“Summer Air from Somewhere”

Summer air symphony outside my window,

Riding on the fresh after breath of the moon.

What if I could catch you in a jar and study your unique tune?

Who is it that directs with sounds so sweet?

Do the stars twinkle to keep the time?

I wonder whether the crickets know their strings were assembled by the Divine.

The breeze that builds the acoustics so resounding,

Helps to amplify the trees rustling percussion.

Me? I am just a passerby who paused as I sauntered past the amphitheater.

This one located at the somewhere along the intersection between dream and thought.

I marvel at the harmony so true-

A sound hardly touched by ivory and wood.

This summer's symphony will soon give way to autumns textures and colors,

A canvas composed of artistic picture rather than a midnight song.

No matter the lyric, artistry or allure-the author tis all the same.

He is the one who sings the melody, a thread woven through all our joy or pain.

Heavy notes of love and faithfulness-so soothing for one to hear.

So whether you sleep, wake or rise-

Remember who you are in this grand composer's eyes.

End the question of the summer air from somewhere-the source is deeply known.

When it next comes to mind-take the time,

To listen to that which is sung around the throne.

A summer air's song from somewhere.

The Door Unopened

As usual, I have found a new meaning in a portion of scripture I've never seen enlightened before. A new dawning of understanding came over me as I was reading through the ministry of Peter and his adventures in Acts. I found myself reading the account of when he was in prison and has a miraculous release from his bonds. I previously blogged about how God spoke to me having a grasp on the vision for your dreams and future in "Following your vision out of the prison." This time around through Acts God placed his finger on another arena entirely. He was making my throat close and heart pound at the question-do you love me enough to wait for me?

You see, once Peter was lead out of

the prison in Acts 12, we then see him coming to the home of friends who were interceding on his behalf while in bondage. Now this is one of those instances that this narrative of Peter may not have been inspired by the Spirit for this exact illustration-but God wanted to speak to me, and I believe you, on this subject-and this particular passage is what he used. As Peter arrives at the door, the people inside are praying their guts out for him. They want him to just magically show up. They are praying a prayer that most in the back of their m

inds may be thinking, if ONLY he would just miraculously show up at our door-if ONLY God was supernaturally deliver him! And then, the most amazing thing happens. As the people in the house are eagerly and ardently seeking God for Peter to be with them-a knock on the door is heard. A young gal runs to the door-looks to see the answer to her prayers-Peter at the door. So what does she do? Does she burst open the door like an excited grandmother receiving her check from Publisher Clearing House!?! No…she runs back to the room where the others are and declares "He's here!"

How odd. Think about it, the answer to her prayer is there, but she is more excited to tell others about it then to experience the miracle. The thing God showed me was what made my throat close a little. Take this and make it an analogy of your spiritual life. As I looked at it in this filter-I am the person in the house, praying and praying for God's presence, for an encounter with him, for a flicker of his voice, for a sense of his beautiful face. We pray, we cry, we eat dirt in our 'prayer closet'. Then at the first sense of his presence-when the goose bumps rise on our arms we think mission accomplish and leave our room after a time spent in the word and think "mission accomplished," but we just heard a knock, recognized Jesus and ran off telling everyone how huge our God time just was. How often do we turn away before really ope

ning the door to let the Father enter his Temple?

How often at that first little sign we boast to others of the righteousness

we feel we're experiencing- but Jesus is still outside the door waiting?

What if we opened the door

to him fully when he knocked, when he came as we so ar

dently prayed for him to come?

What if God actually came to the door with intentions of going inside?

The Word says in Revelation 3:20 "Here
I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

He doesn't want you to run away at the sound of his voice and think that is all there is. He wants to spend time with you- he wants to be nourished with you. Imagine that, we are certainly strengthened in his presence, but he finds joy, fellowship, and yes strength and delight in spending time was us to! How much more could we be used, how much more of Jesus would we know if we opened the door? Then look, really look at what the Word says after those inside FINALLY open the door for Peter…

"Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed." (Acts 12:16)

The pastor at my church said something this last week that made me catch my breath, one of those confirmations from God- "The degree of value you place on the presence of God determines the measure of access you have to the impossible." We should jealously guard our time with God-value it, make it a priority and never underestimate what God has planned for you. Do now allow this to lay guilt on you, may it place you in holy dissatisfacti

on with your time with God. May you hear his continuous knocking, his calling to us-his yearning to answer your prayers-and let him in. Let his presence saturate your life.

Lord teach us to wait on you, may we not sell ourselves short so that we run and get all self-righteous about the whisper we heard from you when you want to fellowship and have a conversation with us. God we want to see you face to face-give us the patience and endurance and expectation to walk forward and open the door.

(Photo by Linda Sannuti- check out her awesome pics at http://linda-sannuti.artistwebsites.com )

The Joy of “Cross-Eyed” Retrospect

    I've been reading through Job. Quite an interesting book that I could say a lot about, but I want to narrow my thoughts to one particular portion of this theologically challenging correspondence. I'm not here to debate whether God ever allows painful things into our lives or how Satan can enter God's presence like that, no; I'm just here to share with you something that God brought to light for me recently when I was reading Job. If you have ever skimmed over Job or heard a pastor preach on it somewhere, I'm sure you know the gist of the story. A wealthy, faithful follower of God all the sudden has tragedy strike and looses everything that ever meant something to him. All the while his friends, maybe well meaning, try to get him to admit some hidden sin that would explain what he was going through, and Job declares he is innocent. Many times we uphold the idea that Job was so righteous never getting upset with God through all this…and I have to ask you if that's how you view Job-have you ever read his letters? The Book of Job is full of Job's honest and heart-wrenching prayers asking God why this is happening. He seems to feel insignificant in God's sight, otherwise why would this be happening? It is as if he questions how God views him, but all the while Job understands the power of God, if you have the time; it's a complex book to read through-but it's amazing what you'd find. The portion that struck a chord with me was found in chapter nine, one of Job's responses to his friend…

        + Job 9:32-35 ³² "God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. ³³ If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. ³⁴ The         mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. ³⁵ Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own                 strength.

    What a vivid picture of a man who is lost in his sorrows. All Job can see is how despised he is. The only thing he can comprehend is how god MUST be angry with him because of all the horrors he was going through. And then his line is nearly heart breaking. He details the need for a mediator. He just wants to feel heard by God, to understand why he is dealing with all the pain that has latched itself to his life. All he sees is his sinful state, he knows that he couldn't ever come to God in that way, but what he hasn't understood yet is how God wants Job to come even in this state. It's reminiscent of the cry of Isaiah when he realizes he is ruined for his sins are in the presence of the KING. (Isaiah 6) Have you ever felt the distance from God when you needed him the most? Ever felt that what you've done is so wrong that God couldn't want you to approach him in this muddied state. I know the feeling, praying the same thing over and over with seemingly no response-if only there was someone who was there…someone who could be in God's presence and state my case, intercede for me. But there is. That's just it, we DO have a mediator, and we can turn to Jesus. Job lived thousands of years before Jesus came in the flesh. In fact, many scholars believe that Job was the oldest book written; chronologically it would most likely be intermixed with the book of Genesis.

    If he only had the ability to see the sacrifices as an image of the coming Savior, but Job lived before Moses' time, this could be why we never see a reference to God's provision for the people of Israel that is looked back on by so many other Old Testament books. Just imagine it; Job's only context of god is however he had revealed himself to him in a clear and personal way. Job, even a in his distress while questioning God's love for him still understands pieces of his character. What would I have reacted life if I wasn't able to look back to the cross? The people of Israel could look forward knowing God was a deliverer. They had a picture of it, they had been promised a redeemer. They had the cloud and pillar of fire, for all we know about Job, he had no such physical manifestation of God. He was only able to respond to God through hi innate desire for purpose, love and connection. We don't know how he first came to know God-but I can't imagine how I would've been able to respond if I couldn't look back to the cross.

    Job saw his sinfulness, and he felt inadequate to state his case before a Holy God, and all he wanted was somehow to feel like someone was listening to his plea. As I read this, I was deeply convicted. All those times that my prayers seemed to hit the ceiling, as they mingled with my tears…I had the immeasurable blessing to be able and look back on the cross. My Mediator was listening; my mediator was lifting up his own prayers on my behalf. Job eventually came to the realization that God was there-but what would I have done in that situation? How grossly my trust in God would've been in comparison with Job's. We have it clear and laid out, that even in those hard moments-our sacrificial mediator is interceding on our behalf.

        + Hebrews 8:6 But our High Priest has been given a ministry that is far superior to the ministry of those who serve under the hold laws, for he is the one who guarantees for us a better         covenant with God, based on better promises.

I guess I want to encourage you, take a lesson from Job, his life crumbled and he still held to a God he had never seen. We have access to a text that tells us all we need to know in order to get close to a REAL and PERSONAL GOD. We can look back at the cross. We have the assurance that our God brought the mediator-what measure of trust it took for Job to trust God to come through centuries down he line. The Hebrew people looked forward with verbal promises spoken. Next time you feel your life is crumbling, maybe that's today, remember that you can turn to a God who has already come through for you. How can we not trust him when he has placed Jesus always in the throne room to intercede? I don't know if your heart was pricked by the example God brought to confront me. All I know, is that next time I'm feeling like my life has taken on a new pain, I have no excuse to not present it before God and KNOW he hears, just look back . See the cross. See your mediator always before the throne.

A Word for Those Afraid of the Flame

I find comfort in the reality that we serve a God who doesn't hesitate to help us live up to what our highest potential is. Our God wants to see us walking in all he has for us-the processes however to training ourselves to run that race in a way well done-that's not always a path marked with rainbows and puppy dogs. Sometimes leaving our fluffy little house of pillow soft friends and candy sweet words can hurt like a bee sting in the ankle. But one thing I know is that when we find ourselves in those painful situations-our God can work all things for our good (Romans 8:28) I also know that God can often call us to move beyond the boundaries of our comfortable routine. And I have personally experienced what happens if you too long resist that leading. When I ignored God calling me to change an area in my life, or to address a distraction-eventually I was able to ignore his voice speaking to me about that issue. When we do that we are pulling away from God's growth process for us……with all this and more weighing heavy on my heart at this week's Sunday night prayer service, I felt God speaking to me. I felt convicted at his words-and I know that he wants YOU to hear this too. Please don't push away God's leading anymore in that area that is on your mind right now…please read this word with an open heart to hear what God may be speaking to you, and if your palms get sweaty and your heart beats a little faster-remember that we can only ignore God's voice so long until we become experts on the phrase "those who have ears but cannot hear"

+Hebrews 12L29-28 (NLT) Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

"My child- you have strayed from my fire. The answered prayers were hot and burnt a sensitive place on your heary. Did you see that as you pulled away- I wouldn't continue to purge with out your wiling submission? Come close again-I've removed chains but there's more. Let me burn away all that lies in the dark corners. Come further still. You see the pain. You hear the anguish-will you still choose to draw near? Will you let me come as close as I desire? Dear one, do not draw from a shallow account. Deeper, closer I call you to carry a cross-but not alone. But you must take it up with eager focus. Not a cross of a task, not of a call, not of a ministry, but a pursuit; a passionate pursuit of me. No other cross will be heaver for the weight of your soul is in every splinter of the wood. Every heart beat for me is another step closer to the flame. Come take a closer walk by the fire. The chains do not just break, in my presence they are melted into holy ore. From the ore I forge anew the sword of the Spirit that come from the lips of the King to battle on your behalf. Closer I call you to the flame. Forever Faithful is he called, the One who holds out his hand to you, has He not been there before? Does he not know the price? Does He not offer a cry at your pain? Come and turn to the flame to be cleansed and strengthened. He who has called you is faithful, he will do this."

+James 4:7-10 (NLT) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to god and God will draw closet you, wash your hands, you sinners; purify you hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laugher, and gloom instead of joy. When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

When you ask God to help you grow and declare that you want him no matter the cost-he will answer that prayer, my question for you today, and it's a question that I had to review once more for myself is this, am I willing to receive the answer to my prayers? Will I draw close to a flame that will burn me, but also keep me soft clay to be molded at the hand of the Potter? Be willing to embrace the healing pain of letting you're selfishness be seared away from your spirit. This is more than lofty words and fancy talk. God can lead you day by day from the decisions you make to the thoughts you think. He wants to be so intimately involved in your life, he wants you to be able and sense his voice when he speaks to you. But he leaves the decision in your hands; will you pull away from the flame-afraid of the healing fire? Or will you walk into it, knowing that the ONE who had been there before will hold your hand as you are renewed. I pray that you embrace the devouring fire of our Holy God and carry it with you where ever you go.

Forsake Your Fear, Another Levitical Lesson

Many of us have some habitual sin in our lives. We lie. We steal. We gossip. Or maybe it's some other unspoken; maybe it's just choosing pride over humility. Maybe it's a habitual sin of ignoring what God has pressed on your heart to do. No matter what it is, we often find ourselves deliberately choosing to disobey God. I've been there; I continually have to walk away from there. This is part of the flesh vs. Spirit battle that we are constantly subjected to whether we engage or not. These thoughts and others came to mind as I read in Leviticus 26. The chapter appears to be addressing two subjects; namely obedience and disobedience to God.

+ Leviticus 26: 14-15, 36-37 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant…36 " 'As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them.37 They will stumble over one another as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies"

The surrounding scripture explains how God went through all these efforts to capture the heart of the Hebrew people, but they continue in their sin. This is a certain parallel to us is it not? Maybe it's just me, but I find myself in disobedience often enough. Now this is not to make you feel condemned, but I want to show you what exactly our disobedience is costing us, and maybe you can identify, like I did, some of those areas you are having a deaf ear in. So my question to you is what happens to our spiritual life as a result of a repetitive disobedience?

1-Constant Fear The scripture says how these people who have abhorred, or detested God's will be afraid of a falling leaf. They will be living in such constant fear of their enemy that a falling leaf would terrify them and send them running. We make fun of people who jump when we pop out from behind a corner at them-let alone someone who sprints away when a leaf falls from a nearby tree. I can't say how this may be true in your life-but I can tell you how I've seen this played out in my own. When I am walking in disobedience in some arena of my life, I know that I live in a greater measure of fear. My main leaf is that of worry and anxiety and stress. It can all build up on me at once and I am so worried about what I'm supposed to do next-I often don't take the time to think on whether there is an area in my life that I haven't surrendered to Christ. What's your leaf? Maybe identifying it will take you to the root.

2-Falling Under False Pursuit "They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them" Many of us have a hard enough time walking out our spiritual life in a day without feeling the enemy must be hot on our tail. The car doesn't start, you finally get it working and that one customer at work comes in and chews you out, phone call comes where you find out your insurance is going up for some reason or another-you know that the sword of the enemy is swinging at you. But this scripture says how, when you choose to ignore the will of God for your life, you may find yourself running from and FALLING when there is no one pursuing you. Can you imagine all the Christians you've met that live a defeated life-they could be running from a fictitious sword. God may have freedom for you-but because you are weary in following through on something God has asked of you-you can't even see that you are protected. You fall and give into the attacks because you are too busy looking for the enemy rather than pursuing God.

3-Defenses Fail "you will not be able to stand before your enemies." In Ephesians 6 Paul admonishes us to stand and after all we've done to stand, stand. When we find ourselves in some habitual sin that is controlling the rest of our lives, or we have purposefully and methodically hardened our hearts to God's voice-we are unable to stand against the enemy. We open ourselves up to the attacks of the accuser when we turn our back on God and face the enemy defenseless. We leave ourselves powerless and weak because we are denying God the ability to bless us. So when the enemy truly does come against us in some way, we can't stand. No longer are we running from leaves or falling under an imaginary sword-we buckle when presented with an attack. Those moments when some truly life changing news has been delivered to you and you feel like just can't breathe, you can't bare it anymore-the enemy has found you nearly defenseless.

Now please remember, this is all as a result of deliberately walking away from what God has clearly directed for us. I've been there; it's a nearly daily battle go stay away from this place. This place is not without hope. God laid this out to the Hebrew people so that they could see the sin in their lives and repent. He wanted to be the one to fight for them, he wants us to stand and after all we've done to stand-stand. He wants us to confidently walk in authority over that which seeks to destroy his plan for our life-but we must clean house. I encourage those I know that when God confronts them with something in their life that needs improvement-then do it. Just deal with it, do all you can to deal with it. Jesus told us to cut off our right hand if it causes us to sin-sin is not something to take lightly. I know personally what it's like to purposefully overlook an area that God had his finger on-it places a heavy burden on your shoulders that makes it difficult to stand under. This sin can cause you to be so bound to fear that you feel hopeless-but dear friend there is hope!

+ Leviticus 26:3, 6-7 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands... 6 " 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you."

Did you see that, a complete turnaround, this portion of scripture that precedes the others-it details our position when we obey the word of God? When we are walking in faithfulness before God, this is not perfection, but a heart set on Him, with that mindset we are able to once again wield our sword. No longer do you have to run from the enemy! No one will make us afraid and the sword will not be near! Dear one please take encouragement from this word. If you feel enslaved to some sinful tendency, whether action or emotion-please know that the fear you live in doesn't have to dominate your life anymore. You can route your enemy rather than buckling under the pressure of their sword. Our God is faithful to make a way out-he wants you to turn to him and his forgiveness is deep enough to take you out of the pain you find yourself in.

Won't you ask God to help you identify the leaf of your fear and lead you to the root that causes you to feel under pursuit? Would you turn to God and let him defend you? He is waiting for you to turn to him-take up your sword and engage. Forsake your fear.