Category Archives: through obstacles

A STORY OF PERCEPTION AND DOUBT

 

twisted road

 

At a random moment in May, my mind twirled itself into a knot about God.  My expanding understanding of Father’s presence within me had somehow “humanized” Him.  After all, if He is actually part of me and not living separate from me, then how does He remain divine?  How is He still omnipotent?  And what does that mean regarding the miracles I’ve experienced most of my life?  It seemed that the more I saw Him within me, the less miraculous He appeared.  Was He ordinary now?

Of course, that conclusion means my mind doesn’t have a miraculous perception of myself.  I’m still flawed with feet of clay, unable to fly.

Plus, I didn’t have time to contemplate this twist and talk it out with Him.  We had a family and friend event coming up at our home in mid-June and there were a multitude of projects to complete beforehand. So, while Hunny and I labored to finish building projects and landscaping, I put my dilemma on a shelf. Continue reading A STORY OF PERCEPTION AND DOUBT

ITS HARD TO BE REJECTED

 

 

It’s hard to be rejected. It’s probably one of the cruelest things we do to each other. And Christianity has embraced Rejection just as much as the rest of the world. They even call it a godly tool and have classes to show us how to reject someone “lovingly”.In a world where children are bullied and rejected in school, why do we, the Peacemakers, embrace the very behavior we hate?

It’s a great example of calling evil, good. And finding justification in causing pain. After all, if my church says it’s a necessary and godly tool, then I should do it. Plus, they said “shake the dust” off my feet.
My, how eager we are to justify our cruelty even though Jesus never gave us that justification. He never rejected anyone. Continue reading ITS HARD TO BE REJECTED

HOLY CROWS!!!!

crows

 

It was July 2nd, 2014, a warm peaceful morning, and I was enjoying sleeping a little longer than usual when the crows came and sat in the big tree outside my window.  It wasn’t a big deal except every one of them was crying at the top of their little lungs, which is surprisingly loud.  And I flinched and rolled over.  And then I jumped out of bed. “What the heck!?”  Then I waited patiently for them to disburse.  5 minutes, 10 minutes it continued.  “Oh, what in the world is going on?”

When I went to the window, I saw nothing strange.   There was only green grass, and a soft breeze.

So why were there crows screaming like they were having a raucous party in the loudest club downtown?  It felt like my nerves were being frayed one at a time as I pulled on my clothes and headed for a cuppa my favorite coffee. Continue reading HOLY CROWS!!!!

GOING DOWN INTO HELL

 

going down

 

It’s a scary thing to watch someone go headlong down into the pit of hell. You probably know that place as well as I do. And it’s not been so long ago since I was there.

The last time I went, I shrunk to the floor in a heap. Tears were coming in great floods and I had no hope at all. There was not even one point of light shining for me in the distance. Nothing was left.  And Fear screamed into the darkness which was blacker than any black.  Death waited with open arms.  And pain was worse than any known.

I was shocked at my arrival because I hadn’t known there was an actual place of burning and torture for us in this present existence. Continue reading GOING DOWN INTO HELL

HOW CAN I AFFECT CURRENT DISASTERS?

praying

 

From my seat next to Jesus, I turned to Him and asked, “How can I affect these current disasters?  There’s a large hurricane headed for Florida and many fires burning in the northwest. And they aren’t exactly in my realm of influence, my kingdom.  So, my efforts aren’t as effective as someone who lives there and has the situation sitting in the middle of their heart.”

Continue reading HOW CAN I AFFECT CURRENT DISASTERS?

ECLIPSE OF THE SON?

eclipse

 

I’ve seen the eclipse of the Son, and no, I didn’t mean to say the sun. Although, I saw that one too and it was certainly a good physical example of a common spiritual circumstance.

I sat and watched as the sun was slowly obliterated by the intrusion of the moon and it reminded me of those moments in life when darkness creeps in and I can’t see the Light of Jesus.

It doesn’t mean I’ve stopped believing or lost my way, or that I’ll never see the Light again.  It means that something is blocking my view.

