Burn The Boats

“So he (Elijah) departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yokes of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

So Elisha turned back from him and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and became his servant.” I Kings 19:19-21

Elijah walks by and throws his mantle onto Elisha and keeps walking. Elisha all of a sudden experienced the presence of Yahweh in a way he never had before. In a powerful way. Now Elisha has two options. He can say, “wow, that was amazing,” and continue farming the next day or he can burn it all to the ground. What does he choose? Elisha has one encounter with the presence and says to Elijah, “wait, let me kiss my mom and dad and then I will follow you.”

Yahweh will call you away from what past generations have given you. It can be hard to leave what you have always known but He calls us to our true purpose on the earth. It is your decision. Elijah, the father in this story tells him this is your decision but just know down the road it will be hard. Knowing this Elisha turns back and kills the oxen- boils the flesh using the wood of the yoke.

Why would he destroy his livelihood? He knew the significance of what He just experienced and didn’t want anything tempting him to turn back to the familiar when it got hard. Have you ever heard the phrase “burn the boats?” It is a metaphor that means to commit to a course of action without the option of turning back. In the Air Force they have the meaning like this burning a boat involves sacrifice and getting rid of something you love for something you love more. Everyone wants the presence, the blessing, the whisper, the closeness of Him but are you willing to burn the oxen?

The beautiful attribute of Yahweh is He gives us the choice to how we live this life. He wants us to choose Him in a radical way where we burn it all down to just have Him. Ask Him what you value most in this life. We all know walking hand in hand with Him is the best way, but we must make the choice every day, every moment. This is about a lifestyle of Beloved Identity, which involves encounters and perspective. Will you let Him talk to you today about burning the boat? Then will you choose Him?

Who Is Center?

“So he (Elijah) departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yokes of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth.” 1 Kings 19:19

Every detail the scriptures give us is important. Why would this be so specific as to how many yokes of oxen Elisha had? This detail is telling us Elisha’s family were farmers. The twelve yokes’ points to their wealth. His family was most likely many generations of farmers. Elijah sees Elisha and knows this is the guy. Why? He was working.

Think about all of the people in the Bible who Yahweh called everyone was working to include Jesus. Jesus wasn’t sitting around waiting for His day of ministry to come. He spent years mastering the craft of carpentry. He carried on a family business and name.

Elisha saw himself as a farmer but not just a farmer. He worked hard for his family. Faithful and diligent to show up and work where he was in this moment of his life. He doesn’t even realize he is prophet. Pastor Tim gave us some important points to apply to our own lives.

“The tension between more and where we are is waiting on us to get content in the place we are right now. We have to be the best where we are with what we have. More will destroy us if we sit and wait for it to show up. Develop who you are in whatever you want to do, or where you feel like God is calling you. Start developing the habits for the position you feel like you're called to. Do you want to be a manager? You want to own your own business? Start developing the integrity to handle the weight of owning your own company by working for someone. This means showing up on time. Work hard. You will never own a successful business slacking off under someone else.” Pastor Tim

These are practical attributes we must develop. This strengthens our integrity to carry weight. So many have found themselves in positions of authority without integrity and it has crushed them. Unfortunately, we have seen this so much in the body of Christ because the church tends to pick people based on the gift they have. This has put a stain on the reflection of Jesus and His Bride to the world and it has to change. We, beloved sons and beloved daughters must be the ones to restore His image on the earth. I know, the thought of this seems impossible. You’re probably thinking what can I do with my little life to change how the world sees Jesus? It starts with where you have Him in your day to day. He must be the center of your life. Every area. It matters so much. If He is not the main focus of your life you will lose the ability to be who you are designed to be.

We have been talking about how we face trials, if Jesus isn’t the absolute center of your life, you will lose the ability to see these trials correctly. He wants to take everything and turn it for our good, but we must see it right and through His eyes.

Ask yourself this question. Where am I right now in life? If I were someone looking from the outside, would I see Jesus as a living display of glory in my actions and words? Now ask the Holy Spirit what He sees. What area is He showing you? There is grace to face the areas He points out. Take the step forward with Him.

I encourage you to write down your journey with Him. It is so beautiful to look back on the tapestry of your life written out on paper. He is faithful to finish the work He has started but you have a part to play also.

Face Like a Flint

“When evil ones come to destroy me, they will be the ones who turn back. My heart will not fear even if an army rises to attack. I will not be shaken, even if war is imminent. Here’s the one thing I crave from Yahweh, the one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment in his house, beholding the marvelous beauty of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace.” Psalms 27:2-3

There MUST be a clear cut different in how we respond to trials and difficulty as opposed to those who don’t walk with Jesus or those who say they know Him but there is no evidence. Don’t you know David was put under extraordinary pressure in his time. He settled in his heart no matter what happens everything in me is focused on ONE THING- His presence. Let’s look at David’s response as he continues to write to Yahweh.

“In the day of trouble, he will treasure me in his shelter, under the cover of his tent. He will lift me high upon a rock, out of reach from all my enemies who surround me. Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh! Hear my cry. Show me mercy and send the help I need! I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;” my inner being responded, “Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.” Ps 27

Because David was so convinced Yahweh was for him in every trouble he could sing and shout with joy knowing mercy and grace was coming. He said, I’m seeking your face with my whole heart. As we listened Sunday, we understand every one of us is going through something difficult right now. The question is HOW? How are you going through your trial? Like David, face like a flint towards Jesus with a song in your heart? Or like a watermelon seed where under pressure you flee?

None of us like hard things. Let’s be honest. Our brain wants the path of least resistance but a heart set on the King is immovable. Our family here at the Wilderness Place has been through some hard things the last 3 years, and some have fled but those who remain you’ve set your face like a flint. You are allowing Jesus to cause your roots to go deep and you’re committing in your heart to make Him your One focus.

These trials and difficult situations are strengthening you. The world is in desperate need to see the real Jesus who is glorious, powerful, caring and loves unconditionally. We will be the ones to show them what a beloved son and beloved daughter look like walking through trials. In turn, we get to walk through trials with others to help them see what it looks like to be under pressure but with the glory of Yahweh.

“He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us. And just as we experience the abundance of Christ’s own sufferings, even more of God’s comfort will cascade upon us through our union with Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:4

Stay connected to Jesus. Set your face towards His. Lean in to listen to His whisper in the storm. Share your struggle with your family. You are not alone. On the other side you’ll look more like the Beloved He created radiating with His glory.

I want to share a song with you our young beloved’s love so much. It is a declaration of who we are in the earth. Would you listen and make it your decree through your trials?

The Proof Is In The Pudding

We have been talking about integrity as a Kingdom family because Abba has us on a journey to build infrastructure here at The Wilderness Place. This integrity deals with the ability to carry something of weight like the Glory of Yahweh. Pastor Tim had someone ask, “what does it look like to carry the glory of Yahweh?”

You have two people- Both say with certainty “I LOVE JESUS!” Both can share scripture and pray but one says “Jesus is the center of my entire life, every aspect is for Him and about Him.” What do you think is different about their lives?

If you could compare the day to day would you be able to see a clear cut difference in their response to difficulty? What about their relationship with their children? How they treat their spouse. The hard truth is there is absolutely a difference in someone who makes Jesus the center of their everyday lives and those who casually attend a meeting about Jesus.

The proof is in the pudding. What does this mean? According to Dictionary.com, it’s an expression that means the value, quality, or truth of something must be judged based on direct experience with it—or on its results. When you have direct experience with Jesus, another words when you have an intimate relationship with Him there will be proof in your life. This is the integrity we are talking about. Can you carry what you’re designed to carry? You are designed to look like Jesus therefore you carry the glory He carried.

How we handle difficulty is a testimony to those around you. Nothing you are going through right now is meaningless. This is why Jesus being front and center is essential. We are all going through something difficult right now. He wants you to know as you walk through the pressure He is strengthening you on the inside. It is hard to see it in the middle of the trial but there is grace and mercy to help you. He is teaching you how to respond under pressure. Don’t bail out! The increased glory you will carry on the other side will blow you away. We can have confidence in the battle because He is our One Thing- Front and Center.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Cast Your Bread

“Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1

Since we live on the Coast here, we can really imagine ourselves standing at the water’s edge having the waves roll up to our feet. Picture yourself there. You take the bread out of your pocket, and you throw it into the water. A few days later you go back and there is your bread coming back to you on a wave rolling right up to your feet. What happens to bread when it’s wet? Yes, it expands. Every time you throw your bread out it multiplies back to you. Jesus expands the bread you keep casting. What happens if you aren’t casting bread on the water?

Life is full of waves. Sometimes you have small waves that just roll over your feet. Other times, the waves are so big they knock you down and wash over you entirely. Have you ever seen someone at a beach with big waves? The waves keep coming and they have a hard time getting on their feet. They keep getting knocked down by the waves. Isn’t this life sometimes? It’s one wave after another. The truth is we get to determine what is in the wave that keeps washing over us.

What is one thing water represents in scripture? The Holy Spirit. If you keep casting your bread upon Him, The Holy Spirit gets to determine what comes back to you. Our bread can represent tithes, offerings, blessing others but it also can be connecting our heart to Him daily.

Let’s say you are faithful to give your resources to Him to see the Kingdom advanced in your community and you give to others you see that is in need, that bread will return to you in a beautiful way. How do we know this? Because He promises if you trust Him with your finances, He will cause your cup to overflow. Those waves will not continue to wash your resources away, they will begin to bring it to your feet. We learned in Malachi it is the one area Yahweh says, “test Me.”

It isn’t just your resources. It is about the posture of your heart. Are you connecting your heart to His throughout the week? Truth is you can always tell if that was the case when you step into the sanctuary on Sunday morning. If you feel like you’re having a hard time feeling His presence in worship or understanding what is being said you can always go back and look at your week. How many times did I turn my heart to Him? Again, how much bread did I cast upon the water. If it was very little you will have a hard time connecting to what the Holy Spirit is doing and saying. The more bread we cast, the more we turn our hearts to Him the more waves of His presence will wash over you. It is a choice we make daily.

The beautiful thing about Abba is there is no condemnation. Maybe you are thinking, “at best, I have tossed out crumbs and expected loaves to return.” This is what he wants you to know- It is a new week so let’s commit to connecting to Him. Pastor Tim gave us some great words of wisdom Sunday.

“His love will teach you to connect to Him every day even though you are busy. The affection you feel in a moment will cause your heart to turn to Jesus. You will experience the warmth of the love affair and realize He is for you, not against you. He is always for you. This causes your heart to say- “I’m hungry for more of this.” So, you wake up on Monday and you’re not thinking about work. All of a sudden you are thinking about your heart connecting to His. He is ready to go with you anywhere. In the fields, on the job, in your home, or on a drive. This beautiful love affair with Jesus, the romance of the ages is built five minutes at a time. Just by connecting your heart to His.”

