Growing Plants

This week we played for our Workshop of Supernatural Ministry, a video by Bill Johnson, in which he said, "whatever is kept within the walls of the church will die, but whatever we take outside will grow and thrive."

After I went home, I looked at my tomato plants that I started a few weeks ago. I sure was glad I planted them inside, where there was heat and regulated water and food supplies. But the controlled atmosphere is only temporary. It would be folly to try to get my tomato plants to bear fruit indoors. The best they would do is to shrivel and get gnarly if they aren't exposed to the elements as they were designed for. In fact, once mature, my tomato plants were created for the temperate outdoors, because that is where they will bear fruit. Plant them in March and they will die. Plant them in late May and they will thrive.

Likewise with us. Jesus SENT his disciples out to PRACTICE in the towns and villages. They healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and cast out demons. They had some successes and some failures. Then they returned to Jesus for a debriefing. Got some more instructions and tried again. Sounds like the way the church should train!

That is what I hope our Workshops will do. As the weather warms in April, we plan on conducting "neighborhood treasure hunts" in which we go through a neighborhood looking for folks to pray for, to hear their prayer needs, and then to meet those needs through whatever means God provides. We will have the opportunity to practice what we are learning, how to hear God, how to give a word of prophetic encouragement, and how to pray for healing or deliverance. Do it long enough and we will realize that this is who we are and not just something we do.

Let me Proclaim Your Power

It has been exactly a year since I last read this passage from Psalm 71:18. "Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me."

I still have it posted in my office. (I know it has been a year because I read a one year bible (NLT) each morning)

As I reflect upon the past year, I have seen at least 3 undeniable healings/miracles. I stand/sit in awe before our King and am amazed He created us to partner with Him in bringing His power and love to this desperate world. God done did it, and I got to be the tool and the witness of His action.

Now, we proclaim it to the new generation! Our youth and adults are hungry to see God at work. Anywhere from 4 to 6 youth attend our Workshops in Supernatural Ministry every Sunday night. They want to make a difference in this world.

Last Sunday evening someone said to me, "you must be pretty excited about seeing this kind of participation in the workshops." I replied, "I have dreamed of this day and the day when we equip an army to minister to our city." I believe I am witnessing a dream become reality. Of course, it really wasn't my dream to start with, God planted that dream in my heart because it was HIS dream, His heart for His church!

In Bondage to Being Right.

I had an encounter with a former church member today that broke my heart. He had been posting some negative things about a well known Christian musician and I asked him to be careful on how quickly he judged. What followed was a hornets nest of scripture postings followed by "according to the Authorized King James Version of 1611." It was like an exclamation point being added to a rant that was actually saying, "I need to be right, and can't afford to make a mistake."

His reaction to my questions went beyond being merely defensive, but drove on the offense, to set stakes in the ground on what he believed, why and how it was important that he defend his interpretation as the only correct one.

At first, I wanted to "de-friend" him, then after that I felt like rebuking him or telling him he was wrong. But the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart that those actions were "about me" and not about love. Instead, I concluded that it is my role to continue to plant seeds about the awesome LOVE of God found in Jesus Christ's grace that is available to every believer. We don't have to be right or prove we are right. Love covers over many sins (flaws, faults, etc).

Shock Collar

We hired a dog trainer this week. He uses a shock collar. Before you pass judgment upon our cruelty, consider the facts. He brought out his dog which was in his car. A beautiful Austrailian Shepherd, with out a leash! The dog never took his eyes off of his master. His attention was on him without distraction. He hits the button on the shock collar before every command. Seems strange.

Our dog pays attention only when we have something it wants. Like a treat or a toy or affection or a walk. (Seems a lot like me and God.) The purpose of the shock collar is to teach the dog to pay attention to your commands. We saw the lack of this a few minutes later when our dog spotted a bird outside and barked and tensed up and completely and entirely ignored us, even when we touched or grabbed him. He's a good dog and he loves to please us (like me and God). But he gets distracted SO EASILY!

I know God doesn't have a shock collar, but sometimes I wish He did. I have so much to learn about listening and paying attention!