Tag Archives: change

SOME THINGS I DID. SOME THINGS GOD IS CHANGING.

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles, Uncategorized

As I look back on this sabbatical, and consider some of the things I did during it, I am realizing why it had felt so different from other sabbaticals. Some of the things I did made this month different, and perhaps a bit un-sabbaticalish, but as I consider these things I realize that each has played its part in shifting/ revealing the rhythm of life for the future…which after all is the main reason I took the sabbatical.

On day two of the sabbatical a truck hit the church, so I spent some time this month dealing with insurance and contractors. That is an example of several administrative and pastoral tasks that I have taken on this month that I should not have. I have shifted over the month and have begun to delegate the tasks to staff and volunteers. As I come back I am asking the question, “What tasks do I need to begin to share with staff and volunteers on a permanent basis?”

At the beginning of sabbatical my old phone broke beyond repair. I had been jollying it along for a few months. I probably should have taken time to replace it before I went on sabbatical. I would not have had to spend five hours of resting and prayer time fixing something that could have been fixed if I had taken the time to do it before it was an emergency, As I come back I am shifting to a pace that will enable me to take care of necessary work before it becomes a true problem. I am going to figure out this procrastination thing.

During sabbatical I went to my doctor for my annual physical (something Im have been becoming better at). The physical raised some alarm bells for my doctor and she sent me for a cardiac CT which showed I am at risk for a cardiac event. I have been prescribed medication for the first time in my life and have been referred to a cardiologist. As I return from sabbatical I am choosing a pace that will involve the health care that is required to “take the journey into the winter season” (I have a lot more to say about that particular word which was a personal word to me and a corporate word for the church).

I am looking forward to hearing what the church has heard from God as we have sabbatical together.

Developing

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles, Uncategorized

God is doing a new thing!

joseph elon lillie's avatarNotes From the Vicarage

My motto for this year is SHIFT YOUR FOCUS TO WONDER. In sharing that with my artist’s group back in January one of our artists wondered what God meant by wonder… that is, was I supposed to shift my focus towards looking at awe-inspiring things? Or was I supposed to shift my focus to ponder things more?

Now that I am in my third month of “SHIFTING”, I think God meant a little of both. On January 13th my sister and I embarked on a 10 day journey to The Philippines to attend my son’s marriage to Kristine Bernadette Causing Barrameda.

Those 10 days filled me with awe for sure.

I was awestruck by the fact that I was being privileged to witness such a sacred moment in the life of someone I had actually helped bring into the world.

I could not be prouder of the man he…

View original post 402 more words

Thankful Thursdays 12-7-17

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

Life has kept me a little distracted.  I am so sorry I have been absent from the blogosphere so often.

In all the changes and twists in life right now I am still so thankful for this season and all He is doing in it.

I feel like these moments are the culmination of  years of Holy Ghost work in my life. This song certainly isn’t Christmassy by any stretch of the imagination but it certainly speaks to where I have been, where I am and where I am going.

 

Learn more about the artist Nicole Norderman Here

Saulish Worship Pt. 6

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

We have been having a lively discussion about holiness over the last week.

If you missed any part of our convo you can join it…

HERE

HERE

HERE

HERE

OR HERE

images

Yesterday I asked you to explain the differences between King Saul’s heart and King David’s heart…

Here are some of the differences I see…

Saul started from a standpoint of blessing and worshipped God after his own plan disobeying God and brought a curse.

David started from the standpoint of a curse and worshipped God the way God commanded in obedience and brought a blessing.

Both David and Saul worshipped. Both David and Saul sacrificed sheep and oxen as their style of worship. If  they had been worshipping today they would have sung the same songs; But Saul worshipped his own way. David worshipped God’s way. Saul worshipped in a way that benefitted himself and made him comfortable. David worshipped in a way that cost him personally. Saul gained personally in his style of worship. David sacrificed personally in God’s worship. David was one of the faithful. Saul was one of the unfaithful. David was one whom God approved. Saul was one whom God said, “I never knew you. Depart from me you evil doer.”

It all came down to obedience. Saul wasn’t supposed to offer a sacrifice on an altar he was supposed to offer a sacrifice on the battlefield. David wasn’t supposed top offer a sacrifice on the battlefield he was supposed to offer a sacrifice on the altar. In the end David ended up doing the will of the Lord and was approved. Saul ended up disobeying and even his sacrifices of worship were thrown out.

Christianity is not about us worshipping God in a way that is comfortable to us. It is about God period. When we focus on God in our worship and obey God in our Christianity then He takes care of us. But when we focus on ourselves and make our worship about our fullness and make our obedience to God conditional on our comfort then we block His care and we end up with lack.

We received a prophetic message last week in church  that reminded us everything we needed was supplied in the cross.

You may say, “Pastor J I cannot be faithful. It is too hard.”

Brother, Sister your faithfulness was provided for in the cross. It is not a condition of your salvation. It is a provision of your salvation, but it is a provision you must make use of.

The saved are obedient because they can be and because they must be.

Here is the good news obedience is possible for you. If you have accepted Christ he has provided not just forgiveness for you but the power to be obedient. I am here today to tell you that if you have not used the power to obey up until today you can begin using it today. And you must use it today. Receiving grace is only done when we receive forgiveness and the power to change. Jesus is still supplying the power and He wants you to call on the power to be holy even more than you want to call on it yourself.

He desperately wants to say to you, “Child I know you enter into my joy and be blessed for the righteousness I poured into you.”

Today maybe you have said yes to Jesus and you have asked and received His forgiveness for your sins. But perhaps there is still some sin in your life that you are struggling with that you are afraid might cause you to be called, by God, a worker of iniquity. Today the power for victory lies before you and just like you received forgiveness you can receive holiness and power to overcome your sin. If you need that power in any area of your life would you pray this pray with me?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus I thank you for the forgiveness for my sins. I receive it right now and admit I need it; But I know grace is about more than just forgiveness it is about power to change. So Jesus come to me. I receive all of your grace today. I receive forgiveness and I receive the power to change. Thank you that from this moment on I am going to begin to change. A-men!