Today, Sept.22, is the official last day of Summer. About a week ago I was walking around our lake and heard the Lord start to whisper to me, “summer is over.” I tried at first to act like I couldn’t hear Him and focused my attention on the heat burning my skin, I wasn’t ready to think about big sweaters and chilly days. Thankfully He persisted, “We’re moving out of SUN exposure and into a time of SON exposure. I’ll admit it made me cringe a little but Gods confrontation is always for our restoration, so I leaned in and asked Him to be gentle.
In Daniel 2:22 it says “He reveals the deep and hidden things, He knows what lies in darkness.” This text isn’t only about the things that need pointing out and pruning in our life, but also the things that need to be stirred up. The dreams, hopes, and assignments the await us in the next season.
Exposure by Oxfords definition means to come into contact with something. A revelation that has previously been concealed. An unmasking, unveiling, a display. In photography it means getting the right combination that best reflects the subject at hand. I have a feeling that God is setting us up with “right combination” moments and meetings, so we can see what has been hidden from us.
My encouragement…lean in. Don’t look away, don’t “work it out later.” Talk to the friend, address your attitude, deal with the mindset, make steps toward growth because if it’s pruning He’s after then it only means you will bear more fruit later. If it’s new things and new opportunities in your future that He’s uncovering then walk boldly toward what He wants to give you. You’re probably more gifted than you think, stronger than you believe, have more capacity than you give yourself credit for. He wants to use you, no doubt He’s getting you ready to place you where He wants you so welcome the uncovering at hand.
My prayer is that whatever God has in mind to reveal and expose this season, we each have people around us offering their shoulder or their applause- should we need it. Life is better next people who can see us and clap their hands.
Today I caught my breath after making a move to Wyoming’s back country. I’ve unpacked a house, unpacked defining spiritual lessons for me and our team at refuge, and now I find myself unpacking homeschool curriculum for the days ahead (don’t tell me God isn’t hilarious, I still don’t know if homeschool is one word or two). So today as I was walking on water, excuse me, walking around the water 😜, I sensed God saying something corporately. A word I’ve walked through and believe in.
“Catch and release” is what I kept hearing Him whisper and as I pondered that word with the Lord I sensed that there are things that have been “caught,” picked up, or reeled in and it’s time for some of those things to be released by us. Things that might have got us through our last season, our last relationship, or just last night. If we keep our old habits on the hook or we keep trying to reel in something that is bent on swimming away, than we will miss a chance to recast and see what else God might bring our way. I’m not a fishing expert, but I can tell you that there is freedom in releasing.
There’s a passage in Luke where Jesus tells some fisherman to put out into “the deep” water and let down their nets to the other side for a catch. They’re not so sure though, they had fished all night and caught nothing. I always think this is funny…unsuccessful and yet reluctant to try some different, how many times have we been there? Thankfully the boys listened to Jesus and they caught so much their nets broke. -Luke 5:4-6 Sometimes God will ask us to release the things we’ve reeled in, maybe even after some consideration and enjoyment-just as a fisherman contemplates what he’s caught. Sometimes He will tell us to go and fish in a new place/ an unexpected place, and at times He will take us out into the deep waters so that new things can be caught, revealed, and admired. Deep can be lonely, deep can be scary, but treasures can’t be found if we are unwilling to hold our breath and take a chance. So wherever you find yourself fishing this season- may you listen to His instruction. May you release what’s not working on your line so you can receive new opportunity for your next catch. May you fish where He tells you even if it seems unorthodox, and may your boats be so full this season that your only explanation is God.
Good luck-from way out west, DeAnn C.
“And whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way; walk in it”- Isa. 30:21
What do birthing and building have in common? If you thought to yourself PAIN- FEAR- & SLEEPLESS NIGHTS… I hear you! They are also both the beginnings of something new, full of hope and wonder.
