Tom Sipling

The Road Less Traveled

2010-02-22T05:28:00.000-08:00

The Journey of True Grace in My Life

“...We have seen His glory the glory of the one and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (1 John 1:14)

Grace for some reason has been on my heart quite a lot lately. It seems most of us can come up with an intellectual definition of grace but do we have a revelation of this grace that came through Christ. Intellectually we would say something like...”getting what we don’t deserve” defines grace. There is truth upon truth in that statement but living that to its fullest is another thing! Jesus came to us full of grace! There are two sides to this equation in wrestling with grace. On the one side is living a life leaning toward law and on the other side is the abuse of grace. Lately I have been reading Galatians and Paul’s view on the subject. He thrashes the thought of continuing in the law and exhorts his followers to embrace the idea of grace through faith. As a result of our grace not being perfect and still being people who are in process we quickly realize this is a life long journey of discovery. There is grace for this process! There are times when grace seems to be out of my grasp because of my deficit in understanding the depth of love from my Dad. This scenario is what propels me toward knowing Him more and more each day. Some days that pursuit is more alive than others.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God----and not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:6-9)

I vividly remember two moments in the last ten years when the incomparable riches of his grace was deeply needed and my pursuit of it wasn’t an option at least in my opinion. The first time was the day we lost all income and I had not a clue how we were going to make any payments going forward. Those were days when I would prayer walk everyday through our neighborhood in Mechanicsburg, Pa. and cry out one sentence...”Father please give me grace for my finances”. Was there a temptation to run around and tell everyone I knew about our situation?...YES! I instead found great comfort in crying out to my Dad for grace. Grace came in waves over the next year in the area of finances like I had never experienced before or since. There were more four and five figure checks handed to me in that season. It was pure crazy! I could only let tears well up in my eyes each time grace was poured out. You can go the route of calculating how you will pay your bills and make great effort but this was to be a profound demonstration to me of Dad’s grace.

The second time was when I received the phone call that I had cancer. Again I remember being drawn to my Dad’s grace when fear wanted to grip my thoughts as tightly as a Mom grabs their child’s arm when they are in trouble. It is amazing how quickly we run to our Dad in trial and tribulation to find the grace that fills Him! It was grace that would pull me through these dark days in my journey. In all honesty, there are still days where a war takes place in my thoughts to fully grab the grace over my health. This area more than any other is a huge challenge in my journey. GRACE IS SUFFICIENT even without medical insurance since leaving to come to South Africa. Was it foolish to leave the States with no Plan B? Some would say absolutely but I am learning Dad’s grace in immeasurable ways!

Paul says in Galatians 3: 3, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Quite the interesting thought for us to ponder! Grace has everything to do with the Spirit and human effort has everything to do with the law. Rest in the grace of the Father without trying so hard in your own effort to have enough finances or to have a healthy body. Honestly, it isn’t the American Christian way most of the time as many of us resort to helping God do His part. Grace... what a gift from our Dad! I implore you to walk in more and more grace on the journey! Hopefully will you not only receive grace but give grace away to others too! There is a great war taking place between the rest of grace and the turmoil of human effort. Please take a moment and ask yourself where you are in that great war. One focuses on Him and the other on you!

Tom/Cindy's Journey

2009-11-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings from South Africa! It has been quite some time since you have probably heard from us last. There are a few reasons: my lap top died, I bought a Mac when I was home in June for a ministry trip (not compatible with PC Outlook), it took time to try to transfer all the information which never worked right, I had to type all the e-mails in myself (that took forever!) and now we are back!

Much has happened in these last few months! We have been to Guatemala, Ireland, the US, Romania and obviously here in South Africa! We are helping with the World Race as Life Coaches (www.theworldrace.org) and that requires doing Debriefs with our Squad of 32 young adults. What a blast all of them have been on the journey! More stories to come! We also continue to work at Pneumatix which is the Ministry Training School here in South Africa. We are Coaches for the young adults there as well! WE ARE COACHING THEM UP! It has been a great year there!

Our home continues to welcome people on a regular basis! We seem to have never been empty here this entire year! What a joy that has been as we have had the opportunity to love on so many God has brought our way! We will be leaving our South African home to visit family over the Holidays again. We leave on a jet plane November 21 and land home on the 22nd. What a joy it is to be with family and friends! I plan to return to South Africa at the end of the year so I can be back for the start of Pneumatix and Cindy will return the end of January so she can be with her family a bit longer.

There are so many other random ways God has us minister over here that we never limit ourselves. For example we will go to the Karoo and minister to some farmers there in a home. I am looking forward to what the Father may have in store for them. These random opportunities happen quite often. I have attached a Newsletter that I trust you will enjoy. It was done in July but because of all the complications it is now in your e-mail bin! SO SORRY!

We have been nothing short of amazed at how God has met us financially without consistent supporters. If you want to bless us we would be grateful but as we always say, Pray and obey. We are in need at the moment but continue to learn to trust Him above all else. Two ways to give:

1) Mail a check to:
    Joshua Journey Ministry
    1601 Susan Lane
    Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17055

OR

2) Go to www.30kd.org and make a deposit on Pay Pal.

Thanks so much for believing in us and the many prayers that have been prayed on our behalf! If you want to be deleted from this mail please just let me know and I will delete you from the list.

On the Crazy Journey,

Tom and Cindy Sipling

The Road Less Traveled

2009-05-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

We need your HELP! It has been quite the amazing journey in South Africa as we live by faith and trust our Dad for his provision. We have done our best to live by:

Acts 4: 32…All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

We have shared our home and what we have since being here and rejoice at the moments that has created. We are in need! Isn’t it incredible to read in Acts that no one had need! Cindy and I have chosen to live by faith and never directly ask people for money while we have been here. We will never ask one to make a monthly commitment nor call an individual personally. We prefer to pray and at times like this share the reality of our situation. I sat again last night and read the comments that were written in our guest book at home and it touches me to hear the comments left by so many passing through our home. What a variety we have had from Argentines ministering in SA to World Racers to Pneumatix students to random requests from those we have never met to ministry teams training at our home. It has been so rewarding to share our home and all the that is in it with so many!

MY APPEAL IS ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WE HAVE POURED OUR LIVES INTO IN THE PAST! World Racers, youth (now adults) from ministry past, friends and family are the ones we would like to ask to pray and obey what the Father puts in your hearts. We will continue to pray and ask Dad to provide. He is faithful! We have gone from a secure lifestyle when living in the States to this crazy adventure here in South Africa. Pray with us! We will be forever grateful!

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO:

Pay Pal at our web site…www.30kd.org OR

A check can be sent to:

Joshua Journey Ministry

1601 Susan Lane

Mechanicsburg, PA. 17055

The Road less Traveled will take us to Guatemala at the end of the month as we Coach the World Race Squad starting their journey around the World! We fly from South Africa May 27^th and return to South Africa June 13^th. They will launch from there! We will also visit our son on the way through the States.

We also have a former World Racer, Stacy Utecht, coming to spend two months with us at our home in June and July from the States. Cindy and I look forward to sharing our lives with Stacy. She will serve along side of us while she is here.

On the Road Less Traveled,

Tom

The Road Less Traveled

2009-02-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

To Know Dad Better

I have just returned from home in the States to South Africa. It wasn't just a 7 hr time change but an unbelievable climate change as well! Jet lag was in full throttle and the transition from winter to summer was crazy! My heart is at rest to be back but my emotions are challenging my obedience. Why? My son is going through extreme marriage issues and my momma is battling serious health problems. Oh how I love them and for that reason would love to return home today. My heart goes through the tussle of my obedience to my Dad and the love of my family. I know my loyalty is to my Father first. Many fellow followers would say, "Tom it is fine if you come home or Tom you should come home" but the reality is "Tom, what is your Dad saying to you?"

