As I’ve leaned in further to God’s heart for our lives and how to spend our days, I’ve found myself moving toward an increasingly independent lifestyle…well, independent from the world, but fully dependent upon God. 

One new skill I’ve been honing is cooking with and maintaining a sourdough starter.  This may seem silly to you, but to me, it marks a desire to be more rooted in the home…to be more capable of providing all the things my family needs. 

It’s no secret that I love to cook.  It’s a strong part of my love language, and I look forward to doing it every single day.  It makes my heart full. 

Last week, I took the sourdough starter that I’d been cultivating for the last two weeks, and boldly attempted to make bread with it.  The first day, it was a flop, as I discovered my kitchen scale was not working properly any longer…instead of dwelling on that, I dove headfirst into trying again the next day…new scale in hand!!

My children were observing the whole thing.  The failure, and how I handled it, then my determination to push through for success.  In my kitchen I was teaching them a life principle through making bread.  God loves to use the home to mirror what it takes to be successful in the world.  He builds character in the day to day.

At one point, during the day I successfully made the bread…Chris found out how much time it would take for me to complete the task and he asked, “Are you sure it will be worth it?”  I was very grateful for this question, since it forced me to examine my heart, motives, and the “why” of what I was doing.  I replied, “I am very certain.”

At the dinner table during home church this Sunday, I recounted the story of the bread to our family and said, “One reason I am on this journey is because you guys are valuable to me.  You’re worth the time it takes for me to make this bread.  I also want to keep learning new skills.  I want to stay sharp and always be learning.  The final and most important reason is…because I feel God leading me to do these new things.  I feel Him in the process.  It’s important to Him…I don’t know why, but it is…and that’s enough for me.

This weekend, I made bread again…and pancakes and cookies…all from the sourdough…the entire family was so pleased, and I was amazed at all the things I can use this simple starter to create.  I’m noticing that it’s all healthier too…no sugar (except for the cookies) and I know exactly what we are eating. 

Our family is leaning toward the farm life even now.  It’s important, that even before you move fully into the next season, you begin to lean into it and start learning. 

A wonderful prayer is that God wouldn’t move us forward any faster than we can handle.  That He would fully prepare us for each season.  Then we can be good stewards…it all starts today.  The ability to embrace tomorrow begins with today.  The wisdom and knowledge to live out tomorrow begins now. 

Why wait any longer?

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?  She is more precious than rubies.  Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.  She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.  She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.  She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.  She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.  She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.   Proverbs 31:1-18

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.  I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Acts 2:17-21

In this season of the earth, I feel the Lord’s pull to reach deeper and deeper into the prophetic.  When the world is busy spinning lies every day, it becomes invaluable to discern the truth.  The prophetic helps us to do so.

Now, I’ve been told by some that they believe Holy Spirit only moved on the earth through the apostles, and then stopped…but nothing that I have read in the entire Bible indicates that to be true…in fact, from what I read it’s the opposite.  Holy Spirit was a gift given by Jesus and still moves today.  Why on earth would Jesus give a gift and then simply take it away.  No, the Giver of all good things, gave us Holy Spirit to instruct and comfort us.  We still need those two things now. 

Who can prophesy?

Well, in the scripture at the beginning of this devotional, it’s clear that all can.  When we read here, we see that reinforced…

Let love be your highest goal!  But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives- especially the ability to prophesy.  1 Corinthians 14:1

Can we just admit that we can all prophesy?  More than that, that we should all desire to do so.

I love encouragement just as much as the next person and when we give someone a prophetic encouragement, it makes them feel extra special to God.  It’s one way heaven touches earth in a person’s life.  It’s one way we are the hands and feet of God. 

Another reason that prophesy is special is because it causes us to love others more.  I never give someone a prophetic word until I feel God’s love over them, lest it be rooted in self-righteousness from my heart.  I wait on the love.  It guides me.  When I come into contact with God’s love over a person, then I can be sure that they will feel loved…and that’s a large part of the goal.

When a person feels loved, they are more likely to succeed at something, try something new, give love to others…and the list can go on.  But only good things come from a person feeling loved.

I know we aren’t to be led by feelings, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have feelings.  We absolutely have feelings.  Having them isn’t wrong.  It’s what we do with them that matters. 

Feeling loved is very important.  God is love.

