The Mission is Too Great

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3

Father, as Deeper Still grows, we ask for unity in the teams.  We ask for the leaders of the teams and the team members to understand the power of unity and understand the importance of fighting to keep the unity of the Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Unity doesn’t just happen.  If it did, Paul wouldn’t have had to write Ephesians 4:1-3.  When he says, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace“, there is an understanding that acquiring and maintaining unity must be intentional. 

How many churches have split over minute issues?  How many divisions have there been in ministry over mishaps?  The power of unity is to be sought for and fought for. 

Earlier this year, I had a misunderstanding with a friend who served with me in another ministry and offense entered.  It wasn’t my intention to offend, but offense does not care if it was invited, it will just come and try to crash any Kingdom party. 

Knowing I had offended my friend, I asked for her forgiveness.  She admitted she had been offended and forgave me easily.  The Lord had already begun speaking to her about the offense and revealed to her I did not intend harm.  Prayer had been the catalyst to all this misunderstanding being resolved and all was well.  We were able to easily move forward in serving together with unity.  It was a beautiful resolution and we both grew in the process. 

Later on, another friend we served with in this ministry asked me about the situation and how we were able to resolve it so quickly and move forward.  I answered her, “The mission is too great.  The mission is greater than any small differences or misunderstandings.  We cannot afford to be offended and lose unity when there is a mission as great as the Kingdom of God.”  There were ladies who needed to be loved on.  They needed to hear about freedom in Christ.  Disunity would have hindered the work of the Lord and that just wasn’t acceptable. 

The mission is too great. 

What if we applied this mantra to other areas of our lives?  Our marriages?  Relationships with our children? Relationships with others in our church family?  The power of unity is vital.  There is no limit to what the Lord will do with a team that is unified.  Friends, the mission is too great.  Let’s endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

When the Rooster Crows

“Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He has said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.  So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:60b-62

Father, thank you that you are faithful even when we falter.  Thank you for your “wake up” calls as you look to us with compassion in your eyes and we realize how far we have fallen.  Thank you that even our deepest failures and regrets don’t disqualify us from ministry, but rather usher in an awareness of our humanity and dependence on you.  We are desperate for you. We need you.  Let your rooster crow in the Heavenlies and wake your people to your calling.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In the Chinese culture, this year is the “Year of the Rooster.”  For those of you who have been following us, you know we have a love for China and the Lord has been opening doors for China as well.  When I heard it was the “Year of the Rooster”, I decided to ask the Lord about the Rooster and if it signified anything.  Here is what I felt I heard in my spirit:

A rooster signals a wake-up call.  It is symbolic of a new day, a new morning, a sunrise (Sonrise) and with it light expanding across the horizons.  This year is a year of waking up, a new day, new beginnings, new hope. 

The Lord is calling forth His people--those who have been asleep to awake. 

When Peter denied the Lord three times, it was a rooster who "woke" him up to the truth. 

I immediately thought this was a word for China and still believe it is a word for China.  However, I also believe it is a word for all of us. 

Perhaps we don’t deny the Lord verbally, but in our actions or thinking--compromising what is true.  

We go from being on fire for the Lord willing to cut someone’s ear off to being wishy-washy in our convictions and justifying actions.   Then…a rooster crows.  The Holy Spirit is creative in getting our attention. 

This isn’t the post I thought I’d write today about the rooster.  I have many fun stories about roosters.  After the Lord gave me the word about the rooster being a wake-up call, He began showing off by showing me roosters nearly everywhere I went—for real.

This post could have been about how the Lord gives confirmation after confirmations when He is inclined to be sure you know you’ve heard from Him—this is true. 

Or about the waking up of a generation or culture to the reality of His truth and the hope of a new day.  I do believe the Lord is saying that as well.  Wake up.  It is a new day.  There is new hope! 

But this post is about our humanity and the Lord’s eagerness to forgive.  Our failures don’t disqualify us.  If you had an abortion, it doesn’t disqualify you.  If you compromised today and denied your Lord by a wrong choice that seems to pale in comparison to abortion (of course sin is sin in God’s eyes, only we quantify it)—there is forgiveness, hope and a new day. 

