Lessons from Early Fatherhood Pt.1: He Never Sleeps!

Well, it’s almost 1 week in, and my pre-fatherhood sleeping patterns are all but a fading memory right now!  Going to sleep late, waking up early, only getting up when the washroom necessitated it, you know the deal, well, that life is over!  As we were preparing for our baby, one of the many things I heard from numerous sources was “get your sleep now”  or “make sure you stock up on sleep now”.  Usually this was said with a smile and a look of, well, pity from those who have beeen there before.  I could see it in their eyes “you don’t know what’s about to hit you!!!”  After just a few days it has sunk in quickly--my sleep is no longer my own!!  It now belongs to a sweet little girl who needs to eat, feel Mommy or Daddy’s touch, be changed, or just be grumpy if she chooses too!  And believe me, everynight she has chosen one or all of the above!  As I was thinking about my new life sometime this week, I’ve begun looking at some texts in a brand new way.  The one that I’ve been repeatedly meditating  on is Psalm 121:4,5

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper

Amazing.  One of the things we value most as humans, our sleep time, and the thing we need most to efficiently cope and handle a day----God has no need of!  How amazing is that!  We hear so much about parents becoming aggravated and “losing it” when their young one is crying & fussy @ night, robbing them of sleep and rest, and in some cases, I’m sure it most be extremely trying.  But how good is it to know that our God doesn’t get angry, doesn’t become frustrated, but is available at anytime to hear, to answer, to deliver, to talk, to comfort and counsel ---all because of love.  When love is your response to being  ‘put out’ of your way  by someone, great things can happen.  Love is God’s response to us, because love is who He is.  His Love Bank never shuts down and is never in overdraft----He is actually committed to being in overdrive in His love for us.  He is a ‘keeper’, the ultimate parent.  Nothing will catch Him by surprise.  Be encouraged.  Your God does not sleep, He doesn’t nap, He is always looking out for you, and available to you.  That, my friends, is what you call a Faithful Father.  When all is going wrong, trust that God will keep you,  and bring him your worries and troubles...not only is He the best person to take care of them but I also guarantee that you won’t find Him sleeping!

Read More

By Request: Welcome to Our World

Dedicated to Adrielle & the Kingdom Life Fellowship family
Love & Blessed Christmas, "Aunty"  Bev

Read More

Welcome Adrielle!

Read More

RECAP: GO Tell It!

Interesting Similarities Between Christ and the Woman at the Well (John 4)

1)      Both were rejected and resented by their own people v.1-3

2)      Both were interrupted in the middle of their day and plans  v.4

3)      Both were tired and weary (physically and/or emotionally) v. 6

4)      Both were thirsty? v.7

5)      Both were in the wrong place at the wrong time of day talking to the wrong person (socially and politically incorrect) v.6, 7

6)      Both had followers but were essentially alone v.17,18

7)      Both were able to debate theological issues v. 20

8)      Both sought lasting transformation/change and true worship  v.15; 32,33, 34

9)      Both were harvesters of souls v. 28; 34, 35, 36

Shortly after Jesus' John 3 conversation with Nicodemous...the woman at the well provides an object lesson to the disciples and the Jews of what it means to live a "born again" life transformed by the Holy Spirit.   In one amazing encounter this woman went from thirsting to bursting.  That's exactly what happens when we become born again.  We are saved to serve! We dare (and care) to share! Spiritual transformation is not only a blessing to the receiver, but it creates a sense of urgency to share the "good news" with friends and enemies so that they too can be eternally satisfied!

In this season of giving, you possess the greatest gifts of all - the knowledge God's Plan of Salvation and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.  Are you, like the woman at the well, bursting to share it?

Read More

Satisfied!

