I'm coming home...

(Hanging out at a small restaurant on the riverside 

enjoying some green tea and a warm breeze)

   The time for me to return home is drawing near. I’ll be packing up everything I own within the next few days. Then I plan on making a run over to Vietnam for about a week. On my way back into Cambodia, I’ll meet Tim Atchley and Jeff Kear at the airport before spending a week with them showing them around Kampot. After having given them the tour of the small riverside town that has been my home for the past two years, we’ll all be boarding a plane with Lewis Burke back to Knoxville, TN, my home sweet home that I have missed so much.

   I’m going to miss this time here. From where I am sitting, I can look out across the slow rolling river and to see the end of the elephant mountain range with the peak of Bokor Mountain resting right where the sun sets each evening. The breeze blows through my hair and carries the warmth of this tropical climate over me as the sun shines down on my bare-feet. I’ve got some Pandora radio (that I have to route through a proxy server because it’s blocked in Cambodia) in my ears bringing me the sounds of Norah Jones, James Taylor, and Michael Buble.

   I’m going to miss the people here. Their smiling faces, their peaceful demeanor, and laid back stance in all things. I have had many frustrations in my time here, but I would go through them all again because I know I can sit here with a great peace about what was accomplished here, and the direction things are going. God has been so faithful to me and the work we have been doing here. I don’t know when I will return here again, but I do hope someday to come back and see this place and these people once again. The work that I did here was not the kind that sees results in a few weeks, months, or even years. I hope that if I see this place in another forty years, I will be able to see the impact that the work of this ministry has had on this city and this nation.

   My time here has been everything I have expected it to be and so much more. It has been such an honor to have served under Lewis Burke here. I rest peacefully on the lessons and the values of ministry that he has shared with me in my time here. Day in and day out he has lived out his convictions and beliefs faithfully and gracefully. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time living with the Burke family. The boys have been a continuous source of amusement and companionship. And Lewis and Kristen have been role models both in ministry and in the home. I have been so blessed to have had such an opportunity laid at my feet. I would encourage any person of any age who is feeling the leading of God to do something to not let fear or doubt get in the way. God knows what he’s doing. I know breaking from the norm and stepping out of our comfort zones is not an easy thing, but believe me brothers and sisters, God does know what he’s doing. 

          The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

                    He makes me lie down in green pastures.

          He leads me beside still waters.

                    He restores my soul.

          He leads me in paths of righteousness

                    for his name's sake.

          Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

                    I will fear no evil,

          for you are with me;

                    your rod and your staff,

                    they comfort me.

          You prepare a table before me

                    in the presence of my enemies;

          you anoint my head with oil;

                    my cup overflows.

          Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

                    all the days of my life,

          and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

                    forever.

(Psalm 23 ESV)

Kingdom Artisans: A Call to Apprenticeship

Are you a lover of Jesus? Then you, my dear friend, are an artisan.

An artisan is skilled worker who produces a product by hand with great care and much personal attention. There is a spirit of excellence that flows from the work of an artisan. And a great pride to be found not only in the finished product but also in the way it was formed. Artisans require experienced hands, a great deal of painstaking devotion to menial tasks, and a sharp and discerning eye. And above all, a love of the work that defines the very lifestyle of the artisan.

So if we are artisans, what is our craft? Our craft is discipleship. It is the work of sowing into one another. It is the art of accountability. It is the living act of worship and humble service to one-another and to our God. Our product is ourselves and each-other. We become well acquainted with the tools of our trade, Faith, Hope, and Love.

Our craft is more beautiful than the mountains that have been molded continuously over centuries by mother nature herself. It is of more value than the finest gems that have been forged in the heart of our earth with more heat and power than any man-made furnace has ever been able to reproduce. Our craft is of more precious than the most rare and and unique piece of art that human eyes have ever seen. Our work is more perfect than the Law that our perfect God presented to us thousands of years ago. Our craft is the work of grace. It is the the Gospel, the very power of God unto salvation.

We truly are a Kingdom of artisans. Our Father is the Creator God, and our King is the Humble Carpenter. Our nature as Kingdom people is that of artisans. We lay our hands to the work our Father has sent us to do. And it is a beautiful work. One which produces a product that has been purchased with the life of our King Jesus.

