Last night was a dream night. It was kind of like going to a bunch of different amusement parks. First an island adventure, then to the Middle East and then somewhere in Southeast Asia. Funny, I do not go to bed with those places on my mind for the most part. Occasionally before falling asleep I will pray for a place, but usually I am “programming” for answers, for encounters. So, going places and seeing people is not something I “look” for. Continue reading Remembering The Good Old Days-Overtaken!
Category Archives: Ministry
Read The News, Change The World!
As I read the news I see that we are “desperately” in need of change. As I listen to friends I see “how much I could be praying for”. Even in my own life I have “needs” or things that I would desire to be different. At some point I will carry my thinking up the stairs and into my room and spend time with Him. I have already spent some time with Him. He is my rock, my refuge, my peace.
I read on the burning topics of the day; economy, racism, finance and pain. I pray over the articles as I read through. I think like Radio Shack, “you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers”. People have pain, we have answers. I am not talking about platitudes or premises of false hope, but we have Him, the ANSWER! Continue reading Read The News, Change The World!
The Sounds Of Abundance!
I walked over to the garden. I stared at the flowers. The vegetables. It was amazing! And the vision disappeared.
So lush, so fruitful, so abundant!
As a child, a neighbor was looking for a young person to help on his small farm-ette. I soon became his right hand man, helping him a couple of times a day for a quarter each time. I would go down in the morning and feed the chickens and geese, gather their eggs and check for critters! Once a week I would shovel chicken manure out into a pile for summer growing. I would have to shoosh the geese out because if they got excited in the small coop it could be dangerous. Continue reading The Sounds Of Abundance!
My Family Church, The Village Church
Someone asked me what I think makes our church culture different.
The following are my views and only my views. They are not representative of everyone’s beliefs or experiences. Simply mine. Our core values and thinking can be viewed here.
The fast answer is honor of one another, the love for one another and the fact that we are family.
Live For 1,000 Years?
I woke up this morning and thought, “I will use the beginnings of what I sketched out for today” but for some reason the task of that thought process is daunting. I looked at it and felt my “energy” level too low to accomplish. Not sure why. Did not stay up very late. My dreams were “rough” but not abnormal. My dreams are still in “ponder” mode.
I thought maybe I would table the thoughts of the last week or so where I have posed some questions I felt needed to be asked of myself as well as perhaps by others, but reading a friend’s post brought a topic near and dear to my heart. So, I will jump off her thoughts. Continue reading Live For 1,000 Years?
The Big Hill…
Big Hill
When I was perhaps 3 or 4 years old, my parents bought me a pair of little skis. Perhaps not more than 18 inches long, I would climb up on the snow banks the plows had created. These were probably no more than 8 feet high, but they were icy and after many sit down starts, I was able to manage.
But then one day I eyed the roof our porch and naturally my imagination thought how amazing that would be to travel down. So, one afternoon, I got the ladder out of my dad’s garage and moved it over to the porch. A few close calls as the ladder rocked, but I was able to get up on the roof. Though, it wasn’t a steep pitch, it was more than enough to provide the ride of a life time. As I sailed off into the air, I was excited. Moments later as the wind was knocked out of me and I hurt so bad I could not breathe or cry.
As life rolls on that which is “big” in our eyes becomes smaller with age, maturity and experience. With each step we make our “mountains” smaller, bringing home the idea that we must press on. Continue reading The Big Hill…
Two Sides Of The Coin?
There are two sides to every coin (Least as far as I know.) and today was a good example.
A dear friend of mine lost her dad last week. She and her husband asked me to do the “celebration of life” service. It was attended by here family and members of our church family. Even when you know where someone is “going” it forces you to think about the play of things. Continue reading Two Sides Of The Coin?
A NOW God For A NOW Season
As things were moved around the basement, I was struck with the fact that it looked much like my old basement. A short while later I was in the middle of town and I was struck with how beautiful this old town had become. It was like I had just watched time lapse photography of the community coming together. I heard the words “Fantastic Friday” on a sound system some where. I walked around and admired the seemingly impossible beauty of the place. This scripture was on a sign at the road into this community. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Another sign said “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” (Joel 2:25-26) Continue reading A NOW God For A NOW Season
Preparation Is Not A Four Letter Word
I realized yesterday that more people are interested in a “now” word or one that makes them excited than they are in the preparations necessary not only to “get” somewhere, but to stay somewhere. What value is fudging on an entry test or lying on job application only to get to the school or job and not be able to do the work?
For years we have talked about God coming to the unqualified rather than the qualified. I have heard the pithy statements like “God qualifies the unqualified”. I have listened to many sermons on the topic. I agree to a certain extent. I understand the power of grace that lifted us from a sinful cavern and set us upon a rock of salvation. I do. I really do. Continue reading Preparation Is Not A Four Letter Word
His Blessings And Mercies Are New Everyday!
The last few days I have been thinking about grandchildren and our communities. I think the way I think some might term me a “utopian” in my belief that we can change everything to be better. When I sit with God and see the beauty of heaven and the thoughts of His goodness, I know that there is a better way.
One year ago this week, I was sitting on an island, enjoying fun, family and food. The weather was awesome. Yet if you left the “compound” of the resort you immediately encountered the ravages of “third world” thinking.
Last night as I sat with someone I reminded them that “their experience” was not necessarily the kingdom of God. The people on the island would watch fancy cars, high powered people and great sums of money come to their island. Yet in their mind it was “untouchable”. As I prayed with this person I reminded them that a parent’s experience is not theirs either. The “sins of the father” are NOT delivered to the youth. In fact ALL the blessings of God are yours if you can wrap your brain about it. (That is the process of repentance-what you believe, and renewing-what you are putting in.) You can not let the enemy take real estate in your mind.
