Several scrappy fishermen, a tax collector, homeopathic doctor, named Luke, a doubter named Thomas (ouch), and a former Christian persecutor and murderer reached the entire Asia and Mediterranean Region of some eleven million people within a few short years. Under extreme persecution, Roman Army occupied territories and murderous Judaizers (fanatical Jews which persecuted the early Church and Gentile believers from city to city and region to region).

If they can get it done without freedom and guaranteed protections under a Constitution and Bill of Rights, how pleased do you think The Great Sheppard is with the 21st Cemetery Western Crutch? Whoops! I’m sorry, I meant the 21st Century Western Church.

Will the Western Church arise because of a new and sympathetic President, who has promised to defend Christians and Isreal, or simply stay asleep in the light? Jesus Christ not only warned us about the leaven of the Pharisee, but the leaven of Herod also.

What will the Western Church do during the great and New Roaring 20s, and economic boom, and financial growth? Remodel their sanctuaries? expedite their building plans? Stimulate the Gospel, and expedite the Kingdom of God?

2020 is not a time for the Church to relax, but to take hold of the Kingdom of God, and trudge forcefully and prayerfully through apathy and indifference, until we out preform several scrappy fishermen, a tax collector, homeopathic nin, named Luke, a doubter named Thomas (ouch), and a former Christian persecutor and murderer, named Paul.

Maybe Christianity needs a populist movement of scrappy, non seminarian educated believers, to break the control of the religionists elites who seem more concerned about church attendance than with the Kingdom of God’s advancement.

…Maybe Francis Chan is onto something in San Francisco…

…After all, the Kingdom of God is not a democracy and the true Church is not a corporation.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:7

While the Church waits for the Rapture, the World is missing the Kingdom of Heaven, here and now.

Oh Lord, bring us back to the simplicity and beauty of your Gospel and turn us once again into men and women of great faith and courage like your First Century Apostles. Amen

Over this past week, and even at this very moment, I’ve been enduring terrible pain and suffering. Matter of fact, I’m writing this post while lying sick in my bed.

During the past several days, I made peace with God and got my inner house in order, as I thought I might die during the night. It felt like my face and head were going to explode. I felt helpless.

I can’t imagine how people live with chronic pain. It’s only been a week for me. I called two local dentist’s offices, but they were closed on Fridays. Finally, this past Friday, I was able to see a doctor at our local clinic and get an antibiotic and pain pills. I’m finally on the mend. Praise God!

But what about emotional pain and the suffering of a broken or betrayed heart?

Several years ago, I had asked an intergenerational group of men and boys this question:

What would you rather have, a broken leg or a broken heart?

Everyone in the room shouted, a fractured leg!

What was particularly sad was that all the teenagers had already experienced a broken heart and knew too well the enduring and lasting pain of what it feels like to have a heartbroken.

I think some physical pain can be managed, even chronic pain. But the pain and suffering of a broken heart and wounded soul seem to permeate our thoughts and actions and distort our ability to trust, forgive and truly live and love.

The old wives’ tale that “time heals all wounds” is not necessarily accurate. Time creates distance from our days of infamy, loss, betrayal, or emotional pain. Talking is helpful, but it too simply helps us manage heartache and emotional distress.

In the book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, verse one, we find a particular passage of healing and restoration:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Even more peculiar is that hundreds of years later, Jesus of Nazareth went into the Synagogue, opened the scroll, and read this very passage. After reading this passage, and with every eye on him, he said:

“Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

What I want my fellow sufferers to understand is that today, for you and I, this Scripture is fulfilled in our hearing!

You see, while Jesus of Nazareth came to seek and to save sinners, he also came to heal and bind up our broken hearts. Some of us have been battling hurt and pain for so long that it’s become a lifestyle. For others, it’s become a form of captivity, and yet others, a life sentence of imprisonment, loneliness, and loveless life.

I was able to begin my recovery from a terrible dental infection that spread across my lower jaw and teeth simply by visiting a doctor and sharing my symptoms and pain with him. His experience and training as a doctor made an accurate diagnosis and a concise prescription to aid me in full recovery.

What I want you to know is that Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ The Lord, has announced over 2000 years ago that He has come for your impoverished soul, your broken heart, your miserable captivity, and your wretched imprisonment. This Jesus, Saviour of the World, accepts doctors visits, and his plan of redemption and restoration has open enrollment, 365 days of the year! His office is never closed, and all are welcomed, rich or poor, broken and needy.

You just simply and honestly need to share your symptoms and pain with Jesus. You see, Jesus is even Lord of Lords over all doctors and has greater clarity and insight than the world’s best diagnosticians. He is the perfect remedy for your condition.

You see, Jesus completely understands our hurts and pain because he, himself, is well acquainted and experienced with it.

Also, in the same book of Isaiah, chapter nine, verse six, we read:

“Unto us, a Son is given, And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

My prayer for you is that you make an appointment with Jesus Christ, share with him all that you’re suffering; seek his counsel, his Father-heart and allow him, as the Prince of Peace, to save your soul, heal your broken heart, rescue you from captivity and kick down your prison doors! After all, He is The Mighty God and everything, even doctors and governments, are upon his shoulders.

If you seek out Jesus, you too will begin your recovery and live as you’ve never lived before. If he can save souls, he can heal your brokenness and restore your life.

“Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Merry Christmas, and a brand new Happy New Year!

Do Not Worship the Anointing or Fall in Love with Your ministry…

Do you remember the days when you desired to know God and abide in him? Well, this must exceed your desire to serve him and abide in your giftedness. Too many well-meaning men and women of God have been taken out by this mistake.

In simpler words, do not worship the anointing or fall in love with your calling.

God wants a man or a woman to chase after Him, rather than chasing after ministry.

Some might be tempted to say:

“You can take my calling and…,”

…well, you get the meaning. This too is self-worship and idolatry. They find out that this god-business is too much for them, and the energy of propping up a false pretense each week is exhausting. Duplicity, after all, is only fun until the real man becomes overpowered by the false man, and when you have lost your courage to be real.

The danger escalates when the ministry becomes your mistress and you believe all that flattery stuff.

If you have to, take a vacation and pursue your First Love, until you’ve become captivated with the Lover of your soul. Otherwise, what you call “light,” will become darkness; for then, how great will your darkness be! Matt. 6:23

To be known by God, and for you to intimately know his ways and his heart for you, is your antidote against self-delusion and ministry worship. In other words, check yourself before you wreck yourself and your family. Stay humble by being transparent and honest with a few good men.

Better to be known by your true humility then to be praised by thousands for your many talents and earthshaking ministry.

Abase yourselves, even in front of your congregation, so that God’s people may know the way to true greatness, that is, through your true humility. I have seen it happen, and it is beautiful!

It may be that you suffer from a lack of humanness. You know, your super-saint persona, how others perceive you in public may not match how you act in private. Maintaining a glittering image is costly, because it robs you of brokenness and being approachable. This is one of the reasons why so many pastors and ministers suffer from loneliness.

Only you and God know how well you can fake it, well, maybe your wife too. But, all the while you can still bring God’s house down in applause, even with unconfessed sin in your heart, the anointing still flows. (And that’s pretty scary stuff.) But, if you’re not going to be true, but just sit there with your mouth opened and your heart hardened; then it will be your own house, which will be brought down, and how terrible its fall will be!

Those that worship worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8

Don’t forfeit God’s grace because of pride, trust in Him — in do time, He will lift you up. He is near the brokenhearted and will surely hear your cry for help.

“The LORD is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Repent now, and not later. Fall into grace or fall into hell. Decide now, while you still have a choice. I guarantee people will follow you to either place — after all, you are the Pastor!

Break your love affair with ministry and become true to the Lover of your soul again.

Your greatest identity is not “Pastor,” but God’s beloved son. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.” Maybe you’ve forgotten that. Maybe, at some point, and in some way, you stepped into the role as messiah and went straight into giving your life as a ransom for many.

The acclaim and burden is too much for you — it’s time to stop this and save your heart and soul. It belongs to God.

End the affair now. Better you decide before God does.

While your suffering is sacred before God, He is greater than what you suffer.

God’s faithfulness is Greater than our faithlessness.

‘“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided —“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!'” Thomas Chisholm – 1925

For the believer (one who responds in faith and obedience to God’s purpose and will), there is no circumstance, trial, hardship, sickness, disease or even death, whereby it touches us or even comes near us that is not so ordered by God, and which has been planned before our very existence.

In other words, God is never surprised; never taken off guard, thwarted, undermined nor defeated in any event, good or bad in or about our lives. He cannot be manipulated, coerced, threatened or successfully conspired against, by any force, any power, whether invisible or seen; in earth or space, in past or present, whether by gods, demons, angels or men. Simply, God has no “plan B” and absolutely no competitor, period, end of story!

Otherwise my dear brothers and sisters, He would not be God and certainly not worthy of our praise or our worship, our trust and our salvation!

So if you think you know God then kill god, for the god you think you know, is not the God who Is, but a god of your finite imagination. For the God who Is, is far greater and infinite than anything, or anyone, or that any power can imagine, create or conjure.

Whether your faith is tiny or great, new or old, it can never define our God, but only give you the slightest glimpses into a fraction of His infinite greatness and unknowable person and unending character.

Now compare our Great God, with your worst day, most deadly disease, and most grievous loss. They are all trivial to God. God loves a stacked deck against himself and you. Why? Because our God loves to come through! He is The Overcomer from ancient of days and until the death of this planet and beyond.

Our belief and faith in the One True God changes absolutely everything. If it does not bring change in your life, mind and heart, then you’ve not seen Him nor encountered the True Living, Eternal God. He’s only a prayer away and the those of the smallest inkling of the smallest faith shall find Him.

Just because you can lift your hand towards the sun and block out its incomparable brightness with your little thumb, changes not the sun, nor its power and existence, it’s only your perception which changes. Our sicknesses, diseases, problems, marriages, betrayals and all manner of challenges, trials and losses, they’re all like your little thumb, which may block out God’s incomparable greatness, but can only change your perception and not the reality of God.

Nothing changes God. Let me repeat that; “NOTHING CHANGES GOD!” He is changeless, unstoppable and immoveable and, “…is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

So, move your little thumb away from your eye, and all your problems too, and allow them to be consumed in the bigness and greatness of our God who allowed all your problems in the first place. He’s just training you to trust him and causing all these things to produce a harvest of righteousness in and through your life.

You see, your suffering is sacred before God, just as Jesus’ suffering was sacred before His Father. Because of the humility and suffering of Jesus, we have access to God and have a sympathetic and understanding Saviour.

If you want a relationship with God, well, no person can come to the Father, except through the Son, that is Jesus Christ The Lamb of God.

Just believe in Him and you’ll have the Father also, and He’s no deadbeat Dad, He is God Almighty and The Great God of Heaven and Earth. His greatness is your greatest strength!

Narcissus: “a youth who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool and wasted away from unsatisfied desire, whereupon he was transformed into the flower.” Greek Mythology

Several months ago I watched a movie “The Giver ” with my wife, Toni. While this movie was about a futuristic society, it is very relevant and a wake up call for all of us today. We are quickly becoming the society depicted in this film as emotionless, colorless and vaccinated against thinking and reason. Yes, the film depicts families performing daily and routine vaccinations before leaving their “family units” for predetermined vocations in behalf of the Collective.

I recommend watching the movie trailer before reading on…

We have allowed ourselves to become programmed by the programmers. Whenever we accept “truth” from others without research and discovery we enter into another level of being programmed.

Not only are we losing our critical and analytically thought processes, but we are losing our language, and therefore our ability to communicate clearly and creatively.

In a similar way, we are losing our spirituality. Rather than connecting directly to God, through Jesus Christ (The Word) and the Holy Spirit (Teacher, Comforter & Convicter). We limit our connections to the Godhead by extensions of corporate worship of 15 to 20 minutes per week. We’ve abdicated our inherent right as sons and daughters of God to personally hear His Voice, not as “new revelation,” but rather a deeper intimacy. We value pastors as how well they can hold our brief attention, rather than learning to feed ourselves on the Word and voice of God.

There is no process to practice ministry, as ministry has become nothing more than spectating and being ministered too. There is little to no outlet for functional ministry being practiced by the ministered!

This reminds of the days long ago when the government removed wood shop, metal shop, mechanic shop as well as home economics from public schools. Children being left with no physical application, or the opportunity to learn a trade. Many Churches have done the same thing. They’ve removed all of the application and ministerial outlets for members to exercise their gifts as they learn truth, therefore become perpetual students and not masters of ministry, and service to others.

Many teachers, not all, have become programmers also. They dispense pre-selected and government approved curriculum to the masses. Classrooms are no longer a place of free thinking; of free ideas and ideals. God is not welcomed there also. Excellence is shunned and replaced with fairness, and high standards lowered to mediocrity, so no one fails.

Common grammar school literature of the 16th Century could not be read, nor comprehended by the average high school student of today!

Progressively, technology and the internet is replacing fundamental human contact and interaction. Technological corporations are sanitizing the meaning of life, and are reprogramming the masses to “living” for pleasure and consumerism. Our lives and interests are becoming nothing more than algorithms, measured by an impersonal machines, reported to corporate mongrels who fight for a greater market share of our existence!

Our divine purpose and uniqueness has been replaced by political usefulness; mere polling data for those in power to gain greater control over our individualism, until it too vanishes.

Utopianism is impossible in a fallen world. As soon as it is politically achieved, it immediately turns into despotism. But the tyrannical of every generation wants it’s opportunity to do it better; with utter disbelief in past failures, and abandoned hindsight they press forward with backward thinking and demonic ideology. Their deranged ideology creates a deranged society and a warped and selfish culture.

And so, are there any humans out there? Do you feel anymore? Do you love people, or only the device, which you use to connect yourself to them?

Is your skin stained with enough ink yet? Do you have anymore natural skin left? Are your pierced enough? Are you satisfied with all your selfies plastered throughout social media? Are your relationships about what you can get, until you can’t get anymore?

It would appear the more technologically we’ve become as a society, the more primitive we,’ve become as a culture. It seems that technology, as wonderful and useful as it is, is diminishing our humanity towards one another and to nature.

The amounts of tattoos, piercings, abortions and Botox is not an indicator of a progressive technological society, but a society that is regressing into tribalism and primitivism.

Are people, you know, humans, are they disposable? The unborn, infants and the elderly? How about relationships? Are you a dumper, or are you a dumpee?

I think we truly have become the society of tomorrow, today, and its not colorful at all, but drab and grey.

People are challenged to dump ice-cold buckets of water on themselves and others, or to ingest Tide pods, or dance outside their moving vehicles, are appearing more and more unintelligent. I challenge you to think and act for yourselves, so that you may act wisely and think kindly towards others.

Our humanity is at risk, and if it is lost, our humaneness towards one another will end. Our loss of humaneness always starts with a loss of saneness.

Narcissus: “a youth who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool and wasted away from unsatisfied desire, whereupon he was transformed into the flower.” Greek Mythology

Our culture is fast becoming a collection of “flowers.”

“She looks at herself instead of looking at you, and so doesn’t know you.” – Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black) by Marie-Henri Beyle

As a society, we cannot peer into the mirror for too long before we’ve become wasted and unsatisfied. When we spend too much time looking at our own images, we don’t look at others, and instead foster shallow relationships. The over adornment of tattoos, body piercings, self-obsession, and body emphasis is proof that our culture is transforming into nothing more than flowers.

And this is how the historians will say the West was lost.

The more we look at, and emphasize ourselves instead of each other, the less we know one another.

We can only rediscover our original humanity in the Creator and the Christ, For God created us in his image, which time and time we’ve lost, but Jesus Christ restored that image for us.

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT)

If we can do this; if we can become less distracted with ourselves, we can become more attracted to God and to one another. If we feed ourselves more on what God is saying than on what others are texting or tweeting, maybe, just maybe we can win the West once again.

Evil has now openly taken up residence in the Democratic Party. Interesting, as they openly promote infanticide they are openly removing all evidence of God from their Party and platform. Also, this is to placate the Left’s new ally, Islamic Extremists and Jihad against Christians, Jews and freedom loving Patriots.

“The Enemy of my enemy is my friend,” has become the beckoning cry of the Democratic Left in their alliances with Islamic Extremists in order to destroy conservativism, capitalism and religious liberty.

The Third Reich of Nazi Germany allied with Islamic Extremists as they both shared hatred for Jews. Only 70 years later, the Evil Axis are at it again!

They believe that their inevitable barbarism justifies their means to the end result of Socialism and ultimately Communism. They are also using the Corporate Left’s market control over all Americans to usher in dictatorial rule over our ability to communicate freely and openly. Including our ability to buy and sell.

If you do not take a stand today, and especially during the 2020 Elections, you’ll fall for anything, including slavery and barbarism.

If you don’t believe me, just listen to the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, and their party leaders, such as Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.

If you call yourself Christian, Jew, or Patriot and you do not leave the Democratic Party of Godless barbarism then you’ve rejected The God of Heaven and your Faith also.

“No one can serve two masters,” said Jesus of Nazareth, “…either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!” Matthew 6:24

“Check yourself before you wreck yourself.”

Have the courage to walkway from the Party of death and destruction. Just walkway from the Democrats.

Below is an interesting photograph during the 1940s of the Palestinian leader, Haj Amin al-Husseini having a conversation with Adolf Hitler.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Heb. 13:2

One day, not long ago, I was walking from my truck towards a department store. As I crossed the parking lot to the sidewalk, I saw a young man, sitting against the building with his dog.

Something inside me whispered:

“Sit with him.”

Suddenly, as I sat there, people approaching the store stared at me. I immediately felt judged. I saw the snarls of disgust and could hear their whispered murmurs and felt their critical glances…

…I felt despised and rejected.

I sat there on the cold concrete with this houseless man in front of “Big Lots,” in Sonora, California. Suddenly, I heard, what seemed like the voice of God tell me his age.

I said:

So, Aaron, you’re 27.

He smiled and said:

Why, yes, I am!

…And so, the opportunity for a deeper conversation began.

I didn’t see Aaron, I saw Jesus. And I want all my brothers and sisters to know this…

…Jesus is everywhere!

He’s the Aarons and the Julies on the sidewalks, under bridges, at intersections and outside of McDonald’s and Taco Bell. He’s in the Safeway’s, Walmart’s and city streets. He’s in every line you stand in and every restaurant you visit.

I used to think Jesus was only in our Churches, but I’ve been so wrong. When Jesus walked the earth, some 2000 years ago, he was houseless too!

He’s out there and waiting for a cold cup of water or a warm coat; a meal or a place to lay his head. He’s longing for a conversation; just a little of your precious time.

I met Jesus today, and today his name is Aaron.

Ironically, the name Aaron means: Lofty; exalted; high mountain. My brief encounter with Aaron led me to believe that Aaron didn’t feel lofty, exalted and in the safety of a high mountain.

Aaron needed me; he needed you too.

Please pray for courage and compassion, but not for the Aarons, but for ourselves – for each of us, my dear brothers and sisters, have the Good News. The Bread of Heaven and the Water of Life. Go and spread it out and pour it richly on the lost. They’re everywhere!

I am sorry Lord for being so blind and so stubborn. Heal my blindness and my hardness.

I may not have silver or gold, but what I do have; what we all have, all of us who call themselves by the name of Christ Jesus is far better and more precious.

I dare say that not a day goes by that I’ve not met Jesus or bumped into him in some way and in some place. My only regret is that my busyness or my smartphone has kept me from seeing Jesus in front of me.

Thank you, my Heavenly Father, for revealing your Son to me today. He is beautiful, and today, his name is Aaron!

“Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions.”

The prime roll of a fathers is to create within their sons the ability to father. If we are to become a good and healthy culture, we would create a society of self governing men and responsible sons to become faithful fathers. But alas, most fathers are either detached emotionally from their sons or leave them all together. We are living in a time of prodigal fathers and detached sons, whereby the sons and fathers are both lost.

While growing up, I lived through this as a detached and lost son, and tragically, later in my life, as a prodigal father to my own children. I was lost and detached from my father, and when I became a father, I lacked the ability to become bonded or attached to my sons and daughter. I abandoned my children for the sake of fame and fortune, just as my father had done. I put my career above the needs of my children at a time in their lives when they needed me the most.

Just before my father died, God put it into my heart to wrestle for the blessing. Just four days before my father passed, we turned our hearts towards each other. His, “I love you too, son,” responses to my, I love you, dad, brought me back to life as a man and fulfilled my quest in becoming my father’s beloved son.

More importantly, the night of October 7, 1998, my father, in turning his heart towards me, made it possible for me to believe that I am also God’s beloved son. And frankly, this began a chain reaction, whereby in a few short years I became the man I was destined to become and finally the father my children had longed for. It also profoundly changed me into the husband my wife, Toni had prayed for.

This amazing encounter with my dad changed the trajectory of my life, and would eventually change the lives and trajectory of my children. A prodigal father turned his heart towards his son and a lost son was found. God’s amazing grace healed, not only a lost prodigal father, but also a lost and broken son.

There is hope for lost fathers and lost sons.

See the movie “Warrior” With Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison. The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home. At one point in the film, the father tormented by guilt and an inability to reach his sons, cries out:

“We’re so lost …so lost!”

What they need is redemption and forgiveness. This is just what most of us need also. Watch the movie to find whether they had succeeded.

In the latest of the Robin Hood movies, starring Russel Crowe; Robin, being the lost son of a forgotten father, rediscovers his past in the very town he was born. He recalls his painful memory of his father’s stand against tyranny. While he and his band of men were visiting his hometown, Robin removes a stone at the monument located at the town square, where he finds both the imprint of his little hand next to his father’s. He places his now fully grown hand into his father’s imprint, which is a perfect match.

He also finds the same inscription on the underside of the stone he removed, which bears the same inscription that is on the handle of a sword he’d earlier recovered. It says “Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions.” And it means, never give up until the impossible happens.

Boys and men, never give up until the impossible happens! Seek out your lost fathers; fathers seek out your lost sons! seek them with everything you’ve got! Forgive them, love them and change both your lives and destinies.

Keep rising until the impossible happens.

I have been reading a lot of posts from friends or acquaintances sharing stories of physical pain through sickness or tragic circumstances, and their experiences and stories hits you right in the heart.

Fear is rampant because of an unseen enemy, a virus let loose throughout the world. But, if you belong to God, He’s got this too.

For us who believe in God, pain and suffering are designed to create something in us and through us. It’s meant to transform us and prepare us for what is and what will be.

“The Glory of God is man fully alive,” penned Saint Iraneous – AD 130 to AD 202

In God’s economy, being fully alive means to completely die to sin, flesh and the Devil. Which, is to say that we need to be completely unavailable to the Devil, to sin and to the desires of the flesh. And man, it really hurts to become what we should be, and to become image bearers of God’s Son, Jesus.

We’ve all suffered loss to some extent, and loss through pain and suffering will visit us from time to time. It’s an inevitability and a certainty because we all live in a fallen world.

But, these transitional pressures, whether they be spiritual or physical can even cause weight loss and a reduction to our physical abilities. Not a weight loss program that I’d volunteer for mind you, but this stuff just shows us that at times even our physical bodies change due to pressures of life and out of control circumstances.

God has a glory in mind for each one of us, not just in heaven, but here, and now, and even in the midst of the storm you’re in. The tension between walking in His reflective and intended glory and our sin hiding it or fighting it, brings about seasons of breakdowns. The breakdowns, that is, our crushings, brings the breakthroughs that God has long ago prepared for us.

There is a beautiful placard hanging in the reception area of my office, and it reads:

“The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not Protect you”

This means that while God’s glory for your life comes at a price, no matter the cost, God’s grace will aid you and protect you through that cost.

Glory has a price, and the cost is always our will and our flesh. For the Apostle Paul, it meant that he died daily and that he born a thorn in his flesh, not reminding him that’s he’s human, but because he had received amazing and otherworldly revelations. The thorn helped him manage the glory, which God sovereignly bestowed upon him.

And this brings me to you. To the glory that God has planned for you long ago…

Your losses, whether they be your health or even the health of loved ones, or your comforts and the comforts of others is not happenstance, but God’s eternal plan working in you and in others for your good and for God’s glory.

“No man can see God and live,” says Scripture. There is therefore, a cost in being the image bearer of his Son. Jesus said: “The World hates me, and if you follow me, the World will also hate you.”

The “hate of the World,” is not just physical, but psychological and spiritual. The World hates the Messiah and especially his offspring. The World absolutely hates the Glory of God and the Glory of his Dear Son, Jesus Christ, who is The Glory and Righteousness of God.

Therefore the world hates anything in the likeness of Christ and that which reflects his glory.

Revelation 12:17

“And the dragon was in raged with the woman, and went to make war with her offspring, those that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Because of God’s plan for your life and the Glory of your life in Christ Jesus, you’ve become an enemy of the World; of the flesh and especially Devil.

The women of “The View” took a shot at Vice President, Pence’s Christian faith a year or so ago, mocking the former governor of Indiana for talking to Jesus and even calling it a “mental illness.” You see, even in Joy Behar’s uninformed remarks can there be an opportunity to reveal Jesus Christ to the Nations, and that Jesus Christ does speak to all those who belong to him. “My sheep hear my voice.” said Jesus. Even in our suffering can we hear the voice of our Savior and even through harsh remarks from the ladies of The View can bring about God’s glory in his Son, and in you too!

Glory in your tribulations; in your pain and in your sufferings, because of these things, you are being made beautiful and in this beauty lies your glory. So, let the glory of your life shine brightly and hold onto the Word of life; hold onto it with everything that you’ve got!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Be like Job…

“…But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10

Glory to glory causes you to glorify God and it is totally worth all you’re going through. All of that Job suffered, was not for nothing, but brought about a glory bestowed and an honor for which we can read about thousands of years later.

…Yes, God restored Job; he restored him to an even greater state than Job could ever have imagined.

Because of Christ, you will, and have already surpassed Job. So remember….

…God’s got this!