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Do you feel God is shaking things up in your life? Each year I seek God about the next year and this year I sensed the above scripture as one we will experience on some level or another. God is shaking things up again! Part of the shaking I've been experiencing is a shaking of my foundations. As good as my spiritual upbringing was, there are some things that can't go with me this year, and although the above scripture isn't speaking directly to that, the prophet is speaking to the church in general about restoration. God will have his way in 2023. In truth God has been deconstructing those unnecessary things for sometime now in us his people, but lately I have sensed God breaking up more of the spiritual things in my foundations that needs to go. As usual I do not believe I am the only one going through such shakings, but I am confident in God's goodness as he brings us all what we need, no matter what is shaking in the world around us. 

 

Part of this shaking is removing our dependence on self and in all the ways we've leaned on our own understanding. Like I shared before, we are all on the journey of understanding what it means to be truly human. We for sure have not figured that one out yet, or even realized that this formation has been taking place all along in our lives. That's why the self-focused life of believing we have it figured out must go. We must humbly acknowledge that even in this age of information that we are life long learners of what it means to be human. God is teaching us, if we would be slow down, pay attention and cooperate.

 

The earth is the Lord's, the fullness thereof, the world and the people in it Psalms 24 tells us; this continues to stand our to me, and I do believe we will continue to see God sovereignly do a work among us this year, just as he has been doing the last 2 years. Staying humble before him is important as he lovingly speaks to what needs changing in your life. Please don't get stuck thinking you know what that will look like. Trust him and keep your gaze on him, and he will make things clear. 

 

On a personal note, God has been taking me wayyyyy back to what I call first beginnings. In this going back I am sensing him building a new foundation; a foundation of THE FAITH, that was passed down from the Church Fathers, as Jude reminds us. For years I was stuck in only the tradition I was raised in, but there are so many wonderful emphasis' from each tradition of the faith, and I believe God is unearthing that realization for many of us, no matter where we land on the spectrum. 

 

Have you ever read any of the writings of the early Church Fathers? St. Clement of Rome, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Polycarp of Smyrna, Origen, or St Athanancius-to name a few? Man I am learning they were a varied lot, ethnically, stylistically, and temperamentally, but we definitely need their wisdom for the time we live in.

 

Growing up in Pentecostal circles these great teachers and protectors of The Tradition, were rarely mentioned. But in this stage of my life, the Lord is leading me to glean from their wisdom. 

 

I don't know what stage of life you are in, but I'm leaning into my fifties-about to hit the middle part. The golden years have been good to me so far, and one of the ways I am experiencing God's goodness is in the wisdom of such faithful people. I'm learning not to be so closed minded to learning from other traditions of the faith. I'm venturing outside of my Pentecostal circles in other words, and learning from my Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal and Anglican brothers and sisters.

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In this season, I am also discovering that what I once considered new or progressive, both in a sacred and secular sense, isn't what I once thought it to be. I have been slowing down for years now- yes I said years. The fast-paced, frenetic, complicated lifestyle I have always lived no longer satisfies me. God is changing me-shifting me of what I though was progress and into the world of the ancient fathers. 

 

I'm learning to value a more quiet, contemplative, simple life. A life where I'm satisfied where I am, discerning where I am, and learning where I am, without frantically trying to get more or be someone else. I am loving myself for the first time in my life. Now some of this is age, I get that, but not all of it. I have learned to view others and life in general from a more humble and simple place, and I am learning this as I read the writings of the early Church Fathers. Not because their writings are simple but because I have learned to slow down, appreciate and practice their wisdom.

 

This is requiring a lot of unlearning from me, as I have lived life a certain way for a long time. Not necessarily on a daily basis but most definitely as challenging circumstances arise. I have to intentionally slow down, when those trying circumstances are tempting me to fall back into old patterns of living.

 

I haven't gotten to this place on my own and neither will you. God has people that he desires to connect you with. I've been blessed to learn from some of the best over these last few years and I am so thankful.  You see I was shaped from a spiritual and family tradition that although was wonderful, like any family or spiritual tradition, had its flaws. I am still learning to recognize this deconstructing process that continues to take shape in my life.  I am learning how to embrace other schools of thought, as it relates to my spiritual formation in Christ and especially as it relates to my responsibility as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

 

We are all on a highway of holiness with God, whether we are aware or not, and on this highway God is shaking, pruning, preparing and loving us into communion with his Son, Jesus; all the while straightening every crooked place in us, making us fully aware and fully alive in Him. 

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I'm learning to lean into and wrestle with what it means to be human. I'm learning to sit a while longer with scripture, as it is mysterious and complex. And I have to say this has been quite challenging for me. If you have been taught to read or interpret scripture a certain way, you too may need to unlearn some of those ways of interpreting the sacred text- and that unlearning will take time. That's why I say this has been years in the making for me, and I'm sure the journey is not over.  

 

I've come to realize that we are always experiencing newness in the Lord. This renewal and re-birth has been a beautiful thing. I am just now able to put language to this revival that much my soul has desperately needed.

 

It has taken me years to heal from some of the trauma of my past, both in the church and personally, but I do feel like God has really brought me back to life in significant ways, especially the last two years. During those times, God provided me with many wonderful people to assist me on this journey, Dr. Mark Chironna and Dr. Chris E.W. Greene, just to name a few. Their books, services, podcasts and webinars have helped me heal tremendously, and I am forever grateful. 

 

God's love has been carrying me, guiding, protecting, healing and restoring me over the course of my life, but especially lately and I am grateful for all the people he has sent my way.

 

We can trust him friends-he is faithful. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I've always known our relationship with God is progressively transformative, but not nearly as transformative as I have been experiencing.  I am realizing that we have not one, but many conversion experiences in life, as we journey with Him. God loves us into being, wholeness and his likeness again, and again and again.

 

We are learning to know and love him our whole lives. We are learning to love others and receive love our whole lives. We are learning to trust and be trusted our whole lives. We are learning to forgive and be forgiven our whole lives. So when you sense God speaking a certain scripture like... "Behold I'm doing something new, don't you perceive it?"... view it through the transformative lens of his work of redeeming love. View it from the transformative lens of his grace and trust the work that he's doing in you, on your way to becoming truly human.  

Don't give up hope dear ones! God is doing something new in you this year, and maybe you haven't discerned it yet, but hang on and slow down to the speed of now.... let him shake what needs to be shaken, because he knows best.  

 

If this is speaking to you on any level please join me as I take you through a journey with the first Christian teachers of the Church. You can use the contact form below to join me or to reach out for any other ministry assistance.  I look forward to meeting you.  

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SCRITPURES FOR MEDITATION IN 2023

 

Jeremiah 6:16 reminds us... 

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This is what the Lord says:
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
Then you will find a resting place for your souls...

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Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us..

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"Trust wholeheartedly in the Lord
   rather than relying on your own intelligence.
In everything you do, acknowledge him,
   and he will see that your paths are straight."  

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Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us..

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith..."

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Isaiah 35:8 reminds us...

"A highway will be there
   that will be called the Way of Holiness.
No one who is unclean may pass over it;
   it will serve as a path for pilgrims
   and no fool will be able to use it.

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Isaiah 6:1-5 reminds us

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne,

lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 

 Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings:

with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet,

and with two each flew. 

And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies.
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out,

while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,

“Woe to me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.”

 

Psalm 24 reminds us....

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The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who live in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
 Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
One who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to deceit
And has not sworn deceitfully.
He will receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah

Lift up your heads, you gates,
And be lifted up, you ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates,
And lift them up, you ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of armies,
He is the King of glory. 

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