As I write this, it’s a cool 93 degrees. Yes, cool…. later it will be 113! Summer in Phoenix. Just where you want to be. Normally we visit in the winter or early spring. Not summer.
So, why are we here now?
Because grandbaby #9 is due! Actually he is overdue by more than a week!
It’s an interesting thing waiting for a baby to be born. As we all wait, we and our grandkids have been having fun swimming together, playing games, talking, thoroughly enjoying each others’ presence. And at the same time, part of the joy of being together is waiting together.
Each day we wonder… will it be today? Each night we go to sleep wondering… will it be tonight? We all know that he is in there. We can see him moving. We can feel him. Our daughter-in-law is all too aware! She is so ready.
And while he is her body, we are joined in the experience of waiting for a joyful gift from God. It’s almost as if the waiting is making the gift that much more precious and sweet. We all have been tempted to say, “Is he ever going to come out?!”
But it has struck me, that we can savor the waiting knowing what is to come, will come.
Today I ask you, is there a promise of God for which you are sure and for which you are waiting?
Maybe you can savor the richness of the waiting, enjoying life and your relations, as you do.
What is it that can cause a tribal woman to decide to not eat her children today or any day? (yes, you read that right!)
What is it that can grow limbs, open deaf ears, even produce pupils and irises when eyeballs are completely white?
What is it that can feed 12,000 people bread and have baskets and baskets full leftover… just like Jesus did?
And what can cause a ministry to grow to care for 10,000 children and plant thousands of churches, even when government forces repeatedly shut you down?
Well, according to Heidi Baker, founder of Iris Ministries in Mozambique, the answer is the most powerful force on the earth, something we all crave whether we recognize it or not … the love of the Father. … and boy, does she exude it.
I regularly quote her love-filled words, “We are the crowning achievement of all God’s creative power.” What a way to look at ourselves and each other!
For a number of years now, I have wanted to meet this petite powerhouse. In fact, just a few weeks ago I was asked if I knew her.
I replied, “No, but I would love to! That would be a dream come true.”
I didn’t even pray that… I just said it… but the Father was listening because today, here in San Juan Capistrano,CA. sort of out of the blue, my dream came true! What a thrill!
One of the interesting things about Heidi speaking to this fairly small church was this was the first time in 31 years she had ever spoken in her hometown area!
And I just “happened” to be here? FAVOR? Ya think?
Well, not only did I get to hear her speak, but actually talk with her, and as I did, she did something surprising…. she took her almost childlike hands, put it to my face, drew me close, and then hugged me like she had known me since birth, giving me an awesome word from God. I cried. Genuine love… pure and sweet.
May I encourage you today? 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
And 1 John 4:18… “perfect love casts out fear”… “there is no dread in love.” God has perfect love for you.
I would encourage you today… if you know God loves you, but you don’t feel it, go to Him, and ask Him to lavish His love on you today. Keep at Him, until you feel it.
Good day! I hope you are finding the time today to celebrate and remember all the dedicated men and women who have sacrificed their lives, their time, their bodies, and their hearts for the purpose of maintaining our freedom. I appreciate them!
One particular soldier I would like to mention is our first grandson, Josh, who is currently training for the Navy SEALS. He’s only 19, but his passion to serve God and his country is strong.
Thus far, it has been a grueling experience, unimaginable to most, but it seems the worst of his training is behind him!
It’s interesting what is behind our decisions and choices in life.
Living in Brooklyn and walking back and forth to school, Josh was once robbed at knife-point. The perpetrator wanted the laptop Josh was carrying home. He was about 8 or 9. Thankfully he was not hurt… at least not physically.
Around that same time, the twin towers were struck. Josh’s church, pastored by his other grandfather, was in Manhattan and so, he witnessed the devastation weekly.
The effects and fear of terrorism was very real for this little guy.
A few years later his family moved to England where is father secured a pastorate position. By then, however, the sentiment toward Americans had turned negative and Josh experienced hardship far too often in school BECAUSE of it.
