
June 3, 2023
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
For years, the Father has been impressing upon me the importance of His children stepping from a place of functioning out of their own knowledge, reasoning, and understanding, and to walking as Sons and Daughters, led by His Spirit (Rm 8:14). Few are taking His hand, to be transitioned into this transformative journey. Few surrender all, every day, every moment, fully and completely, so that they may step out of academic and intellectual knowledge and into experiential walk, of oneness… what it means to be one in Him, living from and through Him alone.
This is not a small thing. It requires all to be laid at the altar, an exchange of our desire to walk in the strength of our flesh, giving Him complete Lordship of our lives. Self-will will need a death blow, for it is the final resistance to a walk led by Holy Spirit… a walk of love. This is a work accomplished only by Holy Spirit. Once we ask for His scalpel to be applied to our lives, that all may be removed that does not please Him, while embracing the fire and love of our Holy, Holy God, choosing to be fully surrendered, fully abandoned to His will, His ways. We can but ask for the “more”, and then say, “Yes”, embracing the process, as we cleave to Him alone.
One of the fruits of learning to walk in the Spirit, led by the Spirit, one with Him, is LOVE. This love is beautiful in all ways. Yes, it is kind. It is powerful, pure, holy, and true… beyond earthly comprehension. It is filled with hope because it sees another as He sees them, seeing them as the supernatural, glorious son or daughter He created them to be. We love, not because it is something we have. We love because it is who we are, if we live in habitual oneness with Him. It is not what we do. It is the very fabric of who we are.
Therefore, it is not based on the actions of others, nor on our circumstances, our emotions or fleeting, soulish desires. It is who we are, as we live in, from and to Him… every moment, every day. Love is who we are created to be. We are to be a “chip off the old block”, perse. We are to be as He is, live as He lives, love as He loves.
I have had the honor of being in a hospital setting and being a vessel for His love, praying with people, encouraging people, and through word of knowledge, speaking and calling out the God given identities of those He appointed me to minister to. It was a privilege to be used by Him for those who had been passed by or abused by others. One 20-year-old woman had been raped four times, first by her pastor, at the age of ten. Her father was 4th on the most wanted FBI list, and her mother on drugs. She is also grieving the suicides of several close friends, one just a few weeks ago. Would this beautiful woman with orange hair, piercings and tattoos be received with welcoming arms by believers, or are we only looking for the healthy, financially secure, emotionally stable… for those who look like, talk like, act like us?
Before the foundations of the earth, before time as we know it, Jesus was slain for all… not just the “pretty” or acceptable, but for all. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, give beauty for ashes and joy for mourning. May I ask you, do you love all, as He does? The Father sent His Son because He so loves. Right after sharing this, Jesus said he came not to judge the world (Jn 3:17), but to save and rescue it. In Isaiah 61, we see He came to bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim the GOOD news…”. Where ever the Body is not carrying light which dispels darkness, the enemy will fill that vacuum with lies, death, and destruction.
I was also privileged to speak with and minister to others… one 25-year-old man and father who had begun gang life at age 12, with a gun in hand. Another was a corporate, financial investor, handling 185 million in investments, one who is a paramedic, a beautiful Mormon mother/career woman… the list goes on. Each had a story, a past with trauma, where God was meeting them in that moment, to deposit hope for the future, and a revelation of His love for freedom and healing. Each has a new story, already written and declared by Him, ready and waiting for them to say, “Yes” to, as they begin their living now, in Him. His arms are open to all. He is not exclusive in His invitation, nor selective in whom He loves. He loves… period.
During this time, He broke my heart with His love. He broke my heart with His grief over His own who serve themselves, not carrying and extending His love to those around us. He loves so well, so completely. His love heals. His love frees. His love gives life. It surrounds, it penetrates, it protects. Tt carries with it the rhythms, beat, and vibrations and of sounds of His heart. Can we, will we, embrace not just the joy, but also the pain that is found in carrying His heart of love, grieving with Him when He grieves, and dancing with joy as He dances? Will His heart become ours alone? Will we love like Him, alone?
Jesus said those who are His would be known by love (in and flowing through us). Is it time for reflection with Holy Spirit? May we ask Him for truth, His sword to divide our hearts, bringing realignment, into a walk that is an outpouring of His love, His heart, His life… not us, but Him, alone.
Love and blessings,
Janice