Family

Not long ago I was asked what I missed the most about being a Police Officer.

Without hesitation I replied, "the relationships!"

Sometimes I jokingly reply, "putting people in jail."  I always get a strange look when I say that.

The people I worked with, we were FAMILY!  We were close and could depend on one another.  I love the family atmosphere,  a sense of BELONGING!

Now that I'm a Pastor this is something I often miss among my peers but that's for another blog.

While at the gym recently I noticed a sign on the wall that said, "you belong."

I believe we all have a desire to BELONG!  I think that's why I also love being a United States Marine. There are no "X"-Marines.  You're part of a family for life!

Have you ever thought about why God created people?  I believe it's because He wanted a FAMILY!  God is love and He wanted someone to express His love to!

AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BE PART OF HIS FAMILY.........FOR LIFE!

How strong is God's desire?  

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."  Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

"For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life."
John 3:16 (TPT)

God wants you to identify with Him as a Father because you're His child.  God wants a family and He wants you to know, you belong!  

"And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”  Romans 8:15,16 (TPT)

Wow, when Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life, you belong!  Never to be forsaken again or alone again!   YOU'RE FAMILY!  

And the cool thing is we get to hang out with God's children on this earth!  Why?  We have something in common, God is our Father!  

Not only do we belong to God but we belong to one another!  FAMILY!   

"Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian."  Ephesians 2:19 (TLB)

We belong to one another!  

Here's some really good news!  You can connect with God right now through His Son Jesus Christ and you can connect with His family on this earth.   

YOU NEVER HAVE TO BE ALONE AGAIN!  

Dreaming.....Again,

Ken

CHANGE

The God who never changes is always changing things!  Time changes things.

Yet we treat change like the plague and dig our heels in and demand it be done like it's been done the last 30 years.  Even if the change is for God's plan to be fulfilled.

There are days I reflect back on the years I attended grade school and I miss my hometown and the friends I grew up with.  And it doesn't help that I attended the greatest school in Texas, Port Neches-Groves.  Yep I still bleed purple from time to time!  Scalp-em Indians!

But it would seem odd and I'd probably end up in jail if I kept showing up at the High School trying to attend classes some 37 years later.

TIME HAS CHANGED THINGS!  The only way to stop this change is to die and I'm not ready for that, although it will happen one day.  And here's the truth, even when I die time will continue to change things on the earth.

Change is inevitable.  So why do we fight change so much?

In a recent elders meeting at our church, one of the elders, Terry Hitt, said something that is now forever engrained in my cerebral cortex.

"When people fight change it's because they want to be immutable like God and we are not. They want to be God."  WOW!

"I am the Lord, I do not change..." (Malachi 3:6)

That's why God's Word, the Bible, will never change.  Because the Author never changes!

But the God who never changes is always changing things!  One minute he speaks from a burning bush and then the next he speaks from a cloud.   On one occasion Jesus touches someone and heals them and then on another they touch Him and are healed.

One minute a blind man is healed after Jesus puts mud in his eyes and tells him to go for a swim in a pool of water and the next minute Jesus heals a blind man simply by speaking to him and telling him his faith has healed him.

The God who never changes is always changing things.

And when we fight that change we die spiritually and miss out on the miracle God has for us.  

SEEK AND SURRENDER!

Today I want to SEEK God with all my heart and hear His voice!

Then I want to SURRENDER to what He's doing in my life.  I want to SURRENDER to what He's doing in His church. I want to SURRENDER to what He's doing in the earth!

EVEN IF IT MEANS I NEED TO EXPERIENCE CHANGE!  

"For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." 
(Isaiah 43:19)

You and I can reach people in an ever-changing world with the Good News of a loving Heavenly Father that never changes, if we are willing to change!

Dreaming.......Again,

Ken Woolf

GOT FAMILY

It's about more than just going to church, it's about being part of a family!

Why did God create human beings?  Because He wanted a family!

Jesus taught his disciples and us to pray like this:  Our "Father" in heaven.."

Therefore God desires for us to communicate with him as family!  He's our Father and we're his children!

Wow, you never have to be lonely again!  

"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God,  whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy..."   (Psalm 68:5,6)

God is all about family!

That's why it's about more than just going to church.  God, the Father, wants you and me to be connected in his family!

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."   (Ephesians 1:5)

GOD WANTED A FAMILY!

Being included in God's family is one of the highest honors and greatest privileges you and I will ever receive!

Relationships are what life is all about.  Our relationship with God and our relationships with one another!

In fact you can't be connected to God and NOT be connected to His family!

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body.  We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."  (Romans 12:4,5)

Following Jesus Christ involves belonging and not just believing!

