Filtered

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV)

Last Sunday, I was at church in our worship service. Momentarily, I looked around at the people in the service. As people were pouring their hearts out to God, I thought to myself, I am so sure each person feels the exactly the way I do right now. I was wanting to give God more…more honor, praise, love, and worship. 

I brought my focus back to worshiping God and in that moment, He gave me a vision. 

I saw myself as a small girl, back when I was a tomboy. 

My hair was in a disheveled ponytail, my face (and clothing) was muddy, (as it often was), and I was holding up a (very well used) dandelion. In other words, a torn up weed! I extended my arms out as if to offer the tattered weed to someone in front of me. In a split second, I saw a bright light and suddenly, I was a grown woman with every hair in place wearing very nice clothes and a beautiful huge crown on my head. My arms were extended out holding a huge silver platter overloaded with huge bricks of gold. 

I know that is a lot of “huge"…but trust me, 

the word huge doesn’t even begin to define what I saw! 

The platter was so full, there is no way (in the natural) that I would’ve been strong enough to pick the platter up, much less extend it out in front of me.

God spoke to me and said, “Think to how you feel when your girls offer you a wildflower or a rock. You treasure those “offerings” because you receive them through love. When I receive an offering, I receive it through the Blood of Jesus and there is a supernatural exchange which turns an offering from what it is into it’s purest form. I love a cheerful giver!"

In 1 Samuel 16:7, the bible tells us the LORD looks at our hearts! He doesn’t see things they way we see them!

I thank God, He filters me! 

Epically blown away. That is all.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for each reader right now and ask that they may see themselves the way You see them. Through the filter of love! Through the Blood of Jesus, You supernaturally make the exchange that takes us from what we were to what You created us to be! I pray each of us walk daily in everything You have planned and purposed for our lives! We love You LORD! We thank You for speaking to us through Your Word, dreams, visions, and the people You put in our path! May we all commit to becoming more like You everyday and see every person in our lives through Your filter of love!

Freedom Impact Statement

Just believe. (Luke 8:50)

A very dear friend just told me about an experience she had with God. During study and prayer time, she surrendered herself to God and told Him she would do anything He wanted her to do. She explained how she could physically feel His anointing by means of heat and tingling come on her hands, feet, and in her mouth. God had a word for her through me, she will go places for Him, touch people for Him, and say things for Him. 

She is very excited about her experience but explained she couldn't share the experience with "just anyone" because sometimes others cannot believe what she feels physically. 

Jennie Crowell, one of my instructors at Life Christian Universities and one of my closest friends, taught on this subject during one of my LCU classes. She explained, we are not in a position to refuse to believe someone else's experience with God, we were not there. And "it is a very good idea to protect that anointing and that precious intimate experience with God".

Just because some can't believe an experience doesn't make the experience any less true. Are we to say how our Heavenly Father moves on or through someone else? Does He communicate with each of us using the same technique every time? 

Do we as parents communicate with our children in the same manner every time? Or, do we spend enough time with each of them to communicate in a way that is most effective to them as an individual? Do we minister to them individually, communicating in such a way to effectively reach them as individuals? How much more does God, our perfect Father, communicate with each of us as individuals?

God has blessed me with three phenomenal girls. I have been stretched by parenthood having to learn many ways to relate to them that ministers to them. I communicate with one through words of affirmation, another through quality time, and another through physical touch. Thank you Dr. Gary Chapman and The 5 Love Languages.

We must not be so wrapped up in our own understanding of how God communicates with others or we could miss an opportunity to be ministered to or minister to others. Had I totally closed off my mind to the experience my friend told me, I would have missed God's opportunity to speak through me to her. If I decide, based on her experience, she's too far out there for me and then God wants to use her to bless me, it may be very difficult for me to receive from her. Solely based on my own limitations and through a self imposed filter. 

Here is what I call my, "Freedom Impact Statement". No one is 100% completely correct 100% of the time, except Him. In some cases, we have to be as smart as a cow, eat the hay, and spit out the sticks. But we canot be so concerned with the sticks that we miss out on the hay. 

We cannot become so familiar with someone, seeing them in the "natural" and all their quirks...hey, we all got 'em...or what we perceive as quirks in them...that we cheat ourselves out of a blessing. For example, Dr. Larry Ollison once taught on a husband's authority in the home. Just because a husband may have left his dirty clothes on the floor does not dilute the authority and anointing placed in and on him by God. 

This may seem irrelevant but it is pertinent. My friend surrendered herself to God and received direction. While some beg God and receive no direction. As a child of God, we are not begging God to move on our behalf. (1 John 1:12, 13) He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). He offered up His own Son. (Romans 8:32) After offering up His own Son, there is nothing else to withhold. He freely gives us all things. 

Just believe.