Child of the King!

“So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home. The father raced out to meet him, swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love.

“Then the son said, ‘Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be—’

“The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’ Luke 15

This story isn’t just about people who leave church or walk away from Yahweh. The son can represent those of us who show up every Sunday, yet we have compartments of our heart we haven’t surrendered. We haven’t given Him permission to guide us in how we steward our inheritance. In this moment, let the Holy Spirit reveal an area you haven’t surrendered or feel unworthy to be in His presence? The moment you turn your heart to Him there is great compassion from the Father towards you.

He races out to meet you and me when we come back to Him. His tender love for us is truly beyond comprehension. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is so passionate for us. Do you know why He races out to you? He’s getting ahead of shame and condemnation. Regardless of our choices, He never wants you to feel ashamed or condemned by Him.

What does He do when you return or surrender fully?

‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son. Let’s prepare a great feast and celebrate.

He reminds you of who you are. You are His beloved son and beloved daughter! He places His very own robe upon your shoulders. It is the Robe of Righteousness. It is not a lesser one. You and I are as righteous as Jesus. The problem is we take our robes off too often because of what others say or a thought we have about ourselves. Never take off the robe Abba places on you.

He puts a ring on your finger. The ring is an emblem of authority. Meaning you get to do business in the father’s name. You have the same authority as Jesus. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The shoes represent full acceptance into the family. You are His beloved and He is yours.

We are to feast upon Christ. It is only Jesus who will satisfy your life fully. Our life as beloved sons and beloved daughters should always represent a celebration. It doesn’t mean there won’t be difficult things to walk through, but we will walk through them celebrating because we know who we are!

See yourself with the Father today as He places the robe over your shoulders, puts the ring on your finger and sandals on your feet. Let’s go a step further- a crown on your head because you are a child of the King!

The Loving Father

Jesus came to fix our broken perspective of the Father. Today, He is still revealing to you and me the true nature of Abba because religion has given us a perspective that is not correct. Let’s start with the story most of us know well in Luke 15. We all know this story as the Prodigal Son, but it is not about the son. It’s about a Loving Father.

The Loving Father

Then Jesus said, “Once there was a father with two sons. The younger son came to his father and said, ‘Father, don’t you think it’s time to give me my share of your estate?’ So the father went ahead and distributed between the two sons their inheritance.

Unfortunately, religion makes everything about us and how we are wretched, but that is darkness masquerading as light. Let’s go through this story and ask Jesus to give us the right perspective. First of all, the Father freely gives both sons their inheritance even though only one asked. Do you realize Abba has an inheritance for you, right now! This inheritance is not for when we get to heaven. We have not because we ask not. We were told this son was arrogant and prideful for even asking for the inheritance. This translates to us not to ask Abba for what belongs to us. He does not intend for you to live just making ends meet. Truth, He wants you wealthy. Use the beautiful imagination He gave you to be who He designed you to be. When you are free to be open to the Father and hear His voice, you can ask without hesitation.

With everything spent and nothing left, he grew hungry, because there was a severe famine in that land. So he begged a farmer in that country to hire him. The farmer hired him and sent him out to feed the pigs. The son was so famished, he was willing even to eat the slop given to the pigs, because no one would feed him a thing.

Oh yes, this was his own doing. He made the choices that put him in this situation. We have all made choices that were not the best. This isn’t just about money, we have made poor choices concerning relationships, jobs, or family. Regardless, the Father does not want you begging and looking to fill a longing that is only meant for Him.

This son is loved just like you and me but if we don’t see Abba right, we will seek resources and fulfillment in other places rather than from our loving Father. He is calling us to be a people who knows without a shadow of doubt no matter what we’ve done He will always take us in. We don’t need to come as beggars knocking on the door hoping He’ll accept us. We must know His door is always open and we belong in His presence.

The first place you can tell how you see the Father is in your prayer time. Do you pray with a poverty mindset begging Him for an answer? Or do you pray from a place of known inheritance? This matters.

I want to encourage you to watch Sunday’s message starting at 46:20. Pastor Tim teaches this Luke 15 in such a beautiful way that you will never see the Father in any light other than loving and you will see yourself as a beloved son and beloved daughter.

Masquerading as Light

“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:23

Yesterday we talked about good being a singular focus on Jesus. If good means single, then bad must mean focusing on many things. When this is your life you will find darkness dwelling within. Not darkness as in evil behaviors but darkness in how you think or see things.

Jesus says, “therefore the light that is in you is darkness.” How can light be darkness? When you have an idea or perspective that is delusional it will be masqueraded as light. Here is an example of something we’ve been taught for years that is darkness masquerading as light. When Jesus was on the Cross He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” We were taught the Father turned His back on Jesus because He could not look at sin. This is darkness masquerading as light. Jesus was actually quoting Old Testament from David. He was showing us He would go to the darkness place in us to let us know the Father will never abandon us. Right before the Cross, Jesus told His disciples, “You will abandon Me, but My Father never will.”

It is vitally important to be able to see things in pure light. When you believe that Abba turned His back on Jesus in His darkest time you will believe He can and will do it to you. He’s coming after all of these things we were taught that gave us the wrong perspective of Abba, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We haven’t even seen the scriptures right because of our perspective being darkness masquerading as light.

1 John 1:5 says, this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. We must stop casting our shadows onto Abba and stand in His pure light to let Him deal with how we see and think.

His question to you today: Who told you that?

Singular Focus

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22

Your eye is your perspective. This represents how you see things. They way you think. If your eye is good your whole body will be full of light. Religion made this word good about behaviors or things you do like what movies you watch. This word good means singular.

If your eye is singular meaning a single focus on one person. Jesus. Just Jesus. He will change everything in your life with His light. How do you focus on Jesus in everyday life? You look for Him. When you read your Bible, read it to find Jesus. Don’t read it for yourself. Look for Him in every conversation you have with everyone. When you’re at work - look for Him. When you’re shopping. This requires being intentional because our thoughts can wonder. We get distracted easily. When you feel maybe you left Him somewhere just stop in that moment and turn your heart back to Him. The more you do this the more it becomes who you are.

The way we think can determine the life we live. Your thoughts can snowball into a place you do not want them to go. The more you think about something or someone outside the light of Jesus the more darkness rules your thoughts. You must be aggressive with how you think and what you are focusing on.

We all have shadows in us, but the Light of Jesus is meant to deal with those shadows. When our focus is not solely on Jesus, we find ourselves being tossed around in life. Up one minute and down the next. This is not the life He has for His beloved children.

“Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering, it leaves you unstable.” James 1

Singular focus of Jesus causes you to know who you are in Him and who He is to you. We refuse to be half-hearted and wavering any longer. We will no longer go through life tossed around. We are His beloved with a single focus.

Talk with Jesus today about where you are in your single focus of Him. Let His love nourish your heart. He wants to draw you back into His lap. Ask Him to help you live a life focused on Him.

Reflection

We sincerely pray that as you have walked with Jesus throughout this week, your heart has been opened to embrace His questions. In this openness, we hope you have discovered the grace and mercy needed to surrender every single part of your heart to Him. We encourage you to let Him shine His radiant light on your innermost thoughts, gently prompting you to reflect and inquire, "Am I seeing this right?"

We will not rest until we fully become who He declares us to be, beloved sons and beloved daughters, uniquely reflecting Jesus here on earth. We are intended to reflect Jesus in our daily lives, embodying His virtues and love. "And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure." 1 John 3:3. Remember, the unwavering focus must always be on Him!

Hard Questions/Gentle Love

“One of them, a Samaritan, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.”

“So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?”

Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and made you whole.” Luke 17

When this man realized he was healed he began to shout out praises as he turned back looking for Jesus. Our encounters with Jesus should produce an outward display of worship. Can you imagine what people were thinking when they saw him shouting out praises? A Samaritan. He obviously did not care what others thought.

Jesus, help us get to this place of an outward display of praises because of who You are.

He fell down at the feet of Jesus full of thanksgiving declaring YOU ARE THE MESSIAH! The reality of this in our lives is overwhelming in a beautiful way. Take a moment to just ponder this truth. You and I have the Messiah, the King of Kings, Lord of Lord, most powerful of all who invites us with an open invitation to His feet. Anytime and for any reason we get to be at the feet of a King. If I’m honest, I have taken that for granted. What about you?

Maybe the reason we don’t realize the incredible gift of grace and mercy we have is because of the questions that come when we are at His feet. Jesus’ response to the man at first was with questions. When we get to the feet of Jesus He will ask us questions. Hard questions but in a gentle way. My experience in this last year has been just that. As I have surrendered to His questions I am finding the tangible gentleness of His love for me. Every time I go back to His feet, He will have another question. They are getting easier because now I know the gentleness that comes with them.

You and I decide how far we allow Him to go into our hearts. The heart is like a house. Houses have many doors and so it is with your heart. Most people let Jesus in the front door which represents salvation but never allow Him to explore the house. The first step to wholeness is being honest with Him about what is going on inside your house.

Jesus responds to this man, “Arise and go. It was your faith that saved you and made you whole.” This word whole is sozo. This is more than salvation. It includes healing of mind, body and spirit. The restoration of who you are originally designed to be before the shadows and residue of our past. Do you believe Jesus can make you whole?

This is our part. You must have faith and keep showing up to His feet to surrender to His radiant light. This light exposes all the shadows and residue in the form of questions. Give Him permission to speak to those areas. His voice and presence are the most valuable things on earth. If you want to be whole surrender to His gentle love.

Who Examines You?

“They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?” When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way.” Luke 17

Jesus looked at them and spoke these words, “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” Jesus knew what their hearts longed for, and it was to be restored back to a life with their family and friends. In those days when you had leprosy you had to stay away from everyone. History tells us it took three days for them to get to the Temple.

What does this scenario look like in today’s society? We have people who have problems/issues/sin that come into the church. They meet Jesus. He saves them and heals them. They set off to share their testimony with all who will listen. The more they share their testimony the more focused they are on what they’re “doing for Jesus” rather than focusing on Him.

Be examined by the priests. This translates to what others think about us. When you live your life concerned by what others think you lose sight of Jesus altogether. We must long to be examined by Jesus. Opening up to His radiant light keeps our eyes gazing into His.

These men were healed, yes but they lived with the effects of leprosy the rest of their lives. We can dress up the outside, but it is the condition of our hearts and minds that matter the most to Him. Truthfully, it should matter to us as well. We do not have to live with the effects of past mistakes, hurtful circumstances or even the result of being raised by broken parents. They did the best they knew how, but we are learning a more excellent way in the wilderness.

When you receive a message from Jesus on Sundays, Tuesdays, or whenever you read the Walk, you must believe in those words to see the change He wants for you. The men did this; they acted on His word even while still having leprosy, but they did not return to Jesus. They sought what they desired, rather than His presence.

Our vision here is Jesus! We will be a people who always find our way back to His feet, with our eyes locked on the King.

Skeletons in the Closet

On his way to Jerusalem Jesus passed through the border region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?” When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.”

They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. One of them, a Samaritan, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?”

Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and made you whole.” Luke 17

The first thing we notice about this passage are these men are all believers. We know this by the way they called out to Jesus. “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master!” They did everything they were supposed to do- confessed, believed and cried out! Let’s lean into the teaching from Sunday. This is a message that can transform your life if you apply everything you hear.

We, the church, have to stop showing up to a place like it’s a gym to watch everyone else work out leave thinking we will change. Transformation doesn’t happen that way.

What is the first breakthrough these men received? Acknowledging their problem/issue. They displayed their need for mercy and healing. A lot of us try to hide our problems/issues from others and even Jesus. We lock them up behind a secret door of our heart trying to pretend they are not there. Have you ever heard the term “skeletons in your closet?”

