Prophetic Word Regarding Intimacy with God

Here is a prophetic word that I gave today at FaithBridge Church in West Chicago, Illinois. 

When I gave My life up upon the cross, I tore the veil of separation. I made it possible for you to come near. You can now come boldly unto the throne of grace. I will give you what you need. I will answer your prayers. I will draw near to you and you, My people, can come near to me. I will not push you away. I have made the way for you to come near. So lay your burdens at my feet and be welcomed in My embrace.

Christ's Blood Set Me Free

My head was upraised

My neck stiff and arrogant

The world was my home

Self sat comfortably on the throne

I went with the flow

Canoed the murky river

Yet Someone called my name

It was an odd voice

I heard it once before

When a gospel salesman came to my door

A salesman not greedy for the stuff of this earth

His heart was an open door

But I stiffened

This second time I turned to listen

The voice came through a gospel singer

He sang and spoke of freedom

I ran to the cross

Exchanged the chains that engulfed me

For a crown

Jesus saved me

Not through an effort of my own

But through His sacrifice alone

Now I climb the mountain

Swim against the tide

Now I choose to bring the gospel far and wide

Grace is the Banner over me

Christ’s blood set me free

No Stain

When I am bowed down

From the weight of my sin

And the heaviness of guilt

Plagues me within

A thick black cloud

Tries to silence my tongue

As I hear the whisper

Of the evil one

But when I run to You,

Jesus, my bitter pain is through

The coldness of my heart

Warms in Your embrace

As I gaze at Your bright beaming face

My heaviness flies out of sight

Like a crow that takes flight

When I confess to You, Lord, my wrong

Within me wells a song

Amazing grace so sweet

Brings dancing to my feet

I stand erect with hands held high

Praising the One who hears my heartfelt cry

I am free, I am free

Through Christ I lay hold of victory

I am free, I am free

There is no stain upon me

God's Plans for Our Lives

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

God has plans for each of us. They are good plans. They utilize our gifts and talents for the kingdom. They cause us to prosper - spirit, soul, and body. God's plans take us to places we've never been. They cause us to be used by our Maker to touch lives. Let's surrender to God's individual call on our lives. No one is quite like you. Don't try to copy others who shimmer in the limelight. Be an original. Also, don't allow others to tell you what your dream is. Yes, listen to godly advice, but don't listen to well-meaning people who are bent on steering you off course from the vision God has placed within you.

Look at your passion; what do you like to do. Look at your strengths; they are signposts along your path. Like a compass, these indicators help to steer you along your journey. But most importantly, if you don't know what your vision is, ask the Lord to show you. He will not leave you without his tender wisdom. Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit would show us things to come. Not everything in your heart will come to pass at once. God has perfect timing for every plan that He gives us.

Helen Keller was once asked, “What could be worse than being born blind?”

She replied, “To be born with sight but to have no vision.”

God the Father has plans for each of our lives. Let's seek Him to find our true purpose. Our dreams encompass what career we choose, who we marry or if we choose not to marry, the type of home we live in, and a myriad of other things. When we put the Lord first in our lives, our dreams will also entail winning people to Jesus, helping the poor, giving to ministries, and the like.

The Lord wants you to glorify Him within the calling He has given you. He will open your eyes to see His path for your life. Can you hear Jesus calling. He's saying, “Come follow me.” Let's forsake all and follow Him.

Your Body Was Broken

We are called and chosen

Members of His Body that was broken

He has redeemed and restored

His blood was poured

Forgiveness has made a way

We trust You today

Love is on the Throne

Jesus we have embraced You as our own

By Your grace we are made new

All Your ways are absolutely true

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for saving the lost

We were once in that place

Our backs turned to Your mercy and grace

Love has made away

You are here to stay

Without You we are nothing

With You we reign as kings

Thank You Jesus for Your unfailing love

We come to You and from You we will never run

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

Amazing grace profound, renown

Without You we are nothing

With You we have everything

Your Body was broken for us

So we could be restored

Your Body was broken for us

So that we could sin no more

Your Body was broken for us

So we could live again

You rose again

So we could live anew

You rose again

Now were seated with You

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see

Your Body was broken

Made Right. Living Right. Receiving the Blessing.

For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. (Psalm 84:11 NLT)

Our Father longs to bless us. He chooses to give us what is good. He will not withhold any good thing as we walk uprightly. We are able to do what is right because Christ has made us righteous through his death and resurrection. Righteousness is a free gift to all who will receive it. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Positionally, we are in Christ, and we are righteous. As we grow in our relationship with God, we take on more of his character. We begin to do what is right. This does not mean we are perfect in the way we live. However, we have been perfected in our spirits – we have been made blameless in the innermost part of us.

As we yield to the Holy Spirit and to the word of God, we will grow in practical obedience to God. We are in process. We haven't arrived but if we are truly born again, we have started on the journey towards holiness. Christ has forgiven our sins completely. When we fall, we can look to him. When we confess our sins to him, he is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

While we walk with the Lord in this way, he blesses us with good things – those things that he has promised us in his word. Things like health, healing, deliverance, protection, provision, as well the desires of our hearts that line up with his will for our lives. God is forever good and he blesses his children with good things. We have all of these things because of his grace, and when he blesses us, our natural response is to give him glory. Let's remember that God has made us righteous. Let's make it our ambition to live out that righteousness in practical ways through obeying God's word. And finally, let's embrace the blessings that God desires to freely give us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise you for your awesome love for us. Help us to understand that we are righteous in your eyes because of the finished work that Jesus performed on the cross. Thank you for helping us to live out this righteousness practically. Give us the wisdom and ability to do what is right. Thank you for reminding us that we are engaged in the process of becoming like Jesus. Thank you Lord also for blessing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ and for giving us the desires of our heart as we delight ourselves in you. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

New Beginnings

She carries the infant to full term

Now she lies in the delivery room

The baby bursts forth with the first cries of life

The mother holds her brand new child

New beginnings are here for you and me

Springing forth into great victory

Abundant blessings

Now to behold

New beginnings for young and for old

There's a path that He wants us on

We use our gifts to sing salvation's song

He is leading us to effective use

Open doors to share the gospel truth

There's a new beginning for your life today

Open up, give your life away

He will fill you with His love and purpose true

The Light of the world wants to shine through you

New beginnings wondrous to behold

New beginnings worth more than the finest gold

Let's embrace all that comes our way

From the Father, who's with us every day

Let's embrace this new path that we see

Lead us now Lord and unto eternity