Trauma ∧ Intercession

Warning: Not for faint of heart

Last night I had a dream. It was bloody and gory. I woke up this morning asking God “why?”. I don’t watch scary movies or movies with blood and gore. I purposely, carefully, limit the amount of unholy things my eyes see. Remember the song, “OH, be careful little eyes what you see…what you hear…where you go”?

That dream was not a nightmare. It was a call to arms for all prayer warriors to pray for those that are hurt. A call to share His love.

The dream:

Faceless men were placing bodies in a box. The bodies were butchered and bloody. Some almost unrecognizable. These faceless men were the perpetrators. Without care or compassion. They cut and mutilated each person.

Then one of the bodies moved. I could tell that it was a young man. He left the other bodies and began to walk away. Then another body moved, got up and began to walk away. At first, I thought it was another man. Then I realized it was a young woman. I could barely recognize the features under the blood covering her body. I began to shout “Run! Run!” I so wanted her to get away. But she did not run. She weakly, stumbled as if she was dizzy but never fell. She was dazed and confused. In shock from the horrors she just went through. She continued to walk slowly. Walking until concealed by the trees.

Fast forward. Many years later I look upon those same people living normal lives. Scars in place of the wounds. Scar tissue hardened over certain parts as a reminder of distant trauma. A hand, the mighty hand of God, reaches to touch the scar tissue. He shows me it is hard. He knocks on it to show how hard it is.

They don’t discuss the past. It is almost forgotten. Pushed away, deeply recessed in the mind.

Next, I find myself sitting in a car with the young woman in the passenger seat. I pray for her.

This sounds like a horrible nightmare. I have had nightmares.

This was a reminder that so many people have been cut so deeply by pain, regret and trauma’s in the past. Some of the scar tissue has become a protective armor, hardened over their heart. The darkness is prevailing. The light of Jesus’s love cannot seem to pass through.

Pray in the Spirit for the lost souls. The hurting souls, cut, and mutilated.

We all know people that live hard lives. People who have been through tremendous pain caused by someone in their past. Or caused pain to themselves. Maybe still going through the trauma and never escaped. Maybe you have been through something that harmed you physically, mentally or spiritually.

I recently read something that said the best way to deal with anything is to face it. That is just what God does. He touches the scar tissue. Brings the memory back and then in His awesome Grace He says “Now forgive.” “Let it go.” “Let me heal that pain.” “Give it to me.”

The human world is given to Satan. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is just what he aims to do from the time you are born. Sometimes before the baby is even born he works diligently to cause pain. On earth, there is no complete escape from pain. But there is a God that takes pain and uses it for our good. He heals it, softens the hard parts of our hurting heart and turns the mourning into gladness. Only our Heavenly Father can do this. All you have to do is ask. He is willingly…more than that…eagerly awaiting you to turn to Him.

Pray. Pray when you don’t feel like it. Pray when you don’t know what you are praying for. Pray.

God will use those prayers to help someone in need.

Show love. Show love when you have a bad day. Show love to people who are not in your regular circle of friends. Show love to people that may not be able to love back..yet.

Letting Go

My nephew stays with us sometimes. He is nine years old and a very clever, smart, little boy. I take him to ride bikes at a nearby park or for a walk or to the lake and he always finds something he wants to take home with him. It’s always a rock or a shell…sometimes it’s a bug.

Recently, we were riding bikes at a nearby park. It was the first time I took him on a long bike ride. He wanted to pack toys and a net to catch fish at the creek. I explained to him that it will become tiresome to carry all those things around as you ride a bike. He reluctantly decided to leave all the stuff at home.
However, that did not stop him from finding cool little treasures while on the bike ride. At a rest stop he combed the ground for tiny treasures. He found “gold” or what he called a crystal rock. It glistened in the sun and he determined that he must carry it home. He did not have pockets so he held it in his hand.
If you have ever tried to ride a bike uphill with one hand you would know how difficult it was for this little boy to steer his bike with one hand and hang onto that rock in the other. He tried with all his might to steer forward. But, the bike wheel could not stay straight without both hands. Just when he would get the handlebars straight he would have to stop and place the rock in the other hand. He struggled for some time before I finally put it in my pocket.

