It’s Palm Sunday! I’ll finish up the remaining few posts about my mom’s story in April. Also in April, I’m compelled to talk about weariness. In the last few months, my heart has ached for SUMites who have told me they are weary in the waiting. Man, do I ever feel a revelation of the Spirit coming to speak to weariness in our community!! Look for that in April as well.

BUT TODAY!!!!  Let’s turn our focus, thoughts and worship toward Calvary!

My friends, did you know that everything we will ever need, was accomplished through the cross! Everything, in that moment, was made available to us who believe in Jesus, the Son of God, our Redeemer! 

So often the enemy gets us to look at our struggles. Our challenges. Pain. He is relentless to make sure we focus on the galactic mountain we are facing. He draws us away from the truth of our inheritance, our authority, our provision, and our faith to see the dark and thrust us into fear.

Hallelujah for the Cross!

When we remove our eyes for just a second to look clearly on the truth of the Resurrection, we see that we have everything we need to say to that mountain….. MOVE!!! 

Our resurrected Jesus became a man, to show us, to model for us, exactly how to live a life of victory, love and receive our inheritance as a Child of God right now on earth as well as in eternity.

I know the very mountain that many of you are facing right now. And there are many SUMites who are facing what appears to be unsurmountable cliffs of doom that I can’t even imagine, However, our Jesus is bigger than all of it. Truly!

Today, this hour, take out your Bible. Turn to Matthew 17:20. Underline it! Write the name of the Mountain you want to move and then put 2016! And say aloud the passage.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”— Matthew 17:20 NIV

The truth of this single verse just ROCKS my world.. Nothing will be impossible… Jesus, I dream pretty big. I pray even bigger. Lord, the SUMites aren’t cowards. We stand in the cross-hairs every day in our own homes. Jesus, MOVE OUR MOUNTAIN! We cry out. We believe. We believe. WE BELIEVE!!!!

So, today my friends, tell me, how did you come to believe? How old were you? Share your salvation experience. Together let’s thank Jesus together as we were chosen to be children of the Most High God before time began! (Ephesians 1:4) Hallelujah!!

I can’t wait to hear your story and pray over your mountain in the comments. Have an astonishing week. Make plans to attend church. Attend a Friday service if you can. Do some kind of activity with your kids that brings the significance of this week alive in their hearts. I share in our book, Not Alone, how the Resurrection Eggs, greatly impacted my young daughter. This year, I get to open each one with my granddaughter. Oh, my heart swells!

SUMites….. He is risen! Just as He said! AMEN!

I love you, Lynn

My friends, on Tuesday we started talking about seeing our marriages instead of a but, to see them as a "But God..." My heart is to encourage you to walk in God's truths and to be all that His heart and love have declared and planned for you to be. The more I work in our healing rooms here, the more I understand that God has asked me to partner with Him to help people do this, to realize their divine destiny and walk in it. And this calling He's placed on my heart is not limited to healing rooms. He puts me into action all over the place. What an adventure!

And I love, love, love that I can bring that to our SUM nation. Dear friends, Lynn and I love you so much! We are passionate for you to walk in freedom, in the truths that Jesus came and died for us to believe and live in, and experience all the fullness of a life with God. Our abundant life isn't waiting in heaven. It's starts here on earth the moment we say yes to Jesus.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. — John 10:10

Jesus does not put any qualifiers on this, my friends. No ifs or buts! We started with the truth that God is unchanged, unaffected and unmoved by our pre-believers lack of faith and neither are His plans and purposes for us. 

Now I want to look at what Jesus did for us, because I love these truths. They have given me freedom from the enemy’s lies that his influence is greater than God’s.

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. — Col 2:15 (NLT)

The NIV translation says “he made a public spectacle of them.” God not only defeated satan, He shamed him and made a public spectacle of him. My friends, the enemy wants to transfer that shame on us because he hates it. But remember, there is no condemnation (shame) in Jesus (Romans 8:1). That’s our truth! Wow!

Therefore…

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. — Col 2:20

We have been set free of the enemy’s power. The only way he can influence us is if we let him, if we give him our authority. Lynn will be teaching more on that.

I want to finish with a few more powerful truths from Colossians:

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. — Col 3:3

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free (or spiritually mismatched). Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. — Col 3:11 (with my parenthetical addition)

My friends, Christ is all that matters. He’s the “but” in our  marriages because all things are possible with Him. Lynn and I are living proof that we can walk in the fullness of our spiritual identity and callings regardless of our mismatched marriages. And I will tell you that I used to think my marriage—my husband’s unbelief—would limit what God had for me, would basically preclude me from being and doing all that God has for me, but that was another lie of the enemy that has been publicly shamed (by this ministry) and proven untrue.

At the end of Colossians, Paul says something that has had me pondering:

“Remember my chains.”

I wondered at first if this was his way of asking for prayer and perhaps it was, but I think it goes beyond that. I’ve studied Paul’s letters though the years not just for the truths he shares but to understand the man he was. I believe Paul was encouraging believers to see that despite his chains, God was still working in and through Paul to accomplish all that God had predestined (planed in advance) for this man to do (Eph 2:10).

SUMites, I’m not saying our pre-believers are our “chains,” though some days, I dare to say, many of you may feel this way. And I say that with humor! What I am encouraging you to embrace is that if we are to stand in the truth of God’s Word, which tells us that ALL things are possible with God, then let’s believe and live it right in our marriages. 

We are not defeated, and we are by no means limited as long as we believe God, believe what He has told and promised us. Let’s do as Paul tells us, to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.

In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!

Quiet Time Study: (Take these questions to the Lord in your quiet time. Then listen.)

Continue to seek God for His plans and purposes for you. Write down whatever He tells you and then start seeking Him for each step of this journey. He may start you big or He more than likely will start you with small steps, my friends. God’s great “divine plan” for us is to know Him. To just be His kid. If that’s what He’s calling you to do right now, that means He wants to take you deeper first to know Him, love Him, trust Him, so that He can move you into bigger places. 

Community Questions (answer in the comments):

No questions today, my friends. Simply share whatever is on your heart. If you want to share what God is showing you, please do! Let’s encourage and celebrate each other in whatever God is doing in each of our lives. And I want to pray over and bless each of you for whatever Papa God is revealing to you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, feel free to email me. 

I love you, SUMites! I’m praying for you and celebrating with you, for all that God has for you. Next week, I want to share with you three keys to walking in the fullness of faith and victory. The Holy Spirit has started a new dialogue about these. I’m listening to hear more and look forward to sharing them with you. Have an amazing weekend!

Last Monday we took a look at authority. The central message of this post is to clearly establish through scripture that Jesus passed His authority to His disciples, including modern day disciples. That would be us. We are commanded to follow in His teachings and to fulfil the purposes of the Kingdom of God. The Great Commission, healing, deliverance, support the poor, etc. (Luke 9:1&2)

Also we reviewed the power of our spoken words and the supporting scriptures. What I didn’t have time to share was that authority and power that the Lord shares with His people on earth can vary. And there are limitations, significant responsibilities and great expectations God places on His people with regard to authority. So let’s take a quick look at what these are.

Prayer Life/Intimacy: Nothing is available from the Heavenly Kingdom without a personal relationship with the Lord. Intimacy and prayer are central to walking in authority. In our war rooms (prayer rooms) is where we learn to discern the promptings of the Spirit. We often are led in specifics on how and whom we are to pray. And then during our prayers, we release the power of God into lives and circumstances.

We have the ability to pray and challenge the demonic in Jesus name through His resurrection. That becomes our legal right.

Authority Is Gods to share: We must steward all gifts from our Father well. Especially authority in the spiritual realm. It should never be thought of a way to manipulate or command something that is not specifically spoken to us by God and confirmed in scriptures. We must use it for the purpose that it was given.

We must remain always aware that God can give authority and remove it and that we only possess His authority because we are walking in intimacy with Christ. We cannot become prideful because we received spiritual gifts.

We are accountable to God and to others for the word we speak. And EVERYTHING we do within our spiritual warfare is to be drenched in love. And our accountability can be measured through the fruit our ministry produces.

Fear God: Great reverence for His purposes and will in our lives as we speak words to one another.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
—Proverbs 9:10 KJV

Our authority in Christ grows over time as we grow in our love for God and people. Also when our compassion for others expands as does our understanding of the Word of God, our anointing and gifts expand. It’s true in many areas of our life as we grow in our understanding of God’s will, we grow in our freedom, joy, peace and all the gifts of the spirit.

Understanding our inheritance as a child of God in the area of authority is crucial because next week we are going to look how the devil deceives us. He will come in like the rats with the trash and set up house. He walks in through open doors. So we will take a look next Monday at the gates the enemy uses to have access to our lives.  

Quiet Time Study: (Take these questions to the Lord in your quiet time. Then listen.)

• This week I want you to take spiritual authority over your home. Walk through the house and bless the rooms and speak words of prayer for the people who inhabit the rooms. Command any unclean spirit to leave and go to Jesus, never to return or retaliate. (Name it if the Lord brings it to mind. Such as a spirit of hate, violence, pornography, addiction, perversion, etc.) Release a blessing of love, peace, joy and hope in Jesus. Change the atmosphere of your home. People will notice. I know this is true. Within the last week I’ve had a guest in my house. This young woman commented, “I love your house. There is something warm about it.” Others have said, “It’s so peaceful here.”

Community Questions (answer in the comments):

• Can anyone share with me any changes in their lives and in the spiritual realm of your warfare? Be bold because someone out there needs to know that he/she can truly walk in the authority of Christ. They need to know that cleaning out the demonic is possible.

Love you my friends. I will be traveling to the Open Heavens Conference this week. I hope to bring back another astonishing set of encounters to share.

Hugs, Lynn

This is one of the most important post to read. Please take the time to make it to the bottom. Hugs, Lynn

SUMites, after writing the post, Legal Permissions, that I was originally intended to post today, the Holy Spirit strongly impressed upon me that we need to first consider our authority in Jesus. That post will be shared later in this series.

In the past couple of weeks, Dineen and I have been hitting hard on our identity in Christ. Because it’s out of knowing who we are and whose we are that we then begin to exercise the authority we have been given through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

So let’s look at authority. Turn in your Bible to, Luke 9. If you have been a reader here for a number of years, you may remember that I shared an encounter with a woman I met at a conference named Maria. She said to me, “Lynn, read Luke 9:1&2. That passage is for you.” Those verses change my life, my prayer time, my authority when I pray over others became real. If you want to hear me pray in this context, listen to the short video in the sidebar titled: Praying with the power and authority of Christ….

The Belt of Truth is what girds our loins with power. The truth is this, Jesus gave His disciples power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  Luke 9:1&2. This authority is also for us and this is how I know. Turn to Matthew 28:20…. teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. See the word everything? That includes passages addressed to the Disciples.

For many years I didn’t understand that when Jesus was speaking to His disciples, that included me, a modern day believer. When I rejected that lie, immediately my prayers began impacting others because I prayed under the direction (intimacy & Holy Spirit) and authority of Christ (Word of God).  I’ve been privileged to pray with many of you over the phone. And even through phone calls, the Lord Jesus shows up and moves with love and power. Can I get an amen?

Okay, are you tracking with me? Truth (Word of God), replaces lies which leads to intimacy and through our intimacy and the Holy Spirit we hear the Lord’s will for our prayer life and receive the authority of Jesus to further His Kingdome here on earth.

Yep, MIND BLOW!

The best way I’ve heard this explained is this way. My daughter went off to college. She was given the privilege to be added to our credit card and received a card in her name. With that privilege came the full credit worthiness and power behind her father and me. We vouch for her and we also take a risk in that she could use this card irresponsibly. However, she retains intimacy and trust with us and always asks if she needs to use it. So when she makes a purchase, we honor her request and she leans on her father and me for the credit authority to use the card. Are you tracking? *

It’s a beautiful Kingdom principle. The Lord trusts us to ask in His authority as His children and within His will and then the spiritual realm must submit! DOUBLE MIND BLOW.

What does it mean to have this kind of authority…. Luke 9:1&2 Baby!!!!!

This scripture (and others) is our authority and it’s also our mandate for life. Our divine calling… To drive out demons, cure diseases, peach the good news and heal the sick! Astonishing isn’t it?

So how do we use our authority? We listen to the Holy Spirit and then we speak. Our WORDS bear great, GREAT power. Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…. Jesus spent a great amount of time in prayer but when he came face-to-face with the demonic, He didn’t stop to pray. He commanded. He used His Words to speak and command the demonic to leave. (Look up the story of Legion)

The spirit realm is always listening and responds to our words, good or evil.

The Spirit world cannot turn a deaf ear to the commands of God’s servants*. Hallelujah!

Matthew 12:36-27 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Okay, so let’s put this new knowledge into practice. Let’s start with protection and blessing.

There is great power in proclaiming and speaking (out loud) our declarations of protection as well as blessings upon ourselves, our situations, our homes and upon others.

Here are some examples of speaking protection that I use all the time:

• It says in Colossians 3 that we are hidden with Christ in God. So in the name of Jesus, I declare myself, my children, my spouse are hidden with Christ in God. The enemy cannot find us, hear us, nor make any plans against us to harm us.
• I claim that I am protected from harm as I drive today.
• I am protected from all attacks of the enemy and no demonic power can operate in my home, business, my classroom, my children’s life, my husband’s job, etc…. In JESUS NAME.

I always speak these truths with belief and in the name of Jesus. And I often repeat scripture promises.

Okay, let’s take a look at how we can bless.

In the last year I’ve battled foot pain. It started with Plantar Fasciitis. While on my walk n pray I would say something like this.

I bless my feet in Jesus name. All inflammation and pain must leave right now. I declare my feet healed and whole in the powerful name of Jesus. 

Today my feet are finally pain free. I’m currently speaking a blessing over my vision and eye sight. I want to watch Jesus do a miracle and restore my vision to a perfect 20/20 even though my eyes are older. I BELIEVE and will speak His blessing into my life. AMEN! Thank you Jesus.

Other blessings:

• Lord, as your child, I speak blessings over my children, their relationships, their futures and ask that they would love you with a full heart.
• I say that my finances are blessed and abundant. In Jesus name.
• I declare that my husband will encounter the love of Christ in a life-changing moment.
• I bless my body it is healthy and immune from disease, bacteria, weakness and I will walk in perfect health.
• I bless this city where I live. I ask that Your Kingdom stands preeminent in the lives of the people.

I could go on and on. I talk all day to the Lord about situations I face and I speak His love into my life, family and community, especially the SUMite family.

Okay, this week let’s practice and believe. As things begin to change in your world, PLEASE write me. I want to praise Jesus with you. And be patient. This is a life-long journey where we learn how to listen and then speak with the authority of Christ.

Quiet Time Study: (Take these questions to the Lord in your quiet time. Then listen.)

• Today begin to speak protection and blessing into your world. Make a conscious effort to speak daily. (All day long over your situations)
• Speak out loud a blessing over your children for their school day, their current struggles, for their protection, joy and hope. Watch their faces. Priceless!!!

Community Questions (answer in the comments):

• It’s my turn to bless you with the following.

I say that my SUMite brothers/sisters are blessed among millions. We are the living children of the Most High God and will walk in love, power and authority to change our circumstances, our marriages, empower our families and bring hope to thousands with our humble voice of obedience. We will shake the very foundation of satans kingdom and free ourselves and others from depression, illness, anxiety, fear, financial stress and every other assignment of the enemy. We demolish every argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. We will thrive in love and our testimony will bring great glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Jesus name, AMEN 

• In the comments share “I receive God’s promises”. Also, share with me a specific protection/blessing you are speaking into your life and I will stand with you in belief and prayer.

I love you, SUMite Nation. We are becoming a mighty nation with the love and authority of Christ. We are going to rise up and shatter the darkness and bring God’s goodness and glory to this earth. In Jesus name. AMEN

One more thing, what we are learning will transform your marriage. Hallelujah!!!

*Adapted from I Give You Authority by Charles Kraft.

Okay, I feel better. Let's get going.....

Do you have a Buddha statue in your front yard? How about a stone idol that you worship in your front room?

Ahem, NO!

My friends, the enemy isn’t that obvious. Do you know how he goes about with his deceptions?

He asks a question.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” —Genesis 3:1

He said to Eve, “Did God really say”……. And vwala, doubt rushes in.

Guess what this looks like today?

Unbelieving spouse says, “You don’t really believe all that stuff do ya? I mean really, the science is irrefutable.”

In an instant a seed of doubt is planted.

This is the main tactic the enemy uses to draw us out from under the umbrella. His most effective weapon is to attack our identity in Christ. Dineen’s posts on identity are spot on and truth. We must stand in our identity and BELIEVE.

We answer the questions of doubt with absolute truth. What is truth? It is an objective standard by which reality is measured. There is a reality that is unchangeable and its origin begins with God the creator. His Word is the truth. Period. The end. Anything that comes up against this fact is deception of the dark Kingdom. So, today, rest in the fact that their is a true reality and then believe. The origin of life, truth and our purpose is fully God. Science cannot explain away this fact. (Side note: Scientific discoveries of recent, are directly pointing to alternate realities, unseen universes and to intelligent design. But alas, that’s a topic for another day.)

Truth is more than a fact or information.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. —John 8:32  It’s freedom. Truth is a person, Jesus.

Take out your Bible and turn with me to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

SUMites, this is the battle ground. Our thoughts and emotions. We believe a lie (pretension or argument that set up against the knowledge (truth), of God.

Now here is the truth. When we believe a lie, in place of the truth, we have just given a demon permission to move in. And once in, kicking that thing out can become a battle for your very life.

With truth, however, we can take wrong beliefs and our thoughts captive to Christ. We MUST destroy speculations (our ideas) and lofty things (anything that blocks God’s point of view).

Let’s begin to dress in our armor, The Belt of Truth.

What I want to do now is share a video. The kids in it are children of a long-time SUMite. Each morning before school these kids dawn their wardrobe. And my friends, I believe we need to do the same. This became profoundly obvious to me through my recent studies. I came across a story of a pastor who was called to a home by frantic parents. Their teen son and friends were found in the dark in the backyard, cutting themselves and all manner of weirdness was going down.

The pastor arrived went out back and into the drainage ditch where these teens were. He came face to face with one of the teen boys. And out of this normal American kid’s mouth came a voice and accent that was of ancient Asian descent speaking all kinds of vulgar language and cursing. He looked right at this pastor and said, “I want to kill you but I can’t because you are always wearing your armor.”

Say what?

Let’s learn what this armor is and how to wear it every day. Listen in and practice the same this week.

Video is from Debra Alley and her kids. Thanks!!!

Quiet Time Study: (Take these questions to the Lord in your quiet time. Then listen.)

• Today I want you to look up a truth that will empower you John 8:31-31. I want you to get paper and pen. Write it out and allow the truth to penetrate your mind and soul.

Community Questions (answer in the comments):

• Okay, don’t look at the other comments below you just yet. I want you read this scripture and then personalize it in the comments. 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:3-5

On Monday we are going to look at other ways the devil creates strongholds, a spiritual thorn you can’t shake, in our lives. There are doors we open and the vermin will walk in. This is called legal permission. Stay tuned. And do not fear. You are a child of The Most High God. You are sheltered under his wing. (Psalm 91) Read it. It’s powerful.

Also, for those who need an inspiring story, hop over to Lynndonovan.org where I share: I'm Ashamed That I Prayed So Small.

Standing Under The Umbrella-

               The Battle For Our Life!

Ephesians 6 Series

Earlier this week I posted a question to our Facebook Reader page the following:

There is a need to write and study through the SUM blog about many practical needs for the spiritually mismatched such as tithing, friendships, sex, attending church alone, prayer at the dinner table, etc. Yet there is also a need to develop our spiritual life because out of that all the rest flows.

Currently I'm feeling the prompt of the Holy Spirit to write about our Spiritual Armor and preparing for spiritual warfare as we deal with these battles in our homes with our spouse, DAILY... So, I'm wondering what would you like to study? Both, at the same time? Tackle one subject on Monday the other on Friday? What other topics do we need to review for all the new readers who are just getting started on their mismatch journey and/or spiritual journey???

Well the response was strong for the Spiritual Warfare study but also we need to feed those who haven’t dealt with common marriage struggles. So after praying this is what I’m sensing from the Spirit.

BOTH.

Dineen and I have been writing since 2006. Our archives are filled with real-life and workable solutions to common challenges for the mismatched. Archives are often difficult to sift through and hard to find. So on Saturdays I’m going to repost some articles that address universal topics. If I think hard and blow up the cobwebs on my brain, I remember that there are really, really great messages, videos, questions and discussion that will help you with the daily and unique aspects in a mismatched marriage. So watch for those on the weekend.

I’m also convinced that NOW, more than ever, the Lord is leading His people into the truth about the spiritual realm and how much it truly impacts our physical and daily life. With that said, I plan to lead us through a study titled: Standing Under the Umbrella – The Fight For Our Life!

SO EXCITED!!!!

I’ve written spiritual warfare series before but this one is different. Why? Because I’ve walked the Biblical truth out in my own life. I’ve studied video series and articles for years and have read numerous books, titles I intend to share, because they will change your life. I have actually experienced praying for people and watching the demons flee. I’ve freed myself, my mother and my sister from ancestral curses and real freedom has come to our family. I’ve prayed for people for their cancer to leave and for depression to depart and Jesus healed those people. Our battles are deeply rooted in the spiritual realm and we must understand how that realm wreaks havoc upon our lives because once we “get” it, we will become free and so will others for whom we pray.

So THIS series will be unlike the priors.

We will be referring to the unerring Word of God for this series. Primarily our text will come from Ephesians 6. I’m likely to also tie in the books I’ve studied from time to time. Watch for recommendations to pop up in the sidebar. And I find it fascinating that the current Bible study at my local church is: Victory In Spiritual Warfare by Tony Evans. I guess God wants us to really, REALLY get this message. So I will likely be using some of Pastor Evans information.

I also sensed from the Holy Spirit that at the end of each post I’m to ask 1-3 questions. These questions are for you to take to God. Print them out or write them down. Go into your quiet time and pray them. Ask God the questions and then listen and let the Holy Spirit speak into your heart about the answers.

Finally, before we launch into the teaching I WANT EVERY PERSON TO HEAR THIS: Do NOT be afraid. We are stronger than the dark Kingdom because of Jesus. The devil will do everything possible to keep you from reading this series. He will try to intimidate you and tell you that you aren’t strong enough that you won’t be able to understand or that you should be very afraid. LIES… LIES…. LIES..

The truth is: The devil is terrified right now that you are even reading this post.

Let him quake in his pointed boots because it’s time to kick butt and take names.

My SUMite family, are you ready for true freedom? Are you ready and wanting to understand what the Bible really says about our authority in Christ Jesus?

Let’s get started. Take your Bible and read Ephesians 6:10-19

Quiet Time Study: (Ask these questions of the Lord. Then listen.)

• Am I equipped for battle in the spiritual realm?
• Do I employ the tools in Ephesians 6 in my life?
• Lord, will you walk with me through this and show me where I am allowing the enemy access?

Community Questions (answer in the comments):

• On a scale of 1-10 what is your awareness of spiritual warfare?
• Have you ever felt like you’ve engaged in the invisible realm?
• Pray the following prayer and answer AMEN in the comments. I will pray your name for this series and for your understanding and breakthrough.

Jesus, I am tired of the enemy stealing my joy, my health, my marriage, my kids, my very life. I’m willing to do the hard work and study Your Word so that I will be empowered by your love and authority to discover the deceptions of the demonic realm. I will be brave because You are walking with me. I will absolutely stand for nothing less than full victory in my life and for the Kingdom of God. I am fully committed to battle from victory and not for victory because everything I need was accomplished at the cross.

Thank you Jesus that you are my Savior. Thank you that you love me and that you are opening the door to greatness and victory in Your Kingdom. I pledge my love, my life, my eternity to you. In Your powerful name, Jesus. AMEN

It’s a great season in the Kingdom of God. We are entering the season of amber, orange and red beauty. We have Rosh Hashanah promises this Fall. We are pursuing a life of holiness. So let’s trample of the Kingdom of darkness!

Woo Hoo!!! I can’t wait to see what a group of ordinary believers can bring about in this world!! I love you my friends. So very much. Hugs, Lynn

Don't forget our community fast this Monday, September 14. Rosh Hashanah

SUMite Family:

We are indeed, living in an interesting season. I’ve spoken with my mom at length over the past few months about all of the end time scenarios that are being propagated in the Christian realm. These discussions are always fascinating and they are signs that make you wonder. *grin*

I will share with you some quick thoughts as we approach the end of the Shmita, Elul 29, for those who are following closely. We, all of humanity, may bear witness to some financial disturbances, the stock market, oil prices, and financial turmoil worldwide. We will witness the eclipses and the blood moons in the next three weeks. Yet, I’m convinced in my spirit that this is not quite the end. It may be the beginning of the end and the Lord is possibly positioning events, people and situations for His Last Day. (Now, if we are all raptured next week, you can find me in heaven and tell me I was wrong. *double grin*)

My heart is burdened to help us step out of fear. I’m convinced God is now creating one of the biggest moves of the Holy Spirit to ever be witnessed on earth. So, why in the world would He put an end to all that He has meticulously put into order and placement before the actual revival commences? It just doesn’t make sense. And I think we get all stirred up into fear and false expectation that removes us from love, generosity and the pursuit of intimacy with Christ.

I do believe there will be some turbulence but I also believe in this Jubilee, God will reassign wealth and protect His children. I am convinced and I have witnessed the holy Church rising into new areas of faith, spiritual growth and Kingdom advancement. So this is what I want us to take away today.

It’s going to all be okay!

We are not going to die today.

We have a hope and a future and God want’s our focus on love, holiness and the furthering of His Kingdom purposes.

I also want us to begin to pray into the promise of this Jubilee. Several years ago I wrote a post about the enemy and our rights to repayment from what was stolen. I’m going to repost some of that here because the Lord quickened my spirit that this Jubilee holds a short window to demand repayment from the dark Kingdom. You can read the entire article here:  I Am Taking The devil To Court!

Excerpt: There are so many areas in our lives that satan and his minions have caused us pain. He has literally stolen our family, our health, our homes and more.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~John 10:10 NIV

Today let's shine the light of God in this area and reclaim territory that has been lost, even lost for years and years. We are going to seek and receive the justice of our King.

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:6

I ask you, SUMites, “What has the devil stolen from you?  

God’s heavenly courts are open for us to petition and demand justice. I’m petitioning my Righteous Father to restore to me the years stolen and the pain of loss. I’m asking God to demand restitution for the years stolen from my family and marriage. In Jesus name.

So today, what has the enemy stolen from you? Approach the throne of grace. Begin to petition God about this promise in His holy and powerful Word. Begin to believe you will be made whole, times seven, for what the devil has stolen, killed or destroyed in your life.

Man, I’m certain that the enemy is mad about this post today. I’m asking you to leave me a word in the comments about what you are now declaring restored, sevenfold. I will pray with you.

This moment, this day, this hour the court of the Most High is in session and it’s our day as our loving Father extends His scepter and welcomes us to the mercy seat to make our requests known. And then we only need to stand back, pray with belief, and then watch as our God moves for us.

Woo Hoo. I can’t wait to see what comes from this moment in the SUMite Nation. Lookout devil. Your deceptions are over. We are the ordinary/ extraordinary army of the Most High and we demand this day a return of ALL that you have stolen and it MUST BE RESTORED SEVENFOLD. In Jesus name. AMEN.

SUMite Nation:

We are shifting gears.

Following the SCOTUS Ruling last month I quickly realized that many of us were staring “Fear” straight in the face. As mamas we were grappling with questions such as.

How do I handle it when little Johnny asks, “Can I go to my best friend’s house to play. Oh and by the way, his dads will be by to pick me up?”

How do I help my child to remain strong in his/her faith when the world says we are haters?

Is there a way to guide them in our new and contrary world today? 

How do I guide them through public school this year?

Moms and Dads, the answer is, YES!

We can raise kids to faith in a Contrary Culture. And in fact, I believe that the SUMite Nation is an unrecognized and unlikely leader in this area already. We have been living and thriving in marriages to spouses who support a humanism world view, gay marriage, evolution, etc.

We have everything we need to lead our children to become world changers for the cause of Christ. So beginning July 31^st we are launching a new series… The series title will be announced tomorrow.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS. Let other moms know about this series because so many are living in fear about their children and their future faith.

Okay, this is a teaser….. More to come tomorrow. Tune in as we share some encouraging words that will inspire you as you parent and lead your children in faith. Hugs, Lynn

Dear friends, on Saturday I started telling you a little bit about the dark night of the soul I walked through in 2014 and what 1 Peter 5:6-10 came to mean to me. Let’s look at those verses again and I’ll finish my story.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober- minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. — 1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV

As I said, Peters says to give God all our anxieties. And that’s where I was, in the depths of anxiety that made no sense. I would wake up shaking and spend most of the morning just trying to get a grip on my life for that one day. My quiet time with Abba was my refuge and sanctuary (my word for 2015), and worship became a weapon against the evil plan the enemy had sent against me to pull me into depression—a plague that has sickened several generations in my family. Psalm 91 became my daily declaration!

When my anxiety and depression would threaten to overwhelm me, I would stop and pray 1 Peter 5:6-7 and imagine all that dark stuff sitting my hands, then I’d lift them up and say, “Lord, it’s all Yours. I give it all to You. I am casting all this upon You.”

And you know what? He always had something to give back to me—His peace and comfort. And we need those, my friends. The peace of Christ guards our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7), which is crucial if we are to “be sober minded.” That word in the Greek means to be calm and collected in spirit. As Peter says, the enemy prowls, seeking to devour. And he will use our emotions against us every way he can. And that is what he tried to do with me. The lie I’d bought into as a teenager was that I was at the mercy of my thoughts and feelings, but God’s Word says otherwise. 

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. — Romans 8:6 NLT

I stood on this truth and the others I’ve shared everyday, dear friends. Our greatest challenge, especially as women, is to look at our emotions first before we act upon them. If we don’t, we are just reacting. Then our emotions control us instead of us controlling and using them to our benefit. Emotions can be good in telling us when we are hurting and need something. They can also alert us to a lie we are believing when they seem out of context or alignment with God’s truth. This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through this process.

And finally in verse 10, Peter returns to the promise he started describing in verses six and seven. After we have suffered a little while…that’s the hardest part, to endure, to persevere, to trust God has a plan for it all and that He is good and that He is working for our good (Romans 8:28). Because He is. That’s Who He is. Always.

Then that good comes, the good God has been working to bring out of our trials, our suffering, our challenges. He does not leave us in these places of pain. No, His heart is to Himself, by His hand of love, to restore us. To confirm, strengthen and establish us. The Greek word for restore also means to perfect and prepare. Sound familiar? And by establishing us, He is laying our true foundation in the truth of who we are in Him, in the truth of Christ. 

So from our sufferings, trials and challenges, we emerge more like the new creation He has made us to be. And that is what I have witnessed, my dear friends. I prayed and claimed these promises for over a year, tentative at first and then with growing confidence, until they became part of the established foundation of my faith. And as I have broken this “plague” off my life, I am contending and breaking it off of my daughters. Because as the enemy has lost hold of me, he has tried to insert his hold on my girls. That is NOT going to happen, because I now have the authority to speak these truths into their lives.

How do I know that? As I stood in my new church in January, worshiping God with a heart full of gratitude for how He has restored and is restoring my life, how He has and is making me steadfast, strong and firm in my faith that is now built on His truth and promises, His still small voice spoke to my heart and told me He was lifting me up that very day. And that it was time to soar. Just this past weekend, three different times He showed me a bird soaring in the sky, at the same speed and direction as the car I was in or driving.  

When I look back at all He has done, I am astounded. It could have gone very differently if I hadn’t humbled myself under His hand and trusted Him. I stepped out in what felt like a feeble and failing faith, and He met me with His faithfulness, His healing presence and sent key people to come along side and pray with me. Especially Lynn, who prayed with me, cried with me, and encouraged me greatly. 

SUMites, these promises are for all of us. Just as Jesus restored Peter, He restores us. Whatever you are struggling, battling, agonizing over, cast it upon Him. Our Great God has massive shoulders that can carry it all. And what’s so beautiful is that He WANTS us to do this. Longs for us to do this. Our God is completely for us (Romans 8:31-32)!

My friends, I have been praying these prayers for you too as I know many of you are in very difficult places right now. Share in the comments how you are casting your cares upon the Lord. I would like to pray with you and pass on the blessings and freedom Abba has given to me.

Love you!

