I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS

We will be leaving shortly, but I wanted to leave you with this beautiful song of freedom and grace.

Some of the lyrics from Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin, the video is the whole song.

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

WHILE I AM AWAY...

I know the posts have been coming quickly this week, but that is how my thoughts have been. Do not try to read it all in one sitting - I will be gone for a whole week. There will be no computer access during on conference, which normally would freak me out, but I am actually looking forward to it. I know I will be blogging on paper.

Be ready! When I come back I am sure there will be much to share.

ARE YOU MARY OR MARTHA?

Most of the time I'm Martha. Always running around the house putting something away, folding something or wiping something, but not this week. This week it was all I could do to feed and dress my kids (we stayed in our pajamas two days) because I just wanted to sit at His feet. I found freedom in that! I was not thinking about all the things I had to do because I was so wrapped up in Him, it was surprising to me. In and of myself I can not just to sit and be still (ask my hubby), but He enabled me to do that this week to prepare for what He is going to do this coming week. I always enjoyed being Martha, but now that I have experienced being Mary I must say it was wonderful. I pray He will help me be a unique balance of the two.

CROSSING OUT AND OVER

Our lives are busy, we do many things every day without giving them a second thought, but this conference required much thought, prayer and careful planning. God ordained this week as the week that we would make this journey, cross over into FREEDOM! This is a kairos moment for us. Kairos in the New Testament means “the appointed time in the purpose of God", the time when God acts. This week is also the week of Passover. Imagine my excitement when I read the following in an 8 day prayer focus, from Glory of Zion:

"I believe this is a significant timing so we end a season in victory and are - freed to cross over into our future" AND "Passover was the time of crossing out and over into FREEDOM!"

"The Passover month is a time to CROSSOVER into the inheritance that has been promised you." - Chuck D. Pierce, The Door is Open: Passover into the New

32 HOURS AND COUNTING ...

Tomorrow is the day I have been eagerly anticipating for months. Especially the last month! We have prayed, prepared, packed and are ready to head out in the morning. The funny thing is we really do not know what to expect. We know we are going to a healing conference and know God will meet us there, but to what extent? It is kind of like trying to understand His love for us, we really cannot wrap our minds around it. There is no telling what God wants to do in us next week. How deep will He go? How much will I be freed from? Will I understand His love in greater measure? Questions, lots of questions, but He has the answers and is probably as excited to share them as we are to receive them.

I cannot wait to share what He does when I return…

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message

DIVINE APPOINTMENT

Remember the divine appointment I was expecting, well it happened the very next day. God is so faithful! Everytime He has given me an opportunity to minister His love, grace and goodness He fills me full to overflowing as He did on Wednesday. I do not have to do it in my own strength. He overwhelms me to the point of tears and then gives me opportunity to pour it out. I am in awe of His faithfulness and careful planning.

To my divine appointment if you are reading this:

Our meeting yesterday was prepared in advance by the lover of your soul. He knew just what you needed and was delighted to give it to you. I hope we have many more encounters with each other and the King of Kings as we did on Thursday. He knows every need and will meet them out of His glorious riches. Seek Him with your whole heart and you will find Him. You have seen only a glimpse of what He truly longs to do. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Cor 2:9

Bless you my sweet sister!

THE GOODNESS OF GOD

What a day! I have been inundated with insight and revelation. Below is just one major area the Lord has been revealing today in order of occurrence.

• Wrote the previous post where I said, “Today I have been overwhelmed with gratefulness of the GOODNESS of God”
• Thought about Psalms 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the GOODNESS of the LORD in the land of the living. And wondered “where would I be?” I shudder to think!
• Went to the mailbox where my Believer’s Voice of Victory was waiting with the cover story “God’s GOODNESS – the foundation of faith” Headline includes Psalm 27:13 (Amplified) [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s GOODNESS in the land of the living! In this story Gloria Copeland writes, "Only by placing our lives in His hands can we open the way for Him to save us, bless us and work through us, so that His wonderful will can be done on earth as it is done in Heaven." Check out my profile - He is giving me strategy to have the desires of my heart - His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
• Read an email with a “word of encouragement”, you guessed it – Psalm 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the GOODNESS of the LORD in the land of the living.

I have had so much revelation today my mind cannot keep up with it – Praise God! The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7 My heart and soul are leaping today with eager AND joyous expectation. I guess you could say I have been kissed by the King again.

Thank you Lord for your unfailing, neverending, everlasting love.

HOPE: JOYOUS EXPECTATION

All I want to do today is spend time in prayer, worship and bathing in the presence of God. With three kids that is not easy to do, so I asked them to join me. We square danced to David Crowder’s I Saw the Light and danced to Shackles. I explained to Isabella that next week we would be dancing because the shackles WOULD be taken off our feet.

The work has begun, a deeper level of freedom is creeping into my spirit. I am celebrating the victory that was won on Calvary, desiring to see it fully manifest in me and feeling that it is just on the horizon. I believe I am tasting some of what I will experience next week during the healing conference.

Today I sat to worship and write everything I am expecting, wanting and desiring next week. I listened to Only You on YouTube, closed my eyes and let my fingers express everything stirring in my Spirit. During that time the Lord gave me revelation of one of the big things I am expecting next week.

Of the two pages I typed I think this says it best:

I want my life to come into focus as if I have been looking through the wrong glasses and finally get the right pair.

Today I have been overwhelmed with gratefulness of the goodness of God, everytime this has happened before I have had significant divine appointments. So, now I wait, expect and hope!

THE BEST SERMON I NEVER HEARD

Yesterday we visited a church and the pastor did not preach a sermon. What? You ask, no sermon! It was two hours of prayer and worship. What I experienced was straight from the heart of God. I have never experienced anything like it in a regular church service. It fueled things in me, it confirmed things in me and it released things in me. The Father had bigger plans for that group assembled yesterday and there was freedom for His Spirit to lead. It was a breath of fresh air...literally!

Sermon from the Latin word sermō (discourse) meant "conversation" and that is just what I had yesterday - a conversation, just me and my Daddy.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:2

REPLEVIN

re·plev·in
1. an action for the recovery of goods or chattels wrongfully taken or detained.

It is time to take back from the enemy what he has stolen from us. We do not take it back because we lack, but because it is ours.

This video is a great portrayal of taking it ALL back!

What has he stolen from you? Your husband, your health, your children, your joy? Whatever it is, it belongs to you? Go get it!

COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF

Sometimes someone else says it best:

"Satan will never oppose us more than when he thinks we're onto our callings."
~BETH MOORE

FREEDOM

Freedom has been on my mind a lot lately. Mostly because we have been in one of the heaviest battles we have ever been in and we are a week away from attending a healing conference. We have wanted to attend this conference for a couple of years, but waited until this year, so Isabella could attend with us. We had planned to use our tax return to pay for the conference, but after talking to our accountant and realizing we were not getting what we expected I told Todd I was not sure if we could afford it. Then the Lord spoke, "You can not afford not to go. Your freedom is priceless!"

I am going to write a list, before we go, of my expectations for this conference and then I am going to write a list of all He does while we are there. I am fully expecting to be blown away by Him and be amazed at His exceeding abundantness!

I read this quote on Freedom this week:

"Freedom is not just the absence of bondage; it is the liberty to pursue all that we were created to be. Those who use their freedom to do evil, or to do nothing, will end up back in bondage. True liberty is not static, but it is the freedom to pursue our purpose unhindered." Rick Joyner from an article in Elijah Rain and his book The Overcoming Life

I want this to be a reflection of my life when we get back:

"The freedom of the Kingdom is in the heart, not our circumstances." Rick Joyner

Turn up your speakers, close your eyes and play this video. Let the words sink deep into your spirit. Be blessed, be encouraged, be FREE!

EEYORE

STOP HERE IF YOU LOVE EEYORE - READ NO FURTHER

If you know me well, you know that I have complete and total disdain for Eeyore. He is so negative, gloomy and defeated; my friend and I call it the "spirit of Eeyore". This picture goes perfectly with his attitude! I can feel it I am getting fired up already and that is how I get everytime I talk about him, think about him or see him. We all have our issues and Eeyore is one of mine.

One day while watching Pooh's Heffalump Movie, with my daughter, I lost it. Througout the movie he was carrying all this stuff on his back including, but not limited to a grandfather clock. He was uncharacteristically annoying and gloomy, even for Eeyore, in this movie. I looked at my daughter and asked her, "Do you know what is wrong with Eeyore?" Then immediately answered my own question with, "I'll tell ya what's wrong with Eeyore, he doesn't know Jesus."

Many people walk around everyday just like Eeyore and you know them, you may even live with them. The sad truth is many of them are Christians. The bible says we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, does that come across in our attitudes? Or do we resemble Eeyore in more ways than we care to admit?

I found this book on-line, so I guess I am not the only one who has issues with Eeyore:

Living with Eeyore: How to Positively Love the Negative People in Your Life

THE DAY THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Two years ago I sat in class at our church office for our monthly healing school. I eagerly anticipated this class every month, as I was excited to learn more about healing and how to pray for healing, but not this night; I really had not wanted to come. I almost turned around half way there.

The pastor shared a lot that night and as he did the Holy Spirit brought one memory to mind. I dismissed it, but it kept coming back. After the pastor was done he lead us in a corporate prayer and I sobbed the whole way through. He asked if anyone wanted to share and I raised my hand, still unable to speak through the sobs. I did not know what I would say, but I knew that something had just happened in me. I left that night and called a friend and told her I thought something really big happened and I was not sure what it was, but it was going to change my life, my marriage and my mothering. Little did I know how much changed in that two hour class.

I had battled depression since I was a child, but that night when the pastor prayed something settled in my spirit, wounds were released and healing came (although I did not know it at the time). Over the next several months the Lord confirmed my experience through prayer, visions, and prophetic words. I was pregnant at the time with baby three and six months later I delivered my baby girl, Kaira Hope. Shortly after I knew clearly what happened that night in the healing school - I was healed of a life time of depression. I had been in counseling and on medication for almost 20 years. After my second was born I no longer went to counseling, instead I began to be transformed by the renewing of my mind through the Word and after Kaira's birth I no longer needed medication.

During my two previous pregnancies I stopped all medication, but resumed after delivery. The Lord began to speak to me clearly about the depression and the medication and what He had done that night. I was healed! It has been two years since that unforgettable and life-changing day, but the effects will last a lifetime.

Just think what I would have missed if I had not gone that night. Maybe that is the night I learned not to go with my emotions (which has blessed me countless times since then).

I listened to Sara Groves tonight and I wonder what led her to write the following lyrics that sound so familiar to me:

Something changed inside me broke wide open all spilled out
Till I had no doubt that something changed
Never would have believed it till I felt it in my own heart
In the deepest part the healing came



He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

SPRING CLEANING

The Lord has been cleaning my spiritual house for months now. I clearly heard Him say, when I was re-baptized (click here to see picture and post) that He had taken care of the ugly stuff and now He was going after the really ugly. He wants me free and I want me free, not just a little, but a lot – the take the shackles off my feet, so I can dance kind of FREE! During this time He has been showing me some of the residue that has been in my spiritual house clogging stuff up. He often shows me through revelation, confirmation or explanation.

Today He furthered the explanation of distortion from yesterday’s post and previous Myth 1 & 2 posts. This was my devotional today:

"As you hear, do not be confused. Confusion is not of the Lord and all confusion leads to distortion; distortion means twisted and biblically anything twisted is also "wicked". So refuse confusion. We are not confused even if sometimes it may seem so.

We are coming out of things that are not right! Listen to the Lord. Do whatever He tells you to do--you can! Today is the day of salvation wherein He has heard you, and you are hearing Him. Today is the day He has made and rejoicing is your portion: The sons of God are led by the Spirit of the living God! Hallelujah!"

From Shirley Weaver Ministries, A Clear Trumpet, Inc., Post Office Box 295 . Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465.Copyright (C)2000-2006 All rights reserved.

He is spring cleaning in me and I welcome it, although sometimes it is painful whenI see the size of the dust bunnies under my sofa or when the cobwebs are wrestled free from my heart. Here is what I found about spring cleaning on Wikipedia - The most common usage of spring cleaning refers to the yearly act of cleaning a house from top to bottom which would take place in the first warm days of the year typically in spring, hence the name. However it has also come to be synonymous with any kind of heavy duty cleaning or organizing enterprise. A person who gets their affairs in order before an audit or inspection could be said to be doing some spring cleaning.

I see what the Lord is doing as a heavy duty cleaning and He’s getting my affairs in order preparing me in advance for what He’s called me to do.

LIES

I came across a line the other day that ministered deeply to my spirit. It gave me a great insight on my previous posts Myth #1 and Myth #2.

While writing those I was amazed at the distortion that invaded my thoughts during those difficult years of my life. It was hard to believe some of the things that I was writing, but I know them all to be true. Some of them were not conscious thoughts until they were down on paper in prepration for those posts. That is how sneaky the devil is!

Anyway, this quote from The Shack floored me and blessed me at the same time:

"Lies are one of the easiest places for survivors to run. It gives you a sense of safety, a place where you only have to depend on yourself." Page 187, The Shack. I was a survior and it does not matter of what because Jesus says now I am an overcomer.