|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

God called David "a man after His own heart" because David's heart was after, or in pursuit of, God. David understood the fear of the Lord, and what it produced in a man's heart. Having "the fear of the Lord" meant David was loyal to God, seeking His opinion above all others. David said this is what made Him "clean", and God, by His words about David, demonstrated David got this right: Psalm 19: 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. David said the fear of the Lord helped Him love God's opinions (judgments) which are completely true and righteous. What set David apart was His loyalty to God's opinions. People are tempted to "give-in" to what others think of them, even being willing to be fake before the unseen God for a moment, in an effort to not disappoint men who they can see right in front of them. Men whose opinions they fear or want to influence. David...

Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” We are literally witnessing the beginning of Jesus' words in this passage being fulfilled. Many are perplexed by what is happening in the earth. Economically, naturally, politically, and socially, it is undeniable that we are living in increasingly intense times. Many are unsettled, at best, about what is occurring in the earth. This is only the beginning. Jesus told His disciples when these things begin to happen to "look up, for your salvation to draws near." For years...

There is something on Jesus' mind. There is a desire in His heart. It has been there since the beginning, before the first mountain was raised up, or light pierced the darkness. He prayed for it in the presence of His disciples. This was Jesus' prayer. This is what God prayed for: John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. From the beginning of time God has desired a royal family, united in love. The Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus enjoy such perfect agreement, love, and fellowship that they are One. Jesus' prayer ...

I often wish I could see Jesus, but Jesus said that my relationship with Him is even more "advantageous" than the disciples who walked with Him, saw Him perform numerous miracles, and even learned directly from Him how to hear God, cast out demons, heal the sick, and preach the truth! Jesus said I am more "advantaged" in my relationship with Him now, than His disciples were: John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I don't often feel like it is more advantageous to have Jesus "gone", but Jesus said this is true. He said this because Jesus ascend...

On the day I was born, there was a choice in front of me. I didn't realize it as a newborn, or even as a child or young adult, but all the while a choice lay before me. I was born into what was "normal" for me. You were born into what was "normal" for you. My normal was different than your normal. If you would have grown up next door to me, your normal still would have been at least slightly different than mine. Different traditions, different rules, different joys, different struggles and pain...these all mark what seems normal to a new person. The Bible says I was born once into eternity. What God brought into reality on the day Tom Stolz was conceived will never be destroyed. Every person is eternal, whether in a relationship with God through Jesus or on their own terms, the Bible says everyone is eternal and everyone is in some sort of relationship with God. We are at the beginning. In the face of eternity, 70 or 80 years is just getting started. From the ve...

Psalm 24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. There is a generation promised that will seek after the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart. A generation that will stand with the Lord on His Holy Mount. There is a generation called "Jacob" in Psalm 24 . This generation is the Pure and Spotless Bride of Revelation. This is the generation that seeks His face above all other things in a time of trouble...a time of wrestling, like Jacob at Penuel (Genesis 32:22-32). Jacob's story is one of the most perplexing stories in the Bible for me. Jacob cheated Esau out of the family blessing, the promise made to Abraham. He had foreign gods that he took with him, and mad...

God has fashioned my heart uniquely. No one else can give Him what I can. My thoughts taste different to Him. My obedience feels different to Him. My worship can only come from me. No one else can love Him like I do. The implications of this truth are massive for my own confidence in Jesus' desire to know me and to have me know Him. He is so committed to me. He has said "yes" to a relationship with me, and when I say "yes" to Him, I begin exploring what it means to know that the Author and Creator of everything is completely committed to me fully experiencing all my heart was created for. Jesus could wave His hand and accomplish everything He intends to. But, in His mercy and brilliance, God has chosen to include me, and all my brothers and sisters who will say yes to a relationship with Him, in what He plans to do. God has committed to partnering with people in everything He does on the earth: Psalm 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the e...