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The Pathway- Is Not Always a Sound and Light Show
One morning recently I went Christmas shopping, and on the way home, I distinctly "felt" the Lord tell me that there would be one message on the recorder and it would be the meat processors to tell us our beef was ready. Yep, that's spiritual. So I promptly stuffed it in my "imaginary thoughts" box and kept on driving. As soon as I walked in the house, sure enough, there it was, the flashing red light. The Woods Meat Processing lady left a nice message about the beef being ready to pick up. Things that make you go "hmmm."
A friend recently also had a similar experience, in which God's voice wasn't a "heavy revvy", but something as simple as mine. Basics. She wondered if it was "fine tuning" on the part of the Holy Spirit. Yep, that's it.
Some of us have had powerful heavenly visitations, visions, and revelations. We've had the Word of God leap off the page at us with all the light bulbs popping. We've even been translated on at least a small scale. But we serve a practical God, who's desire for us is also protection, safety, blessing, and survival. (Psalm 23). All of those things depend upon two areas: faith and obedience...all worthless unless we can actually HEAR God's heart above ourselves.
Spiritual knowledge can be as simple as "don't buy that toothpaste" when that brand may have contaminants. As an example,. somehow I was able to navigate our dog food through the big pet food recalls just by sticking with one particular kind and the Lord insisting that's where we stay. We did, and the dogs are fine, even though that BRAND name was mostly recalled. One type was not...ours. Will we hear Him that closely as destiny approaches and the distractions and temptations increase?
Our pathways in life are often along the road less traveled. The Lord's perfect will requires us to move from the comfort zone to the zone of the Spirit- the place where we must trust Him to navigate our way to the Promise. While each person is called to a different place in His plan, we are all called to follow.
The prophetic word to you for 2008 is "follow", and follow closely. Allow the fine tuning of the Holy Spirit to make you instant in your movements, thoughts, actions. New territory is riddled with giants, enemies, pitfalls, and gloom and doom scenarios. It is our calling to face them all in the Name of the Living God, and do what He tells us in spite of them. God will not remove them all, but He will give you the ability to defeat them as easily as David defeated Goliath. And you will feel on top of the world when God's destiny opens your pathway.
If you truly HEAR God's voice, and obey Him, you cannot be defeated. Let me say that again: If you truly hear God's voice and obey Him, you cannot be defeated! Your destiny is ready to burst open, that door which cannot be shut is opening wide this coming year. Don't get sticker shock. Don't run. Don't stop going forward. Follow.
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Last year I told you that 2007 would be a year in which we would have to go, and change so that our destinies could move forward. Many of you have experienced this, including myself. Many of you stand at the doorpost of your destiny, and are wondering if you can kick it open (I'd let you borrow a crowbar if I thought it would help. It won't.) But I will tell you this: when God opens that door, and make no mistake He is about to do so, it will not be shut. You will have to be faithful, merciful, loving and obedient to make it work. And you will need wisdom far more than ever before.
In 2007, my first book was accepted by a publisher, but will require me to actually get off my office chair and go do some personal marketing. (I really HATE talking about me, and pictures tend to make me look like I have a dreaded virus, so the whole thing stretches my tent pegs heavily). Will I be able to give out the real message, or will I babble on and on about nonsense and just look like the bag lady from North Idaho? It's the grace of God that will make up the difference. And His destiny is in play.
In 2007, some precious folks in Kenya and I became acquainted and more than ever my heart is drawn to them. Their beautiful orphans excitedly play with the flannel stories we sent them. They have begun an outreach to the local population and their Sunday School group of 12 children has grown to 41! Their Pastor was robbed of his digital camera this summer, and lost all of the offerings from a conference he held in Uganda. Their needs are so great, yet they remain faithful to the work God has called them to do. Myron and I hope to speak at a conference there next Nov., and start up A Company of Women for Rosalie Storment, Lord willing.
Will we be able to help them and be good friends to our brethren? If we looked at the size of our tiny church and believed only from that platform, we'd be sunk immediately. God's destiny has no bearing on the size of a church, or the amount of people involved in a project. His will can be accomplished with willing hearts, however few there may be... because "destiny" is bigger than ourselves, and the pathway to get there is narrow.
May all of us be found faithful this coming year. May we find favor in the sight of the Living God to be able to do whatever He asks at a moment's notice. Precious Friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Raven Church. We love you, hold you in our prayers, and ask that God bring about those new pathways to destiny! Faye Higbee
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Next newsletter's message: The Foundations of Evil vs The Redemption of God