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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“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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My V-B-F: My VERY Best Friend!
It should probably be my VBFF… Forever!  We’re going to have eternity to get to know each other, delight in each other. How I long to get to know You, Holy Spirit, in this life, in this time, in this hour.

I’ve read Benny’s books. I’ve read and heard about You from Graham Cooke. I’ve heard about You in an odd way from Kathryn Kuhlman from the past. But this day — when all of our nation and Canada rests from work [Labor Day], I want to rest in You!

Since You are Counselor, Teacher, Advocate, Giver, Breather, Breath, Wind, Spirit, Presence, Paraklete, Ruach [Roar] — interesting that isn’t it? ‘Cause it seems like all of Your attributes are so “female” — You know, soft, loving, kind… BUT there’s also that FIRE!

• You came on Pentecost like a mighty, rushing wind.
• You have a SOUND.
• You deposited flames of tongues.
• You can be adamant in your instructions like to Paul, NO! or to Peter, kill and eat!
• You can be persistent… nudge, nudge, nudge, then a push and a shove.
• You rise up in my warfare tongues and electrify me.

I’ll be You’re the “sound” of the trumpets at Jericho. I bet You’re the sound of the mulberry trees rustling. You’re the sound of horses galloping. You’re the new sound of worship that is coming.

OMGosh! YOU are the SONG of my heart! It’s Your spirit, married to mind, intermingled with mine, when the song of the Lord erupts in my heart and out of my mouth.

You’re the Wisdom… those precious pearls…that come out in statements. When I hear them, I stand back in my head and admire the unequivocal truth.

You are the Spirit of Truth. There is no grey in You. You’re not just black and white. You’re every color of the earthly rainbow and the heavenly spectrum.

YOU are the fog, the mist that covers and replenishes the earth. You are the rain that falls from heaven on all — the good and the bad, the rich and the poor, the saved and unsaved, the clean and the unclean.

You are NO respecter of persons, BUT, You are a friend to all, AND a BFF to many.

But to me, Mary Elizabeth Anne Best Puplava, YOU are my VBFF! very, very, very.

As this new day, new hour, new level, new awareness begins to flower and grow, please help me always to remember this moment of truth. I want to walk very closely with Your presence in and around my life.

I open up my heart, my mind, will and emotions to You… body, soul, and spirit. Please baptize me fresh and new with this new awakening. Teach me. Help me to experiment and explore who You are, what You think, what You want me to become. Be my teacher, my shaper and molder. I trust me in Your hands.

As we progress and I learn to know You and love You more, help me to impart that knowledge to others. I don’t want others to have to wait for decades to discover the richness of relationship they can have in this life.

Forgive me for “using” You in the past — like stirring up in tongues so I can fire off a prayer or see someone healed or battle the enemy for someone’s need. Wow! What a revelation that is! You must feel so used… and yet, out of love, deep love, You do answer those prayers. But no, in this day, You and I are going to become Mentor/disciple; Teacher/student, Friends.

Just now, I saw Jacob walking to his family with a limp after wrestling all night. I see Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai with his face aglow. I see Paul quaking, blind, fasting to understand. I see David in Your Tabernacle singing songs of love. Amazing.

This new day, You are beautiful. And You know what? You’re going to teach me about Jesus — not just head knowledge. You’re going to give me heart-spirit-soul knowledge of my Savior. And that’s not all… I believe You’re going to open the door to My Daddy, Abba Father.

Today I enter into my REST and cease from all my labor and works. I commit to You my life, my hands, my body, my brains, my gifts, my urges, my studies, my words and my actions. I’m staking my heart and desires on Your promises today. Teacher-Lover-Friend-Powerhouse of Love! Help me, please, to go through this narrow place, the Eye of the Needle, to the fullness of my future and destiny. I want to go through the open door to have the fullness of revelation of You; Father, Son and Spirit.

My daughter     ~     My Father
My lover           ~     My Bridegroom
My treasure      ~     My Giver & VBFF

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It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to get out for a walk, but oh, it felt so, so good. I just put all my to do’s on hold for an hour and walked with the Lord. Praying and singing in the Spirit is how I usually start my walk. And then songs of love, of worship and appreciation just begin to flow out of my innermost being. Sometimes I’m delighted that they rhyme and other times it’s just phrase after phrase of love and admiration for my Creator, my King, my Inspiration.

Today was chilling and a bit overcast, but refreshing all the same. About half-way through I noted a beautiful, white heron just sitting on the rocks, gazing out at the pond. I tried to get a couple of pictures, but the lighting wasn’t too great. And so, I thought to myself, why not try to sneak up on the side for a better view.

Turning aside and "Looking Beyond," I was blessed with baby too!

Amazing! When I walked around, I found that there was her baby nearby! Imagine my delight and surprise. Unfortunately I scared them off and they took flight, but what a beautiful sight it was to see. As I returned to my walk, I thanked the Lord for His double blessing.

