Everyone (who, of course, lives in Kansas City and goes to the International House of Prayer) knows the familiar Misty Edwards lyrics: "I was made to love You and be loved by You."
We were made to love God.
If you are anything like me, you focus on God's love for you. "I want to feel God's love! I want to know God's love!" That is an awesome desire, and it is one the Lord has placed on my heart. But last night, I was chatting with Jesus (while I was dozing off; I often find myself talking to God in my sleep). He told me that he desired MY affections! SKIRP? That's intense. Jesus desires my affections? What does that even mean?
I have always been told that Jesus does not need my love. He is God; He doesn't need anything. He does not need friendship, and He does not need me. But how contrary to the cross! Jesus was not finished when He stepped foot (or maybe he floated) out of the tomb. Delivering mankind from eternal damnation was not the only agenda on the King's heart. He calls us to a deep friendship (cf. John 15:14). Friendship is not one-way. Not only do we yearn for affection and affirmation from Christ, but He desires the same.
That baffles me. How can God desire my affection? How can I show God I love Him?
Obedience
John 15:14, Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Faith
Hebrews 11:6, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God..."
Quality Time
I was researching the five love languages recently. I believe Jesus' love language is quality time. Why? Because He desires His people, His friends, to spend time with Him. Jesus made Himself an example, one of which we would be wise to heed and follow. The Messiah would spend much time praying, even if it took all night. We can infer Jesus desired be connected to the Father, to hear His will and worship Him. God loved the time He spent with His Song. God longed for intimacy with His Son; why shouldn't He feel the same toward us?
It is in the secret place we are transformed. It is in this place we hear God and learn to worship Him rightly. It is in the secret place we can lavish our love on our glorious Creator.
Utilizing What God Has Given Us
I truly believe our talents bring joy to God. When we do what we were created to do, and give the glory to God while doing those things, our heavenly Father could not be happier. Even as I am typing this in my free time, I believe God is overjoyed. I am loving Him by writing. One of the things God designed me with is the passion to write. It does not matter what I write (even those awful research papers); I love the way words flow together. When I write to glorify God, I am loving Him. I am showing Him my affection by utilizing my passions and gifts to worship Him.
I have friends who show their love to God by painting or creating music. Although some of us are not gifted in those areas, just using what God has given you for His glory is awesome. He loves it.
Just Loving Him
We've all heard the phrase, "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." Perhaps it is cliché, but it is powerful. Have you ever wondered what it looks like to just sit and love God? David did it all the time! He would sit and wait on the Lord. In these times, David is a great example of how to sit and love God. If you have never tried it, I dare you to make time to sit and just love Him, forgetting your daily tasks and what you need to buy at the grocery store the next day. Just love Him.
So, you might ask, what is the point in doing these things?
There is Kingdom value in loving Jesus. He honors the one who sits at His feet versus the one who won't listen because he or she is too busy with ministry, or the simple activities of daily living.
As Misty Edwards simply put it, "I was made to love you." Will you love God and show Him your affection?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Pursuit of...
When I hear stories of people who have encountered Jesus face-to-face, it bugs me. Deeply. Why? Because I'M not having the experience of sitting at Starbucks and chatting with Christ. I can't gaze upon his glory in the heavenly realms or look into the eyes of the One who saved me from the burning flames of hell. I want that. And it kills me that I may not see Jesus until 70 years from now. That's a LONG time to wait...
Why do some people see Jesus face-to-face and others don't?
What good would it do? In our pursuit of holiness and seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord, a face-to-face encounter could possibly distract us from our calling to intimacy, as ironic as it sounds. Christ longs for intimacy... we might become so distracted with the "experience" of seeing Jesus, we would miss the whole point. It's not about looking at him (although "gazing" upon God is very Biblical; cf. Psalm 27:4), but it's about knowing and encountering him. Often, those who see Jesus (especially those who see him frequently, like David E. Taylor and others) have cultivated a deep relationship with Christ, and seeing Him allows those individuals to go even deeper.
But why does God allow some to see His Son, but not others? Especially those who are committed in their devotional time?
Maybe it's like the parable of the talents. The Master only gave ten talents to one servant--and that was a lot (Mat. 25). Obviously some are blessed more than others: some have a stronger prophetic gifting while others have a strong gift to encourage. Each is given a different amount.
