Learning...

Beautiful Lemon Sunflower

God's been good.  I have been learning some great life lessons and enjoying the journey.  (I just want to always be looking for the Sun(Son)! lol.

First new idea is that if I can't help the person directly then I shouldn't be talking about them.  The Bible has lots to say about 'slander'.  I couldn't believe how many scripture verses  I found!

Second new idea is that I should talk about Jesus until Holy Spirit tells me to be quiet.  Completely different perspective from most Christians especially at work.   I prayed for healing out loud  for someone at work that was a Christian and I could see that they were uncomfortable with it.

Another time I was sharing with someone higher up in the chain of command about how God told me to be careful in a situation and he remarked, "So you're a Christian?"  "YOU BET,"  I responded. Sad thing is he doesn't know that over half the people I work with are Christians,  they just don't talk about it.   Fear in it's various forms has caused them to take the easy way.... and the devil wins another round and we shame the one who suffered so much for us.

I don't know about you but I reckon myself dead to the flesh.... and any fear I discover I have,  I am working to eliminate.   I have overcome a few things and have a ways to go, but I'm going in the right direction!  I have found that it's easier to overcome  when I stay strong in  my Bible promises.

Third new idea  is that I am busy, so I have to make time to stay strong in the word.  I usually have about 40 minutes before I leave for work in the morning, so while I'm letting the dogs out and getting ready,  I've been turning on Dan Mohler on youtube and getting some good anointed word in me.   Good stuff.

Fourth  new idea is that business doesn't have to take you away from God's plan for your life.  It can force the decision making process, so that you pare away the things that don't really matter.  The choice is really up to you.

Holy Spirit has been helping me through some really busy weeks and my family and I aren't suffering and neither is my walk with the Lord.  Hallelujah!  Holy Spirit has been helping me to keep my priorities straight and I am so grateful!  I do not want to miss this end time move of God.  I want to be in it somehow, someway.

On that note, I am going to go sing the Lord a few songs and see what else he has to say before bed.
I Bless you  abundantly; physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, and relationally, in Jesus' name!

Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Swords and Psalm 29

Hi there.  I love this Psalm.  It took me a while to dig out the nuggets, but as I kept thinking about it and reading it, Holy Spirit highlighted some things.

I talk about verses 1-4 in the last post I wrote. The link is here... http://greatcommissionhow2s.blogspot.com/2010/09/you-cant-always-win-with-another-mans.html

Starting at verse 5, " The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. vs 6. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.

First point I want to make is that we are God's spokes-people right now.   His voice is heard through us and as we consecrate our mouths to speak faith, trust and blessing, Holy Spirit will be able to add power to our words.

Cedars represent strongholds and the building blocks of fortresses in the Spirit realm. Also, we know that we don't fight flesh and blood.(2Cor. 10:3-5)  We fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons.  The cedars of Lebanon were so huge, they were considered the biggest and mightiest trees in the middle east.  So we can conclude that even mighty strongholds will come down as we learn to speak what the Lord wants.

Let's re-coin this verse with the new background information we have.
"The Lord's voice (through us) breaks the strongholds of the people, The Lord, (through us) breaks in pieces the strongholds of the devil."   That put's it into a new perspective, eh?  The Lord is looking for us to use any victories we have gained over the devil to benefit other people.  Freely we have received, freely we give." (Matt. 10:8)  Hang on, it gets better.

Vs. 6, "He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox."  The Lord told me that the enemy would take off like a calf and that the strongholds represented symbolically by the country of Syria would  jump off the people like a young wild ox.  Young , wild, oxen are fearsome, unpredictable creatures. You wouldn't  want to be near them, or have to rely on them.   I also believe that the Lord was showing me that there are territories that have strongholds over them and He wants us to perceive what's going on so we can take care of business for Him.

This applies to our territories.  Recently, I asked the Lord what was over our town that I had not dealt with and He told me Absalom.  I looked up Absalom, to refresh my memory and realized that he was the son that tried to steal the kingdom from his father David.  He used cunning and deceit to turn the people's hearts away from David.  He looked so good on the outside; did all the right things, said all the right things, but he was wicked, with a seditious mind inside.

So now I am praying the opposite for our town, decreeing that God will pick the people that will surround leaders and that they will be loyal and not split the church up.  There have been enough church splits.  I want to see family style churches, where we are all different but we've grown to love each other despite our differences.

Let's move on.  Psalm 29:7  "The voice of the Lord, (through us) strikes with flashes of Lightning. vs. 8, "the The voice of the Lord (through us) shakes the desert, the Lord (through us) shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

I really believe that in this time the Lord wants His voice through us to be so powerful that it looks like flashes of Lightning.  John G. Lake prayed for the lightnings of God... maybe we should too. Another translation mentions 'forked lightning'.  One day the Lord showed me that a believer's words at an aimed target were like forked lightning.  Pretty awesome eh?

Deserts are dry places where we are supposed to send the devils to. (Luke 11:24)  I really believe the Lord wants to use us to shake the devil's kingdoms.