I'm not going to ask you if you're going to church, but I am going to ask you if you're connected to a family, God's family?  

We read in Ephesians 5 that it gave God great pleasure to give his son Jesus Christ so that he could have a family.

It should give us great pleasure to be part of God's family!   Loving one another and serving one another should bring us great pleasure and be a priority in our life!

Through a selfless act Jesus Christ gave himself so that we can be part of his family,  and through living a selfless life we can discover who God created us to be when we're connected and involved and serving in God's family!

You and I will find God's best for us when we're connected to his family!

I've discovered that the dreams of God for my life are cultivated in an atmosphere of being involved in the family of God!

In fact I started DREAMING.......AGAIN when I simply started serving God's family!

Running to Win,

Ken Woolf

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING (Part 2)

The summer of 2011 and the following year was gut wrenching to say the least! I'll spare you all the details but let me just say my family suffered great loss after stepping out to plant a church.

In the aftermath,  all that was left standing was our family relationships which I'm thankful for.

So the question was at the time,  what's next and what's going to be my attitude toward God, life and ministry?

Fast forward about six and half years and my family and I are once again leading a great church and we'll be here 2 years September 2018.

But what about those 5 years between the two churches?  And what about my attitude during those years?

Before I sound like some super human that has everything together please understand those were some difficult days.  I struggled, my wife struggled, my whole family struggled. I lost count of the times I wanted to quit!

There were times my attitude was like riding a roller coaster but in time the joy of the Lord returned and with it our ability to DREAM.......AGAIN.

I laugh now but I don't know how many times I asked my wife Jeanie if she thought I was still a pastor.  Finally I had a "light bulb" moment when she STRONGLY replied, "I believe you're a pastor but YOU have to believe you're a pastor!"

So let me share a few practical yet spiritual steps that I believe helped us get where we're at today and helped my attitude stay positive about the future.

1.  Stay connected to God and don't blame Him.

God is a good God and He loves to give good gifts to His children!  Get the picture?

So stay connected with God!

2.  Stay connected with God's family and don't blame people!  I'm not trying to boast, only trying to  help people, but we never missed connecting with the family of God (going to church) because we were mad at God or mad at people.

In fact we ended up serving in a church as associate pastors for four years.  I think it really helped my attitude having to humble myself and serve under another  leader.  Cleaning those toilets and mopping the floors probably help as well but that's for another blog.

3.  Stay connected with reality.  Be real!  Or in other words, do what you know to do when you don't know what to do.

And sometimes you have to do what you don't want to do to get to the place you're doing what you want to do.

I'm sure Joseph didn't want to be thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, wrongfully accused and then thrown into prison.  But this is what led to the fulfillment of the dream God had given him!

For me it was starting a lawn service, substitute teaching, serving another pastor, and painting houses and businesses.  I was just doing what I knew was my responsibility to do when I didn't know what to do.

And having a good attitude about it even after we'd lost everything taking a step of faith in obedience to God! 

In those days of mowing grass, teaching students, painting houses and serving another pastor, there was one Bible verse that kept me going with the right attitude.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  (Romans 8:28)

And today, well, we're DREAMING.......AGAIN!  And the cool thing is that you can as well!  

Running to Win,

Ken

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

A man named David was chosen by God to be the next King of Israel yet afterwards he hid in caves in the wilderness because the current King wanted to kill him.

Surely God knew that when He went public with His desire for David to be King it would spur Saul onto jealousy?  And Saul knew how to throw spears.  And David learned how to dodge spears!

Many years before God chose David he chose another man named Joseph and gave him a dream!  Sounds delightful!  A dream from God!

Although, the brother's of Joseph weren't delighted with the "dreamer" so they threw him in a pit  which led to Joseph being sold into slavery and then wrongfully accused of rape and being incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit.

How can we fully explain why these men had to experience what they did but history and the Bible tell us that David did become King and the God given dream of Joseph was fulfilled.

Joseph was put in a position to protect the birthing process of a Nation and David would later lead that Nation.

How did they reach the goal after facing daunting circumstances?  ATTITUDE!

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!

I've heard it said before that attitude will determine your altitude!

Attitude, everybody has one!  Attitude will determine your destiny!  

Wait a minute I thought God determines my destiny?  It was God's plan for a whole generation of the Children of Israel to enter the promised land after being delivered from Egyptian bondage yet they died in the wilderness.

WHY?  Because of their ATTITUDE!  They did nothing but murmur and complain which expressed their ungrateful hearts of unbelief.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING.

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

An attitude of gratitude is everything!  

When I'm thankful in all things it communicates to God that I trust Him and believe that whatever He's promised is true and my friends that's everything to God.

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

Running to Win,

Ken

RECOVER ALL

 Recover your peace.  Recover your joy.  Recover your love.  Recover your faith.  Recover your dreams.  Yes you can DREAM.......AGAIN!

Recovering all has everything to do with how we respond to our tragedies.  How we respond to our trials and tribulations.  How we respond to our difficulties.

One of the more popular stories in the Old Testament is found in 1 Samuel 30  where David and his mighty men return home to Ziklag and find that an enemy has invaded their homes and kidnapped the women and children and stolen all their possessions.

Have you ever been blindsided?  Unexpected events that robbed you of your peace, your joy?  A time when you felt really vulnerable to life?  Things happened that in the natural it seemed God was nowhere around or to be found.  

This is all about THE ENEMY that had invaded their place of security and safety.

The Amalekites were the enemy.   Descendants of Amalek!  Why is this significant to us?  Well let me give you four meanings of the word "Amalek."

1.  The evil eye of doubt
2.  Spiritual Blindness
3.  Cutting of the neck
4.  A dweller in the Valley

Can you see the progression the enemy wants to plant in our mind and heart after we've suffered loss?

We begin to doubt God which leads to spiritual blindness because the Bible says that without faith it's impossible to please Him.

 Then we become blind to the things of God and there's a disconnect between our spirit man and Jesus Christ who the Bible identifies as the Head of the Body.  He is our source of LIFE!

And when we're severed from our source of life we become "dwellers in the valley."  

HEAR THE WORDS OF JESUS!

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]."  (John 10:10)

We all experience the "valleys" of life but Jesus never intended for us to become "dwellers in the valley."

None of us desire to inhabit the valley so how do we obviate the occasions to build a house when God simply wants us to walk through?

Before I give the simple answer,  you and I can be certain that David and his friends were having a really bad day!

"When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families,  they wept until they could weep no more."  (1 Samuel 30:3,4)

But instead of allowing doubt to take root and eventually becoming a "valley dweller"  David gives us the answer to walking through our difficult seasons with his response to the tragedy.

So here it is, it's really deep and profound!

TALK TO GOD AND DO WHAT HE SAYS!   

"Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely RECOVER EVERYTHING that was taken from you!"  (1 Samuel 30:8)

I don't know about you but my vision in the valley is often limited and shortsighted.  But when I talk to God and hear His voice I get a vision that is BEYOND my natural eye sight.

I get a "GOD" perspective that guides my way to RECOVERING EVERYTHING the enemy has stolen!

And that my friends brings us to a place of DREAMING.......AGAIN!  

Talking and listening to God!

Ken Woolf

GOD RESTORES

As we read the Bible we find that God RESTORES!  He loves taking broken people and RESTORING their lives to the beauty in which He created them for.

I love the this definition of the word restore!  

Restore- healing of a wound.  The new flesh that grows at the wounded spot.  Health, perfected, soundness, wholeness.  

 One of the most beautiful pictures of RESTORATION is found in the following Bible verses.

 “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:  “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!"  (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

Do you feel marred in the hand of the potter?  Wounded in the hand of the potter?  Broken in the hand of the potter?  Damaged in the hand of the potter?  Cracked in the hand of potter?  

Were you sexually, physically or verbally abused as a child?   Wounded by a friend?   Wounded by a church, a pastor?   Abandoned by a mother or father?  Lost or broken dreams?  A divorce?  Have you  been raped?  Forsaken by a friend?   A broken marriage or ministry?  Rejected by others?   An abortion or a miscarriage?

Wounded in the hands of the Potter and you don't understand why?

 “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

The failures in life are never final!  Even though you're messed up you're still in the grip of the Potter!  

THREE LESSONS FROM THE POTTERS HOUSE

 I.  THE POTTERS POWER

God is powerful.  Nothing in your life is beyond His ability, His reach and His desire to restore and heal you!

 “He (Jesus) personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep  who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.”  (1 Peter 2:24-25)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul;” (Psalms 23:1-3)

Is there an area of your life that is still wounded?

THE POTTER HAS THE POWER TO RESTORE!

II.  THE POTTERS PURPOSE

God always starts with the end in mind!  God has a vision for your life.  He has a plan and a purpose!

No matter how ugly our life seems, God takes us in His hand and loves us with an everlasting love!

 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles…..” (Galatians 1:15-16)

Even though you've been wounded, the Potter has a purpose for your life!  

 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  (Philippians 1:6)

GOD NEVER QUITS ON YOU!  HE’S PURSUING YOU!

THE POTTER HAS A PURPOSE TO RESTORE YOU!

III.  THE POTTERS PROCESS

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13)

The Potter has a process!

