A few years ago I had a dream about my husband, Walt. In the dream, he was filthy, like he had just finished working in the yard weeding. He was standing in the shower but the water was barely coming out. He was talking to me, telling me about some things that had happened. Suddenly a fire burned in his eyes and as he was talking, he reached his hand in the pipe and pulled out a huge nasty thing that had been plugging up the pipe and the water ran freely, cleaning off all the dirt from his body.

It woke me up a 1/2 hour before my alarm went off because I knew it was a significant dream but didn’t know the meaning of it, till I began to type it out. This is what the Lord showed me; There is only one thing that cleans us, its the Word of God (Eph 5:26). Some of us have been dirty far too long, not realizing we look and smell like the world because we’ve grown accustomed to it.  Sometimes we just have to get a little angry and say, “THAT’S ENOUGH!”

How many know that the only way to get clean is to unstop the pipe (our ears) and be doers of the Word not just hearers. As Christians, we can’t just talk a good talk, we must be clean, set apart from the things of the world. If others don’t see a difference, how is Jesus going to recognize us when he returns. Don’t just read this post and continue on living the way you’ve been living. Change comes by renewing your mind in the Word and doing what the Word says. “Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” John 14:23 NLT

Are you fed up with the way things are? John 8:32 says, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” What is the truth, it’s the Word of God. There are certain truths you must know so that nothing and no one can steal that truth from your heart. It is this; God loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His son to die so that you could have real life with Him. He did it so you could prosper and be in health as your soul prospers. If you’re not in health and your soul isn’t prospering, take another look at what ‘truth’ you believe.

Ephesians 6:12-13 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” This says that although Jesus did it all,  it’s an ongoing battle to keep all that was given. Continue reading the entire chapter to learn how.

Father, thank You for loving me that much. You’ve made all things new and You’ve wiped my slate clean of all past, present and future sins. Nothing can separate me from Your love! You’ve unstopped the pipes and the water of Your word freely flows in me, constantly cleansing me from all unrighteousness. It’s no longer me who lives, it’s You who lives in me. May I reflect that today! You in me, the hope of glory. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God.  But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.

They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3 TLB 

I love, love, love, spending time with my Lord, but how many know that sometimes, life gets busy and you don’t quite do it like you want to. Yesterday, I was reflecting on some changes I’d like to make, perhaps not blogging as much and doing more reading and praying. Listen to what the Lord spoke to me because I’m sure you too can relate;

“My daughter, why do you allow the enemy to chastise you about the quality of your time with me? All day long, you think on me, smiling when you think of my goodness. Isn’t that spending time with me? You’re thinking about things I say, the way I take care of you and love you. I’m pleased with that. You don’t allow our time to become formal or boring. I love your randomness because I created you for that.

“Don’t compare yourself to this one or that one because you are you. Be content in the way I made you and with the things I’ve called you to do. Know that I’m with you always, opening doors, directing your steps. Keep walking because I’m beside you, listening, and I”m satisfied with you.”

Father, thanks for that! I love Your company, the way You keep me and establish my ways. Even when the winds blow and the waters rise, You steady me and draw me to higher ground. You’re my boat in high tide. You anchor me and keep me from drifting away. My heart belongs to You. Steady me this day and help me not to wonder or become distracted by the cares of this world or the deceitfulness of riches. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 63:1-5 “O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are. Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you. I will give you thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to you in prayer. My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.”

This morning, I wrote a similar song to the Lord as I journaled my thoughts. I believe that this is why God had such close relationship with David, calling him ‘the apple of His eye’. It’s the love songs, the pouring out of ones heart to another, that creates strong bonds of relationship. Think of your closest friend who has seen you at your worst and best. The exchange of deepest dreams, the look of love, the understanding glance. If you’ve been friends for years, you just ‘know’ when somethings wrong, when their heart is heavy, when they just need a friend.

Well, that’s who God longs to be to us. An intimate friend that is closer than any other. Unless we trust Him enough to share our deepest wounds and our greatest joys with him, we will never develop that ‘knowing’ trust I’m talking about. With each one of us, that kind of relationship can take a long time to develop, but with God, it only takes a moment.

