UNITY February 21, 2012

 

It’s time!  I declare it is time we unite in a spirit of love.  Let us put the past behind us, chose to let love cover past sins, and forgive.  Oh, I see this happening in our community, and I am filled with joy and excitement for the possibilities.  You see, when a people are united in Christ, they are a powerful force. 

 

Do you see walls of division crumbling?  Do you see hearts open for restoration and reconciliation?  Do you see people having a greater desire to understand each other?  I have heard many spiritual leaders speak about their desire for oneness in the Body of Christ.  Yes, it is time.

 

TheKingdomofGodis a beautiful mosaic representing every tongue, tribe and nation.  Glory!

 “And they sang a new song, saying,

‘Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.’ ” ~ Revelations 5:9-10

Sure, we might look different and worship in different ways, but we have the one who truly unifies us as central – Christ.  Let us take opportunities to grow in relationship with those who are different.  Let us seek to understand.  Let us worship together and exult our King.

 

We are one!  We are the Body of Christ and He is the head.  Let us unify, and get in our positions to show the world His victorious love.  There is something mysteriously amazing about the power that is released when those on Earth are in agreement with each other and with Heaven. 

 “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” ~ Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6:10

Celebrate Love February 21, 2012

Celebrating love on Valentine’s Day should include the love of your amazing heavenly Father who made a way you to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him through His Son. After all, He is the founder of this thing called love.

Reading this popular passage of scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, I began to break it down in my own way and would like to share it with you. Sometimes doing this helps me put a fresh perspective on deep and profound words from the Bible that can become, dare I say, “common”.

If you are eloquent and speak powerful words in heaven and on earth, but do not have love, you are a clattering mess of noise. If you operate in the prophetic and understand all mysteries and have knowledge and faith to do incredible things, but do not posses love, you are nothing. If you are generous and kind and give all you have to others and even offer up your body, but do not have love, you profit nothing. The motivation behind all things must be love.

Love is a friend who will wait on you; love does not get jealous and is not proud or snotty. Love does not manipulate or control to get its own way; it is not crabby or bitter. Love does not celebrate injustice, but rewards truth. Love is strong and can suffer all things, trust all things, has vision for all things, and can persevere through trials. Love is everlasting. As for some of the gifts, they will not even be necessary when the King returns, our perfect love. When we were young, we were immature and did childish things. As we grew up, we threw out our immature ways. When our Savior returns for us, we will see ourselves clearly, as He sees us. For He will reveal all things and loves us completely and intimately.

Let me close with this, let trust, vision, and love remain in your heart, mind, and spirit. Remember, love is most supreme.

UNITY February 21, 2012

 

It’s time!  I declare it is time we unite in a spirit of love.  Let us put the past behind us, chose to let love cover past sins, and forgive.  Oh, I see this happening in our community, and I am filled with joy and excitement for the possibilities.  You see, when a people are united in Christ, they are a powerful force. 

 

Do you see walls of division crumbling?  Do you see hearts open for restoration and reconciliation?  Do you see people having a greater desire to understand each other?  I have heard many spiritual leaders speak about their desire for oneness in the Body of Christ.  Yes, it is time.

 

TheKingdomofGodis a beautiful mosaic representing every tongue, tribe and nation.  Glory!

 “And they sang a new song, saying,

‘Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.’ ” ~ Revelations 5:9-10

Sure, we might look different and worship in different ways, but we have the one who truly unifies us as central – Christ.  Let us take opportunities to grow in relationship with those who are different.  Let us seek to understand.  Let us worship together and exult our King.

 

We are one!  We are the Body of Christ and He is the head.  Let us unify, and get in our positions to show the world His victorious love.  There is something mysteriously amazing about the power that is released when those on Earth are in agreement with each other and with Heaven. 

 “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” ~ Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6:10

One Choice January 31, 2012

Spoken Word

 

You remember that night

Thought it would be so special

But instead…

Something you have regretted since

Nightmares filling your sleepless nights

No where to turn

            Or so you feel

No where safe to with all of that pain and shame

            Or so you believe

Why did that decision come with so much weight?

            My grace is for you, even now

That one night, that one decision, lasting consequences to follow

Just thinking about it, your heart skips

            Come to me child

All you hear is your heavy breath trying to escape the prison of your lungs

            Do you hear my voice?

You pause, and listen closely for that soft voice

Words that so often nourish your soul, when you chose to listen

            I’m here with you, never alone

Weeping you fall to your knees

            I am your safe place

            Please don’t ever forget that

            You can always come home to my arms

            Let go of shame and guilt, you are forgiven

            I will help you walk through the path of restoration

            I want you to be made new

            No longer defined by this decision or ones from the past

            Your identity is in me

            Chose me, chose life, chose freedom

            In my arms you are always free

 

 

This was written, not with a specific person or situation in mind.  This is for all of us who have made poor decisions with weighty consequences.  Decisions that have tried to define us and shame us into isolation.  At times we have all chosen to not partner or agree with the heart of Jesus.  He desires to walk with us as we do face real consequences.  His grace is sufficient to make it all brand new.  His restoration power is alive and frees you. 

 

Will you make the choice to allow his embrace free you?

Come Closer January 31, 2012

A whisper.

So sweet.

So innocent.

Come Closer.

You can trust me.

For I know you, to the core of your being.

I hear every thought, feel every ache of your heart.

I am He who formed you.

You are lovely to me.

Simply beautiful.

You carry divinity.

Do not fear. 

Do not wait.

I long to be with you.

Come closer.

Do you know?

Your design was formed int he presence of angels.

Every fiber of your being, delicatley woven as a masterpiece.

Even the very desires of your heart, each have purpose.

Do you know?

I created you for freedom.

Like a majestic eagle soaring high,

so you were meant to fly.

Daughter, walk in the glory I created you to experience.

Shake off inhibitions, shake off shame and guilt.

In my presence you are clean.

All is forgiven.

All is restored.

Spoken Word from the Father to His daughers

 

My love is more intense, more real, more pure than any human encounter.

My love is for you.

Come closer.

Love Letter from your Heavenly Father January 31, 2012

 Dear Child,

Walk in freedom.  Receive my love.  No more restrictions or burdens.  You have not earned my affection, I freely give it.  No heavy loads.  You are free.  You only need to receive it and allow my Spirit to transform you from the inside out.  Yes, I want you to bear fruit, from a place of falling in love.  It’s all about love.  I love you.  I have given my Son to fulfill the law – providing righteousness for all who receive and walk in the Spirit.  You are loved.  I call you m y child.  You have been adopted into my family.  Stop acting like a beggar or an outsider.  You are adopted, I call you my own.  Receive your new identity and walk in my love. 

 

My love sets you free from all fear and condemnation.  Walk in freedom.  No longer shall my children blend into a world of those who do not know my love.  You are set apart to shine and radiate my love.  Walk in a supernatural grace.  The Spirit empowers you to walk in victory. I change you from the inside out.  Let me have my way. 

 

Why fear my love and transforming power?  I made you and know you to the depths of your being.  I know you better than you know yourself.  To fear me appropriately is to stand in awe in my presence.  You are free to climb up in my lap anytime you want.  I am a good Father that is available to you 24/7.  I long to hear your sweet voice.  Come to me; share your heart with me.  I long to be close to you.  For you to recognize access to me at all times, for my Spirit dwells in you.  I have found a home in you.  There are such amazing and wonderful things I have for you in this life.  As you rest and abide in me, I will lead you and guide you.  My desires will become yours.  You will have thoughts focused on my love, on things of the Kingdom.  You will act on those thoughts and meditations.  You will sow seed in the Spirit and will reap in the Spirit.  For you have been born again – you truly are a new creation.  No longer do you do the things you once did.  No longer are you defined by those past things.  Your identity is my child bought by blood, the highest and most valuable price.

 

Why do you allow yourself to go back?  Why do you put on those old rags?  Why do you go back?  You fear intimacy with me and would rather receive from another human.  Do not fear intimacy with me, for this is the place that releases more freedom.  No longer are you walking in the flesh – fulfilling what the flesh desires – sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissentions, divisions, envy, and drunkenness.  For sowing in the flesh only reaps flesh outcomes and eventually death.

 

My child, sow in the Spirit and reap eternal life, for this is what I created you for.  To be with me forever.  To live with me in my Kingdom.

 

As you walk in my Spirit there is a deeper anointing of my joy, my peace, my love, my patience, my kindness, my gentleness, my self-control.  All of these character traits are fully available to you by my Spirit. 

 

Fall deeper in love with me.  I’m here.  I’ve never left. I’ve never abandoned you.  I’ve ever stopped loving you.  You are my child.  You are so beautiful to me.  You are more radiant and powerful than you know. 

 

You are invited into an adventure of a life filled with love.

 

I invite you to walk with me.  Walk in my Spirit.  Walk in freedom.

 

Love,

 

Your Daddy

Stand (Spoken word from the Father to His African American sons) August 7, 2011

 Stand.

Arise.

Come up higher.

No longer the problem or the issue, you are the solution.

Break of chains of oppression.

My love and strength cut you free from all stereotype or assumption.

You were born for greatness.

You were created for glory.

So, I say again,

‘Arise,

come up higher,

come up here

you are my son.’

A Prince in the Royal Kingdom.

No, you did not earn it or strive to attain it,

but I freely adopted you as my own.

I created you.

I take pride in you, my son.

Do not bow down to the ignorance or hate of another -

disagree with it and fight with love.

Counteract with the opposite spirit.

You have a high calling.

Your life has purpose.

I created you with great purpose in my heart for you.

 

Arise and stand in greatness.

Live Out Loud (Poem I wrote for the first page of the yearbook) August 7, 2011

Listen to those whispers deep within your heart.  

What are they speaking out?  

Those whispers are desperate to come out and play.  

Whispers long to be declared on a megaphone.  

Whispers are gentle tour guides into the possibility of your destiny.  

Butterfly flutters within you, stirring, anticipating the moment of their release.  

Listen to your whispers.  

Longings you never imagined could actually become a reality.  

 

 

It’s time.

 

It’s time to live out loud.

 

 

Let the world see your radiant life, your amazing beauty.  

So bright.  

So clean.

Vibrant colors waiting to splash the canvass of your community.

 

 

Live out loud.

 

 

The world needs your whispers to come alive.

“Let’s search for gold” June 23, 2011

Jesus extended His hand to me as an invitation.  I held onto His hand and we ran along a path…we ran so fast we started flying.  The wind beneath me.  Freeing.  Refreshing.  Effortless.  He swooped down toward a large body of water.  Something that resembled both a river, with the depth of an ocean.  We dove right into the crystal blue water.  Swimming through the ocean, noticing the vibrant colors and beauty within. 

 

“Let’s search for gold.  I have given you a gift to draw out the gold in people.  This is what I placed in your heart, a desire to look for the gold.  Let’s do it together.” 

 

Yes, Lord, let us go on this great treasure hunt together.  What a fun adventure.  Let me see what you deposited in them that perhaps has been tarnished by the world.  Let me see a glimmer of your glory in them and draw it out.

Reflections from the School of Worship #2 – Royalty June 23, 2011

You were born into ROYALTY

Do you know who you are?  Daughter of the King.  Prince.  Yes, once a peasant, now born into a royal family.  When you made the decision to let Christ be your Savior, you were born into the Kingdom of God.  you have access to limitless possibilities.  You Daddy owns it all!  He created it for you to enjoy.

 

He has given you strength, grace, and favor to live a radical life.  Go for it!  What are you fearing?  What lie is holding you back?  Replace each lie of intimidation, doubt, and fear with confidence of knowing your identity.  You are now a part of the royal family.  Let it sink in to the depths of your soul.  Display this truth in the way you live your life.  It’s all about a perspective shift in your mind that will manifest in your words, actions, and pursuits.  Know who you are in the royal family of God.