The Favor of the Father’s Face – Shalom

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The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

I love the Hebrew word Shalom translated peace in the passage above. Shalom is one of those words overflowing with vast meaning and peace is just one word to describe it. Here are a few synonyms that help build the house of shalom:

completeness, soundness, health, wholeness, rest, contentment, security, lasting friendship, tranquility, etc.

As you read this I’m currently in the small country of Lesotho, Africa-a place that has become a second home to me. This past week I had the privilege of participating in a ceremony at Beautiful Gate Care Center where the mantel of leadership was passed on from Bryan and Anita Geurink to Peter and Lindiwe Kirstein. It was an extraordinary day in an extraordinary place and I might add both couples are extraordinary!

Beautiful Gate is a place filled with the Shalom of the Father. Ray and Sue Haakonsen, the founders of Beautiful Gate, began this place with the passion to rescue abandoned babies from death and it is clear that the Face of God was shining upon this endeavor. In 2002 seven children were under the care of Beautiful Gate. Since that time with the support of a team of dedicated employees and volunteers, hundreds of children have been rescued and later adopted and because of this place thousands of lives have been transformed all over the world.

When people visit Beautiful Gate for the first time or the 10th time they run directly into the Shalom of Heaven that rests on this sacred land. The people of Beautiful Gate live the Father’s heart filled with the Spirit of the Father’s love for orphans and His peace permeates every inch of the place. What happens when someone experiences the Shalom of God? They are forever “ruined.” Ruined in a beautiful way. Over the years I have witnessed countless first time volunteers drawn back time and again and return to the Shalom of God. I have seen those who tasted this shalom in Africa return to share the incredible completeness experienced with their own families, churches, and cities. Once one has tasted the Shalom of the Father’s loving Face an indescribable passion is ignited!

Do you know the Shalom, the peace of living in the Father’s presence? You were created to live in the Shalom of the Father’s love, and nothing in the world can impart it to you but His Face shining on you. You don’t have to go to Lesotho Africa to find it at Beautiful Gate, even though you will find it there if you go, you can find it right where you are. The Father has given us His Son Jesus, who not only reveals the Face of the Father, but also shows us His heart and how to live in His Shalom. Keep looking at and following Jesus and let Him lead you to the Father’s Home full of Shalom!

Jesus said: If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23.

 

 

The Favor of the Father’s Face – Graciousness

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The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you… Numbers 6:24-25 

In my wallet is a grace filled $20 bill heading with me to Lesotho Africa. This folded green paper with Andrew Jackson’s face on it testifies to the powerful graciousness of our Father God that was given to me last Tuesday night. My daughter Anna and I were sitting in a smoke filled hotel room of a man I will call David. I met David back in the fall when we knocked on his door to pass out some food and offer prayers. The smell of alcohol was potent on his breath as he turned down the food but quite apt at sharing his knowledge of the Bible, which he definitely possessed a wealth of.

Over the last few months David’s hotel room has become one of our final stops on Tuesday night where he shares with us a message he feels God has for the team that ministries with “Jesus on Colfax Ministries.” David’s life reads as a story of pain and brokenness, which began when a family member violated him as a young boy. This produced a life of battling drugs, prison time, homelessness, and deep loneliness. In the midst of fighting past demons God’s grace found him, loved him, and kept him from certain death.

Many times after leaving David’s room driving home I say to Patty, “I heard God speak through David tonight.” In the midst of his weakness, his struggles with the bottle, somehow God has a word for us. Often times I hear God say, “David is a picture of my mercy and grace and I use him even in his state of brokenness just as I can use anyone even you.” I may not struggle with the same issues David has but I have my own battles in my soul, my own weakness, which somehow Christ by His graciousness works through.

Over the last few weeks a noteworthy difference has occurred-when we stop at David’s room he has been sober- with his well-worn bible in hand he continues to give us a Word from the LORD. Last Tuesday my daughter and I heard a message about taking up the cross and following Jesus, which he said means a life of sacrifice. As he finished he stood up, went to the place where he hides his money, pulled out a $20, and said “God has freely given to me so I give to you, go plant seeds with it!” For the life of me I wanted to give it back. The voice in my head said, “You can’t accept this, he has so little, just look around the room.” Praise God the Spirit kept my proud heart in check and I sensed Him say, “Humble your heart and receive the gift.”

As the $20 travels with me to Africa-it is a sign of the favor of the LORD’s face of graciousness through Jesus Christ that shone on me through the grace given to David in that hotel room. I can’t wait to plant the seeds of the favor of God’s grace in Africa with this cash given from the heart!

Today, don’t be afraid to open your heart to the favor of God’s graciousness and receive the gift He has for you, it may come in the most unusual and unexpected way!

 

 

 

 

The Favor of the Father’s Face – Shine

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“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you…”

Numbers 6:24-25

Brilliance! Is the word I would use to describe the reflection of the Colorado sun bouncing off the freshly fallen snow high in the Rocky Mountains. This blinding scene was recently shared this with a group of couples on a retreat. Together we discussed the Goodness of God as our Father as well as experiencing a spectacular visual while hiked through fluffy white snow, which spectacularly radiated heat from the sun. Our senses soaked in the Father’s creative glory as it shone on us.

How the heart of your Father wants to bless you and anoint you will the brilliance of His shining face of love that will transform every part of your being with His presence. The Father’s glorious face is seen best in Jesus, “The Son,” who is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…” (Heb. 1:3). The Father sent His Son to shine on us with a love that forgives, heals, and brings us into His Heavenly presence and crowns us with authority as His very own sons and daughters.

Scripture also reveals that our Good Father & His Son have left with us the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is the very presence of God taking up residence in our hearts and shines forth His glory and love (John 14:15-21). Those who look to Jesus, who is the glorious face of God the Father, as their Savior and Lord, have been invaded by the blessed gift of the Father shining on them and in them through the Holy Spirit.

This weekend we had the chance to pray over a couple that are seeking direction from their Good Father for the future. As prayers ascended the face of the Father descended through His Spirit and as we finished you could tangibly see the brilliance of the Father’s face in the countenance of this couple. In fact someone later said to me, “Did you see her face shine after the prayer time?” Amazing and true!

My prayer for 2017 is for the blessing and favor of the Father to shine on His sons and daughters in such a brilliant way that they glow with the presence of the Father’s Glorious Face. Just think about the transforming power shining sons and daughters would have on broken families, churches, communities, and cities. When the Father’s face and favor fall on His children their will be a powerful attraction to His light as we reflect His glory as the new snow reflects the blazing sun.

So right now look to heaven and ask the Father to “Bless you” with a fresh revelation of His face through Jesus His Son and prepare your heart to Shine!

 

The Favor of the Father’s Face – Faithful

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As Patty and I walked along a Southern California beach the day after Christmas with some friends we paused to watch the sun bid farewell as it dipped into the vast Pacific Ocean. The setting sun brought me back to a time several years earlier where I sat on the beach only a few miles away reading Habakkuk 2:14:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters over the sea.

In my spirit I sensed the Lord saying to me one day you will be part of a ministry called Oceans, which will make known the Father’s love all over the world.

As I watched that glorious sunset on December 26 I wanted to shout out praise to a Faithful Father who keeps me in His forever arms of love. It has been exactly two years since we stepped out of the boat and onto the water to start Oceans Ministries. Even though my faith can be weak at times the Father is always present to reach down and grab me when I sink and restore me to His loving face. Oceans can testify to the incredible Good, Good, Father who opens doors to ministry and His hands to abundant provision showing His glory and goodness.

As 2017 begins will you join me in pursing The Favor of the Lord’s Face. I know for some 2016 has been filled with pain and heartache and you have felt like you are about to go under the stormy waters. But take courage my friends you have a Father who is big enough to pull you out and bless you with the Favor of His Loving Face. Our Good Father gave us this Priestly Blessing from Numbers 6:24-27 that I believe will help us see more clearly over the next few weeks His Good and Glorious Face.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace…So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

This is the heart of your Father, He desires this truth more than you can imagine, to bless you with the smile of His love. He places dreams and visions in your heart, which He has the power to carry out for His glory through you. He has given you His Son Jesus as the ultimate testimony of His goodness to you and through Jesus to show you the glory of His Face. I want to shout out to you as I did that day on the beach how Faithful the Father is! He will keep you in His loving arms and He will never let you go.

I want to live into the blessings from my Father found in Numbers 6, and I pray that you too experience the Favor of your Father’s Face in ways you have never experienced before. Look by faith into His glorious Face.

Returning to the River

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I love Tuesdays! It is a day where I get thrown back in the River of God’s amazing grace and float along watching the Father’s Kingdom unfold. Tuesday mornings I hang out with my friend Steve, who runs a ministry called Parker Task Force. Steve is a full time volunteer, leading about 150 other volunteers that serve the poorest and neediest in their community. They give away food, financial assistance, wise counsel, and a whole lot of love to people craving it. Steve and I try to spend time praying together but are often interrupted by Rotary members bringing money and gift cards, high school students coming to serve, church folk dropping off food donations, and an overwhelming responsibility for those coming in to seek help.

In the midst of all the commotion one can sense Abba’s love flowing, immersing volunteers and clients alike into the River of Heaven’s grace and mercy. Before I leave Steve walks me through the aisles and fills boxes with food and toiletries that are delivered to the harsh streets of Colfax for young women who sell their bodies in order to survive. As I load my trunk with the supplies, I think of the power of God’s grace and how it flows through people willing to give their lives away for God’s Kingdom. Those boxes represent people’s gifts given of time, talent, and treasures so others can be loved and blessed. The people serving are conduits of God’s love flowing through His children to other children created in His likeness.

Check out the powerful prophetic picture of a River flowing from the temple.

“So where the River flows everything will live.” Ezekiel 47:9

This glorious prophecy points to Pentecost and beyond when the Holy Spirit was unleashed on the followers of Christ and they jumped into the River of God’s gracious gifts of love to be given away to bring healing and salvation to the nations. The book of Acts displays a church splashing the world with the River of God’s grace and bringing the healing power of God’s Kingdom to earth. What turned the world upside down in a few hundred years was not big church buildings, budgets, or butts in the pew. It was people giving away the grace given to them through the Gospel in word and deed. History points to the fact that the most fertile ground was among the poor and the needy. They soaked in the River of God’s love, were transformed by it, and then empowered by the Holy Spirit flooded the nations with the River of life that was evident in their lives. The love of God flowed through them!

Every Tuesday I get a prophetic picture of the River of life and the call to jump in again. Just like in the book of Acts I believe God is calling His people, “the church,” to let the River flow in and through us. Revival is going to happen among the poor and the needy of our world and you and I are also poor and needy. I want to be apart of those who find the River, jump in and become powerful witnesses to the grace of God in their lives. What a prophetic picture of what 2017 can be like!!