tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23344495690781096132024-03-05T13:18:04.776-08:00beautiful thornsbeautiful thornsLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-38203816152420784042023-06-06T05:38:00.002-07:002023-06-06T14:39:18.622-07:00Divine Protection<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySdMuPUm97K8zmpUNPZytSCiC8-u2HW_2iWvSUS6Yx71OOCGWoIXYEjRYfp4LwFLZjtDsipwI7cW4vyBCtzC-zheqr-aHSi1zYFOZpja8EHqA_oSfHgV9dxP45nUGiHv2MJmNw4LVLYld3qEZl1eB-J0LT0ClKYCLZ4DO9bkAALjHC8S_ikyofsTUhw/s642/shelter%20of%20God's%20wing.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="394" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySdMuPUm97K8zmpUNPZytSCiC8-u2HW_2iWvSUS6Yx71OOCGWoIXYEjRYfp4LwFLZjtDsipwI7cW4vyBCtzC-zheqr-aHSi1zYFOZpja8EHqA_oSfHgV9dxP45nUGiHv2MJmNw4LVLYld3qEZl1eB-J0LT0ClKYCLZ4DO9bkAALjHC8S_ikyofsTUhw/s320/shelter%20of%20God's%20wing.jpeg" width="196" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There are many different theories and concerns among believers about how to have God's protection. Some think it is important to pray Ephesians 6 everyday where it talks about putting on the full armor of God. Others, mainly some Catholics, are involved in a devotion that has a prayer to "blind the devil". </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If I had to choose, I'd at least choose the first option because it is biblical. Nowhere in scripture does it say we have the authority to "blind" Satan. It does say, however that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). Also, if we step outside of our realm of authority, that is a sure way NOT to be protected.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">However, I would like to share with you a more excellent way to have God's protection. In order to do so, I need to mention circumcision.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the Old Testament, physical circumcision was required of God's people. Physical circumcision is a procedure that initially leaves a man rather vulnerable in the natural. Circumcision was used in the Old Testament as a Covenant with God, declaring that their trust was in Him alone and not in themselves. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the New Testament, specifically Romans 2:29, Paul talks about having our hearts circumcised. What does that mean? I believe it has to do with having our own self-protection stripped away. David in the OT had the right idea when he refused to wear Saul's armor, leaving him vulnerable in the natural and he put his trust in God alone to defeat Goliath.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another thing to consider is that the devil is God's devil. The devil is not able to do anything that God doesn't allow. Sometimes God will allow the devil to humble a person. I am currently reading the book of Samuel. In Samuel 18:10, it says that, "an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul." In the book of Job, God allowed Satan to test Job. In the New Testament, specifically in 1 Corinthians 5:5, Paul talks about handing a person over to Satan for the "destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God's heart is ultimately for us to be protected and it can happen sovereignly but it is usually a process that does not happen overnight. Gaining God's protection</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> sometimes can take a lifetime of us learning to abide in Christ as we yield and walk with God in humility. This process, is accelerated through trials, where we learn to let go of self-protection and find protection under the shelter of God's wings (Psalm 91). As we learn to find shelter and protection, tucked away under God's wing, we become invisible to the enemy and we become clothed with the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6. The armor of God; helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shield of faith, shoes of the Gospel is ALL Christ! It is being clothed with Christ! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That is our goal and happens as we learn to abide. John 15:4 says, "Abide in me as I abide in you." The way to abide in Christ is to let go of everything that hinders us; our self-protection, our fear, our sadness, our idols, etc. and learn to rest. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Exodus 14:14 - The Lord will fight for you and you have only to be still.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-27364846544071326732023-02-19T09:40:00.011-08:002023-06-06T05:42:05.445-07:00A God Who Draws Near<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know it has been awhile since I have blogged. A couple of years ago I felt led by the Lord to create a YouTube channel, however I have not been very consistent with it. I am a stay at home, homeschool mom, so there are many days where I only leave my house to go to the grocery store and pick up my son. Therefore, fixing my hair and putting on make-up is not a major priority. Today happens to be a lazy Sunday and it works out better for me to write out my thoughts rather than do a video.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This brings me to my next point and one that lines up with the fast approaching Lenten season. This morning in prayer I was confessing to the Lord that in my own humanness, when given the choice, I often choose comfort and the path of least resistance. I was also however, thanking Him that he has often chosen a different path for me, for narrow is the road that often leads to life (Matt. 7: 13-14). Because he has chosen a different path for me than the one I would have chosen, I am not the same person I was twenty or even ten years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This became abundantly clear to me yesterday after my husband and I did an inner-healing session with someone. I led it and afterwards my husband commented on how merciful and compassionate I was. This is only because of a work I've allowed the Lord to do in my own heart through trials, disappointments and various sufferings. The Lord has truly become my refuge and my shelter (Psalm 91).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jesus is alive and so desires to draw near to his people. The New Testament talks about our hearts becoming circumcised. This means that our own self protection is stripped away so He can become our protection. Many however, including God's own children, are afraid of letting go of their own defenses and afraid of a God who draws near. They want him on their own terms, a God they can control and a God they can keep at arms length. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have felt the Lord's heart on this and it grieves Him!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If people only knew what kind of a God he is! A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick, He will not snuff out (Is. 42:3). He longs to draw us close and to draw near to us. He desires to make our hearts His home (foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head - Matt. 8:20).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO0qNyXDlF4g8GDyNzryyWMk4XpyKoK1hoyGPzuREQ56B6v_ti9Wh7GuTvHAjgx5-mIPdnN8v_yprQEAHjAwOc7-NGvMWgckIZDlhngBjsB2bGHUdJAiVaGj0_zHGUZFvk1U2-TNAFWNaNofZfu6ekJHIxap4D0OpDC8KU9eXrtIy3mti7tmTkAbA7Q/s910/frog-raft-water-float.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="910" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO0qNyXDlF4g8GDyNzryyWMk4XpyKoK1hoyGPzuREQ56B6v_ti9Wh7GuTvHAjgx5-mIPdnN8v_yprQEAHjAwOc7-NGvMWgckIZDlhngBjsB2bGHUdJAiVaGj0_zHGUZFvk1U2-TNAFWNaNofZfu6ekJHIxap4D0OpDC8KU9eXrtIy3mti7tmTkAbA7Q/s320/frog-raft-water-float.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Recently the Lord shared an image with me of the kind of protection he wants to offer His people. He said, "Lisa, do you know why frogs have a white underbelly?" I didn't, so I Googled it. The reason frogs have a white underbelly is because when that frog is floating in the water with the sun shining on it, it becomes virtually invisible to predators (Matt. 6:26 - if God even cares about the birds of the air, how much more will he care for you). In the natural, that frog looks vulnerable as it is resting in the middle of the water. God thought of everything however and that frog is actually protected. In the same way, when we rest in the water of God's Spirit, in the shelter of the Most High, soaking in the presence of the Son, we also become invisible to the enemy, the devil. It is in this place where we can even enjoy a banquet in the midst of our enemies (Psalm 23).</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Many have been hearing about the recent Asbury revival. It started through a group of college students who were hungry for a God that draws near and draw near he did! How much more of the Holy Spirit will He give those who ask (Luke 11:13).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My challenge to you this Lent is to pray for a greater hunger for God's presence. Also pray that you can let go of your own defenses and allow the God of all creation to draw near to you so you can experience his love in a way you have never experienced before!</span></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-10814158277180998292022-07-14T09:59:00.003-07:002022-07-14T10:15:04.663-07:00The Great Exchange<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5wxbSUdivdeO19DV96P7NAu8gfHx7qVOe_rHMnll7lJpLujwSlUl3YEVFzcrUhK7t4tgNZOhNXrJMZTyMCQJ2OvsTX4rY-UA4GYDKdYiMr3yDGgeQbkIE0JyHPYJqrVWds6X1-lrsuPkctCJBETlm0phnFv43NIZm3NJx_UueWDtY5qRzRA2PrALlg/s5472/jared-subia-Qxxwd3jYv0M-unsplash.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5wxbSUdivdeO19DV96P7NAu8gfHx7qVOe_rHMnll7lJpLujwSlUl3YEVFzcrUhK7t4tgNZOhNXrJMZTyMCQJ2OvsTX4rY-UA4GYDKdYiMr3yDGgeQbkIE0JyHPYJqrVWds6X1-lrsuPkctCJBETlm0phnFv43NIZm3NJx_UueWDtY5qRzRA2PrALlg/w213-h320/jared-subia-Qxxwd3jYv0M-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">My husband and I are co-directors of the Indianapolis satellite campus for Encounter Ministries. In our first quarter of the school we teach about one's identity in Christ. It is important that we know who we are and whose we are. If we are believers in Jesus, we are his children. If we are his children, we are sons and daughters of the King. If we are sons and daughters of the King, then we are co-heirs with Christ. Everything he has, is also ours. How exciting is that!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">For a while now, I believe the Lord has been preparing his people for a greater glory. He has been preparing his people to have the ability to carry the weight of His glory that is coming. This will usher in the greatest move of His Spirit that we have ever seen and will be glorious to be a part of it! It will start with laid down lovers of God that loved him more than their own lives; People that realize that He is enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">There was a time in my walk with the Lord that I was weary of all the spiritual warfare I was undergoing. At the time, I did not have a clear understanding of my identity as a daughter of the King. Instead of walking in my authority, I asked the Lord for a way out. I told him I just wanted a nice, leisurely life. He granted my wish and left me alone. For four long years, I did not feel his presence and I did not hear his voice. I was miserable and ended up repenting. In his mercy, he restored me. I am now very careful to abide in him, realizing that he is enough and my everything!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Years ago, the Lord gave me a powerful word through an angel. It was, "It is coming! It is coming! It is coming! A great harvest of souls is coming! You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1Peter 2:9)! Now is the time to get ready!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the time, I didn't understand why the 1 Peter scripture was thrown in there. I think I have even left that part out when talking about the word in the past. I have since come to understand. Royal, means we are children of the King and royalty ourselves. To be a priest, one offers sacrifice. By our baptism, we are priests, prophets and kings. To be a royal priest, is a call to offer sacrifice by laying down our crowns. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In this season, as part of the preparation for a greater glory and as a way to get ready, I believe the Lord is asking his children to lay down their crowns; be willing to lay down their rights and their inheritance. As sons and daughters of God, we are co-heirs and have many freedoms and rights. Are we however, willing to lay down our rights without any other expectation than more of God because, he is enough?! He will not disappoint! In exchange he wants to give us a greater glory, beyond what we could have imagined!</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:7-12, 16-18 - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. <span class="text 2Cor-4-7" id="en-NIV-28867" style="background-color: white;">But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-8" id="en-NIV-28868" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-9" id="en-NIV-28869" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-10" id="en-NIV-28870" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-11" id="en-NIV-28871" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.</span><span class="text 2Cor-4-12" id="en-NIV-28872" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.</span></span></i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text 2Cor-4-16" id="en-NIV-28876" style="background-color: white;">Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.</span><span class="text 2Cor-4-17" id="en-NIV-28877" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.</span><span class="text 2Cor-4-18" id="en-NIV-28878" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."