Be Still

Jef and I went to Israel in April of 2008. We got to share this experience with our dear friends and joined a group of people we didn’t know.  After much prayer and consideration, the leaders in charge of the trip invited Jef and I to take the place of a couple that could not go at the last minute and all we were responsible for was spending money. We were going during Passover and would actually share a Passover meal on mount Zion. We participated in two archeological digs, and went on two boat rides, one on the Red Sea and the other on the Sea of Galilee. Surely a dream come true. The places that we got to go and see were amazing and the pages of the Bible would forever come alive because of it. There is a lot to remember about this trip, but specifically one story I have to share is "the Jesus boat" experience. For me, this was a moment I will never forget and it’s the reason I’m writing about it.

We arrived at the Sea Of Galilee and got on a large wooden boat called “The Jesus Boat”. They were playing worship music that I recognized so I began to sing and worship the Lord as the wind was blowing on my face. I would try to imagine Jesus walking on the water and as I looked at the coast of Tiberius, I would picture Him feeding the multitudes. We were singing along to the song “Still” by Hillsong, when suddenly, I opened my eyes and remembered that I had seen this very moment before. I had a vision of myself standing on a large wooden boat in the middle of the sea, overlooking a beautiful coast while I was having my quiet time about a year prior to this. I didn’t know what it meant or why He'd showed this to me at the time, but I remember writing it in my journal and then saying to the Lord, “take me where You want to, I trust You”. After I realized this was the place and the vision, I was overwhelmed with His love and started to cry. I raised my hands thanking and praising Him for His goodness as the song continued to play. Ever since that day, every time I hear the song, I’m reminded to do exactly what He says “Be Still And Know that I AM God” Psalm 46:10

“Still” by Hillsong

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hands
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father, You are king over the flood
I will be still and know You are God
Find rest my soul, in Christ alone
Know His power, in quietness and trust

Prayer
Lord, I pray to be still and know that You are God (Psalm 46:10) To know Your power and that You are The God who performs miracles (Psalm 77:14) We thank You and praise You for pouring Your Spirit on all people in the last days, as it says in Your Word Acts 2:17-18 Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams…
You are Good and Faithful and we trust You to take us in Your love where we have never gone before, both physically and spiritually. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

I was singing to Frankie Valli’s song "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" in my car over and over again. I had just downloaded it to my ipod that week, bringing back memories of my Dad playing these songs when I was little girl. That same week I got to go to Kairos, where I had such an experience with the Lord like I never had before. We were having a time of prayer and ministry. As the worship team sang I kept asking the Lord about me going up for prayer but felt peace in my heart, so I just sang and prayed for others as they went up.

Suddenly I felt the Lord say to me “how about a hug?” I didn’t know where this came from but I had tears running down my face at the thought of it. Then again I felt this voice, “how about a hug?” I responded, “Lord is this You?” So I went up to one of the ministers, a precious woman of God. I said to her, “I need a hug” and when she hugged me I shook softly from the inside out. Everything in me trembled. It was such a healing hug and felt such love being poured into me at that moment. I cried from a deep place within me. Never felt anything like that before. When I walked back to my seat, a lady asked me if I wanted to wear her coat, but I told her that I was not cold. Then I realized that I was still shaking and she had noticed. His love was so tangible and so thick.

Then the song began to play loudly in my head as if He was reminding me,

“You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off You, You’d be like heaven to touch, I want to hold You so much, at long last love has arrived and I thank God I’m alive, You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off you. Pardon the way that I stare, there’s nothing else to compare, the sight of You leaves me weak, there are no words left to speak, but if You feel like I feel, please let me know that it’s real, You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you”

He’s so good! His love melts my heart. I realized that He heard me singing and He wanted to hold me. He spoke to a deep desire in my heart that needed to believe that He’s real and tangible. I’ll never forget it.

There are times in our lives when we really need to know that we are loved. God was so faithful to meet me there. We all need a hug from our heavenly Father and God has already placed very special people in our lives that we can trust. Ask the Lord to show you and speak to the deepest need you have and watch Him meet you there. Your melting heart will dance.

Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it

Prayer
Lord I pray that we are able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Your love. This love that surpasses knowledge – that we may be filled, to the measure of all Your fullness today, Eph. 3:18-19 Give us Your eyes and help us to recognize who needs a hug from You as well.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!

David And The Five Stones

1 Samuel 17:45-50
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him

I was also facing my giant and really needed the Lord to help me. As I was sitting there, just meditating on this word, I felt like He assured me that I too had picked up my stones in preparation for this battle, just as David did. I had about 5 scriptures pertaining to my situation that I was standing on. But it was one word spoken in faith and confidence in my God that was needed in my time of prayer to slay this giant. Jesus is the Word and He is the Rock. His Word spoken in faith will be like that stone that sinks into the giant’s forehead and then falls face down.

Isaiah 55:11 My word that goes forth from My mouth; shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Psalm 18:31-32 For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect.

Prayer
Thank You Lord that we don’t have to fight the difficulties that we face alone but that You are with us and lead us into triumph. We don’t have to give in to any intimidating situation but we can speak Your Word believing that it will not return to You void and will accomplish the victory for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Hungry?

Proverbs 27:7 He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet

Have you ever needed to go to the store to buy food for your family, but after you have eaten lunch you feel too full and too lazy to go?  Suddenly it’s not that important and it can wait. Or, do you remember going to the grocery store hungry and bought what was on the list and what was not on the list.  What you needed and what you wanted because it all looked good!

The Lord showed me this week that my hunger is what draws me to Him.  Hunger is necessary.

How hungry are you?  Hunger is a huge motivator.  Have you watched the reality TV show “Survivor”?  They will do anything for food.  We are moved by our hunger.  This is true both physically and spiritually.

"You seldom get from the kingdom what you are not hungry for" ~ Bill Johnson

Isaiah 55:1-2 (The Message)
"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless?
Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.
Buy without money—everything's free! Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love. I set him up as a witness to the nations, made him a prince and leader of the nations, And now I'm doing it to you: You'll summon nations you've never heard of, and nations who've never heard of you will come running to you Because of me, your God, because The Holy of Israel has honored you."

Hunger is the exchange for more of Him.  His revelation to know Him more.  He showed me that when I’m not hungry or thirsty for Him; something or someone else is taking His place.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

In Luke 14, Jesus told a parable of a man who prepared a banquet and invited many guests.  But they all began to make excuses, so the master told his servant to go to the streets and the alleys of the town, to the roads and country lanes and bring the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame, that his house will be full.

Luke 14:15 Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.

His abundance is prepared!  Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.  Psalm 81:10 The kingdom is here and the invitations have gone out but the excuses come when we are full, satisfied or complacent with things of this world, but the Lord says;

Revelation 3:17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Prayer:
Lord we repent for not being hungry enough to come and feast on Your goodness.  We have been filling ourselves with something or someone other than You, and I pray we realize that we are poor, blind and naked.  Fill us with the desire to hunger and thirst for You.  We thank You that according to Your Word we will be filled, in Jesus’ name, Amen!