What an exciting trip I and a few worship leaders from my church had!  Every time you go to teach or be a blessing, He always ends up teaching you and blessing you!  This time was no different…..

The Turkish society is about 99% Muslim.  To top that, Christians are viewed as anti-government, rebels, and even CIA agents, with these ideas proliferated by the media!  Recently (2007) friends of the church we visited were martyred there.  The church is healing and, at the same time, cautious in their proclamation of Jesus.  We talked to a young man from the church we visited (probably between 25 & 30 years old, who will remain nameless) who came from America to live there.  Even with all that’s going on there he is adamant about declaring the Gospel!  He literally goes into mosques and witnesses to people.  He says that He has to exercise discernment and “be led by the Spirit.”  Here’s a situation where he can be not only talked about but be physically harmed.

Of course Holy Spirit had me look in the mirror and look @ the American Church.  We are so laid back, talking to people about God “when it’s convenient,” and even then not giving the Gospel Message.  Here are some self examination ?’s…..

1.) How many people have you led to the Lord in the last year? 2 years? 5 years

2.) How many people are you discipling right now?  How many have you discipled in the last year? 2 years? 5 years?

3.) Have you told your neighbors about Him?  Do you have any type of relationship with your neighbor besides an occasional “hi?”

I know many people out there either trying to find out what their specific calling.  Many operate in their gifts and are comfortable with what is perceived to be their calling.  But please know that before any gift or calling, we are ALL CALLED to the ministry of Reconciliation, bringing men and women to Him.  The Bible also tells us to make disciples of all men.  We have an opportunity to preach the Gospel, to have a voice and proclaim the Truth, to change our country; but the majority of the American church is concerned about themselves, and a “me” centered atmosphere has prevailed… what can church do for me… my family… how can the church meet my needs?????

We must step up and proclaim the Good News.  People are dying next door to you.  Will you watch them die, when you have the Antidote?  Will you be overwhelmed by trying to take on the world, or will you start with 1?  Witnessing to 1…. Discipling 1….. Teaching that 1 how to Disciple others… and MULTIPLY!?!?!?!?!?!?

J2

PS There are many resources if you are not sure how to either witness or disciple… Use them…. Comment me and I’ll post an email address…. But don’t just sit there….

PSS Please understand that the rights we now enjoy are being taken away one by one.  The voice of the church is under attach and efforts are being made to silence us.  We need to fight these efforts… I believe that just as the early church of Acts didn’t do what the Lord Commisioned them to do (Go into all the world and preach the Gospel) but were content to ‘have church,’ they we persecuted and made to do the work of the Lord.  I pray that it doesn’t take that for us to do it!

Forgive me for not posting in such a long time, especially considering we just had a Worship Night in South Holland, IL.  For all my area readers, again, forgive me for not posting to tell you guys about it.  The Night itself (last night, 3/20/09) was such a God Appointment.  We fasted and prayed, being led by Him as to what He was trying to do with us (Atmosphere of Heaven, my Worship Group) as well as all those who were to attend.  He met us there and did far above that.

God has called me to the Ministry of Reconciliation (I’m sure I’ve mentioned it a bit in a previous post).  I know that this ministry is to all of us, but what He’s placed on my heart specifically is Reconciling the Body to be in harmony with His Will; and that being that we break down the walls of division that have separated us and join together to establish His Kingdom on earth!  It seems like a daunting task, considering the walls that separate us; race, denomination, gender, age, culture, and the like….. But God!  He is Sovereign.  He has an agenda and His Will will be done.

We experienced a glimpse of that Friday Night (@ River Oaks Community Church of South Holland), as not only were the participants impacted that came out to the Worship Night, but we truly believe that the area that we were in (South Holland & Chicagoland area) was impacted.  This blog would be too long to explain all that happened and all that God did, but I just thank Him for showing Himself strong, and working through His Children with the Gifts of the Spirit, causing repentance, healing, deliverance and restoration!

If you’re not from this area, pray for us, we will have Worship Nights every 3rd Friday of the month (I will definitely post the one for April).  Pray for our Region that the body of Christ would come together and be the true Family of God, repenting of allowing the divisions to rest in our hearts.  While you’re at it, pray for your Region, your state! (If you know someone in this area, tell them about the worship Nights!)

