08/14/14

Birthing Your Prophetic Dreams May Mean Changing Direction by Jennifer Le Claire

(istockphoto.com/toby)

 

I call them “baby dreams”—and these prophetic encounters have been a running theme in my life over the past decade. It seems God has been laboring with me to birth a new thing for nearly that long. Along the way, there was at least one Ishmael, a couple of near-abortions, and plenty of spiritual warfare. But God in His grace somehow worked all things together for good.

There were lessons in this series of prophetic dreams. When I put those principles into practice it caused what looked like a stillbirth to become a healthy baby. I still don’t have all the answers, but God has made one thing clear to me: Sometimes a small shift makes all the difference.

 

 

The First Dream: Surrendering My Will

 

The “baby dreams” started about eight years ago. I had a dream I was pregnant. I was not happy about it because it was going to turn my life upside down—but I knew I couldn’t do anything about it. I tried to pretend it wasn’t real, but ultimately pretending wasn’t an option. The lesson of this first prophetic dream was that I had to be like Mary, who gave her will over to the Lord despite the trouble it was going to cause her in the natural. I woke up and committed in my heart to let the Lord’s will be done in my life and moved ahead.

 

 

The Second Dream: Birthing a Man-Child

 

About a year after that prophetic encounter, I had a second “baby dream.” This time, I was in the hospital giving birth. When the baby was born, it was like a man-child. It had the appearance of a baby, but it had the features of a full-grown man. Immediately after the baby was born, he started running toward his goal. Those around me said, “It must be nice to birth a full-grown ministry. That’s what you can expect.”

 

 

The Third Dream: Making Adjustments

 

Fast-forward another five years. I was in a very uncomfortable position, having the weight of a church plant unexpectedly fall on my shoulders. I didn’t sign up to preach, pray, prophesy and administrate the whole church but that’s what was happening. I was at a crossroads, praying about whether I should exit or continue to bear the weight—and the spiritual warfare—of another man’s vision or move on.

 

I went to sleep and had another “baby dream.” This time I was pregnant. I still wasn’t thrilled. I was hungry and the only thing available was some strange combination of eggs and pepperoni. My chair was too low for me to comfortably type on my computer. I had to change into clothes I didn’t like. I was thinking about how I could possibly hit the gym with all of this going on. I thought about how I’d be 60 before this kid was grown.

 

In other words, I was doing a lot of natural reasoning. Eventually, I changed my clothes into something that wasn’t ideal but still wasn’t too bad. I ate the eggs for the protein and skipped the unhealthy pepperoni. I got a taller chair so I could type more comfortably. Then I woke up. I told one of my friends involved in the church plant about the dream, including the eggs and pepperoni. I had never heard of eggs and pepperoni as a dish—but it was one of her favorites. (Go figure. God wanted her to bear witness to the dream.)

 

From that dream I learned that I had to make sacrifices and adjustments to do the will of God. In other words, there would be some aspects of birthing this ministry that were uncomfortable, but there were ways to adjust to the circumstances and plow through the pain to get to the goal line of God’s ultimate will. At first, I thought it was a message to keep bearing the weight of the church plant. But when the church planter manifested with wrong motives, it became abundantly clear that his vision wasn’t my burden to bear and God released me. He actually used the experience to push me into what He really had in mind the whole time.

 

 

The Fourth Dream: Shifting Your Direction

 

In the last “baby dream,” I finally got the message—and it changed everything. I was nine months pregnant but the baby had stopped moving. The baby wasn’t kicking or rolling or showing any sign of life. (This is about how I felt after leaving the church plant.)

 

In the prophetic dream I thought the baby was dead and I panicked. Then, suddenly, I had the unction to shift the baby’s position with gentle pressure from my hand. (I later researched this and discovered there’s a name for it: the Diaphragmatic Release.) When I did, I could feel the baby kicking again. I knew all was well.

 

Here’s the lesson I took away from this dream, which connected with the previous baby dreams: Sometimes things look dead but you just have to reposition yourself for life. It doesn’t always take much. Just one gentle movement in the right direction can cause God to breathe on that thing again so you can birth it and begin nurturing what God has given you to steward.

 

If God has given you something to birth, it may be time to pull an Ezekiel and speak to those dry bones. It may be time to pull an Elijah and raise it from the dead. It may be time to walk away from the Ishmael, refuse to abort and just reposition yourself to receive what God intended all along. You could just be in the wrong place or in the wrong time or with the wrong people. When you decide to obey, when you decide to reposition yourself into God’s perfect plan, the baby he has given you to birth will thrive in His grace. Amen.

 

 

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also director of IHOP Fort Lauderdale and author of several books, including The Making of a Prophet and The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

 

 

Charlene’s Source: charismamag.com

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07/16/14

Colossians 2: Not Philosophy; Not Legalism; but Purity in Christ

Colossians 2:  NKJV 

 

Not Philosophy but Christ

 

 

2 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and[a] of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[b] with thanksgiving.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

 

 

Not Legalism but Christ

 

 

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins[c] of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not[d] seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

20 Therefore,[e] if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

 

 

Footnotes:

 

  1. Colossians 2:2 NU-Text omits both of the Father and.
  2. Colossians 2:7 NU-Text omits in it.
  3. Colossians 2:11 NU-Text omits of the sins.
  4. Colossians 2:18 NU-Text omits not.
  5. Colossians 2:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit Therefore.

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

05/20/14

Taking On The Armor of GOD

Taking On The Armor of God

 

 

 We walk in a hurting, disillusioned world where there is so much chaos and pain every day. It takes strength to traverse every twenty-four hour period, and if not for God’s hand in ours, we would be totally lost.

 

 

[The Armor of GOD] Finally, be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power. Put on the full Armor of GOD, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Ephesians 6:10-11

 

 

We all know how effectively we can do a work with the proper support at hand. In this instance, our greatest support is the Word of GOD, the Bible. In this sacred volume we can find scripture to assist us in overcoming every circumstance; to teach us how to live Godly lives, and to encourage others. We can also find instruction for those circumstances that take us by surprise, such as acute illness or death. GOD designed His Word to give us hope, mercy, and joy (Psalm 30) and we are given example of David, who found peace in Jesus (Psalm 23), yet GOD also gave us David’s example of falling short of  GOD’s grace, repenting, being forgiven, and moving forward in Christ. (2 Samuel 12: 1-24)

 

 King David acts as a role model of a steadfast warrior for GOD, but he also emerges as one who needed grace and forgiveness from GOD for his sinful acts, such as the killing of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba.  David’s example, and GOD’s way of restoring David’s life because of his true repentance through GOD’s Holy Spirit, should give us hope. If GOD loved David this much; He will also love us. If GOD disciplined David as a Father should; He will also discipline us in a way that will encourage our spiritual growth. This will lead to learning how to apply Godly principles to our lives to become over-comers and victors on earth as in Heaven.

 

 

Let us endure for the Cross those things that are designed to encourage us to love one another, as Christ loves us.  Jesus is always willing to walk by our side. He is able to keep us from falling.

 

 

Have courage in Him, Charlene

 

 

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

03/20/14

God’s Not Dead | Official Full Movie Trailer

Hurrah! A wonderful movie to watch for the Easter season. Done in classic debate style, a student teaches his professor the meaning of GOD’s love.

credit: GodsNotDeadTheMovie+PureFlix

Charlene’s Source: youtube

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03/19/14

Heaven Is For Real – Official Trailer – In Theaters Easter 2014

What a wonderful Easter season opportunity. This is the true story of a child who visits Heaven during surgery and the profound affect his experience has on the lives of those around him and beyond…

 

Storyline

Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling book of the same name, HEAVEN IS FOR REAL brings to the screen the true story of a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world. The film stars Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® award winning actor Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo and co-stars Kelly Reilly as Sonja Burpo, the real-life couple whose son Colton (newcomer Connor Corum) claims to have visited Heaven during a near death experience. Colton recounts the details of his amazing journey with childlike innocence and speaks matter-of-factly about things that happened before his birth … things he couldn’t possibly know. Todd and his family are then challenged to examine the meaning from this remarkable event. Written by Sony Pictures Publicity

 

credit: Sony Pictures

Charlene’s Source: HeavenIsForReal Official Movie Site+sonypictures.com+imdb.com+youtube

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02/26/14

Pray for Ukraine Outreaches

Dear Charlene,

Last week, Ukraine, a nation in turmoil, burst into deadly violence. Over the past several days there has been a change in leadership, and no one knows what will happen. But what is known is that this situation is extremely volatile. Our LIFE Centers there have been providing a safe haven for children, and our missionaries report that they are safe for now.

But this struggle for freedom and economic independence from Russia could turn into civil war. Please pray for the safety of mission workers and children at the LIFE Center and for a long-term peaceful solution.

Missionary Jim McCann reports, “We can feel the strength and encouragement of prayers from our brothers and sisters in Christ. And we are filled with God’s perfect peace, which passes all understanding.” He adds, “The battle is not over yet. But when we pray with faith, the battle is definitely the Lord’s, who has promised to always lead us to victory in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ’s love & service,
Jim and Sandy McCann

credit/source: www.lifetoday.org

 

02/11/14

Todd White: Power & Love Ministries

I had opportunity to see Todd White preach at Rhema Bible Church via Kenneth Hagin Ministries on Roku. I checked several sources and was able to find these videos, including one from Sid Roth Ministries. Please watch them with an open heart and mind in God’s Spirit. Also check out www.powerandlove.org

Charlene

credit: whizzpopping

credit: Heaven Visit via Sid Roth ‘It’s Supernatural’

credit: Todd White

Charlene’s Source: Todd White via youtube+Todd White Ministries

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