Given March 3, 2006
We’ve seen this term, and others like it; raising a ruckus, raising cain, raising the roof, and probably used them from time to time. They all mean we’re complaining, arguing, in conflict with or something of that nature. The Bible says, “A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict, but a man slow to anger calms strife.” Proverbs 15:18

One of my boys got a big disappointment recently from somewhere he’d applied to and his first inclination, as was mine, was to retaliate. We wanted to let them know how we felt! And how wrong they were! But, in his youthful wisdon, after thinking about it, he said this, “When you raise hell, you only bring up fire and misery.”

I thought that was a very true assessment. As Christians, we’re supposed to do our best to be at peace with everyone, to turn the other cheek, to forgive. Our flesh wants to retialiate and fight back but that usually only does what he said, brings up bad things and makes the situation worse. His reply to these people was goinig to be more Christlike, and that makes me proud of him. Way to go JD.

Given March 1, 2006
During my morning prayer time, I was visualizing how it must be in Heaven with God on the throne and all the residents there worshiping and praising Him. A vast crowd, I’m sure. Or, He’s taking care of some of His duties running the universe. Whatever He’s doing, He stops when I lift up a prayer.

I can see God holding His hand up to the crowd as He hears me and He says, “Wait a minute, my son’s calling.” Even in the midst of all that’s going on in Heaven, He hears my prayer and takes the time to listen and respond back to me! “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2“. What an awesome thing!

Jesus did this too. Many times, although crowds were around him, He took the time to listen to Jairus, (Mark 5:22-24), the woman with the issue of blood, (Matthew 9:20), or the centurion, (Matthew 8:5-7). He takes the time to listen to us too.

Given January 24, 2006
I was thinking about my time and the things people like to do to spend their time. I spend about 6.5 hours sleeping, 8.5 hours working, 2.5 hours eating, 2 hours at the computer, (while not at work), maybe an hour or so watching TV, and an hour for prayer/devotions/bible reading/tape listening. That leaves about 2 1/2 hours for everything else!

If we’re spending all this time doing these things here, what are we going to do in Heaven? I can’t see us watching TV, talking on the phone, or surfing the web in Heaven. My point is, we need to be doing more of the things we’ll be doing in Heaven while we’re here on the earth. Things like spending time with Jesus, worshiping, and praising.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1-2″ Think about it.

Given February 24, 2006 and previous
I was reading my morning devotional on this Friday morning when God showed me one of those powerful visions that had tears running down my face. I read the scripture in Psalms, “lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalms 61:2” The devotion was speaking about when we’re surrounded by swirling circumstances, we should “go to the rock” for relief.

I could see myself in a valley with difficult circumstances all around but I looked up and saw Jesus at the top of, like a cliff, beckoning me up, out of the mess. I immediately was reminded of another vision I received a couple of years ago of being in a peaceful, joyful valley and seeing jagged rocks on the cliff rising above. And there were people hung in among the rocks suffering. The revelation then was to realize that when things are going good for us, there are hurting people around that need our help.

In this vision, however, I’m the one in the place of trouble but I can see and hear the call to, “come up higher” to the place of safety. So, I start climbing up to the “rock that is higher than I.” But….the climb is hard, the rocks are jagged and cutting, and, as in the other vision as I climb, I see those people stuck there crying out for help! I can’t just pass them by as I climb to my place of safety so I stop to help. Then the part that made the tears flow. As I was helping those hurting people, I looked up at Jesus, standing on the rock, and He was nodding with pride and saying, “That’s my boy.”

Oh man! What a revelation! When we’re in difficult circumstances, we need to look up and go to Jesus. The climb will be hard, maybe dangerous but while we’re on the way, we need to look for others that we can help. While we’re trusting Jesus and climbing out of our circumstances, we should help others along the way and take them to the rock with us!

I’ve heard it said that we’re either in a trial, coming out of a trial, or about to go into a trial. let’s look for others that we can help. We won’t have to go out of our way to find them, they’re in our way. Look!

Reminded February 22, 2006
Notice I said “reminded” above. That means that god gave me this revelation a couple of years ago but reminded me of it this morning, so here it is.

When we pray for something or we give something God’s told us to give, it’s like planting a seed in the ground. Now, I’m a gardner and I know when I plant a bean seed, my responsibility for that seed is not over. In fact, I had to do some preparation even before planting. I had to get the right seed for the plant I wanted, prepare the soil to receive it, and then make the effort to plant it. Once the seed’s in the ground, I have to water it, maybe fertilize it, make sure the animals don’t dig it up, and then…….wait.

I’ve planted beans before so I know, since I put it in the fertile ground, it will come up. Even if I plant something new, I can read about it, (words), and believe if I follow instructions, it will come up and produce the crop I need. But the waiting is crucial. If I don’t think anything’s happening beause I can’t see it, and go dig the seed up to see what’s going on, I’ve destroyed it. I’ve got to wait, believe it’s growing even though I can’t see it, and wait some more.

Prayer and giving are the same way. First we prepare by learning what God’s Word says about the situation, we pray according to that Word, and we wait. We speak words of belief and faith, (watering), and we wait for the result. The answer is not usually something that comes quickly; we have to wait. If we say things like, “Oh, this is not working.” or “I’m never gonna get out of this.”, what we’re doing is digging up our seed.

Leave your prayer or giving seed in the ground, water it with faith-filled words, and wait. God will make it grow. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6“