Monthly Archives: December 2019

7 Words that describe God- ‘W’

7 Words that describe God- ‘W’:
 
Watchful
Way
Whimsical
Wind
Wise
Wonderful
Worshipful
 

Yes, Lord, You see everything. Nothing is hidden from You. You are more than a mere witness, You announce judgment, defend me against my enemies, and pay the price of my conviction. You are ever Watchful and Your eyes examine my heart. There are those who believe You don’t concern Yourself with our trivial matters, and there are those who see how You care for a bird. May Your watchful eyes rain down Your glorious favor on Your children. May Your loving tears nourish and grow more awareness of Your presence in our lives. May we see and be confident of Your ability to accomplish what You set out to do over, around and within us.  Psalm 38:8

You are the Way in which I should go. Each day presents a path. When I come to a crossroads and it is decision time, I look to Your Holy Spirit to make clear which I should choose. I know my self determines much in its stubborn pride, in its sin, in the lessons I have learned from my past, and being able to sleep at night in peace. My wife helps me to understand with eyes not my own. I know her, she is Your daughter, a better woman for me I cannot find. I can trust what she sees, even though I know it is jaded, imperfect as my own. Friends and family take their part, though one I choose and the other was chosen for me. The years I’ve spent with them make clear their reasons. The community I’m in also aids in the choice. Like friends, if chosen wisely, the community looks to Your Word to guide. Though interpretation wades through mires of ignorance and corporate selfishness, greed, and pride, I can see the value they bring. My path may not be the straightest thing, John, but I know as we look for His footprints, the following makes us better.  Isaiah 55:8-9

There are times when Your activity in my life has been playful and almost Whimsical. When my family went for a walk and we asked You to join us. You let it snow maybe an inch or so, so we threw it at each other and made small snowmen. Then by the time we made it back to the car the snow was gone. Or that time I was raking leaves and I asked You for help. You sent a mini-tornado across my yard. No, it didn’t really help, but it made me laugh big time. Or when I asked You to write ‘Love’ in the sky and You sent me the only heart-shaped cloud I’ve ever seen. When my daughter said she wanted to see a rainbow the next day, and though it was way out of season, the next day You gave her a double right over her school’s entrance. Repeatedly and over so many times, You’ve acted and answered in very odd and whimsical ways. Though it makes me cry, I can hear You laugh. My tears are of gratefulness.  Romans 12:9-21

You are like the Wind to me, my Lord. You pass by me in breezes that comfort, and raging tempests that destroy. I endeavor to learn Your ways, both gentle and fierce. The gentle is a whisper that opens doors within that guide me to a deeper understanding of Your favor. The fierce is a gale that blows me away and lifts me from this place. I have built a tower, a place to dwell. From it, I can see the landscape, enough to know I am safe. If I were to remain, I would be satisfied. You remind me my safety is not in such things. Your wind would blow my tower down. How else do we learn our dwelling is not here? How else do we leave our place of comfort where slumber steals away what we’d receive from You in our wakefulness? “Blow Wind blow, come blow over me.”  Isaiah 11:15

You are Wise. In fact, You hold its definition in Your hands. Not only that, but Your Word says You used wisdom to create this world, Proverbs 3:19. You said its price was so high, ‘though it costs all we have’, Proverbs 4:7, get it. Then You took wisdom and fulfilled it that we may be made into new creations in Your kingdom, 2 Corinthians 5:17. You opened wisdom’s door for all of us. The frantic desperation to gain something we can never unravel or truly understand is gone. You’ve given us a reward beyond any price we could ever pay. All praises be unto You!!!  1 Corinthians 1:24
 

Your wonders none can fathom. Though by now I feel I may be repeating myself, it matters not. You are Wonderful. I could repeat that forever and it wouldn’t begin to tell of Your greatness. I am caught in awe of You, oh eternal One. We concern ourselves with the small things we can do. We see how our ‘little’ influences the environment around it. We want to matter, but how can we? We are talking dust. Do we grab at the flowing river of life to try to contain its motion keeping a moment for ourselves? Foolishness! Yet You intervene. You gave the river its speed, its direction. You ordered it to flow and it will continue until You say it should stop. Oh, wondrous One, I praise You and am grateful for Your attention. Romans 11:33-35

