20/20 Vision?

2020 Vision?

It's been quite the year hasn't it?  For me and my family we found ourselves stumbling into 2020 having just gone through the loss of my Mom to a battle with breast cancer in December of 2019, only to find out next, that our whole family would need to get a series of Rabies shots due to a personal encounter with a rabid skunk and it's interactions with a litter of kittens in our shed...  That experience led to an initial bill of over $100,000 for our family.  We are a non-traditional insurance, self-pay medical expense family, so that experience was quite a way to kick off our own unfolding and personal rendition of 2020.  

About halfway through January, as I was driving back to Kansas after having been the key-note speaker at a North Central Oklahoma, men's wild-game feed, I was about two miles from the Kansas State line, when two Oklahoma Whitetail Bucks ran right out in front of me...  The good news was that not only did I get two deer with one shot, but my truck was also not totaled, still drivable, and both the County Sheriff, and the Oklahoma State Trooper I spoke with on the phone, let me salvage the carcasses for meat!  I was even able, after a relatively brief search with a flashlight, to find all of the broken antler shards and pieces after the collision!  So, upon returning home, I got to process two large deer that night, and I was rewarded with a couple of nice racks I would be able to turn into European mounts to add to my bone collection.  I remember wondering to myself that night as I de-boned those two deer, just what the heck 2020 would really be like if it had started out like this? 

In February I partnered with a brother in Jesus and we lead a "Men in Ministry" Hog Hunt and Evangelism training called "When Pigs Fly!" at "No Mercy Outfitters" in Gracemont, Oklahoma.  What a true blast that was!  Then, just 6 days later I hopped on a plane with a Watchman Evangelism ministry team of 9 to be a part of my first International preaching crusade, where our team not only did preaching, evangelism and teaching, we also did community relief work and helped build a Christian school in Liberia, West Africa.  It was a tremendously challenging, exponentially rewarding, Spiritually eye opening, and truly life changing, experience.  I still do not have adequate words to describe what all we learned and experienced on, in, and through that trip.

Then, not long after returning from Africa, it seemed like everything all around the world, and even in the United States, started lurching, twisting, careening... and then, like the way time in an accident freeze frames and inches by, frame by frame, imprinting each tenth of a second on your mind with crystal clarity, while at the same time moving blindingly fast, the world began turning completely upside down, tumbling into an uncontrollable roll... a Global Pandemic, a Brave New World, Masked America, Following the Science, Fear, Lockdowns, the Seizing/Surrendering of Civil Liberties, Propaganda, Death-Tolls, Global Economic Free-Fall, Thousands of Acres Ablaze, the 24-Hour News Cycle, Hatred, Brutality, Racism, Riots, Looting, Cities on Fire, Contact Tracing, Persecution of Christians and of Assemblies of Faith, Hurricanes, Freak Storms, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, almost innumerable Signs in the Heavens (just Google astronomical phenomenon 2020) including even a "Christmas Star" (planetary conjunction), and then let's also not forget the political drama of a Stolen Election that the mainstream media still just won't cover...  On this New Year's Eve, what if the answer to all of this is NOT simply putting 2020 behind us and hoping for a better 2021?  What if there is far more going on than can be touched by well wishes, a handful of positive thoughts, the usual assortment of impotent New Year's Resolutions and all of us placing our hopes in a Vaccine?

Not long after returning from Liberia as I watched and read the news and observed everything begin to unfold through my own lenses of Faith, Scripture, and understandings of Bible Prophecy, I remember frequently being reminded of a quote in Galadriel's voice from the Prologue of the movie "The Lord of The Ring's: The Fellowship of The Ring": "The World is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it..."

(In truth, that quote is not spoken by Galadriel, but is spoken to her by Treebeard, and is actually borrowed and adapted, for the motion picture, from JRR Tolkien's third book of the trilogy "The Return of the King."  Here is the actual quote: "'It is sad that we should meet only thus at the ending. For the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air. I do not think we shall meet again.").  In either case, and in both literary contexts, it certainly seems to be a quote for our times and for this day, and I truly cannot tell you how many, many times I have thought of it over the last 9 months. 

Back in 2001 I attended a speaking event in Kansas City, Kansas, (where I was pastoring at the time) which took place just a couple of months after the attacks of September 11th.  At the event, the key note speaker (I can't for the life of me remember what his name was), who was a media spokesperson for the FAA said these words as he began his presentation:  "I've heard so many people say that 'The world has changed since September 11th...' I disagree.  It's not at all that the world has changed, it's just that now our eyes are opened as to how the world really is."  My first reaction to his words were, quite frankly, disagreement... that is until I Scripturally reflected on them a bit.  Then, I realized that the speaker was actually spot on, and as I embraced his words, they were indelibly imprinted on my mind.  And, I must say, just like the quote from Lord of The Rings mentioned above, I have thought of them repeatedly this past year, as layer after layer of 2020 has been peeled away.

So, my question for us on this last day of 2020 is this... Do we have "20/20 Vision" and are we yet able to see how things really are?  As we now reflect on the unparalleled nature of the past 365 days, is there really any remaining doubt that we live in a broken world, in the midst of a fallen humanity, and that our world is tragically beyond the reach of our own best thinking and the best efforts of our science, our technology and our medicine?

There is no doubt in my mind, that now, and that these days, more than ever before, are the days we all need to come to Jesus.  And, there is no doubt in my mind that in these days in which we find ourselves "above ground and walking around" we are closer to His return than ever before.  In three different places the Bible says "All who call upon the Name of the Lord, will be saved." (Joel 2, Acts 2 and Romans 10).  Have you called yet, on the Name of the Lord?  I called on His name for the first "real time" in April of 1989 when I awoke to the realization of the "train wreck" I had made of my life and existence, and found myself with only three crystal clear choices:  Suicide, Insanity or Jesus.  In that instant I recalled the words of a Sunday School teacher from back when I was 8 years old (Mary Lou Stirtz).  She said to me: "Robby, just remember, when you get in a jam, you can always call on Jesus."  So, I did just that.  I said: "Jesus, if You can save me, Save me, and I'll give you my life and never return to the person I've become."  In that moment Jesus saved my soul.  And, I want you to know, in this moment, or whatever moment you find yourself surrounded by in the future, Jesus can save your Soul too.  All you have to do is call!  Will you do that right now?  My hope and prayer is that you will so you and I can both keep on keepin' on in Jesus, until He comes again!

Pastor Rob Schmutz

Watchman Evangelism 

Quick Fixes For Prayer Distractions!

I just had an early AM text exchange with an accountability Brother about how to deal with distracting thoughts during prayer. 

 Here were some of our conclusions. (Feel free to comment below to add to our effort!) Here’s what we came up with! 

 1) In the background or softly through a headset play worship music or a favorite Christian Band. 

2) Pray as you read Scripture. Psalm 91 for instance. Pause between verses and pray. 

3) Make a "prayer list" (like a "to do" or a "task list") then pray through the list.

 4) Use a format like "ACTS" Adoration (Praising the Lord for ALL He Has Blessed me with!) Confession (Admitting sin and struggles.) Thanksgiving (Thanking Him for everything I can think of.) Supplication (Praying for others and their needs as well as my own.) 

5) Write a "Dear Jesus" Prayer letter in a notebook, or on a piece of any paper quickly available.

 6) Pray like a child... Simple, Straight Forward, Direct.

 7) Or, what I do when all else fails... I Just pray the Lord’s Prayer.

 Remember... Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 to "...go into an inner room...". And, there is definitely something to be said about removing distractions as much as possible! 

 But, the main thing is to Pray!

 Prayer is the Work! 



 Keep on Keepin' on In Jesus!

A Different Conversation...

A Different Conversation... 

I love Jesus. So much. Without a doubt, He is my Savior, my Hero, my Lord, my favorite person, and my best and most trusted friend. He is the only one who has never let me down. And, though I wish I could say I’ve never let Him down, the reality is I have, oh so many times.  But, in light of that statement, I must say that with all of my heart, the last thing I want to do in this hour, is to let Him down now.  

There are so many things happening in our world right now. So many confusing, frustrating, and disturbing things going on all around us. I don’t know about you, but some of them make me angry, some of them make me sad, and through most of them, what I think I feel most right now, is this unshakable sense of disappointment.

