My Due North

I never really understood what some people were referring to when they taught about "alignment" with God. I mean, I understand what the definition of the word is, but I just couldn't wrap my head around the definition having anything to do with being a Christian. I had so many questions.What does it mean? What does it look like? How do I get there?

I love to listen to good Bible teachings. There are so many great ones available to us these days. We have an information highway at our fingertips. We can use a search engine to find scripture references, dream interpretation, the latest "buzz" in the church world. It's awesome, it's amazing and it's scary!

Not scary in a "boogeyman" kind of way, scary in a "I don't want to be deceived" kind of way. We have to make sure we don't take every teaching at face value. We need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We need to make sure we are following the right master's voice. I also think it's important that we don't label a move of God as bad just because it doesn't fall into the perimeters of our limited understanding.

I feel compelled to gently warn you here. We cannot take short cuts into maturity in Christ. We cannot ride on someone else's anointing. We cannot hitchhike on someone else's personal journey. We cannot be lazy about our pursuit of the One. We need to spend time in our sacred place on our face in prayer and thanksgiving with the one our soul longs for. When we spend personal time with God, we learn to know His voice. We must know that we know that we know the genuine Word of God rightly divided to be able to recognize the counterfeit ways of this present world.

SELAH

And now......the Bright side.

There are no shortcuts to maturity but there is Divine Acceleration. God can restore anything, including time, by bringing a spirit of acceleration into your life. (gratitude to Graham for the lesson)

We can't ride on someone else's anointing, but we can hang around with them. I've always taught my kids that, "you are who your friends are". Good or bad it's true. If you know someone who walks close to Papa and you see something in their lifestyle that honors Jesus, hang around with them. It will rub off on you.

You can't be a hitchhiker on someone else's journey, but you can be an invited guest. If you discover someone who's journey makes your heart yearn to walk a similar path, come alongside them and offer to serve with them. Help them. You may just discover that their path widens in areas and makes room for you to walk shoulder to shoulder with them for a while.

And finally, don't be lazy in your pursuit for more of God. Lose sleep, skip meals, cancel cable and simplify your life. Prune away anything that does not produce Godly fruit.

The adventure of a lifetime is yours for the asking. Find your Due North and let His light be reflected in you. Strap on your boots and pack light, because everything we need to live an overcoming life flows to us from Him.

His whisper is like the breeze.

As I reflect on my life, I realize that there has never been a time when The Father has not been right beside me. At a very early age, He was my comforter. I used to have terrible nightmares, and I can remember opening the Bible and laying it across my little five year old chest and falling asleep feeling His presence.

I used to talk to God as if He were in the same room. I saw Heavenly images. It wasn't until I was a few years older that I would "learn" that my perception of God was wrong. I don't know if I was taught directly or indirectly, but I learned that God was on His throne and far away. I learned that He was watching over us from a distance and that He expected and rewarded certain behaviors and punished others.

I wasn't taught or even encouraged to entertain the idea that God was with us, in us and for us. That religious mindset led me to many years of searching for God and then ultimately, to many years of running from His love.

Thankfully, my loving Papa God passionately pursued me. From one end of my rebellion to the other, He walked beside me, protected me and continued to love me.

Until one day, when He leaned in so close....so close, and I heard Him whisper in my ear. He said, "I'm still here. Nothing you have done has surprised me or caused me to turn away."

I WAS UNDONE.

Papa spoke straight in to my heart and with one sentence, He destroyed the work of the enemy. With one whisper he drew me in to the wilderness to seek Him and then He let me find Him.

I am smitten by the beauty of The King of Kings. I am my Beloved's and He is mine.

It's been a while.

I stumbled upon this old blog today and I can't help but to smile.

I read all of my past posts. I spent some time getting reacquainted with the person who sat at this computer more than two years ago, sharing the ramblings of my own mind. Some of the posts made me laugh, others made me cry. Many of them brought confirmation of growth. I am not the same person I was two years ago. (Thank you Jesus)

I feel like I have emerged from the wilderness. I have a new understanding of who I am in Christ. Papa God has kept me hidden and quiet. It has been wonderful, and I am emerging with a new lens and a new voice.

Life is a sweet dance with the lover of my soul. I am really looking forward to this next season of adventure. I don't know where the path is going, I've walked to the edge of my map (thank you Graham Cooke for that perspective and teaching). I am at peace, at rest and at the same time filled with expectation. I am joyful, hopeful and have my eye on the horizon. I will try to remember to wander back here once in a while so I can describe the landscape.

God is so good. His plans for us are good. He loves us so completely. Ponder that and let it fill you.

Blessings.

