Time for freedom!

Well, we all knew it would happen eventually, but when I got up to see it this morning, my heart sank. The end of summer is marked by the famous Western Oregon deluge. Purging the air of all uncleanness, satisfying the silent cries of our parched lawn and shrubbery, the sound on the sun room roof crackles like a grass fire in my ears. It dampened my spirits briefly until I got a grip.

Being a native of a colder, more life-threatening climate, this time of year tends to make me anxious. To be sure, it's not like lacking firewood here would cause frozen pipes, and it's rare that a good rain will trap you in your driveway until help comes, but old emotional habits die hard. That gets me to thinkin'...

What bags did I pack when we moved to this place? Did I bring stuff that I could have left behind? I actually DID need my snowboots last year for the first time in 9 years, but do I really need this anxiety over the upcoming season? Did I even need it before we moved here??? What other useless stuff do I have in this bag? There's wind on this line of thought. Really.

Last week someone made a remark that took me back 26 years. It was delivered in a cold, slicing manner, and cut me to shreds. For some reason, I could not shake that damp, sinking feeling. It was shocking to me that this issue even still existed, but there it was, like a fly in a punchbowl. And, the enemy of my soul had been using it to hold me captive in ways seemingly unrelated to the actual event.

I had no choice but to cry out for His healing mercy. All that day, the Creator of the Universe labored in my heart to tear down my old idolatrous altar, long covered up by denial and self-control. Together, we rebuilt an altar to Him in its place. That night, I dreamt all night - cleansing dreams to renew my mind. What feedom I had the next morning!! Here I sit, marveling that my cries to slake my parched spirit and cleanse me from this uncleanness were answered in such a powerful, miraculous way - much like what I see outside my window today.

I hear God saying that it is time to lighten our loads for the next season. We need to be spiritually and emotionally free. He wants nothing that will hinder us from knowing Him and doing His stuff. It's getting URGENT. What's in YOUR suitcase?

Blow, wind, blow

Isa 26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; As a mommy, I can tell you that labor without delivery would be a huge disappointment, in understated terms.

When I ran into this windy scripture, it caused me to want to know what other wind tennings and similes could be found in His word. What is the definition of wind in the original language? Prophet Bob Jones frequently asked if the person to whom he was prophesying could feel the wind on what he said. I have finally decided to find out just what he was saying.

Well, there is lots of wind in the Bible, and many of the references are connected with storms of judgment, with a spiritual flavor. Here in Estacada, when the wind blows, we all batten down the hatches for a weather change and possible(tree)limb missiles. Since God tells us that He is revealed in nature, it would seem that the natural law is speaking the same thing. Winds of weather change, hurricanes of landscape change, the spoken word of God = life change.

Ever notice how when you are headed in a good direction, there is opposition? First the wind of revelation blows into the sails of your mind. Next, you adjust your rudder to follow the revelation, and WHAM! Obstacles. At this point, some folks might bail, saying, "Perhaps I misunderstood.", "I'm under attack for being obedient." or "No way would God let this happen to me, since I am such a special, favored child!". May I be so presumptuous as to suggest that it is BECAUSE you are favored that He has you back on the potter's wheel? Yes, you probably heard right. Yes, you are pobably under attack for being obedient. Yes, He is letting this happen to YOU.

Of course, it is always prudent to examine - not "dwell", but "examine" - the circumstances - don't just assume that whatever is happening needs to be bound and cast out. Where God guides, God provides (trite but true). Allow yourself to be prevented from giving birth to winds of judgment. Grab your testing, embrace it, give birth to good fruit and delight in your favored position with your King! The time for preparation for your battle is when the wind blows.