Holy Fire (Word)

I am the wind. I am the flame. My flame burns bright and My wind blows the flame stronger and stronger. This flame will consume your sin, your shame, your fear. Do not fear. It is a holy flame burning inside of you. Do you see? It is in you even now. It resides in you, for I reside in you. This fire will not go out. It cannot be quenched for it is an eternal flame not created by the hands of men. Allow the fire to burn, let the fire out. Let the fire out. Speak my words to the ends of the earth. They will see the fire burning within you if you only speak. It's my desire to burn in them as I burn in you. I don't desire to consume them in anger or scold them as many on the earth assume. This fire will only burn all impurities and earthly desires so that only I remain. I created you. The fire is all that will satisfy. No earthly possession or activity will satisfy. I alone. I alone. I alone. I yearn for you. You are my son, you are Mine. Don't fear My holy fire. Let it burn brightly within you for all to see. I am fanning the flame, do not fear, for it is Me – it can be no other for no other can touch you as I touch you. No other longs for you as I long for you. No other cares for you as I care for you. No man has ever even seen the depth of love that I have for you. I love as no other is able, has ever or ever will love. I and I alone yearn for my sons and daughters - I long to be their Father. Tell them I long to be their Father. Please, tell them I desire them, I love them. I love them as no other loves. The holy fire will draw them. Use nothing of your flesh for it is not you that calls men unto Me. It is My holy fire. Be my lampstand burning night and day for all to see for the time is running out. Do not tarry any longer. Now is the time to burn.

The Monrovian Lesson 1.0

I went to pick up one of our cats today from the veterinarian. (Monroe is his name and, for those curious, he was taken in to have his manhood removed.) Even in such a trivial matter, God really spoke to me as I drove home with him in the truck as there were many circumstances that mirror our spiritual lives that took place on the short journey back to our house.

Monroe was boxed up and hauled off to the vet out of my wife's desire to take care of him. In all honesty, as a newcomer to the definition of a "cat person" myself, I truly didn't care whether we had him fixed or not. She stated that it was in his best interest and would be what would "keep him around and safe". She also said that it would make him much more gentle and loveable. So I gave in and went along with the idea, due to her insistence.

It's now the day after and I've just picked him up. There's me, driving the truck the 30 miles back to our house and Monroe, in his cardboard cat carrier, quite unhappy about the whole endeavor. He had been taken to a foreign place, handled by strangers, operated on and put in and out of places that he had never even seen before. I'm quite sure that he didn't see the whole venture as being in his best interest whatsoever. What he was unaware of though, is that someone else was looking out for him and knew that the 24 hours of "suffering" would be what's best for him in the long run. Now this isn't such a hard stretch to see how it parallels our walk with the Lord now is it?

Let's take it a bit further. On the way home, Monroe was getting a little unruly as he began to move about so much in the crate that he began to shake the entire thing pretty violently. I could see his claws reaching out through the holes and even an occasional tooth now and then. Plain and simple – he wanted out. I could have opened the crate and let him out at any moment, even though I knew we'd soon be home. He would be free to roam about as he pleased, within the confines of the truck, of course. I'm sure in his mind, all would have been well if I had. But knowing him as I do, this would have made things even worse as I'm sure he would have gone mad at seeing the scenery fly by at 70 plus mph. He likely would have gone berserk and tore me apart in the process. So, despite his many attempts to persuade me to let him out, I stayed true to what was best for him and left him confined to the crate. He is my responsibility and I will do what it takes to keep him safe, no matter if he agrees with it or not. His "release" would have taken place at the exact same time if he had fought and clawed for it as if he had quietly and peacefully lay there. Which would have been more desirable to he and I both?

How often is that just like our walk with the Lord? Monroe could only see through the small holes of his crate. Maybe you feel confined, peeking out to see all that you can but you just can't make anything out quite yet. Remember, it may be for your own good. Perhaps God has you just where He wants you – in His safety, in His care. Don't be so fast to scratch and claw your way out to make your own way when His way is what's best. He knows what you need and when you need it. He knows what is best for you and what will harm you. Lay it all in His hands and you will come out of it all just as He desires you to be.

