Gary L. Ellis

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise.  But, to many folks it does.  They want better things in life.  They’re hoping for a change in their circumstances.  The solution is as clear as the surprised nose on their faces.  It’s as common as common sense (that is…before common sense stopped being common).

Here’s the miracle working bit of wit and wisdom…

Doing more of the same produces more of the same.  

That little piece of sagacity (oh, sorry.  I’m trying to increase my vocabulary by learning new words and sagacity just slipped out of my brain and onto this post)  Let’s try it again…

That little piece of smartness has the ability to open the gates of new experiences.  Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it is to quip.  It takes a kind of resolve to start a new habit.

We’re creatures of habit and once a habit pattern is well entrenched through months or years of usage, a person has a “holy war” on their hands to make adjustments.  Not to mention the fact that we’re “comfortable” with the habitual road we’re traveling.  Even if it isn’t taking us anywhere more satisfying and productive.  But, there’s hope…

It’s not about changing everything about your daily life actions all at the same time.  The simple act of changing one habit has the inertia to domino effect into more of the needed changes.

The other important reality is that the Lord isn’t so interested in you taking on your own behavior modification by yourself without His involvement.  But, He also knows “we are but dust.”  The treasure we have, in Him, is located in an earthen vessel.

Therefore, the first thing is this:  You need to be CONVINCED that “more of the same produces more of the same.”  I suppose you could be sorta convinced.  It would just take longer.

Next you must engage the Lord in this quest.  (That one bears repeating…you must engage the Lord in this quest.)  Don’t fool yourself, the flesh and the devil are not going to assist you in a journey of doing anything that’s going better you in things that really matter.  Behavior modification as a solo act is self effort.  Self effort is flesh.  In fact, the flesh (especially flesh energized by the devil) may let you think it’s going pretty well…at first.  Then the flesh yanks on your chain…your weak spot, and {whip lash sound effect} you’re back where you started.  Except now you have a sore neck and are blaming God for it when you never got Him involved in the first place.

The third thing.  As you’ve committed all of this to the Lord.  Follow His lead.  Begin with the first thing that comes to mind…no matter how seemingly small.  And keep at it until you have a new habit in that area or action.  Habits literally only take three weeks to change.  The Lord may have you sticking with the one for the whole time, or add more little things along the way.  Literally, before you know it, you are experience a life that’s beginning to glow with different results.

One more quick word about prayer in the process.  I believe that the prayer of others…especially if you have a lot of confidence in them…can produce helpful results.  In fact, it’s really not a bad idea to have accountability partners on the journey.  Not to keep pointing out your failures, but to encourage you to keep moving forward toward the goal.

I also believe that there are cases in peoples lives where the issue is something more than an unproductive habit.  In fact it’s very possible there is a strong demonic bondage.  When that’s the case, I also believe that it’s very important to have people with a belief in power anointing to break yokes to pray into your situation.

However, in my 40+ years of ministry, I’ve seen far too many people looking to “a specialist” to set them free without the person, themselves, engaging with the Lord in the sometimes painful choices of the journey.  Their freedom lasts about as long as the emotion is present.  Then…back to ground zero.

More than likely, this is your thang to walk out and through with the Lord.  The advantage is that you’ll come out the other side knowing Jesus a whole lot better.

Blessings on your journey,

Gary

When the Bible was finished, God didn’t stop talking!

Growing up, I often heard – and also asked the question – “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?”  What was normally meant by the question was this:

“Have you asked Jesus to forgive you for your sins so that when you die will will have the right to go to heaven?”

Of course, there were shades of different meanings to the question, but it boiled down to a “forgiveness of sins” issue.  I don’t make light of that at all, but I discovered – to my great joy – a personal relationship with Jesus meant just that.  A one-on-one daily interaction (RELATIONSHIP) with Jesus – not unlike a person has with another person.

In the process of the growth of our relationship, I’ve discovered that God speaks in an infinite variety of ways.  The “language” I am learning to understand more and more clearly is His counsel through dreams.  To be honest, I really struggled with this at first.  Not so much that it’s a valid and current way He talks to me; But instead, understanding what He is saying.

