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Taking Time to “Pause”: Reflections from “The Mountain Top” (AKA a recent retreat)

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying,
yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."
~2 Corinthians 4:16
(The Key passage that set the tone for the weekend) 

Was blessed to be a part of a men’s retreat the weekend of May 3rd – 5th, 2013 with my home church and wanted to share some reflections via this post.

General Thoughts:
The location/venue (Twin Rocks Camp and Conference Center in Rockaway, Oregon) as well as the weather, accommodations, fellowship, etc. were fantastic!!
The Speaker, Worship in song, break out groups were great as well and it turned out to be a weekend that had profound impact on many.

Spiritual Insights:
We were challenged to connect with God in a way we’ve never connected with Him before – something I’d say as men that we’re not real good at sometimes even though deep down we hunger for true relationship.

The speaker kicked off the weekend on Friday night by sharing his testimony and then during each of the sessions introduced a major theme of renewal and challenged us through the Scriptures and his recent journey with God to take time to pause with God. We were challenged to take time to be with God whether you pause for 2 minutes, 30 minutes or more. Taking time to read His Word, pray and listen for His direction. We were also reminded time and time again that we are not alone!

It was a needful reminder (or for some it may have been the first time they heard these assurances) as we live in a busy and hurried world! I know how busy I get working and serving Him that I forget to do just this, pause to be with Him.

In our breakout sessions where we met in small groups, the stories and testimonies started to unfold about the impact this was having on each of us.

Little-by-little we became more transparent with where we’ve come from, where we are, and what lies ahead with personal changes we need to make and need help from God and others to do so.

This was especially true when the question was posed to us to “pause” and consider and then share/discuss in our small group times: “What is (or maybe what are) the Lie(s) I believe about God.” Or, to personalize it, “what is the lie “I” believe about God?”
I know I wrestled with this question a bit myself and a couple things automatically came to mind as the speaker asked the question.

I listened to others share during our small group time and then I shared a few things as well and It was evident that we are not alone in our battles and not alone with how we tend to think about God sometimes either.

After our Saturday morning session and lunch we had about 4 ½ hours of free time before dinner and our evening session. After a hike with my son, he then wanted to relax at the camp so I decided to hit the beach, take a walk, snap some pictures and videos and relax / pause for a bit as I continued to process what God was teaching us.

About 30 minutes before needing to head back I sat down to physically pause and hear from God.

I had some worship/praise music playing in my headphones and as I prayed and looked out toward the ocean – the ocean He created, I again pondered the question the speaker asked us during the session, “What is the like I believe about God?”

As I reflected on this and prayed some more and then listened - within moments another question came to mind… “What is or are the lies I believe about myself?”

Boom!  That question hit me as they say, “right between the eyes!”

I drilled into this for a few moments and then I felt prompted to take a piece of paper from my notepad and write down the things that came to mind. Within less than literally 30 seconds to a minute I looked down and realized there were 10 things listed there – 10 major things and sadly I think I could have kept going!

You see, I realized why it hit me and it’s not only because of my past, but it seemed to drill down to penetrate the core of my heart and soul with the realization that how I view myself – the lies I believe about myself – directly reflects on how I view God!

Why?...Because He made me (all of us) in His image and His Word states clearly who I am in Him and how He sees me! I have no business believing these things about myself!

The list that I wrote down - literally boiled down to trust for me and due to my past, trust is a big issue for me…especially but not limited to other men, male leaders, friends, or male role models. So, I have to continually learn how to trust God (and others) – trust that He loves me unconditionally like He says and has shown that He does, and that everything He says that I am in Him and how He clearly states how He’ll never leave or forsake me and that He’ll provide, etc for me throughout His Word is true and that I can completely trust HIM!

For years I have put up barriers and have had a low self-image because of my past. I have continually had to learn about who I am in Him and that the lies I speak of or think about myself are just that - lies!

As I reflected on all of this, I was then led to turn that list sideways and right the word LIES over the entire list in large letters. Next I was prompted to burn that list up and as I watched the list of lies burn up, line-by-line, before me I realized that I don’t need to dwell on or receive them anymore because I know the truth and need to live in His unchanging truth about who I am and who God says I am!

I cannot allow myself to believe the lies about God or myself any longer and pray that with God’s help I will allow the lies that were represented on that list and more too truly disappear!

