Goggles

My niece, Gabby, is five years old. She a bright, intelligent little girl that probably communicates better than any five year old I have ever met. Gabby asked Jesus to come into her heart several weeks ago. She was at school and asked her teacher if she could ask Jesus to come in and the teacher encouraged her to wait and talk with her parents at home. At pick up, the teacher informed my sister that Gabby had asked about asking Jesus into her heart. With tears in her eyes, my sister drove home, called her husband and they decided for my sister to go ahead and talk with her (before he got home from work). My sister got her Bible and they laid down on the bed, looked at some Scripture and talked about what asking Jesus to come in meant. Gabby fully understood and quickly asked Jesus to come into her heart. PTL!!!
However, there was a whole other issue to this Jesus thing-being baptized. After asking Jesus to come into her heart, Gabby knew that baptism was the next step. It meant going underwater in a baptistry and this was going to be a problem. But Gabby, had thought this through! She is a smart kid and she had figured out an answer to her dilemna. She explained to her Mom that she was a little afraid of the whole baptism thing, but that she would do it (because Jesus said to) if she could wear her goggles while being baptized! What a hoot! My sister told her that she didn't think Jesus would have a problem with her wearing her goggles.
When my sister told me the story, I cracked up laughing, but saw a cool corelation spiritually. Gabby has just asked Jesus into her heart and is a little afraid of the next step. So she wants to wear her goggles. She wants to be able to see and not have water in her eyes. What a beautiful picture. The Lord has just opened the eyes of her heart to see Him and he desire is to continue to see through the next step of baptism. How cool is it that a 5 year old understands what so many of us don't. I am sure Gabby's reasons for wearing goggles is not spiritual-but what a cool visual for us...a young girl, in the waters of the baptistry...simply wanting to see and breathe.
So Gabby was baptized yesterday....and SHE WORE HER GOGGLES....isn't that AWESOME!
Her daddy had the opportunity to baptize her. A Father, helping his daughter to see, breathe and come into the family of God. What a picture that is!!!!
And so God opens the eyes of her heart....breathes life into her flesh-that she might live forever!
ALL FOR YOU

Own NOTHING

I was just sitting at my computer when a message pops up from AIM. It says, "own nothing, have everything." I think it was advertising downloads, but it hit my heart as a message from the Lord.
Paul said in Phil 3:7-16 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from {the} Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which {comes} from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Wow...I love that thought....I own nothing. It is all loss in view of knowing Christ. And yet I have everything, because in Christ I have all things.

In a day when we are challenged by the idea to own everything and have everything, God is calling out a people who will own nothing and still have everything-because we have a view to eternity.
It's all for YOU!
ALL FOR YOU

Lover of my Soul

I had a little bit of a break down on Monday night, for various reasons. But mostly because I have been pushing really hard for a long time and just needed to let some stuff out. Jim was so awesome about it, reminding me that our home is as much a Sanctuary for me as I try to make it for other people.
In the midst of all the crying and sharing, he just took me in his arms and told me that he loved me for who I was, who God created me to be and for who I am growing to become-more like Jesus. He took care of me, pampered me and reminded me that he is the lover of my soul. He was the perfect picture of Jesus to me. How awesome God is to give me a husband that loves me as Christ loves the church-giving Himself up for her and loving her no matter what. I am twice blessed-given to the Lover of my Soul-both of them.. I love you Jim.....
ALL FOR YOU

It's HIS DEAL

I have been soaking in saying for the last few days that is radically changing the beat of my heart.
Religion is our way of getting God into our "deal".
Christianity is God's way of getting us into His.
Every one of us are trying to get God to join our "deal", whatever that may be. Jesus, bless this, help this, fix this, make this....We are always trying to get God to bless our religious activity. And yet religion is what makes the Father sick at His stomach. Jesus is being lost in a religion that bares his name.
God is all about getting us to join HIS DEAL-not the other way around. He even sent His Son so that we could join His deal. He invites us to join Him where He is at work. He is not waiting to be invited into where we are working. He is longing for us to join His activity, His plan, His deal. But instead, we spend most of our days trying to get God to join ours.
I don't think God will ever join our deal....for then we would be God-in control of the plan. I think God's plan from the beginning was to make a way for us to join His. Somewhere in the midst of that plan-we misunderstood and got religious. We think that we should invite God into OUR lives, OUR plans, OUR future and OUR goals. When instead, HE IS INVITING us to JOIN HIS!
So maybe it is time we stop asking God to bless our deal-and just join HIS!
ALL FOR YOU

Worshipping....

