Discerning Which Tree Is Motivating Me

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil or The Tree of Life?   As a fellowship, we've been considering the theme of the two trees in the Garden of Eden.  About the temptation to decide on our own what is good and what is bad.  And we're starting to realize how destructive this to our planet, our relationships, and ourselves.  The only true antidote to this insidious dynamic is moment by moment choosing to trust Jesus' life in us - and His life-giving leadership of our heart, thoughts, and actions. Most of us find ourselves defaulting back to wanting what we want and judging from self-interest.  Last Saturday I shared some teaching from Scriptures and then invited people to share how they've learned to discern which tree they are operating from and then find their way back to Jesus' heart leadership.  I hoped we would learn from each other and grow in our own walk with God.   People shared their wisdom with vulnerability. You can watch October 9th service on youtube here And I highly encourage you to experience the worship with Todd Lout and Mark Paulson, as well as Clayton Jung sharing a moving story from his life and leading us in Communion.  We also prayed for Todd's mission to Uganda. The two slides I shared about the different motivations and modes of being of the Two Trees are below. With love and gratefulness, Russ Fochler

Love Like This

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”   I completely agree with the sentiment of this popular song first released in the mid-60’s. However, I also disagree with the premise that there’s too little love in this world because in actuality, love abounds in our Father’s kingdom so there can never be a lack of love.   So why is there such an apparent, widespread disconnect from this abundance of God’s love which he freely gives? In a word, independence. Whenever we don’t choose to eat from the Tree of Life, which is enjoying and yielding to the very life and love of Jesus within us, then by default, our flesh runs the show. This looks like fear, suspicion, meanness, arrogance, disconnection and judgment, to name a few of the damaging fruits of relying upon our own sense of what we think is right and wrong instead of resting in the goodness of our Father by trusting his ability to lead us perfectly in every situation.   But there is hope. There is always hope! Our tenderhearted Father has been intentionally growing us up in the ways of love during this difficult season, first by making clear to us where our own independent choices have taken us; and then, by drawing us back to his kind heart and inviting us into a 1 Corinthians 13:11 season—having us put aside childish ways and embracing genuine love.   What does genuine love look like, though?  We can look to 1 Corinthians 13 that gives us numerous practical examples. From the richness of multiple Bible translations and paraphrases, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite descriptors from verses 4-8 that gives us a vivid picture of what our union with Jesus looks like, loving others with his love. Just to be clear, this is not a self-effort check list. There is nothing described here that you can do apart from Jesus and his love inside of you, so meditate on these with him. If Jesus highlights one of these as you read them, sit with him and rest in his ability to love with you in this way. Here we go:   Love is large and incredibly patient (Passion) Love has no desire to make others feel inferior (Mirror) Love gives in order to bless others (Remedy) Love refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. (Passion) Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. (Passion) Love never does the graceless thing; never insists on its rights (Barclay) Love is not spiteful and gets no mileage out of another’s mistakes (Mirror) Love doesn’t look after No. 1 (Word on the Street) Love does not play “one-up-man-ship,” nor does it react to those who do (Heart of Paul) Love doesn’t fly off the handle (Message) Love never nurses its wrath to keep it warm (Barclay) Love cannot be provoked and ,does not brood over an injury (Knox) Love is not touchy or fretful or resentful (Amplified) Love doesn’t tally wrongs (Voice) Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. (Passion) Love doesn’t revel when others grovel; It takes pleasure in the flowering of truth (Message) Love is a fortress where everyone feels protected rather than exposed! (Mirror) Love protects like a blockbuster hero and trusts more than a toddler (Word on the Street) Love’s first instinct is to believe in people; Love never regards anyone or anything as hopeless (Barclay) Love never loses it’s altitude (Mirror) Love originates in God and therefore will never stop and never fail (Remedy)   Friends, there is no lack of love for us to tap into, partake of and freely give to others. To each one of you I say, “In your union with Jesus, love will always prevail!”   With Genuine Love in My Heart for You,   Brent

Would Jesus Get The Vaccine?

Now there’s an interesting question, don’t you think? Why would we be so compelled to know the answer? It could be for a variety of reasons: Perhaps you’ve been holding off getting the vaccine and you’re still not sure if you should, but maybe if Jesus did, you would too. Perhaps you’ve already gotten the vaccine and you’re not sure you should have, but if Jesus got it too, maybe you can breathe a sigh of relief. Perhaps a more honest reason for most of us would be this: If you found out Jesus agrees with you (i.e. is on your side), you’d have some heavy ammunition to use against all those people who think you’re an idiot for making the choice to take or not take the vaccine. And, at the very least, you’d feel more comfort in your decision.   Why am I even bringing up vaccines? Because there will always (and I mean ALWAYS) be issues that arise in the world to divide and polarize us and this one is a doozy right now, tearing at the fabric of families, churches and workplaces. I doubt there are many reading this who haven’t been personally facing the sadness of a relationship that’s strained or disconnected altogether over this issue. This polarization (which looks like “us” vs. “them” and finding a bad guy to blame) is the fruit of eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This looks like coming to conclusions of what each one of us “knows” to be true over and above loving and honoring each other in the way Jesus demonstrated.   So, back to the question. If you were to ask Jesus, “Did YOU get the vaccine?”, what response would you get? Have you ever noticed Jesus rarely gave a direct answer to a direct question? He understood life involves complexity and mystery and he was so aware of his Father’s focus on the deeper issues of the heart to help his children grow in the ways of love.  I rather suspect Jesus would answer your question with another question:   “Where are you choosing to place your trust?”   Or even more to the point: “Where is fear clouding your ability to trust your heavenly Father who holds your life in his hands?”   Then the internal dialogue in your head begins: Wait, are you saying that if I get the vaccine, I’m not trusting God but if I don’t then I am?? Or are you saying that if I don’t get the vaccine, then I’m not trusting God, but if I do, then I am??  Our mind is truly dizzying at times and Jesus will let the wrestle-mania battle within continue until it wears us out. Why? Because it’s part of our human condition that we must come to the end of ourselves before we’ll surrender to the simplicity and beauty of Christ in us. In other words, God is allowing us to clearly see the outcomes of our independent thinking so we’ll repent and turn back to eating the fruit of the Tree of Life—Jesus himself.   If you get the vaccine, God is with you! If you don’t get the vaccine, God is with you! The world is screaming at us that this issue (and the next one that’s inevitably coming) is the issue where you must make a stand and stake your life on. No, your life is in Christ alone. The issues our flesh gets so wrapped up in cloud the simple instruction given to us by Jesus: I want you to love each other in the same way I have loved you.   Friends, if the issue of vaccines/no vaccines has been straining relationships, I encourage you to give up your right to be right and choose the ways of love that can only emerge from your union with Jesus. What does this look like? I plan to share much more about this on Saturday at Blazing Fire because there is a way through this. You won’t be able to successfully navigate this minefield by thinking your own way through it. Remember, it’s not by your own might, nor by your own power, but only by God’s Spirit that you will walk in freedom and rest he has promised.   Praying God’s peace and rest and love to fill your hearts!   Brent

Which Tree Are You Eating From?

The initial deception in the bible is the place where the serpent questions God’s word to Adam and Eve saying… “You won’t really die…” (Genesis 3:4). In other words, “You heard Him wrong,” or worse yet, “God was lying to you.” Many times in life we are deceived by the same question. Did God really ask me to give? Did God really ask me to make a bold move and take this risk? Did God…?   Realizing this is a major trick of our enemy—to question the way we hear God—is key to moving forward in our calling.   Recently God has been showing me another place where I’ve been believing a lie. The moment Eve decided to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil a lie took root in all of us. We began to believe we now had no choice but to keep eating that fruit. I believe it is the heart of the Father for his people to eat the fruit he asked us to eat: the fruit from the Tree of Life.   The word of God says to “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalms 34:8).   We need to understand our Father when He instructs us about our actions and our words. When we eat from the tree of good and evil we speak as if we are the judge and jury of our friends around us. We see this in the news, on social media, and even in our churches and pulpits. BUT… when we begin to eat of the intended tree, the Tree of Life, the conversation changes. Instead of speaking judgement and death, we speak life and restoration. This past Saturday during Blazing Fire’s worship service, I had the joy of leading a time where people made a choice to seek out the kingdom of God and pick a piece of fruit from the tree of life. It was a powerfully beautiful time that resulted in many testimonies of supernatural encounters with the Lord.   <<<Watch Saturday’s worship service here>>

Geoerl's message begins at 1:20 and he leads us in an encounter with the Lord to eat from the Tree of Life at 1:29

I want to encourage you today to take that same journey. Ask the Father to show you where the Tree of Life is and how you can eat from it. I believe He will be faithful to invite you to experience your own encounter with Him. You will see you have a place reserved for you in heaven where you can experience the truth of His powerful love.   When you begin to purpose in your heart to only eat from the Tree of Life and not get caught up in the hate and the hurt, you will live your best life—a life that sees the way the Father sees, speaks the way the Father speaks, and loves the way the Father loves. Geoerl

The Gift Of Honesty

The Lord showed me that when we are real and honest with Him that it’s a beautiful and glorious treasure to Him. Being open is an important and essential offering. To be able to do this with Him is saying that we trust Him. We trust Him not to punish us, but to hear us as we reveal every secret, many of which we will never divulge to another person. These secrets are especially dear to Him because we entrust our hearts in the deepest vulnerability fully exposed. It’s walking in the light with Him. In Hebrews 4:16 it says, “Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” We trust Him to help. He just loves this. He is our confidante with whom we can be utterly frank and real. How many of us have friends like that? Multiply that to the nth degree and that is who He is in our relationship with Him. Absolutely nothing fazes Him or catches Him off guard nor shocks Him. He wants to hear every detail. The work of the Cross of Jesus Christ made this possible. We have full access to Him.   This is how changes are made in our lives. Opening our hearts to Him, bringing it all into His glory light, transforms struggles into victories. Growth is accelerated when we come to the light. I have an African Violet that refused to blossom until I placed it in the sunlight after which it exploded with blossoms. Knowing He will never judge and condemn us when we bring the offering of honesty to Him, we can be assured of freedom in all areas of our lives to overflowing.   Being open and truthful with the Lord is a pleasing sacrifice before Him and He smiles goodness upon us, and acceptance and joy and friendship. What a friend we have in Jesus.   As He showed all this to me, I replied, “but what about you being open and honest with me. You are so very mysterious shrouded in secrets.” His simple reply to me was Psalm 19 – “The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.” So I asked Him to help me to see and understand what all of creation is saying about Him. In the meantime I will continue to tell Him all about myself. We walk in the light with each other. We have each other. This is our inheritance forever. Much Love,                    Bill

What Does Your Spirit Know To Be True?

