The Light of Jesus Through You Full Force!!

Are you feeling the stress of all that you have to do with just five days leading up to Christmas? Does it seem a little out-of-control, like life is just happening to you?

Remember what a teenage girl was going through a week before giving birth to her first baby. Not only did Mary’s back ache from carrying 8 pounds of continuously shifting and squirming life inside of her, but she had to ride a burro from Nazareth to Bethlehem (that’s 80 miles!!! And not long after Jesus was born they had to travel 200 more miles to Egypt because the government wanted to kill all young boys!!!) Undoubtedly, she was also stressing over the normal uncertainties of being a momma for the first time (even Mary was human, you know!). The first labor pains brought an even greater urgency to the turmoil:

“We’re homeless! Where are we going to stay?”

“Will my baby be healthy?”

“Will I be a good momma?”

“My son is going to save the world…wait…what?!”

“What did I say yes to?”

“What’s going on, God?”

In spite of all Mary’s questions, concerns and uncertainties, she was still carrying the son of God who would be the brightest light this dark world he was entering had ever seen. No matter what she was feeling, the truth remained. The light was coming full force!

You may feel out of control, discouraged or even depressed at circumstances that appear to be happening to you. Just as Mary was never a victim of very stressful circumstances, let me assure you that you are no victim. You are still carrying the brightest light the world has ever seen, “Christ in you, the hope of glory!” (Colossians 1:27)

If you don’t “get it all done” before Christmas, that’s okay. Everything that’s most important in your life, Jesus already did for you. Jesus was born to bring “joy to the world!” He died to leave His “Peace on earth.” He lives inside of you to be the brightest light this world has ever seen. No matter what you are going through, the truth remains. The light of Jesus through you is being released everywhere you go—full force!

Practical Ways to Love Yourself - by Leif Hetland

Leif brings the tangible presence of Papa God's love everywhere He goes. He oozes love!

Here is a message from Leif giving some very practical ways to love yourself:

Hello friends and family,

The habit of a loving heart is a daily practice that is helping me to Love my Life Away!  In the school of love, learning the language of love is the only language that blind eyes see and deaf ears hear.  Loving God and Loving people became me as I re-discovered kingdom love.  My greatest problem and challenge has been to love myself the way that the Father loves me.  I'm sure many of you face this challenge as well.  We often take care of business and neglect ourselves!  Here are some steps to help you take care of you!

1.  Develop habits that refresh you physically!
The hard work of REST is needed to be all God wants for us.  Rest is our weapon of warfare.
BALANCED DIET and EXERCISE - However that looks for you.

2.  Develop habits that re-charge you emotionally!
SOLITUDE and SOAKING re-charges my emotional battery.  DRIVING, SWIMMING, WALKING in nature, also charges my battery.  FELLOWSHIP and FUN - being with family and friends laughing makes me feel good!

3.  Develop habits that renew you spiritually!
Being ALONE with my heavenly Father in prayer, the WORD, a book or listening to music are great ways to renew.  I am sitting with Jack Taylor, my spiritual Papa who is turning 80 years old.  He is still hungry for the manifest Presence of God.

4.  Spiritual treasure hunt.
Take time to find a stranger to bless and be a blessing to.

Putting these steps into practice will help move along your assignment of loving yourself and will change not just you, but those around you.

When you feel tired or empty, how do you recharge? What is fun to you?  What is beautiful to you?

LET LOVE BE YOUR HIGHEST GOAL! - ( I Corinthians 14:1, NLT)

Much Love,
Leif Hetland

Leif travels the world releasing the Baptism of the Father's Love to walk in our true identity as sons and daughters!  This is one weekend you do not want to miss!

Friday, Dec. 13th, 7 pm
Saturday, Dec. 14th, 2 pm & 6 pm
In our new location: 3410 Cornerstone Court, Pleasanton, CA 94566

The weekend is free.  We will take love offerings to bless Leif.  Childcare is only available on Saturday night.

A Thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices!

Last Saturday Pastor Brent brought an encouraging word about Hope Restored and he used scenes from It's a Wonderful Life to illustrate how hope changes our perspective even before circumstances have changed (listen here: http://blazingfire.podbean.com/2013/12/03/brent-lokker-hope-survives-11-30-13/)

Several people asked for the translation he came up with for Romans 5:2-5. First, the English Standard Version with brief descriptions for the various Greek words in parenthesis:

Through Christ we have also obtained access (admission)
by faith (agreement with God)
into this grace (God’s action on your behalf)
in which we stand, and we rejoice (massive boasting)
in hope of the glory of God.

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings (trials),
knowing that suffering produces endurance (hanging in there under pressure),
and endurance produces character (the quality of being approved as a result of test and trials), and character produces hope (giddy, childlike expectation of good),
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Here is Brent Lokker's Translation--BLT ;)

Through what Jesus has done for us, God has given us free admission into His favor as we agree with God that He is super-abundantly good. All that leaves room for is to boast BIG time in the astounding character of our awesome God and the wonder of knowing He’s making us just like Himself!

I can keep my joy in the midst of hard times because I’m certain that Papa is training me to hang in there under pressure while He gives me His affirmation and a childlike heart to expect
His good to come. Therefore, going through hard times is never shameful but a springboard to experience more intimacy with the Holy Spirit who walks with me and to revel in the love of my Father who is working all things out for my good.

Christ is in you, the hope of glory! Who can you offer hope to? Every day you’re alive, look for at least one...

Leif Hetland Proclaims God's Glory Over Typhoon-Ravaged Philippines

Leif Hetland, a true father in the Spirit, deposited rich treasures into Blazing Fire Church when he was with us almost two years ago that are still yielding the fruit genuine family we are experiencing more deeply. He will be back again Dec. 13th & 14th, but he is currently in the Philippines where he is in the midst of the devastation of the typhoon that ravaged that country. He was there during the whole ordeal and he is sending out a cry for help. Please do what you can and join us to fill your heart to the brim with love as Leif comes to Blazing Fire Dec. 13th & 14th.

Following by Leif Hetland

I wish you could feel the emotion in the air. The fear is tangible. The despair is palpable. The estimated death toll of 10,000 could jump—sharply. At least 660,000 people have been displaced. Many have no access to food, water or medicine. Wind gusts of up to 235 mph have completely destroyed the landscape. Rescuers have yet to reach remote parts of the coast. Among these is the town of Guiuan, with a population of 40,000 that was largely destroyed.

I am constantly getting updates of this tragedy. I constantly weep as I read reports and see images of corpses hanging from tree branches and scattered along sidewalks. Looters are raiding grocery stores and gas stations searching for food.

But love will win the day.

At a time like this, I look to the Father heart of God. I am losing sleep on this very intense trip, grieved over the destruction. At the same time, His love for this nation is overwhelming me. All I can think about is how I can make a difference and bring restoration to this beautiful people.

We are a family. This is a personal issue. When the enemy attacks one of us, he attacks all of us. We are near Manila, and this typhoon was coming for us. The team and I could have been hit. We are well, and we will not be silent. We will not cower in fear.

What matters now is answering a simple question: “What does love look like?”

The Philippines needs to see love in action—right now. This nation needs to see Jesus is alive and moving through His people. The government is shaken. The economy is shaken. But the people of God will not be shaken, and we will rise up in love to serve others, love well and be the solution.

Friend, this is an opportunity is for the international community to join hands. It’s time to start a goodness revolution. Let’s put aside our differences, manifest the unity that Jesus prayed for, and come together to pray and sacrificially give.

Would you participate? Can you take action with us?

We are on the ground right now. One hundred percent of the resources will go to the right people. My spiritual son, pastor Paul Yadao, is in relationship with key government leaders here. The Lord has strategically placed him and Destiny Ministries to directly contribute to this nation’s restoration.

God is going to transform the darkness into something that is good for the whole nation. I am 100 percent convinced that when all of this is said and done, these places will look more beautiful than they did before. That’s always how God operates. There is going to be an upgrade for the precious Filipinos. God will fulfill what He has promised for this nation.

We are all weeping and praying and loving. We are locking arms with one another. And all of us want to bring glory to a King and be able to represent heaven on earth. Please pray with us. Please pray for us. Please pray against further destruction. Please pray that the news reports would change from despair and destruction to testimonies of love and the miraculous.

A nation is hanging in the balance. Help us tip the scales.

7 Keys to Successful Living by Pastor Brent Lokker

My spiritual papa, Kris Vallotton, recently wrote these 7 keys to successful living that I thought were phenominal.  Ask the Holy Spirit to take a look at these with you and to to help you walk them out.

1-Put God 1st in your life and have no 2nd, so that your entire life is walked out in a way that honors the King.

2- Keep a list of the works of God in your life and meditate on what He has done...not what He has yet to do.

3- Don't take yourself too seriously. When you do something stupid laugh at yourself and tell others so they can laugh too...be human. If you sin, repent honestly and quickly than forgive yourself! Get over it!!! Don't live in regret...it sucks and it's an insult to the Cross.

4- Remember that there is always enough time in the day to do everything Jesus has called you to do. So remind yourself that you are not the Savior of the world. Living to meet the expectations of people instead of God will kill you. It is IMPOSSIBLE to please EVERYONE!

5- Keep short accounts with people...forgive them quickly. Unforgiveness invites every kind of evil into your life. People will fail you at times. Give up punishing them. It's not worth the grief!

6- Live with a servants heart and a kings/queens mind. Be humble...there is no job beneath you. Yet carry yourself as royalty...manage your inner world nobility. You are a son/daughter of the King! Think like it!!!

7- Be ridiculously generous...it always comes back to you. Your lineage gives you unlimited resources.

No "Future-Tripping" Allowed! by Pastor Brent Lokker

Last Saturday Wm Paul Young, author of the Shack and Crossroads, was with us at Blazing Fire Church.

Some people come and bring a great message.  Some are the message. Paul definitely falls into this latter category.

Words I would use to describe Paul include genuine, authentic, vulnerable, and loving to the core.  Qualities we’ve been asking the Lord to grow us in, particularly over the past year or two. Paul shared how God has so mercifully burned away the shame from his heart so that he is now 100% comfortable in his own skin.  As he came out the other side of this process of transformation by exposing his heart to Jesus, he realized that joy was a constant companion for the first time in his life.  As he took a closer look, he realized that something had shifted in his life.  No longer was he “future-tripping,” the phrase he used for wasting the grace that was given to him for today worrying about things in the future that hadn’t even happened yet!  Instead, he approaches each day as a little child, allowing Papa to surprise him with the gifts of His goodness and grace day by day.  Paul is able to continuously live in the “now.”  Anyone else want to sign up for that kind of life?

Please take the time to soak in the depth of revelation that Paul Young poured out last week. It's available right now for you to listen to free on our podcast:
http://blazingfire.podbean.com

After experiencing such pure love through Paul, I began thinking about another who lives in this pure love who had been at Blazing Fire Church 1 ½ years ago: Leif Hetland.  I thought, I would love to have Leif come again, but he travels around the world and when would he really be able to fit us in?  The very next day, I received a text from Leif saying, “I have a free weekend in December if you want me to come.”

What?!

I assure you this a major God set-up and I urge you to be at Blazing Fire when Leif comes NEXT month!  He told me to call it a Supernatural Love Weekend!  It will be Friday night, December 13th (7 pm) and Saturday, December 14th (times during the day to be announced, 6pm evening worship service), all at our new location, Centerpointe Presbyterian Church in Pleasanton.






Did I just say a new location?  Yes I did! 

On Saturday, December 7th, Blazing Fire will be moving to a new location: 3410 Cornerstone Court, Pleasanton, CA.  While this is still not our own place, it is an answer to prayer because we are moving back to Pleasanton where we've wanted to return to.

Winds of Change!

We’ve caught a fresh sense of God’s passion and urgency to have our hearts ready for the huge harvest of Papa’s sons and daughters who will soon be coming into His house. He is inviting us as a family to walk in the fullness of His Spirit in a more dynamic and real way than we’ve ever experienced before.

It’s time for the body of Christ to rise up and be the full expression of Jesus together!

Winds of Change will be a jet stream used by God to usher us into:

  * Experiencing revival that will restore hope and life, ultimately bringing restoration to our cities.

  * Inviting Heart transformation that impacts our homes and communities

  * Living more wholeheartedly in real relationships with one another

  * Representing Christ with increasing accuracy as His ambassadors of love and reconciliation

We envision this happening primarily through these 3 expressions:

1.  We will be utilizing some of the courses we captured from last year’s Kingdom Training School of Supernatural by having people view specific teachings at home in preparation for times of experiencing God together.

2.  We will be encountering God together in a revival-type evening worship setting learning to be lead by the Holy Spirit together, to hear the voice of Jesus with greater clarity, and to experience the transforming presence of our living God.

3.  We will “do family” in regional home groups (groups that will meet in various locations around the Bay Area), learning to have life-giving relationships the way God intended.  In these small family groups, we will grow in love and choose to know others and be known by them.

God is taking us on a significant journey together and we're inviting  ALL of you to come along as a family!

Winds of Change will begin on Wednesday nights (alternating between the large gatherings and the regional home groups) starting January 8th at Parkway Fellowship, 7485 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA.

Lots more info coming your way soon, including a list of the various locations of the Winds of Change regional home groups.

Brent

Oh The Sweet Way He Inspires by Pastor Todd Benjamin Lout

The week before last held it’s challenges, as some weeks do. I don’t consider myself terribly unversed at how to maneuver through some rough waters here and there. Worship, prayer and the Word are staples for me. However, there comes that moment when it dawns on me, again, that I really need to just quiet myself. Just to intentionally have no other agenda but to sit with Holy Spirit, allowing my mind to descend into my heart and observe Jesus there.

