “got” your member, then either there was something wrong with you, something wrong with them, or something wrong with the both of you! Learn your lesson, close the gap that they fell through and do better next time and release them, blessing them in their new situation. I really wish we could grow up on this one… You’ll have to excuse me. I have been to way too many Pastors luncheons hearing way too much of this kind of foolishness in my short time. We even have technical terms for it so as to purposefully avoid “transfer growth” and we say things like “transfer growth isn’t real growth.” OK, so you’re telling me that the Church down the street isn’t a real Church because their members transferred in from another Church where they weren’t happy or growing? That is jealous and competitive crazy talk!
I think we can agree that Churches which do a better job will attract more people. Just like a mechanic who actually fixes cars with better customer service better will attract more clients. Not that Church goers are clients, but they need fixing. You get my point. Now you could argue that a bigger Church isn’t necessarily a better Church and that they may be using watered down methods or whatever. I can sometimes agree with that too, but I still have to admit that a bigger Church is reaching more people. It’s simple math.
And so the question I need to ask is “where do you fit in all of this?” Are you like the older brother Eliab, the seasoned man of God Samuel, the younger brother David or some other person watching from the side lines, commenting on everything you see? What can we learn from God’s words to Samuel? Allow me to submit one more scripture and I’ll leave the rest to be managed between you and the Holy Spirit of God:
Galatians 6:3-5 (NIV)
3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
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