So Monroe is home now. He is no doubt in the backyard somewhere, never straying too far from his home. He's been "set free" to roam again, to rest, to be himself. If what my wife says is true, he will now be more gentle and more loving, but one thing I know for sure. As free as he thinks he is again, he will still return each and every day to be fed and cared for by his master's hand. May I be like Monroe. May I realize that my life is not my own. My plans are not perfect plans and My Master truly knows what's best for me. May I rest in the peace of knowing and trusting in this and this alone, for He will truly be with me through it all until He brings me out on the other side.

Paradise Found

Ever have one of those mornings when you don't want to get out of bed? You know the ones. A morning when all around you frustrates you or somehow makes you feel like wallowing in your self–pity all day long. Well I've had them too….but not today. Today, my wife looks more beautiful than she's ever looked. The weather is as perfect of a morning as anyone could special order. The bird's songs seem beautiful to my ears. Even the simplistic taste of coffee seems more pleasant than usual. And most precious of all, God's presence is here - all around me.

As I read this morning, I'm reminded that my life is but a breath, a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Oh to live every moment of my life with this mindset. Lord, thank You for life. Eternal life that begins even here and now. For You alone are worth my complete attention and adoration. You and You alone are my reason to rejoice and experience true joy. You've taken this man that knew nothing other than how to gratify his sinful nature and transformed him into a man after Your very heart, filled with peace and freedom.

Today is Your day. You created it. Every second of this entire day is laid out before You. You are the beginning, You have no end – and I will live with You forever in Paradise.

Of Grace and War

Last week I went to a man's house to do some work there. I knew as soon as he called me that it was ordered of the Lord as I had met him nearly a year ago and saw first–hand the epitome of a defeated and downtrodden man that survived the first battle of Vietnam at the la Drang Valley. I went prayed up, ready and willing to see what the Lord had in store. I was a bit anxious though as he's quite intimidating and coarse and I'm far from an evangelist.

When I got there, he came out and I made sure not to ask him how he was – I already knew the answer. So, instead I greeted him with a "great to see you!", which actually received the same result. He, as expected immediately began to talk to me in his carport about his latest woes and sadness (justly so). I felt compelled to ask him to sit down as it's hard for him to stand. I then sat on the ground to listen. 15 minutes or so later, I jumped in, doing nothing more than showing him he had my attention and interest. His life does intrigue me as he's endured more hardships than most men would endure in 50 lifetimes. He shared much of his Vietnam experience – a dozen of his friends dying in his then 20 year old arms, his throat being slit by Vietnamese soldiers, being run through by bayonets and shot several times, etc. He has every right to be bitter, to be angry, to be hurting. He was speaking so angrily and rageful about it all, as you might expect. It is as real to him as if it were yesterday. What surprised me though was that he kept making God references and quoting Scripture throughout his dialogue. It, of course got my attention and turned my thought process a bit in another direction. Could he know the Lord? I began to silently ask the Holy Spirit to guide my words and be His mouthpiece in all of this as I truly had no idea what I was to say.

A while longer, after much listening and q and a, I brought everything back to his "God" comments. I asked him if he was a Christian to which he responded, "Yes. I am." I thought to myself, Ok Lord, my thoughts of this encounter and plans are all now out the window as I was expecting resistance and distance to God matters. I dug deeper, asking him about his salvation, His thoughts on his life and what it had become, etc. We discussed back and forth about many things regarding the Lord and life. I then asked him if he would mind if I would pray for him. At this point everything took a major turn. And I mean major.

