WE ARE BLESSED

Our fellowship Maranatha Koinonia has been on a several month quest to clearly understand the mystery written in the Book of Revelation.  When my husband decided he was going to teach from this book I secretly thought, that’s not a good idea.   To my surprise not only was it a good idea it was a Spirit birthed idea. Together we meet week after week to search the scriptures from beginning to end, uncovering one treasure at a time; each of us unearthing gems from the WORD of God.

The apostle John wrote in Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near”. The WORD of God is true we are being blessed not in the “western” church way of thinking.  We are being blessed because this book has caused us to examine ourselves down to the core. We are blessed because we are learning how to pinpoint the traps that lay ahead. We are blessed because we are aware that the current world system is crumbling and our Lord is coming to RIGHT EVERY WRONG. We are blessed because we are learning to have a THRONE ROOM perspective. We are blessed because our eyes are starting to see through the lens of an eastern worldview. We are blessed because as a body we are walking in the Apostle Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians 4: 14-15:

that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

As we comb through the scriptures we have realized this book is not as difficult to understand as we had been told. It’s not a book of dread but one of great hope.

Above all we have realized Jesus has given this book to show us the things that must take place. Why? So that we God’s people endure to the end.

Let us say:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)

EMMAUS

Luke: 24 : 13-32

  

One of my favorite stories in the bible is when the two on the road to Emmaus encounter Jesus along the way without even realizing it.  Suddenly, I see a picture of my husband and I conversing about the recent events on the same road. Similar to the two on the road we experience this host of emotions that go from lack of hope, failure, to encountering a stranger along the way that may be a source of encouragement to finally realizing it was Jesus Himself burning our hearts with HIS TRUTH. 

They like us had such anticipation that Jesus was the one that was going to deliver them. Before the two could understand what was happening and who this stranger was they needed to be prepared.  What was the problem? Why couldn’t they see it was Him? Could it be that they like us  were reading the scriptures from the wrong point of view? Could it be that we are reading the scriptures through the pink lenses of post-modern Christianity and neglect to expound in order to understand where true deliverance comes from?  

When the Bible says Jesus interpreted to them the things about Himself he didn’t do it from a few verses or one or two books. What Jesus did was reveal the entire story from Moses to the Prophets. The bible says He expounded to them ALL the things concerning Himself.

 Could it have been that they initially didn’t recognize their deliverance because it came through suffering? Certainly, God would not deliver them through suffering or would He?

To me the story of Emmaus is an exhortation to pray that His presence invade us whenever we study the WORD. In turn we need to be prepared to receive revelation from Him and only with Him, on the road, will our hearts burn within us.

Can you remember the last time your heart burned within you when the scriptures where revealed to you?  If not I am inviting you come to the table of the Lord open the most wonderful book ever written and believe HE will burn your heart with refreshing truths and set you ABLAZE………

HE STILL VISITS

King David said, “What is man that you are mindful of Him and the son of man that YOU visit him?

On Friday, December 21, 2012 I had dream. In this dream there were several of my colleges friends. I looked around I saw two particular ladies conversing, as I glanced at them I heard the Lord say, one of them is barren go pray for her. My response was Lord I can’t tell her she is barren that would be devastating. Once I uttered those words I woke up and wondered what does this mean? I went to my facebook list of friends and there she was I had not seen nor spoken to this person in 20 years.

On December 24, 2012 after several days of pondering on the dream I decided I would message her. This is what I said:

Merry Christmas and I pray you have a blessed Christmas!

You may find this email a little strange and I would say to you read it and if you feel like it's a message for you receive it fully and if it's not then disregard it.

 

This past Friday night I had a very short dream. In the dream there were several of our college friends. As I looked around I saw you conversing with *****. When I saw you in the dream the Lord spoke to my heart saying that I should pray for you, and He said she is barren, so I responded Lord you know I can't say that to her. As soon as I said those words I woke up. I went about my day asking the Lord what it meant and if I should even write you. (I did pray for you!)

I know from just living life we can have barrenness in any area work, marriage, soul, spirit, finances, whatever it may be.

I want to encourage you if there is any area of barrenness, the Lord see's all things and He does concern HIMSELF with your affairs even if at times you may not feel nor see it in totality.

My prayer for you is that in this coming year the Lord will rain on any barrenness and that this coming year be a year of great productivity that you prosper spiritually and naturally. That from within your being the promises of God will resound, knowing that He is Faithful and He is the one who makes a way where there seems to be no way.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The Lord Bless, The Lord  keep you and the Lord Shine His countenance upon you, and the LORD grant  you peace.

Merry Christmas,
Jeannette

On December 31, 2012 eight days later I received an email reminding me HE STILL VISITS.

Dear Jeannette –

I haven’t written you since I could not find the words to write. In this moment that I am writing you I saw a group of doves which I understand are a sign of peace and love. God knew how much I needed a sign that He has heard my prayers and that I am of value to Him.  For this reason I was paralyzed when I received your email.

This year in particular has been extremely difficult with many trails.

On Friday night the 21st I drifted to sleep, totally exhausted, after asking God to send me encouragement. I felt devoid of hope, will, spiritual strength and much more. Barren, as you said. So, I requested a sign – a message – from Him. I told Him I was afraid that for a while now I’d been missing or misunderstanding His messages and His direction for my life. I needed to hear from Him in a peculiar way. I begged Him to speak to me, to let His message be known in a way I would know it could only come from Him.

Then, I received your message on Christmas Eve. What a great gift, Jeannette! God answered me through you. I couldn’t think of a more peculiar way, at this time, to receive His message.

Your words touched my heart deeply. It felt as if you were God’s angel delivering his specific message to me. I felt that I mattered to Him – that he hasn’t forgotten about me.

Thank you for listening to God’s voice and following His direction. It made a difference in my Christmas as I face a new year filled with unknowns and challenges.

Of particular comfort was the bible passage you included. I have read Isaiah 43:19 over and over again since I received your message. It comforts me every time.

Thank you, Jeannette. God bless you and the work your family does for the Lord.

****************************************************************

Amazing, the same night she prays is the same night I receive the dream.  He is the LIVING GOD, who NEVER FORGETS AND STILL VISITS HIS PEOPLE.

Conflict, Humility and Peace in the Wilderness

Just like Israel rest assured when in the wilderness you will encounter conflict and hostility.  This is the time to remember we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and the rulers of darkness of this age (Ephesians 6: 12).  When we encounter such hostilities these battles are only to be fought in obedience to God.   As I have mentioned in previous posts this wilderness experience is intimate and extremely personal and those looking from the outside will feel compelled to assess your situation.   

The journey truly has it’s peaks of fragility of mind therefore I learned to say to myself, “I can’t trust people since they don’t know what is in my heart, I can’t trust myself since I don’t know what’s in my heart, but I can trust the LORD and HIS WORD since HE alone knows what is in my heart.

Looking back to the beginning of my wanderings I have had many good intentioned people whom I love play the role of Job’s friends. Once you have had several close encounters with a “Job’s friend” your ears and heart learn to recognize them, it sounds like this:

Job 33:1-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 Be that as it may, Job (Jeannette) I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

 [It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].

 Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].

⁷ See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

Did you notice how many I’s, my’s and me’s are in these verses? This is the first warning you are having an encounter with a Job’s friend.

By no means, am I implying I am perfect or that during this whole experience I reacted to every conflict in the most appropriate fashion. I am simply trying to share some of the lessons I learned during this time of testing.

 What I want to emphasize is that we must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Why is it that we find ourselves compelled to play the role of Holy Spirit?  Believe me, from someone who has gone through a God administered wilderness HE is more than capable of doing the job. 

Dr. RT Kendall wrote in his book Total Forgiveness when you speak to another person ask yourself if what you have to say will meet their need.

Necessary- Is it necessary to say this?

Encourage- Will this encourage?

Edify- Will it make them stronger?

Dignify-Will it dignify that person?

 

Even if what we have to say is true, it does not necessarily mean we have to say it.  We may not realize what we intend for healing may cause harm.

When conflict comes knocking at the door of our hearts we can either decide to take on the banner of offense or walk in forgiveness.  Forgiveness is an act of the will and it does not come easy but offenses carry their own punishments.  

  

We don’t realize how much self reigns in our hearts until these times of testing. It all goes back to the fact that the wilderness experience is God’s process to humble us so that we may know what is in our hearts.  As we humble ourselves before the Lord peace appears in the wilderness like an oasis in the desert.  

PS: The external circumstances may not change but these testings are a matter of the heart, so don’t be discouraged and weary of soul.

TRUSTING IN THE TESTING

 

In the beginning stages of the wilderness experience we may not even be aware that we have been lead into the desert. Just like Israel God calls us out of captivity and all of a sudden what should be a quick journey to the promise land turns into a detour that tests every fiber of our being.

The book of Deuteronomy tells us that the Lord led His people into the wilderness to humble and test them that they would know what was in their hearts and whether or not they would keep His commandments. (Duet 8:2).

Lesson I- Trusting in the Testing

Frankly, easier said than done. It’s not that I had not trusted Him before it’s just this time it was different, very different.   As believers we really think we trust the Lord but when the rubber meets the road does our heart proclaim it. Before you say, my heart does………… let me remind you what Proverbs 21:2 says “every way of the a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

 Many times during this process I pulled a Sarah making plans to get myself to the promise land quicker than God’s desired timetable. Plan after plan there was no relief of soul. You see, the wilderness experience is administered by GOD and He alone can say IT’S OVER.   In the meantime you are there and there is no escape. You never know what is next but just remember if His own Son was lead into the wilderness HE must think there is something very GOOD to get out of it.

The Lord will start to reveal your heart and you will be very surprised at what comes forth.  Deception has one way of entering into our life and it’s through PRIDE. The pride of life is truly our desire to be independent from God. Isn’t that how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness? Jesus refused to show His power independent of the Father.

I encourage you if you are in the midst of the wilderness that you sing with the Psalmist David;

Psalm 51 6-8

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones  which You have broken rejoice

 
Keep trusting for you are HIS workmanship!

The Wilderness Experience

What do Moses, Joseph, Jacob, Elijah, David, Abraham, the people of Israel, John the Baptist, Mary, Hannah and Jesus have in common?

Oh yes, you are right!!!! The dreaded but life changing and God orchestrated……….. WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

In July of 2006 I received a word from the Lord announcing the beginning of my Wilderness experience.   It sounding something like this, “ Jeannette, I see you singing and only dust is coming out of your mouth”. Immediately, I said to myself Lord, I know that but did You have to announce it to the entire room. Then it only got worse as I was told it’s not because you are doing something wrong, it’s because you are doing something right. The Lord is drilling in you because rivers of living water will flow out of you. The Lord said I need to dig deep (Ouch) and let you go through some things and even in those things you will hit some things in your life that are dry. 

My mind was racing in an attempt to understand this all. I remember being shocked that it was “because I am doing something right.” 

Can you get a sense for how encouraged I was? (sarcasm)

But the Lord in His loving way did send some encouragement saying, “I have heard every cry and prayer and you have said Lord you have been so silent. But I Lord have been silent for a reason I am drilling and digging so that the rivers of living water may flow forth.”

Here it is the end of 2012 and I am finally able to look back and understand what it  means to journey into the WILDERNESS.

The wilderness is  a very intimate and personal place with few times of refreshing. The best way to describe it is as if there are realms of the wilderness experience.  As I started the journey there were times of wonderful intercession and faith knowing the Lord was always with me regardless of how I felt. Then came the climax of this experience where my companion day and night was darkness and despair. At which time I combed through the Psalms looking for relief and joining King David in his song, “Do not cast me away from your presence, And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.” I have read the Psalms my entire adult life and it was not until now could I truly understand these words.

Now that the darkness has passed and the light of Christ has shine forth in my mind, soul and spirit I can comprehend at least for this intended season the workmanship of the Lord.

Have my natural circumstances changed? No, in fact for those looking from the outside it may seem even drier then ever. Thank God, He does not look at the outer appearance but He looks at the heart.

The Hebrew word for wilderness is midvar, the root word is davar which means the arrangement of things to create order. We are taken into the WILDERNESS so that the Lord can perfectly arrange our lives to fit into His Kingdom purposes.

Stay tuned for lessons learned in the Realms of the Wilderness.

MAGNIFICAT

Mary’s Song of Praise

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

What would make us celebrate without any concern or regard for what others would say? Maybe if all our financial worries were resolved for the rest of our life? You landed that job you always desired? Perhaps, if every one of your hearts desires came to pass. 

When the Lord deposits a dream in our lives it is always a matter of love and worthy of celebration. He cares for us by bringing us into HIS life saving plan. Many of us like Mary have dreams birthed in our spirits and we start the race with much celebration and great joy. However, just like Mary we will have to learn many other things.   She was told a sword will pierce her heart, she would lose her son for three days when he was twelve, she would be in complete despair a another three days in Jerusalem. The faithful God she was celebrating seems to have a set her up or at least it feels that way to many of us at times.

Let us not forget the moment of victorious Resurrection is never too far away.

Mary had a dream, one day Israel’s God would do what he said and all nations would be blessed through Abraham.  We have dreams, and for those to come to pass we walk knowing that God in and through Jesus has won over the forces of evil. When we search the scriptures we discover the message of hope, mercy, fulfillment and victory.

Mary’s song  is the song of VICTORY and CELEBRATION. Let us celebrate in whatever state we find ourselves to be that God has taken the initiative to call us into HIS plan and this the ultimate reason to celebrate. 

MARY'S MAGNIFICAT