The Stuff

Wall Mart---

I was checking out and noticed the clerk's name was Gloria. In my mind I heard myself say to her, "Your name is Gloria, but right now you don't feel very glorious, but the Lord wants you to know, He is going to restore your joy" Well, that was cool, so I paid for my goods and walked off.....

"You can go back, you know" the Lord said to me while my heart pounded away in my chest.

I parked my cart and slinked back over to the check out counter where I faithfully delivered the message. Gloria's mouth dropped open and she said, "How did you know? Yesterday I buried my neice." She hugged me and thanked me for the encouraging word and told me how much she needed to hear it.

Belk Department Store---

As I looked at the woman behind the counter, I felt the Lord wanted her to know her father would be ok. Well, for all I knew she was adopted, or her father had died. It's getting a little riskier, now. I made a little small talk and asked if she had grown up around here, which lead to family and I asked if her parents were still living, whew! her dad was still alive and lived in the area. I delivered my message and after a little more discussion discovered that her dad was still active and mowed lawns. I thought, gee, great, he's in great health, well maybe I missed it or maybe something is going to happen to him in the future. However, as the lady kept talking, she disclosed the fact that a few days prior a four wheeler had fallen on her father. Needless to say, I was glad I had confirmation that I had heard God correctly. I told her he'd be fine. She was puzzeled by where I got my info, I didn't eloborate, guess the follow up will need to be better next time.

These kind of events are awesome because they demonstrate the power of God to someone and then you can follow up by answering their now interested questions, It's a great opportunity to share the gospel and I believe will be very effective when I get it right!

Dream of the Queen

DREAM...

A couple I'd never met came to my house. He was tall and foreign looking, handsome but fairly non-descript. She was tall and graceful and also foreign. Her hair was thick and shiny black and her skin like pure olive oil. She was very beautiful and carried a commanding presence. We had plans to go out for the evening. Before leaving, we chatted for a while, getting to know each other. I discovered they, like my husband and I, were "out" of church. I fished for answers at to why they were not attending any church. They talked about their experience in church by referring to "the old church" and I soon discovered they, like us, were part of the emerging church. I was excited and quickly got ready to go with them for the evening.

Scene change/ We had done several outings together and were becoming fast friends. The couple came over for the evening and we were going hot-tubbing. A jaccuzi was set in front of the fireplace. Candles were lit all around and the water was filled with bubbles. As I sank into the suprizingly hot water, I "slipped into another dimension" where I over heard two demons reporting in to another, much larger demon. The conversation went like this.
Big guy "What about the Queen?" (I instantly knew he was asking about the dark haired women)
Little guys," You'll be delighted, my lord. She's so busy being the emerging church that she's forgotten who she is!" (peels of skiddish, evil laughter)
I immediately saw the dark haired woman in my mind and realized while she was presently being very docile and charming, mannerly and socially correct, she was actually under a spell and one day would remember who she really was...The Queen, awful and dangerous and full of absolute power and authority.

What do you think?

I have some ideas, but I'm looking for feedback

Vision

Scripture says that without vision, people perish
It also says to write the vision down and make it plain so people can run with it

So here's my vision, not just mine, but what I whole heartedly believe God is doing in this hour

It is time

It is time for us to walk into what God had originally planned for us to be.

Some of us are intercessors, some are teachers, some are angels in disguise full of gifts of mercy, some are savvy businessmen who know how to invest wisely and not hide their talent in the sand, there are prophets and singers and painters and dancers and healers and fiery preachers and humble servants and good listeners and good cooks with hearts to feed the poor. Yet we have been bound. We have been taught that we are only allowed to do the things our leaders tell us we are allowed to do. We are instructed to be instructed before we heal the sick. When will we stop reading and start reaching?

I heard a fabulous story about an African girl in a ministry school in Africa. She'd taken the courses three times and failed to pass the final exam every time. Her teachers were concerned for the test was only at a third grade level, so they asked their leader what they should do. He responded that they should just go ahead and pass her since she'd already raised four people from the dead!

I wish I could stand on a mountain top and shout "Be released!, be released!" to the body of Christ "You don't need the approval of any man to do what GOD is asking you to do!"

Paul was knocked off his horse and immediately went out preaching the gospel.
It was THREE YEARS before he went back to the church in Jerusalem and discussed his ministry with them.

We are a body

We are not a few heads and many feet

Christ is our head and we are arms and legs and fingers and toes and noses and lips and ears that hear

I believe it is time we get free and just do the things we have desired to do for so long

Have you always wanted to play music in the park? Do it!

Have you always wanted to go to the hospital and pray for the sick? Do it!

Have you always wanted to feed the hungry? Make sandwiches and bring them to the mall!

We must become a mighty army spread out across this world. A body so filled with the vision of living and loving as Christ would that we are compelled to go..... go to the hurting, go to the hungry, go to the sick and the dead no matter the consequences.
Then we will be unstoppable, sold out to the cause of Christ and able to turn our world upside down.
Without this, it will never happen
Because a thousand ordained preachers cannot reach the world
But ten million believers can

Enter the Worship Zone

Worship.....