Why disappointment? That’s a good question... Here is my best attempt at an answer. I think I feel disappointed in America, and in the Church in America. We are better than this, at least I believe we are supposed to be... expected to be... could be... need to be (now for sure)... as both leaders of the "Free World" and as a people of "Faith" who live out our "Faith" in the "...Land of the Free and the home of the Brave."

• An entire Nation seemingly cowering in fear in the face of a virus? 
• Businesses of all shapes and sizes all across America forced to shut their doors (many of which will never open them again), while in many states abortion clinics were allowed to stay open and deemed essential?
• Churches being ordered to stop meeting under threat of criminal prosecution and arrest, and the majority willingly doing so, without even blinking, as they surrendered First Amendment Rights and bowed down at the altars of Medicine, Science and Technology? 
• The expressed devaluing of human life as manifested and witnessed in the casual taking of a life during the apprehension and arrest of a suspect at the hands of, in the name of, and as an asseveration of the law, and law enforcement? 
• Rioting and looting in the streets in response to injustice, resulting in not only the further loss of life, but also untold millions of dollars in property destruction, damage and theft, which is then portrayed as "justifiable" by the media? 
• Cities allowing anarchy to reign due to either state or city leaders in agreement with a liberal anarchist agenda, or an apparent fear of being seen by the media as intolerant, racist or politically incorrect? 
• Mobs destroying, tearing down or removing statues and monuments, disfiguring and desecrating artistic expressions of the truth of our history and key aspects of the story of our republic? 
• And, all of this taking place in the brave new world of "masked" America, and our newly adopted culture of quarantine and "Social Distancing?"
• This tragic short-list of today’s current events and my perceptions of them, could unfortunately go on and on... 

But, please hear this... This, I believe, is not us, America. This is not who we are meant to be. This is not who we should be. This is not who we need to be. We can do better. We’ve got to do better. We must do better, because our "melting pot" has become a "caustic bubbling cauldron." 

Back to Jesus... 

As stated above, I love Jesus, so much, even when He is hard to live with, hard to live for, hard to understand, and hard to follow. And, as I’ve spoken honestly with Jesus about my feelings of disappointment, as I’ve continued in conversation with Him as all of these things have unfolded, as I’ve cried out to Him and attempted to intercede in prayer for America and for all of these circumstances currently at hand, I’ve also been hearing back from Him... No, not through a voice that I’m hearing in my head, but through a persistent piercing in my heart, through my relationship with Him, and in the daily reading of His Word. What I’ve felt Him saying to me in response and in my heart is this: "All of this is exactly what I’ve told you was coming through my Word. A time of increasing lawlessness, lovelessness, and faithlessness. A time of the unfolding of judgement, the beginnings of which are not the wrath of God, but are the direct results of the actions and free-will of humanity. God isn’t ‘doing’ this. God is allowing you to choose what you will and what you want, and to experience the results of life in a fallen world in which you have chosen deliberately to live apart from and without Him, out from under His covering, and without the constraints of His Word and His Will." (See Matthew 24:4-14) 

How can I put this message into receivable words? There are so many talking heads out there right now. So very many... So many angry, wounded, anguished, violent, loud, vulgar, offended, offensive, enraged, confusing and confused voices. So many words from so many different sources... How will anyone hear, heed and receive these words I feel led to write, and the message I believe I’m supposed to share? Even with what I’ve written so far, there are likely already many who have shut me off, and there will be many more who will pick apart my words, discounting what I’m saying as ethnically biased, as theologically fundamentalist, as Biblically illiterate, as unintelligent, as those determined to instead of considering what I’m saying, to be those who get caught up in the circumstantial narrative of the now, and miss the larger Biblical and Prophetic context all together. 

But, here it is... America, like it or not, we’ve chosen this, this "now...". We have methodically, litigiously and legislatively prepared our society for this hour of great turmoil. We have created this moment. This that we are going through is the direct result of our "best" thinking, planning, preparations and plotting apart from God. We have pridefully, arduously and systematically removed the foundation stones of faith, morality and of Biblical moral absolutes, from beneath the structure and from the very fiber itself of our Nation and Culture. And, Church, to be totally honest, the reality is this, it has all been done under our watch. So, now, as we turn on the news each night and take in the latest video footage of bedlam in the streets, we think to ourselves, "How can this all be happening?!?" Here is the truth... America, we have sown these seeds, we have planted these crops, and Church, we have, in our years of silent assent, allowed all of this to happen, to become what it is, and now... Now we are reaping this harvest. 

The only way to change it, any of it, is to recognize what time it is, to come back to Jesus, to come back to God’s Word, and to come back to the real, authentic, heartfelt, living out of our relationship with God without regard for the cost to us personally. What I’m talking about here is Repentance. To recognize the path and direction we have chosen and to turn 180 degrees in order to go the exact opposite direction. 

In Revelation 12:10-17 a "flash forward" takes place and the reader is given a picture of the times of the end. In this picture and in the last part of verse 12 we are shown what is really behind all of the escalations in violence, hatred, warfare, and all of the woes of the earth. It says there: "Woe to the earth... because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." Then, in 12:13-17 we see the action that the enemy, the dragon, the devil, the "accuser of the brethren" takes as he persecutes and pursues God’s chosen people and then makes war with all of the true followers of Jesus. 

But, in verse 11, before things get crazy, we are told in advance how the followers of Jesus will prevail. In fact, this is the only way they prevail. And, what that means for us is that this is the only way we prevail. There is no other way, and there is no better plan. It says: "And they (This is us!) overcame him (the enemy) because of the Blood of the Lamb (A saving relationship with Jesus), because of the word of their testimony (Our relentless tenacity in living for Jesus, talking about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us.), and because they did not love their life even when faced with death (We don’t cower in fear even when faced with the enemy’s greatest weapon against us, because we know this world is not our home!). In this "flash forward" it is through these three strategic actions that the Church finds and lives out victory in the face of the wrath of the one who knows his time is short and who has come to destroy them. This is what the Bible tells us that the Church did/does in the face of the future. 

So, What time is it Now, Church? Seriously?!? Do we not see?!? Can we not recognize the signs of the times?!? Just open your Bible and read the book of Revelation, read Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and then look at the news headlines of just the last year, let alone the last 5-20 years, and think about what our circumstances are communicating. I believe it’s time for us, Church, to realize Who we are, Why we are here, and What we are really supposed to be doing about it. And, as we recognize what time it really is, to take action accordingly. In other words, I believe it’s time for the Church to grab ahold of this three-fold plan from Revelation 12 and to take action by coming back to an understanding and an embracing of both the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission. 

Church, make no mistake, we are designed by God to be the true agents of change in our culture. We are the Bride and Body of Christ. And, I believe it’s time we more intentionally lived and acted like it, by obediently walking in His Word in preparation for His return. We have been placed where we are, not to shut or shutter our doors out of the fear of death, or the fear of litigation or the fear of liability, but to open our arms and to take action no matter what the cost. How? By walking by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and by intentionally choosing to fulfill both the Greatest Commandment (OT Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & Leviticus 19:18 / NT Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:26-28), and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), by speaking the truth in love as we take up the purpose and personal mission of Jesus as proclaimed by Him in Luke 19:10. We are the Bride and the Body of Christ and this mantle has been placed on no one other than us. What are we going to do about it now, in the face of things as they are and as they are unfolding? 

Church, something to consider now is this, what if there is a "Second-Wave" of this global pandemic? What if there is another National or Statewide shutdown? What if there are future executive orders by governors, presidents or whatever the powers that be, instructing the Church not to assemble? Will we choose to be the Church and assemble anyway? Will we go beyond the boundaries of FaceTime, Zoom and Video venue gatherings in order to walk in obedience to Jesus? And, at what point will we be willing to say "Thanks, but no thanks" to any order, law, or proclamation that blatantly violates both our State and our US Constitutions, not to mention Scripture? 

I believe, in the end times, in the face of whatever is to come, that there’ll come a time for the people of the Church, the followers of Jesus, to side with Peter and John when they were told to no longer speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus in Acts 4:19 & 20, when they said: "...Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard." 

I believe, in the end times, there’ll come a time for the leaders and the clergy of the Church to say what Joshua said as he addressed his people toward the end of his life and ministry in Joshua 24:15, "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

I believe, in the end times, there’ll come a time for all who name the Name of Jesus Christ to heed the words of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Ephesus when he said in Ephesians 5:14-17, "For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Therefore be careful (intentional) how you walk, not as unwise persons, but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." 