There's plenty of room for You, Holy Spirit. Sit with me a while. Tell me Your secrets.

Once again, by “turning aside to see this great thing,” I am rewarded. Just as I was on New Year’s Day with the painting on my wall. Keep me tender, Lord, and always willing to turn aside to see Your wonders!

As I sat in the gazebo, I felt the warmth of the sun, the energy of the day, and beauty and rest in His presence.

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Have you ever been on the highway behind an 18-wheeler? If you place your car “just so,” behind the semi, their draft picks you up in their wake and pulls you along with it. I was thinking about this experience in light of the Lord.

The down-hills aren’t that bad. In fact, they’re a breeze. It’s the up-hills that take extra effort, concentration, and determination. When the Lord gives me a hard task, I find the only way I can accomplish it is to stay focused on Him, keep the goal in my mind, set my heart to it, and will my body to cooperate. Resting on THE ROCK helps me gain strength to reach the top. Holy Spirit companionship gives me “the draft” where I flow with Him with less personal effort.

Breath of Life strengthen me.
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.
Overtake my everthing.
Conquer my flesh.
Increase my heart capacity.
Fill me up. Fill me more.
Until I’m in Your perfect flow.
Less of me. More of You.
Purpose Divine.
Purpose aligned.

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Now, recall that Southern California experienced almost two weeks of on and off storms with heavy rain and winds this month. This concrete canal at the base of the hills got a lot of use! I immediately was thinking about the songs the Body of Christ has been singing, asking the Lord to send His rain, and emphatically crying out our need for an outpouring of His love and the Holy Spirit power that brings renewal. At The Gathering Place Church we’ve been singing “Open Up the Skies” for over a year. Michael W. Smith’s “Let It Rain” is also a powerful song. Today’s Church is crying out… Now! Lord! Now! We want to see Your Glory, God!

As I turned back I noticed something else. At the beginning of the concrete canal, soil and sand had built up to almost half of the canal. Continuing on, I noted that tumbleweeds and branches had also found their way into the canal. I could tell that the debris had caused the flow of the water to change. First, it slowed it down, second, the debris and changed the direction of the flow.

What I thought
I began to think about our church and our passion for an open Heaven. I began to think how our pastors and leaders are like that concrete canal. They provide the solid base we need to capture the flow and direction of the Holy Spirit. As I noted this debris I began to think how important it would be for the repair crews to get in and clean it out soon. Otherwise, this precious runoff water would be lost. This debris could be interpreted as false teaching, lies, offense and other destructive plans the enemy might use. The repair crew speak to me of gifted prayer warriors and intercessors with the gifts of wisdom, revelation, and understanding. I began to pray for an Issachar anointing to be upon our leaders and intercessors that we would know the signs of the times and be ready. We will have to be so open to hear the Holy Spirit and sensitive to follow His lead. My final prayers were for all of us to WAKE UP and GET PREPARED… a storm is coming! Hallelujah!!

~ Confirming word by Chuck Pierce, Glory of Zion Int’l. Ministries, January 29, 2010 ~

I hear the Lord saying to us: “In the midst of your warring and pressing forward, the enemy has tried to restrain your vision. He is subtly speaking to you that you cannot enter into all and accomplish your destiny in the future. I am going to allow you a glimpse of an acceleration of a new vision. The enemy has tried to stop you and you have moved in one way. He has moved you off of my track. He has created bars around you and is attempting to hold you captive.

But I have come to say to that named demonic force called Restraint! I am removing the influence of Restraints from you. I am telling Restraint how it must let go so you can begin to hear in new way. “You are to lift the bars now and let go this captive go! Restraint, no longer can you continue in your vision blocking force. No longer can you block the move of God in the future, you are now gone from this atmosphere!”

There is death in the pot! I have brought you to the beginning of the river to break the death out of the waters that will flow in days ahead. There is a new river that is rising! For you have had one refreshing move and felt the river flowing in one way, but debris has gotten into My waters and blocked the way for your future. But like a stick of dynamite, I am coming in to re-empower you, and I am blowing open that blockade that has been blocked up. A new river movement now begins. I say to that demon of Blockade, “You now must let go and go! Blockade, let go, and GO! For this river will be one that comes from a new spring. Don’t try to go back to the spring that brought in the last river. Know that I am going deeper to bring forth a new spring in this place. Don’t try to move in what flowed in one season, for you have seen nothing like the water that I am going to rise in your midst.”

I Am cleansing the waters of the past and Poison Bitterness will no longer affect the flow of the river ahead. All poison bitterness that has produced words that has attached deep into the soul of My people, I say to you, ‘Remove your fangs and LET GO!’

“You have seen a mission that has grown muddy. Now you will see the point of entry for the next release of My cleansing, healing water will come. Get ready and ask Me for the next healing movement. You have longed to see the outbreak, but now I will send in and release the healing waters that will now begin to flow. I Am forming the mantle for your future and I will recover you from the exposure of the past.”

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