WOW! Did You See that Storm Coming?

It has been cold, rainy and stormy for about a week. Having grown up in Oregon the rain should be normal for me but after a day or so it makes me miss the sun. After a week, I considering speaking to the weather and whining at God, I don’t but I consider it. It has, however, caused me to contemplate the storms that invade our lives.

The storms may rage but I am sitting in the house watching the beauty of the coconut trees blowing, the wind whipping the jungle vegetation around, the view of the Ocean change as the storm increases and decreases I am safe, dry and comfortable in my air-conditioned-when-I-desire home. I have a view of the storm but it doesn’t really affect me.

I watch the mud wash down off the hill and flow out into the ocean. I see the ocean change colors and when the storm is bad I cannot even see the ocean.

See the muddy river? It even changes the color of the ocean.

If I choose to go outside I can “brave” the storm. I will get wet. I will get wind-blown BUT I will survive.

Mumbende

How does this apply to our lives?

Fact: Storms are going to come.

Fact: Storms are going to look worse than they really are.

Fact: They may last a long time.

Fact: We may get tired of them.

Fact: They may change the landscape of our lives.

Fact: They may cause us to be temporarily blind.

Fact: We can chose to observe or gen in the middle.

Fact: We can stay in the comfort of the Holy Spirit and not let it affect us.

Fact: The storm will pass and everything will be clean and new.

Fact: If you watch, the Lord will break through the storms.

The sun/Son breaks through the storms.

How are you handling storms today?

What does this have to do with intercession? You may see someone drowning in a storm—get out there, get wet, get windblown and intercede them to safety. It is our job. It is our joy. It is our purpose, our calling and our fulfillment.

Pastor Sally McCarley on Guam

Let's Duke it Out!

Our battles originate in the spiritual realm--the heavenly places--so the only way to fight them is with the weapons that actually work. 

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We have been under attack for quite a while. Every time I get to a place that I think maybe this will stop now something else happens. The thing is we don’'t fight against people. We fight against spirits. People can just be used as pawns. People get bored and go on to cause other problems. Demons do not get bored.

We usually try to fix things in the physical realm by using the methods of what we can see, feel, think. It doesn't work. So many Christians live defeated lives because they are unaware of this truth.

Satan tries to deceive you into believing that God is holding out on you and that it is up to you to get God into giving you both blessings and victory. We do not buy God's favor. We have it. 

Paul admonished the Galatians by chiding them for going back to the flesh after they were walking in the spirit.

Galatians 3:3

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

Is someone using you for a verbal punching bag? Trying to destroy you with their words? Gossiping about you? Does it matter? You are who God called you to be, do not reduce that to what someone says or implies. Forgive them. They are being used. Fight the right enemy.

Matthew 5:44-48 (HCSB)

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It is time to fight from a place of victory instead of trying to get to a victory.

What does this have to do with intercession?

Sometimes we need to step back, reevaluate who we are in Christ and what our position in Christ is in the spirit realm. From that position we need to battle until we are unencumbered by darts thrown by the enemy.

If you need help, call on the intercessors. Sometimes, the intercessors need intercessors. You can call in the spirit or call on the phone but get what you need to remain in the battle.

As soon as you are back in position hit the enemy with all you have. He deserves it.

Man, I hope we get out alive!!!!!!!!!!

When we go into a land we need to set up a fortress in the spirit realm. We need to build around it, we need to take the land for God. The more we build and the more ground we take the more mature we become and the more powerful in intercession. (I think it is a matter of confidence)

II Samuel 5:9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

When the enemy hears what we are doing it causes them to quake. But if they are so bold as to come after us as the Philistines did with David, then we need to go down to the stronghold of the Lord.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

...then we consult the Lord. He gives the battle plan and the victory. Just because the enemy is coming after you doesn't mean anything except that he is afraid of you and you are causing problems.

Getting a battle plan and going after the enemy causes a lot less problems than wandering around blind, hoping we "get out alive".

Time to get that fortress built! 

Another jigsaw puzzle done! Accomplishment!

I love to put together jigsaw puzzles—I am not very good at it but I enjoy it.

Growing up we often had a jigsaw puzzle set up on a card table in the family room. Mom would work hard at it. I would work at it too but I was not as good…..

