Be Courageous

~ Two things change the rules of engagement...
1) When at war
2) When dealing with family (which includes church family)

Immediate response as a Christian.. not so.. but not according to Ecclesiastes 3.


~ While I was fishing yesterday.. I found myself replacing hook and sinker time and again which is a common chore with fishing.. and the frustration over snags is so intensified when they come free and you discover that you have lost everything and have to reset everything for the bahzillionth time..

and suddenly God put it in my head.. such is the Christian life.

And I asked him, how do you mean Lord?

He answered and said that as fishermen in this world, you're gonna suffer loss on a regular basis. You need to embrace that. You need to realize that one of the most important things about fishing is having your tackle ready to restore and repair what is lost. I will always supply the tackle, but you have to embrace the chore of setting the tackle on your line time and time again.. after every loss.. no matter how frustrating, no matter how painful, no matter how often, no matter how pointless it may seem.

Embrace the loss as a constant part of the process, knowing that the tackle will always be there if you are willing to stay in the game.


 ~ As Christians we want to see everything as defined and in place and orderly progression.. neat and tidy.. but that is seldom the true walk as a believer.. because that is seldom the true walk in a war zone.. the rules of engagement change tho the Gospel and character of God never change.. that is why being led by the Spirit of God coupled with the Word of God is so key.. either without the other will always lead to error.


~ Devastating news yesterday.. I just heard that a couple that has been in ministry since way back when I was new to my walk has divorced.. He had an affair about a year ago and is leaving her for another woman.. I am just so heartbroken.. she left town for a year just after finding out because she was just so broken.. and is returning soon..

This scene from THE GUARDIAN movie (start at 1:00 to 5:05)) where the husband is pushing the woman under the water and almost kills her is an excellent illustration of an adulterer.. wanting what he wants, not caring if he kills her. Such men are quitters, cowards.. yes, there is forgiveness, but the pain to the woman whether they weather out the storm or not remains with her her entire life, just like the tender scars in the hands and side of our Lord. Love and relationship can be restored and even blessed, but the pain... always there..

I think of the excuses that sound so logical but are so small and nauseating, and it brings to mind when God confronted Adam in the garden after his sin. He blamed the woman and even God subtly.. " The woman you gave me.. " Basically saying this was her fault and your fault, God. It didn't fly then and it doesn't fly now. If only that over 50% of Christian men would choose to be men of courage rather than cowards..

Someone once told me that "it's not like he forgot to take out the trash".. even tho ppl want it swept under the rug or out of their sight and hearing.. altho it is a crippling ill that the wife carries to the grave whether divorced or not.

But I also love this scene because of the rescue swimmer. He makes me think of the presence of God who rescues us in such tragic circumstance. Even when those we love sin against us and it's just more than we can bear, he intervenes keeping us from death, searching us out in black water that covers us, working the details to get us to a place of safety, and breathing life back into us. And life goes on until all is fulfilled in the earth, despite the battle scars.

This is a war after all and such things involve grief and loss and casualties... but it will not last forever.

~ The thing is.. when those we love act as cowards.. it tempts us to do the same.. the world screams that we are justified to sin as well.. but that's a lie. If everyone around us cheats, if all our friends and key ppl in our family or our church family all quit on their marriage or relationships in their lives.. is that really God's stamp of approval on our cowardice? no. It is key moments like that that God needs someone to step up and be courageous.. unafraid of the pain or the controversy or the messiness... if everyone else around you fails you.. do not quit on God, do not go the way of a coward, do not fail to fight as that man or woman of courage that God has called you to be. As in this movie, there is a whole network that God has put in place to get you on your feet again and in the fight to win. GOD WILL NOT FAIL YOU, tho the freewill of mankind will. God has the final say and all authority. You're gonna be okay. I love so many scenes in this movie.. but in a later scene when they are lost at sea, the commander sends a chopper over so they will hear the engine.. even tho it didn't have the gas to rescue them in that moment.. he wanted them to hear it and know that they were not alone, that help was on the way... God wants you to know that.. HELP IS ON THE WAY.. be strong and full of courage, he will get you to a place of safety, a place of ministry, a place where you will find your feet again.. and stand <3

viral DUI Checkpoints

~ "Have you seen the viral DUI Checkpoint video? Instead of a 6-minute edited version, ONLY Fox 17 will be bringing you the full 40 minute RAW version, which might have America reconsidering their stance.

Get the details about the video and the death threats the Sheriff has received here. http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wztv_vid_18946.shtml

SHARE this to be among the first to see the RAW video."


~ Off the top of my head.. and this will likely draw fire, but I think sobriety checkpoints are way out of control.. if a driver isn't breaking any laws or driving erradicly, he should never be pulled over or have his car searched.. there are good cops and bad cops and power is abused at times.. if a drug dog marks a spot and it's in error.. that dog should have a record and taken off the force.. maybe that would reduce bogus searches blaming it on the dog.. as it is now.. it's just too easy for an over zealous cop to search your car despite your constitutional rights.. and just because you don't want your car searched doesn't mean you are hiding something.. it's called harassment.. and that's why our laws protect our rights, to protect us from being harassed by ppl with power who let it go to their head. Sobriety checkpoints have a purpose and great benefit.. but only when ppl are exiting events where alot of alcohol is served.. to stop them before they are on the road. Such checkpoints should be set up just outside of jazz on the lawn or octoberfest or other such events.. but that's not gonna happen because business and money are too important to the economy.. if the law really wants to set up checkpoints to keep ppl safe.. that would be the way to go.. not when a driver is already on the road and clearly not driving in a way that is a threat or a danger. But what do I know... make a good point and you may just change my mind. Peaceful discussion to truly search out what is best as a community is such a thing of the past.. I wish ppl would bring it back instead of just ranting and bashing ppl on news msg boards.


~ Until you have been pulled over and truly harassed because of your race or a friends race.. you will never understand what it's like or what a violation it is.. especially coming from an authority figure abusing their power.. and the thing is I remember a comment Oprah made years ago when gays were being violently attacked, and how if you let someone else's rights be violated or abused, you need to keep in mind that you open the door for ppl to violate or abuse your rights in a similar manner.. I don't agree with the gay life style.. but I strongly disagree with any violence or attack against them that violates their rights as a human being.. nor do I watch or like Oprah usually, but that statement was very true in my mind, and truth is truth no matter how much I disagree with the person on other issues.. I am an army brat.. incredibly patriotic, but cannot assume that all ppl in positions of power are good or right just because they wear a badge or hold a title.. we treat them with respect but as Dr. King taught us, we can protest peacefully when someone, anyone, is being wrongfully treated. Hilters cops deserved no respect, no do Mexican police when they are violating ppl.. I know those are extreme examples.. but huge wrongs begin with small errors and tiny splinters that are easy to make excuse for or ignore. It's so much easier to deal with a splinter in the beginning, then to lose an arm or a leg because of neglect and lazy citizenship. No matter what the video reveals.. the heart of the issue is protecting ppl.. which includes protecting their rights against illegal search and seizure.. according to our constitution.

Down from the Mountain

~ God unlocks new mysteries in the Word of God to every generation.. to those who study and seek him for a word and direction as a witness to each generation.. there is so much in Scripture that we have not fully understood or glimpsed.. there is so much previous generations have to teach this one.. and so much that this generation is unlocking as they teach mine.. our kids have incredible insight and wisdom and revelation when they open the word of God and their hearts to our Lord and Savior. I am excited to receive from God thru their labor and witness and gifting..

Father, pour your anointing out upon the young adults and the children of this generation... draw them by your Spirit to seek your face and to study to show themselves approved and pleasing to you.. ignite a passion and loose a wisdom to them to teach and share the things you would say to your church in this hour.. keep them from error and arrogance and drift and deception, in the name of Jesus.. keep them center and focused on Christ and all that he has taught us and is teaching us.. empower them and equip them to lead the nations and to lead their families and to be strong and full of courage in these uncertain times.. heal their hurts Father, they are deep and have left scars.. bring beauty and miracles as they are a reflection of your scars, bringing glory to God and salvation to many. In the name of Jesus I pray. Thank you Father. Love and Hugs and Praises to you! Amen ♥


~ There is an anointing.. a supernatural release into our being when we spend time one-to-one in prayer and worship of God.. it is very similar to what Moses experienced coming down from the mountain after communing with God.. he had to wear a veil over his face, until the anointing and glory faded after leaving the presence of God and that personal time with him..

That was before the cross.. that was before the veil of the temple was torn.. before the Spirit of God was not only with us but in us as Christ promised.. something happens when we seek his face.. when we approach him in personal prayer time.. reading his word.. inviting him to have his way, to lead us and guide us and clean us up.. to just tell him thank you and how much we love him and to just sit in his presence with no distraction...

You say you want more of God.. more of his anointing and power and wisdom in your life and your being.. then spend more time with him.. it's that easy.. just like soaking up rays at the beach.. seek his face, and he will make sure you find it.. even if it doesn't feel miraculous in that moment, even if it feels foolish at first or uneventful.. trust me... as you leave that place and walk out the life he lays before you.. revelation and power will manifest before your eyes... it's a spiritual work that comes only when we do the physical work..

