The Freedom And Power To Love And Be Loved

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Written by Mike Verkaik

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  Ephesians 3:17

Today’s journal entry is from Sophia, a sophomore.  As I reread her words, my heart rejoiced. They beautifully testify to our Father’s glorious riches being poured out on her. Listen to the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power, giving her eyes to see and a heart to feel His love, and then, from that overflowing place, sharing His love with the children she met.

Today was a very busy day! We were able to go to the care center again and teach some different kids our lessons, and bless them by each of us praying individually for 3 of the kids, followed by giving the teachers a meal and praying for each of them. When I asked a boy if I could pray for him, he looked at me with the biggest smile I had seen, and he nodded so hard at the same time. I put my hand on his shoulder to pray for him, and when I started praying he grabbed my hand and I just felt the love that God has for that boy, and how much He loves everyone. When I opened my eyes after praying for him, he looked me in the eye and smiled even harder than he was before and he looked like he was going to cry. It was so amazing that we could be a blessing to these kids and be someone who can pray for them because this is not something they all get at home. 

After leaving the care center, we drove to a huge vineyard on the side of the mountain to have some time with God. We got a prompt for us to write ourselves a letter from our Abba Father about anything we felt he was telling us. We could walk to wherever we wanted to in the vineyard to have this personal time with God. In my time writing my letter, I felt so close to God, closer than I had this whole trip, and it truly felt like he was speaking to me. Something I felt that he was speaking to me was that my identity is found in Him only, not in my performance, in school or sports, or in whether I fit in or not, but only in Him because He loves me so much. If I put my identity into other things, I will never be enough, but in Him I am, and that is where I belong. 

Something I also felt like God was telling me in this time in the vineyard had a connection to my time at the care center. While playing with some of the kids, I was helping them go across the monkey bars and one of them told me he couldn’t do it anymore because his arms were tired. I told him that it was okay, he could let go because I was holding on to him and he didn’t have to be scared. He got a little nervous about that and didn’t want to let go because he didn’t know if he could trust me fully that I was holding him. I told him again that he didn’t have to worry. I said, “ I’ve got you, don’t worry”, and after that he let go of the bars. As I was holding him after he let go, he looked me in the eye then gave me the biggest hug. I felt like God told me that He was holding me. He said don’t worry, I’m holding on to you, you just need to trust me. 

I can speak for all of us when I say that between these two things in our day, we saw God in so many different ways. These children show us so much joy in how they live between their smiles and hugs, and while in the vineyard we all experienced his presence in different ways. – Sophia

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself”.     Galatians 5:13-14

The Power of His Presence

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Writen by Mike Verkaik

I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have POWER, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long, and deep and high is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of ALL the fulness of God.    Eph. 3:17-19

This past spring I taught a New Testament Bible class on proximity to God and people. One requirement was to memorize seven verses from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Not wanting to miss out, I joined the class and chose Paul’s prayer including the verse above. Memorization isn’t the easiest for me, so I practiced by reciting the verses to Dawn while we ran errands and on our way back from bringing our son home. As I quoted it she had to continually remind me of two words I kept missing: POWER and ALL. It really became comical. I’d be in mid-sentence and she’d interject, “POWER,” then later, “ALL.” Being competitive, I didn’t always take the interruptions graciously, but through the failure of recollection God highlighted the depth of His presence in me, and engaged my heart and focused my prayers for the Kingdom Encounter we just finished leading in South Africa.

As I continued to memorize and reflect on those missing words, I was reminded again of how passionately our Father pursues intimacy with us. So much so that He is willing to equip us and pour out every attribute of Himself into our lives. This enlightened me to ponder again Paul’s joy in his weakness. It actually makes more sense in light of the truth that in our weakness God’s power becomes more active and noticeable.   (2 Cor. 12:9–10).

Over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing the evidence of His POWER and ALL the fullness of His presence through the words of the students who participated on the trip. We will highlight short testimonies of what they saw, how they were changed, and how God met them in weakness with His overwhelming strength.