I believe that much of the Church realizes the importance of the work that has been set before us, and there are many who have become very well trained in the the methods, and tools of our trade. These are all great things, and certainly praiseworthy. But there is a role that is often overlooked, the role of the apprentice. In an Artisan Kingdom, we must be passing down our art. We must be gathering to ourselves those who are new to the kingdom. If we ourselves are saved, but not knowledgeable or experienced in the work we are called to, we must seek out those who are experienced.

An apprentice is one who sits under an experienced artisan to serve and learn. The apprentice should share the passion of the artisan, have keen eyes, a humble and teachable attitude, and always be at the ready to do as his mentor asks.

How often do we see this dynamic in the church today? How many older men make themselves available to teach and sow into the young men of our churches. How many men do we see taking younger men under their wings, and allowing them to shadow them in their kingdom work? And how many young men do we see taking advantage of these opportunities when they are presented. How many new believers are encouraged begin serving in the church and learn first hand how to do the work of the Kingdom?

Now let me ask you another question. How often did you see these things during Jesus' ministry and the early church?

The disciples were not learned and experienced ministers, but Jesus let them follow him and learn from him. He spent a tremendous amount of one on one time with them. Sharing with them, and listening to their questions. When it came to ministry work, He would first demonstrate how something was done. Then he would delegate the work to them. And then he would turn them loose. He watched them, and listened to their reports of what happened. This is the process of discipleship.

It is the same process that we are called to submit to and to carry out in the church even today.

Let us reflect on the words of Jesus:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

We are a Kingdom of Artisans. Let us lay our hands to the work we have been given. The work of Discipleship. And if anyone is young, weak, or unsure, let him become an apprentice to one who is experienced. The work of a Kingdom Artisan is more rewarding than any other career or project that man has planned or achieved. Be encouraged.

God bless you and your work.

Vision

Eyes that look are common; eyes that see are rare.

-Oswald Sanders

Vision is something that is uncommon in our world. Yet, vision is a powerful thing that is freely available to any who would seek to gain it. It is the driving force behind progress; it is the uniting bond that holds a group to a common goal. It is the igniting fire behind inspiration, and it ensures the perseverance of a path. Anywhere that we find a thriving movement and continued success, we undoubtedly find vision.

Scripture is clear, that without vision, the people perish. Without vision, death will come prematurely to any plan or path. Without vision there is no endurance, and where there is no endurance, there is no hope. Vision is the vital ingredient in the formation of hope. Without vision, there is no hope. There is no idea or goal on which to set our hope upon. I have often heard it said that God can’t steer a parked car. And there have been seasons in my life where such counsel was good and timely, but we must be careful not to wake up in the morning, and get in our car and start driving without having some idea of what places we will be going and the things we will be doing. Doing so will surely leave us out of gas, stranded on the side of the road, with no idea where we really are. However, if we first take a moment, and acquire a vision of what must be accomplished, and what our day will look like, we can not only be better stewards of our time and resources. Vision enables us to avoid the pitfalls of “death”. Without vision, our attempts to move forward are met with an untimely demise.

So what does vision look like? Well, to put it simply, vision is sight. It is having a picture and also an understanding of what lies before you. A clear and shared vision exists behind every successful company. From an understanding of the corporate vision, the company’s decisions are determined. Their employees are hired based on their ability to conform to and and help achieve the shared vision. The employees are also much more productive because of their “marriage” to the vision, and not solely based on financial gain. And even more amazingly, the company attracts its customers through it’s vision. Time has proven that people are attracted to vision. An individual is much more likely to purchase from a company that has displayed a clear vision, even if the product is inferior or more expensive. Think back on some of the most successful advertising campaigns (not the commercials you laugh at, but you cant remember what they are selling). I can guarantee you that you will find that they have put their focus more on their vision, and less on their products or services.

We are attracted to vision, it inspires us, it excites us, and we feel at a loss without it. So where does vision come from? Vision comes from the top down. It is the responsibility of anyone in leadership to receive vision from above, and pass it down to those who are under their leadership. A leader who is not able to share a vision with those he is over, will find that he and his organization are not making progress, constantly banging away at the same problems with no success, until there is not enough strength to keep banging away. However, a leader who is able to clearly articulate his vision to those who are under his leadership, will find that those who are below him are empowered to achieve the vision, and the followers will require less oversight and will become more productive. The problems that one would expect to face will become non-issues, and the problems that do arise, will not break their morale, but instead will be met with tenacity and perseverance. The people that make up such an organization will be empowered to learn, adapt, and persevere in order to achieve its vision.

