The prophetic is exciting. One of the best gifts the Lord has presented to us. Yes, He shared it through a people He calls prophets (Ephesians 4:11) but He also caused people to become prophetic by becoming one with them. People now had the ability to prophesy.

No longer were men and women waiting on something for they were carrying something!

Prophecy in the New Testament is defined as the ability exhort, to edify and to encourage. Certainly there may be foretelling to it, but it is predominantly a gift of God to equip and bring the body together in unity. Unity! Men, women and children to be equipped or to carry something. In this case the prophetic.

So what do they do with that? They change communities, regions and nations. But before they get there there is the family.

For any a year many prophetic voices have lived outside the community. Occasionally dropping in but because of dynamics that occurred on both sides of the fence, frequency was an issue. Fear, hurts, pain kept them apart.

Clearly that was and is not God’s plan for New Testament believers. He wanted more! He wanted a wholesome, undivided family, capable of being equipped and walking in power. He wanted a community of believers. How was He going to accomplish this? Clearly there was an expectation of community.

Too often the body wants to prophesy or preach but forgets that which makes a community. Love.! They come in and do what they are called to do BUT never rub shoulders with community or the body of believers.

Read the news! How is that working for you? Community is the first place in the heart of the Lord. He would call it His family. Out of that family He has endowed folks with gifts.

So, here is my thought for you in light of Paul’s (Who could preach, teach and do miracles. ) admonition about love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

My challenge is as much for me as it may well be for you. (Even as I watched the Facebook divide over things that have been covered by the blood, set free by grace and told not to speak of.)

This month as it often does our church family has a gathering to share with one another, to break bread and to enjoy a meal together. Many consider that “not as important” as preaching and teaching or prophecy. Really? Have you read the Bible? Have you discovered God’s love towards His people cover to cover?

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

We are foretelling the future of the church in that meal together!!! UNITY! FELLOWSHIP! LOVE! When that happens everywhere…

“for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13

Everywhere! The family of God will prevail and His love will overcome!

Love is the greatest gift!

When my first little girl(Amy) was born I was out of my mind with happiness. Nothing had more of an impact on my life than picking up a little baby and realizing she was mine. But little girls grow up fast. They soon become little daughters with minds of their own. And little daughters, well, it is not soon before they break out in adulthood.

So, a few years ago my little girl, well she was all growed up and she got married! What a mix of emotions! Happiness, sadness, joy and more. My little girl was marrying the new man of her dreams.

Let me share from my book what she wrote of that day.

My favorite memory with him was at my wedding. For the father-daughter dance we danced to Butterfly Kisses and I’ll never forget that he told me he loved me and was proud of me. I started bawling like a baby! Not only did we cry, but we had all the guests crying too, even the men! The older I get, the more I cherish the memories and have become more sentimental. (From The Interrupted Process.)

Young girls become young ladies. How we perceive them in the family and in the church is incredibly important. How we treat them…so much more.

Prophecy is for the generations to come. To foretell of a great and amazing overshadowing of His love. Yet anyone can say those words. But to live out our lives daily, changing our families and our communities is the foreshadowing of something great to come.

In our church fellowship, we will soon have a Father-Daughter dance. It is more than just a dance, a celebration. It is as much a prophetic act as baptism or communion. It is the opportunity to present the love of the Father to a coming generation. To break off the negative mindsets of generations and to move from this glory to the next.

Want to prophesy the future? Begin with family and friends. Add a meal and watch the nations change.

Dance with your daughter. Walk with your son. Make love be all consuming in everything you do.

Prophecy is my function. My life in communion with others and the Father is who I am. You and I can read great prophecies and speak them ourselves, but without love…

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!