Bound in Fear

Gem of the Day
Sometimes we forget the call to follow Jesus includes rope. In the beginning grace wells up thankfulness and we make promises to ourselves and to God, to endure His will. Then, just as the honeymoon glow fades with lovers, so too does the follower's sacrificial devotion.

Oswald asks the believer yet again, if they are ready to "be poured out like a drink offering" before the Lord. He suggests many are not for the single reason they run from sacrifice.

Oswald's devotional speaks to those willing to praise Christ in the spring and summer seasons of life. They thank Him for new beginnings and may even serve Him in the warm rays of the sun. Yet, a single cloud can blow in with the winds of fall, casting a shadow on their life and their spirits are inclined to question the God who loves them: why has God suddenly turned against us? Their fear of struggle and pain causes them to flee the altar that will refine them. And this some do in fall, before winter's frost buries life in ice and the sun is blacked out due to a canvas of gray.

Lest you think I sit in judgement, I confess I am often consumed with fear at times over what a cloud may bring with it. My heart begs and pleads with the Lord on a regular basis, to be saved from the storms of life. Yet, each time I offer my petition I find my heart squeezed slightly by the Holy Spirit:

"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?"

Jesus words most certainly share God's perspective about doubting spirits. They test God's patience and evoke His mercy. Charles Stanley would add that God loves every child, weak or strong in faith and therefore will never abandon them, though in turn we leave our bridegroom waiting at the altar.

In the days of the Tabernacle, the Israelites worshiped through offering sacrifices to the Lord. The various animals were brought to the altar for the ritual. The unsuspecting animal would be restrained so they would not struggle as their throat was opened, a bowl held underneath to capture the flow of blood. The blood was then sprinkled on the horns of the altar and portions of the animal were used for further ritual worship.

Oswald proclaims the believer is to bind themselves to the altar so that in trying seasons they do not denounce the Lord and flee the refining fire of his altar of sacrifice. "You "bind the sacrifice...to the horns of the altar" and see to it that you don't wallow in self-pity once the fire begins."

Does anyone race to the altar of God? Certainly not. Likewise, who in their human strength can lie still under the knife? Therefore, it is wise for believers to bind themselves so they also do not struggle upon the altar. Even wiser for the child of God to bind himself to the altar in the summer when they are strong. Thereby when the winds of winter blow or unexpected storms roll in, they are securely fastened and in their weakness will not be able to escape the Lord's will.

Digging Deeper
God realizes it does not come naturally for man to climb upon the altar.
A remarkable example of dying to self and trusting the goodness of God is found in Abraham and his son Isaac. While most teachings point to the faith of Abraham--to obey God's command to sacrifice his only son Isaac--I want to highlight the faith of Isaac.

The Bible narration of their journey up the mountain til "they reached the place God had told him about," says little of Isaac's thoughts,(Genesis 22:9NIV). There is however, mention of Isaac's pondering:what exactly would be sacrificed that day?

"Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

What parent would not be delighted to find their child as content as Isaac with a single answer. There is no record of the boy making a second or third inquiry or offering up any protests or nagging complaints like: "Are we there yet?" No, Isaac followed his aged father up a hill. The wood he would be sacrificed upon carried on his back, while he said nothing more on the matter. Like Jesus, Isaac carried a cross of obedience: a cross willed by his father, which would also require death.

"Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood,"(Genesis 22:9).

The scripture says, "He bound his son Isaac," (Genesis 22:9) Yet, circumstances being what they were, it seems reasonable that Isaac--also like Jesus--submitted to the will of his father: In allowing himself to be bound. This father and son are most certainly a foreshadow of the Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus. As Jesus willing laid down his life on the altar, I believe Isaac did the same.

However, if Isaac was also willing to be a sacrifice, why the rope? The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. The bible does not say binding Isaac was Abraham's idea. It merely state's Abraham bound his son. Considering what follows this act in the Bible it is probable, Isaac asked to be bound. In so doing, when Abraham lit the fire and raised the knife, Isaac's act of faith would not be stolen by fear or doubt. His sacrifice was secure because it was bound upon the altar with faith: Father and son trusting the goodness of God and thereby tying their will securely to the LORD's will.

Like Isaac, Christians are wise to tie themselves to the altar of God when they are strong in the spring and summer seasons of life. But how does one do this?

The rope used to subdue the flesh must be faith. The stronger ones faith, the stronger they are tethered to God's altar. Imagine fashioning a spiritual safety line by adding day by day another strand of trust to the cord. Each little step in trusting the Lord's goodness and plan for us is like a single strand working to fashion a rope that can withstand the hottest flame.

Isaac's story continues beyond this altar of sacrifice. What Isaac may have thought to be his wintry end, God made a new beginning of spring. God blessed Abraham richly for his obedience and in turn, Abraham passed his blessings on to his God fearing son. Isaac remained faithful to the Lord and was blessed with a good wife, Rebekah, together they built a family and continued the heritage of faith beget by his father, Abraham.

The account of Isaac's life appears to be evidence that the young man remained in the will of God. Following the steps of his father up a hill of sacrifice, Isaac sets an example to his brothers and sisters who follow in the family of faith. For no one knows better than Isaac how important it is to submit to the altar of God.

If believers will follow the pattern of Isaac when the call comes from the father to lie down, we like Abraham and Isaac will come face to face with the Lamb of God ourselves. And for some, the test will be over, as the Lord cries out, "Abraham! Abraham!...Do not lay a hand on the boy...Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God," (Genesis 22:12).

Lord, may we fear you enough to bind ourselves in faith, so that fear of less does not separate us from your presence or your glory. Jesus, make our faith strong!

Leading from Behind

THE GEM FOR THE DAY
Jesus' will is so counter to the flesh, the individual might do very well to consider how she might act, and then immediately choose to do the opposite. For example: though she wants to fly, she remains still and wanting to speak, she remains silent. These opposing wills are illustrated well, in our tendency to step in front of the Lord's shadow.

Tragically, man is inclined to arrogantly push his way to the front of the line: though he has no earthly clue where he is headed, he wants to lead. This is of course rebellion to God's will. Overcoming the desire to be our own guide is agonizing, because it is woven into our being. God calls it choice.
And while the world operates as if we choose between being a leader or follower, God knows the truth: we are either followers of Christ or we are lost.

DIGGING DEEPER

The idea we choose to lead over being followers, says so much about our nature. How we abhor submission.


Jesus said; "Come follow me,"(Matthew 4:19). With three words He accomplished two important things: he declared himself to be the Leader, and he provided an example for other leaders to follow. Oswald's devotional today, encourages us to consider what makes a good leader. With so many claiming to be "leaders" in the world today, this an important thing to ponder, lest you be led astray.

Must a good leader have strength? Or perhaps they must possess wisdom. Many choose to follow someone because of their skill?

Certainly Jesus has these attributes. However, these qualities alone or as a group do not necessarily inspire one to fall in line. Think for a moment of someone you are drawn to submit to. What about them encourages your submission? Poll a mass of people and you are certain to receive a variety of responses to this question. Nonetheless, it is likely you will find fears guiding their selection. The weak may be drawn to someones strength, the simple minded impressed by someones knowledge. Those who have suffered abuse may seek a nurturing leader and so on. In these scenarios the real guide is fear.

Yet, Jesus demonstrates for us a leader whom we can follow in trust. Under His care and supervision, the lame walked, the blind found sight and the lost were brought into the fold. How did Jesus lead his sheep? Not boasting of His heritage, position, authority, wisdom or might. Though the disciples and the masses kept pushing Jesus to the front crying: "lead us," "teach us," "save us," Jesus kept drifting to the back. His "followers" passing Him as he kneels before a desperate woman clinging to the hem of his cloak,(Matthew 9:20-22).

In this way Jesus demonstrates good leaders stand out for one primary reason, they are willing to lead from behind. How does someone lead from the back of the line? Like Jesus, they put the care and concerns of others before themselves. They are above believing tasks are below them. They are the first to show up and the last to leave in times of need, joy and trouble. They encourage and support others with delight and do not grumble about their acts of charity. Good leaders do what is right regardless of their personal cost. The very best leader is willing to die for His followers.

Now look back to those you are inclined to follow. How do they measure up to Jesus?
Those who are placed in leadership positions should hold themselves up to Christ for evaluation of their leadership skills. If their mind is on getting or keeping their position, they are not focused on leading. Their guidance will be tainted by self interest. These individuals move out of line and are neither a leader nor a follower. They are merely spinning their wheels and more than likely not going anywhere. Certainly nowhere anyone should follow.

