Hi everyone, I was doing some sound check with our new video camera singing this song. The voice, sound and light is not perfect – and neither am I, but I love the Lord with all my heart. May He bring you assurance today and may He cause you to feel His protection and love as I sing this over you!
Latest Posts
He daily bears my burdens
There is a phrase I love to use every moment I get the chance. It is not just a slogan or a catchy phrase for me – it’s a deeply theological truth that I believe with all my heart. ‘God is Good’
The bible says, “You are good and do good.” Psalm 119:68 ESV
I believe this with every bone within me. God is Good!
It is from this vintage point that I try to convince people who struggle with pain and suffering in this life. Too often we blame God for our misfortune, and accuse him of cruel indifference. But scripture is clear:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 ESV
I am so glad that God suffers with me in my confusion of pain and suffering.
I am so glad that God suffers with me in my struggle against sin.
I am so glad that God suffers with me in my abhorrence of evil.
I am so glad that God suffers with me in my fight against the devil.
I am so glad that when I am weak, He is strong
I am so glad that when I am faithless, He is faithful
I am so glad that He knows I love Him even when my love is weak.
The shortest verse in the bible speaks the loudest about how He feels for us. John 11:28-37 speaks about Jesus’ reaction to a friend’s death and the obvious pain of the bereaved sisters. He was not only grieved at the passing of Lazarus, he was also angry at the share brokenness of the world. And to see Mary and Martha in such pain broke his heart. It moved him with excitement about how God would move in their situation.
This is a clear indication that He feels our pain. He sympathizes with us. In our moments of pain and suffering, he draws near. That’s why the bible says, He is close to the brokenhearted. So, take courage today, for “He daily bears all our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).
12 Common Practices of whole and healed people
What does it mean to be whole and healed? To the best of my knowledge, I think the concept can be summarized in one word: “Full.” The Greek word for “full” – perissos, “has a mathematical meaning and generally denotes a surplus.” This is the kind of life God intended for us: A surplus of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. This “full life” is a cup overflowing, a good measure, pressed down, running over. Spurgeon called the “Full Life” – “a matter of degrees.” He said, “Some have life, but it flickers like a dying candle, and is indistinct as the fire in the smoking flax; others are full of life, and are bright and vehement.”
Those who have it, know the secret to it. Allow me to share a few secrets:
1. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To pursue purpose. “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT. First and foremost the secret to a whole and healed life is a life that finds or discovers its purpose in God through Christ Jesus. That discovery leads one into the riches, most satisfying life one can ask for. But this can also mean finding a calling, something that drives you, a project that is other centered, and pursuing it with passion.
2. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To embrace contentment. “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” Philippians 4:11 NLT. This contentment is based upon the fact that God is able to supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.
3. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To Confess sins to others and seek prayers from others. James 5:16-18 MSG. Somebody once said that “confession is good for the soul, but bad for reputation.” To that I say, which would you rather have, a reputation for something or someone you are not or a whole and healed soul, which leads to a great reputation? I chose a whole and healed soul.
4. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To pursue and understand truth. John 8.32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you whole and healed.” There is bondage in half truths. There is deception in flattery. And the world’s philosophy is a high-sounding empty nonsense. But truth, it’s wisdom from above. It is pure, peace loving, gentle at all times, willing to yield to others. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
5. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To give and receive love. “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”” I Peter 4:8 NKJV. The only thing I know of, that is capable of covering a multitude of sin is love. It is the most powerful force in the universe. Love that is patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not demanding, not irritable, keeps no record of being wronged, does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices with the truth, never gives up, never loses faith, always hopeful, endures through every circumstance, last forever – is a love that heals and makes whole when received and given away.
6. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To change the question from “why me” to “what now.” “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was 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 NKJV. People are often good at asking the wrong questions when they’re in a crisis. But whole and healed people want to know one thing – what can I do to fix it? They have, what Donald Miller calls, “a redemptive perspective on life’s challenges. They have the ability to turn challenges into creative assets.
7. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To serve others. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 NLT. There is just something extremely huge about using your life to serve other. We know it is a big deal, when we look keenly at the life of Jesus. Serving others is exactly what he’d want us to do, because of what it can do in us.
8. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To give and receive forgiveness. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NKJV. This is a stress bursting, heart soothing, pain relieving practice. Buy all your wrinkle cream, and do all the plastic surgeries you want, it doesn’t measure up to the power of giving and receiving forgiveness. This is one of the best ways to add years to your life. It’s very hard to master, but when you do, you’ll never want to go back to your old life of bitterness.
9. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To laugh. “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17:22 MSG. A sense of humor is the best medicine money can buy. Finding a little humor in everything isn’t difficult. You don’t have to pay a lot of money for it either. Just pay attention to the little things, everyday.
10. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To embrace worthiness. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Psalms 139:14 NKJV. You are worthy of love. If you don’t believe me, believe Jesus. He thought you were worth dying for, so He sacrificed His life for you. You are beautiful, intelligent, special. If you still don’t believe me, read His book, he talks a lot about it.
11. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To be honest in their evaluation of self. “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Romans 12:3 NLT. If you are truly honest with yourself, you will admit that you are as broken as the rest of us. People who try to project a false or perfect image of themselves, miss out on the beauty that exudes out of brokenness. Let go of who others think you should be and be yourself.
12. Whole and healed people make it a common practice: To live optimistically. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV. I understand that some people are more wired to be like this. If you were to ask me to describe myself in one word, I’d say, optimistic. I win no matter what! That is something you can practice.
I hope you found something in this post today that brought you closer to a Whole and Healed Life. Please leave a comment about a common practice that makes you feel whole and healed.
The Hero and the Coward
The story of Esther is a story about seizing the moment, stepping , saving the day. It is a story about courage at its best. A story where reluctance meets courage. It’s the moment you realize that sitting on the sidelines is not where you want to be. It’s a story about a young wife who becomes a heroine by a timely act of courage.
Speaking about heroes, Donald Miller said in Scary Close, at the beginning of every story, “heroes are almost always screw ups.” He insists that the strongest character in a story isn’t the hero, but the guide. Esther and Mordechai both bring this to light. Mordechai is not the hero, nevertheless he’s a strong character. Esther, on the other hand, is kind of green, unaware, unassuming, reluctant, cowardly, to a certain degree and most definitely afraid.
But something is awakened in her after she learns that a plot is in play to completely wipe out her entire race.
Somebody once said, “both the hero and the coward are afraid, but only one of them run in the right direction.”
In 1912, when the Titanic sank, there were heroes on that ship who chose to stay on board the sinking ship, thereby allowing women and children to get on boats, leading them to safety. They were afraid, they didn’t want to die, but they ran in the right direction.
In 1996, when the Indonesian ship sank, there were cowards onboard. They selfishly imposed their will over and above women and children. As a result, three hundred of those died. They were afraid, they didn’t want to die, but they ran in the wrong direction.
I don’t want to get political here, but 1994, the world watched a genocide in Rwanda and those who had the power to stop it turned away. In the same way, and around that same time, the world also watch while Liberia descended into a bloody civil unrest. Those who had the power to stop it turned a blind eye. As a result more than 250,000 perished in that conflict. Our reluctance can be very costly.
Addressing Esther’s reluctance, Mordecai told her, “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 NLT
These words gripped the unassuming queen and drove her to action. Unlike the coward who runs in the wrong direction, she is clearly afraid of losing her life, yet, she runs in the right direction to make a huge difference in the lives of many.
Your entire race may not be facing extinction from a violent decree, but I’m sure you know somebody who’s life matters. And maybe you have:
- A platform
- A voice
- An Influence
- Maybe you were brought to the Kingdom for such a time as this
- Maybe you are uniquely positioned to show extraordinary courage
Stand up. Run in the right direction. Let your voice be heard. The only thing the poor, hurting, homeless, marginalized and disenfranchised need is someone who seeks justice, loves kindness and walks humbly.
10 Greatest OT Speeches that Moved a Generation
We’ve all been touched and moved by the words of others:
- A speech by our favorite political icon
- A sermon by our favorite preacher
- A lecture by our favorite professor
- Or, the charisma of our favorite actor.
Their words captured our imagination, transported us to another world. Their words made us feel like we could change the world, even if it meant laying down our very lives.
My personal favorite is Mel Gibson in Braveheart:
They can take our lives, but they will never take our freedom.
Similarly, when we look at scriptures, we find some incredibly moving rally cries. Defining moments that moved a generation. Here are my personal favorites. I hope you find them compelling as I do.
Elijah Generation
“Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent… Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O LORD, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant… Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heave… And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD —he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!””
1 Kings 18:21, 36-39 NLT
Joshua Generation
“Choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.””
Joshua 24:15 NLT
Jabez Generation
“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”
1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV
Esther Generation
“Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?””
Esther 4:13, 14 NLT
Wisdom Generation
“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.”
Proverbs 1:20-23 ESV
Ruth Generation
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!””
Ruth 1:16-17 NLT
Ezekiel Generation
“He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”
Ezekiel 37:3-10 NIV
Isaiah Generation
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!””
Isaiah 6:1-3, 8 NIV
Micah Generation
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 NKJV
Zerubabel Generation
“So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ””
Zechariah 4:6-7 NKJV
Share your most compelling rally cry from scripture. Or you can share a moment when the words of someone moved you in a compelling way.
Soar
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. [II Cor. 12:9.] Even youths shall faint and be tired. Young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted. But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” [Heb. 12:1-3.] Isaiah 40:28-31 AMP
Have you ever been disappointed? Ever suffered a setback or fallen short of a goal? That can be a devastating kind of experience. And sometimes, no matter how sympathetic others are toward you, it seems like their kind gestures and well wishes are incapable of bringing you solace or comfort.
If you’re like me, in those times we resort to bitter complaints. We say things like:
- God has lost track of me
- He doesn’t care what happens to me
- I call, and He doesn’t answer
- Why is this happening to me
In response, God says:
- There is nothing in your life hidden from Me
- There is nothing neglected by Me
- There is nothing I don’t know
- There is never a time I’m either weary or tired
- I can turn your mourning into dancing
- I can give you a new beginning and a second chance
- In your darkest moments, when all hope is gone, I can lift you up where you belong
Here is the bottom line of these verses: God has never suffered a setback ever, he is in the business of helping those who do.
Somebody once said, “Human strength at its best inevitably fails. But only the power and the promise of God can sustain human perseverance.”
Lionel Harris said, “It’s not in trying but in trust. It’s not in the running but in resting. Not in wondering but in praying that we find the strength of the Lord.”
God says, if you adopt the right posture before me, I will lift you to higher heights. Isaiah gives us one perfect attitude: “Wait.”
This is not a passive posture, but an active one. This is a call to diligently seek God. It is a posture that has no hurry. It is a posture of reliance and trust. “As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, in this posture, our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.” Psalm 123:2 AMP
Too often I hear people say, “I am waiting on the Lord,” but that’s just something they say to mask their frustration. There is a difference between waiting and engaging when you pray. When we remain in prayer, we actively seek. When we engage while we pray, we step out in faith.
He always rewards those who diligently seek Him. Isaiah gives us four of those rewards:
- Power for the weak – they have their strength increased… This is the only way we find strength. And only those who are weak find it.
- Heavenly perspective – they soar high on wings like Eagles… Sometimes all it takes is heaven’s perspective, a look from God’s perspective to see the big picture – His all-sufficient grace.
- Forward moving momentum – they run and do not get weary; they walk and do not faint… When we draw power from God and begin to ride on wings like Eagle, from heaven’s point of view, we are ready to run and to walk. But it all starts by waiting for him.
Let me leave you with this final thought:
Relinquish Control: Get out of the driver’s seat. Put God before your perseverance. He is “able to make all grace abound to you.” Rest in God’s All-sufficiency. He’s got the power you don’t.
Prayer Covering for Presidents and All in Authority
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:1
When it comes to our attitude about those in authority, only three things are required:
- Supplication
- Prayers
- Thanksgiving
When our protest is louder than our prayers, our influence is reduced significantly.
When it comes to how God feels about our supplication, prayers, and thanksgiving for those in authority, three things are evident:
- It is good
- It is pleasing
- It is desired
Our disobedience to pray for those in authority is not only a mockery to him, but it also robs Him of a good and desirable pleasure.
When it comes to the purpose for urging us to pray and his desired outcome for us, three things are obvious:
- That we live a peaceful life
- That we live a quiet life
- That we live a dignified life
Our attitude toward those in authority is strategically connected to our wellbeing.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up Kings and Presidents and all those you have lifted in power. We know that “the king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by your mighty hand, and guided wherever you please.” Proverbs 21:1 NLT
We are confident that you are able to bend their will toward yours. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and let your kingdom will come in areas of decision making, policies and governance.
We are also aware that “It is You alone who judges; You alone decides who will rise and who will fall.” Psalms 75:7 NLT
Lord stand up against nations and kingdoms hostile to your word. Uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow kings, presidents and authorities that are hostile to your will.
Pull down every thought, teaching, mind set, philosophies and ideologies that exalt themselves against the knowledge of Christ. Let truth prevail.
Build up and plant godly leaders with conviction and moral fortitude to advance your kingdom throughout the earth.
In Jesus’ Name – Amen!
Prayer Covering for the traveling Minister
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV
I prayer for the traveling Evangelist, the Key Note Speaker, the Motivational Speaker, the christian business man! and the missionary on furlough. Every man and woman of God, either on a plane, driving the highway, resting at a hotel or a motel. For those on the frontlines advancing the kingdom, Lord I pray for a divine covering over their lives. If they are married, Lord keep their families safe. Father, I prayer for your favor and provision to rest upon their lives. Lord, destroy every plot and plan of the evil one over their live. Help each one of them to resist the devil, and fight every temptation. Draw each one of them to yourself. Help each one of them to be vigilant, prayerful, watchful. Bless the work of their hands and may your Kingdom come and your will be done in and through their lives – In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Surprised by His Love
Psalm 18:16-19
But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but GOD stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!
I recently created a new playlist on my Spotify account. I named the playlist “Worthy.” Worthy is one of my current favorite songs. In this song Anthony Brown highlights the following three thoughts:
- He thought I was worth saving, so he came and changed my life.
- He thought I was worth keeping, so he cleaned me up inside.
- He thought I was to die for, so he sacrificed his life, so I can be free, so I be whole, so I can tell everyone I know.
I think these thoughts expresses the mood of this passage in Psalm 18. If you’re like me, I don’t always see myself as being worthy. I don’t always see myself as worth keeping. I don’t see myself as worth dying for.
But God surprises me every time I get caught beating myself up:
He reaches from sky to sea
I forget too often that I’m not too far from Him. I forget too easily that there is no distance he wouldn’t go to find or save me.
He pulls me out of an ocean of hate
I forget how much I have been forgiven. How long he suffers for me. I forget to apply that same long suffering to others when they sin against me.
He pulls me out of my drowning void
I forget that I live and move and have my being in Him. That he has the words of life. He has the very words that can satisfy, more than material things can.
He sticks by me in my lonely hour
I forget that he is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. That he is near me, even on my lips. That at the mention of His name demons tremble. Yet, I choice the misery in a pity party.
He sets my feet on a solid rock to stand when I’m slipping
If I could see the battles he fights for me on a daily basis, it would blow my mind. But I still fail to say thank you.
He brings me into a spacious place
That thought only floors me. His commitment is relentless compared to mine.
He saves me
When I look at all that he’s done and continues to do. How He pursues me, will go anywhere for me, stand by me, and save me when I feel un-savable, unlovable, ungrateful, and rebellious.
I’m surprised by his love! Because,
- instead of great wrath -I get great grace
- instead of hash rebuke – I get helpful redo
- instead of the fiery furnace – I get, the father’s favor
- instead of severe chastisements – I get second chances
- Instead of vengeful discipline – I get the victor’s delightful mercy
Take a moment and share a time God surprised you by/with His love…
By the Bay
I took my girls to youth camp at Glad Tidings Church in San Francisco last Sunday and picked them up today. I serve that congregation for about 3 and a half year. Since I left, I’ve brought my kids back every year for youth camp.
Here are three pictures you might like.
Walter Bright 
You must be logged in to post a comment.