You and I are ambassadors of God, representing His heavenly Kingdom upon the earth. (2 Cor. 5:20)   We are instruments of grace chosen to release love, light, and life.  This is accomplished, not because WE are great, but because HE is GREAT through us.  The Kingdom of God resides within us (Luke 17:21) and the fountain of Holy Spirit should continuously flow through us and into the lives of individuals in our sphere of influence.

Sometimes, you may not be aware of certain individuals within your reach who are in desperate need of His powerful touch. But, as you remain in intimate fellowship with God, Holy Spirit will highlight the persons He desires for you to reach.

This concept is beautifully illustrated by the passage of scripture found in Acts 9:10-19. (NIV)

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.

14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,

19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

This morning, I am reminded of an incident much like this that occurred in my own life.  We were living in TN at the time and I was sitting alone in our living room, enjoying time with Jesus.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, I began to see a vision of a woman named Dean sitting up in her bed.

Dean was the wife of a faithful man of God who attended our church.  She had stopped accompanying her husband to the services many years previous because she was offended.  But now, Dean was dying of cancer and God longed to bring a release of the offense coupled with forgiveness.

In the months leading up to this, I had taken several warm meals to the couple throughout their journey with this awful disease.  It was through this small act of kindness that God allowed me access into Dean’s life.

This day was different though.  God desired access into Dean’s heart…

In a vision, God showed me Dean sitting up in her king-sized bed, and instructed me to go immediately to her house and lead her in a prayer of forgiveness toward her offenders.

I hopped in my car and drove toward their home.  I remember everything feeling like a blur.  I questioned my decision to GO…who knows if they’re even home right now? I had not called to request a visit.  What if they do not feel like entertaining a visitor today? But, something inside of me compelled me to continue to drive.

When I arrived at their home, Dean’s husband answered the door.  We embraced in a friendly hug and I asked, “Is Dean available?”  Joe led me through the living room and down a hall to the bedroom where Dean was sitting.  I found her just as I had seen in the vision – sitting up in bed, in the exact spot God revealed to me.

I walked in and sat upon her bed.  Taking her hand, I expressed how God had instructed me to come.  I explained that He longed to grant her forgiveness toward her offenders and fill her heart with peace.  She began to weep and express feelings of inadequacy in doing so.  I reminded her that forgiveness was necessary for the cleansing of her heart.  With tears flowing down her cheeks, she joined me in a prayer of repentance and released the offense she had been harboring for nearly a decade.

A few weeks later, Dean left her earthly body and came face to face with her Lord. No doubt, THEY met with smiles on their faces.

Until this morning, I had forgotten this special moment that occurred in my life more than 12 years ago.  Why did God choose me?  I believe Dean needed to know that it was truly God beckoning her to forgive. By choosing me, an individual  who knew nothing of Dean’s personal history, I was the confirmation she desperately needed.  If a friend or family member had approached her, perhaps she would have questioned their motives and refused to surrender.

Many others around you desire to have genuine encounters with God.

A wise woman once told me, “You have two ears.  Use one to listen to what’s going on around you, but incline the other to the voice of God continuously.”

May YOU encounter His Presence every day and become His chosen instrument for bringing about necessary change in the lives of individuals around you. 

One of the greatest judgements among the Body of Christ today is the question of Money…Riches…you know the “P” word!!!!  

The whole idea of PROSPERITY among Christians has become as avoidable as leprosy.  Amazingly enough though, there is no argument against a Believer who is broke as a joke, but let a Believer enter into the place of abundance and he or she will be the topic of conversation every time.  It is believed by many that in order to please Big Daddy God one must sell everything, take a vow of poverty and THEN you can finally be defined as a humble servant of His.  

Today, I was minding my own business in the privacy of my own home when Holy Spirit highlighted a particular passage of scripture to me.  It is found in 2 Corinthians 8:8-9.

“I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that YOU through His poverty might become RICH.”

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times…Jesus was poor when He walked upon this earth and He should be our example!  

Friends, the very nature of our God is ABUNDANCE!  He owns it all and He never suffers lack.  Jesus is so rich in every way that when He came to earth as the perfect sacrifice for man, He had to put off His rich state and put on poverty.  Jesus did not become poor as our example of righteousness.  He became poor in order to reflect the definition of hopeless humanity.  You see, without Christ, you and I are the destitute ones in every way, but through salvation in Him we have been made Rich in all things.  Heaven is not your only reward.  God has a Huge Benefits Package for you to richly enjoy!

It is the best benefits package you will ever be offered:

• The Forgiveness of Sin
• Healing
• Power
• Dominion to Reign
• Hope
• Love
• W​holeness
• And YES - ABUNDANCE!

Your benefits package is for here and now.  We will not need forgiveness in heaven.  We will not need to be healed anymore.  There will not be a need for power or the exercising of dominion once we arrive at our promised destination.  It is there that we will live in total Victory!  The benefits package is for earthly living and abundance is it’s common thread.

You see, I know exactly how it feels to be poor and in need.  After my parents divorced, my mother became quite ill.  We lived off food stamps for a period of time.  Had it not been for the thoughtfulness of mom’s family, we would have been in a heap of trouble.  They lovingly filled up our propane tank, which provided heat for our home in the dead of winter and also helped with our bills until Mom could get back on her feet.

Fast forward twelve years and you find me married at the young age of 17.  Steve and I did not have one thing to our name except the clothes in our closets.  We had no money and no education outside of high school.  My parents lovingly purchased a new home, complete with a downstairs apartment so that we might have some sense of privacy as a newly wed couple.  I remember admiring the prom dresses of the other girls in my Senior class.  Oh, how I longed to look like a Princess as they did. My dress was borrowed from one of my bridesmaids – the very dress she wore in our wedding.  Poverty became immanent for our future…BUT GOD!!!