If you are from this area, come out and be changed in His Presence.  Prepare yourself to meet a Holy God.  Tell your friends who love God, especially Pastors, Worship Leaders/Team Members, Choir Directors/Members and Musicians (These nights are designed to be a night of refreshing for those in Ministry as well.. Those who week after week are “responsible” for the duties in the church).  Be changed, so that everywhere you go, you are a change agent, carrying the Atmosphere of Heaven into every situation, allowing the Presence of God to transform people, situations, and atmospheres!!!!

Be Blessed,

J2

www.myspace.com/aohlive

I had to post this one from my mother.  WOW!  And yes, I will be posting more frequently, in Jesus Name 

http://heartlifeministries.org/2009/02/sowing-into-another-mans-dream/

A couple days ago I was in a meeting (Actually on speaker phone because I was sick @ home) and we talked about many things, including being an effective leader.  One thing that God reminded me about was a lesson He gave me years ago and continues to unfold it at each level of leadership in my life.  Initially, the lesson was simply the definition of Minister.  There were times in my life that people in my circle were clamoring for titles and wanted people to refer to them as minister, elder, missionary, etc, etc.  The Lord reminder me then that we are all ministers, for the base definition of minister is servant!

Being an effective leaders requires that we are effective servants.  If our mindsets are bent on being served, we are missing the boat.  I look @ Jesus’ ministry, and all he did was serve.  He served the people and served the disciples, even washing their feet.  If there is anything we want people under our influence to do, we have to do it 1st.  We have to be the ones leading the way, showing how it’s done, not to try to manipulate someone into serving you, but servanthood being a part of who you are, because that’s who He is! ( men, if you want your wife to submit, you submit 1st.  Be the leader…. and not out of manipulation…. but out of love and respect for Him and your wife, and out of a heart of servanthood. If Jesus is our example of the bridegroom, we are to humble ourselves and serve our bride as He did his… Just a side note 

If there is anything we want to multiply, it’s a heart to love & serve others.  What are you multiplying, in your home, on your job, in everyone you have influence over?

This post is from my mother, Maria Crawford.  It’s very timely and well written.  Enjoy…..

1 John 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].

8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

One of the most over used words in the dictionary is love - there are so many things that we attach this emotion to - I love ice cream - I love my dog - i love my job - and in the English language we use that same word to  say I love my husband (or wife), I love my children, i love my parents.

It seems like there should be more than one word to express love in English as there is in Greek. For those that are interested I have attached a page from Wilkipedia the different meanings of the word love in the Greek language.

What I want to share with you today is my own journey with love. When I became an adult I did not have a natural ability to love - years of being rejected and disappointed by those I loved caused me to be on guard, to be unable to really trust people’s intentions, and certainly not their heart. I really lived a double standard because I conveyed a desire to sacrificially serve people and to give unselfishly, placing myself in a position of giving, so I would not be dependent on others to give to me - therein making it difficult for me to be disappointed!

How many know that when you live like that and you say you are a Christian - it becomes a prime opportunity for God to make you - DEPENDENT! For years I suffered being dependent on people, places, and things - out of my control (and that is really what it is all about) and being forced to live contrary to my goals and aspirations -

The whole story would take a book to tell - so I’m going to skip to the day when I realized that i was not just singing the song in church:

“Beloved, let us love one another - for love is of God - and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God -

He that Loveth not, knoweth not God, because God is love -

Beloved, let us love one another - 1 John 4: 7 & 8.”

No, I was no longer singing it - something had happened to me - and when I read:

14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 1 jOHN 3: 14 KJV

– or to make it plainer –

14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters,^[a] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.NLT

I found out that no longer was I afraid to be hurt, afraid to be rejected, afraid that I would not be chosen over someone else - that God really did have something special just for me - and that He really did have enough to go around - I was not in competition for scarce resources! The way I learned this was through many painful and challenging situations - but the revelation that I learned it was one of the most marvelous discoveries that I have made in my life!

GOD IS LOVE! and GOD LIVES IN ME - LOVES ME - LOVES THROUGH ME - and there is nothing I can do about it - it becomes as natural as breathing.

My journey of discovery went even further when I realized one day that I felt sorry for “my enemies’ going through painful circumstances. Rather than rejoicing that they had “got theirs” - I felt compassion and empathy - wow - it was then I really knew I had passed from death unto life - I was saved - FROM MYSELF! Glory!

I believe one of the greatest gifts God has given us - is the capacity to forgive those who have hurt us, wronged us, schemed against us - held us in low esteem. It is also a gift that we cannot pull out of a hat - it is a by-product of a life surrendered to God.

As we strive to find ways to show those we love that we love them this Christmas - join with me in asking God to exercise the gift of forgiveness to those who have not loved us - therein is true freedom - therein is life!

God Bless you This Day,

Maria

What is Deliberate Mediocrity?  Some of you are already ahead of me and know where I’m going…… Self examination time again  (I know our self exam times are challenging, but we have to challenge each other to grow and allow Him to be seen Brighter in our lives)………

Examine how you work on your job.  Do you do everything with a spirit of excellence, getting to work on time (before you need to be there so you are prepared to work when your time starts) and give 100% daily, going above and beyond the call?  Or are you Deliberately Mediocre?  Trying to get away with everything that the job will allow you to get away with…. Doing just enough to “keep the boss of your back.”  Deliberately doing just enough to get by?

Examine how you treat your family.  Do you go out of your way to be a blessing to them, sacrificing time and efforts, pushing away pride and giving 100% no matter how they treat you?  Or do you do just enough to get by, spending a little time with the family, helping when you feel like it, forgiving when it’s convenient, doing just enough to “keep your spouse/family off your back?”

Examine how you seek God!!!! Do you seek Him like He is the Bread of Life, knowing that you can’t live without Him, forsaking everything else to know Him better, treating Him like He is the MOST IMPORTANT ENTITY in your life?  Or… you know…. Just spend “enough time,” giving Him leftover time, leftover finances, doing “just enough” (Which is not enough, as we all find out)……?

We are to be like Him in every area of our lives, giving in abundance, going above and beyond the call…. One scripture that sums it up says that everything we do, in word or in deed, do it as unto the Lord.  But if we are not seeking Him fervently, diligently, and giving Him our best, we can not and will not give our whole heart in other areas. Remember, it is He who empowers us to do His Will.  But we have to allow Him to do it by giving ourselves to Him!

Deliberate Mediocrity.  This is just another area where we are conformed to this world, and do things they way the world does and handle things the way the world handles it.  Work diligently, as if The Boss (Jesus) was standing with you every day all day (because if He’s your Savior, He is with you ALL OF THE TIME), not taking short-cuts and not giving less than 100%; Give wholeheartedly to your family, of your time, your ATTENTION, your finances, your LIFE, like you want your family to give to you; and above all, seek Him, chasten after Him, pant for His Word, give Him the greatest Worship, yourself, consume the Word and be transformed…. Then we can really show the world Him!

After your self-exam (letting Him shine a light), if you are willing, let me know areas where He’s shown you that you need to “step it up,” even if it’s some of the same areas…

Be Blessed,

j2

Isn’t it ironic that the day after we give thanks to God for all He’s blessed us with, we go out and are consumed by the biggest spending day of the year?  I won’t go 2 much into it, but please, please, before you go shopping tomorrow, go to www.adventconspiracy.org & www.rethinkingchristmas.com. Watch the videos.   If you don’t know what Advent it, research it later… But please take the time to see how you can have meaningful gifts without spending all of your money, and even using the money for His Purposes! 

Be Blessed & Happy Thanksgiving 

J2

There are 2 things that we must remember as we vote, and as we live out the days following the election.  First, as we vote, we MUST “acknowledge Him in all our ways.”  It’s so easy to make this CRITICAL decision based on rhetoric and/or our personal understanding of the candidates.  But we MUST see things the way He sees them.  We must “be led by the Spirit of God.”  This decision has to be made with “our” people in mind, the Body of Christ!

Secondly, as my previous post stated, God is our source.  So whatever happens from today on (and He knows EVERYTHING that will happen) surrender your life into His hands.  Declare that you will not trust in man or man’s systems/economy, but in the Kingdom of God.  Now’s not the time to try to figure things out ourselves, to stop Tithing (please, don’t make your situation worse by doing this while throwing a “monkey wrench” in His very plan to sustain you).  Let’s live out the Word, “trusting in the Lord with all our heart, while not leaning to our own understanding!”

If we choose to make ANY decision that’s not Spirit led (remember, we are spirit beings living in a body) and that is not purposefully trying to be pleasing to Him, we’ve missed the essence of who we are; His Disciples; His Servants; His Children!

Be Blessed,

J2