fleece

when I think of a fleece I have to admit my first thought is a jacket. a warm toasty 'north face' jacket. but that isn't the fleece I am feeling today. in fact, I don't feel very warm at all.
I feel kinda - well - maybe frozen ?


almost as if I am in a crisis of what fleece to wear today -


I just read about prayer fleeces. and it would be great if it was just a warm blanket that you put over yourself while you were praying to keep warm. but that isn't it.


today, for me, I feel like I am a prayer fleece.


the bible talks of Gideon placing a fleece on the threshing floor and if God does something to it, then the prayer was answered or you did what you were praying for - it was a sign of answered prayer.


I am laying things down on the threshing floor today - and I have no idea.  I need answers or direction or repentance or all of it because I am just not sure what is next or how to get from here to there. I can see it - I can feel it. I just don't know how to get it. I need a sign or a word or something.


knowing that we do not chase signs, but choose God - there are times when our prayer needs to turn into a fleece -


like when we felt to change the front room of City Gate into a prayer café, we through out a fleece sharing the dream. what happened is that people started donating tables for the café and the vision is taking off. so we weren't chasing signs, but we needed to act on the vision in a way that confirmed an answer ? does that make sense ?


so today in praying I was asking or telling God, I don't even know what to fleece - or I would put it out there - I told Him I felt like I was the fleece - throwing myself out there on the floor -
and in doing that seeking Him, not a sign, not a dream but seeking Him as to what I am to do or give or be


sometimes we use a fleece the wrong way - to get an answer changed.  if God has already given you a revelation - don't try to fleece your way out of it. that is not going to end well for you.


check your motives and make sure they aren't selfish - wanting fleshly desires


accept the answer you receive and don't question it - meaning if God has already told you, and you are still trying to get a different answer because your flesh wants something else


George Meuller once said that we are to work really hard at what God has called us to, but do not trust in our work, trust in God. to pray like it depends on God but work like it depends on you.


so today in my fleece crisis - I am asking - what haven't I been working at that I should, what have you called me to that I am not doing - where am I trusting in the outcome and not in Him -


I am my own fleece

I'm back !

Hey my friends I have missed you -
I was in a season where I needed to lay down writing to just be with my Father God -
I have been studying and learning many things, and feeling stretched and pulled, all in a good way for this new year.
I guess I took a little vacation over the end of 2014
But I clearly heard God tell me that it is time to step out -
What was hidden and silent will now be seen and heard -                              
it's a year of releasing the things I (God) have spoken to you -
vision will now be released to be accomplished -
new vision is coming -
where there was substitution there will be transformation
it's time to step out, act, speak and declare-
vacation is over -




I think we all get in a little slump now and then. We get comfortable with our daily lives and then all of a sudden we realize we have been going about our daily lives with out prayer, reading our bible or even spending a moment with Jesus.




We find ourselves finding joy in substitutes things, people and places, and now being filled with the joy of the Lord which transforms us.




How can you tell ?




It that person, place or thing is removed - do you still have joy ? Priscilla Shirer says it like this in her book "Life Interrupted" : "A good way to determine this is to see how you  respond to a divine intervention, especially one that costs you something you don't want to part with (which many of them do) Will you go with God wherever he is calling you ?




One choice holds joy, transformation and the promises and protection of God - the other- not so much.




So as with everything in this journey - you always get to choose
your way or the 'higher way'


I know this - vacation is over


blessings my friends and I would love to hear from you!
kim

creamy lentil soup

I made this delish soup last night for house church, and I must say it was just as good or even better today for lunch. While I was making it, I had to be creative and spontaneous with some of the ingredients. It got me thinking that this is how our life should is. We often don't have the right ingredients at the right time, but if we just ask God, he always has an ingredient which usually turns out way better than the my original plan. We need to plan and organize, but we also need to keep our ears and heart open to what the God plan is, and we need to quickly walk and do what He tells us.






Creamy Crock Lentil Soup    


1 c. dry lentils
3 or 4 medium carrots - chopped or sliced

4 stalks of celery - chopped (I use the whole thing..leaf part and all)

1 med or large onion - chopped
6 cups water
2 cans of evaporated milk
4-6 teaspoons of beef boullion granules


lots of seasonings - basically I use lots of crazy janes' mixed up salt, pepper, garlic salt, parsley and chives




throw it all in the crock pot and cook low 6-8 hours




I added cornstarch to thicken slightly - but you don't have to

the GPS

Did you ever notice that the GPS sometimes doesn't quite take the right road?
Or the road less traveled ? Or the road that has way to much traffic ?


I have been noticing that my husband has been talking to the GPS a lot lately. Similar to how men talk to the football coaches through the TV ?  The GPS or the TV cannot hear you.
 
As we are driving,  following the friendly voice, my husband talks back to it. "Why are you going that way? I can't believe you are doing that ? There is way to much traffic that way!"
I sit and listen. Smile to myself. Then, I just have to. I have to say something.
Babe, you don't have to follow the GPS. She doesn't have authority over you.
He just does his 'I'm not gonna let you see me smile, smile'.




I know there is a lesson in there somewhere.




Do we listen to outside voices to navigate our way ?
Do we give to much authority to those who shouldn't have it ?
Have we become a group of people that just sit and do what the friendly voice tells us to do ?




I was just reading an article by Charisma Magazine from the Barna group, how this generation (us and we) have the most bibles, but don't read them or even pick them up.


If we aren't reading from the Word, is it really easy to be led away by a friendly voice. The route seems correct, and it is so easy to just follow. But is that really the way ?




Bare with this analogy please, but if I asked you why you are going that way or why did you do that - would you answer be - the GPS said to.




My point is this - are we following the crowd (GPS) or following Jesus ?


Do we put too much into what the GPS (Greatest Preachers Syndrome) and what they tell us to do.


We have this great gift of the Word, we have this great gift given to us and yet we seem to follow the other voices.


We have this amazing internal light and life filled Holy Spirit guidance, but we don't seem to know how to follow its voice, because we are so consumed with the voice of the external system.


What voice or voices are you following ?