Jesus came looking for you!  He brought me out of the miry clay and He set my feet on the rock to stay!

HERE’S THE POINT!

STAY ON THE POTTER'S WHEEL!  THE POTTER HAS A PROCESS TO RESTORE YOUR LIFE!

Here’s what staying on the wheel looks like!

 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

 Are you marred in the Potter’s hands today?  Do you still feel wounded from the pain of the past?  

If the power, the purpose and the process is from God, what is my part?

TO CONSECRATE MYSELF!  

Consecration is a complete surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ.  We relinquish  everything to God!

The word consecrate means “to set apart.”  It means to be designated for a special purpose.  It means to be completely dedicated to God!

The Son of God, that was wounded so you can be restored, set the standard.  He gave all of himself at Calvary and He expects nothing less in return!

Consecration means we no longer call the shots.   God is the Potter and I am the clay.  I surrender my life to the Potter!

There's no pain that is greater than the Potter's power, purpose and process! Trust Him and you will soon be able to say "GOD RESTORES!"

Dreaming.......Again with the help of the Potter,

Ken Woolf

Refuge in the Storm

Psalm 91:2 - "This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”

He watches over us.  He protects us.  He rescue's us.  He covers us and shelters us.  He answers us when we call on Him.

God is my refuge!  This helps me feel safe and secure!

Refuge- Hope, place of safety, shelter, trust

But there's another verse in Psalm 91 that I'm certain the translators must have got wrong.  Not really!

Psalm 91:15 - "When they call on me, I will answer;  I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honor them."

Here's what I'd rather this verse say.  "And I will keep you out of trouble."

After all, if you'd keep me out of trouble God you wouldn't have to go to the trouble of rescuing me!  

FIRST TRUTH

 STORMS WILL COME

Mark 4:35-41 - "As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”  So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).  But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

John 16:33- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

SECOND TRUTH

 YOU’RE NOT ALONE IN THE STORM

John 14:1- “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (JESUS).”

God is with you in the storm!  And when you place your trust in God, there may be a storm on the outside but there can be peace on the inside!

God is greater than your storm!  Jesus had power over the wind and waves!  

Psalm 46:1- “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE STORM

Psalm 91:1-2- “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;  he is my God, and I trust him.”

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROTECTION IN THE STORM

Psalm 91:4- “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE GOD’S POWER IN THE STORM

Psalm 91:13 - "You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!”

THIRD TRUTH

 YOU CAN PREPARE FOR THE STORM

Matthew 7:24-27- “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Jesus is our refuge in the storm! He says that if you'll build your life on Me you can overcome every storm!

Nahum 1:7- "The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.  He is close to those who trust in him."

The storms of life are no respecter of persons and they come and go at unexpected times.  But what never changes is that God is good and He is close to those who put their trust in Him.

And here's what's really cool!  When you put your faith in God He gives you peace in the midst of the storm!

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE GOD'S PEACE IN THE STORM

Dreaming .......Again

Ken Woolf

 

RE-God

The God of Relationships is longing to have a relationship with you!  A personal one on one connection that is then reflected in our relationships with other people.

We are given a glimpse of the character and nature of God as we read the Bible and we explore the life of Jesus Christ who said "if you've seen me, you've seen the Father."

Even though the horrific yet glorious work of the Cross could only be completed by the Son of God he was also known as the Son of Man and his kinship with those around him portrayed a Savior who longed to have relationships with created women and men!

When mentioning the creation of mankind we are reminded that God didn't work alone.  After all He is the God of Relationships.  "Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.."  (Genesis 1:26)

Why did the Founder of the earth create mankind?  He wanted a Family!  Yes the Author of relationships longs for a relationship with you!  

Are you lonely?  Are you sad from being alone?  That's because God didn't design you to be alone!

"Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper who is just right for him."  (Genesis 2:18)

As you read the scriptures communicating the marvelous work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creating this earth and all its inhabitants, you see these words, "And God saw it was good."

But while surveying His creation God saw the man, who was alone, and said "it's not good."

When you think about it this is a rather shocking admission by God!  Adam enjoyed a sinless pure relationship with God yet the Divine Creator says "it's not good that you're alone Adam."  Or in other words, "Adam your connection with me is not the only connection you need."

So God creates Eve and through the pages of the days to come conveys this message, "you'll need one another."

And with this God transmits this truth.  Your relationship with others will be a direct reflection of your relationship Him!

"Anyone can say, “I love God,” yet have hatred toward another believer. This makes him a phony, because if you don’t love a brother or sister, whom you can see, how can you truly love God, whom you can’t see?  For he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also demonstrate love to others."   (1 John 4:20,21)

God is all about relationships.  In fact every significant transition in our ministry has come first through our relationship with God and then through a meaningful relationship with another person.  God puts a high value and priority on relationships.

I've stopped telling people they need to go to church.  Because they don't need to just "go to church."  We need to BE the church and connect with other believers in the family of God!

Yes, God has a family! His character and nature are best communicated to the world through His family on this earth!

Are you disconnected from God's family today!  Reconnect and experience the life, love and healing of our Heavenly Father that is imparted through those who are collectively connected to Him!  God's best for you will come through your connection to His church which is His family!

Are you lonely?  God gives His antidote for loneliness in this verse from the Bible.  "God places the lonely in families...."  (Psalm 68:6)

You were never meant to live life alone!  Me needs to become we because we are better together!

Encouraging others,

Ken

From Disappointment to Dreaming.....Again

It was one of those bittersweet moments but our hearts were filled with excitement.  Seven years ago today I preached my final message as Senior Pastor at New Life Church on the Rock in Vidor, Tx.

It was bitter because we were leaving a group of people we'd been doing life with for almost ten years.  A great church with many good friends.

It was sweet because we were stepping out to live the dream God had put in our hearts.  The dream to plant and pastor a church in Colorado.

Very long story short the church plant was an epic failure.  Many people try and tell me not to view it as a failure but yes, it was a failure!  I'll call it what it was in our hearts.

Without communicating all the gory details just trust me when I say my family and a few friends were devastated.   The overwhelming sense of failure led to depression, discouragement and disappointment.  How could we ever recover and be productive again in what God had called us to do?

We had some pretty awesome cheerleaders during this season,  along with a few critics.  But how was I ever going to win this battle in my mind for my mind?  Would we ever lead a church again?  Could God use us again?   Who out there would believe in us again?

WAS DREAMING.......AGAIN EVEN POSSIBLE?

Today, March 28, 2017, my family is once again leading and serving a great church!  ReGeneration Church in Wichita Falls, Tx.   Hey, we're even dreaming.......again,  along with a great congregation.

So how did I move from "Disappointment to Dreaming.......Again"?  Just a few big ideas that might help you or someone you know who's struggling with disappointment.

1.  God is still God and you have to trust Him.  Even if you "feel" like He let you down.  One of my favorite scriptures during our difficult season.  "O Lord, I give my life to you.  I trust in you, my God!.."  (Psalms 25:1,2)

2.  God still has a plan for your life.  BELIEVE IT!   "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."  (Philippians 1:6)

3.  If God still has a plan for your life, and He does, it's for your FUTURE!  Well it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.  Then why do so many people focus on their past instead of looking toward their future?  When all you can talk about is your memories then you're probably not dreaming about your future.  I didn't say you shouldn't think or talk about your memories, they can be precious.   But for some people a "memory" is all they have.  Start dreaming about the FUTURE God has for you!

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:13,14)

4.  God is working everything, the good, the bad,  and the ugly, out for YOUR GOOD.  You're not going to understand everything so stop trying and TRUST GOD!  He still has a plan for your life so look forward because He's working it all together for His glory and your good!

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)

If you'll embrace these four big ideas I promise you'll leave disappointment city and start DREAMING.......AGAIN of all God can and will do in your life.

Encouraging people all over the world,
Ken Woolf

Done with Divisiveness

In my lifetime I can't remember the United States of America being more divided than it is right now.   It seems the "Divided" States of America would better describe our country!  Although we should never lose HOPE in GOD  knowing that He is able to heal and restore our land.  

God has a remedy for our brokenness and it's found in the following scripture from the Bible.

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."  (2 Chronicles 7:14)

I love the promise of God in this verse that is contingent on the actions of HIS CHILDREN!  Humility, prayer, seeking God's presence, and turning from our wicked ways gets the attention of our Heavenly Father who in turn forgives our sins and restores health to our land!

Now my concern and subject of this blog.  I can't remember a time in my lifetime that the church, God's children, has been more divided.  It seems the same divisive political spirit has infiltrated and infected  the Body of Christ in many ways.

No longer is it about being a follower of Jesus Christ but we now identify ourselves with being a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian.

Whether or not I support our current President now decides how healthy our relationship will be instead of us coming together as Jesus supporters.

Let me remind you of a prayer of Jesus.

"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." (John 17:21-23)

I think we need to take a stand and be "Done with Divisiveness" and be an answer to Jesus prayer!

I sincerely believe  the LOCAL CHURCH is the hope of the world.  We are the loving hands of God extended throughout our neighborhoods, cities and the whole world!

Two things I believe will bring the church together and bring us to a place of being Jesus Christ true representation in the earth.

1.  It's time for a "love one another" revival in the church.  How can we love a hurting world if we can't love one another?  

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”  (John 13:35)

2.  It's time for a "serve one another" revival in the church.

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."  (Galatians 5:13)

Let's work together to get this political spirit out of the Body of Christ and be "Done with Divisiveness!"

A divided church is bad advertisement for a caring, loving God that sent his Son to the earth to die a horrible death on a cross.  

Make a choice today to not participate in the conversations that divide the FAMILY OF GOD.  Instead join me in a revival of love and serving one another!

I'm "Done with Divisiveness!"

Ken Woolf

  

A Purpose Greater than your Pain

"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening."  (Acts 16:25)

If you quickly scan over this Bible verse you might think Paul and Silas had a prison ministry and were just visiting to lead a church service for the prisoners.

But a closer look reveals there were no late night visitors in the prison that night, only prisoners.  "...and the OTHER prisoners were listening."

Some previous verses give some perspective on the circumstances surrounding these two men who are turning what should be a pity party into a praise party.

"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks."  (Acts 16:22-24)

I've often said that Paul and Silas could pray and praise from the dark depths of the dungeon because they may have been in prison but the prison was not IN them!

But I'd like to take it a step further in thought and present the big idea that these men praised instead of complained because their PURPOSE was greater than their PAIN!  Paul was known to communicate that God had "separated him from his mother womb" for a specific purpose!

Paul lived this life with a sense of  purpose that was greater than just him.  His life was all about OTHERS!  That GREATER PURPOSE was evident when after there was an earthquake and the prison doors swung open,  Paul and Silas remained in the prison and introduced the jailer to salvation through Jesus Christ which also led to the jailers family being born again!

Paul's PURPOSE was greater than His PAIN!

So it is during this season we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus was born to die!  And His PURPOSE for coming to the earth was much greater than the pain He had to endure to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world!   Jesus gave His life for "OTHERS"!

Jesus PURPOSE was greater than His PAIN!

I'm thankful  not all of life is painful!  Living out the purpose for which God created you is both exciting and rewarding.  But for those moments of pain, let me remind you of your purpose.  Yes God was there when you were being formed in your mothers womb and He has a purpose for your live!

This life is about getting to know God, and discovering why he created you and put you on this earth and then using that purpose to make a difference in the life of OTHERS!  

When your PURPOSE becomes greater than your PAIN you can invite OTHERS to your praise party  and be involved in changing lives.  I promise you, it's both exciting and rewarding!

I'm praying for you!  I pray you'll be consumed with knowing God and the purpose  He created you for!  YOUR LIFE MATTERS!

Running the race to win,

PK

Fear is Like a Cancer that Kills Dreams

It was about this time five years ago when it all started.  A  garden was planted in my heart and the seed sown in this garden was to produce confusion, unwise decisions and the death of a dream.

As every seed carries a name, this seed is identified by the name "fear"!

Every decision you make in fear you'll later regret!

My family along with some other friends took a huge step of faith.   Leaving a perfectly good church with people that loved us we transitioned from Texas to Colorado to plant a new church.  

Community Church in Pueblo West, Colorado.   It was happening, the dream was real and living!

It was a small beginning with the church in the basement of our home but we were excited and loved what God was doing!  WE WERE PLANTING A CHURCH!

But there came a time something shifted in my heart.  Instead of planting a church,  FEAR was being planted in my heart!  And fear is a cancer, that if allowed to grow, KILLS DREAMS!  

Our financial support begins to dwindle, a seed of fear is planted.   Some of our launch team leaves and fear continues to grow.  Several other events occurred that I'll not mention but by this time fear is full blown in my heart.  

 The voice of fear becomes much louder than the voice of God!  Through a "word of prophecy" I'd been told that "wherever I set my foot God was going to give me the land and that I was to be strong and courageous."   But those words had long left my heart and the "words" of fear were now dominating!

So I make a decision that leads to many other decisions that caused much pain.  In May 2011 I shut the church down and returned to Texas to work a job.  Then in August 2011 I moved my family back to Texas leaving our home in Colorado.

Now five years later I look back not to mourn but to learn.  And if there's one thing I've learned it's that FEAR KILLS DREAMS!  

So when did courage leave and fear enter my heart?  The moment I put my trust in man and not in God!   I got my eyes off God who had sent us to Colorado and put my eyes on man and expected man to keep us in Colorado.

There's so much more I can write but I'll keep this short.

As I said it's been five years.  The number "5" in the Bible represents grace and my friends God's grace has been sufficient!   The journey hasn't been easy but God has been GOOD!

Two Bible verses I'd like to share.

"So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.  Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, Abba, Father."  (Romans 8:15)

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  (Romans 8:28)

TODAY is a NEW DAY!  With God's help my family is DREAMING.......AGAIN!  But if you're reading this blog and you've opened the door to fear, stop right now and close that door.  "God has not given you a spirit of fear."  Get alone with God and allow His love to overwhelm you and you'll know for certain that He will never leave you or forsake you.  You'll know that God is for you and not against you.

I admonish you, don't allow fear to take root in your heart and grow.  Stand right now as a child of God and declare that you are strong and courageous.

And if fear has destroyed your dream, with God you can DREAM.......AGAIN!

"I praise God for what he has promised.  I TRUST IN GOD, so why should I be afraid?  What can mere mortals do to me?"  (Psalm 56:4)

Ken

Overcoming the Struggle

Have you ever been driving at night and allowed the headlights of the oncoming vehicle to catch your focus?  I have and the result was the noise of a loud horn (and probably a hand gesture by the driver of the other vehicle I couldn't see because it was dark) and me coming to myself jerking the steering wheel to get back in the center of my lane.

What happened?  I started to drift toward my focus, the headlights of the oncoming vehicle which almost caused a head-on collision.

We all go through difficult seasons of life and our focus during these trying times is crucial.   And let me go ahead and say that my focus hasn't always been where it needs to be during these trials of life and I've ran head-on into my struggles.  When this happened I was consumed with my trials and tribulations and the peace and joy of God was absent.  Or in other words I became discouraged and depressed.   All because the struggle became my focus!

The Bible points out that life is not without struggles.

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."  (Romans 5:3-5)

Rejoice in my problems and trials?  I don't know about you but my problems don't usually have that effect on me.  But that's because initially my focus isn't where it should be when I encounter these difficult days.

But where should my focus be?  The above verses tell us that when problems and trials arise they are developing US,  so should I be focused on ME?

If you stop and think about it isn't that really our natural response to our problems and struggles.  We become focused on the problem and on self,  causing us to become self-absorbed.   And that never leads to rejoicing.  In fact most of the time it leads to a pity party instead of a rejoicing party!  

So our focus should be where?  ON GOD!  God who dearly loves us.  Many of us lose sight of this because if we're honest, we're mad at God for allowing us to experience the struggle.  We become offended with God.

But if you want to walk through your struggle,  and come out the other side victorious, you've got to focus on God!  Remember His love for you and be confident that your hope in Him will not lead to disappointment.   

Now I don't believe God causes our trials and tribulations but He does use them to develop us and never forget that in the midst of your storm,  God is there "in the boat" and He really wants to fill our hearts with His love.

Here's what I've discovered from my own experience and from working with many people as a pastor.   During the storms of life you will either draw closer to God or your heart will move further from God!  

God doesn't move, the Bible says that He  never leaves us or forsakes us.  God is faithful and He loves us with unconditional love.  Something else to never forget is that God is for us, even in our struggles.

So what should be my expected outcome when I focus on God and draw closer to Him?

"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever"  (Psalm 16:11)

I love it!  When God becomes my focus, joy arises in my heart, I experience His pleasures and receive His direction for my life.  And the greatest thing I discover is that God is much bigger than my struggles.  

This is awesome!  I can't help but think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  They were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to bow to the wicked king.  Jesus shows up in the fire and don't you know  these three men were focused on the fourth man in the fire and not the fire.  As a result they were delivered from the fiery furnace and weren't even burned.  They didn't even smell like smoke!

I don't know about your "storm" today but I do know God is near.  Focus your attention on Him and you to will be delivered and won't even "smell like smoke."

One last Bible verse to keep in mind.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  (Romans 8:28)

God is working, trust Him and keep your focus on Him!  It's time to Dream.......Again! 

INTIMACY WITH GOD

"God longs to spend time with you."  I'll never forget these words!  An evangelist shared them while  praying for me many years ago standing in the front of the church at the First Assembly of God in Port Arthur, Tx.

In other words he was saying "God longs to be intimate with you."  But what does that word "intimate" really mean?

I think it can be best understood by looking at a few of the synonyms.  Belonging, closeness, inseparability, familiarity, nearness and chumminess.  

Through intimacy you discover you belong to God!  You're His child! 

Through intimacy you become secure because you learn there's nothing that can separate you from the love of God.  You become inseparable!  

Through intimacy you grow in the knowledge of God.  You become familiar with Him!

Through intimacy you realize God is near, especially when He seems distant.  But by faith you know He's near.   

Through intimacy you discover the chumminess of God.  Chumminess means "very friendly."  Through intimacy you discover that the Creator of this universe, your Heavenly Father, is very friendly and wants to be your friend!   

But here's another word for intimacy.  It's called time!  God longs to spend "time" with you.  God doesn't want to "make time" for you, He longs to spend time with you.  You're His desire, His priority!

"God longs to spend time with you."

An invitation is given!

"But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.  Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ."  (Ephesians 2:13)

"Come close to God,  and God will come close to you..."  (James 4:8)

Respond to the invitation today!  Recognize all that Jesus Christ has done for you and experience the intimacy of a loving Heavenly Father!  

How do we best respond?  "God, I long to spend time with You!"

One more benefit of intimacy with God.  You'll begin to DREAM.......AGAIN!  

More to come!

Ken

GOD, WHAT IS YOUR WILL?

God, what is your will?

The journey you take to discover God's plan and purpose can be one of ups and downs.  High expectations with answers that are less than you expected.  You walk down a road that you're sure God is leading you only to find a dead end.  All your friends have an opinion about what you should do so why can't you know what you're supposed to do?  It seems you can hear God's voice in other matters, why can't you hear God's voice when you need to hear it the most, the direction for your life?  Frustration seems to be your closest friend and being willing to wait is not an inner battle you always win!

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

If the answer is yes then it's possible you might hear this gentle voice in your heart raising a question you don't expect to hear.  "Do you want to know Me or do you want to know my will?"

It's been almost 25 years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday.  After many years of running from God and living a very ungodly life I walked down the aisle of a small country church in Snyder, Tx. and recommitted my life to Jesus Christ!   Thank God for His grace and mercy!

There was a freshness and newness about my life.  It really was a fresh start, a new beginning.  I had read the Bible years before but now there was a renewed hunger to open my Bible and just read.

One morning as I opened my Bible, that had remained closed for so long, it fell to Psalm 63.  I began to read,   "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."

This one verse of the life-giving Word of God exploded in my heart and I ended up memorizing the whole chapter.  I loved it and meditated on and quoted this passage of scripture on a daily basis.

One thing is certain and that is if you work the Word of God the Word of God will work in you.  There was such a passion in my heart to seek God and spend time in His presence that it was't long the call of God I received  at the age of 16 to be a minister was restored in my heart.

Now some 25 years later there are still times I have to ask God, "what is your will, what is your direction for this season of my life?"

Then I'm reminded of Psalm 63.  God, I want to know you, I seek you with all my heart.  Yes, more than I want to know your will, I want to know You Heavenly Father.  

Here's the cool thing.  The Bible tells us that those who "seek Him with all their heart, will find Him."   (Jeremiah 29:13)

And when you seek Him and find Him you find His will and you realize, it's all about intimacy.  It's all about being intimate with the Father!  He longs to spend time with you! 

John 10:27 -"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

Watch for my next blog that will expound on intimacy with God.  And it's my hopes this blog has planted a spark in your spirit that ignites a fire in you to seek the One who created you with all your heart, a heart He created!

Enjoying the journey!
Ken Woolf

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

I seriously doubt  Mary and Joseph had a prayer meeting and asked God if Mary could become pregnant before they were married!  It's also not likely  Mary prayed to conceive the baby in the power of the Holy Spirit and for it to be a virgin birth.  On top of all this I really can't see Mary praying and asking God if she can give birth to His Son! 

If you really think about it giving birth to Jesus wasn't something God was doing for Mary and Joseph but it was something they were doing for God.  They surrendered their lives to the plan of God instead of God fulfilling what they probably desired for a  happy marriage and family. 

In other words, God messed up their plans!  But when God messes up your plans it's because He's got a better plan!  We just have to be willing to say as Mary did, "I am your servant, may it be to me as you have said." 

This has really been a paradigm shift for me during this season of Advent.  My journal is full of prayer request, full of my plans I've been praying and asking God to fulfill in 2014.   Things I've been asking God to do for me. 

But here's the shift.  In 2015 instead of asking God for things He can do for me,  why not  ask God what I can do for Him!  Did you catch that?  As I looked back and evaluated 2014 I realized how consumed I was with asking God for things He can do for me.  Now that's not necessarily a bad thing.  After all I really believe God is concerned about every detail of our lives and the Bible is clear that we need to ask, seek, knock and our Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to His children.

But what's my motivation?  What can God do for me or what can I do for God on this earth?  Is my attitude the same as Mary's?  Am I willing to say, "I am your servant, may it be to me as you have said?" 

It's time to Dream.......Again!  But may those dreams be dreams that are birthed by the power of the Holy Spirit as I surrender my plans, my goals, my desires to the plans, goals and desires of God. 

Heavenly Father what can I do for You today and in 2015! 

Merry Christmas,
Ken Woolf