Life has a funny way of dealing with us. Things can seem great today but tomorrow all hell can break loose. With no warning, our happy lives go from order to disorder, joy to chaos.  For it is often not just one thing that causes our joy to be tested. Usually it starts with your relationships, then finances, then occupationally or spiritually. It is as if everyone had some group meeting while you were away and decided now would be a good time to bring every accusation, offense, or challenge to you at once. First reaction is often one of anger, fear, or confusion. Questions like, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

Often answers do not come to those questions though and we waste time wallowing in self-pity and becoming angry at God and those who wronged us. But there is a different response that brings about a change of heart and disposition. In the midst of chaos, God never leaves us. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Though the trials and tribulations come, God is doing a greater work inside of us. For in the midst of chaos, there is transformation.

The love of God supersedes our human understanding. It encapsulates every human emotion, every human desire, and it returns a love that never fails, that holds no record of wrong, that does not envy or boast. For God’s love is a perfect love. In the midst of chaos, there is only one constant we can find safety in. Just like a tornado, there is safety in the eye of the storm, but to find that safety, we have to remain steady while everything else around us feels like it is in constant disarray.

If you feel like you are in the midst of chaos today, know that you are not alone. There is a God who promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He is not too far that His love cannot reach you. There is truly nothing that can separate you from that love. Your job right now is to be loved by God, give up your defense, your right to argue, your anger and questions, and let go.

Please take a few minutes to watch these short clips of Graham Cooke. His two minute teachings will speak directly to where you are at and give you hope and purpose as He speaks the heart of God on this issue:

Clip one:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Clip two:

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And if you want to take a few minutes and listen to what God has to say about you and His love for you, then close your eyes and listen to this song by Jonathan David Hesler and a prophetic word by Graham Cooke.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I recently received the following correspondence from thoughtful former student:

“So we watched a video yesterday in Biology about evolution, which made me start thinking. I wanted to go back to Genesis 1 and look at how the God created the universe. As I was reading it today I noticed for the first time that on the first day God said let there be light, but it wasn’t until the 4th day that He created the sun, moon and stars. I am a bit confused with this. What was the first light that He created? This means that there was light on the earth even before the sun, moon and stars. Hmmmmm”

I replied:

“Often times I think the bible says one thing and then go back and find out that it says another.  God created the light before He created the sun.  He created the sun to govern the day and the moon to govern the night, and the stars for signs in the sky.  If there was no sun or stars where did the light come from?  Since that is where most of our light comes from today.

From what I can see, I think it came from God.  I always like to think that the way things are now is not because they have to be that way for example light from the sun. God can make light and make it do whatever He wants.  Miracles and the creation itself show this to us. Walking on water isn’t a normal mode of transportation; yet.  The sun governing the day and providing light for the earth came later because God likes it that way.   He likes delegated authority.  Before man was created, God was tending the garden; once man was created God gave it to him to govern.

Before there were seeds and the reproductive process for propagation and populating the earth, God spoke things into being.  After that, for the most part, He used the processes that we see happening around us today.

It is exciting to see God’s variety and unity.  He can do things in an infinite variety of ways, but often chooses to do them in a knowable, repeatable, pattern so that we can know Him and be able to govern and function as co-reagents with Him in governing and stewarding His good creation.”

I’m finding that some of my greatest revelations are found in the face of failure.  Once I’ve humbled myself and let the Lord take the lead, that’s when heart motivations and religious intentions fall to the wayside, and truth and transformation through Christ enter in.  So…let’s talk about money.  How do you know if you love money?

After a couple months out of work, and out of a paycheck, I can honestly say it’s pressed me into the Lord more, and caused me to evaluate where my heart is in regards to my financial motivations and the integrity of my heart.  During these last three months I’ve been asking probing questions like: Who is my source?  Do I love money?  Do I want more money for the Kingdom, or do I just want to consume it upon myself?  These are all very real questions, and the answer that was deep in my heart was less than stellar.  I’d come to find that I have a love for money!

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  So, if my treasure (finances) are being gobbled up by self, then that means my heart is…well…on self!  Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying God says we can never spend money on ourselves.  But I do know God wants us free from the grips of Mammon.  The spirit of Mammon is dangerous to flirt with and it wants our complete attention.  In Earl Pitts’ book “Wealth, Riches & Money” he described Mammon by saying, “…Mammon grabs the rich with a fear of losing what they have and likewise grips the poor with a fear of lack of provision.”  No one is immune from the influence of this power.

