I usually take this space to encourage others who are on this incredible journey of living deeply in God’s life and learn to share that relationally with others. I want to use it today for a bit of personal reflection and to ask for your prayers.
As many of you know I’ve stayed a bit closer to home this fall, feeling like God wanted me to step back from the busyness and complications that this journey has become. I had no idea what he had in mind, but having never had the desire to travel I found it an easy obedience. Any day I don’t drive through LA traffic or have to endure an airport security line is a good one. As 2004 draws do an end so does our tenth year at Lifestream. During that time I’ve had the joy of spending time with brothers and sisters all over the world in various stages of this journey—from just seeing the light at the beginning of the tunnel, to those walking in maturity and grace that has taught me so much.
It has been incredible season. My relationship with God has been strengthened and deepened in ways I could not have imagined. He has freshly introduced me to living in his rest, which I didn’t even know I’d lost in all the travel and trying to maintain three websites. He has also been expanding the borders of my freedom in kicking out some old fences that have long constrained me on this journey. I am so grateful. If you want to hear more of that process, listen to our Teaching of the Month which was recorded this past Sunday and expresses my heart in more detail.
It has also been a time to lay at the Lord’s feet these things we call Lifestream and BridgeBuilders to see what his pleasure would be with both of them in days ahead. And while I hoped this season would also lead to some fresh direction for my life vocationally, it has led to far less. It seems Father is inviting me more and more to walk in the simplicity of each day, pursuing the passion he puts on my heart and watching as his work unfolds. Instead of coming away with a fresh vision for Lifestream or BridgeBuilders I come away knowing that those are only tools in his hands. He is not asking me to build up those things, but to stay flexible in him and only use them in ways that will help others live this journey as well.
And in some time this past weekend with those brothers and sisters who share these things with me most directly, Jess only affirmed that we are to aggressively give our lives away to help people know the Father as he really is and to equip them to live as his church in this age. He wants us even freer to follow wherever he leads and to be more dependent on his provision in the going. To that end we felt he asked us to release He Loves Me as a free PDF download so that its message can travel around the world unrestrained and people can have access to it free of charge.
We have also put 84 hours of my audio teaching in mp3 format into a new Lifestream SuperDisc so that people can have access to those resources for only $25.00 plus shipping. We hope that will help equip and inspire many to sort out with Father how he is asking them to live in him and share that life with others.
It also means I will pick up traveling again in the New Year. Books and CDs can only take people so far. Taking the time to help people more personally in small groups and in one-on-one encounters are the most significant way Jesus modeled for us to pass this life on to others. As much as God has used others to expand my heart and encourage my life in him, I want to continue to do that for others. I’m not sure how all of this will sort out. I sense there are some new doors around the corner that I can’t even conceive today. I am completely at rest knowing that he will make them clear in his time.
It’s amazing how God has already confirmed these things through a number of other people, including some from overseas who are delighted to have access to He Loves Me. We have no idea how God will provide for these things, but he has demonstrated his faithfulness to do so over these last ten years. Sara and I do covet your prayers, however, for the clarity of Father’s direction and the courage to follow him wherever he leads us. That is also our prayer for you.
Just keep on a following Bro. Where He has led you in the past has produced fruit you might never know of. But for me all I can say is thanks for the faithfullness you have shown me and my family. The past few years of contact through your website, e-mails and more importantly, the times you have been our guest in our home, have been so instrumental in Father’s simplfying work in my life. I am sure the free release of ‘He Loves Me’ to those who want it, will touch many and help set them free from the bonds of religiousness.
I will add a bit of a testimony here also. I must because in a round about way it has to do with the work of Lifestream. I was pulled aside today at work by a co-worker who wanted me to go with her into the bathroom,( it’s the only place we have to do this sort of thing), and pray with the newest member of our team at Michael Isaiah. She was wanting to except Jesus as her Savior. Where Wayne figures in on this thing is helping me learn to take my hands off trying to make things happen and let Him do his thing. No more preaching, no more manipulating, no more coercing. Just live, love and follow. I have seen more people dicide to follow Him in a real way since this happened in me. I just sit back and enjoy watching the people around me as their lives are transformed in a real way.
Just keep on a following Bro. Where He has led you in the past has produced fruit you might never know of. But for me all I can say is thanks for the faithfullness you have shown me and my family. The past few years of contact through your website, e-mails and more importantly, the times you have been our guest in our home, have been so instrumental in Father’s simplfying work in my life. I am sure the free release of ‘He Loves Me’ to those who want it, will touch many and help set them free from the bonds of religiousness.
I will add a bit of a testimony here also. I must because in a round about way it has to do with the work of Lifestream. I was pulled aside today at work by a co-worker who wanted me to go with her into the bathroom,( it’s the only place we have to do this sort of thing), and pray with the newest member of our team at Michael Isaiah. She was wanting to except Jesus as her Savior. Where Wayne figures in on this thing is helping me learn to take my hands off trying to make things happen and let Him do his thing. No more preaching, no more manipulating, no more coercing. Just live, love and follow. I have seen more people dicide to follow Him in a real way since this happened in me. I just sit back and enjoy watching the people around me as their lives are transformed in a real way.
Wayne, the decision to ‘release’ He loves me is very great! I am also from ‘overseas’ (actually The Netherlands) and having no credit card or paypal and not much money, it’s so great to be able to read that book also.
In my environment (student youth group) there are a lot of people struggling with whether God loves them or not and how do you know for sure.
Just thank you for being who you are and for trusting in God to show Himself through you. I’m just beginning to learn to live in His rest, but it sets so much free and is so glorious.
I was talking recently with someone about the last year (I stopped going to church a year ago) and I saw that God has been so faithful. Things are not always easy, but He really never fails.
Wayne,
I do not know the details of how you support yourself and your family, but I want you to know that I am very encouraged by the decision to offer this resource free of charge. I think the Lord wants us to minister to others without cost to them. Being a "missionary", for one, I do not have a lot of extra resources to purchase things I’d like, and secondly, I know what it means to trust Father to provide what we need. And He has been doing that for me through others for 28 years.
Thank you, brother. I believe the Lord will bless this.
Tim
Wayne, the decision to ‘release’ He loves me is very great! I am also from ‘overseas’ (actually The Netherlands) and having no credit card or paypal and not much money, it’s so great to be able to read that book also.
In my environment (student youth group) there are a lot of people struggling with whether God loves them or not and how do you know for sure.
Just thank you for being who you are and for trusting in God to show Himself through you. I’m just beginning to learn to live in His rest, but it sets so much free and is so glorious.
I was talking recently with someone about the last year (I stopped going to church a year ago) and I saw that God has been so faithful. Things are not always easy, but He really never fails.
Wayne,
I do not know the details of how you support yourself and your family, but I want you to know that I am very encouraged by the decision to offer this resource free of charge. I think the Lord wants us to minister to others without cost to them. Being a "missionary", for one, I do not have a lot of extra resources to purchase things I’d like, and secondly, I know what it means to trust Father to provide what we need. And He has been doing that for me through others for 28 years.
Thank you, brother. I believe the Lord will bless this.
Tim
One more thing, I sure like to meet you if the Lord ever leads you to Moscow!
Tim
One more thing, I sure like to meet you if the Lord ever leads you to Moscow!
Tim