God Choose Foolishness

by Jason Joines

In 1 Corinthians chapter1 there are a few things the Apostle Paul is calling wisdom: unity, the death and resurrection of Jesus are plainly understood as wisdom, but the foolishness of God, at first glance, you would not think foolishness of God is wisdom, but Paul will explain it before this chapter is finished.      

If My People Part 5- The About Face

by Keith Gardner

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In the protocols of the remediation, we have emptied ourselves of all our pride and arrogance. We have earnestly cried out to our Father God with a longing of closeness. That closeness levels us as we realize the depths of our sinfulness in the light of His holiness. And we have studied the face of our Heavenly Father learning His joys and His sorrows. These protocols may seem prescriptive; they are not. These are a natural reaction to one who finds he has wondered so far from his Father, and the lashes of rebuke and correction get the intended attention.

If My People Part 4 - Face to Face

by Keith Gardner

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Turning to prayer and seeking the face of God is the natural response to emptying ourselves from our own self-importance. Realizing that everything I think I am amounts to dung in comparison to the greatness of God, the creator of all things (Php. 3:8).  Jesus explains it this way, the least of us become the greatest in the kingdom of God. Becoming vacant of ourselves is not a matter of our will; it is in the working of the Holy Spirit that the layers of our works mentality are torn away and burned to show their true worth. In the great tales of the Bible nearly every guest of God summonsed into His presence fall as though dead. This is our true response to His holiness compared to our lacking.

If My People Part 3- The Vacant

by Keith Gardner

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

It does not take much spiritual depth to realize that we are in violation of our contract. I do not intend to debate here, but for the sake of clarity I do wish to lay a foundation for our need for a proper reply; our remediation. In Romans chapter nine, Paul lays out a persuasive argument that the promise of the Israelites has been made available to the Gentiles; you and me. We have received the promised salvation and the subsequent responsibility; representing God as a holy people, a royal priesthood. The contract between God and his people of 2 Chronicles 7 is in violation and the remediation phase must begin or we face the certain destruction as laid out in Leviticus 26.

If My People Part 2 - The Contract

by Keith Gardner

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

The context of this verse came as King Solomon had finished building the first Temple of God in Jerusalem. For seven days the priest sacrificed and made an offering to God as the people of Israel watched, and for another seven days the Israelites celebrated. At the end of the Temple dedication Solomon sent everyone home. During the dedication God had shown up as a fire and had dwelt in the Temple; all of those watching saw the glory and the all consuming presence of God. It must have been awe inspiring. In the end, during the quietness of the night and after the celebrating had ended, God appeared to Solomon. In His appearance He made a promise (a deceleration, an agreement, a covenant, a contract) with Solomon that He would dwell in the temple as long as the king of Israel and his people would follow Him.

If My People Part 1- Paying Attention

by Keith Gardner

In Numbers 16 we read of the story of rebellion. Korah and Dathan convinced 250 leaders of the Israelites that Moses had no intentions in keeping his promise to take them to a promised land. Instead he intended to lord over the Israelites and to lead them to their deaths in the desert. God answered their rebellion by opening up the earth and swallowing up Korah, Dathan and their families. Then the 250 were consumed by fire. What lessons would we have learned if we saw such an event? Would we have questioned Moses and his intentions? Would we have second guessed his leadership or his motivations?

The Water

by Scottie Joines

The voices whispered to me,

softly rustling, breaking glass.

Did they know?  Could they hear

the demons screaming about the past?

Tink, tink, tink goes the sound of the glass.

As loud as a hurricane,

but only to me.

I was alone but you were there,

barely there…

Wanting more than you could spare

as I slowly melted into death.

It’s arms embracing, trapping, smothering.