Strength Training

The Lord gave me a mighty vision about 3 years ago.
I've pondered this in my heart and have prayed for revelation and interpretation.
I now feel the release to share the vision publicly with some of the revelation that God has given me. I have shared this with a few people privately as the Lord prompted me, but the time is urgent that we encourage one another in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

We are in a race and we must run well and train well as the writer of Hebrews exhorted. We must keep our eyes fixed on the beautiful eyes of Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Vision
I see many people in the desert. It's hot, it's dry, and it's very dusty. Life is so hard in the desert. I see God's people, the remnant to be exact struggling in this desert season. Many have been feeling alone and as though they are in what is now known as a desert season. Some have been feeling guilty for feeling alone because you were taught in very religious circles that loneliness is a shameful sin.
The truth is that you are not alone,  you are never alone! It is the Lord who has set us apart and has preserved you unto Himself away from a lot of "stuff" that the enemy would have otherwise used to destroy you. Remember that He gives His angels to camp around those who are righteous (Psalm 34:7).

I see so many beautiful Christians, faithful, true, honest, loving, doing well, but growing weary because they cannot understand the season that they are in. They've been in the desert for so long. In my vision they are dressed as marathon runners in the Summer Olympics with numbers on their backs. Each one has their own lane on the track field. Each one is on this track and in their own lane, yet there is so much dust swirling around from the desert that no one can see that they are not alone on the field.

You have been set apart for strength training. Isometrics training. You against gravity. This is a season where God the Father is training you and strengthening you in the desert season. Many, I see are in position waiting and ready for the sound that will release them to run in the desert! Marathoners with batons will begin running and you will soon realize that they have not been alone. Some have been in a place of hiding, set apart by the Lord to train and be preserved. And at the appointed time He will release you.

This might not make sense to you, but if it does I pray that it blesses and encourages you and gives you hope.

MercyMe, Greater, 2014 

Breath of Heaven

I became a new Mom last October! This season, it would be impossible for me to not think of the nativity story and the birth of our Lord Jesus in a new light! (Luke 2) 
To think that Mary the Mother of Jesus as she was due to give birth, had to walk all that way from Nazareth to Bethlehem! This is one thing that I am really pondering this season. They had something like a donkey or a mule to help her, but honestly, I am not sure what's worse walking a long way or riding a donkey while pregnant. One time, we walked 1 mile from our home when I was about 6 months pregnant and was nearly panting and out of breath to where my husband had to nearly carry me! The Braxton-Hicks contractions are no joke!

I wonder what was she thinking? How did she pray for strength in that season of her life? Was she neurotically worried about accidentally killing the Son of God before His time as most new moms are? Was she overly worried about such things as getting him onto a god sleeping schedule? Did she and Joseph stay up into the wee hours of the night feeding and changing diapers? Mary was in such an amazing season and faced with so many challenges and changes for her young heart: a new marriage, her growing belly filled with a promise to change the world, the visits from the angelic beings, a near-divorce before her marriage. She then went on a long journey with Joseph her husband to be counted in the census at Bethlehem. She traveled with him by walking and by riding on a donkey as pregnant as she was! There was most likely the realization that she was "hidden" and well-protected as the mother of the King of kings when she and Joseph found themselves without any place to stay on the night she gave birth to this beautiful King of kings. No one recognized that the baby inside of her was the Son of God, the savior of the world! If thy had, inn keepers would have paid them to stay there so that they could be a part of the historical event.

Mary was forced to go low in humility and give birth to her baby, the Son of God in the equivalent of a parking garage. She then swaddled him and placed him in the feeding trough for the animals.

The Lord placed this song in my heart-- "Breath of Heaven", arranged and performed by Amy Grant and originally composed by Chris Eaton.

A simple prayer, and perhaps similar to a prayer that Mary prayed in her heart as she pondered all that God was doing in and through her:

'Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be now forever near to me,
Breath of Heaven.
Breath of Heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy,
Breath of Heaven.'

What do you need strength for today or tonight?
I encourage you to reach out to the One, who gives and sustains life: God our heavenly Father.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask for grace and strength over each reader of this blog. I pray that you will overcome them with Your peace, Your LOVE, and the fulness of who they are in You, Lord God.
May Your name ever be glorified on earth, as it is in heaven.
Amen 

Breath of Heaven, Amy Grant singing, photos from the movie "The Nativity"

Just Be

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights. James 1:17

The coming end of the year holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving coming up next week and Christmas just about 1 month beyond that and the New Year 2015 a week after that! It always surprises me how time seems to just zoom past us. And then I hear His voice...

Just be.
Can you see?
He says to me softly.

So much noise all around,
My eyes cannot see.

Look into the Great Light,
He says.
My Father is Light.

Where are You, my Lord?
I reach out in the darkness for His face.
I want to touch it.
I want His hand to guide me to the Light.

Do you hear me?
Are you listening with your heart?
He says even softer.

I close my eyes to hear...
My heart knows Him,
The One I love and adore.

Then my eyes feel the light
And are opened to see clearly.
I am warmed by the presence of my Lord.
His LOVE overwhelms me as I turn towards
The Light...

Revelation comes
As I look into His eyes.

My Child, you are BeLoved of mine.
Rest in me.
Just be
Here in my arms.
Stop your striving.
It hurts me to see you trying to earn
My LOVE
When I have freely given it to you.
My beautiful Child,
Just be.

Big Daddy Weave worships with  their new hit single "Overwhelmed" 

Meeting Places

I am longing to meet with You my Lord,

And getting anxious in the waiting.

Where are You?

Come back to me, my Lord.

Do not leave me here longing for You.

BeLoved, the Son of I Am is waiting here, and here,

And here

For you.

Meet me in the garden...

Where my, Lord?

Where in the garden?

In our usual place under the apple tree,

Next to the fountain.

I will wait there for you.

Pour your fresh wine upon me,

And I will feed you apples and raisins.

I will impart my joy to you as I promised.

For I endured my cross 

For the joy set before me!

I will meet You there, my Lord, 

The Lover of my soul.

I will pour my pink wine on Your wounds.

I am captivated by the scars on Your arms--

For that, I am set as a seal upon You...
My sins upon Your body,
My Lord, the Lover and healer of my soul.
Forgive me,
I will pour myself out upon You
Like a fine wine.
I do not deserve Your apples and raisins,
Yet my heart longs to
Be with You--

My soul yearns for the strength
Your LOVE gives me,
And beauty, such beauty
To BeHold You...
BeHeld in Your strong arms!

I never left You,
You turned away.
I will never leave You.
I await for your return to our meeting place.

I will meet You there, my Lord...

The Angel and Our Baby Boy

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things [we]  hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. For by [faith- trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:1-1 The Amplified Bible

The angel held the baby boy so that I could see him.
My angel baby and his heavenly guardian.
The angel was so big 
That his wingspan went through the ceiling,
And the nearby wall.
My heart received its instructions.
And in the following months
I became pregnant with a son
And gave birth a year later.

Steady my heart, God.
For I am pregnant with Your purpose!
You have strengthened my body 
To conceive and bear this child.
Stay me on the beaten course.
Grant us Divine wisdom 
To train this child up in the way that he should go.

The angel holds his post.
Our baby boy thrives each day so peacefully
In the shadows of His holy wings,
Numerous guardians are camped around us,
Swords drawn,
Ever ready for battle.

Steady my heart God
With Your LOVE
Here in the secret place.

Steffany Gretzinger singing Steady Heart from her new album "Undone"

How Deep Is Your LOVE?

My husband, the theologian and I just celebrated our very first wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 14, 2014! 
Our wedding was themed after the passage in Song of Solomon 2-3 with lots of wildflowers. 
This particular blog entry is in praise to the Great Lover of the Church, Jesus Christ. 
All glory and honor be to Him for all that He is and for all that He has done!

I am Lover poured out like pink wine for my Lord.

There is no other who can bring to Him 

The kind of Love that I bring.

I am unique to Him,

Yet I am humbled...

For He gave His life for me!

JESUS!

My Savior who saved me from myself,

From the world, 
From sadness, 

From despair, 

From depression, 

From doubt.... 

From many horrible things.

And in the face of naysayers freely gave to me HOPE

For a future and an expected end.

You know the plans You have for me and they are good.

Your thoughts towards me are countless in number.

I could never repay You for the love You have shown.

Yet I hear You say:

"How deep is Your LOVE for me, my Lover? 

Will you not come away with me? 

Meet me under the apple tree 
Over by the fountain.

Look! How I have laid the table out for you!

Come and dine with me.

Let us eat apples and raisins

Together.

For I have many things to tell you."

"My Beloved," my heart replies, 

"Would You baptize me again in Your LOVE?

I am sick with Your LOVE, longing for more...

Refresh me with Your raisins!

Let me sit in Your shade and rest my head 

Upon your strong chest.

With Your left hand on my head,

Pull me closer with Your right hand...

"In Your arms the seasons change from Winter to Spring! 

Lightness! Breath! Hope! Joy!

Strength for the journey- endurance.

I have a song for You, my Lord, my Beloved, my King!

My soul sings the song my heart has written."

NOTE: The song below is not a worship song, but it's definitely a God song! In Zephaniah 3:17-20 the prophet tells us that our God sings and dances over us! Did you know that He sings and dances over you with joy? The theme of the song below is unconditional love. Unconditional LOVE can only come from and through God. Imagine Him singing this over you as you listen. 
Do you know how much He loves you? I dare you to ask Him to show you now even if He seems far away. Ask God to reveal Himself to you as the One who gave His life for the entire world in a singular act of selfless love...just for you!

The Bee Gees in performance of their hit single "How Deep Is Your Love?"

The Lord Your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [who saves]!

He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins,or even recall them]; 

He will exult over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 Amplified Bible

BLOG readers may now follow me on Instagram at @aChristianmystic!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936578034/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1936578034&linkCode=as2&tag=achristianm01-20&linkId=7CRCMHSXHEUXSFAT

The Quiet Place

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my Fortress, my God on Him I lean and rely and in Him I [confidently] trust!

Psalm 91:1-2

I have found the quiet place of rest in the Lord.

This is a place high up inside of a mighty mountain where the Lord has me well hidden in Him.

He is my refuge, my fortress, my stronghold.

I am quietly hidden away from the enemy, the accusers and those who seek my life.

I feel like a spoiled child who never should have been spoiled.

God, my Father has taken me under His holy wings.

In this new season, I am securely nested in His presence.

All of His glory will pass over me and I will be enveloped by His amazing LOVE!

Even now, I see His holy hands and I am comforted in knowing that He is near.

For I have lain myself upon His holy altar and I have given my all to Him.

He sent His Son to shed His blood for my sins...

It should have been me on that cross at Golgotha, but all of my sins were paid for there.

And now, His LOVE is freely given to me and I am filled to overflowing 

With His joy and peace and righteousness!

Holy Father, keep me safely here.

Let me not run away from your presence.

Teach me to number my days, to live wisely, to meditate upon your holy Word.

Make me to know your Divine wisdom.

Keep me hungry for more of your presence.

Yet, teach me how to rest

And to place all of my confidence in you.

For thus said the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength...

Isaiah 30:15

Misty Edwards, Fling Wide Album, "Take My Heart"


Follow me on Instagram via #achristianmystic.