Light the Darkness

Centered

It is funny how things work out.  I woke up coughing this morning at 5 a.m. and once I was awake my brain kicked in to overdrive.  I wanted to go back to sleep but the longer I stayed awake the more my mind raced.  It was a relief when my alarm went off at 5:30 because the longer I thought and prayed the more anxious I became.  It is not supposed to work that way, right?

I hurried to my 6 a.m. appointment only to learn that I should have read my 76 emails from the day before; my breakfast was cancelled.  So what should I do?  I went to a restaurant where I've been inviting a waitress to Indian Creek.  She hasn't come yet but she said she would so I took her an Alpha brochure.  She was off today. Okay, this day was off to a great start!  I went to Panara because I like their Hazlenut coffee.  They actually were so glad to see me (it has been over a week) they gave me the coffee free. Alright, things are looking up.  And while in line I got an idea.  

It was a pretty and quiet morning.  I decided to sit in my parked car and watch the sun rise.  There was no wind and the morning was cool but not cold.  The birds sang and searched for breakfast all around my car.  I sipped my coffee and watched the world wake up.  At first it was just the birds but then there were more and more cars on the road.  The sun rose on the horizen, I could hear a train in the distance and God began to speak to me.  

He directed my thoughts to Matthew 6:25, Don't worry about your everyday life.  Look at the lillies of the field they don't toil or spin but your heavenly Father clothes them in beauty.  This is how I remembered it, I didn't have my Bible.  And look at the birds of the air they don't plant or harvest or store their food in barns but your Father feeds them.  And are you not more valuable than they?  Let each day's problems be sufficient for that day.  Your Father knows what you need and if you seek first the kingdom He will take care of you. 

It was amazing, the longer I sat, the more profound the peace that settled in my soul. What I experienced was exactly what I needed.  God is Good!  It is interesting to me that He knows exactly what I need.  The stillness of the morning, the rising sun, the singing birds created the perfect environmnet for God to speak peace to my soul.  And just maybe, what He shared with me and how He did it might do the same for you.  I love the way God works!

Gary Kendall 

Loved, Believe it!

Do you ever get a song in your mind that you can't get out?  Not that that's a bad thing!  I've been thinking about the song, "Sing, Sing, Sing" recently.  Or maybe you notice a particular thing and then everywhere you look you seem to see that.  I've been loving the red bud trees and since I'm looking for them I see them everywhere.  Sometimes we do the same thing with a thought.  The last few days I've been reading and meditating on John 14-17 and I was struck by how many times and in how many ways God tells us He loves us.  It is everywhere! 

Here are a few examples:  John 14:21...and because they love me, my Father will love them and reveal myself to them.  v23...My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with each of them.  John 15:9...I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. John 16:27...the Father himself loves you dearly.  John 17:23...You love them as much as You love me (Jesus speaking) and vs.26 ...Your love for me will be in them, and I (Jesus) will be in them. 

What would it be like for you if you walked around thinking about how much the Father loves you?  What if you couldn't get it out of your head like a song?  What if you saw evidence of it everywhere?  How would it change your life?  Are there some thoughts about God that you should trade for these thoughts?  You are loved whether you know it or believe it!  Live in His love!  It is for you.

Gary Kendall    

The Unseen Hand

I've been thinking recently about God's unseen hand--by that I mean that He is working even when we can't see it, feel it or verify it. I started thinking about this last Saturday wondering what the disciples were feeling on the day between Good Friday and the resurrection.  It is like the forgotten day.  Don't you think they thought it was the end of everything good? But the next day was the best day in the history of the world!

Then I continued thinking about how many stories have an in between day, or longer, I thought about the years between the promise to Abram and the birth of Isaac.  Then there is the time from when Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers and the day he was put in the number two position beside Pharaoh.  How about the time between when David was anointed to be king and when he actually became king.  Consider what it was like for John the Baptist to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah and then to end up in jail and having to send his disciples to get confirmation that his prophecy was true.  Do you suppose it was tough being Peter after he cursed and swore he didn't know Jesus up until Jesus reinstated him?  How long was it that Paul and Silas sang in the jail before the earthquake came and set them free?  John the beloved was on the Isle of Patmos how long? 

I'm sure there are even more examples but those are the ones that jump quickly into my mind.  So my question for myself--and now for you is this, what if, although it might feel like God is not answering my prayers (at least the way I want Him to), He is simply moving His unseen hand in a way I don't recognize?  Probably the best growth comes in the in between days.  There faith grows, we build character, our motives are purified and our desires are tamed.  I trust him even when I can't see evidence of Him and that puts me, perhaps you too, in good company.

Gary Kendall

Burn the Boats

Horatio Cortes sailed from Cuba in 1519 in search of treasure in Vera Cruz.  The story has become legendary so there are various accounts but what he accomplished is a matter of record.  He succeeded where many others before him failed.  The way he did it was to eliminate the possibility of retreat.  Cortes knew that as long as there was the possibility of retreat that his men would hold the possibility of failure as an option.  If things went poorly they could go back to the boats and return home.  So Cortes gave the order to "burn the boats" or another account says he sank the ships.  Whichever it was, he did cut off any possibility of escape.  Without that possibility his men fought for their lives and they prevailed. 

I wonder, is there anything holding you back from wholehearted passion?  Is there a place where you are leaving the possibility of escape or return to old habits?  I think we compromise our best efforts if we consciously leave the door open to quit, to pull back or turn away.  I think there are times when God calls us forward and we must go with complete dedication.  Close the door to the past and surrender completely to the plan of God. 

I'd like to hear your story.

