Gift of Discernment

Arise and Shine and let the glory of the Lord rise among you. Isaiah 60:1

"The spiritual gift of discernment is also known as the gift of "discernment of spirits" or "distinguishing between spirits.". The Greek word for the gift of discernment is Diakrisis. The word describes being able to distinguish, discern, judge or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment."

 8 signs that you may have the gift of discernment

The Lord has really been taking me through a full circle season in my life.  He seems to be tying up loose ends that began years ago.  One of those loose ends was with my gift of discernment.  I've always had a sensing of knowing which way I should go...I could feel that someone or something was safe or not safe.  I grew up isolated and alone.  My grandmother raised me.  She worked two jobs so she was never home.  I had two fathers and neither were in my life.  My mother suffered with mental illness since a flight down wooden stairs cracked her skull leaving her chemically imbalanced.  She fell down those stairs when I was four years old.  She was in the tub and the phone was ringing.  My dad was on the phone calling her confirming the time of their date.  She slipped out of the tub, ran to answer the phone, and fell down the stairs.  Guess who's fault that was?  Yes, it was mine!  Somehow the enemy will always find a way to kill, steal, and destroy destiny even from infancy on up.  Look at Moses and Jesus for that example.  Moses' mother placed him in a reed basket and sent him down the Nile River full of alligators and predators waiting to devour him, but GOD!!!! God kept him safe and he eventually arose into his purpose.  With Jesus, all males from the age of two down were murdered because Herod had been informed that an infant king would come and take him out of authority.  God sent an angel to speak to Joseph to get Jesus to safety and thankfully, Joseph obeyed. 

I feel there was always that upon my life even as that baby that my mother shook quiet.  When you grow up without a father and mother to care and nurture you, you learn to cope and survive the best way you know how.  I learned at a very young age to 'listen to my heart.'  I now know, that I have always walked in the gift of discernment.  The Lord gave me an example of what that looked like.

So say, you are walking around your home in the dark.  After bumping and hitting things a number of times as you fumble through the darkness, to find your way around your surroundings, you become familiar of what is placed where and you begin to maneuver yourself accordingly.  You learn to navigate through the dark.  I suppose it's the same thing for a blind person.  You rely on your other senses as they are heightened and more sensitive to keep you safe.  Growing up without someone protecting me as a little girl, I was the victim of much abuse.  I learned how to survive.  I learned how to make the best of every situation.  I learned to see the good in the bad.  I learned to look through the storm clouds for the rays of hope shining down from the sunshine. You can chose to focus on your cup being half full or half empty.  Optimism or pessimism.  I was looking back at baby pictures and even then, God made me happy.  I smiled so big my face looked like it couldn't contain anymore joy. 

The gifts that God placed inside of each of us were put in us as we were being fashioned and formed in our mother's wombs.  They are irrevocable.  So even though I was living in the darkness.  I still was able to function in my God-given gifts.  I might not recognized them or understood them.  I didn't know anything different.  I just knew..."this doesn't FEEL right!"  or "I know that this is the way to go!"  I could sense and feel things.  My spirit was always so sensitive to my environment.  Now that I walk in the light of God's love, I can see that I have the gift of discernment.  I can see so much more clearly because the light shines on my surroundings.  The light of Jesus is inside of me and I don't have to feel my way around in the darkness, I can see what is all around me.  I've always hated when someone would try to stick me into one gift of Holy Spirit, also.  I desire ALL the gifts.  I don't want just one or two...I want them all!  Jesus walked in the fullness of this and he said greater works will you do when Holy Spirit comes upon you...So I want to walk in all of the same gifts he walked and lived out.  Right now I'm focusing on the gift of discernment.  Let's see what the gifts of Holy Spirit are in 1 Corinthians 12:1-10.

These gifts lie dormant in most Christians due to lack of desire of stirring them up or being fearful that we will do it wrong or that we are false prophets or whatever lie the enemy speaks to our hearts at the time.  Could you imagine if we were making pancakes and didn't stir the batter?  Or making cookies and didn't stir in the ingredients.  We just let all the ingredients that we put in the bowl that the recipe called for and we didn't stir it.  Could we even get anywhere?  How would we be able to even begin thinking that we could form a dough ball, let alone make a cookie.  We have spiritual gifts inside of us and many, sadly, NEVER stir up the gifts within and therefore, never become who they were created to be.  My girls wanted to make cookies one time.  I let them follow the recipe.  I was gonna watch over them as they did it on their own.  I then got busy cleaning or something and they were so excited as they were making the dough balls for the chocolate chip cookies....They put them in the oven and baked them...Out they came, steaming...LOOKING perfect....but something awful happened when we bit into them....O MY GOODNESS!!!! disgusting....We couldn't figure out what happened until we began going over the recipe again....Here instead of 1/4 of a teaspoon of baking soda, they put a 1/4 of a tablespoon...Something so simple, destroyed the entire batch of cookies.  You know what, though?  They stirred up the ingredients...They tried...they failed....what did we do?  I let them try again.  You know what?  Both of my daughters are such good cooks and bakers.  They made messes and mistakes in their cooking experiences but they also had room for growing where they lacked this or that. 

If you don't ever stir your gifts and have grace to fail, how will you ever become successful in them? 

So I encourage you to stir up the gifts that are inside of you!  You will miss it!  You will fail!  But in that, you will also hit the mark and you will also grow in them. 

Back to my gift of discernment.  I've now known that I've always had this gift inside of me.  As I've matured in the knowledge and understanding of the word and the light of God's love shines upon my life, I can clearly see now and my gift is more clear. 

When I was around 13, my sister, and my best friend were all home alone.  I lived in the country and we never had parents or anyone around to protect us.  We were always alone.  My gram was at work and we were doing whatever teenagers do.  We always left our windows and doors unlocked. We lived in the country and there wasn't any eminent danger of locking up.  My bedroom had a window that if the front door was locked, we always crawled through my bedroom window to get inside. 

One day, however, I felt different in my spirit.  I felt led that we needed to lock all the doors and windows.  I didn't FEEL safe.  I FELT like there was a lurking danger and that if I didn't lock the doors and windows, something bad would happen.  So I went with that feeling and we locked all the doors and windows.  Later in the evening after dark, we were all doing something and we heard this eerie sound against the aluminum siding of the trailer.  It sounded like someone was running an object against the aluminum siding creating this scary sound.  My sister and friend started getting very frightened...As I was getting scared, I remember the wave of peace that washed over me that was followed by relief that I had locked all the doors and windows.  That gave me time to call my neighbor.  I called him and told him what we heard.  He said, stay there, I'll come up to check it out.  He came up with another friend and they brought a 22.  When they made it to the trailer, they saw someone running into the woods.  Later we found out that a boy that was put in the juvenile boys home not far from me had escaped.  He had been in there for rape.  Now, I was NOT a Christian.  I was a teenage girl who was just FEELING something was off and I listened to that feeling.  I believe God had sent an angel to speak that eminent danger was there and spoke to my heart what to do and I obeyed.  Three girls home alone...this boy would have hit the jackpot with vulnerability and no covering and the enemy who comes to kill, steal, and destroy KNEW we were open prey. 

God, HOWEVER!!!!  He is always with us!  He LOVES us even when we don't believe in him...HE BELIEVES in us! 

Father,
I thank you for loving me even when I was in the dark.  I thank you that you still loved me enough to speak to my heart and send help in the times of my trouble.  I thank you for the gifts that you place inside each of us.  I thank you that the gifts are irrevocable.  That you give us these gifts and they are ours to keep forever even if we never use them.  Help us stir up the gifts that you have placed inside of us.  Help us not let them be wasted.  You love us and every good and perfect gift comes from you!  You are an amazing father.  You will always be there protecting and guiding us.  I love you, Lord!

Locked out of Love - Cleaving

Arise and Shine for the Glory of the Lord has risen among you. Isaiah 60:1

The Lord began speaking the word CLEAVE to my spirit.  Many marriages fail success due to this simple principle.  Cleaving does not, in fact, take place.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

*and shall cleave - dabaq - to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch, to cling, cleave to, to stay with, (Pual) to be joined together, to pursue closely

.,,,.l

Notice the word cleave says,to adhere, specially firmly, as if with glue, to be glued.

How can two people be glued together if they are still glued to something else?  Notice that scripture says, 'therefore shall leave his mother and father.'  What if there is never a 'leaving'?  The word LEAVE is `azab and it means:  to leave, loose, forsake

1. (Qal) to leave
   

   1. to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone
   2. to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise
   3. to let loose, set free, let go, freeo
2. (Niphal)
   

   1. to be left to
   2. to be forsaken
3. (Pual) to be deserted

So how can a man or woman cleave to each other as one flesh if they aren't free to cleave.  What if they stay connected at the umbilical cord?  What would that look like?  The picture that is coming to my mind is a brand new freshly primed/painted wall.  You have this room and you have decided you are gonna put wallpaper on it.  The wallpaper comes in a fresh roll.  It is self-adhesive. All you have to do is measure it, cut it, then roll it backwards and put it in warm water.  When you let it drip out....you are ready to put it on the wall in place and begin sponging the wrinkles out and putting it in proper alignment with each strip you place upon the wall. 

Let's just say that is parenting 101...The parents are setting up the walls in their home.  They are establishing them...they are adding children and training the children up in the ways of the Lord...The wallpaper being the parents, the wall being the child...It's adhered to the family.  The parents have stayed close to the child, raising it up...joining together as a family.

³ By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; ⁴ And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.  Proverbs 24:3-4  (NASB)

When the time comes that the man is going to take for himself a wife, the wallpaper needs to be removed from the walls, so fresh wallpaper can be put up in that room.  There is a lot of preparation in taking down wallpaper to prepare a wall for fresh paint or new wallpaper.  You can't just pull off the wallpaper because it cleaves to the walls.  It is attached to the walls.  It is joined as one to the walls.  You have to soak it down with water or special wallpaper removing chemicals.  There is a lot of scraping and tedious work in removing every last bit of old wallpaper residue.  If you go to paint on a wall that has bits and pieces of that old residue, it will mess up the new fresh wallpaper with lumps and bumps or the fresh coat of paint will look lumpy and cheapened. 

A man must leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife.   What would happen if a man didn't truly leave his mother or father and cleave to his wife.  What would happen to a fresh roll of wallpaper if you just placed it overtop of the old wallpaper?  It would look the same in the spirit as it does in the natural.

The new wallpaper would not truly Cleave to the old wallpaper.  There wouldn't be a joining together.  An opposite reaction would actually take place.  A repulsion...A detachment.  A forsaking. 

When a man doesn't leave his mother or father and cleave to his wife as one flesh, he doesn't truly need the wife as much as he should.  If he can run back to his mom or dad and get all the emotional support that his wife should be giving to him, he doesn't have to invest himself fully into the relationship.  There's always a backdoor escape.  If a woman can call on her mom or dad whenever her husband fails to meet her needs, there is a polar opposite of magnetism that happens. 

So many people enter into marital unions and don't understand why joining together as one flesh never happens.  You can't CLEAVE if you never LEAVE!  You need to be pursuing one another closely. 

Paul tells us that a man is to love his wife like Christ loves the church.  What does that look like?

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body. (Ephesians 5:25-30)

Let me tell you something about Jesus...he left his mother and father and he cleaved to his bride...his disciples...his people...How do I know?  When he was confronted about who his mother or father was, this was his answer. 

As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.  Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Matthew 12:47:50 (NLT)

Jesus left his mother, father, brothers...He cleaved to his disciples...He cleaves to his bride.  He cleaves to you and to me...How many husbands truly leave their mothers and fathers and cleave to their wives and they become one flesh...

If this principle were in effect, then people couldn't just walk away from that covenant of marriage so easily.  Jesus gave up his life for the church, his bride.  His bride committed adultery on him over and over and over again with other lovers.  (Read Jeremiah 2)

All he wanted was for his bride to come back to their first love.  He waited...He forgave.  He was long-suffering.  He was patient.  He was kind.

“ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.  3Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’ ”

4Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.  5This is what the Lord says:  “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me?  They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.  6They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ 7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce.  But you came and defiled my land

and made my inheritance detestable.  8The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me.  The prophets prophesied by Baal,

following worthless idols.  9“Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord.

“And I will bring charges against your children’s children.  But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. 12Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,”

13“My people have committed two sins:  They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.  14Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?

Why then has he become plunder?  15Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.  16Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes

have cracked your skull.  17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God

when he led you in the way?  18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile^b ?  And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?  19Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you.  Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,”

The Lord wanted nothing but his bride to turn back to him...He knew they had forsaken him with other lovers...He didn't want a divorce.  He wanted repentance.  He cleaved to his people...However, they left him, they had never really left their former lives and cleaved to him.  I believe that is a missing key in many marriages today.  You need to LEAVE to CLEAVE!

I heard the Lord speak to my heart.  When you don't Leave to CLEAVE, then you're LOCKED out of LOVE.  Because the key that opens the door to love is CLEAVING.  I'm not talking about worldly love that is so filled with conditions and regulations that it truly hurts to love.  It's painful to love.  No one can live up to the false expectations of the world's standards of love.  I'm talking the kind of love that is stronger than death.  The love that remains...1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

That kind of love never fails.  That kind of love ALWAYS hopes!  It ALWAYS Perseveres!  This kind of love is mature.  It LEAVES its mother and father and CLEAVES to his wife as one flesh. 

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 the ways of childhood behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11 

When you LEAVE and CLEAVE, a man becomes a man...a woman becomes a woman and the ways of childhood are BEHIND them!  It's time to become one flesh and do life together...Not call on mommy or daddy to bail you out of every emotional, financial, or intimate dispute you have as a couple. 

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)  The Greatest of faith, hope, and love....IS LOVE!

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be locked out of this kind of love.  I am thankful that God releases his keys of wisdom and understanding...

GENESIS 2:22 - And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Woman was created from the rib of man
She was not made from his head to top him
Nor from his feet, to be trampled on.
She was made from his side, to be equal to him
From under his arm to be protected by him
From near his heart to be loved by him.

~author unknown~

Mizpah: Day 10 of 21 - Ummm? That's NOT Good Will!

Mizpah: Day 10 of 21 - Ummm? That's NOT Good Will!: Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you. Isaiah 60:1 I met a friend for a lunch date.  We visited for several hours....

Day 12 of 21- New hat! New Shoes! I got a New Attitude!

Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you - Isaiah 60:1

I saw a picture of an eagle talon yesterday and it reminded me of this dream I had two years ago (January 8/9, 2014)

Dreamt I was walking with my family; open skies before us.  I remember DESIRING to SEE an Eagle.  I remember looking up and expecting to see an eagle.  My family made fun of me.  Why do you keep looking up?  What do you think you're going to see?  I told them my desire, then they laughed at me as if I was foolish having faith to believe that I would see what I desired.  They were walking behind me.  I was walking ahead of them and continually looking up.  I looked up and I saw a huge, gorgeous Bald Eagle soaring with over a half of loaf of bread in its talons.

I pointed to it and showed my family the eagle.  They saw THE SIGN, THE WONDER and were amazed.  They were astonished that an eagle was actually there.  It wasn't native to this place.  It flew down and landed on my left shoulder.  I was fearful but excited that it landed and rested on my shoulder.

The eagle began speaking to me.  He was telling me what direction to go to.  He led me to a path.  It was a riverbank.  Once I was at the riverbank, the eagle disappeared.  I was told I had to go into the water.  It was gross and cold.  I didn't want to go in.  My family told me it was the only way.  They went in and I said, "No, I don't want to."  I turned to the left (same side the eagle was) and saw a bridge in the water.  It was like a metal tunnel under the water and I could walk on it to get to the other side.  I was afraid to cross it because it was slippery.  One step at a time.  I did slip and stumbled catching myself by straddling the tube.  I got back up and got to the other side.  One the other side I had NEW PERSPECTIVE.  God had made a way where there was no way.

In the beginning of the dream, I had desired to see an eagle in the open sky.  My family didn't believe me that we would see one.

32And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 33They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened." 34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. (Matthew 20:32-34).

Faith moves the Lord to compassion.  Without faith, it's impossible to please God.  (Hebrews 11:6).

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:24

I desired my family to see God's glory.  I wanted my family to see God's faithfulness.  I wanted them to see a sign that would make them wonder.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:32)

Not only did God give me the desires of my heart in this dream.  The eagle came with PROVISION.  The bread symbolizes provision. 

¹⁰ May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.¹¹ Give us the food we need for each day. (Matthew 6:10-11) NCV

An eagle represents the prophetic gifting.  They have eyes to see.  The eagle has an ability to see hidden spiritual truths, rising above the material to see the spiritual.   The Bible carries references to the eagle as the messenger of God, and as a link between heaven on earth.

In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, "Come, and let us go to the SEER;" for he who is now called a Prophet was before called a SEER. (1 Samuel 9:9) 
     
….I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:4

…. but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

The prophetic gift came and rested on my left shoulder.  The signification of shoulder is all power.

Isaiah 9:6-7 -6For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.

The prophetic gifting that the Lord has placed upon my life is the all-powerful dunamis of Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Not by Power, not by Might, but by HIS spirit (Zechariah 4:6)

He will lead and guide me to places that others may tell me opposite to the divinely inspired way. Holy Spirit will lead me into unchartered paths of ALL Things Possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23).  He makes a way, where there is no way (Isaiah 43:19).

As I listened to Holy Spirit, he showed me a hidden path, a hidden bridge to cross the waters so that I would not get cold or defiled.

This dream was very comforting to me.  I woke up singing the Patti LaBelle song in my Spirit..."New Attitude."

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view
I got a new attitude

Runnin' hot, runnin' cold
I was runnin' into overload
It was extreme, ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-extreme
It took it so high, so low
So low, there was nowhere to go
Like a dream

Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view

I got a new attitude

I'm in control, my worries are few
'Cause I've got love like I never knew
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I got a new attitude

I'm wearing a new dress (New), new hair (New)
Brand new ideas, as a matter of fact I've changed for good
It must have been the cool night, new moon, new slight change
More than the figure but I feel like I should, yes

Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view

I got a new attitude

As I sang that song running around the house, brush in hand...I began to pray my own prayer of renewal. 

Lord, I thank you for a:
New Season
New Ministry
Now is the time!
Newness of Christ
New Wineskins
New Win
New Signs
New Wonders
New Outpouring of Holy Spirit
New Life
New Baptism of Holy Fire
New Believers saved
New Love and zeal for Christ
New Green Sprouts of Life & Hope

A new day of 'No more  getting passed by or overlooked.  I thank you, Lord, for your Favor!  I thank you for your Glory shining brightly in me and through me.  Illuminating Your glory and goodness!  No more mourning!  A new day for dancing and rejoicing!  Joy comes in the morning!  It's a new morning with new mercies and grace abundant.  I thank you for New growth, new promises filled to overflowing with a future and hope.  I will continually look up.  I will continually ask, seek, expect, and listen.  I love you, Lord and by your Spirit you will lead me.

Day 13 of 21 -Day 13 of 21 -Seer, Prophet, Watchman on the Wall

Arise & Shine for the Glory of the Lord has risen among you.  Isaiah 60:1

Today, I want to give a little insight as to what the eagle and prophetic gift have in common.  I want to share of one of my gifts with you.  I have a strong sense of just KNOWING.  I have very insightful, prophetic dreams.  I began studying a little deeper into this subject of having a Seer Anointing. 

The Seer by Jim Goll goes into great depth describing the function of a Seer Prophet:

What is the difference between a prophet and a seer? For now, let us say that all true seers are prophets, but not all prophets are seers. The Operation of the Seer Anointing

Within the overall realm of the prophet lies the particular and distinctive realm of the Seer. The word "seer" describes a particular type of prophet who receives a particular type of prophetic revelation or impartation.

The Old Testament uses two words primarily to refer to a seer: ra'ah and chozeh. Ra'ah literally means "to see," particularly in the sense of seeing visions. Other meanings include to "gaze," to "look upon," and to "perceive." Chozeh literally means "a beholder in vision" and can also be translated as "gazer" or "stargazer."

With these definitions now in place, the distinction between a prophet (nabiy') and a seer (ra'ah or chozeh) becomes a little clearer. When it comes to prophetic revelation, a prophet is primarily an inspired hearer and then speaker, while a seer is primarily visual. In other words, the prophet is the communicative dimension and the seer is the receptive dimension. Whereas nabiy emphasizes the active work of the prophet in speaking forth a message from God, ra'ah and chozeh focus on the experience or means by which the prophet "sees or perceives" that message.

The first lays emphasis on a prophet's relationship with the people; the other, on their revelatory relationship with God.


The Power of the Seer Anointing Everyone needs a vision to sustain them in life.

Proverbs 29:18 states, "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law." This verse in the New International Version reads: "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law." Some other translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version, use the word "prophecy" instead of "vision" or "revelation." The point is clear: without prophecy, without divine revelation or vision, people will cast off all restraint. They will run wild because they have no guidance - no vision. The Word of God - His law - provides vision and guidance for living, and those who follow it are blessed.

As Christians, we are called to be a people of vision. We must learn to set a goal or target in front of our eyes to gaze upon. It is only when we aim at something that we have any chance of hitting it! The apostle Paul set his sights on knowing Christ, which he acknowledged was a lifelong process:

Philippians 3:13-15a
"13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude."

Like Paul, we need to be a people of vision. Let us set our sights on the Lord and aim at His goals. The seer will move your heart and stir up your hunger for intimacy with God, because "the seer's goal is to reveal the man Christ Jesus!"

Formerly considered "strange," the SEER anointing is becoming known as much more mainstream in the Church today. And that's good news for you. I can hear many of you saying, "Finally, they'll know I'm not crazy...in fact, I know I'm not crazy!"

Times are changing! The seers are being restored to their place of insight, counsel, and the word of the Lord! Here come the Seers!

If there are true seers today, and there surely are, then we must have our aim and focus clear. We must see Jesus! In all our seeing - let's be like John the beloved. Let's get in the Spirit and release the true prophetic spirit by revealing a testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10). He is the one I long to see. He is the one for whom my heart yearns and pants. He is the goal and prize of my life.

 In all our seeing - let us see and reveal the man Christ Jesus!

“SEER” Hebrew (7200, 7203, 2374, 2372)Hebrew 7200: ra’ah, raw-aw’; to see, look, view; to realize, know, consider; to be selected; to become visible, appear, show oneself; to be seen; to cause to see, show; to be shown; to look at each other, meet with; a general word for visual perception. Hebrew 7203: ro’eh, ro-eh’; a seer; vision. Hebrew 2374: Chozeh, kho-zeh’; seer, one who receives a communication from God, with a possible focus that the message had a visual component; agreement. Hebrew 2372: Chazah, khaw-zaw’; to see, to look, observe, gaze, by extension: to choose (one thing or another); to have visions, to prophesy.

“PROPHET” Hebrew (5030, 5012, 5197)Hebrew 5030: nabiy’, naw-bee’; a prophet (true or false). Hebrew 5012: naba’, naw-baw’; to prophesy, speak as a prophet; prophesy has its focus on encouraging or restoring covenant faithfulness, the telling of future events encourages obedience or warns against disobedience. Hebrew 5197: nataph, naw-taf’; to pour down; gently fall, drip; to (drip words) preach, prophesy.

Lloyd Philips explained the three type/kind of a Prophets when he wrote:

"Biblically there are three Hebrew words that are translated as a prophet, two of which are translated as a seer. There is raah which is translated seer, meaning someone who sees open visions. That same word is used for someone who sees with natural eyes. Then there is chozeh. This word emphasizes spiritual apprehension, of internal visions. And lastly nabiy which is the most common biblical word in terms of the prophetic. It means someone who has the Spirit working within them. It is a word for inspiration. Every prophet receives this type of inspiration. Every prophet will be the nabiy kind, but not every prophet will be the raah or chozeh kind"

Jesus urgently needs his watchmen to get back up on the watchtower where he has appointed them.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.  You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest (Is 62:6).

Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain (Is 56:10,11).

I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.' Therefore hear, O nations; observe, O witnesses, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law (Jer 6:17-19).

When a watchman receives a dream or vision about a cataclysmic event, they should be very careful about how they give warning. Before speaking, they should find out the status and meaning of the events they have seen.

Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? (1 Cor 14:8).

A cataclysmic vision or dream may have any of the following possible meanings.

1. a symbolic message with a spiritual interpretation,
2. a warning of what Satan is planning, so that we can resist him,
3. a warning event, that is a type of something worse coming,
4. an event that may happen soon
5. an event that is a long way into the future,
6. an event that will only happen, if God's people do not repent.
7. a final judgment on a people that has rejected God. 

Sounding the trumpet is not sufficient. Sharing a vision is not enough. Watchmen are required to sound the trumpet clearly. When sharing a vision or dream, they should also explain its meaning. If this does not happen, God's people will become confused. Too much confusion could lead to Christians being defeated and God's name being mocked.

Tower and Gate

Watchmen are not there to boost the name of the enemy and paralyze God's people with fear. Their purpose is to warn the people of danger, while it is still a long way off. This gives the people living outside the city time to get behind the walls where they will be safe. The watchman's warning also gives the city leaders time to prepare their defenses, so they can repel the enemy when he comes.
The safety of a city depends on the watchmen being on the watchtower. It also depends on the leaders at the gate heeding their warning. If the watchmen and the leaders at the gate of the city each do their task, the enemy's plans should be defeated and the city kept safe.

The role of the watchmen is important. God responds to the attacks of the enemy by exposing his plans, and countering with something even more powerful.

Today's spiritual watchmen are just as important to the kingdom of God. But the Church has become so familiar and comfortable with the world that our watchmen may not notice when adverse conditions enter our boundaries. In this hour God is saying, "Watch the boundaries I have set for you, so that the enemy does not gain access to your inheritance." (Chuck Pierce - The Future War of the Church).

These watchmen were especially trained to be able to distinguish the enemy from their brethren. Only those with the best vision and judgement were given these Posts. They could not be overly prone to sound the alarm, or to request that the gates be opened. They had to be accurate in their discernment. If there were too many false alarms the people would begin to disregard them. If they were careless and let an enemy in the gate, they could jeopardize the entire city. This was an extremely crucial position for which accuracy and dependability were required (Rick Joyner - The Ministry of a Watchman).

Three Types of Vision

Christians with discernment can receive three types of vision.

1. Some visions show what the people deserve. They show what the wrath of God demands.   Amos 7:1.
2. The Holy Spirit sometimes shows his people what Satan wants to do. When people turn away from God, they give him authority to fulfil his plans. He is a destroyer, so these visions are often destructive. Spiritual people who are not Christians may also receive these visions, but from a different source.
3. Some visions show what God is going to do to turn his people back to him, as his wrath is tempered by his mercy. The purpose of these visions is refining and purifying (Amos 7:7-9).  

Day 8 of 21 - We all have a story to tell

Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you. Isaiah 60:1

Good morning, Good day, Good Afternoon!  Good Evening...Let me tell you, it's a good day!  It's a good moment.  It's just good...Why?  Because His mercies are new every morning...that's why!

I just completed a four-week Grief group.  I took it because I have a degree in Christian Counseling and it's time to get into that aspect of my life.  I have mentored and counseled people in my life and amazing testimonies have come from their lives. Some of those testimonies came out of my darkest moments of my life.  We all have a story to tell!  As we tell our stories of hope and spark inspiration into others about our Testimony!  It's inspires hope to 'DO it AGAIN, Lord; this time for me!'...

In the grief group, I had to do a few things that I just am not that confident in...1) Drawing...if you could see me right now, you'd see this:

My stick figures are questionable!  So when the facilitator said, 2) 'You're gonna draw a picture of your favorite Christmas memory.' 

It went from this facial expression to this inner monologue:

I don't have many childhood favorite Christmas memories...Hmm...o except when the Salvation Army would bring my sister and I a few gifts.  When the representatives from the Salvation Army left, so would the excitement of it being Christmas.  I tried to really reflect and remember what cherished Christmas memory I could draw as an adult.  My family is evolving.  I only have one child still in school and he just started High School, so the beauty of Christmas through the eyes of a child has quickly faded.  Every Christmas when my children were little was special...So I finally thought about how we have always made sugar cookies together.  My kids didn't even have time this year for that.  So, as I began displaying my favorite memory through a sharpie onto paper...I pushed through my two weaknesses...

Going through four weeks of this grief group, I've realized that I have suppressed a lot of grief deep down inside.  What I thought was gonna be a 'training experience' became a much needed debrief for my heart.  As I dug deep and visited those places of hidden pain, I looked around the room and saw beautiful, amazing people that all had a story to tell.

The traumas of life had drawn us all together for this captured moment in our lives.  Each story was so sad and heartbreaking. We cried with one another and felt empathy for one another as we shared our stories of grief and trauma.

Each one of us wanting a happy ending to our stories.  The thing about mourning is that God says it only last for the night because joy comes in the morning.  Each one could truly empathize with the other because our stories were so different but yet so similar.  We had lost loved ones through various traumas.  We knew pain...and we knew emptiness and we could comfort each other with a deep remorse and compassion. 

We all have a story to tell.  When the Author of our stories is given permission to write HisStory upon our hearts, we have to know, trust, and believe that it will have a happy ending, no matter the depth and adventure of each chapter...HisStory is an ultimate love story.   It's the greatest story ever told of a Savior and rescuer.  It does end well!  It has the best ending ever written! 

I heard this song today by He is We.  It's called 'Happily ever after.'  I shortened the original video minus a few words.  I felt this song to be all of us.  We all have a story to tell!  As I am on day 8 of my Daniel Fast, I am losing things deep within that I've held onto for way too long.  I feel as though my spirit is gaining strength and health as I let go of toxins and negativity.  I will overcome. God promises that to me in His word, IF; I do my part in that promise.  My part is sharing my testimony and being covered under His blood.

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.  So be glad, heavens, and those who live in them! How terrible it is for the earth and the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, filled with rage, knowing that his time is short!"  Revelation 12:11-12

There is a promised Happily Ever After when we DO NOT love our lives even when faced with death.  Through the blood of the lamb.  Jesus is our savior.  He is our Superman...Our rescuer...Our redeemer.  Through him, we WILL tell our story about His Story and the rest is HIStory!  We Overcome! 

Listen to the song!  We all have a story to tell!

Day 5 of 21 "Pioneer"

Arise and Shine for the glory of the Lord has risen among you - Isaiah 60

I'm hearing the word 'Pioneering.'  What is the official definition of that word?

I am a Pioneer in my family.  I am a Pioneer in my sphere of influence.  God has set me aside.  He has taught me things by His Spirit that I did not know about. 

The purpose of being a Pioneer is not for your life, but for other's lives and for your children, and their children and all of God's precious treasures that he places in your life; sons and daughters!

I did not grow up in a 'normal' family.  My family consisted of my sister and I.  At times living with my grandma, other times living with my mother.  I did not have a father.  I was fatherless.  I did not have an active mother in my life.  She was sick...all the time.  She was medically diagnosed with a variety of clinical mental disorders. 

My childhood dream was to grow up and become a mother.  My goal was to be the bi-polar opposite of what life had shown me a mother to be.  I'm so truly thankful that I completely gave my life to the Lord at 21 years old.  I became a mother at age 25.  I was so unexperienced.  My only inclination was do the complete opposite of what was familiar to me.  I found myself continually on my knees crying out to God to help me and show me how to mother.  He faithfully spoke to me and taught me how to fill that role.  I was a pioneer in my family.  My children will never, ever know the pain and hardships I knew.  For that, I know, my life has gone before and prepared and opened up the way for Godly mothers to follow in my bloodline.  Thank you, Father, for loving a wretch like me!!!

When you are found by God; broken, bruised, shattered, destroyed, naked, ashamed, wrecked, violated, abused, neglected, dead inside....there is a lot of resurrection and healing that needs to occur to make the broken pieces of what was once called a life; into something that resembles that distant shadow.  I began laying down every hidden, splintered piece of my fractured-smashed life before His throne.  I now see myself as a new creation.  A mosaic masterpiece crafted by the Great Artisan's hands. 

When I envision what my broken life must have looked liked to the Lord.  I picture the shattered shards of my life similar to the picture on the left.  Always meant to have color and purpose, but dangerous to touch.  Potentially causing harm to the person trying to pick any of it up.  That was the case in my late teenage years.  Broken people, break people.  Hurt people, hurt people.  I was a broken mess.

The Lord found me in the refuse of my life.  He began picking up each piece of my broken life and making sense of it to me.  I'm thankful that he walked with me each step of the way. 

 

I now envision my life as the 2nd picture to the left.  My life has been repurposed to worship and please him.  My life is not my own.  My eyes are continually lifted up to where my help comes from.  My life is a dance with the lover of my soul.  When he says move to the left, I am compelled to move to the left.  When He says move to the right, I move to the right. 

Pioneering is something that I didn't sign up for; but was always destined for.  Day 5 of 21 of this Daniel Fast reminds me of living a life of isolation.  Since birth, I have been alone.  Neither parent nurtured me.  My grandma worked two and three jobs.  Loneliness was my friend.  Childhood, I had no choice, as I grew I began choosing not to be alone.  Adulthood, I find myself not caring if I look like a fool or standing out in a crowd.  As a child of God, I soon realized this had all been training.  When the Lord tells you to do something, it will not rate high in popularity.  In my experience, the Lord would tell me to do something and I would look to the left, to the right, behind me, in front of me and not seeing people in my sphere doing the same thing.  The impression was that God was, once again, using my life to pioneer my sphere of influence.

The specific example I will give is the first time I was crying out to the Lord for justice in my personal life.  He spoke to me and said, 'Do a Daniel Fast.'  I said, 'A what?'  At that time, in my culture, it was not a common thing to FAST.  The Lord told me to read the book of Daniel.  I walked away preparing my mind, heart, and flesh that we were gonna do this thing.  I started with 10 days not eating from the 'King's table.' (Daniel 1:8).  It was hard the first few days, but by the time you begin to establish a habit, it becomes second nature.  However, that flesh of mine cried out for things that I never typically desired.  "O, flesh, look, there's a Crispy Creme donuts....ooooo donuts...let's stop...the light is on...they're even free!"  This entire inner monologue is conversing as I'm spectating and rationalizing that I don't really even like donuts. 

I made it through the first 10 day Daniel Fast.  Then the Lord said, read Daniel 10.  As I read it, I knew he was challenging me to move onto a 21 day Daniel Fast.  Meanwhile, I must emphasize, at that time in my life, I had no knowledge that books were even out there regarding Daniel Fasts.  This was all new territory for me.  I was walking by faith.  I didn't know about all the health blogs or health benefits of the Daniel Fast.  I was simply obeying Holy Spirit. 

In 2005, a friend and I decided to do the Daniel Fast together.  At that time, I blogged daily on Myspace.  We would blog daily about what God was showing us for our nation, how to pray, etc...I would post progress and revelations in my blog.

On Thursday, May 5, 2005, I received a very harsh message from someone in regards to my Daniel Fast.  I am sharing this because when you Pioneer, you need to EXPECT opposition; especially when it is a God-thing!

Kandi,

A friend sent me an e-mail about you and your fast.  I consider myself to be spiritually connected to God and I think your e-mail to be blasphemy.  I have attended a Presbyterian church service all my life and pray always.  I don't understand why you would go on a 21 day fast of fruit.  Are U crazy?  This is not bible times.  I believe you are taking the bible at a literal sense that is not intended for our times.  I am an educated individual.  I am a teacher and also a Christian and felt it necessary to email you.  I was disturbed by your email.  My God is not your God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!you need to remember that we are in different times and GOD understands our present situation and circumstances.  I encourage you to keep praying and a fast is not a bad idea but you need to realize that your kids need a competent mother who can make sound decisions that will effect them for the rest of their lives! A mother who is on a 21 day fast is not able to care for God's most treasured!  I also feel the need to let you in on something, referring to God as Daddy is so disrespectful!  He is to be honored in every respect.  people have their own views but yours disturb me.  You sound like an extremist.  If I'm wrong feel free to write back and convince me but as of now I am disturbed by your rambling.

The accuser of the brethren accused me in every single weak area of my life through this rebuttal.  'Are u Crazy?'  I didn't want to be like my mom!  'Your kids need a competent mother.'  I didn't want to be like my mom! 'My God is not your God!' (TRUTH!!!!) 'You referring to God as Daddy is so disrespectful!'  I was FATHERLESS! 'You sound like an extremist!'  (TRUTH!!!) Once again, running into my ABBA DADDY's arms...He comforted me and poured his amazing love and grace over and into me and filled my mouth with love and wisdom as I responded to my critic.

That was 11 years ago.  Daniel Fasts are not only the 'thing' now, but doctors enforce them because of the health benefits to our bodies.  But when we are pioneering, this kind of reaction is to be expected!  It's funny because the Daniel Fast wasn't so much about being healthy physically, it was I wanted to hear from God.  I wanted to see him move on my behalf.  I wanted to empty myself out and rid myself of spiritual toxins that kept me unhealthy and unable to receive from him.  The response to this critic was exactly that...It was his response...filled with love, wisdom and grace.  She never responded back to my reply. 

Are you a pioneer in your family or in your sphere of influence?  Have you had nothing but resistance as your pave the way for others to follow you?  If so, you are right where you need to be at the right time in your life.

Father,
I thank you for the gift of trail blazing a way for others to follow.  I thank you for blueprints and strategies from heaven.  I pray for a release of new innovative ideas and spiritual weapons that are from your heart.  May you fill us with the strength to complete each task you set us out to do and your great grace to accomplish it.  I thank you that as we rid ourselves of toxins in our lives, you fill us to overflowing with the newness of your Spirit and health is our portion in every area of our lives.  We love you, Lord.  You are beautiful and Great!  Thank you for strength in our weaknesses.  Even as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and lived a life of wild adventure,  prepare our hearts to live to complete abandonment to where you want to lead us and blaze trails for your kingdom to come!