Thoughts from Jamie

The Bible uses a number of metaphors to describe our relationship to God at various stages. If you’ll notice, they ascend in a stunning way:

Potter and clay. At this level we are merely aware that our lives are shaped—even broken—by a powerful hand. There isn’t much communication, just the sovereignty of God at work.

Shepherd and sheep. At this stage we feel provided for, watched over, cared about. But beyond that, a sheep has little by way of true intimacy with the Shepherd. They are altogether different creatures.

Master and servant. Many, many believers are stuck in this stage, where they are committed to obey, but the relationship is mostly about receiving orders and instructions and carrying them out.

Father and child. This is certainly more intimate than being a servant; children get the run of the house, they get to climb on Daddy’s lap. These fortunate souls understand God’s fatherly love and care for them. They feel “at home” with God.

Friends. This stage actually opens up a deeper level of intimacy as we walk together with God, companions in a shared mission. We know what’s on his heart; he knows what’s on ours. There is a maturity and intimacy to the relationship.

Bridegroom and bride (lovers). Here, the words of the Song of Songs could also describe our spiritual intimacy, our union and oneness with God. Madame Guyon wrote, “I love God far more than the most affectionate lover among men loves his earthly attachment.”

Where would you put your relationship with God? Why did you choose that “level”? Has it always been that way?

Last night I was able to play music again, to an audience somewhere around 200. I always feel creative after pouring my heart, sweat, and soul into each note and solo played. I can’t recreate the show last night for you to experience the feeling of creativity, but I can share this site with you that I ran across a few days ago. Even watching it now I have to restrain myself from leaving my job to go and create music.

I present to you, In B Flat.

Todays song comes from Andrew Peterson and is about one of my all time favorite places, Alaska. Many are experiencing darkness in their lives, both figuratively and literally, but the promise of tomorrow brings hope to our current situation. May the words and music of AP bring a glimmer of that light to you this day.

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We touched down on the sound
At the top of the world
In the land of the midnight sun
Where the frozen river melts away
And breaks into a run
Into the sea, into the mighty waves
That waited just to see it
From a long way off that river thawed
And the tide ran out to meet it
“Welcome home, unfrozen river, welcome home”

‘Cause all shall be well, all shall be well
Break the chains of the gates of Hell
Still all manner of things will be well

See the quiet hearts of the children of
The children of this land
They have stayed alive in the day-long night
By the fires that warm their hands
There is a wilderness inside them
It is dark and thick and deep
And beside the fire at the heart of that wood
Is a precious missing sheep
So go on in, hold your torch, let it shine

‘Cause all shall be well, all shall be well
Break the chains of the gates of Hell
Still all manner of things will be well
All shall be well, all shall be well
The Word of God will never fail
And all manner of things will be well

There’s a light in the darkness
There’s an end to the night

I saw the sun go down on a frozen ocean
As the man in the moon was rising
And he rode the night all full and bright
With his face at the far horizon
And the night can be so long, so long
You think you’ll never get up again
But listen now, it’s a mighty cloud of
Witnesses around you—they say
“Hold on, just hold on
Hold on to the end
And all shall be well”

I wanted to start featuring songs that I love on my blog. This first song comes from Andy Osenga’s Letters to the Editor, VOL II. I’m quite fond of this album because one of my life stories is featured in one of the songs. More on that in another post. This song however is a fun little tune. Hope you enjoy!

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I have recently been called “dearheart”, a combination of words that cause a poignant response deep within your soul. God led me to look up the exact definition this morning…

an affectionate soubriquet for the person that has woken your heart and dispelled your misgivings about the world at large.

It reminds me that we are able to love because we were first loved by our Father God. The result of being loved by our Dearheart allows us to be dearhearts for the rest of the world. May this ring true within your own life this day.

I’ve been preparing some songs for this Saturday’s performance. Someone suggested that I cover a Jon Foreman song, so the hunt began for the right song. I listened through all of his Seasonal EP’s last night and was captured by the beauty of this song. I am captured because it is my daily song, my prayer, my cry. I am captured because this is reality. I had to share. For more information on Saturdays show, click here..

Heavenly Father, You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come in my world, and in my life
Give me the food I need to live through today
And forgive me as I forgive me the people that wrong me

Lead me far from temptation, deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window, the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune, or out of place

I walk to the meadow, and stare at the flowers
That are dressed in any girl on her wedding day

So why should I worry? Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need, You know what I need

Your love is, your love is, your love is, strong

The kingdom of the heavens, is now advancing
Invade my heart, invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens is buried treasure
Would you sell your self to buy the one you found

Two things you told me, that you are strong
And you love me, yes, you love me…

Your love is, your love is, your love is, strong

Our God in Heaven / hallowed be thy name above all names
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread, forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far from our vices and deliver us from these prisons

I was driving to house church this past sunday morning, taking my new route down a scenic country road. My thoughts were on my mom and her death four years ago yesterday. There were fields on my left and right, golden stained from the fall sun, trees with aging leaves putting on a glorious show as their days come to an end. God spoke simply and quietly to my heart, death is beautiful..

I remember hearing this four years ago when my mom passed away. I knew it to be true ever since, but there was something about the magnitude of this reminder. This really put my heart in a state to celebrate her life on earth, her death, and her new life.

I met my sister in Boone yesterday for an outdoor lunch overlooking miles of mountain peaks. Because of God’s whisper to my heart the day before, it ended up being one of the best November 3rd’s that I have had in the last 4 years.

“So Hold on to the promise, the stories are true, My Jesus makes all things new “
— Andrew Peterson, All Things New

There is something about rainy days that just fill my heart with joy. It is even more special when the weather begins to cool and fall approaches. Sadly, the majority of the people I know would disagree with my pleasure in such “nasty” weather.

I often wonder why I feel so alive when it rains. As I think back I can recall special memories that involve rain, and those will last forever. There was the time as a 10 year old boy when I was riding my bike through the neighborhood. It was practically the best day ever and out of nowhere a thin band of rain came over and passed in a matter of seconds. Then there were the times of running at cross country practice with the guys - stomping through mud, laughing, and living in the moment.

When I lived in Alaska for the summer of 2004 I would walk to one of the churches we were working with in Juneau. One day there was a steady rain, as is common in the rainforest. It was beautiful. That summer began at First Baptist in Juneau and the pastor would start each morning with a song.

It’s a beautiful day / And I thank God for the weather / It’s a beautiful day / I’m living it for the Lord / It’s a beautiful day / And things are going to get better / Living each day on the promises in God’s word.

It’s a beautiful and catchy song that gets stuck in your mind, and what better truth to keep in your mind. So no matter what weather you’re facing, be it literally or figuratively, may you find the joy to live in the moment and lean on the promises of God.

After graduating college I left on an 8,000± mile journey across these great states. My life was filled with playing shows, eating fast food, driving, sleeping in crummy hotels, and sometimes even in the car. All of these were great memories, but he most memorable moments during that journey were found in the people that I met along the way.

Last night after I played at a local church we went out to eat. I realized during this time how much I missed those moments of engaging with new people - in new places. From the great folks in Brownsville, TX, to the people at Calvary Chapel in Tempe, AZ, or spending hours with a house full of college students sharing our life stories and songs that we have written in Fortuna, CA; these are just a few of the memories and new friendships that will remain for a lifetime.

This was God bringing up something even more deeper to my mission. It’s something that I have felt strongly for the past few years but have been worried about the provision. It’s interesting to see how God instructs me on trusting Him for provision before this next step becomes clear.

The calling that God put on my life in 1998 was clear. God was going to use me to reach people for Christ and make their lives better, it was my initial call into missions. Here I am today as a missionary with New Wilderness Adventures. These last two years I have stood back in the shadows as a supporter and behind the scenes guy for everything going on with the ministry, while gaining back more of my heart. While I was doing that God was growing a deep desire within me to travel and minister to guys along the way, maybe even taking guys along a journey with me. I’m not sure of the details but I do know that this desire is going to come to fruition in the near future. This is part of my own ministry and mission within the umbrella of New Wilderness.

The shadows of time point to today, and today is the time to step out of the shadows.

The previous blog is a joyous time for me. It’s stretching me on my journey as a young man, as a follower of God. It’s not an easy road paved with flowers. There are trials, there are tough times, there is an enemy who is set out to kill, steal and destroy everything that is good about who I am.

When I wrote that I felt abandoned, that is a lie of the enemy. That has been the assault over my entire life. Things being taken from me, resulting in me feeling alone. Out of that assault I have developed the false belief that I can not ask anyone for support as a missionary, I will always get rejected and turned down. That was the majority of my experience when I tried to fundraise in the beginning.

Now that I’m at this transition part, it’s all coming back to the surface. With God leading me to stay with the ministry, I will have to raise funds, and that is a scary thing for me. Those lies aren’t true, because I have people to rely on, I have a God who will supply for me all of my needs. That is why I shared the story about my shaving cream bottle… God was teaching me a parable in person about how he provides.

don’t fret over the false belief that I am in some way suffering, for I am not. However, if God does bring something up within you after reading this then I would ask you to consider partnering up with me and the mission to reach people for Christ. Would you consider giving - not that bills are paid - but that we as missionaries would be equipped abundantly to reach more men and families for Christ. If you would like to donate, visit www.newwildernessadventures.com/ and click on donate.