Hounds of Heaven? Do you see what I see?

There is a poem, called "hounds of heaven", that speaks not of hounds at all, but of the relentless pursuit God impresses on us....and in fact, the wonderful satisfaction of drawing near to Him even as we are "chased", when part of us wants to run the other way. 

Sometimes I write, just to document these events that seem more than chance.  Tonight by 4X, I was reminded...see if you see what i see.

1. On my way home this afternoon, a conversation with an old friend about the redundancy of "Sovereign God".  If he is God, then he is sovereign. 
2. As we ride in the truck, fatherly guidance for my son who had a strong opinion about not wanting to do something, and I reminded him to be able to embrace even those things we do not prefer, or risk being able to see God.
3. At church around youth group I heard from two different sources the question from Hell..."How does a loving God allow bad things to happen to good people".  Don't get me wrong, we have all been tempted by this, but to be sure....God is always good, people are not.  Any other conclusion, no matter how saintly or innocent, will lead you to a place you do not want to go.
4. Finally, I am late, but I have to talk to a dad going through a divorce who tells me he is reading Job.   He is struggling with one of the oldest stories in the bible.  God never answers Jobs "WHY" question, Instead, he asks the questions that remind Job WHO the creator was.

All this was in the same evening....no kidding.  Hounds of heaven, or a God in hot pursuit?  Depends on your perspective.  :)

Testimony about the Teen Retreat , for the glory of God

Testimony about the Teen Retreat , for the glory of God

Tonight  (as the oldest teen!), Several of us shared what we learned from the experience at 5 stones camp two weeks ago, an amazing retreat filled with teaching, fellowship, but most importantly the Holy Spirit drawing 4 young men to a life-changing commitment to follow Jesus Christ. This short account was one of several from Teens, and adults that were there. 

Mighty to save (a portion)

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

Imagine a place where there is no shame in surrender, confessing sin, giving praise, living boldly.  This is the way it was meant to be, in the Garden.  That’s what I saw among the young people, young men leading, people confessing their sin, repentance, forgiveness and joy. Revival.   I never saw revival before, but I think this was it.

Now we can have freedom in Christ. In the story of Joseph, when his entire family is brought into Egypt, Pharaoh says to him  “Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”  Gen. 45:20”.    My ambition is for my children to see Jesus in His word and in His people like these children did….that they would follow hard after the Lord, that they would not be afraid to live, and that they would not be afraid to die.

Mighty to Save      

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes you conquered the grave

Amen

the big party in Indonesia

Since I arrived at Plainfield Calvary Baptist last March, the one defining picture I have is the love they have for God's word.  I thought of that love as I saw this video of an Indonesian tribe when they received God's word in their own language, for the first time. 

Dancing, crying, celebration, honor and prayer.

I am a coming closer to that gratitude every day. Today was my son's first day in Awana.  I think I understand a little better about the big party in Indonesia, though they have taught me even more in this short video.

Thanks for your generous prayers and comfort.

As they say in the Kimyal language:

Al weig buna’ ag bulamlange
ab Domba Me ab se,
sig aga meibna’ ab,
gibna’ ab, bebnag ab, migib ab,
unum-unum se ulamla.

“To him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, be blessing
and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Read more here....
http://www.challies.com/christian-living/gods-greatest-gifts

Please show me your glory

What are we missing in LIFE? How do we get there? 