Dear friends, I feel like I'm on a treasure hunt through the Bible and the Holy Spirit keeps revealing these nuggets of wisdom and knowledge. In fact, I shared this verse on Facebook last week because it keeps showing up:

In him [Christ] lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. — Colossians 2:3 NLT

I have prayed into this for myself and for you, SUMites. Jesus wants to give us these treasures! We just have to ask for them.

So, this latest treasure is one that the Holy Spirit showed me builds on a truth we have talked about in the past, but builds upon it in regard to our authority in Jesus, the authority spoken of in Luke 9:1-2 and Luke 10:17. Our authority given us through our salvation in Jesus. 

But this nugget is revealing that we have specific authority, which I find fascinating. First let's start with 2 Corinthians 1:4:

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. — 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT

I've always loved this verse, because it reflects God's heart for us individually and corporately. He is our comforter and we are to pass the comfort on to others. He intends it to work that way. That is why we encounter others who are going through the same trials and difficulties we have gone through. Sometimes even as we are going through them. Abba wants to comfort us so we can comfort others, and encourage each other. This is the body of Christ working in love and unity.

But did you know that the very places that you have overcome give you special authority? Take a look at 2 Corinthians 4:17:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV 

That word "weight" in the original Greek is baros and it means weight, burden, authority.

What does that mean? It means that the sicknesses and trials that you have overcome are now places of authority in which you can pray for others. You are essentially passing a blessing you have received to another person. It doesn't take it away from you at all or lessen its affect or presence. You are sharing it with another, which honors God because you are being obedient to His Word. And God always increases His blessings in these times.

Guess what else? It's a form of worship. An "eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison"! 

 That which we overcome gives us authority to pray for the same breakthrough for others and in combination with the glory of Jesus, it becomes an act of worship and praise.

My friends, I believe we are called to boldly pray and believe for others the very same things we have received. Remember the story of healing I shared a while back about praying for a friend's thyroid to be healed because my thyroid had been healed. And she in turn was healed! I simply passed on the blessing I'd received and was doubly blessed to see God do this in another person. See the increase?

And don't be surprised if Jesus sets you up with divine appointments to encounter people who need your prayers. It is a beautiful set-up, my friends. One that will bless you even more profoundly than the first. It's absolute nonsense to the world, but it's exactly what God will use to make Himself known (1 Cor. 1:27-30). 

My friends, I thought this post was done when I wrote the above paragraph but this morning I had an experience that so profound shows how this works. In my last post, Waiting in the Delivery Room, Holly shared an amazing encounter she had with God. I asked her to pray for me to have an encounter like that too. And she did! 

I DECLARE that you will have an encounter with the God of all creation that will be even greater and more profound than that which I testify to!! Holy Spirit please fall on Dineen with power and fill her to overflowing with Your liquid love and supernatural peace! Get her good Lord so that she is forever changed by the love of her Father!!! You are a good good Father and worthy of our praise!!! In Jesus name....AMEN!!!!!!

That prayer was answered today in a most unexpected way. I was walking around the nearby park, listening to worship music, praying and praising God. I needed this terribly too, my friends, because I’d let in some “stinkin’ thinkin’” recently. God revealed to me that my heart wasn’t thankful. 

So, I chose to walk in my authority over my heart and feelings and turn that frown upside down, to use a cliche. Halfway into my second lap, I felt something…different. I looked up at the magnificent sky and it was like the presence of God fell on me!

And guess what happened next? You won’t believe it… I burst out in laughter. Big laughter. Belly laughter. Holy laughter… And I couldn’t stop. Right in the middle of the park. My friends, I kid you not. 

Holy laughter is something I’ve been asking Abba for for a while. And today was my day. I continued to laugh the rest of my walk around the park—in sudden bursts that doubled me over! I haven’t a clue what other people there thought, and, honestly, I don’t care. 

Today, my Papa God made me laugh! And I believe that was in part a result of Holly passing on her blessing to me (thank you so much, Holly!), which came in an unexpected (and foolish to the world perhaps?) way, and I believe this was also Abba’s way of honoring my decision to be obedient to rejoice in Him, to choose joy, and to walk in that attitude. No more stinkin’ thinkin’! 

And now, my dear friends, I pray for you to experience holy laughter. 

Lord Jesus, You came to set us free and to know Your peace and joy. I ask for holy laughter for our SUMite family. You know best when and how to bring it, Holy Spirit. Do what You do best! In the JOYFUL name of Jesus, amen!

Laughing with you, my friends, and rejoicing in Him!

I believe. I’ve decided that I believe the Bible. I believe the sun and moon stood still and there has never been a day like that before or since then. But I believe that if God tells me to command the sun, He will surely do it. And He will send the hailstones as well if that will serve His purposes.

What is mind-blowing about all this revelation in the past week about locks, lockers, keys and such is the GIANT breakthroughs in my life that came with it. Personal breakthroughs such as losing weight, a long area of defeat for me. Breakthrough in writing and other areas. I finally found a new church for which I had been praying for months. My husband attended church. I’ve prayed over him, literally saying, “I blast you with the Holy Spirit.” And this past week, in church, he raised his hand toward the platform as we prayed corporately over a family. Say What? Who is this man?

I tell you he is a man for whom I will never stop “loosing” the Kingdom over his life. I remain hopeful through the Resurrection power that one day SOON he will step into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. And I will never stop praying for that glorious day!

My friends, I’m convinced in the depths of my soul and so is Dineen that we are living in a unique period of time never seen before nor again. We as believers are positioned to be part of the greatest outpourings of His love and power on earth since the time of Christ.

If you are a reader here, you have been sent here by design. (AMEN!) I’m convinced that the Lord is holding out your key of invitation to step into this time of great preparation. Jump in with both feet. No, I say: Jump off the cliff and BELIEVE He will catch you. Take the keys from His hands and together we shall loose on earth His love and healing. We will bind lies, death, disease, marriage troubles, relationship difficulties, tears, cruelty, fear, depression, sickness and frailty as well as every other mission of the demonic realm. In Jesus name.

So let’s begin right now. Pray with me:

Lord Jesus,

Today this family on the web, who by design is strategically disbursed throughout the planet arises with Joshua courage to fight and DEFEAT the enemy. We are honored that you have trusted us with the keys of the Kingdom. Give us now your Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to use these keys to open gates that must be opened and to shut those that must be shut upon the demonic realm.

Lord, make us fearless.

Papa, God, make us strong as we stand in faith.

Papa, Almighty God, fill us with a fierce love that knocks down every wall and releases your kingdom here on earth.

Lord, we thrill to see the daily miracles which we will be apart. We expect You to speak to us so that we know your thoughts and wishes. We pledge you our time, our heart, our life, loyalty, worship and love. Forever and ever. We ask you to heal us quickly that we may then bring your healing to the world. And they will know we are Christians by our love.

We adore you. Thank you. And stand in faith… of a mustard seed. In Jesus name. Amen.

PRAY WITH POWER. Hugs, Lynn

SUMite Nation:

Our favor, as Kingdom people, is dawning. If you remember from Monday’s post, the Lord has me camped on the passage in Matthew 16.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
—Matthew 18:18-19 KJV

Sometimes I love to read scripture in the King’s English.

Let me take you back to Monday’s post. I remind you that I’m camped in my spirit upon the implications of believing the passage above and then I arrived in my daily reading at Joshua chapter 10. I do hope you read Joshua 10 on Monday. This is the part that came alive in my soul.

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still,
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! (NIV)

Why in the world, after reading God’s Word through every year since 1999, haven’t I “seen” this passage before, I have yet to understand. However, the implications are amazing.

I did some research regarding this phenomenon.

Leading up to this astonishing event we find Joshua and his armies are taking possession of the Promised Land. The battle that precedes this event was a culmination of five kingdoms who joined forces and were positioned to defeat the Gibeonites who were in covenant with Israel. The people of the area send an urgent plea to Joshua to defend their towns. So, here is where it gets interesting. Joshua and the armed forces march all night to arrive at the battle. They traveled 20 miles thus they arrive physically taxed. They took the opposing kingdoms by surprise, fought all day and then the defeated army begins to flee.

Joshua’s troops pursue and chase them down. I love this little tidbit of the story. As the fled and God joined in. God hurled hailstones down upon them. More died from the hail than from the sword. SAY WHAT?.... Holy Goosies!

However, many still were able to flee and Joshua realized evening was nearing. If the opposing army were to find safety in the darkness, they would regroup and then have an upper hand the following day.

So what does a man of God do? He looks up to the sun and moon and commands them to stay in the sky! Therefore because the sun did not set, they had enough time and strength left to soundly defeated five wicked Kingdoms in a single day.

Can I just say, “Whoa!”

And I will add that the Word of God says in verse 14 there has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

There are a few theories about this unique day in the Word such as: The Lord slowed the earth’s rotation along with the moon. So a 24 hour period was stretched to nearly a 48 hour period. And it’s interesting that at the time Joshua adds a side note: as it is written in the Book of Jashar. This book is lost to us now but scholars believe it is a book referenced several times in scripture. Its title when translated is; The Book Of The Upright or The Book of the Upright Man. Fascinating. I just wonder if in these last days, this ancient book may be discovered somewhere in a clay pot, possibly in a cave in the Judean desert. (Oh the things I like to ponder *grin*.)

Anyhoo, what in the world does this ancient story have to do with us?

As I read this passage and the Holy Spirit gave revelation (Ephesian 1:17), I realized that this kind of power that was released to stop the earth’s rotation and cause the moon to stand still is the same power of the resurrection.

Now my question to you is this? As current day believers, do we have this kind of power? And here is the kicker question: Do you think we should want this power? Is it sinful? Or prideful?

I have much more for us to ponder my friends. See you in the comments. I LOVE LIVING THE BELEIVER’S LIFE!!!! Love you my SUMite family. 

My friends, I'm so excited to share Jo's post with you today. She shared this truth with me recently in an abbreviated form and I asked her to write about it, because it's so foundational and encouraging. I pray it lifts your perspective higher than it's ever been before. 

Thank you, Jo, for giving us a glimpse of your faith journey. We love you! Hugs! ~Dineen and Lynn

The Truth

As God connects with each of us in unique and personal ways to guide us, my direction comes through visuals. Sometimes I get a photograph. Other times the Holy Spirit takes a snapshot. And on some occasions such as this time I am about to share, I get a “prize” to pick up, like I have been on a treasure hunt with my Daddy. In this instance, two years ago while I was out walking, I passed by a tiny object on the ground, and I felt nudged to collect it.

This week the whole story came to fruition as I was listening to one of my favourite teaching programs. In this particular lesson the speaker talked on Spiritual Authority. Who is the enemy? How does satan fight us and what authority does he have?

As this particular teacher explained his own encounter I was FLOORED to hear his words create an image in my mind of the very object I held in my possession for two years!

In his story he recounted how a room in a relative’s home was realized after many years, through circumstances and events, to house some demons. He figured to enter in finally and rid the house of these unwelcomed inhabitants. In doing so, his mind began to conjure up images of the dwellers there with him as he commenced with Spiritual Warfare prayers and, getting a bit anxious about how they might look like, he began thanking God that he wasn’t able to actually SEE them.

