“Run for the Roses” He Rose!!

I was praying for a Young Woman of God last weekend and the LORD gave me a special word for her… to “Run for the Roses.”  At first I was hesitant, thinking that this phrase was just about running a race for a crown that will pass…. for a corruptible prize. (1 Cor 9:23-26)   Since then, however, the LORD has brought clarity to His words for this young woman to  “Run for the Roses.” 

First the LORD reminded me of  the old Dan Fogelberg song “Run for the Roses” honouring  unique thoroughbreds like Secretariat  who have won the  Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.  (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) So I decided to look up the lyrics to “Run for the Roses” and the actual song on Youtube.

"Run for the Roses" by Dan Fogelberg

I then received a vision of the Resurrected Jesus wearing a Winners Wreath of Roses around His neck.   Jesus is our prize and Jesus has won The Race that we were required to run.  For us  “IT IS FINISHED!”  Through Him, we have received the Incorruptible Crown… the Triple Crown of Eternal Glory (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)!  Ultimately, those in Christ have already “Run for the Roses” and won.… because “He Rose.”

Lyrics to “Run for the Roses” by Dan Fogelberg

Born in the valley
And raised in the trees
Of Western Kentucky
On wobbly knees
With mama beside you
To help you along
You'll soon be a growing up strong.

All the long, lazy mornings
In pastures of green
The sun on your withers
The wind in your mane
Could never prepare you
For what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red --

And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --

From sire to sire
It's born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
It's breeding and it's training
And it's something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.

And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --

(And for your added enjoyment, I have added another old favourite  Dan Fogelberg singing this song for his father “Leader of the Band.” It is yet another flash from the past!)

The Glory Cloud of His Presence… (Aglow Part 1) Our Island Prayer Journey

Why was I there?   Was I ready?  Was I there for His Presence; or was it for our Island Prayer Journey, or the anointed speaker, Diane Fink… or the awesome worship lead by Leah Robertson… or even just the fellowship?

Olivia challenged me this weekend.  She sooooo wanted to be in His Presence and experience the Glory of God!!  The time is NOW and she knew it!! 

We (Olivia, myself, Penny and Laurie) had our Island Prayer Journey planned for the drive down to the conference at Qualicum Beach and we were going to stop at several places along the coastline.  We prayed at Royston, Craigdarroch Beach, Buckley Bay, Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Oyster River and Qualicum Bay among other small little hamlets...  to claim the FAVOUR of the LORD for that area.  Our trip was to bless others and to bless the land, but inadvertently, God poured out His blessings upon us!  The weather was glorious, the fellowship was awesome, the presence of God surrounded us and we saw eagles all over the place.

Olivia wanted to be READY and she wanted OTHERS to be ready along with her.  She had her oil lamp full!  She wanted God’s presence and she wanted to honour Him and Him alone!!  Fortunately for us, the love of God permeates all those around us and we all found our heart for the journey too.  He gave us his “Eagle Eye” from which to pray His prophetic prayers for the  various areas.  It was a powerful time of worshipping our creator in His glorious creation! 

If only we could live like this 24/7.  I know that I fall short way too often.  I desire that the scripture Psalm 84:2 would represent my live on a DAILY basis…  Not just every now and then.  I want my heart and my flesh to CRY for the LIVING GOD!!   I want to Live in His Glorious Presence EVERY DAY.

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  (Psa 84:2 ASV)

How often do I let myself get to this point with my Beloved?   I wonder….

A Person's a Person No Matter How Small... UPDATE

For the full article http://bound4life.com/blog/2009/02/06/y-o-p-p

I was totally amazed at the wisdom and courage that this 12 year old girl displayed as she stood up for God's Truth.

While doing a school project on persuasive speech, Lia chose to speak out on the issue of abortion. Her teachers encouraged her to change her topic; they even tried to convince her mother to get her to change her topic; but Lia stood firm on her convictions and God has shown Himself faithful.

She had been told that she would NOT be able to enter the competition because her topic on abortion was "too controversial." However she won... first in her class competition; and she won in her school competition, and now after a disqualification and a God-ordained re-qualification, she is headed for the regional competition. I will prophetically state that I believe God will enable her to win in the regional's also. Her speech is powerful, filled with the truth of God and totally anointed of the LORD. Check it out above.

UPDATE 2/17/09 12:00 PM EST: Lia has advanced to the next round of competition with her speech. She will delivering it TONIGHT at 7 PM EST. Please pray.

UPDATE 2/18/09 11:00 AM EST: I heard from Lia’s mother that she did an outstanding job last night. "Her presentation was flawless and she was poised and passionate throughout." She did not win the competition however. Two teachers and others present felt that she was the strongest speaker and should have won, but they suspected that her topic of abortion is what kept her from winning.

Read this excerpt from her mother’s email:
Lia wasn’t really that upset though, especially when she considered that the only difference between winning the competition and not winning was having a couple extra pictures taken and being given a small trophy. Lia has a much bigger trophy – somebody commented to us on our YouTube account that her aunt watched Lia’s video and decided to NOT have an abortion because of it. Yay God! Others have commented that they either never thought of the issue before or were pro-choice – but now they have changed their opinions. So, having a life saved is the best trophy ever!

We’re thrilled with Lia’s courage and conviction. And YES, the best trophy is a life saved. Please join us in continuing to pray for her YouTube video to spread virally and impact countless lives.

For a full article at: http://bound4life.com/blog/2009/02/06/y-o-p-p

Astronomy meets the Almighty! Sermon By Louie Giglio

You just have to check this one out!  Amazing details and facts!!  Sermon series called "How Great is Our God" by Louie Giglio.  (I found this on Mandy's Blog and was totally blown away so I did some more checking! Thanks Mandy)

Louie Giglio, has been at the forefront of collegiate ministry for over twenty years.  Prior to becoming the Director of Passion, Louie was Founder and Director of Choice Ministries, where he worked in the campus setting with students at Baylor University.  Louie travels the world challenging this generation to a passionate pursuit of God, inviting them to join Him in His unending Story.

Louie and His wife, Shelley (Chief Strategist, Passion Conferences and Director of Label Operations and Artist Management), live in Alpharetta, GA, and are active members of North Point Community Church.  Louie is the author of The Air I Breathe: Worship As A Way Of Life and I am not but I know I AM.  http://www.268generation.com/ 

 

Barrage - Too Early, Too Late, Too Much, Too Little, to Whom or .... TO HIM!

A Barrage Of Extremes....   I have been witnessing quite a bit of this lately. 

One friend is already complaining about hearing too many Christmas Songs.  She works at Wal-Mart and apparently they started playing Christmas music and stocking holiday shelves the day after Halloween.  However, another friend told me that her husband didn't believe in putting up any Christmas decorations until after December 1st,  while still another is heading south for the winter to avoid having to celebrate Christmas at all! 

One Wiccan friend of mine looks at Christmas Day (or the Winter Solstice to her) as a festival of food, hoping for "four turkeys in one day" while another Pastor encourages spending less money on gifts and spending more time together.  Instead he suggests sharing the money that they didn't spend with the poor, the hurting, the lonely, the hungry, the sick, the thirsty. 
(www.adventconspiracy.org)

Then there is a blog article that Pastor Craig posted with his wife "Shanda's version of Lights Up"  (see below) while Dad e-mailed me this picture of another man's Christmas Lighting.... 

It's can all be very humorous when you look at each item individually, but then you begin to feel your heart twinge when you see everything in the light of God's Word.  All these things are "sideshow distractions" according to the words in The Message paraphrase.

"Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust."   (Pro 4:25-27 MSG)

Are we keeping our eyes straight ahead?  

Are we focused on the "Christ" in "Christmas?  

Are we being barraged with distractions from all sides?  Music, decorations, lights, turkeys, stuffing, presents, want, greed, shopping, early, late, more, less.... 

The word barrage came to me as I was considering a title for this article.  I decided to look it up in the dictionary and "barrage" is described as a "rapid attacking outpouring of something" and "to subject somebody to a relentless onslaught."    All these rapid fire distractions are a tactic of the enemy to take our focus off of where it should be. 

Let's send a rapid fire barrage of our own by declaring that our focus is back on the Reason For The Season.... Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, Child of God, Child of man, King of kings, Lord of lords, Wonderful, Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Atonement, The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Healer, Saviour, Sanctifier, Servant, Sacrifice, Seated at the Right Hand of The Father and Sovereign, Soon Coming King!

Jesus IS ABLE to smooth out the road before us.  He can and will help us to stay on that narrow path, and He can enable us to withstand any barrage or distraction that the enemy may throw at us!  THANK YOU LORD!!

I really, really want a revelation of the "Revelation 1 Jesus!!"

Hello and Hallelujah!

Well, we are back online and I have been thoroughly enjoying catching up on what is happening in the world. I had the chance to come under some teaching (via God.TV) from Mike Bickle of IHOP on end time intercession, worship and the prophetic. I have only watched the first session but already I have found it a thought provoking conference. If you get a chance, check out the IHOP conference at http://www.god.tv/god?region=ihop ( http://www.god.tv/god for GOD On Demand)

Some tidbits that really had me thinking...

• A full revelation of the "Revelation 1 Jesus"... Fully God, Fully Man manifesting his power in the earthly arena to upend evil governments.... Not just the Jesus of the gospels, but fully God, fully Man!
  
• Have you been praying for the tribulation to come? Mike Bickle noted that it he believes is is our roll as the End Time Bride to prepare ourselves to be ready and then to JOIN with our Bridegroom in calling the Great Tribulation forth! The Church needs to grow up so that it can release the Great Tribulation through prayer, intercession, fasting, prophetic declarations, humility, servitude and radical obedience to God! ... an all this time, I have been asking to be delivered from my tribulations... oh my :(
  
• The Church prior to Christ's return will be in the same position before the anti-Christ as Moses was before Pharaoh. Moses had to be prepared for years in Midian before he was ready to go back to Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites. In Revelation, Jesus is the deliverer against the End Time Pharaoh and it is we who will join with God in calling forth the judgements of God. What would have happened if Moses had asked to be "Raptured" before God wanted him to set His people free? Do we want the rapture to happen before the people are delivered? Just something to think about...
  
• Anyway, I appreciated the depth with which Mike Bickle taught and the powerful anointing on his words. Check it out if you can, and let me know what your opinion is on the subject.
  
  Deliberations from Deb's Den <><