All these things affected Josh’s faith in God, too. For a few years, he seemed unreachable. We worried at times about where all this would lead for him.
We worried because we couldn’t see the future. We worried because our faith that our God is faithful and loving was not as strong as our fear. We worried because we were afraid Josh’s wounds would dictate his choices negatively, as it did for us in our younger years.
Somewhere along the line, though, God quieted our hearts as we sought Him. We didn’t know how all this was going to turn out … only that Josh had God’s favor, as did we, and thus we could count on the outcome to be a favorable one.
No one would have guessed that Josh would desire to try out for the SEALS. When Josh announced his decision, the opportunity to shriek, “NO!!” rose large. But we saw how determined he was, and even before enlisting, he trained hard.
When he was accepted into the program, straight from civilian life, we knew he would not need our worrying. He would need our faith.
That’s what all our men and women need.
Thankfully we are persuaded that faith is a much greater force than worry.
And in what do we have faith?
In our God who loves us, redeems us, and restores us from all brokenness, and even more, grants us the freedom for which we all long.
Remember the soldiers, today, and remember your God.
Holding God and you in brilliant remembrance!
Maryann
Lately my husband and I have been visiting churches and enjoying meeting so many new people in our area.
One church we visited recently had the friendliest group, stirring worship, and an invigorating guest speaker. Almost every church we go to has something favorable to recommend, and this church was no exception.
As I listened intently to the speaker, agreeing and nodding with his encouragement to us all, my heart and mind came to a screeching halt.
There it was again… every time I hear it, it’s literally like nails on the chalkboard. I can’t even remember what was said before or after… all I heard was those blaring words we often hear in many churches… “Though we don’t deserve it … ” followed by some benefit bestowed upon us.
Ok, it’s true. I get a little riled up about this.
Maybe it’s because through 25 years of counseling and coaching people, I have seen how this subtly deceptive belief of being undeserving lies at the heart of so many problems. It undermines confidence like few things can. It anchors our feet to the ground when we are supposed to be soaring.
I also get riled up because God has done so much to make us worthy and deserving, but we continue to buy and spread the lie.
To feel we don’t deserve God’s blessings and abundance does not make us humble, it makes us impotent. And when we are impotent, we are not empowered or at peace.
And if we are not empowered or at peace, then we are child’s play for the enemy who wants to wipe our faces on the floor.
Now, I don’t know if this is an issue for you, but if it is, may I be a strong encouragement to you?
You are worthy and you do deserve the blessings of God.
Maybe an argument can be made that you did not deserve salvation and forgiveness and redemption before you received Him.
But if He died for you so you could have eternal life and kingdom living, then don’t you deserve it?
To deserve something is to be entitled to it, to have it coming. Jesus said He came so that we would have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows. (Jn 10:10 AMP)
If He came to give this to you, are you not to claim ownership of it? Are you not to expect it to come to you? Was this a cruel joke?
Yes, I understand. To say we are not worthy or we don’t deserve it often means, “I did not earn this great thing myself, therefore I don’t deserve it.”
Well folks, that is worldly thinking. It is the world, not God, that says we only deserve what we earn ourselves.
Set your minds and keep them set on what is above, not the things that are on the earth. (Col 3:2)
Think about it … Adam and Eve deserved to be in the Garden – because God put them there. They did not build it, pay for it, or work for it. The fact that God GAVE it to them was all that was necessary for them to be entitled to it.
One final question: for those of you who have little children, do you want them feeling like they don’t deserve a meal when you offer it to them? Or would rather they just come to the table happy and accepting and leave grateful and satisfied?
In Mt 18:2-6 we are encouraged to be as little children. Receive in freedom and gratitude all that God has for you.
Please say with me today, and every day… “I deserve all that God has given to me. I deserve all that He has won and all that He has done.”
Believe me it will give our Lord great pleasure and also open the door to even more of what He wants for you.
Please, please, please… purpose in your hearts to be done with this debilitating notion. It is not of God. Agree with Him. He has made you worthy and you deserve His best.
Writing a book opens all kinds of doors. And I love that. More coaching clients, invitations to speak, seminars to present, and book signings to do. Opportunities to witness the move of God in the hearts and minds of so many new, as well as old friends.
I get so excited when the opportunity gets presented… and then, a few days, or the night before the event… a dread falls upon me. I want to run away, disappear, and go into hiding.
At first, I thought something was wrong, or maybe I’m not supposed to do this, or…. and then, doubt about who I am takes over, and I even lose sight of why I’m doing this. Quite frankly, it almost overwhelms me!
Has this ever happened to you, or is it just me?
And what is this dread about?
For me, imagined fears of being a failure, or being alone, of feeling like I’m ineffective, inadequate, and non-essential. Old yukky thoughts still wanting to block and stop me from carrying out the mission God has placed within me.
But…ha-ha! God is making me savvy. I see the wiley ways of the enemy who stands to accuse and oppose me.
God is making me smart. He exposes the plot, and reminds me who I am, and why I do what I do.
He shows me the thoughts that create the feeling of dread are not the thoughts of a highly favored woman of God, co-heir of the King, esteemed and deeply loved child of a Father who has said He would do “whatsoever” I ask.
He uses these times to train me, mentor me, and power me up. I am then led to speak my agreement with Him.
“Yes, Lord, You are mighty and I am highly favored. I am blessed to be a blessing. In You, I am not a failure. In You, I am not ineffective. You have chosen me for such a time as this! When I enter that arena, I will be full of Your love, wisdom, and anything else I need because You are faithful. You are already there, and at the same time, I bring You with me. Flow through me, and touch whoever needs Your touch. I am grateful and excited to showcase Your love, Your favor, and Your energy. Thank you for choosing me.”
Well, I am happy to report, the seminar I conducted after my last tangle with dread was sheer delight. The Lord showed up in a marvelous way as He gave me the courage to transparently tell my embarrassing stories. All the pieces of the study fell into place, and the ladies responded as baby birds, mouths wide open, hungry for what God was revealing. It was apparent to all that He was there, at work, inspiring, motivating, and encouraging. As a friend quoted from Veggie Tales, “I laughed. I cried. It really touched me, Bob.” Cute.
Consciously flowing in the favor of God could not happen if I did not “seek” Him. Not some religious ritual, perfunctorily performed and then checked off, seeking Him is as simple as sharing our secrets with an intimate friend, or relaxing over coffee with a deeply interested relative.
And yet, there is a profundity to seeking Him, where He shares with us the inner workings of His heart and mind. How secure He makes me feel knowing that every need I have, He has the answer and solution.
Where I once had difficulty carving out time to sit with Him because of all I had to get done, I now am so addicted to it, that everything else gets ordered around this part of my day. Oh, how much easier, more productive, and satisfying life is!! For those of you who know what I’m talking about… let us rejoice together!
For the rest, oh, how I want that for you!
And so, I asked the Lord to speak to you today, and here is what He said,
“Come to Me as you are. I know the details of your life intimately. And I care about it all. You don’t have to know anything other than I desire you and you desire me. Sit with Me, and let Me show you My love. Close your eyes, and look into Mine. Do you see My delight for you? You are My heartthrob. You are My joy. I know everything in your mind, your heart, your circumstances.. I know it all. I see the good in you, and all are trying to accomplish. I see your fears, too. Come, let Me show you that I am on your side.
I desire to work with and through you, to give you ideas and what you need to accomplish them. (I see the Lord lift up your face, and a radiant glow illuminates it, as He says…) I have things worked out for you. Sit and rest awhile, and then follow my lead and I will show you the path.”
At that point the Lord held you close, until you were almost totally absorbed into Him. Oh, the sweet satisfaction in His eyes as He held you!
How do we seek God? Just show up, be ready to receive, and have a conversation. He is waiting with eagerness and joy.
When I was 16 I came across some books which helped me deal with all the negative things that were a part of my life at the time… separated parents, distraught siblings, cheating boyfriend, thwarted goals, and normal teen stuff. You get the picture.
Well, these book, now classics, literally “saved my life.” They were, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and “The Power of Positive Thinking.” I studied those books, took diligent notes, posted relevant quotes in my locker… I wanted to know what made people successful and what didn’t.
That question has been a theme in my life. I understand today why that is: because we are made for success, and it has become my personal God-given mission to help people discover the “secrets” to success and implement them in their own life.
And though God has made us to succeed, the obstacles are plenty! Indeed, I think I may have encountered every single one of them!
Today, I would like to address just one:
Did God really intend for us to be successful?
Until we are CERTAIN that God intends for us to be successful in our endeavors, our careers, our families, and our faith, we WILL BE double-minded about success. Double-mindedness dilutes our efforts, robs of us peace and joy, and creates confusion. No doubt about that!!
So, here is but one verse that may clear up any double-mindedness from Joshua 1:7-9 (The Message): Strength! Courage! … Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”
Joshua had a purpose and a mission born out of that purpose. The Lord wanted him to be successful… and He gives Joshua some strong direction as to how to make that happen and the attitude with which he was to approach his mission.
Quite frankly, the word “success” isn’t used often in the Bible. But several passages say things like … “the Lord was with him and gave him success in everything he did.” It is clear that the heart of God is for our success. Jesus came here with success in mind. He was going to accomplish what He set out to do, NO MATTER WHAT.
Being successful was not something He struggled with, and it shouldn’t be for us either.
Next week I will write to you about the meaning of success. Even if we are established in the notion that God desires us to be successful, we can get tripped up in what success is and what it isn’t.
So, if you would.. could you send me YOUR definition of success? What does it mean to you? Do you feel successful?
The other thing I wanted to ask you is…. I am seriously considering making these emails short video emails. Maybe about 3 minutes in length. What do you think of that? Thanks for the feedback!
I hope you had a stellar weekend! It’s that time of year here where the leaves are turning those beautiful shades of gold, red, and brown. Love it!
So, you recall in a previous post I proposed that we can greatly reduce (dare I say, eliminate??) worry by not doing anything different than we are already doing, but rather, change our FOCUS.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O, Lord, my Rock (Strength) and my Redeemer.” Ps 19:14
We want the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts to be acceptable in the sight of God. But what is that?
What are those words and meditations that God finds acceptable?
Oh, my — the answer could be a very long and drawn out one… but let’s make it simple today.. …. anything that AGREES with God and His heart and intention for you.
Here I’ll choose one for you today … Next time you find yourself worrying about something you have said or done, or something you failed to say or do, and you are now worried about the consequences of that – meditate on this truth:
you are the righteousness of God in Christ.
Do not be tempted to think of this in only doctrinal terms… this is real!
Being His righteousness means that you are filled with everything that is deemed right by God. Indeed, it is WHO YOU ARE!
You have the right heart, the right thoughts, the right solutions, the right wisdom, the right attitude, the right power, the right authority to use that power, the right creativity…. need I go on?
Because of Christ, it is all there within you.Meditating on this truth and speaking it out loud, will RELEASE it into your mind, your heart, and in your circumstances. Faith will rise. You will find the right and favorable outcome to the thing you are concerned about. If you need to change your heart and mind about something, you will know that and doing it will come easier. But don’t dwell in that position! Move on.
Worry will only cloud your judgment and confuse your efforts. This kind of worry also causes us to doubt ourselves and that makes us feel insecure and unstable.
By declaring that you are God’s righteousness, you will put the devil on notice that you can not be accused and condemned because you are all right with God and He is all right with you!
And if God is for you, who can be against you! Being His righteousness entitles you to all kinds of benefits, not the least of which is the authority to use His power.
So, rather than use the power He has given you to worry, use it for good. Meditate on life giving thoughts and speak life giving words.
If you would write and tell me what you are going to meditate and speak on this week, I would love it! If you want me to hold you accountable, let me know. I will be happy to do so!
In the USA, God — or the idea of a God — permeates daily life. Our views of God have been fundamental to the nation’s past, help explain many of the conflicts in our society and worldwide, and could offer a hint of what the future holds. Is God by our side, or beyond the stars? Wrathful or forgiving? Judging us every moment, someday or never?”
Click here to read rest of article and take the quiz. Which of the 4 views of God do you have?
Recently I had an experience I’d like to encourage you with.
Several of us went to a prophetic meeting at another church and had
a wonderful time of worship, teaching, and receiving some exciting
prophetic words.
After the service, on the way out, one of the participants came up
to me and complimented me on a shawl I was wearing. I loved the
shawl too, not just because it was hand woven cashmere, hand
embroidered, and gorgeous, but I bought it from a missionary pastor
after one of his trips to Nepal. I had never worn it before that
night because the weather had been too warm. I was very excited
that this night I could. To me, it felt like an anointed and
special shawl.
Well, it must have been, because without hesitation, I took the
shawl off and placed it on the shoulders of the woman saying,
“Here. It’s yours.”
It happened so quickly and naturally that giving it to her didn’t
even phase me. Except for feeling a blast of cold air once I went
outside, I almost didn’t even notice what had happened and gave it
no thought… until the next morning.
Now, I can’t say I know exactly why giving this shawl would be so
significant, but I think it is. I will share what’s been revealed
so far.
1. God’s nature is to give. Throughout scripture and in our own
experience, we know that God is a Giver. 2 Peter 1: 2-3 say that
God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, and
through His precious promises, we share in His divine nature.
And what is that nature? To be a giver.
Now, this is not startling news to any of you, I’m sure, as it
wasn’t to me. Which leads me to point 2.
2. For me, as much as I have known that it is God’s nature to
give, and thus it is my nature, too, I have not always been a very
giving person, at least of some things. I have had an easy time
giving my time, energy, heart, and money…. but, don’t ask me why,
giving away personal possession that I love, well that is not
something I do.
Ok, so maybe even that is not such a big deal. And so, what is?
3. For me, here it is: Without my working at it, I had a
breakthrough! The natural giving away of my shawl was just a
manifestation of a breakthrough that had occurred a while ago. The breakthrough allowed the free flow of God’s giving nature to flow
through me to bless this woman. And because I share in His divine
nature, I experienced no lack when I gave the shawl away.
Breakthrough takes down any barrier erected that inhibits the flow
of God’s powerful provisions and our true nature. I love and need
breakthroughs of all kinds.
4. How did the breakthrough occur? Well, it was part and parcel
of the revelation of favor. A revelation of favor produces
breakthroughs...not grind-it-out breakthroughs, but effortless
breakthroughs, breakthroughs that occur when you aren’t even
looking.
And, I guess this is the essence of my encouragement to you. Take
the favor of God seriously. It causes profound and life altering
changes.
Please, I couldn’t be more urgent about this…. seek God and ask
for a huge revelation of His favor. It is only in revelation that
you will feel its impact.
If you are not excited about favor, then you need a deeper
revelation about it. 2 Cor 5: 18-20 (AMP) tells
us God sent His Son to restore the world to favor! That is a big
deal! Paul urges us to lay hold of this favor! We are to be
releasers of His favor!
To help you lay hold as we are encouraged to do, I have written a
book. Many of you already have it. That’s wonderful, and if you
do, I would also ask you to do the exercises in it. God will take
you to the next step.
If you don’t have it, please don’t let a wimpy bit of money keep you
from experiencing more of all God has for you. I don’t say this to
make a buck, believe me! I just want you to experience how real
favor is. It is profound. It produces major transformational
breakthroughs. It also produces jobs, new housing arrangements,
connections, and lots, lots, more.
Who knows what your life would look like with an increased
revelation of favor?!