At this point God intervened with a reply to him saying, “You have it all wrong! They aren’t who you think they are at all. They are in fact tiny, cowardly creatures, huddling in the corner, but they have a BIG mouth!”

The second I heard “BIG mouth,” I realized the object I have in my possession is a visual example God gave me to SEE and share with others to know who the enemy really is after all is said and done.

A bully with a big mouth.

The truth about bullies is that they are in fact cowards. Cowards are described as “yellow.” The fact that the item I have in my possession fit the description exactly was no coincidence. Right down to the detail of a BIG mouth, which Dineen helped me realize after all this time is shaped like a COFFIN!

The enemy speaks death. He is here in our lives to kill, steal and destroy all the plans God has for us. He doesn’t want us knowing who he really is, so he speaks lies and deceptions. He distracts us and tricks us in very subtly, conniving ways.

Life with Jesus as our Saviour has empowered us with the Holy Spirit. This authority is exactly what satan has been fighting for since the day he lost the battle. As long as he can keep our mind entertained and distracted from God’s Truth, we give him power. Without our consent he doesn’t have a partner to use and therefore is rendered powerless. We have to be conscience of what our mind is focusing on and choose the truth.

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." — Mark 10:15

In this world and the way it reasons, all I shared here would sound like a wild childhood fable, but believing in Jesus and what He died for allows us to live with one foot in the Kingdom. When we are able to grasp that as Truth, we walk by faith and not by sight.

There is complete healing to be experienced in knowing who the enemy really is.

The Word is the Power to close the lid on that coffin mouth! Faith is the key to lock it tight! The Armour for our protection is in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Again, be a child. DRESS UP for your own protection!

My life has turned into a treasure hunt with God since losing a precious canine family member. What satan steals from us, God will replace with joy as we keep our eyes on Him. The communication grows with each precious gem I discover, sifting my life for GOLD. (You can also visit Jo's website at http://cupofjo2008.wix.com/artworks)

There are many reasons why Dineen and I serve in ministry. There are times when it’s tough as people are broken, sick, oppressed and lost. We, the mismatched are truly on the front lines in our own homes, warring for our families. 

Ministry can be tough but it’s for moments like Tiffany’s that I get up every morning. It’s for victories like this that I pray with relentless power and love over our SUM family. It’s for lives that are touched by the love of Jesus that I remain always thankful to serve in any way, the Kingdom of God. Dineen and I continue to pray for your breakthrough. Love and hugs, Lynn 

Tiffany: 

LYNN! I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND MY FELLOW SUMITES!! 

I received the email for this post in my inbox on Monday at 1:07am (Post Title: It’s Demonic In Nature). I am just now seeing the email and have JUST read your post. 

I have been struggling the past few years with self-condemnation and self-loathing. I mean bad, to the point where I would be constantly telling myself (sometimes even audibly) and describing to my husband that I HATED myself. That I absolutely hated myself. Not allowing freedom from things already forgiven! Not forgiving myself. Not giving Jesus full reign over my life. Quenching the Spirit, etc. I would constantly be crying out to God for help and opportunity yet blinding myself to His work in my life. 

Monday morning I woke up it was probably 5 am and instantly I got on the ground faced down, bowed before the Father. Now this is NOT something natural to me. There I was in the presence of my Creator. In those intimate moments, I just felt something so unique...I have felt God's grace and mercy and been overwhelmed by His love before but this, this was different. 

I have been delivered from all my insecurity and self-loathing, hatred and condemnation. 

I knew it was a miracle because like I said before this was totally unnatural of me. I had no idea until this moment that God is doing a mighty work in all of us and how amazing to see His deliverance for all of us. It's been almost 2.5 days since my encounter "on the road to Damascus" and I have never felt happier and at peace. 

It's like Jesus spoke over me, "It is FINISHED!" 

I have started putting on makeup again and doing my hair and taking time to pamper myself because I finally believe I am worth it...a child of the One True King! I hope I have done a decent job at explaining this because I feel I have no words to truly describe this miraculous work in me. 

How amazing that even in our online community where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, mighty things happen...more than we can ask or imagine. 

Than you Tiffany for this testimony of God’s love in your life. My friends, press in to the love of our Lord for your miracle. Get on your face if you need to in complete obedience and allow the Lord of the Universe immerse you in His fathomless love. 

Pray in the comments. Let’s pray for one another. I want to post miracle after miracle here where the SUM Nation BELIEVES in a God who can do anything. 

I love you my family. I truly love you, Lynn

In the past two weeks I keep hearing it. 

It whispers in the car, while in the shower, especially when I’m driving. It’s a voice that’s anything but tender, loving and kind. It’s the voice of darkness and lies. 

What is going on here? 

It’s been years since this menacing voice of condemnation has pestered me in such relentless fashion. I started to recognize what was happening after I spent an entire day squirming, blushing, paining from the ugly voice. I wonder if this happens to you? 

Let me explain. 

An old, old, embarrassing memory pops into your head and your mind rushes with embarrassment. Thirty minutes later, another memory. This time it’s a recollection of a personal and a specific situation where your actions/word hurt someone very deeply. It’s as if your mind relives the entire scenario with painful details. 

You shake your head and clear that memory and wonder, Where did that come from? Then not long after, another crappy memory of pain, where you were embarrassed, and you wish with everything within you that you could take it back. Do over. Die and be buried? (Okay, that last one is extreme, I know.) 

Anyone??? 

Is it just me? Unlikely. This is the work of a condemning spirit. It’s absolutely demonic in nature. Its purpose is to steal your mind and heart away from the progress you have made in your faith life. It’s only mission is to cause you to worship it. How can you worship a demonic spirit? By reliving painful and embarrassing memories and thus take your mind away from Jesus (idol). It wants to destroy your confidence and peace by causing you to relive sinful moments, (now get this) for which you have already been forgiven. 

Ugh!!!!

Okay, so why is this happening? Especially in the light of our recent Romans study where we learned there is NO condemnation in Christ Jesus. I can explain my circumstances and I hope that you can then see how sneaky this ugly snake can be, recognize it, and then depose it to the Abyss. 

I’ve been struggling for months to begin writing my next book. Most of you know this. Finally, and I MEAN, finally all the sickness, family drama and demands on my time ceased. (Can I just say: Nice try devil but …. FAIL). Since God has put barriers around me now to push forward, I have been actually writing well and putting words on the screen with amazing downloads from our Father. 

So the devil can’t stop me anymore by waging an outward assault, so this minion comes in and says I will start bringing up all these old memories that make her squirm and steal her thoughts, to distract her and keep her off task. 

Yep. That’s exactly what happened. Twice. 

The first time this nonsense went on all day because I didn’t catch on early enough. I fought off these painful memories nearly all day. Then once again a week later, same thing. 

However, this is where Papa’s girl finally realizes what is happening and I put an end to it, toot sweet (Is that a fitting phrase?) 

Immediately, I said something like this. And I said it out loud with conviction and full confidence in my Jesus to execute my words: In the name of Jesus, I command you, condemning spirit, to leave me and go directly into the abyss. You can never return and I will never allow you to stir up old sins for which I have been forgiven. I have confesses my part in my past and I have been fully forgiven by my Savior, Jesus. Those past sins are at the bottom of the sea. As far as the east if from the west and I stand fully justified and empowered through the authority, blood and love of Jesus. I declare you have no right to my mind. EVER! In Jesus name. Amen. 

Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me where the enemy comes to steal my life. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit that brings freedom to my mind. Thank you for your love. Thank you for the angels that are taking that enemy snake to the pit, never to return. Amen. Hallelujah. 

SUMite Nation: This week, let’s have no part of negative thinking, condemnation, revisiting of forgiven sins. Let ask the Holy Spirit to fill our minds with compassion, love and the purposes of Heaven. In Jesus name. Amen. 

I love you. Have a great week. I know many of you will have a breakthrough in this area this week because the enemy has been exposed. 

THANK YOU Jesus!!!

SUMites. 

In the last week, through scripture, other books I’m reading, and email, I’ve been continually drawn to OUR power passage. 1 Corinthians 7:12-14. (See it below.)

I am coming into new revelation that this passage is even more powerful than we think. When combined with the passage from Matthew 18:19, which is also being hammered home in me, I’m in a place of powerful belief and prayer. 

So, I think I want to revisit this passage and re-inspire you with what the Lord tells us when we are in a mixed – mixed up *grin*- marriage. I know that we have a ton of new readers who perhaps haven’t found our writings on this passage. So while I’m busy working away on my next book, please let me share again from Winning Him Without Words: 

I’ve lived many seasons unequally yoked and only now am I reaping the rewards of the hard work of forgiveness. I am able to teach my children about Christ, to love my husband unconditionally, and to dwell daily in the presence of my Savior. But, because I have traveled through the difficult seasons where many of you are at right now, I have a heart for your pain and I understand the real struggles you face. I have lived where you are living, and I wasted too many years stuck on the path. More than anything, I don’t want one more woman wasting years imprisoned in a bad season. It is God’s desire for us to discover that marriage is fun, fulfilling, rewarding, and godly. 

Godly, you may wonder. How can a believer and an unbeliever have a godly marriage?

For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages—Christian married to non-Christian—we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God (1 Cor. 7:12-14, THE MESSAGE). 

Let this passage bring you comfort and security. You are a follower of Jesus and it’s by your faith he will bring about his good and perfect will in your home. Can I get an amen? AMEN! 

I was reading something recently from Smith Wigglesworth. This man astonishes me at his antics within the power and love of God. He paid a visit to a woman whose husband was an unbeliever and who had left her. Smith said the following to her: The situation is yours. The Word of God says that you have power to sanctify your husband. Dare to believe the Word of God. …. The situations is yours. Get down before God and claim him for the Lord. Get into the glory just as you have got in today, and the Spirit of God prays through you, you will find that God will grant all the desires of your heart. 

My friends, I don’t fully understand how our faith sanctifies our spouse, but I’m willing to learn. I’m willing to believe. 

PS. Wigglesworth saw the woman a month later. She told him how her husband had come home that night and she prayed through the night right through to victory then laid hands upon him. He cried out for mercy. The Lord saved him and baptized him in the Holy Spirit. The power of God is beyond all our conception….. 

Such a great story. Makes me smile to imagine my husband crying out for mercy… So let’s stand together today upon God’s promise of Matthew 18:19 and pray together for our spouses full, Holy Spirit, deliverance, salvation. In Jesus name. 

My friends, another clue arrived in my inbox last Thursday morning, a simple verse from John 1. But my spirit stirred and I knew the Holy Spirit was showing where to read next, where the next treasure hunt would begin. 

I read the first five verses of the book of John several times, enamored by verse five:

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. — John 1:5 NASB

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. — John 1:5 NLT

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. — John 1:5

Darkness (evil, the enemy) cannot overcome God's light (His presence), nor can it comprehend it. This is a foundational truth and the roots of our hope in Jesus. But the bigger treasure had yet to be found. The Holy Spirit nudged me on.

The first 18 verses of John 1 are like poetry. Abstract yet astonishing in their truth. I know I could never understand them without the help of the Holy Spirit to translate and reveal their meaning and hidden treasure. Much like the parables that Jesus spoke as He walked the earth, John 1:1-18 is the parable of Jesus—where He is, why He is, Who He is.

The connection of His identity is embedded in the Bible and in the Living Word of God. Jesus is the Word. My friends, this boggles my mind. As we read the Bible, we are reading Jesus. From Genesis to Revelations, He IS every word. 

And I think we know this in the sense that we understand the whole Bible was written to establish Who He is, why He came, when He would come, and that He will return. But I want to propose something a little deeper here.

We know the power of God's Word, and I know I most likely sound like a broken record yet again in saying that reading, studying and "consuming" the Bible is key to everything in this life and even the next.  

If we are to walk fully in our identity in Christ, we have to know Who He is in order to know who we are.

If we are to walk in the gifts of the Spirit, then we need to know how the Holy Spirit works in God's children by reading and "watching" how Jesus and His disciples did this. If we want to understand Abba Father and His will for His children, we must read the Bible to get a fuller and growing understanding of His character and His purposes for His children. 

Simply put, the Bible is living and breathing, because it is Jesus. John says so right in those first 18 verses.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:14 ESV

Jesus is the Word and the Word is Jesus. And yet there is more...

We are given the Word as a most precious gift. To read, cherish and yes, to even seek its treasures. One more I'd like to present that the Holy Spirit finally led me to. I love how He does this with such subtlety and heart. He gives me just enough to get started and allows me to make the discovery as He assists in connecting the dots. He is wise in His methods as He knows this is how we keep the truths we unearth and place them like trophies on the shelves of our faith lives—precious reminders of our steps of faith into greater victories.

And here is His latest reward in this search.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, — John 1:12 NASB

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. — John 1:12 NLT 

In the Greek translation, the word "right" used here is exousia and means power to act, authority. This goes so much deeper, my friends, for my first thought of this verse before digging deeper was it’s simply a title. Yet this verse from John reveals it's more. This "title" also comes with power and authority. Just as Luke said.

​And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. — Luke 9:1-2 ESV

And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. — Luke 9:1-2 NASB

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. — Luke 10:19 ESV 

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. — Luke 10:19 NLT

It would be easy to, I think, to wind up with heads full of this heady power, yet John is clear as he continues to give the fuller picture. That as Jesus became human (while still fully God) and came to live among us, He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness (John 1:14), and that as the law was given through Moses, God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus (John 1:17).

Jesus reveals the Father to us, and His power and authority are balanced by His love and faithfulness. 

They cannot be separated. Perhaps that is where we wind up stumbling and feeling ineffective, my friends. Power and authority without love is legalism. And love and faithfulness without the undergirding of this power and authority winds up self-powered, limited, then burned out (working in our own strength).

We talk a lot about God's love as I believe the Father's heart right now is for His children to know that we are loved beyond reason and understanding. But I sense a shift in His message coming that will help us embrace more fully not just who we are in Him but also what we are capable of being and doing with and through Him.

Study these verses, my friends, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you greater meaning and understanding of what the Father is empowering you to do as His precious child. I know the answers will inspire, bewilder, overwhelm and empower you, all in the best possible ways of His Son Jesus. Amen!

Pondering this with you…

Happy Saturday, my friends! How are you doing? Feeling more empowered yet? Still soaking in the truths from Romans 8:9-11? I loved your comments on Wednesday, and I love that we’re on this journey together. Please keep sharing your thoughts in the comments. We inspired and encourage one another when we do that. 

Today we’ll dig into Romans 8:12-17. I’m only using the NIV and Voice translations to keep things a little less cumbersome, so pull out your favorite translation and be sure to read it there as well.  

NIV: 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The Voice: 12 So, my brothers and sisters, you owe the flesh nothing! You do not need to live according to its ways, so abandon its oppressive regime. 13 For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. 14 If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children. 15 You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy. 16 Through that prayer, God’s Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His children. 17 If we are God’s children, that means we are His heirs along with the Anointed, set to inherit everything that is His. If we share His sufferings, we know that we will ultimately share in His glory.

In this section of Romans 8, Paul brings us to a conclusion about our relationship to sin—basically that we don’t have one. We have a relationship with the Father, as we are His children. And living as such is truly living. The part I’m still wrapping my brain around completely is in verse thirteen. 

The NIV translation says, “but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

But if we look at the Voice translation, this nugget is more fully revealed: “But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life.”

The NIV translation makes it clear that we can’t put a stop to sin in our lives by our own ability, strength, or power. If we could, then the law would still stand and Jesus wouldn’t have needed to come and die for us. We need the help and power of the Holy Spirit. 

The Voice translation brings out an additional nugget of wisdom to this process though. We must invite the Holy Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, sin and strongholds. Sometimes we know exactly where the battle lies. Other times we don’t and we need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these areas to us.

And more than likely He will show us one of two things:

1. We are living in sin. Remember, He will not condemn us, just lovingly convict us and empower us to walk away from this sin and/or ask for help.
2. It’s a lie that has permeated our thinking and understanding of who we think we are in relationship to who God says we are. This revelation will bring relief and, again, empowerment to overcome.
3. The issue is actually a demonic influence. Again, this will bring relief and understanding, as well as tools (our authority in Jesus for starters) to rebuke it in the name of Jesus, and to recognize this influence if it tries to come back.

Often times the lie has allowed the enemy a foothold in our lives, or we’ve become entrenched in a lie that the enemy shot at us to begin with. Figuring out which happened first is kind of like the old chicken and egg question—which came first. But you know what, it doesn’t matter. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you identify it and show you how to root and boot it out. 

However, as it is written: 
“What no eye has seen, 
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” —
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. — 1 Cor. 2:9-12

That help will come from Scripture and prayer, from the still small voice of our Abba (which is Greek for “Daddy”) telling us the truth, from the Holy Spirit in a clear thought or leading that we know didn’t come from ourselves, and may even come externally in a timely phone call, email, or a book or Bible study that seems to be exactly what we need at that moment.

Just tune in and you’ll see those answers to prayers to be freed from ongoing issues in your lives. Some answers come and the “fix” is immediate. Other times it will take time and we must persevere and remember that verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9 where God tells Paul that His power is made perfect in weakness. We can take comfort and place our hope in this powerful truth, that in our weakness, God’s power is exhibited to it’s full capacity and will bring us to freedom and healing, in His way and His timing.

And finally, there are more promises here, my friends. Take a look:

Vs. 14: The Holy Spirit declares us children of God. We don’t have to prove ourselves to be His children. The Holy Spirit SAYS we are. (i.e. You don’t have to earn God’s acceptance and approval.)

Vs. 15: The Holy Spirit frees us from fear and deepens our relationship with God the Father, “as we would address a loving daddy.” 

Vs. 16: The Holy Spirit confirms to our own spirit that we are God’s children. 

(Do you see in vss. 15 and 16 how the Holy Spirit tirelessly works to bring the Father to us and us to the Father?)

Vs. 17: We are God’s heirs, just like His Son Jesus, with full benefits. We will share some of His sufferings, yes, but we will ultimately share in His glory too. 

Look what He said in John 16:

Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. — John 16:20-21

The analogy of the pain of childbirth becoming joy is a perfect analogy, my friends. Many of us are feeling a bit “pregnant” with promise (I actually noticed I was waddling the other day, the way I did when I carried my girls!) and some of us are struggling to give birth to those promises, but that’s a topic for another day.

My friends, I’ll stop here. Just know that this is all building to what I consider to be two of God’s greatest promises to us near the end of this amazing, truth-packed chapter. 

Let’s chat some more in the comments! 

Yesterday we approached the Alter. We surrendered our shame, guilt, our failures, our inadequacies, pain, disappointment, devastation ….. Our brokenness. 

Listening to our Father today, I hear Him say to me, “Lynn, you have stood upon my promises and have remained faithful. I cannot deny my own Word.” 

There have been many years in my past that all I had to grasp were God’s distant promises. But I held on to them. Sometimes shakily. Praying and willing myself to trust God’s promise, I would wake up at night and speak them out loud. I would repeat them over and over to myself. I remember a long season in my past where all I could do was to repeat, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can do all things… (Phil 4:13) This promise alone push me through many tough hours. 

His promises sustained me in the years of disappointment and disillusionment. What I’ve come to realize is that God wasn’t telling me “no” when it came to fulfilling His promises, He was preparing me to bear the weight of the glory when the promises were fulfilled. God used my struggles and my unequally yoked marriage specifically to mature my faith and develop my character. Why? So that I’m able to walk into more gifts and abundance and yet not steal His glory nor morally fail because of the treasures He has provided and is yet to provide. 

Clearly I heard the Lord say to our community, remind yourselves of who you are. And stand firm against the enemy and firmly on My promises. 

Here are a few promises that have been life-lines to me: 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. — 2 Timothy 1:7 

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. — Hebrews 13:5b 

Psalms 91 continues to be powerful for me. 

My friends, the Lord is preparing us for greatness. His Kingdom is rising on earth right now in a manner not seen since the time Jesus walked here. He is growing us, maturing us, loving us into a place where we can walk in wholeness, power and authority so that we can receive more and more of His glory. So that we can be people of God who bring His Kingdom to earth. 

I wonder, what promises from His Word are your life-lines in this season. And what promises are you speaking over yourself for your future? Share them in the comments and when the Lord reads these, it will move His heart. 

We are at the breakthrough part of our fast. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to speak truth and promises over our lives and into our lives. Let’s let God’s Holy Word spring forth and change us, our homes, our communities and our world. 

My Holy and Blessed Child, 

You have labored hard under a mean and ruthless taskmaster. He has stolen much from you. But today, I am listening still as you claim my promises. I have told you that my Word does not return void. Your faithfulness will be My faithfulness and you will be vindicated, healed, restored and elevated. I am already moving.

Today, my Son Jesus, stands with the Keys to the Kingdom and He is releasing my angels to battle for you as your faithfulness has reached my ears. And I will now exact payment from our enemy and restore what the locus have stolen. There will be a great out-pouring and you, my child, you have faithfully walked with me and are now ready to receive all the grandeur I have prepared for you in advance. 

I will not leave you. I will not forsake you. I will cover you with My wings. Your faithful obedience compels me. I love you. I adore you. I am for you and not against you. I am the Ancient of Days and your vindicator. —The Lord God Almighty

Dear friends, before Thanksgiving I started a series on the Three Deadly Ds: Dubious Doubt, Debilitating Disbelief and Disparaging Disappointment. In Part One of Dubious Doubt we talked about how the enemy comes in and plants seeds of doubt, as he did with Adam and Eve, and in Part Two I shared some examples of breakthroughs that came as a result of pushing doubt aside and re-establishing God's truth firmly in its rightful place.  

Today, let's talk about Debilitating Disbelief. And that is exactly what the enemy's intention is, to debilitate (weaken, enfeeble, enervate, devitalize, sap, drain, exhaust, weary, fatigue, prostrate; undermine, impair, indispose, incapacitate, cripple, disable, paralyze, immobilize; informal knock out, do in) our faith. Once doubt has come in like a ravaging worm, disbelief moves in to fill those empty places like a fungus or mold. 

• Your mind is riddled with questions and you may even feel tormented at times.
• You try to read God's Word but find yourself questioning its truth or thinking it's true for other believers but not for you. 
• Praise and worship become difficult.
• Your attitude of gratitude has fled the scene and his unwanted cousin, grumbling negativity, has moved in.
• Fear subtly increases and can even move into physical manifestations such as anxiety and health issues.
• Guilt and shame move show up like uninvited guests and make you think you've messed up and that God will never be pleased with you again.
• You cry out to God but feel like He's abandoned you.

This is why it's so crucial to to seek God in prayer and in His Word, especially in these dark times, and in a mismatched marriage as we don't have a believing spouse to uphold us in prayer and encouragement. And, despite how we feel. The enemy will use your feelings against you to keep you from running to Abba, to our Lord Jesus, for the truth.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. — James 1:22-24

Community becomes even more important because the enemy's final tactic is to isolate you so you'll forget who you are and Whose you are. God's Word and those who carry it are our greatest source of healing, hope and restoration.

My friends, a burden Abba seems to be asking me to carry right now is for those of you whose spouse used to walk in faith with you but has recently walked away. I've received several emails from many of you in this place and have had divine appointments with several dear women who find themselves in this painful position of betrayal. 

Let me say that I get why some walk away. Much of what I've shared today is from my own experience. The enemy tried to destroy me earlier this year and now I understand why someone would walk away, or be tempted to walk away, especially if their faith foundation is shaky or built on sand (Matt. 7:26-27).

Part of my journey to freedom came one night when the demon assigned to torment me finally revealed himself. Amazingly (to me, not God) Abba had prepared me the day before, even though I didn't realize it until after the encounter. He'd shown me more about my authority in Jesus. That night this enemy revealed himself in the darkness, with oppression and hissing. He tried to make me fearful and afraid in my semi asleep/awake state. As soon as I realized what was happening, I rebuked him and went back to sleep! To God be the glory!

What I have learned is that disbelief opens doors to the enemy, who tries to steal our divine destiny and destroy our peace and joy in the Lord. These are the tools that brought me through this dark night of the soul and taught me so much. 

• Read the Bible every day and write down key Scriptures that speak to your spirit and soul. Go back and reread them later in the day and to start your quiet time the next morning. You’ll be surprised at how much more you receive out of God’s Word by doing this. Our bodies sleep at night but our spirit doesn’t. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to work God’s truth into your heart, soul and mind. Believe His Word—it’s true for you too!
• Worship and worship more. There are many ways one can worship. With music, by reading Scriptures out loud (the Psalms are great for this), by speaking out praises to God about His character and who He is. Take a walk and praise Him for His creation. Pet your dog and praise Him for putting the fur baby in your life.
• Invite that attitude of gratitude back home and boot his ungrateful cousin out!
• Rebuke the spirits of anxiety, fear, oppression, depression and confusion (and any others the Holy Spirit brings to mind). In the name of Jesus, they must go! 
• Plead the blood of Jesus over your mind, your thoughts and your feelings and speak God’s Word against guilt and shame (no condemnation in Jesus—Romans 8:1).
• Know, believe, profess and remind yourself that no matter how things seem, God loves you, He always has loved you and He always will love you. His word says He will not abandon you, so believe it. He is with and for you!

I still have much to learn and continue to press forward into more of God (Phil. 3:12). My faith is stronger and I am better equipped to recognize the enemy’s darts. And this translated into helping others to be released from this spirit of torment when I’ve prayed with them in the healing rooms. The places we find freedom and victory will be the places God calls us to pray for and help others find that same freedom and victory (2 Cor. 1:3-7).

My friends, the next and last part of this series will be about disparaging disappointment. I’m waiting on Abba to give me the words and message He wants conveyed for us, His children. Please pray that I hear Him clearly amidst all the hustle and bustle of this move and Christmas. 

Remember, Jesus came to heal, to set the captives free and release prisoners. He is always on our side and always fighting for us. Amen!

And MERRY CHRISTMAS, SUMites! Love you!

 Copyright: gajus / 123RF Stock Photo

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The Three Deadly Ds: Dubious Doubt, part 2

Our Transforming Influence

Today is a continuation of Stone’s testimony. Part I was posted on Monday. On Friday I intend to get started teaching on the power we have to defeat the demonic. Stay tuned… Now here is Part II from my friend, Stone. 

Temecula, CA
Worship In The Valley: A worship event in Temecula, CA on November 20th. 

Then I was brought back to the battlefield with a new knowledge of the enemy’s strategy and his determination to prevent me from ever setting foot on the battlefield because it is my destiny to speak into the face of darkness and command that he let God’s people go, that his captives be set free in the name of Jesus. Before this battle has begun I know and so does he that he is destined to lose his hold over God’s beloved who he has shackled with fear, depression, suicide, self-mutilation and abuse. He has been lying to them, keeping them captive to his lies for too long and God has heard their cries and is committed to them to receiving their freedom. He is going to use me to speak freedom into the lives of his beloved, His chosen and treasured people and they will receive freedom, He will speak through my wounds and years in bondage. He is going to shine through me and shine His light of life, freedom and joy into the lives of His beloved. 

Then He did something amazing! God called me to cast this spirit out of my life, He told me to command that this demonic spirit no longer has permission or authority to stand at my door and torment my nights, or speak lies into my life. I commanded this spirit, who has followed me my whole life at the command of the enemy, to go that it can’t stand beside my bed keeping me awake all night or at my door shouting at me tormenting me or come into my home at all. God assured me that He is my sword and my shield, my strength and my defender and that His hand of protection is upon me and that I am safe in His presence. He showed me that I have the authority in the name of Jesus to command that this enemy leave my home and torment me no longer. 

I am God’s chosen; His cherished and beloved daughter and I have a destiny to pursue my passion of bringing hope and freedom into the hearts and lives of the lost, the hurting, the broken. He has given me authority to speak hope and freedom into the hearts of those enslaved by suicide, depression, self-mutilation and abuse. As I look at the battlefield I know that this victory is sure, that the enemy is terrified of God’s power and passion for His people, he knows that his reign of terror over them is ending and that they will have freedom.  

Jesus is going to rain down and wash away the chains and shackles he’s been using to hold on to God’s beloved. Their freedom is coming and His people are going to run away from their captivity in waves and there is nothing that he can do to stop it. He could not destroy me, he never could but that didn’t stop him from trying, that didn’t stop him from assigning his chosen warrior to stand at my doorway and torment me, shout lies into my life and try to keep me down, convinced of my own enslavement and utter ruin. But Jesus reached out His hand released me from my chains, and carried me out of my prison of pain and suffering. Jesus led me out into a beautiful meadow and taught me to walk with Him in joy and freedom, he taught me a new song and He is singing it with me. He is with me as He always has been and always will be. 

I love you and I'm praying for healing over you and your family.

Hugs,
Stone

It’s Thanksgiving this week. And I know all of us are very busy. And I’ve been very ill again. However, James 5 was in my daily Bible this week so I went for healing prayer. And I know my full healing is now decreed. AMEN! 

This week I have family in town and will likely be crazed entertaining but loving every minute of time I have with my mom who is visiting from Colorado. My daughter will be here and her friends, my son and my granddaughter. It’s going to be a great turkey day! 

Dineen and I are going to take the week off from posting. So today and Wednesday, I want to share with you an email that arrived on Thursday evening from a young woman whom I’ve prayed for, love on, and encouraged through the many months/years of her healing process. I asked her permission to share her testimony. I know there is someone in our Sum family who needs to hear this word. 

From my friend: Stone.
Temecula, CA
Worship In The Valley: A worship event in Temecula, CA on November 20^th. 

I’ve been in a season of isolation, pain, depression and hopelessness, and yet I’ve known this whole time that it hasn’t been real, I have refused to take ownership of it as from me or a part of me. I’ve prayed against it over and over again, I’ve begged and pleaded with the Lord to free me from this painful darkness and yet it persisted. I kept my eyes on Him and continued to ask for freedom, trusting that it won’t always be like this, that hope and freedom are here and that more is coming. I know that I haven’t been betrayed or abandoned, through all of this Jesus has been right beside me and His passionate love for me has never wavered. I haven’t been alone for even one second, even though I’ve felt completely alone I’ve known that He has never left me alone and that this is not for me, this is not what my life will be like. I’ve known that a shift was coming.               

So tonight I came expecting, I struggled to get there, fighting off a cold and exhaustion from a long and trying week at work but I knew that God had something for me to receive tonight. Upon arrival I wanted to leave, and that feeling grew to where I felt like I couldn’t stand it and I knew without a doubt that it was the enemy’s desperation, his last attempt to prevent me from receiving all that I did tonight. This realization made me that much more determined, more committed to staying and receiving all that He had in store for me tonight.               

Tonight I got to see myself the way my mentors have been describing to me. Tonight I got to see myself as a warrior, a leader, strong and brave, leading a strong and mighty army into battle. This description has been terrifying me but tonight it was incredible because He also gave me a peace and an incredibly deep assurance that everyone who had come with me onto this battlefield is someone I chose because I trust them. God assured me that everyone who has joined in this army is someone I can trust. He gave me peace about the discernment He has given me and the things He has shown me over the last few years as we’ve built this tribe around me. As I followed Him into the heart of this battlefield He showed me just how sure the enemy is of his coming defeat. He knows we’re coming, that I have my eye on him and my heart set on his defeat, he knows that we’ve come for his captives; we’ve come united in Jesus to set his captives free.               

As the fire grew within me I saw into my past, but from a whole new perspective, I saw the strategy of the enemy and the power and goodness of God. I saw His hand of protection over me always, and I knew that this was all set in motion before I was born and that I’ve never been alone. As the Pastor spoke of peaceful sleep I was reminded of the years I spent my nights in terror. I remembered the nights I wept before The Lord, crying out the name of Jesus over and over for hours. As a young child I couldn’t see Him there, I begged and pleaded in what I thought was in vain, but throughout this past year Jesus has been showing me exactly where He was. As I stared into the face of darkness at the demon that the devil stationed outside my bedroom doorway Jesus stood in the doorway of my room as my shield, keeping her from entering my room and destroying me. I saw this spirit outside my room for years, I was always afraid for my life because its goal was to destroy me, convince me that I meant nothing to God, that I was completely and utterly alone, that I was unloved, betrayed and abandoned, hopeless.               

What I saw tonight was just how strategic this assignment was, God showed me that my destiny has always been to march on the enemy’s camp and demand that His captives be set free from cutting, suicide, depression and abuse and that through me He would speak into the hearts of His beloved and show them that they are free. I saw the enemy’s determination to destroy me, to crush me to a point where I would never rise up and destroy his hold on God’s children through depression and suffering. I saw that he did not have authority to kill me; it didn’t stop him from trying or keep him from trying to destroy me. He selected a strong and determined warrior to stand at my door every night for years and for years they stood outside my bedroom instilling fear, depression and lies into my heart, all night long they called out to me, shouting lies of my worthlessness, of my smallness and insignificance, threating pain, death, dismemberment and utter destruction, ruin. He sent a chosen warrior but God sent His Son. 

