Friday double portion

Last Friday evening, I was reading the story of God sending manna for the Israelites and how they gathered only enough manna for each day, except the day before the Sabbath.  Then I realized that the day before the Sabbath is Friday.

The Sabbath represents eternal rest with God, and I believe that we currently live in the "last days", the age before eternal rest.  This, you could refer to us as living in a figurative "Friday".

So, I believe that we live in an age of double portion.  I believe that God wants us to overflow with abundant love in this age:

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Luke 6:38 NIV

That night, I had a dream that I prayed for two people at the same time to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, and they both slumped to the floor under His presence.

Father, I praise you for your abundant heart.  Your heart overflows with love for us.  And we have opportunity to emulate you.  Jesus, thank you for living an example for us to follow.  I want to grow more to look like you today.  Holy Spirit, please bless me with a double portion so that I can give it away.  I love you.

Fasting and joy

I finished my first five meal fast on Thursday.  Mostly tea, water, and a little coffee.  I felt the Lord prompt me to do it over a month ago, but I had not done it because it is not convenient to fast.  I realized that it is sort of like weight lifting or running: you just have to schedule it and do it consistently if you want it to benefit you.

During the fast, I was telling the Holy Spirit that I want more of Him more than I want food.

Thursday night, I attended the memorial service for Peter's dad, Harweda Bruce Jordan.  I had a conversation with him a few years ago about being baptized in the Spirit.  He was a man who did silly things just to have fun, and I realized that I take myself way too seriously. 

Saturday afternoon, I took the kids to get ice cream cones and then shopping at Lowe's,  and I wore a silly looking Christmas elf cap.  Beau asked me not to wear it, but I told him that I was just being silly.  It was liberating to not worry about people thinking I look silly.

Saturday night,  Brandi and I went to the College of Engineering Holiday Party, and I had agreed to start the dancing if they played a country song so that we could two-step.  Later, they were playing some Latin dance music, and someone invited me to learn, so instead of taking myself too seriously, I got out there and tried to dance.  It was definitely challenging my tendency to self-judge, but I mostly had fun.

After our church gathering yesterday,  we went shopping at Sam's, and we had Sharita's two kids with us, so a total of six kids.  The looks we got were pretty funny,  but I was in a good mood and tried to keep with the theme of not concerning myself with the judgements of others.

I believe that I will grow in joy as I continue to see myself through my Father's eyes.

At home group last night, Sharita asked if I had considered a one word focus for 2019, and she suggested, "joy". I think I am going to run with that one.

Father, thank you for seeing the best in me.  Thank you for covering me in the righteousness of Jesus.  Holy Spirit,  help me loosen up. I love you.

Pastor installation

A couple of weeks ago, we installed Peter Jordan as our lead pastor of Paseo.  We (1) anointed him with four Scripture passages from Paul's letters to Timothy, (2) anointed him with oil, and (3) anointed him with love and prayers.  

In a Paseo Sunday gathering a few months ago, while we were worshipping, I went to pray for Peter before he preached, and it was an unusual prayer.  I typically pray for the person preaching to be confident in what God has put on their heart to share, that they will be full of joy as they share, etc.  But that morning, the prayer that came out of me was that God would honor Peter for being a Spirit-led man, faithful husband, spiritual leader of his children, disciple maker through his work, etc.  I went back to my seat, sort of curious about that prayer, and Brandi leaned over and told me that as she was singing, she heard the Lord tell her that Peter would be a good pastor for Paseo, and then she began to list off the things that I had just prayed over Peter.

Over the next few weeks, Brandi and I shared what we had experienced with the leadership team, and there was unity and confirmation.  Then before we even announced to the congregation that we were considering Peter, God kept sending us confirmation by multiple people recommending Peter.  

It has been great to see how God has led us through this process and provided for our church family.

Father, thank you for leading and providing.  Lord Jesus, thank you for your example for us to follow.  Holy Spirit, take us deeper.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus.  

Letting go of shame and embracing honor

Last week, I started listening to guided meditation through the app, Soultime.  Based on the 61 question check-in, one of the top recommendations was a three part series on busyness.  The first meditation was about how we might use busyness as a way of seeking significance/meaning, which I know that I have struggled with at times.  The second meditation was about how we might use busyness as a way of avoiding soul wounds/pain, but I didn't sense that this point was as applicable for me.  The third meditation was about how we might use busyness as a way of trying to earn approval from people or as a way of covering shame.  At first, I didn't think this one applied that much to me, either, but I felt the Holy Spirit inviting me to open my heart and allow Him to search.  I asked, "Is there anything that I am ashamed of?", and immediately, I remembered a situation from late elementary school for which I was very ashamed of myself. 

I remembered something that Brandi had shared with me from the book Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Bill Johnson and Kris Vallaton about forgiveness and restoration to honor.  I realized that since Jesus has forgiven me for all of my sins, and our Heavenly Father has made me a son, I can let go of my shame, because God is not ashamed of me.  I can look upon myself with honor because that is the way my Father looks at me.

I have decided that anytime a thought comes to mind for which I am ashamed or disappointed of myself, I will break agreement with that feeling towards myself because it is not in agreement with God.  These feelings are based on a lie that God has not forgiven me or does not approve of me.  But if I have repented and asked for forgiveness according to the mercy of Christ, then I should receive His grace of restoration to honor, as well.

Furthermore, as I was sharing this in homegroup last night, Rachel encouraged us to not only let go of the shame and break agreement with the lies, but also to ask our Father for a new truth instead.  In this way, we will double our growth.

Father, thank you for being a good father.  I can trust you to give me good gifts.  It pleases you to give good gifts to your children.  Jesus, thank you for making the way for me to be forgiven and restored.  Holy Spirit, thank you for my growing friendship with you and for guiding me to be aware of my heart.  You are trustworthy with my heart.  I look forward to letting go of more shame and walking in more of your power.  I love you.

Deliverance

Foe months, I have been wanting to see the Holy Spirit use me to heal someone.  After the gathering yesterday, Peter called me over to join him in praying with a man who he had already been talking to for a bit. Almost immediately, I noticed strong alcohol on his breath, and could tell by his speech that he was intoxicated.  The man was feeling guilt, shame, and fear from his past.  We shared the good news of Jesus and His forgiveness, and led the man to put his faith in Christ and receive God's forgiveness.  Peter said, "OK, now Shane is going to pray for you, and God is going to deliver you."  I put my left hand on his right shoulder and my right hand on his forehead, and I began to thank the Father for this man and ask the Holy Spirit to come.  Within a minute, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, even in my legs, and I felt him flowing, so I asked for more, and more.  The man was overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit, and he slumped down on the floor.  Peter and I let him down gently on the floor, and we continued praying for him.  I commanded evil spirits to leave him, and I commanded his brain chemistry to return to normal.  I kept praying for the annointing of the Holy Spirit from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

Within a few minutes, he started waking up, and he was a little confused about why he was on the floor, but we reassured him and helped him to his feet.  It was obvious that he was sober-minded and able to talk and reason more clearly than before.  (And later, Peter told me that he sensed demonic presence had left while we were praying for him.)  We gave him a Bible, and I encouraged him to start reading the Gospel of Mark because in the first chapter Jesus casts out demons and heals people.  We talked to him about learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and to ignore the enemy.  Peter got a word for him to not touch alcohol, and we encouraged him to stay in freedom and not open the door for demons to return.

As we were walking out, he said that he had bad knees and that his knees were hurting.  I prayed for him several times, commanding the pain to leave and flexibility to be restored.  He was amazed after walking down the stairs from the front porch and down the sidewalk a bit that his knees were so much more flexible than they had been in years.  He said that he used to walk like a penguin because his knees were so stiff.

He told us that he had promised to meet a friend at the library so that they could check their email for job offers, so we took him to the library.  On the way, he told us about a repetitive dream that he has been having the past several months about him being a drummer in a church praise band and giving God the glory for his ability.  I encouraged him to take a step of faith towards that by practicing with one of our church praise teams.

I hope that he continues walking in freedom and that God uses him to bring freedom to others.

Father, thank you for the opportunity to be used by you.  Jesus, thank you for your victory.  Holy Spirit, thank you for flowing through me and delivering this man.  I look forward to the next opportunity.  I love you.

Snake in the fire

Acts 28:1‭-‬6 NIV

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

The Lord showed me that there is an analogy here.  As followers of Jesus, we are light in the dark, we kindle the fire of God's love to warm those who are could.  And as we do, driven out of hiding by the heat of God's love, the enemy comes against us to steal, kill, and destroy.  But through Christ, the fatal bite of sin, as well as the other attacks of the enemy, are ineffective against us.  We should shake off the snake into the fire that we are building.  This is a foreshadowing of the eternal destiny of the Serpant.  A signature of the sons and daughters of God is that we walk in supernatural protection, abiding with the Father.

1 Corinthians 15:54‭-‬58 NIV

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Father, you are merciful and gracious to us. Jesus, you already won the victory.  I want to walk in your supernatural protection and provision.  Holy Spirit, show me how to shake off the snake into the fire.  I love you.

Supernatural and reason

Acts 4:10‭, ‬14 NIV

"then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." ... But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

Reasoning is a gift from God, as long as it is submitted to the Lordship of Christ.  But if we are not open to supernatural interruption by the Holy Spirit, then our reasoning can limit us to the natural and block us from experiencing the goodness of God.  By definition, supernatural experiences are not explainable by natural reasoning.

Father, open us to supernatural interruption by the Holy Spirit today.  Holy Spirit, we welcome your thoughts, and we welcome your miraculous powered.  We welcome your desire to dispense yourself through us.  We are your vessels.  Use us supernaturally!  We love you.