be encouraged.

the words He gave me this morning,
may they be an encouragement for all those who have loved ones that you are praying and believing and waiting to come to Him,,
and cause for hope, joy and greater seeking in our own lives and pursuit of Yeshua.

["I am not hidden, says the Lord.
My way is not obscure.

you WILL find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. "you will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

you have to,
beloved--you need to,
believe that I am a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Me.
(Hebrews 11:6) ]


Grab hold of those promises, beloved.
and take heart. He makes straight the path of those who acknowledge Him in all of their ways.

are you seeking Him, dear one-- more so.. are you believing that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, namely with Himself?
in the moments when He seems distant, far off, and you just can't seem to enter His presence know, there is no method and no striving that can draw you closer to Him.. but lay hold of the promises of Hebrews 11:6 and Jeremiah 29:13-14 by faith, dear one.

are you acknowledging Him in all things-- in every decision, every encounter, every conversation, every blessing, every trial, every dream?
the Hebrew word for "acknowledge" (yada) actually carries the idea of coming to know someone by observing, reflecting and experiencing. How are you coming to know Him in all things? Are you allowing every single area of your life to be a catalyst and draw string into knowing and seeing and experiencing Him-- that you might simply know Him more? the English definition of acknowledge is "accept or admit the existence or truth of something; to admit, confess, accept and recognize". Confess the truth of who He is and what He says in ALL things, friend. Recognize His hand at work in your life, in the smallest and the biggest and the most mundane and the most unique things and moments. Admit who He is, and the reality of your need for Him-- in ALL things.
are you looking to the One who promises to give wisdom without holding back to those who need it, or are you looking to your own earthly understanding, the insight of man, and human reasoning?


>>He is not hidden, beloved.
and His way is not obscure (doubtful, uncertain, unclear, unknown, vague).
the antonym of obscure is reveal, illuminate, clarify.

believe Him for revelation, for clarity, for illumination. <<


for now is the time to press into our God, our Creator, our Bridegroom, our Friend.
you will not be disappointed.



"Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call upon Him while He is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."  (Isaiah 55:6-7)

do NOT fear.

 i believe we are in a season where the Lord is desiring to eradicate fear in His people.
and He's doing it by drawing His Bride closer.
greater revelation, greater encounters, a clearer picture of who He is-- knowing Him, seeing Him. This is what removes all fear. [Him--perfect Love].

a sister shared a word in church a couple weeks back and it's been a theme along with many others.. but it's stuck with me most clearly.
"if you saw My face-- you would fear no thing.''
and so the question on my heart has been "Beloved, are you beholding Me? are you able to see My face? have you set Me always before you? Are there things in the way--blocking and distorting and hindering your ability to see Me clearly?-- and if so, what are you willing to put aside, detach from, even remove, so that You can be free to see Me and know Me?"

there's a lot of talk right now-- prophetic, hearsay, questioning, doubting, Biblical, fear-based, faith-based.. lots and lots of talk.
about the days we're living in, the hour of history this is, where we fall right now in Biblical prophesy, the state of our nation & the rapid spiraling down into darkness and injustice that is taking place, homosexual marriage, Planned Parenthood, wars and rumors of wars-- nuclear weapon deals, standing with or against Israel, the state of our economy-- red flags to another economic meltdown, the Chinese stock market crashing, the Shemitahs, the blood moons, potential ginormous earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes.

we're shaken at the talk of a shaking coming.
but beloved, HE is the One who tells us about these things-- it's all throughout the New Testament and prophetically throughout the Old.

and we read that "there will signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and waves,
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." [luke 21:25-26]


I can't say what exactly is ahead, but i do know that the Day draws near.
and I can't say exactly what all is going to take place and when,
but i am here to say that the Body of Christ is NOT meant to be the ones whose hearts fail from fear. "Jehovah of Hosts who is bringing [His return and the exchange of this world for His Kingdom] to pass, who is moving all things toward this culmination is with us"--

and we are called to diligently watch, and dare I even say, eagerly anticipate.


and so,
I want to give you this Psalm [Psalm 46] that you've probably all read before, and probably even have bits and pieces memorized..

but my prayer is that you read it with fresh, open eyes and receive it on fresh, fertile heart soil-- so as to truly SEE the One who is with us and for us.


God is our refuge [the person to whom one flees; shelter; hope; place of trust]
and strength [might; force; boldness; power],
a very [wholly; speedily]
present [to be enough, to cause to encounter]
help in trouble [narrow; tight; enemy; affliction; tribulation].
>> THEREFORE<< we will NOT fear
though the earth gives way;
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

selah [pause and carefully consider-- meditate on it]. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High. [Awareness of His closeness fills us with joy even in the bleakest of times].
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will be her help when morning dawns.

the nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
He utters His voice, the earth melts. [Awareness of the power just behind His voice].
The Lord of Hosts is with us; [God of the armies of Heaven is with us--you, and me].
the God of Jacob is our fortress. [Awareness that He is not merely God of the big {the God of Israel}, He is God of the small, the individual, the details {the God of Jacob}.

selah [pause and carefully consider--meditate on it]. come, behold the works of the Lord,
how He has brought desolations on the earth. [Awareness of His sovereignty].
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the chariots with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God. [not only a general call for His people to quiet themselves before Him to know Him-- but a command to the tossing waves and treacherous wind, to the enemy and all the forces of hell-- to be still, to cease, to come to an end,  and know that He and He alone is God]. 
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!" [Awareness of the ending of all the chaos-- HE WILL BE, not hopefully, well it sure doesn't look like He will be, exalted.]

The Lord of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. [closing reminder that this God of the armies of Heaven, who is also the God of individual man, is our fortress-- high place, retreat, secure height]. selah [pause and carefully consider--meditate on it].
whatever is coming,
there is both promise of tribulation and of revival,
Beloved, we are walking into destiny--not destruction.
may we see His face, and may we fear no thing,
and may we not merely survive in these last days-- but thrive.

so stockpile the Word of God in your heart-- for it will be the only thing that feeds and sustains us. and get to High Ground [our Fortress-- lead me to the Rock that is higher than I (Psalm 62:2)].

 may "God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

so awaken and watch, and eagerly anticipate..
for we long for the Day when “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15).

break up your fallow ground [heart-soil].

 God is for His people.
He is passionate about His Bride.

and in His mercy and unrelenting love.. He is always speaking.
drawing His lover.
pursuing His beloved.
disciplining His children.
always calling them to Himself.

and this is what He has laid on my heart to share.

it's from Hosea 10:12.

"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is time to seek the Lord,
that He may come and rain
righteousness upon you."


[He's calling His people to break up the fallow ground of our hearts.]

the original meaning of the term fallow ground is land that is uncultivated, un-prepared for seed, un-plowed. it is hard. and it is fruitless.
>>and in most cases, it is referring to ground that was once sown and harvested,
but now lies useless.<<

the word fallow is also synonymous with
unused,
empty,
bare,
dormant.

I was so struck by the definition of the word dormant-- and i believe this describes exactly the state of the hearts of many that call themselves by His name..
"having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep;
alive but not actively growing;
asleep."

and I hear His heart through that definition so clearly..
the ability, the IDENTITY, the giftings, the calling..
it's there.
it.just.lies. dormant.

the fullness of who we truly are in Him,
if we're honest,
is asleep in many..
a deep sleep even.

and for some, the rockiest, hardest, [fallow] ground in our hearts-- are areas that once were the most fruitful and cultivated. the places we've seen harvest in the past.
because we've forgotten that this cultivating, this plowing, this keeping of our heart-soil so that it can receive Seed and bear fruit in our lives and this world-- is an ongoing process. a daily toil.
a moment by moment holy work.

because really, we're always sowing.
either to the Spirit or to the flesh.
we're either cultivating the soils of our heart,
or allowing them to harden, grow dry and useless.

