I am learning to act regardless of how I feel. Whew, what a concept. This has been a tough one.
These are my notes about developing my own "Joshua Spirit". Ladies I hope this helps you. For me it is refreshing not to rely on emotion to guide me but his peace. - <3
HAVE A JOSHUA SPIRIT. Be the first react in obedience now, for God. Not wasting time.. Get busy acting quickly in obedience to God.
Ex. Moses;;;; but God I can’t speak well, what do I have… “I have that covered..”- God.Just Go!
Early in the Morning… when we get on board early in the decision making process. Early in the morning sent moses, early when the women went to Jesus’s tomb, early when he sent David to Goliath.
Most think a balanced life means when all of the 10 baskets you are managing are equally full. THATS NOT BALANCED… THATS CHAOS.
You pull the 3-4 that are God’s priority and begin pouring into those boxes. Act in obedience NOW.
Joshua…. “Im going in with or without you.. gathered up his people”
Acted fearlessly in the face of insurmountable God.
God is calling us BEFORE HE DIVIDES THE SEA to believe HE WILL PERFORM THE MIRACLE BEFORE WE’VE SEEN IT HAPPEN.
The enemy seeks to take a tender/sensitive part of us and attack with doubt, and with a spirt of fear because he knows that this place is a place where we will experience the most victory and where God wants to use for our best ministry to come from.
If satan can attach a spirit of fear and we avoid it we can never get around to being the Daughter of the most high God.
“There use to be butterflies when I would have to speak, and I still get them but at least now they are flying in formation…”-Priscilla Shirer
That is the enemy trying to attach a spirit of fear trying to distract you from what God wants you to do.
When I have 2 options and I don’t want to chose one of the options because I am afraid.
This is not a playground this is a battlefield.
He knows he cannot destroy you but he will work his hardest to distract you.
The enemy doesn’t want you in place where you have to depend on God. God puts us in a place where we have to depend on Him to get the job done.”When we are weak, he is strong”
Act immediately and fearlessly in obedience to God.
Reason why we are following God:
FOR WE HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE…..JOSHUA- THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN PASS THESE CIRCUMSTANCES UNTIL WE GO THE WAY WE HAVE NOT BEEN BEFORE.
IT PAYS TO KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THAT WAY BEFORE- God! He’s in our tomorrow waiting for us to show up!
JESUS DID THE FATHERS WILL… so many great opportunities that came his way and he says thats good but my father’s time has not come… HE DID THE FATHERS WILL AND NOTHING ELSE. only did the fathers will and nothing else.
We are so depleated doing the good stuff we have no time for the authentic God stuff.
We have to be sitting on the edge of our seat ready to see what God has coming next.
God is so much bigger than our experiences. Bigger than our churches, our denominations, communities.
Each of us had a box we carry around…
all that I know and have experienced that must be it.
thats not in my box, we have the nerve to close the box. but the lid on.
The box doesn’t limit God, we limit our awareness of God
Use the boxes and build more,, a foundation,, be all we can be in relationship with Him.
Not only am I going to act fearlessly and quickly but I am going to acknowledge the presence of God.
Joshua ANTICIPATES THE MIRACLES OF GOD!
The Joshua Spirit says:
"I know who I belong to, and He is still on the throne.!"
He has called you to be the 1 in a million. Commissioned in the dark place to bring others who share that call into the Jordan into the promised land..
(2 million people who left from Egypt , only 2 stepped food into Canaan. 1 in a million.
Raise up warriors who will fight on their knees…
Someone that has the character and integrity to back up the gift- BE THE SAME ON THE FLOOR AS YOU ARE ON THE PLATFORM.
Have you ever been in the kind of rut where you feel like mentally, physically, and emotionally you are empty? It is a tiredness unique of its own, something different than just collapsing on the couch after a long day. Instead, it is a mental fatigue that doesn't seem to leave. "Yeah that was me for about 2 years." I admit in all of the effort to do more for God, I've been struggling to maintain set times for quality quiet time which gets me centered. Without it leaves me floundering emotionally subject to that day's challenge unprepared and vulnerable to the enemy. "I know you feel a difference when you've had quality time with Him and then go in a season without it. There's a part of you missing and you cannot help but feel the hole." So here we go, lesson learned, please take it from me as HE has been teaching me this year, that my time spent with him in REST is far more important than the time spent on my feet, on my own, or on a mission.
It is a time he requires to fill us. We have been created to be but empty vessels for himto be emptied of ourselves, filled from him, and poured out to others so that they can drink from the cup of having an eternal family that centers on Christ's love. Simply put.
... How can I fill others when I'm running on spiritual fumes?
What we have to realize, excuse me.. "What I have to realize is that doing things for God and knowing God are two very different things. Jesus puts it like this when he addresses the crowd: " Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28) It sounds simple, but Jesus is speaking to the part of us that is bone-deep weary. The kind of weary I've been for a while. Still doing great things for Him, but not being obedient to resting and getting a renewed closeness to Him. {The truth is the world gives us another message. The very message that our lives are consumed with today. Like, "fill the to-do list and get as much as you can done, while multi-tasking and spending time with family- while you are not really spending time with them but merely balancing so many items that your list moves from the paper to bouncing around frantically in your head, and inside your iphone that life perpetutates into this stressful series of events where you are completely exhausted, uncentered, frantic with unstable emotions, and there is nothing quality about any of what you are doing because the world tells us it is not valuable unless it is about QUANTITY.} Like all sin, it distorts the truth of what God intended so rather than the truth in Matthew that we read before. The world says instead, " Come to me all who are rested and I will make you weary. All of you who have simple lives, I will make you burdened. Take what I have and learn from me, but the truth is I am deceitful and boastful, and if you follow my ways- the ways of the world- I will give your soul unrest. Because my yolk is difficult."
- the enemy
Jesus has a counter-cultural message for all of us. Real rest comes with knowing the grace of our salvation in Jesus. We cannot do anything to earn it, improve it, or maximize it's potential. Jesus loves you- nothing more, nothing less. Not as you should be, but as YOU ARE. But He does love you too much to leave you there, so he sent His son, our spiritual brother and King Jesus to die for who you are NOW. You are loved completely, wholly, uniquely and it is the kind of love that cannot exist apart from Him. One that the world cannot duplicate, imitate, distort, destroy, or touch. But we can't feel the whole scope of HIS LOVE when we are busy running around with our agendas. HIS LOVE calls us to REST- really rest- in HIS PRESENCE, in quiet places, in the quiet of our minds, where our hearts are free for him and our hands are empty. If we are full of ourselves, how ever can HE fill us? "I said to myself, "Relax and rest. GOD has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death: Eye, you've been rescued from tears: and you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." Psalm 116:7-8
Hey guys! The Write of Shame: I keep saying I will blog more frequently and I admit I've allowed my time to be consumed into other things but resolve this year to write more often.- Pinky promise this time. For years I've put my thoughts, experiences, provoking calls to ministry, reflections in my own walk in countless journals. With me traveling around the world this can certainly lighten my load and help me catalog so here we are....
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:17-18
I'm not sure if I'm seeing it more on the full time ministry front or perhaps God is calling my attention to it, but I'm noticing more and more conflict between Christians toward other Christians. It is of course no new concept, we know that as long as there is sin in the world and we are broken people that conflict and divisiveness will continue to try to creep into our lives- even from well meaning people....even between Christians.
<<< Inside the Tissue- I mean ISSUE >>>
I think we need to take an inward look into our "heart conditions" of what is motivating us to extend judgement toward others-just because we don't seek to understand them or on the sub-level agree with what they do. >>> Case in point: Sharing and Giving.... shhh! { in secret } Over the last 14 years in long and short term missions I've witnessed a lot of behaviors, motivations, and attitudes toward giving. Some pushing themselves in the spotlight, some pushing personal achievement, and losing focus of who has provided us with the resources, opportunity, and positions us to serve others in HIS NAME. I have to say it is not only disheartening to see a well meaning individual lose focus in wanting to give and share but do so in a worldly, naturally well that requires recognition and praise from others. And furthermore, feed on this false praise to affirm what they are doing before the eyes of men.
>> It is heart breaking because I believe God gifts us with unique opportunities to serve and please him by meeting the needs of others not by boasting but my building up others from backstage, in the crowd, away from the limelight. <<<
As I'm not the know all be all, and am in no way perfect let's defer to the Scriptures!
I believe our modern trumpets can include common modalities and devices that point the recognition back to us instead of back to Christ. {Ex. How we use media publications and social media.} >>> So what does this mean exactly? For those of us (me) that need a visual, here we go.
It means even something as close to you as your other hand, let all things be done on the DOWN LOW. Why the secret? Because when our old nature- worldly, sinning selves desire to promote what God is doing as ours, we are ultimately robbing Him of HIS glory. It becomes null, void, moot. Less effective.
It becomes inwardly motivated instead of outward, purpose driven, Kingdom minded missions. And that by letting everyone know what you are helping to do, have been asked to do, and announcing to the world for your own glory you are only going to receive a temporary, empty, and hollow reward on earth supported by retweets, likes, and the approval of man.
...when our hearts should be postured toward getting the ultimate LIKE from our Father in Heaven.
My hope in all of my writing is that none of my posts come across as judgmental or "holier than thou" indeed I have been guilty as charged in my past of any and all offenses. Guilty plea. But... recently the call to write this stemmed from an experience I had recently in ministry. >>> I found in this experience even more heart breaking than seeing a well meaning individual lose focus and begin the personal glory road, is the disheartening and discouragement to the person who seeks to give in secret but experiences judgement from other well meaning Christians because what they have prepared behind the scenes, seek to do according to the call and convictions given to them by the Heavenly Father, and plan to share in obedience to that... and is not out in the open for all to see, share, and approve. >Sadly this is a true story of misunderstanding, judgement, and divisiveness. Both of which seek to hinder the ultimate goal- to meet a need through us for Christ. Both taking us off target and losing our focus. Both tactics of Satan.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 True Story >>
In an effort to take the higher road and share for the purposes of bringing joy and honor to Christ I will share points that were important in this story. *In ministry- short and long term, there are MANY moving parts. What we see on the surface level is not always what is really happening or all that is happening for that matter. We have to learn to look beyond what is presented and who is presenting it.
> There are a lot of ministries happening all at once by many individuals, some supported by popular advocates, and some that are just beginning and are getting on their feet. When you continue to build relationships year long with people you meet in the short term you can begin to see there is a much greater need than just what is presented in 8 days. *Call to Respond- > God helps us build these relationships, convicts our hearts, and calls us to move on it. - Whether everyone knows all about it or not. > He shares needs that are obtainable in group and by individual > If in group it is easy to see a shared vision and goal > If by individual the task is unique, specific, and does not require individual boasting, frequent sharing and again approval. Now what happens when all of this is happening year round apart from people you shared experiences with on a team and then the Call and the Crowd converge? Easily enough people don't understand why one person's approach is different than that of the group. The group can begin to question, divide, judge, and condemn. OR the group can begin to trust, respond, and seek to understand. >> One thing that is not often seen in short term missions is that with all of the unique experiences happening in such a short period of time, the concept of what happens after we leave is out of sight, out of mind. For some a week is enough, a yearly trip is enough, and for others who are called to partner year round, ministry continues after your flight returns home. Out of the watchful eyes of well meaning Christians. <<
The BIG PICTURE of this POST-
When forced with the choice to criticize or condemn, instead seek to understand and approach in private to catch a glimpse of the amazing opportunities available that God is using that person to help bridge a gap, meet, a need, based on that person's experiences/gifts/talents/ with people in ministry.
Hey everyone! I hope this posting finds you all doing well. It's been quite awhile since my last posting but in that time there has been quite a journey of God's goodness, his provisions, and unmistakable kindness and blessing.
When we reflect back into our chaotic seasons we can see how God is so present despite our distractions and oversights.
For me within the last 4-5 months I've felt a pressing on my heart to start my own small business. Not sure where, when, or how but feeling the ever present reminders.
I believe that God can and will use people you know, strangers, anyone to share with us his message of blessing and for me it was delivered faithfully on vacation. While having breakfast with a friend at our local villa in Boracay I met a man who happened to always be downstairs at the concierge/check in area- not knowing then he was the owner.
This gentleman by the name of Teddy sat down with us and asked us all about our trip, where we were from and what brought us to the Philippines. (A line of typical curious questions most guests received.) But what was interesting was that 10 minutes of polite conversation turned into over an hour of sharing about how he was the lead manager for a popular company in the USA for years, originally from the Philippines, and how one small investment working hard changed his life for his children and wife. - Now your response is probably like "Yes, of course, work hard and it will come" but his response was that of a man whose words confirmed the very echoes of what God had been placing in my heart to begin, but perhaps doubt and fear had become the obstacles I chose to throw in the way. The words he shared confirmed the truths laid within my very heart and although I don't know if this man is a Christian but God chose to use him nonetheless.
After returning from a much needed rest and time of reflection I decided it was time. Let's do this. No plan really, not sure, just playing it by ear and following his lead. Before I knew it my guest bedroom which housed luggage and hanging close (wardrobes and closets are not popular here in Taiwan) were now relocated, reorganized. A school desk left over from an old classroom at school has become my primary work table coupled with a built in cabinet that houses basic office supplies, file folders, and now catalogs.
The local "everything" store as we call it was the source for everything pink related to the start up for my new Thirty-One business. School supply bins, pink highlighters, pink pens, I was a like a barricuda attracted to all things pink! - I've never been a girlie girl so this is quite unusual behavior for me. - Just sayin....
The local stationary market and personnel now know me by first name- pink calculator, calendars, everything I would normally need to do this in the USA. BUT I'M IN TAIWAN. Yes this started to hit me rather quickly as the rush and excitement of starting something up new began to sour into doubt, small fear, and concern with rehearsing thoughts like " What if this flops? What if I did all of this for nothing? What if I don't get a single order and embarrass myself in front of friends, family, and strangers?"
There was short period in here that I thought I made a mistake. I could stop what I'm doing, turn back, and it didn't cost me anything right? These all crossed my mind. Sadly this was all within the first month and BEFORE I'd even received my enrollment kit to really even begin!! I was starting to let this creep in, and I didn't like it.
There was part of me that felt like I hadn't committed this entirely to the Lord. Yes I needed the money, yes I had the drive to do this and want it.. but was it what He wanted for me? In this busy time was this the right time? Finishing up Graduate School, teaching full time for an international school in Taiwan... was it too much and had I loaded my plate too full again?
If you are not familiar with ThirtyOne to help ladies get the products they need to help them with what's going on in their lives you have to schedule parties. "How can I do this? " I'm overseas? I know a few of the expat circles and crowds, what about shipping... ?" All of these things raced through my head.
After continued prayer and committing this to him, sharing-pouring out my desires I gave him back this business from start to finish what had been given to me- the ideas, the resources, the finances to begin it, and realized none of this is worthwhile if it drives my time, my focus, away from him. Take it. Make something beautiful from it. So my heart cry at this time.. at that moment was to "let this glorify you Lord."
From the racing doubts came 1 party confirmed on the calendar, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 6 all in a week and a half. From one goal that felt ridiculously difficult to reach came the result of meeting it twice over.
I pray that in this He continues to use me to make some amazing relationships, help make life a little easier for others and in all ways grow close to him.
Merriam Webster defines the word STAND by three separate meanings.
Stand- verb /'stand/
to be in an upright position with all of the weight on your feet.
to move onto your feet from a sitting or low position.
to be in an upright position.
We've all heard pop songs singing of standing through diffiulcut times or perhaps we've had a well meaning individual quote a cliche phrase like " You aren't defined by how many times you fall, but by how many times you get back up." I've heard this all of my life.
But what happens when we don't get back up? What if we have allowed the circumstances in life to knock us around and beat us down so much that it affects us physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
I can recall moments where like in the dark boxing ring with the noise blaring and the crowds cheering that I felt drug down and beaten up emotionally to where
I could envision myself as the one flat on the mat as the clocked ticked with seconds away from being down for the count.
I'm laying there watching and hearing all of life happening around me and fighting within myself to determine if there was any fight left?
For me the definition of STAND could best be described as
2. to move onto your feet from a sitting or low position.
This isn't a vocabulary lesson, but for me it has been the times where I am at my lowest, unable to go on, that God has moved me from my sitting, kneeling, flat on the mat-position, into a place where he plants my feet and gives me the strength to stand.
As women especially, I think we compare and define ourselves too harshly. Does it necessarily matter that we are completely upright? Our stance may be low but it is our decision to stand in the first place that brings us up to where we are suppose to be.
I want you to know that if you are going through difficult times and you are ready to throw in the towel, it is not your strength that will keep you upright. We can let go of the fear and the worry that we may not be enough, have enough, to keep it together.
As professing believers we already have someone who holds us together. Though you may feel in pieces and not completely whole, you are complete.
2 Timonthy 3:1-7 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Be encouraged. Stand where you are and let God fight your battles.
Many have asked about the story of how I ended up in Taiwan. Well, I can tell you it was completely unexpected and masterfully planned by God, like most things in my life and I suspect in yours.
In December of 2014, I set off during the Christmas break to spend some time with street kids and orphans in the city of Manila, Philippines. I had worked with a ministry site there in the past and felt that in the least if I couldn't be with family during Christmas, maybe I could be someone else's family even for a short while.
Before I flew to Manila, there had been a great deal God had placed on my heart. Trials from the previous year, things He was using in my life to generate change in the organization I was working for. It all seemed to be coming to a head and I found myself completely exhausted. Before this I had been seeking His wisdom as to whether to stay with my present school and country, or to move on as I had felt a stirring. Unsure of what was next, my accountability partner and friends prayed diligently before I left for the Philippines askingGod to reveal where He wanted me to go.
And there it went, a desperate prayer floating out to Him...echoing the desire of continuing to teach and serve in my heart.
I arrived in Manila and immediately felt rested and started to come down off a situation where I had felt burnout. I began doing some art therapy with kids in the children's home (orphanage) there and took a special interest in preparing some new learning tools and manipulative for Preschool. I was in Manila about 5 days.
Enter in... 3 international teachers from the US whose flight was rerouted to Manila from Taiwan They had originally planned to fly into Tacloban, a city south of Manila.. Now arriving to the ministry center in the rainy season of the Philippines.
We met briefly and discussed our common international school experience, they were stuck waiting on the next flight out, so we went shopping together the next few days to get the kids resources. We began talking more about the similarities and differences of our schools. In no more than a joke I said "Hey you guys don't need an art teacher do you?" And the reply from one teacher came "Well, yeah, actually we do!" [Here I am in a market in the Philippines shaking my head going no way.. surely it couldn't be that easy. Nah... just a coincidence. Right?]
Think about this for a second. I'm in the Philippines. Here are 3 teachers from an international school in Taiwan. I've been praying about God's placement and next steps for me. Here it is a big ole' opportunity hitting me in the face. My response?!!? Nah.. too good to be true.
Does this sound too good to be true, sound familiar.? Well here's a story I can identify with in scripture.
And cue JONAH....
We all know the story about a man who God called out to go to Ninevah. God's heart for the city was to warn them from the destruction that would enevitably follow their sinful lives. I mean this was a town known for some bad stuff right?. And here's this guy Jonah. Called, Ordaned, Summoned by God with a purpose. His response.... "Nah." And he flees..... He gone.
So he takes off gets the next boat out, goes to the farthest part of this ship and tries to sleep it off while running away from God. He's headed to Tarshish. Like he could run from God, God sends some pretty powerful winds and a storm toward that ship. The scripture says " Such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up."-Jonah 1: 4
Whoa. So panic sets in among all the sailors and they are like,, what is up? Something is not right on this boat. They prayed out to other gods, threw cargo overboard, anything they could do to keep afloat. Meanwhile Jonah... snoozeville. He's taking a nap below. They are like "how can you sleep dude? This storm is raging and you are reading the back of your eyelids? There has gotta be something wrong with you. Get up and pray and maybe He will take care of us!" So then in further panic the crew casts lots to see who they think is the "problem" on board. The lot fell on Jonah. Here's scripture: " Tell us, who is responsible for making all of this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people? "
His answer " I am Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, the maker of the sea and dry land." .....Seems like a pretty powerful and noble response. They freaked out. "What have you done Jonah?" They knew he must have been running from the Lord. BINGO.
So we know the rest, they picked him up and threw him into the sea where a big fish comes along. Here's the part in scripture that I so love.
"Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." 1:17
It's not that I loved he got swallowed by a fish, its that ... see the scripture again,,, "God provided".
Only a few verses before the men where praying to God asking for forgiveness for throwing him overboard and praying that they be forgiven if he dies. Even in Jonah's defiance God still used him to speak to the hearts of the men by demonstration of his power and might in the storm.
So there he is, in the belly of this fish for three days and three nights. A lot of time to think.
As I type this I think about how our defiance can just take us completely off course. We make things so hard on ourselves when we rely on our own understanding. I am queen of the hard heads. I type in experience. This book of scripture is so powerful to me because it is an obvious demonstration of the lengths God will go for us even when we are running from him.
Recap:
Jonah is called, Jonah says no way, boards a ship to the city farthest from Ninevah. God brings about winds and storms to stir the crew to take notice of Jonah and get him off of the ship. Into the water where God has a fish ready and waiting to pick him up, and hold him for three days until Jonah can come to the end of his run and realize that in love there is nothing and nowhere that can prevent his God from coming after him. The beloved.
Understand this, maybe for you, and for me it's not a fish that He brings, maybe its another person, an opportunity, and experience. It is no coincidence that this fish was there at the right moment at the right time. Scripture clearly says "The Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah."
To protect him, to hold him, to keep him until he sorted out the fight within himself with God.
Until he chose to stop wrestling with God, and start nestling. In scripture we find this prayer and I feel like I can see myself sitting in the pit of that fish saying the same beautiful words..
In my distress, I called to the Lord,
and He answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the depths
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled around me;
and your waves and breakers swept over me.
I said, "I have been banished
form your sight;
yet I will look again
towards your holy temple.
The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you Lord,
and my prayers rose to you;
to your holy temple.
Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God's love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed, I will make good
I will say, "Salvation comes from the Lord."
And the Lord commanded the fish to spit Jonah onto dry land.
The takeaway from this:
If you find yourself at times being the hardheaded child of God, just know that He already knows this about you. He has called you with a purpose and a plan. In the times we want to do something the least, lean in on this and discern why it is you are fighting it so hard. Perhaps it is exactly where He needs you to be. And if it takes you somewhere else, He will do whatever it takes to bring you back on course.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders, wherever you might call me.