My hope is that today you will seek God’s voice for others and spread love.  It’s a great investment to make…and undoubtedly, when you make others feel loved, you will also feel loved!

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.  So, we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.  1 John 4:16-17

As I sit and listen…as I wait and seek out the word of the Lord today…all I can hear is “It’s time to fight”.

This is a season of war…the method of fighting just might look different than what you believed a war season would look like.  In this war we are fighting for FAMILY.

The time is now, to fight for family, our children, innocence, purity, freedom, independence, morality, righteousness, justice…Not only is America under attack from enemies within, but so is the family unit.  We’ve stayed silent for too long. 

It’s time to release our roar.  Roar in worship, prayer and thanksgiving. 

We fight with worship, staying steeped in scripture so we know the truth, praying without ceasing both in word and spirit, giving thanks, blessing others, encouraging, etc…We fight by having and acting in faith and not fear.  We fight when we only agree with truth and refuse to give space for lies.  We fight when we continually come to God, knowing we can do nothing on our own. 

I never imagined I would live through a time on the earth when it is seen as aggressive to speak truth…to believe in right and wrong…to have boundaries…but here we are.

The world feels upside down and completely out of whack…but what I really see is God stirring up His remnant and moving us to the frontlines.  It’s so interesting that now the frontline is at home.  He’s restoring family and it appears that is the most aggressive thing to do. 

As the church (universal) we can either stay in disbelief over what’s happening and how swiftly it’s occurred, or we can lace up our boots and allow our entire lives to become intentional.

It’s time to fight.

Fight by reaching back into our roots and returning to a simpler lifestyle.  Learn how to live from home.  Learn how to not be busy.  Learn how to love those in your home first.  Learn how to minister to those in your home first. 

The fight is family. 

Our ministry to others should never supersede our ministry to our family unit.  God put that within me years ago.  Whenever I would pray about what ministry He wanted me to have, He would say…”Family first.  Minister to your family first.”  It’s ingrained within my heart…and yes, sometimes I have neglected it…but now that I have walked out repentance and completely altered our lifestyle, I’m finding what I never imagined I would find…Freedom.

I feel so free every morning when I wake up and we live our day by the schedule we have chosen.  I feel free when my children learn right next to me and I am completely aware of what they are being taught.  I feel free as I watch my children’s personalities bloom and they become much more confident because they aren’t forced into the peer pressures they were once living in.  They are so much happier.  It’s so worth it. 

We fight this fight together, and every day they are seeing the value of family.  They are desiring to live lives rooted in family too.  It’s fast becoming a legacy…and I imagine that was God’s plan from the start.  To no longer have me hand my children over to others for education and social learning, and for them to work it out with me and each other. 

Thank You God for knowing exactly what we needed.  Lead us every day and give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  Hide Your word in our hearts.  Help us to all be refined.  I surrender my family to You, God.  Have Your way in our home.  We belong to You.  Let the call to family rise in this moment.  Let others hear and heed that call.  Let the believers lead the way into what’s next.  Pour out Your Spirit on us as we choose to walk in Your ways.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen, O Israel!  The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  Repeat them again and again to your children.  Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.  Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

After declaring yesterday that we were moving out of the wilderness and into abundance…I was not at all surprised when the enemy tried to strike.  The only thing is, his methods are so predictable that I am unwilling to be phased by them.  I’m done with him. 

I learned something that really changed my life years ago…the enemy will use the same tricks and sabotages over and over…as long as they continue to work…but the moment they stop to affect you and you face them with an opposite spirit…he flees.

Over the summer, when finances were a struggle still and we honestly didn’t know what we were going to do, I went to the mailbox one day and found a letter from the IRS.  I opened it and saw they were saying we owed them a large sum of money.  I immediately knew it was a lie.  While still at the mailbox, I folded the letter up, put it back in the envelope and laughed out loud.  I truly felt the stress the enemy was trying to fling upon me miss its target.  Instead, I went home and sent the letter to our accountant and let them deal with it.  Months later, I received a check from the IRS.  Yes, they sent ME money instead.  Praise Jesus. 

That was a defining moment in the journey…things began to shift that day. 

The devil has no new tricks.  The Bible lets us know that there is nothing new.  The enemy has limited scope and limited armies…and limited reach…and minimal influence.  What gives him more influence is when we agree with him.  When we agree with fear, we empower the enemy.  When we agree with lack, we empower the enemy.

When we stand firm on the Truth and press into the Spirit of Peace, we take power away. 

God wants us to operate in power.  His power.  The power of Christ within us.  Unhindered by fear and any other influence the enemy attempts to put us under. 

Our family has bonded together more in this season than ever before.  I am so grateful.  We have learned how to live on little while maintaining an abundant attitude.  We have found joy in all circumstances.  I’ve learned, as the mom…I’m heavily involved in creating the atmosphere of the home.  It’s up to me to keep the feeling light and joyful.  I have worked hard to press into playfulness and silliness.  I am focusing now on lingering…spending more face to face, shoulder to shoulder, and side by side time with my kiddos.  The rewards of that have been immediate. 

Taking back time has been crucial to our family’s transformation.  Stepping out of the flow of the world and laying in the river of God has been life altering.  I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I will keep talking about it…because it’s been so transformational to our lives.

It’s time for us to take power back from the enemy.  Stop allowing him to hold you captive and take the authority that God has given you.  It’s time for us to take the land. 

What has been will be again,  what has been done will be done again;  there is nothing new under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 1:9

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  Matthew 28:18

We went through fire and flood, but You brought us to a place of great abundance.  Psalm 66:12b

There is a time, when the fire has ceased, and the flood waters subsided, and you know from the very center of your soul that redemption is here.  You can still see the smoke from all that’s burned up and are still soaked from the drowning, but your song of great abundance begins.

A song of hope restored and glory coming, rises in your heart.  The shadow from your mind lifts and the fog around you clears.  The song of great abundance begins before you see the fruit of it.  It starts from within…you birth it.

In the gestation of a Job season, you realize you are about to give birth to something truly great.  Something uniquely yours, that cannot be replicated.  We have begun that season.

You can hear God speaking to you, much like He did to the Israelites…”You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north.”  Deuteronomy 2:3

Suddenly the fragrance of spring is upon you, and you feel a mixture of sheer relief and deeper gratitude than you can express with words.  Gratitude that He held you.  Gratitude that you have made it through.  Gratitude for the journey, even though you never thought you’d feel that way.  Gratitude for all the refining, because in the scorching you found something special…you found how to surrender to the flames.  Gratitude for what’s grown during the season of stretching.  Gratitude for the intensity of unconditional love that has been borne between you and those who walked through this with you.  Gratitude for learning how to thrive in all things.  Finally, gratitude that those who abandoned you during the walk have been removed, because you become acutely aware that they weren’t meant to be with you forever.  Now, with a winnowed down life, in every way, the newness begins, and things are far less crowded.

It’s time to start again.

Again, reflecting on the Israelites…and realizing how relevant the words the Lord spoke to them are for you, you feel the breath of God as you know with absolute certainty God is enough…

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done.  He has watched your every step through this great wilderness.  During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.”  Deuteronomy 2:7

Thankfully, it didn’t take forty years, but it took long enough.  Suddenly, you realize He let you wander this road until you found gratitude in the midst of the journey.  You walked until you found joy in the middle of struggle.  You went through fire until you learned to lean on Him in the midst of severe pain.  

He leads us until we learn that He is all we need.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me.  For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke.  If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But God did listen!  He paid attention to my prayer.  Praise God, Who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me.  Psalm 66:16-20

I find myself walking through a season where God is to be teaching me how to receive from Him.  Giving is easy, receiving can sometimes be hard.  With every Bible reading and prayer time, I seem to consistently come across scripture that indicates it is possible to live a life of constant blessing.  Somehow, we step into a slipstream of His presence and then experience one breakthrough after another.  I continually feel myself reaching into His heart to access this type of lifestyle…not because I’m selfish, but because I realize that the struggle with finances, time, relationship, etc. causes us to be distracted from deeper purpose.  If I’m just struggling to get by (whether it’s emotionally or financially), then how do I find the energy to pursue God more?  If I have just enough to get by, then how do I move in the greater things?  I am to live in more than enough. 

Didn’t Jesus provide leftovers when He multiplied the loaves and fish?  Yes, He did.  That really sheds light on His heart.  He’s more than enough.  He paid taxes with money from a fish’s mouth…I don’t believe He desires for us to walk in financial struggle all our lives.  It’s so distracting. 

I am really seeing that we can tap into more…I’m just asking God to renew my mind to receive it.

For months now, I’ve been contemplating some of those I read about in the Old Testament.  They were obviously highly favored and all they did prospered, even though they made some epic mistakes and perpetrated deliberate wrong doings at times.

Case and point, Abraham.  He was always blessed in his work…his flocks.  He made big blunders on his way to being the father of nations, but God redeemed him over and over again.  He always walked in physical blessings.  That never changed, even in his mistakes. 

Soak that in…

Abraham made a series of big blunders, yet God never took away his blessings.  Likewise, He won’t take away yours either.  He will make a way.  Even when there seems to be no way…He will make a way.  We are made for more.  I am desperate to remove all limiting beliefs from my life, aren’t you?  He is more than enough and desires us to walk abundantly in Him.  His abundance is not selfish, it’s generous.   His abundance isn’t miserly, it’s more than enough.  His abundance opens earthly doors that release us to release heaven in more places than we could otherwise.

Abundance also looks like me being able to stay home and raise my family.  That’s abundant living.  We’ve made sacrifices for our abundance, but I don’t regret it at all.  Abundance looks like homeschooling and teaching our kids about Jesus around our kitchen table.  Our abundance may appear as lack or too simple to the world, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  I have felt life expanding so much during this season.  I know and believe with my whole heart that financial abundance is next.  God promised me that if I would stop working and raise my children, then He would bless Chris in his work.  I believe him.  Anytime I’m tempted to go find work, God reminds me that my time is far more valuable and no job outside of the home could pay me enough to make it worthwhile…so I stay.  I live abundance in the walls of my home and man, it’s so satisfying.

Breathe that in.  Let the wonder of it fill your lungs.  Breathe deep and enjoy the knowledge that God’s good plans for you won’t change.  When you are covered in Jesus’ blood, you stand as one who is redeemed…as a child of God…as a co-heir to the Kingdom.

Believe it.  Receive it.  Live like you know it.

God, today I stand ready to receive Your full blessing.  Pressed down, shaken together and running over blessings are waiting for me and my family.  We say, “Yes” and stand ready with cupped hands, to receive.  Lord, lead us in all things.  Bless every step we take.  We honor You with all our hearts, as we lean not on our own understanding.  You are the Waymaker…we will follow You.  Thank You for filling our home, our lives, our family line with the abundant blessings of heaven.  Let heaven come to earth in our family, now and forevermore.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

What mighty praise, O God, belongs to You in Zion.  We will fulfill our vows to You, for You answer our prayers.  All of us must come to You.  Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, You forgive them all.  What joy for those You choose to bring near, those who live in Your holy courts.  What festivities await us inside Your holy Temple.  You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our Savior.  You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.  You formed the mountain by Your power and armed Your self with mighty strength.  You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.  Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your wonders.  From where the sun rises to where it sets, You inspire shouts of joy.  You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile.  The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for You have ordered it to do so.  You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges.  You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.  You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.  The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy.  The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain.  They all shout and sing for joy!  Psalm 65:1-13

The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.  Proverbs 11:23

On Sunday as our family was spread out in different places, I was wondering…wondering about not forsaking the assembly.  I want to honor God with all my life, and sometimes it’s hard to shake off man’s idea for God’s plan. 

In this season where we’ve been called mostly to home church…our entire focus is God and family.  On Sunday, with Chris and Naomi out of town, and Micah at a friend’s house…it left Hannah and I alone at home.  We went to the track to get in our daily exercise, and while there I was praying…I was talking to God about not wanting to forsake the assembly…though I feel called to this simpler lifestyle.  Suddenly, I saw myself in a heavenly place.  I was dressed in white and surrounded by an assembly.  I heard, “Assembly”.  What better assembly to be a part of than a heavenly one!

As I continue to grow and mature in my walk with Jesus, I am constantly made aware that earthly understanding is so lacking…God in His infiniteness is impossible to fully comprehend.  It’s like we spend our lifetime trying to grasp even the smallest portion of understanding from Someone Who is eternal.  We simply never will achieve that.  All we can do is listen, trust and obey…in spite of what man says.  When I read scripture, particularly the New Testament, it’s not lost on me how the Pharisees were constantly trying to tell everyone how terrible they were when they themselves were sinning and covering it up.  They followed Jesus around trying to trap Him and eventually they were the ones who pushed for His crucifixion. 

