One Bad Egg

            For the past two years or more, I have had the same breakfast almost every morning—two fried eggs and Ezekiel bread or English muffin with honey and cinnamon.  An even more delicious addition has been a supply each week of farm-fresh eggs from a family at our church. Nothing like cage-free eggs and at no cost at all, either. They have just decided to give of their abundance and it has been such a blessing. I have been ever grateful for this non-stop supply of  fresh, wholesome eggs.

            One morning, I was fixing my breakfast, as usual, and I thought I noticed an odd odor. I thought to myself that perhaps these eggs were older than I had realized. When I sat down and took my first bite, I knew right away something was wrong, but I went ahead and ate several more bites before I realized I was eating a bad egg.

            I don’t blame my graciously generous friend, of course. It could happen easily to include an egg that had sat out too long. From the outside, it would be impossible to tell the difference.  About six hours later, I knew that I had made a terrible mistake. I am very grateful for my colloidal silver that I always have on hand, so this story doesn’t have too horrible of an ending. I definitely needed this amazing germ-killer, for sure!

            What has happened since, however, is that now – every egg I crack into my pan is suspect. I am sniffing, and wondering if there might be another bad egg. I am now overly cautious because of one misstep. The part that is most puzzling is that I have eagerly gobbled up hundreds of these eggs over the past year or so without a single thought of concern. And now, after this one incident with one bad egg, I am changed. I am no longer carefree in my preparations, but diligently inspecting, testing, sniffing, praying with concern, and even expecting that maybe I will find another bad egg.

            This led me to think about the other “bad eggs” in my life. An unthinking, unkind word from someone, and now I measure all things said against my own beliefs about my self-worth. An act of selfishness that put me in state of confusion, and now I see that I often seem to expect selfishness from others. A loss suffered that has kept me from opening freely.  There are more bad eggs, but they are few and far between. I realize that I have had many more healthy, delicious and wholesome “eggs” in my life, and yet it is so easy to focus on the few bad ones.

            Stephen Covey said that for every withdrawal from someone’s emotional bank account, there needs to be seven to ten deposits made. I think with my bad egg experience, I am seeing that sometimes it takes even more. 

            What “bad eggs” have you allowed to overshadow the blessings in your life? I am asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to me where I might be limiting the goodness of God because of those few and far between “bad eggs.”  I don’t want those limiting negatives to ever outweigh the abundant blessings in my life. Won’t you join me?           

Positive Confessions

           Today, I just needed to be filled with the best inspiration ever created—God’s matchless Word! Here are fifty positive confessions from scripture. Of course this is just a beginning! May you join me, dear reader, taking them to heart and allow them to fill your soul with the truth of your purpose and calling in Christ.

1.     I pursue peace and the building up of others (Romans 14:19).

2.     I receive good things from God when I am grateful (I Timothy 4:4).

3.     I always have a way out of trouble (I Corinthians 10:13).

4.     I can bring every thought into obedience (II Corinthians 10:5).

5.     I am forgiven of my sins as I confess them and am cleansed (I John 1:9).

6.     I ask with right motives in prayer (James 4:2-3).

7.     I resist the devil and he flees (James 4:7).

8.     My prayers avail much (James 5:16).

9.     I patiently endure suffering because I am called for this purpose (I Peter 2:20-21).

10.  I am hospitable without complaint (I Peter 4:9).

11.  I cast all my anxiety on the Lord (I Peter 5:7).

12.  Because of my faith, I apply moral excellence which leads to knowledge, which leads to self-control, then perseverance, then godliness, then brotherly kindness, then love (II Peter 1:5-7).

13.  God rescues me from temptation (II Peter 2:9).

14.  I am not a slave to sin (Romans 6:6).

15.  I am not condemned (Romans 8:1).

16.  My mind is set on the spirit and I have life and peace (Romans 8:5-6).

17.  Nothing can separate me from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:39).

18.  I am more than a conquerer (Romans 8:37).

19.  I renew my mind and am transformed (Romans 12:2).

20.  I am not wise in my own estimation (Romans 12:16).

21.  I understand spiritual things (I Corinthians 2:14).

22.  I am washed, sanctified, justified (I Corinthians 6:11).

23.  I am aware of the manifestations of the spirit and I know how to use them (I Corinthians 12)

24.  I don’t water-down the Word of God (II Corinthians 2:17; 4:2).

25.  I am a living epistle (II Corinthians 3:2).

26.  I will walk in the spirit and do not carry out the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

27.  I have nine fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-26).

28.  I will not lose heart in doing good (Galatians 6:9).

29.  I am called to humility and gentleness with patience, showing forgiveness to others in love (Ephesians 4:2).

30.  I am kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as I have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32).

