Narrow Path - Wide Open Life!!!

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

During a recent discussion with a close friend the other day, this thought came to mind: "It may be a straight and narrow path, but it's not a tightrope."

Everyone has their own ideas about salvation. You can go to all the different churches in your area and make that discovery. Or...if you are brave enough, you can even talk to the people in your community to hear all the different views.
Eternal Security
You can lose your salvation
Salvation through works
Salvation through baptism
No one can be saved (no hope of salvation)
These are just a few of the varied belief systems.

While I could list various reasons for the differences, only one thought seems to dominate my thinking: Our belief about God. That's right folks, what we believe about God determines what we believe about salvation. If we struggle with the idea that God is good (all the time) then we will struggle with the idea that salvation is eternal. If God is a God who must be satisfied then we will work ourselves like crazy trying to attain heaven. If we believe that God is angry then we will have no hope of ever being saved.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father. What did we discover about God through His life and ministry?
We discovered that God was willing to overcome every boundary to bring us to Himself.
We discovered that God is a God of love, compassion, and abundant mercy.
We discovered that God is concerned with what happens in the lives of men.
We discovered that God wants to provide for our every need (including salvation).
We discovered that God doesn't want the world to be condemned. He wants the world to be saved.

Please understand that I do not believe we should be flippant about salvation or holiness. However, I have also discovered that God is very gracious. Much more gracious, in fact, than we sometimes believe. In the sacrifice of His Son, God has chosen to reconcile the entire world to Himself. He has chosen to forgive every sin. He has chosen to offer us the same quality of life that Jesus walked in. This life of holiness and separation unto God is made available by the work of the Holy Spirit. While the entry into eternal life my be narrow, the life inside is wide open.

I pray that you will be encouraged to walk in this abundant life. I hope that you can see that God wants you to live life to its fullest. Love, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit is what the Kingdom of God is all about. Now go enjoy the life that He offers.

No Longer Looking...

I want to share a very familiar portion of Scripture with you in very contemporary language. The Message translates 1 Corinthians 13:13 this way: "But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, Hope unswervingly, Love extravagantly. And the best of these three is love."

The consummation that Paul speaks about is when we arrive at the place where there is no more lack in our knowledge. Right now we know in part and we prophecy in part. He describes it as looking through a dark glass. However, when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part will be done away with. As we focus on this passage, I want you to consider some things with me.

"When that which is perfect is come..." has been debated for years. Some have taken it to mean the completion of the Bible. In my opinion, this is a huge stretch. Others believe that when Paul is speaking of the "perfect" that he is referring to Jesus' second coming. This stance is a little more believable and even safer. However, after a conversation with a friend the other day, I want you to ask yourself a couple of questions:
#1 - What has Paul been talking about during this entire portion of the letter?
#2 - Is there any reason to think that he would change direction?

Paul has been talking about LOVE - in particular "AGAPE" love. This is the unconditional love of God. He tells us about the wonderful attributes of this type of love. What it can accomplish, how it operates in relationship, and what it does in our individual lives. Love has the ability to move us beyond ourselves. And based upon the last verse we find in the chapter, Paul did not change his subject. With all that being said, consider with me that Paul is telling us that when we mature in love (become perfect in love) then we will be able to operate in full knowledge.

That line of thinking is very radical for what most of us have considered. But think about it...Jesus was perfect in love when He walked on this earth. The love that He operated in, which was the nature of His Father, believed all things, endured all things, and hoped all things. And this type of love is operational in us as well when we learn to abide as Jesus did.

When we mature in the love of God then we will not have any lack. And one day, when love is completely perfected in us, all of the things we do in part will be done away with. This is the ability of AGAPE at work in our lives. It draws us closer to the Father, makes us more like our Creator, and speaks the language of the Spirit. Growing in love is growing in the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are conformed to His image, then we will no longer look through a glass darkly.

God's unconditional love needs to be the foundation of all that we are, all that we do, and all that we hope to accomplish. When I am ministering to those around me, love has to be the basis for that ministry. When I am working on relationships, love has to be the driving force. In my own relationship with God, love is to be at the center of my being. The truth in all of this is that we can have the faith that moves mountains, speak with the tongues of angels, and even give ourselves over to torture for our faith; but without love it means nothing.

Trust steadily in God
Hope unswervingly
Love extravagantly.

Worship as a Lifestyle

There's nothing quite like a Sunday morning worship service. I can recall many wonderful moments with the Lord as the church has gathered together for corporate worship. And why not? We are all called to be worshipers of our God. However, if the only time we worship God is during a service then we are missing out on what it means to be a genuine worshiper.

When God led Moses to stand before Pharaoh, He instructed him to say "Let my people go so that they may worship Me..." Worship was a part of the Old Covenant and came with a promise of blessing upon the people. Jesus took worship to another level when He said that the Father is seeking out those who would worship Him in spirit and truth. You simply cannot get away from this fact: God loves our worship, we are called to worship, and to miss out on worship is to miss out on the heart of God.

If all we know of worship is what happens on Sunday morning, I have to wonder if we are ever really worshiping. Worship is all about lifestyle. As a believer, worship should be an every day activity. It is the misunderstandings about worship that has caused many problems in the church today. Worship has been divided into at least two camps: traditional and contemporary. Both of these labels fall short of expressing the genuine nature of worship. The traditional camp becomes beholden to what has been. The hymns of the faith get elevated to a place where worship can happen no other way. On the other hand, the contemporary crowd lives with the notion that God cannot move unless the songs are more current. Unfortunately, during all of this debate, both crowds are missing out on what God is doing.

David was a man after God's own heart. His life was the life of a worshiper. The songs that he wrote came out of his own life experiences. This is why you find the vibrant songs of praise, prayers of faith, and memorials to how God has moved in the past in the book of Psalms. When worship is an every day relationship with the Father then we find that there are many reasons to bring praise to His name. We must stop viewing worship as an event and see it as a natural part of our relationship with God.

The reason why the traditional camp and the contemporary camp are missing out is because they have regulated worship as to what takes place on Sunday morning. Imagine if every believer spent time every day in worship of God and then came together on Sunday morning in overflow. That is a worship service that I want to take part in. Corporate worship should be overflow. It should not be the only place that I worship, and it should not be the only time that I get into the presence of God.

Another reason that these two camps have failed in this approach to worship is because we never consider the power behind the songs of our own heart. If I have to sing the words of John Newton, Horatio G. Spafford, or Gloria Gaither, I have regulated myself to their expression of praise when God wants me to worship Him from my own spirit. If I can't feel the presence of God unless I'm singing the songs of Hillsong, Jesus Culture, or Bethel, then I have missed the times of intimacy I could have with the Father through my own songs of praise. When worship becomes a lifestyle then the songs of praise that flow from my own well are the ones that can carry me into the secret place.

Corporate worship among the believers should be a time of recognizing what the Spirit of God is doing in our midst. It's about knowing when and what to sing. It's recognizing the times to meditate on His goodness, how to pray, and expressing our thankfulness to God. How do we get to that point? When we start worshiping as an individual (alone with God) then we don't have to have our favorite song on a Sunday morning. We won't allow our worship to be hindered by what happens in a 30-45 minute worship set.

Before I close, I want to share with you a personal experience. I was driving home yesterday and my mind was consumed with some pastoral "stuff." In other words, my heart was heavy. I was sharing with someone about singing a particular song this past Sunday. As I spoke the chorus of that song, God immediately pulled all of that heaviness away from me. I began to be joyful and have a deep sense of His abiding presence. All I could say was "I want more Lord. Give me more." As I continued to worship Him from this song that was on my heart, God flooded my heart with His goodness. It was absolutely amazing. And this experience reminded me of the importance of personal intimacy with the Lord.

Worship is a lifestyle.

Receiving from the Spirit

"But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means." 1 Corinthians 2:14 {NLT}

There is nothing quite as difficult as trying to understand spiritual truth with the natural mind. In fact, it is impossible. Logic - the area from which most of humanity operates cannot grasp the ability, power, and moves of the Holy Spirit. Logically, we want to contextualize the work of the Spirit. We would love to have a handle on how He speaks, how He prompts us, and what He's going to do next. However, trying to box in the work of the Spirit only limits Him.

Paul made it very clear to the church at Corinth that anyone not operating in the Spirit of God (those who are not spiritual) will never understand the truth that God wants to bring forth. God is continually revealing His hidden wisdom to those who are willing to receive it (Go to 1 Corinthians 2 if you need a scriptural reference). The question is whether or not we truly want to operate that way.

Here's why we struggle in this area:

It's Frustrating - the natural man is more natural. That is why it is much easier to function in the natural. Trying to function in the spiritual from a natural prospective will only leave us frustrated.

It's Useless - remember the religious men who tried to cast out demons in the name of the Jesus that Paul preaches? They were overtaken. The reason why they were overtaken was because they lacked the Spirit of God at work in their own lives. They were simply operating out of hear-say. This is one of the most dangerous things that we see in the church today. We know the verbiage but we lack the power of the Spirit at work. Not only can we not receive the things of the Spirit, we can't release it either.

It's Presumptuous - While I believe each of us were created to live in a spiritual reality, not all of us do. Failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate in the Spirit gives us the idea that we can do it all in our natural ability. When God begins to move in a person's life, He does enhance natural ability. But He also gives us supernatural ability to walk in the things that He has ordained.

How do we change this?

Ask - It is that simple. God wants to reveal Himself to you.
Seek - The truth that you are looking for doesn't always show up at your door. You have to seek it out.
Knock - Jesus promised us open doors.

If you and I are willing to get before the Lord and seek His face, He will meet with us. It's not about your spirituality. It's not about you own ability. It's simply about us making ourselves available to Him. If we are willing to be empty vessels that God can pour into then He will pour into us.

Shaking Yet?

Initial reports out of Richmond is that they were hit by a 5.9 earthquake. I have spoke to people near the NC line and heard from people in TN that felt the earth shaking. I was texting with a friend when all of this occurred and we were talking about some important issues concerning the church. I told him that "I believe God is shaking our current foundations." This is a shaking that brings an awakening!

In the natural, an earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. On the surface theses waves are felt in shaking and sometimes are accompanied by displacement of the ground. The epicenter of an earthquake is the point of ground level directly above the hypocenter. What I'm sharing with you today is a spiritual application of this natural phenomenon.

The sudden release of energy (power):
What has taken place in the church over the last few hundred years has led many to believe that God no longer visits His people in power. Other than a few saved souls, we haven't come to expect God to do very much. However, I believe that what happened on the Day of Pentecost is only a precursor to what could happen in our days. We could experience the sound of a rushing mighty wind, or the shaking of the buildings where we are praying. When God releases the power of His Spirit, what is seen in the natural could take on many forms. Are you ready for a release of His power?

The creation of seismic waves:
The result of the sudden release of power upon the church should be an evacuation from the church building. For far too long the church has been confined and enshrined. We have to move out of the building and release what God has placed within us. We would be the seismic waves of the shaking that God brings. Can you imagine a wave of God's people moving throughout their communities releasing the love of God? Are you ready to get caught up in what God is doing in the earth?

Shaking & Displacement:
What will happen during all of this? A shaking of our communities, our churches, our political structure, etc. You name it - God can affect it all through us. There will also be a displacement as the children of God go throughout the earth destroying the works of the enemy (which we should have been doing all along). I'm tired of the sickness that destroys, I'm tired of the sin that infects, and I'm tired of the enemy of our souls acting as though he is in charge. It's time to stir things up. Are you ready?

The epicenter:
The church (Body of Christ...not the building) should be at the epicenter of God's activity. It's unfortunate that many of the moves of God in the earth have taken place separate from the "church." While there have been many revivals that have taken place in certain churches, many of them have not been sustainable (for various reasons). But what I'm looking for in my day is an AWAKENING!!! I want to be strategically located where God is releasing the next move of His Spirit in the earth. God would be the point of release and we should be at the center of it all.

Conclusion:
While many people are considering the spiritual implications of tornadoes and earthquakes in our region, I tend to take a different approach. Many believers will look at these things as judgement, or try to focus on the fear factor created to bring about a harvest. I look at the church and ask: Are we shaking yet? Do we hear or see the earth groaning as a woman in childbirth? Do we understand that all of creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons/daughters of God? Are we ready to step out in our destiny?

The Relationship of Prayer

How often have you considered that God hears you when you pray? Think about it: The God who created heaven and earth and everything in them hears you!!! With that understanding, prayer is not a religious exercise. Prayer is open communication with God.

Jeremiah 33:3 provides great encouragement: "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Allow me to highlight some important aspects of this verse.

#1 - Call to Me
While God is the great initiator, He often waits for us to draw near to Him. James tells us that if we will draw near to God then He will draw near to us. There are moments in life when there is definite leadership from God to pray but we cannot wait for those moments. God is ready to hear if we are ready to talk.

#2 - I Will Answer You
I'm amazed at the people who think that God never answers their prayers. Jesus promised us an open heaven. He told His disciples that if they would pray in His name that they would have what they asked for. I truly believe that God delights in answering His children.

#3 - Show You Great and Mighty Things
Not only does God delight in answering us when we call to Him, but He also is willing to reveal Himself to us. This is probably one of the most foreign concepts to prayer. While we may hear Him speak, sense His presence, or experience His answers; I wonder how many of us have seen what God is revealing when we pray. The prophet Joel promised visions and dreams through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Do you believe that God can show you what you need to see?

This is relationship. It's not about sacrifice. It's not about religious duty. This is God calling out to His people and saying "If you will call to Me, I will answer." This is the life that Jesus lived while on the earth. He often withdrew to a secret place to commune with the Father. And I am convinced that it is in the secret place with the Father where we are given everything we need.

Take some time today to call on the Father who is listening.
Pray in a way that acknowledges He is with you.
Ask Him to reveal Himself, His nature, and His will.
Seek Him and He shall be found.
Knock and the door will be opened.
Ask and you shall receive.

He's waiting...

Power Outage

When Paul wrote the church at Corinth, he made his position very clear: "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." {1 Corinthians 2:4-5}

Attention: Many churches in America are without power. This is not an outage of electrical power. They are lacking the power of God.

What do you do when there is a lack of power in the church? I guess you could sing louder, pray longer, or preach more eloquently. However, none of these things will matter. If things get bad enough you could try better programs. Some even try recasting a vision. But there is one thing that all of these ideas have in common: They are built on human wisdom and engineering.

Powerlessness should not be tolerated in the church. God has made it clear that we are to walk in His power. It is about His Spirit at work in our lives, our ministry, and our message. For the preacher of the gospel this is especially true. I want to say to my fellow preachers that it doesn't matter how many letters precede or follow your name if you do not walk in the power of God. I want to say to my fellow church goers that it doesn't matter if you have a bus ministry, serve coffee and doughnuts, or have the greatest music if you are lacking in the power of God. Our faith should be built on nothing less that God's power at work in our midst.

The apostles knew very well the need for God's power. They prayed for it, cried out for God to extend His hand, longed for displays of His goodness in their midst and in the world. The church was birthed out of a prayer meeting that was established to wait upon the Promise. Jesus had said that God would pour out His Spirit upon them. They waited...the Spirit came...and the world was never the same.

It's time to start over. We don't need to go back to the drawing board. We need to go back to the power source. It's not our lack of ability, our lack of resources, or even our lack of vision. What is missing in the church today is the demonstration of power. And it's the demonstration of power that the world is looking for. They are looking for something that is real, something that will change their life. If we are not walking in the power of God then we are not giving them anything visible to believe in. They have heard our messages but they haven't seen the lasting results of what it means for a person to be a follower of Jesus Christ. They have witnessed the hypocrisy that comes out of the church and they are not impressed. What they need is an invasion of heaven upon their lives.

Bill Johnson says it this way in When Heaven Invades Earth: "Do not make excuses for powerlessness. For decades the Church has been guilty of creating doctrine to justify their lack of power, instead of crying out to God until He changed them. The lie they came to believe has given rise to an entire branch of theology that has infected the Body of Christ with a fear of the Holy Spirit. It deceives under the guise of staying undeceived. The Word must go forth with power. Power is the realm of the Spirit. A powerless Word is the letter not the Spirit. And we all know that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life."

Let's ask God for more!
Let's seek His face!
Let's get back to what works...His Power!!!

A Life of Victory

I was watching an episode of The Waltons last night that got me stirred up. In this particular episode, the family was housing a young preacher who would be speaking at a tent meeting later in the week. After listening to him practice his sermon and talk about his faith it dawned on me that many people today still carry this same belief system: Sin is very powerful and we are very sinful.

Don't misunderstand my statement. Sin is very powerful in the life of unbelievers. Without the grace of God at work in our lives, we all struggle under the weight of sin. The fact of the matter is that we can never overcome sin in our own ability. So...in that respect (when dealing with an unbeliever) I understand how we view sin as a powerful force in a persons life. However, I'm not an unbeliever. I'm also no longer a sinner. According to God's Word I am a son of God, a child of light, and the righteousness of God in Christ.

If you and I take the time to read God's Word we will discover that it has much to say about who we are in Christ and what we are able to do. Here are some examples:

Romans 6:14 tells me that I do not have to be dominated by sin.
James 4:7 teaches me that if I will submit to God & resist the devil that he must flee.
1 John 4:4 says that the Spirit of God in me is greater than the spirit that is in the world.
Romans 8:37 tells me that I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.

These are but a few examples of the Abundant Life of Jesus at work in me. I do not have to be overcome by sin, I am not a sinner, and I can life a life of victory.

As long as you and I are not under grace then we are stuck living in our own power. The human will is very powerful, and I may be able to live up to a moral code for a season, but what happens when I am weak? How can I continue to be victorious in my own strength. The answer: I can't.

The individual that I watched on television last night was constantly busy because idleness is the devil's workshop. He took cold showers and exercised constantly so that he wouldn't be driven by impure thoughts. While this may sound ridiculous to many people, it was an example of how many believers have tried to live a "holy" life. What I want to submit to you today is that a life of victory comes through your faith being put into practice. When you believe what God's Word says about you, live by His definition, and then experience His grace at work in your life, then you are able to move from faith to knowledge. And when you KNOW something, your faith takes you to a whole new level.

This concept is true in every area of our faith. It's one thing to believe that God can heal and quite another to know that He is able. It's one things to believe that God can use you and quite another to know that He can use you. Faith is very important but our faith needs to move us into experience. When you experience the healing power of God (in your life or someone you have prayed for) then you will operate quite differently. When you experience the grace of God in overcoming sin then you will live differently as well.

A victorious life rests in the finished work of Christ. Do you believe that Jesus paid the penalty of your sin at the Cross? If your answer is "yes" then you don't have to wallow around in shame and condemnation. Do you believe that Jesus overcame the power of sin when He rose from the dead? Then you don't have to struggle under the weight and burden of sin anymore. There is grace available to overcome and that grace is available every day of your life.

Walk in GRACE. Establish your heart in the righteousness of God. Trust in His ability over your own. Live a life of victory. To do anything less is to miss out on the inheritance that is yours in Christ.

Using the Keys of the Kingdom

The only way to keep us from having a limited view of salvation is to understand all that Jesus accomplished through His death & resurrection. When we read the Genesis account of creation, we discover that God's intention was for man to expand the borders of the Garden (His government) throughout the earth. As Adam & Eve were "fruitful" and multiplied then the earth would be filled with people rightly related to God.

In God's redemptive plan, Jesus was to reclaim all that man lost in "the fall." Satan understood this. That is why you read of him telling Jesus "All of this authority I will give You, and their glory..." (Luke 4:6-7). Through Jesus' death on the cross we were freed from the penalty of sin, and through His resurrection we were freed from it's power. Jesus rose victorious with the keys to death and hell. Why is this important? This is important because it makes the "Great Commission" make sense: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore..." (Matthew 28:18-19). It also fulfills the promise Jesus made to the disciples in Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven."