For me it was a simple yet powerful moment as I released things I had hung onto for far too long and they were and are barriers to walking fully in the newness of life He desires for me.

I ask you to pray for me as I continue this journey and walk with Him that I’d truly let go of these lies once and for all and in place of them, believe the truths about Him and myself that are so clearly laid out in his Word!

I challenge you to do the same and start by asking God for help identifying what lies you believe about Him as well as yourself and then confess those things, let them go, and move forward in His name, love and grace!

The next day (Sunday) which was our final retreat day and session we had a special and moving time of communion to close our time together. For me this was a very fitting end to the weekend as we celebrated the Lord’s Table which is a great time to celebrate what He’s done for you and I but also that we can take time to lay the burdens down before Him as He works in our lives.

The Mountain Top:
During special times of personal retreat or special serve efforts such as a mission trip or other significant life event, we have what we often refer to as a “Mountain Top Experience”.

Much like others throughout history who had significant things happen through such experiences we can and do have tremendously moving events take place during these times.

The hope always is that through those “Mountain Top” times that those momentary events, once “off The Mountain Top”, would lead to lasting life change!

I believe and my prayer is that per my own experience and others experience through this specific time that this will be the case! 

The end of this weekend was truly the beginning of a fresh new perspective for myself and many others I suspect and I’m excited to see what changes and new things come for myself and others as we strive to walk in newness and let the old life, the old things, the lies disappear.

I’m very thankful for the very simple, contemplative and profound weekend and pray that the effects of the learnings of the weekend aren’t temporal but truly become life altering and lasting changes for everyone, including myself that attended.

Principles to Ponder:

• Take Time to Pause – Pause Often and Regularly: Seek God regularly! Take time to connect with Him. Whether it’s in 2 minute intervals throughout the day to longer times, it’s vital that you and I invest this time with God seeking Him and listening for His direction.
• Take Inventory: Ask God to help you take inventory of your journey from time-to-time. Assess what lies you’re believing about God and yourself.
• Take Time to Connect with Others: Building relationships is an important aspect of your journey especially in the context of your spiritual life as well as life in general. We weren’t designed to do life alone and we need the help of others to rise above where we are and to move forward.

Questions for personal reflection:

• How often do I take time and connect with God?
• Why don't I pause?
• What is the lie (or the lies) I believe about God?
• What is the lie (or the lies) that I believe about myself?
• What do I need to do / need God’s help to do in order to move forward more fully in the newness of life He desires for me?

I would love to hear and learn from your own experience! So, please leave a comment in reply to this post for the benefit of not only myself, but others who may stop by this blog
for a visit.
 
Blessings and Love in Christ,
rlk

The Fruit of The Spirit

Hello My Friend,

As we grow in our walk with Christ - in the wisdom and knowledge of Him, the fruit of this growth should be evident to everyone (including ourselves) around us!

The key to a Spirit-filled and led life is to take God's Word and actively live it out in our lives and with this, when we are told to bear fruit in the scriptures we ought to do just that - bear fruit! The Fruit of The Spirit comes from God working in and through us. 

In the book of Galatians God lays out for us the Fruit of the Spirit as follows:  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)

This list in this passage is the exact opposite of what we see or experience many times in our lives and in the world we live in, isn't it? 

Note also that the passage states ..."those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." In this statement alone it's clear that we are to rid ourselves of the bad seeds we have sown and the bad fruit we've produced in the past and thankfully God is faithful to help us do just that!
 
As we grow, God will plant good seed and in turn produce good fruit and the choice then comes to us in part - what fruit do you and I want to bear?  Fruits of the flesh (sinful nature) or the Fruits of the Spirit (The fruit that comes from God and abiding in Him)? 

May you rely on the work of The Holy Spirit in your life and allow Him to work in and through you so you might bear fruit for The Lord all the days of your life. 

I recently ran across this below great video on The Fruit of the Spirit. 

Take time to watch this brief video and then ask The Holy Spirit to help you  #1 evaluate what fruit you've been bearing lately / what seeds you are sowing and #2 to help you to bear good fruit - spiritual and physical (the things you do) fruit because we cannot do it on our own!  We need His help to plant good seed and bear good fruit!

Fruit of the Spirit - An illustration from inspiredfaith on GodTube.