There are still many with that same Pharisee spirit today.  They want to tell you all you are doing wrong and how their way is the only way to live a righteous life, but scripture lets us know that Jesus is the ONLY way.  Don’t you think that means we should listen to Him first and foremost?

Life isn’t a box.  Everything, and I mean everything, I’m learning from God right now is out of my box.  But it’s also so much more peaceful and joyful.  I’m growing in Him by leaps and bounds and feel closer to Him than ever. 

As a person who has struggled for a lifetime, with the fear of man, God has made it clear that part of the purpose of this season is to completely eradicate that from my life.  I’m not called to follow man…I’m called to follow Jesus.  The times when I’ve surrendered to following man, are the times I’ve suddenly found myself out of alignment with Jesus.  I don’t want to do that again.

So, I’ll accept that there are some things I’ll never understand, and some people who will never understand me, but I’m learning to be ok with that.  Jesus is everything.  Holy Spirit tells me all I need to know.  God is the Father I’ve always wanted.  I lack for nothing.

God, help me to be ok with exactly what You tell me to do.  Wash away the fear of man and let me only fear You.  Help me to lean into Your love more and to experience fullness through You.  I adore You.  Thank You for loving me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lod.  Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34:11-14

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.  Psalm 35:18

Last weekend my husband wanted to go stay with my dad so he could watch some of the March Madness basketball games and spend quality time with my dad.  When he called to ask if it was okay if he and Naomi came over and stayed the night…my dad answered in the exact way I knew he would.  “Well, come on!”, he said.  That’s always his answer when any of his kids call and want to visit.  It’s not just that he says this, it’s the excitement we can hear in his voice.  He’s always truly excited to have us over.   It’s so comforting to know that he always welcomes us.  He’s never too busy.  Never demanding alone time.  Always just up for a visit. 

God is the same.  He is always ready to meet with you, hear from you, spend time with you…no matter what you are doing…He just wants to be part of it. 

It’s so good when our earthly fathers mirror our heavenly Father, isn’t it?

I don’t know what your dad is like, but God is always the same.  Always saying to you, “Well, come on!”

Now, I know some of us have father wounds that make this harder to receive…believe me when I tell you that I too have had to work through those wounds.  I have intentionally fought to have a relationship with my dad…it’s so worth it.  Likewise, I fight every day to have an intentional relationship with God…all three parts of Him.  It is the most worthwhile thing I do. 

Life is all about being intentional. 

I intentionally love my kids…give them rules…teach them about Jesus…steward relationship with them.  It’s all intentional.  It has to be.

I fear that sometimes, in our current culture, parents are so distracted that they don’t realize the beauty of intentional family.  No ministry outside of my home will ever be as important as this. 

I get one shot at raising each of my kids, I definitely don’t want to blow it.  The only way to ensure success is to be intentional.  What does success as a parent look like?  I can’t answer that for you, but for me, it looks like raising four kids who are passionately in love with Jesus…who are able to think of others…who are able to think for themselves…who are healthy contributing members of society…who have healthy marriage relationships when they grow up…who value family too…who know God’s voice and obey it.  

How can I expect to raise kids like that if I don’t do it on purpose?

I know my kids won’t ever be perfect and that my list of success is something that will be a process…but I’m here for it. 

As I am currently learning to raise my first young adult, I am loving the release.  Even though it can be challenging at times, I love that I can entrust him to God and allow God to mold him. 

The other day, God was instructing me about a certain parenting thing with my young adult and He said to me, “Whatever you do, don’t ever cause him to question whether or not he can hear My voice.  When he’s wrong, I will correct him.  You just stay steady.  I’ve got this now.”

What a wonderful release!! 

Parenting is an amazing journey…and I look forward to the day when I’ll say to my adult kids, “Well, come on!!”

Today, I encourage you to spend some extra time with God.  Invite Him into your day and ask Him to spend time with you.  His answer is always, “Yes”.  Then as you go about your daily activities, make it a point to be mindful that He’s with you.  Remember to include Him.  You’re going to love it!!! Be intentional.  Learn to listen to Him before you answer others.  If you hear of a prayer request, take it to Him immediately and honestly pray for the person, don’t just say you will.  It only takes a minute or two to press into God and let Him speak to and through you.  Live life with intention.  It’s worth it!

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.  Psalm 73:23-28

During prayer the other day, I kept hearing this word…juxtaposition…I couldn’t shake it out of my head, even though I had no idea what God was trying to say…so, like normal, I looked it up…here’s the definition.

Juxtaposition: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side, often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect.

Since hearing this word and looking up the definition, I’ve spent a lot of time asking God what exactly He’s saying…I still didn’t even know when I started typing today…

But just now I looked over at my open Bible and read this scripture. 

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.  Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.  Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me.  Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”  Psalm 35:1-3

Every time I stretch into more of who God created me to be, I am met with opposition.  In all my years, it’s been this way.  It’s always strange to me how the church seems to dislike the originality of God.  God is our Creator and no two of us are alike, yet church culture seems to be bent on corralling everyone into boxes.  They did it to Jesus, they still do it to us.

The church should be championing who God made us individually, but they mostly don’t.  It’s too messy and time consuming…and let’s face it, pastors and elders are people too and they just like to have their way.  But I want Yahweh. 

When I hold God’s way, next to any other way the comparison makes the choice easy.  The juxtaposition between freedom in God and freedom from man, makes a stark contrast.  Notice the wording…man gives whatever freedom they want you to have…God IS freedom.  He is innately freeing.  Freedom was and is never meant to come from other people.  Freedom comes from God. 

It’s also interesting when you look at standing…Christ has called us to stand…in Ephesians.  Having done all we could do, stand.  This juxtaposition is striking because when I’ve been in standing seasons, it has often been members of the body of Christ who have the hardest time encouraging me to stick it out.  Unfortunately, the body has been the ones who fled when things got tough.  They often critique and give ill-fated advice instead of acknowledging the need for us to have partners as we stand.  I’m so blessed by those who have chosen to unapologetically stand with me…those same people have never questioned what I’ve heard from God, instead they champion me…and help me hold the line.  That’s true sisterhood/brotherhood.  That’s who I want to be to my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. 

The ways of this world fall dim when held to the Light of the world…don’t they?.

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  Psalm 34:11-16

Today I had another encounter with God…

Honestly, sometimes these are hard to share because they are so sacred…but I feel like this is part of my call…to share what others won’t.  I feel called to share because I hope it will draw you closer to the One Who broods over you too…

As I sat, eating my lunch, and watching an inspirational movie, I suddenly became aware of the sound of wings flapping above me.  Immediately, I could see, hear, and feel them flapping…then I heard…”The Lord is brooding over me.” 

I began asking, “God, why are You brooding over me.  What’s going on?”  Then I saw an arm reach out from Heaven and come toward me through the wings…and I (literally) lifted my arm to it and we held hands.  Then I heard, “Stand”.  I stood, with my arm still outstretched and holding the hand.  Next, I heard, “It’s time.”    As I asked what it’s time for…I felt lifted up, and then I saw myself in my heavenly form…it’s always the same…hair in a bun and wearing a long, beautiful white gown.  I found myself in a room full of time pieces.  They looked a lot like pocket watches.  As I felt a surge of power and electricity come through me they began to tick…all of them…as God said, “I’m restarting the time.”  Somehow, I knew the watches were each of my talents, callings, and purposes.  Then God said, “I am bringing them into coordination.  I am aligning them.”  Then the clocks started ticking in unison.

I simply said, “Yes.  Do it Lord.”

I knew that God had led me through a wasteland to lay waste to some dead things inside of me.  He emptied me to get me to the point where I would just receive…without trying.  Just receive.  And while going through the wasteland, He wouldn’t allow me to get rooted where I don’t belong.  He has been protecting me, every step of the way. 

My heart has been stirred ever since.  I’ve been having more revelation since that moment. 

Words and visions from the Lord are like that.  They are downloaded and then continue to expand over time, if you’re willing to brood over them…the way they brood over you.

I wonder sometimes, how many plans God has for people that they never take the time to complete.  Dreams God has over us that we don’t take time to notice.  Are we too busy to recognize the purposes of God in our lives?

Not me.  I am desperate to know all that God has planned for me.  I am convinced that I will live it all out, if I continue to take time to notice.  I must stay focused…and my focus needs to be on the unseen…the unseen is far greater than the seen. 

Oh God, increase the scope of my spiritual eyes.  Let me see.  Open my eyes.  Open my heart.  Open my mind to comprehend You.

“The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.  I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.”  Isaiah 60:22

No longer will they call you Deserted or name your land Desolate.  But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.  Isaiah 61:4