Month: January 2018

The medical and holistic communities have been in agreement for years as to the dangerous effects of low vitamin D. The easiest way to remedy this is sunlight. Ultraviolet B light. UVB. Yet low vitamin D is still a problem and it can be helped by a supplement or, even better, a little time in the sun. But I’m talking about “spiritual” sunlight. And the lack of this light from above, from Him, has become serious to the point of epidemic proportions. It leads to intestinal problems, immune problems, cancer, heart disease, asthma, and a myriad of cognitive problems. As Christians, in John 8:12, we’re told that if we follow after Christ, we’ll not walk in darkness and in fact have the light of life. But we’re warned in John 11:10 that by not doing so, we’ll end up stumbling because this light is not in them.

Look at the hearts of so many who seem to have a voice that is being broadcast. Are they walking in love? Are they walking in the light as He is the light? Something is amiss. We are to guard our hearts as it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). This anger and division among us has become a cancer and it is defiling many. It has led to chronic stomach issues from being upset at all we hear and read on a steady basis. Even His word is being twisted to give credence to an indefensible stance. If it is contrary to His word, why would we defend or promote it? Our hearts have grown cold. There is little room to love one another as He told us to. But what seems most apparent are the deleterious cognitive effects of walking on a path that is shown to have dangerous consequences.

People seem to be in a constant state of agitation. The least little thing will set them off. They seem to have no problem sounding off against others on social media in the most offensive ways. This has become an outlet for many to vent the worst comments to people they might have been acquainted with at one time. And to those they don’t know and cannot see? Well, they feel they have free reign to spew venom. I realize that this goes on everywhere, but I’m concerned as to the degree it happens with Christians and to so many I have known in my life. As Paul said to the church of Galatians, “Who has bewitched you?” In taking part in spreading of hatred and fighting amongst ourselves, we are not able to present an example to the world as to what it means to follow Christ. Can we have opinions? Of course. Can we stand for one side as opposed to another? Yes. But in doing so, can we express ourselves in a way that shows the flesh fighting against the Spirit, which is contrary to His ways? No!

Cognitive decline leads to the inability to make good decisions. Look around at all you see and hear, as well as the clamor of voices trying to outshout each other, and see how many good decisions you recognize. People have difficulty concentrating, as chaos is the order of the day. And as it says in Ephesians 2:2, our adversary is the prince of the power of the air. He loves this confusion and agitation. Forgetfulness becomes a major problem. Just look at all those who seem to have forgotten that Galatians 6 says “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience that endures, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are to be without limit. But with a low reading of spiritual vitamin D, we see a prevalence of manipulation of others by any means ~ including hatred of those who get in your way or differ from you, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums and other outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, and dissension. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) If lack of His light affects our hearts and minds, how can we effectively be examples of His love and truth? It can be depressing, and depression is also affected by lack of Sunlight.

So what do we do? We must take hold of the fact that through Christ, He has qualified us to be partakers of a glorious inheritance of the saints in the light. But we must walk in that light. If we allow our tongue to remain unbridled and to speak that which only causes strife, then we must also realize that we’ve strayed from the path of righteousness and preferred a walk in darkness. In government, business and in the church, too many provide bad examples and in fact cause much of the strife we see today. Do not allow this constant barrage of dark thoughts and actions to bring you down. Sit in the Light. Absorb as much “spiritual vitamin D” as you can. Every day! In Isaiah 26, it says that He will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is stayed on Him, because your trust is in Him. He also says He is the light. So “SONbathe!” Walk in the light, and just as it says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” We can’t do that if we allow all that is going on in our country to rob us of the spiritual vitamin D necessary to live productively. There is one Great Light that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think. Ask for the Son. Blessings.

Stepping out into something new, especially when it is unfamiliar, can be unnerving and even frightening. Imagine John Glenn’s first space travel. Can you imagine walking in space like Ed White did in 1965 tethered by only a line to the Gemini IV spacecraft? Or walking on the moon? There had to be a great deal of faith coupled with awe and even some sense of trepidation, even with all the training. But they did it. We too are often at a place where we must step out knowing it is new territory and a bit scary. Maybe not to the degree the astronauts encountered, but still breaking new ground and knowing you might not be received or you might fail.

In January of 1993, I stepped into new ground for me. I was still digesting all the information I was hearing from the Lord after my 18 minute cardiac arrest in July of 1992 and not fully sure how to process it all. But I felt I heard that I was not only to take a new approach to church and how I perceived it, but to also take part in the intercessory prayer group of that church. I had never gone to a prayer meeting of any kind, much less by myself. In fact, if my wife didn’t go to church for some reason, I would also stay home. But I went, and what I received I never expected.

I was quiet and stood back as I usually do. This was totally new to me. I prayed, but this was different. And I didn’t pray out loud among people I didn’t know. There was no pressure to pray and I finally started to feel a little bit comfortable. The corporate anointing was tangible. The more I felt it, the more I pressed in to hear. Suddenly with eyes closed, I was caught up in a vision. There was a storm and the elements were so real I could feel the wind and rain. The Lord showed me things that were to come in this storm that would affect the church corporately and this church I was now attending. I fully expected to be wind tossed and sopping wet when I opened my eyes. It was that intense and real! But the Lord wasn’t finished. He expounded on what He had said and shown me, and set what he wanted me to hear in a prophetic word. But then He told me to speak it! At that time, I hated speaking publically. He would not let up. I felt as if my heart was going to explode from my chest if I didn’t speak! So I spoke it. You could have heard a pin drop. I’m pretty sure that’s not what they were expecting to hear, and actually it was a pretty heavy word. If I had been on the listening end of this prophetic word rather than speaking it, I’m not sure if I would have responded either. But a couple of people heard the truth in it, yet they kept quiet. It was to be held onto until the right time to discuss it. There was one person there who would become my best friend, and he never forgot the gist of it. Things started to prophetically speed up from that point on.

In Stepping Out – Part 1 posted on 12/17, I gave examples of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stepping into areas where there lives could have been forfeited, yet they still stepped out. Even into the lion’s den. Even into the fire. In Exodus 14, we see the river parted before the Israelites step in. Prior to that, they were complaining and fearful of Egypt even after all the miracles they had seen. But in Joshua 3, when the Jordan River was high and flowing fast, God required them to step into the river first. Then the river was parted. Sometimes we are required to step out in faith disregarding what our eyes see. No matter the circumstances, He is always with us. Even in trials and hardship. He does not leave or forsake us. It’s getting that in our heads that is the hard part. As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths.” I pray that His most abundant grace abound to you, and that you realize that it is sufficient for all things. Be confident in Him. Speak out. Step out. Blessings.