2013

When thinking about this year, 2013, and asking God what was on His heart for this year… I heard 3 things: hope releasers, crazy favor, and deeper into Him. Two of these I want to talk about in this blog.

On my Facebook page I posted,  “A hope army is rising up this year in 2013. If you feel despair, it’s not you. You are one to march to the beat of hope!”

 I posted this because I woke up one morning feeling a weight of despair after God had spoken to me about being hope releasers. I have learned that most of the time when I feel a negative affect, it’s not me and that it is only a sign pointing to what God is really doing. We know that God is good and He is kind and that He always has a good plan.

Another thing I have learned is that when I’m experiencing these kinds of spirit moments, there are many who are usually feeling the same thing. I don’t know about you, but it brings some relief to know that there are others who are also feeling what I’m feeling. It tells me that I’m not crazy and even more so- God is up to something good.

 Since I have preached that message, my sister has died, my brother in law has died, and my sister in law’s mom, as well. It has been such great loss to our family. BUT deep within me, there is hope. My world will not crash and I can still release a hope that is eternal. I watched my sister in law stand strong in her hope in Jesus in the mist of great sorrow and grief when her husband died. How? Her strong tower, Jesus.

There’s an old hymn that says “My anchor holds within the veil”. What does that mean? This brings me to my second point.

God is calling us in deeper. I feel a pulling in me to walk closer than I have ever walked before. My anchor is Him and in my time with Him. The veil is that secret place with Him. Why do I feel Him calling us in closer, deeper? Is it to get more revelation in scripture, more answers to our life, or more strategies for prayer? I don’t think its any of those. What I think is that it’s for Him to tell us how much He loves… how much He loves the world and how much He love me/us.

 Bill and I recently watched the Bible series on the History channel. I have watched many movies on Jesus (probably all there is out there) but this one was different. When Jesus came on the scene in this series, I was so impressed with the character and how they presented him. I saw Him pretty much the way I see Jesus, full of life and huge love. I really liked this Jesus. He actually loved life and he laughed. He would get so happy when someone was healed. But most of all, the love of the Father was demonstrated through Jesus’ eyes. I remember saying, “Now that’s the way I see Jesus. Jesus loved big and He still does and He is calling us into deep places with him.

I was listening to John Arnott at a conference and he was talking about the Father’s love and telling stories of the renewal. It was so refreshing and as he talked I could feel the presence of God come in to the room. It was like a big, heavy, warm blanket that wrapped me up. It was His love and when this love comes to you, it deposits in you a strength that will carry with you through the hardest times. That is our anchor and we get it within the veil.  

 2013, if we choose, will be a year of great hope. You and I can give it and live it. And if you will choose to go in deeper with Him, He will lavish His love over you and in you.

Selah