What's next, Dad?

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Dad?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us — an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! Romans 8:15-17 (The Message )

What's next, Dad?

You are walking in God’s life and revival when this is the question of your life, the longing of your heart. This is when hard times turn you towards God rather then away from Him. It is when your focus is on Him not on your present circumstances.

For many, religion is “a grave tending life.” It is doctrines and rules. It is life without God. How boring! No wonder people avoid Church. But God is not about religion.

I know that I am only truly alive when I am walking with my Father God. I am only truly alive when I am asking God “What's next, Dad?”

Is this what they say of you in heaven? - He/she is our brother/sister and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him/her to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 1Thessalonians 3:2 (New Living Translation)

Your Destiny is in God
Bob Lipsys

A tough month

I've had a tough month. My work load has been intense. Up 6.00am, often after getting to bed at 1am. Exhausted, worn out, broken and weary. At these times feelings of personal failure overwhelm me at times. Even when in bed, my mind starts to race going through all I need to complete. Everything negative is magnified. Positives quickly fade.

I've been surviving on words from God. Sometimes shouts, often whispers. These words come from various sources.

a) My local church (The Burdekin Community Church). I am studying a course at Church with Pastor Kevin called "Sure Foundations." And it is true. If our life foundations are built on the Rock - Jesus - we are secure. The greatest storms can blow and mightiest waves can hit us head on, yet we will be left standing. Not because of our own strength but because of Jesus. I make time to complete the course work and home study.

b) Bethel Church, Redding CA. As a subscriber to "ibethelTV" I listen to all their services during the week. Often when I am going to sleep, and during breakfast/meals. etc. Faith, life and healing are released in me. I have something to give to others, Touched by Jesus I touch others with His power and love and words. http://www.ibethel.org/

c) Worship Music - It fills the House when I am home. I just soak it up. "Praising God changes the atmosphere." I have gentle soaking music playing in the background when working.

d) Other Good worship and teaching from time to time: Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, Bill Prankard, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland etc See my links

e) JunctionJ-Community http://www.junctionjcommunity.com/ an internet Christian Community. Here I pray for people,get prayed for, contribute to discussions - be part of a Christian Group when I am unable to travel to one. I can spend 10 minutes here and come back to my work refreshed.

Back to the grindstone,
Refreshed however by God's Word
Bob Lipsys

Open Up Heaven

From time to time we come across songs that “sum up our life.” Here is one that sums up mine. Kim walker and Justin Byrne’s song “Open up Heaven” hits the mark, it touches my spirit. Bob Lipsys

---------------------------------------
Open Up Heaven

When heaven opens, over me,
I'm... saturated in love
Dancing deeper, in creativity
...nothing is impossible for me
Stirring passion, dreams awakened,
Heaven opened, is what I long to see...

It's the promise I was made for, born for
To see heaven open up on earth
It's everything I'd fight for, I'd die for
To see heaven invade this earth

Chorus
Open up... heaven
We will party with the angels
There is nothing better
We're ready for encounters with You

Reformation, Transformation, Revolution,
...It's our destiny
A generation, designed to worship,
we have Jesus and his presence
is all we need...

I live for Your presence
You are life to my heart
I live for Your presence
From Your love I will never part

© Kim Walker and Justin Byrne
See Jesus Culture Music
http://www.jesusculturemusic.org

Facing delay

When God allows us to be hemmed in by impossibilities, He is merely setting the stage for us to experience the miraculous!
quote by Marc A. Dupont

We give up on God too soon. In our takeaway world we are always in a rush. We expect God to be in one too. “Now Lord now – You must act now.” However, unlike us, God is never in a hurry. He knows the end from the beginning and He takes His time.

His time is the right time for us. The delays are for our benefit, not His. God is for us not against us. His delays are for us too.

In the delay we either give up or we come a lot closer to God. Delays purify faith, because delays get rid of all that is not faith – Wishful thinking, hype, emotion and hope in our own ability. These quickly fade in the face of delay.

After delay, long delay, there is an emptiness about us. Our faith which once seemed as big as the mountains we sought to move, lies shattered in a small heap before us. It looks so weak and fragile. However this is faith that has held onto God through the tough wilderness times. This purified raw trust in God has been concentrated through the process. Nothing is left in it to water it down.

Then God whispers “now,” and the creative miracles are released.

Be Free
Bob Lipsys

The most trying year of testing and refining

If you are going through a year of trials, tests, problems, struggles and difficulties the words of this song will “Blow your Socks off.” –I’m still looking for mine.
If you have obeyed God’s voice and yet found yourself in the wilderness, have a Listen to it on Phil Joel’s website, see below.

Desperate
by Phil Joel

Lord, thank You for these days
Lord, thank You for these days
This has been the most trying year
Of testing and refining here
And I wouldn’t have it any other way
Lord, thank You for these days
And I will always choose to praise You

Lord, thank You for this place
Lord, thank You for Your grace
There is mercy in the midst of tests
An oasis in this wilderness
And Your light to lead my way
Lord, thank You for this place
And I will always choose to praise You

And I wanna stay
Desperate
I will remain
Desperate
For You

Lord I thank You for this rain
Healing waters when there’s pain
There are rivers of Your providence
Surrounding our obedience
In Your faithfulness, I put my faith
So Lord I thank You for this rain
And I will always choose to praise You

I wanna stay
Desperate
I will remain
Desperate
For You

Oh Jesus
For You Holy Spirit
For You O’ my Father
For You, for You
All my days I’ll sing Your praises

©Phil Joel, “Deliberate People” Album 2006

Hear the song on Phil Joel’s Site
http://www.deliberatepeople.com
Go to music, “Deliberate People”
fast forward the player to song 4
(listen to the whole album)
Listen to all the Albums.
Great Songs

Drink deep at the Oasis God has provided for you
Bob Lipsys

Children's Worship Songs

I was on itunes looking for Worship songs for Children's Church.

I came across Phil Joel's "Deliberate Kids" album.
This is one great kids worship album.
Phil was formally in the "Newsboys" and this album reflects that style and quality of music.

I looked up Phil's website "Deliberate People"
http://www.deliberatepeople.com/
Great Adult Christian Music Too.

Are there any more recommendations for Children's Worship songs????

Blessings to you as you live for Jesus
Bob Lipsys

Dealing with troubles

Troubles will come into our lives. Big, small, bad and ugly troubles. Some are just annoying. Others have the potential to bend us and break us and bring us down in life.

You can bow or bend to trouble or you can bow before God, and seek His help. Faith in God will bring you through.

Jesus said that we need a good foundation in our lives to withstand trouble. That is, we need good relationship with God. Jesus said that the person who builds their lives on God can withstand any problem or trouble which comes their way in life.

Matthew 7:24-25 (NLB) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Those who have Jesus as their foundation will still be standing after hit by the biggest storms in life. This is not because of who they are, but because of the great foundation their lives are based on.

The Holy Spirit inspired these words:
1 Peter 1:5-7 (NLB) And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

The storms hit and afterwards you are still standing. The value of your faith is revealed.

If a trouble is overwhelming you at present, don’t focus on the storm. Look to and build up your foundation in Jesus. It does not matter how big or wild the storm is because Jesus the foundation of your lives is bigger and stronger than any storm.

Be freed from fear in Jesus' name
Bob Lipsys

Some of the folks say Jesus Christ did miracles to prove His divinity. I do not say He did not, but I say that Jesus Christ did miracles because He could not help Himself .... It was His very nature to do so. When He was in the presence of the sick ones He healed them all. He did not do it to establish His divinity, but because it was just like Him to do it. It would not have been like Him if He had not. Well, if He healed folks in those days it is logical that He does it now, because His nature has not changed .... He cannot help Himself.
Dr. Herman B. Betten – He worked in the healing ministry with John G Lake.

Need Healing,
Jesus heals today!
It is His very nature to heal.
He reveals the heart of the God the Father
who proclaimed: “I am the Lord who heals you.”

Look to the Lord, for He is Good.
Bob Lipsys

Drenched and dripping with the power of God.

We ought to live every day as though we've come out of another world into this world - but with the power of that world still upon us. We should live and speak and move in that power, and have our whole being in Jesus Christ!
John Wesley

Last week someone was very surprised that I go to Church each week. They said, "You are not Catholic, you don't have to go. Why would you go?"

(I did not tell them I also go to "Church" each day - via the net, worship CDs, teaching CDs etc - I did not want to completely blow their minds. They were surprised enough.)

I don't go to Church for Church. I go to meet God with a group of friends who are committed to me. Via worship we enter another world, another dimension. Being together with God empowers our lives and our spirits. On Sunday I got prayed for out the front. That prayer is still bubbling through me, doing its powerful work. There is power in prayer that is inspired by God. It releases one for the destiny God has for them.

John Wesley was so right. Each day we do come from another world. We come drenched and dripping with the power of God.
Bob Lipsys

Jesus frees us from our addictions

Today we had Doug & Anna Boyle speak at Church.
Here is a couple who love the people of Kazakhstan.
Through Jesus, many people there have been freed from
drug and alcohol addictions. This includes children of
very young ages.

At great personal cost, Doug and Anna have established
Teen Challenge programs which have touched and healed
thousands of people. Anna has set up a school to help
the children, linked to teen challenge, have a second chance
at life. These children would have missed out on an education
without this school.

Doug and Anna have raised up 160 local people
over the years to take a lead in continuing this work
of love. Many others assist.

According to Doug, Jesus is the only answer to addictions.
Jesus gives hope to the hopeless. He is the only one
who can help.

Doug and Anna are demonstrating in practical ways
how much God loves the people of Kazakhstan.
Bob Lipsys

Financial Encouragement

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (By Paul in Philippians 4:19 NLB).

Good News in the Economic Downturn

I have held many things in my hands,
and I have lost them all;
but whatever I have placed in God's hands,
that I still possess.
Martin Luther

The collapse of the share market and the associated implosion of a large prosperous financial company, have sent many in our community into financial difficulty. Like Luther, they once held wealth in their hands and have lost it all. Secure futures are now in doubt and comfortable retirements have been put on hold.

But there is good news. What you have put into God's hands has not dived in value. Years of faithful giving to Him are not devalued by an economic downturn. God is still multiplying your giving 100 times, sixty times and thirty times. Peter wrote
that believers have "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you:" 1 Peter 1:4. I used to think that we could only access that inheritance at a future time. I now know that the reason it is in heaven is to preserve it and increase its value. It is in heaven so that we can access it whenever we need it. Being in heaven guarantees us access to our finance at any time 365-24-7.

Givers can rejoice in God, even if they have lost on temporary money markets. What they have given to God is still there to bless both themselves and others.
Bob Lipsys

Prayer inspiration.

Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance.
It is laying hold of God's willingness.
George Mueller

I Love this Quote.
It is the essence of a new way of praying and viewing God.

When you pray do you go to change God's mind
or to open your mind to the good things
your Heavenly Father has for you?
Go to God.
He has some great things to give you.
Spend time with Him.
Find out what they are.

Be blessed - real good - by a good God
Bob Lipsys

Submission to God is a beautiful thing

At Church today I saw a 'person' at the front of the Church. They were glowing so white that I could hardly look at them.(I knew I was seeing the spirit of someone, the 'redeemed spirit' of someone. I thought it was a woman, but don't know how I knew as there were no identifying features.) The person was kneeling in submission to God. While still kneeling they leaned forward and looked like they were laying themselves (folded over) into a grave. The thought hit me, "They are laying down their life for God". As they 'melted' into the grave a shell of a seed unfurled from below them and wrapped around them. They turned into a seed. The seed was ornately carved. I thought "I can't wait to see what it grows into."

The whole 'event' was one of the most beautiful things I've seen. Laying down your life in submission to God is a beautiful thing. Seen by God's perspective wow. I am still awed by the vision.

When do we get to do the stuff?

“When do we get to do the stuff? You know, the stuff here in the Bible; the stuff Jesus did, like healing the sick, raising the dead, healing the blind - stuff like that?”
John Wimber

This is the question which drove the late John Wimber into the presence of God. He was not satisfied reading about miracles and healings in the Bible. He wanted to be a co-worker with God. He wanted to “do the stuff” of the Bible. God honoured his faith. Miracles and healings broke out in the church once again.

As you participate in your church this week ask the Lord, “When do we get to do the stuff?” Let it drive you into God’s presence. As you see what the Father is doing in Heaven, be part of God’s Kingdom here on Earth. Be a co-worker with God on the Earth. Be one who does “the stuff.”

Be a blessing
“Do the stuff”
Bob Lipsys

When you are living in deep darkness.

When your life is filled with darkness, when you can no longer see the way ahead, when hope fades and disappears; You need a word from God.

God’s word brings life. It releases hope. It opens your eyes so that you can see right through the dark. God’s word takes hold of a good future and pulls it into your present. Jesus described it as the Kingdom of God being right with you today.

Take hold of God’s word with all your being. Bob Lipsys

PS Here are some words which sustained and brought me life today:

God … brings victory in the darkness.... If you're going through some times where it looks like devastation in your life...and things look very, very disgusting and discouraging, I want to remind you of something: Holy Spirit is right outside your door, in the dark, evaluating the situation.... Holy Spirit knows how to move in your darkness.... He's examining and inspecting and evaluating your situation. And believe me, it might seem like God is not up to much; it might seem like you don't see anything happening, but Holy Spirit is looking it over. He's coming up with a plan, and believe me, He won't just look it over; He'll return and He'll help you.
by Pastor John Kilpatrick--a sermon, Nehemiah, Portrait of the Holy Spirit

Is experiencing God important?

Bill Johnson pastor of Bethel Church, Redding California believes so. In his book "When Heaven invades Earth," he writes: '...God cannot be known apart from experience. Randy Clark puts it this way: "Anyone who doesn't have an experience with God, doesn't know God." God is a person, not a philosophy or a concept.'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bible from beginning to end is about people who experienced God. They talk with Him. Are healed by Him. They experience miracles. People prosper in drought times, defeat great armies, are saved from impossible situations, all because they know God.
God is part of their lives. Actually, most of the people in the Bible first got to know God through experiencing His intervention in their lives.

I grew up in a Church which focused on having an "objective knowledge" of God. That is knowing about God from the Bible and the Church's doctrines. Personal experience was looked down on. It was preached that we no longer needed miracles or personal experience because we now have the whole Bible. Because of that many people in the Church looked outside of God for help when sick or in need. God was seen as only a last resort.

The sad thing is that God wants to be known. It is His will to heal, to save to set free. God wants to intervene in financial situations and in relationships that are breaking down. God has the miracle needed for your situation. He wants to do these things because he wants you to know Him personally. The only way this can happen is by experience. You need to experience God.

God is closer then you think
Bob Lipsys

Healing Words.

The Bible is full of words which bring healing and life. Here are just a few. These words are not “mantras” to be aimlessly repeated. They are not “spells.” These scriptures do not bring “good luck.” These are promises from the living God to you. As you read these words put your faith, trust and hope in the God who inspired them. The Heavenly Father is carefully watching His words to see that they are fulfilled.

Exodus 15:26d
….I am the LORD, who heals you."

Exodus 23:25-26
Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in
your land. I will give you a full life span.

Psalm 91:16
With long life will I satisfy them
and show them my salvation.

Psalm 103:1-3
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

Psalm 107:20
He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.

Psalm 118:17
I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Proverbs 4:20-23
My son/daughter, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to a person’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he (Jesus) took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Jeremiah 1:12
The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."

Hold on to God’s Word in your heart. God is watching His words to see that they happen for you too. Let the healing power and love of God fill your life. Healing flows out of a relationship with God.
Blessings are falling around you,
Bob Lipsys