This 61 year old Vietnam vet, scarred, torn and battered to the point that he cannot even stand up straight or walk more than a couple of feet at a time began to weep uncontrollably. He said he'd give all that he had in this world for someone to pray with him, then he reached out his hand for me to hold. I stood and prayed over him as he sat there weeping. Oddly, I never even closed my eyes as I felt that the Lord wanted me to see before my very eyes His heart for people. How He can break, with ease, even what we see as unbreakable. He continued to weep as I prayed. Prayer for healing of his physical body, as he's in pain 24/7, healing of the scars of war that I cannot even begin to imagine, healing of wasted years full of anger, hate and pain.

As I stopped praying, he told me he had never seen such a thing. A normal guy like me praying for him? We talked about how the church is failing and so many seem to not even care anymore. How "God's people" are often more into show and fake concern than they are interested in real life matters and struggles. We discussed things that actually matter – in eternity.

He then began to encourage me, saying how much he loved me. He kept just repeating "I love you. I love you" as he began to weep again. So much so that he went back into the house for a bit. He returned within minutes and we picked up where we had left off. He then started weeping again about all that he had done during the war. Killing, anger, pain, remorse. As he cried he kept saying "Joel, I wasn't a killer. I wasn't a soldier, I was a child." I asked him about when he accepted Christ and he knew immediately. 9 years old, at church with his mom – no wavering. But he then asked me "but how does one ever REALLY know?" – I knew right away that this was the reason for the whole meeting. He then shared how ever since the war, the devil had always told him he was no good anymore– undeserving of Heaven and had no chance to be whole again – even as specific as visions of his name not being found in the Book of Life and Jesus casting him away. That he would be damned to hell for what he had done. He said, although noone knew, he cries about it everyday. He said he begs God everyday to forgive him and allow him to escape hell despite what he'd done. He had no assurance, no peace. So we talked about this for quite a while. I had my Bible in the truck as the Lord now led me to share the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20, that I had just read that morning. I shared with him how the Lord has no favorites. The man who accepted Jesus at 6 years of age and lived what we would see as "a perfect life" is no more God's son and no more "deserving" of grace than he is, despite years of a sadness, remorse and bad decisions. What an example. I read the entire passage to him and he sat there silent. (I would later offer him the job I was there for free as an illustration of how his salvation can't be earned or purchased – and it spoke volumes)

Much more discussion took place as I encouraged him. He then began to encourage me again in return saying, "Joel, you have such an uncanny way with people. I've never seen anything like it - and I've seen it all. Noone can get to me. If you're not meant to be a preacher then I don't know who is!". I had to laugh – the Lord is so good. He truly prepared the way just as I had prayed. Kenneth's "soil" could not have been any softer, despite what it looked like on the outside.

I never shed one tear the entire time I was there. There was no big rush of the Holy Spirit felt….by me. No thunderous voice of God speaking. No emotion on my end whatsoever really – other than the simplistic joy of being used by the Lord to touch a man who sat at home alone day in and day out pondering his wasted life and waiting for death. But God says I want to breathe life into that which is dead – where there is life, death can no longer reside.

God is moving.

For information about the movie "We Were Soldiers" that was written about this specific Vietnam battle, go here.

Recent Words

Alot of what God has been speaking to me lately has been personal, but not completely. Here are two recent general "words".

April 7 – 8:55AM

Come up. Come up. Come up to the spirit realm. No evil can touch you here. Here you can see as I see. You desire to see as I see and feel as I feel. Come up. Come up. Rise above your earthly vessel for the Spirit in you desires to soar. This is not about pride, this is not about being above men. It is about residing with Me. Reside with me for I am in the heavenlies yet you can join Me here. Your spirit is already here, rise above it. From here, as if on the highest mountain, all looks different. You see all differently. You can see it all in My spirit realm. Come.

