Kathi Frye-12/2022

2023-

New territories. 

I have had dream after dream about people positioned to receive this particular gift from the Lord. The theme has gone beyond one individual person and has been repetitive nearing the end of this year. I am not hearing expanded territories, but I hear  “new territories”.

The Lord recently had me study again the journey His Israelites took to reach the promised land. Some were allowed to go to the new territory and some were not allowed to enter new territory and possess the new land. There were many reasons for this particular inability for “all” to be allowed into the land but the most prominent hindrances were old patterns, old thoughts, old hearts, old beliefs, old strongholds….. the new territory required new thinking, new strategies, new hearts, new wisdom, and new ways. It required no offenses to be taken in with it. 

12/2022

I had a dream that I was with my 18 year old, 21 year old and one of their friends in a big stadium for a church “type” service. They were all the younger generation. We were sitting in seats near the back but ushers came to get us and seat us somewhere else. The platform where they brought us to sit had tables with unstable feet and the chairs we were given to sit on were dead horses. 

Personally I thought this was disgusting and I couldn’t believe anyone would be okay with this. People had already been sitting in this area. The dead horse’s back legs were held onto a wall and you were supposed to sit on its back and it could move side to side but they were dead horses. I just stood there looking at these dead horses that were supposed to be our seats and thought this was absolutely and wrong… 

The dead horses represent lifeless old ways, and old movements. The “young” ones, Gen Z’ers who were with me were being introduced to these “lifeless old ways” and being told others had sat here before them, and it was good. I knew these old ways were not only lifeless but it was reprehensible to believe we should sit on these old ways. 

As I asked the Lord His heart for 2023 He Lord showed me an image of a cave and the narrowness of it only allows the person to get through but any extra baggage they carry will have them stuck in the passageway. Heading into the new territory carrying old baggage will have us stuck in the passageway. 

“Keep and live out the entire commandment that I’m commanding you today so that you’ll live and prosper and enter and own the land that God promised to your ancestors. Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of, whether you would keep his commandments or not. He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don’t live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God’s mouth. Your clothes didn’t wear out and your feet didn’t blister those forty years. You learned deep in your heart that God disciplines you in the same ways a father disciplines his child. So it’s paramount that you keep the commandments of God, your God, walk down the roads he shows you and reverently respect him. God is about to bring you into a good land, a land with brooks and rivers, springs and lakes, streams out of the hills and through the valleys. It’s a land of wheat and barley, of vines and figs and pomegranates, of olives, oil, and honey. It’s land where you’ll never go hungry—always food on the table and a roof over your head. It’s a land where you’ll get iron out of rocks and mine copper from the hills. After a meal, satisfied, bless God, your God, for the good land he has given you. Make sure you don’t forget God, your God, by not keeping his commandments, his rules and regulations that I command you today. Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up—make sure you don’t become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God, the God who delivered you from Egyptian slavery; the God who led you through that huge and fearsome wilderness, those desolate, arid badlands crawling with fiery snakes and scorpions; the God who 

gave you water gushing from hard rock; the God who gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never heard of, in order to give you a taste of the hard life, to test you so that you would be prepared to live well in the days ahead of you. If you start thinking to yourselves, “I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!”—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today. If you forget, forget God, your God, and start taking up with other gods, serving and worshiping them, I’m on record right now as giving you firm warning: that will be the end of you; I mean it—destruction. You’ll go to your doom—the same as the nations God is destroying before you; doom because you wouldn’t obey the Voice of God, your God.  ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭20‬ ‭MSG‬‬

2023 is a season of new territories. They are not necessarily bigger territories but they are prominent territories and what He shows me are territories in elevated lands and places. 

Territory that allows a greater visual perspective for those possessing the land. With greater visual perspective comes greater clarity. Greater clarity allows superior strategy. 

California 

2023

We built a waterfront property in California. There were homes all around but the one we were building was right at the water. I was standing with my Gen z’er looking at it while it was being built and every once in a while the waves would crash on the house because it was the closest house to the water. It was amazing and it was a tad unnerving because it was so close but I knew if we constructed this properly it would have no problem standing up in the waves crashing on it. 

There was a “bluff” where other homes were already built. They could see the waves but weren’t built in the waves. I thought it interesting that they can see the waves but are not experiencing the waves. 

The house was amazing and beautiful and we were really excited about it. 

This week as I ask the Lord what He is doing in this season:

I hear Him say, “it’s my Wild West Season.” 

What the wild west did to force the expansion of America, the Lord is forcing His expansion in the West. He is positioning His sons and daughters for His Kingdom take-over. His take-over looks different from earthly take-over. He is taking back the mind, the imagination, the heart, the spirit, the soul and the body. He is removing the boundaries that have been put up for evangelism. 

Just as the Wild West featured:

pioneers, 

scouts, 

lawmen, 

outlaws, 

gangs and gunfighters, 

cowboys, 

and legendary pioneering women.

Our Heavenly Fathers wild west take-over is raising up,

Forerunners and pioneers,

Scouts as intercessors,

Priestly worshippers,

Evangelists outside church walls,

Body of sons and daughters taking to the streets, schools and businesses,

Men and women emboldened, unashamed and fearless of man,

Strong families built by love and redemption. 

In the Wild West individuals and families were leaving what they had known in search for “the gold.” 

The Lord shows me there are many of His sons and daughters who are in search of His kingdom riches, His abundance, His moving and are willing to surrender everything to follow after His leading. 

Women shifted “family” in the West. Women were the ones who shifted what the community looked like, what it released and what it cultivated.

Today, we His daughters are partnering with His sons to establish His body, His kingdom on the earth. 

The “West” is the Lord’s and He is stirring His wave of revival once again. 

He is re-establishing the feet and stance of the weary ones, 

He is bringing the hidden priests who have cultivated relationship and friendship with Him out of hiding,

He is bringing those who have tended family to the forefront to cultivate His body, 

He is bringing those who have faithfully searched His heart and word, to speak to the seasons and times, 

He is bringing those who have sat and listened to Him to release Heavenly strategy both in the body of Christ but also in the marketplace. 

I see the Lord in this season spinning everything that had been established, and shaking people and situations into His order. Those things that need to be shaken off your “board” will be removed. Those things He desires to remain settled will be fastened in your life. 

It is a new season for us. Our alignment with our heavenly Father is paramount in this season for what is to come. We must only be about our Father’s kingdom family business in this next season.

As I sat with the Lord asking Him about 2021, He began to show me a vision of a narrow river that began to pick up speed until it let out into open waters. Much more to the vision but I believe it is important to understand the heart of our Father in these times. 

He loves His children and continues to give invitation. 

In the past I have read many prophetic words that seem to elevate certain groups and speak of a marked increase while other groups are left behind. Although I do believe there are moments and seasons where our Father’s focus is on certain ones, we see this in scripture Matthew 19:14 when Jesus said “let the little children come toMe.” 

When we hear the Lord is moving in a season through specific people and that groups includes ourself, we must really check our heart.  

If we think the Lord is moving outside of the church, but we are outside of the church….check our heart. 

If we think He is moving only in the church, but we are only in the church…. check our heart.

If we think He is moving in married couples, and we are married…check our heart.

If think He is moving through women and we are a woman…. check our heart. 

If we think He is moving in men and we are a man…. check our heart.

If we think He is moving through a certain political party, and we are part of that political party…..check our heart.

I am not saying He is “not” moving in these people, but sometimes we can misjudge His personal invitation to us as a body wide invitation- unintentionally excluding others who our Father is also giving simultaneously unique invitation too. 

In the vision the Lord gave me, ALL those in the water experienced a speeding up until the water opened into open water. 

Our Father is rich with invitation. 

Jesus is rich with invitation. 

Holy Spirit is rich with invitation. 

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”‭‭John‬ ‭10:9, 11‬ ‭

He continues to invite both those who are not in relationship with Him and those He desires to take into deeper waters. 

Praise God our Father for the depths of His love and desires that all would experience His love.

Jan 22, 2020

I had a dream my husband and I were visiting a church. The chairs were set up around long tables and people were gathered around them much like a classroom. Worship began and it was okay, nothing special and seemed disconnected because of the setup of the table and chairs. Every person had a paper, crayons and pencils to sketch during the entire service.  I thought this was strange and disruptive to cultivate any flow of the Holy Spirit. After the worship the pastor got up to speak. Before he started to speak he went out and prayed for a couple people touching them and they encountered the Holy Spirit. When people saw this encounter happen for those few, many of the people ran to the wall (to get in position to receive a prayer) but the pastor said we are not doing that right now. The people didn’t listen and went and stood at the wall waiting for the pastor to come and pray for them. I could see the pastor was frustrated, torn between what he knew the Lord was wanting to do in desiring to move into a different part of the service, and looking at those who were at the wall waiting for him to pray over them.  I also could sense the pastor was frustrated he didn’t know how to stop the environment he created and is now having to sustain. For a moment I felt like going to the wall too, why wouldn’t I want prayer from this pastor? But I then thought, I really don’t need prayer and I just stayed in my seat. We were sitting with a group of young men (in their 20’s) and they were visibly struggling and frustrated at what was happening (not in a bad way but just annoyed that they wanted more than what this service was giving). We began talking to them and they were sharing with us how they wanted more then a church where they were coming and waiting for a moment of prayer or impartation to happen. These young men were ready to go out and share the gospel but needed empowerment and support as they went out not another service, they already had what they needed and didn’t need this kind of service anymore… I woke up

 

I didn’t ask for a dream regarding the poor state of the church, but I often ask the Lord, what is on your heart? This dream can be considered a critique on the church as it moves today. My heart doesn’t feel critical of the church, I grew up in church and love the church.  Like a child who always feels comfortable heading back home to their parents house, that is what the church is to me personally.  I grew up IN church. Literally, leaving school and my pastor Dad would take me back to the church. I would fall asleep different places in the church, under my Dad’s desk, on the pews. I loved the people who I grew up with in my church, they were the church. The church was my comfortable place, I don’t have harsh feelings towards the church. This is why the dream I had caught me off-guard.

When I shared this dream with one of our boys, the one who happens to be 20….. asking what he thought of the dream. He said, “I am ready to go and pray for people.” He continued “I want my time in church to be learning and doing what Jesus tells us to do, and what I will be doing outside of the church.” “I am not afraid to pray for people, but I should be doing it in the church, so I can also do it outside of the church.”

Then we talked about family business. We own a family business, at least we call it a family business even though my husband is the one who works it and owns the business. Our 20 year old and I paralleled our family business with our heavenly Father’s purposes that also looks like a family business, and the Lord desires us to be intricately involved. I believe we have a generation rising up who cannot do church the way we have been doing church, but a generation who has no fear to step out furthering our heavenly Father’s business here on the earth. I believe this generation is not to come in the future…. but is already here, in their 20’s……

In Isaiah 43 (18-21)

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen, (verse 20)

the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.

 

If we desire to be right smack in the middle of the will of God, we will allow Him to speak to the shift He desires to happen, and the timing. Where church and God have been a wasteland within generations and the children of generations, the Lord desires to do a new thing. If we dwell on creating what worked in the past, we very well may miss how He desires to captivate the generations now. I even ask myself, am I so stuck in the former things and moving, style of church and worship that I no longer am open to His new?  I want to remain open, desiring for His new, but I also know my heart needs to know the new is the Lord’s not a new man-made way to captivate people. Ultimately the Lord desires for those who He formed for himself to proclaim His praise, this is us, this is our children, this is our children’s children…….

Agape Freedom Fighters was in Tucson AZ ministering at a local church. We had been teaching, training and equipping prayer teams. Saturday had been an extra long day that began early and ended well into the night with hardly any breaks in the day. I was tired and several times throughout the day would catch my own exhausted mind unable to focus, coffee would have probably been very helpful! We taught on many different areas of Inner Healing throughout the day, giving the prayer team strategies our own AFF team uses in facilitating Inner Healing prayer sessions. As we taught on each subject, there was an undertone continuing to be repeated…. No matter what guidelines or tools we use to train and equip, we must be those who learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.

That night after the last session our team headed to grab a bit to eat before we went back to the hotel. We were all tired, worn out, and also famished. My body and mind loudly said “sleeeep.” While my stomach said “eaattt.” As we walked up to the restaurant we noticed a young man sitting outside on the ground at the corner of the restaurant. He had his head down and a sign up asking for help. One of our spiritual father team members knelt down and gave him money from his wallet. I know this team member didn’t even think twice because it is how he always walks, he walks to bless others with the fathers love.

As I came up behind and looked at this young man with his head down my heart broke. He looked so young, so tender, and so shackled by addiction. The thoughts that flooded my mind were “what if this was one of our boys?” I knelt down and reached out for his hands. As I did, I noticed the dirt lining his finger nails and even in the dark I could see the dirt layer that discolored his hands. Seeing this stirred me to reach out for his hands even more. I said “hey, what’s your name?” He looked up for only a brief moment and looked back down as he told me his name. He was 23. I called him by name and said “Can you look at me for just a minute?”

I then reached gently holding his chin up, feeling the scruff on his face, much like the scruff on my 19 year old’s face when he chooses not to shave. My Momma’s heart was completely engaged at that moment as I could feel the hairs of his overgrowth in my hand. I felt this fierce love and anger rise up deep inside of me for truth to be spoken to him. Not the truth that he was a meth addict, but the truth that he matters, his life matters. I was angry, not at him, but at the enemy of his soul.  I couldn’t get the thought of “what if he were mine” out of my mind. I began to tell him how valuable he is, that his life is important, has purpose and his worth isn’t defined by any choices he has made. I continued to speak strong yet gentle to him, like I would my own child. I was flooded with thoughts of our own boys, their struggles and even the times when our boys have tried to push us away by their behavior or words, which only made us dig in deeper to loving them. We have even had one of ours at a very low moment, tell us to leave him to his own devices, and that he is too far gone to save. These are atrocious lies the enemy of their soul whispers to our younger generation, and the lies must be counteracted with the truth of Jesus.

Recently, the Lord challenged me by asking “would you fight for another child to know my love fiercely like you fight for your own.” That question and invitation hit me deep. And tearfully my answer was “yes.” Yes Jesus, I am all in.  I will speak your words of life into dry, weary, dead places and declare your love and goodness over them like a mother would her own child. The moment with this young meth addicted man took less than 2 minutes, face to face, eye to eye. It was all I could do at that moment. People were not invisible to Jesus, and He has challenged me to carry His compassion and not allow a callous crust to form over my heart even in the inconvenient places, when I am not prepped for “service.” There are places it is easy to be love, when I know I will be stepping into a time of ministering, in a conference or church setting. The times when I am inconvenienced, tired, exhausted and just living life, and Jesus highlights the least of these….. those are the moments I know He desires to teach, and equip His children to carry His Kingdom and love to a lost, dying world well beyond the walls of a building. All the teaching and equipping in the world can only go so far, but connecting and carrying the heart of Jesus to others is our true calling and invitation. It is the true disciple of Jesus. Carrying the Kingdom Inside of us we must speak His words, show His love and be His heart for those who need to know they are visible to a loving Savior.

A beautiful side note: As I arrived home to my family and was sharing this encounter with my husband, he shared a similar experience. As I was in Tucson, he also had the same kind of encounter here in our home town, and had also spoken the words of life and love of Jesus into a lost, weary, dry heart. Family on mission, living His love in the day to day. 

 

This is a subject I have read many blog posts on, and after reading those I either felt completely justified in our own hurt and anger, or I would think how in the world can these people say these awful things about the church??

Honestly, I cannot believe I am going to step in to this subject knowing it is often a landmine subject. The reality is, it is a subject when spoken about you either hear the viewpoint of church leadership, which is often skewed towards protecting the church, it’s leaders, and the organization, or you hear from someone who sounds like absolute angry maniac but are obviously still walking in the trauma and ptsd of what has happened to them as a result of their experience in the church. In my experience neither perspective is effective in walking people towards healing and wholeness, to continue moving in their calling.

So, here goes…….

The church chewed us up….. now what do I do?

My spouse and I have been in church ministry collectively for over 50 years, not counting the years we were in church as attendees only. We have sacrificed, served, ministered, loved, cared for and protected the church and its leaders for a long time. This is not a blog post to point out dysfunction, or blemishes, nor to ridicule the bride of Christ.  But His beloved bride is made up of individual members, many of which are in need of healing for wounds they have experienced within the church.