What makes us think that time isn’t now?

Again, back to Jesus... Have you ever noticed how Jesus always had a way of redirecting the conversations He was in? He did so in almost every conversation He was involved with in the New Testament. Someone would start talking to Him about some Axe he or she wanted to grind... and out of the clear blue, with just a turn of a phrase, Jesus would take their Axe, turn it around, and then use it like a scalpel to conversationally and relationally cut open their chest, expose their heart, and suddenly be a surgeon performing Spiritual open-heart surgery... 

There is a lot to talk about in America today. And, it seems to me that most people are so busy shouting, that no one is really taking the time to listen to anyone else. There are a lot of words being exchanged but very little real conversation and relational communication happening today. Church, I think Jesus wants to use us to recognize what time it really is, and to take the subject at hand, whatever it is, to prayerfully change the tone, and... to begin to engage relationally in a different conversation. A conversation that leads to a reality and a topic we’ve, in all honesty, been intentionally and awkwardly avoiding for quite some time now, a conversation about the need for Salvation and the Return of Christ. I believe it’s time for all believers, all followers of Jesus, to intentionally, invitationally, conversationally, and relationally engage with people about the gospel (the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus [Romans 1:16] / "...the blood of the Lamb" [Rev. 12:11]), and the return of Jesus, in the context of the discussion of current events. I believe it’s time to both talk about and live out what Jesus has done for us, what we are trusting Him to see us through, and what we know He would want us to do in how we treat and relate to others (The Golden Rule [Matthew 7:12] / "...the word [and deeds] of their testimony" [Rev. 12:11]). I believe it’s time for us to take action as those whom He can count on to be the Church, without fear or regard for our own lives, to not only speak the truth in love but to place ourselves in positions to be the truth in love. (Laying down our lives as living sacrifices [Romans 12:1-2] / "...they did not love their life even when faced with death." [Rev. 12:11]) 

Church, we can be those whom Jesus uses to do what He did... we can be those who redirect the flow of not only the conversation, but also the action. We can be, but will we be? What are we going to do about it? In the last phrase of Luke 18:8, as Jesus concludes the parable of the Widow and the Judge, a parable spoken to encourage His followers and to inspire them to not tire of both praying and taking action, He says... "However, when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes (comes back), will He find faith on the earth?" That’s a great question... What we choose to do here and now, as these days of the end unfold, will be our opportunity to answer it. One of the key truths of human behavior that I’ve observed again and again, is that people always consistently do what they truly believe. It’s time to ask ourselves "What do we truly believe?" Do we truly believe we are the Bride of Christ? Do we truly believe we are the Body of Christ? Do we truly believe we are living in the unfolding times of the end? What we choose to do or not do next may just say a whole lot more about what we truly believe than we realize or are willing to admit. 

Who are you going to choose to, or choose not to, talk with about Jesus and His return today? 

"He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’  Amen, Come Lord Jesus." - Revelation 22:20

Pastor Rob Schmutz 

Watchman Evangelism Ministries

Where in the... Word?!?

I’ve been getting a lot of calls, emails and fb messages with questions about where to turn in Scripture at a time like this.

First, let me say that "ALL Scripture is inspired by God..." (2 Timothy 3:16), so literally opening up anywhere and just letting the Lord lead, and speak to you through His Word, every day, is a great idea. And, with the extended time off and away from work that many are experiencing, right now may be a great time to read the Bible from cover to cover. When I do that (this is the way I’ve been reading through Scripture every year for years thanks to a sweet little old lady named Arlene Reece in my church in Burdett, KS, who taught me this method back in the 90’s), I start with the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and the last book of the Bible, Revelation, and read my way to the center, while also reading from Psalms and Proverbs as I do. You’ll be amazed at how the Word of God comes together for you as you apply this method.

As far as Scripture to turn to in days like these... I literally read Psalm 91 every day as a reminder of God’s Protection and guidance in my life. In the New Testament, the book of Philippians is where I go whenever I feel overwhelmed, challenged beyond my capacity to respond, down, insecure, or uncertain about the future. It is FILLED with encouraging words. It’s interesting because Paul writes what he does to the Church at Philippi while he himself is incarcerated and under house arrest in Rome. Some of the most encouraging words in all of Scripture come from a time in Paul’s life of extreme discomfort and unpleasantness. That’s what happens whenever we let the Holy Spirit lead and guide our thoughts, actions, and efforts.

So, there ya go! Get in the Word and... Keep on Keepin’ on in Jesus!

- Rob Schmutz

#GetInTheWordNow

Praying in Faith Today...

"Listen! The Lord ’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call." Isaiah 59:1 NLT

Praying in faith today for a miraculous turning of events and circumstances all across our Nation and all around the World.  

Praying in faith today for healing for those who are sick.

Praying in faith today for their families.

Praying in faith today for families who have lost loved ones.

Praying in faith today for healthcare facilities, providers, and healthcare workers.

Praying in faith today for wisdom for all those who are working on the development of a vaccine and a medical and scientific way to confront and combat the threat we are currently facing.

Praying in faith today for miraculous experiences and testimonies of God’s Grace, Provision and Faithfulness in and through all that we are going through as a Nation and as human beings all around the World.

Praying in faith today for the Spirit of God to open hearts, touch lives, give comfort, come alongside those in distress, calm the fearful, bring peace to troubled minds, and to move in such a way that people everywhere, as many as will call upon His Name, have an experience of God’s Amazing Grace, miraculous provision, and of the peace that passes all comprehension.

Praying in faith today that literally millions will call on and come to know Jesus personally as their Savior through this time of instability and uncertainty all around the globe.

Join me today, won’t you, in praying for all of this and whatever else God lays on your heart?

Whatever the problem, situation or circumstance, Jesus... is always the answer!

Let’s Keep on Keepin’ on In Jesus!

#PrayingInFaithToday

50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 50

"And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."  

                          - Genesis 50:20

I’m surrounded this morning by so much more than I can even begin to describe, let alone be able to understand. I’m in Liberia, West Africa, and I see people all around me who are surviving and who have survived, experiences too numerous to count of all kinds of great evils. Wrongs have been done to them both as individuals and as an entire population on so many, many, levels, and on so many, many, different occasions, for so many, many, generations. Hopelessness seems to be a pervasive reality everywhere I look... Over the next few nights I and my team will be given an opportunity to speak for a few minutes, a Word of Hope into their lives. Hope... 

I am asking God to move mightily over these next few nights, and to grant that miracles, healings, and deliverances could touch the people we are seeing, and that a great work of God’s power could be experienced among them. I am asking Jesus to empower us to serve and to speak as carriers and communicators of the hope of the gospel, as expressions of His Love, and as conduits of His transformational power. Please pray for us as we attempt to do so.  

LORD Jesus, I have never been here before. Not here, seeing all of this that You are showing me... Grant, Lord, that Your Spirit will pour out mightily over this place, these people and me and my team, Your servants here in this place. Please help me and my team fulfill that which You have brought us here to do. Help us to be "Jesus with skin on" to everyone we get the chance to come in contact with. Bring about a fulfillment like you did for Joseph, something through which the people are able to say along with Joseph... "What others have intended for evil, God has used for good, in order to bring about the salvation of many...". In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

#50DayGenesisChallenge

#50DayGenesisChallengeDay50

50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 49

"When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people."

                    - Genesis 49:33

Jacob, officially "Israel" now by name (a name which means "God Contends" or "One who strives with God"), with the last breaths of his life, has just prophetically spoken identity, truth and blessings, over and into his Sons, and over and into all of the generations that will follow and flow through each and every one of them. And, in so doing, he has completed and fulfilled the entirety of the missions of his life, and the reasons for which he was put on this earth. He, has finished the race... and now this "heel snatcher" this one who "wrestled with God" and who had "seen God face to face" now draws his own feet into his bed, breaths his last, and is "gathered to his people."

I like that last phrase of the passage. There’s something about it that resonates with my soul and my recent experience of being with my Mom as she was "gathered to her people" on December the 8th, 2019. It’s a reminder and an affirmation to me of our faith, that through faith, death is in reality, a gathering time. A time when, if circumstances allow, the dying person’s family gathers together, shares and receives, blessed "last words" with their loved one, and during the course of that time, at some point determined by the hand of God, the dying person is actually carried from one gathering of family and friends... to another.  

It’s a gathering that takes place on the other side of their last breath. And, if you’ve ever been with someone in and through those precious moments in time, you know that it is also often the experience that during that process, the loved one who is dying begins to see... sometimes persons, sometimes places, and sometimes things, that are a part of the reality that’s on the other side of this one. A reality that, in eternal terms, is so much more real than our own present, "breathing" reality.

Thank You, LORD, for the opportunities I have had as a pastor, as a son, as a nephew, as a grandson and at times, as a friend, to be a part of moments of gatherings like this one. Thank You, LORD, for those who were recently gathered with me as I was with my Mom during her last week, and last moments of life. And, thank You LORD for the faith that comforts and empowers us all to face death, and times of death, as in reality, great victories for believers, for families of faith, and great celebrations and gatherings that take place unseen by us, on the other side of this temporal reality. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

#50DayGenesisChallenge

#50DayGenesisChallengeDay49

50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 48

"Then Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me...’ "

                        Genesis 48:3

So... in this verse, Jacob is aged, sick, and rapidly deteriorating in health. He knows that his time on this earth is close to coming to an end. He is looking down the corridor of what remains of the time of his life and he knows that there are still a few more things for him to do before he goes. As he prepares to embrace these "last things" of life, and eternity itself, he looks his restored and beloved son in the eye, reaches back in time and experience, and reminds him of his story... As he does, he is reflecting on the reality that who he is in that "now" moment with his son, flows directly from who, where, and how he was, all those many years ago, when God found, appeared and revealed Himself to him personally.

Thank You God, for finding me exactly where, when and how You did. Thank You for the gift of Salvation and the experience of transformation and Sanctification that knowing You personally has brought about. Thank You for giving me, and each of us who know You, a story about when, where, and how we met You, and about what meeting You has meant to us. Please continue pouring Your Holy Spirit into and through me that my ongoing transformation and Sanctification may find me more and more like You, and who You desire me to be, with each and every passing day. And, as you do, give me both the repeated opportunity and the continuous outpouring of courage that empowers me to tell that story again, and again, and again, for as long as I live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 47

"Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharoah; and Jacob blessed Pharoah."

                         Genesis 47:7

"Brought" and "Blessed" these two words just seem to stand out to me today. Joseph brought... and Jacob blessed... and Pharoah received... That’s such an interesting scenario isn’t it? Here’s a guy who literally has everything, and he’s receiving a blessing from someone who comparatively speaking, has nothing. Jacob’s got stuff to be sure, but literally nothing compared to the stuff Pharoah has. But, what Jacob does have, he uses to give to someone who has it not. Jacob has faith, and the power to bless, so Jacob does what he can do... He faithfully blesses.

Jesus, use me today. Make me aware of everywhere You have brought me and of everyone You have brought me into contact with. Use me to be a blessing. Use me as a blesser. Use me to take all of who I am, and all that You have given me, and to willingly and wholeheartedly give it all away as a means of blessing those who don’t have... You. In Jesus Name, Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 46

"And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night... And He said, ‘I am God, the God of your Father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt (Africa)... I will go down with you to Egypt (Africa), and I will also surely bring you up again...’" 

- Genesis 46:2a, 3a,b & 4a,b

It always just blows me away how God’s Word finds me every day, as I open it and as I read it! This morning I woke up before my alarm and I just had this sense of uneasiness. Without a doubt, I’ve got A LOT on my mind, and on my "to-do list" before our team departs for Africa tomorrow morning. I’m so excited about going, and about this widened door for effective ministry that has opened up (1 Corinthians 16:9), but the planning... and all of the details... and all of the costs... and all of the global fears and warnings about the Corona Virus... and so many more things that have gone along with this opportunity, have been in many, many, many, ways... overwhelming.

So, with approximately 24 hours until we leave for the Airport in KC, I woke up questioning, a little apprehensive, and in need of a personal affirmation from God. As I opened Genesis to read and write as I continue my "50 Day Genesis Challenge" I was instantly a recipient of... "the peace that passes all understanding" as I read the verses quoted above. Then, my cousin, Daneale White (also a pastor who lives in Manhattan, KS), sent me this text at 6:40am, as I was writing these words you are reading today:

"Check out 1st Corinthians 16:9, 13, 14 - Vs. 9 ‘...for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. - Vs. 13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. - Vs. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.’  - Bert (yeah she calls me Bert, it’s a long story...), these words were on my heart for you as I entered into this day, praying over you, Genna, your team, and all this trip holds for you all. God is doing great things! I love you! -Daneale"

Thank You, LORD, for the fact that Your Word is a "living" Word. Thank You that it is so much more than an ancient document! Thank You, that it not only finds me, but it also finds and speaks to others words that I need to hear, and... Thank You for the reality that Your Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11)! Thank You, LORD for speaking to me today, precisely what I needed to hear! In Jesus Name, Amen. 

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 45

"And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life."       Genesis 45:5

Joseph... Wow! This guy is unbelievable! What an amazing attitude, perspective, and faith-walk this man of God has. He sees into the hearts of his brothers, the very ones that have caused so much pain, suffering and complication in his life, he knows that they have been carrying guilt and shame their whole lives because of what they did to him, and he basically tells them "...it’s all good!" Then, he lets them know that he sees God’s hand in it all, that his circumstances, all of them, everything he has been through, ultimately served a greater purpose, that was crafted, guided, held, and brought about by the hand of God.

LORD, help me to wake up to the reality that everything that surrounds me, wherever I go, is a part of a much larger plan. Help me to embrace the reality that I have been given life, so that Your life can abundantly be poured through me. Use me wherever I am to be someone who touches time and eternity with all that I put my hands to. And, help me to know, and to live like I know, that in, with, and through You, it’s all good, all the time! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 44

"Then Judah approached him, and said, ‘Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh." Genesis 44:18

I love this verse because it reminds me of how God can, will, and does, turn things around when we allow our trust to be a lifelong investment in Him. There was a time, when it was actually Judah (See Gen. 37:26) who sinfully set all of these circumstances, consequences, hardships and injustices in Joseph’s life in motion. Joseph went through what he went through because of his brother Judah. And yet, through it all, Joseph invested his trust in the LORD. In and through all of those years, Joseph didn’t choose bitterness, resentment, or as it all came full circle, to be... unforgiving. The focus of his life was putting trust in his God that he believed could and would right all wrongs. I believe this is the primary difference between people who become bitter through the course of their lives, and people who become better... Which one will I choose to be?

Help me LORD to choose the investment of trust. No matter what life is or isn’t, empower me to choose to invest trust in You, in and through all of it. Thank You LORD for all that I have trusted You through in the past, and thank You LORD for all that I know I can trust You through in the future. I choose to trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 43

"And Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there." Genesis 43:30

There are moments where we are stirred to our core, and the deep things of our souls find their way so quickly to the surface of our consciousness that we just can’t contain them. I’ve had experiences like this often since losing my mom back in December. A person I talk with about her, an item I find in her things that I now have, a picture capturing a moment from the past, a note she wrote, a letter she kept, a poem or an article, sometimes even just a scent... and then the emotions are there.

Last night I had a dream. Not a dream about my Mom, but about my Grandma. I called her "Nanna." I didn’t see her in my dream, but I came across something she had made, not that I ever saw her make anything like this, but in the dream I "knew" she had made it. It was wrapped in black plastic and was like a mannequin bust made out of sone kind of "banded craft materials" that I "knew" she herself had put together, assembled, and had put her heart into the making of it with her own hands. I "knew" it was hers and that she had made it as soon as I opened it because... (of all things) in my dream I could "smell" my Nanna. As soon as I realized what I was holding, in my dream I began to weep, and though I had found this "great treasure" I knew it was something I couldn’t keep. Then, in the dream, a black woman, an African woman, maybe... (I actually leave for Africa Sunday) came and knocked on my door. When she came into the room, she was so very happy to be given this thing, this treasure, this hand crafted thing that I had found. And, though I was weeping, I was so happy to give it to her because I knew she was going to use it, no... I knew she needed it. I awoke at that point, still weeping, still able to "smell" my Nanna...

So, what does all of this mean? I haven’t wept for my Nanna in a very, very, very long time, but the dream was so real... Then, I read Genesis 43 and this about Joseph and his brothers, about his weeping, and I remembered that all of it flowed ultimately from a dream, and from other dreams that God had given him...

Father God, thank You for whatever all of this means for me, personally. And, thank You for the moments we are stirred, the moments that we weep, the moments that just seem to find us and remind us that we really are human after all. Thank You also, LORD for the people we love, and who have loved us, and who have poured their very best into us for as long as they are, have been, or were, a part of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 42

"Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, ‘Why are you staring at one another?’" Genesis 42:1

How Awesome is that line?!? Awesome in the sense that I totally get it. It’s the same way I talk to my sons at times. "Hey! Don’t just sit there watching TV! Your Mamma said she wanted that trash taken out! Get up and do what needs to be done!" This is just one of those lines that helps me connect with the Bible. It feels just like my life.

Thank You, Jesus, for not only how inspirational, transformational, and informational Scripture is... Thank You that it’s also just plain real. Please help me to communicate with others through my preaching and teaching about You, in the same exact way. Help me to keep it real. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 41

"Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh."

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41:8‬

This verse stands out to me today because of the reality it clarifies. Without God you cannot understand the things of God. No matter how important or how smart you or everyone else thinks you are, unless you have a personal relationship with God, you just can’t "get" the things of God.

Lord Jesus, help me to walk closely with you. So closely that when You speak, my relationship with You empowers me to see and understand what others cannot. And, as I understand, give me both the faith and the courage needed to take the action You would have me take. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 40

"Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." Genesis 40:23

Isn’t this something all of us have experienced... being forgotten, disregarded or let down by someone we expected more of? And yet (Chapter 41 spoiler alert!), there is about to be a need for one of the distinctive Spiritual Gifting’s God has given to Joseph. Finally, two full years after 40:23, Joseph is about to be remembered. Which means, he was never really forgotten in the first place, and God’s timing is... perfect.

Father, strengthen me through the seasons, experiences and the discomforts of waiting. Help me to trust that in Your reality, I am never overlooked, forgotten or forsaken. Forgive me for my impatience, and help me to know that in the waiting, You are arranging and creating circumstances I could never have even come close to creating, let alone possess the ability to understand. In Jesus’ Name I trust, wait and hope. Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 39

"And the LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian." Genesis 39:2

I love this verse for so many reasons! Just think for a moment about what all it teaches about the LORD... I love the word "with" here in this verse. I love the reality that through the LORD being "with" Joseph, he becomes successful (prosperous). And, I love it that the truths of the LORD being with him and making him successful are not halted, hindered, hampered or prevented, by the reality of Joseph’s actual status as a bought and paid for... slave. Though Joesph is "nothing" in this world’s reality, in God’s reality, the LORD being "with" Joseph is the MOST important thing. And, if God is "with" him, then who can really be against him?

LORD, make me aware of You and Your "with-ness" today. Empower me to want to be "with" You, and to choose to know that You are "with" me. Help me to understand that no matter what happens, where I am, or what is going on around me, that Everything is going to work out for the good because You are "with" me... In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 38

"And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah." Genesis 38:1

Ugh! This is one of those chapters from Scripture that just puts a knot in my stomach. With every verse the "drama" just goes from bad to worse. And, it all starts with... "And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers..."

A lot can go wrong when we separate ourselves. Proverbs 18:1 says: "He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom." In other words, when we remove ourselves from friends, witnesses and accountability it’s usually for the wrong reasons, and the results are pretty predictable. Read the whole of Genesis 38 for a perfect illustration of this.

Father, help me to walk in faithful relationship with both You, and with Brothers who can keep me from seeking my own desire. Keep me in close accountability and friendship relationships that result in iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). Surround me with people that will ultimately help me to fulfill the purpose You have for me and for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 37.

"Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard."  

                               Genesis 37:36

I think my favorite word in this verse as well as this entire chapter is "Meanwhile...". It’s a great reminder to me that even when things look as if everything is falling apart, for those who trust in the LORD, in reality, it’s all falling into place.

LORD, help me to trust, know, and believe, that You are the God of "Meanwhile...". That You are moving, leading, placing everything where it needs to be, in order to fulfill Your purpose and plan in and through my life, and in and through the lives of all who are around me. Thank You, LORD, for Your Sovereign Will, Your Perfect Will, and Your Permissive Will. Empower me to walk in the light of my understanding of each, and help me to trust You, even when from my perspective, none of it makes any sense at all. Remind me in and through each and every moment and experience of my life, of the reality of the "Meanwhile...". In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 36

"Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (that is Edom)." Genesis 36:1

There is so much here, and in this chapter as a whole... so much, and it all flows from this first verse. The main thing that stands out to me from this verse and the verses that follow, is the understanding that who we are, what we do, and the lives we bring into this world, make a huge difference. And, each one of us, in our interactions with the lives of those who have descended from us, in reality, touch time and eternity, either for good or for evil. We all have the ability to make an eternal difference with our life and in the lives of all who come after us.

This phrase, "Now these are the generations of Esau..." is followed by name after name, of those who came to be leaders... chiefs... rulers... and kings. In other words, the generations that followed and that flowed from Esau were generations known for strong leadership. In fact, take a minute and read all of Genesis 36, I don’t think you’ll find a chapter in the Bible with more repetition of the word "chief" or "chiefs." Leaders came from Esau, and leaders came (as indicated in other chapters) from his brother Jacob, and these two brothers came from Isaac, who came from Abraham... All along this family line you find self-differentiated leaders who know and who have learned how to stand on their own, how to take action, and how to move forward, against the odds. Interesting...

LORD, thank you for the parts of my character, personality and identity that I both inherited and that I learned from my family. Thank you for their impact on my life and on who and what I am, and am becoming. Help me Lord, to walk in submission to You and Your Holy Spirit, that I might live and live out the strengths of Your Character, Your Personality and Your Identity as the predominating aspects of my own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 35.

"So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments;’". - Genesis 35:2

So... when was the last time you spoke to your family and those in your spheres of relational influence about your faith, letting them know where you stood, why, and then shared with them about what all Jesus has done in your life? Maybe it’s time.

Father, give me the Grace to recognize divinely appointed moments of personal faith proclamation. Empower me to walk faithfully through them. Let others see the Jesus I walk with, in authenticity and truth, and help them to want a saving relationship with Him as well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 34.

"But they said, ‘Should he treat our sister as a harlot?’"

                             - Genesis 34:31

Wow, So... this is a tough chapter in which to find a comfortable, quick, simple, devotional application. It’s a complicated passage, that starts off with innocence in action, but is quickly seized by sexual brutality, twisted by paternal passivity, turned by clever deceit, then punctuated with betrayal, bloodshed and disturbing violence. And, though in many ways it is a difficult picture to look at, it is also an extremely accurate depiction of the sin-nature, and the darkened heart and perilous plight of humanity as a whole, apart from Jesus.  

If there is one line that comes close to being at all redemptive within this entire passage, for me, it would have to be the last line. It’s a line that I can personally grab ahold of and say, "Well, at least there’s that..." Not that it’s really "right," but it’s a line in which Dinah’s brothers, Jacob’s sons, describe and account for their actions as justifiable. And, quite honestly, from my own heart, I get it, I truly understand where they are coming from. I, myself, would want to take violent and decisive action against someone, anyone, who harmed my family or one of my children. It’s a part of my own personal wiring and mindset as a man. And, as I read this last line, I can follow the logic, and my heart agrees that evil prevails as long as good men do nothing. But this line also reminds me that so many of the actions of "justice" that are taken in this world, are in effect, retributionary in nature.

And, I have to ask, what if something more could have been done on the front end of this passage? Is there prevention which nullifies the need for retribution? Is there something proactive that could have changed everything? What if Dinah’s brothers (Jacob’s sons) could have been so chivalrous, so zealous for God, so concerned for their sister’s well being, and so intent on the protection of their family, that they purposed to never let their sister out of their sight in a "foreign" and a hostile land? Is it possible that all of this could have been prevented? As with all tragic "happenings" in our fallen world, there is always a linking of events, interactions, or split second decisions, that lead up to a tragedy or shocking occurrence. And, it is always afterwards, in hindsight, that we make the connections and think to ourselves... what if?

So, what do we do with this chapter, this passage, this line? I think, as with many things in God’s Word, it’s a statement of how things are, not of God’s approval, or of how God wants them to be. It’s a record of what happens in a fallen world in which humanity has, and individual humans have, been given the freedom to choose and to walk down whatever path and under whatever influence they desire. It’s a record of how the innocent are victimized, violent aggressors prevail, of how we live, do business, wage war and perpetuate a cycle of unending suffering and pain. This chapter is, in effect, a snapshot of the plight of all of humanity, from every corner of the globe. It’s not God’s Will, but it’s an accurate description of a fallen world and of humanity living far from Eden...

LORD Jesus, use me today to be an agent of preventative pro-action in the midst of a fallen and broken world. Place me, and help me to choose placement, where I can in my presence, intervene, and in my prayers, intercede. Today, LORD, use me, that fallen things in a fallen world might be prevented by my prayers and my presence. Use and empower me for good works, LORD, before evil takes action. Help me, this day, to walk in precise response to Your Spirit.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 33

"Then he erected there an altar, and called it ‘El-Elohe-Israel.’"

                                 - Genesis 33:20

This verse is one of those that’s easy to miss, but, the reality is, this little verse is a HUGE statement of personal faith and identity. One of the irrefutable characteristics of human behavior is that people ALWAYS do what they truly believe. And, it’s the moments that no one is watching that really count.

Jacob is saying, in the action that he is taking, that he wholeheartedly believes in this God that has revealed Himself to him. And, that he will never forget or turn from following this God that has changed his life, his name, his identity, and Who has brought him miraculously safely thus far, all these many years. In other words, Jacob/Israel knows, there is no other God, and, no matter what the people or the world around him do or does, he has determined that he will turn nowhere else. As an exclamation point to this fact, he names the Altar, "God, THE God of Israel." In other words, Jacob has a new name (Israel), a new life (here in the land of promise), and his entire life has now been given to this One True God as a living sacrifice. This altar, which is now a permanent part of the landscape, is in Jacob’s new identity (Israel), a statement of faith regarding both who and Whose Jacob (Israel) now is... 

LORD, lead me I pray, to places of total surrender. Empower me to lay my life down more and more each day that I might be a living sacrifice, and more and more alive in You with each passing moment of every fleeting day of this life You have loaned me. Surround me LORD, with reminders of tangible moments, of places, and of times, that serve to remind me of my new identity in You, and of the professions of faith that I have made to You. Overwhelm me with the reality of your irrefutable faithfulness, and please, daily remind me of everywhere You have led, and will continue to lead me, as I walk in relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 32

"Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him." Genesis 32:1

I love it that this verse starts with the word "Now" and that it is framed in the context of motion. God’s messengers, His ministering agents, show up as Jacob walks in obedience to God’s previous instruction. It is "on the road" where Jacob gets confirmation of God’s leading as he encounters Angels along the way.

This coming week I will find myself leading an evangelism training / hog hunting adventure in Oklahoma for a group of 12 men, made up of both currently serving Pastors and men of God who are contemplating a Call to ministry. Then, on the 16th I get the chance to take a ministry team of 9, to Liberia, West Africa, and do a Preaching & Worship Crusade, a Leadership Training Conference, a Food and Clothing Distribution and helping with a Christian School Construction Project. Though I’m not really sure what to expect with both of these ministry opportunities, I truly cannot wait to interact with all that God has already prepared to meet me in the "Now" as I walk a path that flows from my personal relationship with Jesus. Where will it lead, and what all is going to happen along the way? Of this, I have no concrete idea. But, what I do know, is that in relationship with Jesus, Ephesians 2:10 is Always True.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10

Thank You, LORD, for opportunities to serve in new ways. Please, Bless my best efforts, as I submit them, and their results to You. Empower me, I ask, as I seek to walk in obedience to You, Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Please, in each case, allow me, and those I will be in ministry with, to come back rejoicing and giving Glory to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 31

"I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth."  

                                 Genesis 31:13

I love this verse because it’s a reminder to Jacob of his past, personal, experiential history with God. God has been with him, guiding him, protecting him, providing for him, and incrementally and experientially revealing Himself to him all of his life. And, now, at another turning point, here the LORD is again, reminding Jacob of where they have been, of promises from the past, and providing the relational evidence for the promise of future fulfillments.  

LORD, remind me today of ALL of the ways You have walked and talked with me, guided and provided for me, encouraged and empowered me all of the days my life. Help me to remember that, most assuredly, I can trust You as I step into the future that You have already prepared for me. And, that in You, the Best is always yet to come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 30

"But Laban said to him, ‘If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.’"

                              - Genesis 30:27

My Grandpa, Ralph "Pete" Schmutz had a way with words. There are phrases I heard so many times as a child, as an adolescent, and as a young adult, that they became a part of the very fiber of my sense of self. This verse reminds me of one of my Grandpa’s phrases and the "mini-lecture" that went along with it.  

He’d always say to me, "When you don’t know what to do, do what you know how to do, and whatever you do, do your very best. Whoever you work for, and wherever you work, make yourself necessary."

In this verse from Genesis, Laban knows that Jacob is "necessary" to his ongoing prosperity, and he desperately wants him to stay. In what ways will you be making yourself "necessary" to whom you work for and with today? You and I get to choose today whether we are just another "cog" in the machine, or an indispensable member of a winning team.

LORD, help me to do my very best in all that I do this day, and every day. Bless the organizations and the people I serve, and the vocational and professional interactions I have in every context of my life. Empower me to be necessary, essential, and indispensable, to every team I am a part of, as I determine to do what I know how to do, even at times when I don’t know exactly what to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 29

"And it came about, when Jacob saw Rachel...".  

                                - Genesis 29:10

This verse today reminds me of the moment that I first really "saw" the young woman that would one day be my wife. It was a Sunday night after church in Abilene, Ks. I was on a walk with Jesus, just talking to Him in my heart as I headed West on 3rd Street, toward the Mudd Creek Bridge. I heard this truck coming down the street behind me, it was a Vintage, Short-Bed, 55’ Ford Pickup... I watched it go by, and I knew that it was Angie Boyd driving that truck. Angie was a Senior in High School at the time and she was filled with the Spirit and living for Jesus with everything she had. I said in my heart, "Lord, if it be Your Will, please, when You think I’m ready, bring a woman who loves and lives for Jesus like Angie Boyd, into my life." I had no idea how literally Jesus was going to answer that prayer.

That was September of 1990 and we started dating that October. I put an engagement ring on her finger in August of 1991, and on May 15th of 1992 we got married in Browns Park, South of Abilene. It’s been nearly 28 years, we have four awesome Jesus loving children, a son-in-law who loves and lives for the Lord, and... Quite honestly I just can’t wait to see what God is going to do next.

Thank You, LORD, for the unknown and the unforeseen. Thank You that You hear us when we call, You listen to our prayers, and You move in our lives in ways we could never understand, even if You explained it to us. Thank You, that we can walk with You and Trust You with the journey. I Love You, LORD, and am so grateful for Your Grace, Mercy, Kindness and Faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 28

"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’" Genesis 28:16

Isn’t this always our reality? Jacob doesn’t realize it, but he is playing the role of "Captain Obvious" as he awakens from his dream and says what he says. Wherever we are... Jesus knows, Jesus sees, Jesus hears, and... Jesus is present. We are the ones who forget about His presence, but He never forgets about ours.

LORD, help me to be mindful of Your presence in every place I find myself. Help me to be a man who daily calls upon your name, and who walks in constant contact with all of who Your Word has promised You are and will be to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 27

"Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me;" - Genesis 27:3

Though I’m not a big fan of this chapter of the Bible as a whole, this verse in particular is one of my favorite in all of Scripture.

For me, without question, some of my most intimate moments with God have been in the context of enjoying His Creation while hunting. It is in these Sanctuaries of Alpine meadows, dark timber mountainsides, sage covered Sandhills, hardwood bottomlands, plum thicket prairies, Osage orange hedgerows, windswept plains, deep cut draws, and every other place I find myself outside and in pursuit of game, that I feel God’s presence the most. These are the places where my heart breathes deeply, my head is cleared thoroughly, and my Soul itself is restored. It is in these places where I personally and powerfully feel the Hand of God, as I am surrounded by His handiwork.

Thank You, LORD, for the time You give, and the times You speak to me, as You surround me with the irrefutable evidence of Your Existence in Your Creation. Please continue to speak to me in these moments and places, where I take the time, and find the space, to call on Your Name.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 26

"And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, for the sake of My servant Abraham.’" Genesis 26:24

This is going to be a long post, so pull your britches up! :-)

This verse speaks to me because as God is speaking to Isaac, in a sense, it is "through" Abraham. Not Abraham personally, but through the relationship Abraham (his father) had with the LORD, the promises that were made, the miles traveled, the prayers that were prayed and the altars that were built, over oh so many years... Isaac in this verse is identified, in effect, as a beneficiary, a recipient, an heir of the blessings that were a direct result of the faith decisions of Abraham. A relationship that will continue in his (Isaac’s) life as he too embraces the promise and the friendship of, in relationship with, the LORD.

