Despite going to bed later than normal, I awoke at the same time. And there on the floor was the turtle. (Now the last time I saw a turtle was at my daughter’s wedding in St. Lucia last year. A large sea turtle had crawled up to the base of the stairs and deposited her eggs.) So “seeing” a turtle in my room was a surprise. But there it was. Slowly moving across the floor. And then it turned as if to say “follow me”. Follow you? Where? Why? Continue reading Patience Is Preparing a Generation
Tag Archives: life
The Value Of A Birthday
Many years ago, I had a young woman who worked for me. A single mom, she went out of her way to be nice to me. I made sure she got home each night after work even though it was a drive. I accommodated her when she needed days off and all the things good people do. Continue reading The Value Of A Birthday
Drill A Little Deeper
It is Fathers Day Weekend. I actually was reviewing some pics of my dad, shots with my children over the years and some letters I have received and such. I guess nostalgic would describe some of it. (This past week I actually put together a series of 5 articles on dads.) But now I have 3 of my children married (Two who are the dads.) and I think what was it like to be a young dad. Continue reading Drill A Little Deeper
Easter 2014
I leave the big “discussions” about Easter for so many others. For me, Easter always represented a sense of hope long before I ever really knew about God.
As a child Easter meant many different things to me. Sunday morning my brothers and sister would run out to find Easter baskets filled with jelly beans, gold foil colored eggs and coins and these beautiful eggs that held all sorts of treasures. The smell of hot crossed buns, eggs, Canadian bacon and coffee came out of the kitchen. At some point we had a jelly bean hunt, running through the house finding jelly beans on mantles, window sashes and behind pictures. Following that we all sat down for breakfast and then it was time to get ready for church. There were the occasional years where we would go up the hill behind the elementary school at 6AM, climbing up to greet the sun, while singing hymns and thinking of Jesus. Continue reading Easter 2014
Six Of One, Half Dozen To Another
Last night in one of my dreams I ended up here.
I was in a car full of friends and we were driving through what appeared to be the Adirondacks. There were 6 of us in the car. We pulled off the main road and we headed down the dirt road to where we were going. The smell of the pine trees in the air, I could hear the water on the shore of the lake. We pulled up to a small house. As we got out of the car, I realized we had gone from street clothes to suits. Continue reading Six Of One, Half Dozen To Another
Life Is To Be Lived
Today would have been my mom’s 88 birthday. Amazing how time flies. She left this planet in 2001 during the 9/11 week. Miss you mom!
Last night I felt like I took on some things that were hard to wrap my brain around. It was not an “easy” night. I awoke at 4:44 feeling like I had been through a battle. Here is a potpourri of thoughts. They do connect.
This morning I was saying to the Lord, “there is turmoil in the air” and I felt the nudge of the Lord say, “Last night was the beginning of decision”. Change is not always easy but sometimes necessary for the place we want to be. “The beginning”? I see choices opening and options fanned out. Some decisions are painful.
“Will you trust me” says the Lord.
- When I was young man I was on a canoe trip on Lake George with a group of young campers. We needed to get to the next island to set up camp. A storm came out of no where. It came over the mountains to the west and dropped on us. The winds increased and the waves got tremendously high for a group of 12 year olds. (Even for the older!) At the same time a large side wheeler was near, hidden by the rain and the waves were super high as the result of the wind and the boats wake. Shouting orders we had to get the canoes at the proper angle to avoid sending our supplies to the bottom of the lake. As the waves came towards and the first canoe sunk into the valley, it was no longer visible, so deep was the valley. It was tremendously “long” few minutes, but we made it through cheering and encouraging one another. Young people think fun. Counselors think “help me God”.
Sometimes you must get the right “angle” of attack to make it through. Straight ahead in the canoe would have left us upside down in the waters of the lake. Listen to the Lord and hear His wisdom.
- Over the weekend there were many Facebook reports of keys locked in vehicles and apartments and even lost. I thought, how odd is that. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. What have you done with the keys? The “keys to the Kingdom of Heaven? I said to my friend yesterday , that “the keys have been given but by our own choices we have locked them up.” Moments later there was an interpretation of a tongue that said “open the treasure chests, open up what is in you!” What you lock up will be locked and what you open up is free. THE LOCKSMITHS ARE COMING!