Start in the Psalms and read it out loud to the Lord just as David spoke the words long ago, make it your own hearts cry. Weep before Him. Close your eyes and picture him wrapping you in his arms of love. Now rest in that place and know that his love for you is constant, never changing, always present, even when you don’t ‘feel’ he’s there.

“For He, God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!” Hebrews 13:5b Amp. There is nothing to get you through your day like an encounter with God. Relax! He’s got this!

Father, early in the morning will I rise up and seek You, for I know that You are near, as close as the mention of Your name. How I sense Your sweet presence upon me as I wait. You fill me up with wave upon wave of Your Spirit. It pulses through me with every beat of my heart. You know me, every dirty secret, every flaw, every tear and yet You stay. Your Love washes it all away until it remains a distant memory of my past. I lay my head on Your breast and feel the tender touch of Your hand, stroking my hair. My love. All consuming fire, You’re my hearts desire and I worship You.

Proverbs 4:20-22 NLV “My son, listen to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. Do not let them leave your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”

John 6:63 NLV “It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh is of no help. The words I speak to you are spirit and life.”

Did you catch that? The Word brings healing and life. Jesus said that “the flesh is no help”. Gods Word is where life comes from. I’m not just talking ‘life’ as in being alive and not dead, I’m talking about life we live in the Spirit of God bringing overflow onto our flesh. If we’d focus our attention on the most important thing, our spirit, it would bring life to our flesh man.

I think that what we truly miss is the big deception that satan has tried to get us to buy since the beginning of time and that is, focus on the wrong things. To question what Gods Word really says in order to gain access to our rightful position in Christ Jesus. How better to do that than to keep us from reading and studying the Word of God?

If we don’t know the rule book how can we play the game? I don’t know of any football team that would go out on the field without a clearly defined plan that fell into the perimeters of a rule book. You must study your opponents, know the game and play to win. Well, we as Christians can’t expect to run the race without knowing the advantages we have against our opponent.

I want to run with winners! Those who have my back, who play as a team not in it for themselves. There are too many of us trying to trip up our team members because we want to win. NO! Thats not how its played out and if you’d read the rule book, you’d know this. We are ONE body, running together, loving the world, winning the lost. Each of us play an important role in the race. If we don’t pray for one another, encourage one another, speak the Word into one another, we’ll be hopping across the finish line with missing limbs. I want to cross it whole, presenting to Jesus a WHOLE bride.

How about you? Are you in it to win it? II Peter 3:14 GNT “And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God’s sight and to be at peace with him.”

Father, thanks for the opportunity to run as a team, pressing toward the finish line of your boundless love, never excluding others who may not run as swift or graceful, but are runners none-the-less. We firmly speak a hedge of protection around each one today. Watch over your Word to perform it in Jesus name. Amen

“Daddyyyyyy!” I remember calling out from the heights of a tree I’d climbed. I loved to climb, but coming down was another story. The first time, (yes, it happened more then once) he came with the extension ladder and helped me climb down. The 2nd time, he stood at the bottom (for quite a long time, may I add), until I realized he wasn’t going to bring the ladder, I had to climb down myself. He talked me down one knot at a time until my feet were firmly planted on the ground. It was then he realized that I would indeed climb again and to tell me NOT to climb, only made me want to do it more.

Having heard all the crazy things my dad had done as a child, I think he understood my need for a challenge. Each time I climbed, I knew that I had to have the courage to find my way down, even if my daddy was nowhere around. Over time, I became as good coming down and I was going up, but it took careful planning and determination.

There’s not a lot about my past I remember. It WAS a long time ago, after all, but as I grow older, I have flashes of memories and this was one of them. II Samuel 22:7 NLV “In my trouble I called upon the Lord. Yes, I cried to my God. From His house He heard my voice. My cry for help came into His ears.”

Like my earthly daddy, my heavenly Daddy knows my need for a challenge so he sets me on a path of obstacles. Those obstacles make me more determined to climb higher because my Daddy is at the top, I’m climbing toward Him. Nothing and no one can stop me from climbing to Him. I have my heart set on him, he is my reward. I may stop along the way when I grow tired, but my Father rushes toward me or sends his angels to surround and strengthen me on my journey. He gives me his Word that he’ll never leave me. Never, never, no never will he leave me alone.

