Finding Your Africa

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At the end of each Kingdom Encounter trip students are encouraged to find their Africa back home where the Father has  purposely placed them. For many being in a different culture, serving and worshipping with other believers opens their eyes to encounter Jesus and His Kingdom in life changing ways.  Some hear the Father’s voice sing over them with delight as His love transforms hearts and His healing floods deep within wounded hearts.

On this last trip there were many tears the last day and hugs at the airport with hopes to come back. It is always a blessing to watch what the Spirit does in these young lives while in South Africa. But our earnest prayer is that each one will “find their Africa” in their school, home, team, place of work, or wherever the Father has placed them.

I have a good friend who has never been to Africa, though one day when he retires he promises to come. He works in a corporate manufacturing job with about 60 people who work under him. He often calls me on his 30 minute commute to work and we catch up on life and what the Lord is doing in our lives.

I love hearing stories of how his “Africa” is within the walls of his office. Every day people come in and out asking questions, seeking wisdom, and sharing their problems. He listens, loves, and many times will ask them if they would like prayer. His office has become a safe sanctuary where many have encountered the love of Christ in him. Some have even found Christ’s saving love right in that office.

When I think of my friend, I recall the last words of Jesus before He took the throne beside His Father in heaven: ”

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mt. 28:19-20

If you noticed, I highlight a few words, the first is “Go.”  From the Greek you could translate it “while you are going.” Meaning wherever the Father has placed you, go and shine out the Christ who lives within you.  His promise is “I am with you always.” If you’ve placed your faith in Christ He walks with you everyplace you go.

Your mission field starts when you wake up in the morning and see your family, when you walk out of the door into your neighborhood, when you enter math class, or when you stand in a long line or are stuck in traffic.

Don’t miss your Africa.  You don’t have to take a 10,000 mile journey across the ocean to show and share Jesus. The Father has placed you right where you are and has given you His Spirit to be Jesus’ love to someone who needs to encounter Him through you. Just “Go!” and remember He is always “with you!”

 

 

Roar of the Resurrection

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I hope and pray you had a wonderful Resurrection Day celebration! All over the world on Easter Sunday there were celebrations declaring the greatest day in history. The power of a spiritual winter which covered the earth with satan’s lies was broken when the Lion of the Tribe of Judah roared in victory early that Sunday morning.

As Patty and I celebrated at a sunrise service in God’s beautiful outdoor sanctuary we felt His roar of victorious HOPE. Truly an indescribable hope which continues to carry the promise of new life-with the brilliance of the sun bursting forth with a new day.

Listening to the Roar of the Resurrection in this day and age should be a daily priority.  The news, whether CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC and our social media apps roar a bleak narrative inspired by the “the father of lies.” His goal is to keep us enslaved, held captive in the tomb of death, and placing our trust in  fear and false gods of self, seeking pleasure, plenty, and power.

What a different message the Father of Truth gives to us. In love the Father raised His Son from the grave, breathing His Spirit into His lungs. The Father’s roar is one of righteousness, reign and making all things right.

Righteousness – The Father raised Jesus from the dead, such an act of love shouts the forgiveness of all our sins through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross. When our Abba Father looks at you and me; He sees Jesus in all His holy radiance dressed in spotless white. (Romans 4:24-25)

Reign – The Resurrection declares that just as Jesus was raised from death to life so too as believers our spirit has also been raised with Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. You and I are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, given power over our sin, satan, and the seduction of a lost world. (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Making All Things Right – When Jesus broke out of the tomb His Kingdom burst forth in power. Not a worldly power of “might makes right” but a heavenly power invading earth with a transforming love that changes hearts. This Spirit dwelling in the hearts of believers brings the message of hope those across the globe with the Father’s glory. We cling to this message of hope, knowing that upon His return all things will be made right. (I Cor. 15)

Each and everyday we need to tune our ears to the Roar of those 3 R’s of the Resurrection,  to live as people of a glorious hope, and knowing our victory is already secured. Let Jesus’s Roar be the first thing you listen to when you get up, let it empower you throughout the day, and may His roar grant you peace as you put your head on the pillow at night.

Early on that Sunday morning, as we gathered in one accord on the hilltop, I couldn’t help but think of many loved ones who already passed into glory, those whose faith is now sight, knowing each one is worshiping with the heavenly host and the Lion of the tribe of Judah on the Throne. What immense joy it brings to think that millions of believers from every tribe and nation joined together with the myriads in heaven in one roaring anthem of praise-because of the incalculable gift of the Resurrection!!!

Our Speaking Father

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Can we really hear the voice of God today or was that just for a special few we read about in the Bible?  Without a doubt I firmly believe the Father is always communicating to His beloved children.

When teams arrive to Oceans Retreat Center for a Kingdom Encounter experience we always begin by sharing our deepest prayer is that they would hear from their Father during their time here in South Africa. Our greatest joy are testimonies at the end of the trip or even after they have returned home and encounter His voice.

Let me share a few examples from this last trip. For one young lady it was experiencing a peace and joy as she was detached from her phone and could meditate and focus on the Father’s love for her. For another it was in a Sunday worship time in the township where a familiar song was song which led her to dance with joy and a freedom she had never experienced.

