6 posts categorized "Transitions"

New Year - New Beginnings!

Happy New Year, dear SUMites. We trust your Christmas went well and you’ve stepped into the New Year, yes, it’s 2024, positively.

Pexels-james-wheeler-1578750
Photo courtesy of James Wheeler and pexels.com

As a quick side note, the world often expects us to charge into the new year but after a usually busy December, I find it’s often good to gently step into it. Our souls need it. I’d encourage us all to set aside some time to meet with the Lord and simply rest in His presence. Take some time, if you are able, to simply be peaceful with the lover of our souls. Let Him replenish and refresh you as only he can.

New Beginnings

For much of December as I walked through Advent, I was reminded that when Jesus entered the world as a babe, He brought something new. Himself. And in many unexpected ways.

He continues to offer us something new. It’s in His nature.

I began to sense that newness was a theme for my 2024. And only this morning I read an email newsletter that talked about new beginnings: “Our very life here depends directly on continuous acts of beginning.”

These were words from an Irish poet/philosopher that some of you may have heard of, John O’Donohue.1 If not, look him up as he’s quite marvellous. I’ll finish this post with the poem he wrote about beginnings.

Before I do that, I wanted to share a little about what this might mean for me and what I’m doing about it. I’ve found the past year to be a frustrating one and when I reviewed the year with the Lord over the past week, I got a strong sense to not spend too much time reviewing it, simply to move on and let it go. On Boxing Day I read these words from Isaiah 43:18-19:

"Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.

I am about to do a new thing now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

And so I step into the future expectant. Of what, I’m not exactly sure, but the hope and anticipation that comes with venturing into something new, even if unsure what that might be. Think Abraham.

Distractions

I’ve allowed myself to get too distracted. For too long. The world throws so much at us that it is easy to use up valuable time scrolling … and scrolling some more. “Distracted people … are habitually diverted to less important things.”2

So, I’ve quit Instagram and will do similar with Twitter. Also, will stay off Facebook for the next few weeks. To abstain and to explore other areas of my ‘media’ consumption that can become all consuming.

The easiest way to change a habit is to introduce a new one. I’ll be reverting to a more structured daily schedule that typically has always worked for me. I’m a creature of structured routine.

I’m determined to finish this Angelguard trilogy this year. Jack Haines, my lead character, keeps bugging me because he wants to start something new himself. That’s where you’ll find me most days now; with Jack and Jesus.

What about You?

What might be a theme for 2024 for yourself? It’d be fun to share in the comments below, encouraging each other in exploring that theme.

A final note on our fast next week. Fasts are great ways to eliminate stuff and start new stuff. We allow Jesus greater access through abstinence. As a result, our airwaves are often clearer, enabling us to better hear Him and what He would have us do. Even a simple daily prayer like, “Lord, how can I please you today?” can become a habit which changes our days.

Know we’ll all be praying for each other as we gently step into our fast next week.

And now to O’Donohue’s poem3. I hope you might find it as inspiring as I did.

For a New Beginning

by John O’Donohue

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

Warmest blessings for 2024.

Grace and peace.

Note: 1. Maria Popova, aka, The Marginalian, A Spell Against Stagnation: John O’Donohue on Beginnings, 30/12/2023, 2. Chris Hall, A Different Way (Harper Collins, New York, 2023), 274. 3. Popova, ibid


Where's our Focus when we Fast?

6a00d83451ee9f69e202af1c953abf200dHappy New Year, dear SUMites. I do hope you all had a blessed time with loved ones over the Christmas/New Year period.

And now we Fast. It’s become the traditional way we SUMites start our years. It’s a great way as individuals to draw closer to God and doing it together can deepen that experience and strengthen our bonds as a group.

Transition Seasons

“We become what we behold” – William Blake

I think I shared this Blake quote in a previous post as it’s become one of my favourites over the years. During Advent, I was drawn to the notion of how we spend our time while we wait; Advent, of course being a season of waiting.

I mentioned last time in my Advent post that I’m presently in a season of transition. Looking forward to what the next season in my life holds having spent much of the last few years caring for my parents.

