jcannon on April 25th, 2013

Undermined

I drove by a school this morning and saw this on the sign out front-
UNDERMINE- To weaken, sabotage
And the Spirit said, “that’s it!  … That’s what the thief does!”
I immediately thought of the message The Lord gave me just over a year ago based on the following verse.

John 10:10
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
I then went to the dictionary and found this….
Undermine- Def.
 to impair, weaken, or destroy (health, morale, etc.) by imperceptible stages
Then I had this thought… “Who do we fight against?”
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Looking at the definition, the last phrase jumped out at me- “by imperceptible stages”.
Imperceptible-  very slight, gradual or subtle.
So, lets pull this together!  We know there is a thief bent on our destruction. Jesus said he- the thief, has come to steal, kill and destroy.  He has come to Undermine what Jesus came to do- to give us a rich and satisfying life.  In essence, His kingdom of LIFE.
Jesus comes sowing seeds of life- TRUTH into our tilled hearts and then the thief comes to undermine Christ’s work in us by sowing LIES that are bent on stealing, killing and destroying life in us.
Our enemy comes to sow seeds of doubt, fear, unbelief… Casting question marks in our hearts about Gods goodness, faithfulness and love. For example.. “If God is so loving, why would he allow this to happen to me?”
Any good relationship is based on trust.   Without trust there cannot be relationship. The more the thief can undermine Gods trustworthiness in our hearts, the less we will trust God with our lives.
This leads to a false life of control. I call it a “False Life” because a life made by our own doing is not Real Life and pales in comparison to the Life Jesus came to give us.
So we settle for a self-made life based on a lie which lead us to fear that God can’t be trusted. Then, when the lie takes root in our hearts it produces fear.  The fruit of fear is control and self protection.  This leads to death of the relationship.
It is a vicious cycle!!
Jesus said….
John 15:5
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:9
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”
TRUST=ABIDE=LIFE
FEAR=CONTROL=DEATH
Colossians 1:27
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Mark 8:36-37
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Luke 17:33
If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.
Abundant Life or a False Life
The choice is yours!  Choose wisely.
jcannon on November 8th, 2015

Lord of the desert

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Luke 4:1

How did Jesus become lord of the desert? He overcame by the word of God. He spoke the truth to his tempter, thus giving no room for the devil and his lies.

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.'”Luke 4:4
How great an example for us but yet so profoundly simple. May we follow in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord when the spirit leads us into the desert. Then we too will, in Christ, be victorious.

“On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is shifting sand”

So when you encounter the shifting sands of the desert remember the truth and speak it aloud to your tempter. Then you too will be victorious!

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Desert notes-

expect hunger, thirst and weakness. – Psalm 42:2, 102:1

Look for temptation – be on guard! – 2 Timothy 2:22

Keep it simple. Don’t look across the vastness of your desert. One step of faith at a time. -Psalm 119:105

Remember, remember! Don’t allow your current circumstances to dry up your pool of remembrances
-Psalm 103:2-3

Live counterintuitively. Don’t allow your situation to control you. Choose truth over human reasoning and perception.
– Proverbs 3:5-6

Expect storms out of seemingly nowhere. When the enemy comes at you like a flash flood- 1 Peter 5:8

Keep the truth as your barometer and attitude-meter. It may appear to the untrained heart and mind that the Lord has forgotten and forsaken you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

Remember – you have not charted this land before but know that He goes before you and is sovereign. -Isaiah 45:2

It’s not the end. Expect something new above and beyond what you can ask or imagine -Eph. 3:30-21

The following is taken from Streams in the Desert
The Greatest Pains

As many as I love I rebuke and chasten – Rev 3:19

God takes the most eminent and choicest of His servants for the choicest and most eminent afflictions. They who have received most grace from God are able to bear most afflictions from God. Affliction does not hit the saint by chance, but by direction. God does not draw His bow at a venture. Every one of His arrows goes upon a special errand and touches no breast but his against whom it is sent. It is not only the grace, but the glory of a believer when we can stand and take affliction quietly. —Joseph Caryl

If all my days were sunny, could I say,
“In His fair land He wipes all tears away”?

If I were never weary, could I keep
Close to my heart, “He gives His loved ones sleep”?

Were no graves mine, might I not come to deem
The Life Eternal but a baseless dream?

My winter, and my tears, and weariness,
Even my graves, may be His way to bless.

I call them ills; yet that can surely be
Nothing but love that shows my Lord to me!
—Selected

“The most deeply taught Christians are generally those who have been brought into the searching fires of deep soul-anguish. If you have been praying to know more of Christ, do not be surprised if He takes you aside into a desert place, or leads you into a furnace of pain.”

Do not punish me, Lord, by taking my cross from me, but comfort me by submitting me to Thy will, and by making me to love the cross. Give me that by which Thou shalt be best served … and let me hold it for the greatest of all Thy mercies, that Thou shouldst glorify Thy name in me, according to Thy will. —A Captive’s Prayer

jcannon on May 25th, 2015

Red, White And Blue

Red is for desire, passion too

for blood shed in sacrifice for me and for you

White is for glory and purity brite

for joy triumphant in the midst of strife

Blue is for bravery and courage too

sadness yet joy for those who dare to choose

jcannon on September 23rd, 2014

Sail On!

Steer clear of the rocky shores of doubt. sail out on the deep; the deep seas of his faithfulness, goodness and love. Hold onto his promises; he is faithful. Bind yourself to his ship for the seas are rough.

I will not cling to the shore of doubt, fear and unbelief- but I will cast myself out on the deep seas of his faithfulness, goodness and his lovingkindness ; his grace and his mercy.

For it is not necessary that I cling to life but it is expedient and necessary that I cling to the giver of life.

For I shall not live one day longer than what he ordained since the beginning of time. So, yes I will trust him as long as I have breath and I will sing of his goodness and his glory; his lovingkindness and faithfulness to me. For though he slay me yet I will trust him. I will stand upon his faithfulness.

My purpose is to not be a Christian of circumstance only, but in all circumstances to be a Christian wholly.

Sailing On! Jonathan

– the following Streams In The Desert ties in Great

Obstinate Faith-

And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap. – Josh 3:13

Brave Levites! Who can help admiring them, to carry the Ark right into the stream; for the waters were not divided till their feet dipped in the water (ver. 15). God had not promised aught else. God honors faith. “Obstinate faith,” that the PROMISE sees and “looks to that alone.” You can fancy how the people would watch these holy men march on, and some of the bystanders would be saying, “You would not catch me running that risk! Why, man, the ark will be carried away!” Not so; “the priests stood firm on dry ground.” We must not overlook the fact that faith on our part helps God to carry out His plans. “Come up to the help of the Lord.”

The Ark had staves for the shoulders. Even the Ark did not move of itself; it was carried. When God is the architect, men are the masons and laborers. Faith assists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the violence of fire. It yet honors God, and God honors it. Oh, for this faith that will go on, leaving God to fulfill His promise when He sees fit! Fellow Levites, let us shoulder our load, and do not let us look as if we were carrying God’s coffin. It is the Ark of the living God! Sing as you march towards the flood! —Thomas Champness

One of the special marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of boldness. One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore.

Like wise seamen in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep, and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believeth.

Let us, today, attempt great things for God; take His faith and believe for them and His strength to accomplish them. —Days of Heaven upon Earth

jcannon on June 15th, 2014

Dear Abba Father

I have known no greater joy than to be fathered by you. Your perfect love and sacrifice have made me who I am. You love me so well! Your perfect love frees me up to love like you.

I love every moment we share together. Your sense of humor makes my heart smile. Your timely words of wisdom and encouragement are priceless.
What wisdom and insight I have, I owe thanks to you.

All the gifts you’ve given me have been good and perfect. I love your unwavering support and belief in me. That you believe I have what it takes in every situation that life brings.

Thank you for sharing with me your love of adventure and spontaneity- nature and anything good. Because I’m a chip off the old block, I love to create and restore. Thank you for all my talents- they our an expression of you and your essence. Though I am far from perfect, in Jesus, I am a perfect example of your love. Man! I love how you love me!!

Like you, I really love being a dad and grandpa. As you have delighted in me I have delighted in and loved every moment of being a dad and grandpa. Following your lead as a dad has been amazing!

Thank you for my amazing wife. Man! I love your good gifts! Through the love Sue and I share, I have the privilege of being a dad and grandpa.

You know how much I love being a dad and grandpa! For Jen, Michael and Jordan – three amazing and awesome kids. Delighting in them comes so natural. Hmm I wonder where I got that from. :-). Thanks Abba!!

And the gifts keep coming! Being a Grampin to Caleb and Isla is like being a dad all over again. So much Joy!! Thank you Abba for making it all possible. Oh. Did I tell you how much I love being your son?!

Mostly, thank you for my older brother Jesus!! Without his love and perfect sacrifice none of this would be possible!! Jesus, thank you for bringing me back to Abba!! Man! do I love you for that!!

With all my love, Jonathan

 

 

jcannon on May 24th, 2014

 

Sabotage -Is a deliberate action aimed at weakening ……through subversion, obstruction, disruption, destruction, or underhand tactics. One who engages in sabotage is a saboteur. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identities because of the consequences of their actions.

The above definition sure is a dead ringer for our two main enemies! The flesh/poser and the thief or father of lies.
The Lord gave me the below writing- God’s Plan For You and Me on July 11, 2011.

Someone in my mens group brought up 1 Peter 5:10 yesterday which reminded me of this writing. So as I awoke in the middle of the night as I am prone to do, I was led to read it again. While reading I was reminded that my trials and testings are from my great and loving father and are all filtered through his loving hands. Note: our broken state, due to sin in the world, is not from him but is filtered through his love and power. He promises to use it for good in our lives. Satan wants to use it for evil to poison our hearts and minds toward the father – to confuse our hearts. Causing us to distrust his intentions- his love and greatness.
Oh that we will submit to his perfect love and promises in all things. Whether we are broken and suffering or someone we love is undergoing suffering. Trusting and entrusting all to him, Submitting to his love and power toward those who are his. Believing that he will utilize whatever comes our way for our highest good and his glory.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Keeping in mind that He will do more with your trials and suffering than you can ask or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Still Trusting and obeying, Jonathan

God’s Plan for You and Me

After that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
— 1 Peter 5:10

You have seen the arch of heaven as it spans the plain: glorious are its colours, and rare its hues. It is beautiful, but, alas, it passes away, and lo, it is not. The fair colours give way to the fleecy clouds, and the sky is no longer brilliant with the tints of heaven. It is not established. How can it be? A glorious show made up of transitory sun-beams and passing rain-drops, how can it abide? The graces of the Christian character must not resemble the rainbow in its transitory beauty, but, on the contrary, must be stablished, settled, abiding. Seek, O believer, that every good thing you have may be an abiding thing. May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock! May your faith be no “baseless fabric of a vision,” but may it be builded of material able to endure that awful fire which shall consume the wood, hay, and stubble of the hypocrite. May you be rooted and grounded in love. May your convictions be deep, your love real, your desires earnest. May your whole life be so settled and established, that all the blasts of hell, and all the storms of earth shall never be able to remove you. But notice how this blessing of being “stablished in the faith” is gained. The apostle’s words point us to suffering as the means employed—“After that ye have suffered awhile.” It is of no use to hope that we shall be well rooted if no rough winds pass over us. Those old gnarlings on the root of the oak tree, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of the many storms that have swept over it, and they are also indicators of the depth into which the roots have forced their way. So the Christian is made strong, and firmly rooted by all the trials and storms of life. Shrink not then from the tempestuous winds of trial, but take comfort, believing that by their rough discipline God is fulfilling this benediction to you. – Taken from Morning and Evening Devotional

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

We would rather think about this promise and not 1 Peter 5:10! How can we reconcile the two? Hmmm. Plans to prosper us vs. “suffering awhile”. Of course human nature will choose the path of prosperity every time! Hey God, can you super size my order of prosperity and give me a raincheck on the “suffering awhile”? And if we are real honest… we hope that the “suffering awhile” raincheck will expire and we will live in prosperity forever. Why is it that we equate blessings and prosperity only with health, wealth and good times? When, in REALITY, the real and lasting/Eternal blessings come through the storms of life. Look! Our biggest and best blessing came through incredible pain and suffering-

Isaiah 53
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

The truth is, the only way Christ’s nature will be rooted and established in us is through trials. Gold is not made pure but through fire and diamonds are not formed but through time and pressure. How much more the child of God is made perfect through suffering!

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Grace and Peace, Jonathan

 


View My Stats