I Got Evangelized! July 29, 2008

So I was in Wal-Mart the other day buying diapers and a lady came up to me and asked if I wanted to ‘receive Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior…’ I told her I already knew and loved Jesus. I walked away thinking… ‘Wow, that’s NEVER happened to me before.’ Either all the Christians who are evangelizing already think I’m a Christian or there aren’t any Christians evangelizing. Hmm… truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few! I’m not saying I evangelize and no one else does… I don’t! I’m confessing my terrible fear of man. I heard once from a reliable source that one of the top things that witches and warlocks ‘pray’ is for Christians to have a fear of man… seems to be working. Let’s REBUKE that curse and put on the full armor. I sometimes think about my high school experience- I remember thinking in high school (before I was saved), that I would just dabble in sin now and return to God at a more convenient time- this WAS my mindset. I remember feeling so empty and actually pondering… ‘if I die today would I go to heaven?’ But it was always- ‘I’ll think about it later’. If someone would have just come and presented the Gospel to me I would have received it in an instant. How many people are out there right now who are just like how I was? I’ve been asking the Lord to have these types cross paths with me. We need to be listening to the Spirit when He says to witness to someone. Pretty sure the Lord is going to test me in this now that I just wrote that…

Well more on a family note… we are all going to Myrtle Beach this week! Our first vacation with Zuriah! Me and Z are flying and Ben and his dad, sister and brother are all driving. Pray for a SAFE trip. I’ll probably be posting pictures of the little bug at the ocean soon! We will be gone from the 2nd through the 9th.

ZuriahBaby July 23, 2008

Here are some product concepts. From left to right: Burp Cloths; Nursing Cover; Diaper Bag with Toy Pouch; “Love Covers” blanket

I’m working on a carrier right now, and figuring out some bag designs. Also I made Zuriah some bows the other day that are just too easy and too cute not to sell! I’m hoping to get ZuriahBaby.com up by Fall and am wanting to do an open house around October.

Anyone have clever name ideas for products? Ben came up with “Love Covers” for the blankets and either “Zuri Tie” or “Shaddai Tai” for the carriers. I’ll want to name everything something clever, so whats left are: burp cloths, nursing covers, diaper bags, accessories (bows and bow ties), and changing pads. Any ideas are appreciated!!

It’s really awesome, I feel like the Lord is really going to bless this business- I’ve had an offer from a high-end baby boutique in North Kansas City to sell my stuff (even before she’s seen it!), and I’m connected with a talented graphic designer and a photographer already (who are both IHOPers!!) I’m very excited to see how God uses this.

A New Thing July 20, 2008

E-12 was last night, need I say more? I will though. I was expecting an all out Heavenly encounter (why not, right?) but intercession broke out instead, probably one of the most significant nights we’ve had in a long time. For one, Ben travailed for the first time!! This is huge. Especially if you know my husband. Lets just say his personality isn’t screaming. I’ve rarely seen his hands raised in worship let alone him sprawled out on the floor groaning. Pretty sweet sight. I haven’t really gotten touched with travail yet… maybe a little, but nothing huge- yet. I’m a little hesitant, mostly because I don’t know if when it comes you can contain it. I’m picturing myself in a place where I can’t get away and I just start screaming (literally) in intercession. At the same time it’s pretty sweet to think about… how many times do we just go out to eat or watch a movie or go shopping and not think about God for maybe an hour, two hours at a time? I would think with this anointing that would be impossible. Not only that, but what an amazing thing- to have the Spirit groan through you for breakthrough in whatever arena. I’m excited. We’re going to Myrtle Beach on vacation with Ben’s family in a few weeks… we’ll see what happens.

So a really amazing word came forth for us last night while everyone was travailing. First of all here’s a little background. In June last year (while I was still pregnant with Zuriah), my parents bought Ben and me a house with the intention of me getting a job after baby was born and then getting a loan to pay them back. Well… after Zuriah my heart was unable to go into the marketplace and leave her. In fact, God confirmed I wasn’t to get a job in a pretty significant way. So here we are, over a year later and still haven’t gotten a loan to pay back mom and dad. You can imagine the tension this has caused. We know the Lord has promised us this house… now we have just been calling it in, despite the circumstances looking bleak. Also somehow we know it’s been tied with travail… interesting huh? So the word… The person said that because of the MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD in our house, that PEOPLE WOULD BE SAVED ON OUR DOORSTEP!! Another word… someone saw a door in the spirit and it opened a little wider and light poured in to our house, greater than before. So when the word was given both Ben and I thought of unsaved family members and felt the greatest intercession at that time. I’m excited to see how the Lord brings in this house- it will be such a miracle. We are contending.

I don’t think travail is too far off with me… I’m thinking only a matter of weeks. I’m excited just thinking of all the possibilities. And we sort of ‘deduced’ last night that travail brings HEAVEN TO EARTH. Pretty sweet…

Exciting Things to Come! July 18, 2008

So I just figured out how to put in pictures in my posts. No more boring posts without pictures. Maybe I’ll start blogging more for this simple fact… hmm… I like pictures. Anyone know how to do videos?

I’m Terrible at Blogging July 18, 2008

So blogging is totally not my favorite, and I never get time to do it… Ben’s been giving me a hard time because it’s been over a month- he’s threatened to take me off his links- so here I am blogging again.

So I’ve mentioned before that we have this crazy E-12 and honestly every time we meet is when I feel like actually blogging, because I have something to say! We met last week and God destroyed my box again, a good friend of ours has been going to heaven on a regular basis for about the last three weeks, or since he’s been ASKING.

For real… we need a greater reality of what’s available to us as SONS AND DAUGHTERS of the MOST HIGH GOD! Our friend talked for a good hour on what he’s seen, who he’s talked to, what he’s experienced (tasted, felt…) this is what every human is longing for and yet we have the ability to experience this in this life and only a few do it! Why? This is what we should be doing, or at least asking for! When I’m around people who have heavenly experiences on a regular basis I want to be around them ALL THE TIME. They are addicting! They’ve been around the glory of God! This is what I want- I want to go to heaven on a regular basis, see these things, and come back and tell people about them, to get them provoked to go as well! I think the time is coming when the body will do this in a corporate setting! Can you imagine? Being in the prayer room, or church, or wherever a group of people are seeking His face, and all of a sudden we are all up there together- we’re able to talk to each other… I want this!!

Another reality… although a mom now, I remember being a child and believing what was told to me- even things I’d watch on TV (whether cartoon or not) I believed them REAL. I remember staring out a window at my babysitter’s house when I was about 3 or 4 wanting Care Bears to come down and get me. I’m SO EXCITED for what my daughter will be able to experience. We were fed so many lies about the supernatural as kids that it’s turned MANY off. Do you remember REALLY believing there was a Santa’s Workshop? Children BELIEVE these things, how amazing that we are able to teach our kids REALITY now. “Yes, Zuriah you can go to heaven whenever you want! Let’s go together now! It is a REAL PLACE!!”

I’ve definitely felt like the Lord has increased my understanding of eternity and how I live in light of it. Now He’s done it again… Going to heaven is a pretty amazing thing… think about it. Someone who loves Jesus close to you dies- you’re able to go see them whenever you want, why not? THEN you get to spend eternity with them. It makes you look at life in a completely different context. Also… say we live 80 years here then have eternity. We could essentially “re-play” our life a billion times and still have eternity to go!!! This really makes you think about every second you spend here.

I’m excited for what the Lord will give us now that we are simply ASKING. We’ll see what happens…