Some weeks I don’t know where to begin with what to share. Lately each week has been full of experiences and opportunities to just draw near and dwell in His presence and wisdom. He speaks clearly to me and I’m desiring a heart that is open to listen constantly.
One area of my life He never stops ministering to me in is the area of words, my words and His words. It is so easy for me to start jabbering away without real awareness of what the words are doing to my life. This week in our home we realized that all of us were speaking words that didn’t equal life. The cares of the world and meditations of our hearts had caused us to look at life through condemnation glasses. Every word any of us spoke was taken out of context and heard through the perspective of blame and accusation causing us to answer with excuses, self-pity and selfishness. Excuses = condemnation. The enemy’s greatest lie is to cause each of us to doubt our identity – or doubt who we are in Christ. When we are looking through the glasses of condemnation everything seems to attack our identity. The words we were speaking, hearing and believing were not words of life but of death. We decided as a family to put a halt to this before it killed relationships. We came together and took off the blindfolds that were causing us to only see darkness and not life. We put on our love glasses and made commitments to see things through His eyes and love. Made a difference immediately.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].” Proverbs 18:21
This last week we made another quick trip to Tucson. Yes, we missed all the great weather here😊. It was also cool in Tucson which was nice as we were working so hard on making another big dent in Ed’s cousin’s home. We still haven’t found the papers were need to prove we are Candy’s next of kin. It is still overwhelming to see everything she has and go through it all. We are still wondering if we are hearing Him clearly. Ed had 3 ladies to help him this time and together we loaded to the brim and overflowing a 40-yard dumpster! As we are doing this we are wandering if we are doing right. Is this a waste of time, energy and money? As we prayed one morning, we heard the Lord say, “You are doing what I asked you to do!” We know what He asked us but we also threw in a few questions of our own we wanted answered. He just reminded us of His original word last September. This is from that time, September 2021.
“The first day when we walked into her home it took everything out of us. Her wonderful neighbors had done all they could for her and were there to walk through this with us. We were exhausted from leaving home at 3 am for our flight, it was 104 in Tucson and we were overwhelmed with sorrow when we walked through her home wondering where to begin. We decided to get a good night’s sleep and see what the next day brought. She has debt on the house and we were ready to take the keys, give them to the bank and walk away. I didn’t get a good night’s rest but I saw things different in the morning. His mercies are new every morning. That morning as I was praying and seeking His Wisdom I heard Him say this: “Candy’s house represents the world. The filth, clutter, sickness, hopelessness, stench, darkness is how I see the world.” Wow! I never expected that! Then He asked, “Are you walking away from the world? Get up! Take dominion! No fear! The neighbors had told us that rattlesnakes were in the garage living on all the pack rats. “Call in what you are looking for and dig in!!” Then He said, “the sadness it brought should ignite action in Me! Take dominion and bring My glory to the situation” He told us to make a plan and get over ourselves and dig in. So that is what we did. We bought suits to wear while we worked in there, masks, head covering and dug in without any reservations. Didn’t find all the paperwork we had hoped to find but found enough to take care of immediate business.
Then we asked Him to show us what our part of ministering to the world is right now. We know ministry isn’t what it used to be. Church isn’t the same. People are hurting living in the disgust of the enemy and want to know a way out.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who replace darkness with light and light with darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and see themselves as clever and shrewd. Woe to the champion wine drinkers who are heroes in mixing strong drinks--judges and politicians who acquit the guilty for a bribe and take away the rights of the innocent.” Isaiah 5:20-23 TPT
Two more trips later we still don’t know many answers we were looking for. All we know is that is what we are called to do. We will listen and follow His ways. We know we have made some impacts on lives. Nothing makes sense as far as the world would see it. This world makes absolutely no sense. We must keep bringing light, hope and a future to this world. As bad as Candy’s home environment was, only a couple people knew the truth. She put on a great face and we didn’t see the years of hurt she was carrying. The Lord showed me that we don’t even truly know what the people around us are experiencing or feeling. We know the world is hurting and living in darkness. We know what the Word tells us about people who are lost without Him. We know our time to reach the hurting world is getting shorter. We know His love never fails. We know sharing His life, light and love in the darkness dispels the darkness. We know His Word never returns void.
“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:2-5
Our ministry is to call evil evil and good good, to replace darkness with light, to replace bitter with sweet. To not be wise in our own eyes or see ourselves as clever and shrewd but to bring His Wisdom to these hurting, confused people and show them the way of the innocent and righteous.
“Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’” Isaiah 41:10 TPT
Let’s continue to seek Him and His wisdom, to be obedient to His words and speak words of life. We are to continue to come together in unity praying together and encouraging one another. Not everything He directs you to do will make sense in the natural. May cost you lots of time and money but if it is from Him, it is all worth it. The peace, joy, and rest that come from His ways are far above any earthly treasure we will ever find. Make the most of each day and know that the time is short. Laugh, rejoice, dance and celebrate His goodness. Anticipate that everyday is going to be the best day ever!