A Beautiful Gift

Yesterday I received the most beautiful gift in the mail: a leather bound New Testament from Kenneth Copeland, KJV version. It was a gift given to his partners and is very unique because it includes over a hundred pages of bible study outlines and ALL of his margin notes, highlights, and biblical references! What a treasure!

I have learned so much from him over the years and feel like I've been able to snatch a book off his private book shelf. He is a bold man of God who believes for monumental things. I still find it hard to believe so many nasty things are said about him on the Internet, particularly by other professing Christians. But he doesn't let any of that stop him. He keeps on believing and preaching.

Thank you, Brother Copeland! I will cherish this always!

Soar with The Lord

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV.

Here is a word from the Lord I received today while praying and praising along with Hillsong this morning: "Lay down your own plans, flow with My Spirit, and you will soar with Me!"

As I thought about this word and reflected on it, I was reminded of Isaiah 40:31, one of my favorite Old Testament verses. I love imagining soaring in the air like a bald eagle, floating high above the cares and worries of this world and the fear tactics the enemy uses against us to lure us into doubting God's promises. At that high altitude, it is so much easier to bask in the Father's love and experience the shalom Peace of our Savior. 

As a bit of background, I will tell you how this word came to me. Several weeks ago, I had a very vivid dream where I was standing on a sandy beach with other people, wading in ankle deep water. The ocean was vast and calm, and I had plans to venture out further for a swim. But then suddenly, a very large, black horse emerged out of the waves, followed by a entire army of riders and warriors on dark horses that extended down the beach for as far as the eye could see--creating a barricade! We were all frightened out of our wits! But after a moment, I saw that these riders were really a dark, stony edifice of warring soldiers that one might see in a frieze on an old Greek temple or building. The point was, it was just a facade meant to scare me--and it worked! But only for a moment, because when I realized there was no real life in these riders, I said, "I'm not afraid of this!" As soon as these words left my lips, I woke up. 

Yes, it was a very strange dream but comforting as well. Here's what I received from it: Fear tactics from the enemy cannot master or rule over a believer who knows the Father's promises and the power and authority he has been given in the Name of Jesus! Later that day, I received more revelation as I thought more about the dream--in my mind's eye I saw the entire facade of riders melt down into the sea like wax! Psalms 112:10 says The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. 

Basically, I believe what the Lord is saying is that these temptations to fear are simply roars by a toothless lion that are merely temporary. Therefore, don't give in to the lies and believe in these idle threats when they come! Keep your focus on Jesus and His Word and then the enemy will melt away.

So today as I prayed, I saw the Lord holding my hand as we soared high above the beach where those riders had stood. By laying down my own plans and desires and flowing with His spirit, I can then soar up high with Him, where I can see things from His perspective and not that of this fallen world. Praise God! Isn't that a wonderful gift He has given the church?  I have such peace knowing His Word is true and His promises are sure! He has all of His children firmly by the hand and will never let us go. 

My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. John 10:29

God's Protection in Troubled Times

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalms 91:14-16.

All of Psalms 91 has been a comfort to me and my family over the years. There are many verses in this Psalms that I love, but lately, I have been drawn to the last two, especially during this day and times when wars and rumors of wars abound. As we remember 9/11 and the tragedies from the past, we are reminded by our president and the nations that future tragedies await the world. We even know this truth from reading Bible prophecy. And why is this part of the earth's future? Because the millennial/Messianic age is fast approaching, and the Lord is getting "His house in order," so to speak. Basically, a determination of who really believes and who doesn't is about to take place. Many of us don't truly know our own hearts or our strengths and weaknesses until they've been put to the test. When heat and the pressure of fear, pain, and worry come, we will either fall away and be consumed or we will bear up and believe God's promises in His Word, speaking them out of our mouths until we see manifestation. In these situations, our faith is growing and becoming strong. The Lord knows our heart, but sometimes it is good for us to see it for ourselves.

America, this time has come upon all of us. Church, now is the time to believe - truly believe and have no doubts - regarding the Holy Scriptures and what the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Abba has promised us in His Word. Claim the promises - they are yours! Lottery winners claim their prizes, employees claim their salaries, bonuses, and stock options, heirs and widows claim their inheritance. If all that is true (and it is), then Christian, claim what the Lord has given you through His death and resurrection! Don't let the enemy talk you out of what is yours! God has given you the blessing of Abraham which includes His Holy Spirit! Galatians 3:14. And what is the blessing of Abraham? It is God Himself. He is our shield, our exceeding great reward! Genesis 15:1. Selah! Think upon that!

If God be for us, then who can be against us? Romans 8:31.  Many of us believers will see great things done by the Lord in these last days, and it will be exciting! We will be a part of it all, and that will be a thrill! But some will not. Some will shrink back in fear and will not have the joy and pleasure of fulfilling their assignments and taking part in this last great ingathering of souls! If you are reading this, then don't shrink back in fear. Meditate on how much you are loved and fear will dissipate, for perfect love casts out fear! 1 John 4:18.

We have protection in the name of Jesus, deliverance, favor, blessings, and a long, satisfactory life in this Church Age. And then when He returns, the best that God has to offer will be waiting for us! What a glorious day that will be!

Ask Him! Even For the Small Things!

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.

Psalms 37:4-5.

Recently, I have been reminded that my Heavenly Father desires for me to come to Him in prayer and ask for certain things that I know He has put on my heart, things like restored relationships, success and favor in business dealings (and in school and sports for my kids), and an increase in wisdom and creative ability to complete the projects He has inspired me to create. 

For some reason we forget to go to Him initially and ask for these simple things. If you are like me, there may be times we might worry or wrestle over particular matters and circumstances and then we suddenly realize, "Wait a minute! Why don't I just pray?" 

That's a very good question. The answer is very simple. Our focus has moved away from Jesus and is now on self. These reminders to pray are great opportunities to refocus and put our sights back on Him. Just yesterday, my daughter and I were discussing one of her friends, scratching our heads and trying to figure out what was going on in this person's life. Our first reaction was to worry and ponder and provide a man-made solution. Then we realized, let's pray for him! And we did. Very simple but very powerful.

Contrary to what some religious people espouse, the Lord is never too busy to hear our prayers, regardless of the magnitude of our request. Small things to us are important to Him, because He loves us and we are His children! Think about your own children--the small details to them are important to us as parents! Our Heavenly Father is the same--He wants us to come to Him, even for the small things in life that have become the desires of our heart. Success, favor, joy, peace, and happiness are what we all desire--and most importantly, love. 

Thankfully, all of these things were given to us at the cross 2000 years ago in His beloved son, Jesus!

Praise Him in the Midnight Hour!

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Acts16:25-26.

Are you going through a figurative midnight hour of your life? That would be a time when darkness surrounds you, perhaps the darkness of sickness and disease, depression, financial pressure or relationship issues. The darkness lies to you, telling you that light will never come and that the circumstances of the time will never improve. But as a son of Abba, father, we look to the Word and see that light always comes, and when it does, it dispels the darkness! Darkness must flee when the light comes. 

Think about the Apostle Paul and Silas in the Book of Acts. They were rebuked, publicly humiliated, beaten, and then thrown into a dark prison for preaching the Gospel - a freedom that we in the US take for granted today. And yet, at midnight, during the darkest time, instead of getting into fear and distress and crying in despair, they praised God and sang songs and hymns loudly so that the entire prison could hear them! That sounds counter intuitive to us! Why should God be praised when we, His children, are going through extreme trials - especially for preaching the Gospel of His son, Jesus?

I have to confess that I do not understand with my mind why or how this works, but when the Heavenly Father is praised, especially during our darkest times, suddenly and with great power, the bonds of depression and despair are loosed in our lives. It is a spiritual law. Yes, perhaps the circumstances may not be any different - at least not initially - but there will be a shalom peace in your heart that will come like a bright light and with it, a knowing that God loves you and that all will be well.

If you read further in Acts 16, you will find that the prison guard and his entire household were saved that night and then Paul and Silas were declared free men the next morning. Even though they were physically bound in that prison, they were not spiritually bound because they knew Jesus. Despite their circumstances, they knew they were free and praised Him for that truth. And then suddenly everything changed! There was a great shaking that loosed all of their bonds. Light came and they were set free.

Praise Him for all He is and for all He is doing in your life right now, especially if you are in a midnight hour. The circumstances may be less than ideal, but light is coming and the bonds will soon be loosed!

The Rise of the House Church

I wrote this in response to a nonbelieving family member intrigued by my position on "house church." I am finding that many believers trapped in denominational teaching are looking to TV, the Internet, and bible studies (aka house churches) for spiritual food. I'm very thankful the Lord has given us abundant technology in these last days so that we can know the truth and return to the Gospel which Paul preaches, the Gospel of Grace, which is the only Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Rise - or should I say Return - of the House Church.

There’s a look that comes across the face of a secular person who hears a Christian believer proclaim the power of God working in their lives. The eyes narrow and the jaw sets. The lips purse and the body language communicates skepticism, doubt, the audacity that one could profess God (if there really is one) would actually answer your prayer. “Who are you?” their eyes question. “You aren’t perfect. I know what you’ve done,” they say with their expression, which is nothing more than a long finger of judgment, accusing and condemning. I have seen it many times, their minds spinning at a frenzied whir, preparing their rebuttal to put you in your place with them and everyone else in the world who could never be assured God would even care.

As a Christian, I should expect such reaction from a nonbeliever, even though I’m never quite prepared for it. But what if the same reaction were true for the average religious person sitting in the pews of the mainline denominational churches in North America? Would it be surprising to the secular person to know that many professing Christians believe less in the power of God working in their lives than many nonbelievers do? That the secular belief in Big Bang or evolution (as the Smithsonian so aptly displays humans evolving from rats), is more ardently believed by atheists than the tenets of Christianity professed in the Gospels and the letters of the Apostle Paul are believed by the average church-goer? The average church-goer cannot articulate what they believe and why. The average church-goer scoffs and mocks many of the miracles proclaimed in the Old Testament and New Testament. They say such “stories” are embellished and sometimes fabricated, and at the very least, aren’t applicable in today’s times.

Essentially, they present Christianity as a joke and the secular world can see straight through the smoke and mirrors. "Where is the power, where are the miracles, where is this loving God, especially during times of tragedy and disaster?" the world asks again and again. Answer: passed away with the first century church, passed away with the first century church, ah… regarding that third question, we’re not sure.

So why on earth would anyone want to be part of this Sunday morning ritual when warm bedcovers, a hot cup of coffee, and the allure of the Internet is there waiting? For this Christian and her husband, enough was enough. After a long battle of "should we or shouldn’t we," we broke away from the denominational church and started our own house church, sitting under the teaching of a nondenominational pastor via TV and the Internet who lives in Singapore, of all places. We dress up, sing and pray, study the bible, discuss and share, and take communion just like we would at any other church. But there is a freedom in knowing we are amongst other people who truly believe God’s promises in the Bible. Yes, guilt knocks on the door of our hearts, telling us we are wrong and we ought to get back into the confines of bricks and mortar with a tall steeple over our heads and a licensed theologian wagging his bony finger at us, but we have resolved to stand firm and act in accordance with what others before us have done.

Unbeknownst to many believers, house church has been the mainstay of the body of Christ for centuries. The Apostle Paul in the New Testament refers to house churches, and in countries where there is much persecution, like China, the house church is essential. Even in mega churches in North America where thousands of members congregate on Sunday to hear a sermon, much of the real ministry happens in community groups and bible studies, which are essentially house churches where group leaders and bible study teachers serve as pastors.

