Listen with your heart.

I have been in “class,” so to speak. The Holy Spirit has revealed many things to me about functioning as a believer in everyday life situations.  I once heard that if a person is not in conditions that could deem challenging, they are not growing. In other words, if I am never around other people who may see the world through a different lens than I do, how will I ever learn to communicate with them? Think about it in terms of working out; if I lift my arm to work out my bicep without weight in my hand or even use self-resistance, I will not build the muscle. Do you get what I mean? Well, I have put myself in these types of situations and I am gaining understanding.  

I have learned that if I want to make a difference at my workplace, the store, or even in a prayer meeting, I need to check my attitude.  It is simple, I cannot focus on bringing the Kingdom of Heaven into the situation if I have a heart (or eyes) that is clouded. And truthfully, my heart has been cloudy. I was not even aware of my ‘attitude’ until I started to ‘get involved in my community. I am want to be a part of bringing the positive change that is needed in our Nation.

A week ago my husband, Bob, shared with me a conversation he had with another man. And to my surprise, the other person Bob was talking to told him something that saddens my heart. He said, “You can’t talk to them; they’re the enemy.” That sort of statement isn’t how the Bible instructs us to be.  

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Philippians 2:3 NCV  When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves.

As a follower of Jesus, we only have one enemy, and he prowls like a lion looking to attack (1 Peter 5:8).  With a mindset like this person has, this Nation will continue to struggle to be united.

I get it; we have been trained to think this way; you are for what I am for – or you’re against me. Right? Proverbs 18:2 says a fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his opinion. I don’t want to be that fool. So I need to learn to see others as Jesus does.

Last night my husband and I went to our local city council meeting. I attend because I want to learn what is going on in my community.  But I also want to pray for my community. Before COVID, the room was full of people, and truthfully it was hard for me to connect my heart with heaven to pray. Now with only a hand full of people, it is a bit easier. I have a few thoughts about that, but I will share that in another post. Each time I’ve been in these meetings, I am learning new things. They are so small that they could go unnoticed if I weren’t paying attention. But I am purposed not to let my emotions get pulled. And I am learning more about my attitude. 

You probably can imagine issues on the council’s agenda are considered “hot topics.”  Subjects that stir up emotions for almost everyone, not just in our community but in our Nation. And yes, even me. But as the discussion was getting heated, I tried not to partner my emotions with that of the room. And something unique happened. Something that I haven’t felt since the first time I started going to these meetings. I felt God’s love for each person. And I could genuinely listen with my heart, to hear theirs. I could hear those who supported and those who opposed the “resolution.” I truly sensed that each person had a sincere concern for the community. I even heard (between the lines) that they have struggled this past year, just like all of us. We all have been unable to have our “normal” festivals and events that we have grown to look forward to in our county, and it is taking its toll on all of us.

Seeing each of them through the lens of heaven, I could pray a heartfelt prayer for each person.  Listen, we need to stop thinking of other people as our “enemy.” That is demonic to feel that way. If we want to be a part of the positive change in our world, we need to see each person as Christ sees us – with love. And listen to each other with our hearts. When we do this, we can pray a prayer rooted in heaven and not speak word curses rooted in hell.          

Partnering with the Angelic

Something exciting thing happen to me over several weeks as I went on my intercessor run a few weeks back. And since it has had my heart engaged, wanting to explore this out more. Due to a lack of time to do all the treasure hunting that I want to do, I am reaching out to you to ask if you have insight into this experience that I had.

It was when I was running downtown, and I passed a bench alongside the street. Not consciously thinking about it, I lifted my hand and ‘high fived’ the air as I ran past. I thought it was odd but didn’t put much thought about it. I looped into town and ran down several streets and headed back home, and again I lifted my hand to ‘high five’ the air. This time I laughed at myself thinking; there must be an angel there, and I was acknowledging him.

Pondering the idea that an angel was sitting on that bench the following week, I decided to ‘look’ to see if I noticed him again.  I ran up to the bench. However,  this time I decided to sit down and look to see what the angel was looking at.

I saw a short side street without buildings or houses. And to my surprise, there were benches on each side of the street [I never noticed the benches before].  So there were three benches altogether – the one I sat on facing two others across the street.  

