God is Bigger!

"Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble and tottering knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful and hasty heart, Be Strong, fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance; with recompense of God He will come and save you"…Isaiah 35: 3-4 Amplified

Don't let your issues become bigger than God because God is bigger than any issue that you are facing! There's nothing He can't deal with!  Focus on how big God is not on how big the issues are in your life.

Taking the Land

Over the past number of weeks I’ve been ruminating on the story of the Children of Israel and the land of Canaan that God had promised for them in Numbers 13: 2

‘ Send men to explore and scout out for yourselves the land of Canaan,
 which I give to the Israelites’..... Amplified Bible

Twelve scouts went ahead for a 40 day discovery trip to Canaan to see what the land was and whether the people who dwelt there were strong or weak, few or many.  Was the land   fat or lean, whether there was timber on it or not and to bring some of the fruit of the land back with them.

Numbers 13:23 says, ‘they cut down one cluster of grapes and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought pomegranates and figs’.  They had evidence that it was fruitful!

God had already told them it was a land flowing with milk and honey and the grapes they brought back were its fruit. vs 27.

      God promised it and so it was settled - the outcome was certain.

However, ten of the scouts came back with a negative report because they saw through eyes of unbelief.  They saw giants and obstacles instead of thinking about God, His nature and His promise.  I am giving you this land.  Their 40 day scouting trip turned into a 40 year wilderness journey and most of them never saw their promise.  They forfeited their destiny through grumbling, complaining, fear and unbelief.

Caleb who was one of the good scouts came back with a great report and said, ‘Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it!  vs 30
Out of the twelve scouts only Caleb and Joshua went into the promised land because they believed.

As you move into the promises that God has for you don’t let the obstacles in front of you grip your heart and keep you from entering into your destiny. He has equipped you and enabled you to possess it!

Selah

Leap Year

I had a dream on the 15th of January ( a little slow I know in getting it out) but nonetheless its the year of the turn around.  The year of recovery, restoration, new levels and leaping into new things! Promises being fulfilled that you've been hanging onto and maybe even those that you've forgotten about!

I had been pondering over the course of a couple of days about the journey. The highs and the lows but this particular time mostly about the lows.  Do you ever do that?  I think the Lord let me mull that over in my mind until He finally stopped me in my tracks and said 'what would have become of you had you  not believed'?  I thought, "wow I don't think I want to know the answer to that".  I promptly ran to look up the rest of that scripture which was Psalm 27:13 ….

What, what would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living'.  14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring.  Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.  

So if you've been wondering - where is the promise, where is the prophetic word - be filled with great hope that this is the year of the turn around in your life because what would have become of you had you not believed in the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!  This is your leap year!

Word for Today

Today God is dealing with disappointments of the past and all of the entanglements it brings in the heart.  The 'what ifs', the 'could haves' and the choices that have been made that weren't for your good.  Jesus wants to turn around those disappointments that led to anger, bitterness or any other wound. Instead He will give you a future far more exciting and brighter than you could have ever imagined!

God is outside of time so He's not restricted to our time.  His blessings are for all time and for a thousand generations. Deut 7: 9 'God keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments for a thousand generations.'  Jesus is giving a present day and a future full of hope for He is your redeemer.  He restores the years the locusts have eaten. Joel 2:25  "I will restore for you the years the locusts has eaten".  Nothing is impossible or too difficult for Him. Luke 18: 27  "What is impossible with men is possible with God".  Your basket will be filled and overflowing.  Keep the eyes of your heart focused on Him and line upon line He will replace the old with the new!  Nothing is wasted in God's Kingdom.  He is opening wide the gates of favour and blessings to restore everything that has been lost or stolen!

1 Corinthians 2:9 “Eye has not seen , nor ear heard and has not entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him"....

Meantime makes the big time

I had an email sent to me on the weekend by my good friend who said she'd read the headlines of the paper on Saturday and thought of me because she knew I'd been given a word about the 'meantime'.  Meantime makes the big time….

 That meantime word I posted was 20 months ago and I'd be lying if I said the "meantime" was a piece of cake and we've sailed through with flying colours waiting for God's promises!  No instead there have been many challenges and I know so many others that have experienced unbelievable testings.  I'm not talking about religion here. We've had to keep the focus on God's word and His promises towards us and be in a place of military peace - not letting anything or anyone disrupt what we knew in our hearts He was saying.   So when my friend sent this picture and word I knew it was also for many of you who have been waiting on the Lord in your meantime to see the breakthrough of your calling and destiny.  Calling is one thing but cultivating your calling is quite another.  Its just like God to give a word and to bring it all back to our attention about what He's doing. After all He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Many of you have grown faint and some have even given up and decided the pain wasn't worth it.  Unbelief has come in and even to the point well if its this hard than it can't possibly be correct.

