Honey and HOPE!

Honey and Hope 

This past summer I experienced the most torrential downpour of rain at my house that I have ever seen.  There were actual waves in the water flowing down the street, and I think it was as close to a hurricane as we will ever experience in Colorado. Lightning hit one of my trees, and down it went, which is very sad since it is one of 2 remaining Pink trees.  (I have a Pink Party every year to celebrate the bursting forth of pink in the spring.)  Anyway, inside of the tree I discovered a honeycomb, and busy bees working very hard after the destruction.  

Since that storm, I have been pondering honey, and the spiritual significance.  One of the things that came to mind is that the promises of God, and inheritance are referred to as “the land flowing with milk and honey.”  

Honey is a symbol of pleasure....

“Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb;Honey and milk are under your tongue...”  (Song of Solomon 4:11) 

Honey is compared to godly Wisdom, which gives us hope.  

“My son [daughter], eat honey because it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.  So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be thus to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.”  (Proverbs 24:13-14 Amplified)  

Honey is also a term of endearment!  And so, we are making declarations to bring the Honeys together!  

Declarations:  

Father God, thank you for Your faithfulness!  Thank you for the reminders of Your promises, the land flowing with milk and honey.  You are a GOOD God, and you give your children the very best!   

• We declare that we are NOW crossing over to the land flowing with milk and honey, and we will be united with the Honey You have chosen for us, for Kingdom Marriage!  

• Lord, You promise to give us Wisdom when we ask, and You impart it to us liberally; so we ask You for an increase of Godly Wisdom, and we declare that we, and those for whom we are praying, have the mind of Christ!   

• We declare that with your Godly Wisdom, we have a future and a reward.

• We declare that because of Wisdom, our hope and expectation will not be cut off!  

• We declare that You Lord know the plans You have for us, and You have declared them!  Plans to prosper us and not to harm us. plans to give us a HOPE and a future.... with a Honey!  

I leave you with this since we are on the topic of honey:  

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. --Christopher Robin to Pooh”  

Expecting to be amazed ~


Barbara
© Barbara Nelson – 2011

The Ark :: a picture of two becoming one

1 + 1 = One 

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become ONE flesh.”  (Genesis 2:24 Amplified) 

Cleave:  Strongs #1692 dabaq:  To cleave, to adhere, specially firmly as with glue, to be glued...  

One: Strongs #259 echad: One, a unit; unity, Echad comes from the root Achad, “to bring together, to unify...”  

Note: “Compare the unity of God to the unity of man made in His image.”

God formed Adam (humankind; male and female) from the dust, then God took a piece from Adam’s side, his rib, and built Eve as a separate person.  After she was presented to Adam and he recognized her as his wife (isha), then Adam left his family of origin, to cleave to Eve.  Marriage.  

What a beautiful, unfathomable mystery.  The two become one;  1 + 1 = ONE!  They are joined, and the two pieces are glued together, yet they remain individuals.  

God is the ultimate of multifaceted creativity, and He loves giving us signs and symbols.  Imagine the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat, and look at the specifics of how Bezalel made the Ark, according to the instructions given to Moses in Exodus 25:

“Then Bezelel made the ark of acacia wood...”  (Exodus 37:1 NKJV) 

“He also made the mercy seat of pure gold...” 

“He made the two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of ONE piece at the two ends of the mercy seat; one cherub at one end on this side and the other cherub at the other end on that side.  He made the cherubim at the two ends of one piece with the mercy seat.”   

“The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.” (Exodus 37:7-9 NKJV)

“And there I will met with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim....” (Exodus 25: 22 NKJV)

A friend shared this image with me a few years ago, and it has never left my mind.  The Ark of the Covenant represents the marriage bond and covenant, and the intimacy of man and wife, with God at the center.  The two become one (after being hammered by the Craftsman), they face one another, and in that sacred place, God shows up to speak to His people.  

The note in my bible says this:  “The ark was most sacred of all the furniture in the tabernacle.  Here the Hebrews kept a copy of the Ten Commandments, which summarized the whole covenant.”  

Declarations: 

Father God, thank You for the gift of Your symbolism. The unity of man and wife is so important to You, that you gave us a picture of the holiness of marriage in the design of the Ark of the Covenant.  Lord, I want that!  We ALL want to experience the purity of marriage, and becoming one, pure as gold, with our spouse, and with Your presence in the center.  

• We declare that marriage is a Holy covenant bond between one man and one woman, with God at the center of the relationship.  

• Thank you Lord, God for your hammering. Thank you Lord for removing the impurities from our lives, and we declare that we will come forth as gold. 

• We declare that according to Your divine design, and in Your perfect time, we will be united into one piece with the person You have chosen for us.  

• We declare a strengthening of the holy, golden unity for the existing marriages; that the two will face each other, and protect the presence of God in their midst.  

Amen!  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara 

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Whoa-man! God brought her to the man....

“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man should be alone; I will make him a helper who is just right for him.’” (Genesis 2:18 NLT)

The Hebrew word for alone is... BAD!  I am not kidding!  

Strongs #90: bad: Separation; by implication a part of the body, branch of a tree...

The root is Stongs #909, badad: to divide or to be solitary.  

“And the rib or part of his side which the LORD God had taken from man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:22)

The NAS version says “The LORD fashioned into a woman.”  

Marriage was God’s idea.  He formed man, He fashioned or “built” woman, and then God brought the woman to the man; He presented the man with the woman who was to be his wife.  When Adam saw her, he recognized her, and might have exclaimed,  “WHOA - MAN!  Good job God!”  Then I think Adam started singing, “She’s a brick, houuuse...!”    (she was built, I’m just sayin!)  

One of my prayers for the man God has chosen for me is that he will recognize me as his wife.  I pray that his spirit, and mine, will leap with recognition, and that the knowing will surpass or override our minds and reason.  

It is not good for man and woman to be alone, BUT GOD works ALL things together for good, for those who love Him, and are called according to His purposes.  I do not feel incomplete as a person, but my heart and spirit long for the completeness of God’s design for us as men and women, and the power of that unity.  

This is much bigger than we can comprehend, which is the reason there is so much warfare around marriages, for all of us - married, formerly married, and soon to be married.  Satan hates the power of men and women in unity because it is the mysterious, glorious image of God.  

Selah

The Declaration for today is that the men will recognize, and have eyes to see the woman God has chosen to be their wives; the women God will bring to the men.  

“Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17 NIV)

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure [a good thing],

      and he receives favor from the Lord.”  (Proverbs 18:22 NIV)        

“Also TODAY the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people [special treasure], just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments,”   (Deuteronomy 26:18 NKJV)

Declarations: 

(These declarations for Kingdom Marriages include a few men as well as women - so men, you will need to adjust your declarations on days like today.)

Father God, we agree with Your Word, and we submit our lives to You, the Lord of our lives.  WIth the sword of the Spirit, sever and cut any ties that bind or entangle us, the men and women called to Kingdom marriage; cut us free from the past. Cover and cleanse us with the Blood of Jesus.  

• We declare that we are FREE, and available -
• As women - to be presented to the men of God whom You have chosen to be our husbands.  Present us to Your BEST men!
• As men - to be open to receive the woman God is bringing to us.  Present us with Your BEST woman!

• Just as Adam saw and recognized his wife Eve, we declare that Your men will see and recognize us as their wives.  

• We command our spirits to AWAKE!   And we declare that our spirits will leap with recognition when that BEST person is in our lives.  

• We receive the Favor of Esther, that our kings will be attracted to us (the women you have ordained as their wives) more than any other women.  Give them overwhelming, unwavering attraction for Your best for them.  And give us overwhelming, unwavering attraction for Your Best men.  

• He who finds a wife finds a treasure, and obtains favor from the Lord.  Open the eyes of the men’s hearts, so they will find their wives, their treasure, and the men will obtain the Favor of God.  

• As the women you have fashioned us to be, we are Your Special Treasure, and we are a good thing! 

• We declare a blessing of Favor over the marriages we know and love.  Lord, impart to them a fresh recognition of each other, and restore that LEAP in their hearts and spirits for each other.  What God has brought together, protect and strengthen by Your refreshing Spirit - and let nothing separate.  

• We declare that NO weapon formed against our marriages - current of future - will prosper!  

Lovely ladies and handsome men, know how special you are today.  You are beautiful, inside and out, and you have Favor with God and with men. 

AMEN!  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

NOW HOPE!

God gives us NOW HOPE!!  

We have all been disappointed in relationships, and perhaps disappointed with God.  I have had conversations with men who, with tears in their eyes, share about their disappointments.  They too have been waiting to meet a wife, or they need breakthrough in their careers, or both.  

This is what Francis Frangipane says:  

“Disappointment is not just a sad, emotional state of mind; deep disappointment actually can sever our hearts from faith. It is the enemy's work. Demonically manipulated disappointment can actually "dis-appoint" a person from God's destiny for their lives. 

I have known many who were doing well, moving toward their appointed destiny. The future God had for them seemed almost close enough to taste. Then they became disappointed in someone or something. By accepting into their souls this demonically manipulated disappointment, their faith turned dormant; a bitter winter took over their souls. It is here, even in the throes of disappointment, that the righteous learn to live by faith (see Habakkuk 2:1-4). 

Listen well my friend: Satan can stop our destiny if we accept the power of disappointment into our lives. Once we accept the heaviness of a deep dis-appointment, backsliding is often not far away. You see, dis-appointment cuts us off from our vision, and without a vision people perish. 

Are you carrying disappointment in your heart? Renounce it. Forgive those who have let you down. Have you personally or morally failed? Repent deeply and return to your Redeemer.Holy Spirit, I ask You to remove from my brother and sister the paralyzing sting of disappointment! 

Beloved, the Spirit of God has come to release you of the effect of the dis-appointment. reminds you, your appointment with your destiny is still set.”Francis Frangipane - (The word in its entirety)

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  (Romans 5:4-6 NKJ)

”Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:24 NIV)  

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13 NKJ)

HOPE in the Lord does not disappoint - HOPE keeps us on track with our destiny.  It is a rope that pulls you forward into your destiny, so grab Hope Now, and do not let go!  As we have declared the past few days, the Lord is doing a new thing, and it is time to turn your gaze from the past dis-appointments, and look forward, eagerly expecting God to do great things in your life!  

Declaration:  

Lord God Almighty, thank you for Your power that works in and through us to break the chains from disappointments.  We choose LIFE, letting go and releasing the past so that we are free to run into the future without hindrance.   

• We declare and decree that the God of HOPE fills us NOW with ALL JOY and PEACE in believing, that we may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.  
• We declare that hope does not disappoint because of the Love of God was poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
• The Perfect Love of God casts out all fear, so we declare that we are men and women who FEAR NOT!  
• We declare NOW HOPE!  
• We declare that we eagerly expect and hope, that we will in no way be ashamed, but we have courage, now as always Christ will be exalted....” (Philippians 1:20 NIV)
• Those who hope in God will not be disappointed, so today we choose Hope, and declare abounding hope, joy, peace and Your perfect Love to fill and encompass each of us today.  

AMEN.  

And - “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Expecting to be amazed! 

Barbara 

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

March On in STRENGTH!

Strength is the word for today.  What is it to be a woman of strength?  It is my hope that we will be strong in our God, without fear, and without the need to control.  I heard David Jeremiah say that the curse for Eve at the fall was the need to control.  More on that another time.  

I am strong, when I release my cares to God; when I trust Him, and know that ALL things work together for good.   

Loving God increases strength.  

There is a difference between having strength from trusting God and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and the fleshly efforts to be strong, that builds a wall around one’s heart.  Have you noticed strong women who have a hardness, and even a sharpness to them.   It is like hard sharp callouses that develop from much wear and tear to the heart.     Sometimes that woman I notice is me!  

Deborah was a woman of strength, a judge, a prophet, and a leader of armies.  Her strength came from her confidence in the Lord God Almighty.  In the height of battle she encouraged herself and sang, “Oh my soul, March on in strength!”  

It is a phrase I use often.  

Of course the Proverbs 31 woman was a woman of strength, and I noticed today for the first time that God encourages us to lift weights!  

“She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.” (Proverbs 31:17 Amplified) 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, 
and she laughs without fear of the future.”  (Proverbs 31:25, NIV)

I want to be dressed up in the beauty and elegance of the clothes of strength and dignity, and honor!   It is a much better look than leathers with spikes.

 

Declarations:

Father God, our LORD and savior, I join my prayer with the other mighty women of God (and a few men too!) and we stand in agreement with Your Word, and Your promises.  With the authority You have given us through Your Holy Spirit who dwells in us, we declare and decree the powerful Word of God:  

• We gird ourselves with strength!  

• We declare that we are clothed with strength and dignity, and we laugh without fear of the future.  (Proverbs 31:25)

• We declare that the men and women You have appointed for Kingdom marriages, “have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting our teeth, but the glory-strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy... (Colossians 1:11 The Message) 

• “And we thank the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.”  (Colossians 1:12 The Message)

• We declare blessings on ourselves and the men, because our strength is in You!  We have set our hearts on a pilgrimage, and we have passed through the Valley of Weeping.  We receive your rains, that cover the dry places in our lives with pools of blessings!  We go from strength to strength!  and thank You that the Holy Spirit gives us endless energy and boundless strength!  (Psalm 85:5-7)

• We declare over the Men of Strength,  “Be Empowered through your union with Jesus Christ!  Draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless might provides.” (Ephesians 6:10 Amplified)

• And for ourselves we SING, “Oh my soul, March on in Strength!”  (The Song of Deborah, Judges 5:21b)

One of the 4 Hebrew words for MAN in the Old Testament is “Geber”, and the Strong’s 1397 definition is:  

“A champion, hero, warrior, mighty man; a man in all his strength.  This word describes a man of strength or bravery, and is derived from the verb gabar, ‘to be strong.”  An intensive form of geber is gibbor, meaning ‘champion’ or ‘mighty man of valor’ as in Judges 6:12.  The word also appears in the phrase ‘El Gibbor’ (“The Mighty God”), which might be translated, ‘God the Champion’, this title appears in Isaiah 9:6 in reference to the Messiah.”

And lastly, my prayer for you (and one you might all continue to pray for the person God is preparing for you) from Ephesians 1:15, The Message:  

“I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him - endless energy, boundless strength!”  

AMEN!  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara 

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Kingdom Marriage is for Kings and Queens!

Kingdom Marriage is for Kings and Queens!  

The word Kingdom elicits images of kings and queens, a palace, and all the royal regalia.   My friend Debi and I were blessed by God to have front row viewing of the Queen’s birthday while in London in June.  From a distance, we saw the newlyweds, Kate and William, as well as the Queen, Prince Phillipe, Charles, Camilla, and Harry.  For me it was the fulfillment of one of my dreams.    

 The Queen's Birthday Party!   June 11, 2011

The Queen is in blue, and Kate and Camilla are in the window above the Queen.  

The Royal Wedding, and THE kiss.  (I was not there.)

The definition:  

kingdom |ˈki ng dəm|

noun

1 a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen

• a realm associated with or regarded as being under the control of a particular person or thing

As sons and daughters of the King of kings, we are royalty, and we have been given a territory to rule.     

“God said, Let Us [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] make mankind in our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.
 
So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  (Genesis 1:26-27 Amplified)

“God blessed them; ‘Prosper!  Reproduce!  Fill Earth!  Take charge!’”   
(Genesis 1:28 The Message)  

This may be a bold statement, but when I read the above verses, I see that the image of God is male and female together.  At the time "man" was created in God's image, they were still one being.  A Kingdom Marriage is two people joining together to fulfill the great commission.   As my friend (and amazing artist) Lynda Finch would say it is a CO-Mission, not a uni-mission.  

Yesterday I received an email from beautiful Peyton Hoffman in Virginia Beach, and it was so good and confirming, I must share it with you:  

“Yay for Day 1! Thought you'd enjoy this scripture that was posted on my computer at work as I read your blog post today:
"See, I am doing a new thing!" "I am working all things together for good, because you love me and are called according to My purpose." "All things are possible to  her who believes." (Is 43:19, Rom. 8:28, Mark 9:23) 

I once heard someone say that Kingdom Marriages are set aside to a specific purpose(s) that neither the husband nor wife can do alone. I don't remember who said that (it was a woman talking about her own marriage and the search process that led up to it), but that has stuck with me. It's amazing to think that, while God has incredible paths for me as an individual and as a woman, there are some things that can only be fulfilled through this Kingdom Marriage. For me, it was an "ah-ha" of how important this is, on a larger scale than just being married to the right guy. I think of Adam and Eve, who each had their own purposes from God, and yet, there were things for them to fulfill together to give God glory. Abraham and Sarah-- each had their own relationship with God, and yet, they received promises together, and a purpose that could only be fulfilled by them together.”

WOW - thank you Peyton!  

Declarations:  

Thank you Father God that we have been adopted as Your sons and daughters into Your Kingdom that has no end.  Thank you for giving us a greater revelation of what it means to be Your Royal children as we make these declarations.  

• I declare that I am Royalty, because I am a child of the King of kings!  

• We declare that we receive the first blessing given to man from God, and we will:  Prosper!  Reproduce!  Fill Earth! and Take charge!’” 

• We declare that we will seek first the Kingdom of God, and as we focus on the King of kings, ALL of the things we need in life, including a spouse, will be given to us. 

• We declare that we have been called “for such a time as this”, to join in partnership and marriage with the person God has chosen for us.  

• We declare that ALL things are working together for GOOD, because we love God, and we are called according to His Kingdom purposes.  

• We declare that ALL things are possible with God!  

• We declare that we do not fear, for it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32 NKJV)  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara 
© Barbara Nelson – 2011

What is Kingdom Marriage?

Many of you were with me in July and August for 40 Days of Declarations, and since then, I have been asked to send those emails to other people who want to pray and make declarations for “Kingdom Marriages.”   Rather than re-sending emails, I believe we are to continue making declarations, so most of the original 40 Days will be edited, expanded and posted this blog, beginning today.  

What are the declarations?   It has been on my heart that we are to speak OUT LOUD the Word and will of God over Kingdom Marriages.  The declarations are primarily targeted for the men & women not yet in marriages, but also for those who are married, to strengthen and empower their marriages.    

This is about our destinies - God's call and plan for each of our lives.  

Last night while enjoying the marriage celebration of Ian and Jeannie, I asked the question, “What is a Kingdom Marriage?”   

I would love to hear your comments and input on this question, but here is the beginning of my working definition:  

“A Kingdom Marriage is a man and woman who have both submitted their lives to Jesus Christ as the Lord and King, and through their marriage, they will bring the Kingdom of God to this earthly realm, as it is in Heaven.”  

I also agree with God’s Word when He said, “It is not good that man should be alone”, and therefore I believe that God’s before-the-fall will for us is marriage. The word “man” in Genesis 2:18 is one of the 4 Hebrew words for man, and it means “humankind, male and female.” Therefore, God said it is not good for man OR woman to be alone.

Making declarations for Kingdom Marriages, is to follow the model of the Father of Faith, Abraham,

“...in the sight of God, in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead, and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.   [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised.”  (Romans 4:17-18 Amplified)

Making declarations will give us all hope, so that we will have the faith and expectation that we will see the promises of God fulfilled. 

“You are able to see beyond your circumstances and the things that make for our destruction. You may see fear – don't enter it; you may comprehend depression – don't apprehend it. See the invisible and make it visible by speaking it and living it.  God is speaking life, prosperity, deliverance and abundance for this great land.  America, you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. I encourage all of you to speak life over our nation.”     Kim Clement, The Elijah List July 11, 2011

And we are to speak LIFE into the destiny of marriages.  

There is a lot of fear for people dating, and a lot of disappointment.  I happen to know from experience!   But I am choosing to no longer enter in to the disappointment.   Are you with me?  

When together we speak the promises of God, we will create change, and we will see things shift.  We are made in the image of God, and our words have the power to create.  The Word of God is POWERFUL, and speaking His Word out-loud will build your faith.  "Faith comes by hearing!"  So in order to hear, you need to speak.  

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing,  Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."     Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJ      

Declaration 1 

Thank you Father God that you have brought us together for this journey of faith and hope, to see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!   On behalf of the men and women You have appointed to come together for your purposes in marriage...  

• We declare that we are each created for marriage, and we believe it is the will of God for our lives.  

• We agree with Abraham... “ in the sight of God, in Whom we believe - the God who gives life to the dead, and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has promised] as if they [already] exist.  

• We declare that even though with human reason hope might be gone (against all hope), we choose to have hope with faith, and BELIEVE in the promises of God for marriage on this earth, and in our lives.   

• We agree with God and speak LIFE, and resuscitation over marriages for the Kingdom of God.  

• We speak prosperity, deliverance and abundance for the lives of those called to Kingdom Marriage.   

• We declare that God is doing a new thing!  and NOW it shall spring forth.  

God Bless you today!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara 


© Barbara Nelson – 2011