Prepare to Be Amazed

Almost daily I receive short devotionals by various pastor friends from all around the nation, and just the other day, Rev. Barry Epps of Still Waters Baptist Church near Columbia, South Carolina sent me just a snippet of the blog below. I don't know why, but that day his words in particular caught my attention and really blessed my heart. I asked him to expound on his short thought for the day and allow me to share what he wrote on my blog.  

I'm sure you will be blessed. Thank you friend for your encouragement, in the days gone by, right now, and far into the future I'm sure. 

What started out as a reflection on the psychological benefits of the 'green space' that is all around us, referencing Isaiah 35:1-4, eventually the Holy Spirit led me to the powerful Book of Habakkuk. 

Rather than focusing on Isaiah 35:1 from the devotion, I was drawn to verses 3 and 4, “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you” [NKJ].” 

Weak hands and feeble knees resonated truth to me because of the current state of unrest that our nation is experiencing with multiple headlines that paint a dreary picture of death and division. We are tired. Drained from the daily rhetoric, wondering what else could go wrong with our world. But hope comes with the last phrase of verse 4, “He will save you.” 

I am a relatively optimistic guy. My life verse is Romans 8:28, and I believe that when it says “all things”, it means all things - the obvious good things as well as the seemingly bad things. That's where Habakkuk comes into the picture. 

My recent Bible research surfing brought me to a website that asserted that the Book of Isaiah is a footnote for the Bible with 66 chapters which parallels the 66 Books of the Bible. Further research showed a complicated comparison that did not seem consistent with their declaration, but this little endeavor did send me to the book of Habakkuk. 

Using their system Habakkuk being the 35^th Book of the Bible should be a good comparison to my devotional in Isaiah 35, so I journeyed down this road. Habakkuk's name can be translated, “to embrace.” In him I saw this burdened prophet as one who “embraces” God and longs for understanding and hope amidst the dreary 'headlines' of the day. I would later read the entire book, but initially I deeply focused on Habakkuk 1:5, searching for parallels to the word that I had received in Isaiah 35. "Look at the nations and watch -- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told [NIV].” 

Wow! After we 'watch' we will be utterly amazed. Habakkuk asked his question and God said that 'He' was raising up the Chaldeans. The application for today is that I (or we) don't have to try and fix things. God has it handled. It has to run its course and then we will see the purpose of 'all things.' So, what are we supposed to do? If we are not supposed to fix everything then how do we occupy ourselves?

We can turn to Jeremiah 29:4-7 for the answer, we build houses, plant gardens, get married, raise children... “be increased and not diminished.” We are to seek the peace of the city and, in the midst of confusion and conflicting advice (false prophets), peace can only be found in Jesus and Kingdom work.

Judah was about to be conquered by Babylon, everything looked hopeless, but the Lord encouraged Habakkuk to watch and be amazed. The Lord is always working around us to help us and to care for us. Even in our turmoil, today, with upcoming elections, COVID 19, personal trials and everything else...prepare to be amazed! Read this short book and be encouraged in the midst of 'all things.'

Pastor Barry Epps

How Do You Know?

Quite often, almost daily I have the privilege of talking with people about their lives, problems, hopes and dreams, but today for some crazy reason a little talk I had with a young lady (by email of course - we're social distancing here) really touched my heart. I think it might be because there is hope packed within her little questions. Obviously her name has been changed, but everything else is the same as I sent to her just a few short hours ago.  Well, I did correct a few grammar mistakes, probably not enough though.   

What a wonderful question! I am asked this probably 10-25 times per year in person. It usually happens when I speak in groups or churches - someone usually comes up to me after everyone is gone, and it is just me and them, and the conversation usually goes something like this:

Random Person: How were you sure God wanted you to be a missionary before you first began, and where did you go from there?  

Me: Is God calling you to do something?  

RP: I don't know, that’s why I’m talking to you.

Me: Well, it’s simple really. 

RP: How so?

Me: If you have ever been to Sunday school and listened to the teacher teach the Bible - if you have ever listened to a sermon - if you have ever sung a hymn or praise song - if you have ever read any of the Scripture, how can you not feel called?   

RP:  🤯

Me: Yeah, if you believe Scripture, and if you take the very Words of Jesus seriously then how can you not know that you are called? I mean Jesus literally said, “Go into all the world. . .” In Mark chapter 2 Jesus told Andrew “Follow Me!”  The story is really about the call of the first Disciples, but the story continues through the centuries and is applicable to those of us who are His disciples today. In essence in Mark 2, Jesus told you and me, “Follow Me!”  He called us to action; that’s pretty dog gone clear, and it is up to us to tell Him “NO" and stay home. In this story Andrew immediately followed Jesus. He didn’t wait until everything worked out well. He didn’t wait to get all his little duckies in a row; he left what he was doing and followed Jesus. Fast forward to the end of the book of Mark, and Jesus’ last Words on earth were to “GO, teach and baptize.”  Then He followed that mandate up with telling us to not fear snakes or drinking poison. By the way, He doesn’t want us playing with poisonous snakes or drinking Clorox, but rather He is telling us - FOLLOW HIM, and DON’T FEAR. The Bible is pretty clear on the subject of faithful following.   

RP: Yes, I know that Bible story, but how does it apply to me? 

Me: I don’t understand your question, so may I ask you a question in order to clarify your question for me, but it might be a bit offensive? 

RP: Umm, Ok. . .

Me: Which parts of Scripture do you think don’t apply to you?  Think long and hard; I’ll wait. 

RP: Ummm. Ohhhh, I see what you did there. . .

Me: (Smiling) Yes, if you feel in your heart that God is leading you to do something, and if it goes right along with what's taught in Scripture then I am positive God is calling you to do something. I can promise you that feeling - this desire - in your heart to lead people to Christ - to make a serious change in the world is not coming from Satan. Of this I am positively sure. What I don’t know is whether God is going to place you in a land far far away, or if He is going to place you in a business just down the road, or if He’ll lead you to be a smokejumper fighting California forest fires. I don’t know, you don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. Think about this: Would you be willing to go as far as it is possible for Jesus. Why don’t you and I pray this prayer right now and mean it with all our hearts? 

“Yes, LORD, I will follow You. Lead me to where you want me to go, and make your path clear to me. I will walk through any door that You open for me, and I will do my best while I am there, and I’ll be patiently doing what I can for You right here where I am until you open the next door that you want me to walk through. I will have the courage to FOLLOW YOU the rest of my life. AMEN.”

And this Miss Random Person brings us to the next part of your question - Where do YOU go from that commitment? The answer to that question lies in the next three questions:

Who do you know that needs to be closer to Christ? 

What can you do to bring them closer to Christ?  

Are you going to obey Jesus and do what you already know how to do in order to bring them closer to Christ?   

And now you do that. This is where you start. 

Continue doing that until the next door opens, and be patient because God will open the next door in HIS time, and it will be obvious to many of those Godly people with whom you have surrounded yourself that you MUST walk through it. 

My greatest disappointment is that over the years I have had this same discussion with hundreds of people. There are many who feel called to go to the ends of the earth, but they aren’t willing to walk next door in order to get there.  Don't be that person. 

Love you,

Steve D

Why, LORD?

I sat at my computer wondering what I wanted to write.  I was praying, asking God to send me something encouraging for these unprecedented troubled times. And shortly my friend Judy Hames sent me the following. She wrote exactly what was on my heart. Read what Judy wrote, and be blessed:

We ask: Why is God doing this to us?

• God did not cause this virus.
• God did not cause these riots and carnage.
• God did not cause this hate.

Let me tell you a story.

A professor at a college liked to be tough on Christians. (Online source, author unknown)
In the first class every semester, he would ask if anyone was a Christian and then he would degrade and demean whoever answered afirmatively. As was his norm he posed this question to one young man:

Did God make everything?