                                                                IT IS WORTH IT!

Then today I was drawn to a scripture in 2 Kings 7.  There had been such a great famine in the land and Elisha was bringing a word prophesying what God was about to do.

1. Then Elisha said, Hear the word of the Lord.  Thus says the Lord: Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will sell for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria! (in other words food was going to be available and cheap)

2 Then the captain on whose hand the King leaned answered the man of God and said,  If the Lord should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?  But Elisha said,  You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.   (Amplified bible)

This Captain couldn't lift his eyes from the natural things because they were so bad.  There was famine in the land that was so great even to the point where people were resorting to cannibalism!  Read chapter 6.  Crazy stuff!  The Captain allowed the oppressive reality of his present circumstances to be dominant in his mind and he was filled with doubt and unbelief.   Nothing that they had done had made things better and he couldn't imagine a way out.  He left no room for God.  As a result, he would miss the very thing that God was about to release.

The very next day breakthrough came suddenly in a miraculous way as God caused the army that was besieging them to flee leaving all of their valuables behind. Gold, silver, clothing, food and more.  The Captain was trampled to death by the people as the prophet Elisha had declared.

Who do we want to be like?  The Captain who couldn't see beyond his circumstances or do you want to listen to the prophet speaking success over your destiny?  Start prophesying over your destiny today. Your meantime is about to breakthrough big time!  In this year of Jubilee it is time for restoration!

Don't Give Up!

On the 7th of June I had a prophetic dream which had a powerful impact on me.  In the dream I was on this ship during a storm where the sea was very rough.  I was walking across some of the deck walkways with protection around me and I could see that the waters were very deep and yet I was not afraid.  At one point the ship was encountering heavy seas and water was crashing over the bow.

I was inside the ship in a room with a lot of other people when I made a call to prayer as I knew we were in a battle.  I felt these people were all Christians but not all of them really BELIEVED  that they could be rescued.   We immediately left the bow and moved to another place in the ship.  There was a worship band behind me and God instructed that we were to continuously pray - -  where one started and finished then another was to begin.  A woman started to pray but I couldn't hear her so I told her to get a microphone which was immediately with her.  I prayed for the Captain of the Ship called Alexander (which means,  defender of the men;  brave).    Then SUDDENLY  we were safely onshore.

EPH 6:18  Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

IS 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

This dream reminded me of the story where the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and he was sleeping and they became afraid  (Matthew 8:24). They quickly woke Him up and He rebuked the storm.  He also rebuked them for not learning the lessons of believing.  Are you a believer or an unbeliever?  Is your expectation that God will rescue you or is your expectation that the enemy's plan is coming to pass.  Don't let fear grip your heart. In a way both categories of Christians are still believing.  Unbelieving Christians believe in the storm and its power to take them out and indeed empower it to do so.  Believing Christians believe that God's Word and will is true and that He will bless them.  Which are you empowering today?

There are things that He has spoken to you about your future, that He's put in your heart which you haven't seen come to fruition.  Things that you know are the will of God but you can't understand why they haven't come to pass yet.  He is going to do it quicker than you think.  He's not going to do it by your works or ingenuity but by His righteousness!

I believe that God is speaking to us that we are in a season of SUDDENLIES and MIRACLES.  We are in a battle and in a storm and he is saying to look to Him in continuous prayer with worship.  And not just prayer!  It has to be amplified.   It has to speak into the atmosphere louder than the problems clanging for our attention.  Sometimes the problems seem to be speaking VERY LOUDLY and in the natural your situation may seem hopeless and daunting.  But I believe that Jesus is saying that this is a call to prayer NOW.  Be a believer and a worshipper and decree into the storm of your life the promises of God for you.  These promises are YES and AMEN!   Jesus is our defender and our rescuer.  Nothing is too difficult for Him.  Nothing is impossible to them that believe!

Inspection!

On the 19th of April I had a dream where there was a long que of people.  These people represented the body of Christ who were waiting for inspection.  Those that had been fasting and praying were immaculately groomed and prepared and waiting for inspection.  They had spent time in intimacy with the Lord. They were radiant and shiny!  I then saw those that had gone before us and passed inspection. They had been given plaques which were mounted on a wall.  I saw names listed.  I knew in the spirit that one of the plaques was connected to a man in the line who was prepared and ready.  A relative had left a legacy in the Arts that he was inheriting.

I then saw those that were not prepared.  Another man came rushing in to give a coat to one who had forgotten his but I don't know if he made it in time.  He had his coat on but his hair was a mess and he was frantically looking in the que for the one it was for.

There was such a sense of urgency - this was important and God was inspecting the Church - who was ready and who would inherit legacies.  Make no mistake the Body of Christ is in a battle and preparation requires a life of prayer and fasting.  To press in to know the high calling of the Lord.  How can we seek Him as our urgent necessity unless we do as he did on the earth.  Jesus led a life of seeking God, prayer and fasting. The disciples did as well. God is calling believers all over the world to press in to Him to call forth the destiny and legacy that He has for them.  Their destiny calling is waiting and prepared and we know that he has a wonderful plan for our lives (Jer 29:11).  We cannot be so engaged in the world that we are unprepared.  We must seek the oil for our lamps while we are able.

 Dreams like this are the trumpet sound/ the shofar of the watchman on the wall calling believers to account - to know that there is an inspection that is happening now.  I believe we are in a season of prayer and fasting. Every person needs a breakthrough in some area of his or her life and prayer and fasting often comes before the breakthrough. If you have any need in your life, you need a breakthrough from God to meet that need!  Prayer & fasting breaks the yoke of bondage and brings about a release of God's presence, power and provision!

So many of us seem to be sleeping - going through the motion with not even 5 minutes of peace to hear the still small voice of the Lord.   Every waking moment plugged into headphones or facebook or distracted by the busyness of life.  Perhaps more than ever before, we have to be purposeful to press in to Him. Urgent needs can trigger prayer and fasting but God is calling a generation of those who will seek Him as an urgent necessity.  Has He been calling you?  Have you been impressed to enter into  a deeper walk with Him?  Do you hunger to see power encounters and His hand moving mightily through your lives?

Psalm 50:23  He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright (who prepares the way that I may show him) to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God.  Selah

Military Peace

I didn't really know what the term 'military peace' meant when I first heard the term from the Lord....but a few days after I heard it,  an amazing program came on the television explaining Roman military peace!

When the Romans took over an area and conquered the enemy, they established a military compound like a fortress.   It was completely safe on the inside and there were no openings to allow the enemy any access.  This is called military peace.   Let's call this guarding your heart and mind.  Isaiah 26:3 says: "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You,  because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."  Military Peace comes with a guard and requires dedication and watchfulness.  We are called to be Watchmen on the wall calling out the alarm and ENFORCING our peace even when there is turmoil outside.  "I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, an in Him I confidently trust...A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.  Only a spectator shall you be...."  (Psalm 91:2,7,8).  We are in Military Peace - a spectator to the turmoil.

In a time of challenge and struggle when in the natural everything around you seems impossible and there is no way out,  God says,  " FEAR NOT,  Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before, will fight for you."  Deuteronomy 1: 29-30

I think the bleaker or more desperate the situation the more God loves to show himself MIGHTY!   Deuteronomy 3:22,  "You shall not fear them, for the Lord your God shall fight for you."

If God is for you,  who can be against you?   His word says in Romans 8:31,  "What then shall we say to all this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?"

"In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry". Jonah 2:2

"...Whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that it is granted to you and you will get it!" Mark 11:24.  One of the keys is not to be double-minded but to believe God no matter what your circumstance is.  James 1:8 says, " a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute, (he is) unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides).  Establish in your heart what the Word of God says about your situation and then stand on His promises in faith.  Enforce Military Peace over your situation and this promise, and then rest and trust in Him and watch what He does.

Whatever you may be facing remember that He will never leave you or forsake you but is walking through the fire with you!  Expect a great outcome!

Love Never Fails

Love is in the air!  Eagerly pursue and acquire LOVE,  make it your aim,  your great quest!  1 Cor 14:1  says 'go after a life of love as if your life depended on it'!    How is your life reflecting LOVE?  I don't know about you but I want my life to bring colour everyday to myself, my family, friends, neighbors and the wider circle.

Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.   1 Cor 13: 1 -3,  says, that without love I am nothing and my life will profit me (amount to) nothing.

Recently I became aware of a situation where a young girl was self harming and her friends were protecting her and not sharing the information with adults.  Almost an "Us against Them" situation.   I was troubled about this so went into prayer where the Lord spoke to me that this situation had arisen because there was no love - and its all about LOVE.   LOVE breaks down the barriers and it is the LOVE from our Heavenly Father that removes the barriers in our own lives that we have erected for self preservation.  Self preservation comes about when you've been mistreated, hurt, disinherited, misjudged, abandoned  (anything that gives opportunity for offence to come into in your life)  which then opens the door to unforgiveness and bitterness.

The issues of life come and its what we do with them that matters.  Do we put up barriers or make choices that help us to move forward into victory? What motivates your heart?   Sometimes we don't even know we have erected barriers.  In this season God is saying that we must walk in Love because it is Love that conquers everything.  I had a vision of the Father's love coming in like a tidal wave washing away the barriers that we have put up to protect our hearts.  By erecting barriers in our lives we actually keep out the flow of God from moving in and restoring every area of our lives.   He wants to lavish love on you!  He wants you to know & experience His true nature. He wants you to live in total freedom in who you are by walking in your true identity.

It is only revelation that brings a person's heart to the place where we can recognize that they have erected barriers in their hearts.  How long do we have to forgive?  For the rest of our days.....how long will it take to step out of the place where we're at?   As long as it takes for us to recognize that we have put up barriers in our hearts that have kept us from the Father's love.   I find it also amazing that
God is speaking to us about being liberated from those that have mistreated or misjudged us....but also forgive ourselves for choices that we've made that have put us in a field of pain.

My prayer today is, "Lord bring to remembrance everything that has caused an issue in my heart so I can forgive and be set free".

It's all about LOVE, being LOVE, releasing LOVE,  giving LOVE....which happens because you've experienced the FATHER'S LOVE!  He's the One who changes everything.

2014 A Year of Celebration & Fruitfulness

2014 is the year of Celebration, Fruitfulness and Finding your Tribe...

Towards the end of 2013 I was having a series of powerful dreams about the harvest and about being fruitful.  In one dream I was shown an abundant harvest that was being released now.

Leviticus 26: 4 '...the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field yield their fruit'....  It is seeds that you have sown,  even if you don't remember sowing or even seeds that you thought you lost ---these are coming back in a great harvest. There is also going to be a great harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God during 2014.

That dream was followed by another where I saw a crowd of people that were 'carrying something in their belly' .  I understood that they were carrying that which needs to be released in this season. I heard, "it's time for fruitfulness". Romans 8:19  'For creation waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known'.  The interpretation of the dream is that God is calling forth those people to be fruitful.  We are carrying something that needs to be released in 2014.  Its time for believers to be released out of captivity.

Again, this morning in my prayer time I felt that it is in areas where we have struggled and been attacked that we have our greatest authority to release others -- we are carrying the answers other people are crying for.  The groanings we have made in our oppression and captivity, whatever it may be, will produce in us great authority in our deliverance.  The groaning of Israel in captivity led to their greatest victory and authority.   I felt to encourage you that in any area where you have struggled will come your greatest authority.  God has amazing plans for you and I know this -  that what the enemy intended for evil God will turn around for good and whatever your destiny He will use this so that you will be able to pray for others suffering the same attacks and see deliverance and fruit!  Don't focus on the issue but focus on the great victory that is yours because of the blood of Jesus. Last week I saw keys released in the spirit for believers that will unlock doors where there have been battles. Keys unlock doors and these doors are the revelations that bring forth release.  So I pray a key in your hand that unlocks this door.  Then take this key that you are carrying and release others.

In another powerful dream I was shown the 'birthing of a calf' in great detail.  I was led to the blessing of Deuteronomy 28 which talks about every area of your life being blessed and fruitful...vs 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock!   I love the fact that God is showing us that we have entered into a gate of 2014 which is 'blessing'.  In 2014 our fruitfulness and blessing will be increasing.  God has spoken to us as a family that 2014 is the release of financial prosperity in the Kingdom.

Deuteronomy 28: 1 -  14
28
If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
2
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.
3
Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field.
4
Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock.
5
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.
6
Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7
The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8
The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
9
The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.
10
And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name [and in the presence of] the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.
11
And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
12
The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
13
And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.
14
And you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.


Finding your Tribe - God has been clearly showing us that our journey is not one to be taken alone. God doesn't want us to be isolated but to be in community with those that have a similar vision and calling and with those that God has connected you with. Finding your tribe means connecting with those that share the same spiritual DNA and are broadly going in the same direction.  This is  your Tribe and God will lead you to them.  This can be different from the church that you are committed to.  It means people who are the key influences that God is connecting us to that speak into our lives.  They can be scattered around the world as God opens doors to make the divine connection.  In 2014 pray into the relationships and call forth the purposes that God has for you.

Finally, like the passover, victory results in a great celebration of all that God has done. Proverbs 28:12  When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration!

Meantime

I was pondering a few things the other day when I got a call from someone who said: 'I've got a word from the Lord for you and its literally one word.... "meantime''.  Yup just one word.

