Mrs Kansas City

My lovely wife is DEFINITELY the winner of Mrs Kansas City. Not only is she beautiful, poised, articulate, witty, charming, and totally intelligent, she is such a blessing to me, and to the kids. Even pregnant, and tired, she is relentless at making things nice for us, in so many little ways it is hard to list them all.

We are living out of a bedroom in a basement of some wonderful people who have had to endure quite a lot, 2 adults, a hyper dog, a couple kids, in and out, loud etc... We get to hang with these people, and to be honest, I almost wish we could stay for longer.

We went to a corn maze last night, that literally had 4 sectors, 2 of which were 4.1 miles long!!!. We went with a bunch of people that are so precious and interesting! I havent been around 8-10 single people all mixed together in a long time. Watching the dynamics reminds me of my life over 15 years ago.

Back to my wife. She is exhausted, pregnant, out of sorts with no place to call her own. We are having the kids overnight for the first time in KC, and I got soem time hanging out with the girls while Danie went home. Judah is entertaining all the adults, Israel and I are hanging out, and we realize it is past 10 pm. We go home, and the whole room is arranged with beds, blankets, pillows etc.. for 4 people, in a space that makes our last home look palatial. We all settle down (including the dog) and sleep all night.

On a good day, this would be hard. Pile all this stuff on top, add the fact she is working here, and my wife is definitely 1st Place for Mrs Kansas City.

Here I am...

Sitting in the Prayer Room, working... And Im beginning to cry.

Im doing my job in a way I have always wanted to do it, in a place I have always wanted to be. Im sitting in an environment where 100+ people are singing to God, angels are moving and stirring around, and Im sitting in the side of the room feeling my heart start to soften up as I amwriting custom reports!!! LOL.

People are pacing right near me, singing and praying in the Spirit. All I can hear is "You are Worthy". It is as if I am a database programmer in Heaven, sitting in a corner of the Throne Room and the angels and the Redeemed are flying around my peripheral vision and we are all doing what we are supposed to do.

Thsi is a sweet thing. So much so, that my heart isnt caught up with how heavy this is. The reality of my situation is slowly leaking into my conscious experience. It is surreal. I am playing catch up with my own life. Well, maybe I am playing catch up with the life God is living in me, and it is becoming progressively more concrete.

How long has God desired to give me this? How long was He waiting to bless me like this? How much pleasure does it give me to give my kids a dog, listening to them ask me over and over again, knowing inside my heart I already have one coming, and they dont know it. As an earthly father, I get this. How mcuh more does God feel the absolute pleasure of giving something special to His child? How mcuh joy is waiting for me that is currently stored up in heaven? How many surprises are in store for me tomorrow?

How many desires is God about to put into my heart, JUST SO HE CAN GRANT THEM OUT OF HIS ABUNDANT LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR ME???? JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES TO LOVE ME? JUST BECAUSE HE CAME AND GOT ME FIRST, BEFORE I EVER LOVED HIM?

And how much more of this is based not on my own ability to keep my life together, to do it right, to be a "good boy"? I tell you, I am a failure. I am a weak broken man who cannot maintain even a mediocre standard of behavior or faithfulness compared to most of the people around me, in the body of Christ or outside of it.

If you read this, all I can do is pray that you look at yourself and start to have you well defended, convienient, convoluted, self deceptive, mistaken ideas and walls ed so the reality of the Lover standing outside your gates can start penetrating. I dont care anymore what reasons you have for your own sense of disqualification from the Grace and Love of God who made you to love you, spend Himself on you, and bless you. You wont ever do it right enough, nor will you ever be able to avoid the Truth that He wants you no matter what you want.

Little Updates from the Prairie

Well we got here last night, right about 8:30pm. I didnt remember another time change, so it worked out about right.

As I passed Metcalf avenue on the 435 south, I began to feel overwhelmed. That was the first thing I visually recognized, and I think it made it all real.

Then as I passed the Bohlenders house, I realized I was here. How many times have I driven up and down Holmes, Red Bridge, etc... and wished and dreamed I could live here? How many silent prayers and whispered desires have happenned on these streets, and how many of them, according to my perception, fell on either "deaf ears" (as if God has such a thing), or simply just "that will never happen, stop making yourself hurt" type of ideas.

Now Im here. And I dont know why. I know some of why, but I realized I really dont know much of it. My kids are here, my wife is here (first time she and I are here "together"), even my ex-wife is here. Heck this week, even my ex-wife's brother and sister inlaw and nephew are here!

