"Do You Believe You Love Them More than I Do"

"Do You Believe You Love Them More than I Do"

As I was in a place of prayer and devotion the other day, this picture kept coming up in my heart. I love this picture. For those who may not know me, it is of my grandson and myself. It captured a moment in time that I will always hold dear. I love my grandchildren with all me heart. They are such a blessing. This picture, for me, holds thousands of words and goes deeper than I can explain here. 

My wife, children and grandchildren are dear to my heart. I love them with every part of my being and would give them the world if I could. This picture speaks that to me. I would give my life for this little guy. I would destroy anything or anyone that tried to harm him if it were in my power to do so. I feel the same about my wife, my sons, and my granddaughter. 

As I prayed, read my devotional and thought about this picture, I heard The Lord ask me: 

 "Do You Believe You Love Them More than I Do"

I kind of ignored the question at first because I knew in my heart, my answer didn't line up with The Truth about The Lord and His love for us all. The Lord  knows our hearts so it doesn't do much good hiding things from Him. Trying to hide the thoughts and our unspoken beliefs about Him will only weaken our faith in Him. However, being open, honest and exposing  the lying whispers in our hearts by giving voice to them, will open a much needed dialogue between The Lord and ourselves. A dialogue that He wants to use to set us free from the lies we have allowed to haunt the shadows of our soul.

So again He asked :

"Do You Believe You Love Them More than I Do"

 I have engaged in conversation about this question with The Lord in the past. This time however it was the picture above that The Lord used to get to the core of my struggle with this question. He was just looking for me to be honest. He wasn't looking for the answer that I knew was right. He wasn't looking for the theologically correct answer. He wasn't looking for the answer that would preach well. He was looking for the answer that punched me in the gut when I heard the question and thought about the picture. 

There is a longer story that led to this moment in time. A story of trauma, pain and disappointment. But, also a story of joy, strength, power and a deep empathy for those who are suffering and/or persecuted. So, this was definitely a question both God and I  knew the answer to.  

As I began to open up to The Lord and yield to His will for us to discuss this again, I started off by regressing a bit. I made a couple of jokes, acted like it was no big deal and tried to minimize the question and the pain I was feeling in my soul over answering the question.

Finally, I opened up. I am just giving an overview of what I said , not a verbatim record of the conversation. I heard the question reverberate again in my soul:

"Do You Believe You Love Them More than I Do"

Lord, what do you want me to say? You know my struggle with this. I know you love them more than I do but I don't understand that in my soul. I would never let anything hurt him (looking at this picture above) . If anyone dared to even threaten to hurt him they would know what that look on my face means. I love this little boy more than anything , no one will ever hurt him. So Lord I do not understand how you can love them more than me. I understand you cant strike every person who does wrong with lightening, but my love for this little guy, could never, ever watch on while somebody hurt him, either by accident or on purpose. If I had your power, omnipotence and angelic armies then my wife, children and grandchildren would never, ever be harmed and the enemy would be destroyed before he ever came close to them.  Lord I cant imagine watching somebody walk in my house, harm my wife or children and not doing all that is in my power to stop them. 

 So, Lord I know you do love them more than I do, but I don't understand that kind of love. My love for this little boy would rise up and guard him for anything that would harm him, in anyway.  

 Just speaking these things out loud in an open dialogue with The Lord has been so helpful to me. I know some who are reading this are probably ready to tell me all the textbook answers to these questions. I know them all. It isn't about knowing or not knowing the answers sometimes. Sometimes it is about knowing the scriptural, theological, and eternally true answers, but also understanding that God is okay with us not being able to grasp those truths fully on this side of glory.  Even Jesus used parables that are true in an eternal sense, however do not always hold true for us on this earth, in this age. 

 For instance, Jesus said what Father would give his son a serpent when he asked for bread. If you being evil know how to give good things to your children, how much more does your Father in heaven want to give good things to you. Paraphrased. 

 We receive that by faith for sure. But, how many of us have asked our Father in heaven for things dear to us, and it did indeed seem like we received a serpent instead of bread. How many have ask for healing for a loved one to see them struggle for years. How many have stood in faith for a spouse with cancer and instead of seeing healing they had to bury them much to young. How many prayed for protection over a child to see them killed in a horrible accident, or some in other nations watch them starve to death or killed by a terrorist. 

 A glance at the percentage of Christians who are healed of uncurable diseases to how many die from them when they are attacked by something like and aggressive cancer, would seem to show that the parable of Jesus is not true. It would be easy for our soul to be hurt, hardened and scarred to a point we know The Word is true, but our soul cant "see" that it is true. 

 Our spirit knows That The Lord loves us dearly and beyond measure, but there is a room in our soul that we keep our doubts and hard questions for Him hidden away. Our spirit knows He is Good and His Word is unshakable but since our souls have endured so much, and our empathetic hearts have absorbed so much pain, we sometimes place all that into this locked room of our soul. 