This week cast your bread upon the water of the Holy Spirit and see the goodness of who He is wash over you.

The Posture of the Heart

For the last couple of weeks Pastor Tim has been talking to our family regarding the infrastructure of who we are as a kingdom family at The Wilderness Place. Infrastructure is the underlying foundation or basic framework of a place. You could say it is the foundational truths we are building our culture on. What does this look like from a scriptural standpoint? Let’s look at the first century church in Acts 2.

“Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them. Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life.”

When we look at the posture of their hearts as they grew in fellowship with each other and with the Holy Spirit we see an incredible culture built around one thing. JESUS! It is so important for each of you to know the importance of what you are building your lives on. We all want more of what He has for us but in order to have more we must choose to do things differently. This really starts with the posture of your heart. Every morning as you wake up what is the first thing you think about or do? Here is where the change begins. As soon as you open your eyes connect to the heart of Jesus. It can be as simple as “Good morning, Jesus.” This will not be an automatic response. You will have to be intentional about connecting your heart to His throughout the day and in every situation. The next thing concerning the posture of your heart is when you gather together with your Kingdom family. On Sundays and Tuesdays, the posture of our heart is to come into the room as a giver not a consumer. A giver is one ready to pour out their love and affection on Jesus. A person who comes to connect with others on a heart level. One who says, “this is my home, and I will do whatever needs to be done to see it prosper.” As a kingdom family we all have a part to play in building this culture of beloved sons and daughters. This is not the place for consumerism. We come first to give Jesus is due reward. He is worthy of our worship in a radical way. He gave it all so let’s give Him our all.

Pastor Tim gave us a great illustration. You can be in a room with a person and know they are there. You are happy they are there with you but if you never go face to face with them, you’ll never truly know them. We must come face to face with Him first, then face to face with our kingdom family. We are all designed to change the world, but it starts with having the right infrastructure.

There is a song that says, “God, I give you what I can today. Scattered ashes that I’ve hid away.” These ashes are the broken places in our hearts, how we think and the dryness of our spirits. Jesus is ready to make an exchange with you. Bring your ashes for His beauty. Corners of shame we don’t want people see- He’ll take it. Empty places we try to hide behind His name. He is ready to fill your cup to overflowing. You just have to step forward into the river.

Are you ready to see change in your life? Once and for all? You have to do things differently. The first century church was dedicated to Him first but also to each other in a significant way. There is grace, mercy, authority and power in His voice to do what He is telling you right now. As you read this let Him talk to you about the posture of your heart concerning these things. Say yes to the invitation of a Romance of the Ages, an adventure you’ll never regret. Say yes to a family that can change our city, state and the world around us.

Will you come Sunday with a posture to go after Him like never before? He’ll meet you in a mighty way.

He’s So Valuable

Define value: the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. (according to the Oxford languages) Some other words you could use in this sense is appreciate, love, treasure, or cherish.

When you begin a new relationship, you value every word that comes out of their mouth. Everything they love- you love. You cherish everything about them, right? You are hungry to learn more and more. Fast forward 5 years, 10 year or even 20 years you don’t appreciate them as much. You rarely even look into their eyes when they are talking. You are just living in the same house going through the motions of life.

We do not want to think we could be this way with the voice of Yahweh or His presence, but it happens all the time. The life and life more abundantly come from hearing His voice and responding. Are you willing to do what it takes to have the transformation Jesus paid for with His blood? Not only did He die and was resurrected, but He also suffered a great deal physically so we could be fully alive, completely healed and made whole. He didn’t stop there He sent the Holy Spirit on earth to walk with us daily. To talk to us and guide us. What are you doing with His voice?

Put yourself on the end of a relationship where you are valued and appreciated. When you feel this way, you want to do more for those who value you. It is the same with the voice of Yahweh. The more you lean in, the more you look into His eyes, the more you value what He is saying the more He will speak and tell you. He wants to build the integrity of our lives to carry the weight of His Kingdom. Maybe you’re thinking Yes, I want to lean in and hear more but I don’t know how to practically do that. Let me help you with an idea that came to us Tuesday night from Abba Himself.

In our sound booth at the Wilderness Place we have a Mac computer that has two monitors plugged into it. We spent hours prior to the service trying to get this computer to come on. It was showing up on a TV monitor but then restart over and over. Pastor Tim did everything he knew to do to get it to work. One of the beloved sons of the house who is genius with a lot of things especially computers came in and he unplugged everything from the Mac. Then only plugged back into the power source. This forced the Mac to be focused on one thing. Why would it not be able to function properly? It had so much plugged in from outside sources it could not focus. Abba used this situation to speak to us about having too many things plugged in to our lives. When this happens, we miss His voice. We can’t connect to the only source that matters. The power which we need to function. His voice. Face to Face with Him. It is time to unplug some things in your life so you can focus on Him.

Ask the Lord now what you need to unplug from so you can hear Him more. There are so many practical things you can do. One of our beloved daughters in the house put an app on her phone that locks it, so she isn’t on her phone as much. Like 16-hour locks. I can’t wait to see all the things Abba will speak to her because of her obedience to do something practical that frees her mind to hear and see. Maybe he wants you to get up a few minutes earlier so you can spend time with Him before your day starts. A great way to connect to Him is take a walk and talk to Him about what you see. It is about connecting our hearts to His. Value your time with Him. Value the words He speaks by writing them down so you can go back to them to continue the conversation.

We would love to hear how He is speaking to you. You can email us your testimony. If you need prayer please let us know how we can pray with you.