As I sat at my mom's in Florida over the Holidays it seemed the Lord was saying, "Go sit on the bench by her home looking over a lake and read Ephesians. I obeyed the tugging at my heart and as I read the first chapter I got to v. 17 and stopped and meditated on that verse and have since then.

It said, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." Eph. 1:17

I was stuck on two parts of this verse, one that Dad will give us a Spirit of wisdom and revelation and secondly, so that YOU may know Him better. I have been asking for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation since that morning. I WANT TO KNOW HIM BETTER! It really has been my mission for the last several years. How do you do that? One way I know is to sit with Him without the interference of my Bible or a journal. I am not saying to throw them away BUT please by all means sit with your Dad and BE STILL AND KNOW. Secondly, I have decided to live less by plans/agendas and to trust Him where I used to take control. Is it easy? Not by a long shot and it isn't too popular! I have made some decisions that without question I have wavered on a time or two BUT I know I am learning to KNOW Him better because there is no where else to turn. When you trust Him for your schedule, your finances, etc. you find out who your Dad will BE as you journey through life!

My thoughts have become more eternal than ever. I am not too attached to the things of this world anymore. Am I still attached to some things? Of course, but I am learning to break those attachments each day. This is not a journey to become "Super Spiritual Man' either. Religion, as I define it, makes me gag even though I realize there is still some in me! It is a journey to live like a son of my Dad! I want to be a "chip off the old block". Love, joy, peace and so on are what I want to BE and who I am. The chase for influence, status, success, position, material things, etc. is dying in my heart. They are not yet dead but they are dying slowly.

The challenges exist on the journey through this life! Trials and tribulations mature our faith. Anybody want more trials? Probably not. It is in those times our faith grows. Honestly, we are in a time where the trials will increase and it will purify the Bride's faith and love.

Today you might want to consider two things:

1) Sit and BE still with Him!
2) Pray for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you might know Him better

Much love from His son,

Tom

The Road Less Traveled III

2008-10-20T23:03:00.000-07:00

“They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.” Joel 2:9

I had just challenged the students at Pneumatix about their journey with the Father. Two of them had recently told me they had been waking up at night and called to pray. My challenge was that others would be awakened to pray as well.

That very night at 2:09am the alarm at our home went off and obviously woke us up as it is very loud!

Thinking someone was breaking in I danced around the bedroom until Cindy told me to calm down. I waited for the Security Company to call as they normally do but no call was made. After a ten minute wait I decided to call them. I told the gal on the phone the alarm went off but we had shut it off and she said there was not indication on their system that the alarm went off. I was a bit befuddled but waited for the security guy to show up. He came and looked around the house and all was normal so back to sleep with no thought of what I had said to the students earlier that day. DUH?!

I woke the next morning and was on my way to our morning meeting when the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. Normally when I hear from God it isn’t when I am pursuing a word from Him it just seems to happen. He said to me, “Tom, sound the alarm!” which made me think of the verse in Joel 2:1,

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.”

I got ready to share what the Lord had said and was standing beside Brent who told me he wanted to share a word he had for the students. I asked him to show me what it was and he went to Joel 2! It was then that it became clearer than ever what Dad was saying!

It was a short time after our morning devotions one of the young men said to me that he was awakened at the exact same time I was at 2:09am! Whoa! It was at that moment God said to me read Joel 2:9. I went to look it up and found the scripture above! After the alarm going off, the security guy coming to our home and then reading this verse about thieves it was like God is speaking. I know it can seem a bit out there to make such a claim but after all the things that happened it was clear to me my Father was saying what He needed to say by His Spirit.

I thought about what the enemy could be stealing as he crawls through the window. At this point it came back to the intimacy with our Dad again. If the enemy can steal that he has won the battle. The warning of the Lord and the alarm that is being sounded is for us to return to the Lord with all our heart (Joel 2: 12). It is the same warning we get in Revelations when we read about the churches...RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE!

May you discover this road that leads to the feet of Jesus more than any other road in your life! The challenge is before us and He is waiting to sit with you! Why don’t you get up now and go sit with Him?!