Yes, sir, God did.

Then if God made everything, God made evil.

When the student did not know how to respond, the professor smiled inwardly and outwardly believing he had yet again proved God to be a myth.

Then another student raised his hand. “May I ask something sir?” 

Is there such a thing as cold?

Of course there is. Just step outside.

Actually, sir, cold does not exist.  Cold is merely the term we use for the absence of heat. Absolute zero means there is absolutely no heat. Cold doesn’t exist. It is a term we use to describe how we FEEL when heat is not here.  Sir, is there such a thing as dark?

Of course, there is, In a few hours it will BE dark.

No, sir. Darkness does not exist. Darkness is only the absence of light. Darkness is a term used to describe the fact that no light is present.

Sir, is there such a thing as evil?

Of course, there is. Just turn on the evening news to hear all about the murders and robberies that take place.

Sir, evil does not exist. It is just a term we use to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is simply a state where God is not present. Like cold is the absence of heat. And darkness is the absence of light, Evil is the absence of God. And the further we go from God, the further we leave His light and go into evil and darkness.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and everything on it. On the 6th day, God created man and woman IN HIS OWN IMAGE. Genesis 1:31: God looked at all creation and saw that it was very good. God is perfect. Creation could only be seen as very good to God if all creation and man and woman were perfect in every way. Everything was in perfect balance as God intended it to be. There was no sickness or death,
No drug or child abuse, no birth defects, no cancer, no rampant viruses, no extreme heat or cold, no hate, no riots. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God face-to-face in the garden and lived in perfect peace until the day the serpent tempted them. 

Satan tricked Eve by saying: You won’t die. If you do what I SAY rather than what God says, you will become LIKE GOD and YOU can now decide what is good and what is evil. The moment they ate the fruit, the DNA of all creation changed. Man and woman had turned their backs on God and pain, sickness, brokenness, and death entered the world. Just like he still does today, Satan gave Adam and Eve the choices, but failed to reveal the consequences of those choices.

NOTICE. God did not bring sickness and death and evil into the world. SATAN did. The world God had made in perfection was broken.

God did not cause all this. Jesus said He is the light of the world. And His light shines through those who choose to walk with Him. According to Isaiah 61, Jesus came to proclaim good news for the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to release from darkness for the prisoners. Jesus came to bring GOOD to us, not destruction. And Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can settle the issues of our time. 

But we have decided Jesus doesn’t belong in our politically correct world. We have been convinced not to talk to Him, not to pray to Him, not to mention His Name, not to thank Him or anything else. We have told Him to get out of our meetings, our schools, our TV shows, our ball games, our graduations, our dinners. Jesus is very polite. He knocks on our door and comes in when we invite Him. And when we tell Him to leave, He leaves. When He leaves, He lifts His hand of protection that we take for granted.

Satan is the personification of all evil.
He desires to hurt, to destroy what was created in the IMAGE OF GOD because God would not let HIM rule the world. We cannot fathom the depths of evil of which Satan and his followers are capable. We do not understand people who desire to cause anarchy to destroy our economy, to take away our freedoms, to use the upheaval to bring about their evil agenda. We do not understand those who hate all cops because of the despicable action of one. And when we hear all this stuff, we are fearful. Today we are a divided country racially, politically, and socio-economically and Satan is laughing at the chaos he has created.

Hear this! We serve a God who is greater than the virus.

We serve a God who is above all prejudice.

We serve a God who is mightier than the riots.

We serve a God who is bigger than the spirit of anarchy.

We serve a God who is stronger than the spirit of confusion and chaos.

We serve a God who is LIGHT rather than darkness.

We serve a God who is Hope rather than Fear.

We serve a God who is Love rather than Hate.

We serve a God who can take manure and make beautiful flowers of it.

God can take the time we have had to shelter with our families and use it to bring about family restoration.

If we will let him, God will use the time when there is no football or basketball or golf to pull us closer to Him.

God can take our fear and use it to draw us into a closer, safe relationship with Him. And God can use the prayers we are pouring out in fear for our nation and our families as the SEED for a MIGHTY REVIVAL that can sweep our nation and transform us.

James 4:7: Therefore, submit to God. RESIST the devil and he will flee from you. 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I do not know what the future holds but I KNOW I can trust the ONE who holds our future. We need to trade our fear for faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Being able to let go of our fear depends on who is in our drivers seat.

If WE ARE, we will be fearful.

If JESUS IS our driver, we can be assured that we can sit beside Him, trust Him no matter what is going on around us and know that He has everything under control from now and on through eternity.

It is time for us to put aside our fear and TAKE HOLD OF JESUS.

It is time for us to love ALL others with the love of God.

MLKjr said: Returning hate for hate multiplies hate...Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. Only the powerful, forgiving love of Jesus Christ can do that. 

It is time for us to rid ourselves of all anger and hate. 

It is time to reach out to people who are alone and hurting. 

It is time to get on our knees and call down heaven. 

It is time to ask God to forgive us for ignoring Him.

It is time to ask God to forgive us for not honoring Him.

It is time to invite Jesus back into our homes, our relationships, our businesses, our communities, our states, our nation, and our lives. Are you ready?

Judy C Hames

Thank you Judy.  By the way she wrote a book that I have given away several times to hurting people.  Find it on Amazon.   

GOOD READS (In Process - not completed)

Recently, I was asked to provide a list of books that I found useful during my missionary career. Honestly, quite often I am asked to recommend books, so I decided to prepare a list of books in various subjects that I have enjoyed or found very useful. Also you will find a description of why it is included in my bibliography and personal library.  As well, you will also find a link in order to find that book for yourselves if you so desire. I plan on keeping this list open ended, and come back to it from time to time. 

MISSIONS

Spent Matches, by Roy Moran. It provides a plan for reaching the multitudes. All I can say is AMEN.

https://www.amazon.com/Spent-Matches-Spiritually-Dissatisfied-Refraction/dp/0718030621

What Jesus Started, by Steve Addison.  Let's keep this simple - Get Busy! Do Something!

https://www.amazon.com/What-Jesus-Started-Movement-Changing-ebook/dp/B00A8K46M0

Letter's to an Apprentice, by Jeremy Taliaferro.  Honestly, I have not read this book yet, because it is not yet out in an electronic version that I usually use, and I'm a bit too lazy to download the Kindle App. But with that said, I have read every blog by this author who is also a friend, and I am sure that I know enough about what he has written to include it on my list of must reads.

https://lucidbookspublishing.com/our-books/letters-to-an-apprentice/

100 Years from Now, by Steve Murrell. One might think this book is about sustaining a movement of God, but it is more about following Christ correctly, so that in the future what is created is of GOD and not of YOU. 

https://www.amazon.com/100-Years-Now-Sustaining-Generations/dp/1939447224

The Ways of the Alongsider, by Bill Mowry. This is not really a book rather guided Bible study.  As you might expect the title first caught my attention, but the study was well written so I stayed for the duration.

https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Alongsider-Growing-Disciples-Life/dp/1631465724/ref=dp_ob_title_bk


Spiritual Multiplication in the Real World, by Robert McNabb. This book needs to be read, but the truth is that I struggled keeping my attention.

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Multiplication-Real-World-disciple-makers-ebook/dp/B00R4VQFZC

Megachurch to Multiplication, by Chris Galanos. Chris has become a friend, who I talk with from time to time. He bought into multiplication completely, which is what the IMFC does overseas. He committed his megachurch in Lubbock, Texas to embracing the idea completely. The book is how he initiated and followed through with it in the real world. THIS IS A MUST READ.

https://www.amazon.com/Megachurch-Multiplication-Churchs-Journey-Movement/dp/173286960X

Letters to the Church by Francis Chan. This is another MUST READ. I love anything that Francis Chan writes. It may be that I respect him so much, but this book is an amazing eye opener.