This verse speaks to me, personally, because of what I do now, as I travel in ministry as an Evangelist and a Church Planting Coach, all across the State of Kansas, mile after mile, from one church and from one town to the next. During the day, as I drive, I get to see the distinctive variations of the Kansas landscape from East to West and from North to South. I see the vastness of the horizons and the span of the sky stretched out above them. I see the roads we travel now, and sometimes in certain places I get to see other roads, roads traveled by those who first came to and through Kansas looking for land and a fulfillment of promise for themselves. At night I see the stars standing watch in the sky, in places far from the encroachment of the lights of cities and towns, shining steadily on as a reminder of hope for all those who have ever looked up from where they were while trying to find their way.

This verse, and all of these things, also speak to me because of where I come from. My Great-Great-Grandfather, Niklaus Schmutz was an early pre-statehood settler in what is now the far North-East corner of Dickinson County Kansas. He was a rough-and-tumble Swiss immigrant who spoke Dutch (German), was working on English and who had picked up a couple of American Indian languages to help him out in his travels and trade. By trade he was a US Army Supply wagon driver and spent most of his time on the trail, taking supplies from Fort Leavenworth to the farthest reaches of US Army outposts and forts all across the Kansas Territory.  

In the midst of his life he met an Evangelical Preacher, a German Speaking Circuit Rider (whom he had actually helped save from a flood-stage Chapman Creek) and formed a friendship with him. That friendship resulted in him and his wife attending a holiness camp-meeting and revival in Holton, Kansas, which resulted in he and his family giving their hearts to Jesus. Everything changed for Niklaus after that. Jesus was Lord of his life, and He was leading him to settle down and help that Circuit Rider preacher start a church there in his log cabin, not far from the banks of the Republican River. That church became the Alida Church, and it’s still there today. In fact, I just preached a revival in that church back in November, and it was at that church where my Mom got to hear me preach for the last time before she passed. The Pastor there is an awesome woman of God (who is doing a fantastic job) named Pastor Maria Foerschler, and that church is full of life, promise and possibilities, even though some might say it’s in the middle of nowhere.

A few months ago, I was way out in the country near Minneola (Western Kansas, near Dodge City), eating with a family whose family has owned a farm for a few generations now out by a natural spring that has been there... forever. That spring, this family had made into a crystal clear pond, and then built a house next to it. The pond stays full, and the spring still flows year round, just as it always has. From the East, there’s an old trail that you can still see coming down the hill that approaches the spring near the house. I looked up from the pond where the landowner was showing me around and saw that trail and I asked him, "What Road is that?" He said, "That’s the old ‘Fort Supply Trail,’ and it comes down to this spring and then heads off West." I realized in that moment, I was standing someplace where my Great-Great-Grandfather had once stood, and I wondered if in some ways, who I am and what I do, where I am and where I’m going, what I envision and who I hope to become, might be an answer to a prayer, the fruit of a relationship, the distant result of miles traveled in relationship with Jesus, by someone who traveled long before me...

Thank You Lord, for the ways you weave our lives together, and for all of the ways our pasts find their way into our future. Praise You, Oh Lord, for how You work all things together for the Good, and prayers that are prayed from times long before us, are forever before your face, as we walk in answers and blessings of which we have no real understanding. Thank You for Your Love, Mercy, Grace and Pursuit of us, even in spite of ourselves and our choices. Your Love for me is a mystery I am so very thankful for. Thank You Lord, for being Who You are to me and to all who long to trust You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 25

"Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Genesis 25:34

There’s a lot here... but it boils down to this, Esau exchanged the "not yet" for the "now." He gave up what could have been, for something he wanted in the "right now." The promise, the "right" he had by birth order, to be experienced in its fullness later in his life, was traded in an instant, for a fleeting few moments of indulgence and consumption.

Forgive me Father for the times I have fallen into this same trap. Lead me not into the temptation of seeing the world through the eyes of Esau, to be so caught up in the "now" that I forsake the "not yet." Empower me to live for all that You have promised, and hold in trust, for those who love You. (See: 1 Corinthians 2:9). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 24

"Then Abraham said to him, ‘Beware lest you take my son back there!’" Genesis 24:6

This whole chapter is just an amazing account of how God goes before us to prepare our way to fulfill His Will for our lives. This verse, however, and verse 8 which reiterates verse 6, just spoke to my heart as a father this AM.  

Abraham has journeyed with the LORD for many years now, and for oh so many miles... There is a place he once was, a place God has led him from, that he has determined he will never return to. And, he clearly states in these verses that it is no place he wants his son to return to either...

I get that. There is so much that Jesus has led me out of and away from, and I definitely hope and pray, in fact, to the best of my ability, I am whole heartedly determined, that my children will never experience what and where I myself was once delivered from.  

Please God, give my children hearts for You. Keep them from the paths and decisions of destruction that I myself once walked and made. Fill their hearts with a desire to fulfill the purpose for which they were born, and go before them to prepare the path You desire them to walk. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 23

"And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her."       

- Genesis 23:2

In some ways, this verse is a beam of light shining on one of the things that unites all of us as humans. In a time of such great division across our culture and our Nation, there are still so many things that can bridge the gap between our differences, and grief is one of those things. In life, we all know, or soon come to know personally, the weight and the substance of death and the experience of grief. And, when we see someone who is grieving it changes how we relate to or interact with them. Why? Because we, I believe, instinctively and intuitively "get it."  

I wonder what might happen if across all ideologies, theologies, philosophies, faith backgrounds, religious creeds, dogmas, world views, and all manor of theoretical hypotheticals, we could just personally center ourselves on something the Bible tells us Jesus said: "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12.  

And, what if those of us who are followers of Jesus, became personally determined, every day, and in every way, to do our BEST to be "Jesus with skin on" to everyone we encounter... for such a time as this? I wonder what might just happen, if in the midst of all the division of our time, Jesus "followers" just started acting more like Jesus?

It was in the ancient city of Antioch where Jesus followers were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). And, they were called that because the people in the city couldn’t get their heads wrapped around the radical lifestyle these "Jesus people" were living as they lived out, to the best of their ability, what it meant to follow the teachings of Jesus. The term "Christian" that the people of Antioch tagged them with was one that literally meant "little messiahs" or "little Christs."  

The world today seems to hate "Christians..." but I wonder what might happen if we returned to the origins of our identity? What might happen if today we just radically followed Jesus, walked by the Spirit, loved people, lived out our purpose and laid down our lives as we served a divided, deluded and confused world? What might happen if we ministered to people today in the midst of the things that unite us as humans, loved people where they were, and demonstrated Christlikeness, to the best of our ability, in and through every action and interaction?  

I’ve said it a million times as I’ve preached... "the Gospel is transformational!" But, what if we became intent on relationally introducing people to the Gospel by demonstrating the transformation that has taken place in us through our own personal relationship with Jesus? What if people wanted Jesus in their lives not because of how loudly we shouted at them that they needed Jesus, but because the Jesus, and the transformation He has brought about in us, was so beautiful, so remarkable, so obviously real, they just had to have it? Call me crazy, but it just might be something like this would turn this world upside down...

Help me, Lord, to submit to You and Your lead fully, and in such a transformational way that people want You because of the You they see in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 22

"And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together." Genesis 22:6

As followers of Jesus, the One who bore the Cross and laid down His life to save us from our sins, can we see the parallel imagery in this verse and this passage? Surrounded by, and feeling the multiple influences of idolatrous cultures of various kinds, Abraham, who has been chosen by God, is walking in relationship with a God that has repeatedly set Himself apart as... different from all other gods to say the least. And, ultimately as a God who is relationally revealing Himself to Abraham, as The Only, One True God.  

Abraham, in this passage, though relationally walking in obedience, is learning that his God does not require him to sacrifice his son. Though there are cultures and religions of Abraham’s time that do that very thing, Abraham, walking in faith, is about to come to know his God as YHWH-jireh, "The LORD My Provider."

Paul, in Philippians 4:19, through his own experiential and relational walk with Jesus, reminds the Church at Philippi Whom they are walking with as they trust Him through various trials when he says: "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Today, do we realize, and will we choose to remember Who we walk in relationship with? Whatever we face, whatever the challenge, no matter how huge the cost, no matter how much the expense, or how large the bill... our Jesus can be trusted to provide exactly what we need, in the exact moment in which it is needed most. Will you trust Him today?

Thank You, Lord, for Your Faithfulness! Thank you, that in the 30 years in which I have walked with You, You have never once let me down. Thank You, that you always come through. Help me, LORD, to trust You more and more with each passing day.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 21

"Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised."                             - Genesis 21:1

How Awesome is it that our God takes note of us?!? That He sees Who we are, Where we are, What we are going through, and ALL that we Long for and Aspire to. And, in the midst of it, as we walk in relationship with Him, He makes promises (Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33, Philippians 1:6 & 4:19) that touch the very core of our identity and our sense of self. Then, through His overabundant mercy, grace and love, He does for us as He has promised.

Thank You, LORD, for noticing, for promising, for fulfilling... Thank you for proving and providing... Thank You!

In Jesus Name, Amen!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 20

"Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." - Genesis 20:7

What a crazy passage this is! So, Abraham (with a brand new name, identity, and walking in covenant relationship with God) road-trips South. And, as he journeys he reverts to a former pattern of behavior where he lies, or at least fudges the truth, about the identity of his wife. While there, and because of the fudged truth, a local King decides to take Sarah (also sporting a new name and new identity in relationship with God) as his wife. Then God visits this King (who has actually knowingly done nothing wrong) in a dream and says: "Dude! You are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is married." (Gen 20:3). And, in God’s conversation with this King (Abimelech), God defends and calls Abraham a "prophet" (a part of Abraham’s identity that he himself doesn’t even really know yet) and tells the King that Abraham, will pray for Abimelech, after he returns and restores Abraham’s wife, and he and his whole family/people will be healed and live... Wow!

What blows me away here is that God defends, stands up for, guards, and empowers Abraham supernaturally, even when he knowingly acts outside of faith, chooses to lie, and behaves in a way that is cowardly. God proves Faithful to His covenant, even when one whom he has chosen, walks outside of it. Interesting...

Thank you, LORD, for being to us and in relationship with us, a Covenant God, who refuses to break His Word to us. Even when we walk outside of our true identity and outside of our saving relationship with You, You remain True. Thank you, LORD, for remaining faithful, even at times and through seasons when we ourselves are faithless. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 19

"...for the compassion of the LORD was upon Him;"

                          - Genesis 19:16c

This phrase just grabbed me this morning as I read from Genesis 19. I came back to it again and again, and just kept thinking about it... It just makes me so thankful for the day of my salvation 30 years ago when Jesus grabbed my hand and led me out of my life of sin, self-will, and destruction. And, it makes me realize how even now, Jesus’ hand of favor and compassion continues to be upon me, guiding me, directing me, leading me to safety, and into more and more freedom every day.

Thank you, Jesus, for your miraculous and moment by moment power, presence, guidance, deliverance and provision in my life. I truly love you, Lord!   - In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 18

"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." Genesis 18:14

This whole Chapter is just so Rich. It’s hard to choose just one verse today. But, if I have to choose, the verse that stands out most is what the LORD has to say on His own behalf to Abraham. "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?"

No matter what I face, within the 365 days that make up the year 2020, it is so empowering to know that Nothing will be too difficult for the LORD. And, how inspirational it is to have the assurance that through faith there will be no such thing as an impossible situation. In 2020 whatever God Wills for me or for you, is Totally possible!

Help me, LORD, to draw as near as I can relationally to You. Speak Your possibilities into me through Your Word and Prayer, and empower me to Trust and Obey in and through each and every day. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 17

"And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying...", Genesis 17:3

This verse stands out to me today because it makes me wonder what might just happen if we spent more time on our faces before God than we did with our faces in front of our devices or than we did doing FaceTime with our friends? In this verse, after Abram fell on his face, God talked with him.

Bring about whatever circumstance are necessary today, Lord, to bring us before You in such a way that we can hear and receive a Word from You. - Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 16

"Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, ‘Thou art a God who sees’; for she said, ‘Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?’"

                          - Genesis 16:13

How awesome it is to know that we have a God who truly does see us. He sees... Where we really are, Who we really are, How we really are. There is nothing that escapes His notice or attention. Sometimes we all feel unknown, unseen, unwanted... but Jesus sees us, and His arms are open wide.

Lord Jesus, let someone who reads this today feel that You are there with them. Let someone who reads this today know that they are not alone. Let someone who reads this today know that there is hope... that You see them, that You care about them, that You can help them. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 15

"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.’" Genesis 15:1

This verse finds me in an "After these things..." moment. The last six weeks, the last 12 months, has been a pretty challenging season of life. And yet, I can feel God’s presence, I can sense His leading, I can hear His promise to me, and I can see the vision that He has for me. I will not be deterred, discouraged, or distracted.

Thank You, Lord, for Your Faithfulness! Thank You, Lord, for the relationship which You have initiated with me! Thank You, Lord, for Your unfailing, relentless, reckless Love! Empower me to be both a recipient and a carrier of it, and of all that it means. Grant me Your Favor as I share Your message with all to whom you lead me. Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 14

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High."  

                              - Genesis 14:18

I love this verse (and this chapter as a whole) because it’s a reminder to me that there is always a lot more going on around me than I realize, and that I am made by God to be both an agent of His deliverance and a partaker of His provision. It encourages me to know that God can not only be trusted to bring about miraculous victories, but that He can also be trusted to bring about miraculous insertions into my story, my context, or my circumstances at literally any turn. In fact, He can be trusted every day of my life, to be present at precisely the right time, with exactly what I most need... every time.

Lord Jesus, meet me where I am today. Make me aware of Your presence and Your plan. Use me to help set others free, and empower me to graciously receive of Your miraculous provision and sustenance.  

- Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 13

"Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you." Genesis 13:17

This is a verse I think about whenever I drive from one place to the next in my evangelism ministry, or whenever I’m working with local churches and helping to train them in prayer walking.  As I drive across the county lines or as I cross into the city limits of a community I will be preaching in, I pray and claim the Authority and Dominion of Jesus in every place I travel to. As I walk throughout a community when leading or teaching prayer walking, I pray and claim the Dominion and Authority of Jesus in and over that community. In every case, and in every place I go, I choose to believe that God has given me favor and blessing as I do whatever He leads me to do in the places where I get to go and do ministry.

In 2018 I completed the mission of praying in every County and at every County Courthouse in Kansas. Now, whenever I go wherever I go in this great State, right here in the heart of America, God reminds me that I’ve already prayed for this place, for these people, and that I can trust Him to bring forth fruit from my efforts in ministry. It’s an amazing blessing of confidence that I am now able to walk in because I trusted Him and completed the mission He gave me. What if you asked God to give you a place to pray over, around or through? Your home, workplace, school or community, perhaps? I believe God wants to move powerfully in us and through us, but in many cases He’s waiting to see if we’ll trust Him enough to take that first step.

I believe that now is the time for a New Great Awakening! And, I believe that it’s starting right now, in the heart of America, and in the hearts of the people of God right here in the center of this Nation. A Nation that God will literally give us if we’ll trust Him enough to go...

Father, please raise up a New Generation of people who believe, who are willing to take You at Your Word, and who are willing to "Go" wherever You lead them to go, Do whatever You lead them to do, and Be whoever You lead them to be in order to reach someone for You. - Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 12

"Now the LORD said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives, And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;"

                       - Genesis 12:1

I love this verse for so many, many, reasons. One, I love it that the first word is "Now," which is a reminder to me of the timeliness of God’s Word. It comes to me in the "Now" of my reality whenever I read it. Two, it’s a reminder to me that God lovingly speaks to us and guides us even before we are officially "believers." And, Three, the words "Go" "from" and "to" are all reminders to me that God knows exactly where we are, where we come from, and... that where He is leading us, what He has for us, and what He ultimately wants to "show" us is so much better than anything we could even begin to come close to having, finding or gaining for ourselves. All we have to do is trust Him and Go...

Help me Father to be a man who trusts You enough to Go wherever You lead. Let my life be a life You have complete access to, Whenever, Wherever, However... no matter what. - Amen

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