Category: Blog Article

Been thinking about levees today and the devastation which can be created by the failure of such protective structures. Years back I flew over Missouri after a series of storms caused a flooding of the Mississippi river. From an aerial perspective this looked to be quite the mess, with water flowing in places man didn’t plan. Major news stories for months.

Now years later I am drawn back to that mind’s eye picture and what it really means to me for my here and now. Occasionally I need my friends and family around to shore me up when I’m going through my own storms. I love the wisdom in how He has surrounded me with those who will speak out when it’s good to have limits and when it’s okay to let the rivers flow.

By limits I mean my own control mechanisms. I am certainly a river of life meant to flow without hindrance, but there are times when it’s good to have boundaries so I don’t trample those around me with my thoughts and opinions. I am only meant to flow alongside their banks, softly eroding any harsh walls of protection.

At other times I am not meant to hold back the fullness of my love and truth; instead I am meant to let what is in me overflow with its entirety and power. The rushing waters of promise will flood their dry lands with life giving water despite it looking like a mess to the natural eye.

John 7:38  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him

I had been glued to my computers for a while taking care of some geek stuff when it hit me yesterday, “enough”! I had three screens on my desk with each doing a different function and my desk was in disarray from it all. It was time to take a break and go get some fresh air. My husband had made plans for some photography and so I agreed to go with him to the park for a couple hours.

As I watched a ball game, a sense of well being came to me. I enjoyed watching the people before me as they laughed and played together. A joy was within all and as unity reigned, even more joy was being released. It was tangible.

Looking up into the sky I could see birds come and fly over the park and even circle in the air above on winds I could not see with my eyes. It was as if they were floating on the winds of joy I was witnessing.

He sat on the park’s cement wall looking down at me and my friend asking question after question. He had sought us out because he said he wanted what we had; joy and laughter. He wanted the hope we carried with us and his hunger was ravenous. It had been a while since I had met someone so hungry for truth and love.

As much as he was asking us questions, we tried to ask some back. Did he have any dreams, passions, desires to do something special? It didn’t take long to get a picture of a lie at work in his soul. He had been shut down by family members and his own mistakes and failures. He hated that he’d sometimes smoke weed to feel better, to numb the pain; an all too familiar tale.

Every time we shared the truth of what we could have here and now but also for eternity, he would grin wide. At one point he stopped talking for a moment while he tried to understand a concept which seemed new to him. With a huge grin he asked, “You mean we can double dip? Like have it good here and have it good there too?” When we started laughing and nodding, “yes, yes”, he grinned even bigger than before.

A precious seed of hope could be seen growing quickly in him that afternoon. I look forward to seeing it come to fruition, both here and in eternity.

I was in freedom but as I walked on the grass my eyes looked into the distance. Not all that far away I could see watchtowers and below was barbed wire fencing. A prison was near and my heart ached for those behind it’s locked down doors.

A reminder came to my heart about the days I too was imprisoned. Not in the physical sense but locked down by lies from a past riddled with tragedies and mistakes. One by one each of those lies has been exposed to the light of the truth and I no longer carry chains everywhere I go.

Oh that all could walk in the freedom of truth. This is the reality of our heavenly Father’s heart. His love will set all free who desire to be so.

Gal 5:1a  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…

In my job I see lots of information, most of it so routine I barely read it anymore; just scan the information and make sure it agrees with what needs to be documented and posted for funds. Today however, one simple line in tiny print at the top of a fax stopped my routine. I just kept looking and looking at it. Two simple words….”Open Doors”; nothing more than that to read. I sat still for a few minutes with the fax in my hands but then moved on to what I needed to do. Still, it wouldn’t leave me so I made a note of it in my journal.

Once home, I found the words to be rattling in my head over and over so I finally decided I’d look up the word “open” and found myself surprised to find “open door” in my old dictionary…..an unhindered opportunity for progress; free access…admission to all on equal terms…a policy whereby a nation opens its foreign and internal trade to nationals of all other nations on equal terms.

Now is the time of “open doors” for us all. Let’s walk through them. Anyone ready to go with me?

Rev 4:1  (The Message) Then I looked, and, oh! – a door open into Heaven. The trumpet-voice, the first voice in my vision, called out, “Ascend and enter. I’ll show you what happens next.”

I love to stand on the hills early in the morning. When the skies are clear and I can see my city below. Hope floods my heart for the things to come and I sit upon the rocks looking down, speaking into the wind all the goodness of my Father’s heart.

My city will be known as a place filled with love. My city will know healing and mercy. My city will have compassion in abundance. Our children will laugh in joy. Our businesses will prosper. Our city will be known for family unity in marriages. Our city will be a haven to the lost. Our city will draw the attention of a nation. Music and dancing will flood our streets. Our city will be known as the place where the Holy One dwells.

This is not a dream, it’s a reality yet to be seen.

Would you consider yourself a “yes man”? This term is often associated with being the office suck up or tool of the boss. You would never stand up for the good of morale and what is right.

To be a “yes man” in the coming days is going to be a good thing. Our boss is the “Big Guy” who also says YES but most don’t know what to ask. With Him our moral compass should be in agreement with what is righteous and done in love.

Are you wondering what that “yes man” is going to look like for us? Well, it’s pretty straightforward; if we see a need, just say yes! Nothing too complicated in that, and if our hearts do it with love then we are in alignment for promotions whether we ask for them or not.

I stood in the wind, feeling it blow my hair about and I didn’t care. I stood at the edge of the field and watched the birds in flight together. This moment was special. I could feel the presence of the one who loves me. I confessed my love aloud and feeling the wind stir even stronger I turned into it, spreading my hands out from my side. The rush of air swirled, fully enveloping every inch of me. I wanted to stay in this caress forever. Closing my eyes all I could think was, “more, more…oh how I want more….”

“But what about you?” he asked, “Who do you say I am?”  Mat 16:15

We all know this is a question Jesus asked of his disciples and it’s interesting to dig into the depth of why and what our Lord was asking. A friend spoke out something this weekend that awakened this verse in my heart. She merely mentioned the difference in who I had been versus who I was now. Jesus came in the form of man to live life as we do, and once baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit, he walked in signs and wonders. His word says…”I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

As I think upon “who I am”, it’s important I understand the price paid for me; to be who I am to be, and what I am to do while I am here. My friend’s words stirred up my responsibility to step up and accept the truth about myself. I am not to dwell upon what others say about me, or even what I can say about myself. In this hour. I need to believe by faith, that I am meant and expected to do great things. Jesus died for me to do this….

Ever have that conversation where you are wanting badly for the other person just to say what you want? I had one of those today but it didn’t go my way and I wasn’t the happiest camper about it. Truth be told, I was agitated to levels I don’t often recognize as being my own mouth or mind? Speaking to anyone?

After I hung up my phone, I actually seethed for a bit and got even more irritated when I could hear that “voice” tell me I was wrong! I just plain didn’t want to hear it that minute, so I started to argue out loud for all the reasons it wasn’t wrong for me to be this mad. It didn’t take but a few sentences before I just shut my mouth completely. Why waste my breath verbalizing a losing argument?

Sitting in silence I could still hear the “voice” tell me what I needed to do but I wasn’t real receptive to its wisdom. There was an apology to be made and I knew full well who it was to make it. Thank goodness I still had a few miles to drive. I needed to adjust and prepare myself for these words. I wanted time to move the words from my head down into my chest.

Proverbs 24:14   Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off