SWAMP
I'm still on the mountain top from our First Love Conference, and from the conference that Bishop Joseph Garlington put on in Texas this week. The presence of the Lord was so sweet, the glory so heavy and the Word so rich, I am in awe of God's goodness and mercy. So when this word came to me, I knew that it was something that I needed to share. For those of you who are not presently on the mountain top, this word about the swamp is for you. If you know someone who is presently going through difficulties, please share with them. God bless you all.Picture…a man trudging through a swamp with all kinds of nasty stuff clinging to him. Things like dead bugs, rotten seaweed, and “guck” that is simply indescribable. The scene is very dark and dreary. Then all of a sudden a light from above bursts through the gloom to illuminate the person like a spotlight. The light is so intense that it burns off all of the slime, weeds and leeches that were clinging to the man without any harm to him.
Hear…the Lord say, “I want to show my glory to those who are going through difficult times right now. I know that you would like for me to take those difficulties and dramatically change them to ‘make it all better’. But that will only give you relief for a season; it is not in your best interest for the long run. Please trust me on this. I want you to know way down deep in the center of your being that I really do have your best interest in mind. What you need most right now is to rest in my arms so that I can show you how very much I love you. Let me to teach you how to trust me during times of heartaches and disappointments. I am good, and I am working out that goodness in your life regardless of what it may presently look like. No matter how badly people have hurt you, abandoned you, or failed you, I will not! I want to reveal to you my glory, and when I do, all of the hurt, bad attitudes and negative mindsets that have clung to you through this painful journey will be as nothing. They will dissipate in the light of that glory. But it is your choice; continue trudging through life, or climb up on my lap and allow me to love on you for a while.”
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Heb 13:5-6 NKJV
Consider: I gave my life to the Lord as a very young child and have walked consistently with Him for 44 years. Like everyone else who has served the Lord for any length of time, I have gone through a lot in those years. Don’t worry, this is not going to be one of those, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen” type of comments. Recently I was talking with a friend about the “good ole days” and how it seemed like there used to be long seasons between battles. Once you made it through a “growing time,” there was months of recuperation and relaxation before you had to “gird up your loins’ to face another struggle. Now it seems like it is just one thing after another. In fact, it seems like you don’t even have a chance to get through one thing before another thing starts. And there are some seasons where you feel like you are getting hit on all sides at once. All I can conclude is that time is short and we need to grow up fast in order to accomplish all that God needs for us to accomplish. It’s not that God has forgotten about us for some reason, or that He likes to see us suffer. If you have had those kinds of thoughts, their origin was probably the “pit.” God has not forgotten you or I, we are just on the spiritual growth, “fast track.” You can complain, agonize and rebel against the season, or you can crawl up onto our Father’s lap and let Him love on you a bit. Let Him wrap His loving arms around you and teach you what to do about the situations you are in. Allow His glory to shine in your times of devotions. Yes, devotions. I know when we are really hurting; the last thing that we want is to do “devotions.” But that is the time that we need it the most. If you hurt too much to speak, just rest in His arms and allow Him to talk to you. Allow Him to talk about all of the “guck” that is clinging to you from the journey. Allow Him to heal you.
Pray: “
Lord, I don’t know if I am coming or going, but you know that about me already. So much is going on in my life, so much that is hurtful, so much that is confusing. I really don’t know what to do. So I will just sit here in your presence. I will rest in your love. I will not make any decisions based on my emotions, but will wait on clear directions from you. I love you. It’s hard sometimes for me to say it, but way down deep I know that it is true. I know that I love you and I know that you love me. You are here with me right now, walking with me through this present set of circumstances. I think that there is a lot of slime sticking to me from my attitude and actions during this season. I ask you to forgive me and give me a good washing with your Word. Show me your glory. Help me to walk in your loving grace. I really do want to try to rest in your embrace. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
Blazing Fire
We just finished our First Love Conference here at CLC. We traditionally want to set aside a time for fasting, prayer and special services right at the first of the year; to get us started off right. But there is no words to describe how awesome THIS year's conference was. Bishop Joseph Garlington ministered to us in Word, worship, song and anointing. The weight of the glory of God was indescribable. We were all touched and forever changed by these services, but none more than I. Now, more than ever, I want to slow my pace so that I can snuggle up close to my Lord, Savior and Friend.Picture… a rustic cabin with a wonderful fire burning in a stone fireplace, the warm glow of the flames the only light in the room. Shadows flicker on the face of a person lounging in a comfortable oversized chair off to one side of the fireplace. There is enough light in the room to see the rapt expression on the person’s face watching the flames. One can tell with just a glance that the individual is totally captivated by the beauty of the flames.
Hear…the Lord say, “If you will focus your gaze upon me you will find aspects of my nature so utterly fascinating you will find yourself enthralled. You have been staring at the complexity of your problems, at the disappointments you have found in people, and at your own reflection. But if you will focus your gaze on me, I will reveal the beauty not only of my nature but also of the nature that I have placed in you. The fire that you see will burn bright within you and you will become like a consuming fire.”
Consider: I enjoy watching a fire in a fireplace. It is one of the few things in this life that totally relaxes me. Each flicker of flame is unique and beautiful, but no fire can compare to the beauty of the Lord. So much of the time you and I rush into our times of prayer, thankful that we are at least making time for prayer in our busy schedules. But it is not until you slow down in your place of prayer and truly seek His face that you are finally able to see Him in all of His glory and splendor. Scripture gives you word pictures to help you understand your God. Your God is almighty, and all-powerful. He is your rock, fortress, strength and shield. He is your safe retreat, the holy one, the mighty one and the one who is all-sufficient. He is the most High, the one who sees, the branch of righteousness and the Lord who is always there for you. He is the only true God, the Prince of peace, the God of peace and the Lord of peace. He is wisdom, your shepherd, the Word of God and the God of glory. He is longsuffering, the God of mercy and the God of grace. He is immutable, incomprehensible, and infinite. And please don’t forget, He is yours. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He is Lord of hosts, the commander of the armies of God here on this earth and in heaven, and He is fighting for you. He is “I am that I am,” and “I will be that I will be.” He is the Lord that will provide and He is sovereign, He is truth, He is your Savior and He is your friend. He is your bridegroom and your soon coming KING.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Ps 27:4-8 NIV
When you slow down and seek His face and behold His beauty, the stuff of this life, even the most painful and difficult will grow just a little dim. Seek Him.
Pray: “
Lord, I’m sorry that I spend my life so much on the run that I allow it into my times of daily devotion. That should have been my first clue, shouldn’t it…daily DEVOTION. I don’t want my times with you to be just a rushed grocery-shopping list of needs or a litany of all of my pains and problems. I want to slow down enough today to truly gaze upon your beauty and holiness. I’m not going to even ask you for anything today. I’m just going to sit here and behold your magnificence, mediate on your splendor. You are beyond description, but I’m going to take the time to try. I love you…”
Happy New Year
This is the word the Lord gave me for our New Years Eve Service...I hope that you are blessed by it. Much loveHappy New Year…
Merry Christmas…
Happy Birthday…
Bless you…when someone sneezes…
These are all automatic blessings that we bestow on people. Blessings are good even when they are like a reflex. But I think that they are probably more meaningful when we purposefully speak a blessing over someone’s life. For a blessing is not just about making a person feel good by saying something nice to them. A blessing has the power to bring the words that are being spoken to pass. Words have power when they are being released in a blessing. A blessing is so powerful that even if it is spoken by mistake, it cannot be taken back, as we see in the story of Isaac’s blessing of Jacob and Esau in Gen. 17. To bless is to honor and praise. It is to speak God’s word and will over a situation or person. To receive a blessing is to receive power.
Blessings is not just saying glib sayings, it is finding God’s Will and speaking it over the situation. Blessings are not silent or quiet prayers; they are a public proclamation, always spoken boldly with authority and confidence.
DRY BONES - Ezek 37:1-10 (Msg)
GOD grabbed me. GOD's Spirit took me up and sat me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them — a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain — dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Master GOD, only you know that." He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of GOD!'"
GOD, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life. I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am GOD!"
I prophesied just as I'd been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. 8 I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them. He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'GOD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!'" So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army.
The problem is that we are just as automatic with some of the negative things that come out of our mouth. Negative things in the Bible are considered a curse and a curse was considered a catastrophe. The Hebrew word for a curse can mean anything from wishing harm on a person, to belittling them. As with a blessing, cursing in the Bible was more than just words, there was a power released to bring the words to pass.
Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Rom 12:14-15 NLT
This is just the background for a prophetic word that the Lord gave me for this service. The Lord said, “This is the year of the mouth. It is a year of blessing or curses; your choice.”
PICTURE
I was taken to a place that was kind of troubling to me until I realized what was wrong. There was no sound whatsoever. The scene that was before was taking place in complete silence. I noticed that people’s mouths moved like they were talking, but there was no sounds coming from them. But I saw a stream of letters coming out of each of their mouths. After a moment the people began to move and it looked like they were being lead by the stream of letters coming out of their mouths.
§ One person was led to a swampy area, and they walked right into the swamp, willingly until they were stuck and unable to move.
§ Another person was walking on a rocky path, and they kept stumbling and falling on the rocks, hurting themselves. What was so remarkable to me was that there was a perfectly clear path just a little ways away, but their words took them to the rocky path.
§ There were other people that were being led into other difficult places but my eyes seemed to be drawn towards a person who was walking into a beautiful meadow. There were wild flowers all around and the person was led to a particularly beautiful garden where they stopped and smelled the flowers. Then they were led to a log, filled to overflowing with honey, and they used a stick like a spoon to partake of its sweetness. Then they were led to a quiet stream where they were able to get a refreshing stream.
About that time, I spoke without really thinking and I said, “Lord, this is not fair. The one person is getting all of these wonderful blessings while the others are stuck, frustrated and in pain.” The Lord broke the silence and explained. “You are not looking at their life situations, you are seeing the condition of their souls, which is determined by the words that they speak day in and day out.”
§ “The one is stuck in a swamp because they keep thinking and saying and doing the same things. They start to speak words of life, but something happens and they fall into the same trap and say negative things about their life. They are stuck. And they will remain stuck until they learn to control what comes out of their mouths.”
§ “The one that is stumbling and falling is because they continue to take offense at the things that are said and done to them. They are the ones that have chosen the painful path because they chose to always think the worse of situations and people. They complain, and they wallow. They blame everyone else for their condition, but they are the ones that have chosen the difficult path by allowing hurtful words to come out of their mouths.
§ The one in the garden is going through the most painful situation of them all, but they are speaking words of blessing and faith over their lives and over the people who have harmed them. They genuinely believe that their words have power to heal, to deliver and to set free. They do…and the blessings that they speak are being returned over them.
This is the blessing the Lord had me write out to speak over you.
THE BLESSING
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is your refuge, your place of safety; He is your God; trust him. He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
"Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. "Speak tenderly to Christian Life Center. Tell her that her sad and frustrating days are gone and her failures are removed. For tonight starts a new beginning that is more than just the turning of a page on a new calendar; it is the beginning of new favor and of new blessing.
Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the South Suburbs of Chicago, "Your God is coming!" Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead you, if you are quick to respond completely. Do not ignore his promptings. For the Lord your God is a mighty God; mighty to save, mighty to heal, mighty to deliver, mighty to empower.
May God bless you with children who will be a joy and encouragement to you. May those who have strayed return to the fold, and those who have been faithful reap bountiful blessings. Bless their going out and their coming in. Bless them as they sleep and as they travel. Bless their relationships and bless their businesses. May you own your own land where you have only been a stranger. May you be blessed with promotion and inventive ideas. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed."
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. May you be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. So may GOD bless you and keep you, GOD smile on you and gift you, GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.
Gen 27 & 28, Isa 40:1-2,9-11, Ps 91:1-7, Num 6:24-26, Rom 15:13, 16:19-20