After dwelling on John 17 for a few days we asked each of the students to write a letter from the Father addressed to them personally. On a day we set aside for the team to intentionally spend some quiet time in a vineyard a young man shared afterward how he had a life changing encounter with God as he wrote his letter. The Lord kept bringing him back to Psalm 46:10,  “to be still and know that I am God.” It was a beautiful testimony to how the Father loves him and is putting the pieces together for the purposes He has for him.

There were others who encountered His voice in creation, in reading a devotional book we discussed on John 13-17, and in hearing God speak through people filled with joy and love living in the poorest of circumstances. Even on the very last day of the trip as students received hugs from the children they ministered to, tears flowed from 3 of the students 2 being young men. Those tears kept pouring out as we drove back to the Retreat Center and into our lunch time. The Spirit was doing a powerful work.

We have seen this over and over again with teams that have come to Africa. It has been a joy for us to witness the fruit of these young people who are learning to hear the voice of the Father.

As we enter into Holy Week and focus on the death and resurrection of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. We are reminded that He was sent by the Father to be a life changing Word to His children.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, Full of grace and truth…But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:14,12,13)

Take time this week to listen to your Abba Father speak His forgiveness, love, and His absolute pleasure over you through the gift of His Son. Maybe even try writing a letter from your Abba to you and listen to His Spirit speak in life changing ways to you His beloved.

 

God’s Great Big Garden

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They day was picture perfect, as a 140 young people from 7 different townships gathered to play a 3 on 3 soccer tournament. It is hard to explain the pure joy that permeated over the fields as the teams played in an environment so foreign to where they come from.

No gangs or violence. Bathrooms with running water. Two healthy meals provided. A whole lot of love and encouragement soaked up.

On Saturday a team of high school students from Parker Lutheran High School in Colorado helped at this event. They all jumped right in setting up, doing registration, preparing and serving meals, cheerleading, cleaning up, and even playing in a few soccer games.

As I walked around the fields taking it all in the words “planting seeds” kept popping into my mind. There was an overwhelming presence of joy apparent not just with the participants but with those who served. At the same time there was a sadness knowing most would return at the end of the time to difficult and dark places.

Yet, seeds of God’s Kingdom were planted on those soccer fields. Jesus’ parable of the growing seed in Mark 4:26-29 states:

“The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

God was preparing hearts for His Kingdom seeds to be planted deeply into the hearts of these young people. I thought about all the different ways God was planting seeds that day. A Gospel message by Pastor Raymond before the event started. A generous gift from a friend in the US to Oceans to help make this day possible. Volunteers of all ages poured so much energy and time serving and loving on these young people.

But at the end of the day it comes down to a supernatural work of the Spirit of God. Just like the parable describes the farmer watching for the seed to sprout and grow, even though, “he knows not how.” Yes, God uses people to go out into the world with a message of His love through actions and His Word. But only He can change hearts, and what a huge big relief this is to know that part is in His hands.

The Father calls us to go into His big garden and plant seeds for His Kingdom by serving and loving others as He loved us. It is His Spirit that takes a dead seed, plants it in His Kingdom soil, and in His time brings the seed to life.

Today in faith may you plant a seed into the mystery of God’s Kingdom garden. Let Him use your hands, feet, and words, to testify to His supernatural saving love that causes a dead seeds to come alive and fill the earth with aroma of His Kingdom garden.

Face-to-Face with your Blessing

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The other day I came face-to-face with a blessing in an extraordinary way. Bryan, the head master, of the school on our campus, and I were meeting with a man named Ken. Ken leads a network of Christian Schools in South Africa. The moment our meeting started a sense of peace permeated the room as Ken shared the vision for Christian Education. He clearly articulated how God can use it to raise up disciples who will impact the country with Christ’s Kingdom in their hearts.

After a tour of our campus Ken asked if he could pray over us.  Laying hands on us he prayed Aaron’s Blessing:

“The LORD bless you and keep 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.” Numbers 6:24-26

After he prayed this he shared how he felt one passage which helps to interpret this Blessing is the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery  (John 8:1-11). How the woman caught in adultery by the religious leaders were using this to trip Jesus up and prove He was a law breaker. The law demanded her to be stoned and yet the religious leaders knew Jesus’ heart was full of mercy and grace.

Perhaps you remember how Jesus responded. He bent down and wrote something in the dirt with His finger. Then He stood up and said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Then He bent down again and wrote once again. How I wish we knew what He wrote because it was so powerful and convicting that each of those wanting to condemn departed, starting with the oldest to the youngest.

At that very moment she encountered the Blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, she saw the face of God shinning on her! For the first time in her life she knew a perfect peace deep in her spirit.

After Ken left I returned to our flat and felt drawn to dwell further in these texts. I could see how the gracious act of Jesus demonstrated the face of the Father loving His lost daughter to salvation. She could walk away with a new freedom of knowing her sins are forgiven and filled with a love beyond understanding which would be her new compass directing her life.

Ken’s blessing over us the other day and his explanation of it awakened my spirit to to the glorious face of Jesus who continues to shine brightly with a grace filled love. The Father does not hold our sins against us and continues by His Spirit to point us to His face of complete blessing found in Jesus.

I challenge you today to read the Blessing again and picture the hands of Jesus placed on your shoulder and His face glowing with glorious joy looking at you. Hear His words of blessing and let them fill you with the Spirit of the Father’s perfect peace. This is what you have been created for.