So my friend, I encourage you to set your mind on your prize. Don’t give up this close to the top! We can do this together! Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Father, I pray for all my friends who read this and those who may not. I ask that You extend Your hand and rescue them when they’re in trouble. Although You expect us to do what we feel we’re incapable of doing, You never intended for us to do it alone. May they sense the peace of Your presence as they climb over obstacle and hindrance that stands in their way. You have called them and they have answered You, “Here I am Lord, send me.” It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

We’ve all seen the advertizements on medications where the side effects are worse than the symptoms of the disease. It always amazes me that people will actually agree to take what their doctors prescribe, desperate for a cure, relief from the pain, even if the side effect is ‘violent, uncontrollable diarrhea’.  Adverse reactions are simply a part of every man made plan to be well.

As I was reading in Matthew 6 today, I ran across the title, ‘Don’t Worry’. It began in verse 25-34 and I highly recommend you spend some time reading the whole passage. What I would like to insert here begins in verse 31-34:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

I don’t know about you, but I needed to read that! Not just read it, but allow it to get inside of me and fill me up. One of the best things about God’s words is the side effects aren’t adverse. Psalm 107:20 says; He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction’s.  Why would we seek another way when His way works so perfectly? Why would I want to see another doctor when He is the great physician?

Do you know what the ‘kingdom of God’ is? It’s His way of being and doing. Romans 14:17 says, ‘It’s righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost‘. We know that God is love, so His kingdom must be about the power and demonstration of that love. John 3:16 says; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I believe. I believe that the God who made me will keep me. I believe that when I focus on Him and trust in Him, have relationship with Him, I can’t help but take on His nature of Love. I believe in the power of Love. Not this worlds pathetic and conditional love, but the kind of Love that keeps giving even when I don’t deserve it and did nothing to earn it. I believe that when I allow myself to walk in that kind of Love, it will spill over on those around me and will look like Christ when He walked in Love on the earth. Signs will follow the teaching of Love.

Oh Father, fill me up with Your great and powerful Love. Let it course through my veins. Let it pour from my lips. Let it confront religious spirits and cast down vain imaginations. Let it heal the sick and raise the dead. Let is stand up against hypocrisy, jealousy, envy and strife. Let those who know Your name also know Your Love and choose to walk in it. May You be the first one they speak to in the morning and the last one they say goodnight to. May it cover us like a soft, fluffy cloud, bringing with it Your great peace. It’s in Jesus’ name and for Your glory, Amen.

Exodus 33:8-11 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle.  And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.  So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

All the people stayed at their homes and watched from the openings of their tents but never went to participate in the presence of God. But watching wasn’t enough for Joshua. After Moses went back home, Joshua would remain behind where Moses and God had just met. In this passage, I see a man so hungry for the kind of relationship Moses had with God, that he stayed.

Can you almost see Joshua on his face, soaking in the residue, hoping, praying for more. Like the song we sing in worship, “Show me Your face, I want to see You, I want to see Your glory. I want to live in the secret place. Show me Your Face. I’m not satisfied with where I’ve been, though I’ve cried out before, still I want more. I want to see Your power, this very hour, do it in me.”

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” It doesn’t say one thing about seeking the things you need, it says to seek God. God rewards that kind of hunger! Joshua went on to lead the people into the promised land. He wasn’t seeking a title or a position, he was merely Moses’ servant who watched and learned. If you want that kind of ministry, have that kind of hunger.

Oh Father, I find myself getting too busy and not spending the kind of time with You I desire. Forgive me. There’s no place I’d rather be than here with You, waiting, anticipating, feeling Your Spirit rush in and consume all the cares and worries I’ve unknowingly carried for far too long. You’re all my heart longs for. It’s You who brings me lasting satisfaction. I will never find it in any other person, place or thing. Nothing can take the place of You in my heart and life.

So this morning, I worship You. I bring to You the only thing You’ve ever wanted, my praise. All glory is Yours. There is nothing that I have of any value, but you don’t ask for money or riches. You own it all, yet You delight in my worship. The smallest praise uttered from my lips causes You to turn Your head and listen. Wrap me in the blanket of Your glory. Cover me up with Your warm embrace, for my heart will indeed be broken without Your presence today. I’m so thankful that Jesus rebuilt the road to You so that I can freely talk with You. I must go now, but I will take You will me.

