October 30 , 2012. As we near the end of October we are also nearing the end of the Reflection phase of our sabbatical and in November will move into the refocus phase of what we will do after our sabbatical at the end of December.
Acts 22: 6 & 10 came to mind today. Paul asked, "Lord, Who are you?" and "Lord, What do you want me to do?" Up until now the time of Reflection has been centered on the question," Lord, Who are you?" I have become aware of that place in me, in my spirit where God's Spirit is at work stirring up my deepest longings to draw me deeper into relationship with God. I am finding my value in Christ's value of me instead of value from ministry. I am moving from doing to being, being in Christ as central. He is coming to me and saying, "It is I" Dave. So, I am trusting God to reveal more of Himself to me through Jesus and to use my life.....
To use my life or the answer to the question that Paul had, "Lord what do you want me to do?" is not clear yet. That is what the next phase of our sabbatical will be about. So in November we will be talking with our supervisor, Matt Martin, our sabbatical supervisors, Mike and Norma Merritt and our sabbatical accountability team and also our KC Navigator staff to help us clarify what our ministry contribution will be in the new year.
We'll keep you posted as things evolve. Dave and Susan
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
October 29, 2012. When we were in Montana in July one of the verses that really stood out to me was I Kings 3:5 "Ask for what ever you want me to give you" This what the Lord said to Solomon. I thought what would I ask for? It wasn't real clear to me what I would ask for although the deep longing of my heart was to hear the Lord voice on His calling for my life.
Another book that I have been reading is "Jesus Calling" a devotional book by Sarah Young. She relates things that she senses the Lord has impressed her with, such as, "True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me."
These words really spoke to my heart so I began asking the Lord to
plant His desires in my heart and mind and
to instill a dream of ministry contribution in my heart and mind
to this point He has answered by giving me
A fresh vision of Jesus "It is I" helping me understand in a deeper way that life is all about Him
and that He wants to reveal Himself to me. So the desire that the Lord is planting in my heart is
to know Him. Phil 3:10 that I my know Him
Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who boasts boast about this, that he understands and
knows Me.
Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to
Him in His temple
This is resulting in, a restoring of my soul and in a setting of heart and mind on Him
That's all for today. My answer to the Lord's challenge to Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" is now , LORD I ASK YOU TO REVEAL YOURSELF TO ME MORE AND MORE.
Another book that I have been reading is "Jesus Calling" a devotional book by Sarah Young. She relates things that she senses the Lord has impressed her with, such as, "True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me."
These words really spoke to my heart so I began asking the Lord to
plant His desires in my heart and mind and
to instill a dream of ministry contribution in my heart and mind
to this point He has answered by giving me
A fresh vision of Jesus "It is I" helping me understand in a deeper way that life is all about Him
and that He wants to reveal Himself to me. So the desire that the Lord is planting in my heart is
to know Him. Phil 3:10 that I my know Him
Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who boasts boast about this, that he understands and
knows Me.
Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to
Him in His temple
This is resulting in, a restoring of my soul and in a setting of heart and mind on Him
That's all for today. My answer to the Lord's challenge to Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" is now , LORD I ASK YOU TO REVEAL YOURSELF TO ME MORE AND MORE.
Friday, October 26, 2012
October 26, 2012, Another quote from, "Strengthening the Soul of your leadership" has been helpful. "There are times when a leader's deepest longing is to hear a word from the Lord. Do I have enough
give in my schedule to be able to turn aside and pay attention when there is something that warrants it?"
Very often over the last couple of years I sensed a deep longing in my soul to hear a Word from the Lord about His calling on my life. This time of sabbatical has been a wonderful time to hear His voice. "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow Me" John 10:27. Also, "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught". Isaiah 50: 4. The Lord has impressed on me the word listen.
"This is my Son, listen to Him!" Mark 9:7. Each day I pray over the chapter in the Bible that I am reading and then listen for a word or phrase that Jesus is saying to me. This has been wonderful as the Lord is revealing Himself more and more to me and restoring my soul. It's not so much me coming to Him, even though I do but HIM coming to me. "and I too will love him and show Myself to him" John 14:21.
I thought the deep longing of my heart was to hear a word about my calling but the real need was to hear from the CALLER of my calling. "It is I" Mark 6:50. "It is I" Isaiah 52:6. "Here I am" Isaiah 58:9. His answer to my longing, HIMSELF. His answer to Moses, tell them that "I am" sent you.
Lord, thanks for revealing yourself to me. You didn't just want to renew my calling but You wanted me and Susan to see you more clearly. A fresh vision of You resulting in a restored soul.
give in my schedule to be able to turn aside and pay attention when there is something that warrants it?"
Very often over the last couple of years I sensed a deep longing in my soul to hear a Word from the Lord about His calling on my life. This time of sabbatical has been a wonderful time to hear His voice. "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow Me" John 10:27. Also, "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught". Isaiah 50: 4. The Lord has impressed on me the word listen.
"This is my Son, listen to Him!" Mark 9:7. Each day I pray over the chapter in the Bible that I am reading and then listen for a word or phrase that Jesus is saying to me. This has been wonderful as the Lord is revealing Himself more and more to me and restoring my soul. It's not so much me coming to Him, even though I do but HIM coming to me. "and I too will love him and show Myself to him" John 14:21.
I thought the deep longing of my heart was to hear a word about my calling but the real need was to hear from the CALLER of my calling. "It is I" Mark 6:50. "It is I" Isaiah 52:6. "Here I am" Isaiah 58:9. His answer to my longing, HIMSELF. His answer to Moses, tell them that "I am" sent you.
Lord, thanks for revealing yourself to me. You didn't just want to renew my calling but You wanted me and Susan to see you more clearly. A fresh vision of You resulting in a restored soul.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
October 25, 2012 one month after our last post. During this time we have been to Sanibel Island, Florida for a wonderful time of rest, reflection and time with each other and times alone with the Lord. Very special time in a very special place. Friends from our church provided their condo as a gift to our time of sabbatical.
One of the books I have read during this time of sabbatical is the book by Ruth Barton, "Strengthening the Soul of your leadership". I will share some quotes from the book and how the Lord has used them in my
life during this time. "Spiritual leadership emerges from our staying involved with our soul. . that place where
God's Spirit is at work stirring up our deepest longings to draw us deeper into relationship with Him".
To this point in our sabbatical the Lord hasn't been telling me
what He wants me to do but
Who He wants me to know
He has been revealing Himself to me as I meditate on the Word each day and listen to the Spirit lift a word or phrase from my reading.
Mark 6:50 Jesus said to the disciples in the midst of the storm on the sea when they saw Him on the water and thought that He was a ghost, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid" As I listened to the Spirit the words that stood out to me were "It is I". It was the first time I have read that phrase that "It is I" stood out to me. Usually it would be "Do not be afraid" or "Take Courage". Now the Lord is coming to me and saying, Dave it is not about what you need to do but who you need to Know. "It is I" Jesus revealing Himself to me that it is all about Him. It is not about me. Life and ministry is all about Him.
As these fresh revelations of Jesus have occurred for me my soul is being restored and refreshed. I sense a deeper longing in my heart to know more of Him and to allow Him to reveal Himself more. I'm also sensing a renewed desire to serve Him. I will share more as I post more regularly in the days to come. God Bless.
One of the books I have read during this time of sabbatical is the book by Ruth Barton, "Strengthening the Soul of your leadership". I will share some quotes from the book and how the Lord has used them in my
life during this time. "Spiritual leadership emerges from our staying involved with our soul. . that place where
God's Spirit is at work stirring up our deepest longings to draw us deeper into relationship with Him".
To this point in our sabbatical the Lord hasn't been telling me
what He wants me to do but
Who He wants me to know
He has been revealing Himself to me as I meditate on the Word each day and listen to the Spirit lift a word or phrase from my reading.
Mark 6:50 Jesus said to the disciples in the midst of the storm on the sea when they saw Him on the water and thought that He was a ghost, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid" As I listened to the Spirit the words that stood out to me were "It is I". It was the first time I have read that phrase that "It is I" stood out to me. Usually it would be "Do not be afraid" or "Take Courage". Now the Lord is coming to me and saying, Dave it is not about what you need to do but who you need to Know. "It is I" Jesus revealing Himself to me that it is all about Him. It is not about me. Life and ministry is all about Him.
As these fresh revelations of Jesus have occurred for me my soul is being restored and refreshed. I sense a deeper longing in my heart to know more of Him and to allow Him to reveal Himself more. I'm also sensing a renewed desire to serve Him. I will share more as I post more regularly in the days to come. God Bless.
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