Peace in 2024: Worship

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Lately I’ve been singing a childhood Sunday School song when I sense my peace beginning to waver. The words are from Phil 4:4:

“Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice and again I say rejoice!”

 There was such joy when the kids loudly belted out these words in a round. I recall how the atmosphere changed when these powerful, life-changing words were sung. And here I am 50 plus years later still blessed to be singing these words of truth.

 In last week’s blog I shared from Philippians 4:4-9 and Paul’s God inspired plan to push fear and anxiety away by focusing our hearts and minds on being filled with the “peace of God that transcends all understanding in Christ Jesus.”

As you remember it starts with a focus on Jesus THE truth (Revelation 1 Jesus) and as we focus on Jesus-our response will be biblical worship. I would define worship as an absolute dependence on our Sovereign King Jesus.

The fruit of this absolute dependence is a life saturated with praise and prayer. That is why Paul can give us the command to “Rejoice in the Lord Always!” He personally knew the Revelation 1 Jesus and therefore he learned he could “rejoice” in any and every situation.

I love the story found in Acts 16 where Paul and Silas find themselves in a prison in Philippi. The local merchants were quite upset, as these men of God, cast out a demon from a slave girl, and this resulted in the end of their fortunetelling business.

But instead of moaning about being chained up in a dark dungeon-the scriptures tell us Paul and Silas were “praying and singing hymns to God.” Do you remember the rest of the story? How their worship brought a supernatural earthquake-breaking their chains and opening all the prison doors. Yet, instead of escaping Paul and Silas shared the Gospel with the other prisoners and led the jailer and family to Christ. Out of this prison, where they chose to worship rather than worry, a powerful church was birthed. That is the church of Philippi that Paul is now addressing.

To know Heaven’s Shalom, it is essential to focus our faith on Jesus, which leads to absolute dependence on Him, and necessitates us humbly submitting our lives each and every day to prayer and worship in all circumstances.

Paul encourages believers in vs. 6:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God…”

Just as we are called to “rejoice always” we are also called to “pray” about “everything.” Yes-absolutely everything! There is nothing too big or too small that our Father is not concerned about. He desires for us to give it all over to Him, demonstrating our absolute dependence on Him.

The other day we ran out of water at the retreat center. Not a good time as we had a missionary team coming that night. The very first thing I said out loud was “why now God!” (I’m still a work in progress.) As I attempted to determine the problem I reminded myself to sing “rejoice in the Lord always…” It took awhile but peace showed up, along with my neighbor Delgun, whose expertise resolved the issue.

What if the body of Christ committed to worship in absolute dependence on Him and decided to rejoice and pray always no matter how difficult the situation. Think of the spiritual prisons cells that could open up and the opportunities to show and tell Christ to the nations. How supernatural churches could spring up and Christ’s Kingdom could grow in the darkest parts of the world.

Dig out that old Sunday School song buried deep in your heart and mind, and sing out “Rejoice in the Lord Always” and I challenge you to sing the words especially when you don’t feel like it!

 

 

 

 

 

Peace in 2024: Truth

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While living in Africa, physical exercise for us is walking and hiking. So at the end of last year Patty suggested we memorize Scripture during these times. The verse she chose to start us out was Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Oh to have a young and fresh mind again. Needless to say we were in the text for a while. Which was actually a good thing as it made me think about the context of this portion of Scripture.

The theme of this section is about living an anxiety free life by being filled with the

“Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, which will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” Vs. 7

The Holy Spirit knew I needed to dwell right there. I needed that perfect peace of heaven to “swim in” in the midst of seas of uncertainty. And I believe the Spirit is calling each one of the Father’s children to dwell in this shalom, as there is such an absence of it in our polarized world motivated by fear.

Fear brings anxiety, which leads to a desire to control everything around us. Which only brings more stress as we realize we really are not in control of anything.

What a glorious passage the Spirit gives us for a plan for peace. This plan permeates powerfully in vs. 4-9. I challenge you to memorize these verses in 2024. I continue to return to these life-giving words of truth in my mind whenever my neck aches. As this pain is my body telling me, “Tim you have lost your peace!”

The battle for peace always begins in my mind. So that is why Paul emphasizes the importance of training your mind to think on whatever is “true, noble, right…” If you have trouble memorizing the entire list just focus on the first word, “TRUE,” which defines the 7 words that follow.

The Greek word for “true” means doctrine or right teaching, which point us directly to Jesus, who is “the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus is the “True” WORD from the Father to us. He is our anchor in the midst of the storm. He is the one that calls out to the winds and waves in our lives “Peace be Still!”

If I spend too much time churning over the news or even fretting over difficult situations in my life my neck tells me my focus is off. I need to take a deep breath and think on Jesus. I try to picture the Revelations 1 Jesus-who when John saw Him- he collapsed before His glory as one who was dead. If you read John chapter 1 before ingesting the news media, I promise it will alter your perspective.

Notice what the Revelation 1 Jesus did and said to John:

“Then He placed His right hand on me and said; “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One: I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! I hold the keys of death and Hades,” (vs. 17-18).

 Peace that is beyond your understanding starts with a faith that focuses on the resurrected, conquering, living King Jesus. He holds life and death in His hand. And He holds you! Turn around in faith and look at your Glorious Savior!!

In the next two blogs I’ll focus on worship and walking by faith, grounding us as believers in TRUTH. The hope is that we can experience peace no matter what battle we face or fears the world tempts us to pay attention to.

I hope you will make time to dwell in these verses and perhaps even memorize these timeless truths from Philippians 4:8 and perhaps even do so while exercising.

 

 

Just Follow Me!

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It is always good to go back and visit places in your life where God performed miracles beyond your ability to grasp. It quickens your faith for new adventures the Father may be asking you to follow.

This past weekend Patty and I were blessed to visit Mike & Dawn and a team from Haven Church at Beautiful Gate in Lesotho. Because of Covid and obligations in South Africa, it has been 4 years since visiting the Mountain Kingdom.

Walking around the Beautiful Gate campus jolts my mind back 22 years when my step dad Bill and I first saw the land. Ray & Sue Haakonsen had a passion and a God size vision to build a proper orphanage to rescue unwanted babies.

The journey was long and difficult with many dark valleys to travel through, yet what a memorial shouting out the absolute glory and faithfulness of Father God. Hundreds of babies saved, jobs provided, countless guests from all over the world have experienced the Kingdom of Heaven breaking forth as the Holy Spirit revealed the heart of Jesus on the campus of Beautiful Gate.

Here it is already 2024 and returning to this holy ground where love for the forgotten abounds I’m reminded of the voice of the Holy Spirit saying to me as He did 20 plus years ago “Just Follow Me!” Isaiah says it well;

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts,” (55:9).

I would have never chosen to go to Africa way back in 2002, nor would I have ever imagined Patty and I would be living in Africa. However, God’s ways are so different from any strategic ministry plan with proper goals and objectives.

Over the years the Father has tried to teach me over and over again He has the right plan and it usually looks different then mine. His plan will always stretch my faith and call me into something that is way beyond my abilities, dreams, and personal security.

Sometimes He has asked me to deal with something in my own heart, other times with another person. In either instance the only hope has been His supernatural intervention. It is during such times He says, “Trust Me, don’t try to fix it in your own strength, keep handing it over to Me and wait for Me to work.”

Other times in my life it has been a ministry objective or some calling way bigger than the resources, staff, or structures could possibly handle.

Recently the Oceans board was discussing an opportunity the Lord seems to be placing before us. All the board members shared it will take another miracle-but they sense the Lord is leading us. I praise the Lord for their faith even though at times my own fears can keep me up at night as my mind races through all the possible scenarios and to be honest challenging my own my weakness and faith.

So I’m thankful to walk on soil in Lesotho that was once an empty field but is now filled with life and preaches again to my soul, “Just Follow Me!” “Yes, Tim you may feel weak and tired for this but it is not about you it is about trusting me on this journey of faith.”

So my Father’s Words to me for 2024 – “Just Follow Me!”

The Father also has a way for you to follow that may seem too much and overwhelming, hear the Spirit say, “Just Follow Me I will lead you and be with you and you will see My glory!”

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” (I Peter 2:21).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweetness

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Written by Mike Verkaik

A week ago today we celebrated our 6th anniversary Christmas dinner at the motel ministry. It is always special to travel down memory lane and be reminded how Abba Father opened the door to share the message of His heart to the residents on a cold, wintery day.

As we shared life together at the table, we had to set up an additional table as the forty-five residents in attendance broke records for our celebration. It was a wonderful night of fellowship and service by the sixteen volunteers who joined them.

Over the last few months many of the rooms at the motel have been filled with workers from Venezuela. This made our celebration extra special as Pastor Arturo joined us and we shared the gospel message of Jesus’ birth in Spanish and English.  It reminded me of angels words from Luke 2:10 (TPT):

But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 

The message of our Father’s love gift is a message bringing hope to everyone everywhere. Our evening was a representation of the fulfillment of those words, as well as a picture of heaven as we worshiped, shared and prayed in both languages together.

After the celebration was over a volunteer and I had a conversation about the night. While sharing our reflections she said, “ All I can think of to describe the night is the word, “sweet.”  Later looking up the definition of sweet this description appeared: “it gives you great pleasure and satisfaction.”

Amen and amen, a perfect description of the night.  Our Christmas celebration represented a sampling of the Father’s heart for all people, a glimpse of heaven coming to earth, as the joy of our Messiah’s coming was shared and expressed with many of the forgotten, marginalized and broken residents.

May these pictures remind you of the joyous news proclaimed for you, and the challenge Jesus gave us to bring his sweet message to others.

                                                                                            

A Timely Christmas Psalm of Hope

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Around 70 years ago a group of people were uprooted from their life long homes because of their skin color. The then new South African government moved this group into cold and sterile housing projects.

The pain of that harsh decision left deep wounds and scars, which are still very much prevalent. Yet generations later, on a December Thursday morning Patty and I sat alongside many from this exact same community and witnessed the Christmas story being acted out by graduating preschool students. Gospel joy and hope filled the room.

You see just when it looks like darkness is winning. Christ the King breaks forth and offers the gift of hope to heal, transform hearts and bring you and me to our true home.

The other morning I was reflecting on Psalm 2 and a rush of thoughts flooded my mind as the Christmas story leapt off the page in living color. Maybe the best thing to do is, stop reading this blog and go right to Psalm 2 and let the Holy Spirit speak these timely Words to your heart.

Since the fall of man and the promise of the “seed of the woman,” “The kings of the earth” or as one version says “the power brokers of the world” …“scheme and confer together against the LORD and the Anointed One, (the Messiah/Christ),” vs. 2.

We see this with wicked King Herod at Jesus’ birth as well as today where that same demonic spirit is alive and well as the “nations rage” against Christ and His followers seeking to cast off His Kingdom of grace.

But our Sovereign God scoffs at His enemies since the message of Christmas is all about a King who is born and purposefully installed by the Father to rule over the nations both now and forever vs. 4-6.

In fact to me this is the most significant Christmas gift proclaimed in Psalm 2. Finding your true identity is a heart-stopping gift. It is finding your true home! The enemy seeks to keep you from hearing this message of truth because he knows the transforming glory it brings.

“You Are My Son today I have become your Father!” vs. 7

These were the same words spoken over Jesus at His baptism and at His transfiguration by His Father. And these are the words spoken over every son and daughter who receives the gift of Jesus Christ. Once these words seep into your heart from the Father through receiving the gift of Jesus-the chains of the enemy fall off. You are now birthed into a new Family. You will have found your true Identity.

Our world is raging today because their identity is in trying to fix their broken, empty, sin seared souls with gods of self that will never satisfy. Life turns chaotic when we don’t hear or know the Father’s voice of love through the gift of His Son.

And after 2000 years that Christmas Message is still flooding the earth with hope. As I sat at the southern tip of Africa listening to children sing and tell the glorious Christmas story of the gift of the Father. I wanted to shout! THIS very truth is bringing His children home through Jesus His Son, (see. vs. 8ff). Hope is very much alive.

Psalm 2, this Christmas Psalm proclaim to us how to receive and continue to find unspeakable joy in this gift of the Father’s love:

“Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son…” vs. 12

 A perfect picture of this is when the shepherds were awe struck by the message from heaven about King Jesus. They left the sheep and ran to Him and with the eyes of faith “Kissed the Son,” which means to surrender to His Kingly rule over your life.

When we “Kiss the Son” we receive His finished work for us on the cross. Covered by His perfect blood we are rushed into our heavenly home to hear the Father say:

“Welcome to your new Home My beloved children!”

We have this gift of knowing that no government nor scheme of man can remove us from our eternal home and the ever flowing  fountain of love for the Father above.

Oh what a gift to celebrate this Christmas season and beyond.