Moses climbed a mountain to seek his face.. we have him here with us and in us.. God wants to pour out new revelation and power to reach the lost of this specific generation.. he wants to equip you as part of it.. to reach it... seek his face ♥


~ You were formed and fashioned by God.. Scripture says, it wasn't by the will of a man (or a woman).. your parents decision or indecision to have a baby was merely the door God chose to place you on this earth.. he entrusted you to them and them to you, to respect and love one another as you both fulfill whatever plans God set for each of you.. connected or disconnected.. under the same anointing and calling or very different ones.. you are here because God sent you into the earth, just as he sent Christ..with a specific purpose and life to walk out and things to accomplish for the glory of the Father.

When he fashioned you he put gifting in you.. and he gave you the free will to use it for whatever you chose on this earth.. good or evil.. in the vein of the will of God or outside of it.. in the flow of a righteous life or one of rebellion against the plan of God.. but either way.. you are gifted by the love and grace of God.

But when you commit that gifting to God.. something supernatural happens.. a power and force explodes on the scene as you tap your talents into agreement with the Spirit of God. Suddenly you are connected spiritually to everything and everyone who is also spiritually connected to the will and way of God. And your talents and giftings and those things that stir with excitement inside you ignite into flame and power and light. It is God in you, just as Christ promised.. empowering you, your gifts, your calling and purpose on this earth.

so shine, and abundantly so,
in the name of Jesus <3

to know love..

~ By the same token.. you do your best with the ppl in your life.. to treat them or raise them or love them or serve them as God commands.. but there comes a point in every relationship where you have to completely take your hands off of that person and leave their choices between them and God.. praying that he would keep them from all deception and bring them to a place of Godly truth as soon as possible..

seldom a quick process..

always painful for a parent or spouse to have to watch,
and to silently walk thru with them..
trusting God to speak to them when they have rejected all that God has put in your heart for them


~ It's kinda like prophecy.. you pour into their life what God gave you to share with them.. and then you have to let them go on their way.. what they choose to do with the blessing God has given them is out of your hands and in God's. Just how it is.. no matter how painful and tormenting it may be.. that's the flipside of love.. abundant life coupled with the experience of the blackest death...


~ Job put his family inside the hedge.. as far as his authority as a parent and spouse could.. they had to make the choice to covenant with hell or to covenant with God... they had to choose to live inside the hedge or not.


~  to know love would seem to require that you know death... all the pain of violent illness, gut wrenching putrid vomit from the lowest deepest places of your soul as you die daily.


~ why God would choose to love us.. knowing the cost would be such a death.. is beyond me.. that crazy, beautiful, amazing God of ours <3

inside the hedge

~ Everything in your life that you submit to God is brought inside the circle of the hedge of protection that he has set around you and your presence.. think of Job.. so anything that attacks you must reach across that hedge line.. the blood of Christ.. to get to you...

Do you get the power that goes with you and covers you and everything you touch?

Everything you bring inside that hedge is brought into the presence of God and into the circle of his protection.. because God is with you and as Christ promised, he is in you. Someone once described it in reference to the verse that calls Israel the apple of God's eye.. and when someone messes with the ppl of God, they have just stuck their finger in God's eye.. that definitely gets his attention and causes a reaction...

 But if you fail to pay the tithe.. you leave your fianances outside that hedge of protection.. prey to the enemy's attack.. for him to steal and kill and destroy.. your job, your earnings, your peace in that area of your life.. because you have not submitted it to God and therefore have put it outside the hedge of protection that is the promise of God.

That's why we are told to bring our treasure into the storehouse, where moth cannot corrupt or devour it.

Not just finances.. but anything we refuse to submit and commit to God remains outside that hedge of protection.. something to think about.


~ Again consider Job.. sometimes the enemy still attacks.. thru no fault of our own.. but God brings a multipled blessing when we determine to remain inside the hedge of his protection.. committed to him and his word.. anything we lose in the battle is returned to us with great increase.. and the devourer is rebuked and turned back. God protects.


 ~ Inside the hedge doens't mean attacks won't come.. it means that any attack against you is orchestrated by hell (rebellion against God).. and is therefore an attack against God.. and vengeance belongs to God according to Scripture.. he will repay... and pay back is hell, as we all know... especially when you ignite the wrath of God. Make no mistake.. God protects his kids, and returns multiplied blessing for any and every attack against them.