Honestly

Let’s face it we all need some change. The first step in change is honesty and often the hardest person to be honest with is ourselves. It’s so easy to see the change needed in the world, our city, school, friends, and family but in ourselves… it’s much much harder. It’s like we can see every situation and problem in 20/20 except the ones in us. We can see so clearly what everybody else needs to do… But what we need to do? Jesus spoke in Matthew about the plank in our own eye. We all have planks and sometimes these planks prove to be great microscopes of other’s specks. Look I’m not saying that the speck is not there, oh it’s there and is ever irritating but as long as you have that big old ugly plank impairing your sight, don’t think you’re qualified to do eye surgery. Because you are not. Like I said, the first step to change is honesty. Can I be honest with you??? No, really can I? If I can’t then you should stop reading right now… Really I mean it, if you’re not ready for a healthy dose of honesty then just stop… So you’re still here, that means whether it hurts or not you want to hear the truth. The truth is, Jesus. He is the beginning, middle and end, the way, truth and life. HE KNOWS BEST!!! He sits at God’s right hand, and God is still all-powerful and all knowing. He is all knowing, which means He sees and knows every situation and problem that you are facing. He is all-powerful, which means He could easily remove and destroy every situation and problem. We make statements like, “I just can’t take anymore”, “I’m giving 100%”, and “I’m doing my best”. Here comes that honesty… You underestimate what you can take, overestimate what you give and have no clue what your best is. Just saying… You can take more than you’ve taking thus far, can give more than you’ve given and your best is seated in the heavenlies. So let’s stop basing what we are and can do on those around us and come to the realization that each of us needs change. So find that plank and start removing it. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking one prayer of repentance is going to do the trick. This is a thing that we walk out daily and the situations and problems you’re facing are the tweezers God is using. Honestly

Reaper #2

What you sow today is what you will reap tomorrow. If you sow your time, talent, resources, assets and all the good gifts God has placed on the inside of you into the bottomless pit of your flesh you will from the flesh reap death. Why? Because from the moment Adam sinned flesh was corrupted, corrupted with sin. The wages of that sin is death. BUT!!! If we make the choice today to sow into the Spirit we will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Not just eternal in quantity but eternal in quality.

This is gonna take a minute #3

So we turned and walked back to the path and in a mere blink we were surrounded by a light that revealed in and out. I could feel it on the inside of me permeating every absolute fiber that is me. It was such a bright light and feeling. Again not the kind of brightness that would make you wince and cause you to close your eyes. I think even for a second I may have squinted and winced as a common reaction to such brightness. Then after a moment I realized that no squinting is necessary in this light. In that moment I knew I was standing in the presence of my father. We all know that God is everywhere and He is but when I tell you that being ''IN'' this Presence is different, its as different as different can be. The difference is a cup of water verses the ocean, their both water but man there is a difference. As I stood in The Glory had it bask in me and realized the presence of my Father and King I felt not fear but Awe total and complete Awe. Awe of God, awe of where I was, awe of how it made me feel... Awe in just every way. Total and completely permiated by love, joy, peace... Though I felt awe I didn't feel fear.
Little more later!!!

Love ya

PJ

This is gonna take a minute #2

So my savior takes my hand and leads me through the gates of heaven. I feel only joy, and peace with absolute contentment... AAAAHHHH it is so good walking with Him communicating without words because none are needed. For those who know me, you will understand why this next part means so much to me. As we walked a bit He lead me just to the right of the path. Through the grass and over to a ledge looking out on the crystal sea. Perfect 5 to 6 foot rollers of the most blue green translucent water that had its own glow and sparkle. Understand that this place had no sun, there was no directional proportion to light. Our sun shines its lights and the light it generates radiates from one place to another. But in heaven where light comes from Gods glory there is no start and stop place everything is simply alight with light. This light, Gods glory makes everything some how brighter and more full of color. A light that shines through objects and not from one point to another causes objects to give off more than just the beauty on the outside but also that which is on the inside can be seen. So as I looked on this sea of glass, I didn't just look at it but into it. After a moment I looked into Jesus' face and with a look of happiness... Or better yet if a chuckle had a look this would be it. He looked at me and with or without words and said, ''Now isn't that time... But I knew you would want to see''...
Stay tuned for #3

Love ya

PJ

This is gonna take a minute #1

I've shared in the past the vision I had of heaven, weather; a vision or reality I'm not sure. But what I do know is as I worshiped one evening during a 24/7 prayer meeting I experienced heaven. As I worshiped...Whoooosh and I was standing on a grassy hill surrounded by a beautiful landscape. The landscape of grass covered rolling hills had a small worn path leading to a gate made of pearl. As my gaze focused on the gate it began to open and there stood Jesus standing on not so much a road as a sidewalk made of gold. Without saying a word Jesus bid me come. As Jesus took my hand in His, not holding my hand with our fingers cupped but instead with our fingers woven. You understand the difference. One way is the way you hold hands with a friend or prayer circle the other is the way you hold hands with a lover, someone your intimate with. Keep in touch for the rest of the story.

Love ya

PJ

Heaven's Yes

Proverbs 27 says...
Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Man, that word last night sharpened the sin outta me. Good stuff!!!
So many times when we hear that scripture it brings almost a negative feel to it. To be sharpened would mean to say that I'm not as sharp as I should be and I need others to help me be all I can be... WAA!!!
Really this sharpening should take place often and from all directions. From sermons, mentors, pastors, heck nature, friends, moments and life, all kinds of stuff can sharpen us... If we will let it. Example, last night you would have had to been dead not to be sharpened by the sermon. For those who haven't seen it... It was well... INSANE!!! (Damon Thompson first night at the 220 conference)
Yeah it had an impact... I had a follow up impact right after the sermon, I was talking to a friend, a fellow youth pastor and he brought up a sermon I had preached a few years back at a conference he was hosting. (Pastor Jayson from G-boro NC). Not just the sermon but that time in my life was crazy brutal, in a good way. To be reminded of that moment after the sermon aaahhh... It was like a one, two punch. There is something on the inside, a desire for purity, holiness. It's a desire to be consumed' a desire for the river, for the wind, for the rain, for the fire. I had a vision the other day of the father with large, I mean huge vats of heaven and He was pouring it out on His people as they directed Him through interseccion. So come on lets have heaven poured out, lets consume hell with a double shot from the vats of God and transform a desolate dry place into Heaven. YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH...

Love ya

PJ

Vision from 24/7 Prayer

Josh Goodman
7/28/08

There are green fields, streets of gold and gates made of pearl.
The gates open up and Jesus is there and He says, "Come in."
I walk with fear but He comes and takes me by the hand and leads me in.

The first thing I see is the sea of glass and He says, "I told you."
He also says, "That's not what you are here for."
We go back to the streets of gold.
There are no buildings, just grass on either side of the street.
We enter a shining place, it is so brilliant I can't see; and God is there.

He hands me a box that's a gift.
He says, "This gift is for you."
He then says, "Now open it."
I say, "But God I don't know how. Reveal to me how to pen the gift that you have laid before me."
He says, "Oh my son, you know how."
But I cry, "I don't know how."

An argument takes place in the heavenlies between us.

I say, "God show me how."
He says, "You already know."
I then say, "But God how?"
He then says, "Behold this day I placed My words in your mouth, actions in your heart, and you must speak those words and act upon those actions...when you have not spokken the words I give you, you deny me even as Peter denied, you denied me. When I put My actions in your heart, and you have not done them, you deny me. I put this gift in your hand. Open it up. Do not deny me."

So I take up the gift and walk out hand in hand with Jesus. The gift in my right hand and Jesus holding my left hand with His right, our fingers interlocked. He leads me, although my heart is broken, He smiles as if to say, "I told you so."
I say, "But what?"

He 's hard but good, uncontrolable but He loves you. He will let you stumble, but He'll pick you up and take you by the hand and walk with you again. We leave and walk down the streets of gold, grass on either side, we exit the gate and Jesus walks back inside and I'm standing there with my gift.

The answer will come tomorrow but first the test, the test of the gift I placed in your hands.