Give Thanks

Ah - yes... my favorite Holiday of the year!

I love how Thanksgiving sets the tone and mood for the coming chaos of Christmas and all that the holiday has come to involve... For me, Thanksgiving puts it all in perspective before the frenzy of gift giving and baking and entertaining and keeping up with the Joneses. The Mary and Martha within me often fight against each other the most during Christmas... but Mary wins out on Thanksgiving without a doubt!

It doesn't matter where your priorities are - at Thanksgiving time - it seems everyones' get shifted around a bit and put back in proper order! We begin to reflect on all that truly matters and we begin to see what is stealing our time and blurring our focus. It is a day set aside to spend with family and friends and to remember over the past year all things GOOD! Even when we have been dealt a hard year and had to work with tragedy and pain... unexpected hurts and betrayals... even then - we are called to focus in on blessings in our lives and as long as we draw breath - we have something to be thankful for!

At Prayer yesterday, we were encouraged to set aside not only tomorrow - but December - to enter into His rest and focus on the reasons for our thankfulness! We were encouraged to look over the past year and reflect on the blessings and the ways that God has come through for us! And oh my - how He has! How He ALWAYS will!!! I normally do this while I am preparing to write our Family Christmas Letter... I am fairly organized and - as many of my readers know - I am a schedule/routine follower - so you can image that just browsing through our family calendar - I am reminded of how God has shown up for us over and over and over again! So - I will do that over this weekend and begin to write our Holiday Letter. I encourage you to do this as well... whether at the Thanksgiving table - or on your own - alone with the Lord... it is such a powerful time of relfection and intimacy ...and it does give a freshness to our perspective and priorities before the busyness of the Season takes hold!

What I wanted to share today really - is that in the midst of the past two weeks - I have dealt with such a Heaviness... such a burden to carry that truly was not my own... I rarely deal with depression or oppression - but I can say that there has been a weariness that settled in over my heart. I believe part of it was an attack and I did what I knew to do to battle that with the Word and warfare in worship and prayer... I entered into His rest and allowed the Lord to cover me and to take most of the burden off of me. The weariness that remained however, confused me for several days. In the midst of the heaviness - the Lord gave me a Promise! I am clinging to it and believing for it... He told me of a change that is coming within my family that has been years and years of prayer in the making! He gave me a promise for the season - and even in that - my heart was heavy. I realized that I was not rejoicing at this promise like I should have been. When I would recall His words to me... I would feel faith rise up within me and I would know that it is true... and yet I felt such sadness that I was not able to really allow myself to get my hopes up. That is when I realized that I have, in the past, allowed my faith and my expectation level to rise so high - that it nearly broke my heart when I didn't see the vision or promise come to pass. I realized that recently I had a similar experience and I was searching my heart to be certain that the expectations that I had - were not unmet due to anything I myself did or did not do. Yesterday, the Lord revealed to me that what I was still feeling- the heaviness I was dealing with - was HIS heart for that situation... His expectations had been higher as well - and His heart was broken for the same reasons. In that knowledge - I felt a release!

Also - yesterday in Prayer - God gave me a new name... I heard Jesus tell me that I am like Sarah... I will have to go back and study it out again... study more about this mighty woman of the faith and see what God has for me in this name... What I do know is that her name means: Lady, or Princess. Given all that He has spoken this year - about being a Lady in waiting... about being His royal Princess.... about being a Queen, I thought that this new name was very interesting!

I pray that God will remind you this weekend - as you gather together and celebrate Thanksgiving - all the many reasons you have to be thankful! I pray that He will embrace you and whisper truths to your weary hearts, and cover you and call you by a new name!

Happy Thanksgiving!
~Karrilee~
(~Sarah~)

I'm like a Bird...

I'm Like a Bird...

At first I was thinking of that song "I;m Like a Bird...

I'll Fly Away" but then I read the lyrics... that is not what

I am like... nor what I want to be like! I am like a Bird in a

vision I had the other day...

I went to Prayer and on the way remembered that I had sort of asked the Lord to let someone else have a vision... Well - I do this often times after days and days of being awakened in the middle of the night to pray! I sometimes ask the Lord to let me sleep and wake someone else up!? I know it sounds horrible... but He knows my heart... and here's the thing: He is a gentleman. He and I both know that He has plenty of prayer warriors that will gladly awaken and pray through a burden. But - it sometimes takes me awhile to notice that He hasn't been waking me up for a long time! So - I go to Him in prayer and tell Him that I wouldn't mind the honor of those midnight prayer calls again... and it usually happens within days. So - I went to Prayer and prayed that if He has something to show me... I would pay attention through out

the day to 'see' it!

Wow?! He is just so good! While in worship at the meeting - I had part of a vision... and while doing errands in the afternoon - I had another part... and later that night as I was falling asleep - I had yet another piece! It did take 'through out the day' for me to get a full picture... and yet - even as we discussed at the meeting - we never really see the WHOLE picture... we all see in part! So... piecing together what I 'saw' throughout the day - here is what the Lord was saying to me this week:

In the Spirit, I saw a Bright White Dove... wings spread out - almost stretching - and a look of determination in it's eyes, just waiting for the wind. But, it required that step of faith that the wind was there ...somewhere, ...down below... After waiting for a long period of time all stretched out like that, the bird let down her wings and sulked away from the edge, disappointed. As she perched herself off in a corner, she caught a reflection of herself in a window... "Sad, sad, sad," she thought! "Ugly, dumb, bird... what makes you think the wind would show up for YOU?! You are nothing special... just an average street pigeon - nothing that the Wind would want to soar with!" You see, in her mind's eye - she saw herself not as she truly was - for truly - she was a beautiful bird - snow white - almost glowing... and she had that something special! However, all she could see was a dirty grey and brown pigeon that begged for food and rarely was ever appreciated.

As she sat there playing this soundtrack of her life over and over, something caught her attention! Below, in the distance, she heard a faint small whirling sound of wind! She couldn't see it... or feel it... but she heard SOMETHING familiar in the Voice of the Wind. Slowly, she crept up to the edge again and peered over - contemplating if she could jump off and fly! After all, she stood there waiting before - wings spread open, waiting... and no one came... nothing happened! She was tired. She couldn't fly for very long anyway, she reasoned with herself. She has been here before... gotten her hopes up... and the Wind never seemed to come.

The LORD - the Voice of the Win - appeared above her and whispered, "Once you leap off the edge - I will carry you and we will fly together!"

"But I'm already tired, Wind. I can't see a Resting Place."

"No," said the Wind, the LORD, "...there is no Resting Place - for I AM your

Resting Place! Once you leap - it won't be YOU working to keep in flight, but

it will be ME! I will carry you!"

How often, and in how many ways, has the Lord been telling us that He sees us at this edge... He has drawn us up this mountainside and He desires that we fly with Him!? I know for me... in the past several months... He has told me this over and over... we are entering a new season and it will require a new level of faith... but when we leap out in it - He will carry us on the Wind and we will FLY with Him!

I pray you find yourself teetering over that edge with a sense of boldness and purpose beneath your wings...

Let His Love lift you up and Fly with Him!
~Karrilee~

"Freedom!!!"

It has been a few weeks since I have written... and I am actually on my way out of town for a weekend away with some girlfriends! However, I didn't want to let another week pass without writing down a few things that the Lord has been speaking...

On my way to the weekly intercessors meeting that I attend, I was praying and talking with the Lord. I have this 'way' with Him - and often times I will feel pressure (albeit in my own mind) to 'come through' and I always know that it is the enemy at work trying to get me to fear man and work to impress and honor 'man' more so than God. So - I had been feeling this concern to come through with a vision... it HAS been a somewhat weekly event. But - in my attempt to take authority over this attack... I prayed, "Lord, can you let someone ELSE have a vision today!? Someone who maybe doesn't experience them or doesn't share often... I would like to just sit in Your presence and soak today..." Now - I KNOW He doesn't need ME to speak for Him... let me tell you - the women who attend this meeting clearly hear from Him themselves... and none of them 'pressure' me at all... I am just being transparent about what happened that day. I will say - I did NOT have a vision... and in fact, someone else that rarely shares DID have a vision. I thought that was pretty cool of God!

While I didn't have a vision... I DID get a couple of Scripture references... I went home later that day, Tuesday Oct 31st, and studied out the Scriptures He had given me. As I read through the chapter and verses I could hear the Lord speak, "Freedom!" Isn't that the cry of our hearts?! We want freedom in our own lives, freedom in our homes - our families and marriages, freedom in our churches and in our land... However, I felt a sense that this was not ONLY a Victory Cry of Freedom... but this was a cry of a Freedom He was going to allow to come upon His Bride for a short season, because it is necessary... that it would, in the end, bring about a Freedom we have not yet known.

He had me reading through Jeremiah chapter 34. In this chapter, Jeremiah has a word from the Lord for King Zedekiah... they are in the midst of war... and the Lord starts out by assuring the King that he will not die by the sword... but he will die in peace, as his ancestors before him did. This word came to Zedekiah after he had made a covenant with the people to proclaim freedom to the slaves. Many of the Israelites had Jewish slaves and they had not been practicing the 7th year release. The people had repented and decided to give Freedom to their brothers and sisters... and then apparently they changed their minds. The Lord went on to say: "You have disobeyed me by not giving your slaves their freedom. So I will give you freedom--the freedom to die in battle or from disease or hunger. I will make you disgusting to all other nations on earth." (Jer 34:17 CEV) You see - we have freedom of choice... and in our choices, there are consequences. We have prophesied a coming Shaking for some time now... Days after I prayed and studied these things... the news about Pastor Ted Haggard was reported.

I have loved this man. I have sat under his teaching. I have prayed with him and for him and I have the utmost respect for his heart for ministry and his love for the Lord. My initial response, like many, MANY peoples', was "NO! This is not true!" I was broken hearted not only for this man and his apparent struggle that has been going on for longer than anyone could have guessed, but also for his wife, his family, the church and all those he has ministered beside and to. I pray Grace and Restoration for him... I pray that we - his brothers and sisters - will not hold him captive and enslave him to his sin. We must not make him a slave and treat him as 'less than' ...the Lord has called us to forgive. Yes - he must repent and he must seek out wise counsel and he is in need of deliverance and THEN restoration. Here's the thing... God has warned us for years and years and years that He is going to SHAKE things up... starting with the church! Whatever is hidden will be made known. We have the CHOICE to deal with it now... one on one with the Lord... or deal with it later - out in the open, with others standing by! I believe, that we are now beginning the Season of "Out in the open".

We have a choice in what kind of Freedom we will walk in... For me, I want the Victory Cry of Freedom to reign over my life... when the Lord speaks Freedom over me... I do not want it to be the Freedom to die due to my own choice and consequences, but I want it to be the Freedom to truly LIVE!

I believe that now that the world has her eyes on the church and this scandal... the greatest honor and blessing and the greatest GOOD we can do with this - is to allow His abundant Grace and Mercy and forgiveness to flow through us to those who have fallen! Let us not eat our young... let us not make Slaves of our brothers and sisters in their time of need... but let us LOVE!!! They will know we are Christians by our LOVE! Let THAT be their headline news! Let us astound and confuse them... by the forgiveness and mercy we pour out on one another! Let us walk in FREEDOM, minister FREEDOM, and offer FREEDOM by walking, ministering, and offering LOVE!

I proclaim Freedom over your life today, my friend!
In Him,
~Karrilee~

What Will You Believe?

How many 'voices' are speaking to you today!?

Sure - of course - we hear our own thoughts - that ever growing list of things to do...
We hear what others expect of us - carpool, meetings, errands, etc...
We hopefully hear that Still, Small voice of God - leading and guiding us through out the day...

But - if you are like me, and I suspect you are... there is also an ongoing, never-ending whispering to your soul of negative thoughts and fears and worries. It can be oh so soft, we can often confuse it with our own voice. However, it is the voice of the enemy and he is consistently attacking our thought life to stop us from advancing into all that the Voice of God speaks over us!

In the midst of prayer on Tuesday, once again - I found myself dancing with Jesus. We were slow dancing and enjoying the moment. For reasons completely unknown to me.. I suddenly began to feel sad... He pulled me back and looked deep into my very depth and He began to openly weep over me. I watched and saw Love pouring our in His tears. And deeper still, I could see a woundedness in Him that caught me by surprise.

He pulled me closer into The Dance and held me tight. He continued to shake and sob as He held me. This stirred in me such unease and confusion... I am forgiven... I am cleansed and pure in His sight... whatever could I have done to bring such sadness and brokenness to my LORD?! After quite a bit of time passed, He began to whisper into my ear, "How much more LOVE must I lavish upon you to get you to believe what I say about you rather than what lies he whispers? How are you going to let me closer when you have that constant negative background noise, building walls and stealing your attention? My heart breaks for you because I see you for who I made you to be... and you have not yet - even after all this time - even caught a glimpse of the good and the Glory I have in store for you!"

"Show me, Lord! Show me... help my unbelief!" I cried.

"I know that you know I love you," He said. "I know you know you are forgiven. But I do not love you simply because of or through my Grace and Mercy. But I love you because of YOU... because of who I created you to be! YOU draw me... it's you that I love and you that I desire! I made you to be you - the one I love. I made you to be who you are - who I NEED you to be! Now Rise Up! Rise Up into all I have created you to be!"

Believe in what He has to say about you... we all struggle with negative thoughts and debilitating fears... we listen to those things and at best, they cause us to pause... at worst - they cause us to freeze up and not follow through with all He has called us to be and to do!