Let's seek to replace the bad seeds we sow (like doubt, fear, wrath, anger, etc..Which results in bad fruit) with His good seed and in turn bear the good fruit that brings glory to Him and blesses and benefits ourselves and others! Let our lives be ruled and guided by His Spirit and therefore plant good seed and grow and bear good fruit - The Fruit of the Spirit!

Blessings in Christ,

rlk 

Walking in the Spirit

Here's Wisdom for all of us: 

"Instead of using "I'm Human" as an excuse to walk in the flesh, try using "I'm Saved" as a reason to walk in the Spirit!"

Boom! Can I get an AMEN!? Are you going to join me in rising to the challenge of striving to walk in the Spirit and no longer allowing our humanity to be an excuse for not doing so?

Let's pray for each other! You can do it with the help of God's Holy Spirit!...one step at a time brothers and sisters...one step at a time! Just keep walking!!

In Christ,

rlk 

In Memory of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

On this day in history:

On April 9th, 1945 German Christian pastor, writer, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by his captors at the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp near the Czech border in Germany.

The concentration camp Bonhoeffer was martyed at was liberated just two weeks later by Allied forces.

Bonhoeffer was only 39 years old at the time.

An eye-witness to the execution later wrote: “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.”

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

via Drive Thru History https://www.facebook.com/drivethruhistory

The world is watching

"The world is watching to see whether Christians really are different or not." -Alistair Begg

It's true, they are watching...and so is The Lord...so remember Who you're representing! Something to think about each day! Let's pray that we (The Church - the young and the old) are found to be representing Him well!

Be Blessed,

rlk 

For Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free!

Had to share this encouragement with you! 

For Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free! 

Check out this brief Scripture Video: 


For Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free from Harvest Bible Chapel 1 on Vimeo.

Blessings and love in Christ,

rlk

What are you going to do with the Resurrection now?

It's been 48 hours since the Easter worship service.
What are you going to do with the Resurrection now?

Wanted to share this as I thought we'd all benefit from it...
Check out this article here as it's worth the read:
www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/what-will-you-do-with-easter

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Wanted to wish you a wonderful and peaceful Resurrection / Easter Sunday!
 
Here's a beautiful song by The Getty's - "In Christ Alone".
http://youtu.be/DE2jtaml-Bo

Check out the message in this e-Card: http://www.crosscards.com/cards/holidays/easter/his-sacrifice.html

Also, here's additional information about Jesus' Resurrection that I read a while back and posted via the following link:

https://www.ashepherdsheart.org/2009/04/historical-evidence-for-resurrection.html
 
I hope your Good Friday was filled with gratitude and contemplation for the great sacrifice He paid for you and may this Sunday be filled with joy as you celebrate and worship the risen savior Jesus Christ!

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

With Love In Him,

rlk

Bear Fruit!

Here are two questions for your Wednesday: #1- Are you bearing fruit? & #2- What kind of fruit are you bearing?

Let's pray for each other that #1- we'd bear fruit & #2- that we'd be found bearing good fruit for His Glory, our good and for the good of others!!

Blessings,

rlk

Child of The Most High God!

You are a child of the Most High God! Walk in and meditate on this truth today!

When thoughts bombard your mind saying, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" Just smile and say, "I am a child of the Most High God!"

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise." -Galatians 3:26-29

Blessings,

rlk

Your past, is Your Past...So, Don't live there anymore!

Hello!

Walk in these truths today...

"Don't Judge me by my past, I don't live there anymore!"

Praise God this is true of all of us who are in Christ as He holds not one sin against us and gives us the grace and the help through His Spirit to daily be renewed and daily take steps forward with Him for positive life change! Hear me when I say this - He is in the business of transforming hearts, minds & lives! This includes yours!! He is the key to life change!

Stop kicking yourself for your past! Yes, learn from your past sins and mistakes but stop "going there"! You know what I mean?!?!

When the evil one comes at you, remind Him of these truths and no matter the triggers that dredge up the past or the people who choose to dredge it up and live there just stop right now and Praise God that He is right there with you loving you unconditionally and directing/guiding you each day! Give these things over to Him!

Walk in His truth and reach out to Him and your family in Christ if you need help along the way and remember - you no longer live in the past!

Be Blessed!

Psalm 103:12 "as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us."

In Christ,
rlk

Critics vs. Your Creator

Saw this phrase the other day which I found impactful and started flood of thoughts...

"Pay more attention to your Creator rather than your critics."

I've been learning this lesson and sometimes the hard way over the years and I strive all the more today to pay attention to my loving Heavenly Father rather than others. Why? Because if I let my guard down and lose my focus on Him - I end up exhausted trying to live for the approval of others or by trying to make people like me or gain their approval which is futile!  Many times I’ve lived to try and please, gain the approval of, or get people to like me who honestly will never give it to me nor do they honestly give me much thought at all.

To meld my words with the words of I’m sure of many others, let me share that it really comes down to focus  - putting your focus on The Lord your God rather than just other people's opinions of or actions toward you!

This doesn't mean that we can't learn from our critics but it does mean that some people, no matter what you do, that they are never going to be for you!  I know it’s a tough truth but it’s the truth! One that I’ve struggled with a lot at times – especially when people you expect to be supportive of and an encouragement to you only to find they aren’t and have no intentions to be for various reasons like their own insecurities or jealousy to name just a few. 

Here’s a quote that makes me laugh but is very true:

“Some people find fault like there is a reward for it” – Zig Ziglar

Think about it, you could exert a lot of effort, (and probably do sometimes, right?!) trying to work hard to change yourself and try to meet all their, (many times unhealthy) demands and attempt to do everything they asked, yet, they still find something wrong. Plus, they never change anything about themselves but they demand change of you!

We need to continually learn to ignore those critical voices. Ask yourself, why do I need those people’s approval? Why am I knocking myself out to meet their approval?!

Let me tell you, the truth is - you don’t need their approval! 

I wonder sometimes if this isn’t part of why He gave us His armor to put on, (which is primarily for the spiritual battles we face See Ephesians 6) maybe also to help us battle against the negative voices that come our way deflecting the flaming arrows of those critical voices in our lives as well which has spiritual impact on us!

Stop for a moment and take inventory of especially your friends, how many of them are truly there when you really need them? How many of them are there only typically when you are doing something for them? How many people came to mind that are always negative or judgmental toward you and rarely supportive?

Give it some thought. Maybe for the list of those who aren’t truly there for you, it’s time to remove the negative voices/people from your life, even for a season? Why, because they are hindering your walk with God and negatively impacting your self-worth as well as adding stress to your life that you don’t need!!

It’s not that your life will be perfect, EVER, but it is about the inputs you have in your life whether bad or good and again about the focus you should have…if your focus is fogged-up, it’s time for some “de-fogging” for your own good!  :-) You may feel selfish about it at first but that’s because you’re used to craving approval and doing for those who just take and give nothing in return. God wants to fully use you and if your focus is off – He cannot fully use you or form you further into His image!

Next, take inventory of those who are truly there for you when you need them and with no strings attached – the ones that are always there to speak truth in love into your life? Those who aren’t constantly judging you or causing you pain. The ones who care about and love you unconditionally? Besides your Father in Heaven who is always there for you, who here on earth is really there for you?  Maybe it’s time to put your energy into those relationships again, for your good!

The reality is that you weren’t put on earth to be a people pleaser or to bow to everyone’s whim. If you do that you’ll just end up being used up by people that try to manipulate you or try to over-exert their perceived power over you and miss the blessing of being utilized by the One who truly loves you and cares for you! …and miss the important relationships that are right there in front of you but you’re so caught up in “the fog” - the negativity that your experiencing that you’re blind to this!?

Your job going forward is to:
• keep your focus on God your Father!
• stay in His Word and learn about Him, yourself and how He wants you to live!
• be about the Father’s business and to do His will!
• stay focused on your future!
• allow His truth to permeate your soul and allow His Holy Spirit to strengthen you to ignore the critics and move forward into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!

God is for you! He wants all of you! So, let’s pray for each other that we will break free from the destructive patterns and people we’ve had or currently have in our lives so we can be more about the Father’s business and the positive influences in our lives.

Blessings,

rlk


P.S.
Another thought for you to consider is,  who’s always there for you yet you sometimes only pay attention to their friendship when they are doing exactly what you want them to do or going with you to only exactly where you want to go? Are you only thinking about yourself and what you want and not considering them in your plans when you get together?  Are you maybe doing to them exactly what you don't like that others do to you? You should change this starting today, or you may lose them - a person who is a positive influence in your life!

Remind Me Who I Am...

Are you struggling with your present circumstances? Do you struggle with your past? Do you struggle with insecurities? Do you label people or feel labeled? Are you struggling with your identity? Are you “paralyzed” trying to figure out who you are or by others opinions of you?  Are you listening to the lies and accusations of the evil one or maybe others in your life that hurl verbal abuse at you?

Stop right now and listen – you need only open and start reading and studying God’s Word, the Bible to see who you really are! Instead of focusing on what we call “self-esteem” start focusing on “Christ-esteem” meaning, every truth the Bible says about who you are and how God see your through and in His son Jesus Christ. This is where you true identity is...not in anyone or anything else!

When you have bad days, are feeling low, depressed, insecure, or whatever you may be thinking or feeling - open His Word and let His reminders wash over you! Don’t by the lies you, the evil one, or other people tell you. Cry out to God in prayer and lay down…give up…cast all those cares upon Him because He cares for you and doesn’t want you crippled by all untruths that are shot at you on a daily basis. Maybe even stop right now and ask Him, like this song/video by Jason Gray says…Lord, “remind who I am”…

Check out and dwell on this song and God’s word knowing that you are His beloved child!

                                    http://youtu.be/eKyY8zfjBMQ
Have a blessed day!

In Christ,

rlk  

Approaching God with Confidence!

"Nothing you confess could make me love you less."

We're reminded in Hebrews 4:16 that we can approach God with confidence:

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

We have nothing to fear with Him because His love is perfect...never-changing...unconditional! As my pastor often reminds us, "God is not mad at you, He is mad about you!"

So, when all is said and done, as you walk out your faith day-to-day, confess everything and communicate with God knowing that no matter what you bring to Him, (it's not like He doesn't already know!) that He loves you unconditionally and His love is an everlasting love! Nothing you say will ever change that!! His love remains constant and perfect for you!

So, go in confidence today encouraged by His strong and perfect love for you! ...but don't forget the importance of confession and constant communication with Him as you live and walk out your faith in and relationship with Him!

Have blessed day!

In Christ,

rlk  

Eat Some Bread!

Here's a great truth about The Word of God: 

"The Bible is meant to be Bread for daily use, not Cake for special occasions." -Unknown

So my questions to you are...Did you eat some bread today? If not, eat some bread, today! :-)

 

Be blessed!

rlk

He is greater!

Here's a big reminder for you! Be encouraged that God is greater and more powerful than the enemy of your soul and anyone else! No matter what you're facing - remember that The Lord your God is greater and He's provided His spirit to help guide, direct, empower and intercede for you! Walk in these truths today!

Blessings,

rlk

The Father’s Mandate

Here's something that the Sr. Pastor of the church where I serve as a lay pastor shared recently and I wanted to share this wisdom with you as well:

“The Father’s Mandate”
1. A father must cultivate a sense of family identity.
2. A father must demonstrate an ongoing love for his wife.
3. A father must understand and respect his child’s private world.
4. A father must keep his promises.
5. A father must give his children the freedom to fail.
6 A father must be the encourager of the family.
7. A father must routinely embrace his children.
8. A father, if he’s going to build a relationship of trust with his children, must build it on God’s Word and not on human wisdom.

Its never too late to begin being the Husband and Dad God wants you to be!
 
Have a blessed week ahead!

rlk

The Mind of Christ

We're called to put on the Mind of Christ!...and we need the Holy Spirit's help to do so! 

Take a look at the below brief word from Max Lucado on this and then let's pray for each other that we'll receive the help we need to put on His mind and live our lives as He wants us to! Amen!?

I can say that most days, it's very hard to put on the Mind of Christ yet, we're not alone and not left to do it on our own! We have the Holy Spirit and other believers in our lives to help us along the way which I'm thankful for!

Jesus is transforming us each day! Praise God that He is!
 
Please see the below!

Blessings in Christ,

rlk

________________________________
The Mind of Christ
by Max Lucado

The heart of Jesus was spiritual. Our hearts seem so far from His.  He is pure.  We are greedy. He is peaceful; we are hassled. He is purposeful; we are distracted. How could we ever hope to have the heart of Jesus?

Ready for a surprise? You already do.  You already have the heart of Christ. Would I kid you?  One of the supreme promises of God is simply this:  if you’ve given your life to Jesus, Jesus has given Himself to you.

The Apostle Paul explains it in 1 Corinthians 2:16: “Strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.”

The same one who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. His plan is nothing short of a total transformation. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus. Perhaps in seeing Him, we will see what we can become!

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=bed511e434184985961d50fcb&id=539708e415