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I have been drawn quite a bit recently to the story of Lazarus‘ death in John 11. One verse that jumps out at me says that when Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, "He stayed two days longer in the place where He was..." (John 11:6)

He stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus... longer? Nobody does that. If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast.

Three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends. So why did He stay away? We can totally understand why Martha's face had a big question mark. "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."

This is the hardest moment in any crisis. From our perspective, the problem is growing, the prayers are rising, but the provision is not coming. We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that God doesn't love us and then spend many dark, disappointing nights believing our own lie.

Here's an important truth gleaned from this situation. God doesn't love the way we love. What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all.

We expect God to work our solution on our timetable. Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe? We're over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what's going on in the bigger picture! Faith says that what God is doing is right, even when we don't understand. I believe the whole tapestry will unfold for us someday.

But for now I have to believe in spite of what I see, that He is after my good and His glory in every situation. I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness. God is at work in your times of crisis. Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God, He is at work in that.

He is building your faith in every circumstance. He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart. Will you believe He is at work?

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.30. Live for God, on purpose, trusting in Him and His timing!

Overcoming The Jezebel Spirit

I'm sure you have heard many "good news – bad news" stories. Typically, in order to soften the blow, someone will give you some good news before sharing the more difficult bad news that must be communicated. This technique is used often in the business world. And, interestingly, it is also used by Jesus as he speaks to the church at Thyatira!

This church was a good church, as Jesus tells them He knows their works, their love and faith, their service and perseverance, and that they were doing more than they did at first (Revelation 2:19). That was the good news.

Then comes the bad news. Really, just one thing. Jesus says, "I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel." Scholars have for years debated whether Jesus was referring to a specific person, or perhaps a "spirit of Jezebel," which the people would immediately understand from reading about Jezebel in 1 Kings. Either way, Jesus‘ description of the problem is quite clear.

We don't live in Thyatira. But, unfortunately, the spirit of Jezebel still finds itself present in too many of God's people too often. Since we know that Jesus strongly disapproves (to say the least) of this attitude and action, what can we do to identify and then overcome it?

Join us this Sunday at WFA as together we learn to live "Overcoming the Jezebel Spirit," and reap the wonderful victory promised to those who overcome!

The Ant Philosophy

by Jim Rohn

I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy.

Here is the first part: Ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quite looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.

Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naïve as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering their winter food in the middle of summer.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long – we'll soon be out of here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.

And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy.

Wow, what a great philosophy to have – the ant philosophy. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive, and do all you can.

as seen in Jim Rohn's weekly email. http://www.jimrohn.com/index.php?main_page=pageandid=1247

Hold Fast What You Have

by David Jeremiah

With heartbreaking consistency (though thankfully, not frequency), a church leader's or member's immoral or unseemly activities will come to light. Also thankfully, in most cases churches follow the example Paul set with the church in Corinth: expel the offender. Why? Because a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

The expulsion is not permanent, of course. Repentance makes room for restoration. In fact, restoration is necessary so the offender is not "swallowed up with too much sorrow" (2 Corinthians 2:7). We know swift and drastic action by the church, and repentance by the offender, is God's will because of the situation in the church at Thyatira. An immoral prophetess, the spirit of Jezebel, was leading church members into sin. She refused to repent, so suffering would be her lot. And the Lord promised the same suffering to all who had indulged themselves and would not repent. And after they repented? "Hold fast what you have till I come," Jesus said.

Hold fast to holiness against the spirit of immorality in this age. Jesus is coming soon; may He find you holding on and holding out for Him.

as seen in David Jeremiah's devotional, "Today's Turning Point"

The Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that was going on inside himself.

He said, "My son, it is between 2 wolves. One is evil: Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego... The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith..."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one I feed."

The Monkey With The Wooden Apples

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest.

He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter.

He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn't even notice his hunger at first.

A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands.

He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.

The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go?

Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling it's fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.

Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" – carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired, and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples – they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.

This is a hard thing to see. We identify so strongly with our things even, feeling pain when our cars are dented. How much more powerfully will God identify us with our Faith and God's commandments? Have you obeyed them? But we have always searched after vain pleasures to make us happy. Yet they don't always feed our souls, do they? And we become tired of defending them.

How else could the story end? The monkey might be found dead of hunger, under a beautiful tree, with fruit within reach, but still grasping his wooden apples. I chose to end it with him letting go, because only with open hands can we receive anything. Ask God and He will give you more greater riches.

Things Change With Time

The longer I live, the more I see things change – with me and around me! Here are a few things the way they were "back when I was younger" and the way things seem to be now!

Then: Long hair
Now: Longing for hair

Then: Acid rock
Now: Acid reflux

Then: Moving to California because it's cool
Now: Moving to California because it's warm

Then: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor
Now: Trying not to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor

Then: Paar
Now: AARP

Then: Worrying about no one coming to your party
Now: Worrying about no one coming to your funeral

Then: Rolling Stones
Now: Kidney stones

Then: Obsessing over PSATs
Now: Obsessing over PSAs

Then: Passing the driving test
Now: Passing the vision test

Then: Parents begging you to get your hair cut
Now: Children begging you to get their heads shaved

Then: Disco
Now: Costco

Then: Getting out to a new, hip joint
Now: Getting a new hip joint

Most things change with time. We grow old, gain wrinkles and lose hair. People around us move away and die. You may change jobs, and move from city to city every few years. Ever gone back to the place where you grew up to see what it looks like now? Things change. And life can be very unsettling if it is not grounded on something that does not change through the years.

Fortunately we have this assurance – "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Even if we become faithless, he remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). When all others let us down, His love will still be there for us. You can count on it. What comfort and assurance that gives us! Praise be to God for his unchanging nature!

The Last Impression

I heard about a preacher who was talking with a man, and he asked him, "Do you know the Bible?" The man said, "Yes, sir." He said, "What part of the Bible do you know the best?" The man said, "The New Testament."

The preacher went on to ask him what part of the New Testament he knew the best. The man said, "Well, I suppose I know the story of the Good Samaritan best of all." The preacher said, "Tell me that story."

The man said, "Well, as best as I can recall, there was a good Samaritan traveling down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among the thorns and they sprang up and choked him and left him half dead.

"But a man came by feeding his swine and he said to the man, ‘I will arise and go to my father.‘ So he took up his bed and walked. But while the soldiers were chasing him through the forest, he got the hair of his head caught up in the trees and he hung there 40 days and 40 nights, and the ravens fed him.

"Just then, Delilah came along with a big pair of shears and she cut off his hair and he fell on stony ground. But the good master of the house resurrected the man and he journeyed on his way.

"All of a sudden, he came to the wall of Jericho and there's Jezebel sitting on the wall and she mocked him. And he said, ‘Chunk her down to the dogs.‘ And they chunked her down 70 times 7, and great was the fall thereof, and of the fragments that remained they picked up twelve baskets full, and whose wife shall she be in the resurrection?"

Our theology will be a bit better than that this Sunday here at WFA! God has been doing some fantastic things here each week, and I am anticipating another anointed time together as we gather together in His presence to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth!