The Problem About Asking For a Sign

We all want to know the perfect will for our lives. We all want to hear direct revelation about what God wants us to do, what is coming up, where he wants us to go and so on. Most of us, especially me, want a sign from God before I will move. Sometimes for me it is not enough to have a peace in my heart or sense God's leading. Lately I have been praying for direction in my life. Direction about foster care, direction to go to vegas and get pregnant again, and direction for other things. I have sensed some peace and direction in some of these areas but my prayers have been permeated with pleas for God to give me a direct sign, somewhat like a fleece like Gideon asked for. This morning, I was once again asking for a sign of direction and confirmation in my life when God directed me to a passage in John 20:27-29. Jesus is talking to Thomas and he says, "stop doubting and believe". "you have seen me thomas but blessed are those who believe and have not seen. All of a sudden God spoke to my spirit; are you going to just trust me and follow my gentle nudges or do you need a sign which will weaken your faith and my blessing in your life. WOW!!!! God does give us signs, but how much more blessing and stronger faith is reserved for us when we just learn to trust and not expect sign after sign. Jesus said to the crowd while he was on the earth. You want sign after sign, but these people still did not believe because they were the ones shouting crucify him and deserted him. Also in the Bible, God says that it is a wicked generation that always needs signs. God I want to trust you and not belittle your power in my life by always asking for a sign. Help me to trust you, and rather than asking for signs, learn how to recoqnize your voice and listen when you are speaking. My focus should be not looking for a sign but intimacy with Jesus to the point where I know when he is speaking and I know his voice

I Will See Your Goodness

Though news comes that causes tears
I will still see your goodness God
Though circumstances leave me confused
I will once again see your goodness God
When sadness becomes a close friend
I will see your goodness again God
When there are more questions than answers
I will see your goodness God
When my faith is shaken
I will soon see your goodness God
When you are silent
I will see your goodness God
When I am broken and lay motionless
I know I will see your goodness again
When my tears cloud my vision
I will see your goodness
When the testing seems overwhelming
I will see your goodness soon
God, through trials, testings, and tragedies I still know you are a good God
You will never leave me or forsake me and I will see your goodness again

God's Secrets

Psalm 25:14- the secrets of the Lord are with those who fear him.

Man, I want to know God's secrets. What is He thinking? What is He feeling? What is He up to? The key to the secrets of God is to have a healthy fear of him. I think we have moved to far away from teaching how to fear God. Believe me, I am so glad for God's grace and mercy that is extended to me everytime I fall away from him or make a bonehead move. That same grace is extended to everyone of us and whenever we need it. The key is here, is what Paul talks about in Romans; taking advantage of grace. I remember growing up, I wouldn't do certain things, not because I didn't want to, but because I was scared of the punishment or consequences from my parents. Because I had a healthy fear of my parents, I was protected from a lot of problems or difficult times. Now think of God in that light. When was the last time you refrained from sin because of the punishment or consequences from God. God is forgiving and a giver of grace, but there are consequences to our actions and the Bible says that God disciplines us because he loves us. There needs to be a fear of God that causes us to refrain from sin because we have a holy fear or "dread" of the consequences that God will hand down. Check out these scriptures

Jer 32:40- I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.

Ps 86:11- Unite my heart to fear YOur name

Isa 11:3- His delight is in the fear of the Lord

Is 8:13- The Lord....you shall hallow; let HIm be your fear, and let Him be your dread

Countless times, God would strike, smite, or sicken people because of their sinful,selfish choices. He did this to discipline them, but in the long run to turn them back to Him. God is not a "grace candyman"; handing out grace over and over again for the same rebellion with no consequences. God forgives us, but He will do whatever it takes to make sure that we don't repeat the same folly. We are forgiven to change. We are given grace to develop a holy fear. God, please help me to fear you to the point where I refrain from worldly pleasures so I won't fall on your discipline. When I truly have a healthy fear of God that leads me to a consistent,faithful Christian walk, then God will show me HIs secrets

From Coma to Life

This baby has been in a coma since 2 months old. She is now 8months old and has not moved or opened her eyes. THey have been feeding her through a feeding tube. The mom brought her to church last Sunday against her doctor's wishes. It is long, but watch it. The spirit of God came over me as I watched this and I began to intercede over Andrea's womb that it would come out of that coma and supernaturally bring forth life. Please agree with me!!!

Megan Smith Speaking

I am so proud of my 15 year old daughter Megan. The amazing young lady she has become brings so much pride to my heart that I am her father. She had an opportunity to speak in her youth group (EDGE) on December 2nd,2009. Her passion, conviction, boldness, and confidence blew me out of the water. Take a listen. She is a sista preacha

Where Else Can We Go?

John 6:68 is an amazing statement from Peter when other disciples had left and Jesus turned to him and asked if he was leaving too. Peter, says, "where can I go Lord, you have the words of life. Peter had burned all his bridges to the point if Jesus wasn't who He said he was, Peter would have no one or nothing left to turn to. Man, talk about being addicted to Jesus. Peter was wounded by love to the very core of his being. Today, as I have been studying and meditating on God's word, I am starting to learn what it means to delight in God's word. When I look at Psalm 119, I see 172 verses of a man who is love with God and His word and can't say it over and over again enough. The challenge to me is what I do with free time or when no one is watching. For David any free time, I can see him sneaking away to have some fun in God's Word. Reading the Bible in 90 days is a good way to get a big taste of what the Bible is all about but you must take time to meditate on it to get what the heart of God is saying to us When you read God's word at a rapid pace, you miss the heart of God. It's not about reading through the Bible, it's about taking each scripture and meditating on it. I don't want God's Word to be a duty or something I routinely do. I don't want His law to be a homework assignment or a bore. God's Word must be a time of meditation where I let God's Words communicate his delight and love for me. Instead of just reading the Bible through in a year, how about reading a couple verses over and over again in a year. I am challenged to truly meditate on his Word rather than just get through it. Peter and David understood this!! Lord, when I read your Word, will you breathe on me. Will you speak your heart to me. Will you reveal understanding of your scriptures to me. God search my heart and make me aware of any back up plans I might lean on just incase you don't work out. I truly want to surrender to you and dive into knowing that if you don't catch me I will be lost. I know you delight in me, now teach me to delight in you

Our Loss

The past two weeks for our family have been an emotional roller coaster as we went through our 4th loss of a child. Instead of typing out the whole story here on this blog I shared the story in the middle of one of my messages to our students. This audio/video file has the story and our response to God.