April 6 – 4:30PM – "Letter to the Lost"

I'm crying out to the people of the earth. Won't you come? Come into My temple. I don't demand that you come. I don't lure you in with temptations or with things that I do not intend do not deliver. I simply ask. I've dropped an invitation into your spirit. Won't you come? I long for you to come. I so desire for you to come. Here you will find rest. Here you will find peace. Here you will find all that you'll ever need and so much more. Here in Me. Reside here. Rest here. You belong here. I created you. I know you. Come. I love you. I see you. Come. I hear you. I'm calling you. Come. Rest. Rest. Rest. Here I await you. Life awaits you. True life, for until now you've only known death. This death is earthly life – a flesh life. Come into the springs of true everlasting life – a spirit life – life that flows from My throne. Come – tarry no longer. Come.

Chihuahua Parable

God has been speaking to me via parables alot lately. It's as if everything around me, at times, is speaking Him. An example: I'm out in the country doing some work last week and walking down this long gravel road comes this little black chihuahua. He couldn't have weighed much more than a bag of sugar, but he was just trotting along as if he were on a mission. I said to myself, "where does he think he's going?". The Lord spoke to me and said the following over the process of the next few minutes: "He doesn't know where he's going, but he knows that his master has been down this path. He's simply following 'the scent' of his master and is motivated by that alone. He doesn't need to know the end result or even what would happen to him along the way. His sole desire is to keep his nose to the ground and follow that path to find his master."

I was amazed at the simplicity of it all. The more I dwelled on it, the more I was able to take out of it. This dog was not some majestic, black lab with head held high as he went down the road - he was a puny little chihuahua with nothing "great" about him. Yet he knew his mission, his duty. I want to encourage you today to seek out the path that God has paved for you. He says that He will make your paths straight, if you acknowledge Him - no matter how "puny" or useless you may often feel. Get on that road, get your nose to the ground and get on the move towards the Master.

Fog Parable

Early in the morning, on my way out of an East Texas city recently, I noticed a thick layer of fog hovering over the ground. In many places it was smoke machine thick - only a foot or two off of the ground. The Lord spoke to me the following:

God began to show me that it was a metaphor of His presence "hovering" on the earth. Just a simple reminder that He is indeed here on His earth. As I pressed in to see what the Lord would show me about this parable, I noticed that in some areas the fog would be extremely dense. I thought to myself, "Ok, I'm no scientist, but I think You could allow me to understand this principle". I realized that the places where water was sitting, whether it was a large or small body of water, there was much more fog residing there. The "pooling" of the water "fuels" the fog. Just like His presence, where there's a "pool" of people seeking Him, the fog (His presence) will be so much thicker and stronger there. It will reside there. He will reside there. That dense fog will also become more noticeable and easier to see, the thicker that it is. Is this not His true desire for His church? For His glory and presence to rest in us and on us for the entire world to see? People are fed up with great programs and church politics. The only thing that will usher in true revival in this world is God's presence - noone can stand up under and deny the reality of His true presence.

Ask Him today to allow you to rest in that strong presence, to dwell there. His desire is not for us to walk in and out of it when it's convenient for us. He wants to blanket this earth with His presence - and He desires us, His true Church, to pool together and glorify Him alone - for the world to see.

Words for March 2006

In order to save time and get things rolling, I've included the "words from the Lord" from March 14-28 below. A "word", as I've recently been introduced to, is simply when God speaks directly as you're in prayer or silence with Him. Think that's kind of strange? Me too. :)

MARCH 28, 2006

8:25AM

I am pleased. I am pleased. You are seeking Me. You have my attention. You have my attention. I am here. I am alive. I am moving – moving in you. Do not be surprised at what you will see for it is by My hand. Do not be afraid – come. Follow. The prayers of a righteous man – they are heard in the Heavens. I send angels at their command. The prayers of a righteous man seeking whole–heartedly after me shake the Heavens. Will you shake the Heavens? Will you awaken the slumbering earth with your prayers? I long to move. I long to shake. I long to announce the coming Heaven. Who will announce My words? Who will announce My will? I have found you faithful, my son. My son. My son. Do you hear what I say? You are My son. Mine. All Mine now. You serve no other. Do not falter. Never grow faint. Stay in Me. Abide in Me. For I alone will sustain you in these coming days. Remain. Remain. Remain.

10:30AM

Be taught by no man. Be taught by Me alone. Who is your teacher? Who is your guide? My Son, Jesus Christ Himself is your Teacher. Let He and He alone be your guide. Humility. Love. Compassion. Peace. What man possesses these things? Who on this earth that I created is not misled by his flesh? Who walked where you walk with gentleness, love and humility? My Son – My Son alone. Look to Him as your guide. Who overcame His flesh and walked in My ways? Let He alone be your model. Model. Model. Model Him. Model His character and become as He was and is. Humility. Humility. True humility.


MARCH 27, 2006

11:05AM

New things. New things. I am about the new. I desire new prayers from you now. Ages of prayers of repetition. Ages of prayers of duty. Who will pray a new prayer? Who will sing a new song? Gone are the days of old. Gone are the days of death. Life. Life. I speak life – who will hear? I breathe life, who will breathe it in? How long must I tarry? How long must I wait? My eyes search for those who pray a new prayer. My eyes search for those who sing this new song. Will it be you? My attention is caught, the angels take notice. All Heaven is alive when one seeks Me as no other. Awaken. Awaken. No more slumber. Awaken. Speak to me as never before. You have my attention, your faithfulness I see. Your devotion I see. Nothing goes unnoticed with me. I see what no one else may ever see. I see. Do for me – do for no other. Do for Me. May I be all you see. See Me in you. See Me.



MARCH 26, 2006

6:35AM

Just as a train going down the tracks am I. My path never changes. My destiny is always in mind. Will you come? I sound the horn to announce My arrival. Will you hear? Even now, I am here. I am not as a faint light in the distance. I am here now. I am here now. I am moving and I do not stop. You must come. There is no time to waste. Come. Come. My Son's death provided this way, this path – for I am in the heavenlies. Yet through Him, I have come down to earth, on the earth. I have laid out My will, My plan on the earth. Who will follow? Will you follow? You must leave all baggage behind. Nothing is allowed onboard but Me in you, for I am holy. Embrace this way. Seek this way. For it is the only way.



MARCH 25, 2006

1:15PM

There's so much more to Me than what you can see from where you are on earth. No man can stop you or keep you from coming up to be with Me, except yourself. Your mind cannot fathom all that I am - will you come see? The flame is burning. Will you come and see? I dwell in the highest of places, yet you are invited. Come. Come up. Remember now the vision that I gave you of yourself as the temple - full of raging fire, burning off all impurities. That same fire is burning even now. It is never extinguished. You only know of fire that is there for a little while. My fire burns eternal. Eternal. Earthly fire needs fuel - it needs tended to by man's hands, day and night in order to burn. My fire needs no fuel for I am the fire. I have no end, I am now, I am always, I have always been. Follow the pillar of fire into my presence. Here you will find me, burning bright. No impurities can remain here, so come. Bring all of you, come.

2:55PM

No longer can you live on yesterdays food from Me. Who wants to eat stale bread? New. New. New. Refresh. Why do you tarry? Why do you put off? When will you take heed and listen without any thought or postponement? Your faithfulness is growing, your response is increasing, yet it is still not instantaneous. This is where I desire you to be - waiting. Ready to hear, ready to move, ready to follow at any moment I call. Even the simplest things bring me joy and glory. Will you be found ready in these moments? What you see as small may be My unfolding of the greatest plan of your lifetime. You do not know. You do not always know. Wait. Respond. React. Wait on Me, I am calling.



