Pondering Redding Week 1 - September 3rd 2009

Welcome to my blog - I hope you enjoy it.
It's going to be quite random - just snippets and ponderings of my thoughts along the way.
Here goes....

Song: ''I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross''.........Thank you Lord.

Read Psalm 73: 1-26.
Psalm 73:17 - whinging & whining that it's not fair?.......until I entered the sanctuary of God (i.e. His presence) - then it all makes sense. It's ALL about His presence.
Psalm 73:25 - 'earth has nothing I desire besides you' - see how His presence changes our perspectives? What happened to the whining?

We're here in Redding to attend the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry - to seek the presence of God, to push hard after 'more' - the God who created the earth and all in it (including us) must have more to offer than the traditional expression of church allows......I want 'more' (God already gave His only Son, so I'm not asking Him to give any more) - I want more knowledge of His presence, His love, His heart - more experience of Him.

Jeremiah 33:3 - 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know'. Call to Him - talk to Him - don't overcomplicate things....just talk with the Father.

Song: ''This is the year of the favour of the Lord, this is the day of the favour of the Lord.''
Is this the year of the favour of the Lord on us as a family? Is the Lord's favour on us coming to Calfornia? If so, just what have we stepped into?
But it's not about us! Our first ministry has to be to God in worship. So, favour for who?
Show me, Lord.
Isaiah 61: 1-3 - 'The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.'
So, favour for who? - the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the prisoners, those who mourn, those who grieve.........for the display of His splendour.
Thank you, Lord - now show me these people..........

Seth Joshua prayed 'give me Wales' just like his father had. He preached the gospel in a small chapel and was heard by one Evan Roberts, and so began the 1904 Wales revival.
What is it about Evan Roberts?? When I came to Bethel in February, Bill Johnson spoke about him, and again last Sunday!!! Now, I guess he doesn't speak about Evan Roberts every week, so what is God saying?? I need to investigate this........What do you want to show me, Lord? Guide me, show me, teach me......have your way......Your Kingdom come.

(From 'When Heaven Invades Earth' - Bill Johnson.)
We must pursue God with reckless abandon.
How?
1. Prayer. (Just talking with the Father!) Specific. Relentless. Focus on His promises.
2. Study. Scripture, especially the Gospels & Kingdom references. 'If you don't have questions, you won't recognsie the answers!'
3. Read. Biographies of others who have searched for His presence (Evan Roberts?)
4. Laying-on of hands - by those anointed by God. (bring on those altar calls - impartation, I guess).
5. Associations. Hanging out with those close to God.
6. Obedience. Gulp! 'Real learning comes through doing'.

Easy huh?? Yeah, right......

Saw a great bumper sticker today - 'Exposure to the Son prevents burning.'
God is always and only good.

With love & blessings,

Pete