The Wings of The Wind

     Recently my family walked through an unexpected crisis with my husbands health. I will probably be sharing on an ongoing basis some of what I have learned as I have walked through this with the Lord. 

     One of the most prominent things I learned is that we have to chose what to look for in a crisis. We can either focus on the enemy or we can focus on what God is doing in the midst of it. Fortunately for us we chose the latter and found God at every turn.  It may seem like the darkness is overcoming us and I don't think we are to ignore the presence of it in the midst of what we may be experiencing, but there is light and the more we focus on that, the brighter and brighter it will become. We can be victorious or we can be defeated, that will depend on what we chose to exalt in our crisis.  We can exalt Jesus and the truth, or we can exalt the situation and our feelings. God has given us the ability to chose the former, but He won't chose for us.

     Out of that I have learned that when we find God in the midst of our storm not only does he reveal himself to us but he reveals himself through us as well.  We talk all the time of His power being made perfect in our weakness yet at times despise what he allows in order for his power to be seen.   We often refer to going through trouble as being in a storm which usually involves wind sometimes very strong hurricane force winds at that. The word says......  He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.  (Psalm 104:3) it  also says He has His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3) but do we really believe that? If I had any doubt before I don't any longer after what we have witnessed.

     For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4: 6-7

     We have to quit despising our humaness, it is the way He has chosen to reveal the light of the knowledge of His glory in Christ to those still in darkness.

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

In His Presence Is Fullness of Joy

     Authentic, genuine encounters with the Presence of Jesus are being sacrificed on the altars of convenience and comfort and “proper religious protocol” and the body of Christ is dying because of it. People must encounter in a real tangible way the presence and power of God, no matter what the cost, be it reputation or credibility among the religious politically correct, whatever.  While programs and agenda’s have a place, could it be that they are taking the place that belongs to the Lord?

     This particular subject is near and dear to me is because I know the kind of relationship just attending church because it is Sunday and this is what we do kind of thing creates. I know because it used to be me and it wasn’t until I was in an environment where the freedom of the Holy Spirit was fostered and embraced rather than avoided that I was really healed emotionally (if you read my testimony you will understand better what I mean).  I came out of a relationship that was made up of rules taught by men rather than passion for the King who died for me. There is an atmosphere created in a corporate environment that brings about the movement of the Holy Spirit that is different than when we are alone.  It is this type of atmosphere that brings people to a place of vulnerability and transparency before God that allows for deep emotional healing. We are seeing people in unprecedented numbers who are not attending church and to be honest I don't wonder why.

    There are things coming and some that are even now upon us, a prophesied order of events lining up the return of Christ which make intimacy with the Lord an absolute necessity; church as usual will not suffice the body of Christ in the days ahead. Some of what is coming we won't like that is just as much in the plan, purpose and will of God as all that we do like and want to embrace.  

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.  The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

I don't believe our job is to stop His process, purpose, or plans, but to be what He has created us to be in the midst of that. He wants our cooperation in the advancement of His kingdom, not to be like the Pharisees of old who were unwilling to embrace the new day.

God doesn't want for us to just “survive” the flood but to walk on the water.  To stand erect as oaks of righteousness in the midst of the storm; to be the light in the midst of darkness.  He desires for us to bring Him glory in the midst of what is coming, not pray against it, or simply hope to survive it but to be His witnesses in it, however, He doesn’t expect us to do it on our own.

     God’s heart is for us to be a people prepared for the Lord. There is a wave of His glory coming such as never has been seen before. He wants us prepared in order to properly steward what is coming. Our greatest days as the body of Christ are on their way!