I’m not saying this is easy stuff. In fact even throughout the course of writing this blog I’ve felt a tug to go back to old ways of thinking.  I don’t claim to have mastered these truths, but I do know that I am determined walk out these revelations and to be a steward of HIS provision.  I’m excited to sow into the Kingdom of God more with my finances!  And the exciting news is that God provided a job and it’s even better than before!  Sometimes he needs to take us out of the normal operations of life to show us something.

Here are some questions to ask yourself that I’ve found useful in performing a “Love of Money” heart check:

-When was the last time I gave an offering (and asked the Lord how much to give)?
-When was the last time I acknowledged God as my source (not a paycheck)?
-When income/increase comes what is my first reaction?  Is it praising the Lord, or picturing myself at the mall?
-When I make a significant purchase do I ask God to bless my efforts?  Or can I “handle it”?
-Does the thought of losing my job fill me with fear?  Or does trust in God as provider arise?

In the last several years, I have begun a journey that has awakened a deep desire for covenant community. I did not always have this desire however; as a matter of fact it was quite the opposite!

Ps 68:6 reads: God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell.

I believe that the Lord has planted deep within us to be in community.  God’s divine plan is to put people in a covenant community with one another. And I believe that my life has been and is forever eternally affected because of individuals in this community in which I now live.

Are you in a community? A covenant community? Do you see value in this? I didn’t always know how I could have such a thing but through continuing to press into the Lord, He has radically performed surgery on my heart, by removing fear of being “known” and so much more. It has taken the submission of my own will to His will, in addition to complete trust and hearing the Lord through people who have taught me how to fight & persevere for complete freedom.  In October 2009 when the Lord begun to deepen this revelation, I came across this remarkable quote I could not help but correlate this in the context of community:

“The only thing that you can control at all is your will. Your feelings of devotion to God and your enthusiasm to serve Him do not depend on your own ability. Give God your will without reservation. Confess your faults. Do not be too attached to things of this world. Trust God [in community]. Love Him more than yourself. Love His glory more than your life. If you do not want these things, ask to want them. God will come to you with His love, and put His peace in your heart.”–Fenelon

For each of us there are key relationships in our lives that will and do have eternal significance — I am often overwhelmed with God’s goodness in my life regarding this! I must keep pressing into others; we must keep giving of ourselves and our time and recognizing that our enthusiasm to serve Him through others only depends on our willingness.

I am challenged to give more of myself to community, so that I can affect others’ lives in the same way in which I have been forever affected! May my life be a continual pursuit of paying forward that which has been invested into my life through community!

And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. (Ruth 1:14)

The command to cling occurs many times and is brought up in a variety of contexts throughout the scriptures.  For the most part it is either a command to cling to God or is in a context that is to represent our relationship with Him.

• For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  (Genesis 2:24)
• He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. (2Ki. 18:5-6)
• “But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. (Jos 23:8)
• ‘For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’ (Jer 13:11)

The word cling is described as follows:

dabaq (179c); a prim. root; to cling, cleave, keep close: – cleaves (4), cling (14), clings (3), closely pursued (1), closer (1), clung (4), deeply attracted (1), fasten its grip (1), follow closely (1), held fast (1), hold (2), hold fast (2), holding fast (1), joined (2), joined together (1), overtake (1), overtook (5), pursued him closely (1), pursued them closely (1), remained steadfast (1), stay (1), stay close (1), stayed close (1), stick (1), stick together (1), stuck (2).

The word kiss as with Orpah is described as follows

nashaq (676b); a prim. root; to kiss: – do homage (2), kiss (8), kissed (18), kisses (2), threw a kiss (1), touching (1).

The question I am asking myself is, “Is my relationship with God best described as a kiss or as a clinging.”

Without a clinging type of relationship with Jesus the renown and praise for His glory are only wishful thinking and nice platitudes.

I want to be someone who remains even through suffering like Ruth.  I don’t just want to kiss Him and leave like Orpah.

The status of the “special relationship” between the U.S. and U.K. has of late been on the rocks, and was demonstrated when President Obama returned to the British Embassy the bronze bust of Churchill that had sat opposite Lincoln’s in the Oval Office. The valuable bronze, a gift to the U.S. after the attacks of September 11, served as a reminder of the alliance of the two countries in their common fight against tyranny. But while the relationship between the nation’s leaders has of late been rocky, perhaps the relationship between its peoples is at a high point and as such reveals the supreme disconnect of both nation’s leaders from their respective subjects.

The recent parliamentary elections in the U.K. and the primary elections held in several states here in the U.S. are a clear indication that both the British and American peoples are vexed with their respective political establishments. Within days of each other, the British threw out the Labor government on its ear, but also sent an indictment to parliament by refusing to elect a clear alternative. For the first time in almost 30 years, Britain has a “hung parliament” where political parties now have to govern together for the good for the country – what a concept! Similarly in the U.S., the recent primaries sent a chilling message to Washington: it doesn’t matter who or what you are, Democrat, Republican, Conservative or Liberal – we the people are vexed and are are reminding you that you serve at the consent of the governed. The post-election newspaper headlines reflected sentiment of the people:

“Americans are mad” – New York Times
“Voters buck establishment” – Washington Times
“Growing anti-Washington fervor” – ABC News

What has always united both the Brits and the Americans is their shared history of bucking tyrannical rule – part of their legacy that flows from their common reformation heritage. Both disdain the rule of the elite who attempt to push their grand strategy of state dominance. During such political and financial crisis it’s time that we demonstrate that the “special relationship” is as firm and resilient to the degree we commit to uphold the legacy of liberty that flows from the Reformation.

Having grown up in church all of my life I have frequently heard the phrase, “Give your heart…” This is attached to many different things such as “Give your heart to Jesus”, “Give your heart to your studies”, and “Give your heart to your parents”; the list goes on and on.  With so many instances and applications of this phrase in my life I began to ask, “What does this really mean?”

What does that mean, “Give your heart”?  Sometimes I think I have given my heart to something because I like it. But, what happens when I stop liking it? Does that mean I haven’t given my heart to it? Or that I should try harder to like it? (Psa. 37:4 has something to say about that.)

Sometimes I hear that I have really given my heart to something when I do well at it. Or hear that I haven’t given my heart when I don’t do well.  For example, if I am having relational difficulties or working through conflict with someone it may be said that I am withholding my heart from them.  Or if I really do well at something or please someone I may be congratulated for giving my heart to the project or person.

The problem for me arises when I really do take a minute to examine my heart in light of the scriptures. Jeremiah 17:9 says it best, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”  When I truly look at my heart and it’s motives I am so grateful for Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Pro 1:7).  This often includes such things as obedience, surrender, compliance, and duty.  This a great place to start.  Key word is start, not stay.  Take surrender for instance, we all at one time or another will surrender to a greater power, yet this doesn’t mean that we will give our heart to that greater power (Phil. 2:9-11). Giving your heart may start with surrender but certainly doesn’t stop there.

In order to give my heart I need to be able to trust that person.  I must be willing to be vulnerable.  I think that means that I must reveal not just the good things about me but also the not so good.  The people with whom I am close know both the good and the bad about me.  Often times they have to believe the best about me even when I am not demonstrating the best performance. I am grateful that they aren’t judging our relationship or our fellowship by my performance alone. I am also grateful that they don’t just leave me in my sin but walk with me, and at times lead me, into God’s gracious gift of repentance.

Giving a heart requires humility, vulnerability, exchange and engagement.  Without these elements one is left calling surrender, compliance, duty and survival  ‘giving my heart’ and missing out on the depth/ reward of relationship  that truly comes when the humble ‘narrow road’ of a heart given is actively chosen.

life is a story. the bible, if read through nonreligious eyes is the most riveting drama, romance, comedy, adventure, tragedy ever written! i will never forget the time that pastor norm willis was teaching my master’s commission class in canada years ago. we were discussing “apprehending the that” for which were were apprehended by God. we talked about how God saved us for a reason and that in order to truly live with meaning we must connect with the greater reason for our rescue. it was quite a funny moment when he asked the class to turn in their bibles to the book of acts chapter 29. being the bible scholars that we were, we all quickly turned to the passage in our bibles only to realize his point. the book of acts stops at chapter 28, but that our lives are the continuation of the story, acts chapter 29.

there are so many voices and opinions pulling at our heart and mind. our upbringing, culture, and current life situation all speak messages to us constantly. many have pursued the story suggested by their parents, or by their teachers, or by society at large. the church has a narrative, but more importantly God himself is writing a story. the bible says that we are living epistles read by all men. what is your story? have you written from others perspective? to be honest, i struggle with breaking through all of the noise to clearly hear God’s voice and heart. i believe that He has put amazing things in us but the keys lay in His heart. that as we connect with the original author of the bigger story, we begin to find our role and our part. when i connect with the heart of the father, i come to life. the life i live through the passions he’s given me are my contribution to the story. my calling is to inspire and equip people to be their best. to express the love and truth of jesus in artistic, intelligent and compassionate ways. i am learning that it is not about me, that’s much easier said than lived. but his redemption, grace, and mercy are more than enough to overcome my inefficiencies and insecurities. what are your passions? and what is your part in the unfolding story…

In a selection called “The Truth,” George MacDonald talks about the difference between fact, law and truth.  Fact: My water bottle froze last night. Law: Water always freezes at 32 degrees. Truth: Something in the embodiment of that law expresses God’s eternal thought or character.  They comprise the trilogy of learning–knowledge, understanding and wisdom. They are the grammar, logic and rhetoric levels of expression.

Our post-modern culture has no clear understanding of these three levels. We gather facts, postulate laws, and call it high level thinking.  Yet, since Christians believe that every fact of nature, every law that connects these facts, ultimately is a revelation of the nature of God, we cannot live in the same world as post-modernists. They know only the first two regions—totally rejecting the third—thereby making their conclusions stunted. Men and women donate lifetimes to connect laws that go far beyond the understanding of most.  Lauded for their dedication, we are able to use much of their discovery to create new technology, unlocking doors to so much more. But we have no revelation of Truth, no wisdom gained about the character of God expressed through these laws.

And so, for all our post-modern culture has gained in the area of technology, we have lost in the most important commodity we can yield: Truth. We have built a world without mirrors, no accurate reflection of what a culture confined to Tier Two really looks like. We tell ourselves stories about how far we have come and convince ourselves that this is Top Tier because it’s all relative outside of here. Spiritual pygmies run the show; the emperor walks with stilts.

Those of us who believe facts are signposts, and laws a means to go from the visible to the invisible, must continually proclaim the reality of Tier Three. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Facts are the grammar level of learning; laws are the logic level. But our goal must be the rhetoric level—the expression of Truth from what we have seen. The matrix is designed to keep us at Tier Two.

The way up is clear. We keep single-eyed, turning to Christ every step of the way.  He removes the veil, and we see clearly the road marked with wisdom, every fact and every law a means of revealing the glory of God.  We must find a mirror and accurately assess our appearance.  We should find unveiled faces reflecting the glory of God, being constantly transformed into His likeness.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God.” Wisdom, stature and favor grow together. As we grow in wisdom, pressing for the Truth that is found in Christ, we grow in stature and favor as well.  While the pygmies run around on Tier Two, we can rise up as Daniels with strategies, interpretations and answers rooted in Truth to see His kingdom come and His will be done on earth—just as it is in heaven.

The other day I sat and watched as a man pulled into a parking lot, pulled out a nice looking guitar and amp and begrudgingly walked into a shady pawn shop. I was suddenly struck with question from the Holy Spirit. He gently yet firmly asked, “How many of My anointed have traded in their dreams and destinies at the pawn shops of faster results and easier processes in moments of hard-heartedness?”

I don’t want to even think about how many times I have traded in my destiny for an easier way because those moments required my whole-hearted obedience.  Marcy Willis recently commented on the affects of our hearts getting even a little hard and that when that happens, fear tends to push out trust. We get hard-hearted in our hearts and the things God promised suddenly seem too hard and we stop trusting that He will pay for what He’s ordered.

We stand at a crossroads in history where the church leaders are crying out for those ready to give their all, calling out for the prophetic voices and in a time where the nations need to see a people burn for Christ in their lives and their dreams. We cannot afford to trade away our distinction, our burning hearts because of fear, insecurity and lack of love. Burning hearts never trade away destiny.

Let us remember that we are meant to be the mouth pieces of the Holy Spirit in a generation and the pawn shops of traded dreams seem to be on the corner of every crucial moment in our lives. The enemy would love nothing more than to see you hand each puzzle piece of your destiny away to a pawn shop clerk, keeping you in an endless loop of failures. May we always seek the Lord that He may answer us and deliver us from our fears. (Psalm 34:4) If we let Him deliver us from our fears, our fears will never drive us to trade dreams and destiny away. Did not our hearts burn within us…