When All Means Fail

I don't know if you remember David Wilkerson or if you have even heard of him before. (I hadn't until someone shared one of his blogs with me). David Wilkerson was known for his ministry to young drug addicts and gang members. His ministry began in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn, NY where he founded Teen Challenge and now has reached youth and adults with life-controlling problems worldwide through over 1,000 Teen Challenge Centers. The words posted below are from Rev. Wilkerson's blog on April 27, 2011:

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, "You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen" (John 20:20). Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer--who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness--the end of hope--the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.  That is when Satan's hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions:  "Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted."

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: "Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don't quit on God--just do not trust him anymore. It doesn't pay!"  Even questioning God's existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries.  Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights--and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, "I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain."

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail--his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

April 27, 2011, Reverend Wilkerson posted this devotional blog. What a life-changing message...a reminder to hold fast and stand on the unfailing Word of God that tells us that His Ways are higher and in Him we have our hope. We all have problems that arise and unexpected heartaches to endure while on this earth, but we cling to the hope that Joy comes in the morning and weeping is only for a season.  That afternoon, April 27th, Reverend Wilkerson was killed in a car accident and he went to spend eternity with his Creator, worshiping at the throne of Jesus. I know that this was an unexpected tragedy for his family, loved ones and those whose lives had been touched by his ministry. But, I'm sure that these words rang true even in that hour of what seemed like darkness.  Hear the Father whisper, "I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain."

"Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in His Word. There is no other hope in this world."

I Wonder

 

"At the stars in the night, I wonder. At Your lightning in the sky, I shudder. Your glory is a blanket that covers. Every living thing. I’m in awe at the majesty of who You are. Your love is a seal burnt inside my heart. All of the day I want to be where You are, Holy Father. And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me. With all these words, all my heart can sing is holy. You are holy. Jesus Christ, You bled Your love, laid down Yourself and gave me life. In naked shame You hung and You were lifted high. Here I lay in awe and wonder. I am afraid. For no one’s ever sacrificed and loved me this way. So on my face I fall under Your heavy grace. Here I lay in awe and wonder. And I wonder." -Leeland

The Great Awakening

"Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."  Ephesians 5:14

Here we are. Passing through this life. Surrounded by others, surrounded by problems, surrounded by distractions. Our minds filled with disappointments, triumphs, worries, feelings. Just passing through.  Many days, I feel like I'm just trying to make it to the next day or next event, passing through time on "autopilot." I drive to work and don't even remember the 30 minute commute because my mind is occupied with so many things. I walk through the grocery store and don't even recall passing by anyone as I speed through the aisles trying to get out of there as quick as I can and move on to the next task. I wonder how many times the Holy Spirit has tried to speak to me, but yet I didn't even hear Him because my mind was so preoccupied with things of this world.  I'm sure that I would be appalled at the answer. The One that we should head his every word...my God who desires to use me and desires to use you.  God's Spirit is trying to speak to us...but it's as if His people have fallen asleep. Unresponsive and oblivious to a Holy God, our creator, and the work that He wants to carry out through us. And oblivious to the kind of life we should live while here on this earth, in hopes to worship our Savior eternally in heaven.

In Ephesians 5, it reminds us the we are called to be God's Holy people. His children who are to be a light to the world that all may see His goodness. What does it mean to be children of the light?
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless seeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:8-11). To be children of the light , means that we are to live in the light and not associate ourselves with darkness or things that are not pleasing to God. So how do we know what pleases the Lord and what are these seeds of darkness? If you look at Verse 3, you might just find part of the answer. Here the Word says that there must not be any hint of sexual immorality, any kind of impurity, greed or obscenity because these are improper for God's children.  It also says do not get drunk on earthly wine, but instead be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Ephesians 5 closes by reminding us that the days are evil, but we are to make the most of every opportunity.

The world is full of darkness. The enemy meets us at every corner with temptation, trying his best to trap us in darkness and sin. He desires for us to be defeated. But God has called us to live a victorious life that brings Him glory...but God! I urge you to search deep within yourself. Is there anything that is holding you back from walking in light as a child of God? For years, I tried to live my life just skimming the edges of darkness. Believing in God, but not fully committing myself to following Him and fulfilling His desires for my life. Make the most of this opportunity called life. Awaken your spirit to a living God who has been seeking after you since you were conceived. Allow Him to consume all of you. Strive to reflect His holiness in every area of your life and He will reveal Himself to you more and more each day.  Awaken, arise, and go forth as a light unto darkness!

"One man wakes, awakens another. Second one wakes his next door brother. Three awake can rouse a town and turn the whole place upside down. Many awake will cause a fuss, it finally awakes all of us. One man wakes with dawn in his eyes, surely then it multiplies." -Leeland

First Things First

So, I never thought that I would have an ounce of desire to write a blog....ever. Even the sound of the word "blog" makes me giggle (literally). But, I've found that more and more, I'm doing these things that I said I never would. God has impressed upon me that every action, every word that I say, every thought that I portray should be for HIS glory. As a child of the risen King, my life should reflect His love at all times, even in the smallest things. My hope is that I can use this blog as a tool to reach out hurting people and to those searching for something real, by sharing God's love and exemplifying a heart of worship. Maybe, just maybe, God will use this small piece of my life to speak to just one heart. I'm not perfect and I struggle like everyone else, but I know that God can turn imperfection into beauty and strife into triumph. I have so much that I want to share and reflect on, but I want to share one thing with you today.

Since this is my first blog, I feel that it would be best if I start at the beginning of true life...salvation. .As Christmas draws near, I think about God's plan being revealed through His son Jesus.  "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) As we celebrate His birth this season, I pray that we not forget the purpose behind Him coming...the cross. As the verse says, Jesus came to be a Savior to all. He came to heal us, deliver us and set us free! There is no greater love, than the love poured out for us on the cross. Some of you may be wondering, and the question has crossed my mind before, "Why am I here?" Why was I placed in this life, at this point, in this town, with these friends, with this problem, at this time? "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (Exodus 9:16)  God has brought you to this place for a reason by divine appointment. It's not by accident or coincidence that you were placed exactly where you are at this very time. You were made for a purpose, I was made for a purpose and that is to glorify the Lord with everything we have and everything we do. He lived and died so that we can have eternal life...All we can offer Him is our worship and a heart devoted to Him. I encourage you to seek Him like never before. Run after Him with all of your might, and discover who God really is...because I promise, there is always more and I can never get enough :) If you haven't already, invite Him into your heart and allow Him to love you like you've never been loved before...a divine romance that even death couldn't stop.