Firefighting....

 My son is pursuing  his dream of being a firefighter.  He turned 16 this year and researched everything he needed to do to become a junior volunteer firefighter.  He has accomplished it.  I am so proud of him.  A few days ago, a close friend posted this on my Facebook....

"A firefighter is being yelled at for taking too long to get there, while trying desperately to save the life of a total stranger, holding his bladder because he didn't have time to pee when the alarm sounded, starving because he missed one of his three meals, tired because the alarm sounded just as he closed his eyes and it is now 4 in the morning and missing his family while taking care of yours. Thank a firefighter." 

It gives a whole new meaning to what adventures he is walking into.  He has determination, strong will, and compassion for the job that will allow him to completely fulfill his dream.  He has another unfair advantage.  He knows Jesus.  He is doing great exploits for his Lord and Savior.  When he steps foot into the station, he brings the Presence of the Almighty.  When he arrives on a scene, he brings the Power to raise the dead and heal the sick.  When comforts a citizen, he brings hope of eternal love and life.  He has the opportunity to rescue and save lives in the physical and spiritual realm.  I am truly proud and blessed to have a wonderful son!!

Young volunteers learning to save lives....

Engine 22

Went to a day camp to 'cool' off the children...how fun!

 

A Right Turn.....

I went to the School of the Prophetic last week.  What an amazing time.... I had someone give me a prophetic word and I wanted to post it.


"You are now taking a right turn..."  Yeah, that means so much.  I know in the days to come, there will be many posts referring to my right turn.  I love Daddy's way of talking to me.  This is going to be fun, exhilarating, and radical.

Just Meowing....

Do you remember the Purina Meowmix cat commercial? It is the one where the cat says meow a hundred times and the caption interrupts it for you.  Well, every night I hear that in my house.  So I did what every savvy person would do, I Googled!  It is very interesting what I found.  This behavior can be caused by many factors: needs water/food, needs a clean liter box, is in estrus, stress or anxiety.  Hhhmmm, my cat didn't fit into any of these.  So on to the next article (diligence).  This article says my cat may be feeling insecurity, has cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or physical distress.  Then I read it.... "A cat may go looking for a housemate that is no longer there and call to them, trying to locate them.  It was how they use to locate each other."  That was it!


About two and half months ago, my first cat passed away.  She was a seal point, Himalayan, who was very old.  She was sick when she died.  It was a hard, sad time for me.  My daughter has the same breed cat as I did.  He grew up with Madison and they played all the time.  About three weeks after she died, Rally started night meowing.  This meowing is loud and multiple times during the night.  It will wake you from a sound sleep.  


I starting thinking....how many of us go through our regular routines and never notice, until sometimes it is too late, someone is missing.  One of our friends, brother/sister in Christ has left the local body, our neighbor, co-worker is gone from our every day life and we didn't realize until NOW.  Or have we realized?  I had a phone call from someone the other day and they explained how they didn't feel 'connected, wanted, noticed'.  Wow, was I so busy that I neglected the people around me?  What am I here on earth for, to show the love of Jesus.  Am I doing that job?  What is SO important that I cannot take a moment to love on someone, show a smile, reach out and touch another human being?  So it took Rally to show me to stop, look around, and see who is MIA.  I need to locate them again and tell them how precious they are to Jesus and to me.  Proverbs 17:17 states a friend loves at ALL times!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JuVHCJVYf4

Well-Behaved Women....

I was in someone's office the other day and read a plaque.  "Well-Behaved Women never make history..." Hhhmmm, I started rolling that around in my head.  I asked Daddy, "Is that true?" Names started coming to mind.  Were these 'good girls' according to society?  Were these 'ladies who sat quietly, sipping tea and eating crumpets'?  Were they 'approved of' or of the 'popular opinion'?  Here are just a few that pop into my mind.

Rahab: Wow, talk about breaking all society's rules.  She was a prostitute, pagan, single, used, abused woman.  Others looked at her as a money maker, trash, no potential.  She wasn't the kind of girl you brought home to mama.  She left everything behind to join the Israelites at Jericho.

Tamar: Pushed from one husband to another, rejection, hurt, only wanting to be loved, wanted justice and the right thing to be done.  Resorting to deception to fulfill her purpose.  Finally, Judah honors her as a daughter for the rest of her life.

Ruth: A Moabite! A widow! No children! and then to leave her homeland to go to a place she knew she would not be embraced by.  With the knowledge that she would have to work for the rest of her life, she had unbelievable honor, respect, and loyalty to a mother-in-law.

Mary: She was rebuked by the disciples, shunned, and told she wasted her inheritance as she poured out her precious oil on Jesus' feet.  Her name rings through the generations.  Her act, love, desperation can still be heard today.

I have never been a 'well-behaved woman'. But I have to ask myself, "Am I a living declaration of what Daddy has done in my life.  Am I living up to my full potential?'

Remember, Rahab, Tamar, and Ruth are in the lineage of Christ. So what is history going to say about you......

Do I fit in.....

A close friend of mine sent me a link to a blog.  In reading it, of course, my mind began to whirl.  What kind of church body do I attend?  What kind of church do I represent? How open am I? Do I 'fit in' or make others feel 'unwanted'?

I understand there needs to be protocol, set boundaries, and guidelines when leading a group of people.  But do we solely base our 'Christianity' on these man-made rules?  The below link really touched my heart.  http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/178958/1/NC-Boy-With-Cerebral-Palsy-Asked-To-Leave-Easter-Service

What if this woman came to my local body of worship.  Would I welcome her, or just sit quietly and hope the ushers greeted her?  Am I too comfortable in my comfort zone?  What about outside of the church walls?  What if I met this person in Wal-Mart, would I smile, give a kind word, pray for her, or snub my nose, turn away for lack of something to say, be too busy to give her any mind (because I'm in a rush and it's all about me!) I have literally prayed that if I have ever made someone feel left out, not part of the group, or below me, "Daddy, please forgive me!" I am to be an ambassador for Christ.  I am to share LOVE, peace, compassion with others.