So how does vision apply to the kingdom of God? Vision is a Godly attribute. Since vision comes from above, then all true vision must flow from God, it must align itself with kingdom principles. And in His kingdom there is no death, only life. There are is meandering or shallow motivations, nor are there any products or actions brought about simply for the sakes of themselves. If we are in Christ, we become “married” to the vision from above. We set our hope on the glorious appearance of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We become unified with all others who share in that vision, and our unified movement motivated by that vision stirs a curiosity and a wonder in all those who look on from the outside.

Not only do we have a single unified vision as the bride of Christ and children of the Most High God. We also have local visions, as local churches, and Christian organizations have unique visions of their own. And even we as individuals have visions given directly to us from God. But because all of these visions flow from the same source, God, we should find that all these visions work in a wonderful harmony. God’s word does not contradict itself, and neither do the visions that God imparts to those who are joined with Him through Christ.

Vision is incredibly important. We must constantly be renewing our minds, seeking to receive further revelations of the multifaceted vision that God has given us. We must be hearing those who are over us, to better understand the vision that corporately we are walking in. And we must be reminding those who are under us of the vision that has been given to us.

The man of God must have insight into things spiritual. He must be able to see mountains filled with horses and chariots of fire; he must be able to interpret that which is written by the finger of God upon the walls of conscience; he must be able to translate the signs of the times into terms of their spiritual meaning: he must be able to draw aside, now and then, the curtain of things material and let mortals glimpse the spiritual glories which crown the mercy seat of God. The man of God must declare the pattern that was shown to him on the mount, he must utter the vision granted to him upon the isle of revelation…None of these things can he do without spiritual insight.

-Powhatten James

Let us pray that we might receive our spiritual sight. Pray against deception that would attempt to skew the focal point or blur the edges. Pray for those who are blind, that God would open their eyes, and grant them sight through his precious grace. Let us pray that we would understand what has been laid out before us, and be able to articulate it clearly to those who have joined with us in a common vision, and pray that we will be teachable and hearers of the vision that God has granted to those who he has placed above us in His infinite wisdom.

And one final note:

A vision without a task makes a visionary.

A task without a vision is drudgery.

A vision with a task makes a missionary.

Once we have obtained a vision, we must do something about it. Having a mountain top experience where you see all that is before you, is a wonderful thing, but looking and even understanding what you are looking at, won’t get you there, until you start putting one foot in front of the other. Where we have vision, we must also have movement.

God bless!

My Father

My father in the Alps during a family vacation in Europe

As many of you know, this Sunday is Father's Day,

and I wanted to share a special blog post to celebrate my father,

Kevin Ray Trentham

I would not say that I had a "conventional" childhood, and for that, I am thankful. I have been blessed with parents that really challenged me. I mean they REALLY challenged me. It wasn't just a "you can do it" and a pat on the back attitude. It was a "you're gonna do it, and like it" attitude, and guess what...I did do it, and I did indeed grow to like it. I was raised in a home where maturity, self discipline, integrity, initiative, and perseverance were EXPECTED. I was expected to do things and being given responsibilities at a young age that many people in their twenties aren't expected to be doing. My father sought out to instill in my brother and I the kind of things that would make us constructive members of society, leaders in our careers, loving and devoted husbands, and wise and patient parents.

My father helping me troubleshoot a computer problem

In middle school, my father saw an opportunity to begin teaching me about how to become self sufficient with finances. I had never had an allowance before, so my father began to pay me based on my report card grades. I could then invest that money if I chose in an imaginary bank that my dad set up. There was a contract that was written up declaring the interest rates and as well as ability to access the funds. Using that imaginary bank I learned a lot about setting aside emergency funds, budgeting, as well as how to take advantage of compounding interest. Money stewardship was something that my father had a strong desire for me to understand and implement, as I began stepping into adulthood.

As I finished up middle school, my father challenged me further by asking me to start and run a small business. He gave me a one thousand dollar loan, that I combined with some money I had saved up, and I purchased a used John Deere walk-behind commercial lawn mower. From there, I created business cards, and fliers and went door to door for two months before mowing season drumming up business. At first I got a few customers out of pity, but my father told me that if I provided an excellent service at a fair and competitive price, soon other customers would come. So I took those first customers as opportunities to prove myself, and within the first two years I had driven every competitor out of my neighborhood. By the time I graduated highschool, that business was a limited liability corporation that took care of 40 or 50 acres a week on top of frequent landscaping projects, all while managing to keep my original customers. How many middleschoolers do you see being challenged to be enteprenuers?

