Connecting the Dots by Pastor Russ Fochler

"It is the Kavod Elohim (glory of God) to conceal a thing, but the kavod melachim (glory of kings) is to search out a matter." (Proverbs 25:2 Orthodox Jewish Bible)

I have a friend named Patrick Curtin.  I’ve learned something from Patrick that I want to pass along to you: God enjoys sharing what He is “up to” with His friends.  And Papa delights with us - when we see the bigger tapestries; the living creative works that He orchestrates.  

Sometimes, Patrick would chuckle and exclaim: “I’m just a “dot connector!””

One of the great pleasures of life is “seeing” the connections between different things, different pieces of information that God is showing you – and then doing your part in His creative work.  It is like putting pieces of a treasure map together – and then digging up the treasure!

Sometimes, it is connecting people with some of the resources that they need to fulfill God’s call to them.  Sometimes, it is connecting people with "like passion and vision" from different streams or regions.  And sometimes, it is “seeing” the bigger message in a gathering where each one brings a “piece” – a song, a scripture, a vision, a prophetic word, etc. (see 1 Cor 14).

One of Patrick’s “dot connecting” adventures was helping a friend who was connecting prayer movements in different metropolitan areas in the U.S. with the prayer movements in different regions and nations of the world. 

It is a noble endeavor: To see with spiritual, creative eyes – the pieces of the Holy Spirit's handiwork; and how they are meant to connect and thereby reveal more of God's glory.

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My talk last Saturday was called “Future Sense”.  I'd like to give you a few more “dots” from the story about the villagers of Kara Kala who believed what God showed an 11 year old boy – and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1900s before a terrible holocaust came upon Armenia.

Once they arrived in Los Angeles, there were many difficulties and some surprising encouragements.  One day, Grandfather Demos and Magdardich were walking down San Pedro Street, looking for work in the stables. 

“As they passed a side road called Azusa Street, they stopped short.  Along with the smell of horses and harness leather came the unmistakable sounds of people praising God in tongues.  They had not known that anywhere in the United States were people who worshipped as they did.

“Can we…in?” Grandfather asked.  “Of course!”  The door was flung open.  There were embraces, hands lifted to God in Thanksgiving, singing and praising the Lord, and Grandfather and Margardich returned to Boston Street with the news that Pentecost had come even to this distant land across the sea.” 

(“The Happiest People On Earth” by Demos Shakarian page 24)

Years later, God would lead Grandfather Demos' grandson (also named Demos in his honor) to begin a worldwide movement of Spirit-filled businessmen...

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I bless you to enjoy noticing what God is "up to" - and making beautiful, fruitful connections.

Pastor Russ Fochler

Rooted in Christ by Pastor Suzan Fochler

This year I planted an Asian Pear tree in my backyard.  Like many fruit trees, it is a grafted tree.  With a grafted tree the branch of one variety of tree is grafted onto the trunk and root system of another kind of tree.  This is done in order to produce the desired fruit, but allowing it to be supported and nourished by a strong, disease-resistant root.  

We have been Grafted into Him: We are One

As believers, we have similarly been “grafted” into Christ.  We draw our life and sense of identity from the love that pours through the Father’s heart into us, His beloved sons and daughters.  We want to have “the roots of our being firmly and deeply planted in Him; being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as we were taught, abounding and overflowing with thanksgiving.”  Col. 2:6,7.  

God gives lavishly and continuously of His life into ours.  The roots of our hearts sinking deep into His heart receive Perfect Love that deliver truth and holy perspective to our whole being.  The more aware we become of our utter dependence on God to be our source of all that gives life, the more pure the fruit of our lives become.  The good things of this world pale in comparison to the weightiness of what He pours out.  We have an abiding Oneness in Jesus; we abide in Him, He abides in us.  The result of abiding is much fruit!  Jn. 15:5

Our Source of Life that never runs dry

And His promise to us is that this source of Heavens living water flowing to us never runs dry but is ever and infinitely available to us.  A love so vast that we can never fully comprehend the fullness of it, but we are invited to try!  Paul encourages us to: “be rooted deep in love and founded securely in love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints what is the height and breadth and length and depth of it.”  Eph. 3:17,18.

Drink deep of the One who loves you more than you could ever love yourself; Taste and see how good He is!  

So, Family, lets never forget to keep drinking!

Love,

Susan