Training Days
This morning, while walking my dog and talking on the phone with a friend I was charged by a loose pit bull!
I had headphones in my ears and was focused on a conversation with a close friend. As I rounded a corner, still in conversation, I heard someone yelling angrily from my left side. I had my dog on my left side too and I looked up to see a neighbor’s pit bull, usually on a lead, charging fast and furiously toward us, NOT on the lead.
Without thinking, I instantly swept my dog behind my left leg as I turned to face the rushing pit bull, stepped toward him and yelled, “NO!” I had my hand out, making the STOP sign (aware not to let the dog get ahold of my hand) and yelled again as I squared off toward the dog. He slowed, looking back and forth between me and my dog, a little confused. By the time he got close enough to decide whether or not to fight us, his owner came running and grabbed his collar from behind, apologizing mightily.
The posture and action I took didn’t happen by chance. I have been walking this neighborhood for a couple years. There are lots of dogs along the way and occasionally loose dogs too. In my mind, I have been training for this day. Today, even though I was distracted, that training paid off.
The Lord has been bringing up training for a few months. For those who don’t know me, the Lord put training in my DNA. If I am learning or have learned anything from cooking to gardening to spiritual practices…anything really, I will be training someone in those things shortly.
Recently the Lord brought to mind some training I received as a child. When I was around 10 years old, Dad thought it was important to teach me basic self-defense and awareness. As part of that, one of the lessons he taught me was how to fall properly. He made it fun, stacking lounge chair cushions out on the lawn in the summer shade. First it was “the shoulder roll” where, rather than fall flat and catch yourself with your hands forward, you could tuck your head, roll over you shoulder and stand up immediately again. That was kind of fun, but I couldn’t really believe I could do it in the midst of a real fight.
Next came the backward fall, in which, instead of falling painfully to your back, you slammed your hands down hard to absorb much of the impact. This one was really hard for me to make myself do. I was certain I wouldn’t get that one, but I wanted to try because Dad thought it was important.
Well, those summer days came to an end and school started. One day I was standing in the lunch line talking with my friends. The line was out the door and there was a raised section of concrete cause by the roots of the big oak tree growing in that square. I was wearing all white that day and as the line moved forward I suddenly tripped, tucked my head, rolled over my shoulder and stood back up without a speck of dirt on my white clothes! My friends applauded and we all laughed. No one was more surprised than me! That training I thought would never help, was plugged in; ready for action.
More than 40 years later, this winter, we had “a big snow” for South Carolina. It actually stayed on the ground for a few days! One night I was walking down the slope of my backyard and suddenly tripped on something hidden by the snow! As I fell forward, rather than put my hands out to catch myself, I suddenly tucked my head, rolled over my shoulder and stood up again, already walking down the hill again. I laughed and laughed and thanked my Dad (who is now in Heaven) for that training he put in me all those decades ago. The training, which I thought about many times over the years, was locked.
Training does not happen by accident. Dad had to be intentional to bring things to my intention, help me to consider it and give me practice at it. I had to intentionally think through a dog attack so that I would not panic in the moment.
Spiritual training is the same. Years ago, I learned some important truths about spiritual warfare. If you know me, you know I have had opportunity to put it to the test over the years. But a decade ago, the Lord was teaching me some new (to me) and powerful ways of dealing with the enemy. He revealed the truth to me about how “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God, for the pulling down of strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4. That is a King James translation. So what does that really mean in modern English?
It means we don’t fight like the enemy fights. We train to use heavenly, more powerful weapons that disarm and dislodge the enemy from his bunkers.
