Baptisms This Saturday - July 24th.

This Saturday, July 24th, we have the awesome privilege and celebration of baptizing about 20 people during Blazing Fire's worship service! I will say much more about the significance of baptism on Saturday night, but to whet your whistle for what is coming, read this from Galatians 3:26-27:

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

Here's those same two verses in The Word on the Street by Rob Lacey:

"You're all God's kids 'cos you took Jesus the Liberator at his word. The baptism thing symbolized it and now it's a daily habit--like getting dressed. You wouldn't dream of not putting on Jesus. It'd be like going out naked, middle of the winter. 'God's kids' -- that's the only designer label we need!"

And one more paraphrase of that same passage from The Message Bible by Eugene Peterson:

"By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe--Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise."

Baptism doesn't save you. Jesus saved you by his death on the cross that set you free from a life of destruction and shame. Your agreement with his sacrifice that makes you right with God is what allows you to enjoy what he already paid for in full. Baptism is our agreement with heaven that our union with Christ and our new life in him is complete! Now it's time to start living it out!

Let's go, Saints!!

(If you desire to be baptized Saturday night, email immediately to let me know.)

A Testimony of Freedom!

Last Saturday, I spoke about the choices we make to use the freedom we have to protect what is most valuable to us. I want to share with you a remarkable testimony of freedom as openly shared by one of our Kingdom School of Supernatural Ministry students, Dana Ortiz. Dana writes a daily encouragement e-mail called "Rivers of Living Water" (you can subscribe to this free encouragement e-mail by writing to her at danaortiz@prodigy.net. Here are two of her daily entries that describes her journey into freedom:

Hebrews 4:5-16: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to hep us in our time of need."

Reading this scripture for me is like standing out in a meadow full of flowers, wind blowing and I looking up to heaven, with the biggest smile on my face! FREEDOM surrounding every part of me. But I didn't always feel this way. I returned to the Lord in 2004, not with confidence, because I had just spent 10 years turned away from God. My biggest fear was failing him once again. The first four years of my return I tried hiding all my junk from him. My junk was the size of a huge auto wrecking yard! Now seriously, how did I ever think I could hide that? Well I'll tell ya, I worked! I tried being the best little servant I could muster up. The more I did, I was hoping, the more I would begin to outweigh all the sin I had done, and unfortunately was still doing. Talk about a vicious cycle! The enemy loved it--I was in bondage and exhausted! I was absolutely no threat to him, just one he could torment and laugh at. Broken and helpless I literally crawled to the cross. I stretched my arm up and Mercy took hold of me. I found Grace smiling down, compassion consuming me. Humility no longer bitter, but so very sweet! No one understands you better than Jesus!

Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Three years ago, I chose to face my drinking problem. It was impacting every part of my life. Imagine your living room and in the living room is an enormous ball. To walk around it you really have to maneuver your body. That was my drinking. Once I was unable to work myself around it, I had to really see it for what it was. A huge problem! I had two choices: allow the addiction to take me, or take the addiction! I chose to take the addiction. As I was walking my freedom out, nothing around me was changing. The very reasons why I chose to drink were still there, but I knew that what I was doing was GOOD! Little by little a shifting was taking place. Each area of my life began to change for the better. Today I have one year, ten months sober. I am reaping a wonderful harvest. Papa God is my everything! I can't imagine one breath without inhaling him! My children respect me, count on me, and seek me for wisdom! My husband and I communicate at a level that I thought would never be be possible. My physical body is healing. And the real kicker: the harvest will never end! I can't wait to see next year's harvest!

Are you facing something difficult? I want to encourage you to push onward! do what is right and good! You will reap a never ending harvest!

Fatherly Advice

On Father's Day weekend, I gave some fatherly advice and encouragement. Some of you were asking me to send it out in this newsletter and I also wanted to encourage out to those of you who weren't there that night. Enjoy your place as Daddy's favored one!

1. You're doing better than you think! (Phil 1:6; Proverbs 4:18)
2. You're making more of a difference than you know! (Hebrews 6:10)
3. Be Yourself! No one can re-present Christ the way YOU do! (2 Cor. 3:3)
4. You can't change other people--You can only give God permission to change you. (Psalm 139:23)
5. Introspection will kill you--ask Holy Spirit what He sees
6. Take the time to encourage someone every day! (Here is the link to that amazing video called "Validation": www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao --you may have to copy and paste the address)
7. Take the plunge into God's love and joy! (Psalm 37:8)
8. You don't have to choose side--you can choose to be for everybody!
9. Let old offenses go (Matthew 18:21-22)
10. Have more fun along the way! Your destiny is a journey, not an end point.
11. No one can take your joy away from you! (Nehemiah 8:10)
12. Take a step towards one of your dreams--see where it takes you...
13. Don't hang on to past regrets--Nothing is stopping you from living life to the fullest TODAY!
14. When you make a mistake, you get to know God's grace in a deeper way! (Romans 11:32)
15. The truth really will set you free! But it has to be the genuine truth of the gospel (I then read from portions of Colossians 1 and 2 from The Mirror Translation--www.mirror.scripturetext.com--an AMAZING translation to enjoy!!)
16. Advice from Papa Bill Johnson: "I can't afford to have a thought in my head about me that is not his!" and "Make a case FOR God not against Him."
17. Advice from Papa Kris Vallotton: "You will always produce the environment around you that you cultivate within you." and "Royal people have a powerful sense of justice in the depth of their souls compelling them to action when they come upon injustice."
18. Advice from Papa Danny Silk: "Accurately acknowledging who people are will position us to give them what they deserve and to receive the gift of who they are in our lives."
19. And one more from me: Rest more in Papa's love!

At that point, about 10 papas from Blazing Fire came up and gave a piece of fatherly advice to us. All of this is on podcast (www.blazingfire.org) if you want to listen to the entire message.

Your Father in heaven is so proud to call you his very own!

God is On Your Side!

No matter what is happening in your life, there are some things that you MUST remember.

• God is on your side—always!

• Jesus took the full punishment for you in your place—there is no punishment left for you!

• You are God’s choice—He won’t change his mind!

• Good things are bound to happen to you—it’s called GRACE!

• You have a full and vibrant life ahead of you—God wants you to live it!

• All things are working in your favor—even when it doesn’t look that way—believe it!

• This is God’s heart for you always—that’s just the way it is!

• Allow yourself to believe that the Good News is this good! Anything else is a counterfeit.

Read and believe the Good News found in Ephesians 1:3-11 in the Mirror translation

http://mirror.scripturetext.com/:

“Let’s celebrate God! Every spiritual blessing in heavenly places has found its definition in the fact that we are in Christ. This association goes back to before the fall of the world, His love knew that He would present us again face to face before Him, identified in Christ in blameless innocence. He is the architect of our design; His heart dream realized our coming of age in Christ. His grace-plan is to be celebrated: He greatly endeared us and highly favored us in Christ; His love for His Son is His love for us! Since we are fully represented in Him, His blood is the ransom that secures our redemption. His forgiving us our sins measures the wealth of His grace. This grace shown towards us communicates a wisdom and discernment of our worth that completely surpasses any definition. The secret is out! His cherished love-dream now unfolds in front of our very eyes. In the economy of the fullness of time, everything culminates in Christ; all that is in heaven and all that is on earth is made right in Him. This is how we fit into God's picture, Christ is the measure of our portion, we are in Him; invented and defined in Him. God's blueprint intention is on exhibition in us, everything He accomplishes is inspired by the energy and intent of His affection!”

Revel in the Father’s affection for you! It’s the only thing that keeps you happy and on track with his very perfect plan for your life! Do not lose hope, Beloved!! God has never lost his belief in you! He has put absolutely everything on the line for you in sending Jesus to the cross! You can't lose!! You are a winner, not a loser! You are treasured, not tossed aside! You are priceless and moving ever further into your destined purpose of displaying the Father's glory on this earth! Keep going, Friends!!

A Building For Blazing Fire Church?!

Blazing Fire is 8 1/2 years along in our journey into the depth of the Father's heart and what a joy-filled ride it has been! In that time we have been in at least 8 different locations--none of them belonging to us. And while we have not needed our own place to host God's presence on Saturday nights and see people set free to walk out more of their God- appointed destinies, we have also been limited in what we know to be the huge vision God has given us to bring Kingdom transformation across the Bay Area and impacting the world!

So, we have been searching for a place to host the Presence of God where people can come to experience him throughout the week and where we can have a home base to send forth world-changers! This Saturday, May 29th, from 3:30-5:00 pm, we are having a meeting before our worship service (3200 Hopyard Road in Pleasanton) to share about our plans to proceed with an offer to lease the anchor spot of Vintage Hills shopping center in Pleasanton. It is a meeting for our Vision Builders (those who have let us know they see themselves as part of helping Blazing Fire fulfill our vision together), but the meeting is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the next steps we are taking. I will be sharing some of the 12 year history of how God has spoken to me specifically about this property, the process that we are moving through to attempt to lease it, and the ways we need to agree together in declarations for God to do what only He can do.

All of us have to chose between two options as we walk through life with the Lord--we can either step out and take risks when we truly believe we have received his direction and see where that takes us, or we can ignore those directions, not take any risks and wonder what might have been. Long ago, Suzanne and I made our choice that we have to push all of our chips into the middle of the table and bet on God. What else is there, really? And do you know what we've found out? The outcome isn't always what we thought would happen, but God has proved himself to be exceedingly good to us and the journey has been far better than we thought possible!

I share King David's sentiments, who said, "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my lineage, for you to have led me as far as this? Yet, to you, Lord God, this seemed too little, and now you extend your promises for your servant's family into the distant future...Because of your promise and since you were so inclined, you have had the generosity to reveal this to your servant. That is why you are great, Lord God! There is no one like you, no God but you alone, as everything that we have heard confirms." (2 Samuel 7:18-22)

Faith pleases God to no end. It tickles him to see that we trust him when we do not know what is coming. He invites us to live in the certainty that even though we don't know what the future holds, we firmly know who holds our future and we know that it will be a good one!

"'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future!'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

So, is stepping out a little freaky at times? Maybe so, but it's also tremendously exciting to see what God will do when we follow his voice to higher ground. Let's keep going, all of us, in whatever God puts before us. And let's see how faithful God really is!

Hope is Stirring!

Hope, the way God defines it, is not wishing for something to happen, but it's a giddy anticipation of knowing that what God promised is absolutely going to happen! It's a feeling of almost not being able to contain yourself because you can't wait to see how God is going to come through for you! Huge deposits of hope that have been stored up within you--hope that may have been so hidden you didn't even know it was there, are beginning to burst forth as newfound excitement is overtaking old circumstances!! RISE UP and AGREE with the increased hope that is present! Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." God knows that you cannot go too long without that fire of hope rekindled in your soul, so he continually fulfills your longings from the inheritance that has been marked out for you through Christ, our perpetual Tree of Life!

The enemy's job is to get you to focus on what has not happened yet, rather than on celebrating the goodness of God and what He has done for you. You are blessed beyond measure and you are God's success story!! Don't fall into the trap of discouragement, thinking that difficult circumstances will never change or that you won't find your way out of a more challenging season of your life. God has chapters of your life prepared for you that would make you do flips in the air and squeal in delight, it's so good! Allow yourself to believe what I just said and you will start experiencing the hope that is already within you.

Yes, God is far better than you can imagine and he has mind-boggling plans for you that are unfolding at this very instant. Why? Because he is a Papa who ADORES you and who loves to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Sometimes, we are afraid to hope because we don't want to be disappointed, but if you do not give yourself full permission to hope, you have already lost the battle.

So, the Lord says to you: "Let the hope I have placed inside of you find its expression in the child-like joy of being mine and the certainty of knowing I am working all things out for your very best. Get excited about what I have in store for you because it's much better than you think!"

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart!" (Psalm 37:4)

Hope is Stirring!

Hope, the way God defines it, is not wishing for something to happen, but it's a giddy anticipation of knowing that what God promised is absolutely going to happen! It's a feeling of almost not being able to contain yourself because you can't wait to see how God is going to come through for you! Huge deposits of hope that have been stored up within you--hope that may have been so hidden you didn't even know it was there, are beginning to burst forth as newfound excitement is overtaking old circumstances!! RISE UP and AGREE with the increased hope that is present! Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." God knows that you cannot go too long without that fire of hope rekindled in your soul, so he continually fulfills your longings from the inheritance that has been marked out for you through Christ, our perpetual Tree of Life!

The enemy's job is to get you to focus on what has not happened yet, rather than on celebrating the goodness of God and what He has done for you. You are blessed beyond measure and you are God's success story!! Don't fall into the trap of discouragement, thinking that difficult circumstances will never change or that you won't find your way out of a more challenging season of your life. God has chapters of your life prepared for you that would make you do flips in the air and squeal in delight, it's so good! Allow yourself to believe what I just said and you will start experiencing the hope that is already within you.

Yes, God is far better than you can imagine and he has mind-boggling plans for you that are unfolding at this very instant. Why? Because he is a Papa who ADORES you and who loves to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Sometimes, we are afraid to hope because we don't want to be disappointed, but if you do not give yourself full permission to hope, you have already lost the battle.

So, the Lord says to you: "Let the hope I have placed inside of you find its expression in the child-like joy of being mine and the certainty of knowing I am working all things out for your very best. Get excited about what I have in store for you because it's much better than you think!"

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart!" (Psalm 37:4)