Destiny and reaching for goals......

I found this picture yesterday and the timing was perfect!  This is Gwen and Doug at Great America on the Ladybug ride.  Today, Gwen and Tim took their kids to Great America and Gwen sent me this picture of them on the SAME RIDE!

As I told Gwen, I can see an amazing "side by side" Scrapbook page in the making!  I am sure that there is "method in the madness" of the operators of these parks.  They took this ride away many years ago.  But they know that it is time to bring it back when those kids of long ago now have children of their own.  Just so moments like this can be captured!  

But this is not the real reason for the blog today.  You know that I have been doing cleaning and sorting and organizing and I came upon this a couple days ago....,

This is dated March of 2010.  The purpose of these papers was to write a personal vision statement and goals.  Some of it was filled in and some was not.  It was pretty clear that I was having a hard time completing this even then.  And there are a number of things filled in, and sadly, I am no closer to them now than 5 years ago.  As a matter of fact, I think I have less focus and direction towards these goals NOW than I had then.  I think it is time to do some reevaluating!  

I have always said that the message I feel most pressed to share is that there is a destiny and plan and purpose for each person.  The thing is that you have to be pressing in to Jesus and listening and sensitive to the nudge of the Holy Spirit to know your destiny and plan!  And you also have to be constantly in touch with Jesus since that plan and destiny might change over time.  And even as I am writing this paragraph, I realize that I am speaking to myself.  This vision from 2010 does not HAVE to be my vision in 2015!  Isn't that good news?  If there is some goal that you set for yourself at some time in the past, and you haven't quite attained it yet, don't fret!  There may well be a different goal or some tweeking of that original goal that applies right now.  

There was one goal on those sheets of paper that I know I am moving towards....just not exactly how I thought it would happen.  I had written "Go to the nations, share the Kingdom message of Jesus' plan and destiny.  Make connections in the body of Christ to expand a platform to share this message, to bring glory to the Father."   And for each of you out there reading this blog, you have taken me closer to this goal.  It seems that each day I am adding to the number of different countries that are reading this blog.  Yesterday it was Georgia and Argentina that popped up.  Two countries on different continents.  I believe that these two countries brought the country total to 91!  And I have not left my house.  I have connected with people through this blog, that I would never have encountered.  I have had the privilege of "talking" back and forth with people (some who speak very little English) through email and comments.  I have been able to share Jesus without ever seeing people face to face.  But I have the assurance that writing this blog is exactly the correct thing for me to be doing!  I just need to remember to stay close to Jesus and listen carefully so that I can reach those other goals!

Jesus, thank you for your personal plan and destiny for each of us.  It is really amazing that we can each hear your voice.  Holy Spirit, thank you for prompting people to read this blog.  Help us to continue to work towards our goals.  Jesus, thank you for reminding me that my legacy is in my children and grandchildren.  Thank you for picture memories that bring smiles!  Amen

Interesting way to start a new year!

So quite a bit ago I shared this picture on one of these blogs.  It doesn't matter that I already shared this, I need to share this again.  Today.  I have just gotten home from a meeting that was really life changing for me.  I suppose that it is bold (and possibly a bit stupid) to announce that truth.  Yet, there it is.  On paper.  For all to read and consider and judge.  Tonight, that just doesn't matter to me at all.   That red stamp, on the flyleaf page of my very first Bible, is part of tonight's story.  It has been part of my life since 1962.

The meeting tonight began with a prophetic song that contained these words...

Enough is Enough! Enough is Enough!  The Lion of Judah is about to play Rough!

I have certainly felt that enough is enough, many many times.  Haven't we all?  I love this truth!  Jesus, the Lion of Judah is about to play ROUGH!  Can't we all think of "stuff" in our life, or around us or in the world.....things that Jesus needs to play ROUGH about?  This song set the tone for the night.

And then the guest speaker for the night came to the front.  I had never heard him before, but I had heard "OF" him.  He has an unbelievably big ministry in China.  Yes, China.  And his message tonight was to activate the anointing in each of us.  Not to anoint us, but to ACTIVATE the anointing that has already been sown into us.  How could I not think about that stamp in my first Bible? That red stamp from a missionary to China. Something that I have never forgotten.  That was the first time that someone spoke an anointing over me.......someday you will be a missionary. 

Okay, moving on.  This man shared many really amazing thoughts that I know I will be thinking about, meditating on and considering over the coming days.  He spoke clearly that the church in America is moving into a new season.  It is happening right now.  And we need to have all of those anointings within us activated so that we can fulfill our destiny in this new season.   And he spoke about the call on women.  I can't remember the last time (or if ever) I heard someone speak more clearly about Jesus promoting women and using women very powerfully in ministry.  As he was speaking these words about anointing on women, he walked up to me and put his hand on my head.  WOW!   He said that Satan is after the women because he knows exactly how powerful the women are.  At the end of the meeting, he literally walked around the entire room and prayed for every person to activate their anointing.  He prayed the apostolic over me.  

After this, several other people prayed for me.  All of these prayers were powerful.  Really more than I can begin to write about tonight.  And then, just as I was walking out of the room, the speaker turned to me, pointed at me and said "Rivers run deep and clear.  Streams of living water running out of you".  

Well, that just about does it for me.  That tag line about the streams of living water is my own very special "key" that announces to me that this message is a true message for the Lord.  That message from John 7:38 is my life verse and the meaning of my name.  

So, yes, I believe that something very real happened tonight.  I don't know exactly what that means, but I am sure that it was very true and powerful.  

This message is not just for me.  It is for each person reading this blog.  There are many, many prayers that have been prayed over you and for you.  There have been anointings and promises and dreams and visions that have been sown into you.  This is the time for all of those things to be activated and ignited in you!  I encourage you to stop right now, and receive the activation of all of these things deep in your spirit.  Say YES! to all that Jesus has for you to do.  This is a new season and it is a time for us to get up and get going!  

Jesus, thank you for providing the exact message that I needed!  Thank you for bringing this speaker to my area.  Give us all the grace to receive this activation and to move out and do as we are instructed.  Amen

Gifts from the heart..........

I am sure that every Grandma (and every mom) has gotten some of these special "gifts from the heart" for various special occasions.  Yesterday, I received these very special, just for me, gifts from Lia and Ellie.  Lia made me that special bracelet and ring on her Rainbow Loom and Ellie created that picture frame for me.  She painted and decorated it by herself.  We had a wonderful day, just being together.  It was a really good way to celebrate my birthday.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been having some really interesting dreams.  Usually I know on waking up, that the dream has some meaning beyond what seemed obvious in the dream.  I have felt a bit like I've been seeing "previews" of "coming attractions".  It's been a bit frustrating since I would really like to start my new year with a new word!  What I have pieced together from these little glimpses is 1. This is a real time of a new beginning.  I am not quite sure WHAT is starting, or exactly WHEN, but all signs are pointing to this season being a time of new starts.  2.  Everything that I have thought I was walking towards, has faded away before I could actually reach it.  This is not a problem, however, since these things were not what I was supposed to reach for anyway!  3. This is the time when all of those words, dreams and visions will begin to manifest. (In this little dream sequence I was actually in the story of Joseph and his brothers. At first I woke up thinking that this might be a time of famine coming.  But then I realized that the tone of the dream was about the provision that Joseph had, as well as the fulfillment of his dream).

And then today, I saw a short little video on Facebook.  The title was "when it is just not your time to go".  I tried to link it to the blog, but was not successful.  This 50 second video shows a small plane doing some stunts (like you might see in an airshow).  About 35 seconds in, the plane loses its right wing!  It continues to circle and then comes in toward the ground and flops around and finally comes to rest, upright with no crash!  The pilot gets out of the plane.  Yes, after watching this video, you understand the title.  It was just not that pilots time to go!  That little short video reminded me of all those dreams I've been having.  Short.  Kind of scary.  Surprising endings.

So I don't really have a clear word right now.  But I am feeling very excited about what the next year has in store.  Even though these little dreams have seemed kind of fuzzy, they have gotten me interested and expectant for what is ahead.  I don't know about you, but the news I see is downright depressing right now.  It seems that fear, terror, war, unrest, are the only thing being talked about.  So I am so glad that I have something else to think about.  

I really think that my two special gifts are part of the revelation for me.  The bracelet reminds me of an old message about a rubber band.  If you just hold a rubber band and then drop it, it doesn't go very far.  But if you stretch it over your finger and then let go, it will go a long way!  All of the stretching helps us to reach those far off goals.  I'm feeling better about this seeming tough period of stretching!  And that heart......well how good of a reminder is that frame of the amazing love of Jesus for us?  I can't help but smile when I look at that frame.  I love the random placement of the decorations.  I love all of the LOVE that I see in that frame.  It just makes me smile.

Jesus, thank you for speaking to me in my dreams.  I would love a bit more revelation, please.  Thank you for the reminder of your love even when we feel like we are in the midst of the shaking and the stretching.  Help us all to hang on to your plan and destiny, even when things seem so dark. Holy Spirit, bless us all with dreams and visions that will guide us in the year ahead.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear your word of direction.    Thank you for your gift of children and grandchildren.   Amen

Dreams and Visions restored

On Sunday evening, I was at a meeting with wonderful worship.  During the worship set, there was a point when the leader stopped the worship. He said that he had the sense that there were people in the room who had given up on their dream.  They might have had a dream or vision or prophetic word prayed for them, but it had been a hard season and the dream seemed just impossible.  And then he asked for anyone who felt this speaking to them, to raise their hands.  Others gathered around them to pray for the release and restoration of all these old dreams and visions. 

