Where Is The King?

Where is the King? Where is the King?
All eyes on the throne
yet where is the King?
Isn't this where He ought to be sitting?
Observing His Kingdom
His face, strong, stoic and statuesque
A testament to holy silence
Enthroned in heaven upon glory, eternally vibrant
Where then is the King?
heavens throne abandoned
How can this be?

Don't be afraid
O eyes do you see?
Behold the King walks
He walks among the living
Ruler of all, his residence among the
Unseen, unheard and unknown
No crown, no scepter, only royal humility

Feet muddied by desert clay, knee deep in poverty
The same knees bent to reach the oppressed
The broken, sick and abused
To His right and His left
Gentle hands outstretched
Near to the brokenhearted and grieving
Behold, Our King, the Lord, with them He is weeping
Divine tears mingled in the dust of human pain
Eye to eye with the lame, perfection close enough to the guilty, daring to be stained
Majesty meeting men in the midst of their shame

Our King stirred by compassion, Love led Him to action
The Most High swept low
What no mind could imagine
A kingdom brought to life by death
!For the King rose, freeing Grace to ascend
His reign established by what He gave not by what He took
It was Love's pain that unlocked Heaven's gates
Open to all, The Kingdom awaits

For He is infinitely more connected to you
than He is to His crown
And should your voice cry out,
to his throne He's not bound
Surely He shall come, should His children cry out

God close the distance, extinguish the dark
come near o King of Kings,
Come near to our hearts

God close the distance, extinguish the dark
Come near o King of Kings
Be King of our Hearts!

Fear! Really?

As I was reading Hebrews 4:1, it seemed to jump off of the page at me; “Let us fear lest you miss the promise that comes from entering His rest, and you come up short of entering it.”  “Let us fear?” Doesn’t  God say, “Fear Not, be not dismayed, for I with you!” and, “we have not been given a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind!” but this text says, “Let us fear!”  The Message Bible says, this resting in Him pulls us on to His goal for us, so we should fear that we are disqualified or miss out.

This is not a contradiction but a collaboration of truth.  Which means….there are things you are not to be afraid of.,… “don’t be afraid of their faces, I will make your face like flint!  Stand Up against them!  But there other things that we should Fear!

So what should we fear?  My first thought was, death.  But I’m not afraid of death as long as I live first.  What I’m afraid of is if I live without living!  The worst thing would be to live and die like the Children of Israel in the wilderness, and not go in and possess the promised land. 

Carol and I see so many people living life with uncertainty, no purpose, not sure, would have done it different, could have had it, afraid of success or just not even trying!

I know we all grow up hearing, Don’t run up there!  Don’t touch that!  Don’t do that, you’ll fall!  But….to live and die and not know your purpose?  Settle for mediocrity?  Settle for less because you are more afraid of your opposition than the One who empowers you to be Amazing!

So what I believe the writer in Hebrews is saying, you need to fear living life by just existing.  I can’t imagine any of you living and dying without fulfilling all you were created to be! 

Think about this question: What leaves people stuck in a place where they never touch what they were called to do or be?  Is it intimidation?  I don’t thing so!  I believe it’s refusing to dare to live life fully alive.  It’s failing to get up everyday ready to fight against the fear of falling short of your greatness, or settling for less!

Faith is not only a noun but a verb!  You must work it!  When will you say things like; Enough is Enough?  I’ve lost enough stuff?  Nothing and No one will steal away my marriage?  I will not give up on my children?  I will do whatever it takes to land that new job?  I refuse to be a Passive Christian!  Enough is Enough!

I love Blind Bartameus, yelling, and with everyone around him telling him to be quiet, but No!  He keeps yelling for Jesus to Help him!  Faith is not passive, but aggressively at work yelling, “See Me Jesus?”  You don’t’ need to show Him that you’re cute, but that you are a mess.  “See what I lost while I was trying to get to You?  See Me Lord?”  I love the fact that Jesus noticed and gave him what he desired.

Don’t be afraid to yell, scream and chase Jesus to get a Miracle!  It’s no wonder God says, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!”  Part of this happens because we fear doing nothing and letting life kill us.  We must rise up and take back everything that has been stolen!  Reverse every curse that has been placed upon us.  Defeat and destroy everything that was meant to take us down! 

Later in Hebrews it says to be diligent to press into that place of rest and promise.  That’s what God wants for us as His children; let’s get aggressive and go after it in the Name above all names, Jesus!  

Push to Win or Walk Away

Push to Win or Walk Away

Last summer I was captured by so many magic moments at the US Open.  There were so many moments over it’s two week period that I watched the body language of so many of the players who were on the verge of defeat, go deep to some inner mental battle to either press on to win or walk away.   This inner conversation with self, “Do I press beyond the ceiling of pain, refusing to quit or give up, and go to the next level, or just accept this is my best and walk away?

The power of the mind is only recently more fully understood through medical and scientific research and discovery.  They have found that thinking is much more important then previously thought.  The Bible says, “As we think, so are we!” 

I followed Djokovic more than usual, not only in his championship match with Roger Federer, but the matches leading up to achieving number one.  Not one of his last matches were easy.  He could have lost four or five times, but instead he reached down deep into the mystical reservoir within and made a decision to push into that inspiring miraculous supernatural place.  That place where you draw the strength needed to push forward and own the win.  But it started in his thinking.

Dr. Leaf says it’s only a myth that genes shapes us.  Scientifically it has recently been proven that thoughts shape our genes and cause them to do what they do.  In other words, we are not at the mercy of our genes, but our thoughts.

I believe there is another ingredient that is even more important.  It is faith.  Many times in my life, thoughts alone have come up short, but when I exercised my faith to invade my thinking, a normal moment turned into a miraculous memorable event. 

Faith is God’s gift to us.  I value that gift because to follow Jesus, takes fait to tap that arena where dreams are reached.  The benefit of trusting and exercising our faith, moves us into this reservoir of provision to see an overwhelming impossible situation transformed into a stepping stone into a future filled with hope.  Jesus told us why He came!  He said, I came that you might live life abundantly and fully alive and accomplish the impossible.

Faith mixed with our thinking is powerful.  Love Sting’s words; “You may say I lost my faith in the Holy Church.  You may say I lost my direction.  But if I ever lost my faith in You, there’d be nothing left for me to do……Lord, help me not to loose my faith in You!”

Jesus gave up His life so we could have ours back.  He died like us so we could live like Him.

Have you lost hope, lost direction, lost trust?  Feel angry, out of energy, stress has pushed you to make a decision to walk away?   Go to that deep place and gather your thinking power, and believe that Jesus will join you, and push on to a win! 

Decide to take responsibility, evaluate your performance, and assess why you are failing.  Affirm the truth, embrace it, think on it, allow these thoughts to shape you, and believe and determine you were created to be a winner.

Blessings Upon You,

Dr. Paul Morgan

Next blog I will catch you up on what Carol and I are presently doing to build up people and the Kingdom.

Is there Purpose in Chaos?

My experience in giving my life fully to Jesus as Savior and Lord, and Ruler of my destiny has been quite an adventure.  Learning to follow the leading of the Spirit, as hard as that is to understand, has opened a world I had no idea existed, shattering my small world view.  

Following Jesus definitely leads to a life of caring for and serving people which often ends up in misunderstanding, jealousy and stressful chaos.  The surprising discovery is realizing it’s all a set up for the supernatural to operate in full swing destroying all logic and reason.

In reading Acts 3:1-16 this morning, the story of two disciples set out to be light and salt, having been trained by Jesus, are on their own because He is physically gone.  This leads to a whole new paradigm.

Here’s the chaos of this story.  First, the religious leaders who killed Jesus, are sewing up the veil, reestablishing the institution, preparing themselves to defeat and destroy this rag tag bunch of men and women ecstatic about this supernatural Good News.  Secondly Peter and John are on their way to the temple to promote this Good News.  Thirdly, there is a lame man, crippled from birth carried by his friends to the Gate called Beautiful.

