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The Overflow

1 Chronicles 29: 11-13 (AMP) Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

I finished reading 1 Chronicles yesterday, in my daily readings for the year. I try to read at least five chapters a day but making it important to take notice of what God is saying as I read. Our daily reading should not be to check off our to do list, it should give us an opportunity to seek His face. So do not rush it. As I was finishing up this book of the Bible, I could not help but notice David’s heart of praise. He was in awe that God would even choose him and his family. He was in awe of how far God had brought him. David was in awe of all that was available in his hands to put together such a plan for his son to build the temple.

When was the last time we stood in awe of God? Even in the offering of the people, he was in awe of who’s hand it came from in the first place. He did not puff up his kingdom nor himself of the wealth they attained, it was all for the glory of the Lord. Without God they would be nothing.

1 Chronicles 29:14 (AMP) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.

1 Chronicles 29:16 (AMP) O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy Name, it is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

It is just a good reminder of keeping our hearts pure with whatever we have been given to work with. That is what is important to remember about the parable of the talents. You can read it entirely in Matthew 25:14-30. What is put in our hands is not ours, but we have been trusted with it to build up His kingdom. Yes, it is to be used to take care of our practical needs, but where does our true treasures lie? Only caring about yourself is like the servant who was given the one talent and buried it.

Philippians 4:17 (AMP) Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you]. 

Mark 4:26-29 (AMP) Then He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground; and he goes to bed at night and gets up every day, and [in the meantime] the seed sprouts and grows; how [it does this], he does not know. The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head [of grain], then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop ripens, he immediately puts in the sickle [to reap], because [the time for] the harvest has come.”

Money is not the only thing we are to sow. We all have been given time, resources, talents, and the best gift of all, salvation. Your redemption was not meant to be kept to yourself (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20). You are to cultivate it and share it. As you grow, you help others grow. We have a God of abundance. Do you know why I spend so much time in the Word every day? He is planting more of Him inside of me to share. It is the overflow of His Presence that gives me strength and joy.

When Paul stated that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him he was not trying to master a great feat. Paul was living a life of abundance in Christ. He was in awe of the revelation knowledge he was able to share. He was in awe of the people that God entrusted into his care. He did not take any of it for granted. It was through Christ he was able to travel as far and speak to as many leaders for His glory. Verse 14 of chapter 4 of Philippians is just so important, nevertheless it was right for others to share with him in his difficulties. People are important. He did not use them up and throw them away (as become our custom in a self-seeking world). He did not move on to the next group that would bring him to his next level of elevation. Verse 17 as shown above, he sought the profit, the heavenly benefit for them. He wanted the ability for them to know the life of abundance in Christ by doing what should come naturally to us. Using whatever we have in our hands to build His Kingdom.

This is my prayer before I leave the house every day. “Thank You Lord for giving me another opportunity to glorify You today. Let me honor what You honor. Let what I have be used for Your glory, it is all from You and for You.” I hope this blesses you and reminds you to keep a heart of praise and thanksgiving as you go about your day.

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Harvest so the Gift is Given

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (AMP) Finally, brothers and sisters, pray continually for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you

Why would you not want others to have this great gift that you received? If you really read the Bible you will find lots of calls to action. Did you ever think that you would be the answer to someone’s prayer for their loved one?

Luke 10:2 (AMP) He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

One of the things that I pray over my family and myself is that we will seek out opportunities to share the gospel with someone today. I pray for our safety, for our needs being met, but above all that His gospel is spread and we get to be a part of that. I think that is what these petitions for prayer were intended for. Not that you pray for God to send someone else to do it. Prayer without intent to be sent out yourself is just rooted in self-centeredness. We have become like tombs, whitewashed on the outside, but full of dead mens bones.

I was talking with our prayer team and made this statement that good people are still selfish if they are not willing to lay down their perceptions to His.  “If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him! (Luke 11:13)” The Holy Spirit is going to urge you to go.

Philippians 2:3-5 (AMP) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility]

I know of no other individual with a bigger prayer life that Jesus. Prayer is not just something that a select few are called to do. Intercession has been planted in all of our hearts (Ephesians 6:18). Some of us need to be more intentional in our prayer lives. Like worship, the more we enter in the more we enjoy it. However, be warned we can turn it into our self worship if we are not careful. Jesus taught us how to pray and I like to stick with that model. I do not parrot the words, but I do stay with how He wanted us to focus our prayers. I am by no means perfect in this, but I do want my motives to be right. I want you to have the fullness that God desires for you. I want you to be free in Christ. I want you to rooted and grounded in His love.

Mark 16:15 (AMP) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.“

There is not an individual that you will come in contact with that is not His created. What is the gospel? Turn or burn? Your future is hell you sinner? Here is how I present the gospel…Love came down and lived, died and rose again for me. I talked about my changed life and the fullness I have now that I live in Christ. Then I ask, do you want that for yourself? I lead them in a prayer of receiving, repentance and thankfulness. That is the gospel. That is my prayer for you this Christmas, that you seek out opportunities to give the best gift this season. I pray that you answer the prayer of the Lord of the harvest, that you bring in the harvest too.

God, Holy is Your Name. We thank You for Your Mercy and Loving Kindness. Thank You for the Gift of Your Son to put us back in right standing with You. Love truly came down. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, for which we would not have been made complete and full in Your Knowledge. Above all to empower us to fulfill everything that you called us to, the ministry of reconciliation. We desire for Your Kingdom to be here on earth just as You intended at creation. We repent for our hardened hearts and making life about ourselves. We should not have limited to what we like above what You desire. Give us this day our daily revelation through Your Word. Feed us so that we can go feed others about Your goodness. Search our hearts Lord for any unforgiveness that we may be holding onto. We want to love freely like You love. We do not want to hinder the growth in the body of Christ. Give us opportunities today to share Your Good News, the Gospel of Your Son. Let us live in grace and boldness. We choose love today. We choose joy today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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What did 2020 bring?

Haggai 2:6-9  (KJV) For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Hebrews 12:26-28 (KJV) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Prophetic word my husband heard from the Lord when seeking what 2020 would bring this year: “There is a release happening, a release from things of the flesh and world that have attached itself to us.  It has grown alongside the truth, it has dwelt in the same field for too long and the God of harvest is separating the things of the flesh from the things of the spirit. This is a year of release from our past into a release of God’s glory.  The things in our life that don’t belong will be shaken and it is a time to release any and all things that don’t belong. As we release the release of God will manifest. It is time for the unseen promise to be seen and the seen circumstances to no longer distract our focus. There is a shaking happening…this shaking will release the attachments of the curse that have been attached to our lives for so long.  This release will in turn allow to freedom for the Holy Spirit to be released in our lives. Don’t be afraid of the shaking!  But with reverential fear of God, glorify Him who IS the power that shakes the mountains, the earth and the heavens, but has also provided for His children an unshakable refuge they can abide in.  For He is shaking all things loose that don’t belong, that aren’t established in Christ.”

Matthew 16:18 “…and on this rock (the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ, The WORD) I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].”

He said: “I am declaring that this year is a year of RELEASE!  Letting go of the past and embracing the promise of God.”

He is shaking all things loose that don’t belong, that aren’t established in Christ.

I was sitting in prayer and reading the other day. My husband is not a prophetic preacher, he was anointed to bring that word to us though. While reading I came across Matthew 13:24-30 in the Message Translation. As I read this I was reminded of what was prophesied in January, “It has grown alongside the truth, it has dwelt in the same field for too long and the God of harvest is separating the things of the flesh from the things of the spirit.”

He told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in the field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too. The farmhands came to the farmer ans said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’ He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.” The farmhands asked, ‘Should we week out the thistles?’ He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in the bundles for fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.”

When will the church wake up? When will it be harvest time? Jesus spent all day telling various stories. At the end of the day His disciples went back and asked Him to explain the story of the thistle. This intrigued me as well:

Matthew 13:37-43 (MSG) So he explained. “The farmer sows the pure seed in the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weeds out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heavens, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father. Are you listening to this? Really listening?

My husband and I are not prophetic preachers, like I said, but I believe the Word of God is real, alive and is prophetic. This just gave me something to ponder and I hope it does you as well. More than ever I need to watch my words and my character. I needs to draw closer to the Father. I need to allow Jesus to do the work in me so I can reflect Him more.

“There is a shaking happening…this shaking will release the attachments of the curse that have been attached to our lives for so long.  This release will in turn allow to freedom for the Holy Spirit to be released in our lives.” The Holy Spirit is about to break free! As a church we have told Him that He would scare the seeker. In the Word, it says that the gifts of the spirit were to bring evidence to the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22). As a church we need to repent for silencing the Holy Spirit. What did 2020 bring? It brought freedom in the shaking! It brought an awakening!! So let us shake off that slumbering spirit that keeps trying to afflict us. Let us rise to become all that He called us to be. We have two choices in this season…we can complain or we can mature. I have chosen to draw closer to my Jesus, to draw closer to the vine, to desire more of Him in my every day life and to be where He wants me to be.