God’s Secret to Changing our World

My dear friend Dan Gore wrote this about the importance of speaking life into a situation.  I’ve been blessed and amazed beyond comprehension to witness the truth of Dan’s message played out before my eyes!  In His word, God shares with us that before He does anything, He first reveals it to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).  Then He uses His people to follow His example and call “things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).  This is a powerful principle we need to be utilizing in our daily walks!!  A paraphrase of Pastor Gore’s words:

John was sent to make a path or straight way ahead of Jesus’ coming. (Mark 1:2-3)  Why?  I believe there is indication here that the message of Jesus would have been hindered or much more difficult had John not first come before and established the correct platform for Christ to come in upon.

This sets a precedent, that before we want to change a person or city or region…we shower it in prophetic words first.  Saturate a target in prayer with other prayer warriors, and a revival might just break out.  We clear out a path or highway in the desert (place of affliction or dryness) first.  This concept is spiritual.  History shows that this is how some very powerful revivals began.

Seasons

Autumn in Georgia (taken by Kahla Ballard)

God speaks to us through the seasons:

“…The language of autumn trees, for example, when they dress most gloriously in preparation for death. The red of the leaves is the sign of the cross. Winter follows, when snow closes everything in frozen silence. The trees then are skeletons, but wonders are being performed under the surface of things. Spring comes, and the hidden wonders burst out all at once-tiny shoots, swelling buds, touches of green and red where all seemed hopeless the day before….Plain lessons for us, if we’ll open our eyes.”

-Elisabeth Elliot

I’m reminded of a great song, Nichole Nordeman’s Every Season:

 

 

Mentorly Wisdom

A snippet of the abundant wisdom that flows from Reverend Mark Van Deman, a long-time close family friend of ours, written Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.  Mark is a godly man, author, prophetic voice, husband and father of nine sons:

When we know we have been sent, then we just do what is in our hearts and say what is in our hearts. All the confirmations are to let you know that you are on assignment, and it was not just your good idea that placed you in the city and the position you are in.
 
Obviously by the dreams, they confirm the assignment and the life and death nature of the assignment. It is not just cool or fun: every day you are on the front lines of battle where lives are at stake. The Lord obviously wanted you to know this so you would not be lured by the natural perks or the attractiveness in the natural of the setting or be blind sided when someone slanders the Lord or you for your faith. It just goes with the turf, that is battleground.
 
Don’t worry,don’t be afraid, don’t feel overwhelmed. God always anoints us for the assignment He has for us. There is authority to rule in your place because you were sent. Stay true, stay pure, stay connected, stay humble, and stay in the place of prayer. Victory will be yours, and you will see many saved. Use your sword, and pray in tongues.

God will move you into everything you need to fulfill your life mission. In the meanwhile, be faithful with what is in front of you, even though, most people will never really get it. The job is not to do as much as it is to be. Be Summer. You are really good at it.

Loneliness is a necessity for those who want to walk in the deep places of God. Only there do we learn the comfort of his presence, the reality of his life in us and with us. Only in loneliness are we forced to rely on Jesus. It is not a perpetual place, but it is a permanent place in so much as the Lord wants us to find our fulfillment first in Him. And, the Lord will continue to bring people in your life at the right time, just like He sovereignly directed you to your present assignment.

The strength of a missionary for Jesus is grounded in their ability to stand with God alone and believe.