I Was Naked and You Clothed Me

 A Devotional for My Mother on her birthday

“I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”
Matthew 25:36

Mom, this verse from Jesus has always reminded me of you. You have lived a life of quiet, faithful compassion, clothing the naked in more ways than one. But beneath that beautiful outward picture is an even deeper spiritual truth. God Himself is the One who first clothed us, and He still clothes us today.

From the very beginning of Scripture, clothing tells the story of grace, transformation, and hope. It is the story of how God takes us from rags to riches, from shame to righteousness, from brokenness to glory, through the daily work of the Holy Spirit.

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From Shame to Covering: God Clothes the First Broken Hearts

When Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they felt was nakedness. This was not merely physical exposure but spiritual shame. They tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, fragile and insufficient. But God, in mercy, did something deeper.

“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)

This was the first picture of atonement. It was the first death and the first shedding of blood to cover sin. From the beginning, God showed us we cannot cover our own shame. Only He can.

Job later understood this when he said:

“I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.” (Job 29:14)

Clothing in God’s Word is never only fabric. It is identity, standing, and protection.

And just as Jesus taught us not to worry about what we will wear in Matthew 6:25–28, Scripture reminds us that God provides for both our physical needs and our spiritual covering.

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The God Who Wears Righteousness on Our Behalf

A breathtaking truth unfolds in the prophets. God Himself is clothed for our salvation.

“He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head.” (Isaiah 59:17)
“He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10)

The Lord did not merely give righteousness. He wore it into battle for us.

In Isaiah 63, we see a mysterious figure whose garments are stained red because He has come with power to save. Revelation later identifies Him clearly.

“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood.” (Revelation 19:13)

Jesus wore our sin so that we could wear His righteousness.

That is the great exchange. He took our rags so we could wear His riches.

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You Cannot Wear Both: Putting Off the Old and Putting On the New

Jesus warned that you cannot sew new cloth onto old garments in Luke 5:36. The old will tear and the new will be wasted. The old life cannot be patched. It must be replaced.

When Christ rose and poured out the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, God began the great work of re-clothing the human heart. The gospel goes forth, and wherever it is received, people are dressed in something new.

Paul describes this daily transformation with clarity:

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)

To follow Jesus is to change clothes every day.

We remove:

• Darkness
• Lies
• Lust
• Pride
• Idolatry

We put on:

• Christ
• Truth
• Righteousness
• Love
• Humility

This is not a one-time moment. It is the daily rhythm of repentance and renewal.

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Washing Our Clothes: The Daily Work of the Holy Spirit

Even after receiving new garments, we still walk through a dusty world. That is why confession and repentance are like washing our clothes.

Paul reminds us that:

• We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22)
• We long to be fully clothed with immortality (2 Corinthians 5:2–4)
• Even now, through baptism, we have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27)

Yet every day, we practice putting off the old self and putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24).

The Holy Spirit patiently cleans us, thread by thread and stain by stain, until what God declared righteous becomes what we increasingly live out.

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What We Wear Now: Faith, Hope, and Love

Scripture repeatedly returns to the idea that the greatest evidence of our new clothing is not external appearance but character.

“Put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)

True riches are not wardrobes or wealth.

“If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:8)

Outward clothing has no eternal value (James 2:2). But the garments of the soul, faith, hope, and love, will last forever.

And one day:

“We shall be like Him.” (1 John 3:2)

Which means one final change of clothing is still ahead.

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From Rags to Eternal Glory

Mom, when I think about “I was naked and you clothed me,” I see more than acts of kindness. I see the fingerprint of Christ Himself living through you. Every time you clothed someone in love, encouragement, prayer, or care, you were reflecting the God who first clothed you.

You taught me not with sermons but with life that:

• God covers shame with grace
• God replaces fear with righteousness
• God trades our broken rags for royal robes
• God changes us one day at a time

Someday, when this earthly life is done, we will lay aside these fading garments and be clothed with immortality. Then death itself will be swallowed up in victory.

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A Prayer of Gratitude

Lord Jesus,
Thank You for clothing us when we were naked and for covering us when we were ashamed. Thank You for giving us righteousness we could never earn. Thank You for the steady daily work of Your Spirit, washing us, renewing us, and transforming us from the inside out. Thank You for godly mothers who reflect Your heart with gentle hands and faithful lives. Amen.

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Long obedience in the same direction

Today the United States turns 250 years old. Our semiquincentennial is about more than declarations and fireworks. From the beginning, America has been shaped by people arriving from many nations, bringing with them German, Dutch, French, Swedish, Native American languages, and many others. For generations, the first question facing newcomers was simple: could they be understood? Churches and communities that welcomed people in their heart language helped strangers become neighbors. Those that did not often left them isolated. Language has always been one of the foundations of belonging.

That same pattern runs throughout Scripture. The Bible tells stories that unfold across centuries and others that turn in only a few months. Israel spent generations drifting during the period of the Judges, yet God also transformed entire nations in remarkably short seasons. Israel journeyed from Egypt to Mount Sinai in about two months. In Esther, the decree that threatened God's people was reversed in roughly the same amount of time. Scripture reminds us that God works through both long faithfulness and sudden change.

Over the past two months, I have experienced one of those unexpected seasons. After reaching out to friends connected with Bible Study Fellowship, conversations that began with a simple introduction eventually led to today's release of the first production-ready version of tri-bible.ai. Looking back, I can see God's timing. A vision that seemed delayed over a year ago found the right opportunity as BSF begins its study of Romans, a book that clearly presents the gospel and provides a strong foundation for translation requirements.

