Wow, I almost completely forgot about this page...due time for an update. This time I'm going to share some of the things that really hit me this morning when I was reading out of my daily devotional book. Which is one that I highly recommend for someone who wants something to be ignited or re-ignited in their hearts, it is Let The River Flow...Edited by J. Lee Grady and it's a Charisma Devotional. I honestly didn't used to be very fond of the Charisma ones, but there really is something different about this one. Every devotional is taken from books written by anointed men and women of God. People like Fuschia Picket, Ted Haggard, Mike Bickle, Francis Frangipane, Steve Hill, John Arnott just to name a few. But there is some really powerful stuff in the book. Okay, so now I move onto what hit me today...
Here's yesterday's devo. September 5th:
Earth-centered prayers are reactions to circumstances. We feel overcome by life, or we are challenged by a crisis, perhaps personal, perhaps in your church or even a global problem. But our attention and focus is not on the Lord.
While God, in His mercy, certainly hears these prayers, we often are not comforted by them. We rehearse our problem or situation, focused on the trauma we are facing and growing more anxious by the minute. We may get very excited, especially if the situation is a crucial one, and shout or pace in prayer, desperate for a breakthrough.
In contrast, a throne room-centered prayer begins with an experiential understanding that God is in heaven, ruling over this circumstance. No matter how desperate the situation may seem, He is working all things, including this, together for our good because we love Him and He loves us. (See Rom. 8:28.)
From that place, we may indeed be led into very loud and exciting prayers as we participate in spiritual warfare over the situation and pour out the petition of our very souls to the Lord. But the starting place is a place of peace and unshakable confidence in the reality of the goodness of God. (italics mine.)
The focus of the prayer is not on a predetermined answer that we are demanding. Rather, we are laboring for the birthing of God's purpose, aware that His thoughts and ways are higher than our own. We are standing on the Word, not just our interpretation of it. (italics mine.)
--Robert Stearns (from the book Prepare the Way)
Lord, You have seated me in the heavenly places in Christ. Teach me to view life from that perspective.
Wow, that spoke so much to me...it helped me to see why some of my prayers seem to go unanswered...I was not thinking or praying from/in the right perspective. Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes to this. You are AWEsome.
Today's devo. Sept. 6th:
It is very valuable to be aware of where we are in the stages of personal and spiritual growth. If we are in a particularly difficult stage, it is encouraging to know that it will not last forever!
As we reflect upon the seasons of our lives we will note that crisis always precedes great usefulness and increased awareness of God. (ittalics mine.) The Refiner's fire burns away our selfish, wrong motives. His hammer breaks us free from ALL bondage, and His love pulls us to Himself through it all. (caps mine.)
In my case, when I asked God to burn out of my life anything that could come between Him and me, His flame torched "my ministry," my spiritual pride, my hunger for approval and my fear of man. I finally faced and dealt with problems that had been repressed for most of my life.
I was driven to the Rock--to complete dependence upon God. He faithfully worked a miracle in my heart and circumstances that gave birth to a rich future. Many tears were shed in the flames, and cries did rise when the hammer fell, but with all my heart I am grateful beyond words for His love in bringing growth to my life.
The truth about us is revealed in a crisis. If we pay close attention during the turmoil, it will teach us valuable lessons about how to deal with conflict within ourselves and with others in the future. It is a time when God stretches our perspectives by revealing the narrowness of the ones by which we had been living. Through the death to self that emerges, God will actually enlarge our capacity to minister to others.
--Joyce Strong (from the book Instruments for His Glory)
Lord Jesus, increase in my life, and cause me to decrease. Let Your fire burn all that remains of self-centerdness and pride.
This really hit me in a number of ways...especially because right now is a great time of stretching and learning and growing. It's the hardest to see out from the storm, but once you get past it everything involved in that very storm seems so minute and small. God is greater than any storm or circumstance we could ever face, no matter how big. I will expand more on this later because I am pressed for time at the moment. Hopefully this is speaking to you in some way and may God continue to work in you and use you.
I love you all. Our God is the most amazing. Jesus, You are SO GOOD!!! | 
