I have spent several blog posts on what has happened on my God ordained journey. I believe it is ok, even the Bible in various places tells us to remember -- what God has done, what we use to be like but now aren't, etc. The Jewish Passover is a time of remembrance. The Lord's Supper, Communion, is a time of remembering what Jesus did on the cross.
However, you can't drive forward in a car by looking in the review mirror. And from my Navy days, you can't steer a ship that is anchored and not moving.
Communion also is a time of looking back, but it is also a time of looking forward to when Jesus returns. It is said that in the early church, men would approach a fork in the road and look down the road in each direction. They would come up over a rise and look with anticipation. Why? They were looking for Jesus. They expected Him to return at any time and they did not want to miss Him.
As I travel on this road God is leading me on, I think of it as an adventure. What is just around the corner? Just over the next rise? Will I meet Jesus? What new thing has God in store for me? How will He use me next? While there are bumps in the road, potholes that knock me around, still the journey continues. His will be done in my life. May I let Him use me in the way He has planned.
I know that God has each one of you reading this on a journey He has planned for you. Would you consider sharing some thoughts about your journey? Your journey can be a blessing to others.
Check the comments highlite at the end of this posting and write your comments/thoughts. As you do just remember that others will also read and will be encouraged.
Watch for the beauty that God is allowing you to experience each day. He does it just for you.
Moving along and looking ahead with anticipation and expectation.
A fellow traveler,
Troy
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Saturday, March 9, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Prodigals Journey Home
One of my favorite parables of Jesus is the parable of the Prodigal Son or the Parable of the Lost Son. Of course, if you hang around with me awhile you'll figure out that all of Jesus' teachings are my favorite. I so identify with this parable, I can see so many things to pull out of it to apply to our lives. However, for the purpose of this post I want to focus on one aspect of it, the son never stopped being a son. At least, that is one focus, we will have to see how many appear as we move along.
First I want to point out some things that pop out to me - Vs 13 "...the youngest son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." He did not go across town, he did not go into the next town, he did not go into the next state, no, he went to a distant country. The trip probably would have taken weeks. He had the resources to have a leisurely trip, staying where he wanted to, having the best food offered, friends at every stop, probably even did not walk all the way.
Second, he spent all his money, and hired himself out to a pig farmer who sent him out 'to his fields to feed pigs.' To a Jew, and Jesus was telling this to Jews, to a Jew a pig is the worst animal alive. If you have never been around a pig pen I can tell you it STINKS! This young man stank to high heaven, the angels probably held their collective noses. He wanted to eat the pig food, we use to call it slop.
Third, it took him awhile but he finally came to his senses and in verse 20,'...he got up and went to his father'. Now let's not forget that he was in a distant country, not across town or a nearby town, a far distant country. He would have had to walk for miles, days, maybe even weeks, in filthy clothes, probably torn and in tatters, no sandals. He could not afford lodging or food. His was a long hard journey home.
As I have shared before, this journey you and I are own is like a road with many distractions along the way calling for our attention. If we travel far enough and long enough off God's road, getting back can be an arduous journey. Many times in our journey back we want to quit, to give up on this hard road back to the main road that leads home. It is so hard getting back to where we once were.
At no time in the son's stay in the pig pen did he deny his father, he did not blame his father for the way he was raised, he did not blame God. He took personal responsibility for his own actions that brought him to the pig pen. While he was in the pig pen he was a son, HE WAS NOT A PIG. He was always a son, never was he anything else.
There's more that can be pulled out of this but I want to share my own struggles in this journey. The last 5 or 6 years have been one of struggle and turmoil for me. I have never blamed God. I have never stopped being His son. But I have become slack in my relationship with Him. My journey back is still going on, but I am determined to make it back to where I once was. God has forgiven me, and still calls me His son, He still blesses me as His son, He is waiting with open arms to welcome me home. Am I worthy to be called His son? NO, but Jesus makes me worthy.
The end of the story? The father is waiting and watching for his son to come home, and when he sees his son he runs to him, hugs that pig stinking son as if he had never left. Then he throws the biggest party that home has ever seen. Have you read about the party God is preparing for our homecoming?
