I Don't Want To

As we shared in the last post Jeremaih paid a big price in his obedience to God. Yes, Jeremiah decided he would remain quiet but he couldn't. Every prophet and prophetic person must prepare themselves to stand in the race of rejection. You like Jesus will be rejected!

It doesn't feel good to be rejected and we'd like to think if we are obeying God that we should not have to endure rejection, right? Wrong! Imagine Jesus, rejected by the very ones he was sent to help and speak life into. He came, he spoke truth AND he spoke it in love but they still rejected him. It was not strangers that rejected Jesus but his own people.

Do yourself a favor and don't take this rejection personal, it's not about you. the hearers aren't rejecting you as a person they are rejecting the truth of the word that you bring. When the Lord sends you to deliver his word understand that the hearer may not always be eager to see you coming-notice I said "when the Lord sends you". Pashur just didn't like what Jeremiah had ot say and had Jeremiah placed in stocks! Are you prepared to be an outcast or be unpopular for speaking God's truth in love?

Jeremiah who had done nothing wrong, just imagine. Are you willing to suffer rejection in obedience to delivering God's word? Every prophet must put on the whole armour of God so they are able to stand against the enemies tactics which include rejection.

**follow me on twittistry.org

My Perception Is My Truth!

Tweet from @gapmin

Never allow perception to be ur truth, it's deceiving and tells only one side of the story-ur side!

Everyone has a "that's how I see it" that they can present to the world. But is our viewpoint truth? It's human nature to view life, circumstances, situations and people through our prism of cumulative experiences. It's shocking but true, what we view is often skewed as though we are looking through a glass. God's word is truth, looking at life through a "word-view" is the way to arrive at the truth. I know, I know that takes all the fun

out of seeing things our way. LOL

To determine how a person perceives we often ask them if the glass is half empty or half full. But the perception of half-empty and half-full cheat you of the vision of seeing the glass as overflowing!

Twitter stuff U Can Use

Great news, here are a few resources for Twitter that can make using it more beneficial, lots of fun and less time consuming.

The number one complaint I hear from those not on twitter is that they just don't have the time twitter and are not on the internet daily. Twitter can be updated from the web, via mobile SMS or by two wonderful resources I use that allow you to schedule your tweets. http://twuffer.com/ and http://twaitter.com/ are tweet schedulers, one of them (I forget which one ) even allows you to mask the fact that you are using a scheduler. I schedule 3 days and do mobile tweets if my day allows or if something special is happening. You can also use resources like http://rescuetime.com/ or http://meetimer.com/ to help you monitor the amount of time you spend on Twitter.

http://ping.fm/ is a great resource that allows you to update more than one social media. I also like http://friendfeed.com./

More resources later, please comment if this info was helpful. OH, and check out http://tweetchat.com/ real time chat for updating or doing Twittistry.

Twitter intentionally or by default?

Today's tweet @ gapmin

Some people twitter intentionally and others by default but everyone twitters.

Whether you are on the twitter network or not , you twitter. Your parents twittered and so did their parents. LOL. People have been twittering for years, after all there is nothing new under the sun. Twitter is proving to be more than a social network (it is 3rd in line after Facebook and Myspace); its the place of 140 characters or less that can point to resources, tips, tools, empowerment, connectivity etc.
Like other social media networks it is whatever you make it. Next time you are saying your favorite saying (and we all have them) just remember that you have just twittered--okay, maybe you didn't write it and and maybe it had 142 characters and not 140 but your family and friends have all heard it so often they are now saying it.
Your favorite quote is now just as popular as the many Zig Ziglar, Les Brown and Mother Theresa have released. Are you twittering intentionally or by default?

It's Your Canvas

Tweet from @gapmin

Life is God's canvas, he has loaned U paints & a vivid & creative imagination, don't just stand there paint something!

The amazing thing about God is that he provided everthing that we need to create something beautiful in life-everything! Imagine being handed a canvas, paints, brushes and imagination and just standing there gazing with a puzzled "what do i do with this" look on your face...that's how many believers are ...they have what they need to create a master piece and would easily discover what's in them if they would just start painting! Just paint!

Embracing Jeremiah's Burden

We talked about how Jeremiah felt that he would forbear and not speak of God due to experiencing rejection from the people. Jeremiah had a challenging task like every prophet does--he had to give the people the word of the Lord and in Jeremiah 19:10-11 he was given instructions by God to break the bottle in the site of the people demonstrating how God would break them in such a way that they could not be put back together again. Remember these were God's people!

It's no surprise Jeremiah wanted to remain silent-- to forbear. To have to deliver such a message of rebuke and to provide a visual demonstration of God's plan for an unrepentant people would certainly cause any of us to want to remain quiet. Despite the difficulty of proclaiming what God had given him, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet obeyed God.

A true prophet of God takes no pleasure in having to deliver God's word of rebuke but understands that doing so will enable the people to repent and be redeemed. Jeremiah's nickname was "the weeping prophet", he carried such a tremendous burden for the people and had a heart for God--a prophet of God will always have a sincere burden for the people.

The cry of Jeremiah was so intense in Jeremiah 20:14-18 that he wished he had not been born. Far to many of God's new testament prophets are concerned with their titles, self-images, being rejected, entourages, media ministry and next money making prophetic conference. Many lack the burden that we we see ribboned throughout the bible from old to new testament. In order to throughly equip (perfect) the saints(Ephesians 4:11) a prophet will need a passion and a burden for equipping; an integral part of this equipping will involve delivering unpopular words to the corporate body of Christ and to individuals. It may not be easy but it is necessary for every prophet.

A prophet that is not willing or ready to deliver the word of the Lord will require more time to mature and should continue to seek God in prayer for growth in their prophetic anointing. A burden for the people also includes a humble obedience to God and obedience to speak the truth in love. This is often challenging but like Jeremiah the prophet understands that without delivering the word the people have no chance ot repent and be redeemed--so obedience is necessary.

Working With The Right Stuff

Today's Tweet from @gapmin (1 Samuel 17:38-49)
Everyone has a 'Goliath" in their life. When facing ur giant don't forget ur slingshot and 5 smooth stones!

Get your video cam and get ready to do a broadcast from the street, stop strangers and ask them about their Goliaths or the challenges they are facing in life and you are guaranteed to get a great assortment of woes; everyone has them. The issue is not the giants but using the wrong weapons to defeat the giants.

The wrong weapon can cause you to lose the battle and the war! Saul offered David his armour and it just didn't fit, in fact David declined wearing the armour because he told Saul that he had not 'proven' it. Keep in mind that Saul had won some battles wearing the very armour he offered to David---someone else's methods of overcoming may not work for you.

David understood that what worked for Saul may not work for him so he followed the plan of God for taking on Goliath and walked away with victory! If it takes five smooth stones for you to defeat your giant, go with it. If it takes prayer, do it. Fasting, do it. LOL. Ask God for a can of 'giant killer' and watch him give you the plan and the strategy on how to use the thing that seems least. Imagine going out on the battle field with nothing but a sling shot and some rocks--but David prevailed against his Goliath and so will you!

** giant killer is not available at ur local department store, only avalable from God.

revamp the glass of your life!

Tweet this!
It appears hard because you are viewing it as though you are going to do it in your own strength, God's got your back.

Is the glass half empty or half full? Perception can be our friend or our enemy. When we are faced with the challenge of completing an assignment and we forget that we can do all things through Christ who is our strength (Phil 4:13) the assignment often appears much more challenging than it really is. Changing our perspective from viewing life's glasses as half empty or half full to overflowing opens the possibility of getting the the job done.

Writing Project Going Strong!

Today's Tweet:
Psalms 75:6-7 4 promotion d/n come from the east,west or south. But God is the judge: he putteth down 1, & setteth up another.

We are off to a great start with our 60 day writing project. I had an opportunity to talk to a media professional today and there are many possibilities to share the fruit with you. I'm excited and ready to be finished and haven't even really gotten deep into the project yet.

Here's a little tweetithought about one of today's tweet. As many seek to advance in business and ministry we must always be reminded that it is God who puts us up or takes us down. Okay, I know that's a hot topic because many are still pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps--not realizing the strap broke a long time ago and they are merely going through the motions of pulling themselves up. This explains why nothing is happening. Want promotion? Let God do it! Tweet u later!

You can follow me @gapmin or @calledwoman, the links and Twitter feeds are to the right.

Embracing Jeremiah's Fire

A recent conversation with a fellow prophet-pastor regarding the prophetic call brings me to this post; honestly I have yet to meet a prophet eager to flow in their call. I did my fair share of "oh, not me Lord, please!"

I'm not speaking of being obedient to God here but because the assignment carries with it such a tremendous burden for God's people few embrace it quickly.

Jeremiah highlighted what many prophets experience as they obey the voice of the Lord Jeremiah in 20:7
O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

Jeremiah in obedience to God's voice had cried out and warned Pashur the priest of pending destruction to come upon he and his household, including his friends and the kings of Judah. Jeremiah determined in himself that he would not speak. Every prophet will encounter Jeremiahs' delima--"I will not speak of him" due to the hardship that comes when one delivers the word of the Lord.

This is a challenge for those who covet the assignment of prophet when God has not assigned them to that position in the body of Christ. Like Jeremiah many prophets (emerging and seasoned) will find themselves wanting to forbear and not speak any more of him or even speak in his name. Likewise those same prophets that God has anointed and appointed will expereince Jeremiahs' fire--shut up in their bones. it is inevitable for the one truly called to the ascension gift of prophet.

Am I A Prophet?

Discovering the prophetic in you can be one of the most confusing times in your life. The weight of a prophetic mantle can be overwhelming, confusing and shaking to say the least. Before I continue in this post let me say all of God's people are prophetic --or should be. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 19:10). Got the testimony of Jesus Christ operative in your life? If so, you also have access to the spirit of prophecy.

For years I have been approached with the question "Am I a prophet?" I have shared my testimony of discovery many times and will briefly say here that ONLY God can confirm a prophet to be a prophet or any other body ministry for that matter. It is time for all believers to make their election and calling sure.

I am beginning a new prophetic teaching exchange where we can beging to discover the prophetic in us, most prophetic schools of ministry are specifically tailored to those who operate in the ascension gift of prophetic found in Ephesians 4. This leaves a lot of God's people without edification on how to cooperate with the prophetic anointing on their lives, opening the door for the spirit of confusion.

Much of today's confusion regarding prophecy is the result of elevating the ascension assignment of Ephesians 4 to an ungodly place of idolatry. True, Apostles and Prophets are God's chosen vessels to lay the foundation for the body but in the end they to must face Jesus in the judgement. Details coming soon for our initial teleclass of Prophetic Discovery.

Handing Over The kingdom

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

We all want to be INpowered, encouraged and lifted up, there's certainly enough bad news placed in our paths on a daily basis to get us down if we allow it. At the same time we the gap- standers have an assignment that can bring healing to the land. We are living in a transitional time where we are on the very edge of a global breakOUT for the kingdom! AND the enemy is not happy about us forging forward.

We cannot ignore the spiritual 'static' that precedes this breakOUT. Our land is under attack, our ecomony, children, marriages, health, families etc have become prey to the enemy BUT the Lord spoke a word to Solomon that vibrates and shakes the earth to its core to this very day:

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Many are praying unhumbled...

not many are seeking HIS face

and surely many have not turned from their wicked ways.....are we handing over the kingdom?

Puzzle Pieces

I haven't put together a puzzle since I was a child but I have encountered a lot of puzzle pieces recently looking to find where they fit in. Many are searching for the right job, the right mate, the right church, the right car, the "magazine" appearance, the right this or the right that. The question of "where do I fit in" seems to loom and grow larger as a result we are seeing the return of many smaller places and venues of worship.

I wanted to take this opportunity to again reiterate what I have said, we will begin to see many worship assemblies in homes, storefronts, business sectors etc. Some of it is the result of disappointment with other assemblies and some of it the move of God. Internet church is on the rise and many are beginning to 'stay home' and fellowship, but is it possible to stay home and fellowship? Surely, we can fellowship with the Holy Spirit but what about the connecting, the coming together, the unity spoken of in Hebrews 10:25?

As I look around I see many believers in search of 'the church' that will feed their spirits, provide empowerment and growth opportunities, provide occasions to serve others and help them catapult to their next level in God. Some have been wandering (also called church hopping) for years. I really hate to state the obvious but here are some things to consider as the missing puzzle piece:

1. Your gifts are needed. Not everyone is called to be in a local assembly weekly but every believer is called to be fitly joined to the body of Christ. Some are called to serve outside the four walls of the church building.

2. There are no perfect assemblies. Keep looking unto Jesus not at the people. Every imperfection (and there will be many), perceived sin or fragment of gossip should not be cause for you to leave the church. In many cases it is those who stand in the gap that God will use to do a great work in an assembly. No, it;s not always God's will for you to stay nor is it always his will for you to go. Acknowlege him in all your ways and he will direct your path.

3. Everyone God calls to pastor is not called to pastor in the traditional sense and in the traditional setting. The United States seems to have a Christian church on every corner yet we are experiencing significant moral, ethical and spiritual decline in our nation. This season will usher in many non-traditional ministers and ministries that will take the gospel of Jesus Christ in obscure places. Be open to the voice of God.

4. A puzzle piece placed where it belongs fits; we are seeing an increase in title (Rev, Dr., Bishop,Apostle, Prophet etc) worship, position worship and church worship. It is indeed modern day idolatry. Eph 4:16 allows us to see that God's plan for the body is that each part of the body be fitly joined so that the body will increase itself by what each part supplies. A puzzle piece out of place stands out, so does a person operating in a call that is not his or hers to operate in. As we ofen say "let's stay in our lane".

5. If you are seeking a local assembly to connect with bear in mind that you have the responsibility to be what you are looking for. Know your positioning in the body of Christ and fit well.

calledwoman.com

Looking For my Loophole

I had a recent conversation with a young man that is not a Christian (not yet) about Octomom, the woman who mothered fourteen children out of wedlock. He wondered if it was okay since she did not engage in sex to create the babies, his premise is that there was no sex outside of marriage and the bible did not say that it's wrong to create in that manner.

Like this young man many believers live life looking for their spiritual loopholes, saying to themselves "can I go this far and not be in sin, can I do this and still be right, is there a loophole that will allow me to do what I desire and still be okay with God?".

It is not always what you do, many times a good thing is done for the wrong reason and with the wrong motive, God does judge the intent of our hearts. As we examine our spiritual journey with the Lord we must wak in such a way to glorify God and make sure that we do what do form a pure heart with right motives. Spiritual loopholes are gateways that the enemy uses to usher in the strongman who then holds the portal open for akin spirits to be operative in your life. Guard your heart with all diligience for out of it flows the issues of life. Loopholes will cause us to be entangled and ultimately bound.