We’re all probably familiar with the story of Anna, the prophet, who greeted Mary and Joseph when Jesus was presented in the temple. Let’s meet her, here in Luke:

“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38 NIVUK)

Anna, like we SUMites, knew a thing about waiting. She had been waiting for the redemption of Israel through the fulfilment of the OT prophecy of the Messiah. After becoming a widow, likely to have been in her early 20s assuming she married as a young teen like most women did in Biblical times, she spent around 60 years hanging out in the temple. Now that’s a lot of waiting.

And what do we read she does? She worships, fasts, and prays. Continually. Incredible, isn’t it? Her faith is extraordinary. Anna is formed in her devotion to Jesus as she waits for Him. Waiting, even though (often) uncomfortable, is a significant time for our spiritual formation.

What we look at while we’re waiting is very important. Read that again.

Focus

Increasingly, I’ve found myself being very distracted, struggling to ‘focus’ and as a result be present with God and others. Life with all the technological advancements of the past 20-30 years has made it very easy to get distracted. We’re constantly bombarded but also drawn to social media and the like. We have hundreds of streaming channels to navigate, and we can buy anything at any time of the day and night. I’m a research geek, so I can lose myself for hours on end trawling down the internet for all manner of seemingly interesting tidbits.

Late in the year, I was drawn to some writing about seeking God more intentionally and felt the nudge by the Spirit to adopt ‘focus’ as my Word for the year. What have I done to become more focused:

  • straight after Christmas by turning off social media. It’s become an easy time waster for me.
  • I’m intentionally reading the Gospels this year as my Bible study reflections. Two scribes I admire both mentioned that if we desire to seek more of Jesus in our life, starting with the four books He stars in is a good start. I like that idea. Intimacy with Jesus requires focus. Being a good friend with Jesus requires focus.
  • I’m praying specific short prayers during the day to invite God into the moment. One that I regularly pray is very simple:

“Lord, I want to know you more intimately,

So I can love you more intensely

To follow you more closely.”

  • When I’m exercising, I’m picturing Jesus doing it with me. Even the other day at the cinema, I pictured Jesus sitting in the seat next to me inviting him into the activity.

These are just some of the things I’m doing. Seeking to invite Jesus into more of my day.

And fasting requires focus too, doesn’t it? To relieve the hunger pangs, we need to focus on another. And that is the idea of fasting. We use the hunger pangs to in fact draw us closer to Jesus. We focus more on Him and invite Him into our hunger as He is able to sustain us and carry us through the day. I'm praying I might gain some greater clarity around what's next for me and where I should next step.

Do any other SUMItes have a Word for 2023 yet? It would be a wonderful discussion for us to have in the comments if we share them and perhaps provide a little background as to why this Word is significant this year.

Go well this week. We’re excited to hear of some of the fruit we may experience as a result. But do remember, that often the fruit comes later, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive a lightning bolt of inspiration during the week.

Grace and peace


You Are Making New Wine

Hey there SUM family, Tiffany here!

We are on the verge of a major breakthrough. I believe that this is both  individual and corporate for our SUM community and our families. Already we have seen a few wondrous accounts of spouses getting baptized into the faith! Hallelujah! Strongholds are breaking in our lives as well as our spouses. We are seeing addictions begin to cease. Affections returning in marriages. What a great time to be alive!

I wanted to share something that God is stirring in my heart. During the fast and even recently, I am hearing the phrase "new wine." I am barely scratching the surface of where Holy Spirit is trying to take me but I wanted to share my heart because I feel it is important. When breakthrough is upon us, there is always a push back from the forces of darkness. Freedom, identity, purpose, birthright. These are all things that scare the enemy. Satan and his minions know that when we step into the calling and purpose that God has ordained for us and we walk in our authority they are in big trouble! Is it any wonder that there are flair ups and illness, death and financial strain?

Back to new wine. Let's take a look at what Jesus had to say:

14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of
the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:14-17)

Side note: it is interesting that Holy Spirit brought me to this scripture during the community fast. John's disciples originally asked Jesus a question about fasting.

When thinking about the process of making wine in ancient Israel it always begins with a pressing and crushing of the grapes. Grapes did not last very long when harvested in the heat New wine flagand climate of the season. The farmers would instantly turn the grapes into wine and store them in the wineskins to preserve them for longer periods of time. It was actually the process of crushing the grapes that started the fermentation process. During fermentation, carbon dioxide is released so new wineskins were needed for their elasticity to allow for expansion as the gas was released.

In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit came and filled the apostles in the Upper Room during Pentacost. A crowd gathered as they heard a noise and realized that they could understand men speaking in their own native tongues. The people in the crowd were amazed and perplexed. There were also some who accused the apostles of being drunk on "new wine (NKJV)." Paul urges in Ephesians 5:18 to not be drunk on wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit.

What does this have to do with what Jesus said in Matthew 9? For us as believers today, being filled with the Holy Spirit we need to realize that He is the one who leads us into all truth - He speaks what He hears from the Father through Jesus (John 16:13). He is the new wine inside of us. We are the wineskin (vessel). Just like the fermentation process as carbon dioxide is released in the wine making process, Holy Spirit releases things in us. He is always releasing, always leading. His job is to stir in us a call to become more like Jesus. He gives us guidance and direction. As the expansion happens to a wineskin, so does the pressure in our lives.

Being the wineskin, we are the ones who decide whether or not we will allow for this movement of Holy Spirit. Will we choose to listen? Will we be flexible as He calls us into the uncomfortable? We will refuse to allow the fermentation (preservation) process?

I am being drawn into a new level of worship. One that is completely uncomfortable and will really challenge me to worship the Lord with my WHOLE body. Take a look at the video below. I would love to explain my hearts desire further, maybe for another time. This is my inspiration into the new and exciting journey of flagging.

Let's talk in the comments. I would love to hear: What are some things that Holy Spirit is challenging you to do? What areas are you being drawn into the uncomfortable - for your preservation and God's glory? 


Do You Want The Evidence Or The Truth?

Hey SUM Family,

Tiffany here:

ev·i·dence -  

a : an outward sign : indication

b : something that furnishes proof : testimony; specifically : something legally submitted to a tribunal to ascertain the truth of a matter
(Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

Last post (This Is Just The Pits!) we began to take a look at the life of Joseph. We discovered that there are ten tests we must face in order to fulfill our God-given purpose (I highly suggest you read From Dream to Destiny by Robert Morris for more on this topic). I want us to really dive into the deep end of the pool as we learn more about the pit test.

First, let's continue on in the story of Joseph. At this point he was ambushed by his brothers and thrown into the pit. Changing scenes, we see what happens with his family next:

So [Joseph's brothers] took Joseph's tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, "We  have found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?" And he recognized it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces" (Genesis 37:31-33).

F.E.A.RJoseph's brothers did not flat out lie and say that Joseph was killed. Jacob came to that conclusion because of their leading question, "Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?" This is what we would call fabricated (false) evidence.   Remember evidence is an indication or something that furnishes proof. This evidence in Jacob's mind was proof that his favorite son was dead - to him it was the truth.

For over 20 years, imagine Jacob as he says in v. 35, "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." Imagine a father so heartbroken that he was not able to be consoled. I don't know for certain but I can imagine countless nights of crying himself to sleep, restlessness, no appetite, deep depression...unable to move on. Not only that but his other sons could have easily freed him from all of it...over 20 years of seeing and living with their father. What callous and prideful hearts!

What about you? What fabricated evidence has been stacked up against you? Your marriage? Your parenting? Your identity in Christ? What lies of the pit have kept you trapped for far too long? 

We live in a sin-hardened world, and we will be tempted by fabricated evidence just as Jacob was. And like Jacob, we will suffer unnecessary grief if we allow the lies of the pit to determine what we believe.

This is very important. If you want to get out of the pit, you must learn to discern the lies of the enemy. Because when you are in the pit, you are especially vulnerable. When you are in the pit, circumstances usually don't look very favorable - and that is exactly when Satan will manipulate those circumstances in order  to deceive you. He will hold up those circumstances before you as evidence that you should believe him rather than have faith in God. But fabricated evidence is not the truth. Joseph's brothers held up a bloody coat as evidence, and that evidence looked pretty convincing. But it was fabricated evidence. It was not the truth. If you want to overcome the lies of the pit, you must learn to focus on what God has said. When you are in the pit, you must remember that nothing is too hard for God, no matter what evidence the enemy might produce...

