Words of Life

Pure words are very rarely heard among the people of this world. Even while a well intended and meaning person may attempt to speak with complete truth and honesty the ability to really do so is fleeting. It is not for lack of effort or desire that this challenge exists. So many of us really want to be completely transparent, honest, and loving with one another, and at times we are. Most often I fear there remains, however small and minute, a measure perhaps of pride or insecurity, or maybe anxiety, or even selfishness. I know at least this has been true of me, but I do not think this to be an uncommon reality. Even the great writers of the Bible spoke of the need of being refined. They recognized that they were not unlike jewels and precious metals concerning purity. They often used the image of a metal worker refining silver to describe their (and our) need for refinement.

In our world today, a premium is paid for drinking water that has been purified. It is water that has gone through intricate and thorough filtration processes, sometimes repeatedly, all in an effort to extract the smallest germ, bacteria, or particle so that the water can be considered pure. These are those which mostly can only be seen through the lenses of a microscope. Yet, if they can be found, even in the smallest of numbers, the water cannot be labeled as pure. Our words are like that. They often contain ill feelings and thoughts that are veiled by the sounds actually formed by our mouths. Oh, we don't intend for this to be how it is with one another, but we cannot help what is really felt deep down, which is the reason that we so desperately need the Refiner's touch. And isn't that interesting? This Refiner of people, the One who takes us as we are and cleanses us, bringing His skilled and gentle strengthening touch is also the One well accustomed with purity.

I love the way David writes about this in the twelfth Psalm. In verse six he writes, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” While true purity of speech ever remains a challenge for people, well intended as we may be, it has never been a challenge for Jesus. His words are life giving, rich and abounding with blessing. They are filled with hope and peace. Reassurance and rest are found in them. Truth and honesty are at their core where love also abounds. They flow from His lips more pure than the highest mountain stream. There is no guile, no deceit, no insecurity or anxiety in them. They contain no pretense, no false humility, no pride or arrogance, no lie is found in them whatsoever. Evil and wickedness, all that defiles, anything untoward could never enter into His speech.

It is for the Lord's efforts alone that pure speech can be found at all, sometimes through the voices of believers, but always by His Spirit. May we cling to the words He's spoken to us, centuries ago, which saints long ago captured and wrote upon scrolls of parchment. May we embrace the words His Spirit speaks to our souls still today and may our ears ever be open to Him. And may we allow our own mouths and tongues be instruments for His pure words to flow to one another.

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6

A Season of Change

I listened to the minister speak of a preferred future verses God's promised future as I drove through Merced, CA the other day and I could most definitely relate. He talked about a number of major transitions in his own life, and others' lives, in which there was always a preferred future that he expected to unfold. This was an attempt at a picture and a plan to get to the place the Lord had some time earlier spoken of concerning him. However, the Lord had other ideas in mind, another plan to unfold that was necessary in order to bring him into the future He had promised rather than the one the minister preferred. He found that when he waited for the Lord to lead him through the change instead of pressing ahead with his own plans he experienced something far better, far more grace-filled, and blessed than anything he could have devised.

This morning I consider the past 11 years of my life with a different perspective than I had just 1 year ago. There have been many many changes my family and I have walked through which no doubt would have gone without God's blessing (there is a difference between provision and blessing) had we not waited upon Him. I quickly remember praying for the Lord to bring me companionship, but not just that, a bride who would honor Him first of all and would together walk with me alongside Jesus. The Lord completely blew me away when He blessed me with Charis' hand (8 years now). He promised with each of our children that He would teach me how to love them as they needed, to be the father He desired me to be. Then, there were jobs the Lord brought my way, each one I hardly felt qualified to hold. There have been very meaningful, sometimes tender, conversations which required special care and attention. All of these required in one way or another me to wait upon the Lord, sometimes just for the sake of timing, but often because of what He was doing behind the scenes. Although I believe I've understood this value of waiting upon Him I now have new appreciation for it as we seem to be experiencing it in an entirely different dimension.

It was nearly a year ago when the Lord first spoke to Charis and I about moving away from Utah and into California to connect with another church family. I immediately recognized I would need a new job, my daughter a new school, and something that has proved to be the hardest part of all. We would be leaving the most precious church family we'd ever known. Some of the dearest people in the world to us, and closest friends, would of course remain there while we set out for some place unknown to us then. Yet, we knew with certainty what the Lord had spoken, so unmistakable was His message to us. We began to prepare ourselves as well as we could for the eventual transition. However it would be about another 3 months before we were sure of the place God was leading us. In January we drove out to Bakersfield, CA, as it seemed this was where He had in mind for us. By the time we left there, after attending several services and spending time with some of the folks from this new church, we knew this place would eventually be our new home.

It was both a great relief to actually know where we'd be moving to as well as a deep sadness because it represented a further assurance that we would indeed be leaving the place we had called home for so long. For whatever reason I had expected everything to move very quickly after that visit. However, it felt like anything but quick. First, we tried selling our house on our own. After 3 months of trying this, and without anyone coming to see it, we finally decided to call our friend Mitch, and have it listed. After about 2 months, and 6 or 7 showings, we finally had an agreed upon offer.

Still, there was still the matter of finding a job. I had done numerous job searches but could find very little in or near Bakersfield, in my line of work. Somewhere around March a couple of folks talked to me about the possibility of working from home and with 1 of the businesses who are a part of the organization I supported. This sounded like a great idea and after talking it over with my wife, and praying about it, I told them I'd be interested if such a possibility presented itself. Well, it would be about 3-4 months before there was anything concrete. In the meantime I had taken a voluntary demotion so that my replacement could be trained. Then, as we approached our closing date on the sale of our home the job finally came through. Whew, talk about last minute!

When the dust finally settled (for the most part) we had landed in Merced (about 2.5 hours north of Bakersfield) so that we could be near to some very close family here while we began looking for homes down the road. We had determined several weeks earlier that we would home-school our little girl for now and through the moving out/in process we crazily figured it was the right time to start. There were definitely a few bumps early on, but we felt this was the route the Lord wanted us to take for her schooling, at least for now, so we persisted. Thankfully, a few weeks into Charis and Caitrin have begun to hit a groove.

Some of our dust will continue settling for sometime now I'm sure, especially considering we haven't made it all the way to Bakersfield just yet. However, the Lord has been abundantly gracious to us. Even in the midst of all this change, our lives truly feeling uprooted, He has continued to work things out for us in such a way that has become increasingly clear that our waiting upon Him has been very important. Early on in this process He spoke to me a passage from Psalm 37. He told me to "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him". I continued to speak this to me throughout the entire process, and each time there was a sense that He wanted to do something within me.

So, while I couldn't control the pour housing market, the lack of jobs, or simply the difficult timing of it all I could do one thing. I could repeatedly yield myself to His plans and his timing. This I've chosen to do and will continue to. While He's worked out some very cool things for us in terms of practical needs, the most valuable things have been the changes I've sensed within. This has also been some of the hardest change, as it's required the depleting of my pride and selfishness and stretch my faith, and then stretched it some more.

Still, I will continue to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. For, as the minister spoke of a preferred future verses God's promised future while I drove through Merced I knew exactly what He was talking about.

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord,

and wait patiently for him

Psalm 37:6-7a

Two Shepherds

For six weeks I watched a beautiful transformation take place and the Lord allowed me a place of honor, up close, taking it all in. No picture captures it more perfectly than one particular scene from Pastor Mark and Cheryl’s sending off party.

Much of the evening had been spent honoring the two of them, but this one portion epitomizes both Pastor Mark’s and Pastor Robert’s heart. They were both welcomed up front, fittingly to the altar, along with our longest active member and a very dear friend, Ginny Dominquez. She first stood before Mark, with a shepherd’s staff in her hands, a symbol of how faithful, tenderly, and lovingly he had served this family of believers for 15 years. She spoke to him about the way he’d lived out these virtues before us and how thankful we’ve been for his care. The staff was then extended to him and embraced before being offered back to Ginny and then transferred to Robert. Words of welcome, holy expectation, and trust were offered to him, believing God had brought about this change, this transition of shepherds over a flock. Robert then also embraced the staff and humbly accepted the responsibility. Tears were in his eyes and gratitude was on his lips for Mark, who’d walked so close beside him these last six weeks, and for the Lord’s call and for the family welcoming.

It was simply the most beautiful and emotional transfer of leadership I’ve ever witnessed, rote with care and concern for one another, mutual respect and true brotherhood. Yet, it was not a scene which unfolded in that moment alone. For those six weeks (the first two of these occurring before either of them knew what would transpire) I watched and walked near them. There were many early morning meetings, at Starbucks of course, which really centered in their heart-filled exchange about our church family, listening together to what the Lord was saying. There was perhaps the most wonderful family camp we’ve ever held. At one point Mark and Cheryl were prayed for by the entire church (a moment I sadly missed). There were times of concerned conversations for each other and those they had been called to care for. I watched as they both served each other in prayer, counsel, and even in work. All along they were of one heart, mind, and spirit.

They walked together so well through this transition, as dual shepherds of a single flock because God had graced them and because they were both set upon loving God with all they had and loving others well. Yes indeed, I had a very privileged place of honor near them both as they walked along. However, it was not my privilege alone. This journey, taken by two shepherds was not done in private, as though isolated from those they cared for. It was walked out in front them, lived out free of pride or shame, or any other ill thing. It was walked out openly because it was ordained of the Lord, and those of us a part of this church family can all attest to the privilege of witnessing the beauty of their six week journey together. Thank you Pastors Mark and Robert for giving us such an example.

Soul Revolution

"For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain"
-Apostle Paul


While this is a truly revolutionary thought I've read these words many many times, yet today they are illuminated in my soul with the light of Holy Spirit revelation, like a torch burning in a dark night. To read this chapter (Philippians 1) quickly might likely cause some to think of Paul as a braggart. He seems full of himself if you don't listen closely. On the other hand, when you take your time and allow God to lead you, even quietly whispering to you as you read, you instead find something else all together. Paul speaks to those people, the Church at Philippi, with a deep and profound love and from a heart of compassion for them. He writes to them with concern, as they are beginning to endure persecution for believing.

Paul knew a little something about persecution. Since turning Christ and choosing to serve him he endured nearly constant suffering. So he begins to share with them what he's learned. I don't believe his intent is to speak of how great he is either. On several occasions he freely speak of his own weaknesses and inability to follow Christ as well as he would like (in others of his letters). Furthermore, he writes this letter as a prisoner of Rome. No, he is most certainly not writing as an arrogant and proud man. He is purposing to show them how to endure their challenges with victory and peace.

And so we come back to this statement, "For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain." In other words, "Friends, it is of no concern whatsoever to me what happens to this physical body. My life is not mine anyway. It has been given to Christ and so if I go on living it is really Him living through me. If I do not, well this I am also unafraid of, in fact I embrace this because it means I will be home with my Daddy, my Abba, my Savior, and those friends and believers who before me. I will be before the throne of the King of all creation." Sure, that's a lot to infer from this one statement, however I really do believe this is the thrust of the overall passage. And as I considered these ideas underlying the message Paul was communicating to these beloved friends that's when I was struck with a deep sense of awe as well as conviction.

As a I said before I believe Paul was writing to honor and glorify God rather than anything in himself. Yet, when I attempted to apply them to my own life they didn't seem to fit. I am far too often moved by fear. There remains too much in the way of pride in me. While others may not see it I know it's there for I can sense it and feel it. Quite simply there remains too much of self in me to write the kinds of words Paul wrote with any honesty or sincerity. Still, that is exactly what I desire, to be able to declare to those in desperation, those in need, those longing for answers from God, that "I too have struggled and endured hardship but not lost hope because my life is bound to Christ. If I live on, whether in hardship or comfort, it is "Christ who lives in me. And if I die whether in the midst of trial or beyond it will be of great gain to me."



Oh Lord, I pray You so transform my life that if I were to say the kinds of things Paul declared they would not only be true but would minister to and encourage others the same way You have encouraged and challenged me today through the words of Your servant Paul. In Jesus name I pray...Amen.

Turning Again

Why can't I seem to keep from planning my own way?
The Lord says to keep going straight, or maybe just to wait,
but I still seem to drift and wander astray.

There's a pride that dwells inside me
from which I can't seem to escape
It speaks so subtly but grips me just the same

Deliver me from the enemy I can never see
the one that never seems to leave
Set me free from the binding cords of self oh God

Now with eyes set upon glory so true
My ears bent toward the clear call of grace
Now will I turn and run again after You

Simple Profound Love

I heard these words today as I attended the Men's IGNITE conference in Layton, Utah. They were words spoken to a man who was in desperate need of a word from His heavenly Daddy. He'd gone away for a weekend in search of solitude, but more importantly a profound sense of a personal word of God to Him. Instead, what He heard the Lord speak was so basic and simple that he felt tempted to dismiss it, or put his own spin on it. Thankfully he did not, and as he began to share it with others he realized it was a simple AND profound message which the Lord wants many to hear. For some it comes as a much needed reminder of how God truly feels about and cares for us. For others it may be the most revolutionary idea they've never before heard, but always needed to receive.

These words truly ministered to me today and I pray they do you as well.

I love you ____(insert your name here).

My plans are good.

Stay close to me.

~Vince D'Acchioli

Chasing Trust

I love my dog. His name is Chase and he's a half-yellow lab, half pit bull, mix who's as energetic and loving as any dog I've ever seen. Although I would never trade him for any other four footed beast some of his habits can really gnaw on me. One of these is his unbending propensity to search out every last stray stick, or simply low hanging branch, in the back yard and upon finding the softest thickest part of the lawn to lay down and proceed to shred them to pieces. After he's through I've got the perfect place for yet another fire pit (okay, so perhaps I'm exaggerating a little, but not much).

Somehow though, this tale wagging friend of mine taught me a very valuable lesson while in the midst of one of his lumber consuming tirades. You see I had been struggling off and on for at least weeks with trusting God to accomplish something He'd spoken to me. I never questioned the content of His direction to me, or even the reasons, simply the timing. As it turns out the timing isn't that simple after all. I'd felt fairly certain about the time frame I thought things would be worked out in. Yet, the date on the calendar has steadily approached with no sign of the change I've been awaiting. All along I've heard the Lord whispering to me to remain patient and to continue trusting Him.

Still the effort to "help God out" with the details has seemed truly necessary at times. Of course it really wasn't, but hadn't I patiently waited the prescribed time already? I mean really, I've watched those calendar pages change a few too many times already. So clearly it's time for action. The more focused I became on the specific time frame of this thing being accomplished the more my peace and joy were stripped from me just like the shreds of bark in Chase's teeth. I really do think it was about the time I saw him doing this one afternoon and it was as if God whispered to me, "You haven't really been trusting me at all, have you? The more anxious you've become the more you've allowed yourself to be chewed on and your peace is devoured. No, you need to be like one of those trees back there. They're firmly rooted and their branches extend covering nearly your entire yard. But they didn't start that way did they. It took time. Trust me."

I don't know about you but I don't want to live in a way that finds me constantly chasing the ideal of trust. I would much rather live in trust of Him who is utterly and completely trustworthy.

Have you been living day to day with peace, or is anxiety more prevalent? Would you prefer to be like the sticks in my backyard sought by my dog, or would you rather by like the trees firmly rooted and flourishing? Truly trusting Jesus, daily and with everything, can alone bring you the peace your soul needs.