Happy Thoughts
1/24/25
Hurry Up and Wait
Happy Friday, Worship Watch and Wait friends! I’m so sick of winter, but February is next week already, so there’s that. Got to find that silver lining.
The national reprieve God has granted us is most encouraging, and a powerful impetus to go for the gold. Particularly for those of us who’ve prayed for this stuff for a while, this has GOT to be putting gas into our tanks. If God can pull off a changing of the guard of the magnitude we’re witnessing, maybe He really DOES plan to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine in our nation! I can feel the momentum, so I’m going with it. More Lord!
At a more personal level, what does your waiting on the Lord look like? Mine is pretty much hurry up and wait. Seriously. I started 2025 with some personal prayers and expectations, and thought by January 24 I might be experiencing some answers, at least the beginning of some answers. Crickets. David’s Psalm 40 keeps haunting me — “I waited patiently for the Lord…” Isn’t there another way to wait? Apparently not. Dispensing with the hurry up part is quite the challenge. I’m gonna give it my best shot. I’ll let y’all know how it goes. In other news…
We’ve got a WWW gathering coming up February 2. Yay! It’ll be great being with everybody to worship again, so y’all come on out and let’s go for it. Sunday evening February 2 at 6 o’clock at Grace Point. It’s gonna be good!
1/12/25
We’re Here!
Happy Sunday, Worship Watch and Wait people! Well, we’ve launched into 2025 with a bang. Prayers are being answered left and right and God is very visibly on the move. We know He’s always moving, but sometimes it’s harder to see. Oh what fun it is when He breaks out into the open with stuff only He can pull off! The hope and resultant optimism rising in our nation is palpable and has been a long time in coming. But God’s timing is always perfect, so we rejoice in His sovereignty, grateful for His ways and work as He accomplishes His plans and purposes, establishing His unshakable kingdom in the earth. "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end."
Our Start the Year Off Right week of WWW was whittled down to 3 days because of our beautiful, Kansas City blizzard. But when a couple dozen of us finally convened at Grace Point to plant our 2025 flag in worship and prayer, God made it to the meeting and made it absolutely worth the effort. By Friday evening at about 8:30, I’m convinced our little band of worshippers had contributed to the melting of the snow in and around Kansas City. I can’t prove that, but it sure felt that way as the fire of God’s presence filled us and the room at Grace Point. God can accomplish more in 3 days than we could do in 3 lifetimes. Yes He can! Julia Otterness, who leads the Genesis 1:1 artists who worship with art as we do it with music, said we need to do a Start the Summer Off Right gathering because doing only 3 days this year felt so short. I like the idea! Full disclosure, my favorite part of that idea is Summer. Can’t wait!
Looking at the next few weeks, I’m trying to figure out when we’ll resume our regular Sunday evening WWW gatherings. I’ve got some traveling to do to see my mom and brother Stephen, and along with that, coordinating the work in Arkansas. So those are some moving parts I’ll be mixing and matching in order to plan resuming our Sunday nights. Hopefully I’ll know in a week or so how all that will land. Meanwhile, we continue to seek the Lord and keep the main thing the main thing. My Bible, and I think yours too, tells us ”those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Can’t beat that!
8/25/24
Hosanna!
Happy Sunday, Worship Watch and Wait amigos! It’s not even Palm Sunday, and I said Hosanna! Is that even legal?!
In Hebrew Hosanna means, “Save us!” Another more explicit translation of this expression is, “Save us in battle!” A couple of Sundays ago Scott Stanger came to the prayer mic at the end and eloquently and passionately encouraged us with this. For sure we cannot save ourselves — individually or as a nation. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Those who trust in themselves are fools.”
Humbling ourselves before the Lord is the first step in engaging His help. Turning to God in humility and prayer is itself an admission that we can’t, but He can. And we most certainly can’t. The mess we’ve made is beyond any human fixing. But no matter how big our mess is, there’s always hope when we turn to God. Help, Lord! Save us, O God! It doesn’t have to be complicated.
