1 + 1 = One

Monday, November 21, 2011

WAIT and HOPE and EXPECT!

WAIT and HOPE and EXPECT!

Happy Thanksgiving week! The song in my head this morning is, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year...[ding - dong, ding - dong]” And it IS a wonderful time of year! I love the sparkles, and lights, and smells, and parties, and giving.

I am also acutely aware that this week begins a season that represents our fondest of memories, as well as our longings for the way things are supposed to be. Our hearts ache in the tension between reality, and the God given vision for a restored and redeemed world. And if you are not married for any reason, we long for the intact, loving family we imagined as children.

A friend of mine lost her father yesterday. He was going to walk her down the aisle when she met the right man.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.....

Last summer I attended the funeral of one of my best male friends from college. He had a brain tumor, and his wife and two beautiful children must navigate life without his love, laughter and leadership.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this...

The week before - a pastor friend was hospitalized from severe depression... she believes her life has been a sham.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this...

One of my sisters faces a surgery in the next 2 weeks to remove a lump in her neck, which could be cancerous. (Please pray for her healing!)

It wasn’t supposed to be like this...

And like many of you, here is another holiday season - without the husband and children I always envisioned.... or even a dapper party date!

It wasn’t supposed to be like this....

I am not delving into self pity, but I know that each one of you has said the same thing. I know your stories, and they are heartbreaking! Life does not seem to turn out the way of our dreams; the way of God’s original plan. There is so much we will never understand in this life, but we need to encourage ourselves and each other to continue looking for, and expecting the “goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

This is the season when many must fight to have hope, and we are weary from the waiting. It is a daily choice to wait with hope. We can look in the rearview mirror of our lives, focusing on the lack; or set our faces like a flint forward, waiting on the Lord, with hope and expectation. My pastor Peter Young said yesterday that we empower the object of our focus. Let it be hope in a faithful God!

There are several words for “hope” and “wait” in the old testament, and I pray that you will receive encouragement in the definitions.

Hope, Tiqvah; Strong’s #8615: Hope; expectation; something yearned for and anticipated eagerly; something for which one waits.

Wait: quavah; Strong’s #6960” To wait for, look for, expect, hope. Qavah is the root of the noun tiqvah, “HOPE” or “expectancy.” Qavah expresses the idea of “waiting hopefully”.

Jeremiah, after tremendous tragedy expressed in Lamentations 3 (NLV):

19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness
      is bitter beyond words.

20 I will never forget this awful time,
      as I grieve over my loss.

21 Yet I still dare to hope
      when I remember this:

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
      His mercies never cease.

23 Great is his faithfulness;
      his mercies begin afresh each morning.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
      therefore, I will hope in him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
      to those who search for him.

26 So it is good to wait quietly
      for salvation from the Lord.

Wait: Yachal; Strong’s #3176: To wait, tarry, hope, trust, expect; be patient; remain in anticipation. Yachal appears 38 times in the OT. Its first occurrence is in Gen. 8:10, in the account of Noah’s waiting seven days, from the time he first sent out the dove until he sent her out again. Yachal is often translated “HOPE” (Ps 31:24, 33:18, 130:5,7; 147:11). The correct way to hope and wait for the Lord is to steadfastly expect His mercy, His salvation, and His rescue, and while waiting, not take matters into one’s own hand.

“Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7 NLV)

Wait: chakah; Strong’s 2442 a primitive root (apparently akin to 2707 through the idea of piercing); properly, to adhere to; hence, to await:--long, tarry, wait.

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.” (Habakkuk 2:3 Amplified)

"[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!”

"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14 Amplified)

Declarations:

Father God, thank you for Your faithfulness. This blog and making declarations is all about choosing to wait with hope, and to be expectant, because You are our loving, faithful God.

We declare that no matter what we have been through, WE STILL DARE TO HOPE!

We declare that the faithful love of the Lord never ends; His mercies never cease; GREAT is His faithfulness! His mercies are new every day!

We declare that the Lord is our inheritance, and we will hope in Him!

We declare that the Lord is good to those who wait for Him; to the soul who seeks Him; therefore it is good that we hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

We declare that we do not focus on the lack in our lives; we look to, and empower the LORD! We wait for the God of our salvation; Our God hears us!

We declare that the visions God has given us are for an appointed time, and they will be fulfilled; they will not deceive or disappoint. Though the vision tarry, we choose to wait earnestly for it, because it (HE) will surely come; it (HE) will not be late on its appointed day.

We believe that we will see the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

We declare that we wait and hope for and expect the Lord!

We are brave and of good courage; our hearts are stout and enduring!

Yes - we wait for, and hope for, and expect the LORD!

AMEN - and to be continued!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Friday, November 18, 2011

Woo him, and uncover his feet!

Woo him, and uncover his feet!

“For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth - A woman shall encompass a man.” (Jeremiah 31:22, NJK)Encompass: to surround and protect.

“For the Lord has created a new thing in the land [of Israel];
a female shall compass (Woo, Win and protect) a man.” (Jeremiah 31:22, Amplified)

Yesterday we focused on the translation of Jeremiah 31:22, that spoke of the woman protecting the man through prayer and encouraging words. Today we look at the word “compass” as the woman wooing or winning the man! This is a bit risky - or rather risque!

The note in the NLV: “A woman will court a suitor.”

The note from the Amplified: “To ‘compass’ is to woo and win. That the early translators attached that meaning to it is clear from the fact that Shakespeare, their contemporary, so used it (Charles Ellicott, A Bible Commentary). Probably the implication is that Israel, the erring but deeply penitent wife, instead of going about after other lovers will devote herself to winning back and being worthy of the love of her divine Husband and Lord, Who had rejected her.”

The bride of Christ, the Church, wooing her Bridegroom.

Ruth & Boaz

Take a look at Ruth 3, where you will find some keys for women who are seeking the “security or rest” of marriage. This morning, for the first time, I saw Naomi as the Holy Spirit. The name Naomi means “Delightful Renewal.”

Ruth was serving Naomi, and throughout the book it is noted that Ruth was kind; she served with kindness (Hebrew: Hessed). Ruth was submitted to Naomi, and trusted her enough to do the most risky and unconventional things, as Naomi instructed.

“And she said to her, ‘All that you say to me I will do.’”

Do you say, “All that you say to me I will do” to the Holy Spirit? It is His voice above all the others we need to hear, trust and obey on this journey. There are so many “rules” about dating, and I have been diligent to try to relate to men according to the books I read, or advice from friends, because it appears that something is not working. As you know, friends and books will be quick to try to fix you, or fix you up.

BUT GOD!

I love the message in Ruth because there was a time of waiting and a journey away from the comforts of the old season. Ruth chose to take her eyes and focus off of her own circumstances, to selflessly serve Naomi. It was risky, and took courage! Only the creativity of God would then tell Ruth to wait until Boaz was a little intoxicated, then go to him, late at night, and show him that she was “available for marriage.” (The Message)

Oh my! Release the expectations of how your story play out, and open your heart and spirit to the creative directives from the Holy Spirit.

Declarations:

Thank you Lord that Your ways are higher than our ways! We trust You with ALL of our hearts, and we lean not on our own understanding. Thank You for Your faithfulness! And (as my mother would say) we stand on tiptoe waiting with expectancy to see what You are going to do!

We submit to You - Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

Give us ears to hear Your voice above all others, that we will obey Your directions, no matter how unconventional.

Impart to us kindness, Hessed, so that while we are waiting for that moment with our Boaz, we will serve others with kindness.

Lord, we declare that the men (or women) You have appointed for us to meet will feed on your Word; and they will be filled with the New Wine of the Holy Spirit.

We declare the intoxication of the Spirit to come over the men who are called to Kingdom Marriages! Make them full of cheer & joy!

Wash away their disappointments and the cares of the world with the New Wine.