Upon this familiar “ah-ha moment” I dropped everything, (trying to figure things out, busying myself, etc.), and went to my front porch. I created a little sanctuary on the porch with foliage and a comfy, outdoor Papasan chair. It took several minutes to re-train my brain to just be calm. Eventually my ears became attuned to the sound of the birds all around. This relaxing, beautiful sound. It’s usually there but we rarely really notice it. My ears tuned in and my heart softened. I thought, “Wow, my perfect Father loves this sound and allows it’s peacefulness to be a soundtrack to our days, whether it's a bit of a chaotic day or not. “ The more I listened the more I was filled with gratitude. I stayed there for a considerable amount of time until there was nothing but tenderness.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. - Matthew 10:29-31

After I went back in the house I got on the keyboard and began to worship a bit. “THUD!” came a shocking noise against our family room window. Out of the corner of my eye I was pretty sure I saw a little bird hit the window. My daughter, Sierra, and I went out to the back porch to investigate. We saw this little bird, standing in a corner, like a scolded school kid. I reached down to this cute creature and there was no resistance at all. Carefully I scooped it up and held it in my hand. Sierra noticed the bird’s beak was stuck open. It’s eyes were rolling some and there was definitely injury to it’s jaw area. It was so sad. We laid fingers on this cutie and began to declare healing. Right away there was improvement but we persisted until we noticed things looked normal. When the bird was healed I put it on a branch of a potted tree I have,(this particular tree is my fullest one and has been growing out of dirt mixed with my father’s ashes). The bird stayed for about a half hour more, then flew away.

(This is an actual photo of this little dude or dudette) 

I really felt like God had pleasure over my arriving at such appreciation for the sound of His little birds. Moments later He lets me rescue one and even see it through to healing...a chance to return the favor to these little creations for what they provide.

He loves us more than we know. He desires to weave intricate strands of gold through our days and we’ll notice them when we are still and know that He is God.

Here's an interesing P.S.
My wife, Karena, was in Cambodia when this happend. On that same day a little bird flew into the place where she was staying and got trapped. Karena rescued it and returned it to the outdoors.

You Can Do It! You Can Prophesy! by Bill Hernandez - Prophetic Teams Leader

On the day of Pentecost 2 millennia ago the Holy Spirit was poured out on a group of believers and Peter said that the day Joel spoke of had arrived. “For these men are not drunk , as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28): ‘ And it shall be in the last days’ God says that I will pour forth my Spirit on all mankind and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” Acts 2:15-17

As a result of being filled by the Holy Spirit, Paul is able to state, “You can all prophesy” 1 Cor 14:31

Also as a result, anyone that comes within my circle where I am teaching and releasing the prophetic will be firmly, but gently challenged to blurt out prophetic utterances on the spot! I can do this with confidence inspired by the Holy Spirit within knowing that indeed you have all been endowed with powers beyond this realm. I want you all to grasp the reality of another world breaking forth through your very beings. I want the world to see and know that a heavenly realm exists and thereby turning its heart to God. Through the prophetic the world can be comforted, edified and consoled. You can be the consoling, comforting, reconciling heart of the Lord if you just step out and meet the challenge.

With enough practice in a safe environment that I like to create, people eventually begin to prophesy confidently. I believe this happens because we have permission to train and release the saints into amazing expressions of God's timely words to His people. I always tell people if they hang around me and others who are prophetic that they will catch it. Truly, this more caught than taught, but I believe this is because it's already inside and it's just revealed or sucked out into the open when we are around others who are doing it.

Any ministry of the Holy Spirit is easy to catch by just hanging around people who are doing the stuff. It really is infectious. I made sure to hang around the anointed leaders and watch them and hear them minister and it sunk in somehow and I came out and found myself doing what they were doing. Like Jesus, they were doing what the Father was doing and now I along with all my team am doing the same thing. The Father promotes this by pouring out more power, more ability, more inspiration to continually raise up and equip His army. He is totally into revealing what He has placed inside of you.

I will always do my part by telling others, "You can do it! You too will prophesy!"

For my latest project to provide a place for you to learn how to prophesy, I am offering a training seminar on the prophetic on November 15-16 and I would encourage you not to miss it. It will change your life and those whom you minister to. We will be teaching out of Kris Vallotton's manual Basic Training in the Prophetic Ministry. Please check out the website for information on how to register: http://blazingfire.org/sopregistration.htm

Blessings,

Bill Hernandez

Dominion, Creation, and Our Heart by Pastor Russ Fochler

Last summer, I had the pleasure of conducting two weddings.  For both, I read from the Creation Story in Genesis 1: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:26-28 NASB

This is a beautiful and mysterious passage.   But, with mystery; we can tend to “gloss over” what we don’t really understand.  But, I couldn’t “gloss this over” anymore.  I began wondering: “What was the dominion and responsibility that God gave man – both male and female - over the Earth and over the creatures of the Earth?  And how do we fulfill this today?”

Jesus clearly walked in dominion while living on the earth.  He ordered the wind and waves to be stilled.  At His knowledge and probably command, a fish with two coins swam up to be caught by Peter so the temple tax could be paid.  At His command, a fig tree withered and died as a sign.  And Jesus caused 153 fish to gather together to be caught “on the other side” of the apostle’s fishing boat when Jesus came to meet them at the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection.

We lost much of our authority to steward the Earth when our forebears Adam and Eve fell into sin and rebellion.  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection provided for the restoration of our stewardship as sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe.  Indeed, Paul writes:  “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans8:19 NKJV)  The fullness of this awaits the return of King Jesus.  Yet, can we walk in a greater stewardship and dominion even now?

There is evidence that gives a resounding “yes!”  But our hearts and spirits must be tuned-in with God’s heart and His Spirit.  Many Christians have had a hardened disregard of the earth - using the scripture about a coming "new earth" to justify this disregard.  So, as Kris Vallotton points out: “Our eschatology has messed-up our ecology.”  And as Leif Hetland notes: "All Kingdom matters - are matters of the heart."

Here is a story of how heart-issues affect the creation around us – and how letting God soften and reconcile our hearts can bring land, plants, and creatures into harmony and fruitfulness.  It inspired me.

From “Healing the Earth” by John Sandford and Mark Sandford (Elijah House) pages 4-6:

“In the wake of World War II, Mother Basilea Schlink and her companions were building a center near Darmstadt, Germany to house their new established evangelical sisterhood.  After a dump-cart loaded with sand derailed six times, Basilea discerned that their vindictive attitudes were affecting the physical world around them.  She urged her sisters to repent and reconcile with each other and with God, and the cart never jumped its tracks again.  From then on, by the same means they periodically stopped torrential rains, frost and heat waves that hindered the building process.  For Basilea, the abstract idea that sin spiritually pollutes the land became a concrete reality!

There came a day when God convicted Mother Basilea to stop polluting the land physically as well.  At God’s prompting, she insisted that her ministry cease using pesticides.  Some of her sisters complained that this “defied all common sense,” but Basilea felt convicted that repentance would be the most effective pesticide.  They began picking off inchworms and catching rabbits by hand.  As tedious as this seemed, Basilea chose to view the hard work of practicing kindness to the earth as an indication of their willingness to bend to God’s will.

Her staff continued to combine these efforts with repentance, both individually and as a group, for whatever sins God revealed.  The Lord tested them with a season of drought, but they persevered.  So, He rewarded them with refreshing rains, along with ladybugs to eat plant lice, birds to pick off insects, and human helpers to assist with weeding.  The result was a harvest so copious that they were able to feed not only themselves and their guests, but also needy families in the nearby town!

They dubbed that summer, “the time of unmasking.” This was repeated year after year (usually without the drought), as again and again God sternly alerted Mother Basilea and her companions to cleanse their hearts.  Each time insects invaded their garden they dropped their tools, retreated to their rooms and asked the Holy Spirit to reveal whatever sin had invited the pests.  In every case, after repenting and reconciling they returned to their garden and found that the pests had moved out. 

Sometimes the unmasking was painful, but the bountiful results produced great faith, even in those who normally tended towards discouragement!

Since the Scripture says that God “…sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteousness” (Matthew 5:45), I caution that not every natural occurrence is due to sin.  But today’s way of thinking blinds many Christians to the possibility that it ever is.  I wonder if, for some who live a repentant lifestyle, nature has responded and they have chalked it up to mere coincidence.  

What an added incentive to live like Jesus they might have missed."

A King’s Decree by Rich Oliver

During the past few months we have seen so many people going through very difficult and trying times.  And sadly, many of them simply accepted “what life threw at them”, and struggled along.

This awakened something in my heart, and I am feeling a resistance building up against the whole idea of always being a victim to circumstances, and soon Holy Spirit began to stir up a word in my heart.

What does the Word say?

Rev. 5:10 “And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign as kings over the earth!”  and

Eph. 2:6  "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

We have been called to a higher place of victory.  We have been appointed as kings to rule in this earth and not to fall victim to every attack of the enemy!  The king of a country or kingdom decides what to do in different circumstances and his orders and wishes are carried out to the letter.  A king makes things happen!

Then why is it that we, who are supposed to “rule and reign in this life in One Christ Jesus”, are so willing to accept defeat when sickness, poverty or adversity come our way.

Job 22:28-29 “You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you;  and the light of God’s favor shall shine upon your ways.  When they make you low, you will say, There is a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves.”

Wow!  Isn’t this amazing?!  With God’s Holy Spirit living in us, we are able to know the will of God, and knowing His will for us, it is time that we DECIDE AND DECREE A THING, and it shall be established for us!

When a king sends out a decree, it is not a suggestion, but it is law!  It has to happen!  You and I are kings in the Kingdom of God and it is high time that we make up our minds that we will no longer be victims, but we will become victorious! We will send out a decree into the heavenly realms that says:

By His stripes we are healed.

We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.

We are the head and not the tail.

The angels of God encamp around us.

No evil shall befall us or our loved-ones.

Our children are blessed, anointed, protected and live in God’s plan for their lives.

People will see us and call us BLESSED.

We will have enough to be a blessing to others

We will walk and live in the perfect will of God.

Etc. . . .

Will you join me today in deciding that we will rise up and be the kings and priests who God has called us to be?  Will you call out a decree of victory in your situation and see it be established for you?

We decree that you will have a week filled with God’s joy and glory!

Lindy and I love and BELIEVE in you!!
Papa Rich

Inviting God to Disturb us by Pastor Susan Fochler

Dear Family;

We recently spent some time in the Point Reyes area, where Sir Francis Drake made landfall in 1579 at Drakes Bay in Marin County.  I was struck by the prayer Sir Francis prayed as he was leaving England to make the second circumnavigation ever of the world. During a time when any travel by boat for any distance was very risky; long before GPS, satellites, cell phones, or gas-powered motors, Sir Francis recorded this remarkable prayer:



Disturb Us, Lord

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess
 We have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity and in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wilder seas where Storms will show Your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the Stars.

We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push back the Future in strength, courage, hope, and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain, who is Jesus Christ.

What Was Sir Francis Thinking?

I find it shocking that he would pray such a prayer at a time when there were none of the comforts or ease of transportation and communication as we find with todays rapidly expanding technology.  This prayer deals with an issue of our modern lives that can so lull us with it’s familiarity: the security of the known.  It is so easy to take what we have for granted.  Nothing was very safe or predictable 400 years ago in the day when Sir Francis lived.  Long before electricity, reliable transportation, medicine, communication, and safe food and water supply, he asked to be “disturbed” from playing it safe!  Clearly he was listening to a wooing from deep within, to step into an eternal destiny that was given to him by God alone.  Any other journey would never satisfy.  May we each so listen and respond to that deep calling unto the deep places in our own hearts!

Disturb us with Your Kingdom, Lord!

I propose that this prayer is an invitation to embrace the Kingdom of Heaven as that place that is not familiar, predictable or controllable.  Yet, how can we choose a lesser path?  We belong to the Lord of Heaven, we answer to a Higher King than the prince of this world.  His ways, His thoughts are so beyond, so much better than ours; yet, He invites us in, higher, to dream and imagine a world beyond this, where Faith is the entrance and Love is the currency.

We thank you, Lord, that through our Precious Jesus we are all “in” and qualified already!  You faced the worst discomfort imaginable so we could know unending belonging in You.  How could anything else of this world compare?  Give us eyes to see, and ears to hear the bounty of Your goodness and the very near reality of Your Kingdom as never before.  And give us the courage to enter in boldly, knowing we truly can trust You, the source of all Love, with all we hold dear.  Thank you, sweet Jesus, for choosing us first, to be Yours, forever.  You are our only safe place.

With Love,
Susan

Saying goodbye to Lonnie and Angelas Ellis by Pastor Brent Lokker

Let's face it, none of us particulary cares for big changes in our lives that seem to upset "the way things were." Especially when "the way things were" were pretty darn good. But our loving heavenly Father--who is outside of our timeline (that we like to thing we're in control of)--knows all things, knows the very best for us, and knows how to get us exactly where He wants us to be for the sake of His Kingdom plans to bless the whole earth.

Sometimes that's kicking us out of a comfortable nest we'd happily stay in the rest of our lives. That's actually how and why I planted two churches, the last one being Blazing Fire Church that God has used to transform the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of lives over the past 13 years--but that's a story for another time.

In a similar fashion, Lonnie & Angela Ellis, who have been on staff as our elders and pastors (Lonnie for the past 10 years!), have been coaxed out of this nest called Blazing Fire Church to venture out where the Spirit of God is leading them next. It's a bit scary for them, but the adventure of leaping out under the direction of the Holy Spirit and having to trust entirely upon the goodness and faithfulness of God will give them deeper roots in the Lord than they could possibly imagine--the kind of roots needed to go to the ends of the earth any time they are called to do so.

Lonnie & Angela will be preaching tomorrow night, Saturday, September 7th at Blazing Fire Church. They will be sharing their hearts and bringing us some encouragement, as they always do. And we will have the privilege of sending them on their journey with blessing, not because we want to see them go, but because we want to see Jesus get everything he paid for on the cross for the sake of the world God so loves, and He is sending them into the next phase of the journey He's already planned for them.

I have a big favor to ask of you--Would you help us bless them with a generous financial gift from our Blazing Fire family? We can never give to someone financially what they are worth, but please help as you are able for us to give Lonnie & Angela an over-the-top blessing for their many years of pouring into our Blazing Fire family.

This is going to be one of those extra memorable family night together, so please join us if at all possible. If you can't be there, you can still bless them by sending a gift to Blazing Fire Church, P.O. Box 1599, Pleasanton, CA 94566, and put their name in the memo or send something through Paypal onhttp://www.blazingfire.org, noting that it's for them.

I will end with a short segment from my friend Myles Weiss who explains the Jewish year 5774 that we just entered into on Wednesday night. This is for Lonnie & Angela and for each and every one of you reading this!

5774 – Ready to go through the Open Door?

The decade of “70” is coming into its 4th year. We are celebrating the Fall Feasts and beginning the year 5774. The Hebrew letter “ayin” which is the word associated with 70 is pictured by the eye. A door pictures the Hebrew letter “dalet”, the 4th letter. This coming year will include many opportunities for us…as God is opening doors.

As the seasons pass from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur, let’s not lose the symbolic importance of the “day of blowing” —the Feast of Trumpets. Beyond the heavenly sound of the physical ram’s horn, there is also the picture of who we are to be as His representatives in the Earth. In our generation, we are to sound the alarm, the Good News, and the call to war as watchmen on the wall.

When we allow God to have His way, we are the voice of God lifted up and released into His purposes. It is time find your destiny … and walk in the specific calling He has for you. This year, 5774 God intends for you to look for open doors of opportunity for you and I to speak words of wisdom and grace to those around us.

You are a shofar in His hands in this generation!.

Exporting Love by Pastor Brent Lokker

Four of us from the Blazing Fire family just got back from two weeks in Uganda where we had the joy and privilege of meeting beautiful people and releasing what has been entrusted to us by God. Tomorrow night (Saturday, August 31st), Pastors Brent, Lonnie & Angela and Fred Long will be sharing with and releasing to you what we experienced and received and we will encounter the Holy Spirit together!



(A Ugandan family that Blazing Fire supported two years ago with a coffee farm to give them hope for their future)

Most of the Ugandan people are very poor financially, yet their tropical land is loaded with the juiciest, sweetest pineapples and the biggest, richest avocadoes I've ever tasted! As God brings Kingdom transformation to the infrastrucure of Uganda, they already have the goods to export to the world!

That got me thinking about how you and I have been loaded up with the riches of God's heavenly Kingdom. And the more He transforms our inner lives to flow effortlessly according to our original identity as His sons and daughters who carry His glory, the more we will export His goodness everywhere we go.

The greatest mark of maturity in the Christian life is love. Love is the greatest quality of God that we carry. Love crosses all cultural barriers. Love changes things. Love wins. And love is our biggest, sweetest and richest export to the world!

This Saturday, in addition to sharing with you what happened as we exported love to Uganda, we will also be sending off Joe & Eva Medina who will be exporting to Redding, CA the love they've absorbed from the Blazing Fire family over nearly a decade. The following week, September 7th, we will be sending off Pastors Lonnie & Angela Ellis to export the love of Christ to Sacramento and the world! Please do what you can to be there these next two Saturdays to express the love, honor and deep appreciation to these beautiful friends who will always remain part of our family, but who are following the Lord's leading into the next chapter of their journey with Him.

Finally, I want to remind each one of you that you carry the riches of heaven right inside of you! You carry the greatest change agent ever created that is God's answer to all that you will encounter...LOVE! Freely give what you've freely received. Freely export what has been freely imported by God into you!

Ephesians 5:1-2 (The Message Bible)

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that."

2 Corinthians 5:14 - "For Christ's love compels us..."

Let the love of Christ compel you to export His love and goodness everywhere you go!

With Great Love for Each One of You!
Brent

Encouraged by Nelson Mandela by Pastor Karena Lout

 

“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“Gracious words stream from your lips.” Psalm 45:2 NLT

I’ve been reading a really great biography on the life of Nelson Mandela. Mandela had many teachers in his life but he says the greatest of all was prison. The 27 years he spent in prison taught him self-control, discipline, maturity and focus. In prison, he learned that he couldn’t control anyone or anything. The only thing he could control was himself. He says it taught him how to be a full human being. The injustice he endured being sent to prison became the catapult to set the enslaved free, wanting to make South Africa a symbol of reconciliation. If that doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will!

One of the greatest lessons I’m gleaning from Nelson Mandela is that he always chooses to see the good in others. This is one of our core values at Blazing Fire: “Seeing the treasures in one another and causing each other to soar into our destinies.” This has been the foundation for all that we do and is what has caused so many to soar into all the Father has for them. When I first came to Blazing Fire, I can recall times that Pastors Brent and Suzanne spent time calling out the treasures in me before I could see it for myself. It was like hearing a new language for the first time. I’m so thankful for the life it breathed back into my heart and spirit.

One of Nelson Mandela’s values is that he views everyone as virtuous and chooses to believe the best in everyone. He believes that seeing the good in other people improves the chances that they will reveal their true, better selves. Though at times his critics have told him he’s too trusting, Mandela has chosen to take the risk anyway.

I have to admit, for me, it’s pretty easy to see the treasures in people I love, have good relationship with and even those I just met. But I feel challenged as I read about Nelson Mandela’s life. He chose to believe the best and see the treasures in even the prison guards that treated him poorly. I’m reminded of the life Jesus lived on the earth. Mandela would say that he takes emotional risks, making himself vulnerable by choosing to trust. This is an area I so want to grow in more but know it’s only through healing in my own heart first and by the Father’s tenderness and leading.

I pray that the Father would begin to show you more what treasures lie within you, that you would see yourself rightly, as He sees you. As the truth sinks in deeper, I pray that God would give you more opportunities to see the hidden treasures in people who can tend to be more challenging in your life. I pray for courage as you take steps to open your heart to trust Him at a deeper level and lots of grace in the journey!

With lots of love, Karena

His Glory In You by Pastor Suzan Fochler

Dear Family;

We recently enjoyed time as a family visiting some of the most amazing sights California can offer; the mountains, trees, ocean and waves of Monterey and Santa Cruz. While there we went to the Monterey Bay and Seymour Aquariums, and enjoyed the vast array of species that dwell in and around the ocean.

Who Would Dream Up Such Creative Diversity?

For example, one of the species that amazed us was the Sea Dragon. It’s a kind of Sea Horse, but looks much more like a plant than an animal! Who would dream up such a weird, whimsical creature? There was also an exhibit on Jelly Fish, all kinds of sizes, shapes and colors. Altogether there are something like 2,000 species of Jellies.

Our Creative God Delights in His Creation!
I doubt all of those species of Jelly Fish are absolutely essential for keeping the ocean’s ecosystem in balance, but I think it says something about the heart of God. Clearly, He was pleased to create this incredible diversity of species. I think God must enjoy the surprisingly distinct colors, sizes, behaviors and shapes of all those Jellies just as we do. What a wild and crazy imagination He has! What a sense of humor and fun! It is clear that God loves life, thoroughly enjoys the work of His hands, and adores the fruit of His own imagination. It is evident that he takes great pleasure in His creation, and the deepest pleasure of all from His premier work of art: we humans, created in His own image.

Each One of Us is an Important Part of His Creative Genius
It started to dawn on me; as amazingly varied and unique each plant and animal species is, when it comes to humankind, each individual human being, one to another, is just as unique and one of a kind as each species of the animal kingdom is, species to species. There are millions upon millions of different kinds of species, but within each species, most of the creatures look and act pretty similar, if not identical. When we look at human beings, however, we see a completely different aspect of diversity.

Christ is In You: Illuminating His Glory from Within
Human beings not only have unique personalities, but everything else about us: our appearance, the sound of our voice, our food preferences, our talents and interests; all distinct and one of a kind. Irreplaceable and unmatched. God chose to fabricate each one of us from a unique facet of His own personhood such that He will never make any of us a copy of anyone else! We each reflect a piece of His glory, in our own way.

Being Who You Are Is Enough
That aspect of God’s glory that is reflected in your life is unique and indispensable. Who you are, how you think, what you enjoy. What makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what drops you to your knees. There is nothing about you that is a mistake, an oversight or an afterthought. Who you are, and how you do who you are, matters. It matters to God, and it matters, in some mysteriously and deeply interwoven way, to the rest of creation. The whole earth, including each and every one of His created beings, is filled with the Glory of God!

With Much Love, and enjoying Him in each of you;
Susan

Choose to Belong by Pastor Brent Lokker

Last Saturday I shared a message about how God is inviting us to live whole-heartedly, not just with Him, but also with one another as a family.

Check out Hebrews 10:25 in the Mirror translation:

"In the light of our free access to the Father, let us extend that embrace to one another. Our gatherings are no longer a repetition of tradition but an essential fellowship where we remind one another of our true identity."

More than ever, we need to resist the enemy's attempts to isolate and separate us and instead come together as a family to remind one another continually of who Papa God says we truly are. You are not and never will be an orphan who doesn't belong. You are and always will be a son or daughter who belongs to the family of God!



Here is a link to the amazing video I showed last Saturday that perfectly represents how we are adopted into and belong to God's family:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rztYMMhMT2Y

In order to not be isolated or keep your heart safely walled off from others, you must choose to enter in and belong to a family where you are known, celebrated and loved! Learning to be real and vulnerable can be scary at first, but it is essential in living as the wholehearted son or daughter you are created to be.

I am inviting you to choose to belong to Blazing Fire. Or if you feel you already do, to come in closer still. Practically, this means:

1. Let us know you want to belong--for your sake (stepping over the line to say you want to belong is a way of committing your heart to the process)

2. Make gathering with the BF family a priority. You can't be known and go deeper with us if you're not with us!

3. Enter in wholeheartedly. By this, I mean choose to let God into the deepest places of your heart (it starts there) and then begin to let in others in as well. Take the risk of being yourself.

4. Give to the family. The Blazing Fire family is not only a place to receive love and acceptance, but it's a place to give what you have as well. We need you! Others in our family need your encouragement! Others in our family will be blessed as you step out into the dreams God has placed on your heart! And as you contribute financially to our family, you are helping support the dreams and visions of the Blazing Fire staff which, in large part, is about creating a family culture where we all grow and heal and thrive and make a genuine difference in this world.

There is a special place for you in our family! Choose to belong!

With Much Love,
Brent

You're Family! by Pastor Brent Lokker

Earlier this month, I spent a week with my family on our annual reunion vacation—something we’ve repeated for the past 25 years or so, the last 18 at Donner Lake (near Truckee, CA) in the same rented house where we’ve shared mountain-loads of memories. Some of you might wonder, Why in the world would you choose to spend your vacation with your family?? While no family is without it’s challenges (can I hear an Amen from someone?) ours happens to be filled with a whole lotta love and we actually enjoy being together.



For the most part, these gatherings have been attended by my mom, her four children (I’m the baby of the four), our spouses, our children, some of our children's spouses, and most recently a few of our grandchildren. Most of you know that my mom graduated to glory last December and is enjoying her new heavenly home in the company of Jesus, so this was the first time that we came together for our annual love-fest without our sweet Momma/Gramma/Great Gramma there.

We had a memorial service for my mom at Donner Lake where we shared, through tears and some laughter, the ways she impacted our lives with the special care she took in discovering and sharing the interests of each and every one of us. The more we remembered and reflected on my mom’s life, the more the love tangibly flowed into the room.

At one point I said something like, “If any of us needed proof of the reality of God’s love, just look around this room. The love is thick in here! It’s a gift that mom gave to us, but there is truly only One Source for all this love. This is from our heavenly Father who IS love! Mom’s legacy of love will live on through all of us every time we chose to love and freely give what we’ve freely received.”

Family is God’s idea and love is the essence of who He is! His plan has always been for families to experience His love together. This is one of the primary reasons the enemy makes it such a priority to destroy the very fabric of families, and especially the trust between parents and children.

God’s not going to have it that way! He has a way of trumping anything and everything the enemy tries to destroy and it is God's plan to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents (Malachi 4:6).

Papa God has created one HUGE family where He is the Father and we are all His children which makes us brothers and sisters to one another. He has also placed His Spirit inside of each one of us to help our hearts heal from past family wounds so that His love can once again flow freely through us to one another. This is the Father’s good and perfect plan—one that He is carrying out with great success!

It’s why in Hebrews 10:25 we read, Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as you see the day coming when Christ will return. (NIRV)

If you have been hurt in your own family or hurt by those in the Family of God, you might be wondering, Why would we choose to come together and spend time with each other when at times there can be drama or even heartache? God’s answer is that we were made for family and anything less will leave us feeling incomplete. By insisting that we learn to love each other with His love, He is teaching us how to open our hearts up to one another and live vulnerably with each other as we were created to do. By going through this process with the Lord, we are entering into a depth of love we can encounter in no other way.

Lately, the Lord has been reminding me what a truly amazing family Blazing Fire is! Are we without challenges at times? Nope! But we are healthier now than we’ve ever been and there’s a whole lotta love whenever we gather—so thick and real you can cut it with a knife! And where is all that love coming from? From a Father who IS love and who is lavishly pouring it out on His kids so they will have a super-abundant supply to love each other with.

If Blazing Fire is your family, make it a point to come to worship on Saturday nights with the intent not only to draw closer to God, but also to draw closer to one or two more of His kids every chance you get. And if you happen to live in the Bay Area, please be sure to join us for our family picnic next Sunday, August 4th (details below) and choose to love and be loved in God’s family! You will be so glad you did!

With a Whole Lotta Love!
Brent

Call To Me by Pastor Russ Fochler

“Thus said the LORD (Yehovah) who is planning it,
The LORD (Yehovah) who is shaping it to bring it about,
Whose name is LORD (Yehovah):
Call to Me, and I will answer you,
I will tell you wondrous things,
Secrets you have not known.”
Jeremiah 33:2-3 NJPS

Is there a stirring in your spirit – a sense that the “same old – same old” patterns are no longer sufficient? Then, may this encourage you: It is time to call out to God – and then stay “tuned in” to receive what He shares with you. We need His revelation to strengthen and inform our spirits and hearts for the next season.

Who are we – that we could have such standing to call out to the Creator of the Universe – and that He would actually answer us? It is because He has provided for us to be "perfect" - like He is.

Pastor Brent Lokker spoke powerfully last Saturday (July 13, 2013) about a deep and liberating understanding of what Papa means when He calls us to be “perfect” (ta-miym).

Genesis 17:1 relates:
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD (Yehovah) appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God (El Shaddai); walk before me, and be thou perfect (ta-miym).” (KJV)

And in Matthew 5:48 (NKJV), Jesus told His disciples:
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Brent shared that the Hebrew תמים (ta-miym) has the meanings of:
"Complete, whole, entire, sound, unimpaired, innocent, healthful, having integrity, completed time."

Tamam, the root word for tamiym has further meanings: 2) to be finished, come to an end, cease and 4) to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent.

Brent explained from this: That when we come “to the end of ourselves”; when we cease to trying live independently of God (which was essentially the temptation of Eve and Adam in the Garden) – that Jesus has opened the way for us to walk in child-like innocence and whole-heartedness with our Daddy.

This is good news! Much better than assuming that God expects us to “perfect” ourselves!

Going back to Jeremiah 33; the prophet Jeremiah was writing this while he was in prison and while the Babylonians were in the process of conquering Jerusalem. The answer that God wanted to reveal as Jeremiah "called out" – was God's provision for a new covenant: “They shall be My people and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good;…” Jeremiah 32:38-40a NKJV

And then God revealed to Jeremiah that His means for establishing this new covenant would be by causing “to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness on the earth.” Jer 33:15 We now know this Branch is our Messiah Jesus.

I believe that God’s invitation to Jeremiah – and to us to “Call out” to Him - is so that we strongly reach out with our heart to Him. And His answer for us will be about “the Branch” – about His Son reigning in our hearts – and extending His realm over the earth. Our heart-call will be answered by more of Him!

Abraham – our father in this faith-walk, often passionately called out to God (see Genesis 13:4 and 21:33 for examples).

Have you felt besieged or “hemmed” in? Has it felt hard to worship God with your whole heart? Then, this is a “perfect” time to call out to Abba - and experience how He answers you. His answer will always involve Jesus and the new covenant cut with His body and established with His blood.

"16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Eph 3:16-19 NKJV

We need (and we thankfully have) eternity to explore these dimensions, these territories of His love for each one of us. I look forward to hearing about how He answers you for your next season.

Joyfully,

Russ Fochler

Rest in This Moment by Pastor Brent Lokker

Today, I’ve been at my computer quite a bit, preparing for my sermon tomorrow, returning e-mails, and doing many other seemingly needful tasks. Yet, there's a restlessness inside that’s been rising up because self-reliance has inadvertently taken over.

Let me explain.

I consider myself one who sincerely desires to be fully reliant on the Lord and to be continually led by the Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit always lives in me and I am fully one with Christ.  There is never any separation.  I have talked with Papa many times today and have felt His pleasure over me as His son. But I’ve also been immersed in my own tasks for hours at a time without “lifting my head up” to enjoy the journey more with Him and to tap into His brilliant wisdom that He is all to happy to share with those who take time for intimacy with Him along the way.

So, as I was thinking (pretty much on my own) about writing this encouragememt e-mail, I finally paid attention to my restlessness and wisely allowed God access to my heart to pinpoint its origin.  His simple solution?  Papa God let me know, “I am everything you need!  I have every resource you require. Center your heart on me and ask me what I want to say to my children.” In that very moment, the restlessness of self-reliance gave way to the joy of the moment with Him. And in that enjoyment came the peace He promised that surpasses our own understanding (Philippians 4:7—read: our self-reliance that has to have everything figured out on our own).  Once the demand to figure it all out on our own is gone, our head is clear once again and our spirit can rise up to receive and embrace everything we need at the moment.

So as I quiet my mind and center my heart, I hear Papa saying to you right now: “I long to take the burden off of you, my child.  I long to enjoy life with you, moment by moment. I am already in your future with you and I know how to get you there safely.  As my beloved child, I long for you to rest in Me and my ability to care for you.”

And then He reminded me of a verse I have shared with you on many other occasions.  It is a heart to heart message, from God's heart to yours…

“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.”   ~Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

In this very moment you are being invited by Papa God to experience His rest and peace.  Will you accept?  Will you give up your right to be in control of whatever task or situation that’s consuming you?  Resting in His goodness is the wisest and most fruitful choice you have.

Enjoy the journey with Him in this very moment!

Growing Our Hearts by Pastor Susan Fochler

I have always loved green, growing things. Ever since I was a child I loved to plant in the garden; flowers, fruits, vegetables. There is something I find very satisfying about tilling the soil, planting and watering seeds, then watching over the next few weeks as those seeds germinate and break through the soil to begin growing. I feel so much joy as I watch those little green leaves burst forth from the ground and grow into the plant their DNA coded them to grow into. My job is just to water and feed and pull weeds. They just keep growing!

Our Hearts Need Watering Too!
As I was looking over my growing vegetable garden the other day, Jesus began showing me some things about my own heart. Now it hasn't been until the last few years that I've realized how hard it has been for me to receive nurture and care from other people as well as God. Tenderness was simply not something I was familiar with growing up. And because it wasn't available, I stopped expecting it. I learned very effectively to just take care of myself. It has taken time and soaking in His presence to soften my heart and recognize the deep value of receiving His compassion. It is essential for spiritual growth to allow myself to receive God' loving touch in the deepest parts of my being.

God will Provide All your Heart Needs
Jesus started showing me how very tenderly He watches over my heart, how eagerly He anticipates watering and feeding my heart with everything it needs, even as I watch over my little vegetable seeds. As I look forward to watching the growth that will spring up from the seeds I plant, so does He. And Jesus waters, feeds, and nurtures us with His very life; His body and blood. He anticipates what we need, plans for it, knows what is needed and why. Jesus has made available everything that is needed for our heart to grow, flourish and develop into the fullness of being He intended our hearts to know. His seed has already been planted, He knows who you are to become. He is committed to your completeness! For (He is our) source of life, Christ, (who) puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as He nourishes us. Col. 2:19 MSG

You make His Joy Complete
Jesus sees the potential within that we can't yet imagine. He sees the growth coming, the fragrance and glory of the fruit of your life that He has planned for you since before the beginning of time. And His joy is just as full in the process of nurturing and loving on you, as it is in watching that growth take place.

With Love and Joyful Expectancy in our Growing Hearts;
Susan

I Got You by Pastor Karena Lout

“I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18

I had a dream a few weeks ago that got my attention. In the dream, Todd and I were in an old, dilapidated house rescuing precious children who were victims of child slavery. The house was so run down that we knew it was only a matter of time before it would collapse. As we carefully carried the children out of the rubble, I suddenly realized that my purse was gone and began to panic. I told Todd that I needed to go to the bank to cancel my debit card because it was about to close. He stayed calm and said we needed to finish what we were doing and that everything would be fine. I was a little annoyed that he wasn’t worried (as if that would help). Though I was still upset by the loss, I knew what we were doing was more important and took precedence over slipping into worry about finances. After we made sure the children were all safe and in their new royal home, we went to the car where Todd found my purse hidden under the passenger seat. End of Dream.

This dream was really timely and significant for me on several levels. The part I want to highlight though is the feeling of doubt that came up that God may not provide for me as I pursue what’s in my heart. Taking risks and following your heart’s passions can sometimes be scary, especially if you’ve experienced loss or disappointment in the past as a result. But I’ve also decided in my heart that I’d rather dive full on into the ocean of adventure than sit on the shore of “what ifs”, wondering and fear. Making the choice to follow your dreams takes courage and trust but it’s so worth it! And when we also come to believe that Christ is our all-sufficiency, not only will we help a hurting world, but we’ll show them their worth as sons, not orphans. Knowing who we are as the Father’s beloved children greatly influences our beliefs about His provision in our lives.

A few weeks after I had this dream, I went to a friend’s house to pick up some items she was donating to drop off at a shelter. After we finished loading up the car, we went in and had lunch. When returning to the car, I realized I had left the door wide open with my purse sitting out by the passenger seat (just as in the dream, ironically). My friend lives on a very busy street in an area where homes have recently been burglarized. It hit me in that moment that just as in my dream, God is so covering me and taking care of me. As I left, He said these sweet words that I pray you will receive for yourself as you courageously pursue your heart’s passions.

“Keep your head close to my chest, pressed into me. I got you. You’re not doing this alone. Let me take the lead, provide for you, care for you. Your dreams originated in my heart first. I am the one who gives them flight. Rest in my love. I’ve got you and I will never let go.”

Love, Karena

Enduring Hardships by Pastor Angela Ellis

In my life I have endured many hardships. Some I can say honestly because of my choices and others because of other peoples’ choices that directly affected my life. Some hardships felt uncomfortable others that felt at the time, life shattering.

Whatever the case, I have to say I have learned much through every hardship I have had to face. I have learned to a deeper degree the Love of the triune God and many, if not all of the fruits of the spirit have been refined in me throughout the trials. Not that I’ve mastered any of them, but I can say some I have done double time in for sure!

Why do I highlight what seems to be a negative? Well, because I’ve come to a place where I would not trade those seemingly negative things for anything! I have through these trials and challenges come to a place of actual rejoicing over them. I rejoice because through them I have learned a piece of heaven that only I can release through my perspective and my truth. I have been made more like Christ through them and more than anything I have learned to value things that I didn’t value before. I’ve learned that I can overcome anything with Christ and more important, I’ve learned to truly lean on my beloved in all things.

Really, there are endless lessons that have come through what seems to be a negative. So my question is, if so many positives come out of hardships or challenges then why do we still consider these as negatives? I believe perspective has a huge role in how we see or view things. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe we have to necessarily like every situation we are in, but I think if we can somehow remember to ask Holy Spirit how He see’s things in the midst of our different situations, I believe our limited earthly perspective can quickly become a heavenly perspective. And while we may not be able to overt the situation we can stay steady in walking through them asking Holy Spirit to reveal all the hidden treasures in them along the way. We can learn and grow without challenges or hardships throwing us out of the game or making us stuck.

As we move forward into a new season lets try going through things with heavens perspective. Let’s stay steady and steadfast believing always the Lord is for us and He really is working all things for good! As we go let’s look for the treasures in the lessons we are learning along the way, while handing out our pearls of wisdom to others that are put on our path. Imagine what it would be like if we changed the old way of thinking from these challenges or hardships are “hard” to instead thinking“ I’m gathering treasure…pearls even!” When we look at it that way suddenly we have no lack but actually can see our abundance we have to freely give away!

May you be abundantly blessed in ALL things!

With much love,
Angela

BORN TO BLESS! by Pastor Brent Lokker

Many years ago, I approached Pastor Bill Johnson at Bethel Church in Redding, someone who I regarded as a spiritual father to me.  I expressed to him with deep feeling just what an impact he had on my life and how grateful to the Lord I was for him.  He responded, “Brent, you make me as proud as any father could be.”  Afterwards, I stood there by myself in stunned silence.  In that exchange that took all of 60 seconds, I was dramatically impacted. Did I just hear Bill say…?  I ran his words over and over again in my mind.

Why did his words have such a dramatic impact on me? What was going on in the core of my being?

Quite simply, blessing was going on!

John 1:16 in the Amplified Bible reads:

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

We are made in the glorious image of God who blesses and blesses some more.  We have a choice to be just like our Daddy to bless and bless some more. However, God always gives us choice. What makes blessing people so very powerful is that we have the equal choice to curse.

James 3:8-10 came to my mind: "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be this way."

In this passage the word "curse" means "to speak evil of, or to not speak well of." The word "bless" means "to speak well of."

Bill Johnson chose to bless me by speaking well of me and something inside of me deeply needed it.  What I discovered is that his choice to bless me gave me an even greater ability and authority to bless the hearts of others.

This Saturday at Blazing Fire Church is a night of Generational Blessings, where people of all ages will have the opportunity to receive blessings as well as to bless others in order to be congruent with who we are as sons and daughters of Yahweh God.  Specifically, I want the younger ones to bless the wisdom of the older, and the older ones to bless the zeal of the younger.

We were born to bless!  It's in our new nature in Christ to do so.

Choose today to bless others and to let all curses fall lifelessly to the ground, unspoken by your lips.  By doing so, you're looking just like your Daddy!

God Is Good All The Time - by Pastor Lonnie Ellis

Dear Beloved Family,

 

In Christiandom we here a lot of cliché phrases along the lines of just the few listed below. We hear songs, sermons and even read books about them. We often speak these words over each other as a form of encouragement as we often should.

 

“God is Good All The Time”.

“If God is for you then who Could Be Against You”

“Taste & See That The Lord is Good”

“ Daddy You Love Me’

 

These statements are based in BIBLICAL TRUTHS and Papa wants to IMPACT and bring TRANSFORMATION in our lives with these Kingdom Life-Changing words.

 

But when we go through or we are in the midst of:

 

Loss (financial, divorce, home, savings, job ect.)

Death of a loved one or friend

A son or daughter leaving homee 

Transition

Hurricaines, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Fires ect.

and more…

 

Our spirits and hearts can at times become numb to the impact they should have on our lives.

 

We all will experience up’s and downs in our lives. It’s easy to feel uncomfortable, be around or avoid friends and family that might be experiencing challenging times. I want to encourage us all (as we are called to do and be) that God Is Good All The Time, in our good-times and our challenging times PERIOD!

 

To release or give insight on this topic I included a link of an article from the Elijah List that will go into greater detail.

 

Written by:

Gary Elkins: Senior Leader
 - Living Waters Church

Medford, Oregon

 

Title: "Can't I Bless You In Your Suffering?"

 

Each family will go through seasons of challenge and suffering in the course of a lifetime. As a family, we recently experienced one of those times. In the end, God showed up and pointed the situation in a new direction, but at the start we felt overwhelmed.

 

Click on this link to read the whole article. It is worth it:

http://elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=12136

 

I pray that your spirit is blessed as mine was blessed and encouraged.

Be Blessed and Be A Blessing.

 

Lonnie Ellis