The leaders of the Temple are ready to protect and defend a Dead Institutional Machine; Peter and John are coming to prove Jesus is alive and well; while the lame man is there because he possesses the best place in town to get hand outs.

Reality hits the fan in this situation through Peter’s words to the beggar, “I don’t have a nickel to my name!” 

Now a fourth party steps into the story.  Peter says, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, get up and walk!”  The man’s body snaps into wholeness, and he begins to dance all the way into the temple in the midst of overwhelming chaos.  It’s a set up!  These temple leaders have resisted Jesus a long time.  This lame man didn’t even ask to be healed.  He is accustomed to his situation and found a place to capitalize on his handicap.  Peter and John are on their way in faith, without Jesus’ physical presence for the first time wondering if their mantel as Jesus’ representatives really works.  It’s a Set Up!  God has orchestrated this whole chaotic moment in the midst of insecurity, desperation, manipulation, strong arm politics and loving redemption.  That combination spells Chaos!

Do you presently find yourself in a situation that has some form of chaos?  Has it forced you to step out in faith only to realize you are being shaped by a loving Father for a new arena of existence to trust the Holy Spirit to empower, provide, guide and turn your chaos into dancing?  We all have pain, unmet expectations and disappointments from the chaos that crowds into our lives, but is it possible that you are faced with an opportunity to not only step into the supernatural but be a huge part of change to the world in which you live?  

I encourage you today to not only remember that things turn out good in the end, but right now Jesus intends to be glorified in your situation!  Take advantage of the present opportunity!  Worship through the chaos!  Worship connects your heart and mind to be overtaken by His presence, wisdom and the miraculous.  In faith, turn on some music!  Worship the One you are trusting to cause your chaos to become the place of unleashed supernatural astonishment.  It’s a set up for you because you are so deeply loved. 

Can’t wait to hear about your dancing within the ultimate story you have been invited into!

Bless you, Paul

Christmas is that bright time of the year we slow down and take in the glory of God loving us so completely that He sent His Son to change the course of our pointless lives.  Carol and I have had a year of surprises, opportunities out of no where, miracles beyond explanation, just around the corner was waiting an opportunity to experience the fulfillment of giving, loving and caring for precious leaders.

It has been a year of watching our children flourish, be blessed, impact their world with the Good News of hope, courage and empowerment.  They make us not only proud but cause us to rejoice in the Lord that uses our family in such mighty ways.  Our grandchildren are growing physically, spiritually with a passion to become world changers.  And of course Matthew and Sasha gave us our sixth grandchild.  Evangeline Grace McKinney.  She so beautiful and lovely.  Another note, Brock has spoken for years at Youth Specialties, and this year for the first time on Main Stage.  We always knew he was destined to speak into the lives of Youth Workers all over the World on how to impact this difficult culture with success.  Vangi is cancer free, while her and Jason’s church is growing so rapidly that whole city of Sandy has taken notice.  A year of surprises, wonder, caught off guard, a basket full of Suddenlys.

It makes us think of the shepherds outside Bethlehem caring for their sheep when suddenly an Angel shows up in their ordinary lives and says, “Don’t be afraid, I have good news for you.  Today in Bethlehem a Savor is born.  You’ll find him lying in a manger.”  Many Angels appeared singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and Peace to everyone on earth.”

God is the Master of Suddenly!  Remember in Acts 2 with one hundred and twenty bewildered people feeling they are drowning in wonder, fear and doubt, and Suddenly the Holy Spirit fell upon them.

Put yourself in Moses’ position.  He has been thrown out of a future he thought was secure, and dumped into a desert forced into survival.  Imagine the mind games that plagued him!  Where is your God now?  I thought there was a king inside of you!  All of these years have been wasted and now you are left out in this desert to waste away with sheep.  When Suddenly God showed up in a bush.  Take off your shoes, you are standing on holy ground!  Have you thought why the ground was holy?  It was because God was there!

God is the Master of Suddenly, when all of a sudden your life takes a turn.  Suddenly one phone call.  Out of no where a meeting.  Unexpected job advancement.  One person, one time, one day and your life changes.

God has you on the verge of something great.  Your present situation is a set up!  It’s time to take the next step into your future and destiny.  Whether educated or not, sometime we find ourselves in a place where you never quite fit in.  But this is part of God’s plan.  He never intended for you to fit in.  It was investment to give you the frame of reference needed for the promised land.  If you fit in, you would have built a house and become stuck.

The Bible says, “the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord!”  Take another step.  God’s bringing you a Suddenly!  God is not finished with you, take another step!  There’s nothing you have been through that will be wasted!

I pray for this Christmas to slow you down long enough to realize you are standing on Holy Ground. God is with you to lead you forward, bless and prosper you, and cause your life to become a light for others to follow.

Have you noticed that there are always things that come set to take us out?  It’s usually from things we can’t normally see like our mind or emotions or even our attitude.  Many times our past is used to choke us to death.  The crazy thing is the battle seems to always push us into another realm.  I believe the enemy plants cells down inside of us from years ago just waiting to be activated.  I’ve seen people who have never thought of divorce, suddenly possessed with it.

 

So many times spiritual attack is designed to move you into loneliness forcing you into a private battle that you can’t normally talk about.  This inner self conversation doesn’t usually say, “I can’t go to work today!” but “I’m tired of being me!” 

 

I was recently thinking, how could a man be a good man yesterday, and today kill his family?  What kind of threats could possibly come into the mind to steal that much peace leaving a person that dangerous?  I heard a pastor tell me this week, “I lay down but can’t  get any rest, and get up and feeling beat!”  Why?  Attack!

 

Paul’s first instruction in Eph. 6 is, “Put on the whole armor of God….put on the helmet of Salvation!”  Regardless of who we are, we all need to have a safe place to think from.  We must cover our heads with the equipment God has provided for us to be creative, and think thoughts of Who We Are, not Who We Were!

 

The storms of life have pushed us to a new level where what used to satisfy, no longer works.  When you think about it, we are being given elevated thinking.  And it’s because we are Eagles!  We have been designed to get above the storm; and not fall into the norm where others sink.  Yes!  We put on the that Helmet, and begin thinking clearly; thinking about things above not the economic crisis that presents itself constantly.

 

Eph, 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ….”  God says, I set up an account with your name on it, and I’m now tapping it to bless your spirit, so you don’t have to lean on your flesh, but prosper from this new place; your spirit.  So we must tap this hidden treasure and speak out what God has placed there.  Things of God starts in your spirit!  You can’t be a great person unless first of all, greatness has been placed in your spirit.  Awakening begins in your spirit.  That’s why Paul prayed in verse 18, “I pray that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened!”  You are dedicated to His purpose and He will provide, prosper, encourage, create, do the impossible, send people, money and resources!  Why?  It’s a plan that He has already established and waking us up to it!

 

Saul was a Greater Man in the eyes of men than David.  But David was a spiritual Man!  God kept him, provided for him, because He planted His heart inside of him.  That’s why we pray; “God give birth today what You want me to say and do!”

 

I’m learning to get rid of my agenda because I want to be consumed with God’s unfolding of my future filled with hope!  God’s purpose was that He begot you!  There will never be another you!  Nobody has your finger prints.  You are one of a kind!  Anything that attempts to altar that is a Stronghold!  Pull it Down!!

Mission

Mission – Team of people who live by faith, known for their love, and a voice of hope to the city to save the culture.

• Are we bringing churches together to create culture for the community?
• Are we healthy?
• Are we an example of the Gospel of Christ?
• Are we secure enough to drop our titles and denominational names and become the face of Jesus to the community?
• How long are we willing to build relationships with city leaders, school boards, mayor, government, administrators?
• How do we define Evangelism?  Is it the number of people saved each weekend, or long term relationships that people find Christ slowly through the example and friendship of people who have committed and sacrificed their lives together?

Picture of God Himself

God is incredibly patient.  He understands everything in your heart.  He knows why you do what you do, and He is never surprised or caught off guard.  God is kind, and He wants you to feel His touch in your heart, that heart He created to long for Him, for love.

God never envies anyone or anything. He never desires to take for Himself what others have.  Instead, He longs to give away all He has, and He’s never tempted to take things back because He didn’t get enough attention.  God doesn’t boast about the highest truths about Himself; He willingly lowers Himself even lower than you just to lift you up.  God is not proud, holding to His perfection and reminding us He doesn’t need anyone.  He desires a relationship with you and me, and He continually makes Himself vulnerable just to make that possible.

God is never rude.  He doesn’t leave anything unfinished or unspoken.  He is incapable of giving anyone “the silent treatment” or playing hide-and-seek when they’re earnestly seeking Him.  He makes everything about Himself known and has no desire to keep anything hidden from you.

God cannot be self-seeking.  He is gratified and fulfilled when you are praised and honored.  His eyes are always seeking the best for you, and He’s never worried about what He gets in return.  He isn’t provoked easily or ever angered beyond His desire for complete love.  He’s not “high maintenance,” and He never wants you to walk in fear of offending or hurting Him.  He keeps no record of the wrong things you’ve done because He refuses to call you by the name of your past.  He doesn’t hold anything over your head, but continuously wipes your record clean so that He can clearly focus on your heart. 

God doesn’t delight in evil, and He’s never tempted to follow lies and fantasies.  He doesn’t desire romantic notions, just the real you.  He can’t countenance anything that would benefit His kingdom at your expense.  He rejoices in the truth about you because He sees who you truly are and it’s beyond wonderful to Him.  God always protects you from caving in to pressure, despair, or anguish.  If you’ll simply ask Him, He will always provide the strength needed to hold you up through the storms of life and carry you in His own strong arms to your intended purpose as His favorite, irreplaceable child.

God always  trusts you, with His heart doors open at all times, without exception.  He always hopes in you because He knows the endless truth of your never-ending story.  God always perseveres, proving He is who He claims to be.  He stands through the storm and walks through the fire simply to express His love for you.  He will never fail you, never fall short, never fall out of love, because He’s made of love, the very source of it all.

Love is why He sees everything inside you and knows every emotion, thought, and feeling.  Love is why He soaks through every outward thing that stands in the way to saturate your spirit, soul, and heart with the knowledge of blissful eternity with Him.  Love is why there’s no place, no person, and no created thing that can be separate from Him.                                                  Hufford

Passion

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is David.  I love his tenacity!  His attitude ran through his whole life forming his heart and life decisions, both good and bad.  Can you hear him?  “I will fight a giant with a rag and rock if I know God’s on my side!”  I’ve met people like this being willing to shine shoes, mow lawns if they know God is on their side.  It is this selfless life of living not for themselves, but fully for God, always asking, “Should I go up, down, out, be still or speak?”

David is a man of passion!  Whatever he did, he is passionate about it.  If he sang, he sang with passion.  If he fought, he fought with passion!  He not only played instruments, but made them.  Wrote poetry while sitting in a tree.  You’d think he would be soft if you didn’t read the rest of the story.  The one who was soft enough to write and sing, cut off the foreskins of a hundred Philistines and threw them at the foot of the king.  So passion can go both ways.

Passionate people can walk into an empty room and see it filled.  They can take a nothing job and turn it into something.  They can take a blank piece of paper and create it into a placemat covered with a dream inspired by something bigger than themselves.

You’d think with David’s track record with the Philistines would cause them to never think about fighting him!  Can you hear David saying, “You picked the wrong person to fight!”  Ever meet a person who punches you and says sorry?  That’s David!  I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened, didn’t mean to cuss you out, and then calls out to Jesus!

Saul hired David to fight, so he takes a bunch of rejects and makes them into a mighty army.  But the first thing he does is drop to his knees.  He refuses to go forward on his own strength or ideas, but humbly asks God, “Should I go up?  Do You want me to whip them?”  The reason why; he associates success with prayer.  Not power, numbers, anger talent, ability or force.  Not influence, money or recognition but prayer!

That’s why I love David so much.  He’s not just a hot head but a tender warrior with heart.  His thoughts are; I don’t want to engage the enemy without God!  I want to be sure God is on my side.  Because if He is on my side, I don’t care how big the enemy’s army is, how tired I am, or the obstacles I am up against!  If I know He is on my side both to do and to will according to His own good pleasure, I will run anywhere and fight anyone even if it’s all alone!

My wife has this heart!  She will take anyone, even if they are a heroin addict, but only if she knows God is on her side.  She always goes the extra mile after asking God, “Should I go?” and waits for his answer.  Could it be passion?

Something is about to happen in all of our lives!  When it happens, we must go, but first we must stop, knee down and ask, “Should we go up?”  And then do it God’s way!  It’s the only way to victory!

So God says to David, “Go up and I will deliver your enemy into your hands!”  David goes up and defeats his enemy, but as he does it, they hear him chanting, “The Lord has delivered you into my hands!  I rejoice and celebrate His Holy Name!”  It’s one thing to realize you are being defeated, but another to hear your enemy taunting you with praises to God!

So don’t ever fight the enemy with your mouth closed!  Give the Lord your praise!  Give Him the glory!  Give Him the credit and lift Him up while you defeat the enemy!

The secret: Wait on the Lord.  Ask Him what’s next?  Believe in His promise of victory!  Go forth with passion, praise and thanksgiving!

Bless you today!  Love you!

As I was reading Hebrews 4:1 so much jumped out at me; “Let us fear lest you miss the promise that comes from entering His rest, and you come up short of entering it.”  “Let us fear?” Doesn’t  God say, “Fear Not, be not dismayed, for I with you!” and, “we have not been given a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind!” but this text says, “Let us fear!”  The Message Bible says, this resting in Him pulls us on to His goal for us, so we should fear that we are disqualified or miss out.

This is not a contradiction but a collaboration of truth.  Which means….there are things you are not to be afraid of.,… “don’t be afraid of their faces, I will make your face like flint!  Stand Up against them!  But there other things that we should Fear!

So what should we fear?  My first thought was, death.  But I’m not afraid of death as long as I live first.  What I’m afraid of is if I live without living!  The worst thing would be to live and die like the Children of Israel in the wilderness, and not go in and possess the promised land. 

Carol and I see so many people living life with uncertainty, no purpose, not sure, would have done it different, could have had it, afraid of success or just not even trying!

I know we all grow up hearing, Don’t run up there!  Don’t touch that!  Don’t do that, you’ll fall!  But….to live and die and not know your purpose?  Settle for mediocrity?  Settle for less because you are more afraid of your opposition than the One who empowers you to be Amazing!

So what I believe the writer in Hebrews is saying, you need to fear living life by just existing.  I can’t imagine any of you living and dying without fulfilling all you were created to be! 

Think about this question: What leaves people stuck in a place where they never touch what they were called to do or be?  Is it intimidation?  I don’t thing so!  I believe it’s refusing to dare to live life fully alive.  It’s failing to get up everyday ready to fight against the fear of falling short of your greatness, or settling for less!

Faith is not only a noun but a verb!  You must work it!  When will you say things like; Enough is Enough?  I’ve lost enough stuff?  Nothing and No one will steal away my marriage?  I will not give up on my children?  I will do whatever it takes to land that new job?  I refuse to be a Passive Christian!  Enough is Enough!

I love Blind Bartameus, yelling, and with everyone around him telling him to be quiet, but No!  He keeps yelling for Jesus to Help him!  Faith is not passive, but aggressively at work yelling, “See Me Jesus?”  You don’t’ need to show Him that you’re cute, but that you are a mess.  “See what I lost while I was trying to get to You?  See Me Lord?”  I love the fact that Jesus noticed and gave him what he desired.

Don’t be afraid to yell, scream and chase Jesus to get a Miracle!  It’s no wonder God says, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!”  Part of this happens because we fear doing nothing and letting life kill us.  We must rise up and take back everything that has been stolen!  Reverse every curse that has been placed upon us.  Defeat and destroy everything that was meant to take us down! 

Later in Hebrews it says to be diligent to press into that place of rest and promise.  That’s what God wants for us as His children; let’s get aggressive and go after it in the Name above all names, Jesus!