Parenting Goals

     I'm not a mother, yet. But I already love my future children. I find myself praying for them and blessing them in my quiet time. I've gotten several dreams about the names of two of my children. I'm sure other women have experienced this. The Holy Spirit has really been working in me and speaking to me about what it means to be a parent and challenging me to really think about what His goals are.
    I've been jotting down notes here and there about my hopes and dreams for my children and how He wants me to raise them. 
   
Some of my notes are as such (this is a rough list):

-Help my kids develop mentally, emotionally and spiritually

-Add no emotional trauma

- look into their eyes and truly see them, everyday

-cherish the moments and never forget this is the good old days

-To be a safe place where issues are healed not covered or exploited

-teach them to think for themselves and to be assertive

-Leaders not followers, yet respectful of authority

-Routine is resistance to wonder. Encourage my child’s sense of wonder.

-Recognize my children’s gifts, talents and joys and help them sharpen and peruse them

-Above all teach my children to love God, love others and reach out.

 

    What are or were some of your goals for you and your children? I want to pray over this list and edited as the Lord leads, then hang it on my mirror or in my office and read it every morning. I guess my list is more about myself - reminding me not to control them or forget them, but truly see them and enjoy them, and help them grow into all God created them to be. I don't want to be swept away and never truly be present.  :-)

Eat your fill

        My husband and I are proud parents of a bossy Basset Hound. I don't know what you know about Basset Hounds, but most sources say they are lazy. This can't be further from the truth in our case. Winston, is always on the go. He's loud, bossy, silly and makes friends easily :-). When we lived in the apartments there was a trail we could walk him on every day to burn energy and stay fit. He was eating about four cups of food a day! Two cups in the morning and two in the evenings. That's more than my Golden Retriever. Yet, Winston was super skinny and fit. Basset lovers always admire his healthy size, since most Bassets are stereotyped as fat and slow. Over time we slowly cut Winston's food down to three cups a day (two in the mornings and one in the evenings). He seemed fine and it allowed us to save food.
         Eventually we moved into our house. Though we have a huge backyard, Winston didn't get those long walks on the trail anymore. So we decided to cut him down to two cups a day. One in the morning and one in the evenings. I mean, if my huge Golden Retriever can live off of two cups, surly, Winston can, right? As time went on I noticed Winston acting up, he would jump on the counters, he wouldn't settle down, and wouldn't listen. I had no idea what was going on. Then one day he was eating breakfast and I saw his stomach and thought, "Hmm, He's looking kinda skinny." I told my husband I wanted to start feeding him three cups again. He agreed and we began increasing his food. I saw a noticeable difference right away. He was calm, slept more, obeyed the rules and was back to being a cheerful little guy. Today, he happily eats three cups a day and remains fit.

          As I was thinking upon this situation and my little buddies behavior problems and how a little extra food changed him back to his happy self, the Lord showed me how we act the same way when we are spiritually hungry. Hunger can cause us to act in strange ways. When we are spiritually full we are calm, we rest well, we live life respecting others boundaries, spreading love wherever we go. But when we are hungry and running on empty we are moody, short tempered, rebellious, willing to eat anything and careless of others.  It's all about us.
           If you find yourself looking in the mirror and not recognizing yourself check your spiritual diet. Are you hungry? Are you running on empty? My poor little Winston's whole personality changed when his tummy was on empty. When is the last time you've eaten something good for you?
          When we are full of God's word our lives reflect that fullness in everything we do. So, if you are noticing negative behavior and attitudes in your life, know, it's not you, it's your diet. Eat your fill on healthy spiritual things and you will see positive changes take place almost instantly.

Jason Upton - ReleaseRetreat

I love what Jason says about selling yourself and spiritually aborting your destiny to please man (starts about 20mins in). Sounds like what I've been writing in my new book. It's definitely where my heart is. Jason has an amazing way of humbling the proud and encouraging the broken. If you're broken his message will bless you.

The ones who really belong

"Be yourself, do your own thing and work hard. The right people the ones who really belong in your life, will come to you. And stay."