31.  I walk in love (Ephesians 5:2).

32.  I am subject to my husband (Ephesians 5:22).

33.  I am strong in the Lord and have the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).

34.  God is working in me for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

35.  I can do all things without grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:14).

36.  The peace of God guards my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).

37.  My mind dwells on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute, and I practice these things (Philippians 4:8-9).

38.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

39.  God supplies all of my needs through the riches of Christ (Philippians 4:19).

40.  I walk in a manner worthy of the Lord; bearing fruit in good works and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).

41.  My mind is set on things above—not on the earth (Colossians 3:2).

42.  In whatever I do, I work heartily for the Lord and not to please others (Colossians 3:23).

43.  I speak to please God and not others (I Thessalonians 2:4).

44.  I seek after what is good for others (I Thessalonians 5:15).

45.  I pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).

46.  I give thanks in everything (I Thessalonians 5:18).

47.  I receive all things with gratitude (I Timothy 4:4).

48.  I have no fear, but power, love and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).

49.  I watch over my heart (Proverbs 4:23).
50.  I commit my works to the Lord (Proverbs 16:30).

A Two-In-The-Morning-Friend

I have been without a two-in-the-morning friend for far too long. Now don’t get me wrong—I have lots of friends. I know there are many who care deeply about me, but none are two-in-the-morning friends.  A two-in-the-morning friend is one that you would not hesitate to call in the middle of the night—especially if you had an urgent need. It takes a very close relationship to be a two-in-the-morning friend.

I first realized that I was without a two-in-the-morning friend about fifteen years ago. My husband had many health issues that would frequently send us to the emergency room and then usually also for a hospital stay. One time, when our son, Sam, was about seven, I needed to get my husband to the hospital right away. He was bleeding internally from too much blood thinner. This turned out to be a four-day hospital stint. Seven years old is too young to leave home alone, and there I was—looking at the clock and seeing that it was too late to call any of my friends. I just couldn’t do it. Names of five or six friends immediately came to mind, and had it been 10:00PM, I would not have hesitated to call for help. In fact, just a few weeks before this, we had a rush to the hospital at 11:00PM, and I called someone to help out with Sam without a moment of concern.

It’s another story, however at 2:00AM.

When someone is a two-in-the-morning friend, you know that they would be upset if you DIDN’T call them to be a support. I found myself in a position where I felt like I had no one close enough to me to bother in the middle of the night. I grabbed our son with a blanket and pillow, and drove to the hospital where my husband’s cardiologist worked. It was about a forty-minute drive. Of course, Sam was back to sleep, so I left him in the back seat and locked the doors. I about wore out the walkway between the emergency room station and the parking lot that night to keep checking on our son.  By the time they had determined that my husband needed admitted, a nurse realized that I had a child in the car. She offered to make a bed for him in the ER, but I planned to go home and get Sam ready for school so that I could come back and give my full attention to my husband.  

I was sad that I didn’t have a two-in-the-morning friend, but because I worked sixty hours a week as an elementary principal, I did not have any more time to cultivate the close relationship I desired—a two-in-the-morning friend.

That was a pretty good excuse while I working full-time, however, I have been retired for over two years now. I still do not have a two-in-the-morning friend.

So I am pondering why this is.

The friends that I have are not retired. They lead very busy lives, and some of them still have young children at home. We are in different seasons, and I understand why there isn’t time to cultivate a deeper relationship. I truly do.

But, the gaping hole is still there. Here I am, fifteen years later, and still without a two-in-the-morning friend. I have several friends who are very close to my heart, but they have moved a far distance away. So while, they WOULD be a two-in-the-morning friend, if they lived here, it’s not much of a help when I need them in the flesh during the middle of the night.

Some days it feels very lonely.

Some days, it feels very sad.

Now that I have time to build a deeper relationship with someone, I find myself in a place where the right person just hasn’t entered my life yet.

I am still expectantly waiting for my new two-in-the-morning friend. It will be a happy day when that role is filled once again.

Living a Life That Matters Part 2

            I think one of the hardest parts of knowing that you matter in this life is being able to face your own self. I have spent my entire life trying to undo the damage from a poor self-esteem.  It would be easy to blame those years of  wasted efforts and energy I spent hating myself on everyone else in my world, but the reality is that this was just where Satan wanted me.  There were circumstances that made it difficult for me to feel loved, but the dark reality is that Satan had a grip on me, and he almost won the battle. 

During my junior year of high school, I was suicidal for many months. I had several escape routes planned that no one knew about, because I did not want my parents to have to bear the burden of my suicide.  I had a variety of ideas in mind that would look like an accident, and I spent FAR too many hours plotting my death so that it would look like a tragic accident, not as though I thought so little of my life and my need to live. 

That year, we did a musical, Carnival, and I was the assistant stage manager.  Some lyrics from a song from that show have long stuck in my brain, because they so describe my need to believe that SOMETHING about me mattered in this life. The song is sung by an embittered, handicapped puppeteer named Paul.   He had been injured, and walked with a limp, and was angry at the entire world about it.  He became attracted to the newest addition to the cast, young Lili.  She, however, was smitten by an arrogant, but handsome man, Marco the Magnificent, who lacked integrity, and used women for pleasure and then tossed them aside like empty candy wrappers.  Paul was angry and difficult to be around, however, his true, loving feelings came out through his puppets.  Lili becomes very attached to the puppets, not realizing that the hateful Paul is also the kind and caring heart behind the darling new friends she has made in the puppets. While Paul wrestles with his feelings, he sings:

I’ve got to find a reason

For living on this earth

I’ve got to find a reason

For taking the space I take

Breathing the air I breathe

There’s more to this there’s more to me

Something in me that needs to

Do more than suck the breath from life

Like moss and leaves and weeds do

Holding up my head

Holding down a place

Being worth a name

To go with my face

I’ve got to find a reason

For living on this earth

Something to want

Something to be

Somehow to say,

I am me!

            I sang that song over and over again that year that I was 16, because like this puppeteer Paul, I too had felt that life had not given me a fair shake.  I really believed that there had to be more out there.  I didn’t want to just “suck the breath from life,” I had to know that somehow my life mattered. 

Knowing That We Are Traveling the Right Road

Someone once said, “Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘holy smoke’ what a ride!”  I guess I would have to say, that this would not have been my preferred mode of travel, but it certainly describes the journey that I have lived.  And now looking back, I cannot imagine a life of routine, and always knowing what is coming next.  It would be nice to have SOME clue about the turns in the road that come upon us without a warning, but nevertheless, it is truly the uneven, crooked path that makes life interesting.

Remember when we looked at Ephesians 1:4?  Let’s look at that verse again!  It says,

            “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love.

             Notice that this verse starts with, “just as.”  That is a comparison, so we have to look at the verse before this one to catch the context.  And in Ephesians 1:3, it says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  I bet you missed a very important word in this verse!!  See, it says “who HAS blessed us!”  “Has” is PAST tense.  In other words, God already did it.  It has already been taken care of.  So if God has already blessed me with every (notice it says EVERY!) spiritual blessing, then why am I not living that way?  And there is a caveat.  It says that “we SHOULD be holy and blameless before Him in love.”  The word “SHOULD” implies that there needs to be some effort on my part.  Well, THAT is an understatement.  Why just turn on prime time TV any given night, and it is easy to catch a glimpse of much that is completely Un-holy and full of blame --  Sex, drugs, murders, homosexuality, just to name a few.  I don’t think we can find a show on television these days that doesn’t touch on at least ONE of these areas.  So, needless to say, being holy and blameless is not an easy task.  Yet, we are called to do that, and not only to be holy and blameless, but to do so “before Him in love.”  Wow!!  That is a lot to swallow!

I don’t for one second believe that God has called us to be pious, wimpy Christians who use religiosity as a means to look holy and blameless.  I could wear dresses in dark clothing covering most of my body, and never play cards or dance or touch a drop of alcohol, but none of these things in of themselves makes me holy nor blameless. I could live in a sparse room and give all I had to serve others, but even total servitude in of itself does not make me holy and blameless. How do we become holy and blameless?  Well, the answer is still in Ephesians.  We have to keep reading!!

            “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which he lavished upon us.  In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which he purposed in Him.”  Ephesians 1:7-9 

            This part says that through Christ, we are redeemed, and we are forgiven.  Hoo boy, isn’t that a good thing!  I know I sure wouldn’t be holy and blameless on my own!!

Then let’s look at Ephesians 2 where it says that we are “dead in trespasses and sins,” (verse 1) and that while we formally walked according to the world and the prince of the power of the air (meaning Satan, in verse 2), and that we did indulge in the desires of our flesh, (verse 3), but because God loved us so much (verse 4), even though our sins make us dead (verse 5) He seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (verse 6).  And verse 7 is so awesome, because it tells us why: 

            In order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

             So basically this is saying that even though we are screw-ups, and God KNOWS we are basically screw-ups, He makes our sins dead in Christ, and has seated us already with Him in Christ.  So what makes us Holy and Blameless?  Nothing --  except the blood of Christ, and our decision to believe it.  Isn’t that just simply amazing? 

Now this does not give us permission to live a worldly, God-less life, and expect Him to just not notice, however, we do not have to live in a state of sin-consciousness because God already took care of that at the cross.

Living a Life That Matters Part 1

Living a life that matters is really what everyone wants.  We want to know that we were brought into this world for a reason.  We want to know that our existence has made a difference somehow.  I think deep down we all wish that we could have that “Jimmy Stewart moment,” you know – when Clarence the angel allows George Bailey in the Christmas Classic –“It’s a Wonderful Life,” the opportunity to see what things would have been like had he never been born.  While a rather simple man, with a simple life, George didn’t feel all that significant, however, he was given a marvelous gift to see the untold impact his life had on others, and the ripple effect that literally changed a whole culture in an entire town.  Of course Clarence is make believe, and I don’t know of anyone who has experienced a similar gift, but the story is a classic because we all want to believe – that is we NEED to believe that our life truly matters.  And so it is down this journey that I go, looking for a way to know that indeed I have been living a life that truly matters.

How We Matter to God

            The first place to look is how we matter to God.  I don’t think anyone would disagree that each and every one of us matters to our Heavenly Daddy.  Jesus used a wonderful example in Matthew when he was admonishing his disciples to not be anxious for their daily living needs – food, drink, clothing, He says,

             Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they? (Matthew 6:26).

             Now at first reading, this verse did not really impress me.  I mean, c’mon!  Of course I am worth more than some silly ole birds!  The impact of this verse needs to be taken into a context with keeping the right perspective.  It is not saying that my worth is compared to a flock of fine feathered friends.  It is however saying, if God cares so much for some nameless birds, certainly He has a plan for me.

            We know that we matter to God when we look at some of his amazing promises.  For instance – I Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle, but with temptation will provide a way of escape so that you may be able to endure it. Now why would He do that?  Because He knows we will be tempted, and He also knows we will need His help to get out of the mess we find ourselves in.  That is a God who cares about what happens to us!

            Here is another dandy -- Did you realize the depth of Ephesians 1:4 where it says,

             Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love.

            Do you see that?   He chose us.  He actually chose us.  Now, I know that when I go to a store to buy something, and I have some time to ponder what I really want, I will choose that which will bring me some kind of pleasure – a new dress, some different earrings, or maybe a great cut of steak for dinner.  But because I took the time to choose it, I find that I enjoy it all the more.  Now, I am not comparing you to a juicy steak, mind you, but when we think about being chosen in Him we simply HAVE to think about what that really means.  Remember in Jr. High when teams were chosen?  I never was the captain of a team, because I wasn’t the best athlete in the world.  I was however, pretty well-rounded, and I wasn’t the worst either – in the middle I guess is a good description.  But when those captains would choose their teams, the best players always got picked first.  I will never forget the day when I was the first pick for a game of kickball.  I was chosen first – not just the leftovers.  I was chosen – out of the whole group, it was me first, and then the others.  That is the mind picture I get when I read these words in Ephesians.  He chose us.  We were picked – kind of like looking for the reddest, ripest strawberries in the patch – choosing the ones we KNOW will be dripping in sweet juice.   We skim over the just turning pink ones, and the little green ones, and even the dark, over ripe purple ones, looking for the choicest, the very best ones.  That is what it means to be chosen.  And chosen we are.  But ah reader, keep going – He chose us for a reason.  We weren’t chosen to just sit there looking good.  We were chosen to be “holy and blameless before Him in love.”  We will get to this a bit later, but do hold that thought!

