Way Maker

As you know, last month I went to the Bethel conference called Heaven Come in Grand Prairie, Texas, ... and I haven’t been the same! 🤔The worship was incredible and a few of the songs became an anthem in my heart. 

This past weekend, I took a last minute QUICK trip to Minnesota for a family wedding and time with my husband’s elderly parents. Saturday, after the wedding, we went to one of the area attractions, Minnehaha Falls. As I was walking down the stairs to the falls I heard a “trumpet” (I later saw it was a shofar). I was intrigued and had to investigate what was going on. Then I also heard drums and thought maybe there was some Native American Indian gathering going on.

When I got to the bottom of the stairs, and walked toward the bridge over the creek, there was a small group of Nigerian believers releasing a "new song" at the base of the falls. The words they were singing were that of a worship and declaration of the God I love!  Of course, I had to encounter what God was up to!❤

I walked over the them and then we began to exchange our stories, testimonies, and our hearts on fire for Him. We were immediately connected as one, in Him!  I just love how a total stranger becomes a co-laborer in a "happenstance" 😉 connection!

All this to say, that in our sharing I mentioned how I have been to Nigeria and I left a part of my heart there.  I then started sharing about this new song I have been hearing that was written by another Nigerian, Way Maker. They immediately said yes, as they not only knew the song but they knew the writer, Sinach!

Right there a suddenly erupted as we all spontaneously began singing the song - declaring the truth of who our God is over Minneapolis! Don’t you just love when the Lord encounters us like that?

So now this morning, I “stumbled” 😂 across this song. (We never “stumble anywhere – right?” God is so intentional!  As we enter this new Hebraic year of 5780 (as we are on the doorstep of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) let’s take a minute to remember who our God is and what He can do! 

To hear the news on secular airwaves, you would think the world has gone crazy and then we are invaded by heaven... right here on earth! The Lord sweetly and kindly drops sweet kisses from heaven into your lap. 

Take a minute and listen to this version of Way Maker.  It is my most favorite rendition (that I can find recorded), although Michael Bethany of Gateway church in Southlake has an anointed version as well – just not shareable – you have to hear him live. 

Remember, He is YOUR way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness... that is who He is!! Have a fabulous day IN Him!  He wants to encounter earth WITH you.  Make room for Him!

Never Forget - A day of remembering....

Never Forget!

But have we forgotten?  Our country came together in the days after this horrible tragedy.  People prayed openly together. We saw grown men, strangers, hugging one another. Stores sold out of American Flags!  Black, white, republican, democrat, rich, poor - didn't matter; we were as one!  We were ALL Americans and we were united as a country.

Now we have some taking a knee in protest over that very same flag.  We speak harshly against others who are not our race, our color, our ethnicity.  What has happened to our nation? We are divided and divisive and many are even farther from God.  Father forgive us for only pressing into you when calamity comes.  I have not forgotten and I am forever thankful those who ran INTO Trouble to save strangers they new nothing about.  Love does that.  Love gives!

On this day of reflection, let us also not forget to remember WHO our God is and what He does ... He is the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper and the Light in the Darkness — That is WHO HE IS!

When I went to the Heaven Come event (in Grand Prairie, Texas, two week-ends ago) they sang this song: Way Maker.  This link is the closest version I have found online to what we heard at the event as Bethel hasn't recorded their version yet. Let this song get in your spirit and heal all that ails you because there sure is a lot of darkness around us.

I have been ministering to many broken situations in Godly people's lives almost daily for months now. I am sure you know of many people hurting too, suffering, struggling BUT "even when we don't feel it, He's working! Even when we don't see it, He's working. He never stops, He never stops working!" Praise His Holy Name!

Currently, a funeral is going on for a 32-year-old young man who was in our home (and lives) for 3 years while two of my children went to a ministry school. He was a room-mate to one son and then boss to another. He spent many weekends at our home. He loved God and served him full-on since I have known him. He married (8 years ago) and leaves behind his wife, a 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. My daughter was 2 when we met him and now he has a 2-year-old. He chose to "wait" for his wife. He kissed her (for the first time) at the altar on their wedding day in the presence of their families. He valued family; both from where he came and what he was going. He would even call me "mom". His wife shared this week-end how he would kneel at her side by the bed, every night to pray over her before she went to sleep. He has finished his race and she is left clinging to Jesus! But we know, Jesus IS the Way Maker - even in the darkness. Right? Her faith is grounded in the Lord yet her knees are knocking as she looks ahead. Jesus come!

I know several people who recently have buried their mates in just the last few months. Men who are upside-down in grief and wives too, pressing into Him. Jesus come!

Another friend's husband lost his job of 20 years and they are facing change and uncertainty. They know God is faithful but they are clinging to Him to find the next place. Jesus come!

I have been ministering to a woman who has been battling darkness over her life, like a cloud for over 3 years. She loves God greatly and is struggling to get free. Her head knows the answers but her heart fails her. Jesus come!

As you may have read, another Christian minister committed suicide yesterday, and again, a friend of my son's, (from the ministry school) knew this pastor personally. People around the nation are left wondering. Questioning. Hurting. He too left behind a wife and children.

Sickness and disease pressing into families/friends... battles for health, strength. Jesus come!
I ministered to another woman (and husband) who are dealing with grown (Christian) children who have broken fellowship with them. Their family is hurting. Unforgiveness is chained to hearts. Jesus come.

Another Christian family has a 20-something child who has decided to "live on the streets" (in a vehicle) with her boyfriend. She suddenly walked away from a great job with living arrangements; bitter, broken, angry, and doing their own thing. Jesus come.

I have had several calls, texts, messages from people dealing with "marriages" - some married less than a year, others married decades. Christian, God-fearing couples breaking-up. Husband's have "secret" affairs (real and online) and wives left shocked, devastated, broken. Wives hanging on to unforgiveness and not choosing to forgive. Money wars. Hate. Anger. Jesus come.

Who do you know that is walking through "a storm"? I think we all know someone that is being "pressed" to their very core. Hanging on tightly to Jesus and praying they will come through. Maybe it is you. Jesus come!

The days we are living in are quite intense BUT...

...what I know is that I HAVE TO STAND on what I know (not what I feel, not what I think, not what people say, not even what church people tell me).

WHAT I KNOW IS that JESUS IS THE ANSWER! He is the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness. My God - THAT IS WHO YOU ARE!

All Hail King Jesus! - How to have a conversation with the King.

This morning I felt the Lord press me to share.  I have loved social media and thanked the Lord for its ability for me to be connected to friends/family who have moved away and also to be fed (I have allowed only edifying posts to come through my screen - blocking the vial images, mindless games and such) allowing uplifting posts but, as with anything, we need to find the lanes to operate in. Social media, for all the good (which I believe there has been some good) has become a horrible venue for thoughtful, nuanced, respectful dialogue as people have become so free with their "speech" as they declare their "rights"...trampling over others.  I am intrigued by the people (some I know, some I read about) who declare boldly to others that they are "nice, merciful, meek, dare I say, even kind" (inferring others aren't) and it's up to them to champion for the "weak, forgotten, wounded, lonely, rejected", (... you pick your adjective) slaying people on the path as "Champions" (many of these "champions" call themselves Christians and think they are battling for Christ). They see no problem "trampling over" all those that disagree with them; shouting out their views, calling names, maybe even using obscenities, marching, protesting (even some wearing vulgar hats).  True, in Christ, all things are permissible (you CAN do this as a Christian) but not all things are beneficial. (I Corinthians 10:23). This behavior has been "justified" by many as I have seen utter rudeness displayed on topics ranging from illegal immigration, to gay rights, and anti-establishment issues - even speaking disrespectfully defaming offices of highest esteem to those in authority (Romans 13:1) and MANY of these voices call themselves by the name of "Christ".  I agree that hard topics need to be discussed; in fact, I totally believe that we, the church, have not done this well BUT hate-filled, attacking, defamation speech and words being spewed among the "brethren" at the brethren, the name-calling, angry actions manifesting, and all this happening being fully justified in our behavior is NOT the way of the gospel.  I know you have seen this too. Christians, in anger, confronting other Christians saying, "you were wrong (for not being kind, like me) because you did this or that" as they do the very thing they are accusing others of having done against them to their brother.  How does that work?

My dad used to say, "You have the right to swing your arms, ... until you hit someone else in the nose."  Think about it. 😳 What is happening to us, the church?  Where is love?  For that matter, what is love?  If you haven't ever talked with me, you will find I love to ask questions and I have learned to take my questions to the Lord.

I minister to many people in various situations from all over North America. I read about this or hear about that; Christians reaching out with broken lives, broken stories, broken relationships, broken finances, broken health, did I say broken,... broken!  Sometimes people are dealing with another people's current sin choices and sometimes they are just dealing with someone's past offenses. They could be dealing with their own failures and their own unforgiveness; toward themselves and/or toward others but we don't get to stay in a place of broken, again, not as believers. Let me say, it again, God let's us choose whatever we want to do, but AS BELIEVERS, who believe, we are required to live GOD'S way, not our own! We choose to lay down our lives, our way, our rights. (I John 3:14-16).  I truly am seeing we are so far from God and His way in our society. Christians awake!  We have become the very churches that John wrote warnings to in Revelation - far from God. Think about this, John is talking to the CHURCHES, not the world! Let.that.sink.in. and read it again: Revelation gave warnings to CHURCHES — Christian people; the YOU's AND ME!  Father, I repent!  I want YOUR way, not my own way! (Isaiah 53:6).

We are living in a time where more than ever, God is reminding us that He requires immediate obedience from His people. This requires us HEARING Him. Many Christians I have encountered say they pray (talk to God), maybe that is you, but when it comes to them telling me they "hear" Him, that is a different discussion.  Many tell me they read their bible or they go to church and they are fairly confident when they say they know God because they think knowing Him is talking to Him or talking ABOUT Him or going to church or reading their bible - right? Some feel they know Him because they are working FOR Him, but does "working for someone" mean that you truly LET them (your boss [God in this instance]) into your personal life?  Even the demons say they know of and believe in Jesus. (James 2:19). A question we really need to be asking is not just do we "know" Him but have we made Him King and do we follow Him? Are we bondservants?  That is what Paul called following after the Lord? Do we HEAR HIM? Do we dialog WITH Him and does He speak to us?  See relationship is not just one person doing all the talking (us praying) but true intimacy requires TWO; both sharing, giving, building, responding.  The question really gets down to, does He know me? (Matthew 7:21-23).

Let me dig this out... people say they "pray" (talk to God) but then what? What is He saying TO you after you talked to Him?  I ask people, how did He "answer" you (your prayer)?  Crickets. 😳  Many times I hear nothing from them because they say He didn't answer.  I have heard them say God doesn't respond. What?  How is this amazing God we serve not responding? He says, My sheep hear MY voice (John 10:27)...so He HAS to talk to us, otherwise He would be a liar because we (as sheep) hear His voice!  Maybe we are just not asking the right questions.

Again, I believe the question is do WE know HOW to talk to Him so He can respond and then do we wait to hear from Him and what He is saying to us? Over and over in Revelation is says, "to Him who has an ear let Him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches". I am truly convinced we don't let Him speak because deep down, many times, we just don't know how to hear Him, to listen to Him; to respond.  And, if we are honest, there are also those who really don't WANT to hear Him at all because that could quite possibly require them to "change"... and who loves to "change" and is willing to "change"?  We really don't like doing anything we don't like doing.

So, my question to you is, do you ask Him to speak to you?  Do you ask Him questions?  Acts 2 teaches us two great questions to ask to begin a conversation with the Lord.  It teaches us WHAT to ask.  In verse 13 they ask, "What does this mean?" Then in verse 37 they ask, "What are we to do?"  This is such a great place to start with the Lord.  When you pray (and if you are like most people, you get into the list of things you want God to fix - pray) you tell Him all kinds of things.  But next time you pray, take that list of things and stop.  Let's say you have issues in your job.  You have been praying about all the broken thing going on with the boss and such.  Take that situation to the Lord and use Act 2 as your guide.  Like this: Lord, what is this "issue" I am having at work? What does this mean?  Then let the Lord respond.  He may say, "Well, you have unforgiveness toward your boss because you didn't the raise you thought you should get and now you are bitter about it.

