Prophetic Words – The Gritfull Life

At A Distance

“When it suits their needs they profess Me. But when faith in Me becomes radical, and polarizing, they follow at a distance and even fall away. I say whoever wants to be my disciple must take up their cross and follow Me.

Crucify their flesh, not glorify their flesh. You will know my true disciples by their fruit- the fruit they bear for My kingdom. Everything else is rotten- not suitable for harvest. It will be burned up.

Choose this day who you will serve: your earthly agenda or My eternal one; your goals, or My commands; your lusts or My righteousness. Just as Peter denied me, so my “church” is denying Me, and the day is coming where I will deny ever knowing you.

Repent while there is still time. Put away the deeds of darkness and come back to the light of my Son’s glory. Be made pure again. Do the things you did at first, and do not forsake your first love.“

Let’s look at some verses to provide some context to what God is saying here:

Peter’s Allegiance To Jesus

Mark 14:27 says, “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.” Jesus is quoting a prophecy spoken about him in Zechariah while telling his disciples that they will all scatter like sheep when he is captured and taken to be crucified. It was at this moment that Peter exclaimed, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth,” “today- yes, tonight– before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” And the Bible says, “But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you,’ and all the other disciples said the same.”

Peter’s Denial

In Luke 22:4 says, (after Jesus was arrested) “Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ” He was accused by a servant girl about being with Jesus, and he denied it. He was accused by a man, and Peter denied a second time. Yet a third time, he denied knowing Jesus by calling down curses on himself after being accused by another random person. The bible says, “Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord has spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”

Crucify Their Flesh, Not Glorify Their Flesh

I’m going to talk about life in the flesh versus life in the spirit for a moment. When the flesh and spirit are spoken of together, they are meant to provide the contrasting nature of the two. Flesh represents what is worldly while the spirit represents the heavenly, and supernatural. God’s order. We humans are made of flesh and come alive in the spirit when Jesus is invited into our hearts. The work of a new believer is a life-long pursuit of crucifying one’s self from worldliness while being made more alive in the spirit.

James 4:1-17 “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. “

Anything that aligns with flesh and worldliness opposes God. Let that settle in your mind and spirit for a moment.

Choose This Day

There are those who might be attending church, who might be professing a christian life, who are speaking the name of Jesus but running their personal agenda. The bible says in James to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” You are deceived if you think a teaspoon of Jesus is enough to base your plans and your life on. You cannot operate with a secular world-view and call yourself a Christian- there are NO exceptions. And if your real life (a.k.a., the words you speak, the palatable version of the Jesus you’ve created to justify your worldly living) causes others to question the authenticity of the gospel, you my friend, are not a true disciple. I don’t judge you- the word of God does. The word of the Lord spoken to you today says, “Choose this day who you will serve!” I don’t believe Jesus is poking Peter, but he’s using his example to tell you, no matter what you profess, it’s time to take an honest look at where you stand. Do you really pursue Jesus? Do you follow beside him or at a distance?

The definition of distance: an amount of space between two things or people; to make (someone or something) far off or remote in position or nature.

Disciples aren’t distant. That’s insufficient in God’s eyes. You might even be wearing your Jesus shirt in some crowds and your worldly shirt in other crowds. You can call it two-faced, lukewarm. If you’re giving Jesus the long arm in any way in your life, you’re following him at a distance. Or maybe you’re not really following him at all. If you’re feeling convicted by this, I pray you’ll go to God in repentance today.

Grace isn’t cheap. Stop treating the spilled blood of Jesus for your sin like it’s no big deal. It cost you nothing, but it cost him everything. Calling Him Lord and doing whatever you want doesn’t make you his disciple or his precious ambassador, let alone a mouthpiece for God. Reading a sentence of scripture out of context and calling it quiet time doesn’t suffice. Neither do excuses. You’ve got time for everything you want to do. You’ve got time to make money. You’ve got time to travel, be with your family, and make happy hours. We prioritize what we value MOST, and those are just facts. Thank God for His grace, that He continues to be patient with you… for now. I encourage you to take inventory of your life for imbalances. As disciples, we should be walking the walk before we ever open up our mouths to talk the talk.

Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

This definition of disciple encapsulates the characteristics of a TRUE disciple of Jesus:

Disciple – someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus (Matt. 4:19). Disciple making – entering into relationships to help people trust and follow Jesus (Matt. 28:18–20), which includes the whole process from conversion through maturation and multiplication (disciple.org).

Repent & Be Restored While There Is Still Time

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

Romans 13:11-14 says, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

And lastly, spoken to one of the 7 churches in Revelation, the Church at Ephesus, “…But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Ephesus was between Laodicea (symbolic of lukewarm believers) and Babylon (symbolic of full-on worldliness). So, somewhere between lukewarm and the devil’s city is Ephesus. During John’s exile at Patmos, the Lord speaks about Ephesus. He compliments them on their good works, but rebukes them for leaving their first love (Revelation 2:4). He challenges to them to take immediate action: repent, remember, and begin again (Revelation 2:5).

I pray you heed this sober warning. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14 KJV). I wish I could say that the narrow path is full of Jesus-trekkers, but culture and the world today really show us that it’s probably not that crowded. I’d go as far as to say the narrow path is mostly wide open.

Are you following Him in name only, merely at a distance, or are you truly all in and following Him as His disciple today?

Rich Garments

This morning I was praying for a group of women I have the privilege of serving, and the lord spoke to me “robes of white.” I began to cast vision as I was seeing it for them in prayer, as God is doing some incredibly deep work in their hearts right now.

After bible study, I came home to have my quiet time. I always ask God, “What do you want to say to your people today?” and I ask him to use me to deliver the message.

Today, He led me to a passage in Zechariah. Verse 3 says, ” ‘See, I have taken away your sin and put right garments on you.’ Then I said, ‘Put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.”

As the Lord spoke this to me, I recorded it in my prayer journal to share with you:

“There are those who are still believing the accuser of the brethren, but I the Lord, say today that I have taken away your sin and put rich garments on you.

I remove deception from your midst. The devil would have you believe that your past disqualifies you from sitting at my table, but I call you my heir.

I do not see Mephibosheths… I see my beautiful sons and daughters. Would you look at what you’re wearing? Would you see with your spiritual eyes what I have given you? You are robed in white. Purity. My son’s blood has taken away the stain of sin on you.

Walk as children of the light. Let your words declare my goodness over your life.

I am bringing you into your inheritance. You are royal in my eyes,” says the Lord.

Who is Mephibosheth?

There are actually 2 Mephibosheths in the Bible: 1 was a son of Saul and one of his concubines who was sacrificed to the Gibeonites; the second was Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of Saul. Mephibosheth was the only living son of Jonathan. His history is reviewed in 2 Samuel 4:4 where it states, “(Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan (their deaths) came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. The name Mephibosheth means, “exterminator of shame; one who destroys shame; end of shame.”

2 Samuel 9 gives the account of King David who asked his servants if there was anyone still left in the house of Saul to who he could should God’s kindness on behalf of his BFF Jonathan. He even inquired of one of Saul’s former servants who replied, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.” (Notice that he did not call him by his name but by his handicap.) Mephibosheth was living in Lo Debar, which means ” no thing; no pasture; or not having,” so, in other words, Mephibosheth was living at the place of nothing when David summoned him to the palace. He was lame in both legs, so who knows if he had to be carried there or if he had crutches, but the destroyer of shame was living in disability in a place of nothingness when the King called. Let that sink in for a moment.

Mephibosheth had a vision problem too…not as the bible describes per se, but when David told Mephibosheth, ” I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table” Mephibosheth replied with the way he saw himself, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” I love how King David completely ignores Mephibosheth’s statement and summons Ziba, Saul’s servant, telling him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master will always eat at my table.” AND- the bible says, “So Mephibosheth sat at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.”

The Lord Has Put Rich Garments On You

There are some out there who God has called out of Lo Debar into Jerusalam, or the place of peace and covenant. There are those who the Lord has put clean, rich garments of forgiveness and holiness on you, but you’re still allowing what happened to you in your past define who you are today. And the Lord is saying, “just as David did not acknowledge the way Mephibosheth saw himself, I do not look at you the way you see yourself.” “You have been called to sit at my table. I want to show my kindness to you. You’re my son. You’re my daughter.”
“It’s time for you to see yourself the way I see you.”

The Lord is removing the lies, or the deception that the enemy has been saying to you about you. That devil is sneaky, because he will use your voice to talk to you and make you think his lies are your thoughts, when it’s really him trying to rob you of your inheritance. The Lord says he is removing the deception. You are not disqualified. You are approved by God!

A Child of The Light. Royal

A couple of things here: God’s word says that Jesus is the Light of the world and those who follow him will have the light of life on the inside of them. He says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14). In 1 Thessalonians, Paul calls us sons of the light and sons of the day. It says in chapter 5 verse 8, “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

Psalm 71:15 it says, “I will tell of your goodness; all day long I will speak of your salvation, though it is more than I can understand.I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.”

In 1 Peter 2:9, God calls us “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

The blood of Jesus has given you royal DNA. The Lord would have you see your inheritance. Isaiah 61 says, “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.”

You are not a Mephibosheth. You are a son/daughter of the King of Kings. It’s time to step into what God has been keeping for you. He calls you beautiful. He’s saying he’s robed you in white. It’s time to walk as a daughter and a son of the king. It’s time to testify to others about what he’s done in your life.

I’m praying you really catch this and that you see yourself the way your Father sees you. Leave the past in the past. Embrace your inheritance!

Revival Is Coming- Not From Where You Think

“Revival is coming, but not from where you’d expect. It is coming outside of the church. It is coming through those whose hearts are in full pursuit of Me. Me first. Not their wealth. Not their riches, not through the things that would steal, kill, and destroy. Through those whose hearts have been purified.

Revival comes through the meek and the lowly. The tax collectors. Not through those who see themselves as holier or better than others. Their righteousness is as filthy rags. But these, my chosen, my devoted. My Beloved. My Bride. The glory will manifest through them to reach those the church has turned away, the church has ignored. Great are the sins of those who call themselves righteous. For the son of God came to you humble and lowly and riding on a donkey.

My fire will be released in those who are like my Son. Watch and see what I will do,” says the Lord. “I am turning the hearts of the Father to their children, and the hearts of my children back to Me. It’s time to prepare the way of the Lord.”

After giving me this word in my quiet time, the Lord took me to this passage in 2 Kings 17:34 which states,

“To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord not adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he names Israel. When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them. But the Lord, who brought you up our of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.

They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day, their children and grandchildren continue to do as their forefathers did.”

There are those who profess God with their lips. In other words, they speak their allegiance to the kingdom of God and his righteousness, but they do not worship or serve him. We could call this lip service. Lip service means support for someone or something that is expressed by someone in words but that is not shown in that person’s actions. The scripture that the Lord took me to indicates that God made a covenant with these people. He gave them, as He gives us all instructions for living a holy and blessed life. The instructions, the Bible, leads all disciples in freedom and life in Christ. God is saying today that his a revival is coming forth, but not through the people who “the church” would deem fit to be a conduit of what God wants to do in this hour. In Isaiah 64, God said all of us have become like one who in unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. And while there are those of us that know that grace is a gift, there are those who uphold the thought that their good-ness, their holiness, they’re checking off their bible check marks but living a life of persisting in idol worship. Lip service instead of life service. Doing things they think no one will ever see. Serving God and mammon. Serving self and calling it serving God. Those people will not be the vessels that God uses to make his glory known in this hour. The word above says they view themselves are righteous in their own eyes.

God is moving in the hearts of the humble. He’s moving in the hearts of those who have yielded to his teaching and discipline. It is through God’s teaching and discipline that we continually become sanctified- set apart. It is through those who are truly his disciples that others, those who he says the church has turned away, will see Jesus. Will come to him. There are a lot of churches that turn away the homeless. They turn their heads on the orphans, the widows, and the oppressed. The divorced. Those with special needs. Church people are imperfect too. They hurt people. They sometimes poorly reflect the image of Christ. And seekers and new believers get hurt as a result and swear off the church for life. It shouldn’t be that way, but it happens. But these humble, who have become like Christ, they are the ones that will be vessels of revival. Just as Jesus came, did miracles, laid down his life and rose from the dead. The wildfire of the gospel broke out AFTER he ascended and his disciples were commissioned. The Lord is starting another wildfire. A wildfire of his revival through his true sons and daughters. Humans hearts are awakening to the hour but the spirits of many men and women have not yet been made alive in Christ. They will either choose the life or choose death, but the Lord is calling everyone to come. He is preparing the way through his faithful.

I pray if this is tugging at you to get right with God, that you do it today without delay. I pray that if you’ve been asking God how he can use you, that you would let him show you how. You have a part to play in what he is doing right now. Wildfires are nearly impossible to extinguish, especially in times of warfare. In Hebrews, it is said that our God is a consuming fire. God’s fire cannot be tamed or contained. Just as everything that is of no eternal value will be consumed in fire, God’s fire of love and repentance will consume those who are ready to receive him.

God’s holy fire in the spirit is coming. He has prepared the hearts, and he is preparing the way. Amen.

You’ve Been Talented

The Lord gave me a word this morning for the remnant.

“You’ve been talented. What will you do with them? Your gifts, your abilities are from me for you, but they’re also for MY PURPOSES.

I have been preparing you in the secret place. It is what I created you for. To bring others to Me. To tell of my excellent greatness. To free captives.

Tell them I am coming soon. Tell them I will reward everyone according to what they have done in My Name, not their own. I am coming for my harvest and to collect my talents from my faithful few.

The harvest is ripe. Soon I will swing my sickle over the whole earth and take up my most treasured possessions.

Lead them to Me.“

You’ve been talented

God is saying that He’s given you talents that are specific to you and for His purposes. Your talent can bring you wealth, a name, an inheritance for your children, but God is saying today that He’s given them to you to multiply for Him. Of course, you will reap the benefits of using the talents He’s invested in you, but the talents are to be used for His glory in this season. Are you using your talents to build his kingdom or build your own?

I have been preparing you in the secret place- IYKTYK

The secret place is the place of intimacy He’s drawn you into with him. If you’re there, you already know what I’m talking about. Being still before the presence of the Lord, with absolutely no agenda other than pure devotion to your king. Training. Kind of like Jedi training. To hear your master’s voice. To then practice the discipline in listening. To be quiet when you want to speak. To practice the art of the linger for what he will say and show you.

The secret place sounds mysterious and exciting, but it’s not about you. It’s about sitting in the throne room of heaven to wait and hear what the Lord wants to say. It is not hurried or rushed. There are no clocks or phones in the secret place. It’s a different kind of FaceTime.

You have been prepared for such a time as this

I know that’s not exactly what he says here, but he does say that this is what you were created for. He’s aligning everything. Much like the book of Esther, where the name of God is never mentioned, it is in the collective text that his fingerprints, He is orchestrating events, people, and places so that you can step into your kingdom role that is for this hour. Why? To save your people. His people. Not literally. Although- maybe…To use your influence, power, and position to bring others to him. Or, as Esther did, to fast, pray and make bold moves so that a nation would be rescued.

Your life is a living testimony to the miraculous and supernatural nature of the only living God. Think about it. Think about what you’ve been through. What He’s brought you through! Will you be bold and share so that others may be set free from the kingdom of darkness. Yes, I know that sounds dramatic, but that’s what the bible says here–>

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:9-13).

Jesus is coming soon- What will you have to show for your talents?

I pray that we will all be like the wise and faithful servants, that we will be faithful with multiplying what we’ve been given. One day, all believers will stand at the judgment seat of Christ and receive their rewards for what they did for Jesus while here on earth. The bible says in Matthew 25(verses 14-30 for the full parable) that the servant who hid his talent was afraid of his master. The bible calls him a wicked and lazy servant saying, “So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” The master commands his talent be taken and given to the one with 10 talents. “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The Lord is saying today, that, as disciples, we are responsible. While there are only a faithful few, we are the hands and feet. We are the talents of Jesus. We possess the talents. You’ve got the gifting for whatever He’s calling you to! Honestly, that should make you feel pretty special, I would think!

The harvest is ripe

There are plainly-stated instructions here for the hearers of the word today.

Luke 10:2-12 states: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. “Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ “If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. “Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. “Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ “But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ “I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

Revelation 14:14-20

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”

Just as the farmer separates his crops, Jesus will one day reap the harvest he paid for with his blood. While those who have rejected Christ will reap the wrath of God.

Lead them to me

God is commissioning you to lead others to Him. In fact, he calls it The Great Commission. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded. And surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past

I am reminded of this poem my mother showed me awhile back from a missionary named C.T. Studd, and I wanted to share it. C.T. was quoted as saying, “My only joys, therefore, are that when God has given me a work to do, I have not refused it.” I hope this poem inspires and encourages you to be bold in your assignment and maximize your gifts for his glory.

