R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Super Bloom

This week in my news feed, there was an interesting article on what is called "Super Bloom" in Death Valley.  Death Valley is the hottest and driest place on the North American continent. I wonder what the pioneers must have thought after coming through the lush green states like Colorado and Utah to find themselves in this dry desert place. This year, this barren basin is covered in colorful flowers that have covered the hillsides.  This phenomenon is due to the rainfall in the month of October. The last time this occurred was in 2005.

Have you ever felt as though you were in a drought spiritually? Spiritual drought happens when we begin to doubt. When we start to doubt, the high pressure of life holds back the reign of God's presence and the fire of lies begins to burn up the pastures of hope.  Joel 1:19 & 20 says "To you, O Lord I call, for the fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. 20 Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures." 

For those of us living in California, we know what it is to conserve water and prepare for fire season. I kind of feel like the Church is living like this too.  We want God's Holy Spirit to come and flood our gatherings, but because we feel like we are living in a drought we are conserving what is inside of us and not allowing it flow out of us.  I think this is why church can become more ritualistic than fresh. 

It's time for a Super Bloom in the church! With the current condition of our world and country, it is time for us to believe for a super natural reign of the Holy Spirit to pour on our drought stricken hearts! This portion of scripture in Joel 2 is speaking of hope to God's people of restoration "Don’t be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. ²² Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. ²³ Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring."

The spiritual weather forecast shows the reign is coming. In Acts 2, Peter quoted this portion of scripture from Joel 2. It says "‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸ In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. ¹⁹ And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. ²⁰ The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. ²¹ But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Acts 2:17-21 & Joel 2:28-31) That day, in Jerusalem, the reign of the God's spirit down poured when, all the people believed (one accord). There was a mighty wind that rained down flames of fire onto their heads, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke in other tongues. (Acts 2:2-4)


That forecast is still for the Church today. It's time we got over our theological differences and just believe that the Holy Spirit can rule and reign today. We can have a fresh reign of God every time we gather. I think the picture of the color in Death Valley is a visual picture of what it looks like when we pray in the Spirit. It's beautiful and breathtaking. It's fragrance over powers the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12) It's the reign that brings healing and hope to a dying world. It is time for the reign of the Holy Spirit to bring a season of "Super Bloom" in the Church!

(Here is the link to a song that is written from Joel 2/Acts 2. "Pour Yourself On Me" (copy and paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4iQpFwA_HM)
 

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?" A famous line from the movie "Snow White" that I was reminded of reading Proverbs this morning. Proverbs 27:19 says "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." 

Now that I am working in the "beauty" business, daily I come across ladies and some men, who are looking for that miracle cream. The kind of cream that will give them youth, radiance and beauty. What is beauty anyway? We've all heard the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." 

Part of my job in engaging my customers is to "make the magic" happen. If I told them the truth, there is no make up or cream that will reverse the damage already done to their skin. If they start a regimen, they can prolong what they already have. Really what they need to be caring for is their heart or their attitude. So many times I wish I could tell them it's not their cosmetics, it's a daily regimen for cleansing and caring for their heart. 

Unforgiveness, anger, bitterness and fear are pollution to our soul. It not only affects us emotionally, but physically. Jesus said in Luke 11:34 "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness." 

There is only One who can give that radiant glow we are longing so much for. When we surrender to a daily regimen of reading the Bible and prayer that is more relational than ritual, we begin to transform from the inside out.

There is only one answer to the question of "who is the fairest one of all?" His name is Jesus! Make him apart of your beauty routine. He is only way to attain a beautiful heart.

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - The Treasure of Wisdom

What is it about the sparkle of the gems and coins in a treasure box that excites our soul? When I was a little girl, my grandma took us to Disneyland quite often.  One of my favorite rides was the Pirates of the Caribbean.  We'd float through the dark caverns looking at the scenes of a pirates life. One of my favorite scenes was the "treasure scene," a room filled with gold coins, silver candelabras and goblets, and jewelry and gems of every kind imaginable.  Something about that room always brought a jolt of excitement. Oh how I wish I could have jumped in the middle of that mound of treasure. I wished I could bury myself in all that sparkle.

When I think about my journey through the Bible, it looks a lot like the ride I loved so much at Disneyland.  The first half of the book are stories of the journey of mankind searching for something.  Something that will make him of value. The book of Proverbs is much like that room full of hidden treasures. It is a book on wisdom and wisdom can only be found. Proverbs 3:13-18 says, "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, ¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; and  nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."

God's Word is like a treasure map, full of value and priceless sacrifice that He so wants us to discover.  We can only do that if we roll up our sleeves and begin digging.  In the process, we discover who He is and what the treasures He has given us that the world cannot give.  His wisdom is one of those treasures. The more knowledge and understanding you gain from reading His map, the more you discover that wisdom is not something, it's someone.  That someone is His son Jesus.  The priceless treasure that He so freely gave. Sin, like the dirt, has buried this treasure and so many have no idea that it is even out there for them to find.  But for those who do find it, find the treasure of eternal life, like a pirate who finds the "fountain of youth".  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6 & 7 "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

The treasure that mankind is so desperate to find is not wealth and power, but it is wisdom and that wisdom comes through the salvation of Jesus Christ.  Jesus said he is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. (John 14:3) That sounds like the description of wisdom to me. 

As I close, I want to tell you this, if you want to find great treasure, get "the treasure map" (the Bible) and begin to dig in to it and discover this priceless treasure that awaits you.  Deuteronomy 4:29 says "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." There is no treasure in this world that will excite your soul more than the light of Jesus that shines out of you when you find him.
 

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional: Spiritual Warfare in 3D

Back in the 80's, Disneyland unveiled it's first 3D attraction "Captain EO."  Michael Jackson played Captain EO, who is on a mission to deliver a gift to a planet that is set for destruction. Captain EO brings the gift to the supreme leader. There is a struggle to get the leader of the planet to receive the gift, (the gift being love and acceptance) and eventually she does and it saves her planet.  We hardly paid attention to the plot of the movie because we were so into seeing the objects float in front of us. We would try to touch the 3D images. If we took our glasses off, we would laugh because all the people doing the same, looked like cats batting a piece of string.  They were just hitting air.

This made me think of what spiritual warfare looks like. The Lord gave me a great picture of spiritual warfare using the illustration of 3D. When looking at a 3D picture, you have to wear special glasses or else the picture is blurry. Well, to some degree that is true in the Spirit. God views us as 3D beings: body (flesh), soul (mind, will and emotion) and spirit (the place where He belongs).

In Ephesians, Paul writes to the people of Ephesus about an important battle that they must learn to fight.  To this very day, we followers of Christ, fight this very same battle, that if we aren't paying attention, will lead to our destruction. The 3D's in Ephesians 6 go something like this. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12) We have to put on our "spiritual 3D" glasses when we pray because if we don't, we are just batting the air.

The first "D" is "Determine - Who and what the enemy is." Verse 12 says clearly that we are fighting against darkness and evil forces in the spiritual realm. Maybe we can't see them, but one of the clues that Ephesians 6:11 gives us is that we have to stand against the Devil's schemes.  We have to recognize the schemes of the enemy in order to expose his plan against us. One of his biggest schemes is stirring us up and causing offense against one another and therefore causing unforgiveness in our lives. God is pretty clear on His stance on forgiveness.

Speaking of stance. That's another issue. We often get so blind-sided by our circumstances. One night I was unable to sleep because we were in the midst of a "storm." As I was praying, the Lord told me to take the word "circumstance" and separate it. I looked up the words. "Circum" means "to go around" and the word "stance" means "a position while standing." What a revelation for me. My circumstances are inevitable. As soon as one has passes, another will be on its way. They just keep going around and around. But it is all dependant on how I "stand" it out. With my feet planted firmly on the Word of God. A great movie illustration is from the movie "Forces of Nature" where the couple is about to be married and everything that could go wrong does. Not to mention a hurricane shows up on their wedding day and their ceremony is outside!  While standing at the alter, looking at each other face to face in the eye, they tell each other that no matter what, they are going to be together. In the meantime, the winds are stirring around them and papers and furniture are swirling around them. People are screaming at them to get inside, but they don't care because they are so engaged with each other. I suppose in a sense if we are the bride of Christ, he is the groom telling us how much He loves us and not to worry about anything because he is committed to us.

T.D. Jakes said "Jesus said a kingdom divided can not stand. The one thing Satan has going for him is that his army is in unity - they are out to destroy the body of Christ." Boy is that ever true. It seems that the "Church" at large is always stirred up about something. We need to thwart that scheme by sticking together.

The second "D" is "Dress - In the Full Armor of God". Ephesians 6:13-17 says, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." I heard Joyce Meyer once say, "notice there isn't any armor for the back because we are to face our circumstances head on." Is that ever true.

We have to be so prepared at all times. On September 11, 2001, we were attacked by extreme Islamists who casually took over 4 airplanes and used our own aircraft to destroy not only land mark buildings, but killed innocent people and destroyed families. This is exactly the tactic of the enemy. He will sneak up out of no where just to bring you down. I realized one day, even when a stranger curses you, for example while driving (need I say more), that that is one of the darts the enemy throws at us. Those are word curses that are spoken over you. Right at that moment you need to break them by praying, "In the name of Jesus, I break those curses spoken over me right now!"

On the flip side, sometimes we curse people and don't ask for forgiveness. Jack Hayford said, "We pray the scripture 'no weapon formed against me shall prosper.' Do you know when you speak against a brother or sister in the Lord that you are being used as a weapon of the enemy?" Sometimes, without us even knowing it, we are the weapon the Devil uses. That's pretty sneaky if you ask me.

The third "D" is "Decode - Through prayer." Ephesians 6:18 says, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Praying in the Spirit is where the gift of tongues comes into play. Romans 8:26 & 27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Praying in the Spirit brings so much clarity to how we should pray. Personally, there are days that there is so much to pray for that I don't know where to begin. When I pray in tongues, then the Holy Spirit brings to mind what is on the Father's heart. What is important at that moment. Sometimes He gives me pictures and sometimes situations and names. It's truly amazing. Praying in the spirit is like putting on 3D glasses. Pictures come to mind that normally wouldn't because the Holy Spirit is the filter through which I am praying.

To conclude this look at Ephesians in 3D I pray that you will become aware of the ways the enemy comes after you. Over this next week, look out for "schemes" he might use to trip you up. Ultimately God knows the plans that He has for each one of our lives and the enemy doesn't. But the Devil will do whatever it takes to prolong Jesus' return to his bride without spot or wrinkle. Like the plot in "Captain EO," where the planet is bound for destruction, but Captain EO saves it with a gift of love, Jesus was the gift to this planet to save us from destruction. He was the ultimate gift of love and through him, all we have to do is receive it and believe it, then we can change the world. The battle to save the world is REAL.