In my Spirit, I sensed an angel sitting in each of those benches too. I called out to them, “Okay, you got my attention. I am coming over.” Walking over, I looked to see and listened to hear as I walk down the short street. That is when a question was dropped in my Spirit: “What do you know about this street?”

“I don’t know anything about this street,” I answered. But then I remember what the area looked like before. It was lined with condemned homes on each side. They were scheduled to be torn down to make room for the construction projects that have been unfolding. I recalled the sense of darkness I felt due to the demonic activity [drug paraphernalia] that took place once the sun went down.

Suddenly I started to pray loudly in the Spirit [in tongues] switching to making some declarations and then prayed more presenting the Blood of Jesus over the area  [physical movement waving my arms]. I reminded any legering demonic spirit that I have Blood bought authority [keys], and I was going to use it. And then I started to bind the illegal activity in that area; those things that would not be allowed in Heaven and loosing what was legal in Heaven. I finished and walked out of the area. Looking for a moment again at the three benches, I said, “Okay, I am done.”

Several weeks later on my intercessor run, I went out past that particular area; however, I didn’t stop at the benches.  I didn’t have the urge to give a ‘high five’ to the angelic – truthfully, I was looking to see and listening to hear how I was to pray for “that” particular day.

Almost home, I was talking to Papa God and said, “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry I didn’t notice your angels today. I didn’t even look for them. I didn’t mean to neglect them.”

As soon as I thought those things, He said, “That’s okay, they aren’t there anymore. They did what I wanted them to do; to draw you to the area to declare and pray what you did. They are on another assignment.”

Then today I was listening to a Bethel podcast while I was at work [Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God March 15th 25 minutes into the message] Bill Johnson was reading from Ps 91 and made a few statements:

Realties are released in a decree. Somethings have to be declared to happen. That’s who we are. That is how we function.

Bill mentioned how Randy Clark was ministering in Argentina. One of the leaders in Argentina made a statement to Randy [not quoted] In the American church, you know a lot about operating in the gifts of the Spirit, but you don’t know how to partner with the angelic. Bill goes on to say; that in scripture, our decrees, the angelic realm know what their assignment is. Our decrees when we are saying what HE [God] is saying.

Bill goes on to suggest; a decree that comes from the Throne Room carries the fragrance of the Father, carries the fragrance of their origin. And the angelic realm has a  sense ‘this came from the throne room’ and carry it out.

Referring to the second part of Psalms 103:20 – Bill points out that the angels give attention to the voice of HIS word. He goes on to say, In my experience, I believe the voice of HIS word – that is you and me; it is when God speaks to the quiet of our heart and unless we declare it – it goes unsaid.

So knowing what I know: Our words have power. We have free will, and we can choose to speak blessings or curses, life or death. God is waiting for HIS church to bring Heaven to earth. Angels cannot speak for us because we are created in the image of God- they are not. We are called to take a stand to the devil’s schemes.

Could it be that angels are assigned to areas – waiting for the sons and daughters of God to understand who they are – to declare what Heaven is saying? Could it be that angels cannot do what we were originally assigned to do; to take dominion? Could it be that we have been praying and asking God to ‘do’ something when HE is waiting for us to do something?  Could we be missing opportunities to partner with the angelic to release God’s word to shift atmospheres so that they can move to other assignments?

Stirring up the prayers of past

As you have read, I call myself an intercessor runner. It is more like a walk/jog, but I do pray while I put one foot in front of the other. It doesn’t matter if I am walking or jogging, I pray.

This past spring and summer have been hectic, to say the least. Totally repainting the interior of our house to prepare it for the market. Downsizing to a new address: there were a lot of things to go through to get rid of [still have more to let go]. Squeeze in two weeks of vacations [one in the spring, one late summer] I haven’t been able to train as much as I would like for an upcoming marathon that I signed up to do.

Read more… “Stirring up the prayers of past”

Storm Clouds Part

It is amazing how schedules, responsibilities, life, in general, can push a person. And before you know it two weeks has passed.

This is exactly how long it has been since I have been able to go for a run. Though as I looked out the patio door the sun wasn’t peeking over the eastern horizon as I would have liked. In fact, it was still cloudy as the thunder and rain were letting up.

With all that has been going on in my life, I needed to go run. That is when I told myself; Get your shoes on, a few clouds and misty rain is not going to hurt you. Just entering the outdoors seemed to quiet my spirit and I could feel my body release the tension I have been feeling.

It wasn’t long before I felt a bonnet of water resting on top of my hair [not soaking it completely] and my shoes starting to become damp. Thinking of what the people in Hawaii might be experiencing due to the tropical storm, I decided that I could handle the mist and dedicated to finish what I set out to do; 3 miles.
That lead me to pray for the clouds to open over that area in the Pacific, and I was instantly reminded of how prayer opened the storm clouds back in 1997. Read more… “Storm Clouds Part”

Flexible but on schedule

I am amazed in all the things that our Lord God has for us! Truly I feel as if I am just scratching the surface, realizing how wonderfully HE has abundantly supplied for us.
I possess this compelling desire, to carry out those things that God has designed me for to do, so I have been trying to manage my time better.

   If time was no issue I would eagerly go on an all-day treasure hunt (bible, strong concordance, and my computer) with my Papa, but nothing would get done.

In my younger years, I use to make unrealistic lists putting down (at least) 15-20 different projects. As you can imagine I could not get all those things done. Life happens, right? Right. Often my days would end in frustration, and the sense of failure would beat down my spirit.

So, when I decided to start making myself a schedule each day, being more aware of time and management it better. I was a bit afraid I would become “Martha” again. Fretting about what needed to get done rather than spend some time at my Father’s feet (devotional/quiet time). However, I know I need to keep on task to move forward in those ordained things the GOD has created me for (Ephesians 2:10) I must be careful to redeem the time God has given me properly.

With that being said: How does one map their day out to the point of scheduling time to walk the dogs without becoming obsessed with the CLOCK? Easy! Stay flexible.

Oh my gosh, I must chuckle when I type these words out. FLEXIBLE?! I only assume God is teaching me something here; stay on task however be flexible Georgia.

This morning I had settled at the kitchen table with my index card to ‘map’ out my day. I got in right away with my devotional time keeping in mind that this is God’s time and not become systematic about my reading. I have learned that when Papa drops something in my spirit I shouldn’t brush it off to ‘stay on task’ and that HE is wanting to share something with me. I live for those moments; it is so exciting and fulfilling to have a relationship with God.

My timer goes off and I get around for my run (which I only allowed 30 mins). However, as I started off on my run, I felt that the Lord wanted me to take a different route. Never being in the neighborhood I was entering there were some concerns about unruly dogs. I told myself to be flexible and keep the pace moving forward. I knew there was a reason that I was instructed to take this new path so I was (looking to see and listening to hear).

As I came to the end of the street I saw a gentleman (Moe) outside enjoying the morning sun on his face. Of course, I stopped to say hello and he was eager to talk with me. All the while in the back of my mind I knew my timer strapped to my arm was ticking away. Yet, I wasn’t going to be rude to the gentleman . Moe shared with me that he had surgery on his knee over 20 years ago and has not been able to move it. He went on to share with me that he is was a very active man, and now cannot even play with his five grandchildren.

Right away I knew why I was instructed to take this new route. I was to pray for him. I know the Lord is developing me because HE has been giving me words to share with individuals before we pray to build understanding and faith (belief). I spent 10 full minutes with man. As we were bidding farewell to each other Moe became emotional and told me that he truly believed that God instructed me to meet him today to encourage him.

As I headed back out on my run I knew my schedule was already disarrayed, but I wasn’t getting stressed. I felt energized and excited for Moe, because I know that GOD will use those moments to do something amazing for him.

Even upon arriving back home I knew I need to write this experience down to hopefully encourage others. With this example, it shows that we can be a tasked oriented people yet be flexible to allow GOD to use us.

Remember; stay flexibly on task. Have a wonderful day everyone!

NOTE: the time I allowed for writing got moved a little earlier in my day, it’s okay. I will still get my things done because I truly believe God redeems time we devote to Him.