The word God spoke to my heart for this month is “encounter” and I couldn’t be more excited! I believe this is going to be a month of incredible, supernatural encounters with the presence and person of God, the Father, and Jesus, the Redeemer, Savior, and Healer. We’re going to see heaven collide with earth in the most beautiful of ways. Some encounters will be a result of us pressing into His presence, while at other times, these encounters will be a passionate pursuit of our hearts – simply because He longs to be with us.
When I shared this with a friend the other day, I off-handedly stated, “People are desperate for an encounter with God, not four walls.”
What did I mean by that? When you read about the times Jesus “encountered” people, it was almost always within everyday life. Yes, people came to hear him teach but very rarely was it within the four walls of the temple. More often, it was in open spaces. The most radical encounters with His transforming love and presence were on the road, near the shore, at a well, on a hillside or mountaintop, by a tree, in front of a tomb, and on a cross, just to name a few places. Jesus showed us some of the greatest face to face moments with Him mainly happened in the most unexpected times and places. I believe that’s how we’re going to encounter Him this month.
I’m not speaking against experiencing Jesus within the four walls of the church. I simply think we box Him in to those four walls and relegate Him to certain days and times of the week when what He longs for is to be with us every moment of every day, living life with us, sharing His innermost thoughts as he connects His heart with ours in the smallest and biggest of ways.
In the Gospels, we see a mix in Jesus’ life of people pursuing an encounter with Him, as well as times when Jesus sought individuals out to encounter them - even though they knew nothing about Him beforehand. I believe we’re going to see an increase in major encounters with Jesus this month – both ones that we pursue having with Him and ones where He pursues and encounters us unexpectedly.
There are ways we can position ourselves and create an atmosphere for encountering Him. Worship is one of the easiest. God can’t help but draw near at the sound of our worship. The thing is that it doesn’t take a band leading us. It’s not even necessary to have music. Worship can be found in our words, in our actions, in our yes to Him, and in our surrender. We can encounter Him as we read His word, pray, journal, or sit quietly focused on Him.
Expect encounters with Him this month in both big and small ways. As you encounter Him, allow yourself to be fully present in the moment and engage Him in conversation. That’s what the people in the Bible did – the woman at the well, the man at the Pool of Bethesda, the centurion, Martha, the disciples, Nicodemus . . . There are so many honest conversations recorded in the Word. Why would it need to be any different with us?
I believe we’re going to see a powerful move of healing encounters this month, as well. If you need that kind of encounter with Him, be persistent to press through to Him, just as the woman with the issue of blood did and was healed simply by touching His garment.
Like the man Jesus encountered at the Pool of Bethesda, He may tell you to “Stand up. Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!” (John 5:8) Make steps to move forward and the things you’ve felt paralyzed in will no longer hold you prisoner, paralyzed in the place you’ve been in – even for years and decades. Stand up! Move forward! Don’t remain where you’ve been!
Look for powerful encounters with Jesus this month. Expect them. Position yourself to experience Him in profound ways. And don’t be surprised when He shows up unexpectedly in the most unusual and normal places in your everyday life.
I bless you in your encounters with Him this month, my friend! Please reach out if you'd like us to pray for you!
Living for Him,
Andrea & Brian
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
RIGHTLY REFLECTING TRUTH
I was chatting with a friend recently and the subject of God came up. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since because I not only came face to face with truths I needed to examine in my own life but in that moment, I also recognized the Church needs to be held accountable as well. In short, most of us who say we love and follow God don’t really know Him and because of that, we don’t accurately reflect Him to the world around us. Often what you see is NOT what you get when it comes to God.
After listening to my friend’s perspective on God, it pretty much slipped out of my mouth that most people don’t have an accurate perception of who God really is – even those who profess to know and love Him. Because of that, we don’t accurately reflect the truth of who He is, so we end up misrepresenting Him to those around us.
I took it a step further and admitted that as a church, we don’t take responsibility for portraying God inaccurately. We also don’t admit we’ve portrayed Him as being something He’s not, most often because we don’t realize He’s different than what we’ve been taught and understood.
Christ-followers are called to reflect the loving, kind, good God we worship, yet what people regularly see is hypocritical living founded on judgment – often in the name of Jesus. We preach one thing and live another. We cast stones and point out splinters in others’ eyes while ignoring our own sins and living a life relatively void of repentance.
As a church, we’ve missed the mark – a definition often used for “sin.” We’ve been hard-hearted in this area, and I believe God is calling us to account for wrongly reflecting His character and heart of love toward all peoples of the earth. In His goodness and love, He’s offering us an opportunity to pause in His presence, allow Him to reveal areas where we’ve personally missed the mark, repent, and be healed.
Healed? Why am I talking about healing related to this? Because we’ve perceived God through the filter of brokenness. When we view God through brokenness, it causes us to form a wrong understanding of His character.
Our internal mirrors have been broken, so what many of us reflect of Him to the world around us has been a shattered image - and we haven’t even recognized it because we didn’t know it was broken.
From a healed place, we’re able to repent without shame because our repentance is founded on personal revelation of the truth of the heart and character of God, as well as our identities as His beloved sons, daughters, and Bride of Christ.
This is a time in history when the world around us is incredibly in need of hope and the belief that there is a loving, kind God and Savior who welcome them just as they are, without needing to “get their lives right” first. As a church, it’s time we repented - turned away from wrong thinking and inaccurate portrayals of our good and loving God. It’s time to tell the world how sorry we are for leading them to believe something that simply isn’t true and own up to having turned hearts away from the One who loves them like no one else, rather than drawing people close to His heart.
God, forgive us! Forgive me! Clean the mirrors of our lives so we can better see Your reflection and more clearly and accurately reflect You to the world around us as we shine Your light into the darkness.
Living for Him,
Andrea & Brian
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Abide.
Live, dwell, wait . . .
In our fast-paced society, the idea of abiding, especially when it comes to waiting, is so contrary to everyday life. Waiting rubs against the grain of our impatience.
God never forces us to do anything. It’s always our choice in how to respond to His invitation. We were created with free will, able to make our own decisions, and it’s always been the desire of His heart of love toward us that we would choose Him.
When you read Song of Songs, especially in The Passion Translation, you can’t miss the love He has for us, along with His protection and tender loving care that gives us the space we need for the heart work He longs to do within us as He draws us near in so many unexpected ways and makes us ready to bring heaven to earth in new and greater ways.
At the start of this year, I sensed the Shepherd-King speaking to the longings of our hearts saying, “The one I love calls to me: Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling. COME AWAY WITH ME! I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out. For now is the time, my beautiful one.” (Song of Songs 2:10, TPT)
The month has changed, but His invitation to remain, to abide with Him, and not rush out of the intimacy of shared heart space, is what’s before us now. He invited us to “Come.” His invitation now is to STAY – abide, don’t rush out of this time with Him. It’s a new month, but that doesn’t mean He’s asked you to move on to the next thing yet.
Take the time to dwell with Him, enjoying His nearness, the sound of His voice, and His loving embrace enveloping you. Within His arms, He’s loving you to healing and He’s making you ready to arise in the fullness of your destiny.
The Shepherd-King has issued a command to the world around us, His Bride: “Promise me, O Jerusalem maidens, by the gentle gazelles and delicate deer, that you’ll not disturb my love until she is ready to arise.” (Song of Songs 3:5, TPT) So often, we want to rush the process, rush through the quiet, rush through the pushing into intimacy, and rush into action. In abiding, we WAIT. We LIVE in that space with Him. We STAY . . . and we don’t move on until we’re truly ready to arise.
Distractions, disruptions, chaos, very real responsibilities . . . they all seek to draw us away from where we need to be. Yet, He says, “Do not disturb my love! She has come. She is abiding. She is listening . . ."
SHE IS BEING MADE READY!!!
Growth happens in the depths of hiddenness as the seed dies, transforms, grows toward the light, and then produces a harvest that’s so much greater than what that single seed had once been (John 12:24).
Abide in those deep places with Him. He’s inviting you to remain His presence, connected heart to heart, loving and being loved. You’re being made into something so much greater than just your single-seed self. There’s so much more within you, my friend!
The thing that really struck me? He’s not commanding us to abide. It’s an invitation, not a “have to” that requires obedience. We choose what our response to His invitation will be - and we choose again and again every day, throughout each day.
My response to this conversation with Him was, “I surrender. I am not my own. Forgive me for choosing so many things over time spent abiding with You, not coming into Your presence as You’ve invited me to do. I will come and I will abide.”
World, do not disturb me until I’m ready to arise and when I do, look out!
What will your response be to His invitation to abide? Will you stay in this place of waiting, living, and dwelling until He’s declared you ready to arise? What will that time look like for you?
Need some help in figuring that out? Let’s chat and hear from Jesus together!
Living for Him,
Andrea & Brian
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
CAVE HIDING
I’ve been hiding in a “cave.” Feeling lost, alone, unsure, I haven’t known what to say, so I’ve stayed quiet. This has come during a time when I’ve heard the Lord more constantly and clearly than ever before and what I’ve heard from Him has been confirmed over and over again through so many prophetic sources.
Despite that, I’ve allowed shame, fear of man, and wondering if I’m being judged to keep me hidden from sight and my voice silenced when I know that’s the farthest thing from what I’m called to be. These lies of the enemy have been a strategy and plan to keep me from moving forward in what I know the Lord has called me to in this new season.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
The season of the Lord changed, and I had to change with it. Old wineskins would no longer hold the new wine He was longing to pour out. I could no longer wear the garments that had once fit and been comfortable.
It’s left people questioning and those I love dearly not understanding the decisions I was making in following the Lord. I haven’t fully understood His leading either, but I knew it was Him and despite the constant confirmations, I still questioned if what I was doing was “right.”
I walked in shame because the approval and blessing I’d hoped for from man wasn’t there. It wasn’t enough for me to know with certainty that I’d heard from God and had total peace in following Him. Like Elijah, I found a cave to hide in and sat in my perceptions.
Prior to Elijah hiding out in the cave, he had just experienced an incredible victory over the enemy (I Kings 18). The enemy was none too happy about it and spoke death threats over him, producing tremendous fear, doubt, and misgivings in his heart (1 Kings 19:1-3). Elijah allowed the voice of one to drown out the Voice of One who had just shown His power and might to be far greater.
The voice he listened to brought him to such a place of discouragement, defeat, and depression that he longed to die. He fled to the wilderness where was strengthened by an angel more than once, then sent on a journey to a mountain where he went into a cave.In this cave, God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (I Kings 19:9b, NKJV)
God didn’t ask Elijah this question because He didn’t know the answer. He was asking for Elijah’s sake. He wanted Elijah to recognize what was in his heart, as well as the lies he had allowed himself to believe. What was God’s answer to Elijah? To go out and stand in His presence.
It was there the Lord once again asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (I Kings 19:13b)
Elijah’s response was the same as it had been the first time God had asked him. Oh, how I understand Elijah! I’ve been a broken record before God over these last few months in my cave. I’ve poured out my cries of, “You, said . . . !” And now I feel alone, and unsure, longing for blessing, affirmation, and a sending off into destiny . . .
I’ve felt God speak to me much as He spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden when He asked them, “Who told you that you were naked?” (Gen. 3:11) In essence, He was asking me the same question. Who told me I was being judged? (What would it really matter if I was?) Who told me that I needed the blessing of man when I had the blessing of God? Who told me that the minority was greater than the majority? Who told me that following God wasn’t enough?
Lies. They were death threats to my destiny . . . and I listened to them. I hid in my cave feeling like I had nothing to say, so I didn’t say much of consequence for weeks that became months. I shrank back from being the fiery, passionate, warrior I know I am – the one who strikes fear in the camp of the enemy because of the One who lives and moves and breathes within me.
Outside of the cave, God gave Elijah clear instructions regarding his next steps and, in so doing, dispelled the lies of the enemy. He strengthened Elijah in His presence as He showed Elijah His glory. In the face of that glory, Elijah was able to hear the truth that gave him forward movement in his destiny.
It’s a time for each of us to go out and stand in God’s presence, allow God to ask us what we’re doing in the places we’re in, then allow Him to speak truth to our spirits and souls that will position and propel us in our destinies in this new season.
This isn’t about us as individuals. This is all about a world in need of the One who has defeated the enemy and our roles in enforcing that victory. We have mandates to fulfill on the earth and we can’t do it hiding in caves.
I’m emerging from my cave, getting into His presence, and listening for the next steps He’s telling me. I’m determined to walk out what He reveals and I’m wearing my combat boots as I take each step.
No more hiding in fear.
No more silence.
No more eyes on man.
I have to fulfill my role in bringing heaven to earth and it’s imperative I carry out His mandates assigned to me. He’s positioning me and propelling me forward. I may not fully know what that looks like, but I trust the One who does, and I’ll follow Him anywhere.
What's God speaking to you outside of the cave?
I linked a song below that's great to play as you spend time in His presence listening to Him speak to your heart. I'd love to hear what He shares with you!
Please feel free to share this post with others.
I linked a song below that's great to play as you spend time in His presence listening to Him speak to your heart. I'd love to hear what He shares with you!
Please feel free to share this post with others.
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
November Prophetic Word: Position
Over the last several months of this year, there’s been a progression happening in the Spirit – listen, shift, adjust, deeper, and this month . . . POSITION. There’s a divine positioning happening in both the spiritual and natural realms because God is moving His remnant into place to fulfill His present mandate.
There are many who are feeling restless. They’ve wondered at their restlessness, fought against it, questioned it, even felt shame over it. They’ve prayed and sought God’s peace to replace it. This restlessness is by design. You feel restless because you’re not meant to stay where you are. God is positioning you and that requires movement from where you’ve been into where He wants to take you. This is destiny- and calling-related. Embrace being uncomfortable and don’t be afraid of feeling unsettled or restless. There’s design and purpose in it.
I saw a chessboard and chess pieces being moved around on it. What drew my attention were the movements being made in order to make the path clear for a particular piece to have an unobstructed path to be positioned for victory. There was a time of waiting while the movements of the other pieces were completed. All the while, the positioning of what lie ahead was kept in mind by the piece patiently waiting.
Embrace the waiting. Stay in the timing of God. Don’t try to push ahead, yet don’t hold back allowing fear to paralyze you from moving forward. The things and people being positioned prior to you moving into place is necessary for hindrances to be removed from your path. That doesn’t mean these things or people are hindrances to you. It simply means that you’re on the same side of the board and each is being placed where needed for victory. Bless those who seem to move ahead of you. Keep your eyes set on Him and where He’s bringing you.
You’re moving into unfamiliar territory. Expect to be uncomfortable. Keep your eyes on Him - He’ll remain your guiding compass. Trust that He knows the way before you and has already gone ahead of you.
This is a time for you to “come into your own” while living a life utterly surrendered to the Lover of Your Soul. He’s positioning you as His Beloved and from that place of knowing the depths of His love for you as you never have before, you’ll rise and walk as one who more fully knows who you are in Him. His love will transform and empower you for the position He’s called you to at this moment in time and you will be utterly amazed at who you’ve become in your oneness with Him.
The timing for this positioning is key as we prepare to enter a new year. There’s a setting in place for what lies ahead. Position yourself at His feet in worship, in surrender, with a willing heart, and with open hands. Allow Him to bring you to a greater place of consecration and sanctification. Be willing to take risks. Be willing to let go. Find yourself secure in Him and know He can be trusted – even in the unknown.
He’s positioning you for greatness in the days ahead.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – ’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’
Over the last several months of this year, there’s been a progression happening in the Spirit – listen, shift, adjust, deeper, and this month . . . POSITION. There’s a divine positioning happening in both the spiritual and natural realms because God is moving His remnant into place to fulfill His present mandate.
There are many who are feeling restless. They’ve wondered at their restlessness, fought against it, questioned it, even felt shame over it. They’ve prayed and sought God’s peace to replace it. This restlessness is by design. You feel restless because you’re not meant to stay where you are. God is positioning you and that requires movement from where you’ve been into where He wants to take you. This is destiny- and calling-related. Embrace being uncomfortable and don’t be afraid of feeling unsettled or restless. There’s design and purpose in it.
I saw a chessboard and chess pieces being moved around on it. What drew my attention were the movements being made in order to make the path clear for a particular piece to have an unobstructed path to be positioned for victory. There was a time of waiting while the movements of the other pieces were completed. All the while, the positioning of what lie ahead was kept in mind by the piece patiently waiting. Embrace the waiting. Stay in the timing of God. Don’t try to push ahead, yet don’t hold back allowing fear to paralyze you from moving forward. The things and people being positioned prior to you moving into place is necessary for hindrances to be removed from your path. That doesn’t mean these things or people are hindrances to you. It simply means that you’re on the same side of the board and each is being placed where needed for victory. Bless those who seem to move ahead of you. Keep your eyes set on Him and where He’s bringing you.
You’re moving into unfamiliar territory. Expect to be uncomfortable. Keep your eyes on Him - He’ll remain your guiding compass. Trust that He knows the way before you and has already gone ahead of you.
This is a time for you to “come into your own” while living a life utterly surrendered to the Lover of Your Soul. He’s positioning you as His Beloved and from that place of knowing the depths of His love for you as you never have before, you’ll rise and walk as one who more fully knows who you are in Him. His love will transform and empower you for the position He’s called you to at this moment in time and you will be utterly amazed at who you’ve become in your oneness with Him.
The timing for this positioning is key as we prepare to enter a new year. There’s a setting in place for what lies ahead. Position yourself at His feet in worship, in surrender, with a willing heart, and with open hands. Allow Him to bring you to a greater place of consecration and sanctification. Be willing to take risks. Be willing to let go. Find yourself secure in Him and know He can be trusted – even in the unknown.
He’s positioning you for greatness in the days ahead.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – ’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