Cause them to lie down in submission to Your Holy Spirit, and rest with You.

We declare that anything covering or hiding the feet of the men, to be removed; and Lord, make the men uncomfortable, give them a chill in the night, that they will notice someone is missing; until they AWAKE to meet their wives!

We declare that when the men awake, we will have the boldness, courage and trust in You Lord to identify ourselves as their wives - according to Your unique instructions.

We declare the Word Boaz spoke over Ruth: “Fear Not!” and we are known as virtuous women; women of strength (worth, bravery and capability!)

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Woman will Encompass the Man

Many years ago (15 years) the Lord highlighted a verse for me that lodged in my heart and spirit. I believe is fat with wisdom for women seeking the divine alliance of a Kingdom marriage. Many of the commentators have been confused by this mysterious verse, so as our friend Ed Silvoso would say, “Let the Holy Spirit speak to you”, and I pray that you have the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.

“How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter?For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth - A woman shall encompass a man.” (Jeremiah 31:22 NKJV)

How long will you wander,
unfaithful (or faithless) Daughter Israel?
The LORD will create a new thing on the earth -
the woman will return to the man.” (Note: Or will protect.)
(Jeremiah 31:22 NIV)

“How long will you waver and hesitate [to return], O you backsliding daughter?
For the Lord has created a new thing in the land [of Israel};
a female shall compass (WOO, WIN and protect) a man.” (Jeremiah 31:22 Amplified)

We have agreed to pray for the men who are called to join Godly women in marriage. I have had conversations with several men who deeply long to meet their wives. Our culture has damaged the relationships between men and women. The TV shows, magazines, and all that we have accepted as “progress”, depict the women with a sharp tongue, demeaning and criticizing the men.

“O you backsliding daughter.”

When I first read Jeremiah 31:22, my understanding was that a woman is to surround, encompass and protect a man through her words, and through prayer/intercession. To surround the man with a shield of prayer. And that is exactly what we are doing with these declarations.

Last night a new thought came to me about what it means to encompass and protect a man. It comes from being grounded in our own faith, and not grasping at them for anything. Quiet confidence in God provides a safe place for a man to be his vulnerable self. Sometimes they need a peaceful space to express their struggles. We can offer that space with no judgement and no demands, when we are resting in the strong arms of our Mighty God.

Declarations -

Father, thank you for unwrapping Your Word for us with fresh revelation. Search our hearts, and expose the lies we have accepted regarding how women are to relate to, respond, and care for the hearts of the men in our lives.

On behalf of the women we represent, longing for and called to Kingdom marriages, we declare that we will return to Your Kingdom order in our relationships with men.

LORD, shine Your light in our hearts and minds to reveal any area of our lives that need your healing and redemption.

We declare and agree that we will surround and protect men through prayer, encouraging, kind words, and silence to give them space to talk.

We declare that the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, are acceptable in Your sight, our Lord and King.

We declare that we are called to be an excellent wife, a wife of Valor, which is the crown of her husband.

As a crown protects a man’s head, we declare that we will surround and protect the man’s mind & thoughts with a shield of prayer. (Proverbs 12:4)

We declare that our tongues are wholesome and healing, which is a Tree of Life. (Proverbs 15:4)

We declare that we will speak pleasant words, that are like honeycomb; sweetness to the soul, and words that bring health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

AMEN - and to be continued!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Friday, November 11, 2011

11-11-11

Painting "Breakout" by Lynda Finch

11-11-11

Today is the day we have been thinking about all year - The very significant 11-11-11!

At the beginning of the year I saved some articles written about 2011 by a few people who sought the Lord for revelation and insight, and I thought today would be a good time to share the highlights with you, written by Dr. Bill Hammon, founder of Christian International Ministries (Bio of Dr. Bill Hammon here.)

There are now less than 2 months of 2011, but we can shake off the dust, and resume a posture of expectancy and faith in our amazingly good God! I needed the encouragement today, so perhaps you do too.