MARCH 23, 2006

10:30AM

Be as a blank canvas. Come to Me with a clean slate. I desire to paint My life upon you. I desire to paint My desires upon you. Why do you keep picking up the brush? Are you the artist or am I? Are you the creator or am I? Who created the heavens? Who created the earth? You do not even know what it is to create. All that you create is what I allow you to create, therefore what you create is what I have created in you. Do nothing by your own hands. Allow me to paint a beautiful landscape upon your heart – for all to see. When people look upon you, it is Me they will see. They will know that no brush made by man can create such beauty. Who on earth has seen the Heavens? Who has seen my radiance? I alone know of things you have only dreamed of. I will reveal them to you, however. Will you come and see? Will you lay down the brush and see? Will you come and taste of Me? Clean the slate. Clean the slate, for I am in control. No worries, no struggle. Rest. Rest. Rest in my hand, for it's there that you must reside. Why do you so easily doubt Me? Why do you so quickly falter? Reside in Me. The Creator. The Giver of true life. Not life as you know it, but life as you're just now beginning to see and experience. Yes, I am Judge. Yes, I am righteous. So also am I your Lover, your Provider, your Waymaker. Rest in me and your steps will be ordered of Heaven. Rest in Me and see my beauty unfold before your very eyes. Rest in Me. I am here. Come to Me.


MARCH 22, 2006

Be alert! The time has come when you will be given choices and your instantaneous decision will be your decision. No mulling it over, no contemplation, not even prayer time with Me. You will hear from Me and you must act without wavering and without faltering, by faith. Prepare now to hear My voice and take action. Grow, mature in Me, hear My voice. Advance. Advance. My Kingdom truly is coming and there is no time to waste. Do not be surprised or caught off guard when I call you into action. Be ready. As a runner crouched down at the starting gate, await my command and go. Wait on me, be ready. Be ready, always.

"…You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14


MARCH 20, 2006

4:55PM

Just as the sun slowly rises, I'm rising to reveal My plans to you, My warmth to you. In the light, new things are revealed. In the light, all things become known. If the light were to suddenly appear, it would be too alarming, too much for you to handle. I am slowly revealing Myself to you, my plans. Bask in the light, the glow. Darkness no longer has a place here. The Light has come and is coming. Soon the Light will be as the noonday sun. Raise your head as to gaze directly into the sun. This sun does not set, for I am the beginning and I have no end.

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." Psalm 113:3
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MARCH 14, 2006 – My first "Word from the Lord"

(Typed this part AFTER writing this all out - This has never happened to me before. I felt like God Himself was writing this to me - but not just to me, but also to those who are truly seeking Him. Wow, what an awesome "new thing" He is doing in my life.)

John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

I am looking for those willing to surrender their everything for My cause, for My purpose. Is your mind so shallow that you do not believe? Is your fear too great to follow? Is your intellect too small to hear? Look at all Christ has done and be amazed, but do not be amazed as if to revel in the past - be amazed as to what I will do in the future. Do you even understand what I'm saying? I want to do amazing, glorious things through you in these days. Things you would not believe even if you were told await you! Miraculous things, glorious things - signs that when viewed by man will undoubtedly be by My hand. No pride, no glory, no attention shall be given to you, it will all be Mine, as it should be. The heavens are opening up, are you ready to receive? Will you receive? Many will not even think of such things - many will never even ask. I say, ask, all you need to do is stop and ask and it will be so. Ask. Ask. Ask. Confide in Me and release all to Me and ask. See Christ, see Him high and lifted up - seated at My right hand. Talk to Him, ask Him to teach you. Not friends, not pastors, not books, not ideas, ask Him, ask Him. He walked where you walk, He sees as you see, He taught as I desire you to teach, ask Him. He will teach you, He alone will show you My will - ask. I know the beginning, I know the end, what will you do during your time here? Will you seek me? Will you hear me? Will you follow where I lead? Sit. Listen. Hear. Ask Me.

Welcome

It's my goal that this will be a place to find encouraging words from what the Lord is showing me lately. Words from Him to this generation and words to me specifically. Also, verses, modern day parables and general God-centered discussions will make their way onto here as well. The absolute only reason that anything will ever be posted on here is so that others might be encouraged through what God is doing through an "Average Joe" like me. Thanks for stopping by. God is moving.