 Our human hearts see the parable of Jesus and apply that to ourselves as Mothers, Fathers, Husbands and Wives. Like I mentioned above, what Natural Father would allow a much weaker , easily defeated enemy walk into his home and harm his family. Look at the picture again, how to you think I would react to somebody trying to touch this little boy?? Do you think anyone could harm him in my presence? How fast and undeniable would I make the intruder realize he made a very bad decision? There is nothing in me that could allow a child to be harmed. Sometimes adults open themselves up, but a child is innocent and precious. 

 It just makes sense, Jesus said, you being "evil" know how to give good things to your children how much MORE does your Fathers in heaven want to give you good things. Ask and you shall receive. Anyone who is honest can see , this parable does not ring true in many cases today that require a miraculous intervention of God.

So what do we do? Well we walk by faith right? We hold to the truth That God is Good and His mercy endures forever. We hold fast to the promises of God. We declare Him to be true and every man and circumstance a lie that challenges Him and His Word.  

 We , like Abraham, consider not our own situation, but we strengthen ourselves in faith as we give glory to God knowing all that He has promised He will also perform. We walk by faith and not by sight. We do not let what we feel or see move us off our stand of faith. We declare His word, we endure temptation, trials and tribulation. We determine that we know that Faith is the substance of the things we are hoping for, believing for and standing for in His promises. We determine that Faith is the evidence that we have those things even if we do not see them.  

  Our doubts , fears, pain and past trauma do not have to negate our faith. Being honest about what we are seeing around us, or even being troubled by the lack of answered prayers around us, do not have to put a wedge between The Lord and us. Recognizing the areas of our mind and soul that may even struggle with Gods ways and will, does not make us ,in any way, disqualified to be mighty warriors of faith. On the contrary, these things can be the very things that make us strong in Faith and mighty in Intercession. 

 I want to encourage you in this: Some of the mightiest men and women of God had struggles in the flesh and mind. Many were "driven"  to press in because they were  disturbed by the amount of unanswered prayers they noticed in The Church. Some openly said that it troubled them to see how people were prayed for over and over only to see most never get healed. They recognized the gap between the promises of God and what was being realized in The Body of Christ and in the earth. What they did not do, once they determined to believe God fully, is make excuses for the lack of answered prayers and power in The Church. 

Many of these men and women wept greatly and regularly in prayer for what they saw and felt. Many prayed in ways few ever had up to their time on earth. Many seemed extreme by their contemporary counterparts that couldn't understand the passion that led them and the fire that burned in them. They caught something in The Spirit and they were set apart to face the "stuff" others could not or would not, so Gods dominion could be established through The Gospel and The Name of Jesus Christ. 

 In doing so, God used them to perform mighty signs and wonders in the view of all. The Lord used them to set the course of nations and change history in ways we will not know in this side of eternity. 

I believe we are now in one of those times in History. We are about to reveal The Father God through The Power and Love of The Full Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Now when I look at this picture and I hear the question that once caused me to hide all my stuff in the junk room of my soul,  I can smile and answer honestly and with Joy. 

 Lord I know you love them far more than I do! I trust you. I rest my head on your chest knowing that you love me so much and just want me to rest on you so I can hear your heartbeat and receive from your Spirit. I trust you with all that I love. You are my strong defender and the defender of those whom I hold dear. 

To the reader:

Spend time everyday in this place of abiding on the Fathers chest and in His Love. He does care for you and all you love. Even if you have suffered some of the things I mentioned above, and have past trauma, let His Spirit bring peace to your heart and healing to your soul.

 He knows all, sees all and deeply cares for you all. This is the place of healing. This is the place of strength. This is the place, even the mightiest men and women of faith had to spend time in, in order to live a life of faith and strength. Right here, like a child, resting in the Fathers Heart for them. 

    

  

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Will You Be Part of His Plan??

 

This needs to be heard and understood. The Lord is preparing a great move of His Word, His Spirit and His Gospel, but so many in the church are still distracted and surprised by world events, or more accurately , politics and upheaval.

We have to stop acting like we were not clearly told, warned and comforted about these days of trouble and the speeding up toward the Day Of The Lord. The entire Bible tells us of this time.

The World is going to find out where all of Gods Anger has been stored up in during this age of grace. He isn't blind to every evil act committed, and every horrible thing done. Every act of violence against a child, every unspeakable act done on the planet has caused anger in The Godhead.

There is judgement that is being stored, in a very real way. His wrath is being stored in a mysterious way that the bible calls The Bowls of The Wrath of God. His Judgement has been sealed and can only be opened by Jesus in thier time. (Read The Book of Revelation)

Believers today think we will escape all of the tribulation of the last days. Not so sure about that. Ask the believers in persecuted nations about that idea. The early church suffered horribly. They were burned at the stake, cut in half, be-headed.