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Church-Francis-Chan/dp/0830776583

Saturate by Jeff Vanderstelt. This is a book about living the life of a Jesus follower.

https://www.amazon.com/Saturate-Being-Disciples-Jesus-Everyday/dp/1433545993

The Insanity of God, by Nick Ripkin.  This is a book of stories of faith from around the world. It is inspiring. 

https://www.amazon.com/Insanity-God-Story-Faith-Resurrected/dp/1433673088

Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. This is a the story of the principles that Jesus used in making His disciples.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Plan-Evangelism-Robert-Coleman/dp/0800788087

Tradecraft for the Church on Mission, by Larry McCrary and others. It is concisely written and provides insights on how missionaries reach those outside their own culture.

https://www.amazon.com/Tradecraft-Church-Mission-Larry-McCrary/dp/1479300918

Ask a Missionary by John McVay. This is a great book for those wanting to understand the missionary mindset.

https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Missionary-Time-Tested-Answers-Before/dp/0830856048/

I Want to Make a Difference by Don Parrott. This I recommend for those who are considering a life overseas on mission.

https://www.amazon.com/Want-Difference-Bridge-Global-Impact/dp/0911802517/

Global Mission Handbook by Steve Hoke. It's just what it says it is - a guide to crosscultural service.

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Mission-Handbook-Crosscultural-Service/dp/0830837175/

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett. I've just started reading this book, but I find myself saying AMEN a whole lot.  Sometimes remembering all those times where my own helping hurt.

https://www.amazon.com/When-Helping-Hurts-Alleviate-Yourself/dp/0802457061/

Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison. This book describes how the Holy Spirit is moving throughout Islam.

https://www.amazon.com/Wind-House-Islam-Drawing-Muslims/dp/1939124034

The Rise and Fall of Movements by David Garrison. As you can imagine I like David Garrison. I've met him and hosted him one time as he was touring and training in my country.

https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Movements-Roadmap-Leaders-ebook/dp/B07R7DNGSR

Pioneering Movements by Steve Addison. This is a book that builds on What Jesus Started. It identifies what it takes to lead movements.

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneering-Movements-Leadership-Multiplies-Disciples/dp/0830844414

Contagious Disciple Making by David Watson. This book is about making disciples who make disciples.  This is just a practical book. I love it. It oughta be a class in seminary.

https://www.christianbook.com/contagious-disciple-leading-others-journey-discovery/david-watson/9780529112200/pd/9112200#CBD-PD-Description

Movements that Change the World by Steve Addison. I will never forget the phrase white-hot faith.

https://www.amazon.com/Movements-That-Change-World-Spreading/dp/0830836195

Lives Given Not Taken by Jerry Rankin. I won't spoil this book for you. You'll cry. You'll join the battle.

https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Given-Not-Taken-Southern/dp/0976764539

COUNSELING

Abba's Child, by Brennan Manning.  This is my all-time favorite book. I discovered it during a dark time in my life, and well, I have given out free copies to others who I thought needed it maybe 20 times and have recommended it again maybe another 50 times. 

https://www.amazon.com/Abbas-Child-Heart-Intimate-Belonging/dp/1576833348

The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning. This is another classic which should be on ANY FOLLOWER of Christ's shelves, and the pages should be worn out.

https://www.amazon.com/Ragamuffin-Gospel-Bedraggled-Beat-Up-Burnt/dp/1590525027

How to Win the War by David Watson. Strategies for confronting spiritual conflict.  This book may be out of print, but you can still find copies I'm sure.  It's a great book.

Spiritual Warfare by Jerry Rankin. I sat through Jerry Rankin teaching how to fight spiritual warfare with his book in my hand. Awesome. Awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Warfare-Battle-Gods-Glory/dp/0805448802