It is SO worth it!

Numerous times over the years, I have heard Christians say such things as, “Ooh, don’t pray for patience, or God will give it to you.”  The implication is that it is better to wallow in impatience and mediocrity and spiritual impotence than to go through the pain of cleansing and maturing necessary to make us holy and effective for God’s kingdom.

What I am saying is that when we joke like that, it often reveals a certain undercurrent of fear concerning our relationship with God — that if we ask God for something (like patience), that it will not only be painful, but actually not worth it — as if God doesn’t care for us as much as we care for ourselves — and that we somehow need to actually protect ourselves from Him at times.  Yes, there is pain at times in following Jesus — but it is always always always meant to bless us — and the glorious pay-off, both here and in eternity is mind-blowingly worth it!

I heard this story about a Christian summer youth camp, where a counselor asked the teens this question: “If you let God choose your mate for you, how many believe that it would be someone unattractive?” And almost all of them raised their hands.

This is how many view God — as that big Someone up there who has this big strategic plan that involves us continually, painfully dying to ourselves, “for our own good”, out of obligation to the “greater cause”. Our lives here on earth may suck, but as good soldiers, we just need to quit our complaining and keep fighting.

When in reality, God has a more wonderful plan for us than anyone could possibly imagine.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”… (1 Corinthians 2:9)

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

I believe the key is intimacy. The better we really know Him, the more we will enjoy Him, and the more we will trust Him.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)

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The River!

“Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the River flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this Water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the River flows everything will live.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

This RIVER changes the Dead Sea to Living Water.  It changes the Zombie Apocalypse to Glory Revival!

Heavenly Abba – please show us what we have done to stop up this River – and what we can do to experience more FLOW!

The Spiritual Discipline of EATING!!!

“But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.'” (John 4:32)

“Then the angel said to me, ‘”Write this: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” (Revelation 19:9)

By denying our natural appetites (through fasting), it can help redirect our appetites and passions away from the passing things of this world and towards a more eternal cuisine!  And this is important beyond imagining…because where a man’s greatest appetite is, there his heart will be also.  And where your heart is, there you will end up.

End-time Bride…

Earlier today, as I lay in bed, it seemed that Holy Spirit was saying a lot of things. And perhaps the most important is this:

“Do you know why the Bible refers to many sons and daughters of God but only one Bride? That is because the Bride is the main identity that the Church will become as we approach the end of this age and the wedding of the Lamb. And as we approach this wedding, one of the signature qualities of the Bride will be one-ness and true, SPIRIT-DEFINED and SPIRIT-LED unity, far beyond anything the Church has yet experienced.”

And as this happens, the world will respond and be caught up in a glorious revival beyond imagining.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”(John 17:20-23)

And along with this mind-blowing revival, there will be much turmoil and shaking in the earth and among the nations. And because of this, I encourage everyone to seek His face and His grace as we approach these beyond-amazing times. “Fasten your seat-belt, Dorothy, ’cause Kansas is going bye-bye.”