I'm gonna miss being together with y'all tonight to shout our Hosannas. No WWW gathering tonight or next Sunday. But we’re gonna take up where we left off and hit the ground running September 8. There are reasons to believe America has passed the point of no return to repentance. But there are MORE reasons to believe we have not. And those reasons have nothing to do with us — They have everything to do with the kind of God we have. I know which basket I’m putting my eggs into. Can’t wait to be back together with y’all September 8 to make much of Him and to do our part to fill those ginormous prayer bowls in heaven. Come on!
HOSANNA!
7/27/24
Don’t Change the Subject
Happy Saturday, Worship Watch and Wait amigos! Reading Psalm 27 this morning I was struck again by David’s priority and focus when all hell was breaking loose around him. Regardless of our last days theology, the escalation of evil and the acceleration of events these days is undeniable. Our go-to when the pressure’s on is telling. When our instincts kick in, it becomes obvious what we’re relying on.
Pretty much all of us can quote Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” In my opinion that is the tell-all about our lives. Our own understanding is always our problem. If we can turn away from that and trust fully in the Lord, we have won the war. Everything else is a skirmish. King David had done just that. His reliance solely on God as things escalated around him is remarkable. “Whom shall I fear?…of whom shall I be afraid?…when evil men advance against me…when my enemies and my foes attack me…though an army besiege me…though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”
Our understanding will always suggest a plan, a recourse, particularly when things start getting dicey, because we are Americans, and we have options. David wasn’t American, but he was a king, so he had options — lots of them. But he continually turned to and relied on the Lord. Bingo! He refused to change the subject, regardless of what he might be experiencing, or who was coming against him. Thankfully, he shared with us his secret sauce in Psalm 27: “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
Many credible voices are warning of turbulent days ahead in our nation. I believe them. What should we do? How should we prepare? If we seek God, He will give us practical wisdom. But the simplicity of devotion, in my opinion, is the smartest strategy and most bulletproof defense of all. If we don’t change the subject, and keep the main thing the main thing, “in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling…and set me high upon a rock.” And from that place of ultimate protection we can continue to launch offensive weapons against the invisible forces of evil in heavenly realms. The fact that our enemy is not flesh and blood is now indisputable. The good news is God has armed us well, and we will wage this winnable war because “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.”
Let’s gather tomorrow evening and encourage each other as we seek Him, gazing upon His beauty together. Let’s take our place as intercessors to worship a King who isn’t running for reelection, and proclaim His kingdom that can never be shaken. By His grace we will overcome evil with good, and be joyful prophets and participants in the coming great awakening.
7/15/24
The Victory is the Lord’s!
Happy Monday, Worship Watch and Wait warriors! One of my favorite Bible verses, and one y’all have heard me quote often, is Proverbs 21:31. Here it is: “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” Remembering this helps us to not put our trust in our horses. We may very well prepare and deploy them for the battle, but make no mistake, the victory is the Lord’s.
As we approach November and participate in what could arguably be one of the most watershed elections in our nation’s political history, we do so now with a renewed determination to interrupt what has become the uninhibited advance of an agenda to literally destroy us. The assassination attempt on Saturday, and the obvious providence of God in protecting Donald Trump, has removed any ambiguity we may have had, and made it perfectly clear Who is in charge. Only a sovereign God could pull that off.
The privilege we have as Americans to engage in the political process is now more compelling than I have ever seen it in my lifetime. Apathy on our part at this moment of our history would be devastating. God has graciously given us a wake-up call. Consequently, thankful for the merciful providence of God, if we as the church will humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways, and if we as Americans will let our voices and votes be heard loud and clear across the fruited plain, our land can be healed and our nation restored. Let’s not miss this moment.
If I haven’t already, I may lose some of y’all on this next. But I need to communicate clearly about it so at least you know where I stand. I am convinced Donald Trump is a man God has raised up in this hour. Consequently, between now and November I will pray accordingly — both privately and publicly. I believe God is in absolute control and, like the rest of us, I only “know in part and prophesy in part” and “see through a glass darkly” on all this. But I need to call it like I see it, and don’t want to spend a lot of time qualifying my comments and prayers, or being careful to not offend. I respect everyone, no matter their political persuasion. And although I have strong opinions, I hold my understanding loosely and would never impose it on anyone. I also believe as the church, we have a mandate to pray for ALL of our leaders, no matter who they are or what we may think about them. That is pure Bible, and I will continue to do that, and will continue to facilitate gatherings where we do that, regardless of what transpires politically.
I hope y’all understand my heart in this, and that we can continue to appeal to heaven together for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in our nation. I do not believe God is done with us, and I STRONGLY believe He is looking for a reason to show mercy. Let’s join the cry already rising across this land for His mercy to triumph over judgment.
7/3/24
More than watchmen wait for the morning
Happy Wednesday, Worship Watch and Wait worshippers! We have been called and prepared for such a time as this. More on that in a minute…
I woke up this morning with Psalm 130 on the brain. It’s only eight verses, so I’ll write it here: “Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My souls waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins."
Out of the depths I cry. No commentary is provided that lets us know what those depths were of which the Psalmist speaks. Although this isn’t Jonah writing, he came to mind. Out of the depths. I guess when you’re in the belly of a fish at the bottom of the sea, that would qualify. And Jonah would also fit the redemption theme in this Psalm. Disobeying the call of God and running in the opposite direction is where he found himself. Anyway, if you’re like me, "the depths” is where we find ourselves many times. How about maybe right now?!
More than watchmen wait for the morning is an interesting phrase. It is actually filled with hope. Who waits for the morning thinking it won't come? Who of us ever thinks, “Yeah, the sun came up yesterday morning, but I’m not so sure it’s gonna make it today.” Silly. Our all-over-the-map emotions while in the depths, or in the dark may be real. But our hope in the coming of the dawn is more real. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. MORE! Why? Well, for one, will the morning sun be more faithful than the One Who created it? I’ll leave that there for now, but this stuff will PREACH! Suffice it to say, waiting for God’s help, His redemption, His intervention is always our only hope. But, make no mistake, it is a sure hope — a certain hope. We. Will. Not. Be. Disappointed. If. We. Wait. For. The. Lord.
For such a time as this is what Mordecai said to Esther. I believe God is saying the same to us today. Let’s step up and use our voice to cry out for mercy, forgiveness and healing for our nation. Is there hope for us? A resounding YES! God is still the God of miracles, and for Him NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. So let’s shake off our slumber and ignore every voice that says it’s no use, and give God a reason to show mercy that triumphs over judgment and bring healing to our land. We get to do this together this coming Sunday evening July 7. Grace Point at 6 o’clock. LET’S GO!
6/22/24
Uncluttered
Happy happy Saturday, Worship Watch and Wait amigos! Two emails from me in less than 5 days. Oops! Speaking of email… If some of y’all got spammed by me a couple of days ago by multiple of the same email, I apologize. I’ve had some weirdness going on that I can’t figure out. Hopefully this one will go out without a hitch.
If there ever was a time to get rid of hamburger helper as the church, this it it. Making the main thing the main thing is so very simple, but at the same time, can be very costly. Depending on how long a group has cluttered its gathered experience with the multiplicity of options our culture and technology afford, it can be cataclysmic to pull the plug and simplify. But if we don’t get back to “sincere and pure devotion to Christ”, you can bet your bottom dollar God will arrange things so that we do. But if He ends up having to do it for us…let’s just say it ain’t gonna be a very pretty picture.
The Beatles got it right — "Get back to where you once belonged!" Can you hear the call from heaven? Jesus is calling us back to Himself. John the Baptist said, “The bride belongs to the Bridegroom.” The apostle Paul said, “You are not your own — you’ve been bought with a price.” The serpent is a master deceiver and brilliantly cunning in his tactics to lead us astray from that "sincere and pure devotion to Christ”. Let’s get back while the gettin’s good. Let’s not wait. The main thing has always been the main thing and it will always be the main thing. Heaven has not changed the subject. God is still holy and the Lamb is still worthy of all power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
Gathering around God’s presence and dispensing with everything else that might encroach on our primary focus on Him, is the numero uno job of every leader in the body of Christ. If we get this right, we’ve succeeded. If we don’t, we’ve failed, no matter what else we may have accomplished.
Tomorrow evening will be our last WWW in June. Let’s gather to make much of God and to call on Him on behalf of our nation. 6 o’clock at Grace Point. See y’all then.
6/20/24
Sure and Certain
Happy Thursday, Worship Watch and Wait worshippers! Last week Esther Harriott came to town. Esther was a faithful WWWer before she moved to Texas. Amazing woman! Her daughter and son-in-law, who live here in KC, let me know she was coming into town to celebrate her 93rd birthday. We met for lunch at Panera and had the best time catching up. I wanna be like Esther when I grow up. I absolutely LOVE Esther! She is a woman of faith and a fervent worshipper!
Speaking of faith… Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” A few verses down, the writer says it’s impossible to please God without faith. Let that sink in. I’m with the disciples on this one…”Lord, increase our faith!” If the ancients were commended for their faith, that means it’s doable for me and you.
Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Do you have any hopes? I know I do. Anything you’d like to see but don’t yet? Me too. Apparently that’s what faith is for — so we can be sure and certain of things that don’t yet meet the eye. If living by faith is what the ancients were commended for, then that’s the kind of life I want. The attaboy from heaven — it doesn’t get any better than that.
6/8/24
The Rock
You gotta love King David. In all his after-God’s-heart-ness and mighty-warrior-ness, he never failed to pen for us the play-by-play of his bad days as well as the good. I’m so glad Psalm 61 is in the Book. Check it out in the good ol’ KJV:
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.”
Selah is right! Think about that! Meditate on it! ”When my heart is overwhelmed…" It happens to us all. The question is, what do we do — where do we go when that happens? David shows us the way: “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." Right smack dab in the middle of emotional upheaval, circumstantial weirdness, and full-on spiritual attack, God has given us a Rock that is above the timberline of all that stuff. If we can get there, we’re good. Lord, lead me to that Rock today.
6/3/24
They’re Hitched!
Happy Monday, Worship Watch and Wait friends! Words fail me now, as they so conspicuously did Saturday afternoon, to describe watching my daughter come down that aisle. I knew this occasion would eventually come, but was at a loss as to how to prepare for it. My pleas to get out of the preacher role at this gig had fallen on deaf ears. I just wanted to be the dad. But I was honored that Anna would ask me to officiate, so I reluctantly agreed to leave my dad post and preach these love birds into matrimony.
When those doors opened Saturday and I saw her standing there in all her feminine glory, the scene suddenly blurred and all I could see was my Baby Girl posing for me in her little sun dress, and I couldn’t shake the memory. As her brothers escorted her down that gravel aisle (outdoor wedding), each taking their turn, it only got worse. By the time she was standing in front of me at the altar, I was overwhelmed and my mind was blank. I looked at my script and it was a jumbled mess of unrecognizable characters. I might as well have been trying to read Russian. I turned toward the maid of honor and asked, “What do I do now?” She said something about telling the people to be seated, so I did.
I managed to fumble my way forward through the ceremony so Jared could kiss his bride and we could all go party. Strangely, concurrent with my brain fog and utter inability to articulate anything that made sense, I was experiencing overwhelming joy and gratitude. The joy I felt was like a geyser. It was an amazing mix of emotions. "Joy unspeakable and full of glory” is the closest I can get to describe it. Certainly unspeakable, and very much full of glory. Today, in the aftermath of all the above, my mind is still a bit muddled, and my words are few and woefully inadequate. But my heart is full and runneth over. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow — Praise Him all creatures here below — Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts — Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost — Amen!
5/29/24
Christian Nationalism
Happy Wednesday, Worship Watch and Wait amigos! Two emails from me in one week. I know… But I couldn’t help myself after watching Dutch Sheets this morning. The subject of Christian nationalism has become such a hot potato issue, and the intimidation against speaking out on our fundamental values is paralyzing us. We’ve entered a death spiral of silence, out of which there is no escape without a radical reversal of our politically correct politeness. We MUST find our voice again, and let the chips fall where they may.
I’ve included the link for Dutch’s video below. It’s short — about 18 minutes. You might also want to watch tomorrow’s video because it's gonna be along the same lines. Let’s refuse to be swept away by the prevailing Christian cultural sentiment. It’s powerful, I know. But we can swim upstream. If we don’t, we will be rendered irrelevant. God gave us a voice. Let’s use it to appeal to heaven in prayer, as well as to embolden fellow believers. Ask God for boldness. The apostle Paul did, and it worked for him. It’ll work for us.
5/27/24
Glorious Riches
Happy Monday morning, Worship Watch and Wait warriors! Well, this is the week! My beautiful baby girl gets married this Saturday. Gwen and I could not be happier with Anna’s choice and God’s provision of a husband for her. Two Biblical descriptors of God’s more than enough blessing we are experiencing are “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine”, and “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. Let me elaborate a little on the latter…
In Philippians 4 verse 19 the apostle Paul says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” He could have just said, “And my God will meet all your needs.” I’d be good to go with that. But Paul, via the Holy Spirit, qualified that blessing with “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” It would seem that God is wanting to convince us that He is predisposed to care for us in a shockingly extravagant way. In our world of very limited bank accounts and budgets, we immediately balance our books by assessing our ability to function based on our teeny weeny resources. But here, in one fell swoop Paul pulls us out of our little world into the vast expanse of the God Who made the stars and named them all — the awesome Maker of heaven and earth. Suspended there, we suddenly realize God isn’t just rich — He’s gloriously rich! But hold the phone…
While we gawk in wonder at all His immenseness and beyond-us-ness, we are led to a Person. God's glorious riches are not even best demonstrated in those burning stars and magnificent creation, as stunning as it is. The epitome of God’s wealth is wrapped up in His Son, Christ Jesus. “And my God will meet all Your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” When we get Jesus, we get it all. And to rest his case in splendid fashion, rendering all rebuttal silly, Paul asks elsewhere, “He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” I do believe it’s time to worship. There is no one like our God! If you find yourself in need right now, remind yourself that God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus, and worship your way back into faith.
5/1/24
Heaven’s Way
When it comes to the greatness of God, where in the world do you start?! I mean, how do you wrap your mind around it? Psalm 145 says, “His greatness no one can fathom.” That right there will pretty much adjust your perspective about everything.
I love the snapshot of heaven we see in Revelation 5. Read it again and enjoy! In verse 8 John writes that the elders surrounding the throne each have a harp and a bowl in their hands. The bowls are full of incense, which John says are the prayers of the saints. Then in verse 9 he says they sang a new song. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them the template: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Whatever happens in heaven is meant to happen on earth. So right there in Revelation 5 we see prayer (bowls of incense) together with worship (harps and singing) in heaven.
Worship and prayer happening together is heaven’s way. God put them together. “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:9) Doing what they do in heaven how they do it in heaven is our agenda. One of the most powerful things I’ve found praying heaven’s way is that you don’t lose sight of the greatness of God. That subject is inexhaustible, and the foundation for our encouragement. Encouragement in prayer is huge. Without it we’ll quit. We run out of gas. Worship keeps our eyes on God. And when we pray with our eyes on God, our perspective is adjusted and our tank is filled. That’s when we become dangerous. Dangerous is good. So we worship and we pray, together, like they do it in heaven. On earth as in heaven.
Isaiah wrote that the darkness would get darker. He called it gross darkness. It’s happening right before our eyes. But in the same breath Isaiah says the glory of the Lord would arise upon God’s people. Yes! We get to magnify the Lord and declare His greatness, and pray as we are helped and led by His Spirit. God Himself will shake the powers of darkness, throwing them into confusion. Boom! Listen to what the Psalmist says about us: “May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all His saints. Praise the LORD.”
4/25/24
Seek Ye First
For a couple of weeks Matthew 6:33 has been simmering on the back burner of my brain. As all good food when it simmers, the aroma is compelling. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I like the King James better — “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Karen Lafferty’s iconic melody to that verse became a major contribution to the soundtrack of the Jesus Movement back in the 70s. Many of my generation will remember singing that song sitting on the floor in someone’s living room, shoulder to shoulder with friends enjoying the wave of Jesus awakening sweeping the country. That simple, singable melody endures, and the truth it carries, even more.
Today is a good day to check ourselves to see if we are seeking God and His kingdom first. Far from a duty to be fulfilled, it is an adventure to be entered into. God will never be anyone’s debtor, nor will He ever lay out a way to live that does not render the ultimate of everything desirable. The needs and desires much of humanity busily, daily goes after will be “added unto” those who seek God and His kingdom first. Added unto. Added unto. “And all these things shall be added unto you.” Sounds to me like an effortless arrangement on our part. Another verse with a similar encouragement is Palm 34:10 "..but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” No wonder God’s people are the happiest people on earth!
4/6/24
He Cares!
A couple of days ago I remembered the apostle Peter’s encouragement in chapter 5 of his first letter — “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (good ol’ KJV) The verse came to mind as the accumulation of stuff I had to get done was snowballing in my mind. Newer translations substitute “anxieties”, or “concern” for “care”. Whether we call it care, anxiety, concern or worry, we’re all familiar with that suffocating, drowning sensation of being overwhelmed when we look at all we've gotta do and realize we ain’t got enough to git er dun. What struck me the other day in that simple verse was HE CARES FOR YOU. It was like, “Daniel, you’re concerned about all that stuff, but God is concerned about YOU.” What a thought! Being weighed down with anxiety happens when we’re not sufficient for the task at hand. God, being All-Sufficient, never experiences that. He can handle it. We’re not built for many concerns. God is. "Maker of Heaven and Earth" is on His resumé.
In Luke 10 Jesus told Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things…” She was having trouble getting her stuff done, and was visibly spiraling. In her self-induced swirl she accused her sister of not helping, and accused Jesus of not caring. Oops! Thankfully Jesus didn’t rebuke her. He just suggested a better way. The fact is, God DOES care, and we are the target of that care. "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you.” Wow! We get overwhelmed when we’re not enough. God is more than enough. We can’t handle it. He can. So take all that stuff you’ve been worrying about and throw it on God, cuz He really does care about you. It worked wonders for me the other day. I have a feeling it might work for you.
3/25/24
Paid in Full!
As we enter what is traditionally known as Holy Week, I am again astounded at the great salvation we’ve been freely given. We come to God completely guilty, hopelessly lost and saddled with a debt we could never pay, and we walk away 100% free because Jesus paid our debt in full. Can there be better news than this?! How can what we've experienced at no cost to us not evoke eternal gratitude and exuberant praise? For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Enjoy!
3/15/24
Waiting
Buried in Lamentations chapter 3 is a very familiar verse about God’s mercies and compassions being new every morning. The whole section is worth noting. Read it with me: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” So much good stuff in there!
As I’ve waited on the Lord over the past month or so, God has been unusually quiet about some things, or at least that’s how I’ve perceived HIm. But I know that I know that HE is my portion, therefore I’m gonna wait for Him. In the end, trust in God and reliance on Him is the only way to live. Everything else will fail us. Everything. Maybe He is methodically removing all my “sweetest frames” so I will “wholly lean on Jesus’ name.” Sure feels that way. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it. But even if He does not, we will not bow down and worship the image of gold you have set up.” Selah.
3/7/24
Friendly Reminder
During my time of seeking the Lord in February, the very first thing He reminded me of was the fundamental purpose of our gatherings. That is, to minister to the Lord. Duh! Core value numero uno. Everything else should follow that priority. Revelation 1:5-6 says: “To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His own blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests unto God and His Father — to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” A kingdom of priests ministering to God. Think of it — the Creator God, Who needs nothing, brings us near and delights to receive our affection and devotion. Mind boggling. Speaking of delighting in us, a couple of chapters later in Revelation 4, the elders around the throne say: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (KJV) Seasons and issues ebb and flow, but one thing never changes — God made us for Himself — to enjoy us, and for us to enjoy Him. That is, and always will be the main thing. What a happy thought!
Another aspect of our gatherings is how we interact with what God wants to do in the earth. Romans 8 tells us the Holy Spirit helps us pray when we don’t know how to pray. Don’t know about you, but for me, that’s pretty much most of the time. God has an agenda, and He is willing to share it with any who will go there with Him. Our nation is hanging by a thread right now. Evil forces, once hidden, are now openly, blatantly threatening to destroy us. Make no mistake — this evil cannot be stopped by cultural and political engagement alone.We must step up and appeal to heaven for help. Worship Watch and Wait is the perfect context for lifting a corporate cry and prayer of agreement for God’s intervention. That. Is. Our. Only. Hope. During WWII, Reece Howells and a small band of intercessors were instrumental in turning the tide of evil in their day. Documented evidence abounds to bear that out. We can do the same in our day. Let’s do this together. We must.
2/22/24
Trust and Rely
Hope y’all are enjoying this amazing February Spring as much as I am! Punxsutawney Phil was right on the money this year. Speaking of groundhogs, I’m coming out of my unplugged mode for a minute, not to look for my shadow, but to share a little, and give y’all a heads up on our March WWW schedule.
One of my favorite go-to passages of Scripture when I’m seeking the Lord is Isaiah 50:10-11. “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: you will lie down in torment.”
None of us likes to walk in the dark. However, those times, by design, can deepen our trust and solidify our reliance on God. That’s where I am right now. During my time of seeking Him these last couple of weeks, God has rekindled first love and reminded me of core values. Decluttering is powerful! Regarding a couple of practical issues on how to proceed, however, I remain in seeking mode. More questions than answers. But I’m holding steady, resisting the temptation to light my own fires. I want my trust in the Lord and reliance on God to be solid. So far so good!
1/24/24
Sailing
Who can forget the compelling intro to Christopher Cross’ mega hit “Sailing”? In two seconds you’re out there on the water with him. “Sailing takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be — just a dream and the wind to carry me, soon I will be free!” I have a friend who is an avid sailor. He says there are dozens of things to remember about the boat, the water and the wind. By far, though, the most important thing is your sail. Is it up?
There is a fresh wind of the Spirit blowing right now. I could feel it beginning last week. God has spoken in His word and He has also put dreams in our hearts of where He intends to take us. His wind is blowing in order to get us there. It’s time to hoist our sails! It’s time to catch the wind!
12/25/23
Joy!
Romans 14:17 tells us that the kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” One of my mentors used to say that the bottom line of the kingdom is joy. That has stuck with me over the years. I suspect the thing that most made sinners and kiddos comfortable around Jesus was that He was happy. Joy is attractive. It is contagious. That night when the sky exploded above those unsuspecting shepherds, the angel said, “I bring you tidings of great joy!” The hosts of heaven chimed in with the announcement that the party was on!
God loves a party — so much so, that Jesus’ very first miracle was to turn water into wine at a wedding because they had run out. Scholars estimate that between 120 and 150 gallons of water was turned into wine that day. I’d say that’s a pretty clear statement! Hear these words of John the Beloved in the wake of that miracle, “He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.” He thus revealed His glory. Boom!
Don’t you let anything steal your joy! Hang onto it! It’s worth fighting for! Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength!” Even king David, repenting for his sin of murder and adultery prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” And the ultimate commendation that joy is indispensable is found in Hebrews 12, “Jesus…Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” There it is.
12/13/23
Chariots and Horses
Back in the day we would raise the roof with a catchy chorus taken from Psalm 20: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” If you remember singing that, you’re telling me how old you are.
The context of that Psalm 20 is worship and prayer. The theme was national protection for the nation of Israel, and victory over its enemies. Even a casual reading of the history of the kings of Israel and Judah shows the temptation they faced to rely on chariots and horses. The consequences of that misplaced confidence were disastrous.
In our own nation we are facing forces that threaten to destroy us — the nation God intended us to be. If you are in touch at all with the concept of powers that be exerting their influence covertly behind the scenes, then you know that pretty much nothing is as it appears to be. So what do we do? How do we respond? Do we have any viable recourse at all?
We could go ten different directions here with some very Biblical ways to respond to this ominous threat. And many would probably have merit. But I wanna cut to the chase…“But we will remember the name of the LORD our God” is the basket I’m putting my eggs into. Each of us have our own personal chariots and horses we are tempted to rely on. Turning back to God and proclaiming our reliance on Him refocuses us, and is itself an offensive strategy against the prevailing evil of our day. Over and over and over when Israel would do this, God would send deliverance outta nowhere.
The most amazing bride
The only groom good enough to marry her