I had a much better time driving than I thought. Thank goodness for Kathie "Everything they say about her is true" Wheeler!!!!!! I simply asked here if she could somehow come and help us drive the cars, which would give Danielle a bunch of time with her favorite person. What actually ended up hapenning is she came, packed up almost every loose article of property in our house, and then proceeded to drive hours at a time with our dog in the car to help me by sharing Danielle for a bit. Literally, iif she hadnt been there, we would probably be getting to Denver about now, and really hurting.

Anyhow, it is taking time for things to set it. It feels like I am on just an expensive road trip (a REALLY expensive one). But I see my kids hanging out with Christina Ortega, around a bunch of young s fasting, praying, living on the edge and going for God, hearing how they "went to church today" and saw Lou Engle preach and pray and prophesy about abortion, and the stand we need to take etc... seeing my wife with her friends, it is all like a dream. But I have nothing in California except for a motorcycle (which I might need soon, Dorothy the Dodge Caravan really worked hard getting over the Vail pass). I cannot just move back.

Anyhow, I know I need to seek revelation about Justice, and the role it plays in healing and salvation, as well as practical steps to communicate the concept and engage it in the simple walk after Christ, help people devoted to prayer and fasting, and see what God does.

Its packing day

Today, a big trailer is coming to my house. They will leave it there for a while, until I tell them "Take my stuff to Kansas City". Then I drive 1600 miles to meet them there, and unload it into a barn, and then find a place to live. Then go unload the barn, and load my house. Then unpack.

I have never moved a long distance. You have one shot. Thankfully, Kathie (Kathy) "Everything they say about her is true" Wheeler came into town, and packed up our kitchen. Danielle and her got a lot done, and today is my day. Being a "husky" Lithuainian, it is my objective to load big heavy things, and try not to break them.

Then we drive. And drive, and drive. The boring part. Me and Zeb in Dorothy the Dodge Caravan, and Danie and Kathie in "Mabel" (Dont tell Danielle I called it that) the Mazda.

Los Angeles to St George Utah, St George to Grand Junction, Co, Grand Junction to Arvada, and then a big push from Arvada to Kansas City, Mo. The Bohlenders do this kind of crazy stuff all the time, but not me. Im a baby.

What am I going into? As far as I can tell, a season of preparation. All indicators point to a time of life that is going to bring all the loose ends and areas that arent quite as mature up to the level other parts of my life are developed. Its a neat picture. There is a reason why things in my life are retarded, and it is mainly discipline, and consistency. bith of which are difficult for me to maintain without a lot of stimulus.

I have gained a lot of weight back since The Call. The majority of this year has been spent in fasting of one kind or another, with lots of revelation and fruit. It will soon be time to incorporate that into my life in more direct ways. Being around intense people, with an external strucutre will help a lot. I lack that in my life. Being the least prophetic person in the room at any given time will be quite a nice change of pace. Training my ears to the Spirit is something I need desparately.

I might get a chance to play music, howevermy main call is to play outside the Body. But there is a real parallel to what the IHOP does inside its walls (and it is VERY needed), and what God has shown me to do is something very similar, but in a way that is more directly understood by people outside that environment. It is hard to detox from "Christianeese" but it will be an integral part of navigating the calling in my life.

We get to help all sorts of intercessors, I want to volunteer in the kitchen making food for crazy teenagers, buying houses and renting them, on and on... Judah wants a treehouse, Israel would love a horse.

All I know is God is taking us on an adventure, and it is a progressively intense one. It isnt a bunch of new ideas, but more of a developing of existing ideas, and an integration of them into a constant lifestyle, rather than an event.

How does a miracle happen???

I dont know. But I think Im seeing one happen...

A friends child (Jenai) is adopted from China. She was saving up for an IPOD.

Another set of friends is adopting from China. We get together and pray and engage God for this child to come home here to the US.

We put whatever money we have into a jar. Jenai goes and gets a ziploc bag full of her money. She kneels down on the floor, and dumps her precious savings in the jar, along with a little teddy bear. She then stands up, and prays for Baby Hope.

Call me sentimental, call me whatever you want. But I cannot imagine that God just sat there and watched a child who had been redeemed, give her little bit for another child, and did nothing...

