Worship
In the Shelter
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
As Hurricane Milton was developing into a Category 5 Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico last week, the Lord was simultaneously preparing us for trouble. That’s right. Trouble. Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble- but He also offers a solution to the tests, trials and temptations we all will inevitably face.
Long before our Governor declared a state of emergency across multiple counties in Florida (including ours) the Lord was helping me take heart. Before I even knew what was coming, He was preparing my mind, will and emotions to trust Him.
The trouble?
A spirit of fear.
The solution?
Worshipping the Father.
- Scripture (Truth)
All ya’ll know I continually encourage us to be in the Word, but in case anyone forgot, I’ll remind us again: we must chew, digest, regurgitate and chew the cud of Scripture each and every day. Why? Storms are coming! Heavy rains and destructive winds are on the way and flood waters are rising. Those who build their hearts upon the Word of God will stand firm. Conversely, those who foolishly build their houses on the world – and its systems, will crumble.
Two weeks ago, I was also preparing to teach another lesson in our Emotional Discipleship class at church. Care to guess the subject matter? It was on anxiety, fear & depression. I volunteered for the topic, having been well acquainted with these troubling emotions since childhood. Sad to say, the spirit of fear is very familiar with me- and my family. It’s been around for generations… but it ain’t staying!
Then, this past Sunday, one of our elders preached a message on… a spirit of fear! Do you think the Lord was trying to get our attention?!
2. Prayer (Spirit)
In the past few years I’ve become acutely aware that my prayer life must increase. As our family continues to settle into and possess the land God has promised as an inheritance, the resistance and retaliation from the enemy’s camp has also increased. Instead of wearing myself out, trying to extinguish those fiery arrows in the flesh, I must be FULL of the Holy Spirit, dressed from head to toe with the armor of God, seeking direction from the Commander of Heaven’s armies. HE is my strength and shield. Not my words, but His Word.
Each morning, I pour out my praise and process my feelings in a journal with God. I also walk and talk with my man and the Lord on a local nature trail. Throughout the day, I pray without ceasing as I’m prompted by the Spirit, or a prayer request is sent my way. And, I join other intercessors in the body of Christ multiple times a week to ask, seek, knock on the Father’s heart for our community, our nation, and Israel.
As we began hurricane preparations at home on Monday, news reports were overflowing with fear and speculation. Social media posts were even worse. Then came the warnings and watches that continued to blast emergency signals to our phones and watches. A spirit of fear was palpable. My entire body felt its affects. For a moment I entertained it, but then I was reminded that the Lord had been preparing me for this battle all along. So, I flipped the switch between soul and spirit, and my heart anchored itself in the One who sits far above every storm!
In the middle of the night on Wednesday (or the wee hours of Thursday) as the eye of the storm passed over Polk County, we heard a thunderous CRASH outside our bedroom window. Instinctively, I started praying in the Spirit as my man attempted to peer out the window with a flashlight (we’d lost power the night before). As terror gripped my heart, I kept declaring the Word of God to my soul. Moments later, I felt indescribable peace, knowing:
I was in the shelter of the Most High.
The next morning, as dawn broke, we went outside to assess the damage. A section of our neighbors abandoned cattle shelter had flown over the fence and into our backyard. As one hundred mile an hour wind gusts raised the roof and support beams into the air, the Almighty’s hand laid it right back down in the perfect spot. The only damage to our property was a few tears in our pool enclosure.
If I’d needed another sign from heaven, this was it!
Power, love and a sound mind is only found in the shadow of the Almighty. He is our shelter in every storm.
Healthy is HARD!
Luke 14:25-30
Amplified Bible
25 Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not [a]hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will begin to ridicule him,30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’
On this journey down the narrow road of restoration, I’ve discovered that getting- and staying healthy is HARD. Hiring a counselor was HARD. Humbling myself to ask for help was HARD. It cost my body a lot of time and money. It cost my soul a lot of letting go to embrace God’s will and way for my life, according to His Word. Hiring a nutrition coach was HARD. Humbling myself to ask for help was HARD. It cost my body a lot of time and money. It cost my soul a lot of letting go to embrace God’s will and way for my life, according to His Word.
Staying on the path others helped prepare me for is still… HARD. I no longer have constant encouragement from my counselor and coach. Outside influences aren’t holding me accountable. I must rely fully on the One who dwells on the inside to help me persevere. I’ll admit, at times I’ve felt discouraged. I even entertained the passing thought that said it would be easier to just quit. But what a waste that would be! The foundation has already been laid. I MUST keep building. This house needs to be healthy- and holy. This house needs to be a place God’s Spirit wants to dwell. This house needs to reflects JESUS to a world living in darkness.
I see so many in this generation receiving the Lord with joy, yet refusing to build their lives on His Word. They get caught up in the trap of successful ministry, seeking the approval and applause of man as they use their gifts to build His Kingdom, yet all the while- they do not know Him. In due season, the winds and waves inevitably come crashing down over their lives. The resulting devastation often brings destruction to their family and the family of God as their unstable foundation drifts back into the sea.
Getting healthy and staying healthy in the Lord is HARD. The cross is weighty. Following Jesus is costly. But if we’ll stay on the narrow road which leads to the valley of the shadow, we will find life…after death. This is the way, my friend. This is the truth. It’s good news! It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Father is searching for sons and daughters who will give up everything to worship Him in Spirit and Truth. He wants us to be healthy- and holy. He wants us to be ready for His Son’s return. The day is drawing near, my friend. Will you surrender to His Spirit? Will you submit to the Lord’s training; body and soul?
Healthy is HARD.
Holy is HARD.
But, HE is WORTHY!!!
Self-Care
Matthew 23:1-4, 25-26
Amplified Bible
23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair [of authority as teachers of the Law]; 3 so practice and observe everything they tell you, but do not do as they do; for they preach [things], but do not practice them.4 The scribes and Pharisees tie up [a]heavy loads [that are hard to bear] and place them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger [to make them lighter].
25 “Woe to you, [self–righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self–indulgence (unrestrained greed).26 You [spiritually] blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate[examine and change your inner self to conform to God’s precepts], so that the outside [your public life and deeds] may be clean also.
Since the Good Shepherd told me to LAY DOWN last year, I’ve been letting go of a few old things to embrace what’s new. In the midst of this great exchange, I came to realize that His grace was no longer sustaining the weight of some of the baggage I was carrying. What I previously lifted with ease in a former season suddenly felt heavy in this one. And so, the Lord, in His loving kindness invited me further into the valley of the shadow of death to bury some dry bones. As I did what He required, His Spirit began breathing resurrection life into my body… and soul. At times, I’ll admit, the process was extremely painful. My flesh cried out on more than one occasion as my mind, will and emotions wrestled between what I wanted and what He wanted.
Before laying down, I had been stuck in the hustle and bustle of everyday life; consumed by what I was doing, while neglecting who I was being. As the Lord corrected Martha, reorienting her heart towards His, so He did with me. His Word cut between soul and spirit, reminding me that the inside of my cup was far more valuable to Him than the outside. His rebuke to the Pharisee’s was even more direct. What they were teaching people was RIGHT, but the motivation of their hearts was all WRONG.
If we aren’t careful, we too can get stuck faking the funk- working up a sweat in our scrubbing bubbles to make our cups look good on the outside, while neglecting the filth that’s piling up on the inside. Religious activity has a way of setting us up for that kind of hypocrisy. If we’re not careful, we can easily fall prey to the enemy’s trap: desiring to be praised by people. It feels really good to be accepted, affirmed and acknowledge for our giftedness, but God deserves all the praise for what we do since everything comes from Him and is for Him. Furthermore, seeking the approval of man will always leave us disappointed anyway. Instead, Jesus invites us to choose a different way. His way…which leads to eternal life: pleasing the Father.
If you, like me, struggle with people pleasing, I have good news for you! Take heart, my friend. There’s always HOPE! Seek the Lord. You will find Him. Ask Him to examine every area of your soul that is bowing to the fear of man. He will ever so gently illuminate the dark places with His marvelous light, releasing you from the enemy’s lies which hold you captive.
I’m so grateful for the freedom to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth in this season and for the saints who told me what I needed to hear. I’m even thankful for the sinners who told me what I needed to hear, because God uses all things for my good- but especially for HIS glory!
As I’ve submit to this process of cleansing, the Lord has taught me a few valuable lessons about self-care in this season:
- First and foremost, I must constantly care for my spirit. I literally cannot live without His bread and water sustaining me every day. The secret place is my happy place. Rising early every morning I worship Him in silence, reading/hearing scripture, praying in the spirit and being a scribe (journaling). That quiet time carries me the rest of the day as I continue meditating on His Word and praying, without ceasing.
- Second, my soul needs compassionate care. In His presence, as I pour out the complaints in my mind, will and emotions, He comforts, cares and corrects anything I believe which is contrary to what He says about Himself, myself and others.
- Third, my body needs continual care. After hiring a nutrition coach, I realized this temple needed some serious cleansing, ‘cuz what I was puttin’ in my mouth wasn’t holy! Our enemy has convinced us that fast, fake food will satisfy us. It’s a lie. God has already provided everything we need since the dawn of creation: what grows in the ground, what grazes on it, and what swims in the waters that separates the dry land. Spend the time and money required to eat healthy foods- and move your body!
Beloved, it’s time to clean the inside of our cups. Let’s not just be hearers of the Word, let’s do it! We need to practice what we preach. God is watching. And so is the world.
Jell-O (part 2)
Ezekiel 36:26
I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh…
I inherited my mom’s 1970’s lime green, Jell-O Tupperware mold when she passed away in 2021. Throughout my childhood and into adulthood, my mother, and her mother before her, created masterpieces filled with fruit and other deliciousness for family reunions and holidays in that little piece of plastic. I stood in wonder watching their expertise as they cooked and cooled their concoctions with ease. Once the Jello-O was done, they broke the seal of the mold, then rapidly inverted its contents onto a fancy dish; displaying their handiwork for all of us to enjoy. My girls and I perform the same magnificent routine every Thanksgiving when we make their Mema’s famous cranberry Jell-O recipe.
If you’ve ever made Jell-O straight-outta-the box you know that boiling water is required to dissolve its contents. In order to prepare the mixture, ongoing heat must be applied. Only after a specified amount of time under intense pressure can the Jell-O finally be removed from the pot and transferred into a dish to begin its cooling process in the fridge overnight. During such time, the wiggly jiggly substance conforms to its container.
Such is the case with my heart.
In this season, as the Lord increases the temperature to the boiling point, I admit: my flesh grumbles & complains a little (ok- a LOT!). Mercifully, I’ve also come to my senses by the power of His Spirit, and submit my will to this divine pressure. Instead of ignoring or idolizing the explosive emotions that emerge from the heat in my heart, I’m learning to press into the pain. As I do, I discover, like David did in his Psalms of lament; the Lord hears my cry. In these moments of raw vulnerability, I am laying down in green pastures… and He’s restoring my soul.
I believe this, in part, is what it means to be a disciple.
Being.
Sitting.
At the feet of Jesus.
Praying; in secret and in community.
Submitting to the Word; in secret and in community.
Worshipping; in secret and in community.
I’m also in counseling.
And I’m seeking wise advice (lots of couch convos with my best friend [my man], and a few trusted leaders & friends).
Making Jell-O is a process, my friend……as is transforming the heart.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
The Shadow
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I [a]shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside [b]quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the [c]paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no [e]evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [f]have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h]dwell in the house of the Lord [i]forever.
I’ll be honest: I was hoping to be out of the valley by now. For heavens sake, I’m IN the land God promised me and my family! Away from the bondage of Pharoah. Out of the dry, barren land of Egypt. *We left the circus. No more Sunday morning show. No more ring leaders juggling the praises of men and people pleasing. No more clowns performing for the crowd. The lions have been released from their cages and they are ROARING!!! (*a prophetic picture of the church in Egypt) We are IN green pastures. We are being pastored by shepherds after Gods own heart. No more manna. We’re eating delicious milk and honey. We are part of a family of believers who truly desire to “give God what He wants.” Worship is focused on THE Man; Jesus. Prayer is intercession: seeking Gods will and declaring it back to Him. Teaching is the Word of God. God’s will has become our reality.
My Spirit is jumping for JOY!!!
My soul, however….is not.
The shadow of death is longer and wider than I expected. There was so much loss and letting go in the wilderness. I assumed once I got out of the desert, it would all be over. But its not. I’m still grieving the death of my mother. I’m still grieving the death of our homeschool. I’m still grieving the death of our ministry. I’m still grieving the death of our home. I’m still grieving the death of relationships with family and friends.
Death is over, but the darkness surrounding it remains.
This is the shadow….
This is the shadow of the cross.
This is the shadow of resurrection.
And,
This is the way…
This is the way of the Good Shepherd.
This is the way for His sheep.
His sheep know His voice.
His sheep walk through the valley.
His sheep are not afraid of the shadow.
His sheep follow Him unto death.
His sheep receive His rod and staff.
His sheep lie down in green pastures.
His sheep drink from quiet waters.
His sheep are restored.
His sheep just want Him.
Yes
Deep Into the Water 