Catch a wave

    If you have a hard time being intimate with God on your own, the next best way to saturate yourself in His presence is to go places where He's manifesting. Hang around people who are manifesting Him. It's not a copout.
     I can't tell you how many times I was feeling spiritually dry, and went to an event where I knew people would be flowing in the Holy Spirit and prophetic gifts. As soon as I walked through the doors, BAM, I was hit with God's manifested presence. If you can't create a wave then catch a wave, hang around where the waves are crashing. Trust me you will get soaked. Before you know it you will be creating waves and catching waves when you're all alone worshiping. It will rub off on you.
      Sometimes we are in a dry season, not because God wants it that way, but because life pulls us down. That's why we need each other. Come surf my waves! We sharpen each other and encourage one another. Sometimes we need someone else to fill us up. There is no shame in that. Other times people are still young and immature to spiritual things and need some help. Again, no shame. Ride my waves.
      Over the years I've learned what events, or gatherings host His presence. So my hubs and I make a point to go for a refreshing. I will warn you, once you've experience the true and living God in a manifested way you are ruined for anything less. Places that used to fit you wont be able to hold you anymore. You can't go back.
      It's an amazing thing when God's presence rests on you and His spirit abides in you. There is a difference when you are running on empty and when you're running on full. Hang around people and places and help keep you full.
          God wants to speak to you and move through you.

Spirit Connections

    Have you ever felt connected to someone you weren't friends with yet? Someone you've never had a conversation with? Does God fill your dreams with these people? Relationships are a big part of our journey with God. Relationships play important roles in every area of our life, especially our spiritual growth.

       We shouldn't let the resistance from those around us stop us from reaching out and touching those God has given us a heart for. I've learned the hard way that those around us have their own insecurities. They may not want us reaching out because they feel threatened. They are scared they may be replaced, or miss out. We are fragile and easily succumb to jealousy and self preservation. We can block those we love from making the connections God wants for them, or be blocked by our loved ones ourselves. We have our "best friends" and we are protective over them and resist change to our groups dynamic, but we must realize the importance of connecting with those God's beckoning us toward. It's a divine connection.

     People impart important things into our life. Whether it be a gifts, talents, information, wisdom, healing etc. We are spirit beings and we don't connect with someone without their being an exchange (hopefully good).

       For example. I have a friend who had never dreamed in his life. Yet, he started going to a spirit filled prophetic church, and all of a sudden he started dreaming. He received a prophetic word for me in his dream which truly blessed me when I was in a tough situation. This had never happened to him before. He didn't even know he had those types of gifts, but when my friend made the right connection his gifts started manifesting. Who and what we are connected to makes a difference. We need to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to have courage. We should be bold.

        You may have tons of Christian friends, but are they carnal? God may try and connect you with someone else who can impart something deeper into you. Would you be open? Or would you allow your clique to dictate the divine connections you receive? I've learned that powerful connections come with opposition and road blocks. It's a sign that something special awaits on the other side. The enemy can use well meaning people to block a good thing. We need to tune our ear to His voice and be daring enough to take a chance and obey. 

         I'm going to go out on a limb and share what inspired my blog. I pray it blesses whoever it's meant to reach. I was praying about what to blog about and this message started bubbling in me. This impression for someone inspired my blog post because I believe this hits home for more than just one person, though the impression is for someone specific : You have felt drawn to someone for many years. Yet, you have hesitated to reach out and make a connection because of what your friends may think. Your friends care about you, but one friend specifically has been a bigger road block than others. Self-preservation is his motive. It's important to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. Reach out, make the connection, there is healing, restoration and divine friendship awaiting. When God connects people in the spiritual realm, no man can break it. All we can do is obey, or live in regret. The pulling never goes away. There is reward in obeying. 

         Relationships open and close doors. They sow seeds into our life that wont bloom till years later. We never know why God wants us to make a connection. All we can do is obey and see what happens. We can't allow who we are surrounded by today, stop us from reaching out to those who may be vital for our tomorrows.

As for me and my house

I'm done
Building my own kingdom
No more
Seeking worthless idols

Like sheep we have all gone astray
We must choose this day
Whom we will serve
As for me and my house
We will serve the Lord
We will serve the Lord
Idols raised, tear them down
Cause we will serve the Lord
We will serve the Lord
To one king we bow down
As for me and my house
We will only serve the Lord

We will cross over Jordan
We will claim what you promised

We will not give our hearts to another
Will not give our hearts to another
We belong to the Lord

The Spirit God gave

Winter Ramp 2012

Another intimate worship set by Jason Upton. I hope you enjoy all the videos I post. I try and share what's feeding me spiritually. I usually get some coffee, a note pad and turn my speakers up in my office and worship and take notes. If you sit through the whole thing you will be blessed. :-) 

Who is this love amazing

I've been worshiping to this song for weeks. It's about time I share! :-)

Your Gift to Yourself

     The greatest gift you can give to yourself is moving on. The Bible says God predestined our time and place. I've heard Bible teachers say this means down to our very addresses. That's how detailed "time and place" are referring.

      If this is true, then we need to set ourselves free and move on when doors are closed. Closed doors are the greatest blessing. We need to change our perspective. So many times we walk away from a closed door feeling rejected and sorrowful, but if we keep our eyes on spiritual things then we know a closed door is direction not rejection. Take it as sign and move on. It's the greatest gift we can give ourselves.

      God is fighting for us. He wouldn't put us here without a plan for us, the problem is many of us want what we can't have. Instead of stepping away from a closed door, we sow years of patience, waiting outside of a door, knocking, pleading to enter, some of us even try kicking it down. Why waste your life doing this?

      There is a place for you. A place where you fit. A place were people want you and need you. A place were people see the best in you and want you to win. This favor is direction as well. The worst thing we can do is stick around wasting time in a place where people's hearts are hardened toward us. No matter how much time you invest trying to change people, waiting, and hoping the bottom line is, only God can change someone's heart.

        Say your goodbyes, do whatever you need to do to cut the strings and soul ties and step away from the closed doors in your life. Take a deep breathe and know God's got you.Trust Him and begin walking away from the old and toward something new.

       I remember when my husband went to visit an old friend. My husband arrived and walked into the building and headed toward the elevators. As he walked to the elevator the doors opened on their own and my husband seamlessly walked in without missing a step. This is a powerful picture of our lives. God's not tricking you or fighting against you. He's not making things complicated. When our path is blessed it opens up to us, just like the elevator door.

       The sooner we move on the sooner we will walk onto the path of favor God's prepared for us.

It chooses us

   The more experiences I enjoy and endure in this life, the more I see how our ministries choose us, we don't choose them. Through trails and pain, through laughter and love, through triumphs and failures, our spirit begins beckoning us to help right other people's wrongs, to pull other people up from where we were, to wipe the tears of faces like ours. You have to wonder, was this all part of His bigger plan? We are connected. The call has picked us.

     Our voice has been given to us and set in motion way before we enter our mother's womb. We embrace it or fight it. Stay focused, or envy others. We choose to live as victors or victims, but our lives have been planned by God ahead of time.

     Often these areas of our life seem neglected by God. Why isn't He responding? Can He hear my prayers? Hasn't He counted my tears? We begin wondering why He responds to one prayer but not another. I've found the areas that seem neglected are the areas He's making us walk through. If He delivered us instantly we wouldn't become "deliverers" because it came easy. We'd become arrogant and boastful and make cheesy sayings about it. When people would seek our help we'd say things like, "If I can do it, you can do it. You just have to want it! It's simple. You just have to want it bad enough."

      Sadly, when things come easy for us we often take credit. But when we have to walk through the trenches, get mud in our boots, soak our pillow with tears year after year, something happens with us. Brokenness humbles us. Our spirit cries out, "Only you, Lord. You are my last hope. You are my only hope. I can't do this."

       God's not looking for us to be self made men and women. He wants us to be dependent on Him. He wants us to help others be dependent on Him. He wants us to be full of mercy and grace towards others and that does not happen unless we feel what they feel. This is why our cries go unanswered in some areas, but there will be a season for deliverance if we don't faint.

       At the appointed time God will set the record straight. He will align all that's been broken and you will arise with boldness in the areas you've felt neglected. You will be a voice of hope and healing to many. Let's not grow weary, but realize there is a reason we've had to walk the long way around certain issues. It may not be clear now, but have faith in God. He is not wasting time. 

          He's teaching you the way out, so you can lead others back out the same way.This is when we'll see our ministry has chosen us. It's been working in us and preparing us for our future roles before we even recognized it.

Get moving

      You have to start somewhere. Where you are today may not be where you'll  be in 10 years, but if you don't get moving you'll never start your journey. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist in a sense. I don't like trying anything unless I know I'm not going to totally humiliate myself. If you're like me, it's a struggle to get the ball rolling in any direction, because you want to wait until you're perfect before you try. Silly, right? We all know you wont get close to perfection unless you first start trying. It can be a paralyzing place to be.

       Everyone has to start somewhere. I try to give people space to become who they are meant to be. Everyone needs space and time. We never know what phase of the journey someone's on and I'd hate to be the one to discourages them when they are just starting, or be the one to push them over when they are on the edge.

        Writing books is scary. Writing anything is scary. Sharing your art, your thoughts, your feelings and beliefs....it's so very terrifying. Don't believe me? Try it! The books I write today, may not be the books I write years from now. I may look back and shake my head, or I may smile. Either way when God points us in a direction we have to get moving even if we're crawling.

       Don't be scared to start. I'm not going to lie. You may face ridicule. You may come face to face with a few bullies. You may be laughed at. You may even be tempted to run back and hide in your cave. But starting is always worth it. Let God be the only affirmation you need.

    Start. Get moving.

"Pioneer" - Honeytree

This song put tears in my eyes. I've never heard a song that really hit where my husband and I are spiritually. I've had so many dreams of my husband and I driving down empty roads, with new construction on each side (it was empty, just open land). And us walking through trails in the woods alone and yet knowing God was with us. I'm not sure what it all means. I do know spiritually it's been lonely for us and I know He is preparing us for something. Maybe 15-30 years from now it will all make sense looking back.

Temptations of Jesus

I loved Jason's message. I hope you enjoy it. He hits on a lot of good stuff. It's worth the time.

Honest

Jessica Rey's Motivating Talk

I've mentioned this several times in articles over the years, but I love Jessica Rey's talk. It truly is a slow fade into compromise. Click Here to watch video.

God knows what's coming

      My husband and I are dreamers. We are not ashamed of this, though some uptight Christians would want us to be. If you actually read your Bible you will see that the people that fill the pages were also dreamers. God gives dreams to His people. Dreams are not isolated to the old testament. He directs His people with dreams in the new testament as well.

       My hubs had a dream that a lady would stop by our house seeking info about the foreclose next door, and it happened as usual. The details to this is a bit longer, but I wanted to share a bit of encouragement after the interesting event yesterday, " God knows what's coming your way." Stay connected with Him, listen for His voice. He goes ahead of us and prepares a way of victory. He knows what's around the corner. Don't dread tomorrow. Be filled with peace and joy. Your creator already knows what's coming your way, and if you stay connected with Him, He will prepare you.

     God is supernatural. He is not some far off concept. He's not unreachable. He is with you. He wants a relationship with you. A relationship that is more real than your human relationships. I don't know who reads my blogs. I have a counter but it does not give me details. So I have to assume someone is going to read this that is fascinated with God being a dream giver.

        I would like to say to that person, yes, God wants to speak to you. He wants to share with you. You can have a relationship with Him that way. Hubby and I didn't start off knowing what all our dreams meant, and still don't. But we've been paying attention to our dreams for over 10 years. You learn to understand God's voice. You learn your Shepherd's voice and how He speaks. Just like mother knows the sounds of her baby, God knows our sounds, and He will teach us His. Being a Christian is not a boring, religious or uptight things. It's super natural! You can take part in it too!

Revival by Vineyard Music

No exceptions

"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
    and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
    Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
    run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
    listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
    on those who do evil things."

-1 Peter 3:8-12 THE MESSAGE