My father with hunting with his father (James Ray Trentham) and his dog (Maggie) in Canada

In high school, my father pushed me to motivate and challenge myself as I moved through the gauntlet of academics. Education is something my parents value highly, and as such, my father has faithfully encouraged me to succeed academically and to continue my education as far as I can go. Despite my many attempts to drop the ball or throw in the towel completely, I managed to graduate with honors from high school. Had my father not held the line with me and not demanded that I apply myself, I can guarantee you, that I would have been quite content to lay around the house doing nothing with my life. But more than a high GPA, what my father has always encouraged me to do is to figure out where I'm heading, make a plan, and then work with everything I have to achieve that goal. Even still, my father is an ever present encouragement and counsel reminding me of the same lessons that he has been laying out for me since I was a child.

My father sharing some Godly counsel at my sending out service before I left for Cambodia.

God has been present in and around my life since the day I was born. I have been blessed to have been raised by parents who themselves have surrendered their lives to God, and who's hearts' desire it was to see their own children enter into the Kingdom. A strong prayer life, devotional life, and church life all were heavenly treasures that were fostered in me from a very young age. We met as a family many mornings to get into the word of God, to share what we were learning in our private time with God, and to seek the Lord as a family. In our free time, we were encouraged to set aside time to spend in the word of God, and among our friends we were called upon to set a Godly example. To be the influence instead of being influenced. When struggling with a decision of any sort, the Bible was the reigning source of guidance. And a consistent and systematic devotional life was nurtured out of a love of God and His word.

My mother and father on the back porch of our old house in Arrington, TN

Being a member of a church is something that my father also strived to instill in my brother and I. Not a member as in a title or membership, but a member, like a member of a family. When someone becomes a member of your family, there is not some piece of paper that has to be signed off on, or a certain amount of money that must be paid, a member is a person who is active and sewn strongly into the social quilt of that community. Over the years, my family and I have been members of a few different churches. In each of those churches my parents served the church in many ways, and my brother and I were expected to do the same. Whether it was childcare, cleaning, setting up for events, teaching, or even if it was just folding bulletins, my brother and I always found ourselves with plenty of things to be doing in and around the church.

While I was growing up, my father wanted me to experience church planting. We found a few churches over the years that we had the pleasure of joining with to lay the foundation for a thriving church body. One church started in a living room, another in a school cafeteria, and another in an elementary school gym. We would arrive at church before the sun was up, unload trailers of sound equipment, staging, chairs, and curtains. By the time everything was in place, we sometimes would have enough time to grab some waffle house before we had to head back to help with the children's ministry. After the services were over and most everyone had gone home, we would then start to break down all the classrooms and the auditorium. Then pack it all away into the trailers. It would be middle afternoon before we got back home, but the relationships that we forged and the lessons that we learned during that time are irreplaceable. I am very thankful for the importance of God and His church that my father placed in my brother and I.

My mother and father

My father also laid out a loving and Godly vision of marriage. My mother and father partnered together to bring glory to God, to raise up my brother and I, and to better the world around them. In a world where parents dont get married, and where many divorce, breaking the bonds of unity that they swore to, I count myself blessed to have lived in a home where giving up was not considered an option. If there was an issue, it was worked through. Not through threats, or foul words, but through seeking each other's counsel and through a desire to move in unity. Marriage is a beautiful thing, created by God. As such, it comes under constant attack by the Enemy. The Enemy seeks to pervert and destroy all things that are Godly. I am blessed that my father and mother both have taken their vows to heart, and have stood their ground. They have showed me what the world at large fails to believe. Marriage is not only possible, but it is Godly, beautiful inside and out, and it should valued above all other earthly possessions.

My father standing with me beneath a jack fruit tree in Cambodia

Another vision that my father continually shared with my brother and I is having a worldwide perspective. I cannot tell you the number of times my father would sit us down and tell us that it was not the pot-head kids we were sitting next to in class that we would be competing for jobs against in our futures, but it was the kids our age in foreign countries that are laboring away studying three or four languages, becoming educated in classical literature and studying things in high school, that most people dont even study in university. He would tell me that a lot of the people that I will be competing for jobs against are living in countries where the living conditions are much worse than the US. They want what I have, and they are willing to work ten times harder for a fraction of the pay to get it. This was said not to drive me to become a competitive person stepping on others to get ahead, but he was sharing with me that I can not just compare myself to those who are around me to determine where I will stand in the job market in the next few years. I must widen my perspective significantly to realize the variety, and the caliber of people that will be jockeying for the same positions. Having the highest grade in the class is nothing if I was just giving half an effort. He showed me that I shouldn't be content because I felt good about how I stacked up to others, my future success wouldn't be determined by them.