Back in the mid-90’s in the early days of MMA fights, my husband, teenage son and nephew and I would watch those fights together. Almost immediately a guy came on the scene who seemed to be unbeatable! Royce Gracie. If you have ever heard of Gracie Ju-jitsu, this is the guy who brought it to the USA. Most fighters at the time were “stand-up fighters,” boxers, kick-boxers or karate practitioners. Royce Gracie would stand up against those guys just long enough to get ahold of them and take them to the ground. He wasn’t doing a lot of punching and his style was not bringing bloody wounds to his opponent. He simply bound them up and held them until they submitted and the fight ended in his victory. His opponents, big, muscle-bound men, well trained in their own style, had no answer to his Ju-jitsu. He frustrated them to no end! Today, MMA fighters would never consider not being trained in both stand-up AND ground fighting.
In the Kingdom of God, our fighting style is completely opposite of our enemy’s style. Our enemy, big and muscle-bound, craves attention and fear. He loves to intimidate, hoping to make us cower and hide. He hopes, in fear, we will forget our authority over him.
As the Apostle Paul told us, “You are the servant of the one you submit to.” We don’t have to yell, or throw punches to conquer our enemy. We don’t have to be big and muscle- bound. We have to know WHO we SUBMIT to and we have to know who we ARE in Him.
Instead of fearing the enemy, we are overwhelmed and in AWE of our God and who He is; His power, His holiness, His perfection. The enemy, by comparison, is nothing. We can laugh with our God at the plans of the enemy. And our lack of fear reminds the enemy of his puniness when compared to our God.
A decade ago, when I began learning how to battle with the weapons of joy, peace and love, it was just like when I began learning to fall. I didn’t think I would be able to do it in an actual fight. Then, after I had been training myself and others in these truths for a few years, when I least expected it, when I had no other option but to put these weapons to the test, a battle ensued and the Kingdom of Heaven was victorious. The woman who the enemy used to attack us was forgiven, healed and restored to the Father. The evil plans she had been implementing were undone by love, disarmed by joy and saturated in peace.
Training. Daily training – fixing our minds on Christ, on His holiness, His might, His love. This is what it means to not be like the patterns of this world but to be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of YOUR MIND.
The training happens in our minds.
Training. Beholding Him throughout our day, in our imaginations, so that we become like Him. This is training. We become what we behold!
Whether you realize it or not, you are training your mind by what you watch, what you listen to, what you spend time thinking about.
Training. Daily training your mind in recognizing the lies of the Accuser, because the Truth is so clear to you. You tear down lies and replace them with TRUTH.
Training. Practicing in your mind and imagination the TRUTH about who we are IN CHRIST.
Training. Remembering the truth that, if you are saved, you died and you are now a NEW CREATION in Christ. You ARE holy, blameless and pure before the Lord. That your Father delights in you. That “your Creator is your Husband, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is His name.” Isaiah 54:5
This is the training we do in the Kingdom. This is what will make you ready, so that, when you least expect it, you will not fall, but tuck your head, roll over your shoulder and stand on your feet again or the firm foundation of Jesus’ Truth and love.
If you are wondering when you might need any of these skills, please open your eyes and look at the world around you. We are living in a more and more obvious spiritual battle every day. No matter what nation, named groups, affiliations etc. there is really only one fight. The battle between darkness and light.
We are living in the time of Matthew 24:24 when “false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive if possible even God’s chosen ones.” Train so that you are not among those who are deceived.
I bless you to be strengthened by His love. I bless your eyes to see, your ears to hear and your heart to understand. I bless you to not wait, but start today to train yourself in Truth. Your good Father will encourage you and make it fun and make you ready. The battle will come. Be trained. Live in joy. Be ready.
No Longer Slaves But Sons
Hi guys, I want you to have access to our second episode in the Rise Up Warriors Podcast. It’s called: No Longer Slaves But Sons. I hope it challenges you to see yourself the way God sees you. (Yes i am making a very silly face in this still) Check it out here:
Revival Looks Like Relationship
Hey friends, I wanted to share this video we released last week. In it we discuss how the Gospel is distinct from earthly religions; how is it a supernatural thing that comes from Holy Spirit. We discuss how fire for God does not come from religion, but from relationship with a supernatural God. We talk about how you and I can impact people with the power and Presence of God. I hope my thoughts and experiences will help you step into more conversations with the Lord and with others about Him!
Check out this link on our Rise Up Warriors channel.
Jubilation
This morning, after a day spent recovering from illness, I awoke feeling refreshed and suddenly recognized the jubilant sounds of a little bird singing morning praises to the Lord. My arm shot up in worship; acknowledging, like the bird, the one who is my life, my breath, my provision.
And the little bird and I joyfully sang:
“Father in Heaven, Holy, Holy, Holy is Your Name! My heart longs for Your Kingdom to be upon the earth, and Your heart’s desire be done on the earth, just like it always is in Heaven!”
“Father please provide for my needs today as You always do. Have mercy on me today, as you always do, forgiving me when I mess up and hurt You. Strengthen me to be like you; forgiving and merciful to those who hurt me.”
“Lead me into places where I am free from temptation, but when evil does present itself to me, help me not to be decieved as I remember clearly that the kingdom, the power and the Glory belong to You alone forever and ever. I am secure in You and need only submit to You for the security of my life, now and forever.”
High Security Freedom
I know this is a very old argument, but for some reason, right now I need to settle it in my heart once again. My overall goal is to be able to bring the peace and joy of the Good News to God’s children. To free them from fear and doubt.
For the these reasons, the Lord, lately, keeps returning me to the need to prove to myself, once again, whether our salvation is secure or not. I personally have believed for a long time that it is. I see so many in the Body trapped in cycles of sin and I believe it is because their behavior is such a focus. Meaning, focus on sin leads me to more sin. I have been in a season of taking many back to roots of salvation and what was purchased for them. I feel like this issue of whether or not we are secure in salvation causes many to fear and is the root of these cycles.
I was personally saved at age 8, during a Catholic mass. The Parable of the Sower was read as part of the liturgical calendar. No explanation was given, but I gave my heart to the Lord, asking Him to make it good soil. He took me up on it. No one knew I had been saved. We didn’t talk about such things. I’m sure no one knew why I was crying. I didn’t remember when it had happened for years, until the Lord told me.
I grew up in a very religious Catholic sect, was serious in my pursuit of understanding in it. At some point, I realized that, according to what I had been taught, even though I was committed to a holy life, unless I walked out of a perfect confession and got hit by a bus, it was incredibly unlikely that I would go to Heaven. Purgatory at best. I turned away from the church and decided to do what I wanted. That’s about when I met Bill…at the time He was Baptist.
So when I came into Protestant theology, it was through a pretty Calvinist lens. However, like most people, I sit somewhere between Calvinism and Arianism. Frankly, part of me hates even having names to categorize those beliefs. Thankfully I was introduced to the Bible largely through Bible Study Fellowship, where denominational overtones were not allowed. I got to hear from Holy Spirit for myself.
The most helpful thing in the Bible that I knew at the time, to help me receive grace, was the thief on the cross. He didn’t have time to go to confession, get baptized, take communion… He simply humbled himself before the King. In doing so, He acknowledged both his own low place and the King’s authority. Simple. Mercy received. Why do we think it is more complicated for us? Is it because we have to go on living?
Over the decades of studying the Word, I have come to believe that Father is good, and that the Good News really is GOOD. That I didn’t save myself through my efforts, so I can’t lose my salvation through my efforts either.
I see, in the OT, His remarkable mercy again and again and again… In the NT, I know some things Paul said can lead one to believe that our salvation can be lost. But it seems illogical to me when set against the bigger picture of Holy Spirit having come to dwell in me forever, when by this indwelling I have been brought in to the family of God and made ONE with Jesus and with the Father, when I am a new creation and the old sinful me has passed away.
My behavior is becoming more and more like Jesus, AND I will mess up from time to time, though I no longer am a slave to it.
Jesus is not surprised by my sin. He didn’t die for just the sins I committed up until I got saved.
I do question whether many people who believe they are saved, because they said a prayer, are actually saved when there is little to no fruit of that salvation. But for those who have truly given their hearts, I want to free them to understand that a good and loving Father will correct us. He will tease, cojole, give a time out, make Himself forcefully clear, even poke a finger in the chest; but never disassociate from us.
Because of His love for us He desires holiness for us. Because we are His, set-apart, because it is so good for us, because it keeps us free, because we get to take back territory and make it holy too. But He will not turn us out of the family. If that was the case, Israel would long ago have ceased to exist.
After generations of people growing up in families torn apart by divorce, we accept rejection as part of normal family patterns. That form of “family” is demonstrated again and again by “pastors” who are “family” until you disagree with them. Then you are turned out from the family. But I digress…or maybe not. Look at Father’s mercy to some of the most evil kings of Israel! He didn’t turn them out, would he turn away those for who have come into covenant by the blood of His Son?
Preachers who may realize logically that Jesus died for all our sins, have a very hard time saying anything beyond ‘Jesus died for your past and present sins…they leave out future, because they are afraid they might encourage us to sin. No good Father wants sin in His children’s lives. It hurts everyone. He freed us from the need to sin instead.
It occurred to me this morning that King David, who was born long after the law was given, broke the law as an adulterer and murderer. Crimes worthy of the death penalty. He broke ceremonial law in other areas. He died when keeping the law was the requirement. He was probably cleansed by the blood of bulls and goats. Yet, I don’t think anyone doubts that we will see Him in Heaven. How is it that he receives more grace than a born-again believer?
And there are many others. Moses sinned in such a way that He was not allowed into the promised land. But we know He is in Heaven because he showed up on the Mount of Transfiguration visiting with Jesus. Hebrews 11 tells us that Gideon, Samson(!), David… “All these people earned a good reputation by faith” And He is kind enough not to mention, all these people sinned.
“We have not been given a spirit of fear, but (a Spirit) of Love, power and self-control.”
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love”
I don’t think this so that I can run boldly into sin. Of course not. But so that I can get over it when I do and press in again to His mercy, to His acceptance of me, to His loving correction. So that by focusing on His goodness, I can become more and more like Him. I can see others as people like me, who are forgiven and growing toward Him.
Freedom from the fear of missing the mark, freedom from the fear of losing salvation after all the years of trying, freedom from living under God’s punishment if you don’t do all the right things AND He gave us His own Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome…isn’t that what makes the Good News really GOOD? Is that that the distinction from every religion? Isn’t that what gives us hope? Isn’t that what encourages us to try again and not give in to a lifestyle of sin?
Though I too can find verses that seem to support the potential of losing ones salvation, I believe the big picture of the Word of God is that our Father is incredibly merciful and will hold on to us if we offer the merest whim of turning to Him. To me this is the same as the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law. The exact words of the law versus the heart and intention behind the words. The minutiae versus the big glorious picture of Love.
I don’t know if this helps someone out there, but I appreciate your time to read this. It’s ok if you don’t agree, as long as the fruit of your belief is good. Be blessed child of God!
Good News of Great Joy
This morning, Christmas morning, over coffee, my husband spontaneously read Luke 2 to us, aloud. The story of the birth of the Lord Jesus; the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords into the earth He created. He, the one who made Heaven and Earth and all things came to us as a little baby, in need of warmth, food, comfort and care; just like us.
All of heaven celebrated the King’s arrival on earth, and the exhuberance of the angel army that accompanied Him burst out in praise! The nearness of Heaven burst out in their exultation of the long awaited new reality for the people of Earth. Emmanuel had come to be here with us!
As proof of this newness, the angel tasked with announcing this amazing truth did not tell the High Priest. He did not go to the Sanhedrin. He did not make a rubber-stamped official pronouncement in boilerplate language. No.
Instead, the new reality — he announced this good news of great joy to the lowliest of people, the shepherds who worked and slept in the fields with the sheep. Heaven spoke directly to them and invited them to a ‘bedside visit.” Heaven made itself known, seen, heard and experienced to them personally! Perhaps the second greatest announcement ever made on earth was not reserved for someone greater; it was made first to them.
The breakthrough declaration so captivated the shepherds, that they had to go and see for themselves! “Let’s go see this thing that has happened that the Lord has told us about” they said. Woohoo!
In the past the Lord spoke through the prophets. An announcement of this magnitude would have been released through a prophet or many prophets. But this time, Emmanuel (God with us) has come to us. Heaven broke through to be with us, to speak directly with us. He shares His plans, His heart, His mind with those He calls friend. Since His beautiful and humble birth, He dwells here with us by His Spirit. He gave a warm and encompassing invitation through this announcement to all people. Come. Come and know Me. See me, touch me. No appointment necessary.
After seeing, hearing, touching the face of God in a tiny and helpless babe, the shepherds went back to their flocks “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” How could they not share this good news they had personally experienced? They told everyone. They were overflowing with His presence! The most natural evangelists.
The greatest gift of Christmas is that since this time we too are permitted to hear and see and touch the face of God. He is as close as the breath within me. I may press my head to His glorious head. I may see for myself the overwhelming love in His eyes. I can touch Him, worship Him any moment of every day, in the best conditions and in the worst. He is familiar with my condition, and He comes into my life on purpose. Me! My life! You! Your life! Lord Jesus help us to receive all that you desire to share with us; the precious gift of your nearness. Let me breathe each breath with you. Hold my hand and let me see your face everyday. Thank you that you came so that I may!
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2:8-20 NLT)
Refreshing
The other night I was listening to a friend talk about each person’s unique prayer closet. Each person’s place of intimacy with the Lord, the secret place. The fruit of this time, she called “times of refreshing.”
This is not prayer to make your requests known to God, but prayer in the Spirit, aligning your heart and your spirit with the Father’s.
She talked about how, “if you are not praying, you are fainting.” No refreshing means you will wither, you will tire, you will fail. The prayer closet is how real growth comes. Not just growth of good habits, but growth of relationship. Growth in oneness with the Lord.
For me the “times of refreshing” have brought many weighty moments and surprises. In those times, a friendship with Jesus developed that has come through years of spending the first hours of my day alone with Him in His word, and hearing from Him. Sharing our hearts together until I know Him as friend first.
Friendship with Jesus brings refreshing. Friendship with Jesus is freedom from staleness. He will deliver to you unexpected growth, unexpected anointing, scary sounding assignments 👀, nights awake in prayer instead of sleep and His good opinion of you. In all these He is everything but boring! Refreshing brings trust and trust brings refreshing.
In the early days of ministry, I was so nervous when I had to go on stage! I was sure I would forget everything I wanted to say, but I knew that with Him, all that mattered would fill my mouth and come out of me. I asked Him to hold my hand. He did!
Secondly, I knew Him as my protector; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He began to send me out to do. As I was obedient, (not good at it), He let me know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was on my side and I was never alone in my assignments.
This became the firm foundation to deliverance ministry. His Presence in me and with me. Never alone. No fear because His vastness is for me.
Then, I knew Him as Creator, my husband, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Who can come against me when I am with Him? On His arm, all territory belongs to Him, and so, as His bride, it also belongs to me. These were times of being trusted with greater authority. He makes sure we have all we need for the tasks He entrusts to us.
Soon after this, came knowing Him as the Prince of Peace. The One who IS the Kingdom of Heaven and the One who establishes its environment, which is Peace.
How do you know when something is not according to His will? When something moves you or the environment out of peace.
Peace is so powerful. Peace CRUSHES the head of the enemy. Unshakeable peace “passes understanding.” Growing in Him establishes us in His tangible Peace.
The King’s Peace IS the law of the Kingdom. Disciples are called to enforce it. Establish it where it is not. Restore it where it has been stolen.
Then, I knew Him as King. The Sovereign Lord who does not ask permission, but who IS God.
At that time I received the terrible privilege of friendship with Him through submitting to His will when it was very costly, because He is King and I am not. Trust.
These days I am knowing Him as the one who keeps His promises. Years of promises, that seemed so delayed, are being fulfilled in ways that fill my mouth with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:2)
He is my drug of choice. The one that always brings a new high that does not disappoint.
Refreshing comes from seeing and experiencing the Word as if I had never seen it before. Experiencing a new facet of His bigness satisfies and my hunger is quenched; then, like a drug, always stokes longing for more.
The journey of knowing Him will never end. The many facets of His nature refresh me, reward me and make real the promised life and peace of His Kingdom.
Breath
In January of this year, our daughter Katy suddenly went home to Heaven. I have described that moment in another blog, but as the year has progressed I have learned more from it.
The most difficult thing to communicate about the moment was a suddenly, a flash when, even though Katy had passed before we entered her room, it seemed I was actually there as she exhaled her last breath here and then I got to participate with her as she inhaled her first breath there. And I too breathed in the dewy breath of Heaven with her.
Often, in your walk with the Lord, you don’t see ahead of time that He is preparing you with a strength you will need later. This year, that strength has been intimacy with the Lion of Judah. It is something He began with me years ago, but this year it has been a requirement and a fortification enabling me to walk in great peace and even rejoicing. Allowing me to stand in strength on days that it was harder.
For years now, I have learned my role as cherished daughter/bride as I spend moments of my day with my forehead and nose pressed to the forehead and nose of Jesus.
With Katy, there were many moments of our day when she would need that moment of intimacy with me and come near to press our faces together. In the same way, there are many moments of the day when I stop to press my face to His face and receive strength.
At any time I can stop and feel the warmth of His skin on my skin. I can see the swirls of color in His eyes. I feel His breath on my face. Literally, I am exchanging breath with Him. I have become familiar with His fragrance.
In her life, Katy taught me how to be friends with Jesus on a different level. In her passing on to Heaven, I have been fed by the roots that were deeper than I realized.
In the world today, much chaos is on offer. True peace is the Shalom of God that brings perfect order to chaos. There is only one sure way to true peace. That is to intimately know the One who IS Peace.
Spend time pressing your forehead to His forehead and your nose to His nose. Breathe His breath and be restored to Peace.
He is Mercy. He is Peace. He is Love. He came from Heaven and became a human so that you can feel the warmth of His skin on your skin. Breathe in His moist breath. See true and lasting love for you in His eyes. Rest your head on the chest of the Prince of Peace on a regular basis and you will become peace.
I Am
Some years ago the Lord suddenly presented me with an image that helps me understand how He sees time. He showed me Himself (as a bottle of water) wrapped in a double helix, with one strand representing past and the other representing future. He is in the center and touches on all points along the line at once. Every moment, which to us represents past, present and future, is to Him – now. Right now. He is “I Am”.
When the Lord shows you something like this it can seem random. But, of course, He does not give information for information’s sake. There was something else He wanted me to understand.
In my ministry, I work with people who need healing of one kind or another. Often, before they come to me, something has not been working and they have tried all the things that are supposed to make life work, but it hasn’t helped. Or it helped for a little while, but then, as if they had been running around a track, they are in very familiar territory again.
As I listen to them, often there is a pattern to their experience. With the help of Holy Spirit, I am allowed to ask the right questions that shed light on the root issue. The issue is the thing that has been there, sometimes, for many years, but has been pushed down, tied up, gagged and made to be still for a little while. But, in truth, it has not been very obedient. It has squirmed and shouted out in anger, antagonized and pushed its head back up, seeking attention; only to be squished back into a room that is a little more rumpled than the last time.
Around the track they ran again, hoping the feelings of fear, sadness, shame or anger would stay hidden this time. “Time heals all wounds.” they were told. But the persistent thought would find a way out in the wee hours, in “random” memories, in fragments or in crystal clear HD home theater screen images as if they were right back there again and again.
Often something happened when they were children, as teenagers or even young adults that wounded them and made them believe a lie about themselves or about relationships or about God or all 3! It doesn’t have to look like a big thing to other people. It just had to mark them and stick with them and be ruminated over without resolution. A subtle lie can be the most successful lie of all because it has some truth and you miss the point at which it goes off course and believe the whole thing.
When a wound is ignored, it tends to get infected. If it gets infected, there can be even worse consequences.
Like the lepers of ancient times who were robbed of their senses, we learn not to feel the pain. But pain is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. The dead feel no pain. Pain is a sign of life. Life allows for healing.
Years before this, as I shared in a recent blog, the Lord showed me His heart toward people. He let me understand that He has full knowledge of their life, their hearts and all the moments and circumstances that have made them the way they are. He loves each one and is full of mercy.
It pains Him when our feelings are hurt. He cries with us when injustice occurs in our lives because of the free will of others. His heart is wrenched when our innocence is stolen and our self-worth is shattered. He hates to see His children confused, broken, believing lies that keep their hearts closed off. He shares in your wound and longs for you to bring it to Him, let Him look at it with you, let Him show you the truth.
NOW
For the Lord, the time of your wounding is right now. He is living in that moment with you and He longs to pull you close, kiss your tears and comfort you right in that moment. But we have to let Him.
Go there with Him. He is waiting for you. To replace the lie with the truth. To show you what He wanted for you instead. It can happen in a moment. When He goes to the root of the matter, it doesn’t take years. Everything can change in a moment! He wants you to have that NOW!
When that memory comes up again. Or, when you feel His gentle but persistent prodding about something that feels important but doesn’t make sense to you – that is the time to take it to Him. Pour out your heart, He wants you to share it with Him. You don’t have to be careful about your words. Just be real with Him. He already knows.
Now is the time that He wants to show you the truth so that the Truth can set you free!
He made you to live in wholeness of heart. Not to keep your beauty hidden away behind numbness. He loves the heart He gave you. He loves your unique personality, voice, laugh… To be able to express the fullness of you, you must be free and you must receive your healing from The Healer. Receive it now. Run in to His arms now.
Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise Jeremiah 17:14 NIV
Reality – 4 of 4
When I gaze into Jesus’ eyes I become like HIM.
Just like Jesus chose to die to Himself for us, Katy’s death also caused me to have to die to my desires and my way.
Biblical Principle: What I gaze upon I become.
This is very important for us in a time when everything in the media is trying to convince you to be afraid.
Do you know the story of Jacob and the spotted & speckled sheep? After years of being cheated of his wages by his shifty father-in-law (FIL), Jacob cuts a deal that he gets to keep any livestock that are speckled or spotted, while his FIL gets to keep the more prevalent solid colored animals.
Inspired by Holy Spirit, as soon as Jacob noticed the stronger animals coming into heat, he cut streaks in the bark of some branches and threw them in the water where the animals had to go to drink. They gazed upon the branches, then mated and produced speckled and spotted offspring. (Genesis 30:25-43)
Here is the same principle illustrated in New Testament, 2 Corinthians, 3:18 (NASB);
“But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Just so, gazing at Jesus makes me more like Him and we will produce fruit like the one we gaze upon.
Reality is in the Spirit
Have you ever been awake all night and afraid and thinking through all the problems, and what are you gonna do about it, and how to handle it, and just being in complete and utter fear and not able to sleep because of what might happen the next day or the next day…those are all in your imagination. They are not actually happening. But the fear, the dread, the knot in your stomach, the feeling like you need to run to the bathroom is all very real to you.
If someone else walked in the room, they won’t see any of those things happening. They don’t see the thing that you’re dreading. But for you it’s incredibly real because you imagined it. You spent time in your imagination putting time and effort into making it real. And if we spend a lot of time there we can make it become real.
Which is why the Lord says to spend our time thinking about things that are noble, and good and beautiful. (Philippians 4:8) Think about things that bring life, not things that lead to fear and death.
When Jesus was in the garden, spending time with the Father right before He was going to be betrayed and crucified, he was having a spiritual experience that was so real. He could not understand how the apostles could fall asleep when He was literally going though the most difficult time in His life. The worst time of His life, the hardest time of His life. Because for Him, it was real.
He was seeing in the spirit what was going to happen to Him. Struggling through it with the Father and it was REAL. It was as real as if it had already happened.
So much so that He actually sweat blood. Which is a medical condition that happens when you have been under so much stress that your body literally breaks all of the capillaries through the stress and blood pressure issues – the blood breaks through when suddenly, the stress is relieved.
Did you hear that – MEDICALLY – the blood breaks through when the stress is released. In other words, Jesus broke through to peace in His prayer. He was able to bring himself to TRUST his Father so much, that he quieted himself to peace again.
But right before that, he was in a moment of anguish while the apostles were asleep. He couldn’t imaging how they could be sleeping because in His spirit, He was in a very real battle; but they were spiritually unaware of what was happening.
If you are a Christian you are supposed to live according to your spirit. In fact, the Bible says this about you:
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.”
The spirit world is where we need to gain our muscles. We spend a lot of time making our brain strong. We have put a lot of information into our brain, but we haven’t put a lot into our spirit, which is where the Lord says that we need to focus. Where He says that we need to grow muscles because that is the world where REAL is. Paul gives us one way to do that in 1 Corinthians 14:4.
So we need to learn to spend time with the Father in that REAL place, like Jesus did, so that whatever we walk through in the day that appears to be real, actually becomes much less real to us than where we are with Him throughout the day.
Remember Jesus said if you have SEEN Him, then you have SEEN the Father. Jesus spent time gazing upon the Father and He is His exact representation to the world. And that is what we are to be to the world too.
I want to encourage you; every day from now on, take some quiet time, get by yourself and sit with Jesus. Just the two of you, pressing your foreheads together. Enjoy the warmth of His skin against yours. The fragrance of His life giving breath on your skin. Allow Him to love you, to carry you, to speak truth to you. It is the most important time you can ever spend. Your whole life depends on it. All your realities will be birthed there.
Please check out this video- it will help you understand where I’m going next.
I wanted you to see the video of our family all over the world sharing in The Blessing.
They are singing it in all the different languages and flavors and styles all over the world.
I believe in this season, many of you have been healed. And, others of you are feeling the gentle prodding of Holy Spirit pointing to some things in you that He wants to heal.
We all need some more healing. But if you are a follower of Christ Jesus, I believe every one of you has been set free in some way. AND NOW, in all of the different expressions there are among us; all the beautiful and different flavors, life experiences, hair styles, laughs, skin tones, and languages, you are now set free TO SET OTHERS FREE!
My little daughter could not speak. She couldn’t help herself eat or many other things that most of you take for granted. But she could bless. I can bless and YOU can bless. You are so powerful if you KNOW JUST ONE THING: You are the Beloved of the Father because of Christ Jesus!
The word says, “Freely you have received, now freely give!!!”
The ONLY thing you need is enough LOVE for that other person that you are willing to share your testimony; the story of your healing, your deliverance, your personal coming into the arms of the Father and receiving your freedom!
Share it your way. In your flavor. If you’re spicy, share it spicy. If you’re funny share it funny. If you’re quiet and tenderhearted – PLEASE, share it that way. If you are silent – then share it powerfully in your silence like my Katy did.
Practice this truth to yourself, about yourself – That you are the Beloved of God! And because you are, you can help the rest of the “family” to know it too.
Let me bless you:
The Lord bless you with His Presence and provide for all your physical and emotional needs. The Lord make His face shine upon you, resting his forehead against yours so that you see His great love for you and His joy in you, shining in His eyes. The Lord turn His face toward you until you see and understand that He is Creator, He is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And yet, His great power is for you. Until you marvel at how His peace crushes the head of the enemy so you can be unshakeable as you live in His peace. May the lightenings of His love, received in the secret place, empower you to trust Him with all of you forever. Amen.
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