Dr. Bill Hammon

As I prayed about what God has in store for His people in the year 2011 I kept hearing the Lord speak the phrase “2011 will be a Year of Great Expectations Fulfilled.”

The word ‘expectation’ means “a confident belief or strong hope that a particular event will happen; a mental image of something expected; prospects for the future, somebody’s likely prospects of wealth or success in the future.”

Expectation is another word for faith. It was at that moment that I realized that Hebrews 11 is the chapter that describes the “heroes of faith”. These are men and women who heard the voice of the Lord regarding God’s mandate on their lives to impact their nation or their generation. They succeeded in fulfilling their assignments against impossible odds.

Faith/Expectation is essential in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Heb 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Heb 11:1 “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” (TLB)

Heb 11:1-2 “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.” – (God’s Word Translation)

Expectation is key to possessing our promises!

Mark 11:22-24 “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to his mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Many Believers have fallen into the trap of hope deferred, which scripture says makes the heart sick. The problem with losing hope is that without hope one cannot have faith and without faith there are no miracles. If this is to be the miracle season God intends, we must activate our hope by dreaming big dreams. I heard someone say once, “How can God cause you to be blessed beyond your wildest dreams until you start having wild dreams?” This will be a time when the dreamers, like Joseph, come into fulfillment of their dreams because they didn’t give up in the hard times. We must remember what God has spoken to us and believe for an even greater revelation release through dreams, visions and the Voice of the Lord being released.

God is breaking us out of barreness. Hebrews 11:11 “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

When a woman is pregnant she is said to be “expecting”. Sara was barren. Not only that, she was very old. After years of dreaming of having a baby, her dreams were dashed and she had hardened her heart against even the hope of bearing a child. Yet God made her a promise that would be humanly impossible to fulfill. She would bear a child in her old age! Sara’s initial reaction to God’s promise of a child was to laugh in unbelief. But God took her mocking laughter of unbelief and turned it to joyful laughter of receiving the promise. She was over 90 years old when she received the promise. After a lifetime of waiting, her dream was fulfilled.

I heard the Lord say “Many of my people have been in a place of frustration leading to unbelief because it seems that My promises will never come to pass. Some have even said, ‘it is too late’ or ‘the time has passed for the dream to be realized or the promise to come to pass.’ Do not despair because of time or circumstances. I am a God that is not bound by time or circumstances. I am the God of your dream. Yet you must put your trust in me and not in the dream. Even now I am breaking the yoke of bitterness from hope deferred, and the weariness that comes from constant grief and disappointment. I am releasing strength, as I released to Sara; strength to conceive new seed and dream an even bigger dream. You will carry this dream to full term and will not suffer from a spiritual miscarriage or abortion. For I am faithful. I stand ready to do the impossible through you as you release your faith and trust in me.”

I heard the Lord say that He is breaking us out of a holding pattern where we have felt like our future, destiny and promises were on perpetual hold. This is an appointed time for God’s people. Just as Joseph remained faithful to the vision through his years of slavery and imprisonment, then “suddenly” he stepped in to the promise and fulfillment in one day, so too God will bring us seemingly “suddenly” into our promise and fulfillment. It is then that the true work of kingdom impact really begins! It wasn’t until that time that Joseph’s position of rulership took affect. We are stepping in to our divinely mandated positions from which we will rule and reign for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

When a plane is getting ready to land at the airport, at times the pilot may be put into a holding pattern. This is where the plane circles and circles until the way is clear for him to land. Many people have been in a similar holding pattern where we have been circling and circling feeling like we are never going to get to our destination. But God is giving the GO! signal. It’s time to break out of the holding pattern and move forward.

It’s time for the suddenlies. The things you have been hoping and expecting for are at hand! Just as Joseph stepped into his destiny to be ruler of a nation, suddenly, so it is time

Expectation Breaks Desolation - The number eleven represents mercy. It is the number that stands between 10 – the judgment of God and 12 – the government of God. God’s mercy stands between His judgment and His executed government and justice. Without this, none of us could be redeemed. James 2:13 tells us that “Mercy triumphs over judgment”.