Continue reading ECLIPSE OF THE SON?

WILL I OFFEND SOMEONE? CAN’T I WRITE ANYMORE?

 

silent man

 

I was working on a couple of my new books last night when fear attacked me. It said, “Will I offend someone? Can’t I write anymore?”

I smiled, cocked my head, and I chalked this up to another piece of information. The spirit of offense wants me to be silent.

 

You see, I received an explosion from an offended group a few days ago.  I thought they were close friends and I had no idea what I’d written would offend them. Continue reading WILL I OFFEND SOMEONE? CAN’T I WRITE ANYMORE?

HOPE AND FEAR, or “DO IT AFRAID”

hope and fear

 

On the way home from work one night, I had an intense encounter with hope and fear.

This trial and testing had begun with a horrible sound around my back right tire just as I was getting to work.  Nervously, I asked one of the guys to take a look but he saw nothing of concern.  So, I said, “Then I think it was slushy snow build-up in the wheel-well, clunking around.”

But for the evening, fear lurked just over my head, periodically interjecting his thoughts and torments.  I did my best to ignore him and hold on to my one hope.

Finally, at the end of my shift, I started the ignition and sat for a moment with Father.  I said, “Father, it’s You and me as usual.  And I’m asking that my car is perfect, and my ride home is without any unusual incidents.  You know my trust is completely on You, as always.”

After my little prayer and a deep, cleansing breath of peace, I slowly proceeded out of the parking lot and onto the road.  A half-moon peeked out of the clouds along the desolate countryside.   And I put on 2 pairs of gloves to handle the steering wheel in the 6-degree temps.   Smatterings of sand sprinkled the snow packed icy roads and I felt like I was holding my breath as I headed for home.

Thoughts of a broken-down vehicle in the deserted cold, night were frightening floating across my imagination.  Dangerous animals and even more dangerous humans crossed my mind accented by the fact that cell phone service sometimes cut out in the area.

Torment was doing a good job.  But even as he worked his terrible magic, I also remembered Joyce Meyer had said years ago.  “Do it afraid”.   And the words had stuck with me, like a mantra.  Every time I was up against fear and holding on to a slim thread of hope that Father would never let me down, I remembered those words.

Minutes seemed to take hours but finally, I pulled into my dry carport, safely.  It was one more time in the millions of times, that He’d cared for me.  He’d answered my request.  I arrived home, warm and toasty without a single variation of an incident along the way.  My wheels had not slipped on the ice, nor had the horrible sound come from the wheel-well.  Not even an animal had darted out from the side of the road.

I was safe and overcome with thankfulness.  Fear had played his hand and pulled the Torment card once again.  But also, once again I “did it afraid” and Father kept His promise to never leave me or forsake me.

Fear comes sometimes.   It taunts me sometimes with horrible unbelieving thoughts.  But I know where they are coming from.  And I know these are the moments of endurance where I hold on to one hope – HIM.

And it works.  Every time.

me.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.  Blessings on yours.

Faith

DANGLING MY FEET IN THE RIVER OF HEAVEN

 

dangling feet

 

I sat by the river of heaven today and dangled my feet in the water -while wearing my new shoes. Yep, I got some new shoes, and no, the water doesn’t damage them. And they’re gorgeous.

At first, I thought they were burgundy silk, but as they fit themselves to my feet, they came alive and morphed into magenta and then deep purple, and back again, depending on which way I turned.  They massaged and caressed my feet as though I had laid them in a bed full of squirming kittens. Continue reading DANGLING MY FEET IN THE RIVER OF HEAVEN

HOW TO PRAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS

police-car-490677__180

This topic is so important that I’m not going to spend a lot of time prepping you.  I’m going to tell you what just happened, what Father told me, and then I’m going to pray for you.

I know you’re frustrated because these shootings keep happening.  It’s time to stop responding to evil the same way, again and again.  It’s not working.  It’s time to step into The Kingdom and do this Father’s way. Continue reading HOW TO PRAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS