I have always been a health conscience person. By most peoples standards, I have lived a healthy life style. Plenty of exercise and healthy eating habits have been with me for as long as I can remember. During the past 3 years I had put on unwanted weight. I am 6 ft 1.5 inch tall and was weighing in at 217 lbs. With this said, I believe a good weight for me to be 195 lbs with an optimal weight of 188 lbs. During this time I was exercising 6 days per week, both in the gym with weights and outside, running a minimum of 3 miles per day.
As for food, my choices were healthy. Very little fried food and no fast food. But, I was unable to lose any weight! As my frustration level grew I began looking for answers that made sense to me. I was looking for a life-style change that I could live with. I did not want a fad diet that would keep me on the diet treadmill.
Several of my family members were doing the HCG Diet and having much success! I won’t try to explain the diet in great detail but will give you the just of it. NOTE: there are two ways to do this diet. One is by taking shots of the HCG and the other is oral with drops under the tongue. I chose the oral method with great success!
Here’s the low down… All the water and coffee you want (minimal cream). Two pieces of fruit per day, two salads with 4 oz of lean meat or fish. Dressing- balsamic vinegar. You take the drops before you drink or eat and do this regimen for 21 days. Taking the right amount of drops will eliminate your appetite while you eat only 500 calories per day. The secret and totally unexpected blessing to me was what I learned while on the diet.
First of all, the diet worked as advertised! I was not hungry and really enjoyed my daily regimen. What I realized about my self was…. I was a comfort eater! What started as a diet, became a spiritual “Ah Ha” moment. While on the diet, I was not hungry but would have these intense cravings for certain foods! Working through these cravings and sticking to the diet was huge for me. It was such a liberating experience! Not only did I lose 20 lbs in 21 days I also lost the power that food had over me! I finished the diet in February of this year and have kept the weight off! I liked the two salads per day so much that I have been living by it ever since! Of course, I treat my self a few times per week with either a home made sweet or a good beer. If any of these begin to take a hold on me again, I begin a “fast” of that. Right now I am fasting beer! Now, I do not have a drinking problem per SE. I began having a beer per day and sometimes two. But because of my “AH HA” moment I realized that God does not want anything to have a “hold on me” except Him.
So, what started out to be a physical goal- lose weight became so much more! I believe this enlightenment to be a big part of my journey with the Wild Goose!
As always, I pray that my journey is and encouragement to you! Jesus came to set us free from anything that has a “hold on us”. He is the Divine Liberator! He said…”I have come to set the captives free”! I am, and continue to become a new creation in Christ! No matter what we are in bondage to, His power is greater! Claim it! Walk in it! Take hold of it! In Jesus Powerful name! Amen
Ephesians 1:18-19
18)I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19) and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
During my journey these past few years, especially the last 3, God has been telling me much about my heart. As only the Master gardener can, the Lord has been doing some tilling, breaking up the hardened ground of my heart. Because He desires relationship with us, He must continue working His divine blueprint for our lives. He knows we need healing because our Spiritual eyesight has been damaged and is in need of a healing like the one Jesus performed on the blind man. Though physical eyesight is awesome and a gift from God, I know my spiritual eyesight is of utmost importance. I can live without physical sight. But, without spiritual eyes I will not live but exist! Being created in Gods image, we were designed to see on a spiritual level. Due to sin, that sight was blocked and in need of a spiritual eye surgeon.
In verse 18, Paul speaks about the eyes of our heart. In order for our hearts to see and have spiritual vision they must be healed. In my experience, our hearts are like an onion with many layers that need to be healed. The Spirit masterfully uncovers the pain and brings healing but at a cost. We must position ourselves for healing. Opening up to the Spirits promptings and work. He is ever the gentleman and will only come when invited. Just have a box of tissues near! This can happen any place where openness and honesty are encouraged. Where Gods love and light are shone. For me, those places have been…. Church, men’s group and time alone with God. It seems that, because of our humanness and sin nature, it takes the trials and storms of life to bring the pain and hurt areas to the surface so they can be healed. Our “battle scars” must be dealt with for us to be set free and live the abundant life God has for us. Unfortunately, we humans, put the walls up and try to pretend we have it “together”. In many circles we call that “posing”. Pretending to be something we are not. We all have an image we want to portray to others! To put our best foot forward, right? One of the gifts the Lord has given me is honesty. Now, I don’t pretend to have the corner on honesty. I have the potential to lie and pose just like the next person. Let’s just say that my spirit longs for honesty. First between me and God and then others. I desire honest relationships plain and simple. Jesus said the “Truth” will set us free! Note: He did not say it would be pain free! Truth is painful much of the time but is always necessary if we are going to grow and further develop our spiritual eyes!
Back to our passage! In order for us to see the hope to which we are called in Christ, our spiritual eyesight- our “heart sight” must be functioning. Just as our physical eyes are tested for vision, our spiritual eyes are tested and then healed so we can see our hope in Christ. And not just our hope but our inheritance! The beauty is we get to enjoy some of the inheritance now because Jesus died for it. We get to taste it now! That’s how good and loving God is! He chose to leave His Spirit, the comforter here so we could experience and enjoy and live abundantly now. Not just put in our time here on earth and then the glory! I love the picture painted in the movie, Joe vs. the Volcano… the scene at work. Very dreary, dark and depressing! And MONOTONOUS! A LIVING HELL. Now, there is an oxymoron! Joe wants out, He dreams of an adventure and longs to truly live even if it costs him his life! Now, that’s really living in my book! And, ya know something, that’s really living in Gods book too! Jesus knew the outcome! He knew He was going to die a very terrible and brutal death. He had a choice to make each and every day. Keep His eyes on the prize and the glory set before Him, or wallow in self-pity and defeat. Thankfully, He chose an abundant life of service! “For God so loved the world that HE GAVE!”. I’m so glad He did not choose to live a selfish life and take all He could! But rather, He chose to give all He could! Wow! Now that is someone worth following!
He calls each of us to lay down our “so called lives” and follow Him.
I love the trade off! We give up our hopeless, empty doomed existence for a life of hope and here’s the kicker…. a life of power! We get the power that raised Christ from the dead! We become Spiritual Superheroes! Now, that’s exciting! No smoke and mirrors hear! No Hollywood power! But, the literal power that told the wind and waves to stop, that opened eyes and healed the lame. That told the demons to hitch a ride with a bunch of pigs! I experienced this power just yesterday. I was struggling and down with life. Second guessing my self again! Then it hit me to pray! I claimed Gods power and victory in Jesus name and His purpose for my life! I agreed that He came to set me free from fear and doubt. I reaffirmed His awesome plan for me, His love and power for those who believe. I refocused my spiritual eyes! You know what? The fear and doubting left and I was set free! Now that is POWERFUL!
But, Why is it so hard for us to make the choice? It would seem to be a no-brainer! But, most of us choose to live “our lives” on “our terms” with us calling the shots! Holding onto the “known” and in fear of the unknown, a walk with God. I think the reasons lay in the heart. Paul knew it! His spiritual eyes had been opened on the road to Damascus. Once this happened he was able to see the truth with his heart and it set him free!
In closing, I believe we must come to Him and invite His perfect love to cast out our fear. As the fear leaves and is replaced with His love…are hearts begin the healing process. And as our hearts are healed so is our spiritual eyesight. It was Jesus’ spiritual eyesight that helped Him all the way to the cross so that He could finish the race strong! I am sure there were plenty of times that Jesus had to “refresh” His spiritual eyes. To get a spiritual recharging so He could fight off the human emotions He was dealing with. Here we are back to Hebrews 12….
2)Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We need reminders! Jesus did! He needed to be reminded of the outcome because He sure was struggling with the pain and the shame of what was to come. In order for us to live strong and finish that way we must first come to Jesus and then invite Him to heal our hearts and give us spiritual eyes to see all that is ours in Christ….HOPE, INHERITANCE, POWER!
HOW ARE YOUR HEART EYES?
http://www.byfaith.co.uk/pauldivineappointments.htm
I found this website on a google search of Divine Appointments. Please check it out!
In retrospect…. I can remember a handfull of God ordained appointments over the years. But what has happened to me over the last 5 months could turn into a movie. Now, I don’t consider myself to be someone with extra special abilities to connect with the Divine. I am just an average guy in the process of working out my salvation while learning to seek Him with all my heart. I don’t specifally know how life is going to work out and Yet I am more rich than I have ever been. I am full to overflowing with the riches I have in Christ. That He would come near to me and take me on this “Wild Goose Chase” just blows my mind. I guess I am just “dumb” enough or wise enough to have taken Him at His word on more than one occasion. I’m sure the world would consider me dumb and maybe many Christians! To this I say SELAH! I would rather be a fool for Christ, Thank-you very much! The things of God are foolishness to the carnal man!!!
So, when people ask me all the normal questions….. What are you doing for work? or where are you going to live? And so on….. I do not have an answer for them but…. God knows and I trust Him. He has great things in store for me! He will never leave me nor forsake me! O.K. for the PRACTICAL PEOPLE OUT THERE…..I am moving- in spirit, in hope, in action, in deed. I have not lost my marbles. No, I am not smoking reefer and doing TM. Over these past 10 years God has been refining me, making me holy. Removing the dross! Now, I do not pretend to have arrived! The process will continue till I meet Him face to face.
This all came out of nowhere! I was just persevering like everyone else! Trying to figure it out! To figure out what I was going to be when I grew up! I now know what I was created to be! A strong, bold, fearless, faithful, obedient, trusting, humble, wild, passionate and loving man of God! All the rest of the human concerns will take care of themselves. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU”. Now is God just blowing smoke or can we take Him at His word? Each of you need to figure that one out for yourselves. Now back to divine appointments….
In considering the last five months…. I am sure that my divine appt. “viewer” was not sharp at first and I can’t recall or recognize them all. In retrospect, one of the biggest ones did not directly happen to me. My friend in VA, the one I was working with, met a guy I have called the “political consultant”. They both shared the pain of losing a loved one way too early by human standards. This divine appt. led to an awakening of my friends desire to enter the political realm. One in which I believe he is destined to do. The political consultants advice was key in my working in VA. That meeting started the ball rolling on my wild goose chase.
Meeting my “new hire” was my second known divine appt. Note: from now on I will call divine appt.s (DA).
Thirdly, I enter a neurosurgeon I met at Starbucks. This one still leaves me shaking my head. We both knew early in our conversation that are meeting was heavenly planned! God used me to encourage a neurosurgeon! This affirms to me that He will use anyone, we just need to be willing. His story, a near death experience, just blows my mind! As I think back on it, God knew this man needed encouragement and He knew I needed a glimpse of the Divine in a way that would leave a lasting impact. This neurosurgeon is writing a book about his experience and emailed me a copy of the manuscript that day! We continue to stay in touch and I look forward to the final copy.
Fourthly… the couple at Starbucks in VA who told me I looked like a hiker and invited me on a hike this Spring. This began my return to the wilderness and my hikes with God. Every weekend in VA I would go for a hike, all but one of them, by myself with God. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting away with God. Talking and listening, singing and basking in His creation. Just like the Psalmist did! I am convinced that this played a big role in my walk with the Wild Goose.
Fifthly….. A young man I met at Starbucks with a dream and a plan of moving to Denver this summer. It turns out we shared common interests and common pain. Me 50 and he half my age. I love people of all ages! No one is too old or young to connect with! This new friend was intrumental in fueling the flame that was put in my heart about CO 7 years ago. He introduced me to my new Colorado friend. The one who put me up on his couch on the South side of Denver!
Sixthly…. All the people along the way between the Appalachian Trail and the swamp of SC. I can’t begin to tell you how uncanny these meetings were. All along the highways and byways! So random the happenings that, after the first few, they just left me laughing and knowing that God was really up to something. I see them now as “promptings” from God. He kept saying… come on Jon… step out.. there is something I have planned for you… step out and believe… I want to blow your mind with my love and power… I have great things in store for you… trust me. He kept telling me to not try to figure it out. That I did not have to make it happen. Like John Eldridge says, “we don’t find the adventure, the adventure finds us!” paraphrased by me.
Seventhly…. I don’t know why I got started on this numerical nonsense! Really, Jon… Seventhly! LOL. Anyways! The Young Life leader who gave me the Wild Goose Chase to read the day before I booked my flight to Denver. God knew I was “on the fence” about going. Especially, about driving all the way out and back. He was so gracious and loving here! It was like God sent me off with a bang! A party! My VA family through a party for me on Wed. and we played the “positive game”. They all shared one thing they liked about me! This is a very humbling game when you are on the receiving side of it. Then the meeting and the book on Thursday!
Now, I want you to know that since I have been back from Denver I have yet to have a divine CO appt.! Nary a one! What do I make of this? He prompted and I went in faith. Then He prompted me to start this blog… I am just trying to be faithful and obedient. To continue to get quiet and listen even without a mountain! There are none close by at the moment! God is at work and I trust Him. He “has my back, and front, top and bottom”. He is in conrol! Oh Praise the Lord! I have my child like faith back!
It is my prayer that God uses this blog as a DA for you! If you are taking the time to read this just know that God is in it. He is calling each of you to your own Wild Goose Chase. Come on! Lets step out and change the world! The Goose is ready! Are you?
Blessings, Jon
From my experience it seems that we are, most of the time, best able to hear the Gooses’ voice in the quiet. When we retreat from the normal hustle and bustle of Life we can learn or train ourselves to “get quiet” and hear Him. I have personally found this to be true. As an avid outdoors man, I love to get outside, especially in the Mountains! The best times I have had with the Lord are when I am in the Mountains hiking and getting quiet. Jesus modeled this over and over again! In Luke 4:42- “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.” Luke 5:16- “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 6:12- “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
Hiking, biking, jogging, camping etc. These are great ways to keep your walk with God fresh! In looking back over my 35 years with God, I definitely see a correlation of how strong my walk is in relation to how much I am getting away and quiet. Busyness and responsibilities drain us and leave us more vulnerable to Satanic attack! If the sinless Son of God realized this and made it a point to regularly retreat, how much greater is our need?! Since I believe that God operates and communicates at the heart level, I am convinced we must get quiet and away to allow the Spirit to communicate with us on this deep level.
Our culture lives on the surface and it is so easy to get pulled along the massive flow of surfaceness! I don’t know if that’s a word, but I like it! Surfaceness! The act of living a shallow life! If I am going to live a “powerful” life for God I must stay plugged in to the source of power and allow my heart to hear His. I am reminded of Hebrews 12. This is one of my all-time favorite passages! It speaks of remembering, of fixing our eyes, of letting go, of running the race God has for us! This passage really sums up my Wild Goose Chase! We must remember we are His children and expect his discipline for that’s what a loving father does. I love the visual image of “throwing off” anything that hinders us and keeps us from living free, victorious, and powerful lives! Note: God/Wild Goose, has a race marked out for each of us! Is that awesome or what! He has an amazing race full of adventure in store for me and you. It is up to us to find it! At times, it may seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. Hang on and don’t panic! Keep pressing in and getting quite. The Wild Goose will find you and lead the way! Just keep walking and listening.
Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”[a]
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
Each time I think back on my Wild Goose Chase, especially over the last 5 months, I find my self in awe of God’s love for me. That His thoughts toward little old me are more than I can imagine! Knowing that I am not worthy of such “royal” treatment fills me with a deep gratitude and joy that I believe one of my “heroes” lived with… that Shepherd boy…. David… Now there was a man who lived at the heart level. And, where do you think David honed his relationship with God?…… In the wilderness! So, my friends…. Get out there and get quiet and let the Wild Goose speak to your heart! WARNING: If you do this- be prepared for a wild ride with the Goose!
Blessings, Jon
As I decompressed from my eight hours of posting yesterday, the Spirit brought some things to mind that I overlooked. During the last week or so of my time in VA, God impressed on me the story of Nehemiah. How he had a strong burden to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. How God used the King and His influence to get the “job” done.
Nehemiah 2:7-9 7) I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8* And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. 9) So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
As I have said, I had the strong sense that my friend in VA and His “political consultant” were going to be used of God to open a door for the next work the Lord had for me. At some point I had heard that the “political consultant” had worked for Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family. So, when all the Colorado and Tim Tebow Foundation stuff started happening I said to God,,,”Could you be setting up something beyond my wildest imagination?” Note: This past winter, Tim and his Mom did a Super Bowl ad for Focus! So before I left VA I told these two guys; “You are my “kings”, for you are going to write my “letters” that God will use to pave the way for my next work.
Now, Enter one of the passages the Lord gave me to hold onto over the last 6 hard years.
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.
O.K. I need to explain something here that I can’t believe I overlooked! My editor, the Wild Goose, was gracious in pointing this out to me late last night. When we moved to SC instead of CO, we became members at a Church in SC where the lead pastor is from Denver and we the congregation have heard many of his Denver stories. How funny is that? I want to move to Denver and I end up in SC at a church with a lead pastor from Denver! Now here’s the kicker! For six years I have heard Ephesians 3:20-21 recited as the benediction. Now the Wild Goose has shown me that he “surfs” on verses like this! Verses that activate our faith! God so wants us to take Him at His word and run with the promises on our own Wild Goose Chase.
Now, the second promise I have been holding onto…
Romans 8:28
More Than Conquerors
28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose
An insight about promises… Holding onto them, especially when things seem real bad and couldn’t get worse, is not very popular! I can hear the naysayers now….”He’s trusting in God and look where its gotten Him!” “If that is what you get for being a Christian, man, I want nothing to do with it!” Remember Job’s friends? I think anytime someone goes through a prolonged refining period, your so called friends start to waiver and even fall away! Sad to say but I find it to be true. Everyone loves success and the general populace gravitates toward money and popularity. No one likes to be around a “loser”!
A TIME TO GIVE THANKS………
I am grateful to the Lord for much! Over the past 10 years, especially the last 6, the Lord has been so kind, merciful, compassionate and gracious to me and my family. He has truly blessed us so much as we have waded through the storms of life. He has never left me nor forsaken me, even in my darkest hours of doubt and hopelessness.
Note: Now I know He never changed in the other 4 years and His love and faithfulness were always with us. But when you are in a time of prolonged trials and then see His hand over and over again- It just stands out more! Is more evident to our humanness!
I would like to recognise some people who have been with me and stood by me whether they knew it or not!
My SC men’s group! My Band of Brothers! They have stood with me and loved on me these past 6 years! I love you guys! They were the ones to introduce me to the following person.
John Eldridge and Ransomed Heart Ministries. I have never met John but I feel like we are very close friends. His ministry and books have been such a blessing to me! Understanding that my heart is good and that when I live my life at the “heart level”, God can do great things in and through me! Because, the Spirit, the Wild Goose, operates and lives in the Heart!
My other friends… You know who you are! Thanks for standing with me!
Tenth Avenue North. Mike, you guys are awesome! Your way with words and themes through music have touched me deeply! I am eternally grateful to the Lord for you guys! When I heard that they were coming out with a sophomore project I thought, “they will have a hard time topping the first album!”. Funny thing is, they have gone to a whole new level with this new one! Guys, keep pressing into Jesus, then and only then can He do immeasurably more through you than you could ask or imagine! I believe that you and Ransomed Heart Ministries need to tour together! Your music and John’s message go together like peanut butter and jelly!
To my VA “family”. Thanks for putting up with me as I labored and “found” the path of the Wild Goose! You guys are great! Your zest for life is contagious! The love and laughter I experienced with you left a deep impression. One I will never forget.
To my kids! You guys are great! I love being your Dad! You have never complained through all we have gone through! I am so proud of you!
Lastly, to my Bride of 25 years! You are awesome! I thank God that He blessed me with you. You have stuck with me through it all! Thanks for all your patience and persevering love. Thank you for never complaining while I was working in VA! The way you worked full-time, held down the “fort” and managed to be a great soccer mom still amazes me!
I look forward to serving the Lord with you as we follow the Wild Goose together! He has awesome things in store for us!
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, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
SELAH
