So our the days of our lives. I am not sure if you are as old as I am, but this was the theme phrase to an old ‘soap opera’ that has been airing for 56 years this November.

What?! Yeah, I cannot believe it either.

And those of you who don’t know the terminology, soap opera; is a radio or television series dealing especially with domestic situations and frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term “soap opera” originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers. Wikipedia

How about this; do any of  you remember the 1976 hit by the Steve Miller band, ‘Fly Like an Eagle?’ The song opens with these words:

Doo doo-doo-doo

(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo

(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo

(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo

Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’

Into the future

Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’

Into the future

And though the song has action-provoking words, I am puzzled by the phrase: time keeps slipping into the future. Because the fact is, time is slipping into our past.

Don’t get me wrong; I am not by no means a doom and gloom person.

I am the opposite.

However, the subject of “time” is on everyone’s minds. Most people I conversate with has questions that normally start with:  

                        “How much longer will it be before…” [you fill in the blank]?

Everyone can have their own opinion about time and even how they spend their time, but the bottom line is we each only have 24 hours in a day, and our days are numbered.

One morning when I had my quiet time, I asked Holy Spirit if I have grieved him. I instantly saw an image in my thoughts. It was of an hourglass. And as I watched the sand on the top half quickly make its way through the narrow neck to the bottom, I knew that Holy Spirit was telling me something. To my surprise, as I continued to watch this vision, and I saw my hand take the top off the hourglass and take pinches of sand from the top half and threw it out.

My heart was convicted. I knew exactly what HE was trying to say to me. I waste too much time. It is only a few moments here and a few there, jumping on social media, getting sidetracked with my messy office [just being honest here], or getting distracted by the many wonderful teachings online that make my head spin.

But bottom line, I had been given 3 specific things to get accomplished in the first quarter of the year, and a 4^th   assignment being something that will be an ongoing mission, till I am told otherwise.

So what is keeping me? Why do I get stalled out? Well, one reason I stall out is I am not silencing the little voice in my head that says; you have no clue how to accomplish these things. Are you even ‘qualified’ to step out in this matter?

However, if I truly believe that God is leading me to accomplish these things, HE will supply me with everything I need to accomplish them.

Hebrew 13:20-21 AMP

Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant,  equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

This past week during my zoom bible study, we looked at Galatians chapter 5, and verse 23 in The Message Bible hit my spirit. Let me explain what the writer Paul is saying before typing out verse 23.

Paul is reiterating to the churches of Galatia that if we live a life lead by the Spirit, we are not under the law. What qualifies us is grace. There is freedom in the gospel of grace as compared to living life to the ‘law.’  That if we live with our selfish desires, we are living by the flesh [5:19-21].

Verse 22 lists what life looks like living by the spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. 

Then verse 22b – 23 from The Message Bible reads this way:

We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Wow, it still hits me. I have not loyally committed to those things I believe God has called me to. And as for directing my energies wisely, if that were true, I wouldn’t waste ‘time’ looking at pictures of what Mrs. Jones did on the weekend. Right?!

This is just me; I am not pointing the finger at anyone. It is just where I am at this moment. Maybe, just maybe, the enemy whispers in our ears because he doesn’t want us to accomplish the greatness that is in each one of us?

Do you know that God has given us all assignments and even prepared a way for us to accomplish them? Ephesians 2:10

We each have such a uniqueness that is essential to the world around us. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get this wrong opinion of myself; that I don’t make that much of a difference.

That is a flat-out lie from the enemy! The thing is, each one of us makes a difference. We have all been created brilliantly for such a time as this. Psalm 139:13-16 MSG

He has chosen specifically the times of history we would live. Acts 17:26 NIV 

If God has something stirring in your heart to do that perhaps you haven’t heard of anyone else doing. Take courage, my fellow pioneer, take that first step, and the other one will be revealed. We need to trust that God will supply us with all we need to accomplish those assignments. 

We all know how courtroom proceedings unfold. Either we have watched court on the television or have had an unfortunate circumstance that brought us before the bench ourselves. Either way, we all know that it is best to have a lawyer present to speak on behalf of the accused. And we respect the one residing behind the bench.

Every morning I normally go to my office and spend time either reading in my bible or a few pages of a book that sits on my desk, which leads me into a time in prayer.  Over the years Holy Spirit has given me a unique understanding of prayer; I need to see if anything would hinder my relationship with God, which has to lead me to look at my own life before I begin to pray for others.

It is easy for me to engage my thoughts when praying [talking] to God, Jesus, or Holy Spirit. I see my words, and I imagine in my heart. 

On this particular morning, when I asked the Lord if there is anything that I have consciously or unconsciously done to grieve Him. Instantly I saw myself in court and someone was taking the gavel out of the judge’s [God’s] hand.

I thought, ‘What! That isn’t my hand. What does this mean?’

Quickly it was revealed to me the times that I had an opinion about how people handle different situations. I was made aware of many ‘judgments’ that I had made in the past few days all at once, and it felt heavy.

I asked God to forgive me for eating from the wrong tree, so to speak. It isn’t my job to judge people. I didn’t even realize I had made several little judgments. Big or little, it doesn’t matter; I was taking the gavel out of God’s hand and judging people.

Looking around in court, I noticed an accuser before the judge speaking judgments about me [Rev 12:10]. Truthfully he wasn’t falsely accusing me; I was guilty. BUT! I stood there with my advocate Lord Jesus [1 John 2:1], and the Blood spoke louder than the accuser. FORGIVEN!

So what about you? Have you ever taken the gavel out of the judge’s hand?

Do you even realize that an accuser is speaking about what we [all] have done that ‘falls short’ [Romans 3:23] before the Judge of all?

Wouldn’t you like to have a defender speaking on your behalf?  Of course, you would. And it is your choice, but I am thankful that I have chosen King Jesus for me. And HIS blood speaks louder than the accuser.

This past week I had become a grandma for the first time. Wow, what an incredible love I feel for this beautiful gift from heaven. I was in awe to see such pure sweetness, innocents, and perfection all wrapped up in one. I can sit looking at pictures all day long.

Have you ever noticed how things get prepared at home for newborns?  Organization gets stepped up; the baby room gets prepared, items get cleaned and cleaned again to make it the perfect environment for when little one comes home. Some people will even play soothing instrumental music [soaking music] in their home or the baby nursery to enhance the little one’s calming experience. 

Preparing the environment with prayer is another way to clean the atmosphere. And we [grandpa and I] have been praying daily since before we knew our family was about to grow.

I share this to give you a mental picture because most of us know what I am talking about ‘preparing’ for a newborn.

But have you ever thought about doing this type of preparation before sharing the gospel of heaven? The message of Jesus Christ is as pure as it gets. Straight from heaven, our Lord Jesus came to show us the way. To free us from the bondages we get entangled in and free us from a performance mentality; we can push ourselves with unrealistic demands.

This past year, I have learned several different things about how principalities work to keep people in the dark, keep people in deception, and ultimately imprison them.

There have been times when I have talked to people I’ve met on the street but could not reach them. Yeh, they were probably on drugs, but maybe it is more than that. I started praying that the atmosphere would change as I walked downtown and in the park. Taking my spiritual authority – given to me by Jesus – and bound the spirit of darkness, the spirit of addiction, the spirit of rejection, the orphan spirit, wandering spirit. And I loosed the love of heaven, and I asked Holy Spirit to encounter these individuals, asking Jesus to meet them where they are at.

I presented the blood of Jesus – asking the blood to go before me and behind me. I ask for the Kingdom of Heaven to come to earth. That God would bring people or even angels to come alongside them to help them on their healing journey.

Engaging my heart and prayer in this matter, I eventually found that the atmosphere changed. Either the drug community moved on to another town. OR [what my heart wants to believe] these people encountered the love of God through people that genuinely have the spirit of Christ. The people I encounter thereafter were coherent and I could carry a conversation with them. I got to plant a seed or two and even water it with prayer. 

We each have a realm of influence: our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our cities, etc. What if the church took their blood-bought keys and bound those things that go on around us that are illegal to function in heaven. Then lose those things that are a part of heaven; clarity, sound minds, love, compassion, etc.

What if we remember that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and our identity in HIM?  

What if God did more than we asked or imagine?

We would see that our lights are a bright beacon to those individuals who stumble in the darkness.      

 Ephesians 3:20, 21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Just a reminder for all of us. We need to have discernment as we feed ourselves on information to understand the times we are facing.

Keeping in mind of some the struggles I had last year. Where I found myself in situations that my emotions were being manipulated, behave outside of my identity in Jesus, and no longer useful to bring LIGHT to a situation.

I didn’t want that to happen again.  So as I was about to read something that was sent to me, I had to stop myself, pray this prayer [above] then read what was sent.

These hours leading into January 20th we can find our emotional strings being pulled, so to speak. No matter what happens, let’s anchor ourselves to these scriptures:

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Chronicles 12:7 … “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 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.

And lastly, remember we were appointed to this time in history.

Acts 17:26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

A few days ago I experienced a very real heaviness on the people around me. It was so noticeable that I was instantly reminded of what Holy Spirit dropped in my heart back in 2018.

I was told; “Prime the Wells of Laughter.”

To prime a water well, so that the water can flow freely, you must pour water into it.

So, to prime the laughter up inside me, I had to laugh.

I know most people would say, what is there to laugh at, where is the joy?

I say: Look Up! Look past the darkness that seems to be taking control, and REMEMBER that darkness loses, defeated, done, FINISHED!

I know we all what to be updated on the issues of this country, and we should. But read, listen, watch through the lens of Jesus Christ!

In the movie, Short Circuit, they were trying to determine if the robot was alive. It wasn’t until the robot spontaneously laughed that they realized he was. Then the robot asked through his laughter; “I am alive, yes?”

Job 8:20-22 The Message “There’s no way that God will reject a good person, and there’s no way he will help a bad one. God will let you laugh again; you’ll raise the roof with shouts of joy, with your enemies thoroughly discredited, their house of cards collapsed.”

CHURCH ARE WE ALIVE! AND WE NEED TO LAUGH!

Holy Spirit I pray that you stir in the hearts of the believers and pour the victorious laughter from heaven into our mouths and let the Joy flow out!! And doing so, we become a bright light that dissipates the darkness, in Jesus’s name I pray, amen.