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past
by C.T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill.
living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

__ extra stanza __

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

He’s Pursuing You

A word from the Lord:

“I am a jealous God. I am pursuing you through your struggles. The pressure. The circumstances. That’s Me, drawing you to Me. I created the deficits so that you would see that nothing satisfies like the light of my love and acceptance of you. Be not ashamed nor condemned. For I do not condemn you for your sins. I came to save you from them. Will you wash yourself at the cross, underneath the cleansing power of my blood? I will make you holy. I will free you from the demons that have plagued you your whole life. It’s time to be healed. Call out to me, and be saved. turn away from those things that have separated us. Be one with me. Walk with me. Let me show you how to see. Not your circumstances. Not your failures. Not your lack. But My plan for you. The places I call you to go. The Land of Plenty I have for you. Come in faith and just believe! I am a good Father, and I will surely do it!”

I can confidently say that for the majority of my life until now, I didn’t know how to see or how to think. It’s like from the moment I was born the world and the devil began backhanding me across the cheeks with lies.. hitting me so hard that, not only were my thoughts disrupted, but it impacted my vision: how I saw myself and how I saw others, and how I perceived others saw me. This included misthinking how God saw me. Can you imagine a young girl being backhanded and punched in the mind by the enemy? It sounds brutal, but it’s the visual I have as I try to convey my past to you. Why was that devil doing it? Because He saw my potential if surrendered totally to the plans God had for me. For real. We are weapons in the hand of God, people!

I remember being around 5 or 6 years old when my mom first read The Wordless Book to me. I know that sounds funny because there are actually no words in this book, just colors. But the colors spoke a story in a way that left a lasting imprint on my heart. Here’s a brief explanation of how the story goes:

Black: represents sin. Our sin separates us from God.

Red: The blood of Jesus covers our sin. For God so loved us that he gave and sent his son into the world to die for us that we would be saved through him.

Blue: His cleansing blood washes us. We are then baptized as a symbol of dying with Christ and being raised to life in Him.

White: symbolizes how Jesus has made us “as white as snow.” Pure in God’s eyes. And we begin a set apart walk with God, where we are continually cleansed by his blood.

Green: symbolizes growth. We don’t stay babies or new believers. We are called to be a disciple, to be mature, and to disciple others.

Gold: The Kingdom of Heaven. The gift of God is eternal life in heaven with Christ. We will walk on the streets of gold with our Savior.

This simple message of the gospel was appealing to me, because it focused on colors to tell a story. As a child, art was one of my favorite pastimes. I loved to get lost in color- to create pictures and visions of places I’d like to go. Places I’d rather be. It’s so amazing that even as a child, God will speak to you in his special love language. For me, it was imagery, visuals, colors, and dreams. Why am I telling you all of this?

Because God speaks lovingly to us in whispers, in colors, in pictures, in what I call “creation language.” Whatever your love language with him is. Remember when, as a child, you used to dream about what you would become? There was no limit on who you thought you would be. Why? Because imagination is a gift from God. Creativity is a gift from Him. He put things inside of you, special things, that are attached to your identity. But what does Satan do? He comes in like a wrecking ball- into your thoughts, through people, through circumstances- to sow seeds of shame, doubt, victimization, disbelief. To get you to abort the plans God has for you. Give him enough time and he will get you to come into agreement with his plans rather than the awesome plans God has for you.

Today the Lord is saying that it’s Him who has been pursuing you. Things in your life might seem as though they are falling apart, but they’re actually falling together into place. Like pieces of a puzzle that point to his unfailing love for you. There’s nothing you have done that comes as a surprise to him. It’s time to step out of whatever mindset has kept you from coming to God. Receive the forgiveness that flows from the throne of heaven today. Maybe you think you’re not good enough. Maybe you think you’re too far gone in the eyes of God. Maybe you’ve just got the volume up on the devil’s radio and you’re still believing the lies that he’s speaking over you. It’s time to get to the cross. RUN! Don’t waste another day. The Lord is calling out to you in love to come home. Be cleansed with the power of the blood of Jesus and receive healing of your mind and your vision. He wants to show you the plans he’s got for you. You’re not too old. It’s not too late. You will be invigorated by the things God wants to do in and through you. You just have to GO! God is saying to go to Him in faith and “just believe!” It only takes a little faith. A little mustard seed-sized faith to believe that He can and will change your life. He says, “Surely I will!” No more doubt. Just GO!

You’re A Weapon In His Hands

“Dawn is breaking. You will be renewed in strength as the eagle. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint. I AM going with you.

I will clear the path before you. I’ve got conquests for you. You will pillage from the enemy and take back my beloved. You are a weapon in my hand.

Make your hands strong for battle. The victory is mine,” says the Lord.

As I was praying in the spirit this morning, God spoke this to me. I jotted down the word quickly and went to the bible for an interpretation for this word from Him. Here is what I gathered:

Dawn is breaking.

The Light of the world is about to appear. The light of the world is also making his glory known through his remnant; those whose hearts have been purified through fire to declare the Day of The Lord. Isaiah 58:8 says, “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”

Your strength will be renewed as the eagle.

Isaiah 41: 29-31 states, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Because dawn is breaking, we are to look up. God is calling us to a new level of hope that results in faith that will reinvigorate us; it will cause us to soar.

Ancient Hebrew culture revered eagles as mighty warriors that also cared fiercely for their young. Eagles carry their eaglets to safety, away from the threat of predators. Eagles are also known for their strength and courage in dangerous, turbulent weather, soaring above storm clouds and to safety. Eagles’ wings was a figure of speech commonly used to attribute these fine characteristics to a person. The Lord references eagles’ wings in Exodus 19:1–6, which is a recollection of how God delivered Israel from the Egyptians. In this passage, the Lord gives Moses a message for His people: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession” (verses 4–5).

The prophet Isaiah uses wings like eagles in the same way, attributing the great characteristics of eagles to those who remain faithful to God and look forward to their heavenly reward. The phrase mount up is a translation of the Hebrew word ˈalah, which means “to go up, ascend, to go up over a boundary.” Isaiah is communicating the promise that God will provide renewed strength and courage to overcome obstacles, if Israel would only have patience and trust in the Lord’s sovereign timing.

Upon reading Isaiah’s words, perhaps Israel recalled what God had said to them long ago as they fled Egypt, about how the Lord had delivered them “on eagles’ wings” with His great strength and power. Isaiah tells them that they, too, could have access to such deliverance. If they remained faithful to God, they would soar (gotquestions.org).

I AM is going with you.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I AM with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Joshua 1:9 states, “”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Before the great deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians, and at the commissioning of Moses, God told Moses in Exodus 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” God is saying to you today, that your assignment is anointed and appointed. The Lord is going with you to your next. He tells us this before He goes on to be more specific to encourage you and strengthen you for the season that’s coming. You will not be alone in your assignment because you have a holy calling. As leadership changed from Moses to Joshua, Moses, summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all of Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8). This assignment is about inheritance for God. Its’ for those who Jesus died for on the cross- his inheritance. Did you know that Jesus prayed for you before he went to the cross? The proof is recorded in John 17:20-25. I’m honing in on verse 24 where Jesus says, ” Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you have loved me before the creation of the world.”

The Lord is clearing the path before you

God’s word speaks through the prophet Isaiah to comfort the remnant of Israel. His words say in Isaiah 40:3-5 (ESV): Someone is shouting: “Clear a path in the desert! Make a straight road for the LORD our God. Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and mountain. Level the rough and rugged ground. Then the glory of the LORD will appear for all to see. The LORD has promised this!” He promises in Exodus 23:30 “little by little, I will drive them out before you until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”

The Lord has conquests for you

He wants to conquer through you! The definition of conquest is
“the subjugation and assumption of control of a place or people by the use of military force.” To subjugate means to bring under control, as in territories that have been gained. In this case, to be conquered by the kingdom of heaven by Him through YOU. Romans 8:36-37 states, ” ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. He already calls you a conqueror in life, and in the calling he has for you!

You will pillage from the enemy and take back my beloved

Christ’s beloved is his bride, The Church. In this case, God is saying you will pillage from the devil to redeem his church. To pillage means to rob a place. Isaiah 50:11 states, Because you rejoice and are glad, you who pillage my inheritance, because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and neigh like stallions, your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who gave you birth will be disgraced. She will be the least of nations- a wilderness, a dry land, a desert. Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited but will be completely desolate.” He is speaking of the kingdom of Babylon that took his beloved captive. The Lord is going to pillage the kingdom of darkness through you to take back his bride.

You are a weapon in my hand

Jeremiah. 51:19-23 says, “He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, including the tribe of his inheritance- The Lord Almighty is His name. ‘You are my war club, my weapon for battle. With you, I will shatter nations. With you, I destroy kingdoms, with you I shatter horse and rider, with you I shatter chariot and driver, with you I shatter man and woman, with you I shatter old man and youth, with you I shatter young man and maiden, with you I shatter shepherd and flock, with you I shatter farmer and oxen, with you I shatter governors and officials. Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion,’ declares the Lord.”

