Serilda stands atop a large dune with the ocean below her and the moon emphasizing shadows along the coast. Closing her eyes The Leader shows her a picture of the coming storms. A sudden shift in the wind across her face confirms things are indeed changing rapidly. The Leader, though unseen had nudged her awake in the night and they had communicated in that easy way where no words were needed she just knew what He wanted her to do. So she had come to this place. Traveling through realms to reach a destination has become easier with practice and He has never failed to escort her.

Inhaling the salt and sand The Warrior feels the need to say something but wants it to be the right thing. Serilda stands still taking in the gathering clouds and whispers because even when she can’t see His physical form He is by her side “Ok, what should I say?” She hears the Leader’s reply and feels the approval to declare His words, not hers – “Send up a cry Serilda that declares life, life and hope to those already touched by the storm and to those bracing for a storm. Life will always triumph over destruction.”

As The Warrior listens to Him her nerve endings begin to quiver and she notices gold script glowing and dissipating all over her skin, as if His words were activating words within her. He continued, “Remind ALL of creation of their true shelter, how The Leaders will protect them on every side and cover them in the worst fights and storms. We see all and have a plan, We WILL turn any destruction or fear The Liar throws at them into something beautiful. Stand with me now Warrior, look around…”

She had closed her eyes as she was listening and agreeing with Him, now looking around she sees innumerable Warriors, all with their identifying marks of a quill pen piercing a heart, in varying places of their clothing, glowing an ethereal green. There were too many Warriors to count and Serilda felt that buzzing vibration in her body tick up a notch in anticipation of a battle. The Leader placed a hand on her shoulder, “This battle is different, you won’t fight hand to hand. Follow my lead.“ He winks at her as the earth releases a deep trumpet like sound. Everyone is focused on The Leader now! Serilda stands fixed in place aware that her fellow Warriors are also captivated by the fire in His eyes.

Without saying another word, in the language of His realm, The Leader sends up a cry and all the Warriors join their voices with His. Light erupts as their voices merge. This fluid light dances across the crowd and the coast like the Aurora Borealis of another realm. Serilda shouts with hands raised. Each Warrior has their own cry, some Warriors whispering, others like Serilda shouting but all proclaiming in unison with The Leader: We are standing and we are holding ground for our brothers and sisters! We will not relent and He always comes through! His Hope and Life are RELEASED!” AS the word “released” was spoken, a comet of variegated colors and even shadows exploded from the group and went out to meet the gathering storm where the two collided in a wild cacophony of explosions.

Serlida stood awestruck with a rising anticipation of the stories to come from this unusual fight. The storm may still come, and damage is likely in any storm, but because of The Leaders; life, love and hope are released and whatever happens now has the opportunity to be greater than destruction.

The Leader and His large band of merry Warriors stand their ground – standing for those who may think the storms are too great or damaging. These Warriors will fight with The Leaders in every realm, in whatever way is necessary for restoration and wholeness.

Serilda eyes the mounting clouds not with fear but with brazen confidence in her Leader. Whatever the storm, or the outcome, He will not fail. The Warrior cannot wait to see what comes next, especially since this battle was unexpected and He still hasn’t told her His plan…

 Psalm 91-The VOICE

1 He who takes refuge in the shelter of the Most High
    will be safe in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He will say to the Eternal, “My shelter, my mighty fortress,
    my God, I place all my trust in You.”
3 For He will rescue you from the snares set by your enemies who entrap you
    and from deadly plagues.
4 Like a bird protecting its young, God will cover you with His feathers,
    will protect you under His great wings;
    His faithfulness will form a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you.

5 You will not dread the terrors that haunt the night
    or enemy arrows that fly in the day
6 Or the plagues that lurk in darkness
    or the disasters that wreak havoc at noon.

7 A thousand may fall on your left,
    ten thousand may die on your right,
    but these horrors won’t come near you.
8 Only your eyes will witness
    the punishment that awaits the evil,
    but you will not suffer because of it.

9 For you made the Eternal [your][a] refuge,
    the Most High your only home.
10 No evil will come to you;
    plagues will be turned away at your door.

11 He will command His heavenly messengers to guard you,
    to keep you safe in every way.
12 They will hold you up in their hands
    so that you will not crash, or fall, or even graze your foot on a stone.[b]
13 You will walk on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the lion and the serpent underfoot.

14 “Because he clings to Me in love,
    I will rescue him from harm;
    I will set him above danger.
Because he has known Me by name,
15 He will call on Me, and I will answer.
    I’ll be with him through hard times;
    I’ll rescue him and grant him honor.
16 I’ll reward him with many good years on this earth
    and let him witness My salvation.”

At our church’s women’s retreat last year, we were able to experience something that was new to most of us… walking a labyrinth.

While skeptical at first, but trusting the leadership, I jumped in.

A labyrinth is basically a maze drawn on the ground, in this case on a cloth laid on a ground. You walk on it to the middle, and allow the Holy Spirit to talk with you as you journey together.

So, began my journey…

My experience with the Labyrinth actually began three days prior as the Lord prepared me for what He wanted to do. I came into this weekend with some huge things Abba was moving me towards, and yet I felt ill-equipped to carry it out. I needed my heart settled and prepared for what was ahead.

As I stepped on the Labyrinth, I began to see what some would call an open vision. The Bridegroom, Jesus, took me by the arm and said, “We are going on a bridal journey.” The first thing I noticed was how handsome, gentle, and kind He is. I was taken aback by His beauty. He showed me a gorgeous wedding dress, and said it was time to get dressed. As I thought about that, I realized that I was still wearing a garment of shame and had a cloak of fear on my neck. Gently, He asked me if He could take that now. I was was afraid of being exposed in front of Him, but He caringly whispered, ” I will not expose my bride. You will be covered with a robe.” Still, I hesitated, and He said that He wanted to exchange wedding gifts. He showed me a box to put my garments in. That was to be His wedding gift from me. So, I put my garments of shame and fear in the box. Placing the lid on, it was quickly taken away.

As I opened the gift from Him, there was a large, stunning engagement ring in it. I stumbled over my words and said, “This is too much. I can’t take this.” He just looked at my with his kind eyes saying, “This is what I want you to have.” I allowed Him to slip it on my finger. Next, He said, “I need to wash you now.” He gently asked me first, as He washed each part of me. As we got to the feet, again, I felt like this was just too much, to which He replied, “I have to wash these too, dear one.”

We began the process of putting on the dress, the hosiery, and the shoes (They were glass slippers of course.). Next, He began to open gifts, and give me jewels. Every time he opened a box, I protested, “Jesus, this is too much. I can’t accept that.” Over and over He would say, “Daughter, bride, I want you to have this.” I would accept. He gave me an amazing necklace, bracelet, and finally a crown that out shone anything I’ve ever seen on any queen. I was overcome with emotion. Even though I was now dressed in these incredible things, as we walked, I felt awkwardly deformed, like nothing fit right. Somehow wearing these things only made my deformity stand out more.

He asked me to look into a mirror. I wouldn’t. I told him how I felt. He took me back to my mother’s womb, and said I created you here. I knit you together for a beautiful purpose and reason. He then showed me the part of me that had been with him all through the years of me growing up, when I was going through torturous abuse. I was dancing, playing, running over hills with him. He said, “I kept you safe right here with me as you suffered. I protected the inner part of you here with me, until you were grown up and it was safe. You are not broken. You are not deformed. Look into the mirror now.” I thought I’d see deformity, someone ugly, untouchable, but instead I saw fire in my eyes. The fire of Holy love. I saw beauty. I cried.

Next, he gave me a diamond vase that was made of small pieces, broken pieces fused together. I was afraid I’d drop it. He said when he put together brokenness, it is indestructible. You can’t break it. He said it held all my tears and brokenness. It was precious to him.

He kept telling me over and over that this is the place of intimacy that I fight from, where I live from. Here the enemy couldn’t touch me. He kept repeating over and over that there was no evil in me. But only light. Taking him by the arm, we walked down the aisle. Arm in arm with Him, I wouldn’t stumble and fall again. “Out of this intimacy is where you fight and win.”, He said over and over again.

So we walked together to the altar. He said His vows to me. That He’d never leave me. That nothing would cause us to be separated. That His love is forever and ever. That everything I have is His and everything He has is mine.

I said my vows to him. That I would respond to his love.

We both said, “I do.” We take each other.

Then he kissed me in a holy, loving way.

After this, He said, ” Now I need to prepare you.” He began to show me my armor. I wish I could put to words how pure it looked. It was sparkling white, brilliant. He gave me each piece. The breastplate was especially bright. Then he placed the belt around my waist. I was worried about my wedding attire, that I would have to take it off. He said the armor fits right over it. So, he slipped on the boots, and helmet. I picked up the shield, which became like a force field around me. Finally, He showed me the sword. It was brilliant as well, golden and studded with gems on the hilt. He asked me to pick it up. As I did, I saw it said “Praise”. I turned it over in my hand and it said “Word of God”. I flipped it back over and it read “Intercession/ prayer”. It was amazing.

As we walked out of the labyrinth together, I felt my bridegroom beside me saying, “We will walk this out together, arm in arm, from this place of intimacy, with my authority, because it all belongs to you. You have my name. All my authority is given to you, because you are married to me. Everything I have is yours. Everything you have is mine. You are mine and belong to me. Dream with me now!

To ensure I would not chalk all that up to an over active imagination, one of my prayer buddies from home sent me these scripture verses shortly after I had completed walking it. As I looked up a text message appeared on my phone, I read Isaiah 61:10 “…he has clothed me with the garment of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  and also, Romans 13:11-12 …”put on the armor of light.” She had been up that morning praying for me to see myself as the bride.

It has been several months since this event. I wish I could say that I have remembered these images and words in the heat of every battle. Some days, I’ve run away scared. Others, I have followed my love and seen victory. Though this experience is very personal to me, I felt the Lord wanted me to share this. We are the bride of Christ, and He is getting His bride ready for the wedding day. Take His hand and journey with Him.

Last Friday morning, August 16, I was listening to an Mp3 called, “ Becoming the Beloved,” by Graham Cooke. It is focused on the believer’s place in Christ as the Beloved of the Father. I have listened to it many times over the past months but this time I was really asking the Father what he wanted me to understand from it that I had not yet received.

Immediately I saw, in my mind’s eye, a picture of the Father, seated on His throne, He raised His right hand and point his finger to decree a thing. As He did this, I saw a transparent image of Jesus in me raise His right hand, point His finger and decree in the same way, and as He did, I raised my right hand, pointed and decreed too.

Now decree is a seldom-used word in my vocabulary, but it is what I saw and understood in that moment. I don’t know what we were decreeing as I did not hear anything. But it was important that I understand that my spirit is always in agreement with the Spirit who lives in me. It is my soul (my mind, will and emotions) and my flesh that do not always agree and submit, and that is becoming less and less.

I must battle to be at rest in the knowledge that I am the Beloved, that I am IN CHRIST, and Christ is in me. Jesus said, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20 NIV) From this place, it is easy to flow in His rhythm. The trick is staying in that place where I am constantly, joyfully aware of His presence in me and I agree with Him.

Now this was a really cool revelation, but 2 days later, as I was looking through my email, I had a message from The Elijah List. As described in its mission statement, “THE ELIJAH LIST is called to transmit around the world, in agreement with Holy Scripture, fresh daily prophetic “manna” from the Lord, regarding the days in which we live.”

Now honestly, so many messages come from the list every day that I usually skim through and only read the ones that the Spirit draws me to or to specific prophets whose words consistently encourage and build me up in my faith.

Cornielius Quek is one such prophet. In his words, I feel his genuine intimacy with the Lord and trust that he hears and interprets clearly. (I am using the word prophet here as an office, one who has been specifically called by God to be a prophet and communicate what he hears to the church. Under the new covenant, every believer can hear from God, but this is a job assignment for prophets like the job of an apostle, evangelist, teacher or pastor.[1])

Well, imagine my surprise when, Sunday morning, I read his recent word on the Elijah List and he had a dream that was essentially the same as the vision the Lord had shown me on Friday morning.[2]

His word both confirmed what the Lord had shown me, and Cornelius’ greater interpretation applied to my life in a more full way than I had seen on Friday. This is one wonderful benefit of the gift of prophecy in the Church.

It is common for 2 or 3 or more, to hear the same message. After all it is the same Spirit within us who speaks. It is so good to have a word confirmed and even better when it happens so soon!

Do you see? I asked the Father what He wanted to show me, then He immediately answered with an image in my mind’s eye. Because this happened while I was awake, some would call it a vision. Then, 2 days later, another believer was given the same word. He was able to bring more clarity to the situation for me and probably for others too.   This is one of the beautiful ways the body of Christ interacts together for each other’s encouragement and the building up of the body.

We are the body to function together in unity for our mutual benefit and as a beautiful witness to the world of life in the Kingdom. These gifts were given to the church by Christ, “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”(Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT)  Wow! Paul has set a pretty high bar for us to meet; the full and complete standard of Christ! Let’s joyfully press on to reach it together.

[1]http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/what-is-a-prophet-prophetess

[2http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=16648

The Little One stands in the middle of a sidewalk jammed with people; all in a hurry and bumping into her as if she weren’t there. Finding the next gate to unlock is proving quite the challenge. Who knew buildings could be so imposing or that this tiny purple flower at her feet could displace what had to be thousands of pounds of concrete to just pop up and bloom. The contrast between hard concrete sidewalks and buildings and the tiny fragile plant is striking. Such resilience this little flower has, how brave it is to bloom even though being trampled under uncaring feet is almost a certainty.

The Little One marvels at the light glistening around this tiny living thing in the midst of such noise and movement. How is it no one seems to notice that little shimmering light? The Little One hears a companion, another Keeper of the Light, call to her wanting to know why she isn’t headed in that direction as a passerby abruptly shoves the Little One out of their own path. A little red cloud of frustration puffs out of the Little One’s nostrils. It seems everyone is only concerned with progress on their own path.

Another friend on the opposite side of the wide street, gridlocked with irate drivers honking and gesturing at each other, waves for the Little One come over. How can her friend not see that she cannot cross the snarling traffic at this moment? The Little One is overwhelmed at the complexity of still needing to find this gate. It’s so much easier to find them in the quiet of the Open Land! This place with people constantly pushing and pulling and requiring attention begins to make the Little One dizzy. Everyone seems to think they have the best route to take but who is trustworthy?

Grimy, oozing tentacles of Despair and Perceived Failure are quick to creep out of a sewer cap and wrap around her ankles. Paralyzed with indecision the cacophony of noise overwhelms the Little One. The light that is usually so effervescent around her becomes more concentrated and closer to her body, almost as if it were trying to shield her. Her mind is literally spinning, how is she supposed to follow through with so many vying for this or that? How is she supposed to keep looking for the gate in this messy realm and still find joy in the small things? She doesn’t even have time to find an important gate at the moment much less enjoy things like tiny flowers; she’s too busy trying not to get pushed in front of an oncoming bus! How did this all happen so fast?

Breathing deep she willed her thoughts to re-center on truth even though every part of her being fought back with negative or hopeless comments. Re-centering she reminds herself of the truth The Great Three sing over her constantly and a sort of bubble encompasses the Little One right there on the bustling sidewalk. She doesn’t notice the bubble severs the tentacles of Despair and Perceived Failure, she didn’t even ask for them to be removed. All the Little One is focused on is the sheer magnitude and goodness of The Great Three.

Holding a mental picture of their paradoxical fierceness and tenderness in her mind she chooses to remember they never leave her side – even though she still feels alone. She reminds herself They do things very differently than she does and if she was supposed to be somewhere else to find the gate she would have been. She reminds herself of who They say she is; loved completely- no matter what, special, important to this particular time and place, unique because no one has or will emit the type of light she emits. She smiles because it has nothing to do with any good or bad thing she has done, it’s all because of the immeasurable goodness and love of The Three.

Opening her eyes, the busy sidewalk is now a bit fuzzy and the sound is muffled because of this insulating greenish bubble. Plopping down next to the little flower the Little One decides that right here on this crammed sidewalk is the perfect place to rest in The Three’s bubble. Where else would you rest the best except in chaos?! Resting in a fragrant blooming meadow is great but chaos is really where resting with Them feels the best because that’s when it’s needed most.

Laughing to herself she feels silly because The Three never left her, she had just not been paying attention to where They were. Sitting next to the wisp of a flower she absorbs the optimism and joy the flower shares – infused by The Great Three to encourage tired travelers like her. For now she just breathes. She couldn’t be happier to let Them decide the details of the next steps on this crazy sidewalk!

The forever life They promise and all its wild adventures and escapades are for now, not someday when this realm is traded permanently for the other! Moments of rest may only be the length of a deep breath before continuing on. re-centered on The Great Three, They will take care of the rest.

Titus 1:2 We rest in this hope we’ve been given—the hope that we will live forever with our God—the hope that He proclaimed ages and ages ago (even before time began). And our God is no liar; He is not even capable of uttering lies.

1 John 4:16 (The Voice) We have experienced and we have entrusted our lives to the love of God in us. God is love. Anyone who lives faithfully in love also lives faithfully in God, and God lives in him.

Isaiah 60:1 (The Voice) Arise, shine, for your light has broken through! The Eternal One’s brilliance has dawned upon you.

I find it ironic that I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit to write about waiting. Sometimes, it has felt like most of my life has been waiting. I am one of those people who has had social anxiety standing in line at the grocery store. Yes, I have had a few panic attacks there. It never pays off to switch lines either. Someone always has a price check. Recently, I found myself next in line behind someone with two overflowing carts at the local wholesale club. They opened another line calling me to come over, only to have the five people in line behind me swarm to the cashier like bees on an open soda can at a picnic. I just smiled at the lady in front of me. Yep, there was a price check in that line.

Unlike me, I have found that God, our wonderful, faithful Father actually delights in the waiting. He seemingly takes pleasure in the meticulous, painstaking process of creating a masterpiece in us. He never appears in a hurry.

When I was much younger, newly married, I went to my pastor to talk to him about the direction of my life. He drew point A and point B. Then, as he said, “This is where you want to go”, he drew a straight line connecting the dots. “This is the path God takes you”, and he drew a large semi-circle to connect the dots. Sometimes, I think a labyrinth would have been more accurate.

Quite honestly, if I would have known then the journey to point B, I may have thrown up on his drawing! Somewhere in the process of walking that curvy path, I lost sight of what point B even looked like. Maybe it was just a mirage after all. But this last year, I have found my heart awakening. I’ve heard the voice of my heavenly father say, “It’s time to dream again.” Honestly, I’m not jumping for joy at this point in my life. It feels a little uneasy, risky, like stepping out of the boat.

Having gone through three pregnancies resulting in our daughters, I know in the pregnancy there is a growing expectancy of the delivery of the baby you get to finally cuddle in your arms. You begin to feel the baby kick, hear the heartbeat, see pictures of the child in your womb. Hope rises. There is nothing that a pregnant woman should do to rush this. There is nothing you can do to mold this baby inside. It is all the master craftsman’s delight in every detail taking his sweet time to form every cell, tissue, organ of this precious one. If you try to speed things up, you run a strong risk of aborting the baby or giving birth to a pre-mature child. In the last trimester, every day feels like climbing a mountain. The delivery date of the promise is coming! It is a sure thing! But the timing is completely in the Master’s hands.

I feel Abba is calling to the “Sarahs” in Abraham’s tent who finds herself laughing at the Lord’s promise of a baby in her old age. “It’s time to come out of the tent. You’re pregnant with a promise.” He calls. She laughs, not wanting to believe again. She’s been disappointed so many times. So many years have come and gone. She is tired. Oh, so tired. Does she have it in her now? Still the Lord calls.

Recently, I asked my husband, “Why does the Lord make us wait?” He said, “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.” The waiting, if we will let it, will strengthen us, so that we can fly. Are you ready to fly again? Are you ready to dream again? Are you too waiting for your promise to be fulfilled?

This is where I find myself. It is an uncomfortable, stretching place. I don’t want to be disappointed again. Yet, like Sarah, the forerunner to Mary, the mother of Jesus, I find myself saying, “Whatever your will is Lord… Yes, I want that.” He knows my weakness. My frailness. My tiredness. He knows how easily I stumble and fall. But I have learned He can be trusted.

So, if you find yourself in the waiting place again, know He is able to complete what He has promised. It won’t be on our time-table, but He won’t be late. I’m trusting Him for that.

Last Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church, the Lord called to mind a fun experience we had in France a few years ago.

The trip was probably our best trip ever and we look forward to doing it again. The first week of our trip, we rented a canal boat that we piloted ourselves.  My husband received an intensive 10 minutes of instruction in piloting and they also mentioned that there would be more than 20 locks on our route but that most of them were “automated”.

Well automated meant that someone got off the boat and pulled a blue rope and that started the process of the lock gate opening.  Simple.  Some of them were manned and they did it all for you. Even better.  At this point we had been through about 18 locks and had seen it done and even pulled the rope, but everything had been done for us.

But then, one night we came to a place that we decided to stay for the night.  After we tied up, an English speaking couple approached us.  They asked whether we had been through the next lock yet?  We said no and they told us that it was fully manual and that they had been stuck there for 2 days because they were afraid to try it out and didn’t feel confident that they could do it.  Could we help them get through?  We said yes and invited them in for some wine and cheese.

As we got to hear about them, we discovered that they were both very well educated.  He was a professor and she was a research scientist.  She showed us the plans that she had drawn up of the lock system and a diagram of how they thought it worked, but they just weren’t sure.  We had a grand time with them and breakfasted with them the next morning too.

When it was time to go, we tried to explain to them what to do.   They looked at us nervously, and we all decided they should just go through and we would operate it for them. Gabi (our friend traveling with us) and I got out and inspected the gate system. We tinkered a bit, figured out which dials release the water (since we were traveling down river) and which ones opened the gates.   Pretty quickly, though we were all a bit nervous, it was mission accomplished!  The water level went down, the gates opened and they were through! Then we had to do it all again for us. We got through too and when we got back beside them we all celebrated and then we tied both boats up a bit farther down the river.

They said we “made that look so easy. How many times had we done it before?” My husband answered, “‘Counting this time? One”. They stood staring amazed that we had done this without hesitation.

Like the couple in the boat, in our western churches, often we have had tremendous teaching and have acquired much knowledge about the gospel and about how to step out in faith. Many of us have attended Bible study for years! We are so fortunate to have free access to so much knowledge.

In many churches, we get to see the supernatural gifts demonstrated by those who flow easily in their gifting, but like the couple in the boat, most believers here in the West are not willing to test their faith outside the walls of the church. The lock gate is closed and we have studied the instruction manual and drawn the diagram, but we have not tried to go through!  For all our knowledge we have not moved forward.

The simplest obedience always takes a leap of faith to act. Fear comes in: What if you are wrong and it’s not God speaking? Perhaps our fear should be, what if it is God speaking and you decide not to risk it?

It can be anything: perhaps the Lord tells you to go and offer a homeless person your own lunch, or maybe, to give money to someone who doesn’t appear to need it? What if it is simply forwarding your daily devotional to someone who is not a believer? What if the Lord gives you a word of knowledge about a person and tells you lay hands on them and pray for healing. In all of these situations there is a risk of appearing foolish. I can tell you from experience, appearing foolish is a certainty some of the time.

In all of these situations questions or certainties are stirred in our minds:

Will I look foolish? (I will look foolish.) How can I approach them without making it awkward? (There is no way to approach this without it being awkward!) What if I don’t do it right? (I’m probably going to do it wrong.) What if they say no to what I’m offering? Maybe I don’t really have the formula down…. On and on and on.

Well the good news is that it’s easy to get over these concerns with a few simple realizations:

•  It’s not about you
• You don’t have enough knowledge
• There IS NO formula and
• It will definitely be awkward

All of which makes you the perfect candidate to be an obedient servant, just like the Lord’s disciples!

In my family we often speak things the Lord gives us to say, or pray for healing, or give hugs to waiters, sales people, baristas, doctors, friends and strangers, and we have for several years.  To this day I get a little nervous before I speak or act.

When Jesus sent out the 70 (or 72)  to do what they had only seen done before, no one was more surprised than they were that they had success! Sick people were healed and demons were cast out!

Jesus told them not to marvel at their success, but to rejoice because their names are written in Heaven. To paraphrase, he said, “Look, ‘I saw satan fall like lighting!’  My Father kicked him out of heaven and it was no big deal.  So you should expect similar results when using your authority in obedience. Of course you will be successful when you are obedient!” (Luke 10:17-20) Then Jesus thanked His Father for revealing this authority to the childlike. Why? Because a very little child doesn’t doubt, they don’t count themselves out before they try, they just obey.

It is awkward to approach someone and do what the Lord says to do, and yet we must do it anyway.

Consider how Phillip felt before speaking to the Ethiopian eunuch. First, he was just told to go south along a road. No reason why, just go. Next, when he saw the chariot, he was told to go and walk alongside it. He probably didn’t really know why he was there or what he was to say. Only after he had been obedient twice to simple things that probably didn’t make much sense, did he gain an understanding of why he was there.(Acts 8:26-40)

The why of your assignment is often not apparent when you are told the what. The specifics of what to say are very often only given once you step into obedience and start talking. You nervously open your mouth to share the little piece you have been given, and THEN the rest comes flowing out. But the fruit is worth it! In Phillip’s case, the eunuch believed and was baptized in joy! Sometimes that will happen for you too. Other times you just brought a smile to someone’s face, encouraged them that God loves them.  Sometimes you see no fruit at all. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t any fruit or that there won’t be some fruit later.

Here’s an interesting thought: When the 70 (72*) did those things in obedience, they weren’t saved yet! That event took place before the cross. Jesus had given them authority to do those things. How much more authority do we have now that He has overcome the curse, it is finished! Now as believers, the Holy Spirit lives in us and will never leave us! We’re not doing this stuff on our own or in our own strength. We must simply be obedient to the voice of our shepherd and the world will begin to see the power of the love of God.  It’s not about us.

Come on Church! It’s time for us to rise up again in the authority that Jesus has given us and step out in obedience. In this way we will see the church strengthened, encouraged and growing in boldness for proclaiming the truth of God’s love.  We will see people healed, set free, restored to relationship with the Father and the world turned upside down.  This is the food that Jesus ate that his buddies knew nothing about then, but that is our privilege to eat from now.

Like Jesus we must be sure of our identity as the beloved of the Father. Out of that place of knowing that we are His precious children with whom He is well pleased, we move to the rhythm of His Spirit. We say only what He says and do only what we see Him doing. The more often we move in obedience, the more certain we will be to hear his voice and recognize it.  Spend time in the Word to grow in your intimacy with God and in sureness of your identity in Christ.  But THEN….walk out your faith in obedience to what He speaks to you, not caring if you look a fool for Christ.  In this way, we will be sure to turn the world upside down!  The lock gate will be opened and you and those with you can move ahead to the more.

*(some versions say 70 and others say 72)

That time of day already huh! Goodness would you drop that backpack already? Just leave it there at the bottom of the stairs, no need to lug it another inch. Your hunched shoulders tell me that thing weighs a ton. Now close your mouth you’ll catch flies, you act like you’ve never been here. Come on up to the porch, I have a pitcher and a glass there with your name on it. You still get the rocker that squeaks but you’ve sat in it enough to know it’s comfortable. What a look that is on your face! It always amazes me how we have to start from the beginning each time to help you remember this place. When you were a young’un you’d just run up those stairs, bowl me over with a hug and then guzzle down every bit of the contents in that pitcher. My, my, the energy you have. Don’t you snort at that! You’ve still got that energy, that life bubbling inside, things just seem a little different now with age – but it’s only perception.

Now have a seat, some of that tension in your shoulders is easing in that old rocker isn’t it? Whatever is running in that wonderful mind of yours will still be there in a bit. For now just breathe and really look around. Look – there’s Tekoa. Ah, some recognition glimmers in those eyes of yours. Who wouldn’t remember such an impressive wolf, he looks so serious at first glance but look at him now; chasing lightning bugs and howling like a freshly weaned pup! Finally a chuckle out of you it’s about time! Still uncertain that you’re really here watching a wolf chase lightning bugs in the cool twilight of the hill country? What does it matter if you’re dreaming or awake? Aren’t your dreams real? Apparently Tekoa has tuckered himself out finally. Look how he shuffles up the porch steps panting. Silly pup, no don’t panic he’s just going to curl up at your feet, he’s played with you since you were a pup yourself. No, no I assure you, you’ve not lost your mind.

You get faster at remembering this place each time you visit but I just wish you’d let that “young’un memory” kick back in because you just trusted you belonged. That’s ok though, I don’t mind reminding you who you are and where you’re from because I enjoy reliving our times together. Not all our times have been as quietly joyful as this night. Even the painful times though have been bittersweet and no amount of pain and shouting could stop the wheels I have in motion for you. Even flowers have to break through hard soil to really unfurl.

Now, let’s start with something simple – who are you? No, not a name like what you’re familiar with… That’s alright, let’s don’t get too hung up on that question. Let me elaborate a bit, sometimes I call you Anamchara – soulmate, other times you are my Laoich – warrior. There is a lot in a name and they are all important but my favorite name for you is – “mine”. Feel that warmth in your chest? Yes, that’s where recognition and remembrance starts. It’s not a brain function, it’s a heart function that then travels to your brain. Just let that warmth spread as your true eyes open, the eyes of your heart. You are starting to remember little by little who you are, not your title…

I can see realization starting to break like a sunrise! Let’s try a different question – how was your week? Hold on, let me write this down. Wow that’s quite a list… let’s see if I heard you correctly because I don’t remember these times but I’m glad you brought them up. You yelled at your kids after picking a fight with your spouse? Screamed at the person who was driving at least 10 miles under the speed-limit? Were quietly jealous of your friend’s seemingly all together life? You said some pretty creative disparaging things about people at work under your breath? And there are others I wrote down but that hit the high points right? Good, let me just take care of this really quick. Yep, you got it, everything you told me and I wrote down is just a pile of ash. I have no patience for regrets that will hold you back and with my very breath I will incinerate anything you will let me take. Look how the breeze scatters the ashes, gonna be great fertilizer for my roses over there. Won’t be easy to piece that list back together now! Now that part is done let me tell you what I saw this past week…

I saw my young’un overwhelmed, but not down for the count. Man I get excited watching you rally! Even in those hard times I see that spark of light start to build inside. I ached with you on the days your frustration spilled out onto your family and friends so I sent some extra help your way. I saw you rise above after you cried out and accepted our help. Just whispering “help!” and no more will always have us running to you and bringing you to the higher places. Remember how you later apologized to your family? I was so proud of your simple “I’m sorry” I could have popped! Here is the thing, you are right to tell me all the challenges you’ve faced because only then can I take them from you and banish them. But you are forgetting the most important part – we don’t see the challenges, we’re not keeping score, we just see you and truly couldn’t be more thrilled with you.

You’re not a “failure” at anything. Some qualities I’d to see a little more clearly in you and are harder to bring out than others so we have to try a situation a few times to get it right. Remember the breeze on your face as tears of hopelessness trickled down your cheeks when no one was around? That was me catching your tears to keep for a greater purpose you don’t even know yet. Nothing is wasted I use everything, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. I don’t know where you all started to think we only use the good stuff that happens. There’s that “head sense” again. Such a wonderful brain! Just use it wisely, your heart and spirit need equal time to talk with me and work on things too! We can accomplish a lot in a short time as you will see when you get back to the other place.

Yes, this place exists all the time. It kind of plays in the background, like those apps everyone messes with these days. However, I will admit to great enjoyment at sling-shooting a bird through the air at obstacles now and again! What, you think there’s no WiFi on this hill? Ha! You wouldn’t believe the networks around here. This place is your reality too. You’re really from here, this wonderfully changeable but consistent place. Everyone experiences it differently but we are always here, waiting and cheering you on. You should hear the noise around here when you do something as simple as letting the older, slower woman in line ahead of you at the grocery store – even while you grind your teeth. It’s like the Fourth of July on steroids! Ah, I see that young’un in your eyes again. You have always belonged here, you’re just visiting the time and place you think is more real than here. Tekoa feels warm and real curled up on your feet there doesn’t he?! Remember where you come from – it’s pretty good family stock you know! Oh my, that’s a big yawn, I’m glad to see you’re settling in. Would you look at those fireflies? Too many to count you say? Funny you say that… Rest your eyes for a bit and we’ll talk more later about who you are, we have plenty of time…

A couple months ago, I was on a flight from Texas to South Carolina, bringing my Dad back home with me for a visit.  We had booked the flights late and so we each had a middle seat about 10 rows apart.  Because my Dad is 88, I asked to pre-board with him. The agent asked for my boarding passes and said, let me see what I can do. Next thing I knew he had us seated together in a window and middle seat with the aisle open.  As it was a very full flight, I prayed about the woman that would probably sit next to me, (these days I seem to do a lot of ministry in airplanes and restaurants.)  

An older woman slowed down, eyeing the seat beside me but kept going.  Then, a young woman seemed to be heading to the seat, but also kept going.  I got busy with my computer, and next thing I knew a guy was packing his things in the overhead and then sat down next to me with a couple of wet wipes, boisterously saying, “you probably think I’m crazy”…big blue eyes smiling, as he wiped the tray table in his seat.  I said, “ I don’t think you’re crazy, I’m a mom”,  and he handed me a couple wipes.   As I cleaned my tray table he introduced himself as Bob, and I reciprocated and introduced my Dad too.

Somehow, almost immediately, he started to tell me about the events, over the last year, of his life that had led him to believe in Jesus, to meditate and obey the things he felt the Lord saying to him.  He asked if we wanted to read the things the Lord had said to him.  (All the while we are still on the ground – delayed because the toilet up front needed repair.)  Dad and I said, “Sure!”  So he got up and got his bag down and pulled out a clipboard with notes from his conversation with God. Mysteriously the plane was very quiet as we waited, which drew everyone’s attention to Bob’s story.  No one seemed to be in conversation or on the phone.  I was aware, though he didn’t seem to be, that everyone within a couple rows seemed to be listening to our conversation.

On the clipboard he had written down what the Lord told him and his responses.  Everything the Lord said was very clear and very much the God I know.  He heard clearly and obeyed even when it was crazy!  The Lord asked some hard things of him and told him he would receive nothing for doing it, but he did it anyway.  The things the Lord asked involved putting in more than a year of work to try and help a young woman he barely knew. It cost him and his wife money out of their own pockets.  The Lord put a fatherly heart for the woman into him, so it cost him emotionally too. It cost him time and he constantly questioned whether he was really hearing from God or if he was going crazy! In the end, the woman, who according to attorneys should, without question, have gone to prison, ended up in a serious rehab and time served.  The Lord had instructed Bob to take care of His daughter and he had done just that.

Before these experiences, he had known about Jesus and believed in a higher power or God.  He said that he now realizes that Jesus is real, He wants to move forward but doesn’t know how.  I encouraged him in all he was hearing and doing.  At a certain point, at nearly the end of our 2 1/2 hour flight, I felt like we were done, so when he returned from the back, I excused myself and put on headphones as I had originally planned to do. As soon as I did, I saw a picture of a baby tiger! It was tiny but fully formed.  (About a month before, I had had a vision about walking along hand in hand with Father and petting a fully grown tiger that walked along beside us.  Then I moved beneath the tiger and pushed my hands up, somehow birthing a baby tiger!)  As soon as I saw the tiger, I knew I needed to pray with him and stay connected to him.  This was a surprise to me as I had assumed all my baby tigers would be women, since that is where the Lord has had me focused for the past few years.  Wow!  How amazing is the Lord?  A month or so ago he gives me a vision about birthing baby tigers, now he brings one to me!  I told him that he needed to let me pray for him right then.  He said, “Right now?”  I said, “Yes.”  So I put my hand on his head (felt led to) and prayed some crazy prophetic prayer over him.  The Spirit was all over it and it was really cool.  That day was Bob’s birthday (in the natural and maybe in the spirit too).  Dad and I had been moved to those seats and Bob had been too!  Cool!

Well, you know how when you have made a good connection with someone on a flight, but it feels awkward to try and continue a relationship?  It felt like that, but nevertheless, I gave him a card and asked him to let me know how things went with the girl.  He reciprocated  and a few days later I got a call from him.  He wanted to know what he had felt when I prayed for him and why did he feel like we were supposed to be connected.  He felt awkward calling me but he has lots of questions about how to know when he’s hearing God and whether he has given good advice or not.  I am constantly amazed at the level of relationship he has with the Lord already, the level of understanding that has come into his life as a result, and the amount of loving acts that come out of his life as a result.  His true religion, true intimacy with Father surpasses many believers who have been walking with the Lord a long time. (See James 1:27)

A couple weeks later, on my birthday, my husband and I got to do a FaceTime call with Bob, a little get-to-know-you for the guys and a little counseling/prayer time too.

A couple weeks after that Bob came over for lunch while on a business trip through our city.  He had gotten some shockingly bad news on the way over and was still rather staggered.  He said that he got a call from the Rehab place where the woman was doing her time and they said that they were bouncing her out, with a very short time left on her sentence.  That would mean that she was going to prison.  No details were given and he had a lot of calls to make to try and find out what was going on. He was trying to understand how this could be after the year of following God’s leading.  We reassured him that things are not usually as they seem in the natural.   After lunch we prayed with him, expelling fear and replacing it with the perfect love of the Father.  His attitude was improved, but he wanted to get moving and see what he could find out.  It was kind of surreal to all of us the way the Lord had worked out our meeting on the plane, and now he was here at our house and we all knew the Lord had more purposes in mind!

About a week later, when she was settled into a temporary situation, Bob asked that I recommend some books for her.   I recommended a few but he only could find her one of them on short notice.  She voraciously read, “Fashioned to Reign” by Kris Vallotton.  She loved it.  Bob had told her about our meeting and that we were now praying for her too.  As soon as possible we want to go and visit her, but we also knew she needed some help sooner, so Bob arranged for her to be able to call me.  I received an automated operator telling me that this was a call from a prisoner and that I had 15 minutes and would be recorded.  No pressure!

After quick hellos, I verified that she had become a believer some years before, then quickly helped her to understand what belongs to us as believers in terms of freedom from the curse, deliverance and authority.  It was the quickest discourse I have made so far and tried to clearly and concisely help her to understand, then prayed a prayer of deliverance for a couple specific things the Holy Spirit called to mind, and then prayed the filling of the Holy Spirit.  Lastly I gave her some tools to do spiritual warfare.  I expressed my love for her and let her know that she is not alone in this and that was about all the time we had.  I know there will be more to cover with her later, but it was a beginning and the Lord has brought us together for His purposes.

So yesterday Bob texted me that he was at an airport in Monroe, LA and met a priest, Father Joe who was heading to Rome to be involved with the canonization of Mother Theresa.  Father Joe had been her confessor for 19 years!  Bob, (raised a catholic), asked him why it was necessary to confess to another human.  The priest told him it was the need to say it out loud to fully experience the forgiveness.  I thought this was a pretty good biblical answer.  Bob proceeded to tell the priest and his entourage about his experiences with God and he boldly asked questions and gave his opinions on things that again surprised me for a new believer.  Wow!

In the vision with the tigers, the Father and I, (as a little child), walked out of an orchard with dew on the ground and walked out onto a road in the midst of grading but in early stages. We were walking toward a stand of young planted pine trees that were tall but not fully mature yet. But this place in between was in full sun; hot and dry and there was a little grey rock gravel on the ground like a temporary fix.  This is the place where the tiger joined us on our walk and where the baby tiger was produced too. I petted the side of the tiger’s face as I held onto Father’s hand, then pet along the neck, then along the side and finally pushed the baby tiger up and out.  It was important that I was holding Father’s hand until the birth or the tiger, that seemed so docile, may have eaten me. Tigers are known for their voracious appetites and their fierceness and focus in going after prey.  (These are the ones hungry for God.)  

All of this makes me think that we will be raising up believers out of the worldly places, the difficult places, the rocky places, like Bob and Rebecca (another story) and they will need nurturing and exposure to the love of Jesus for them to grow deep roots.  We will need to feed their hunger, teach them how to find nourishment for themselves, deliver them and bring the living water of the Holy Spirit to the dry places.  Whoa!  I know this is the call on my life and my husband’s, to raise up and bring believers to maturity.  Maybe it is yours too?

Intercession has become a large part of my life. A few years ago, I would have been afraid of“the intercessor type”. Those are weird people. Depressed people. Serious people. I have had enough seriousness and depression to fill a lake. This was not what I was looking for. But a couple of years ago, a friend gave me the tug, asking me to join in a group meeting at her house to pray for the church leadership. I love her, so I said yes. I had no idea what I was saying yes to, but I’m very grateful I did.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned and am learning is that every single part of the body is so important. Your voice is important. And whether we praise together or pray together, if your voice is not heard, then a chord of the song is missing. The body becomes disjointed, and doesn’t function as it was designed to.

Monday evenings is prayer time at my church. The intercessors are in one area. The prayer ministers serve by praying over individuals in another area. I’ve grown to love the time in the intercessory room. It’s a time of worship, and watching the Holy Spirit flow through everyone there to call for Abba’s purposes to be released in our church, but also in the world. I’m not sure when, but a subtle mindset began to slip in that somehow what we were doing was a tad more important than the individual prayer time happening next door.

I have been dealing with some physical symptoms, so I was tired and laid down for an afternoon rest. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You need personal prayer tonight. Go to the prayer room.” I resisted of course, and shrugged it off. He could heal me, touch me in our room.

But as we arrived that evening, He wouldn’t let me go into the intercession room. I submitted, but it felt humbling to me as I entered the prayer room, almost ashamed that I wasn’t stronger and that I needed prayer.

I sat in the back as soothing worship music flowed over my soul like a balm. In an instant, with my eyes closed, I saw a silky, white wing envelope me. Then I saw the King come and place a crown on my head, and say, “May I dance with my daughter?” I took his hand, and He gave me a twirl. Hot, gentle tears began to trickle down my cheeks. By the time the host came for me, I was weeping. She guided me to the group that would pray over me. While we walked, I asked Abba if He would allow them to see the same thing as I had seen while waiting.

A lady I had never met began conversation with me. As she began to pray, she asked me if she could share something that seemed odd to her, unrelated to what I had shared was going on with my body. She told of the story of Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana. How they had to prepare the vessels with water, before He performed the miracle. The emphasis on the preparation. As she spoke, I just shook my head in affirmation, because what she didn’t know is we had been praying for Jesus to turn the water into wine.  We had been asking Him for new wine skins. The focus for us in intercession had also been preparation.

As I sat there, I could hear the Holy Spirit whisper in my ear. “Daughter, every part is valuable.” Placing her hands on the back of my head, the woman began to weep and shake. She said, “I see the King placing a beautiful, golden crown on your head.”, and then named all the precious stones in it. Another gentleman says, “I see you dancing with your heavenly father.” The lady returned to her seat saying, “I’ve been in a dry season, and I just experienced the love of the Father all over you.” We both were weeping as I explained that she had just confirmed what I had seen in the back.

I walked to the intercession room, a little humbler, a little more thankful for each part of the body. As I sat down in a circle, the leader in intercession was praying 1 Corinthians 12:22-24:  “22 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary; 23 and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it….”   When she was done, I shared what the the worn prayer warrior next door had blessed me with, the story of water to wine. Two prayer warriors smiled, and said, “Yes, we just said that as we walked in the door.”

God is so much bigger than we can ever imagine. He weaves our voices into one when we let Him. He takes pleasure in it. If you ever feel insignificant or like a toe in the body of Christ, never seen, often stumped… just remember the body could not even stand well with out you. I’m good with being a toe, or whatever part the Father sees fit to make me, because I am valuable. And so are you!

Quiet as a whisper and light as a feather she runs across leaves, bigger than she, darting from tree to tree. Little puffs of glowing particles flare and fade behind her leaving a temporary effervescent trail. Laughter bubbles up from the Little One tinkling like a tiny wind chime. Bare feet leave the tiniest imprint on the soft dark earth. The light of early morning is soft on her cheeks as she pauses to bask in the warmth. The Good One can always be found in sunlight because He is light. Conscious of the loving Spirit always next to her, she quietly asks which way? The Spirit, who can adapt to any environment, embodies sound, and many lights, responds in the language that is unique to the two of them and indicates the next spot is just over the ridge. A subtle vibration begins in the core of Little One’s body in anticipation of reaching the spot. This is what she was created to do, at least in part, there is much more but this is her favorite…

With the glee of a child she scampers over the ridge with the Spirit hovering beside her. They approach the gate. It’s magnificent. Intricately woven and hidden to those not looking, the gates absorb and release light, emitting the perfect camouflage.  Unless ,of course, you have the Spirit to guide you to them. The Little One stands in the light of the sun as the gate begins to release a song, high in tone and haunting in melody. The gate is crying out. Both the Little One and the Spirit smile. This song has been sung since the saddest day long ago, the gate and all its hidden treasures have been waiting until this time to be released. Each gate has a time to be opened, written in the veil of time by The Good One. The Little One falls to her knees humbled, yet again, in the presence of the Great Three, sometimes known as; the Good One, the Spirit and her Brother, all at the gate.

The gift of being allowed to play a role in these events brings tears to her eyes. The Great Three are smiling and inviting her to open the gate. They’ve waited so long and do not want to wait any longer. The Little One shimmy dances the last few steps to the gate because her own excitement is too great to stay shut up in that tiny body. Breathing deeply she looks at the gate made of vines and flowers yet something glowing gives it shape and substance. The sound and variety of light coming from the gate increases in pitch as the Little One finds the place to unlock its treasures. Placing her tiny palm on the gate her hand fits perfectly on the tumbler, she is the key.

A cry of sheer pleasure erupts accompanied by a sonic boom of joy, as rainbows of light explode and go to the farthest reaches of the galaxies. The Little One stands in a whirlwind of the most intense light and movement.  She can hear The Great Three laughing and shouting in triumph. More of their Realm is released to all. She closes her eyes basking in the torrent of pure life flowing from the opened gate. Eventually the intensity diminishes and a flow more akin to a babbling brook flows steadily from the opened gate. She looks to the Great Three and the smile of their approval sets the Little One’s soul alight. Springing through the flow of light and sound she is ready to go on to the next gate! One headwater has been released and the Great Three have more for the Little One to unlock…