To Beeeeeeee

It turns out that it was a wise decision for me to take a blogger break, for May was a very happenin’ month! It started out great with me hosting the women in my family at our home Mother’s Day Weekend. At the end of our weekend gathering, my sister Kim asked me to go to her home in Georgia. I spent the next two weeks trying to catch my breath as I followed her around and ‘helped’. Like me, she is fifty-something but has the schedule and energy of a woman decades younger!

Anyway, weeks earlier Kim had had a vision of me being at her house for her annual garden tea party that she hosted for the women of her church and their guests. At the time, I did not see how it would be possible for me to be there (we have only one vehicle), but Yahweh made a way.

Kim shared with me that the theme of the party was centered around bees. She showed me interesting facts she had collected about bees and compared them to characteristics we as followers of Christ should emulate. As we conversed, The Spirit of the Lord showed us how it was important first TO BE in order TO BEE. By this He meant we must first practice being in the presence of the Almighty before becoming busy as a bee.

A couple of days later while brushing my teeth, The Holy Spirit brought something to my remembrance (has that ever happened to you?). He reminded me of a study I had done years ago on Deborah, a judge of Israel as recorded in the Old Testament, whose name means ‘bee’. When I shared this with Kim, she realized that I was to share about Deborah at the tea party and I was honored to do so.

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. - Judges 4:4-5 KJV

A biblical judge differs from a modern-day judge in that they served as military leaders of their tribe and as Godly counselors knowing Yahweh’s laws and commandments. I like that the Word of God gives a picture of where Deborah lived…under the palm tree of Deborah. Her tent was probably pitched there, but I see her sitting under its shade and perhaps praying—simply BE-ing in God’s presence. Out of this place of being in His presence, she was prepared when a dispute arose and a tribesman sought out her wisdom for ‘the children of Israel came up to her for judgment’.

Deborah is described as the ‘wife of Lapidoth’. This phrase can be translated more literally as ‘woman of torches/lightenings’ or ‘woman of fiery spirit'.

Like a bee that can see ultraviolet rays (which humans cannot), I believe Deborah saw with spiritual eyes leading Israel with confidence and a fiery spirit!

Deborah was a mother to Israel and like a protective mother she flew at the enemies of her people and her sting was fatal! She must have been highly esteemed as a military leader; for in the clash with the Canaanites, her general, Barak, would not go into battle without her (Judges 4:8)!

When I shared all this with the women who gathered in my sister's home, I exhorted them to seek the Lord’s face daily—even if only for several minutes before beginning their day—and to do so throughout the day bringing their thoughts captive to Christ. We should remember Deborah and simply--

Practice bee-ing...

What is My Purpose?

While worshipping alongside my husband and daughter in our living room this past Friday night, again the Spirit of the Lord spoke a truth I needed to hear.

I had been feeling worthless and without purpose lately. When I was busy mothering back in the 1980’s and ‘90’s, home schooling, and keeping house for my family, I felt significant. My husband and I were vital participants in a local church. Now my children are grown, I contribute nothing financially to the household, and I have no responsibilities to fulfill to a local fellowship group.

I asked my husband if I should look for a job to help with the increase in the cost of living. I was willing to work at the local Wal-Mart (probably one of the very few places hiring people in their fifties). He graciously said, “Absolutely not. When you did work, it was with people we know.” His words confirmed to me that working outside the home is not God’s plan for my life in this season.

So what is my purpose?

That night I heard in my spirit that I was forgetting who I was and that my purpose stems from that identity. My purpose does not generate from what I DO—it emanates from WHO I AM IN CHRIST!

My purpose is the same as ALL children of Yahweh—to worship and fellowship with our Heavenly Father through His Son.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. - 1 John 1:3 KJV
That word ‘fellowship’ is translated from the Greek word koinonia and means “communion, intercourse, intimacy” [see Strongs No.G2842]. Our primary calling is to FELLOWSHIP with Jesus Christ and His Father!

God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. - 1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV
Only in that intimate place of fellowship will you derive your worthiness. In the veil of His presence, you will receive direction and purpose. Even if all He wants is to just spend some time being close to you.

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; - Philippians 3:10 KJVHAVE A WONDERFUL RESURRECTION CELEBRATION!

Sleeping Beauty

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. - Isaiah 60:1 KJV

Remember the Disney classic movie Sleeping Beauty? Recently, the Holy Spirit gave me a vision while praying that reminded me of that movie. The vision was a path or road being blocked by briers and thorns. It reminded me of the scene where the Prince bravely hacks at the briers with his sword determined to reach Sleeping Beauty in yon castle to awaken her with a kiss.

The Church is Sleeping Beauty and the Prince is—you guessed it—the Lord Yahshua, our Jesus. Those who are awake and standing with the Prince of Glory are also facing a pathway blocked by dangerous barbs. I prayed for the Holy Fire of God to burn away the briers (see Hebrews 12:29) and obliterate any doubt or fear His people were suffering with.

The briers are from the enemy of our soul who is ‘pulling out all the stops’ for he knows his days are numbered (see Revelation 12:1-12). He does not want the sleeping giant, the beautiful Bride of Christ, awakened. He wants her out of commission!

And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. - Romans 13:11 KJV

 

Do you remember how Sleeping Beauty ends? The valiant Prince flings his trusty sword at the Dragon and strikes it precisely in the heart ending its life. In these tremulous days, if we can remain determined to stand (Ephesians 6:13), we will see great and mighty things happen at the hand of God (Jeremiah 33:3).

No Going Back

Some of my readers might wonder about me. After all, my initial posts were true stories of what our wonderful God has done in my life and others’ lives. Lately, though, my musings have changed. They’ve become more prophetic.

To be honest, I never know what I’m going to share. My goal is simply and hopefully to be obedient to the Spirit of Christ.

Today I believe I am supposed to tell you about our van breaking down. It can go forward, but in no way can it go in reverse.

Fortunately, a neighbor told us of a trustworthy mechanic who would charge a fair price. As I thanked the Lord in my time of worship yesterday about this, I heard in my spirit, “There’s no going back.”

When I hear something in the spirit, I immediately go to the scriptures. I remembered about Lot’s wife who was severely warned of the two angels to not look back (Genesis 19:17) when leaving Sodom. As you probably know, she “looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26 KJV)

Then I found: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. - Luke 9:62 KJV

“Why are You speaking this to me, Lord? Have I stopped plowing?” (Earlier as I worshipped, I had the fleeting thought of not blogging anymore.)

“No, Daughter, but your strength is waning. I will renew your strength as the eagle.” The Lord Yahshua was referring to scriptures that I pray often~ But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 KJV

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. - Psalm 103:5 KJV

Is your strength waning, dear friend? Don’t be tempted ‘to go back to Egypt’. When the going got tough for the children of Israel (see Numbers Chapter 11), they thought about how much better the food was when they were captives in Egypt!

We are not a people to turn back! We are those who go where the Spirit leads us. And we are led not in reverse, but forward!

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Being Human

All of us who have God’s Spirit born within are designed to pray (I Thessalonians 5:17). It is in our spiritual nature. Along with that, it is in our human nature to hold onto the burdens we should be lifting to the Lord. Being that intercession is a chief part of how I minister and being that I am human, I fall into that category—BIG TIME!

I have a tendency to wear stress like a jacket—not a light spring jacket, but a heavy leaded vest. Lately, the grief of what is happening to people in the world at large and in my own microcosmic world has nearly overwhelmed me. I am realizing that it is truly only by God’s grace that I carry on.

It is driving me to go deeper. I want to see and be a part of what the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is doing in these last days. I want to be a laborer for the Great Harvest—Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. - Luke 10:2 KJV

First comes the plowman and the seed before a harvest. I am like the plowman who is praying for the rain to bring forth the fruit.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. - James 5:7 KJV

I wept as I read James 5 this morning and cried out for Him to send the latter rain of His glorious presence upon the earth. And then my spiritual eyes caused me to ‘see’ something—something amazing about being human.

Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias [Elijah] was a man [anthropos—human being] subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. - James 5:16 and 17 KJV

What is amazing is that although we are jars of clay, we have the gift of a spirit that may be regenerated by the power of the Most High. And with that He gives us the ability to manifest that power!

And he [Elijah] prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. - James 5:18 KJV

Elijah was a human being just like you and me, yet look what happened when all he did was PRAY! So let us PRAY! Being human like Elijah, let us cry out for the spiritual latter day rain.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. - Amos 9:13 KJV

This is my deepest desire—to see and be a part of the greatest move of God on the face of the planet!

Are you praying to see this also?