The place of Shalom

I have spent a few restful days at Bennett Springs.  I made it for the last two days of the season for catch and release.  The place is tranquil and undisturbed and I am staying in a place really close to the river.  There are some nice trails in the woods and a few signs of critters.   I am renaming Bennett Springs to The Place of Shalom. Shalom of course is the Hebrew word for peace but it goes much deeper than our understanding of peace.  It carries with it the idea of God's presence in the garden of Eden before the Fall when God walked with man in the cool of day.

I also am enjoying reading through the book of Joshua and the Gospel of Mark and Jesus' prayer in John 17.  Astonishing:  Jesus prays and says the Father loves you and me AS MUCH as He loves Jesus! - John 17:23 NLT

Joshua is cool because the Lord is guiding Joshua and the Israelites into take the Land to take possession of that which the Lord promised.  There is a carry over for us today — We have entered the "Land of Salvation" and now we are to take possession of our inheritance found in the New Covenant (read Ephesians 1-3).

The Gospel of Mark is a fast read but it is worth slowing down and reflecting on the many episodes that Mark sews together into a holy tapestry of Jesus' life.  Mark uses a literary technique called "inclusio" to set some themes apart.  Inclusio is like using bookends:  Here is one for example — The healing of a blind man in Mark 8:22-25 is one bookend.  Mark 10:46- 52 is the other bookend in the healing of a blind man.  In between are twelve episodes of the realities of life in the life of Christ that we need to "see" with new eyes.

This is my prayer:   I want to see Jesus for who He truly is and I want to see life and this world the way Jesus sees it.

I have attached some pics:

On my way to spend some time with Matt @ MSU.

in the grip of His grace,

doug

fresh oil

Today - Feb 1st is the official start date of my sabbatical. I will soon take off for the Bennett Springs area for a few days to be alone in a cabin- resting, reading, praying and writing; in the woods - walking and praying; in the river - fishing

I wrote this below awhile back but it was in the Faithwalker Journal this past Tuesday. I was in Chicago at our NLC meeting (Great Commission's National Leader Council which meets twice a year) and our GC Director, John Hopler, read this as the morning devotional to all of us. The Lord spoke to me that as I focus my life around Asia Mission, I first must be with Him and have His fresh anointing.

May the Lord bless you with the "fresh oil" of the Holy Spirit found in Jesus.

love, doug


From the Faithwalker Journal
I have been anointed with fresh oil. Psalm 92:10

To be anointed with oil is symbolic of being set apart to God to fulfill the ministry He has called you to, whether it is a janitor or a judge. The oil covers the head, the heart, the hands, the gender, and the feet-so that all of me is presented to the Lord and to His work.

We need to be anointed with fresh oil, since we cannot live today on yesterday's anointing. Just as a sailor cannot live on yesterday's wind, even so, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit continually and freshly anointed. Ephesians 5:18 commands us to "be filled with the Spirit."

Just as God provided manna for each day, even so, we must be nourished on the Word of God daily: "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4).

Just as Jesus spent time with the Father, even so, we must hear His voice: "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there" (Mark 1:35).

Lord, I come. I come to you in need of a fresh anointing through prayer and by the Spirit and through the Word. I come to you for a fresh anointing: first, to enjoy you and, from there, to serve you with all of my heart and my head, with my hands and feet, that the beauty of Your holiness may be seen in me and through me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

entering into His rest

An Unexpected Journey 

I am excited to embark on this journey

I am wondering what it will be like to be out of pocket from LSCC for three months

I am thankful to my elders and LSCC for their generosity and grace


My Sabbatical - 3 movements

Rest - till I no longer wake up thinking about ministry responsibilities:  

            Matthew 11:28-30  /  Isaiah 30:15  /  Hebrews 4:11  / Psalm 46:10

Re-create - a new rhythm, new pace and new priorities for my life:

           Genesis 1:2, 31, 2:2-3  / Isaiah 43: 19 / Revelation 21:5

Rassle - encounter God:

          Genesis 32  / Hosea 12:3-4  /  Zephaniah 3:17  /  Psalm 27:13-14


in the grip of His grace,

doug



My theme verse for the year:

Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord - Zechariah 4:6