October 3, 2013

WRITE - Five Minute Friday AND #31Days (Day 4)


Today is Day Four of 31 Days of Encountering God! If you missed the kick-off, you can go HERE and find the Introduction as well as each days post! (I will be adding every day as the month goes on!

God Encounters when we Write...

I am resisting the urge to write about how God shows up every single week over on Twitter as we gather together to lift up, crack up, pray up, and keep up with each other as we wait for the weekly Prompt!  I want to... but I am keeping in line with my #31days series - so I will stay the course...


So - this will be tricky... we're gonna try to write this #31Days post and combine it with the #fmfparty prompt... 

Here's hoping Lisa Jo makes this easy... the word prompt is:  WRITE

Oh but - first - the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is!  Five Minute Fridays are hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  It is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE!  The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at 10pm Thursday night (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

So - here goes: Five Minute Friday - WRITE...

{GO}

I had been a Christian for all of maybe a few months... old things were falling away, new things were growing fast and strong! Faith was quickly replacing Fear and I was feeling like even though my life was still small - it has purpose... I was on my way to finding out more about the One who made me and gave me life and things were becoming more black and white... less grey!

I was in my apartment all by myself - everything locked up, turned off, and my head had barely hit the pillow.  I had taken out my contacts and I could not see... but suddenly, a smell entered into the room.  It was overpowering and as I started to give in to the idea that I would need to get up and deal with whatever it was - I felt hands around my throat.  I struggled against this weight and all of the sudden I felt a heaviness sit right down on my chest... hands squeezing tighter... the smell getting stronger.  I began to panic... I tried to push him away and swept my hands through the air.  I tried again and again - and heard the most evil laugh I have ever heard... this - whatever it was - this was not flesh and blood.

I knew Jesus... I KNEW He was with me and He would help me... I kept praying over and over in my mind, "Jesus... Jesus... Jesus!"

It felt like I was struggling for air for minutes - but it was more likely seconds... I opened my eyes to hte darkness all around me and suddenly could see eyes peircing into mine - dark and angry... the look of a lover betrayed... (I had been his... I just didn't know it... I never knowingly pledged my allegiance... but he knew he was losing me and he wanted a fight!)

I gasped for air and prayed all the more for Jesus to come... this demon leaned in closer - his hellish breath hot on my cheek and he whispered, "He can't hear you... He's not real... He won't come!"

I didn't WANT this to be true... I prayed it was not true.  Surely He would not let me down!

Suddenly, I heard the voice of One who cares give me direction... He said, "Karrilee, SPEAK My Name! Say it OUT LOUD!"

I couldn't inhale and fear had me bound... but I wrestled around and gasped in quick.  With all I had... I cried out, "Jesus!"

Immediately - gone.  The presence... the stench... the evil.

I sat there shaking in the dark, not sure if that really happened or what to do next!

Again - out of nowhere... I heard my Savior speak.

"Look to the Word... I have written wisdom down for you to follow... seek and you will find!"

{STOP}

(OK - that was more like 8 minutes... and I am gonna cheat just a bit and wrap up the story here.  Taking a bit of liberty so I can stay within my #31Days...)

I got up, turned on some lights and found my Bible.  I was new... I had never really read the Bible before and just learned that it was not exactly like a novel. I didn't HAVE to read it front to back, and I didn't have to remember all the 'characters'... I prayed and took my Bible - letting it fall where it may... this is the Scripture that my pages landed on:
"For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you."  (Exodus 12:23 NASV)
Needless to say - I got chills! I had just heard a teaching on anointing oil and things began to click. I felt a sense of Peace come in and clean house. I got out some olive oil and used it to pray through my house, and put it on the doorposts of my home... amazingly, I was able to go back to sleep that night without any fear!  

That God Encounter taught me early on of the importance and power of speaking OUT LOUD... there is power of life and death in our tongues and that is just one more reason why I urge us all to:


Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click here to read what others have to say about "WRITE"  
Five Minute Friday

Linking up with The Nester and 100s of other #31Day Bloggers!










43 comments :

  1. Wow. What a powerful encounter. Thank you for sharing. Great job weaving together five minute Friday and your 31 days series.

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    1. Thanks Heidi! Thanks for stopping by! (It was not an easy combo - since I sort of wrote myself into a corner, giving a Lead In on Thursdays' post! I won't do that for the rest of the month - that should make it a bit easier!)

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  2. Anonymous7:48 PM

    Oh yes, the power of live and death is in the tongue! There is amazing power in just speaking His name or His word out loud. Powerful post!

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  3. I agree with the rest- very powerful! Love your story, sweet friend.

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    1. Ashley - you are just the best cheerleader and encourager and I am oh so thankful that He lead you to me! Thanks for stopping by! One day - in real life... one day!

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  4. Wow girl, brave of you to write this. I get it. I understand. And amen. Appreciate you.

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    1. I just felt like I needed to echo what Dana said. And just add: What an awesome 31 days topic. And post. Words are powerful!

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    2. Thanks girls! I appreciate you too! We are in this together... and sometimes we forget to speak out loud - so it helps to have sisters who know the Truth and power of it and speak it for us! Blessings to you both!

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  5. Anonymous8:14 PM

    Awesome !! Just Awesome !!! What an amazing Godly encounter.

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    1. He is good... and SPEAKING that out loud has more power than we realize sometimes! Thanks for stopping by Amy!

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  6. What a terrifying encounter with evil. What an amazing encouter with the power of God.Oh, to speak His word out loud. Yes. It is the power of salvation to all who will believe. Thank you for sharing this intense encounter. And wow - impressed how you combined your 31 Days and FMF. Maybe I'll get to that next week!

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    1. LOL... well - I sort of broke the time limit for SURE... but I managed to combine them nonetheless! (I have left all my other fridays more open - without the 'lead in' on the Thursday posts! That should help... theoretically, right?)

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  7. I had a similar encounter shortly after I came to know the Lord. I didn't have the smell, but the evil presence on my chest was so powerful, I thought I was dying. So thankful that there is freedom and deliverance in the Name of Jesus!

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    1. I love how much of Him is similarly woven in to our stories, Barbie! So much yes - thankful for freedom and deliverance in His Name! Love you, friend! (And LOVE the free download of your art piece today... can't wait to print it out and frame it!) <3

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  8. Holy heart palpitations, girlfriend! it stays with you, doesn't it. For me, it's not so much the fear of the enemy being so real and life-threatening, but the Savior staking His claim on your heart. What a gift. One we should never forget!

    Love you long time. I've missed you and tried so hard to make it to #FMFParty! ugh. I need to re-schedule my thursdays...{HUGS}

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    1. How my heart got happy just seeing your face over in my little corner today! I love you friend - and miss you too! Oh - we will never forget the gift of Him claiming us as His own!

      (The fmfparty is earlier now... fyi! Lisa Jo posts the prompt about 2 hours earlier! She decided Midnight was crazy talk!)

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  9. Anonymous3:00 AM

    Powerful, thank you for sharing. I feel less crazy with my own story having read yours, thank you. Have a blessed weekend. Tara.

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    1. LOL Tara - well, you know me - I'm all about making you feel less crazy, girl! ;) He is so good and faithfuil and with us! I am thankful for that encounter because it taught me early on of the power of SPEAKING things out loud! Bless you, friend!

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  10. Dear Karrilee
    Yes, our Lord Jesus have already won the victory over satan and his evil demons, but they will do everything in their power to keep us captive. Oh, they have to bow the knee in defeat when they hear His voice and name!
    Blessings XX
    Mia

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    1. I love you Mia! Kindred and precious - that's what you are to me!

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  11. Oh how I love this story of Victory! I can't wait to read more!

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  12. God is The Author. He expresses himself to us through writing. And that He gave us this gift, the ability to express ourselves the same way. What a beautiful thing and a sweet story.

    Christy @ A Heartening Life
    www.ahearteninglife.com

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    1. Thanks for hanging out Christy! When we tell the story He is unfolding before us... it is always a beautiful thing!

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  13. Oh, my word! What a powerful God encounter! Wow! Thank you for sharing this. Gives new meaning to the verse "our struggle is not against flesh and blood". Celebrating JESUS with you today!!!

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    1. It truly does, doesn't Becky? I know I have never read that verse without really knowing the Truth of it ever since! Thanks for coming by today, friend!

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  14. WOW! That is all. Be blessed:)

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    1. He is faithful and true... and He really IS with us always! Thanks for visiting Jennifer! Have a blessed weekend!

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  15. Anonymous10:05 AM

    This is so interesting, as I worked in Africa for ten years and heard countless testimonies of a similar presence in the dark at night. Praise God for His faithfulness and for the victory that we have in Christ, sealed by His Spirit! Thank you for sharing this encounter.

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    1. So often, in our western culture - we forget that the spiritual realm is real and active all around us... I know several missionaries who encounter God - and the enemy - in more tangible ways and it is considered completely normal there. Praise God for His faithfulness and Victory, indeed! Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. Anonymous10:54 AM

    I got chill reading your post, Karrilee! Thank you for sharing your experience with us...so glad that you heard His voice and spoke His name. I think we have no idea the power we have just by speaking His name aloud!

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    1. Amen Holly! I am so thankful for that encounter that taught me early on... when I find myself not getting answers or relief - I remember to not just pray silently... to not just THINK good thoughts or pleas for Jesus - but to Speak them out loud! It changes the atmosphere around us! Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  17. Wow, Karrilee. I was right there with you as I read. Powerful stuff.

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    1. Thanks Sarah! It's always such a great reminder to me - the power of Speaking things out loud - and the fact that all He has to do is Show up... to be invited in! Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. Holy Moly, girl! I have chills because I could see what you described.
    There is so much power in this story and in His name.

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    1. Amen! It was intense... the fear was strong - but His Presence and Peace overpowered it all! At the sound of His Name... the darkness had to flee! Praise God!

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  19. Thank you for sharing! So much power in the name of Jesus!! Love you!!!!!!!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Jennifer! So thankful for Him... and for you, friend! I love you too!

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  20. Wow--powerful story. Singing "there is power in the blood" to myself now. Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. Leigh - Amen! There IS power in the blood... praise God!

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  21. Anonymous8:52 PM

    Chilling experience. Riviting writing. Powerful God. Amen.

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  22. Wow, what an amazing story!!! So powerful how you came to have to fight it. I know we all do, but not many can say we have actually physically seen evil. Praise God that He was with you and brought you to Him.

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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