I've been overwhelmed the past few hours with some dreams and visions. A dream that I had back in January came to my mind. The Lord gave me the "buckle" (a belt buckle I found in a field over-seas) of a well-known missionary. I hesitate to share details because I want to focus on the Lord here and His heart for the poor and the fatherless.
In our country and around the world, satan is attacking the family unit. This is a serious matter. We need spiritual mothers and fathers to step up and take their places no matter the cost.
I have been challenged in this area. I have also had some thoughts on this matter and its relationship to the furious outbreak of cancer that we are currently seeing.
Someone challenged us a few months ago to ask God what is causing cancer. I asked the Lord, and I felt that I heard Him say, "A FATHERLESS GENERATION". Now I realize that this is not the cause of every single case of cancer. However, deep in my heart I feel that this is a clue for us.
This particular missionary that I mentioned earlier is a spiritual mother to many children. And guess what? Her husband is and has been a spiritual father to thousands of children. He has been attacked so much in his body and needs a lot of prayer right now.
Got time for one more example? I was watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition the other day and the family that got the makeover had adopted several children from China. I don't even know if they were "Christians" or not, but you could see the tremendous love and care that they provided for these children. Each of the children had some sort of problem--being deaf, blind, missing fingers, etc. The FATHER developed brain cancer. It's as if satan saw the needs of these children and attacked where it would hurt the most. I'm not trying to develop any theories, only relaying what I am currently observing in the natural and the spiritual.
It is time for all of us to rise up and take our place in the kingdom. Even if you are 22 years old, you can be a spiritual mother or father as the Lord leads. May He encourage you in your calling.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
I Wasn't Expecting This...
Do you like predictability? I do. However, I am finding that to truly live from my heart I have to let go of expectations and control.
Over the past several months, we have been weighing some mission-oriented options. The reality is beginning to set in, and I have had questions and concerns. Today the Lord gently reminded me of the vow I made in college to do missions. It was a particular day in our Baptist college chapel, and I was very sincere. So was the Lord.
Today God asked me, "Why are you fighting change? this might be the avenue I use for missions." In John 3:8 Jesus says,"The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Over the past several years I have gotten used to questions like, "What are you doing now...?" I just smile and give an update. I think we all want some sort of stability in life, but our stability must primarily come from Christ.
What about you? Are you hard to figure out? Are you full of visions and dreams and do you actually go out on a limb sometimes? That may be a good thing. I would dare say you might be the kind of person Jesus was talking about in John 3. It is great to be a person who lives by the Spirit--a person who lives from the heart regardless of previous plans or expectations.
Over the past several months, we have been weighing some mission-oriented options. The reality is beginning to set in, and I have had questions and concerns. Today the Lord gently reminded me of the vow I made in college to do missions. It was a particular day in our Baptist college chapel, and I was very sincere. So was the Lord.
Today God asked me, "Why are you fighting change? this might be the avenue I use for missions." In John 3:8 Jesus says,"The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Over the past several years I have gotten used to questions like, "What are you doing now...?" I just smile and give an update. I think we all want some sort of stability in life, but our stability must primarily come from Christ.
What about you? Are you hard to figure out? Are you full of visions and dreams and do you actually go out on a limb sometimes? That may be a good thing. I would dare say you might be the kind of person Jesus was talking about in John 3. It is great to be a person who lives by the Spirit--a person who lives from the heart regardless of previous plans or expectations.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Favorite Things
Hebrews 13:5 says,"Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]..."
We can possess things, but things should never possess us. I love the last part of this segment of Hebrews 13:5 that says that we should be satisfied with what we have. John 10:10 says that we are to enjoy our lives. That even means our stuff!
I am learning not to complain. For instance, I am learning to say, "Well, even though I don't have a fenced in back-yard, what I DO love about my house is the big picture window in back. In fact, I think I will raise the blind today and just enjoy the view."
I have even thought about having a "favorite things" album in my facebook pictures. I am learning to celebrate God's blessings, enjoy what I already have and cease from complaining and wanting what I do not have.
We can possess things, but things should never possess us. I love the last part of this segment of Hebrews 13:5 that says that we should be satisfied with what we have. John 10:10 says that we are to enjoy our lives. That even means our stuff!
I am learning not to complain. For instance, I am learning to say, "Well, even though I don't have a fenced in back-yard, what I DO love about my house is the big picture window in back. In fact, I think I will raise the blind today and just enjoy the view."
I have even thought about having a "favorite things" album in my facebook pictures. I am learning to celebrate God's blessings, enjoy what I already have and cease from complaining and wanting what I do not have.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Continual Waterings of Divine Grace
That title sounds so eloquent. It did not come from me, but from Matthew Henry whose commentary I will cite at the end. The past 2 weeks the Lord has been trying to work something in me.
In the past I often have felt overwhelmed by circumstances (patterns developed in childhood). The other night we watched a movie where a woman was trapped by a man. I won't go into the details, but I literally felt like something was choking me--like a snake had wrapped around my neck. I could not breathe and Brian had to pray me back to health.
Since that incident (which had never happened before) I have wondered why it happened. This week during a trying circumstance God gave me these verses. Please look them up if you are able.
Isaiah 27:1-5 has come up twice lately. It says that God will destroy the serpent and instead make Israel a vineyard of red wine that He will water every moment. The briers and thorns He would destroy, in order to make her a vineyard. Henry says,"God also takes care of the fruitfulness of this vineyard. We need the continual waterings of Divine Grace; if these be at any time withdrawn we wither and come to nothing." We need the wine of His presence. It helps us not get entangled in the "briers and thorns" of this world (circumstances). His presence can deliver us from every bondage and yoke! He will replace the briers and thorns in our heart with His most intoxicating presence. Verse 5 says that we must "take hold" of His strength. It is available every moment.
In the past I often have felt overwhelmed by circumstances (patterns developed in childhood). The other night we watched a movie where a woman was trapped by a man. I won't go into the details, but I literally felt like something was choking me--like a snake had wrapped around my neck. I could not breathe and Brian had to pray me back to health.
Since that incident (which had never happened before) I have wondered why it happened. This week during a trying circumstance God gave me these verses. Please look them up if you are able.
Isaiah 27:1-5 has come up twice lately. It says that God will destroy the serpent and instead make Israel a vineyard of red wine that He will water every moment. The briers and thorns He would destroy, in order to make her a vineyard. Henry says,"God also takes care of the fruitfulness of this vineyard. We need the continual waterings of Divine Grace; if these be at any time withdrawn we wither and come to nothing." We need the wine of His presence. It helps us not get entangled in the "briers and thorns" of this world (circumstances). His presence can deliver us from every bondage and yoke! He will replace the briers and thorns in our heart with His most intoxicating presence. Verse 5 says that we must "take hold" of His strength. It is available every moment.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Power
I have a little bit more to say about the POWER that comes when you are doing what you are meant to do. Take Michael Jackson for instance. Inspite of the fact that he had some struggles (we all know what they were in part) I can say this about the man: he used every ounce of effort and talent that he had. He used his musical abilities to the utmost. People said that when he had a new dance to learn, he went to the best instructor so he could nail the dance perfectly.
There was power in that. He developed and used his gifts.
Since I'm on the subject, I can't help but wonder if Michael had a gift for leading worship. I think he did. People worshiped him easily. I wonder if he had directed people's focus to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords if he would still be being used by God. Even if he died, his death would have been more of a celebration than a funeral. I heard a radio show DJ say something very true this morning. She said,"If Michael was here with us today, he would tell us to worship God and God alone--to turn our focus to God not a man." When someone is exceptionally gifted, they should most importantly use their gifts to glorify God, while leaning on Him vitally to handle all the power that comes as the benefits of using their gift(s).
Thank you Joy Wells for the scripture reference Psalm 22:3 which says, "But You are Holy, O You who dwell in the praises of Israel."
Let us keep praising God, using our annointing and talents to our fullest capacity only for Him!
There was power in that. He developed and used his gifts.
Since I'm on the subject, I can't help but wonder if Michael had a gift for leading worship. I think he did. People worshiped him easily. I wonder if he had directed people's focus to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords if he would still be being used by God. Even if he died, his death would have been more of a celebration than a funeral. I heard a radio show DJ say something very true this morning. She said,"If Michael was here with us today, he would tell us to worship God and God alone--to turn our focus to God not a man." When someone is exceptionally gifted, they should most importantly use their gifts to glorify God, while leaning on Him vitally to handle all the power that comes as the benefits of using their gift(s).
Thank you Joy Wells for the scripture reference Psalm 22:3 which says, "But You are Holy, O You who dwell in the praises of Israel."
Let us keep praising God, using our annointing and talents to our fullest capacity only for Him!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Find Him There
I searched high and low to find the scripture today that states that God inhabits the praises of His people. Because of time and eye strain I will just make that statement in faith:)
I believe that when we are doing what we LOVE to do, what we are called to do--that we will find God there. This morning as I picked up my guitar, I heard Him say, "You will find Me there." I wasn't even singing, only playing.
Enjoying what we do gives God praise, honor and glory. He loves to see us enjoying our lives. John 10:10 states,"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
As we use our God-given gifts and talents, fulfilling His purpose for us, we will experience that peace and joy that He promises--and we will find Him there.
I believe that when we are doing what we LOVE to do, what we are called to do--that we will find God there. This morning as I picked up my guitar, I heard Him say, "You will find Me there." I wasn't even singing, only playing.
Enjoying what we do gives God praise, honor and glory. He loves to see us enjoying our lives. John 10:10 states,"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
As we use our God-given gifts and talents, fulfilling His purpose for us, we will experience that peace and joy that He promises--and we will find Him there.
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