A Life Worth Living

Life sure can be tough.

Life sure can be sad.

Life sure can be easy.

Life sure can be joyous.

Life sure can be.................. (You can fill it in)

Are this things exclusive or not?

Life is so amazing, so diverse, and so much like a wildflower patch, not a manicured garden with planned arrangements of flowers and plants in rows and such... God's arrangements are so different than what most of us would expect. If you haven't read the book yet, I suggest reading, The Shack.

My last blog entry, "Obedience Over Happiness" was written late the other night and it has opened some great dialogue within myself and between some very special friends of mine. This blog entry is a bit more deeper and a richer expounding on my life and views on the life God has called me to and it is a life VERY MUCH WORTH LIVING!

I realize I have a life that not too many people I know are called to. Like a pastor, a martyr, who has been called to have a heart of Christ's concerns. I recognize I will not always be happy (though there IS happiness in my life), and that this calling is not easy, not at all, I will be lonely in certain ways. It is, what it is... I will stand alone as a watchman in a tower does as he is lovingly concerned and protective for the people around him, and I will walk many miles alone through life simply because that is where He wants me to be... I love this position of intercession and intimacy and yet I don't get to share it often in the company of others.

More often than not, I look forward to what life will offer me each morning; the challenges, the lessons, the opportunities; and the risks. As I get out of bed, if I was overheard, you'd hear me say, "it's a great day to be alive!" If you knew my life story, you'd really understand how true that is for me and how that is not just an affirmation to set my attitude right for the day.... I really mean it.

I am most often joyful, even in the midst of tough times, and it is not just coating myself with Teflon or maintaining a suck it up" attitude, though there are definitely those moments too. Life is so wonderfully complex, and the bends and turns in life are across the spectrum of feelings, emotions and conditions. So, I absolutely agree that life is a life worth living and that we all should live that out in how we express ourselves to our inner self and how we share this life in Christ with others.

Moreover, I am meditating on putting those things to heart so that I hold a balanced understanding on the specific call on my life, representing God to others accurately and my life being one that encourages others to follow Him too. Especially since Jesus presents life with such great promise, hope, and love. The Holy Spirit brings fruit into our lives...what fruit; sorrow, sacrifice, pain, and sadness? No, it is the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and so much more! Life may contain some of those negative elements, yet it is the fruit of the Spirit that tastes so good...and it comes much through faith and obedience in the face of the tough stuff.

My life has been hard, even since birth and throughout my early life, I experienced different elements of pain and abuse, and it seems everything took more work and was just harder than others (and easier than others too, I am sure). Things still are way for me; I really have to work at things and nothing rarely comes easy for me....oddly, this is not a complaint, as much as, it is an understanding God uses these things to teach me and to even use these things to reach others. I don't point to my suffering and pain to lead others to Jesus, not at all, I speak of His relentless pursuit of us, His deep, rich love for us, and His sacrifice so that we may truly find life and life abundantly. It will be in the midst of suffering and pain God shows up and breaks through to our heart and reveals His love, His mercy, His grace, and His hand to lift us out of it all and into His marvelous life and light.

Yes, without a doubt, life is hard... ask someone living under Christian persecution; dealing with death; walking in utter poverty; trapped in abuse; or imprisoned by addictions and problems... God will show up in the midst of all that, and as Christians we are called to be obedient to Him; serving Him, worshipping Him; and responding to His call on our life over our happiness, even over our "life" itself.

Now, understand, I love life, and I love laughter, joy, happiness, and seeing the smiles on people's faces, and on my own face too. It's just that there has been and there is a weighty undercurrent in my life too... Life is full of poop at times and God uses those things to fertilize my heart's garden and as I walk closer to Him and as I am called into more spiritual warfare, I am finding the call of intercession can be hard and tough, I feel things and see the spiritual warfare side strongly.

Now, this intercessory side of me is new, within the last 2 years, so I am still trying to get a handle on it and understand what God is asking of me and who I am in Christ.

A friend commented, "Why can't we sacrifice everything for Him, work hard, be obedient...yet, it come through enjoyment, JOY (strength) and pleasure?" I love that, it echo's in my spirit and shouts, "YES!" Oh how so great a question and I do agree this is Papa God's desire, and sure, it is my life too... perhaps another way I could describe my life is that of a high altitude climber... it's tough; really tough, there is great sacrifice, danger, risks, and trials. I walk through deep valleys, over chasms, along dangerous cliffs and precipices, and along long thin pathways up a steep, slippery mountain. The mountain is high, the air is cold and thin, and the exposure to the elements are very real and "in your face" kind of reality. There is also a REALLY great view of the world from up there and a deep sense of purpose, enjoyment, accomplishment, and peace. Some of this is discovered while still on the mountain, some things are discovered after the climb is completed and one is reflecting on all God provided and revealed, both of the inner person, and of the life lived on the trek. As I may be a high altitude climber, where few others go, yet through the story that is my life, and the testimony of my lips, I actually encourage others to climb their own hills and perhaps ignite the love of God and the desire to seek higher mountains to climb for a few others.

I would never want to live as Francis of Asissi (though I have visited him on occasion) or any other stoic , and I don't want to raise/encourage any one else to do so either. I also know, again through my own life history, my own hearing from God, and through prophetic words from others that my life is a tough one... and while I am not alone in these sufferings, few are called to what I am called to. I have joy and joy abundantly and I sometimes get asked about my past and current "life"; if I could, would I want to change it? I laugh and say, "no, it has and does serve God well and all the pain and suffering is well worth it all, to be close to God and to be called into His work."

I think there are so many different styles of living, so varied are the seasons, and so many different characters in the Word and in church history because as you, I and everyone else moves through life, there are rich nuggets of truth found in the depths of Jeremiah's toil and suffering; understanding and wisdom in Joseph's life; blessings and reflections found in the life of David; and pure truth and love in Jesus. What a beautiful picture is painted and is being painted through our part in there too.

When I was writing the last blog entry I titled it "Obedience over Happiness." That was purposeful in that I knew it was NOT to be, "Obedience versus Happiness." These two words are not polar opposites or not compatible with each other. I was more attempting to say I chose to be obedient over my low level understanding of happiness and pain avoidance... Jesus was obedient, "even unto death on a cross". I also see Jesus as one very joyful man while on earth, people were drawn to Him out of His love and His joyful expressions of that love; and He is exalted above all others and is seated at the right hand of the Father.... and again, one point is I am surrendering WHAT I think is happiness (fleeting, ever-changing, and temporal) with the deeper understanding and acceptance of God's definition of happiness, through the joy of the Lord....what pleases Him.

I will continue to check on my focus and I will chew on the blessings of your words, comments and own life experiences and I will continue to do a heart check... I do value everyone's words, attitudes, and even gentle corrections of how I am seeing things and how I am expressing myself, both in and through my life as well as through my writings/blog. Thank you all, every much!

It's a great day to be alive and GOD ROCKS!

Obedience Over Happiness

I believe, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that God does not care about my happiness, as much as, He does care about my obedience. I also believe that I am drawing closer to God and that along with the intimacy I am discovering this all comes at a great cost to my “happiness.”

I'd be happy being successful in business, get my law degree, have a wife, have children, be looked up to in my work and in the eyes of the public.

I'd be happy with an easy life, going to nice clubs, drive a nice, expensive car, match all the things I see in the media and what all the marketing pushes on us all. Be a worldly successful man... huh.

Now, I know the world's version of happiness in not what I REALLY want...

A favorite Scripture of mine, and one that was spoken over me a couple of years ago, Jeremiah 20:9, But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

I really identify with this. Now that I am so committed to Him, it is so true. I can't stop doing His work. It overwhelms me, even at the cost of my own happiness. I am going through this refining process. Giving up my worldly desires, and dying to my flesh, and it is not easy...than again, things really worthwhile are usually not easy.

This is where I am and I could not imagine any other choice than to say, what Mary said, when the Angel of the Lord came to her in Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

What am I talking about? Well, I have been asked by God to give over and surrender many desires, passions, and dreams to him.

I recently read, Rees Howells: Intercessor, by Norman Grubb, and I identify so much with the sacrifices Rees made and what I believe God is asking of me now. His want of my obedience is difficult and painful. Yet, I know the price is worth surrendering everything to be close to the LORD.

Recently, someone prophetically told that I am to “move with the rhythm of His heart beat.” In meditating on this I came to realize that to hear His heart beat and to move in that rhythm, I am needing to be very close and intimate with God to pick the rhythm up... and it comes with a cost. Luke 12:48b says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

My life is about obedience and through my obedience I will be at peace and even be filled with a deep sense of true joy, as James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds...” and so much is written in the Word regarding obedience... this is an interesting life I am having. Please pray for me.

The Holy Ghost?

“It never dawned on me before that the Holy Ghost was a Person exactly like the Savior, and that He must come and dwell in flesh and blood. In fact, the Church knows more about the Savior, who was only on the earth thirty-three years, than the Holy Ghost who has been here two thousand years. I had only thought of Him as an Influence coming on meetings, and that was what most of us in the Revival thought. I had never seen that He must live in bodies, as the Savior lived in His on earth.”
Rees Howells
(Rees Howells: Intercessor, by Norman Grubb)

Submission

Oh how we struggle with submission. We struggle not only with doing it, we struggle with what it means; what it looks like. I am still trying to get a handle on it too… perhaps this blog is more for me than anyone else….

Let me explain how I see submission. This comes from one of my first pre-marital sessions I ever did for a couple I was going to officiate their wedding. We were meeting for the first time to even talk about what Scripture I was planning on using and when I got to Ephesians 5:22-33, I was asked what I thought submission meant.

I came up with the following illustration that I use during the pre-marital sessions and also during the ceremony, and I think this works beyond the relationship between husband and wife. I see this fits also how we are to fall into submission to God. I hope this clarifies some stuff for us.

Imagine a gold medal ice skating pair…. I always find it funny how most people will remember the name of the woman and we just don’t seem to remember or even watch the male partner. It is the beauty and demonstrated grace, skill, talent, and athletic prowess of the woman that we watch; in awe. Well, that is my understanding of submission.

The woman, in all her glory is in full submission of the man. She need not look around her to see if he is where he needs to be; to hold her hand; to spin her around to set-up the next maneuver; to lift her up; to toss high into the air; and to catch her. The whole time she is submitting herself to his leadership and his leadership is solely focused and revealing to the world all her beauty and her grace…to ensure her very best is released and enjoyed.

She finds great joy, pleasure, and success in her own submission to his leadership, his strength, his support, and in turn they both win the prize…

So, when I submit to the LORD, it is not how the world thinks of submission. It is NOT a win/lose situation. It is NOT painful, or at least not intended to be…unless I am fighting against it. It is NOT something that makes me “tap-out.” I realize that God is GOOD, his will and plans for my life ROCK! It is up to me to willingly submit to His leadership and He will reveal all the beauty, grace, and joy that I can realize as a man…as His child.

Well, what do you think?

The Lost Art of Stillness

I recently was flying interisland and had to suffer from the effects of a person who did not have the art of stillness. I had noticed this woman while waiting for the boarding process to begin. She just couldn't be quiet. Okay, more accurately, she couldn't shut up! If there was a person even near her she would start a conversation; albeit one-sided for the most part. On the plane it turns out she is sitting behind me, first talking to the flight attendant stationed there, and he quickly moved away.

She then began to talk to herself and also (for my pleasure, I am sure) began a nervous habit of kicking the seat in front of her... my seat.

As the plane fills she then begins to talk to the people next to her and despite their obvious desire just to relax, she continued to talk, asking questions of them, only to interrupt them so she could talk even more, all the while, kicking the seat in front of her. I finally finished counting to 1,000 and turned around, and did actually ask nicely for her to stop kicking my seat.

There was a peaceful silence after that. It actually lasted a full fifteen seconds... that was one of the longest flights I have ever had to endure interisland.

Here are some great scripture to consider:

Psalm 46:10-11 [10] “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
[11] The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Nehemiah 8:11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.


It is interesting to note that perhaps a more direct Hebrew translation for 'be still' is 'enough' or 'be quiet.' Or if I was translating it.... SHUT UP!

In western culture we just don't seem to like things to be quiet, except in an elevator. Otherwise, we call it, "an awkward silence." We just don't seem capable of relaxing and enjoying the simple art of stillness; of being silent.

Now, this has such a negative effect on our walk with God....it's like I am always jabbering away, telling God this and that... He simply wants to tell me things; important things and I just keep yakking away.

Be still, enough, be quiet, Keiger, so that I can tell you the things you need to know.... Be still and just relax, and quit kicking my chair because you are anxious, fearful, impatient, and restless.

When Jesus was aboard the boat in the storm, Jesus says, Quiet! Be still." Isn't that what we should all be saying when the storms of life come our way?

In gaining an understanding of the art of stillness, we need to learn to rest, to be at peace, and to trust. It is interesting to look at Isaiah 40:31, depending on the translation, the one word that is interchanged is "wait." It can also be translated as trust, hope, and of course, as wait. The Hebrew word is actually "qavah"; a prim. root; to wait for:—eagerly waits, expect, expected, hope, hoped, hopefully wait, hoping, look, look eagerly, looked, wait, waited, waited for you eagerly, waited patiently.

In regaining a place of stillness, that is where we will be able to discern the gentle whisper the Lord. Again, some translations call it the "still small voice" of God...even "quiet, gentle voice." If we aren't still, we surely will miss His speaking to us. I don't want to miss it anymore.

Once, a dear friend of mine prophetically spoke, saying, "God seems to love speaking to you when you are vulnerable and soft to Him. Does that mean anything to you?"

I laughed, because this was spoken near the beginning of a period of over four months that God was awakening me at 3:00 AM every day. He was speaking volumes to me during that time, having me praying, interceding and conversing with me in my thoughts...a very powerful time, that He still occasionally awakens me to this day. It was probably when I literally in a place of abiding in stillness (actually in deep sleep, LOL) that He could get a word in.

I know there are a few of us who could learn much from the lost art of stillness.... go on some kind of retreat, fast, or extended prayer time...including listening prayer time, and ask God to take you into the place of abiding in stillness before Him.

Oh yeah, and let us all know how is goes, and what you learn and what insight you gain....


GOD ROCKS!


Keiger

Recalibration Time and the Ask Fast

Recalibration Time:
Oswald Chambers wrote, “The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.” Oswald also stated, “It is never ‘Do, do’ with the Lord, but ‘Be, be’ and He will ‘do’ through you.”

Hmm, that has opened up a line of thought I had pondered in the past… and that is that as Christians and as Children of God we were created to be FIRST worshippers of God. In all things, it is our relationship with God and His Glory!

How often do I focus on my needs and on the needs of other people as among the first things I grab onto, rather than clinging to the simple fact it is my relationship with God that matters most. Out of this placement of God in the center of ALL that I do; will there be ministry to others and ministry to myself.

So many places within Scripture we find the call to worship the Lord; to love the Lord; and to fear the Lord… we were created for God’s pleasure and for His enjoyment (Col.1:16). I have felt for sometime now, a call for all of us to really worship God; to place this as prime importance for our community. I want us to be known as worshipers of God.

Out of this heart of worship and out of recalibrating and re-centering God as the core of who we are, we will come to the place where we abide with God and He truly lives His life in our bodies. From out of this place of abiding will come an increase of unction for ministry and we will see more manifested evidence of God’s great and powerful measure of healing, deliverance, provision, and even more!

It is our relationship with our Papa that matters most and it is what He wants most of all…relationship, personal, daily, without ceasing, intimate, reverent, and sacrificial.

While all the other things that come out of this place are awesome, wonderful, and needed, again, it is our RELATIONSHIP that counts eternally…

I believe the heart of worship is what pleases God most, and it is the place I am seeking to abide in, and I hope others will join me in trying to understand this more.

The Ask Fast:
For the time being, I am going to try something very different for me. I am going to go on a “ask fast.” This is where I am going to refrain from asking God for anything. I’m not going to ask for things I need myself, or the needs of others. I am only going worship and praise the LORD! Declare His names, characteristics, and titles, sing worship songs, and speak of His wonder, beauty and holiness.

When a desire to intercede for someone or some situation, I will only state the name or situation before God and then WORSHIP… recalibrating my heart to who He is that I am praying to and realigning my heart into worship, submission, surrender, and reliance upon our Holy God. He is to be in the center of all I do. He is not to be a priority; He is to be my all in all. My LORD God Almighty, and worthy to be praised!

I’m curious to get YOUR thoughts on this…

Reflections on the Mia Fast

As the Mia Fast now passes the two week mark (this is not a boast, just facts) there have been some interesting comments and reflections we are discovering that I'd like to share with you all, as well as invite more comments, reflections, and thoughts...

1) This type of fast is harder than a complete fast. This may be due to the fact it is a "thinking" fast. You have to ask questions, read labels, plan out meals, explain to waiters, cooks, etc. There is even some research and collaboration to really know what is in that bag of snacks, in that deli meat, what's really hiding in that beer (darn gluten's are everywhere!).

2) There is an interesting and special bond forming amongst the fast-ers. We relate to each other and get to share in the blessing of doing this for the Winands.

3) I believe the blessings God is going to bestow on Mia, Levi, Remle, and the fast-ers will far exceed the sacrifices made during the prayer and fast.

4) While we can slip up, forget, slid some forbidden foods; Mia can't as her risks and dangers are REAL!

5) A strong sense of commitment, determination and pressing into God is occurring with several of us.... That this is something life changing for the Winands and we want that for them.

6) That this is growing roots and fruit spiritually for the whole community of Christians that we are a part of (regardless of "church" affiliation).

7) That we ain't seen nothing yet! MORE GOD, MORE! Our prayers are reaching heaven and God is moving in this area of prayer, intercession, and with His awesome healing power, grace, mercy, and favor!!!!!!


GOD ROCKS!


KLB

What's The Diff?

Hmm, I found this interesting WORD, from the book, "Rees Howells: Intercessor," by Norman Grubb (GREAT BOOK and I so recommend it!).

" We were a people who had left all to follow the Savior, and had forsaken all we had of this world's goods to enter a life of faith, and as far as we knew we had surrendered our lives entirely to the One who died for us. But He showed us,'There is all the difference in the world between your surrendered life in My hands, and Me living My life in your body.'

"We read the Acts afresh and found we were reading not the acts of the Apostles, but the acts of the Holy Ghost. The bodies of Peter and the others had become His temples. The Holy Ghost as a divine Person lived in the bodies of the apostles, even as the Savior had lived His earthly life in the body that was born in Bethlehem. And all that the Holy Spirit asked of us was our wills and our bodies."

Now, I can't yet get my arms around that difference in my spirit... imagine what it REALLY looks like for God to be living His life in your body... and how that is completely different from being surrendered to Him... That is a huge depth!

I need to hear it again:
'There is all the difference in the world between your surrendered life in My hands, and Me living My life in your body.'

Can you capture the depth of this? Can you define this for us?

Can you paint this so we can see this for what it REALLY is?

'There is all the difference in the world between your surrendered life in My hands, and Me living My life in your body.'

Wonderful stuff, what little I understand is that this so much more than surrendering, that is God living His life in the new ark of the covenant...His living temples, His living sacrifices, His chosen people, His dwelling place... YOU and ME!

What an incredible reality He offers us; to be so full of God--this consuming fire, that as He takes possession of us, that same consuming fire will burn off all that is of us...of worldly flesh. Amazing place to be. So intimate with God that He truly is living His life in our bodies... am I game for it?

I have been writing down in my heart and mind all the things "I" want to do, and all the things "I" think I deserve...man, I got some stuff to take out back and let the consuming fire torch off me... yikes!

Here I am serving God and He's really saying that He wants me to be a living sacrifice... it is not about service....sure, it's good stuff, yet He wants GOD stuff!

Chew on this one more time:
'There is all the difference in the world between your surrendered life in My hands, and Me living My life in your body.'

So, here's where I need and ask for YOUR help... Give me some Scriptures that relate to this deep, intimate indwelling of God in us...