Yet even worse than his fabricated evidence is Satan's biggest lie: "You've messed up too badly. It's too late for you. You've messed up too badly to ever fulfill God's destiny for your life." Do you realize that the Bible is a book entirely about restoration? The Bible is filled with stories of people who messed up so badly that it seemed even God couldn't do anything about it - and yet He restored every one of them. He wants you to know that nothing is impossible for Him. As long as you have breath, it is never too late to call out to God. It doesn't matter what pit you are in. If you call out to God, He can fix it. And that is the real purpose of the pit. (pp. 38-39, From Dream to Destiny, Robert Morris)

Next time I want to finish up with the hope we have - the light at the end of the tunnel - in times of experiencing the pit test. But for now, let's meet in the comments. Let me speak truth into you and pray with you as we debunk the lies of the pit. Lean into this reality that fabricated evidence, no matter how convincing or real it appears, is NOT the truth. I promise you that this assurance will transform your life and catapult you out of the pit.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

-- Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT)


Day Five - A Powerful Communion

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comFast concludes at Sundown today.

*****

Have you ever pondered the weird story in John 6 where Jesus commands his followers to eat His flesh and drink His blood? Of course, today we understand the meaning, post cross. But what if you were a follower of Christ sitting among others, prior to the cross, and this man tells you to eat his skin and drink his blood. Ick!!! Many became offended and this is why.

At the time, animal and human sacrifices were common place. The people of antiquity, Jerusalem, were aware the occult world drank human blood to increase their power on earth. This still happens in the occult world today. Followers of Christ were repelled to consider this practice because a blood covenant is/was the highest form of a covenant/agreement. When you eat/drink the flesh and blood you are taking in the essence of life, consuming everything associated with the sacrifice.

And here is Jesus saying: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…. (Just take that in for a minute.)

What is interesting to note is the significance of who Jesus is as He is saying this. He was born of an incorruptible seed, a virgin birth. The seed of God (Holy Spirit), not the seed of Adam (1 Peter 1:23). We are all born out of the corruptible seed, Adam, until we are born again.

My friends, each time we take into our bodies the emblems of flesh and blood, we are taking into ourselves the transformation of Christ. His incorruptible essence, ALL THINGS, connected to Him are brought into our bodies and our spirit. It is a beautiful exchange where the blood goes into our blood steam, our bodies, and His blood carries all the potential of Christ into our lives. Christ is reproduced in us and this practice is transforming us into something different.

The partaking of His body carries His divine nature, all of His essence, to conform us into His image.

Hallelujah, Jesus!

In faith, we take the juice/wine, drink it into our body and eat the bread and acknowledge that we are being changed to resemble the resurrection power and glory of Christ. It sanctifies us and makes us holy, perfected and welcomed to sit in the very presence of God.

Communion is our transformation by the blood into a powerful spiritual being becoming one in desire, purposes, will and eternal life with Christ.

This is why Jesus was adamant about eating and drinking His blood. Communion isn’t just remembering Jesus’ sacrifice, it is an emblematic gesture of faith, as the blood circulates through our system we are being transformed, glory to glory, strength to strength through our faith and obedience.

Raise your cup now. Give thanks and as you drink, allow Jesus to transform your failings into victory, your fear into faith, your loss into gain, ashes into beauty because THAT is what communion is really doing for you.

Holy mind-blow!

Partake of the flesh now and hear Jesus speak, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

Christ in us, the hope of glory!

Gang, what a fantastic amazing communion! Every time you take communion from this day forward, it’s truly a celebration and it’s a living, on-going transformation. The cup received in FAITH is changing us. Each and every time as we receive His incorruptible essence. Woo HOOOOOOOO!

By the way, I find it incredibly interesting that a few short verses later many of the disciples abandoned Jesus because they were offended by the eating and drinking of the flesh and blood. Do you know what chapter and verse this occurs?

John 6:66 (666)

Whoa!  Just Whoa!

Take communion this last day of our fast. The victories, the triumphs the answers, the intimacy that will come from this week of sacrifice, has set you up for a powerful 2018 and for LIFE -life in abundance. And that’s a promise! (John 10:10)

Thank you for walking in faith and fasting this week. Your prayers were heard. All of heaven is so proud and now step out in bold faith and bring heaven to earth. I love you. Lynn

Comments: Share your thoughts, triumphs, revelation and more about your fast this week. See you there!


Transitions And Ministry Update

Gang,

So, I think it's time for a ministry update. This is the home of The SUMite Nation. A Church Without Walls that loves God and loves people. We are dedicated to live our lives to honor God through His promises and instruction in His Holy Word. And we are living to honor our marriage and raise a family in the love of Christ Jesus. And we are powerful people of prayer and warfare in the Kingdom. We will not ever lose hope or faith nor will we allow the devil to steal our children. Never Ever. We are a bunch of gentle but fire-filled servants of the Lord and we mean to live in truth and freedom and set others free along the way. We LOVE Jesus and will remain loyally steadfast to His Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN

Church, we are waving goodbye to Dineen Miller who joined me on this wild adventure eleven years ago. What a ride it has been. She went with me to some crazy places and we experienced together, fantastic encounters with our Lord. I dragged her into many unsuccessful entrepreneurial and ministry experiences and some that were fabulously successful. We are ordinary women who are trying to live well in challenging circumstances.... just like all of you. I pray for her success and wish her every good thing from the Father. I have a heart filled with love and respect for Dineen.

Where do we go from here?  ONWARD, PEOPLE OF GOD... WE MOVE FORWARD!

I am settling back into my Monday, Friday posts. Ian and Christy will continue to post and I have a few guest posts that will come online. Right now the Lord has not indicated to me that I should take on a new partner. I feel as though I'm a partnered with all of you. So if you have something you want to share and write, visit the guidelines in the sidebar and then email me.

The ministry continues to grow and I've heard from several places that groups of women are studying Winning Him Without Words this fall. Awesome.  Three Keys Ministries, the parent 501(c)3 Corporation of SUM ministries has been blessed with some substantial donations. We have provided books for women's prisons and I have mailed free books out all over the place for those who can't afford to buy one. The prayer book, Winning Them With Prayer, has had profound impact on the faith lives of many. The feedback on that book continues to blow my mind. Dude! These prayers really work! Try 'em out!

I am filled up to overflowing with words of encouragement and feel as though God is transitioning me into a position of a Mother in the Kingdom. (A young mom of course *grin*). So many people haven't been mothered or fathered well. So, I will continue to pray with many of you over the phone to help you find freedom and walk closer with God. (Prayer Ministry) And I pray the Lord will lead me into this new transition with powerful revelation of how to lead our family here and how to love all of you well. Please know this. I truly love you. I care deeply about your heart, your marriage, your kids and your faith. I will always pray for you.

Many of you have mentioned over time that you would like to know how I developed my intimate relationship with God. I'm currently starting a series on my lynndonovan.org blog where I share the practices, thoughts and prayers that have led me into a powerful and transformative faith life. Join me there.

If you live in Southern California, I will be speaking at an event and teaching about transitions and how to walk through them well. I believe God has me smack in the middle of this classroom right now and I'm learning a ton. If you are in the area, this is a free event, for more information and to register visit: Glorious Bride

This fall I expect some major things to start shaking in the spiritual realm. And we need not be ignorant of shaking nor be afraid. So, I will likely be posting on transitions as well as other topics in the months ahead. I will also be writing on topics that were mentioned on the community survey I took a few months back.

So, SUMites, where do you fit into all this? Can you pray that God would grow our outreach. I run into so many who said, "I wish I had known you were out there." Let people know we have this amazing place here to gather and love on one another. Tell your pastor. Give him/her a book. Pass your old books to others. If a post brings healing and hope to you, forward it to someone. 

Today I leave you with a word that God spoke to me a few days ago about all this transition. I pray it fills your heart. 

Something is about to break. A paradigm, a transition, change. Looming, thick awareness.
The pressure is building, seismic. The tension is tangible.
The strife you are feeling and warring with are the birth pangs of something born of heaven. A change, a repositioning of significance.
Breathe through the transition. 
Fix your gaze wholly on Me. In the pain and confusion that swirls about you, let My years of faithfulness be your strength and truth. 
The moment of revelation draws nigh. And the labour in prayer hastens the end. You are in the midst of the transition and the struggle is great. Your efforts intensify, anxiety is prone. 
Grip My hand as you push forward. FEAR NOT! For great is your reward. 
You will see the goodness of the Lord in this hour. Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord!

SUMites! Rise and walk into your destiny. You are sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty!!! 

Love you, Lynn

Next post: Tuesday following the Labor Day weekend.