These keys are also referred to as the key of David. Unger's Bible Dictionary states, "The power of the keys consisted not only in the supervision of the royal chambers, but also in deciding who was and who was not to be received in the King's service." All that the Father has is ours through Christ. His entire treasure house of resources. His royal chambers, is at our disposal in order to fulfill His commission. But the more sobering part of this illustration is found in controlling who gets in to see the King. This will be our focus.

Who gets in to see the King? This is our decision. When we choose to declare the gospel, we give an opportunity for people to come to the King to be saved. When we are silent, we have chosen to keep those who would hear away from eternal life. Did you realize that you had that authority? Jesus death and resurrection has allowed mankind to be brought back into the relationship that Adam & Eve once possessed...that we would be fruitful and multiply and expand His borders. The difference being that much of our fruitfulness isn't the result of procreation but declaration. When we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world, then we provide an opportunity for the world to be born again.

You have an awesome responsibility and opportunity before you. The good news is that you don't have to do this through your own resources. You have everything you need through God's divine power at work in you. All the resources of heaven are at your disposal, the enemy we face has been defeated, and the darkness that tries to come against you cannot overcome the light that is within. You are fighting from victory. When God commissioned Adam & Even to subdue the earth, they were without sickness, poverty, and sin. In other words, they were without evil. Jesus prayed "deliver us from evil (Greek word Poneros, represents the entire curse of sin upon man, came from the word ponos, meaning pain. And that word comes from the root word penes, meaning poor). Look at it this way: evil-sin, pain-sickness, and poor-poverty. Now that we are restored to God's original purpose, should we expect anything less?

How will you use the authority that God has given you? These keys were never meant to give us access to a building that we would all gather in one day a week. These keys were meant for more than just being able to assemble together and worship. These keys were mean to release all of humanity from the curse of sin. Are you ready to partner with God on this amazing quest? Are you ready to step into your destiny of being conformed to the image of His Son? Jesus came as one rightly related to the Father (without sin) and was dependent upon the work of God's Spirit in His life. We have been brought into a right relationship as well (sins forgiven). The question is how dependent upon God's Spirit are we willing to live?

What is the Problem?

O.K. So...when we returned from Chicago, I noticed a wet spot on one of the ceiling tiles in the basement. It didn't make a whole lot of sense. We hadn't been home for a week. After some investigation I still couldn't find a leak. Called a plumber/heat & ac guy to come check it out. The problem wasn't a leak in the plumbing. The problem was condensation built up in the duct work.

This series of events got me to thinking. How often do we look into the life of another person and think we have the answer to all their problems? How often do we look into our own lives and only scratch the surface?

Jesus was talking to the religious leaders about true defilement. Defilement doesn't come from what goes in a person (what they eat, drink, etc.). True defilement comes from within a person. In Mark 7:20-23, Jesus said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

While none of us should ignore the things that are present, we must go to the heart of the matter. An unregenerate heart produces unregenerate activity. The Pharisees of Jesus' day consumed their time making sure the cup was clean, the hands were washed, and the outside activity of their lives was up to par. Jesus turned the tables on them by saying that what was on the inside is what made the difference. What flows out of us is in direct relationship with what is going on inside of us.

The good news of salvation is that God changes our heart. We have become children of light. As long as we keep those lights burning, then we never have to be concerned with walking in darkness. As long as I function from my identity in Christ, then I will live the way He lived. Religion cannot change me, legalism cannot alter my behavior; only by God's grace at work in my life and His nature at work in me will I resemble the qualities of this kingdom.

This is not only true in our walk with the Lord but in every relationship. How I treat my wife, my kids, my friends/family, etc. It all flows from the inward working of God's grace and mercy. I allow the values of God's kingdom to change my values. I allow the Kingdom of God to flow into every relationship. I give honor, grace, love, and value to every person. I am reconciled to people around me. I freely give forgiveness because it was freely given to me. The list goes on and on.

