Revive

June and July have been fabulously full of fun, learning opportunities.

After our adventure with Revive Northwest Indiana, my intention was to summarize that "summer school course."

You regular readers know that I have not chronicled our time in Lake County.  As I dreaded might happen, the passing time since then has gathered many of my memories and stolen them away.

I absolutely LOVED going out into the community to pray with people.  I absolutely LOVED listening to Holy Spirit's leading as to where to go and who to talk with.  I absolutely LOVED being part of a team of people whom I had never met before and who, by the end of our morning or afternoon outing were like family to me.  I absolutely LOVED the worship, the fellowship over meals, the prayer, the testimonies and the genuineness of Time to Revive's team.

So what lasting impact did it make upon me?  I feel like I am much more bold to talk to people than ever before.  I love the fact that I can now easily present the Gospel to someone using the tools (wristband and Bible), if that's where the person is on their journey to God. I was blessed and encouraged to see and to hear Holy Spirit respected, consulted, listened to and taught upon. Practicing hearing God's voice and then walking in faith according to what was heard is always a bonus as well.  

Love. Listen. Discern. Respond.  Four great steps for all of our interpersonal relationships!


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God Does Whatever He Chooses

Acts 10:44-48 NASB

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 'Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?'  And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days."

   I LOVE this; according to this passage, Peter did not do an "altar call" or have them repeat the "sinner's prayer." It does not say that these folks confessed their sins or repented before Holy Spirit filled them. Holy Spirit showed up, Peter recognized that these Gentiles had been given the gift of Holy Spirit, which is the evidence of belief in and acceptance of Jesus as Savior & Lord, and then had them baptized in water.

  

  Following Jesus is not a formula or a road or a step-by-step process; it's a relationship from the very beginning. He meets us right where we are.

  

  Now that is wonderfully like our loving, good Father.

  What opportunities do I miss of sharing the Good News because I have a list in my head of what has to happen first? Open my eyes to see You moving so that I can follow You and do my part, Holy Spirit.

  Who are the "Gentiles" of in my sphere of influence that you are sending me to love with Your love? Open my eyes to see them, LORD.

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Fingerprints and the Next Dot

 How my heart celebrates recognizing Papa's fingerprints in my life!  Sometimes when Papa shows up, His Presence impacts my body and my soul, generally feeling weighty and BIG. Other times He impacts my mind more subtly, like a fingerprint left behind.

 Currently one of His fingerprints is "mustard seed."  While pondering through Matthew, the passage in Chapter 13 captured my focus -- it leapt off the page and led me on a thoughtful journey with Holy Spirit.  Though this passage compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed, what I remembered was my male friends at my childhood church receiving a mustard seed tie tack as a gift from our Reverend. He was a master storyteller and retold the parable (Matthew 17) about having a mustard seed of faith and being able to move mountains as part of his presentation of the gift.  This truth captivated me, and of course, made me wish I could be given a mustard seed tie tack, too. To this day, I am incredibly encouraged by that parable.  That same mustard seed of faith that propelled me to say "yes" to Jesus, can move mountains.  He has already given me everything I need for life and Godliness.

 Kris Vallotton taught the same basic message recently along with the exhortation and encouragement to believe you are who God says you are.  Because I am also intentionally reminding myself of who God says I am, these two messages, fingerprints, are alive to me like never before.  Doug Addison keeps prophesying that breakthrough is imminent.  I want to position myself for breakthrough by wielding my mustard seed of faith and beliving that I am who God says I am!

 God's fingerprints also call to mind those beloved dot-to-dot pictures.  Doug Addison says that finding personal purpose and destiny are like a dot-to-dot picture.  My job is to find the next dot; I cannot hurry to the end to see the final picture.  Each one of His fingerprints is a next dot for me.  Learning to recognize them, to fully see and learn from them, and to keep looking for the next dot, all at the very same time, is a challenge for me.  Yet, nothing is impossible with God.

 What fingerprints are you seeing in your life?  What's the most recent dot?  What are you doing to join God in those places?


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Theme Song Thursday

 Ash Wednesday, yesterday, marked the beginning of Lent 2015.  The first three days of this week have been incredibly life-sucking, emotionally painful and downright maddening.  Whilst having a conversation with one of our dyp, (dear young people), I heard myself ask, "why would you keep doing the same thing over and over when the answers have all been wrong?"

 Insightful question for me, also.  I believe that's the very definition of insanity and something at which I scoff loudly in some others, (particularly the "religious").  Ok -- busted.

 I have talked with Papa about it and feel like I see the first few dots on the new path.  With His help, I will choose differently.

 May your Lenten Season be one of delight in Him and finding new paths down which to chase Him!


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Theme Song Thusday

Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

It's like this:  the circumstances of life are just a video game, an interactive movie in which we have choices as to how we respond.  The truth of my life is that He is.  Everything.  Always was.  Always is.  Always will be.  Always with me.  Will never fail me.  Will never abandon me.  Is my helper.  Perfect love.  More than enough.  Good.  Truth.  Giver of perfect gifts.  Above every other name in Heaven or on earth.  King of Kings.  Lord of Lords.  Redeemer.  Friend.  Savior.  God with me.  Healer.  Comforter.  Counselor.  Teacher.  Restorer.  Transformer.

Lord,You rearrange me.  You make all things new again.  I need my mind, will and emotions to be renewed and transformed.

"You can have it all, Lord.  Every part of my world.  Take this life and breathe on, this heart that is now yours."

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Food for the Mind

  Long ago, in a land not-so-far-away our young children watched a tv show via our Christian Satellite TV provider called "Nana Puddin'."

  One of my favorite skits involved the singing of a song entitled "Food for the Mind."  "Books are so delicious; they are food for the mind."

  One such tasty morsel which I happen to be re-reading is Money and the Prosperous Soul. 

 
  This book will transform your entire being.

  "As God takes us from glory to glory, He is adding weight to our lives...the increasing mass of spiritual substance and its accelerated momentum in my life was bringing my character under greater "stress tests" -- and it eventually exposed the flaws in my trust.  The prosperous soul that Christ was establishing in me could not remain within the narrow confines created by my insecurity and low self-worth...Many Christians...mistakenly think the exposure of their character flaws is proof that their salvation isn't working.  The exact opposite is true!  The true work of grace and glory in your life is to bring everything into the light so you can see the broken places, invite God's healing and gain wisdom and strength to live differently."  ~ p. 84

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Tidings of Comfort and Joy+

Image courtesy of

anankkml

/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Not many days left now until Christmas 2012!  Celebrating Christ's birth is one of my very favorite engagements of each year.  At present our world pines for the comfort, joy, peace and

08.08.12, Wednesday

This day earned renown among us as “the day that was two days.”  

Contradiction

: logical incongruity  

Tech week and the play performances were a BLAST -- completely exhausting, also.  I hated to see it all end, feeling mournful while driving home at 1:30 a.m. from the after party.  

Being at home this week is also a BLAST!  I've been hanging laundry on the line every day so far, and this morning I baked banana bread, to name only a couple of my blisses from the week. 

Kingdom life seems like it's full of contradictions:  You have to die to live; the last shall be first, and the first shall be last; love your enemies...  Living a Kingdom lifestyle makes life more "lifefull."  I'm also learning that the apparent contradictions in my life help to season my life and make it more flavorful.

What contradictions exist in your life?


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Checkup

:  an examination to see if something is in order.

Hope, abiding faith and breakthrough remain themes for me.  My chosen tools for reminding myself who I am and declaring it daily are affording change.  This morning, for example, I was wallowing in the slough of despond.  Appalled by my apparent comfort in being in the slough, I battled with my pen and paper to purge the poison from my person.  When it felt like I was heading toward the poured out poison like the proverbial dog to his vomit, I halted.  Opening my eyes I noticed the time -- bummer for me!  I had to go prepare the blueberry muffins for breakfast.  Pitying myself, I "so there"-ed! by promising myself that I was going to sit and pour out my complaint when I returned to my lazy girl chair.  I allowed angry tears to well up while mixing up muffins.

Later as I poured out my complaint, I felt hope gently tugging me out of the mire.  Abetted by this new beginning of breakthrough strength, I wielded my next tool.  Abiding faith pushed me completely out of the slough.  At breakfast I was clear-minded and fully present.  A wonderful victory in a wrestling match with dread about tomorrow burst upon my thoughts!  As I type I am still amazed and fascinated with this breakthrough.  Since it's completion I have felt happy, excited and anticipatory about today.

"God I look to you.  I won't be overwhelmed.  Give me vision to see things like you do.  God I look to you.  You're where my help comes from.  Give me wisdom.  You know just what to do!"  Brian & Jenn Johnson, "God I Look to You"

PS My sister-in-law loved the plush neck gaitor I knitted for her; I think my niece might like one, also.  


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Another Good Word

“Don’t turn small stuff into big stuff.”[i]

That’s a good word right there! 

What follows may not “feel” the same upon first contact…just sayin’.  However it too is a good word.

“…disciplines provide a track for us to run on when [stuff] threatens to derail us…Sometimes we must take our will by the scruff of the neck, whirl it around and force the rebel back on track.” [ii]

Without further ado, here are the disciplines, the preparations, if you like that better that reverberated within me.[iii]

v  Confession and Cleansing

v  Fall on my knees and call upon God

o    “I love the LORD because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!”[iv]

o    “You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”[v]

o    “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”[vi]

 

v  Journal

v  Self-imposed solitude

v  Serving others

v  Worship

v  Soak in His presence and receive His love and grace

Most of the book was review for me; I guess I was paying attention the first time around.  I think believing in the never failing goodness of God and His everyday intervention in and attention to my life is what will make the difference in my spirit.  Just as I have implemented new strategies for dealing with the physical and emotional symptoms, I must recognize the spiritual side of this life change and embrace the Kingdom tools He has handed to me.  Hope, abiding faith and breakthrough are in process in my life!

---

[i] “Jump Off the Hormone Swing, Pintus, p. 189

[ii] Ibid, pp. 169-170

[iii] Ibid, pp. 170-181

[iv] NLT, Psalm 116:1-2

[v] NIV, Psalm 3:3b

[vi] NLT, Isaiah 55:11

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Transforming Mom - My Story: Building Hope

"You are a natural with kids," Kathy, my advisor observed; I was playing with Kay's young son and daughter while Kathy and Kay talked.  "You'll make a great mom someday," Kathy added.

"Yes, you will," Kay assented.

I felt tears forming in my eyes and fear churning in my stomach.  "No, I'm not going to have kids," I asserted, not taking my eyes off of my two young friends.