It is amazing to me that we will offer more to the pleasures of this world than we do in worship to our Father. We will pay more, love more, rejoice more and serve more. I know...we say that is not true, but if we were really honest, few of us abandon ourselves in worship like we do at a football game. And the last time we gave as much to God as we did M/C-well, we can't remember when. And who can remember the last time we spent more hours serving the Father at church or somewhere else than we did at PTA, Little League, Boy Scouts, Dance or whatever. And even more astonishing is the thought that when given the chance to stand in line for a movie or for a worship service-the movie always wins.
But I believe that the Lord is awakening a few, stirring the hearts of a remnant, captivating the souls of a group of people who will abandon the norm of Christianity for a barbaric faith that looks more like Jesus than any before now. As a result, I believe church will look radically different. This group of people is called Revolutionaries-a people who live in concert with the Bible, but have no patience for irrelevant traditions and customs, who won't go with the flow, but seek a spark and are willing to pay the price to see the fire of heaven fall. They make people uncomfortable and are not very popular. But they are a people who are passionate about following after Jesus-not as the church has defined, but as God has outlined. They are a people who want to start a REVOLUTION, leading to Change...
I want to be a Revolutionary!
ALL FOR YOU

YOU ARE MY JOY

Every branch that bears fruit, HE PRUNES it so that it may bear MORE fruit. What a thought for those of us who long to be fruit bearers. The reality is that if we are being productive for the Kingdom, working hard for the Lord and accomplishing much for His glory that the Father is going to prune us. We understand why. Because without pruning, we will not continue to be productive. However, when the pruning comes, we often see it as discipline or hardship. When in reality, it is the Father pruning us so that we can bear MORE fruit. For the Father is glorified when you bear MORE fruit, proving that you are a disciple and not a hypocrite. Pruning means More fruit...are you up for that?
but I guess the crazy thought of all this is that Jesus says the things so that we will have joy in Him and that our joy will be made full or complete. It is in the pruning, which allows us to bear more fruit, which gives God glory that we will find true Joy-Joy in Him. He is our Joy. So get out the shears and clip away...for more fruit, for more glory, and FOR MY JOY!
God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him! ALL FOR YOU

Live or Die

While at Passion last week, my heart was awakened and stirred by the Lord. We all need times of refreshing, where HIS presence brings to life truth inside of us. I stood in the arena, filled with other believers, worshipping with all that I had within me. Tears were streaming down my face, my shoulders ached because I could not make myself put my arms down. I was like a child, wanting to be held by my daddy, arms outstretched and crying for Him to hold me. And Hold me He did. I laid my head on His chest and wept, while proclaiming that He is my life and that I would gladly die for Him and His glory.
We often think of death as the worst thing and so I was trying to say that I would do the very worst of things, endure the hardest of things for HIM.
In that moment, I heard HIM speak clearly to MY heart saying, "I would rather that you live for me...for that is harder! I have already done the dying."
It was a moment of revelation for me. Christ died for me. And I would gladly die for my Lord. Although we think that is the worst thing-to die for Him....He was very plain with me. Dying meant I would be with Him and that isn't the worst thing, but the very best of things. The harder thing to do, the thing in which He gets even more glory is to live for Him in this perverse and wicked generation, harassed, troubled, suffering and struggling.
Yes, He has called many to die for HIM...and I am not minimizing their sacrifice. But, His question to me was not would I die....He knew I would do that....but would I live for His glory everyday?
Rom 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Isa 26:8 YES LORD!
ALL FOR YOU

leaving a mark

Leaving my mark on Passion 06-Doxa on the graffitti art!
ALL FOR YOU

This week was spent at Passion 06. I have so much to write about that, but tonight, my brain hurts. It has been an incredible journey with the Lord-ABIDING in HIS presence for 4 days. Dwelling, tabernacling, marinating in Him. It was truly amazing and indescribable. But today, I have walked away with a thought that challenges my heart for worship. Today, I am weary from worship. NOT weary in the tired of it sense, but weary in the I am tired from it sense. I am weary, worn out, spent and tired from pressing in so close, from drawing near, from listening, worshipping and praising. My shoulders ache from holding my hands in the air for 4 days straight. My knees hurt from being on them. My voice is almost gone from singing and shouting to Him. My heart is full, my body is weary.
How many times in life do we get weary FROM worshipping. I know many of us get weary OF worshipping. And yet, if we are full on worshippers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would be like David, who danced with ALL HIS MIGHT. How often do we tire FROM worshipping. We tire from work, from play, from relationships...but do we ever worship so hard and press in so close that we are worn out by it.
It is a good feeling...I think...I will do it more! ALL FOR YOU

Religious conformists

I am so taken with the phrase RELIGIOUS CONFORMISTS, for I believe that is what the church has become; a group of people that conform to a religious liturgy instead of people who are passionate followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and all aspects of Him. I have been wondering lately how we got to this point. Jesus was not a religious conformist. In fact, He stood in the face of all religion and proclaimed that those who were religious conformists were pharisees and lost. He continually accused those who were conformist of not knowing Him at all. And yet, churches today are full of religious conformist-people who conform to a form of religion, who honor them with their lips, but with their deeds deny Him. Pious people that look down upon "sinners" and long to have things their way. People who are more concerned about form, method and fashion instead of seeing where God is at work and joining Him there.
Jesus could not stand such-and so I am wondering if He is saddened in what He sees in those who claim to wear His name. Are we merely religious people. And if we are not, how do we look, act, live differently from those who are? What sets us apart-the religious activity is the same.
It is a matter of the heart-one who is passionately following-not at a distance, but chasing after, refusing to be conformed to anything except the Image of God, knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing, reflecting His glory in all that is done. Not conformists....but renegades for the Kingdom.
Maybe it is time for a remnant of renegades to rise up and slay religion only to unleash a journey of relationship with the ONE who created us for just that! After all, it was the religious who nailed Jesus to the cross in the first place.
ALL FOR YOU

light and power

During the recent ice storm, many of us lost power in our homes for several days. It was odd to drive by the homes, especially at night and to see the darkness inside. As we drove, we looked for any sign of Light-to indicate that power had been restored. As we saw the lights in the homes, we knew that electricity had been reinstated in that home.
The same could be said for each of us. The world is driving by looking for Light-any sign of power in our lives. But sometimes, all they see is darkness. How sad it is to me to think that we have the LIGHT of the World, the POWER from on high and yet, all people see is darkness. People see the LIGHT and know you have the POWER. As we LIGHT our homes with electricity, should we not LIGHT the world with the POWER that dwells in us. For as they see the LIGHT in us, they will know that POWER has been restored to our lives...
So quit living in darkness and walk into the LIGHT-the world is watching and looking...ALL FOR YOU

beavers

Okay, so I went to see the Narnia movie. I must confess, I haven't ready the books, so I didn't know exactly what to expect. Jim and I had talked about it a little and I was prepared to look for meaning beyond the story. After all, that is how I live my life.
As we got into the story, I was a little thrown by the beavers. I got that the wolves could be demon angels, doing the the evil one's bidding. But I couldn't figure out the beavers. In the middle of the movie, I asked Jim what the beavers meant. Jim looked at me as if I was crazy and simply stated that it was a movie and that they were pretend. Now, I am frustrated. I asked him how I was supposed to know what to read into and what not to read into.
When we got home, I was talking to Drew about the movie. Come to find out, he has read almost all the books-started in third grade. How I missed that, I am not sure. Towards the end of the conversation, I made mention of the beavers and how if he figures out what they mean, I would like to know.
Drew replied by saying, "that's easy mom". Awestruck, I asked him to explain. He quickly explained that the beavers were the Word of God. I asked him how he got that. He said that the beavers were those who gave instruction and lead the characters to Jesus. They introduced the kids to Jesus and they instructed them on the journey.
How my 12 year old picked up on that and I didn't, I am not sure. But I thought it was awesome that he deduced that the beavers were the Word of God. So now, I am all about the BEAVERS.
point of the story...sometimes kids know more than we think and can explain things to us. They see more than we see and are often paying closer attention than what we think. So, becareful how you live...you may say one thing and do another-and think they aren't seeing it. But they are. If they can understand Narnia-they can understand you! And if they can see that Beavers are the Word, they certainly are capable of studying the Word and learning about Jesus. Let's not sell them short.
ALL FOR YOU

under armor

Recently, Noah's coach gave him some UnderArmor to wear as part of his uniform. His coach wanted to be sure that the team was protected from the elements. He didn't buy some cheap imitation, but gave them the real gear, so that they would be able to perform at their best, uneffected by the elements.
UnderArmor is the new rage for anyone who is an athelete. UnderArmor is athletic wear that helps protect atheletes from the elements. The clothing has the ability to help keep you cool during the heat of the summer. The winter wear has ability to keep you warm during the cold of the winter. It is amazing! When you are dressed in the right gear, you are protected.

I wonder how many of us are dressed in the "right" gear for atheletics, but don't have our underarmor on for spiritual battles. We are all about wearing our UnderArmor to protect us from the elements of athletics, but I am more concerned that we have our UnderArmor on for the spiritual elements that are attacking all around us. God has given us HIS Armor-to help us to be able to stand firm against the devil and the spiritual forces of wickedness. He has given us the belt of TRUTH, the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, the shoes of PEACE, the shield of FAITH and the helmet of SALVATION. God has not given us some cheap imitation, but the UnderArmor that is needed to help us to perform at our best against the spiritual elements that are against us.
So get dressed...and don't forget your UnderArmor. ALL FOR YOU

Christmas on the outside

My mom was decorating her house for Christmas this week. She was frustrated because she was tired and didn't have time to get it all done. She wanted to get the lights up on the outside of the house. As they were working to get the lights up outside, she made a statement to my Dad that shook her after she made it. She said. "if I can just get it to look like Christmas on the outside, I won't worry about the inside."
Isn't that how most of us live? If we can just get the outside looking okay, we won't worry about the inside. We just want everyone to think all is well because we decorate the outside. We are more concerned with how things look.
Jesus addressed such issues. We might wash the outside of the cup, but the inside is still dirty. He called those people hypocrites. Many of us are more concerned with the outside "looking like Christmas" while the inside is still has crummy as usual. Jesus is sickened by such activity. He is looking for those who are full on worshippers. But more than that, He is looking for those who will not pretend that all is well, by dressing up the outside while the inside is a mess. Jesus is frustrated with people like this because they are harder to be touched by the Master, because they are too busy keeping the outside decorated to actually work on the inside. And they fear what others will see if they do actually work on the inside. Fortunately, my Mom was disgusted with herself for such a statement-for she is not a hypocrite, but one who is quick to see where Jesus wants to work. However, her thought was an honest one that most of us have...let's just look like everything is okay-and pretend. I don't want to be one who is simply decorated for Christmas, but one who is celebrating Christ all year long-outside and in!ALL FOR YOU

awakenings

God is awakening things in my heart. The truths He is opening my heart to excite me as I see Him at work in me....but I am grieved as well, both for my own sin and for what I see around me. I am truly praying for a great awakening. I was asking the Lord today to awaken the slumbering church...His body....to sin, to His presence...and to repentance.
For years, I have tried to act more religious than I am....to say the right things, to play the role of ministers wife. But my heart is being awakened to the fact that God does not want me to look religious to look good or to wear that religious mask. He is not happy with the civilized Christianity that our society likes to see. He is awakening my soul to a whole new kind of walk. I have my ear to heaven and am hearing more clearly than ever. I am tired of the religious and those who pretend...i just want to see some REAL Christians...chasing Him...and I want to be one of them! I don't want to see religious people who go to church, but people who are sold out, in love, passionate, intimate and journeying with God-on good AND bad days. I want to be that person and have laid down the mask of religion and am choosing to chase, to listen, to journey and to press in so that I may know HIM.
The greatest awakenings were birthed in prayer...I want to be stirred to the point of change....and have my heart awakened from the slumber. I am so burdened over the many who see truth, but are choosing not to walk in it because of what they might lose or what it might require of them here on earth. Choices....determine our future.
This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for a new home, church, family and friends...but, I am most grateful that the Lord is "undoing" me....I want to be undone...and to see Him clearly. I am most thankful that as more of me dies, more of Him lives in me. And I am crying out for more...an undoing, an awakening and a stirring of our hearts to lay aside religion and become a bride ready for the bridegroom, a follower that listens to the leader, a slave that serves the master and a son that longs to obey and love the Father. AWAKEN ME!
ALL FOR YOU

cooperating

Out biggest problem in our journey's with the Lord is that we don't cooperate with God. He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. He has placed His Spirit within us to help us with our weaknesses. He has not called us to do anything that He has not equipped us to be able to do. Why is it we fight against Him? We don't subject ourselves to His authority. We are not obedient and therefore there is war in our souls. What if I cooperated? submitted? obeyed? allowed the Spirit full reign? Would there be freedom from the battle? My biggest problem is not cooperating with what God is doing, but I am learning that cooperating beats warring against a God who is going to win. What He has for me is better than I can achieve. I must not be deceived into thinking that what God would ask or want from me would not be the best for me and for His glory. I must not believe the lie that what the world has to offer might be better than what God requires. Another words....I must cooperate with what God is doing....and quit fighting it....ALL FOR YOU

marvelous sight

Why is it that we think what we can accomplish on our own is better than what God can accomplish? Isn't faith and hope trusting in what we can not see? I think we miss out on great things because we only have faith and hope in what is seen. Romans 8 says, hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one hope for what he sees....that does not take faith! But the Spirit of God helps our weaknesses. I must confess, sometimes I am weak in this area. I do Believe that what God can do is better and more than I can do, but sometimes I am deceived into what I can see instead of hoping in what I can't. I am laying that down today-to say that I am waiting and watching for the Lord's doing-hoping and believing in what He is doing and knowing that it will be marvelous when He is done.
Ps 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

ALL FOR YOU

watching words

I have found myself lately, worried and anxious-which is not like me. Although, it isn't over life, food, shelter, clothing or the normal worries of life. It is over the KINGDOM. I have found myself concerned over what is going to happen in the future in the Kingdom of God. Maybe worried isn't the right word. Maybe, burdened is better. But in the sweetness of the Father, He gave me a Word this morning that I take comfort in. Jer 1:9 and 11. "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it." The things God has promised and said, He is watching over them to bring them about. I must be faithful to pray, but I must also realize that He is watching over these things-I don't have to. The great I AM is going to perform these things-I AM NOT! His word to me-WATCH AND SEE!ALL FOR YOU

Real men stand up

okay....number 2 blog from the bathroom...but hey, it is working!
My 3 year old has been potty trained for about 6 months. But for the life of me I have been unable to get him to go standing up. Maybe it is because I am a woman. But today, he saw his brother do it and for whatever reason it clicked. And guess what-break through...yep, he did it standing up. Then he had to call his dad and tell him and share with all his friends at MMO that he did it standing up.
Okay, I know this seems a little crass after yesterdays blog, but there is a point worth making.
Real men stand up. There is a process of becoming a man. The issue is not can you do it....the issue is do you stand up. NO...I am not talking about bathrooms any more. There comes a time, when men must make a stand. To stand up and be MEN. Sure you are a man, but BEING a man means standing up for what is right, when it is hard, inspite of persecution, despite loss. Real Men stand up, no matter the cost, regardless of what everyone else thinks whenever it is required. Real Men stand up.
My son is in the process of learning that. It started at the potty, but I pray it doesn't stop there.
The question remains...do you stand up?
ALL FOR YOU

bad smells and fans

Why is it that a lot of my lessons come from times in the bathroom? I don't know...either. Yesterday, Micah was in the bathroom doing his business-if you know what I mean. For a little kid, he sure can stink it up. So, I walked into the bathroom and turned on the fan. He immediately let me know that he did not want the fan on. He told me to leave, so I would not smell the stink. I explained that the fan would remove the stink, but he refused the assistance.
It got me thinking, what kind of person wants to sit in his own stink? (other than Men...lol) And then I was reminded of the fact that there are many of us who refuse the assistance of the Father to remove the stinch of sin in our lives. Instead, we would rather sit in our own sin/stench instead of allowing the Father to remove it.
I realized later that Micah is afraid of the fan-I guess the sound it makes frightens him. Again, it made me step back and question how many of us are afraid of the process that is required to remove the sin from our lives and therefore we would choose to remain in it.
Don't be a 3 year old....don't sit in your sin or your stench...allow the Father to help you deal-there is nothing to be afraid of. Your aroma will be better afterwards. Until then, the everyone around will know what you are sitting in!
ALL FOR YOU