My father and I buying some drinks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A perspective of the caliber of people was not the only worldwide perspective my father taught me. He also showed my brother and I how easy it is to travel. We traveled through Europe at the price that most families spend visiting Disney Land. My father has taken us to Mexico, Austria, and Italy, as well as having traveled through many of the States in America. Through all of our travels my father shared with us his budgeting strategy so should we ever have the opportunity to travel on our own, we would recognize what it would take and how to go about it. Not only did he teach me how to travel, but he opened my eyes to the fact that the world does not stop at the US borders. There is a whole world out there, and once you leave the US, nothing is obligated to run the way things run in the US. There's different currency, there's different government, there's different business food, there's different advertising, there's different transportation, different language, different culture, different everything. I dont know about you, but I'd take an experience like that over Disney land every time. I have toured through buildings and locations that until then had only been little pictures in my history textbooks. I have bartered in markets in foreign languages, I have gotten lost and had to find my way back using transportation systems unlike anything in the United States. I have seen wonders that were built by civilizations that make America look like a newborn baby. My father has been blessed to have the means to take us so many places. But I am so thankful that given the means, he has seen the great lessons that traveling teaches, and taken us to so many great places.

My father kicking back and enjoying the warm ocean breeze in Cambodia

Traveling is something I have really taken to heart. The worldwide vision that my father instilled in me has really fueled my heart for missions. And not only has it fueled my heart for missions, but it has also enabled me to go and pursue that passion. As I write this, I have been living in Cambodia for a year and a half. Much of what lead me up to this point are things that came from lessons my father sowed into me such as an understanding of travel, dealing with other cultures, and appreciating people who arent like me. Had my father not taken the time to lay the foundation for these things, I dont know where or what I would be doing right now. Late last year, my father and mother made the looonnng flight from their home in North Carolina, to the Cambodia to come visit me and to see what all I had accomplished. I was humbled that my father would push his work aside and spend such a large amount of his budget to come and see in person what I have been passionately sowing into. He came and sat in on my classes and met my students. He listened while I explained things, asked questions, and shared his perspective. Even though I am out of the house and on my own, he continues to encourage me, teach me, and support me. He has stayed connected to what I am doing seeking to understand my vision and perspective on things, and even if he doesnt understand something he supports me and encourages me.

My father and I enjoying a meal on the beach in Kampot, Cambodia

I have truly been blessed by God to have been chosen to be the son of Kevin Trentham. I surely couldnt have chosen anyone better myself. He has driven me when I have been lazy, he has encouraged me when I have struggled with doubt, he has defended me when I have come under attack, he has pushed me when I have become content. He has taught me more than I will ever be able to recite. And all of this without any expectation of reward. My father's satisfaction comes in me pursuing excellence.

My brother (Garrett) with my father and his dog (Maggie) displaying the day's kills

My father has taught me a lot, and for that I am very grateful. But beyond what he has taught me, I am especially thankful for the way that he has taught me. His did not only use words and commands to teach me things, but he lived the lessons out. He taught me by example. He bore witness to the truth of his statements with his daily life. Working hard, serving humbly, compassionately loving, and standing on the truth no matter what. As a child I watched my father much much closer than I listened to him. Though he used words often to explain lessons to me, his example of the christian life, finances, work ethic, marriage, education, travel, and parenting have been the things that have impacted me the most. My father has blessed me tremendously all my life. I am thankful to have such an amazing man committed to raising me up to adulthood, and walking with me as I navigate my life. And more than all these things I am so thankful that he introduced me to my Heavenly Father, and His perfect son, who died for me on the cross. Of all the gifts my father could have bought me, none would have compared with the pleasure of knowing my Creator, my God. Of all the things my father has shared with me, the knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ, supersedes them all.

Thank you dad, for all that you have done. Notice and unnoticed.

I am who I am today because of the sacrifices you made

continually investing your time, energy, and prayers into me.

Happy Father's Day, Dad,

-Jonathan Ray Trentham

Left to Right: my brother (Garrett), me, and my father all working on my truck

Declaration of Comfort

Comfort, Comfort my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her

that her warfare is ended

that her iniquity is pardoned

that she has received from the LORD's hand

double for all her sins.

