Graduating into 2021

As I thought about the coming new year God reminded me of being in elementary school with all the new information, new skills, and new ideas to learn. We were given many building blocks of learning to help us with the next concept or idea. This was challenging and even overwhelming at times.  But as the year progressed, we realized we had learned so much! We were being prepared and equipped to enter into the 'next grade'.    I’ve realized how much I’ve experienced, learned from and got through in this past year of 2020.  In 2020, the Lord helped me gain a new level of emotional and spiritual maturity.  I was being equipped for what’s ahead in 2021!  And I realize He has given me all I need to enter in the new year.  As our good Father and great Teacher, He has promised this to us....   “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”  1 Pet 5:10   Also, God impressed upon me specifically that we have gone through the 4th grade in 2020 and we are entering into 5th grade in 2021.  There are many things this could mean, to me and perhaps to you personally.  But this we do know: the number 5 means grace. God has prepared us and equipped us to live in a greater measure of grace!  Grace for others and grace for ourselves.     So enter into this new year of 2021 with the assurance that you are equipped!  God has made us ready to walk out this year in an amazing grace.   Because agreement with God is a big part of the transforming process of renewing our minds to believe what God believes is true, declare out loud from Ephesians 2:10 (Mirror Bible) what God says about you:      * I am engineered by God's design.      * God molded and manufactured me in Christ.      * I am His workmanship, His poetry.      * I am fully fit to do good.      * I am equipped to give attractive evidence of His likeness in me in        everything I do.                                                                 Love, Wanda

Take Heart

Wherever your opinions may be situated on the political spectrum, Wednesday’s events in our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. were disturbing. If we were thinking that turning the page on our calendars to 2021 would suddenly change the intensity of the world’s events, then we’ve already experienced a great disappointment this year and it’s only a week old. No, unsettling world events are still happening around us. What has changed, especially through the journey of this past year, is our hearts. What has changed is how God, in His grace, has been giving us a greater ability to see and perceive more of what He sees and perceives.   There’s no denying that troubling events have happened this past week and this past year, but please listen with new ears to the words of Jesus, who is our Master and Good Teacher: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)   Jesus doesn’t deny that trouble exists in the world and doesn’t ask us to pretend so either. Yet, the focus is entirely upon the hope that arises in us because he has already overcome the world! Our hope and peace are anchored and rooted in Christ alone! Jesus is our only place of rest. If you look to world events or circumstances around you to be in perfect stillness and harmony, you haven’t yet understood where rest comes from. It begins and ends with a deep awareness of Christ in you.   In 2020, God was very intentional with us in bringing our hearts back to him. There was a good and loving reason God was pushing a reset button in us. There was a good and loving reason we were forced to abandon life the way we were used to so that we could be taught how to trust God in a new way and how to rest in the assurance of His goodness in our lives. I have watched so many of you mature deeply this past year in your connection with the Lord, and I want to show you from Ephesians 4:14-15 what that maturing process was for:   As our immaturity comes to an end, we will not be easily shaken by trouble, nor led astray by novel teachings or by the false doctrines of deceivers who teach clever lies. But instead we will remain strong and always sincere in our love as we express the truth. All our direction and ministries will flow from Christ and lead us deeper into him, the anointed Head of his body, the church.   Friends, we will not be easily shaken by trouble! Why? Because the Lord Himself has been teaching us the ways of love and truth and because our lives are flowing from His life in us. None of us knows what the coming days will hold, let alone the coming years. What we do know is that our very good Father has positioned us to represent Jesus in a clearer fashion than ever before to a world full of people who need the rest only He can provide. Remember that we cannot lead people to a place unless we’ve been there ourselves. So, God took an entire year to lead us into a deeper rest and trust in Him and to prepare our hearts for a significant change that’s coming to the earth—dare I even say—a love revolution. The goal isn’t to figure out exactly what that’s going to look like, but for each one of us to choose the ways of love as Jesus has been leading us to do.   Listen to the heartbeat of Jesus: Keep your eyes on me!  Steady…steady….I’m right here. Fear isn’t from me. Receive my peace as I breath upon you. Rest in me. Take heart! I have overcome the world.    With Love,                    Brent

Being Present With Jesus

For most of us, 2020 has been a year of challenges, sudden changes, shifts and acclimating to new ways of doing life. With that being said, one thing remains true that has not changed: God is good. I believe the Lord is continuing to take us deeper into His heart, causing our hearts to engage Him like never before. In sharing with you this past Saturday, I have been in a season with Jesus, asking Him more and more to be the King of my heart and for my heart to lead from that place. I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting each one of us deeper into the reality that awaits His sons and daughters, a reality of being more present with Jesus, that we never miss what He wants to do in the moment we’re in. Lord, we invite You in deeper, that You would be the King of our hearts, the King of our dreams, that we would look to Your Kingship, that we would look and believe what You already have created and spoken, for You are leading and guiding us by Your truth. We agree with Your heart that already tells us who we are. Holy Spirit, keep showing us who You are and who we are! God is so for us!! May your hearts be super encouraged and uplifted with this amazing and awesome promise from Psalm 121 (TPT): I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection come only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth. He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall. God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me. He will never slumber nor sleep; he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel. Jehovah himself will watch over you; he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence. He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night. He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity as he continually watches over you. You will be guarded by God himself. You will be safe when you leave your home and safely you will return. He will protect you now, and he’ll protect you forevermore!   Love, Pastor Joel

A Different Kind Of Christmas

I haven’t talked to a single person yet who’s planning to have a “normal” Christmas Day. You know, with the same people we would usually spend it with or go travel to see. For Suzanne and myself, it’s just going to be the two of us. Don’t get me wrong, just the two of us is a good thing—we not only love each other, but we happen to like each other a whole lot! But never in our 34 years of our married life together has it been just the two of us without at least going to see someone. And I know for some of you this Christmas, it’s just…you.   And then it really hit me all that Jesus came into. Though we’ve seen the Christmas story in plays and nativity videos that glamorize the birth of Christ into our world, the reality looks more like this:   Mary and Joseph are going about their “life” when God breaks into their world in a way others can’t possibly comprehend so they are completely misunderstood and judged. They say yes to God’s plan, but that doesn’t mean everything happens smoothly. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Mary has to ride a donkey nearly 100 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem in extreme discomfort in her final trimester. Are you kidding me? You women who have borne children would know better than I just how miserable that would be. She and Joseph are given zero choice in the matter because it was mandated by the government. As Mary is about to give birth, they don’t have a real bed to sleep in. They don’t have any family or friends around to support them during the delivery or to celebrate with them after the birth. This is not what they envisioned. Does any of this have a familiar ring to it?   But I thought God invited them into his “plan?”  Surely God’s plan can’t include all of this, right?  I mean, right??   And yet, this is the stage that is set for the entrance of the Prince of Peace and Savior of the world. This is God’s plan.   God’s plan is for Jesus to enter into our broken world and into our pain. Emmanuel, God with us, stands with us when we are judged and misunderstood by others.  He journeys with us in our discomfort. Jesus lifts our spirits up, up above any and every circumstance and invites us to sit with him at his banqueting table of love where you are seated at this very moment as he honors your choice to welcome him as your King. He assures you: “You will never be alone. I am with you. In this moment, and always.”   Without question, this Christmas is a very different one. We all feel it. Yet, each one of us is in the midst of God’s plan. Something beautiful is being birthed out of this time that we couldn’t possibly comprehend. Christ in us, the hope of glory, is emerging at just the right time.   Suzanne and I love you all dearly!                                                           Brent

Rose - Colored Glasses

Recently, in a comments section of an article I wrote on the nature of God, a fella by the name of Don disagreed with my “God Lens”—on how I saw God and the world—and asked me a challenging question:      “Jason, I wonder if your ‘god lens’ isn’t just a pair of rose-colored glasses. People have always made gods to their own liking. Historically, God has eventually pulled out His gun and shot them…” In the article, I had asserted that Jesus is what God is like and He never once used a gun, He never once sought to punish or control us. Don continued…      "I can’t help but believe that what God says about Himself trumps all of our ‘god lens’ observations. I know this sounds harsh, but it takes a bright light to cut through all the smoke you’re generating. I know God loves you and I know you want to love Him, but can you love Him even if He offends your sensitivities? I don’t expect this comment to stay on your site for long but that’s ok. It was meant for you to read.” This was my response…      “Don, unkindness, offensive or graphic language, or argument just for the sake of argument are really the only comments that we would pull off the site. You haven’t offended my sensitivities.       I think my ‘god lens’ is different than your ‘god lens.’      Historically, man has given God the credit for all kinds of horrific things.      Historically, and theologically, man has put a gun in God’s hand and given Him credit for all the pulled triggers: Natural disasters, wars, sickness, poverty; Historically man has attributed these things to God.      But, historically Jesus revealed that God played no part in the destruction of man.      Historically, Jesus revealed He had not “come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:56).      When it comes to what He’s like, my ‘god lens’ is Jesus on a cross revealing His heart for us and our value to Him.      You are correct, it does take a bright light to cut through all the smoke. Jesus is that bright light. God is love, and He is way better than we think He is.      The goodness of God has been offending the sensitivities of man’s understanding since the fall.      There is one constant in my life: God is love, just like Jesus, and better than I think He is. If those are rose-colored glasses, then I’m guilty as charged.      Don, I am wide open to being offended by God, but in my life, when I have been offended by God, it’s not been by how bad God is, it’s been by how good He is in light of how poorly I thought of Him.      Whenever I have been offended by God, it’s because He is better than how I have historically perceived Him. And when that’s happened, I’ve repented. And then somewhere along the way, I’ve written about my discovery.      I continue to grow ever-more convinced in His always-good love. And I’ve found that sometimes it’s offensive to folks. But I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and hope my response doesn’t offend you.      God bless you!”

