In the Name of Jesus

God never ceases to amaze. Honestly, I wonder at God allowing me to do what I do. As I prepared, I thought, why did I add this story in Acts 3:1-10 to my To Go and To Grow workbook? There isn't as much depth as I would like and then to top it off it was the week I was to teach them the process of an I AM POEM.

Once again, God taught me a lesson. LOL. Since, I was teaching them a poem strategy I didn't want to spend time with them creating the ONE WORD OUTLINE so I sat down to do it. As I created the divisions and wrote my simple outline, I noticed that the very middle phrase was in the Name of Jesus. Now, I froze and got goosebumps. It doesn't happen often but on occasion when I create my ONE WORD OUTLINE God will allow me to catch a hint in English what the chaism in Hebrew might be. The Hebrew writers would write a story so that the very middle will reveal the key point of the story. 

For this story, it is so important for us to know and catch that Peter is not the giver of the healing. Peter is not the focus. It is Jesus. This was so important for the early church testimony to the Jews. What was happening was all done in the Name of Jesus! Jesus is ALL POWERFUL. 

Of course, I know this but to catch it in a story that I was grousing at myself for choosing humbled me and delighted me in Jesus. He is sooo cool. I love it when He just shuts me up and shows me His glory.

They loved it! As we did the poem, God so caught them off guard. One lady said to me, "Teacher, I didn't know I could approach Scripture with my emotions. I thought I could only look at it for knowledge. This is so much deeper." We discussed that both knowledge and emotion are important in studying God's Word. We cannot emphasize one or the other. 

Another said, "I will use this with my family." I love this so much. She brought up how it helped reveal the faith.

This brought about the discussion of whose faith was the focus? The lame man, Peter, or the crowd? We discussed that after denying Christ Peter needed to have his own faith strengthened as he became a leader for the new church. Imagine what it did to Peter after reaching out and grabbing the man's right hand to see him dance and praise God!

Y'all, it is so important to be in the Word, be with Jesus, so we can be transformed.

Shalom, y'all!

It' not fair!

How to handle complaints,

a common grief we share.

There is always someone in the crowd who will cry,

"It's not fair. "

Listen up! 

Choose wisely!

Keep your priorities straight,

let the teachers teach,

keep your hearts turned to prayer,

seek the ones called to serve,

ensure all are Holy Spirit filled!

Then watch as the Spirit moves,

The church will grow as obedience grows.

Is it because of the laying of hands and prayer? 

Or is it the Spirit moving among them? 

The answer is yes!

The common thread will be

both draw you closer

to the one who in heaven BE! 

I wrote this poem this morning after reflecting on Acts 6:1-7. 

My Bible study feels dull after spending significant time deeply studying a section because I discover so much. So, I am using the strategies of what I teach as I spend time in the Word. I am seeking the Creator to create in me and it is so much fun taking a principle and trying to create with it. It requires deeper reflection and meditation on the truths held with in.

When symbol and simple sketches help tell the story

When symbol helps us tell the story...

When the first day didn't allow us to introduce using simple sketches, I really struggled internally if I should even introduce it because of the delays. But when I train my leaders, I always say, "Trust the process and trust the story." Since, this is a core value in my training. I trusted the process even when I struggled internally. I am so glad I did.

One leader that didnt say anything the first day spoke up after learning how to tell a story with simple symbols or stick figures. 

"Now, I feel I can tell the story. Since, I do not read or write this helps me to know how to share the story." 

He shared ALOT! This simple activity awakened in him a skill of honor. He felt better equipped because he was given a tool that matched his learning style. Since, he can't read or write no one had introduced to him how he could use the power of visual to help him remember things.

Here is a truth we should never forget. Just because a person hasn't been taught how to read or write does not mean that they cannot be a visual learner. We do a disservice to him if we do not provide the best strategy to help him discover and grow. We ministered to his learning style and he was ignited! This was one highlight I will never forget. His smile was radiant! 

The other, "Oh my goodness!" highlight happened when another man who could not read or write said, "When I was young and had the chance to learn how to read and write. I didn't care. I didn't listen. I messed around. But, now that I see how much the Bible says and has in it, I want to learn to read and write so I can know what the Bible says." The process of learning the 6 Acts and then drilling into the book of Acts revealed to him how vast is the story of God.

Both of these glorious quotes followed the activity of learning to tell the story through visual symbols and simple sketches. I could not have orchestrated what happened. Only God could do that, but there is something to be said about providing each group an opportunity to experience the many ways of encountering God's Word. 

God's Word is meant to be spoken, written, illustrated, and experienced! Amen! Amen!

Shalom, y'all!

Morning Cluck

One of my favorite things in Africa and in Israel is hearing the roosters crow at all hours of the day and night. Lol. Somehow, it just lends to greater atmosphere as I experience a new culture. Maybe it is because it reminds me of the country life in which I grew up in. 

This past week my friend, Gomer, cracked a joke when another friend,  Joshua, posted a picture of a chicken. 

"Morning Cluck."

I laughed so hard I knew I needed to paint a rooster and name it, "Morning cluck."

Thanks for the inspiration guys. I had great delight painting tonight.

My failed image

Sometimes as I am creating I panic because I really messed up. This seems to be a moment when I feel like it looks hideous and I just wasted good paper. But, I have learn that if I keep pressing in or through the ugh I might discover something beautiful. 

This piece supposed to be blue flowers. They were so bad I actually thought of ripping it up. Lol. I haven't done that yet mostly because I am trying to track my progress as I learn. So I decided to through away the idea of a simple flower I was trying so hard to crreate and I started creating uses sponges. 

It now feels very impressionistic. And I like it. It grew on me. 

Initially, I jokingly said to myself when I was creating, "Hmmmm, so my failed images become impressionsm." 

Did you know that "impressionism" the term was considered derogatory when it was first used about Monet. He didn't paint with a traditional stroke so he was criticized, but in time his style became a genre.

What kind of disciplemaker are you?

What kind of disciplemaker are you? 

Today as I pondered a lesson I learned many years ago I decided to try to paint the concept.

It takes 15 to 16 years before an elephant can have a baby. The gestation period is 22 months. They may have 12 babies in their lifetime.

Elephants are slow to start, slow to produce, and only have a few. They are fiercely loyal and stick to their pack. 

A rabbit starts having babies around 5 to 6 months. Their pregnancy only lasts 31 days. They can have 6 to 12 bunnies at a time. They might have 3 to 4 litters a year. Theoretically, a couple could have with their offspring 4 million babies in 4 years.

Rabbits are fast and productive. They fill a warren with a family unit. Their family structure is very communal and they stick together but each have their own place in the warren. Some rabbits might come and go but for the most part they stick together. They are rapid reproducers.

I am curious. In your culture, which one would be valued more as a reproducer?

Did Korah's kin have to suffer because of his rebellion?

Sometimes, I read something and it makes me ask questions. This morning I read "and the line of Korah did not die out" (Numbers 26:11). But I noticed no number in the census was given for them. Without the census number, they could not receive the land inheritance. Without land, how could they work?  It made me wonder, did Korah's kin have to suffer and become slaves because of his pride?

What I found humbled me so much. Even Korah's rebellion which caused instant discipline that shocks you because 250 men were swallowed up in a hole that day (go read it in Numbers 16:1-40), there is a redemptive story.

Did you know that Korah's descendants served in the tabernacle as musicians, gatekeepers, and custodians (1 Chronicles 6:31-37; 9:19; 9:31-32; ; 25:1-7; 26:9)?

Did you know that 11 Psalms are attributed to the descendants of Korah?  Songs of longing for God, the power and protection of God, the presence of God emphasizing joy and the desire to be with God (Ps. 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88).

Now, I know our God is a God of redemption. I know His presence, provision, protection, and joy. Yet, I caught myself assuming the descendants of Korah were doomed because of their fathers rebellion. I know better. I love that God stopped this erroneous thought process.

How often do we say, "So and so is unredeemable?"  How often do we imply a person, politician, people group, or nation could never be redeemed? I know I hear and feel the brunt of these often in my world. And yet again, God caught the lie in my head this morning.

Listen! God is in the business of redeeming people! No person, people, or politician is beyond redemption. We must be praying for souls!  It is not our job to judge, condemn, slay, catch in sin, etc. Our role is to draw people closer to God so they know know the love of the Father through His Son! 

I can't stop thinking of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. I am in aww that despite their sins or errors God chooses to have us remember their moment of faith. 

This morning I am celebrating the descendants of Korah that chose to help us draw closer to God. Just this week, I had a leader in Greater South Asia tell me how much it meant to the tribal people when they heard for the first time Psalm 42 in their heart language. 

Korah's descendants are still impacting kingdom culture today.

Shalom y'all.