Reveration Blog
4/8/2005 AuthorityMeditation
Luke 4:36--Amazement came over them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!” 12/15/2004 Anointinga·nointtr.v.a·noint·ed,a·noint·ing,a·noints.1.To apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance to.2.To put oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.3.To choose by or as if by divine intervention. (American Heritage Dictionary)
2/13/2004 0 Comments DreamsMeditation
Joel 2:28,32a--After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions . . . Then everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved . . . 10/20/2003 FullnessThe 301 complex overlooks a valley framed by gently rolling California hills. When the round red ball of heat sinks the view is amazing. Several nights ago after the sun had vanished, I stopped walking and stood transfixed by the beauty of a mature oak tree in front of an expansive sky wearing a bluish hue I don’t ever remember seeing before. I wished the moment would last as I thanked God for His painting.
8/7/2003 0 Comments ImitationMeditation
Ephesians 5:1,2--Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 8/1/2002 Holy Spirit--LeadingYears ago, when we bought bicycles for our children they came unassembled. I did not pull the parts out of the box and say, “Kids look at the picture. Now build it!” Nor did they say, “We don’t need your help we can do this our own way.” We worked together. They followed my directions, while I explained the instructions inside the box. Much of the work I did because they didn’t have the abilities necessary for many of the tasks.
6/13/2002 3 Comments CommunicationMeditation
Genesis 11:1,4-9--At one time the whole earth had the same language and vocabulary . . . And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. 5/12/2001 ImmanentHer Asian face stares at me with a confident look that belies the caption blazoned across her neck. It reads, “I’m everywhere.” Microsoft advertises its Windows 2000 Professional preinstalled on the “highly reliable, wireless-enabled Dell Latitude® C6000 notebook and you can get total mobility.” That’s what we want isn’t it—the ability to go anywhere and take what we need with us?
4/19/2001 0 Comments CommissionedJenny and Joe are back. Don’t talk to them about ministry or what happened after six months in Kuala Lumpur. They’re hurting right now and it will take some time for them to settle. They left with a banquet and profound expectations they returned bankrupt their confidence dashed.
1/27/2001 AddictionThe Bible emphatically informs us that we who love God are temples of His Holy Spirit (1Co.3:16). Abusing the temple is a quick way to cut off spiritual fellowship. It’s amazing how many ways we can abuse our jars of clay.
1/4/2000 0 Comments Doctrine III spoke with a woman recently who was interested in moving to our city and getting involved in our church. She asked me many questions regarding our doctrine. Then the conversation narrowed to a discussion of Jesus Christ.
10/21/1999 0 Comments InspirationMy two sons and I enjoy watching Star Trek Voyager. We regularly follow the space adventures and mini-plots that revolve around the homesick Voyager crew desperately trying to reach the Alpha Quadrant. As I sat down to view a new episode I felt a direct nudging by the Holy Spirit to go and pray.
9/16/1999 0 Comments GuidanceMeditation
Nehemiah 9:19-21--You did not abandon them in the wilderness because of Your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. You sent Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst. You provided for them in the wilderness 40 years and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. 3/22/1999 0 Comments MissionariesHow radical are you willing to be when it comes to supporting missionaries? It’s nice to have an annual missions week in the church. It feels good to send a check periodically to those laboring overseas. But do you honestly understand what those you know as missionaries experience on a daily basis? Do you know what it means to leave your home country and live in a strange culture among people who speak a foreign language, eat different foods, and relate to one another with a different set of mores? Do you know what it is like to be deeply homesick, constantly vulnerable and very inadequate?
9/2/1998 0 Comments MercyHave you ever had a day when you wished to be alone; when your heart felt crushed beyond repair and your dreams were smashed like a wooden boat against the jagged reefs of reality? Like the eye of a hurricane, misery has its own island of calm. Often it is in the center of pain where God reveals His warm will and tender truth.
7/14/1998 0 Comments AttractionMeditation
Revelation 4:11--Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created. 6/18/1998 0 Comments UnobtrusiveMy wife and I are opposites. I have always loved to share in front of large groups of people—either because my father helped build my confidence as a youngster or because I have an enlarged ham bone. My wife’s favorite place is the back of the room. She loves the opportunity to serve away from the spotlight as anonymously as possible. I learn a lot from my wife.
4/1/1998 0 Comments TrinityMeditation
John 15:26--When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me 2/5/1998 0 Comments ObstaclesHave you ever walked on ice? The Japanese have developed a nifty invention for dealing with slippery surfaces. They designed a small rubber sole that can be attached to the bottom of boots. On the rubber sole are two rows of steel teeth which bite the snow and ice when one walks. When I traveled without this device it was very difficult not to slip and slide. Once the grippers were stretched over my boot walking on frozen ground was easier.
1/6/1998 0 Comments CedarsIn the New Testament there is a little book called Galatians. In chapter 5 verses 16-26 is a powerful contrast between what our sinful nature produces and what God’s Spirit produces. I can tell myself I’m a pretty good guy and try to live in my own power but let’s face it—the end result reeks. My mind lusts, my eyes covet, my nature is inherently selfish. In short, there is a war going on. Every person on this planet is engaged daily in war—Flesh against Spirit. Whenever I choose the side of Flesh, life invariably gets miserable and all hell breaks loose. Whenever I yield to God’s Spirit, life becomes joyful and all heaven breaks loose. This is not an oversimplification of a classic struggle, just the confessions of a battle veteran.
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Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles