Where is God Amidst All This Chaos?
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The Sign

Jesse Birkey's picture

man looking upI’ve love being able to share the things that God has done in my life with you.  I love the emails I’ve received from those seeing the extraordinary work of Jesus at work in their own lives.  Testimonies bring life.  They are power.  They are love.

But I want to shift gears here just a bit in order to put into words something the Lord laid on my heart earlier today.  I want to ask you a question for your own reflection.  The question is, “What is your first reaction when tragedy strikes?”

My son and I were on our way to see our favorite football team (K.C. Chiefs) play in Jacksonville.  It’s about a 3-hour trip and there was anticipation in the air.  I hardly ever have an opportunity to see the Chiefs play live so I was very excited. 

As we were entering the city limits I received a phone call from my wife.  She got news that the child of some friends of ours was diagnosed with a terrible illness.  Things like that seem to just suck the air out of everything.  I’m sure there are those of you who know very well what that feels like.

I ended the call with my wife and tried to sort out what I’d just heard.  The injustice, unfairness.  I just stared ahead for a moment or two and then it happened.  My head dropped.  I kept my eyes on the road of course but I felt my body slump.  Now I’m not saying that my reaction was unreasonable.  When sorrow hits us and we react.  But what happened next profoundly impacted me. 

A flash of white above my line of vision grabbed my attention.  I looked up to see a sign hanging from an overpass we were approaching.  Spelled out in big, black letters against a white canvas was, JESUS.

I had to lift my head to view the sign fully.  As the name on the sign echoed through my mind I felt my spirit stir and heard the Holy Spirit begin to ask me, “What would happen if your first reaction to pain and trauma was to look up instead of down?” 

The question sat with me for the next handful of miles.  I was reminded of the Israelites who had to look up to the snake on a pole in order to be healed.  Have you ever asked why?  Why did they have to look up?  Was it about some kind of attempt to let the people know that God was dominant?  Some sort of effort to make them learn their place?  Or could it be something different?

What if it was about a battle?  What if it was about lies vs. truth?  What if it was about faith?  What if it was about how looking down kept them locked in hopelessness, despair and doubt.  What if keeping their eyes on the earth was supplying power to the chains wrapped around their hearts?  See, in order to look up we must believe that the thing we are looking to has the power to set us free, to heal us.  Otherwise why would we lift our heads?  As many of the Israelites who decided to believe the truth and look up were healed.  

Now I’m not saying that the reasonable reaction to terrible news is to stand up and start praising God.  That is unreasonable.  Some have misunderstood the “Count it all joy” passage.  We are humans with emotions.  Things hurt us and we must grieve or else our hearts die.  But do we want to grieve in the earth or with Jesus?  Lifting your head to Jesus in the face of tragedy doesn’t mean making some kind of lame attempt to have joy.  It means recognizing that Daddy God cares and wants to hold you.  He want’s to cry with you.  He wants to hold your heart.  To put you back together. 

We don’t have to spend time in the dust.  But change won’t come automatically.  We must choose to look up first.  Now looking up doesn’t guarantee a physical healing or that what was lost will be restored exactly as it was.  But it will keep our adversary away from our hearts.  As long as our eyes are looking at Jesus Satan can’t touch us.  Depression, hopelessness and despair won’t have a foothold.

Easier said than done right.  I know.  But it can be done.  I lift my eyes up, to the mountain.  Where does my help come from?  My help comes from you, maker of Heaven, creator of the earth.

Blessings,

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey

www.reflectministry.com

[email protected]

twitter.com/JesseBirkey

http://www.facebook.com/reflectministry

We are excited to announce a new teaching series called, The Normal Christian Life.  It’s a 4 CD set.  Check it out at http://www.reflectministry.com/store.html

View the Trailer for our new book, Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People Here!

To find information on an exciting new documentary called DeadRaiser go to www.deadraiser.com

 

 

 

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 A Meditation Releasing God's Transforming Power

This is a shortened version (only 9 minutes) of the devotional New Creation Celebration - Replacing Emotions (which is 40 minutes). In this devotional, explore the steps necessary to receive the promised destiny God has given to each of us. 

On those days when your destiny seems far off, this will remind you of the steps you are to be taking.

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New Creation Celebration - Putting on Christ

 A Meditation Releasing God's Transforming Power

This is a shortened version (only 13 minutes) of the devotional, New Creation Celebration - Replacing Emotions (which is 40 minutes). In this devotional, we omit the sections concerning processing an emotion and replacing a belief, and go straight to "Putting on Christ." 

So days when you simply desire to strengthen your faith of who you are in Christ, and who Christ is within you, are days to use this devotional.

River of Life & New Creation Celebration MP3 Download Set or CD Set now available, as well as the accompanying book Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions!

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New Creation Celebration - Replacing Beliefs

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This is a shortened version (only 22 minutes) of the devotional New Creation Celebration - Replacing Emotions which is 40 minutes. In this devotional we omit the section concerning processing an emotion and begin instead with the next section, which is processing ungodly beliefs. 

So days when you hear yourself thinking or muttering things which are contrary to Scripture, like: "I will never succeed," "There is never enough money," "I can’t handle the pressure," "I can’t do this," "I hate life," etc. are days to use this devotional.

River of Life & New Creation Celebration MP3 Download Set or CD Set now available, as well as the accompanying book Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions!

Price: $4.95

New Creation Celebration - Replacing Emotions

 A Meditation Releasing God's Transforming Power

"I love going through this devotional and hearing the Lord speak. Learning to see myself as the new creation that I am is a process. I am eager to share this with others." Judy Young 

River of Life & New Creation Celebration MP3 Download Set or CD Set now available, as well as the accompanying book Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions!

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River of Life and New Creation Celebration MP3s

5 devotionals set to music

This series contains five Interactive meditations set to music. Each devotional guides you into an encounter with the Wonderful Counselor. Each one contains 1) a spoken prayer, 2) with a musical background and 3) draws you into two-way journaling

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River of Life MP3 Download

"I was moved to tears. I sensed His presence in a new and fresh way." Pastor Keith Carlisle

Experience our new “River of Life” 12-minute devotional. It contains beautiful soaking music with a voice-over description of the River of the Holy Spirit flowing toward you and filling the room you are in. It is an amazing experience that often leaves me shaking as the power of the Holy Spirit sweeps over me, flooding my entire being with His healing power.

River of Life & New Creation Celebration MP3 Download Set or CD Set now available, as well as the accompanying book Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions!

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Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions MP3s

by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe | 14 Sessions | 6.5 hours

Experience the role of Kingdom emotions to engage and release Kingdom power! Jesus, moved by compassion, healed (Matt. 14:14). You can, too! Discover how Kingdom emotions can be born in your heart to carry the Holy Spirit's power to perform healing, as well as turn on healing genes while turning off inflammatory genes. Experience God's Kingdom which is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17)!

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Appropriating Covenant Blessings MP3

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by Mark Virkler | 1 Session

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 is one of the most complete lists recording the blessings which God wants to bestow upon His children. He wants us to be the head and not the tail, to be above and not underneath, and to lend and not borrow. This CD helps you capture a vision for this divinely-ordained lifestyle, and gives you steps to take so that you may begin to walk in these blessings.

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Divine Healing Toolbox MP3

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  • Learn how to discover and remove the root cause of the sickness.
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Fulfill Your Financial Destiny MP3s

Fulfill Your Financial Destiny MP3 Download

by Mark Virkler | 22 Sessions

Newly recorded for 2023! Though the economic system (mammon) of this world is under a curse, we have received instructions for how to move out from that dominion and into the blessing of the Kingdom of God. God’s promises to His children have not changed with the whims of government or Wall Street, nor have His directions for how to walk in those promises. We can “choose not to participate” in the economic recession that is around us if we instead choose to obey the logos and rhema of the Lord and enjoy the blessings that result.

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