Your Fruit Might Be Showing:

The fruit, the fruit - easy to eat, but harder to produce, and I’m speaking of the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. That fruit. The fruit we are not forbidden to develop. The fruit that comes easy “on paper” - but takes loads of self-control to allow it to be cultivated in our lives. The fruit that’s listed right after the works, or the “fruit” of the flesh, which is a list almost twice as long. And those who are led by the Spirit will put off (not be led by) the works of the flesh and “put on” (be led by) the fruit of the Spirit.

And it all starts with love, God’s love. Love is the beginning, the undergirding. We cannot start with joy, we cannot start with peace, we must start with love. First comes the reception of His love, then and only then comes the outflow. So love must be our chief aim, before the rest of the fruit will follow. And not surprisingly, we spend our whole lives learning how to love, and yet we’re told, “they will know we are Christians by our love” (John 13:35 paraphrased). It is indeed a tall order.

But this is not an in-depth analysis on love; the Word has plenty to say about love and I’ll let the Holy Spirit do His work; neither is it a treatise on how to cultivate love or any of the fruit of the Spirit. Rather, it’s a simple look at the fruit of Love as a means to gauge how well we are submitting to, or operating in love. In other words, the more we are developing patience and kindness, the more God’s love is being perfected in our lives. And this, of course, requires our partnership.

And rather than look at Hebrew and Greek definitions of the Fruit of the Spirit (I’ll leave that to someone else and I’m sure it’s already been done) I thought I’d go straight to English. Admittedly, this bypasses hidden nuances and layers of meaning (for we all know the English word “love” is a catch-all” for multiple different Greek words - six to eight according to a quick google inquiry I just did) - but sometimes the simple can be sublime. And if nothing else, this is a starting place.

And the definitions I’ve recorded are not from Webster's current Dictionary; neither are they from the merged “Miriam Webster” dictionary. Rather, I’m going back to the source and here’s why: The first edition of Webster’s dictionary is imbued with a strong biblical worldview because Noah Webster was a man of strong faith who spent 25 years of his life researching and writing America's first Dictionary. I would like to say it was his life’s work, except his list of accomplishments is too long and is perhaps why he’s known as “the Father of American education.” At any rate, Webster was a forward-thinking man who recognized America had her own customs and culture apart from England and who wanted America to have her own dictionary and vocabulary rather than having a reliance on England’s Oxford dictionary.

Webster’s Dictionary was first published in 1828 and it included America’s distinct spelling of words; “theater” instead of “theatre” for instance. It also abounded with Biblical references and quotations from the King James Bible, the Bible which graced America’s homes at the time. This is why I’ve chosen to use Webster’s original definitions of the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. So let’s look at Webster's words and let it be food for thought for examination of the fruit of our lives. And (perhaps also) to see how well we’ve learned to love.

“Have you learned to Love?”

Love

The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs from just views of His attributes or His excellencies of character, which afford the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute ingredients in this affection, and a fear of offending Him is its inseparable effect.

Joy

The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.

Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good.

A glorious triumphant state. – who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross. Hebrews 12

Peace

In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquility; calmness; quiet of conscience.

Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven

Harmony; concord; a state of reconciliation between parties at variance.

This word is used in commanding silence or quiet; as, peace to the troubled soul.

Patience - AKA - Long-suffering

The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.

A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent.

The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent.

Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion. “He learnt with patience and with meekness taught.”
The quality of bearing offenses and injuries without anger or revenge. “His rage was kindled and his patience gone.”

Kindness

Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants, or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love.

Act of good will; beneficence; any act of benevolence which promotes the happiness or welfare of others. Charity, hospitality, attentions to the wants of others…are deemed acts of kindness, or kindnesses.

And for good measure a quick note from the “Word Wealth” Notes of my Holy Spirit Filled Life Bible: “Chrestotes” (from the Greek): “The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience.” And if that isn’t enough it continues, “The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control.”

Goodness

The physical qualities which constitute value, excellence, or perfection

The moral qualities which constitute Christian excellence; moral virtue; religion

Kindness; benevolence; benignity of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; humanity exercised.

Faithfulness

Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty

Truth; veracity; as the faithfulness of God

Strict adherence to injunctions, and to the duties of a station; as the faithfulness of servants or ministers.

Strict performance of promises, vows, or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.

Faith (the KJ word used)

Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God’s character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to His guidance, and dependence on His merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God’s testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.

The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.

Faith is an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God. Faith is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the declarations of His word; or a full and affectionate confidence in the certainty of those things which God has declared, and because He has declared them.

Gentleness

Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness

Kindness; benevolence; tenderness; mild treatment

Meekness (the KJ word used)

Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.

In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance, and refractoriness (sullen obstinacy in opposition or disobedience).

Meekness is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated (impressed or enforced by frequent admonitions), and which no ancient philosopher seems to have understood or recommended.

Gentleness

Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness
Kindness; benevolence; tenderness; mild treatment

Temperance: (Self control)

Moderation; particularly habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking, as opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.

Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion

This concludes Webster's definitions of the Fruit of the Spirit. If one particular fruit is highlighted to you, I encourage you to take the practical step of finding a Scripture (or two) in the Word to undergird you in that area. Read it daily, say it aloud daily, pray it daily. Here’s an example:

“Kindness” - “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

May your fruit be colorful and bountiful.

I’m going to just hit the ground running…

John Paul Jackson: One of the fore-runners of dream interpretation who likely spent thousands of hours interpreting dreams of others until someone finally said,”You need to teach this to others.” And a quick Amazon search brought up: The 20 Categories Of Dreams and with a publication date of 2022 it’s got to be a compilation of his older work. In fact, in my day, I purchased one of His laminated cards and I believe it was “The Top Ten Dreams.” Accordingly, here’s what I remember of the categories of dreams - relief dreams, cleansing dreams, flushing dreams, the purpose of flushing dreams being when you come into contact with someone carrying a lot of “junk” you have a (needed) flushing dream; it could be you’ve shaken their hand, or that they simply spoke some words over you, but what they carry is not of/from God. One more flash of memory - there are also “flying dreams” and “chasing dreams” (being chased).

In addition, there’s also a Moments with God Dream Journal but I have no experience with that. One reviewer did say that it gives tips on how to record your dreams, and that the insight given was good, but she wishes more was given. And one must read his “Twenty Categories” book in order to effectively use this journal. In conclusion, the one who wrote about dreams after Jackosn, were likely influenced by him.

Understand Your Dreams Now: Spiritual Dream Interpretation, by Doug Addision (2013): Doug Asddision is an interesting man, and had direct relationship with Mr. Jackson, according to his testimony that I’ve heard. He’s also known for his “outside the box” evangelism style and went on to do tattoo interpretation after doing dream interpretation on the streets. (If I remember correctly, he and his team used to set up booths at psychic and new age fairs and festivals with a sign saying, “dream interpretation” and people came in droves. They led more than a few to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ, as so many were already open to the realities of the spiritual world. This book does have a dream glossary at the end, but it’s not all-inclusive. A brief cut and paste from the description: “Recognize which dreams are important and in need of interpretation. - Discover destiny dreams and life-calling dreams. - Effectively deal with nightmares to get a positive outcome.” Finally, the price of the book has gone up, but there are used copies available on Aman, and for what it’s worth, I’m listing these books in the order of remembrance and the chronological impact they had on my life.

Night Dreams That Reveal Life Dreams, also by Doug Addision (2014): I didn’t read this book, but since I’m familiar with the author, I list it here. And while I’m still highlighting Doug Addsion, here’s another book of his I read and would/could recommend (on a related topic): God Spoke, Now What: Activating Your Prophetic Word (2016). And I’ll leave it to you to read the reviews.

Dreams and Visions: Understanding Your Dreams and How God Can Use Them to Speak to You Today (2000): by Jane Hamon. She revised and updated this book in 2016, with a forward by Dutch Sheets, and it’s available at a lower price than the original edition. I don’t remember the details of this book, only that I read it; by this time I believe I was getting the “swing of things” regarding understanding dreams and this may be the sole reason it wasn’t as impactful as the previous dream books I read. I have high respect for Jane Hamon and her husband; I’ll never forget the impact she had on me the first time I heard her speak (via God TV) regarding a prophetic teaching on the defeat of the five Amorite Kings in Joshua 10 (and how what these Kings represent need to be defeated in our life).

And three other related books by Jane Hamon - because dreams are prophetic - I absolutely must mention: Discernment: the Essential Guide To Hearing The Voice of God (2019) with a forward by (Apostle Prophet) Chuck Pierce (Of glory Of Zion Ministries and Global Spheres) center which adds even more weight to the 4.8 star rating. Also: The Purpose of the Prophetic Voice (2017) with a 4.7 rating. I refer to ratings because I haven’t read either book, as by this time I had learned to hear the voice of God. I may still yet read the second one, as the price point is $4.99 and it’s a mere 64 pages, but I have read her The Deborah Company Book and a couple of others.

To conclude, Jane Hamon wrote her first book on dreams and visions in 1997, but with a (mere) 4.0 rating it appears her teaching didn’t come into fullness till her 2000 publication. And on a final note (I promise) one of the best ever jokes I ever heard at a conference came out of Jane’s mouth: “Studies have shown that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it.”

Dream Language: the Prophetic Power of Dreams, Revelation, and the Spirit of Wisdom (2006): By James Goll and co-written with his late wife Michal Ann, and also with a forward by Dr. Chuck Pierce as well as a 4.7 star rating on Amazon. And interestingly (and relatedly) other books by Mr. Google, some of which I’ve read are: The Discerner, The Seer, The Feeler, The Watchman, his books have covered a lot of territory!

Two others Mr. Goll has written on dreams:

Exploring The Nature and Gift of Dreams: How To Understand Your Dream Language (2013):

Exploring Your Dreams and Visions: Receive and Understand Your Dreams, Visions, and Supernatural Experiences (2012):

And I confess I’m a bit perplexed as to “why” three books on dreams and two only two years apart. I will simply note, these books have a 4.4 start rating, whereas his books on other topics have a higher rating. I’ll leave that conclusion for you to interpret.

Illustrated Dictionary of Dream Symbols (2010): By Dr. Joe Iboje. I almost forgot about this, but this is no reflection of this book’s worth, as it was the last of my dream (interpretation) books I recently gave away, (leaving me with two current resources which I’ll list next. From memory, the first half of the book talks and teaches about dreams (the larger half, lol) and the conclusion of the book lists dream symbolism interpretation.

The Divinity Code: To Understanding Your Dreams and Visions (2013): This book is a partnership of Adam F. Thompson and Adrian Beale, each man with enough credit of his own if you were to google these authors. It’s the last dream book I purchased and one of two resources I currently use. The first 215 pages explain dreams they’ve interpreted, both their own and others. Then begins the dream symbol dictionary, all the way through to page 643 (with Appendixes thereafter). I would likely do well to re-read the first part of the book. Also on the cover: “Includes a 3,000 metaphor biblical Based Dictionary.” It’s the most comprehensive dream symbol dictionary book of all that I’ve owned, hence; it’s the one I’ve kept. And finally:

Barbie Breathitt: (Breath of the Spirit Ministries) I have her old spiral bound “dream cards” (volumes 1 & 2) she published before her all-encompassing dream dictionary books came out, now priced at $75. Barbie is a scholar and it shows in her writing, but she is recently revealing her more mystical side. She is associated with Chuck Pierce (Pastor of Glory of Zion Ministries) and that’s where I recently saw her. Although her dream compilation books are pricey, if you have the money and you are an avid dreamer, I highly recommend them. Her original price point was $50 and had I known of the impending price increase, I would have purchased the first one then. Because her dream cards are that good, but they contain a small fraction of her current work. So here’s her main dream symbol book, before it progressed to Volumes 2 & 3.

A to Z Dream Symbology Dictionary (2015): by Barbie Breathit; from the opening of the Amazon review: “The metaphoric language of dreams and visions, nightmares and night terrors are full of symbolism that invokes emotions that compel the dreamer to search for the deeper meanings represented in the images that appear in their dreams. One symbol can represent different ideas, concepts and things to every individual. Dream symbolism communicates more accurately than a thousand words when the dreamer understands what the chosen dream symbols mean…and on it goes. It’s also important to note, it’s recommended you read her “Dream Encounters” book first, before purchasing this hefty volume. I’ll conclude by saying, it was my understanding this first volume was all-encompassing, so I don’t know the framework (or the reasons) for the continuing volumes.

Dream Encounters: Seeing Your Destiny From God’s Perspective (2013): I’ve read this book, but since it was over a decade ago, I offer a brief synopsis from Amazon: “...written to convince the greatest skeptics, as well as educate the most ardent believer, Dream Encounters will bring God’s perspective, and understanding to the symbolic, visual love letters he gives in the mysterious world of dreams. Take a journey into the subconscious night parables of the soul…” And finally, a couple other dream books by Barbie Breathit:

Dream Interpreter (2014) The cover is familiar, but I’m not sure I’ve read it, so to borrow once again from Amazon: “There is only one right interpretation, God’s. Everything else is only shades of gray. Dream Interpreter will give you skill to correctly decipher the symbolism of your dreams. Dream Interpreter decodes symbols, types and shadows of images from a heavenly perspective in order to reveal the hidden mysteries that are contained within.”

Dream and Visions of Destiny (2017): Kindle version only and a minimal investment of $1.22. I never knew about this book till today, so thanks to Amazon for the review: “The same Voice that spoke light into existence speaks inside your heart, longing to share the secrets of His plan with you. Your dreams are the window through which God Himself can speak to your heart and show you the wonders of all of creation—and the wonders that He has planned for your life.”

This concludes a synopsis of the Christian Dream Interpretation books available today, and for every Christian book it appears there are two or three of New Age Dream books to avoid. It’s also possible I overlooked a book or two. If this comes to my attention, I’ll make a note of it and add it to this list. But for now, my work is done. I trust the Holy Spirit will highlight the book He would have you to read. And if you discover a book (maybe there’s one being written at this moment), let me know! In His Name, Yvonne

I dabbled in the occult before I encountered Jesus at age 21 – a little Ouija board here, a séance or two there, horoscopes, mental telepathy, and a few other things including astral projection. This last thing wasn’t initiated by me however; I simply opened a book and read about it and that opened the door to it. Because the principle of “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8) works equally effectively on the other side of the fence. And in addition to experiencing occasional out of body experiences I had received visits from a “being” whose breath I could feel on my neck. But when I asked the medium my mom took me to visit about this, her response had been “not to worry – as this was my first life on earth these beings from another world would visit me from time to ‘tap in’ for information.” And this is the darkness I walked in for a number of years.

At any rate, in the final moments of my “pre-Jesus” days I was learning how to map out astrological charts according to birth dates and locations and I had books checked out from the library with the purpose of exploring “white” witchcraft and casting “good” spells. And although I was playing around, I quickly learned - the devil and his minions – He doesn’t play around. He’s out to steal, kill, and destroy as fast as he can, as many as he can, by whatever means he can. But despite the reality of the enemy’s maneuverings, I learned something powerful on the heels of my salvation encounter with Jesus.

I learned that He, the enemy of our souls, the one who hates us to the very core of our being, and all of his cohorts, must bow, DEFEATED, to the authority of the Name of Jesus. (Because ultimately he only has authority where we abdicate our authority in Christ because we don’t know our authority, don’t exercise our authority, or partner with him, even unknowingly, thus canceling out our authority God intended us to have.)

And I remember well my first experience with this truth, very early on as a brand-new believer, weeks old in the Lord, while the enemy still had hooks in me because I hadn’t yet renounced (and repented) all of the works of darkness I had participated in. Very suddenly, while laying on my bed one morning (or evening?) I felt a presence come on me. And I had an immediate awareness that I could not move my physical body, but I was also paralyzed with terror with an awareness that I was experiencing a place of complete and utter darkness and “nothingness” which I somehow recognized as a complete separation from God and His presence. It was the most terrifying experience of my life up to that point. I was trapped in this place and I didn’t know what to do.

But God. My spirit knew what to do. My spirit, partnered with the Spirit of the Living God inside of me – the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead – cried out, “PLEASE JESUS!” And instantly that dark presence lifted off of me and I felt my spirit snap back into my body. Because unbeknownst to me in this instance, my spirit was separated from my body – which is a dangerous place to be if it’s not of the LORD. But at the name of Jesus this thing had to depart!

And this is why I proclaim and will continue to proclaim the name and the virtue of Jesus! But there’s yet more to this story - what God showed me immediately after this happened – because He knew I needed to know. He knew there were yet more battles I would face until I gained the victory over these forces of darkness. But glory to God, I began these battles as a weak and struggling Christian, but I didn’t stay there. It was a process; a process I now refer to as “spiritual warfare bootcamp” that took me from a weak and struggling believer to an overcomer to who He says I am now. And here’s what transpired immediately after…

I went into the kitchen, it was probably the next morning, as the attack likely occurred the night before, and my Bible was laying open on the dining room table, because I was still in the Word that had brought me to Him. And there in the concluding chapter of the book of Mark, these “red-lettered” words transformed from the “logos” word to the “rhema” word – yes, these words jumped off the page and came alive - much to my astonishment, but He is a God of astonishment:

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons.”

Wait! What? The very thing I had just experienced. How could this be? How could my Bible just happen to be sitting open to this page? And I had not seen these words yesterday? But this is how God works. His ways are wondrous. And of course, I didn’t know these words were part of the promises attached to The Great Commission. I didn’t yet fully understand the Great Commission – an admonishment to co-mission with the Lord until His return. But there is was - The Solution! The name that breaks bondages and sets people free. A solution that has never failed me. Through every bad dream, nightmare, demonic onslaught, whatever, it was the name (and the inherent authority) of Jesus that carried me through the years.

First with baby steps and fear and trembling (once in a dream I cried out my husband’s name, to no avail of course) till gradually I was strengthened in the Lord and could stand strong on my feet to face the enemy without fear. So yes, I feared the enemy for many years, but now I detest and abhor him, just as he hates me. Last time I sensed his presence – coming through my bedroom window – I shouted “Get out!” I said it twice, but only because I was angry. And this is the power of the name of Jesus, when we have no hooks in us. It’s more than a song, saying, or slogan, it is the name above all things that can be named. The only name in heaven or on earth by which we are saved, delivered, and set free. The triumphant name of Jesus!

When I met my daughters’ father, I was eighteen years old and didn’t yet know the Lord. What I also didn’t know was that he - David - was what some would call a backslider, and he had a mom who was a prayer warrior (she’s the one who prayed me into the Kingdom of God but that’s another story). And somewhere along the way in her journey she had met the Lord and she had raised her two sons (minus the daughter that died at age five) in the Lord. But I knew none of this when he approached me at the park and asked if I had a light.

And the fact that he’d known the Lord didn’t surface right away, especially as he was the one who helped transition me from a lifestyle of getting high on the weekends to getting high on a daily basis; his lifestyle simply wasn’t conducive to witnessing about the Lord or anything related to spiritual matters. So when David started talking about visions he’s had, I wish I had paid more attention - although I can count on one hand the number of times he spoke of his visions. I didn’t realize the weight of the words he spoke at that time, and what he was really trying to communicate. Because I was too busy getting high. But one of the things he saw in his visions was the end of his life, and he spoke of that. And of things that would happen after he was gone.

But one of his visions was of me. He saw me before we met, he said, and he tied it to something spiritual, which I don’t remember. This was the guy passing me the joint so I hardly paid attention. What I’m trying to say is that I missed the moment. I missed too many moments, not just with him, but with my own children. And hindsight may offer 2020 vision but it also offers regret if one chooses to dwell in that chair. Life truly is a vapor, even more so if it’s not lived well and with intention. It’s all too easy to drift. Especially without an end in view and not noticing the markers and the things that mark you along the way.

But my message is two-fold – it goes a bit beyond “don’t miss the moments.” But yes, pay attention. And as the word “pay” implies there is a cost to truly paying attention. One can hear but not really listen. And that was me. And I now know he carried some type of revelatory insight. And whether I believed him or not (or whether you believe me or not) I can no longer discount the words he spoke. Because the day or two after my salvation encounter with Jesus I boarded a greyhound bus to go and visit Dave and meet his family for the Christmas holiday with my baby daughter and very large family Bible in tow. I was still soaking in the word; I couldn’t absorb enough fast enough. And when I was sharply awakened from a God dream only to segue into a fast moving three-part (internal) vision. Each picture, as it flashed before my mind’s eye, came with a short-sentence message, which I heard audibly. And one of those pictures was that of a man sitting across from me with a chessboard between us. He had curly brown hair and glasses and he wore a short sleeved collared shirt. And this was the man who became my husband, the man I did in fact play chess with for a week’s duration after he gave me a ride home every night from some week-long church event we were having.

Only God could foresee and orchestrate such a thing. And only God could seemingly close my remembrance of this while I was actually meeting and encountering my husband-to-be. During these months of working with him on the drama outreach team I had no remembrance whatsoever that this was the man in my vision. It was as if I forgot the vision entirely. It was only during our seven-week-long engagement that the remembrance came crashing back and the eyes of my heart were “enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18). I literally did a spiritual backflip. Oh the mysterious ways of God! And we think we can contain him with our understanding. How silly we can be at times. I say “silly because I stop short of using the word “foolish.”

But I have meandered; I started with one man, and ended with another, in this recollection. Because another realization came during my seven-week engagement to the man I knew as “Bruce David.” I learned that he’d had a legal name change. Because his given name at birth was “David Bruce.” Another David for me. The first David (named “David Crocket” Bray at birth) fathered my first two children, and the second David would father my second two. And the one and only man who ever talked to me about Jesus (on a Friday night before my Sunday salvation) had also talked about David, as in the “keys” of David. Because God speaks in mysteries, God speaks in riddles and parables, and God speak in layers. After all, He is a Master of Communication

So I’m learning to pay attention to the details. Because God is in the details. He doesn’t miss a thing. And the more all of us pay attention the more we will see. And hear. And know. And sense. And feel. And discern. And learn. Because at times the end of one matter is the beginning of another.

(And the photo is mine, taken in downtown Houston while visiting my brother-in-law, one of my former pastors, and his wife.)

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at the time. Judges 4:4

Here we have the Hebrew word (H802) “Ishshah ”(ish-shaw) translated as “wife” in this verse. It is “ishshah” in the singular and “nashiym” (naw-sheem) in the plural. It’s the derivative and the feminine form of iysh (eesh) referring to a man as an individual or a male person. It appears 780x in Scripture, alternately translated as “wife” “woman” or “female” depending on the context.

“Ishshah” however, is also translated as “woman.” According to the law of first mention, here’s the first use of the word:

Then the rib which the Lord God has taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:22-23

Admittedly, this word “ishah” seems to be translated in equal measure as either wife or woman, but here are other verses in which “ishshah is translated as woman or even female, not wife.

Genesis 3:1,2,4,6 used to recount the serpent speaking to Eve

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… Genesis 3:6

You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, an male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female… Genesis 7:2

And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.” Genesis 12:11

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and are delivered before the midwives come in unto them.

Exodus 1:19

And the woman conceived (she was a wife), an bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a good child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:2

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor…articles of silver, articles of gold,, and clothing….

Exodus 3:22

And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight…

Esther 2:17

A gracious woman retains honor: and strong men retain riches. Proverbs 11:16

Every wise woman builds her house…Proverbs 14:1

For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God. Isaiah 54:6

Now we come to the word “lappidoth” in Judges 4:4, referring to Deborah as the wife of “Lappidoth.” It’s most interesting to note that it’s used only one time in Scripture (!)

Lappiydoth Hebrew H3940 (lap-pee-doth): A feminine plural of H3940. It gets more interesting. The word that refers to a man Deborah is married to is actually a feminine plural of another word. Let’s take another look at the word it’s derived from:

Lappiyd: To shine; a flambeau, lamp or flam: - (fire-) brand, (burning) lamp, lightning, torch

And this word is used only 14 x in Scripture, which makes it easier to examine. Let’s take a look at its 14 uses:

…When the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch (lamp in KJ) that passed between those pieces. Genesis 15:17

(speaking of the covenant God initiated with Abram)

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes (lightnings in KJ) the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Exodus 20:18 (A description of God’s presence)

The he (Gideon) divided the three hundred men into three companies & he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers and torches (lamps in KJ) inside the pitchers.

Judges 7:16

Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers - they held the torches (lamps in KJ) in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing – and they cried, “the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” Judges 7:20

Then Samson went and caught 33 foxes; and he took torches (firebrands in KJ) turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails.

When he had set the torches (brands in KJ) on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain… Judges 15:4,5

A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; it is made ready for those whose feet slip. Job 12:5

Out of His mouth go burning lights (burning lamps in KJ); sparks of fire shoot/leap out.

God speaking to Job of Leviathan. Job 41:19

For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. Isaiah 62:1

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches (lamps in KJ) going back and forth among the living creatures…

Ezekiel 1:13

His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches (lamps in KJ) of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color… Daniel 10:6

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place - Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:6

So the word Lapiydoth is used only once in Scripture, and Deborah’s husband is mentioned only once. There is also no mention of Deborah having any children. And the one time Deborah is mentioned as a mother is in Judges 5 when Deborah declares:

Village life cease, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7

And just as women can be spiritual mothers rather than biological mothers, so too, could Deborah have been a spiritual mother to a nation? Could it be that Deborah was able to do what she did because she wasn’t a wife and a mother? Could it be a sacrifice she had to make? Foregoing marriage and motherhood? At any rate, there is strong enough evidence that Deborah was not a wife to Lappiydoth, not a wife to anyone, for the cost to her family would have been too great to carry the weight of the rulership of a nation. It should be no surprise then that Brian Simmons, translates Judges 4:4 in The Passion Translation, as follows:

God raised up Deborah to lead Israel as a champion-deliver. She was a prophetess and a fiery woman. Judges 4:4 TPT

And in TPT notes, Simmons refers to Deborah as a “woman of many torches” and a

“woman of lightning flashes.”

One thing is conclusive; God’s word is a light and Deborah carried God’s word for a nation. And

in the same vein, Barak’s name means “lightning bolt.” It’s the Hebrew word used for lightning in a verse we’ve already looked at:

His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches (lamps in KJ) of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color… Daniel 10:6

The Hebrew word (H1300) is Baraq (baw-rawk): Lightining; by analogy a gleam; concretely a flashing sword: - bright, glitter (ing), sword) lightning. (Direct from Strongs)

In a sense, Deborah and Barak were two lights for the Lord, Barak’s name representing the sword of the Lord who is mighty in battle and goes to war on our behalf. Once more, their story portrays the power of men and women working together without envy, intimidation, or strife. Equal honor and respect for one another and mutual submission, preferring and esteeming one another as we are admonished:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

In this sense, Deborah and Barak are a foreshadowing picture of the church. They stand together, they believe God together, and they go to battle together. Each one fulfilling their role and function, complementing and strengthening each other, just as the roles of pastor and prophet or apostle and prophet complement each other in the church world, when all five offices are in full operation.

“With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live” (Genesis 31:32).

Did Jacob ever reflect back on these words he spoke to Laban; not knowing it was his dear Rebecca who had taken her father’s idols when he had fled from Laban? Did he ever flash back to these words after Rachel died while giving birth to the son he would name Benjamin after Rachel took her last breath? (Genesis 35:18) We aren’t told and some will suppose it was just happenstance or coincidence, but it’s a thought worth consideration – did Jacob hasten his wife’s death through the utterance of rash words? Because of the power held by the tongue.

Now flash backward to Job in the midst of his troubles: “Curse God and die” Job’s wife proclaimed after first asking, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity?” (Job 2:9) Despite his wife’s audacity to utter such a thing, Job had a measured response:

“You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”

This is a man who knew how to control his tongue! His response is astounding. And Job’s use of the word “adversity” does not seem strong enough a word to describe all that had befallen him, but this gives evidence of his ability to measure out his words. And the Author of it all makes sure the reader takes note of this most important detail:

“In all of this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10)

This! Despite the fact Job was married to a woman who had the audacity to say, “curse God and die.” But this wasn’t a “one-off” for Job. Earlier in the story, when the news first arrived of all that he’d suffered as loss, his immediate reaction was to tear his robe, fall to the ground, and worship. Wait, What? Job worshiped. And then he went on to declare, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return” before ending his statement of faith and trust in God with, “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

And once again, Scripture makes note that we take note:

“In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 1:22).

This is nothing less than astounding. Here is a man who can control his tongue in the midst of death and destruction on every side. How many of us can it be said that in the biggest trial of our lives we respond as Job did? With “blessed be the name of the Lord.” No fanfare, no extensive bewailing, no angry fists shaking at the heavens, just “blessed be the name of the LORD.” I would say a remnant.

And Job continued to hold fast to his faith and to guard his tongue in the midst of his discourse with his three “friends turned critics.” He’s attacked, he’s criticized, he’s misunderstood, yet he still maintains integrity with his words when he declares, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

James would later say, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2) and it was in the midst of an attack on his physical body that Job was able to utter these words, which simply adds more weight to the words he spoke.

And this is one of the mysteries of the life of Job. What an example he leaves us to choose our words wisely, not rashly, not harshly, not unkindly, but to maintain a level of integrity with every word we speak. And although Job later became increasingly bold with his words, till the moment God revealed His omnipotence to Job, effectually putting a stop to Job’s contentions, his life serves an example of the ability we hold to choose wisely the words we speak.

This is by no means a theological treatise on the life of Job. Far from it. It is merely a look at a man who suffered much and how he responded and what we can learn from it. Job wasn’t a perfect man; by his own admission early in his story it is all too apparent he carried fear: “For the thing I feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25).

But He is a man of whom it’s recorded twice, “in all of this, Job did not sin with his lips.” And ultimately he is a man whom God made note of and whom God commended as “My servant Job.”

And in the end God had Job pray for His friends. God used Job’s prayer, jobs words for these men as part of their process of restoration. God had Job intercede on their behalf because His anger was aroused against them because of the words they spoke; they had not spoken of Him what was right “as My servant Job has” (Job 42:8). And when Job prayed for his friends he himself was restored.

And what of Jacob? His innermost thoughts were never recorded for us. And his life presents an entirely different set of lessons for us. But he, like Job, wrestled with God and prevailed. Both men were blessed. Both fathered many children. But one knew when to hold his tongue and one didn’t. One held a lying tongue and paid the price for it, and one held an integrous tongue and was commended for it. And one kept his wife although he lost all else, while one lost the wife he labored long for, but then lost her while she labored.

Two men, Two wives (although yes, Jacob had two wives) and two different outcomes. And could it be because death and life are in the power of the tongue? (Proverbs 18:21)

May we guard our words well (and bridle our tongues when the situation call for it).

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

The Backstory

2011 was a pivotal year for both my son and I. Spiritually speaking, we went down parallel paths; both of us attended ministry school and both of us went on our first overseas mission trip. For my son, he’d just completed an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science at our local community college and had made the decision to take a gap year before pressing on. So he could carefully consider: Did he want to press on to a four-year degree and accumulate potential debt that would normally accompany such a degree? This was the question he wanted to answer before he pressed forward in enrolling at Oregon State University.

For myself, I’d come back home from Tulsa to the home we still owned in Oregon (and our two youngest children we’d left behind in this home – the reversal of “sending your children to college”) in order to attend a local ministry school. It was a precious time we had together. And I was two years in to a life of no longer being a homeschool mom, a role that had defined me for 19 years. In short it was a transitional time for both of us. He pondered his future, while I attended ministry school, looking toward a new direction in my life.

The First Decision

My son came to me one day letting me know he was considering attending a YWAM school. He also mentioned there was a YWAM school in one of our sister cities. Whether he was inspired by me being a ministry school student, I’ll never know. What I do know is that I was instantly on board. And without any thought I spoke what rose up in my spirit: “Well, if you’re going to do YWAM, you might as well go all out and go to the school in Kona.” And this was aided by my own personal philosophy – “Go for it! Follow your dream! You’ve got your whole life ahead of you –– you’ll never know unless you do it! You don’t yet have the responsibility of family so why not!?” And enhanced by the fact that one of my ministry school guest teachers just happened to be one of the directors at Kona YWAM and that I absolutely loved my childhood years spent in Hawaii.

And so it was settled. And God made a way for my son to go to Kona. Where of course it was life-impacting and He experienced the miraculous hand of God as well as confirmation to continue on with college to take course-work to become a physicist, down to the detail of what particular aspect of physics to study and why. The impact and life-imprint of like at KONA continued and he ended up going to South Sudan; whereas I ended up going to Uganda, as part of our parallel paths that year.

Editorial Pause

Now memory is a peculiar thing and the exact timing of things eludes me a bit. Especially as I marvel at all that occurred in the course of a year. But anyway, my son gained employment well before college, doing yardwork and landscaping first for one man and then another, then unloading trucks for yet another man (oh the strength of youth) interspersed with summers spent in Alaska unloading cargo planes. But when it came time for community college and it became apparent he needed a job that would better work around his college schedule, he landed a job at Staples. At first he loved it and gained valuable skills waiting on customers and learning to fix laptops. In fact, he once boasted to me after fixing a minor issue with my laptop, “I just saved you $60 dollars mom!” while I held back from reminded him about the money I’d just saved him via the dinner I was in the process of serving him. All humor aside however, after a store transfer and a change of managers, my son’s enjoyment of his employment began to diminish. Until it became a job he outright hated. And although my son is easygoing and has great people skills, his displeasure was in large part because of continuing interactions with his new manager. Which was probably a good life experience. At least for a season.

The Crazy Decision

With the onset of another summer, my son decided he’d reached the end of his rope with the continued relational friction of working under his manager. He decided it was time to do and try something different, at least for a summer, so he took matters into his capable hands and began searching for his next job, unbeknownst to me. Until the day he came to me for advisement about “a job he’d found, but wasn’t sure it was a real job or a scam.” And the job description? “Dog-jumping judge.” You read that right – posted in plain sight on Craigslist for all to see - “dog-jumping judge.” Intriguing, right? But perhaps too good to be true was my son’s thought.

I recommended my son at least check into it. You never know until you inquire. This might be the very opportunity he was seeking. And needing. Why not seek an interview and learn more about this interesting if not peculiar-sounding job? Sometimes it’s best to let curiosity lead. And when my son showed up for the interview, it turned out to be the real deal. It was a real family traveling through the state of Oregon and beyond with a real business of hosting dog-jumping contests. All dogs and their owners were welcome and the dogs who participated jumped from a raised platform into a nice refreshing pool of water below. What could be more fun? And they were in need of a judge to measure the distance each dog jumped. Whoever had heard of such a thing? Certainly not us. I recommended he check to see what all the splashing was about.

Laying aside any doubt, my logically-minded son inquired, found favor in the interview, and was offered the position. Now came the hard part. Making his decision. Should he keep his job at Staples? Or was it time to do a new thing? Security can be a hard thing to let go of. And the willingness to take the road most often unexplored, the “road not taken” as the poet Frost waxed eloquent. So my son checked in with me again. Travel the blasted beaten path? Or dare he join in with the dogs? I was elated! Jump in with the dogs! Travel! Go on adventures! Say good-bye to the collared shirt, the time clock, the condescension of the manager. And so he did.

The Pre Epilogue

And my son never looked back. He loved the job and he loved the dogs, observing the behaviors quirkiness of each breed as they waited for the signal to jump. And on the human side of the equation, he became a member of the family and an integral part of the family business as he brought innovation through his technical skills he brought to the team. And even after all these years later he still keeps in touch with this family. However, it was one of those opportunities that could easily have been undiscovered because it was so far outside the status quo. But this is not the end of the story. Or if it is, it begins yet another…

The Unimaginable and Unforeseeable

It was just another event. Sitting outside for two days in an outdoor both of sorts, my son was doing what had become so familiar. Except this time, one of the family members was unable to do his part. So a friend of the family stepped in to take his place. And sit and work alongside my son for the duration of the event. And her name was Lillian, and she’d just endured a bad break-up. So bad, one of her comments to my son included the phrase, “If I ever date again.” But that weekend conversation with this fellow college student heightened my son’s senses toward the female persuasion, particularly this female. He’d had his nose to the grindstone, concentrating on his studies since his years in community college and now beyond, in his studies at OSU - and all this after an infatuation at age 17 with a girl that produced enough red flags to equip an entire football team - but now he was more mature. Settled. Ready to venture out with more emotional stability.

And that’s why he waited six months to suggest a hike together, as their outdoor interests nicely coincided. And she accepted. And a relationship began to blossom slowly. And ever so quietly, but by the time my husband and I moved back to Oregon, my son was ready to share the cards he’d been holding close to his chest and introduce us to his “official” girlfriend. And yes, the one who eventually became his wife. And from the moment I met Lillian, I knew she was the one. Call it a mother’s intuition, call it what you will. I just knew. Even before she knew. And the story of their courtship is another story altogether.

But all this to say - my son’s future wife showed up on a job site on a beautiful summer’s day, neither knowing exactly what their future held, neither knowing the future would hold them together, although at the time, each one separately held personal dreams and ambitions. It’s been eight years now since my son finally convinced Lillian to say “yes.” And it all started when he left behind the stale air of security and said “yes” to a more adventurous path, filled with fresh air and sunshine and most important of all, laughter.

Post-Script:

So I will continue to say to my cohorts and comrades - venture into the adventure of following your dreams. They’re not crazy. You’re not crazy. God gave you those dreams. Hold them tightly. Esteem them rightly.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the prize of the upward call of God in christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

There is a Golden Thread that runs through your life, and in order to understand how God wants to use that golden thread to pull you forward you must not only understand the distinctions between the three types of spiritual gifts you’ve been bestowed (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4) you must also understand your passions and motivations enveloped inside your spiritual DNA - not just the “what” of what you’re called to do, but the “why” that undergirds it all, and how all of this comes together to propel you forward.

And when you better understand the components of your spiritual DNA, as well as the gifts, talents, and abilities you’ve already discovered and developed, your Golden Thread becomes visible. And when you see this Golden Thread, clarity increases. You begin to see how God has been weaving and working His purposes in and through your life all along via the connections in your life’s circumstances, and your hard wiring becomes more visibly apparent. This is important if you’re seeking your next step and especially important if you’re seeking provision. Because your vision to see is attached to your provision; it’s a pre-requisite. First comes the pre-vison, then comes the provision.

And I’ve sat with dozens of people, helping them to decode their spiritual DNA, and one common “vision-clouding” error I’ve seen is mistaking assignments with life calling. Because assignments are seasonal and they come first, each one serving as preparation for your ultimate life calling. Every assignment has its purpose; one assignment’s purpose may be the opportunity if affords you to develop a skill set you need for the assignment, but that you will ultimately need for your life calling. A purpose for another assignment may focus primarily on the formation and shaping of your character and other virtues. Each assignment, has it’s God-ordained purposes. God knows exactly what He’s doing! In essence, seasons and assignments come and go, but your life calling remains static; it’s there waiting for you when you are fully prepared for it.

And this is why it’s so helpful to understand your spiritual DNA. Many are called, but few endure the entire journey. It’s not easy. Frustration and a great many other things hinder and even halt the process. And this is why I absolutely love doing Spiritual DNA Destiny Consults. And this is why I’m offering one-hour Spiritual DNA Destiny consults. These consults are designed to reveal your unique spiritual wiring and to help you see what you haven’t yet been able to see – the common thread of all the seemingly separate threads of your life. Because God, who sees your end from your beginning, has already been pulling these threads together. And through a series of strategic questions, and the insights I share based on what I’ve seen and heard during our time together, these things will come to light. It’s not a complicated process, but like you, it’s unique.

And if you’re intrigued and ready to uncover more layers of your spiritual DNA through this process of discovery, simply hit my monthly paid subscription button which is set up to serve as payment. And let’s do this!

And a bit about me: I was called to ministry at age 48! Then studied 18 months in Bible college before moving on and graduating from a “training for reigning” school of ministry. In more recent years I studied with EP (Emerging Prophets) School of Ministry where I was certified as a both school trainer and prophetic minister - while also serving as an intercessor for the leadership and a pastor for the online community groups we hosted. I’m no longer active in EP as the reigns of leadership were handed over to a more well-known person, but I’m still connected to its founder, Keith Ferrante, in another capacity. And all off this is all part of my own Golden Thread. But I’m ready now to help your explore yours! Just hit the monthly subscribe button when you’re ready to invest in yourself and let’s get started! Godspeed!

(I’m using the subscribe button so as to best honor the channels here within Substack)

I was struck by kindness yesterday, in the most unexpected way. Because I had the unusual occurrence of spending nearly an hour with a general surgeon yesterday while he conversed with me and his two nurses. I was able to experience this because I was awake while he injected me with a second round of novocaine, cut a sebaceous cyst out of my backside, cauterized the “bleeders” as he called them, and stitched me up.

From the moment I met him I noticed how polite he was and how calm in his demeanor. As time progressed, I was able to sense much more. He was kind and respectful to his nurses, kind to me, a genuinely kind man. Notice I’m not saying he was a kind doctor. Because this went beyond having a kind bedside manner. Kindness was hardwired into his very being, attached to a respect he held about himself and others. It was part of the way he held himself. It was in his very countenance.

And the situation didn’t permit me to know with certainty if he was a Christian or not. He might have been, the clinic was an offshoot of a Baptist Hospital, but the situation didn’t lend itself to me asking. But as he was also a middle age Indian man with an Indian accent, he may also have been Hindu. Regardless of his faith however, since the time I walked away I’ve been pondering the power of his kindness and the need for kindness we all have. Because here was this man, Christian or not, who was kinder and gentler than many Christians I know, myself included. And yet we as Christinas are the ones called to be kind.

I share this observance because kindness isn’t always my first response. Sometimes I have to pull myself in and remember to be kind. I'm oftentimes frank and my words can be quite blunt and unintentionally harsh if I'm not careful. I might take a lesson from my writing in which I take the time to measure out my words with constraint, carefully considering each word before each sentence fully forms. I also share this that you might take a moment to consider kindness and how it’s operating in your life. The world has enough rudeness; let’s be instruments of God’s grace that the world would see more of the manifestation of the fruit of kindness. Even the smallest acts matter. And impact beyond what we might imagine.

At any rate, I met a very kind man yesterday, in the midst of what could have been an unpleasant experience. His kindness made it just a bit more less so. So Thank you Dr. Mahalati; your kindness was a medicine in itself. You will be remembered with fondness, though I hope to see you no more.

“Acts of kindness shouldn’t be random, they should be frequent and intentional.”

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted…”
Excerpt from Ephesians 4:32

Lone Ranger prophets, wounded prophets, embittered prophets, angry prophets, immature prophets, cave-dwelling prophets, self-appointed prophets, social media prophets, and finally, false prophets, I’m sure we’ve all seen more than we care to see. And this is why many question the need for prophets or even their existence in the body of Christ today. But part of the reality of all of the above is that prophets and the prophetic have been abused, misused, misunderstood and mishandled. On both sides of the fence.

I'll start with “misuse.” Many come seeking prophetic words as if they were a never-ending supply of cookies being dispensed from a heavenly cookie jar, with a “what sweet word is there for me today?” attitude. This is not honoring to the purposes of the prophetic, nor to the one releasing the word, whether they are a prophet or one operating in the gift of prophecy, nor to the One who is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Because these things are not meant to be “transactional.” The Father doesn't want a transaction with His children, He wants relationship. Everything is meant to flow from relationship. The model is the same for us.

And this model is equally important regarding His mouthpieces. They are gifts to the body of Christ and they’re meant to be valued in the context of relationship, not according to the measure or value of the words they speak. They’re being misused when the word they carry is valued more than their actual “being.” This is why many prophets end up feeling burned out after the initial exhilaration of it all when they’re first discovering and developing who they are. There continued expectation for them to release a word “always available and always on tap” isn’t healthy for them or those who make such requests. Sometimes they just want to go hiking with a friend. Sometimes they need to be the receivers and sometimes they simply need rejuvenated.

And many don’t realize that the main “job” of a prophet is not to dispense prophetic words, but to equip the saints for the work of the ministry; particularly to equip the saints to hear from God for themselves. Because it's best when everyone learns to shoulder the responsibility of learning to hear from God for themselves. In many cases, it simply takes the obedience of time spent with God. At any rate, this is one aspect of coming to maturity in Christ. We start as babes, as lambs, but we cannot remain there; we must grow to become those who hear the voice of The Shepherd. He’s always speaking and He speaks in a multiplicity of ways for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to discern.

In addition, there are those commonly mistaken as prophets, by themselves and others, because they give prophetic words prolifically. However, they’re operating in the gift of prophecy (Romans 12:6) they are not called as prophets. Their words may be highly accurate, but their words won't carry the same level of authority as the words of a called prophet, even when such a prophet is NOT prophesying. Because when you hear a prophet speak, whether through teaching, preaching, praying, words of wisdom or words of knowledge, or the general wisdom they dispense, you'll feel the weight of their words. Their words are strong. They hit harder and they go deeper. Which is why a true prophet must take great care regarding the words they speak. And this is the distorted view many have of who is a prophet and who is not.

And finally - you want a word from a prophet? You might want to prepare yourself. Because the words of a prophet will go beyond the “lift up, build up, and cheer up” words of encouragement and exhortation given through the gift of prophecy. The piercing words of a new testament prophet will also bring correction and they won't mince words unless they're a strong mercy prophet or a prophet who's been matured and tempered to reflect the Father's heart of love even in the midst of strong correction.

At any rate, these are but a couple of the misuses and misunderstandings of the prophetic realm and its protocol. Keep in mind that all may prophesy and all are encouraged to prophesy, and it’s through the increased understanding of these things the Bride of Christ continues to make herself ready. These are exciting times to be alive.

This essay comes from a longer message I originally shared on someone else’s platform, but I’ll continue to edit with fresh insight as I present one more woman whose boldness is admirable that we may glean as much as we can from her story while also recognizing this is not a Bible study, but rather something to inspire us to believe boldly and ask for the miracle we need. I’ll end with some of the lies I believed that hindered me in my own ASKing, but first I’ll begin with a woman who’s simply known as “the woman with the issue of blood” and whose story begins in Luke 8:43

This is a woman who make a decision one day to no longer wait her turn, but to take her turn, (thanks to Tomi Arayomi for this insight) and her story begins on this day she finds herself in the crowds mobbing Jesus as He’s on his way to heal a 12 year-old girl. After 12 years of misery, this woman basically decides to “cut to the front of the line” so she can touch the hem of Jesus’ garment because she’s made up her mind this is how she’ll be healed. It’s her “now or never” moment – and she chooses “now.” She chooses to move. Her desperation compels her. She pushes herself forward through the crowd and does what her faith has compelled to do. And take note of this - no one reproves her. Rather, Jesus commends her with these words before continuing on His way to heal the 12-year-old girl: “Daughter, be of good cheer daughter. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Jesus gives no analogy and no parable, but with these simple words her life is changed forever. Not only does she receive her healing, she receives her identity as “daughter.” She’ll no longer be an outcast. Her faith has made her whole, signifying a spiritual and emotional healing as well. She’ll no longer have to live on the fringes of society.

There’s yet more to consider however regarding this woman’s act of desperation. For it appears there’s a possibility she made another decision that day; a decision that undergirded her decision to push to the front of the line. Because it’s likely she heard about the 12-year-old girl Jesus was on his way to heal, as she was in the crowd flowing and bumping along with Jesus. And as Jairus fell at the feet of Jesus to make his request, we know Jesus and the crowd stopped. Many would have heard this request. Could it be that this woman made the decision that day that her own life was every bit as valuable as the life of a 12-year-old girl? Could she have come to the realization that if Jesus was on his way to heal this young girl, then surely He could redeem her 12 years of misery? I believe this suffering woman made the decision this day to count her worth as equal to that of the young girl. Despite how society had viewed her and treated her. I believe it’s probable.

And what if this this portrays for us is that our wholeness is on the other side of our willingness to ASK? If this is true, we must not hesitate. We must not be timid. This is our day and our hour, to ASK for the miracle. This woman never lost hope, and neither should we. I know there are as many unanswered prayers as there are answered ones, and there are things some of us have prayed for decades, but we cannot afford to lose hope. I know this is a delicate issue for some and that many have plaguing health conditions. But we cannot afford to bring our theology down to the level of our current circumstance. Yes, we can learn to be content in our present circumstances, this is theologically sound, and there are things we simply receive by virtue of being sons and daughters, but there are things we must contend for (in order to receive) and the Kingdom allows for this as well (Matthew 11:32). At any rate, God still rewards the faith inside the ask. Whether it’s been weeks or years, the doctor’s report doesn’t have to be the final report. Especially when there’s a better report to seek for.

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Isaiah 53:1

Of course I’m not saying there are some who aren’t healed because they don’t have enough faith. That’s insensitive and we’re admonished to weep with those who weep, which I’ve done recently. I don’t claim to have pat answers and I don’t understand why my grand-daughter just had her spleen and half her pancreas removed because of a cancerous tumor, or why I just had a rather hideous thing removed from my back instead of being healed. All I have is the Word and my own testimony of what’s hindered me from ASKing in times past.

First however, let’s take a quick look at the man at the pool of Bethesda, as he shared the same condition I had of low self-worth. This man had no one to put him in the pool for 38 years and the mindset of the day was - he must be a sinner. All his life people had literally looked down on him. And so he looked down on himself - so much so that when Jesus asked him a simple question, “Do you want to be made well?” he was unable to give his YES. He was stuck on his low view of himself, stuck on his problem, focused on his limitations, which he began to describe to Jesus. But I declare today we will not operate as this man did. We want wholeness in our lives, we want to be made well, we know this is our portion and we will ASK for what we need. I trust that you’re hearing me. Let’s lift up our voices therefore, and ASK for the miracle we need. And I declare also – we will not grow weary in the ASKing!

And then there was the Lame Man at the Gate Beautiful (Acts 3). His expectations were far too low. All he wanted was another hand-out for another day. His meager portion. But God had a far better idea! As did Peter! And He has a better idea for us as well. Perhaps for some of us it’s time to raise our expectations. For myself, I’ve had a tendency to think “this” or “that” regarding my expectations and what I think I should ASK for, but sometimes God has given me “both.” And then I’m reminded all over again - He is able and willing to do far above all that I can even think to ask (just as when He fed the multitudes, there were baskets left over). The limitations have been in my mind, not His. At any rate, we serve a God who wants us to have a good portion, even an abundant portion. He doesn’t want our expectations to be “dampened” by our circumstance, like the man at the Gate Beautiful.

And a brief bit of my story and how my expectations were hindered because of my perceived low self-worth. Growing up, when I asked for things, I was always told “we can’t afford it,” but as the years progressed and our financial situation improved I was able to see this wasn’t necessarily true; it was a matter of preference and how they wanted to spend money. So it got lodged in my psyche that I couldn’t have any of the things I wanted because I wasn’t worth it. Also, anytime I asked for privileges I was always told no, despite the responsibilities I carried as the oldest. Ain addition, anytime I voiced a need, an opinion, a concern, my needs were entirely discounted and dismissed. My voice was shut down. I felt overlooked, unseen, and valued only by the things I could do to earn my value such as getting good grades, and before that becoming a champion baton twirler. It was only by the things I could do well that I felt valued, and often I didn’t meet the expectations that were placed on me. Obviously, this isn’t a healthy state of being.

A secondary layer of my experience – Because I was always told NO I adjusted to the limitation of always receiving no for an answer. I got acclimated to the limitation of the NO. I became familiar if not comfortable with a limited portion. It became my normal. As you may have already ascertained, this affected my relationship with the Lord and with people when it came to asking for things. In particular, I found it extremely difficult to ask people for help. My subconscious told me I wasn’t worth it and certainly not worth their time. And all of this coincided with my “later in my Christian walk” revelation of God as my heavenly Father who actually wanted to give me good things. After He introduced Himself to me, I didn’t hold back from asking for physical healing, due to the miracles I experienced right from the start, but anything else, I was oddly content to go without. I remember one year as a single mom, telling my pastor’s wife I was just going to wait till January to give my daughters Christmas gifts, when I would have a bit of money to do so. And I said this with a straight face.

One final thing, and perhaps the biggest that profoundly affected my mindset was in regard to my perceived worth as a female because of the way I was treated growing up. I vividly remember my dad telling me once, before my parents’ divorce “women don’t go to college” and when I asked about this, because I was genuinely puzzled and already had aspirations for college, he countered back and ended the discussion with, “women don’t need to go to college.” These words lodged deep in my pyche. And because I was treated in many other ways as “less than” because I was female, in addition to not feeling valued or esteemed by my parents, I ended up with a low value of my worth. Which didn’t lend itself well in the relationships with the boys and men I would later encounter. And sadly, when I entered the church world at age 21, I perceived a lower value for women in the church hierarchy. The roles presented for women were limited. As a woman I was presented the options (and even the demand) that I work in the nursery, teach the children, and clean the toilets, all of which I did. Unfortunately, It took decades for me to recognize, accept, and embrace my value as a woman and a daughter of God who is also a co-heir with Christ, called to rule and reign with Him.

And as I conclude, please know I love the Bride of Christ, and I fellowship regularly. I don’t harbor any anger, but I do want to address more specifically what I encountered in church culture that sought to hinder who I was created to be in Christ, thus distorting my perception of myself and what I thought I could believe, contend, and ASK for. And because things have progressed to a much better place now, I’ll speak in past tense terms. Which is to say, my gift mix didn’t fit the confines of what the Church said femininity should look like and what it should sound like. The call of God on my life bubbled inside me, yet I wasn’t given room for expression of it. Some of the things inside of me were viewed as masculine, or the domain of men. These things simply didn’t fit the confines or the role that mainstream church would have assigned to me. So in order to be a “good Christian woman” I tried to bury what God had put inside of me. I I made myself smaller to conform others’ expectations. I toned it down. I kept quiet. I even put on an identity which wasn’t mine. And of course none of this served me well, especially as I believed it was selfish to want more.

So these were the lies I believed which distorted my understanding as to what I could hope, believe, and expect for as a daughter of God. And what I could ASK for. And just as I now know it’s not selfish to be and become who God created me to be, I also understand it’s not selfish to ASK and believe for more. Whether it’s asking for a miracle or my daily bread.

I pray I’ve encouraged you to do the same. And to reflect on any hindrances you may have had, past or present, that have inhibited you from the simplicity of ASKing. May grace and peace be yours. I leave you with a closing thought from the beatitudes:

Ask, and it will be given you; seek; and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

And these three words - Ask, Seek, Knock, become the acronym ASK!

In part one of ASK we looked at the boldness of of Rahab, Achsah, and Zelophedad’s daughter’s in regard to asking for what they needed with little to none hesitation, with the purpose of each one of us being inspired to ask for the miracle we need. Now we’ll look at the lives of three more women, Hannah, Ruth, and Tamar, and may their lives serve as another “faith booster.” For each of these women were likely ordinary women yet each one did something extraordinary enough to be recorded for our example. So let’s look at their lives, not as a Bible study, but as an inspiration to move in faith and believe for the extraordinary and ask for the miracle that you need. As He Himself says, “I am the God of all flesh, is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) so let your faith arise as you read the following synopses of women who stepped out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary.

First up to the plate is Hannah. I see her as such a gentle spirit, although in no way was her request a “light” one. Here’s what her ASK sounded like:

“…O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…” (1 Samuel 1:11)

Now Hannah’s husband Elkanah thought Hannah should be satisfied with her lot in life. He was a loving husband, he reasoned, what more could she want he wondered, asking, “Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” But this was easy for him to say – he already had sons and daughters by his wife Peninah. Hannah, however had had enough of her continued barrenness, especially with the added cruelty of the taunts of the “other wife” which alone would be enough of a rub for many women. Hannah therefore had ample reason to resist Elkanah’s attempt to persuade her to settle for her lot in life. She knew she would never be content with her situation. Something rose up in her spirit and she was unwilling to push it back down; she was unwilling to settle for barrenness. So Hannah fervently sought the LORD and the LORD heard her cries and answered her prayer.

Hear me now. Hannah asked for a son and made a vow she would give him to the service of the LORD, but could she have known what God would do? Because God wanted a prophet for a nation and that is what He delivered. Won’t He do it! God always doing above and beyond what we ask, think, or imagine. And Hannah had several more children after Samuel. She gave the first-fruit of her womb to the LORD and He gave back to her more than she could possibly have dared to hope for. This was her overflow. The is the God we serve! Be encouraged. And give God your ASK.

It's time now to shine some light on Ruth. Her ask was of Boaz and it sounded like this:

“Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative” (Ruth 3:9).
And this was quite the ask! Essentially, “will you marry me?” in today’s terminology. What Boldness! But from the moment we meet Ruth, when she prophesies her future “Where you go I will go, your people will be my people, your God, my God” Ruth never once wavers. She’s resolved. She stays the course. She does what she has to do, without complaint and with a pure heart. Essentially, she’s determined to be established in a new land, a land without famine. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough famine, enough wilderness in my life; I say it’s time for provision to flow. And like Ruth, I want to be willing to do and to say the audacious thing. Because sometimes we have to be willing to do the audacious thing and make the audacious request, in order that we may receive. After all, isn’t this when God shows Himself strong? And I’d like to add- It’s not too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too young. You’re right on time. To GIVE GOD YOUR ASK. You might be single. You might be divorced. You might be a widow. Be encouraged and make the ASK. And say it out loud with me, “I will ask for my miracle!”

It get’s even better however, when we look at Boaz’s response. And because the Word of God is living and active, I want you to hear it as the LORD speaking directly to you:

“And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request…”

Did you hear that? How willing Boaz was! The Lord also is willing! Be encouraged to exercise the same measure of faith and give God your ask. His ears are open, and His heart is willing. Especially when your desires align with His desires (and how can they not when He is the One who gives you these desires?!)

And for those who’ve already mastered the bold ASK, let’s look at a woman who went beyond the bold ask and straight to the apprehend! May her story inspire all of us.

Her name is Tamar - one of only three women mentioned by name in the geneology of Jesus. And I asked the LORD recently what these three women (Ruth, Rahab, and Tamar) might have had in common… and immediately I heard in my spirit “They were tenacious.” So let’s look at Tamar and see what her proactivity and tenacity accomplished for her.

As we are introduced to Tamar (Genesis 38:7) we’re told that her husband was so wicked the LORD killed him. It’s an ominous beginning. Now, Tamar’s father-in-law is Judah and after the death of his son, he then commands one of his other sons to marry and impregnate Tamar in order to raise up an heir for his deceased son. Judah’s next son disobeys his father’s directive as he doesn’t want to raise up an heir for his brother. He emits his seed to the ground and this displeases the Lord and the LORD kills him. Strike trike. Judah then tells Tamar to remain a widow “for a time” until one of his next sons comes of age, but this is nothing but subterfuge on Judah’s part because he has no intention of following through, evidenced by his own words, “lest he also die like his brothers.”

A lot of women would have given up hope at this point, but not Tamar. She makes the bold decision she’s not ready to be cast aside. It may be that the men in her life haven’t done right by her, but she’s unwilling to be robbed of what was promised to her, unwilling to lose out on her inheritance. Tamar is determined to have her baby, no matter the cost. So with a daring spirit and the highest level of audacity she poses as a prostitute, gets herself impregnated by her father-in-law Judah, gives birth to twin baby boys and secures herself a place in the family lineage of Christ. Tamar’s behavior is scandalous, but in the end Judah has to acknowledge, “she has been more righteous than I.” Tamar’s story is wild. But what we see is a woman doesn’t passively wait for her situation to change, a woman who doesn’t wait for someone to come and rescue her. A woman who decides SHE will be the one who will change her situation. And I believe that Tamar did what she did because she trusted God with her life.

Tamar’s story is my favorite, although I admire all three of these women. And it causes me to examine my own level, measure, and exercise of continuing faith. And even as I type these words, I await an outcome of something I’ve been praying and believing for almost a month. And what I’ve been believing for is the best possible outcome. That’s what I always want to believe for. So let’s all agree to allow no one to put any “wet blankets” on our faith. Can those dry bones live? Yes, they can! They are not dead, they are but sleeping.

By way of introduction, I was seven years old when I was diagnosed with my first skin sensitivity. My skin was peeling profusely is what I remember most. My mom took me to the doctor and he told my mom to try Dove soap as it was made without any artificial coloring. His diagnosis was spot on and so I grew up with Ivory and Dove soap, both white soaps without any coloring. This lasted till age fourteen when skin irritations erupted to the fore once again. This time it was suggested I ingest food without artificial coloring – not an easy task – but looking back on that experience (and the results that were not obtained with the restricted diet) I now believe the culprit was artificial fragrances. At any rate, out of necessity, I began making my own natural soap and skin care products in 2015 and I’d like to pass along a few things I’ve learned in that time, and yes, I am self-taught, and it’s amazing what you can learn when you put your mind to it, along with the help of the internet and a few choice books. And finally, although I’ve provided link to a few products, I am not an Amazon affiliate and I will not make any money through any products purchased.

advocating for natural health and wellness only to “Spirit, Soul, and Body Wellness” subscribers,

1.Aloe: Aloe is highly beneficial for treating minor skin irritations including sunburn and scalp irritations and it can also be used as a face wash, face mask, or in small amounts as a skin lotion. Make sure it’s clear however, and not artificially colored green, which is just another chemical. You can also buy an aloe plant, and break off a stem on an as needed basis. Any unused part of the leaf can be stored in the fridge until your next use. However, the bonus of having a bottle of aloe gel is that you can add lavender essential oil for added healing properties. For scalp issues including stimulation of hair roots for hair growth, add rosemary instead.

Aloe is highly therapeutic because it contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, chromium, and manganese, all of which are absorbable by skin and contribute to skin health and hydration as well as immune function. Secondary uses for aloe would be as a hair tonic to enhance curl (use the excess on your hand to swipe across your face) and as a base for a hand sanitizer (to which you would add tea tree oil) The brand I’m currently using is Seven Minerals, which is grown and harvested in Texas as a family business. Here’s the link: OrganicAloe

2. Honey. I once used honey on a large steam burn on my hand that traditional medicine was failing to heal. For two days, my skin stayed in the same condition, until I applied honey. Within 24 hours the results were noticeable. I’ve been a fan of honey’s healing and anti-bacterial properties ever since. Honey also makes a beneficial skin mask with skin that’s already been rinsed with warm water. Just add a bit to a clean washcloth and very gently scrub your skin. Then leave it on for as long as possible before rinsing it off. I buy larger bottles of honey and pour portions into smaller recycled bottles and containers for use in my bath and shower.

Just be sure to use raw unprocessed honey, not process or pasteurized (labeled in the stores as “pure”) which is completely unnecessary and robs the honey of its enzymes. Do this and you don’t need to pay for the more expensive manuka honey marketed for “skin care.” Also, for more general purposes, local honey is best, for a variety of reasons outside the purposes of this article. Suffice it to say, honey also contains minerals (the darker the honey the more minerals) and a lot of trace elements, and the most important thing to note is that the minerals in honey have a high level of “bioavailability” – typically 80%-90% - meaning your body absorbs them quite easily. As a final aside, my grandparents’ generation knew all about the benefits of honey as a “heart tonic” and would typically drink it in warm water in the evenings. Honey is also anti-inflammatory and can be used in hot water or herbal tea with lemon to sooth sore throats.

3. Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is the lead ingredient for facial toners. You can pour it into small glass spray bottles to spritz onto your skin, or pour it into the smallest size jelly jars as I do, over top of 20 or so round cotton pads used to remove make-up. Lemon lavender is one good all-purpose combination of essential oils, as you can never go wrong with lavender for your skin and the lemon adds the “brightening” but there are different combinations of EOs you can use depending on your skin type. One main reason to make your own skin toner is that the store bought brands often use artificially coloring, which is not beneficial to your skin and which has a higher price tag than making your own. You can also use witch hazel to make facial spritzes. One example would be a “mental clarity” spritz simply by adding a combination of rosemary (always uplifting) sage, basil (surprisingly sweet) and peppermint EOs.

And as a quick aside (and bonus!) it’s the same concept for air fresheners. In other words, a “mental clarity” air freshener would use the same EOs but instead of witch hazel in a glass spray bottle, you would use two tablespoons of alcohol for a four-ounce bottle, then add the EOs before filling up the rest of the bottle with filtered water. It’s that simple. And one of my favorite air fresheners, because I love the scent of lemongrass, is a simple combination of lemongrass and cinnamon; it’s quite uplifting. Two other favorites are “sea breeze” which consists of lemongrass, rosemary and eucalyptus, and a fun holiday scent of orange and spearmint.

4. Bentonite Clay. The brand I highly recommend is Aztec which also happens to have a great price point. Use this with apple cider vinegar on a monthly or quarterly basis for a strong facial mask. It’s so strong, you will feel your skin pulse after 15-20 minutes. If you need something less strong, you can mix it with water instead. It’s also used in tooth powders and can be used to make deodorant but for more of a beginner level it’s more easily made into a toothpaste when added to hydrogen peroxide. Bentonite clay has excellent “drawing out” properties which makes it a popular ingredient for toothpaste, replacing baking soda (in deodorants) for some as that can be a bit harsh and even irritating for some skin types.

Currently I make my own toothpaste using about 3 parts bentonite clay and one part baking soda, mixed with enough hydrogen peroxide to give it a proper consistency, with just 2 or 3 drops of clove oil (which is great for gum health and even tooth pain) added into one of my recycled containers or glass jars. For a fancier toothpaste, I also stir on aloe and sometimes also glycerin for more “foaming” properties. Just be sure to limit clove EO to about 3 drops maximum to every 4 ounces of product, and of course you can use the more popular mint EO instead. This is a huge money saver if you are already using natural toothpaste. Here’s the link to my favorite brand: BentoniteClay

5. Baking Soda. This product has uses 101 uses, so here’s a brief overview of a few more things you can use baking soda for. First, it makes a great hair rinse to use weekly or monthly, depending on how much product you use in your hair, as it removes built up residue in your hair. It only takes a small amount in a large cup of rinsewater. And because baking soda softens water (thus enhancing its cleansing/rinsing properties) all you need for a luxury bath is a cup or two added to your bathwater and the water becomes silky soft and smooth. And for added benefit, add your favorite essential oil, but not to the water, to the baking soda. Lavender for calming, eucalyptus for uplifting or to open breathing passages, rosemary for general cleansing, or perhaps your favorite scent for “scent” sake. And of course you can use it for brushing your teeth in a pinch.

Another use for baking soda is to use it (sparingly and not frequently) as a facial peel. Invite a friend over and do it together as part of a spa party. First add a couple of drops of organic essential oil to a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. I recommend frankincense or helichrysum, which was the recommended EO for the recipe I initially found, but a less expensive EO can be used such as lavender. Then add enough filtered or distilled water to make a paste and apply onto face and gently rub in circles. This is every bit like an expensive skin peel you would pay for in a salon, and like a chemical skin peel, you may end up with skin that is initially red for a while, depending on how long you leave it on before rinsing. You can however, apply honey or aloe afterward to soothe your skin.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar. Organic ideally (especially for ingesting) and with the “mother.” As mentioned, it’s a key ingredient for a powerful pore-tightening facial mask. But to stray a bit from “skin care” product, this can also be added to your water in the morning, if you’re not already adding lemon to your water in the morning. This helps your body maintain a proper Ph balance (regarding “acidic versus alkaline”) and a proper Ph balance helps you maintain a strong immunity support system. Does it taste good? No. But some things we do because it’s good for us, particularly as we age. And as an aside, I also keep apple cider vinegar on hand to make my own healthier vinnaigrette dressing for salad, combined with my own choice of a healthier oil, such as olive or avocado, with my own choice of added sweetener, which in this case would be agave nectar, which doesn’t solidify in the fridge and avoids the use of corn syrup, or worse yet, high fructose corn syrup – the worst of the unhealthy “offenders.”

7. Argan Oil. High in vitamin E, Argan oil is excellent for moisturizing mature skin as well as sensitive skin, and it’s the oil I’ve used these past ten years and most people are surprised when they learn of my age. I use it every morning after I cleanse my face and with every bottle I purchase I add lavender and frankincense EO for added benefits. Argan oil has a light, non-greasy consistency that allows it to penetrate quickly to deep layers. In contrast, most over the counter facial lotions are water based, meaning that water is the primary ingredient, and water-based products cannot compete with oils and oil-based products in nourishing and moisturizing the skin. My opinion, is that every woman, by age forty, should be using oil to moisturize her skin and neck. In conclusion, I used to use a lower end Oil of Olay product with a built-in low level sunscreen on a daily basis, but stopped using it because like many facial care products it contained alcohol, likely as a preservative, but alcohol dries the skin, which is counter to the purpose of lotions and moisturizers. I’m providing links to the two brands I’ve purchased, but please note that the cliganic brand has a better price point when you purchase the larger size bottle. And my experience has been a little goes a long way and these smaller bottles last longer than I had expected, around two months. ArganOil1 CliganicArgonOil

8. Coconut oil. Coconut is a great all-purpose oil to have on hand in your home, and not just for cooking. I use it in so many of the products I make, such as lip balm, deodorant, lips scrubs (just add sugar) and even sunscreen. Basically it’s a wonderful all-purpose oil if you have nothing else on hand. I like it’s slightly sweet scent and I use it generally to moisturize my lips, heels, elbows, and hands, sometimes also my legs; I guess everything except my face! Then there’s the oral “oil pull” some practice, but I don’t (yet). It’s also one of my favorite oils for lip balm, particularly combined with almond oil, another oil with a scent I find highly pleasing. For skin use in particular, I recommend organic and unrefined coconut oil.

9. Castor oil. I’m still new to the uses of castor oil but I’ve found it helpful in helping to disintegrate unwanted moles, particularly when they’ve already started to dry up. I’ve also heard it does the same for unwanted skin tags when applied daily. And the latest bottle I purchased included a “mascara tube and wand” as it thickens lashes by preventing breakage, so if you’re wanting clear mascara, this is the more affordable way to go: ClearMascaraCastorOil. Also, there’s a company that sells it with frankincense EO already included and I recommend this one if your primary use would be for skin use or to treat moles. CastorOilw/Frankincense

And then there’s using castor oil packs on the abdomen to support digestive health or to relieve inflammation and bloating, or gramma’s use of it as a laxative, but I haven’t tried it for any of these purposes.

So these simple natural ingredients and simple steps you can take to move toward chemical free skin (and body) care. And you will in the long run save money after your initial investment. I would encourage you to try something new, and when you do I can guarantee – your skin will thank you. And once you discover the benefits and the joy of using essential oils for your scents, you won’t want to go back to using perfumes, parfums and fragrances. They will likely become too strong for you, even unpleasant, as you will lose the tolerance your body has built up for them, as they are all composed of chemicals. In other words, “parfum” is code for chemicals. This has been my experience and I believe it will be yours as well.

The bottom line is this – man’s attempt to create synthetic fragrances have fallen short of the natural scents created through God’s creation and the essential oils extracted from certain plants, even to the extent of being harmful. There is a better way, and we have a choice. Let’s choose wisely! And learn the benefits of natural ingredients as we continue to learn to steward our bodies wisely.

I’m currently asking for a miracle. This is what I want to say first. I’m asking for a healing miracle on behalf of my college-age grand-daughter. This is happening in real time. I’m praying. And believing. Every single morning. At the same time I’m leaning on notes I pulled up from a message I shared last year, but now it’s hitting quite differently in my own hour of need and I hesitate to use that word because I’ve learned that God answers to Faith, not (merely) need. Anyway, I’m praying because no one should have to endure a ten-hour surgery to remove something that doesn’t belong in their body, as well as something that actually does belong. No one. So in this process of encouraging you to ask for your miracle, I am also reminding and encouraging myself. Isn’t this how we are meant to encourage one another?

And as one who’s learned to glean much from the Word, I’ll start with three examples of women I greatly admire. Women who are all favorites of mine and what it looked like for them when they asked for and received their miracle. Each version is concise so I’ll leave it to the Holy Spirit to prompt you if He would have you look at any one of their stories more in depth. “There’s power in the blood” we’ve sung, but there’s also power in the Word, the “wonder-working” word.

First, there’s Rahab. She’s mentioned in four books of the Bible so we’d take note (Joshua 2, Joshua 6, Matthew 1, Hebrews 11, and James 2) as it’s obvious God wanted to make sure we paid attention to her story. Therefore let’s listen to what Rahab’s bold ASK sounded like and see what wisdom there is to glean:

Swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, show kindness now to me, and my father’s house, and save us (Joshua 2:12).

Rahab perceives this as her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, just as we also must perceive our opportunities when they present themselves. Accordingly, Rahab doesn’t hesitate to ASK. She has everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose. And in the asking – she orchestrates and receives her deliverance and that of her entire family. Amazing! Rahab is such a strategist. But more importantly, she’s a bold woman of Faith. She’s heard the stories of the One True God (“for we have heard”) and she takes a stand on God’s side. The men give her their promise, and after saying, “according to your word, so be it” (a foreshadowing of what Mary would say to the Angle Gabriel) Rahab immediately puts the scarlet cord out her window according to the terms of their agreement – because faith will always look like something. So Be encouraged! God took care of Rahab’s housing situation – and God will do the same for you, if that is your request. No miracle is too hard for the Lord.

Then there’s Achsah. I call her the woman who asked for more. This is because Achsah understood inheritance, and we too must understand our inheritance in Christ Jesus and don’t leave things on the table that could be ours for the asking. This is what Achsah models for us.

Hear now the boldness (bordering on demand) in Achsah’s ASK:

Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water” (Joshua 15:19 and repeated in Judges 1:15).

Achsah’s boldness is brilliant, and if you’re wondering - Achsah was Caleb’s daughter, given as a wife to Caleb’s nephew as a reward for taking a particular territory. And what’s striking is Achsah’s ability to take a keen look at her situation and to accurately assess that the land that’s been apportioned to her is not enough. Because a land without water or water rights is not enough; it won’t reach it’s capacity for fruitfulness. So Achsah asks her father for more. And without hesitation Caleb grants her both the upper and lower springs. Achsah knew her father’s heart and she knew all she had to do was ASK.

Perhaps you find yourself in the same situation today. You’re thankful for you current situation, but you know it’s not enough. You know there’s more and you know God has more for you. And Like Achsah, you also have a loving heavenly father who has an inheritance for you and who wants to give you Good Gifts. Others don’t see what you see and that’s O.K. They only see “what is” and not what “needs to be.” So perhaps it’s time now for you to ASK for your more. Hold true to who you are and what you know God has for you. Pursue your vision! Just as Achsah did. But it begins with ASKing.

Finally (for now) we come to Zelophedad’s Daughters. These five sisters are mentioned three times in the word, by name (and this is because it’s about inheritance, another message).

Here’s what their collective ASK sounded like:

Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family- because he had no sons? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers. (Numbers 27/Numbers 36/ Joshua 17)

Zelophedad’s daughters were nothing less than catalysts for change. These five women pushed against the status quo of the day to get what they knew they needed, and what was rightfully theirs. And in doing so, they set a precedent for all women who would come after them, what I call “Equal rights of inheritance for women.” Like Achsah, they understood inheritance when they stood before Moses and all the elders of Israel and lifted up their voice to make their request known. And Moses heard their case and inquired of the LORD before coming back to the people with God’s verdict and word on the matter-- “The daughters of Zelophedad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.”

And even though God ruled in their favor, these women had to speak up a second time. When Joshua became their leader they had to stand before him and present their case all over again. Because sometimes you have to ask a second time. Or knock a bit harder. Say it with me as an act of faith – “I’m going to ASK for my miracle!” Because the Kingdom of God is all about inheritance and you have an inheritance in Christ. You must be bold as these daughters were and that requires you lift up your voice and ASK.

So what is the miracle you need? A place to live? Provision? A relationship restored? Physical healing? Whatever it is, I can testify that after more than 40 years walking with the LORD He has shown up relentlessly to show Himself strong on my behalf as a miracle-working God. He healed my daughter after I was told she may never walk again after the bone infection in her hip had spread to her spinal cord. He also saved her in my womb when I didn’t yet know I was RH negative. And in more recent years, I’ve seen tumors and cysts “cease and desist” in my own body, according to His healing word that’s already been sent forth and according to the stripes Jesus already bore for my healing.

And so I remind you, but also myself, that just as God healed my oldest daughter, He can do the same for her oldest daughter. I know He can and now I set my heart to believe He will, for the two are not one and the same. And The name of Jesus is above this thing that’s been named. In fact, He already showed me the authority He granted regarding this thing. I’m not coming under fear and I command fear to leave both my daughter and grand-daughter. In Jesus triumphant Name. I’ll also add, along this healing vein of testimony, I’ve experienced my pastor’s little dog resurrect from the dead after being hit by a car because something rose up in me (the gift of faith) and I refused to allow the night of the celebration of her birth to be marked by death, particularly the death of her beloved Yorkie dog. I spoke life into that little dog Finn, and God resurrected him while on the way to the emergency vet. To God be the glory.

A temporary conclusion:

And so I end this “part one” by declaring – “Our God heals. Our God provides. Our God restores. In fact, He is our Healer, He is our Provider, and He is our Restorer. No situation is too hard for Him. And no ASK is too big. I trust you are inspired to ASK for your miracle! Because There is a miracle with your name on it.

And the promised land God ordained for His children to enter into in Deuteronomy 8 was but a foreshadowing of what the Lord has for His people today, if we are willing to abide by the conditions set to receive it. (And that was under a different covenant; we live under a far superior one today.)

And before the promise comes the trial and the testing and the training, but none of these negate the promise. And the promise of the Lord includes the blessing of the Lord, and the blessing of the Lord has no accompanying sorrow attached to it. (Proverbs 10:22)

For there is a kingdom way to create wealth and then there is man’s way. Money is neither good nor evil, it is simply a tool. And poverty does not equal holiness, neither does it equal humility.

And what establishes and expands the kingdom of God here on Earth? All of the resources needed to bring blessings to the people both inside and outside the kingdom of God are obtained through the “tool” of money.

Prosperity is more than money (and the kingdom of God is all about provision, not money) but money is a key component in today’s society. Therefore, if I have to choose between poverty and riches, I am going to choose riches. (I will differ from Agur, who penned in Proverbs 30:8, “Give me neither poverty nor riches”)

And if it needs to be said and likely it does, I am not chasing after money, but I am chasing after the kingdom of God.

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get (create) wealth, that He may establish his covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy. 8:18

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:10

I pray this has given you pause for thought, whether you agree or not. and may the Lord bless and establish the work of your hands (Psalms 90:17) and may the blessing of the Lord be fully established in your life.

There’s a reason the Bible doesn’t use the word “weird” to describe us, but rather uses the word “peculiar.” The word “weird” is of occultic origin.

I say this as one who came out of the occult and one who inwardly winces when I hear believers says “I’m weird” and as one who looked up the word in Websters 1828 app (the original Websters dictionary) and here’s what I wasn’t surprised to find:

WEIRD, a. Skilled in witchcraft. (not in use)

And I believe this definition has been shortened from when I first looked it up in 2022/2023.

You might think I’m straining at a gnat or being overly sensitive. I would say I’m highly attuned to the power of words. Every word carries authority, even spiritual authority. Every word brings consequence.

And it’s my desire that our words are not weaponized against us. I say “our” because we are one body. May our words bless us and not hinder us. We get to choose. Much love.

And if you’ve read this far, Noah Webster was a strong believer and the dictionary he produced was his life’s work. He wanted American to have it’s own dictionary, not the dictionary of England. He uses biblical principles and Scripture verses to aid in his definitions. I highly recommend this free app. It’s especially helpful if you read the classics with some of the older words. Blessings.

Facets of Your Identity:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; - 1 Peter 2:9

And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. -Revelation 1:6 (repeated in Revelation 5:10)

“The greater the tension, the more acute the sound.” From Websters 1828 app

There is a beautiful tension in the word of God – one truth lying parallel to another and both of equal value. One truth without the other however and the Word of God loses its balance and out of balance doctrines are formed. Just as there is treasure in both the old and the new and the wise scribe relies on both (Matthew 13:52) so too must we pull from both sides of the tension, both sides of the scale as it were in order to be balanced in our theology and doctrine. One other comparison that could be made is someone who only reads the New Testament in which Jesus is fully revealed versus someone who would choose to only read from the Old Testament in which Jesus is there, but concealed. Two different testaments, and two different lens, but together they form a cohesive and harmonious whole. As Jesus said, “Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

Accordingly, here’s a brief synopsis of four Scriptures that are best read, viewed, and understood in the context of another Scripture to hold it in its proper place. Each one of the Scriptures pulls on the other and together a greater weight of truth and wholeness is produced. There is tension between the two verses, but there is truth in the tension. One verse without the other and the proper tension is lost, like a broken string on an instrument that cannot produce a proper note. Rather than a skewed or lost sound however, a potentially skewed viewpoint is produced; or in the worst-case scenario, a skewed doctrine when it stands alone without the harmony of the whole word or at least another word to help hold the word in its proper place. I’ll start with my favorite example:

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Before I continue I sat through an entire sermon on this verse last summer, before I thankfully found my place to call home for fellowship purposes. On and on the preacher preached, as if we were stuck in this place of perpetual unknowing (and according to this pastor a complete unknowing of all things pertaining to the Lord and His ways). Well, anyone with a study Bible can read the notes and see this is a reference and a partial quote from Isaiah 64:4: “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.”

So we see that what this Isaiah verse is actually saying is that men have not seen or heard any God besides the One True God who had chosen to reveal Himself to men. Although Paul chose to quote from Isaiah, there is a discrepancy between this old testament verse and the truth Paul is now proclaiming. And the discrepancy is particularly vivid when 1 Corinthians 2:9 stands alone or is quoted alone without the verse that immediately follows: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (And a more complete picture continues to form as one continues to read through to the conclusion of the chapter. What I’m saying is this: 1 Corinthians 2:9 does not hold the full weight of truth when it stands alone. It must stand with 1 Corinthians 2:10 in order to convey the reality of the new covenant under which we live. For our reality now, under the new covenant, is that we have God’s Holy spirit leading us and guiding us into all truth (John 16:13) as God chooses to reveal it. Two Scriptures that convey that God does indeed reveal mysteries:

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:26

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of Kings to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

These Scriptures give evidence that there are things we can know, as God chooses to reveal them, and of course He chooses what He will reveal, and the timing of it. Revelation always has a timing. It can also be mentioned here that God rewards those who seek him (Jeremiah 29:23-24) and He also rewards those who earnestly seek to know His Kingdom and His ways.

A second verse that has a parallel truth is: “For without Me you can do nothing.” This is the latter half of John 15:5 and it is true. So very true. So true it can stand alone. However, there’s another truth that runs parallel to this truth and it needs to be mentioned because I’ve heard this “apart from Me you can do nothing” verse quoted as if it’s the one and only trump card, or rather the one and only side of the coin, almost as if to say, “you can’t so don’t even try.” Not by all, but some. And the other truth, if you haven’t already guessed it, is Paul’s triumphant statement (and rightfully so): “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me” (Philippians 4:13). And to be fair, I’ve heard this also quoted out of context, as if we could absolutely do anything if we set our minds to it, by sheer strength of our own will. I’ve seen this fail to play out twice in my own family – first a niece, then my oldest grand-daughter; both wanted to become doctors, but neither succeeded when the reality became evident that in order to become a doctor, even with a strong faith in God, one must have an aptitude for life sciences and an ability to pass classes such as bio-chemistry.

So what am I saying? I’m saying Paul’s famous declaration must be taken in context, particularly the two preceding verses. Remember, Paul’s learned how to be content in ALL situations with the proof he’s in jail while writing this. He’s also just finished reminding us that he’s learned to be abased and he’s learned to abound, to be full and to be hungry, and to endure suffering. What Paul left unsaid, but can be inferred in the context is that he can do the hard things and he can do these hard things through Christ Jesus. But why and how? Because these were the hard things God had CALLED him to. The conclusion therefore, is that if God has called you to do something then He will give you the strength to do it and to bring it to completion. But if God has not called you to it, then the grace for the endeavor won’t be there. And how do you know if He’s calling you to it? Well, the best way is by abiding in Him, which brings us back to John 15:5. Two truths on two sides of the same coin. In this instance, both truths can stand alone, but each adds flavor and strength to the other.

The third example is a combination of several verses often quoted, all referring to the same thing – that of Satan being the ruler of this world:

“Now is the judgment of the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31

“Now the ruler of this word is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30

“Whose minds the god of this age has blinded…” 2 Corinthians 4:4

But I’d like to add contrast these verses with Psalm 115:16: “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.”

Because I’ve heard people pray about the devil being in charge as if it’s something we must give in to and accept because we can do nothing about it. As if the work of the cross had absolutely no effect in giving us authority over every word, work, and whisper of the enemy (Luke 10:19), as if we were not called to be the head, not the tail, and above, not beneath (Deut. 28:13), as if we’ve been left with some powerless gospel, not one that comes with demonstration of authority over the work of the enemy (1 Corinthians 2:4-5/4:20), and as if we weren’t told that we could seize the kingdom of heaven by force (Matthew 11:12) and that the gates of hell would not prevail (Matthew 16:18). We are so many so willing to give up so quickly and so easily? Particularly in the prayer room? Hasn’t the god of this world been defeated? Hasn’t Jesus given all authority to us over all the power of the enemy? To trample over every one of his works? (Luke 10:19) Why then have we been so content to allow the enemy to continue to rule? When even creation itself is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God? (Romans 8:19 & 22)

My admonition here is that we not “rest” on these verses speaking of the god of this age and his authority, particular when Jesus said “the ruler of this world would be cast out.” Also, His John 14:30 reference to “the ruler of this world” was before he went to the cross and triumphed over the works of the enemy. At any rate, the main authority the devil has in our lives is either that which we abdicated and/or never enforced on our own behalf. Or through words we needlessly and heedlessly speak which legally grant him authority, since he is, after all, a legalist.

My final encouragement is that we remind ourselves of who we were created to be as sons of God and The Most High God at that.

The fourth verse, and one that is easily taken out of context, is: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) This was especially true in the time it was spoken by God to Jeremiah. For the fulness of revelation on this matter however, one must continue reading. For when one does, this next verse is encountered, given as a prophecy of what was to come, and what has now come: “”I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you’ I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). This was God speaking to the children of Israel through Ezekiel, and though it was a collective word it also has personal application. And God continued, saying, “you shall be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28). This is a corporate word, but also a personal word, for those who are willing.

So the reality here is that Jesus fulfilled the complete work of the cross which gives all who accept Him as Savior a new heart, just as it was prophesied through Ezekiel. Can we be deceived? I’m sure we can. But we don’t need to go walking around teaching and preaching about how desperately wicked our hearts are when we are “one with Christ.” He is not wicked, and in Him we are found righteous. It’s as simple as that. We are New Creations with new hearts, period. And to refer back to the Jeremiah 17 verse – who can know that (then) wicked heart? God can. It says throughout the Word about the Lord knowing our hearts, but in the very next verse in Jeremiah God Himself says, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind.” God Himself partners with us to make known the contents of our hearts, if we are willing. “Search me, O God and know my heart” David said, “…and see if there is any wicked way in me…” (Psalm 139:23-24). And God is faithful to answer this prayer, and sometimes even if we don’t ask, He will reveal what’s in our hearts to us, whether through our dreams or impressions from His Holy Spirit. We’ve not been left without any avenue or recourse to know our hearts, as long as we’re willing to partner with him.

Yes, it is possible we can fall into error, but God is faithful in that He has given us a recourse and made a way in which we can avoid being ensnared by it. Not only can we ask Him to help us to search our hearts and to reveal to us what’s in our hearts, we can also partner with Him by guarding our eye and ear gates as well as our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and by asking Him to reveal our hearts to us. He is well able. Also in this respect, it’s crucial we develop, put on, and keep on the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ cannot be deceived. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Period. Truth does not mix with deception.

I pray this brief exploration has given you food for thought. And perhaps you have verses that come to your mind. Or thoughts on how other verses partner together. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Thank you Kindly for reading these words. It’s my heart to serve the Body of Christ through my words. As a retired part-time alternative educator and full-time mom turned Minister, this is now my work.

But the angel said to Him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke 1:13

Luke is the only gospel to record Elizabeth’s story, and in this first mention of her Luke includes the mention of Zacharias’ prayers for Elizabeth to conceive, giving strong evidence of the long years he prayed and the long years he and Elizabeth endured together, childless. We can only imagine the depths of Elizabeth’s disappointment and long-suffering in waiting for a child that never came as her life was measured out month by month by month. But then comes this day of breakthrough, yet unknown to Elizabeth and peculiar in the use of language. For Gabriel doesn’t say, “your prayers ‘have been’ heard.” Rather, he speaks in the present tense – “your prayer is heard.” This may merely reflect the Hebrew language use of ongoing present tense, as later in the New Testament, translated from the Greek, it’s recorded/translated into English that an angel spoke to Ananias saying “your prayer has been heard, but it may also signify Zacharias’ faith to continue to pray and God’s ever-present work in our lives, as He is always doing a present work in our lives. At any rate we cannot possibly imagine the grief Elizabeth endured in the years of her ongoing barrenness.

And when Gabriel delivers the news to Zacharias, it’s while he’s performing his priestly duties, for Elizabeth’s long-awaited son would also be a priest, but a priest who would usher in a new order. And the news doesn’t end with the announcement that Elizabeth would bear a son, but continues with an all-encompassing prophetic word spoken over the life of this as-of-yet unconceived child, whom the Lord Himself names as John. For this is the child who would be born, this is the prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord. This prophet would not perform a single miracle, yet his very life would be the miracle. This angel’s prophecy spoke of this child’s entire life and mission on earth and includes the detail that John will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time of his mother’s womb.

But Zacharias, though he had prayed fervently and faithfully, reverts back to human wisdom and understanding when he hears the glorious and heavenly news and reminds the angel of the “fact” – that he is an old man and his wife Elizabeth is advanced in years, instead of simply rejoicing in the good tidings the angel has brought to him. Zacharias also makes the mistake of asking the angel, “How shall I ‘know’ this?” - Also meaning “How shall I ‘understand’ this? This angers the angel, for some things, particularly the Word of the Lord, are not always to be understood, but rather to be received and acted upon. Accordingly, the angel now announces himself as Gabriel “who stands in the presence of God and who was sent to you to bring you these glad tidings.” Further highlighting the principle that God requires our obedience whether or not we have an understanding, and that obedience must come first. Gabriel now continues with a hard word:

But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time. Luke 1:20

Let this serve as a reminder of the importance of coming into agreement with the Lord of the Lord, rather than opposing or questioning it, as Zacharias has done. For just as Gabriel has spoken, Zacharias is made mute. He fulfills the number of days of his priestly service, all the while mute, then returns home, mute. But of course Zachariah is able to communicate

with the woman he’s spent the majority of his life with and Elizabeth is equally able to understand the communication of the man she’s known since her youth. And as Elizabeth receives this astounding news that she will conceive a child, it’s likely she thinks of another woman – Sara - who also received news from an angel that she would conceive and bear a son in her old age. And perhaps this is what kept Elizabeth’s and Zacharias’ hope alive all through their years together - knowing and believing that what God accomplished once He could do again. At any rate, Gabriel’s prophecy set certain things in motion in their marriage union. Their physical intimacy would now likely be invigorated with a new level of excitement, hope, and perhaps also vigor. For in the fulness of time, God’s perfect time, Elizabeth conceives. It’s a time of rejoicing, but the word of the Lord is just beginning to take form. There is more joy yet to come.

For in six month’s time, Mary comes to visit. And we aren’t told the means of Elizabeth’s knowing or the moment of her knowing, but she knows. Perhaps she knew by revelation, but we’re only told that that Elizabeth’s baby leaps in her womb upon Mary’s greeting, and that she is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies about Mary’s baby. In essence, Elizabeth recognizes who Jesus is in Mary’s womb, one of the few chosen few who have this privilege of knowing. Others would recognize Jesus is as a baby, but Elizabeth recognizes who He is while he’s yet unborn. And this speaks powerfully to the sanctity of life in a mother’s womb, as well as to identity, even in the womb.

And the two women spend three months together, marveling at the Lord’s hand upon them as Elizabeth is the only one who can fully understand Mary’s secret. As the elder with more life experience, we can only imagine the conversations these two had; the catching up on family affairs and the comfort and counsel Elizabeth provides for Mary. And in the fulness of time, after Mary returns home, Elizabeth brings forth her son and neighbors and relative rejoice with her. Oh what care and attention this long-awaited child must have received from the hands of Elizabeth. Paradoxically however, God would use the care and the doting John would receive from his mother Elizabeth to prepare him for a life in the wilderness that would not be filled with comfort. This is the way the Lord chose it to be.

Then came the eighth day – the time for Elizabeth’ baby to be circumcised. And here is yet another sign that this baby will be different. And that his life will not be one that follows custom. For according to custom Elizabeth’s baby will be named Zacharias, after his father, but Elizabeth gently but firmly responds, “No, he shall be called John.” She is the one who has the honor to announce the baby’s identity and name. Friends and family are bewildered, but when Elizabeth looks to Zacharias to confirm this break with tradition, John takes a tablet and settles the issue as he writes, “His name is John.” And now that Zacharias comes into public agreement with the word of the Lord spoken through the Angel Gabriel (he’s had ample time to come into private agreement), now is the moment his tongue is finally loosed. Now he too can openly rejoice with Elizabeth and others, and now at last he too is filled with the Holy Spirit.

It’s likely Elizabeth continued to celebrate, along with her husband, in the Lord’s goodness to remember her in her old age and to take away her reproach from among the people, as she herself mentions. It’s also likely she rejoiced as Sara had rejoiced - that nothing is too hard for the Lord. This is Elizabeth’s starting point as she raises the baby who will become the boy who will become the prophet who readies the people to make way for the Lord - the prophet who closes out an old chapter in Israel’s history and ushers in a new one. We can only imagine the wisdom with which Elizabeth, along with her husband, raised their long-awaited, long-hoped for, and long-prayed for son.

For Elizabeth was a woman of God’s choosing, a woman of priestly linage who lived a set apart life and who would model this set apart lifestyle for her son. A woman who had served faithfully in her own sphere as her husband served in his, to bear this fore-running child who would prepare the way for Her Lord. A woman who had nearly nine months to ponder the awesome hand of the Lord upon her life. A woman who would no doubt give testimony all of her days and impart the knowledge of the Lord to her son in his formative years. This is the woman God chose for such an unusual assignment.

We don’t know the number of Elizabeth’s days, as after this first chapter of Luke we don’t hear her name mentioned again. But we do know she was a woman devoted and consecrated to God. And it’s likely Elizabeth was spared the heart-ache of seeing her son’s latter days, and therefore rejoiced all the number of her days.

Scriptures For Reflection

For with God, nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37

For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass. Ezekiel 12:25

Thank you for reading. Truth is my passion and writing is my Kingdom business.

36 Signposts You Might Be A Prophet

You’re Passionate. Ever so passionate. Not because you’re Italian.

You hold Strong opinions.

You communicate with vivid hand gestures.

You’re an intercessor. (Not all intercessors are prophets, but all prophets are intercessors.)

You tend to see things as black and white. There are no areas of gray for you.

You’re lower on the spectrum of mercy (unless you’re a mercy prophet).

You’re lower on the spectrum of sensitivity (unless you’re highly pastoral).

You easily takes charge. Because you see what needs to be done and you know how to do it. You may even have a “commando mode” style of operating.

You welcome and embrace change; you even initiates change.

You imagine the future. You live in/from the future (to the present). You’re forward thinking and forward looking.

You sees the hand of God in situations. You notice what God is highlighting.

You see patterns and connections; in the Word and in everyday life.

You like to see people set free.

You like to see people advance. See people get to their “next level.”

You see the problems, the cracks in the foundations, and you carry a desire to address them, whether in the Church or the business world. You see these things either through discernment or words of knowledge which you may not recognize as words of knowledge.

You see solutions. And relatedly, you’re may already successfully operate as a consultant in an area of expertise. The most successful consultants are prophets or carry a strong prophetic gift. This trait operates in connection with the one listed above.

You see what the enemy is attempting to do (if you’re a watchman prophet) whether through internal pictures that flash across your mind (internal visions), external visions, or “knowings.” This enable you to pray in a way that takes out the plans of the enemy.

You have a clear sense/knowing of what the Lord wants to do. You’re able to facilitate what the Lord wants to do. This may happen through prayer (you’ll know heaven’s blueprint) or successfully guiding a business or church (that the Kingdom of God be expanded).

You may be a loner. You value you’re alone time. Your tendency is to want to stay in your “cave.”

You experience a greater degree of rejection, betrayal, and misunderstanding than most. You also experience a greater degree of trials than most.

You have a strong wiring to overcome. In and through the trials.

The enemy has tried to take you out. Perhaps more than once. He’s not just opposed to what you carry/who you are, he fears it.

You’re warrior, even if it merely outworks in the prayer closet. All believers are called to be soldiers of Christ, but warriors are called to be strong and courageous. Warriors are willing to run to the front lines of a battle. Warriors are willing to take the “hits.”

You’re called to lead, to be a leader.

If you’re employed, you rise to positions of management and authority.

You’re self-employed and you’ve built something from the ground up. Particularly if you carry an apostolic anointing/edge. This pertains to ministry and non-profit organizations as well.

You’re a pioneer, a forerunner, a trailblazer; you’ve plowed ground where no one else has plowed. And if you’re a trailblazer, you’re forging a path that others may follow. This is apostolic; you are called as an apostolic prophet or a prophet apostle.

You have a heart for the outcasts. A heart for those who are “down and out.” You’re willing to go to the byways, where others are not willing to go, in order to reach these ones.

You just want to talk about God. You don’t want to talk about the weather. You don’t want to have shallow conversations; these conversations frustrate or bore you. You want to talk about God and you want to go deep.

You are a “feeler.” Highly sensitive to peoples’ emotions. This is why it’s easier to be alone.

You simply perceive, sense, and know things. It’s obvious to you, simply a matter of 2+2=4, but others don’t see the equation you see. You’re intuitive. And it’s God-given. Intuitive: perceived by the mind immediately, without the intervention of argument or testimony; having the power of discovering truth without reasoning (Websters 1828 app)

You’re highly sensitive and discerning to the spiritual atmospheres of people, rooms, cities, and regions. You can also sense an evil or very dark person, simply by their “atmosphere.” Or you see something on a person, by the spirit, but in this case it’s more likely you know you’re a called prophet.

You have a high level of discernment. You know what spirits are in operation. You can discern whether something is of God, the flesh, or the enemy.

You are highly dedicated/consecrated/devoted to God. Worship is a strong component in your life.

You’ve had dreams from God, even as a child and even before you knew the LORD. Or you’ve had spiritual/supernatural experiences throughout your life.

You’re created and called to influence a certain demographic of people, a particular industry, or a social justice issue. You’re called to stand before the “kings” and leaders the earth. And some of these “kings” are not literal, but “kings” of industries.

Conclusion

If you resonate with the majority of these traits, it’s likely you were created and wired as a prophet. This does not mean you sit in the office, as it’s come to be termed, according to the five-fold ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4. This simply means you are called to be a prophet and it requires first that you answer the call. Then after answering the call, you must endure the process. And it’s a long process, averaging 15 years, even longer, but potentially made shorter through mentoring and prophet training. If you haven’t yet recognized this, here are two of the reasons why:

* The mainstream church has taught that prophets don’t exist today.

* The Church has a skewed view of prophets; sees prophets only inside the church walls and behind pulpits. God however, is currently developing and deploying prophets to influence all spheres of society. Discovery comes first however.

If you don’t resonate with these traits, perhaps you know someone who does align with these specific prophet tendencies. Feel free to share this free resource with that person. And if this has impacted you in any way, please share in the comments and please be specific. Please know also - I’m not here to defend or debate the matter. In Christ’s Love and Lordship…