Let your light shine

For the past few weeks I have been kinda stuck on the subject of being a light to the people in your life. Im not talking about a responsibilty to carry the love of God to the lost and hurting (which is crucial), Im talking more about the condition of our hearts that just lays a burden on us for our fellow man. Im talking about seeing people through the loving eyes of our Heavenly Father who's will is that none should perish. Im talking about loving our neighbor as ourselves (easier said than done sometimes). Im talking about getting personal and realizing that GOD loves every single human being (no matter how unlovely, no matter what they have done or where they are) to the same extent and with the same passion as the most devote Christian. The bible says in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 1. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5. having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. My friends, there is coming a day when gross darkness will cover the earth, but In Christ, we have nothing to fear. As the earth gets darker the light in us will get brighter. Have you ever tried to cover a light bulb and hide its light? Its very difficult to do, no matter how you try, some glimpse of light still escapes. Have you ever been in total darkness, like in a power outage and struck a single match? The light from a single flame can illuminate an entire area. When light shines, darkness can not cover it. I for one will not fear the darkness. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. View everyone through the lens of the love of the Father and "find the gold" in everyone. May the Lord bless you and give you strength and joy. Keep your love on..........

The Line in the Sand....

Two weeks ago I went up to the top of Neahkanie Mountain at sunrise. All the way there I was being led by the moon, it seemed to follow along in the sky and was always before me on the 25 minute drive, thru each turn and twist. Its was kind of odd. Only the last sliver of moon was visible and the Lord told me that it was marking the end of a season. And Just like the moon in this phase, This season of life is being phased out too, from this point it was going to be made new. It was so cool. I wasnt quite sure what I was going to do when I got to the top of the mountain. I took my paint and a canvas and was asking God what He wanted me to paint. I just kept feeling that whatever it was I painted would have a bright line across the middle of it ..... together we were going to be drawing a line in the sand from the past to the future. Well, we got to the mountain and I felt led to read the beatitudes outloud. It was very warm up there and an uncharacteristically warm breeze was blowing. I annointed us with Ketubah oil (sign of the covenant) just a touch on our foreheads. We started praying for our region, for relationships to be restored. All relationships- parent/children, fellow believers divided by religion, husband/wife, our convenant relationship with God, just all relationships and then we released blessing over the region. During this whole time we were playing worship music then at sunrise we blew the Shofar. At that moment the music spoke of Gods presence drawing near and a cold breeze came up from below and swirled completely around us and a sweet fragrance just filled the entire area. I got in my car, drove down the mountain, and a jet had drawn a HUGE line across the Eastern sky. It went from as far as the eye could see end to end. The sunrise was behind it and was making the line glow white, hot pink and firey orange. I told my friend about the line in the sand I felt the Lord spoke to me earlier. An hour later, I pulled into work. I had been listening to a teaching cd about prayer and such..... I had never heard any of the teaching before but it began with the teacher saying....."God has just drawn a line in the sand!" I was cracking up. I just feel like Something has been broken wide open in the atmosphere.

Who do I think I am?

So......I have all this dialogue running around in my head these days. Im like a walking contradiction.

I know who I am! I am a chosen daughter of the most high God. I have been bought and paid for with the highest ransom. I have an inheritance that can not be taken from me. I have security in God, He is my hope and my future. Dude! I got it all!

Then....daily struggles come knocking. Satan....the ultimate liar..... tells me that Im just a worm. I am a nothing, a nobody. God isnt going to come running to my rescue again! Im in the situation that I am in because of my own screw ups and God doesnt have time for my screw ups. It sounds logical, I mean, God gives me every opportunity, and in my flesh I make some good decisions and some not so good decisions.

I get it, I am a screwed up worm.

The minute I believe that.........the enemy....Satan, smiles and slithers away and probably thinks......."wow that was easy. All her life she has believed that she was lacking, not good enough, less lovely...... If I can keep her believing that, I can stop her from walking in fullness."

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!!

That is satan's mission in life. He slithers around, spitting lies, trying to kill our spirit, trying to steal our joy and trying to destroy our outlook. Dont believe him!

God has a plan and purpose for every single one of us. I was created to do something in God's kingdom that only I can do. Every single moment of my life was part of a greater plan, put in place by God, so that I could do what only I can do.

The glorious truth is that I have been made new in Christ and He will finish the good work He started in me. I have come to truly understand that when God said He would never leave me or forsake me.......He ment it.

I am His chosen. I am His beloved and He is mine. He wants you too. God does not care where you have been or what you have done. His will is that none should perish. If you want to know how you can obtain the free gift of His salvation just ask me, Id love to tell you about it.

Shalom

To everything turn, turn, turn.....there is a season....... turn, turn, turn...

The Lord has revealed to me that we are entering a new season and I am not talking about the weather!

I believe that we are entering a season in which we are going to see the awesome power of our Lord and saviour poured out on all who wish to attain a greater walk with Him.

"We have not because we ask not". If you want IT, ask for IT.

Our father loves it when we ask for more of HIM and He gives freely.

Matthew 7:7&8
Have a blessed day.