From Fighting Against to Fighting For … Is it Possible?

A Word by Ryan Johnson

We don’t want to admit it, but the truth is that we are often the victims of our own disobedience. We face difficulties and trials due to our unwillingness to be in full submission to the command of God. In our efforts to be obedient to what God has commanded unto us, we have the tendency to add to our “thus saith the LORD” moments. We can even do so with the very best of intentions. It’s not that every time we seek to be disobedient it’s because we have a heart like King Saul. Rather it’s as though we make these decisions that are very similar to Abram. We know what the LORD has said, but we make the decision to bring those with us who should have never come along to begin with. As the result of our decision we have now established a relationship on a journey to a specific destination. And yet, we discover strife, disagreements, and often different paths will have to be chosen.

In Genesis 12 we are told what the LORD specifically told Abram. Abram was instructed to leave his country, his relatives, and his father’s house. And yet, Abram made the conscious decision to bring Lot, his nephew (yep, that would be a relative) along the journey. Both Abram and Lot were wealthy individuals who had obtained a massive number of livestock and men that worked for them. They both had something to offer one another and the only requirement for both was to keep peace among the two different camps. Sadly, this would not be the case and ultimately the strife, contention, disagreements, and arguments between the different sides would result in the separation of the two. Genesis 13 tells us how Abram would permit Lot the opportunity to make the decision to go in whichever direction that he determined would be best for him and his camp. Abram would go in opposite direction and with that one moment the two would go their separate ways.

At this point, it’s very simple to point fingers at Abram with the simple fact that this separation would have never occurred had Abram obeyed the LORD and not brought Lot along the journey.

However, let me implore your thoughts for a moment. We know that Abram had a very unique relationship with Lot and it was more like a Spiritual Father and Spiritual Son, rather than an Uncle and a Nephew. But the most important thing for us to recognize is that God permitted Abram to bring Lot. In other words, the LORD did not rebuke, reprimand, and punish Abram for doing so. So, although the instructions called to leave everyone and clearly Abram disobeyed…the LORD still permitted for this to take place.

Because of the fact that these two were permitted to move their relationship in a path that neither knew anything about, it causes my mind to wonder. Was there something different about the two of them? Did God see a potential in them both that neither could see alone? Why did the two of them have the relationship that they had before the disagreement/separation? What could have been had the two camps been able to get along?

For sometime now I have had my thoughts consumed with the type of relationship that Abraham had with Lot. One not simply of family, but for a sincere love for someone who they have a disagreement and separation. It’s caused my thoughts to require a depth of purging in which I have questioned my own willingness to do for others what they may not be able to do for themselves. Would I be willing to fight for those who I may have been fighting with? Am I truly for the advancement of the Kingdom, or for my own? The disagreement & separation that occurred between the camps of Abraham & Lot were never so damaged to the point that Abraham refused to fight for Lot when his destruction was near. We can disagree & sometimes we can decide to choose another path, but may we never let our hearts fail to see the value in fighting for one another.‬

In Genesis chapter 18 the LORD appears to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre, while Abraham was at the door of the tent during the heat of the day. This fascinates me because the LORD didn’t appear in the cool of the day, but at the hottest part in which Abraham was at the door of the tent. There are a multitude of prophetic types and shadows here…

1. The LORD appears: 3 Men (Representing Father, Son, & Holy Spirit)
2. The Oak: Cross, oaks of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3)
2. The Tent: a dwelling place or habitation
3. The door: Abraham is at an opening

In this Chapter, we see where the first thing that these men tell Abraham is involving the fact that Sarah would be pregnant with the promised son by that time next year. But, let us face our attention to what is said in verse 16-21:”Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” In one brief moment, Abraham was given the word about their son, and then his nephew (who was like a son) would soon be destroyed.

When the men arrive to Sodom in Chapter 19, Lot is sitting at the Gate of Sodom. The Gate…the place that receives and rejects! The moment that Lot saw the men he recognized that they were from the LORD. Even in the midst of darkness and Sin, Lot was still able to recognize righteousness. And there is a major key for me with all of this. Before the men arrived in Sodom, Abraham did what he could to find a way for Lot’s life to be spared (along with his family). When the men arrived, Lot not only recognized that they were from the LORD, but he did his best to protect them in his home from the wickedness of the men of the city.

So what is this key? Glad you asked…People are worth fighting for! Not just people, but people that we have had a personal relationship. People that can still recognize the righteousness of the LORD in the midst of a wicked state of affairs. People that we once ran with, but disagreements, strife, and contention became the cause of separation. We aren’t always going to agree. That’s Life and that’s just a fact. We aren’t always going to run with the people that we are currently aligned with in this very moment. Sad, but true. People come and people go. The problem is that we have become a vicious people, hell bent on the destruction of others because of our disagreements. We have become so angry in the midst of our arguments that we have failed to allow our love for others to fight for them in the midst of destruction.

If we don’t stop the bleeding within the Ekklesia we will soon see the destruction of people, but it won’t be by the hands of those sent by the LORD. It will be because of our own wickedness from the result of our selfish ambitions to see others destroyed simply because we thought the LORD was for us when we advanced and they (those who chose a different path) fell by the wayside. When Jesus made a way for a criminal to be a part of the Kingdom, we have to be willing to ask how we are so unwilling to fight for those we know?

Ryan Johnson
RyanJohnson.us

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This word really spoke volumes to me. I had just got off the phone talking to a pastor friend and sat down at my computer to work and this was the first article I read for sharing. My friend and I had been talking about how believers have less respect for their pastors and leaders and other members in churches and ministries. There is no honor like there used to be whereby the people cared about each other and their pastors and supported them in their directing from God for the flock. They looked up to them and honored their decisions to grow the church, help the poor and widows, have 5-fold ministry with prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Believers are refusing to move forward, try anything new and want to just be comfortable and not have changes. I had one person tell me that it takes years for church members to adjust to changes so they usually don’t welcome or accept them. Yet we are in a new season where God is moving quite rapidly and He is asking us to follow. He is bringing change, moving churches back to where they started with apostolic hubs opening all over the world to help people learn the ways set up when Jesus was on earth establishing his body, ways that have been throw out and substituted with worldly ideas. My pastor friend told me he has talked to many other pastors who are feeling the same extremes and no support or coming in agreement with what God is doing. Hundreds of pastors are quitting in despair of flocks that refuse to follow the shepherd. That is a terribly sad testimony but as this article states, what will we do about this? As pastors and church members, leaders what will we do to stop the bleeding within the Ekklesia? This article makes you really think no matter what side you are on. Prayer and following God’s directing and His appointed leaders is a good place to start.

Don’t Exchange Freedom for Comfort

Autumn Dawson

I want to share with you today something that the Holy Spirit was stirring in me. This past week at church the Holy Spirit began to open up revelation to me during worship. One of the things that He said to me I believe is so powerful in this season was this, “Don’t ever exchange your freedom for comfort.” I know many people in this hour would rather have comfort than freedom. But I want to challenge you today, don’t exchange your freedom for comfort. Staying within your comfort zone will keep you from doing what you are called to do and what you were made for. The plan and assignment that God has for you will never be found in your comfort zone.

I want to challenge you today, don’t run from freedom. Run to freedom! Don’t run to your comfort zone when you are afraid. You must learn how to push through. There are many things God has called me to that are outside of my comfort zone but I challenge myself everyday by declaring this, “I am comfortable getting outside my comfort zone.” We must get outside of our comfort zone because that is where the wild is and that is where God has called us.

Think about it in the natural, when you get ready to sleep or relax what do you do? You get comfortable. In your pursuit with God do not get comfortable. The goal is not to go to sleep on your pursuit of God. You are called to always be moving forward in your pursuit with Him. So don’t ever exchange freedom for comfort.

One of the other things the Holy Spirit spoke to me was that, “If you exchange your freedom for comfort, it will stunt your growth and suffocate the calling that is on your life.” It will kill the dream that God has placed inside of you if you choose to stay within your comfort zone.

I am looking at many people that God is calling forth in this hour. I am looking at many who were made for destiny. I am looking hearing God say to so many, “I am not comfortable with your toes in the sand. I am calling you out into the depth of where I have called you to be.” I am looking for people who were made for the wild. I am looking at those who are ready to shift into this New Era that we are in right now. God is calling the body of Christ to stand up and be who God has called us to be. The whole world is waiting for you to develop into who God has called you to be. But if you stay in comfort, you will forsake the freedom that Jesus came to give you.

Many are being presented with a choice in this hour. Loyalty is always shown when there is a choice to be made. If you have a choice in your life, don’t trade in your honor. Don’t trade in your loyalty when a choice or an opportunity is given to you. God has called you to too many things right now. Don’t step back from what God has called you to. Stand up in this hour and don’t exchange the honor God has given you. Begin to choose loyalty over any other thing because God has called you to that thing. Don’t look around at the other things that God has not called you to. Stay focused on what God has assigned to you. Begin to work the field God has placed you in. And when you do, you will see the harvest start to come in and you will see souls saved. Your dreams will come forth when you stay loyal to the path God has placed you on. Don’t exchange your loyalty for opportunity.

This is a season for you to come alive. It is a stretching season but I am saying yes to it. I am embracing the stretching because I am unwilling to stay where I was. I am unwilling to stay where I was because I know God has more for me. I refuse to die with more left inside of me. I will not die until I see every bit of my destiny fulfilled. I will keep breaking through barriers and pushing through limitations because this is an Era where God has opened up a door for us. We will have to choose to walk through the door God has opened for us. We must walk through this open door with honor and with integrity. If we choose to get outside of our comfort zones we will walk through this open door full of the freedom God has given to us.

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Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

Position Yourself in July

Gypsy Dallas Smith

The Lord has been speaking to me about, Refocusing, Priorities, Preparation and Position. This has been a very, “weird” few months The warfare for me has lessened as I don’t feel like I am laboring for everything. However, I feel like just as I gain some ground and regain some strength and hope, the enemy comes in with distractions and confusion.

The Lord spoke to me in May and told me “Its time to refocus.”I felt that was a word for all of us. He also started speaking to me about His time and the New Year beginning In August and what we must do to position ourselves for this next move of God.

REFOCUS & PRIORITIES

Now is a time to clear your calendars and make room for the new God wants to do. This is a time when your priorities need to shift, as God is wanting to prepare you for the coming months. You may need to lay some things down temporarily, to be able to refocus and position yourself. Ask God what He is wanting you to refocus on in July. Where should your priorities and your focus be in this coming month.

PREPARE & POSITION

This is a month where you need to begin to prepare yourself. This is a time to Fast, and Pray, take Communion and Lay on your face in humility to position yourself for what God wants to do over the next few months. MAKE TIME FOR HIM. You will find as you do, that the Heavens will be open and you will not have to contend like previous seasons to enter the courts of heaven. Strategies and Blueprints are being released as well as a renewed hope and JOY!! God is near and His presence tangible.

JOY JOY JOY

The Lord is asking us to partner with Him to release joy into the atmosphere. I have been in places where someone released Joy over people, and laughter began to break out all over the room. Begin speaking JOY into your environment and watch as it shifts the atmosphere. Joy also brings inward contentment and peace.

My friends, God is NO DOUBT moving mightily and we are going to see some life altering things take place over the next few months. Some things are going to be painful but necessary to reach our destinies. If we want to be able to handle the elevation for this new season then we must be willing to prepare ourselves and position ourselves for what God has spoken over us. We must be willing to let go and release people, places and things with peace.

WARNING: How you exit this next month (July) is going to prove to be a blessing or a curse. How you exit one season, will determine how you enter another. So do everything you can, to end the month the best way you possibly can, so that it does not delay your destiny.

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Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

Don’t Bow to Fear

Julie Giordano
Fear is known to be one of the enemy’s most common and strategic weapon of mass destruction – targeting every man, woman, and child. Fear is like a silent killer and thief that steals from you little by little and is crippling our society today.

Fear is a spirit that comes to torment your mind, paralyze your faith, and ultimately cause you to self-destruct.

The enemy uses fear to target any open door in your life to gain access to your mind. There are many situations in your life that can cause doors to open and leave you vulnerable and exposed to lies.

The enemy doesn’t play fair – he targets your pain and attacks you during your weakest moment. These are 12 common targeted areas:
1. Abuse,
2. Harsh words,
3. Lack,
4. Sickness,
5. Trauma,
6. Death,
7. Abandonment,
8. Rejection,
9. Video games,
10. Bad dreams,
11. Scary movies, and
12. Soul ties.

The only way the door can open… is if you partner with the lie.

For Example:

Her Reality | Tasha’s family was very poor, and they didn’t have enough food or adequate clothing when she grew up.

The Lie | The enemy tells Tasha that she will always be poor. She is too ugly, too dumb, and will never be able to afford to go to college… this is all she will ever be.

Partnering with the Lie | Tasha can partner with the lie and believe it to be true. If she does, she’ll be tormented with a fear of inadequacy and constantly battle with a poverty mindset. Embracing the lie will birth a deep insecurity in Tasha’s soul that she isn’t pretty enough or smart enough to fulfill any dream or hope for her future.

The Truth | But there is a hope in John 10:10 (ESV), “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

What a beautiful outcome – Jesus came to bring life, and He defeated every lie of the enemy at the cross and resurrection. You just have to believe it!

It’s a choice to walk in:
• Your kingdom authority;
• Faith;
• Peace;
• Trust; and
• His perfect love.

This is all easier said than done when the lie looks so much like your reality. I too have been there and had to fight the voice and attacks of the enemy.

The enemy will try to confuse you with what you know to be true and the lie.

The confusion always begins when the truth becomes unclear because the lie feels more like the truth. The enemy will provoke you to focus more on your feelings and feed the fear through the channels of anxiety, panic, and depression.

The enemy’s language is lies and his nature is a liar. Don’t you dare bow to fear – it’s a trick of the enemy.

I wanted to insert a section of chapter 3 of my eBook, The Mind Keeper to explain the process in your mind during an attack:

“I remember a time, the enemy laughed at me, and he taunted me as my heart began to shatter within me. My heart was broken and bleeding. Then all of a sudden, I felt the presence of the Lord invade the room and gently begin covering me. He scattered every enemy just like that. He covered me and calmed my spirit until peace filled the room.

Father God spoke into my broken heart and shattered dreams that night. He said, ‘Julie, you have been here before and you will make it. I will be with you.’ I knew His voice and I trusted Him. I didn’t know what that would look like, but I had a history with Him by that time, and I knew He wouldn’t abandon me.

Nevertheless, I knew the journey ahead of me was one that I didn’t want to travel. So, I had to stay focused on my memories; the memories of all the times God had carried me through each and every storm. I reminded myself that He is faithful.

I remembered that He is a comforter, a healer, a restorer, a heart mender, a mind keeper, and that He will do all those things again. I remembered that He will never leave me or forsake me, because He has carved me in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

I had to force my mind to remember that I had been trained in the Word. I told myself that:
• I knew how to worship;
• I knew His voice;
• I had a relationship with Him;
• I knew how to do this; and
• I would make it!

I had to prophesy to myself. It didn’t matter how sad and broken I was; I had to recall everything I had learned in my previous years and begin to apply it even through all the tears and fears I was currently feeling. As Joyce Meyer says, ‘Do it afraid.’

So I reached way down deep inside and remembered, ‘If I force my mind to lean into God and hide in His presence, my mind will line up with His Word; my emotions will rage as they will, but they will submit and surrender to the spirit if my mind stays focused on what is TRUE.’

We have the ability to harness our mind and tell it what it will think. Our mind wants to run away with us and focus on emotional things, rehearsing them over and over again.

But I needed peace, and to walk in wisdom. So, I had to trust my process in the Lord and use tools that I know to work against what I was feeling.”

Have you been struggling with fear? Has fear crept into your mind and stole your peace. Has fear caused you to withdraw and doubt everything around you?

Well, I have a Prophetic Word for you:
I speak life over you today. I speak the love of God to overwhelm you and break down every wall in your life that feels like a self-made prison.

I tear down every lie and strip the enemy of his access to your mind. I break the back of doubt and unbelief that has robbed your peace and ability to hear the voice of the Lord. I declare and decree you can hear again.

I bind the spirit of confusion off of your mind and free you to breathe.

You will no longer labor or struggle to take a full breath – you will rest in God’s peace and sleep through the night. No more nightmares. No more sleepless nights. I see Father God wiping your tears and lifting your head from defeat – He said, “You are free.”

Love and prayers,

Julie G
Julie Giordano
http://www.juliegiordano.org

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Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

 

The Rise of the Butterflies and the Elephants

Picture by Robert Bissell

Post by Darren Canning, Ontario, Canada

God Speaks Through His Creation

The Lord speaks through many things. There are times when He speaks to me specifically through animals. In Christianity, we often depict the dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. We also depict it as a symbol of peace. It was a dove that came down onto Jesus when He was baptized in the river Jordan and the Father spoke and said, “…This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Whenever I see a dove I believe that God wants to fill people fresh with His Spirit again.

It was a dove that flew from the ark and brought a small branch back to the Noah. Because of this they knew that the waters were receding from the earth. They spent one year on the ark and at many times must have wondered when they would walk on land again. When that dove showed up with that branch, such hope must have flooded their hearts. The dove has been a symbol of peace and hope ever since.

Identity is Not Formed in the Mind

If someone were to ask, “Do you believe there was an actual flood?” I would respond, “Yes, I believe the Bible. If the Bible says it, then I believe it. Simple as that.” I also believe that marriage is to be between a man and a woman and that God didn’t make a mistake when He created people by a certain gender. He created male and female and He called it good.

The confusion isn’t with God. The confusion is with man. It is time for revival to take place so that the confusion leaves people’s hearts. Identity is not formed in the mind but it is formed by the voice of God, and there is no confusion in Him.

Bright, Blue Butterflies

Whenever I see a butterfly I feel encouraged. This is an image that started to come to me right at salvation. I knew that the Lord was using it to talk to me about a transformed life. For me it was the picture of brilliance of salvation, of overcoming this world and its gravity and the beginning of a new freedom that is only found in Christ. It was an image to me of transcendence, where this world no longer could hold me down, but I would overcome the world, and not by my own strength, but by the power of Jesus Christ living inside of me. Whenever the Lord showed me a butterfly, I felt a freedom rise inside of me.

I used to see bright, blue butterflies. Blue is the color of the sky. It is the place of ascension and it is the color of revelation. When we rise into the blue, we escape the confines of this world. The only way to escape the confines of this world is through the revelation that Jesus has for your life. When His identity is formed within you, the confusion of the old life passes away.

His Identity Lifts Us from Limitations

Our God’s voice is comforting. Whenever I hear Him speak about my life I find strength to face the storms in front of me. It isn’t that my identity is perfectly formed within the moment when I come to Christ—He accepts me just as I am. But the transformation is a daily thing. We are not being transformed into religious forms, we are being transformed into the image of Christ. It is as if He comes and lives inside of us. His form assumes our form and He begins to live His life through us. As we lay down our rights to our own identity, His identity lifts us from the limitations placed upon us in this world.

Elephants: The Mighty Ones

I have also been seeing images of elephants everywhere I go lately. The elephant is one of the largest creatures on earth. Surely if a group of elephants started to stampede toward a village of people, the destruction that could take place would be tremendous; and yet elephants have lived and worked with people since time has begun. Elephants are strong and can carry great loads. Elephants also have a very thick skin, it is rugged and hard.

The ears of the elephant also stand out to me. They are huge. To me this is always symbolic and prophetic of hearing in the spirit. Their memories are strong and they don’t forget. People that they knew early in their life they don’t forget.

They are big and strong, yet gentle. When I was a boy I remember seeing an elephant at a fair. For better or worse they were letting children ride that elephant. I didn’t have the desire to ride him, but I remember seeing many children on that elephant’s back. A person wouldn’t let such a thing occur unless they believed it was safe. Parents don’t usually throw their kids to wild beasts.

For me this is an image of the mighty ones that God is raising up in this hour. They will be big in the spirit, able to carry great burdens. They will be strong enough to destroy and yet they will be known for their gentleness and love. They might be attacked over and over by those who would try to oppress them, accuse them or who may be jealous of them, but they will have thick skin. They might hear the words of those who try to oppress them, but it will not penetrate their hearts.

Those Who are Rising into Their Destiny

I believe that both the butterfly and the elephant are symbols of maturing Christians. Again, I am not talking about religious folks or church-goers. I am talking about the saints who are rising into their destiny. These are the laid-down lovers of the Lord. The ones who are rising with healing in their wings. These are the ones that will be like Christ in the earth – in His gentleness and in His power. They will be seers and people of prayer and they will do great things for the Lord.

I pray for you today. I ask the Lord to strengthen you. Perhaps you don’t feel very mature right now, but I believe because you are reading this and digesting it that you are about to go to a new stage. You are going higher into His presence. I ask the Lord to let His revelation enter into you and to give you a brand-new day in His glory.

Darren Canning
Ministry of Darren Canning
Email: darrencanning78@gmail.com
Website: www.darrencanning.com

(Sourced from the Elijah List)

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I have always loved elephants and used to have a large collection of all sorts of elephant before I moved to Australia. People who knew I collected them use to bring me elephants from places they went on holidays. I had to sell the entire collection when I moved from the states to Australia and I don’t miss the dusting but I do miss all the varieties and the memories attached to each one. So I was drawn to this post first by the elephants! I do like butterflies too but dragonflies have always been my attraction. When I was looking for a picture to put with the post I was surprised to see how many people have put butterflies and elephants together … must find the story on that.

Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

“My Spiritual Snipers Are Coming Forth in This Season of War”

Bill Yount Weekly

Sniper: A skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place.

Does it seem like you are in a hidden place with darkness all around you? And is the enemy breathing down your neck? Be encouraged. You may have the makings of a spiritual sniper. Snipers are concealed by darkness in the time of war, close to enemy territory. If you can’t see daylight, you may be right on schedule. Darkness brings out a sniper’s full potential.

“We Own the Night!” is their motto.

Not many of God’s people can stand being hidden for long periods of time. It’s a lonely, dark place but you are not alone. God is with you, and He’s creating something powerful out of you. The Lord is saying to many: “The enemy will soon know why you haven’t been heard from as of yet. He will soon wonder where you came from. Treasure your hiddenness. It’s your advantage. And don’t fear the darkness. Your hardships and enemies have come to train you. Don’t go AWOL. The moment you were born for is coming. Your light will pierce darkness. My spiritual snipers are coming forth in this season of war.”

Communication Is a Must in Your Hiddenness

Although hidden, you must have clear communication with God and your comrades. You must learn the weapon of silence to hear. Silence makes the enemy wonder what you are up to while God is giving you strategy. Silence enables you to hear not only God’s still small voice but also the enemy’s next plan of attack. I sense the Lord saying, “I’m corporately anointing your ears to hear and eyes to see what no other generation has ever heard or seen for this end time spiritual war. Keep in communication with one another. At times, your comrades will be your eyes and ears. It’s the lifeline to win. Communicate even if you don’t agree. Communicate until you do. You are a team, and no one goes anywhere without each other. A team that can move as one is a dominating force. Laying down your life for each other is not a question. You are no longer considered your own.”

Maneuvering Offensively

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force” (Matt. 11:12, HCSB).

A former sniper shared with me how he was sent ahead of his troop and how he concealed himself close to the enemy. He said, “A vacant building or any forsaken covering gave me an edge for my deadly aim.” He also said, “I became a terror to the terrorists. I could paralyze a large troop with one fatal shot to their comrades. Terror would grip them, for they didn’t know where I was. At times, I shot from a window of a forsaken building and then ran. If they suspected where I was they would immediately launch heavy artillery into that place. Bounties were placed on my head.”

I asked him, “Were you afraid of dying?” He said, “No, I died when I left home. If I had any fear in me, I wouldn’t have survived what I went through.”

His words, “I died when I left home,” pierced me. I wonder how many of us realize the day we gave our life to Jesus Christ was the day we died to ourselves, and He now lives in us. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20, MEV). And Jesus is never afraid. Having been through much warfare myself, I’m learning when I feel intimidated by the enemy, the truth is: that’s really when he is terrified of me. So I move beyond what intimidates me and find sweet victory.

Many will see other comrades being elevated this season. Don’t be jealous or envious. They are being called to the front line where increased danger lies. Their advancement is your protection. It’s a most dangerous time to compare ourselves with one another. Some will think that their strong anointing that’s promoting them lessens their need for their comrades or those in authority over them. It actually increases your need for them.

You may seem to be ahead of them in rank, but they are behind you to cover your back. If left alone with our increased anointings, we become dangerous to ourselves and others. This often results in “friendly fire.” We need our comrades to keep speaking into our lives to adjust and sharpen our spiritual gifts and weapons to stay effective. Our training never ends. God will always have someone over us to learn from and someone under us to teach what we have learned.

Biblical ‘Sniper’ Weapons

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4).

Throughout history, snipers rise from obscurity to win wars. One person stands out to me as the greatest sniper in the Bible: David, a shepherd boy, hidden in the hillsides of Judea. Trained by a bear and a lion, he makes his debut with a giant named Goliath. David becomes a sniper in the eyes of the Philistine army as he takes out Goliath with a slingshot and stone. He knew that giant would look good on his resume.

“Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” (Ps. 144:1).

David was also a warrior as a scribe. His writings still pierce the darkness in our lives today. The Lord is releasing a scribe anointing upon many for new songs, books, and movies to be written to dismantle powers of darkness upon the earth. Pick up your pen and fight!

David’s greatest weapon in his arsenal was worship. David was a full-time worshipper and part-time shepherd. He worshiped in secret, and God met him on the battlefield. Worship didn’t keep David away from trouble. Worship brought God down into his troubles, and God never lost a battle.

In the wars that rage against us today, our greatest weapon is still to worship God in the midst of chaos. Through worship, heaven comes and fills us with His love and presence, which can touch our worst enemies to surrender all to Jesus. Loving our enemies keeps them from getting inside of us. We will be facing many giants in the days to come. Don’t leave home without your slingshot. Remember, since you are a believer, Jesus lives in you, and He is not afraid. Besides, you died when you left home.

Welcome, sniper.

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I really liked this word and I have found several other words from God in the same vein … Don’t bow to fear; Run to the battle line; When you are moving forward and you come against some resistance or roadblock … plow right over or through the obstacle that is been set before them; I make a choice today to partner with HOPE and PURPOSE and laugh at every opposing voice to my destiny! Whenever I see similar words coming at the same time from prophets all over the world who have no immediate contact with each other I know that God is shouting a message to us! Too many people are getting tired and giving up yet we are called to stand strong in the battle and not run exposing our backs to the enemy. We need to remember why those scriptures are in the Bible: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force” Matt. 11:12 and the one I love the most: “Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” Ps. 144:1 I say “Thank You Lord” for welcoming me as sniper material!!

Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

God is Opening All Medias to Spread the Word and Bring in the Harvest!

by Charlene Robinson

This short video is about GodTV but I want to show it because it goes so well with the blog I put in on Thursday about “Cyber-Nets Ready for Harvest”. What they are saying about TV media fits all media, blogs and social media too! What they are saying about reaching people is the same on Facebook or any of the other social media platforms. If you have a heart for God and His people; if you write or if you read and watch videos and live-streaming about God, ask Him to direct you to what He wants the world to see and He will! Just because you are looking at Christian teachers on videos or live streaming doesn’t mean everyone is seeing them. If you share in blogs and social media and put the links to what you share, the people who come across your site and like it or feel curious can go where they might never have been and find Jesus! And there are other people doing what you do that can share what you have if it is different from what they have! When you share a video or article and 10 others share it and those they reach share, the numbers go up quickly and the word can go round the world in just hours!

I’m happy every time I go to one of my favorite sites to find what God’s newest moves are that I can share, and find my “friends” there! Yeah! What God has directed me to do is working! People are moving around and finding more information about God that interests them or they need or want to share with friends and that is what it is all about!

Another part of my ministry I love, is I get a chance to pray for people, comment on their comments and have dialog with people around the world that I would never meet any other way.

I encourage you to join the harvesters here on blog sites and social media as we can see it is a door God is opening that anyone can walk through if they feel led by Him to do so! Go for it and join the harvest or help your church get involved like the article from yesterday says. I admit I didn’t want any part of Facebook but God directed me and kept pushing me until I said, YES Lord and now it is a ministry and I LOVE MY JOB!!

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Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

Get Your ‘Cyber-Nets’ Ready for Harvest – Now!

Patricia King, Maricopa, AZ

The Harvest Season Has Begun

God is granting a powerful and massive harvest of souls along with effective, supernatural, discipleship and mentoring of new Believers. This in-gathering has already begun as many nations, churches, and individuals are already reaping massive harvests. The intensity of the in-gathering will escalate over the next two years. When Jesus speaks of the in-gathering of souls into His Kingdom, He speaks of both nets and sickles. It is time to get your nets and sickles ready. The time to reap is now!

Many times we are looking to years down the road for a great in-gathering of souls to be reaped, but the Lord is saying, “Put down the nets now – put your sickle in now! It is not for the future it is for today!”

Luke 5:4 NASB Jesus says: “…Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

John 4:35 NKJV: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

New Wineskins! Get Your Inter-Net Ready

A wineskin is a structure or container that holds fresh wine. There is nothing wrong with an old wineskin or old wine (old wine has been rid of the impurities), but an old wineskin will burst if new wine is put into it. Jesus taught in Mark 2:22 NASB: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

“The harvest will be too great for only a few ministries to be engaged.“

There will be many “new wineskins” the Lord will offer His Church in this hour. Through every means we will win some souls! Our minds need to be open to every new way God introduces. One model will not be the only way to bring in the great in-gathering of souls, it will take all Spirit-inspired wineskins.

It is important to keep your heart open to new ways the Lord will use to build His Church and to bring souls into His Kingdom.

One of the great tools and containers God will use in evangelism and discipleship will be a powerful “net” for a powerful “catch”: the inter-net and especially social media. A new wineskin is being built to platform cyber-evangelism and discipleship.

In 2017, the Lord revealed prophetic insights through the following verses in the book of Revelation regarding the great in-gathering of souls.

Revelation 14:6 “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal Gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people…”

The word “angel” used in verse 6 is “aggelos” (Greek), meaning “a messenger from God; one who is sent.” It is not the same word that is used to refer to an angel as a spirit. The word “midheaven” means a realm between Earth and God’s Heaven – it could be the cyber realm where the internet is hosted. God is going to use His messengers (His people) through the avenue of the internet to preach the eternal Gospel to all who live in the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue and people.

Never before has the average Believer had access to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world but today through the cyber realm (mid-heaven) we can share the eternal word to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. In John’s day he would not have known about the internet yet, but he did see that the Gospel was being preached to the entire earth from the mid-heaven

Angels are not commissioned to preach the Gospel – Believers are. Applying prophetic interpretation to this verse, it could indicate that in the end days the Gospel will be preached through Believers (God’s messengers) from the cyber-heaven.

Revelation 14:14 – The “Cloud” “…Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a Son of Man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”

Today, most people know what the “cloud” is in reference to the internet, or at least data storage associated with the internet (for example iCloud). It is a place in “mid-heaven” where communication is stored and distributed. John would not have known that in his day, but he refers to a cloud that Jesus is sitting on. He describes Jesus with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

In Matthew 28:18-20 NASB Jesus declares His authority in both the heavenly and earthly dimensions and instructs Believers to partner with Him to reach, win, and disciple nations: “…All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Many complain today about the internet with the way the enemy is using it to communicate falsehoods, evil morals, and corruption, but in Revelation 14:14, we see Jesus is sitting on the cloud in full authority. God wants His people to claim the “cloud” for Him and use it to bring in the great in-gathering of souls!

The Crown – Glory and Provision

The crown in Revelation 14:14 is gold, speaking of both glory and provision. The glory of extraordinary miracles, signs, wonders and displays of power will be released in great measure to bring in this massive harvest. This harvest and discipleship season will be marked by miracles and many will receive miracles of healing, resurrection, deliverance, and provision through the screens of their computers or other devices connected to the cyber-realm.

This harvest will be provided for with blessing from God’s glory realm. Many Believers will arise to give generously for the harvest of souls. Those who give in this season will be blessed with the harvest as well as great returns financially on their gifts. With this move will come God-granted prosperity to those whose lives are committed to seeing His dream fulfilled.

Revelation 14:15: The Sickle – The Time is Now!

John also saw Jesus sitting on the cloud with a sharp sickle in His hand. In John’s day, the sickle was the harvesting instrument used to bring in the wheat and other crops. Before the farmer would wield the sickle he would sharpen it. It is time to sharpen our sickle and get ready to bring in the harvest that is ripe. The coming harvesting of souls will involve the inter-net.

“It is time to get your nets and sickles ready. The time to reap is now!“

“And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.'”

This Scripture reveals another messenger coming out of the temple. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit when Christ lives within us. The messenger spoken of here, could be seen as the messenger of deep intercession and decrees that are brought with fervency before the Lord from His people. The Lord is waiting for His Church to arise with groaning and travailing intercession for souls.

A new wave of intercession for the harvest is being released. Grace is being released by the Spirit of God to motivate and empower Believers to intercede for the birthing of souls. Intercessors will cry out day and night for souls. Many churches will call for seasons of focused prayer. Prayer convocations will be hosted for the purpose of crying out for souls and releasing “the sickle.” The Church will decree prophetically that this is the hour to put in the sickle because the harvest of the earth is ripe.

The Lord who hears the cries of intercession and the prophetic decrees of His people will respond. The HOUR HAS COME TO REAP. It is important to discern the times so that we can move forward in the rhythm of God. We are in a kairos season (God appointed time) for cyber-harvesting.

Revelation 14:16 NASB – Jesus Releases His Sickle from the Cloud

“Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

We see Jesus in this verse, laying His sickle into the earth and reaping the harvest. We as His people are “in Him.” Jesus said, “…as the Father has sent Me so also I send you” (John 20:21). He will use us as we are in Him to bring in the harvest of the earth. We are His hands and His feet — we are His Body. We have His sickle in our hands. Jesus put in the sickle FROM the mid-heaven. The prophetic application I am using, indicates that Christ’s Body (His Church) is going to move into massive cyber-harvesting in this season and will reap the nations from the “mid-heaven” (internet).

Discipled From the Cloud?

A question to ponder: If 500 or maybe 1000 new Believers were to come to the Lord in your church or area overnight, how would they be discipled? Your church might not be able to facilitate this yet. In the coming harvest it is probable that hundreds of thousands and even millions will come to the Lord in one sweep of the sickle.

Through the internet, we can be assured that they can have access to all they need for foundational teaching, and through social media we can reach them relationally with pastoral mentoring and input. This does not diminish the need for onsite local churches engaged in evangelism and discipleship, but the tool of the internet will help the process.

There are many ministries who have been forerunning this and are currently mentoring online with discipleship teachings for new Believers, but God wants “all hands on deck”. The harvest will be too great for only a few ministries to be engaged.

Every individual can reach out through the cyber advantages we have today with social media. It is easy to share testimonies and invitations to come to Christ. Entire church congregations can get involved. I feel the Spirit of God inviting every Believer and ministry who has access to the internet to use this soul-winning tool with intentionality. Every effort small or large can make impact!

God’s Tech Team

I saw a number of individuals who are currently “technically groomed” being anointed by God in this season. New ideas and technical possibilities for harvesting will come forth. I also saw social media marketers being anointed and called into the harvest fields of cyber-evangelism and discipleship for such a time as this.

Where Do We Go from Here?

2020 is the target year! The Lord revealed that the harvest is NOW and we are not to delay in laying the sickle into the fields, but 2020 will be the significant year for the greatest harvest of souls that has ever been reaped. It is time to receive your strategy from the Lord and act on it. You can use the internet to share your testimony, preach the LOVE GOSPEL, and offer opportunity for the lost to come to Christ. Put in your sickle now!

Patricia King
Founder and Director of XPMEDIA.COM INC
Email: pkassist@patriciaking.com
Website: www.patriciaking.com

Patricia King is a respected apostolic minister of the Gospel, successful business owner, and an inventive entrepreneur. She is an accomplished itinerant speaker, author, television host, media producer, and ministry network overseer who has given her life fully to Jesus Christ and to His Kingdom’s advancement in the earth. She is the founder of XP Ministries and co-founder of XPmedia.com.

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I absolutely love this article … it is exactly what I’ve felt for several years now as I’ve been sharing everything I could find about God and what is happening in this new season on Facebook daily. What started as something I didn’t want any part of has become a full time ministry! God pushed me until I said YES and I’ve never looked back. But it hasn’t been without its own frustration and pain and doubts about whether I’d really heard from God about it. Other Christians being the biggest problem with no support, no understanding or belief or ability to see a need for what I was doing. I wanted to include the church I was in for the very reasons discussed in this article but they were closed to it so I ended up leaving the area completely. I pray I will find a church that is open to this door God is asking us to go through that I can work with and help. Meanwhile I will continue with what I do and pray God will show me how to help the harvest with the other ministries and churches with cyber mentoring online and discipleship teachings for new Believers that I could send people to. It is something for all of us who use blogs or social media as a platform to share Jesus, to think about and find where we will fit in. God will direct us as He knows right where we all fit. Open hearts to God and people will bring us to the right place in the harvest!

Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

The Angel Over Korea and God’s End-Time Plan

Shawn Bolz

My Experience in Korea

The meetings between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are historic and have taken dozens of years and millions of prayers to get this far. I have met with two South Korean presidents and dozens of political leaders both in America and in South Korea and have given spiritual perspective to them. I even prophesied to one of them about Kim’s father and confirmed he was battling a disease he was dying of when only intelligence agencies knew of it. This put me on their map, and we had hours of dialogue about what God wanted to do with Korea. Not just North Korea, but South Korea. I, as well as several of my teams and associated ministries, have been to North Korea to do assessments. I have seen Korea firsthand and believe I have seen something in the Spirit as well that just might help your perspective and prayers.

When God created this amazing race of people, it wasn’t divided as it is now. In just one generation, we have seen South Korea become a superpower and world contributor to computer science, agricultural science, medical science and so many more fields. In the spiritual realm, South Korea has sent more missionaries than many other countries except America, and they will risk it all to go to the most unusual places.

“There are benefits that the whole world will experience through the development of His plan over this country.“

I remember asking one of the professors of science and engineering at Seoul University:”What would have happened if South Korea had never been developed and was still a developing nation?” He looked at my smartphone in my hand and said, “I predict that smartphones would be behind by five generations, water agriculture for food would be behind a decade, and automobile emissions would be behind worldwide by at least a decade. …South Korea has offered so much in its short time of being developed that we have either contributed or revolutionized several major industries that affect the world every day.”

I began to get a picture right then that the divided people in the North, the other half of Korea, were stuck in an oppression, and it’s not just that their lives are at stake. Their lives are very important! But God’s dream for who Korea is supposed to be and what these people will bring to the worldwide scenario is at stake. When a country gets this oppressed, what is the enemy trying to hold back? What is the redemptive future of North Korea? I can see that it is huge, because it is one of the most resisted in the world. But I also started this journey from a vision I had over a decade ago.

An Angel of Korea Appeared

An angel of Korea appeared to me and said, “Behold, I am strong, and I shall do a mighty work, even in preparing Israel for the return of Jesus.”

Korea was never on the map of my heart or mind. Then one day, very randomly, an angel appeared in my room in a physical form. He said, “Behold, I am from Korea.”

I asked him, “From North or South?” and he almost yelled at me, “I am from Korea.” And I realized there is no North or South Korea in God’s heart. He never designed it to be separated. I didn’t dare speak again.

“I am strong, and God shall do a mighty work through the intercession nations of the world to reestablish unity between North and South Korea,” the angel said. I knew he was saying he was strong because the purpose was ready to be fought for and won.

“God is sending you to Korea,” the angel said to me. I had never considered it or had it on my radar. “You will help give the people faith to elect a president who will prepare the way for South Korea to be open to the Western world, even America again. There are communist sympathizers who have brought in an agenda to separate South Korea from relationship with Christian nations, but God is preparing a president who will keep the doors open to relationships with America and the world. There will be a day in your lifetime when our president will help open the North, and the North and South will have a unification.”

Now, I will say all of this is documented from 2004 and 2005, and then my trips to Korea began. I met with the soon-to-be president, President Lee, in 2007. No one I met thought he would win, but I knew he was going to be president, and I shared all of this and explained that God was raising him up to help all of Korea.

I prophesied all of this, and he believed me, and he was the first president in many years to visit America and reestablish relationship with the West even in trading, agriculture and some strategic relationship agreements. His office contacted me to help him visit America. He visited Bush in the White House, and it was a big deal and a prophetic act. No one believed this kind of relationship would rekindle then, but God prophesied it through me and through a prophet named Cindy Jacobs, who was giving almost the same words at the same time, although we weren’t in communication. We were not coordinating, we were just hitting the same thing from different angles.

“I am strong, and God shall do a mighty work through the intercession nations of the world to reestablish unity between North and South Korea.“

The final thing that the angel said was, “In the unification will come a uniting of hearts and purpose from the Korean people who have been given a boldness to stand with Israel, give their lives as missionaries, and they have been given the gift of technology, engineering and science. They are going to be used in great significance in the future before the return of Jesus. The children in North Korea are a seedbed of greatness, and they are filled with technologies that don’t exist yet in the computer science world.”

Benefits of a United Korea

Think about that: There are benefits that the whole world will experience through the development of His plan over this country. South Korea will benefit in a major way as well; there is a fear that if there is a unification, it will destroy the economy of South Korea. I prophesy now that the economy will become one of the largest in the world when the unification happens, because the technologies and resources that God wants to entrust to Koreans are some of the most valuable in the world markets because He knows what they will do with them.

I am sure that as we pray for what God is doing between Trump and Kim that it is the beginning of a great dismantling of warfare and that God is moving the nations toward unification. This unification will affect the entire world, just as South Korea’s development has happened when the unification happened. This will not only add to South Korea’s impact on the spiritual and natural side of our world, but it will multiply it.

Let’s pray that this small step forward would itself be multiplied, because the angels over Korea are strong, and they are winning the battle. Let’s also pray for those suffering right now until God’s breakthrough happens, and they are comforted and helped in this incredible time that could be just the start of their deliverance.

Used by permission via Charisma News.

Shawn Bolz
Bolz Ministries
Email: click here
Website: www.bolzministries.com

Shawn Bolz is head of Bolz Ministries and the Charisma Podcast host of “Exploring the Prophetic.” Shawn Bolz is also the founding pastor of Expression58 Christian Ministries, a ministry focused on the entertainment industry and the poor in Los Angeles California where he lives with his wife, Cherie and their two daughters.

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Sharing my heart and the heart of the Father from my Prison of Hope! Be blessed and trust God above all. ~ Charlene  https://www.facebook.com/zephyrmorning

Tell Your Heart to Sing Again

James Goll

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalm 31:24, NASB

The state of your heart is crucial when walking through a valley or a traumatic season in life. How you close one door in a time of transition makes a huge difference in how well you walk through the next door in your life’s journey. One thing is certain—when walking through a valley (see Psalm 23), you can’t afford to sit down in that low place and have a long-term pity party. Sometimes, you have to choose to put one foot in front of the other and just keep on walking!

I went through three bouts of cancer over a nine year period, lost the wife of my youth to heaven, became a single dad of four, and was plunged into hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt, having never missed a bill payment in my life. Then I attempted to rebuild my life while having an international ministry, which removed the privilege of going behind closed doors. (After all, I was James W. Goll, an international prayer and prophetic voice—I felt like I lived in a public gold fish bowl!)

Soon I discovered that I needed to take a deep look at the condition of my heart.

Watching Over Your Heart

I would have to guard my heart and look after its welfare, following the advice of the proverb: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs [issues] of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NASB). To resuscitate it fully, I would have to learn how to speak life to it.