     Definition of  'meantime or meanwhile' - during or in the intervening time;  meanwhile,  life goes on

Then a couple of days later whilst walking down a lane we came across a lorry with 3 large barrels and 1 of the barrels had in BIG BOLD letters the word MEANTIME.  I was so surprised and immediately remembered my meantime word and thought, what are the chances to get a specific word and then a few days later to find it written tangibly on a huge barrel in a lane near your house!  What is God saying to me about "meanwhile" or "meantime"?

It speaks to us directly about what we are supposed to do in the interim between the release of our dream, destiny and calling and its fulfilment.  After searching for the word I found a number of scriptures that pertained to meantime or meanwhile and without fail they all referred to the place where you have heard the word of the Lord about something you're called to do BUT BEFORE the fulfilment of that dream or calling:  Getting on with life in the meantime season.   This includes our actions of obedience or disobedience and our walk of faith.  This is the meantime between the Word of the Lord for our life and its fulfilment.  How do I keep a great spirit in the meantime and be obedient to what God asks me to do?

The word about your future may come in any number of ways;  a dream,  a Rhema word,  the prophetic,  still small voice of the Holy Spirit.  Then the meantime season is how we respond and what  our actions are in the period between the giving of the word and receiving the fulfilment!  It's about having the right spirit:  its also about knowing the times and seasons.  We live in a society where its instant gratification and all about me and wanting things to happen now.  But actually sometimes there is a testing, a weighing of the heart especially if there is a divine purpose.   It reminds me of a dream I had in August where I was given a math test and I didn't much like it but it prepared me.   If God calls us to a particular work do we wait for his provision or run ahead in our own strength trying to put it all together?  There are alignments and connections that God puts together in order to move us into the place we need to be.

 One of the stories that speaks to me is the story of Joshua.  Along with the children of Israel and after 40 years in the desert being fed by manna, they finally crossed over into the promised land.  The word says that they ate the fruit of the land in that year and the manna stopped.  They didn't go rushing to take Jericho but waited and then Joshua went up to the walls of Jericho and inquired of the Lord because they needed to know what to do.  Inside those walls was their inheritance and the spoils to which are the promises of God for which they had been believing for.  Their strategy had to come from the Lord and we know what happened,  the Jericho walls came down when Joshua carried out the strategy from the Lord by walking around the walls.

You may have heard the word and run off and done some things that haven't worked out and created some 'Ishmael's'  ( a big mess that was created by Abraham when he tried to sort out his promise)  Don't be under condemnation but be quick to repent and enquire of the Lord in how you proceed and what do you do in your 'meantime'.  I believe that the body of Christ is standing in front of their Jericho and waiting for the imminent word that will show them how to take it out.  Be encouraged we are in a season of breakthroughs,  miracles and encounters.  God is going to show himself real!   Deut 28:2  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.

I love this story because it encourages us in 'our meantime'  that God always comes through.  If you find that you're in that place of the meantime yourself, what do you do?  When you have the word of the Lord about your purpose in life then its up to Him to bring the word of direction to bring about its fulfilment in your life.  

Releasing Women

This is the year of Women being released!

In November of 2011 I had a vision of thousands of women coming out of their homes, moving together in unity like warriors.  These women had been in isolation and were coming out of difficult seasons and situations.  Moving together in a common purpose and focus to Serve the One who has set them free.

Then on a flight in December 2012 to Norway where I was attending the relaunch of a Christian television network I fell asleep and was suddenly woken up by the sound of an alarm!  The Lord spoke to me to say that this was the beginning of the 'awakening' ... a move of God that's going to sweep the earth.

Over the past 18 months there has been progression and a building in the spirit to bring us to the point where we are being awakened to the calling and destiny of God on our lives.  Its starting in the small gatherings and places where people are hungry for God.

Why is God releasing Women now you might ask?   Its so that we can SERVE HIM and to be in relationship with Him...

I was taken to a passage of scripture in Exodus 9:1 where the Lord told Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh and tell him to let my people go so that they may 'serve me'....   If you know the story at all,  the Israelites were in captivity under the ruling of Pharaoh and God kept sending plagues in order for them to be released.
If you've been in some kind of slavery yourself or if you've been praying for God to release you to start a business or to help the orphans or some other noble thing then all these things may be good,  but you may have missed the reason that God move's to release you and it's to 'serve Him'.  

Our eyes must be lifted off of ourselves & situations and placed on Him so that we can be free to live out the fullness of our destiny and ONLY with Him can we be truly free.  We have been created to worship and minister to the Lord.  When we do that God takes care of the rest.

Psalm 97:5  Mountains melt like WAX at the presence of the Lord.

Its all about relationships,  walking in and demonstrating love both in your family, your business, your community, your world!  The presence of the Lord is entered into when we serve and worship Him - when we are in relationship.

 1 Corinthians 13:3 says that 'even if I give my body to be burned but have not LOVE,  it profits me nothing'..

Its not about your gifts, talents or skills but about relationships.  Being connected with the things that are on God's heart.  Building relationships with the people God has connected you to without manipulation or control or what you can get from them.  Its about being purposeful without an agenda.  You see God doesn't need what you have.  He doesn't want you striving but resting in Him because its all about Him.  Its moving away from a works justification life to a Grace life.

What is Grace?  Its God's ability working in us to do what we could not do on our own...

It isn't about us, its all about Jesus and His life within us!  The more we immerse ourselves in that knowledge and in the character of Jesus,  the more we become like Him,  the more we present to the world the characteristics of authenticity and integrity.

Now is the season of dreams and visions to be resurrected and released with power and authority!

May this be the Year of Your Release!!

A Year to Remember

As we are about to usher in the New Year,  I can't help but reflect upon this past year and the illustrious acts of the Lord in our life.   His faithfulness to see us through whatever the challenge and to encourage us in so many extraordinary ways.  I could not have imagined where the journey would take us,  the people He has brought and the places He has taken us.  We look forward with anticipation to the plans God has for His body of believers for 2012,  Our heavenly Father faithfully watching over His word to perform it.  There is nothing He does not know and He is not surprised by anything but knows the beginning from the end.  Take courage in the New Year that with God nothing is impossible!  Happy New Year and may the blessing and prosperity of the Lord Jesus be on you! 

Suddenly the New Dawn Arises!

On a recent trip to Jerusalem I had a dream on the plane and in that dream I saw the desert with small groups of people in many pools of beautiful blue water.  As I was watching this,  suddenly helicopters started rising up out of the ground.....  

Later, as I was pondering this whole scene in my heart, the revelation came that there have been many of us in that 'desert place'  where we have felt isolated and yet it is in those desert places where the Lord has been restoring, purifying, refreshing and equipping people to move out in the ministries that they are called into. They have been soaking and being made ready to be positioned and launched into the 'suddenly' that God has prepared them for.  

What does it mean exactly to be in that desert place?  To me these are the seasons where you are holding to the truth of the destiny God has revealed to you when the facts you are facing today sometimes don't line up. You can even have those around you who question or even doubt where you're going and many will leave you because the going gets tough. However, there is a time limit to every dark night!  It is holding onto the truth of God's word over your life that is the trial of your faith.   God will change the facts to line up with HIS truth.  We must speak the word of God over our lives so that our confession is the same as His word.  We are not moved by what we see or hear but by the Word of God.  The one thing that all these men and women had in common in Hebrews 13 was faith. The simple trust and confidence in God.

Why would God use Helicopters as a picture? Helicopters can manoeuvre and fly into places that other means of transport cannot get to and they represent individual ministries. The pools of water represent the Holy Spirit and anointing that flows out of the place of intimacy and relationship that has been cultivated and developed over time with the Lord. Its also the place of rest and peace knowing that God has all things in control and is reigning over you. The people prepared in this way know the voice of the Lord and are 'ready' to fly.  As you speak the truth of the word of the Lord over your life and destiny then the 'SUDDENLY' shall come!   God moves in the realm of suddenlies! 

What does it mean to have a 'suddenly'? Throughout the Bible God has made a way of escape and delivered those who put their trust in Him and walk in obedience to what He asks.   " For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed" (Isaiah 50:7). 

Sometimes God asks us to do unusual things as we read in Joshua 6. The Lord told Joshua that He would give him Jericho and its King into his hands but he had to march around the walls seven times and when they heard the trumpet sound to give a great shout and when they did they would suddenly see the walls of Jericho come down and they did!

 

Hezekiah had a 'suddenly' victory from the Lord. He had received a letter from the King of Assyria which said 'Let not your God in Whom you trust deceive you by saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the King of Assyria'. The King of Assyria had a reputation of utterly destroying all the lands they took.  However God had a plan (Isaiah 37 vs 34).   "By the way that he came, by the same way he shall return and he shall not come into this city, says the Lord. Vs 35 For I will defend this city to save it, for My own sake and for the sake of my servant David.  Vs 36 And the Angel of the Lord went forth in one night and slew 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians" . 