I had my hand raised, and boy were there some powerful prayers prayed over me!  One women spoke as if she knew my entire life (isn't the Holy Spirit just awesome to bring revelation like this)!  I certainly felt the power and presence of Jesus during this remarkable prayer time.  I confess that this has been a season of wondering what the dream even was!  So much so, that I don't think I even know exactly what the dream is anymore!

During that prayer, this women prayed that more than an "old dream restored" that I would receive "a brand new vision" that would propel me into the new and higher and different season of my life.  She said that she sensed that everything had changed for me and I had been turned in a new direction.  And even more than turned, I had gone up higher, like a circular staircase. 

As I have been thinking about this prayer time, I confess that I didn't have an immediate "Ah Ha!" moment when I knew exactly what this new dream was!  I remembered the time I saw this amazing double rainbow in the picture above.  It was much clearer and brighter than you see in this picture.  And both rainbows were full arc.  And I heard that there was a double blessing on the path that Jesus had for me.  I have not really seen a "double" blessing since I saw these rainbows back in 2005!  And the fact that the Holy Spirit brought this back to my mind, tells me that this is for now!  So now I am expecting!  I can't wait to realize exactly what the new dream is, as well as knowing that there will be an extra anointing on this new thing.  I love that even though the women praying for me said that it was something totally new, the Holy Spirit reminded me that, in fact, it was a restoration of this older word about a double blessing. 

Please pray that I will have clear direction and revelation of this new dream!  You can be sure that it will be shared here on this blog as soon as I have something to share! 

Jesus, thank you for powerful worship and leaders that are sensitive to the moving of your Holy Spirit.  Bless all those who were bold enough to ask for prayer during this service.  Thank you for those who stood with me and prayed for me.  Holy Spirit, would you please guide and direct me towards this new dream.  Help me to continue to walk in the correct path towards this new thing.  Thank you for your great love!  Amen

Night of interesting dreams.....after my last post!

I didn't really expect to have a night filled with amazing and interesting dreams, but that sure was the case last night!  I posted a picture of a church from Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Well, in addition to being the first church where I attended Sunday school, it was also the church at which my sister Karen and brother-in-law Roy, were married!  My family's time in Aberdeen was actually very short - only about 2 1/2 years.  I started Kindergarten there.  And my mom also always talked about her "most crazy busy time ever".  This was the last 4 months we lived in Aberdeen.  In those 4 months my sister Julie got confirmed, my brother Jerry graduated from High School, and my sister Karen got married.  PLUS we were preparing to move and our house was for sale! So we had a constant parade of visitors for the various, aforementioned activities, including many aunts and uncles.  Since I was just 5 years old, I don't remember a lot of this time, but apparently there were some buried memories from that time.....

So last night I had a dream that started in the narthex of that church.  I was standing there just looking into the sanctuary.  Suddenly, it was filled with light and there was a dramatic hush that filled the building.  As I looked up, the ceiling was filled with angels and there was singing - beautiful singing in every corner.  At some point in this "dream" I realized that this had actually happened!  When I woke from this dream, I was remembering the very day this happened.  My mom was a leader for my brother Greg's boy scout troop. There was a "blue and gold" banquet that was being held in the church basement.  We were at the church before the event so that my mom could set up.  I had wandered upstairs and was standing looking into the sanctuary.  And that is when I saw and experienced this.......   Now here is the funny thing about this.  At my sister's wedding, I was the flower girl.  I had a really great dress that had a "hoop" in the skirt so that it stood out.  I loved that dress.  But when it came time for me to walk down the aisle during the rehearsal, I froze and refused to walk down.  I had always just assumed that I just got scared (I was only 5) but actually, I was remembering seeing those angels. 

Yes, there was something so special about that church.  After I heard the story of Easter for the first time at Sunday School in that church, at 4 years old, I had an amazing dream.  I was walking with Jesus in a beautiful garden.  There was a winding path that we were walking on, and there were flowers all around.   Jesus held my hand and told me that the story of Easter was true.  Every part of the story.  That he was alive and he was real.  If I close my eyes, I can still feel him holding my hand.  That dream influenced the rest of my life.  And now, I remember this amazing time of hearing and seeing the angels.   I am so thankful for that church and these memories. 

Jesus, thank you for speaking to us in dreams and visions.  I love that you speak to children and open their spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear things that adults may miss.  Holy Spirit, give us all increased and clearer vision and better hearing so that we don't miss this kind of amazing moments.  Jesus, thank you for reminding me of that amazing time. Holy Spirit, remind everyone of those special moments of seeing and hearing they may have experienced.   Continue to bless that church and all who worship there.  Amen

Added another of my favorite Christmas ornaments.  I made these angels as part of my Children's Ministry program in 1994.  My mom helped assemble them.  Special angel memory!