Tag: wisdom
Gestating A Miracle
In John chapter 11 we read the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
I think I’ve read this chapter 100s of times. I often ask the Lord, ‘What chapter should I read?’ More often than not He says ‘John 11’.
That could get frustrating, to just keep reading the same chapter, often getting something, but today was different.
I saw the gestation of a miracle.
I saw from the time Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick until he spoke the words, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ There was a time of gestation. Like being pregnant with a child, you are called upon to bring forth something into the earth. Jesus was bringing a miracle into the earth.
Jesus loved Lazarus, but He was confident in his revival.
What did Jesus do as soon as He heard that Lazarus was sick?
NOTHING!!!!!!!
Can you imagine?
How could you do nothing if you heard your friend was sick?
Hearing this news was not his trigger for action.
Getting direction from God was His trigger for action.
If we live in our intellect then we will respond to what we hear with a thought pattern then make a decision about our actions based on what we come up with in our thinking.
Jesus was not living in his intellect. He was not controlled by his intellect. His guidance system was not his intellect. He was intent on only obeying God, only following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
If you feel an internal obligation to respond to every stimuli that comes your way, then you will easily be led by the circumstances not by God.
How do you make a decision about what to do?
Do you just reason it out?
God gave us an intellect, He wants us to use it! Right?
Thank God for our intellect; our ability to reason and to think things through with the knowledge we have in store and the wisdom we have been granted. But if we realize that our intellect is finite and our storehouse of knowledge might not have all the information required to make decisions. Then we realize we must ascend above our intellect. A higher level decision making process is required.
It is a humbling thing to think that we might not know it all. Intellect wants to reign. It wants to be in charge. It often thinks itself almighty. But if we humble ourselves and yield to the One above… If we acknowledge that we might not have all the answers and that the decision before us could be more than we are equipped to make…then we can have access to the Greater Mind, the Higher Intellect, yes, the wisdom of God!
Decisions are important. They set the course for the future, not just for us but all those around us as well.
So, why did Jesus not immediately respond when he heard the news about his friend?
He was waiting for instructions in his spirit not his intellect.
He was waiting for peace on the inside
Miracles aren’t always immediate.
Even this miracle wasn’t a microwave miracle.
We see Jesus going through a process to bring this about.
He was waiting for signals every step of the way.
Jesus was deeply moved in his spirit. Twice it mentions this. You can tell that he was more in tune with his spirit/the Spirit than he was with his intellect. His brain wasn’t running the show. It was yielded. It was looking. It was watching. Waiting for the signals, the guidance, the leading that comes from the Spirit of God dwelling within.
When you need a miracle, don’t get in a hurry. Being in a hurry is definitely where your intellect will want to take over and run the show.
If you’ll pull from the Spirit you’ll get heaven’s results not the intellect’s.
I Don’t Want To Be The One Who’s Missing
Lord, I see all of these Father’s Day posts, while I’m thankful for being honored. The thing that bothers me is the number of people who’s father has passed and they are sore lamenting the loss of their father and missing him everyday. I don’t want that. I don’t want to be the one who is missing. I don’t want my kids to lament me not being there. Give me wisdom God. I want to affect their lives in a positive way, I want them to be thankful, but I do not want them to miss me everyday.
Many words, meant to be said, were unspoken. Many hearts that needed to be known were left closed. Many that needed a touch from their father were left alone. Son, you have spoken into their lives. You have ministered my love. You have done well Son.
While you can’t control how you will be remembered, you can influence it.
Keep loving Son.
Keep listening.
Keep empowering them towards confidence and accomplishment.
Keep directing their hearts to love others.
That outward focus will leave them satisfied at your departure.
Son, I’m with you.
We have much loving to do.
Let us work while we have the light.
Move forward in me son, without shame and without apology.
Impact this world with my love and my wisdom.
That is your commission.
Why I Like Being A Father
When I was 14 I had a distinct impression/desire: I wanted to be a father.
It wasn’t just my hormones screaming, it was something different.
I wanted to speak into people’s lives.
I wanted to challenge them.
I wanted to take care of them, but not coddle them.
I wanted to be there as a blessing in their lives in a way that brought comfort, confidence, direction, wisdom, encouragement and more confidence.
Being a father was a big dream in me.
Philippians 2:13 says that God is at work in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure.
I really believe that the stirring of those desires as a teenager was literally God Himself on the inside of me, stirring up those desires. Well, if God is willing to stir up desires within me that are perfectly in line with His will then lets get busy, lets get stirred up. Bring on your desires Lord.
Now at the age of 58, after 34+ years of marriage, Nancy & I have 7 children. I love every one of them. We have two children-in-law with another being added soon. We have three amazing little grand-daughters. We are so blessed. I am so blessed.
But I feel like my heart is about 5% filled.
My desire to be a father is increasing.
We’re not looking for any new babies of our own.
But the desire to father is increasing in my heart.
God seems to still be at work in me to fill my heart with desires.
My desire to speak directly into people’s hearts, to bring them wisdom, encouragement, comfort, guidance, etc. those desires are increasing.
I see so many fatherless. Sometimes their dad was a failure at being a dad. Sometimes he just was not present. Sometimes he was a jerk. And I see the children’s hearts not being filled. This grieves me and motivates me. I believe I can stand in. I believe if I have the chance to speak I can love them the way their father should have.
Lord, help me to be effective in people’s lives. Help me to be a voice that fills the gap. I love you Lord. I want to represent you well.
I really believe that the human race has so much potential. If there was a father there to encourage them, guide them, help them…then we could see some amazing answers come forward to bless this world.
Maybe that’s what father’s do, they plant, fertilize, grow, weed, harvest answers for the world.
God’s Sustaining Power
God has an amazing ability to keep us. When we endure so many trials and wonder how things are going to turn out, it’s amazing that His power is still there keeping us. He is so loving and faithful! Its not so much that He loves us, which He does, but He also wants to love others through us. For Him to do that, we need to survive and stay in place. In the Bible Paul calls us living stones; we are alive but we are put in place like a stone that’s used to build a wall. People being in the right position is a powerful thing.
This year Nancy & I will be pastoring for 10 years. We are still in position. We have had some wonderful times as pastors, but we have also had some very difficult times. Somehow God has been able to sustain us. He’s kept us alive. We haven’t missed a meal. We haven’t done everything right and there’s some things that we’d change if we could do it again, but God’s faithfulness is what deserves the real acknowledgement here. It’s God’s sustaining power. We would have been knocked out of this a long time ago, but God kept us here. He placed us here. He wants to love through us. His faithfulness to us is not just about His love for us. We’re confident of that. But His faithfulness and His sustaining power are also because God has a plan and a desire; He wants His representatives to be loving on His behalf. He wants those who will represent Him to be accurately in place.
There is such a huge wave of needy people and God’s heart’s desire is to envelope all of them with His love, His wisdom, His healing…all of His goodness. He must have people in place who will allow His love to come through. There are so many that are so hungry and needy for His love. He must have us in place.
He is the mortar that holds the living stones in place. When God gives you an assignment He wants you to stay there. The Devil will provide many opportunities for you to give up that assignment. But God will also provide His sustaining power. So many things pass before your eyes; so many problems that make staying in place look impossible. But staying in place is exactly what God wants us to do. His faithfulness is here to see you through, to help you and to keep you in place. If we focus on the problems then their chance of overcoming you increases. If you focus on God then His promise of surviving and thriving are yours.
Now when trials and storms come, remember that they don’t last. We don’t live in a constant storm. There are times of peace, hopefully sustained periods of peace. If you’re living in a constant storm, you may consider whether you are in God’s will or not, or you may consider that you might be missing a piece of wisdom for the way you are doing things. If you turn down a one way street going the wrong direction, you will face continuous opposition until you turn around. God has a place of peace for you; a place of productivity, of meaningful service, of significance and plenty.
Let God position you. Be faithful to Him. Let His faithfulness sustain you.
Vengeance Is So Heavy
OVER A WEEK AGO I WAS TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF THE GLEN ELLYN LIBRARY TO HEAD NORTH OVER THE TRACKS. I WAS WAITING WHILE THREE CARS WERE HEADING SOUTH TOWARD ME THEN TURNING RIGHT. THE LAST CAR LOOKED LIKE HE HAD HIS BLINKER ON SO I PULLED OUT TO TURN LEFT. AFTER I PULLED OUT HE SLOWED BECAUSE HE APPARENTLY WAS NOT PLANNING ON TURNING AND I WAS NOW IN HIS WAY. HE YELLED OUT THE WINDOW AT ME SOME UNREPEATABLE CURSE WORDS. WELL I’M NOT AROUND PEOPLE MUCH WHO TALK LIKE THAT SO THAT STUFF HURTS MY EARS; ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S DIRECTED AT ME. I THEN STARTED TO FEEL OFFENDED AND THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN MY BODY STARTED TO RISE UP WITH HOW TO HANDLE THIS. ALL KINDS OF IMAGINATIONS FLOODED MY HEAD. THEN I REMEMBERED THE SCRIPTURE VERSE THAT SAID, “BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU.” SO, I STARTED PRAYING FOR THIS GUY, TO BLESS HIM. I PRAYED THAT HE WOULD GET A RAISE IN HIS JOB AND MAYBE EVEN A PROMOTION AND THAT GOD WOULD BLESS HIS MARRIAGE AND FINANCES AND ALL HIS RELATIONSHIPS. THAT THE GOODNESS OF GOD WOULD OVERTAKE HIM. IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF TO TAKE THIS POSITION, BECAUSE BEFORE I THOUGHT OF THIS SCRIPTURE, SOME OF MY IMAGINATIONS TOWARD HIM WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE CLASSIFIED AS CHRISTIAN. LATER I REMEMBERED THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT I REALIZED THE HEAVINESS OF THE BURDEN OF WANTING TO PAY THAT GUY BACK FOR YELLING CURSES AT ME. WHEN I COMPARE THAT TO THE LIGHT FEELING THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS PRAYING FOR BLESSINGS ON HIS LIFE THERE WAS A STARK CONTRAST. NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY GOD SAYS THAT VENGEANCE IS HIS. IT IS TOO HEAVY FOR US AS HUMANS TO CARRY IT. I LOVE GOD. HIS WISDOM REALLY MAKES THINGS EASIER.
Handhelds can become parasitic
Hey Friends,
I woke up this morning with the Lord talking to me. Here’s the journal entry:
You awaken my ear like one being taught.
Regarding handhelds & other electronics:
They can become parasitic
Jeremiah 2:6
This is what the Lord says
What fault did your fathers find in me
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
- Pay attention to what you need
- Pay attention to what you have
- Pay attention to what has you
- What do you focus on?
- What do you focus on the most?
- Is it life to you?
- Or does it take life from you?
Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years.
This is your life –
what will you spend it on?
Where your focus is – there your heart is.
Proverbs 17:24
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
But a fools eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 19:29
Stop listening to instruction, my son
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Son, I will show you what life is:
Life is when you tap into me and knowledge, wisdom, love and healing begin to flow. Being one with me, spending time listening to my voice, reading my word & preparing your heart for service. This is life.
This multiplies and brings forth my abundance to you.
So walk with Me Son.
Let me lead, guide, direct.
Let me give you focus.
Focus your eyes on Me.
Through me you can see all I would have you see.
Through me, the wisdom you need is revealed.
Starting A New Journal
Hey Friends,
I love starting a new journal after I’ve filled up another. I recently started a new one. Here’s the entry from the first day:
Father, I call forth a new level of revelation, conversation and wisdom as you and I discuss in these pages the things we would share with each other.
Lord, fill my heart & mind with your wisdom.
Son, I’m speaking in such a way as to draw your heart and mind to a more open posture. I want you to hear me more clearly and obey me instantly. My “suddenlys” can be your “suddenlys”. Are you ready to move quick when I speak?
Here I am, now follow me.
Know my voice
Know it when it’s gentle
Know it when it’s kind
Know it when it’s soft
Know it when it’s strong
I am kind Son.
I am gentle
I am encouraging
But, I’m also a King!
I make decrees and commands that I expect to be obeyed.
Know my voice Son
Hear me whisper
Hear me shout
I am God
Theres is no other
Hear me out!
Son, the path I have for you is long.
There’s many years ahead.
Hear my voice speaking to you of my secret wisdom
…known to so few and some of it to none.
Come listen
Let me explain
I go before you…don’t make me follow
Watch & see what you see
I will show you
As I go before you it will naturally be in your sight.
You’ll know what to do.
– So slow down a bit –
Watch for my hand.
Don’t make moves without Me.
There’s safety in waiting.
Rest now.
Joseph Barlow 