What Is The Hope Of His Calling?

"I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling that is the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!" EPHESIANS 1:18

In this passage, Paul is praying over the ecclesia (God's called out ones...us, the ambassadors of Christ on the Earth).  He's issuing a plea that the scales of the mundane would be removed from our vision for our lives so that we would see the earnest expectation of the good God has called us to.  Mainly, that call is unto Himself. It's a prayer that we would understand that we are what God wants, His own inheritance.  This calling is the epitome of not only our life in Him, but our life altogether! Here's a little picture I see to help describe this in some other terms.  We are like a radio, designed to tune into the most clear frequency.  But this radio has the option of being completely battery operated, or to plug into an ongoing and much stronger power source.   We run on those batteries that wear out, causing the frequency and volume to weaken. But, we decided to take that extra step to get that power chord out, plug it in and operate at full capacity. So it is with the hope of God's calling. If we see it and say, "YES!", we will be much much better equipped to produce fruit, make wiser choices that will enhance our lives and carry on with those other mantles we each carry.  Under our foremost calling to God's side, we do have mantles or mandates on us as well. Some, from the start, are so drawn to the medical world because they are going dabble in the realm of healing and how God intricately fashioned our bodies. Some smell dirt and feel the urge to grow life, like our Father.  So many mandates out there and each unique to every individual.  If we ignore these "passions" (if you will) because of fear, doubt, lethargy, trauma, or whatever reason, a part of us will feel so much less alive.  However, we can go right back to the source of energy and excellency, get His heart and gain momentum. Very recently, our gracious Father illuminated to me that over time in my mind, the mandate as a worship pastor has become reduced to the task of preparing sets and teams for our services.  He reminded me that part of my call is to provoke my community to see God's goodness, enormity and worthiness to be worshiped.  It's to inspire hearts to turn their affections toward Him.  I heard this phrase, "the hope of your calling", in this moment.  My prayer then?: "God, open my eyes again. Set my heart on fire and help me with the zeal and insights for this. I'll do whatever it takes!" It's in my heart to encourage us all to wake up to the hope of His calling to be His, and all that encompasses.  I promise He will then enlighten your spirit-eyes about whatever else He's got in HIs flawless mind for your life. Big blessings and energy on you today! - Todd  (DISCLAIMER: I used the word "epitome" because it sounded epic and grown up, and I had to google it to insure what it even meant.)

Transformed In The Glory

I recently had a dream encounter where I saw the church, His sons and daughters, being led into a new realm, a realm where it was bright and luminous. The only focus we had was on Jesus, alone. The Lord begin to show me that He is taking us from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18) and this past season of what we have found ourselves in (COVID, racial injustice, politics/election season, personal and family issues). God is coming and breaking in with joy and bliss, where He is transforming us, at the depths and core of who we are. I believe there is a greater glory God is leading us into, amidst all of the things going on in the world right now (COVID, racial injustices, election season, personal and family issues). This glory we’re entering into couldn’t have come any other way. It’s from the old to the new, Jesus is taking us. He has prepared new wineskins for the new wine He is pouring out. God is coming to anoint us, again, with fresh oil on our heads, to give us the oil of gladness (Isaiah 61). I believe because of our willingness to go with Jesus to the deep places in our hearts, we are setting ourselves up for another glory transformation. It’s what we have been praying and believing for, what we have prophesied time over again and have declared for so long. What does being transformed from glory to glory actually look like? I believe this not only encompasses the spiritual, but manifests and impacts us in the natural as well. Below are 19 Living from the Unseen Declarations by Wendy Backlund. Through declarations, God has given us a powerful, relevant tool to renew our minds and direct the path of our lives with our words. Declarations have the power to increase our level of faith to launch us to experience all that Jesus has won for us. As you read and declare these, may your heart and spirit receive the fullness of not only who God says you are, but the transformation of outpouring and breakthrough.   I anticipate good coming my way every day. My peace is a powerful weapon to change circumstances. The light of God dwells in me and destroys the works of the enemy. The supernatural is not something that happens to me, it is who I am. God and His realm have greater weight than my circumstances for this natural realm. I am aware of the unseen realm and I influence people and atmospheres with my spirit. My spirit is a powerful substance that is a force of light and revelation. Holy Spirit is communicating with my spirit and I easily hear Him. I get my identity from my future, not my past. I can do what my Father does, because I have His DNA.   I carry the substance of favor and I don’t need to perform for people to like me. I live from my spirit, and let my spirit have a voice. The substance of Gods love and peace overwhelms people everywhere I go. I am a partaker of the divine nature, and I look like my Father. I easily rest and receive in His presence. I know my past, but I imagine my future according to the power that works in me. I attach great faith to everything I do; therefore, everything I do creates life and change. I have unseen resources and spiritual blessings to overcome every negative circumstance. The eyes of my imagination are enlightened to see the glorious inheritance and power that I have been called into (Eph. 1:18-19).                                                                  Love,                                                                          Pastor Joel

The Good Journey We're On

We are on a journey. It’s a good one!   Sometimes we’re aware of that and often times we aren’t. Our awareness or lack thereof doesn’t change that each of us is on a beautiful journey with Papa God.   We were created in the heart of our Father long before we were born, secure in His heart at this very moment, and safely in His heart for eternity! This can never change.   Our Father loves us and tenderly cares for us in every moment, even through the moments and seasons of our worry, anxiety, regret, anger, addictions, self-induced pressure, temper tantrums, self-punishment (and the list goes on).   All of this negativity is the toxic fruit of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—the forbidden one that Adam ate from. This is the “independent, fleshly, do-it-yourself yet you-are-never-enough, leading to hopelessness and despair” tree. Does that description hit too close to home? Don’t worry, it’s a problem that every person on the earth shares.   Our Father already knows that and has provided a way for us to ascend with Him and leave the destructive perceptions behind on your journey. Don’t worry or fret that it’s taking a while. God already knows that too.   Our Father gives us fruit to eat from the tree of Life—Jesus himself—the Risen Christ in us! The Overcomer who is one with us! Our hope and certainty of glory! Eating from this tree is the Spirit-filled and Spirit-directed life which is simply Jesus in us and leads us into the sheer joy of belonging solely to the Lover of our Souls!   God orchestrates our lives in such a way that even moments of crisis bring us to a place of surrender, wanting His life in us instead of trying to be the director of our own play. This is the part where, in humility, you ask Holy Spirit to show you, moment by moment, when you are eating of destructive thought patterns and to teach you how to choose life instead. This is the part of your journey where you learn to trust, moment by moment, that you have everything you need from your very dear Father, and you willingly choose to submit yourself to His good and perfect will for your life.   And the outcome? You traverse more and more on the part of the journey called rest—an ongoing place where you cease from striving and know that God is.   God is here. God is enough. God is for you. Always!   Proverbs 4:18 (TPT) “The lovers of God walk on the highway of light, and their way shines brighter and brighter until they bring forth the perfect day.” --- Galatians 5:16 (Mirror Bible) “Engage your spirit to be the dominant influence in your daily walk and see how it defeats the cravings of flesh.” --- Psalm 46:10 (NIV) “Be still and know that I am God”    On the Good Journey With You,                                                   Brent

Let Hope Hold You

I was recently reflecting on different things happening in the world right now. In that same moment, the Holy Spirit spoke these words to my heart, “let Hope hold you”. As I heard these words, I was reminded that there is no one or anything that can hold us and protect us, like Jesus can. He is longing and will always be available and willing to hold us, embrace us and continue to show us the reality of who we are and who He sees us as — His sons and daughters. Regardless of where you’re at on your journey in life, Hope wants to hold you like never before. Holy Spirit, we give you access and permission to go deeper in us, to the places where You are longing to encounter, experience and embrace of us in.  May your heart and soul be deeply encouraged as you read the following passage of scripture taken from Psalm 91:1-4; 9-16 TPT. “When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet! For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you have delighted in me as my great lover, I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble. I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast. You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”                                                                                      With Love,                                                                                                       Pastor Joel