I keep reading, hearing, dreaming, and seeing signs of things to come with these two themes, “it’s time to birth and it’s time to build.” I accidentally bought a nursing bra last week and rolled my eyes and thought to myself, “this is what happens when I’m in a hurry.” However, I immediately had another thought, heard a softer whisper saying, “it was no accident.” For the record, I’m not pregnant and don’t intend to be, but there is a lot stirring in my womb that I think God is trying to coach me through. That being said, I think there is a lot in the wombs, on the hearts, and in the minds of others to do and I believe God is saying “it’s time.”
I was reading in Ezra and say that, “everyone whose spirit God had roused-prepared went up to rebuild” (Ezra 1:5). I’ve also been in Joshua, where the whole book is about getting strategy to move into what’s ours to take. God exposes, God speaks, and God gives His people direction. We get to co-operate with Him. Listen, occupy, build, bless, enjoy. All that is really hard work by the way, it’s probably why God has to continually tell his people, “Do not yield to fear nor shrink back because of past failure, be strong, and so on..” (Joshua 8:1 TPT) because birthing and building can be tiresome, wearisome, and scary sometimes.
Thankfully God rouses the spirit in others to go with, to help, to support, and to cheer. That might be one of the kindest things He does for us, to bring others right next to us so that when our hands get tired, we have someone to lift them up. “When Moses hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands…” (Exodus 17). They help us see, “then Elisha prayed, Oh Lord open his eyes so that he may truly see…” (2 Kings 6). They encourage us in our call, “then Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women and your child (what you are birthing) will be blessed” (Luke 1:40). They hold us accountable, “who knows, maybe you have come into your God given position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
God is adding to us this season, generously wanting to give to us, so if you’re one that’s being “subtracted” from in any way, I’d ask the Lord about what’s going on with that. He’s taking the things that are in our hands and producing something more. What first looked like a stick that Moses could lean on became an agent of change for a nation to lean into. (Exodus 4:2). Sticks can only do so much though, they need brave builders to get ahold of them and warriors to use them. People need what’s inside of you, so birth the thing, build with guts, and lead as you are, we will all be grateful.
I pray that whatever this season holds for you, you are holding tightly onto God and the people He’s put next to you.
It’s fitting that as spring brings the new to us, we in turn must let go of the old. Just as we clean out our closets from the things that don’t fit and our garages of things we have no use for in a new season, you might find yourself internalizing some of that change for a new chapter. Before God brings the new He usually has us dealing with the now. Now what needs to go? Now what needs to change? Now what is next? What right now is getting in the way of my new?
Isa.43:19 seems to be on everyones lips, or at least my eyes seem to catch it and my heart is registering it. It feels like heaven is holding a megaphone and the words are trickling down with anticipation, “see I AM doing something new. I have already begun. Do you see it? I am making a way in the wild nearness and creating rivers in a wasteland.”
Jobs are changing, friendships are changing, family dynamics are changing, and if you’re feeling a shift too, I think it’s just as God intends. New things (new ideas, new strategies, new hope, new assignments) are springing up as the old things (things that don’t have benefit for what we need now) are being shed. By googles dictionary, the definition of shedding means: to allow something to come off, or to eliminate something. It seems natural on animals but it can be a little more painful on us.
This is manifesting in my life both physically and spiritually, as one is usually an indicator of the other. We are packing up to make a new move as we open a new location for our non-profit (refuge foundation). We bought a new house but had to tear all the old out in order to settle into what suits us. We had to let go of a beloved dog because this new season wasn’t fitting for him (or us) to be together anymore. We’ve welcomed new friendships and new staff while we’ve blessed and let go of other ones as they’ve transitioned and changed. We’ve had an influx of new ideas for a new time in ministry and now we are waiting to see how it will all take shape.
And what I know is this:
1.-God will shed the things off of us that can’t come with us and shedding, just like pruning, will give us more room to flourish.
2.-New means we haven’t seen it yet, haven’t done it before, but just because it’s not tangible doesn’t mean it’s not suitable- so stay open.
3.-God is faithful to get us to where we are suppose to be with the people He needs us next to. What God does is always for our benefit, but if the new is feeling painful, remember that some things just aren’t for “now” but that doesn’t mean that they are gone for good.
I pray that you move lighter into this new season having shed all that God intends. I pray you let go of everything that’s hindering you and keep your palms open to what God wants to give you. I pray the new feels hopeful as it springs up…in the way that flowers come up to sprout, not like a pimple that surfaces with surprise and frustration. No one needs that. Blessings on you as you shed the old and process the new in your life.
Twenty-one days into the new year and I’m finally getting around to writing about the new thing God has said. Maybe like me, you have gotten quiet to ask God for a word on your 2021 that would help align your heart and reframe your thinking for all the year holds. If not, I hope you will. I’ve always found it to be surprisingly helpful, even if it ends up being in hindsight.
Corporately I felt like God gave me a picture of a kaleidoscope, and then He confirmed that word by mailing it to my doorstep with a note that read “what do you see?” A kaleidoscope is a tool that changes patters which become visible through a concentrated eye piece. Often times with an endless variety of patters that come into focus as we adjust our scope.
I felt strongly that in 2021 we will have countless “opportunities” to adjust to new patterns in our life. With some concentrated effort, we will begin to see something new emerge in our various situations by adjusting our lens and looking at things from another angle. I know that seems a little vague so let me offer a verse for some perspective. In Mathew 11:17 Jesus said this, “We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance. We sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn. For John the Baptist came neither eating or drinking but you said he had a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they said-look, a drunkard.”
Some missed the moment, missed what God was doing in the season because they couldn’t adjust and get a new perspective. I propose that this year will be a time in which we will need to continually realign ourselves with the scope of Gods word so we can see what different patterns are emerging. At times it will take a “concentrated effort” on our parts, but I believe that just like any kid who picks up a kaleidoscope in anticipation, we too will be surprised by what we see taking shape.
May your knees be nimble this season as you adjust to some unexpected things, may your hearts be open as God re-orders some other things, may your eyes be full of focus, and may your spirits be aligned with all that God has in His mind to do in 2021.
Blessings-from someone who has been trying to shift so much I have knee burns. Change isn’t always easy but when Gods in it than we are all the better for it. I think some unexpected blessings are in store as we get close and ask Him to speak. Xo-DeAnn
Words have been plentiful for me this season. I’ve been close to the finishing of a book I’m writing, I’ve been helping my kids with remote learning while the school took a break, I took in precious words from friends at a birthday gathering, and just recently played some serious games of speed scrabble over the Thanksgiving break with family. We all know that words have been plentiful with people over politics, over the pandemic, and over what this next season holds.
Words are important, and maybe even more important is what we do with them. The other night I was exchanging a letter in my scrabble game to make a new word and I sensed the Lord saying to me that “His words will be with us this season in bulk.” Later I went to Joel 2, in the Message Bible Version where it reads, “be glad in your God. He’s giving you a teacher to train you how to live right. Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words will be sent to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do.”
I believe that God is not only going to shower us with words that will nourish and grow us up into health, but like a good teacher He is also going to give us a new context about the words He releases and deposits with us. Words that hold, reveal, and return wonder back to us… “God will set you back on your heels in wonder” (Joel 3). WONDER; – a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. – a desire to be curious or know something. (SYN. Astonishment, amazement, fascination, awe)
I keep hearing the phrase “wonder words”- words that will be weighty and will act as an anchor for us in the coming season. Unlike the way I strain at scrabble to put a word together, I believe the words He speaks will come to us with ease and very little effort on our part, “on the very same day I’ll give an answer to you.” -Hosea 2
It’s a time to ask God about some things, to exchange any old, harmful, or confusing words for some better ones, and to take seriously the ones He’s giving to you. Isaiah tells us that “He is not a man that He would lie, He makes good on his word, fulfills His promises, and all the words out of His mouth wouldn’t return back to him void or empty but will do all that He has planned to do.” (Now that’s a word 🙋♀️)
In the midst of a typically busy holiday season, remember to slow down and take some time with the Living Word, the One who is still a wonder and speaking wonders. “And The Word became flesh and made his home among us…” I pray each of us would know words and The Living Word in a brand new way this Christmas season, there is no shortage of things He wants to share with us.
