Chopping down redwood....

I once asked a lumberjack what was the hardest part about cutting down a massive redwood tree. He said, "it's the last swing of the axe". I honestly would have thought that would have been the easiest. He explained that the really big trees are deep in the woods so you have to hike quite a ways to get to them often through some very tough terrain. Once you are there you can begin chopping away at it. Your first few swings will not seem like you are doing much damage. He laughed and told me "rookies quit right here".... They get tired and bored with the process. Seems like a waste of time to them. After so long you finally begin to see that massive tree give way, but you're still far from done. He explained there is still plenty of hacking away to do. He seemed like the kind of guy who likes to talk, so I interjected, "what is it about the last swing that makes it the hardest". He looked and grind as he explained, " by the time you get to that point you've given it every thing you've got. The hike in half killed you, and chopping away at this tree has literally beat every ounce of strength out of you. By the time you get to that final swing you are completely exhausted. You've second guessed yourself a number of times. You're sore, possibly bloody, hungry and you name it. Mustering up what it takes to make that final swing means you have to dig deep into recesses of yourself that you never knew you had. At that point all you have is faith that what's left if enough to get it done". He smiled as he seemed to reflect.... I asked him why the big smile.... "Son, that's also the best part". After you feel like you've exhausted all you had that big ole tree starts to tip over and you can feel the life return to your body as the joy fills your veins and the adrenaline of mission accomplished changes the way you feel about yourself. When that sun light begins to peek through the space that tree once stood in.... It's like God's pat on the back saying way to hang in there slugger. That my friend is the real reward. My final question to him was, well if it's really that great a feeling then why don't we see more lumberjacks? Young man, he says, "most will never attempt the hike into the woods and many of them quit long before they make it to the tree, even fewer make it past the first couple of swings.

Why from dust?

A while ago I heard someone say, ( I think it was Bishop Jakes ) Genesis chapters 1 and 2 is God's vision, his original intent for creation. It was found here just how God intended things to be. And that Genesis chapter 3 through Revelation was God's way of getting us back to Chapters 1 and 2. This explains the relation or connection if you will, found between Genesis (the book of creation) and the rest of the Bible. Whenever I get stuck as to why things are, God leads me back to Genesis. As if to say we gotta go back to the beginning. Ok, so as the subject asks why did God create man from the dust of the ground. As I sit here at Denny's on a Wednesday night after a powerful Bible study teaching on forgiveness, I will share what God has shown me in regards to this matter. Bare with me because even as I type His progressive revelation is amazing. I was following along in the responsive reading one Sunday morning when something I had read over for years jumped up and slapped me across the face. Genesis 2:4-5,74. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5. And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Wow, all this time I missed this. God created man from the dust..... The ittie, bittie particles of matter that once gathered and put together formed the ground. Kinda puts you in mind of a puzzle. This made me look at how God uses life to shape us into who we become. The trials, tribulations, storms, incidents, lessons, tests, and everything else (dust particles, puzzle pieces) in our life work together to form us into the man or woman we become in Christ (ground). The funny thing about dust is that it is complete yet still only a part of something bigger. Much like a bread crumb, it is everything that the whole loaf is, yet only just a piece. If it be the responsibility of a loaf to feed a family, a crumb won't do it. It has to join the rest of the loaf to accomplish its objective. (Wow, that last statement can go so many different directions) God allows us to feel pain so that we may grow closer to Him. Thus gathering yet one more particle of dust and using it to form ground. Psalm 119:25,71 supports this,25. My soul cleaveth unto the dust:quicken thou me according to thy word.71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. However, God also allows us to see pleasure for the very same reason. Ok, so now that we understand what this dust is. Let's go into the why of it all. Eden is Kingdom. The garden of Eden can represent the Kingdom of God. Many churches across the globe talk about Kingdom building. God took this dust and made man (ground), for a reason. There is a purpose for our existence. As wonderful as we are, He didn't just create us because he thought we would be nice to look at. Let's go back to Genesis 2. Look at verse 5. The last part of that said, "and there was no man to til the ground". Wait, so is this saying that God braught me from the dust so that I can go play in the dirt. Well, in a way He did. See God never intended for us to forget where we came from. We go through the ups and downs, the in and outs of life (dust) so that we can go right back and teach the world how we got through. The Apostle Paul confirms this in his letter to the church at Corinth. 2Corinthians 1:3-7. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5. For as the sufferins of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. And for this reason even though sometimes it hurts more than I think I can handle like Paul I glory in tribulation. And like James I count it all Joy. The breath that God breathed into Adam's nostrils was a creative breath. He gave us creative power. The ability to produce something. The creative breath gives us what we need to impact the world. It gives us the key needed to tap into a new deminsion. This breath filled Adam. Sounds like Holy Ghost to me. Much like what happened on the day of pentecost. In Acts chapter 2 The deciples were able to communicate with those whom they normally would not have. They had the ability to tap into a rhelm that was previously unreachable. The bible says that day the church grew by 3000 souls. But check out verse 38. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin , and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Looks like productivity to me. Alright real quick let's go back to Genesis. These people are starting to look at me all kind of funny like. I've been here about 2 hours. This is my favorite part. It proves the sovereignty of God. It illustrates his all knowingness (is that a word). Prior to God creating man he knew why he wanted to. He knew what man's purpose would be. Look at Genesis 2:5 again. "And there was no man to til the ground". He knew what he wanted the creation that he had not yet created to do. Jeremiah 1:5 confirms this. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I santified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Even more confirmation is found in Jeremiah 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you and expected end. I don't know about you but I can't help but love a God who thought enough about me to create you. But that's not where the story ends Isaiah 53:3-53. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not. 4. Surely he hath bourne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Dust) 5. But he was wounded (dust) for our transgressions (dust), he was bruised (dust) for our iniquities (dust): the chastisement (dust) of our peace was upon him (dust): and with his stripes (dust) we are healed. (Ground)

I love my wife

I have heard that the first year of marriage is the hardest. Well if this is as hard as it gets....... I so love my wife. She is a true gift from God. I just pray I could be as good to her as she is to me. Some may wonder why so many facebook affirmations to Angela Braan. Well, I know who she is to me and sincerly love her. We have had our ups and downs, and still only the love of Christ can be compared. She loves me unconditionally (even though I make the dumbest mistakes sometimes). She takes care of the things I overlook. She has my back through thick and thin. I have never seen a woman built like her. She is a jewel worth far more than rubies. We laugh together, we cry together, we pray together, we worship together. I truly love this woman. She covers my shortcomings and magnifies my stregnths. This woman has Proverbs 31, Ephesians 5 and you name it written all over her. She is my queen. I love you so much baby...

Seeking Him

This morning I told God that I was upset with myself and Him. I sometimes feel like all I see is trial. I do so much for others and still face trial after trial. It sometimes feels like whatever victories I see are reciprocated by another fight. I know God has more for me. I realize today that I am more than a conqueror. And that God has trusted me with this trial to somehow bring Him glory, but I have always believed that. As I prayed this scripture set in and conviction fell.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of him that dilligently seek him.

It is so easy to lose sight of God and focus on whats going on around you. Peter had this same fight while walking on water. While in pursuit of the Savior he was distracted by the waves. I caught myself doing this. When trial comes I fight for the solution of the issue. Instead of continually seeking God and what He is saying in the storm, I immediatly go into problem solving and without realising it at first I have abandoned my pursuit for God and began to chase the issue. Last night I ran into a friend from highschool and out of all we talked about one thing remained in my head, "when you focus on taking care of God's business, He will take care of yours".

I also see now why my light has been so dim. When what you focus on is the issues of life, then your pursuit of God begins to suffer. When your pursuit suffers, your relationship with Him suffers. When we spend more time with the varying vicissitudes of life than we do with God, we have become engaged in a battle that doesn't even belong to us. We carry the burden of our issues and not the burden God has intended for us.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I wil give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus tells us that his burden is light. Light is the truth. The only thing Christ wanted us to carry was the truth. That same truth that would make men free. That same truth that would make us the light (illumination) of the world. So easily we forget that Christ has already conquered the world and we take on this fight, as if we have to reconquer it. Instead our intent should be to take His yoke upon us, learn (dilligently seek) of Him. There are so many scriptures that come to mind right now that make this same point. Matthew 6:33 for one says. "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. One thing that God has been faithfull to do is provide protection and security for His people. All we have to do is seek Him.....

Leadership can be lonely

Leadership can be lonely. You're the one with the mandate while those who are set to follow you have the opinions. It's lonely when those around you can't understand your passion, when they don't see the vision, or they just simply choose to resist. But this does not change what God has told you to do. Follow the vision God has given you. Lead with the mandate on your life and the Holy Spirit will be the only company you need. Leadership is ultimately followship. One who is leading must also be following that which is leading him. Jesus did all he did on earth under the direction of the Father in heaven. The lives of those who follow you are at steak. Either you lead them into the promised place of God, or their blood is on your hands. Ezekiel 33 makes this plain. Stop looking for the approval of man. When you strecth people they don't like it, that is until they can begin to see the benefit of the process. Some will hang in there, some will fall away. Bible says anyone who puts his hand to the plow and then turns away is not worthy of the kingdom. Don't get weary in your well doing. God has not gone blind to battle you face. He knew about it before you did. He allowed you to see it in order to develop the character needed for your next assignment. Get it here, you will need it later. Those who are following you are somewhere in your process. Be sensitive to this. They also are dealing with a great deal. Have the same compassion that Christ does in regards to you. When leading people you are privy to see things in them that they have no idea they are showing you. It is partly your responsibilty to lead them out of their bondage the Holy Spirit will do what you are not required to. In order to lead someone out of their bondage you must be free. You must be free from people. You need to be free from yourself. Leaders will make more leaders. Don't be afraid to pour into someone. You may very well be their training ground. Those whom you lead must be able to follow a clear example. I've learned the hard way that when your people "SEE" you fall, its very difficult to gain that trust back. Tansparency is important. But because you are to be transparent you have to be very mindful of what people see. This requires you to live right "ON PURPOSE". Even what you do in the dark will one day be exposed. Don't play with the call on your life. God was not playing when He intentionally put it on you.

The year of the standup leader.

Biblical numerology gives us the number 12 as a representation of order and perfection or completion. Governmental perfection or completion in particular. This government in mention is not isolated to the state, local or federal government. This is the year that God has chosen to prioritize and structure the lives of leaders. Leaders in the homes, jobs, churches, and anywhere else leaders can be found. This is the year that unsuspecting leadership will flourish. Those whom we have least appreciated and even disregarded will be set up in a position of power and authority. This year God is extending an unusual and particular grace toward the structure of the lives of His leaders. This will be the year that what has always come apart will come together in the lives of the obedient. Those who incline to His word diligently will be used for the up building and benefactors of this unusual grace. Those who do not will not receive this grace but judgment. God has been dealing with us all in some particular areas in our lives revolving around order. To not take head will be received as rebellion and you shall receive the fruit thereof.

Covetted anointing.

Sometimes I feel lost within myself. Buried in my own thoughts of how I would like to see myself. Free from the hands of the enemy and his Jedi mind tricks. Doesn't exclude the desire to be like someone else. Let me explain. While I no longer deal with the everyday all day torment from the spirit of drug addiction. I still battle within my own esteem. When I come into the presence of men and women I know to be of great anointing, I sometimes feel out of place. I want the favor of God that they seem to have. I wanna be able to cast out demons, or lay hands on the sick. I really would like to walk in the gift of prophesy. More than all that. I would love to be encouraged. I don't mean by someone else. I wasn't it in my own spirit. My own assurance, from a confidence that is just in me. I hate to think that people see right through me. I hate that I just held an entire conversation with you and have no idea of what we said because I was trying so hard to look genuinely happy and at a place of perfect peace so you would think everything is well in me and couldn't see that behind my eyes all I could think about was how I wanted your ministry. How I covett your relationship with God because it seems so much more fruitful than mine. I wish that I could pray like you. Why can't I preach like that. No I don't want your troubles, I've hash own. Mine didn't seem to do to me what yours did for you. I know that God has called me but I often wonder what did He call me to.