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Laughter is a Gift of God

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Even though we know we are children of the Most High God, set apart and made Holy by the blood of the lamb, we sometimes don’t act and feel like the powerful, perfect in His sight, superhero new creatures God created us to be. Just like our life circumstances, we are a work in progress.

Although sin is never a joking matter, our bumbling efforts forward in grace don’t always have to be a source of self-loathing and a measuring stick of how far we have to go. We need to give ourselves and others grace, particularly in areas where there is no rebellion but perhaps just a splash of the realities of growing up in the Lord that aren’t perfecto.

When my son lived at home he figured out a clever way to pick apart my idiosyncracies and uncover to me any hint of detected hypocrisy without getting in trouble. He used humor. Even though he straddled the boarder of disrespect with this at times, he revealed truth in such a way I couldn’t help but choke on my food while laughing it was so spot on and funny.

It’s okay to look at yourself in the mirror and admit your not perfect and love yourself anyway!

Being able to accept and love yourself where you are while working to be more Christ-like is important. Lighten up in life in general but be careful to remain sober minded. We serve a Holy God.

Laughter is a gift from God and is medicine to the soul. Laugh and laugh often.

I laughed so hard while flipping through pregnancy memes night before last I had mascara streaming down my face. My husband came in and smiled while I read them to him. I imagine they weren’t quite so funny to him. This week as my uncomfort level has grown with my pregnancy body and its aches and pains I have not always handled myself with stoic grace. I have made sure to share with him regularly my process, when not with words, with grunts and groans as I waddled about the house and struggled to do things that use to be a cinch, directing my husband with an onslaught of new chores as I get the house ready for the baby.

I’m ‘Nesting.’

Yesterday I worked all day in my pj’s and didn’t even brush my hair! I didn’t really realize this until my husband got home from work. 😊 I proceeded to crack jokes about my pregnant reality. He cooked dinner for the third night in a row.

Last night he had a dream. Swans were ‘nesting’ in these trees, squawking, making a bit of a racket. He was thinking they weren’t as beautiful or as big as regular swans. He thought they seemed out of place not floating gracefully in the pond below them.

Hahaha. He would never dream of pointing out my imperfections, even with humor, as my son once did, but my ability to interpret dreams (especially one this obvious!) did it for him.

I’m not exactly the picture of grace and perfection this week as my body fills with extra blood, my weight soars, my circulation struggles and my trips to the fridge and bathroom increase and keep me up at night all while I give a blow by blow account to my husband. I know I haven’t been as charming floating on the water of the Spirit 😂 lately but thank God he still loves me and Jesus loves me too!

I am still beautiful and perfect in the sight of God and so are you, regardless of how you may be feeling or even acting.

I laugh at myself and the reality of my week and I also pray for greater grace to rise above my bodily limitations that I know will tempt me to complain over the next 6-7 weeks.

I pray for each of you too. Live. Laugh. Love.

Prophetic Word Archive

Divine Setups

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Be on the lookout for divine setups. One of the ways the Lord is going to be bringing deeper revelation this month is by orchestrating opportunities that He knows will uncover hidden things in your soul (mind, will, and emotions).

Don’t despise the testing. Remember the testing of your faith produces perseverance. There are going to be situations that stir up emotions, fears, doubt and unbelief. Don’t panic!

Recognize and ponder your responses and follow them back to their root. Not everything is as it seems at first. Life is not just randomly happening to you. All of the days of your life are written in God’s book.

This will proceed that. Unhealthy patterns and responses are being exposed, doubts and fears are going to be challenged and revealed invalid, what was once thought to be needed will be found to be undesirable, control will be revealed for the illusion that it is, lack a lie, and the idea that God is holding out dispelled in preparation for the divine exchanges this month that will be a part of the life Upgrade in 2017 that God desires to give.

Prophetic Word Archive

Change The Lens

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Why are you so downcast My precious child? Where is your faith in My love and hope for My future grace to come through for you? Please continue to trust Me in spite of the hurt inside. There is nothing that you can not accomplish if you will believe. Do not focus on the stench of the rotting flesh or mourn the death of your dreams as if I am powerless over your circumstances. I have not ceased from maneuvering, by My Spirit, all of the pieces to the puzzle of your life to fit them together into My perfect design. I know there is confusion as to how I will arrange things in your favor. Many of the pieces are shaped in such a way that they do not match the space in which you believe they are to go. Stop trying to shove a square into a circle and step back in order to gain a new perspective of the overall picture.

You ask Me, “What can I do?’ My answer is that you must surrender your burdens to Me; cast your cares onto My capable shoulders and fear not; know that I am with you and for you.

You have not yet been given some of the strategic pieces that will be needed to build onto what has already been fitted together. Calm down and stop searching for something that I have yet to give. For today, quiet yourself in My Presence and refuse to bow your knee to fear. Give Me the sacrifice of your praise and it will lift you out of the pit of self-pity, confusion and doubt. Let Me deliver you from the enemies plan to lead you into despair by releasing the need to figure out how I am creating the masterpiece that is your dreams fulfillment out of the individual parts of the whole.

Change the lens you are viewing your relationships and circumstances through to take in a wider view. You are focusing on two fragmented sections that are misaligned, not taking into consideration that to everything there is a season and a purpose for everything under the sun. When the clock strikes the eleventh hour I will release the missing piece, bringing into focus the importance of calculating what was formerly thought an undesirable extraneous variable.

I know the beginning from the end. Do not let your emotions run you over and distract you from the tasks I have given you to do this day. If the enemy is unable to tempt you to leave your post or stop your race he is perfectly content to cause you to procrastinate your progress. Fight your battles but fight them bravely from a posture of certain victory. Do not give the enemy the satisfaction of blowing your emotions up in your own face. By your calm posture of assurance he will cower, knowing his days of wreaking havoc in your life are numbered.

Prophetic Word Archive

Decisions?

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Do you want to know the direction I am asking you to take but are feeling confused? Confusion does not come from Me. I am not the author of confusion. You have taken hit after hit in recent months from the enemy camp and kept your hope anchored in Me. I have taken notice of your commitment to serve Me and move at the impulse of My love.

I know how you long to know My will and make the correct decisions. You have spent a great deal of time and prayer looking for the answers. I have given you some instructions; which steps to take that are directly in front of you. For now, I am asking you to let it rest. Let your mind rest from trying to figure out exactly when and how I intend to move you forward in the coming weeks. There is nothing more that needs to be decided this week on this matter. I want you to focus all of your energies on being thankful. Trust Me and do not be afraid that the answer will not come loud and clear at the precise moment I desire it too.

I love that you seek answers that I have concealed. I am veiling things for your own protection. By now you know that you can trust Me, then Way, when you can’t see far off in the distance. I have asked you to walk by faith. Confusion doesn’t come from Me. You have asked Me for direction. You have asked Me to make your way clear. I have heard your prayers and have sent forth My Word to illuminate the path beneath your feet. For today and in the days ahead My Word to you is ‘Rejoice!’ Rejoice in the peace that I have all of the details of your life figured out. Rejoice in the truth that I love you and have good plans to prosper you. Prosperity is your portion. There will be no dwindling of your resources as you have feared. Do not hold back your offering of thanks now. I have spoken:

Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
   Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.

You are coming into a new season; of this you have felt certain for some time. Do what I have placed right before you on your path with the most excellent and diligent of care as one awaiting their promotion. Hum and sing and make music in your heart to Me, your Redeemer and the Promoter of your life. Share a smile just for Me knowing that we share secrets. What others might not fully realize, although they are starting to expect, is that you hold the keys to My Kingdom in your hands. Praise Me and show Me your appreciation by scattering your seed along the path where I am leading you. 

 

Prophetic Word Archive

Come Away With Me

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No judgement. No fear. No dread. No doubt. Walk in complete confident assurance of My sovereignty in your life and in the world around you. No chaos. No rushing. Sit with me in heavenly places. All rest. All trust. Give up your need to control and question. Focus your eyes on the cross. Remember that many things are not as they seem. I am setting the stage for new life. I am the Master Builder. Your view is limited. You are but one part of the whole.

There are blockages baring the flow of your purpose being fully realized and accomplished. Let nothing impede your progress. Let go of things that are behind. Keep your eyes on the prize. Bury your talent no more. Banish all thoughts of defeat and condemnation.

I died to take away the sins of the world. Take your eyes off of sin and place them on Me and the finished work of My cross; sin will lose its control over you. I died to set you free. You are free. Walk in freedom by casting out thoughts and reasoning that contradict the Truth of My Word. Stop listening to the voice of the accuser, whom seeks to infiltrate My Kingdom by retaining or gaining ground in the hearts and minds of those that I have called redeemed.

There is no lack. There is nothing to worry about. Pray. Trust. Obey. One step at a time. One day at a time. March forward taking authority over everything that I have given you. Claim. Claim. Claim. Do not give up one inch of ground in your heart to the enemy. Your heart belongs to me. Believe this. When thoughts arise that do not spring from the fruit of my Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, know that you are dealing with arsenal from the enemy of your soul, or your own flesh, and cast them aside quickly.

Breathe deeply, inhale the depths of my love for you, and for the world, and release yourself, others, and the circumstance of life, into my hands of grace and justice.

Take time apart with me to rest. So many of your problems stem from your refusal to care for your mind, body and spirit through proper nutrition and rest. Realize I do not begrudge you what is your need. I am a Good Father and delight to give My children what they need.

Rest and be refreshed.

If you feel your energies are depleted, rest. If you believe you do not have time to take care of yourself in this way, you are not living the balanced life I desire for you to live. I long for you to walk with me in peace and quiet confidence. A harried life, full of responsibilities and duties, must include ample times of rest and play. If you do not believe you have time to spare for yourself and nurturing your relationship with me, you are spending time doing some things I have not asked or required.

In the same way I have created your body to benefit from times of fasting; resting your digestive system. Seek Me for guidance on the length and type of fasting from food that I want to use in your life. You will be blessed and become a greater blessing to others by this discipline I call my disciples to practice.

Come away with Me.

Learn to receive from the storehouse of my goodness every day. Stop anticipating failure and defeat.

I Am.

Spiritual Insight

Is Your Advice Harmful or Helpful?

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‘Mourn with those who mourn’ should be applied to when someone is sharing their burdens and prayer requests with you. Its happy, faith filled Christians, myself included, that are most likely to offend in this situation. Love sometimes is best shown through just listening with empathy. Every time someone comes to us with a prayer need we don’t have to give our opinion or unsolicited advise. For starters, unless we are speaking the very words of God in and for that situation we may just be puffed up with pride believing we have all the answers. When someone is trusting us enough to share their heart and struggles with us its important that we show them respect enough to listen in humility and not jump on their position of vulnerability as a captive audience to spout off cliche Christian statements and affirmations or to preach about what they could be doing differently (that we often believe we are already doing better; after all we don’t have the problem they are sharing with us!)

It’s not always pride that motivates this annoying habit; genuine concern, coupled with enthusiasm for the things of God can cause us to blurt out whatever first pops in our head if we are not walking in godly wisdom.

This is not to say God’s Spirit will not nudge us to give a word of knowledge or even correction, but lets begin to take a moment to listen to people’s hearts and bear each others burdens when they are entrusted to us and not immediately jump to the conclusion that a prayer request is automatically an opportunity to council. Pause for a moment before plowing ahead with words and wait for discernment. Then, if the Spirit has a timely word for the person, speak it. Otherwise, remain silent and pray as was requested.

‘After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”’

-Acts 14:21-22

‘Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” said Paul to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:3.

I believe it is a fallacy that every bit of suffering and setback is due to something we are lacking spiritually speaking. God’s ways are often unfathomable. Lets encourage each other in The Lord. Instruction and rebuke have their place in the body of Christ but I am not so sure that their place is always to be in the moment when someone is hurting or lacking and shares a prayer need. Let’s be compassionate. If we must speak, perhaps a timely word about a situation where we have also been hurting or in need and how God carried us through would be most appropriate and helpful.

-Emily R Lewis, July 4th 2014