-Isaiah 40:1-2

Wow...I read that and was struck by the sheer magnitude of what this message declares. In my quiet time with the Lord, I was brought to this chapter, Isaiah 40. I welcome you along, as I journey through this chapter bit by bit. Oh, the great mysteries that await! As for tonight, I want to submerge myself in these first two verses.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Comfort? how many times has the Lord spoken to my heart to NOT get comfortable? How many times has comfort left me stagnant, and lazy? Surely the same God would demand that I flee anything that even appears to be comforting!! So what's going on here? Yes, the Lord does not wish us to be lulled into a false comfort. These false comforts are the very thing that the prophet Jeremiah cried out against. In Jeremiah 6 and again in chapter 8, we hear a direct word from the Lord delivered through Jeremiah the prophet:

They have healed the wound of My people lightly, saying "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown.

Here, God is awakening people to the wrath that is about to come upon them. The religious rulers of the time were claiming that no such wrath existed. God is a loving god, right? He cant be angry with us! We're His favorite! WRONG! God is just. God is completely and fully holy, He is pure, and anything blemished is cast from His presence. Unless we are pure, clean, innocent, holy, righteous, without fault, we deserve to be and WILL be destroyed. There is absolutely no peace for us. The Righteous Judge will not turn a blind eye to our sin, not today, not yesterday, not tomorrow. Not one dot will He overlook. So where does this "comfort" that Isaiah speaks of come from? Although the book of Isaiah is found in the Old Testament and under the Old Covenant, Isaiah had received a powerful revelation of the coming Messiah, and the New Covenant that would be put into effect. What Isaiah is declaring to the people of God is what is ours in Christ Jesus.

Upon belief in Jesus as our savior, we enter into the New Covenant with God. This new covenant is similar to a last will and testament, it required a death to put it into effect, and with it we receive an inheritance. The death, that should we should have received, was paid by Jesus on the cross. Our inheritance is that of being a child of God, which was Jesus's. Jesus died, our inheritance has been placed before us, just as the covenant between God and His children dictated. So how do we respond to this, do continue our lives worried about our provisions? our sanctification? our eternal futures? NO! That would be foolish! God penned this covenant and signed it and put it into effect with His son, Jesus. Who is really God, made man to fulfill the former covenant He had with His people. If God, the author and enforcer of this new covenant says we are free from our previous debt and now children of His, entitled to all that goes with it.

If the son of a multi-billionaire were to read the will of his father upon his father's death, and see all the great treasures that were now his, he would not resort to worry. He would be thought of as a crazy man if he went through his days stressed as to how things would be provided for. How much more crazy of a thought is it to be weighed down by guilt, anxiety, and shame after we are told of the Covenant that has been put into effect through Jesus.

The remainder of the above verses speak of what we are entitled to because of our new position in the Kingdom of God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended that her iniquity is pardoned that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

The war is over, victory has been achieved through the cross. Our Pardon has been signed by the blood that was spilled by our King. And not only that, we have received double from the LORD's hand for all our sins. WOAH! A double portion, even upon inspection of my history?! That's right! My history is HISTORY! It's gone, it's been wiped away, it no longer holds me down. So if you are in Christ, if you have joined with God in His New Covenant, then be comforted! Again I will say be comforted! Dont walk through your days burdened by guilt, dont worry your nights away thinking of a lack in provision. Dont return to the fear of spending eternity in Hell, All the promises of God for you are now in Yes and Amen! There is nothing of His that is not now yours in Christ!

My prayer is that you, the reader, will receive a fresh revelation of the grace and peace that is yours through Christ Jesus. My hope is that you find yourself comforted, as is the will of our Father. In our comfort, we become bold, strong, and full of passion. This isnt the kind of comfort that yields laziness and stagnant pools. This is the comfort that speaks of a freedom that is complete albeit undeserved. This is the kind of comfort that drives us to share the news with friends, family, co-workers, fellow church members, even with strangers. This is the kind of comfort that fuels powerful worship, and passionate prayer. There's nothing lazy and stagnant about it. So let's get comforted, and get rolling. There's work to be done, and what a blessing it is to lay our hands to it!

One more note before I wrap up. I came across a quote today, that reminds me of what my life in Christ should look like: Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things are yours. The great news, is we dont have to Fear AT ALL, we can stand fully in hope, we get to completely wipe many of these things from our vocabulary. How great is our God! Thank you, Jesus.

