Friday, June 22, 2007

Holy Mud Wrestling

For some reason I woke up early this morning, at 5 a.m.! Not my usual time to wake up. Had a really busy day yesterday in the heat (take heat to mean all kinds - like fire - both outdoor temperature, but also spiritual temperature!) So it was unusual to wake that early.

But it was God calling. With pictures. I love it when He does that. He wakes me and then places visions and pictures in my mind. And then directs where they will go. Like when He loaded the one this morning, I knew what it was about. I love that.

The vision? I saw multitudes of people mindlessly fighting. There was a woman and I knew she was me, even though her hair was cut very short. She was hitting and slapping, like she was bored. With a 'whatever' attitude. It was like a movie in which everything is dirty and dark. There were no weapons, just people fighting, stirring up the dirt and dust, in the mud.

But I felt that it was mindless, ineffective fighting. And I realized that that is the way we fight our enemy, Satan. We have no clue as to his tactics, or his weapons, but we fight anyway. It's like a girly fight. We bring up our fists, open handed, and pummel the offender without really doing any damage.

Jesus didn't go through what He went through on the cross, for us to fight the enemy like we are. He came to earth and did what He did so that we could rally in the victory. So that we could know and do and win the battles like He did.

So how can we become effective warriors?

I believe that we need to study up on the tactics of Satan and his minions. The first place is obviously God's Word. What did Jesus do? How did He take authority? What words did He use?

We have that authority today just like He did then, because of what He did on the cross. He gave us back the keys of the Kingdom. Like He bought us the title with His Blood.

Another place to study is life. As the Holy Spirit reveals Himself in situations, He can teach us if we will let Him. No two situations are alike. That makes it less easy to put things in a box and always minister in the same way. No two people are alike. No two ministry situations are alike either. So we must listen with that spiritual ear. He will tell us. He will guide us.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." 2Cor. 10:3,4.

I don't want to wake up from what I think is some dream, or one of God's visions, and be in reality. Fighting like a girl (sorry girls, but sometimes we go there!).

I want to know that when I pray (a huge part of warfare), as I speak out words, that I am praying in faith. Like it is done. Period.

I want to know that when Holy Spirit leads me to talk to someone, that I hear His promptings. I hear His words, not mine. Because His words will hit the mark, not mine.

I want to know that when my arms are around someone in comfort, that they are His arms and it is Him leading the hug and not me.

I want to know that when I speak His Word in faith, that the heavens and earth are turning and changing according to His Word spoken through my mouth!

So, hopefully, when I get another vision from the Lord, it will be one where the saints are battling, all decked out in armor. Using the Sword of the Spirit.

I just got a picture of me again, with full, shiny armor, swinging my huge sword round about, above my head. And it hit the mark. Never returning to my Lord void again!


©BL2007

Monday, June 11, 2007

Bagels and English Muffins

The other day I was toasting a bagel and I realized that after a few days of toasting some english muffins, the timing is different for bagels. Duh!

It's so simple, really, but I asked why. The bagel is fatter than the muffin, so it is closer to the source of heat. It gets done faster.

Simple. But if I spend time closer to the source of heat - my Lord, do I get done faster too? Do I feel the heat and move into where He wants me?

But when I really think about that, that is what I have been doing for the last year. Getting closer to the fire. Letting God do whatever needs to be done in me. And I have grown faster this last year than the whole other 22 or so years that I have been a Christian.

So am I getting done faster? Is He coming sooner now? Yup!

I am getting done faster in direct relation to how close I let Him bring the fire. Make sense?

So what is the fire? By the name of my blog, you can imagine that I have been through a bit of fire, as we all have. But what I mean here is the convicting fire, when the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart and lets me know that a change is a comin'! And He uses certain situations in my life to bring about that change.

Lord, help me to be open to anything that you want to do, or bring about in my heart and life through whatever fire You choose.

Friday, June 8, 2007

Kings and Queens

I've been reading Esther. Actually I had a gift of a day today. My daughter and I were to travel out of state to an appointment, and she chose, wisely, to call it off.

So this day is a gift and I chose to soak and read. Oh I have stuff to do, but I get the feeling, that I have been lacking in my time with Father. As I got done reading Esther, I asked God "how do I apply this to me, God?"

Next thing I knew I was on my face, on the floor, in repentence before the Father. Repenting of not taking my rightful place in the Kingdom of God. As a real heir of God, my Father. A warrior alongside Jesus. That is my rightful place.