And according to the lack of Scriptural evidence, David never saw God face-to-face, even though he was indeed a "man after God's own heart." David didn't have nearly the supernatural encounters that Moses had. But David's motives were simple: love God and be loved by God. David was the type who would bask in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet, he never saw God. Just because David never encountered God like that means little in the Kingdom. What mattered was his heart posture. David was very concerned with knowing God, intimacy with God in his secret time, and opening up his heart to God.
David is a great example of how the Christian walk should be at the minimum (since we have redemption through the Holy Spirit, who dwells IN us instead of in a tent).
But I can't seem to stop yearning for Jesus' face. I long to see him appear in my store or in my home. I would love to sit and talk with him, to sit at his feet, to make him a cup of coffee and listen to him. I can't seem to shake that desire off.
Why do some people see Jesus face-to-face and others don't?
What good would it do? In our pursuit of holiness and seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord, a face-to-face encounter could possibly distract us from our calling to intimacy, as ironic as it sounds. Christ longs for intimacy... we might become so distracted with the "experience" of seeing Jesus, we would miss the whole point. It's not about looking at him (although "gazing" upon God is very Biblical; cf. Psalm 27:4), but it's about knowing and encountering him. Often, those who see Jesus (especially those who see him frequently, like David E. Taylor and others) have cultivated a deep relationship with Christ, and seeing Him allows those individuals to go even deeper.
But why does God allow some to see His Son, but not others? Especially those who are committed in their devotional time?
Maybe it's like the parable of the talents. The Master only gave ten talents to one servant--and that was a lot (Mat. 25). Obviously some are blessed more than others: some have a stronger prophetic gifting while others have a strong gift to encourage. Each is given a different amount.
And according to the lack of Scriptural evidence, David never saw God face-to-face, even though he was indeed a "man after God's own heart." David didn't have nearly the supernatural encounters that Moses had. But David's motives were simple: love God and be loved by God. David was the type who would bask in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet, he never saw God. Just because David never encountered God like that means little in the Kingdom. What mattered was his heart posture. David was very concerned with knowing God, intimacy with God in his secret time, and opening up his heart to God.
David is a great example of how the Christian walk should be at the minimum (since we have redemption through the Holy Spirit, who dwells IN us instead of in a tent).
But I can't seem to stop yearning for Jesus' face. I long to see him appear in my store or in my home. I would love to sit and talk with him, to sit at his feet, to make him a cup of coffee and listen to him. I can't seem to shake that desire off.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Healing Room
I have had a chronic neck problem for nearly three years. The muscle on the right side of my neck is twisted around and isn't formed right, so it causes strain and tension when I turn my head or sleep. I have gotten prophetic words that it has something to do with my back (spiritually) but I haven't been able to get freed or healing.
The Healing Rooms at the International House of Prayer, I thought, were worth a shot. I signed up the moment the "check in" sign appeared. I wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible. I went into the "soaking area" for about half an hour, where two of the healing team members would lightly lay hands on me and silently pray, Matt Gilman's powerful voice singing in the background. I waited and waited, and I was finally escorted into a back room where two older women stood, softly smiling. They confirmed my name and asked me what I wanted prayer for. One of the ladies anointed me with oil (quite smelly) and prayed for a complete healing. The presence of God filled the small, hot room. They prayed for maybe 10 minutes with zero results. When they asked me how my pain level was, I quietly stated my pain level had not decreased at all. They were shocked--they quickly questioned my faith in God with questions like, "Well, do you BELIEVE He will heal you?" and "How long have you actually been a believer?" I tried not to be offended as I kindly answered that I had been a believer for a while and I fully believed God was capable of healing me. The ladies gave each other a look of doubt, and the one who had anointed me with oil offered to pray for me again before they dismissed me.
I shouldn't be disappointed; I know the Lord's timing is perfect. I just can't help but wonder why He hasn't yet. It's disappointing, but I have hope that the perfect time will come. It just hasn't happened yet.
The Healing Rooms at the International House of Prayer, I thought, were worth a shot. I signed up the moment the "check in" sign appeared. I wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible. I went into the "soaking area" for about half an hour, where two of the healing team members would lightly lay hands on me and silently pray, Matt Gilman's powerful voice singing in the background. I waited and waited, and I was finally escorted into a back room where two older women stood, softly smiling. They confirmed my name and asked me what I wanted prayer for. One of the ladies anointed me with oil (quite smelly) and prayed for a complete healing. The presence of God filled the small, hot room. They prayed for maybe 10 minutes with zero results. When they asked me how my pain level was, I quietly stated my pain level had not decreased at all. They were shocked--they quickly questioned my faith in God with questions like, "Well, do you BELIEVE He will heal you?" and "How long have you actually been a believer?" I tried not to be offended as I kindly answered that I had been a believer for a while and I fully believed God was capable of healing me. The ladies gave each other a look of doubt, and the one who had anointed me with oil offered to pray for me again before they dismissed me.
I shouldn't be disappointed; I know the Lord's timing is perfect. I just can't help but wonder why He hasn't yet. It's disappointing, but I have hope that the perfect time will come. It just hasn't happened yet.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Finally... the Prayer Room on my android
I have tried EVERYTHING to stream the prayer room onto my LG Optimus (V) (which unfortunately doesn't support flash). I finally found the solution. For $1.50. Yourmuze.fm can stream the prayer room audio, but not on Opera. I had to buy the yourmuze app, and it finally worked. The quality isn't great, but at least I can have some worship and intercession in the palm of my hand.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Trust
I have a tough time trusting God. It's hard sometimes, and I often wish that "childlike faith" would overwhelm my intellect. All those thoughts rattling around in my mind are worthless, but I cling to them because they are comfortable.
As I was driving home tonight, I was so frustrated. I realize I have some issues I need to deal with (the kind of sin done over and over again but cannot seemingly be stopped, that kind), but God hasn't helped! "Why aren't you helping me deal with these things?! Don't you want me free? Don't you want me perfect and holy," I cried out to him. But the all-knowing Holy Spirit told me, "I do want you free. But I want you free in My timing." I gritted my teeth and told Him that I would trust His timing.
Isn't that interesting that the Lord would care so deeply about the simple fact I need to surrender all control to Him, even before Him delivering me from my flesh?
John 15:1-7 (ESV)
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
The Greek word here is "μένω" or "menō." It means two different things. The first definition is: to not depart from, and the second is: to wait for. Both of these take trust to perform adequately. But if don't depart from Christ and wait for Him, then the Holy Spirit can produce fruit in my life, not by my doing, but by my trusting.
As I was driving home tonight, I was so frustrated. I realize I have some issues I need to deal with (the kind of sin done over and over again but cannot seemingly be stopped, that kind), but God hasn't helped! "Why aren't you helping me deal with these things?! Don't you want me free? Don't you want me perfect and holy," I cried out to him. But the all-knowing Holy Spirit told me, "I do want you free. But I want you free in My timing." I gritted my teeth and told Him that I would trust His timing.
Isn't that interesting that the Lord would care so deeply about the simple fact I need to surrender all control to Him, even before Him delivering me from my flesh?
John 15:1-7 (ESV)
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
The Greek word here is "μένω" or "menō." It means two different things. The first definition is: to not depart from, and the second is: to wait for. Both of these take trust to perform adequately. But if don't depart from Christ and wait for Him, then the Holy Spirit can produce fruit in my life, not by my doing, but by my trusting.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
God's Got My Back
I was at work yesterday, just chatting with the Lord. I was remembering a sermon a week ago on Matthew 10:1, where Jesus gives his disciples the authority to deliver demons and heal every sickness. The message was ultimately about the fact that God has our back. Recently, I've felt like He doesn't. I told Him, "God, I don't believe you have my back." The moment I thought that, I saw a lady walk by with a picture of Jesus on the back of her t-shirt. I didn't think anything of it at first except, "Oh, look. There's Jesus." Then the Holy Spirit replied, "Yes, on her back." He was letting me know in the natural realm that God really does have my back. And it's a weird feeling.
The Happiest IHOP Singer
Rachel Faagunu... she is so stinking happy. I love it! You can listen to it here: http://www.4shared.com/audio/dJcc4WLa/Sun_Nov_06_143811_2011.html
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