1 + 1 = One

Write the Vision!

2013-11-21T10:59:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I attended an event in Long Beach, CA, and listened to a talk given by Jack Canfield, the author of Chicken Soup for the Soul that was encouraging and inspiring. When I sat down to write this snowy morning, I did not intend to share his words, but a few things he said will be encouraging to you.

After Jack finished the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book, he was rejected by 144 publishers. 144!! The world would be a different place if he had given up after a few rejections?

He made a statement which I have used in prayer in the past, so this was a good reminder:

“REJECT REJECTION!”

And lastly Jack Canfield said that we need a vision of the goal - to write the vision, see it, feel it, and speak it, which leads me to my post for this week. (Computer issues is my excuse for the delay)

“And then God answered: ‘Write this. Write what you see.Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie.If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.’” (Habakkuk 2:2-3 The Message)

Several years ago I lived in New York City, and worked for an evangelistic ministry. While there, a pastor from South Korea, specifically Yongi Cho’s church, stopped by our office to learn more about the ministry, I was the only one available to accept his dinner invitation, and we had a delightful visit. The pastor seemed intrigued that I had not been married, and at that time I was in my mid 30s, so he told me a story about a woman in his church who longed to be married. He counseled her to write in great detail a list describing the man she would like God to send to her - including occupation, looks, etc. Do you know what happened? A man fitting the smallest details of her description came into her life and they were married! Of course that would happen at Yongi Cho’s church in S Korea, but could that happen to me? Or to you?

Shake off the dust! Dare to dream!

The Pastor from South Korea strongly encouraged me to write my list, “write the vision”.... So I did. and I waited..... and the list ended up in a box. With each passing year and continued “hope deferred”, my detailed list dwindled, and my sick heart was afraid to dream and hope.

BUT GOD is the God of hope!

I am revising the vision of my future marriage, and I am continually adding to my new list some things that I had decided would be impossible at this point in my life. NOTHING is impossible with God. I am dreaming with Him to imagine and see my future husband, and my life with the dreams and desires God has set in my heart and spirit.

When a group of my friends gathered to pray for marriages at the beginning of this project, I asked them what they thought about writing out the characteristics of the men we would like to marry. It is risky! Scary! We might be disappointed! Isn’t it easier to pray, “God, Your will be done, and I trust You to send the right man to me - You know what is best for me.” And while that is true, we agreed that there is a reason we are to “write the vision” of our desires.

Writing the vision will prevent you from settling for less than God’s best, and those red flags will be easier to discern when someone comes along who is not meant for us.

Abraham... “believed - God who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. [Abraham] who contrary to hope, IN HOPE believed....” (Romans 4:17)

Charles Capps in his book, Faith and Confession writes:

“Hope is a goal setter. You must have a goal... a goal gives direction... Faith is the substance of things hoped for.”
“Hope works in the head. What you continue to speak becomes your goal. Your head is the goal-setter. Where there is no hope, there is no goal set for the better - although 'no hope' sets a negative goal.”

Did you catch that? "No hope sets a negative goal!"

One of my mother’s books caught my attention recently, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peal. In his chapter, “Try Prayer Power”, he describes how his friend became more successful in business, and this was his key:

"1) PRAYERIZE, 2) PICTURIZE, 3) ACTUALIZE....

By prayerize my friend meant a daily system of creative prayer....

The second point in his formula of creative prayer is to 'picturize.' The basic factor in physics is force. The basic factor in psychology is the realizable wish. When either failure or success is picturized it strongly tends to actualize in terms equivalent to the mental image pictured. To assure something worthwhile happening, first pray about it and test it according to God’s will, then print a picture firmly in consciousness. Continue to surrender the picture to God’s will.”

Let’s begin and take the first steps:

1. Shake off the dust! Let go of the past disappointments, and the thoughts that are causing you to doubt God's goodness.

“AWAKE, AWAKE, put on your strength; put on your beautiful garments! Shake yourself from the dust; arise, sit [erect in a dignified place], ...loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.” Isaiah 52: 1-2 (Amplified)

2. Write the vision of how God sees you - Take some time to write the vision that God has of YOU! He adores you, and you need to remind your spirit, mind and heart of how incredible you are.

What does God say? You are beautiful, powerful, a wife of valor, you are clothed in His Righteousness, His heir, His beloved daughter....

Write the vision. Write it all out, this is an important step.

3. Ask God to give you His vision for your marriage. Write the vision of the person you will marry, the relationship, your marriage, and pray again. SEE it!

God may change it up a little, but only to surprise you “exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or think!” (Ephesians 3:20)

We need to "reject the rejection", and the anticipation of rejection, and begin again. Jack Canfield and his 144 rejections changed the world, and so can you.

Write the vision! Then declare the vision!

(Married people - please post or send your feedback and your experience on this topic. Those of us who are not yet married would like to know if you had a vision of your marriage, and/or your spouse. Did you write a list describing that person or your marriage? Was it just in your mind because we all have that wedding day in our life vision?)

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

He Brought Her to the Man

2013-11-11T08:16:00.002-07:00

“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man should be alone; I will make him a helper who is just right for him.’” (Genesis 2:18 NLT)

I have mentioned it before, but the Hebrew word for alone is... BAD! I am not kidding!

Strongs #90: bad: Separation; by implication a part of the body, branch of a tree...

The root is Stongs #909, badad: to divide or to be solitary.

“And the rib or part of his side which the LORD God had taken from man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:22)

The NAS version says, “The LORD fashioned into a woman.”

Marriage was God’s idea. He formed man, He fashioned or “built” woman, and then God brought the woman to the man; He presented the man with the woman who was to be his wife. When Adam saw her, he recognized her, and might have exclaimed, “WHOA - MAN! Good job God!” Then I think Adam started singing, “She’s a brick, houuuse...!”

One of my prayers for the man God has chosen for me is that he will recognize me as his wife. I pray that his spirit, and mine, will leap with recognition, and that the knowing will surpass or override our minds and reason.

It is not good for man and woman to be alone, BUT GOD - ALL things work together for good, for those who love Him, and are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28) I do not feel incomplete as a person, but my heart and spirit long for the completeness of God’s design for us as men and women, and the power of that unity.

Selah.

One of my male friends, longing for his wife, wrote this in an email to me,

“I have always conceded that we were built for marriage, and anything less falls short of the reflection of God, that we are called to be. God is masculine (demanding, fierce, warrior,) and God is feminine ( tender, loving, forgiving,) and only when male and female are united can we mirror the fullness of God. Further, marriage tends to temper the "wild side" of the man, as well as offering a host of human refinements toward the full reflection of God, that are improbable, if not impossible outside of a marriage. For instance, a human being simply cannot express a core characteristic that we were designed for (monogamous sexuality) outside of a marriage. Other things, intimacy, self sacrifice, etc, are hard to develop in singleness.”

God's design for marriage is much bigger than we can comprehend, which is the reason there is so much warfare around marriages, for all of us - married, formerly married, and soon to be married. Satan hates the power of men and women in unity because it is the mysterious, glorious image of God.

The Declaration for today is that the men and women called to Kingdom marriages will recognize, and have eyes to see the spouse God has chosen for them.

“Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17 NIV)

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22 NIV)

“Also TODAY the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people [special treasure], just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments,” (Deuteronomy 26:18 NKJV)

Declarations for this week of November 10, 2013:

(These declarations for Kingdom Marriages include a few men as well as women - so men, you will need to adjust your declarations on days like today.)

Father God, we agree with Your Word, and we submit our lives to You, the Lord of our lives. WIth the sword of the Spirit, sever and cut any ties that bind or entangle us, the men and women called to Kingdom marriage; cut us free from the past. Cover and cleanse us with the Blood of Jesus.

1) We declare that we are FREE, and available -

As women - to be presented to the men of God whom You have chosen to be our husbands. Present us to Your BEST men!

As men - to be open to receive the woman God is bringing to us. Present us with Your BEST woman!

2) Just as Adam saw and recognized his wife Eve, we declare that Your men will see and recognize the women you have divinely chose as their wives.

3) We command our spirits to AWAKE! And we declare that our spirits will leap with recognition when that BEST person is brought in our lives.

4) We receive the favor of Esther, and we declare that our kings will be attracted to us (the women you have ordained as their wives) more than any other women. Give them overwhelming, unwavering attraction for Your best for them. And give us overwhelming, unwavering attraction for Your best men.

5) He who finds a wife finds a treasure, and obtains favor from the Lord. We declare that the the eyes of the men’s hearts are open to see and find their wives, their treasure, and the men will obtain the favor of God.

6) As the women you have fashioned us to be, we are Your Special Treasure, and we declare that we are a good thing!

7) We declare a blessing of favor over the marriages we know and love. Lord, impart to them a fresh recognition of each other, and restore that LEAP in their hearts and spirits for each other. What God has brought together, protect and strengthen by Your refreshing Spirit - and let nothing separate.

We declare that NO weapon formed against our marriages - current of future - will prosper!

Lovely ladies, know how special you are today. You are beautiful, inside and out, and you have favor with God and with men.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Lovely ladies, know how special you are today. You are beautiful, inside and out, and you have favor with God and with men.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

2013-11-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

I need your help! Beginning today, and each week through the end of the year, I will be posting chapters from a devotional book God is directing me to finish. The chapters will include a writing (most of you have seen before) and 7 declarations, which could be declared one each day, or all 7 for 7 days of the week. You decide.
If you would like to participate, please let me know what you think of the format, and if you see any glaring errors.

And let me know if there are any budding romances out there - Karissa?!!!

Ready?

Week 1 - God said, “It is not good that man should be alone."

On April 29, 2011, I was glued to the incredible Royal Wedding of Kate and William. I was not a Royal Wedding junkie, and I did not get out of bed at 3am, with tea, scones, and a gorgeous hat, but I was drawn into the pomp and circumstance, and remained in front of my TV much longer than I planned. What I saw was a royal celebration that offered a symbol of hope, and a sign that God is restoring marriages today. It was the beginning of a new era for the Royal Family, and I felt that something needed to be done to cause a shift and a new beginning for marriage in God’s royal family. While watching the wonderful Royal Wedding, I kept hearing in my mind, “The LORD said ‘It is not good for man to be alone!”

I love researching the definition of biblical words, and for the first time I looked up the word “alone.” Do you know what the Hebrew word is? The Hebrew word is BAD!!! Really! And the root of the Hebrew word BAD is “separation”.

God says that man (humankind) alone is bad. BAD!

Cindy Jacobs wrote in her book Women of Destiny... “The only time God said anything was not good, was man alone.” Because it’s BAD!

Kingdom Marriage began with Adam and Eve! God put them in the Garden to work, together.

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

Note in my bible - SFLB: “God created man to be His kingdom agent, to rule and subdue the rest of creation, including the aggressive satanic forces which would soon infringe upon it.”

Therefore, since we were created to be in relationship and partnership as husband and wife, I believe that marriage is God’s ultimate, good will for all of us. I also believe it is the arena for, perhaps, the greatest spiritual battle, both for the married and unmarried.

How do we engage in the battle? With words of God’s Truth spoken into the atmosphere to enforce the victory. Jesus took the curse when He died on the cross, but I believe we need to enforce His victory.

God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” The word “man” in Genesis 2:18 is Adam, and one of the 4 Hebrew words for man. That word “man” is translated “humankind, male and female.” Therefore, God said it is not good for man OR woman to be alone.

Making declarations for Kingdom Marriages, is to follow the model of the Father of Faith, Abraham, “...in the sight of God, in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead, and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised.” (Romans 4:17-18 Amplified)

Speaking of the nonexistent things as if they already exist, will give us all hope, and we will have the faith and expectation to see the promises of God fulfilled.

“You are able to see beyond your circumstances and the things that make for our destruction. You may see fear – don't enter it; you may comprehend depression – don't apprehend it. See the invisible and make it visible by speaking it and living it.

God is speaking life, prosperity, deliverance and abundance for this great land. America, you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. I encourage all of you to speak life over our nation.” Kim Clement, The Elijah List July 11, 2011 - the day 40 Days of Declaration commenced

And we are to speak LIFE into the destiny of marriages, because good healthy marriages give hope and life to an entire nation!

Fear circulates around people in the dating world, and covers them with disappointment. I happen to know from experience! But I am choosing not to enter in to the disappointment. I recently heard a speaker say that we must "discipline your disappointments!" Are you with me?

When together we speak the promises of God, we will create change, and we will see things shift. We are made in the image of God, and our words have the power to create. The Word of God is POWERFUL, and speaking His Word out-loud will build your faith. "Faith comes by hearing!" (Romans 10:17) And in order to hear, you need to speak.

“ Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJ)

Declarations

Thank you Father God that you have brought us together for this journey of faith and hope, to see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! On behalf of the men and women You have appointed to come together for your purposes in marriage...

1) We declare that we are created for marriage, and we believe it is the will of God for our lives.

2) We agree with Abraham... “ in the sight of God, in Whom we believe - the God who gives life to the dead, and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has promised] as if they [already] exist.

3) We declare that even though with human reason hope might be gone (against all hope), we choose to have hope with faith, and BELIEVE in the promises of God for marriage on this earth, and in our lives.

4) We agree with God and speak LIFE, and resuscitation over marriages, both existing, and yet to be, for the Kingdom of God.

5) We declare prosperity, freedom and abundance for the lives of those called to Kingdom Marriage, and for our future spouses.

6) We declare that God is doing a new thing! and NOW it shall spring forth. (Isaiah 43:18)

7) God said it is GOOD for men and women to marry, so we agree with His Word, and declare that God is good, marriage is good, and God, the Father of Lights gives good gifts to His children, [therefore He is giving the gift of marriage to us!]

AMEN!

Expect to be amazed!

Is it God’s will for you to marry?

2013-10-17T08:56:00.000-06:00

Is it God’s will for you to marry?

Married people, not all, but some, especially those who have been married so long they really don’t remember what it is like not to be married, occasionally say things to those of us who are not yet married that cause me to cringe. At times I feel like a cartoon character with steam erupting out of my ears, because inside I just want to scream, but I know they simply cannot relate to my situation, and they are trying to say the “right” thing. I remember to breathe, and see that their hearts and intentions are good, and my irritation is so my issue, and not about them, but you may be able to relate.

“Are you married?”
I reply, “not yet!”
“WHY not? Oh… you aren’t into THAT?”
or, “You don’t like men?” (oh yes really, it has been said to me more than once!)
or the classic, “You are just too picky!”

One of the other careless things I hear spoken often is, “Well, no wonder so-and-so is not married, they are so ________ “ fill in the blank with the various criticisms shot at the people with aching hearts, longing to be married. Do the opinions and judgements help? No. Careless words are abrasive on the hearts that are already worn down.

One bright spring day, I was having coffee with a dear pastor friend, and I shared with him that I had been praying for marriages - for God to bring people together who are meant to be married. This is a man I consider a hero, and we have been friends for many years.... and he has been married for most of his life. He smiled a smirky smile, and said,

“Well that’s nice, but maybe it’s not God’s will for you to be married. Have you prayed about it, and asked God?”

Do you feel it? yes, my jaw began to tighten to prevent my mouth from opening with a terse response, which I know is not a “Christian” way to feel. His words stunned me, I thought he knew me, and was on my side, hoping with me for the marriage of my dreams. When someone questions the desires God has passionately put on our hearts, doesn’t it sound just like the serpent in Genesis speaking to Eve, “Did God really say?…”

Those are the words that began the erosion of marriage! Doubting God's goodness, and not believing in His plan.

I remember the first time someone suggested that I pray and ask God if marriage was in my future, and I sincerely spent time seeking God to discern His will for me regarding marriage. However, though I sincerely asked God, and was open to an answer contrary to the desires of my heart, it became more of a religious exercise, something Christian singles need to DO.

God’s answer in my heart came quickly....

The flippant words come from people who really do love and care about us. They are trying to protect us from further disappointment, so they decide not to believe marriage is possible for us.

It is safer not to believe. There is less risk of disappointment - for them as well as for us.

“Is it God’s will that you marry?” is a belief system that pervades the church, and could it be holding people back from meeting their marriage partner? It is not the people who speak the words that pierce like arrows, it is the lies in the words that they are speaking. It has been a Christian thing - if you have the desire to get married, and you have not met the right person, you really should pray for a long time about it, and make sure it’s God’s will for you to marry. I do not see any examples of that practice in the bible, and I do not know of any scriptures that instruct an unmarried person to pray for a long time because only some are chosen for marriage. Oh yeah, there is Paul’s endorsement of singleness, but he makes it clear that he is giving his personal opinion, not speaking a commandment from God. “But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.” (1 Cor 7:6)

Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians, that it is good to be single and celibate, because you can serve God with fewer distractions, and he also says that if you burn with passion, then get married! (1 Corinthians 7:8-9) He doesn’t even suggest praying about the idea.

Is marriage God’s perfect will for everyone? Maybe. I certainly do not have the answer to that question, but I might be one of the few who will say, I believe it was God’s before-the-fall, perfect design for male and female.

You have a choice to believe that marriage is God’s best will for most or all of His people. I believe that marriage (do I really need to say “between a man and a woman”?) is the image of God. Male and female, united as one. I believe there is incredible supernatural power when a man and his wife agree in prayer, and it is a power that is underutilized and not understood. If the union was not powerful, the enemy would not be working so hard to break up Christian marriages. It was a revelation to me a few years ago, that if there is such intense spiritual warfare around Christian marriages, and so many books and ministries to help people stay married, why wouldn’t the enemy also be working to prevent marriages in the first place, especially among Christians.

Several years after I had the thought or revelation that perhaps there is also warfare against Christian marriage even before people get together, I discovered someone who agreed with me, and a Godly man who was teaching about the warfare that was coming against Christian singles!

“You are a beautiful, intelligent, competent, gracious and godly Christian. So why are you still single? There is a concerted demonic assault against godly families. One facet of that battle is to keep godly women [and men] from marrying.” Arthur Burk, Releasing Singles

While watching the Royal wedding in 2011, I knew it was time to form an online community, and gather a few women, and men, to pray for those of us who are not yet married. A month later, I met a beautiful, vivacious 40-something woman in London who worked at the fabulous church, Holy Trinity Brompton. She was telling me about the noticeable number of unmarried people in the church between the ages of 30-50. Catherine then shared a story with me to confirm that my hunch was correct. While working at the church one day, she saw a person standing outside the church, just hanging around, and with her warm hospitably, Catherine offered her assistance. The out-of-place person said, “I am a Satanist, and we are praying against Christian marriages.”

The women in the church begin each new year with 40 days of praying a blessing on 10 men each. The women of HTB blessing the men in their community, so they will be strengthened to come into the fullness of their destinies.

A month after hearing that story, and my incident with the pilot, this blog, and one day a book of declarative prayers for marriages was conceived, one day at a time, one email at a time, for forty days.

From the women of Holy Trinity Brompton, and their prayers of blessings for the men, let's pray and declare out-loud (Colossians 1:9-13) for all the men in your life:

We declare that the men in our lives, and the men God has chosen to marry His girls, will be filled with a knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

We declare that they will live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way.

We declare that they are strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Declare and it will be established!

2013-10-07T07:56:00.000-06:00

Three weeks after their first date, my father proposed, and my mother said, “What took you so long?” My parents marriage is a testimony that, as we say in our family, “God is the God of Romance!” They are madly in love in their late 80s, after 60+ years of marriage, and the love they have cultivated and share is a love we all hope to experience in marriage.

My mother, affectionately known as Babby, is an amazing woman of God, and over the years she has spent hours praying with my father, for our family, and hours praying for my future husband and I to meet. A mother’s heart aches when the marriage of her youngest daughter is delayed or destroyed, and though my mother has often tried to “fix it,” and set me up with an available man with a pulse, daily they pray for me.

Some of my mother’s famous quotes:

“Onward and upward!”

“Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!”

“Be careful of the things you say (confess with your mouth) - your words are powerful!”

So when my mother told me that there is supernatural power when we speak the Word and promises of God, or when we utter negative things about ourselves or others, I listened. In recent years many of the Christian teachers I respect, are catching up to my mother’s wisdom, giving a similar message - that the words we speak have power to create, good or bad.

When I enthusiastically shared my discovery of Charles Capps, and his book Faith and Confession, my mother said, “Oh yes, I heard him preach many times!” The same teaching that influenced my mother’s life, was now impacting mine. Isn’t God fun?

“God’s principles are involved in confession and the principles of faith. The bible says ‘faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ It didn’t say that’s the only way we can get faith."

“Hearing the Word of God causes faith in God and in His Word to come to you. This spiritual force is also released out of your mouth when you speak God’s Word. It actually releases God’s ability. I believe that is one of the reasons Paul said -
‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’” (Philippians 4:13)

“God’s word that is conceived in the heart, formed with the tongue and spoken out of the mouth becomes a spiritual force, releasing the ability of God.” Charles Capps

So, if confessing, or declaring the Word of God regarding our desires for marriage releases faith, hope, and is a spiritual force releasing God’s ability, don’t you think it is worth stepping out of your routine (religious) box, and try something new? As one of my praying friends said, “it is sort-of an experiment!” I believe that as we choose to make these declarations in agreement with each other, for each other, and for the many other people all over the world longing for a Godly marriage, we will see a shift, and an increase in marriages in our communities.

“I have taught on declarations for years and have heard testimony after testimony of how adding this habit has been transformational to all kinds of people. I'm so convinced of the power of declarations to unlock destiny.” Steve Backlund

“Prophetic declarations release God’s power to bring about change in our lives!” Kris Valloton from his book, The Supernatural Ways of Royalty

The important thing to remember is that this is not just for your seemingly self-serving desire, there is another person out there longing to marry YOU! It is the God designed destiny for both of your lives!

“Mark Twain once said, ‘Take your mind out every now and then and dance on it. It is getting all caked up.’ That was his way of saying, “Try something new, break new ground, get out of your rut” John Maxwell

Embarking on this journey of making declarations for Kingdom Marriages you are making a choice to believe, to trust God, to grow in faith, and to grab onto the Rope of Hope!

You are choosing to allow God and His powerful word to heal your heart from the battering of disappointments, and hope deferred.

You are choosing to have faith in God, and by doing so, you are telling disappointment, fear and discouragement to hit the road, get lost, be gone!

You are choosing to believe, and to hope again. I am not promoting a formula - “do this and you will get married and live happily ever after”, but all things are possible with God! At the very least, you will build up your faith, increase in hope and peace, and you will have more joy in the Lord.

"You will also DECLARE a thing,

and it WILL BE established for you'

So light will shine on your ways."

Job 22:27 NKJV

Declarations for today:

We declare that the God of our hope is filling us with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of our faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope." Romans 15:13 Amplified

We declare that we will not lose heart because we choose to believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

We declare that we will wait on the Lord; We are of good courage, And He is strengthening our hearts; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14

Do not lose heart! Let’s endeavor together to bubble over with Hope!

We are setting out on a journey to pray that many more people will experience, Happily Ever After, just as my parents are today.

Confession

2013-10-04T11:15:00.000-06:00

I must admit that returning to this blog, or writing, or even praying for marriages has not been easy for me lately. Over the summer I thought I had achieved a new level of peace, and to some extent I had - I am trusting God for my future. Then I wondered, and began asking and praying - was it peace? Or had I let my desire fizzle out? So I began asking God to restore my desire!

On Sunday a guy at church prayed for me - for the healing of my heart from hope deferred, and then he told me that he is 41, and does not understand why God has not yet brought his wife to him, so I prayed for him too. We know God is good, and He loves us, and all He does is out of His love for His children.

As I said, I have not felt like praying, and I have not been confessing or declaring God’s truth and His word, as was clearly directed by God two years ago, but He is nudging me back on track. Yesterday I drove to Vail, CO to see the changing seasons, and God’s glory...

Stuck in traffic with a dying cell phone, I was more focused on the Graham Cooke CD than I might have been, and Graham said that one of the keys to moving into the plans and purposes of God, or to seeing desire fulfilled in your life, is confession. Speaking out loud all that God has said regarding your life. As Graham said, YOU need to hear it, God needs to hear it, and He just loves to hear His children speaking His words back to Him.

Do you have scripture promises that you believe are from God? Speak them out today!

Do you have prophetic words or prayers from the Lord? Take them out, and CONFESS them to God.

My prayer, confession and declaration is,

LORD God, restore our desire now! Restore the desire for marriage for all who have allowed that desire to fizzle out. Ignite the fire in our hearts, minds and spirits, by Your Holy Spirit.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

The Prince and His Ford

2013-09-26T08:37:00.002-06:00

The Prince Charming arrived in his trusty, beat-up old Ford, the fulfillment of my lifelong dream of a happily-ever-after marriage seemed to becoming a reality. The answer to so many prayers and declarations prayed over many years... or so I thought. Sam (not his real name) and I were talking about our future together, marriage, where we would live, and our exciting adventures of traveling the world. I believed he was God’s man for me, and my hopes and dreams were evolving into images of our life together.

More confirmation came at a ministry gathering, when a woman prayed for the two of us, even suggesting we hold hands, and she prayed, “Your marriage will be a testimony of a Godly marriage and unity.” I knew the woman could see that I did not have a ring on my left hand, but apparently she missed that telling detail.

It seemed that Sam was the answer to my prayers. I decided that he was the result or outcome of the 40 Days of Declarations. I thought Sam was going to be my testimony. Then I could tell you that if you do what I did, then you too will see the handsome prince ride up on his white horse (beat up Ford), and carry you off into the sunset!

After he severely found fault with my physical appearance, a story for another day, he drove off in that Ford sedan without me. I thanked God for revealing the truth about Sam, but that blow was more painful than any I had experienced in the past. Why did I need to go through that experience? Now I see that I ignored a few red flags, and I tried to help God with the answer to my prayers.

One thing I have learned is that God is not a formula god. This blog & the prayers we pray are not a “do this, and you will get that” kind of thing. God’s desire is to have an intimate relationship with us, and to refine us into people who love Him and trust His goodness, no matter what.

The formula might actually be that every day, several times a day, you have a choice. Do you believe God is good? And are you going to choose to have faith in a Good God, or are you going to agree with the voices of fear and doubt?

Will you choose to hope again, even when the blows of life and relationship continue to come.

Today my prayer for you is from Romans 4:18 - that you like Abraham will believe in HOPE.....

“...Who against hope believed in hope...” (Romans 4:18 NKJV)

“When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do.” (Romans 4:18 the Message)

May your hope be restored, and your heart be glad today!

“…And they lived happily ever after…”

2013-09-23T09:27:00.000-06:00

Greetings!

My prayer lately has been, "God, please restore my desire according to Your plans for my life.... restore my desire for marriage."

It aches. But it is good.

Are you ready to ask Him to restore your desire too?

It is time to post again, and to pray again! Are you with me? I begin with a bit of my story...

“…And they lived happily ever after…”

Joy was the word in all of our minds for the spectacular wedding, on a gorgeous July weekend at the beach. My beautiful niece Cally married her handsome prince Marshall, and the celebration was filled with love, hope, joy, and promise for happily ever after.

Let me share with you the context of their wedding related to my life... My parents had just celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary, and they have an incredible love story. I am the youngest of four with a gap of seven years. My sisters were married in their early 20s, my brother at 30, and between them I have twelve nieces and nephews. Cally and Marshall’s wedding was the 6th celebration of one of my nieces. Because good marriages were modeled in my family, I never doubted that I would marry early in my life and have a family, and I certainly never imagined that my nieces would be getting married before their aunt Barbara.

By this sixth wedding I had gotten over the, “woe is me, the 47 year old aunt who has not been married, and I can’t even get a date for the wedding!” Oh yes indeed, I did have fun! No sulky aunt syndrome for this party girl. Oh no, my siblings, parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews know how to have a great time celebrating the miraculous event of a wedding, and we certainly had fun.

Perhaps the handsome man occupying my thoughts that weekend was giving me a bit of hope, even though he chose not to join me at the wedding. We had been on a few dates, over a few months, and my imagination of the potential relationship caused me to leave the post-wedding family 4th of July celebration, and fly home early, because there was a slim possibility that I could maneuver a date with the pilot!

My plan was going quite well on that 3rd of July, arriving at the airport in Denver just in time to see him in his dashing uniform. We enjoyed candlelight cocktails on his balcony with fireworks in the distance, but then..... his plans did not line up with MY plan! The pilot chose his friends over me on the night of the 4th, which was a big disappointment because I was home alone on the 4th of July night... again. I understood, he had other plans, and I quickly turned my attention to prepare for our big date the following night. I was scurrying around, getting ready for a romantic mountain adventure, when the pilot called. He quickly said, “I don’t think we should go out again, I just don’t feel a deep connection.”

Wham! Wallop! Ouch.

Rejection... again.

Disappointment... again.

Hope deferred.... again.

The pilot was not the source of my pain, he just represented all of the other guys who were not my Prince Charming. I had been praying for over 20 years for a husband, and a lot of other people had been praying for me too, including the 3 year old daughter of my niece.

“Hello! God? Oh YOUUU-HOOOO! Are you forgetting about me? I think it is my turn now? I don’t want to be pushy, and I think learning patience, endurance, self-control and all that stuff is great, but I think my character is building just fine now.”

With each passing wedding, and each man who chooses another, once again I felt like the fourth grader who was the last one picked for the kickball team at recess.

Through the years I’ve learned that I have a choice in how I respond. My response to the pilot’s rejection, and the disappointment was not to wallow in despair, I did not get mad at God and lose my faith (OK - I was frustrated with God for a bit.) I chose to trust Him, and thank Him for closing the door to a man who looked good on the surface, but who was not good enough for me according to my Father God. The tall handsome pilot was not the man God had planned for me to marry.

My personal disappointment transformed into frustration at the whole unmarried situation - not just for me, but for the many other women and men who are aching to be married to the right person. I have friends all over the world, from London to Argentina, to Hong Kong, who are praying for the person God has for them to marry. Is there a reason that so many delightful, attractive, passionate, God loving people are not finding their marriage partner? Only God knows the answers to all of our questions.

After the pilot episode, in my spirit and my mind I heard the whisper of a phrase, “40 Days of Declarations”, and I knew that I was to commit to 40 days of prayer for Kingdom marriages. It was an unction to fight the scheme of the enemy to disable God’s people through disappointments, preventing us from being the powerful people we are meant to be. So the prayers were not just any prayer, I made a commitment to 40 days of speaking and declaring God’s truth, His powerful Word, out-loud over my disappointments and into the future for His Kingdom to come, and His will be done, on earth as it is planned in heaven. I invited others to join me, and a small army emerged of both women and men making declarations over Kingdom marriages, and the testimonies of marriages continue to emerge.

The 40 Days continued into a blog, and 8 months later I met a man!

The story will be continued.....

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

2013-02-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

First of all, I encourage you to treat yourself to some flowers and chocolate if you are not expecting any deliveries today. I did!

Enjoy this box of Chocolates!

In the past few weeks I have been feeling a nudge. No, it is more of a wooing, a drawing, an encouragement to set my focus on the Love of God. Not a striving focus, but sinking into a relaxing, yummy bath topped with rose petals kind of submission. Relinquishing my barriers and control to His extravagant love for me, and enlarging my heart to love Him more than I ever have before.

I felt that God was inviting with His still, small voice, “Take a break from looking for Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome, and let Me fill you with more of My Love for you. As your eyes gaze into Mine, you will be saturated with My perfect Love, and surrounded by My Favor. Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome will find you!”

On Sunday, I believe God spoke again through my new friend Lynette when she said, “God is grounding you [before releasing the blessings.]” It was a phrase that has not departed from my mind, and I immediately thought of Ephesians 3:17, that we are to be “rooted and grounded in love.” God’s Love!

Yesterday was the beginning of Lent, and I’ve been thinking about the blog my niece Elizabeth began 6 years ago (Long To Love - please take a look at her very first post!) It is my aim, for the next 6 weeks in preparation for Easter, to indulge myself in the multifaceted Love of God, to be rooted and grounded in His Love, and “to pray to love the Lord your God more than you pray to breathe your next breath.” (The advice Beth Moore gave to Elizabeth! Read the story is in her blog post above.)

This Valentine’s Day, and for the next few weeks, I invite you to pray and declare Ephesians 3 with me, as I pray for you, and for the many people longing for romantic love in a Kingdom Marriage:

“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.

I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love (rooted and grounded in LOVE!), you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.

Reach out and experience the breadth!

Test its length!

Plumb the depths!

Rise to the heights!

Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:14-20, The Message

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

William and Megan, and the testimony of answered prayer!

2013-02-05T09:10:00.003-07:00

William and Megan

and the testimony of answered prayer!

William and Megan - Married January 19, 2013

William is a friend of mine who has been diligently praying with "1 + 1 = One" since the beginning. He was so encouraged to know that there were women all over the world praying for Christian men, and praying for Kingdom marriages. This is his testimony:

"After many years of divorce and being a single-Dad, there were a lot of times I had given up hope of finding that special woman that would open my heart to a future marriage. There were many days where it was just difficult to see the future, and fully trust God with the present...
I have just been blown away by the woman God had for me all along. Her story is so wonderful, about the difficult waiting she went through as well, and how gradually it became so clear that we were just meant to be a couple. It has been romantic, and easy, and so close... and has just felt the incredible presence of God through the entire relationship. So worth waiting for!

What is so nice is how many prayers I have prayed for her over the last few years, and how many she had been praying for me, and how all of this waiting had a story and a purpose all along. But, isn't that what we should just naturally expect from such a loving and caring God? I so often forgot, or just didn't trust enough that God had my story all taken care of, and all I had to do was to listen and follow. But, my own broken heart from past relationships, expectations, failures, and rejections had just hardened my heart to that side of God that it took some VERY tough love to breakthrough.

But, I'm SO glad He did! As we are looking toward our wedding day, and thinking about this person who I'm starting to be with as the partner for this next chapter of my life, I'm so thankful. I am so grateful for the friends (both men and women) who have stood beside me and encouraged me, and for the many people praying. The men and women on this list and others who have been so faithfully praying for Christian marriage. Thank you!
Thank you God for answering my prayers, and the prayers of all my friends and family and the Kingdom Marriage network!
This time last year, I was limping along lonely, broken, and almost BANKRUPT. Now, I need to build bigger store houses!!!

AMAZING!!!"

William and Megan have a testimony! And from their testimony, we can have hope for our future.

Kris Valloton, in his message called "HOPE, the Divine X-Factor", says this:

"What do I do when I feel hopeless about a situation? I pretend it is not happening and ignore it; I don’t do anything with it. But to restore hope, look at Lamentations 3:21, 'This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.'

'I remember what God did for me' is a prophetic declaration about what He will do next time.

Faith and Hope and Testimonies are a corporate garden... To have a testimony, you must go through the test. A testimony is when I have gone through a test and God came through.

In Revelation it says that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Therefore, whatever He did for you, He will do for me, because God is no respecter of persons. So I can remember what God did for me, or I can take what God did for you and take it as a prophecy for me.
It is history for you, and it is prophecy for me!"

Allow the testimony from William and Megan give you hope for today. I don’t yet know Megan’s story yet, but I watched as God pulled William up from a desperate, desolate place, restored his career, and brought his wife to him. Their testimony, and the other testimonies from this past year, are a prophecy for YOU!

You might be in the test, but God will come through for you, and and He will come through for the person He has chosen as your Kingdom Marriage partner. Remember, that other person is in the test right now too, so pray for your spouse (future or current), as William and Megan prayed for each other years before they ever met.

My prayer for you:

“May the God of your HOPE so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope!” (Romans 15:13 Amplified)

Pray this for yourself:

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
His Mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my inheritance;
Therefore, I will HOPE in Him!’
The LORD is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for Him.” (Lamentations 3:21-25 NLV)

Be encouraged! Speak to your soul and declare that you will hope in God, because great is His faithfulness! and expect to be amazed, just as William and Megan have been amazed at God’s goodness and faithfulness!

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Double Weddings!

2013-01-18T09:58:00.001-07:00

"Job 22:28 says, 'You will decree a thing and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.' As Believers, it is our mandate to see the heart of God, and then to decree His justice and His goodness on a hurting, dying world." Bobby Conner

Happy New Year!

Have you ever heard this time of year called the January Blahs? Who wants to start a new year in blah? For me it is the January AHHHs! I am excited and expectant for the new year, and I feel this way every January. But this January - 2013 is especially exciting because I am in between two breakthrough weddings, of people who have been praying with 1 + 1 = One!

Tierra and Kevin, married January 12, 2013

Megan and William, will be married January 19, 2013 (more about them next week!)

Since I was born on a 13th, the number is particularly meaningful to me, but it is usually associated with bad luck. Not so when you are walking with God! Nothing about Him is bad, and He is not about luck. A few years ago while researching the number 13, I found a source who said that 13 is the number of DOUBLE BLESSINGS! (click here for more on that biblical number source), and this first month of 2013, back to back weddings, is evidence of Double Blessings of love and marriage.

Every year as I cross into the new year, I listen and watch to see what the people of God are saying about the year ahead. I think you all will be encouraged by this word from Joan Hunter:

“This year is going to be better than the former – like as in 12 cookies, we get a baker's dozen (13) – He is throwing in some extra for us. More than enough. Abundantly, above all that we could ask, dream or imagine. (That is a lot in my book!)

Let's look at what God says about the number 13. The best example is 1 Corinthians 13 – that is the chapter on love. God is going to pour out His love on us in 2013. This is going to be a year of restoration. Restoring us to our first love of Him first, then others. He is going to restore families, estranged children, lost children and relatives. This is a time of them coming into the Kingdom faster than we could ever fathom.

This is a year of those who have prayed for God to send a mate – this is the year of that prayer being answered.”

Let’s shake off the dust of past disappointments, and the long wait-times some of us have been experiencing. Be expectant! And I believe that as we pray and declare, with our focus on the God of the impossible, many of us will meet our Kingdom Marriage partner THIS YEAR!

Precious Lord, we declare as Mary did that NOTHING is impossible with You, God. Nothing. We choose to agree with the words spoken by Your people, that

2013 is the year of Double Blessings!!
2013 is the year of love and restoration
2013 is the year that those of us who have been praying for a Kingdom Marriage partner will see the fulfillment of the desires of our hearts!

We declare (Isaiah 61:7), “Instead of our [former] shame we shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [God’s people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in our land WE shall possess double [what we had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be ours.”

Thank you Lord for double weddings this first month of 2013, as a sign of your double blessings, double restoration, and double honor to replace all shame and disgrace. Lord God, BLESS the two marriages, exceedingly abundantly above all they can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), and give them a double portion of Your gift of romance and love.

“Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick...

But when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life!” (Proverbs 13:12, The Message and The Amplified versions.)

Thank you LORD for the end of hope deferred, and the fulfillment of the desires of our hearts in 2013!

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Merry Christmas and Blessings for our True Loves

2012-12-25T17:10:00.001-07:00

On that day in history, Simeon found the Light at the end of his tunnel and he declared that Jesus was a light to lighten both Jew and Gentile (see Luke 2:32). The word he used for light here is "phos" (Strong's #5457) and has some remarkable meanings. First and foremost it is anything emitting light like a lamp, a fire, or a torch. Other things that are included in this word search are heavenly lights – such as what surrounds angels when they appear on earth, and a star. The definition of the word goes on further saying that light reveals truth and knowledge, and enlightens the reasoning process of our minds thus bringing understanding, especially regarding moral and spiritual truth. His Light brings the power to understand His Truth!

“And SUDDENLY there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”

On this day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Life and Light.

Glory to God in the highest! Thank you LORD that we can celebrate today the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ!

Jesus, please invade the lives of those who are called to join us in Kingdom Marriage. Break into their hearts, and into the messes of their lives in a new, miraculous way.

We speak NEW DIVINE LIFE & LIGHT to the dreams that have died, and pray for new dreams to be given and imparted to their spirits, minds, and hearts today.

We speak NEW DIVINE LIFE & LIGHT to all areas needing the Light of the World to expose doors that need to be closed, and shine Your light on the new doors that are ready to be opened.

Give them the Keys to the Kingdom on this Christmas Day.

Fill them with the Gift of more of You Jesus today.

Give them new gifts of Your Divine hope, joy, peace, and Your perfect love.

Give them the expectancy of a child this Christmas morning, and eyes to see clearly Your BEST gift for them.

And thank you Great God for all of your gifts today, and that next year many of us praying today will be with our True Love for Christmas 2012!!

AMEN! It is firmly, truly so!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

DISCERNMENT - The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for Our True Loves

2012-12-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

(This is a repost from 2011, and there is an update about the Sagacious Gentleman following the post.)

Every day Match.com sends me a selection of men they have chosen for me on that particular day. It is sort-of like the “ShopItToMe” emails I receive with all the great designer fashions that are on sale, based on my preselected criteria. It’s all shopping! Anyway, the nice looking “Sagacious Gentleman” caught my eye, not as much because of the way he looked, or that he is a big skier - no it was “SAGACIOUS” that caught my eye. I must confess, I had to look up the word, and I am glad I did.

SAGACIOUS:

Keen in sense perception.
Of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment: discerning.
Caused by or indicating acute discernment.
Synonyms: discerning, insightful, perceptive, prudent, wise, sage, sapient.

The Sagacious Gentleman is looking for a woman with “acute discernment and a keen practical sense.” Discernment is a much more valuable trait to look for in a person than, “a woman who can look great in a LBD, and jeans.” no really, I see that all the time.

The discerning of spirits is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and one I would like to send via UPS to the man God is leading to me, day by day. My friend Jack Sera wrote a book called, “Revealer of the Enemy.” Jack places a high value on a woman’s discernment in marriage:

“...”The purpose of my new book, 'Revealer of the Enemy', is to bring enlightening revelation to the major role of wives within their marriage. That role is, "Helpmate." Satan has been attempting to hide Gods intended role from Christian wives ever since the fall in the garden. Helpmate, in Ancient Hebrew, is translated as Revealer of the Enemy. That's right! This message, when understood and lived out, will free up wives and husbands to begin to take back what the enemy has stolen."

On the eleventh day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Discernment.

Thank You Father God for the sagacious gentlemen and ladies You are preparing for each of us, and for Kingdom Marriages. Please Unite us by the Power of Your Spirit, and send them an increase of the supernatural gifts of discernment and wisdom.

Just as the Wise Men were able to read the stars, and know a King was born, give our spouses the wisdom needed to know the next steps in their journey.

Give them spiritual and natural eyes to see, and ears to hear Your voice saying to them, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Impart to each person sensitivity in their Spirit, to know Your best when presented with a choice.

“For you (my beloved) have not been given a spirit of fear, but of Love, Power, and a sound mind.” (Sound mind - the word denotes good judgment, disciplined thought patterns, and the ability to understand and make right decisions. It includes the qualities of self-control and self discipline.)

Give our beloveds an increase of Your wisdom, and the good sense to ask You for wisdom daily.

Give our beloveds the Mind of Christ, to know their true identity as the King’s heir, child, and loved-one.

Thank You dear Lord, for the anticipation we feel today; the expectancy, and hope. Thank you Jesus for Hope.

AMEN! It is firmly, truly so!

P.s. I did meet Sagacious Gentleman.... ask me "off-line" for the story, but God did some amazing things in that man's life.

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

PATIENCE - The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for Our True Loves

2012-12-22T08:35:00.002-07:00

One of the definitions of patience is LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG-Suffering. When is long suffering, TOO-LONG-suffering? God is right on time, though I must say, in my exoerience, sometimes if feels as though He is taking a bit too long. But that's according to MY time.

Abraham & Sarah must have felt that God’s timing for the fulfillment of the promise was a bit too-long. Or the Israelites who waited 400 years in spiritual darkness before Jesus broke-through with His glorious light! They must have struggled with patience, and that was indeed loooooong-suffering.