While BSF has not adopted tri-bible.ai, the project already has its first production use case. An Elijah study covering 1 and 2 Kings is now being translated into Spanish using the platform. Along the way, I have watched connections emerge that I could never have planned, where translation requirements developed for Romans naturally supported work in Kings. Moments like these remind me of Paul's words in Ephesians 3:20, that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

As America celebrates 250 years, I keep returning to one simple lesson. Welcome often begins with language. Two and a half centuries ago, it meant helping immigrants hear and participate in the life of their new communities. Today, it also means helping people encounter God's Word in the language that speaks most deeply to their hearts. I am grateful that God allowed these two milestones, America's anniversary and tri-bible.ai's first production release, to arrive in the same season as a reminder that faithful friendships, patient waiting, and clear communication can open doors we never could have imagined.

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Ten Years Later, Same Promise, Bigger Field (Matthew 7:7-8)

From a localization conversation with BSF to tri-bible.ai. The promise never moved. I just kept knocking.

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Ten years ago I sat down with BSF to talk about an architect role. My focus was data management, localization and web app distribution (moving away from print). Getting the Word into more languages, for more people who had never read it in their own. As I talked about localization and the "international" aspect of BSF it become clear this was the wrong direction at that time. In fact, during an interview I was caught in a hail storm and had to leave the early. This was the Lord's providence. 

Expectation vs Budget in God's economy - requires Character that is only developed over time. 

The verb that built it

Jesus did not say ask once and wait. The NLT catches the tense the way He meant it: keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking (Matthew 7:7-8).

• The door opens to people who stay at the door. (John 10:7,9, Psalm 23)
• That is the whole story of the last ten years. Not one big yes. A thousand small knocks.

Three witnesses, one pattern

God hands us a miracle. Then He does something bigger we never thought to ask for. And some of what He starts in us takes generations to finish.

Moses: the miracle you remember is not the biggest one. We remember the sea. But God had more. Moses never set foot in the Promised Land in his lifetime. He saw it from a mountain and died there (Deuteronomy 34:1-4). Then, centuries later, he stood on another mountain, in the land he had been kept out of, next to Jesus Himself (Matthew 17:1-3; Luke 9:30-31). The miracle he is famous for was parting water. The one he never asked for was standing with the Messiah in glory.

Nehemiah: a prayer for courage, then a wall in 52 days. Nehemiah's first miracle was small and quiet. He prayed for the nerve to ask a king one question (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:4-5). God answered. Then came the bigger one. A wall that had been rubble for over a century went back up in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). Less than two months. The courage to ask came first. The wall came after.

Joseph: some dreams take generations. Joseph saved a nation from famine. That is not what Hebrews 11 remembers him for. It remembers his dying words: carry my bones out of Egypt (Hebrews 11:22; Genesis 50:25). He believed a promise he would not live to see. His bones waited about 400 years, until Israel walked out and carried them home (Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32). God gives dreams that outlive us. That is not failure. That is faith.

The invitation

God can do infinitely more than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

• Read the order again. He does the more. But He waits for us to ask.
• He wants us to imagine. Then He says: ask, seek, knock. And keep on.

The bottom line

Ten years ago I thought this was a localization conversation and had the idea of explaining how loaves and fishes worked.

Today I can tell you what it really was. I found treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44). And I am selling everything to buy the field.

Alleluia.

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Saying No to What Holds You Back

 A Summary of Jon Weece's Teaching with Expanding Scriptures

My friend Chris sent me this message and a personal note of connection this week. Can a person of God fall away and sin so deeply, hurting the people they love, even destroy their family and still be counted as a person of God? This is the difficult reality we live in and the difficult reality Jesus lives to intercede for us now. The Holy spirit groans and creation groans and we have a pain in our side that won't fully go away - yet God's grace is sufficient for us. 

A few weeks ago we laid hands on Chris, I recommended  this because his story reminded me of my story. Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)

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The Core Problem: Appetites That Promise but Don't Deliver

We are creatures of appetite, wired for desire, but sin hijacks those desires, promising satisfaction while producing bondage. The things we reach for most often (comfort, distraction, control, pleasure) can quietly become the things that own us.

"For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption." — Galatians 6:7-8

"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart." — Proverbs 21:2

"I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. I will not be mastered by anything." — 1 Corinthians 6:12

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Step 1: Identify the One Behavior Holding You Back (35:15)

Honest self-examination is where transformation begins. Many people stay stuck not because they lack willpower but because they've never named the specific thing standing in the way. Naming it brings it into the light.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me." — Psalm 139:23-24

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." — Hebrews 12:1

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." — James 1:14

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Step 2: Build a "Stop Doing" List and Replace It (35:25)

Willpower alone fails because it only says no. Lasting change requires substitution, filling the space with something better. Scripture doesn't just command us to stop; it calls us to put on what we've put off.

"Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires... and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God." — Ephesians 4:22-24

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." — Romans 12:21

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely... think about these things." — Philippians 4:8

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." — 1 Corinthians 9:27

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Step 3: Anchor Gratitude in the Promises of God (37:47 – 38:50)

Weece points to three pillars that sustain a changed appetite:

Creation. God made you on purpose and for a purpose. You are not an accident to be managed but an image-bearer to be sanctified.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." — Ephesians 2:10

Crucifixion. The cross didn't just forgive the past; it broke the power of the old self. You are no longer a slave to what once owned you.

"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." — Romans 6:6

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." — Galatians 5:1

Consummation. The story ends in glory, not defeat. That future hope reframes every present struggle and makes the temporary pleasures of sin look small by comparison.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." — Romans 8:18

"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." — 2 Corinthians 7:1

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The Bottom Line

Gratitude for what God has done, in creation, at the cross, and in the coming kingdom, is not just an emotion. It is a weapon. When the appetite for God grows, the appetite for lesser things shrinks. The goal is not white-knuckled restraint but a genuinely transformed desire.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." — Psalm 37:4

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." — Psalm 34:8

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Jesus gives new power to walk differently - Mark 2:11

“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Mark 2:11

I had a wonderful time at Vertical Endeavors Prayer Summit this weekend. Yesterday I got to share my testimony with the world via the Vertical Endeavor Men’s Choir  

Setting aside intentional, uninterrupted time with the Lord deepens our relationship with Him and aligns our hearts with His will. God invites us to draw near, promising that when we seek Him, He will meet us and speak to us personally (James 4:8; Jeremiah 29:13). In pure worship without agenda or time pressure, we respond to His worthiness and experience renewal as He creates a clean heart and restores our spirit (Psalm 51:10; John 4:23–24). These moments are not confined to a place or event but can be carried back into daily life and the local church, as God desires ongoing communion with His people (Psalm 27:4). Shared worship with other believers strengthens unity and joy in His presence (Hebrews 10:24–25; Psalm 133:1). Above all, God longs for us to love Him, receive His love, and give Him our time and devotion, for He alone is worthy in these days (Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11).

Grace Church Chapel shared a powerful service centered on worship, testimony, and truth.
The music set the tone. The orchestra opened with “God of Our Fathers,” followed by the Vertical Endeavor Men’s Choir, born from a gathering of 426 men seeking God together in prayer, Scripture, and worship. The congregation joined in classic hymns celebrating God’s greatness and power.

A testimony grounded the moment. Jesse shared how God met men who came with burdens and left with freedom in Christ. The message connected his story to Mark 2, reminding us that Jesus gives new power to walk differently:

This past weekend, I had the privilege of joining over 400 employees men behind me from across our area for a time of worship that was uniquely powerful and transformative.

We gather together with no agenda. Other than to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Our worship alternating between scripture, prayer, and song with no instruments, just our voices as you heard in the video. Right here in the chapel. From there, we scattered throughout the campus and spent about an hour individually in silence.

It gave me the space to ask God. For more information about the convictions, the Holy Spirit had been placing on my heart during our time of corporate worship. It was a time of deep personal reflection. And preparation for our small group breakouts. In Mark 2, we read about a crippled man on a mat. 

Whose friends were so determined to get him to Jesus that they dug through a roof to lower him down. This weekend, we did exactly that for our brothers. We carried our mat for the for our brothers, lifting each man before the Lord. In our small groups, we chose to be vulnerable. 

Laying down our pride to share the heavy burdens we've been carrying. Whether a man needed physical healing encouragement in their faith. Needed to confess in or just ask for strength to keep going. We each lifted him up before the Lord together. I want you to know that God worked powerfully in each room, each small group. 

We saw men find freedom from long-standing struggles. Receive healing for broken Spirits. And exchange their heavy burdens for the peace that only Jesus provides. We didn't just talk about our faith. We experienced victory in Christ. Amen. 

The sermon then widened the lens. Troy addressed Minnesota’s cultural tensions with clarity and compassion. He urged people to think clearly, not react emotionally, and to pray for leaders while remembering our ultimate hope rests in Jesus... this was on my heart coming into the weekend. 

Stephen’s story in Acts 6 offered a sobering reminder. He was full of faith, grace, and power, yet still faced false accusations and fierce opposition. His life teaches three truths: speak with the Spirit’s wisdom, expect resistance to godliness, and keep the bigger picture in view. Stephen’s suffering helped spark Saul’s transformation.

The call was clear. Faithfulness is not measured by easy outcomes. It is measured by courage, grace, and a life that reflects Jesus: God’s call is always present-tense

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How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Enjoyed completing our 3rd Alpha at Portland house. We gave out 6 Jesus Focused Bibles and the Pursuit of God by Tozer as well as Purpose Driven Life by Warren.

My desire for these men: Luke 8:39

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

We've always gotten a few family and friends to join for part of the time. Only KC and Missy were consistent. I got to see KC this year at my second Spiritual Emphasis week at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie.  

Dave received an answer to prayer this week. After 10 years he got in touch with his daughter and opened the door to connect with his son. He asked us to pray for him before Thanksgiving and that he'd be an honorable man and reconcile with his family over the holidays. 

I met a great guy who lives in Rochester. He was talking about bringing his family to church. I was going to mention the place I started BSF satellite group in and he said it first, "Autumn Ridge." 

We prayed for healing for the guys, Dave's hip has been hurting for a long time. So we prayed about that, believing in a physical miracle. Stacy had a lot on his heart for his family, twins and special needs. We prayed for miracles of healing in relationship and for the wisdom of God to fill his heart and mind, replacing worry with peace. Jim prayed for Jacob, Art and the others. Juan Carlos left the program early and we prayed for him and the others who are on their own. 

