Spider Webs: Making Invisible Traps Visible

I was watering my garden this morning. The sun was shining, the insects were buzzing and fluttering all around. It was so pretty out, but I kept hitting invisible snares: icky spider webs. This late in the summer the spiders are really coming out- they are everywhere! I got a big one crawling on my leg when I was mowing last evening- ick.. . . ! And the casualties are evident, mummified mason bees stuck in webs scattered about. As I hit another lead wire web between my shrubs and my rose buses and wondered what was attached to it; the Lord spoke to my heart. I sprayed all around me with the midst setting of my hose, and suddenly what was invisible, or barely discernible, became completely visible. The water outlined the webs so brightly in the sun.

"to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. . . ." Ephesians 5:26

"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:14

This short but meaningful experience was a reminder that if we stay close to Jesus, letting him wash us with the water of His Word, and drinking the fresh Water of communion with Him, He will highlight the traps in our path. What was invisible becomes visible and we can avoid traps that would ensnare us and lead us in the wrong direction.

Back to Eden Film

I just watched the Back to Eden Film last night and it was so good and interesting! I loved how the gardener, Paul, prays about his garden and hears from the God of the Universe. His story reminds me of George Washington Carver.
He had some great gardening tips on there that really make sense, and are mirrored more after nature then traditional gardening/farming techniques. His techniques save water, time and energy, and lead to healthier plants. It is not all new. I have read somewhat similar ideas in organic gardening magazines, but he takes it to a higher level and aligns his gardening with God's Word. He also talks about having a generous spirit and the health giving properties of home-grown organic produce.
I loved that it was free to watch online at http://backtoedenfilm.com/.
It is a must see for any gardener, whether your garden is a small backyard one like mine or you have a farm.
Here are a few photos from my garden taken this week. I live in the Pacific Northwest so our growing season is shorter then most- but I love to make the most of it!

Short season corn

Spinach and chard

poppies from seed from a neighbor

tomatoes

potatoes, and herbs and lettuce behind

zucchini

Imprisoned in Iran

I was amazed watching the story Dan Baumann, a missionary who was on a tourist trip to Iran when he was arrested with a friend while trying to leave the country. He was beaten, tortured, and repeatedly interrogated. He came to the place of complete despair in the prison cell and tried to kill himself. In that place of hopelessness, he had a face to face vision with Jesus. After this Dan regains hope and forgives his prison guards and even be-friends the one who beat him the most! The end of the story is so amazing and inspiring. I won't give it all away- go see it here.

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25
"Imprisoned in Iran" story can be found here on CBN news in video and written format.

Prayer for the Nations

Today I was led to pray some Psalms out loud- Psalm 116-118. Psalm 117 is one I prayed over many nations just by changing the word "nations" to "USA, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Moldova, Indonesia, Guatemala,. Haiti." It is a simple but powerful prayer from the Word of God.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord. Psalm 117

Your will be done and Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Guide Me in Your Truth and Teach Me

Reading and listening to current news is enough to put anyone's emotions and head into a tailspin. What if? What is happening? Why? I can't believe that would happen, or how can anyone be so cruel, or greedy, or fill in the blank. God highlighted Psalm 25 to me a couple weeks ago and I have been meditating on the depth of promise and truth.

"No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:3-5 NIV

God this is my prayer, please show me your truth. Protect us, your are our God and I choose to trust you with my life. I choose to trust you with my family. I want my hope to be in you all day long and not to be afraid or focused on what is in this temporal world. Make my focus on the eternal not on what is passing away. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Slavery Today

Did you know that there are more slaves today (right now!) then all the slaves combined in the over 400 years of slave trade in ships from Africa?

There are a staggering 27 million slaves today.

80% are women
50% are children
Every minute 2 children are trafficked
The age of the average victim is getting younger and younger. Many victims found in brothels are as young as 5 years old. There has been ones found younger than that. . . .
This vile trade brings in 19 billion a year at low estimates, rivaling the illegal drug trade. It is about greed and money.

This injustice is up to us to stop. We must be God's hands and feet to rescue. Everyone is called to do something. The problem is huge, but our God is bigger and His heart breaks for every person He has created in His image that is abused and destroyed.

We all need to seek God to see what our part is to be. Some may be in intercession (including prayer walks), media, political awareness and working for justice in lawmaking. Others may be called to visit brothels to bring God's love and provision, even being part of undercover operations to rescue children. Some people's part is in law enforcement, speaking out, spreading the word, and giving money to fund efforts to free slaves and rehabilitate the abused. The perpetrators need rehabilitation too. I heard it taught by Patricia King recently that everyone who engages in sexual impurity feeds this monster of perversion and abuse around the world. 
"For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." Ephesians 6:12

If we just allow ourselves to picture the little children, teens and women we know kidnapped and forced into this prison where many are forced to be abused by 20 men a day, then compassion will well up in us and we will be led to pray and take action.

Three non-profits that I know and trust that work tirelessly in stopping the sex trade and rescuing the abused are Kampuchea Kids, Cambodian Hope Organization  (both in Cambodia where many children are kidnapped and brought over the Thai border and viciously treated in brothels in Thailand, Malaysia, and surrounding areas),and trustworthy World Vision. This article from the World Vision website is a personal story of one's girls suffering and rescue.

The statistics I quote above are taken from For Their Tears I Died - Stories of Extreme Suffering and Extravagant Redemption in Human Trafficking and Social Injustice, by Patricia King, Michelle Perry and others.
Go let your light shine in the darkness!

His Hallelujah Lasts Forever

Psalm 111:10 in the Message Bible says, "The good life begins in the fear of God- Do that and you'll know the blessings of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever." In the Amplified Bible the last part of the verse says, ""A good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever."
What does this look like? As my mind was exploring this verse I imagined all of history, people's voices intertwining in the heavens. The picture was voices going up all the praise meeting together in a great flow, a great river of sound and praise, every "Hallelujah", every "Praise you Lord" coming up together never fading, a constant reverberation in the heavens. Every praise literally lasting forever, a great swell of adoration; coming to crescendos as chosen times in history. The dedication of Solomon's temple, the birth of Christ, the Resurrection of our Savior, being just a few but also the greatest. Imagine every praise, starting with Adam, King David's Psalms, Deborah, Moses' Mother when he was saved from the Nile, the small sounds of a joyful child, the singing of choirs, the voice of Jesus Christ on Earth, reverberating forever in the heavens, eternal. The words of saints throughout history, many names, lives, and faces forgotten by all on earth going on forever in the ears of our Lord. The "thank you God" of George Washington, the prayers of my 6 year old son, the dying breath of an old woman meeting her Lord, and the "Amen Jesus" of my one year old. The promise of Psalm 111 is that every praise of the righteous endures, resonates, forever; for the rest of eternity. Praise the Lord!  

Arise and Shine!

Arise and Shine!

Now is the time to seek the Lord and be filled with His presence. In His presence all darkness flees quickly. Then you will shine.

Meditate on the words below from the prophet Isaiah.

1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.
3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.
5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] [a]Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.
Isaiah 60:1-5 (Amplified Bible)

Confirmations: The Extravagant Love of God

Last week during prayer meeting at church I kept getting the feeling I was supposed to read part of Isaiah 54 over one of the woman there. I felt compelled for half of the meeting, so at the end I did it. I  said the whole chapter was for her but this one part I needed to read over her as a blessing. With tears in her eyes she said that God had pointed her towards that scripture and she had just read it that very morning! Later the same day I checked my email and the Daily Grace Inspiration from Joseph Prince Ministries was on Isaiah 54 too! Wow.
Now this isn't a new chapter to me. I often will write Isaiah 54:13 in baby shower cards. "All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be the peace of your children." The whole chapter is so beautiful and poetic. It shows the heart of God in such a extravagant way. His love is amazing, personal, and bountiful. He has compassion on those that suffer, and has a great future even for those who feel unloved or unlovable. Read it here Isaiah 54.

We are the Branches

This is a passage I have had in my heart since I was a child. I had to memorize it in school and always thought the metaphor was interesting and beautiful. Last night I saw it in a new light.

The Vine and the Branches

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:1-9 (New International Version)

Last night as a crawled into bed I read it again and it seems to me I had new eyes. I have never seen it like this before. I pictured in my mind Jesus as a huge vine with so many branches. Each one of us is a branch when we accept the Lord as our Savior. God the Father has His clippers though. He wants His vine to be fruitful- He is a skilled and good gardener! I want to be part of His garden. I don't want to be the branch that gets snipped off! I want to be covered with sweet fruit. I want to further His Kingdom, to spread His love and light, to be a spring that turns desert and wasteland into a fruitful garden. How do I do this? How do I do this when I am surrounded by this world? When I am tired, when I have so much to do, when all my children are crying and demanding all at once. Jesus said it. "Remain in Me." "Apart from me you can do nothing." Apart from His grace I can do nothing of eternal value. Fix me to you forever dear God and Savior.

At the Foot of the Cross

One of the songs that has touched me so much is "At the Foot of the Cross" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk7_SBxYSZs ) by Kathryn Scott. It is so beautiful and described the Christian life so perfectly. It is the prayer of heart.
Yesterday I read a article in a Home School Enrichment magazine titled "Homeschooling at the Foot of the Cross". The author described how she was frustrated during the day with teaching her son, and them both getting frustrated. God brought that article in my life at the right time. My oldest son and I were so frustrated with each other yesterday, he covered his ears and wouldn't listen to me! In the article the frustrated mom confided in her friend who advised her to bring every lesson into prayer with her son. So I pray "Lord please help me to teach this to my son and help my son to understand it. Help us to be filled with your love even in our lessons." Being at the foot of the cross all day in the moment of hardship. Not just s quick prayer in the morning. Teaching your children at home is refining because you are forced to teach things that aren't always easy. I have to deal your your child's behaviors and attitudes all day, and correct and train him in the ways of the Lord. Lord help me and give me grace. I will stay at the foot of the cross.

God speaks in 1 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."
In my weakness, when I submit to Him, I am strong. His strength, not mine! (1Cor. 12:10)

Oh Lord wash me at the cross. Wash away anything that is not of you.

To look up verses in the Bible go to www.Biblegateway.com

New Name Love Name

A few Sundays ago our pastor spoke about how when we accept Christ, we wear His name. It's like we wear "Christ" on our chest. A few minutes later when I went into the nursery to pick up my girls, the Holy Spirit brought my eyes to the stickers stuck to their backs. Their new names were printed on them. Not their old ones that they were born with. Not the old life that they were born into with no father in poverty. No they have a daddy now that loves them so much he gave them his name to wear. The names we chose for them are blessing names, names that carry joy. Their birth names spoke of heaviness and grief.
What a picture of what Christ does for us when we accept Him. I get to wear His glorious, LOVE name.

Identical Visions- The Cauldron

Today when a few of us met for prayer at church I kept seeing a picture in my mind and hearing the words "God disrupt our plans, stir up the stagnation. Let us not rely on our own plans and knowledge" And I saw a big black pot like a cauldron with a goopy top (like it was stagnant) and a stick coming out the top. Like God wanted to stir it.
I held on to it for a few minutes, not sure whether to pray about it out loud, or to hold it to myself and pray it through. Finally I spoke it out, giving it to the Lord and praying for His will. When I said the big pot, the gal across from me said that she had been seeing a picture in her mind of a large cauldron and God stirring it up for a couple weeks now and didn't know what it was. The cauldron in her vision was sitting on top of books (not the Bible). I think the books represent the part that I heard not to rely on our own knowledge or plans. She got goosebumps, and we both really were amazed how God spoke to us about the same exact thing so specifically.
Lord show us Your will, show us how to pray for this hour!