Patience, the Hebrew word is makrothumia; Strong’s #3115:

From makros, “long,” and thurmos, “temper.” The word denotes lenience, forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, longsuffering. Also included in makrothumia is the ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment. It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint. This quality is a fruit of the spirit.

God is patient with us, and when we abide in His Spirit, we have His supernatural gift of patience.

“I waited and waited and waited for God. At last He looked; finally He listened.” (Psalm 40:1 The Message)

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12 NKJV)

On the tenth day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of divine Patience.

Patient God, we pray for our future (or existing) spouses, that You will deliver to them an extra measure of patience and long suffering by Your Spirit ~

that they will be lenient with others
exercise restraint when provoked
have fortitude and patient endurance

Just as we have been waiting and waiting and waiting, the other person has been waiting too.

Thank you LORD for sending the comforter to them while they wait with patience for us! Thank you UPS Man, for Uniting us by the Presence of Your Holy Spirit!

“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

AMEN! It is firmly, truly so!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

PROSPERITY - The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for Our True Love

2012-12-21T09:42:00.003-07:00

“Save now, I pray, O LORD

O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity!” (Psalm 118:25)

“Let the LORD be magnified,

Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servants.” (Psalm 35:27 NKJV)

We know that the words we speak or pray or declare have the power to change and create because we are sons and daughters of the King of kings! We have dominion! This Christmas let’s send a blessing of prosperity to the person God has chosen as our Kingdom marriage partner (future OR current marriage.)

One of the Hebrew words for Prosper or Prosperity is Shalom - PEACE! (See December 14th here.)

Prosper, Hebrew - tsalach, Strong’s #6743: To rush; to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable. To make prosperous, bring to successful issue, cause to prosper. To show or experience prosperity, prosper.

This is an interesting word because tsalach is the same word used when the Holy Spirit came upon David, Saul, and Gideon to empower them for victory! Come upon us Holy Spirit, that we all may succeed in the work and works you have given us to accomplish!

On the ninth day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Prosperity.

Father God, thank you for sending Your anointing to prosper to the people you have chosen to join us in Kingdom Marriages. Thank You that when we declare Your Word, which is THE Truth, changes will happen in the lives of the people for whom we are praying - even though we may not know them!

Lord God, we declare a multiplication of Your Word to change the atmosphere, and mindsets!

Holy Spirit, we pray, come upon (prosper) the people You have called to Kingdom marriage - NOW send prosperity!

Give them Shalom - peace and prosperity!

We declare that our spouses “will remember the LORD their God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV)

We declare that, “He (our spouse) will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper!” (Psalm 1:3)

Thank you Lord that we can hope, and wait with expectancy for the fulfillment of the desires of our hearts!

AMEN! It is firmly, truly so!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Awe and Wonder - the Fear of the Lord - The Twelve Days of Blessings for our True Love

2012-12-20T09:11:00.003-07:00

Every Christmas my sister and her family host a wonderful (or as she would say, FABULOUS) Christmas party for her family and close friends. I must confess that every year it is a little bit stressful for me, because I hope and pray all year that I will finally have THE date to the big party. I usually choose to go solo, and I always have a great time catching up with the festive people I see once a year.

This year, after much angst and over analyzing, I asked a man-friend to join me at the party. Why was it so stressful for me? Was I worried more about what people would think if I showed up solo... again!? Every year a generation 15+ years younger than me arrive with new spouses and children, and I enjoy them all, while stuffing my “hope deferred.” Worrying about appearances is “fearing” man rather than trusting God. I don’t think man-fearing was the main reason for my angst, it was a bit deeper. I realized that my resistance in asking a friend was rooted in my desire to enjoy ALL of Christmas with my True Love. I don’t want just A date, I long for THE Date! Can you relate?

So this year I pray; we pray. I pray for the man God is preparing for me, and we pray for the many other people longing for a Kingdom Marriage. May we all have a deeply rooted awe, wonder, and reverence for the Son of God, it is the “Fear of the Lord.”

My pastor, Peter Young, has been teaching from Isaiah 8-9, and the Fear of the Lord.

“The Lord of hosts—regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].” Isaiah 8:13 (Amplified)

Fear, (Hebrew) morah: Fear, reverence, terror, awe; an object of fear, respect, or reverence... In the present reference, Isaiah is admonished never to fear human threats, but to let God alone be the object of his reverential fear.

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ~ we declare that we honor, and revere You. We worship You! We are in awe of You, and we open our hearts and spirits to receive the Wonder of all that You are, and Your majesty.

Give our True Loves, and all who are appointed for Kingdom Marriages, the gift of a deep fear of You - a gasping wonder and awe when we think of You, and feel Your presence. We trade in our fear of man, and choose to fear the Lord.

Amen!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Gentleness - Twelve Days Of Christmas Blessings For Our True Love

2012-12-19T12:32:00.002-07:00

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”

(Matthew 11:28-30)

"Of One Heart" George Carlson, Greenwood Village, CO

Gentleness, (Greek) praotes, Strong’s #4236: A disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. The word is best translated “meekness,” not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well. (Word Wealth note from my Spirit Filled Life Bible)

Jesus entered our world as the most humble, meek and gentle being we can imagine; an innocent baby, born in a the mess and coldness of a manger. Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus modeled the power of gentleness. He did not react, as we would like to, when he was rejected, or beaten, or cut off in line while trying to buy a gift. When He stood in Love, and gentleness, He used the most powerful and effective retaliation of all. Gentleness is warfare when it needs to be, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit of the most awesome God is POWERFUL!

We are powerful when we are yoked with Jesus, not striving to be or do all the right things in our own strength or cleverness. We need His strength, wisdom, love and power.

On the seventh day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Gentleness.

Thank You Jesus for demonstrating the true meaning of gentleness and meekness. Thank you for the supernatural power of the Fruit of Your Spirit! Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit today, and fill those who are called to join us in Kingdom marriages.

Holy Spirit, fill us, and fill our True Loves with Your fruit of gentleness, meekness and humility - when we are filled and inflated with Your Spirit, we cannot be inflated with pride.

Give them Your quiet strength, and empower them today.

We declare Gentleness to be imparted by the Holy Spirit to us, that we will:

Have a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control.
We will pardon injuries, correct faults, and rule their own spirit well.

Father God, cause us to remove the yoke of heaviness, and to take Your yoke upon them, that they will find rest - relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for our souls.

Thank You God, that You are the great Restorer - bring Your Restoration in these miraculous days of Christmas!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

FAITHFULNESS - The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for My True Love

2012-12-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

“A faithful man will abound with blessings...” (Proverbs 28:20)

Earlier this month, while looking at an impossible situation, and trying to have enough faith to believe that God would come through for me, my prayer shifted. I began asking God to increase my faith, and strengthen me to believe that He will do what He says He will do. I realized that I could not muster up enough faith by my own striving, it had to come from God. It is the picture of letting go, falling back, and trusting that He will be there to catch you. He always does, because our awesome God is FAITHFUL! SO faithful!

God did come through for me in that situation that seemed impossible!

I want to be full of faith every day, and it is my desire to meet a man who is so full of faith, that he is unwaveringly faithful to me, after he is steadfastly faithful to God.

Faithful, emunah; Strong’s #530: Firmness, stability, faithfulness, fidelity, conscientiousness, steadiness, certainty; that which is permanent, enduring, steadfast. ‘Emunah comes from the root “aman,” to be firm, sure, established and steady.” “Amen” derived from this same root, means “it is firmly, truly so!” Emunah is often translated “faithfulness” or “truth,” as truth is considered something ultimately certain, stable, and unchangingly fixed.

I also looked up the word “faithfulness” in Webster’s dictionary, and the “Synonym Discussion” was interesting to me. Something I had not thought of when thinking of “faithfulness” is “firmness.”

“Faithful, loyal, constant, staunch, steadfast, resolute mean firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance.”

God is firm - He doesn’t move, or change His mind. We are created in the image of God, and we are filled and empowered by His indwelling Holy Spirit, so we can ask for more of His attributes in our own lives, and for Him to fill our beloved.

On the sixth day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Faithfulness.

Thank You Father God for Your firm Faithfulness! You are so faithful to Your promises, and to complete what You have started in our lives. You invited us on this journey to pray for Kingdom Marriages, and I believe that all of us will receive the desires of our hearts - Your best marriages! LORD, help our unbelief, and give us the gift of faith to believe the unbelievable, and wait with hope and expectancy!

LORD God, fill our (future or current) beloved with Your Holy Spirit; fill them with the gift of FAITH, that they will bear much fruit of Faithfulness!

Impart to our beloved the miraculous faith of Mary and Joseph this Christmas!

Increase their faith to believe that You adore them, and that You will bless them with a great romance.

Make their faithfulness FIRM - that they will be:

Loyal
Constant
Dedicated
Devoted
Devout
Staunch
Steadfast
Resolute

And we declare that the faithful men and women You have called to unite in Kingdom Marriages will abound with blessings!