The Road Less Traveled Part II

2008-09-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5: 16

The Road less traveled includes an intimate walk with the Father. What exactly is an intimate walk with the Father? It is a relationship filled with the love of the Father. The majority of people live at such a speed, that, we really don’t value slowing down to “BE” with Him. My heart has been concerned for quite some time that we “know more about God” than we honestly “know Him”. The information we obtain through sermons, conferences, books, podcasts, worship music, and devotions doesn’t develop the intimacy Jesus had with the Father but somehow we are satisfied that this is enough. Along with busyness, I still find too many Plan Bs in my life choosing to trust them more than my Dad which exposes my lack of intimacy. Isn’t true intimacy developed when I choose to trust my Dad in the middle of a situation rather than trying to find my own escape through my control or my human wisdom? Jesus was so focused on His Dad that he knew when to withdraw to the lonely place to “BE” with Him. May we take note in our life!

Not one of the OT characters had the privilege of calling God, Father. It wasn’t until Jesus, God’s son, came that we see Him called Father. After Jesus redeemed us we find we have the privilege of being children because we were sent the Spirit of the Father! It was then that we were able to see God as “Abba, Father”. What a Daddy He truly is to us! Andrew Murray says,

“The worship in spirit is only possible for those to whom the Son has revealed the Father and who have received the spirit of Sonship. It is only Christ Who opens the way and teaches the worship in spirit. And so worship in spirit is worship in truth. This actual living fellowship with God is a real correspondence and harmony between the Father Who is a spirit and the child praying in the spirit.”

So much has been exposed to me about the roadblocks to this place with my Dad. Does Tom know Him? The obvious answer is sure at some level. What did I discover that kept me from deeper intimacy with my Dad? Two of those were mentioned above: busyness and Plan Bs. I learned to essentially take control of my own life at too great of a level. The other great roadblock was my need for an identity in what I did and the position that qualified me to do great works. The titles and great achievements were so deeply entrenched in my life that when they were stripped it was quite a painful process to discover that I am and will always simply “BE” His son. Now many of us would say yes brother preach it! I have got that revelation. It is quite a popular message these days. Do you really? Do you find your great pleasure in simply being His son or do you find it in the position you have been given and the great accomplishments you have achieved for the kingdom? There is a difference between knowing about the message (information) and knowing the message (lifestyle). It is such a deceptive trap and most of us don’t even know when we have been captured by those snares. It didn’t hit me until all was stripped away and the deception was broken. In the church where we treasure the titles and achievements so mightily it serves to blind us from the vision of our Dad as sons and daughters. We place great value on those with the highest positions and the ones who work the most diligently for the organization. They are considered spiritual not always because of “who” they are but because of the great value they bring because of position and works. We also love being affirmed by people and noticed for our great effort. It can actually become addicting. I saw this on my Facebook from one of the posts there that helps define what I am trying to say: In the margins…there lives a revolutionary Christianity. One with a quiet disposition that seeks to do “small things with great love,” …they are known as the “The Ordinary Radicals”. The value is put on living an ordinary life loving people in your path but not noticed because of a position or focusing on the great achievement. A Chinese house church pastor that was visiting the USA said the following: “It is amazing what the church in America can accomplish without the Holy Spirit.” OUCH! I have found that a great quote for me from time to time to remember. There is so much focus on the “DOING” that we value it too much. Jesus understood the importance of the one, the woman at the well, as much as the multitude.

For me intimacy is found by sitting silently with my Dad for long periods of time just to “BE” and then living (doing) out of my being in an ordinary way. What is the cost? The cost is removing the distractions from my life and the hectic pace by finding the place called, simple and learning to love the one. I have found that He is my Plan A and He is trustworthy but that is still at infancy level while growing. Honestly, there aren’t many people who have found the place where they treasure Him more than what they can accomplish or the position they possess. How do I know? By the lack of time we surrender to just “BE” with Him. One of the great joys since living in South Africa is learning to go around the coast to a place I call, “my monastery”. It is the joy of sitting with Him and learning to “BE”. Look at last weeks schedule and ask yourself, “Did I find time to sit with my Dad?” He really just wants you and not what you may think are all your great accomplishments.

PLEASE find the place where you can simplify your life and learn to sit at His feet just because you love Him and long to “BE” with Him! This is the road less traveled.

The Road Less Travelled Part 1

2008-09-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

How many find the road less travelled in their lifetime? What is the “the road less travelled?” Both are legitimate questions for one to ask. For the last nine years it has been my heart’s desire to live beyond the normal routine of life. The journey for each of us is our own and to be sorted out with our Dad. My journey can’t be your journey nor can your journey be my journey. This quote by Oswald Chambers gives a glimpse of what this road may be about.

Are we prepared to pour out our lives for Him “He who believes in Me … out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”—and hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. Now is the time for us to break “the flask” of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?

Isn’t it easy to settle for the ordinary, secure and comfortable life? Of course it is! The road less travelled for me is where the man-made securities and comforts are forfeited for the sake of pouring our life out to others. It seems that we all find that place at different levels. I wrestle back and forth between: aren’t we all called to walk this way to there are only a few called to walk this way. How much of our culture has shaped our walk with Him? The ease and the comfort with which one can walk through life are surely available to many of us. Whatever the culture, economic status or social status it appears comfort in many different forms can find its way into our journey. When I read Matthew 10 it provokes my heart….

“Don’t begin by traveling to some faroff place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

“Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light. “When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave. (Message Bible)

The road less travelled is about your intimacy with your Dad and what comes through your life to others. It isn’t about going to some far away place (although it could be) but more about influencing the people around you. The first few sentences make our assignment pretty clear. Help us Jesus! Help me Jesus to walk with that influence. My journey still is filled with the struggle between my desires for me versus my desire for Him. The road less travelled seems to be a simple life. Cindy and I have found the place (with much more to be discovered as we never arrive obviously) where it is as simple as loving the people God puts in our path each day. We are learning to limit the distractions but still have plenty of growing there in our lives. My greatest desire right now is to have a consistent time sitting with my Dad! It is growing and I am learning to give up my rights. Our home has become a place for people to gather or to find lodging. The road less travelled has taught us to provide shelter without asking for money. People have prayed and obeyed and blessed but we are learning on this road to trust Dad for our resources. Easy? NO! I am convinced this road is calling me to discover things about Him not otherwise discovered if you weren’t willing to walk there. It is amazing how simple life can become when the material things aren’t your focus. I will give more thoughts in my next blog. I trust your heart will be stirred to find how simple this journey can be.

Are You Aware?

2008-08-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

What are you aware of on your journey through life? This is something that continually challenges me as I walk with my Dad through these crazy days. It seems to me we have one of two choices. Are we more aware of ourselves or more aware of our Father? Circumstances dictate many times where our focus will shift. We would all like to say that we have fixed our eyes on the Father and we never waver from that but the journey isn't that easy.

"Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest. Never allow anything to remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all. Beware of allowing your self-awareness to continue, because slowly but surely it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is satanic. If we try to overcome our self-awareness through any of our own commonsense methods, we will only serve to strengthen our self-awareness tremendously. Jesus says, "Come to Me … and I will give you rest," that is, Christ-awareness will take the place of self-awareness. Wherever Jesus comes He establishes rest—the rest of the completion of activity in our lives that is never aware of itself. " -Oswald Chambers

What do you see on your journey today? We are urged in the Word to "fix our eyes...". What are your eyes fixed on today? We fix our eyes too easily on our bank accounts, our health, our children, our job situation, our friends and on and on it could go! We are urged to fix our eyes on NOT what is seen, but what is unseen. What is seen is temporary and what is not seen is eternal! Faith can't function if it sees it in the natural. As we know, faith is the evidence of things unseen! (II Cor. 4:18) There is another dimension to walk in while in this world, HIS DIMENSION! Challenge yourself to rest in your Dad. It isn't the accepted practice even among most believers. Make a choice to take your eyes off yourself and put them on your Father!

"...and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28