and just as the prophet Hosea says,
what you reap is what you will sow.
it's a promise.
a principle of the Kingdom.
for good or for bad.
and so we're called to "sow righteousness" so that we may reap steadfast love.. and ultimately, so that "He may come and rain righteousness upon [us]".
there's only one other place in scripture that the phrase "break up your fallow ground" is used, and it's by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 4:3.
both places are in times of the need for national repentance,
where the Lord is almost-pleading- with His people to return,
because in His righteousness and justice-- there must be judgment.

and when we don't break up our fallow ground ourselves,
in His mercy, and I say it again, in HIS MERCY, He allows what He must,
to then break up the fallow ground of our hearts Himself.


it is His call for His people to return.
it is the only way to bring revival.

prepare the way for the Lord in your own heart today, Beloved.

let what was once dry and useless become cultivated and fruitful.

we need a harvest in our own hearts before we will ever see a harvest in our nation.

[[awaken, Church.
the time is now, to come out of your dormant state. ]]

in the meantime. [silent saturday].

today.
the day after Good Friday.
the day before Resurrection Sunday.
that awkward day in between,,
that just kind of seems... there.

today.
"Silent Saturday".

that space of just... waiting, uncertainty, confusion, doubt, fear, anxiety
with not even a hint of something tangible to grab hold of,
or a solid rock to stand upon,
to cause us to hope.
let alone rejoice.

because all looks bleak.
and prospects rock-bottom low.
and darkness so quickly encroaches.
blinding eyes, and snuffing out the soul-light.

and so here we are. desperate.
arms flailing,
fingers reaching,
in what seems like just emptiness--air,,
trying to find something.. solid,
something we can literally wrap our fingers around, and feel.

[here we are, the doubting Thomases.]

and it's all because we so quickly forget,
just as the disciples did,
what He's already said.
the Words that He's spoke.
the promises He's made.

and honestly,
we've made hope to be this fluffy, feel good word.
when really, at it's core, hope is hard.
and without faith,
it's plain impossible.

"now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (hebrews 11:1)
because when we can see and feel something,
there's no need to hope for it.

faith is the solid foundation, [that ACTUALLY exists], that our hopes are placed upon.

hopes are patiently, expectantly, waited for,, because our faith creates the
proof and ability to spiritually see that which hasn't come to fruition yet.

faith allows us to see-- that which we can't physically see yet.

[[because of faith, my hope is expectation]]
and faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
and so it comes full circle.

[we need His words].

to break the silence of this Saturday.
because really,
He never intended it to be that.

"And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'
and they remembered His words..." (Luke 24:5-8a)


and I feel the Lord saying that many are walking through a season of what seems like a perpetual Silent Saturday.
Where faith feels weak,
and hope seems lost,
to actually believe for that thing you've been asking, and seeking, and knocking and praying for.
there seems to be no fruit.
and you feel like you have nothing to hold on to.
you wonder, what's the point?
you ask, "did I even really hear from You?"
"Surely if this was Your will for me, You would have already answered by now."

but Beloved,
your prayers are not unheard.
and they are not going unanswered.
He is working in ways that you cannot physically see yet.
and He's about to break forth.

He can be trusted.
"forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations...
keep steady my steps according to Your promise..
I hope in Your words." (Psalm 119)

So Beloved,
the question is no longer will God come through,
but.. I hear Him asking,,
what will you do in the meantime?

>>what will your "saturday" look like? <<
[honor Him dear one. honor Him in this season. in this waiting. in the "silence"]
"for those who honor Me I will honor" (1 samuel 2:30)

because even our "silence" is still bursting with His words.
and we have no reason to not hope.
and we have every reason to rejoice.



"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We've seen the Lord." But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my fingers into the mark of the nails, and place my hand unto His side, I will never believe.'
Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'
Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do no disbelieve, but believe.'
Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God!'
Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen Me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-29)

Passover,, a celebration of promise.

Passover begins at sundown.
and for the first time, it's not so foreign.
it's as up close as it can get.
 

Passover is about remembrance and fulfilled promises.

Passover is about hope, the hope that comes from a God who always comes through, who always fulfills, who never turns back on His word.

it’s about the freedom and deliverance that was promised.
the doubt and faithlessness of His children.
and the constant grace and faithfulness of God.

it’s about the covenant that He made.
and His unwillingness to break it.

it’s about the God who loves to redeem,, bring renewal and rebirth.
the Initiator of change.
faithfully changing winter into spring.

it's about the joy that He brings in the deepest of sorrows.
and the strength that He gives on the hardest of journeys.

it's about the sacrifice that He gave.
the lives that He spared.
the chains of slavery that He broke.
the new life that He promised.

Passover is about the death that was coming,,
but was overcome by the blood,
because the grace of our God is more than enough.

it's about a God who remembers,, and calls us to do the same.
and so tonight, we'll watch the sun bend low, just as the Lamb bent low to wash our feet,,
right before ultimately fulfilling the  promises  that God made.  and we'll remember.and we'll   celebrate.


the redemption, freedom, and life that we have.
because God didn't turn His back on His Word.
and instead gave us His Son.
the Perfect Sacrifice.
the Spotless Lamb.



[[“For all the promises  of God find their Yes in Jesus…”]] 
                                                                                                                                    2 Corinthians 1:20

face down with walls down.

this.
because when He speaks,, it's to edify, exhort and comfort.
and we all know that sometimes that comes in the form of a word of discipline.
the perfect Father,, who corrects and disciplines out of one hundred percent pure love and tenderness. He is firm and unshakeable, and His holiness ought to cause us to tremble,
but even when He cuts to the heart, the love and comfort of Holy Spirit just draws us even closer into the arms of the Father.

so if this is for you. (like it is for me)
be encouraged.
He disciplines those whom He loves.

The need and tendency to always be strong,
is actually a weakness.

It's not what He intends for us,
and He desires to break this spirit of pride off of His Bride.

the reality of the Gospel begins and ends with utter and complete, on your face, humility.weakness. need.
both on this side of eternity when we see what we are and what we need and the hope of what He intends us to be.. and with the tax collector we cry out "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
and on the other side when we're bowed low,
with the only the utterance "Jesus is Lord" escaping our lips, as the echoes of Holy Holy Holy surround us on every side.
this.
this is where we find victory and strength and power.
this is where we find community, both serving and being able to served.
this is where we find identity, as completely righteous sons and daughters.
this is how we enter the Kingdom of God, and this is how we bring the Kingdom of God to earth,
[as little children],
because that's who He says it belongs to.
and this is where we find freedom.

and for some this may be easy..
to bow down low before your Maker.
recognize your need.
but when it comes to taking down those walls with the flesh and blood body of Christ that sits next to us, it's a whole different story. 

because if you're like me,
you want to focus only on the areas of growth.
the areas where you excel.
the ways you've been completely transformed.
and would rather just avoid the places of current toil and struggle and battle.
but it's in this place of humility,
bringing our weakness to the table,  not only our strengths,
that we're going to find true unity.
because we'll finally see each member and each gifting as truly necessary,
on a corporate and individual level.
i'll see that i need you, and you'll see that you need me to fully advance the Kingdom,
both in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

so allow Him to break off the pride.
and break down the walls.

so He can be strong and seen and glorified
through our weakness and our need.



[just to clarify.. please don't hear what i'm not saying.. this is not a call to a false humility Christianity, with the "woe is me, i'm just a sinner and will always be a sinner mentality".. it's actually the opposite. if you've been redeemed, you're just that. completely new, set free and totally righteous in His sight, with all the grace you need to obey His commands and fulfill the destiny He has for you. and that's exactly what you need and what causes you to overcome-- His grace!

and obviously, when it comes to sharing specific areas of weakness.. use discernment.pray about what to share, when to share and with whom to share. ]

begin.

There's a pressing on my heart to share what I feel like He's speaking to me, and desiring to speak to someone else, today.


"you have to start some where.
beloved, do not be discouraged or deterred because you have not yet attained that which is on your heart, that which you aspire to.

>>your goal, your vision, your hope
should not be a source of condemnation<<.
[that's what the enemy tries to twist it into].

rather, let it be your driving force in keeping your eyes on Him as you begin. and as you continue.

it's foolish to not begin because you think you should be or you desire to be further down the road.

you have to start some where.

one foot in front of the other.


there is no stagnation in Christianity.
the soul is always in motion.
and the enemy is constantly stealing.

if we're not taking ground,
we're losing it.
if we're not moving forward,
we're moving backwards.
so now is the time, beloved.
He is glorified in your weakness.
and He is propelled by your hunger.
"do not despise these small beginnings" [zechariah 4:10],
for the Lord is so pleased. "

fan the flame. do not grow dim.

Sunday.
The end of the week.  A week that I’m almost having trouble wrapping my head and heart around.
and I feel like I can finally pause. And take a breath.
try to process. Try to decompress.
to rest.
and just shut out the news.
and quiet the chaos that surrounds and increases.
to just take a moment.
a moment of somber silence.
for the blood of the 21 poured out on that beach,,
because they refused to renounce the One whose blood was poured out for them first.
and I can’t help but tremble within as I read of their heartfelt songs of worship that left their lips as they loved not their lives unto death. And it’s in the bleakness of their death that we see what it truly means to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
and their testimony speaks a thousand words, a ripple across the nations. 
the call of Isaiah 60.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

it’s time to arise.
to shine in these days.
when the beheading of the 21 is called a “message signed with blood to the nation of the Cross”.
when one of American’s so-called most popular and influential pastors calls the very Word of God irrelevant.
when darkness and confusion seems to overwhelm the Light and Truth.
this is when we need to shine, Church.

and yet,
so many lamps are flickering.
so many lights growing dim.
barely there.

and it’s as I read the words of those very “letters from 2000 years ago” that are being claimed as “irrelevant”,
that I’m reminded that He already said that all of this would happen.
the very days we’re living in.
the very week we just had.
is all laid out in Matthew 24.

[[“As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?^”

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
 >>But the one who endures to the end will be saved<<. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”]]

and so I’m comforted.
and I’m exhorted.

[to not let my love, or the love of any in my reach, to grow cold.
to not let my light, or the light of any around me, to grow dim.
but to burn.
to burn with such passionate, radiant heat
that it melts the icy hearts around me.]

because we’re called to shine.
and the hour is quickly coming when our lamps must be trimmed and ready. Full of oil.

and I hear the Bridegroom calling out,

[Stir up your affection.
stir up your passion.
now is not the time to grow dim.
now is not the time to wax cold.
stir it up.
and the wind of my Spirit will blow.
and fan the flame within you.

because you have all of My affection.
and I am deeply passionate about you.

My eye has never left you.
My gaze is set.

Even if your light is just a flicker,
My love has never changed.
there is no condemnation.
there is no shame.
My anger is far from you.

for a bruised reed I will not break,
and a faintly burning wick I will not quench.]


so arise, Church.
and shine.

because when the enemy thinks he’s snuffed out 21 torches,,
he’s really just fanned the flame of the Church,
and set a match to the nations.





 

writings of these pilgrim days. [prepare].

the nations rage.
the people plot in vain.
the kings and rulers of this world set themselves against the Lord and His Anointed [[Jesus]].
Seeking to remove Him from their midst completely.

[Psalm 2]'s perfect description of the crisis of our day.


and so,
these words.
given to me on December 13th.
i don't say them lightly. they have intense weight in my heart and in this season.
and so i share out of obedience. out of burning love. out of a hunger for righteousness and a desire for His glory-- in my life and in yours.


Beloved,,
[[it's time to prepare]].
purging.
priorities.
pursuit.

what are you going after?
what are you running towards?

I AM beckoning you.
come close.
draw near.

[[there is a shaking coming]].

be awake. be firm.

a rumbling from the mountains.

>>know where your strength lies<<




and so,
i ask you to do what He's asked me to do..
>>prayerfully seek how He would have you prepare for the season that's ahead and the days that we're walking into<<.
the cry of His heart in this hour is to [draw near]. we NEED to know His voice in this hour like never before.


We were made for such a time as this.
let us walk in destiny.
and as the writer of Hebrews encourages us,
[[let us be grateful for receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken,
and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.]]
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

of slowing and thanking,, because busyness breaks.

here is the link to my newest post. :)