Even I as an earthly, fallen man am provoked. And to see a Chineese woman come in, and call her out in her native language. Wow. And to see the body of Christ come together and agree over this child, 1 out of a billion, is just neat.

This is a fantastic story about adoption

This is the story of my friends the Phillips family. They are in this right now, and can use all the help and financial support possible If you wanted to ever see a miracle, or be a part of one, this will do it.

http://www.tmphillips.com/adoption/hope/the-story/

Its getting real all the tiiiiimmmmeeee....

Things are getting more.... real. Good, but more true, sharper, more solid.

Moving is becoming a reality. Thankfully, I/we planned very aggressively. Too Aggressively. Wouldnt you know it, but God is more generous and helpful than we believed????

And pregnancy is catching up with Danie. She is tired, and a little sick. Not throwing up sick, but a little nauseous. And her little tiny belly is getting a firm little pocket in there! She woke up the other day, and I looked at hear and realized she is probably the most beautiful woman I ever saw. She doesnt seem to think so, which is really to my advantage! My new nickname for her is "Mrs. Kansas City". I realized, thankfully, she cant be "Miss Kansas City".

The kids went to scholl for the last day yesterday. It is odd. I wish we had decided BEFORE they started school, but it wasnt possible. We had fun with it. At least I did. When I told the school district they were leaving, they asked me where they were going. I asked them "does it matter?". I almost asked them "Is it any of your business?", but I need to be polite.

I had an altercation with an old man a few days ago. My dog wasnt ont he leash, and I didnt see anyone else in the park. After we threw the ball for him, I looked up, and there was a couple with a dog. I was bummed because I knew if Zeb saw them, he might go over there, and I didnt want anyone to be offended. I tried really hard to keep calm and see if I could get him to come back to me. But he saw them, and took off. I shouted "He isnt agressive, hes a puppy, he loves other dogs". The lady looked at me like I was a criminal, picked up her dog, and they kind of freaked.

I ran over there, apologized, and they started yelling. I told them I was very sorry, I didnt see anyone there, and wouldnt have let him off the leash. They kept scolding me, and I tried to be really paitent. I got Zeb and Danie came to get him with the leash. The guy picked up the ball that Zeb had dropped, and threw it over my head into the trees! I was in such shock, I turned around, looked at him (It must have looked like I was going to kill him), and yelled "HEY".

He jumped back, and the look on is face was unreal. He looked like I just pulled out a gun. THANKFULLY, somehow I calmed right down. Normally, my impulse control problems seem to really short circuit at that point. Honestly. But somehow, and it had to be divine, I relaxed. But I think this old guy thoguht I was going to beat him.

I did grab his arm, but really gently, and told him "I dont know why you did that. It sure doesnt help things. If I were a belligerent dog owner who doesnt care about anyone else, that would have lit me up. Im totally wrong in this, but what you did didnt help".

The guy didnt waver. He kept coming verbally. I tried to calm the situation down. He was STUPID. I have never hit anyone in a fight type of thing in my life. I probably wouldnt be able to do it very werll! But if I hadnt calmed down,. I would have put my fist right through that guys chest. And I would have felt so bad and guilty! UGggggghhhh..

On the way home, I realized how much more I could have done to apologize. And how thankful I was for the look of fear on is face.Had he not reacted that way, I might have intensified the issue, and it would have been terrible.

You just dont realize what you are capable of. Had my flesh gotten its way, I could have hurt that man so badly, and carried that the rest of my life. It was MUCH better to be slighted. I was wrong the whole timem, regardless of what he did. I just couldnt believe after him getting the poop scared out of him, he wouldnt relent. And I cannot believe how fleshly I am. That isnt the kind of man I want to be.

I want to be like my new nephew Patrick, who defends his sister from high schoolers teasing her and scaring her in the pool, and protecting other kids from bullies at school. I want to be like Jesus, and love that guy so much right from the start that I dont have anything to repent from, and possibly even be able to rejoice becuase he tasted love and was better off even for a little thing like that.

Oh yeah

Be careful what you pray for, because God is way gooder than you realize...

Im a messssss.....

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

It really doesnt matter what you turn from...

Repentance has nothing to do with what you turn from, only who you turn to...

No one in heaven cares what you turned away from, and they dont even think about it. You do.

Its all about the good part, not the bad. So lets get over ourselves, making separation and distinctions about our own sin, and lets focus entirely on Who we are turning to. Its all about the solution, not the problem.

