A Transparent Update

Have you ever felt distracted? Like you’re cruising or maybe sleep walking through the fog? Maybe it’s depression. Maybe it’s despair.  Maybe it’s muddled thinking. Maybe, like me, searching….

Searching for my life’s path. I thought I knew where I was headed, only to feel completely derailed.  I have been exhausted trying to discern where my next steps lead. Family and friends, well meaning, especially hubby, have offered up a truck load of suggestions. We’ve had lots of conversations about where I should work or what avenues I should pursue.  I’ve been a bit obstinate. I’m almost 48, I’ve had a steady job for  33 of those 48 years. I don’t want to labor away at something I don’t LOVE! I want to do something that makes a tangible difference in peoples lives.

I want you to know, I’m not always on top of my game (actually never, without a little help), my life’s circumstances aren’t always rosy and I often find myself sliding into a spot of doubt and unbelief. Thank God, He loves me enough to keep pursuing me, keep reminding me, keep offering me forgiveness, love, joy and peace.

Things are starting to “crack” for me.  I am eternally grateful. I’ve been getting new material for here, working on my novel again and working part time at something I LOVE.  Three months ago, my spiritual mentor, Lydia, said she heard from the Lord that someone would be approaching me about a job, and while it didn’t fit what I thought I needed, I should say YES, because it would turn into something else. Nothing for three months. Not a blip on the radar. Then an email two weeks ago. I said Yes. Though I don’t know for sure where this is going, I’m saying YES.  Which leads me to the title for an upcoming post…. What are you saying YES too?

I would covet your prayers as I get back in the swing of things.  Standing on the Promises recorded in Scripture, I claim a clear mind, a body healed by Jesus stripes  while operating in the power that raised Jesus from the dead.  Hope to see many of you on this new path. Have a blessed week, anchored in praise and thanksgiving!

Discerning Your Path

Discerning Your Path.

Discerning Your Path

Discerning our paths are not easy; they are often full of pitfalls, bullies, and doubts. Three months ago I quit my full time job because I felt a really strong desire to step out and start my ministry. I’ve been mentoring homeless women for about two years and had become frustrated with the lack of work for them especially if they had been incarcerated. In the Fall of 2012 I had a dream about producing stuffed owls that would speak five affirmations, You are Loved, You are Smart, You are Brave, You are Kind, You are Important, and get shipped out to orphanages around the world (not every where since owls represent witchcraft in some cultures). I named them Hoot & Hilda in honor of some beloved childhood family friends. I thought it was a brilliant idea-God breathed in fact. I’d be able to employ some of the down trodden and empower whole generations of children.

I began searching  online for patterns and designs I liked, ordered fabric, put the word out I’d be  hiring a few women to get started, reading books on building non-profits, exploring new avenues for raising funds and then NOTHING….no prototypes, no income, no takers. I became discouraged and disappointed. Ever been there?

Is it in alignment with my PURPOSE? Yes. But for some reason Papa God is saying not now. I received a word from a prophetic friend who said she felt like I wasn’t supposed to produce them. Not ever? Not now?  Hire a plush company to produce them? Questions I haven’t received an answer on yet.  Other good friends, Chris and Angela said they felt like I embodied Hoot and Hilda because of my passion for what we speak. I received a similar message from a couple who were praying over me. They said “You have a lot of things in front of you and God is shaking them up so you’ll focus more clearly on the one He has planned for you”. I have sensed him doing something new in me, I don’t know what it looks like yet…but it’s coming.

I’m not going to tell you I have this figured out.

I am simply trusting that the Creator of the Universe has a better plan for me!  I am walking out my faith day by day. When I feel like the path has been obscured or disappeared I have to believe He loves me and has my steps aligned for me. When your going through a difficult period in pursuing a dream or passion, look for the messengers of Faith He will send your way!

The Stamp of Excellence

Did you know You ARE the stamp of excellence?  You’ve been given the thumbs up- great job- you are more than enough! Have you ever considered all the billions of people in the world and how our fingerprints are all DIFFERENT? Really, isn’t that mind boggling? You contain your own unique, special identity.

Designed by a Creator who considers you His own, created in HIS image, fully equipped with all you need for life. ALL you need for living. We often limit ourselves by living in a “lack of” mentality; a lack of finances, lack of health, lack of relationships, all of those ideas keep us incarcerated.

I propose you start speaking abundance over your life. Say out loud everyday,” I have more than enough for today.” Start practicing a mind shift where you exist in a state of thankfulness and watch your experiences start changing, even in those areas of lack.

A week ago, a close friend and I who are launching new ministries said, “We are done with living believing we don’t have enough of ( insert anything) and start believing we have more than enough for every day.” Our declaration has been blessed beyond our wildest imaginations which will be the scope of coming blog posts.

You are more than enough! Smarter, wiser, more relational, more loving. You have more than enough everyday, more health, more money, MORE FAVOR.  Believe it!

 

 

 

SHINE!

SHINE!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.   And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson.

A friend shared this quote with me about four years ago and it has become one of my go to readings when I need some encouragement.  Upon first reading it I bristled slightly at the phrase “there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.” Those words were not part of my upbringing- not something a NICE girl would do. Was that modeling Christ?

I believe now it is modeling Christ. Jesus was RADICAL. Pharisees hated him and accused him of all kinds of blasphemy and wrong doing.  We know he only relied on the Father for his instructions, words and actions.  Let’s get a little RADICAL too. Let’s SHINE with the Father’s Glory like HE did. Let’s LOVE like he demonstrated LOVE. Let’s HEAL the broken, ENCOURAGE the grieving, FREE the (spiritual) prisoners.  Let’s BELIEVE who Papa God says we are – blameless, righteous, holy, seated with Jesus in heavenly places. We are to RADIATE with the glory of God in us- Immanuel.

I challenge you to speak light and life into each day this week.  Stand in front of a mirror and say, “I am blameless, holy, righteous in the sight of God. He loves me unconditionally. I am filled with His glory and power through Jesus. I have high expectations for my day and thank God for giving me opportunites to Shine with his love. ”

I’d love to hear from you about ways your days changed ! Be blessed.

Paper Dolls and Jesus

What do Paper Dolls and Jesus have in common? For a long time He was about as flat as a paper doll to me. Don’t get me wrong. I love Paper Dolls, have since childhood; they don’t have much to offer except an exercise in creativity.

Jesus was about as effective to me. Sure I could talk to him but it was really a one way street. Paintings and pictures of him I saw,  always depicted Him as the Good Shepard, meek, mild and in my mind- docile. That is, until I read John Eldridges’ book, The Beautiful Outlaw. All of a sudden the character of  Jesus sprang to life!  Of course HE is compassionate, merciful, and LOVE all wrapped up in a RADICAL, CUNNING, SMART, SAVVY and POWERFUL Saviour. Even Jealous. Jealous for our love. I can’t begin to give you all the ways I started experiencing Him differently, it would take pages.  His love was tangible to me in a vibrant, living way. I started receiving the blessings that had my name on them, orchestrated by a Redeemer who loved me. Things that spoke to my spirit and soul. Isn’t it amazing that he orders things during our days to heal, prosper and comfort us in ways that only one who knows us intimately could arrange? Our innermost, secret wishes and dreams are made possible through Jesus- the author and protector of our Faith.

Last winter Mercy Me released a new song, Great I AM, which spoke deeply to my new relationship with Christ.  The chorus says, “You’re the one who conquers giants (David & Goliath) , You’re the one who calls out Kings ( 1&2 Kings), You Shut the mouths of Lions (Daniel), You tell the dead to breathe (Gospels). You’re the one who walks on fire, you take the orphans hand, You are the Great I Am!”  I sing it at the top of my lungs when I hear it on the radio!

Do those lyrics sound like a docile, meek, Lord?  NOT AT ALL! If you relate to my story, I invite you to pray for a new anointing of revelations about the character of Christ.  Leave the Paper Doll Jesus behind and walk into a marvelous, exciting , radical relationship with Him.

Living Life Outloud

This is where I am today.  I don’t reside here on a regular basis. I’m actually fairly quiet, I don’t draw a lot of attention to myself and I’m happy sitting along the sidelines.

On a recent Sunday morning, I didn’t make it to my normal place of community worship.   I’ve been a little under the weather and had just seen two nieces and a friend off  on their way back to Florida. Scanning channels I thought I’d catch some church’s broadcast and landed on Joel Olsteen’s congregation. I don’t typically watch anyone on TV with any regularity but must say, the Holy Spirit led me there yesterday morning.

Joels’  entire message was on Resurrection Power– which we are all living under! ! It is the finished work of Jesus on the cross. I burst  into tears three times during the broadcast because my Spirit convicted me in places where I hold unbelief. He taught on the perspective of how the enemy sees us. If you’ve read any of my post I usually come at it from the way God views us, so this was different for me.

He used several good stories but the one that stuck with me was when the Syrian army had surrounded Elisha’s house because he was telling the Isrealites the Syrian battle plans. Elisha’s servant goes out in the morning and sees the army and runs back in waking Elisha in great fear. Elisha’s prayer was “God open his eyes so he may see.” Elisha instructs his servant to go back out and when he does, not only does he see the Syrian army but the hillsides are covered with a heavenly host of warring angels, there on behalf of Elisha.

I wept. If I really believed that God loved me as much as Elisha, to send thousands of warring angels for my benefit would my life not look a little different? Would I cower in fear at the enemy’s attacks? NO!  Wouldn’t I live life outloud? My heart’s desire for everyone who calls Jesus Lord, is that we would walk in the boldness, the power, the divine protection he gave us on the Cross through his Resurrection. There is nothing SMALL about it!

I was so moved by this sermon, I invite you to visit http://www.JoelOsteen.com and listen to sermon #575. I pray it will encourage and strengthen your Spirit.  I pray it will fan the flame of your Faith and you’ll desire to shine with his Glory and LIVE OUTLOUD!

A Question of Community

What does your community look like? Not where you reside but the individual people you interact with on a regular basis. I confess, most of my life, my community has closely resembled me; a middle class,college educated white woman who attended some kind of religious establishment at least twice a week.

Consider Jesus’ community when he walked on the earth as man. He was a friend to the tax collector, the prostitute, lepers, the lame, the blind, the broken. He took average men, fishermen, tax collectors and made them disciples. James and John, the sons of Zebedee were nicknamed ” Sons of Thunder” . How do you think they earned that nickname? I imagine they were loud and obnoxious, constantly bickering. Peter was a hot head also, always ready to jump in for a little contact. Even walking with Christ they often didn’t understand his parables or still believed his kingdom was going to be of earthly things. After being in community with Jesus for three years, he based his ministry on those same men to distribute the Good News.

The Church has largely told the world, “when you get your junk cleaned up, come.” Jesus said, “Come, and I’ll give you the power and authority to overcome  your junk.” Are we not to be of the same mindset? Thankfully, I believe God is sending an awakening to his people. He’s raising up new prophets, teachers, healers, disciples and beautiful things are happening.

My own community changed a lot over the last two years and now includes, homosexuals, prostitutes, drug addicted, homeless and mentally challenged individuals in a mix of colors and cultures. The Holy Spirit is doing marvelous things, breaking down strongholds, healing broken places and identifying Jesus as their Savior. Some of them have started to believe it. Others aren’t sure yet. Some of them have overcome great difficulties but because of their faith have seen amazing results. I am thankful the Lord has brought each of them into my community. My prayer is I will love them each, the way my Lord does.

Take a look at  your community and ask where the Lord is leading you. Let him diversify your group. He only has your best interests at heart, so have no fear. If your life looks a little mundane, ask the Holy Spirit to bring new people to your life who will stretch, bless and challenge you.

If we are to reflect Jesus on the earth, isn’t it time we do community like he did?