This blog is a glimpse into our journey and the steps we have taken to heal, so that you too could pursue healing for your ministry wounds.  How do you begin the process of healing? Whether it is you or your spouse that has felt burned, rejected, torn down and discarded? Get help! Yes, you must get help! You must view a wound as a wound, and just like a 3rd degree burn unattended, wounds will fester and deepen eventually causing an entire blood infection, so will a church or ministry burn. Whether the burn is a 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree burn- it still must heal. Some wounds will heal over time, but effective healing happens with purposeful monitored help and love.

When we began walking through this journey, we were at a complete loss with how to walk this process effectively. At times feeling like it wasn’t a walk at all, but a crawl, or a stand-still. At one point, while in a stand-still I had asked the Lord for direction, clarity, wisdom. I didn’t just want to be heard, and be justified, but to heal and then move forward.

I asked the Lord for help, and then I had a dream….. Literally that same night. If you know me, you know I am a big dreamer, it is often where clarity is brought to deep issues, where the Lord downloads things unknown to my heart and mind. This dream, which was much longer than I will share, showed our family leaving a city and heading out into uncharted territory in a Jeep. When we got to the guarded gate, the guard asked us why we would want to take the more familiar “low-road” because the ‘low-road” as he put it, would offer no protection for us. He told us the “high-road” although less traveled would be safer and our family would be protected through the journey.

When I woke from that dream I shared it with my husband and we talked about what the uncharted “high-road” would look like in the healing process. In that dream, it was clear to us, the journey, would be a process and not a stand-still or a stuff everything deep down and let hurt remain hidden inside our hearts. It would in fact, be a “high-road” journey of healing, and it would not be easy.

I realized, if I had something physically wrong with my body, like a broken bone, there is no way my loving spouse would sit on the couch beside me empathizing with me about my broken bone without getting medical help. He would empathize, and get help for me to begin healing. 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Jesus has to be introduced and brought into those places needing healing so He can bring freedom to our hearts and minds. It was at this moment I decided to begin finding a trusted counselor who could help us move from a stand-still to a crawl and eventually a walk towards healing.

Knowing injuries, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual can place a person in emotional shock, unable to think or move, loved ones near must be ready to step in and help. Whether it is physical or emotional shock, often careful intervention is needed. At times a stepping in is necessary, not to pile on the pain, but in order to bring healing for the person you love. In Matthew 8:5-13, the Centurion came to Jesus asking Him to heal his servant who was on his deathbed. In John 4:46-54 an Official came to Jesus asking for healing for his son. In both of these accounts, the person needing healing didn’t come to Jesus, but a loved one did and knew Jesus is the Healer and their loved one needed what only He can do.

Where to begin…..

Wounding Words:

Specific to word wounds, we must realize words carry meaning, they carry the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and death are in the power of the tongue,” Proverbs 15:4 says “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit,” The effects of words depend on several things, who has spoken them and whether that is a person of authority, leadership or the close proximity of the person. Whether the words speak directly against a gifting or calling, and if the words have been spoken from a place of judgement and arrive as a curse. What do you do if the words don’t align with what Jesus speaks, how do you or the one you love effectively reject those and listen to His truthful words? How do you break off those words that have cursed you or judged you or your loved one? You must realize, they need to be broken off, loosed off, counteracted with truth….. However you desire to put it, the power in those words must be broken off.

The Place:

Wherever and with whomever the hurt took place, there has to be freedom and wisdom to not go back to the place where wounds occurred unless it is a very direct, clear word from the Lord. Looking for justification, reconciliation, change or forgiveness at the place of wounding can do more damage unless the Lord is leading and it is His timing. All those desired things (reconciliation, forgiveness) are indeed godly and important, but sometimes looking for those things where wounds originated can cause cause more damage. Forgiveness only takes one party but reconciliation requires two, and biblical reconciliation grows in the soil of repentance. Reconciliation in the Bible happens with a contrite heart (feeling remorse or regret), so although reconciliation may be desired by you, your spouse, others near, the truth of what reconciliation is, must be clear. If it is not true reconciliation with a contrite heart, you or your loved one will pursue something that looks like reconciliation from man’s view or the world’s view but actually isn’t, and is a counterfeit. Pursuing the “appearance” of reconciliation in the absence of repentance can more damage.

 

All that being said, remember:

 

• Christ is still making His bride radiant.

• Give yourself up to Jesus.

• Remember a giving yourself up for the church isn’t the same as giving yourself up to Jesus. Jesus gave himself up for the church so we need to be careful we are not doing what only Jesus is called to do.

• Get help for your wounds.

• Pursue help (whether professional or christian counselor) for you or your loved one.

• Cover yourself in prayer, truthful honest prayer, for you, your family, your spouse. Have other trusted people pray.

• Make sure you are walking the unfamiliar, less traveled road where His protection will guide and help you walk in healing and truth.

• Pursue outside help to navigate the triggers and the land-mines cautiously and wisely.

• Know the depths of the pain, is this a surface wound or is on a ptsd level, both must be addressed differently.

• Believe in Jesus, He loves you and your spouse and speaks words of love over you.

• If you cannot hear Him, let His written word speak His truth over your heart, saturate yourself in Him (not the big “C” church).

• Commune with Him regularly, apart from the church setting, but in your Selah place.

• Create a Selah (peace) place, whether it is your home, a place you visit, a family member’s home.

• Find your Selah (peace) place where you can rest and your heart can have moments of rest.

• Limit triggers, triggers can take you right back to the moment of hurt and the place.

• Be willing to look at the other issues that might be contributing to the depth of pain, other wounds, so all previous wounds can be healed. Repenting to Jesus if there are issues or words you are responsible for releasing from a place of pain.

• Be okay with what you need; whether to walk, lay, or stand in the journey.

I know and you should know, I am not a professional counselor or psychologist. We know some, and we know some better today than we did a few years ago.  This journey is one I traveled on in my teens years with my family and have traveled since with my loved ones. It is not a road I wish on anyone, but I know this is a road many experience, and unfortunately given enough time, many will walk, crawl or stand in!

 

Please know and remember-

There is healing in Jesus, there is hope in Jesus, there is wholeness in Jesus.

Our photographer says we do the angry look pretty good as a family…. it made us laugh. We love our photographer, he is a dear friend and he would ask us to be serious, then he would chuckle saying we all look angry. Our family times are usually filled with joy and laughter.

This year though a not-so-welcomed guest tried to come in again, uninvited. The similar way a fly will enter in when a door is left open this guest came much the same way, and this wasn’t the first time. This unwelcomed guest was suicide and depression. It wasn’t one of us as parents dealing with suicidal thoughts and depression, but one of our incredible kids. Our kids really are amazing! If you know us, and our family, like really know us, it would be shocking to hear. This time wasn’t the first time, although we didn’t know the depths, we knew this guest was lurking near, trying to find a way inside. This time it peaked with a 3:30am waking with several authorities at our door. Let me cut to the chase as to not make this horridly dramatic. Our child is good, and fine, now….  And the 3:30am visit from authorities was a timely warning this particular guest was trying to stake claim to our child.

 

Why in the world would I even choose to share this? Expose this to those who would want to perceive our family a certain way? Why would I let the reality beyond the family pictures be seen or heard??

 

Because, this unwelcomed guest of suicide and depression was ushered out…. As the light of Jesus was ushered in.  I believe His children really need to know He is our conqueror! Seriously, even over death. In the middle of our process, my strong husband said “I don’t feel safe in my own home, we need to lock our bedroom door tonight.” I said “we will not bow to this thing, it cannot stay.” And I grabbed his hand and prayed “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (As well as a few other things.) We slept with our door wide open that night, and really did sleep.

 

Honestly, it got uglier before it got better, but our Father says He will send a helper who will testify of Jesus. Jesus IS our redeemer, IS restorer, and IS authority over all things on earth and in heaven. Where the enemy tries to come steal, and lie, the only way to conquer that is by truth and light in Jesus. But those things that remain hidden often aren’t exposed to His light, His redemption, His restoration, so they remain like an unwelcomed guest.

 

Do I wish we didn’t go through this… twice… Maybe. But, God won. Which means, we won. Which means, our child won! And is still winning.
How did we win?

We had to breakdown every stronghold and lie that was not built up in Christ Jesus, and rebuild (still building) those beliefs back up in Jesus. With the Holy Spirit’s leading this child became tethered to us for a season (God showed me this in a dream). Every noise, every voice other than the love of Jesus was silenced (yes, that included Social Media). It was and is a process, a hard process, but I can tell you the unwelcomed guest was evicted. We do not host unwelcomed guests in our home. I know it may sound simplistic, it is with the help of Jesus. The determination to fight for our child not against our child is what helped us through. I deeply believe what Revelation 12 says “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,” the continuing testimony of His freedom must always be told by His children.

I like to say although we do the “angry” faces well, they are actually the faces of FIERCE.

 

 

I had just received my Crowning Jewels “Heaven to Earth” necklace. I wore it on our next Agape Freedom Fighters trip to Budapest. One of the nights after teaching about the biblical principles of healing today a young women who came to me for prayer for healing of many female issues, as I prayed I could see the Lord was moving mightily on her body.

The Lord prompted me, give her your necklace, which to me sounds like a whisper in my mind confirmed in my heart. Having only worn it for less than a week, I asked again, and heard again, give her the necklace. I took it off and placed it over her head and said through the translator, I believe this over her life “Heaven to Earth.” She completely lost it, weeping she told me through an interpreter, this has been her prayer every morning and evening, “God use me to bring heaven to earth” but due to her own health issues she felt like she had no right to pray this prayer anymore or pray for anyone else. She fell to her knees in praise and worship to her Father who in this moment was tangible close to her, she felt His embrace. As I disappeared, leaving the truth, His truth around her neck, I just marveled at what He can do through us when we hear, listen and risk.

If we desire to be used to truly bring heaven to earth as Jesus said

“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.” 

We will listen to His promptings, now is the time, can you hear me, will you say yes and risk.

Just gross……..

We got this picture from our boys as we were hours away from home on a day trip. She (Holly) was so proud of herself, standing at the window waiting to come inside with her “catch.” Our boys watched knowing what she “caught” wasn’t allowed in this house…. She couldn’t fathom leaving this behind in order to come inside with her family. Furthermore, our boys knew she needed it removed from her mouth too! They understood, although they wouldn’t let her inside, for her own health she couldn’t keep this thing in her mouth.
(We were very proud of both our boys for handling this while we were away.)

How many times do I say, Lord, look at what I’ve done or what I have, aren’t you proud of me? I’m ready to come inside and be close to you. God graciously and patiently says, that’s not allowed in here. You can’t hold onto that and come spend time with me too.

In Paul’s letter’s he wrote to the Galatians in Chapter 3, rid yourself of relying on the law, on works of the law, you have been saved by faith and are an heir with Christ. Chapter 4 says do not become enslaved to the meaningless traditions.

Paul to the Ephesians in chapter 4 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

To the Philippians he says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” In chapter 3 Paul tells the Philippians to put no confidence in what they can do themselves.

To the Colossians Paul says “now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self.”

Then again John wrote in the letters to the churches in Revelation a list of what “catch” they need to be removing from their mouths.
They lost their first love.
They became sexually immoral.
Turned back to false religions, even becoming spiritually dead.
They became lukewarm, not good for any work of the Lord, completely apathetic.
Although salvation is free,  a pardon, is irrevocable, our continued “catch,” or sin can keep us from having a close relationship with the Lord.
Great communion with Him.

These things are very clear throughout the Bible, communion with the Lord in the way He intended and the way He desires cannot happen if we are carrying around our own “catches,” unwilling to lay them down as we stand wanting to have relationship with Him.

By my own admission I haven’t “arrived” or haven’t given allll of these over to Him. This is a constant lifestyle of walking and cleaning, trying to carry what I shouldn’t and repenting, and laying it down before Him. Where in the past, I would have believed once I have done this, I am good to go…. Forever. If John was writing to the churches in Revelation, and this is a concept throughout the New Testament, I should take notice…..

For some reason there are a multitude of squirrels in this world, you might be surprised, this was not the only squirrel our sweet Holly dog has found. Much like her, I will continue to find a “catch,” pick it up and carry it. The more I am willing to lay it down, the easier I am able to commune with my heavenly Father. I cannot carry the things or feelings of this earthly world and also live kingdom mindset and heart with Him.

Stress less
Forgive more
Don’t worry
Choose joy

The honest truth, part of that statement is missing for me, because choosing isn’t always easy. What the heck do I do with stress, worry, sadness when it’s here, right before me, on me, in me!!

At times “hollow traditions” tell me to lean on things I can control to find comfort or rooting. Finding my strength in things I do, rhythmic rituals, or people near me instead of Christ alone. Rely on superstitions that disregard the supremacy of Christ, and His authority over all things, all beings, all living creatures! These traditions or rituals can captivate me, and take my heart/mind captive with practices other than a relationship with the living God.

I love food and the great examples I frequently find in food. If I had a cupcake or carrots sitting in front of me, in all honesty and I would probably choose the cupcake. Well, actually I would probably just lick the frosting off of the top of the cupcake and throw the rest away, but I know for sure I would not choose the carrots until after the cupcake was gone.

In the same way, if I have disappointment, anger, fear, jealousy, envy, or any other kind of emotion sitting before me it becomes very difficult for me to not to rest in those feelings, even if it is just for a little bit…. even to taste just a bite of it. I am reminded of the verse “taste and see that the Lord is good.” We must taste and see that what He has for us is good what he wants for us is good, but we can’t have His “food” and other food in our mouth at the same time, it causes overcrowding!!

This is how we are firm in our faith, encouraged in our heart, filled with love, and are alive in Him.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:6-8‬ ‭

When those feeling contrary to His good fruit are creeping in, lurking near, smelling good for the moment, encouraging my own self-worth. I must clean my house out…. Like cleaning out the left over birthday cake!!
I sit letting Jesus know what I have tasted, giving it to Him. I must be honest with Him, repenting I have tasted anger, bitterness, envy, disappointment, unforgiveness.

My pride tells me “oh, you got this.” Truth is, I don’t! I never have and never will!!

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭
I have learned the sin that easily entangles me, and it’s not though shalt not steal or murder! It’s the fruit that looks like I can take just a bite without having it completely entangle me. Before I know it, I am captive to those thoughts and emotions…..

Psalm 146 begins by telling my soul to sing,
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.”

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭116:7‬ ‭

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Once my mind/heart/soul is clean, I ask Him to fill me with the thoughts that align with His perfect will and His good gifts. I again taste and see He is indeed good!!

Then my soul itself must sing and rejoice for all His benefits!!
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:1‬ ‭

Give Jesus my stress, worry, sadness, anger, envy, jealousy, pride…. Truly sit and give it to Him. Then He helps me choose His joy, His forgiveness, His love, and all His benefits come to me.

My Dad farms…. For years he has, just a little bit in his backyard. He plants a garden every year with several different kinds of plants. Over the years I have heard about all these gardens.  A couple of years ago I planted tomatoes in a few pots in our backyard. The day they began to sprout I was so excited. I had expected when I planted the seeds that indeed a plant would spring up from those seeds. I spent time watering them often believing they were undoubtedly supposed to grow up. But the moment I actually saw them growing and bursting out of the ground, my heart was filled with childlike giddiness. I know my Dad has the same reaction with all of his different kinds of plants. I know this because he tells us, “the watermelon’s just got blossoms, the peppers and tomatoes are beginning to grow.” Then when the plants blossom, I now know what it means. After the blossom the fruit comes! It is so exciting to watch all of this slowly take place every year.

In scripture I am told seed is planted and watered, 1 Corn 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

I actually have the opportunity to plant seed in people, and at one time or another we were all that person. I also have the opportunity to water, and watch God give growth. In the same way every year backyards are planted with seeds and watered by people, and God grows the plants…. I have the opportunity to spiritually plant seeds and water and watch God grow and grow. When I see the blooms and the fruit, my heart is overjoyed. Not that somehow I grew the plant, but ecstatic that the plant is doing what God intended when He created it. In the same way my heart should be overjoyed when I see God growing those around me, ecstatic they are doing what God intended them to do.

I love that early on in my walk and throughout my journey many have “spiritually” watered me, and my family, and then just looked on excitedly as God did the growing! I love that I also get the opportunity to look on as others grow, with the same expectancy and excitement. Since we are all continuing to grow, And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corn 3:18

I must continue to look on with excitement to all the people around me as God is doing His thing, growing all of us. This fills my heart to overflowing!!