</span></i></span></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-43392992714552357152022-06-11T05:44:00.002-07:002022-06-11T09:12:58.718-07:00The Pearl of Great Price<p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6vxniKh03WMy76zARsdKJkj2RB6qtPusCc60u9HHtHNwhM-IuYzybNyC648xu_AwZqk9LJ37fF7qzGj9eHaG7BsNoLFb7oFc9MZll_IMTVp8I_zXY3vvZKGY6t-LsZXZHFntF7J0hy9syfQm3w5-bTEJbLaReviAfp6D6mjWobg-x5QTSIOmolz8bA/s580/Pearl-oyster.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="580" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6vxniKh03WMy76zARsdKJkj2RB6qtPusCc60u9HHtHNwhM-IuYzybNyC648xu_AwZqk9LJ37fF7qzGj9eHaG7BsNoLFb7oFc9MZll_IMTVp8I_zXY3vvZKGY6t-LsZXZHFntF7J0hy9syfQm3w5-bTEJbLaReviAfp6D6mjWobg-x5QTSIOmolz8bA/w320-h203/Pearl-oyster.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">If the Lord ever asks you if you want an acceleration, brace yourself! He recently asked me this. I said, yes, but I also know to hold on and buckle up, because I also know it will probably come at a price and it is his desire to kill me. I said yes however, because I also know he is good and I can trust him. It is only in the dying that we can fully live. It is only in the dying that Christ can be more fully alive in us. It is only in dying that we can be fully free. It is only in dying that we truly have something to offer others.</span><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat dies, it remains a single seed, but if it dies, it produces many seeds. - John 12:24</i></span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Recently, I was in prayer and I saw something really gross. It looked like raw flesh. My first thought was, "This can't be God." and then I realized it was inside an oyster shell. I thought about how dark it would be, how bad it would smell, how claustrophobic it would feel. I then realized that sums up part of my life right now. Isn't that always our first thought though, when uncomfortable situations happen in our life, "This cannot be God!"?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">To get into the details of everything that has taken place in the last 4 years, wouldn't do it justice. I have had to die to dreams, even good ones; dreams for my children and for myself; basic dreams of my children just being able to attend or even do school, any school; dreams for everyone to be healthy and whole.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you can relate to what I am saying, I think one thing the Lord is doing, is messing with the status quo. Let me explain. In society, are we in bondage to the way things have always been done or are we truly looking outside the box of life's possibilities? I remember a word the Lord gave me over 20 years ago. He said there was going to be a reversal of the order of how things are now. That can only happen if there is a shift in mindsets and our current ways of thinking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know, it is ultimately God's desire for myself and my family to be healthy and whole. I know it is ultimately God's desire for us to prosper, for us to have a home that is big enough for us, for us to have enough income for us to buy the things we need and even some things we want. I know it is his desire for us to live in a house that is not making us sick, so I continue to hope, I continue to pray, I continue to press in and I worship.</span></p><blockquote><p><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11</span></i></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Recently, I had a dream. In the dream, I was tied up on the side of a cruise ship. I was stuck and could not move as everyone else was getting off. I knew in my dream, I had a choice to make; I could either panic because of the situation I was in or I could choose to worship. I chose to worship.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even though I am in the coffin of an oyster shell, I choose to be still and worship, knowing something beautiful is being formed. I choose to stay here until the work is complete and at the same time, hoping and having faith that there is more, both in the physical and spiritual. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The pearl of great price is no joke, but it is worth it! </span></p><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-59209166338937702162021-07-03T14:37:00.004-07:002021-07-05T03:35:59.353-07:00A Faith that Endures<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Psalm 23 is a scripture passage most Christians are familiar with. For myself, it took on a whole new meaning in the last few years as they have been the most challenging and painful years of my life. I know I am not alone. I have heard many say they have been tried and tested the last couple years like never before and it was not just because of Covid. I realize also, that what I have gone through pales in comparison to what others have experienced. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hopefully, sharing my experience and what I have learned from it will help others.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Psalm 23:5 says, "You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the past I interpreted the word "enemies" to mean people who were against me or the devil that wanted to destroy me. I have since learned that it encompasses so much more. I believe it also has to do with the storms of life and negative situations we find ourselves in.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Lord desires to get us to the place where we can rise above our circumstances. He wants to get us to the place where our soul is calm and at peace even when there is a whirlwind swirling around us. He wants us to enjoy the intimacy of being in his presence and not even noticing when evil is knocking at our door. He is our feast. He is our banquet. He wants to be our all in all, free from all distractions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The trials that we go through can become a gift that strengthens our faith, which is more precious than gold, if we will let it and we don't give up. Also, through our sufferings we can come to know aspects of God's nature that we wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to discover. One question we can even ask the Lord when we are suffering is, "Who do you want to be for me during this season of my life that you couldn't be in any other time?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You are probably curious about what I have endured in the last 3 years. Many of you know that in 2019, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma that manifested in a grapefruit size tumor on his arm. He went through chemo, surgery and radiation. Praise God, we can say he is now cancer free.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If my trials had just stopped there, I wouldn't have risen to the heights the Lord wanted to take me to. Instead the pressure continued like grapes in a wine press. One of our daughters suddenly became bedridden in January of 2020. She spent nearly a year in bed, unable to function, with me as her nurse, bringing food to her bed so she would eat and stay alive. I took her to every doctor imaginable, plus a week in the hospital and a multitude of tests, trying to get to the bottom of what was going on, with little to no answers. Needless to say, she was not able to even go to school or do school work, increasingly falling behind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In January of 2021, I had another daughter fall ill. It started off with what seemed like a virus but she wasn't getting better. She even had several Covid tests but they were all negative. After a couple months of not being able to get out of bed, I finally had to withdraw her from school too. She also was not well enough to do school at home and again I was a nurse to another child, bringing her 3 meals a day in bed to keep her alive. Again, we lived at the doctors, negatively affecting the ability to homeschool another daughter that needed one on one instruction and still not getting any answers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I spent nearly every day crying tears of desperation. I would wake up in the middle of the night crying and praying desperate prayers. I would spontaneously start crying in the grocery store or other public places. I was definitely grieving the life I dreamed I was supposed to have and as a mom I felt completely helpless because I didn't know what was wrong with my children.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To add insult to injury, in the middle of it all, Tom lost his job at the church and was initially given 2 weeks notice to find another job. We felt rejected and hurt by leadership.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In prayer, however, the Lord had a different perspective. He kept telling me to come up higher. I wasn't sure what that meant or what it looked like. I didn't know how I could ascend the heights and have joy when my children were suffering. He asked me if I thought the saints in Heaven were sad because of their loved ones on earth who are suffering. I realized they probably were not sad because they were enjoying the beatific vision.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I asked him what he thought of the situation with my daughters. He actually got excited and told me this was going to propel us into our destiny. I asked him what lie I bought into. He said, "That you are alone in this." I asked him what was the truth. He showed me my daughters in the palm of his hands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It still took many more months of tears before I figured out how to come up higher and ascend the heights. I felt that could only happen if he healed my daughters and if my husband got a good job that paid well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Neither of those things happened and I continued in my pain until one day I was drawn to John 15. This is the parable of the vine and the branches. I've always wondered what Jesus meant when he said "abide in me as I abide in you." </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs-iDD2TX6vMQsPUpZTdzPYcCxZFkV2e8F6mx17xvTdQ7yJlbkSoyHTr2IiQUDn6hLySOdnCJyRi6bh4KeOybYOcUmne_vJBGuZNH05wmPdJF4H2my_TK4EQC_1cDoBi6yQnvH11IaHyU/s601/globehands.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs-iDD2TX6vMQsPUpZTdzPYcCxZFkV2e8F6mx17xvTdQ7yJlbkSoyHTr2IiQUDn6hLySOdnCJyRi6bh4KeOybYOcUmne_vJBGuZNH05wmPdJF4H2my_TK4EQC_1cDoBi6yQnvH11IaHyU/s320/globehands.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I often reflect on the fact that Christ lives in me but what did it mean to abide in him. I tend to be a very imaginative person so I thought I would try to imagine myself actually in Christ's body, looking out of his eyes and seeing things from his perspective. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What I began to realize as I did this was if we are to remain or abide in Christ, there are things in our life we need to be willing to let go of. In Him there is no fear. In Him there is no worry. In Him there is no anxiety. In Him there is no depression. In Him there is no shame. In Him there is no bitterness. In Him there is no resentment. In Him there is no anger. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As I spiritually began to place myself in Christ, these other things began to fall away. I suddenly felt a new freedom and peace I hadn't felt in a long time. I realized this was what the Lord meant when he said, "Come up higher!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />The interesting thing is, coming up higher wasn't dependent on my circumstances. It wasn't dependent on everything in my life going well. It <b>was</b> dependent on coming to a deeper level of surrender and trust in the God who holds the whole world in his hands.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><b><i><br /></i></b><p></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-67948930284206132532021-01-21T05:38:00.003-08:002021-01-21T06:58:32.673-08:00Resurrecting the Titanic May not be a Good Idea!<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I had a dream last week about the Titanic. In my dream, the Titanic had been recovered and brought to the surface. It was about to be restored and people were going to be given the opportunity to live on it. I was touring the wreckage and as I was touring it I was thinking, "I'm not sure this is a good idea." The first reason I was thinking this is because, if we are aware of history, we know that part of the reason the Titanic sank is because of arrogant people that thought it was unsinkable. In my opinion, it didn't seem like something that should be resurrected and reused. The second reason I didn't think it would be a good idea to live on the Titanic is because, even if it was restored, it would still contain the memories of all the innocent people that had died.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmxWk5sPvs8J9MhEioKKrO-bb2DS-jstGGg1w0M2bEKSWKU3FCw5YxQ2IJvgnEsx_K-OZP4OWzY1XSgkOh0MDB4RYL1C-ZTuXDThwauVV1j4awu0bGaH0Bgn0BidPojQs56zDM5ipFQS6/s1600/Titanic_sinking.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmxWk5sPvs8J9MhEioKKrO-bb2DS-jstGGg1w0M2bEKSWKU3FCw5YxQ2IJvgnEsx_K-OZP4OWzY1XSgkOh0MDB4RYL1C-ZTuXDThwauVV1j4awu0bGaH0Bgn0BidPojQs56zDM5ipFQS6/w400-h249/Titanic_sinking.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I also had a vision that I feel goes along with that dream. In the vision, I saw "kings of the earth" seated high up in a circle on thrones that looked like hands. Unaware to them, these throne hands were sitting on one giant hand. I then saw the giant hand close into a fist.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I had the vision, a couple scriptures also came to my mind. The first scripture comes from 2C</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">or.10:5 (paraphrased). I heard, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">"Every high and lofty thought that has exalted itself above the knowledge of God is going to be brought low." </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Isaiah 40 also came to me - <i>"Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low, the uneven ground shall become level and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all the people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, what does all this mean? I believe the Lord is showing me, there are leaders on the earth who have exalted themselves above the knowledge of God. They do not realize that the only way they are in the positions they are in is because God has allowed it. They also have not learned from history. Feeling comfortable in their positions, they are going to become lax. They are going to over play their hand and their true colors are going to be revealed. The Lord is only going to tolerate this for so long and then will enact judgement because of the innocent that would suffer due to their arrogant and tyrannical leadership.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As I did back in <a href="http://www.beautifulthorns.com/2020/06/why-do-nations-rage.html">June</a>, I again heard the Lord laugh and quote <i>Psalm 2:1 - "Why do the nations rage and why do the people plot in vain?"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I also heard him say, <b>"Do they not realize that all their efforts are going to be brought to nothing because I am about to move!"</b></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><br /></b></span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-64792417764537944302021-01-14T20:58:00.007-08:002021-01-15T05:12:47.467-08:00The Glory Train<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R1cwG7fZs8aF7sEW4DRE6ywAyLq775b2T82ir1LGVfB6jH0yY2P7-pPgwRIZbZDYfMTjNceCCuamTUcmNP2gliUUE0luhT_fQVvIGi-sj_h_s9PAd_9zMyDXv1mVsA9qnW7aVitHBUM3/s852/train.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="852" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R1cwG7fZs8aF7sEW4DRE6ywAyLq775b2T82ir1LGVfB6jH0yY2P7-pPgwRIZbZDYfMTjNceCCuamTUcmNP2gliUUE0luhT_fQVvIGi-sj_h_s9PAd_9zMyDXv1mVsA9qnW7aVitHBUM3/w595-h225/train.webp" width="595" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>I am in tears as I am sitting down to write this blog post. A couple months ago, I had a vision of people that looked lost and/or homeless waiting for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed. The following scripture was and is so strong on my heart as I believe the Lord is also revealing his heart to me.</span><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Romans 8:19 - For all of creation waits with eager expectation for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.</i></span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Lord's heart is for ALL to be saved and set free - 1 Tim. 2:4. In order to reach the lost, the Lord is looking for Glory carriers; people who can display his Glory and reveal the true nature of who He is on the earth. In order for his people to be able to do this, they need to first know who they are in Him. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For those who have fully surrendered their lives to the Lord, he has been able to transform them and get them ready to carry his Glory. They have been learning who they are and whose they are. They have been learning their authority in Christ and their true identity. Hence, they have been able to be formed into a very strategic army like the one described in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+2&version=NRSVCE">Joel 2</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is a remnant army and the first to be invited on the "Glory Train" of the Lord. These are going to be burning out of love of Christ and carriers of his Glory. They are going to go into barren and desolate places with great displays of glory rooted in love and rescue those who are lost and bound by the enemy. Those who were once lost will then be invited onto the "Glory Train" to then rescue others and invite them on this fast moving train.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A great harvest of souls coming to the Lord will be one of the main signature marks of the next move of God. Many others have also prophesied a great move of God that is coming. There have been many moves of God in the past but many have been short lived and scattered. This move is going to be different than other moves. The reason it is going to be different is because, like a well thought out bonfire, the Lord is being really strategic.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My husband is an Eagle Scout. He knows how to make a good fire that will be big and last a long time. When he prepares for a bonfire, he is real strategic in how he lays the sticks and logs and what kind of kindling he uses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Likewise, the Lord is being real strategic. He has been working in the hearts of his people for a while now; humbling, transforming and calling people to partner with Him by first being willing to take up His cross. People laying their lives down in humble obedience and surrender, people choosing the narrow, less traveled road are like the logs that are going to cultivate the right atmosphere for the fire of the Spirit to burn bright, long and far.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This next move of God's Spirit is also going to be marked by a high level of personal holiness, uncompromising surrender and passion for the Lord. <i>They loved not their lives even unto death - Revelations 12:11. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Like the wise virgins (Matthew 5), they will have extra oil for their lamps. Through a shared love for Christ, the extra oil will be oil that has been pressed from the lives of the saints that have gone before them. They will also drink deeply from barrels of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2334449569078109613/3156494294115678017">ancient wine</a> of the Holy Spirit that has been fermenting for over 2000 years and carries the Glory and fear of the Lord.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The ones that are going to be ripe and ready to be initial carriers of God's Glory are those who are able to remain in faith, hope and love even during times of great trial. The fruit of the Spirit will marry the gifts of the Spirit in their lives and great displays of God's Glory; signs, wonders and miracles are what are going to greatly attract those who are hungry for a living, all powerful and loving God!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I believe with all my heart that this move of God is around the corner. The Glory Train is starting to appear from the tunnel with its headlights blaring!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A couple decades ago the Lord told me, "A new day is dawning! What you are about to see is a privilege and others in the past longed to see!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-31564942941156780172020-12-31T13:34:00.016-08:002022-07-12T10:34:51.352-07:00People Get Ready!<p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmVmZo30Q2jgBr6z9AW098u1pvQUKjmeq4CLHVzmBG5_mNYecjKSWkI2hIdSFHd52nrR-IKtWkICyOKo17znUVVUqRChPvrObVxPawHud07NO8ciERdLA4uOdH3Nbkr4vpJMNryv_7uHQ/s1600/saints_and_martyrs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1600" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmVmZo30Q2jgBr6z9AW098u1pvQUKjmeq4CLHVzmBG5_mNYecjKSWkI2hIdSFHd52nrR-IKtWkICyOKo17znUVVUqRChPvrObVxPawHud07NO8ciERdLA4uOdH3Nbkr4vpJMNryv_7uHQ/w620-h339/saints_and_martyrs.jpg" width="620" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For over 20 years, the Lord has been showing me a great move of God that is coming. Many prophetic people have also seen this move. What the Lord said to me 20+ years ago is, "You are about to witness the greatest move of my Spirit that has ever been poured out on the earth. Unlike the Charismatic renewal, it will not be able to be contained."</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Now, I will be honest, there is a good chance that this move is going to coincide with persecution in the world, but where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Recently the Lord showed me more about this move of God. He showed me that there is a baptism of the Holy Spirit that we have not yet seen or experienced. The next move of God is going to start with this baptism. This baptism is going to involve wine of the Holy Spirit mixed with oil that has been pressed from the lives of the Saints that have gone before us. I'm not just talking about big 'S' saints but there are many unknown followers of Jesus that have also laid down their lives, either physically in martyrdom or spiritually. Scripture says of them in Revelation 12:11 - They loved not their lives even unto death.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am now going to borrow a great <a href="http://www.casualtheology.com/2010/10/commentary-on-hebrews-121-11.html" target="_blank">teaching</a> my husband does about the communion of saints. In Hebrews 12:1 it says, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The word surrounded in the Greek is perikeimai. Basically, it means to be connected or joined to. Think of a 3-legged race. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Since the saints are connected to us, they do not receive their full reward until we complete our race. And, since we are also connected to them, we benefit from the way they already laid their lives down for Christ.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Think St. Stephen. As he was being stoned and martyred, he saw an open Heaven. Because of the merits of what he did, we will also see an open Heaven in this next move.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Revelation 6:9 says, '"...I saw under the altar the souls who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for their testimony they had given; they cried in a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?" They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the numbers would be complete, both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed."'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, what I also believe the Lord showed me is, just like the wedding at Cana, the best wine is being saved for last. This wine has been fermenting for over 2000 years and is mixed with oil pressed from the lives of the saints.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This wine is about to be poured out. For those who have surrendered their lives to the Jesus, it will be Glorious! This baptism that involves wine from the Holy Spirit and oil from the saints is going to result in an open Heaven, Heavenly encounters and unprecedented miracles. This will empower God's people to be salt on the earth and bring in the harvest!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This oil is going to be worth giving up everything else and purchasing!<br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-61430902774044111062020-12-10T11:29:00.003-08:002020-12-10T16:33:00.526-08:00Heavenly Oil<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbGvpvDwurFky0tsfn0GIhLA6iVzeCV30KnkKlENSqUfcpj3o8IDc2yj-GK7v4NTtzl2L1axntd6e5Oxz5yiNDwk_b1cj9PRscNbWLNHUTTGFbZsJsi0wQYs_1TpWLvOPKy1wf_umCPdm/s713/oil.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="713" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbGvpvDwurFky0tsfn0GIhLA6iVzeCV30KnkKlENSqUfcpj3o8IDc2yj-GK7v4NTtzl2L1axntd6e5Oxz5yiNDwk_b1cj9PRscNbWLNHUTTGFbZsJsi0wQYs_1TpWLvOPKy1wf_umCPdm/w200-h120/oil.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Today is the first day of the Jewish feast of Hanukkah. It lasts until December 18th. Traditionally, it commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was won back by Jewish warriors from Syrians who desecrated it. It is also known as the Festival of lights and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. After taking back the temple, the Jewish people had an eight-day celebration where they rededicated the temple. Tradition has it that they only had enough consecrated oil to light the candelabra for one day but it miraculously lasted eight days.<p></p><p>I felt there was a special significance about it, especially for this year. I believe there is also significance that there is going to be a special Christmas star that will be observable for the first time in 800 years on December 21st. </p><p>The Lord wants us to get ready for and expect the miraculous! We are about to see a significant turn of events that will result in the triumph of light over darkness in the world. </p><p>The Jewish people rededicated the physical temple. The way we can get ready is by rededicating our own temples; our bodies, soul and spirit, to the Lord. Hold nothing back! Give him everything!</p><p>This does not mean we have to have it all together. This also does not mean what we give him needs to be elaborate. Think 'Little Drummer Boy'. Everything we have is from the Lord anyway. All he is asking is we offer back the very things we have been given. In exchange, we receive even more.</p><p>Like the parable of the wise virgins, we are called to keep oil in our lamps (Matthew 25). The oil ultimately comes from God. We receive that oil by receiving the life of Christ inside us. We receive the oil by allowing Christ to make a home in our hearts through an intimate relationship with him.</p><p>We in turn pour that oil out like Mary at the feet of Jesus (John 12:3), making a fragrant offering to the Lord. However, he cannot be outdone. He in turn pours the oil out on us overabundantly!</p><p>Recently, in prayer, I saw an oil can with Heavenly oil being poured out. Here is the sense I had with it:</p><p><i>During this season of trial that we have been in, many of God's people have been pressing in for more of God's presence and intimacy with Him. This is paying off! The Heavens are opening and oil from Heaven is being poured out! Where once revelation and healings were harder to obtain, these things are becoming much easier and more commonplace. The veil between Heaven and earth is becoming much thinner and Heavenly encounters more accessible!</i></p><p>Get ready! Like a great Tsunami wave, we are about to witness the greatest move of God's Spirit that has ever been poured out on the earth! We are about to also see a great harvest of souls come into the Kingdom! Get ready for the miraculous and oil from Heaven!</p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-35054606340206020642020-10-09T20:53:00.001-07:002020-10-10T01:54:44.821-07:00His Ways Are Not Our Ways<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It does not take a prophet to predict that we are probably in for some tough times in this country. The writing is on the wall. No matter who wins the upcoming election, things are probably going to get ugly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The good news however is that our Lord and King has already won the victory. The very things the enemy intends for evil, the Lord is going to use for good and for His Glory.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In fact, I even saw the Lord taking a sickle and hammer from the Marxist symbol and using it to chisel away ice from stony hearts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> This reminds me of the days of Moses when snakes bit the people but then a bronze snake was the very thing used to heal the people when they looked at it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>His ways are not our ways (Is. 55:9).<br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is very important that right now we are anchoring ourselves deep in Jesus; that we are abiding in him; that he is our horn cleat so that we are not tossed about when the storms of life come.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLHyMEMM3Nb1XVd0jN14eMOdGFKW8u8WmUfLKpLir15PwK9z0Qzy1lkw3I28kIIqJ34tscMdIUYerFvQ9p5n-bX2lZPbjf-jZHKxHQjh_oLo83yrpO_DEcDp2dCBZORdyXWkt0_AV_ww7/s600/horn+cleat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLHyMEMM3Nb1XVd0jN14eMOdGFKW8u8WmUfLKpLir15PwK9z0Qzy1lkw3I28kIIqJ34tscMdIUYerFvQ9p5n-bX2lZPbjf-jZHKxHQjh_oLo83yrpO_DEcDp2dCBZORdyXWkt0_AV_ww7/w260-h213/horn+cleat.jpg" width="260" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Lord is looking for stabilizing influencers. These are people who have been abiding and resting in the Him during this season and therefore will be able to stand and be a lighthouse in the midst of the pounding waves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">These stabilizing influencers are also going to be carriers of His Glory as they work miracles of healing and demonstrations of power that are going to lead to the greatest move of God's Spirit that we have ever seen! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you have been going through a rough patch in recent years, perhaps the Lord is getting you ready. The more you are able to surrender to Jesus, even in times of adversity, the more anchored you will be in Him and the stronger your spirit will be. Then you will be able to give witness to the hope that lies within you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>1 Peter 3:15 - Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.</i></span></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-24130108232317663372020-09-18T10:38:00.005-07:002020-11-06T05:11:31.704-08:00Aslan is on the MOVE!!!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in June, I had an amazing encounter with the Lord. He showed himself to me as a lion. You can read about it <a href="http://www.beautifulthorns.com/2020/06/why-do-nations-rage.html">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="962" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsudbi59Zk6gLKkVsu7kLpC0P9uQxNkqwOkSbnyW-UdmlIgzKPtFGsw1DuQGs-9w5xPnIABcOUZjpDec4TSbmAU-n10jjCoIqt9w2aQuReeeZoRt6r1ejNAvF2ZYfb8EDl3YIAadReTJsZ/w320-h201/nuclear+blast.jpg" width="320" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Yesterday, I had a follo</span><span>w-up vision. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I </span><span>again saw Jesus as a lion. I was with him and we were on a hill, looking in the distance at the cities of the nations. It was nighttime and the only light you could see was in some homes and buildings. The lion then roared and it was like a nuclear blast that lit up the sky and sent shock waves across the earth!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It has begun! Aslan is on the move!!!</span></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-74118640318140865722020-07-16T14:42:00.000-07:002020-07-17T06:32:40.795-07:00Burning Ones<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMVrhbHTlGoMaxIclICB-4NQerqjwuygI-3r0w1C-p8MUVrrJppXpi-CHOkaRnv1BGn_5fTpU_bMt2dR6WP4XJai6QNDNlV8xUpBoMsnIK-8U0OROtSnObTp2ECfrf7NQGwdT3h2_p_yx/s1600/cheese+nun+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMVrhbHTlGoMaxIclICB-4NQerqjwuygI-3r0w1C-p8MUVrrJppXpi-CHOkaRnv1BGn_5fTpU_bMt2dR6WP4XJai6QNDNlV8xUpBoMsnIK-8U0OROtSnObTp2ECfrf7NQGwdT3h2_p_yx/s320/cheese+nun+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My husband and I watched an episode of a show called “Cooked” last week. In this particular episode, there was a nun who was an expert in making cheese. She made the cheese in an ancient way, in a big wooden barrel. The FDA had a problem with this. They wanted her to make it in a pure, stainless steel drum. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9670b9ce-7fff-2625-1b5f-0c01c7e0af90" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The nun complied but noticed that she couldn’t keep e-coli from developing on the cheese. She went back to making it in the wooden barrel and then she didn’t have a problem with e-coli. She discovered that the wooden barrel harbored good bacteria in the grooves of the wood and it would kill the bad bacteria in the cheese. She was able to show this to the FDA and they allowed her to keep making her cheese in the big wooden barrels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is also how wine is sometimes still made and has been made for thousands of years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We often think the modern way of doing things is best and the more sterile the conditions, the better. In ancient times, however, they understood the health benefits of fermentation of certain foods and drinks. They knew the importance of having good bacteria to bring about that fermentation process.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me propose something to you. Even the greatest of Saints were still sinners. They are Saints because they loved God with their whole heart and embraced the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wooden</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cross of Christ. Therefore, they became like that good bacteria in the wooden barrel, killing the bad bacteria (sin and darkness) by their sacrificial love of Christ and their willingness to lose their own life in order to find it.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">People have been saying for a couple years now that God is going to do something new and is about to pour out new wine. It is true that it is a wine that we have never seen before but it is not new. Actually it is ancient. It is a wine that is made up of the prayers of the saints, sacrifices and blood of the martyrs. It is a wine that has been fermenting for over 2000 years, since the first Pentecost!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is the wine that is about to be poured out on the earth! This is a wine that we have never seen before! This outpouring will go above and beyond all other outpourings. This wine is going to cause the greatest move of God’s Spirit that has ever been poured out on the earth!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C3tK32eIRnFY4V8DGTHFan9-K_evMoluk1onlbGhoI3fKOpmWEKcL18j5ezr4eh3eY46rO3jVussaDGOTuFtqFlOC_rLFFtUN4-e1qwAT6qkUGFasYDUgYSQLUVcwcJ_pIMzrggXqVBB/s1600/wine+bucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="808" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C3tK32eIRnFY4V8DGTHFan9-K_evMoluk1onlbGhoI3fKOpmWEKcL18j5ezr4eh3eY46rO3jVussaDGOTuFtqFlOC_rLFFtUN4-e1qwAT6qkUGFasYDUgYSQLUVcwcJ_pIMzrggXqVBB/s200/wine+bucket.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Lord is building an army. This army will cross denominational lines. The ones who will lead this army have been growing in deep, intimate relationships with Jesus; They have been willing to lay down their own lives and be set on fire with His love. They have yielded to God and have allowed Him to work on and transform their hearts. They are willing to be baptized with the baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11). They will be known as the burning ones. This burning will spread like wildfire to the rest of the army. This army is going to be used to pour out the barrels of ancient wine.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To be part of this army is going to require blind trust and walking closely in the footsteps of Jesus. It might even look foolish at first to others but if they will keep their eyes on Jesus, He will lead them and impart to them the faith that they will need to partner with him in the pouring out of this ancient but new wine.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let the cry of our heart be, “Make me into a burning one in your army, God!!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 2:10 - “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joel 2:2 - “...Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste - nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle….”</span></span></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-35075969911461343882020-07-04T08:27:00.000-07:002020-07-04T10:36:43.164-07:00Sovereign Freedom<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today is the 4th of July. I am reflecting on what that means and some words the Lord gave me twenty two years ago, specifically, April of 1998. These words are stirring in me and I believe it is finally time to release them because I believe they have to do with the times we are living in and they might bring encouragement to others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are a lot of doomsday type messages floating around right now, both in Protestant and Catholic circles; messages that predict more tribulations coming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I do not doubt that there are more things coming, I have seen some things myself. The Lord even said to me once, "Do not be afraid of what is coming. It is necessary for the salvation of souls."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus did say in Matthew 16:26, <i>"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul."</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUtQWskX-eiOwURyOUkYdrvtr73HOsOMu1o7TQ68YMmWZ5Nj7hVxElaf4GHC73OtS2ABH7jaEsfa4OVtK5QVLPdN0NYdzZ2-8rLJg4RLjdx_16MFRnEjAuqqFPzMeK4exAc5oy5mIQuK-/s1600/American+flag+with+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUtQWskX-eiOwURyOUkYdrvtr73HOsOMu1o7TQ68YMmWZ5Nj7hVxElaf4GHC73OtS2ABH7jaEsfa4OVtK5QVLPdN0NYdzZ2-8rLJg4RLjdx_16MFRnEjAuqqFPzMeK4exAc5oy5mIQuK-/s400/American+flag+with+cross.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is more than this temporal life and sometimes it takes a shaking of sorts for us to come to him. At least it did for me over thirty years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, I want to also bring encouragement to believers out there. True messages from the Lord should ultimately end up being filled with hope and encouragement even if they start off with a warning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Twenty-two years ago in prayer, I had a series of images come to my mind as well as the interpretation (I do not always share the process and the images that come to me but thought it would help the believability of the interpretation, as well as show the process for those wanting to grow in their own ability to hear from God).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are some of the images: The Declaration of Independence being written, the Union army, a rebel flag, a turtle, a sun rising in the west, an American flag on a flag pole with a cross on it instead of stars, the earth with a big cross that was lying down being lifted up to a standing position, and the last image was of early pioneers from this country watching for the sun to rise and longing to see a new day dawning. Jesus then said, "You will see that new day."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is the interpretation of all these images that came to me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There have been many human efforts to bring about freedom. They have been slow in coming and have often ended in civil war and blood shed. At times we have even retreated inside ourselves at the sight of adversity. But a new day is dawning when there will be a reversal of the order of how things are now. Life as we know it could change within a short amount of time and within our lifetime. It will end up being a glorious new day; the cross of Jesus will be lifted up and the Son of God will be glorified on the earth and in America and He will sovereignly bring about freedom!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also heard Jesus say to me, "What you are about to see is a privilege and others have longed to see."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let us partner with Jesus and pray this all comes to pass.</span></div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-86829472292029894992020-06-27T05:03:00.000-07:002020-06-27T05:03:03.506-07:00Why do the Nations Rage?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirISTXZOiI5_oSDZSoqaGHCmyKE8Gs_B2qGp4rJvJ-yuJI1gAqXF8uV6SLk0r6vu8zdzPJe-VXYO3kUZtSG35hZFbInNzfivXsdT7VWbW-z_PzcNM5pnhdZt6l4EMxJsodX61Zj1cHKQkT/s1600/lion+and+lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirISTXZOiI5_oSDZSoqaGHCmyKE8Gs_B2qGp4rJvJ-yuJI1gAqXF8uV6SLk0r6vu8zdzPJe-VXYO3kUZtSG35hZFbInNzfivXsdT7VWbW-z_PzcNM5pnhdZt6l4EMxJsodX61Zj1cHKQkT/s320/lion+and+lamb.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think it is an understatement to say these are uncertain times. It is hard not to be affected by everything going on around us and feel the oppression in the air.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had an encounter with the Lord yesterday however that put everything in perspective. I hope others can find encouragement in it as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I was praying, yesterday morning, I saw Jesus as a lion. He was lying down on a grassy hill, under a tree. He was enjoying the day and the cool breeze on his face. He asked me to join him. As I joined him, I saw myself as a lamb. I lied down next to him and was also enjoying the cool breeze that was in the air.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The lion/Jesus then directed my attention into the distance. In the distance I could see the cities of the nations. He then began to laugh. As he laughed, joy hit my spirit and I began to laugh too. He then quoted Psalm 2:1 - "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" I then heard him say, "All their efforts are going to be brought to nothing as I am about to move!"</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-59540497844914637192020-04-21T17:25:00.000-07:002020-04-24T14:33:42.723-07:00Being Stripped Away<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jo05ZYS8BMuq7ozqxvDmeLMsXJaD5CFOPkTuHPh4-phiDjDuufhKXfunCz2P1ttnl0I0fg8q3VDE3pj52jSg265u-_Rk2ahACFYNEYoqOfI9msAqBFVrhCZbkk68nrWRx6duCldottrP/s1600/homemade-bacon-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jo05ZYS8BMuq7ozqxvDmeLMsXJaD5CFOPkTuHPh4-phiDjDuufhKXfunCz2P1ttnl0I0fg8q3VDE3pj52jSg265u-_Rk2ahACFYNEYoqOfI9msAqBFVrhCZbkk68nrWRx6duCldottrP/s400/homemade-bacon-39.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know I have been missing in action and realize I haven't blogged since last June, when Tom was in the middle of his cancer treatment (he is currently cancer free by the way and his last two scans were normal, praise God!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is the first time I've even looked at my website since then. Part of the reason I think is because I've been going through a stripping down process. In fact, one day in prayer I saw an image of a piece of bacon being stripped of all fat and knew the Lord was filling me in on what was taking place in my own soul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think many right now can relate to this stripping down process as we are all under quarantine orders and many of the things we used to enjoy doing has been stripped away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before the coronavirus showed up, the Lord had been speaking to me for about a year about being a stabilizing influencer. He impressed on me, the meaning of this was someone who can remain at peace even in the midst of the storms of life and how attractive that is to the world around us that desperately needs his peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think the stripping down process happening in me was to help me to become that stabilizing influencer to those around me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes in prayer, I get a sense of what is coming down the road. I did not see this one coming however, at least so I thought. I recently decided to go back and read my journal entries from last year. This is what I found:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A year ago, I heard in prayer, "Do not be afraid of what is coming. It is necessary for the salvation of souls."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, just to clarify, I do not believe the coronavirus is a punishment from God. In fact, I believe it may have been a scheme of the enemy. If so, the enemy overplayed his hand. I believe God is going to use this for good. I believe we are about to see a great harvest of souls coming to the Lord and right now is a time for the Church to get ready as we deepen our identity and spiritual roots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another thing I found in my journal was from March 25, 2019. I wrote down and interpreted a dream I had. In the dream, I was at Wall-Mart. Most of the shelves were cleared out as they were getting ready to renovate. Even though most of the food shelves were bare, there were still a lot of toys. Most of them were on clearance so I bought a space toy for my son for only $25.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The interpretation that came to me at that time was:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The walls are coming down. The Church is being renovated and will not look the same when it is done. It is going to require childlike faith to access the spiritual food. The sky is the limit and there will be grace upon grace available (the number 25 symbolizes grace upon grace in scripture).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One thing I have come to a better understanding of through all this is how God is much bigger than we realize and is able to do far greater things than we can imagine. My faith has been stretched and increased during this time. I have come to realize that his presence is not limited to where the people of God are gathered. His grace is abundant and able to reach across the internet and into or own living rooms. The Holy Spirit transcends time and space when we are engaging in praise and worship even over the internet. Spiritual communion is also a very real thing. God does not hold back his grace just because we cannot receive him physically or be in an assembly where the people of God, through faith, usher in his presence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The last few years, there has been an awakening going on among our Protestant brothers and sisters as they have been discovering the grace available in communion, especially when viewed in reverence as being the body and blood of our Lord. I've asked the Lord, "How can this be?" I think I have a better understanding of that now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hopefully, even after quarantine, life will not go back to normal where we might have had God in a box with limited understanding of the vastness of His mercy and grace available for all those who have an open heart. May the stripping down process produce a greater glory in us that can be displayed to the world.</span><br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-44158965162958546362019-06-13T02:51:00.002-07:002019-06-13T02:55:23.906-07:00Early Morning Reflection<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is currently 4:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. I am wondering if Tom is going to end up getting sick after his first round of chemo yesterday. He is sleeping like a baby however and doesn't show any signs of discomfort. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD4eliitnLDhpJel2TxQBeAs1Hsl02vwdVSVlM4jPSrhqz8kAy2Ytvcm4djJYIbncfY8XaKOoE86lA57p9HfUwQwWFuoNA3oBCKCHIvB0_DGp5WOTTkC3DXMU44X_NyAsRNnVlPORjFig/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="570" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD4eliitnLDhpJel2TxQBeAs1Hsl02vwdVSVlM4jPSrhqz8kAy2Ytvcm4djJYIbncfY8XaKOoE86lA57p9HfUwQwWFuoNA3oBCKCHIvB0_DGp5WOTTkC3DXMU44X_NyAsRNnVlPORjFig/s320/sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of a month since Tom was diagnosed. We had high hopes and expectations that he was going to be miraculously healed. After all, wouldn't that be the best witness to God's goodness?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When that did not happen, all the emotions rose to the surface in my heart as I was disappointed. I really did not want him to have to go through chemo and it was hard to understand why the Lord would want that for him as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Still both of us have chosen to trust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am also thinking about how suffering doesn't cause us to be broken but just brings to the surface what is already there. Somehow though, when we join that brokenness to Christ, he turns it into something sweet. I am beginning to taste that sweetness as Jesus has been very present to us. It has me reflecting how I would much rather be broken and have Christ than be whole and not have him. Thinking we are whole without Christ however is just an illusion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This week I am also in the middle of leading crafts for our church's VBS. Today's theme is "When life is sad...God is good!". Our craft is a safari sun-catcher with a silhouette of an animal against a sunrise. The teaching connection with the craft and the theme is how there is always hope in Christ, the sun always comes up over the horizon and we can always put our trust in Him. God is good all the time even when life doesn't go as <b>we</b> had planned!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know God will have the last word and ultimately be glorified in this situation! He can make beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3)!</span></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-15901531689524804312019-05-20T07:35:00.001-07:002019-05-20T10:27:48.000-07:00Black Diamonds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGxa-KySDBi4y8WeMotzni27ovBKkq6EXXdn3DataHlwSk3pOI3opcl16X07Dt7cSR2C4Ewn-prqa1XRj4DRanB8XFwR44-BdsnJPUnxW_mkcP9Esa1YCxrqzVOYM8YugTcmJjsuI3R_z/s1600/black-diamond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="539" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGxa-KySDBi4y8WeMotzni27ovBKkq6EXXdn3DataHlwSk3pOI3opcl16X07Dt7cSR2C4Ewn-prqa1XRj4DRanB8XFwR44-BdsnJPUnxW_mkcP9Esa1YCxrqzVOYM8YugTcmJjsuI3R_z/s200/black-diamond.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last week, in prayer I saw an image of a black diamond. I didn't realize diamonds came in the color black but as I did some research, I discovered that indeed they do come in black! I also discovered that black diamonds are 1. more tough, and able to withstand more pressure than regular diamonds 2. absorb light instead of just reflect light and 3. are even more valuable than regular diamonds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In case you are not familiar with the diamond making process, once the diamond is discovered, it is put under intense pressure. To be exact, 725,000 lbs per square inch. Next, the diamond is put through extreme heat 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the diamond is cut. Real diamonds are also unbreakable. In fact, the Greek meaning of the word diamond is unbreakable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Black diamonds are made the same way as regular white diamonds but they are even tougher and they absorb light instead of reflecting light. The light doesn't just bounce off of them, the light possesses and takes over them. We are called to become like black diamonds!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ultimately, as lovers of Jesus, that is what we should want from our life, to be completely taken over and possessed by Jesus! What a privilege to be able to surrender our lives and take up His! How awesome that we can become like Him from the inside out and he exchanges our His life for our crappy life!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On a personal note, the Lord has once again provided Tom and I the opportunity to trust in Him and become more like Him, the most precious of diamonds as we once again lay our life down and take up His!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tom has had a mass on his tricep for the last year. It has been growing and is now the size of a grapefruit. He kept going to his doctor but his doctor kept reassuring him that is was just a fatty benign tumor. Tom went back yet again and finally got a referral to a surgeon. After tests, it was determined that it is a very rare and aggressive form of a malignant sarcoma.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now our God is a good and loving Father and he in no way caused this to happen but he did allow it. Tom and I did not see it coming but it is no surprise to our loving Father! Our lives are just as much in his hands now as they were before the diagnosis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, to be honest, we are not thrilled about having to walk through this, just like Jesus was not looking forward to his cross. However, we do not feel shaken and we have peace. We've been through too much and have overcome too much to let this shake us! The Lord has always been faithful to us! His love is steadfast!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm reminded of a word the Lord gave me years ago. He showed me a window taped up in a hurricane. This doesn't prevent the window from breaking but it does help it not to shatter. I felt like the Lord said to me that he doesn't promise that when we follow him, our lives won't be broken but if we put our trust in him, our lives won't shatter and fall apart when trials come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is what we are believing for and what you can agree with us in prayer for:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. That God be glorified through this!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Complete healing for Tom!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. That we will have an even greater testimony of God's goodness and mercy! (All things work for the good of those who love God. - Romans 8:28)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. </b></span></blockquote>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-56975915716688363342019-04-26T08:26:00.003-07:002019-04-26T10:33:31.455-07:00He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know I've been missing in action. I haven't felt very inspired to write. Lent was a little rough this year, so probably the perfect Lent. I had all kinds of grandiose plans but in the end none panned out. Instead I faced all kinds of temptations and a spiritual fog, hence the reason that I didn't blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It reminded me of how Jesus was baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit and then went into the desert and faced many temptations. That story actually encouraged me because I knew there was probably a light at the end of the tunnel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A couple blogs ago, I talked about how I had a very profound encounter with the Holy Spirit at the Encounter conference the beginning of January. Afterwards I felt empowered and emboldened to share the Gospel with people. Also, in February Tom and I were speakers at a marriage retreat on a cruise ship. God was very faithful and I believe spoke through us and blessed the people we ministered to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Soon after we came home, we entered into Lent and that is when the distractions, fog and temptations started, at least for myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first temptation I dealt with was discouragement and depression. It was strange because it obviously was an oppression coming from the outside and pressing down instead of within me. It was easy to see it for what it was and after about a week, I took authority over it, it went away and fortunately I never let it take root in me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With the 2nd temptation, I can't say the same. The 2nd temptation was regret. Thoughts regarding past failures were entering my mind and I found myself entertaining them and them causing me great sadness. One particular night I was overcome with grief over past mistakes and wondering, "what if I had done certain things differently". I ended up having a dream that night where the Lord warned me that giving into regret might seem harmless at first but it could end up being very dangerous and I needed to take authority and claim victory in Christ's redeeming work. That next morning, that is exactly what I did and that temptation left me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another week in Lent I dealt with one of the worst flare-ups with Fibromyalgia and Bursitis that I have had in a long time. Through that, I had to fight off feelings of worthlessness as the fatigue at times was overwhelming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks be to God we are now in the Easter season! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMgCs4IPqXMGNAuvBw2gAmGF-1Si7nMRafGcGs9aYgmR1iA8pO_CFGSNFm6LakR1ncdUeoORmAqo7EfiCsTcgvw47o5BqcJI7kbdXFWl9AaZXamUfTAKOkeBAtlIJzNU65-i2rhkLo023/s1600/empty-tomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="692" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMgCs4IPqXMGNAuvBw2gAmGF-1Si7nMRafGcGs9aYgmR1iA8pO_CFGSNFm6LakR1ncdUeoORmAqo7EfiCsTcgvw47o5BqcJI7kbdXFWl9AaZXamUfTAKOkeBAtlIJzNU65-i2rhkLo023/s320/empty-tomb.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just a side note; There was one year, I regretted not taking more advantage of the graces during Lent and I felt like the Lord said to me, "There is even more grace available with the Resurrection!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, if you are that person this year, know that Easter lasts longer than Lent and there are even more graces available to you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have already experienced the grace of this Easter season. The fog is lifting! The veil has been removed! I am back to having prophetic experiences and encounters with Jesus! That is our inheritance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like I said before, I did not have the Lent that I wanted but I think God had his way and knew what would bring the greatest results and now I can more fully enter into the joy of Easter!</span></div>
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<b>James 1:2-4 - </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="text Jas-1-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30269A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30269A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-NIV-30270" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">because you know that the testing of your faith <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30270B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30270B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>produces perseverance.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30270C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30270C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-NIV-30271" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30271D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30271D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and complete, not lacking anything.</span></b></span></blockquote>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-24560155810534671082019-02-14T07:18:00.000-08:002019-03-06T08:20:58.717-08:00New Wine Skins<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Behold, I make all things new! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? - Isaiah 43:19</i></b></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC-5F_dwc-dWR9RtER3qIx47zwCJUYwnb0BOUDwEQGSspNm9q7Qg3i9IagUEOwzu8qif5SWiautiibyxistAxhCRX7yA-xQHa3Imlj18Etv2CZYO6px2xJyECN2YZyskKxq-E1mPPSb6Q/s1600/wineskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="279" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC-5F_dwc-dWR9RtER3qIx47zwCJUYwnb0BOUDwEQGSspNm9q7Qg3i9IagUEOwzu8qif5SWiautiibyxistAxhCRX7yA-xQHa3Imlj18Etv2CZYO6px2xJyECN2YZyskKxq-E1mPPSb6Q/s320/wineskin.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Lord has really been speaking to me this year about the <b>new things</b> he wants to do and the importance of having "new wine skins" in order to perceive these new things he is doing. In Matthew 9 it says unless we have new wine skins to hold the new wine, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since many of us can not relate to the analogy of a wine skin, a modern day analogy might be a can of vegetables. If you emptied out a can of vegetables, you wouldn't reuse the can and put vegetables back into it, especially if the can was rusty. The vegetables would become contaminated and wouldn't be edible anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The wine skin or tin can represents our mind. Our mind needs to be constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit in order for us to perceive the new things God is doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just as there are mysteries in the natural world yet to be discovered, there are mysteries in the spiritual realm that have yet to be discovered and the Lord is looking for people whom He can share these mysteries with. We could never exhaust the mysteries of God. Even with the gifts of the Spirit, scripture says there are many variations of the same gift (1Cor. 12). You may have the same gifting as other people but it is not necessarily going to look the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Often we want to hold onto the old ways of doing things or cling to what God did in the past. We want what feels safe and familiar. When we do this, we put God in a box and we become blind to what God wants to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Times are changing however and what worked in the past isn't going to necessarily work in this day and age.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This type of attitude is rampant in the Church! People like what is comfortable and they like to do things the same way they have always done them, even if it doesn't seem to be working anymore. Tom and I have also seen this attitude to a large extent in the Charismatic movement. Often times, people who were involved in the Charismatic movement in the 70's, want it to stay the same, with the same songs, same speakers, and same way of doing things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Currently, there is a group of us that meet in our home and at the church once a month for praise, worship, an opportunity to practice the gifts of the Spirit and pray for one another. We do not call it a "Charismatic" prayer group because we believe the gifts are available to the Church as a whole and not just a fringe group of people. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, hearing God speak is not just a "charismatic" thing. All believers are called to have a 2-way relationship with God. The way our God is different from the so called gods and idols of the nations is that we can hear Him speak to us in the depth of our heart. There are many Saints that heard God speak to them, had visions and other mystic experiences but were not labeled "charismatic". They also were not considered "Saints" at the time they had these experiences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As far as our meetings go, we don't want to limit the people who come, so we don't want to get caught up in labels. There are also many Charismatic prayer groups that still meet in a small room or closet in their church and they haven't branched out from that or invited others in. They also do not use the gifts of the Spirit outside of these meetings. That's not what the gifts are for! They were meant to be taken out, beyond the 4 walls of the church and used to reach unbelievers! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Quite frequently we get people asking if we can play the older charismatic songs. There were some good things that came out of the Charismatic Renewal. If it weren't for the Renewal, I don't know if I would be alive or following Christ. Personally however, I have no desire to go back to what God did in the past. I want to move beyond that and be open to the new things he wants to do now! The next great move of God if going to look completely different than what He did in the past. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We need to allow Christ to renew our mind. There are great spiritual mysteries that have yet to be discovered and that God wants to reveal to us but we will miss it if we are only looking at what He did in the past. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>1 Cor. 2:9-10 - "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." </i></b></span></blockquote>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-19183015075992151432019-02-11T06:29:00.000-08:002019-02-12T05:03:59.622-08:00The Countdown is On<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I was a senior in high school, I had my first Psychology class and I was hooked! I found it really fascinating and decided to major in Psychology in college. My senior year I switched to Mental Health because I couldn't pass Statistics. I would tutor other students in it, watch as they would end up getting A's and I would fail because of test anxiety, but that is another story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One thing I learned in Psychology was about all the different defense mechanisms people use to protect themselves. The Lord in his great kindness has provided a way for all his creatures to protect themselves. In Zoology, I even learned how simple, single cell organisms have built in mechanisms for self defense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As children of God however, it is not ideal to hold onto our own defense mechanisms. In fact, if we do, they could be likened to moth balls. Moth balls protect against moths but they sure do stink!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eventually, if we want to come up higher, mature in the Lord and become more like Jesus, we need to be willing to let go of our own defense mechanisms. It is important that we follow Jesus' example, allow ourselves to be vulnerable and surrender to His Divine protection under the shelter of his wings (taught by the early church to be Jesus' outstretched arms on the cross).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsLWk359Z-O7Jq4OZnLGSFwGRStOF7lHr6EkRS63RoRzXDzigqLBPXNGkpUjaMW7DieCRQuZN2jhIK6aPh9KRVtXJ9xYAtDhxyM3Myhj0rmeoraEa-G54BEs8ebg75OG10rP63qw3vdPt/s1600/pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsLWk359Z-O7Jq4OZnLGSFwGRStOF7lHr6EkRS63RoRzXDzigqLBPXNGkpUjaMW7DieCRQuZN2jhIK6aPh9KRVtXJ9xYAtDhxyM3Myhj0rmeoraEa-G54BEs8ebg75OG10rP63qw3vdPt/s320/pearl.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is often tempting to escape when the pressure in on and when life gets hard but if we will find refuge in the cross instead, the reward will be great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some of the most beautiful mysteries of creation are formed under intense pressure, irritation, darkness and heat. Pearls, gold, diamond and crystals to name a few.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Likewise, when we are in the dark valleys of life facing intense pressure, heat and irritation, we can become more fully alive and refined when joining those trials to the sufferings of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When praying about 2019, I believe the Lord showed me some exciting things for this year! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAbvtONUhv6w2sp5f1FR7Nnkb_aveGIsQsla0jGAV0f-zdNMhP8q86PbFzgBKms_EfZRUToqQSGWM7GFSI3kuu0X9F-pbHfVzJMNDVGo9XIgt1QFSN4H1o2k271j5lz9a6gaJwz82wtq8/s1600/hourglass_w1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAbvtONUhv6w2sp5f1FR7Nnkb_aveGIsQsla0jGAV0f-zdNMhP8q86PbFzgBKms_EfZRUToqQSGWM7GFSI3kuu0X9F-pbHfVzJMNDVGo9XIgt1QFSN4H1o2k271j5lz9a6gaJwz82wtq8/s320/hourglass_w1024.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the past, when trying to step out to do the works that Jesus did, I would get pelted by the enemy and experience setbacks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A new day is dawning however, the countdown is on and we are now coming into a season of unprecedented protection for those who will let go of their own defenses and hide themselves in the shelter of the Most High like Psalm 91 talks about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have a green light to go forth in the power of His name, lay hands on the sick and see them recover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are coming into a season of Mark 16:15-18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These signs will accompany him. In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not harm them, they will place their hands on the sick and they will recover.</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Besides the Divine protection this scripture talks about, another verse that struck me with is, "they will place their hands on the sick and they will recover." It doesn't say, after praying for a long time, begging and pleading, they will recover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Healings are starting to become more common place as God's people are realizing the authority they have in Christ. As Christians begin to realize their authority and that they can pull down their inheritance now, healings will be more common place than in the past. It will become the "new normal". Instead of begging and pleading, often times we just need to lay hold of that which is already ours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next great move of the Holy Spirit is upon us! I prophesied about it 20 years ago:</span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You are about to witness the greatest move of my Spirit that has ever been poured out on the earth! Unlike the Charismatic movement, it will not be able to be contained. It will start with the youth and spread to the four corners of the earth."</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rise up Church! Hide yourself in Christ! The rain/rein of God is here! </span><br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-3100672968607727822019-01-12T14:07:00.001-08:002019-01-17T06:39:02.917-08:00The Holy Spirit is Alive and Well!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeeBFfWrnroaNaex_l9aGZliueCbQHQYPHqBWMjX9-mJuoIcJJX62mf-FZbFZzDrcIzJs4IZzCWcbhG9cpeh7Nh4YAhHfA5PVKW2LIuVJeMXhqa68wyZD6MmeksTXCc5GsTp4jj3sZV8j/s1600/holy+spirit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeeBFfWrnroaNaex_l9aGZliueCbQHQYPHqBWMjX9-mJuoIcJJX62mf-FZbFZzDrcIzJs4IZzCWcbhG9cpeh7Nh4YAhHfA5PVKW2LIuVJeMXhqa68wyZD6MmeksTXCc5GsTp4jj3sZV8j/s320/holy+spirit.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you haven't yet checked out <a href="https://encounterministries.us/" target="_blank">Encounter Ministries</a>, you need to! They are a ministry that God is using powerfully to bring renewal to the Church! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I just got back from their annual conference that was held in Toledo, Ohio this year. I attended last year as well and it was life-changing. This year was life-changing on another level! Fr. Mathias Thelan and Patrick Reis head up Encounter. The Lord truly works through them, I believe because of their humility and ability to yield to the Holy Spirit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For myself, one of the most powerful talks of the weekend was given by <a href="http://www.jeffcavins.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Cavins</a>. He talked about how simple it is to share the Gospel with people and we usually complicate it. He talked about the basic message of the Gospel that even Billy Graham would use which is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1.) God loves you and has a plan for your life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2.) Sin interupted that plan and seperates us from God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3.) Jesus Christ died to save you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4.) Repent and believe the Gospel, the "good news."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5.) Be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">6.) Live in Christ, through his body, the Church.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">7.) Go forth and make disciples.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mr. Cavins also talked about how when you share the Gospel and God's love with people, the Holy Spirit confirms and backs up the message. Also, all 5 steps of the message do not have to be shared at once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He then told story after story of how he shares the Gospel with people. Mr. Cavins makes it his goal to share the Gospel message with at least 2 people a day. Even though he is a bible scholar, he even shares this very simple message with people. He also shared ways the Holy Spirit confirms the message, often times by the person crying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I never thought of it being so simple! I left feeling like, "Even I can do this!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I left the conference with increased boldness and joy as the Holy Spirit truly blasted me and set me on fire with his love for myself and others!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I decided I was going to put what I learned into practice right away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before we left the hotel, I prayed and asked the Lord if there was anyone he wanted me to reach out to that day. The name Scott came to my mind, but that is all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My friends and I then checked out of the hotel and started driving. We ended up stopping at a Bob Evans for lunch. When we were checking out, I had trouble paying my bill because the cash register wasn't working so the cashier had to call up the assistant manager. He came up and his nametag said, SCOTT! I paid my bill and Scott had walked away but I asked a waittress if she would call him back to the front. He came up, probably thinking I was going to complain. I then said to him, "This might sound weird but this morning when I was praying, your name came to my mind. I believe God wants you to know he loves you and he has a plan for your life." His eyes got big and then he started crying. He then said, "I really appreciate that! I have been going through a really rough time!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another opportunity happened the day after I got back. I went to the grocery store. In the line I got in was a cashier that was obviously irritated with everyone who went through her line. I ended up leaving without saying anything but felt like I should have shared God's love with her. I got home and realized I forgot a couple ingredients so I went back. I told the Lord if she was still there, I would share his love with her. Well, she was still there, in the same checkout. I got my items and got in her line. I was just going to tell her the same thing I told Scott which was, "God loves you and has a plan for your life." but as I was standing in line my heart started pounding and I felt the Holy Spirit so strongly! He impressed on me to tell her he sees what she is going through. It was finally my turn and she commented on how I would have been better off going to self checkout since I only had a couple items. I leaned in to her and said, "Dianna, the reason I got in your line is because God wants me to tell you he loves you and he sees all you are going through!" She started to cry! She then proceeded to tell me that she just got out of the hospital with Pneumonia and before that, her husband had died!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These incidents are really opening my eyes to the needs around me. There are so many hurting people that need Jesus! If we don't tell them about his love, who will?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Come Holy Spirit!!!</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-24079071780464206632018-10-10T07:33:00.002-07:002018-10-12T05:26:16.848-07:00It's Not All About You and Peace is Not Always a Feeling!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are moving in six days and I should be packing but there are some things on my heart that I need to put into writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNlYt8U14GPQu4u83VkhD0M4AqnId84B0uNMXptKTXKpnrBj0AmD5ZK002aUcB6xIU5CN5_mQ-w3ZdDiWPox936BZCfoCVLD-vGKXCKp4nu3-7Nua65mb6jy4iXwyYVYbyz92SNByQ1R-/s1600/sycamore+living+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1020" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNlYt8U14GPQu4u83VkhD0M4AqnId84B0uNMXptKTXKpnrBj0AmD5ZK002aUcB6xIU5CN5_mQ-w3ZdDiWPox936BZCfoCVLD-vGKXCKp4nu3-7Nua65mb6jy4iXwyYVYbyz92SNByQ1R-/s320/sycamore+living+room.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We've been wanting to move closer to our church where Tom works and our kids go to school for the last two years that we have lived here. We currently live 25 to 30 minutes away because the town we are in is more affordable on a ministry salary. The commute however has been getting old! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We finally found a house semi-affordable that is only 10 minutes away from the church. I'll be honest though, it does not have everything that I want. It only has 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths. I will be losing a master bathroom and walk in closet. I had a chat with the Lord about this and do you know what scripture he gave me? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Philippians 4:11-13 where Paul says:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span class="text Phil-4-11" id="en-NIV-29454" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29454A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29454A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> whatever the circumstances.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-4-12" id="en-NIV-29455" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29455B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29455B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> whether living in plenty or in want.</span><span class="text Phil-4-13" id="en-NIV-29456" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I can do all this through him who gives me strength.</span></i></span></blockquote>
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Don't get me wrong. I like everything else about the house or I wouldn't be buying it. The Lord knows I like older homes with hardwood floors and homes that are wide open and bright and it has those things. What this is showing me however is it isn't always all about us and everything we want.<br />
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When I asked the Lord what was on his heart, he showed me how excited he is to show up through us to this neighborhood! He also confirmed to us that this is where he wants us. The way he did that is through one of my daughters. She came up to me one day before we started looking at houses and told me some numbers kept coming to her mind. I told her to write the numbers in her journal and pray about it because it might mean something.<br />
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Well, we started looking at houses and at first we had a hard time finding a house in our price range that would meet our families' needs. We finally found the house. We came home and considered making an offer. I then remembered how numbers were coming to my daughter. I asked her to get her journal. Sure enough, they were the same numbers as the address of the house! The Lord is so good and kind to me that way! Sometimes I need those confirmations in order to have peace.<br />
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Speaking of peace, people often think peace is about a feeling. The feeling of peace however should not always be the barometer that tells us which way to go or what to do. If that is our barometer, it can be deceptive; the feeling of peace can be counterfeited. Heck, I actually know people who have left their spouse because they "felt" peace about it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoLs-ILxVMRa7T6cCTM9d40MFkP3yyAW-fdeOxU09xljVakOYgY2-Dnmv3gnCdauJEcftvtXrXIITQlOqIzxEZAqiUbg1m_41oQDVV-edZm9qdHoFi5wWnfDuSRvhAd7n_OXxfTFMT4_V/s1600/cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="713" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoLs-ILxVMRa7T6cCTM9d40MFkP3yyAW-fdeOxU09xljVakOYgY2-Dnmv3gnCdauJEcftvtXrXIITQlOqIzxEZAqiUbg1m_41oQDVV-edZm9qdHoFi5wWnfDuSRvhAd7n_OXxfTFMT4_V/s320/cross.jpg" width="320" /></a>If I were to be honest, I am a little nervous about moving. We are moving close to downtown and some of the streets close by are a little sketch. I am a little nervous about what the neighbors are like. I am nervous because the house we are moving from is newer and doesn't need any work done to it. The house we are moving to is older and needs a little TLC. Even though I am a little nervous, I still have a sense of calm knowing that this is God's will for us right now.<br />
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True peace is when you have a sense of calm even though storms are swirling around you and everything in the natural says you should be anxious. True peace comes when you know you are in God's will even though the external circumstances may look negative.<br />
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Taking Jesus as an example, I'm sure he did not "feel" peace about the cross. In fact, we know he was quite troubled and even sweat blood over the thought of it the night before. However, he probably still had a sense of calm knowing he was doing the Father's will.<br />
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True peace is a gift and not something we can conjure up on our own. True peace surpasses all understanding - Philippians 4:7.<br />
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I hope I can always fix my eyes on the cross of Christ and be more attentive to how He feels and what is on His heart than what my own natural desires are! After all, His desires are more eternal!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-68845295270195813492018-08-28T03:25:00.000-07:002018-08-28T03:25:06.764-07:00What Does the Future Hold for the Church?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRy4kelX0Vj0bIioF1SyFSw9SV1HBgOvcVhgrdTAzkQcB6R3SGIh9TWmyCoxmbCxmcfsSZ1v2nGTeUaNyLwE1DH1Py-6-ZWdAgiIhTSokA9n1iUHlNsmcl6SJg-9e_S1Jq6ZApHKUIjI8/s1600/st.+francis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="500" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRy4kelX0Vj0bIioF1SyFSw9SV1HBgOvcVhgrdTAzkQcB6R3SGIh9TWmyCoxmbCxmcfsSZ1v2nGTeUaNyLwE1DH1Py-6-ZWdAgiIhTSokA9n1iUHlNsmcl6SJg-9e_S1Jq6ZApHKUIjI8/s320/st.+francis.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What to say? With each new revelation that has come to light in the Catholic Church since this past June, I have been sent into an emotional tail spin. It is all rather horrifying and almost unbelievable that these things have been going on and others have been covering them up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am glad these things are finally coming into the light. How grievious it must have been for our Lord when he was the only one that knew about these things and they were allowed to continue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I decided to go back and read some of my past journals to see if the Lord had been saying anything regarding all this. One thing I found was a scripture the Lord gave me more than once. He also gave it to me the beginning of the year when I asked him what the year was going to be like. The scripture is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Matthew 3:12 - "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and He will thoroughly clear his threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat in to the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently when I was praying about all this, I believe the Lord showed me that the shaking has just begun. We are just at the beginning stages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have no plans to leave the Catholic Church. This is where I am called and Jesus is there. I cannot leave him. Also, Tom and I witnessed that the grass is not greener on the other side. Besides, the shaking might have started with the Catholic Church but it is not going to stop there. Protestants and then the world are also going to experience a shaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The shaking that is going to take place in the world, might get a little scary. The Lord told me, "Do not be afraid of things that are to come. They are necessary for the conversion of souls."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a lot of hope for the future. It is time for the Laity to rise up! Many are going to have the calling on their life to help rebuild the Church like St. Francis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think after the shakings, we are going to come into some exciting times. Some other words I was reminded of when reading my journals are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You are about to witness the greatest move of my Spirit that has ever been poured out on the earth! Unlike the Chrismatic movement, it will not be able to be contained. It will start with the youth and spread to the four corners of the earth."</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"A new day is dawning! What you are about to see is a privilege and others in the past had longed to see!"</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It is coming! It is coming! It is coming! A great harvest of souls is coming! Now is the time to get ready!</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Personally, even though I am grieving for our Church, I also feel a new strength and courage. I have always felt intimidated by authority figures and at times have felt held back by clericialism. With all that is going on, I have a renewed boldness and passion to demonstrate that our Lord is real and he is alive!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't find out till I was nineteen years old that Jesus knew me personally and I could know him personally and that he still speaks. Unfortunately, I think that is the case with many Catholics. It has been my passion to make Him real to others and carry and impart His presence wherever I go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People need to know more than ever that Jesus is passionately in love with them and He will do whatever it takes to draw people to Himself!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He still speaks, He still heals, He still delivers!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Church needs rebuilding. Let it begin with us! The walls have been removed; Some in authority have forfeited their right to be in authority. There should be nothing holding us back from spreading and demonstrating the Good news of the Gospel!</span><br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-50449325964629453022018-08-11T21:04:00.001-07:002018-08-16T09:40:53.728-07:00Let's be Balm to the Heart of Jesus!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like many of the laity and I suspect, holy priests and religious, I have been grieving over the state of the Church as the McCarrick scandal came to light this past June. Tom and I also recently watched the movie, <i>Spotlight </i>about the widespread sex abuse that came to light in the Boston area in the early 2000's. I also wouldn't be surprised if more incidences come to light in the near future. I think we are going to see that the scandals and cover-ups run deep. Tom and I also know more than one person that has been personally affected by it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have literally been crying to the Lord in prayer as I can't imagine how His heart has been grieved as he is all knowing and sees all. I have also been grieving for the victims of these predatory crimes. I am glad these things are coming into the light and I pray they will be dealt with accordingly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even before this latest incident broke with Cardinal McCarrick, I was already grieving over the fact that so many have already left the Church and are not practicing any type of faith whatsoever. That describes many of mine and Tom's relatives, some that we visited this summer. Some are agnostics and some out right atheists. The reason they left didn't even have anything to do with these scandals but because I suspect, when they were younger and went to church, they did not see evidence that Jesus was real, that he was alive, and that he loved them. Let's face it, many of our services are lifeless. We hold to the form of religion but often deny its power (2Tim.3:5).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, what can we, the average laity do about this? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I was 19, I went to a church where I saw real faith and passion for the Lord among the people. Through them I saw that Jesus was real and it changed my life! We can have that same effect on others!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So for starters, we need to let the Lord root out complacency and sin in our own hearts! We also need to ask Him to stir into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to us at Baptism!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreuu_SaztROf41u7VC2EVHEeAswiRgT7p2aiREiQT20BZpyEVobdoI_fsSk4uvWG3ICZmMCJ757APSBm1z8mEc27FhmAaYfKo89oTODw9_-n9C4DrSycGug2Fxg_NDhruIKhDcZxiNtjl/s1600/angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreuu_SaztROf41u7VC2EVHEeAswiRgT7p2aiREiQT20BZpyEVobdoI_fsSk4uvWG3ICZmMCJ757APSBm1z8mEc27FhmAaYfKo89oTODw9_-n9C4DrSycGug2Fxg_NDhruIKhDcZxiNtjl/s320/angel.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I once had a powerful dream I will never forget! In the dream I was in darkness, wading around in mucky water with a lot of other people. I began to hear in the distance a simple but most beautiful song. The words were, "Walk in the light as He is in the light." The song began to get louder and louder and before I knew it, there was an angel standing on a rock in the middle of the mucky water who was singing the song. I could see her because as she lifted up her wings, the whole area was filled with light. The sound of the song was more beautiful than any song I had ever heard! The angel then disappeared. I then stood where the angel had been and shouted, "Did you all hear what the angel said? We need to repent and walk in the light!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8hw6s_WBW7nEL5jflbb8il3ILjdi4F5hWqsR7w3VubnONTV1HvMRYTW8pCVjTh_FXLvC_yKOCbd_OyrSjULzMsWlNOossFNtEjf8cBrm9tvKUdFRpjSNy76rztK4h9TPpdnKqD1ZpqFd/s1600/alabaster+jar.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="559" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8hw6s_WBW7nEL5jflbb8il3ILjdi4F5hWqsR7w3VubnONTV1HvMRYTW8pCVjTh_FXLvC_yKOCbd_OyrSjULzMsWlNOossFNtEjf8cBrm9tvKUdFRpjSNy76rztK4h9TPpdnKqD1ZpqFd/s320/alabaster+jar.webp" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now is the time to rise up and walk in the light like never before! We need to return to the Lord with our whole heart; rend our heart and not our garments. Especially with all that is going on in the Church, the world needs us to show them that God is still on the throne and he is real!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, when we keep our eyes on Jesus and allow his love to come in and transform us into his image, we become balm to his heart that is often broken. It is broken by those who reject him and fail to open their hearts to his love and instead choose mucky water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ephesians 2:5 which is part of the second reading for today sums it up well:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>So, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.</i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We in turn can also offer our lives as a sacrificial offering to God and become a fragrant aroma that will help console his heart!</span><br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334449569078109613.post-6874616062758742102018-07-19T08:02:00.001-07:002018-07-19T08:02:47.053-07:00If I had 3 Wishes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZfRU5fwQhbzsrOFw_nmkm0-kMKZbAubk3APJ6-Ly34MiR43U_aQLh7MEocgrJJBI8p-MDBadOw5e6Q553vqzlJZGfLiHKoYGDkeDOCd7on9MGtNcWjUKPwnhqOj2nQ-QVp0KEcobsN1v/s1600/genie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZfRU5fwQhbzsrOFw_nmkm0-kMKZbAubk3APJ6-Ly34MiR43U_aQLh7MEocgrJJBI8p-MDBadOw5e6Q553vqzlJZGfLiHKoYGDkeDOCd7on9MGtNcWjUKPwnhqOj2nQ-QVp0KEcobsN1v/s1600/genie.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord once asked me, "If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?" This was about 18 years ago and I realize now that my answer was rather superficial. At the time my answer was, getting out of debt, getting a bigger house and for Tom to get a better paying job. Even though Tom was a Religion teacher at a Catholic high school, making 20k a year and we qualified for WIC, I now see that those probably were not the right wishes to make.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord is so gracious and kind however and he meets us where we are at. Even though those requests were rather superficial, he still met those needs and then some! I now realize however that there is a better way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are currently in a similar situation. Two years ago, Tom took a pay cut in order to be in full-time ministry again. If you count the bonuses he used to receive, he makes less than half the salary that he used to make. We've had to adjust our life style a bit! We have also been humbled as we have had to receive God's provision in ways we wouldn't have necessarily chosen for ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes I still lose sight of what is important. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We currently really feel the need to live closer to the church, have a 4 bedroom house and a bigger yard for the children and for entertaining. It is easy to get discouraged because there is nothing close to the church that accommodates a ministry salary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I then realize what is really important and I pray, "Lord, help me to desire you above all else!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've had almost 20 years to think about it and if I now had three wishes, it would be to know more of the love of the Father, experience more of the redemption of Christ, and move more fully in the power of the Holy Spirit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I look forward to seeing how the Lord is going to work on our behalf, move mountains and perform miracles but above all else, he is the joy set before me and the main one I seek! He alone can fulfill my every need!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the Kingdom of God and is righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.</i></b></span></blockquote>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236075271180653598noreply@blogger.com0