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!