Just because my dad drank and did some pretty evil things does NOT mean I have to be like that. Nor do my children or grandchildren have to be like me. (And a collective AMEN rose from the crowd!)
Last year I published a book on “declarations and decrees” with the purpose of seeing people see themselves for who they are. But these declarations are not “incantations” with super powers but words of change, backed by heaven, your faith in the finished work and Jesus Christ.
I am often asked why I can not just give you a “short” message. “Lee, I do not read your stuff because it is too long.” I am okay with that. I wish everything in life had a short version. A one liner. But the reality of it is, it does not. Sure, I go to a Chinese restaurant and pull out the “prophecy” cookie. I declare over it and it is hardly ever that I receive something not connected to my life and good. BUT, I do not rely on prophecy cookies and one liners. In fact I think there is a danger in that on some levels. I do not await someone’s prophecy, or their one liner or a fortune cookie. Too many are running around quoting this or quoting that. I recognize that some of those are good, even awesome. BUT, how much process did someone spend with God at His feet working through a hardship in their life to get there? I get we can build on revelation, but too often revelation from another person does not constitute revelation for you or I. But soon becomes dependency on a system or a person? (I have been on both sides of that coin!) Nor do I think it is healthy to have revelation without application. Why? Because I think it establishes religiosity.
I get when you are in crisis you want an answer. I have been there. 25 years later I am paying the price for taking on someone else’s revelation (Like right now my spell checker is telling me “else’s” is wrong!) that I took on. It cost me. The pain of that move, of that decision will never not follow me. But find God’s answer for you.
BUT, if I am going to go with a “one liner” I want it to be His!
Last night I had a dream. It was one of my “two level” dreams. (I “awoke” from one to be in yet another.) In the dream I went to the post office to purchase a stamp. The stamp was a dime. No one waited on me. After a while I reached around the counter and removed a dime. A Mercury dime. The next day I did the same. A Mercury dime. On the third day the requirement was a dollar. (10 times as much.) Still no waiting on me. I awoke from this dream thinking “was I on camera” and “where were the people”. What was I doing? A dime? A dollar? A federal offense for a small amount of money. In the second level I was convinced of the reality of the first. I walked about and saw many people who needed hope. I thought “I have a message worth sharing”. With each person, I shared about Him and placed a dime in their hand.
“Lee-A-what does that dream have to do with the previous paragraphs and B-what does it mean for me?”
I get it.
Here is some “fact”. The Mercury dime was based on the Roman God. (Jesus asked “who’s picture is on the coin” when asked about taxes.) This dime represented “unity and strength”, as well as symbolized peace. The dollar bill carried a 10 fold increase over the dime and the picture of a founding father, George Washington. He was the first president.
The dream itself carries promise to me, to you and to the United States. We are going to see a delivery of the message of hope come about in unusual ways through “unusual” people. People who many are divided over because of their political and religious backgrounds. In a “ten fold” increase, we are going to go from a Mercury “based” existence (Mercury is described as this, He is the patron god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages/communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he is also the guide of souls to the underworld) to a change predicated on truth and forerunners of change. “Founding fathers” will increase not in a governmental or political way (Though I guess there will be some.) but in a “Father’s way”. The cameras will not have effect. No longer will people be concerned about their identity and want to hide it. The carriers of the message will share peace, unity and strength.
Watchmen-On some levels this is a side note, but I have a growing concern about the “watchmen” who ONLY see what is wrong. It is not about balance but about truth. There is an increase in the kingdom. Wrongful theology has taken away our peace and increased our anxiety. A watchman is MORE than someone on the wall calling out sin, destruction and beware the coming in. They would watch over the city and see the interactions of the people. (Come out of your “towers” and your “closets” and see wht God is doing is a “good word” right here.) They were also called to with proclaiming the good news about salvation. (Isaiah 52:7-10) Good news…another good word! Prayers of peace! Life is not “doom and gloom”. If someone is only telling you about “how bad it is” you have to wonder about the woundedness, the fear and the hurt that is going on. (By the way, I am not a “pollyanna”. I can read the news…and turn it around with my words.)
“Lee-how does the dream relate to the words in the beginning?” It is about message. A simple text does not necessarily reveal my heart towards you. You must know me to know my heart. The message is on the table. The communication of the message is what is at stake. We are engaged in a battle of words, for our families and our communities. Who gets the “real estate” is who has power. We are the people of “kingdom rule and dominion”. It is important that we do not give up in the gains prophesied and set before us. The real estate I am talking of is in the mind. Who owns it? It is the “winner’s spoil”. We must be better at communicating the truth and the good news of Jesus than the enemy’s message of destruction.
It is time. It is a new season. In the “great words” of the Goonies. “Don’t you realize? The next time you see sky, it’ll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it’ll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what’s right for them. Because it’s their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it’s our time. It’s our time down here. That’s all over the second we ride up Troy’s bucket.” And that is because OUR COMMUNICATION is going to change schools and cities. The word Troy meant “foot soldier” in Greek. It is a trap for believers because we are called to the “air force” (heir force) as we are seated “high above” the enemy. You are not “just human” but in fact are a supernatural being with God on your side. It is time to make it here on earth as it is in heaven. (Honestly it is thought provoking and prophetic that Goonies II is on the table. There is another chance.)
And I have to add this, there is a “bad word” going around that we are facing an “event” that could make the “dust bowl” look like nothing. Only a week ago the Lord showed me the “dust bowl” event of the 1930’s (It was also called the “dirty thirties”.) The dust shaped ecology and agriculture. It is time to speak the goodness of God against the “famines” of the enemy. It is time to change our economy with our words, declare the salvation of the Lord and return peace to our nations.
Today is your day. His blessings and mercies are new every day. Lamentations 3:22-23
If you are interested in the book on declaration and decree, you can click here.
