Writing or ripping?

As we enter into this new existence as children of God, we become new.  We are a new creation.  The pages of our life that we filled with destruction of our own making are tossed away as rubbish, and a new book is begun.  A supernatural story.  A masterpiece in the Hand of the Master.  Our life becomes the pages upon which Jesus creates a masterpiece.  He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.  He is writing a bestseller upon the pages of our life.  As we grow in our knowledge of Him, our pages become filled with beauty.  We are no longer seeking to follow all the rules, we now draw near to the Author Himself who etches beauty into us that reflects His.  As we get to know Him, we become like Him.

It is important to remember that the people around us are also being written into love stories, adventurous journeys, breathtaking dramas, and tales of heroics.  As we watch their lives it is essential to remember that as we see the blank pages that will one day be filled with greatness, we mustn’t tear them out because they now stand empty.  The Author Himself will etch beauty into their pages.  Though they now stand blank and void, they will one day contain heart bursting beauty.

Our impatience and tendency toward frustration can cause us to tear out the pages that will once be filled with glory.  Blank pages show up as insecurities, shortcomings, fears, and destructive behaviors.  But perhaps it would be in God’s graciousness to allow us, when we should see into the emptiness of a page yet written, to partner with Holy Spirit and be the pen through which the new life is written upon the page.  

As you see the lack in your life, or the lives of those around you, be not in a hurry to tear out those pages with no beauty upon them.  They will one day contain the very Beauty of God, written in His own handwriting, and at times if you’ll let Him, bearing the marks of a pen that looks just like you!

Friends

What a group.  What a family.  What a joy to be surrounded by life givers and life lovers.

Sometimes the Lord will give me a glimpse of some of the people that I am around on a continual basis, just to remind me that I am in the presence of greatness.  These moments keep me grounded in the fact that I am here to play a role in some most incredible lives.  Not that my own isn’t incredible enough, but the individuals that God has brought to our midst is truly the generation that has been prophesied as the “Forerunner Generation.”

I see around me, men like Ryan who love Jesus’ Presence more than they love life.  But they truly do.  They don’t say the words, and it’s not religious activity to pray and seek God.  You can see it in their face when He draws near.  The longing, the anticipation, the joy, and the exhilaration.  It’s magnificent.

I see men and women declaring the Word of the Lord over destiny-less individuals, and I find myself intoxicated with joy at the wonder of God’s enormity upon them.  

I see a generation who sees no separation between church and anything.  They know they are the church and that God goes with them wherever they go, and their boldness is enough to shake any city they would tread into.

I see men like Dan and Josh who arise at 5 a.m. to worship Jesus just because they know He’ll be there.

I see men like my friend, Justin, who burns with such a desire to see the world change that it ruins his physical body, and then the joy with which he beams has a power to attract even the most dejected.

I see men like Ed who can’t sleep because He’s up all night wrestling with God on behalf of a city who has turned its back to Him, and on behalf of a church who has turned their hearts from Him.

I’m married to a woman who weeps over people she doesn’t know because they haven’t lain hold of the beauty that God created in them.

I follow a man with a vision to see the glory of the Lord fill Marquette as the waters cover the sea.  And I watch as He patiently, quietly, and faith-full-ly waits for God to fulfill the promises He has made to this people.  I follow a man who, unlike Moses, will not act out rashly when those following come against his leadership.

What amazes me is that there is no great conference or school or church for which these friends live this way.  They burn for Jesus and for Him alone.  They often struggle alone.  They can’t afford the big conferences where ten thousand people get up early to fast and pray.  They do it because they love Jesus and He is worthy to have them live this way.  They burn hot, and long, because there is no other way to live.  For they are forerunners.  They are the generation that will see the earth change.  They live this way because a movement must be started by someone.  And they have taken it upon themselves to be the someone-s that will start this next global move of God.  It is great to ride a wave that’s already moving, but at times a wave must be started for others to ride.  

These are the wave