Monday, January 11, 2016
Day 4 of 21 'As Long as You Love Me': As Long As You Love Me
Day 4 of 21 'As Long as You Love Me': As Long As You Love Me: Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you! Isaiah 60:1 Day four of 21. It's a very low-key day. I'm just pon...
Day 4 of 21 'As Long as You Love Me': Day 5 of 21 "Pioneer"
Day 4 of 21 'As Long as You Love Me': Day 5 of 21 "Pioneer": Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you - Isaiah 60 I'm hearing the word 'Pioneering.' What is the offi...
Day 2 of 21: Let's Get Physical and Spiritual
Day 2 of 21: Let's Get Physical and Spiritual: It's time to arise and shine and give God the glory, glory; People of the Lord! Day 2, no sweets, no meats. Pressing in for more of th...
Day 2 of 21: Day 3 of 21 - steadFAST
Day 2 of 21: Day 3 of 21 - steadFAST: "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1) Oh my goodness...Can I say 'h...
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Day 7 of 21 - Daniel Fast - Practical?
Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you. Isaiah 60:1
Mark 14:13-14 -And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
The Lord wants us to go when he says go...do what he says to do...FOLLOW him...WHEREVER he enters, say to the MASTER of the house, 'WHERE is my guest room, where I may EAT the Passover with my disciples?'
Is there anything practical about this dialogue? I am very logical. I am very sensible. I am, also, very spontaneous. I am very child-like. I try to position myself to HEAR what the spirit of the Lord is saying. I read the word and take it at face-value. If we want to Fellowship with the Lord, it isn't gonna always be 'practical.' Let's look up the word: PRACTICAL - consisting of, involving, or resulting from practice or action: of, relating to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work: mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure.
Mark 14:13-14 -And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
The Lord wants us to go when he says go...do what he says to do...FOLLOW him...WHEREVER he enters, say to the MASTER of the house, 'WHERE is my guest room, where I may EAT the Passover with my disciples?'
Is there anything practical about this dialogue? I am very logical. I am very sensible. I am, also, very spontaneous. I am very child-like. I try to position myself to HEAR what the spirit of the Lord is saying. I read the word and take it at face-value. If we want to Fellowship with the Lord, it isn't gonna always be 'practical.' Let's look up the word: PRACTICAL - consisting of, involving, or resulting from practice or action: of, relating to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work: mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure.
I understand the word practical in many senses of the word itself, but when it comes to Following Holy Spirit and fellowshipping with him, practicality is thrown out the window.
I'm thinking about the UPPER ROOM...In Mark, the disciples were mysteriously led to the UPPER ROOM to eat the Passover meal with Jesus. There was no practical guidelines for this act of obedience. The Lord gave clues, the disciples obeyed. They listened and obeyed...In this instance the disciples shared their last meal with Jesus. They loved him. They didn't want this fellowship with him to ever end. When Jesus told them what was going to happen, their practicality set in. Their familiarity of common practice guided their words, their actions, their thoughts. They began to get practical in their thoughts of how they would not let the radical invasion of the enemy take their Lord and Master away from them. Peter cut the ear of a soldier off...That was practical to him. Make him bleed, keep him away from Jesus...Stop him! Practical...Jesus, being RADICAL, healed the soldier's ear and surrendered his will over to his accusers.
What is the definition of RADICAL? thoroughgoing or extreme, especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms: person who holds or follows strong convictions or extreme principles; extremist.
Acts 1:14 -These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
The followers of Christ were Radical. They were extremists. They were in ONE accord in prayer and supplications in the upper room. They separated themselves. They isolated themselves for the sole purpose of hearing and waiting until something happened.
Acts 2:1-4 -When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated, all of them were together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance
There is NOTHING practical about 'SUDDENLY' ( unawares, i.e. unexpectedly). There is, also, nothing PRACTICAL about 'Tongues of Fire.' (fiery tongues). Radical Holy Spirit fell upon them all and unpractical things began occurring. Let me tell you about PRACTICAL...When the 'Religious' people, who were very practical saw this occurring, they immediately began judging out of a place of condemnation, practicality and judgement. 'THEY ARE ALL DRUNK!'
That would be interesting to see the radical invasion of Holy Spirit verses the Practicality of the Religious spirit. Clash of the Titans, if you will.
I can't be conformed to the patterns of this world. I am not a friend of this world, therefore, I can NEVER conform to practicality when it comes to serving Jesus. I stand with an expectant spirit...praying, fasting, waiting, my heart filled to overflowing with Holy Spirit. I will be a vessel for Holy Spirit to flow thru. He will fill my mouth with tongues of fire and I will speak and decree a thing and it will be established. I am only visiting here for a short time. Heaven is my home where Radical signs and wonders come from. Wow...I am so homesick for heaven to invade this place I am journeying thru.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Day 6 of 21 - What do I have to say today? BLAH!
Arise and Shine for the Glory of the Lord has risen among you. Isaiah 60:1
I have nothing special to blog about today. My spirit is BLAH! I feel tired, sad, and like a log...unenthused by pretty much everything except this song that I continually keep playing over and over on repeat...It's ministering to my weary soul.
God puts special people in our lives that touch our hearts and souls so deeply that they will always hold a treasured place in our memories. Mr. Rice is one of those special treasured memories I continually carry in my heart. My world was so dark at home during that age, he was a source of light and hope to me. Even as I feel darkness wanting to choke out the Father of Lights in my life now, he can't. The Lord has put so many special people in my life who love me; cherish me and value me. I am so abundantly blessed and thankful for the Father's love. I know that He only disciplines those He loves and with that, I give him full permission to lead me in whatever way He directs. I know every good and perfect gift is from the Father of Lights and I trust him!
God carries us on his shoulders also. He is such a kind Father. He carries us through the most difficult of times in our lives. He's a good, good Father!
and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:31 (NASB)
I encourage Mothers and Fathers, ARISE! Shine! There is a world beyond your four walls that is desperate for a touch of the Father's love and acceptance. Love without conditions...without limits...You just may change someone's life for the better!
Earlier today I sat thinking back on my life thinking about the many times God placed unmerited love and favor on my life.
One special moment that came to mind was my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Rice. He was a very kind man. I didn't have any safe men in my life and I looked forward to going to school to get away from home. Mr. Rice used to use a spray mouth freshener. My friend and I would go over to him like little birdies and open our mouths for a 'squirt, squirt.' He would give us two squirts of peppermint mouth freshener and off we would go
continuing on in recess. He used to permit us to line up our lip glosses on the desks and we would look at all the different flavors. We would make a big circle on the table and look at the variety of flavors that we wanted to collect next.
I always talked a lot; A LOT. At home, no one listened; except all of my animal friends. They listened and loved me and loved when I talked to them. Humans at home did not listen or care to hear anything I had to say, except my sister...haha...So by the time I went to school, I had lots of word that needed to escape my lips. I'm sure, after many warnings, Mr. Rice finally had to follow up on his threats to me and use me as an example of disobedient behavior. I couldn't help not talking when he talked. I just had so much to say! He grabbed the paddle and escorted me to the closet and spanked me. I was a very offended nine year old. I was dismayed that the teacher I respected and loved as a father figure paddled me. What does the scriptures say about the father disciplining those he loves? Proverbs 3:11-12 - 11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Mr. Rice was the first healthy male role model in my life. Other times in his classroom, during recess, the girls would take off our clogs and walk around the room without shoes. Some of those times when we took our clogs off, we would play Chinese jump rope. It was one of my favorite games. I would look across the hall and see Mrs. Churchill's class during recess and was so thankful that she wasn't my teacher. She was old and grumpy. One day in fourth grade, I was showing off in gym class. When affection is void in your life, you will show off to show your worth. The gym teachers were videotaping the gym class, I took full advantage of showing off my gymnastic skills...We had to do round offs on the mat. I kept doing them over and over and suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my ankle and realized that as I was coming down my foot twisted off the corner of the mat. I hopped off to the girl's locker room. I was crying in pain. Mr. Rice came back to get our class after gym class was over. He looked at me and saw how much pain I was in, so with his huge father's heart, he lifted me up on his shoulders and carried me back to class. This fourth grade teacher, once again, inspired my heart. I had finally found a safe man in my life. He was a father figure to me. That day, I forgot all about he disciplining me. His love trumped the disgrace of discipline. The day, he carried me on his shoulders wincing in pain was very special to me. Never had I been shown valuable enough to a man in my life to be carried without shame attached to it. Even when my great grandfather came to pick me up early from school as I waited in the nurse's office, Mr. Rice carried me upon his shoulders to the office . My great grandmother iced up my ankle. The swelling would not go down and they ended up taking me to the hospital. I had fractured my ankle. I got a cast that covered my foot up to my knee. The crutches were fun and the special attention at school made the challenge of walking up our hill in the snow using crutches to get to the bus more pleasant, knowing when I got to school, I'd get fed breakfast and valued by my father figure, Mr. Rice.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 (ESV)
God carries us on his shoulders also. He is such a kind Father. He carries us through the most difficult of times in our lives. He's a good, good Father!
and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:31 (NASB)
I encourage Mothers and Fathers, ARISE! Shine! There is a world beyond your four walls that is desperate for a touch of the Father's love and acceptance. Love without conditions...without limits...You just may change someone's life for the better!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Day 3 of 21 - steadFAST
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)
Oh my goodness...Can I say 'hellur' to muscles that I didn't know existed...What? I was planning to do the treadmill at the gym. My son says, "hey mom, you should take the fusion class." I had been on the treadmill for 15 minutes by then and goodness, time was going slower than watching grass grow.
I agreed and went into the class. Meanwhile, when my son turned on the treadmill for me, I was like...um, wait? What does this do and that do? It was moving slowly and I was like hey, I like this speed. I kept picturing myself flying off the back and landing flat on my face. I'm a dancer. I love to dance. Dancing burns lots of calories and raises my heartrate quickly...Treadmill; new world for me! I slowly increased my speed and incline. I think I was at 5.5 for incline and 2.2 for a while at speed. I looked over at my son and he was like, "work out." haha...o yeah...
So here I am in this class...Meanwhile, I don't know how to lift weights. I have never held a bar with weights on each side of it. The instructor is grabbing this thing and that thing... and I'm like what is happening...What in the world is that? I'm staring at the other people in the class and they are looking at me like, 'psssh newbie!' I don't think I've voluntarily done pushups on purpose for decades...We worked every muscle; thus FUSION...When you're sore before class is over, you know that you're in for visitation from some long lost muscles that you never even realized were a part of your body...
My son told me he was proud of me for taking the class and then I suddenly realized I had walked thru day 2 of my 21 day Daniel fast doing things I had never planned on doing and yet, so glad I, at least, tried. It's such an exciting time...I'm feeling invigorated and revived.
I went to intercessory prayer and we began praying and I heard the Lord speak SteadFAST into my spirit. I knew immediately the meaning of that word had several meanings. It is a compound word. The things the Lord is about to do will be FAST...Suddenly, expediently...Let's look at the two definitions.
STEAD
FAST
Psalm 112:17 - He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting [confidently relying on and believing] in the Lord.
Oh my goodness...Can I say 'hellur' to muscles that I didn't know existed...What? I was planning to do the treadmill at the gym. My son says, "hey mom, you should take the fusion class." I had been on the treadmill for 15 minutes by then and goodness, time was going slower than watching grass grow.
I agreed and went into the class. Meanwhile, when my son turned on the treadmill for me, I was like...um, wait? What does this do and that do? It was moving slowly and I was like hey, I like this speed. I kept picturing myself flying off the back and landing flat on my face. I'm a dancer. I love to dance. Dancing burns lots of calories and raises my heartrate quickly...Treadmill; new world for me! I slowly increased my speed and incline. I think I was at 5.5 for incline and 2.2 for a while at speed. I looked over at my son and he was like, "work out." haha...o yeah...
So here I am in this class...Meanwhile, I don't know how to lift weights. I have never held a bar with weights on each side of it. The instructor is grabbing this thing and that thing... and I'm like what is happening...What in the world is that? I'm staring at the other people in the class and they are looking at me like, 'psssh newbie!' I don't think I've voluntarily done pushups on purpose for decades...We worked every muscle; thus FUSION...When you're sore before class is over, you know that you're in for visitation from some long lost muscles that you never even realized were a part of your body...
My son told me he was proud of me for taking the class and then I suddenly realized I had walked thru day 2 of my 21 day Daniel fast doing things I had never planned on doing and yet, so glad I, at least, tried. It's such an exciting time...I'm feeling invigorated and revived.
I went to intercessory prayer and we began praying and I heard the Lord speak SteadFAST into my spirit. I knew immediately the meaning of that word had several meanings. It is a compound word. The things the Lord is about to do will be FAST...Suddenly, expediently...Let's look at the two definitions.
STEAD
1. The place, position, or function properly or customarily occupied by another.
2. Advantage; service; purpose: To be of advantage or service to; benefit.
FAST
1. Acting, moving, or capable of acting or moving quickly; swift.
2. a. Accomplished in relatively little time:
If you look at the COMPOUND meaning of the word steadFAST, I hear the Lord saying, you will be taking your place and position that has been occupied by another SWIFTLY!
It's time to begin doing things we've never done before! It's time to make change happen by changing the way we do things.
STEADFAST
2. Fixed or unchanging:
3. Fixed or unmovable:
It's time to BE and LIVE out being STEADFAST! Our identities are in Christ! HE is unswerving, unchanging, and unmovable! He is GREATER in us than he that is in this world!
What does the word of God say about being steadfast?
Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 57:7 - My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises
Psalm 112:17 - He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting [confidently relying on and believing] in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 -Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Even though I was so out of my comfort zone yesterday at the gym. I remained steadfast. Even though I had NO idea what I was doing, I continued. By faith, I exercised. By faith, I listened to the trainer tell me what to do. By faith, I proceeded, even though I had not done a lot of what I experienced for the first time. I labored and it was NOT in vain. How do I know? My everything hurts today. My body is alive and well. Physically, I feel a change occurring. As I press into the Lord, I know Spiritually, change is occurring as well!
Hebrews 6:19-20 -We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
What does being STEADFAST look like? I'll leave you with a picture that will speak a thousand words!
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Let's Get Physical and Spiritual
It's time to arise and shine and give God the glory, glory; People of the Lord!
Day 2, no sweets, no meats. Pressing in for more of the Lord. As I empty myself from the inside out of toxins in my life, I will begin to see a transformation in my life. The same goes for the spiritual toxins in my life. Physically, I will begin the treadmill today. Spiritually, I will begin the spiritual treadmill. Time to press into more of what the Lord has in store for me for HIS glory.
Breakfast: 1/4 cup Steel Cut oats...I don't normally eat breakfast, so I'm believing this will give me the energy I need to begin this physical and spiritual transformation.
I'm hearing the "Let's get Physical" song by Olivia Newton John in my head. It's time to get Physical and Spiritual. "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." 3 John 1:2 ESV
Spiritual and Physical training is laborious. However, worth the trade off. If you want to change things in your life, you need to begin changing the way you do things.
In Daniel 10:2-3 ESV, the Lord gave Daniel a mysterious dream. When he awoke from the dream, he was troubled. He set his heart to understand the meaning and interpretation of that dream. Let's read what happened.
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Why was Daniel mourning? He saw something in his night vision that grieved his heart so greatly. It literally terrified him. It grieved his spirit and he began lamenting. He began praying. This is the beginning of his 21 days of no delicacies, no meat, and no wine for three weeks.
I have been in such a season on mourning. I need to get understanding. I need to get revelation. I need a holy visitation from my Father. So, here I pause. Here I continue on, setting my face towards heaven with a repentant heart; seeking the mysteries of God. As I begin to see the physical manifestations of changing the way I typically do things. I know my spiritual appearance will change as well.
As I awoke from my sleep this morning, I heard Holy Spirit say, "Good morning, Sunshine...If you set your heart towards the Lord, seeking him...you WILL find him!
11'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Father,
I thank you that I lay down my rights. I lay down my plans. I lay down my life for the sake of KNOWING you. You are for me. You are with me. You go before me. I need you now more than yesterday. I need you more than the air I breathe. I'm setting my heart to seek you with all of my mind, all of my heart, all of my soul. I am yours. You are mine! I'm seeking after you, Lord. No other lovers will do. I'm listening.
Day 2, no sweets, no meats. Pressing in for more of the Lord. As I empty myself from the inside out of toxins in my life, I will begin to see a transformation in my life. The same goes for the spiritual toxins in my life. Physically, I will begin the treadmill today. Spiritually, I will begin the spiritual treadmill. Time to press into more of what the Lord has in store for me for HIS glory.
Breakfast: 1/4 cup Steel Cut oats...I don't normally eat breakfast, so I'm believing this will give me the energy I need to begin this physical and spiritual transformation.
I'm hearing the "Let's get Physical" song by Olivia Newton John in my head. It's time to get Physical and Spiritual. "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." 3 John 1:2 ESV
Spiritual and Physical training is laborious. However, worth the trade off. If you want to change things in your life, you need to begin changing the way you do things.
In Daniel 10:2-3 ESV, the Lord gave Daniel a mysterious dream. When he awoke from the dream, he was troubled. He set his heart to understand the meaning and interpretation of that dream. Let's read what happened.
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Why was Daniel mourning? He saw something in his night vision that grieved his heart so greatly. It literally terrified him. It grieved his spirit and he began lamenting. He began praying. This is the beginning of his 21 days of no delicacies, no meat, and no wine for three weeks.
I have been in such a season on mourning. I need to get understanding. I need to get revelation. I need a holy visitation from my Father. So, here I pause. Here I continue on, setting my face towards heaven with a repentant heart; seeking the mysteries of God. As I begin to see the physical manifestations of changing the way I typically do things. I know my spiritual appearance will change as well.
As I awoke from my sleep this morning, I heard Holy Spirit say, "Good morning, Sunshine...If you set your heart towards the Lord, seeking him...you WILL find him!
11'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Father,
I thank you that I lay down my rights. I lay down my plans. I lay down my life for the sake of KNOWING you. You are for me. You are with me. You go before me. I need you now more than yesterday. I need you more than the air I breathe. I'm setting my heart to seek you with all of my mind, all of my heart, all of my soul. I am yours. You are mine! I'm seeking after you, Lord. No other lovers will do. I'm listening.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)