Monday, November 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Moving Beyond a 12x12 Christian: opening thoughts...
I was walking around campus today reflecting on, "who is Jesus Christ?" And it came as a humbling surprise that it took me a while to move past answers like "The son of God," "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...(John 1:14)" etc.
I don't think these answers are wrong or bad.
The thing that did bug me was how many of these answers are memorized but not understood. It began to bother me more and more not in the "oh no did I turn off the oven?" or "did I close the door?" sort of way. But, in the "I know there's more to my friend than that." What's under the foundations of the coffee shop I'm sitting in?
Is there more to what's written in John 1:14, more than what is said/memorized. What does it MEAN; the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Is there more to Jesus than he came, he died, and he rose again. NOT to take away from that because it is some cool stuff. But what was Jesus' life like? what was the life of his disciples like?
A point made in math.
In elementary school I learned 1+1=2. I'm going to take a leap of faith and say most of us can recite this fact (yes, I am aware there's some higher math that says it doesn't. But if you explained it to an elementary school kid they'd look at you like you were the idiot). And when the time was right we memorized and learned the times tables. Now, we can rapidly recite anything from the times tables without much thought. Anything from 1x1 to 12x12 is readily available at the tip of our tongues. We command it, we rule it, and we use it. And because we've learned the basic mechanics we can do other things like 3,733 x 9,243. Most of us probably can't do that one without a piece of paper and a pencil, or calculator/cellphone.
My understanding is this, Jesus is the Son of God who came to this earth lived, died, and rose again. He came with a purpose for His life and he taught others of this purpose. What would it mean to step up my understanding of Jesus? What would it mean to seek and put in some work to, not just memorize the answer but to revisit the basic mechanics for the purpose of growth. To be reassured in my understanding of Jesus but to move into asking God the more complicated question. To not be appeased with my elementary Sunday school edumacation.
I intend to continue this blog to show how God is moving in my life and how sometimes we stumble over God in life. But I also feel led to externally process (ENTJ all the way..for better and for worst...for now not for forever) the tougher/ deeper questions of faith.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." 1 Corinthians 13:11
-J.Kay <= because somehow along the way I became Just Kidding
I don't think these answers are wrong or bad.
The thing that did bug me was how many of these answers are memorized but not understood. It began to bother me more and more not in the "oh no did I turn off the oven?" or "did I close the door?" sort of way. But, in the "I know there's more to my friend than that." What's under the foundations of the coffee shop I'm sitting in?
Is there more to what's written in John 1:14, more than what is said/memorized. What does it MEAN; the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Is there more to Jesus than he came, he died, and he rose again. NOT to take away from that because it is some cool stuff. But what was Jesus' life like? what was the life of his disciples like?
A point made in math.
In elementary school I learned 1+1=2. I'm going to take a leap of faith and say most of us can recite this fact (yes, I am aware there's some higher math that says it doesn't. But if you explained it to an elementary school kid they'd look at you like you were the idiot). And when the time was right we memorized and learned the times tables. Now, we can rapidly recite anything from the times tables without much thought. Anything from 1x1 to 12x12 is readily available at the tip of our tongues. We command it, we rule it, and we use it. And because we've learned the basic mechanics we can do other things like 3,733 x 9,243. Most of us probably can't do that one without a piece of paper and a pencil, or calculator/cellphone.
My understanding is this, Jesus is the Son of God who came to this earth lived, died, and rose again. He came with a purpose for His life and he taught others of this purpose. What would it mean to step up my understanding of Jesus? What would it mean to seek and put in some work to, not just memorize the answer but to revisit the basic mechanics for the purpose of growth. To be reassured in my understanding of Jesus but to move into asking God the more complicated question. To not be appeased with my elementary Sunday school edumacation.
I intend to continue this blog to show how God is moving in my life and how sometimes we stumble over God in life. But I also feel led to externally process (ENTJ all the way..for better and for worst...for now not for forever) the tougher/ deeper questions of faith.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." 1 Corinthians 13:11
-J.Kay <= because somehow along the way I became Just Kidding
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
What Is Intercession?
What is Intercession?
GREAT QUESTION! And it's a question I hope WE will discover together...so let me start off with just some thoughts and ramblings...without much editing or "fullness".
I am also looking to YOU to comment and fill-out this conversation via the comment section of this blog. So, shall we begin?
Two of the most pithy descriptions I've come across for what intercession is are:
"Standing in the gap"
"burden-bearing"
No now take a look at Jesus: Intercession is what Christ does right now with God, on our behalf.
1 Tim 2:1...several Bible translations mentions intercession as separate from prayer.... WHY?
The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings.
I don't believe that intercession IS prayer, yet I also believe that when we mix intercession WITH prayer it all becomes more powerful, more focused, more effective, and more of what Christ does.
Some forms of intercession may be a call to fast from things, to give up things that the person you are praying for needs... it may include taking on their burdens with tears, with personal sacrifices of time, or by placing yourself in the same situation/environment as that person.
Other times, you may find yourself feeling/crying out/groaning over their pain, their lack, their needs, and yet you know it is not you...you are "standing in the gap" and being their "burden-bearer".
Now, moving deeper into intercessory prayer:
Too often we simply don't pray, because we don't think prayer works, God hears us, or God does what He wants without our input.
What if we stood on this... if we don't pray, it is not going to happen. How fast do we forget: "ask...and you shall receive. Seek...and you shall find... hmmm, seems to me we gotta ASK.
Intercession also involves plugging into the Holy Spirit, gaining alignment with Him
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
BUT Romans 8:26,27 MUST be included....Getting the Holy Spirit involved/energizing our prayers.
In reality, God wants us to pray and to get involved (interceding) and when we really go for it, He has the Holy Spirit empower our prayers so it all (everything) works for the good....
It really is pleading with God for our needs and the needs of others as well as it is taking hold of God's will and not letting go until His will be done...here on earth as it is done in heaven.
This sometimes "manifests" in very emotional ways, it also is a very persevering-type of prayer. IN some older translations, "travailing" is used to refer to a woman in labor... and it is a great visual of an intense, time-consuming kind of experience...giving birth to God's will being done, prayer being answered, situation improving, and healing. It's a pressing on in prayer and working until we can grab hold of the will of God--apprehending it.
We (flesh), intercede in spirit, to the Spirit so that heaven comes down to earth.
Intercession is not really for "special" people, that is of course, unless you realize we as Christ-ians are all special. We are ALL called to be Christ-like...and Christ is an INTERCESSOR! It's what He does for us ALL THE TIME!
There's really no special "mojo" to be a radically empowered intercessor, other than to have a passion for praying over the issue or for the person you feel led to pray for. You DON'T need to even know WHAT to pray...Just pray and seek the Holy Spirit to get involved and let the cry of your inner person--your spirit cry out to the heart of God as the Holy Spirit guides you in faith.
God made some awesome plans for us to be involved in what happens on earth...in fact, we are so much in this partnership that there are things that DON'T happen because we didn't get involved through prayer....WOW, it's almost like God says, 'so without Me, you can do nothing. But without you, I will not.' God calls us to be in relationship with Him. When we are, He actively is involved in our lives, our issues, our needs, and OUR INTERCESSION!
What a great partnership we have in God! And it's the foundation of all that God wants from us and through us.... pretty darn cool!
And as we intercede, we become more like Christ, being transformed in the process; in the midst of trials. God doesn't make the trials and difficulties to MAKE US pray and turn to him. Yet, He will use them to ALLOW us to be involved, to call on the power of God to enter into the situation and transform it for His glory!
So help me out here with your comments, thoughts, questions....and answers!
GREAT QUESTION! And it's a question I hope WE will discover together...so let me start off with just some thoughts and ramblings...without much editing or "fullness".
I am also looking to YOU to comment and fill-out this conversation via the comment section of this blog. So, shall we begin?
Two of the most pithy descriptions I've come across for what intercession is are:
"Standing in the gap"
"burden-bearing"
No now take a look at Jesus: Intercession is what Christ does right now with God, on our behalf.
1 Tim 2:1...several Bible translations mentions intercession as separate from prayer.... WHY?
The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings.
I don't believe that intercession IS prayer, yet I also believe that when we mix intercession WITH prayer it all becomes more powerful, more focused, more effective, and more of what Christ does.
Some forms of intercession may be a call to fast from things, to give up things that the person you are praying for needs... it may include taking on their burdens with tears, with personal sacrifices of time, or by placing yourself in the same situation/environment as that person.
Other times, you may find yourself feeling/crying out/groaning over their pain, their lack, their needs, and yet you know it is not you...you are "standing in the gap" and being their "burden-bearer".
Now, moving deeper into intercessory prayer:
Too often we simply don't pray, because we don't think prayer works, God hears us, or God does what He wants without our input.
What if we stood on this... if we don't pray, it is not going to happen. How fast do we forget: "ask...and you shall receive. Seek...and you shall find... hmmm, seems to me we gotta ASK.
Intercession also involves plugging into the Holy Spirit, gaining alignment with Him
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
BUT Romans 8:26,27 MUST be included....Getting the Holy Spirit involved/energizing our prayers.
In reality, God wants us to pray and to get involved (interceding) and when we really go for it, He has the Holy Spirit empower our prayers so it all (everything) works for the good....
It really is pleading with God for our needs and the needs of others as well as it is taking hold of God's will and not letting go until His will be done...here on earth as it is done in heaven.
This sometimes "manifests" in very emotional ways, it also is a very persevering-type of prayer. IN some older translations, "travailing" is used to refer to a woman in labor... and it is a great visual of an intense, time-consuming kind of experience...giving birth to God's will being done, prayer being answered, situation improving, and healing. It's a pressing on in prayer and working until we can grab hold of the will of God--apprehending it.
We (flesh), intercede in spirit, to the Spirit so that heaven comes down to earth.
Intercession is not really for "special" people, that is of course, unless you realize we as Christ-ians are all special. We are ALL called to be Christ-like...and Christ is an INTERCESSOR! It's what He does for us ALL THE TIME!
There's really no special "mojo" to be a radically empowered intercessor, other than to have a passion for praying over the issue or for the person you feel led to pray for. You DON'T need to even know WHAT to pray...Just pray and seek the Holy Spirit to get involved and let the cry of your inner person--your spirit cry out to the heart of God as the Holy Spirit guides you in faith.
God made some awesome plans for us to be involved in what happens on earth...in fact, we are so much in this partnership that there are things that DON'T happen because we didn't get involved through prayer....WOW, it's almost like God says, 'so without Me, you can do nothing. But without you, I will not.' God calls us to be in relationship with Him. When we are, He actively is involved in our lives, our issues, our needs, and OUR INTERCESSION!
What a great partnership we have in God! And it's the foundation of all that God wants from us and through us.... pretty darn cool!
And as we intercede, we become more like Christ, being transformed in the process; in the midst of trials. God doesn't make the trials and difficulties to MAKE US pray and turn to him. Yet, He will use them to ALLOW us to be involved, to call on the power of God to enter into the situation and transform it for His glory!
So help me out here with your comments, thoughts, questions....and answers!
Monday, January 03, 2011
Strengthen Yourself In The Lord - - Some Quotes!
I'm sure many of you have heard me talk about this book, and it's effect on my life. I took some time tonight to revisit it and pulled some great quotes from the first chapter for you....
" King David...he is remembered not so much for the greatness of his actions, but for the greatness of his heart for God. His passionate heart set him apart in God's eyes long before he ever won great military victories, ... "
"... his pursuit of God was motivated by nothing but a desire to know God for His own sake."
"This trust indicated that David's heart for the Lord was not something that changed according to his circumstances. He had integrity of heart."
[Regarding King Saul] "Yet, without the strength of character that only comes by winning private battles, these public victories exposed the previously hidden weakness of Saul's heart toward God."
"Saul's rejection of him was the first sign that David's schooling for the kingship was based on testing his ability to believe and walk in the Word over his life, even when the circumstances seemed to completely oppose and deny his destiny."
"Under his leadership, these 'rejects' became his 'mighty men'...If you want to kill giants, follow a giant killer!"
"...those who seek God's face and pursue His destiny for their lives when nobody is around, are the people who possess the initiative required to strengthen themselves. If they learn to sustain their initiative to seek God by strengthening themselves in testing, they will be the people who will experience the personal breakthroughs that release a corporate blessing to those around them."
"God wants us to learn how to strengthen ourselves through Him because developing our skills will promote spiritual longevity."
AND MY FAVORITE AND MOST POWERFUL QUOTE:
"...for the sake of becoming mature and growing in favor so that we can bless those around us, God brings moments into our lives when we have to stand alone in difficulty and testing. God will even blind the eyes and deafen the ears of our closest friends in those moments so we can learn to minister to ourselves. We must recognize this because I know a lot of believers who fall into bitterness, thinking their friends are failing them in a hard time. Understanding God's priority to teach us this lesson helps us to avoid this trap."
The whole book is AWESOME and those are only the quotes from the first chapter!
***Strengthen Yourself In The Lord: How To Release The Hidden Power Of GOD In Your Life, by Bill Johnson
WINK- Available at Logos Bookstore....tell them I sent ya!
" King David...he is remembered not so much for the greatness of his actions, but for the greatness of his heart for God. His passionate heart set him apart in God's eyes long before he ever won great military victories, ... "
"... his pursuit of God was motivated by nothing but a desire to know God for His own sake."
"This trust indicated that David's heart for the Lord was not something that changed according to his circumstances. He had integrity of heart."
[Regarding King Saul] "Yet, without the strength of character that only comes by winning private battles, these public victories exposed the previously hidden weakness of Saul's heart toward God."
"Saul's rejection of him was the first sign that David's schooling for the kingship was based on testing his ability to believe and walk in the Word over his life, even when the circumstances seemed to completely oppose and deny his destiny."
"Under his leadership, these 'rejects' became his 'mighty men'...If you want to kill giants, follow a giant killer!"
"...those who seek God's face and pursue His destiny for their lives when nobody is around, are the people who possess the initiative required to strengthen themselves. If they learn to sustain their initiative to seek God by strengthening themselves in testing, they will be the people who will experience the personal breakthroughs that release a corporate blessing to those around them."
"God wants us to learn how to strengthen ourselves through Him because developing our skills will promote spiritual longevity."
AND MY FAVORITE AND MOST POWERFUL QUOTE:
"...for the sake of becoming mature and growing in favor so that we can bless those around us, God brings moments into our lives when we have to stand alone in difficulty and testing. God will even blind the eyes and deafen the ears of our closest friends in those moments so we can learn to minister to ourselves. We must recognize this because I know a lot of believers who fall into bitterness, thinking their friends are failing them in a hard time. Understanding God's priority to teach us this lesson helps us to avoid this trap."
The whole book is AWESOME and those are only the quotes from the first chapter!
***Strengthen Yourself In The Lord: How To Release The Hidden Power Of GOD In Your Life, by Bill Johnson
WINK- Available at Logos Bookstore....tell them I sent ya!
2011...For Such A Time As This!
Okay, nothing too ponderous for my first entry...getting back into the "writer" mode (whatever that really is to me), but I do realize that God has me here (and you), at this specific time and place for His reasons...for such a time as this.
I'm thinking that we are here for a purpose.... His purpose, and even our own more selfish purpose....which one are we gonna choose at such a time as this....Remember that Uncle Mordecai reminded Queen Esther that she could let her EPIC moment pass her by....
So, some of the things I plan to write about (and hold me accountable to do so):
What is intercession - REALLY? (thanks NS, you got me ticking on this one all day)
Sold out Christianity vs. Mediocrity?
What does it mean to travail?
Cancer and Mental Illness...why are we seeing more MIRACLES?
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Which one shall I tackle FIRST?
Voting is now open via the comments....
I'm thinking that we are here for a purpose.... His purpose, and even our own more selfish purpose....which one are we gonna choose at such a time as this....Remember that Uncle Mordecai reminded Queen Esther that she could let her EPIC moment pass her by....
So, some of the things I plan to write about (and hold me accountable to do so):
What is intercession - REALLY? (thanks NS, you got me ticking on this one all day)
Sold out Christianity vs. Mediocrity?
What does it mean to travail?
Cancer and Mental Illness...why are we seeing more MIRACLES?
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Which one shall I tackle FIRST?
Voting is now open via the comments....
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Crisis of Faith... The Dark Night of the Soul
St. John of the Cross wrote of "The Dark Night of the Soul" and even Mother Teresa of Calcutta spent many years in "the darkness" and "painful night" of her soul...these powerhouses for God passed through a crisis of faith...
I've experienced dark nights too, and I have found many of my Faith Brothers and Sisters have or are facing such difficult times too. From my own experiences, I don't fear them, or even believe I will lose my faith in God. Sure, I have FELT I was losing my faith, but I never believed what I was feeling. Somehow, in the very depths of who I am and because of what I have seen and experienced I know God is good and He is for me and not against me.
I've had to press through and pray through these times...and I am reminded of CS Lewis' demonic character's remarks in The Screwtape Letters (#8):
He cannot 'tempt' to virtue as we do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.
In an odd way, these painful times have strengthened my faith, that even when I don't see or feel God.... I know He is with me. It's almost like a storm, it will pass eventually, perhaps with damage, but it will pass and it will be time to rebuild and renew my strength.
Some things I am learning:
1) Journal the God stuff...answered prayers, miracles, provision from Heaven, prophecies, truths discovered.
2) Re-read what I've written.
3) Seek out books and people with testimonies of faith.
4) Plenty of knee time and worship time...
So, this is an unfinished post because I want US to dialogue through together....
Talk to me, what's on your mind?
I've experienced dark nights too, and I have found many of my Faith Brothers and Sisters have or are facing such difficult times too. From my own experiences, I don't fear them, or even believe I will lose my faith in God. Sure, I have FELT I was losing my faith, but I never believed what I was feeling. Somehow, in the very depths of who I am and because of what I have seen and experienced I know God is good and He is for me and not against me.
I've had to press through and pray through these times...and I am reminded of CS Lewis' demonic character's remarks in The Screwtape Letters (#8):
He cannot 'tempt' to virtue as we do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.
In an odd way, these painful times have strengthened my faith, that even when I don't see or feel God.... I know He is with me. It's almost like a storm, it will pass eventually, perhaps with damage, but it will pass and it will be time to rebuild and renew my strength.
Some things I am learning:
1) Journal the God stuff...answered prayers, miracles, provision from Heaven, prophecies, truths discovered.
2) Re-read what I've written.
3) Seek out books and people with testimonies of faith.
4) Plenty of knee time and worship time...
So, this is an unfinished post because I want US to dialogue through together....
Talk to me, what's on your mind?
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