Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
February 2011 • Volume IX Number 06
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Thoughts for Consideration
Greetings again my Brethren. Let us continue to look at the spiritual nature of God as we look at God’s essential attributes. Last month we looked at God being eternal a most reassuring attribute because we know if we serve Him then we too will know the hope within our heart of being eternal and living with Him throughout all eternity. But if we really looked at being eternal everyone alive now, in the past, and in the future will live eternally. The question is where and what shall we be doing? This month let us look at another reassuring attribute that of God being immutable. Now in our 2010 language few people use the word immutable so it would be good for us to define its meaning which is never changing or always the same. What a thought to know God is ever the same He never changes. In these days of changing prices for food, gas, and services, change of heart in our relationships, and even the change in weather patterns, is it not wonderful to know in God there is no changing and His word is ever true and established in heaven. What an anchor to allow to hold us. You know it is one thing to be anchored (fixed, bound, or fashioned) to something, but it is a different thing all together to be held (anchored) by something and God’s word to us (both written and spoken) about His character and nature is an anchor that holds us fast in life’s many storms. Serve God long enough and He will see to it that storms and troubles come your way. Not to see if He can shake you lose, but to see who is allowing the anchor too hold them. In Numbers we read about a conversation between Balaam and Balak the king of Moab. Please take time and read the story, but the short of it Balak wanted Balaam to curse some people who came from Egypt, but God said no they are blessed (verse 12). Balak was contending with Balaam as God and His word being like a man; easily bought off with money and favour or whose word is a lie, but God is not so, “And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man (prophetic reference used for Jesus Christ), that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:18-19)
God’s character and nature is never changing. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! David knew, “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalms 119:89) which means there is no variance or shadow of turning. How wonderful to know God is always the same. The older I get the more I like hot water and a routine; a certainty in my life. This certainty in our lives gives us a firm foundation on which to move in God correctly. If the base is solid and unmovable then everything built (as long as it was built correctly) on the base will be plum and solid. So too in our Christian lives; if our lives are built on the divine spiritual principles of Christ Jesus then all that grows out from our lives will be immutable as God is. The writer to the Hebrews knew this incredible truth of God never changing when he said, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” (Hebrews 6:17-19) If we serve God correctly we will be “heirs of promise” that God does not lie (it is a part of His character and an attribute) and “we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
What a wonderful thought to know God’s unchangeable (immutable) nature is a refuge and a hope that is set before us. Next month we will look at the last attribute and I believe the most important and that is God is holy.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
When God Changes Our Direction
I do not know about you but one of the toughest things for me to handle is when God changes direction for our family and Beholding His Glory. I planned to write some thoughts in the “Dear Friends” section of our newsletter, but God has given me more to say about this so an article is more in keeping with what I feel God is looking for. We seem to understand so many things in retrospect. Revelation is best understood after the facts are discovered, but while the change is being perfected in our lives we are groping for answers while we look deeply into a dark glass. Paul knew this darkness all too well. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) My friend if we desire to walk with the Lord as Paul did we too will know the darkness of the Lord. Now there are two types of darkness: The first darkness is that which arises from sin. It is a darkness that is filled with unhappiness and leads the Christian to eternal death. The second type of darkness is darkness which the Lord allows within our inward part in order to establish and settle virtue. This is a happy darkness because it illuminates (revelation) our inward spirit, strengthens it and gives it greater light. We must never rush out into the spiritual darkness in which we can suddenly find our self in. It would be well for us to stop all of our frantic running, struggling, and searching and just wait before the Lord. Job wrote, “By His light, I walked through darkness” (Job 29:3) God gives us a light. We must see these times of darkness as a time we persevere in our inward pursuit. It is a manifest sign that God, in His infinite mercy, is seeking to bring us into the inward path. How good will be the results if we embrace these times with peace and with resignation. Such times are for our spiritual growth and development. As we persevere, God will give us a light which grows and increases in the midst of darkness. Often it is in times of darkness that wisdom and strong love is begotten in us. It is in times of darkness not in times of great outward spiritual joy that our self-nature and self-seeking is dealt a mortal blow. Images, ideas, wanderings, and other hindrances which give us a distorted view of God and His ways are consumed.
The greater the service to God the greater the darkness we will experience of God. Isaiah who had the revelation of God as compared to His life writes of this wonderful darkness. “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3) Who would have thought God would hide treasures and riches in His darkness? Only His children who would venture out into the darkness of the Lord. This place of darkness is the place of knowing and receiving. God told Isaiah, “that thou mayest know that I, the LORD.” Many Christians stumble and fall out of the way because they do not know the Lord. Oh they may know the Bible and their church doctrine, but they know nothing of God and His ways. Now please understand I do not know everything, but I know enough when God takes me into His unknown He is working in me, checking me out, even approving me for something ahead. I discovered this truth the first time I went to Bulgaria. Pastor Yanko (who does not speak much English) heard me say, “when I come to your church I work for God and you” so he decided to check me out. He took me up to a very old Turkish fort that had very narrow passage ways behind the walls. He disappeared into the darkness and encouraged me to follow by saying, “come on let’s go.” I stepped into the darkness that caused me to conform to the very narrow passage way. The darkness of the Lord will conform us to what God desires for our lives. The passage way was designed for a much smaller person so my way was very hard and painful. So too is our walk with the Lord in His darkness. After much struggle I got into a rhythm of sliding my feet as I tilted my head back scrubbing my forehead on the ceiling. In the distant darkness I could hear Pastor Yanko say, “come on let’s go.” But as my eyes adjusted to the darkness my way became a little brighter. As we adjust to God in these times of darkness our revelation vision will be enlightened and we will begin to see what God is doing. After time I made the four turns needed to successfully navigate the room behind the walls. If we walk correctly with God He will bring us out into the glorious light of understanding. As I immerged, Pastor Yanko, like God, was waiting for me. I was beaten up, my head was bleeding, and I was extremely tired. But I had passed the test my words were true to Pastor Yanko he, like God, could now trust me. I looked at him and said, “come on let’s go.” This too is what God says when we come out into the light. After we have qualified finding the hidden riches and treasures God has buried in life for us He can and will now say, “come on let’s go.”
My friend, most if not all of our Christian walk is in the darkness of the unknown. I find it odd Jesus often talked (John 11:9, 10, and 12:35) with the disciples about the critical need of walking in the light, like us, while walking in darkness. God’s intention for us is to walk in the light, He knows man cannot handle His darkness for too long. In the Book of Genesis before God made man He had to make light for man. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:1-4) Before God made light He made the heaven and the earth and before that only God existed in the darkness. Darkness was first and then God created light then “divided the light from the darkness.” If you really want to do a great word study to learn more about God do a word study on darkness or the night time. In John, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness (first type of darkness), but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Jesus’ heart here in this verse is for us to come into “the light of life” which often times come by way of the second type of darkness. If you walk with Lord long enough you will see this truth play out time and time again.
The last two weeks of every year I try hard to put all of the year’s works both what we call the good and what we call the bad behind us and wait before the Lord to hear (understand) what He would have for our family and Beholding His Glory in the forth coming year. Things like our travel schedule for the year is laid in our spirit, some details and plans are begun for up coming trips in February (January is almost always a down month), and most important the message for the year I am to share is spread out in my heart. Well 2007 was no different. The first week I waited and waited before God, but got nothing. So I waited and waited some more and still got nothing until finally the Lord spoke and said, “2008 will be a year of prayer.” So I took this to mean I will be speaking on prayer for 2008. The second week I put together an extensive teaching on prayer. It was amazing everything just fell into place. Verse after verse came to me and the thoughts and words I received from the Lord just went together (as a foot goes into a well worn shoe) and waited for the schedule of countries. I get 100s of invitations each year, but do not act on them unless I feel the leading of the Lord to venture out (without making a commitment) to test the waters. After all we are international Bible teachers and writers traveling and sharing the Gospel message. But, every time we would begin to make some long term plans to travel something would come up like caring for my father or someone would come by to do something that God has arranged like; Pastor Tek and Jit Maya coming and their migration from a radio station to a short wave station that will reach over ½ of the world’s population right in the heart of the 10/40 window where 90% of the people in the world have never heard the glorious Gospel message. Most major denominations have avoided these countries (like the plague) in the 10/40 window; too hard, too dangerous, and no return on their investment. (Lord help us) Anyhow, Karen and I find ourselves again making plans for the end of July early August to travel with two maybe three trips before the end of the year. Now here is my point in all of this, during 2008 while we should have been traveling (in our thinking) we have been waiting. Waiting in the darkness of God’s unknown for our lives is probably one of the toughest things we will ever do. When God changes our direction of walking in the light of knowing and turns us into His darkness of not knowing we often can get bewildered, disheartened, and even experience what many call a faith (belief) crisis. Mother Theresa wrote in her diary the last few years of her life she went through a crisis of her faith. Well I am not sure if her belief in God was shaken. I would think mine might be if I had to serve the untouchables and dregs in India as she did, but I would say God did take her into His darkness changing her direction so that He could lead her into the next thing God had for her. God will lead us into His darkness too as He changes our direction it may not be like Mother Theresa, but it will be so that we will be approved and can qualify for the next thing God has for us. This is God’s intention for us; to teach us, for us to be approved, and to be strengthened in the inward parts so that we can grow spiritually in knowing Him while we walk in through His darkness. Guess what the hidden riches and treasures are? That is right, God’s lessons, dealings and judgments in our lives in the “secret places” of our thoughts and heart. Guess who is waiting for us in the darkness? That’s right God. Yet it seems all of this does not change our frustration and the anguish we feel when we are not doing what we think we should be doing. The only way out is through the darkness. We must embrace it with all of our might and heart doing those things we can do. While in God’s holding pattern we started a monthly home group meeting and doubled up our efforts with our maternity clinic in Nigeria, the short wave station in Nepal, writings our newsletter, articles for our blog, and continued work of three books, and other initiatives the Lord has us involved with around the world. The way out is through the darkness. The way out is in. During this time of God’s dealings and judgments in our lives the closer we get into His heart the sooner we will get out of His darkness of not knowing. God told Moses, “Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:” (Exodus 33:21-22) Only near God is His glory. It is not wise to do a lot of running around in darkness. Standing still near Him is the place of safety and of knowing the direction you must go when God changes your direction.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Pal or Paren
By being our children’s “pal” instead of their parent we do them a grave disservice. The easiest thing in the world is to want to be our kids ‘pal, but as Christians we are held to a higher standard. Pals don’t correct each other, they support and comfort one another, and they try not to offend each other to a degree. There’s no authority in a pal relationship you’re both equal. God expects we parents to be the authority figure in our kids lives to extend the arm of correction to our kids. Being our children’s pal enables them to put forth the least amount of effort to get by and will bring shame to their parents, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Proverbs 29:15) Whereas a healthy respect and fear of parental disapproval will propel them further in life to fulfill the potential God wants them to live up to. Kids don’t need pals, they need guidance and a strong authority figure to respect and fear. If a child doesn’t respect a parents God-given authority how are they going to respect other authorities in their lives? How can they respect civil authorities, teachers, police, etc., etc. If we don’t expect and demand that they respect we parents at home? Ultimately how will they respect the authority of an invisible God? Respect is learned; it doesn’t come naturally, it has to be taught. It must be drilled into our children’s head. I’d much rather be a pal to my kids than an authority figure. I have found that it’s much easier to discipline kids if there is that respectful distance. The old saying familiarity breeds contempt is true. We don’t have to let our kids get too familiar and palsey walsey with us. If we don’t learn this lesson of respect and teach it to our kids woe unto us as we stand before God. Don’t even look for a pat on the back if you fail on this very important issue. It is imperative that wives respect their husbands, that respect or lack thereof can set your kids up for either success or failure. It took me a long time to learn this. I caused a lot of pain and strife in our family, and untold heartache to my husband because of my lack of respect. Be an example of a respectful wife to your children or YOU will reap a bitter harvest. And please respect isn’t just letting your husband say the grace at the table – don’t even play that phony game. Or say your husband is the head of the home when everybody can plainly see the opposite is the truth- shame on you. Our husbands are not here to step and fetch for us. We are to adapt to them and their schedules not the other way around! He is the head of the home and responsible to God Himself for the family. We women don’t always know what’s best – though we often act and think we do. The Bible says Eve was deceived, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1Timothy 2:14) The husband’s word should be law and the respect afforded him is NOT contingent on him being right or wrong. Respect is a deliberate and conscience decision to act in such a way as to honor the husband that God has given you to take care of. It is not honoring to a man for his wife to be in the pulpit either especially when he is not. God holds him responsible for ALL that goes on in the family. Our job as wives is to respect our husband whether he is wrong or right. It doesn’t matter. The respect must be there. God will deal with a husband if he is way off track. It may take a while, but that’s God’s job NOT the wife’s job. The wife’s job is to be obedient to her husband.
Anyway, back to the kids, if our kids don’t have respect and awe for us parents they won’t have any respect and awe for God. They’ll have this entitlement mentality that God loves them unconditionally (God is our pal) and they certainly won’t have the respect and awe of what was done on the cross for us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is why teaching our kids respect is of the utmost importance, along with obedience the two go hand in hand. Let your children see you address others by their formal names/title, how else will they learn if they don’t see you demonstrate it? If a policeman pulls you over, don’t start justifying yourself or be disrespectful. Yes sir, or no sir—comply with what he wants calmly and respectfully. Don’t grouse or henpeck your husband. Differing of opinions should be discussed out of ear shot of the kids. Keep your attitude right. God cannot and indeed will not move on our behalf if we act like idiots to those in authority over us—including our husbands!!!! Respect is a heart condition, however we must be lowly enough as Christians so when we are disrespected we don’t retaliate back. A person who doesn’t respect their parents will have a very hard time respecting their spouse and authority figures in their life. And this lack of respect will be passed down to their kids. Let me add a side note here and repeat that a respected parent will get more results with their kids than someone who is a pal to their kids. Mom if you’re a pal to your kids; STOP IT!! You are putting your husband in an awkward position of being the tough guy to always discipline the kids when they get out of hand. When the time calls for swift and hard parental action you’ll be too weak or too busy being a pal to do what is right and necessary—then it’ll be up to dad to be the big bad heavy. Not quite fair is it? The kids should respect both mother and father and the two should be on the same page concerning their kids, for you who feel “Well I don’t have to be respectful because….. (fill in the blank), be careful you are on dangerous ground. God is counting on YOU to raise those kids right, don’t let Him down.
Written by Karen Stahl
DEAR FRIENDS:
Back in January I heard many people speak blessing over other people and what they would like to see happen in the coming year, but that is not the way God operates. It is our commitment and dedication to God that will carry us throughout 2011 and beyond. It is our commitment and dedication that carries us in God, not His power and authority. We will only go in God (and even in God’s directed ministry) only as far as our commitment and dedication will carry us. Never forget when God speaks (especially in His spoken word) it is God intention for our lives. The reality of God’s word coming alive in our lives is up to us, not God His speaking is His intention what He desires to see in our lives. But whether or not it comes alive is up to us are we willing to meet the condition. Jesus says, “all things are possible” and this is true as long as we walk in the condition God has established for us to meet to be able to operate in the truth of all things being possible. We think God is going to supernaturally come and make us feel good, make us rich, or popular, but again that is not the way God operates. He comes as long as we do our part in meeting the condition of His appearing. Any other thinking is a humanistic, selfish doctrine where our self is the focus of attention. Please do not allow 2011 to be a ordinary year, God expects more from us. God expects us to operate in the truth (we have our part to play in God’s word) and power of His word in 2011. Let 2011 be a year in God (through your obedience and commitment to God) like no other.
Last year was a lean year financially, as God said, for BHG. I thank God for the folks that have had a heart for what God is doing through BHG to the world and in the lives of the people who are committed and dedicated to BHG. In my spirit I feel God is saying 2011 will be like 2010, but more dedication and commitment will be needed to get what you got last year from God. I feel resources will start flowing for the clinics (both in Nigeria and Ethiopia), radio station in Nepal, and yes travelling again, but not at the every other month schedule as in the past. God wants His best for our lives, but never forget God’s best comes out of our obedience not our wanting or religious practices.
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and Pastor Yanko. Times are troubled in Bulgaria and need much prayer.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastor George Ritisan at Lighthouse Church, and Ciprian Bozdod at the Mission Bible School. They too are expanding making more room for God and ministry to Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Asia.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Pastor Marcel at St. Andrews Church. St. Andrews is still a key brick in the wall of God to the nations of Eastern Europe.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support. Kenya has seen much change and experienced much upheaval, they need your prayers for safety.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs your prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
7. Financial support for the printing of “Wandering in the Wilderness: Call to Ministry.”
8. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
9. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
10. Major Robin McIntosh, Chaplin, Gatwick Airport, Salvation Army, London, England.
11. Monthly financial support Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
12. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
13. Pastor Sharief Ramsis, Khartoum Evangelical Church, (his Church) and their feeding and lodging ministry of the 1000s of children from the famine and war regions.
14. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), Mashuli Etienne, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda, and the plans for a Bible School and K-12 school.
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
I am still available to share what God has given me at churches and/or home groups. If God moves on your heart to bless the ministries I visit and share God’s love I would be honored to make it possible for God and you. God told Abram, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” (Genesis 12:3) If you want a blessing, then bless someone. Remember, God is to you what you are to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen Stahl
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Phone:
Home: (910) 741-0489
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Ministry E-mail: dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Personal E-mail: mtnebo@hotmail.com
Online:
Beholding His Glory Website
Beholding His Glory Blog
Our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration” has been published by AuthorHouse, where you can also purchase it online. You can also purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
Please take a minute and take a look, they all make for a great encouraging gift, giving hope and sharing God’s love through a deeper teaching that someone can enjoy again and again. All of our books can be purchased at all book stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Book-A-Million, and etc., any Christian Book Store that orders, and all book ordering on-line companies like Amazon.com. Or if you are like me from the old school just contact us, we will let you know the price, and then we will mail it out to your home address. Postage and handling is on a case by case basis.
We are projecting to use the royalties for: our maternity clinic in Aveile, Nigeria, radio station in Katmandu, Nepal, TB clinics in Ethiopia, and Lord willing the Bible Schools in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Congo, and to help publish more books. We have five more books at different stages of production. If you know someone you think would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Contributions to this ministry is always appreciated and needed the more time continues. Please feel free to contact us with the above information. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting to others is even greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible.
