Navigating Through the Storm

This last month has been challenging for my family and I. For those of you that don't know, last February my wife and I were asked to help plant a church in Chandler, AZ. Both of us being in agreement that it was the Lord, we sold our house, our car and set out by faith and moved to Arizona.

On November 27th we were faced with a huge hang up. The railroad, my employer, recalled me back to the mid-west and it wasn't optional. So with no other options at the time I left my wife and 3 kids behind and headed back to Kansas praying it wouldn't be for long.

After 2 1/2 weeks it looked hopeful that I would be able to get back to Arizona, so I headed back home. After I got there things took another turn, but this time it was worse. I found out that the railroad wouldn't transfer me because the shortage of engineers in the mid-west actually increased from the previous number and the time frame would be undetermined. It wasn't long and I found myself on a flight back to Kansas, meanwhile doing my best to take captive every thought that suggested I wasn't in the will of God.  

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say "See, its not working out for you in Arizona so it must not be God's will." But these folks don't understand that God does NOT lead you by circumstance. Romans 8:14 NLT says, For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Children of God can expect to be led by His Spirit and not outward circumstance. If we look to circumstances to determine whether or not something is God's will, then our lives would reflect a wave of the sea. Always being tossed around to and fro this way and that way, because circumstances are always changing. We must turn our focus to the Holy Spirit who is constant and stable.

Are you asking yourself, what does he mean? Let me put it like this, pretend your on a boat out in the middle of the sea. This represents your life. The waves (circumstances) all around you take you up and down, side to side over and over again and again. And after awhile you begin to feel weary because your eyes have been on the boat and the waves. However if you would get your eyes off of them and fix them on the horizon (the Lord) which is constant and never changing, you will begin to relax and like the horizon you will begin to reflect its stability through the wavering circumstances of life.

What does keeping your eye on the horizon look like in real life circumstances? Well when I received the news that I was being forced back to the mid-west, immediately my wife and I began praying for guidance. Then I called my Pastor and we prayed some more over the phone. The next night the entire lead team from our church gathered around my wife and I and we prayed some more. Then the next night was our encounter service and our church prayed with us some more. Then the next morning I was awaken by the presence of the Lord and He prompted me by the Spirit to be still and listen to His voice. He assured me that everything would be fine and I needed to trust Him that He has a plan and He reassured me that He will order my steps through this transition. Our eyes were fixed on the horizon!

It was because of this inward voice that I knew the Lord was working out a transition in my life. Though I wasn't sure how it would flesh out, at least I had direction and assurance confirmed by an inward witness. And I've cleaved to His words through this entire season. The Lord led me by His Spirit which dwells on the inside of me. And that's how He will lead you too. As believers we are to be sensitive to His voice and not be circumstance led. God's voice is real, and the more time you spend in His Word and in His presence, the louder, more often and more real it becomes to you. And this my friend is how you have peace when everything around you is falling apart.

Ready For The Next Season?

Ever feel run downed? Spiritually exhausted? Like you need to recharge you're spirit? There are many times I feel this same way. It seems like when we walk through these seasons in life that Abba Father is no where around. Sometimes I find myself questioning what I did to get here, where did I miss it? Have you ever wondered the same thing?

These moments are what I like to call wilderness experiences. Remember when Jesus was led out to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted? The Spirit led Him there, but you don't hear anything about Him telling Jesus what He should do or give Him any clear direction WHILE He was being tempted. Nope, the enemy waited till He had already heard from the Father, then when Jesus was weak physically, Satan started to temp the Lord. You see that's how the devil is, he doesn't know what's going to happen until you do, but then when he finds out, he tries to get you to doubt. The enemy is crafty and he knows that faith is our key to unlocking God's ability in our lives. If he can keep us doubting, then he can keep us in lock down mode. The only thing that carried the Lord through those moments was faith in God's spoken Word. We MUST hold tight to our confession just as Jesus did, and if we endure, then we will walk out of the wilderness with the power of the Holy Spirit just as He did.

You know it's amazing how consistently predictable the devil can be, yet quite often we forget the solution is the Word of God. Our wilderness experiences are not designed for us to be tempted by Satan. Though that's what happens there, it's not God's plan. God's plan there is to get you away from the clutter that's been robbing your time with Him so you can hear His voice clearly. Really these wilderness experiences are acts of mercy, because God knows the stresses and concerns that trouble your heart. So He wants to get you away from all the distractions, sometimes even your family, so He can communicate to you. God is not a contender, He will not compete for you attention.

So If you're serious about serving the Lord you can expect to find yourself in a few of these wilderness experiences. If Jesus needed them, then how much more do we, who are living in this day and age? And since God honors those who honors Him, and your heart IS to do that which pleases the Father, He's going to communicate with you, even if He has to lead you out into the wilderness...

Othersminded

Millions of people today are gathering together in homes, in churches, in shelters, etc all to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. If you're like me you cherrish these moments. It's a time where family and friends come together to catch up, and to spend time enjoying eachothers presence while sharing a meal together.

Well this Christmas I find myself among the category of a different group. I'm one of the millions spending Christmas alone. I'm not sad about this it's just opened my eyes to see that there are many people who are isolated while millions of others are enjoying the fellowship of their loved ones.

I want to encourage you during these seasons to be othersminded. You don't have to stop your traditions of spending this time with your family and friends. But how hard would it be to invite someone who's alone, someone with no one to spend Christmas with, over to enjoy this time with you? Just think of the impact that could have on a life that is so precious to the Lord that He came to earth to redeem.

This year let's truly be the hands and feet of Christ and really show others, even our family and friends what the true meaning of Christmas is about.

Merry Christmas everybody, and God bless you!