Then ask the Lord the second question: "What do you want me to do about that?"  I promise you, God will talk to you! He desires communication WITH us.  He wants us to dialog WITH Him.  This is just a great place to start.  Before you know it, you will be hearing the Lord with great ease - even in your dreams!

I ponder/dialog many things with the Lord as this area of broken Christianity is just one arena I have seen such wounding in the body of believers.  Even this morning I woke up to a dream regarding distention in some outside relationships (of believers, not having to do with me) and I was pressed back into Him to find out what it means.  Follow up questions with the Lord!

Have we lost our way in the body of Christ? People have become so "me" centered. They "rise up" to "speak out" (all the while thinking they think they are the champions for the weak (they even quote scriptures justifying their stance) but are they truly seeing how their actions are hurting others?  As believers do we get to stand on one scripture and deny the others?

In my conversations with these type of Christians, they feel "justified" because their way seems right (to them).  Hmmm, God even addresses this in His word: there is a way that seems right to man.... (Proverbs 14:12). When did humanity become the face of JUSTICE?  Even Jesus said He didn't come to judge* (John 12:47).  *[Judge (v): (to) form an opinion or conclusion about.] These Christians have expressed to me that they feel the ends (how they are acting) justify the means (the cause they are fighting for) but that isn't Christlikeness.

They state things like, "You [whatever our topic is] acted like a jerk [whatever they disagree about] so I get to treat you poorly too!" Really?  Two wrongs make a right now? Suddenly, we have Christians feeling justified to being rude, hateful, condescending, and dare I say, even anti-Christlike to each other?  But that isn't the only tactic. No!  Some Christians see this rude behavior is clearly "not Christlike" so they don't go there, they have another avenue to vent their aught; they just block people out of their life and won't talk to them. They choose to ignore those they have "conflict" with.  If they have to be in the same spaces (like family gatherings, they don't acknowledge them), or they avoid them (like at work, walking a different way to the lunchroom), or they cut them off (like deleting them from facebook or unfollow them on Instagram).  (Matthew 5:23-24). What has happened to, "Come let us reason together?" (Isaiah 1:18). I have seen this over and over again in what we call Christianity and we wonder why many people today want nothing to do with our Jesus?  Father forgive us!

As believers, we don't "get" to (although the Lord always let's us choose so we can do this) crush all others in our paths while we are on the road for what we think is justice.  The Kingdom of God has no place for our self-righteousness. When WE think WE are "building a better place and helping Holy Spirit" - that is a clear indicator that WE have pride in our lives.  Seems we all think "our way" is the "right" way...but what does Jesus say?  What does Jesus think? People talk and say they are "believers" but what do they do?  Our actions are telling the story.

This past Thursday, a 32 year-old young man (that was in ministry with two of my grown sons years ago) went to sleep and didn't wake up.  He left behind a wife of 8 years with two small children; a son who is 4 and a daughter who is 2.  We met him when my daughter was 2, she is now 16. We had him in our home many times during the three years he was in ministry with our boys. He has now finished his race — strong; serving and loving God, his family, and his friends.  He is in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) as he lived his faith, sharing with all he knew his love and need for Christ. Everyday I find myself pressing into the Lord with my questions, my concerns, my needs, my desires, and this event was no different. His passing caused me to encounter the Lord too.  We don't know when we will be called home.  Life is fleeting. I encourage you to encounter the Lord while He is still able to be found. (Isaiah 55:6-13).  We, the church need to start being the Bride - ready for her coming groom! (Revelation 19:7).

The Lord led me to worship this morning, after I awoke from the dream and began to encounter Him.  Worship is a great place to start our conversations with the Lord.  Jesus said so, saying this is how you should pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,..." (Matthew 6:9-13) - there it is, hallowed; it means "holy, consecrated".  Take some time to worship Him - His holiness; consecrate yourself to be like Him — Holy! (I Peter 1:15-17).

I started with this song, by Jeremy Riddle, All Hail King Jesus. But what about you?  Are you willing to let Him be King and rule over all — even over you?  Jesus come!