When I met Jesus, my whole life changed. I began to familiarize myself with my true identity found in Christ and discovered that poverty was not a part of His plan for me.  I have been tested by God in times of lack and also in times of much.  My true character has been revealed.  For, in times of lack I remained the same person as in our times of Much.  

Money does not define us, nor do we grant it any place of control in our lives.  When God says sell we sell.  When He says buy we buy.  When He says Give we Give.  The foundation of our lives is built firmly upon Christ.  As I often say, Money is simply the cherry on top! However, money is needed and for anyone who desires to do much for the Kingdom of God, you will need an abundance of money!

I’m not afraid of money as some are.  I have discovered that Money only makes a person MORE of what they already are!  Money, in itself, has no power.  Money cannot change people.  Money will not cause a person to sin. Riches simply often reveal the content of a person’s heart that already existed.  If you are greedy, then abundance will make you more greedy.  However, if you are giving, then abundance will make you more able to give.  

Herein lies the secret:

“Honor the Lord with all your possessions and with the tithe of all your income.  He shall cause your barns to be filled with PLENTY and your vats to continuously OVERFLOW with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10

And remember this.  If you truly have an issue with abundance and prosperity then let me know.  I don’t have a problem asking God for your portion too.  I pray BIG BIG BLESSINGS over your life!

Entering His Rest!

It was August of 2009.  I can still see myself standing in our kitchen in Gallatin, Tennessee, where I heard the Lord say, “The shaking has begun. If you can walk with Me through this regeneration process, it will end in a place of power for you on the other side.” 

Hearing words like regeneration and power, I quickly signed on and fully agreed to this process God spoke about.  I had absolutely no idea of the details, nor the cost of such an agreement.

Up to this point, I had served the Lord twenty years.  Not one day had passed in twenty years that I had not walked in fellowship with Him. I had matured in my faith and served the local church in many capacities: Sunday School teacher of children, youth, and adults, youth pastor, president of the benevolence committee, choir singer, front-line singer, Wednesday night church director, women’s ministry, nursery worker, etc.  From the outside, my husband and I were esteemed as seasoned, stable, faithful Christians and we were.

However, I tell you all of that to say this…You can be a Christian fifty years and never enter into the rest of the Lord I am writing about today.  Hebrews chapter 4 explains it best:

9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that enters into his rest, must also cease from his own works, as God did from his.

Entering into the rest of God requires that we cease from our own works and labor:

•    Striving to be good enough/and godly enough
•    Striving for perfection
•    Striving to forget our past and present failures/shortcomings
•    Striving to serve/please everyone
•    Striving for perfect church attendance and fitting into religious molds

As much as we hate to admit it, many Believers who truly love God are still caught up in the bondage of self-works and religious mindsets.  Few seem to fully understand the huge difference between religion and relationship with Christ Jesus.  Religion shames us into an endless punch list of rules and regulations that are impossible to keep in our own strength.  It then keeps a record of our wrongdoings and reloads the reel of memories quite frequently.  It forces us to compete and compare our lives against others, producing fatal judgmental attitudes.

Religion screams for us to “DO” instead of “BE”. 

In 2 Corinthians 3:9, Paul refers to religion or “the law” as the ministry of condemnation.  However, he further describes a relationship with Jesus through his Holy Spirit as LIFE.  Oh, how accurate Paul was/is.  You see, he had experienced this transition personally.  Paul had dedicated his entire life to religion and works until one very special day when he met Jesus. There on that dusty road, he discovered the difference between religion and relationship. This process of ceasing from self-works in order to find true LIFE in the Spirit is known as Regeneration. Paul gave himself to the ministry of regeneration!  It was his constant teaching.

Regeneration is the renewal of what “once was” or what “used to be.” In order to fully experience regeneration, the old must die. I know that isn’t something you really want to hear, but it is true.  

My personal process of regeneration required the death of a seventeen year season in Tennessee.  God relocated me to an entirely new geographical location and held me in isolation for three years. Privately, I suffered the death of two family members, the death of friendships, the death of religious mindsets, the death of judgmental attitudes, the death of several beliefs I had governed my life by, the death of wrongful identity, and the death of man’s applause and pride. 

God led me to change my definition of church and true worship.  I discovered that some of the best church services are when good friends spend the night with us on Saturdays and we awaken Sunday mornings to a fresh omelette bar prepared by Chef Steve. All while sitting around in our pajamas discussing life, exhorting one another by the Word of God, praying and prophesying.  The Spirit fills our home!  

Am I against the local church?  Absolutely not!  I love the local church and still attend in my own community. However, I have now learned that “we – those who are born again” ARE the true church and if I miss a Sunday or two my Father does not consider me a slacker as I was told.  No, I can still fellowship with others or worship privately within the four walls of my own home.  

True worship is not based on church attendance.  Rather, it is revealed through a life that is wholly His!

I no longer fit into this BOX called “religion”.  I now live a life of joy and freedom governed by Holy Spirit. Instead of being ruled by a long list of Do’s and Don’ts, I have discovered that the Holy Spirit of Grace enables me to live a life that is fully pleasing to God and not unto a system.  My relationship with Christ guides me into a life of purity, passion, and peace.  It is here that I have found His rest, the place He longs for everyone.  My personal death has made me alive in Christ. 

This fresh new place is worth it all!!!!!