With Esther, she rose up as a child of God, but as Queen alongside her King. To take what was rightfully hers and to save her people. She stepped out unto possible death, to stand in the gap for her people.

How many of us Christians today really do that? Me included. (Yep, I'm the one on the floor.) We are wimpy - we have no idea who we are in Christ. What we have in Christ. What we can do to further the Kingdom in Christ. We have the keys to the Kingdom in our hands if we have asked Jesus to be our Lord, but we don't use those keys to our full authority. What Jesus did at the cross, what He obtained for us, we don't take ahold of.

It's like Daddy drove up in a brand new Jeep Commander (yeah...), got out, and handed me the keys. And maybe I drove it to the post office (all of one mile) and then parked it. I'd keep the keys, but what am I doing with the gift?

This walk is more than a gift. It's a Kingdom! It's a lifestyle, the very act of living. I can choose to live, (or drive my old Jeep - which I love!) or get the keys to the best - God's best.

Okay, so apply this. The best Jeep could be, not fearing where I go, what I want to do for Him, and walking in God's fullest anointing - His highest endowment (thanks Brother Matthew!)

If someone took me to say.... the biggest car dealer around, and told me to pick out any vehicle, what would I pick? If I liked sports cars, (which I don't - I'm a truck woman!) would I pick out the top of the line? Or pick out a good used one because "that's all I deserve", or "I'm afraid".

If I liked SUV's (yup!) would I pick out the best? Maybe a Lexus or a Lincoln model? Or a used older Jeep? (I am very happy with my Jeep - this is just an application!)

When God gives us the keys to the Kingdom, meaning we can have and do all and more than Jesus did on this earth, do we settle for just salvation? (Don't get me wrong, that's huge.) When there is so much more that He has for us in this life, this walk with Him? He came to set the captives free. Yes He came to save us, but He also gave us the tools. The keys, the gifts.

Whoa. Gifts. Like in the spiritual gifts? Whoa.

Yes. Spiritual gifts. Would you make a man or woman a soldier, but not give them the tools or weapons? They would die.

This is getting deep. Didn't see this coming, but I'm plunging ahead.

I am a child of God. And a co-heir with Christ. And a warrior. And I have tools. Weapons. Because I'd die without them. I need them to hear His voice. I need them to know what to say. I need them to see what He sees.

I can 'walk' to the throne room anytime, with my royal robes on, because I rule with Jesus. (Yeah, it says so in the Word - Rom. 8:17) and obtain favor in His sight.

Just like Queen Esther did with King Ahasuerus.

I repent for falling back. For letting fear, shyness, or procrastination, or lies, keep me from doing God's Will.

I have the keys to the Kingdom.

I keep getting a picture of a beautiful queen with her septer, all clothed in beautiful robes, having access to all that a queen would be and have - and it's me!

The highest endowment of His Spirit. That's what we have in Him.

Sounds like I have an attitude. And I do. It's an attitude of repentence, but of knowing who I am.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Updates

I am writing this in Denver. The little grands are at daycare because they had a BBQ today and they didn't want to miss. (I had them all day yesterday and we had so much fun!)

The Denver air is unbelievable (except inside where I am doing the oven cleaning thing for my daughter-in-law. I fixed lasagne the last time I was here and it ran over, but that's another story!) The sun is out and it is a beautiful day! And I am all alone enjoying it immensely!

And good news. On my last post, I was going to have to do a back-to-back haul for my husband? I only have to do the one to Denver and back home.

I keep thinking about what it would have been like if I would have thrown a fit when he asked me if I could do the second phase of this haul to Provo. I didn't really want to do it, but I submitted. And believe me when I say that there definitely have been times that I have thrown a fit! But this time, this once, feels so good. Because I didn't throw a fit, but also that I am released from doing the second phase.

Funny. It almost feels like I am growing up. Like I passed a test.

There will be other tests. Of that I'm sure. Some I'll fail, whoo, I even hate to think. But others? I will rise to the challenge. And do it well.

Because the Greater One lives on the inside of me.

My memory verse (thanks dear sister/mentor!) 1 John 4:4, says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Says it all. And don't think that I am sitting her all smug because I didn't fail this time. There have been posts where I have puked it out and there will be more in the future.

But just this once, I am going to breathe this in and enjoy the Heavenly air and a victory. And look forward to more.