Mark 5:19-20

But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” / So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

Acts 22:15

You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

Romans 10:14-15

How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? / And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Tale of two cities, no one is neutral with Jesus

Money, the power of God's word and dreams

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My Alpha Story and Teen Challenge (Part 2)

My friend Rob Dean wanted me to share my story about Alpha and Teen Challenge I have two motivations one focused on Alpha and another focused on Teen Challenge this Thanksgiving I wanted to share both. Grateful for our prayer team and to Jesus for seeing him change lives (Acts 1:8). 

My adolescence took a dark turn when I let music and pain shape my choices. After family trauma, I turned to drugs - believing I was in control, when in truth, I was lost. What followed was two chaotic years of addiction, broken relationships, and a downward spiral that led me through multiple treatments, arrests, and eventually, the psych ward - four times.

At my lowest point, I faced a choice: long-term psychiatric care or a long-term treatment center specializing in dual diagnosis. I chose treatment. There, I began to understand my mental and spiritual condition. The program spoke of a “higher power,” but I couldn’t accept an undefined God. One day I told my counselor, “I believe God has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. He died for my sin so I can have a relationship with God. I feel like I need to give my life to Jesus and accept him into my life as Lord and Savior.” He simply said, “If that’s what you believe, you should do it.”

I walked out of that office, surrendered my life to Jesus, and felt the weight of guilt and shame lift. Peace flooded in. I decided to rebuild my life - returned to college, studied accounting, and began walking with God daily.

Decades later, I’m almost 30 years sober and helping others discover that same freedom. At Teen Challenge MN (TC), we introduced Alpha as a way for residents to invite family into their recovery journey - to see firsthand who Jesus is and what He’s done in their lives.

We’re now in our third year of hosting Alpha in the long-term TC. We’ve tried different formats - family dinners, then dessert nights. Our desire is to create space for authentic conversations. Today, a dozen men gather weekly around one table, watching the Alpha Film Series and discussing questions of faith. Every Thursday, we pray for them by name.

Through these conversations, we see lives changing. Fathers and sons being restored, men finding hope and purpose. I share my own story: once estranged, now entrusted as the executor of my parents’ estate - a full-circle redemption only God could write.

The world’s prescription for a thief is jail time. God’s prescription, from Ephesians, is transformation: “Let the thief steal no longer, but work diligently with his hands so he may give to those in need.” That’s the kind of renewal we witness through Alpha—men discovering a God who doesn’t just forgive but gives new purpose.

Every session reminds me: when we follow God’s revealed will, He reveals His personal plan. Morning by morning, we see new mercies. Through Alpha, we’re creating a space of receptivity where Jesus heals, restores, and calls men into His Kingdom - for their good and His glory.

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My Alpha story and Teen Challenge

My friend Rob Dean wanted me to share my story about Alpha and Teen Challenge I have two motivations one focused on Alpha and another focused on Teen Challenge this Thanksgiving I wanted to share both. 

My story with Alpha began with a deep desire to share the gospel with people who didn’t understand the Bible or church history, people who thought they had already made up their minds about faith. Early in life, I joined many evangelistic outreaches: handing out materials on city streets, serving workers, and sharing short gospel messages. Yet, I began to sense a gap between quick introductions to Jesus and meaningful exploration. At my church, we had a “Next Steps” program for those ready to serve, but nothing for people just beginning to question. So, I helped create a “First Steps” series inspired by Ravi Zacharias’ framework: Origins, Morality, Meaning, and Destiny. My desire was to spark honest conversations about God. While that series struggled at church, it flourished in my workplace, where non-believers engaged deeply and authentically.

A turning point came when a Teen Challenge representative mentioned they were piloting Alpha. I’d seen Alpha posters before but never experienced it. Within days, I joined their volunteer team, went through fast-tracked training, and began leading small groups. My first session felt chaotic. We were in a cramped room, cafeteria food, skeptical faces. Yet, beneath the sarcasm, I found pain and real questions: Where was God when my dad died? Why did He let this happen? Through weeks of Alpha, conversation by conversation, we saw walls break down. During the Holy Spirit weekend, I prayed with a man named Brandon as he asked Jesus into his life. Months later, he was transformed. That moment changed me too. I’d gone years seeing maybe one person commit to Christ; now I was witnessing several each month experience true spiritual renewal.

Since then, Alpha has become a rhythm of grace in my life. At Teen Challenge, we’ve refined the cadence. Two episodes a night, meals that foster community (even Papa John’s pizza for “Holy Spirit weekend”), and an open-door structure so anyone can join at any time. Graduates now return as mentors, walking with the next generation through their own questions and breakthroughs. What began as one small group in a crowded room has grown into a movement across campuses, workplaces, and even internationally, I helped bring Alpha Youth to an orphanage in Myanmar with 60 children.

Today, I’m honored to serve on the Alpha Twin Cities prayer team, praying weekly for its reach. Through Alpha, I’ve seen skeptics turn seekers, addicts find purpose, and believers rediscover the joy of sharing faith. God used Alpha to show me that creating space for honest questions can change everything. Lives are being renewed, hope restored, and the gospel shared—one conversation at a time.

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Locking our eyes on Jesus as he feeds us (Psalm 34)

 My weekly prayer partner Gloria sends a text every morning that awakens my soul. 

Good morning!!

   You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.

2 Samuel 22:29 NIV

  God, in His infinite wisdom, didn't just provide physical  light from the sun. He gave us the life-giving eternal Light of the World, His Son, Jesus. We are, reminded daily that Jesus is our true lamp. He turns our darkness into light.  Jesus loves you and so do I.

Every morning at work we have "SALT Praise and Encouragement" at Ameriprise. 

My friend Karo had this to say: 

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ~Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)

and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 18:3 (NKJV)

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 19:14 (NLT)

Praise / Encouragement:

Yesterday, Sylvia spoke about joy and being intentional about choosing joy. Today, I wanted to carry that a little further, but from a different angle, and maybe put a little different spin on the verses above. Earlier this week, a friend asked, “God is so much greater than us and all that we have is from Him, so how do we bless God?” That question made me think of something the Lord had been impressing upon me lately while spending time with my Grandson…

As many of us have probably experienced, when feeding a baby, the small child gazes into your eyes, and you can’t help but gaze back – and the staring contest ensues (Lol!). But, there is something so intimate and loving in that moment. For me, I never want it to end, and it fills me with such joy. Recently, the Lord lovingly asked me, why don’t you stare into my eyes like that. And I realized, of course He would want me to stare into His eyes (spiritually speaking) in the same way because He is a good, good Father. It not only builds intimacy, but it brings Him joy. It was a gentle reminder that the distractions of life can get in the way of that intimacy.

Likewise, when a small child smiles and/or giggles at you, it fills you with incredible delight. When their eyes light up and they are excited to see you, it makes you feel like you are the most important person in the room. It’s the same thing with our Heavenly Father. He is filled with such delight when we smile at Him, or when we get excited at the good gifts He gives us.

Therefore, I think one of the ways we bless God is when we intentionally look into His eyes to see things from His point of view, and when we are thankfully excited at all that He is doing for us and around us. So, our challenge today is to not just choose joy, but to choose joy like a small child playing and spending time with our wonderful Heavenly Father.

Worship:

https://youtu.be/BA5p7zeWPI0?si=E3sYwdg90FG2JiOW

Gonna Be A Lovely Day ~version by Kirk Franklin

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for today. Just one look at You, and we are filled with joy, and we know everything is going to be all right. You are so so good to us! Show us how to bless You through our thanksgiving and joy. Remind us to look into Your eyes, see things through Your perspective and smile coz it’s gonna be a lovely day. In the mighty name of King Jesus we pray this. Amen. 

Psalm 34

A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

    He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

    he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.

    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,

    for those who fear him will have all they need.

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me,

    and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

12 Does anyone want to live a life

    that is long and prosperous?

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil

    and your lips from telling lies!

14 Turn away from evil and do good.

    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;

    his ears are open to their cries for help.

16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;

    he will erase their memory from the earth.

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

    He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,

    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;

    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,

    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.

    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

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Am I giving my time, treasure, and talent for God's Glory?

For several years I've had on my heart to serve in greater capacity at Bible Study Fellowship. I've been growing my network with leaders in HQ supporting the mission as a lay leader for 19 years. I've been a volunteer developer and tester for their international platform BsfOnline.org where our goal is to Eradicate Spiritual/Bible study Dead Zones. We are doing this by enabling native language BSF groups in 46 languages to-date and creating Online Leaders meetings that correspond with Saturday mornings in Americas, Africa/Europe, Middle East, Asia and Pacific Islands as well as other times outside traditional BSF leaders meetings. 

On January 14, I got to meet with HQ staff and 100 other leaders to talk about Leadership training. Hollie Roberts gathered our ideas for developing a new path for Online Leaders Meetings and I saw the outcome in our week long Leaders Summit June 2-6. I heard Hollie and Tad both share about a 10 fold increase in IT output and applied for volunteer developer role before I left the Summit. Talking with several leaders in the organization I understand the difficult nature of mobilizing 65k lay leaders and supporting them with Training and Technology. I'm a firm believer that information at the right time, inspires confidence and commitment and enables frictionless implementation. There is nothing stopping BSF from being the most accessible Bible study on the planet.  

What draws me to this organization is they encourage a full meal of God's Word every day. Not a Bible verse and some reflections but whole chapters, themes and cross references that provide context. The structure is called a "four-fold approach", 1) study independently and with family daily, 2) come together with others to discuss and grow in application, 3) listen to a lay person expand the text via lecture, then 4) read college level commentary. What makes this work is that  we come together next week and start with what we learned and applied from the previous week. They model dependence on God by not not asking for resources but prayerfully acknowledging where God is leading, supplying People and Resources to accomplish His purposes. 

We have a saying in BSF. It's heart work, not home work. True generosity flows from transformation, not transaction. Scripture calls us to give as stewards, not owners, offering our time, treasure, and talent as acts of worship to the One who owns it all.

Here are 10 questions I expanded on from Christian Leadership Alliance to assess whether my ministry efforts follow God’s Word:

• Example: Are you leading by example as a transformed giver? (Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Chr 29:3; Luke 6:40)
• Ownership: Do you acknowledge that God owns it all? (1 Chr 29:14), That we were bought with a price more precious than money? (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 1:18-19), That we now worship God with our whole lives? (Romans 12:1-4, Galatians 2:20)
• Heart: Are you growing givers’ hearts to be rich toward God? (Luke 12:20-21,Matthew 6:19-21), How much is enough to be confident that the Lord provides? (Matthew 6:25-34, James 5:1-3)
• Perspective: Do you remember this earth is not our home? (Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 11:13–16, Hebrews 11:24–27, Hebrews 12:22–24,28)
• Language: Do your words reflect biblical stewardship, not worldly ownership? (Genesis 1:26-28, 1 Peter 4:7-11, Luke 12:48)
• Worship: Is giving framed as an act of worship to God? (Romans 12:1, Galatians 2:20; Phil 4:17)
• Purpose: Do you teach that giving is a tool, test, and testimony? (Luke 16:1-9)
• Faith: Do you trust the Holy Spirit to stir hearts not pressure or persuasion? (1 Chr 29:9; 2 Cor 9:7)
• Unity: Are you cooperating with other ministries, not competing?
• Trust: Do you truly believe God will supply all your needs? (Phil 4:19)

When we align with God’s ways, giving becomes joyful, abundant, and eternal in impact.

The ultimate goal? To reach the day when we say, “Give no more there’s enough!” Exodus 36:6-7 notes when the people were restrained from bringing anymore, “because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

Together, let’s build what only God can bless

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Selfish dream matures into a dream for others freedom and God's glory

Every summer I take a break from sharing devotional time with the Lord, reflecting on my walk and patterns of life. Summer is the season of growth, longer days, stormy weather and family gatherings. For my mom's 80th B-day, we digitized the memories captured in photographs via Frameo app. Each sibling got to upload their perspective from past events. I got to see my life from baby to 50 and we celebrated with aunt Lois who is 94, thriving and living independently. 

This morning I'm reminded of Joseph, who had a dream "about himself" - the way he talked about them was offensive to his half brothers (Gen 37:8). But after a life of hardship and adventure Joseph tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Gen 50:20). He's dream went from being about himself (Genesis 37:5-7) to being about his people who would live in freedom in the promised land (Hebrews 11:22). "It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left."

For me this brought me to these directional passages:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Col 3:1-2

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Phil 2:3-5

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.

    I will never abandon you.”

So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,

    so I will have no fear.

    What can mere people do to me?”

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

Now may the God of peace—

    who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

    and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

may he equip you with all you need

    for doing his will.

May he produce in you,

    through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

    All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.

I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.

Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.

May God’s grace be with you all. (Hebrews 12-13)

I'm looking forward to having Lane, Chloe and Baby Roman live with us this fall, finishing house repairs and starting a new season in BSF and work. May the Lord increase my vision and let my yes be yes and no be no. 

With my whole heart, Lord let me love You

With my whole heart, none above You

Praise and love You, with my whole heart

With my whole heart, Lord let me hear You

With my whole heart, ever near You

Help me hear You, with my whole heart

With my whole mind, Lord let me love You

With my whole mind, none above You

Praise and love You, with my whole mind

With my whole mind, Lord let me hear You

With my whole mind, ever near You

Help me hear You, with my whole mind

With my whole lift, Lord let me love You

With my whole life, none above You

Praise and love You, with my whole life

With my whole life, Lord let me hear You

With my whole life, ever near You

Help me hear You, with my whole life

God heals our unfaithfulness when we listen and obey him (Book of Hosea)

Lord answers the sky's plea for clouds, the sky answers the earth with rain (Hosea 2:21)

Who are the people of God

John's revelation, received during worship, is explained by Jesus himself

My brother asked me last night if people see Jesus, we talked about the history of art, poetry and testimony. A "cloud of witness" to the faith (Heb 11-13). He just doesn't see it but if Helen Keller could see and hear, than so can he. 

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I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments (Psalm 119:45, Matthew 6:9-13)

Today I changed my blog name from Psalm 119:11 to Psalm 119:45

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

God's grace empowers us to walk as Jesus walked, to love as Jesus loved, to hear, see, and understand as Jesus understood. Grace is given through faith and grace is poured out through love. Grace is described in the Bible (across NLT, ESV, NIV, NASB) 

• Jesus the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)
• For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)
• For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
• And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. (Luke 2:40)

2 Cor 12:9 quotes the resurrected Jesus saying, "My grace is sufficient for you (all you need), for my power is (best) made perfect (perfected) in weakness.”

• perfect humble obedience, meekness (Matthew 5:5) - earth

our response, "So now (therefore) I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ (Christ's power) can work through me (may rest upon me/dwell in me).

• humble boasting is showing our poverty and need for God (Matthew 5:3) - kingdom of heaven

My friend Elshaddai shared these thoughts during our SALT Praise and Encouragement

A Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9, NET)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

The Priestly Benediction (Numbers 6:22-27, NET)

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is the way you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

“The Lord bless you and protect you;

The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”’

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, NET)

So pray this way:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,

may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,

(for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen)

The Liturgical Coda (1 Chronicles 29:11-13, NET)

O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You, Lord, have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!

Amen.

Living Now as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Naomi, and Jesus did in view of the present and future reality (Hebrews 11-12 and Revelation 5:10)

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:17

Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’ Daniel 7:27

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31, 40Days)

Long for, wait expectantly for the Lord for clarity (Hosea 10:12, Isaiah 30:18-22)

Three Days, recurring theme in the Bible for changing your heart

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Fellowship, and good announcement: be made right with God (Matthew 6:1-18)

I enjoyed learning about the euangelion gospel, my friend said Euangelion reminded him of Eulogy, if Eu means good and angelion means announcement, we discovered Eulogy means Good Word (Eu, logas). My insight from the video was thinking of the prophets like we do the gospels, we say the "gospel of Matthew" but never say the "gospel of Isaiah." Then this morning I realized I had this insight last year Isaiah 48:12-51:23 is Jesus life and teaching from Isaiah. 

I got to celebrate the retirement of my friend Paul M and connect with Paul J and Dan (Tom's boss). We all lived downtown at various times. As we were talking I was sharing about the SALT network has many people joining that aren't church goers. How fellowship is what people need, a community of faith, people to praise and people to pray. The Minneapolis community has changed over the years but for better we have many great churches downtown like Substance, River Valley and even the traditional ones seems to be vibrant. I remember going to a church with my dad years ago downtown when I wasn't a church goer. I don't remember much of that experience, just enjoyed being with my dad while I was going through a confusing part of life. This morning I was remembering reading Isaiah from a "Student Bible" my dad had given me, the word of the Lord accomplishes all that it has in store for us. 

Today all the flowers are blooming on Judy's tree, its amazing to see what happens in just a few days in spring. This is a time of growth and new beginnings, praying for my brother, sisters, mom and dad this morning and all our cousins and extended family. I'm looking forward to seeing family on Mother's day and next week in Mason City, Il. Praising God the for the gift of friendship and bright hope for tomorrow. 

God sees us and rewards good deeds received with prayer, forgiveness, and fasting (Matthew 6:1-18)

Forgiveness is more than incredible and beautiful than I had imaged. We generally accept blessing other with bring a blessing from God but receiving forgiveness from God is absolutely life changing. 

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Sometimes we need to be reminded about light and love (James 1:2-3,Heb 12, Revelation 21:9-14)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to lead a BSF group called Every Nation for my friend James. I started the group 1/2 hour early for fellowship and prayed for each guy to come in and share what the Lord is doing, through his Word and Spirit in their lives. I sent an email inviting them to join with a link to the passage (Revelation 21:9-22:5), the BSF App, and link to our meeting. I continued to pray as I waited until at the hour of the meeting we had 2 guys join out of 15. We enjoyed a wonderful fellowship, then at 4 minutes after the hour we opened the meeting with prayer for each guy that was missing, as we prayed for them by name 5 more guys joined!

We alway start our meeting with a review of last week, "Last week we learned about God’s just response to sin in final judgement and new creation, what help did you receive from the notes or lecture?" We had great sharing but even with 7 guys, by the end of day 2 not everyone shared so I opened pair-share breakout rooms on the application question "How does Revelation 21:9-14 offer a helpful perspective for God's people?"

The meeting flew by quickly and we got to last question that we framed up as prayer requests. Prayer on Question #14 What does the promise of God’s eternal reign, constant light, and continual presence with His people mean to you?

• Jon always safe, nothing hidden, unconditional support and love.
• Ngula, eternal reign, no longer questioned, just be with God and keep his word. Importance of sharing His word with more people: strangers, and family. Share and be with them forever.
• Kevin, removes the fear and phobia.
• Jeff, this week called brother Leo about sharing Christ tonight. He feels life is unjust, Christ isn't #1 and he's tired of hearing it. Urgency in light of what's happening. Pray Jeff delivers love of Christ and the seed planted in a receptive heart.
• Yujin, gratitude to the Lord for our BSF brotherhood.

We prayed for James safe return and stayed for end of meeting fellowship where I learned Khup was from Myanmar! 

My first trip to Myanmar was during the summer before BSF had launched Revelation (2016). I brought a bunch of chrome books and created an HTTP application for them to navigate resources via a thumb drive. I uploaded it to the web for fun here: https://myanmar-christian-bible-resource.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/index.html. I had a vision at that time of Myanmar people ministering to people in Africa via online resources. Tonight that vision was realized with your Every Nation group! Praise the Lord for you guys! My friend's Patrick Walker and Jonathan Stone are still involved in Minister other there: https://www.facebook.com/OrphanCareInt 

Before this trip to Myanmar I met John Bevere at Ameriprise SALT meeting where he shared God and Gary, Larry and Harry (Matthew 25:14-30). 

His big point was that people think the kingdom of heaven is like this:

But God's word reveals this:

After this teaching John Bevere had everyone bow and pray. Then asked if we were going to do something different with the resources God has entrusted to "raise your hand." I raised my hand (and later learned that the other 50 people did as well). I added 4 more chromebooks and continued to create resources for them to use them. 

I'm praising God for Huey and his family we had dinner last night with Paul at Hip Sing BBQ and shared how impactful friendship is. On the way I heard from Russ and enjoyed the wonderful reminder that when we seek the Lord, He hears, and He answers! 

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him

When life seems hopeless, shift your focus - raise your level of understanding

Christians have an ongoing struggle against sin that is frustrating

3 proofs of bona fide Christianity

Lord, wash my feet

Jesus wants us to be light so that He can be seen to the lost

Had to share John Bevere - Relentless with Rob, Gloria, and Jim and be reminded: James 1:2-3, "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it pure joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything". 

Thanking God for Heaven today (Heb 12)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and don’t give up when he corrects you.

For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

Read More ->>

Sharing the good news about Jesus is awesome when it's received in friendship.

 Doctrine of Election is God's irrevocable call for everyone (Genesis 25:23)

What does it mean to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)?

Enjoyed our biggest gathering at Portland house last night, 25 people! We over flowed the 3 tables. So grateful for Russ, Tony and Jim helping to make this happen. We gave out "Power of Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. Missy (KC), Debbie (Justin) and Maddy (Vang) join again but we missed Bridget (Matthew). We are on our second session from the Unanswered Prayer Course: Maundy Thursday:“How am I going to get through this?”

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death… Abba Father …everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” – Mark 14:34, 36

As we were getting ready for the session I was talking with my friend Javon and asked him what his favorite verse was, he said that he had a lot but was meditating on Isaiah 61:1-3 and he quoted it to me:

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 and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

I have been studying this same section of scripture (as part of the prayer course and my previous two posts: Spirit of heaviness and other "spiritual ailments"  and Pulling down strongholds with gentleness and respect (2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Peter 3:15)

Javon and I enjoyed a conversation about how people unknowingly accept a "spirit of despair" into their lives and how the Bible gives us the remedy for this spiritual sickness, to wear a garment of praise that is provided in the good news of Jesus as Jesus proclaimed in Luke 4:18-19. Jesus taught us to be filled with the Spirit of God, resist the devil, proclaim good news (even to hostile people), drive out impure spirits and heal many (Luke 4). 

This morning I'm reading Isaiah 61-63 and felt joy in our Father God when I came to Isaiah 63:16-17. 

“It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”...the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. You led your people, Lord, and gained a magnificent reputation.”

...Lord, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past.

Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants,...

Reminds me of the prodigal son coming to his senses. Luke 15:11-32

Thank you Lord for this wonderful week of walking with you, celebrating John's 83 B-day and listening to 40 Days with the Holy Spirit A Journey to Experience His Presence in a Fresh New Way

I'm looking forward to our prayer time tomorrow to celebrate all the Lord is doing!

Encouraging my Friend: https://pay.telmate.com/ui#/account/destination_accounts

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BSF fuels me for a life of ministry

Today my friend David is talking with Bill about being an Online Trainer for BSF. He's been doing a great job of assisting me over the past few years and ready to take the helm. Yesterday in our leaders meeting my friend Terry shared a miracle about his neighbor who needed a lawyer and how God provided an attorney through several promptings, he couldn't stop talking about it. I'm planning on sharing the day I received the blessing of being an OT with David when he it happens for him. I believe we should share the moments we see God at work in our lives. 

Joe and Ben, "where two or three are gathered in my name" Matthew 18:20

On Wednesday I was walking through the skyway and saw a homeless person (Joe) who looked dead, slumped over, eyes open and didn't look like he was breathing. I approached him and he woke up, said he's fine. I left him but came back because I wanted him to know he had other options, that he isn't alone. We had lunch together and he was starving but asked me if I wanted to pray. I did and we talked about Jesus, life, and addiction/mental-illness. I told him I would drive him to Adult & Teen Challenge and they would give him a bed, bring him to doctors appointments and get him new glasses (his was missing a lens). I had him convinced but he started having a schizophrenic argument with himself. He looked at the fortune cookie script and showed it to me, saying I know I should go with you but look at this... it read something like, "don't trust where you are going." 

So he asked if he could have my name and number. It just so happens I put the Teen Challenge admissions contact information in my phone, as I had been looking to give the Portland house address to Tom who shared his testimony of healing from cancer on Tuesday 3/11 prayer course. Joe had awesome penmanship as he wrote down the Teen Challenge number, address, my name (Ben from Alpha sent me). 

We walked outside so he could smoke, he wanted to part ways but hugged me and said don't forget about me. I said go to Teen Challenge and you'll see me again. I prayed to see him on Monday as I'm going to Teen Challenge to invite Alpha graduates to bring family to the Prayer Course on Tuesday's at Portland house. The last topic of Alpha is called "What about the church" and I'll share this testimony of Joe coming to church with me at that restaurant. 

Acts 2:42-46 describes the early church breaking bread as part of their fellowship: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." The early Christians came together regularly for common meals, which included the breaking of bread. Acts 2:44 refers to them having “everything in common,” and this no doubt included sharing meals together, each one receiving from the others what they needed. Verse 46 describes them breaking bread in their homes.-gotquestions

side note on Communion/Lord's supper - when Jesus said as often as you do "this" do "this" in remembrance of me. My friend Jon said "this" is fellowship over a meal. 

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:26-28

I feel like I've been given new eyes to see the church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:12) or more appropriate to say "a heart that understands"

• Jesus the Bread from Heaven, offered to all offensive to most 
• God’s Word nourishes our souls and renews our mind (Revelation 10:9-11)

Tom's Cancer healing

I first learned about Tom during our prayer call Thursday 2/27 and wrote about here.

Tom had a rare cancer that didn't show up in blood tests, so it went to stage four and he had 20 to 30 tumors in his liver. Doctors at the Mayo were talking about palliative care but later were astonished to see the cancer was 80% gone. 3 out of 4 said it was a miracle and Tom shared with TC clients and family members that it was the power of prayer that he was healed. 

Tom's scan before (white specs in liver is cancer)

Tom's scan after (white specks/cancer is almost gone).

Save a life, put this in your phone: 

Admissions Department at 612-FREEDOM (612.373.3366) and dial 1 for Admissions

3231 1st Avenue S,

Minneapolis, MN 55408.

Lobby Hours are M-F from 8am-4:30pm

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