Ever see someone's face and you tend to stare? Someone who maybe is more than fair of face. A stunning beauty or a face that's ruggedly handsome. There's a tendency to look only on the outward, to value the things on the surface that please the senses. A hairstyle, a body type, a tantalizing smile or a curvateous statuesque frame. Looks are fleeting. And really that isn't what makes a person no matter what Hollywood or People Magazine may tout. There's a real beauty that shines from the inside out that defines with precision far surpassing any cosmetic surface imagery. The outside ultimately fades and decays as age and life accelerate at break-neck speed.
Once in awhile someone exudes radiance. It doesn't matter if they're good looking or not. It's that inward glow shining from the inside out when combined true virtuous character and truth can't be ignored. Simply cannot. You know it when they walk by. That kind of presence commands attention without saying a word. Ever wonder what that is? There are righteous ones in the earth. They carry within them the very essence of heaven, it's glory, it's power emanating all-consuming love. It's never anything they conjured or performed on their own. They're not some big shot that has a lot of bucks or someone that's "with it." It's something that was given as a gift. It's a garment of righteousness, a robe if you will, that flows from their being wherever they go. Where did they get?
Well, there was a price to pay. It wasn't something that just shows up in a pretty box with a bow from the UPS guy in the late afternoon. You ever go to one of those silly exchange Christmas parties, you know, where you show up with a gift that you're supposed to exchange with someone else? Usually those are pretty sad. Some wise guy shows up with an old baby toilet seat as a gag. Of course you took the time to pick out something nice out of the dresser, an extra silk scarf you wrapped in scented tissue paper or a valuable tool that you never use but figured some guy would really like to have it. Then Bozo with that stupid smirky smile can't wait for you to open the so-called "gift" he gleefully plopped your lap. Sigh. But some satisfaction comes in knowing Bozo-brain will have to figure out what he's going to do with a silk scarf scented with Chanel No. 5 and then how is he going to explain that to already suspicious Mrs. Bozo when he gets home a little too late from the party.
The heavenly gift exchange isn't even remotely akin. It's a gift of par excellence that extends far past all here on earth. No exquisite diamond, certainly no monetary amount, land on a large paradise island, media fame or class or status can buy, compete, compel or demand. It's simply the gift of the galaxies and of all time. A unparalleled gift from a King offered in exchange for all the gunk in your life. Now is that a deal or what? All the sin and guilt and condemnation that life dishes out without exception to race, gender or age is handed on a goo-filled platter, He willingly takes it and calls it a fair exchange. Wow! Thing is, His Blood wipes it out because He Himself paid the price. You couldn't nor will you ever. Then at that moment He took off His robe and placed it on you.
No wonder when you walk in a room people since His presence. It's not you; it's Him. He entered the room with you. So when the Father looks at you He doesn't see the goo, the gunk and the condemning heart -- He sees His son, Jesus. His righteousness. His life. His power. His love. Man, I want to live in that every day. Don't you? What a feeling of living free. I don't have to "try" to be righteous. He made me that way. Sins forgiven. Check. No condemnation. Check. No guilt anymore. Check. That makes that checklist complete. A life that is cleansed and robed in royalty.
It's not a come on. Not fake. Not a fairy tale or some lunatic religious jumbo-mumbo. It's a simple thing you can do. Take some time today to talk to Him. Sit down and have a cup of coffee with Him. Tell him your heart. You can trust Him. He won't let you down. Not like others that have done it repeatedly in the past. I know there's been people in your life that caused real hurt, the ones that didn't fulfill, the ones that couldn't even hear the heartbeat of your concern let alone understand what you were feeling. But He is different. This King listens. I mean, really listens. Even the parts that are unspoken in your heart of hearts. You may have had a rough day where it seemed no one wanted to hear your words and they were carelessly tossed as trash in the ditch. Take some time in the secret cafe. A place where there's a warm corner that He's reserved just for the two of you. You'll find the exchange is exquisite. The ring He sets on your finger will be a symbol of His love for you, which is infinite. Never ending, in purest gold, with diamonds and rubies set in prisms of light. The robe He gives is royal. You're of the heavenly royal family. A prince among mere men; a princess among mere women. He's back there in the corner waiting for you at a table exclusively reserved for two.
Books by Bodie and Brock Thoene
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Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
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The torches brandished the top of the row
and I shook as the angel bent,
Fear yelled in my ear and I almost fell
under its weight and constant relent.
"RUN!" the Father said, "No time to lose"
and His command surged through my soul;
Wanting to please Him, my Lover, my Lord,
I made His heart's cry my own.
His fingers caressed my cheek aflame,
I knew I'd do anything He asked;
"Go quickly, My beauty, the time is now spent,"
and His urgency made me gasp.
Then the Angel of the Lord with sworn drawn
and His torch hot with flame,
Emblazoned my soul, consumed all my flesh
as I died to self and life's games.
This vessel He's made in His purpose, His plan,
I've come to this apex of time;
Illuminated by His Word of Light,
for my destiny, no demons can bind.
I run down the rows with laughter and joy
at the service He's made me employ;
"He's coming!" I shout with excitement and glee,
amazed what I'm anointed to be;
In His giftings I run, in His Spirit now blaze,
The torch He infamed -- is me!
Be encouraged. These are days of hot flame both of evil and of good for the power and glory of God. There are outright in-in-your-face choices that have to be made. Today. Not tomorrow. Today. Everything is in His timing. Remember, if you have Jesus as Lord in your life you are a Christian first and then a being in the earth. The world may seem at full tilt with everything headed to a global war and annihilation of Jews and Christians -- but I tell you at this moment God's people and His church will win triumphant. This is a day where we need His wisdom and His understanding more than we need CNN, Fox News or endless hours of sports and reruns on satellite TV. We need God. There's only one way to receive Him and that's with an open heart without distraction. Have courage. Have strength in the Lord. There's no time for playing games. No time to "zone out" because of the stress of life.
Have you ever noticed in the story of the ten girlfriends in the Bible (Matthew 25) there was only one call that the "Bridegroom is coming!" Not two or three or four times or "Won'tcha, please?" Nothing like that. There is a "last call" out there for those that will stop the noise and listen. There is a calling, an urgency in the voice. It's the gentle and powerful Spirit of God leading and pulling you to see the goodness of God. It's time. It's now. It's not tomorrow. It's today. There are those that will leave this earth today. There's no guarantees. Not even for you. You may feel you have lots of days left or you may think you have only a few weeks or months. There is a time to live and a time to die. The numbers of days in a person's life are with precision. He gives the breath. He takes it. Let Him lead you into illumination of the King of heaven -- the King of Kings. The Lord of all. He is coming and soon. Sooner than you think. Look up!
Jesus, the consummate storyteller, told a compelling story 2,000 years ago that is just as fresh and alive today as the moment He spoke it. It talks about 10 girlfriends. They all had so much in common. They dressed alike, talked alike, walked alike, carried the same Bible. It’d be hard to tell them apart in a crowd. Their smiles were infectious, their fervor unflagging. Five of them however lacked good judgment and insight. Tagging on the shirttails of the other five, they relied them to nibble at spiritual food, experience the latest goosebumps, or paying high dollar for twisted prophecies in a futile attempt to keep their lamps full of oil. They had their lamps properly filled at one point, but their busy existence now pushed them to the brink of apathy reducing their vessels into smoldering wisps. 
As time passed and the day grew late all grew sleepy. They dozed. The light of their flickering lamps danced in the evening night to music that only the heavenly guard standing silently by could hear. Suddenly, there was a startling loud cry that sliced through the night,"Get up! Get up! He's coming!! The groom is coming!" In the hustle and bustle of becoming awake, smoothing out dresses and straightening hair, five girlfriends noticed their lamps had nearly run out of oil. Didn’t even think about bringing some extra oil. They asked the five with-it girlfriends if they might borrow a little bit so they could light their lanterns again.
"Sorry, but if I give you some I won't have enough for myself. You really need to go get your own. You had the opportunity. Can't live off my light. You need to find it for yourself. If you think you can buy your way to God, go to the ones who sell it." The five freeloaders trotted off to the religious merchants who enchant with their monthly online trinkets, false prophecies, and witchcraft promises. The truth hurts sometimes. But the cutting can be healing if allowed to extract the cancerous evil growth.
After they left, you know what happened, don’t you? Yep. The groom came. With great joy He encircled His five lovers into His arms and personally led them into large wedding party (by invitation only!) and shut the door. (Man, I want to go to that party!)
The five shopaholics now returned to the door of the party. Loaded down with large purses balancing five smoldering lamps, ten burgenong shopping mall bags, uncreased Bibles, and large gallons of old tainted oil, they lifted their arms to knock. Their voices were raised in a discordant chorus, "Lord, Lord, open up! We're here now. Let us in! Haallloooo!"
Some moments passed and then the Lord opened the speak-easy peep opening on the massive wooden door. “Yes?”
“Oh, Lord, there you are. Hi. It’s us. Let us in, will ya? We're here. We're ready now. Sorry we’re late. We were shopping and didn’t realize the time."
His paused silence punctuated the air with finality. "Who are you? I don't know you."
With harumphs they whined, “Well, that’s a fine how do you do. We’ve been to all the conferences, every church party, participated in running “revival,” taken care of bratty kids in the nursery, handed out offering plates in every prayer meeting. Man, we even gave prophesies on the platform in Your Name. And we have been running all over town trying to get some oil so we could see where are going. We have trudged all this way and now the shut and you won’t remember us? We’re the girlfriends in your house. Surely you remember us now. We’re the ones that always sit on the right-hand side in the fifth row from the back. Remember now?”
* * * * *
You know where this is going, don’t you? It’s an old story and yet as timeless as a pair of shoes. You can dress the same, look the same, go to the same meetings, sing the same songs, even carry the same Bible -- but if you have never had a lover relationship with Jesus ... well, the door is definitely shut. Just that simple. No ifs, ands or buts about it. The only way to heaven is through Jesus, not through nature or trees or mystic energies or tarot cards or alcohol or drugs or the nearest Indian casino. It’s Jesus. He only is the door.
It’s not a church, a denomination or how many good deeds you can do. It’s not even because you’re a “good person” or a mighty philanthropist. The Bible says “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:3). Wow. Nothing. (Selah: which loosely translated means to pause and chew on that for awhile.) Most of the time these beautiful “love verses” of Cor. 13 has been used to define how we should love one another. But the love and reverential fear of God is the greatest of all. Out of that flows the meaning of life, the ability to live and love better, higher, stronger and with more excellence than ever before. It generates meaningful existence, implants courageous feats, imbues wisdom to execute equity and righteousness in all life’s dealings. It turns things that are skewed and upside down into right perspective, a clearing of the mind and heart.
Sounds noble and beyond reach? Not really. All it takes is the silent outreach of a heart to a God who is listening. He’s sitting on the windowsill of heaven with his arm reaching down to you. He’s really not that far away. He’s smiling at you. You are the crown of his creation, the joy of His heart and He wants to have an intimate relationship with you. To be the only One that matters. Some may say that’s nuts. To you, it may be a bead of hope that you can grab onto with your hands and let Him swing you into His world. You’ll never be sorry. Ever.
This is a timeless story for today. Don’t be a person piggybacking on others letting them do all the praying, the searching, all the studying of God's Word. Don’t rely on TV preachers or even your favorite (or not-so-favorite) teacher down the street feed you like a baby bird unable to fly on your own. The anointing of God is free and rich for all, but individual. It’s nonnegotiable. You have to get it for yourself.
Dare I say it? Don’t be a “dumb girlfriend” when you can be a true lover of God.
It's quiet here, Lord, but
I speak out your praises.
I shout them out in my spirit. Hear the silent shouts!
Shout with proclamations of praise, stampede stupidity
and fear so they run in panic into dry and desolate places.
May the scapegoat of doubt not find refuge
and die on the rocks of vain imaginations.
The white cord of faith on the door of my heart has turned red --
by the Blood of Jesus -- and I am safe in the arms of God.
He sits enthroned there in peace and I safely am pillowed in Him,
Listening to Him hum along with me
the tunes I created solely for a performance to One
Stand Up! And praise Him -- Meet your Creator,
Bow at the feet of the wondrous fabricator of hearts, souls and spirits,
the One who made you complete and whole
missing nothing. Dance before Him! The dance of freedom.
Freedom won in violence by those who take it by force.
He has shown Himself strong and worthy.
This is the One who loves me....and you.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with [crystal threads of] gladness.
To the end that my glory may sing praise to you and NOT be silent.
O Lord My God, I will give thanks to You forever!! (Psa. 30:11-12)
My praise dances a solo dance.
He captures it in His heart like a video clip and plays it often
in the theater of His heart so that my praise of the morning
is with Him all day until I dance around His throne in the evening
simply for the joy of knowing Him. I can't wait until I can be alone
to talk and laugh and cry and sing and sit with Him in awe.
The echo of His words reverberate in my spirit as I work
and live before Him in fluid and never-ending grace.
Put your best face forward. Strike a pose. The one that is transfixed at His beauty.
He films your praise as a treasured film -- a heavenly box office blockbuster
A stage to mount the winds of change for a play of abundant grace and benefits.
Praise Him extravagantly.
He's listening.
He's watching.
He's smiling with joy ... at you.
"They're married in name only. There's nothing else there." We've all heard it one time or another referring to a couple who share nothing in life, living in separate spheres without intimacy or affirming affection. What is in a name anyway? What is it? Something just on a piece of paper or much more? Some women don't want to take the name of their husbands upon marriage choosing rather to brand themselves individually and separately. Something they want to cling to from another time and another space, maybe giving deference to a treasured father or simply for business convenience.
There are men and women who make a name for themselves through unflinching courage, extraordinary bravery, uncommon strength, and unswerving devotion. Names can mean several things in a myriad of ways. Names of family members take on duplicity in that they not only bear the family name but also ranking title within the family tree: father, mother, aunt, uncle, brother, sister.
Cruel derogatory names slash harshly. A soul can bear scars lasting a lifetime notwithstanding race, age or gender.
Before the feminist movement tried to twist God's design of a beautiful woman into being some kind of cooky Amazon weirdo, there was the sense of honor in taking a man's name. One took upon herself not only his name but his reputation, his wealth (or lack thereof), his home, his place in society, everything that came under that banner, that symbol of a name. Then came the movement of just living together. A freeloading type of lifestyle that didn't give any sense of belonging or covenant. A live-in arrangement of conjugal convenience rather than deepening commitment to a oneness of strength to face whatever life may bring together until death without making provision for splitting apart.
The genesis of oneness through marriage wasn't something man drummed up. God Himself placed the ring of love around both Adam and Eve and pronounced them one. One not only name but in intimacy and love. It's been a perfect design all along, predetermined before anybody showed up on the planet. While still wet ink on the plans spread out on a crystal table in the halls of God, one Name alone stood out above all names. The Father knew what was going to happen. We'd mess it up. We'd have no way out. Fatality of spirit, soul, and body would set people adrift in a sinful world. God's Son -- the only One He has, by the way -- said, "You know what? I know you love them more than breath itself. There's only one to do it. Redeem them myself. They can't save themselves so we'll save them. I'll be happy to do it for you at the expense of my life and then give them My Name in exchange." Perfect.
Well. The thing is, He actually did it. He came and did the right thing and gave up His own life for yours. A great exchange, don't you think? If you don't take Him up on it -- boy, howdy, I don't know. How could you pass up a deal like that? It's not a made-up fairy tale or some religious contrivance aimed at your checkbook or brainwashing reducing you to simple-minded Ralston mush. Religion tries to make it ooey-gooey with namby-pamby artwork and Bible-thumping charlatans whose intentions are simply to enlarge the base of their own ministries. But, ooh, it's so much more than that. So much more.
Jesus made a huge mark. He made a Name for Himself with extraordinary courage, obedience, and joy. And when you accept that magnificent gift of love and life He holds out to you free of charge without malice or accusation -- whew, there's quite an exchange. He gives you His name. Christian. And you are under all that that Name implies now: health, vigor, strength, freedom, forgiveness and more. There are attributes of God that could fill pages, books and galaxies for what that Name implies.
The world is aflame. People lives are snuffed out without thought. Politicians rife with evil and malicious ideologies are bent on the demise of democracy and fair justice. Families are in enmity with one another even to the point of murder: Husbands killing wives; mothers killing children; estranged lovers killing whole families. Weather randomly and carelessly spins out of control snuffing out lives without thought. The earth is heaving with contractions in a desired longing to see the revealing of the sons of God. Where will it lead to? How can anyone make sense out of any of it?
There is a verse that has been repeatedly expressed in the past few years and its import is more valid now than ever before. It doesn't say that if we vote in the right president (or take out an evil one) or if our economy would just recover or we get the right job or we take out the evil dictators it will make everything be all right again and we can go back to watching 17 episodes of American Idol and waiting for someone else to spiritually feed us when we have some time. God help us. We need something more. Something big. Something much more for a nation in dire peril. And here it is:
"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
Notice it didn't say anything about an election or some charismatic figure or ministry or specific denomination. It's across the board. The ones who call themselves after His Name, his character. Calling on Him under His banner. His protection, His wealth, His healing, His forgiveness. If we would tear down the high places of our hearts, of our community, of our nation; if we would pray, seek, and crave His presence and turn away from our wicked ways -- not selective, but ALL of them -- we would once again be a strong, viable, and wealthy nation. One that can hold out its hands to others to help, to encourage, and strengthen. My heart hurts for my country, for my countrymen, and the viability of it in the world. But I have a part to play. It is to seek God. It is to pray that I will turn from those things which impede me from hearing the heart of God and living in obedience to Him. I don't want to be isolated from His Name. In being called after the Father may the world know that we are Christians by our love, not by our meaningless pasty labels of split denominations or sectors. We are all one body in Christ if you are called by His Name. For we are not of ourselves; we are in Him.
You see, it truly is all in a Name. And that Name is: Jesus.