The Little things

Yesterday praying for someone, I really felt like God explained something to me, and its an interesting concept.

God sees when we are fatihful in the little things. We always take that verse "He who is faithful with little will be given more". Different versions say it slightly differently.

Anyhow, I have always imagined this as "I will get lots of little things, and if Im faithful, I will get progressively more and more to be faithful with".

But in reality, life is a big bag of big and little things. And the truth is, when something is a big thing, we intuitively steward that more than other things. If we dont, then we are lazy, and slothful, a different issue. But when things are small, we tend to let those drift.

But God isnt like that. He loves every little thing. He tracks every sparrow, hair, and any other little thing.

So I think the underlying issue is God is saying "I track every little thing, and it is important to me as every big thing. And when I see you trying your best with the littler things, I can see how you desire to be like me. And by that, you are faithful and I will give you more."

I dont know if it means more things that are "bigger", or more "little" things, or maybe even more of something else entirely different.

But the point here is the idea of faithful. Not perfect. Not accomplished. Not even able. Just faithful. In the little things. The little yes and no things every day. And He sees them ALL. And He appreciates them ALL. And He rewards them ALL. Because He loves to reward. He loves to find an excuse to bless you, and love you, and increase you. And when the Father sees someone that desires (whether they are successful or not) to be like His son, He SMILES and sends even more to them.

Some people need to be encouraged in this. Every time you desire not to react to your children driving you crazy, and try your best just to dial down and help them, HE SEES. Every little gesture of hope or encouragement you offer, every little "cup of cold water", is instantly seen and heard in heaven, because thats exactly what Jesus is like.

My Babys back

Well, I mean she is back here. She has a great back (ummm....) but I mean shes coming home. Im going to get her in about an hour.

She has been gone far too long. But Joycelyn is worth it. And turns out Danie needed a trip, as it will probably be a long time before she can take off for 10 days by herself.

Life is about to change in so many ways, some of which I cannot list here yet. The baby sure will change things. My daughters are the BEST! It is going to affect them for sure, and yet they seem to be getting a little excited. A baby having a sister like Israel and Judah is going to have some of the best things in the world. YOu can see that already in their little cousins, who adore them.

Just think about a baby getting attention from Israel all day. That girls can make a baby squeal from 50 yards. And having a wild sister like Judah LION! Sheeesssh.

God is moving in our lives, in so many ways. In hindsight, this will be a tremndous season. At the moment, it seems wild and oscillating between hope and vision and "HOW IS GOD GOING TO PULL THIS OFF?". We have lots of friends who live much farther out than us, but for me, life is getting fun, and stretching me.

Life is Good

Life is good, and I just happen to be experiencing it consciously.

My girls and I are together for most of the next week at night and mornings. Their mom is working a lot (high time for bars and food places during the holiday and end of summer), and I get to have some time with just them.

Life is funny as well, as you dont realize how it subtly slips out of your hands. I probably havent spent this much alone time with my kids since I was married, but it used to be our normal life. Danielle has added so much to our lives, and the girls and I were talking about how good it has been. They both see really good things, far more than I can list here.

But there is something about isolating time with your kids, and just doing whatever, and enjoying each other. My kids are so fun, it is hard to describe. As the parent, and the "old man" Im a little slower, and a little grumpy. So I spend a lot of time catching up to my little personalities. But they are just a blast.

It has been just us for so long. Since June of 1998 (9 years) I have had the girls to myself.

At the very beginning for 1-2 years, I had them only about 35-40% of the time. It was so hard for me having a 7 month old and a 3 year old. Just going to Trader Joes felt like I was having a breakdown. There was so much going on in my life. I needed healing badly, and God was using this as the opportunity, so I was trying to be a parent while I was going through deep inner healing. I really felt like it was all I could do just to make sure they didnt die. I had so much internally (fear, anxiety, self hatred etc...) that I wasnt able to relax.

In retrospect, the kids were a lot better off than I thought in many ways. My hyper vigilance was false. But justmaking dinner, trying to give baths, put them to bed, it all seemed overwhelming.

Then we hit a magic time, right about when Judah hit 2-3. As soon as I didnt have diaper bags, things seemed easier. Along with it some thing were harder (Try the "Daddy I have to go to the bathroom" when it is just you, and you take 2 girls into a mens bathroom at the mall!!!). But my parents got us Disneyland passes, and Disneyland had family bathrooms. We could just pick up and go, and enjoy ourselves.

As time went on, it got a little easier and easier, and there was more routine. No more naps, the girls were a little more self reliant, and I was a little more busy. Going through a lot of healing, the worst of the breakdown was behind me, and God was starting to build a platform for my life to grow.

But I realize now, with the cessation of drama and intensity, I was filling my life up with things that wernt productive, and allowed me to disengage. A subtle internal shift away from interaction, and more isolation than I realized must have come in. Until Danielle came out here, I dont think I realized how I had been shutting off in little ways.

Now as Danie goes away for the longest time we have had apart, it is just me and the kids. And while I miss my baby a LOT (actually both my babies!), I am finding a renewed connection with my lovely girls. It is so much fun to be with them. Going to the store is fun, driving around, interacting with people. Just being. If you know them, you will realize what Im saying.

I love my kids. I am grateful I am with them. I ache at how many mistakes I have made, how many shortcomings I had in such critical developmental times in their lives, and how many still remain. Even last night in a sleep deprived state I said and did things I wish I hadnt. But I realize that regardless of those things, to be here right now, and enjoy them is precious.

I love my kids, but I also really LIKE them to. It is important to Love, but kids need to know you Like them too. And I need to tell them that again today.

Timing could be everything

Danielle is in Germany this week. Her (and our) good friend Jocelyn got married Friday to her wonderful man, and Danielle had to go.

So this may explain our little timing issue about telling people she is pregnant. I apologize. We told just immediate family (and 1-2 friends) until we could tell the kids. But we didnt realize that by me telling the kids after she left (to avoid any heavy meltdowns), it made it impossible to tell allt he people we wanted to personally, and now people are finding out via the Blog, because it costs 1.99/min for Danie to tell people directly until next Sunday.

We apologize to many close friends and family that are finding out via a Blog instead of a call. Our bad. It isnt intentional, we tried to manage it and it got out of our hands.

Its official

Danielle is pregnant. We have waited to make an announcement until I got to tell the girls.

We are a little surprised, and the joy is beginning to set in. Telling my kids was a little rough, there has been a lot of change in the last year. But the intensity of the change is already being overshadowed by funny thoughts and ideas like "I wonder if Danies belly wont get bigger, instead she will get taller!", and "Can we teach it to spit watermelon seeds really far so it can be a champion?". There is a names list already being started (not by me). Sofar the list is:

Micah
Shiloh
LaFawnda
Dawn


I find myself in a strange spot. It has been so long since I had a baby (7+ years) and I have never really thought about the reality of raising children again, let alone doing it with someone else, and experiencing this as a lot more healthy person than I was before.

God never gives us trouble with a blessing. although some blessing cause trouble from others people! At this point, it will be yet another adventure, and a bundle of joy at the end.

What is the Law?

So WHAT is it?

It isnt the "Torah", although that is the Hebrew word for "the law". But even in that respect it has several definitions, none of which seem totally definitive.

I have a feeling that isnt quite concious yet that "The Law" such as David referenced when he said "Your Law is Perfect" in Psalm 19, and many other references in our bibles, means far more than a list of rules.

In fact, Im betting the list of rules is an almost insignificant expression of "The Law" in that they represent only the simplest things, in words humans can grasp, and all of which could be summed up when Jesus explained that Love would fulfill all of them.

I seriousy need prayer and feedback and any help in investigating this, especially anyone with exposure to OT theology, or messianic jewish pracitce and thought. I beleive there is some keys waiting to get released in this for me, and the Body in general.

And to think, this all started with sitting in the IHOP hearing people sing Psalm 19, and me saying "God, I dont even pay attention to your Law, let alone think about it or like it. I think Im missing something, please help me".

2 weeks later, something like a common thread is pulling in all sorts of interior places. God is on the move in my heart.

Reply to Don

Hey Don...

Wheeee.... And you arent rude. I am open to honest and sincere input.

Some disclaimers:
First off, I am still processing this, and trying to wrap my head around it. I though I made it clear in there, but I might have missed that.

Second, as far as "out of context" I make no claim to subscribe to anyones personal exposition of scripture, or bias. I (like everyone else), loves proof texting when it suits me, and totally disregards it when I dont like it. Anyone who thinks they truly exegete well and doesnt miss context when it suits them is deceiving themselves! LOL.....


The only verse Im pretty sure I used out of context was the Revelations, and that, along with almost all the other references, was for metaphor, or symbolism, not theology. Thats important here, because I am not trying to build a theology or a message, simply stating som ething, and using examples and symbols of other verses that I found interesting.

It is odd to me the Paul, John and Peter use the symbol of a lion with regards to appetite and pursuit (leopards and tigers, bears, rodents and all sorts of other things are good symbols too for voracious and yucky critters, and some of them are around Israel) so I included it.

If I am trying to make a theological point with some of the other scriptures, and they are out of context, let me know, because maybe Im getting screwy.

Actually, this idea might be closer to a "Health and Wealth" message (not gospel, puhleeesseee) than anyone is comfortable with. It wasnt intentional, and yet I think there is some of it that sounds parallel. My paradigm includes the reality that some of the "Faith" message is actually true, but some of it gets dsitracted or too focused on certain things. Im that way with fundementalists, and charismatics, and all the other isms and ists and icss in the body. One add-on I need to make clear is, we are responsible for our sin, and sin has consequences. God does forgive, and gives Grace to the humble, but we still have the results. We reap what we sow. But in Christ, I am forgiven,a nd can stand confident in front of Him, and ask for HELP to fulfill my part. As I do that, I am clean and clear, and the rest is someone elses.

The main point here is, there is something bigger and more decisive in our walk than what we think. There is a lot more to this idea than I presented already, and I hope it will distill itself more. But think through this part:

1. God DID come to set people free, including deystroying the works of the devil (Im thinking John 10, numerous Isaiah passages etc..)
2. When He was here, He literally demonstrated it, and then facilitated the disciples to do likewise (interestingly enough before they even knew how to pray!).
3. He commanded us to follow Him in many ways, including loving HIm, loving one another, and going forth making disciples etc...

But my head/heart/mind (hopefully all the things Im seeking to know and love Him with) are beignning to peel back something, and seeing some underlying principles, one of which is JUSTICE.

Not only have I suffered at the hands of myself, my choices, my sin etc... I have also suffered at the hands of others. And behind all of it (ALL OF IT) is sin, and behind all the sin is the invitation of Satan.

Satan tempted Eve and Adam, and then they chose. For all sorts of reasons, (none of which are explicit in scripture, but we extrapolate things like Free Will, and the nature of Love and obedience) God allowed it. But it is unjust. The enemy, using the Law, stumbled us. We bit into it, but he presented it.

We were NEVER designed to live in sin, and the consequences are terrible. We arew ripped off from the true experience, purpose, life etc... that we were designed to have. We were LIED to, and WE CHOSE it. However, it was false.

Not only did we get ripped off, but so did God. God designed me for intimacy with Him, tobe loved by Him, and in His heart, He wants to be loved by me. All the sin in my life, caused by me, or thrust upon me, has one big result. It cuts me off from the very purpose I was designed for, and strangles me. And both God, and I are getting stolen from.

Interestingly, God is not mocked. Not ultimately at least. We know people do mock Him day and night, but scripture says He wont be mocked. I think it is is obvious that God designed something for His special use (Paul talks about that in Romans I think), but it gets hijacked, and used for something totally different. That is a theif.

But God wont ultimately be mocked. So what does that mean. I think the Law is perfect, and the Law convicts me of sin, and brings me to Justice, which then the Blood of Jesus fulfills. But once that occurs, the Law is my ADVOCATE, because it was designed with Justice in mind.

My sin is now taken care of, and now my part is to contend for Gods purposes (my little list up above). Now the Law works in MY FAVOR. anything I have done is atoned for in Christ, and I walk out my part with His help. Anything done againt me (or Him) I can bring as a petition to Him, and He who wrote the Law, is the Judge as well. He also is the ONE who enacts Justice on our behalf. He DESIRES Justice, and will eventually even come Himself and MAKE IT HAPPEN all the way down to even things like envrionmental issues.

Thsi is rambling on and on, but my point is that it isnt a name it and claim it scenario int he classic sense, but it is a point where I am beginning to realize God WANTS to do something, bith He and I have been injured in this, and positionally only He has the power currently to restore anything to righteousness. My part is to go before Him, and admit my part, be cleansed, and then ask Him to do what He wants to do. Just like in the Promised Land, He then gives me the way to walk, and give me His power to do what He wishes. But the enemy is bound by the law just like I was, and now the LAw is my advocate against him.

Dont know if I make any sense, and I know there must be lots of spelling errors. what do you think?

UnsysteMatic tHeologies of juStice and PrayEr

Well, Im am sifting through a lot thathas been building for years in me. I assume I will find people who already know this, or who could really help me expand my understanding on this. But I have a had a few requests to write this down, so that it could be simply presented. I would love ot hear others expound on it.

1. The Thief, and his food.
Prov 6:30-31
30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
(NIV)

I have read other translations that say it even slightly different, but the basic idea here is we understand (not permit or accept!) the reality that a person steal when they are hungry, but when they do, they must pay back 7 times what they have stolen.

2. Who is the thief?
John 10:1
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
(NIV)
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
(NIV)

The thief is the devil, and those who do his work. He seeks to steal, and to incite others to steal.

3. Is the thief hungry?
1 Pet 5:8
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
(NIV)

He walks around hungry, looking for anything he can eat.

2 Tim 4:17
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
(NIV)

Paul uses the concept of the Lions Mouth that was chasing him, and seeking to devour him as he shared the Gospel.

Rev 13:2
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
(KJV)

The beast has a mouth like a lion.

4. What is his food?
Gen 3:14
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
(NIV)

Gen 2:7
7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
(NIV)

Man is formed from the dust, and the enemy is cursed and forced to eat the dust all the days of his life.

5. The redemption-Summary
The enemy walks the earth like a hungry lion, seeking to steal and kill and destroy. His food is the dust of the earth, and he is ravenous. Mankind is made from the dust of the earth, and is essentially the enemy’s food.

The enemy prowls the earth looking to eat mankind. We understand this is the way it works. We know the routine. We all understand the enemy is seeking us out, to see if he can devour us. We don’t say it is ok, but we do know it is the way things work.
HOWEVER, when he is caught, he must repay back 7 times what he has stolen, even if it costs him everything.

Whatever the enemy has EVER stolen, time, money, faith, hope, love, intimacy etc… WHEN he is caught, he must pay back 7 times what he stole, even if it bankrupts him.
The foundation of Gods throne is Justice. As we bring the enemy before Him, we can ask for 7 times what has been stolen from us. It is Gods role to adjudicate, and then enforce the sentence.

Not only that, but we can extrapolate this concept, and ask for revelation of any place in our life we have been stolen from. As Holy Spirit reveals this to us, we go quickly to the JUST JUDGE, and start the process.

There is so much more to expand on. Think about Leviticus. Everything is set up that when something is stolen, we get more back than we lost. And on the other side, whenever we give, we get more back.

The economy of the Kingdom is geared to our benefit. And also the enemy’s. He knows these laws, and uses them against us. He accuses us in front of God, Jesus even uses a similar example about casting demons out, and them coming back with 7 OTHERS. It is as if the enemy gets cast out, but says “I had a RIGHT to be there, and I was kicked out unjustly. See they haven’t put anything back in there, so I have a right to go back, and bring more than what I lost!”

We must begin to rise up, and ask God to reveal to us anywhere we have stolen, admit it, repent, and ask for Grace. In Christ, we can stand in Gods court, and petition for justice where we have been stolen, until the enemy has to go oppress someone else because he keeps losing more than he gains. Then we start to GIVE, and we get even more return!

My Favorite Danie

Every time I see this picture, I think about how much I love and enjoy my wife. I cannot explain all of it, it is more a feeling.

I remember when God helped me realize certain things about loving like this. Im not saying I can actually love like this, but I catch pieces of it experientially. Its kind of like this:

Question: Why do you love your wife?
Answer: I just do.

See. I cannot tell you why. I can tell you that I do. And this is the key....

Do you notice that God NEVER says (that I can think of) "I love you because...."

In fact, I cannot think of one thing God says when He talks about Love that is qualified by the recipient.

What I do see is this: "I Love things ABOUT you like this....(ala Song of Songs)"

There are a lot of things I like/love about Danielle. I could list them, and spent some time recently in Kansas City with people who traded lots of them with me.

But now I think I see a little bit about God's Love. If He loved me because I was obedient, as soon as I failed, He wouldnt love me anymore. If He loved me because I was attractive, as soon as I got older, He would stop etc...

But He doesnt love me for a reason based on me/myself, only Him. I dont think He ever explains WHY, He just DOES. I can bless Him, and I can even ravish His heart, but He will always Love me because He does.

so as great as my wife is, and as many wonderful things there are about her, I think I get it more now than ever.



However, when it comes to "Why do you love her?". I just do.