This will be a year of God’s mercy being seen in extraordinary ways!

Open doors of divine favor. I recently prophesied from the passage in Revelations 3 when God spoke to the church at Philadelphia “I have given you the key of David, I am He that opens and no man can shut….” I kept hearing God say “I am He that opens, I am He that opens.” This will be a time of mercy when God opens doors and opportunities that have so far been shut up. Gen 39:21-22 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Ps 102:13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.

Expectation Releases Restoration: All that Joseph lost was restored. He experienced restoration of favor and positioning, family restoration, and even restoration of hope for the future promise of his descendants possessing Canaan.

Activation Breaks Hesitation - No Time for Hesitation! The time is now! We must press into our future, for our sakes, our generation’s sakes, the Kingdom’s sake and for the sake of nations.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Rom. 10:17

And, from the November update on the Christian International Ministries website:

God’s suddenlies come after years of preparation. I believe this is a time of suddenlies. Expect to see suddenlies in your personal life, your family, your ministry, your finances, your health – wherever you have found yourself being pressed and challenged, a suddenly is coming!

AMEN!

Declarations:

Father God, thank you for your encouraging word through your people. We choose today to be expectant! We believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

We come into agreement with the Word spoken by Bill Hammon, and declare that 2011 will be a year of great expectations fulfilled.

Thank you Lord that just as You broke Joseph out of prison SUDDENLY, you are breaking us out of imprisonment:

We declare that we are breaking out of Hope Deferred, and our expectation is that the Desire will come, it is a tree of life!

We declare that we are breaking out of Barrenness! Thank you Lord for giving us the gift of faith to believe! Thank you Lord for turning out mocking laughter of unbelief into the joyful laughter of expecting and then receiving the promises.

We declare that we are breaking out of the holding patterns! The fullness of time is now.

We declare that the yoke of bitterness from hope deferred is broken, now!

We declare that weariness from grief and disappointment is broken now - and we receive the strength given to Sarah to conceive and believe, and see the promises fulfilled.

We declare that it is not too late!

We declare that we have the Favor of Joseph, and the double doors are bursting open!

We declare Psalm 102:13 - “Our God will arise over us - for the time to favor us, YES the set time has come!”

We posture ourselves in expectation of the SUDDENLIES! Thank You Lord for your suddenlies!

Thank you LORD for your faithfulness! You are GOOD!

Thank you LORD for loving us today! and for protecting us.

Thank you LORD for new mercies every morning; a fresh beginning today.

Thank you LORD for the fulfillment of Your promises.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

God is the God of RESTORATION!

Last night I had a dream, and though I only remember a few seconds, I believe it is a message of Hope from God. In the dream I was talking to my friend Jeannine about her marriage to Ian, which is the opening testimony of this blog, click here to read it again. Regarding the marriage, I said to Jeannine,

“This (marriage) is God’s RESTORATION!”

Today is the 8th, and I love the number 8 because it is the number of NEW BEGINNINGS! God gives us hope for new beginnings.

After pouring a lovely, warm cup of coffee this morning, I looked up the word “restoration” in my bible, and in The Spirit Filled Life Bible, there are several pages about restoration! One note by James Robison is worth repeating:

“According to the dictionary, ‘to restore’ means to ‘bring back to a former or original condition.’ When something is restored in the Scriptures, however, it is always increased, multiplied or improved so that its latter state is significantly better than its original state (see Joe 2:21-26).”

“Fear not!
Be glad and rejoice!
For the LORD has done great and marvelous things...
Do not be afraid...
Be glad...
Rejoice in the LORD your God;
The vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten....
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied
And praise the name of the LORD your God
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.” (Joel 2:21-27 NKJV)

“God multiplies when He restores.”

In the bible, when there is restoration or renewal, marriage is always a sign of the shift. In another one of my favorite books, God is a Match-Maker, Derek Prince says,

“Restoration of a culture will be marked by restoration of marriage as a source of joy and a cause for celebration. In Jeremiah 33:10-11 God promises the end-time restoration of Judah and Israel:

‘This is what the Lord says: “... there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord... for I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,” says the Lord.’”

“Today, around the earth, God is visiting and renewing His Church by the Holy Spirit. This renewal must be heralded, as divine renewal has always been, by ‘the voices of the bride and bridegroom.’ The Church cannot experience a full or valid renewal unless it once again embraces the biblical pattern of marriage.”

Declarations:

Thank You LORD for infusing us with Hope today! Thank You that You are the God of Restoration! Thank You LORD that despite what we see in the world around us, or in our circumstances, You remind us again not to fear, but to expect the promise of Your Restoration!

We declare that our God is the God of Restoration!

We declare that we do not have a spirit of fear, but of love power and a sound mind!

We declare that we are glad, and we rejoice in the hope of the coming restoration in our lives.

For the Lord says, and we declare, that He will restore the years of destruction, discouragement and hope deferred!

We thank You Lord for the overflowing new wine, which was the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding!

We declare that we will never be put to shame.

We declare that God multiplies when He restores, and we wait with the expectation that we will see “exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!”

We declare that this is a day of restoration, and we will hear an increase of the voices of brides and bridegrooms, which includes our voices as brides and bridegrooms!

Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers and declarations, and for Your promise of the restoration of Kingdom marriages!

AMEN!!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Monday, November 7, 2011

You are WORTHY!

You are WORTHY! O Woman and Man of Valor!

Do you ever struggle with feeling worthy of the love of a fine man or woman of God? I do. Feeling that I am worthy of the great things God has for my life has been one of my greatest struggles. Rejection takes a hit on our sense of worthiness and value, like a beautiful gold crown that has been kicked to the curb and forgotten.

Rejection will come; through romantic relationships, friendships work or church relationships. As my mother has often said, “all people will let you down at some point, only God will never leave you or forsake you.”

I experienced a friendship “situation” this past weekend. She was sharply critical of me, and for two nights the enemy taunted me with that criticism to the point where I was analyzing all of my relationships, seeing all the things I do wrong. I was feeling unworthy of love, coming into agreement with the accuser, and believing the lies.

BUT GOD!

Making declarations is so important because we have an enemy “that comes to kill, steal, and destroy.” The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) enjoys whispering lies to our hearts and minds, and then is delighted as we spiral down into unworthiness.

The Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword, it is a powerful weapon of our warfare. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God spoken by our own voices. Declaring the truth over the lies, will bring the victory.

The truth is that you are a child of the King of kings, and YOU ARE WORTHY of a great Love!

Last summer a group of women joined me in “40 Days of Declarations”, and this blog is a repost of those 40 days. One of the women had a dream about a woman named Amanda Book. The dream was a confirmation of the appointment we were (and are) to have with the Lord, to be reminded of His Truth, and to speak them.

The name Amanda means, “Worthy of Love.” The other word associated with the name is "virtuous" and the scripture refernce with the name Amanda is Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church."

I visited with my friend, Strong’s Concordance, about the word “Virtuous”, and this is what I learned:

Hebrew, Strongs #2428, Chayil: a force, whether of men ( or WOMEN), means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength, able, activity, army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, valiant (-ly) valor, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).

The last word: WORTHY!

The title I gave the group of praying women in the very beginning was “Women of Valor”, because YOU are a woman of Valor! My vision is a God appointed group, an army, who will usher in His Kingdom will for our lives, and for marriages, from heaven to earth, through these declarations. I love His confirmations!

In the King James bible, this word Chayil is used 3 times to describe a “virtuous” woman, therefore we will be using those verses for our declarations today. Ruth 3:11, Proverbs 12:4, and Proverbs 31:10. (Amplified Version)

Today we are going to declare as individuals because it is so important that we hear, and believe in our value and worth. I don’t know about you, but though I understand that I am worthy of God’s love, I struggle with knowing in the depth of my heart that I am worthy of the love of a GREAT man! The dings of rejection bruise our sense of worthiness. Some of the words might seem repetitive, but it will be good for your spirit and heart to hear these words of Truth!

Declarations - (Men - you will need to adapt these declarations.)

Thank you Father God for Your Love for me, and today I stand and declare in agreement with Your Word, and Your opinion of me, because You have created me for greatness! Marriage is Your design.

I declare that I AM WORTHY to be loved by God’s BEST man! A man of valor, and a man after God’s own heart.

I declare that I am virtuous; a woman of strength, worth, bravery and capability! (Ruth 3:11 Amp.)

I declare that I am a capable, intelligent, and a virtuous wife; and the man You have chosen as my husband will find me!

I declare that I am more precious than jewels, and my value is far above rubies, pearls or diamonds. (Proverbs 31:10 Amp.)

The heart of my husband will trust in me confidently, and he will rely on and believe in me securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain. (Proverbs 31:11 Amp.)

I declare that I am an excellent wife; a wife of valor, and the crown of my husband! (Proverbs 12:4 NKJV)

Thank you Lord that where I [the crown] have been tarnished and bruised, YOU are the God who restores, and You have restored me to worth and value above that of a royal crown.

AMEN!

YOU, my friend, are WORTHY of LOVE! You are worthy of God’s Best! God is a God of excellence, so He will not skimp, and He has not forgotten you!!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Repairer of the Breach

"You will also DECLARE a thing,

and it WILL BE established for you'

So light will shine on your ways."

Job 22:27 NKJ

With an extremely high divorce rate, many of you have been through the agonies of divorce or you will meet someone just recovering from the battle. Others of you have been widowed and lost a great love. We have all experienced rejection, BUT GOD is bringing restoration.

Doug Addison in his booklet, “Divine Alliances” has a few encouraging words:

“A divine realignment will occur that brings couples together for the strategic purpose of God’s Kingdom. Suddenly many people who were divorced or widowed will begin to remarry at an accelerated rate. Though divorce and death are not God’s will, God will redeem them.”
“God will bring great surprises as He repays people for the years of suffering they have experienced.”
“Those who focus on God will not miss His new purposes.”
“A word about divorce:The Divine Alliances that God showed me were between people who had gone through a lot of difficult times before they met each other. Some had battled to stay married, then had gone through divorce and God had brought a new spouse; still others were widowed, having lost their spouse through death. I saw God begin to bring together these types of people as couples who would have a single focus and a purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom.”
“I want to clarify that God is the one who is orchestrating Divine Alliances.”

When thinking about divorce, the words I kept hearing in my mind are, “Repairer of the Breach.”

11 The LORD will guide you continually,

      And satisfy your soul in drought,
      And strengthen your bones;
      You shall be like a watered garden,
      And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

       12 Those from among you
      Shall build the old waste places;
      You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
      The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.        Isaiah 58:11-12 NKJ

Declarations:

Thank you Father God that you are a God of Restoration! Thank you for speaking through Doug Addison, and we come into agreement with his revelations today.

We agree and declare that God is orchestrating Divine Alliances, and bringing couples together for the strategic purpose of God’s Kingdom.

We declare the “Suddenlies” of God - that many people who were divorced or widowed will begin to remarry at an accelerated rate.

Thank you Lord for your surprises, and we declare that You are repaying and restoring us for the years of suffering, and what we perceive as the loss of time.

The Lord is redeeming the time!

We choose to focus on God, and we will not miss His new purposes!

And from Isaiah 58:

The LORD is guiding us and the men continually,
      And He is satisfying our souls,
      And strengthening our bones;
      We are like a watered garden,
      And like springs of water, whose waters do not fail.

We will build the old waste places;
      You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
      The Restorer of Streets [paths] to Dwell In.

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara