Faith Sets the Sail! Adjust to the Wind!

Faith sets the sail!

I still remember sailing across the Atlantic on a 65′ schooner when I was 21 years old. Though I had little interest in sailing at the time ( I was on a treasure hunting expedition, and I was pretty much the lead diver on the crew), I do remember learning that though we had no control of the direction or strength of the winds, we could always change the set of the sail, and tack back and forth, to stay on course. 26 days after leaving, Key West, Florida, I was awakened one morning to the shout of ‘Land, Ahoy!’, as we came upon the cliffs of the Azores, one misty dawn.

During those 26 days, we saw some bright sunny days, and endured a severe storm, that kept us simply hanging on for dear life for three days and three nights. The winds and seas constantly changed, as as they did, we had to run up many different sets of sails, depending upon the wind that particular day.

Gravity, is like the law of sin and death, that drags you down, always.

FAITH – the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, lifts us up above the circumstances of life, just like the laws of thrust and lift under and airplanes wing, defeat the law of gravity.

In this life, we face both calm and stormy seas.

While enjoying the wonders of creation on the bright and beautiful days, wise people study and prepare their faith for the storms of life, for in the severe tests, only faith will suffice to weather the storm.

Like sailing, each particular wind required a particular set of sails, so each season of life, requires our faith in Jesus adjusted to whatever wind current is blowing that day, for the Holy Spirit is always moving, and we need to be sensitive and adaptive to what He is doing, and adjust our faith sails to maximize our eternal impact with our lives, that particular day.

This is not about salvation, rather joy-filled obedience, intimate relationship with Him, daily.

When life comes to us, to bring sickness or pain, that are never the will of our God, those of us that are wise have learned that a legalistic stand boldly claiming God’s promises of healing, become only the beginning sometimes, of a spirit-led walk leading again to strength, health and wholeness.

When I had my stroke in 2009, and found myself on the medical examination table with blood pressure 200 over 150, claiming: ‘By His stripes I am healed’ I was confronted by a brutally rough ex army doctor who read me the riot act. She told me in no uncertain terms what I had to do over the next year, in terms of reducing stress, changing my diet, getting actual sleep at night, and learning to exercise again, what I needed to do, if I want to live past what could have been my last six months on the planet.

I did what she said, cut my work day back from fourteen hours to nine or ten each day, signed up for the local YMCA, and over the next two years, lost 45 pounds, and found a new perspective and lease on life.

The sail that had built a million dollar a year company, was insufficient for the wind that blew that day, and by the grace of God, I changed, and am alive to tell my story.

The season had changed in my life, and I had not discerned it….

I have walked with the Lord now for over 25 years, and He is good!

It is too late to try to convince me that health and provision, are not part of the gospel – Jesus still heals, and He would that we all prosper financially.

Yet, money will not buy obedience, nor health. These are gifts from the Lord, and come as a result of a grace-filled life stemming from spirit-led obedience, daily, over years.

What we don’t know, can kill us!

During the good times of smooth sailing, dig deep into the Word of God, and learn about healing, diet, exercise, nutrition, finances, how to hear and become led by the Spirit of God, the principals of faith and confession, wisdom, because know this: there is a storm coming!

God doesn’t bring it, devils and people that serve them do, but this world is a difficult place.

It is tough to pour concrete in a tornado! The wise man built his house upon the rock, BEFORE the storm can!

The foundation you must have to survive the storm must be built in the calm, good times, when there is calmness to learn and learn to apply spiritual law that will dominate life’s circumstances every time it is applied.

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law  of sin and death.

I pray you begin and end this day, in faith, fully led by Holy Spirit, rising high above every storm of life, by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!

It can be done!

Stay in faith today, and SOAR with Jesus!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I submit to Your leadership in my life today. Holy Spirit, please speak to me, and help me to carefully obey, as I seek first You and Your kingdom, today Lord Jesus. Amen’

Faith Sets the Sail!

Faith sets the sail!

I still remember sailing across the Atlantic on a 65′ schooner when I was 21 years old. Though I had little interest in sailing at the time ( I was on a treasure hunting expedition, and I was pretty much the lead diver on the crew), I do remember learning that though we had no control of the direction or strength of the winds, we could always change the set of the sail, and tack back and forth, to stay on course. 26 days after leaving, Key West, Florida, I was awakened one morning to the shout of ‘Land, Ahoy!’, as we came upon the cliffs of the Azores, one misty dawn.

During those 26 days, we saw some bright sunny days, and endured a severe storm, that kept us simply hanging on for dear life for three days and three nights. The winds and seas constantly changed, as as they did, we had to run up many different sets of sails, depending upon the wind that particular day.

Gravity, is like the law of sin and death, that drags you down, always.

FAITH – the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, lifts us up above the circumstances of life, just like the laws of thrust and lift under and airplanes wing, defeat the law of gravity.

In this life, we face both calm and stormy seas.

While enjoying the wonders of creation on the bright and beautiful days, wise people study and prepare their faith for the storms of life, for in the severe tests, only faith will suffice to weather the storm.

Like sailing, each particular wind required a particular set of sails, so each season of life, requires our faith in Jesus adjusted to whatever wind current is blowing that day, for the Holy Spirit is always moving, and we need to be sensitive and adaptive to what He is doing, and adjust our faith sails to maximize our eternal impact with our lives, that particular day.

This is not about salvation, rather joy-filled obedience, intimate relationship with Him, daily.

When life comes to us, to bring sickness or pain, that are never the will of our God, those of us that are wise have learned that a legalistic stand boldly claiming God’s promises of healing, become only the beginning sometimes, of a spirit-led walk leading again to strength, health and wholeness.

When I had my stroke in 2009, and found myself on the medical examination table with blood pressure 200 over 150, claiming: ‘By His stripes I am healed’ I was confronted by a brutally rough ex army doctor who read me the riot act. She told me in no uncertain terms what I had to do over the next year, in terms of reducing stress, changing my diet, getting actual sleep at night, and learning to exercise again, what I needed to do, if I want to live past what could have been my last six months on the planet.

I did what she said, cut my work day back from fourteen hours to nine or ten each day, signed up for the local YMCA, and over the next two years, lost 45 pounds, and found a new perspective and lease on life.

The sail that had built a million dollar a year company, was insufficient for the wind that blew that day, and by the grace of God, I changed, and am alive to tell my story.

The season had changed in my life, and I had not discerned it….

I have walked with the Lord now for over 25 years, and He is good!

It is too late to try to convince me that health and provision, are not part of the gospel – Jesus still heals, and He would that we all prosper financially.

Yet, money will not buy obedience, nor health. These are gifts from the Lord, and come as a result of a grace-filled life stemming from spirit-led obedience, daily, over years.

What we don’t know, can kill us!

During the good times of smooth sailing, dig deep into the Word of God, and learn about healing, diet, exercise, nutrition, finances, how to hear and become led by the Spirit of God, the principals of faith and confession, wisdom, because know this: there is a storm coming!

God doesn’t bring it, devils and people that serve them do, but this world is a difficult place.

It is tough to pour concrete in a tornado! The wise man built his house upon the rock, BEFORE the storm can!

The foundation you must have to survive the storm must be built in the calm, good times, when there is calmness to learn and learn to apply spiritual law that will dominate life’s circumstances every time it is applied.

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law  of sin and death.

I pray you begin and end this day, in faith, fully led by Holy Spirit, rising high above every storm of life, by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!

It can be done!

Stay in faith today, and SOAR with Jesus!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I submit to Your leadership in my life today. Holy Spirit, please speak to me, and help me to carefully obey, as I seek first You and Your kingdom, today Lord Jesus. Amen’

From Faith to faith, Strength to Strength

From Faith to Faith!

No man is fit to command another who cannot command himself.
Wm. Penn

Job 9:19

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong:

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Psalm 84:7

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Psalm 144:1

Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

I am in an interesting season of my life, pressing towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, and God is teaching much through physical fitness.I have set two goals for this year: 1. To break 25 mins in a 5km run 2: To bench press 360lbs.

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/05/09/set-yearly-goals-and-work-them/

In each sport, running and weight lifting, I need to organize and discipline my life around my work outs, correcting my diet, my training, and my rest, to be able to consistently improve in each sport.

Initially, it was easy, because I had no concrete goals that I was working towards, so I could go to the gym whenever it fit into the schedule, and do whatever I felt like in terms of a workout, and for awhile, I was still making some improvement in overall fitness, but after a couple of years, I had reached a plateau, where I was not running any faster, nor getting any stronger in the weight room.

The definition of insanity is to keep doing what you always do, and expecting a different result.

I needed instruction and discipline, and as I began to ask questions at the gym and while jogging, I began to get answers, not all of which I particularly liked.

If I wanted to improve, I needed to change some things, and it has been hard. Had to watch my diet, deliberatly get more sleep, add vitamins and supplements, and then I sought out training partners who were my age, and who were currently achieving what I wanted to be able to do. They did not only instruct me in what I needed to do, but actually worked out with me, at a level that I did have the ability to perform at yet.

Result: I became stronger, healthier, faster, and more flexible than I have been in 20 years!

Yet, getting off the discipline cost me six months on my goals. I came into the gym late one day, and skipped warm up and stretch, and jumped into a heavy set on bench. I hit my max weight of 315 easily, then decided to add little tiny 2.5lb weights on either side, so I could break it. The weight came down, and SNAP, something broke deep inside my left shoulder. Been 8 months of stretching, prayer, and light weights trying to get my strength back. I benched 275 last week, but with some pain. Now, fear and caution are my friends. I have to listen intimately to Holy Spirit in each work-out, to know when I can push, and when it is time to back off to avoid injury.
Now, let’s take this to our walk with God:

In order to get stronger, fitter, faster, to excel I had to:

Had to learn to stay rested in life and ministry:
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

In order to achieve a result I had never achieved, I had to hear and instruction I had never heard before.
Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I had to do what I learned to do, even though it was difficult.
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

As I began to do what I needed to do, I was not alone in doing it, I had coaches that help me, who had already gone before me. While I learned much from these mentors, they did not get me where I want to be. Why? I had to learn what worked for them, and then process it in prayer, and then apply what I learned, that was working for me.

http://chrisaomministries.com/2015/08/13/run-the-race/

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Yep, I had to lose 45 pounds just to start!

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

I had to change my diet and learn to eat new foods

Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

When people are right with God, they are apt to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are not right with God, they are easy on themselves and hard on others.
John Newton

I again seem to fight for rest and prayer time, but am back on track with my fitness goals again. It is good to work-out, it is good to be strong. It is better, to be right with Jesus, passionately pursuing Him!

Let’s Pray:
‘Father God, please show me how to excel in every area of life. Bring to me words that will build my faith, and bring me to the next level of victory in my life. Show me how to stay rested in you, and bring coaches, mentors, trainers, that are stronger than me, that can both show me, and train me to walk in a new level of anointing, power, and obedience to you, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Wealth – Gods Way

Gen 26:12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.

I see a couple life principals in the life of Isaac that help me this morning:

1. He honored God. He prayed, obeyed, and sought God for direction. In the natural, this was a dry year, a year of famine, but because of supernatural direction, In the natural, it appeared to be good business sense to go down to Egypt, and he was obviously thinking about it. Yet, He prayed, and renewed the covenant his family had with God, and God told him to stay in Gehar, and not to go down to Egypt. Isaac planted his precious seed, worked his field, and received a bumper crop that year.
   

2. He honored his parents. All his life, he served and obeyed his dad Abraham, and learned the principals of love by which he operated. Abraham had 400 employees, so while we know him as the father of faith, he is also a leader with great integrity and responsibility. We know he is governed by love for his people, as demonstrated by the way he handled the conflict over well water with the herders. He didn’t end the conflict by digging more wells, not with the sword, though he was a warrior and could have surely handled it that way.
   
3. Though I said it in point one, I say it again. He worked. While waiting for a woman for his wife we see him m Gen 24:63 One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. He understood the natural laws of the land, seedtime and harvest. He met with God in the fields, while checking and carefully guarding his crops, meditating on the promises of God after his days work. Surely he began his day with God, and now we see him ending it seeking our heavenly father. He was single at this time, and he was not a prodigal, chasing women, for he exemplified Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house He got his education, learned to handle the responsibility of the family business, then allowed God to add to him his precious Rebekah.
   

This is all I am going to say today, but as I  meditate upon it more, I will probably add more:

Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

Prosperity Gods way is not about just money. It includes wisdom to deal with your career, the ability to balance the conflicting demands of family, work, culture, employees. It includes your health, no fun having money, when you are sucking your meals through a feeding tube…

 

God is love, and He is holy. In my opening verse, we see the organic nature of God’s prosperity: Gen 26: 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.

 

We grow, spiritually, academically, relationally, in responsibility, in wisdom, ‘as our soul prospers’ and lo and behold, our wealth grows too.

 

Let’s do our part, and determine to grow.

 

Let’s pray:

 

‘Father, I determine to serve You, and seek You for Your supernatural directions and provisions. I want to grow. Teach me how to take more responsibility, and to grow as an adult, learning continually academically, spiritually, financially, and becoming a loving, firm spouse, parent, and honorable member of my community. I ask that you prosper me, and bless my house, and the families of all of those I am called to serve and lead. In Your wonderful name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.’

Freedom from the Bondage of Food

Most of you know my testimony, how in 2009, I had a stroke, blacked out at the wheel in my pick up on the highway, and miraculously ended up in the grassy median, unhurt. The journey back to health, where I had to meticulously watch my diet, lose 45 pounds, monitor the high blood pressure meds I was on, and begin a regimented weekly exercise program. As I studied, and drank my water, and took myriads of supplements, vitamins, and health foods, I went the opposite extreme, where I was eating almost entirely supplements and stuff! Ugh!

Then I read these verses:

1 Timothy 4:3

forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:4

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

And I began life as a full-time missionary, which meant that beans and rice were sometimes all we had, for weeks at a time, and it was brutal!

Idols die hard!

Yes, we need to eat healthy, but sometimes, simply having something to eat at all is a great blessing. I have learned that fasting will produce health, that while food is a great blessing from the Lord, as I have travelled, I have eaten some things that I would not have considered before (whale, seal, raw caribou, octopus, crickets, alligator, bear) to name a few things (all totally organic of course! LOL!)

In Isaiah 58, God’s chosen fast (https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/when-you-fast/)

⁶ Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?

…

v8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

Clearly there are health benefits from fasting, in faith, as we take time to pray and seek the Lord.

I am learning to not post long, in-depth teaching here, as few of your take the time to read them, but let me sum up today, with this thought:

Philippians 4:5

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

1 Corinthians 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s

Eat healthy, fast sometimes, yet refuse to enter into bondage over food. Have an ice cream with the kids, enjoy some chocolate sometimes, take a good multivitamin, drink water, stay away from soft drinks and energy drinks in general, but don’t lose your sanity if you have a coke with your friends. In fact, we were on a missions trip recently, where a group of natives served some ice cold coke with a meal on a tough work day, that tasted like heaven!

The challenge is to be free from appetites and lusts of the flesh, and to get in touch with our true hunger, the hunger for the things of God, deep in our hearts, that only Jesus and His Word can legitimately meet.

I have seen ministers who are overweight, because they pour out life to the people they serve, and then feel spiritually hungry, and tired. Instead of taking time away from the responsibilities of the ministry, and deliberately feeding their spirit, they eat, and eat, food that will never touch their true hunger. Seen the same thing with malnutrition, people that load up on empty calories, that do not feed their bodies, and so they still feel hunger pains, and so they eat more sugar, processed foods, eat, and their body naturally turns this into fat.

Solutions:

1. Find ways to receive the Word  of God and ministry, that require absolutely no effort. I simply listen to the audio Bible, and God meets me in His Word, in the deep places of my soul.

2. Eat more protein, a good multivitamin, and drink water instead of sugary drinks, (You might feel like a drug addict in withdrawal for a month or so, as your body regulates itself)

Balance, common sense, exercise, humility, prayer, and spirit led living produce LIFE, Joy, love, and health in every area of your life.

1 Timothy 6:17

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I know you love me, and have given me richly all things that I might enjoy life. Lord Jesus, free me from every bondage to food, and help me to eat to live, not live to eat. I trust You Holy Spirit for the gift of self-control in this, that I might truly glorify You in my body, today, and every day for the rest of my life.

Seven Principals of Leadership in Ministry

This is the way I see it, based upon a word from the Lord I received while pastoring:

7 Principals of Leadership in Ministry

1.       Always remember to meet human needs by the anointing, instead of your own strength. I am Almighty, you are not. You can burn out, I never grow weary.

2.       Develop two groups of leaders around you:

a.       Solid faithful men of integrity within the church

b.      Outside Leaders that are not ‘Yes’ men, that hold the same level of responsibility as        y you have.

3.       Stay in my Word. Just listening is not enough. Must read, study, confess, and memorize it also.

4.       Schedule two fasts each year, and two vacations.

5.       Fight to maintain 8-9 hours sleep each night, and maintain a good exercise and nutrition program.

6.       Have others administrate finances. Authorize growth and expenditures, but have others handle deposits and payments.

7.       Continue to date your wife, and schedule play dates with your children. Take one day/week off, no work, no ministry.

This is what God told me to do, it is my general guideline, you’ll have to pray and ask Jesus what your principals need to be…

 

 

Not by Works- It’s all about love!

Not by works –

Unmasking performance orientation…

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Not of works, yet created unto good works, Hm!

Well, fasten your seat belts folks, here we go.

In my old time evangelistic preaching, I used to proclaim, Jesus, is the way, the truth and the life, and He wants a personal relationship with you. You can know Him, and He will forgive you, and grant you not only eternal life, but life and life more abundantly, here and now.
Religion has always been man’s works, his rules and regulations, where you work, and work, and work, trying to earn the acceptance and approval of God.

Jesus, is God’s way to reach man.

None of us can ever earn a way into heaven, no matter how hard we work, salvation is a free gift, granted to us by God upon the cross, and our job is to simply receive it.

John 1:12 (AKJV)

¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Jesus, God the Son, came, not to make bad people good, nor good people better, rather to make dead people alive!

We who know Him, are unlike any other species on planet earth, we have literally become new creations in Him, God lives in our hearts, our bodies have become His temple.

It is the stewardship and obedience to this life we have received that is the sole focus of heaven!

Neither, can we work, and earn any particular grace or blessing from God, because we have earned it!

First, we must believe we receive something, according to either the written or revealed Word, of God, and then, our works of faith will keep in step with the specific leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Here is the problem:

God loves us, individually, more than the work we do.

He is a jealous God, and desires intimacy with us.

We are designed to be loved, and from the overflow of the love we receive, we love, and work to create a better world.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The problem is, most of the earthly love we have ever received, that is human love, is conditional.

If you do this, then I will love and reward you. If you do not, I will reject you, and turn my back upon you.

When a baby is born, how much can it do to protect itself? Provide for itself? Feed itself? Care for itself?

Yet, that baby is designed to receive love, care, provision, protection…

What happens, is because of this messed up world, we live in, most children are not loved well.

So, the child grows up, and learns, that in order to be loved and accepted, they have to perform, often like a circus dog, jumping through death defying feats, hoops of fire, and incredible hardship, just to get that treat and pat on the head from its master.

God is not that way!

God is a loving Father, and we He created us, He did it because He wanted a family, He wants children, to love, care for, protect, provide for, that will love Him back. He longs for relationship, and from that relationship of love, He creates wonderful works for us to walk in, works specifically and individually designed, for our unique and individual personalities, gifts, and characters.

Are we going to be provided for? YES!

When He gives us into the earth, He created, for our life, provision for it!

Yet, we are taught, that we must work for that provision.

This is a half a truth, and the problem with half of a truth, is you are not quite sure which half you got.

Yes, there are principals and laws of seedtime and harvest in the earth, that people have operated by, and become wealthy. Yet, working WITH the Lord in His blessing and grace, will bring increase and prosperity:

Isaiah 65:23

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them

Yet, I am dealing with a specific heart condition here.

Wealthy, does not equal Godly prosperity.

Prosperity, God’s way, means having the love, presence, and provision of God, to meet any human need.

I have met wealthy Christians, prospered by God’s own hand.

In general, they are people of integrity, honor, wisdom, and great love and strength.

I have also met wealthy people, who either were godless, or worse yet, religious.

These folks, are mean, or often depraved.

What do I mean by depraved?

Well, all that money will do, is make more of YOU.

If you like wine, women and song, well, more money, will simply produce more wine, more women, and more music and sound systems.

Whatever you like, money will make more of. I have been in homes with exquisite Media rooms, watched wealthy doctors do a line of cocaine upon entry into their homes, or immediately mix a whiskey on the rocks to start the evening. Others, on their second or third marriage, are in bondage to lust, pornography, sex, literally looking for love in all the wrong places.

What if though, you love Jesus?

What if you honestly love people, and seek to better the human condition?

More money for you, is going to build strong churches, Bible schools, orphanages, food to the poor, evangelism, prison outreaches, clothing and humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and works of compassion into the earth.

Here is what the Lord is really dealing with me, Mr. type ‘A’ mover and shaker dude.

Seems that much of what I used to do, was based upon my own initiatives, desires, and motivations.

As the owner of a construction company, I’ve been a ‘getter done’ kind of guy.

Most men are.

Although I have been a Christian, I would simply ‘throw one up there’ prayers in the morning, and then turn on the computer and the phone, and GO!

Used 6000 mins/month on my cell phone, and spent way too much money buying meals for clients, selling work, and making things happen.

Spending money on things I didn’t like, to impress people I sometimes didn’t like, and who often did not like me, because of my walk with the Lord.

While spirit led works are Biblical, flesh and soulical works, produce no eternal consequence.

In this life, and in the long run, these soulical generated works, will self-destruct.

Why?

God loves us, and wants a relationship!

When I have run, and run, and run, and worked and organized, agonized, managed, financed, pushed, and pressed with all of my might, and finally fall at His feet, exhausted, poured out, cored out, at a level of fatigue only another leader can truly understand: He will meet with me.
If I am wise: I will rest, allow Him to pour His Word, and teaching, and refreshment, and the love, strength, comfort, wisdom, and gentle grace that only He can give, and then gently arise, and walk with Him, in wonderful relationship, peace, love, and joy in Holy Spirit.
If I refuse,
Is 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
18 ¶ And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Working in my own strength, my own way, only fulfills:

Leviticus 26:20

and your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

I have learned, through much pain:

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
If mere hard work, organization, discipline, and zeal were all that was required, Hitler, Napoleon, Kublai Khan and Stalin would have succeeded in their quest to rule the world. Yet, they forgot God…

Here, where I live, the motto of the state of Oklahoma is ‘Labor omnia vincit’, which is Latin for “Hard work conquers all.”

Well, I am all for hard work.

Nothing so satisfying as your head hitting the pillow after a productive day, where you hit it, got it, and got it done!

This motto is a reference to the early pioneers of the Oklahoma territory.

Now, perhaps I am unique, (LOL!), but as God has grown and gifted me, I am prone to overdo some things.

Balance is not always one of my strongest qualities, I like to get stuff done.

I understand ‘make something happen’. I have loved faith teaching, that amplifies this thought by ‘grab hold of the promises, and go for it’.

I understand GO!

Yet, God is a very living God, and there are other commands He can give.

How about “STOP!”?
How about “Wait!”
How about “NO!”
How about “Sit down over there, and let me teach you a few things!”

Remember Mary and Martha?

I have seen more executives with high blood pressure, heart attacks, and various health conditions, because things got outta balance, or dare I say, away from God’s will for their lives, over into self will for their lives?

Most of you know my testimony, working some 14-16 hour days for years, without a day off for several years, until I found myself, blacked out at the wheel of my truck, in the median in the middle of Highway 75 coming up from Glenpool, having experienced a mini-stroke. When I finally got to emergency, seems my blood pressure was 200/150, and I had work to do, to regain my health. Took a couple of years, some radical life changes (exercise, diet, sleep, reduced hours at work, and yes, even a couple of vacations!)

Now, I am in a different type of press:
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What does this look like in my life?

Much more prayer, Bible study, journaling, and a firm determination to correctly hear accurately, what I believe God is saying to me, and then gently, quietly, letting Him open doors for my gift and calling, instead of my previous method of kicking down any doors that appeared closed.

Now, I have learned, that just because God speaks about some things HE clearly wants me to do, that perhaps, I might need to learn a few things, about how He wants them done.

Perhaps, so do you.

How many times do I hear of folks, experiencing brutal circumstances, or health conditions, that I believe, could have been averted completely, had they accurately heard and obeyed God.

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

He loves you, He really does. You are not an orphan, and you do not need to work to receive His love.

Yet, Jesus sees past the ‘what’ you are doing, to the ‘why’, and I hear Him weeping for many of you today, as you, like a hamster on a treadmill, are running hard, but going nowhere.

One day of God’s favor, one instance of His power demonstrated, one glimpse of His glory, is greater that the sum total of all the work you have ever done, or will do.

Think about it for a second: He is the one who flung the stars into being, created the universe…

It is my prayer, that right now, wherever you are, you hear this word, and take a second to quietly look up into His face, and say hello. Simply because He told me to write this, He’s going to show up, and speak, reveal, and demonstrate to you, His great love for you, His child.

Now, what are you going to do about it?

Are you willing to let Him run your show?

Will you, like me, make a radical decision, that if He does not tell you personally, to do something, in His timing, that you will refuse to do it?

Or, are you gonna run some more?

Serving the tyranny of unfulfilled expectations from: your own passions and pride, those around you, your family?

Or will you, determine to discover the life you were born to live, the one created for you from before the foundation of the world?

As I think of the revival, now known as ‘The Toronto Blessing’, this was the message that changed my life, forever. That I have a Father in heaven, that loves me, and will meet with me, and love out my deepest pains, fears, and questions, and from this place of intimacy with Him, I actually get something to give, to a hurting world.

Ps 37:⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

If you willingly learn to allow Him to love you, He will change even the desires of your heart, giving you peace instead of tyranny…

Soaking up His love and presence like a sponge, I am one who has been, and who is still being changed, to become more like Jesus.

I study, I learn, I pray, I work, and I grow.

This commitment to intimacy and growth, I am learning, is the greatest thing I can do for God, and my fellow man…I hazard to guess, it’s yours too. The first commandment, to love God with ALL of our heart, mind, soul and strength, precedes the second – to love our neighbor as ourselves.

You see, when we truly love Him, He will reach back into us, into the deepest unmet hungers and emotional needs in our hearts, and meet them, with Himself. His passion, intimacy, and presence is like a drug from which there is no greater high. To this, I am an addict, and as I receive my daily ‘fix’, I am able to work with Him, to fix this broken Creation.

I am not you, and you are not me. You are unique, and your gift and calling is different than anyone else’s on the planet.

Yet, you will never find satisfaction in the Creation, until you intimately know Him, your Creator. There is a place of intimacy, He is calling you to….Now!

2 Corinthians 6:¹⁶ and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸ and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

I know, it seems weird, slowing down so that you can speed up. Schedule time where you sit at His feet. Maybe you can play the audio Bible like I do, and go into ‘soaking’ mode, allowing Holy Spirit to go deep inside your soul, and minister to your deepest hungers. Truly, the fate of the world rests upon it!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, meet with me. I need You, show me my need, my hungers, passions, longings, that You alone can satiate. Visit me, speak to me, reveal to me Your love, Your presence, Your passion, Your purpose for my life, for I come to Your throne, only by Your shed blood Lord Jesus, the way…Amen’

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com

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Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I am a five-fold ministry gift and office – this is my life – I pray, I hear, I write, and wonderful things happen. You have your job description, I have mine – this is mine….

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!