FOOLISHNESS (μωρία)

Good morning my warrior sisters-

I hope this finds you well. I'm sitting on my patio listening to the sweet sounds of song from all the beautiful birds. My dogs are trying to kill some barn swallows and I'm drinking coffee realizing that I haven't really looked at the world with such awe in quite some time.

The world is in great turmoil, no need to rehash it all here. I think if you are out in society you know that already.  There is a lot of foolishness going around and not much wisdom for sure. As I was diving into Scripture today foolishness (Moria in Greek) jumped off the page. When I think of foolishness, I think of the Dictionary.com meaning:

 Foolishness (adj): resulting from or showing a lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise:

a foolish action, a foolish speech.
In Corinthians, God explains that foolishness is actually good. Why? Because those that think they have wisdom, actually don't. Have you ever noticed how the Bible flips words?  We believe one way because society and culture dictate it so. Just like in the time of the Pharisees, they were the wisest of the Jews and yet, dead to the truth. Through their perceived wisdom, they crucified God's son. 
I believe we are all a little foolish in our own right. We think we know best but don't. We choose other methods of comfort over Christ. We stomp our feet and raise our hands against all the wrong things, and we believe we could do a better job than those in authority.  We think we know everything, when actually we know very little. In the last months, I have pondered that thought often. Especially, when situations didn't go exactly as planned. The conclusion I've come to is I must seek God's words and God's wisdom, for my own is formed by the world at large, and not by truth.
The world seeks to destroy, whereas, God Himself seeks to provide wisdom.  Moria in the Bible is not represented as the dictionary.com meaning would suggest. We see this in Corinthians. 
1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV:
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
I pray for the foolishness of God and not man. I pray for wisdom for women everywhere. I pray we will lift our men and children up to God and that He might be with us to provide greater wisdom and more strength to fight the spiritual battle taking place all over the world. We must not fear, for fear crushes. I believe that He is who He says He is and that He will provide for all of us as we seek Him.  Ladies, I beg of you to consider this truth as a foundation of how we should pray in the coming months.  We must seek God with our whole hearts and pray that Christ intercedes on behalf of every nation, every color, every situation. We need His foolishness to spread throughout the world and we need to trust Him. AMEN!

Move toward the LIGHT (φῶς)

Good morning my warrior sisters:

 

I've been up for hours now, reading, writing and talking to Jesus! Best part of my day, that is along with a cup of freshly brewed coffee!

 

I hope today finds you well. It seems like America is waking back up from a deep sleep.  People are out more; we are phasing businesses back to life and soon COVID-19 will just be a historical event on the books. For me, I think it's really changed me. Not in fear as it has done for some but more in living. Time is precious, I think I knew that but wasn't living that way. I've changed and so have my priorities regarding time, connecting with others, and looking for Jesus. All of a sudden the most prevalent, maybe the most pertinent priority is getting into His word, praying and seeking Him over everything else. 

 

Which brings me to our word today, Light or FOS as it is in Greek. I think people all around the world need this very word. For some images of death and destruction are all they can see, and unfortunately, there will be more to come. In places like Brazil mass graves have been dug in anticipation of death. We've even seen it here, although not a war, it seems like it.  And with any war comes darkness. We must fight that darkness with the power of light.  You see Jesus is the light of the world. He overcame darkness so that we would have eternity.  

 

Jesus' light doesn't just illuminate the world for a moment, it’s for all time. So, as you contemplate this life, which might not be so pleasant right now, I pray you get your Bible's out and begin to pray for revelation. FOS is revealing. From Genesis to Revelation, light is referenced and for good reason, FOS overcomes darkness every single time. 

 

Light is beautiful, it is a beacon on the hill that delivers us from darkness. It shines to remind us that we are His and in Him we can conquer the darkness. Don't give up hope for a brighter tomorrow. It might look different; I think we all know it will but every single day the sun rises we know the power of our God. He placed it there to remind us that it is a NEW day!

 

I hold onto the hope that FOS gives me, and I hope you do to. I have disappointments just like you and I always will.  I guess the things I've learned from this life are that the only true power we have is in His words and in their meaning for our lives. Many call the Bible old fashioned; I believe it’s the most relevant book for today.  It carries a message of hope in a time of great fear, financial uncertainty and death. As a matter of fact, I would like to challenge you to look up many of the passages containing light. Did you know that in the NIV version of the Bible light is referenced 232 times, think that's a coincidence? Light is important today, tomorrow and years to come. HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. You can look for years for a fix and Lord knows we all have but, in the end, there is only one fix, Jesus. 

