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