Thursday, May 5, 2016

Change. Is It Good by Pastor Brent Lokker

There are some who thrive on change and new experiences.  That’s not the majority of us.  Most of us prefer to get into a routine that we know and can count on.  Somehow it makes us feel just a little bit more secure.
 
Blazing Fire is about to move into our 8th different location for our Saturday night worship service (two different times in one of those locations and this doesn’t include the park in downtown Pleasanton).  That’s change with a capital C! The fact that a large number of you have traveled with us to several locations—and some of you to all 8 of them—says a lot about who you are!
 
I could tell you that our choice to make God’s presence our most sought after prize or our core values of love, grace and seeing the treasures in one another are the reasons you are still with us.
 
But the reason you are still with us is because you’ve made that choice to belong with our family.  Suzanne and I are blessed beyond measure to have a family such as yourselves—ones who treasure God’s presence with us, who choose the high road of grace and forgiveness, and who are learning to love well!
 
So, we move one more time because we have to. That now sacred green tent we leave behind will no longer be there in a short time.  It may already be gone…
 
But as we move yet again, I want to remind you that change brings about curiosity, renewed hope and fresh expectations of all that God has promised to do for us as our very good and dear Father.  And in the midst of that change, the old things that became a place of security are replaced, in a glorious way, with a fresh new dependence upon our Father to meet every need that we have according the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus!
 
Just about every miracle that God performed on behalf of His dearly loved children transpired in the midst of change and trials.  Not comforting, but reassuring!
 
Elder Susan Fochler actually had a dream many years ago of us being in this very location.  In that dream, revival was breaking out and busloads of people were coming!  Now dreams are often symbolic, not always literal, but my heart is filled with a GREAT expectation of the times we will be having in the presence of the living God in these coming months in our new church home.
 
This Saturday, I want to encourage you to arrive on time for our 6 pm worship service because we are going to start with a time of intercession together—it’s going to be powerful!  Agreeing with heaven changes things.  Through our prayers we will be preparing the soil in this new temporary home of ours—soil that’s ready to invite heaven to invade our hearts, our communities and our world!
 
But I’m going to ask you for even more.  Would you please consider arriving at 5 pm for an hour of intercession even before our worship service begins?  It would mean so much to me if you would make an extra effort to be there this Saturday to add your voice and your agreement to this next chapter of our ongoing adventure with the Spirit of Yahweh!
 
During both the 5 pm pre-service intercession time, as well as at the beginning of our 6 pm worship service, I’ve asked a handful of people to bring their drums.  I invite you to do the same.  Bring drums, shofars, flags, banners, whatever you have to add to the mix.  It all counts!  It’s all a sweet-smelling incense to the Lord.
 
And if you haven’t been at Blazing Fire in a while—even if we’re not your “home” church—please honor me and Suzanne by joining with us this Saturday to saturate, bless and anoint our newest gathering place to meet with the Lord.  I know of several long-time BF friends who are planning to be back to join us and pray with us this Saturday.
 
Some extremely special moments are going to take place here in the coming months!
 
Change isn’t always fun, but with the Lord, it’s always good!
 
With Much Love,
Brent & Suzanne
Founding & Senior Pastors of Blazing Fire Church
 

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