When the Samaritan women

Finally met the Master

She knew her entire life

Had been a complete disaster

With five ex-husbands

And now no real family or friends

Too scandalous the hurts

To ever make amends

But then one providential day

By the edge of Jacob's well

She met a different Man

Whose passion did not condemn her to hell

And as He persistently sought

To quench her desperate thirst

She finally experienced real love

And she thought her heart might burst

She ran back to her village 

To tell  those she had despised

And her clearly transformed nature

Confounded both the simple and the wise

They all ran out to meet

This unusual, life-changing Man

Who stayed for two extra days

To share salvation's plan

The moral of this story

Is plain for all to see

Just fall in love with Jesus

You'll set yourself and others free!

                      

Read More

You'll Never Thirst

Read More

How Thirsty are You? Based on John 4

So Kingdom Lifers, for the past few weeks we've all been busy.  I mean really busy.  Almost crazy busy.
Kids to chauffeur.  Commitments to keep.   Jobs to commute to.   Homes to maintain.  Friends to connect with.  Issues to deal with it... it just never seems to stop.

And now, with the holiday season upon us, we ramp everything up yet another impossible notch.  

And sometimes... for a rare moment, in the midst of it all... we stop and realize that we are weary.  Tired.  Worn down and worn out.   The temptation is strong to turn off the phones, log off Facebook, close the blinds, and tune out for an hour, a day or even, for the lucky few, an entire week.

Jesus was well acquainted with weariness.   Part of the high price He paid for putting on our humanity was the need for regular rest and recovery from the ordinary demands of life and the extraordinary demands of ministry.   In John 4 we find a weary Jesus at an isolated well - craving a tall drink of water but without even a common pot to scoop some up with.   And now, through dehydrating eyes, he glimpses a mirage... a stranger approaching ... from the wrong gender, from the wrong race, with the wrong reputation, at the wrong time of day.  

What would you do? 

Well... that might depend on how thirsty you are!

You can see how Jesus dealt with the situation in the rest of the John 4.   Although we never learn whether he ever got that desired drink of water, we do know that His thirst after righteousness was filled (Matthew 5:6).   And that's not all! The deep emotional thirst of the desperate Samaritan woman... and the spiritual thirst of her community - all were satisfied as they drank freely from the Water of Life Himself.

It is sobering to think about what would have happened if our Lord had used His deep weariness and urgent thirst as an excuse to rebuke, ridicule, disrespect or ignore the infamous Samaritan woman that day.  Any of these responses might have been justifiable given who He was, who she was, and what He was feeling. 

But our Saviour's thirst for righteousness - as evident in His conversation with the Samaritan woman, as evident in John the Baptist's proclamation that He MUST increase, as evident in His conversation with Nicodemus,  as evident in His clearing of the temple - consistently overrode any personal discomfort He may have been feeling.

So, as the year approaches its close, perhaps the question to ask yourself is, "How thirsty am I?  Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness? Am I seeking first God's kingdom?  Does my life reflect spiritual priorities or physical comforts?  Could I put up with extreme fatigue and dire thirst for a while, if it might help eternally quench the spiritual thirst of someone else?"
Coke got it wrong.  The "Real Thing" is Christ.  In fact,  He is the "only thing" that can satisfy my thirst, your thirst and the thirst of those around us.  

The question remains...How thirsty are you?
Selah.

Read More

The Invitation...

Read More

RECAP: Extreme Makeover - Worship Edition

Based on John 2: 13-22

Jesus appearance in Jerusalem during the Passover provided a “wake up” call to the leaders and worshippers at the temple.  Not only did He disturb their traditions and disrupt their commerce, but He left them with a mysterious parable to think about – one that would continue to haunt them throughout His ministry, death and resurrection.

Through the cleansing of the temple, we discover that Jesus is –

Obedient to His Father’s commands (v. 13)

Observant of human behaviour and motivation (v.14)

Obsessed by a desire for true and holy worship (v.15-17)

Oppositional when truth is misrepresented (v.18-20)

Opportunitistic in His desire to transform hearts and minds (v.21,22)

If we claim to be followers of Christ, we too will have a passion for bringing glory to God, through living holy – and wholly - lives of worship.

Read More

John 3

Read More

Extreme Makeover Pt 2

What does it mean to be holy?  It means to be set aside for sacred use, to be “other” than, to be set apart.  God’s desire for His sons and daughters is that we be a Holy Nation.  We can only be made Holy be the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, who recreates the image of Jesus Christ in us!  This process of being made holy is called sanctification.    When Jesus cleared out the earthly temple, He set an example of what His Spirit does in our bodily temples if we submit.  Holy Spirit will uproot and overturn until only Jesus remains.  He uproots selfishness, lust, pride. lying, ungratefulness, anger, and all sorts of cherished sin and replaces it with His fruit.  His obsession is for the glory of God to be displayed in us.  What is Your obsession?  Can the world tell that you are part of this Holy Nation?  Spend some time asking God what He is needing to turn over in our lives so that He may be the centre, so that He may get the glory, so that the temple of our bodies may be obsessed with, and devoted to, Jesus. Are you ready to be made over? Are you ready to Give Yourself Away?

Read More

RECAP: Extreme Makeover: Lifestyle Edition

When the disciples agreed to follow Jesus, they had no idea that every aspect of their lives would be impacted, and everything they had come to believe would be blown to bits.   Their unexpected "bootcamp" at the wedding of Cana reveals valuable lessons on the lifestyle transformation that occurs when anyone commits to Christ-following. 

Journey through John 1:50 - 2:14 and discover that a Christ-follower's lifestyle will be:
1) An Adventurous Lifestyle (1:50,51)
2) An Every Day Lifestyle (2:1)
3) A Social Lifestyle (2:2)
4) A Caring Lifestyle (2:3)
5) A Trusting Lifestyle (2:4)
6) An Unconventional Lifestyle
7) An Obedient Lifestyle (2:5 - 9)
8) A Logic-Defying Lifestyle (2:10)
9) A Faith-Lifting Lifestyle (2:11)
10) An Unpredictable Lifestyle (2:12)

Jesus demonstrated at Cana that He is able to do greater things than changing  water into wine... for those who go beyond obeying (like the servants) but choose to believe and follow Christ, He is able and willing to perform an Extreme Makeover on their lives!  Now THAT's a MIRACLE!
Claim the promise of John 10:10 today.
HE is GREAT!

Read More

Anatomy of a Disciple

            According to John 1:35-51 a disciple is someone who is willing to drop all, follow christ, a servant, willing to share the message, a believer of Christ vested in the outcome of Christ’s mission.           

            Taking a closer look at these verses we begin to see a pattern developing as to what type of person it takes to become a disciple. Better yet what are the characteristics of a disciple? Looking at John 1:35-42 where Jesus called his first disciples Andrew and Peter, we see that a disciple is one that is called or even recruited, a listener, one who is willing to seek, accept the seen and the unseen. One who responds to the power of the Holy Spirit, is unselfish, fruitful, and one who recognizes authority of Christ Jesus.

            Again these characteristics are seen in verses 43-51: a willingness, open mindedness, a change in focus. Another unforeseen characteristic of a disciple is one that is persevering. Looking at Phillip we see that he recruited Nathaniel, however Nathaniel was not convinced in the beginning. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”vs46. Some would consider this a rejection and move on, but Philip again said “,Come and see”. 

            So What is a disciple? Simply this: one who is willing to serve and become less so that Christ can become more. Let us continue to pray this prayer that God becomes central in our lives so that we are able to show others the Christ that lives within us. Amen      

Read More

Living Your Destiny!

I first heard about Graham Cooke from one of my mentors and this particular message spoke to my heart!

Living Your Destiny 

By Graham Cooke 

May, 2010

All of the tests you presently face are there to develop you into the person you need to be to live your destiny. Everything you are going through has been aligned by God to forge you into the person He has called you to be. Your destiny is unfolding before your very eyes. You have a battle to win, and He must prepare you for it. 

When we embrace the idea that God has a plan for us, no issue should be able to stop us. The statement, “This situation will be the death of me,” is completely incorrect. The truth is that this situation will make you into who you are destined to be. 

God partners with our present situation to prepare us for the future He has designed. He uses every test, every challenge, every hurdle, every issue to sharpen us for what is to come. 

We can use the prophecies over our life to navigate our way through our present circumstance. God wants to establish intimacy as a way of life. He wants to cover us in His favor. This process starts by God establishing the fact that He is our source. Quietly and deliberately, God will strip away every crutch we have been relying on and obliterate anything that detracts from His ability to provide for us. 

He wants to take away the false sense of security most of us have been clinging to. God is not in the business of playing second fiddle to anything—and certainly not to the many ways we try and take care of ourselves. 

Lesson one is to go into the future and bring back the traits and intimacy we will need to fulfill our destiny. We must understand what that intimacy will look like. How must our relationship with God evolve and grow in order for us to become the person He has destined us to be? 

When I was 31 years old, I had a dream about the kind of relationship with God I would have when I was 45. It was so alluring, so magnificent, so amazing, that I did not want to wait 14 years to get there. I was so hungry when I woke up that I immediately began to pray for that kind of intimacy to happen right away. I discovered something in the process of fighting for that word—I didn’t have to wait until I was 45 for it to come to pass. I had been looking prophetically at a 45-year-old who had lived in that intimacy for ten years! 

Our timeline is not always God’s timeline. He often wants to bring breakthrough far sooner than we dare hope. I wanted that intimacy at age 31, thanks to God creating a deep hunger in me for it. I thought about it, meditated on it, prayed for it, and began to come into powerful times of worship. An hour worshipping God would turn into two and then three and sometimes six. I desperately wanted to know God, and God always answers an extreme desire for intimacy. 

Prophetic words come to pass as our intimacy and reliance on God develops. Intimacy is a part of our destiny. Look at the prophetic words over your life and ask yourself about the intimacy you will need to live in that kind of wonder. Become hungry for that relationship, and your destiny will come into focus. 

In Genesis 18:9, God says a remarkably simple thing about Abraham, His dear friend: “I have known him,” (NKJV). God wants that same intimacy with us, and has guaranteed that it can occur through the love and motivation of Jesus. Intimacy draws us and keeps us in the presence of God. Jesus taught on the importance of this relationship in John 15:4-5—

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Intimacy is a reciprocal act; there is exchange and dialogue. It is not a one-way street. There is interaction between us and the Lord Jesus, and that interaction results in us staying, dwelling, and remaining where God has put us in Christ. 

The enemy wants to knock us out of that place of intimacy. He knows how key that relationship is to everything the Lord wants to accomplish, so he tries to poison it from the start. Without water, a seed won’t grow; the enemy wants to kill the seed of our destiny before we grow even a single inch. But our job is to be so established in an intimate relationship with God that nothing can come between us and Him. 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” David sang in Psalm 139:23-24. That is the very crux of intimacy—allowing God to look deep into us and remove any blockage between Him and us. Everything in our lives, every situation we go through, is about growing our intimacy with God.

By Graham Cooke

Read More

Does Your Life Say Thank You?

Psalm 103

A David Psalm

 ^1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
   O my soul, bless God,
      don't forget a single blessing!

 ^3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
      He heals your diseases—every one.
      He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
      He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
      He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
      He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.

 ^6-18 God makes everything come out right;
      he puts victims back on their feet.
   He showed Moses how he went about his work,
      opened up his plans to all Israel.
   God is sheer mercy and grace;
      not easily angered, he's rich in love.
   He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
      nor hold grudges forever.
   He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
      nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
   As high as heaven is over the earth,
      so strong is his love to those who fear him.
   And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
      he has separated us from our sins.
   As parents feel for their children,
      God feels for those who fear him.
   He knows us inside and out,
      keeps in mind that we're made of mud.
   Men and women don't live very long;
      like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
   But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
      leaving nothing to show they were here.
   God's love, though, is ever and always,
      eternally present to all who fear him,
   Making everything right for them and their children
      as they follow his Covenant ways
      and remember to do whatever he said.

 ^19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
      he rules over us all. He's the King!
   So bless God, you angels,
      ready and able to fly at his bidding,
      quick to hear and do what he says.
   Bless God, all you armies of angels,
      alert to respond to whatever he wills.
   Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
      everything and everyone made by God.    And you, O my soul, bless God!

Read More

Hero Witness Pt.2

Read More

OUTPOUR RECAP - "IF" : An Approach to Transformative Prayer

IF...

CONSECRATION of our Purpose

My people Pray to be constantly reminded that we are His people

Who are called by my name...  and that He has a specific calling and purpose for our lives

Will humble themselves - Pray for the removal of pride and a surrender to God's agenda for our lives

And pray - Pray to pray! - to prioritize time communicating with and listening to God

CONFESSION of our misplaced Priorities

And seek my face - Pray for spiritual desperation and a desire to seek His face

And turn from their wicked ways - Pray confessing our need for a complete heart transplant and mind renewal  

THEN...

CONFIRMATION of God's Promises

I will hear from heaven ....Thanksgiving prayer for the assurance of God's willingness to hear

And forgive their sins ...Thanksgiving prayer for God's assurance of forgiveness

And heal their land ...Thanksgiving prayer claiming God's healing for "our land" - healing (redemption, renewal, resurrection) of our families, our health, our jobs and workplaces, our communities, our relationships, our province, our nation and our global family... whatever "land" we possess!

AMEN

2 Chronicles 7:14
Further Reading: Mark 9:14-29

Read More

Kingdom Life welcomes you to -

OUTPOUR
A Time for Prayer
Friday September 23
Guelph Youth Music Centre
8 p.m.

If my people,
who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land
2 Chronicles 7:14

Read More

RECAP: Be Light!

Scripture Reference John 1: 1-18

Friends - Here's the conclusion of the matter:

In the beginning the earth was empty and dark, without form and void, and God spoke the Word and said,  "Let There Be Light". Genesis 1:3

Four thousand years later, mankind was empty and dark and the Word became flesh and declared 

"I am the Light." John 8:12; John 9:5

Today, our lives are destined to be be empty and dark unless we accept the Word and,

through the Holy Spirit,  "Be Light!"   Matthew 5:14

Every day we are faced with two choices:

empty & dark lives or lives brilliant with the Word - God's light.

Today choose to be Light!

Read More

Hero Testimonies Pt. 1

Read More

Jesus, Lord of the Breakthrough

One of the most life-altering ministry opportunities I've had the chance to be part of occured a few years ago in Huntsville, AL.  I happened (by God Incidence) to be in visiting my old college town when a pastor invited myself and a few friends to help with a Christmas program he was doing in a local maximum security prison.  I'll never forget the cold feeling of traveling through barb wire fences, a tight security check, and sealed doors that led into the prison quarters where we would be ministering.  We entered into a different world.  We did two worship services that each had around 100 prisoners.  These brothers sang, worshipped, and were very enthused that we had come and were sharing with them.  I'll never forget the pandemonium that broke out when a member of our group  began to sing the hymn "Because He Lives".  By the times she reached the second chorus, and kept repeating the phrase "my life is worth the living just because He lives" it was like the spirit of hope entered the room as prisoners wept, worshipped, and clung to these words.  What was the most powerful was when one prisoner got up to testify, and in a quiet humble voice....he said " I don't know what y'all had planned when you came here...but I don't even feel like I'm in prison right now"....Those words are forever engraved in my heart and memory.  As he continued speaking it was like God said "Michael, that's the power of the gospel, that's the power of my presence".  The greatest breakthrough is not what happens to us (new job, new car, new boyfriend etc)....it is what happens in us.  Breakthrough is accepting God's promises, and allowing our hearts and minds to be transformed by His Word & Spirit.  Breakthrough is being anxious for nothing. Breakthrough is rejoicing always.  Breakthrough is having the peace of God guarding  or "tucking in" our hearts and minds through Jesus, the prince of peace. Breakthrough is having a Spirit of love, power, and a sound mind instead of fear.   The apostle Paul in Hebrews 13:5 said

"be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

In otherwords----when you are fully aware that you  have the Greatest Of All Time standing with you --what  more do you need?

I desire to come to a place where I am aware of ,embrace, and value the presence of God in my life.  That's why Jesus could sleep in a storm, thats why Paul could sing in Prison, that's why the brother I saw in jail could say---I don't feel like I'm behind bars right now----that's the power of the presence of God.  He is indeed the Lord of the breakthrough----He breaks through darkness with light.  He breaks through sorrow with joy. He breaks through fear with love.  He breaks through anxiety with peace.  He breaks through imprisonment with FREEDOM! 

Isaiah 61


The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
   heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
   pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
   a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
   and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
   give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
   a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
   planted by God to display his glory.

Breakthrough is Jehovah, the Creator, The Everlasting God, becoming  Jesus, the God-man and dying for us.  Breakthrough is an empty tomb!  Through Jesus Christ we now have access to the undiluted love, power and presence of God through His Holy Spirit.  May God allow us to experience the power of His presence today, and may we be content in Him!

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Read More

SABBATH RECAP: Breakdown or Breakthrough?

In Acts 16:16-36 we find the same Paul who encouraged the Philippians to "Be anxious for nothing" "Rejoice always"  and "Be content", singing away with his buddy Silas... at midnight...in a prison cell.   The pair had just been wrongly attacked, falsely accused, severely beaten and  unjustly thrown into the inner cell with chains placed around their feet.  But Paul and Silas, though inprisonsed, refused to become prisoners to their circumstances.  Therein lies the first miracle!  Rather than allowing themselves to understandably  be broken down by fear, anxiety,  discouragement and depression, they choose to praise their way to a miraculous breakthrough - that would result in expanding the Kingdom of God. With the peace of God ruling their hearts and minds, even at midnight in a dark and stinky jail cell, the pair conducted a lively "praise and worship" service that caught the attention of the others prisoners and clearly the interest of the prison guard.   When at last an earthquake came -  strong enough to open the doors and  loose the chains of all the prisoners -  the natural thing for Paul and Silas to do was hike up their robes and run, giving thanks for their deliverance.  But their freedom was not the main issue that night. Paul's first words post-earthquake demonstrate a mind-blowing selflessness and concern for another, in spite of his own predicament.   Empathetic realizing that their jailer's life and livelihood were now in jeopardy, Paul quickly urged him "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"   This fact in itself was remarkable! Who ever heard of prisoners not breaking free when given an opportunity?  Follow this amazing story and see the transforming power of love in action: Paul's concern was not for his own life and safety, but for the eternal life and salvation of the jailer and his entire household.    After ensuring the jailer's salvation, and  leaving prison to baptize his entire family, Paul and Silas freely returned to the prison, allowing the newly saved jailer to turn around the next morning and order Paul and Silas legitimately free and able to go in peace... Talk about breakthroughs!

So what's  the point?

Regardless of what circumstance you find yourself imprisoned by today, in school, on your job, in your home, with your finances, with you health, in your relationships - why not expect a breakthrough:
Rather than saying "God, release me from this situation", begin to pray, "God, be glorified in this situation".    Rather than pleading for your temporary safety, why not intercede for someones eternal salvation
Rather than complaining "Good God, why me?" why not pray "Great God, use me!" 

Paul's example from prison makes him uniquely qualified to offer us this breakthrough enabling formula found in Philippians 4 :

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Remember, Job? His breakthrough came when he prayed for his friends! Job 42:10  God's kingdom needs team players who will not allow problem-focused breakdowns to keep them from the solution-focused breakthroughs that God is ready and able to miraculously facilitate through you. 

Read More

Recap: Stock The Hut

There is a Bulgarian Proverb that states

 "God promises a safe landing but not a smooth passage."

Whether it is the disciples on the sea or Denis Shackel on Mount Ruapehu 8000 feet above ground, we need to claim the promise "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Phil 4:13  ... even if we can only get through it "five seconds at a time".

And regardless of what we are going through, we need to remember to "stock the hut."  THAT' S LOVE

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:35

Holy Spirit, please show me how to Stock The Hut today.

Read More

GUEST RECAP: Tuck In!

“What an incredible time of fellowship we had on Saturday with Kingdom Life Fellowship.   The Lord made His presence felt in a dramatic way.   As I shared the message of encouragement for Kingdom Life’s membership, I could feel His passion flowing through me.   Yes, He sometimes uses us mortals as vessels to utter messages to His people.
 
The testimony of how the Lord responded to intercessory prayers uttered by Kingdom Life is, in my view, a sign to the fellowship that God is encouraging them to carry on with His work.   One of the very first requests that they prayed for as a corporate group under the name Kingdom Life Fellowship was answered affirmatively and dramatically by God in a very short period of time.   Praise God.
 
Let us all go forth and tuck ourselves into the bosom of Christ so that when the enemy comes around to steal, kill, and destroy (and we can be sure that he will) we are protected in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour.   Yes, we are to ‘tuck in’.   And, we are not to operate in our own strength – while there is nothing wrong with having a degree of independence, that approach taken to extremes can result in us being isolated from others and therefore EASY PREY to the enemy.  Yes he is relentless but the Lord our God is stronger so we have nothing to fear.
 
It feels good to be a part of Kingdom Life Fellowship and I will keep you in my prayers.  Please keep me in yours, particularly during this time of transition for me.”

Read More

Stay FOCUSED!

"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus...."(Hebrews 12:2)

With all the storms around us like division, leadership let downs, riots, famines, etc.. the Word of God calls us to "keep our eyes fixed on Jesus". The Word doesn't say that, just because its something we should do as Christians. It says it because that's what really matters. Mark 4:35-41 tells of Jesus and the disciples crossing a river to get to the other side. While on their way [to the other side], a storm kicks up and literally begins to physically break the boat. As this was going on, Jesus was in the back of the boat.........sleeping.......on a cushion......Jesus knew about the storm going into it, but yet He went in, with a cushion, and the intention to sleep; with the intention to be at peace.
After Jesus wakes up and calms the storm, He says to the disciples “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40).  Now if Jesus had asked, why WERE you afraid, that would make more sense [to us]. If He did that, the issue then would have been about the disciples not trusting Jesus through the storm. Instead He asks why ARE, pointing to a state of now. The storm was long, gone, and done away with but Jesus was focused on the real issue; the focus of the disciples.

So a few things to point out

Jesus wants us to have intentional peace, both through and after a storm.
Jesus wants us to have intentional trust in Him.

The only way we can do this, is to stay focused on Jesus. When we are focused. the storm really isn't an issue. The family struggles, work situations, gains, status', positions, and any thing else really aren't an issue.

With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we wait on Him to take care of everything else.

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2  ~ NASB)

Read More

The Power of One: Where Amazing Happens Pt.2

Read More

Recap: The Creator King

The Psalmist David makes it very clear in Psalm 19 that creation testifies of the greatness of God!  "Day to Day" creation speaks and "Night to Night" the knowledge of God is revealed to us in the moon, stars, and galaxies.  There is no language or speech where their voice is not heard.  Stop and think about it.  Creation sings a constant song of praise to the Creator and giver of life.  It is the our knowledge of the greatness of God that amplifies the love and humility revealed by Jesus Christ, The Creator King, shown  on Calvary.  Take some time today to meditate on the greatness of God revealed in His mighty works, and may our lives join in singing the unending song...Hallelujah!

Read More

The Power of One: Where Amazing Happens

Read More

Rethinking Church

 1 Corinthians 12:31b - 13:13
 
 31b  But now let me show you a more excellent way....    
   ¹ If the Bride of Christ could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, the Bride of Christ would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If the Bride of Christ had the gift of prophecy, and if the Bride of Christ understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if the Bride of Christ had such faith that the Bride of Christ could move mountains, but didn’t love others, the Bride of Christ would be nothing. ³ If the Bride of Christ gave everything to the poor and even sacrificed its' body, the Bride of Christ could boast about it; but if the Bride of Christ didn’t love others, the Bride of Christ would have gained nothing.
   ⁴ The Bride of Christ is patient and kind. The Bride of Christ is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. The Bride of Christ  does not demand its own way. The Bride of Christ is not irritable, and the Bride of Christ keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ The Bride of Christ does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ The Bride of Christ never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
   ⁸ Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages^[and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ⁹ Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! ¹⁰ But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.
   ¹¹ When the Bride of Christ was a child, the Bride of Christ spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when the Bride of Christ grew up, the Bride of Christ put away childish things. ¹² Now the Bride of Christ see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then the Bride of Christ will see everything with perfect clarity. All that the Bride of Christ knows now is partial and incomplete, but then the Bride of Christ will know everything completely, just as God now knows the Bride of Christ  completely.
   ¹³ Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

AMEN

Read More

Recap: Moving Your Mountain of Adversity Through Prayer

Don't let adversity get you down except on your knees!

 

Moving Mountains of Adversity through Prayer* - Psalms 23

 

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures."  Pray for God's PRESENCE.

"He LEADS me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He GUIDES me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  Pray for God's LEADERSHIP.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are WITH me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Pray for God's COMPANIONSHIP.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.   Surely goodness and love will PURSUE me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Pray for God's BLESSING.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being around me like a providing and protecting shepherd, in front of me as my reliable guide, beside me as my constant companion and behind me like a relentless host, pursuing me with blessing, goodness and love.    Whatever valley of adversity or fear I may be facing in my life right now, however difficult or challenging, help me to remember that I am not alone.  Because you are with me, I have no need for fear.   In your enabling name and through your empowering Spirit, AMEN.

 

*Reference: Praying with Power Moving Mountains: Pastor Kenneth D. Mulzac

 

Kingdom Seeking - Our priority

Kingdom Living - Our purpose

Kingdom Building - Our passion

Read More

Jesus, The Shepherd King

Hey Family,

I have been meditating on our journey through Psalms 23 and have already found it bringing joy and peace to me this week.  As believers, we are surrounded by a caring, loving, and correcting God who provides Leadership, Companionship, and Protection on our journey as His followers.  Continue to be blessed as you meditate on Jesus, The Shepherd King this week, and take some time to revisit Psalm 23.  Here's a great song to check out, nothing like some good ole' gospel to drive it home!

Shalom 

Read More

Recap: Facing the Impossible with the Improbable

I don't know if anyone is facing the impossible this week, but I want to remind you from Friday's study that God is able to  use the improbable to help you conquer the impossible.

 

The improbable may include -

Your stuff: God used Moses' staff (rod) to change the mind of the most powerful ruler of his time.  Exodus 4

Your skills: God used David's marksmanship to bring down the most powerful giant of his time.  1 Samuel 17

Your supporters: God used the Children of Israel's seven-day community march to destroy the most powerful city of their time. Joshua 6

 

So no matter what person, emotion or situation you face today, praise God that while: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

 

AMEN!

Read More

Mid Week Manna

"...I am grateful to Kingdom Life.  I am an honorary member of your group.  –  I believe that God is using your new fellowship group to make a difference in the lives of others and in doing so each of you will be uplifted and made to THRIVE.  I can see what God is doing. It is fascinating if you stand back and look at it. God IS doing a new thing. I believe all your members are coming into a new Season and every one of you will be fruitful and bloom in your own way. Love, Gratitude and Blessings"

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

Father, open our spiritual eye’s to see the New Thing you are doing in and around us today.  Wake us from complacency and ineffectiveness to a bold and beautiful new life in You....Amen

Read More