Here's what I want you to consider: Think about some of the problem areas of life and ask "What is the problem?". If this question doesn't lead you to the root then you aren't looking deep enough. I have heard couples talk about the problems of their marriage or parents talk about the difficulties with their kids and only address what is easily noticeable (like the wet spot on my ceiling tile). While we may be able to alter behavior with external force, we will never fix the heart of the issue. And the heart of the issue is always what is going on in our hearts. If you and your spouse have difficulty in communication then you need to ask "What is the problem?". If your kids aren't giving you honor then you need to ask "What is the problem?". Dig deeper...ask the right questions...find the problem...and fix it.

Something Easily Forgotten

After a conversation with a close friend the other day, I realized that there are some things in life and marriage that are easily forgotten. In particular, we tend to forget the importance of communicating love to one another in the language that is best suited for the one that is receiving. Several years ago Dr. Gary Chapman introduced the book "The 5 Love Languages" to help couples understand how to communicate love to one another in the best way possible.

The following is a summary of the languages which can be found at www.5lovelanguages.com :

Words of Affirmation
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

Quality Time
In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

Receiving Gifts
Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

Acts of Service
Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

Physical Touch
This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

Here's what you and I need to grasp: Just because someones love language is different that yours doesn't mean it is invalid. We may do well communicating in our own language (what says "I love you" to me) but it doesn't mean the other person is getting the message. We must learn how to communicate our love to the other person in their love language.

This principle is so effective that it works in every relationship. Couples, children, friends, etc...they all communicate love through their own personal love language. We simply have to discover what works and what communicates love in the most accurate way. Don't be bothered by the process. Look at it as the joy of discovery. If you are unsure of your own unique language, there are simple questions that can be answered to help you find it. Many of these resources can be found on the website that I mentioned earlier.

Enjoy the process and continue in the passionate pursuit of those you love!!!

An Awakening is Coming

After last week's experience in Chicago, all I can say is that there is an Awakening coming. What we were a part of, the testimonies that we heard, the experiences that we had, and the messages that inspired us...God has stirred our hearts for greater things.

As I begin today's blog, I want to share a couple of quotes with you. The first one is from Danny Silk's book "Culture of Honor" and the second is a quote from Lou Engle.

"This is where we stand as a movement in our generation. We are in the throes of a reformation. No longer will we tolerate the status quo of an externally governed existence. No longer will we accept training in powerlessness. No longer will we live as servants and slaves. The religious motivation of the pending wrath of God and the ideals of a small life are no longer options for us. We are sons and daughters of the Most High. We are in training for reigning as never before. We now expect to be powerful, living an abundant life in Christ until the kingdoms of this earth become the Kingdom of our God." {p. 189, Culture of Honor}

That quote alone is enough to chew on today. This is where we stand in this generation. What we have experienced in church life hasn't done what was promised. Rather than influencing our culture, we have been influenced. Rather than being leaders, we have chosen to follow the trends. God is doing something right now in the hearts of the believers that is stirring us toward a revolution.

However, we will only experience the fullness of this Awakening when we rediscover the priority of prayer. Jesus said that His Father's house would be a house of prayer. We are that house. God has chosen to make His tabernacle (His dwelling) in the lives of His followers. We must be a house of prayer once again. Lou Engle said, "Muslims have a culture of prayer while Christians have prayer meetings." Folks...this has to change. Should not the followers of Jesus Christ walk in His footsteps? Should we not be learning how to abide in prayer?

A prayer meeting - once a week - isn't enough to sustain this movement. Our occasional seasons of prayer are not enough to draw us into the intimacy with God needed to walk as children of light among the darkness. Mark my words: If we can rediscover the secret place of prayer then we will (once again) experience the power of God in our lives. This is what is missing in the lives of most believers AND most churches.

The time for entertainment is past. The church must be focused on entertaining the presence of God more than the crowds. We have to discover what God's heart is for our lives, our communities/cities, our nation, and the world. The good news is that God is more than willing to reveal Himself to us. The Spirit of God will search out the deep things of God and give us the ability to walk in them. The Awakening is coming...it's happening now...the question is will we rise to the occasion.

God will light the fire but we must keep it burning. This movement isn't some "flash in the pan" experience to talk about but a sustainable continuing revival in the earth. The day is dawning and the awakening is upon us. Get ready!!!