This week is the reminder of the connectedness of His fullness in all of us. The connectedness that gives us eyes to see, ears to hear what was previously unknown.  On the first day of our encounter the students climbed up Elsie’s Peak to spend time alone with their Abba Father.  At the top they were challenged to journal the expectations and hopes they’d brought with them from God, read letters written by prayer partners, and dwell on John 14:15-27.

On our way down I asked a student how his time of journaling went. He said, “Mike, it was an amazing time of affirmation. God has already answered my desire. After I wrote my hopes, I read a letter from a student I don’t even know. As I read it was like he knew my heart and desires. Everything I journaled he sensed the Holy Spirit telling him to pray for while I was here. Details no one else could have known.” That moment beautifully illustrated our spiritual connectedness. How the same Holy Spirit lives in all believers, moves between us, and reveals and answers our deep longings. I was struck by the tenth grader’s courage and his willingness to obey what he sensed the Spirit saying.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  Romans 5:5

Oh, how our Father desires to be heard by His children. May Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 be our prayer for one another as we seek more of His power and all of His fullness. Stay tuned for more student testimonies from our South Africa trip in the coming weeks.

The Greatest Gift to Our Father

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For the last few days I have been doing a deep dive into Romans 8 for a Bible study I’m apart of. Every time I dwell in this chapter for an extended period of time I come away filled up. I often say if I had to choose one chapter in all of Scripture which has transformed me the most it would be Romans 8.

And on Father’s Day morning with these 39 verses fresh on my heart I was pondering on what would be the best gift to give my Heavenly Father on Father’s Day. After all He has absolutely everything. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the whole cosmos. Then it occurred what would bless Him the most is found right in this glorious chapter.

For me everything in this chapter hinges on this amazing truth found in verses 15-17:

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (or, adoption). And by Him we cry ‘Abba Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.”

It would take some hours to unpack all the truths found in these 3 verses but at the center of it is this phrase, “And by Him we cry ‘Abba Father!”  The Father’s great gift to us is His presence through the Holy Spirit, and His Spirit helps us shout out a powerful prayer – “Abba Father!”  Perhaps you have heard that the word “Abba” is used in all types of languages and as a term of endearment, or an intimate love relationship with your papa or daddy.

Calling out to our Father God as our “Abba,” is giving Him the greatest of Father’s Day gifts. We are declaring that we are His beloved children and we trust in Him with all of our hearts. I love watching my grandkids call out for their daddy or mommy. Sometimes it is when they are hungry, or when they stepped on something ouchy, or when they wake up from a nap, or wanting their parents to notice them, or simply wanting a hug.

When mommy and daddy hear those words, their heart melt with love and they respond quickly to the need. How much more does our Heavenly Father love to hear His kids cry out “Abba Father!” Those two words show our need, affection, and trust in our Daddy. When we as His children seek His authentic love and His affirmation, such a gift goes beyond anything in all creation, truly nothing can can separate us from such amazing love (8:39).

All of Scripture is the Good News of the Father bringing us back to an understanding of our Father’s love given to us through the sacrifice of Christ and the Holy Spirit. When we cry out as children to our “Heavenly Daddy” His heart explodes with unspeakable joy.  Such a response is an acknowledgement that we have received His gift of salvation. We know without a doubt we are the Father’s precious children.

Every day is our Abba’s Day. Bless Him today with greatest gift of joy by crying out to Him in prayer “Abba Father!”

 

At the End of the Detour

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The weather was perfect for an afternoon bike ride. I set out on one of my favorite trails looking forward to the wide open spaces and enjoying God’s glorious creation.  Just as my legs were warming up I spotted a big orange sign: “Detour Trail Closed!”

Bummed at the disruption of my plans, I took a drink of water and assessed my options. “Where now?” As I turned around and pedaled back from where I came from I thought about the many detours in my life. How is it just when I think I know where I am heading-boom, a big orange sign jolts my plans.

