Bored??? Get a Gun! Get a Gun??

I've got a sneaking suspicion that the "Wide Gate" and the "Broad Way" are getting the bulk of the advertising dollars. The Media Mogul of this World, Satan, is continually pushing the bar for excitement, so the that trailing bar of boredom is constantly on the rise. What does this mean in layman's terms? The more "stuff" that you buy into (that you feel you have to have FOR YOU), the more likely it is that you will be bored sooner. Nothing will satisfy because the next "Big" is already in the wings (and you know it, you've caught the media leaks).

Good Night!! {this short two word statement is being used as an expression of utter disgust} Black Friday is one of the "Wide Gate" flood gates of driven obsession. Every year the bar for "gotta have it" is raised to ridiculous frenzied proportions. Now (FRIDAY)we have folks armed with pepper spray and guns to get that Xbox or iPad 2 at a price lower than any other possible day in history. In years past "Black Friday" used to be a game day...see who can get there first??? Not any more. It has become a planned "heist" day..."I am coming out of that store with...it, no matter who I offend, who I walk over, who I hurt, or who I have to kill".

"It" is not the way out of the"Wide Gate".
"It" is not the way out of boredom.Read the scripture below with an understanding of the word "strait" and the word "cross" -- they both come from the same route word in the original language..."histemi". This word means: to make to stand, to fix so as to establish, to make firm, to uphold authority, the middle of the balance for scales, to stand near, to stand immovable, to continue safe and sound.

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (this strait gate is not entered by great wisdom or unusual strength? although wisdom and strength are admired by the "wide gate crowd")

Luke 9:23-25
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (My fixation , my established life needs to be uprooted and carried as I follow Jesus ... the only cross that needs to stay fixed is His)

I Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (Believing the Truth of the Cross of Christ is where we find His creative power exciting and our boredom fading)

The only way out of the "wide gate" mold...is to exert your spiritual athletics in yanking your fixation away from YOU, and focusing your life on following Him. Oh by the way! Following Jesus doesn't mean you shun things...no, not at all...BUT you realize the things that you are allowed to acquire, are not to establish your life, but are given as tools to reach others.

Strive to Enter the "Cross" Gate.

HLFA,

Jeff

If It Came Natural He Wouldn't Have Prayed

I'm not sure if I am getting it yet????
... it must be nice to be oblivious to the struggle with worldliness within the very fabric of what we call "worship" within our local churches.

My wonder so many times is... who in the world is in charge of this display of religiosity?

No wonder I can't make a connection with the "lost" and even the "saved" around me.

Have you ever been in a meeting where you could feel a heavy suffocating tension between those in the room?

Woe! With this overt disunity there is no way one can focus on anything BUT the disunity.

Who cares what is being said; Who even listens to the direction given; Who even plans on moving in that direction?

What direction? Too where? and what for? ...it makes no sense to MOVE unless unity is sensed or experienced.

Too much "look at ME" in the service of the King
Too many egos needing to be fed AND
Too little time spent in the Word and prayer
To get our hearts in tune with the pulse of God

John 17 is truly the Lord's prayer for Us as His in the midst of this conflict.
What is God's Will????
God's will is what the Father and Jesus desire.
This chapter is a simple:

Treasure chest of the gifted desire He has for us and the supply available to fulfill His desire.

If this came Natural He wouldn't have endowed us with such a prayer, loaded with the necessary supernatural gifts to secure us for unity... which Him and the Father are directly involved in IF WE LINE UP WITH THEIR DESIRE.

Jesus spoke so personally in John 17:20-21

Neither pray I for these alone, (the Apostles) but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (any believers to follow, including us) that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Sorry no spoon feeding this time...open up your Bibles, kneel beside Jesus as He prays through this chapter. Read it out loud! He his voice through your voice...let the fullness of the plan of the of being ONE:

Verse 20 & 21 has the potential...
"The Father in Jesus, Jesus in the Father, that we may also be one in them"...ONE...indivisible...ONE.
"That they may be one in us" (Jesus requests of the Father)

That "they (we) may be one"...that "the world may believe"...that Thou (the Father) hast sent Me (Jesus).

If the world just believes that we are good people...and the church is a good place to go but the world doesn't sense our "oneness" (because we don't desire what He desires) then the potential for the world to understand the Gospel has been neutralized.

Does Jesus get His prayers answered?
Will you hear His prayer...and answer the call?

HLFA,

Jeff

Where is Their God?

When the sound of punished steel, forcefully distressed glass, and overly flexed polymers came to a rest, it still seemed like an eternity before the smoke and dust of the impact would settle and clear. Just a drive home...just a daily routine...no sin involved...no drunk driver...just a momentary lapse of judgment. Lives would be changed forever and scars would remain...Where is God? Why would He allow this?

Such joyful energy and anxious anticipation all wrapped up in this one moment. Two lives focused and waiting for a small voice to cry out. Two lives reaching for a tiny hand to feel the reciprocal extension of life's expected fulfillment, BUT it doesn't come. A very clean and brightly lit room now becomes a very still, very sad hall of grief.Hopes of joy become a blur of tears,empty arms and shame. Why us? Where is God?

Such a Godly Saint ... always there for others. Now laying listlessly in a room filled with pictures but no people...no earthly comforters during this time of unmerciful pain and suffering. It just doesn't seem fair! Is this the reward for a life of selfless service for the King? Where is God? Why this end?

Usually surrounding these events is a hoard of hellish imps who will chant accusations and caste lying "if only" statements about, hoping these unfounded words will be believed. And sadly, the lies offered to the aching, abandoned, broken hearts will be believed just long enough to separate and isolate us from the truth of the character of God's love.

STOP IN THE THOUGHT OF THESE MOMENTS...
CRY OUT FROM THE REALITY OF THE PAIN...
CRY OUT IN THE ABANDONMENT OF SHAME...we feel the shame it is real.
"JESUS!! Here my cry!"

Zephaniah 3:5

"The just LORD is in the midst thereof;"

(Where is God? Right in the middle of it ...He is there)

"HE will not do iniquity:"

(He will not do injustice ...He will do nothing unfair)

"every morning doth HE bring HIS judgment to light,"

(He is bringing the deliverance of a New Morning)

"HE faileth not;"

(He will never let us down because HE IS WITH US)

"but the unjust knoweth no shame."

What ??? What did that part of the verse just say???

"the unjust, the perverse, the wicked, the lost...knows, learns to know...no shame???

Read this last line carefully and feel the full force of the Word in its totality.

The unjust do not learn that shame brings God into the middle of our lives to bring us to a place of "no shame".
Romans 10:11 - " For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed"

His Grace will always deliver us from disgrace because He is with us...He will deliver us.

Where is their God??...in the middle of their pain, in the middle of their shame.
Where is your God?

HLFA,

Jeff

Lover of Horses???

OK -- OK -- now don't get your frowns in a furrow!! Last week bugs --- this week horses??
(Disclaimer: If you feel that your head is nothing more than a hat rack, or a knot tied at the end of your spine to keep you from flying apart, please don't read any further)
Some times we are just so worn out by the winds of adversity that messages like the "HLFA Encourager" is just toooooo much.
My apologies for the overwhelming nature of many of these devotionals --- stop...take a cleansing breath before we go any further. Pray --- ask the Lord to speak to your deepest needs, to help you hear beyond the words.

(I will take a risk here)...You never see the tears that flow over some of these devotions because: the more I cry to Him to hear His voice...the more I am overcome with His Heart Aching for us to know Him more and I have to pass it on to you.

John 14:8 - Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Devotion-ally translated for HLFA encourager:
Philip (whose name means "lover of horses") speaks to the Lord in hope of establishing an eternal benchmark: "Lord - Kurios, the one in control, give us a clear, concise, momentary view of the FATHER and we will be "once and for all" possessed by unfailing strength."

Philip, the "lover of horses" was the perfect pick to make this aching request the way he did...so human, so honest...so ready to learn and so ready to be encouraged by the "horses" of life to strengthen us.
Like Philip,we look for the "horses" of life to define our security and safety.
We may even believe that these "horses" are a sign of God's blessing.
The big houses,
the big titles,
the big bonuses,
the nice cars,
the fashionable clothes,
the big visions,
the awesome ministry events,
the new exciting truths,
the next big thing...but God has a different plan:

Personal -- People -- Touch -- Spoken words

Although, the "horse lovers" desire an overwhelming, momentary, show of "convincing strength" --- We would say with Philip - "Show us the FATHER and we "it" ... will sufficeth us. "It" never really satisfies us. The overwhelming vision may convince BUT "it" does not bring commitment: then Jesus reveals the better Way!!!
Verse 9 --- reveals the "once and for all" to focus on the "learning to know" Him not "it" and focus on the "seeing to experience" Him not "it".
WE DON'T NEED "IT"...WE NEED A GROWING LIVING LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT GROWS IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS COMMITTED TO US. Commitment inspires commitment.
When the events of this life bear down on us ... we do not need a glimpse of His glory ...we need Him.

HE IS THERE...when horses stumble and fall.
HE IS THERE...when the vision fades.
HE IS THERE...when we say "why did God allow this?"
Life happens, but not without Him, He is there and He wants you to learn of Him...there.
HE IS THERE.

Zecariah 12:4
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
WHY???????

Consider the following verse too -

Proverbs 21:31
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. You will find Him there...because His has found you there.

The next step: Be there, with Him, for others.

John 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Think about this ...pray about this ....

HLFA,

Jeff

Brought to my knees by a Bug - ADD ON

( tola'at shani - crimson worm)

Google the above words and read what was going on in July at "The Temple Institute" ... and read.

Shalom,
HLFA,

Jeff