You are the only One who we worship. There are no other gods like You. Sure there are things that affect us and change our station. Money can make all the difference for a family, for a person. Worshiping money, striving for it, sacrificing for it, compromises a person’s character. Greed and jealousy are its offspring. Money doesn’t care if I am a good person, but You do. You love me. Worshiping You changes me. Worshiping You straightens my crooked ways. Worshiping money is like worshiping the sun and moon. They are all Yours. They belong to You and are tools to be used for Your purposes. All things here remain on this side of the grave. Their effect is for the living but Yours is beyond the grave. You are the Worshipful One who sought us out and sacrificed for us. Tools do not do that for anyone.  Psalm 73:25-26

Spiritfire Proverbs 21:12 “The Ruining of Salvation”

“The Righteous One takes note of the
              house of the wicked
     and brings the wicked to ruin.”
 
At the outset of our dive into the depths of this proverb, we sat for a spell in the heritage and traditional teaching of the ‘Righteous One’.  No, I didn’t give an exhaustive account filled with Old Testament Scriptures, no, but I said as a culture, their expectation was of a deliverer who will ‘make things right’.  Return Israel to its political position of favor, not conquered, oppressed, and scattered.  The focus was still on an earthly kingdom.  A Righteous One who will restore God’s justice by destroying the wicked, or as the proverb states, “brings the wicked to ruin.”  Here we see the ‘plan’ explained of the expectation, the ‘hope’, of a people lost from their position.  He would “take note,”  “bring to ruin”, and return to Wisdom’s house its preeminence among the houses.
 
When I asked my kids, “Where is Jesus?  How did He fulfill this one?”  The bottom dropped out beneath us and we were cast into the mysteries of Christ.  “Surely He is the Righteous One, Dad.  That’s easy!” my kids declared.  “Yes, He is.  I agree.  But look closer, and stop calling me Surely.  When we read of Jesus and His mission, did He take note like Santa and keep a list?  Did He bring the wicked to ruin?”  This was the ‘true’ depth of the wisdom of God.  Here we witnessed the fulfillment of His plan, the Kingdom of God.  The writer of Proverbs only saw in part, as we do, but not the whole.  
 
Jesus was and is ‘the Righteous One’ so that part is fulfilled, but what did He ruin?  He ruined the entire matrix of the houses!  We’ve already seen how Jesus ‘stole’ from the Imposter’s House to fill His roster of disciples.  And we witnessed how quickly and immediately the process of becoming a new creation took as Jesus’ neighbor on the cross found mercy.  
 
Jesus is the Wisdom of God fulfilled.  The veil was torn, that separation paid for in His death, the hope of a new creation raised in His resurrection.  Jesus brought ruin to the House of the Wicked not by their blood, but by His.  The old way was made new.  Now we are brought in beyond our ability to obey.  We get His righteousness and our salvation brought ruin to everything.
 
Merry Christmas!  He is born!

Prayer of 2019- A Tapestry of Faith

One thing that we started this year was a specific prayer filled with huge ‘God-sized’ requests.  We voiced it amidst our daily prayers for His activity and favor in our lives and announce, “Now this is my prayer request of 2019 that I don’t see any evidence of it happening on its own…”  Then comes the fanfare!  We start out with instruments and their coinciding hand gestures:  trumpets- bapada-bap-bap-bap-bap-bap-bap-baaaap!!  Trombones- beeeuuuheeep!!!  Flutes- whistle something!!!  Then comes the tympani- bing-bong-bing-bong-bidlidlidlidlidlidlidlid!!!  And finish with a cymbal crash- pishhhhhhhh!!!  (I’m pretty sure God likes the fanfare).  Then we lay specific prayers before Him that we want to see happen in that year.  I’ve done this before with friends and neighbors and some answers and events have already happened, some have yet to come- 7 days left!

There are so many things we can’t see.  That’s why it’s a prayer!  We trust in the One who sees all and knows the perfect timing.  What will we do if He doesn’t answer our Prayer Requests of 2019?  Trust Him, celebrate ones we have seen Him answer, and enlargen our eyes to pray for more of Him in our lives.  How else do visions expand, passions purified, and lives engaged with His holy presence?  In the tapestry of faith that our prayers create, I love inviting God to write stories that my kids can look to for their own edification throughout their lives.

