Bill Randall Writes

“I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” (Psalm 116:14)

This is such a simple principle but packed with eternal implications. Keeping my covenant with God is dependent upon me living that life in the context of tangible encouragement from my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I think it was Dallas Willard who said; “Your relationship with God is personal but not private.” In other words, if I expect to live a “with God” kind of life, I’ve got to pursue that together with others who are pursuing that kind of life. Covenant keeping with God requires covenant making with others.

This principle holds true for the universal covenantal promises God’s people are to live in light of as revealed to all in Scripture, but also with respect to the more personal and specific things. For example, I have felt God calling me to write during this sabbatical leave, and so I’ve “vowed” to do so. That vow was first made to God and then communicated to others who I hope will encourage me along the way until completion. And so vows have to be clear in one’s own mind, then declared before God and his people…not unlike the way we pronounce vows at a wedding.

As I think about it, it might be critical for some to prayerfully consider if they are aware of any specific vows they may have made with God under His prompting. This relates to dreams and goals that a person has had in their life that have related to their relationship with God and the life He has made possible. When God has revealed a vision or dream we should follow up with making a vow…a promise to God regarding our intent to move toward that by faith. Perhaps thinking it through with something like this in mind:

“By God’s grace I vow to…”

“By God’s grace I vow to follow through on _____________.”

“By God’s grace I vow to give my life for the sake of __________________.”

Give this some thought and let me know what you think!
Bill

I recently finished a sermon series called, “Can You Hear Me Now?” It has been so encouraging for me to hear testimonies from numbers of folks in the church who are learning to hear God’s voice. May this not be something that we just visited as a church family and then moved on to something else. Hearing God’s voice is one of those staple disciplines and privileges that God has provided us so that we can stay intimately connected to Him and remain supernaturally plugged in to what He is saying and doing in the world around us.

Speaking of hearing God’s voice, this morning I received a message from a friend at church describing the exciting adventure he and his wife are on hearing God’s voice for the first time in their lives. Check this out;

“I feel a little like a giddie first year Bethel Student beginning to hear God’s voice for the first time – Funny huh? In the last three weeks my wife and I have experienced God’s voice A LOT and in a lot of different ways. Dreams, Words from others, Signs, Impressions, and even audibly. And oh yeah – The Bible is coming alive in a new and fresh way! Thanks for teaching the series and living it as well. Your sermons and testimonies were part of the inspiration for us to seriously pursue His voice.”

God is speaking. Are we listening?

“The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.” – Isaiah 50:4,5

You can listen to the “Can You Hear Me Now?” series or download it to your ITunes from the Risen King website at: http://www.risenking.org/podcasts/

“May God be gracious to you and bless you and make his face shine upon you, that God’s ways may be known on earth and his salvation among all nations.” – Psalm 67:1,2

What a great blessing for a king to speak over his people. Who would not want to be graced and blessed by God? Who would not want God’s face to shine upon them? David understood that people who encounter such blessing can be used by God to supernaturally reveal his ways on earth and bring his salvation to all nations! Blessing one another can serve as a conduit of God’s supernatural provision.

“Oh God, may we as your people today grow to appreciate the power of speaking a blessing over one another. Guide me toward being creative and consistent to speak your blessing over people as often as I have opportunity. And God, please pour out the tangible evidence of your blessing in our lives as we humbly speak such things, and learn to receive them, and walk in light of them. Amen.”

Why not experiment today with blessing someone?

I just read Isaiah 40:26-31. I highly recommend it! God’s call to me this morning is to lift up my eyes. To do this my eyes must be lifted from something in order to be focused toward the heavens and the One who reigns over all. The Israelites had plenty to worry and strive over, and God’s call to them was clear; “Don’t gaze at that which initiates worry and strife. Look to the heavens…to the One who created all things…to the One who is great in power and strength…who is everlasting and very generous!”

He gives strength the weary!
He increases the power of the weak!

And while everyone at times grows tired and weary, and even at times may stumble and fall – God promises to renew our strength when we put or hope in the Lord. And so to lift our eyes and look to the heavens, to the One who desires to be known and has made it possible to do so – this is the central act of putting our hope in the Lord!

I thought I would share a couple pictures that capture some of my special sabbatical moments so far. They both are pictures of vehicles. The first is the car rental I received at the John Wayne airport when I arrived on Monday…a Mercedes Benz! Because they ran out of cars in the size I reserved and I ended up waiting for a half hour or so for any car, the manager apologized and said I could have the Mercedes at the same price. Chalk that one up for an undeserved, unexpected blessing!

The second vehicle is the U-Haul that Whitney and Jill drove from Redding to Fullerton. Whitney will begin college classes in Fullerton in a couple weeks and will be living with Jill’s mom for the next season. This is an awesome new chapter for Whitney and we are really proud of her. Getting her settled has been my focused for the past couple days. Jill and I will fly home to Redding on Tuesday to a home and a city without any of our kids living in it. I’ve learned it’s possible to be happy and sad at the same time. This is one of those times.

Reading and reflecting on the Psalms is a staple part of my devotional life. I will be posting some of my thoughts and prayers related to my devotional reading. Perhaps these simple entries will encourage others.

“Your Love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.”
– Psalm 26:3

The first thing I need to examine if I am “not” walking in the truth is, “What is before me?” What has displaced God’s love being ever before me? The fruit of God’s love being ever before me is a consistent walk in God’s truth. This is God’s merciful, gracious, supernatural way of sanctification.

Well, on Monday I will be flying to Southern California to begin my second sabbatical while serving at Risen King.  I am so grateful for the sabbatical policy that the church has in place to ensure that our pastoral team has an extended period of time for rest and renewal every seven years.  Tim Kayser just returned from his first sabbatical and testifies that it was a very significant and needed time of emotional and spiritual refreshment and renewal for him.  I look forward to the same.  Unlike Tim I will not be taking all my sabbatical time all at once.  For example, I will be gone for four weeks and then back for three before leaving for another few weeks.  This way I can experience the benefits of a sabbatical leave and stay connected with the church family in a season when we are experiencing such significant growth.

During the first 10 days I plan to rest, read and write a book proposal.  The book I have in mind is called, “Just How Good Is The Good News?”  I hope to have this book written, along with a collaborative writing project I am working on with Tim Kayser, done sometime in the fall.  I certainly appreciate all your prayers and encouragement!

I will try to post a blog entry several times a week.  I hope you find them interesting and inspirational.  I plan to share with you details of my sabbatical journey, provide pictures and occasional video clips as well as devotional thoughts and quotes from my writing.

All the best!
Bill