Loved and Protected

Last night I saw Cindy Jacobs on God TV, and she said some remarkable things. She said that in the last days you and I are supposed to be so connected to the Holy Spirit that our lives are literally not our own, but rather we move as the spirit moves, in signs and wonders and miracles, not taking any credit for it, but using it to show the power of our wonderful Lord Jesus. We are to be dead to self and pride and control, and simply let the Holy Spirit move through us then step back and let God have the glory He so rightly deserves.

Wow! Wouldn’t that be amazing to be used like that! She confirmed what the Lord has already shown me, that the prophetic and miraculous are tools God uses to prove He’s alive and well and moving on Planet Earth. To prove He cares about people on a personal level. And isn’t that the most important thing after all is said and done?

We live on a planet with millions of others, a speck of dust on a revolving ball, if we believe what the world says. And it’s hard to feel important to anyone. Where in the world does a person find significance, the sense that they matter to someone, if not to those who love Jesus? You and I must see and treat each person, no matter who or what they are, with love, respect and gentle deference.

This was especially confirmed when I watched another program called “Love Won Out.” The subject matter was the homosexual lifestyle, and it truly was an eye-opening presentation. How often have we heard Christians railing against homosexuals when it’s the sin rather than the sinner we are supposed to hate?

A woman whose name I didn’t get spoke about her early teen years when she got into the gay lifestyle and lived as a lesbian while working for a Christian man. She said she had to question her assumptions about Christians when he treated her with respect and love. And in the end, the Lord slowly revealed Himself to her, showing her who she is in Jesus. It was a beautiful love story of compassion and gentle wooing by a God who never gave up on her.

I’m ashamed to say I grew up in a church that judged sinners harshly. Haven’t we all been where they are? Well, then the question begs: Did Jesus win us with harshness and condemnation, even while we were in sin? Absolutely not, which leads me to believe that we as the body of Christ, must examine ourselves and choose to love and respect even those who misunderstand and hate Christ and His message, because over time they, too, wil be challenged to consider the love they see extended through us.

What an amazing opportunity we have, to live and move among those who don’t know Christ but can see Him in us if we let it happen. Let’s choose to get out of His way, to love like He loves, and be used in the prophetic. Let’s not let another day go by where we judge others critically and hinder the work of God.

Lord, forgive us for getting in your way rather than ministering by the power of your Spirit. Help us to bask in your presence, steeped in the truth of your Word, so You can flow in love through us. Amen and amen.

Because of His great love,
Nancy

Do you know that the glory of God is waiting to be released from inside us? I can’t help but marvel at the thought–God actually wants His glory to be released to flow from our bellies, the deepest part of us, so that we move as if on assignment from heaven.

Do you live that way? Me either, but I want to. I want the “self” part of me that is selfish and controlling to die so that the love of Jesus can be manifest from the deep well of my heart.

How does that happen? It comes when we realize that the things our flesh wants are what will send us to hell if we get them. In reality, the devil wants to give us exactly what we want just to help us on our way to hell. Nothing, in fact, could make him happier. In contrast, God knows that once we give up the things we “think” we want, He actually gives us what we really need–things that help us flourish and grow. reflecting the life and light of Jesus Christ.

It’s up to us, however, to seek God and to meditate on His Word, to understand the distinctions between the two, for even as believers, our logic, without the Word and God’s Spirit, will make us yearn after those old things that will, in the end, lead to our destruction.

So what does it look like when the glory flows out like a river from deep inside us? It looks like love, unadulterated, pure, selfless love that seeks not its own, but rather seeks God and the good of others.

What’s not to like? I want it!

Because of His great love,
Nancy

Last night I was in the secret place and I marveled once again at how God could love me. And yet He does. He sort of swept me up into His arms and loved on me, in ways no one else can, filling that empty bucket.

Does your bucket ever get empty? Has anyone ever told you that you weren’t going to amount to anything? Have they looked at you with disdain and disgust, believing you’d never amount to anything?

So many of us carry around the scars of our childhood. Often those scars resulted from the opinion of only person, and yet that person’s words or actions made indelible marks on our character and our very being.

Yet God is showing me that the only opinion that counts is His, and He is for us, not against us. He wants us to let the glory out–the glory that He placed in us when we were saved, set free, spirit-filled and empowered to live like those who know God Himself!

Let’s not wait a moment longer to go to Him for healing, for filling, for encouragement, for love, for forgiveness, for passion that will change the world.
The question is–how much do we want it?

Because of His great love,
Nancy

What does it mean to worship with wreckless abandon? Well, if we look back at the life of King David, it says he was so into worshiping God that he shed the heavily layered, royal garments that hindered him, and, dressed only in his undergarments (which were not revealing), danced and worshiped, twirling and jumping in worship.

Now that’s wreckless abandon. Do you ever feel like the trappings of religion keep you from true worship? I do. Religion so often stifles the very newness of life we should experience, smothering the joy that we feel when that’s the last thing we want.

Just like King David, I want to dump tradition and religion and just get down to adoration and true worship–in fact it’s what I long for. I’m desperate to touch the face of God to feel His touch on mine, and to know what He’s feeling inside. I want to be so close I can hear His heartbeat and feel His breath on my face, even close enough to wipe tears from His cheeks.

So why don’t we dump tradition and religion? Perry Stone said it was the demonic religious spirits (straight from the pit of hell) of Jesus’ day that persecuted and crucified Him, and those same demonic spirits hinder our worship today–so why do we continue to live in dead tradition instead of being abundantly and miraculously alive the way God intends?

From now on let’s examine the things we do, the way we worship, and cast off the old, dead things that don’t get us closer to God, and just worship with wreckless abandon, the way David did. Let’s press in and get answers, praying without ceasing, and loving our God with all that is within us. Only then will we be the people God designed for us to be. Only then will we have something worth offering to unbelievers.

Because of His great love,
Nancy

I was listening to Ryan Wyatt on God TV and heard him say something remarkable. He said you and I actually control whether God’s plan is able to come forth in our lives. If we have bitterness, unforgiveness, rebellion in our hearts, or live in worry or distraction, we are not welcoming the destiny had has in mind for us.

He said the birthing comes with spending time in the secret place where God will impart all He has in mind for us. In fact the more time we spend there the more we will be transformed, and the more we will line up with God’s plan, filled to overflowing and letting loose of every hindrance to our destiny.

To birth the impossible, he says we must get into that secret place and actually decree and confess and declare and envision the dreams and promises God gives us. And over time we will produce what we’ve seen in our spirits. He used the example of Jacob when he worked for his father-in-law, Laban. During that time he decreed and declared and dreamed that the speckled flocks would increase and flourish, and because he believed it in the deepest part of his spirit, God honored that vision and made it happen.

It’s up to you and me to get into that secret place and let the Lord pour into us His visions and dreams for us. He wants to use us to heal, and prophesy and minister with compassion to the needs of others. He’s just waiting to impart His power and move through us to minister to needy hearts.

On another note: You may have noticed I used the words “Wreckless abandon” in one of my blogs the other day. I actually do know how to spell “reckless”, but the Lord had me spell it “wrong” for a reason. Often when we let ourselves worship with reckless abandon, we fear that we may lose control and be shamed or humiliated. But when we give ourselves to Him in “wreckless” abandon, we need not fear that we will come to a bad or shameful end, because in Him all things are glorious. In fact actually made me laugh to realize what He had done. I just write what He tells me, folks.

Isn’t God amazing!

Because of His great love,
Nancy

What exactly is holiness? Well, first let’s list what it isn’t. It isn’t trying our hardest to do our best to avoid sin. It isn’t staying inside a little box where we aren’t exposed to the outside world, though some would have us believe otherwise. Neither is it trying to be perfect, pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

If it isn’t those things–what is it? In truth, holiness is something we humans cannot attain, without the power of God in action inside us. One look at Old Testament Scripture proves that since the beginning of time men could not keep the law–could not attain to holiness.

Jesus actually came to bring true and lasting holiness. Falling in love with Him hook, line and sinker is the only way to be holy. Casting our cares upon Him and staying in close communication, both through meditating on the Word and fervent prayer, produces holiness in a way nothing else can. And once we have lost ourselves in His wonderful love, He reaches out and touches us, building us up, reminding us that, though we are but dust, we are irresistable and precious to God. Useful to the very kingdom of God.

I personally went the route of the perfectionist, and guess what? I ended up suicidal, realizing I would never measure up. The thing is, we weren’t meant to do it by ourselves. It’s not possible in our meager human strength. But with God, it’s not only possible, it’s guaranteed, but only if we lay down our own agendas and pick up the one God designed for each of us.

Only as we agree with God and get in line with His plan will the old things lose their attraction. Only then will we love what God loves and hate what He hates. Only then will we see with the eyes of heaven exactly what He wants us to accomplish. The cool thing is, however, that even what’s on our “to do” list isn’t up to us to do alone. He, in us, will make them happen. Isn’t that an amazing thought?

Let’s let go of the old, dead things that keep us on the ground and let God take us higher!

Because of His great love,
Nancy

In the same way that our wounds affect us, we often have snares into which we have stepped, either willfully or innocently. But either way they hinder us, preventing us from being all we can be in God. They are chinks in our spiritual armor, places the enemy can use against us, saying, “Look at you. What a pathetic example of a Christian you are if you can’t overcome______.” You fill in the blank.

Well, if that’s true, why aren’t we running to God and to the altar asking–begging God for deliverance? Because for the most part the church, even Pentacostal churches don’t preach deliverance anymore. Instead they preach accountability to each other, (note “each other” means “fallen men just like us.”) Does anyone else see the problem here, or am I the only one?

Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever and has not lost His power to deliver. So why aren’t we asking and believing for it? Because we’ve believed another of the devil’s lies, that God can’t set us free from anything anymore.

Because that’s a bold-faced lie, it’s up to you and me to preach the true Word whenever we get the opportunity, that Jesus is alive and well on Planet Earth and wants to set us free from every besetting sin. He wants us to be free to function in newness of life and in supernatural Holy Spirit power.

Another reason we often don’t ask for deliverance is because of the humiliation factor. We’ve tried it before and people shunned us when they knew our struggles. Well, let me emphatically state, “There, but for God go I.”

We dare not look down our noses or shun others because there is no difference between us, and if we act like we are superior, we are in iminent danger of falling due to pride. Let me repeat that last section for emphasis: If we act like we are superior, we are in iminent danger of falling due to pride.

So let’s reach out in love to our brothers and sisters, praying for each other and believing for deliverance and freedom, and not take no for an answer. We need each other. It’s going to take our combined efforts to win this world, and none of us are equal to the task alone, so let’s ask God to help us love and protect each other’s reputations, and encourage each other in the faith, believing for answers, victory and deliverance in every area. This is God’s deepest heart desire for His beloved–you and me.

I believe God wants to move right now to deliver us, if we will stand in agreement. Let me pray for us: Father, right now we are in desperate need of deliverance from every besetting sin. We come boldly to your throne, believing you can and WILL set us free to live in victory. Right now I pray for each one who needs a deliverance, that you will move in power and might, helping them renounce sin and, in Jesus’ name, take back the ground they gave to the enemy. We declare that right now You are shattering the power of darkness, lifting them above the circumstances, completely and permanently dead to that sin, and no longer subject to the siren song of the tempter. We thank you now for your delivering power, and believe that right now you are moving in a mighty way. In Jesus’ most wonderful name, amen.

I’d love to rejoice with you if God moved in your life today. You are precious to God and to me, a one of a kind, special vessel He wants to use to win your little circle of influence. Wow! What an amazing God we serve!

Because of His great love,
Nancy

Once more the Lord has added depth to the prophecy revealed in Wendy Alec’s Journal of the Unknown Prophet. It came from the book I mentioned the other day, Surviving the Anointing by David Ravenhill. And because this point is so vital it also bears repeating. In one section he mentioned the importance of emotional healing of the body of Christ. He agrees with what Wendy said–that if we who call ourselves believers do not avail ourselves of the healing God offers we will always have chinks, cracks in our armor that make us particular targets of the enemy. He knows our vulnerabilities and as I’m sure you’ve noticed, often uses them to whisper defeating messages into our ears.

The point that bears repeating is this: Today is the day of healing, and we dare not wait, because if, as we believe, the enemy has individually targeted God’s champions, those who love and serve Him with all their hearts, souls and minds, that should include you and I. And that means that we are in his gun sights with a giant bullseye on our backs.

If we have fallen in love with Christ, and are putting Him first in everything, we may think that’s enough to keep us from falling into the devil’s snare, but that is not necessarily true. If we have unmet needs, raw wounds from the church or others in our backgrounds, we dare not wait another moment to run to the cross for healing.
As I mentioned the other day, everything we do is influenced by the wounds we carry, which means we cannot possibly effectively minister as long as those wounds exert preconceived notions that hinder faith and use undue influence. And that’s the problem. We must be free to live without unforgiveness, bitterness, pain and unhealed wounds if we are to do anything in the supernatural.

So what’s the answer? Don’t wait another moment. Go into your prayer closet, pray and make a list of everyone and everything that ever left you with scars, and then cast them at the foot of the cross, asking God to heal them.

I’m going to pray right now. Father, we are desperate to be set free from our old scars, desperate for a new move of heaven to transform us. In our old man, we can do nothing to restore the old things, but You, Father, are totally capable of addressing those issues. Touch and heal, Father, restoring what the canker has stolen away that we may be free to move unfettered and without fear, knowing You want to use us in amazing ways. We thank You now, Lord, for what we believe You are doing, as we ask without wavering. In Jesus’ most worthy name, amen.

And as the Lord continues to reveal old scars take them to the cross and leave them there letting Him touch those places, making them like new baby skin. And I can guarantee you’ll feel light and free to soar in the spirit as they old things fall away.

Because of His great love,
Nancy

I hardly slept at all last night. I think that’s much like a line from an old song, but it’s also true for me. Last night the urgency to pray kept me up from midnight to seven AM. At those times I can actually feel the heart of God beating, anxious to move on the hearts of men, but, as we’ve said before, without the prayers of the saints, absolutely nothing happens.

Lately I’ve also sensed God’s intense level of love, His yearning after souls, and His deep desire to rescue them. I see Him moving to change hearts and send angels to intervene at pivotal moments in people’s lives.

As I said before I believe He wakes me in the night hours because my days are so full of distractions. If it took prayer during the day, it just wouldn’t have the same effect, partly because the hours of 3-6 AM are so powerful without the hindrances that come at other times.

What about you? Can you feel the urgency? Or do you go to work or shopping and scarcely see those walking past you? It’s easy to do, isn’t it?

But God wants us to see others through heaven’s eyes. He wants us to realize that each one is precious to Him; He died for everyone we meet, no matter how they appear to the natural eye. And it’s important to remember that even the worst of men can be transformed if the message of the gospel can convict them. Help us, Lord to see with your eyes and love the way you do and not discount a single one.

On another note: I have to marvel that as bad as things are going in our country I am not panicking as I would’ve a year ago. And I can only attribute this to the fact that I am called to pray for all I’m worth for our country, for revival, for our legislators and president, and as a result, God is pouring His peace out inside me.

You and I must not let our hearts fail with fear the way unbelievers do. We have a God who is sovereign, who has every move figured out, forming strategies that will trump the devil every time. But in order to be on the winning side, we must spend time meditating on the Word, getting into that secret place, basking in the incredible love of God, praying fervently and choosing to believe God is moving whether we see it or not with our natural eyes.

The other day I heard Perry Stone say something profound. Perhaps I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. There are three kinds of prayer: simple prayer, praying in faith, and praying in faith without wavering. It’s only the last one that gets God’s entire attention. So let’s get serious about the things of God and move in the spirit, ready in season and out of season to obey the voice of the Lord. For Jesus is coming soon and there’s no time to waste!

Because of His great love,
Nancy

I recently came across a book called Surviving the Anointing by David Ravenhill, son of the late Leonard Ravenhill, and couldn’t resist buying it because the title was so intriguing. What on earth could he mean by “Surviving the Anointing”? Well, I had a chance to read it, and was blessed beyond my expectations.

In essence, he confirmed what Wendy Alec’s prophetic message had said–that soon there would be a great falling away. But he listed the reasons, the root causes, and how to avoid falling into the traps Satan has set for God’s champions. The book is, in essence, a handbook of wisdom with precious tools to help us make it to the end victorious.

He reiterated that many of God’s servants think they are strong enough to withstand the deceptions of the enemy, when nothing could be further from the truth. He said that Satan is custom-making deceptions for those who think they are strong. He will use tactics he has never used before, because his time is short, and his deceptions must be the best he’s ever come up with. And you and I would do well to keep in mind that he’s called a ‘master deceiver’ for good reason. I’m absolutely convinced that apart from humbling ourselves before God and holding tight to His hand, we will be consumed and will fall away.

I would urge you to read the book and buy one for your pastor. It’s a treasure house of information that is vital to the day in which we live, especially since Christian pastors and teachers are the the exact targets Wendy Alec mentioned in her prophecy.

Another thing the Lord is revealing to me through many sources is this: We humans don’t have the capacity to grasp the depth of God’s love for us. He is for us in every way. He is rooting us on, cheering from the sidelines, having already poured into us every single thing we need to make it. His Spirit is in us, people! He has equipped us with His Spirit, to empower us, to give wisdom, discernment, hope, the ability to move in the prophetic–absolutely everything we need to make it to the end victorious!

So will we believe Him, and stop limiting the spirit within us? It’s up to us to say, “Okay, Holy Spirit, I know you have plans for me. Things you want me to do, so speak, and I’ll listen and obey.”

Would that we would get this lesson and rejoice with exceeding great joy at the gifts God has given!

Because of His great love,
Nancy