Alignment In The Holy Place

      Perspective decides priorities. Some of us need to have a perspective alignment. It's possible not only that your life's tires have worn thin in places, but you're having the fight of your life just to stay on your given course. If you'll go into the Holy Place for an alignment, you'll be able to easily get back on track. The steering was not intended to be a battle itself. You'll find that once your perspective is adjusted, the priorities decide themselves and will take you to your destination, or, as some call it, "destiny."

     Maybe the resistance you are encountering is tied to a wrong perspective. There's only one way to know. That's why we're given free and unlimited access to the Holy of Holies. If you are feeling a constant struggle and opposition, could it be self-imposed? And, if so, could it be fixed? I know I have been in desperate need of a spiritual alignment... but there is really only one place that can happen. Make the choice. You know you need it. Or, do you choose to disregard it?

 

Where Exactly Is The Secret Place?

     Heard from Father this morning, just as I was walking passed the blue tooth speaker in the kitchen and heard the words from United Pursuit with Will Reagan: "I am not alone, Your heart is my home." I've heard that song umpteen times, maybe even daily, as our habit is to keep worship music playing in the house all day long. But, you know how it goes, this time the Lord had something He wanted to download into my spirit.

     Throughout this very peculiar and strategic season of life, I have been focusing on and deeply contemplating the meaning of Psalm 91, even to the degree that I have its words hanging above almost every sink in my house. It has caused me to further analyze its content. If you haven't read it lately, I suggest you do so. Certain words have arrested my attention... words like "dwell" and "secret place." I have been seeking the Lord for a deeper and richer understanding of them.

     Early on, I looked up the definition of "dwell" and "dwelling" to help me get a better grasp of its meaning. Basically, to dwell is to live or stay as a permanent resident; to reside; to live or continue in a given  condition or state; to linger over; to emphasize; or to ponder in thought, speech, or writing. While a dwelling is defined as a building or place of shelter to live in; a place of residence; an abode; or a home.

     So, one might easily (or not) come to the conclusion as I have that the entirety of Psalm 91 appears to be contingent on dwelling in the secret place, as if those who do not, are not qualified to claim in confidence the remainder of the chapter. Interestingly, most Christians take for granted that those words necessarily apply to all children of God. But, I don't see it to be that way. On the contrary, I think we are remiss to assume so, and in so doing, one must disregard verse one, or not believe it, or something. I think only those who choose to dwell there in the shelter ("secret place") will be the ones who actually will abide in the shadow of His mercy seat and favor. Granted, I am sure that is not a popular message, but I'm not interested in being popular; I just want to believe what the text says.

     We, at least in America, don't really use the term "dwell" or "dwelling" very often so it took me a little time to really wrap my brain around its concept. But, it's a worthy question to entertain: what does it mean to dwell? In talking with some friends the other day, I heard myself define it in this way: "To dwell is not really about something you do, as much as it's a posture of the heart."

     If, in fact, a dwelling is a place of residence, or a shelter, home, or abode, then it hit me today how easy it is to dwell. I am already doing it in the natural! I dwell in my house! I'm not even working on it; I'm just being! And, while here, I get to enjoy all the amenities that make up my abode. I have also heard it described that the "secret place" is really a way of referring to the heart of God.

     Turns out it's not hard to dwell, at all. When I think of where my heart is postured, what I know is that it is not looking at or being shaped by the world's ways of being or doing or thinking. I do not want the things that the world has to offer, nor do I desire to bring attention to myself. Whatever would that be for? I see them both as being utterly futile and without attraction. My heart wants the heart of God. Nothing less.

     After experiencing that lightning bolt of truth delivered through the words of that song, I sat in the nearby chair to listen to more of Father's encouragement to me. What I heard next seems too simple to have eluded my attention before now, but He spoke to me about the significance of being a good steward of my abode and using it well for what we have labeled to be "hospitality." Really, my home gets to be a microcosm of His heart. When I invite someone into my home, or abode, I am essentially inviting them into His heart, speaking in the spiritual realm. I think it is why I feel a desire to beautify my abode, and to make it appealing and relaxing to visitors. I am eager to show them the place where I take up my shelter. Bottom line: when my dwelling is a reflection of His heart, I want to share it.

     There is way more which I heard, and for which I doubt I can find adequate words to give full expression to it. Essentially, I feel more grounded in what it actually means to "dwell" in the secret place. Now on to the part about confidently walking in the "fullness of the rest" of (get it?) the encouragement of Psalm 91.






   

 

Let The Turning Begin!

     I see its rumbling. The new thing is starting to erupt. I love what I see happening in Minnesota at the very location where George Floyd was killed. The atmoshphere has shifted there, as Christians have decided not to let Satan win. I love seeing the evil that was at work, being turned around for good.

     Also, two other incidents are testifying to the Church's being turned inside out. One comes from North Carolina, while the other took place in a park, Forsyth Park (in Georgia, I think), very much like I have imagined the Church to function. (By the way, I am not putting my endorsement on any of these particular sources from which I have obtained these stories. That is not my message nor care. I merely enjoy seeing stories of how this vision of mine is beginning to play out.)

     Then there was one more great story I read, coming from Houston, Texas, of "church" happening outside of "church." It reports of a group of white people kneeling in front of a black community, to ask forgiveness at a George Floyd prayer gathering. You can see how it touched hearts in a powerful way. Now that's church, folks! I had put a link up to it, but took it down, as I was uncomfortable with some of the other content exposed. But, you could find it in the Washington Examiner, if interested. 

     I'm just thrilled to see people's faith bleeding out. It causes me to say, "More, Lord. More."



P.S.
     Oh, and another I just saw here, coming from Lakeland, Florida. Awesome! Love it!

The Church Turned Inside Out

   
     I hear something deep down in my spirit; I've been hearing its rumbling for several years now, yet it seems to be sounding all the louder as of recent world events. While I have heard from several different sources, some of whom being well-known and sought-after voices, that there is something new on the horizon for the Body of Christ, like a re-structuring of sorts, and that we are walking into something completely unprecedented, I don't disagree at all. While they can see a leading of the Church into a new era, many are still assuming the change will still somehow be able to fit within our created structure.

     In reality, I believe He is saying that the entire structure is coming down. It's just that that is not what anyone wants to hear; it doesn't fit our paradigm. Yet, the infrastructure, the paradigm, itself, is the very thing that is being altered... it's the delivery system. We Christians so think we've got this thing figured out. After all, we've spent centuries and millennia, perfecting our technique, and in many cases, even have needed and been willing to re-evaluate and subsequently re-conform our motives to His (sad but true). But, while many are seeing an apparent change coming, why are they insistent on forcing it to fit inside of our box of understanding? Out of their mouths they speak the language of change, but assume it to occur within our given system.

     What if this "new era" is completely outside of every systematic conformity we have ever known? Are you ready for that? What if "church" doesn't even fit into a box anymore? And, was it ever supposed to, in the first place? That will likely remain a question unanswered for the time being, or at least one to be addressed once face to face with Him... however, I would guess it to be irrelevant at that point. The bigger question I hope we are able to answer is, are we prepared for the Church to look like something not before seen, at least within recent memory? Are we ready to be re-defined? And, by "re-defined," I might mean, to go back to our original state. To go back to home-base and start the game over, except now, in new wineskins.

     While I find that I don't disagree with what I hear being spoken that is coming around the corner for the Body of Christ, I might argue that it still seems to fall short. It is being understood through a foggy lens and then spoken about in such a way as to not offend the most educated and credentialed religious ears. Plain and simple; I don't feel they are seeing far enough. They need new glasses altogether.

     It reminds me of what I found myself telling a pastor of a church where I briefly attended within the last year (which, if you knew my story, you would know that is a big deal, even of itself). There were two occasions, where upon hearing his message given to the church, I heard very strongly in my spirit a little phrase of three words. The first time I heard it, I blew it off and assumed it was just my own crazy thought, though I did find myself mentioning it to one of my daughters on the ride home. However, not long after, during another service in which the same man was speaking, I heard the same three words rising up in my spirit, repeatedly and more loudly, as His message continued on. That time, I decided that I had nothing to lose by relaying those words to him after the service. Of course, I knew that I was a "nobody" to him, and that He really would have no reason to pay any attention to me. But still. I felt compelled to speak it to him, with the understanding that it would then  be on his shoulders to bring it before the Lord to weigh. So, what were the three words?? : "Scrap it all." I know the words perhaps may sound irrelevant just by themselves, but each time I heard them, they seemed utterly relevant to the pastor's message at the time.

     So, to get to the meat of what I want to say, what I hear welling up more and more strongly in my spirit (and as a result of the church's being forced to close their doors and sent home for a month or so) is that Father is doing a most beautiful work right now, if we will take our hands off the wheel and let Him. I have a sense that He is turning the church inside out. It's the way it was always meant to be. Meanwhile, we're looking for ways in which He is going to re-structure the institution within the four walls. But, I hear that we are to set our sights and activities outside of those walls, and not to look back... at the old and out-dated way of doing community life in Christ. I'm not saying that those wonderfully-designated buildings can't and won't be used for tremendous Christian gatherings of the saints. Likely, they will finally get to be used to their full potential, just without all the carefully-formulated Christian protocol and etiquette, deemed necessary by us. We actually have an opportunity here to shed our old skin and to see what surprises may lay ahead.

     I don't think this new world we live in can accomodate old ways or old thinking patterns. The kind of power that this world needs to see must be seen within their spheres, not ours. We are already there in those places, but there has been an unfortunate line drawn between their space and ours. For the most part, we have saved all things God-related to happen within our holy four walls. Now, however, God-stuff will happen in the least-expected places and circumstances. While it's true that we most-assuredly and necessarily will refuel when we get together with other Believers, the large bulk of change that the world will now be witness to, will occur in smaller and multiplied settings, as we infiltrate and take dominion over our specialized environments, as was intended from the beginning.

     For instance, the other day as I was meeting with a friend at the park, sitting at a picnic table and observing the other park visitors, I had a download of desire that sprang forth from inside (It actually wasn't the first time, though). I observed a few small groups of people visiting, sitting around the park in circles in their folding chairs. None of the groups seemed to have any reservations or inhibitions about being seen out in the open. And, to me, it looked delightful. Talk about community and fellowship (the two premier tag words of most churches)! The thought occurred to me: What if Christians, in large scale, took it upon themselves to meet up with each other in such an overtly public way, just for the sake of being together... you know, like friends?

     My spirit was alerted to the possibility of meeting there with a small bunch of Believers, and how cool it would be to have someone who played an acoustic guitar with us who spontaneously would let loose in worshipful song, and then everyone else in the group would naturally join in. I've done such a thing in days of old. It always drew a crowd of listeners, as people usually just enjoyed the hills coming alive with the sound of music... ok, ok, I'll knock it off (we don't have any hills, where I'm from, anyways). But, it was not uncommon to be approached by someone desiring prayer, as it was spontaneously and freely offered. It was truly a thing a beauty. To watch how the Spirit would draw the most unlikely people to observe, join in, or, to in some way benefit (far beyond our knowing, I'm sure) from, what they saw in those of us who had merely gathered together to hang out together and to love on Jesus. Which, I guess, that would be a "given," by the way, that we Believers would unabashedly want to love on Jesus.

     But, it added to a vision I've had formulating in my spirit for awhile now, I believe from the Lord, where Christians appear in small clusters all around out in the open, just doing life together and loving on others and each other like only Christians can. The language I heard myself using to describe it to my friend that day over the park's picnic table was this: "I see the church being turned inside out." What we've erroneously allowed only to happen within the four walls needs to be turned inside out. I believe it will be happening more and more, out of the necessity of the hour. So, that's the kind of "re-structuring" I see that will occur. And, I didn't even mention the multiple and varied moves of Holy Spirit's power that I also see accompanying such gatherings. The power of God was never meant to be shut up inside of buildings, anyways.




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Lungs and Tongues

 
     If Your breath is in our lungs, isn't Your word on our tongues?

Repentance After the Rain

     We had a really good hard rain on Saturday night where I live. On Sunday morning, I spontaneously found myself out in my front yard, having gone to simply uproot what looked through the window to be a tiny, yet growing and out of place, tree in my front flower bed area. It occurred to me that it would be relatively easy to pull up due of the wet soil and to remove it from where it didn't belong. So, I randomly and somewhat suddenly, stepped outside to yank it, thinking I'd be right back inside momentarily, enjoying the remainder of my coffee.

     Well, you know how that goes. An hour and a half later, I had finally finished pulling up every tiny rooted-in tree that had infiltrated the flower bed (which really only houses landscaping bushes). There were so many, it was crazy. There are a lot of nearby trees in the yard, which inevitably dropped their seeds, or seeds were blown, into the unapproved area. After pulling up the first few with such ease, I couldn't stop myself. It was like popping those addictive bubbles on the bubble wrap that protects fragile items in the mail. There is something mysteriously satisfying about the completion of the task.

     Anyways, as I continued into my diversion of uprooting the multitudes of misplaced baby trees, I couldn't stop thinking about how easily they were coming out, as a result of the night-before rains. Somewhere along the way, I felt Father download a message into my spirit. I heard: "The easiest time to pull out the weeds is after a good hard rain." I know, that's super spiritual, right? But, upon deeper listening, I heard what He meant. It reminds me of the scripture verse that says there is a season for all things. Some seasons are intended for uprooting the stuff that doesn't belong, or is getting in the way of new growth and threatening to overtake the scenery.

     Then my thoughts took me to what my eyes had been seeing just prior to the outbreak of the disease pandemic affecting the whole world. At the top of my radar had been the strong move of the Holy Spirit I was observing, coming from multiple corners of the world, and primarily among the young adult population. It had captivated my heart and attention, as I watched multitudes pouring out their love and affection on their heavenly Father in worship and song. It wasn't just coming from a few sources. Thanks to the internet, I was alerted to its happening in different parts of the country and the world, coming from both large and small venues. I loved watching the adoration and uninhibited love pouring forth as people's hearts seemed to be bleeding for their Abba Daddy. It was a thing of beauty to these eyes, and fueled the fire which had been stoked within my own spirit.

     Well, the Lord seemed to whisper to me that that which I had been seeing, and even personally experiencing, was indeed a form of outpouring: "a good, hard rain" of the Holy Spirit, if you will. Many souls were being awakened to a newly-fanned flame of fire. But, I had also heard within my spirit, pretty early on after all of life got highjacked by the virus, that there was a huge opportunity looming within the chaos, for all persons to repent. I could hear it deep inside my spirit, as if John the Baptist, himself, were declaring to me personally to "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The sentiment only continued to grow, as time marched forward, and things ramped up.

     I feel like we had just gone through a season of new outpouring of the Spirit of God, but that now we would do well to allow God to do a little gardening in our lives. It's a time to let the Lord pull out the "weeds" that seem to have inevitably accumulated in our souls. We have grown so accustomed to this sin-riddled existence, that it is likely that we scarcely know how far off we actually are from His intended purpose and vision for us. I'm sure repentance is the order of the day. I feel it is for me. Hopefully, the soil of our hearts has been saturated with a good hard rain, thereby making it all the easier for Him to painlessly (for us) and somewhat effortlessly (as we cooperate with Him and align ourselves with His higher ways) to uproot even the most well-concealed of our pet sins... say, the ones we've gotten the most comfortable with.

     We have a choice. This can be done the hard way or the easy way. But, one way or another, we will bow the knee to our Maker. Why not take advantage of the opportunity while the soil of our heart is soft and malleable? Let Him root out that which is only holding you back from your freedom, anyways. All of our pet sins come with tentacles attached that we can't see; they serve to keep us bound up, unable to move about freely in our new wineskins. They are working against us, and certainly against Him. For everything that is not for Him is against Him.

     As one will note, the uprooting of the weeds will be an ongoing necessity, demanding our attention until Jesus comes back to this earth to set all things aright. I suppose it is like hair cuts... or nails that have to be repeatedly trimmed. You can let them go unattended for awhile, but it won't be long before you realize that it is actually not working in your favor to let them get out of control. As I contemplated the need to rid the flower bed of "weeds," my mind was drawn for some reason to the act of deliverance. Suddenly, that word took on a simpler implication for me. Deliverance doesn't have to have a bad or scary connotation attached to it, as if to indicate that one must have, in some way, been in the wrong in order to have needed such a thing as a "deliverance." Its need for the Believer may likely be more akin to the concept of pulling weeds out of a garden, so that it can be as beautiful as intended. For a believing follower of Jesus, "deliverance" may well be viewed as somewhat of a routine maintenance involving the removal of unlovely spiritual or demonic (yeah, I used the "d" word) "weeds" that have inadvertently, or otherwise unknowingly, emerged in the garden of our soul.

     Again, I realize that ultimately we all will be delivered, one way or another. But, without my allowing for God's divine deliverance from ugly and damaging growth within my body, which is the Body of Christ, I imagine His garden to be quite overrun and threatened by... well, ... tares I guess, or what looks like them, anyways. Hmm... interesting, that.

     What I know is that if I expect the seed of God's word to be able to fully bear fruit and flourish in the garden of my heart, I better recognize when it has been amply watered and prepared by the Holy Spirit's outpouring. I would do well then to be ready to cooperate with whatever form of deliverance may be awaiting my surrender. My point is, deliverance is a tool God uses to do spiritual surgery. It's just a matter of my letting God pull out the weeds that are threatening to choke the life out of me... and His kingdom.
   

It's Already Been Stored Up

Father, what do You say? Here am I... listening.  Waiting to record your words...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...


It is not believed that I store up the wealth of the wicked for the righteous. You all sit around in paralyzation, wishing you could do this or that, which I put upon your heart to begin with.
But, then you balk. You hope that someone else will someday be able to step up to get it done.

All the while, a void of space is left in that place. It sits unoccupied, barely begun to be dreamt up, just in time to be all-too-quickly abandoned. And, why? Because of your lack of faith. You simply do not believe My words. There is so much expanse left uncolored; it's drastically more space than that which is colored in. How much of it will be left uncolored? That's My question to you?

I have given you a picture to fill in with My color and to bring to completion. But, you consistently choose to operate in unbelief. As if the task is yours to fund. If I put the idea in your heart, did I forget to calculate the cost? Did I fail to notice your limitations? I tell you I did not.

Have I not said that My ways are higher than yours? Where you are small and incapable, I am big and more than able. Why do you give one second's thought to the how? What business is that of yours? Oh, for you to believe Me, Maker of heaven and earth. Is anything too difficult for Me?

Your brain hears limitation, leading to hesitation. It is not attuned to liberation's designation. Your mind is fogged over, causing your sense of reality to be smudged into sin's warping.

Are My resources stretched to the max... like yours? If so, I must be in trouble. Who do you think gives the ideas to you? Are you coming up with them on your own? Do you dare take credit? Can you think on a grander scale than I? Forget not: I Am Lord.

Why do you run around parroting the lie, reciting "Lack!" "Lack!" Am I in lack? Have I ever been? Where have you heard this report? Is it in My Church? It ought not be. It is not I. For, I would NEVER speak such an atrocity. That is out of line with My character, not to mention being heretical.

They scream heresy about the wrong things. Yet, what do I call heresy? Does it matter?

You will never complete My heart's dreams coming through you, so long as you believe you are limited. Either I said it, or I didn't. Do you know Me to be a liar?

"The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Prov. 13:22b

When you wonder where the money is going to come from, surely, I tell you that it is being stored up... for you. Unbeknownst to them.

To store is to keep or accumulate (something) for future use. Yes, while they are busily working harder and harder to attain all that they can. They do not even realize that they are actually doing it for you. Why? Because I have made it so. I reserve the plenty for My purposes. It is for those who will take Me up on My word. Not all will. But for those who do, ... Selah.

Let the coloring proceed.

"I will give you the treasures of darkness [the hoarded treasures] and the hidden riches of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by by name." Isa. 45:3