Accelerated Revelation ~ Growing in the Spirit

 March 27, 2009

 The Spirit is moving, a wind of change has begun to blow and, for many believers, anticipation is building. The air is almost static with expectancy as God is imparting increased faith  for the "greater than these works " to be made manifest before long.

Granted, the world's viewpoint is grim with prognostications of  financial despair, banks and markets collapsing, joblessness increasing and many other woes. The president, that the media elected, is now under attack by the same media whose spin elected him. Darkness is all around us.

However, for those who seeks God's perspective, the future is bright with hope and promise. In order for healthy new growth to begin, the old weeds that choke and dominate the garden have to be completely uprooted. So it is with this garden of  life.  In the fall of last year, God began an uprooting of unhealthy structures of financial markets. 

Yes, there is a shaking underway, of that which is not holy, that which is unjust, and that which oppresses and even enslaves. It rattles our teeth at times as it vibrates throughout the earth. The King's kids, however, cannot be shaken if they are firmly planted on the rock.  

That rock is the Spirit of the Living God. We are born of Spirit and not of this world, but merely passing through it. We are citizens of another kingdom. The kingdom of our citizenship cannot be shaken, will not collapse, and will stand for eternity.

We are not of this economy but yet another economy that is solid and stable and will not change. Our God promised us that all things that could be shaken would be shaken. Could it be that the God, who promised to shake all things, is making a move which is vibrating throughout the economies of the world?

I do believe this is so. I believe he is sifting the wheat from the tares, the goats from the sheep, and is about to reveal Himself through a people who are fixed on Him and are not attached to that which is being so violently shaken.

Perhaps, this is an opportunity that we've been granted to readjust our priorities as believers. Maybe it is a call to truly commit to whom we shall fully serve, God or Mammon, for no one can serve two masters. Heaven knows the seduction that has been loosed in this world to draw us away from our First Love and into the arms of the spirit that offers, wealth power, and reputation. Heaven just might be extending and invitation to return to our First Love.

Having turned off the media and having made myself unavailable for the political harangue and doomsday hype that could lead to utter despair, I've found that the presence of the Living God is so available.  Life is abundant in Him and His promise are true.  There is no despair in Him. Life has become more exciting than ever as I've drawn nearer to Him.  

No, this is not denial as some might suggest nor am I delusional. My wages have taken a substantial hit; my work hours have been reduced. I'm keenly aware of this world's current stat of affairs. However, it has been an opportunity to reconsider what I truly desire and what is of lesser value. It's a time to slow down and reassess for me.

What I am discovering is that in my rest, in that "secret place" that I have carved out, to fellowship with my Creator, there is increased revelation of His wonderful ways. He is revealing His direction, His provision, His hope, and greatest of all, His love.  The things that this world values are growing strangely dim, in comparison to what I am experiencing, as my spirit connects with His. My flesh is diminishing and my spirit is growing at an accelerated pace. God is moving in an incredible way.

We can look to the world for wisdom and answers and surely become dismayed and empty. We can make decisions based on fear as the world does and as Saul did, or we can choose faith as David did.  As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!

May I encourage you to carve out time to sit at His feet, soak in His glorious presence, allow Him to refresh your soul and renew your spirit. Be open to His continuing revelation of love and the peace that passes understanding. He will hold you still and comfort you.  His perfect love casts out all fear. For this is the heart of the Holy Spirit.  

Come Holy Spirit! Breathe upon your lambs. Bring your refreshing breath of life and impart your encouragement and strength. Renew first love and still the quaking within the soul with your comfort and the peace that passes understanding. Thank you, Holy Spirit for that stillness and restored peace.

Show us your direction and reveal Divine strategies. Thank you that your plan is not harm us but to prosper them in all of our ways. Thank you that you are God above all of life's traumas. You created the world and sustain it by your very thoughts. This present circumstance is not too big for you.

Thank you that you are in control and that all of our concerns are ever before your eyes. You never slumber and you never sleep  and never take your eyes from us.

Thank you, Lord, for your faithful ways even now as your restore and renew and refresh. Thank you that all things work for good for those who love you and are called to your purposes. You, oh Lord, are a good and gracious God, slow to anger and quick to forgive, and faithful in all of your ways! Thank you!

Go in peace, beloved!       

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November 18,2008

                 Prayers of Faith and Faithful Answers

    Saturday morning, November 15, fires raged throughout several cities in  Orange County, CA, driven by 70 mph Santana winds.

   The Triangle Complex fires blazed for several days, jumping a freeway, burning canyons, hillsides, and homes across three Southern California counties. Fifty  apartments, approximately 259 homes in five cities burned to the ground.  One hundred twenty three of  them were  in my town.

   We were just wrapping up our first "Home Group" sleep-over, talking and laughing with several single women, who meet at our house regularly for fellowship and prayer.

   Having had a scarce three hours of sleep, we were  a bit groggy, I must admit, but God's presence had been so evident, throughout this entire time, what could possibly be wrong?  Little did we know that a fire was raging toward us until concerned family and friends began to call to see if we were okay.

  Stepping out on our front porch we saw a small patch of fire on a ridge to our east, then another smaller flame a little distance from that. Within seconds the entire ridge was ablaze.

  We decided that it might be wise to just pack what we could,  if it became necessary to evacuate sometime later that day. We considered that to be a remote possibility but wanted to be "organized if the time should come."     

   Television reports were not encouraging as they reported the rapid spread of this blaze, moving steadily in our direction, motivating us to "just put everything in the car, in case."  Jamming boxes and clothes and precious cargo into our cars, hot ashes and embers were already falling on us.

   Considering how quickly the situation  was progressing, we realized the likelihood of becoming trapped in our cul-de-sac should an evacuation order occur. Should the residents, at the base of the hills be evacuated, there was only one way out to the highway. That street which intersects ours would likely become gridlocked quickly. We decided that leaving the area before that happened would be far wiser than facing that possibility later.

   Having made just a couple of phone calls, we were on prayer lists with, at least, 100 people praying for our safety and the safety of our property.   

  Throughout the night, 3 fires were raging toward one another with our home in the path of all of them.  Nearby and familiar streets were shown ablaze throughout the night on news broadcasts. We knew people who lived on those streets.

  As we slept in a cozy, safe hotel beds that evening, a firestorm of burning embers pelted our little street. Neighbors, who elected to  ignore the subsequent mandatory evacuation order, climbed onto rooftops and hosed down  their structures and ours, as well.

    We returned home 2 days later just an hour after the evacuation order was lifted. Our home, although pungent with the smell of smoke, was completely untouched and everything was safe. The fire had stopped six or seven blocks from our home. 

   On the way home we had decided to survey the aftermath of the blaze which had moved on to yet another city in another County. We saw dozens of homes, where the fire had raged right up to the patio  or porch and stopped right there, leaving the homes untouched. Many homes had been surrounded by the fire on all sides yet did not burn.  Then there were those homes and apartments which had tragically burned to the ground leaving nothing recognizable in the charred rubble.

  My friend, who is also my roommate, faithfully prays over the area surrounding our home. Rising early each morning before sunrise, she prays over a large area, naming each street as they intersect to form the perimeter of that section of our city.

  Bastanchury Road  borders this section on the north. She prays for everything to the south of that road but not to the north. The next morning after we had returned home, as she prayed once again for our area, she suddenly recalled what we had seen the previous day. Everything on the north side of that road was burned right to the street. Yet everything on the southern side of the road remained untouched by the fire.   The fire had stopped at the very edge of the perimeters on the east and west, according to her prayers, as well.

  The winds had suddenly shifted and turned the fire to burn away in another direction, driving the blaze in the opposite direction of the prayer saturated zone, in which we reside. It moved on into another county where it is being contained as I write this post. Never did it cross the spiritual boundary that had been established in the spirit, by a faithful and righteous woman.

  James 5:16 ~ "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

   The faithful God, who hears the prayers of the righteous and answers them, is also  faithful to confirm to the righteous, that their prayers are, indeed, effective and powerful. It is an amazing trait of our loving Father to show us, that we do not labor in vain, but that we move the very heart of God by our petitions.

    July 17, 2008

                          Hunting the Foxes that Spoil the Vine

       Catch the little foxes that spoil the vine is a curious exhortation  in Song of Solomon chapter 2. For years I pondered those little foxes, wondering just what those furry little creatures had to do with the Shulamite and her Beloved.

    God desires that we, as His Shulamite bride, should walk in the fulness of  His kindness and blessings.  His generous  nature longs to give good gifts to His children. Blessings flow naturally when one is in relationship with Him.

   Foxes are symbolic of those crafty, sneaky, often undetected attitudes that can interrupt the flow of intimacy and blessing. Some of the most insidious of these  little "foxes" are subconscious attitudes we call bitter root expectations.

  These are generally lies in our belief system that go under the radar, sabotaging our faith, and crippling our ability to receive blessing from the Lord and others.  Often a result of having been wounded, or disappointed, by someone,  we begin to believe that others will wound us the same way. Even a miniscule root of bitterness can negatively shape our expectations.

                         Patterns Camouflage the Foxes  

  A woman who has been jilted might come to believe that "all men are cheaters and will eventually betray me."  A man, who has had a father who was critical and impossible to please might come to expect that any male authority figure, like his boss, or even God, will be impossible to please and critical, as well. More than likely the patterns will be repeated.

   Unfortunately whatever we put our faith in we empower. Until we uncover those lies, that we project on God or others,  we will continue to  reap the harvest of our expectations.  What we have put faith in even subconsciously will be empowered to play out in our lives. 

     The jilted woman will run into man after man who will betray her.  The man will either be criticized by bosses  or authority figures, or feel the condemnation, that he expects from them, perceiving the worst according to his expectations.         

     Will God treat him critically if he has projected that upon God? Certainly not. However, because of his perceptions, shaped by this aberrant belief, he will not be able to receive God's approval and know just how acceptable he truly is to God.  He will likely miss the incredible blessing of knowing the benefits of true sonship. 

     It is not that unlikely, that any patterns you might struggle with in your life, that seem to be instant replays, are the result of those little foxes, that have insidious ways of damaging relationships with God and others.      

                                          Apprehending the Fox

      It was like having a blindfold removed from my eyes, the day that I came to realize, that I did not trust any male authority figure, especially God, because He was the ultimate "male authority figure."  

     My well intentioned, but alcoholic dad, older brothers, ex-husband, and other men, had all been far from trustworthy. I had lived a large part of my life protecting myself from betrayal, abandonment, and abuse at the hands of males.  Somewhere along the way an expectation crept silently into my belief system that no man could be trusted, especially authority figures.

     Ding! My faith had already wrapped itself around that expectation long before I came to know the Lord. Being a little fox in hiding, it played havoc with my trust in the Father and my ability to truly believe His word.  It was several years before that expectation was exposed.

    Repenting from that bitter root expectation, I had to make a conscious choice, situation by situation, to trust God's word about His character and nature. It didn't happen overnight. In each circumstance I had to chase that little fox away and choose to trust God and not my own history.

     Eventually I became convinced that God was not, at all, like my earthly father, brothers or any other. He was faithful and true and always had my best interest as His priority. His word is truth and He does what He says He will do.  I am now convinced of this.

                            Empowering Faith, Hope and Love

    Taking every thought captive is, indeed, a fox hunt where we scrutinize the patterns and beliefs in our lives situation by situation. We flush out the lies that we have empowered inadvertently and exchange them for His truth.  

    This is not navel gazing and over thinking every moment but rather a conscious awareness of how we meet each circumstance. Do we approach it with faith  which is empowered by love? Or with fear which is the opposite of love. If we recognize fear, that little fox, called unbelief,  is lurking somewhere nearby and it is time to apprehend it.

     What situation does this remind me of in my past? Who does this remind me of? How does this connect with other wounding, threats, patterns, etc? These are some pretty good hunting grounds to explore.  You may find another little fox there, called  unforgiveness, that needs to be apprehended, as well.  Once those two varmints have been flushed out into the open they can be nailed to the cross. Then love can have its  way, faith can be empowered and hope can be released.

   Come, Holy Spirit! Come and bring your light to expose those foxes that are hiding, undetected, damaging the vine of our relationship with you and others.  Come and show us those expectations that have been birthed in our wounding and take any unforgiveness and bitterness to the cross so that we may be free. Reveal to us any expectations that cause us to doubt your faithfulness and unconditional love, that we may receive all that you have for us.  

  Free us from the unbelief that hinders us in relationship and teach us to trust in your Word and in your Holy nature and character. Please forgive us for having fed these foxes of unforgiveness, bitterness, fear and unbelief with our faith for a season. Cleanse and restore us now.

   We choose to place our faith fully in You now. Cause our vines to flourish with the love You have for us that we may have abundance of love to pour back to You and on others. Bless You, Lord! Thank you for your abiding love that draws us to You, again and again, to clean us up  and grow us up, in your loving ways.  Amen!

 July 5, 2008

                                        God's Delight in His Kids

  Just having returned from an amazing vacation in the Pacific Northwest, I am reflecting today on the beauty of God's creation and the beauty of His personal interest in the most intimate details of His kid's lives.

  One cannot pass through the majestic corridors of verdant pine forests and  glassy lakes with sun rays reflecting like twinkling jewels off the water's surface, without considering the magnificence of our awesome God. He delighted in expressing His own beauty as He fashioned each tree studded hill and cascading waterway.

   Eagles and osprey soaring against the blue expanses of limitless sky speak of His pleasure in freedom.  Moose wading in marshy inlets and streams speak of His rest and  provision.  Wolves in their communal packs speak of His heart for unity and mutual respect. Deer express His peaceful and gentle nature as they graze with their young in the late afternoon. Bear express  His power and strength and His whimsical humor.      All of nature speaks of His glory. All of creation reveals a peek into His nature and character. All was created for His pleasure. We, too, were created for His pleasure and His delight.

   Just as one sparrow does not fall from the sky, neither does any detail of our individual lives escape His notice. All of our concerns are ever before Him. He never sleeps nor slumbers but always keeps us in His watchful eye.  Like a good Father He affectionately  broods over His children.

    On the second morning of our stay in Coeur d alene, Idaho, as I was waking from a sound sleep, He spoke to me very clearly.  It was a firm exhortation.  "Don't forget 'trinity harvest.' It is very important,"  He said.  It was a cryptic message with no other details no clue of exactly what that meant.

 We had asked Him for Divine appointments on this journey many times. So I took note of this thinking that perhaps there was someone who He wanted to heal or hear the Gospel.  First logical impression was that we would find a church named Trinity Harvest where we would find someone whom He wanted us to pray for or bless.

    We searched phone books, visitor's centers, city streets and every nook and cranny for Trinity Harvest.  It was like a Holy Spirit scavenger hunt and we relished the moment of successfully collecting all the clues to accomplish the mission.

    Three days later and forty miles out of town we found ourselves having lunch at a restaurant named Trinity. It seemed logical to inquire of our waiter if there were anyone on staff named Harvest. That was a "no."

   We were, however, quite taken with our waiter. There was just "something about him" that we could not put our finger on but an illusive attraction, aside from the attentive service.  

    There was a shift from my thinking that Trinity Harvest was a name as we enjoyed our lunch.  I began to ponder if it were symbolic and not literal or even a pun as the Lord often uses puns and symbols. Then I began to get some strong impressions from the Lord about the waiter and some significant changes that would be taking place in his life around the "harvest season" in the late fall.  

   The changes were related to personal relationships and business. I dared to ask him toward the end of the meal if he were anticipating any significant changes around that time. His initial response was simply, "Why? Do you know something that I don't?"  

    Briefly I shared those impressions with him that I believed there was to be some important changes and that God had said to tell him, " I am in this all the way!"

   Once I opened my mouth, albeit timidly at first, the Holy Spirit began to download things regarding the changes that were to take place in the fall. Part of the message referred to the fulfillment of some God given dreams and  promises and how God had not forgotten them but would actually reveal Himself to the waiter as He was about to fulfill some of these hopes and dreams.  

    These words apparently meant something to Him as he began to share with us about the last 12 years of his life which had been spent grieving the death of his wife.

     He shared how the  Lord had  been doing a work of healing and restoration in him. He was a Godly man of strong convictions and  who loved the Lord  and followed His precepts.

     He had developed a deep friendship with a woman but had not pursued anything beyond friendship for some time. She was separated from her husband and not divorced. Having strong convictions about the Scriptural view of her marital status, he would not compromise his  beliefs. He had chosen to remain "just friends" indefinitely although there was obviously a very strong mutual attraction. 

     Her divorce had become final only recently.  He announced to us that their first date was to be that very evening.

   He then began to share his plan to open a "Bed and Breakfast" in the near future and how he had been seeking the Lord regarding that issue for some time as well.

    We were able to pray and bless God's plans for his life and for the divine destiny that was set before him. He was  very encouraged and grateful for it all.

    We were delighted to have been given the privilege of delivering this message of encouragement and hope to another of God's children. Our God ordained scavenger hunt had led us to the treasure of a greater revelation of God's nature and character.

   "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out." He revealed His glory to all three of us that day. He also revealed His beauty as each of us were touched by His incredible love in this encounter.

    It became apparent to me that the attraction I had experienced earlier was about God having allowed me to feel some of His affection for this Godly man. He simply  showed me the beauty that He saw in His kid. I saw the beautiful heart this man had for the Lord and the Lord's beautiful heart for those who love Him and walk in His ways.

     His utter delight in His kids compels Him to do extravagant things like these random encounters. As I write this I can feel His pleasure  at how He arranged all of this with all three of His kids in mind.  

   Father, You are a good Dad who delights in His children. Our every detail  is under your scrutiny and sovereign care. You go to great extremes to bless us and show us Your incredible kindness and love. How often do we overlook Your interventions and subtle messages as we get distracted by the things of this life? How often do we miss Your overtures and expressions of love? Helps us, Lord, to become more mindful of Your love. Help us to see Your beauty all around us. Change our focus from the natural to the supernatural, that realm of Your Kingdom in which we have our citizenship. Remind us, Lord, to look for Your expression of beauty in one another and in all of creation so that we do not miss You. Thank You Daddy that You have created us for Your pleasure. Please teach us to find our greatest pleasure in You that Your pleasure will be made full.

June 10, 2008 

                     Supernatural Christianity

   God seems to be releasing an incredible anointing of supernatural signs, wonders and miracles upon a dry and thirsty Church that has long awaited the days prophesied by Jesus when "greater works than these" would be fulfilled by His followers.

 Todd Bentley, an unlikely messenger,  is being used mightily by our God to demonstrate the mighty power and incredible mercy of Jesus for all of the world to see. Revival is on everyone's lips these days.

   Faith is being released as wheelchairs are emptied and sight is restored even through a glass eye! Documentation of these great healings and miracles continually is causing the faith in us to soar. Those prophetic  words of Jesus Himself that the faithful have long awaited to see fulfilled are stirring in hearts throughout the world. 

   Anticipation is high that the Body of Christ may soon step into that promise, as this Revival spreads and it is spreading. Might this be the day and the hour that those "greater works than these," that Jesus prophesied will become normal Christianity?    

    Never have I witnessed such a surge of faith in believers throughout the earth that the Supernatural life style that we have longed to live might soon be possible. Never have I witnessed the electric anticipation of something far greater than what we are already seeing in Lakeland, Florida to be coming to a church near you soon.  

    The Holy Spirit seems to be imparting to His kids an increase of confidence in God's mercy and faithfulness, as well as an assurance that Yes! He truly desires that we, His Bride, would partner with Him and take our place as the Supernatural beings that we were created to be.  We are, after all, supernatural beings residing in an earthly tent, as Paul describes.  

     The Church began with a group of ragtag, motley followers becoming filled with the Holy Spirit and through their demonstration of supernatural signs wonders, and miracles, led 3000 to Christ in a single day.                

    Somewhere the enemy of our God convinced a big part of the Church that the Holy Spirit left town and removed from us the real power to establish the Kingdom. Hamstrung with the fear of wandering into error, much of the Church has become paralyzed and comparatively ineffective.

    There is a longing in each of us to begin to be released into this life for which were created. We are made in His image and likeness. We are to do "greater works."  He did not give us all that deep desire only to disappoint us for that is not the kind heart of our Lord.

    Could it be that we have read too much of the Scripture figuratively that was meant to be taken literally? Could it be that the only thing holding back the Army of the Living God is the lie perpetrated by the very one, who is terrified that we may actually realize our potential in Christ? Could it be that if we are willing to risk and step out in boldness as David did we will be unstoppable? Could this indeed be the day and the hour that Christianity begins to rise to the call upon us?  

     Come Holy Spirit!  Come and fill us with Your Spirit that we may have Your love and compassion. Revive us!  Fill us as You did the Apostles. Intoxicate us with the knowledge of your Divine love that we may have love to pour out on others. Increase our faith to believe the truth, that we are Supernatural beings clothed  in a natural body created to do good works.  Impart to us the faith and  the confidence in You, to do the greater works, that You said that we would  do.  Release to us compassion for the lost and mercy for the broken and infirmed.  Use us to glorify Yourself  in this earth. Release us from the  doubt and unbelief, that has bound us far too long. Lead us into that place of service that is our unique sphere of anointing and influence, where we can be most effective in Your Kingdom, as it established upon the earth.  Let us become all that You desire of us as we walk beside You. You are the Vine and we are the branches. Keep us abiding in You that You may  draw us into our destinies.  We desire to walk in the fulness of our inheritance in You. Would You empower us now to do that?Thank You Lord, for this great day in which we live. Thank You for your outpouring of power and love and for Your great grace. Thank You for being always faithful to Your promises. Let Revival come that You might be exalted. Thank You that  You have commissioned us to this Supernatural Christianity  that we may rise us and partner with You in the days to come! Thank You that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead abides in us.  We love You, Lord!  We love your ways! In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen!

  May 3, 2008 

                     God's Sovereignty is our Insurance Policy

 Why do I struggle and strive to accomplish my own agenda? I am no longer a free agent but I've been purchased, not as a slave but as a chosen and cherished adopted child. The God who created me for His own pleasure, then purchased me, in order to bless me with all of His riches and all of the of the privileges of His Sovereign Kingdom. He didn't adopt me into poverty but into great wealth. Adopted into royalty, I am the daughter of the King who rules the universe with His very thoughts.

I am destined to succeed by my very position. It is my family heritage in this royal family. Why then do I forget my lineage and act as a pauper?