Gary Kendall

The Bethlehem Star

Every once in a while I run across something that is so remarkable that I drop everything else and sit in awe and wonder at the greatness of God.  Recently that happened for me when I watched a DVD titled The Star of Bethlehem.  You can follow the link to the Web Site however I'll tip you off that the Web Site although very thorough and detailed in its explanations doesn't do the subject matter justice after you've seen the pictures.

The short story is that Fredrick Larson, a lawyer, stumbled on to a mystery that captured his full attention.  He wondered if he could discern if the Star of Bethlehem was factual and historical.  In his searching he came across a computer software program that allows you to see the sky and where the constellations are on any given day (or night) in history.  The heavens move with such precision we can know where they were and where they will be. I don't want to spoil his story but I have to tell you when you observe the night sky leading up to the birth of Christ and compare it to the prophecies it is stupendous.  And then as a bonus he takes you to the day of Jesus death to see the very events in the heaven prophesied by Joel and described by Peter.  I can't get the weight of this truth off my mind.  I'm still in awe days later. 

I highly suggest that you order the DVD and see for yourself the truth of the scriptures, the heavens declare His handiwork and the earth shows His splendor.  Psalm 19:1.

Gary Kendall

I Want to be a Better Lover

It seems like the Holy Spirit picks new ways to stretch me and grow me.  Last year I felt led to commit the whole year to press into the discipline, the pruning of God and the need to learn humility.  That work is still going on in me.  However as the New Year began God put a new thought in my mind.  I know He put it there because it wouldn't be like me to pursue this subject just like I didn't pick last year's subject matter.  This year the Holy Spirit challenged me to be a better lover.

He did it by continually directing me to the stories of God's love for me.  I felt let to study the Song of Solomon, to press into the story of Hosea and Gomer, the Psalms and Revelation.  The first thing I realized is that our Father loves us more than we can even begin to fathom.  He loves us so much that He gives us Jesus as our bridegroom.  Now I'm not the romantic type (unfortunately Belinda would agree).  But I'm learning that God is a romantic at heart and He is crazy about me.  That is hard to comprehend but I'm convinced it is true.  The Song of Solomon is written about His quest to pursue and love us.  I'm beginning to grasp this not just rationally but at a feeling level and it is awesome!  The Holy Spirit is a wonderful expression of God's love.

Now I'll get to the point of this blog, I've decided I want to love God like He loves me.  I want to fulfill the heart of the ultimate Lover.  I've noticed that unfatuated lovers are bold, they are verbal and they are unashamed to let anyone else know the depth of their love.  In my quiet times I sing out loud.  I pray His praises at full voice like the angels praise Him in Revelation.  I use the Psalms to prompt my heart to love him.  I want my life to bring joy to the Bridegroom.  I'm certainly not very good at being a bride but I want to learn.  I'm pressing in to things I don't fully understand but I am a willing lover.  By the way, I like this year's lessons better than last year's :) I'll let you know how it goes!

Gary Kendall

Precious Time with a Mentor

This week our team included Enrique Cepeda who has long been a mentor of mine.  He has known me  since I was a boy.  We got reacquainted when Indian Creek started taking teams to Monterrey, Mexico back in 1987.  We have been connecting regularly for the last 22 years.  Enrique is the head of the Thomas School of International Studies  at  Mid America Christian University. He was the very first national to serve with Project Partner.  He is a man of prayer and he is an encourager.  He is a great teacher and he loves to resource others.  His main focus these days is to provide internationals with the opportunity to get their Masters through MACU. He was recruiting while he was here!

It was great to talk, pray and dream together.  He gave me great counsel about a number of things and the time we had to spend together was priceless!  Enrique has a discerning ablity to hear from God and it was wonderful to pick his brain.  The next day or two he will say, God woke me up last night with this thought...what a privilege.  We saw and heard some of the most exciting stories I've heard in my life.  We met dedicated people we saw faith in action and we got the chance to process it all together.  I shared a lot about our vision at Indian Creek and solicited his feedback.  It was very postive and he gave me some good ideas.  I thank God for Enrique and his presence on this trip it was like a bonus!

I am part of a Lost Generation NOT

Meditate and Obey my Word

Many times I've quoted Joshua 1:6, Be strong and courageous. God even repeats it in verse 7, be strong and VERY courageous.  I like that and I take it to heart.  It is an oft quoted verse by many.  But there is another part of this context that we must not overlook.  Verse 8 says, study this book of instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. God bookends the whole passage again in verse 9 by saying, this is my command--be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

I am guilty sometimes of picking and choosing what I want to apply from the scriptures.  I will hold on to a passage that encourages me and slip right over others that challenge me.  In this case I love the take the hill mentality of the Christ follower but ideally it is fueled by the confident assurance that we are doing what Jesus wants and doing it how He wants it done.  That's how we can be strong--because He is doing it through us.

Recently I've been meditating on Psalm 23 and on the Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13.  Did you know they have a lot in common?  I'll share some of what I'm learning as I go but for now I simply want to lift up the practice.  I've been making time to sit in stillness before God and turning the verses over and over in my mind.  I've memorized them so that helps.  I spent over an hour recently on Psalm 23 going verse by verse asking God what He wanted to say to me through it.  When I have blocks of time I go back to it even if they are shorter.  On the plane I had lots of time (14 hours).  Now that my days and nights are mixed up, I have time while I'm in bed wide awake like last night.  God is revealing things to me about these verses and how they apply to my life that are powerful.  Now I feel better prepared to be strong and courageous.  I don't have to work it up--it is already there.

Are you meditating?  How do you do it?  What are you learning?  What verses do you use?  Let's learn from each other.

I'm not sure what it is about this trip to China but the last three years have been accelerated learning times with the Father.  His peace and presence is astounding.  Thank you for your prayers.  There is something about getting away from the regular routine and having to trust and pray in new ways that always seems to stimulate me to grow.  Thanks for your prayers. 

Gary Kendall