We were challenged at prayer one night by our pastors wife (love her heart for God!) The whole message was about bridging the gap, interceding for others and not being focused on ourselves which totally resonated with my spirit.

If we are ‘others’ focused, we certainly become far more effective for the Kingdom of God. The challenge was that when we watch the news, instead of getting caught up and fearful in whats going on, to intercede over those nations, leaders and cities. How much more affective would we be if each believer would habitually do this.

Here is my added challenge; each time you see someone posting on FB, instead of criticizing or giving your stinky opinion (either verbally to someone else or written in a post), pray for them! If you don’t know what to pray, ask God to show you what the issues are that need to be addressed and do it in the spirit realm.

II Corinthians 10:4-5 NET “For the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.”

If nothing else, pray this verse over everyone of your friends posts. We’re all in a war! Just because we don’t see the enemy, he’s there and he comes to steal, kill and destroy each of us. His goal is to try to defeat the body of Christ from being what we need to be in these last days by bringing disunity, disharmony and disagreement. You don’t know whats going on in their lives, but God does. We all need to take our rightful place, link arms and pray for each other.

The bible says that in these last days, even the very elect would be deceived. Paul said to pray for one another so YOU would be healed. Why do you think that is? Because we were made to be others focused, not ‘me’ focused.

I pray for everyone of my FaceBook friends. Whether I know you myself or through a friend that referred you, God knows your struggle, your pain, what you’re going through. You can’t hide or hold secrets from Him because he searches the hearts and knows the hidden things. I speak life to you; not just fleshy life but God breathed life into you. May His Word encourage you and bring you health today. As you pray for others, may you see supernatural turn-around in your health, your finances, your job and your relationships. May you become acutely tuned into what moves the heart of your Father, God. I speak blessings on your day. May the love of God consume you in your weakest moment. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN!

“You’re thinking too small!” Thats what the Lord spoke to me as we drove home from church on Sunday. I asked for a point of reference and He directed me to look around me. So I took another look all around and again I heard, “You’re thinking too small!” So I asked that He open the eyes of my understanding and help me to see what he was trying to show me.

Suddenly I knew it wasn’t what I saw in the natural that he was referring to, it was what I saw in the Spirit realm. Isaiah 55:8-11 CEV says: “The Lord says:“My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours. Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.”

I need to think like God does and not allow the smallness of my natural view to stunt me from all God has for me. If I can’t see it in the spiritual realm, it will never manifest in the natural realm. I may not understand how it works, but it’s how God does things so I know it works. Like Elisha, I need to see the fiery angel chariots on the hills of deliverance rather than the natural enemies that surround me.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. Matthew 21:21. It’s having faith in the God who is able, thinking like God, operating as He created us to.

Father, I trade my eye sight for yours. I trade my vantage point for yours. You are indeed higher and mightier than anything that I face in the natural. Everything I need is in your Word and I will focus on what is in your realm and not mine. I trade my words for your Words, for they are life and health to me. Others may not understand me, but I seek to please you by becoming more and more like you each day. You’ve called me to come up higher, to leave the world behind, so I come. Into your arms, I come. Into your Word, I come. Into your deep and everlasting love, I come. In your grace I will make my home. Make me more like you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

The word ‘all’ means everything. In this verse, if that word was absent, it wouldn’t have the same emphasis. Dictionary.com states; the whole of (used in referring to quantity, extent, or duration). So this verse isn’t just saying God will meet your current need, or He puts a limit on it, He will continue to limitlessly meet every single one of your needs, not in the confines of our accounting system, but according to His vast and limitless supply.

In other words, God has access to much more. If it’s not there, it’s not anywhere! Banks can only hold so much, but God, well just look up at the stars! He made all that and each one has a name. We’re not talking little tiny stars, each one is huge!

Whatever you have need of, God’s already provided. If you need a job, it’s already there. If you need money, it’s already there. If you need healing, it’s already there. NOTHING you need isn’t already there. God simply wants your time and attention. If you spend more time seeking Him, learning of Him, trusting in Him, you would discover that everything you have need of is found in Him.

Thank you Lord for that little 3 letter word that means so much. You are ALL I need. I pursue You today with ALL my heart, soul and mind. May I be ALL you need in the earth today. May I share Your love, joy, grace and mercy to ALL I come across. It’s in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen