Has anyone felt overwhelmed in the last few weeks? I have.

Three years ago or so, several friends and I were regularly receiving visions and words of a coming flood; like a tsunami.

The connotation was that it was going to feel overwhelming, but God would be in it. And the results would be good.

I remember seeing, in a vision, people thrashing in the water, fighting it, thereby nearly drowning.

Others tried swimming upstream, wearing themselves out in the rising torrent.

Some refused to step into the water, trying to ignore it altogether, but as it continued to rise, they were swept downstream.

Still others just leaned back into the flood waters, floated, and laughed playing in the waves, trusting that they were held by the Lord.

Before Christmas, a friend reminded me of this vision. She said she has held onto it so many times, leaning back into the arms of the Lord and trusting that He’s got this.

As things in our world seem more and more like rising, torrential waters, like the days of Noah, I have a choice to make.

If I fight what Yahweh is doing, I will feel like I’m drowning. If I try to go against it, swimming against the stream, I may find myself exhausted. If I ignore the water altogether pretending it’s not there, it will come all the same. I may thereby endanger myself; being swept away in doubt, fear, and disbelief.

The best choice is leaning back into the waters entrusting my life and the lives of those I love into the hands of God, who loves me, and will work everything out for my good.

In this place of surrender, I can relax even in a tsunami that feels completely over my head. I can’t drown in the love of God. In His arms, I am safe.

I actually can come to the place of playing and laughing in the rising waters, knowing He has this crazy world in His hands. He is on the move, and His glory will fill the earth.

Keep your eyes on the true Lord Jesus. Let Him hold you in the middle of the flood.

The first time I cast out a demon, I did it by phone. I really was just helping a friend to know that what the bible says is true. I was not Spirit-filled in the sense of having been baptized in the Holy Spirit, I attended a non-denominational church and had no special training in dealing with the supernatural. I didn’t have my whole life together. I wasn’t the perfect Christian. I just knew that what the Bible said had been changing my life for several years and I knew I could apply it.

So I helped my friend, whose guest bedroom had become, after a guest had stayed there a few months, a place that was always colder than the rest of the house, whose door opened and closed on its own and generally gave her the creeps. I helped her to say what it said in the Bible…”In the name of Jesus, I bind you and I cast you out.” She felt a shift and thereafter the room returned to normal. Simple.

The first time I did a house cleansing, it came at an unexpected time. I was visiting a relative who had recently divorced. A friend and I stopped for a visit that turned into a spiritual battle with all the scary-movie effects…house shaking, voices coming from an upstairs room, family dog being locked in said room by whatever the voice came from…creepy.

I felt totally unprepared and yet, my God held my hand and led me by His voice to know what to do. When we left, the house was swept clean and filled with the Presence of the Lord. The teen that had been heading off in the wrong direction suddenly was the one taking her younger siblings to youth group and attending women’s Bible study with her Mom. I never even prayed for her specifically.

We didn’t pick that fight, it picked us, literally. I didn’t specifically hear the voice of my Father say to take the fight to them, but I did know that the choice was to fight or to run. It was a kingdom against kingdom battle and I knew if Jesus was in my shoes, He would not run. I knew, as a daughter that He would not approve of this breach of Kingdom territory, so we had to say no to the breach and take back territory.

The first time I encountered a battle with a witch, it wasn’t much of a fight at all for Jesus. For a couple years I had been learning about the sovereignty of God, authority and my identity in Christ and suddenly I was putting those truths to work as weapons in a face to face warfare against the spirits that were strongly empowering the person in front of me. I was a little nervous. I only had the weapons that I had been given by study and revelation. Because Jesus held my hand and helped me persist in the battle until the shift came, it was accomplished. My new weapons were tested and proven (to me). Jesus likes on-the-job-training (OJT).

The power of darkness, which had been strong and tangible as I entered the field of battle was first overcome. Then the love of God for her was communicated to her and and the battle ended in prayer, forgiveness, healing and love. That is how Kingdom victories happen. No one killed, no one shamed nor disrespected but rather, new life comes.

As we begin our first steps into this new year, the battle between kingdoms seems to be more transparent than ever. As the Bride of Christ, it is time to step into our role in authority. Will we allow the breach of territory that Jesus has paid for with His blood? Will we be the last-days people who act like godly people, but deny the power of true godliness? (2 Tim 3:5) No!

I encourage you; Jesus promised that we would do everything He did on the earth AND MORE. That wasn’t just for the few. Remember He sent out the 70 and they were surprised it worked for them too! Jesus likes OJT.

Stepping out without accreditation is so foreign to our culture, but Jesus doesn’t expect you to fully know what your are doing. If you take your first steps into life in the Spirit, He will keep leading you along. Stay humble and under His wings. Smile and laugh with Him! Joy is a weapon in our Kingdom!

In the days we are in, the world needs to see the true power of the blood of Jesus upon the earth. In the days we are in, the Church needs to know the power and faithfulness of His empowering grace for us. Trust in the finished work of Jesus and the blood of the New Covenant you are under. Watch in amazement as Jesus brings new life through you to people and places around you. You’re about to have plenty of opportunities…go ahead, take your first steps!

“Blue light special on aisle nine. Children’s shoes for ten dollars,” boomed the voice over the speaker. Shoppers rushed eagerly towards the ominous blue light spinning around like a top.

Sarah, my three year-old, and I continued our Christmas shopping ignoring the people pushing by.

Passing the Christmas trees decked in colored lights, we slowed down, as she declared, “Pretty Mama!” Then she clapped her hands to “Frosty, the Snowman”, as I pressed the red nose of the famous character again. The toy’s hips swung back and forth in rhythm.

“Need to get moving,” I muttered.

Turning my attention back to the duty at hand, I asked, “What do you want to get daddy for Christmas?”

With an inquisitive expression, Sarah tilted her head. “But mommy, it’s baby Jesus’s birthday. What we get Jesus for Christmas?”

“Hmm. You are right,” I said, “What do you want to get Jesus for His birthday?”

“Socks,” she said, “Socks, Mama.”

“Why socks?”

“To keep His feet warm. They must be cold in the stable.”

“Of course. You are right,” I said. “Off to find warm socks.”

With all other gifts forgotten, we strolled to the sock aisle. “How about these, sweetheart?” I held up some multi-colored socks for her to see, but she had already spotted the ones she wanted.

Pointing, she said, “No, Mama. Those.” I brought the brightly colored, fuzzy socks closer for her to see, as she nodded her approval.

She held them securely as we finished our shopping.

Later that evening, she carefully wrapped the precious gift in a small box with bright green paper and a red bow on top. “To Jesus.  Love, Sarah” the tag read.

“Hon. What do we do now?” I turned to my husband for advice, after we tucked Sarah into bed. “If we have a birthday party for Jesus, and He doesn’t show up, then what?”

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head, “I know.”

“What?”

“We will find one of those live nativities and let her leave her present there.”

Surfing the internet, we frantically searched. Sure enough, God provided.

A couple of days later, I bundled the girls up in their matching red, wool coats, pulled hats over their ears, and placed gloves on their fingers. Sarah clasped the precious treasure, as we were off to find baby Jesus.

Her sister snuggled close to my chest, while Sarah grasped tightly to her daddy’s hand with one and proudly to the gift with the other. My sister and five year-old nephew met us there to join the celebration.

Abruptly, Roman soldiers stopped us at the theatrical entrance to Bethlehem, “Why have you come to the city tonight?”

Innocently, Sarah peered up in their harsh faces, “To bring baby Jesus a present,” but daddy quickly added, “To pay our taxes, of course.”

The guards snickered to themselves, as they said, “Welcome to Bethlehem then.”

Shuffling by quickly, we paid our pretend taxes at the next booth, and then entered the city in search of the baby.

Past booth after booth we walked, each selling spices, hand-woven cloths, whittled wooden toys, or other treasures. Whiffs of fresh bread dipped in olive oil, sweet dates, and sheep filled the air.

“Look, Mama. The shepherds!”

Nearby, the shepherds watched over their sheep. Suddenly, music began to play, while behind them, spotlights lit up the sky. A man dressed in a white robe with golden, make-shift angel wings attached to his back appeared, declaring the good news that Emmanuel was born that night. Sarah jumped clapping her hands with joy, while her cousin chased a stray sheep.

“But where is baby Jesus?” Sarah asked, turning to me.

“I don’t know, sweetie. But maybe we should try to find the innkeeper. He would know,” I said.

Behind us, the wise men filed in with camel in tow. “Maybe we should follow them to find where baby Jesus is,” daddy wisely added.

“There’s no room in the inn,” a man said, as he halted us from following.

“But I have a present for baby Jesus,” Sarah said, as she cautiously pushed it forward for the man to see.

“Hmm,” the man replied, “You have heard about the baby, who is said to be the new king? We must keep this quiet from the Romans for they would seek to kill a King of the Jews.” He bent down almost whispering in Sarah’s ear. “Come then, little one. Come see Baby Jesus.” Sarah’s eyes lit up as he rushed us through his door.  “Go out through the back, to the stables.”

The wise men were just kneeling, presenting their gifts to a young mother cradling a baby in her arms. Joseph stood watchfully to the side. Illuminating the perfect scene, a shaft of light beamed into the heavens behind them.

“Oh, Mama. We found Him,” Sarah whispered.

My eyes brimmed with tears. “Go ahead, Sarah. Go to baby Jesus, and give Him the present.”

Timidly, she approached, gently placing the gift at Mary’s feet next to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

At that moment, her cousin overcome with the desire to also bring a gift, began to sing, “Happy birthday, Jesus.” In turn, we all joined in.   

Mary’s eyes filled with tears, as Joseph smiled. “Thank you,” she said, “Thank you for these beautiful gifts.”

Sarah ran back to our arms. “Do you think He’ll like it?”

“Oh Sarah, Jesus will love it, for He loves you,” I said. We snuggled together, as her daddy leaned over kissing her on the forehead.

“Time to go,” daddy said, but as we solemnly walked away, I glanced back to etch the image in my memory.

For years, we made the same trek to find Baby Jesus, but as the children got older, new traditions replaced the old.

I will never forget that first holy night when heaven kissed earth, and joy broke through our darkness with the real gift, Jesus.

First published in Refresh Magazine, Christmas Issue 2020

Darkness enveloped the planet, like an evil vice grip, squeezing out the final breath.  Hopelessness hung in the air as crosses lined the roadways with the bodies of anyone who tried to resist the iron fist.

Greedy, power hungry religious leaders gambled their way to positions of power, making deals with their oppressors further smothering those under their influence.

The vague illusions of a “messiah” who would come to rescue them from their oppressors seemed to fade as the lights of the last Hanukkah had been snuffed out.

Four hundred years of silence from the prophets with the only hope left being a miracle of a menorah that had burned eight days instead of one.  Oil that miraculously didn’t run out left the last flicker of hope each year.  Perhaps Yahweh had not forgotten His promise.

Then the iron fist of Rome would pound again demanding all to bow beneath it’s blow.  A wind in the darkness swiftly blew the candles’ flames out, except for the spark that remained.

That spark impregnating a young virgin had been planted where no human eyes could see.

On the darkest night at the moment when all hope seemed lost, a cry of joy cracked open the heavens.  With the beat of angel wings and a song of glory to God in the Highest, Messiah’s birth was proclaimed.  Not to the high and mighty though, but to the lowest of society, the shepherds out tending their sheep.

Brilliant light pierced the black shroud of the long night.  The death grip of darkness yielded to the flicker of a spark which now blazed in glory, as Messiah broke through the trembling knees of an exhausted mother.

A baby.  He came as a baby.  The light of the world.

He came as a servant, not one to be served.  He came to deliver us, not from an evil political system, but from something far more dangerous… ourselves, our sinful nature.

He came as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, carrying our burden of sin.

He came to love us, not to be loved.  In fact, He was hated by those who should have loved Him, betrayed by the kiss of a friend.

He came to humble Himself to the lowest position, to offer Himself as a lamb without blemish as the sacrifice for our sin, which had separated us from our heavenly Father.

They looked for a strong military leader who would crush Roman rule and be crowned King.  Does that sound familiar in our time?  Do we find ourselves looking for the same thing?

Our hope is not found in a political or religious leader.  Our hope is found in the true Lord Jesus Christ.

The true Lord Jesus Christ has come, the light of the world illuminating our darkness.  For those who receive Him, rivers of joy can flow regardless of the circumstance.

Joy to the world the Light has come!

One day, He will fully return again as the ruling King of Kings, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He will finish what He begun.

Until then, may we remember what He said.  If we want to be the greatest in His kingdom, then we must be servant of all.  Love one another, even love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you.  Then Paul said that if we don’t love, we don’t even know God, for God is love.

As the world seemingly sinks into darkness at times, keep your eyes fixed on the Man of Light.  We bear His light now.  Let it shine.  Let the Light of His love shine in and through you to push back darkness.  May your Christmas be full of His joyous, love Light.

Is. 53, Luke 2:9, 10, John 8:12, John 13:14, 15, John 13, 1 John 4, Luke 6:27

Stuck.  Have you ever felt stuck in a negative cycle?

What a way to start a blog the day before Thanksgiving.  Yet, this is 2020, and for many this has been a wallop of a year.

Last night, I delivered a pecan pie to a friend who recently lost her husband in a tragic  accident leaving behind young children for her to care for on her own.  Yet, in her eyes I found joy.

As we chatted, our conversation turned to her husband.  “Sometimes, we get so caught up in how people are good or bad,” she said.  “But coming through this, I realized how important a life is, how important just the presence of a person is,” she paused.  “Maybe we just need to appreciate being together more, and not try to change each other.”

I added, “Yeah, and not be so concerned about what the other person is doing or not doing that’s wrong or right.  Just enjoy their presence.  Who they are.”  We both nodded in agreement.

The other night I swung my legs up on my daughter’s bed, as she told me how she just wished that her Christian friends accepted her for who she is without wanting something from her, like her to change or live up to some expectation where she can’t even figure out where the raised bar is.  I reminded her that Jesus is not like that and reassured her of my love no matter what.

Earlier this week, I made another visit to the retirement home, another marble jumped more marbles on the Chinese checker board as I patiently reminded my mother-in-law again of what I’ve repeated several times before.  I sighed deeply as I heard the words inside.  “Just enjoy her presence.  Love her where she is.”

The day before that I sat with my mom while she rocked nervously in her chair fearful of the future possibilities of illness again, I peered into her worn eyes and said, “There’s so much mom on the other side.”  I patted her hand and continued, “Jesus really loves you.  It’s going to be ok.  You are going to be ok.”

I heard Yahweh reminding me of what a friend told me.  “Don’t try to change her, change the past, or take responsibility.  Just love her and enjoy the person in front of you now.”

A month ago, I argued with God about my marriage.  “Abba, I feel like we are living two lives.  If this keeps going we are headed for trouble.”  I began listing off to God all things my husband wasn’t doing to make me feel loved as if He didn’t know.  Then I asked, “Should I write him a letter?”

I can feel all the guys cringe.  I knew from past experiences letters only guilted my husband more making him feel like a failure.

“How about you give each other what you are wanting instead?”  I heard the whisper in my heart.  “Do that for thirty days.”  There is a reason the Holy Spirit is called our counselor after all.

So, I had a discussion with my husband, which went really well.

It’s been over thirty days and you know what?  We are both feeling more loved and connected.

For me, it wasn’t so much that I got lots of gushy notes.  The benefits I felt were hopefully more long lasting.

For one, it got my attention on who my wonderful my husband is, and I’ve come to really appreciate his presence.  I also felt like he saw me, that he noticed and valued me for me.  Isn’t that what we really want anyway, to be loved for who we are as a person, not what we do?  Isn’t that the kind of love God gives us?

You know, 2020 has been a rough year in many ways, but I’ve also realized that it is also a matter of perspective.

When I had my eyes fixed on what I wasn’t getting, what I didn’t have, what wasn’t happening, I felt stuck, and discouragement set in.

When I lifted my eyes higher and looked at the big picture of Yahweh and all the amazing things He has done in me, the doors He has opened, friendships He has renewed, and relationships He is restoring, my heart has burst with gratitude.

It has not been the way I would have picked and definitely not what I had pictured in my mind that 2020 would hold.

When does Yahweh’s plan ever quite look exactly like what I’ve envisioned?   

Yet, I’ve truly grown in my faith walk with Him, and He has proven Himself faithful over and over again.

He is teaching me what it means to love people for who they are, to value others, and just enjoy their presence.  In that process, He is also showing me that’s how He is with me.  He loves being with me just because loves who He has made me to be.

If we feel stuck or more on the disappointed side of life maybe we need to shift our focus a bit.  Maybe it’s time to just appreciate the gift of imperfect family and friends in the middle of the hard or just uncomfortable times we are in.  Maybe we can learn more trust by experiencing God’s unconditional, faithful love.

So if you are walking through Covid-19, you just found out someone you loves has cancer, the government is in turmoil, you separated from your spouse, or you are struggling with the fact that things haven’t turned out as expected, He loves you for you, right smack in the thick of it.  He is right there in the middle of our messy lives loving us, caring about what we are going through, and faithful to see us safely through.  That’s a whole lot to be thankful for.

Risk in the Christian life is required.  It is as fundamental to life in the Spirit as a pulse is fundamental to life in the body.

Risk is why we MUST begin with knowing the truth of Who the Father is and HOW the Father is.   Risk is essential to life in the Spirit as opposed to life in the flesh.  Life in the flesh does not take risks because it does not make sense to the natural mind. 

On the other hand, life led by the Spirit is a life of risk and reward; the reward of knowing Him better, knowing His faithfulness better, knowing His trustworthiness better and seeing the manifestation of His love through your obedience and your trust in Him to take the risk.

So, three days ago now, I was worshipping God near the back wall of a warehouse.  Yes, that’s where we now meet with other believers.

The Holy Spirit lives in me, I know, but sometimes the Spirit almost descends in a place.  That’s what it felt like.  At that moment, in my ear I could hear really loudly (not audibly, but it felt like it could have been) the words “the tide is turning!”  It literally felt the Holy Spirit was shouting at me.  Three times I heard it that way, and then I knew I needed to speak it out, declare it.  I did so in our group.

When I hear something that strongly, it almost always is a word to be shared for others.

The sense was that the tide is turning in favor of God and His kingdom being manifested in our personal lives, corporately, and as a nation.

On vacation this summer, I was swinging one morning watching the sun rise and listening to the waves come in and out as the tide was literally changing.  It was then I had first heard the word, “the tide is changing”.   I later discovered that at the same time, a friend of mine was shouting that word on a prayer call without me knowing it.  All day long, the song, “The Tide is High” was playing in my head.

I don’t know the timing of things, but my sense in the spirit is that things are getting ready to drastically shift for the good.

Whenever a tide changes, stuff gets churned up and brought to the surface.  Whatever has been laying on the bottom of the ocean floor hidden is now brought to the surface of the water, and then left on the beach for all to see.  The things hidden have needed to be revealed, because they were there all along, but they need to be addressed.  I don’t feel we are done with that process.  I feel Yahweh is only beginning to deal with hearts, and the things hidden.

What will we do in response is the question. We need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and the justice and mercy of God to know how to navigate this time of history we are in.  Remember that love always wins.

So, if you have felt discouraged, like nothing will ever change, or maybe like you have lost hope, or you have laid down your dreams and promises the Lord has given you, you may want to hold on a little longer.

The tide is turning for the good in our personal lives, in the body of Christ, and in our nation.  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is roaring over us. He is not done with us yet.  It’s His time, not the enemy’s time.  I believe the shift is here.

I’ve been part of an online event called Rise-Up, hosted by wholeheartedwomen.org.  We literally have been “rising up” early to meet together once a week for teaching, encouragement, and activation.

Sleepily, I had joined in the group and listened to the talk.  The time had come to engage in the activation.  A woman I had never met before looked at me in the online meeting and said simply, “Ever since I heard you speak last week, I felt like the Lord was saying He loves your free spirit.”

I know that probably doesn’t sound like much, but the words had zinged a target in my heart, and immediately I heard the Holy Spirit add, “I always have loved your free spirit.  I love this about you.  You aren’t rebellious.”  I felt the word go really deep in me.

I also saw, in my minds eye, a large thumb that had been trying to push me down.  Again, I heard, “That thumb wasn’t me.  But the enemy has been trying to push you down through people and circumstances.  I am breaking the power of the thumb in your life.”  I began to cry, and cried on and off all that day.

About three years ago, something happened in my heart.  For the first time in my life, I began to feel some level of freedom, and I felt a strong desire to explore more things in the Lord and in my life.

For so long, I really didn’t know who I was or even what I really liked, because I had been so stripped of myself growing up.  During that first season of realizing this new freedom, the Lord placed some precious friends in my life who I felt very free with, free to be me, without any expectation of what that should look like.

The more freedom I began to feel and act on, the more some close to me didn’t understand, and the enemy began twisting my actions and intent to them, and I began to be called “rebellious.”  So now, in my mind, being free-spirited meant I was rebellious.  That word came through people I really love.

Words that I felt were inspired by the Lord for our church family, though submitted respectfully, were now put in an x file by leadership, and my voice was shut down.  For reasons I still don’t know, those friends who once fully accepted me, cut me off with no explanation and no opportunity for me to ask forgiveness or work anything out. I don’t say any of this because I’m angry or holding unforgiveness.

As these last three years have gone by, when I would try to venture off into something new, it has felt like a chain around my neck ready to yank me back at any time.

I have seen some value in this journey, because I really feel the Lord has used it to teach me more about His love and loving whoever He puts in front of me, but I really was beginning to believe that being free-spirited and going after the new was either something God did not want for me, or that I might be deceived, delving into things that would lead me astray, or that it was inherently bad to be free-spirited.

This simply was not true.  The enemy had been the one trying to hold me back, attempting to thwart the identity Yahweh was trying to develop in me, an identity of freedom, a value for freedom.  This was not out of rebellion, but out of love of discovery of who God is and who He has created me to be.

Though I still feel the push back sometimes, still feel the effects of that thumb, now I realize it was not God clipping my wings.  He wants me to fly with Him.  Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

Is it crazy how God can use such a simple word to bring revelation, identity, and freedom?

If you have ever felt that same thumb holding you back, and preventing you from going forward, let’s forgive those through whom that thumb came pressing down, and let’s agree together for Yahweh to completely break the power of that thumb over you and me.  I am praying for us to walk in all the freedom God has intended for His children to walk in with Him, fulfilling our destinies in Him.  Let’s fly!

I don’t know what’s s like for kids today, but growing up in the 70’s, when most kids still had their Dad at home, it was a common thing for little kids to have this conversation, ”My Dad can take your Dad”, and the response was, “No way, my Dad can totally beat up your Dad!” This conversation would go round and round.  I don’t think any Dad’s ever put it to the test, at least not in my neighborhood, but it was important to kids to think that their Dad could take care of business on their behalf.

This morning as I awoke from a sweet sleep to open windows letting in the dewy morning air, I began to joyfully thank my heavenly Papa that He is glorious, that He is loving, that He is holy.  I thanked Him that, in the middle of the night, he woke me with the answers I needed to a problem.  Lastly I thanked him for being my powerful Father who protects me and defends me.  He’s my big Daddy that no enemy wants to tangle with.

My earthly Daddy lived to be 89 years old.  By anyone’s definition, he was still spry, and would probably have liked to believe that he could still take your dad.🙃  In truth He wasn’t as quick or strong as he once was, his knees gave him some trouble, but his heart was still for me.  His blessings were still for me. Unlike Dad, my heavenly Papa, though He is the Ancient of Days, never grows old.  His protection, His love, His grace, His mercy is new every morning.

My Daddy passed on to Heaven on my 49th birthday, and it was not a birthday surprise I welcomed. Because I knew my heavenly Papa, I asked Him, “Papa, I know you are good and that you knew that Dad was going to go home on my birthday.  What are you saying to me?”  Immediately, in my spirit, the question arose, “What is the biblical meaning of the number 49?”  I went to the research source* I often use for such questions and found that the number 49 means, Father’s Love.  What!?  My heavenly Papa wanted me to know, on my birthday, that losing my earthly Dad did not leave me fatherless, did not leave me unloved by my Father.

If I had not known my Father’s heart, my birthday could forever now be a source of sadness and grief.  Instead, my Papa made it another reminder of His love for me, His provision, His protection, His nearness and His hand in my life. I love Him because He first loved me.

*www.biblenumbersforlife.com

Image of Popeye and Bluto by J.Wellington- 

Early July, I did something I had never done before.   All my daughter wanted for her birthday was a trip with mom to the beach.

Everything in planning the trip felt unsettled, unsafe.  Not only was Covid-19 still causing shut downs, but many people returning from the beach were coming down with it.  In addition, a few weeks before leaving riots began riveting our country.

So to say the least, I felt on edge, and though I wanted to spend this special time with my girl, I was nervous.

As I prayed, the Holy Spirit kept telling me, “Lean back into me and have fun anyway.”  Sometimes, I feel He wants us to be like the Israelites, trust Him by dancing with praise in the face of the enemy.

The first place we arrived was a state park where a lighthouse stood like a pillar of strength with an huge American flag draped around it, evidently left over from Independence Day celebrations.  Directly beyond that, the soft sand and crystal waters of the beach beckoned us.

My daughter and I sauntered past the lighthouse forging our way to the beach.  Immediately, we went for the water to cool off in the hot summer sun.  Within a few minutes, I turned back to face the lighthouse from the view of the beach.  Dark, black storm clouds gathered around it, while gales of wind whipped the flag high into the air.

Over the crash of the waves, I heard the voice of my heavenly Father begin to speak.  These are the words as closely as I remember hearing them:

“Daughter, my people are like the lighthouse.  You are built deep on an extremely strong rock.  Without that foundation the lighthouse would quickly be swept out to sea in a storm, but it will not be shaken, even in a hurricane, because it is firmly sealed, firmly planted on an extremely solid foundation of rock.  It cannot be moved, because of the rock it is established on.  So don’t be afraid of the storms.  They may swirl all around you, but you will not be shaken.”  (The “you” felt like “you all”, meaning not just for me personally.)

Then the tone shifted a little, to where I knew He was addressing an even larger group, our country as a whole.

“Your country is still built on Me, God, though there have been things from the founding of it that have needed to changed.  As long as your country stays on the Rock, it will never be fully shaken, no matter what storms may come.  My light, the light of Jesus Christ will be re-lit in this country again to guide those home who are lost.  I am not done with the United States of America.  If this country will turn back to me, and remain on me, the Rock, it will withstand the storms, and my light will burn brightly again.  She will become the beacon to the nations again, leading others into a safe harbor.”

May we, as a country, remain on the foundation of “In God we trust”, and may we return to Jesus.  Holy Spirit, please relight the flame!