We will escape the full wrath of God, but not so sure about the wrath of The Beast as he rises to power. Millions of believers have been and are being persecuted and killed by his spirit (spirit of anti-Christ)

I don't say this to enlist fear. Quite the opposite, we only fear what we don't understand or are surprised by. When we expect what The Word says to actually occur, which every believer should, we can stand with a confident hope.

We can face that darkness knowing God has prepared something much greater, and even as darkness falls upon the earth, He will cause light to shine upon and through His people.

What does that light look like in darkness??

Read The Gospels and pay attention to the ministry of Jesus. Read The Book of ACTS and pay attention to how believers continued The Ministry of Jesus. It describes The Light (Jesus) coming into the the darkness (the world system and the enemies kingdom) .

The Lord has plans for His Church in the days ahead. There is a HUGE HARVEST He plans on bringing in. He will do it. Will you be part of it, or will you be protesting and carrying your gun with your 2nd amendment shirt on? Will you be part of His plan or will you be so caught up in politics and the noise of nationalism, you cant even see The Kingdom Of God being reveled on earth?

Will you be like the zealots that mocked Jesus and discounted Him because He came with a message of love, forgiveness and healing, instead of nationalistic power to kick the Romans out of Israel?

Will you be like them that had miracles, signs wonders and power operating right in front of them, but they were so blinded by carnal things, they had no place nor part in it, except as a tool to bring persecution to believers by stirring up hatred toward them.

Eye hasn't seen , not ear heard what God has planned in the final days of His Church on earth in this age. Don't fear, it will be good, very, very good. When you see the storms, pray for protection and seek Gods plan for you to bring peace in it.

When you see pestilence, disease, shaking, darkness. Don't get in fear and look for somebody to blame. Seek God, be at peace and get instructions of what your part is to bring His Light to it.

Yes, weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Be sober minded and focused. Like a warhorse honor your Master Jesus and press on as He steers the reigns of your heart. Be gentle, but strong , kind but resolute. Protect the weak , guard the feeble, turn the other cheek, but be bold and courageous in persecutions and successes.

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The Tree and The Word

How did listening to this book cause me to see this tree in a whole new light? I am still processing the views and truths I have received from the book. I highly recommend it, even though I am not sure if I totally embrace everything taught in it.  I can say that everything taught in it is worth considering and praying over to see where we can understand Gods Ways and Word better by laying aside our own bias and Western thinking minds. 

I have been admiring this tree in my front yard for over a week now. Each day it seem to bloom brighter and grow more beautiful.  The picture really doesn't do it justice . It has opened up in a spectacular way this year. My wife and I both commented to each other how we cant believe how full and dense the blooms are, especially since last year there were hardly any blooms and what did bloom was short lasting and unimpressive.  

 One day , shortly after reading the above book, my attention was drawn to this flowering crabapple tree blooming brightly outside my window. I stirred up my spirit and and began to consider how this could be made into a parable about God's Plans. I was going to cut this tree down a few times over the past few years because it wasn't much of a tree most of the time. 

 I believe prayer sometimes is in our seeking. God answers us and communes with us in our own internal conversations and we seek wisdom from the world around us. (I believe this is one way God gave Solomon such wisdom) This is how my internal conversation went and the outcome of it. 

Wow that tree is amazing this year. I am so glad I didn't cut it down. Could it be a prophetic example of God's faithfulness to bring harvest into our lives? To renew what was thought dying or lost? Could it be that the blooms of this year, and what is sure to be an abundance of apples in the fall, is a sign of a coming rich harvest in our lives? 

Hmmm, I wonder. But, this is, although beautiful, just a crab apple tree. There may be an abundant harvest of apples, but they are tiny inedible apples, that really just hang on the branches until they finally rot off in the mid winter. Well, that doesn't sound much like an exciting parable. Yeah, it is pretty now, but soon will be just a crab apple tree with a lot of useless fruit on it. 

Then some of the truths of the book above came up in my heart. Am I thinking about this entirely the wrong way? Am I discounting something God is trying to show me, just because I will not personally eat the fruit of this tree? Am I just thinking about me, my needs and what this tree provides for me? 

Look at all the bumble bees in this tree. I have never seen so many bumble bees around here. They are acting like they found a treasure chest. It is almost like they have sent out the call that a major reserve of their precious pollen has been found.  What impact on the ecosystem will this treasure trove of  bumble bee gold be? Our little tree here is a precious recourse to not only these bees but every part of the area eco-system will benefit from these amazing blooms. 

When the blooms turn to tiny apples, the neighborhood deer come along and eat the ones they can reach, and the bunnies, squirrels and other critters, snag the ones that fall. 

This years spectacular blooms are not just so I can enjoy its beauty for a short period of time , but they will bless so many things, for an unknown amount of time, that go far beyond this time of spring renewal.  Those bumble bees seem to know that. They are hard at work, in a harvest field that is greater than they can possibly deplete. They seem to know this is a special harvest season. Could they know?? Those bees, those amazing bees.