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” Exodus 33:18

And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Exodus 40:35

Show me your Glory
Jaeson Ma



You know I finally realized that
this life boils down to one thing
Its not about me its not about the music
its about the glory
Listen up, Listen up Listen up


Don't waste your life
But Live your life for a purpose that is bigger than yourself
What are you living for?
I'm living for the glory
and glory is not fame, glory not making yourself a name


Glory is sacrificing for others
Its putting other before your self
(thats love)
Its fighting for a cause worth dying for
a  purpose worth living for


true glory is virtue
Its not something you can buy,
Glory is something you earn
Heros are not born
They are made for glory


I'm broken apart somewhere on the road
10,000 dreams with no place to go
If you give me your heart I ll can give you a soul
The depth of your love I'll never know


Glory
Glory ....Give me a sign
Glory ….I'll give you My life


Show me the glory
this is what I pray
Theres gotta be more than what seems that exist
We were born to go higher, born for adventure
dare to dream bigger


because if your don't have a passion worth dying for you have nothing worth living for


don't live for the things of this world
They're passing away
but live for the glory that leads to eternity
Glory is grace perfected


And our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising, every time we fall


I'm broken apart somewhere on the road
10,000 dreams with no place to go
If you give me your heart I ll give you a soul
The depth of your love I'll never know


Glory ....Give me a sign
Glory ….I'll give you My life


When I wake up in the morning and feel the sun shining down in my face
I feel your glory
When I look into that night and I see the moon and stars shining so bright
I see your glory


Your love is deeper than the oceans
more powerful than the mountains.
Glory


I been waiting my whole life
for this one special moment I got just to be with you….
….to be with you


I been waiting my whole life
for this one special moment I got just to be with you….
….to be with you


I'm broken apart somewhere on the road
10,000 dreams with no place to go
If you give me your heart I can give you a  soul
The depth of your love I'll never know


Glory ....Give me a sign
Glory ….I'll give you My life


Glory give me a sign
       I can't touch your glory, its too much
Glory ….I'll give you My life
      Its all about you, its not about me,
its all about you
its all about your Glory


Yes, let me feel you glory
Show me touch your glory
Show me your glory


this is what I pray
You are my glory
You are my life
You are everything


thank you

You have a calling....an upward calling of God

There comes a time in a man's life when all he has is his faith, not his feeling, not his relationships, nor even his possessions that remind Him of past success.  Sure, I want intimacy with God....but do I demand it?

• Do I require signs for my faith to be sustained?  
• Do I love the Lord enough to strain forward DESPITE the void behind?
• Do I believe in Him enough to smile to Him when all seems lost?
• Is my faith strong enough to care about the lives of others when my life seems to need so much attention?

Later this month the Calvary Baptist teens are going on a trip, and they have been asked by the youth pastor (Brian Hall) to remember this verse as a prerequisite.  It seems to be a prerequisite to so much more.... straining forward to what lies ahead. 

    "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

    Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 3:7-14 ESV)

Click this link to listen...
http://www.divshare.com/download/13461940-cc6

Shine

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)

A darkness moved in when I dropped my boys off. It was the end of my first overnight custody. A really spectacular weekend was comming to an end.

Thursday Bruce Gill took us out for Chicago Pizza with Skyler, Brandon, John Russ and Nick. We got to know the boys and quietly began to destroy myths. We rode home in the Chevy Silverado all three on the bench seat up front. We were just getting started.

Friday we helped with mission work at BIEM where they met and worked and played with about 50 other people. Sean and David literally ran as they worked and had a great time with all the boys.

Saturday Doug McMichael taught them woodworking and the patience of Christ, how to use a band saw and router and actually taught me about being a father, not being task oriented. We also picked up mattresses and bought a Bed. And read from Proverbs 20 and Matt 4 and 5 about being "poor in spirit", so that your light will shine before men.

Sunday it was good to hear the message about God's word shining into our life and a dear note of encouragement reminding me of that transformation in me and in my family that all the pain will produce as we learn to trust Jesus, He is a BIG God. I remain dependent on Him for hope and light.

"Let Jesus be as a lamp in your life, shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in the hearts of your family" (paraphrase of 2 Peter 1:19)

As I introduced my boys to John and Marrissa Sharbaugh and their new son Jackson , I said they were famous.  Marrissa turned and graciously described her life (with Malachi) as a a great opportunity to give honor to God.

Lights shine in dark places, giving hope. I am continuously reminded the dark moments are the chance to give most Glory to God.