 

I challenge you to look up light and I know He will be revealed. Good luck, it's a challenge worth taking. 

 

Be well my sisters and forge ahead one minute at a time with light leading you to Him.

 

Proverbs 20:27

The human light is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one's inmost being.

 

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

What counts and who are you BEHOLDEN (υπόχρεος) to?

Good morning my warrior sisters-

I woke this morning at 4 am and went straight to writing to God. Have you ever woken with a start only to find you need to sit with your Savior?  For three days I have woken and went straight to my writing and it has comforted me.

Through my writing the word BEHOLDEN (υπόχρεος) sprang to my mind. I wrote: "I'm forever grateful to you Lord and I know  your will for my life is better than my will for sure. You are amazing and great, O, Lord. I am beholden to you."

Beholden means: Owing thanks or being of service to someone.

That's me in a nutshell!  I'm beholden to the living God who loved me enough to sacrifice His Son on a cross and give me life.

What a gift to be given and to find a word that so encompasses how I feel today.  I was taken back through many events as I sat and wrote in my journal this morning and one thing stood out; in crisis I always want to flee.  I want to have a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.  The problem with that philosophy is in the words, "I want."

Faith is like building muscle, you must train every day to see the results and that's exactly what I must do.  Otherwise, I start moving to I want. How can I be beholden to God and still speak those two little words? That's the question I asked myself today and the answer was glaring, the two can't even live in the same space. 

I've faced many trials in my lifetime, but I have to say the biggest trial is in me. It's in my wants, desires and heart. It bleeds for me instead of God and how it pains me.  I'm lucky though because every time I start walking down the path of my two-year-old self, God says: "Do you remember me and who you serve?"

Yes Lord, I do remember you and I remember that I must surrender all in order to seek the kingdom. So that's exactly what I'm doing by writing to you. I'm asking you to die to your desires, your hopes, your fears, your dreams, your ambitions and surrender.  We must be BEHOLDEN to Him because He is who we can trust, he does hold our dreams and hopes and as we surrender, we are gifted with our greatest desire which is to be in His presence. All else worldly does not compare to one second in His presence. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV: give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

May this day find you well and may you surrender your two-year-old self like I did at 4:30 am. It's well worth it and it has many perks. Remember an obedient child finds favor.

My prayer today:  O, Lord, comfort those of us that continually go to the "I want."  We know your will for us is better than our own and yet, we fall. Lift us up and walk us through our surrender so that we can find you. I'm completely grateful to you and for all you've done to walk me through every tantrum. You are so faithful, and I am so beholden to you.  May my sisters seek you daily with humbleness and surrender and may I continue to be beholden to you.  In Jesus name I pray. AMEN!

EVEN NOW (akomi kai tora)...

Good morning my warrior sisters-

It's a beautiful Sunday morning in the heart of Kansas. The birds are signing loudly as the trees sway to the north winds. It's a much different picture than this morning at 6:30 AM when the winds were bending the trees in half and the rains were torrential. Isn't it strange how events come and go so fast? One minute you are in a dark and gloomy storm and then, like so much of life, the sun comes out and it's beautifully sunny and happy again.

Some trials take a season, others take years and then some are short and sweet. Unfortunately, we are not in a time like that today.  Instead we are in a season similar to the seasons of the great plague or even cholera. There is no stopping point. The pains are in waves very similar to child birth.  It started slowly with groaning and stretching.  It graduated to great pain and the thoughts that the pain was much to much to bear and now, there's a sense of, "When will this be over?"  Unlike with childbirth, we may not see the end of this pain. More is to come but there is hope if we do one thing: rend (shizo in Greek) our hearts toward Jesus.

You see we have forsaken the one true God. We have put ourselves, our beliefs and our desires before the truth. We have turned our backs, stayed silent and excluded God Almighty from our every day lives. We don't speak the name of Jesus for fear we will offend and so, we are seeing the fruits of our apathy.  Many will say, "Where is God?" It's always our nature to blame everyone and everything but ourselves.

It's time to take responsibility, to stand up and offer hope to the hurting through Jesus Christ. In Joel 2: 12 (NIV), it states: "Even now," declares the Lord: "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."

We still have time, we still can repent and tear our hearts toward him. We can mourn with those that mourn and weep with those that weep.  We are in a crisis and we must approach it with all our hearts.

I am comforted that "even now" our Lord is with us. He's waiting for us and there is so much hope in those two words. I am in awe of a God that never gives up on a spoiled, foolish people. He is a true father, a true friend.

Take a moment to thank Jesus for the sacrifice of His life.  He will intercede on our behalf. He is one with the Father and through Him we will see restoration.  I have no idea where COVID-19 will take us but I'm sure of this, we have a father that loves us. Even in our own iniquity, He will be there for us and all He asks is for us to return to Him with ALL of our hearts. I, for one, hold onto that promise and ask the Lord to guide us and care for us. 

May today find you well.  Will you please pray this prayer with me? 

Almighty God, please come upon your people and heal our land. We are sorry for the apathy that has filled our hearts and minds. Draw close and light a fire in our hearts for you and only you. Protect us and provide for us, for we know that only through you is there external life. Make us courageous when we want to fear and help us to lift up our brothers and sisters in their hour of need. We pray this as one, even now with all the dissension, please heal our lands! We believe that you can. In Jesus name, AMEN!

I STILL BELIEVE (PISTIS)

Good morning my warrior sisters-

We are approaching the day in History when Jesus was Risen from His grave.  So many don't believe this and yet, we know it truly happened. People witnessed it and because of it, we are saved.

This week has been a tremendous journey in prayer for me. I have thought about Jesus so many times as I've prayed about all the jobless in America, for those dying without family and for the lost that need Him so very badly.

Last night, my husband and I rented "I STILL BELIEVE," the story of Jeremy Camp and his wife and it rocked me a bit I must say.  How many times have I faced the fire to ask those very questions? How often did my plans fail and I wondered how could this be? How many times did I pray and believe for a different outcome only to find out that it's not my plan but His?

SO MANY...

And yet, my trust is in Him the maker of the heavens and earth. My trust is in the unknown, the unseen and the often-made fun of. My trust resides in His blood. The blood that was shed on Calgary for me. You see, I pistis (believe) the red sea did part, I believe a famine took over the land and I believe fire rained from the heavens. I believe that thousands were killed in German camps because of the evil one and I believe that JESUS died and rose again for us.

I have spent so many years with my God watching out for me that I know there are miracles every day that go unseen and I know that in the face of COVID-19 we may suffer financially but we will gain in life. 

My confidence does not rely on the stock market or human kindness and acts of good deeds. It does not exist because I believe humans are giving and loving. My confidence is in Him who sacrificed His own life so that I may have eternal life. 

My life has not been easy, and it's not been as hard as some. I have endured loss and I have felt insignificant. I have watched disease take my loved ones and I have waited by the phone to find out if my brother had survived a fall off a Colorado mountain. I have endured stress in marriage, divorce and reconciliation and I'm walking in faith that my youngest will once again recognize the God I so love. Life has its moments but in all of them, we can pistis. 

WHY?

Because he is faithful. His people still exist today, although they shouldn't. The nation He was born to still holds part of their lands, even though enemies have tried to take it repeatedly. Gentiles know His name because He made it so, which means even though I have no Jewish blood, I am His.

I am forever grateful to my God because I am not worthy. I am fallible and have fallen more times than I want to admit. I am nothing without His blood and I deserve nothing and yet, He gives me grace freely. I don't have to earn His love; it's handed to me and was handed to me the day He chose to die a criminal’s death on a rugged cross. 

WILL WE GET THROUGH COVID-19?

Yes, we will. I still believe in the face of destruction there is light. Will we be a prosperous nation again?  That I can't answer, only time will tell. What I can tell you is that we were meant to be destroyed by the one that holds the world, yet, we can trust our God is near and that what is impossible for man, is possible for Him. You see we choose to run after power, money, prestige and our own selfish desires. He pursues us because He knows we NEED Him.

On this beautiful Saturday, take some time to reflect on your life. Disappointment is part of this fallen world, light shines in the face of it. May you see Him today the way I do with belief and anticipation for my life would be nothing without Him.

John 6:29 NIV

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe (pistis) in the one he has sent."

Acts 16: 31 NIV

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household."

My prayer for you today:

No matter the circumstances, I pray that you would ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you today. I pray that this day would be the start of many that you begin to believe the words written in the Bible for they are true and living. Even though you may not understand them, carry them in Your heart and speak them often. I believe not because I'm brainwashed but because I know it to be so. Jesus take Your words and place them into the hearts of men and women everywhere. I praise You and thank You for guiding sinners to the cross and for freely giving us Your love. 

GEHENNA-IN THE VALLEY

Good morning my warrior sisters-

First, praise be to Jesus!  For in this time of great strife we must begin with praise!

How often are you watching the news or hearing how the administration is failing?  How often do you see a video where people are doing the wrong thing?  How many times have you heard how many millions are impacted by COVID-19 or that the sky is falling?

I'm sure you have heard or seen many of these things. What we aren't seeing is what's happening behind closed doors or in private discussions within our towns, states and government. We're not seeing the millions of people that are helping others, donating ventilators, designing new technologies like testing, or even about the auto workers who have worked tirelessly to change their plants into ventilator factories.  And then there are the doctors, nurses, medical assistants, working 12 hour shifts in hospitals all over the country. We aren't getting insights into the truckers as they've driven load after load and it doesn't end. We aren't with the grieving people as they mourn their dead and those who must lift them up from afar.

There is a mighty God in the unseen and yes, we are in a GEHENNA (valley).  There remains so much unknown and lack of direction that people feel like they are either in a dream or the worst nightmare they've ever had. This is where God begins to work, when man can't do anything to pick himself back up, God is picking us up out of the valley onto green grass.

For in the shadow much is happening. People are being saved, children are getting to spend more time with their parents, families are eating together and we are starting to care for our neighbors. You know, the ones we are supposed to love but we don't know their names only their faces. Well, after shelter in place orders, they are no longer faces on a street but real people, with real stories, and those stories are what's keeping all of us inspired in the face of this pandemic.

I don't know when things will return to normal and I'm not sure I even want normal again if it means we are selfish, driven, lack time for family and friends, and have no sensitivity to others hardships. I'm praying for a new normal where Jesus is the foundation and that hearts are turned toward Him. I'm praying that we care about our brothers and sisters all over the world and that we feel an immediate need to spread the gospel. Three weeks ago we were all in a different place and my hope is that the GEHENNA we now are in makes us realize that life is short and the world does not hold the keys. For the one who holds the keys to the world is here to destroy all the good that comes from worshiping Jesus and believing that we can TRUST IN HIM.

I have no idea where you are today or what you hope in. I hope you found this blog and it is turning your heart toward Jesus. My words mean nothing but HIS WORD is strong and true.  Hang on my dear sisters and pray, this to shall pass.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Lord, our Father, do YOUR will on earth and make us better people. May the valley of the shadow of death give us hope in YOU. May we comfort the mourners and pray for those that don't know where their rent will come from today. Give us eyes to see where we need to go and Lord give us courage to spread the good news during this pandemic. People of all races and from all countries need to hear Your WORDS and be comforted by Your SPIRIT. I am just one of many that follow you and that are being called. Please be with us and may my words encourage women to seek you first.  In Jesus name I pray, your daughter Lisa.

ELPIZO-TRUST THE LORD OUR GOD

Good morning warriors-

It's been over two years since last my fingers typed on this blog and SO MUCH has happened.  Here we are in a world that changed in the blink of an eye, we are at home and COVID-19 is rampant. And I in all the chaos,  I find myself once again realizing how important HIS words are in our lives.

Breathing, inhaling and exhaling will not stop all the uncertainty, only God can calm the mind, bring peace to your being and provide a road toward hope. It's in our ability to look up that is important now, not money nor power are important right now. We are all learning that we must look for provision and sanity in other places besides ourselves and we are all looking for answers.

Families are going out together, they are eating at home together, there aren't any sports to take us away from each other and all of the sudden we have to be together, which means in a few weeks our lives completely changed. So out of what is bad, we are finding hope in ways I haven't experienced in my lifetime. We went from being a nation with stock markets at all time highs to lows we haven't seen since 2008.  We were a divided nation based on political viewpoints and there was lots of hate.

How can something good come out of something so bad?  Because we love a God who is turning our hearts toward him, that's how.

It will be HIS word that impacts us in the coming days when things are dark.  WE MUST unite and find HIM.

So today, I leave you with the word I spoke on Christmas.  It would be my word for 2020 and wow is it so true today.  I chose TRUST as my word this year.  In Greek, it is elpizo.  Trust is hard in good times, now I must trust in the unseen and I will choose to believe day by day through the words spoken over thousand of years ago.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.


I BELIEVE, I TRUST, DAY BY DAY, JESUS WILL SHOW ME THE WAY, and HE will for you too!  Let's trust together...

Until tomorrow...