Too often we move predicated upon our senses and not the leading or the unction of the Holy One dwelling inside.
Simple traps can include:
During worship in our fellowship, I received a vision I felt I was to share with the prophetic class I would be working with at night. Holding my granddaughter Naomi, the vision appeared and began to just “consume” me with intensity.
I saw a large ocean area far from the beach. The blue-green of the water intrigued me. In the far distance I saw the white crest of the waves from the foam as they moved.
And then my eyes saw the lone surfer in the water. Paddling, it was clear to see that he was losing his energy. In the back ground I saw the long, beginning arch of a gigantic wave. But the surfer was not seeing it. It got larger and larger in my view. The intensity of it was real. I could hear the hissing of the foam. I could hear the quiet as it began to consume the smaller waves.
The Lord took me out of that vision. I was looking into the eyes of my granddaughter. The music was playing. A couple was dancing.
I thought “wow, is this for now?” Nothing fit. Nothing made sense.
I went through worship a little discombobulated. I was thinking. Was he going to miss the wave? Was he going to turn around? The Lord spoke to me about timing. I thought of Issachar. (Funny my friend Mark would share about the woman and the oil who was from Shunem in the tribe of Issachar.)
Last night I shared with our prophetic class the vision and what I thought was being spoken.
There is a beginning and an end to most things. This describes where we might be. You are not too old (Caleb –Joshua 14:11-12), too small (Gideon-Judges 6:15)or too uneducated (Acts 4:13). You did not miss it. You may get caught up in the circumstance, but lift your eyes to the hills …wait …you can look inside! That is where your help comes from. You are not subject to atmospheres. You are the atmosphere. You are a thermostat and not a thermometer. (I Timothy 4 Paul asks this of Timothy.) You are not looking for the light, you are the light. You are not looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, for you are the light in the tunnel.(Matthew 5:14)
A wall of water can be pretty destructive. Or you can get on top of it. This is a season of walking on waters, (Matthew 14:22-33) of rising above (Isaiah 40:31) and being the head and not the tail. (Job 9:8)
I encouraged the class to take this word and begin to prophesy to their families, their friends their communities.
“Stand! Stand up! Get up! This is your season. This is your wave. This is it! The great wave that will sweep to families and friends, will wash over communities and nations! Your time is here! Look around. The wave is coming. No longer will you paddle but you will STAND!”
(Reminded me of a song by Sly and The Family Stone)
I think I want his jacket…
STAND (1969)
Stand!
In the end you’ll still be you
One that’s done all the things you set out to do
Stand!
There’s a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you’re going anywhere
Stand!
For the things you know are right
It’s the truth that the truth makes them so uptight
Stand!
All the things you want are real
You have you to complete and there is no deal
Stand!. stand!, ooh!
Stand!. stand!, ooh!
Stand!
You’ve been sitting much too long
There’s a permanent crease in your right and wrong
Stand
There’s a midget standing tall
And a giant beside him about to fall
Stand!. stand!, ooh!
Stand!. stand!, ooh!
Stand!
They will try to make you crawl
And they know what you’re saying makes sense and all
Stand!
Don’t you know that you are free
Well at least in your mind if you want to be
Everybody
Stand!, stand!
Veterans Day is to honor the living veterans amongst us. (As opposed to Memorial Day offering honor to those who have given their lives for their country.) Every time I see a flag, I think of the service my dad and others gave to for this great country of ours. And each time I see a man in uniform, I thank them for their service. But veterans do not wear their uniforms, except on special occasions for the most part.
The son of a military man, I learned the values of who they were and what they stood for. Regardless of whether you believe they ought to have been “over there” or not, it is a time to value the men and women of our country.
I know we have a lot going on in America, but I think it is important that we pray, as well as do what we can for these men and women. Many of them have made the sacrifice in their bodies, their families and their communities. These folks are our “family” and our community. We need to do what we can. Continue reading Veterans Day-A Day For The Living Warriors
A few months ago I began to write this and for whatever reason, I stopped. Then we moved. One of the things in our home is our refrigerator and the pictures of family and drawings. Children often come and look at it. When we moved, my wife put the pictures in a box and when we arrived here it was one of the first things done. (One person was quite surprised at the fact that the pictures were already up.) Nothing makes a house a home like pictures. Continue reading Pictures On The Walls
On my Facebook I have an ongoing message with my wife and children, called “Family Is Best!” (It is here we share with one another daily things, prayer requests, great things and little things.) There is no doubt in my mind in the truth of that statement. I have weathered enough storms and circumstances in 58 years to know.
I am the child of divorced parents and divorced twice myself, but I still have no thought in my mind that anything is better than family. Family is God given, God designed. Continue reading Family Is Best!
We often talk, teach and embrace the fact that Jesus forgave me and how great and awesome that is. And sometimes it stops right there.
Let me tell you it does not stop there. The scripture tell us that we are to forgive as well. Jesus us tells us in His “model” prayer that Mat 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Continue reading The Spirit Of Forgiveness
In a few short months my 6th grandchild will emerge into this world. Congratulations to Amy and Manley. Earlier this year my daughter was married in St. Lucia, where my wife and I were able to be part of the week with them.
This new child is important to them, to God and to us.
Bless them!
Lately, in the midst of so many conversations about relationships and restoration, I found myself caught up with this quote from King Lear.
I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall–I will do such things,– What they are, yet I know not: but they shall be The terrors of the earth. King Lear.
Why you might ask. Because in the midst of difficult circumstances unforgiveness gains a foothold. The inability to forgive or release another is a thought process of revenge. “They hurt me.” “You do not know what they did.” I agree. I may not know specifically but God does and He cares…about BOTH parties. The fuel of unforgiveness or revenge is centered in greed, fear, self-centeredness and pride. It is not about the situation as much as it is about “getting even” somehow, some way. Many might call it justice. But God has a New Covenant reality when it comes to justice or the meting out of judgment. James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. Romans 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. Continue reading Revenge Is Not From The Heart Of God
On Sunday at our church fellowship, a “tongue” was given and I had the interpretation. It had to do with restoration. (In the last few days I have had reports of restored relationships.) I have been “burdened” with the stretching and breaking of relationships the last month or so. It pains me to see marriages break up, children lost and hearts broken. I just hurt for people.
First, let me say I get that there are times where destruction and abuse and such have taken place. And I understand the need to move apart in the face of these things. That is NOT what I will be talking about. Secondly, my gift mix gives me a different observation perspective and I will share from there. And finally, I am a guy and I get some women may not think I get it! J
The last few months I have watched believing men and women talk divorce, file papers and avoid some of the biggest issues on the plate.Experientially what I see more than anything else is that it is the ability to:
That will change things!
I struggle with the broken relationships. I personally struggle from two past marriages and how they hurt my children though I had “no say” in the finality. (I could not do those 4 things above either.) I would not wish broken relationships on anyone.
And God has changed me…immensely! I get that “things happen” but folks we are believers! We are subject to change because of Him!
How do we get there?
I am a “grace” guy. I believe in allowing people the freedom to make choices, even when they are not healthy or good. I believe grace and truth are found in the person of Jesus Christ, and that grace is a person and His name is Jesus. I believe in extending grace, mercy and forgiveness.
His desire is to restore. Restoration can occur in many places but I believe first and foremost it is the heart of the Father to restore families. Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse
Restoration is defined as: the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.: the act of bringing back something that existed before: the act of returning something that was stolen or taken
If we say we believe in grace. That we believe in love. Well, I hate to be the bearer of “sad tidings” but we ought to walk it. You have to allow God to change you and move through you. You can have all the freedom you want and call it grace, but if it is trampling on others, hurting others and more, you are not operating in grace, and God is extending you mercy. Grace is the empowerment in your life to love, to forgive and to change.
Do not step up to the plate unless you are ready to hit!
A word on restoration speaks to the atmospheres and the powers of the enemy, but the reality of that word ought to bring change in us as well.
This is a new season for Tina and I.
I wrote this on Friday.
Today is a new season for Tina and I. Our 11th move in over 21 years together. November 1st 2013. (Lots of 1’s.) I have Christmas music playing in the new apartment while waiting for the cable guy to show up and hook up the internet. We will be moved out of our smoky apartment and into this nice quiet place.
Jacob woke up on Saturday morning and said “daddy, I love this place. I slept so well.” It was a busy weekend but everything is moved. So thankful for friends and family that helped this weekend make it happen.
And yesterday these were my thoughts.
Who would have thought moving would have removed the pain?
Over a year ago I became so sick that I could no longer carry my business. Hence a loss of income.
For over a year I have experienced pain levels of 8-10 each and every morning I had stayed in our apartment. The only respite was travel and staying somewhere else.
When it began I put off the doctor, but the sudden weight loss accompanied by the pain drove me to the doctor. Upon entering they wasted no time and scheduled batteries of tests, including endoscopy, blood work, allergy tests, CATscan and MRI. I had a tech who told me “you are here because you have cancer” at which I told him to “shut up.”
The end result was after nearly 6 months, they said they could find nothing. But I still experienced huge pain levels.
Before our move I was driven to just not moving for hours and hours, even though knowing to go outside would be “healthier” just getting up sometimes took all my energy. For the most part, few knew the extent of what was endured.
We are moved and I am thankful. Overnight the pain left. My voice is being restored.
I am thankful for all the friends and family who have made this possible. I really appreciate each and every one of you.
I am not sure what exactly is on the table for the future. Tina and I have a day to ourselves on some levels as I move one more carload today.
A lot of things are up in the air, so to speak. But grace is the empowerment to overcome.
Thanks for all you do.
A new season. For us. For many.
