Feasting in the Midst of Famine

Psalm 37 says of the righteous, "In the midst of famine, they shall have plenty."  It is a word of promise that should be comforting in these turbulent financial times.  When we listen to the news and talking heads we can grow increasingly anxious over what will happen in the future.  What we should be doing is giving thanks to God.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:6 NKJV

You see, you may have no control over the circumstances or how they will affect your daily living, but you can control what you think about, what you feed on.  If you feed on things that make you worry, anxiety will be the dominant force in your life.

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes him glad."  Prov. 12:25 NKJV

While the world is experiencing a feeding frenzy and seems to almost be craving a new Great Depression, that should not be the dream or outcome of the believer.  But, unless you are following God's Word and plan, you will be right there with the world when the house of cards all comes crashing down.  Like finances, your end will be determined by what you invest.  Lots of adages spring to mind, but let it suffice to say, your thought life will determine your direction, thus you need to make sure you think about the right things.

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things."  Phil. 4:8  NKJV

Doesn't sound much like the evening news, does it?  This doesn't mean you can't watch the news, but it should not be allowed to dominate your thought life.  If you are going to overcome the circumstances of life in the natural world, you are going to have to learn how to tap into the supernatural so that miraculous things happen in your life.  This is not just for you, but so that you can be a blessing to others.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."  Psalm 37:3-5 NKJV

Remember, "you are what you eat," and if your diet is 24 hour news channels, it is likely you will be filled with anxiety and depression.  But, if you feed on the faithfulness of God, His power, resources, and willingness to get involved in your life will be the thing that springs to the forefront of your mind.  Remember Sarah?  Past menopause, a geriatric, and married to a guy pushing 100, she is supposed to be giving birth to the family of faith and the nation of Israel.  How did she overcome her circumstance to become a blessing?

"By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised."  Heb. 11:11 NKJV

You see, miraculous things happen when you let your thought life rise to the level of God's realm.  Just like Sarah, when you feed on His faithfulness the impossibility of your circumstance becomes no more than one more opportunity for God to act on your behalf.  Then, in the midst of global famine, economic destitution, or international pandemic, you have an answer that supercedes everything available to those in the world.  If you will be what God has made you to be, if you will draw on the supernatural resources available to all who believe, if you will be a real Christian, a real believer, then you will have help for those in need and hope for those who are without.  You are the answer to the problem!

So Much To Do, So Little Time

We get so busy in ministry, have you noticed?  A service here, a meeting there, one to visit and another to counsel, sometimes it is difficult to keep it all in perspective.  As I travel I am reminded that there is more to this world than the little part of it I inhabit.  What a healthy revelation!

With the hurricanes and flooding in Galveston, how many Americans will forget the Haitians that have no food or shelter or place to go?  How many people will fill their fuel tanks for winter and forget those displaced by the war in Georgia?  They say the news cycle has been compressed to about 36 hours.  Once a headline has dropped from the screen it will quickly be forgotten.  How sad if we can be so easily "pushed by the wind and tossed."  Pastor, here is your chance to shine.  You can keep the perspective by keeping God's heart in front of the people.

What God cares about is PEOPLE.  In the race for President, God cares about people's eternal condition as well as their temporal state.  In the midst of the storm, He is still aware of every windblown hair on their head.  I have always loved Jeremiah 29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

What encouragement we can draw from His words, but only if we have those who will come along side us and speak them into our lives.  Are you being a cheerleader for those around you?

Tuesday I was in Huntington, WV for the New Life Church (http://www.nlconline.org) Campmeeting.  What a wonderful time, a refreshing time, a time of inspiration and encouragement.  As Brother Mark Hankins ministered, I heard the Holy Ghost speak inside me and say,

"Where you are is the starting point, not the end.  This is not a stop along the way.  On this journey there is no reverse so let's get on with what is ahead."