Thank You, UPS Man, for Uniting us by the Power of Your Spirit!

AMEN! it is firmly, truly so!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for My True Love - GOODNESS

2012-12-17T05:52:00.004-07:00

One of the things I hear in circles of unmarried people is, “All the GOOD ones are taken.”

Or, “There aren’t any good guys out there [in the dating world.]”

I cringe when I hear people say things like that! Our words have power, and if “the good ones are gone” is what someone says or believes, it will be more challenging to see the great ones when God brings them into our lives. I admit, sometimes it seems that all the good guys are married, but I am very careful not to agree with such faithless words.

God is GOOD, and He is more than “able to do exceedingly abundantly above ALL that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us!”

There are good men and women, just like you, waiting to find their true love! So when you start feeling discouragement weigh you down like a wet blanket because of the lies in your head, speak the Truth - the powerful Word of God over the lies.

“Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of GOODNESS, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” (Romans 15:14 NKJV)

Goodness, agathosune; Strong’s #19: Compare “Agatha”, and possibly “agate.” Beneficence, kindness in actual manifestation, virtue equipped for action, a bountiful propensity both to will and to do what is good, intrinsic goodness producing a generosity and a Godlike state or being. Agathosune is a rare word that combines being good and doing good.

The other day I was feeling the expectancy of God’s blessings in my life, grateful for the things I have yet to see, and I felt Him say to my heart,

“I am blessing you not because you are good, but because I AM Good.”

Some days the only thing I can pray is, “God, I know You are good, and You are faithful.” When we focus on His goodness and love for us, then goodness will be a result of His spirit living in us. Fruit of the Spirit! It doesn’t happen from striving to do all the right or “good” things, so that we will GET what we want. He is not Santa Clause! Naughty or nice, God is still good!

One more thing - I remember one of my pastors saying, “when you need something in your life, give it away, and God will give it to you in greater measure.” We could all use more goodness, so let’s give some away!

On the fifth day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Goodness.

God, You are GOOD! Thank You for Your Goodness in our lives. Thank You that because You are Good, You will hear our prayers, and touch the lives of people we may not even know today - our future or current spouses!

Fill them today with Your Holy Spirit. Compel them to ask You to fill them today.

Fill our spouses with Your Goodness!

Fill them with Your “virtue that is equipped for action.”

Impart to the people you have called to Kingdom marriages, “A bountiful propensity both to will and to do what is good.”

Generous God, fill them with Your generosity.

Give them the strength to be good and do good, and fill them with the knowledge to know it is because God, You are good.

We declare that there are GREAT people “out there” in the dating world, and we know that God is our Matchmaker!

“Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” GOD (Isaiah 46:11 NKJV)

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Joy - The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings

2012-12-16T08:52:00.001-07:00

JOY!

Click here to see the 7 minute video of the meaning of Christmas

“But the Angle said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a GREAT JOY, which will come to all the people.” (Luke 2:10 Amplified)

Jesus is THE great joy! Even though your life might not look the way you had hoped and dreamed this Christmas, receive and be filled with the greatest Joy! And join me in praying that Angels deliver the message of great joy to your spouses, future spouses and families.

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold; And there be no herd in the stalls --

Yet I will REJOICE in the LORD.
I WILL JOY in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength
He will make my feet like deer’s feet
And He will make me walk on my high hills.” (or high heels! ha ha!)
(Habakkuk 3:17-19 NKJV)

HE WILL! Thank you LORD!

The word for JOY is gil (geel) Stronng’s #1523;

“To joy, rejoice, be glad, be joyful. Gil contains the suggestion of ‘dancing for joy,’ or ‘leaping for joy,’ since the verb originally meant ‘to spin around with intense motion.’ Although everything is wrong in Habakkuk’s external world, he is leaping for joy over his fellowship with Yahweh.”

“Do not sorrow, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Joy in Nehemiah 8:10 is Strong’s #/2304; Joy, Gladness.

On the fourth day of Christmas, I give my true love.... JOY!

Father God, we pray and declare that You are imparting to our spouse, future or current, unspeakable JOY! Be our UPS Man, and Unite us IN JOY by the Presence of Your Spirit.

Despite their circumstances, and busyness, give them feet like deer, that they can walk on the high hills, and overcome anything pulling them into discouragement.

We declare (from Song of Solomon 2:17) “Turn my beloved! And be like a gazelle, or a young stag, and leap over the mountain of Bether [SEPARATION.]

Fill them with Your Holy Spirit today, so full that they cannot contain the Joy! Impart to them leaping, spin-around JOY; contagious JOY!

And sensitize their spirits. Give them a child like spirit, expectant for Christmas morning. A spirit that will leap for joy when their spouse (future or current) walks in the room, like John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb. (Luke 1:41)

Lord, impart to them the Joy and Gladness in You, that will strengthen them until we are United, face to face, by the Presence of Your Spirit!

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for My Beloved - KINDNESS

2012-12-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

KINDNESS

These Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for My Beloved are a repost from last year. Today I cannot simply “repost.”

We are all stunned by the senseless, evil, violence from the events in Connecticut. Yesterday morning I was so agitated and overwhelmed that I chose to send prayers for PEACE, because the Peace of God is what I needed most. I wonder now if my angst was not really about my own little life, but perhaps I was sensing the fear and devastation across the country. We need to pray for peace.

This morning I read a post written by a Denver pastor, Lauren Sanford, asking the question, “WHY?” You can read his post here.

“Conscience, based in primary care and concern for the welfare of others, dies when self-focus leads to lawlessness and lawlessness leads to lovelessness. This opens the door to demonic influence." Lauren Sanford

And From Galatians 5...

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” (Galatians 5:22-23 The Message)

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5:16 NLT)

"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you wont feed the compulsions of selfishness.” (Galatians 5:16 The Message)

Selfishness. We cannot be in relationship and care about others when selfishness is the fruit of our lives? Self focus is a main cause of divorce, and when your eyes are staring at your naval, you will miss the person God has for you. Marriage is not just something we desire because it looks fun. Marriage is vital for the peace and well-being of society!

My hope and prayer is that we will be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit daily, trusting God so completely that the Fruit of the Spirit is evident, and our navel gazing will be eradicated. The spiritual gifts we are sending to our beloveds, are transformational! The powerful presence of God, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit enables all of us to take our eyes off of our own lives, release fear, open our hearts to humanity, and “live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit.” That kind of freedom is irresistibly attractive!

Kindness. The Hebrew word is chrestotes, Strong’s#5544: Goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, kindness, affability. The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience. The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control.

I want that! Kindness begins with me.

On the fifth day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of Kindness.

Gracious God, you are so kind. This Christmas, fill our spouse with Your Holy Spirit - so full they fall more deeply in love with You, letting go of fear and the cares of the world. As they are filled with Your Spirit, give them an extra measure of Kindness, that they will ~

Exhibit Goodness in action

Have sweetness of disposition

Be gentle when dealing with others

Live a life of benevolence

Be friendly, approachable and kind to others

Thank you LORD for Your faithfulness! Thank You for transforming us more each day, by the renewing of our minds through Your powerful Word. Thank You for bringing our beloved closer to us every day. Thank You Holy UPS Man, for Uniting us by the Power of Your Spirit!

Amen!

Expecting to be amazed ~

The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for Our Beloved - PEACE

2012-12-14T14:05:00.003-07:00

“And SUDDENLY there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
‘Glory to God in the highest ,
And on earth PEACE, goodwill toward men.’”

Can you even imagine what it would be like to suddenly see a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and declaring peace on earth? WOW! After that reality altering experience, the shepherds wisely decided that it might be a good idea to visit baby Jesus.

PEACE - shalom; Strong’s #7965: Completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation of discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalam, meaning “to be complete, perfect and full.” Thus Shalom is much more than the absence of war and conflict; it is the wholeness that the entire human race seeks. (Note from The Spirit Filled Life Bible.)

“Behold, on the mountains

The feet of him who brings good tidings,

Who proclaims PEACE!” (Nahum 1:15 NKJV)

Jesus came to bring Peace; Shalom. We are to enforce His peace by proclaiming PEACE wherever we go, and today we proclaim PEACE over the one we will marry, or have married. To help us understand the importance of praying declarative prayers, in agreement with the Word of God, I share with you from the book “The Supernatural Ways of Royalty” by Kim Vallotton.

“We are partnering with God to bring justice to earth. (PEACE!) Like Paul we are restoring the knowledge of the one true God. Like Gideon, we are restoring the supernatural signs of God. We’re restoring health to people’s bodies, souls and spirits. We’re restoring relationships and families. We’re restoring financial prosperity....

The truth is that Christ defeated and disarmed the enemy once and for all on the Cross (see Col. 2:15). God has condemned him as guilty and handed over the authority he had usurped from Adam to Jesus Christ, the second Adam.

OUR JOB as “little Christs” is as deputies who enforce that judgment in every situation we come across. God created a world where our vote counts and where our agreement with that He’s doing is necessary to release His power into the world.”

Our Father God, You are so amazing - Wonderful! Counselor! PRINCE OF PEACE!

Thank you for delivering the enormous gift of peace today, to the people You have chosen to join with us in Kingdom marriages. Lord, bless the marriages of the people in our lives with Shalom. (Add your own prayers to each word of Shalom.)

We declare over our beloved, our friends, families and over ourselves:

Completeness in every area of our lives
Wholeness
Peace
Good health
Welfare
Safety
Soundness
Tranquility
Prosperity
Perfectness
Wholeness
Rest
Harmony
The absence of agitation or discord

Lord, "perfect and bring to completeness, all that concerns us." (Psalm 138:8)

And I pray that each of us will have the mind of Christ to comprehend the power of our partnership with You LORD of lords, and King of kings.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

The Twelve Days of Christmas Blessings for Our Beloved ~ LOVE

2012-12-13T09:14:00.003-07:00

The little black purse ~

Yes, I have been offline, and the truth is, I feel a bit like an ostrich with my head buried in the sand. I really have not felt like praying for marriages lately, so I’ve gone into hiding with the excuse (and some truth) of getting buried in helping my parents move from 4200 sq ft to 1050 sq ft.

Going through the closets, and looking through all the stuff has been quite a process. There is a lot of old junk, and a few timeless treasures. In the chaos of the clutter, I found a small, tired and torn black purse, and I almost sent it to Goodwill without opening it first. Inside was not $100 bill, but something far more valuable. Inside and subtle, was a tiny piece of folded Christmas wrapping paper, tape intact, with these words lightly written:

“To my Darling WifeThe Love of my life!All things are possible through Him who strengthens us ~You can be all that you want to be! Love, David

Do not toss the treasures! This Christmas remember to hold tightly to the promises God has given to you. I might not feel like praying, but I do believe that a good marriage is in God’s plan for my life, and yours too.

Some of you wrestle as I do at Christmas time with the tension between the desires of your heart, and reality. It is not just about marriage, the pain and struggles are numerous. BUT GOD. Christmas is a season of miracles, and we must remember that ALL things ARE possible!

Would you like to join me in praying 12 days of spiritual blessings for your beloved, known or unknown? If you are married, this is a great way to bless your spouse before Christmas Day.

If you are not married, there is someone out there waiting for YOU! They are aching for your gift of love, just as you are longing for them. We may not have a beloved to lavish fine Christmas gifts upon this year, but God knows that other person, and He wants to be our UPS man.....

Uniting by the Power of the Spirit.

On the first day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of divine Love.

Father God, together we pray that You surround our spouses (future or current) with Your perfect Love that drives out all fear. Embrace our beloveds, and give them a new and grater experience of the Love of Christ that passes knowledge - that they are able to comprehend even more, what is the width, and length, and depth, and height of Your Love for them.
Fill them with Your heartbeat for the world around them; that Your Love will fill them, and overflow to all who come in contact with them.
We pray and declare that we will all love You, the Lord our God, with ALL of our hearts, with all of our souls, and with all of our minds.

And I must add a quote from my niece Elizabeth’s blog, Long to Love:

“'When you pray, expect the immediate activity of God. Perhaps seen, likely unseen.’ Whatever it is in your life that pushes you to fall on your knees, to yearn and plead with God for supernatural intervention, pray for it and know He is moving. I love the Message version of Romans 8:26-28 –

'… the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.'”

We can know that God is moving in the life of someone we will embrace in the future - and He is Uniting us by the Power of His Holy Spirit!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

NOW FAITH

2012-11-01T09:52:00.003-06:00

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

Are you feeling the world around you or inside of you is shifting, and you are about to see some major changes? I sure do. It is not just hurricane Sandy, or the election, there is more going on around us. After reading my lovely niece/cousin’s blog today, Long To Love, (and she understands why we are both niece and cousin), I shared with her the anticipation and excitement I am feeling while in the midst of a week of shifts and closing doors, just in time to begin a new month with a clean slate.

Take a look at something I read this morning on the Elijah List:

“Who hit the Shift Key?”

SHIFT: move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance:
• change the position of one's body
• change the emphasis, direction, or focus of
• change in emphasis, direction, or focus

The "Shift Key" that will unlock your Kingdom Shift is to "Perceive it, Believe it and Enter it!"

Not only is my work life changing, and my parents are moving to a lovely retirement community, but one more potential relationship came to its final end. The door to a relationship that had been painfully closed in August, I allowed to crack open this past month. I was entertaining the possibility of a dramatic change in the ugly situation, because I know that nothing is impossible with God. After a sincere, gushing apology from the guy, with a desire to seek help for his issues, I was open to the possibility of trying again with him. I quickly realized that I cannot be “just friends” with him. so I started praying more aggressively that the door of that potential relationship would clearly open or close - SOON! (Isaiah 22:22)

And it did! it closed this week! Much to the relief of my family and friends. And I must say, I feel tremendous relief too, and I feel the excitement that God has a much better plan!

If you have been waiting to see the fulfillment of the desires of your heart, and your desire is to be married to God’s hand picked man (or woman) for you, then you might say that the waiting has been a bit of a trial, and at times you have suffered.

We need endurance, encouragement, and we need a fresh dose of NOW FAITH!

“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings...”

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

“For yet a little while, And He (your husband!) who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

“But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.” (Hebrews 10:32, 35-38 NKJV, vs 39 the Message)

Prayer today:

Thank you Father God for a NEW day, and for encouraging us to look to You for our endurance and strength through the waiting. We declare today that we perceive the shifting season; we believe that You are moving on our behalf, to bring Kingdom marriages together, and we take the steps into the unknown, out of the boat and onto the water, to enter into Your good and perfect plan for our lives.

We declare that today we have NOW FAITH, and the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; we have assurance about things we cannot see.

We choose to believe that the men who You have chosen for each of us are coming to us, and they will not be late! Give them peace, faith and assurance in their wait too.

We stand on tip toe with anticipation and expectancy, to see the next steps in Your great and perfect plan for our lives.

And during the wait, we choose to look into Your wonderful face, and the things we do have, rather than on what we perceive as lack in our lives.

Jesus - YOU ROCK!

Amen ~

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Marriage is a Mission

2012-10-20T09:37:00.001-06:00

“The point of marriage isn’t marriage.

It’s a picture.

A display.

A window that you look through to something else.

A marriage has a mission.”

“When we go to a wedding, maybe we’re so moved because we want this new couple to succeed. We intuitively know that their ‘success’ is somehow tied to ours. Their making of love makes the world a better place to live, a place where there is more love for all of us. Maybe this is why we always notice great marriages. When their love is growing, it inspires us. Their life together gives us life.”
Rob Bell

If you have been praying one day or many, for Kingdom Marriages, let me encourage you with some great news! Several people who have prayed with 1 + 1 = One have recently been married or will be walking down the aisle in the next few months. CONGRATULATIONS to all!

Last weekend I was privileged to witness the exchanging of vows for Shannon and Scott B (they eloped a month before.) As I watched and listened to the ceremony, it was clear that the joining of Shannon and Scott was designed by God for His divine purposes. Not only is their marriage a blessing for each of them individually, but they have a mission to fulfill together that they cannot accomplish apart. Shannon and Scott pressed through the many obstacles and nay-sayers, and they told the hindering mountains to move, trusting that God had brought them together, for such a time as this.

Friends and family together blessed the couple, and I was sincerely rejoicing for them and with them. I must admit to the tension between the joy i felt for this marriage, and the pang in my heart from a break up two months earlier. Perhaps this is familiar to you too. I saw two of my dear unmarried friends near the front, and wondered if they were feeling the same tension, because I know they are both hoping and praying for their Kingdom man to show up soon. We rejoice with those who are rejoicing and celebrating, and we choose to hope and rest in the truth that God is indeed bringing people together in marriages.

Choose to BELIEVE that our prayers are effectual! We are moving the mountains that are standing between people who are aching to meet their Kingdom marriage partner!

Declare and pray....

Thank you dear LORD for the marriage of Scott and Shannon, and for fresh hope! Thank you for the recent marriages this past summer, and the weddings coming in the months ahead. Lord YOU have a much larger purpose in these marriages, and you have given us the desire in our hearts for marriage. We declare that we delight ourselves in the Lord, and He will give us the desires of our hearts. We declare that the JOY of the Lord is our strength, and we choose to hope and believe that God is directing our steps each day closer to the person He has chosen for each of us for a powerful marriage.

One of the scriptures read for Scott and Shannon was Zechariah 4:6-7, so from the blessing of their marriage, we declare the word of God:

“This is the word of the LORD to (you): ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My SpiritSays the LORD of hosts.’
Who are you, O great mountain?
Before (us) you shall become a plain!
We shout GRACE, GRACE to the mountains hindering marriages!

AMEN! and I am ...

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara