Jesus used awesome metaphors that have bridged cultures and generations – every culture and generation! Whether it was water from the rock or bread coming down from heaven, He not only taught parables for clarity – every action/every word made His access to the Kingdom of heaven accessible to us.
SAMUEL: A LISTENING HEART
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Who are you as a person? What is your family all about? Your friends and neighbors? What is unique about your unfolding personal story?
We are all inescapably impacted by the times in which we live. Though we share many things human – in each century and decade, each geo-ethnic circumstance completely impacts how we perceive both ourselves and our Creator.
Samuel was born into a unique relational soup. He would be the final judge over Israel, and the one who anointed Israel’s first human king. It was tricky. It was imperfect. It was challenging on every level.
Judges 17.6
“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
“Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. Then his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the LORD.” – 1 Samuel 7:15-17
Samuel had to learn on his feet. His God perceptions – his personal identity – his place in the Story all were birthed in uncertain, impure, and broken times. Yet Samuel found his way. He learned to distinguish God’s voice, and became a unique God-warrior in his time – a listening servant of the Lord God.
A GREAT AWAKENING?
Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed? A lot overwhelmed? When we find ourselves in trying or troubled times, true hope emerges through how Jesus responded to adversity. “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart…” – Luke 18:1; 11:1-13
Losing heart is a common human malady. It happens when initiatives or outcomes go sweepingly different than we hoped or planned. Right now there are many things occurring here and around the world which provide windows for people to think more deeply. We are out of our patterns. We are uncertain about the future. We are open in distinct ways because of agitation or fear.
For several decades I have been asking our Father to awaken sleeping souls. The other day it struck me that perhaps God may have a broader plan than what I was imagining (surprise, surprise). Is it possible we are seeing a global awakening emerging right now? Does God have huge plans to set many free, and open our hearts to His Son’s Kingdom? Would that even be possible? One can only hope. And pray.
Here are a few things we can request of the God of the universe on behalf of our city and our Nineveh nation. Do you think He will hear us?
1. That God would expand the heart borders of those around us. John 4:31-38
2. For God to thwart the work of the evil one and overcome soul-devastation with truth. James 4:6-10
3. That God will use the wake of our current circumstances to turn hearts. Malachi 4:1-6
4. For clarity for God-servants in doing good and sharing. Hebrews 13:15,16
5. And finally, that our Great God would awaken sleeping souls. Ephesians 5:14
Some awesome passages: Jeremiah 6:16/Zechariah 10:1-4/Matthew 7:7-11/Mark 11:20-25/James 1:2-8/James 5:13-20/Jeremiah 29:10-14/Acts 3:19/Revelation 22:16,17
Peace upon your home friend!
Dave & Burnadette
A great awakening song to share with our neighbors
AWAKENING: CATALYST.CITY
Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed? A lot overwhelmed? When we find ourselves in trying or troubled times, true hope emerges through how Jesus responded to adversity. “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart…” – Luke 18:1; 11:1-13
Losing heart is a common human malady. It happens when initiatives or outcomes go sweepingly differently than we hoped or planned. Right now there are many things occurring right here and around the world which provide windows for people to think more deeply. We are out of our patterns. We are uncertain about the future. We are open in distinct ways because of agitation or fear.
Here are a few things we can request of the God of the universe on behalf of our city.
Do you think He will listen?
1. That God would expand the heart borders of those around us. John 4:31-38
2. For God to thwart the work of the evil one and overcome soul-devastation with truth. James 4:6-10
3. That God will use the wake of our current experiences to turn hearts. Malachi 4:1-6
4. For clarity for God-servants in doing good and sharing. Hebrews 13:15,16
5. And finally, that our Great God would awaken sleeping souls. Ephesians 5:14
Here are some awesome passages about effective prayer which can be considered by the searching, intentional heart!
Jeremiah 6:16/Zechariah 10:1-4/Matthew 7:7-11/Mark 11:20-25/James 1:2-8/James 5:13-20/Jeremiah 29:10-14/Acts 3:19/Revelation 22:16,17
Peace upon your home friend!
Dave & Burnadette
Catalyst.city and praying for our city
A great awakening song to pray for our neighbors
BOOK BY BOOK 1: THE TWO FEARS
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There are two major types of fear which matter in the human experience. The first is the most pressing: anything which robs us of personal peace. In short, the things we are afraid of. These can be immediate, such as health, well-being, security, or something or someone who threatens us. While some are braver and less fearful than others, the ultimate concern over our mortality impacts us all – whether we choose to admit it or not. In the scriptures this kind of fear originates in the word we call a phobia. Whether legitimate or imagined, the impact is the same. We are robbed of our personal peace.
The second concept for fear reflects different word(s) and idea. It has more to do with being in awe of Someone rather than something. The “fear of the Lord” is comparative: it contemplates God and His relationship to humanity and stands back in reverence. Many religious people can relate to this idea on one level or another, but in its purest form the true fear of the Lord is all about recognizing the greatness of the Living God.
Right now we find ourselves in a very fearful environment. It is for the most part not imagined (our phobias) but very real, and threatening on a massive and global level. And this very real fear can fire our thoughts and imagination on both levels. We cannot help but be impacted by the specter of death. So, we must manage this fear the best we know how. It is all around us. And directly or indirectly it is within us on some level as well.
I would encourage you (as I am myself) to balance these two fears. IF I am this fragile, and IF God is as great and as good as He says He is in the Word of God, then I can face my fears in Him. Does that make sense? So I am trying to give attention to both fears, and as I do, to entrust my pressing fear to under the umbrella of God’s ultimate power over my heart, mind, and soul.
This is my comfort. This is what I offer to those I love. To my co-workers and neighbors. To those I pray for who are sick and grieving. In this sense we are in the opportunity of a lifetime. Pointing and praying ourselves and others toward the “fear of the Lord” is the kindest thing I can do. It is my mission right now. Lord God, how can I serve you in this house of fear?
And here is where I end up:
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:37-39
Peace be with you friends.
Dave & Burnadette