This story made me think about how many things we hang onto that steer us in the wrong direction or do not allow God to steer us in the right direction.
We tie God’s hands. He does direct us but we cannot follow, heed or listen to His direction because we refuse to let go of some ungodly thing.
This may be a habit, a mind-set, a sin, or an attitde.
Why don’t we let go?
1. Could be important to us. Sometimes a mind set is important because we have not yet dealt with whether it is wrong or right. It belongs to our sense of self and therefore must stay.
2. It is comfortable. In some way we believe we might “lose” something if we give it up.
3. We don’t realize it’s there. Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. What may be apparent to “outsiders looking in” is not seen by those of us too close to the situation.
How to let go?
1. Self-awareness is a start. To know that you are carrying that rock in your hand and it is not good. Although it is not always a strength for everyone at all times. Even those of us that think we are very self aware may not realize some tendancies, habits, attitudes or sin.
2. Honesty with ourselves. Sometimes we don’t want to admit our shortcomings. Sometimes they stem from painful situations in our past that we don’t want to deal with.
3. Ask yourself “WHY don’t I want to let go?”. The answer may surprise you.

Is the rock more important than the ride?
My nephew had to make a choice: put down the rock and enjoy the riding or hold onto it and struggle barely moving forward.
Life is the ride. Is the rock preventing you from doing, becoming what God wants? Does it prevent growth spiritually or personally? Does it hinder obedience to God? Does it prevent you from moving forward in your relationship or walk with God?

How many times have I been stuck in a season of my life and prayed for God to deliver me. What seemed like forever wallowing in self pity or reading and praying would finally lead me to realize there was something in my heart that needed to be healed. Many times I needed to let go of something that I clinged to that was not good for me. I seemed to walk in the desert aimlessly holding onto a rock that was slowing down my journey.

Phil 3:13-15 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

1. Repent for hanging onto things that are displeasing to God or hinder his work in your life.
2. Forgive yourself
3. Ask God to reveal things in your life that you do not need to hold onto anymore.
4. Take action…let it go…stop doing it with His help of course you can let it go.

Identity in Christ-pt 2

I believe that one of the first realizations the Body of Christ needs is to understand who we are in Christ. If we understood who we are…the authority through Christ…the benefits of God’s children…the love and mercy of God…how mighty God is…we would change our outlook, the way we approach adversity, and our expectations when we pray.
I still don’t fully understand but God is working on me.

Why does Satan work so hard to strip us from any identity of Christ?
…to keep us powerless.

You can’t use what you don’t recognize.

First, the full armor of God Ephesians 6:11-17
Pray this over you and your family daily.

Second, helmet of salvation.
You are a warrior in the kingdom of God. Fitted, equipped and strong through Christ with every good thing given by our Father in Heaven.

Know that you are marked, set apart for the kingdom of God the moment you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.
The helmet marks which kingdom you belong to and which side you are fighting for.

Third, you are an overcomer.
The head and not the tail, victorious. The Kimg of Glory fights for you with Heavenly Hosts.
By the word of your testimony.

I was reminded today of a truth that I sometimes allow to fall by the wayside.
How do I fight? I fight in the spiritual realms with prayer.
God needs our words.
1. We need to speak in faith.
2. Pray the Word.
3. Declare what is not yet as though it is.
4. Praise Him.

He used words to speak the universe into existence. He needs our words that we speak in faith to change our world.

Does your world need a change? Start praying.

Churchanity

Reblogged from speak peace always:

They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they’ve laid Him.

Swinging censers, white red robes

Glowing mitres

Chants and genuflections

They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they’ve laid Him.

The Amplified and Extended 10 commandments

Shrieking mikes, pounding basses

PhDs, M.Divs, and Revs

They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they’ve laid Him.

Read more… 887 more words

Speakpeacealways writer is very talented and has a heart for the people of God. Pray for the body of Christ! I now have a new word ..."churchanity".

Encouragement for Wives from HisHelper

Reblogged from Peacefulwife's Blog:

Today's guest post is by HisHelper.  THANK YOU for this GORGEOUS post!  What a blessing you are to me!

May I add a beautiful bonus to our obedience to those things God has commanded us women to do? I just discovered this yesterday as I was studying Titus 2 for a group Bible study using the book Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney.

Read more… 786 more words

This is a post from Peacefulwife.com and a guest post from HisHelper. They are truly a blessing. I am so thankful for a community of women seeking after God's heart as priority in their lives! This post states so beautifully why and how we display God in our lives. Enjoy...

Jesus came to Church?

I was visiting tonight with a friend. Our conversation turned to church (as it normally seems to in my house). We discussed what church is like. She complained about falling asleep in church. I laughed, I think that is so true. (She tells the truth bluntly and unashamedly–as we all should.)

Except, when I was growing up there was no falling asleep when my Dad preached. He was very lively. His voice would rise and fall as his passion for God’s word streamed from his lips. Occasionally, he would slap the pulpit, waking everybody up, as if they were sleeping to begin with.

Why do our churches sleep? Not just the ones nodding off during the sermon. But the hearts of the people, going through the motions, as if God is not even real?

But HE is REAL

What if Jesus was at church Sunday morning in service? Would it be any different?
I can picture people mingling in toward the double doors to find their seat (as if it was labeled with their name). They gaze forward, only to catch a glimpse of a radiant white robe. Staring, they realize this dark headed man has nail holes in his hands and feet. They realize this man is Jesus!
In quiet conviction some retreat back through the open doors.
Some of the more holy, quit wispering in the pews about sister so and so and her teenage boy. Silence strickens them as they bow their heads and pretend to pray. Others, whose faces reveal a look of disbelief,search out the pastor to inquire about todays festivities. “What entertainment could the youth group have in store for us today?” they ask.

How would the service be like?
Would behavior be reserved, in holy reverance, with each pew sitter with straight backs looking straight ahead with no thought or mention of what the neighbor in the next pew is doing? Would notes be passed around the young people’s group? Would everyone sing along to the chosen songs with gripe or complaint?
Would the order of service be as normal? Pray, Sing, Pray, Offering, Preach…and in some churches…pray again?

Would I act any different than I normally do?

I can almost imagine the scene. But one thing I know for sure…The Glory of God would fill that auditorium. The tangible presence of my God and King, indescribable, peaceful and joyful all at the same time. Undeniable presence of the Holy Spirit.
It would not be quiet!
David danced before the Lord.
Trumpets, tamborines, harps all played music loudly for the Lord.
People shouted in triumph.
Acts 2:6 Outsiders heard a loud sound and came running. They heard praising and worshipping in different languages. They thought the people were drunk!

All this does not sound common in today’s churches. We are more civilized and proper.
Or, have we just came so far away from what God intended…to a non-real life of a Christian pew sitter? Go through the motions like a good little girl. Tradition says we must. Mother says I must. My friends will be there.

Is there more than this?
Yes, I am here to proclaim to you the gospel of Christ. Everywhere Jesus went multitudes swarmed him. They pressed in through the crowds just to see him. Many searched hard to find him so themselves or a loved one could be healed. Demons fled in terror. Hearts were mended. Minds were quieted from doubt and fears.
Real love abounded from him as if you could soak it up like a sponge. Forgiveness and reconciliation were given. Restoration was eminent.

Have our hearts grown cold and calloused?
Unable to feel the tangible presence of God? Unable to feel love? Unable to give it freely? Do we even recognize it anymore?
What is love anyway?
It’s not in the gossip or the back stabbing. It’s not in the harsh looks or the judgement. It’s not in the selfishness. Love is not in the note passing or the penciled in “I love you” from the desperate teenager.
Love is allowing God fill your heart with forgiveness, patience, understanding, and mercy to overflowing capacity that if flows out of our very being into our actions and our words out to others. It reconciles the family, the friend.

Has “Church” been reduced to pretty singing, organ playing, and stirring sermons, at best?

I refuse to think that is what God intended. I read the New Testament and see a live, thriving, loving church where miracles were an everyday occurence. People served each other unselfishly. Helped the poor, visited the sick, clothed the naked and fed the starving.
Early church goers were so full of Jesus that it didn’t just show 1 day a week or maybe even Wednesday. It was everyday in their homes, at work and on the streets. When they arrived at the scheduled place of meeting (church) they were so prayed up, studied in the Word that God just seemed to pour out of them onto any needy, hurting soul within earshot.

Acts 2:17 NIV “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all pepole. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

This is a promise from Jesus himself to anyone who believes in him.

John 14:12 NLT ”I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

And He never changes

Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

This is what He does…

Luke 4:18 NIV “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, renew the sight of your people to see who you really are as the God and Creator of all things. As real and available. Take off the blinders that hinder the truth. Set your light to shine in the darkness of every unholy place of our hearts. Reveal your love to us. Help us find the REAL church that you ordained to heal the sick, proclaim your goodness and share your love with the world. A place of healing for the wounded hearts and deliverance for the bound up soul.
Set your churches free to serve you without hindrance or reservation. In freedom and in spirit and in truth. Reveal the truth to the leaders. Cleanse our hearts from unholy things. Take out our hardened hearts and replace with one on fire and passionate for you. Give us the ability to dance before you as David danced so we can say “I will be even more undignified then this!” in the presence of my King..to serve and worship HIM without selfish desires.
We seek you with our whole hearts. Show us your REAL! Not just a figment to talk about on Sundays. But to KNOW you.
In Jesus Name! I pray for all the people that read this to be stirred. I pray for all the churches that proclaim your name to be free. I proclaim that freedom now. Send your Warring angels to fight for your churches, for your people, for the bound up in chains, for the addicted, for the hurting. Demons must flee at the mention of your name in faith. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Akiane Kramarik – A Child Prodigy painted this picture of Jesus.

Call To Prayer

I sit up late into the night with a heavy burden for our churches.

Daily, my heart is stirred for a deeper walk with The Lord. Daily, I yearn to know Him more.

Join me In a fervent seeking after God’s heart for the church body. Actually, more truly spoken…a repentant prayer on behalf of God’s people who have lost their first love.

How far our body(church body of saved souls) has strayed from the selfless walk of daily sacrifice of self and service to the King. We are busy with mundane daily activities. Many that have no purpose except to steal time of prayer and fasting from our God and King.

What if we got a glimpse of heaven from our earthly beds?
What if that stirred up the longing within our hearts to seek after God with a humble heart?
Those you seek shall find and the door shall be opened…

What if we could see with heavenly eyes of our loving Father?
To see the hearts of man not just the outward appearance? To love others so deeply that it impacted the kingdom of darkness by snatching away hungry souls? Hungry for the love of our God and King?

My prayer is for His people to return to Him with a renewed love and steadfastness of heart. So clear in our call to serve Him by serving others. So fervent in our love for Jesus that we never hesitate to share the truth of the gospel. So eager to spend time with Him we daily spend time in prayer and talk to Him.

God is preparing His bride for Jesus soon coming. Are we ready church? Are we ready?
I sit in church services where the Spirit of God moved among the people but only few answer the call.
Church services should be a place of healing, deliverance and salvation. Where believers are annointed and equipped for every good work. Where the power of God is manifested among the people because the hunger and expectation are almost tangible.

Prayer
Oh sovereign Lord that sits enthroned in the heaven in great light. Hear our humble plea for your people. We repent of our pride. We repent of disobedience. We repent of our secret transgressions. We repent of our lethargic attitudes toward your Kingdom. Forgive us, we need you in our homes, at work, at church, in the streets.
Send your latter rain! Send a great outpouring of your Holy Spirit with great signs and wonders. Send your convicting power to reveal and prick our hardened hearts and draw us closer to you. Draw your people to you and engulf them in your holy presence. We invite you to come into our lives and mess us up for you! Get all in our business, get all in our well laid plans. We give every thought to you, every plan, every day! In Jesus wonderful Name, Amen!

Identity in Christ

Last weekend I had the great honor of speaking at a women’s conference in Lewisburg, TN. They were an amazing group of women, hungry for God.
I prepared this bookmark for the women to take home and use as a study guide.
Everyone needs a reminder of who they are in Christ. The world tells us everything opposite of God.

Use this bookmark as a reminder that you are NOT who the “world” says you are.
You ARE what God says you are.

1. Look up the verses
2. Pray the verses over you
3. Recite the verses using your name or “I”
4. If you have difficulty believing what God says about you say the verses in the mirror until you believe it

God’s word is the truth about you. It is also a weapon to fight the lies of the enemy. You can use these verses to fight the lies you believe about yourself.

Body of Believers

Imagine a majestic tree. This vibrant tree so complete with millions of leaves. Each leaf an integral part of the nourishment of the tree. Each leaf significant.

This tree represents the Body of Christ. The body of believers that seek after Jesus Christ and follow Him. When they believe they are grafted into the knowledge of God. Just as a gardener grafts together independent branches. You become dependent on Christ. Grafted to partake of His presence, His glory, His mercy, His righteousness, His forgiveness, His healing, His majesty, His mystery.

Each person is an important part of the overall body. The body cannot fully function without a nose or without a mouth…
This majestic tree requires each leaf doing it’s part.

Know that you are an important part of the Body of Christ. Each person is endowed with a measure of faith as well as gifts, talents and insight.

I ask you this question…
Do you know your worth? Do you know your value? Do you know that you are significant?

The Cracked Pot

Sometimes I can be so hard on myself. I seem to spend too much time meditating on any wrong thing I ever did or ever thought. I think of all the skills I don’t have. I dwell on how I am not as good as I wish I was.

I finally realized that those thoughts are not from God. The enemy condemns. God convicts. His conviction leads to a repentant heart fully trusting in Him. Condemnation leads to loneliness alienating us from God and people who love us; and causes us to run from God rather than to Him.

Here is a story I have heard which explains how we can feel like we have let down God but what may be our weakness God uses in His strength.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work and you don’t get full value for your efforts,” the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it hadleaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.” Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father’s table. In God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.

Next time you start feeling useless, down, like nothing you do is right…remember that we are all cracked pots.

New International Version (©1984)
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.