Having the dreams is the easy part.  Everyone dreams every night whether you remember them or not.  Simply realizing that increased my recall quite a bit.  Today, I probably remember and interpret my dreaming in blocks of two or three nights.  Then, I will not recall anything for a few days…then another two or three nights in a row I do.

The thing is…as I am getting more proficient at understanding how dreams work – along with the assistance of the Holy Spirit – they are becoming a great, great blessing.  He is counseling me in the night seasons in a way that impacts me more deeply than just an academic approach (only using my thinking process to learn information ABOUT Him).

If you are at least a bit curious about how God may be counseling you in your dreams, here is a link to a site by a man that has been more helpful to me than any other.  There’s a lot of good information there for free.  Although my purpose isn’t to “advertise” Mark Virkler’s purchased material, you may want to consider it.  Go here now for free dreams information.

Gary

Listening with the ears of my heart.  That’s an art worth refining.

When we listen at all…most of us are good at doing it with the flaps of skin on the side of our heads.  And, we filter and measure the information we are hearing through our own set of predetermined standards of truth…our own bedrock of opinions.

In so doing, what an adventure of learning and journey of relationship we are forfeiting.  In other words – how shallow and anemic we are sentencing our lives to becoming.

Although it’s a solution with risk…there is an answer:

To develop the art of listening to others with the ears of our hearts.  Proverbs 18:15 in the message states this:

“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.”

In moving forward in – what is to many – a fresh new art form, at least four things are required in my attitude:

1. I don’t know everything about anything (even though I often think I do…if I’m being honest with myself)
2. He/she may likely know more than I do about any given idea…(even when it contradicts my pet doctrine)
3. It’s okay.  In fact it’s a virtue to truly believe I have things to learn…(that are even radically different than what I’ve previously thought was true).
4. God did not appoint me guardian of correct wisdom and doctrine.

Mix with those four realities a whoppin’ measure of desire to truly know what my fellow man thinks and why they think it.

If we listen with our hearts, we often discover a commonality with our brother/sister.  We begin to discern that they want what we want and they (normally) are on a quest to find a life that fulfills and fills full.

I’ve made it my 2012 quest to listen – more than ever – with the ears of my heart.  I botch it more often than I’d like, but I am improving.  And, my relationships are improving.  In fact, I’m finding others more and more willing to listen to what I have to say…to respect my opinion.  Because…they sense I’m respecting theirs.

Gary

I love this image of Jesus.  I know that Isaiah 53:3 prophetically refers to Him as, “…a man of sorrows acquainted with grief.”  However, Hebrews 1:9 says that Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy.

As I was working on an invitation postcard for my church, The Sanctuary of Davenport, IA, I came across this picture.  It visually demonstrates the message I want to convey.  Joy in Jesus.  Hope in Jesus.  Love in Jesus.

I love the phrase, “Daddy’s not mad.  You can come home.”  I believe this image of Jesus conveys that as well.

The caption will read:

“Come As You Are To Meet Jesus As He Is”

If you have a chance, come visit us as of November 6, 2011 at 230 W. 3rd St., in Davenport, IA. – 10:00am Sundays.

“The Church In The Coffee Shop”

Gary

Amen is such a great word.  I didn’t always realize how great.  I used to use amen as an exclamation of agreement or as the “period” on the end of my prayers.  Then I discovered the fuller meaning.

As a short and simple definition, amen, has the significance of declaring God’s faithfulness.  It’s like saying, “Lord, You’re faithful!”

So, when I used to end my prayer with amen it was sort of like saying, “Well Lord, I’ve made my prayer to You.  That’s about all I have to say for now.  Later.”

Now when I pray, the final word amen means (what it actually means).  Lord, I’ve made my petition and the last thing I want to declare is my confidence in the fact that “You Are Faithful” [Amen].

Regarding my saying amen with someone’s great testimony or statement with which I agree, I now say amen as another opportunity to ascribe faithfulness to the Lord.

Why does this make all that much difference?

To me, it’s important to use every opportunity – in ways big and small – to “salt” our environment and hearts with affirmations to the greatness of God.  It gives Him honor, and it helps us keep our minds thinking on the “right stuff.”

Gary

• You can learn to be a part of the Transformation Generation whether you are 18 or 80!
• You can be revived in signs and wonders as a life-style!
• You can be anointed with joy above your brethren!
• You can take the “secret place” to the “market place”!
• You can learn how to be naturally supernatural!
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• You can find out details by (clicking here now)!

Gary

Although it’s wisdom to discover who you are, what motivates you, and how you’re uniquely gifted…many (including you) have been surprised to uncover things about themselves they didn’t realize.  “Things” they discovered are actually “really them.”

I’ve been reading the blog adventures of one of my friends, Karen Swank, whose been finding out some things about herself that is actually more who she really is that she thought she was.  She’s realizing she is enjoying doing things she swore she’d never like doing….because….those things (she thought) were “so not her.”

Karen used to live in a little town south of the Quad Cities.  She’s now staff person at a JPA (Jesus People America) house in Chicago, living with and doing practical ministry among the marginalized of society.

As I was reading one of Karen’s recent blog entries explaining this very issue about herself, I began pondering it’s application to me and so many others that may have trapped themselves behind an incorrect judgment about themselves.

In Karen’s case (and probably more often than not with anyone) her circumstances put her in an environment where she had few options but to be involved in things that she originally thought “weren’t her.”

My question for you and me is this:

Do we receive special measures of grace that actually change us…or…does the grace reveal how God actually made us, and uncover who we are?  And…has the “toxic waste” of our flesh been lying to us all along keeping us blinded to the God designed persons we actually are?

Perhaps there’s buried treasure “in them thar’ hills” of our God designed souls.  Treasures full of pleasures!

What have you experienced?  Please share with us in the comments.

Karen’s closing comments in that day’s blog was this:

“It is a delicious thing at 45 to continue discovering day by day that God is nowhere near finished growing me, changing me, and showing me who I really am.  I can’t wait to see what else He’s got in store.”

Gary

Islam, Muslim, Allah.  The Islamic Brotherhood. Egypt.  Middle East.  Shariah Law.  Quran. Bible.  Jesus.  God. Where is the truth that fills the inner void?  I post this testimony and experience of a lady from Poland and how she discovered freedom.  It came, not from discussing or arguing religion, but as she says, “discovering salvation.”  Here is that first hand account from one who walked the path and found the answers.  It also give great insight into how to evangelize and pray:  Watch and then comment.  Thanks.  Gary

Although I’m a strong believer in the reality of “the process,” God has more “tricks in His bag…or up His sleeve” than expecting us to work everything out the slow way. They are the “suddenlies” of God. The “in the blink of an eyes” moments. Sometimes they come gently but profoundly. At other times the “suddenly spontaneous outpourings” have a shaking awesomeness to them.

I believe there may be at least two reasons for this (maybe 3…or ever more…after all He’s God):

1. The “process” can become a very slippery slide where we get undue credit for the outcome.  After all…look how “we” worked it out.  Instead of it being a grace process, it becomes a means of pride.
2. There are issues in our lives that will not or can not be touched any other way than sovereign acts of grace.
3. He desires to expand our horizons of possibilities with Him…see things that stretch us and grant us permission to believe and expect within the “ordinary of our lives.

I mean…He’s God, man!  He’s GOD.  Not just a really refined, really powerful, really exceptional HUMAN.

We had one such moment of an encounter of the gentle but profound kind this past Sunday at my church, The Sanctuary.

As an unplanned part of the worship flow, the worship team spontaneously “switched it up” into a Blues mode.  The instantaneous sense that washed over the congregation was one of freedom, joy, and release from depression.  People testified to the fact.  It was one of those God Winks that wasn’t planned, but an breakthrough expression of His smile as we worshipped Him.

Here’s just a quick sample taste of what we experienced:

What “God Winks” or “Suddenlies” have you experienced? Share in the comments: Don’t forget to subscribe by email or RSS.

Gary

“I do my best…er…well, most of the time.”

“If my life wasn’t so stressful”

“If I wasn’t always so busy…I mean…I’d like to get more involved, BUT…”

Check this out from Worship House Media:

Gary