June Prophetic Word: Summer Life
As we’ve entered the summer months in the States, I sense God inviting us to take a cue from the season. There’s a different rhythm to summer and with it, an invitation to slow down and unplug. With that change of pace, He’s inviting us to be intentional in drawing closer to Him, focus on the truly important things, let the rest fall away, and live life to the fullest with those we love.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1Recently, the Lord led me to read the book of Ecclesiastes, authored by King Solomon, who was known for his wisdom. I love so much of what Solomon wrote. Reading “Song of Solomon” has massively deepened my intimacy with God, but . . . I really wasn’t excited about Ecclesiastes because it’s such a negative book, making it one I don’t often choose to read.
I discovered Ecclesiastes was written later in Solomon’s life after he’d turned away from God. It reveals the state of Solomon’s heart and spirit at that time, which is why it reads as it does – frustrated, futile, and gloomy.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote he hated life and saw everything as “vanity” – emptiness, transitory, and unsatisfactory. He had everything, yet no matter what he had or what he did, he was empty. The man who possessed the greatest wisdom in the world was left wanting because he’d walked away from the only thing that could fulfill him – a deeply intimate relationship with God.
I believe God’s invitation for the month of June has a lot to do with what we can learn from Solomon in Ecclesiastes.
Multiple times and in different ways in Ecclesiastes, Solomon urges us to live each day to the fullest with joy. Too many of us have had joy sucked out of our every day as our time has revolved around what’s screaming the loudest. Our days pass in blurry routine without us really noticing until a large chunk of it has passed.
God is inviting us to enjoy life with Him, not just toil for things that won’t satisfy our souls, let alone our spirits.He’s inviting us to live a “summer life” - slow down, unplug, and live in the moment. Let things fall away that we don’t need to have taking our time and attention. Allow our focus to shift to Him. Listen to His voice. Meet with Him.
Breathe Him in like you’d breathe in the salty sea or fresh mountain air. Hold your breath for a moment. Let Him permeate every part of your being, then slowly exhale in His presence. Live fully in more moments with Him. Make time to hang out with Him as the friend He longs to be to you.
You know what caught my attention when I finished reading Ecclesiastes? It was the fact Song of Solomon, the “Divine Romance” of the Bridegroom and Bride authored by Solomon, is the very next book that follows. That spoke to me of God’s invitation to delight in, savor, and take pleasure in intimacy with Him.
Lean into God’s invitation to live life more slowly and more fully this month. Let worship in His presence envelop you.
Here’s a playlist to help you out.
Living for Him,
Andrea
P.S. If you'd like to sow a seed into the ministry Brian and I are doing by "buying us a coffee," please click the link below (more information is included on the page), and thank you for partnering with us!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
This is NOT the Fool's Month!
A thought came to me this morning about how odd it is to start a month with practical jokes and fooling people. I was brought up short when I heard in my spirit, “This is NOT the fool’s month!”Sensing the Lord’s unhappy heart in His statement, I immediately stopped and asked Him why He responded as He did. I heard two things:
- I give wisdom - “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6, NASB 1995)
- Look up the history of April Fool’s Day.
The history of April Fool’s Day is a bit muddied with historians not certain or in agreement on where or how it originated. It may have originated as far back as festivals celebrated in Roman times or tied to the vernal equinox and Mother Nature being unpredictable, or instead, in the late 1300's with Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. It could have been instituted as a result of a calendar change in the 1500's, or others have said it may have originated with Noah, coinciding with him sending the dove out of the ark too early. However it began, the day is marked by practical jokes, hoaxes, gullibility, mocking others, and no surprise – some explanations of its origins are rooted in the occult. The idea is to good-naturedly make a fool of others on that day.
The sense I was getting from the Lord for this April is He wants this month marked by wisdom, rather than foolishness. There are many needing wisdom and strategy RIGHT NOW for the plans of the Lord to be fulfilled in this season. There are outworkings of destiny and calling happening, including positioning in various realms of society (business, political, etc.), that are unfolding this month. We need His wisdom for the strategies for these alignments, as well as for walking in these new positions of leadership and authority.
I heard His words inside my spirit: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, NASB1995)
If you need wisdom, ask Him for it – He’ll gladly give it to you, but there’s another part to this passage that’s incredibly important to keep in mind when asking. Reading on in verses 6-8 we find: “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
"Double-minded" is another way of saying doubting or hesitating. When we ask God for wisdom, we need to believe He’s given it and when it comes with strategy or next steps, we need to act on those, rather than hesitating.God doesn’t want to leave us as “fools.” According to Merriam-Webster, a fool is “a person lacking in judgment or prudence, one who is victimized or made to appear foolish, a person lacking in common powers of understanding or reason.”
Merriam-Webster defines prudence as “the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, sagacity (foresight, discernment, or keen perception; ability to make good judgments) or shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgment in the use of resources.”
This is NOT the fool’s month! What areas in your life need self-governance and discipline? In what ways do you need to apply foresight, discernment, and keen perception as you lean in and listen to the Lord for wisdom and strategies? Do you need to make any adjustments in your stewardship of the resources God has given you? Act on what the Lord shows you!I also felt it important to declare you are NOT victimized, and neither do you appear foolish! You think clearly, have deep understanding, and possess sound reasoning. Any words to the contrary spoken over you by yourself or others are broken off NOW, in Jesus’ mighty name!
God always gives us invitations to grow in our faith, which includes our trust in Him. (The two words are synonymous and often interchanged depending on the Bible translation you read.) This is a year of alignment in every way and this month has a particular focus on implementing the wisdom and strategies needed to move forward in the things He’s called you to in partnership with Him.
Don’t doubt. Don’t hesitate. Wisely implement what God shows you and take action by faith! This is NOT the fool’s month!
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.” (Ephesians 5:15, NKJV)
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:6-7 NIV)
“Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:6-7, NKJV)
I bless you with incredible wisdom! Please share any stories about how this word unfolds in your life this month - I would love to hear them! If Brian and I can pray for you in any way, reach out to us. We’d love to hold you close to the Father’s heart!
Living for Him,
Andrea
P.S. Brian and I are launching out more in the ministry realm, including me writing more and Brian working to end sex trafficking. If you'd like to sow a seed by "buying us a coffee," please click the link below (more information is included on the page), and thank you for partnering with us!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Choose Love
A few years ago, we went to Easter service. By my side was someone I dearly love. She was new to church and hadn’t grown up with all the church lingo. I was singing the Easter songs with all my heart – then I realized she probably had no clue what the songs meant and was likely totally thrown off and confused by all the “blood of Jesus” wording. I stopped singing. I leaned over and began explaining the lyrics to her. As they repeated, I began to sing again, then did the same with the next songs. It became a favorite worship experience for both of us.I’ve invited so many people to Easter services. It’s a time when people’s hearts are naturally more tender and open to Jesus and the Gospel message and let’s be real, many people feel the “I should go” (sometimes out of guilt) nudge on this holiday.
If they aren’t “churched” people, it can feel like they’re listening to a foreign language as we sing and talk in “Christian-ese.” If they’ve grown up in church and are just coming because they feel they “should,” the words used can often trigger past church hurts, whether by church leadership or professing Christians.
I had a friend reach out to me yesterday to ask me what I thought about the “Steven Furtick / Elevation Church Easter Scandal” (my words, not hers). Thankfully, I hadn’t even heard about it. My response to her was this:
“How would Jesus invite people to church? Would He use "come and see" language (to quote ‘The Chosen’) or hit them immediately with language they might find offensive that would keep them from coming? I think a religious spirit likes to stir things up and cause division and draw attention away from what's really important to His heart - the people He loves and drawing them to Him. Jesus didn't hold back from saying what needed to be said once people were in His presence. I think this was an opportunity to stir up dissension. Those are my opinions and thoughts.”
Wouldn’t you know it? A great post by Joshua Reyes came across my feed later on and it was on the very topic my friend had asked about. My favorite thing Joshua said was, “People have lost their minds throwing accusations and calling for repentance because a church graphic doesn't include certain words. Y'all are messy and this is why nobody takes Christianity serious. People out here causing a stir over pettiness.”
AGREED!
Why??? Why do we do this? We’re called to be a united body in Christ, yet no one is better at throwing people under the bus, shooting their wounded, judging, and condemning than Christians! Yes, I’m fired up and yes, I’m angry – the Jesus turning over tables in the temple kind of angry.
We’ve got to stop this!
We need to listen to understand.
We need to LOVE like Jesus.
We need to stop dying on the hill of religion and live the life of freedom Christ died for us to live!
I WILL make Jesus relatable because I WILL give my life to bring people into encounter with the One who loves them deeply. That means I’m intentional about not using all kinds of religious wording as I connect heart-to-heart with people. As I reveal the loving heart of the Father, I’m going to use words that will mean something to the hearers. That’s exactly what Jesus did, and it was often through storytelling.
Does that mean I don’t share the message of the cross, the resurrection, and the blood of Jesus? Absolutely not! It just means that when I share about those things, it’s in a way others can embrace it, rather than run from it in confusion, shame, or condemnation.
Church, we’ve GOT TO do better! Knock off all the drama. Stop fixating on things that draw people away from God and make them want to run in the other direction because they refuse to get pulled into that kind of mess. (Who can blame them?) Put down your denominational religiosity and live like Jesus, doing only what you see your heavenly Father doing (John 5:19-20).
By the way . . . today is Maundy Thursday. This is the day when we remember how Jesus humbled Himself and washed the disciples’ feet only hours before He was arrested and condemned to die for our sake. He did it with joy filling His heart because He knew His suffering and death would bring our redemption and would restore to us the relationship the Father longed to have with us once again.
This Easter, live its message. If you’re one who needs to, lay down the legalistic “should / have to / must” yoke you put on yourself, your family, and others. Speak plainly about Jesus, God, and Holy Spirit. Draw people to His heart. Let all the other drama go – whether it’s about wording on a flyer or any other number of opportunities we have to be hateful. Choose love, and if you need to, turn over some tables to make things right.
Living for Him,
Andrea
P.S. The anonymous quote graphic was created by Roma Waterman. She compiled her favorite Easter quotes and offered them as a gift to enjoy and share with others.
P.P.S. Brian and I are launching out more in the ministry realm, including me writing more and Brian working to end sex trafficking. If you would like to support us by "buying us a coffee," please click the link below (more information is included on the page), and thank you for partnering with us!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
"Turn Around. I'm Doing a Turnaround."
This morning, I was worshipping to the song “Runnin” by Elevation Worship (written by Steven Furtick, Pat Barrett, and Brandon Lake). At one point in the song, they sing, “Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me every time I turn around.” I was singing it right along with them and as I did, I heard, “Turn around. I’m doing a turnaround.”I stopped and listened.
“Turn around. I’m doing a turnaround.”
By faith I turned, then I turned again, both as prophetic acts, and . . . I confused myself. Was a turnaround 180 degrees or 360 degrees? Like anyone would, I turned to Google to find out.
The short answer is it can be either.
A complete turnaround is the 180-degree variety. It’s when you have a total change in direction – “in your attitude, opinion, or method” (according to Collins Dictionary). If you do a 360-degree turnaround you end up back where you started – think of a tiny ballerina twirling around in a complete spin.
Just when I thought I had it figured out, I discovered something interesting in my research. If you drive 180 degrees around a roundabout, you’ll keep going in the same direction, whereas, going all the way around sends you back in the opposite direction! In other words, how the travel around the circle plays out is exactly the opposite of its normal definition, so a turnaround looks entirely different in that case.
There are a couple of other definitions for turnaround that are important to keep in mind, too . . . It’s the amount of time that passes for something to occur (as in turnaround time), but it’s also when something suddenly becomes successful, like a business that’s seen a sudden turnaround.
“Turn around. I’m doing a turnaround.”
What are you saying, Lord?
“Turnaround is going to look different for each person. For some, it’s going to require a complete change in direction. For others, it will mean a return to where they had been, yet the path in the direction they had come from will now look different because of what they’ve learned and who they’ve become in the time it’s taken for the turnaround to be completed. If they’ve been on a roundabout in life, getting to the 180 or 360 marks might look totally opposite to what they’d expected! Then, there are those whose turnaround will be a sudden change in success in areas they’ve been working toward and waiting on.”
In the Bible, we see all kinds of times God turned things around for people – healings, provision, childbearing, and even starting out the day as a prisoner to ending it second in command in the government of a country!
It’s not all God’s responsibility to make it happen. We choose to turn around, whether it’s 180 or 360 degrees, or we stubbornly stay heading in the same direction. In the case of sudden success, there’s work we’re called to do in partnership with Him – He’s the one who brings the turnaround success. There’s action for us to take, which is the reason why the first thing I heard was something I needed to take responsibility to do – “turn around.”
It’s a turnaround day and it’s marked by His goodness and mercy! What will your turnaround be?
Living for Him,
Andrea
P.S. As always, if Brian and I can pray for you, please reach out!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
March 2024 Prophetic Word
IN LIKE A LION, OUT LIKE A LAMB
As we approached the start of this new month, I kept hearing the old proverb about March - “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” rolling around in my spirit. As I asked the Lord about it, He began to speak to me about the lion and the lamb.
I pondered on the lion and Aslan came to mind. I thought of an excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver were answering Susan and Lucy’s questions about Aslan being a lion and whether or not he was safe.
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Following Him isn’t going to feel “safe.” It will be a time of risk-taking, stepping out in faith, and being uncomfortable in the unfamiliar and unknown. Much greater trust will be required of us, yet the yes on our lips will be founded on knowing He is GOOD, even in the tension of things being utterly beyond our natural abilities.
The lamb is representative of the sacrificial Lamb of God. Isn’t it interesting Easter falls on March 31st this year, bringing new meaning to “out like a Lamb”?
This lamb isn’t meek and mild. This Lamb represents being fully surrendered in a “not My will, but Yours, be done” manner (Luke 22:42). Strength and courage are required to surrender one’s will, especially when knowing what lies ahead is death. In our case, it’s death to self, agendas, plans, ways of doing things, and anything else asked of us by a Father who knows the new life that will come from our choice to die. Our surrender is our love and trust response to Him.
Expect to not feel “safe,” but at peace in knowing His goodness.
You’ll also be invited to surrender your will to His in very specific ways. There will be death to self and certain things hindering you from walking in the fullness of your destiny and calling. New life will be your reward, but don’t be surprised if there’s a time of waiting before it’s revealed.
Embrace the tension of this month. Lean into His presence. Worship the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. Keep expectancy in your heart!
Living for Him,
Andrea
P.S. As always, if Brian and I can pray for you, please reach out!
P.S.S. Photo credits are linked to the photos.
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
