Harvesting the Legacy of Faith

It's that time of year again. Garden's are being planted, plentiful rain has been watering the garden and we will start to see the plants sprout and grow to maturity and the fruit of the the labor of those that planted will be seen.

I remember watching my grandparents and their dedication to their garden, knowing that this would fill their food pantry and would be food on their table for the upcoming year. The planting of the seed was the most important part.  It is where it all begins, the germination of that seed and the beginning of that new life. 

So too in our spiritual lives the seed is planted, must be fed and watered before it begins to grow. The weeding, the watering, the tending to the garden are totally necessary to ensure that the garden will grow and produce..  Without the care of the gardener, the fruit will never come forth. Without attention the vegetables would be eaten by pesky squirrils and rabbits, run over by deer, choked out by weeds and ultimately not provide the produce.

The proper planting, care and harvesting of that garden determines the amount of produce or fruit that will be born out of that labor.

The same is true of our Spiritual sustenance.  At one point, someone who loved us planted the seeds hoping for a great harvest of Faith.  I know for my brothers and I, that was our parents.  And before them, their parents.  They cared for us physically, but probably even more spiritually.  They planted many things.  They planted sound doctrine for an enduring Faith.  They planted the foundation of love and relationships that could nurture that Faith.  They protected the bounderies of that garden by teaching us about the body of Christ and coming together of believers to share in the celebration of Jesus. 

They planted the Word of God in our heart. Just like the soil that is so crucial to the growth of a garden, needing to be rich and filled with vitamins, so the Word of God is the richness and the nutritional foundation for all other things that are planted subsequently.

Finally, and most importantly they taught us how prayer and worship is the watering of the seeds of Faith and the Word of God which must be ever present to grow the Faith and keep the Word alive in our hearts. 

I have asked myself many times, what was it about my childhood that so strongly kept me grounded to the Faith that was planted in my heart and nurtured by my parents?  What is it that I hold so fondly in my heart and seek to have in my life now?  Being a pastors daughter, I thought at first that it was simply that lifestyle,  the life of living daily at church with my parents, always being in a church service, singing hymns.  Or was it the serving at nursing homes and the congregants? 

After years of wondering what had captured my heart and gave me the strength to push forward in my Faith, I realized it was instead the quiet nights of prayer and worship sitting on the living room floor in my parents house.  We would come together to pray and worship, holding hands and lifting our voices. Typically during times of trial, but often just to be a family and to keep the presence of the Lord as our safe haven and our focus. Seeking the Face of God and His heart for our lives.

Those times of fellowship and relationship, intimate and transparent, I believe were similar to what the disciples walked out with Jesus.  They shared in the Word together, discussing and asking for further revelation.  They shared in lifting their voices in praise and adoration to their heavenly Father.  They asked questions of their teacher who was the living Son of God, and they sat quietly in prayer, seeking the keys to the Kingdom of God so that the Kingdom could be grown and increased.

I wonder, is the fruit of the labor of those that have gone before us, those who have handed down their spiritual legacy to us being seen in our lives? Is the Fruit that Jesus says must be seen, being seen in our lives? Are we tending the garden where our Faith has been planted ensuring that the Fruit will be there?

John 15:5 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Are we honoring the Faith of those that have gone before us?    In order for us to fulfill the promise of Hebrews 12:1, we must be faithful to the Gift of Faith that has been passed down to us, planted in us.

Hebrews 12:1 (Hebrews 12)

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

That cloud of witnesses are those that had the courage and the strength and the Faith to persevere and continue on in the Faith knowing that the race would end with the crown of victory, the crown of life. But they also knew that the promises they had received would come to fruition in another generation.

Our grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters planted  seeds un Faith believing that someday there would be a great harvest. Believing that those trees and plants would bear fruit that would go to seed for even another generation. 

Are we being faithful? Are we bearing the fruit that we are called to bear? Are we being faithful to the furthering of the Kingdom of God?  Pressing on toward the mark, completing the race, harvesting the garden.

Hebrews 11 says that

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Without us taking up the plow and continuing to plow, tend and care for the seed that was planted, the great harvest will not be as great a it should be. Our part of this legacy must happen so that the promises that were given yet not fulfilled will finally be seen in the natural. 

We must hold fast to the Faith and finish the race fulfilling all that has been spoken to all of the generations. The Baton that was handed to us won't cross the finish unless we persevere in the race and cross into the Kingdom of God. Lets ensure that we have tended and harvested the garden that we were given to oversee. And then, we will be satisfied like a freshly watered garden. 

Isaiah 58:11 (Isaiah 58)
And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness

I asked the lord...what Word He would have for me for this year. Hear is the Word

Oh, my child.  How I desire that you cry out as you walk along the path in your own wilderness. Cry out not for your own needs in this wilderness, but cry out for my children who are walking along crooked paths and in deep valleys.  Cry out that they will align with the Mighty Word of God and not continue to walk along paths that will lead only to destruction, paths that will lead only to death, paths that will lead to depression and despair.

Only the path that I lay before my children is a path of peace, a path of joy and love.  Only the path that I can lay before a man is a path that will lead to the prosperity and favor that I have set before them. It is a choice, which path you choose is a choice.

It is only a path that Prepares the way of the Lord...a path that is building the Kingdom of God that can be made straight.  It is this path that will make every valley filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. Every rough place shall be made level and ultimately all, that is all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 

This is the Cry with a loud voice as one in the Wilderness...my daughter...open your mouth and begin to cry out....the flesh of mankind is waiting for your voice.

I will honor your cry, I will bring forth favor on all that you do...just cry out.


As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
(Luke 3:4-6 ESV)

A Great Fire Surrounding Kansas City

My Children,

Know that I am about to send a great fire upon the city of Kansas City.  A fire unlike any other fire in history will come upon my children, those that are walking with me, and those that have not yet turned to me.  The things of this world that have hindered my children from walking fully in my ways will be burned off of as dross is burned off of precious metal.  As my fire, which is My Spirit, falls upon your hearts the things of this world will bubble up and be burned off.  These are things that have hindered you from your full purpose; greed, depression, distractions of this world, money, success, houses, cars, jobs, children, addictions, immorality, religion, lack of understanding, forgiveness.  All of these, as shackles around your feet, will be burned in the fire.  As the shackles were burned off in the fiery furnace, so shall these be burned from you and free you to follow me with your whole being.

My fire will consume this city as a wild fire consumes a forest. My Spirit will consume the hearts of these people, burning within them so intensely it will cause them to seek release, thus causing them to run to the refreshing waters that await them.  Seeking relief from the intensity of my love, they will run to the refreshing waters and find even more love.

The fire will multiply…it will multiply in this city, in this nation and in this world.  Refreshing  will multiply, in this city, in this nation and in this world. All of this for one purpose, to multiply my Kingdom, to multiply my people.

December 7, 2011

Increase in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and man

Lord help us be a people that when others are looking for us, they will know to find us in our Father's house.  Lord, let us be a people that when we cannot be found, we are busy about your business and not our own.  Lord, help us be a people where we are more concerned with the welfare and growth of others than we are of ourselves.

Lord, teach us to sit at your feet and learn from you.  Teach us to gaze into your face and begin to realize the depth of who you are.  Lord, help us to sit quietly and wait on you to speak and to not be as concerned with the noise around us.  Lord, let your presence be as white noise, drowning out the distractions, the voices, the interruptions so that we too can increase in wisdom, in stature and favor with God and man


And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

(Luke 2:49-52 ESV)

You Will Not Surely Die

It is so obvious that satans tactic is to give us some truth wrapped in a lie.  To tell Eve, as he tells us that "You will not surely die" is telling Eve that sin does not cause death, but that she will have divine revelation and her eyes will be open to what He sees when she disobeys what her creator has told her to do.

Isn't that in essence what we do everyday when we sin?  We disobey our maker, our Father, our Savior, believing that we have better insight into life, believing that we have more wisdom than the Lord God almighty, when in fact the very thing that He has asked us not to do, He didn't ask us not to do out of law or authoritarian oppression, He asked us not to do because He loves us and understands that there are things that we simply don't want to see, there are things that having our eyes open to them creates an eyehold, foothold into an area of sin or bondage that could lead us away from Him  but will absolutely cause a barrier between us and Him.

Praise God that we have the blood to cover us and all of our sins have already been covered through His suffering, but that is not the point.  The point is that our love for Him should cause us to desire to obey all that He give us insight to so that we can know and understand the Heart of our Lord and Savior and walk in the cool of the day with Him all the days of our Life.

We can have the divine revelation, when we walk with Him daily and seek to know and understand His Heart.  And if, but only if, we Know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will we be able to say " we will not surely die".

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
 He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

(Genesis 3:1-6 ESV)

It Only Takes a Spark

I have recently begun to deal with the fact that my mother's life on this earth is coming to an end.  Knowing that the passing of my mother is immanent is hard enough, but the understanding that it is probably sooner than later has caused my heart to begin to ache for her inevitable passing.

It is very normal to enter into mourning prior to the passing of a relative with Alzheimer's.  As one begins to watch the very essence of who they are slowly begin to fade and a child begin to appear with their name. As the child of an Alzheimer's patient I have organically switched roles with my nurturing mother by becoming her caretaker. I am no longer the one that she provides for, but the one providing her with some of the comfort foods she desires... root-beer Floats and her favorite gum along with bringing her the latest fashions for nursing home residents.

The fact that we have switched roles as mother and daughter became even clearer this last week at my Christmas visit with mom. Mom couldn't remember my name and asked if I was her mother. Up until the last month or so, mom has continued to remember my husband and my names. She may not always understand who I am, but she usually knows my name.  Hearing mom ask me if I was her mother caused my heart to lurch as the weight of this question began to sink in. I have lost my mother here on earth before she has passed away.

Having to explain to your own mother, the one that gave birth to you, bandaged your knee, and kissed you goodnight, that she is in fact the mother, and you are the child is gut wrenching painful. Visiting her week after week, not knowing if she will remember my name, if she will be kind and welcoming or angry and belligerent is a difficult undertaking. There are many weeks where I simply wanted to stay home and not have to endure the pain, but I knew that it was important for her to have a connection with the outside world, to be touched, to be read to, to be loved.  For all of the years that she endured, suffered, sacrificed and felt pain for my sake, I had to honor my mother.

I have been very blessed with a Godly husband who has gone weekly with me, even when he didn't want to, because of his love for me and a desire to honor me and his mother-in-law. It has eased the pain to have him by my side during the sad times as I left in tears as well as laughing with me as we shared stories of her silliness and comical comments.

As I walk through this pain and this mourning, I have realized that not only am I losing my mother, but my family is losing a part of our legacy. I have determined in my heart that the legacy of Faith that was rooted in my parents marriage and relationship must be passed to the next generation.  The family connection that my parents were the essence of, will pass soon.  But it cannot die with them, it must be passed onto those that shared the Faith with them.  This is more than a family legacy, but a spiritual legacy that started in the upper room with Jesus and his disciples.  If we are not willing to take that torch and carry it forward, then the Faith that has touched so many will die with her.

I am reminded of the song " It only takes a spark" .  This passing of the legacy could seem somewhat overwhelming, but the Lord has spoken clearly to me that it only takes a spark, a spark  that was ignited in my parents, and must continue through our touching those that are around us, that the fire will continue to grow and spread for all eternity.

Oh my children, how I long to see you chase the things that move my heart.  There are so many things that fill your mind to the point of numbness and keep you from entering into the place of peace that I have for you.

If you would only seek the things that I have for you, all else would fall into place and you would know and understand a joy that passes all comprehension.

This is my desire for you.  For you to be rid of the things that crowd me out and to enjoy the things that are of me.  Reach deep into your heart and pull out the deep things that are there that line up with my Word.  Know that my desire is for your good, for your prospering, for your peace, for your hope, for your strength, for your justice, for your encouragmement, for you to live in place where life springs forth from the depths of your being and where the light radiates from you all day and night.

I will be with you each day, seek me as I can be found whenever you look my way. Look deep into my heart and you will find a strength that you have never known.  Look deep into my eyes and you will see a love that only I can give.

 Blessed is the man
  who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
 nor stands in the way of sinners,
  nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
  and on his law he meditates day and night.
(Psalm 1:1-2 ESV)

Awake Oh Sleeper: by Karina Ruthenberg

Wake me up, Wake me up
From the distractions of this world
Wake me up, Wake me up
From the perversion of my own heart

I don't want to sleep any longer
I don't want to sleep any longer

Wake me up, Wake me up
From the pride of my own flesh
Wake me up, Wake me up
From the god's that I've created

I don't want to sleep any longer
I don't want to sleep any longer

Awake oh Sleeper
Arise from the dead
and Christ will shine on you
Open your eyes to His truth

Wake me up, Wake me up
from the blindness of religion
Wake me up, Wake me up
from the deafness of tradition

I don't want to sleep any longer
I don't want to sleep any longer


Wake me up, Wake me up
from the error of my thinking
Wake me up, Wake me up
from the this mezmerizing culture

I don't want to sleep and longer
I don't want to sleep any longer

Awake oh sleeper
Arise from the dead
And Christ will Shine on you
Open your eyes to His truth

Psalm 103:4

Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
(Psalm 103:4 ESV)

To be redeemed is to be "bought" back....to have someone else take the penalty for us or pay the price for us. To be delivered. How many times oh Lord have I felt like I was just that..."in a pit" and couldn't get out. Couldn't crawl out, couldn't yell my way out, with noone to rescue me. But you oh Lord, you deliver us from the pit....you take our place, you rescue us and pay the cost for us to be delivered. Oh Lord how freeing is that to know that when I do get in a pit, that I have a deliverer...I have someone to rescue me. Even if I were on a deserted Island...you are there to pull me out. Even if I am caught up in my own misery in my mind...you oh Lord can set me free.

I feel right now that is what has happened several times in my life. When I was in the middle of my divorce, stuck in the hotel, not knowing when I would be set free, or if I would be set free. I thought there was no where out...but you oh Lord, pulled me out and brought me to Kansas City. Oh, how greatful I am. When I was caught up in my drinking and didn't see anyway at all to quit...you delivered me, you gave me a way out like your word promises. And once again, after being told my whole life that I had mental illness...you revealed to me how that was a lie and all I needed to do was speak it and you would free my mind from the lie that satan sent me as a child from my mother. Believing and putting myself on medication because I didn't know I could run to you with my anxiety, that I could run to you with my depression. All I had ever seen was a medicine bottle. I knew I was saved, but didn't know that you loved me enough to give me freedom from my own thoughts. You are my kinsman redeemer Lord...oh how I love you you and am so thankful for your redeeming hand, your redeeming love and your redeeming power.

And you crown me with steadfast love and mercy. This means you surround me with steadfast love and mercy. I see that to mean that you cover me, hide me, keep me safe from the outside influences that could once again affect my mind. You crown me with your love and mercy so that the things of my past do not continue to haunt my mind. So that, they do not pull me back into the shroud of darkness that satan would so love to see me get pulled back into. You love me Lord...oh how you love me.

Spiritual Atoms

Nucleous, neutrons, protons and electrons...all of the good stuff that molecules and atoms are made of.  The intracate, minute substances that our bodies must have to exist. Each component needed for the body to function and live.  So, how much of this science do you remember?  I had to rely on Google, our trusty friend to remind myself of what is what and how it all works together.  So, if you remember from your wonderul high school days, the human body is made up of cells and cells are made up of many different molecules. Molecules consist of one or more atoms of one or more elements joined by chemical bonds.

To dig a little deeper atoms consist of a nucleus, neutrons, protons and electrons. The number of protons (positively charged particles) in the atom's nucleus determines the number of electrons (negatively charged particles) surrounding the atom. Electrons are involved in chemical reactions and are the substance that bonds atoms together to form molecules. Electrons surround atom's in one or more shells with the innermost shell considered to be full when it has two electrons. When the first shell is full, electrons will begin to fill the second shell. The second shell is considered to be full when it has eight electrons.

The most important structural feature of an atom in order to determine its chemical integrity is the number of electrons in its outer shell. A substance that has a full outer shell tends not to enter into chemical reactions and remains stable. Because atoms seek to reach a state of maximum stability, an atom will try to fill it's outer shell by either

Gaining or losing electrons to either fill or empty its outer shell

Sharing its electrons by bonding together with other atoms in order to complete its outer shell

Atoms often complete their outer shells by sharing electrons with other atoms. By sharing electrons, the atoms are bound together and satisfy the conditions of maximum stability for the molecule. (http://www.healthchecksystems.com/antioxid.htm)

Sharing electrons is fine as long as atoms are bound together and maximum stability is reached.  However there is a known state called Free Radicals that have become a dreaded enemy of our cellular system. This scavenger of our cellular system is what Dr. Oz is always declaring the latest discovery of new wonder pills or super foods that will eradicate these little devils. 

What are Free Radicals and how do they harm us physically? In it's simplist form...Free Radicals are unstable molecules that attempt to steal the electrons of the closest molecules to stableize themselves.  This causes the molecule that lost it's electron to become a Free Radical itself. The Free Radicals begin to deplete other molecules which in turn feeds the Free Radicals creating a chain reaction.

Normally a healthy and nourished body can handle Free Radicals using it's strength to destroy the incoming assult and prohibit other damage.  If, however, the needed nutrients are not available, the Free Radicals can cause damage to the cellular structure and in turn cause disease and illness.  Oh, but this is a whole different discussion.

So...by now I am sure you are asking, what the heck does this have to do with me and why do I care. Well...let me share the wonderful picture that I believe the Lord gave me of how our spiritual lives mirror our physical makeup.

Imagine your spirit man as an atom with the nucleous in the center filled with protrons and the outer shell lined with electrons.  It makes sense - Man=atom/adam. Within our spiritual atom just like our physical atom the number of positively charged protons that an atom has determines the number of negatively charged electrons.  Let's imagine the protons which are positively charged being the Word of God that feeds our spirit. Let's visualize this positively charged inertia creating proton is the Word of God that electrifies us, charges us and empowers us to reflect His Word and His love.  In contrast we have the outer shell of our Spirit Atom being the negatively charged electrons.  Consider if you will that those electrons are in part our Heart of Flesh when we recieve the Word of God. If the number of postively charged protons has to correlate back to the negatively charged electrons wouldn't it make sense that in reaction to the Word of God...Faith is created in our Heart of Flesh causing us to change and reflect His heart.

Within the physical atom electrons are a necessary part of the chemical reaction that causes molecules to be created. The electrons surrounding the atom cause chemical reactions and which creates inertia thus creating molecules. In the spiritual atom this would look like the life giving force that is within our spiritual atom once it has been charged with the Word of God.  In the physical these Molecules then combine together to formulate cells.  They all work in harmony with one another and feed off each other maintaining stability and sound structure. In the spiritual, this is the Word of God causing inertia in our spiritual being and causing the changes within us that is then poured out in our community and on those around us.

As we expand on this thought, we need to understand the importance of the molecule needing to maintain maximum stability.  In order for the molecule to function properly and to give off the full spectrum of energy that the molecule was created for it must reach it's maximum stability by having the right number of protons and electrons and the chemical reactions to be creating the inertia. Likewise, for maximum stability to occur in the spiritual atom...we need the right balance of the Word of God, the fellowship of believers, understanding of the word or revelation and simple relationship with the Lord. All of these things are imperative for us to have balance, stability and to function in the purposes and calling that we've been set apart for.

So, how do we reach that perfect number of protons and electrons? As stated previously the number of electrons can be gained one of two ways.

Gaining or losing electrons to either fill or empty its outer shell

Sharing its electrons by bonding together with other atoms in order to complete its outer shell

So, I believe the picture that the Lord gave me was that as we function properly in fellowship with other believers and serve one another that we share electrons as we share experiences and revelations.  As we serve one another and give of what the Lord has given to us this completes the spiritual atom of the other believer. 

So, picture if you will the center of your Spiritual atom...the Heart of Flesh that scripture says we receive when we are born again. ( Eze 11:19) In the Center of this heart is the Spirit of God which guides us and leads us in all our ways.  It is made up of the desires of our heart which should become more and more the desires of our father in order to maintain a stable structure. . Our relationships are central to the structure of our Spiritual well being as well.  Obviously the central relationship being our relationship with the Lord.  


We should be walking in His Grace and fulfilling the things that He created us for and the purpose within us. But just like our Physical body with all of the parts that are wondefully made like the atoms, the molecules, the cells and all that they are comprised up...they must be fed with the nutrients that keep them alive and healthy.  We must soak in His Word, maintain the fellowship of believers, be enraptured with His presence and nurture the relationship that we have with Him. 

At the same time...as we join together in relationship with other believers...sharing in our experiences, sharing in our revelations, sharing in our love, the Lord binds us together using our experiences jointly for the maintaining of each of our persons.  This causes us to be dependent on one another for our maximum stability and to fulfill our maximum potential. Again, this is a whole different topic that we will get to on another blog.

I challenge you to study the science further and see what revelations the Lord gives you!!

When you have nowhere else to run........

The Lord gave me a vision of a man walking thru a city.  He walked and he walked, then he spotted his shadow behind him as the day turned into evening.  He continued to watch the shadow and slowly began to run.  He ran as if he were being chased by a demon, yet nothing was chasing him but his own shadow.  Now and again he walked looking behind him again and cringed at the sight of the shadow. Oh how he wanted to be out of the darkness of that shadow.

The man ran until there was no more city to run in.  All of a sudden he comes to a desert and walks  with a glaring sun overhead and the man's shadow disappears.  The man is relieved from the lack of the shadow.  He is excited that he can walk in freedom without the shadow chasing him and begins to walking at a slower pace.  Soon he is walking even slower as the sun depletes him of his last bit of energy, the last bit of hydration in his body is dripping off his face as he slowly falls to the ground.  No energy left in his body from the glaring heat and dry air, he feels as if he can walk no further.  He now regrets leaving the shadow behind, for where their was a shadow their was relief from the intense heat.
As the man does, we think that the light of the sun is the ulitmate revelation of our purpose....the success of our lives, the world in which we live that we believe can fulfill us, sustain us, and satisfy us. Yet it overpowered his senses as he can only manage what his bodies can absorb.
In the distance the man sees a large shadow on the horizon and begins to crawl towards it.  After what seemed hours, he finally reaches what in reality is a cave.  Funny, he was running from his shadow and the darkness that was within it, yet he moves towards the darkness of the cave to find relief from the light.  Filled with ultimate relief he crawls inside and sobs as his body slowly begins to adjust to the coolness and darkness within the cave.

After he has rested a bit he attempts to light a fire.  Ironic, he ran from his shadow into the light, now back into the darkness he finds relief yet is trying to bring light back into the darkness.  He strikes a match and lights a fire and the flames begin to burn.  As they burn he relaxes and watches the light dance on the walls of the cave as drafts of wind hit the flame it burns brighter and dances higher.  He watches and reflects that he is now in the presence of both light and darkness.  The light causes his body to warm and be comforted at the same time allowing him to see and become familiar with his surroundings.  He lies and wonders why he feared the shadow so much, yet why did he also could not tolerate the light of the sun.  Such is our life.  We run from the shadows of our past, trying to find a way out from our hidden sins and our burdening behaviors.  We try to find purpose for our life and the intense light of this world is what we are drawn to.

We think that the light of the sun is the ulitmate revelation of our purpose....the success of our lives, the world in which we live that we believe can fulfill us, sustain us, and satisfy us. Yet it overpowers our senses as we can only manage what our bodies can absorb.

At Peace the man continues to seek his heart for revelation of why he has sought to run from the shadow, why he ran to the sun, and now why he seeks the peace and quietly lit cave.  As Elijah found the Lord in the cave after running and seeking Him everywhere else.

You too can find the Lord in the peaceful place of rest, whereever you have finally stopped, exhausted, refusing to or unable to go on.  When you are finally tired of running from your past, running from your sins, tired of the platform of the world bearing down on you and sucking all that you have to offer from you, then you can find the Lord while He may be found as Elijah did.  Elijah had looked for him in the wind, he had looked for him in the rain, he had looked for him in the earthquake, but had not found him until he entered the cave and the Lord spoke softly to him.....leading his way.  The Lord ultimately sent him back the way he had come...but this time he went with the voice of the Lord speaking peace to him when the shadows came, speaking peace to him when the wind was scourching him....now he had the Still Small Voice of Jesus Christ to follow after.

1Ki 19:9

There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?

Make Jesus your new Years Resolution in 2012

I know...I'm just as guilty as everyone else but it begins to get tiresome, every year it seems I make a NEW New Year's resolution, or I remake an old New Year's resolution only to fail.  How many New Year's resolutions have I made that actully worked, that Isaw thru until the end, that ended just like Ihad planned?  Not very many I would guess.

Why do we make New Year's resolutions, why do we make promises to change at the end of every year? I think it's because we feel dead inside, or in bondage and we want something new and invigorating for the New Year.  I think this is especially true after Christmas.  We put so much stock in Christmas and all of the anticipation for all of the marvelous gifts that we will receive, only to be disappointed because they bought us the wrong blender, or the purse was the wrong color, or the coat didn't fit. We need something to hope in, something that we think will fill a void that is left in us after the let down of the material, worldly let downs.

These lead us to being sad and disappointed, thus a resolution to make the new year different, better, and in the end to make ourselves or our life better or different in the end.

So what are the resolutions that we make?  The first one that I think comes to everyones head is to lose weight?  Admirable, and a healthy goal.  But the crux of the matter is you need to determine why you need to lose weight.  Is it to feel better, breath better, look better, be healthier, or to fit into those jeans from 10 years ago that you just need to give to someone younger and thiner.  But, ultimately, why are we unhappy with our bodies.  I believe it is because too much of our identity is wrapped up in our looks and what others think of us.  Jesus says:

Luke 12:22-24 - then Jesus said to his disciples: "therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23:Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24:Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 

So if we listen to Jesus...he says that our focus shouldn't be our body or what we eat, but who we are and living with him.  He is in charge of making sure we have what we need including food, so if we focus on him, and not the food that is always in front of us, he will make sure we keep our appetites in check.
The next new years resolution that I think I've often made is to find success.  What is success?  Who determines what success is? Are we talking about earthly success or heavenly success?  I think again we are looking to fill a void and find our identity in the success that our culture tells us we need Corporate America teaches us that to be successful you must sell your soul for their company and live for the company.  The word of God says that our success comes from the Lord, not from this world.

2 Ch 26:5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
It's when we seek people or seek approval that we become addicted to success and need that success as some need food.  If we make Jesus our the center of our life, He will give us success.  That may not be the success that our culture tells us we need, but it will be a success that is everlasting

The next resolution that I know I have made, is to treat people better and to show the love of Jesus to them.  The key to this one is to do it thru His power and Word and not our own strength or understanding.  When we feel like we cannot possibly love those that He has put in our path, He can give us the grace to supernaturally love like never before.

Jesus says: Phil 4:12 and 13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. <b>I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

He will give us His strength and His Grace to love those that are unlovable. 

So what are these resolutions doing for us?  Possibly making us more depressed because we don't seem to be able to keep them.  I am excited to say, that if we make Jesus Christ our New Years Resolution, we can keep them.  He is our strength, our motivation, our power, our discipline, our inspiration our encourager.  Thru Him, not thru myself, I can accomplish anything.  To do this, our eyes must be on HIM, for He is the author and finisher of our Faith, our purpose, our life, our eternity.  We are nothing without Him..He gave up His son so that we could live forever with Him.  But yet we continue to search for fulfillment in the things of this world, the material gifts from others, the successes that man says we must have and the physique that this culture says we should have.

But...all we need is Jesus - He is my 2012 New Years Resolution.  I want Jesus, I want to share Jesus, I want more revelation of Jesus and I want to meet him in the sky....soon!!!
Make your 2012 New Years Resolution Jesus.  I promise you, the other things will fade and not be as important. Christ will give you new desires that are fulfilled thru Him and they will be secondary once you truly see the love He has for you and the purpose He has placed on your life.

Jesus- the New Year Resolution

Anticipation - 2012

I've spent a lot of time this Christmas reminiscing over Christmas celebrations in the past and thinking about this Christmas. What has changed, what is the same and what is going to change yet in the future.  A little like The Christmas Story I guess, however the focus is a bit different than trying to put my life in order like the character from the movie.

At service last week I began to think about Christmas past at my father’s church.  Advent services were so very special to me.  A week by week encounter with the meaning of Christmas and a building of anticipation as we approached Christmas and the true celebration of His birth.  So much pomp and circumstance with lights, banners, choral performances, musicals, plays, children’s performances and so much more.

My father and mother painted a grand picture of the birth of Christ for us as children and truly instilled in us the importance of His birth and how it changed the course of mankind for all of eternity.  Each evening we would sit around the advent wreath, light that weeks candle and read a portion of the scripture which approached His birth.  The suspense was building, the anticipation was building, and the wonder and awe were building.

It wasn't about the Christmas gifts, truly it wasn't.  It was so much about anticipating his first coming and ultimately His second coming.  What a great time of awe and wonder and innocence.  I heard a sermon today that in order to keep that awe and wonder, we must share with others the story and history behind our own understanding of  Christ's birth and His return and by sharing and watching others discover the awe, we relive it and keep it alive.

My only concern here is do people really even want the awe and wonder.  Have we become so enamored with our material things, our busy lifestyle and our earthly successes, that we have forgotten that we would have none of it without Him.  We spend all Christmas season searching for gold, silver, lights, beauty, fun, fellowship, fulfillment, new gidgets and gadgets and the latest crazy geeks toy, that we miss that we already have the gift that we are meant to have that fulfills all of our needs, and we don't even realize it.

Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who is more precious than all silver and gold, who will one day rule all heaven and earth.  Why are we looking for gifts from others, when the greatest gift is already ours, free and non-returnable.  Jesus Christ - the Greatest Gift of all time. Let us continue to search for him, to seek revelation about him and to await His return with anticipation and joy.  Be Blessed this Christmas season as you await His return.

Prophecy Given December 7th, 2011 - City on Fire

My Children,

Know that I am about to send a great fire upon the city of Kansas City.  A fire unlike any other fire in history will come upon my children, those that are walking with me, and those that have not yet turned to me.  The things of this world that have hindered my children from walking fully in my ways will be burned off of as dross is burned off of precious metal.  As my fire, which is My Spirit, falls upon your hearts the things of this world will bubble up and be burned off.  These are things that have hindered you from your full purpose; greed, depression, distractions of this world, money, success, houses, cars, jobs, children, addictions, immorality, religion, lack of understanding, forgiveness.  All of these, as shackles around your feet, will be burned in the fire.  As the shackles were burned off in the fiery furnace, so shall these be burned from you and free you to follow me with your whole being.

My fire will consume this city as a wild fire consumes a forest. My Spirit will consume the hearts of these people, burning within them so intensely it will cause them to seek release, thus causing them to run to the refreshing waters that await them.  Seeking relief from the intensity of my love, they will run to the refreshing waters and find even more love.

The fire will multiply…it will multiply in this city, in this nation and in this world.  Refreshing Waters will multiply, in this city, in this nation and in this world. All of this for one purpose, to multiply my Kingdom, to multiply my people.

December 7, 2011

As given to Karina Ruthenberg

Dream 7-25-11

Dream from 7-24-11

I had a dream that I was driving to work on I435 south.  Almost immediately after getting on I 435 from Gregory I hit dead stopped traffic.  I could almost see it from overhead.  It reminded me of an armegeddon type movie where you see miles and miles of cars lined up, bumper to bumper on a busy freeway with no relief in site.  People were getting out of their vehicle and talking to each other.  The consensus was to not bother to try to head South or West because you would never make it to your destination.  It was the opinion of most that you might as well turn around at the nearest exit.

As I got closer to the triangle, I noticed two buses that looked like tourest buses or the buses of a celebrity.  Surrounding the buses were literally hundreds of police cars and ambulances. It looked as if the police had simply pulled the buses over and were "waiting" to proceed with anything futher at that time. I continued down the road and passed by the buses.

Once I crossed over the Grandview Triangle, I pulled off on 103rd to a bank and pulled into a parking lot.  This distance of  3 or 4 miles took 4 or 5 hours.  Once I got into the parking lot, I joined hundreds of others by getting out of my vehicle and chatting about what was occuring.  Some stated that they had heard that there were several manholes or openings on the interstate that had been pried open and a man from one of the buses had been seen throwing a large package into the hole and then running from it.

At this point, the police and media were encouraging everyone to return to their homes and stay until further information could be given.  I woke up....I had no fear, but feel that it is somewhat prophetic.  I don't have the interpretation, but will be watching.

Put your hands to the plow and don't look back!!!

What has the Lord called you to?  What has the Lord put on your heart?  How many times have you had someone come into your life and you knew that you were to speak into their lives. How many times have you heard a still small voice, only to ignore it because you believed it to be your own mind and not the Lord.

Have you ever heard the Lord speak life into you and you so desperately wanted to share that life with others, but maybe you shrunk back. Has the Lord spoken to you about your job, to speak boldly to someone, to take a step of Faith, but you shrink back? What does it take to move from the fleshly dimension of fear and failure, to the spiritual dimension of Faith and boldness?

When we are preparing for a marathon race, we condition our bodies, we give it the right fuel, we get our mind in the right place to take us forward.  You have to do the same thing with moving out in Faith.

You have to feed your Spirit with Spiritual food, which might actually mean you have to fast earthly food in order to be able to fill up on the Spiritual food that the Lord has for you. Oftentimes, we are so full of the earthly food, earthly materialistic garbage and earthly successes that we have no room or time for us to fill up with the Lord's bread of life.

When preparing for a marathon you have to exercise and stretch your body...when preparing for a spiritual marathon, you have to exercise your Faith.  If your Faith is weak and hasn't been exercised, like an atrophied muscle, it may not be able to hold you up, or carry you.

And last, but not least, in order to run a marathon, you must have your mind prepared. You must be prepared to tell yourself to push on when you are at the point of quitting.  When you are preparing are walking in spiritual marathons, you must prepare your mind.  You must feed it with the living word and fill it with the living water.  The Lord says that He has all that we need to run the race.  We must decide to step out in faith believing that what the Lord has in store for us is better than anything that is behind us.

We know what happened with Lot's wife when she looked back.  If the Lord has called you to fulfill a purpose, put your hand to the plow, and don't look back.

Expand My Territory

Lord,  it's been awhile since I've written anything or taken the time to really put pen to paper on what you are speaking to me.  How many times I've heard your still small voice, yet I have not written it down for future remembrance or to use to encourage others in their Faith. 

But this week, ahhh, I know I heard your voice, not audibly, but in so many different ways.  A book from my past given to me to re-read with highlighted portions that you spoke to them concerning me.  What an awesome kiss from you!!  A sermon that validated and confirmed everything that had been spoken to me from that book and more.  And finally, as I walked in my yard last evening to seek you in prayer and seek your face, 4 deer walked across my front lawn and into the neighbors.  I heard in my mind,

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee.


You Lord, are my hearts desire, and I do long to worship you. Father, I long to see you in every situation and to care more about your thoughts than mine.  I long to see you in those around me and to encourage them in their Faith. Yet, I fail so often.

So, I wonder, even though when I have sweet, sweet worship and sweet relationship with you, why do I wait so long to come back and run into your arms?  Why do I choose to watch T.V. instead of spend time with you.  Lord, I pray that you would create a desire and a passion so strong in me for intimacy with you, that nothing else will satisfy and only you can fill.

In light of all that, Lord I cry out to you the Prayer of Jabez.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand

be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.  1 Chronicles 4:10

 Oh Lord, if we could only comprehend what you see when you see us cry out to you for your blessing.  We are so taught that to ask for Blessing is selfish and self centered.  But, you desire that we ask for Blessing so that we can be poured out on those around us.  Instead...we become selfish anyway and instead of following your Word to ask for those Blessings, we worry about missing our favorite television show, missing out on the sale at Macy's or just missing out on time.  If we would only seek you first, cry out for the Kingdom Blessings that you long to pour out on us, and ask for you to redeem our time so that we can offer it up to you for your use.

Lord, free me from the clutches of this World.  The gravitational pull of this culture that screams at us day and night to perform better, spend more, shove more into each day and to fill our minds with the mindless, senseless entertainment that barrages our every waking minute.  

Lord, I don't ask for you to expand my territory so that I can be more busy, more stressed out, or more overwhelmed with the constand barrage of stuff to do....I ask that you expand my territory so that I can have an impact on the physical realm that you have given me dominion over and influence in.

I say Yes Lord Jesus!!

The Eyes of Jesus

Twice this week-end I heard people mention the eyes or the Face of Jesus....at first I was just slightly intrigued, and then my heart skipped a beat when I heard this story.

Momma Heidi, you may or may not have heard of her.  She is a missionary in Mozambique in Africa.  She moved there with her family to start an orphanage.  Daily she ministers to the street kids, preaching, healing, loving and taking many home to her orphanage every week.  She is quite an amazing child of God.  The love that is pouring out from her is amazing and spoke volumns to me.  She is exercizing true love to the world with her sacrifice and selfless life.

She told a story of being drained and needing a refreshing.  I can fully understand her feeling drained.  Every time she steps out of a vehicle she is overtaken by children desiring to touch them, to have her take them home or simply to love them. At this point she is exhausted and chooses to leave Africa for a time to visit a Missiounary retreat in Canada. 

Once in Canada, she is in worship and prayer and is lying prostrate on the floor.  Her heart is heavy, she is worn out, and she is crying out to her Heavenly Father for strength.  She says that as she looks up she sees the eyes of Jesus gazing at her.  His eyes are warm, loving, strengthening and encouraging.  She hears the Lord speak to her that she is trying to do this out of her own strength, but He wishes to empower her with His power to continue the work that she is called to do.

That's pretty much the end of the story that touched me.  I must say that my heart stired when she spoke about His eyes piercing her barriers, her soul, her heart and mind.  I've been intrigued with this thought ever since.  The eyes of Jesus...have I seen the eyes of Jesus?  Could I handle seeing the eyes of Jesus?  What look would He be giving me?  Would it be a look of disgust?  Would it be a look of love?  Would it be a look of pity or a look of forgiveness.  I don't know what it would be, I just know that I want to gaze into the eyes of Jesus.  The eyes are the mirror to the soul.  If I can catch a glimpse of His eyes...would I be able to see His soul?

I just know this, if I continue to chase after Him, trying to see His eyes and His gaze, I will draw closer to Him be default and in turn will learn who He is, what He desires from me and for me.

I'm very excited about seeing the eyes of Jesus

Curses Broken

Mark and I have been on a Journey...a Journey searching for where He would have us to minister, where He would have us to become a part of a community and where He would have us to settle.  It's been difficult wandering, the wandering in the wilderness is not easy.  You become dry and dehydrated as you are not truly being fed or connected.  Your vision can begin to blur as you don't see His purpose for your life.

We've tried to be connected to our brothers and sisters in Christ as we continue on this journey.  Making sure that we have close friends speaking into our lives and help us stay grounded in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and ensure that we don't get sidetracked.

We continue to study His Word and grow in His Word, allowing Him to move on our heart and speak into us as we wait on Him.
I feel so priveledged because my Father went to so much trouble for me today, which showed me again how much He loves us. I need to put into writting the words that were spoken over me this morning, for today is the first day of the rest of the Life that God has given me.  Satan, get thee behind me, for you have no say in my life, I belong to Jesus.

The associate pastor began to speak healing over my body, healing in my shoulder and hip which constantly pop out of place and cause a lot of pain.  Ever since I broke my ankle 2 years ago, my whole body has been out of kilter, out of sink with the rest of my body, causing it to not operate correctly and cause pain and frustration.  They prayed and prayed, then the real Word was spoken as such.

"Karina, I feel that this physical ailment has caused you to be frustrated, maybe even to the point of depression. At that, I began to cry, and cry, and cry.  He went on to state that He sees that lies have been spoken over me about my future that were curses and have hindered me from living in the liberty that He has called me to.  Freedom to serve, freedom to love, freedom to run, freedom to move freely in and out of His will. "

At that point, I broke down and shared that my mother has spoken curses over me for years stating that the illness that overtook my father was upon me and that I needed to admit it and own it and take the medication like my father.  This curse, I believe to be the lie of satan, sent to hinder me and keep me from moving in the liberty that He called me to move in.

Pastor Doug " God wants to set you free to move freely in the calling that is on your life.  I see someone who speaks life into others, even when bound by frustration and pain, you continue to speak life into others., as he spoke a woman came forward and said that the Lord had said to her that my heart was scarred from the curses of others and that the Lord wanted to heal those scars that were keeping me in bondage.  They began to speak about the gift of prophecy that is a seal upon me and how the frustration and bondage I had been in was keeping me from walking in the calling of prophecy upon my life.  The Lord would have me know that I am to step out and begin to counter those curses and speak blessings and life upon others.  That I would be healed through healing of others."

They continued to pray as one of the elders walked over to us.  They introduced me to him, his name was Mike.  Mike said that the Lord showed him a fire hydrant.  That I was a fire hydrant, but that I was not properly utilizing the fire hydrant for it's purposes.  He went on to say that a fire hydrant needs three things to operate properly. 1. caps, 2. a hose, 3. a source of flow.  Mike said that at times the source of water was hooked up, but the caps were on so it couldn't be used to flow to others.  Then at times the caps were off, but the source wasn't flowing, then there were times that the caps were off, but the hose laid on the ground.

But the Lord wanted me to know that my fire hydrant would be fully operational.  The source is pouring through the hose and the caps are off so that it can flow to those who are in need and to those who are thirsty.

They called it a new day, a day that I am to step out and call it new, shake off the shackles, reject the negative, close my ears to the curses and begin to speak blessings on anyone that comes my way.

So, I am speaking Blessings upon you right now.  May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, show you His favor and grace.  May you step out in boldness to serve your God, may you speak boldly the things that the Lord has given you to speak.  Let no fear of man keep you from speaking His truth, but speak boldly for Him.  May you find the freedom from your past that will give you courage to speak in boldness and truth.  May He call you out and show you favor.  Please contact me if you need prayer.  I love to pray for those that are seeking.  Be Blessed, in His Holy Name.

God Mob

A month ago, Mark and I left church with alot in our hearts and minds.  We had just listened to a great sermon about this generation that the Lord has called to be set apart and to rise up and stand for him:

With this on my heart I posted this on Facebook on May 3rd.

Isaiah 60: Arise, Shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth. And deep darkness the peoples. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60: 1-3
 From this, the Lord started to speak to me about a Flash Mob or a God mob.  He gave me a vision of seeing His people arise and shine for our light has come.  A vision that the darkness will be overtaken by our light IF, and only IF we unite and stand together.  Not sure everyone understands what a flash mob is, basically it is a united group of people who come out and stand for one thing, represent one thing, present a untied front. From this He showed me a picture of His children pouring out of the churches, out of the homes, out of the cities and coming to one central point - pouring into one location and being a witness, being a light, pushing back the darkness.  I really didn't know if He was telling me to plan this, so I started to speak to friends to get their ideas and to see if this was really something that the Lord wanted us to do.

Then one night at the Ortiz's during prayer and worship, the Lord gave me a vision, which is becoming more and more the vision that the Lord is giving to Mark and I about His church, about His people, about His body. 

The secondary vision was a pouring out of His people, coming together to celebrate their love for Jesus.  A coming together of churches from the four corners of the earth to be united, to become one, to stand together to tear down the barriers of tradition, false teaching, unforgiveness, agendas and control, to lift up the name of Jesus, give glory to His name and His name only and no longer build individual kingdoms and agendas. To be a witness to those around that His body can be united, that the divisions that have existed for thousands of years are not His desire, that His body can fellowship and love one another, that His body exists to glorify Him and Him alone.

I believe, that this is not just a vision of hope that the Lord gave me, I believe that this was a true vision of what He is preparing to do in His body.  There will be no more man made agendas, no more man made traditions, no more denominational walls, no more lifting up of men, but only lifting up the name of Jesus for His glory and to draw mankind unto Him.  A breaking down of walls and pouring out of His body into the community to be united through Jesus.