Unity in Christ Vision

I had this one about two weeks ago. It hit me powerfully and unexpectedly.

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I was surrounded with shades of black and gray.  I was praying and weeping.  I felt so alone, even though I knew this is not the Truth.  I told God, "Sometimes I feel like I am so alone in this world!  I am an alien and stranger, here!  No one gets me, but You.  Few use their free will and time wisely, including me.  This world is so broken and backwards.  The modern Church is so asleep, spiritually.  I feel I am alone in this battle and quest for righteousness that is lived out in spite of circumstance.  No one truly lives Love, God!  Is there anyone out there who understands Your heart?  I weep for you, God.  I weep for me.  I am alone, here, except for You."

I told God that even though I feel alone, I will fight with all my might to grow in Faith, obedience and mad love for Jesus.  I told Him I would continue to praise and worship Him, even if I was the only one on Earth doing so.  I wept.  I buried my face in my hands and thanked Him for even the trials, because I trust Him to use ALL things for my good.  I asked God for reprieve from heartache.  I begged Him.  I was on my knees, hunched over to the ground, face and tears covered with my hands, resolving myself to this spiritual solitude.

As I lay like this, curled in a ball, I suddenly saw a cross, eyes closed.  It was a shadow, at first.  It began to come into my mind's eye more clearly, and it was huge!!  Massive.  I felt God was reminding me of Jesus' ultimate act of Love for me.  I saw myself weeping at the foot of the cross.  I was reaching my arms and eyes up to the Heavens above before the giant cross which was now illuminated, somehow.  The sky was dark with endless, billowing, angry clouds.  Behind me was a vast, heavy blackness.  I wanted to climb it desperately.  I wanted to escape the heavy, black abyss behind me.  I wanted desperately to climb up the cross, but I couldn't.  I was too small.  Too weak.  So, I resolved myself to worship in solitude.

Suddenly, peace washed over me like a wave of extreme energy and calm, all at once!  I felt God speak to my heart in this moment.  He told me to look around me.  I didn't want to.  I wanted to keep worshipping before the giant cross.  Rays of light began to shoot out in beams from the cross.  This illuminated the darkness on the ground immediately in front of the cross, and not far away, I saw another figure reaching up to the sky and the cross, just like me.  I looked to the other side, and saw a figure of a person there, as well.  I was shocked that they were there.  I hadn't noticed them before.  And they hadn't noticed me. I looked beyond them, and saw a line of many people stretching in both directions, all with arms raised to God, like me.  All in tears, mourning their solitude. 

There was an opening in the dark clouds above the cross.  Not a huge opening, but there was the brightest, white light pouring down from the heavens, even more illuminating the cross, and all of us at it's base.  The figures were silouettes without detail, as was I.  We had human form, but that's all I could see about the people on both sides of me.  We became aware of each other.  We were all shocked that we were not alone. 

The cross instantly became magnetic.  It began pulling us in closer to each other.  We became a united mass of figures being pulled together close.  We began to be pulled upward, up the base of the cross.  We swirled up the bottom section of the cross.  When we reached the arms of the cross, we were so happy and united in the knowing that God loves us and was pulling us up towards heaven!  We turned from dark, faceless figures into actual lights, tons of them, swirling around the base, up the trunk, around the arms up the top.  So much light... Beautiful and sparkling.  Swirling.  A beautiful dance of souls, together in our unconditional love for God. 

There was still that endless black emptiness behind us, but we became only focused on the light which was beaming even brighter now through the clouds of the heavens.  This was our only focus. The unseen power kept lifting us higher... higher... swirling lights.  A beautiful melody was in the air, with multiple voices in harmony, singing a melody of praise.  We were rising away from the endless darkness.  We were now high above it.  We were glimmering.  God was pleased with us. There was such togetherness.  Such Peace!  Joy!  Unity!  Praise you, God!  Thank You!
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I left my prayer time with big Holy Spirit goosebumps.  He was speaking to my spirit.  I heard (not audibly, but with my spiritual ears), "You are not alone!  You already know that I AM always with you, but the time has come for you to become aware that you have brothers and sisters who feel just as alone as you did.  This is a quiet, sneaky lie of the prince of darkness.  Resist it.  It cannot touch you.  It can only decieve you.  But, I am the Way, Truth and Life.  I've come to strengthen you."

We are NOT alone.  God is uniting us in our exaltation of Him, and lifting us from the darkness.  We are being pulled upwards, together!  Rejoice. Revival is near!!!

Boys

I am raising gentle warriors.

Now that my oldest child, my daughter, has graduated highschool and gone to college , I am left at home being mom to two teenage boys.

For most of their lives, my two boys have been raised by a single mom (me, to be clear).  This has not been easy, especially considering the fact that I am such a sensitive person. But I can see how God is using even my softness to mold my boys.

Life has handed both of them hardships in their pasts. But they are such strong individuals. And I know that they are going to use those hardships to become wiser and stronger, someday.  I've no doubt, whatsoever.  The growth and character that I am seeing in them make me feel so at peace with the future that God has for them.  I just know they are going to do great things for this world.

I definitely believe in the power of women. I am a very, very strong one, although, a very sensitive one. Sensitivity doesn't make one weak.  It makes one wise.  But, I also believe in the power of men!  There are so many wonderful characteristics that I do not possess that my boys and husband do. I am so thankful for their gifts that are so different than mine.  God's design is just so perfect and balanced.  I feel that men and women need to acknowledge each other's strengths and weaknesses, and encourage them! 

I have definitely noticed a difference between boys and girls in my relationship with my boys. They're each a little bit different from each other, too... Okay, a lot different.  But they are also completely different than I am.  All of us appreciate the differences in the dynamic that we have, and that is why I truly believe that there does not need to be segregation between male and female to the point where one needs to be demonized. They are such beautiful people.  There can be no competition between the sexes, when they are both so beautiful and so different. It would be like comparing a rainbow to a waterfall.

I don't know what in the world I would do without my precious boys.  I can't tell you how many times they have been there for me when I was low, and my protectors when I was weak.  And I know they would say the exact same thing about me.  A family is a unit. We are all work together to be the best unit we can be. .....I wish the world was more like that.  All of this competing and comparing is dragging us down as a people.

I know that God is helping me raise these boys to be strong.  I am so very thankful for God's leadership in my parenting of them!  I would never be able to do it without Him.  They're going to do really great things.

If you are a mom of boys, consider yourself extremely blessed. You have an opportunity to show them how to be empathetic, while still being the men that they are. You have an opportunity to make this world a better place in the way that you raise your boys.  My suggestion to you when times get tough with them, as they will, I guarantee you... keep being you, while continuing to encourage them to be who they are.  Never take that away from them.  Help them to see the full picture.  It is up to us to nurture compassion, while encouraging strength.  It is not easy in today's times; but with God's help, you can do anything, and do it well.  We've got this. ❤️

The Shift

I, and many of you, are noticing that many of us are experiencing a spiritual shift right now. Some of you are seeing it and some of you are actually feeling it within yourselves.  I have been feeling it within myself, and want to talk about it for a minute, to encourage you on this journey and let you know you are not alone.

When the shift begins to happen within you, you might face some opposition, both from outside sources and from within yourself. Historically, change doesn't come about without resistance.  So, if the change that you see growing within you is a good thing, then I would just suggest that you try to feel encouraged when you encounter resistance!  That means that you are on the right path.

It is super important for you to be covered in prayer. You don't necessarily need to acquire it from outside sources (though it definitely helps), unless you are not able to pray, yourself. But all of us have the ability to pray, if we can just get past our walls, insecurities and faithlessness.  Reach out to your Creator, speaking to Him directly; asking for His covering, protection and enlightenment.  We can do this for ourselves AND we can do this for others. This is the best gift that we can give to anyone, including ourselves.

As you shift, you will notice that everything changes, from your desires, to your interests, to your entire way of thinking.  When you see this happen it will either make you feel excited or afraid. Don't be afraid of the unknown.  God is doing a good work in you, and he will be faithful to complete it.  This is a promise that he has made to us in Scripture.  It is written upon our hearts.

Listen carefully to His voice. You will know God's voice when you hear it within your being.  It is not something that you typically hear with your ears, and it is not something that mirrors your normal emotions, thoughts or feelings.  It is much stronger. And God's voice will never ask of you things that are not morally right. The shift that you experience with God will only cause you to want to do good, and to spread that good to others.

Be aware. Be aware of the things of this world and also the things of Eternity, and find your ability to discern between the two.  Put your focus on the things of God, not on the things of this world.  If you do this, you will begin to feel a deep sense of inner peace that no words can describe.  When you sense this, you will know you are on the right path.

God's way is the only way, IF what your heart of hearts wants is to have ETERNAL success.  Best wishes on your journey!!!  This is a very exciting time.

Be a Blessing

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
- Galatians 6:9

Don't give up.  It is easy to become tired of doing good when we are doing good solely for the response that we wish to receive.  But if we do good without any expectation, and we do it solely for the sake of being a blessing, it's not as easy to become tired of it.

Doing good is addictive. I talk a lot about the mind and the power of thought. When we do good for others, it gives our minds an actual scientifically proven physical reaction. The naturally resulting dopamine pings in our brain remind us that we feel good when we do good for others.  This is the reason that giving truly does feel better than receiving.  If you find yourself in a place where you are doing most of the giving, then be grateful! Because you are not only blessing the other person, you are actually blessing yourself, as well.  Don't stop!

Kindness is contagious.  Selfishness is not.  Both are a choice.  Most people do not set out to be selfish.  Most have good intentions, initially.  Choice comes into play with doing good works when your good works become expected and/or taken for granted.  It can become harder to give when you realize you are giving to a taker.  This is not to say that you should not give to someone who is not grateful, it is just to remind you that their gratitude is not the point. Your kindness will catch on.  You WILL see the fruits of your actions when you give, even if it takes more time then you wish for it to.  Not that that is the point... just sayin'.

Observe your good works.  Find something genuinely nice to say to the grouchy person ahead of you in line, and observe how you both feel, afterwards.  Give a homeless man a sandwich and some encouraging words and observe how you both feel.  Give your spouse a random hug and kiss and observe how you both feel.  Serve a snack to your child and ask them about their day and observe how you both feel.  Call a friend and ask how they are doing (and really listen to them) and observe how you both feel.  Compliment a stranger and give them a genuine smile and observe how you both feel.  Most times, both parties will feel very positive things.  And if one of the parties does not, chances are the other party does. So you have a 50-50 chance of making someone feel really good today, even if it is just you.

Speak life!  Random acts of kindness are on the rise.  You are not the only one.  Be an intrigal part of the kindness movement.  Practicing the "Golden Rule" makes this world a happier place to be, for you, and for others.  Be a blessing today, in some small way.  It will be worth it.  Know that your actions DO make an impact on this world.  Be a blessing.

Money and Madness

I am writing this while contemplating the fact that money seems to drive everything in today's culture.  We need it to survive, but it can easily become "god-like", to any one of us.  There's too fine a line between want and need, these days.  But, when it is earned, it is owed.  That brings me to the point of this post.

I think of my father, who has been a pastor for a very small church for decades, and has received a very small amount of pay for many years.  He serves God and his country, both previously in the military, and now as a law enforcement Chaplain and a Pastor.  My Dad is a selfless Patriot.  He chose his current profession because God called him to be a helper. 

He served in Korea as an M.P. in the Army around 1968/69 when "Agent Orange" was present. He was exposed to it. He has had a multitude of health issues, including diabetes, severe asthma, and multiple heart attacks with pursuant surgeries that were extremely life threatening.  All but one of his comrades have died because of this deadly chemical exposure, which was required of them by their service to the U.S. government during that time.  He has yet to receive ANY veteran pay or commendation for his duties, at the age of 70.  He filed for V.A. pay many years ago, but keeps getting lost in their shuffle of paperwork and excuses.

This is so disheartening.  I feel like our priorities in this country are completely out of whack.  My father earned his pay as a Veteran but is not receiving any of it due to "lack of interest" in humanity.

Agendas have become more important than people. Money has become more important than morals.  We need to value mankind.  We should value and adequately reward our Veterans.  Something must be done.  It starts with us.

Focus on the Good

A couple of days ago, I was praying to God and asking Him how come He doesn't just nuke this whole entire world. It is so bad!  There are so many people who desire to do evil!  It is disheartening to me, so I can only imagine how disheartening it is to our Creator to see the choices and actions of mankind, and all of the destruction that results.  He spoke back to my heart, instantly.

When I said, "The world is bad", He said, "No.  It is not.  It is good." ... This was not what I was expecting to hear from Him. Then He said to me, "There is so much good.  Even more good than there is bad. It is just harder to see. You need to focus on the good. You need to look for it."

WOW!!!!

God really thinks the world is good?!?!  He still has Hope in us?  If He sees it this way, then I must, too.

I have become aware that conscious thought is necessary. I need to choose to dwell on the good and not on the bad. The bad can seem so much larger, because the good is not in our faces everyday.

I believe that we can train our minds and create a conscious shift. If we acknowledge the good when it happens and choose to open our thoughts to it, then, close our thoughts to any of the negative... if we do this on a consistent basis, change can happen in us.  And if change happens in us, change can happen in ALL of us! 

Let's shift our thoughts and change our world.

Focus on the good.

Hold on to Hope

What does one do when they have all the internal tools for change, but zero hope? The Logical answer would be that it does not matter how you feel, if you have the psychological tools.  But that logical answer discounts the fact that feelings DO matter.  Feelings matter a great deal.  Feelings affect everything.  And without hope, there isn't much spark to the fuse to action.

There are a lot of things in this world that take away our hope.  We see them on a daily basis. From the news, to daily life, to how we see people completely disregard other people so easily, and seemingly without conscience. In these daily instances and interactions, our hope is diminished. This, consequently, diminishes our will to act.

So, what if we DO have the tools, but we do not have the will or the emotional strength required to use them?  I believe that this is one of the number one tools the enemy uses to cause us to be numb and complacent and defeated. He loves to take away our hope and see us fail.

In my personal life, there are things that have completely depleted my sense of ability to possess hope. I have lost nearly everything this past year, and I'm still facing some giant obstacles and trials ahead. In my human weakness, I really don't see a lot of hope. But then I have to ask myself, what is hope, and where does it come from?

The spiritual definition of Hope is: the trusting expectation that God will keep His word.  If I believe in God, and I believe that His word is true, then I must believe that there is hope!

Belief is a choice, therefore, Hope is a choice. This is a statement that I do not make easily. I am a very emotional person.  What I feel impacts my life on a very deep level. It is hard for me to make choices in spite of feelings.  But this is something that God is showing me that I need to truly work on in order to have the best quality of life. I need to acknowledge that hope is a choice, that hope is a gift, and that hope is always there for me, as long as I choose to reach out and grab it.

Nothing in this world has ever been accomplished without hope. Hold on to it. And if you don't have it, choose it.  Your life will transform. I truly believe this with all of my heart, and will be reporting back to you on my own results.

When nothing seems to be going your way, and when you feel that you are up against the mightiest mountain, hold on and press forward!!!! Hold on to Hope.  If you have nothing to begin with, then you have nothing to lose. Hope will get us through to the Finish Line.