Is Peace Elusive? by Pastor Brent Lokker

Ever get that frustrating feeling that peace is just outside of your grasp because one crazy, weird, messed-up situation after another comes your way and there never seems to be a lengthy period of clear skies above you?

Okay, here’s the next essential question: Can you think of the last time when youdid feel peace? 

My guess is there were still plenty of potentially challenging situations going on in your life yet there was a moment, a span of time, when the presence of Jesus overtook you (whether you were aware of His presence or not).  Your heart was awake in that instant to appreciate a dear friendship, to gaze in wonder at a gorgeous sunset, to reflect upon just how blessed your life truly is. 

In our not-so-peaceful moments, it seems that we’ll never get caught up and we believe our happiness depends upon doing so.  Life is passing us by.

In our full-of-peace moments, we realize that checking more things off our to-do list is not the adventure for which we’ve enlisted and that our happiness is directly tied to what we did sign up for—closeness with Jesus!  In these moments, we enjoy life as He intended.

The word for peace in the Hebrew language is SHALOM.  Shalom is a gift that’s already been given, a package that’s already been delivered.  Jesus paid for it and it’s yours to enjoy. Rather than read a dry definition of something that is so life-giving, why don’t you take a moment to enjoy it right now as a declaration (out loud!) over yourself.  And may I encourage you to say it like you mean it and pause over each phrase to let it capture you.

                                                         I am content

                                                         I am complete

                                                         I am whole

                                                         I have health

                                                         I am prosperous

                                                         I am safe

                                                         I am sound

                                                         I am at rest

                                                         I live in harmony

                                                         I live in tranquility

                                                         It is well with my soul!

Here is a description of our beautiful Jesus who purchased all of this for us to enjoy every day of our lives:

Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,

    a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift.

And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great.

    The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders.

His name? His name we’ll know in many ways—

    He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing,

    Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace.

His leadership will bring such prosperity as you’ve never seen before—

    sustainable peace for all time.

This child: God’s promise to David—a throne forever, among us,

    to restore sound leadership that cannot be perverted or shaken.

He will ensure justice without fail and absolute equity. Always.

    The intense passion of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,

    will carry this to completion.

(Isaiah 9:6-7 in The Voice)

Peace is not elusive.  Peace is your constant companion and He has a name…Jesus!

Love,

Brent

Love Your Wings by Pastor Brent Lokker

Last weekend, Leif Hetland came to Blazing Fire and ignited our hearts again with a passionate flame for Jesus.  He also spoke courage in us to be authentically ourselves as we add our “special sauce” to one another.  He also challenged us by asking, “Can we see the treasure in Saul and love him before he becomes Paul. Here is an excerpt from his book, Seeing Through Heaven’s Eyes: Jesus, the very incarnation of love, saw people through Heaven’s eyes.  In doing so, some were ennobled; others were enraged.  The sinners He dined with were honored.  The scribes, who were taking not of the guest list, were horrified.  Luke records one such dinner party: Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.  And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2) The loveless one sees only the caterpillar, while the lover sees the butterfly. Whose eyes do you want to have?  The eyes of the critic…or the eyes of Christ? If you answered as I think you did, be prepared to receive what Christ received—criticism.  He was criticized for seeing others through Heaven’s eyes.  I am sometimes criticized for doing the same.  And so will you be.  Some people will love you for it; others will loathe you.  And the loathing will likely come from the very religious. Sue Monk Kidd talks about the different responses she experienced from people who had seen the transformation that had taken place in her.  She talks about the critic and the effect the critic had on her. Sometimes people are happy with our wings and support the unfurling.  Sometimes, though, they’re afraid of our wings and try to talk us back into the old larval life. I encountered all sorts of reactions to the changes in my life.  When the reaction was negative, I sometimes went into a temporary tailspin, regressed, and questioned everything. The best advice I received on this subject was from another older woman who’d been through many cocoons and many pairs of wings.  I told her, “People won’t let me change.” (As if people could really do that.) What I was actually saying was, “I;m afraid of people’s reaction to my changes.”  The woman touched my cheek with her hand and said, “Love your wings.” Prayer: My Father in Heaven, How I long to see people the way You see them. Give me eyes to see all the beauty that is emerging everywhere around me. Help me to believe that there is a butterfly struggling to emerge from the gooey mess in all of our lives. Help me to believe in that butterfly, hope in that butterfly, love that butterfly. Thank You for the process of transformation and for being with me in the pain of that process. Don’t stop with the process, Lord, until the beauty of who You created me to be emerges, fully formed and ready to fly. Grant me the courage to rise above the earthbound criticism that comes from so many religious people and manages to worm its way into my life. Help me to love my wings.

Grow Into Your Word by Pastor Todd Benjamin Lout

I feel so blessed to be a part of a prophetic community.  It’s so wonderful to have people around who are willing to take risks in hearing the heart of our perfect Father and relay such things.  How I would rather be surrounded by believers actually practicing the prophetic than ones who don’t really believe and turn that valve off in their life.

Like in every gift, every attribute of God that He shares with us, we have growing to do in this prophetic arena.  We can go down many avenues in discussion about this.  The main focus in this email is on what to do with the words we receive.  Here’s a few pointers that have helped me and I hope will be an inspiration to you as well.

USE DISCERNMENT – If we receive a word and it strikes the heart at all, take it to the Lord.  With Him, we let our heart feel and know what it should about this word.  If, on the other hand, it doesn’t feel quite right, again, take it to the Lord.  Find out if He is having you stretch beyond your comfort zone in something to grow into, or if you should simply disregard the word given.  Either way, it’s good to let these words simmer with the One Who knows every little detail about them.

EXECERSIZE PATIENCE – This is probably the most valuable of my tips here.  Let’s say someone gets a word like, “You will preach the truth to many.”  Rightfully so, there are instant pictures in the heart of standing on stages, in front of large crowds, and preaching.  This could be where a journey actually begins to get the person to that picture.  However, too often, we hear it, want it and believe it should start happening NOW.  It’s possible, but most of the time there needs to be a maturing process first.  What would our motive for preaching truly be?  How about handling the stressful things that come with this?  Or stewarding the good things that come with this?  Could there be a need for practical things like a speech class?  All through the Bible we see words given and then lengthy periods of time before fruition.  Like Joseph, for instance.  Or how about Jesus, Himself?  Remember in James 1 it tells us, “Let patience have it’s perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, LACKING NOTHING.”

When we are not vulnerable enough to allow whatever growth to happen, and become impatient, we tend to expect other people to open the doors to fulfill our word.  We wonder why they don’t recognize the call in us or make things happen for us.  We forget that it’s God’s word to us and He opens the door…when we’re ready.  Ultimately, when we push and shove, we get mad at God for not allowing what He started to come to pass.  However we didn’t allow Him to cultivate maturity in us so that He could bring completion to the word.  Patience is absolutely married to a prophetic word that comes together the way God intends.

BE WISE WITH WHOM YOU SHARE YOUR WORD – Matthew 7:6 says, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”  Here’s where discernment comes in again.  We want to share for various reasons.  Let’s give every possible motive for sharing to Holy Spirit and sort it out with Him. 

Simply put, some people we share with may poison our word with negativity, doubt and fear, thus causing us to feel that way about it too.  Some folks will be jealous and speak words to combat your word.  Some may spread it to others who may abuse it also.  Choose wisely.

TAKE HEALTHY STEPS – Without manipulating others (as mentioned before), begin to move forward.  For instance, if there’s a word that you be a successful business person, and you feel this is correct but you have zero business experience, go ahead and take business classes.  Start taking notes on someone who is already successful in business and learn.  God will help us along the way.

There’s so much more to cover, but these are just a few things that we really need to keep in mind to help us grow into our word.  God wants the very best for us and in us.