the year of miracles

In January of last year (well technically of this year, but since there are just 2 more days in this year, we will go ahead and call it, last year) I set out on a 90 day fast.  Fasting is my least favorite thing to do for Jesus, so when the Lord told me to go for that long, I knew there  were big things He wanted to teach me and show me.  There were some big questions I was asking the Lord, and there were some even bigger questions He was asking me. 

Some of my questions were:

How am I going to get this house finished?

How am I going to get this house finished?

How am I going to get this house finished?

How am I going to do this?

How am I going to do this?

How am I going to do this?

I set my feet down on January 1, 2015 believing for provisions - for completion - for the house - for more of the Lord so I can do this - for many salvations. 

As each demo day came (that I thought would never end), so did strategies from Jesus on how to use the house when it was finished.  It was really simple, Jesus said, "Live there, love there."  I saw a house full of kids…...eating dinner around the table, sitting at the kitchen counter doing homework, washing clothes, sleeping in the extra bedrooms, helping me work in the yard, learning how to be loved by Jesus.  That’s better than any strategy I could have created. 

Early in the spring, Jesus gave me the name for the house.  The Light House.  Here is the story as to how that happened - The Light House

The questions Jesus asked me during this fast were some hard ones. 

What are you contending for? 

What are you willing to do for breakthrough? 

What will you give up for me? 

What if…..it gets lonely, to hard, overwhelming, tiring, no one comes to help, etc….  That was the hardest one.

Then in the midst of these hard questions, Jesus said, “this is a year of miracles, just watch and see.” 

So that is how 2015 started…..

“You are THE God who performs miracles,

you display your power among the people.” 

Pslam 77:14

And how is it ending?  Well, the miracles abounded above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined or dreamed of.  So, so, so many people came to help.  People I had never met before, people who I don't know will ever understand how thankful and grateful and humbled I have been for everything you have done, given, and prayed with me for. If you are one of those people - THANK YOU!!!!!!  

It has been a hard year.  An inconvenient year.  A tiring year.  A busy year.  And just like the Lord said, a year of miracles. They continue to fall from his throne.  They continue to amaze me.  They continue to overwhelm me.  His love continues to change me.  

There is more, more, more, more.  Always more from Jesus. Always.

just about Jesus

Matthew 2:1-10
 
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:

It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
    no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
    who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

My niece was laying in bed with me last night, asking me about all the essential oils I used, and rubbing all over myself because of a wretched sinus infection I have.  This turned into us talking about when Jesus was born and the 3 wise men brought gold, frankincense, myrrh.  I started reading Matthew to her and talking about what it was like when Jesus received these gifts, and how valuable and important they were.  

Jesus was actually around 1 or 2 by the time the wise men got there, which is not what we have been taught all our lives.  I even have the nativity scenes that show them there with Mary and Joseph.  But think about it.....if they saw the star in the sky, that meant that Jesus had just been born.  They were traveling from the east, not anywhere near Bethlehem, so that journey took a little bit of time.  

But when they got there.  Can you imagine?  I can't even imagine.  

The right place, at the right time, and they gave him the most valuable things they had.  

They worshiped him, even though it took them over a year to get to him.  True worship.  Honoring him with all they had.  

I can't stop thinking about this.  Worshiping Jesus because he is perfect, and even if it takes us a while to get to where He is, He is perfect, and so worthy of the very best we have to give.

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.