""Why You Trippin?"

I was working a while ago at a call center here in Fresno and came upon an issue with a customer.  I wasn't sure how to take care of their issue and was frantic in trying to find a solution.  I went to one of my co-workers, my friend Tyrone Redick, and presented their issue to him.  He took one look at it and said, "Why you trippin?"  He had already found the solution that I couldn't see.
I followed his advice and instruction and the issue was solved.

As I read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, I could hear his words once again.  But this time the words were not from him to me, but from God to Elijah.  

Elijah had received a death threat from Jezebel because he had killed the prophets of Baal.  Elijah, the prophet of the Most High God, ran for his life apparently in fear of Jezebel's threat.  After a days journey the angel of the Lord came to him twice and said, "Eat because the journey is too great for you."  Elijah ate the food the angel brought to him and in the strength of that food, travel forty days and nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.  Upon his arrival there, God asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  Elijah's response was "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life. - 1 Kings 19:10"  What happened next was interesting.

It says that God told him to come out to the opening of the cave he was hiding in.  After which, a mighty wind blew through and ripped the rocks into pieces, but God was not "in" the wind.  Next, an earthquake rocked the mountain, but God was not "in" the earthquake.  After that, a wild fire burned through the area, but God was not "in" the fire.  Lastly, a still small voice was heard and it doesn't say God was not in that voice.  Elijah then covered his face with his mantle and went to the opening of the cave again.  The next thing we see is God speaking to Elijah asking him the same question as before, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  Elijah's response had not changed even after all he had just seen and experienced: "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."

God then simply assured Elijah that He had everything under control and a backup plan was already in place.  He had Elijah anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elish as a prophet to pick up where Elijah had left off.  Furthermore, He assured him that He had 7000 prophets that were still totally devoted and committed to Him.  God never appeared to be upset with Elijah for his stance and decision to call it quits.  He instead seems to denote that it was all good and that His plan would not stop with Elijah.  

Here's what I see in this.

God was demonstrating His surpassing great power as an answer to the threat of Jezebel with the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but He demonstrated His heart to Elijah in the still small voice.  In other words, the wind, earthquake and fire are what God would do to Elijah's enemies including Jezebel and was giving Elijah an opportunity to change his mind (i.e. asking him the same question before and after the demonstration of His power).  When Elijah did not change his response, God put plan B into effect.  In essence, God was asking Elijah, "Why You Trippin?  I got this!"  But Elijah had to decide if he was going to continue or quit.

I find that this is the same with us. "Oh God, they're coming to take away my car."  "Oh God, they're threatening eviction."  "Oh God, we're facing bankruptcy."  "Oh God, we can't pay our bills."  On and on our prayers go, and rightly so.  This is no way minimizes whatever current circumstance you may be facing.  But God is attempting to display His great power on our behalf, perhaps not by removing the issues we face, but by reminding us of His ability and His heart toward us.  The question is, after we have been reminded of His ability regarding the enemies of our peace and His heart toward us, will we quit?  Either way, God's got this.  

So to you I present the same question my friend Tyrone Redick presented to me, "Why You Trippin?"

Be encouraged today and be reminded of Who it is that fights for you.

God's got this.

2014

Well, here we are in a new year.  God has graciously allowed us another year to experience His presence, love, mercy, grace, and power.  He has allowed us more time to expand and extend the kingdom to all those willing to receive it and to represent Him better than we did the year before.  This is really an incredible privilege when we think on it honestly.  I'm in London at the time of this writing and actually got to experience a new birth year as well as a new year.  It was good, but not the same without my precious family around, though.

My friend and brother, Michael Randle and I, were talking last night.  With the travel, time change and schedule, things can sometimes get a little confusing.  I was trying to figure out specifically when I was set to return home as weary as I was (and still am).  The more we talked, the more confused I seemed to make things!  I couldn't get out of my mind that even though it was after midnight this morning of Jan 1, it would not be Jan 2 when I woke up later today (lol)!  Blame it on jet lag!  Michael looked at me and said, "Bro, when you wake up, it's still gonna be the 1st!"  We laughed at that for a little while.  

Then, in typical Mike Randle style, the profound began to come forth.  He said, "You know, Man, here we are trying to figure out a time of day and the day itself and getting confused.  Yet GOD has all of eternity rapped up in the palm of His hand.  He knows intimately every issue that well over 200 billion people on the planet has.  He know every hair, sees every tear, listens intently to every prayer, and has mapped out every life.  And here we are trying to wrap our minds around a day!"  Then it dawned on me.  In light of the fact that we now embark on a new year, consider the mercy of God.  Consider how after all the wrong things we all have done and fallen short regarding, we are STILL here and He STILL gives us yet another year to do better.  Consider all those times that we have felt forsaken by Him or have felt like we have done too much for Him to love and care for us, and then consider the fact that He kept us safe and alive during the entire time of the previous year.  

Now let all those words, what Mike said and what was just written, sink in.  What is it that is plaguing your thoughts right now?  What are you having a hard time understanding and figuring out?  How amazing is God to take all the stuff that we throw at Him, both good and bad, right and wrong, sinful and righteous, and still love us enough to take care of us?  How amazing is it that He is not governed by the actions of His kids, but deals with each one as a loving, just, and righteous Father that only wants the absolute best for His children?  Mind blowing, if you try to wrap your mind around that.

So my encouragement for you in this year of 2014 is simply this: UNBOX GOD IN YOUR LIFE.  Secondly UNBOX YOURSELF TO BELIEVE HIM AND RECEIVE HIM EVERYDAY.  Let everyday be a new day of acceptance of His lordship in this year.  Will you understand everything?  Absolutely not.  Will everything go well and perfectly for you?  Maybe not what WE would consider well and perfect, but it will regarding the purpose of God regarding you.  Will it be easy?  No.  But will it be worth it?  YES!!  Worth betting your life on.

Be blessed!

G 

"Position Yourself!"

I had an interesting little experience the other day.  It wasn't anything really dramatic, per se, just different.  I was sitting outside on our patio at home and noticed this Praying Mantis hanging on the window screen.  It is still sitting there today!  I thought to myself, "Doesn't this thing have anything more to do?  I mean, come on!"  It just sits there and sits there "doing" nothing.

At least, that's how it appears.

In reality, it is sitting there waiting for it's next meal.  It waits patiently knowing that some unlucky, unsuspecting bug will indeed cross its' path.  And when it does, "SOUP'S ON!!"

But here's what I learned.  This little "bug" of a predator sits patiently with it's front "paws" in a cupped position as if praying.  And the Lord sort of told me that this is how I should be.  Ever in a position of prayer WITH expectancy.  2 Chronicles 20:17 says, "You will not need to fight in this battle.  Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!  Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."  All they had to do was be still.  But notice something: If all they had to do was to position themselves and stand still, why then were they told to go out against them?  Last time I checked, that didn't quite look like standing still!

Here's the deal.  What the enemy wants us to do is to become so busy trying to find a way to win a battle, when the battle has already been won.  Jahaziel, the one who prophesied this to the children of Israel, was telling them to still their hearts, minds, and souls, and watch as God fights for them.  Their positioning of themselves put them in a place of being able to see the victory that was theirs in God.  It wasn't necessary for them to come up with a battle strategy or to fear defeat, but instead to STAY in the place of KNOWING, BELIEVING, AND CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of the hand of God fighting on their behalf.  They were told not to be afraid or dismayed because God was going to take care of this enemy.  And also, notice he said to stand still and SEE.  The enemy wants you to ONLY see the challenge set before you.  He doesn't want you to see the victory that is yours in Jesus, for Jesus came to "destroy the works of the evil one (1 John 3:8)".  These are God's chosen people and nobody was going to succeed in devouring them if HE had anything to say about it.  Guess what?  You have been grafted into this chosen-ness (Romans 11:17-18).  This means that the same passion that He has for His chosen ones, He now has for YOU.  That being the case, you, too, can have the kind of expectancy and trust that the children of Israel were instructed to have.