Sometimes it’s not intentional. You legit don’t see it right or you’ve gotten accustomed to hiding it so long it’s just a part of who you think you are. You have to expose yourself to His pure light. You must allow Him to show you these areas. Choose to open the closet door and let Him see. He stands at the door and knocks but you have the choice to open it.

The truth is He will expose these areas with the words of others. It could be your children, grandchildren, parents, co-workers, friends, family or even a stranger. When the comments come you have a choice to get offended or bring it before the Lord. Abba, is there any truth to what this person has said? You must give Him permission to answer.

This is why it’s important to be planted in a Kingdom family to give others permission to speak truth into your life. Almost always others can see our skeletons before we acknowledge them openly.

As believers/lovers of His presence, we must come into the fullness of who He says we are, and our lives have to represent that on the inside and outside. Jesus deserves a life lived out in the open for His glory.

We Emit Light

“This is the life-giving message we heard him share and it’s still ringing in our ears. We now repeat his words to you: God is pure light. You will never find even a trace of darkness in him.” 1 John 1:5

There is absolutely no darkness in Yahweh. Period. You cannot find even a trace of darkness in Him. We and the world attributes darkness to Him all the time. We must see Him rightly. He is love and love does not hurt or destroy. Love restores and renews. He is light and light brings life. When you see Him right then you can see yourself as He sees you.

Jesus says we are Fos. This is the Greek word for light meaning not just a physical light, but it is associated with life, truth, and divine presence. We are the same light as Jesus. Do you believe that truth?

We can only be what we believe we are. The unfortunate message that has embedded Christianity for so long is this: we are sinners saved by grace. People continually use their faith to believe this and it’s how they live their lives. This is not who Jesus says you are.

He chose to create each one of us. How special are you that the Creator of the Universe, our Abba chose you specifically to be here at this very moment. How could we not be who He says we are. Let’s decide today to BE His Beloved. Believe in WHO He says you are.

“Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light!” Ephesians 5

Sin is not merely behaviors. It is you coming into agreement with something you are not. When we believe a lie about who we are we come into agreement with darkness and give it our authority. Remember last week we talked about when Jesus reidentified Peter, it gave him the authority to release on earth what is released in heaven and the bind on earth what is bound in Heaven. You and I must come into agreement with who we truly are.

WE are the light of the world. A city set on a hill. We are FOS - the perfect light of Jesus shining. It’s true, you are as righteous as Jesus. He said so! Choose today to use your faith for truth.

Who Told You That?

Yesterday we talked about being re-identified by the voice of Yeshua. In order to be transformed by His voice we have to eliminate all other voices. This can be very difficult unless you filter everything you hear, think and believe through this one question from Yahweh.

“Then Adam and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh-God passing through the garden in the breeze of the day. So, they hid among the trees concealing themselves from the face of Yahweh-God. Then Yahweh-God called Adam’s name and asked, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “I heard your powerful presence moving in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid.” “Who told you that you were naked?” God said.” Genesis 3

WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

We all know this story. Eve listened to a voice that lured her away from the instructions of the Lord. When they both believed the lie, they began to see themselves in a way Yahweh had not designed them to see. Why would Adam and Eve hide from an all knowing, all powerful, everywhere all at once God? The initial lie they believed led to more delusion in how they saw things. “Who told you that you were naked?” They had begun to listen to voices that were Yahweh’s.

We must filter every thought and belief through this question. Who told you that?

Open the eyes of our hearts Lord! We want to see you. We want to hear you. Help us stand in the light of your glory so we can know you and be known by who you say we are.

Re-Identified

We are designed to be changed by the voice of Yeshua as He speaks to us. We do not have to be what our past experiences call out to us. Yeshua made a way for us to know Him personally and intimately. Do you really know Him?

“When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples this question: “What are the people saying about me, the Son of Man? Who do they believe I am?” They answered, “Some are convinced you are John the Baptizer, others say you are Elijah reincarnated, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

“But you—who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked. Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!” Jesus replied, “You are favored and privileged Simeon, son of Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but my Father in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you.” Matthew 16

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

The disciples were influenced by what others said about Yeshua. They repeated what they’ve heard. In the church, and most of us reading this have only repeated what we’ve heard about Him. We’re influenced by what others believe but do we know Him in such a way we can speak out like Simon.

How did he know Yeshua was the Anointed One? He received the revelation of who He was directly from Abba. Something happens when you get a revelation from Abba yourself. There is a transformation that happens. A re-identification takes place.

“I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this rock will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church—my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it! I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to release on earth that which is released in heaven.” Matthew 16

When we come to know Yeshua in an intimate way it will change who we are. We can hear Him identify us as His own regardless of our past or future failures. Yeshua changed (re-identified) Simon to Peter after this revelation took place even though He knew Peter would fail Him in the future. What is He saying to you? What identity is He speaking over you?

Look at what this new identity allowed Peter to do. Yeshua says, “I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to release on earth that which is released in heaven.”

Our identity as beloved, one belonging exclusively to Him gives us authority in the earth to release all of heaven and to bind up that which does not belong. Are you forfeiting your authority in any area because of what you see or hear? Let His voice speak over you and believe what He says about you.

He is the lover of your soul!

Examination Day

Examination day. It’s the day you go to the doctor for your yearly exam to make sure everything is well with you. They will even collect blood samples to see what is happening on the inside. You know, those things you can’t see. How do you prepare for the doctor appointment? You’re intentional about getting ready, right?

Did you know it’s important to be examined by Jesus daily? Not in the sense of judgement. Oh no, He comes to rid us of those shadows that want to hang around. The ones we choose not to see. He loves us so furiously that He will not allow anything not of Him to remain, but we have a part to play. We must prepare ourselves for the exam.

Let’s look at how Naomi teaches Ruth to be intentional in her approach to Boaz. Then pay attention to Ruth’s response to Naomi.

“One day, Naomi said to Ruth: “I want to see you marry so that you’ll be happy and secure. Now listen, a man named Boaz is our relative. You worked with his servant girls in his fields. This evening, he’ll be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Now, take a bath and put on some nice perfume. Dress in your best clothes and go to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you’re there until he’s had plenty to eat and drink. Watch closely to see where he lies down. Then go, uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” Ruth answered, “I’ll do everything you’ve told me.” Ruth 3

How we show up to engage with Jesus matters. When we gather with family on Sunday or Tuesday are you coming into the room with anticipation to encounter Jesus? Is the posture of your heart tender and ready to worship and honor Him? How do you approach Him daily? These questions are part of the exam. We must allow hard questions so we can know what is hiding inside that does not belong.

Naomi tells Ruth to wash herself, put on perfume, and her best dress. Ephesians 5:26 tells us we are washed by the water of His word. This is His spoken word and written word. We are to be intentional in drinking in His written word and listening for His voice as He speaks to us. His voice comes in many forms and through different people. Oftentimes in an offensive way. We must be listening.

Put on perfume: for us today this represents worship, love, prayer and soaking in the fragrance of His presence.

Her best dress: You wear a garment of praise. You are His beloved, an Oak of Righteousness. It matters what you think about yourself. Pastor Tim says all the time, “you can only do what you think you are.” If we do not allow Him to examine our thoughts, we are not showing up for Him or to Him in the proper manner.

We are to show up to Jesus in a posture of humility uncover His feet and lie down. This is complete surrender of all areas of our lives. Remember our declaration: My heart is yours. My life is yours. Only in full surrender and humility can we hear His voice tell us what to do next.

Ruth’s response to Naomi was I will do everything you told me. Ask yourself this question. Am I applying everything I am being taught? If so, get ready for radical transformation. Get ready for doors to be open no man can shut. Get ready for the windows of heaven to open up over your life. Blessings come when we hear and obey.

Will you prepare to be examined today by Jesus? There is abundant grace with the hard questions and answers that come. Do not forfeit your freedom and healing because it’s hard to talk about.

Feast or Famine

In building a structure the most important thing to focus on is the foundation. As we are building Kingdom culture at The Wilderness Place, it is important to focus on the foundation as a family but also as individuals. Think of each one of you as the individual pieces that are needed to form up the foundation. If one is broken or out of place the integrity of the foundation is compromised. It will not be as strong as it needs to be.

One of the things that cause us to be broken or out of place is wrong identity. How you see yourself matters, not just for you but for your legacy and those you are called to do life with. We must stop being identified by our past experiences or mistakes. This is a delicate area in our lives. Most of us do not want to remember words spoken to us as a child that put an identity on our shoulders. We do not want to remember past mistakes or trauma that has spoken to us for many years. These words and actions identify us, and we carry this around our whole lives thinking it’s who we are. Most of us would never speak out what we are actually thinking or feeling inside. We just try to move on in life hiding those parts of us, but it causes cracks in the foundation.

Yeshua is relentless in pursuing the thoughts we have about ourselves. What we believe about other people or circumstances. He wants to address those sensitive areas you see famine in. We can’t run from His love and goodness. You are meant to be whole and walking in the identity Abba has given you.

You are His beloved daughter. You are His beloved son. He finds His greatest delight in you. Right now, no matter where you are or what you think about yourself, He sees you as righteous and lovely. Please stop running from those hard questions concerning the areas of famine in your life. People in the bible who ran from famine found themselves in worst conditions when they ran. Famine is a lack of food which causes malnutrition then often leads to death. What happens in the natural also happens in the spiritual.

One of the false identities we are coming after in Mississippi is the health crisis. How we believe we are to eat and what we consume. Did you know you can eat until your full consuming junk food but end up malnourished? What you feed on is so important. What you think about yourself is so important. As individuals and as a family we must feed on the voice of Yeshua and His words spoken to you and over you.

“Jesus answered, “It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God.”” Matthew 4:4

He is wanting to speak to you about what you believe concerning yourself. An identity you’ve probably worn since you were a child. You can trust Him to be gentle with your heart. When we surrender those hard places to Him, we then get to experience His grace as He leads us to wholeness. You are designed to be nourished by His love and then become someone others can feed from.

Let’s choose every day to bring those areas of famine to Him and let His love nourish our hearts. We can feast together as a family pursuing one thing: His voice

People of Covenant

“Boaz answered, “I’ve heard all about what you’ve done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I know your story—how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people and a culture that must seem strange to you. May Yahweh reward you for your sacrifices, and because of what you’ve done, may you have a full and rich reward from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to find shelter!” Ruth 2:11

Her story is a beautiful one. We know Naomi and Ruth both lost their husbands. In this culture if a woman did not have a husband or son they were basically left to starve to death because they had no means of making money. By Ruth making the decision to tether herself to Naomi we see something incredible happen. She takes responsibility for her. She says let me go and glean from the fields to find us something to eat. Ruth is also sad and depressed about their situation but she’s teaching us an important truth here. Sometimes the greatest thing you can do in your brokenness is serve someone else. The path to healing your heart is being there for someone going through a battle. This is why is it imperative we show up for each other.

Ruth is a woman of covenant, a woman of service. She has tethered herself to others to care for them. She is someone others can feed from. These are attributes we are being called to for the Kingdom. We are to be people of covenant. No matter what happens you remain with your people. We are to serve others even in our brokenness because it opens the heavens to pour out healing grace to our own hearts.

In this part of the story, we are Ruth, Boaz represents Jesus, and the field is the house of Yahweh. Our house here on 208 Pass Rd, the place you are planted. We all start has gleaners in the field. We come to gather for ourselves but then there is a shift where we come to gather for others. We are to be people others can feed from.

Jesus knows your story. He has brought you to a place and culture that is different from what you’ve always known but because of your sacrifices and heart to tether yourselves to the family at The Wilderness Place may you receive a full reward from Heaven. May our family be known as people of covenant and service to our communities. May we be known to spread His love and presence to those we encounter daily. As others come to glean from our field may we drop extra grain for them to be healed and feel loved. You are a vital part to the earth becoming what it is designed to be, but you and I cannot do it alone. We need each other.

This is a great opportunity to have a conversation with Yeshua about where you are in your heart right now and where does He want you to be.

Fully Commit - Fully Trust

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

When we commit and fully trust our works (our lives, situations) to Jesus then He will cause our thoughts to become agreeable to His will. We can camp there for a while because in each one of us there is a place we war in our minds about why something is happening. Pastor Tim made some great points about this on Sunday.

Until you can let Jesus change your mind about a difficult situation and you can see the goodness in it you will miss what He is wanting to teach you. We must become content with where we are so we can see why we’re there. Jesus will always come after the parts in us that is not agreeable to His will. Anything that is in our hearts that hinder His love and cause us to not trust Him- He’s coming after it. The agape love He has for each one of you propels Him to pursue you. Unfortunately, you can actually stop the move of the Lord in your life by how you respond. If you are in turmoil due to a situation, you will not see Jesus there. You must sit down and enter into His rest to see Him and hear Him.

His promise is to cause your plans to be established and succeed but only when you commit everything to Him and fully trust He has your best moving forward.

What area of your life is He inviting you to fully trust Him with? Let your thoughts become agreeable with His will. Most of the time it does not look anything like we thought it would, but it is always so much better.

Slow Down

Today is about reflection. We heard a beautiful message on Sunday and have broken it down into small bites Monday and Tuesday. Let’s not eat today. Instead let’s drink from the presence of Jesus. Ask Him questions in your time of reflection and then allow Him to ask you questions. This is where we grow in the Lord.

Happy Drinking!

Storms are Inevitable

“Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!” Matthew 8

Yesterday, we were stepping into our oasis of peace with Jesus and today we will talk about how to handle the storms. Most of us have heard the story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the lake. Jesus goes to sleep, and the disciples freak out when the storm suddenly blew up. Isn’t this how we are in our daily lives? We’re walking along trusting Jesus with our happy go lucky life. Everything is going well. He’s Jehovah-Jireh, Prince of Peace, Way maker and then suddenly something out of nowhere comes up. We completely forget the Almighty we walk with.

This happens for one reason: lack of trust. There are areas in each one of us that is completely sold out on His love and care for us but there are other areas we freak out and forget who’s boat we are on. Which is exactly why He will take what is meant to disrupt our peace and cause us harm to turn it around for our good. The Kingdom is more concerned with the depths of your heart than your outside comfort.

Pastor Tim taught beautifully on this Sunday morning. This is what he shared.

We have career fishermen on this boat. They've been in a lot of storms on a boat but something about this storm terrified them. I would imagine it lasted longer than they wanted. Have you ever been here? Lord is this ever going to end. The first couple of days you can manage it, but it just seems to get worse. They were so terrified they ran down to the bottom of the boat and shook Jesus violently. He’s still sleeping in the storm, and they say, Jesus, don't you care we're dying! Every stress and doubt we experience comes from this question, God, don't you see me struggling here. Lord, do you care that I'm losing everything. Lord, do you care that the repo man's outside, the power company's cutting the lights off, do you care we have nothing. Can I tell you something about the kingdom it's less concerned with how comfortable the ride across the water, it's more concerned about getting to questions that only storms reveal. I don't fully trust you when I get to this spot, Lord.

Storms do come; it is how we handle them on the inside that matters. In every circumstance we must ask Him this question. “What are you wanting to teach me in this? How can I come out on the other side reflecting you?”

Let’s Go to the Oasis

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” Matthew 11

Most of us know this scripture as, “my yoke is easy, my burden is light.” The yoke is about pace. When a farmer puts a yoke on his two animals it is so they can carry the load together at the same pace. The yoke joins them together in union. The things of life can be burdensome at times, but we are not to carry this weight alone. Jesus is inviting you and me into a union of peace. He says, “come to Me.”

Imagine yourself in the airport of life carrying all the luggage - the baggage you’ve carried for so long and you turn your heart to Jesus. You see Him standing there waiting for you to get off the hustle of life and as you see Him you drop all the baggage and fall into His arms. Instantly, there is a refreshment of peace and joy like you stepped right into an oasis. This is the invitation to us all- simply join your life to His. Where the two become one. The altar is a place to say yes, and I do but also a place to lay your life down. In this union walk with Jesus we learn His ways and discover His kindness, gentleness, and love. Let His love bring refreshment to you today. May you feel His love like oil being poured over you. He’s anointing you as His very own. You belong exclusively to Him now.

All that He requires is pleasant and easy to bear. It is simply turning your heart to Him in full surrender. Today, gather all the heavy burdens you’ve been carrying and run to Him. Drop the baggage at His feet and leap into His arms.

Abba, I ask that you infuse each one of us with hope in our hearts. May we not refuse to give over even the smallest burden we’ve carried. Thank you for your kindness and gentleness towards us. Thank you for the peace you give. Help us to dig our toes in the sand of your peace and rest in your oasis.

Next To You!

What a beautiful week stepping into the beginning of building and planting. We’ve been invited into this incredible union with the Bridegroom. We’ve learned He has given us gifts and abilities that benefit the whole family for generations to come. He is Truth and the compass we will follow moving forward. We have the blueprint in His word of what it looks like as a family to represent Him well in the Earth. Acts 2 gives us specifics on what the first century church looked like. It’s where we’re heading.

Every person who believes in Jesus would say, “I want more of Jesus in my life.” I want more intimacy. Here’s the thing- asking for more requires a higher buy in. It will cost you more to have more of Him. That doesn’t need to sound scary or impossible because one encounter with Him can cause your whole value system to change. When your values change you will make a stand. “I will not get out of position!” No matter what happens I will tether myself to Him and to my Kingdom family.

Ruth changed her legacy forever because of her commitment to Naomi. She refused to be untethered from her.

“but Ruth clung tightly to Naomi and refused to let go of her. Naomi said, “Ruth, listen. Your sister-in-law is going back to Moab to her people and to her gods. Now go with her.” But tearfully, Ruth insisted, “Please don’t ask me again to leave you! I want to go with you and stay with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will now be my people, and your God will now be my God. Wherever you die, I will die there, too; that’s where your people will bury me—next to you. Nothing but death itself will separate me from you, so help me God!” Ruth 1

Next to you! Abba is alluring us on the most incredible and exciting journey of our lives. It will change generations forever. It will change our cities, state, country and beyond but you and I have to tether ourselves to each other as we tether to Jesus. NEXT TO YOU! We are heading to a place where yes and I do is required.

If you follow the legacy of Ruth, you will find Jesus down the line. This is about the long path not momentary satisfaction. What you do right now effects generations to come. Are you willing to say yes and I do to tether yourself to Him and this family?

You are the Light

“During the era when champion-deliverers ruled in Israel, a severe famine overtook the land. Elimelech, a certain man, left Bethlehem and immigrated to the country of Moab.” Ruth 1

Elimelech was a descendant of Nahshon, a prince of the tribe of Judah, and the ancestor of David. He was considered a certain man which communicates he had importance in social status, and he was wealthy. In other words, he had purpose and destiny on his life to see this famine in Bethlehem changed. Famine today looks like poverty, racism, social divides, broken families, unhealthy food, health crisis, and low education standards.

Elimelech got out of position because although he was designed to stay and see it changed, he gave up on what he was called to do because it looked too dark and too hard and too scary. Where are you getting out of position because some things you just don’t want to face. It seems too hard to deal with and looks hopeless.

Jesus didn’t go to the beautiful places, He went where no one else wanted to go. Why? He had a light to share.

“Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world, and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.” John 8

Now, Jesus tells you and me, we have a light to share. We have His light. You must not disqualify yourself for any reason. It does not matter your past or present. He’s called you to be His very own.

“Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5

You are the certain man. You are the certain woman. You have the certain children to see this land changed. You didn’t enter the wilderness by happenstance. You were called here. You are anointed with all the authority of Jesus to see the famine changed. Don’t run from what seems scary. Stand on the hill with your light and watch the famine in our cities and the state of Mississippi change. It starts with one family at a time.