While I continue to worship in my home, I miss getting together with good friends and allowing waves of the Holy Spirit to float over us.
It is a splendid thing to bask in HIS glory and to do it with friends

Enter the Worship Zone....


The upper floor of The Barn had been completely renovated. The walls were sheet rocked and a graceful, arched window commanded a view across the valley. A myriad of eclectic seating was arranged in a semi circle. An old couch, a rocking chair, several metal folding chairs, an overstuffed Queen Anne, and several pressed back oak dining chairs. Several people were reclining in the proffered seating. Others were cuddled up on the floor, some leaning against the new white walls, others laying prostrate. A small team of musicians was playing. A guitar, a lap harp, an electric keyboard. A heavy set woman in the Queen Anne accompanied on a djembe. The chord progression was simple and those gathered hummed or sang softly, most with eyes closed.
Tracy noticed Catherine’s entrance and beckoned her to share a spot on the couch. Catherine deposited her purse on a small round table by the door and made her way as unobtrusively as possible to a cushioned seat.
“Hey, great to have you,” said Tracy in quiet, welcoming tones. She settled herself back into the cushions and closed her eyes.
Catherine surveyed the room. Each attendee was absorbed in the music, seemingly unaware of their environment. Closing her eyes and sinking into the comfortable couch, Catherine let go- let go of the day’s stress, let go of expectations, let go of the thoughts clamoring for her attention. She focused her consciousness on the softly swirling melodies around her allowing her spirit to wander it’s contemplative eddies. She caught snatches of songs sung by those around her, but effectively blocked them out. Deeper into the flow she sank listening to the voice of her own song rising up within her. Truth formed itself into words, the reality of the moment expressing itself through her. Humming along at first and then breathing the words that floated to the surface, she embraced her own song. The words she sang were echoed by others around her. Someone apparently had picked up what she was singing and repeated it. Four or five more joined in. Harmonies rose, 3rds and 5ths. Descants were born and intertwined themselves with the original melody. As the song grew in complexity it crescendoed to a feverish pitch, then suddenly, it was over. The musicians moved on to another progression of chords establishing a new sound, a lighter, more vivid wave.

Faith?

So here I am desperatly crying out to God to somehow teach me how to obtain access to the Kingdom of God, to somehow appropriate all He has taught me. I want to heal the sick, prophecy over the hurting and raise the dead, but I have trouble having the faith I need just for the day to day stuff
My son is headed off to college and I am having a hard time with his traveling across country alone.
We recently went to Charlotte NC and attended a service at Morning Star where the ministry team had an incredibly accurate word about my sons future. He wasn't sure where to go to college and one lady told him ahead of time what he'd be doing without our ever saying a word.
Therefore, I should have complete confidence in God that He has all under control, He has a plan and a purpose for my sons life, and yet I am afraid to let him go.
Why is it so easy to have faith for a complete stranger, to reach for the moon with faith, but it becomes nearly impossible to trust God with those closest you?

Attempting to Step Out

I am so hungry to see God show up in a real way in people's lives around me.

My very dear nephew is part of a body that is doing awesome stuff. They head out to the streets and bring heaven to earth. They share the gospel and see folks get healed and set free (they also run into some sticky situations!) Check out this blog. It's full of awesome stories that are taking place here, not just over in some dark place in Africa. (Ryan is not my nephew, he's my nehew's friend and journey mate)

http://kingdompoweronthestreet.blogspot.com/

Also I know this guy who spent a lot of time traveling with John Paul Jackson. He and his buddies go into bookstores and malls and prophecy over people with really accurate words of knowledge. Theyare seeing people getting saved left right and center.

I really want to take the leap, but heretofore have believed I needed to be connected to some big ministry where there was some "covering" that could release me into such things (of course, such a thing does not exist as far as I know) Its just people like you and me stepping out and doing the stuff.

Often I see odd things about people.
For instance, I was checking out my groceies the other day and I looked at the check out lady. She was dressed in this cute pink outfit and all that kept coming to mind was "You look like a Barbie doll!" What an odd thing to say to someone and it wasn't like she was fantastically pretty or physically perfect, but I said it anyway. She responded.. that was funny because her name was Barbie and her husband's name was Ken!

So what do you do with stuff like that? God didn't tell me anything beyond that. So I had her name...But I didn't know it was her name until I said something. And I didn't know anything else God wanted me to say. Maybe it was just a practice run, or maybe I needed to put more effort into strilking up a conversation with her, or just ask her if there was anything going on in her life that she'd like me to agree with her in prayer for.

A guy I met in Columbia who has been going into restaurants and getting cool words for people said you just have to jump in with whatever little thing God gives you and as you talk to the person, God will give you whatever you need.
Talk about scarey. I thought I'd get all the info and know exactly whatI was doing. You know... no room for mistakes. Guess I'm back to that faith walk thing.

Well, I have decided to take the plunge and say whatever convoluted thing I hear the Holy Spirit speak to me. Guess I'll have to be willing to look like a fool for Christ (Heard the other day a quote from someone, not sure who.. I'm a fool for Christ, whose fool are you?)
I'll let you know what happens

And the story goes on..... : )

Wonderland

This walk is a walk of faith
hung on the hope of habitating with GOD
Holding out to see the unseeable, know the unknowable
To somehow hear heaven
And pull that realm into this one
Laura


I once was a poor man lost and alone
waiting for a phone call on my cell phone
Or a fax or a letter from God Almighty
To clear up this issue of faith for me

But all I could find at my computer table
Were crumbs of bread on a rabbit trail
And being so terribly poor and hungry
I vowed to follow where e'er they would lead

I left behind my thology
My laws and formal legalities
And plunged head first in the Great Unknown
Where I was suprized by my old cell phone

Curiouser and Curiouser bethought then me
As Verizon rang out in times of three
I reached for the wireless as it hung there
And was astounded by the movement of air

A portal appeared in the dim twilight
And opened upon a fantastic sight
A MAN clothed in white beckoned me through
And the rest of the story is up to you

Will you let go of all you love and own
And completely embrace the GREAT UNKNOWN?
Will you lay down earthly reality
And let faith draw you into eternity?

Not in the distant by and by
But today will you walk where heaven resides?
For a fax or a phone may relay a messah..ge
But I'd rather see the face of GOD


Question...
We are taught to pray "They kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Jesus preached "The kingdom of heaven is AT HAND"

Eph 11:1 says
"Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see"

We cannot see gravity, and yet we are certain it exists because we feel its effects
We cannot see or feel radiation, yet we can measure its presence with a geiger counter.
If we had a God-er counter, could we physically measure the presence of God?
Why would He ask us to pray "Thy kingdom come" if it were not possible for the kingdom of God to come, here, now?
How close is JESUS?
Is HE in the sweet by and by, or is HE in heaven, here, right in our midst? And CAN we see HIM?
Have you seen HIM?

Leaping

Well, here I am leaping

Kind of like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. You know, the scene where he has to step out into nothing. He commits all his weight to the venture and risks falling to his doom. Then out of nowhere a bridge appears, a bridge that can only be seen from the position of one who has already lept and is standing out over the abyss.
God is so like that.
I am so very tired of the status quo. My faith has met with fatal frustration. If I continue to stand on the brink of this crevass and refuse to jump, surely my enemy, apathy, will hunt me down and suck me dry. However, if I jump....
I must be willing to take that leap of faith, to jump out into the unknown if I want to see the book of Acts come to life in my life.
I must be willing to risk dying, dying to my flesh, dying to my need to be right, dying to my need for recongnition, dying to my pride.

Desire.....
I want to demonstrate the power of God in the marketplace
I want to speak a word of knowledge to someone I've never met and have them encounter the God of personal encounters
I want to touch the sick and have them recover
I want to see bread multiplied to the poor
I am tired of all the words, words, words
I want to do the stuff!

Cool story.....

FYI
I am afraid of any water I cannot see the bottom in. Afraid enough to panic and drown, however swimming is one of my favorite past times

Story involving dolphins
I recently visited Panama City Beach Florida. They call it the Emerald Coast. The sea is like green sea glass and the sand is soft as baby powder.
While snorkling close to the rocks of the breakwater in depths that were nothing to write home about I (and the small group of folks with me) spotted dolphins. They had come in close to shore on the heels of a small speed boat. (By close, I mean a couple of hundred yards). Delight thrilled me and I swam a little distance from the safety of the rocks toward them. But alas, they were out in deeper water, far deeper than I'd ever dare to swim in for I certaintly would not be able to see the bottom.
That was my moment of truth
If I chose to stay within my comfort zone, within the safety of the known, I would miss my chance to waltz with wild dolphins. Desire pulled at me and fear clung to the back of my neck. The others with me lept ahead into the jade water, chasing after their elusive quarry. The longer I waited, the further I got left behind...left behind
My moment hung suspended. How could I miss such an exquisite opportunity?! I threw all caution to the wind and dove into the quickly deepening waters. I choked back panic, refusing to allow fear to steal my prize. At all cost, I would follow these fantastic creatures.
For a brief second I took my eyes off the prize and looked into the unknown depths around me. I almost faultered. I know what Peter must have felt like when he walked on water. Fear washes over you and snatches away your breath. But when I looked again at the magnificent creatures just yards beyond me, wonder overcame fear. They were sleek and graceful, a mother and her young one. I came so close I nearly touched them. Fear completely lost its hold on me and my reward will remain with me till the end of my days.

This is what it means to me to take a leap of faith, to dive into the depths of God, to encounter HIM outside my safe zone, to risk losing my reputation, or my pride, to risk even losing friends and fellow church goers who simply do not understand my blinding passion. When the prize of the reality of the Kingdom of God fills my vision, all fear loses its foothold. When the thrill of encountering the God Who encounters fills me, I will leap. I am committed and there is no going back because I cannot afford to be left behind.