Connecting a few dots....

After writing last night's blog post, I have been thinking about what might be ahead for me.  Sometimes you have to look behind you to understand where you might be going.  So I started thinking about what has REALLY been on my heart for the last couple of months.  Tonight I have a story to tell you from my past, that might help "connect the dots" and give a clearer picture of my journey to now!

In May of 2008 I was introduced to a couple of ministries that I had not really been following very closely.  There was a conference being held very close to my home with two speakers that I had heard of, but really didn't follow closely.  Those two speakers were Kim Clement and Lance Wallnau.

Lance Wallnau had a unique message that I had only heard pieces of and I was interested to hear more. His message was about the 7 mountains of society and God's plan.

Kim Clement was a prophetic worshiper, evangelist, missionary and pastor.  Until that conference I had only READ his prophetic words.  (Sometimes it is easy to forget how much technology has changed in such a short time.  There were not many videos made and they were not really that accessible in 2008.  There was not Periscope or Facebook live.  Youtube was started in 2005, but not many people used it. So keep that in mind)   I would get words that Kim had spoken from several months before.  And, as it is with all of us, no human is perfect and there is no perfect prophetic voice.  But many, many people felt that being in worship with Kim brought you to a different dimension.  So, I was curious to actually experience being with Kim Clement.  

(As a side note, Kim Clement died in early November of 2016.  He had been very ill for over a year and his ministry continues to reach many, even after his illness and death)

That conference in 2008 was one of those life changing events for me.  I never actually heard Kim speak.  He only sat at the piano and played and sang.  But the atmosphere in the room was supercharged.  His message at that conference was that Chicago was a HUB for what the Lord had for the next season.  It was really amazing.  It was Lance Wallnau's teaching on the 7Mountain Mandate that really touched me.  Over the next few months I read his books and listened to his teachings and fully embraced the idea of the seven spheres of society and God's plan to occupy and influence each of these areas.  (to hear about this click this link Lance Wallnau - 7m Mandate)

Quite honestly, after 2008 I didn't really follow Lance Wallnau that closely.  I would occasionally read something about him, or see a teaching he had given.  But, in my heart, I felt that there was something important for me contained in that teaching.  Fast forward to this summer.  

Within all of the political "STUFF" going on, I saw that Lance Wallnau had supported Trump for president, believing there was a Cyrus Call on Trump to be a wrecking ball in Washington.  Additionally, I saw that Kim Clement has released a prophecy in 2007 saying that Trump would be the president of the United States.  I started to follow and listen to Lance on Periscope and Facebook and discovered that he was writing a book scheduled to be released just before the election.  That book, God's Chaos Candidate is a number one best seller.  

At this point, I am sure that I have lost some of you.  As I said yesterday I have stayed pretty silent on the election and all of this stuff.  But the REASON that I am sharing today is more about ME than Donald Trump or Lance Wallnau or Kim Clement.

As I have been listening to Lance (I follow him on Periscope and Facebook Live) I have realized that there is something very real that I am supposed to be doing for Jesus right now.  Lance's message is not just about the government mountain, it is really about what we as believers need to be doing in every area!  The message is simple.  We pray "let your Kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" each time we say the Lord's Prayer.  Yet we don't expect to actually see Kingdom things happen here on earth.  We can fight those giants and we can make a difference.  Each one of us.   

So what is ahead for me in 2017?  Well, I really don't know.  But I do know that I have a great feeling of hope and excitement about what is ahead.  The best thing for me is that I don't feel like I am trying to connect the dots all my myself.  I have found a "tribe" of people who are also following Lance and together we are ready to move where God wants us to go.  I am so thankful for Lance and his ministry team.   With God nothing is impossible!

Jesus, thank you for helping me understand and appreciate how the pieces of my life fit together.  Thank you for all that you have accomplished through Kim Clement and Lance Wallnau and their ministries.  Holy Spirit, thank you for courage and boldness to share, even when it is difficult.  Amen

A bit of "it's hard to believe"......

On Saturday we celebrated Anna's second birthday (she really turns two on the 30th).  It was the usual house full of kids type of birthday party!  We took a moment before the party to take this picture.  Anna was having none of it!  This was the only picture without her screaming!  So, it will have to do.  You might notice the penguins...that was the theme of the party.

It just doesn't seem possible that this little one is actually two years old.  It is really hard to believe how fast these two years have passed.  

I had a couple of interesting experiences over this past weekend.  Looking back on them, it is a little hard to believe, but I can assure you, this blog is about truth telling!  So, here goes..........

On Sunday morning, Ken and I were having breakfast at a local cafe.  We go to this particular place almost every weekend.  There is a really nice manager that we have befriended and a sweet waitress who always gives us service above and beyond what is expected.  As we were finishing our meal, I glanced up and just behind Ken's chair, I saw a waitress holding a tray filled with drinks, collapse backwards, hitting her head on the floor.  The people nearest to her, rushed over to her and it was clear that she was having a seizure.  Someone called 911 and it was a LONG wait for the fire engines and ambulance.  I spent the time urgently praying for the waitress.  By the time the paramedics arrived, the girl was alert and talking.  It was quite a relief to see that ambulance pull up to the door.  We could hardly believe that we had witnessed this emergency during breakfast.  

Now I spent some time kind of beating myself up because I did not rush over and pray for that girl.  I was certainly praying, but there was this question in my mind that I did not do enough.  

Then on Sunday night I attended a meeting and the speaker was a missionary to China.  I have heard him speak before, but last night I felt like he was speaking directly to me!  I can't tell you what anyone else heard, but I got the message very clearly......  you know what you are supposed to be doing....what your destiny is.  So why aren't you doing it?  It's time to take the plunge and go to the next level.  Don't say that you can't do it (whatever it is).  You have to take the first step.  

There was more, but that is the part that, well, stopped me in my tracks.  As a matter of fact, I had been hearing a very similar message myself.  After I got home, I happened to hear this message Lance Wallnau - "The Midnight Watch".   It is a hope filled message that says that Jesus will be sending us each a gift in the form of a person that will be strategic for us to fulfill our destiny.  

It's worth listening to the entire message from Lance.  This gift might be financial, it might be a connection, or it might be wisdom that will help us move forward towards our destiny. 

Pretty interesting, right?  So I'll be waiting expectantly for the person that Jesus is sending to me.  In the mean time I will worry less about what I did or did not do!  Yes, it was a weekend of hard to believe things.  It certainly left me with plenty to think about!  

Jesus, thank you for grandchildren that help us see joy and wonder in the little things.  Bless all the firefighters and paramedics who respond to distress calls.  Give us all wisdom when we are faced with emergency situations.  Holy Spirit, help us to take that first step towards our destiny.  And reveal that special person who will help us towards our goal!  Amen

Hello 2016.....Let there be light!

It is time to say good bye to 2015 and hello to 2016.  And Happy New Year!  Yes, today is 2016.  I simply don't know where the last year went.  Today Ken and I purchased new lamps for our bedroom.  Real, grown up lamps.  We haven't had real bed side lamps in many, many years.  Don't ask me why, but today we happened to find these lamps at a ridiculously reduced price.  So we bought them!

They are the perfect color and exactly the right size.  When I saw them on the clearance shelf, I couldn't believe it.  If I would have described the perfect lamp, these would match exactly.  So 2016 begins with LIGHT!

 It has been a bit of a more quiet year for me as far as blogging goes.  I only wrote 142 posts in 2015.  That was down from 244 posts in 2014.  But it still feels like there was exactly the correct number of words sent out there into cyberspace.  I've been doing a lot of prayer and considering about what the next year might hold.  And I had one of those "suddenly" moments yesterday while listening to a Periscope message! (Hey, can I encourage you to try out this amazing free addition to all things Internet?  I have been so blessed by listening to some of my very favorite pastors/teachers/evangelists/musicians......well, you get the idea!  If you haven't tried out this real time video thing, you need to do it! I can't believe the amazing teaching and wonderful music I have had access to via this wonderful new App.)

Over the last week or so I have been "parked" in Psalm 16!  I kept reading this chapter in all different translations.  Somehow I knew that my message for 2016 was somewhere in those verses.  And then I listened to Lance Wallnau on Periscope.  I have learned much from Lance and it has been so wonderful to listen to his DAILY Periscope messages.  Yesterday, Lance brought his word for 2016.  And what do you know, it was from Psalm 16!  I don't know exactly what translation he uses, but this was the verse that brought me to that "suddenly moment".  Here is Psalm 16:5 from The Passion Translation.......
Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance.  You are my prize, my pleasure and my portion.  I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands.  

There is the suddenly!  Instead of trying to figure out what is ahead for 2016, I will just remember that I have chosen Jesus as my inheritance and because of that, everything else is in His control.  It was as if the light was suddenly shining.  It is a totally wonderful, relaxing place to remember that Jesus is actually HOLDING our destiny in his hand.  Right now.  At this very moment.  Somehow, I felt light just flooding into my spirit.  It is clear that 2016 will be filled with an increasing light as we just continue to press into Jesus.  So I encourage you to pick up a Bible....any translation will do and read Psalm 16.  Let it just sink in.  There is a lot more in that chapter.  Let it speak to you.  I am convinced because of verse 5, you will join me in saying LET THERE BE LIGHT in 2016.

I got to what I thought was the end of this blog, and then I just knew that I had to include the entire Psalm 16 from the Passion Translation in this blog..... so here goes...

Keep me safe, O mighty God, I run for dear life to you, my safe place.  So I say to the Lord God, You are my Maker, my Mediator, and my Master. Any good thing you find in me has come from you. And he said to me.  My holy lovers are wonderful, My majestic ones, my glorious ones, fulfilling all my desires.  Yet, there are those who yield to their weakness, and they will have troubles and sorrows unending.  I never gather with such ones, nor give them honor in any way.  Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance.  You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion.  I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands.  Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places.  I'm overwhelmed by the privileges that come with following you, for you have given me the best!  The way you counsel and correct me makes me praise you more.  For your whispers in the night give me wisdom, showing me what to do next.  Because you are close to me and always available, my confidence will never be shaken, for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment.  My heart and soul explode with joy-full of glory!  Even my body will rest confident and secure.  For you will not abandon me to the realm of death nor will you allow your Holy One to experience corruption.  For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life.  The path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you.  

What I forgot to include in this message is the reminder from this Psalm that not only is Jesus holding our destiny in His hand, He has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit that brings us wisdom and shows us what to do next.  Even whispers in the night!   That is the icing on the cake of this revelation.  Okay, NOW this blog is done!

Jesus, thank you for not only giving us a destiny, but holding it all in your hand.  Holy Spirit, thank you for being there to bring us wisdom and direction.  Thank you for gifted teachers who help us hear your voice.  Give us grace to rest in your care.  Thank you Jesus for your light and life!  Amen

A little bird with a big voice.....

Tonight I had one of those amazing, Grandma moments.  I got to see Lia perform in her first musical.  It was a children's production of "Annie".  Now this is interesting for a couple of reasons.  When Gwen was young she just about drove us crazy by watching the video of the Annie, over and over.  As a matter of fact, not so long ago, Ken and I decided to use the "parent's curse" and gave Lia a DVD of this same movie.  And Lia loved it almost as much as Gwen did.  So, when she said she was going to audition for this musical, I wasn't really surprised.  However, she is only in second grade and 7 years old.  A lot of the kids who auditioned had already been in previous musicals put on by this Theatre Club.  Lia was given a speaking and solo singing part as a "lead orphan".  Quite a big deal for her.   She learned all of her lines, went to all the practices, and did a fantastic job tonight. 
Oh how she loves to sing and dance.  And she loves the stage. 

I couldn't help but think about her name frame.  

Lia is that little bird with a big voice.   I am sure that there will be many times in the future when I will see Lia walking out this prophetic word.  I can't wait to see exactly how that happens, but I know it will.  I wrote recently about her strong faith.  An important part of Lia's word was that she was going to be a voice to her generation.  She would reach her peers and lead them to the truth of Jesus.   As we were leaving tonight after the production, over and over kids were calling out to Lia with congratulations and "see you tomorrow".  She is a well liked little girl. I am quite sure that there will be many, many times when I will see and hear Lia, on the stage fulfilling her destiny. 

I was thinking about the "Seven Mountains" that Lance Wallnau speaks about.  The  7 Mountains Mandate, in which Christians seeks to gain influence over the "mountains" of government, church, education, family, media, arts, and business.  Sometimes it is difficult to see that our destiny from Jesus might take us away from the church, and land us directly in the arts.  I love that I was reminded today that might be the case for my Lia.   No matter which mountain she ends up on, she WILL be that big voice that speaks the truth, and changes people. 

Jesus, thank you for Lia and all of those kids in her production.  Bless all the workers who guide these children.  Give them grace and patience.   Jesus thank you for reminding me that you are with us in all things, wherever you lead us, no matter what the mountain we land on.  Holy Spirit, speak clearly to us so that we can see your destiny for ourselves and our families.