Why Do You Look for the Living Among The Dead?

Prophetic Artist- Hannah Atkinson

Used by permission

I had a vision of a *savage scrounging in dusty places inside Death Valley. He was wide-eyed and desperate as he clawed the dirt searching for LIFE. There was none to be found. Then I heard the angels say, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 14:5) He stopped his digging and turned his head toward the voices.

In the next vision I was walking among barren vines. I paused in front of the vine that I had been caring for. No fruit. No life could be seen.

Jesus spoke 2 things to me:

1)  Remember the **fig tree in the Bible? The Gardener said, “Don’t cut it down. Give me a year. I will put fertilizer around it. Come back and if it doesn’t have fruit on it then you can cut it down.”

2) Your reward is not found on this vine. Your reward is secure with me. I AM your great reward.

Perhaps you are sitting at the end of the lane straining to see your Prodigal return. You are not alone. Carry on with your life. Heal. Pray. Grieve. Wait. Hope. Ask, seek and knock on God’s door. Distance is not bad and many times boundaries are necessary. There’s a chasm between you and the prodigal. I get that. True repentance has always been the only way back home. Perhaps fertilizer creates a broken and contrite spirit. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and then fix them again on His gaze. Faith is being strengthened in you. Stand firm. Then stand firm again.

Most importantly, remember that a fruitless vine in Death Valley does not determine your reward! It’s secure in a place where thieves can never get in and steal!

Shalom

*Savage = as a noun it describes a fierce, brutal or cruel person. As an adjective it describes someone who is enraged, or furiously angry. As a verb it describes someone who attacks or criticizes thoroughly or remorselessly.

** “Then he (Jesus) told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9

The Well of Love

I’ve been walking through a tough season relationally with those that I love and adore. Perhaps you have been too. Perhaps you have lost the adoration and are clinging to love…or maybe not. Sometimes people are super hard to love…and honestly, sometimes so am I.

In an attempt to remind myself to live out Colossians 3:14 I will share 5 tips I have found that will help “…put on love, which binds us all together in perfect unity.” I have yet to master them all, but occasionally I do get it right.

1.  Let’s pretend someone said something or did something that made you angry! The type of anger that consumes your thoughts and makes you call your most empathetic friend to spew all over them. This is the moment to grab your own arm and throw yourself into time-out! It is imperative that you cool down otherwise you will not draw from the well of love. What's the well of love? It's the place where you run to God to heal your hurt and pain. That person who just hurt you is actually someone you love and adore, right? Stop, walk away, and remind yourself of LOVE. Sing praises at the well, give thanksgiving, and fight it out in prayer. Return and respond only AFTER you have found your happy place of love. It’s not easy, but it is doable. I have failed more times than I have succeeded, but the times I can respond to hurt from the well of love I experience victory. When you offer love instead of what you think they deserve you will experience the peace of God flood your heart. However, the other person may not choose your love, which takes us to the next point.
2.    Have you ever been hurt by someone’s words or actions? This is typically the result from rejection. Rejection HURTS and hurt people, hurt people. What if hurt people break the cycle (which is personal responsibility) and take their hurt to the well of love? The TRUTH is that God accepts you. You are loved completely by Him. When you are able to truly grasp that God is for you the other person’s acceptance or rejection of you does not have power to harm. What if you allow them to reject you? What if you don’t force them to accept you? What if hearing their heart becomes the relational purpose, not protecting your own heart from their rejection? Victory is experienced when you no longer need to prove your point.
3. How about when someone is intimidating you? I have had lots of intimidators in my life. When I look at the intimidation as fear it changes everything. What drives out fear? Love drives out fear. I am learning to draw boundaries with intimidators, which typically they do not like. This is the place where I soak myself in the well of love and realize submission to intimidation is not love at all. I have had to say hard things like, “I do not appreciate being spoken to that way.” “That feels like manipulation and control.” “I can’t do what you want me to do.” I love the other person as well as myself to speak truth, however, I will not succumb to their pressure. At the well, I learn to listen to the quiet voice of God. There I can regroup and choose God's way instead of pleasing the voice of intimidation. 
4.  What if someone is believing and doing things that are radically different than your beliefs and values? This is difficult to navigate, however victory is summed up in two words - Unconditional Love! Unconditional love is easier said than done, especially if you do life regularly with this person. Points 1, 2 and 3 above are key in living this out. Lots of time spent in the well of love, boundaries and speaking truth in love are the way through. I have heard a lot about “Just believe the best in someone - that will change everything.” But when I know what I know that I know what the other person is doing and it is not for their good, it’s hard to make my mind think the best of that person. However, the Lord switched things up on me recently. He said, “Anne, I know you can’t think the best about what that person is doing right now, because you know exactly what is going on, but you can pray the best for that person.”  Whoa! One word from the Lord can change everything! Sure enough, I ran to the well of Scripture and started praying awesome things for this person. Although I haven’t seen a shift in their focus yet, everything has shifted in me! I found the well of love where my heart is FOR the person again!
5. Ever have someone’s pain bump up against your pain? OUCH! What I have found is that as uncomfortable as someone else’s junk is I need to go to the well of love and search for reasons why their pain brings up my junk! Typically God is using them to refine me. My heavenly Dad loves to bring beauty to my spirit and sometimes he uses painful people to polish my brass (take that however you choose). I’m a cracked vessel in need of healing too. Without your pain I may never have inspected my pain. I can’t own your pain and I cannot fix your pain. But I do want my pain healed. I do choose to walk through this life seeking wholeness. I want to love myself well and with His help I choose to love you the best I can.

As my heart aspires to live a life in the well of love I have found that I am not perfect. However, God says I am beautiful! He says the same about you. He is not looking for perfection; instead He delights in beautiful hearts set on a pilgrimage where love binds us together in perfect unity. He is perfect. He is love. We are invited to the well and that is enough! 

I Believe Art Heals

I believe art heals.
I KNOW art heals.
How do I know this?
Just look at the image above.
It doesn't look like much to you, does it?
Or...maybe it does.
God used this image to heal a 45+ male.
Here's the story.

I was painting in a room with other artists. People come to this place to get prayed for. Most are sick or hurting or hopeless or curious or drawn by some "unknown" reason. They bring their diseases and brokenness to well...broken people who have been filled with love by the Spirit of the Living God. These broken people pray for the broken people and healing happens. I don't understand the exchanges of God but I welcome them. He loves broken people.

I choose to paint with others in the midst of this glorious exchange.

One night I was led to paint a heart. I don't like painting hearts. Everybody can paint hearts. I prefer abstract art. So I did my best to turn it into an abstract heart. I like my art to be void of anything recognizable because it is in the lack of image that meaning is found. Lack of form causes one to slow down, ponder, reflect, gaze, think, listen and hear.

This heart form caused a 45+ broken man to slow down, ponder, reflect, gaze, think, listen and hear.

He shyly stood to the side of the canvas mesmerized. Hesitantly I questioned his interest. His eyes never left the red on white form but slowly words fell out of his mouth.

He stated the obvious at first, "It's a heart."

But then he pressed in closer and pointed to a place at the top right of the heart, "I see my baby."

His words surprised us both. A hush followed. God's Spirit wrapped us in a long silence as we stared at the healing art before us.

I am stilled stunned by the confession that followed.

In the safety of that broken place where people pray and paint he looked me full in the eye and said, "Twenty years ago my baby was aborted."

Water formed on both of our eyes as I asked, "Do you have any idea if it was a girl or boy?"

Immediately he said, "I am almost certain it was a girl."

I asked him, "Did you ever name her?"

"No, I never thought of that." He responded.

Ever so gently I suggested, "Well, you may want to do that. It's powerful when a dad names his child."

The moment ended as he pulled back and said he would but not at this moment. He wasn't ready. He needed space and alone-ness.

I offered the child bearing heart canvas to him as a memorial. He accepted the gift.

I believe art heals. 

I KNOW art heals. 

How do I know this? 

Just look at the image above. 

It doesn't look like much to you does it? 

Or...maybe it does. 

God used this image to heal a 45+ male. 

Warrior Woman

A warrior woman collapsed on the side of the road. She was covered head to toe with sweat and dirt where it gathered into mud in the creases of her furrowed brow. She couldn't take another step forward. She knew she needed to sit, rest and recover. Her breathing slowed and her heart steadied it's pace. A warrior friend came upon her on the road and implored her to get back in the battle. She gave her ammunition and showed her how to use it, but to no avail. The warrior woman had nothing left to give at the moment. Her friend bid her farewell and promised she would be on the front lines on her behalf.

The warrior woman continued to wait. She was still. She lifted her glazed face to the breeze and inhaled deeply. Twenty-four hours passed. Then forty-eight. She knew not what she waited for nor when she would be released from her roadside perch. She continued to exist but didn't strive for more.

Off in the distance she saw a person running into the wind. It was a messenger. In her tightly clasped hand was a paper. She threw herself on the ground next to the warrior woman and uncurled her fingers. No words were exchanged. None were needed. Spread before her was a blueprint stolen from the enemy's camp. Not just any blueprint, but the one showing the enemy commanders snare. She couldn't believe she was seeing the elaborate and deliberate creation of the strongman's deceptive trap. 

Immediately her life flashed before her eyes. She could see how it took years to erect the entrapment. Event upon event, lie upon lie. The enemy used true life happenings and pierced her heart. She had no idea that the small puncture would be all he needed to gain access to wound again and again. It was a wound that became familiar. A wound that grew quietly and so did it's authority and power. With stunning clarity she saw for the first time the chain that bound her to the tower of lies. She realized she wasn't on the side of the road but rather at the top of a tower located in the center of a labyrinth.

Breathless she watched as the chains that bound her fell loudly to the ground. Finally she was free. Never again would she climb the stairs of this place she called home. Her freedom was irrevocable. She felt no shame or condemnation. Her victory had been won. Understanding filled her mind and peace entered her soul while gratitude graced her emotions.

With fresh eyes she looked at the horizon and saw the others fighting for freedom. Her spirit called her forward toward her Beloved. With the blueprint in her pocket, newfound bravery overshadowed her as she ran to join the warriors. She knew she was needed to help free others.

The Scale of Honor

   

What's the opposite of unbelief?

Belief?

Maybe.

Ok. Yes, belief is the opposite of unbelief, but don't let that stop you from reading this post because there's more to it than that.

What if you aren't allowed to remove the pre-fix?

Now, what is the opposite of un-belief?

I find God's Spirit to be amazingly gentle, subtle and in-my-face all at once. When the earth was dark and formless it was His Spirit that hovered over the face of the waters and brought forth light. He separated the water from the land. Even now His Spirit-sword separates my soul and spirit. As He divides, He conquers. It is in this place of His continual welcomed conquest that I find myself with a new lens in which to view all of life.

So what is this newly discovered Truth?

HONOR.

Russell Evans, from Planetshakers City Church in Australia recently described honor as, "Something we place weight upon." Think of a set of scales where valuable coins or jewels are placed on one side. On the other side are feathers. The scale tips in favor of the weight. Honor is something you place value or weight on.

Whatever you place honor on your life follows.

I am learning to believe that I am a writer. As I honor the writer inside of me I find I am a better writer.

I used to believe I wasn't an artist, until God got in my face and hovered over my spirit. It was in that reflection where I realized I was not honoring HIM whenever I didn't honor what He created me to do.

What has He created you to do? What brings you joy in the doing? Can you begin to believe in the value of what you do? Why not place that thing you do on the scale of honor?

Honor fills the void where un-belief resided. When honor is honored beauty flows.

It's time for you to see your beautiful reflection upon the waters of honor.

Abide

One word can have huge impact. For example: Stop! That's a powerful word. Your toddler is running along and hears the shout from your heart - "STOP!" Immediately (hopefully) the child freezes and the car goes whizzing by. A tragedy averted though four simple letters strung together, birthed from the heart and amplified through the air.

 Recently, a five letter shout pierced my spirit as I heard my heavenly Daddy cry out - "ABIDE!" It caught me up short and I knew I had no place to run except to His Word. I found 1John 2:27. "Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him."

 Through this passage Daddy reminded me that HIS Spirit dwells in me. HIS Spirit IS the anointing, therefore, He is continually guiding, leading, teaching, speaking, guarding and doing oh, so much more in me, for me, and through me.

 I looked up "abide" in the dictionary and the words that resonated with me were "Remain, stay, wait, endure and sustain." He then brought one line from the warrior passage in Ephesians 6 to mind, "...and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then..." That's when His power packed 5 letter shout allowed me to see the car whizzing by.

 Do you see it too?

When you don't know what else to do - ABIDE. STAND. STAND FIRM. REMAIN. STAY. WAIT. ENDURE. SUSTAIN. ABIDE.

Do you see it now? Sometimes when we are fighting a battle, we are not suppose to advance, but rather stop. Abide.

There's lots to do in abiding, like tightening up the buckle of Truth, repositioning righteousness (Hint: it's you that needs to be reminded of your position of righteousness cuz HIS righteousness doesn't shift), dusting off the sandals of peace, securing the helmet of salvation, believing your shield has got all that assaults you AND praying continually. unceasingly. Without stopping. Abidingly pray. Ultimately all He wants is for us to trust Him. Triumph happens when we pause and reposition our gaze on Him.

I believe a few of my "Sister's" needed to hear Daddy's heart today. He's shouting out, "ABIDE!" What amazes me is that your response will bring forth the victory! All you need to do is STOP.

Where Faith and Effort Flow

There's a balance between Faith and effort where the pendulum resides. I have lived on both sides. Faith without effort (at times) can be birthed from entitlement and effort without faith can be birthed from self reliance. Neither is Kingdom minded.

I have stood on the mountain of faith and believed grand things while my sight was on the horizon and my heart not set on heaven. Disappointed ensued. Frustration raised it's fist at a God that was silent. My heart was wounded from a God who doesn't care. What I didn't realize is that my heart was set on an idol. My heart gravitated to idols on the horizon. Idols don't care. Idols are silent. They were masked as life, hope and happiness. My heart learned that it's impossible for idols to give - they only take.

 I have stood in the tread-marks of effort. Deep wells of wheels spinning were created through daily striving. Forward progress was hampered while deeper ruts formed. Footprints of religion surrounded grand ideas. Handprints of sacrifice marked the territory but failure avalanched all around. Frustration raised it's fist at a God that had spoken and said, "Go!" A heart was wounded from a God who didn't help. I found out that idols are not only found on horizons. The truth is an idol camouflaged as God turns hearts away from believing.

The pendulum has a fixed point from which a hanging weight can swing freely. When my eyes remain heavenward I can move freely between faith and effort. There are times when more faith is needed and there are times when I am called to pull up my sleeves and put the shoulder to the plow. It's only when my heart is fixed on God that faith and effort flow freely. It is there that I have rest.

Wanna swing with me on His pendulum and experience freedom? "...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:2

Spiritual Leadership

For years I longed for my husband to be the spiritual leader of our home. I asked for it, demanded it, cried for it, waited for it and complained for it. But "it" never transpired. The church preached it, books eluded to it but no one explained it - well, unless you count the long list of do's and don'ts. "It" was elusive.

We were not raised in environments where spiritual leadership was demonstrated. Perhaps you weren't either. What I've learned through working with inmates is that context creates the environment for understanding. For example, I'm currently working with a former incarcerated youth who upon release had no understanding of career. Job, he understood. His family had jobs. Jobs pay money. Jobs are hard to find. Jobs don't pay enough money. Jobs are for a select few. He got out of jail and got his first job. However, when I stopped by his job and said, "What do you want to do for a career?" He stared at me blankly. His environment didn't create a place of understanding. It's the same for spiritual leadership. I knew our family needed it. My husband knew our family needed it. But what exactly did "it" look like? Funny how Satan can use a godly thing to make us run with exhaustion. We had no idea what we were running after, we just knew we needed to run and run hard.

We are less than four years away from an empty nest and I finally know what "it" looks like. Dad's do you want to know what it looks like to be the spiritual leader of your home? Husbands, do you want to stop your wife from pressuring you to rise up and lead? It can be summed up in one word- Listen. That's it.

Listening is the foundation of spiritual leadership within the home. You may say, "I've been listening to her for years and she's driving me crazy!" Sorry girls, you're the wrong source for this foundation.

Not too long ago I asked my husband to pray for me before I went into another jail facility. A long pause ensued as I settled in under his hand. It was so long that I had to ask him if he was still awake. He responded with, "I'm listening and I haven't heard anything yet." When he did pray what he heard God saying, I was moved, floored, surprised, encouraged, strengthened and felt greatly valued by God and my husband.

His ear to hear The Lord IS spiritual leadership. It sets the tone and course for all of us. Had we known then what we know now it would have saved us years of heart ache and pain. It would have saved our children years of heart ache and pain too. We did the best we could as we strived to capture an understanding of spiritual leadership but too often we came up short. However, we also know that it's NEVER too late to lead. It's NEVER too late to listen. It's NEVER too late to leave a legacy! And so he listens.

As my husband has learned to listen to The Lord he is listening better to me and to his kids. Isn't that what a wife wants anyway?

So Dad's here's your homework: Go home and lay a hand on your child and pray only what you hear The Lord say.

Husband's here's your homework: Go home and lay a hand on your wife and pray only what you hear The Lord say.

That's "IT"! Spiritual leadership in the home chiseled down to one word: Listen. I promise that you will see a transformation come about in your home as you do this one thing.

So throw out the stack of books that tell you everything you should "be" and "do" and implement this one thing of "listening. YOU will be transformed, and not because your wife has stopped pressuring you, although that will be the icing on the cake.

Santo, Santo!

We adopted a son from Mexico. Well, that's only partially true. He was born in America to a white mom and Mexican dad and we actually haven't gone through the court system to adopt him. He was 18 when he came to live with us and currently he is still 18. I know parts of his story and parts of his story I don't want to know.
He speaks both Spanish and English fluently. I, on the other hand, do not. As I sit next to Mi Hijo, I hear him carry on a conversation with his Dad. I long to understand what they are saying to each another.

Mi Hijo, is the one word he did teach me to speak. It came after much defeat in trying to articulate his name in Spanish. He finally said, "Mom, call me 'Mi Hijo.' My Son." So I have and he calls me Mom.

I've had many discussions with God about my lack of communicating with the Spanish speaking world. It would come in handy as I work inside prison walls with juveniles. For many, their native tongue is Spanish and they tend to use this language in my presence. I would like to know what they are saying. Thus far God has not miraculously given me ear nor tongue.

Grumbling about my lack (yet again) I turned on Spanish worship music. I tried to worship without understanding. That's when the breakthrough happened. I heard the words, "Santo, santo." being sung. The tune was one I knew from church. In an instant my Anglo world collided with a foreign culture. Santo, santo. Holy, holy. Holy, holy. Santo, santo!

As God parted heaven He spoke to my heart and said, "Daughter, It's fine to long to communicate with another culture, but don't forget that what I long for most is for you to communicate with me." This revelation caused my eyes to leak and my heart to soar.

Currently, my Spanish dictionary consists of just a few words: Mi Hijo and Santo. One is horizontal communication and the other is vertical. Perhaps as I spend more time pursuing the originator of language I shall add more words to my Spanish dictionary. In the meantime, what more do I need?

Staying in the Forest

He's 18.

He's been in prison.

Several times.

He's clean now. And straight. He makes money like you and I do. Honest money. He says it feels good to make money and not have to fear if the police will find him. He gives most of his money to his mom.

I drove him home from work. We had to travel the toll roads. Somehow he avoids these the days I don't take him. He had never heard of or seen a toll tag. He didn't know how it worked. He doesn't have a license.

He works for minimum wage in a low end restaurant chain. Promotion opportunities are limited. He's an artist at heart. One of those natural artists. He has God given artistic ability but limited opportunities for expression.

He asked how to hear God.

So, I demonstrated.

I asked God for an image for him.

God answered.

I told him I saw him in a forest. Big beautiful towering trees were all around him. He was inspecting the trees. He was enjoying the texture of the bark. He was happy. At peace. He didn't mind inspecting bark.

As I shared this image that God gave, I heard him gasp with understanding. I turned to look at him.

He said, "I get it. I'm stuck in the forest and not looking for a way through the forest to get out."

He heard God in that moment.

His forest is large. There are trees called poverty, victim, ex-inmate, gang member and others that block his view.

But with God there is a way through.

One of the Scriptures we looked at was that he "Can do all things through Christ who strengthens him." Philippians 4:13. 

Wanting to hear God is an awesome beginning to find the way through.

I'm praying he has ears to hear.

That's his art above.

I Am No Longer Safe

Since I started working with juvenile inmates I find that I am no longer safe. I've passed my phone number out. I've opened my home. I've driven former inmate’s places. I am surrounded by drug addicts, thieves, convicted felons, habitual liars, cheaters, manipulators, violent offenders, victims and perpetrators.

I am no longer safe.

I am fearful for my life.

Not my physical life.

I am fearful of losing my existence.

My existence has consisted of raising children in the suburbs. Sending them to private Christian education from preschool through high school and one is in a Christian college. My husband and I have spent years creating a safe environment. We are protectors. There's nothing wrong with that.

My safe life is colliding violently with a world I have been shielded from and have shielded my family from. As they rub up against each other friction creates tension.

What's the friction?

Learning that injured people are dealt with differently depending on their address. In my white suburbs if you are jumped by a pack of people you call the police and seek immediate medical attention. Which actually happened to my husband years ago in a different state. However, down the street, a beaten man calls his cousin to pick him up and goes on with life. His medical attention consists of a few shots of alcohol to take the pain away. There's no money. There are no questions. This is the way through.

I find that drug addicts are well...addicted. They give up children for the thing that gives them temporary relief. They call people and ask for money. They steal to get what they don't have. Yet, God loves them as deeply as He loves me.

There is a whole segment of society that are victims of the society.

And perpetrators of it as well.

I used to pass by the homeless man on the street corner when I drove through the city. Now I work with young men who have no where to go upon their release.

So why am I no longer safe?

My white suburban protected existence works only in a white suburban protected existence.

My ways are not their ways.

To reach them, I must operate in a new skin. Which means I choose to lay aside my judgments of how things are done "right" and pick up what looks completely barbaric and call that "good."

As I write, I see Jesus doing the same with us. For the first time I have a sliver of understanding about how His way is not our way! I see dimly how Jesus laid aside his rights to pick up mans barbaric ways.

I find that the safe existence I deliberately created day by day is no longer protected. In fact it is getting toppled over one brick at a time. I don't know what will be left once the fortress is completely demolished.

During the demolition I feel utterly raw and exposed. But THAT'S it! THAT'S the spot for "them" as well. As my world collides with the inmate’s world they too feel raw and exposed. They wrestle with the Truth that God loves them. He forgives them. He welcomes them. And wants to help them rebuild a new life based on a new foundation.

See there's no difference between me and the inmate. We both have the opportunity to lose our life.

Will we?

Will you?

Plowing Your Field

It's time. You have a field to plow. You have seeds to plant. You have a harvest to reap. Yes, all at the same time.

First, realize you have a field. God has given you a field and not only that you get to name it. Naming your field brings ownership. It brings dominion. And yes, stewardship too. However, women typically don't struggle with the stewardship part. We struggle more with the dominion part. But, girlfriend, YOU are a land owner. Stop for a minute and take a look around. What's on your land? What do you see? The land the Lord has given you is your sphere of influence. It's your area of ministry.

Second, acknowledge the seed you get to plant on your field. What's the "seed" God has planted in you? Is it artistic expression, writing, speaking, praying? You hold a powerful seed. It was birthed from heaven the moment you were created and you were meant to scatter that seed on your land. Name the seed while you cast it forth. It's ok to plant many fields. You've been given more than one field. You've been given more than one seed. Ecclesiates 11:6 tells us, "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well."

Keep believing for the harvest. Keep watering that field with words of love and life. Regularly stop and enjoy the fruit of your labor. Inspect the plants and rejoice over what's grown. Stoop down over the soil and believe new life will burst forth soon.

Your land is good because God has called it good. Your seed is good because God has deemed it so. Your harvest is good because God is the one who made it grow.


Go plow.

Stolen Fruit

It’s time to take the fruit back from the enemy! It’s what he used to lie to Eve and it’s what he uses to lie to us.
 
Raise your hand If you can say, “I don’t have any self-control.” Or, perhaps, “I lack peace.”  How about, “If I could only be gentle”?  OR, “GIVE ME PATIENCE….NOW!!!!”
 
Any hands going up?  
 
OK…how bout now? “If I can do good this once.”  “I am not reliable (faithful).”  “I just can’t be kind.” “I don’t have any love.”  “My joy is gone.”
 
Now?
 
I thought so.  We have all said a variation of the above.  
 
I used to say, “When God passed out gentleness He bypassed me.”  Oh, and I believed it to my very core.  Funny how what we believe expresses itself in how we act. You see, I believed I didn’t have gentleness therefore every time I didn’t act gentle I reminded myself of my truth, “There I go again…no gentleness” and so I lived out a vicious cycle of a lie.
 
What compounded the cycle was that I WAS bold.  VERY BOLD!  I believed boldness was bad.  I believed boldness was the opposite of gentleness.  Boldness had a hold on me that I couldn’t shake no matter how badly I beat myself.
 
You beat yourself too.  Have you ever replayed the stupid way you handled a situation? You remind yourself of your big mouth and then can’t stand the way your foot dangles off the corner.
 
Well, I would take a sledge hammer to my spirit and throw a blow to that bold place from where my foot would rise up.  Then I’d think about it from a different angle and throw another blow.  When I was done lashing myself, I’d start all over again to make sure I didn’t do stupid bold and “gentlelessness” things again. But I always did.
 
I still do.
 
However, I no longer beat myself up.  I’ve stolen the fruit back from the enemy!
 
Things changed when I came across Proverbs 28:1, “…but the righteous are as BOLD as a lion.” (Emphasis mine). Hmmm…boldness is not bad?  Boldness isn’t a stupid impulse I can’t control? I needed to hear that Truth.  I needed to eat it, digest it and allow it to flush out a lie.  
 
I recently ate Galatians 5 which has transformed me even more.
 
I had always been taught that I needed the fruit of the Spirit.  I was warned that my flesh was at war with the Spirit.  There never seemed to be a solution to the problem.
 
That’s when a big but of the Bible jumped off the pages. Galatians 5:17-18 says, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature (“yeah, I got that”). They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want (“Oh well, I give up”). BUT if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” (Emphasis mine again).  
 
Wait a minute! Hold everything!  Let’s back up to Galatians 5:1 for more Truth, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Stand firm, then? I’ve heard that line before (see Ephesians 6).  This must be war!
 
You’d better believe it is!!!! The same war that was waged in the garden is the war still being waged. What are you going to believe? Who are you going to believe?  
 
There’s a very simple Truth about the fruit of the Spirit.
 
It is this:  YOU HAVE IT ALREADY!!!!  
 
IF you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, YOU HAVE IT!  
 
You HAVE love!  You HAVE joy!  You HAVE peace and patience and goodness and gentleness and kindness and faithfulness AND YES, even self-control!!!!! YOU HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT because JESUS IS THE FRUIT!!!!  
 
The key to living in abundant fruit is found in Galatians 5:25b, “…let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
 
Let me say it another way, If Christ has set you free, then you have a new departure point.  
 
You crossed a line when you accepted Christ.  That line moved you from “I don’t have any self control” to “I HAVE self control.”  It removed “I don’t have any peace” to “I HAVE peace that surpasses understanding.”  HE moved you to a meadow of belief that proclaims boldly, “I AM as gentle as a lamb.” It allows you to cry out, “I HAVE rivers of patience!”
 
Are you with me?  I know, believing and agreeing with Truth can be daunting when lies seem so real.  
 
Look at it this way.
 
The lie is that Jesus’ death was not enough for me to be filled with ALL of the fruit of His Spirit!  It’s good enough for everyone else to be filled, but it’s not enough for me so I will continue to stay on the other side of The Cross. The place of lack.
 
The Truth Paul declares is, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” Vs. 24.
 
That can’t possibly include you, right?
 
I’ll use Paul’s words again, “You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Vs 7.
 
The truth is you HAVE the fruit of the Spirit!  Who’s stealing that truth from you? “That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” Vs 8.  
 
Are you ready to embrace the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth yet?
 
Start with, “I have joy!”  “I believe I have joy!”  You may not be able to see it yet, but it’s there! It can grow!  It just needs a new departure point!  One based on TRUTH not on lies!  
 
Rise up!  Take back the fruit from the enemy and cross over to Truth!  
 
Proclaim every day the fruit you thought you didn’t have.
 
Determine to stay in step with the Spirit of the living God as you walk in His ways. When He says, “You don’t need that now” obey Him.  When He says, “Walk away.” Do it!  
 
30 days from now you will see a transformation in your life!  
 
You will be a garden of lush fruit whose heart overflows with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
 
Now that’s the kind of apple I want to eat.  Anyone hungry?

The Creation of an Artist by Michelle Bentham

Michelle Bentham is my guest blogger today. Leave her a comment!

I am a 41 year old Administrative Assistant in vocational ministry at a large church in the north Texas area. In my lifetime I have worn many hats. Unwed Teenage Mom, Stay at Home Mom, Wife, Daughter, Friend, Sister, Waitress, Cashier, Apprentice, Prodigal, Divorcee, Step-Mom, Aunt, Student, Administrative Assistant, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study Facilitator, Beth Moore Junkie, Women’s Ministry Administrator, Bereaved Parent, Grief Expert, Child of God, Blogger and more… Much More.

I graduated from high school already a few months into motherhood and did not attend college. My only education in art and writing came at the hands of my Art I teacher and the wonderful English teachers from Granbury High.

I have dabbled in arts and crafts most of my grown life. Tweaking floral arrangements and creating trinkets, but these were not masterpiece works of art, just novelties. I attained a B average in my one year of high school art and determined that my technical skill did not merit further pursuit. Still, something in me begged to create.

Five years ago my family suffered the sudden and traumatic death of my eldest child, Justin, after he suffered injuries in a car accident. A year and a half later I set out to lead a ministry group and spent a whole week painting and decorating a room at our church for a group of bereaved parents I had never met. Though uncertain and, having never painted in this medium, the experience proved rewarding as I had three pieces to display on the walls.

You may say to yourself, “I am not talented.”

You don’t have to be.

The arts in their simplest forms come wrapped in a heart full of creative expression.

Maybe you read books full of poetic prose, narratives that paint pictures, or even sonnets and songs give your heart a boost. You might find yourself walking the halls of art galleries or scanning photographs and find the Lord speaking to your heart. Perhaps you craft or scrapbook… Places where your heart turns wistful in the throes of such beauty and grace that you say, I could never do that.


However creativity finds expression in your heart, God has a plan for it.


Hearing the voice of God is really the only prerequisite for creativity. Understanding His creative nature can lead us to open doors we might never consider in our own lives. Doors to creative expression and doors to beauty and grace we might never tap into but for the prompting of His Holy Spirit.

We are created in the very image of God, and on earth we reflect His image and glory. If we are in Christ, He is in us, and if He is in us then all of the nature of God fully resides in us. God in His very nature is creative. If His nature fully resides in us, and we reflect His image on the earth then our identity in Christ, our position in Him, is the only qualifying indicator for creative expression.

I'm beginning to learn this simple truth as I develop the ability to express creatively from my identity in Christ and the things I see and hear as I relate to Him.

God created you creative, too. Your creativity has the power to express His nature and glory on this earth. Technical skills are valuable and may be developed but without the creative nature of God at work in you - art would not be possible.

In you lies a Masterpiece of God's design. How long will you wait to fully express it?

Back From Captivity

I went to prison for the first time THIS year. I tend to find myself in and out of prisons, but this was the first time of the New Year. I was ushered to the back room with my team of One Heart volunteers where we met 6 youthful offenders. We were there to spend 4 hours with our hands in paint with them. I usually begin art camps with free form drawing. They can draw anything except gang related items and it has to be appropriate. This allows me to assess where their hearts are and to see if there is any artistic talent in the room. Usually there are always one or two gifted artists. "Jose" (Not his real name) was not one of the gifted artists. He was moderate, but not gifted like the boy next to him who was a "tagger"(graffiti artist). However, it wasn't his gift that drew me to him. It was his heart.

It was a heart at war. Death vs. Life.

Picture a 16"x20" blank canvas.

“Jose” used a black leaded pencil to draw an evil looking skeleton head smack dab in the center.

Out of the heart art flows, but so do dreams.

This is the same boy who told me he wants to have a car shop when he gets old enough. He wants a place for single moms to bring their cars to get fixed at a cheap rate because they need a lot of help and they don't have much money.

Death vs. life all wrapped up in a juvenile offender.

I was able to redirect his drawing by telling him that the skeleton symbolized death and he has a choice to continually keep his thoughts on death or he can choose to think about things that bring forth life.

So he covered it up with a drawing of a cross.

Interesting choice.

We were then able to talk about how religion leads to death and relationship with Jesus leads to life.

Not sure he got it.

So we progressed to pouring paint all over his canvas and spraying it with water all the while talking about Jesus being The Living Water.

Not sure he got it.

By the end of the camp he had the messiest, wettest, jumble of paint on his canvas.

It was a beautiful mess.

Life is messy.

"There's a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12

I'm praying for "Jose" that he chooses the way that will lead to life. Abundant life.

He left camp filled with joy. He loved his painting. He loved more the Scripture I highlighted for him in a Bible I gave him. I don't think he had ever heard that God had a plan for his life. This is what I read to him:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, AND WILL BRING YOU BACK FROM CAPTIVITY." Jeremiah 29:11-14

“Jose” longs to be brought back from captivity. You could see the hunger in his eyes.

I don’t know what will happen to “Jose.”

I do know that in his heart rages a turf war. Death vs. life is continually before him.

I’m praying that somehow spraying water on his canvas will lead him to accept The One who is The Way, The Truth and The life.

Highway of Freedom

Landscapes are a funny thing. They can change depending upon time of day or season. They are altered as you move upon them or what is placed upon them. Landscapes can be painted, photographed, or imprinted upon our memories forever.

Not too far away construction crews are working tirelessly to transform traffic patterns to make it easier on morning and afternoon commutes. The landscape has been transformed to where I do not recognize a thing.

I feel the same way about entering into the landscape of 2012. My landscape is changing. God is creating opportunity. He's opening doors and inviting me to walk through them to go play in the meadow of His world. However, something tries to keep my feet planted in a landscape that looks and feels comfortable.

I have found that the biggest barrier to embracing new opportunities has been fear. Not just fear of the unknown, but fear of others thoughts towards me, or fear of my own motives. The common thread is that its fear based on a highway of lies.

For example, God revealed that the passenger in my car was impure motives. I believed my motives were always bad. I drove every where with that passenger. I didn't even know he was in my car until I asked God to show me wounds that defeated me. Somewhere I had picked up this hitchhiker. I had actually changed seats with him and given him the authority to drive my life. Not only that, somewhere I began to believe that God had impure motives. That's when I stopped the car and threw that lying hitch hiker out. I confessed to God that I had believed a lie about HIM. I asked for forgiveness. HE immediately comforted me. He spoke tenderly to me and said, "Anne, your motives are not bad either." THAT was the beginning of major road repair!

As I have faced the lies and replaced it with truth miraculously my landscape has changed. I've driven far away from living as if my motives are filth. HE has cleansed them! HE has put a new spirit in me! As I've been transformed I find I am able to welcome new opportunities. It's actually exciting to enter a new highway.

How about you? Do you walk in a roundabout of defeat? Ask God to show you if you’ve picked up any hitch hikers along your way. You may be surprised what you find in your trunk. God has places He wants to take you but you may be listening to the lies in your passenger seat. Or perhaps, like me, you crawled up into the back seat to take a nap while a stranger drove you to places not on Gods road map. It’s time to wake up and kick that bad boy out to the curb. There’s a city ahead with your name on it! It’s called Freedom!

All The Single Ladies

I love worship. I love worship at my church. I love how God speaks during worship. I love how He inhabits our praises.

Recently I was worshipping during worship (btw, there are other things you can do during worship besides worship). I was completely focused on God, offering my heart and voice to the one who hears and sees me. When all of a sudden God interrupted my worship. He began a conversation with me about one of the worship leaders. She has an AMAZING voice. But that's not what He was highlighting to me. He pointed out her age. He had me notice that she was in her thirties. Not only was she in her thirties she was single and in her thirties.

I wasn't quite sure where He was headed with this information. I stopped singing. My ear was now tuned to the object of my praise. My emotions were suspended between sorrow for this girl and intrigue as to why God would interrupt my worship to point out her age. I was certain she knew she was single and no longer in her twenties. That's when He said "Anne, there's a bunch of girls out there just like her." In my mind I saw a slew of single women walking around in their thirties with no prospect of marriage on the horizon. Women who have wondered why relationships keep slipping through their fingers. Women who long for marriage but are still searching for that special someone. Women who eat alone at night and struggle to find activities for the weekends only to fall asleep with their tears. I saw multitudes of good solid God fearing, Jesus loving, Holy Spirit walking 30 something women.

I was speechless. I had never given it any thought. At "approaching 50" that is not my world. Besides that, I was a bride at the tender age of 23. Before I could question the Lord about it, He questioned me: "Do you know why they are still single?"

"No, Lord. I don't have a clue as to why your girls are still single."

"I am using their single-hood for my purposes. Would you go tell them please?"

In an instant I was reminded of an old prayer journal I had found just that afternoon. It was written during a very difficult season in my thirties. I was raising four children alone most weeks. My knight in shining armor was traveling the world leaving me alone in my castle sometimes for weeks on end. It was a season of complete brokenness before the Lord. I realized I could either continue down a path of self pity or I could begin a 30-days of blessing list. Each day I made myself write down a blessing I had experienced. Many of those entries from that month said this, "Lord, thank you for so much alone time. I know I wouldn't have grown in my relationship with you if I didn't have so many nights free after putting the kids to bed."

It was then that I understood 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 "I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse, leading to so many more demands on your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God. I'm trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions." (The Message)

The reminder of my 30 days of blessings coupled with this Scripture caused me to reflect on my own stage in life. With two children far away at college and 2 rather self sufficient teenagers I am finding that I can spend more time concentrating simply on pleasing the Master. I can spend time pursuing The One I love to worship! I don't have as many nuts and bolts of domestic life to manage. Honestly, there's not as many dishes to wash, beds to make and laundry to fold. I can spend time writing a blog post to women in their thirties encouraging them with a message that I believe God wants them to know.

So here's the message in a nice neat 30 second sound bite.

Precious single women:

1) Your singleness has a God given purpose.
2) Discover what God has called you to do then do it with all your heart.
3) Your singleness is a gift to YOU.
4) God IS accomplishing something in you and through you for His greater purpose.
5) This season of life is foundational.
6) HE sees your labor and it is not in vain.
7) Singleness will fulfill it's purpose.
8) He is so proud of you.
9) You are investing The Kingdom into the current culture that surrounds you like no other group can.
10) You are also laying the foundation for the next generation.


So, to all the single ladies out there my charge to you is this: Rise up, link arms, and change the culture for Gods purposes! I may be too old, your married friends may be too busy, but you...you've got what it takes!

I stand and applaud you as I lean over to God and say, "I see what you mean. Those single girls are a powerful force!"