I hope this encourages others to seek more from Him and have fun with their prayers.  God bless!  Merry Christmas!!!

 

7 Words that describe God- ‘V’

7 Words that describe God- ‘V’:
 
Valiant
Victory
Vigilant
Vision
Vivid
Voice
Vulnerable
 
You are the Valiant One. There is no one more courageous and determined than You. Your bravery to face and submit to a lesser foe is a little, I mean way beyond, my understanding. Many try their best to be like You, myself included, but if we knew our efforts would only scratch the surface of the path You walked, we might not be so “Holier than thou”. I know I can be more than brazenly indignant when even a hint of the stench of injustice reaches my nose. Who submits themselves to ants, to mosquitoes? Do we not with one stroke defeat our foe? Yet You did just that. You bravely faced the only future that would bring us back to You. 2 Samuel 17:10
 
Heavenly Father, I know that normally I ask You first what word I should use to describe You with for the day, but today I want to talk about Victory. You have it completely. There is no one else who does. All bow to You. All submit before Your holy Word. You may have come vulnerably the first time, but mountains will melt like wax and the stars will fall from the sky when You return Lord Jesus. Everyone who stands will crawl. Everyone who speaks will choke. Everyone who laughs will groan. For the Day will come and has already been set to bring this world to its end. All those who do not call on Your Name will hide, but the rocks can not cover their hearts and minds. You hold the Victory, that word has no meaning otherwise, except for madness. 1 Corinthians 15:57
 
You take up my cause and are careful to attend to me. You, the maker of the stars, You, who holds all things together, You, are Vigilant over me. Nothing surprises You. Nothing catches You off-guard. The plans of the wicked come to naught though they try to strike me down. They know which way I am going for I seek to follow You. Whatever can be done to trap me in the pit of legalism or in the prison of indulgence, they are quick to mislead. These ditches on either side of Your path are trivial to You, for Your Love is quick to extend Your hand to pull me from both.  Psalm 121
 
Lord, with You as my Vision, I see people as Your children. When I see them with Your eyes, I am able to serve without prejudice, without need. I am able to see others as Your creations filled with Your Spirit to accomplish great things. If I were a thief, I’d see them as marks- targets for me to steal from. If I were a salesman, I’d see them as customers- potential buyers of my product. If I were a doctor, I’d see them as patients- those in need of medical attention. If I were a superstar, I’d see them as fans- my faithful audience who values what I say. If I were a professor, I’d see them as students- sheep in need of a shepherd. But when I see them as Yours, we are all equal under Your love, in need of Your grace. I can’t see anything like that without You as my Vision.  Joel 2:28
 
I’ve heard how many see Heaven as a place of color so vivid it blows the mind. I once stared at a flowering bush that almost hurt my eyes. The deep green of grass below looked almost black and made the bush’s color even brighter. I stood there shocked, my wonder prevented me from leaving that place, but I had to. We are still where Time reigns, where flowers wilt, where friends and family die. This life here will end, either Jesus comes back or we go to Him, but to think of a time without time, I could continue to stare and be lost in Your Beauty. I know I am not Moses and the bush was not lit by flames, but like the fire that did not devour, the colors on the bush are a permanent fixture of You- so Vivid, so entrancing.  Luke 2:19
 
May I be ever attentive to Your Voice. May I heed Your call. May my ears strain to hear it as my soul yearns to obey it. If at times Your Voice is stern, may I be quick to repent. Your voice over me sings of such resounding mysteries. May I dance to Your song for You give voice to greater things than I know. The voiceless find their voice in You. The oppressed and the downtrodden find solace in the Voice who made the earth and sky. Kings learn to abide beneath Your tones. Their voice bows to Yours. Your mouth uttered the Word that gives life and aligns all to Your will. Your voice teaches me to obey Your Word. As I submit to You, I am placed among the stars. May I treasure Your whispers. Your Voice is everything to me.  Hebrews 3:15
 
