The Humble See the Humble: Take it to the Streets

The Humble See the Humble: Take it to the Streets

In Luke 14, Jesus went to a Pharisees’ home to eat. After observing them he told three dinner stories which surely gave them indigestion. “Don’t take best seats for yourself. Don’t invite people for what they will return to you. Don’t invite the proud and full who will make excuses for why they don’t respond. But go to people in need, humble and hungry."

If our group, our heart, our garden seems closed, Jesus gave us the antidotes: humble ourselves until we see and connect with the humble and needy. Go give to new people without thought of what they will give you back. Best way to work up an appetite is to do some hard work. Exchange mercy and love for judgment and negativity.

Jesus was a street preacher. Most of what we celebrate in church didn’t happen in church. He was interacting with people where the conditions of need and hunger were present. He even called his disciples from where they were working not attending.

To reach new people we have to meet new people. Otherwise we start noticing negative things about the same people around us (familiarity breeds contempt) instead of getting with people who don’t have what we all have. Then they are interesting to us and we are of interest to them. HUNGER

To refresh appreciation for what you have, go share with someone who doesn’t have it instead of comparing your knowledge with people who all seem to have the same thing.

Luke 14:21-23 Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

All Saints Day: remember Christian martyrs. Pray for the persecuted church. Remember those in prison as if it was you. Pray for those on mission. Be on mission by living the Incarnation of Jesus Christ among those who need to see the Word made flesh.

Jesus: Prince of Peace By Richard Lineberry

Jesus: Prince of Peace
By Richard Lineberry

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Jesus, John 14:27

Peace might mean different things to different people: a sleeping infant, absence of war, etc. To the original hearers, it meant shalom, i.e., peace, salvation and well being. Peace from God doesn’t just concern the outside world, but has everything to do with the heart.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, wasn’t over reactive to outer circumstances. He wasn’t anxious at the sight of 50,000 hungry people before Him. He slept though a storm. His trials didn’t intimidate Him for the secret of His peace was His relationship with the heavenly Father.

There are two kinds of peace. There is “peace with God” which comes when one receives the new spiritual rebirth. When our sins are forgiven, the hostility between us and God vanishes. Then we know Him as our loving, caring Father who wants the best for us.

Then there is the “peace of God.” This is the result of spiritual growth and embracing of Christ’s rule over our minds. Finding rest for our souls is the result of “taking His yoke upon us” (Matt. 11:28-29). Prov. 16:7 tells us that “when a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him.” God drives back the powers of unrest and disturbance when our minds are stayed upon Him.

Peace of heart and mind are byproducts of learning obedience to God and His Word. Anxieties and fears as well as many illnesses are the result of undisciplined lives that dwell only on the fears this world continually set before us.

My prayer for you today is that God will give you peace in everything that you are carrying. As we worship and experience His Spirit, simply let Him be the object of your affection. Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Let His peace rule your heart.

Testimonies and Exhortations

Testimonies and Exhortations

Gloria Bohn received an “all clear” from the Dr on her heart one year after her heart surgery.
Glen and Dorla’s granddaughter is cancer free.
Dick and Karen are doing well following their surgery.

Wilma has this testimony of God bringing healing deliverance: As I was praying about various things, and feeling SO TIRED of making all the decisions(!!!) (widows know what I mean!), I started coughing - and then felt relieved. The Lord told me the spirits (see, no capital "s"!) of dread, indecision and loneliness had been kicked out! PTL! My prayer was then, "Thank you, Lord and come in Holy Spirit, fill me with Your love and everything I need! Isn't that wonderful that God can deal with us one-on-one! This has happened before and probably will again one day. - Wilma Cabaniss


From Attractional to Incarnational
Glen Beaty took Gary Cake’s story and exhortation and did it: he joined a group of remote controlled car racers and is potentially building relationships for the kingdom.

Below are a few of the various words and prayers last Sunday confirming that we are on track with God as we pray for our neighbors and seek to build relational bridges into the kingdom as we love and serve them.

Ryan received this word last Sunday about us bringing life:
If we are the Body of Christ and in this neighborhood we are the heart, then what are the people and places surrounding this place? They are the other body parts. And the job of the heart is to give life to the other body parts. And that is our job as the heart, to bring life to the people around us, and it is also our job from Jesus Christ.
- Ryan Ellis

Tim Cunkle had a word that the front door was not for the kingdom to come in to us, but us to go out to bring the kingdom.


What are you hearing and how are you praying?

A Prayer of Incarnation Attraction: Jesus’ Thoughts In Us

Though fully God, Jesus Messiah, You also became fully human (John 1:14; Col 2:9).

Tempted in every way like us, You sympathize with us, yet without sin You help and deliver us (Heb 4:15). Jesus, You came to reveal the Father and what it means to be gloriously human. You showed us the image of God for which we were created. O’ lovely and victorious Son of Man who became the suffering servant (Is 53 and Phil 3) taking up your cross, laying down your life, rising from the dead, ascending to the Father and returning King and Lord. Incarnate in us. You’ve begun Re-Genesis, New Order, and Re-creation. One day heaven and earth will become one, nations healed, every tear wiped away, death and sickness and sin removed. O’ think in us beginning restoration even in our human weakness, so that we might bring hope in this dark world. O’ glorious grace incarnated in this human race.

But we are neither fully God nor gloriously human. The flesh is weak though the Spirit in us is willing. But what if?

What if the Spirit revealed in us what Jesus is thinking (remember He is fully divine and fully man)? He knows our weak frame and that from dust we were made. He already revealed to us the perfect image of Father to which we will be restored in our resurrected bodies. But we need a word now, a revelation releasing Life in us-come and think in our minds.

Living Word of God be incarnate in us.
Loving God incarnate us Your body into our community.

The leper thought Mother Teresa was Jesus, but she saw Jesus in him. Jesus open our hearts and eyes to see you in our neighbor so they may see You in us. Incarnation live and think in us. Help us think and live not only in You but involved with them.

Forgive our leaders and nation our sins. Expose and remove in government and culture and church what hinders heaven from coming on earth. Make us more fully divine and gloriously human. Heal our land, especially our neighborhood, block by block, from innocent blood, occult, broken covenants and immorality, and despair, fear and hate.

Strengthen our hands to serve at home and church and Kaiser School. Increase food for the needy through sharing. Enlarge our hearts through prayer. Grow us up through love at work. And put your lovely and holy thoughts in us. PD