It speaks to my heart and stirs in me a desire to finish the race set before me.  It should also be a word to each of us that reminds us that there is lots more to what is going on than what we have experienced.  As Rev. Jim Kaseman said recently,

"We need to focus on what God has commissioned us to do - reach the lost, train disciples - and know that God will supply everything we need to get the job done."

Let's not loose sight of our goal, not be distracted by the cares of this world, not be led astray by the circumstances that face us, but rather, let us rise with each new day and press on in our destiny to see the will of the Father done in the earth.

What keeps you in church?

As you may know, we travel around a great deal visiting churches of all kinds.  This week we were back with friends at Pittsburgh East.  The worship is, as always, tremendous.  The sermon was great.  The "Kids Stuff" presentation was powerful and inspiring.  After such a good day, I found myself pondering, what is it that keeps us coming back to a church.

We will tolerate mediocre preaching, children's ministry that is lacking, and off key music as long as we don't have them all at the same time.  But, we will tolerate a mediocre service IF the thing that makes church valuable for us is present.

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another."  A church where you know or at least feel you are loved is a church where you will find it easy to "stick."

I see this at PECC.  These are people who genuinely care for each other.  They love their pastors, cheer their membership, and seem like one big extended family.  It doesn't take very long to feel the love here.  Youth loving on the little guys, staff loving on "the sheep", congregation loving on the Father, ... you get the picture.

As I took in all that was going on around me, I thought, "I could be part of this church."  Apparently, others feel the same way.  The church is growing, the community is noticing, and the city of Pittsburgh will never be the same.

Three cheers to Pastor Lee and his staff, to all those who give of themselves in ministry, and to those who make up PECC for building a church that is salt and light in the Pittsburgh area.

Getting the Job Done

Many ministries talk a great line about what they claim to be doing or what they have planned for the future. Not unlike those in the business world, we have big dreams and hope for future success. Sometimes what is accomplished is somewhat less than what we dream, but we keep putting on a good face and pressing forward. That is laudable, and I try to encourage those who are pressing on to their destiny.

While some ministries don't measure up to their advertising, I want to introduce you to one that exceeds what you would expect from reading their materials. Robert Dunphy is a man who walks in a genuine New Testament anointing. His outreach, Robert Dunphy Ministries, Inc. (http://www.bobdunphy.org/ or http://www.robertdunphyministries.org/) is an internationally impacting ministry.

I have had the pleasure of seeing first hand what the ministry is doing in Burkina Faso, West Africa, been present in services where Br. Dunphy has ministered in the US, and seen the changes in people who have benefited from Br. Bob's submission to the Father's leading.

Reports from Africa include four people raised from the dead, yes, certified to have been dead and raised to life when either Bob or one of his staff have prayed for them. Also reported are hundreds of people receiving deliverance from demon possession. These people were literally chained to trees to control their destructive and extreme behavior. Some delivered with just a word, others with great struggle, but all who have been brought have been set free as either Bob or one of those he has trained have come to the aid of those in need. Add to this the hundreds who have been healed of various diseases or injuries and the thousands who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior and you have a wonderful story that reads much like the Book of Acts.

Back in the states people are experiencing the same impact on their lives in the reports are being shared. One woman who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable form of lung cancer, was certified to have been completely headed when Br. Bob laid his hands on her. This is typical of the services that happen here in the States. Blind eyes opened, cancer gone, blood disorders disappear, AIDS completely healed, and more. This is a ministry that restores hope in the preaching of the power of God on behalf of men.

Now, as if that is not enough, there is another side of this ministry that you need to know about. RDM also is the overseeing body for Child's Hope, an outreach which supplies the needs of thousands of orphans across Burkina. In addition, they are building orphanages, schools, and clinics to meet the needs of a nation marked by poverty and death. They support more than 1,200 widows and 300 pastors and are building a strong Christian community in an Islamic nation.

If you would like to be a partner with a ministry that has such great success and impact, you can get more information by contacting their offices.

http://www.bobdunphy.org/ or http://www.robertdunphyministries.org/

Stepping Up to the Plate

Step Up ... Step Out!

I had a wonderful visit by phone with a friend down south. I was thrilled with his excitement, exhuberance, and abandon in celebrating what God is doing in his part of the world. He has seen that numbers are no indication of success, but rather, it is when the people we serve are inspired to a greater hunger, a deeper intimacy for the Father that we are truly successful. He is seeing his church rise to a desire to see the manifest presence of God in every service, not so they can get their goosebumps going, but so that the needs of people can be met. What a wonderful spirit has descended on the house and God is getting all the glory.

Shortly we will be making our move south, finally. I am excited as we move to see the level of expectation and ministry for the area we are moving to. I miss preaching, but I love being part of what God is doing through the Local Church.

What about you? Are you excited to be part of what God is doing in your community? Are you willing to be the vehicle of His anointing that breaks every yoke? Will you be the Father's point of contact here on the earth for those who desperately need His touch? Rise up! Be what He has made you to be in the first place, the expression of His image and likeness. Go out where the people are and make a difference. Let those who know you see Him. They are waiting for you!

Christopher Laurie Moved to Heaven

Please pray for the family of Christopher Laurie, son of Pastor Greg Laurie. Christopher died in an auto accident leaving a pregnant wife, Brittany, and beautiful little girl, Stella. Oh that the Father would be their comfort and strength.

2008 has been a very tough year for us and for those who are our friends in ministry. I have lost so many friends and family that I don't want to go to one more funeral or memorial service this year.

How does one justify the losses of those who are righteous, those who are innocent, those with so much life to look forward to, and those who are taken from us far too soon? Teh reality is, you cannot. A beautiful, vibrant, and dedicated young woman taken on a country road in the dark of night, why? A darling and precious little girl taken in the middle of the night, how could this happen? A dear friend lost to us at the tender age of sixty-something, how could he go so young? Babies lost, friends passing, loved ones ... how can we make sense of it all? The reality is, you cannot. We have such a fragile existence, and it can so quickly gone, but we do not always keep the reality in perspective.

Two things stand out as I pray over such events, asking God for the insight and wisdom to deal with these tragedies. First, life happens. So much of what goes on is not a product of God's actions or the devil's diabolic plots. It is just life. We make bad decisions, take bad actions, and leave so much open to failure, all because we just didn't think or listen or obey like we should. Additionally, we have a real enemy who is out to steal from us, to kill us, and to wipe all memory of us out of existence. If we give him an opening, he'll exploit it. Don't let this be true of you.

Together we press on and get through the hard times, thank God. This is what the family of God is for, why we meet together, pledge ourselves to one another, and stand in intercession for our brothers and sisters. We need each other.

Building the Kingdom, One Friend at a Time

I spend lots of time on the road traveling to meet with those who are on the front lines of ministry. Some of those who I meet are purely by divine appointment are the most wonderful stories to hear. That was the case with my recent trip to Tulsa, OK.

Ministers all start somewhere, and Dave is just at the entrance ramp to ministry. As a student in his second year of bible school, Dave is learning what it means to flow in the gifting God has put on his life. I love talking to those whose level of anticipation and excitement about ministry is so fresh and encouraging.

Dave is experiencing the tangible leading and empowerment of the Spirit of God. He sees the vision of the ministry ahead of him and cannot wait to get going. He is investing himself in school, learning all he can. He has his values and priorities in order and will be a great man of God.

As one committed to the success of those in ministry, I love meeting people like Dave. They remind me of why the call of God is so powerful. They renew in me the excitement of following God in the course of daily life and ministry.

Those of you who have proteges coming up under your ministry, do all that you can to foster their excitement and encourage their vocation. The Father is seeking to use them, and your investment in them will not be in vain.

As for Dave, we will be praying for him on a regular basis, encouraging him every chance we get, and tracking his progress in ministry. What a great opportunity to be a part of what God is doing in the earth.