Moral? Don't leave the main road. Stay in constant contact with our Father. However, just remember that the Father is waiting with open arms for you if you take that side trip.
Until next time, may you enjoy the travel and the scenery on this journey of life ending in heaven.
Your fellow traveler,
Troy
First I want to point out some things that pop out to me - Vs 13 "...the youngest son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." He did not go across town, he did not go into the next town, he did not go into the next state, no, he went to a distant country. The trip probably would have taken weeks. He had the resources to have a leisurely trip, staying where he wanted to, having the best food offered, friends at every stop, probably even did not walk all the way.
Second, he spent all his money, and hired himself out to a pig farmer who sent him out 'to his fields to feed pigs.' To a Jew, and Jesus was telling this to Jews, to a Jew a pig is the worst animal alive. If you have never been around a pig pen I can tell you it STINKS! This young man stank to high heaven, the angels probably held their collective noses. He wanted to eat the pig food, we use to call it slop.
Third, it took him awhile but he finally came to his senses and in verse 20,'...he got up and went to his father'. Now let's not forget that he was in a distant country, not across town or a nearby town, a far distant country. He would have had to walk for miles, days, maybe even weeks, in filthy clothes, probably torn and in tatters, no sandals. He could not afford lodging or food. His was a long hard journey home.
As I have shared before, this journey you and I are own is like a road with many distractions along the way calling for our attention. If we travel far enough and long enough off God's road, getting back can be an arduous journey. Many times in our journey back we want to quit, to give up on this hard road back to the main road that leads home. It is so hard getting back to where we once were.
At no time in the son's stay in the pig pen did he deny his father, he did not blame his father for the way he was raised, he did not blame God. He took personal responsibility for his own actions that brought him to the pig pen. While he was in the pig pen he was a son, HE WAS NOT A PIG. He was always a son, never was he anything else.
There's more that can be pulled out of this but I want to share my own struggles in this journey. The last 5 or 6 years have been one of struggle and turmoil for me. I have never blamed God. I have never stopped being His son. But I have become slack in my relationship with Him. My journey back is still going on, but I am determined to make it back to where I once was. God has forgiven me, and still calls me His son, He still blesses me as His son, He is waiting with open arms to welcome me home. Am I worthy to be called His son? NO, but Jesus makes me worthy.
The end of the story? The father is waiting and watching for his son to come home, and when he sees his son he runs to him, hugs that pig stinking son as if he had never left. Then he throws the biggest party that home has ever seen. Have you read about the party God is preparing for our homecoming?
Moral? Don't leave the main road. Stay in constant contact with our Father. However, just remember that the Father is waiting with open arms for you if you take that side trip.
Until next time, may you enjoy the travel and the scenery on this journey of life ending in heaven.
Your fellow traveler,
Troy
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Journey continues
A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I WROTE IN DECEMBER! I think that is called an understatement.
I liken the journey I am on, and you too, to a road. There are lanes turning off that call to us to explore, to spend sometime looking over other things to do. That really speaks to me because I've often wandered off on dirt roads to see where they went. Have to get back on our journey down that road. We sometimes get tired and pull off to the side and stop. We can't stay there because we won't finish the journey. This journey is one the Lord has set out for me.
As I wrote in December, I am no longer with Set Free Church. I put it this way, 'There was a change in church leadership and my services were no longer needed.'
Some months prior to all this happening, I mentioned to Bob one time that if something like this were to happen, we should immediately go somewhere in the neighborhood and start a mid-week Bible study. I'm not now, nor was I then, a prophet but I was making a suggestion. Well, we didn't start a mid-week Bible study but we did start a new church!
Yep, we are meeting in the living room/dining room of Bill and Barb Baker. We are running 15 to 20, we have a worship team, and two teaching Pastors as Bob likes to say. We had an organizational meeting and elected a Leadership Council, arrived at the name Open Doors Community Church. We are working on a website.
God is using my experiences of church planting to help. That's right, I can't get far away from church planting. When He said that He had plans for my life I knew that I should hang on because the adventure was going to be great.
I wrote what the Lord showed me back in July '10 when I was convinced that there was nothing left for me to do. I was sure that my ministry was over. I had no strength to go on. Now please don't write me and tell me that I should have known better, that I was still in ministry, that I should not have been negative, that being negative was limiting God in my life. In the midst of that I was visiting my daughter, Chelley, in Denver, when the Lord opened my eyes to see Isaiah41:9,10, "...I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (my note-His right hand is the one of strength) I began to weep. God has just spoken directly to me and showed me that He was not thru with me - He had plans to give me a future and a hope. I could go on about that phrase.
I use to tell young people, especially young men, if you want adventure just get in the middle of Gods' will and hang on.
I'll tell you some more later about what is going on around here now.
A thought - I've traveled parts of the world, loved and been loved, watched my children born and now my grandchildren. I've buried two wives so I've seen death, heartache, and pain. However, what I choose to see is the beauty around me.
Until next time, May the Lord bless you with beauty in front of you, behind you and all around you. May He give you eyes to see the beauty He has given you. That, by the way, is part of a Navajo blessing to believers.
Troy
I liken the journey I am on, and you too, to a road. There are lanes turning off that call to us to explore, to spend sometime looking over other things to do. That really speaks to me because I've often wandered off on dirt roads to see where they went. Have to get back on our journey down that road. We sometimes get tired and pull off to the side and stop. We can't stay there because we won't finish the journey. This journey is one the Lord has set out for me.
As I wrote in December, I am no longer with Set Free Church. I put it this way, 'There was a change in church leadership and my services were no longer needed.'
Some months prior to all this happening, I mentioned to Bob one time that if something like this were to happen, we should immediately go somewhere in the neighborhood and start a mid-week Bible study. I'm not now, nor was I then, a prophet but I was making a suggestion. Well, we didn't start a mid-week Bible study but we did start a new church!
Yep, we are meeting in the living room/dining room of Bill and Barb Baker. We are running 15 to 20, we have a worship team, and two teaching Pastors as Bob likes to say. We had an organizational meeting and elected a Leadership Council, arrived at the name Open Doors Community Church. We are working on a website.
God is using my experiences of church planting to help. That's right, I can't get far away from church planting. When He said that He had plans for my life I knew that I should hang on because the adventure was going to be great.
I wrote what the Lord showed me back in July '10 when I was convinced that there was nothing left for me to do. I was sure that my ministry was over. I had no strength to go on. Now please don't write me and tell me that I should have known better, that I was still in ministry, that I should not have been negative, that being negative was limiting God in my life. In the midst of that I was visiting my daughter, Chelley, in Denver, when the Lord opened my eyes to see Isaiah41:9,10, "...I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (my note-His right hand is the one of strength) I began to weep. God has just spoken directly to me and showed me that He was not thru with me - He had plans to give me a future and a hope. I could go on about that phrase.
I use to tell young people, especially young men, if you want adventure just get in the middle of Gods' will and hang on.
I'll tell you some more later about what is going on around here now.
A thought - I've traveled parts of the world, loved and been loved, watched my children born and now my grandchildren. I've buried two wives so I've seen death, heartache, and pain. However, what I choose to see is the beauty around me.
Until next time, May the Lord bless you with beauty in front of you, behind you and all around you. May He give you eyes to see the beauty He has given you. That, by the way, is part of a Navajo blessing to believers.
Troy
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Prayer needed
This past couple of weeks have been a challenge. There has been turmoil and it is not over yet. Spiritual warfare is very in our face and aggressive. Yesterday I had to have one person taken from our property as he was drunk and causing trouble. Then later the same day, I had to call the police for one young man who came drunk and Under the Influence of drugs. I asked, then demanded he leave the property. He became belligerent and would not leave. I had to call the police. It sounds cut and dried to write it out but I'm here to tell you that it was very difficult to do this. I have gotten to know these guys and care about them, then to have to call the police to have them removed. You can't really understand the stronghold that alcohol and drugs have on people. Only God can deliver them, but they have to want to be delivered. Why do people take chances with their lives, their families just to have a drink to settle down, to feel better, etc. Those and many more are lies from satan to enslave good people. One man has spent the last 20+ years in some type of alcohol program...all his adult life!
There have been 'successes' also. One man who has a professional background has developed a hunger for the Word of God. It is refreshing to have him pop into my office throughout the day asking questions. He can't seem to get enough.
Another man who has a prison background is also developing an ear for the Word. He is not as outgoing about it but you can see him changing as time goes by.
There are some others but you get the idea. God is the key to their success.
However, a change in direction has come. Through a series of events Pastor Bob Phelps and I have resigned our positions at Set Free Church. He was forced out for no other reason than that he was not bowing down to one particular person. Since he and I have been a team since I started there several months ago, I also resigned. God is not through with either of us, nor with Set Free Church. My statement now-a-days is, "Father, I have plans for today, however, your will be done in my life today. Please over ride my plans at any time."
I will keep you informed as the Lord leads me along on this journey of my life.
Love ya'll and wish you all the most blessed Christmas ever!
With you in His service,
Troy
There have been 'successes' also. One man who has a professional background has developed a hunger for the Word of God. It is refreshing to have him pop into my office throughout the day asking questions. He can't seem to get enough.
Another man who has a prison background is also developing an ear for the Word. He is not as outgoing about it but you can see him changing as time goes by.
There are some others but you get the idea. God is the key to their success.
However, a change in direction has come. Through a series of events Pastor Bob Phelps and I have resigned our positions at Set Free Church. He was forced out for no other reason than that he was not bowing down to one particular person. Since he and I have been a team since I started there several months ago, I also resigned. God is not through with either of us, nor with Set Free Church. My statement now-a-days is, "Father, I have plans for today, however, your will be done in my life today. Please over ride my plans at any time."
I will keep you informed as the Lord leads me along on this journey of my life.
Love ya'll and wish you all the most blessed Christmas ever!
With you in His service,
Troy
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
What I'm Doing Now
OK, I'm now at Set Free Church of Denver. In April I was voted on by church membership to become the Director of the Men's Discipleship Program. This Program is for men who have been homeless, are recovering drug or alcohol addicts, just out of prison. We offer a live-in program that is a year long where they receive acceptance, spiritual training, guidance and nurturing on their road to recovery, productivity and maturing in the Word of God. The men, we only can house 8 at a time, attend Bible based classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well as Sunday morning.
The men are encouraged to find work. To use a slogan of another program - work works. We charge the men $8 a day for rent, and then give them credit of $8 an hour for work that is done for the church, ie, mow grass, clean parking lot, help when food distribution takes place, going and loading food donations, and similar work. This credit comes off their fees for rent. They do 'chores' which are cleaning restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, class rooms, and other similar work. These are normal duties without pay.
The men struggle with addictions and we pray with them and show them in the Word how they have the victory in Jesus. These addictions come from a drink taken at a high school party, or a joint, or a hit with something that will make them feel good, or have more energy. These 'innocent' slips can many times turn into full-blown addictions that may last a life-time. It still amazes me how strong these addictions are. Satan gets a foot hold at a young age, then it becomes a stronghold. There are consequences to our choices that can lead to a life-time of pain and suffering. Most have lost jobs, family, children, self-respect, their health.
The hard part for me and Pastor Bob is to see someone get clean and appear to be turning their life around, then one day they fall and are too ashamed to show back up here. It is heartbreaking. They are afraid they won't be accepted one more time, that grace, love and acceptance won't be extended one more time. They have a hard time accepting that we love them and will always extend forgiveness and acceptance. There are consequences to their actions, but love, acceptance and forgiveness is always given.
We could double, triple, quadruple this size of this ministry because the need is so great. We are limited by space and resources, ie, money and personnel. In fact, there is a desire on some women's hearts to do the same ministry for women, but with the same limitations.
Pray for us as we are His hands extended in Love.
I remain with you in His service in love,
Troy
Pray for me as I am truly a missionary in an inner-city ministry. I am completely depending on the Lord to meet my financial needs. Thanks for your continued support of the journey the Lord has me on.
The men are encouraged to find work. To use a slogan of another program - work works. We charge the men $8 a day for rent, and then give them credit of $8 an hour for work that is done for the church, ie, mow grass, clean parking lot, help when food distribution takes place, going and loading food donations, and similar work. This credit comes off their fees for rent. They do 'chores' which are cleaning restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, class rooms, and other similar work. These are normal duties without pay.
The men struggle with addictions and we pray with them and show them in the Word how they have the victory in Jesus. These addictions come from a drink taken at a high school party, or a joint, or a hit with something that will make them feel good, or have more energy. These 'innocent' slips can many times turn into full-blown addictions that may last a life-time. It still amazes me how strong these addictions are. Satan gets a foot hold at a young age, then it becomes a stronghold. There are consequences to our choices that can lead to a life-time of pain and suffering. Most have lost jobs, family, children, self-respect, their health.
The hard part for me and Pastor Bob is to see someone get clean and appear to be turning their life around, then one day they fall and are too ashamed to show back up here. It is heartbreaking. They are afraid they won't be accepted one more time, that grace, love and acceptance won't be extended one more time. They have a hard time accepting that we love them and will always extend forgiveness and acceptance. There are consequences to their actions, but love, acceptance and forgiveness is always given.
We could double, triple, quadruple this size of this ministry because the need is so great. We are limited by space and resources, ie, money and personnel. In fact, there is a desire on some women's hearts to do the same ministry for women, but with the same limitations.
Pray for us as we are His hands extended in Love.
I remain with you in His service in love,
Troy
Pray for me as I am truly a missionary in an inner-city ministry. I am completely depending on the Lord to meet my financial needs. Thanks for your continued support of the journey the Lord has me on.
Monday, October 29, 2012
WOW!! I'm kinda shocked that I haven't written on here for 11 months. While this journey the Lord has started me on took a turn, I didn't share with you what was going on and what is still going on. Yes, the journey still continues.
Why haven't I written in all these months? Writers block? Busy? Depression? Lack of motivation? Yeah, all that and probably more. While I have ideas for this blog, I seem to just let them rattle around in my head. Well, the Lord is not going to let me continue like this. He has given me things to write and I will do it!
Last December, I started calling churches in a 50 mile area around Denver. I didn't call any churches in Denver Metro area. I called only small towns. I was calling and asking if they or any church in their area was in need of an interim pastor. I told Richard Silversmith, you remember that Richard pastors Christian Indian Center, what I was doing and he encouraged me to look on Denver Seminary Job Site. I joked with him that he was trying to get rid of me. There were listing from all over the country for all kinds of positions. The last listing was for a small church that met on Saturday evenings. They needed someone to fill in as Teacher while their pastor healed from a tragic fall. There were 4 men who answered the ad. One I never met, one was, or is, the chaplain at the Denver Rescue Mission, and the other one....well that's where my journey takes a turn.
Bob Phelps and I took turns teaching. Did I tell you that the worship music is old Southern Gospel and Bluegrass? Bob and I met and became friends almost immediately. He likes to say that he and I were raised together, miles apart. We tend to think alike about ministry and related fields. But, he is an accomplished musician and singer, and I am accomplished at listening to music. He was attending a small church in Denver, filling the pulpit and trying to guide them through a rough time in the church's life. He asked me to pray about coming over and helping out. What he said was needed were mature Christians to help pray with, counsel, and generally be a help to others. Bob was voted in as Senior Pastor in April, if I remember right.
I started going on Wednesday evening as I was still going to Christian Indian Center Sunday mornings. And going on Saturday nights to the Old Country Church.
Well, I also got fill the pulpit every 3rd Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set Free Church of Denver can be classified as an inner-city church. Our neighborhood is the poorest in Denver Metro. Many people live on about $10,000 a year, about 75% make less than $15,000 a year, more single family homes than any other neighborhood in the Metro area, and the staggering statistics go on. Set Free Church gives out an average of 40boxes of free food every Sunday, with emergency boxes during the week. All the food is donated.
But that is only the beginning of the turn the Lord started in my life. I'll tell you about some amazing work He has me involved in next time.
In a devotional I wrote, this statement and verse means so much at this time in my life: "Today I will not try to figure things out or try to understand all there is." Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6
Love ya'll and I'll write more later.
Troy
Why haven't I written in all these months? Writers block? Busy? Depression? Lack of motivation? Yeah, all that and probably more. While I have ideas for this blog, I seem to just let them rattle around in my head. Well, the Lord is not going to let me continue like this. He has given me things to write and I will do it!
Last December, I started calling churches in a 50 mile area around Denver. I didn't call any churches in Denver Metro area. I called only small towns. I was calling and asking if they or any church in their area was in need of an interim pastor. I told Richard Silversmith, you remember that Richard pastors Christian Indian Center, what I was doing and he encouraged me to look on Denver Seminary Job Site. I joked with him that he was trying to get rid of me. There were listing from all over the country for all kinds of positions. The last listing was for a small church that met on Saturday evenings. They needed someone to fill in as Teacher while their pastor healed from a tragic fall. There were 4 men who answered the ad. One I never met, one was, or is, the chaplain at the Denver Rescue Mission, and the other one....well that's where my journey takes a turn.
Bob Phelps and I took turns teaching. Did I tell you that the worship music is old Southern Gospel and Bluegrass? Bob and I met and became friends almost immediately. He likes to say that he and I were raised together, miles apart. We tend to think alike about ministry and related fields. But, he is an accomplished musician and singer, and I am accomplished at listening to music. He was attending a small church in Denver, filling the pulpit and trying to guide them through a rough time in the church's life. He asked me to pray about coming over and helping out. What he said was needed were mature Christians to help pray with, counsel, and generally be a help to others. Bob was voted in as Senior Pastor in April, if I remember right.
I started going on Wednesday evening as I was still going to Christian Indian Center Sunday mornings. And going on Saturday nights to the Old Country Church.
Well, I also got fill the pulpit every 3rd Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set Free Church of Denver can be classified as an inner-city church. Our neighborhood is the poorest in Denver Metro. Many people live on about $10,000 a year, about 75% make less than $15,000 a year, more single family homes than any other neighborhood in the Metro area, and the staggering statistics go on. Set Free Church gives out an average of 40boxes of free food every Sunday, with emergency boxes during the week. All the food is donated.
But that is only the beginning of the turn the Lord started in my life. I'll tell you about some amazing work He has me involved in next time.
In a devotional I wrote, this statement and verse means so much at this time in my life: "Today I will not try to figure things out or try to understand all there is." Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6
Love ya'll and I'll write more later.
Troy
Thursday, December 1, 2011
REST - what is it and how to do it
As many of you already know, among the reasons I came to Denver was to REST and HEAL, and listen for the Lord's voice in what my next assignment or phase is to be in this ongoing journey. This has been an ongoing discussion between Doyle and myself, as we both struggle to learn what rest means.
What I'm going to share here is not a complete treatise on rest but is a work in process. I'm not making going to give you conclusions or a fix it plan, just some random thoughts, observations and some quotes. I pray that you will be blessed as you read and that the Lord will bless you with what He wants to say to you in your area of rest.
Consider Matthew 11:28-30 from The Message, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (italics are mine something to think about).
Jesus tells us, "I'll show you how to take a real rest." The question that I have struggled with is, How? String's Concordance defines the word from the Greek as 1)to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength; 2) to give rest, refresh, to give one's self rest, take rest; 3) to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation. For me, number 1 and 3 seem to be where I am struggling.
Along the same lines, Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still..." means to be quiet, to sink, to relax, or to let go. Oh, no, I can't let go! What if...?
Can it be that God will cause me to rest or allows me to do so on my own?
Here I'm reminded of the verse in Mark 6:31, in the KJV, Jesus speaking, it reads, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while...." Some, myself included, use this verse to tell people to Come a part before you come a part. But such a refreshing thought, Jesus invites us to come and be with Him in a quite place and rest.
Robert Morris, pastor and teacher, said this, "If you have an attitude of stress and worry rather than rest, it's because you don't trust God's character, power and love."
I wrote to Tom Wymore for his insights. I've known Tom for many years, we served together in the Foursquare Gospel denomination and I trust his walk with the Lord. He put it this way, "Rest to me, as I am thinking of it in my post, is an internal thing that grows as we learn to live love (think about that statement), listening and trusting in Abba's love. For me, I know I am living in that place of rest when my heart/inner being is still and peaceful. When that peace and/or stillness goes away, it's a sure sign to me that I am back to striving. Unfortunately, many believers find that their inner noise is so high that they can't tell when they are striving other than by the frantic pace of their life and the anxiety that produces. But Papa has been kind enough to teach me how to live with inner stillness (it's wonderfully quiet in my mind and heart now), and that has become my meter for letting me know whether or not I am resting in God's love, etc. Obviously, actual physical rest and solitude, etc., are part of this as well, but I am talking mostly about an inward state of the heart and mind."
Psalm 37:7, KJV,says, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not..."
Philippians 4: 6 NIV, "Do not be anxious about anything,..."
Mark Charles, Navajo pastor, instructor at Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, wrote in his blog, wirelesshogan, this observation on Psalm 46:10, "Be still..." "...How possible is this in our modern technological world? What does it mean to be still before God? I used to think I understood this but after living for 3 years on the Navajo reservation in a traditional hogan with no electricity or running water, (dirt floor, cooked on a wood stove that was also the only heat source, out house not very close to hogan) no television, no hot showers or washing machines, no microwaves or refrigerators, no public transportation or paved roads leading up to my house, I found there is a level of stillness that I never knew existed.....until we moved to our hogan that is located on a dirt road, six miles off the nearest paved road. The dirt road is pure clay and when it gets wet from rain or snow it is practically impassable. In fact, I have gotten stuck on this road numerous times as I traveled home in the rain. Once I was able to walk home, but another time my family and I had to spend the night in the car. So I have quickly learned that when it rains we do not go out.
"When it rains at our hogan we literally cannot go anywhere, so we sit. We read books, we pray, we spend time as a family. We are still and in that stillness we remember God. When it rains at our hogan we can hear God inviting us, saying, 'Stay her. Don't go anywhere. Be still and know that I am God.' But if our road were paved we probably would not hear God's voice in this way, for the weather would have very little impact on our lives. Even during the rain and snow we could still get in our truck and do what we needed. We could go where we wanted and do as we pleased. We would feel safe and secure thinking God was with us, because look, He has blessed us, the road is paved....We can go about our business....We would never realize that with the pitter patter of the falling rain God was faintly whispering, 'Wait, don't go! Be still and know that I am God.'"
So what have I learned so far in this journey? I am to stop striving, pushing, trying to make things happen, instead, I will be still and trust in the character of God, His love, plans, mercy, provision, grace, and more. I can say with Paul, not that I have already attained to this, but I will continue to look for His hand and listen for His still small voice saying to me, this is the way, walk in it.
Any where there are italics, they are mine to insert or draw attention to something I found interesting.
The owners of this particular hogan have offered to rent it to me. Don't think I haven't considered it.
Thank you for sharing my journey with me. I hope the Lord blesses you as you read my thoughts on this journey. Keep looking into His Word for your guidance and instructions.
Troy
Another thought: In our attempts in the flesh to rest we always seem to have an element of doing something in order to rest.
What I'm going to share here is not a complete treatise on rest but is a work in process. I'm not making going to give you conclusions or a fix it plan, just some random thoughts, observations and some quotes. I pray that you will be blessed as you read and that the Lord will bless you with what He wants to say to you in your area of rest.
Consider Matthew 11:28-30 from The Message, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (italics are mine something to think about).
Jesus tells us, "I'll show you how to take a real rest." The question that I have struggled with is, How? String's Concordance defines the word from the Greek as 1)to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength; 2) to give rest, refresh, to give one's self rest, take rest; 3) to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation. For me, number 1 and 3 seem to be where I am struggling.
Along the same lines, Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still..." means to be quiet, to sink, to relax, or to let go. Oh, no, I can't let go! What if...?
Can it be that God will cause me to rest or allows me to do so on my own?
Here I'm reminded of the verse in Mark 6:31, in the KJV, Jesus speaking, it reads, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while...." Some, myself included, use this verse to tell people to Come a part before you come a part. But such a refreshing thought, Jesus invites us to come and be with Him in a quite place and rest.
Robert Morris, pastor and teacher, said this, "If you have an attitude of stress and worry rather than rest, it's because you don't trust God's character, power and love."
I wrote to Tom Wymore for his insights. I've known Tom for many years, we served together in the Foursquare Gospel denomination and I trust his walk with the Lord. He put it this way, "Rest to me, as I am thinking of it in my post, is an internal thing that grows as we learn to live love (think about that statement), listening and trusting in Abba's love. For me, I know I am living in that place of rest when my heart/inner being is still and peaceful. When that peace and/or stillness goes away, it's a sure sign to me that I am back to striving. Unfortunately, many believers find that their inner noise is so high that they can't tell when they are striving other than by the frantic pace of their life and the anxiety that produces. But Papa has been kind enough to teach me how to live with inner stillness (it's wonderfully quiet in my mind and heart now), and that has become my meter for letting me know whether or not I am resting in God's love, etc. Obviously, actual physical rest and solitude, etc., are part of this as well, but I am talking mostly about an inward state of the heart and mind."
Psalm 37:7, KJV,says, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not..."
Philippians 4: 6 NIV, "Do not be anxious about anything,..."
Mark Charles, Navajo pastor, instructor at Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, wrote in his blog, wirelesshogan, this observation on Psalm 46:10, "Be still..." "...How possible is this in our modern technological world? What does it mean to be still before God? I used to think I understood this but after living for 3 years on the Navajo reservation in a traditional hogan with no electricity or running water, (dirt floor, cooked on a wood stove that was also the only heat source, out house not very close to hogan) no television, no hot showers or washing machines, no microwaves or refrigerators, no public transportation or paved roads leading up to my house, I found there is a level of stillness that I never knew existed.....until we moved to our hogan that is located on a dirt road, six miles off the nearest paved road. The dirt road is pure clay and when it gets wet from rain or snow it is practically impassable. In fact, I have gotten stuck on this road numerous times as I traveled home in the rain. Once I was able to walk home, but another time my family and I had to spend the night in the car. So I have quickly learned that when it rains we do not go out.
"When it rains at our hogan we literally cannot go anywhere, so we sit. We read books, we pray, we spend time as a family. We are still and in that stillness we remember God. When it rains at our hogan we can hear God inviting us, saying, 'Stay her. Don't go anywhere. Be still and know that I am God.' But if our road were paved we probably would not hear God's voice in this way, for the weather would have very little impact on our lives. Even during the rain and snow we could still get in our truck and do what we needed. We could go where we wanted and do as we pleased. We would feel safe and secure thinking God was with us, because look, He has blessed us, the road is paved....We can go about our business....We would never realize that with the pitter patter of the falling rain God was faintly whispering, 'Wait, don't go! Be still and know that I am God.'"
So what have I learned so far in this journey? I am to stop striving, pushing, trying to make things happen, instead, I will be still and trust in the character of God, His love, plans, mercy, provision, grace, and more. I can say with Paul, not that I have already attained to this, but I will continue to look for His hand and listen for His still small voice saying to me, this is the way, walk in it.
Any where there are italics, they are mine to insert or draw attention to something I found interesting.
The owners of this particular hogan have offered to rent it to me. Don't think I haven't considered it.
Thank you for sharing my journey with me. I hope the Lord blesses you as you read my thoughts on this journey. Keep looking into His Word for your guidance and instructions.
Troy
Another thought: In our attempts in the flesh to rest we always seem to have an element of doing something in order to rest.
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