What This Is
What is this?
No doubt you’re asking that question. Believe me, as strange as it may be for you to be listening to (or reading) this, it’s way more uncomfortable for me to be doing it! In short, it’s my response to God’s prompting. I’ll explain.
An entry in my quiet time notebook dated December 29, 2022 referenced this passage:
“Enlarge the place of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out. Do not hold back. Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left and your offspring will possess the nations and people the desolate cities.”
Isaiah 54:2,3
I felt a prompting of the Lord to do something extra to “strengthen” you in your walk with God and ministry to others. One application of that, as you know, became our quarterly Saturday get-togethers. Around about the same time there was another idea. That was to create this resource to serve in-between those times.
At the time of that entry I had already been wrestling with the idea for a couple months. I even wrote the first draft of this introduction later that day with the intention of launching that coming January (of 2023). But you know what I did? Nothing. I talked myself out of it.
I told myself:
- “They don’t want to hear this from you! It’s lame.”
- “They’re not going to take the time to read this! Why bother?”
It came back up in March of 2023, then again exactly two months later in May 2023 when I read this in my quiet time:
Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. It may be they will listen…
Jeremiah 26:2,3
There twice I had been hit with “do not hold back!” So you know what I did? Nothing. I talked myself out of it again.
In June of this year (2024) I was meeting with Juan Medina. Out of the blue he mentioned that I should do a podcast. I told him how funny it was to bring that up as I had it on my mind for well over a year but had been constantly talking myself out of it.
So now I’ve reached the point where I’m going to quit dragging my feet. I want to be obey what I feel the Lord has prompted me to do.
God’s Purpose
Why do this?
In complete transparency I don’t know why the Lord wants me to do it, I just know He does. I naturally doubt and question its effectiveness. But coming out of those verses from Jeremiah 23, “Speak,…,all the words that I command you to speak to them.” “It may be that they will listen.”
Now I do not think of this as a podcast. There are so many of those out there that are way better than anything I could ever do. I have no interest in that whatsoever.
Instead, I would like for you to think of this as a conversation. I’m not making this for the masses but for you. You who are together with me (and others of like heart) who want to know Christ and make Him known. When I write and record these, I will envision talking directly to you.
I also do not think of this as a substitute for life-to-life discipleship, it could never be. It’s simply a supplement that gives the opportunity to cover things and share things I don’t get to in a one-on-one.
God’s Promise
I have to point out that in no way do I consider these posts a major source of your spiritual input. I simply pray God will use them a small part of what He’s already doing in and through your life.
I take God at His Word when He says from Isaiah 54, “Your offspring will possess the nations and people the desolate cities.” I’ve said it many times but I want to repeat it now, I wholeheartedly believe it is God’s plan (in fact His promise) to use you in the lives of those around you for His kingdom. I also wholeheartedly believe you will see spiritual generations come from your obedience to serve Him.
My Promise
What can you expect?
My promise is that I won’t overwhelm you. I honestly couldn’t keep up a schedule like that anyway. My initial goal is for 1-2 times a month for one year. After that I’ll re-evaluate. This is both a step of faith and an experiment.
I’ll create the entries in both written and audio form. That way you can choose your preference at your convenience.
From time to time I may pull in relevant snippets from older talks. I may share something I read or hear, or even sneak in a soundbite or two.
I’ll work to keep them brief and to the point. There may be times when I’ll ask you to reflect or meditate on a passage or question on your own. It would be 100% voluntary and at your own pace. I don’t want to encroach on or disturb your own quiet time or personal studies. I want to encourage you and, at times, challenge you in your walk with God AND ministry to others.
So there it is. I hope the Lord blesses this and uses it for His glory as He does it in and through you!
Until next time…