Your True Voice Is Needed More Than Ever!

"The voice God has in Christ he now has in us. We are God's ambassadors. Our lives exhibit the urgency of God to persuade everyone to realize the reconciliation of their redeemed identity." 2 Cor. 5:20 (Mirror) Friends,   If there was ever a time when a voice of hope was needed, it’s now. If there was ever a time when a voice of encouragement was needed, it’s now. If there was ever a time when a voice of kindness was needed, it’s now. If there was ever a time when a voice of grace was needed, it’s now. If there was ever a time when a voice of love was needed, it’s now.   You have that voice because Christ is in you! Your voice of hope and encouragement and kindness and grace and love matters. It’s making a difference. Now, more than ever!   Heaven is our homeland. As an ambassador of God’s Kingdom, you are releasing heaven’s culture here on the earth. You are God's voice and God's heart! In union with Christ, you get to show up again today and be Jesus to a world of people that needs him!   Do you remember the Dr. Seuss story of Horton Hears a Who? In the end, what saved a tiny civilization from extinction was the voice of one seemingly insignificant little boy using his voice. The final line of the story was this: A person is a person, no matter how small.   An even truer kingdom truth is this: There’s no such thing as a small and insignificant person.   Do you know who you are and what you carry? Do you know that you are so significant that God chose to put his glory inside of you?   Not just any voice is needed right now. The world doesn’t need more resounding gongs and clanging cymbals. The world doesn’t need more noise, noise, noise, noise.   The people of this world need the peace of Christ dwelling within you. They need the joy of Jesus welling up from you. They need the real hope Holy Spirit continuously fills you with. The world needs the true voice of Christ in you.   The voice God has in Christ, he now has in us!   “We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips.” 2 Cor. 5:20 (Passion)                                                                                    Love, Pastor Brent

Guarding Our Hearts

Several days ago, before I was fully awake, I heard Holy Spirit say, “Guard your heart.” If you haven’t noticed, this year has brought about many differing opinions in our world, whether it be who to vote for, wearing masks and the list goes on. I’ve had my own convictions and thoughts but I haven’t voiced them much; except with close friends and family. I didn’t think I was allowing offense or divisive thoughts in. But in His kindness, Jesus began to show me ways that my opinions have become walled cities. This “fortress of personal opinions” slowly gets built around us and around the church and the world has no desire to see what’s behind it. Jesus has been asking me to lay down any need to be right for the sake of relationship. After all, only He is always right and thankfully He is bigger than the boxes we try to build around Him.    “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23   In John 2, Jesus tells the religious leaders to destroy the temple and He will raise it up again in three days. They were offended and scoffed at Him since it took them 46 years to build. But Jesus was referring to His death and resurrection. The temple is His body. Like the religious leaders, it can feel painful to realize we’ve spent many years building something that we thought was substantial, of huge worth, only to find that it wasn’t really built on the solid foundation of Jesus. This can be our dreams, ideas, thoughts, opinions or our belief system. God has been revealing things in my heart that I unknowingly built on sinking sand. This is a season of rebuilding for many. But take courage! Jesus has given Himself as our new foundation that won’t crumble under the weight of any shaking.   God only reveals the vulnerable areas of our heart because He’s so faithful to heal them. He knows how offense, judgements and criticism can damage our hearts and cloud our vision. It doesn’t usually happen overnight. It slips in there subtly over time. This is a great time to be much more intentional in guarding your heart. I’ve been checking in with Jesus daily and asking if I’ve gotten off the path He has for me and away from His way of doing things.    I gave a challenge during our livestream last Saturday that I’d love to encourage you with too: Ask Jesus to show you how He sees and feels about someone who is completely different than you. This may even be someone (or a group of people) who you’ve judged or been offended by.   We all have different life experiences and stories that shape how we view the world but there is room for all to have a seat at the table. You are each needed, valued, loved.   “It is in Him that we are ONE and at peace with everyone; He dissolved every definition of division. In that He died mankind’s death, all grounds for tension and hostility were entirely removed. The peace He proclaims reveals one new human race, created and defined in Christ, instead of two groups of people separated by their ethnic identity and differences.” Ephesians 2:14-15 (Mirror Study Bible)   With so much love and gratitude for you, Karena