Jesus stood inside my bedroom every night looking into the face of this chosen warrior and spoke the truth, He spoke of the coming destruction, He reminded them that He has already won the war and He spoke truth and love into my room and over me.   —End Part I… Stone

Okay, my friends it gets even better. Tune in Wednesday and let this testimony set you free. Hugs, Lynn

The Ugly Word for 2014                                  Part I
The Key to Powerful Prayer                            Part II
Dream Big!                                                      Part III

Lynn here! I have some crazy but good stuff to share. Here we go!

I believed a lie about my creativity.

On my dream list for this fall I have penned a sacred dream that is precious to my heart. And over the last nine months the devil has done everything to destroy that dream. I became so overwhelmed by the lies of the enemy and spiritual warfare that I handed over my authority over this dream to the lie and it was taken from me.

It pains me to even type these words. Most of the time I believe and live in God’s truth and have been living there for a long time. So to realize that I allowed the devil to steal truth from me, and even worse I believed the lie over what God had to say specifically about this dream, has grieved me greatly.

I’m going to share with you this very private story in the hopes that you find your freedom through it as I did. And with a greater hope that you don’t waste as much time nor experience the heart ache, confusion and pain that I experienced.

My dream came to me on a Sunday morning in early spring of this year. I was at church and we had just finished worship. I sat down, took out my Bible and notebook listening intently to the pastor share his message. And suddenly (remind me to share with you later about … “And suddenlies.”)

And suddenly, a download straight from heaven hit my brain. My pen started whirring across my notebook. Words were flowing, chapters were forming. I drew arrows to connect ideas. I heard God tell me to include such and such in the appendix. He said He wanted a box where He spoke directly to the reader. Chapter content emerged and suddenly…..

…… a book was born.

But this book wasn’t like any other book that I’ve read or written. Oh Wow, Lord…. Just wow!

Today I’m compelled to share this story because the devil almost stole from me, my divine destiny. It wasn’t my brain that came up with the chapters and the appendix, nor the chapter outlines, it was truly God. And to top things off, one day while sitting in church back in May, a guest speaker began to speak. He stopped in the introduction and looked right at me I had only met him for a moment before church. I told him I was preparing to start a new writing project. He said:

Tctv050414 Abner lynn's word

What you just listened to is very personal to me. And as I just listened to it again, I broke down and wept. The grace of God is so overwhelming at times. His favor upon our lives is enormous. How could we be anything other than thankful and full of faith?

Listening to this again just shames me that I listened to the lie about the calling on my life.

BUT NO MORE.

SUMites, my sisters and brothers, what lie has the enemy told you. Where has he taken your creativity? Please, please let me now be the voice of Jesus and tell you to take back your dreams. Take your creativity and use it for His Kingdom. Help your children learn to use their gifts for His glory by watching you use yours. Let your creativity lead your husband and children to faith. Let the world see the greatness in you and they will bend their knee to the King of Kings.

You have more in you than you think. You are stronger than you know. You have angels standing beside you, waiting to fly into motion at your mere whisper of command. God has prepared you for a profound, life-fulfilling calling to impact the world.

It only takes a small yes. A Yes when he asks. An ounce of faith. The faith of a mustard seed and you will step into this new adventure that awaits you.

I’m convinced that we believers are living on the leading edge of the MOST profound time of God’s history….. EVER. I think we are poised to see God show His signs, and miracles.

I know this because I have already witnessed Jesus heal people through prayer and the laying on of hands. I have felt His healing power flow from my hands.(What??? This just still blows my mind) All of us can and will see miracles and more. It starts with one brave step. One small yes. This is our moment to take back what the enemy has stolen and use our God given gifts for the Kingdom.

Upon this day, Rosh Hashanah, Jesus we ask for Your great favor upon our lives. Show us where fear and unbelief has allowed the enemy authority over our lives. Show us how to close those doors to fear and unbelief and the devil. Teach us to say to you firmly with a supernatural faith, YES. I want my gifts of creativity back. I want to be used by you to impact people. I want to love so big, so lavish that I see every person who I meet as you see them. I want to never be offended by anyone again. I want to love You with all that I have and love people.

Lord, lead me and teach me to step into my divine calling and ministry THIS YEAR. I ask for you to place an unquenchable hunger in my heart, mind and soul to know You more. I want the More… More of you. More of you. More of You. I ask for Your gifts. Gifts of wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17) Gifts of love, joy, peace…. (Gal 5:22). Lord, I want to see You move on this planet this next year in a way humans have never seen before. May all that I do bring honor, glory and love to Your heart. In Jesus powerful and redeeming name. Amen.

I love you my brothers and sisters, so very much. It’s a divine privilege to walk with you into the months ahead and rejoice as we see and participate in what God has planned for our hearts, our homes and the world.

Never forget: You are God’s Workmanship! How amazing is that?

#SUM Nation, today would you join me in prayer: 

Lord, Holy Papa, Your children gather here in this unexpected house. The House of SUM where we come from all the nations to share our hearts with You and with each other. Thank you for this amazing place where we gather to unite “the church.” Thank you this is a place where we don’t judge one another by appearance. We see one another at the heart level — through words. It’s beautiful here Lord. Thank you for allowing us to see one another just as You see us. You look at the heart. 

Father, we love you. We adore our Betrothed, King Jesus and we are lost without the Dove that indwells and sits upon our shoulder. Thank you for your love, grace, provision, lavish gifts. Thank you that you wanted kids and chose us. 

Today, Father I’m moved to ask Your hand of covering over our Kingdom Miracle event that will happen on June 12, 2014. Lord, today prepare the legions of angels and release them to go before us to open the doors of heaven over this store. Make the morning go smoothly with all those who are volunteering, with the staff of Walmart and especially the shoppers. 

Lord, there are already several who need healing that will approach those doors on that specific Thursday. Oh Father, please, please give them courage to ask for our prayers. And then Lord, You move in power and love. Bring healing, hope, restoration and goodness to these lives. Bring Your Presences so powerfully that the demons flee in fear and that heaven opens over this store. 

Lord, we want to see Your glory and proclaim that God is alive and well and He works in the lives of ordinary people outside of churches and in the places where the broken gather. We, Your People, ask that You astound us with such unexpected surprises that we can’t wait to do this again. And that Your fame and glory spread out across the nations. 

Daddy, help us to pray with your power and authority. Pray with love. Place such a powerful love anointing upon us that when people look into our eyes, they immediately feel peace and joy. We pray that they see the reflection of Your Son, Jesus. 

May all that we do bring you glory. Fight with us against disease, oppression, and the lies of the enemy. We declare You have ordained great victories for this day and we will be obedient to bring people love, healing, and mostly Your heart into their lives. 

We pray with belief in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Hover over image and add to Pinterest! Pinning the Kingdom!

I love you my friends. Have a fantastic week. THRIVE in His Presence. Hgus, Lynn

Hi SUMite Family, 

This week I’m departing from our Joshua and The Walls series. Today I want to share my thoughts and prayer about Passover. And on Friday, I’m sharing a glimpse I had of The Wedding of the Son of God and His Bride. (It’s way cool and perfect for Good Friday. Be sure to stop in then.) 

What is Passover? Passover is a festival of freedom. It commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, and their transition from slavery to freedom. The main ritual of Passover is the Seder, which occurs on the first night. 

As believers we know we are not under the Old Testament law. We are living in the age of grace because of the blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus. And as a person who loves God and ponders His ways and thoughts, I’m thinking that many of the ancient feasts and celebrations that He originated still hold meaning and expectation. 

This year’s Passover holds significance to me personally. You see, since December I have been praying for many of you in this SUMite family. Many of you by name. And I mean ALL of you, even if you have never made any personal contact with me nor left your name in a comment. I have prayed for you. 

And this is why. 

Breakthrough is coming for many of you with THIS Passover. 

At the end of last year many of my brothers and sisters in Christ were in the midst of enduring and trying to just survive tremendous spiritual warfare. Many of you have battled a life that seems to have run over you. Circumstances have left you defeated and bereft of hope. And you have been in this dark pit for months now. Many of you are specifically facing crippling financial stresses. There are many who are wrangling with overwhelming anxiety, dark depression, abusive spouses and heartbreak because of wondering children and a litany of other demonic tortures. 

Well my friends, I’ve been praying for you. I’ve been contending for you. For months. I’ve sacrificed in the quiet of the early morning as I beseeched the God of the universe to silence the enemy and bring freedom to the many of you who are held captive and as prisoners of this life’s evils.

My prayers began in December and as I marched through January I began to hear the Lord tell me they will lift. There is a change, a shift, which is ordained of heaven that will happen at Passover. 

THAT’S TOMORROW! 

I’ve been praying for a breakthrough. A breakthrough for many. I’ve been contending for this shift over the home of _________________________ (insert your name because I’ve prayed it.) My breakthrough, although contended for in private and sacrificed in prayer, over the past months will also bring breakthrough to many others. MANY OTHERS. 

THAT’S how our God’s Kingdom rolls!!!!!! 

The honest prayers of one can bring breakthrough for hundreds. I earnestly believe this with all of my heart. So today my friends, if you need this breakthrough to move into a new season with the Lord, declare it now and out loud. 

Father God, I receive this breakthrough on this day. This is the day that You Passover this earth and free me from the grips of the enemy. Lord, and free others from the terror of the evil one. Today, Lord, I receive my deliverance just as you delivered our ancestors long ago. You freed them from the tyranny of slavery and gave them a land flowing with milk and honey. Today, Lord, I too declare in front of the Kingdom of God my freedom day. 

I will promise to seek you with all of my heart from this day forward. I make a new and lasting covenant to pursue you with a relentless hunger. I will also step out of my bondage and make it my life’s purpose to free others who are on the road behind me. 

Today, I rebuke and break off any stronghold or bondage of the enemy that has kept me from stepping into my rightful inheritance as a child of the Most High God. And I slam the door shut on any lies I have believed that the devil has used to tell me anything that is not truth about myself and my circumstances. 

Lord, My Holy God, I receive my freedom by the holy blood of the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, Your Son. And I will live all of my days from this day forward, pursuing peace, joy and love. I will choose to love you with my whole heart and spend the rest of my life loving people. 

I declare and decree my deliverance, my future that is abundant, and ask today that you show me now where you have made my path straight that I may get on with bringing Your Kingdom to earth. 

In the most powerful name in all creation and the heavenly realms, Jesus, The Christ. The Passover Lamb of God. AMEN.

I have contended for you. I absolutely believe many of you will begin to see hints of the freedom that has just been released upon your life today. My friends, now give thanks to our Papa, Jesus and the Dove for you are been released to receive your full inheritance. In Jesus name. 

I love you. I will always contend for your lives, marriage and children. I will never stop standing in the gap when you are weak and unable. I am your friend and your prayer warrior. Your sister in Christ, Lynn

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