I am rather obsessive/compulsive in many areas—or rather I used to be. I have been pretty much delivered at this point. But anyway, when I start a puzzle I separate all the pieces first—usually by color or pattern and the edge pieces. The edges go together first.  Then the next biggest color portion. I consult the box a lot. And so on. I usually work from the edges in.

One of the things I have noticed when working a puzzle is that the closer I get to being done the faster it goes.

Sometimes when I am working a puzzle and I get stuck. I sit and look and look and look.  Then someone will walk by, reach over, grab a piece and put it into place. The worst part is when they do not even slow down as they walk past.

I don’t know about you by this irritates me. I mean really? I am the one sitting here working at this. It is supposed to be fun. It is supposed to be relaxing. So when I am sitting here getting discouraged should not be this easy for someone not intimately involved with this puzzle to just walk by and put in a piece—or in the case of one of my grandkids 5 or 6.  He started this at about 3 and it is rather humiliating. But I do not yell, scream or throw the puzzle.

Those days have passed for me. Now I work jig saw puzzles on the computer. I sit and pray and work my puzzles. My prayers fly as fast as my fingers as I race the clock.

This is so similar to what happens in the spirit realm. We begin our walks in the Lord trying to sort things out so we can make sense of them. We read the word trying to see the final picture (consulting the box). We set some foundations and get frustrated in our growth, or our calling, or ….. Then someone will walk by and do a little sharpening in our lives, often without even stopping and we react horribly. The thing is, as we walk in the spirit it all becomes easier. The foundations are set, the spirit walk is coming together, sin is less prevalent, the promises are more apparent, and refining is desired instead of rejected.

What does this have to do with intercession?

We start thinking about putting together a new puzzle--we feel that prompting over a specific situation.

We look at the boxes of puzzles to make a choice—we do the victory dance amidst the praise.

We get out the table, pour out the pieces, turn them face up—we head into the war room to get the battle plan.

We separate and sort the pieces—we write out the plan, search the scriptures, sharpen our sword, set our armor firm.

We put the edges together—we go into the spirit realm and take authority.

We check the picture on the box—we stay in the word.

We put the center together—we set the answers in place and refuse any repercussions.

We get stuck and someone walks by to put a piece in place—we join in agreement and slay 10,000 instead of 1,000.

We continue to work at the puzzle—we do NOT become weary and head back to the war room for any updates.

We set the last piece—we head back to the throne room to dance the victory dance before the Lord amidst our praise.

Another puzzle done! Accomplishment! 

Another intercession won! Accomplishment!

Ready to start that puzzle?

Pastor Sally McCarley "Can You Stand Against the Current"?

I Am Living in Paradise. How About You?

Sitting at the beach reminds me how very much it is like life in church.

When you go to the beach, you dress for the part—a swimsuit of some kind for the beach. Women who are buff wear a bikini. Having lived on Guam and in Hawaii I can honestly sat thaat women who aren’t do too. But let's be realistic, so do men. Have you seen a man in a speedo lately—you know the one. He was buff 25 years ago and no one has told him that at this point his belly prevents anyone from seeing that speedo. Just saying'. Don’t we see that in the church too? 

When you are in the church, you put on the Armor of God. For some reason most Christians think that is a symbolic thing. They do not actually put on their armor. Some do put it on but they do not use it. it is too small for them, they have become flabby. Milk does that to people.

When you go to the beach, you bask in the sun.

When you are in the church, you bask in the Son.

When you go to the beach, you change (you get a tan).

When you are in the church, you change (hopefully more than a tan).

When you go to the beach, you put on oil.

When you are in the church, you receive the oil of the Spirit.

When you go to the beach, the breeze off the ocean refreshes you.

When you are in the church, the breeze of the Holy Spirit refreshes you.

When you go to the beach, the water washes over you.

When you are in the church, the water of the word washes over you and renews your mind.

When you go to the beach, the sand rubs the callouses off your feet.

When you are in the church, each person should rub each other sharpening them spiritually.

When you go to the beach, the fragrance of the jungle and the ocean heighten your senses.

When you are in the church, the fragrance of Christ permeates your senses.

When you go to the beach, the worldly quiet allows you to move into a place of intimate meditation.

When you are in the church, the anointing allows you to move into the throne room—a place of intimate meditation.

When you go to the beach, the pounding of the waves, that soft roaring of the ocean cause you to pay attention for your own safety.

When you are in the church, the sounds in the spirit cause you to pay attention to be alert for spiritual warfare.

When you look at it, going to church is like living in a paradise! People look at the pictures I show of Guam and long to be in paradise. Do you recognize yourself as a paradise? We may go to a church but actually we ARE the church. All of these things apply to you personally.  When people look at you do they long for Christ?

What does this have to do with intercession?
Time for the church to recognize who she really is.
Time to pray.

Shape up!

Here it is, a new year, 2014!

So many people make resolutions to change things that are bothering them. Do you do that? Do you let yourself run amuck and then all of a sudden try to change EVERYTHING?

You know, like the new Christian who “tries” to be and do everything at once. They set up all these rules for themselves, usually ones they cannot attain. In other words they set themselves up for failure.

 

We have all done it. We “try” so hard. I used to set all these goals to improve myself every year. I never succeeded for an entire year. I gave up setting goals several years ago.  I still think about resolutions I just do not try to do it during New Years.

How about you? Do you set goals? What are they?

Here is a list of a few of the normal “resolutions”:

• Keep a journal.
• Read through the Bible in a year. (I admit these first 2 are more geared towards Christians but this is a blog on prayer.)
• Exercise.
• Lose weight.

I mean think about it, every commercial after Christmas is about losing weight. Ok, that was an exaggeration, some are about working out.

Recently, I realized my pants were getting tight. Having weighed WAY over 300 pounds at one time I actually pay attention (yes I will include a picture). We hike on the weekends but my body shape is changing so I need to pay attention or something.

Dieting is not something I do anymore. When I was fat I dieted a LOT. If I recognize I am gaining I usually look to see what I have added to my diet that is causing the weight gain. If I haven’t added anything, I check portion sizes. That is where I usually find the problem.

The tight pants situation caused me to reevaluate things. We have marble floors.

Purchase Yoga mat: check

My arms are starting to jiggle too:

Weights for wrists: already have just need to get them off the rebounder.

 

Bernie is trying it out.

Rebounder: time to stop using it to dry the swim suits and actually use it more than once a week.

This is what I want to look like.

This is probably closer to the truth.

Exercise ball (because It was cheap and I think they look fun): check

So here we go. I am REALLY limber. I can bend over and put my head on my shins. I start to stretch—oops. I can reach the floor but I am a long way from putting my face on my shins. A few of those is painful.

I start the side stretches. I used to be able to reach to the lower calf—how about the knee instead? Ok, this is not that bad.

I put my foot on the kitchen cabinet and stretch to the floor—well I look at the floor. It feels like I have a shrunken-no-more-elasticity rubber band in my leg—I am afraid to snap it. I did snap a ham string when I was 50 in a “splits” challenge. Still hurts often.

That ended up being the longest 25 minutes I have experienced lately—no I did not make it to 30 minutes.

The whole time I kept wondering how I let myself get this flabby. I am not fat. I wear a size 6 pants and only one of those are tight. But I have self-deceived in thinking that walking hard on the weekends for a few hours is keeping me in shape. This is versus the “several miles a day” I used to walk.

I think we do that in the spirit. I keep my armor on—I know my weapons—I teach on this a lot. What I have realized in this last week of sitting before the Lord is that sometimes we review who we are under that armor from past experiences, old tools, old realities (for example sometimes I feel fat, I mentally berate myself until I realize that is an old thought pattern and looking in the mirror belies the whole, “Youaresofat” thought. I WAS fat I am NOT now.)

Do you know what you believe and WHY you believe it?

Do you understand who God is? Is there a relationship or do you just know ABOUT him?

Do you keep in “shape” spiritually? Or, do you get into a rut of doing the same things over and over?

Do you take the time to listen? Then do you do what you hear or do you “think” about it?

It is a new year.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

I hear the Lord talking about what 2014 holds. Do you?

Will you be awake?

Will you see the direction He is moving?

Will you be alert?

Will you hear His voice?

Will you be ready?

Will you be quickly obedient?

Will you in “shape”?

Will you be able to run a good race and endure until the end?

Who will you intercede for this year?

Let The Holy Spirit Wash Over You.