Lay Down Your Life

There comes this defining point in your life when you finally realize it's not about you. It sort of hits you really hard. You work up to that moment fighting all the way until you finally stand there forced to make a decision. You take a long look at your life and everything in it. You see the good and the bad. You remember what's it like to stand in the middle of it, clueless to anything else around you. Then the light comes on in your head. For once you make the conscious decision to lay your life down. For what? Love? Love is so powerful that it can make the weakest man strong and the strongest man weak. It can make you do things you never thought you could. You ask yourself this question, "what would I give up to see them surrounded in love?" You are one of those people who has always loved, always hoped for, always believed in, and always persevered....well, of what you can remember. There is no greater love than this, that we would lay down our lives for our friends. That's a powerful verse in the Bible. It's been carved into my spirit over the years. I believe that it is one of the most important verses we could live by. Even in the times you have to sacrifice the most in your life, it's worth it.

This Direction

This past weekend I visited a pastor/friend's church. There was a man there who travels, speaking at churches and gatherings. He's a prophet and not only speaks accurate words into people's lives but moves in the gift of healing. At first, I thought about not going, but something inside of me said that I would miss something if I stayed at home. I didn't feel like dressing up, because it had been a long hard day, so I threw on a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt and wore an IU hat. As I looked in the mirror I thought as I hid beneath the hat "maybe he'll have some answers" and yet at the same time I felt like hiding and him not noticing me.
The worship service was nice. It felt great to worship God and let go of the weights I have been carrying. When Steve began to speak my first thought was "I hope he doesn't see me." The word he gave to us was very foundational and simple, but some of the things he said really struck a chord in my heart and my spirit was stirred. His message was short so that he would have ample time to pray and speak into people. He did this for a long time, going from one person to another. He'd stand and wait for a revelation and then speak. It was interesting to watch and I actually found myself learning from him. When he spoke to several people from my church I was pleasantly surprised that what he said was very accurate. I continued to bow my head when he would glance in my direction, keeping him from seeing my face. I don't know why I kept doing this. At the time I enjoyed hearing him speak into other people, but I was hesistant in him speaking into me. So, I continued to watch him make his way around the room, even prophesying over my parents, brother and sister. I knew after a while that he was going to say something to me and I would be the last person.
After he talked to my brother he looked over at me and said "this must be your sister" and Nathan said yes. Steve came over and asked my name and I answered and bowed my head. I only caught some of what he said as he spoke over me. The first thing he said was "this girl is one in a million" and then about me having a great call and needing to be careful because people will want to take advantage of that and that I had a "double portion". He said a lot of things and every one of them ministered and registered in my spirit. I just stood there beneath my bowed head under my hat and silently cried. I needed that. I needed to know that I am going in the right direction and making the right decisions. Even though everything seems so crazy, I know that when I find that peace that I can't begin to explain, God is taking care of me. In my prayers I tell God every day "You know I will go, do, or say whatever you ask of me, but I refuse to walk where you aren't at." I walk WITH Him not just FOR Him. There's such a huge difference.

When He Comes

The waves of grass bowing beneath the great winds that blow in this place, where I have found myself in countless times, makes the ground upon which I am standing seem like nothing solid. I watch the sun make its decent over the far off horizon and I feel the warm breath of evening's air begin to extend it's fingers towards me. I move towards the crystal lake before me, with it's beauty reflecting the newly appearing stars. I watch them in the sky with their song softly echoing across the valley. My heart is joined in it's tune and I sing the sweet chorus, "It is here that I am found, It is here that I surrender, It is here that I can see Him, It is here that we shall meet..." My bare feet touch the cool liquid as I make my way into its sparkling depths. I smile and laugh like a child as I watch the reflecting stars rise from the water all around me. They dance as they sing, bringing Him here. I stretch out my arms and dance with them, my feet sculpting patterns in the lake. Through the stars that surround me I catch a glimpse of the one who comes. My heart is filled with excitement and joy pours from my lips. I stand still and watch as He moves, all is silent. I breath out His name to say "You came."

The Body of Christ: Covenant

1 Corinthians 12:13, 18, 27-28; 13:9-12

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

PAST: What has happened

The body of Christ:
1) We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body
2) We were all given the one Spirit to drink
3) God has arranged the parts in the body…as He wanted them to be

The Gifts:
4) God has appointed [the spiritual gifts]

The Transition:
5) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child
6) When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me


PRESENT: What is happening

The body of Christ:
1) You are the body of Christ
2) Each one of you is a part of it [the body of Christ]

Knowledge and Prophesy:
3) We know in part and we prophesy in part
4) The imperfect disappears [see Future] – this is where the transition from NOW to THEN begins to happen
5) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror
6) Now I know in part

Past, Present, and Future:
7) I am fully known – God knew you before time began and you were born, He’s already put a destiny within you and appointed you with gifts, and He knows what you will do with that calling


FUTURE: What will happen

1) When perfection comes [see Present] – we begin to understand what God is doing in us right NOW, He is restoring, renewing, creating, and perfecting for the future
2) Then we shall see face to face – as He is “perfecting” us, we will be able to see clearly
3) Then I shall know fully – this is our call, to know God and come into full relationship with Him

The Adventures of V8