I remember one time that we were trying to get some hay in and there were thunder storms coming at us.  I spoke up and said, "NO WAY! Storms go around us!"  I didn't think any more of it.  Our hired help could not help but notice that the black thunder storm circled our property all afternoon.

Another time we had cut hay on the ground when thunder storms approached.  I commanded it to stay away from my property.  Later on  we had sheet lightning on three sides of our property  and it was quite the aerial display.  I found out that our neighbors down the road had a flood in their basement that evening.  At our place we only got a little bit of spray that blew in. It wasn't even enough to make the deck wet.   That's my God! We baled the hay the next day to the amazement of all our neighbors. This in your inheritance too, as you learn who you are in Christ.

Now let's look at vs 9 from another translation. In the New American Standard we read, "The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everything says, "Glory!"

I love it.  Have you got any dead dreams that need reviving?  Have you given up on anything in your life? Well God is saying here that His voice through us will make the deer to calve.  I don't have any deer, but the Lord said that this is a comparison.  His voice through us will bring dreams to pass! No more still-born dreams!

It's true, His voice through you will bring your dream to pass. And as you stand in your dream you will be able to help other people  birth their dreams.  Somebody shout!  That's good news. 

The next point from this verse was about 'stripping the forests bare' which to me means clear cutting to make a profit (in their times).  So this phrase is talking about resources coming to us. His voice, through us causes the resources to come to us!  No lack or famine allowed in His Kingdom.  No wonder the people cried out, "Glory!"  I would too!

This is one of the ways that the world will see His glory on us. As we walk in our dreams, with all our needs met, we are a huge billboard advertising that the Lord is good.

The final two verses are interesting. From the Amplified, vs.10  "The Lord sat as King over the deluge; the Lord (still) sits as King (and) forever! 11. The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace."

A couple of points: first the Lord sits as King (through us/through our words).  We are bringing Heaven to Earth as we speak His will right now.  This enthrones Him in the here and now.

Second,  speaking to your mountains, daring to renew your mind to who you are in Christ will cause you to grow into a mighty warrior that no one will mess with. Your reputation will precede you. The final result will be peace because nothing wants to tangle with you.

So, mighty warrior, praise and worship till His presence is around you and then ask the Lord what to speak over your strongholds, your resources, your dreams, your family. Bring His kingdom into your life by aligning your mouth with Heaven. Then watch your enemies shudder when you wake up in the morning. Ha! I love it! Go with God and have fun.  Greater is He that is in you, then he that is in the world. (1John 4:4) You rule and reign with Him (Jesus). (Rom. 5:17,19) Amen!

Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Tough Times

When Times are tough that's the time to run to God. I've learned the hard way. It took me many tough times to learn to make the effort to run to God, when the devil and all your circumstances are saying God's let you down. I exhort you to make every opportunity to get into the presence of God, at church and at home, through the word and praise and worship, because God is not mad at you.

Seriously, God will never be angry with anyone ever again. All his anger was poured out on Jesus at the Cross of Calvary. He sees you through the blood of His son Jesus. You never did anything to earn His love and you can't mess up enough to stop him from loving you. You see, He is love. Love that never quits, that never stops hoping, that always sees the best in you and me. (1Cor.13:4-8)

You can mess up twenty times a day and He'll say, "Okay, here's the plan for the 21st try." His love conquers through us and somehow, as we choose to stay tight with Him, we give off the most beautiful fragrance. A beautiful flower gives off the most delectable perfume when it is crushed. (ref. 2Cor 2:14)

Let me say it again. He's your best and fastest way out of the mess you are in. Wallowing in self pity only prolongs the mess, because you are focused on yourself and not God.

So let's quit blaming God because it didn't turn out the way WE wanted. Ouch, I know that hurts - but it's the truth isn't it?

Turn to him and He'll guide you step by step through the valley to the other side.
Easier said than done right? I know all about it.

Some of the questions I asked were, "Why did you allow this to happen Lord? Why didn't you stop it? Don't you love me?"

These are all questions that we ask when the bottom falls out in our lives, and they are very real, hard questions. God doesn't mind hard questions, as long as we are willing to hear His answers, so I've learned to be listen for His answers.

I love something that Graham Cooke said, "God allows in his wisdom what He could easily prevent by His power." That saying has helped me to regain a better attitude.

Some better questions to ask are,"Lord, how do you want to reveal yourself to me in this circumstance? Lord, what do you want to teach me through this? Lord, what are you trying to impart to me so that I'll grow in my trust and confidence in You?"

I know from experience that He'll guide you step by step through the valley to the other side.
It's helpful to think of it as a course correction in your life, so that you can be more of the person God has dreamed you to be.

Remember... change is not always bad, it can lead to some great opportunities. You don't know what dream God had for you, that will make you so fulfilled as a person, that He's working on right now.

You can trust His heart. He's working through your circumstances. Again, I've got to say, you can trust His heart. He loves you so much that He gave up his 'darling' for you... yes for you. The darling of Heaven crucified for you. He gave his greatest treasure up for you.

Now go! Run into His arms, where you belong. He's been waiting for you, looking down the road, hoping you would come back, just like the prodigal son's father. Go, and be blessed in His love.

Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson