Prayer lives are called to more intensity than ever. Having been inspired [no, kicked in the pants] by the simple, yet profound, message in the movie, “War Room,” I’m clearing out an upstairs closet in which to do warring in the spirit. Though the closet is being readied for full entry, prayer requests and pictures already line the walls.

In the movie, “War Room,” Miss Clara’s home was being sold. The potential buyer, a retired pastor, walked in and out of her previously used war room closet. Puzzled, he asked: “What was this room used for?” When he was told it was Miss Clara’s prayer room, he wasn’t surprised. He said, “It’s as if prayers were baked in the walls!” 

Our September prayer and fasting vigil begins with the theme: “Hope for our Children and Grandchildren Held Captive.” I’ll be ‘baking’ the Word of God in my war room [as well as with our corporate body at church], beginning with: “I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children.” [Isaiah49:25]

The destiny of my children and grandchildren have a strong, sure hope in this biblical promise. Author Greg Hinnant paraphrases Isaiah 49:24-25: “Who has ever heard of spoil being recovered from powerful conquerors? What are the chances of legally held prisoners being released? But God says, THIS WILL HAPPEN! Even the prisoners of the strongest captors will be recovered and victims of the cruelest oppressors released! Why? Because I will personally see to it. I will fight against those who have fought against, and are still fighting, you, and I will rescue your children.”

God promises to release His people’s children from even the most hopeless captivities! So let’s bake!

“Love believes all things…” [I Corinthians 13:7]

The time is now that excellent sons and daughters are coming forth ~ ones who are responding in loyalty to their spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith. Because of the weight of ministry upon shepherds, they must surround themselves with true sons and daughters who are in training to ‘believe all things.’ That is, those who have the ability to trust. At the same time, Father God is raising up spiritual parentage who will love and care for those who have been given into their care.

Although every pastor or minister has experienced disloyalty and heartache from some members of their flock, the joys of raising up those who lend their hearts to sonship are plentiful! The endowment of spiritual training and passing of the baton is worth the tests and trials in loyalty.

Dennis Kinlaw said to his spiritual son: “I’m doing this, not so you can walk with me, but so you can stand on my shoulders.” Elijah did the same when he passed on a double portion anointing to Elisha. His intent was to raise up Elisha as opposed to drawing attention to himself. He divested his love and care to Elisha so that Elisha could receive the baton.

Absalom was critical of David’s leadership, and set himself to draw allegiance to himself from the Israelites. David did nothing to stop him. Saul, out of jealousy and greed, sought to kill David; yet David did nothing to harm him. The heart of David was to give the benefit of the doubt and “believe all things.”

Father God favors those who walk in loyalty. Psalm 15:3 says God brings into His presence the one who doesn’t “take up a reproach against his friend.” “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”  [2 Chronicles 16:9] Father God’s leadership style is the example set for promoting those with enduring qualities such as loyalty.

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” [Ruth 1:16-17]

Fifty-four peeled and cored tomatoes! Add 6 green and 2 red peppers, 6 jalapeno peppers, 5 onions, 30 garlic cloves…plus loads of spices and other ingredients…and the big-barreled pot was steaming with aroma. Two friends helped with the chopping, slicing and dicing, and conversation was just plain fun! Results were 21 canned pint jars and 64 frozen ounces of delicious salsa for our fall women’s retreat taco salads.

It was later that night that it came to me that I had been preparing the same delicious recipe a year ago this time. Our son Patrick requested my salsa and assured me that his mouth watered with anticipation of the upcoming Christmas baskets I was making for our four grown-children-families. Along with other favorite canned goods, these baskets were planned well in advance when the crops were just right for picking and preserving.

Patrick went Home to be with His Lord on December 9th, at the early age of 43…just about nine months ago…never having a chance to enjoy the basket bounty. These gifts went, as planned, to our children and grandchildren, prompting memories of years gone by when we enjoyed these recipes together. One of our adult children said recently that they were just not able to open the jars – yet – as nostalgia was just too great. One day it will seem okay to open them.

Family traditions continue, though they stir memories and heartaches of loss, yet provide so many joys. How I wish I could preserve the multiple pints/quarts/gallons of love shared with our son, and open them as needed. The aroma of love shared with him still fills the air of our home though his absence brings much sorrow. I live on memories of his life with us and am thankful that I have them. They aren’t canned in jars; they are stored, beyond measure, in my heart forever.

“The memory of the righteous is blessed…” Proverbs 10:7a

Expectations gain entrance into our belief system and can either propel us to faith, or they can usher us into a downward spiral of fear. How many minutes of life have we wasted on things that we thought were going to happen, but never did? How many relationships have gone awry simply because we expected that someone felt a certain way, when in fact they did not? How many motives have we presumed to know, when in fact we have no power to peer into a soul and know their motive?

Expectations have the power to wreck relationships! We may fall into suppositions that people think of us in a certain way; yet, if truth were known, they weren’t even thinking of us at all. Or, in contrast, they really did care very deeply for us.

Expectations can be good, in that they can be full of faith, being the “substance of things hoped for….” Expectations can be bad in that they can stir our emotions into a tailspin while believing that something is going to happen that could be destructive.

If faith is the substance of things hoped for…then fear carries with it the substance of things dreaded. The content of what we expect must then be centered on truth. Otherwise, our expectations can run away from us ~ acting as a thief ~ and causing us unnecessary stress and fear.

“Watch over {the expectations of} your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs {issues} of life.” [Proverbs 4:23]

For years I watched him type letters and make phone calls to members on both sides of the family ~ particularly those who lived far away and seldom called. Daddy was a connector. He kept the home fires burning and let everyone know how much he valued them in our lives. Many nights I would fall asleep listening to Daddy’s old typewriter pecking away, one letter at a time, for his was the old-fashioned, non-electric type. Daddy knew something that I had not yet learned as a child, and that is how valuable relationships are and how sad it was when some became drifters.

There was a sweet, gravitational pull inside Daddy’s heart that drew people to himself. He was unashamed that he needed people. I witness how rarely that need is easily expressed by others. Daddy would say, “Let’s check on this loved one, because it’s been a while since we’ve heard from them. They might need us for some reason or another.” Whether it was groceries, a prescription picked up at the store, or just a long, warm hug, Daddy knew people needed relationships that were sincere and heartfelt.

I was learning lessons early in life, as Daddy never met a stranger. Everyone had something interesting about them, so he went searching with questions. Sometimes I was even a bit embarrassed that he would stop and talk with people whom I might have found a bit disheveled or ‘down-on-their-luck,’ as he would say. He was genuine in his interest. Only a very few people soured in Daddy’s viewpoint…and they had to be consistently naughty for Daddy to feel that way. For the most part, he loved everyone.

Only Heaven has record of the number of people he fed who were without work, couldn’t pay bills, or needed a meal. It became ‘the usual thing’ for Daddy to stop the car and help out a stranger. Many are the fond memories of the Christmases that he and I spread white tissue papers on the floor so that we could wrap together bundles of fresh fruit for me to take to every child in my classroom. He was deeply touched as I cried myself to sleep at night over those who came to school in bare feet. He took time from work to meet with the principal of the school to see if we could buy one or more children a pair of shoes. Family pride was always the factor; they wouldn’t accept hand-outs. Thus, everyone, including the needy children, received a gift of fruit at Christmas.

These life lessons live on, and are being passed on by our family. Many of our grandchildren write us love notes, draw us pictures, write stories about our love together…just because. We hear of them passing on the blessings through unselfish acts of kindness to others…and our hearts swell with joy. Daddy wasn’t the only one in our family who spread the love of Jesus to so many…but today, he’s on heavy on my mind. I’m so grateful Daddy wasn’t a drifter.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3

Timothy was a true son to the Apostle Paul. Paul writes: “To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” [I Timothy 1:2] This acknowledgement leaves little doubt that Timothy was able to receive his spiritual father’s love and instruction, as well as correction.

Though raising up true sons and daughters in the faith takes investment of time and energy, these sons and daughters will find themselves resting secure in the love shown to them. They learn to trust in the godly character of the spiritual parent ~ even when there could be amounts of time and distance between their fellowship.

Spiritual parents become acquainted with the potential of the spiritual son or daughter and find immense joy in helping to promote their destiny. Jealousies and competitions never exist between the true spiritual parent and child relationship.

When we look at the lives of Solomon and Absalom, we notice that Solomon was patient in waiting to be promoted to position ~ trusting that his time would come, if and when it was right. At the same time, Absalom demanded his post prematurely and went after it at all costs, even to his death. We understand that David, as a parent, most likely desired both of his sons to be raised up to maturity and destiny. However, time and testing proved the character of the each of these sons. What makes one son satisfied in waiting and one not? We only need to look at the heart response to the trials and testings.

The release by the spirit of Elijah is producing seasoned fathers and mothers with hearts to raise up mature sons and daughters ~ and, at the same time, is stirring the hearts of the sons and daughter to respond in tried and tested loyalty. Bob Sorge, in his book on the subject, defines ‘loyalty’ as: “a noble, unswerving allegiance, rooted in faith and love, that binds hearts together in common purpose.” [pg. 15, LOYALTY]

The last two verses of the Old Testament leave us with a hope-filled promise and chilling wake-up call: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.” [Malachi 4:5-6]

Paul prayed for the Ephesians [4:17] that: “…While [they are] rooted and established in love, [they] may have power, together with all the saints.” Examining each phrase, we delve deeply into what Paul is saying. Being rooted, established, and having power in Christ are in connection with all the saints. “…Together with all the saints.” How else can we grasp the width, length, height, and depth of His love … and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God … unless it is a full Body-of-Christ experience: the Head plus the Body? In other words, those who walk as “lone rangers” cannot experience the full measure of His love. We, as His Body, need full Body life!

This love surpasses knowledge. The love of Christ is a revelation experience as we love Him and love one another in full Body-life engagement. We don’t come to intimately know Him by way of intellect, but through scripture that is revealed by way of the Holy Spirit. We know Him through our spirit man rather than our minds alone. We learn of Him, from Him, by Him, and through relating to His children.

No doubt about it: God’s love can be misrepresented….and often is. Yet, in His wisdom, He established the church to be one Body in Him. Jesus’ final prayer was that we would know Father God and would be one with Him, as Jesus is one with Him. He prayed: “And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didn’t send Me, and didst love them, even AS Thou didst love Me.” [John 17:22-23] Perfect love is expressed here. Father loves us AS [in the same way, equal, to the same degree] that He loves Jesus!

Amazing love! We can truly come to know its width, length, height and depth as we remain connected to Him and to His Body. He is able to do “exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” [4:20]

Someone once said, “Words are containers” … that is, words have carrying power within themselves to build or to destroy. Scripture warns that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” [Proverbs 18:21] So words are respectable in their ability to create, re-create, or tear down.

There’s a tiny two-letter word that carries within itself one of the holiest truths and that is the word “in.” When used to convey the truth that we are “in Christ,” this tiny word surpasses all other prepositions.

The Apostle Paul coupled these words “in Christ” over 165 times in his letters. This abundant usage begs attention to its meaning. To the degree that we have revelation of this truth is the degree that we rest in who we are in Christ. To the degree that we try to fill our lives with some thing or someone other than Him, our foundation is dangerously certain to fail.

In John 15:5-8, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that we are dependent upon being in Him. Otherwise, “apart from Him, we can do nothing.” We become like branches that are worthless to the Kingdom. Contrastly, if we remain “in Him, and His words remain in us, we can ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us.” His primary purpose is that we would be in Him…”to His Father’s glory…and showing ourselves to be His disciples.”

This tiny word “in” creates the safest boundaries on earth when joined with the beloved “Christ.” Being outside of the boundary of these two little letters, as they are matched with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the ultimate state of being lost forever.

Jump in and learn what it means to be in this wondrous Person called Christ Jesus.

When she spoke the words, “My Dear,” I knew a word of wisdom was coming to re-direct my life. I braced myself for what was about to be spoken to me to alter this fresh, new detour my life was taking!

In the early 1970’s, one of my first mentors was a wise lady. I admired her walk with the Lord; therefore I set myself to find a way to impress her. [detour] Basically I would follow her instructions, read the scriptures, spend time in prayer, and listen to cassette tapes she recommended. After dedication to each discipline, and after listening to the cassettes, I would remark: “I’ve got it! I understand it!” Oh how I wanted her to witness my personal growth. [detour]

Recognizing my many detours, she would halt me in my tracks by saying, “My dear ~ don’t  you know that you haven’t ‘gotten it’ until you’ve fleshed it out!?!?!?!” Impress her? I did not. Yet she knew all too well how to re-direct my steps and lead me into truth ~ especially the truth about myself.

Countless times, as I made myself vulnerable before her, she would speak into my life hard sayings that were meant to bring shape and form to my otherwise undisciplined soul. Forty-some years later, I’m still quoting her. I would like to think that the words of wisdom she shared made the alterations needed. At least my memory still serves me as I can still hear her voice as if it was yesterday, “My dear!”

I can honestly say that I didn’t shrink back from this wise lady who had my number. In fact, I welcomed the discipline. Boundaries were set for my soul. Truth entered. And I learned that the Spirit of God will send mentors into our lives to keep us ‘on the leash’ so we, prone-to-wandering sheep, will be brought back to the fold.

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:3-4

Jesus told the Pharisees of His day that they strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel. [Matthew 23] In biblical times, the camel was the largest animal while the gnat was the tiniest.

When struggling with life issues, we find some are weightier than others. Some issues are true, biblical matters of the heart, begging for prayerful consideration; while others remain of lesser importance. Jesus told the Pharisees that they used cloth to strain the gnats out of their drink while they attempted to swallow the largest animal living in their region. Not mincing words, He called them hypocrites: ones who judged another for something they did themselves ~ play actors!

Unless we go to prayer to seek the mind of the Lord, we will fall prey to our finite, theological boxes in which we neatly pack our small concepts of God. Boxes erect walls and establish limitations. Theological boxes can only carry narrow thoughts. They stifle the air and cause our decisions to be stuffy and judgmental. Theological boxes strain gnats and eat camels.

Matthew 23:23 continues… You’ve “neglected…justice and mercy and faithfulness….”

Out of the boxes our belief systems must come … and into the fresh air of the Spirit of the Living God where Truth prevails! Out here there’s room for justice, mercy, and faithfulness!