My Daughter,

These are days of great turmoil. The enemy of your souls knows his days are numbered. There is great wickedness being practiced on the earth and in the heavens. He has stirred up a windstorm to confuse the people. It is an ill wind, like what happens in the desert. Nothing and no one is safe from the sand. It creeps into every crevice unless you are completely covered from head to toe.

This is why My Son’s precious blood is so important. It creates a complete shield and nothing can penetrate it. I am your shield. I am your protector. I am your safe harbor. I am your lighthouse even as My Spirit directs your steps and your decisions.

Wisdom calls. Wisdom beckons. Wisdom speaks. Wisdom leads. Wisdom imparts. Wisdom loves, even as I do. I said, “You are mine.”* I won’t let you out of My sight. I direct your path. I keep you on that path. I won’t let you stumble. I will give you favor with obstacles on your path. Draw aside. Listen. Obey. Ask Me in all things and wait for an answer. I will always be there for you.

[The Lord then spoke to me about Noah.] As crazy as it was to the outside world to build an ark when there had been no rain, his family knew he’d heard from Me and they too obeyed and participated in building the ark. I called all of the animals. I told him when to get in the ark. And I shut the door. This was not an unplanned event, Mary. It took decades for Noah to accomplish what he did in building the ark. But when the day came, it was swift. It was sudden. It was urgent…

Your trust in Me is foundational. Your belief in My love, My care, My direction,l My destiny for you and your children and children’s children is imperative. You cannot waver in your trust. You must set your face like a flint.

Be at peace. Seek My peace. Rest in My peace. Recognize agitation, uncomfortableness, little doubts and just turn them over to Me. I will never forsake you. I am always with you. You are mine.”

* During worship on the Sunday prior to this word, there was a quiet moment after the song. I had been worshipping and interceding, but felt to be quiet. It was a precious moment just between me and the Lord. I heard Him say, “You are mine.”

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My first inclination when I receive a compliment is to deny it in a sense — like an “ah shucks” and change the topic, distract the person, or place the compliment back on someone else. So, I took it to the Lord, asking Him about the right way. I want to be His vessel and see His gifts operating through me. I want to see it confirmed, but I am fearful of touching His glory. Another part of me recognizes the importance of humility, but I don’t want it to be false humility as that’s almost as bad as pride!

An Inspired Thought

All of a sudden, I just knew. It’s worship! Constant praise and magnification of Who He is in me! That’s the answer. Following that revelation, I wrote this prayer:

Oh Lord, fill me to overflowing with that special grace. David had it, but David fell too. He should have gone to war in the time when kings go to war. Keep me always centered on You, Lord. Hold me close to Your heart. Let me look upon You in wonder, see Your majesty and power. Help me always to keep my eyes on You, Father, for Your unconditional love. On You, Jesus, for You are my “sozo”. Help me to understand Your teaching, Your example, Your words. Help me to be Your disciple too.

And oh my goodness, Holy Spirit, please be my Constant Companion. Help me to acknowledge You and Your presence in and around me. I want to walk with You resting upon me. I want to be that calm, fearless, woman of grace, filled and operating in Your nature. I want us to be best friends. I want to tell You my secrets and I want to hear Yours. Help me always to sense You, Your touch, Your leading. Help me to see Your paths — wisdom, understanding, knowledge, revelation. I don’t want them for head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Help me to be a Healer like You — in my words, my actions, my works, and in my giving. Help me to not resent a draw upon me, but be that lady of grace, always operating — not out of duty which I sometimes do, but out of truth from the inward parts.

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My Daughter,

These days may have some turmoil, but I am your peace. I always have been and I always will. You know how to turn to Me, even in the little things. I see that your heart is soft towards Me. Gentleness of heart is precious to Me. You dwell too much on the negative in your character. That’s My job! Not yours!

Learn to relax INTO My flow. I hear your heart and I listen to your thoughts. You don’t disappoint Me.

["But Lord, I..."] No “buts.” Just be. The more tender you are to My voice, the more I will speak. Let your fingers do the walking in My word. Refresh your mind with My word. Refresh your spirit with My music. Invite Me into every area of your life. I will transform every situation with My love as well as My wisdom.

Even at 61 you are still growing, My daughter, My child. This journey is a rich one and you are building up My kingdom — first in your own life and then in others. Peace in every portion. That’s My promise.

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I thought about going to the grocery store. That trip is deliberate. You make a list of items. If it’s your regular store, you know the aisles. Maybe you even have a routine way of getting through the store quickly. Even the grocery store can be a quick in and out visit.

Going to a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club is not my cup of tea. Many people love it, but I don’t. Thank heavens my husband doesn’t mind! Going shopping just for the sake of shopping isn’t my favorite use of time either. I like to shop with purpose in mind.

What’s my point?

My morning prayer as I began my day with my coffee was this:

“Lord, I don’t ever what You to be my convenience store. Direct my eyes, my mind, and my heart to You and Your priorities. You are worthy of all my inconvenience!”

Proverbs 23:23 says this:

Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

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My Daughters,

Why do you waiver between two opinions? I am before you. I am with you. I am your lead. I go ahead to clear a pathway. Yes, there are obstacles. But, I’ve allowed them to be there for your benefit. You get to choose what to do. Climb over — by your sweat and determination. You can go around it by your passiveness and struggle to face it. I assure you a similar obstacle awaits you at the next bend.

Or, you can speak to the obstacle with the authority I’ve given you.

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Pray when you’re sitting.
Pray when you’re standing.
Pray when you wash dishes.
Pray when you sit on a swing.

Wherever you are, doing anything.
Prayer is the key–just the thing.

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If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited.

The word “slack” is #7503 raphah. It basically means to be discouraged. It’s root word is #7495 rapha which means “mend by stretching” or heal.

I immediately thought of one of the Lord’s divine names: Jehovah Rapha, the Lord my healer. That thought was then tied to 2 Corinthians 12:9:

… “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Interpretation

In days when I’m undone or under stress, those are the days to not allow discouragement into my thoughts. My strength to face the issue comes from drawing close to Jesus, my Healer, to receive His courage.

While I was dressing for the day, I heard Natalie Grant’s song, “Great is Your Name.” I began to think about how one word in Proverbs makes me curious to know the deeper meaning, the hidden secret of what Holy Spirit is saying. I thought of Moses, who “turned aside to see.” If he hadn’t drawn close to that burning bush, would he have still been chosen as Israel’s deliverer? This reminded me of Proverb 20:5, which had struck me on January 20th:

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.

When we turn aside and dig a little deeper, we get the richness and the reward of God’s promises in His Word by drawing from “the well and His living water.” That can make all the difference in our day and in our walk. Hope, Faith, Belief rise up when we are not slack and receive strength from His unlimited supply.

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“I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!”
I began to giggle and the joy started bubbling up. I think that was the whole plan!

And then we had the following conversation:

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary.”
Oh, Lord! I’m sorry! Why contrary?
“In your thinking”
What way?
“You’re not thinking My thoughts?”
What are You thinking?
“Listen for My heart beat.”
I was quiet for a while and then I said, souls?
“Yes, souls, but more.”
What, Lord?
“Spirits.”

I knew what He meant. Saving souls is important, but this year, I believe He wants me to grow up in my spirit-man with particular emphasis on the fruit of the Holy Spirit. And where I can have an effect on lives around me, concentrate on that area as well.

Just for fun: Here’s a YouTube video of the song He gave me.

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Every now and then, new music impacts me to my core.  I can’t get the songs out of my mind.  They swirl around and dance in my spirit and finally make their way into my heart.  I begin to hum a song in the car or wake up with a snippet in the morning.  This CD album is what has impacted me most this year.  It is a compilation of songs by various award-winning artists on one topic… how the Lord has impacted principal characters of the Bible.  It’s their story – of failures, of dreams, of challenges and of triumphs.

It is my hope and desire that you too will find a special song on this album that cuts you to the quick, that awakens something hidden and deep, and that causes you to be stirred up with a new hope, a new thought, a new challenge, perhaps even a new dream or vision for yourself.

The year ahead can be whatever you choose to make it.  It can be more of the same-o-same-o… or it can be a year of excitement in discovering who you were created to be.  I challenge you to ask the Lord to show you His story in you… in your marriage… in your children… in your careers… in your friends, families, and co-workers.  Take some time this year to soak in His presence and listen to that still small voice.  Breathe Him in and breathe Him out to others this year.

Can you guess my favorite song?  I look forward to hearing about yours.

With love, Mom

Read more about The Story CD and the impact it’s made….

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Breakfast With My King

New Year’s Eve 2011… when I wrote that in my journal, I thought, “This is the year when THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY puts the Mayans and those soothsayers to shame.” This whole year to going to be about Your Divine Order – Your Government – Your Rule!

It WILL be like a world-side Mt. Carmel experience! Your Word will defeat their words. Your prophets will arise under Your mantle, Your shadow, Your wings, Your anointing. I just feel it in my bones, Lord.

You’ve not said this directly to me, but I just sense we’ve hit the bottom and it’s time to rise up with new strength, new vision, new courage, new fortitude. It’s a year for “eyes like flint.”

There is ALWAYS promise in You, Lord… always a brighter day… a smile of love on your face, waiting for us to look up and receive it. I bask in Your glory, Your warmth, Your mercy and compassion, Your approval. Sons and daughters! Arise! Shake off the trials and doubts. Shake off the shame and the slime the enemy has vomited all over you.

The Word! Oh, the Word! Be cleansed by the washing of the Word. Revelation is going to pour out this year. TRUTH will reign supreme because HE is Truth and His truth knocks the socks off any other human or demonic lie.

I love this phrase I heard the other night: “How you see Jesus is how you receive Him.”

Think of that… if I see my Lord as weak in my life, I will be weak. If I see My Lord as Conqueror of the heavens and earth and below the earth, then I am more that a conqueror because He lives in me and I am in Him.

Oh, the glory we will see this year! I can only imagine as the song goes. But, I don’t believe it’s just for “The Great Day.” Oh no, I believe it for now, in this life, in this hour! Oh yes, Lord, I believe! My spirit rejoices, my mind is renewed and expectant, and my body is ready to jump out of its skin. ALIVE!!!! Yes, ALIVE! Every part of me is tingling with expectation. Thank You, Lord. Your promises are new every morning and especially so with every new year.

Afternoon Thoughts

Today’s Proverb struck me. Proverbs 31:22 “She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

“fine linen” speaks to me of purity. I immediately thought of last Spring’s “Arm and Hammer” revelation.  I woke up with the phrase going over and over in my head. I went to the Internet and was led to the corporate site for Arm and Hammer Baking Soda. The tag line is “THE STANDARD OF PURITY.” Pharaoh clothed Joseph in garments of fine linen. (Gen 41:42) The bride makes herself ready: Rev 19:8, 14 “And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” “And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

“purple” speaks to me of royalty. It’s not just my natural position, it’s my supernatural/spiritual position in Christ, because of Christ, through Christ, for eternity. “purple”also reminds me of Lydia in Acts 16:14, who was the first convert and a seller of purple fabrics. She was a business woman, worked in the marketplace. The new Church met in her home. She provided sustenance for Paul.

Evening Thoughts Four of us gathered to celebrate New Years Eve. At the end of dinner we asked the Lord for His word for the year. Mine was SYNCOPATION. I was so shocked by the strange word that I had to get up and get my i-Pad and look up the definition. I had no idea what it meant.

Syncopation

1. shifting or syncopating of the normal accent, usually by stressing the normally unaccented beats.
2. music that is syncopated
3. use of rhetorical stress at variance with the metrical stress of a line of verse
4. contraction of a word by omitting sounds from the middle like e’en for even or ne’er for never

Syncopate – to shift (a musical accent) to a beat that is normally unaccented. Syncope

1. The contraction of a word by omitting one or more sounds from the middle as in a reduction.
2. Brief loss of consciousness associated with transient cerebral anemia as in heart block, sudden lowering of blood pressure, etc. — fainting!

Interpretation I believe it means to let go for the unusual or the unexpected. Things won’t be the usual. Expect the unexpected. New emphasis on things that have been ignored or unimportant.

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