 

Whatever you may be facing in your life today God is NOT surprised by it and has a victory waiting for you!  He knows the end from the beginning. Clear out anything that is separating you from the Lord and stand firm to the vision that God has laid on your heart. 

You know He is able!  He will do something so radical it will surprise you!  Whatever the impossible situation God is able.  Ephesians 3: 20, 21  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory....

Get Ready!  Get Ready!

Royal Wedding

It is the eve of the Royal wedding between HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton.  This modern day fairy-tale is probably what most young girls dream about - meeting a handsome prince,  falling in love and getting married.  This  young woman who is not from the nobility has captured the heart of a future King.  The nation has watched their relationship go from strength to strength and now the fruit of this is their imminent wedding.   The preparations that have been taking place behind the scenes we can only imagine.   It is exciting to be here at this particular time and people everywhere are in the spirit of the event as if it was their own family member about to be married.  Everywhere street parties and home parties are planned and many have been camping out near Westminster Abbey to catch a glimpse of the royal couple on their big day.  The Palace has released a thread of what we will see and what the day will bring.  The guest list includes Heads of State and dignitaries as well as the local shop keepers from the village where Kate grew up.  A stunning array of some 30,000 flowers will reflect the English country style of Miss Middleton along with a few trees to adorn the inside of the church. I can only imagine the wonderful aroma it will give off.  A carriage procession of the bride and bridegroom with a Captain's escort of the Household Cavalry followed by the Queen's procession with a Sovereign's escort of the Household Cavalry leaves Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace followed by a fly over by the Royal Air Force.  The banqueting table has been set and the spread I'm sure will be grand. We wanted to get a feeling for the excitement and drove the route today.  The Union Jacks were lining The Mall which is the tree lined road through Green Park that leads up to Buckingham Palace. The Media Village was huge and present throughout the area. There was great excitement in the atmosphere!  When it comes to events of this nature the British do it incredibly well.  The attention to detail is both exquisite and beautiful and the world will be watching.  It is a marriage preparation fit for a future King and Queen of Britain.

I can't help but ponder in my own heart about the wedding preparation for the coming of the King Christ Jesus for his bride - those that have believed in Him. The word says 'no eye has seen no ear has heard or entered into the heart of man all that God has prepared for those that love Him'  I Cor 2:9  He is preparing for us!  How are we preparing our own lives for the coming of the Lord?  The Goring Hotel in London spent a vast amount of money to host the bride and her family. This whole wedding season is a shadow of how we should be preparing our own lives for eternity.  The huge cost that Jesus paid for His bride was His life.  He gave it so that we might have life and spend eternity with Him.  That is LOVE, that He would lay down His life in order to save ours.  Its not about religion its about a love relationship with Jesus.

Mothers Day

It is Mother's Day in the UK and I woke up this morning to the smell of a delicious cappucino, scrambled eggs and toast brought to my bed on a tray with a pretty handmade bouquet and cards.  The day started with an out pouring of love from my 8 year old that has continued throughout the day!  The sun was shining and the magnolia and cherry blossoms are in full bloom!   It is an amazing blessing to be a Mother and I can't think of anything more rewarding.

There are a lot of amazing examples of incredible women in the Bible.  Deborah (Judges 4: 4 -10) A judge and a prophetess who lead Israel to victory.  Miriam (Exodus 15:20 - 21) who led a nation of women in praise to God.  Ruth (Ruth 1:16) A woman of commitment and devotion.  The Shunammite woman (II Kings 4: 8 -10) a wealthy hospitable woman of great faith.  Esther (Esther 4:16) a woman who risked her life to save her people.  But then when we read about the Proverbs 31 woman in vs 29 it says 'many daughters have done virtuously, nobly and well (with strength of character that is steadfast in goodness) , but you excel them all'.  I find this really interesting how this passage gives a shining description of this woman's private life and says that she has done more than the other great women! The chapter starts out in verse 2 about instructing her children. ' what shall I advise you son of my vows and dedication to God'?  Her husband trusts her, relies on and believes in her securely!  vs 11.  She manages her staff and also buys land. vs 15 - 16. This woman is a wife, a mother and a business woman.   But how did she excel them all?  It was her devotion to God in both the spiritual and practical that impacted both her work and the relationships in her life.  The key to her greatness and her success in life was that she 'reverently and worshipfully feared the Lord' vs 30 which is also the beginning of wisdom.  Prov 9: 10.  This woman has a lot of colour in her life by being diligent and making every effort to develop virtue, intelligence, self control, steadfastness (patience and endurance) godliness and affection in love.

Even though Mother's Day isn't being celebrated outside the UK today but will be celebrated in other parts of the world in May,  I want to honour my own Mother and Mother in-law who are both great women of faith and exemplify the Proverbs 31 woman.  They have persevered and have had their own great faith journey.  Set the standard for yourself to be a Proverbs 31 woman.  What do you need to do to be a modern, faith filled Godly woman in uncertain times?  Ask God to show you how to bring a new level of richness to your own life and see what He will do.

Proverbs 31: 10 - 31

   10A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

    11The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

    12She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

    13She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

    14She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].

    15She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

    16She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

    17She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

    18She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

    19She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

    20She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

    21She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

    22She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

    23Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

    24She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

    25Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

    26She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

    27She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

    28Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

    29Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

    30Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

    31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

Perseverance

The other day my daughter was in a swim competition at school where she won a silver in the breast stroke and a bronze in the freestyle.  It was only a year ago that she would complain every Saturday morning that she didn't like swimming and wanted to stop.  "Mommy when can I stop?"  My response was,  "well when you've shown me that you have mastered the sport of swimming and have full confidence in the water then we can talk about it".  Perseverance had to come into play on both our parts.  I had to encourage her and she had to persevere and push pass the point where it was coming more naturally for her. Now she is being rewarded for her hard-work and perseverance!  

The dictionary defines perseverance as:

"continued steady belief or efforts, withstanding discouragement or difficulty; persistence"

It's a bit like that in life, we can struggle with what we need to accomplish.  Keeping the vision and goal ahead of us. Pressing for the promise that we've been waiting for. We get weary and tired and I think if we knew how long it would take or how hard it would be we'd pass for something less.  We'd end up settling for something other than the dreams and visions that God put within us.  When God is going to do something spectacular it is always contested. God brings victory over these difficulties and that's where perseverance comes in.  Romans 8:25 says that we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.  A strong inward life anchored on God means a strong outward life. Victories are won first in the spirit realm. God's given us dreams and vision so that we seek His mind and timing. Then when we move with the nudge of the Spirit we are assured of the outcome.

How do we establish the victory in the spirit realm?  We must clearly anchor God's word to us in relation to situations that we are persevering through.  Joshua 1:8 says to meditate on His word so that our way is made prosperous and so that we have good success. When we know God's word in the situation that we face it allows us to release our faith and persevere.  Romans 10:17 says Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If you're in that place of perseverance surround yourself with people who can support.  Don't be isolated.  You need people of faith to encourage and cheer you on.  Hebrew 12:15 directs us to support and encourage one another so that a root of bitterness doesn't set in.  Don't fling away your fearless confidence for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance so that you may perform and accomplish the will of God and receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised.  But the just shall live by faith. And if he draws back or shrinks in fear My soul has no delight or pleasure in him, now faith is the assurance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen (Hebrew 10: 35-38).  This ties in with Habakkuk 2: 2 - 4 from the last blog which is to write the vision....

Finally be encouraged, we all have a great plan and destiny that is unfolding in our lives, its up to us to press in and take it!   If God is for us who can be against us!  Romans 8:31

The word Canvas means coarse unbleached cloth used for sails or as a surface for oil paintings.  It also refers to the actual painting itself.

Have you ever walked into an art gallery and been captivated by the colour and depth of a painting?  How it draws you in and the emotion that it  can evoke.

Our lives are like a canvas.  God is the painter and has put within each person a vision for their future along with hopes and dreams.  Jeremiah 29:11 says

''For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".

As I was winding down from a full day of activities I felt the Lord say that the colour has faded from peoples' lives because of the challenges, trials and issues of life that they have had to contend with.  So many have been holding onto a promise yet to be fulfilled or pressing for a breakthrough that has yet to come.  When you are in a hard place and struggling your vision can become marred and you can end up loosing the hope that is within you.

Many have lost sight of their purpose and the vision on their canvas has faded but God wants to bring back the colour in your life. He wants to re-ignite our dreams, give us a fresh vision and renew the hope!  Expand the canvas - what dreams are yet to be explored?  Enlarge the territory - open up our influence.  God wants to renew the passion for the calling that is upon each one so we can make a difference in the world we live in whether it is great or small or we're young or old,  it doesn't matter. Its never too late!  Daniel 11:32 says 'the people that know their God will have strength and will carry out great exploits'.    If there were no limitations what do you think your life would look like?  I can guarantee that it would be full of colour.

I love what Habakkuk 2:2, 3 says which is to write down the vision plainly and the herald will run with it for the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end. Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day!  End.  Each life is a canvas that is waiting to reflect the beauty and glory of the Lord.