Mountains

The Royal Wedding of 2011 (and a few nudges by God) inspired me to begin an online community to pray for Kingdom marriages.  With a few more God-nundges, as we enter the summer and wedding season, I feel that we need to unite our faith and our voices in prayer, and press-on believing that marriage is on God's heart.  YOU and the desires of your heart are important to God, and I am expecting to be amazed and dazzled by the testimonies soon to come!   ALL things are possible with God!  Mary said so!  Some of the upcoming posts will be a repost from last summer’s 40 Days of Declarations, which is the case today.  

And please let me know if you have a good report to share!  (I might soon....)  

Summer in the Colorado Rockies is glorious!  I love to escape the heat, head to the mountains, and set out on an adventure, ususally with my most faithful male companion, my Labrador.  On the most recent mountain adventure, my group of friends made it to the the tippy top of a 14,240’ peak, in extreme wind, (which changed our plans of skiing the peak.)  Dare I confess that we drove to the top?!  We saw a young “stag” on the drive, but we really bonded with the hearty goats (you will understand the reference in a moment.)   

A verse that I have been declaring for a few years over my future husband is Song of Solomon 2:17 (NKJ):  

Until the day breaks 

And the shadows flee away, 

Turn, my beloved,  

And be like a gazelle, 

Or a young stag 

Upon the mountains of Bether.

Bether means SEPARATION.  The Mountains of Separation!  Are there mountains of separation in your life that are blocking you from walking in the fullness of your destiny, and meeting the person God has for you?     

The Amplified:  

[Then, longingly addressing her absent shepherd, she cried] Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, return hastily, O my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young hart as you cover the mountains [which separate us].

Zechariah 4:6-7 (NKJ):

      “ This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
      ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
      Says the LORD of hosts.
    ‘ Who are you, O great mountain?
      Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
      And he shall bring forth the capstone
      With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!'"

 The book that has inspired me to speak and declare the Word of God, more now than ever, is by Charles Capps, called “Faith and Confession.”   Charles Capps describes “grace” as “God’s willingness.”

This is what he says regarding Mark 11:23 

“...whoever says to this mountain, 'be removed ...’”   

“Jesus is talking about problem areas in your life, about situations that you face and circumstances you don’t know how to handle.  

He tells you to say to that situation, ‘Be plucked up, be planted in the sea; depart, be gone.’  Tell it what to do and where to go!”  

Today, imagine yourself on top of a mountain, after our long journey, and we are going to declare with authority that the mountains of separation, or hinderance are removed!  

Declarations:  

Thank You Father God for this journey of faith; for Your faithfulness to lead us, and to instruct us in the power of Your spoken Word.  “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by [speaking] the Word of God.”   Fill our words today with the power of Your Holy Spirit, and flatten the mountains of separation in our lives, and the lives of the men called to be our husbands!  

• We declare that God’s way is perfect; The WORD of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (2 Samuel 22:31)

• We declare that is it not by our might, nor by our power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, to breakthrough in our lives, and the lives of the men called to Kingdom marriages.  

• I speak to the mountains in my life, with the authority of the King of Kings - Be plucked up, be planted in the sea; depart, and be gone!   (or as Beth Moore would say), “MOVE IT!”

• I shout “Grace! Grace!” To the mountains of ________________ (fill in the blank as things come to your mind), DEPART!  BE GONE!

• I declare to my beloved - Come to me hastily!  Be like a gazelle, or a young stag, and LEAP over the mountains that separate us!

• I declare over myself and the man God has appointed as my husband (2 Samuel 22:33-37)

33 God is our strength and power,
      And He makes our way perfect.
 34 He makes our feet like the feet of deer,
      And sets us on the high places.
 35 He teaches our hands to make war,
      So that our arms can bend a bow of bronze.
 36 “You have also given us the shield of Your salvation;
      Your gentleness has made us great.
 37 You enlarged our paths under us;
      So our feet do not slip.

Thank you Father for your bringing Your Good gifts into our lives, and for exposing everything and anything that is an obstacle on the path of our destinies. 

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012

The UNITY Candle

The UNITY Candle 

Can you feel it?  The tension in our nation over marriage!  This is not a political blog, but lately the topic of marriage in the political arena is a good indication that we need to resume our posts, and pray for marriages - both the marriages in the future, and for the strengthening of existing marriages.   

Last week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the World Prayer Assembly convened.  There were 8000 attending the conference from every part of the globe, and on Thursday night they joined with 90,000+ Indonesians, in stadiums to pray for the nation and the world.  I tuned into the live webcast at 5am Denver time to participate, and it was truly an incredible event!  

The reason I am telling this to the 1 + 1 = One group is because the pinnacle of the event was the lighting of the "Torch of Unity!"  Unifying the global community of Christians.  Representatives from the nations made a commitment to each other - to be unified as one.  

The Torch of Unity from the live WPA webcast 5/17/12

It reminded me of the Unity Candle in wedding ceremonies, and curious, I did a little Google research this morning.  Wikipedia says that it is relatively new, but a website on Jewish traditions mentions the Unity Candle, so I think perhaps it may have been around longer than 50 - 100 years:  

Unity Candle Ceremony - Light is a symbol of God’s presence, the candlesticks symbolizing the beginning of a home that will be filled with the light of Sabbath and festival candles.  Three partners in the relationship: the bride, the groom, and God, are symbolized by the lighting of a Unity Candle. 

“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven.  When two souls that are destined for each other find one another, their light flows together  and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.” (the Baal Shem Tov)

(If you have more information about the tradition of the Unity Candle, please post a comment, or send me an email.)  

“The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, searching the inner depths of his heart.” (Proverbs 20:27 NKJV)

The prayer for us today:   

• May the footsteps of Jesus will be our pathway (Psalm 85:13), leading us towards the spirit & light of our future or existing marriage partner.  As we (and our candles of the Lord) move closer to that other person, the light will become brighter, and we will see more clearly.  

• Lord, give us and our future marriage partners eyes to see and ears to hear Your direction.  

• Awaken our spirits to be drawn towards You God, the Unity Candle that will unify our individual lives soon.  

1 + 1 = One!  

• I pray that you will be encouraged today, and in the days to come.  
• Open your hearts to be filled with the Joy of the LORD again - the contagious JOY of the Lord!!  It is your strength!  “...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV)

And a prayer I pray for you, and one you can pray for your future spouse: 

"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom, (the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation) and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those he called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.”  (Ephesians 1:16-18 NLV)

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012

PRAY!

National Day of Prayer 2012

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and a great day to re-ignite our prayers for Kingdom marriages.  God’s heart is to see relationships and marriages strengthened and restored, and He sent Jesus to “save THAT which was lost.”  One of my favorite leaders, and a man who loves romance, Ed Silvoso teaches that one of the things Jesus came to restore is the relationships between men and women - marriages.  (See his book, "Women, God's Secret Weapon")

Derek Prince in the book “God is a Match Maker” says this:  

“the prevailing attitude toward marriage in any culture or civilization is usually an accurate barometer revealing its moral and spiritual climate.  The decline of a culture is marked by a decline in its respect for marriage.  Conversely, the renewal of a culture is marked by a corresponding renewal of the biblical values of marriage.  In restoration, the bride and groom are central.”   

Descriptions of decline and desolation related to the bride and groom can be found in Jeremiah 25:10-11, and Revelation 18:22-23.  Derek Prince continues, 

“One conspicuous feature central to both these descriptions of decline and desolation is the silencing of the voices of the bridegroom and bride....” 

“The converse is equally true.  Restoration of a culture will be marked by the 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.  ‘...there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom...For the Lord will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord.”  

As prayers and declarations are made today, for the restoration of this great nation, let’s  raise our expectancy, and believe that we will see breakthrough in the area of Kingdom marriages.  

"You will also DECLARE a thing, and it WILL BE established for you'  So light will shine on your ways." Job 22:27 NKJ

Declarations - 

We agree today with the prayers and declarations over this nation, by Your family of believers, from coast to coast; that Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Thank you Lord for hearing our words, and for empowering the prayers of your people to bring a shift of restoration of this God founded nation!  

• We declare that today marks the end of decline and desolation in our lives and for our nation.  

• We declare that today is a day of breakthrough, and we believe we will see the hand of God breaking through in our nation!  

• In agreement with Jeremiah 33:10-11, we declare that there will be heard again in this nation the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom!  

• And on this National Day of Prayer, we declare Joel 2:16, “LET the bridegroom go out from his chamber; and the bride from her dressing room” (a room of preparations.)  OPEN THE DOORS!  

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, 

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

      For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
      He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,  

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
      And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

      11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,
      As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
      So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.  (Isaiah 61:10-11 NKJ)  

• We declare that the leaders of this nation will receive the mind of Christ, and God’s great Wisdom.  

• We declare alignment of the hearts and minds of our leaders under the Lordship of Jesus Christ! 

• Thank you Father God for Your leaders of our government who are declaring "Jesus is LORD of this nation" today!!   

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012

The Season of Favor

For several weeks the phrase, “A Season of Favor” has been ringing in my mind, and I have been keenly aware of the bursting forth of new LIFE in nature as winter gives way to spring (even though the Northeast is getting another dose of winter this week!)  In perfect orchestration, blossoms and flowers explode on cue, inviting us to come out of the confines of a long winter, shed our dowdy grays, and join the celebration!   

Look around you: Winter is over;    the winter rains are over, gone!  Spring flowers are in blossom all over.    The whole world's a choir—and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest    with sweet arpeggios.  Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,    and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms.

(Song of Solomon 2:11-12 The Message)

The earth is giving us a visual of God’s Favor in our lives, but the dead needs to be shed!  

What do you need to shed from the past winters of your life?  What are your winter patterns?  

Lately, and thankfully, I have been taking my old thought patterns captive.  Just this morning I was reminded of how things have turned out in the past, and there was a temptation to return to the familiar, cozy, winter blah pattern.  The voices of winter telling me to believe that things will turn out as they always have - so just give in now.  

The truth of today, and our futures will only be found by BREAKING OUT of the patterns of the past, and choosing to leave the false comforts of winter behind.  It is a NEW season!  REJOICE!    

One of my favorite verses about Favor is Psalm 5:12 (NKJV)

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

I often pray that God will surround me with a shield of favor!  But there is more!  Just recently I focused on the  preceding verse, Psalm 5:11:

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend [cover] them;
Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.

I have a choice every day and in every situation.  If I.......

• REJOICE
• TRUST GOD
• BE JOYFUL

THEN I am surrounded by a shield of God’s Favor!  And I am a magnet for good things - and a good man!  

Take a few minutes, ask God to show you what the winter patterns are in your mind, and shed them.  Open your hearts and minds - give Jesus your doubts, discouragements, rejections, and unbelief.  BREAK OUT your new Springtime garments of celebration!  When the winter-blahs try to return, say, “NO!  I am not going there again.  Today is a NEW day!  I rejoice and put my trust in God!  I am surrounded by FAVOR as a shield!”  

"You have turned my mourning into JOYFUL DANCING!  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with JOY, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent!!"  

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012

He's Got This!

New York!  New York!  

A few weeks ago, on my way to a family event in Washington DC, I stopped in New York City for a potentially life changing meeting.  Giving one of your creations to a celebrity can go either way - either life stays the same, or it is changed dramatically.  Suddenly.  

As you can imagine, leaving my makeup case in my car, in Denver, and then my new coat in the taxi (because it was 75 and sunny in NYC), on top of meeting a friend who would give one of my creations to the assistant of a celebrity, there was plenty of opportunities to WORRY!  

BUT GOD!  Two of my top 10 favorite words in the bible.  

I don’t often listen to hear God whispering to me, but on this trip I heard Him speaking to my heart, spirit and mind, 

“I’ve Got This!”  

• Wondering if I might miss my plane, “I’ve Got This!” 
• Realizing my make-up case was in Denver, “I’ve Got This!” 
• Sad that I had lost my beautiful new coat, “I’ve Got This!” 
• And wondering about my future, and would the celebrity like my creation and then be seen with it, “I’ve Got This!” 

Every time worry beckoned me to hop on that train, 

“I’ve Got This!” 

The verse given to me before my trip by a praying friend, and then again this morning, was Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly ABOVE all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us....”

And He did just that - exceedingly, abundantly above - and He is not finished yet!  

I went to a department store to purchase a makeup thing-or-two, and the lady at the counter gave me the BEST samples!  Surprise abundance! Everything I could possibly need, and more.  It was Exceedingly, Abundantly Above!  

The taxi driver brought my coat to my hotel, in his personal car, with his family along for the ride!  Exceedingly, Abundantly Above!

And the celebrity, no word yet, but the one thing I do know, Almighty God is able, and He is working ALL things together for good!  

This Easter week, rather than allowing the Springtime, full of romance, remind you of what is lacking in your life, return to a place of expectancy in the Love and Power of Almighty God!  

He’s got it!  He’s got YOU! and suddenly, your life will change forever.  

I pray for you, and together lets pray for all the people God is calling into a Kingdom Marriage, including our future marriage partners:  

“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.  

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. 

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”  Ephesians 3:14-21, The Message

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012

What’s She Got?

Out-of-the-blue yesterday, I received a text message from a man who had captured my interest in the spring/summer of 2011.  We went on a few dates, and I thought we were progressing nicely, although very slowly, until he called to cancel a date and to say, “I just don’t feel a deep connection.”

Wham! Wallop!  

I thought we just needed to spend more time together, so I suggested that we remain friends, and we did.....until Cindy (not her real name.)  Have you ever done that?   

A few months later I was invited to go skiing with that man “friend”, and his best female friend, AND his new Match.com date!   I was surprised to note that his date, Cindy had a very similar stature to me, and I quickly decided that they would not last long.  That was 2 months ago, and she took him to my parent’s church yesterday, prompting his text.  

Hearing from him, and knowing he was with her put a little song in my head, and if you are a fan of the 80s you might remember this song by the Producers, “What’s [s]he got, that I aint got...”   (the video is quite entertaining!)  

Yes, I started replaying the few dates I had with Tall Dark and Handsome, trying to figure out where I blew it, and what’s she got that I aint got?  My wise-self finally screamed, “STOP IT!  and be thankful that God closed that door!”

“The enemy of Faith is Memory.”  Ed Silvoso  

Do I trust God?  Or not?  One of my favorite prayers when I meet a new man of dating [marriage] potential is Isaiah 22:22, “LORD, thank you for Your purposes for ____ in my life.  If this relationship is from you, then open the door that no one can shut it, and if this man is not good for me, close the door that no one can open it!”  

Sometimes the door closes quickly, and after the initial blow, I remember my prayer and I thank God for protecting me from the things I cannot see.  

Save yourself from the time wasting agony of rehashing the past, comparing yourself to others, or trying to figure it all out.  Of course we need to be open to learn the valuable lessons from our experiences, but you know what I am talking about.  

Trust God!  He is worthy of our faith and trust.  He is good, and He will honor His promises.  Trust Him enough to release your past disappointments, accept the way things worked out, and look with faith to the great things He has for your future!   Do not get entangled in your memories, “Give thanks with a grateful heart” for all the doors that close, and prepare yourself for the doors God is about to open to His BEST for you!  

Get Ready!  He is going to knock your socks off!  

“Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. 

    Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. 

    Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.”Psalm 37:3-5 Amplified

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012

Day 40 of 40 Days of Prayer and Blessing

This is the 40th day!   Women have fasted and prayed in London, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Colorado, and California - prayers of blessing for hundreds of men all over the world!  As we have prayed in agreement, speaking the powerful, transforming Word of God, incredible and miraculous things have been set in motion.  Be expectant!   

Expect to be amazed!  

I call it a God-incidence that today the email I received from Nicky Gumbel, the pastor of Holy Trinity Brompton London, the church attended by the women who initiated these 40 Days of Prayer and Blessing, is about marriage!   You can see the post in its entirety here:  The Bible in One Year

but I share a few snippets with you, following the prayer points for today.  

My prayer for you is that you are encouraged!  Take Courage! Let Hope arise in your heart, mind, soul and spirit.  

Day 40 (21^st of February)

Prayer for your 10+ men (Psalm 91) 

• Command Your angels concerning them
• Guard them in all their ways
• Answer them in times of trouble
• Satisfy them with long life and be show them salvation

Prayer for yourself:    

To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:  Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance

Two Are Better Than One  (Nicky Gumbel)

I have never been very good at using visual aids.  I am not a very practical person.  On the other hand, my great friend, Nicky Lee (who, together with his wife Sila, has pioneered The Marriage Course and other Family Life courses) is extremely practical and often uses visual aids. 

 When he is speaking at weddings he sometimes uses a visual aid to illustrate the passage in Ecclesiastes 4.  The writer says, ‘Two are better than one … A cord of three strands is not quickly broken’ (vv.9,12).

As a picture or marriage, Nicky Lee takes two strands of different coloured wool and weaves them together.  Together they are stronger and yet they can quite easily be broken.  Then he takes a third strand of nearly invisible gut.  With this third strand it is almost impossible to break the two pieces of wool.  (I did try to use this illustration once, but for reasons I cannot remember it went horribly wrong!

 The point that he makes so well, and that comes out of the passage in Ecclesiastes, is that whilst friendships and marriages are wonderful gifts, having Jesus at the centre of a friendship or marriage provides an invisible thread of enormous strength. 

1.  Honour marriage: two become one
Proverbs 5:15-23
This is a beautiful description of marriage in which two people ‘become one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24).  Part of its beauty lies in its exclusiveness.  Each person has their own ‘cistern’, their own ‘well’, their own ‘springs’ (Proverbs 5:15–16).  They are ‘yours alone, never to be shared with strangers’ (v.17). 

It is such a wonderful picture of marriage as a source of blessing (‘blessed’, v.18a), rejoicing (‘rejoice’, v.18b), love (‘a loving doe’, v.19a), grace (‘a graceful deer’, v.19a), satisfaction (‘satisfy you always’, v.19b) and romance (‘may you ever be captivated by her love’, v.19c, NIV). 

The greatness of real love (‘enduring intimacies’, v.19, MSG) – the emotional and physical love between a husband and wife – is compared to the ‘cheap thrills’ of ‘dalliance with a promiscuous stranger’ (v.20, MSG).

That is why the writer warns so strongly against adultery.  Be aware, he says, that God is watching (v.21).  And the path that leads to adultery is ‘evil’, ‘wicked’, sinful, foolish and it leads to death (vv.22–23).  We see an example of this in the New Testament passage where it was Herod’s adultery that led to him murdering John the Baptist (Mark 6:14–29). 

Whilst the fact that our ‘ways are in full view of the Lord’ (v.21) is a warning against adultery, it is also a reminder of the strength that comes from having ‘the Lord’ involved in a marriage, as the third strand of the cord.

Indeed, in response to God’s love for us, it is discovering and living out our love for God which is the central guiding principle in how we are to love our spouse in marriage.  God’s love for us is the best example of how we should love our spouse.

Thank you Lord for the huge blessing of marriage.  Thank you for the difference that the third strand, of the presence of Jesus, makes to a marriage.  Thank you that two is better than one and that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

Lord, thank you so much for our own marriages and those we see happening around us in the community of the church.  Lord, I pray for Nicky and Sila Lee and The Marriage Preparation Course and The Marriage Course.  I pray too for all those who are working to strengthen marriage in this country and elsewhere.

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012