Blog Archives - River of Life Church

God Loves Clara Joy

7/31/2012

A family in our church celebrated the birth of their second child yesterday. Nine months and one day of excited anticipation ended in great joy. The parents knew their baby was a girl before she was born. They had pictures of her from the ultrasound and now they have Clara Joy in their arms. Her parents will marvel at her first words, first steps and first firsts of all kinds of things. As Clara Joy gets older they will discover her favorite colors, the things that make her giggle and what she is passionate about.

God already knows all those things about Clara Joy. God has seen her before she was ever an image on an ultrasound; even before she was a positive result on a pregnancy test.

Psalms 139:13-16
For You created my inmost being;
    You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    Your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You
    when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16     Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
    were written in Your book
    before one of them came to be.

God knows when Clara Joy will get her first skinned knee. He knows if she will like baiting her own hook or if she will play ice hockey. God knows what her greatest joy in life will be and what will be the greatest wound in her life. God has already decided when He will step into her life in bold and dramatic ways protecting, providing and bringing healing to her life. He has already decided when He will allow the corruptness of the world to injure her and when He will allow her free choices to go in directions that take her further from His side. And when God’s love allows pain into Clara Joy’s life, God’s heart will break even deeper than her parents’ hearts.

God has destiny and purpose for Clara Joy. He has plans to prosper her and to bring her joy. God will always be available to Clara Joy whenever she pursues Him with passion.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart.

Everything that God has for Clara Joy, He also has for you.

Take a minute to re-read this blog and after the first paragraph say your “name”, “I”, “me” or “my” wherever you read Clara Joy’s name or reference to her.
How does this affect your day?

Can Somebody Put a Curse on You?

7/30/2012

In the movie, “Road to Perdition”, Paul Newman plays John Rooney, a Rock Island mob boss during the Great Depression. In the movie, Rooney’s son Conner fails him too many times and Rooney curses his son with these stinging words, “I curse you. I curse that you were born. I curse that you were ever my son.”

Last week, I had a conversation with a Christian who believed that his unbelieving father-in-law was sending curses upon his daughter, the Christian man’s wife. Years ago someone told me they thought I was under somebody’s curse and that was why life was so challenging.

The question I raised years ago was raised again in my conversation with the Christian husband: What about the verse that says God in our lives is greater than the enemy in the world?
1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

I believe that if a person is genuinely saved by God, loving God and following God, then it is not possible that they would be vulnerable to someone putting a curse upon them. A person who looks religious, but is dabbling in the occult, or doing anything that is opposite of God’s ways is allowing the enemy to have footholds and strongholds in their lives. The Christian husband’s wife was not doing anything opposing God, but was a strong Christian herself.

God’s protection on your life is like an umbrella protecting you from rain or the burning sun. If you deliberately pursue things that are opposite of God’s way of living, then you walk away from God’s umbrella of protection. If you remain close to God, you remain under his loving, protective umbrella.

The Bible describes that protection as an armor which consists of God’s truth, God’s peace, God’s faith, God’s salvation, and God’s word.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Put on the armor and stay under the umbrella!

Do you agree?
How do you explain when bad things happen to Christians?

Olympic Opening Ceremony

7/27/2012

The Games of the XXX Olympiad begins today! Tonight is the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The ceremony includes the honoring of the host nation’s head of state. Her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, will be greeted by Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee.

After the honoring of the head of state, the parade of athletes enters the stadium. By tradition, the Greek team enters the stadium first and the host team, Great Britain enters last. In between those two teams is a procession of the teams nation by nation entering in alphabetical order according to the language of the host nation. Once all of the teams are in the stadium, the Queen will declare the games officially open. The Olympic flag is raised while the Olympic national anthem is played. An athlete, judge, and coach hold a corner of the Olympic flag in their left hand and with their right hand raised, they vow to compete and judge according to the rules of the games.

The Olympic flame will now enter the stadium passing through the athletes to the final Torchbearer who will ceremoniously light the cauldron indicating the beginning of the games. The flame will burn for the remainder of the games. A total cast of 15,000 performers will take part in the opening and closing ceremonies watched by an estimated 4 billion people around the world. (More information can be found on the official Olympic website http://www.london2012.com)

I will be one of the 4 billion watching. The world population as of today is 7,028,946,064 people. If Jesus Christ returned today, I would be one of the more than 7.029 billion viewers watching from my knees. I would not only be watching, but participating. The Bible says that those who have Jesus as their highest treasure will join Him.

Romans 14:11-12 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before Me;
every tongue will confess to God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

There will be an amazing celebration as Christians meet the Lord in the air and heaven comes to earth. The eternal flame of life will mark the forever life with Jesus. Nations will gather from the farthest corners of the globe. Hands will be raised in praise and worship to the One we have vowed allegiance to during our lives on the old earth. A cast of thousands upon thousands will take part in the opening of a ceremony that will never close or end!

When you watch the Olympic opening ceremonies, what images of heaven do you have?

How to Seek Jesus' Face and not Just His Hands

7/26/2012

My daughter, Rachel, spoke this past Sunday. She shared highlights of the ten months she spent in a discipleship ministry training program called A4 Peoria. A4 stands for Acts chapter 4 in the Bible where it was noted that Jesus’ disciples were unschooled but extraordinary because they had spent time with Jesus.

One of the things that challenged Rachel was to seek Jesus for Jesus. This has been described as seeking the face of Jesus and not simply His hand. She shared an illustration that made this clearly understood. Rachel said that if she was wishing to borrow the car keys from me she would look for me. If she could not find me she would ask people if they knew where I might be found. She would keep looking and pursuing until she found me. But when she found me, she would ask for the cars keys. Her pursuit was for the keys, not for me. I just happen to have the keys to the car.

Rachel realized that often her motive of prayer was to ask the Lord for something and not simply talking and listening to Jesus because He is Jesus. Rachel is learning to seek His face and not just for what she can get from His hand.

How?

Spend time with the Lord listening and talking without an agenda. Matthew writes Jesus’ invitation to learn to do life with Him.
Matthew 11:28-30 (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."

Somehow, we got it Wrong

7/25/2012

There is a newer song out that has the phrase, “They know what we stand against….” The song is referring to people knowing what Christians are against more than they know what Christians are for. R. Loren Sandford in an article titled, “Foolishness and a Change of Strategy” (Charisma April 2012) addresses the need for Christians to adopt a new “kingdom” plan.

Sandord writes, “It doesn’t take a prophet to point out that our nation is in trouble and that the trouble we’re facing won’t go away anytime soon.” He lists crisis points in the history of the United States where God provided great men and women to lead our nation through the crisis. Our nation has not always lived out fully godly values, but it did acknowledge God and His place in our nation at cultural and governmental levels.

Currently, our court decisions, laws, and policies reveal that we no longer truly respect or follow the Lord. I appreciate Sandford’s caution, “Yet this is not a time for Christians to attempt to exert influence through shrill, judgmental and angry statements.” People already know what we are against.

I get too many emails forwarded that use fear and slander to either fuel blame at our current president, battle for the need to post the Ten Commandments in public places as the solution for our spiritual drift, and rallying Christians for a marriage amendment vote that will keep our nation from embracing homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

I agree with the need for holiness in our nation, but somehow we got it wrong. Legislating holiness does not work. The Ten Commandments did not make the nation of Israel more holy. I agree with Sandford’s new “kingdom” plan based on blessing, serving and prophetic wisdom.

The lives of Joseph, Daniel and his three friends from the Bible are examples of influence by means of blessing, serving and prophetic wisdom. You have an opportunity at this point in history of being Josephs and Daniels at the places of influence God has positioned you.

Do you think Sandford’s plan will work?

Life NOT as Usual

7/24/2012

I believe that everyone has time in their lives that are spiritually eventful, even in the lives of those who do not believe in God. Christians have spiritual mountaintop experiences that come from special meetings, guest speakers, a week at Bible camp, family camp, a conference, a weekend away with just you and the Lord or circumstances that press you closer to the Lord that are high points in your life as a follower of Jesus Christ. Coming down from the mountain and returning to work or school on Monday is a downer. Does it have to be that way?

When Jesus invited his followers to experience Him and do His work, He never meant it to be a temporary burst of joy and then a return to mundane living. His followers did a number of things in Acts 4 that kept them from living life as usual.

1.      They were incredibly influential. Verses 2-4 (They were big mouths for Jesus!) “They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”
2.      They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Vs. 8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!”
3.      Their time with Jesus changed them. Vs 13 “ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. “
4.      They obeyed God. Vs 18-20 “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
5.      They asked for, expected and acted upon big things from God. Vs 29-31 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
6.      They were bound by a profound love and unity. Vs 32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

Next mountaintop experience, let’s stay up on top and not return to life as usual!

Who Do We Blame?

7/23/2012

Tragedy hit our nation this past week from the 12 deaths and 58 wounded in an Aurora, Colorado movie theater by a gunman early Friday morning. James Holmes, the 24 year old in custody of the shootings is a resident of Colorado and warned police that his apartment was booby- trapped. Holmes will make his first court appearance this morning.

Various groups are trying to discover the source or motives that can cause a person to bring harm to so many people in such a callously, random manner. Gun opponents blame the ability to purchase and own guns. Violent movie opponents blame the movie that was making its’ midnight debut. Violent video game opponents blame video games that create realistically violent images.

Each of us has a strong drive to fix blame in a certain area and it helps form an understanding of a situation that seems senseless.

The blame could go back to Adam and Eve who brought the stain of sin to humanity through their disobedience to God. The blame could be placed on the devil whose rebellious influence brought Adam and Eve to choose disobedience. The blame could be placed upon God, who chose to give humankind free will rather than robotic, abject worship and obedience. God’s love for humankind compelled Him to allow us the ability to choose to obey or not to obey; to enjoy a night at the movies or to cause incredible harm.

God comes to give life and the devil comes to take life.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Who do you think is to blame for the Aurora, Colorado tragedy?

God is Good!

7/20/2012

Recently, I have listened to stories from people sharing of unique events in their lives that can only be explained by understanding that there is a God and He is good.

Stan and Jeannie are the couple Rachel and the A4 team have stayed with for the past eleven months (see the previous two blogs). Their lives are filled with stories of a God who is amazing in His goodness and love. They tell of God’s goodness on their lives guiding them together as a couple, of God’s goodness on the lives of their children and grandchildren, God’s goodness on their business and their home. Stan and Jeannie know that God is good!

When we embrace that God is a good God who truly wants to release good things in our lives especially when we do not live perfectly, an amazing transformation occurs. When we falter, fail and fall our hands do not go up over our heads to protect us from God’s “smiting”. Instead, our hands go up like a child does to a parent when they need lifting up and over an area they cannot cross by themselves.

Our lives need to hear and tell stories of God’s goodness in our lives. When you get stuck noticing the good surrounding you, take inventory. Start with your family and thank God for your spouse, your children, and your heritage. I have heard of God’s goodness expressed by a young person who was thankful for their family even though their family caused them great harm and pain. She shared that they would not wish to trade places with anyone else because through the difficult times they experienced God’s goodness far greater than during the easier times of life.

Psalm 73:28
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

A Powerful, Quiet Gift

7/18/2012

There is a spiritual gift of hospitality that does not seem to get as much attention as the demonstrative gifts such as teaching, preaching, or prophesying. The gift of hospitality is a powerful gift that is amazing to see in action. I am writing this from Tremont, Illinois at the home where Rachel and the team has been the recipient of the gift of hospitality from Stan and Jeannie over the past eleven months.

We made it from Minnesota to Illinois with one cooler (see previous blog “Packing Light”) and four of us in a five passenger car. Rachel looked at how full the back was and gave real wonder if all her luggage would fit. I reassured her that the straps I brought would resolve any space limitations.

Stan and Jeannie made us feel very welcomed and showed us to “our rooms”. Each room was not only made up with clean sheets and towels, but had bottled water, snacks, and extra toiletries in case we forgot to bring toothpaste, toothbrush or anything else.

The couple hosted a get together yesterday evening with the parents of each of the A4 interns and some of the staff that instructed and worked with the interns. Each table had a white tablecloth, cookies and treats that made the setting special. Barbecued brats, burgers and side dishes filled our plates and stomachs.

Stan and Jeannie feel that the things they have are from the Lord and should be used for kingdom purposes. They use the extra rooms in their home to host pastors, missionaries, A4 teams, grandchildren and others who need a place to stay.

Our church has people with the wonderful gift of hospitality and they do not even know it! They make people feel at ease and welcomed the moment they step in the door. Their greatest joy is sharing the things God has given them. They do not realize the power and grace their gift of hospitality brings into the lives of the people they touch. Rachel and the team have been so saturated with Stan and Jeannie’s gift of hospitality that now it overflows from their life.

Romans 12:13
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Packing Light

7/17/2012

This morning, I am heading out on a road trip to Peoria, Illinois along with my wife Connie, Grandma Daniels and my daughter Allison. We are going to celebrate my daughter Rachel’s graduation from a discipleship/ministry training called A4.

Our intent is to leave a little later this morning and avoid rush hour traffic in the cities. I have our route printed from map quest, showing step by step mileage, estimated time, road designations, and if there are any detours or toll roads. The route has been programmed into Garmin, our affectionate GPS with a female British voice. Snacks have been selected, books and magazines will come along to peruse during the eight and a half hour ride.

Tonight is a gathering of the A4 graduates, instructors and parents at the host home the graduates have stayed in primarily over the past eleven months. We are a little uncertain how formal the graduation ceremony will be. Do we include a more “dressy” set of clothing or not?

In the back portion of the car will be the luggage for the four of us for a three day, two night stay. We are also bringing two coolers. Connie gave me the heads up on the coolers, which Grandma has insisted upon for the snacks and fixings for meals on the road. I am hoping they are smaller, but just in case I am bringing straps as a back-up if we are not able to fit when we add Rachel’s luggage from nine months of schooling. It would be an unpleasant pickle if we brought too much and did not have room for bringing Rachel or her stuff home.

Pack light people.

Jesus told His key followers, the twelve disciples, to pack light.

Luke 9:1-6 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

They had a job to do and needed to be free from things that would distract or load them down. This passage makes us aware about packing light for life. Most of us prepare more for a road trip or vacation than we prepare for kingdom work. What if we were as intentional about planning the route for our lives each day or week?

How?
Holy Spirit GPS - The Holy Spirit can find the best route, let us know about detours, construction and when life might cost some toll charges.
Bible – keep the Bible at your workplace, school, or car for the best reading material.
Snacks – the Bible describes memorizing passages of the Bible as sweet morsels!
Pack light – if the stuff you have that once brought satisfaction is now a chore, leave it behind.

It would be an unpleasant pickle if we were so loaded down in life that we did not have room to do the things that the LORD has called us to do.

Pack light people!