There was a pastor who had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove away so that the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten. He did all this, checking his progress in the car frequently, then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten.
But as he moved a little further forward....the rope broke. The tree went "boing!" and the kitten instantly sailed through the air-out of sight. The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I just commit this kitten to Your keeping," and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. Now this woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, “Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?"
She replied, “You won't believe this," and told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the mom finally told her little girl, "Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it." She told the pastor, "I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws spread out, and landed right in front of her."
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
The Journey of WOW
I remember reading about many of the saints of old and seeing the depths of their walk with God. I wondered what it would take to develop that kind of walk with God today. The only thing I knew to do was to pray about it. So I added to my daily prayers, “Lord, I want to know you in a deeper and richer way.”
I wondered what would happen. I just knew that after I had prayed that prayer for a while, the miracle would happen and God would supernaturally pour out his Spirit upon me and I would be WOWED! I knew that there would be a new fire in my heart and a greater power in my life.
Day passed into day. Week passed into week. Before I realized it, a year had gone by and nothing had happened. Perhaps I was not praying the prayer right. Maybe there was something more I needed to do. Fasting! Yes, that was what I needed to add to this prayer. I began to fast weekly, asking God for a deeper and richer walk with him.
Time passed and still no miracle, no great moment of lightning and godly power. What was it going to take? I was sincere. I was committed. Was there something more that I needed to do?
It so happened that I was playing for our church basketball team. One game as I was watching from the sidelines the referee made a wrong call against our team. That’s all right, the referee is only human. He will make mistakes. Then he made another wrong call against us. No problem. I was then sent into the game. A few moments later, he made a bad call against me. Was that my temperature going up? Then it happened again. I could feel my temper rising. I knew that I needed to be removed from the game before I said something… well…ungodly.
The next day as I entered my prayer time, I thought back to the game. I was sure that I had matured in my walk with the Lord where a bad call in a game that was played for fun would not affect me. What was going on?
“Lord,” I prayed, “I don’t understand. I was certain that this would not happen to me. What is going on?”
Then he spoke in that still, small voice, “You want to know me in a deeper and richer way. This is the way that will happen.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“Mike, there is so much of you in you that there is not much more room for me. There are things you need to see about yourself. There is so much of that self you must die to, let go of.”
It occurred to me that I wanted to know God in a deeper and richer way for selfish reasons. I was so focused on me and what I wanted that I was missing what God was trying to say and do. This time of prayer and fasting was about ME not about God. With this awakening, God could begin to work in my heart and spirit to bring about the changes that would mature me, mold me into the image of the One I claimed to be following—Jesus.
Our journey in this life is about God working in our lives removing the deep seated self focus that is there. It is very difficult to see God when we only look at ourselves. How often are we wondering what God is doing, or where is God at? Is it because we are so wrapped up in us that we miss him? Then when God does answer our prayer, it is not what we expected, not what we wanted. If we are not careful anger, frustration and bitterness can arise in us rather than thankfulness and wonder for the Creator of all.
This revelation about me opened new horizons in my relationship with God. I began to see God in a deeper and richer way. The more I saw of God the less I understood him. The more I glimpsed of his character and love, the less I could grasp him. God is higher and greater than anyone can ever understand. We are not called to understand him. We are called to believe in him, trust him, let him change us and follow where he leads. Faith is not about understanding. Faith is about putting our hands into God’s and letting him walk us through the journey of our lives, knowing that whatever mountain we climb or valley we walk, he is there with us providing just what we need right when we need it.
The power of the deeper richer walk comes as we express our trust in God through the journey of life.
I wondered what would happen. I just knew that after I had prayed that prayer for a while, the miracle would happen and God would supernaturally pour out his Spirit upon me and I would be WOWED! I knew that there would be a new fire in my heart and a greater power in my life.
Day passed into day. Week passed into week. Before I realized it, a year had gone by and nothing had happened. Perhaps I was not praying the prayer right. Maybe there was something more I needed to do. Fasting! Yes, that was what I needed to add to this prayer. I began to fast weekly, asking God for a deeper and richer walk with him.
Time passed and still no miracle, no great moment of lightning and godly power. What was it going to take? I was sincere. I was committed. Was there something more that I needed to do?
It so happened that I was playing for our church basketball team. One game as I was watching from the sidelines the referee made a wrong call against our team. That’s all right, the referee is only human. He will make mistakes. Then he made another wrong call against us. No problem. I was then sent into the game. A few moments later, he made a bad call against me. Was that my temperature going up? Then it happened again. I could feel my temper rising. I knew that I needed to be removed from the game before I said something… well…ungodly.
The next day as I entered my prayer time, I thought back to the game. I was sure that I had matured in my walk with the Lord where a bad call in a game that was played for fun would not affect me. What was going on?
“Lord,” I prayed, “I don’t understand. I was certain that this would not happen to me. What is going on?”
Then he spoke in that still, small voice, “You want to know me in a deeper and richer way. This is the way that will happen.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“Mike, there is so much of you in you that there is not much more room for me. There are things you need to see about yourself. There is so much of that self you must die to, let go of.”
It occurred to me that I wanted to know God in a deeper and richer way for selfish reasons. I was so focused on me and what I wanted that I was missing what God was trying to say and do. This time of prayer and fasting was about ME not about God. With this awakening, God could begin to work in my heart and spirit to bring about the changes that would mature me, mold me into the image of the One I claimed to be following—Jesus.
Our journey in this life is about God working in our lives removing the deep seated self focus that is there. It is very difficult to see God when we only look at ourselves. How often are we wondering what God is doing, or where is God at? Is it because we are so wrapped up in us that we miss him? Then when God does answer our prayer, it is not what we expected, not what we wanted. If we are not careful anger, frustration and bitterness can arise in us rather than thankfulness and wonder for the Creator of all.
This revelation about me opened new horizons in my relationship with God. I began to see God in a deeper and richer way. The more I saw of God the less I understood him. The more I glimpsed of his character and love, the less I could grasp him. God is higher and greater than anyone can ever understand. We are not called to understand him. We are called to believe in him, trust him, let him change us and follow where he leads. Faith is not about understanding. Faith is about putting our hands into God’s and letting him walk us through the journey of our lives, knowing that whatever mountain we climb or valley we walk, he is there with us providing just what we need right when we need it.
The power of the deeper richer walk comes as we express our trust in God through the journey of life.
Monday, October 15, 2007
For the love Jesus?
We are richly blessed living in this country. We have many freedoms that we take for granted. Come with me a half a world away to a country in Asia. Listen to the story of a sister who is in bondage simply because of her faith in Jesus.
Azra Bibi, 20, was born in the Malik Saleem brick kiln. Her family, the only Christians in this Muslim community, spent each day doing back-breaking labor making hundreds of bricks.
"I am not educated. I liked to watch the other children going to school. I wanted to be a teacher of the Word of God, but my mother only earned $l.I4 per day. My father died and we lived hand to mouth. One day I decided to help my mother. I asked her, 'Mom, can you teach me how to make a brick?' I was seven years old when I made my first brick. Between the two of us, we made 1,000 bricks a day. On Fridays my mother and I used to go to the market to buy our daily household items. I always liked to shop. Sometimes I could buy clips for my hair.
"The kiln owner wouldn't allow us to go to church so my mother always told the owner, ‘We are going to see our relatives,' or 'We are going to the market.' I liked to see the church programs on Christmas day, especially the Christmas songs and plays. I also liked to hear about the miracles of Jesus Christ. Although we would not sneak to church every Sunday, every morning and in the evening my mother and I would pray. We sang worship songs from cassettes. One song went like this, 'I am weak in my heart; Jesus, encourage me and strengthen me.’
"The neighbors never liked it when we played the worship songs and many times tried to stop us. They tried to offer us many things, trying to convert us to Islam. Mother strongly refused all their offers, telling them, 'I have Jesus in my heart. There is no need for any thing else.' My mother had only one friend, Kershed Bibi, who was a Muslim. She had a gentle spirit and she always encouraged us.
"One day my mother asked me, 'Azra, please get some flour and let's go make some chapatti [bread].' We went outside to the community oven and met Mai Jana, an old Muslim lady who worked at this oven. When she saw us, she became very aggressive and said, 'You Christian dogs, rake your flour and get away from here. Your prophet was a Jewish dog.' My mother became very angry and replied, 'You can call me a Christian dog but never ever call our prophet these kinds of words.'
"Mai Jana stood up and started beating my mother. Other ladies joined in. They beat my mother very badly until she started bleeding. They also beat me. We both were wearing a small cross which the Muslim ladies snatched from our necks. Some Muslim men showed up and took us to the office of Malik Saleem Khokhar, the brick kiln owner. He was furious. He verbally abused us and locked us in a room.
"My mother and I were alone in that room, hugging each other and crying out, 'Oh God, why has this happened?' My mother cried, 'Oh God, Jesus is your Son. I love Him.' I prayed, 'Oh Jesus, I couldn't stand hearing what that lady was saying against You. Please help us and protect us.'
"It was about 10 p.m. when the brick kiln owner called for my mother. His assistant, Muhammad Akram, took her away. I was alone in the room, praying to the Lord, 'You are my everything. I don't have a father, brother or sister. Please protect us.'
"Mother never came back. I cried and prayed the whole night. For 10 days I was locked in that room. My mother's friend, Kershed Bibi, was allowed to give me food. Then she told me horrible news. She said, 'You are like my daughter. I don't know how to tell you this. Your mother is not in this
world now Azra don't cry, but pray to your God.'
"I was shocked and started crying as she told me what happened. 'The night Muhammad Akram took your mother to the kiln owner, they violated her and then chopped her body to pieces. They burned her body in the kiln.' I wept and I prayed. I was alone in this world."
\
"Two days later, Muhammad Akram, one of the men who tortured and killed my mother, took me to another place. He locked me in a room of a big home. There was an armed security guard present.
"Muhammad Akram is a 7O-year-old man. He came into my room and made advances towards me. I cried. I joined my hands in prayer in front of him and begged him to stop, but he violated me. After he left I prayed, 'Oh Lord, it is good if You call me home; at least I will see You. I will stay with You and rest in peace. Jesus, I want to come to You. Please call me home.' I wanted to die.
"Muhammad Akram often came into my room. He kept trying to convert me to Islam. I told him, 'My God is an alive God. How can I leave the alive God and accept your faith?' He decided to force me to marry him. He and the kiln owner planned my wedding day for Friday, May' 26, 2006."
"I prayed day and night asking my Jesus, 'Please send me an angel. Who can release me from this bondage?' After seven months, God answered my prayers. I heard someone had come and was asking for me. Muhammad Akram was afraid to lose me as his wife. He said, 'Tell the people you are Muslim now and you don't want to go with them.' The kiln owner called me into his office. He had some people with him, including the pastor. They seemed like very powerful people. After a big conversation, the owner agreed to release me if they paid my debt amount, which was $1,100 (U.S.).
"The next day, May 26, the day my marriage was supposed to take place, the pastor came with the money. They paid the money to the kiln owner, but Muhammad Akram was very angry. He beat and injured the pastor, but
I was still set free.
"Wow, what a moment! I cried before my Lord, 'I am released! I am free! I can go where I want to go. Oh Jesus, I thank You. Oh my beautiful Lord, You heard my prayers. I also wept at that time, because I missed my mother.
"One of the Christian brothers brought me to his home. His wife was very happy to see me. She is just like a mother. God provided me with a father, mother, brothers and sisters. This brother told me about the people who paid
my debt. I was anxious to see them.
"The next day I met some of those who helped me, a man and two young girls. I hugged them and cried. They cried with me. The next morning I went to their house. Everybody warmly welcomed me. They put me in a room
I where I slept. There was no fear, no worries. I was free.
"After lunch the man took me to the market. The girls helped me pick out clothes, shoes, a hag, towel, soap, toothpaste and many things which I needed. Although I have no brother or sisters, God has provided me with a great family. I am praying in my heart for all these people who helped me, saved me and protected me. May God bless them and encourage them to do more and more for His Kingdom."
Azra Bibi, 20, was born in the Malik Saleem brick kiln. Her family, the only Christians in this Muslim community, spent each day doing back-breaking labor making hundreds of bricks.
"I am not educated. I liked to watch the other children going to school. I wanted to be a teacher of the Word of God, but my mother only earned $l.I4 per day. My father died and we lived hand to mouth. One day I decided to help my mother. I asked her, 'Mom, can you teach me how to make a brick?' I was seven years old when I made my first brick. Between the two of us, we made 1,000 bricks a day. On Fridays my mother and I used to go to the market to buy our daily household items. I always liked to shop. Sometimes I could buy clips for my hair.
"The kiln owner wouldn't allow us to go to church so my mother always told the owner, ‘We are going to see our relatives,' or 'We are going to the market.' I liked to see the church programs on Christmas day, especially the Christmas songs and plays. I also liked to hear about the miracles of Jesus Christ. Although we would not sneak to church every Sunday, every morning and in the evening my mother and I would pray. We sang worship songs from cassettes. One song went like this, 'I am weak in my heart; Jesus, encourage me and strengthen me.’
"The neighbors never liked it when we played the worship songs and many times tried to stop us. They tried to offer us many things, trying to convert us to Islam. Mother strongly refused all their offers, telling them, 'I have Jesus in my heart. There is no need for any thing else.' My mother had only one friend, Kershed Bibi, who was a Muslim. She had a gentle spirit and she always encouraged us.
"One day my mother asked me, 'Azra, please get some flour and let's go make some chapatti [bread].' We went outside to the community oven and met Mai Jana, an old Muslim lady who worked at this oven. When she saw us, she became very aggressive and said, 'You Christian dogs, rake your flour and get away from here. Your prophet was a Jewish dog.' My mother became very angry and replied, 'You can call me a Christian dog but never ever call our prophet these kinds of words.'
"Mai Jana stood up and started beating my mother. Other ladies joined in. They beat my mother very badly until she started bleeding. They also beat me. We both were wearing a small cross which the Muslim ladies snatched from our necks. Some Muslim men showed up and took us to the office of Malik Saleem Khokhar, the brick kiln owner. He was furious. He verbally abused us and locked us in a room.
"My mother and I were alone in that room, hugging each other and crying out, 'Oh God, why has this happened?' My mother cried, 'Oh God, Jesus is your Son. I love Him.' I prayed, 'Oh Jesus, I couldn't stand hearing what that lady was saying against You. Please help us and protect us.'
"It was about 10 p.m. when the brick kiln owner called for my mother. His assistant, Muhammad Akram, took her away. I was alone in the room, praying to the Lord, 'You are my everything. I don't have a father, brother or sister. Please protect us.'
"Mother never came back. I cried and prayed the whole night. For 10 days I was locked in that room. My mother's friend, Kershed Bibi, was allowed to give me food. Then she told me horrible news. She said, 'You are like my daughter. I don't know how to tell you this. Your mother is not in this
world now Azra don't cry, but pray to your God.'
"I was shocked and started crying as she told me what happened. 'The night Muhammad Akram took your mother to the kiln owner, they violated her and then chopped her body to pieces. They burned her body in the kiln.' I wept and I prayed. I was alone in this world."
\
"Two days later, Muhammad Akram, one of the men who tortured and killed my mother, took me to another place. He locked me in a room of a big home. There was an armed security guard present.
"Muhammad Akram is a 7O-year-old man. He came into my room and made advances towards me. I cried. I joined my hands in prayer in front of him and begged him to stop, but he violated me. After he left I prayed, 'Oh Lord, it is good if You call me home; at least I will see You. I will stay with You and rest in peace. Jesus, I want to come to You. Please call me home.' I wanted to die.
"Muhammad Akram often came into my room. He kept trying to convert me to Islam. I told him, 'My God is an alive God. How can I leave the alive God and accept your faith?' He decided to force me to marry him. He and the kiln owner planned my wedding day for Friday, May' 26, 2006."
"I prayed day and night asking my Jesus, 'Please send me an angel. Who can release me from this bondage?' After seven months, God answered my prayers. I heard someone had come and was asking for me. Muhammad Akram was afraid to lose me as his wife. He said, 'Tell the people you are Muslim now and you don't want to go with them.' The kiln owner called me into his office. He had some people with him, including the pastor. They seemed like very powerful people. After a big conversation, the owner agreed to release me if they paid my debt amount, which was $1,100 (U.S.).
"The next day, May 26, the day my marriage was supposed to take place, the pastor came with the money. They paid the money to the kiln owner, but Muhammad Akram was very angry. He beat and injured the pastor, but
I was still set free.
"Wow, what a moment! I cried before my Lord, 'I am released! I am free! I can go where I want to go. Oh Jesus, I thank You. Oh my beautiful Lord, You heard my prayers. I also wept at that time, because I missed my mother.
"One of the Christian brothers brought me to his home. His wife was very happy to see me. She is just like a mother. God provided me with a father, mother, brothers and sisters. This brother told me about the people who paid
my debt. I was anxious to see them.
"The next day I met some of those who helped me, a man and two young girls. I hugged them and cried. They cried with me. The next morning I went to their house. Everybody warmly welcomed me. They put me in a room
I where I slept. There was no fear, no worries. I was free.
"After lunch the man took me to the market. The girls helped me pick out clothes, shoes, a hag, towel, soap, toothpaste and many things which I needed. Although I have no brother or sisters, God has provided me with a great family. I am praying in my heart for all these people who helped me, saved me and protected me. May God bless them and encourage them to do more and more for His Kingdom."
Monday, October 01, 2007
Distant Disciples
We read in Luke 22:54”…Peter followed at a distance.” The pressure had been put on Peter. Jesus was arrested and taken to the Supreme Court of the land. I’m sure he wondered if he would be next. It was at that point he began to “follow at a distance.” His plans were failing. He had already sacrificed much to follow this man for
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