With plenty of Scriptures to go on, I knew the Lord would be more than willing to help me. For example, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9, NASB). I may have thought that my heart no longer felt or even remembered anything but despair, but nevertheless it was still “completely His.”

It was vital that I figure out how to get it beating stronger than ever. I inaugurated a new goal: to end this race better than I started it. I decided that after I go home to God, I want people to say, “James Goll loved God and he taught other people how to love Him too.”

Finding My Bearings

Extended times of trial and transition can be hard on your heart. Even if you try to keep loving God and others as well as you used to, you just do not feel that you have as much to offer. Even when things settle down a little, you might remain exhausted from grieving and adjusting to your new reality. You know you are still on a journey, but you do not find it as easy to get your bearings.

Finding your bearings has to become part of the journey, or you will just go in circles. You have to ask yourself some really basic questions, such as: “Who am I?” “What do my roots tell me about myself?” “What do I love to do?” “What brings me life?”

“Who Am I?”

This is easy to answer, right? Well, not when you are still reassembling your identity after a major trauma or loss. I had been married to the same person for over half my life, and my functionality—and thus a major aspect of my identity—was wrapped up in being her husband. Now I was a grieving widower. Still, I was a father, right? Yet my kids were all leaving the nest to pursue careers, find love and marriage and build families of their own. This would have been a time of major readjustment for me, even without the cancer, the intense sciatic nerve pain, sleep deprivation and Michal Ann’s death.

I was still in full-time vocational ministry. I could teach. I still prayed; I was an active intercessor. I loved to write. I kept pondering and thinking about how to move forward in life. I found myself asking an odd question, “What do my roots tell me about myself?”

To find my bearings, I felt the need to reevaluate my personal life history. I decided to look back at my childhood and find some sweet spots to revive some pleasant memories.

Somehow, looking at my root system helped me find my bearings a little bit more. I soon realized I was born to sing.

Born to Sing

When I asked myself, “What do I love to do?” one of my first answers was, “I love to sing.” I have been singing since at least the age of three, and in high school I won awards for singing, as other young guys might win awards for basketball or some other sport. I didn’t sing in order to win prizes; I sang because it was my life. I would go on walks down the railroad tracks and I would sing Sunday school songs and hymns from the brownish-red Cokesbury hymnal. I would sing anything I heard. I would sing with the radio. I would sing in school programs. I would sing at church. I would even sing with Lawrence Welk. I would sing everywhere I went! I actually grew up being known as a “singer.”

I kept on singing after I grew up and when I got married. (Somebody gave me a T-shirt that says, “I Sing Real Loud.”) I would sing when I was happy and I would sing when I was sad. I would sing in the shower and sing in the car. I would sing in during corporate worship, and I would break out into singing in the middle of my own sermons. It didn’t matter if I was having a “bad voice or good voice” day—I would just sing anyway.

But in the midst of my cancer treatments and severe traumatic pain, I had not been singing much at all. I was slowly losing my voice. One of my greatest joys in life was sitting with pitch-perfect Michal Ann at our piano bench and singing duets together. Once I put my finger on the fact that I was born to sing, I figured out that one of the best keys for healing my bruised and rather beat-up heart would be telling my heart to sing again. I would sing it back to life.

I think that is something anyone could do, even those who cannot sing a note. Even if you don’t use outright singing to do it, at least you could speak to your heart to revive it. Tell your heart the truth. Tell your heart Who is on the throne. Tell your heart about God’s faithfulness and goodness and how much the Shepherd cares.

Ask yourself, “What brings me life?” Look back across the years to find precious memories and helpful clues about what brings life to you. Read the Bible as if it was written to you personally, rereading the parts that speak most to you. To experience the hidden power of praise and singing, start with Psalms 148, 149, and 150. Tell your heart to start singing!

I started singing again. Now I ease my pain and shift the atmosphere over my own life through song. I sing day and night. I sing in every hotel room I visit. I sing in my kitchen. I sing in the shower. I sing outside when I take a walk. I sing by myself and I sing with others.

Recently, I sang crooner songs in a marble lobby of a 5-star hotel in Taipei, Taiwan with a classical pianist. I found out what time of the day this pianist was going to be performing in the lobby. I even got dressed up, came downstairs and began singing inspirational songs with this world-class Berkley School of Music graduate. People started gathering around and asked where I was from and I proudly told them Nashville. They took videos thinking I was an internationally famous singer.

That brought life to my heart. I sang Moon River, Hello Dolly, and I Left My Heart in San Francisco… But deep down I have always loved singing hymns the most.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. . . . When he shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in him be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

Hidden within the lyrics and melodies, the power of praise and worship builds up my heart and orients me in the right direction. It sometimes takes a moment to overcome the feeling of being shut down, too sad and tired to breathe out a note of a song, but once I make the effort, I am so glad I am alive and held in God’s capable hands.

What Is God Singing Over You?

God himself is the “singing God,” you know: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV). What is God singing over you? I can tell you that he is singing an anthem of hope. He is singing, “I love you and I have a plan for you. I have a great future for you. I have you on my mind and in my heart. I am working everything together for you.”

Closing Invitational Prayer

Father, I believe that all of creation is a painting of your beauty and majesty. I believe that you sing over your creation—including me. I believe that the heart is an amazing organ and that out of it flow the springs and issues of life. My heart needs to be revived. I want to tell it to sing again. I speak life to my heart and I declare, “Hope is standing right in front of me,” because you are right in front of me, even right inside.

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I love this word and it ministers to almost all of us more today than it ever has. I often think of the lines from A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way— It was written in 1859 by Charles Dickens but is right now! We all need to have a reminder to ‘tell our hearts to sing’. It is to late in the scheme of things to sit very long having pity parties. Now we must stand up and keeping moving forward. We must draw very close to God, hang on to His hand or the hem of His garment and focus on where He is leading us. After I read this word I went to the grocery store and what did I see and hear but a shopper singing her heart out in the fresh produce section of the store! I heard her before I saw her and she just sang, not loudly but at a regular level as she pushed her cart down the aisle and she seemed very happy. Another woman commented to her about it and she stopped for a moment as though she hadn’t realized she was singing, made a comment back and then started singing again. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had read James Goll’s advice too! Our hearts can sing in many ways and we can ask ourselves that question, “what do I love to do?” For me it is research like I do for Facebook and here, following God’s news and sharing and writing so I guess I am already doing what I love to do and my heart is singing! How about you?