Building Tents and Pitching Altars

The life of Abraham is one that the Lord has brought Jenny and me to over and over. His faith in the promises of God has linked us to the provision of blessing and to be a blessing through the Seed of Jesus. Paul mentions Abraham more than any other Old Testament figure, and for that, there is a reason.

I have mentioned before how this season of transition has been being downloaded to us moment by moment, week by week even. And I find myself back again in the story of Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3 holds the promise that encompasses the journey and remainder of Abraham's life.

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Those words of promise thrust Abraham into his life calling. Then the journey of faith began, and in those early verses of chapter twelve, we see Abraham as tent traveling itinerate, searching for that homeland promised to him and his generations.

PAUSE.

Sound like a familiar season? It is to us, and we find it with so many others. It is like God has pulled the carpet of security and predictability from under so many. Things that worked before are no longer working. God is leading us to trust and be led by His presence and guidance, much like He did with Abraham and the children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness.

In verse seven we read, "And there he built an altar." In verse eight, just west of Bethel, which means "House of God," which holds significance as a place of Worship and Divine Encounters, he built another and called on the name of the Lord. Throughout the Genesis account of Abraham's life, we see a pattern of Abraham building altars to the Lord His God. There are six accounts where God visits Abraham either through a vision or in a literal "face-to-face" experience!

Altars are places of worship, sacrifice (surrender), and remembrance throughout the Bible. They signified a searching, longing, and intimacy with the living God!

Most of us remember King Saul as the first King of Israel because of his rebellion towards God. Before the Kingdom was taken away from him (not in his death, which was years later, but in a spiritual sense) after he had disobeyed God by not killing King Agag and saving the spoils God told through the prophet Samuel to destroy (Saul had already been reprimanded and told his reign would end with him because he offered an unlawful sacrifice because he feared the people more than he did God - 1 Samuel 13). Many who read King Saul assume it was his disobedience that God hated most, but I believe there is something deeper revealed to us in 1 Samuel 14:35, where it says, "Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord" (italics mine).

If we look at what we studied already on altars and their significance, this speaks to us about the content of King Saul's heart and the urgency, or lack of urgency, in His seeking of the Lord for worship, surrender, and remembrance of the goodness of God. It was David's heart for the Lord, first developed in the lonely fields and hillsides while tending to his father's sheep, that paved the way for his kingship, and a promise that he would always have an heir on the throne, ultimately being fulfilled as Jesus came through the line of David!

In Exodus 33:11, we see why Joshua was God's choice to replace Moses when his stent of leadership over Israel had been complete, "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle." Ministry is never the focus of God. It is the overflow of intimacy with Him. At least that is and has always been His intention.

I want to finish these thoughts by taking one last look at the verses we started with about Abraham and jumping forward into the New Testament. The title of this blog is "Building Tents and Pitching Altars." Psalm 91 and John 15 are counterparts that reveal that the key to the promises of God is the person of God. If you require healing, do not seek healing but the Healer. If you need provision, do not seek the provision but the Provider. These sections of Scripture speak to us of abiding and remaining in the constant flow of intimacy with God. It is the key to EVERYTHING!

But we tend to pitch temporary altars. We dip in and out of God, depending on our busy schedules. We seek Him just when we need something, or are struggling. God becomes part of our story as opposed to our EVERYTHING! That is not what Abraham did. He BUILT ALTARS, and there is a permanence to that! When he did leave those places, they did two things: They stood as a testament to God for all the world to see and they were places of Divine Encounters that he could return to in the future.

Now let's move to Matthew 17:1-8, where Jesus was Transfigured (the earthly veil lifted and Jesus manifested His eternal glory) before Peter, James, and John. In verse four, Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." In this instance, the glory of Jesus is revealed, and Peter wants to stay in that place and build a church (so to speak). He wants to camp out in the glory, not understanding what Jesus had already said in Luke 17:20-21:

"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

Is that not our tendency as well? We want to stay in safe places where nothing can touch us. We do not want to live in temporary dwellings like tents where we have to depend on God for each step of the way. That would require us to lose our grip of control.

BUT...God is calling us to step out of comfortable and safe. That is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. I think a lot of invitations for people to become Christian, or "born again," missed that part of the message. Jesus never did. The invitation has always been to intimacy and total interdependence.

In Jeremiah 35, God asks the prophet to speak with the Rachabites, for they had remained pure in heart in their devotion to the Lord. When questioned by Jeremiah, they shared that all these generations they had honored the command of their father (one of those who came into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua), that they would abstain from wine and dwell in tents, as temporary citizens of the promised land lest they get sucked to the lustful lifestyle of the inhabitants, pursue the pleasures of this world, and forget the Lord their God.

God's response to this family is that they would escape the pending judgment that was coming upon the people of Judah.

There is a lot packed into those few verses about Abraham, being one who "Pitched his tent and built altars."

God has clearly spoken to Jenny and me, that though there may be a "place" where we build a ministry, and along with there being nothing wrong with owning a house, our trust and focus needs to remain on Him. Let me finish with these verses from Hebrews 12:28-29:

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."

As you step out in things God has got you, it may feel shaky, but there is One Thing that will not be moved…Him!

Dreaming with God

This was me (James) just over a week ago, on a swing overlooking a lake in East Texas, sensing the heart of God, while standing at the crossroads of what has been these past twenty-five years, looking ahead to the next twenty-five. A few weeks back, we visited Jesus Image church in Orlando, Florida. The meeting centered around SURRENDER. At the end of the meeting, Jenny and I went forward to receive prayer. One of the words given to us that has stood out was that God was doing a new thing, but He was going to take elements of our past and bring them into what is next!

People have asked us, “So what’s next?” We have been able to answer that some, but God has been downloading in this season to us more in increments week by week. He is gracious, knowing our capacity, and leading us in the way of obedience and trust, sometimes asking us to simply live in the moment with confidence that He will show us what is next when we need to know it. In the past few months, as we have sought the Lord as to the next steps concerning our short-term needs and decisions, God has been speaking more about the BIGGER PICTURE! God Size Dreams!

I want to share a small portion of that BIGGER PICTURE…a piece of the puzzle...DREAMING of a MINISTRY CENTER. As we finished up our time in Texas, we had the opportunity to meet with old friends (introducing Jenny to them), dating back to years when I first started in full-time ministry. Part of that was an opportunity to share at Family Night at YWAM Tyler on Sunday evening.

What a privilege! We probably spent an hour and a half praying and ministering to people, many of who are also at crossroads in their lives. Some were wearied by the battles that often accompany us through life and ministry. We can only give out of what we have received---that deep well of the love and presence of Jesus, who has sustained us through loss, healing us and thrusting us forward! It has been fun to watch God use us as a couple!

This is all part of the ministry we know God has called us to. There is a lot we could share of what we see as a MINISTRY CENTER down the road, but a “holy place,” set aside for people to seek and find Jesus in new and deeper levels is central to everything! Just as God has set people around us to help and minister to us, and as we have sought to go to special places and conferences to receive from Him, we want to help people recalibrate and heal in that way…and we believe God will give us a place where we can facilitate that!

We do not yet have the details to answer the many questions that people may have, but this is part of the journey of "as we go." Before Joseph was ever appointed leader of Egypt second only to Pharoh, he did what he would do for the world in a moment of crisis (famine) both in Potiphar's house and in prison. He heard from God and operated in the capacity of Administrator and Leader over households. It can be easy to attach our purpose and calling to a place or position, where God is primarily looking for faithfulness in the moment.

Understanding the Times:

“Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.” - 1 Chronicles 12:32

Over the past four decades, we have seen the rise of the megachurch and mega ministries. It has been a remarkable movement that has generated a love/hate relationship amongst the church. There is a plethora of discussions that could be generated over the issues surrounding these epicenters, but I want to highlight some of the great things that have come through these movements:

1. Missions has become more tangible and experienced by a vast majority of the Body of Christ, and not just the elite few who have given their lives and careers to be full-time missionaries.

2. We have access to great Biblical teaching and speakers like never before.

3. The worship movement, with all of its faults, has brought worship to the forefront of the church, and even prevalent within society.

I am not going to take time here to discuss the negatives. We have seen a good few of those as well over the past years, especially with leaders on pedestals morally taking a plunge. BUT, this is the Body of Christ. You may be part of a large mega-church or a large missions organization. I am not at this time, but I am thankful for what I have gained from these apostolic centers, and even amongst the haters, if you dig enough, you will find elements of their journey marked with positive influence from them.

Here is the point I want to make. I love history. Biblical. Historical. Church history. I love it all! And if you study, you will see the progressive revelation of Jesus and the Word of God over the past 2000 years. Not a new revelation. That is where the trouble comes, but you will see God highlighting elements of His teachings and the New Testament church that have been lost and need to be revealed in fresh ways that prepare His bride for His second return and in reaching the world His life and love.

The place where I see the faltering is in the transition of the next thing God is doing! Here in America, many leaders believe we are on the verge of a Third Great Awakening, but I look and say we are not ready! May I propose that perhaps it is not the BIG that will disciple the masses as they come in? We are already struggling to see true authentic discipleship in the church. People know how to gather, but few are equipped in their callings, being sent out, resourced, and covered through authentic community and healthy leadership! A lot of effort is placed on building the BIG, which is the vision of a few, but what about the vision of the rest of the individuals that make up the Body of Christ? Every believer has an expression of who God is within them, and a lot of that can get lost in the purpose of building something BIG.

Like John Wesley, one of the key leaders of the First Great Awakening, discipleship and sending out laborers resulted in societal transformation! If we want to be ready for this wave spoken about, it is time to think BIG in the context of the ONE and focus on Jesus and not churches or individual Christian superstars. I am thankful for what is and has been…let’s be part of what God is doing and about to do!!

And that is very much connected to the heartbeat of some of what I have already mentioned God has been speaking to us about. Discipleship in the context of HOSPITALITY is primary to what Jesus left for His church to do, as well as what He modeled while here! COMMUNITY centered around the table of honest and deep conversations consumed with Jesus stands far above country club social events that keep us shallow in faith and what faith is meant to look like. Jesus is calling His bride, the church, to function in a deeper and more intentional pursuit of Him and His purposes, and “togetherness” is the only way that works.

That is our dream for a MINISTRY CENTER! This is not the time to take "potshots" at other ministries or have a superior revelation attitude. More than ever before, we need to go low in our posture, leaning into God as to how He wants to build His church, His bride in these last days! Love for Him and Him alone, identity secured and understood in Him should be our mission. All else will flow out of that!

Moving Forward with Intentionality

On this journey of seeking Jesus and wanting to understand the ministry and mission He has called us and Grassroots International Ministries to, we want to lean into knowing Him more and hearing His heart. We will take aspects of what was into what is ahead, but God is not doing the same thing He was, even last year or last month! The moment it becomes about the mission or seeking His hand as opposed to His face, we easily miss Him and what He is doing!

We do not know what this looks like, but we are seeking Him and allowing Him to pour through us as we go! It may be through social media, a dinner conversation, or random opportunities to minister through the Word in a congregational-type setting. Let me highlight two key areas in which you can be involved with us:

1. Follow us on social media, through our blog, and other mediums (we plan to get on Youtube at some stage)…and as they speak to you…share them with others! We never want to promote “us,” but we also know that we carry a message from Him, and that is why we are here!

2. Consider being connected by becoming part of our “prayer community.” It has been amazing how much people have invested in us through fervent effective prayer this far, helping us work through the initial deep pains of loss, the journey through healing and wholeness (that is continual), and even praying for new spouses for us! It will be fervent faith-inspired spoken prayers that will propel us and this ministry forward, and we inviting people to partner with us in prayer!

Lessons Learned Through Loss

We all have experiences in this life where we are faced with CHOICE. We can become BITTER or we can become BETTER. Going through deep loss, no question looms at our disposal more than this:

What will I do with the life I have been given in-spite of the loss that I have experienced?

Loss is not limited to a close family member or friend passing away as Jenny and I have experienced. Loss comes in many different forms and sizes. Here are some of the "opportunities" for both reflection and intentionality in moving forward that have been part of the journey:

1. Do not take for granted what you have. We can get stuck on what we no longer have, or be thankful and celebrate what we do have. That does not mean that grief is not real, or that it is a quick process. Even in heavy grieving, you can take the time to appreciate what you do have and live in a way that honors those people and things still here.

2. Live more in the moment. Not only can those who have experienced great loss appreciate people and things more deeply, but they can also appreciate the time at hand with more diligence. In loss, you understand that this life is temporal and how quickly important things can be taken away from you. As people, we tend to get stuck in the past or lost in future dreams, but God is 100% meeting with us here in the present. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus exhorts us not to worry about tomorrow as today has enough to deal with, and in Hebrews 3 & 4, we are encouraged on several occasions that "today" is the day of salvation. Loss can bring us deeper into the moment. Why wait for tomorrow to “suck the marrow” of life?

3. Greater dependence on God. Jenny and I have lived in a manner that we have needed God and depended on Him. Experiencing the loss of a spouse just ramped that to a new level never experienced before! Just getting out of bed on some days took an "act of God." Grace is freely given, but how often do we not exercise our faith to RECEIVE and REST in it? Even more than dependency, God desires for us to be interdependent. That is the John 15 LIfestyle you will hear us discuss often of us in Him and He is us! Choose to allow loss as an opportunity for greater intimacy with Him.

“A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.” -Matthew 26:7

Back in those days, lowly Jews did not have an account at the local bank. Some scholars have suggested that this was possibly this woman’s dowry, invested in precious oil, to be given when she would marry. Others have speculated the value to be an entire year of wages. No matter these facts, this woman poured out her substanamce, her resources, and her future on Jesus.

“But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste?’” -Matthew 26:8

These were supposedly the nearest to Jesus. They walked, slept, and sweated with Jesus. But in their piety, they obsessed with the mission and lost sight in this moment of the Person.

When Jesus came to the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, Martha grew indignant as she served Jesus and the guests while Mary chose to sit at His feet and listen, absorbing His presence and hanging on every word He spoke. Jesus responded to Martha’s complaint and plea for Mary to help in Luke 10:41-42:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

There will always be distractions in this life. Loss can be a distraction where we become self-absorbed and depressed. Success can be a distraction when self-reliance becomes the substitute for dependency and busyness highjacks our schedule. The mundane can create distraction when we allow thankfulness and contentment to be replaced with restlessness and anxiety.

Redemption in hindsight looks like surrender. Before Jenny and I ever met, there were many hours and days, weeks, months, and even years, as we poured out our hearts as oil on Jesus and in tears in the secret place. If there are any keys to releasing the “and suddenly moments,” this has to be one. Pouring out our hearts and lives before Him in love and surrender in response to His amazing love and grace.

Jenny and I are far from perfect in our approach to God and life, but this is one thing we have tried to live well. And when we get off track, we have allowed God to woe us back and bring correction when necessary. He is what matters. He is the MOST. Our all in all.

That is the invitation.

What will you do with what you have? Not with what you will have or what you feel you lack. Jesus isn't asking for what we do not have. Like the little boy’s lunch Jesus fed the multitudes with. Jesus is looking at you. To your heart. He wants your all and all to come into union and allignment with His all in all.

Let this be said of us: “One thing is needed, and <fill in the gap with your name> has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her <or him>.”