God's Will for your Life

I was frustrated, discouraged and felt defeated.  Working four different jobs to make ends meet was finally taking its toll on me.  My wife and I were ready to pack up and move to the Dallas area hoping it would provide the opportunity for a fresh start. 

But before we made the final decision to uproot and head to Dallas I took a week off to rest and celebrate  the New Year with my mother who lives in a small town in west Texas. 

On Saturday January 4, 2014 I started my journey home taking  the route that would bring me through the Dallas area.  I did this having already decided in my mind that when I arrived home we were going to start taking steps to transition north.  But I wanted to pray one more time, this time while traveling through the geographical area I was hoping we'd experience a new beginning. 

So while traveling east on Interstate 20 I rolled my window down on a cold wintery morning and started to pray.  It doesn't always happen this way but immediately I heard the voice of God respond to the voice of my prayers.  

Clearly I heard God saying this next season of my life was not about geographical location but was more about getting in His presence and becoming more intimate with Him.  I continued to listen as the voice of God communicated  I needed to become reacquainted with who He is in me and who I am with Him in me.  Basically becoming secure in my identity as a child of God!  

I was so certain of what my heart was hearing from heaven that I was convinced  I could really live anywhere I wanted as long as my priority was becoming more intimate with God.  Nothing was more important in my life at this time than getting reconnected with my identity as a son of God! 

I still had around five hours of drive time so I just started to meditate on the wealth of the words I'd heard.  And let me add that I'm a "facebooker" so I started to write a post (after pulling over of course) when I sensed that I didn't need to go public with the Word from God I was blessed to receive that day. 

Approximately two hours later as I'm now traveling south down Interstate 45 I receive a text from a Pastor friend who lives and pastors a great church in Pueblo West, Co.  I'm just going to write word for word the text.

"Dude, the Lord just gave me a word for you.  lol!  It is found in Ezekiel 44.  There is a contrast between the sons of Zadok and the priests.  Only the sons of Zadok could approach the Lord and minister before Him.  The other priests could minister to the people but couldn't approach Him.  While there is a people God has for you for sure He wanted me to tell you that the new thing He has for you in ministry has arrived but it is more about ministry to Him and in His presence and going to a new level of intimacy and a new place in Him and less about a geographical place in the earth right now.  Ministry to people is a far second.  Ministry to Him is primary.  Read Ezekiel 44.  I hope this all made sense.  If not give me a call.  Blessings on you and Jeanie."  (Pastor Aaron Tomlison)

In a moment of what I like to call "suddenly"  God confirmed that I had been hearing His voice and also confirmed my primary assignment for this next season of our lives and ministry. 

So many times we can be distracted from what's primary while doing and searching for what we believe God wants us to do.   We get caught up in "doing" instead of "being" who called God called us to be. 

 What we're doing for God should come out of who we're becoming for God and who we're becoming is formed in God's presence. The more intimate I become with Him the more I become like Him! 

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children."  (Ephesians 5:1)

In those seasons I'm uncertain about what God has called me do I can be certain about "who" I'm called to be because being intimate with God is a life-time calling, for all of us!

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...."   (James 4:8) 

Friends God is longing to spend time with you. Make your relationship with Him the priority of your life! 

You may ask, but what about the doing?  Jesus answered it best in John 15. 

"I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  (John 15:5)

Can you see it, it's clear?  Intimacy comes before doing.  Intimacy is God's will! 

Growing in intimacy,
Ken Woolf

QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION BUT GIVING UP MIGHT BE THE THING TO DO

Sometimes life just doesn't make sense.  Your dreams are shattered, you're confused about the future and it seems you have no purpose on the earth.

The more you think about the failures of the past the more you become fearful of the future!

When fear is the motivator the more hopeless you become.  With no hope there's no faith for a better tomorrow.  

How about that unexplained tragedy that's broken your heart and you can't seem to find all the pieces to put your heart back together.  

Over and over again you wonder what life holds and where you're going. 

Are you searching for answers?  Well, quitting is not an option but giving up might be the thing to do.

Give up trying to explain why the tragedy or failure happened.

Give up searching for answers that might never be answered on this side of eternity.

Give up trying to cast blame on this person or that person and give up blaming yourself.

Give up your attempts to hold everything together in your own strength.

Give up trying to understand what's not understandable.

Give up trying to explain the unexplainable. 

Give up and trust God!  That's right, just trust God!

Trust that God is bigger than your past and He holds your future in His hands.  

Trust God that He can take all that's happened in your life and work it all together for your good. 

Just give up and say "God I trust You!'  Or you might say it this way.   "God, I surrender! Not just part of me but all of me." 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight."  (Proverbs 3:5,6) 

When you give up you go up with God.  When you surrender all,  God gives you His all!

Quitting is not an option but giving up might be the thing for you to do today.  Trust God, what He's started in you He will finish because He is faithful!

Lay your cares at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ and pick up the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Oh, and start DREAMING.......AGAIN!

Kenneth Woolf

What was God Thinking?

One minute he's declaring a revelation given him by God the Father and the next minute Jesus is turning and saying to Peter, and I quote, "Get behind me, Satan!"  

On another occasion he's stepping out of a boat walking on the water and then instantly the stormy sea that once held him up is now swallowing his body as he sinks. 

You have to give him credit for his zeal to open his mouth and his willingness to do something impossible, such as walking on water.  But Peter really couldn't get anything right and God had no problem recording Peter's blunders in the pages of His inspired Word called the Bible. 

I chuckle as I write this but in another encounter between Jesus and Peter,  Jesus is telling Peter "before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."  What does Peter reply?  "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."  Or in other words Peter is telling Jesus that He's wrong.  Well, we all know how that turned out!  Peter just couldn't get it right and again God let's us know. 

 As Jesus is being betrayed by Judas and then arrested by a mob of people,  Peter comes to the rescue and pulls his sword and cuts off a guys ear.  Jesus rebukes Peter and then picks up the ear and reattaches it,  healing the servant. Peter just couldn't get it right,  and yes, again God let's us know. 

So the following verse  just blows my mind and initially generates the following question.  What was God thinking? 

"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd....."  (Acts 2:14)

 One of the most important events in the history of Christianity,  next to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ,  has just taken place!   I'm speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.  And Peter, the one who couldn't get anything right, stands and explains to the crowd what had just taken place and then preaches the first gospel message since the ascension of Jesus and thousands are born again! 

Now if it's me choosing the one who's going to fulfill this monumental task of trying to make plain why those in the upper room are speaking in other tongues and then on top of that preaching the very first message of the Good News,  Peter probably wouldn't be my first pick for obvious reasons.  After all, he couldn't get anything right! 

And now that I think about it, I probably wouldn't choose me!    I can't help but think of the verse that records a conversation that Jesus is having with His disciples.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."  (Matthew 15:16) 

So what was God thinking?  Oh,  who can fully know God's thoughts and ways, they're much higher than ours.  But one thing is apparent.  God wasn't  as concerned about Peter's failures as Peter probably was or even the others around him.
  
 And God's probably not as concerned about your failures as you are.  I really believe that Peter just kept showing up.  He just kept following Jesus, failures and all.  And on the Day of Pentecost Peter showed up and God used him in a powerful way and thousands were born again and the early church was birthed. 

Now here's the cool thing!  God had no problem letting us know that He chose Peter, the guy who couldn't get anything right! 

So maybe it's time for you to start showing up, mistakes and all.  It's time for you to Dream.......Again!  

I just have this impression that if you'll keep SHOWING UP,  a day will come that you STAND UP and God uses you in a powerful way! 

Oh yes, and He'll have no problem letting others know that HE CHOSE YOU! 

Showing up and Standing up!
Ken Woolf