We’re all feeling the heaviness of what’s going on in the world right now to one degree or another with the lingering pandemic, floods, fires, wars, and rumors of wars, not to mention what may be happening personally in your own life. This may seem like a pretty discouraging way to start an encouraging article, but it’s also real and being real is important as God teaches us to stay connected to the truth of his heart in every circumstance.   What wars with the peace of God’s truth is mostly the way we’re processing our never-ending stream of thoughts. Our minds have a great tendency to battle and worry, even though Jesus compelled us not to:   Jesus taught his disciples, saying, “Listen to me. Never let anxiety enter your hearts...don’t ever be afraid, dearest friends! Your loving Father joyously gives you his kingdom with all its promises!” (Luke 12:22,32 TPT)   “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)   What things? What did Jesus just tell his followers so we would rest in his peace? They come from the previous chapter, John 15: “I am the vine you are the branches.” “As the Father has loved me so I love you. Remain (rest) in my love.” “I call you my friends.” “I have chosen you!” “You will bear much fruit.” “I will send the Holy Spirit to you to be your Advocate”   God is Training Us Right Now!   Our Father is lovingly training us to see and to know his goodness, over and above the ways we might judge what we think on our own. I’ve found a tremendous release and peace lately by placing my hands over my head and down over my face while saying, “I release everything I think I know.” Like a chalkboard eraser removing the myriad of notes in my mind of the many conclusions I’ve come to, I’m much more able to feed on what my spirit knows to be true, being directly fed by God’s Spirit.   Our own competing thoughts leave less and less room for resting in the truth of our Father and his kingdom. These competing thoughts are a by-product of choosing to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—independently relying on our own reasoning—which we all do more frequently than we’re aware. Here’s an important question you should then ask: “How can I tell what are my own independent-from-God thoughts?” Here are a few indicators: They tend to bring fear They can make you feel overwhelmed and discouraged They work and work a problem with no real solutions They often lead to disconnection with other people   None of these would be the fruit of God’s Spirit in your life.   As God’s Spirit teaches us how to pay attention to what our spirit actually knows to be true, the peace and joy Jesus promised returns. Feasting on life-giving truth sounds like this: “You are my tenderhearted Father!” “You are astoundingly good!” “I am one with you and that can never be undone!” “You have made a covenant promise to always be for me and never against me!” “My life with you is rich and blessed!”   When we look into the strong and steady eyes of Jesus, we see his love and we live in his courage. We remember that we are the light of the world just as Jesus said, and we know that our very dear Father is caring for us perfectly!   What does your spirit know to be true? Love, Pastor Brent

Spirit & Truth

When Jesus told the woman at the well that He was looking for people who worship, not just in special places or at specific times, but in “spirit and in truth”, He was speaking to all of us.  We read the Bible and listen to the preaching of the word because it helps us understand the truth.  However, we need our spirit to commune with Holy Spirit in order to bring that truth to life.  Otherwise, when we use an informational and not a relational-based approach to God’s word, we will tend to turn His principles of life into legalistic rules and regulations.   There have been times when I’ve read the word as I would read any other piece of literature and it has seemed dry and lifeless.  But when I engage with my spirit and allow the truth to penetrate the deep places of my soul, I can feel the sweetly piercing, refreshing clarity that’s described in Hebrews 4:12, here in the Passion Translation:   For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet!   It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts. One time, when I felt in a bit of a funk, I started looking through scriptures to find something I could relate to.  That usually lands me in one of the Psalms, often something David wrote.  He’s such a relatable guy, with bigger problems than I’ve ever had to work through!  On this particular day I felt shut down and numb, and felt guilty about it.  I came across Psalm 73:22 & 23 which says this, “I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.  Nevertheless I am continually before You”.   “Nevertheless” jumped off the page at me.   Nevertheless means in spite of.  In spite of my behavior, my attitude, whatever circumstances I found myself in, however I view myself; in spite of any mistake I might have made, He would be with me.  Every time.  God was saying that no matter what, I could count on Him being right there when I need Him.  That single word still touches me deeply and reminds me there is never a time Jesus won’t show up for me.   His promise is that His word is sent to us from heaven, and  “will accomplish what He desires and will succeed in the matter for which He sends it”,  Isaiah 55:11.  May your spirit continue to meet truth in the depths of your soul as Jesus, with you, bears great fruit in the garden of your heart! With much love;                         Susan