Philippians 2:13 says, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Now, why would God be at work in us, unless we matter to Him?  I know I don’t like wasting my time working at something unless it will profit me somehow in the future.  If I did not matter to God, then why would He waste His time working in me?  I am sure there are many more obvious “good causes” for Him to work in.  Now Billy Graham – sure, I can see why God would take the time to work in him.  And how about Mother Teresa?  And then there’s The Pope, and the pastors of large congregations with hundreds of people to care for who hunger to know the Lord, and are looking for divine guidance.  But me?  Heck, I'm just a retired Grandma. Anyone could do that, right?  But don’t you get it?  God is at work in me to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.  It is His good pleasure, not mine. 

Some other promises –

• His peace guards my heart (Philippians 4:7)
• His peace is with me (Philippians 4:9) 
• He strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
• He supplies all my needs (Philippians 4:19)
• He does more than I can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)
• I can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10)
• He has given me, not the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7)

Stay tuned for more!

A Veil Toward Forgiveness

Normally, I remember people when I have spoken with them— especially when I have seen their name in print. I’ve had a pretty good track record of at least recognizing that I have met someone before, even if I don’t exactly recall the setting.

Last night, however, I experienced something new to me.

I have spent the past four weeks engaged in a school for learning to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. The class is facilitated by a young man with a sweet and loving heart. I have thoroughly been enjoying each week, and have been excited to get to know the others in the class as we grow together in this deeper work.

This past session, we went into the community to practice hearing God’s voice to bring light and encouragement to others. I ended up in this young leader’s car, and we had an enlightening experience together. On the way back, he said to me, “Linda, you know we have met before, right?”

I didn’t remember him, so I asked him where we met.

When he told me, I was totally astonished. 

First of all, I was surprised that I didn’t recognize him, although it had only been a few years since our meeting. Secondly, I was even more shocked that I didn’t remember him because our earlier meeting was not a good one.

He was running a bookstore, and when my first two books came out in print.  I was hoping to partner with this store to launch my new career as an author.

This young man was most unkind, and his not-at-all subtle rejection was not an easy pill to swallow.

I moved on, but the experience was one I wished to never repeat.

I wondered why I did not recognize him or his name. As soon as he told me, I of course placed the name with face, along with this quite painful memory. I was totally amazed that during this entire four weeks of our course together, I did not make this connection on my own. It was as if a veil was placed over my heart, which was quickly lifted when the timing was just right.

He told me that he was a very different person then, and I instantly felt nothing but complete forgiveness. I could tell he wasn’t sure I meant it, but I genuinely did forgive him.  We hugged, and spent some time together, just chatting.

Two lessons come to mind. First, how easy it is to forgive someone when one gets to see the other in a fully positive light. Second, how important it is to not allow the past to be a filter for the present.

I am so grateful that I was not biased by my previous encounters, and able to completely embrace this new setting without preconceived thoughts. It is so easy to put labels on others. I might have dismissed this loving leader in light of our unfortunate prior meeting. It would have been easy to be untrusting and on-guard.

Instead, I was kept in the dark—almost like a veil over my memory banks—until I had a well-established new truth about this leader. 

I wonder if I would have remained reserved, and guarded had it been otherwise.

Thankfully, for whatever reason, things happened in a much better way.  Forgiveness is so much easier without the hurt attached.

Front Doors

Today during my morning walk, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to pay attention to the doors of all of the houses in my neighborhood. I have walked by these homes countless times, but frankly, I never before paid full attention to only the doors. It was actually quite intriguing.

First, I wondered about the decision to have a storm door or not. When we bought our home, it did not have a screened storm door, and that was one of the very first things we added. It is important for us to have the front door open as much as possible, allowing a fresh breeze in. Of course on hot summer days and the frigid days of winter, the door remains closed, but as much as possible the door is open. I think this sends the message, “you are welcome here.” That is certainly very true for us.

While on my walk, I noticed there were a few homes without storm doors. I took note of that along the way. Some had such beautiful, ornate front doors, it was obvious the owners did not want anything detracting from the main entrance they had selected. Some looked as though there might have been a storm door at one time, but may have become in disrepair, leaving a bit of hardware behind.  Others seemed to just be without a storm door because the door was not used much. To me this seemed to express a somewhat “not welcome” tone.

I also noted the decision regarding color of the main door. Some chose to match trim around the rest of the house, while others had doors with a totally different pop of color. About half were simply white. Some had ornate windows; others had side windows. Some had fancy detailing; others very simple. Some had beautiful decorations regaling the door. Others remained unadorned.

What struck me most about this attention to the neighborhood doors is that no two were alike. Not anywhere. This made me think how the doors to our minds are very similar. We do not take in information the same as one another. We do not embrace the outside world the same, and we certainly do not shield ourselves from what we don’t want in the same manner.

As I am pondering the differences of the doors in my neighborhood, I am struck by the thought as to how we each receive the truth of God in our lives. Some of us have an open front door, with just a bug screen between to filter out the unwanted pests, but freely allow the goodness of the Holy Spirit to enter in. Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock.” If my front door is open, I can so easily hear Him, even at a whisper.  If I have created a fortress, or a façade of overly ornate coverings, it might be harder to create an open invitation. Do I need the colors just so, and everything so perfect that it makes it difficult to be open to something other than my own design? Do I have the resemblance of an opening, but really don’t expect it to be used much, preferring to enter another way? Are my decorations and designs that I have created more important than those who actually come inside?

Perhaps I am simply making too much of a connection here, but the point is, we do all maintain our own entryways. Some more than others.

So how open are you to receiving the One who stands and knocks?

Where I Don't Want to Be

Today, I’m feeling a bit blue. Yesterday marked the twentieth anniversary of my father’s passing, and today is now nine years since my late husband left this life. I don’t know if that is why the sadness is here or not.  I have also had a relapse in my skin problem around my eyes, reminding me of this thorn in the flesh that is such an incredible annoyance.

So with my itchy, swollen, and rather hideous eyes, and my sad heart, I am once again feeling alone.

I wonder if this is how Jesus felt when he was praying in the garden for there to be another way out, and his friends couldn’t bother to stay awake in prayer for him? I wonder how many other times prior to this that he felt that no one understood what was happening.  That had to be moments filled with loneliness for him.

I wonder if this is how Jonah felt when he knew he had been disobedient and was getting thrown overboard. He stayed in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights. I wonder what he was feeling?  Abandoned? Alone? Asked to do what he dreaded most?

I wonder if this is how Deborah felt when she tried to get Barak to get off his duff and provide leadership? Did she use the feelings she had to rise into her calling?

Or what about Joseph who was sold into slavery and then thrown into prison for being righteous and pure in heart? How must he have felt when others promised they would not forget him there, and did?

How about when Jesus was crucified and his disciples were left feeling helpless and lost?

When Peter and Paul were thrown into prison multiple times—did they even for a moment think about how alone they were? If they did, it sure didn’t last.

So now, I am pondering their resilience. How did they so quickly take their situation and turn it into the glory of God?  How did they stay their mind on the rock of Christ so that their emotions didn’t overtake their thoughts?

Today, I am calling on that power to overcome the destructive thoughts that lead to a spiral downward into self. This is never a good place to be.

As I am typing these words, I already am feeling a lift in my spirit. It is such a blessing to know that God never leaves us where we do not want to be.

Grateful!

Breaker Anointing

My father was a Lieutenant in the Army during WWII. His troops were the front of the very front lines (scouts for the land artillery).  Dad didn’t like to talk much about the war. I only knew a few stories, the most compelling being the liberation of Dachau. His men were the first American soldiers to step foot into the camp on that day of freedom. What he remembered most was the overwhelming stench of death that assaulted every soldier, even miles before they arrived at the concentration camp, causing each one of them to vomit their breakfast before actually entering into that horrendous scene. 

I visited Dachau in 1973. Standing before the photographs displayed in their visitor’s center was almost more than I could bear. I cannot imagine what my father felt seeing these skeletal survivors in the flesh. I can’t begin to fathom the bittersweet joy of bringing freedom to these tortured souls.

I am reminded of this story because lately, I am hearing prophesy regarding the breaker anointing that is upon me. I am in awe and wonder at what it means to be a barrier breaker. I know this is my purpose, and I see inklings of preparation and training all along the way of my life’s journey.

My first thought is how could this be? Yet, remembering my father’s legacy as an officer leading his men into such an amazing act of deliverance into freedom, I now realize that, of course, this is my inheritance. The gift from my father is in my DNA to break open the chains that bind God’s people in darkness. It is my destiny to help destroy the barriers that keep others from tasting the goodness of the light of Christ. I hope I never have to witness the horror of freeing prisoners from a concentration camp, along with its attached emotional upheaval, and yet, in my heart of hearts, I also know that bringing a soul from death to life is really the same thing.

Yesterday, I had a word of prophecy spoken over me that my name should not be Locke, but rather “UnLock.”

I am excited to see how God is going to reveal more of this purpose in me, as I partner with Him in the Kingdom work of Jesus.