Dive In

What you do with the voice of Yahweh matters. If you have been a part of church for any length of time you have seen a pattern in church across America. This pattern looks something like this, show up, sit down, listen, and leave high fiving your fellow attendees on the way out. Pastor Tim gave us a great illustration on Sunday. Let’s say you go to the gym. You show up, sit down and watch people work out, you listen to their conversations about working out and maybe even a meal plan and you leave. High fiving as you go. Do you think your body will change by doing this? Obviously, the answer is no. Yet, this what people do every Sunday, wondering why their lives are not changing. Doubling down on normal doesn’t change anything.

It is His voice that changes us, our family and the world around us. Why His voice? Because grace comes with His voice and His grace gives us the ability to do what He is saying to us. In James 2:17, he tells us faith without works is dead. We absolutely know we do not have to work for the invitation to this Romance of the ages with Jesus, but we do have a part in stirring the passion between Him and us. It is hard to cultivate a loving relationship one-sided. We as the Beloved Bride of Christ can no longer show up, sit down and listen. We must respond to His voice. We are designed to carry the glory of Yahweh into our families and everywhere the sole of our feet goes. The true glory of God is weighty, and it affects those you are around.

If you aren’t experiencing this measure of glory, then it is time to ask yourself some questions. Like what am I doing with what He is saying to me? The Holy Spirit has been speaking at The Wilderness Place. He is calling us out just like Jesus did with the man with the withered hand. Jesus calls him from the back of the room where he had hidden his dysfunction, He asked him to come forward in front of everyone. This man had a choice just like you do, he could have stayed hidden with his problem or come forward. He was tired of being in this situation, so he did something about it. He had faith in Jesus, but he also took action. Jesus is compassionate but He will not coddle your issue. He will call you out on it.

Are you tired of dealing with the same things in your life? The things you know are hindering you from carrying His glory to the measure you are designed for. There are Kingdom promises for you and your family waiting on you to do what He is showing you. Let’s talk practical ways to handle His voice. Think of one thing He has been talking to you about. Find a quiet place and sit with Him. You can say, “Abba, I brought XYZ you have been talking to me about. What do you want to show me regarding this? And wait for a few minutes. He will show you other aspects concerning the matter. This sometimes will even sound like your own voice, but your heart will know when it is Him revealing your thoughts. Do not walk away without responding. Your response could be crying, singing to Him, thanksgiving, or journaling a love letter to Him. This is cultivating a back-and-forth conversation with Him building intimacy.

Maybe you are thinking right now he’s not speaking anything to me. Go back to the last time He showed something or said something. Start there. He may be waiting for you to pick up the conversation about that matter first. Deep cries out to deep. We cannot sit around waiting for Yahweh to make us deep. This is our part. It’s time to stop wading around in the things of God and just dive into the deep. He won’t let you drown.

Made For More

“Every person is saved for more. That is the tension on the inside. You know you are made for more, but you don’t see it. It’s the Kingdom on the inside saying- you were made for more. Everyone wants more but you can’t keep doing the same thing expecting more. Let’s take it further. Deep cries out to Deep.” Pastor Tim

Remember yesterday we talked about the Love Affair- the Romance of the Ages? Your RSVP of Yes will move you in the direction of more. Pastor Tim talked about the tension on the inside of us when we are not seeing what the Kingdom is declaring in our spirits. We find ourselves in a rut sometimes doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. How many of you know a romance is ever growing doing different things to stir the passion in the relationship. It is the same with Jesus- our Bridegroom. This romance should cause reproduction of fruit in your life. One which is integrity. Not the integrity you are thinking, like a person of your word. This integrity is wholeness. The quality of being complete, undivided or unbroken. Why would we need this integrity in order to have more?

The more is the glory of God. Our hearts cry out for more because He designed us to go from glory to glory. Yet, His glory is weighty. It is His goodness and love for us to only allow us to have the glory we aren’t able to handle. Every time you mature in the areas of your life that He is whispering to you about, you strengthen the integrity of your life, which means you can handle more pressure. If we never experience anything different in how we think we never change.

This integrity gives us the ability to handle the flow of His glory in every area of our lives. Things begin to change, and life looks different. This glory is meant for us to radiate the image of Jesus to those around us.

Jesus says in John 14, “I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father! For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory to him. Ask me anything in my name, and I will do it for you!”

The more you are made is to be the image of Jesus. You are designed to do miracles. Jesus did some amazingly wild miracles, and He says we are made to do more than He did. Let this truth build the integrity of your faith to do more for the Kingdom of Yahweh. It’s what you are saved for!

It all starts with how you handle His voice in this love affair.

RSVP

“For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you—so kind that it will astound you! And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!” Psalms 100:5

He (Yahweh) NEVER leaves. There really is no word to adequately describe His faithfulness to us. He left His throne to come be with us through His Son. Immanuel- God with us. He is for you. Even when you have made mistakes. He doesn’t pull away from you. He is not disappointed in you.

Maybe you are in a place of discouragement by circumstances you have found yourself in and you have pulled away from Him. He is patiently waiting for you to turn your heart back to His. Re-Engage with Him.

Today in The Walk let’s talk about the INVITATION that came to our family during worship yesterday. He never stops alluring us to His love. The invitation was to an OVERWHELMING LOVE AFFAIR- the Romance of the Ages. What does this look like? Song of Songs 2:6 gives us a beautiful description. “His left hand cradles my head while, his right hand holds me close. I am at rest in this love.” Take a moment to picture this scene. Imagine being held this way. This is a clear description of Face-to-Face Revival. You can hear His encouraging whispers of love.

Maybe you are thinking- but I feel so far away from Him. I have wandered away in my heart and become consumed by other things vying for my attention. When this happens, we can feel weak, discouraged and even numb to the things of the Kingdom, especially His voice. Oh, but His faithfulness, it never stops coming after us to restore the Love Affair.

Our part- RSVP to the invitation TODAY! Yield to His love and goodness. Give Him the seat of honor in your heart. Give Him Lordship in your life. Become obsessed with His eyes, His voice, His face, His presence. There is truly nothing better to give your attention to.

“I am fully devoted to my beloved, and my beloved is fully devoted to me” Song of Songs 6:3

Jesus, we accept your invitation to this romance of the ages- the most overwhelming love affair. As we yield our heart and attention to You, will you teach us to love you like you deserve? There is no one who deserves our affection like you do. You gave it all for us and continue to draw us to yourself. You are worthy of our attention. Forgive us for putting other things ahead of your love. As we choose you each morning putting our hand in yours, we know you will strengthen us, restore us and show us who you created us to be. We are your beloved. Thank you for your faithfulness, your kindness and care.

Faith Meets Obedience

“How about this Jesus? How about you heal my hand and then I'll let everybody see it when you’ve healed it. Lord I'll come to the front when you heal my hand, and I'll give a testimony. That's not how Jesus does things. He says come on down with your withered hand that you've been hiding from everybody, then stretch it out. He stretches out his hand and as he attempts to do what he has not been able to do his entire life then Jesus heals his hand. Do you see where faith meets the voice of Jesus? He took a step, reached out your hand and it was restored.” Pastor Tim

Jesus is asking us to do something we have attempted many times on our own without success so then we just hid it from everyone. But this time is different because you have a spoken word from the voice of a loving Father.

“He (Jesus) said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other” Mark 3:5

Faith meets obedience and your life is never the same. This week we have walked the paths of Kingdom thinking, learning we must hear things in order to see things change, we know He is here to revive hope and breathe life back into us, but we must step forward first. I encourage you to meditate on what He has been showing you this week. All you need is a little faith; the size of a mustard seed and He will meet you there. Obey what He is asking. Step forward. Reach out to someone you trust and share with them what you are struggling with. Remember, there is freedom in honesty.

Holy Spirit, thank you for never being willing to allow us to stay hidden in darkness and despair. We may not always like how you call us out and expose those things we don’t want others to know about, but we know you have our best in mind. Here we are stepping forward in faith to stretch out to you and our kingdom family that which we’ve struggled with. We trust you to heal us and our family. We know when we struggle with something it affects everyone around us. Our heart is to have a whole, healed family. Thank you for restoration and freedom.

Please reach out for prayer. You are not alone. Our Kingdom family is here so we can all walk through this together.

You can watch Sunday’s message to hear Pastor Tim teach what we have been walking in this week.

Step Forward

“Then Jesus left them and went again into the synagogue, where he encountered a man who had an atrophied, paralyzed hand. Everyone was watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath, giving them a reason to accuse him of breaking Sabbath rules. Jesus said to the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand here in the middle of the room.” Mark 3:1-3

In the New King James Version, Jesus tells the man to step forward. See in every situation the man was always at the back of the room or crowd because he was hiding a part of himself, he didn’t want anyone to see. He was insecure, broken, and ashamed. We are not so different. There are parts of who we are we do not want anyone to see or know about.

Jesus doesn’t want you to hide in your failure or weakness. He doesn’t want the masked version of you. Jesus says, “STEP FORWARD.” He calls him out to stand in front of everyone. The TRUTH is what really brings FREEDOM. What are you hiding from people? Why are you pretending to be fine when you are not? If you are thinking of something in your life you know Jesus is shining a light on right now to expose it, LET HIM. Make room for Him to speak to you. Allow Him to expose the depths of your heart to heal you. He is not here to embarrass you. He is more concerned about the whole, authenticate you. Exposure of the heart and mind can be difficult, but His grace will be poured out in those moments of truth. You will be free of your “withered hand,” something you have longed for. You do not have to do this alone. You have a family at The Wilderness Place to walk with you through it all.

This story is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. In Luke, we are told it is the man’s right hand. The right hand in scripture is very significant. It represents power, pleasure, approval and righteousness. A crippled right hand points to lack in all of these areas. When we do not allow Jesus to expose and heal areas in our lives, I dare say we are not in this relationship with Him for the right reasons. Religion will allow you to pretend you have a relationship with Jesus, but the Wilderness will not. As Beloved sons and daughters our lives must represent His power, His pleasure, His approval and His righteousness. These things will change your family and cause it to be in order just as the Kingdom is in order. Then we begin to see our community changed. We will see our young people come alive in the things of the Kingdom. The benefits on the other side of you STEPPING FORWARD outweighs the initial exposure.

Now is the time to finally be free of everything that has held you bound from His promises.

Please let us know how we can pray with you. Remember you are not alone in this Walk.

We Can’t See Until We Hear

“How do you expect to deal with praise from people if you don’t handle criticism well? The Kingdom operates differently based on how you steward what you encounter. How can you expect to handle resources or wealth if you don’t handle lack well.” Pastor Tim

“The one who faithfully manages the little he has been given will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more. If you have not handled the riches of this world with integrity, why should you be trusted with the eternal treasures of the spiritual world?” Luke 16:10

How we steward our encounters with Jesus determines how deep we go into our walk with Him. Everything is about teaching us to look more like Him. Truth is before we can be a credible testimony to others of His power and love we must have good character and integrity.

Ladies, let me speak to you a moment. “I’ll submit to my husband when he starts leading like he is supposed to.” Have you ever said that- better yet, have you thought it? Here’s the thing….it doesn’t work like that. You have to submit to your husband even if he doesn’t seem to be the spiritual one. The scripture gives us clear instructions and it is not based on the behavior of our husband. When you obey this command from the Lord you will begin to see your husband rise to lead your family.

“And out of your reverence for Christ be supportive of each other in love. For wives, this means being devoted to your husbands like you are tenderly devoted to our Lord, for the husband provides leadership for the wife, just as Christ provides leadership for his church, as the Savior and Reviver of the body. In the same way the church is devoted to Christ, let the wives be devoted to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5

Pastor Tim asked us a question last week and reminded us again this past Sunday. “What if the breakthrough you need or the changes you want to see is on the other side of what you don’t want to hear?” Remember Jesus wants to ask us questions to change how we think. Why is this so important? How a man thinks so goes his life.

Is the Holy Spirit asking you things about your money, marriage, health or maybe your children? Let’s talk marriage. Scripture tells us we are to put others ahead of our own wants and needs. Are you doing this in your marriage? If your spouse has a bad day and they come home to rant, how do you respond? Eye roll- get over yourself- everyone has bad days or do you respond with grace and love. “I’m sorry you had a bad day. How can I help to make it better?

Let’s talk health. Abba started talking to us about our health awhile back. To me, he would say, “how’s your health? You are approaching 50.” Wow, really, Lord? He would say - You have children to raise. How old were your parents when they passed? That seems offensive and hurtful, doesn’t it? But not if you have Kingdom thinking. These are hard questions, but I gave Him permission to ask. It caused me to look at my children and say I want to see my great grandchildren. I don’t want to die or be bedridden in my 60s and 70s. For the last 3 or 4 months we have been weight training. I see and feel the difference already. It is hard to go some days, but we have made our health a priority for the sake of our legacy. Everything about us is a reflection of Jesus to others.

Is it your finances? I will give more when I have more to give. That is not Kingdom thinking. Pastor Tim shared about the widow woman who gave more than everyone else. She did that because she valued what was in front of her and she trusted God to care for her. Give the Holy Spirit permission to speak into areas of your life so that you can witness His miracles and see what you have always longed to see. Then follow His voice in what is next. It may be to just sit and let Him love you.

“Will you hear what you don’t want to hear so you can see what you’ve always longed to see?”

Kingdom Thinking

Do you have Kingdom thinking? Let’s look at what Jesus says about the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink, but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with righteousness, peace and joy.”

When things go haywire in your life or even the life of someone you know what is your first thought?

Let’s say you have a situation happen like a flat tire, a broken refrigerator, car trouble or something more personal like problems with your children or your marriage. How do you generally respond? “This is punishment for xyz, you reap what you sow,” these thoughts never bring solutions because you are seeing yourself and the Kingdom wrong.

Or maybe you are the one who points fingers at others. “It’s their fault we are in this situation.” It can be easier to blame others than to allow it to reveal what Abba wants to do. We have been studying John 9 where the disciples ask Jesus why the man was born blind. They assumed it was something he did wrong or sin from his parents. Jesus says- NEITHER! It happened so you could see the miracle of God.

In that story Jesus is trying to change how the disciples thought about things. He is doing the same thing in our lives right now. He is here to challenge how we think because how we deal with disappointment matters.

When you read the stories of Jesus and how he approached problems or situations you’ll never find Him say this is a lost cause or you’re too far gone for Me to help. He always approached with grace, love and a solution. Only one instance He could not help because there was a lack of honor in His hometown. When we approach our problems, we must do it in union with the Holy Spirit and honor what He is showing us. It is the only way to bring grace, love and the solution.

Let’s say the problem is with a loved one who hasn’t surrendered their heart to Jesus. When your thoughts of this person are based in the Kingdom realm you have brought grace and love to this relationship to mend it and bring this person one step closer to restoration but if you approach in your emotions, you’ve given them a wrong image of Jesus.

In order for Jesus to challenge how we think He will ask us questions we often do not want to answer. He doesn’t come to tear us down. His questions may seem offensive at first, but He knows how to get us to the place where we think like Him. He is here to build you up to see change in your family, community and city for generations to come. There is one thing you have to do first. YOU have to give Jesus permission to ask the questions and challenge how you think. He is a gentleman. He will never force you but know there is no greater way to become who He designed you to be than surrendering to His way.

“Jesus responded, “God’s kingdom does not come simply by obeying principles or waiting for signs. The kingdom is not discovered in one place or another, for God’s kingdom realm is already expanding within some of you.” Luke 17:20-21

If you need someone to pray with you, please let us know.

Times of Refreshing

“Times of refreshing in a hope revival. He’s here to revive hope, dreams, and desires.”

These words were given yesterday during the service. Some of us may be in a place of hopelessness right now, and Jesus is here to revive hope in your life. What is hope? A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Truthfully some of us may be in a place where we have never really hoped for anything because we have blindly walked through life each day doing our regular routine. Oh, but there is so much more He has for you.

“And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!” Romans 5:5

This hope starts with the endless love of Yahweh pouring into our hearts. His love is beyond anything you have ever experienced on earth. It transcends doubt, hurt, anger, disappointment, hopelessness and lack of desire. You must come to the understanding He loves you regardless of what you have done or better yet not done. Some of us look at the accomplishments of others and question our own abilities or maybe you think I missed the boat. I am too old to go after dreams and desires of long ago. Both of these thoughts will rob you of joy and quench your hunger for who He designed you to be. He is here for a time of refreshing.

“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.” Hebrews 11:1

You must believe He has a life of abundance for you. It doesn’t always come how we think it should because He will confront disbelief and hopelessness in a way that causes you to question everything but LET HIM! Give Him permission to talk to you about that which has led you down this road. He can be trusted.

Are you in a place you feel like you do not have dreams or desires? Ask Him to restore and revive the ones He gave you as a child. The child in all of us was once excited about those dreams He designed for us, but life can bury them to the point we forgot about them. He is ready to bring them back to life.

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13

If you need someone to pray with you, please send us a request.

Spit is Offensive but Healing

“As long as I am with you my life is the light that pierces the world’s darkness.” Then Jesus spat on the ground and made some clay with his saliva. Then he anointed the blind man’s eyes with the clay. And he said to the blind man, “Now go and wash the clay from your eyes in the ritual pool of Siloam.” So he went and washed his face and as he came back, he could see for the first time in his life!” John 9:5-7

Yesterday we talked about seeing situations the way Jesus wants us to see them, but sometimes this comes by way of hearing first. Let me explain. We learned yesterday the belief in this culture was if someone was blind or sick in any way, they believed it was a direct effect of some type of sin therefore they would show their disgust with that person by way of spitting at their feet. When a person is blind, they typically have excellent hearing. This blind man’s whole life has been filled with hearing the sounds of spitting at his feet. After a while I am sure this effected what he believed about himself. We too have heard a lot of things in our lives that would be similar to the spitting on the ground. As a child, maybe you had parents or grandparents who spoke down to you. It made you feel low and like nothing you ever did would be good enough for them, so you’ve allowed it to blind you to who you really are. Maybe it was a spouse who was verbally or physically abusive and you believed it was all your fault. Or you were bullied in school growing up and it has affected how you see yourself.

Jesus never wants to leave us in our darkness. He will come after those things that hinder how we see ourselves, but oftentimes when He initially comforts those areas it will seem offensive. He initiated this man’s healing by doing what everyone else did. He spat on the ground. All this man could hear was the same old thing- the spit of what he thought was disgust. Oh, but was he in for a treat. He just didn’t know it at first.

Here’s the question to you:

What if what your heart has always wanted to see is on the other side of what you refuse to hear?

This is the time to sit and ponder. Ask questions. Lord, what does my heart long to see in my life and the lives of my family? Allow Him to show you dreams you’ve given up on, longings you buried deep inside because you lost hope. Holy Spirit, what have I refused to hear you say because of pride or pain? Maybe the refusal stems directly from something your parents did or didn’t do, an action by another person who hurt you, or it is a choice of your own doing, either way Jesus has come to confront it. This could be the hardest thing you have ever had to hear but OH, on the other side of this YOU WILL SEE A MIRACLE in your life.

This past June the Lord was talking to me about things in my life I was putting before Him. At first, I didn’t want to admit it. I made excuses of why, but He kept pouring on grace with His truth and my eyes were open. On this side of making Him priority I have seen things shift in my own life and heart. I can hear His voice now in a crowded room. Let Him speak to you. He wants the absolute best for you. Surrender to what He wants to tell you and obey His leading, even if at first it seems offensive.

In the beginning of this scripture, Jesus says, “As long as I am with you my life is the light that pierces the world’s darkness.” Let Him light up the dark parts of your heart so you can go and LIGHT UP THE WORLD AROUND YOU!

What Lense are You Using?

“Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, he noticed a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused this guy’s blindness, his own, or the sin of his parents?” Jesus answered, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle” John 9:1-3

The disciples had this perspective if someone has a sickness or suffering in some way, they must have done something wrong. This perspective came from the culture around them. It was thought in that time if you had any type of ailment, it was a punishment for something you did, or it was a generational curse.

We often think the same way. Who do you know that always has something bad happening in their life? Have you ever thought, “what did they do to deserve all of this?” Or maybe it is finances for you. Always a struggle every month. Have you ever thought, “Why is this happening? I work hard. I give,” but there is always something that keeps you from getting ahead.

Jesus is here to teach us the correct way of thinking. He said, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle.” Today, He is here to challenge how we approach problems in our own lives and in the lives of others. These moments of sickness or some issue happening is the opportunity to encounter Jesus. Stop and ask the Holy Spirit, what miracle do you want me to see? He wants us to look through the lenses of the Cross. These lenses are of love, restoration, and hope. Never of punishment. It starts with seeing things how he sees them. We cannot continue to carry beliefs that were passed down or beliefs that are part of a culture around us. We are the ones to bring hope, restoration and love to others, but it has to be the core of who we are. You can’t fake the power of the Cross. It brings real miracles and real change to people’s lives.

It is time to give Jesus His due reward for the sacrifice He made. We do this by walking in our true identity, Beloved sons and Beloved daughters and then we bring this hope and truth to others so they can witness His miracles too.

Holy Spirit, thank you for revealing the truth of your Word to us. Help us to see ourselves as You see us. Beloved sons and daughters full of love and hope for others. Let us see the world around us through your eyes, so when people encounter us, they encounter You and will experience miracles in their life.

Kingdom Family

FAMILY.

When you think of the word family what feeling is evoked? For some, this word brings a smile to your face. For others, you may not have had a good experience with family. Abba wants to change every perspective we have in our lives and family is a big one. Pastor Tim made mention of family Sunday and Abba wants to go deeper in how He designed Kingdom family.

“Abba does something incredible. He puts you in family for them to confirm what He is already saying to you.” Pastor Tim

We will explore scripture today and see what He says about Kingdom family and why it is important. In Psalms 68, it says, “let them all rejoice in your presence and be carried away with gladness. Let them laugh and be radiant with joy! Let them sing their celebration-songs for the coming of the cloud rider whose name is Yah! To the fatherless he is a father. To the widow he is a champion friend. The lonely he makes part of a family.” Abba designed us to be together. No one wants to be alone. Loneliness changes who you are originally designed to be.

We have all heard the phrase, “do not forsake the assembly of one another.” This is what it says in Hebrews 10. “Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.”

Kingdom family cultural is so important and it is vital to us here at The Wilderness Place. Hebrews gives us an example of what we are to do to establish this Kingdom lifestyle. We are to encourage one another, be compassionate and express love. We do this by coming together. Sharing with one another. One of the beautiful aspects of our family here at TWP is compassion for each other. The love that is between us. It doesn’t see color or class. We are all His beloved sons and daughters. When we miss coming together in person, whether it be on Sunday, Tuesday, dinner together, coffee together or however He is leading you- we miss an opportunity for the presence of Jesus to be established in lives and miracles to happen. He says, wherever two or more are gathered I am in the midst.

“Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts! Let every activity of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you! Colossians 3:14

Festive praise and prophetic songs are given when we come together. Our lives are drenched in the beauty of Jesus. When we are established together in the atmosphere of praise, we can change the world around us. In our jobs, our families, in the grocery store, in the gym, at our children’s school. People changing because they encounter the Kingdom of God when they are around you starts with an established Kingdom family that you embrace. It takes us walking together to make a difference.

“It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another.” Proverbs 27:17

We need each other. If you are reading this and you feel like you don’t have that type of family our doors and hearts here at The Wilderness Place is always open to you. I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit where your family is and let Him lead you. This walk is not meant to be done alone.

The Blessing is His Voice

“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3

ARE YOU HUNGRY ENOUGH TO HEAR WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR?

“We have to be dependent on the Voice, not what we see. Do you know what manna means? It means “what is it?” God provided something they could not describe, reproduce or even store it up for later. Why? Abba doesn't want our trust in the manna. He desires for your trust to be in His voice.” Pastor Tim

The Israelites could not explain what this substance was. They could not reproduce it. This was Yahweh’s way of teaching them to trust in what He was speaking completely. Even when they tried to save for a rainy day it became rotten.

Has that ever happened to you? You think, I’ll save this for a rainy day but then something comes up, and you have to use it. Or Yahweh ask you to give financial help to someone, but you think, “really? right now, Lord?” Are we leaning into His voice concerning EVERY aspect of our lives? He will allow you to hunger and ask, “what is it?” “Why is this happening right now?” to teach us to listen for His voice.

Ponder this: the more we read the better we get at reading, the more we write the better we get, the more we practice doing anything - we get better. The same is true for hearing His voice. The more you lean in, asking Him to give you an ear to hear His whisper the more you will hear Him even in a crowded room. I honestly cannot think of anything better than walking each day as He guides me along with His voice. He really does want to lead us into the promise land, but it must come from the direction of His voice. The BLESSING is HIS VOICE!

Yahweh goes on to tell the Israelites what lies ahead for them if they obey His commands; the same is true for us as we hear His voice and obey.

“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.” Deuteronomy 8:8-10

The Foundation of Your Heart

“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Pastor Tim shared these verses Sunday. Let’s go deeper in what Abba is wanting to teach us here. God led the Israelites into the wilderness for forty years. Why? This verse tells us He did it to humble them and test them, to know what was in their hearts, whether they would obey His commandments.

Abba never tempts us, but He will allow us to be tested. We can have a perspective of ourselves that may not actually be who we are in the depths of our hearts, and we can’t know this until we are put in a situation that reveals our heart. He didn’t put the Israelites in the wilderness because He didn’t know what was in their heart, it was because THEY didn’t know. Just like us, He already knows what is there and what is required for us to see for ourselves. What have you bumped up against recently that has revealed an aspect of your heart that He is wanting to address? Disappointment in someone you trusted, loss of a relationship, loss of a job, lack, maybe it is realizing your dependance on something other than Him?

This is always about Him teaching us to hear His voice. Whispering for our hearts to trust Him alone. He allows us to get to a place of humility and oftentimes this starts at the foundation of what is in our hearts. We cannot move any further when we have bitterness, resentment or unforgiveness in our hearts. I want to ask you to do something today. Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to show you who you have unforgiveness in your heart towards? It could even be yourself. Who are you still angry with? Who is the person when you hear their name bitterness or resentment rises up? Allow Him to go back as far as He needs to. This is a really hard thing for some of us to do, but Jesus is with you. His grace is so tangible in these moments. Trust Him to comfort you.

As He is showing you, I want you to write it down on paper. Imagine this paper is your altar unto the Lord. Once you feel like you have written everyone and everything He has shown you then I want you to shred it and put it in the trash. It is now covered by His grace. Gone forever. Your heart can be free to experience a greater depth of His love and presence. Jesus gave His life for you and this very moment. Embrace it.

Are you hungry enough to hear what you need to hear?