On the other hand, when we are focused on following, we are not distracted by issues of recognition, fairness, quality, quantity and the kind. These self based thoughts will cause us to stumble, or worse, send us down a path of our own. We simply keep our eyes on our guide no matter the chaos around us. We should know the back of his head as well as his voice.

We must remember that claiming we are Christian's does not mean we are "followers of Christ". Where we find ourselves in position to the Lord does.

Oh, Jesus, forgive us! Teach us Lord, to trust you and find satisfaction in your shade!

Abiding in the Shadow of Chist

There is a driving force behind the work of God. Like the wind pushing at your back, you feel nudged along. Anticipation building as you sense a greater purpose at work though your temporal eyes can not yet grasp the vision. Still, you hear a soft whisper, "Yes," "take note", or even, "watch and see." This is when I recognize the Lord at work around me. Sometimes your feet seem so light upon the path you feel carried.

Oswald states that in the beginning of our Christian walk, "our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us." However he challenges the believer to move beyond testifying about what Jesus has done in or through you, and testify to Jesus Christ himself.

In so doing, the "Christian worker" is no longer propelled by their own role in His work, rather they point a spiritual finger to Christ period(Oswald). Thereby all of their experiences are to be viewed as happening to Jesus, rather than them.

For me this is a bit of a mind bender...yet, I understand Oswald's meaning. When I follow Jesus, He is my shield. Insults, slander, rejection, hate and the like are aimed at Him. Abiding in Christ and becoming one with the Lord means all assaults on our person or spirit is an attack on Christ. This perspective empowers the child of God to remain soft towards others, though they inflict injury. The stolen parking spot, the insult at church, the lack of appreciation from our boss, the rejection of our family, these can be wounds or they can be fiery arrows at Christ from the enemy. Allowing Jesus to be our shield douses Satan's wrath and frees us to retaliate against the real enemy...only we use arrows of love. Oh, how the devil hates that! He is defenseless.

However, this also applies to the praise and edification aimed our direction. Recognizing it is only Christ that is good in us, only by the hand of God that we are blessed with gifts and talents, we give all glory to the Lord. Be on your guard, the enemy can use praise to turn your finger towards yourself!

The daily challenge of less of us, more of Christ is indeed something to ponder. May today's journey compel me to testify to Jesus...and Jesus Christ alone.

Red Roses

You've heard the phrase, "I'm a visual person," or perhaps even, "I'm a visual learner." To these common phrases I will add, "I am a vision". Now before you think I have suddenly gone over the falls of vanity, let me explain.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters,"(Genesis 1:1-2NIV).

All of heaven and earth was first conceived in the mind of God before He stated, "Let there be". Therefore, before I, Tracy, was created in my mother's womb, I was...a vision in the mind of my Creator. You were too. The thrilling part of this perspective for me, is that I am more than a snap shot to the Lord. I am a perpetual vision. For the Lord God has in mind a picture of who I am yet to become...tomorrow, next year and in eternity. Like a rosebud still on the vine, I am a rose in various stages of bloom: never anything but a rose, but daily altered by the sun.

Keeping with this analogy, let us consider the roses form, for the rose symbolizes so much of who we are as children of God.

First we consider the root of the rose, for life is sustained primarily by the root. Though tucked deep in the soil, hidden and out of sight, the roots of faith in the believer soak up the Living Water. Dependent on the Word of God the rose drinks deeply when first planted. For in order to produce hearty stalks and blooms the roots must be well nourished and strong.

Secondly we look to the vine. From it's beginning it springs forth with prickly thorns. These of course resemble the sinful nature of our flesh. How careful one must be with the vine, for if our flesh is not handled with caution we will likely pierce others.

Our third comparison is between the new bud and the human heart: both at first hard and shut up tight. However, the hearts that are planted in the presence of the Son, have a remarkable future in store. Through daily exposure to the Son's radiance its
petals slowly begin to bend. Before long--like arms spread wide before the glory of God--the rose blooms completely: unveiling its lovely core.

Thus, the rose fills the garden with a beautiful fragrance, causing others to stop and take note of its pleasant aroma. Yet, finding purpose beyond its beauty, the rose offers itself for the good of others: those like honey bees who are drawn to its sweet secretion. For this is the greatest purpose and pleasure of the rose...to share the nectar of heaven.

How marvelous is the bloom on the vine when it has spent its days abiding in the Light of the World. And yet, every rose knows, their finest blooms are yet to come through the pruning of the Gardener.

I wish this was not the case. How wonderful would it be to spend our days soaking up the Living Word and basking in the rays of glory. Yet, the testimony of the rose shows us, the sharp edge of the sheers strengthen the stalk and encourage new growth. Season after season, the rose endures, spring, summer, fall and winter. A cycle of death to the flesh and rebirth in the heart. For this is what I believe the apostle Paul was referring to when he penned;

"...what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," (Philippians 1:19-21NIV).

Yes, we know the vine of the rosebush produces more vibrant roses when it is pruned. Still, what rose cries out for the sheers? No, the flower merely surrenders its will to that of the Gardner who knows best where to snip and cut away. Who can bare to see their ugly, bloom less, form in the winters of life? More so, who among the garden stops to admire--let alone notice--the thorny mass cut low in a sea of manure?

Ah, but the gardener, who tends to the vine, who tills the soil, waters the roots and protects its environment, has a vision of the blooms to come. Patiently, through the winter frost, He waits with anticipation for spring. When He will stroll through the garden and admire the work of His hands.

We are indeed a perpetual vision. A vision created in the mind of Almighty God. Though the world may curse our thorns, look upon our humbled vines with disdain, pass by our prettiest bloom, or gag on our heavenly fragrance, we remain the garden's most lovely flower. The glory of our Lord.

I just had a thought. Is it a coincident the red rose is most associated with love? A beautiful symbol of the child of God, covered in the blood of Christ.
How beautiful is heaven's rose!

Gotta Praise

Well, as I've confessed before, I love more than anything to talk about the Lord. For me, to talk about God and eat dessert is bliss! I think that's why I enjoy care group so much! God just amazes me with His constant touch in our lives...well, that is if we allow it. My reality is the more I ask to see Him at work, the more He reveals His hand to me. Oh, I bet some would think me mad, if they saw me dance and praise my King when a reality hits me. Fortunately, I don't care. I just have to praise the LORD!

I have a funny story to tell that ties into today's devotional. Oswald says; "Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation." The question is not; "Do I testify", but rather, "To whom do I testify?".

Going back to school was a Mount Everest to me. I was not comfortable in a school environment my first time around. Peer issues made school a daily nightmare. Yet, I have always enjoyed learning, study, and stretching my brain. Naturally, I was anxious about leaving my Christian bubble of the past twenty years and venturing out into a mixed society of college life. My first college experience was extremely brief and centered around rushing the "hottest" sorority on campus. Being a co-ed in my teens was certainly a life span away from where I am today. How would I relate to my younger, non-believing peers? What would we talk about? You see, I rarely have conversations where Jesus isn't mentioned. I know many of you can relate to this.

So my first class is a two week, winter session, cram course on history. I have always been drawn to history and therefore was excited about my first class on campus. A social person by nature, I set out to introduce myself to the students around me. Surprisingly, they warmly accepted me. I felt I was off to a good start. During several breaks we engaged in getting more acquainted. Questions about family, work and interests were asked round the group. When it came my turn to respond, I of course, made mention of my family, work at church and interests in church activities. Therefore, by the end of the day, my Christianity was known and I felt good. Interestingly, the young man sitting behind me, was Jewish. Before the two weeks were over, daily questions about God and faith and worship had been addressed by many of us. Other students joined our conversations and soon a more than a dozen of us were bantering about religious matters. Unfortunately, some of my answers were difficult to say as well as hear. While I felt I was honest and shared God's truth in love...I was sorry to offend some of my peers.

The spring semester brought with it new classes. New peer groups and for me new challenges on how to shine in the midst of darkness. Of course I felt certain I was where the Lord wanted me and trusted the circle of influence God had placed me in. Still, I was feeling the need to be cautious with these new groups. I did not want to offend people with my faith as before. I determined that I could witness the Lord's Spirit, without necessarily proclaiming so readily as I had before, my passion for the Lord. Yeah...God had other plans.

My first English professor has remained my favorite: in most part because she is so ALIVE! Her nature is to be real and honest and helpful. Sadly this is not always the case with professors. This inspiring woman truly enjoys teaching and desires to enrich the learning experience for her students. One way she does this is by getting to know them. Students are people to her, not merely class occupants.

Our first day in class was spent sharing about ourselves. While the standard bio information was requested of us, she added to the mix, "share a secret about yourself...something others wouldn't know by looking at you." This of course brought great fun to our introductions as the class surprisingly one by one disclosed some pretty personal things. One older student, like myself, shared she had been a professional female football player. I thought that was cool. I didn't know there was such an occupation. Another student shared she was a guitarist in a punk rock band. If you saw this sweet looking thing, your mouth would have dropped open like mine.

Of course there were some confessions that were less fascinating, even a few that were shocking like: the guy who confessed his passion for marijuana, followed by the guy who said he grew marijuana. These admissions were only outdone by the older gentlemen in the corner who sternly shared he was a cop! Ahhh, I still laugh when I recall the look on those boy's faces. The policeman ended up dropping the class. I wonder if it was due to a conflict of interest.

I bet you can guess what I confessed. I was one of the last to share about myself. With every student's turn, I found my heart beating faster and faster. My palms were sweating and I could hear my own voice coaching me on what I should say. "Don't announce you're a Christian in THIS group. Don't set yourself up like that. Don't...don't... DON'T!" My professor turned her attention to me as did the class. The spotlight was uncomfortable...you know the feeling...right? Nonetheless, I followed the ranks.

"My name is Tracy Frazier, I'm happily married to a wonderful man, have two awesome adult step sons, a precious nine year old son, I'm a new grandma, English major, blah, blah, blah. Then, before I knew what I was saying these words leaped from my mouth...with surprising enthusiasm: "My confession is that I am a "FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST" and I am really excited about that!"

(Cricket, cricket)

My professor just stared at me for a moment. I believe at that moment she and the others thought I was an idiot. I can say that now, because by the end of that class, she and I had become friends.

So much for keeping a lid on my faith. I was not only exposed...I had a neon light with an arrow pointing over me that said "Jesus Freak!" I look back on that moment...crystal clear...and I laugh. Who am I to think I could conceal Almighty God! He is more than a Deity I worship. God is who I am. To take any step to veil the Spirit alive in me...well, Oswald addresses this clearly:

"Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him."

He goes on to say; "The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you."

While getting my education is the focus of my attending college, I cannot deny God's call to be an evangelist on campus. There is reason for my openness about the love and mercy of Jesus. Above all else, children of God are called to proclaim the truth and God's message of salvation. Through school, I have been blessed with opportunity to heed the promptings of the Spirit and tell others about redemption.

Getting beyond my safe, holy bubble is like a kingdom promotion. My job is to tell the story. Yes, my responsibilities include witnessing through my actions. However, I have found that if I am willing and ready to share the gospel at a moments notice, God will bring others to me.

Like my spontaneous praise, we will find ourselves boasting Christ to others.

I could tell several stories of divine moments on campus. Surely, God has planted me for the time being on an academic mission field. The harvest is indeed ripe! Exams in English, Math, History, and the likes are obviously core to my experience. Yet, the Lord has presented numerous lessons for me on campus. One in particular is the test of my willingness to praise His name.

I am happy to report that in this subject, I most certainly have an "A".

Personal Prayers

Today marks the first day of a new month in my spiritual blog journey. New beginnings are such a gift from God. I particularly like the month of February. The idea of celebrating Love is exciting to me. I look forward to special moments with my husband as well exchanging sentiments with my son. Love is truly amazing: its' power is limitless.

Today I've pondered the love of God.

It is magical, transforming,tender and full of mercy. I have no concept of the vast amont of kindness and love the Lord has shown me. Yet, I believe they mark a special spot in heaven where one day Jesus and I will sit and recall them together.

Recklessly Abandoned

I haven't been able to stop thinking about James and John, the passionate brothers declared by Jesus as the "Sons of Thunder". A few blogs ago, I was taken with their response to the Samaritan rejection of Jesus and his Jewish sojourners. It was evident that the Samaritan's behavior was wrong, but James and John mirrored the Samaritan's cold hearts by inquiring of Jesus:"Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" (Luke 9:54). This single verse truly fascinates me so, you can imagine my thrill when Oswald's devotional led me back to this dynamic duo. Oswald wastes no time and gets directly to the point.

"Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God."

This insight both soothed and disturbed me. I was immediately relieved that there could be some rest in the pursuit of becoming more like Christ. Of course, believers are to diligently pursue our sanctification. Still, the fact remains that no matter our efforts, we will "fall short of the glory of God," ( ) To know there is a higher calling and purpose in our position in Christ is encouraging. I may not be capable of perfect righteousness, but I can certainly tell others about Jesus.

How I love to talk about Jesus. To share with others His goodness, his mercy and his transforming love. Likewise, I find there is nothing that interests me more than the work of Christ in the lives of others. In what other topic can you find love, mystery, challenge and miracles? His mercies are indeed new every morning, as well what I have to experience of him. God is absolutely my very great reward! Those who know me understand my passion. Those who don't know me...respond to my talk of Jesus in various ways.

The most valuable lesson I have learned since back in school is the power of Jesus' name. Say "Jesus" and everyone reacts. I guess in a sense I do call fire down from heaven every time I speak of the Lord. For, those who love Christ find their fires rekindled or stoked, and those outside of his fold often feel the burn of conviction. This of course saddens me, for if I could, I would convince all of the glory of God.

This takes me back to our smoldering disciples.It is evident that James and John were not interested in sharing Jesus' teachings about love and forgiveness with the Samaritan's. Quite the contrary was true. They were ready to torch people in the name of Jesus. It's no wonder Jesus rebuked them. They were called to share the gospel message of hope, and restoration. What testimony would they have if there was a wake of charred Samaritan's behind them? To their credit, James and John did not yet have the Spirit of God within them. Therefore, the fruits of the Spirit like: self-control, gentleness, kindness, peace and patience were yet to grow in their hearts. Fortunately, the great Helper which was still to come, would certainly keep their temperaments under control.

I have to confess, through the years I have been more like these two fiery spirits than Jesus. How thankful I am by the end of the good book, both of these fireballs learned to properly channel their passion for Christ. They each were used by God to spread his gospel through out the biblical world. The ripple effects of their efforts has no doubt revealed a greater use of the Almighty's power through their lives. The result being a great many lives have been saved rather than lost.

Like the disciples, I believe God has tamed my raging inferno to a healthy and safe burning fire. Not that I am setting any spiritual records, but I struggle to recall the last time I volunteered to incinerate God's enemies. Hope for continued transformation to the image of Christ is what keeps my home fires burning. Okay, I know...the puns are too much!

On a more serious note, I'll share my thoughts regarding what James and John offered to Jesus that day passing through Samaria. The idea that they both came up with the same consequence for the wayward Samaritans says so much. Does not their word: "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" suggests that this was somehow one of their abilities, (Luke 9:54). We know that the disciples were given power from on high when Jesus sent them out two by two. They healed the sick and lame and many came to believe in Christ by their efforts. However, it appears the apostles' powers were not restricted to healing alone.

Furthermore, the idea that they were confident in there offer makes me wonder if they had experience at practicing just that. Perhaps this is why they were called "Sons of Thunder:" they were known for calling upon the power of God in order to testify to the power of God. The Bible doesn't give us these kind of details...and it drives me crazy!

I guess it stirs me inwardly because I can't imagine being able to perform such a task. And yet, there are numerous stories in the Word, of the servants of God performing this and many other miraculous tasks. I can't help wonder if my faith is really so small I am unable to unleash the power of God like that. If that is the case then it makes me want to cry. I can't think of that right now. I'll have to ponder that tomorrow!

I wonder if Oswald believes these bold men were looking to bring glory to themselves with such a display of consequence. Regardless it was in direct conflict with the peaceful, loving Spirit of God. Yes, Jesus rebuked them for their mixed up priorities and misunderstanding of their call in the beginning. But how can we doubt the love of these brash men for their Savior? The remainder of their lives they lived with reckless abandonment. Like Paul, they were "totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose--to proclaim the gospel of God."

This of course is how every believer is called to live...recklessly abandoned to God.