These verses speaks of God as the war club, but today he is saying that you are a weapon in his hand.

Make your hands strong for battle

Psalm 144: 1-2 begins with praise to God from David. He says, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”

To train for war, you have to know the weapons of your warfare, for they are MIGHTY to the pulling down of strongholds- the things that hold people in prison! I Corinthians says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:18)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Victory is Assured

Can I just encourage you to use your voice? Somewhere along the way, christian culture adopted a mindset that thoughts and prayers are enough to change the world for Jesus. And while there is wonder-working power in prayer, God has also called us to testify! What has He done for you? You and your story might just be the miracle he wants to use to dare others to believe and hope in Him.

Hallelujah! Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Because of the finished work of the cross, we are fighting with Jesus from the place of victory. Now, it’s time to run into the fray and pull others out of darkness. Get ready to go to the mattresses for God. It’s time to take back for the kingdom of God, in Jesus’ mighty name! Amen.

Be Aware Of This

“Beware of the 2 adulteress sisters: divination and witchcraft. It looks like me, but it’s not me. It weaves its way into my people and takes control of weak-willed women who are not spiritually discerning. It’s vital that you stay close to me. As days approach, the evil will counterfeit the holy in attempts to deceive many. You can only know the way, the truth, and the life through me. Not through who someone professes to be, or no matter how special they think they are. I the Lord test the mind and hearts of men. I reveal, uncover, and expose the truth. Test all spirits, for then you will know who are mine and who are workers of iniquity. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

I’m going to include some scriptures that explain this word as it relates to this word.

The 2 Adulteresses in Ezekiel 23

I had never read this passage before, but before giving me this word, the Lord took me to Ezekiel 23, which in high-level context refers to the the northern and southern kingdom of Israel using a metaphor for 2 adulteress sisters. The bible calls them “daughters of the same mother, engaging in prostitution. The Lord says, “since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.” The word also says, “But righteous men will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood, because they are are adulteresses and blood is on their hands!” Chapter 24 says, “‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and actions,’ declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Divination and witchcraft operate together, and in the instance of this word, God is calling them adulteress sisters in relation to those in the church who are operating under these spirits but calling them the gifts of the holy spirit, or the gifts of God. Just as Judah and Samaria rebelled against and committed adultery with other nations, idols, and their gods, so have these people, or perhaps even actual women in the church committed adultery against the One True God and are operating in false signs and wonders by demonic powers.

The women in Ezekiel were called prostitutes. To prostitute something means to devote to corrupt or unworthy purposes. Intercourse can mean communication or dealings between individuals or groups. In regards to this word, these people and entities are professing believers who are breaking covenant with God for works of darkness through divination and witchcraft. God warns that it can look like him, but it’s not him. Please be very careful and discerning of what you believe of others and what they profess. His word today states that he is going to reveal, uncover, and expose them. But you are responsible for working out your own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord.

The Meaning of Divination and Witchcraft in the Bible

Divination: a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings, or by other than human means. A diviner is someone who professes divination; one who pretends to predict events, or to reveal occult things, by the aid of superior beings, or of supernatural means.

Witchcraft: The bible says, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

The word of the Lord says that divination and witchcraft weave (I’m visualizing a slithering as I type this) their way into his people, and he references 2 Timothy 3:5-9: “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind that worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. […] But they will not get very far because as in the case of those men, (Jannes and Jambres), their folly will be clear to everyone.” The Lord is saying that weak-willed women who are not holy spirit- discerning become controlled by those who operate in witchcraft and divination. Be on your guard.

Testing the Spirits & Guard Against Deception

The bible talks about testing the spirits in 1 John 4. It has this to say,

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood.

I went on a search for witchcraft and divination in the bible: I found 18 verses and this website called Acts7:11.com that explains witchcraft and Satan’s attempt to work it into the church. I encourage you to review it because it dives into specific ways this plays out in the church.

Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life

We live in a day where prophecies abound, and perhaps it’s even more evident because of the advance of digital media and technology. But it’s also because Satan knows his time is short, and as he is the father of lies, he will attempt to counterfeit everything holy that God is doing in the earth right now.

The bible says in Matthew 24:24, ” For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect- if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.” I am reminded of this passage in Matthew 8:2 where Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in our name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”

Do You Really Know Jesus, Or Do You Just Know About Him?

Hear me out, and hear the word of the Lord above: THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL KNOW THE FATHER IS THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. I have people who call me wanting a word like I’m 1-800-dial-a-word, and I tell them, I don’t have a word for you, but God has endless words. IN HIS WORD. READ THE BIBLE AND GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU. Don’t look for a man or woman to be your holy spirit, that’s God’s job. I just can’t say this enough.

Stay close to him. Don’t be deceived. Hold fast to the truth and test everything against the word of God.

Restoration Of All Things

A word from the Lord this morning:

“Do not be moved by the things you see. Chaos abounds, but look for me. I am working in hearts, in rooms, behind the scenes in and through my people for my purposes. The world speaks destruction, but I speak restoration. Restoration of my order. Restoration of hearts, of lives. Restoration of righteousness streaming from the throne of heaven, in and through my people.

When you see the bud sprout you’ll know that the time is near. My kingdom will be restored, and my people shall see my face. They shall speak to me face to face.

Live in my presence. I am not a God that you take off the shelf on Sunday, only to return to your way of living Monday through Saturday. Talk about me with your children, in your going out and your coming in. Make me welcome in your home, in your place of business. Make a seat for me at the table. I will open doors for you that no man can shut. To make me known. To make my glory known. To make my power known.

Carry me as I carry you.”

The Lord uses language that I don’t use, and when he’s giving me these words, for me, it’s like being given treasure. There are certain parts that sparkle even brighter, causing me to go in and search for deeper understanding. I liken it to finding more treasure buried deeper within his word.

When God said, “When you see the bud sprout, you’ll know that the time is near” made me think of a passage in Matthew. It reads like this:

Matthew 24:32. “Now learn the lesson from the fig tree. As soon as the twigs get tender, and it’s leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at your door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus is speaking about remaining watchful for his return. I highly encourage you to read Matthew 24 and 25 to understand the full context of what Jesus was saying to his disciples about his return.

Summer Time is Harvest Time

Jesus saying summer is near is significant to his disciples. During Jesus’ day, summer was a time of preparation and harvest. When Jesus said to watch the fig, he was saying, just as you know that the fig = summertime, when you see these things happen, know that Jesus’ return is near.

But what things? Let’s take a look. His disciples asked him privately in verse 3, “Tell us, they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus responds,

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and betray each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [..] For as lightning that comes from the east is visible from the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (v. 27) […] At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

What Looks Like The Death of The World is Restoration of the Kingdom of God

It’s hard to watch events unfold. It’s hard, especially if you have a smidge of nostalgia about the way things used to be. We can be certain in uncertain times. We can have hope. Because God, in his goodness has given us a vision of the future. It’s a future where holy restoration of all things happens. Restoration can be defined as the act of returning something to its former condition. Making something new again. Restoring can also make things better than their current state. Hear these words from Jesus in Revelation: 21:5 “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true’ [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].

The River of Life In the Kingdom of God

I love this passage in Revelation 22. Flip to the end of your bible and take time, especially now, in light of what you see going on all around you, to be reminded of what life looks like on the other side of restoration.

It says, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

Live Differently. Live Ready. Make Him Known.

Restoration is happening. Old paradigms, old ways of doing things are dying. What looks like total anarchy is part of God’s process of restoration. He’s telling us to keep him at the center of our lives. It’s time for believers to become disciples. Knowing about Jesus is not enough. Calling out to him is not enough. He wants to be invited into every area of your life. He wants to be Lord of your life. Lord of your family.

He said “Fix my words in your hearts and minds. […] Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates…” In other words, and not from a place of religious works, but from a place of, “Make me part of your everyday and every way, not just your Sunday.”

Not only does he want to be in 100% fellowship with you at all times, he wants to give you influence to take him into spheres, to people, to nations, places where God is weaving circumstances to draw others to Him.

Remember the great commission in Matthew 28:18: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am will you always, to the very end of the age.'”

Have You Decided?

I am reminded of this hymn, I Have Decided. I’m feeling this as I type and need to release it. There are those who are confessing salvation in Jesus but their hearts are far from him. The long, loving, and merciful arm of the Lord is reaching out to you today saying “Return to me.” Don’t play with salvation. His love inspires true repentance- that means no going back to your old ways. God’s word says, no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62) In other words, it’s time to be done with half-hearted commitment. It’s time to be done with christian lip-service. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of transformation. It’s the day of restoration. He desires to make you new too.

A Burning Match

This morning in my quiet time I was praying for the people of the world, and asking God to stir up revival. True confession- I don’t pray for the whole world in general as much as I do for the people and circumstances God places on my heart to pray for, and I was just thinking that I need to be believing and interceding for the bigger and more amazing that I know God can do.

I consume the news like most people, podcasts, social media, mobile apps. You can read the headlines and skim stories, but lately, it feels as though the darkness of the world is encroaching, even into my neighborhood. Anger, frustration, and hate running rampant, and in my opinion, there’s been a major shift since 2020. It’s like people have lost their filter, or perhaps they’re so stressed out about the uncertainties of life that their emotions have ruptured and are bursting forth in ways I’ve never seen before. It points to a root of fear that people have. If you walk on eggshells long enough in life, you begin to react to everything. You become a product of your environment, rather than being in control of your response to people, situations and the like. I was telling God that I see fear and hopelessness rising like a flood, and asking him to come into the circumstances of the world and be change and hope. He is. He gave me this word today:

“Hatred IS rising. Can you feel the pressure? Like labor pains. The time is coming, but has not come yet. There are more who must come. My people are my burning matches in this dark world. Will they rise up? Will they let their lights shine- my light shine through them? This isn’t talking a christian talk and walking a worldly walk. My disciples live and move and have their being in Me. They speak differently. The think differently. They are the 1 in a room of none. A match burning in the darkest night. The wind will not snuff out their flame. The rain will not put out their light. They burn from within because they are kindled in Me. They don’t claim religion. Their flame doesn’t diminish then burn brighter. Their light is immovable. Unchangeable. Just as I do not change. One match burning bright can start a wildfire in the right circumstances. Trust me with the circumstances and just be my burning match.

Wildfires will break out in cities, countries, and in nations. My spirit will not be put out! Watch it go forth! Watch it spread! NOTHING will come against what I will do through my people by the power of my Spirit.”

Even as disciples of Jesus, it’s easy to fall into the same patterns and traps that the world does. I do this..deadlines, goals, the future, etc. Day-to-day life for the believer can look like the same gerbil wheel the world runs in. We’ve just decorated our wheel with Jesus stickers, and we’re running to worship music. I’ve been making a consistent effort to spend my mornings with my Bible and in prayer for 2 years now and it’s amazing how God has shifted my vision to seeking out God’s heart, his goals, his future, and how he wants to use me to be his change agent where he’s planted me. I have to lay my plans down and refuse to rush from his presence. Do I get it right everyday? NO. But it’s a discipline that I’m building because I know God wants to speak. We’ve got to make room for him. I’m reminded of the song called Authority by Elevation Worship. One word from God can change everything. One instruction. One plan. One assignment.

God’s word is a reminder that our being rooted in relationship with him, and being kindled in his fire daily, is the way we are transformed. It’s the only way we can know God’s plans (see the verse in 1 Chronicles that God showed me above), not only for the world, but his plans for how he wants to use us to accomplish his will. So we are burning bright. So we are ready to be the 1 in the room of none. For such a time as this. So God can transform the world through us.

I want to leave you with this verse from Luke 8:16 (KJV). If you grew up in the church, you probably know the song, This Little Light of Mine.

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.”

1/10/23 A Word From The Lord

This morning the Lord put a song in my heart by Chris Tomlin. It’s a song I used to sing to my son at bedtime during his early elementary years. Mainly because I remember being his age and carrying big feelings, that for various reasons, my parents were unaware of. I would remember being in my bed alone at night thinking about God and wondering if he saw me. Many times feeling fear and loneliness. Fast forward to having a child of my own and wanting to instill in him the understanding of a Father’s Love from our heavenly father. Here are the lyrics and video link if you’d like to play it here:

Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You’re pleased and that I’m never alone

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching for answers only You provide
‘Cause You know just what we need before we say a word

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Because You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us
You are perfect in all of Your ways
Oh, You’re perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still into love, love, love

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

And You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
(You’re a good, good Father)

You are perfect in all of Your ways (it’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are)
(And I’m loved by You)
You are perfect in all of Your ways (it’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am)

The Lord spoke a verse to me from James 1, verse 17 (PT). It goes, “Every gift God gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of Lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadows or darkness, and there is no subject to change.”

He gave me this word for someone:

“Good fathers only give good things, yet the enemy has convinced some that I don’t love them- because of the circumstances in their life. I am the God of Choice. I created you and love you with an everlasting love, but I will not force you to choose me, love me, or worship me. I don’t make robots. I make human beings. Humans that would think on their own, act on their own. Humans who would choose me back. Your circumstances are a result of your choices, not mine. There’s still time to turn the boat around. Some things you will have to walk through, but I am here to journey with you if you will let me into your life. You will see the miracles of a Romans 8:28 life where I will even work this together for your good. Again, I am your good, good father, and I LOVE YOU.”

There’s Still Time To Turn The Boat Around

I asked God, “why did you use that expression?” and he led me to a definition at Wordsense.eu which explains that turning the boat around means “making a major change in behavior or strategy.” There are those of you who need to turn the boat of your life around, and you need the wind of the holy spirit to redirect your sails in a direction that will prosper you and not harm you.

A Little More About James, Chapter 1

The writer of the book of James was the actual brother of Jesus and he wrote this letter after Stephen was martyred for his faith in Jesus. In it, he is encouraging and instructing new believers on gaining wisdom, spiritual maturity, faith, and grit. Relating to the word from the Lord, I want to hone in on verses 13-16 which state,

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.“

How powerful is it that, through a new birth (a spiritual birth) in Jesus who is the Word of God, that we become the first fruits or top ten percent of his creation!? If you’ve given your heart to Jesus, you’re in God’s top 10%, for his use and his glory!

Secondly, God’s word today says that, based on the word given to me, your present circumstances are a result of your choices. I need to say that God has not tempted you into the situation you are currently in. He’s not testing you there either. You might be in a furnace of affliction right now or dealing with some really heavy things. I am reminded of something I heard growing up: The further you move away from God, he will use circumstances and your choices to get your attention. At first it starts as a mist or drizzle, progressing to a steady rain. Then if you continue to move in rebellion and sin, your life becomes like a thunderstorm, a tornado, even a hurricane. Till you feel as though you’re drowning. But in this case, it’s like drowning when there’s a life preserver floating in the water next to you. Is pride preventing you from grabbing your life preserver, a.k.a. Jesus?

But God says, “there’s still time to turn the boat around.” There’s still time to make major changes. The first starts with recognizing that you are not God. The second starts with going to God in repentance, asking for forgiveness, so that you can be restored to a right relationship with him. Then, you’ve got to let go of controlling your boat. Give him the wheel. Seriously. Watch the circumstances slowly change from sinking to swimming to winning the race of life.

I Want To Leave You With Two Verses

Romans 8:28 (NIV) God says, ” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:31 (NIV) What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any change against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

Romans 8 goes on to state that Jesus is at the right hand of God RIGHT NOW interceding for YOU. Nothing- no circumstances, misery, pain, sin, bankruptcy, abortion, drugs, you name it, NOTHING will separate you from the love of Jesus Christ. I pray that you’ll choose your good, good father today, and watch him turn your boat around.

The Zeal of God

“The Lord will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior; he will stir up his zeal; with a shield he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now like a woman in chid birth I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up the vegetation, I turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do, I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols who say to the images, ‘ You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame. Hear you deaf; look you bling, and see!” Isaiah 42:6-17

There is a shift in the spiritual realm that is now manifesting in the natural realm we live in. The Lord is waking up his remnant to stir up his zeal within them. As disciples of the kingdom of heaven, it’s time to pick up the weapons of our warfare, to charge into the fray so the message of the Lord can go forth in this world. So that salvation can come to the sinner. So that recovery of sight can return to those who are spiritually blind to Jesus and the things he is doing in this hour.

What is Zeal? Zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. Webster’s 1828 dictionary says, zealous means, “Passionate ardor in the pursuit of any thing. In general, zeal is an eagerness of desire to accomplish or obtain some object, and it may be manifested either in favor of any person or thing, or in opposition to it, and in a good or bad cause.”

Back in 1994, Oprah reviewed an experience she had at a mega church where the pastor preached that God is a jealous God. Oprah’s misunderstanding and lack of study as to the deeper meaning of God’s word caused her to assign a secular meaning to the word “jealous” and go on to broadcast and thus influence her audience about God’s definition of zeal and jealousy. (video here)

I remember this being a topic of conversation among my mom and her coworkers at the time. Because of the power (god-given, if I might add) and influence of Oprah Winfrey, many of her viewers subsequently were drawn into into her teachings by Eckhart Tolle and others who promoted a new age movement and secular humanism. In a nut shell, secular humanism in a belief that humanity is capable of morality and self-fulfillment without belief in God.

So let’s go back to the zeal of the Lord. The Lord, in his zeal, pursues you. He is eager for you to come to him. He desires that you would become his. He created you. He wants you to choose him back!

Now the time is come where the Lord is stirring up his zeal in his true followers. This zeal will take Jesus into new rooms, new marketplaces, new spaces, new homes, new media. His people have kept silent. Some out of fear, some out of not knowing what to say. Some have kept silent because their actions don’t match their words. But NOW. Now things are changing. They cannot be quiet. They cry out! The Lord is stirring up his spirit so much so that his people will cry out! They are arising with a new boldness to declare the day of salvation. The good and acceptable day of the Lord. These are the days of Elijah.

God is taking those who couldn’t see. He’s opening their eyes, he’s taking them and guiding them on new paths, not the direction of men. He’s shining light into the dark spaces in hearts, in lives, in families, in businesses. He’s giving everyone another chance. And those who are distracted by their idols- their money, their job, their secret sins, their SELF, will miss him. Don’t miss Him. He’s calling out!

Our King is coming.

12/29/22 A Word From The Lord

“I am the Great I am. I will not share my glory with another. I do not give in part. I give wholly, completely. I do not partially restore, I completely restore. I revive to LIFE. I desire to revive those whose hearts have wandered, those whose hears have strayed. Those who have given up..who are fainting, fading, dying without me. Some believe their relationship with me is sufficient but the only partially know me. Some think they know me but they only really know about me.

I long to redeem them but they have to come to the cross- remember the cross and what I did for them! I gave my life completely so they could live completely, lacking nothing. Whole. Sanctified. Set apart to know me and serve me.”

I had a dream two nights ago. I was at a garden nursery and was watching as the nursery owner, a woman, was dragging in various bushes and trees that were covered with monarch butterflies. It was getting cold outside and there was a distinct chill in the air. It was past monarch migration season, and I was amazed that there were still so many monarchs clinging to the trees and bushes. As she moved the plants under a covered patio, I saw the butterflies dropping, falling off of the plants onto the ground. They were dying, motionless. They were huge monarchs, about 5-6 inches in wingspan. Some of the plants were partially green, others mostly brown, and some of the trees were completely dead- just dry branches. As I went to look closer, the butterflies would not remove themselves from the dead trees. I also noticed that many of the butterflies were faded, lackluster, some were grayish-white. There were others that were fake, artificial ornamental butterflies that the nursery owners had put on the trees and bushes to make them more appealing to the real butterflies.

Near the butterfly bushes and trees, the nursery owner kept a glass cage, and it full of sticks, leaves, and mirky water with large branches. Inside the cage were two green boa constrictors. I cringed, feeling disgusted. One had just finished defecating. I sat down on the concrete to watch the one while waiting for the nursery owner to finish moving her plants in. I felt something warm in my lap at first thinking, “it’s nice to be warm because it’s so cold out here.” But then I looked down and noticed that it was the second boa constrictor. I calmly (surprisingly) removed it from my lap and stood up. I wanted to revive the butterflies. I wanted to pick them up and take them home so that those that were left wouldn’t die. But I hesitated to just start taking them because I thought it might be stealing from the nursery owner. I told her that I’d be back to buy all of the plants.

The trees are the churches. Some are living, some dying, others are completely dead. Some churches have artificial christians there whose motives are not authentic- not to serve God and love others into a lasting relationship with Jesus. Some are just there to look pretty, or because church is part of their brand appeal. Butterflies are fading and dying because they are connected to Eccelsia that are not connected to the True Vine, Jesus Christ. There was not a single butterfly that was flying. They stuck to the various plants and trees until they fell off to the ground.

The boa constrictors symbolize the works of the enemy that come to suffocate or choke the life out of The Church. They are sneaky, they appear without warning, when the environment is dark, using their heat sensors to detect living prey to devour. Google says they “lie in wait waiting to strike any unsuspecting small creatures.”

What’s interesting about this dream is that for whatever reason, the monarchs failed to migrate with their own kind, as they do each year when the seasons change. They were clinging to things that were dead or dying. And here’s the devil over on the side lines, waiting for it to become dark enough for him to come out and devour his unsuspecting prey. In other words, the few butterflies that were left, he was prepared to destroy.

This word and this dream bears significance to me personally regarding my role in helping strengthen the remnant, but there’s a warning here for anyone who professes to be a christian, and a love letter from God regarding his desire to revive his people now. He sees that it’s getting colder in this world. He sees his people clinging to dead things that are causing them to slowly die. He wants to revive you. He wants to restore everything. Your colors, your wings, your ability to fly, but not before restoring his relationship with HIM FIRST. Do you know Him, only in part? Or do you only know about Him but somewhere along the way you’ve been deceived into thinking that that’s all it takes? Righteousness is not inherited. You don’t get access to Jesus because it was your parent’s belief system. God is saying that he longs to redeem you today. To buy your life with his son’s precious blood. God is saying to come to the cross, look upon Jesus. He gave his life completely so that you could live COMPLETE. Completely. Restored. All you have to do is say YES to Jesus.

I pray that if this word brings conviction to you, that you would go to God, repent, and ask him to show you to know him better. He’s got incredible gifts waiting for you. He’s got new colors for you. New wings for you. Be revived in Jesus today!

I Choose You!

A word from the Lord for you today:

“I am in love with my people. I love them with the deep abiding love of a father. Some don’t understand this kind of love because it wasn’t modeled to them by their earthly fathers. They went on a search to compensate for that lack of love, but they found themselves empty and dissatisfied, feeling orphaned, and rejected.

I call them Mine.

I long to be gracious to them. To show them love and acceptance. Their inheritance is found in me. Their hope is in me. Their restoration is in me. I’m calling my children back. Do not turn away from my hands that are open to you. Do not led pride or shame keep you from me any longer. You are not the things you think you are. You are SO much MORE.

You’re valuable to me. You’re my son, my daughter, and I died so you could be with me forever. I CHOOSE YOU!” says the Lord.

John 15:14-16// You didn’t choose me but I have chosen you to go into the world and bear fruit. And your fruit will last, because whatever you ask of my father for my sake, he will give it to you.

New Wine

This morning when I woke up, I found myself singing, “Make me a vessel. Make me an offering. Make me whatever you want me to be. I came here with nothing but all you have given me. Jesus make new wine out of me.” Over and over, those words were coming out of me like a prayer, but with no accompanying vision or dream. As I sat down to start my quiet time, I went searching for the full lyrics to the song “New Wine” by Hillsong, and here they are:

In the crushing, in the pressing, you are making new wine. In the soil I now surrender. You are breaking new ground. So I yield to you and to your careful hand. When I trust you I don’t need to understand. Make me a vessel. Make me an offering. Make me whatever you want me to be. I came here with nothing but all you have given me. Jesus, bring new wine out of me. Jesus bring new wine out of me. Where there is new wine there is power, there is freedom. I lay down my old flames to carry your new fire today. The song is here if you’d like to listen.

I heard the Lord say, ” Before I can give new wine, I make new wineskins.”

The scriptures say in 2 Timothy 2:20-26, “In a large house there are articles (vessels) not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay; some for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy and prepared to do any good work.”

We are all vessels that carry something. Vessels of different status and purposes, but vessels nonetheless. As scripture points out, some of us are being used to bring honor and glory to God while others are carrying purposes that are ignoble or dishonorable. The Bible states that if a person will cleanse himself from the ignoble things, he will be made holy and ready to good works for the kingdom of God.

The reason I talk about vessels is that a wineskin is a vessel, or a container for wine. The Bible states in Mark 2:21-22 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he doesn’t the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”

To provide a little context relating to wineskins, I am sharing this passage from The New Frontier Ministries which states, “The new wineskins were filled with unfermented juice and left to age for a period of time. Gasses formed within the wineskin as the flavor, color, balance, and boutique of the wine grew. Because the wineskin was new, it could expand and hold both the wine and the gasses. However, if someone poured unfermented juice into an old wineskin, the forming gasses caused the skin to burst. As a result, they lost both the new wine and old wineskin.”