The woman at the well is an example of how we are to engage others.  In John 4, Jesus had a deep conversation with this woman.  She, at first, could not believe this 'man' would talk with her, let alone ask for her to draw water for Him.  How soft spoken He must have been, tender in His responses.  His Words so full of life drawing her ever so close to the Daddy's heart.  The compassion for all her hurts, pains, and rejection.  When playing the scene out in my head, I wonder what do you think she was wearing? How do you think she was acting, at the beginning of the conversation? Remember, she had been married 5 times and the guy she was living with was not her hubby.  Do you think she had a few scars? Do you think she had a good self image? What if because of how she was dressed, how she responded, or even the scars of being passed from husband to husband, Jesus was 'too busy', 'put off by her' or 'snubbed her because she didn't measure up to what was deemed protocol'?  That is not Daddy's heart.  The Word states in verse 42, "They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”"

It's kinda funny, I have tons of stories on how I totally embarrassed my parents in church.  I was about three or four and we were having revival. (we always sat in the second or third row at church)  We had a guest evangelist come in and he called for a 'healing line'.  This very dignified older lady was in the line.  The evangelist put his hand on her head and kinda slid his hand back in her hair.  Holy Spirit fell on this woman and she started dancing.  And dancing she did, right out from under her wig!!  Well of course, I HAD to say something!!  "Mommy, look at that lady with no hair! Why is she dancing with no hair?! That's funny!"  Then in one swoop, up I went and off to the 'famous' restroom for one of 'those' talks.  What if my parents were asked to not come back, were not accepted, or made to feel 'unaccepted'?  Where would I be?  I grew up in church, have deep roots in Christianity, and have allowed Daddy to change me from the inside out.  I want to be in the middle of what Jesus is doing in the world today.  I want to encounter Him with such a compassionate, hungry heart so I can be an encounter to others who need an encounter with Him.

Ordinary me....

It blows my mind sometimes how God will use ordinary me.  I went to a ballet recital.  I was just sitting there enjoying the 'cherubs' whisking across the floor.  I glanced to the side and there was a woman.  She was very young, mid-forties, like me...  On her left arm was a beautiful tattoo.  It was three butterflies on a barbed wired.  The center one was the largest with a cross as the center of the butterfly's body.  On either side were two smaller ones.  I felt Holy Spirit's Presence.  I asked Him what it meant. 

After the recital, I approached the young lady.  I asked her if I could speak to her regarding her tattoo and what I believe Daddy sees in it.  She was apprehensive at first, but said, "I would like to hear what you have to say."  I began.  It was on her left side and I expressed that side is what you are born into.  For generations the enemy has tried to stop her family from fulfilling the promises of God.  The butterflies represent life and bursting through into the call of God on her family.  It is a tribal band, which also indicates family.  The three butterflies are like a three stranded cord, and a cord of three strands is not easily broken.  She has walked through some hard times, but because of her endurance she is bursting forth for generations to come. Love and life are the essence of the tattoo.

Tears began to fill her eyes.  She said she designed the tattoo.  The barbed wire was a representation of the difficult times she had walked through.  The largest butterfly had a cross to represent her salvation.  The two smaller ones were a representation of her two daughters.  She hugged me and said thank you.  Her tattoo took on a greater meaning that evening. 

Why? Because Daddy spoke to me about His daughter and I shared.  Daddy loves to love on His children, but we must be willing to step out on faith.  He wants to flow through ordinary people to touch in an extraordinary way.  If He can flow through ordinary me, just think what he can do flowing through you....

Until we are one.....

Few days ago I asked Daddy for a new blog subject.  He is my inspiration.  So I was not surprised while sitting in a movie theater slurping my ICEE a down load began....

YES, I went to the opening day of X-Men First Class.  What an awesome movie!  And of course, I saw so much spiritual in it.  I will 'try' not to spoil the movie for those who have not yet seen it.  There is a part where Charles Xavier is talking to Raven in the kitchen.  He tells her that he doesn't understand her behavior or what she is thinking.  She quickly responds to him about a promise he made never to read her thoughts. He reassures her this has never occurred.  Holy Spirit began to speak to me regarding this scene.  Holy Spirit chooses not to know everything about us. There is no control, only free will, free choice.  When we come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the intimate relationship begins.  We explore each other together until we become one.  We explore the love, gentleness, goodness, kindness, patience, joy, peace, self-control.... Many times I have said, "But Daddy you know what I am thinking or what I would do".  He graciously honors me being a gentleman and waiting for me to open myself up to Him.  We build a relationship together based on trust, love, and loyalty.  King Jesus has paid the price for our righteousness.  He is a gentleman, honoring my next step towards Him.  Holy Spirit will guide me like on a dance floor.  Gracefully, through my life as partners, never missing a beat. 

We have all power through Holy Spirit to live 'supernatural' lives.  What do we do with it?  Heal the sick?  Cleanse the lepers?  Cast out demons? Raise the dead?   I was singing this weekend about opening the flood gates of heaven.  Holy Spirit brought the scripture about out of me should flow living waters.  I got an incredible picture of flood gates opening up and that being release out of me to flood wherever I am.  I am a new creature, like the mutants who live among the sin fallen world.

Just as the X-Men had to learn who they really were and how to work with others, we as a body need to know who we are in Christ and how to pray, work, play, outreach, disciple with others to advance the Kingdom.