Soli Deo Gloria

Photo Credits to Melissa Haskin

It's Christmas Eve. 

Beauty is the shroud of glory, ready to embrace the heart that's open to receive this perfect Christmas gift.

This advent is holy. Its when we remember how the wisdom of God triumphed over the foolishness of our own ways. Its when we remember that Love made a way back to return forever to His own arms! Prodigals coming home to a banqueting table.
Eden re-populated; by the sacrifice of God, alone. 

Once upon a time, (in the very fullness of time) Love, Himself, came down for the sake of all mankind. In a humble stable, in the middle of an ancient village, surrounded by zero pomp or circumstance, in fields of sheep, agriculture and endless stars...

The King of Kings was born to become the atonement for every single one. That night, the angels left the Holy Temple made not with human hands. They came to where HE WAS. For their OBJECT OF WORSHIP was now incarnate, in the tent of flesh. Jesus, the Christ. Messiah was born! They marveled at the Father's plan! They filled the skies of the earth. A celestial luminary; an army of song! The earth was saturated with their worship; "Glory to God, in the Highest." Jesus.

We join with that same song, even now.

Recently, I learned the story of the famous symphony; "Handel's Messiah," composed in 1741. He composed it for the purpose of becoming an evangelistic tsunami to a secular audience. The impact to be on a large scale, which would have renowned excellence musically, enlisting the best voices of the time. In essence, Handel was a forerunner, harnessing the forum of the arts, for the glory of God. Perhaps it even inspired some of those great revivalists of that profound era of the First Great Awakening. It is said,

At the end of his manuscript Handel wrote the letters "SDG"—Soli Deo Gloria, "To God alone the glory". This inscription, taken with the speed of composition, has encouraged belief in the apocryphal story that Handel wrote the music in a fervour of divine inspiration in which, as he wrote the "Hallelujah" chorus, "he saw all heaven before him."

Even now, Handel's Messiah continues to move, evoke and awe audiences through the ages. Even with the recent phenomenon of "Flash Mobs" performing the "Hallelujah Chorus" in malls and large public settings. The ripple effect of this one piece of symphonic score, is still relevant and astounding, to this day.

Lately, more and more, I cry out to God for the raising up of the media army of dancers, artists, musicians, composers, film, etc. I cry out to God for this army, as part of my own inheritance. I pray, "Jesus, give to me, through prayer and through my life, an army of LOVESICK worshipping artists and musicians who will fuel the end time worship movement until You return. For the Lamb who is worthy."

That in the wicked days culminating upon the earth, that there would STILL be a witness in the earth, culminating to the glory and fame of Jesus Christ, alone!

I cry out to God, for Hollywood and the places of influence. I proclaim that which the angels sang about so long ago. "Glory to God in the Highest."

For Jesus came to set the captives free. He is the embodiment and the fulfillment of Isaiah 61.

“Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, & the power of His Christ have come..." -Revelations 12:10

And we carry the torch of His mandate. HIS good news.

Not living for 'self,' but bond-servants to the Love-King.
To God, alone, be the glory!

Soli Deo Gloria. Amen.

2011: The Game-Changer Year

Photo credits to Melissa Haskin.


The year of 2011, is ebbing into the important demarcation of 2012. 

The front lines of the battlefields in this hour, are the soils and the very affections of the human heart.

This year, truly a line was drawn in the sand, for the global people of Christ. It is a point of no-return. Lukewarm faith won't do! The stakes of love have been rising. The bar for the generation has been set high. The promise is glistening on the horizon. The promises burning inside of us, they are the foretaste of the inheritance. Embedded like seeds in our hearts. "Eternity is written on our hearts." (Ecc. 3:11) Promises for victories. Partnering with a Loving God. Yet, in this year of much tumultuous circumstance, the mission of a Holy God is being UNVEILED, to men & women of understanding, in this precious hour. Unveiled and extended in intimate invitation! How mysterious and comprehensive are His ways.

He says, "Is the issue of LOVE; settled for you? What response have you now? Will you follow Me, still? Who do you say that I Am? Because after all is said and done, only FAITH, HOPE and LOVE remain." 

He wants the hearts of men! This, is His prize! 

I am My Beloved's and He is Mine.

The Lord sits as a Refiner. Terrible and True. Righteous and Holy, all of His judgments are good. Meekness defined. Restrained strength. The Great Servant of All. Who is like the Humble King, to whom every knee will bow?

Who can endure the Day of His Coming? And who can stand when He appears?For He is like a Refiner's fire and a fuller's soap. -Malachi 3:2

"...as silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall you be melted in the midst of it..." -Ezekiel 22:22

He will have His way. And He will have His Bride. Bridegroom King & Judge. Prophet, Priest & King. The Branch of the Lord has been revealed to this generation. The Knowledge of the Holy One beckons us further, further, onward, higher, upwards. Deeper into the Love of Christ.

I picture the Lord Jesus standing there by 'His furnace of Affliction.' There He is! Yes, He is a man, and yet, fully God. His back is scarred from the whips of His crucifixion. His hands bearing love-scars from the nails. Yet, He is mighty in strength! He is consistent in LOVE. He is stoking the fire of a dreadful furnace, poking the coals, provoking them to a hotter and hotter flame. He says, "I am the Truth, the Life and the Way. The only Way!!" He sweats and toils over the furnace, yet, He is unwilling to leave His post. "The Author & Finisher of Our Faith." There He stands, tending the fire, which purifies the very hearts of men. Coming forth from this furnace titled, "Holiness Unto the Lord," are the pure silver vessels, and the purest gold trophies of faith. These have stood the test of time, tried and true in His fire. Its the evidence of His very own love, having given birth in the hearts of men. Faith mingled with fire. Purified.

Love-stoked Journeys Customized from the Purifier! To each one, a measure of faith is given. But, we are not alone; for we have the Helper. He will lead and guide us, in all things. He will help us to exercise with strength, the muscle of our hearts, to the drumbeat of Love. He is the manifestation of MIGHT in our lives. The might and the will to LOVE.

He is our duration. He is our REVIVAL STRENGTH.

There is safety and refuge for the people of God, even in the midst of refining. Abiding in Him, under the Shadow of His wing. Grafted into His vine of Love, we are safe. He, Himself is the one who sustains, Shepherds and upholds us. He is all we need! I am not afraid.

He will sit as a Refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the priests...and refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord, offerings in righteousness. Malachi 3:3

So, I ask us all to ponder.
When tornadoes of change, transition, & opposition bear down upon the landscape of the heart, will the heart BELIEVE, even still?

Can your heart & courage endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it. -Ezekiel 22:14

Steady your heart. Steady your courage.

This is the generation, which Daniel foresaw. The time of the opening up of technology, knowledge and revelation. A time of acceleration. A time of the maturing of both wickedness and righteousness, to fullness in the earth. A time of the "Great Exploits of God." The time of the end of this age is beginning to break open and dawn upon us. It is the beginnings of birth pangs that will usher the earth into another age.

...so that, in Me, you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but TAKE COURAGE! I have overcome the world. (-Jesus) John 16:33

This is NO TIME for the faint of heart.

My heart throbs, my strength fails me, as for the light of my eyes, it is also gone from me... Psalm 38:10

My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the Rock and firm strength of my heart and my portion forever! Psalm 73:26

He is our Steadfast! He is our REVIVAL STRENGTH!

The anchor in the storm. When the wind and waves rage!

Can your heart & courage endure...Ezekiel 22:14 

"Hope is a verb, as well as a noun." -Jim Stegall , IHOPU Student

Hope is the action of that which we believe. Hope is one foot  in front of the other, marching forward in a parade of Love and Faith. Hope is the resurgence of dreams! Body of Christ: IT IS TIME TO DREAM AGAIN!

For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord, My God. -Psalm 38:15

We are not alone. He is closer than our very breath. Hope is essential. Hope is the threadworn, effervescent, miracle fabric, sewn into righteous robes and mantles. Kingdom authority!

Forgiveness must prevail. Love must choose. Choose to invest, even when the risks are too great. Courage of heart is needed. Lift up your weary head!

"Jesus is offering us PERFECT LOVE and redemption in ALL areas of our life, promising HOPE and a future...The truth is that God can RESTORE our relationships and our hearts to the point where they are amazing and He, alone, can unlock the romance deep inside them."-B.W. (my friend)

Let FAITH arise. Get UP out of the ashes. RISE up, rise up! Keep going!

Jesus says, Come Away with Me! I am ALL YOU NEED!