- While meditating on the waters of life, I saw a picture appear. It was a person who was dead. Dead, dead, dead. I immediately thought “why are they dead and how will I raise them.” (This has been a big topic for me as of late. Only a few weeks ago my grandson Jacob came to me and said “Daddy, you need to got your parent’s graves and get them out.”) I walked over to the dead person and laid my hands on their head. I could see light flowing from me into the cold, dark body. I simply commanded “life” and left my hands on their heads. During this time “lines of light” began to connect to me and provide “energy” that continued the power of the light. But what was weird, was there were lines of “dark light” that we trying to connect to me and this person. The “battle was on”. The person soon got up. I looked at the lines of light, both bright and dark. They all came from believers! People, stop with the “we are all going to hell in a hand basket” stuff. I am no longer letting people say things like the “kingdom is getting better but the world is getting worse” or anything that takes life away. I get bad things can happen, but as I said the other day you can not “have it both ways”. The power of life and death is in your mouth. (You may want to purchase me ebook on declarations and decrees.)
- In the last dream of my night a man who looked similar to my grandfather, Franklin White Lee, was introduced to me. I asked him where he was from. His response was “Cape Coral, the HOC”. I woke up thinking that was pretty weird. Cape Coral is a “new city” built in the late 50’s. And HOC? I felt the Lord say, “House of Congress”. And the connection is? I felt the Lord say that there is a wave of motion coming from the “50’s generation” who thought life is going to be different. They thought retirement. But economy, government and recession have thwarted it. I sensed the Lord saying “watch for the move in this generation, for out of their time will come a revival of understanding and wisdom. It will not be lost but will increase.” It is time to enforce the law of life in Christ Jesus. Start to think “refirement” and not retirement. Start to thing long, not with a “hail Mary” but with a hail Jesus! It is your time, it is your season!
Yesterday was an amazing time in our church fellowship. From the very beginning with music that changed the atmospheres, to the testimony of a man healed from arthritis and could once again raise his hands and walk it was getting good, but soon to get better. As my friend Mark shared about the “whys” of deacons and elders in preparation for the installation of three dear friends as deacons there was an intensity building. We are in an awesome place. Far different than we were just a few short years ago. Why share this you might ask. Because what we are seeing, you can see!
As we prayed and prophesied over the deacons, the next was to let them pray for people. I want to tell you these people are my family. And if it is not fun in the family who wants to be there?
My mom left “unfinished” business and life she would not live. The choice to approaching storms requires wisdom. Don’t lock up “your keys”. Raise the dead and receive life. Watch your words. God’s structure is good for all. All good and all God!
The best life to be lived is where He is. He will never leave you nor forsake you. As my friend Mark said yesterday, “Freedom without relationship is just a long walk by yourself…”
Discover, Uncover & Recover
A short video on Discover, Uncover & Recover
My Influence Is Your Influence
I have given lots of thought over the years to influence.
The dictionary defines influence (noun) as the following.
1. The capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract.
2. The action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others: Her mother’s influence made her stay. Continue reading My Influence Is Your Influence
Encouragement Is What We Offer
What We Offer
I want people to move ahead. To get better. To be all they can be. Over time I have seen a lot of great moments where people “get it” and move ahead. I also have seen some disillusionment.
I want to help people. But through many interactions, I have learned the following thing. A lot of people want you to endorse their actions, their decisions, bringing “confirmation” to the direction they want to go. They want you to encourage them. (Ever have a conversation with a person who is going down the wrong path? “I know he/she is not saved…not sober…a drug addict…but I love them!”) Continue reading Encouragement Is What We Offer
The End Of Legalism Is Found In Christ
I had three short dreams last night. They all were along the same lines. The law.
In one of them I found myself in an office situation. The people I worked with were continually upset. Each time they would come through a particular door where the office files were they would end up in a conversation that would not only disconnect them from the work they were in process of doing, but agitation would rise up. Continue reading The End Of Legalism Is Found In Christ