2 Trillion Galaxies

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“The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known…”  Psalm 19:1-2.

For the last several months I’ve been following the discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope. These images without a doubt make the Psalms declaration of the glory of God “out of this world!” This telescope is causing science to be rewritten and altering some long held theories about the creation of our universe.

Because of these beyond comprehensible space images, astronomers are now estimating there are at least 2 trillion galaxies spread out all over the universe. This new information is mind boggling! The universe is massive! So how long do you think it would take for us to get from the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, to our nearest neighboring galaxy Andromeda? The answer is 2.5 million light years, and that would be traveling at 186,000 miles per hour!

If our universe has over 2 trillion galaxies, can you even imagine how ginormous our God is?  I would say He is certainly big enough to take care of the most impossible situations we face on our little planet called earth. 

Reading Psalm 19 on Sunday morning I found myself pondering this amazing God who created 2 trillion plus galaxies. Then a few hours later I was in Jimsebosh township, one of the poorest and darkest communities in Cape Town. This place isn’t even on Google maps, and yet I joined with fellow South African believers, worshipping this very same God, singing in one accord “How Great is our God” the song by Chris Tomlin. 

For some reason, so many people decided to attend church on this particular Sunday that everyone couldn’t fit, so the service was moved outside. Looking at Luke 15,  (the lost sheep, coin and lost sons), God revealed Himself, to some He was a Father running to His lost children, who for the first time allowed Him to take them home into His arms of His everlasting love. To others Father God brought comfort in the midst of impossible trials where their only hope was  trusting in a big Father God to carry them through.

One couple came up after the service and shared that their youngest son had just been sent to prison. He got caught up with the wrong crowd and is awaiting trial in the cruelest prison in the country. They wept as we prayed together. As we ended you could feel the Holy Spirit bring a heavenly peace even in the midst of the unknown. Words fell short as we sat in silence dwelling in His presence. “How Great is our God!”

I’m not sure what impossible situation you may be facing or will one day face. But I challenge you to pause and seek the God who created over 2 trillion galaxies. If He did that, I rest assured that He is big enough to pick you up and carry you through whatever it may be, so that you can know “How Great is our God!!!”

 

 

 

 

Seasons

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As you read this blog I’m in the midst of traveling from one season to another in 21 hours. Leaving behind an absolutely fabulous fall in Colorado and set to land in a stunning South African spring. Truly amazing to experience two opposite seasons in less than a day.

Lately I’ve been ruminating on the various seasons in life. At times we sense the presence of God singing over us in brilliant ways, such as new life of a Spring day or the radiant hues sparkling off the trees in the fall. But then there is a dark cold winter or the parching summer where the Father’s voice seems nonexistent or a distant memory.

A few weeks back I met with friend and Oceans team member Mike Verkaik to plan and pray for our next season of ministry. We decided to meet at Bible Park, near a childhood home where I grew up in Colorado. I’m not sure if this was the best place to meet as I kept sharing memories of the park from football games, to tree houses and rope swings, to inner tubing on the High Line canal, and a bunch of other great memories.

As Mike and I spent sometime praying I couldn’t help but think about all the different seasons that transpired during that time of my life. There were some long winter seasons where I wondered if the darkness would ever end and God seemed to be on a long vacation. I will never forget during one of those times seeking solace in the park with my best buddy, my dog Muffy.

Muffy didn’t need a leash when we escaped to the park together, but on that day she saw my mom on the other side of the street and dashed across. The image and the sound of a car hitting her still pains my heart. The next day was Thanksgiving and there was no joyful celebration in our household, just another chill of what seemed like a never ending winter.

But a few years later Spring broke through on a Sunday night when for the first time in my life I heard my Savior sing over me at the altar of our church. I vividly recall being awake the entire night in my bedroom crying tears of joy as the Father found me in my darkness and brought me to the light of His Son.

As these seasons flashed through my mind during our prayer time at Bible Park, the word “faithful” came out of my mouth. I took a deep breath and felt an expected sense of joy. My Father used it all. Each season in the house across from the park reminded me that He was with me. And He was with me once again in Bible Park as I prayed with a good friend about ministry, a ministry I would have never been involved in if it wasn’t for all the seasons He carried me through. Ah His faithful love was there all the time, making and molding me to be more like Him.

I’m not sure what season you may be in. If it’s a wonderful spiritual season of Spring or Fall and it’s beautiful, praise God for the gift of experiencing Him singing over you. But perhaps you are in a wilderness and spiritually wilting or lost in the dark night of a long and cold winter. If that is you take heart, keep hoping and listening for a faithful Father who is carrying you in this difficulty, His love song will break through. And one day you will look back and see He used every heartache, every deep pain and hurt to bring you ever closer to Home; His place of love for you…….which is the greatest gift of all.

“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zep. 3:17

 

 

Hearing the Father Sing – The Love Song

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Last week I shared how reading the Love Story (The Gospel) reminds us that the lost have been found and opens our ears to hear the Father singing and celebrating over us (Zeph. 3:17). Here is another mighty way which opens our spiritual senses to hear His song, it is worship from a desperate heart. 

A little over a year ago my mom was diagnosed with a rare from of cancer. The battle has included surgeries, weekly treatments with a host of side effects, fatigue, and many unanswered questions. During the night when things seem the darkest my stepdad Bill will sing precious hymns they recall from their childhood days. Such special times of worship bring the assurance of the Father’s love and reassure them of His strong and everlasting arms holding them with supernatural comfort and peace.

The gift of worship can occur anytime or anyplace. You don’t need a sound system, lead singers, or a beautiful building. Over the years I’ve been apart of transforming worship in maximum security prisons in the US, shacks in Africa, and at the bedside with my young kids. All that is needed is little faith, even a faint faith will do, if you are willing to make a joyful sound to your Father.

My daily song book of hope is the Psalms. The 150 recorded entries reveal all kinds of ways to lift up a song, even when God seems far far away. And as a reminder a lot of the composers had shaky faith at times, yet managed to spew out some raw words that usually ended up as an authentic love song.

The other morning Patty and I started out the day in Psalm 149. This Psalm of praise starts out with a call to “Sing to the LORD a new song.” It goes on to challenge you to praise Him with “dancing” and beat the “tambourine” and how praise becomes a weapon to fend off and overcome the enemy:

“May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands…”

At times the battle in our minds makes it difficult to hear the Father sing over us. The enemy, the master of confusion and distraction, shifts our focus and before we know it we are spiraling down a gofer hole and overcome by darkness without a way out.

The way out of the darkness is Praise. Praise brings our focus back to the light and to hear the Father’s love song. Notice vs. 4-5:

“For the LORD takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.”

My mom and Bill have practiced singing love songs in the dark to their Savior. And many have witnessed the Father’s delight over as they have strength to move forth in faith, “leaning on the everlasting arms” of Jesus their Savior.

The hardest time to sing is when you face the darkness and the enemy knows this. But when in the midst of the battle we wage war with worship we open our minds to our Savior the Singer and the enemy flees.

So open up your mouth today and make a joyful noise to the Father, sing your love song and open your ears to His response.  In His perfect time you will encounter love songs from heaven.

 

 

Hearing the Father Sing – The Love Story

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The other week I was preparing for a men’s Bible study meditating on Luke 15 and thinking to myself this just might be the greatest chapter of Scripture. I know that’s a big statement but hear me out. At the very core of Christianity is a love story. It is about Father God who pursues His lost children. The Word that He has given us is all about Him coming near to us as He desires a relationship with sinful broken people. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

In Luke 15 Jesus, is The Word that became flesh. He is hanging out with dishonest tax collectors, notorious sinners, the worst of the worst according to the religious leaders of His day. These religious leaders couldn’t hold back their distain for this reckless rabbi fellowshipping with such polluted people.

Luke records three stories that highlight Jesus’ mission and the heart of His Father. The parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Two Lost Sons, without a doubt point to the relentless pursuit of a loving God running to “lost” children. Don’t miss the word “lost!” Who are the lost? Could it be you, me and everyone who came from Adam and Eve? In fact as we talked about in our study, there are no 99 sheep. As the prophet Isaiah said, “we all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned -every one- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” (53:6)

The Father sent Jesus as our Good Shepherd leaving all He had in heaven to find the lost sheep. Jesus is like the Relentless Woman turning the house upside down to find the lost coin. Jesus is like the Running Father who goes after both lost sons. The heart of the Father is manifested through Jesus.

At the end of each of these stories is a full on celebration filled with rejoicing, singing, and dancing over the lost that has been brought home. Jesus even opens up the door of heaven to show us how a party breaks out ever time a time one of these precious children our brought back to their Abba Father.

This is why I believe this could be the greatest chapter in the Bible.  It brings together the theme throughout Scripture, which is an amazing Love Story. So often missed as it is turned into doctrinal truths to be argued, or a moral standard that states some of us are “in” and others are “out.”  Don’t forget Jesus shared these stories because the majority of the religious leaders of His day missed the love story when it was right in front of their faces.

If we are going to hear the Father sing over us (Zeph. 3:17) we need to see His heart of love which is highlighted in Luke 15. He is waiting on the front porch of Heaven searching for us to return home, and when sees us stumbling on the path with our heavy burden of sin and shame-He runs!  Before we can even get out the words “we have sinned….” He calls for our full right as His sons and daughters to be restored and brought into the everlasting party of the lost who have been found!

I don’t know about you but between the constant chaotic noise of the world and the battle in my own mind I need to read and mediate on this Love Story everyday. I need the daily reminder that the Father runs to me in Jesus and brings me home and celebrates me. And as I read the Love Story His Spirit reminds me even when I fail Him, fall down, or I’m overcome with fear I’m forever His beloved son and no one or anything can ever take me out of His arms of love.

Today if you are having a hard time hearing Him sing over your life, spend time reading the ultimate Love Story and picture the Father seeing and running after you with His heart of love!

 

Hearing the Father Sing – Longing for it

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“I’m not certain I’m loved by God!” Recently 2 people shared with me a podcast from the well-know Christian pastor, speaker, and writer Francis Chan, where he openly revealed his heart. In the podcast (see link below) he disclosed that there was a season right before he turned 50 years old that he wondered if he was truly love by God.

Francis Chan was facing doubts and fears that the Father in heaven didn’t fully love him. Perhaps it came out of a rough childhood where he experienced incredible loss and rejection or even some of the teaching he received at school which led him to battle with knowing he was fully loved.

He felt prompted by the Spirit to share this wondering first with his wife and  later with his ministry team on his 50th birthday. He specifically asked for prayer so that he would know for certain the Father love. What a gift to his family and friends promising to cover him by prayer and fasting for the next year that he would be overwhelmed by such love. He expressed  how such prayers were the greatest of all birthday gifts.

Answered prayers. An overwhelming love. In Francis Chan’s 50th year of life he experienced a Father’s love beyond comprehension.  The words from Zephaniah 3:17 came alive to him. He knew without a doubt that His Heavenly Father “delights in him and rejoices over him with singing!” 

It is a powerful podcast and I hope you can take time to listen. It highlights some of what we have been looking at in the last few blogs. And in the midst of the recent tragic killings it is evident our world desperately needs to know the Father’s love more than ever before.

When we miss out on His love song and replace it with the lies of the enemy that bombard us at every turn we are left empty and hopeless. The more we try to fill the void and find our own love song the more desperate we become. This is when loneliness, self hate, self pity, anger, and destruction begins to grow like a repugnant weed.

I am thankful to Francis Chan for his honesty and for his courage to tell others of his struggle. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. It such an amazing gift of grace when our spiritual ears and eyes encounter a singing God. Embracing our emptiness AND understanding that even good things such as ministry, simply are unable to heal the void within our heart.

The Spirit puts a desire in our hearts to long to hear the love song of heaven in the very core of our souls. Francis asks his team to join him as he prays to know the Father’s love authentically singing over him. Prayer is a gift given to us, an open door for us to walk into the Father’s house and join this amazing celebration of love.

I’m sure if we are all honest there are times and seasons where we too wonder about the Father’s love for us. Where we are not 100% sure if we are truly loved. Be honest about it, long for it in prayer and even ask others to pray that His love would be made known to you.

Jesus left these words for His disciples and for us the night before He went to the cross. Such words challenge us to keep asking and longing to know the Father’s love through the Son’s work on that cross:

“Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in My name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking Him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits! (Jn. 16:24).

Podcast on youtube – (https://youtu.be/P5GD9FTSCFQ)