With Everything

Today in class I got to watch this small clip of Robert Ferguson (Hillsong Pastor) preaching at the 2009 Hillsong Album Recording; OMG so so powerful! WOW is all I have to say about that!!! First off Robert Ferguson is one of my favorite people here, and every time I get the privilege to hear him speak I always walk away blessed. The spirit of the Lord is fiercely upon him and he’s absolutely brilliant which makes him such a compelling speaker.  During this clip he closes the night out by speaking a blessing onto the crowd. I hope and pray that as you listen that this blessing washes over you as well and that you receive a word from the Lord!

If you thought this small clip of Robert preaching was awesome, well get ready, because the clip continues on and gets even better! Even though Robert dismisses the crowd to go home, everyone chooses to stay and keeps worshipping despite the band not being there (they had all left the stage!!!) The only person who was left onstage was the pianist who continued to play the same melody over and over again. Without anyone leading, the crowd on their own (and compelled by the spirit) continue to sing “with everything, with everything, we will shout for your glory” over and over and over again. What a beautiful and powerful picture of heaven! I love this! Even though there was no one onstage leading worship (the drummer eventually comes out and is in tears at what is happening), the crowd was so overcome by the spirit moving that they couldn’t help but RESPOND in praise! All glory, honor, power, and praise are due to our King! I literally cry when I watch this clip and can’t help but feel the power of the Lord. I can’t even imagine what the atmosphere was like that night and it makes me suuuuuppperrr excited for the 2011 Album Recording that’s coming up October 30^th. I’m anxious to encounter God in a way that’s life changing. I’ll be sure to share what happens and will post any revelations that come out of that night. Speaking of encountering God, this weekend I’m going to a conference called “Encounter”; I’m pretty sure I’m about to ball my eyes out but it’s all good. Anywho, I hope you watch the clip, pray with the clip, and respond in worship with the clip as you celebrate the goodness of God.

Rebellious Idolaters

During chapel on Tuesday I received a revelation from the Lord that taught me what it looks like to give God all the glory. ALL the glory, even the small bit of glory that you reserve for yourself (the glory you use to feel good about yourself, to stand on; the things that give you work or value or credibility) ex:

- I helped start that ministry

- I mentored/discipled that student

- I gave that awesome talk

- I put on that event

- I went on that mission trip

- I planted that church

- I lead that powerful time of worship

- I facilitated that small group

Often when we see the fruit of our labour flourishing we want to claim credit for ourselves. We forget that its GOD who plants seeds through us and its GOD who makes them grow; we are just the tools. 1 Cor. 3:6 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” There is no where to boast except in the cross of Christ (Gal.6:14 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”) which has allowed us to be in the POSITION to be used by God. 2Cor. 10:17 “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord"

So why do we do this? It’s so silly but it happens continually in my life; and while I can feel bad about it and ask God to forgive me; if I haven’t come to a place of gospel centred repentance where transformation occurs….nothing has changed. The only thing that has changed is behaviour modification, aka: learning how to train yourself better to hide your selfishness from others or convince yourself that you really aren’t as prideful as people think you are. You learn how to justify your motives better.

We need to recognize our condition!

Most of us know the promises of God; we know that he is worthy of all the glory; we know that we are just instruments and yet our lives reflect a heart condition that is contradictory to these truths. We are CHOOSING to hear truth and not respond. We are choosing to hear and know what we ought to do and yet make the conscience decision not to do that. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has “given us everything we need for life and godliness” and through these promises we can “escape the corruption in the world” and yet I choose to look to the things of this world to fill the needs of my flesh. I look to my friends to fill my need for security, I look towards my mentors to give me approval, I look to the people I mentor to feel loved and valued and take every path OPPOSITE of that of the Life-Giver: Jesus Christ himself. Once I’ve regained my composure (after feeling broken) THEN I come to God and ask Him to renew me. This cycle of knowing truth and yet choosing to fall down and get back up by our own means outside of God demonstrates one thing: we are in rebellion. We are choosing to ignore what he has for us. We are literally making ourselves enemies with the God of the universe……ya about that. And it gets worse…

Finding worthy or value outside of God = idolatry. Anything we place before God is idolatry. So from my analysis so far, it looks like we are rebellious idolaters…..awesome.  

As rebels, its time that we lay down are arms (surrender) and put our idols on the alter so that God can burn them up. God wants to move in unshakable power in our lives; he wants to pour out abundance and goodness in us: but are we creating enough space in our lives for God to move?

Jesus didn’t say give up everything and then go on mission trips, start churches, teach bible studies etc….he said come and follow me. There is no plan or instruction, just follow me; go where I’m going. This can rattle us because we like to have objectives, goals, and things to measure our success with. But there are none; just ruthless trust.

Are you ready to dive into the unknown purposes of God? To burn the bridges, destroy the boats, go ALL IN!!! God is beckoning you to join him on this exciting adventure he has waiting for you. Right now God is saying “I DARE you to give me everything. I dare you to trust that I am going to provide and then some to the things you are trying to find outside of me. Stop being a rebellious idolater! I dare you to take me for my word and to remember the ways I have showed up in your life; to remember the ways that I have redeemed and healed you. To remember who I am and not lose focus.

Today I’m praying that we would pray for gospel centred repentance: that we would not take lightly the power of the cross; that the weight of COSTLY grace would burn in our hearts, and that we would have a mature view of the gospel. Thank you Jesus that you have rescued us; thank you Jesus that you have redeemed us; thank you Jesus that you are enough.

It’s time to die to ourselves and make Jesus LORD; the original gangsta, the boss of our lives. Where we give up control and say Jesus YOU now sit on the throne of my life.

When this happens, then and only then are we able to pray the dangerous prayer: “Father, I am ready to be MARKED and set aside for the unknown purposes of God; here’s everything”

I am in love--poem written in response to a church talk that rocked my world

I am in love;

knocked out, head over heels in love.

My heart beats ferociously to the beat of a wild drum as His words wash over me:

I.AM.HIS.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, to lofty for me to attain!

He speaks LIFE over me; He rejoices over me with singing

In the midst of hopelessness and insecurity He looks at me and tells me how beautiful you are my darling there is no flaw in you

I.AM.HIS

He brings me birds to sing me love songs, sunsets for my gazing and flowers for my pleasing.

He takes me on beautiful adventures and long walks along the beach

In my brokenness and silence is when His presence is felt deeply; I know I can cast all cares onto Him

And what sets Him apart from all the others……He’s completely, 100% invested into EVERYTHING that happens in and around my life

He WANTS to know; he WANTS to listen

He wants to be my protector, provider, and provision

He wants to, because He possesses the power to be those things and He is.

By his nature, He is.

Not only is He loving, but He is love.

To know Him is love

To be near Him is to walk in love.

Oh how I delight in His presence; Oh how I delight in His words!

He knows every part of me, and even on the days where I’ve messed up He still chooses YES for me

By His strength He leads me in victory.

The battle has already been won and He’s anxious to share with me the abundance that has been set aside for me

Not only has His love completely restored even the most shameful parts of me, but He’s continuing to renovate.

I am no longer identified by what’s been done to me, but rather, by Him.

HE identifies me, and his banner over me is love.

He speaks tenderly to me; He doesn’t leave when I share my most hidden secrets because He fears nothing.

Nothing is subject to Him;

His love is stronger, deeper, higher and wider than what my heart can fathom.

He doesn’t have commitment issues because DELIGHTS in covenantal promises.

Even in the midst of my failures and rebellion all He asks for is faithfulness.

Faithfulness, that’s it.

Today Father, teach me to remember;

Teach me to remember so that I don’t forget the goodness of who you are,

that I will walk in gratitude and humility in light of the cross so that I can remain faithful to my life source

Letting Go

A couple nights ago God spoke to my heart at 3am about how He wants all of me; not most of me or parts of me; but everything.

I need you to let go

 Let go? Hm, maybe if I just gave a little….

NO.  Everything—I am worthy of praise

My mere presence demands it.

The fact that you can even cry out to me is a demonstration of my grace.

I am subject to no one; I am before all things

This is something my head knows and goes “duh—of course God wants all of me, everyone knows that” but if I’m honest with myself, my heart barely knows this at all. How much of my life, mind, heart, decisions, and CONTROL is the Lords…..ya about that. The Lord then proceeded to impress upon me a vision for what awaits me if I’m willing to let go. Like I said, it was 3am and I was a little delirious but I reached over and grabbed my phone and typed this up, hope you enjoy!

After you let go, you dance in a river of freedom; the outpour of your heart begins to change.

Springs of life burst out.

There is nothing to hide, nothing to prove.

You have found the source for satisfaction; for fulfillment; for life.

You are complete here, and there is joy.

Grace is your security. Intimacy is your hope.

You stand unashamed because it is all about Him.

You have lost yourself in His presence and He speaks over you love.

He rejoices over you with singing because YOU HAVE MADE IT HOME!

Outpouring of blessings and gifts await you.

Healing enters every part of you.

There is nothing to hold onto, not even bitterness or unforgiveness because you are being restored.

In the past you have settled for good, but now you are sunbathing in BEST!

The truth about who you are saturates your soul because you are able to see the reflection of who you are in your maker.

You are His, and He is yours.

His love is written on your heart; His fingerprints are all over you.

He continues to breathe life onto you because he knows that you are still human and your heart is fickle.

Every idol is cast down; every crown of glory is submitted,

because you are standing before the King of Glory, 

and your heart FEASTS on His majesty