Truth

Truly your grace is sufficient for me

Reaching through faith, to come set us free

Up on the cross, you bore every sin

The veil was torn, we were welcomed within

Holding us tightly, our lives are redeemed

What's the plan, man?

Let it once be fixed that a man's ambition is to fit into God's plan for him,

And he has a North Star ever in sight to guide him steadily over any sea,

however shoreless it seems. H

e has a compass that points true through the thickest fog and the fiercest storm,

and regardless of magnetic rocks.

-S.D. Gordon

What's next? What is God's plan for you? Do you know? It's a question that is directed often towards young people of the church, and rightfully so. It is not God's will for us to meander through life and trusting in dumb luck to get us where we're going, and just staying put will get you nowhere. Literally. Such behavior is foolish. The root word there is fool; as in, you will look like a fool if you behave in such a way. So what does scripture have to say about this? Ephesians 5 tells us to look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Jeremiah 29:11 even further solidifies the fact that THERE IS A PLAN. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

So, how are we to know this plan that God has for us. Ask. And commit yourself to what follows. Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; and to the one who knocks, it will be opened. Matthew 7 is an amazing promise from God to His people. We also must do as Proverbs 16 teaches us to Commit your work to the LORD and your plans will be established. But if it is just that simple, why isn't every christian able to recite the plan for their life in detail upon request? The answer is sin.

There are many ways in which sin corrupts our understanding of God's plan for our lives, or causes God to hold the revelation until our pride wont get in the way. I, for one, all to often find myself making plans of my own in a desperate attempt to not be found without one. This never works out well for me, and God all too often has to reel me back in and place me back on track. So many times, I am brought to the realization that if God had revealed to me where I was heading, I would come up with a "better way" to get there and start cutting my own path without God. James 4 brings a strong reminder to those of us who like making plans of our own. Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" -yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is to sin. Woah! So you mean it is a sin to claim a plan that hasn't come from the Lord? Yes. Even if it's a really good one and it really impresses other people? YES.

A callused heart can also lead to our lack of having a bearing of God's plan for our lives. We as sheep, should have a clear discernment for our Shepherd's voice. But as our choosing to sin grieves the Holy Spirit, and our days passing without being steeped in the Word of God, our acute hearing becomes dulled, and our Master's voice becomes undistinguishable among the many voices clambering for our attention.

So how do I clear all the rubble and peer through the fog of pride? You don't. And by that, I mean to say YOU don't. You cant clear the rubble(sin) of your life. You may be able to clear quite a bit of it away, but it's not the actions or magnitude of your sin that are getting in the way. It's the sin nature, and for that there is only one cure. Belief in Jesus. And what about the fog of pride that gets in the way. Pride is just as much a sin nature as any other. It just (in my experience) attacks our pursuit in this area more directly. And since it is a sin nature issue YOU cant do ANYTHING about it. Yes, you can set up a system of checks and balances, and try REAL hard to keep yourself humble, but ultimately, ultimately all you'll end up accomplishing is a false humility. Again, belief in Jesus, applying His grace to your life is the only thing that can clear up these issues. You cant add any of your own or anyone else's work to it.

So you think you have a plan, eh? What do you do with it? Test it and then pursue it with enthusiasm, holding fast to the word you have been given. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. If you find your "plans from God" falling apart all around you, then clearly your plans are just that YOUR plans. Proverbs 19 tells us Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. So hold fast, and trust that if it is of God, the plan will hold true through the toughest of storms.

Ok, so how do we go about "testing" whether the plan is of God? Get into the word of God and bring your plans forward to those who can confirm it. Paul asks in 2 Corinthians 1 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time? Do your plans contradict each other, and more importantly, do they contradict the Word of God? If so, throw them out, they are worthless. Our plans are to flow in complete accord with the Word of God.

One last thing, God's plans for you don't start tomorrow, or later today. God has something he wants you doing right now. It might be reading this blog, or maybe you're supposed to be off the computer and in the bible, or maybe He wants you calling up a friend, or spending time with your family, or maybe He just really wants you to get away from everything and just get down on your knees in a quiet room. I dont know, but my hope, and my prayer, is that you'll take a moment and genuinely ask Him. And once you have your answer, do it. Dont reason it out, don't make plans to do it later. God has made the plan long ago, and He says the time is now.