And yet, for many religious Christians, there is nothing more horrifying than the notion of attending house church. To them, house church is dangerous, a sacrilege that might lead to error and heretical teaching. It doesn’t provide the comfort that stained glass and organ music provides, or in this day, the electric guitar and pop band performing on stage. I know, because when I invited several believing friends to attend our house church, you would have thought I had asked them to strip naked and prance across a stage. Now, if I had called it bible study or community group, perhaps I would’ve been more successful. Reckon I could do with some improvement in my marketing skills.

Nevertheless, with the strength of the Internet and technology, house churches are on the rise. Even in the Bible belt, brave souls are stepping out, inviting others to come to the comfort and safety of their home on Sunday morning to hear from and learn about God, apart from the confines of religion. And a new generation is responding. For a long time, they have questioned the authority of science and evolution and the religious belief of their parents, desiring to know a God who is real. Churchy rules, guilt and condemnation, and hell-fire preaching that remind us of our shortcomings don’t satisfy anymore. Who of us needs to be reminded of all our flaws? We know best where we fall short. No, this new generation wants something real, something that reflects the Jesus in the Gospels, a Jesus who is loving and powerful, yet approachable, a Jesus who cares and wants to show each of us His grand purpose for our lives.

All of us, whether we want to admit it or not, desire to know if there is a God of second chances, if there truly is a heavenly father who loves and forgives. Thankfully, where the denominations fall short in answering this question, the Bible is there, unchanged, its words providing comfort and solace if we dare to open its pages. The unconventional setting of a house church gives many the courage and opportunity to do just that.

You are Royalty!

The cover for my princess picture book

But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6

With all the hullabaloo over the birth of the royal baby, it is a good time to take a step back and think about why mankind is so fascinated with royalty and the monarchy. In particular, why is it we Americans have such a great love for the British monarchy? And why is it Christian Americans are fascinated like the world? 

I'll admit, I followed Princess Diana like a hawk - especially when I lived in London. I fantasized meeting her at a coffee shop by chance, becoming her best friend and being a trusted confidant who would advise her on marital matters and lead her to Jesus. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, and she died tragically just a week before my birthday - we were the same age. She was the epitome of the pure, innocent, virgin girl who was swept up out of obscurity into a life of royalty by her dashing prince. Even though her marriage was a sham, the idea of it captivated our hearts.

Now we have Kate and Will at the helm and the allure of romantic royalty lives on - and this time we know their marriage is real! We follow her fashion style, her walks with Lupo in the park, her outings with her sister, Pippa. In fact, we find the princess/future queen more enticing than the prince/future king. What is it with this royalty fetish?

The answer is in the Bible! Royalty is biblical, since our savior Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the seed of Abraham, the offspring of Woman, and the Messiah from the royal line of David. And the church is His bride, His queen, His body, destined to rule and reign with Him. We are the glorious church, trophies of His grace, evidence of the wonderful work He did on the cross. Yes the King is wondrous and glorious, but what of His beloved church? The New Testament tells us we are royalty, being both kings and priests in Him.

Eternal truth regarding the royalty of Jesus and His church is something the Holy Spirit gives witness to. Just look at little children. Have you ever seen a little girl who didn't want to be a princess? Even my tomboy donned a princess gown for a while before moving on to sports, etc. And my son was always wielding a sword and shield, fighting an enemy. It's part of the fabric of our being. But unfortunately, the enemy, religion, and the world do a very good job of beating us down so that we forget who we are, who we were meant to be. 

God our heavenly father has designed us and appointed us to be kings and priests now in this lifetime, at the moment we become born again in Jesus. Perhaps we don't live in a palace while here on earth and aren't followed by the paparazzi, but we are royalty nevertheless. Don't forget that, and don't let the enemy or religion steal this revelation from you!

Think like royalty, because you are part of the King of kings. The spirit of the King of kings lives inside of you!