If your love has grown cold or life has beaten your faith to a pulp causing the sin of unbelief to fester and choke out your joy and passion, today may be a day to hear the rooster. 

Hear the rooster say it’s a new day, the sun (Son) is rising on the horizon.  Sorrow may have lasted for a night and that night season seemed long, but it is a new morning with the Light of the world shining bright crowing in a new hope.  This year is a year of waking up, a new day, new beginnings, new hope. 

The Lord is calling forth His people--those who have been asleep to awake.  It is time to awake to the truth.  It is time to hear the rooster.

Willows by the Watercourses {Repost}

“I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.”  Isaiah 44:3-4

Father, we ask for you to pour Your waters onto those who are thirsty and flood the dry ground of those with abortion wounded hearts.  Father, as You know, the Deeper Still Ministry is needed beyond our borders, in other states and nations.  Father, we ask for You to pour out Your Spirit on the chapters that are emerging and bless the offspring from Deeper Still.  Father, we pray for the chapters to spring up like willows by the watercourses, fully nourished and fruitful.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

New chapters of Deeper Still are in the birthing process and many more haven’t been conceived yet.  God knows when and where these chapters will spring up.  As these new chapters are being planted, they will need to be nurtured and watered with the Spirit of the Living God. 

In verse 3 above, God says He will pour water on Him who is thirsty and floods on the dry ground.  Water and floods are often used in Scripture to depict abundant blessings and are also used to denote the influence of the Holy Spirit (Bible Hub-Barnes Commentary). 

God is saying that He will pour out His Holy Spirit on those who are thirsty and bless them abundantly! Amen!

In verse 4, the He says, “They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.”

Willow trees in our western culture symbolize grief, such as in the weeping willow.  However, in the places where the willow originated (China), it symbolizes vitality and growth.  This symbolism comes from its ability to reproduce easily from cut branches. 

Interestingly enough, I found 5 more facts about willow trees that I thought mirrored perfectly the heart of Deeper Still as it is beginning new chapters. 

       1.  Willow trees not only sprout easily, they are fast growers. 

       2.   Willows have medicinal properties that alleviate pain and bring healing.

3     3.  Willows are used to build.

       4.  Willows need to have the proper soil and need an abundance of water (Holy Spirit).

       5.   Willows help prevent erosion. 

As Deeper Still grows and becomes all God has for it to be, may the new chapters grow in vitality, may the pain of the past be shed as hearts are healed, may the ruins of many desolations be rebuilt and restored, may the roots be ever in the right soil and watered abundantly, and may Deeper Still help prevent the erosion of our culture, our nation, and the world.  Amen!  

Preventive Measures

"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborer into His harvest.'" Matthew 9:36-38

Lord, we ask for the expansion of Deeper Still. Father, will you send forth the laborers into the field for Your harvest.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

I saw across the table from a friend explaining the ministry of Deeper Still.  She had never heard my story and tears welled up in her eyes as she listened intently realizing I had an abortion at age 19.

She immediately loved the ministry of Deeper Still and healing the abortion-wounded.  Being pro-life, she asked in an affirming and inquiring way, "Does this ministry do anything preventative about abortion?"

Pausing for just a moment, I directed her to one of our ministry partners, a local pro-life crisis pregnancy center, but then the Holy Spirit interrupted and I began to explain how this ministry is preventative.

"Society spews the lies that abortion is no big deal, it is just a procedure, it is just a blob of tissue, it is my body and I can do whatever I want with no consequences.  When these post- abortive men and women are truly free, they become an army of voices rising up for truth. And that is how Deeper Still is a preventative ministry."

We need women and men free to be a voice of truth, so they can then, in turn, go into the fields and become co-laborers for the harvest in the Kingdom of God.  We need this ministry in all states throughout the US and into the world for truth to arise and darkness to be dispelled.  Thank you praying and continuing to pray for the message of truth to spread throughout the globe.

God's Not Afraid of the Dark

“If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. “ Psalm 139:8

Lord, I pray the abortion wounded and participants of Deeper Still would receive this truth that you are with them and have never left.  And I pray those considering abortion this day to have a revelation of your presence and that you are a very present help in time of trouble.  Lord, you alone can rescue. We ask you to rescue.   Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Abortion is dark.   There is nothing about abortion that brings life and light.  Abortion brings death and darkness.  The Lord is light in the darkness.  God has never been afraid of the dark.  Jesus singlehandedly took on the greatest darkness and evil when He chose to take all our sin upon Himself, give His life for us, and go into the depths of hell to conquer sin and death for all eternity. 

Jesus wasn’t afraid to take death head on nearly 2000 years ago and He persists in pushing back the darkness.  The enemy laughed and thought he won the day Jesus hung on the cross.  However, he didn’t know the end of the story.  From the moment Jesus cried “It is finished”, the enemy’s laughter ceased.  In that moment, he was finished, death was defeated and the curse of sin conquered.

Every time the doors of an abortion clinic are opened, the enemy laughs, thinking he has won a battle.  He doesn’t realize there is more to the story. 

The Lord gave me a picture the other night during a worship service. ..

The room was dark and there was a shadow on a table.  It was me.  It was the day I had my abortion.  There were screams.  My mind was foggy and I wanted to escape.  I wanted to be rescued, but still I didn’t move.  It is all as if it was a bad nightmare from which I can never awake.  Then I saw the Lord.  He was there.  He was there with me that day in my hell.  Beside the cold sterile metal table, He knelt.  He cried.  He prayed. 

Perhaps you may not believe He was there with me that day.   “If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.” Ps 139: 8.  He was there.

What was he praying?  I believe He was praying for the end of my story.  See, the enemy isn’t able to see the end of the story, but the Lord can.  He knows the end of the story.

I wouldn’t allow the Lord to rescue me that day.  The hardness of my heart wouldn’t allow the Lord to penetrate at that time.  However, the Lord knew there would be a day when He would have my heart once more and I would be truly and fully His again.  He knew there would be a day when victory would be my shout and cry and the enemy’s laughter would cease.  The Lord knew what the enemy meant for evil, He would use for good, for the advancement of His Kingdom. 

The same is true for you.  The Lord was with you in your darkness, praying for you, loving you.  He knows the end of your story.

No, the Lord is not afraid of the dark.  He knows the end of the story and the victory is His.

The Harvest is Plenty

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9:36-37

Father, we see the multitudes.  You see the multitudes.  Lord, they are weary and scattered.  Father, we know the harvest is plentiful.  We know the need is great.  There are multitudes that have been wounded by abortion.  Father, we are asking for you to bring more laborers.  Father, we ask for you to expand Deeper Still to reach those that are weary and scattered.  Father, we ask for the provision needed and the laborers needed to answer the call for this High assignment of bringing in Your harvest.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

As we draw near to Thanksgiving, we may think of harvest.  But what exactly is a “harvest”?  Merriam-Webster defines “harvest” as: the season when crops are gathered from the field. 

We are in a season (and have been since the time Jesus was on earth in human form) of harvest.  All over the globe, men and women are hurting from the effects of an abortion.  Recently, a friend contacted me in Illinois who counsels college students.  She had just met with a young girl who had an abortion the week prior.  She was broken and devastated by her decision as the effects had already taken root.  

My friend asked if there were resources I knew of in her area to help this young broken girl.  I was able to point her to Deeper Still of Central Illinois, but the cry of the hurting extends beyond the resources presently available.  The expansion of Deeper Still and the healing ministries of abortion are desperately needed.  The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.

Unfortunately, we live in an age where abortion is an epidemic and we can only pray for numbers to decrease.  However, the numbers are there and what will our response be to the need for restoration, healing and freedom in these lives?  Would we abandon them?  Would Jesus?  Our culture seduces our young into believing premarital sex is normal, safe and good.  Premarital sex is not God’s normal and it is neither safe nor good.  It is not God’s best for our children or us.  It is a lie and it is dangerous.  Our children are lied to by the very ones who should be leading them into a secure and healthy adulthood.  They are deceived and then deceived once again into believing, “Abortion is no big deal.”  Oh my friends, abortion is a big deal indeed.  The long term effects for the abortion-wounded are devastating outside of the healing blood of Jesus Christ. 

Friends, the time is drawing near.  Jesus is coming.  The Bridegroom is returning for His bride.  He is coming for a bride holy and without blemish (Eph 5:27) by the washing of water by the Word.  Those with wounded hearts need to hear the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They need His healing power in their lives and to know even though their sins were as scarlet, He has made them white as snow.  The Lord is returning for a glorious church, and our sweet brothers and sisters need to find healing and freedom and glory that only comes through the blood of Jesus Christ.  We need them as fellow laborers to then go into the field themselves as laborers of the harvest.  We need them.  We need you.  Will you please pray?  The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 

 

Our Fundraising Banquet is scheduled for March 8, 2016.  Would you prayerfully consider hosting a table?  If you would like more information on how you can be involved, come or donate to Deeper Still, please contact jacque.murphy@godeeperstill.org

Prayer for Healing the Land

“Ask of me and I will give the nations to you, the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.”   Psalm 2: 8

Father, the blood of the nations cry out from the ground.  The ground longs for healing.  Lord, we ask for you to give us the nations.  You ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  We reply, “Lord, here we are, send us.”  We ask for you to heal the abortion wounded hearts of the nations.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground.”  Genesis 4:10

Not one drop of blood goes unnoticed by our God. The voice of the unborn cries out from the ground.  However, there is One whose Blood covers and heals the ground tainted by sin and death. 

A friend and fellow Deeper Still Team Member recently went to the site where death’s stench had grasped her long ago.  She is now free and went to the land where innocent blood was shed to pray healing over the land.  I saw a mental picture of the spiritual impact that was occurring as she prayed to heal the land. 

She knelt on the ground where death had once won the victory.  As she began to pray and weep, the tears that fell from her face penetrated the ground.  Once the tears pierced through the ground, the tears mixed with prayers became the Blood of Jesus.  The Blood of Jesus then began to cleanse the land and His Blood covered the blood shed of the innocent.  The Blood of the One pierced for our transgressions, pierced the darkness and light began to shine forth in the land.  Then, it spread.  The healing Blood of Jesus began to expand and move from city to city, state to state, and nation to nation.  It moved across seas until it covered the entire globe, healing all it touched.

This is the vision of Deeper Still.  This is the vision that encompasses “Until all are healed.”  The healing Blood of Jesus nullifies and cancels the debts of death we could never pay.  It cleanses and restores us completely, conquers sin, and reclaims the victory in Jesus Christ. 

An Exceedingly Great Army

“’Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesized as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Ezekiel 37:9-10

Father,  as we are drawing near to the Deeper Still Training, we ask for You to bring Your chosen from the four corners of the earth and breathe Your breath of life upon them.  Breathe Your life into the dry and desolate lands scorched from bloodshed.  Bring forth new life and may those coming go and breathe Your life into others and may there be an exceedingly great army come out of this training. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In Ezekial 37, Ezekial was brought to a valley full of bones.  He was confronted with death and asked a question posed by God, “Can these bones live?” 

As a nation, we have been confronted with death.  The videos released exposing the horrific scenes from Planned Parenthood were shocking and a visual reminder of the stark reality of the monstrosity of abortion. 

An alarm has sounded. 

And the answer to the questions still rings…”Can these bones live?”

The answer is a resounding YES.

Jesus is still in the resurrection business.  Always has been and always will be. 

Every time we speak out for truth.  Every time we pray.  Every time we fight for the lives of these innocent ones.  Every time we share our redemption story.   In all of this-- life is breathed and life is given.

Ezekial was told to say to the bones, “Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ’Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.  I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live.’”  (Ezekial 37:5-6)

We are the flesh God has put on the bones.  He is breathing life into us and calling us to go forth and become an exceedingly great army.  We have been confronted with death and it is time for us to decide how we will respond.  Will we just sit back and do nothing and lay still like the dry bones in the valley? Or will we allow the Lord to breathe life into us, stand up, and say yes to His assignment?

One thing is for certain, we can no longer stay stagnant in denial.  

The Deeper Still Team in having training next weekend, August 21-22  in Knoxville, TN.  If you just want to learn more about the abortion wounded or how to minister to the abortion wounded, then this training is for you.  If you want to start a Deeper Still Chapter or are interested in starting a chapter, this training is for you also!  Men and women!  We need you both!  There are already about 90 people registered from 12 different states and 2 countries. 

There is an exceedingly great army God is calling forth!  He is waking up His people to spread His message of truth and resurrection life!  Come be a part of what He is doing!  If you don’t feel called to come, will you join us in the fight by praying?  We need prayer warriors in this army! 

Arise. Run. Marvel

“But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” Luke 24:12

Oh sweet Heavenly Father, how we thank you for the empty tomb!  How we thank you for the resurrection life of Jesus Christ and the new life we have because He lives!  Thank you for the Cross and the new life we have because of the death and resurrection of our Savior King Jesus.  We marvel at what You have done for us.  We pray that participants of Deeper Still would arise and run to Jesus as Peter did.  I pray then they would stoop down and see the resurrection power and marvel at what has happened.  Amen. 

In reviewing the resurrection of Jesus, my attention was drawn to the grave clothes.  In Luke 24, it says the grave clothes were lying there by themselves.  In the gospel of John, it gives a little more detail and says that the grave clothes were lying there, but the handkerchief that had been around His head was folded off to the side by itself. 

I began thinking about these grave clothes lying there and thought of Lazarus.  In John Chapter 11, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, but when he was raised from the dead, his grave clothes were still tightly wrapped on him.  He needed help to be unwrapped, loosed, and set free.

 

“And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:44

In contrasting these two resurrections, the grave clothes kept coming to my mind.  I don’t think it is an accident in scripture that they are different.  Jesus could have removed the grave clothes from Lazarus miraculously.  After all, he did raise him from the dead.  I think He could certainly untie a bandage.  So, why didn’t He?  Perhaps it was for this very contrast.  Perhaps not, but it is an interesting point to consider.

 

Death can come in many forms.  Every day people who are very much alive choose decisions that lead to a death in their lives.  Abortion does lead to an actual death of a person.  There is no denying that death is real in abortion.  However, there is a spiritual and emotional death in the person who has the abortion as well. 

Our Jesus is the giver of life.  His death was to pay the penalty for all our sins.  He died to give us new life.  And He died not only to forgive us of our sins, but also so we could be free of our grave clothes.

Lazarus experienced a death in his life.   Jesus gave him life.  However, the grave clothes were still on him.  Jesus called others to gather around him to help him get free. 

Jesus’ grave clothes just fell off of Him!  The grave clothes couldn’t stay on Him.  The grave clothes couldn’t hold Him.  That is the resurrection power of Jesus!  It not only brings life, it also removes all signs of death!  It removes all the bondages of death and brings freedom. 

   

I believe these two examples mirror what the Deeper Still team does.  Deeper Still comes alongside those who are still wearing their grave clothes and helps them get loosed and free!

More importantly, Deeper Still provides an environment for an encounter with the living God.  And when those grave clothes are hit with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, Lord Almighty, the grave clothes just start falling off!!  That is what is so exciting to see!

 

The grave clothes fall to the ground.  We see the grave clothes lying there.  And like Peter, we marvel at what has happened--the resurrection power of Jesus.  Oh Lord, we marvel at Your love and glory. 

  

Only Ask {And Praying for Bolivia Trip!}

“Only ask, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.”  Psalm 2: 8

Father, You said, “Only Ask.”  Lord, we ask for You to send Deeper Still to all the nations.  We ask for the healing message of Your Gospel to go forth through Deeper Still to all the ends of the earth.  We ask for the truth of abortion to be known and for the abortion wounded to be freed.  We ask for You to give us the nations for Your inheritance.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

I opened my email.  In my inbox that day was an email from a lady in South America.  She was desperate.  Her heart was broken over having an abortion.  She had read my other blog, Living Free in Him, and had read my story and about Deeper Still.  She pleaded through her words for help.  She asked if there was a Deeper Still where she lived in Guyana, South America.  I sadly had to tell her there was not. The closest involvement of Deeper Still was in Ecaudor, 2200 miles away.  Same continent, but not exactly next door. 

My heart was broken for her.  All I could do was encourage her, share the truth of God’s love and grace, and pray.   

One thing Deeper Still has been praying for years is to expand to reach more people like her, desperate for healing. 

Well, this coming week, Karen Ellison (the founder of Deeper Still), Carla Martin and Sharon Kinder are all heading out on the first international Deeper Still Mission trip with Life International.  To say we are excited, is quite an understatement!  They are traveling to Bolivia, which is also in South America! 

We have asked the Lord to expand Deeper Still to the North, South, East and West to reach the abortion wounded, and to see this prayer beginning to be answered is exciting! 

The great commission is to go into all the world and preach the Good News (Mark 16:15).  Deeper Still started with going into its community, which is part of all of the world, and it is so amazing to see how God is expanding its borders into more of the world.   My prayer is that someday when we get an email from a lady desperate for healing, whether in Guyana or Uganda, Deeper Still will be there to bring the message of Good News. 

Please join us in praying for Karen, Carla, and Sharon as they travel to Bolivia to share the Good News of healing and freedom with Life International. 

  

Jesus Take the Helm

“And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch...And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.”  Luke 5:4,6

Dear Lord,  As the Deeper Still leadership seeks you for your plan for them for 2015 and beyond, will you show them where to cast their nets?  We thank you that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in you Jesus Christ.  We're asking that you reveal to Deeper Still those treasures of wisdom, strategy and power so that they can be fishers of men; bringing the good news of salvation, healing and deliverance from abortion wounded hearts.  Amen!

Deep water has always caused me hesitation.  Whenever I go to the beach, I tend to stay where my feet can touch and where I can see what lies below the surface of the waves.  When I can see, then I know where to step.  It takes faith and courage to go out to the deep. 

A few years ago, my husband and I went to Key West for vacation.  While we were visiting, we went on an excursion out into the middle of the ocean, to the deep.  The captain of the ship knew where he was going and had taken multitudes of tourists to this familiar destination.  He knew where it was safe to go.  He knew the route.  He knew what lie beneath the surface of the deep. 

He led us to a reef full of beautiful fish.

Because I had confidence that our captain would not lead us into unsafe territory, I had no fear when diving into the deep to snorkel.  The beauty of the reef was the focus of my attention rather than fear.

Peace covered any hints of paranoia.  At one point a barracuda was only about 4 feet away from us!  However, even in the midst of lurking peril, I felt peace. 

  

We can be confident that our Captain will lead us safely to our destination.  He knows the deep.  He sees below the surface.   Our Captain knows where the dangers are and He knows how to maneuver us to the areas of beautiful reefs.  And yes, there may be many pointy teeth within feet of us.  But when we rest in His guidance and care, peace can prevail even in potential dangers.

When Peter went out into the deep, it was on faith.  He was the captain of his fishing vessel.  It did not make sense to Peter to go back out after fishing all night and catching nothing.  He had already been out there. However, he couldn’t see what Jesus saw.  Jesus saw below the surface. Jesus saw the fish.

   

But Peter said, “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down my net.”

Peter had faith to go even when he couldn’t see into the deep.  Peter was willing to relinquish his captainship to a Higher Captain.

We have a Captain who leads us safely through the waves to a predetermined location full of beautiful fish.  All we have to do is let down our nets and get ready for a catch. 

Jesus, take the Helm. 

Perseverance

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 

Father, we pray for faith to rise up in the hearts of the leaders in the new and budding chapters of Deeper Still.  We pray You would give them the strength and increase their faith to persevere to finish the good work you have called them to do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are probably familiar with the story of the 12 spies who went into the promised land to size up the land and report back to Moses (Numbers 13:2-14:10).

And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out saying,  “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.  There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight; and so we were in their sight.”  Numbers 13:32-33

I was listening to a Pastor recently who pointed out that Moses never asked the spies to size up themselves.  He only asked them to size up the land. 

When we begin sizing up ourselves against what God has called us to do, we will always size up ourselves on the measuring stick of doubt. 

God doesn’t ask us to measure ourselves. God sizes Himself up and He never comes up short.

What happens when we size up ourselves is that we size up the situation according to our weaknesses instead of focusing on the GREATNESS of our GOD. 

This faulty focus is where the ten spies failed.  Only two spies came back with a good report, Joshua and Caleb.

Caleb said, “ Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30

Joshua said, “…And the Lord is with us.  Do not fear them.”

Sadly, as we  know, the Israelites didn’t listen to Caleb and Joshua.  Instead, they shrunk back in fear and never entered the land God intended for them to enter and conquer. 

God said, “BUT, My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him, and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land where he went and his descendants shall inherit it.” Numbers 14:24 

Caleb and Joshua had a different spirit…a spirit of faith instead of fear. 

Caleb and Joshua persevered in their faith and the Lord gave Joshua the honor of leading God’s people into the promised land.   There were still giants to face.  The obstacles were still the same.  However, Joshua’s faith lent him the accurate perspective that God was bigger than any  obstacle. 

Joshua persevered in his faith, and won the battle.   However, the battle was never Joshua’s and he knew that truth.  That truth was how he had the faith to enter the land in the first place.  The battle was always the Lord’s.  And we all know how that story ends.  It ends in victory. 

Our story ends in victory also.  Whatever giants may be in the land, whatever battle you may be facing, God already has the story written and He never writes a bad ending.  “Go up at once and overtake the land, for [you] are well able to overcome!”  

Willows by the Watercourse

“I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.”  Isaiah 44:3-4

Father, we ask for you to pour Your waters onto those who are thirsty and flood the dry ground of those with abortion wounded hearts.  Father, as You know, the Deeper Still Ministry is needed beyond our borders, in other states and nations.  Father, we ask for You to pour out Your Spirit on the chapters that are emerging and bless the offspring from Deeper Still.  Father, we pray for the chapters to spring up like willows by the watercourses, fully nourished and fruitful.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

New chapters of Deeper Still are in the birthing process and many more haven’t been conceived yet.  God knows when and where these chapters will spring up.  As these new chapters are being planted, they will need to be nurtured and watered with the Spirit of the Living God. 

In verse 3 above, God says He will pour water on Him who is thirsty and floods on the dry ground.  Water and floods are often used in Scripture to depict abundant blessings and are also used to denote the influence of the Holy Spirit (Bible Hub-Barnes Commentary). 

God is saying that He will pour out His Holy Spirit on those who are thirsty and bless them abundantly! Amen!

 

In verse 4, the He says, “They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.”

Willow trees in our western culture symbolize grief, such as in the weeping willow.  However, in the places where the willow originated (China), it symbolizes vitality and growth.  This symbolism comes from its ability to reproduce easily from cut branches. 

Interestingly enough, I found 5 more facts about willow trees that I thought mirrored perfectly the heart of Deeper Still as it is beginning new chapters. 

       1.  Willow trees not only sprout easily, they are fast growers. 

       2.   Willows have medicinal properties that alleviate pain and bring healing.

3     3.  Willows are used to build.

       4.  Willows need to have the proper soil and need an abundance of water (Holy Spirit).

       5.   Willows help prevent erosion. 

As Deeper Still grows and becomes all God has for it to be, may the new chapters grow in vitality, may the pain of the past be shed as hearts are healed, may the ruins of many desolations be rebuilt and restored, may the roots be ever in the right soil and watered abundantly, and may Deeper Still help prevent the erosion of our culture, our nation, and the world.  Amen!