SOLDIER OF THE SENTRY

     In modern day, least wise in America, we don't hear of Sentry Soldiers. Instead, we have CIA, Secret Service, Thugs, and other heavy weights to keep unauthorized personnel from accessing important individuals, territory or information. A country's military takes on the responsibility of securing borders from aliens, aiding allies in gaining peace for their country, helping individuals access basic needs in disasters, etc...you get the picture. While the soldier protects, the civilian lives in peace, right?
     Last year, the Holy Spirit had me reread the account of Moses, Joshua, Caleb, the Promised Land, and boy howdy, did I get an eye opener. The reason why they had to be in the desert for 40 years is so that ALL of the children who had given themselves to UNBELIEF, would die off. So, imagine coming out of a life a slavery to the Egyptians and their gods only to find a bigger God who spoke from the sky, did terrible signs and wonders, and could open a ground to swallow your kin (Korah's Rebellion;Num. 16) for rebellion, yet promised you a land flowing with milk and honey....hmmm, would you follow? Willingly? Without fear? Impossible, yet, we have Joshua and Caleb. They were the only ones to come back from spying out the land, with a good report. The others were like...."there's giants in the land." But Joshua and Caleb were like, "Yea, but we can take them with THIS GOD on our side."

     Here's the part that woke me up last year. These two, unique, lion-hearted soldiers had to walk around in the desert for 40 years in a constant state of grief, living with continual death of kinfolk...all the way up to Moses. He dies, and I dare say, that was quite possibly the hardest one to recover from, yet hope remained. Their hearts still burned with The Promiseland. They conquered through unlikely means, but taking possession of the land was a whole different deal. I don't know if you have thought of this, but after war, and winning territory, there is clean up, rebuilding, but then, there is the biggest part...dealing with the dispossessed alien who is no longer welcome in previously owned territory.
     When I moved in here, I immediately began battling with a demon who had possession of this territory. Last year, God revealed the entire process, the battle, the victory, and last night, living in peace in the territory in spite of the constant need for the demon to re possess the land. This is the thing I had never considered, due to the American Dream. Wake up soldiers, we have been sold a bill of sale to land infested with demons we have given power to through the agreement of faith. Remember Faith is to the Spirit as Currency is to the Natural.
     I woke up this morning, so irritated at Jesus because I had to endure the attack of the enemy, who wants territory back, with peace in my heart. Some of you are balking right now, at that sentence, because you believe, as I did, that I have a RIGHT as a child of God, to live without.....anything, well, uncomfortable, disconcerting, etc. Um, as a sinner, saved by the grace of God, in this life, we are entitled to no less, than the death of our savior. In the world to come, because of His Righteousness, we may enter and not be obliterated. He took the punishment so we could have His hug.

Now, I'm going to break it down for you more...in Dispensations, if you will. In the Old Testament, we have the GOD the FATHER Dispensation, and it actually follows Human Growth and Development. All of His interactions with the humans was OVERT. He was seen, heard, felt, followed, known by His marvelous wonders. That is why they followed. In early childhood, good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is discouraged through punishment. In the New Testament, GOD the SON Dispensation, moves faith from being an OVERT behavior (the Law) to a COVERT allegiance (Morality). By the time a child is 7, they no longer need rewards, very often, for making good choices, because they have found a deeper, more satisfying pay off...feeling loved, appreciated, liked, adored.
     Then, we have the Soldier of the (C)Sentry, who like Joshua and Caleb, knew the truth. There is no rest but the rest in Heart of God. When you have learned that all battles belong to the Lord, and He gives victory to whomever He chooses and as always, for His purpose. Our peace comes in that hope. No one or nothing can have victory over us unless it is granted by the God we serve. He owes us nothing, but He is our father, and He wants All of His children. Does your heart burn for His children our yourself. Every day, I find more slices of self demanding its way, so, I burn it, and offer it up to my God....a savory offering for such an AweFULL God.
     Desmond Doss fought in WWII, was a Conscientios Soldier who refused to carry a gun or shoot anyone. His biggest fight was to be a soldier. No one wanted a soldier who wouldn't fight. He got to be a medic. God gave him a rope knot (special tie) that carried 75 casualties off of an escarpment while under heavy fire. Not one bullet hit him. The documentary is incredible. He struck a chord in me. He is the type of soldier God is raising up in this generation. Our battle is spiritual. The only soldier who gets to enter that fight is the one who is drafted by Mama God. This is the Holy Spirit Dispensation (Bride). That soldier better know that Peace Boots are required, a closed mouth, a zealous heart for Lord, a full armor on at all times....even at rest....always ready. Not looking for a shopping mall, but ever vigilant for opportunities to find, pull out of hell's fire, and disciple God's children.
   

WHAT IS LOVE

Jesus the Carpenter (google)

     I think, to often, we forget that Jesus, was a carpenter. He was a public servant. This week has been interesting. An issue arose, with one of my children, that I, myself, had dealt with as a child. I was met with accusations, shame and guilt. Because of that, I decided that I didn't want to respond in the same way. God had given me a dream, one year prior, addressing the issue. I freaked out then, cried myself silly, then He dove in, grabbed up the root, and let me see it. I couldn't believe what I believed about myself, "I'm unlovable; something evil in me brings good people to harm me." I asked Jesus what He  KNEW about me. He said, "You are my Beloved," and bam! the lie is gone with all its entanglements. Lies, lies, and more lies. The enemy sets us up to believe lies about ourselves, the people around us, and more importantly, the Jesus we serve, but fear to know.
     As I watched the news this week, and saw people rejoice over Kim Davis, my heart groaned within me. I find the best way to understand is to put myself in the position of confusion. If my boys, my miracle babies, given by God, came to me one day and said, "Mama, I'm gay and I have met my life partner. We are getting married," what would I do? The same thing I did before, pray....and not speak. How dare we speak about a God that we haven't even had the courtesy to walk with, acting like we KNOW Him through His law. It's like being a public defender speaking on behalf of pedophile with the church elder-ship.  Confused? You should be. What is spirit is spirit, and what is flesh is flesh. The Law can not be understood through the spirit, nor the Law of the Spirit through flesh. Go with me in the day of the life of Jesus, who by the way, has no FEAR in His love.

     Jesus, is commissioned to build a bed for a man. So, he builds it. The man comes, pays for it, and takes it home. End of story. You don't spiritualize what is natural. Things would have been a bit different if the man wanted to KNOW Jesus, but he didn't. He just bought a bed. If God is Love, can He stop being who He is to yell out....YOU VILE SINNERS....you tricked me. If I would have known you were gay, I wouldn't have sold you a bed!!! Uh, no. Love is not rude!

Kim Davis (google)

    When I don't know how to act in any given situation, you will find me praying to the Only One Perfect in Love, and He always shows up. So, He gave me a dream. I was dropped into this daycare with broken children and broken toys. This little girl ran up to me, just needing huggies so badly. I pushed her away and told her she needed boundaries, followed by what boundaries are, and how she needs to keep herself contained in her own bubble....not bleeding all over people (so not me). Then some boy, brought me old mail that he said would bring me money if I just cashed in the insurance policies. I pushed him away, and told him to get out of my personal business. Then, I told another adult that I was going in this particular door and she should lock me in (lock on the outside), cause that boy was vile. On top of feeling an inordinate amount of fear, some lady comes up to me, grabs a chunk of my hair on top of my head, and snip. It looked hideous. When I protested, she proclaimed, "It's ok, cause I know your beautician." Then I tried to clean up the daycare, and some girl comes in and tells me to put in the Jesus movie cause "Spongebob" was awful for children. At the end of the dream, I understood. This is our world, and if my Love is marked with unaddressed fears, what affect will I have on the world around me.

     How would love answer that dream. I'll tell you how, because my heart is singing with the answer. I would grab that little girl up and hug her silly, I would play with the broken kids with the broken toys, using our imaginations, of course. I would have interacted with the young boy, building relationship with him, not being reviled by his remarks, but welcome him in my arms. Oh, and we would have watched "Spongebob" for a good long time, just like I did with my kids. As for the woman who felt a right to cut my hair just because she knew my beautician, I would have informed her that I did not request her services (opinion/license/expertise), grabbed the scissors and returned the favor (oh, no, I think that was the flesh).There is a reason why Jesus said,"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34). If Jesus had refused service, as a carpenter, to anyone, then The Gospel (good news) is imperfect, biased, touched by the human condition....but thank God, He didn't. How do we know? If we Know Him, we Know how Love responds to the demands put on it. If you have forgotten, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud, It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."
     When I look at the "love" of myself and of those with whom God has allowed me to relate, I look for fear, and speak peace to it. I am so happy for every opportunity God provides me, but I am most grateful for "whosoever will." The ones who will Know Jesus will Know Jesus. The ones who want to serve the Jesus of religion will serve the laws of God, but imperfectly....asked the Jewish nation. The ones who will accuse will accuse, but we can rest in this: When the perfect work of Love is complete in us and there is no more fear, there is no law against it. That's why I swoon over His Love for the sinner. Whosoever will always applies. We all need Him, and not one of us, can pick up a stone in good conscious, and throw it. That's pride, and it is UUUUUggggglllly. The fear? I'm not lovable.