Mourner's New Name...

Wake up, Mourner!
Dry your tears, for your sorrow bath is over!

Get up on your feet and off of your face, for I have heard your prostrated cry. My anger is complete, oh Mourner!
You've drank the cup of My wrath that was brimming full and now I am satisfied. My thirsty anger has been quenched.

Wake up, Mourner and sing your solemn songs no more. Sing now a sweet song with Me, poured from the honeycomb of My infinite joys.

Dance no more, Mourner, to your dirges written with stinging pen of morose. But dance now with Me, Mourner and I will change your name. I will sing to you and call you Rescued-Joy.

It came to this, for you were deaf and would not hear My singing. You learned to sing silent songs of self from all too nimble fingers never meant to sing.

I have opened your ears and now the silent songs resound upon quaking drums shrouded by auricled orchestra halls that were never meant to be silenced to My song... for it was written for you.

Awaken Rescued-Joy, for your love has come and beckoned on bended knee that you dance with Me again.

"All That I Have Said I Will Do..."

On June 9th, I received a message from God through the scriptures, Isaiah 32: 9-20. I've held this for a while and felt compelled to release it today. I had for a time, lost the message within the message... I focused on the wrong part trying to figure it out a certain aspect - timing - that was distracting from what God wished to say.

The same day that I received this message from the Lord, I received an email outlining another specific prophecy given 4 days or so prior to what I received. It has never failed that when God has impressed something upon me, that another confirming message follows. It was a message from a pastor named Darren Smith. I don't know Darren, but several things in the message confirmed to me that this was from the Lord as well. It was to me a confirming sign that the below message is from the Lord too.

I'm young in this and struggle in whether or not something is from the Lord or if it's just my fancying... So, God graciously obliges my struggle with a gentle urging that He has spoken and I should share.

I questioned the nature of the message God had revealed to me because of a specific phrase, "In just over a year from now, you'll be shaken out of your lazy lives" (Isaiah 32:10 The Message). At first it seemed that a specific timing was being given as to when the judgment would take place, so this caused caution in me. I had a trusted spiritual leader examine and give insight to the prophecy, or message, and learned that this doesn't necessarily mean a literal year, although it still could, be could most likely be a metaphor for "in a very short time." For instance, an "hour" in the Bible often means a time or span of time and not necessarily a literal hour. Keep this in mind when reading the message, and don't get so caught up with the timing issue as I did and miss the message(s). It is not the message. One of the most important messages comes in the most subtle of phrases, "All that I have said, I will do."

Here is the message as I received it on June 9th, 2009:

"Doom to you, oh nation for your end has come. Weeping and wailing will be your produce, for I move against you to humble you before myself. You have not returned to me though I have called you. I've waited patiently for your return that will not come until I strike you down. It is you who have forced My hand against yourselves. Oh, how I would have loved to be your God and for you to be My people, but you wouldn't have it. No, you preferred to chase your own gods, those you created from your own works. You wouldn't listen to me though I warned you and warned you. You openly mock those I've sent with the message rather choosing to gather unto yourselves false teachers who speak smooth sayings - these I have NOT sent! They have built for themselves empires on the hopes of the poor and those who are heavy burdened. They have not shown My little ones My love and good news. Now they have called on themselves destruction. I will make an ash heap out of their so-called hallowed halls. Their empires will dirty the feet of my tramplings, as I alone am the champion of the weak whom these false teachers have preyed upon. This will be the lot of all those who seek their way. I will stand over them and mock their efforts with my knee firmly thrust into their throats. The weight of my glory will silence their sinful mouths and the poor will laugh at their folly. I will have no super stars represent me, they only represent themselves. I am now their enemy.

In just a little over a year from now, they'll all be shaken out of their lazy lives. All that I have said I will do. My wrath is kindled against this nation and it will burn in fury. In calamity and chaos I will strike you and the world will see your fall. They will laugh at the embarrassment that you've become, oh Great Nation. Who is so decadent now? You will fill your glasses with tears and drink their sorrows. I have warned you but you made Me your joke; I am nothing more than a punchline to you as well as my people whom you mock. You think you are so wise with your opinions and acts of fake kindness, but I see your hearts. The good things that you do are for your own benefit. You only care for your appearance, but I am going to mar your appearance. You will be un-recognizable as a man. My fists will break your face and your wealth will disappear in an hour. It is I who has picked this fight with you now and you will be destroyed.

The righteous need not worry. For I am your sustainer. This is not a lesson they need to learn, for the righteous know in whom they have believed. Take courage for I am your champion. I will defend you. My judgment is reserved not for you, oh righteous, but for the wicked. Keep trusting me. I will not fail you, nor have I ever failed you. My records are sure, look to them for I will sustain the righteous as I always have. I am coming quickly... do not despair little ones.

The Lord's message as received from Isaiah 32.

Baptized in the Ocean...

REVOLVE! Student Ministries just returned yesterday from our first annual
Beach Trip. Our travels took us to sunny Panama City Beach, Florida where
we stayed at Laguna Beach Christian Retreat. We had beach side condos with
private balconies overlooking the ocean... What a view!

Each night on our retreat we had worship services, some of which were on the
beach during late evening with the worship song of the relentless tide
laping songs to heaven while we sang songs as well.

Each of the three services were centered around different aspects of
creation. Friday night was "More Than Sand...", then "More Than Sea..."
followed by "More Than Sky..." on Saturday and Sunday evenings respectively.

"Sand" was about Gods constant mindfulness of us from Psalm 139. By using a
calculation of an estimated grains of sand on the beaches of the world and
the number of people on the planet it was determined that God thinks 3.5
complete thoughts of each of us every single second of the day. We
contrasted His mindfulness of us to our mindfulness of Him... we fall
grossly short. The challenge was to make God the center of our attentions
every day.

"Sea" was about Gods relentless faithfulness to us taken from Psalm 104.
The creatures of the ocean look to God for their appointed meals and in
light of Matthew 10:31 how much more valuable are we than sparrows. Gods
faithfulness to us is more constant than the tide of the seas and long after
this world and seas burn and fade God will still be faithful to His people.
The challenge then was to compare our faithfulness and to make it our
pursuit to be faithful to God each and every moment of our lives.

"Sky" was taken from Psalm 8 and also Jeremiah 29:11. We looked at how
expansive the universe is and how little we are and how God is faithfully
mindful of us. His purpose for us is higher than the sky in His Kingdom and
that we are God's idea... He thought us up and invented us. His purpose
will be accomplished in us when we follow after Him and allow Him to guide
our steps.

After the Sunday service there were five who wanted to be baptized as a sign
of their renewed commitment to Christ, so we waded out into the ocean with a
beautiful evening and breeze and were baptized in the ocean. What a
wonderful re-committed statement to a mindful, faithful and purposeful
Creator.

One other neat aspect of the trip was that a worship chorus was born. With
the music talent of Aaron Griffin he set some lyrics I had written during
our journal time to music and we sang it as a worship chorus on Sunday
evening before the baptisms. We plan on using this chorus again on
Wednesday. The teens named the song as well... "More Than...".

God was truly faithful to us in this trip. Thank you Father!

Salvation In Judgment... Salvation is for Today!

One of God's revealed plans in the coming judgment - other than what is obvious... judgment - is Salvation. God has revealed time and again that He is the One sustaining and upholding the righteous.

David Wilkerson has preached recently that the "Righteous Will Never Be Ashamed". Pastor Roger Daniel has preached a message given to him by God called entitled, "Remember Goshen." Some months ago I blogged a message from God entitled "Reassure the Righteous". And, yet another sermon preached, again, by David Wilkerson "A Song Will Arise". The messages all express God's message that the righteous will be saved in judgment, and that only in the "deep places of God" will we find this salvation.

We know from God, as well, that everything that can be shaken will be shaken shortly. But, in the midst of all the terrible messages of judgment, wrath, chaos, calamity, terror, shaking and collapse one message remains - a central message as an end to all messages of judgment - that God is moving in Salvation! We that are hearing God's warning messages are looking to the day when a great out pouring of His Spirit is to occur. We see Salvation coming after the pronounced judgment, which is true. However, in reading Isaiah 46:12-13 (The Message) see what the Lord is saying to us as well:

"Now listen to me: You're a hardheaded bunch and hard to help. I'm ready to help you RIGHT NOW. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn't on hold. I'm putting salvation to work in Zion NOW, and glory in Israel."

Did you see it? I hope so... I put in bold face type and capitalization! Salvation from God is now!!! Not tomorrow... not after judgment. Today is the day of the Lord; today is the day of Salvation. And, in the day that we find ourselves - the world, the wicked - in the throws of God's terrible wrath, that day will also be the day of Salvation!

So, saints - righteous ones - today is the day! Salvation is now! Don't look forward in terrible dread; know that God has carried you as a baby, He has carried you as a child and as His word declares in Isaiah, "[He] will carry you when you are old and gray headed (46:3-4)." Terrible days may be ahead, but Salvation is now and to come, just as it has always been.

Lift up your heads, Saints! For the God of Salvation is with us... today!

The Mourning Bells...

Awaken Sleeper! Did you not hear the Mourning Bells?
They toll for you...

You are the gullet from which they sing their song.
Awaken Sleeper, for your day has come and bred reason for the Mourning Bells to toll.

Hear them sing your name, oh Sleeper? Your slumber has cost you everything...

The Mourning Bells are tolling their tinny tones for you, Sleeper, who doesn't despair for their ringing...

Your slumber has ended and in Eternal waking moments of not enough rest your placid eyes will burn -

You are cursed to climb the belfry to toll forever your Mourning Song...

The Day Before Your Last Day on Earth...

In our church men's group, we are going through John Ortberg's book study, "It All Goes Back in the Box." During the DVD portion of the study, Ortberg referenced a Talmud philosophy that says, "One should repent the day before his last day on Earth."

Then the anticipated question is asked, "How do you know when the day before your last day on Earth is?" The response is always. "To live everyday as though it is the day before your last day on Earth. Pretty smart response I should say.

But, it got me to thinking. What would I do if it truly were the day before my last day on Earth? Would I blog about the current administration? Would I update my FaceBook page to notify all my "friends" that I'm going to be checking out... well, maybe. The truth is I would spend as much time with my wife and children as I possibly could. Praying with them, instructing my children on how to really live life and what is truly important. I would tell them how much I love them and enjoyed being their father, and Pamela's husband.

Then, I come full circle back to the idea of the Talmud teaching. Shouldn't I do this everyday? This teaching or tradition shows exactly how quickly and easily we take life for granted. We live like we have all the time in the world here. It's a truly fascinating thought to think how one might live if this were the reality. If today, were really the day before my last day on Earth... I hope I wouldn't be on the computer typing away a bunch of nonsense. :) I better get home now and be with my family.

But, then my demented mind turns the thought a bit more... what if yesterday was the day before my last day on Earth? What if it's today that I'm going home? What opportunities did I miss out on yesterday? Did I treat my wife well? Was I more abrubpt with my children and less loving?

I learned a bit of Chinese wisdom from the movie Kung Fu Panda... the old turtle master tells the struggling fat panda - whom was just chosen as the unlikely Dragon Warrior - "The past is history; the future is a mystery, but today is a gift - that's why its called 'the Present.'" We should view and live everyday as a gift from the Giver and cherish each moment consciencly taking each opportunity to contribute to the Giver's Kingdom. Today is truly a gift.