He knows the thoughts He has towards you...
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isa 55:8-11)

"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jer 29:11)

And this one - which I just stumbled up on as writing this:
"[There shall be heard again] the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing as they bring sacrifices of thanksgiving into the house of the Lord, Give praise and thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good; for His mercy and kindness and steadfast love endure forever! For I will cause the captivity of the land to be reversed and return to be as it was at first, says the Lord." (Jer 33:11)

My prayer this week is that we will learn (and relearn) to recognize the whisperings of the enemy and take authority over those thoughts... they are not our own... and they are definitely not the Lords! May He help you to silence the enemy and tune in to the Voice of the Bridegroom this week! Rise up!

Blessings,
~Karrilee~

Allow Him to Tend your Garden!

During worship the other day, I 'saw' in the spirit a heart that had soil in it... and the Master Gardener's hands shifting things around in it... 

He was weeding some stuff out and planting good seed. 

He was Cultivating the soil of our hearts... aerating them, breaking up the hard ground, taking out the weeds by the roots, and pruning the healthy plants. 

As any good gardener - He had vision and could see the end result, (while I could only see all the dirt.) 

I do not have a green thumb. We have a wonderful little mini garden outside our front door... I love it! I have a little sitting area there and can enjoy it for a couple of seasons... my husband is the one who loves to plant and weed and plan for next year. I benefit greatly from all his work! I sometimes offer to help out - but it seems I do not always know the difference between a weed and a healthy plant... sometimes he doesn't know either - until we let it 'bloom' and find it choking life out of the other nearby plants. 

We are learning as we go. 

But, God - our Master Gardener... the Author and Finisher of our faith... He has vision beyond what we could imagine, and He knows the things in our 'gardens' (our hearts!) that may SEEM like a plant - but in the end will choke out the Life He has planted within us... 

He is in a season of reaching in, shifting things about, preparing us for the season ahead. 

That will take some weeding... that will take some raking about and digging around - but the end result we can rest assured, will be one of beauty with lush, rich soil, deep roots, and gorgeous flowers for all to enjoy!

Hand Him the keys to your Garden... 

Allow Him access to enter the gates around your heart,
and to begin to stir up the soil... 
to weed out what is not going to bear good fruit...
to plant in your new thoughts, new desires, new ideas, ...invite Him in and sit back,
and watch His vision for you begin to bloom!

I pray Many Blessings & New Growth for you... and I pray that you will remember to:

Accept the Scepter

"Accept the Scepter..."

That is what the Lord keeps saying to me. "Accept the Scepter!" He began saying this to me a few years ago... I sort of tucked it away and knew it was a good word - but also it was not a word for 'today'. However, I can feel in my spirit, a coming breakthrough... a coming new season... a coming newness and freshness to our callings! I believe we are about to enter deeper into a thing... whatever level of revelation you are operating in now... I believe MORE is on it's way!

I didn't write about last week's prayer meeting. I honestly didn't write much while I was there either. I feel that what I experienced there was for the purpose of praying - not necessarily sharing. It was powerful... but what I will say is that the Lord through many vessels confirmed to us that He IS covering us... that He DOES in fact, have our backs. We need to be able to rest in that... we need to rely on it and unwind in it... we need to accept it and expect it - once we are able to do that.. possibly for the first time for some of us - and for some - it will be a returning to that place of knowing... but once we are able to do that... our breakthroughs will come! Because our focus will be not on fear and worrying and trying to 'cover' ourselves...(we've seen how well our own 'fig leaves' can cover us!)when we can trust in and rely on God's coming through for us and covering our backs no matter what - then we are freed to follow through! That is huge for me, ladies! I have to admit - many many countless times in the past, my follow through has not been so successful! I feel God calling us to a greater level of faith and trust in His ability to care for us SO THAT we will go forth and fulfill that for which we were created! Our destiny awaits us!

Whenever I think of 'destiny' - my mind often wanders to Esther. I simply love this story! Yes - I am a true romantic at heart and that is so much of the story of Esther. Having just watched "One Night With the King" the story is fresh in my mind and on my heart. Last week - the Lord asked me to read Revelations 2:27. I got busy... I pushed it aside and honestly just forgot all about it. The other morning... He woke me up in the middle of the night. I go through seasons of night watch intercession. I have to be careful though, because I do enjoy my sleep - and after so many days, I have been known to ask Him to stop waking me up! I know it sounds terrible - but it is true... and He is such a gentleman - not only does He stop waking me... He blesses my sleep as well. If it has been too long - I will go to Him in prayer and remind Him that I didn't mean forever - but just for a season. (Usually that will result in those midnight prayer sessions soon after!) I had recently realized that I had not gotten up in the quiet of the night for quite awhile. When I found myself wide awake, I thought it was a call to get up and pray but as I was getting out of bed... He simply said - "Go back to sleep - but remember the Reference!" Groggy, I couldn't focus in on what He was saying. I looked at the clock and it was 2:27a.m. I remembered Rev 2:27 and quickly fell back asleep!

As I was doing my devotions the next morning, I was reading in Zechariah again... I have been LOVING this passage of Scripture lately:

"For I, says the Lord, will be to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her... Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord... Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here." Zech 2:5; 10; 3:7

So awesome! So - I began to think of Esther again and how the King's Scepter was offered to her...and how the Scepter was a symbol of the King's Power and Authority and when it is offered it reveals favor! ""If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty..." (Esther 7:3) I looked up the word Scepter. In the Holman's Bible Dictionary is is defined as: "The official staff or baton of a king, symbolic of his authority. It probably was descended from the ancient club carried by the prehistoric rulers. As part of the royal regalia, the scepter was extended to a visitor or dignitary to signal approval of the visit and allow the person to approach the throne." I was then reminded of the Reference the Lord had been asking me to read.

Revelation 2:26 & 27 reads: "And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations; (Verse 27:) And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father." (Amplified)

Alrighty then! It seems as though the Lord is getting us ready to not only be offered the Scepter of the King - but to pick it up... and to rule the nations! The Season that is fast approaching will be one in which we will be released to operate in the same Authority and power that Jesus received from the Father! Wow!? So rich... so exciting!!!

But that is not the end of it... then came Tuesday!!!

I went to Prayer and the question was brought to us, "What is the enemy crippling you with? What dears stop you from moving out or forward?" Well - on Monday I finished "Captivating" and one thing the Lord showed me was that one of the lies the enemy has planted in me from childhood is that I will always be (at best!) Second Best! I had never really put it on that context and to see it so clearly really blew me away. So - that was my answer to the question... I am fearful that people will see or find out that I am not the best one for the job... or that I will always be second choice... never first pick! We played some worship and I immediately was taken to a Wedding Reception in the spirit.

I looked down and realized that I was the Bride... and I was standing in the middle of a gorgeous ballroom/reception on the Dance floor. The band began to play a song and the realization that this was the Father/Daughter dance caused panic to flood my soul.

"Oh no!?" I thought. "I don't have 'that kind' of Dad... he's not going to dance with me."

Just then, God the Father turned me around and pulled me into the Dance. He began to speak to me. "I am 'that kind' of Father! I can see that you love my Son - with all of your heart!"

"I do!" I replied

"...and I can see that you are pure..."

"It's because His blood washed me and He has made me pure!" I answered.

"I see you are gifted and called."

"Thanks to You, Father! You have lavished gifts upon me - even before I became Your daughter..."

"Aaahhhh..." He interrupted, "but My child, you have ALWAYS been My Daughter!" He then said, "I can see that He adores you and is pleased with you. I can say that He could not have chosen any better!"

I couldn't believe it! I had just had this revelation about being second best, and here is God - my Heavenly Father - telling me that His Son could not have picked better!? Amazing! Abounding Grace and Abiding Love doesn't even began to cover it!

I went on to make light of what He said, and joked, "Aaahhh - I bet You say that to all the girls!"

He said, "I say that to His Bride - of whom you are a vital part! Do not make light of My Favor, and My Blessing over your life!"

and at that, He handed me a Scepter! (end of vision)

God the Father has given us favor with the King... Jesus is extending His Scepter to us... not just to invite us to come to the Throne - but, as in Rev 2:27, to take the Power and Authority and rule with Him - here on earth, as it is in Heaven!

Accept the Scepter, Ladies!
His favor is being extended to you!

Blessings,
~Karrilee~

One Night with the King!!!

Well- this is not so much an Update, but it IS a really good Tip!!!

There is a new movie that is coming out on Friday, October 13th.

It is "One Night with the King" and it is a MUST SEE movie! (How many times can you say that?!) This movie is based on a book by Tommy Tenney entitled, "Hadassah - One Night with the King" which is the Biblical story of Queen Esther.

I am HIGHLY encouraging you to see this movie... if possible - to see it on opening night! As you can imagine, there will be new horro movies premiering on this same night and we want to support this movie and give 'evil' some good competition! This is a great Date movie, family film, or even a great Chick Flick/Girlfriends matinee... I am sure I will see it several times while it is in the theaters! You can check out the Trailer at their website at:

http://www.8x.com/onenight/trailer/video_trailer_update.htm

The trailer and the promotions that they have been playing on TBN look simply INCREDIBLE... this is not some cheesy Christian film... and it will speak to so many people in so many ways! I encourage you to see it... and then let me know what you thought of it here on this blog!

As far myself... I am SO excited & SO expectant to see what God will do with this film... '...for such a time as this!"

Blessings,

~Karrilee~

"May I Have This Dance?"

A New Dance...

I once again had the pleasure of meeting with the Lord on Tuesday, along with some precious sisters for the soul purpose of Worship and Prayer. On my way there, I was asking Him what He had for us and what He wanted to say... I felt such a strong need for intercession in the Spirit that I moved on in prayer as I drove.

After we talked a bit and Sheri led us in a Bible study with verses from Galatians Chapter 2- 5; & 1 John Chapter 2, we entered into worship and prayer. When the music first began, I heard in my spirit, "May I Have This Dance?"'

As I continued to pray, I fought off frustration as it felt as if there was a closed ceiling, not the 'open heavens' I am used to during this Prayer meeting! When I asked the LORD why, He simply said, "Intercede... it's an Individual thing I am doing today!" I heard the word "Integrity" as well and then was led to Psalm 25 and Psalm 41. The Webster's Dictionary defines "Integrity" as: "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY; an unimpaired condition: SOUNDNESS; the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESS. Synonym see HONESTY ." We are called to a life of Integrity... and as He is drawing us closer to one another, and calling us to be transparent with each other... integrity must be present as well for true Completeness and Honesty to come forth!

Next, I saw in the spirit, the Lord approaching me, and He asked again, "May I have this dance?" I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to dance with God... I saw others then all around us on a dance floor. He was everyone's Partner and Jesus was dancing with many at the same time - all over the ballroom. Each couple seemed to have their own dance... different steps and turns and styles. I thought, "OK - I'll give it a try!" and I began to dance. It seemed difficult, and frustrating... it wasn't flowing and graceful... so I stopped dancing and just stood there, disappointed and feeling like I failed somehow. He pulled me closer to continue the Dance, and I admitted, "I don't know how.... I can't do it... I don't KNOW the Dance!?" A smile spread across His face and into His eyes and He said, "Aaaah - Yes! But I DO!!!" He pulled me into His embrace. "I know the Dance I have for you! If you will just follow my lead, we can dance together in this Song!"

It's a New Day... requiring a New Dance and a New Song! While we may not know the steps, or the words, we can rest assured that He does! He Does!!!

I was reminded of a friend of mine who shared a story awhile back... She had attended a Women's Conference several years ago and the week before that, God had given her a new dance in worship. While at the conference, she felt the Lord ask her to go to the front and dance for Him. She felt extremely incompetent and intimidated - worrying what others would think and if she would look silly! She was somewhat new to dancing in worship and was not yet bold in public. She quietly sat in disobedience - broken, but unwilling to step into the Dance. In a matter of minutes, she said that she saw several other women walking down the aisles toward the front. They were coming from all directions of the arena and they each began to worship... and dance. It seemed they were unaware of each other and yet, their Dance flowed and became one! My friend saw her empty space, where she fit into the Dance of Worship. They were dancing the same dance that the Lord had given her earlier. She knew then, we all have our part... HE had given her a piece of that Dance and had a purpose and a plan for her in that Dance! She knows now when the Lord calls her to dance, she dances! Amen!?

We all have our part... our anointing or gifting... our calling... our own individual 'Dance', if you will! It's a New Day, time for a New Song, and a New Dance!

I pray you will

Step into your Dance,

Sing a New Song,

& enter a New Day

with Him this week!

Blessings,

~Karrilee~

Permeate Us!!!

I have to start off by saying I LOVE my Prayer Group! For those of you reading this that attend our Intercessory Prayer group - and you know who you are - I treasure each of you and all that you bring to that atmosphere of praise and worship!

I so enjoyed preparing something to share - although in hindsight I must say I realized that it was quite possibly too formal in our relaxed setting... it is a 'format' that I am familiar with and felt safe within those boundaries... although I know that God will most likely not allow me to come at it from that perspective again?! I am sure He wants to stretch and grow me - even in that! As a writer and teacher - it is easier for me to study and research and then present... but I know that God is calling me to be more relational and so I am pretty sure that He will have other creative ways to speak through me that will be - well - less 'lecture'-style!

Anyway - I was so looking forward to having our leader back and hearing what the Lord gave her to share with us. While it IS an intercessory prayer group - and we DO pray... it is also a time of sharing, encouraging, teaching, and worship... not a bad mix!

So - (remember - she was gone last week and didn't know exactly what we touched on...) and she opens with Hebrews 12:2-3... "We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God's throne! So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up." (Contemporary English Version) Fix our eyes on Jesus... Don't grow weary or discouraged! Amen!? She went on to have us open up to 1 John 2:20-27 Basically, this portion of Scripture reminds us that we HAVE the anointing and we know all things.... it tells us that we abide in Him and He abides in us! In the Amplified, verse 20 reads: "But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things."

We moved into worship and I heard in my spirit, "Every Kingdom Warrior has Battle Scars!" Hmmm? OK!? I started to pray and found myself asking the Lord to Permeate us... "Permeate us, Lord... Permeate us!!!" The definition of Permeate is to spread or diffuse through; or to pass through the pores... Wow?! Yes - Lord - that IS what we want... we want you to permeate us - to diffuse through every part of who we are... to pass through the pores of our flesh and spirit... it makes me think of Queen Esther and her year of SOAKING in perfumes... it was not just sitting in a nice hot tub with some scented oils in it... it was scrubbing into the skin and making the fragrance and skin become one!

I wrote down the following prayer during worship... and then had this vision...
"Breath of God, we breathe You in... we breathe You in and You abide in us... just as Oxygen gives us life & energy & clear vision & health Lord, - as we inhale Your very Presence it PERMEATE US Lord!!! Teach us, Oh Lord, to no longer be Shallow Breathers but to Breathe Deep & have You fill us up Lord, to touch every part, Lord... fill this temple, Oh Breath of God!"

Next... I saw in the spirit Jesus walking around with an Oxygen Tank and face mask giving oxygen - giving Life to all who needed a refreshing! "Life Abundantly" was written on the Oxygen tank. I saw Him doing some CPR (mouth to mouth resuscitation) on some, chest compressions on others... He is at work within each of us... within each ministry area in the church... He is breathing new life, new focus, new energy over each one!

I saw Him giving Mouth to Mouth/CPR over the Teachers
He was giving Heart Compressions over the Compassionate and Mercy Givers
He was checking the Vision of the Prophets
He was Checking Reflexes of the Dancers & the throats of the Singers
He was X-raying the hands of the Kingdom Builders
and I heard again: "Every Kingdom Warrior has Battle Scars!"
Then I saw Him giving Oxygen to each 'person' (ministry represented) there...
(End of Vision)

So... I came home and did a little research on Oxygen...

Websters defines it as: "something that sustains or fuels." The necessity of oxygen is obvious. The human body can survive for weeks without food and days without water but only a few minutes without oxygen. "Oxygen nourishes the cells, it provides the energy needed to metabolize carbohydrates; it allows chemical transport, breaks down waste products and toxins, regulates the pH of body chemistry, drives the desire to breathe, strongly builds up your immune system defense and fights hostile organisms. Oxygen is the undisputed king of body chemistry, and as such is your body's most important nutrient! The facts are simple... viruses, parasites, fungus or bacterium cause about all diseases! The solution is also simple - NONE of those hostile organisms can live in an environment with high concentrations of Oxygen! Which makes the following quote very interesting... "Oxygen gets rid of toxicity. Bacteria, viruses and parasites are destroyed in the presence of oxygen." (taken from http://www.2christ.org/health/) There is a LOT there... If God is giving us oxygen - He is nourishing the cells of the Body... He is giving us what we need when we need it to promote the intended Bodily functions... He is cleansing and healing us! ...and I LOVE that Oxygen gets rid of toxins... disease does not stand a chance with the right amount of "Life Abundantly" Oxygen!!!

We have heard of the trendy Oxygen Bars in L.A. and elsewhere that open their doors and give Fresh Oxygen to clients to help them to feel better, happier... the newest exercise/weight loss craze is wrapped up in getting in enough good oxygen into our lungs and circulating through out our whole body. Of course our God is in on that... and He is all about doing that to each of us in the spirit!!! Here is the coolest part... remember - I heard "Every Kingdom Warrior has Battle Scars" Oxygen is now proven to help HEAL SCARS!!! There are a myriad of new products coming out that have added Oxygen levels in them to help heal scars. Every one of us has stepped out in ministry and we have been wounded... either by other Christians, or non-Christians, or circumstances, choices we made, etc. - if we are to be effective in the Kingdom - we WILL face battles... we WILL get scars! I think it is so vital to remember that each ministry was represented in that Vision... and the Lord told us that we would face trials... I think it is interesting that this 'shaking' that is happening - is happening at the top of any given ministry... the leaders have scars and they are in need of some fresh oxygen! Some of them don't even know that they have become shallow breathers... but they have... they are gasping for air - and Jesus is coming!!!

I am reminded of a story I heard a few years ago... a little boy was in the backseat and his mother was driving in the car. Her son was looking at his hands and all of the sudden he began to cry and squirm around in his seat. She tried to calm him down but he was screaming and crying as if he was hurt... & he kept pointing to his wrist, so she pulled over. She turned around in her seat and noticed that he was pointing to an old injury. She asked him why he was crying and he again pointed to his scar, and said, "Owie!!! Owie!!!?!" She calmly reminded him that that was an Old Ouchie and that he needed to not pick it... it was healing and he was going to be just fine! He slowly calmed down and realized that he was not, in fact, hurting anymore - but the very sight of the scar convinced him that he was hurt all over again! Haven't we all done this?! I do not mean to make light of deep wounds that have happened in the Church... there have been many, I know. I know personally. However, we must remember that we have put those things, those circumstances, those issues under the Blood and asked for God to heal us. Many are still in the process of healing... and believe me, He IS at work. The thing about Oxygen is that it is tasteless and odorless... but oh my, how you need it... so often, our God is at work and we are not even aware, until after the fact! Many of us have received that healing and our scars are all that remain... (and, honestly, maybe that little reluctant, gun-shy, hesitation feeling, too!) God has said that we all have battle scars, but even those - He is administering healing and giving us Abundant Life oxygen!

He IS the Air we breathe... this week I intend to bask in His Presence and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth... I plan on singing with my whole heart:
"This is the air I breathe; This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence, living in me
This is my daily bread; This is my daily bread
Your very word, spoken to me
And I - I'm desperate for you
And I -I'm lost without you..." (M. W. Smith)

I pray that He is healing you and taking away your wounds, and your scars... I pray that this week you will Breathe DEEP in the things of God and know that He is offering you Abundant Life Oxygen! May He permeate you as you soak in His Love!

Blessings,
~Karrilee~

The King's Highway

(This is the message that I shared today at my Prayer Meeting...)

Several weeks ago, I was asking the Lord for direction in what to read in the Word that morning... I didn't have 'time' to really dig into a devotion & I didn't want to rush through my morning time with Him all together - but knew I was running behind schedule... Aaah the last days of Summer! I will need to get back to a regular routine and that will mean more consistent Quiet Time in the mornings I know! Another one of the things I LOVE about Fall! I am a Routine Girl - I love a schedule and color coding and that whole organization deal!!! Anyway - the Lord led me to 2 Chron ch. 20! It seems the Lord often speaks to me with this
portion of Scripture! And often, it is when I feel too rushed or too busy... which can also mean the enemy is trying to pour on guilt & condemnation as well! However, I know that when I am rushed & overwhelmed - it is Praise & Worship that my spirit is in need of!I encourage you to read 2 Chronicles 20 if you are not familiar with it... I love King Jehoshaphat! This chapter reminds us of the importance and power of prayer & worship... we are called to cry out to the Lord, and to do battle with praise and worship... so often that alone will bring an end to the battle! I love that when King Jehoshaphat was told of the army coming for him, he
"resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast..." (vs 3) and then verse 4 goes on to say that the people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD... I pray you are familiar with this story... we know that God showed up and fought the battle... setting ambush on the enemy and causing them to turn on one another. The Lords' people were simply told to "not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' " (2 Chron 20:15-17) I love that they were called to take ACTION - and yet - once in motion - to STAND FIRM and see the deliverance (or Salvation) of the Lord...
another translation says it this way: "You won't have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch God's saving work for you take shape. Don't be afraid, don't
waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you." (The Message) I love that! ... stay with me, and you’ll see why!

In the midst of worship that day here at Prayer, I had a vision of the LORD walking around that Prayer Room - mingling in the midst of the women there... I saw Him reaching into our hearts, one at a time... I could feel His Presence and when I asked Him, "Lord, what are you doing?!" He said, "Well, aren't you all praying to make your heart like Mine?" He said, "I Am Shaping you... molding you in the shape of things to come!" ..."The Shape of Things to Come..." ..."The Shape of Things to Come..." I kept hearing that repeat in my spirit over and over...

"What is the Shape of Things to Come, Lord?" I asked.
"It's something new... it's not like anything you've ever seen before"
He replied.

Then, with a smile hinted on His lips, and some far away dream becoming His focus, He said, "Aaaaahhh - she's Beautiful, ...Glorious, ...a Wonder to Behold!!! She is almost ready to be revealed. She is fast approaching her time!" (That was the end of the vision!)

I knew then that She is His Bride... she IS the Shape of Things to Come...
He is at work in each of us... He is calling us to walk much like Jehoshaphat did. Towards the end of chapter 20, the Bible says that Jehoshaphat "...walked in the ways of his father Asa and did
not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD." However, that is not the end of his story. Verse 33 goes on to say that "the high places, however, were not removed, and
the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers."

I believe that the Lord is at work in our midst... calling attention to some of our own 'high places' that need to be removed... Some of our Crooked places made straight... and we are now feeling the effects of a mighty shaking. But it does us good to remember that He is aware of what is going on... what is shaking down... and what will remain when the shaking is over! When our foundation is secure in Him... and we allow Him to reach into our hearts and begin to remold and reshape us... we find that the Potters Hand is gently shaping us into the Shape of Things to
Come!!! If you have ever watched a skilled artist using a Pottery wheel - you know that it simply takes a small shifting of their hands to change the entire look and feel of the clay... So - as we
dig into the Word today - I pray that He will ever so gently reach in to our hearts and shift what needs to be shifted to make something beautiful!

Now - I don’t want you all to think that I have visions every day - or every week - but it is in this room here - in this atmosphere of praise and worship and intercession that I often do meet with Him and every once in awhile He opens something up before me to see in the Spirit! A few weeks ago... During prayer, I had a different vision. In the Vision, I was standing before Jesus, face to face, nose to nose, eye to eye, & then He seemed to be moving - or sliding almost - slowly away from me. I could then see a smooth road that He was on & then in my peripheral vision I could see buildings, homes, temples, & mountains. As He moved backwards away from me, I saw written on the pathway “King’s Highway” & as He traveled the road, it seemed as though many of the buildings, homes, mountains, & other things on the sides of the pathway were crumbling and were parting to make room as He seemingly glided by them - all the while we were maintaining eye contact and He was smiling at me. He seemed so calm, so undistracted, so
sure of His safety and mine! At the end of the vision, I heard in my spirit, “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!” I then realized that the vision was as if I was watching a video rewinding it was
shown to me in reverse! well - I rarely 'hear' Him in the King James version... but I knew that reference... so I was thinking maybe we would be digging into John the Baptist. As the vision
was happening, I realized that I was hearing music in the background - and I found myself sort of humming along with it in my spirit. What did I hear, you may ask? "Moon River"... yes -
that's right People - Moon River!?!? Now - I laughed out loud during our meeting when I realized what song I was hearing in the Spirit. It made me think of my precious friend Arleen... there are so many reasons why I adore her... and one of them is because she just does stuff... I mean - God will tell her to do a dance or sing a song... and she just does it... sure - she battles against all the same stuff everyone else does... but she presses through and she has come to learn that there is purpose beyond what she can see... she will break out in song in the midst of worship and sing the theme song to the Love Boat, or she'll sing about Lays Potato Chips, or whatever... but she does it... and then God moves and the rest of us see Him more clearly.

So - Moon River?! OK... that is what I heard... So I thought that when I went home I would Google the Lyrics and find some deep revelation to share with you. Maybe you are insightful enough to find meaning in it - so just in case - here are the Lyrics:

"Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end-- waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend, Moon River and me."

Any thoughts, any deep truths uncovered?! Not so much for me - I thought it was awfully funny!? Sure - there are some things in there, but when I told my husband about it - he also referenced me to Arleen and he began to ponder out loud: “There is a River of God - Jesus said that He is the living water, and well - a Moon - it is simply a Reflection of the Sun!” Not bad - but not exactly what I was looking for! So, I think Moon River was just for my own enjoyment!

A few weeks ago, I took a trip with my daughter. We went on a Mother/Daughter trip just the two of us! "Our" Plan was to get out of town... listen to Dr. Dobson's "Preparing for Adolescence"
CD's... stay in a hotel and go swimming, hot tubbing, (cable TV)... and - of course - School Clothes Shopping in a bigger city!!! ...MY Plan... Was to be able to have some serious conversations about what I went through as a teenager... values I was - and WASN'T - raised with... honestly talk with Kaye about how I was raised and what things I want to do differently with her... pray together, not to mention laugh A LOT, have fun, oh yes - and SHOP!!!) In the end - all of our goals were met! God gave me a portion of Scripture for Kaye and she came away from the weekend not only wiser and more mature, but equipped with a Word from the Lord - not to mention a kickin’ new wardrobe! We had SO MUCH fun!!!

We are aware of how to go about Preparing the way for our kids - we teach them what we know and we hope that they can learn from our mistakes - but how do we prepare the way for our
Lord?! I believe it is - as everything is with Him - a Heart Issue! Some days we clear away a lot of debris and yet it doesn’t look like we have accomplished much, and other days we seem to be
making ground and blazing ahead for miles and miles! It’s not a Works thing - it’s a Heart thing! So often we get our identity from the title we carry and the roles we play - those are a part of us - but they are not Who we ARE!

I do know that as we prepare the way of the Lord, and keep our focus and connection to Him secure, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, all else will grow dim, if we will learn to see the world IN HIM & not in all the distractions, He will surely see us through - in fact, He will PULL us through, He moves closer to us & even as things all around us may shift & shake - our foundation in Him is not moved and our security is not shaken! Let me tell you - in that vision, in the midst of all the chaos and crumbling, He was not one bit worried or concerned - for Himself or for me! He knows what is going on and He is well able to handle it - as long as we keep our eyes on Him.

So - back to John the Baptist! Sheri asked me to lead today, on the day I had that vision, so I figured I would go with that and see what else God would say - so, I show up last week... and I have my mental outline ready to expand on for this week - I have my Scriptures and all... a basic idea of Preparing the Way... And I am wanting to hear more from the Lord about what He would have me share - and then Sheri opens up to Matthew 3 and Isaiah 40! Same Scriptures and everything?! I thought, “Oh no you didn’t!” and God said, “OH yes I did!” I loved it... God is so funny to me! So - as our God is so often doing - as we try to prepare the way for Him - He is at work, busy, preparing the way for US!

Last week, on the Elijah List, Rick Joyner posted a word and I wanted to just read you a piece of it. He said:

“The Kingdom is much bigger, grander, and diverse than we have been able to see because even the most gifted, see only in part and know in part, just as the different tribes of Israel each had their own inheritance, different callings, and different prophecies, but they all fit together to make them one nation. We need to see how the different parts of the body of Christ fit together to form the one holy nation. It is also understandable, that many would believe a Kingdom and a democracy would be in opposition to one another, but this is not necessarily the case. Though the foundational authority of the Kingdom will obviously be the King's ultimate authority over everything, and His delegated authority through those who have overcome in this life to rule and reign with Him, there are ways in which some democratic principles will also have a part in His rule. These are important to see if we are going to build a highway that goes to the right place. A highway goes both ways--it is a way for the King to come to His people, and it is a way for the people to go to Him. In prophetic symbolism, a highway often represents a "higher way."

I believe that the Lord is calling us all to a Higher Way in Him - a Higher Way in how we approach Him, and in how we relate to Him and to others. We have heard the prophecies of the Shaking that is coming - and I believe it is just now beginning to happen. I believe it will get worse - or more intense - before it gets better. But when we keep Him at our center - and remember Who it is that we serve - we will have nothing to fear!

Let’s open up our Bibles to Isaiah Chapter 39. (Read Isa 39:1-8)
I think it is important to look back a little bit and remember the history of what is going on in Isaiah before he proclaims to God’s People to Prepare the Way! God’s people had been thrashed
about by foreign kings. The deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian King, in Isaiah Chapter 37 happened in 701 BC. In Chapters 40-48 we deal with events that occurred some 150 years later! So - in between that time lapse, we find King Hezekiah is faced with a choice - whose ‘way’ is he going to prepare for, which ‘king‘ will he choose!?

In chapter 39, we find that King Hezekiah’s life has been spared, but word had spread that he had not been feeling so hot. The King of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, after hearing that he had been sick and had recovered. Now remember - they just went through some STUFF with some foreign kings who seemed to be against them and their God! This King of Babylon -
there is meaning to his name and Hezekiah should have suspected something in that alone! “Merodach” means “Rebel” and “Baladan” means “Not the Lord” - and yet, Hezekiah was pleased with these gifts and letters of concern, he was flattered and he showed Merodach-Baladan everything in his kingdom. I mean EVERY THING!!!

Pride in his own wealth and military might caused Hezekiah to want to maybe show off a little! When Isaiah heard this - he prophesied to the King regarding the Israelites’ captivity in Babylon that happened 100 years later. But, instead of repenting, the King breathed out a sigh of relief and, as The Amplified Bible puts it, he said, “For there will be peace and faithfulness [to His
promises to us] in my days.” He was simply glad to find out that he had once again been spared and did not seem to be concerned about what would happen to his children or his children‘s children. Can someone say Selfish and Short-Sighted?!

So - let’s move on to Chapter 40...
In Verses 1 & 2, we find the Lord speaking Comfort to His people - and promising forgiveness and a clean slate! This must have been such a welcome message - a message of salvation to a lost & rebellious people - don’t we all know what that feels like!?

(Read Isa 40:3-5) “A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight & smooth in the desert a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted & filled up, & every mountain & hill shall be made low; & the crooked & uneven shall be made straight & level, & the rough places a plain & the glory (majesty & splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, & all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness” - we know this to be John the Baptist. In Matthew 3:3, it says of John: “This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness (shouting in the desert), Prepare the road for the Lord,
make His highways straight (level, direct).”

John was called a Voice, We are all called to be a Voice - I think it is interesting to note that John would call no attention to himself as a person, but he only pointed people to the Savior, whose way he had come to prepare. While the people came out to the Desert place - he did not find comfort or pride in his following - but pointed them all to the Lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world! So - in Isaiah - he is not referred to as someone anointed and mighty in the plans of the Lord - although obviously he was - but he is referred to as a Voice. It’s not about us - it’s all about Him! Like Chuck shared on Sunday, ‘I AM because He Is!’

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Matthew Henry writes: “When eastern princes marched through desert countries, ways were prepared for them, and hindrances removed. And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hindrance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom.”

The messengers sent before the eastern kings prepared the way for the chariots and armies of their monarchs. A "king's highway" had to be carried through the open land of the wilderness, valleys filled up, and hills leveled - all in advance for when the King would come to visit a city!

“Make his paths straight.” Roads that had not been properly directed in the beginning needed to be straightened out and re-routed, much like the ways of men when no preparation has been
made for the GREAT KING. (BW Johnson from The People’s New Testament 1891)

Let’s not forget that there was a time when Isaiah was all about preparing the way for a king - he was all about setting up man on a pedestal and bowing down - clearing a path in hopes
that others would see and love the king as much as he. When that King (King Uzziah - Isa. Chapter 6) died, Isaiah was beside himself with grief. And then - He came face to face with the
Lord of Lords and King of Kings! In those days, when a king would overtake another region or kingdom, he would have the defeated kings’ robe sewn onto his own - so the longer the train
- the more victorious the king and the more to be feared and respected! So - enter our Lord - High and Lifted up - and His train FILLS the temple. Isaiah knows then and there that this is
the High King - the Only One who is worthy to receive worship and praise and glory! And it is here where Isaiah first gets the Call - when he first is instructed to prepare the way!

So - this People - these Chosen ones of God - when Isaiah cries out this plea to prepare the way - they know! They KNOW - they understand what he is saying and it is unbelievable to them!
This is 150 years later - and they had lost everything - they were torn away from homes, from
their faith, from their very way of life and now - Isaiah is saying prepare the way of the Lord - make Him a King’s Highway! He is saying - the King - the Messiah is coming!!!

And - he is! He is coming!!! We have been preparing the way for Him in all that we do - whether we are aware of it or not - we prepare for Him.

Matthew 24:45-47 in The Message reads: “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole
operation.”

We prepare Him room - He has been at work within each of us to bring us into this Season - He has been shifting and shaking us - molding and shaping us into the Shape of things to come!
He’s been allowing things to come at us to help guide and grow us into the one whom He can depend upon - the one whom He can “drop in on unannounced” and find us doing the job He has given us to do. We pray and we do the work of the Lord; we build relationships; we mother and we mentor and we minister - we build up the valleys and tear down the mountains in intercession, all in preparation so that “every heart will prepare Him room” We take Action and we Stand Firm, we work on His behalf, so that others will get a clear glimpse of the King as He passes by - we work whether we feel Him near or not. We prepare Him room so that He can move and flow and draw us closer and so that He can come near to us! We want to see Him face to face and He promises that if we prepare the way of the Lord - we WILL - we will see His glory, His majesty, and His Splendor!

Now -the enemy of your soul may be whispering to you right now that you don’t do any of that! You aren’t being reshaped and refined - you aren’t preparing the way - you are not building or
tearing down - but you are! You are here - you are intercessors & worshipers & mighty women of God, & you ARE preparing the way!

I believe that we are being released to do the work of preparation - because He IS coming - He is coming to You - and He is coming to me!!! And when we are able to keep our eyes focused on Him - it won’t matter what is going on around us - it will matter what is going on within us! And I believe that the deep internal work will be contagious to those around us. As we prepare the way for Him - He will prepare the way for us! Our hearts cry, Lord is to see Your face! We
want to see it clearly and find comfort in it - we know in Your eyes there is mercy, and grace - there is forgiveness and love, and we know that in Your eyes we have all that we will ever need!

In Isaiah 54:10 it says: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isn’t that good?! Don’t you just LOVE that promise?! NO matter WHAT is going on around us - our foundation in Him is secure, our covenant sure, and when we look into His eyes of Love - we find every Yes and every Amen - we find every answer and reassurance we will ever need. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus - and look full into His wonderful face, the things of earth will grow strangely dim - in the Light of His glory and grace!

May He mold you and shape you, and remind you of His unfailing love this week!
Blessings,
~Karrilee~

We will Always Remember!!!

9/11

Just the power of SEEING that date written out stirs something within each of us...

Sometimes fear, sometimes hope...
sometimes vengeance and anger, and sometimes numbness and regret...
but always, it seems, it stirs up sadness and a sense of Loss.

I am in my 30's - I have ever lived to hear of older generations talking about where they were when Pearl Harbor was hit or where they were when Kennedy was shot... well - this is my generations Moment in History where things changed in an instant and we were all affected. All of us. We only felt more helpless, removed and at a safer distance if we did not live in New York or Pennsylvania, or D.C. - but we did not feel strong, protected, or safe that day at all.

In one moment, America was changed.

However - I must say - that in the end - she was not changed the way the Terrorists intended! We were not crippled in fear and cowering helplessly waiting for yet another attack. We were shaken - but not crumbling down to our foundation.

There are moments from 9/11 and the days that followed that will forever be a part of me. Things that I know now will never be the same.

Where was I when the world stopped turning?

I was getting up out of bed and trying to get my little one ready for school. This new schedule of school in the MORNINGS was not a routine yet (it's still not?!) and so I was trying to wake up my little one yet again when our phone rang. It was one of my husbands high school friends... calling to tell me that it was the end of the world. You have to know that at the time - I hadn't had any news on yet and the thing is, Kevin would OFTEN call with questions about the Bible or the end times... and so I was not immediately alarmed. He told me he was serious - that World War 3 may have just started and to turn on the TV.

So - I did... I turned it on to see the replay of the first plane hitting the Twin Tower... it seemed it was unreal - surely it was a horrible mistake... and then - moments after falling into a kitchen chair in disbelief, the second plane came in fast approaching - seemingly on purpose and right on target... we all know what unfolded next!

I prayed of course - immediately - as did many in this great country! Many who never had cried out to God found themselves crying out on that day... many who had long forgotten the God of their childhood once again found their faith and joined in prayer to cover this nation! I also prayed about what to do with my daughter... how could I possibly send her to school when all of this is going on and when the future - literally the coming minutes and hours - were so uncertain?! I prayed and decided that a sense of normalcy would be best for her and we took her to class and came back home, dazed and planning a day in front of the live streaming news. Little did I know it would be the last day of normalcy for her... a bit of innocence for MANY went down with those planes and buildings on that Tuesday morning...

No more will we ever hear a loud jet fly over our home without having our child attached to us at the hip - even now - five years later and her being much taller - she is immediately by my side. We do not live in fear - but that is a sound that the enemy has confiscated to use to torment and terrorize us even further!

The next day - I was sad and surprised to find that I couldn't find our American Flag - so - along with 100s of 1,000s of other Americans - I went out and purchased a Flag and proudly displayed it. 

I can't remember hearing any patriotic song since 9/11 that hasn't brought tears to my eyes!

Then again - it seems like it has been awhile since I have seen so many flags and so much American Pride... we say we won't forget - and we DO need to move forward - to heal and to grow... but our prayer today should be this:

Lord - let us not forget! Let us not forget what that day cost this nation - this people - this freedom! Let us remember to HONOR those who knowingly or unknowingly laid down their lives for us on that day and the days that followed... Let us pray for our leaders and our servicemen and women... let us thank our Firemen and Police Men and Emergency workers for their service - everyday... because one day - we may not get the chance to thank them!

Let us take a moment today - this day - and remember... on purpose...

We pray blessings on those who experience this day so much more personally than the rest of the country - we acknowledge that as public as this tragedy was and is - it is by far more tragic for you...

May God bless us all - and May God bless America!

Prepare the Way...

OK... this will not be a 'normal' post... because I am still processing and studying a bit... I am sharing or teaching next week at my Prayer meeting - and so I am working on what the Lord will have me say... I will post that after I have shared with them!

I had a vision during prayer last week... that is what I was processing... I also heard the Lord say "Prepare Ye the Way"... OK - well - I rarely 'hear' Him in the King James version... but I know that reference... so I was thinking maybe we would be digging into John the Baptist. I also heard the music in my spirit to "Moon River"... yes - that's right People - Moon River!?!? Now - I laughed out loud during our meeting when I realized what song I was hearing in the Spirit. It made me think of my precious friend Arleen... there are so many reasons why I adore her... and one of them is because she just does stuff... I mean - God will tell her to do a dance or sing a song... and she just does it... sure - she battles against all the same stuff everyone else does... but she presses through and she has come to learn that there is purpose beyond what she can see... she will break out in song in the midst of worship and sing the theme song to the Love Boat, or she'll sing about Lays Potato Chips, or whatever... but she does it... and then God moves and the rest of us see Him more clearly.

So - Moon River?! OK... that is what I heard... so - here are the Lyrics:
"Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end-- waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend, Moon River and me."

Now - if I was to share my vision with you here today - you may see the humor in it... but I am going to keep that one just to myself for a bit longer... it will tie into what I share next week I am sure! I will say this... keep your eyes on Jesus - and all else will grow dim... see the world in Him... not in all the distractions!

So - I show up yesterday to Prayer... and I have my outline ready to expand on for next week - I have my Scriptures and all... a basic idea of Preparing the Way... and then the leader opens up to all my Scriptures and teaches on John the Baptist!? Not even kidding?! I loved it... God is so funny to me... so - I will dig deeper - I will go with the same message in a different direction... I shared with her how that had happened and she confirmed that we are all pieces... we see in part... I am so excited to see what God is going to say next!!!

Until next week... Prepare the Way and see the world through His eyes!
~Karrilee~