As I was reading this passage I wrote this:

“God has new wine that he is preparing to pour into his vessels. But the old wineskin, or the old you, won’t support the new wine. He’s in the process of transforming you into a new wineskin and vessel of honor for His good work.” Then the Holy Spirit spoke, “Some are feeling crushed, pressed, but it is me, refining them. Drawing out the sweet, pure fragrance of my work in them. The fragrance will draw others to them so they will be drawn to me. The crushing is making new wine, new rooms, new ministries where my Spirit will not be suppressed. Allow my work in you to be completed so that those who I have ordained will come.”

His words inspired me to look into aroma, and more specifically the art of perfume making. The word perfume is Latin: “per” meaning through, and “fumum” meaning smoke. Ancient perfumes were made by extracting natural oils from plants through pressing and steaming them. The oils were then burned to scent the air. In Exodus, Moses speaks of perfumed anointing oil that was used to anoint the priests and sacred vessels of the tabernacle. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 states, “For we are the aroma of Christ for those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are the smell of death and to the other, the fragrance of life. Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity like men sent from God.

I just want to encourage you today. You have a treasure, a new wine that God is preparing for you to carry as His vessel. Allow him to continue His transforming work on and in you so that you are fully equipped to carry His glory into where He is sending you. I am praying that you continue to, as the song “New Wine” states, “yield to Him and to His careful hand. I pray that you continue to trust Him when you don’t understand the process. I want to leave you with this verse from 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, not from us.”

Peace to your Heart

I was on a call with a friend this morning and she confided in me the fear that she was feeling about life, her work, and the landscape of society in general. We were speaking in context of our business relationship, and when I got off the call, I went into my quiet time and begin to pray for her. During worship, the Lord began to speak this to me and released me to share it today. He says,

” My people are afraid. They have allowed the circumstances and the environment around them cause them to lose focus on the things I am doing in this hour. I AM the GREAT I AM. I am making a way where there seems no way. I am aligning people, places, events for my purposes, says the Lord. Do not allow the enemy to steal your focus on who is in control- IT’S ME! Do not look for me in the fire or in the earthquake, or in the wind. You will find me in the secret place. You will hear my still, small voice. I whisper thoughts of love, hope, a future to you. I tell you of great things to come. You are living in a time where miracles abound. Pray for the eyes to see them. I speak peace to your heart today. Nothing is taking place that I have not ordained, and as I sit on my throne I invite you to sit beside me. You will find me when you seek me with your whole heart. Remove the distractions and come and be with me. Activate your faith to believe I AM and that YOU CAN find me. I am not a far off God. I am as close as your breath. Come!”

I want to add to that, don’t give God pieces of you. God desires ALL of you. He created you for His delight and for His glory! And for those of you who feel as though your life is in pieces, or maybe you feel like you’re missing pieces you need before you can come wholly to God, I say just come! Bring whatever you’ve got and come to Jesus. He specializes in turning pieces into masterpieces. He’s the God of restoration and he will restore you. Just come to him! I was reminded of this song I sang in church as a child. I hope that as you listen to it, it’ll settle your anxious heart and that you’ll sense the deep love Jesus has for you. The link is here: Softly and Tenderly

10/30/22 A Word From The Lord

A Word from the Lord: “You have been waiting to be unleashed, and now is the time. ‘Ready or not, here I come,’ says the Lord. Go where I tell you to go, and say what I tell you to say. Don’t add or take away from it. Even if you feel afraid. I will be there to strengthen you and uphold you with my righteous right hand. I will not let you fail. These things are for my purposes, says the Lord. You are my witness and my servant who I have chosen that you may go out and bear fruit so that others may know and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

“Tell them: ‘Social media is not a God. Politicians are not Gods. Stop looking for man to fix what’s broken in this world when my son died to fix it. ‘It is finished,’ says the lord! ‘It is finished!’ You are my vessel to reach those I have predestined to know me. Get off the sidelines and get in the game! It’s time to bear fruit. Whether you think you’re ready or not, I know you are. RUN!”

Behold! Your Bridegroom!

Early this morning around 3am I heard these words: “Wake up, your bridegroom is coming!” I laid in my bed, trying to wake up but finding myself so drowsy from sleep that I continued to lay there.

This morning in my quiet time, as I talked with the Lord about the urgency of the hour and the words that I woke to, He spoke this word to me:

“I am purifying my bride for such a time as this. I call out their detestable practices. They say they love me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. I must pull back the veil to show them their errors and sin while there’s still time to repent and return to me. Not everyone will listen, but some hearts will be convicted. That’s me- touching their heart because I love them. I want them to be right with me. Made righteous. Pure. I am not coming for a broken bride. I am not coming for a bride that loves me with half of her heart or even just a fraction. I am coming for a bride who has made herself ready to receive me. I died for my bride. She is my beloved, and I am hers. She knows me intimately and understands what I mean when I say this. This is a call to my bride to purify herself. Come out from among them and be separate and touch no unclean thing. Put away the deeds of darkness. It’s almost daylight. Wake up! Behold! Your bridegroom is coming soon!” says the Lord.

He took me to 2 Kings 17: 34 which states,

“To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. But the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” They would not listen however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

When you asked Jesus into your heart, you made a covenant with him, similar to the covenant of marriage. When you enter into a covenant with God it means you agree to keep certain terms and promises. In this instance, the Israelites, the church, and we as individual believers in covenant with Jesus agreed not to worship any other gods, to serve or place anything at a higher value than we place our relationship with Jesus. We agreed to live life according to the Word of God, not according to the world’s standards, worldly aspirations, etc. And His word says in this passage that when we worship the Lord, He delivers us from the hand of all of our enemies. (He promises so much more than that to us, too!) But the bible states that the people of God wouldn’t listen, and they “persisted” in their other practices. To persist means to firmly or obstinately continue in a course of action despite difficulty or opposition. In other words, they continued to gritfully pursue their own desires, lusts, and serve themselves and other “gods”. A little god (with a lowercase g) is anything in your life that you place of greater value above big God (with a big G). A little god is defined as anything you adore, admire, or anything that has influence over you. Little gods or false gods could be money, intimate relationships, work, gambling, alcohol, sleeping in on Sundays..r-rated or x-rated movies…the list is really endless. And alot of Christians profess Jesus but they continue on with the worship and even sometimes secret worship of all of these little gods. Well, the Bible is clear. When you make Jesus Lord over your life- you are saying, “Jesus, I am making you authority over my life. I am making you the influencer of my life. I am making you the master over my life. Rule over me. How then, do you justify the little gods in your life? His word this morning was clear. We are to purify ourselves, turn from our evil ways and our little gods, know Him more intimately. That means tearing down the idols. His word says, you shall have no other gods before me. And maybe you think you’re living life ok in the eyes of Jesus. I encourage you to pray to him and ask him to reveal the idols you’ve set before him. He is so kind and faithful to show us. He doesn’t condemn you. He wants to make you right so you’re awake and ready for his return. For more, please read the text below when Jesus spoke about the parable of the 10 virgins.

Matthew 25: 1-13. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’

12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Deep Roots

When God gives us a new thing, it starts as a seed. If you’ve ever tried to grow a plant from seed you know how slow the process can be. Imagine a seed buried deep in the soil, with the gardener or farmer towering overhead each day, watching and waiting for any new signs of life to emerge…nourishing a plant with sun and water…creating an ideal environment for the seedling to begin to thrive. It can take weeks to see signs of life, even when the season and environment are right.

This morning I was asking God to show me the direction he has for three different initiatives I recently started. My default actions have always been to sprint to and through the things that I believe He’s calling me to, full of faith and excitement, and mixed with a heaping tablespoon (ok, a cup full) of impatience. When I discover that He’s not working on my schedule, I typically have a little mental setback. The truth is, I want what I want when I want it. I know, very childish, but it’s the truth!

The Lord stopped me this morning and reminded me of the seed in the dirt. Something is happening in the dark, even when we can’t see it. The root system is being established to support, nourish, and sustain the plant before the new bud appears on the surface of the soil. When the farmer plants the seed, he doesn’t return to his garden every day to dig the seed up and check to see if it’s growing. He trusts that the seed is going to do what it was designed to do. The same is true in our lives.

I was asking God for wisdom to know his will about the three initiatives. You have no idea how many times I’ve asked for him to stamp his confirmation on these things. How deep are your roots? You might think that it’s growing time, and it is, but He’s got to grow your roots first- so that when the wind blows, out plants don’t break or blow away.

I remembered this from the story of Exodus 13:17ff: “When God let the people out of Egypt, He did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. ” Sometimes the delays are for our protection. Our development. God knows we aren’t ready yet. He needs our roots to be deep and well-established. We need to develop wisdom and mix it with our faith so that we are ready to manage the harvest when it’s due season.

The Bible also says in Proverbs 9:

“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out its 7 pillars. She has prepared her meat mixed with wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids and she calls from the highest point in the city. Let all who are simple come in here! She says to those who lack judgment, “Come and eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

Bottom line: Don’t doubt what He’s called you to grow just because you can’t see the majestic leaves, blooms, and fruit yet. Pray for God’s supernatural wisdom and divine insight for the things he’s calling you to, and go to His Word for direction. He will illuminate your path while continuing to till the soil of your heart. He’s making YOU ready. Continue the preparation to where He’s guiding you.

A word from the Lord: Wisdom is not found in a recipe box. You can’t flip to answers to become wise. Wisdom comes from depth. The depth of my Word. You will find wisdom with time spent in my Word.

Proverbs 8:5 “You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen for I have worthy things to say. I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is wise. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Return To Me

Going into 2020, I had made a complete mess of my life. I was neglecting myself and my spiritual health, which gradually trickled and then flooded over into neglecting my marriage and my son. Prior to the covid-19 shelter-in-place, my pastor had decreed a word for the year: TRANSFORMATION. He referenced multiple scriptures but this one stood out most to me: “Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord (Zechariah 1:3). For me, there was great conviction with those words. You see, I was a person who was proclaiming to be a Christian, but living another life. I was checking the Sunday box and being the “good mom” by taking my son to church every week, but there was no real evidence of living the life of a follower of Jesus. I was drinking, medicating depression and anxiety, and on the literal verge of a nervous breakdown.

I would pray prayers at night before bed. Sometimes I would read my Bible. If things were really bad. I would often cry on the way to work– why wasn’t God doing anything? Why wasn’t he coming through for me? Couldn’t he see that I was miserable? I was blinded by my lack of participation in going to God, and genuinely pouring out my heart to him, laying down my way, my plans, my mess. I continued to carry them, all while playing the victim of God’s lack of movement in my life.

A friend of mine gave me a journal for my 40th birthday and encouraged me to begin to write the things that God was speaking to me and showing me. I wrote a prayer in it, and the words that my pastor spoke, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” Then I put the journal away in a basket with some other books and went back to chaos.

Fast forward to shelter-in-place in March of 2020. Mandatory work from home. Mandatory homeschooling. Mandatory time away from the things that kept me distracted from dealing with me. I remembered the journal and the word, and I started to write. Everything. All of my feelings, beliefs, prayers, hopes, and complaints. Everything. I asked God to heal me. I asked God to forgive me. I asked him to help me break my habits of alcohol and medication. It’s a long story, but He started a work in me. A transformation. It all started with a return.

I heard a pastor once say, “If you can’t hear God anymore, it’s not because He moved.” And while I do believe that there are seasons that he lowers his volume so we’ll press in closer and go up higher to where he is, in my story, I’m more like the prodigal son. We are all prodigals at some point. When we accept Jesus, we get to enjoy the benefits of an heir, including a fully restored relationship with him. But we take our benefits for granted, or we expect God to do something amazing for us and when it happens, we forget God. That’s what I did. Thank God for second chances, and thirds, and fourths, etc.

“While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

“Return to me, and I will return to you.”

It only takes changing your mind to change your direction. Then, if you’ll truly surrender the reins, He’ll change everything in your life. Today I’m on the other side. I don’t abuse alcohol. I don’t take medication to numb my anxiety. Is my life perfect? Absolutely not. Am I doing life alone? Never again. In the 30 years that I have professed Jesus as my personal Savior, He is more real to me now than he has ever been. He’s still in the business of second chances, restoration, and miracles. My life is proof.

Do you need to make a return? Have you been living life with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom? God’s word says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17).

On the outside, you might be the complete package, but it doesn’t negate the fact that you could be hanging on by a thread on the inside. Just go to Him. I promise you, He’ll run to meet you too. Lay your pieces down at the feet of the Prince of Peace. He’ll transform your reality too.

The Secret Place

Word: You have a thousand tasks to complete this week, and while your mind rushes to the details of your day, I gently whisper to you, inviting you to be with me. The energy and strength you need for this season will only come from time spent in the secret place. Time spent in my presence. I’m here to fortify you for the purposes I have for you. You cannot accomplish all that I have set before you without me. I am your ever-present help in times of trouble. I am your strong tower. I am your mighty fortress. Run to and abide in my shadow to find rest. I’m revealing each step you need to take. I love you. I desire to fill you with my supernatural strength for such a time as this.

Psalm 91: 1-16 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Stop Picking

There are some of you out there who God is trying to heal, and while you’re asking him for healing, you’re continuing to self-sabotage the process. I think about the man at the Pool of Bethesda who Jesus approached and said, “Do you want to be made well?” That’s such a powerful question. So, I’m asking you: do you want to be made well today?

If you want to be healed, ask God for your healing, and connect your faith with receiving his healing. Walk like you’re healed, talk like you’re healed. I suppose I kind of mean “faith it till you make it”, but I think so many times we blame God for our lack of healing, yet the things we say and walk out day-by-day testify against the healing that God so freely gives. I mean, he loves us SO much!

His word says, “Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat and mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? […] don’t you think God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:11, The Message translation) God longs to give us good gifts, and that includes complete healing for whatever it is that YOU keep picking at.

Stop looking back.

Maybe for some of you, you’ve received a measure of your healing but you haven’t fully forgiven yourself for the part you played in your past. It’s time to forgive yourself.

This is what I heard the Lord say in my quiet time, and at one point in my life, this was for me. Today, I believe it’s for someone else, and I need to announce what I heard:

“I’m trying to heal you, but it’s you that keeps picking at your own scabs, revisiting that old thing that you’ve prayed and asked me to take care of. But your picking at it keeps me from doing what I need to do in your life so you can move forward.

Stop revisiting old pain.

“Forget about what has happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” Isaiah 43:19 (The Message translation)

Here’s your promise- He’s ready to bring you out. Are you ready to start walking?

Glory Bearer

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. -Isaiah 60:1

“I am sending a fresh rain of anointing for my people for such a time as this.

Be holy, as I am holy.

The time is coming when my true disciples will worship me in Spirit and Truth, and the world will know that you are mine because you pursue righteousness.

Allow me to fill you with the gifts I have so that those who I have ordained will come and follow me.

Do not ask when the gifts will come or where they’ll come from. Connect your faith to this promise, and be bold in your faith. Boldness is not finger-wagging. Boldness does not bring condemnation. Holy Spirit boldness is being brave to say the words I have given you. When the time is right, you’ll know.

Ask my Holy Spirit to lead you, and you’ll know when to speak, when to pray, when to be silent, and when to bring my truths to correct.

I love you, and because you are a willing vessel… because you seek me… because you seek to bring ME glory, my glory will fill this place.

You are my glory bearer.”

Focus

I don’t know about you but I don’t recognize this world anymore. Some say we’re getting better. Some say it’s worse. I was watching the 80’s Top Tens on Disney+ last night and began to travel back in my mind to my personal memories of growing up in the eighties. As I watched, tears filled my eyes. It was like another lifetime. A time where I was naive about a lot of things. A world where things were simple and people were kind.

Like the picture, we live in a world where things are upside down. Evil is called good, and good is called evil. Focus is so important. Terri Savelle Foy says, “What you think about, you bring about.” It’s why you have to make a valiant effort to focus on the promises of God. To believe God for the impossible. To use your gifts and abilities to change spheres of influence. The Bible encourages us to, “fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, and right and pure, and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8). Does this mean we should ignore the problems? Bury your head in the sand and pretend that since it’s not in your backyard that it doesn’t affect you? No- It means we charge into the culture and take a stand. We change it by our presence. We change it with our actions. We change it with our voices. Together, as believers in Jesus.

When you’re looking through the right lens, the things that are out of focus are made clear. Sharp. The path is made visible. And straight. There’s greater clarity, and with that clarity comes peace. On the outside of the lens, there’s still confusion, cloudiness, chaos, uncertainty. This may seem obvious, but I’ll say it anyway. Our lens for clear living, peaceful living, and purposeful living is the Bible. I’m praying that you will make a habit this year to renew your mind in the word of God every day, so that you can maintain your peace, grow in wisdom, and experience a greater revelation of who Jesus is and who he’s calling you to be.

A word from the Lord:

To stay in the flow of my spirit, it’s vital that you do not allow distractions to hinder your time with me. What I have to say to you is important for this time. I need you to focus.

Scripture

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12

A Promise

A word from the Lord

“Everything is going to be alright.

I am the Lord of the details of your life.

You have my divine favor.

You are my treasure. I paid the ultimate price for you.”

Scripture

“Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession” (Zechariah 2:8).

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Pastby C.T. Studd

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past
by C.T. Studd

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.