Matthew 6:30 says, "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe -- you of little faith?"  And verse 34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  In other words, POSITION YOURSELVES in confidence, faith, trust, and belief in the God who fights for you.  SEE yourself victorious because of what He has done for you and will do for you.  This He will do so that His name may be glorified in you.  What is it you need?  He knows and is able to provide for you.  The enemy would have you fully embrace fear of "what if" or "how will," but God wants you to fully embrace His "I have," "I will," and "It is written," for 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are YES and in Him AMEN, to the glory of God through us."

The enemy wants you to run away from this.  Why not today, RUN TO IT?  There is nothing left secure to stand upon.  The only thing certain for all eternity is God and His word that is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89-90).

Personally, I am relocating from the place of the impossible to the place of the possible.  The place of the impossible isn't a very nice neighborhood to live in.

How about you?

G

"Mantle vs. Anointing"

Recently I posted a status in Facebook which stated the following:  "What is the difference between the anointing and a mantle?  The anointing visits and the mantle inhabits."  The responses that came in caused me to realize that terminology without clarification can cause confusion (duh - haha).  Forgive me for not really paying attention to my own writing.  Allow me to explain.

A mantle is a covering of sorts, but much more than that.  A mantle not only covers, it envelopes whatever it covers.  It totally encompasses its object so completely that the object itself is no longer visible.  The contrast I desired to draw with my post was this:  there is a difference between being anointed for a moment and being anointed to occupy an office or position, spiritually speaking.  

King Saul, when he came upon a gathering of prophets, became "anointed" in that moment to prophesy, but that anointing did not last upon him.  It did not envelope him.  It was only for a moment in time.  Conversely Elisha, when he picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell from the fiery chariot, hit the waters that they had previously crossed and it parted.  The next thing we see us the company of prophets that had been watching recognizing that the spirit (anointing for the office of a prophet) now "rested" or enveloped Elisha.  Ant this is why I posted the reply to my own question, "The anointing visits and the mantle inhabits", though I probably should have said the mantle envelopes (ha-my bad).  

At any rate, I find this to be an interesting thought because there are many people in ministry that have been "anointed" to be used of God spiritually for moments needed, but not necessarily enveloped with an anointing for occupying that spiritual office.  There are those who are anointed to preach, but not to pastor, anointed to sing, but not to be a pastor of music in a church, anointed to vision cast, but not to administrate.  It therefore behooves to know what we have an anointing to do and be and what we have been called to walk in on a constant basis.  

"Just thinkin'"

"Life"

Life happens.  Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day to share.  Unfortunately, many of us waste those hours on unnecessary things.  In the same token, though, many of us try and squeeze every little ounce of life out if every second that we fail to enjoy the time we do have.  Both are frustrating.  You can be so relaxed that you become completely unproductive, or you can be so productive that you can't even enjoy a breath!  There MUST be balance.

Personally I like being productive, but I also like breathing!  

When you are productive, you can enjoy the accomplishments you have attained, and that's good.  But the question is how "productive" are you socially with those around you?  Do those around you view you as the proverbial slave driver who is driven to get things done at all costs all the time?  How "productive" is that really?  Sure you finished the task, but what about the carnage of people left in your wake in trying to get the job done?

Adversely, when you just "chill" and relax through things, that's good, too.  But the question is how confident will people be in assigning you specific tasks not knowing if or when you'll get them done?  Will you be considered trustworthy?  Will you be considered dependable?  Sure you will be fun to be around, but what about the people waiting at the end of your obedience and diligence to accomplish the tasks set before you?

Therefore, it behooves us to strive for the place of balance.  Put our hand to the plow and not look back.  Adversely it is equally important that we learn to relax and enjoy the air.  In this way we will be both trustworthy and a delight.

'Nuff said...

The Heart Never Forgets...

I was driving this morning to an appointment with my Mother-in-Law and had one of my favorite praise and worship CD's on (Paul Wilbur's "Your Great Name." GET THE CD!!). I had not been "feeling" particularly spiritual or even close to the Lord at that moment. As a matter of fact, I had really been struggling in my walk with Him because life was, and still is, happening. It was the first bit of praise and worship I had listened to this morning and I hadn't had any time in the word, either, so needless to say my heart wasn't to tender at the time. Struggles with money, health, transportation, and ministry, seem endless and the one place I should run to, I was having a hard time entering. The presence of the Lord is the safest place to be in moments like these, but life makes it difficult. Ever been there? There now?

 Well, when it came to the chorus of one of my favorite songs on the CD, "Nobody Like You," something happened. Each time I heard the words "Holy, is the Lord of Glory..." my heart felt like it took a couple extra beats. It was funny, as if the Holy Spirit was shouting, "CLEAR!!" and then shocking me with the paddles from a crash cart! My spirit remembered what it was like to praise Him, even though my mind, will, and emotions were being extremely and exhaustingly challenged. I had no joy. There was no lasting peace. Frustration and sadness seem to be my constant companions. BUT there is something about praise that causes the heart to remember where it came from. That place within us, that reborn place, our spirit, recognizes the voice that created it. It recognizes the DNA that it shares with the Almighty (Gen 2:7) and responds when it hears Him speak. My spirit remembered His presence even though I couldn't sense Him near.

 The heart never forgets. When one encounters the Spirit and presence of God, you never forget what that is like. And whenever you step into that place again, whenever you relive that moment, something within you comes alive regardless of where you are and what you are experiencing. And the purpose for that moment of remembrance is to cause us to remember further what His presence meant for us when we first met Him. It's for us to remember the joy that we experienced, the peace that engulfed us, the love we felt, and the purpose we recognized. It's to cause us to remember who we are and Who's we are. That then leads us to remember the loving, accepting, and father heart of God toward us, realizing that because He's here everything will be alright, regardless of what we see. That remembrance causes us to recognize the power of the Mighty One on our behalf and to recall that no matter what we face, HE is working it all for our good. Then comes the challenge of Is. 53:1 "Who has BELIEVED our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" After these moments of remembrance, we are faced with the challenge of who and what we will choose to believe. Will we believe what the circumstances say, or will we believe what God says about the circumstance?

 Life doesn't play fair. Life tries to wring us out like a wet towel draining all the life blood we possess. But God is the giver of life and if we will set our gaze upon Him regardless of our circumstances and issues, He will replenish what has been drained out of us through the cares of life. Stuff is hard, but God's love and faithfulness toward us and to His word are MUCH stronger.

•  The voice of circumstance rattles the walls, but the voice of God shatters the mountains. 
•  The gaze of circumstance causes our knees to knock, but the gaze of God makes demons tremble. 
•  The arm of circumstances press us down, but the arm of the Lord scatters His enemies and sets captives free. 
•  The presence of circumstances brings hopelessness and depression, but the presence of the Lord brings fullness of joy and pleasures forever. 

 We must decide what we want because God has already decided what He wants to give. The heart yearns for this. The heart craves this. The heart hungers for His presence because... The Heart Never Forgets.

"Pain and Resolve"

It's a new year. 2013 is set to be a very interesting season, it seems. Sitting here in a Starbucks in Fresno, CA, many different things run through my mind. This is a bit of a rough season for us right now. It's excruciating, actually. And there are opportunities to go several directions. That's just the way pain is. Pain oftentimes causes us to forget the things we know to be true and scramble for a way out of it. Often when we are faced with it and are unable to escape, we react in unrealistic ways. We lash out, we fight the wrong opponent, we look for solutions with no success, we settle for temporary relief, and many times we simply give up. Frustration drives us instead of peace. Grief consumes us instead of faith. Sometimes we even refuse the right solution to our pain because it isn't what we want to hear or requires more time before full relief comes. Honestly put, sometimes we don't really want people to pray for us because prayer is not typically a quick fix and we are just simply tired of hurting, even though prayer is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. I've been there before, wanting the quick fix. Have you? Well this is one of those rough times of life, not pushing away prayer, but rather just a season of frustration. So permit me to preach to myself. You can listen in. It's cool with me. Maybe it'll help you in YOUR pain. This is NOT the time to the power of the pain! Yes, it has gone on for a while. No, it is not even in the arena of being enjoyable. No, it doesn't mean God is punishing you, and no you are not defeated. You are never alone and that MUST be enough for you. You want people to be around you and support you, encourage you, believe in you. But none of those people can support, encourage and believe in your more than God. Why settle for people when you can have God? Remember that The God we are talking about is someone who has promised you eternity with Him and life everlasting. But never forget that you are going FROM GLORY TO GLORY, which means there MUST be change. Each change creates in you a deeper root in Him and will be able to sustain you in greater fashion ONLY IF you allow it to finish what He started it in you for. Think of it this way: You're in good company! Think of how Joseph felt when he was promised all that God had promised him, only to end up in a prison on some trumped up charges. Consider David when God set him up as king being hunted by Saul when he was innocent. Think of Moses leading the children of Israel and having to go through all that he went through in obedience to God. How about Jeremiah, imprisoned for speaking the word of God? There was one common denominator in all of their situations: THEY WERE NOT ALONE. Be resolved that there is a plan the God is working out, even though we may not understand. Be resolved that you will say as Job said, "Even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him. I’ll argue my case in front of him." (Job 13:15 New International Reader's Version) Be resolved He is STILL faithful, STILL for you, STILL involved in your life, STILL working things out according to plan, and STILL loves you. He has never led you astray in the past and isn't about to start now. And if you've been disobedient, be resolved that you are not being punished, but that what you're going through is simply a consequence and holds no bearing on His love for you, His plan for you, or His acceptance of you. Be resolved that if He died for you when it was impossible for you to do ANYTHING right, why would He cast you away for any fault or failure, provided that you are indeed repentant of it and desire to change? He pines for you every single day, whether in obedience or not, because He loves you and is greater than your faults AND your fears. Don't run away, but rather run to Him. Don't refuse His solutions simply because it is not a quick fix, but rather submit to His solutions and watch how miraculously He works on your behalf. His character is borne out in scripture and in our current lives. He can be trusted. Perhaps this little excerpt from my upcoming book "Hidden For Divine Purpose," regarding the processes God takes us through, will help just a little: "Submit to the process – As stated before, your submission to the process of God while waiting in the hidden place is vital to the revealing of who you were created to be. But you must understand and remember that the process, no matter how difficult, is for your good and your protection. Understand there is a purpose for the process and a method to the madness. The process does not DEFINE you. The process REFINES you. Never forget that you are NOT your process. However, submission to the process is the only way to mine out the jewels it contains. Consider a person with a bad heart. They have two choices: either to medicate the pain by taking nitroglycerin tablets and live with it, or they can see the doctor and prepare for open-heart surgery. One requires action on their part and is only temporary, while the other is potentially life saving and life prolonging and requires the patient to let someone else help them. Similarly you and I can either say no to the purpose of God and remain in the hidden place until stronger methods of getting God’s point across are issued, or we can submit to the hand of God in breaking us to reveal Himself in and through us at the appointed time. The patient doesn’t get truly well until they “submit themselves to the doctor’s knife.” This is not enjoyable, but afterward they have a greater chance of living a longer, more fulfilling life. And life is what God offers us. The hidden place incubates us as we grow in the life He releases to us." I guess that'll teach us to be careful with the counsel we give. One day we'll need those words even more than when we first learned their meaning (ha)! "nuff said" G