The detours in life are a definite reminder that I am not in control. I am definitely not the God of my destiny. This truth often ends up being an internal wrestling match of my will. Will I surrender to the Spirit? Or will I fight against Him to press on through the detour and attempt to forge my own way?  As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD, determines his steps.”

As I was processing the “detour”  on my ride, I remembered another trail l I heard might be open. So I ventured out, found the trailhead, and sure enough it had just opened. This trail was a good workout with some hills and got my heart pounding. It was a whole new area to explore and was exhilarating!

If it wasn’t for the detour I would not have tried out this new trail! Over the years countless detours have resulted in new trails.  I am continuing to learn that our Good Father is in still in the midst of the unexpected routes of life.  It is good to make a plan, but how many times such paths don’t always go as expected and I am reminded He is still in it, perhaps even protecting us from something else.

So when a detour signs appears, I attempt to take deep breath. Step back. Wait and see what my Heavenly Father  wants to teach me. Usually it is the same point He makes again and again, “Tim, surrender and trust Me, I have the right path for you!” Perhaps one of the most important lessons in a detour is to show us at the end of the day: He is all we need. The greatest trail is one that leads to His glorious face of love. He is enough!

The well known verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 are a profound truth:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your path.”

Trust. Don’t try to figure it all out. Keep surrendering each day to Him. Allow the detour to lead you to His heart for you. Life is filled with detours, and yet this may be the trail which will lead you to Him, the source of abundant life.

Whatever detour you maybe facing at the moment, remember Jesus is still with you and will be waiting you at the end of it.

Becoming a City On The Hill

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20 years ago a miracle happened which would not only grow our faith, but also teach us the rhythm of the Father’s heart. My friend recently sent me this picture of a prayer and dedication service for City on a Hill Ministries. Hard to believe this was in 2006. So many memories resurrected from this season.  Here are a few lessons learned from this God encounter:

A Vision Birthed in Prayer – When God is on the move you will always find prayer at the cornerstone.  The Holy Spirit will prompt people to pray into a God-sized vision which only He can bring about. This story began when four women from a church in Zeeland, MI learned the local Community Hospital was for sale. Together they committed to weekly gather to pray for God to have it turned into a ministry center.

These passionate prayers were birthed from hearts that experienced pain and loss and believed God could turn the hospital into a place of both physical and spiritual healing,  a place that would  touch many lives with Jesus’ hands of love. The prayers of these ladies ignited a fire within the church with many catching the vision to step out in faith and follow His leading.

A Father who Faithfully Provides – If it is God’s vision He will provide the people and the resources. I will never forget walking into the president’s office with my friend Steve to make an offer to purchase the hospital. The offer was 1.1 million-way below asking price. We knew the response could be a laugh and a polite decline. But to our surprise God had already been working on his heart and the boards, they were open to seeing a non-profit obtain the building.  An agreement was made.

The next obstacle money, we had none. Yet again as we moved forward in faith at just the right time God supplied the funds needed. Not only did He provide funds, but also the right people to make it happen. We saw first hand how the Holy Spirit anointed people to do the work with the necessary gifts and talents to make the vision a reality. It was a beautiful picture of the whole body of Christ coming together with the Father’s vision uniting as one.

A Cosmic Power Struggle – When you follow the leading of the Spirit there will be spiritual warfare. We saw this first hand from many different fronts and it reminded us how weak we are but how strong our Father is. Prayer again became the life line. Pastors prayed weekly in the building as a united front calling on God for protection and power to move forward. Many gathered for community worship in a local gym next to the hospital. Many prayer walks took place in and around the building. Truly the Father heard the cry of His children and He claimed the victory.

All Praise to the Father- When the Father moves through His children His glory will shine brightly.  20 years later there are 48 non-profits ministering out of the City on a Hill building. Physical and spiritual needs are literally being met all around the globe. The impact is mind boggling. This building is truly a standing stone for the glory and the power of what our Father God can do if we faithfully follow His leading.

The Father showed so many of us through this experience how He grows His Kingdom. Just as His Son taught and challenged us in the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 5:14-16)

Where is the Father calling you to be His light today?