Sound the Alarm

I have wanted to go to this spot for over a year now and finally made it! The Lord told me to pay attention and this is what I observed.

Neil and I were headed to the river to pick up his four-wheeler so he could have it for tomorrow morning’s work day at his deer camp. After we got over halfway to the river, he got a text message stating it had been cancelled due to the weather.

Neil and I were getting hungry so we stopper and picked up a pizza. I asked him if we could eat on the mountain and watch the sun set, and he agreed.

The road was long and winding and got steeper as we neared the top. Once we got there, we noticed a carload of youth; one girl and two boys. They kept looking at us as though they were doing something they shouldn’t. After a spell, they got out of their vehicle. They took a few selfies and then began playing frisbee.

Neil and I enjoyed our supper and once I finished eating, I got out of the truck and took a picture of the view. I remember thinking my perspective is limited due to their being so many obstacles in my way. All I could see was a tiny glimpse of the landscape between a small break in the trees. As we headed home, a truck with a goat pulled out in front of us. The goat reminded me of Matthew 25:31-46 where it discusses how the Lord will separate the sheep and goats.

I believe what He was saying during this trip is: we need to be prepared and willing to change our plans and ways in an instant. We need to share the Good News at any cost. The road and journey is going to be hard and tedious. I think we only have a small window represented by narrow view and their will be many things they enemy will use trying to distract us from our call. The youth represent who we need to be raising up and pouring into during this season. The time is over for playing games and being self-absorbed. I presume if we don’t step out and step up, America and our future generations will end up being separated and hauled off with the goats. The time is now my friends! We need to boldly go and proclaim the Gospel of Christ!

UNCLEAN

I caught myself telling someone the pandemic hadn’t really affected me much. I explained I had been helping clean up a rental property, so I wasn’t stuck in the same location like most. About a week later, I got the dreaded phone call from my mother stating that my dad was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Not being able to be with him or knowing anything about his well-being was unsettling.

I was reminded during Biblical times how lepers were considered unclean and had to separate themselves from the public. Even though my dad’s hospital stay wasn’t corona virus related, we still were not able to visit or be with him. I didn’t like how it made me feel; I couldn’t imagine being on his end. My heart began aching for all those who were in hospitals, being isolated from their friends and family. My perspective and prayers changed in an instant!

I no longer could say I wasn’t impacted by what was going on. It got very real for me and my family. I am happy to report he was released 5 days later and he’s made a full recovery! Before laying your head down tonight, please lift up all those who are isolated from their family lying in hospital beds. They are already not feeling well, ontop of not being able to be surrounded by their loved ones and those that care about them most.

Holy Spirit have YOUR way!

Acts 2: 1-4

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Covid 19 Pandemic

Here are a few pictures of my dad and Gil working on the rental property.
This is Neil doing some updating and repairs on our home.

Dad asked me to help him and Gil get a rental property ready for a new tenant. We began the project the week before spring break. Little did we know, the world would be shut down only a few weeks later. What a blessing it has been to keep us busy and our minds occupied on something constructive with tangible evidence for our efforts.

I first cleaned the cupboards in the kitchen and bathrooms. Then, I began working on the windows. The previous tenants were heavy smokers, so we began wiping the ceiling and walls down as they were covered in nicotine. During this same time, I had to re-wipe the windows and cupboards as a fresh layer of soot covered them after the kerosene heater was left on overnight. Once everything had been cleaned and recleaned; we painted the closets, cupboards, windows, ceiling and walls. The only thing left to do on the inside was the floor. As dad and Gil put in new subflooring in one of the bathrooms, I began painting the outside window frames and surfaces. A few days later, they joined me and helped me finish the outside.

When I left there every afternoon, I helped Neil paint the outside of our home and lay new tile in the extra bathroom and storage room.

I admit I was jealous of all my team members as they shared how much time they had to sit at Jesus’s feet. However, I believe the Lord had me physically acting out what is going on in the spiritual realm.

My believe is the rental property represents the church. It took three of us working together to get it done. Well folks, we are no different. We should be acting as ONE body in Christ working in unity to make preparations for Christ’s return.

The cupboards symbolize cleaning out old mindsets and ways of doing things and the windows represented our focus. We as His bride have changed some, but we need to refocus our gaze back on His face and our minds back to our first love. The Lord used this pandemic to remove all the idols and make room for something new if we don’t miss it and return to what we did before this happened.

For years, the ministry has prayed for the church to leave the building…well…it’s an answer to prayer! It definitely looks different than anticipated, but thank you Lord for this opportunity!

I see the work down on the sub flooring and the floor represents reestablishing the foundation…and Christ’s love is that foundation verses religious law and works. Once all the surfaces had been wiped down, we had a blank canvas…an opportunity to do things God’s way verses our way…with our own agendas and the way we think God should move.

Once the inside was in order, then we were able to get the outside looking refreshed and like new. A beautiful example of how the Lord works in us. He changes us from the inside out. When our inside is cleaned up, our outside is much more attractive and draws people to us as opposed to repelling them, amen?

And I believe my house represents just what it is; my house. I need to get things in order in myself, my home, my marriage before the Lord can use me to the fullest! Lord, thank you for this opportunity of cleaning us up and preparing Your Bride for Your return!

reviveTUPELO

reviveTUPELO was cancelled this month due to the CDC’s restrictions. I just smiled as I knew the Lord would bring people to me instead of me seeking them out.

It didn’t take long for Him to provide opportunities for me to pray and minister to others. During this time, I was working daily with Gil and my father. I prayed for Gil and his family and for my father’s healing.

A few days later, a gentleman approached us from the road asking if there was any scrap metal he could have. Gil, dad, and I all ended up praying for his provision and for the Lord to bless his family. A few days later, another gentleman in a wheel chair approached me from the road and asked me for a cigarette. I shared my testimony of how the Lord helped me quit and he requested I pray for the Lord to make him willing to be willing as He did for me. All were believers, but He still made a way for me to offer a word of encouragement. I am so thankful He entrusts us to serve Him and spread His love to others.

Holding onto His Promises

I found it interesting I was painting a door frame in Neil and I’s garage and a door frame of the rental property on Passover. I felt the Lord was showing me He was protecting me and my family. I felt led to put red material over our front door as a prophetic act to represent Jesus’s blood covering. As of now, I have decided to leave it up as long as we are quarantined. This will be a little reminder of His promise that death will pass over this household and my family during this season, amen?

It’s in the name!

There is power…in the mighty name of Jesus took on a whole new meaning for me as I was pressure washing our patio today.

Ephesians 5:26 tells us we are cleansed the the washing of water by the Word. As I was powerwashing the pavement, I noticed how easily the water removed the dirt and grime that accumulated by the world. The patio didn’t look “that bad” until I had the area beside it cleaned. It gave me a visual as to what the living Word does to our minds, attitudes and conduct if we allow it to transform us. The more we sharpen our minds to His Truth, the easier it is to discern right from wrong and see the difference between light and darkness. Jesus says the Word has power, as it all leads back to Himself. Let us meditate on it day and night so it can begin to cleanse us from the inside out.

April fools!

I have been reading a book on intercession. One of my favorite take aways is that two of the greatest weapons against the enemy is worship and joy. It will totally confuse the darkness by reacting to an attack in praise or laughter. The enemy thinks it will upset us and we will get our eyes of God. I just love these strategies! Plus, I believe the more we practice reacting in these ways, the less likely we will be attacked in the same manner again!