I try to daily position myself and tune in toward the words of Psalm 85:8, “having an ear to listen to what God says.” Sometimes that tune is right on key and other times I’m missing the chorus. However A couple of weeks ago I was on key and sharing with our staff about something He said and it has yet to leave me. It was about the woman who went to Jesus with her very expensive perfume bottle and giving no thought to all the eyes in the crowd she broke her costly bottle over him and the fragrance filled the air as it was poured out.
It reads like this: While Jesus was reclining at the table And a woman came into the house of Simeon the leper. She was holding an alabaster jar of perfume that was filled with the highest quality of fragrant and expensive oil. She walked right up to Jesus and broke the flask and poured it down over his head. Some who were watching became indignant, complaining to one another “what a total waste.” They began to scold her but Jesus rebuked them promising that wherever the gospel is preached her devotion will be mentioned. (Mark 14:3-9)
When we make our way towards Jesus we all come with something. Some times what we come with is extended and given like an offering, sometimes an offering of ourselves and our gifts…so costly others can’t get their heads around it and instead of celebrating they end up criticizing. And still some times in our coming we choose to hide or hold back, either way our coming is costly in one form or another. King David said in 2 Samuel 2:24 that he would not offer something or give sacrifice to the Lord that cost him nothing. This is not only a word about what it will cost us to come, but also what we will allow to be broken after we have brought ourselves?
It’s one thing to bring ourselves and all we have and offer it up as a sacrifice to the Lord for his using, it’s another thing entirely to come and allow for the breaking that happens as we offer ourselves. When we offer ourselves with the allowance to be broken, bended, submitted, refined, and bruised then I believe our lives are like the sweet aroma of Christ. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians 2:15. It’s costly, it doesn’t make sense, but its these kind of stories full of devotion that Jesus mentions, elevates, adores, and receives as a sweet fragrance.
Praying that in these days each of us are not only bringing what’s costly to the Lord but allowing for brokenness to occur once it’s brought so that our lives would be a sweet aroma. And Heaven help us if we look at what others have to offer and scold instead of celebrate. May we be the kind of people that help and clap any way we can as others make their way towards Him.
I am not known for my navigation skills, my husband always tells me it’s imperative I look for “landmarks” to help me remember. Before summer began we were in KS for a couple months whereby I used a group of cows to help me remember where to turn, only they are mobile so I couldn’t count on them consistently (😂). 2020 has felt a little bit like that, hard to find consistency while we navigate the road ahead. I’ve felt like I’ve been wearing a blindfold must of the summer wondering what and where is “next.” However I felt in my Spirit the whisper of Lord speaking that His Holy Spirit will be our land mark in this season. He will teach us the way to go, direct our paths, and guide our steps. Deep sigh of relief here because His nature is the one constant in our ever changing seasons, “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (-Hebrews 13:8)
I had a dream last night and I saw the Lord changing out records on a record player. He was thumbing His hand through many records along a shelf and letting them play, until finally He placed one on repeat. I Heard the songs while they played;
“Ready or not” by the Fugees/ “Sunglasses at Night” by Corey Hart/ a slew of other songs played until finally again and again “Goodness of God” by Jenn Johnson. I heard the Lord say that there are new songs for new seasons and though I know “goodness of God” is not necessarily a new Song, I believe the words represent a new wave of what God is up to right now.
I felt that this song, the goodness of God was going to be the Hallmark of this season, the theme song for many as 2020 moves into the fall. There are many lines from the song that seemed to be hi-lighted while the song played again and again; “that we will know Him as a Father and know Him as a Friend,” “your goodness is running after, it’s running after me,” “I love your voice, it’s led me through the fire,” “I’m gona sing of the goodness of God.”
I pray the words of this song will be one of our landmarks as we continue to navigate through 2020 and all that is ahead of us. I’d encourage you to ask the Lord for your own specific song and take notice of lyrics that you can’t seem to get out of your head/heart. I heard my husband singing “these are the days of Elijah” last week and though he said he had no idea where it came from, it felt like God was using those words to speak right to us, a song for the season. He’s using lyrics as clues so listen closely. “Speak to one another in hymns and spiritual songs, making music to the Lord in your heart.” -Eph.5:19
He is a creative God, I pray lyrics are plenty for each of us as we move forward in a new time. May the notes be landmarks that help direct our paths. “By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me.”-Psalm 42:8
“I must confess, I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” -Ps 27:13. / DeAnn C.
“In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon people, he may speak in their ears…” (Job 33:15). I love those words and find myself hopeful and at attention as I drift to sleep. Just over a week ago I was waking up out of a dream, and in it I stood in front of a large closet as clothes passed by me. I carefully calculated what things needed to be picked out and packed up. I was sorting, assessing, and rearranging the clothes on the hangers and thought at first I so hoped that the Lord was going to bestow upon me a new wardrobe for the spring, I knew that couldn’t be the case because even though I really liked the clothes on some of the hangers, I had a knowing in the dream that there was no longer a place for them in the closet. The closet I happened to be picking through was not my personal closet but a “corporate closet” and therefore I believe God has layers of insight to reveal to those who would choose to ask Him.
In Colossians chapter three, the writer Paul exhorts us to “clothe ourselves” in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. To put on love above all.” I imagine that since lockdown these things have not been the most comfortable of things to wear, however I think it’s interesting that Paul tells us to PUT THESE THINGS ON. That means that even if it doesn’t “feel” comfortable, it is still something we can CHOOSE to walk around in. Earlier in the chapter he also addresses the things we need to “take off” and put to death (do away with for good) because some things, comfortable or not, are no longer fitting for us in this season.
In Daniel 2:21-22 it says that God changes the times and seasons, that He reveals the hidden things that rest in the deep and brings light as He surfaces them. This too is not always that comfortable, but I believe that it’s deeply beneficial and as I’ve asked the Lord to go ahead with the show and tell, I have come to see it as a kindness. “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? No one knows the thoughts of God except the Sprit of God and that is the same Spirit that we have” – (1 Cor.2:10). Don’t be to hard on yourself as God continues to put His finger on some things…He’s not a “finger pointing” kind of God, but rather one who’d want to see us both carrying and wearing what looks good.
I pray that in these coming weeks as we literally get out different clothes for a different season, we would also figuratively let our spirits be changed too. Let’s allow the Spirit to search us that we might be even more fit for these times. I believe that God is fashioning us to look, move, and live differently. He’s sewing some things that need mending and attention, let’s be ready.
I woke up to the sound, or maybe I was coming out of a dream, but whatever state I was in the Lord had my attention. What I heard was a walkie-talkie that was cutting in and out. I tried to make sense of the scratching noise when I heard the call for “May Day.” I knew right away it was a distress call, and thankfully what came next was a calm and steady voice that responded with the most perfect words…“roger that.”
Roger that is an expression used to respond to a distress call and with MAY upon us, I feel at ease believing that God is responding to us in many different ways to bring relief in a time of distress.
I believe that God is faithful and comes through even when we aren’t asking, however this season is an unprecedented time when I think many are reaching out with screams and whispers of specific S.O.S signals that will be met with answers and solutions of relief.
“But you Lord are a shield around me, the One who lifts up my head. I call out to the Lord and He answers me, I lie down and wake again because He sustains me.” (Ps.3:3-4)
“Listen to my words Lord, Consider my sighing. Pay attention to the sound of my cry, for you are King, my God to whom I pray. In the morning Lord, you hear my voice and I will plead my case to you and thenwatch expectantly.” (Psalm 5:2)
Let’s lean into our calls for help, it’s wisdom not weakness to lean on someone who not only has our answers but is our answer.
My daughter and I have been playing a lot of dolls and “house” lately since the lockdown, a constant act of sacrifice every time I hear her start to say, “mom can you….” GAH, I know what’s coming. But I’ve noticed a constant theme with her once we start in, no matter what the story line happens to be with these characters, she will inevitably change the narrative to what’s in her mind. Granted this can be expected from one so strong minded, but after yet another hard to turn down invite, I was just about to make my case and tell her that “THIS TIME WE ARE STICKING TO MY STORY.” However before I could get the words out I sensed the Lord whispering to me, “make room for a new narrative.” I knew He wasn’t just talking about letting Ruby dictate how another birthday party of hers would play out with these dolls, but in fact a more grandeur sense of the season…to let him interrupt our stories with a new plot, a new perspective, or a change in where our story is going.
I thought right away of different accounts the Bible tells; Peter waiting in prison but instead of facing trial his chains fell and he was freed (Acts 12), Saul on his diligent mission in Acts 9 when Jesus interrupts his plans of murder and shows him a new path, David working in the fields in 1 Sam.16 when out of no where the prophet Samuel brings a message about what his future would look like, and how fishermen became preachers and church planters because Jesus interrupted them and they were able to adapt to a new narrative. Maybe one of my favorites though is in 2 Kings 6 when Elisha prays for his servant Elijah’s eyes to be opened and instead of looking at coming defeat he sees victory with new revelation.
In our year 2020 not only is vision and what we see important, but I think what we are listening to and who we let narrate for us this season also matters greatly because guaranteed the news and the good news will have different things to say. It reminds me in Numbers 13 when twelve spies went into the new land to identify what was there, they were told to bring back a report of what awaited them. Ten men said it couldn’t be done and they couldn’t have it because the obstacles were too big, while two remained certain they could surely take and occupy all that God would have for them. The majority reported the bad news and the crowd listened and then bowed to a fearful report. The minority’s voices were dismissed, and yet they remained the only two from that group who would enter and possess the place of promise.
I guess if I can put my finger on what I believe the Spirit might be speaking, it’s that things aren’t always as they seem, that perspective and adaptability seem to be of extreme importance, and that confinement doesn’t always mean a loss of freedom for us. Let’s ready ourselves to hear Him say something we might not be expecting!
“From the ends of the earth we hear songs…” -Says scripture. We see pictures, we dream dreams, and we catch the whisper. What a season where the distancing is actually making room for more intimacy.
The other night I fell asleep with a phrase the Lord put in my spirit, it played in my heart on repeat like an old record player, “And then arose a company of prophets” (verse from 1 Samuel 10:6). I just listened and felt comforted at what I believed the Lord to be saying, that there would be many who would be called on to share what they are hearing. A few minutes later I saw a picture of people playing a game of sherades, but they were only doing the INTRO. And over and over again the players would one by one get up and motion to their ears and the crowd would say in unison, “sounds like…” and then begin to express what was on the card.
I felt more certain that the Lord would be saying that there are many voices being called to rise this season, voices with different sounds, different expressions, and different things to say. “If there will be a prophet among you, then the Lord will speak to them” (Num.12:6). Thankfully each child of Gods has the same privilege to hear their Father speak (John 10) and I believe we will see a lot more people share their inspired ideas and expressions about what God has in His heart as He instructs them.
People who maybe aren’t looking for a platform and maybe some who are, some people who’d rather share privately but are being asked by God to step forward more publicly, “AND HE (I) Will Fill Their mouths..” (2 Kings.) I believe many hearts and mouths are going to be filled with directives and strategies, along with all kinds of encouragement from a place of sacred inspiration.
Let’s not discount people who seem unlikely candidates, my daughter Ruby is six years old and I could hear her in the bathroom singing a song about “zombies coming back to life.” When I asked her about it she mentioned she saw it in a show a couple of weeks ago but had it in her mind to sing. To sing and say/declare that those who are dead or numb are waking up seems so fitting, I didn’t know the song but as she sung it my spirit latched on and soon it felt like a prayer that we began to sing in unison.
Whatever the SOUND is that God is putting with you, I pray you don’t hold back. The world needs those who carry hope to arise and share, to shine with perspective, and to extend the heart of He who still speaks. So limit distraction, silence the voice of the accuser, and put your brave pants on because now more than ever people are tuning in.
Whatever the measure is that God has given you, pour it out and don’t hold back. No doubt your flavor is both exquisite and unique to the right hearer. We need the expression you have in the heart you carry, you’d be surprised at who’s listening…
