A couple days ago we received a birth announcement introducing the arrival of a beautiful new baby! Within 24 hours my phone has blown up with other photos and congratulations of babies being born. Last night we tucked in to watch a show and the heading was “Delivery time.” I thought immediately to the verse in Isaiah 66 when God says “Would I open up the womb and not bring about delivery.” I heard the Lord whisper “IT’S TIME –I’TS TIME -IT’S TIME” I couldn’t help but check the clock and saw that it read 8:08, a key passage on moving on from one place to the next. A change of seasons as it were. “The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land where streams, springs, and deep water sources flow. A land where you will eat food without shortage, where you will not lack. When you eat and are satisfied, bless the Lord for all He has given you.”
I heard in my spirit that it’s time to get our hopes up, that we’re moving on from one place to the new. Get your moving boxes ready! Promises we’ve been waiting on are about to burst forth and come through. Things that have been delayed are now making there arrival. It’s not a time to do things “as they have always been.” That will mean different things to all of us, but for me personally I have had to shift my days and find new working rhythms, not just to avoid the mundane but to posture myself differently so I can let expectation grow for the things God is saying. So I’ve been quiet and I have had this sense that there are a lot of moves over Gods people. Actual land moves, changing our locations, a changing of jobs, and a change of how we handle and manage our days. “Our times are in His hands…deliver me…” Ps.31:5
Just as a women prepares to ready herself before she gives birth I believe we are to position ourselves under the umbrella of faith and ask our God for what’s next. Where are we suppose to stand and who are we suppose to be standing with? “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the old, godly way, and walk there.” As we make our way to our own personal points of intersection, let’s remember the turns we take will have great impact, not only for ourselves but for those close to us. Let’s weigh carefully where we are headed, making sure we find our feet fitted in step with Him, His ways, and His grace as we plow ahead. He makes our paths straight, our road secure, and directs the steps we are to take (Prov.3:6)
I had a dream the other night and I saw people “waking up” to some things. When I asked the Lord about it I felt led to read in Amos 8. “This is what the sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. What do you see Amos? A basket of ripe fruit, I answered. Then the Lord said to me, THE TIME IS RIPE FOR MY PEOPLE.”
Ripe can be defined as something being developed to the point of readiness for harvesting. 2- Sufficiently advanced in preparation or aging in order to be used. RIPE= READY
When something is ripe in slang it means “now is the time for action” (says dictionary.com).
I felt a lot of rumblings as I began to pray…not because of my breakfast but because I sensed the spirit really leaning me into this word. If Ripe means that something is “ready” and we are to be about action, then I can only imagine the things the Lord wants to open up for us, knowing that we have been prepped, prepared, and now it’s time to go. When a piece of fruit is ripe and isn’t picked it is such a waste. The fruit didn’t give the nutrients or enjoyment it was intended for and eventually gets rotten. (Though I can’t help but think how in time it can still become good fertilizer.) If we correlate that same principal for ourselves, I’d say that if we are the fruit He’s calling on (who we are, what we have, what we carry, what He’s asked of us) then we don’t want to waste time holding off or holding back in giving to others the nutrients they need.
I have a feeling also that because “the time is ripe” there will be people who haven’t previously been open to the things of God, but now may be more ready to hear, accept an invite, or join a study, things of this nature. Furthermore I believe that because God has been developing and preparing us and those around us, it’s important to have a new eye with one another. What some might not have been ready to do or to bring in past seasons is no longer the case, so let’s allow new flavors and styles in others and in ourselves begin to surface. If its truly a ripe time, or a “time for picking” then let’s lean in to God in these days and have an ear to hear how He’s asking us to proceed…with ourselves and our own agendas, with our kids, neighbors and co-workers, and anyone else God may have planted near you in this season!
A lot ahead to unfold, Can’t wait. DeAnn Carpenter
Ecclesiastes tells us that it’s important we know the proper time and procedure of things, so I’m always leaning in to ask the Lord to help me recognize and get ready for it. Several times last week I walked past the television while the same commercial add played…I’ve always been a quick learner (😛)so by the third time when the announcement came that it was “TIME TO BE A HERO” I asked the Lord if He was saying something. Later that day I walked past a store with capes all over it, then I saw a sign heading that read “calling all advocates.” That’s enough for me to tuck in and take some time to pray so that I might better understand my role in this season. An ad*vo*cate is one who champions, upholds, supports, and protects. They plead the cause for another.
Hero: someone who is admired or idealized for courage, special achievements, or noble qualities. A synonym for being noble is also someone that is brave. That makes sense to me because another working definition for a HERO is a person who would help another in various ways. They’d give strength to someone during a difficulty and go beyond what’s expected to help another. Gulp, get ready because I think the Lord is asking us to take some steps in these days that will require courage from us. Walking through new doors, accepting invitations, doing hard things, starting up things. I think it might be time to get the capes out, not for hiding but for flying.
I sat with this for a minute and saw a picture of someone getting dressed for the day, that made me think of one of the smartest men in the Bible…Paul, who says the things we are “clothed in” are really important. So let’s pull up our advocate pants and be both mindful and prayerful as we look to see who needs our help. Who needs a word, a kind gesture, a lift, a dinner, a hand, or a prayer? Before you count yourself out of the “hero category” let’s remember that God will use anyone at anytime to do anything. He works with our willingness not our gifted-ness, so let’s look to Him to purpose our paths towards those we’re passing by today and not be afraid to fly.
I grabbed a new journal the other day and as I put my old one to close, the Lord reminded me of the scripture in Isaiah 43. “Review the past for me” other versions will say remind me or put in remembrance. I started thumbing through my pages and was caught by so many words, promises, and other things spoken…my spirit was getting so stirred both by all that God is up to and going to do in the days ahead. I set my journal down and had a strong sense that this wasn’t just a practice for me.
My eyes landed next on scriptures that I believe He was asking the whole body to get ahold of at the beginning of the year. Words of returns and recompense taking place. “See the Lord comes with power, His arm is the one that rules. See His reward is with Him and His recompense accompanies Him.” – Isaiah 40.10 (Syn. for recompense/ restitution, compensate, reimbursement, satisfy.) Promises He’s given us, spoken by our lips as a decree, will turn words into reality and hope into fact as it settles in like concrete under our feet.
As we move forward into a new season where God shares new things with us (“From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things not know to you.” Isa. 48:6) I feel it’s so important to look over the things He’s spoken previously and let what He speaks futuristicly hold hands together in harmony. “For what I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that’s what I will do.” (Isa.46.11).
I saw a picture of a map and compass. I feel a lot of the former words given were like us looking at a map, “great…now how do I get there?” The new and next words will be what guides us as we make our way through. If you have no previous words, it’s no problem, we all start somewhere. Get to a quiet place with some essentials: a coffee, journal, bible, and pen. Be expectant, a Father speaks to His kids (John 10:27) and though God is vast He is also kind enough to stoop down and speak to us. He sent His spirit to do that very thing, speak-help-reveal-play, to be a friend. No just with some but with all and not just to speak but to commune. Ask for His filling, His anointing on your hearing and seeing, then do as Habakkuk tells us and take some time to write it down, write it plainly.
I sat still during a prayer time with some friends last week and with no agenda we listened for the Lord to speak to us about what was on His heart.
I heard the sound of wedding bells and then heard theses words from a simple song “here comes the bride all dressed in white.” I sat with that and felt two specific things, though I believe He has more to say on the matter, I know for certain that “preparation and anticipation” are the things He has put with me.
If you’ve prepared for your own wedding day or if you’ve had the privilege to stand and rise at a wedding to watch another bride make her way down that very important isle, then you are aware of the building awe and excitement that makes its way to our hearts as we await and expect something grand to take place. I believe that God is calling His body of believers to make “anticipation” a posture toward what He is doing with His bride. He is preparing something so grand for His church as a whole, and what a time to participate and have a seat and celebrate what’s coming.
Like any wedding, there are great preparations made beforehand. I also believe God is at work preparing a bride for a sacred ordeal. The act of preparation can be a lot of work. It can be taxing, time consuming, even overwhelming at times, but we never get to the “event” and think to ourselves, “I wish I would have done less.” If anything, we might say, “I wish I would have enjoyed it more.” White is pure and without blemish, and you can bet that in this time of preparation there will be pruning, even painful moments of letting go, growing up, and doing away with the things that keep us from whole heartedly following after God. This isn’t about perfection but resolution and holding to the things that God is asking of us.
A bride knows who she is committing to, that’s why she can give her love her “yes.” I imagine there will be plenty of times this summer that we will want to turn our own way and do our own thing, but that’s not the vow that we’ve taken when we choose to walk with God. Let’s keep our knees nimble, they bend easier when we do and let’s be willing to exchange whatever is needed in our lives as we ready ourselves for a great and glorious time.
While I was on vacation last week the picture of the compass kept catching my eye and I thought the Lord might have something more to say about this picture of direction…no doubt He did.
I heard in my spirit the word “encompass” and that He is going to surround us in the next steps of adventure and new direction. I had a sense that God is leading many in new avenues of things and the verses that He put with me next had to do with a leveling out so that we can move with more ease.
“They may come with tears, they may be praying as I bring them back, but I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble.” -Jer.31:9
“Let the morning bring me a word of your love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go…may your good spirit lead me on level ground.” -Psalm 143:8-10
I also heard the words in my heart: align, allow, assume. I sat with that for a bit and feel it important that we allow God (“who probes our minds and hearts”-Ps.7) to really be our guide and lead this season and not make assumptions about where He’s taking us or what He’s doing. Wherever that ends up being, let’s make certain that are alignment is correctly adjusted underneath Him, that we might not get ahead of Him.
There are plenty of things that can encompass a person on any given day, but as we tuck in under Him and allow Him to be our covering and what’s encompassing us, then we can be at rest with what’s next. I heard the phrase, “if we dwell in His shelter then we can rest in His shadow” (from Psalm 91). I felt it important that are minds are put to rest with worry or wonder. Let your eyes close at night with ease and trust that hand that leads us in the right way.
I don’t know what’s next for all of us, but I do know that God has mapped something out uniquely for us, so let’s make certain that where we’re walking is in alignment with where He is leading. Let’s keep asking as a child does, not “are we there yet?” But maybe more “is this the way?” For He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. ALL the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful…and He will instruct us in the ways chosen for us. -Psalm 25
Lastly, I feel this word stamped with the verse that Isaiah speaks in 40:4, it says that “mountains will be made low and rough grounds will become level (or smooth) and rugged places a plain.” That word is echoed again from Luke in 3:5 “crooked roads will become straight and rough ways smooth as we see God at work.” And though I know the context is different in this read, but I feel God brought it my attention for what He is up to now…that things will become easier and more clear, paths narrowed and our direction more sure. As that happens and clarity comes, let’s not forget to take some time to check in with our guide and say the things we need to for navigating us through such a terrain. There is so much ahead, let’s enjoy the journey with the ones we’re with.