One of the great mysteries is that You made Yourself Vulnerable to us. You came here as a baby, not as a mighty warrior. They laid You in a manger in a barn surrounded by shepherds, not in a palace surrounded by guards. They wrapped You in a baby’s clothes, not a fine royal robe. You grew to be a man, a carpenter by trade, not a prince soon to be king. You were surrounded by the untrustworthy and traitors, not by faithful stewards. You showed them how to serve, not how to command. You came to give, not to take. You loved instead of lorded. They arrested You when they should have honored you. They beat and ridiculed You when they should have worshipped and revered You. They gave You a crown of thorns when they should have given You one of gold. They sentenced You to die when they should have praised You for Your life. They nailed You to a cross when they should have seated You on a throne. You died a sinner’s death though You knew no sin. Who knew Your path from swaddling clothes to the cross, Your trail of vulnerability, would come to this?  Luke 6:27-29

Spiritfire, Proverbs 21:10, “Cravings”

“The wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor gets no mercy from him.”
 
As has been our practice for Spiritfire- our family devotion time with God, we began with prayer, gave our intros, and then looked at the wisdom inherent in the verse for that night.  Proverb 21:10 has the form of a ‘this-and-more’ proverb.  In this case, it made a statement and then furthered the point with an example.  What one craves is what makes them.  Why would a neighbor of Folly’s house seek from them the fruit of Wisdom’s?  If mercy is what they seek why would they live next to the wicked?  Maybe it wasn’t on purpose.

When I asked my family, “Where is Jesus in this proverb and how does He fulfill it that we may be made into new creations?”  They saw Him in the proverb’s reflection on the pools of Living Water below, and Betsy said:
 
“To imagine what Jesus went through: the false testimonies, the whipping and beatings from the soldiers, the mockery of the crowds, the shameful stripping of his clothes, his criminal crucifixion… He was surrounded by those who were craving evil against Him in every possible way.  Even His closest “neighbors,” His disciples, showed no mercy and abandoned Him.
 
Then to think of Jesus, as an earthly man – He was a righteous man who craved Love.  When dying for us, He called out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:35).  When Jesus’ neighbor who was hanging on the cross beside Him asked for mercy, Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43).  Jesus craves love and His neighbor gets ultimate mercy from Him.”

7 Words that describe God- ‘U’

7 Words that describe God- ‘U’:

Ultraviolet 
Uncontainable
Understanding
Undomesticated
Unifier
Unstoppable
Unveiled

You move beyond what I can see. My eyes often stay focused on the physical plane, but I know it doesn’t limit You. The laws of the world where I function do not bind You. I pray for more than what I can see. With my imagination, I can go there. Beyond the dimensions of Buckaroo Banzai, farther away than the furthest star, closer than a beating heart, deeper than the grave, you are there. Ultraviolet light shows us there are rays we can’t see. I’ve seen things that are hard to explain, but they are still bound by laws. You walked on water and through walls, You open prison doors and feed thousands with food that wasn’t there. Help me to see Your wavelength, the wavelength of faith, for You are Ultraviolet.  2 Corinthians 4:6

You cannot be put in a box. There is no easy ‘get-rich-quick’ scheme with You. No “Now that I’ve done this…” whether it be healing, signs/wonders, exorcism, resurrection, baptism in water and/or the Spirit, there isn’t a quick path that says “It’s done, now I’m a Christian. I’ve got my ‘ticket’, my proof”. Faith in You isn’t defined that way. You aren’t defined by those things. Yes, You give us power to do those things, but as soon as we take our eyes off of You and what You’ve done to look at ourselves and what we’ve done, we sink under the waves that were never meant to hold us up. Thank You for not being contained to a time or a place for we would weaken our confidence in You outside of each. You are Uncontainable.  Psalm 92:1-2

You more than know me, my Lord, You understand me. You have the most intimate knowledge of who I am and You ‘get’ me. Your Word says You know when I sit and when I rise. Well, so does Google, Siri, Amazon, the F.B.I. etc., but it’s what You do with that knowledge that’s the rub. They give me links to stuff that fades, shipments of packages tied up with strings. They might be a few of my favorite things- digital worlds where I’m more than healed, where I have the power to affect my surroundings, where I determine the outcome, where I am king. But it’s fake, merely a video game. I know it is. You call me ever beyond this place. No matter what ‘they’ know, it fades. They know the fading me. Only You know my secret name. You’re the One who gives it to me. It is eternally more important for me to understand You, than for You to understand me. I am a piece of dust- here today, gone tomorrow, but You are eternal and You do understand me.  Psalm 8

A dog’s domestication fulfills a need and gives it purpose for survival in humankind’s world. If left on its own, it becomes wild and is a danger to all who come near. A veterinarian can give it shots and do check-ups for its health when it is domesticated. But You need no such things. You are Undomesticated no matter how comfortable we try to make ourselves in Your presence. You are love, so we are not in danger. You are kind, so we trust in You. But to think we can train You to behave in a way that fits our culture, Whose blessings fit our schedule, that is folly. We think we know, but who can domesticate the wind? A fire? An earthquake?  Romans 8:6-9
 
I have spoken with and met a lot of people who would have nothing to do with each other outside of You. Sports team rivalries, Alma-mater rivalries, family feuds, etc., bitterness has a strange way of twisting things. I’ve met with people who would die for You but would never extend the hand of fellowship to another believer. I have worshipped You alongside many who hold Scripture as sacred. They sing the same songs, read the same verses, dedicate their lives to You and yet would prefer to demonize each other than see that they will be enjoying heaven together. Politics and titles aside may we see how Your heart is to unify us to be closer than brothers.  John 17:20-21
 
You are unstoppable as a runaway train, like an avalanche nothing can slow you down. You break through any wall, any boundary. Your enemies have tried to stop You, to halt the progress of Your Kingdom. Their plans are to steal, kill, and destroy Your people. But they are stoppable. Their day is short, their time limited. You are patient, but they should not take Your patience as permission. When Your Day is at hand, they will be silenced, but the voices of those who worship You will ring out. You are unstoppable! Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.  Job 42:1-6
 
You’ve kept hidden Your plans, though they were told about long ago as if behind a veil. You allowed things to be separate. Wisdom had its day. You warranted us to the understanding of barriers, sacrifice, and holiness. You kept us in fear that we may one day follow our forefathers in their disobedience. You permitted us to know the folly of perfection. You tolerated within us the hopelessness of earning our salvation. Then You came. At the right time, You revealed Your plan. To fulfill all things, You took away the veil. The separation was torn, the barrier broken. The price was paid and we were made into new creations. You brought us into Your presence washed white in Your holiness, redeemed in Your righteousness, saved by Your blood.  2 Corinthians 3:18
 







				
		
	



	


		
		




				
		
			
Spiritfire Proverbs 21:9 “Avoidance or Breakthrough”

	
	






	

“Better to live on a corner of the roof
      than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
  
 When I read this proverb to my kids, my wife and I tried to explain to them about the need to choose their spouse wisely.  That led to an interesting conversation 10+ years in the making.  What is it like to be married to a quarrelsome spouse?  This proverb says it all.
  
 Now, when I asked “Where’s Jesus?” for this one, my wife (who is awesome!) was the first to speak:
  
 “In Proverbs, it talks about a wife that is so quarrelsome in their home that her husband is better off living away from her on the roof.  But with Jesus, it’s just the opposite.  People wanted to be with him so desperately that they tore the roof open to lower their crippled friend into the home that Jesus was in (Luke 5:19).  Instead of a wife that the husband wants to avoid, Jesus is the husband that the church bride wants to be with.”
  
 The Spirit spoke through her to me again about Wisdom’s theme of ‘avoidance’ that we saw in 20:19.  Again we saw how Jesus fulfilled wisdom’s call and flipped it to be an invitation.  Jesus didn’t avoid.  He draws us in.  Or as my wife concluded:
  
 “In another way, just as the husband is escaping from his argumentative wife, more-so Jesus is the husband who “stands at the door and knocks” (Rev. 3:20) and He will come in and eat with us.”




				
		
	



	


		
		




				
		
			
7 Words that describe God- ’T’

	
	






	

7 Words that describe God- ’T’:
 
Taxi
Teacher
Testimony
Therapist
Three
Trailblazer
Truth
 
You are my ride, my Taxi from this life to the next. In desperation, I called to You. By faith, I entered Your door. Because of the price paid for me, my ride is free. You paid my fare knowing it wasn’t fair. The traffic of guilt, regret, and condemnation were blasted away with one honk of Your glorious horn. Your Son made the way for my destination. Because of His divine invitation, I am brought before His seat in Your throne room. I hear there’s a mansion on the way, take Your time my Holy Cabby. Crank up the tunes!  The worship of angels fits this place. Jonah 1:17-2:10
 
You are the One whose lessons guide in the way of righteousness. Your class is one I can’t afford to skip. A seat in the front row is my place. Your Word open in front of me, Your curriculum is holiness. Your homework adds to my life. My dog cannot destroy it, no matter how I’ve trained it. I can’t take enough notes, for the blessings they give to me are countless. When it comes to test time every bit of studying counts, every time I value Your teachings over my desires prepares me for victory. The apple I put on Your desk is my submission of the one Adam and Eve took in disobedience. May I learn from Your first students and even more from Your Son who fulfilled the class requirements for the rest of us. You are my Teacher so perfect and wise. May I remain Your student to the end of my days. John 13:13
 
Because of You, my story is worth telling. If not for You, my story would be no different from the world’s. I’d be doomed to repeat the fading tale of hopelessness. I’d be left in a panicked frenzy to grab all I can on my way to finality. I would be among the lost, stealing from each other and clawing as we’d fight to be at the top of this muddy hill. If we make it to the top, our prize fades even as we hold it aloft. Our laugh of victory has the limit of our breath. Before we know it, our time is over and another is at the top. We are forgotten as the game continues. This ‘king of the mountain’ is madness. But You give us a new name. You save us from repetition, from our doom. You are the King and Your mountain is holy. You are my Testimony. 1 John 5:9-12
 
You know me completely. If I have an issue or a problem, You know how to untangle the mess in my head. I trust You. You know the end before the beginning. You can not be fooled or mislead. You can not be manipulated or bribed. I’ve seen when liars win, when cheaters break the system. I’ve witnessed the ‘innocent’ card played to perfection. I’ve heard the stories of wickedness acted out on the helpless. I’ve learned of oppression so stark it crushes people beneath its weight. Their victory is short-lived. They do not hold eternity. Their effect on the mind, the soul, leaves wounds only You can address. I wait on You, mighty One. You are my Doctor, my Therapist. You know how I’m to be saved. Hebrews 4:12
 
741-852-963, You are my 7 and my 3. You fulfill all things, every jot, and tittle. 3 in 1, how am I to understand? Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Are You like an egg- shell, egg white, yolk? Or like water- ice, water, steam? Perhaps You are more solid like a mountain- mountain, rock, sand? Or airier like a storm- cloud, thunder, lightning? A tree- trunk, branch, leaf? Are You like the speed of a car- fast, slow, park? Or even a computer- screen, tower, keyboard? However I am to understand You, my own roles reflect Your triune state- son, husband, dad.  I see You in every way and in everything. 1 John 5:1-6
 
You are the Trailblazer in the wilderness of my soul. Everything is so loud here, it screams for our attention. Yet You remain true. Your compass is always right. No matter the obstacle, You make it to Your destination. Let the world scream, it hated Your Son and did what You knew it would. They gladly fulfill their lot. They call from the pit to lure those who have ears to hear. May I not even hear them, but have compassion for them that they might be saved. May my eyes stay focused on putting one foot in front of the other. May I follow the trail You’ve left us and fulfill what You have for Your followers. You blazed this trail and paid for it in blood. John 14:1-4
 
Thank You for being the Truth. No matter what I do, my version of the truth is always jaded; it is always one-sided. I’d need a persuasive lawyer to manipulate everyone to see things my way. My innocence would then not be determined by an actual examination of the facts, but by another’s interpretation of the facts. I can understand why then we are to remain silent when they falsely accuse us. You did when they accused You, Lord Jesus. But because of You, Truth is not silent; it is not void. You stand no matter the jade, no matter the persuasive argument. The jury may be convinced, but there is no courtroom here whose judgments are higher than Yours. You break their bank filled with the currency of lies. If not for You, everything falls and we are lost. Thank You for being the Truth, my Lord, and my God. 1 John 5:20