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Monday, January 30, 2017

Daily Diet | Through His Spirit | #BeStillBeLed


1 Corinthians 2:9-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”— 
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10Amplified Bible (AMP)
9 but just as it is written [in Scripture],

“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” 
10 For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding].

***


Today I had no particular chapter and verse in mind, so I picked up my bible and it opened to 1 Corinthians 2. I read through chapters 2 and 3; and a verse that I had previously highlighted kept sticking out in my heart/mind. 

But God...

I always enjoy a good "But God". This or that awful thing happened, But God.... This or that truth about life is solid, But God... This or that giant has come to challenge us, But God... 

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
Revealed what? The things which no eye has seen or ear heard. In other words, how can I know God's will and plan for my life, day, weeks, month, year.... 

By getting in touch with His Spirit. 

The HolySpirit is my guide, helper, teacher. It is the HolySpirits job to show me what I need to know to walk with him, and He Loves me, and He enjoys me, and He loves surprising me with things.

Let's say that life has done what life does, and I end up with a need for X. 

Some of the people in churches I've been to would go grab a verse that applies and shout: "In the name of Jesus, according to His word ____fill in verse here___ I demand X come into my life."

That's not wrong, but it's woefully incomplete. Rather, let's start by hearing God. You see, some circles call that faith, but faith requires hearing first. If you paused, prayed, and heard God and he gave your that verse and those words, then it would be faith. But if you just decided to do it, or did it because you heard someone else do it, it's not faith.

Faith comes by hearing. Not reading. Not even hearing someone else. Faith comes by hearing God's active voice. This is where it gets tricky. You see, the bible is not God's word. The bible is a book that contains God's word. It's dead words on a page until he actively (in the present) speaks them to you. 

So you can get faith by reading the bible if God speaks it to you. Or you can read it and walk away dead (like the Pharisees). It's only when God (in the present here and now) speaks to you that you can then respond in faith.

Now, God can speak through the bible or through a preacher or friend... and you can respond in faith. 

So, it's not faith because you found a verse. It's not faith because you heard a preacher or friend do it and you believed it. It's faith when God speaks it and you believe it.

So, back to this verse. God has revealed the things we haven't heard before to us through the HolySpirit. 

So it's time to spend time hearing God's voice through His HolySpirit. 

Next time you sit down for a quiet moment with God, don't just jump into your devotional, chapter, whatever... pause. Listen. See where He will direct you for that moment in time. He may just want to say: "Hi, I love you." Or He may want to give you a crucial piece of instruction to the next portion of your life.

#BeStillBeLed

Darrell G. Wolfe



Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant | Multipotentialite

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Anointing | The Burden Removing, Yoke Destroying Power of God


I woke up this morning with neck pain, as is often the case. But rather than whine about it, or toss and turn until the pain meds kicked in, I decided to get up and pray.

I felt led to look up Isaiah 61:
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 4They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations

This chapter has been precious to me ever since I first learned about the anointing, in 2003, but in light of my new found healing and inner freedom, it is taken on a whole new depth of meaning to me.

One of the keys to understanding the anointing is to go back and read through Moses' first encounters with God, his establishment of Aaron as the priest of Israel, and God's specific instructions for creating an oil that can only be used by the priests for anointing and nothing else.

Then take a close look at Isaiah 10:27:
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointingKing James 2000 Bible
Many translations render the last word "Fat" or "Fatness". The word can be translated either Oil or Fat, depending on its context (oil = fat).

Some translations take that and impose their own interpretation on it, and say because you grew too fat or because of your prosperity. This is not wrong, but it is incomplete. The word Fat can mean that you are doing well in this culture, and someone who is anointed is doing well. 

The actual word here in this context is referring back to the anointing Oil, as given by Moses and used by the priests. 

One of my first pastors, Pastor Stewart Roberts, had this oil made according to the original biblical formula, found in Exodus 30:34-35. He used it in services to anoint people, as we are all now a royal priesthood. It's a highly fragrant oil, the smell is sweet and powerful. If someone were recently anointed you would know by your nose that they'd entered the room.

So what is the Anointing? It is the: The Burden Removing, Yoke Destroying Power of God

So if we are all now filled with the HolySpirit of God, and anointed, what are we anointed to do?

  • Bring good news to the poor: You don't have to be poor anymore (spiritually, physically, or financially). 
  • Heal broken hearts (distorted lenses, and hurting hearts).
  • Tell people who have been captive (to sin, sickness, demons, and fear) that they can be free!
  • Use that Power of God to take people who are bound (by addictions, sickness, demons, or fear) and set them free (by letting God's power work through you to heal, cast out, and deliver). 
But that's not all! There's more:

  • The Acceptable Year of the Lord refers to the Jubilee Year when all debts are wiped clean and everyone's property and fortune are restored. This was a type and shadow of Jesus' death and resurrection setting us free from Sin, Sickness, Demons, and Fear. We are to tell everyone we can about this Freedom and LIFE Jesus came to give.
  • Because of the gift of Jesus, we are able to show them beauty despite the death and destruction around them; Joy or Gladness or Thankfulness despite the sadness or grief they feel; and show them how to praise God in the very midst of adversity.
  • These attributes allow us to help them become firmly rooted in God's Kingdom, and they will then rebuild and restore others.

We are living in the last of the last days before the return of Jesus. The darkness of this world will continue to increase. The debt, death, and violence will not get better, only worse. 

Nevertheless, so too will God's people get more powerful. Where sin abounds, grace does much MORE abound

We will prosper despite the darkness and build the Kingdom of God until the day Jesus returns for his Bride. 

We will do it one soul at a time!

Let's go set the captives free!



Darrell G. Wolfe


Story Teller | INFJ | Futuristic | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Command | Input | Focus | Multipotentialite

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

When things don't go the way you planned... go into Low Slow.


One step at a time, one day at a time...

We got a 2010 Mazda Tribute, SUV, to better prepare for Idaho roads. I quit Wells Fargo this week (Sunday night). I'm working on the house, getting ready to sell. I'm looking into getting my freelance writing career launched full time.

Here's a story about Low Slow:

We saw the 2010 Mazda Tribute and I felt strongly this was our SUV. It jumped off the page and I had perfect peace about getting it. I applied for the pre-financing through USAA and it went through with no questions (miracle!).

We went down to the AutoNation on Saturday but they couldn't get it worked out, even with USAA. The trade-in was just too high to add to the loan. We left and I felt disappointed.
STOP: Now, this is the part of these stories where Old Dead Darrell would get dejected, complain that "maybe I can't hear God afterall", spiral into depression, and start thinking about all kinds of negative things I could do to "feel better". 
This time around, post-healing, Healed Darrell started to feel disappointed. But we drove to a nearby iHop and decided to celebrate anyway, even though it looked like we'd lost this one. As we sat there, I started getting into my left-brain head. Working numbers, getting antsy, etc. She saw it, and got worried. Mentioned it. I pulled back and thought about that a moment. I closed my notebook, and tried to settle down inside.

I said: "Let's go into Low Slow". A phrase Kenneth Copeland talks about to describe getting quiet before God (instead of worked up), and listning for his direction.

"Lord, I believe you had this car for us. Either I missed it, and it's not our car. In that case, I don't want it. Or, I didn't miss it, but I had the rest of the plan wrong. You let us know what you want us to do."

We ate, we talked, cried a little... I went to the bathroom... While there, I had an epiphany. Why trade in the Mazda? I could see it private party. I have some tax return/401K money coming in. I can pay any difference myself. Or pay it off, then sell it. Then I'd just be buying the Tribute outright with no trade-in. I called my sales person and told him the plan and that I'd be back. I worked with USAA all Monday morning, and they said I didn't need to trade-in the Mazda3 to get the Tribute. So we went down and bought it Monday.

All went easy... until... road noise...

Another attempt to get me out of peace. I started hearing and feeling a vibration from the Tribute. It was loud and awful. I panicked. Car problems are enough to put me in a tail-spin normally too. But I went into Low Slow. Tried to stay out of panick. Prayed, looked at it. Eventually figured out the plastic housing was loose. Zip tied that down, replaced a bolt. 80% of the noise was gone, but some remained. Tires. The tires are clipping on the sides. It needs new tires and an alignment. No problem.

Problem, again, solved. Go into Low Slow next time you have a crisis moment, and listen for God. He'll lead you out. He doesn't take us around the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but he doesn't let us camp there either. He takes us THROUGH...


So, broken or whole, "right or wrong", that's what I'm thinking about today,

Darrell W.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Dancing Ice


Dancing Ice


Shimmers of light glanced off the icicles hanging from the eaves of the winter cabin, prisms of a pure and clean world. A blanket of fresh powder covered the ground. Aditi sat on the window sill, watching Jeff shovel snow. Grumbling to himself, complaining about how hard it was on his back. Jeff was a human, and like most humans, he’d lost sight of the wonder of winter.

Aditi had previously attempted to reach him, convince him to open his eyes and see but he was deaf and blind to her presence. With a deep sigh, she floated up to her place above the cabinets. She was preparing for spring. Her work was to make the flowers more colorful, and the animals more playful. She did her job well for the past 3,000 years. She’d avoided humans for the most part, but Jeff was an exception. There was something about him that made her happy and sad at the same time. She knew Yah had a plan for this one, but he just couldn’t see it.

So she set up her shop in his cabin and watched over him. She saved him from countless times he’d left the stove on, forgotten to close the door during bear season, or the time he was distracted and nearly walked into the street while a garbage truck was driving through town. That was harder because she had to get his attention, which was so hard to do. She finally pinched his neck. She didn’t like hurting him but it was better than seeing him run over by a garbage truck.

Having completed her preparations for the day, Aditi put on her warmest outfit, fluttered her wings, and took off through the vent in the ceiling. She made her way outside, past Jeff and his grumbling shovel, and went to find more supplies. This would be the best spring she’d ever put on. The other elves would be so happy or jealous, she wasn’t sure which!




TBC...



By Darrell Wolfe



Storyteller | Creative | INFJ | Intellection | Ideation | Input | Learner | Achiever | Multipotentialite




Dancing Ice

Dancing Ice

Shimmers of light glanced off the icicles hanging from the eaves of the winter cabin, prisms of a pure and clean world. A blanket of fresh powder covered the ground. Aditi sat on the window sill, watching Jeff shovel snow. Grumbling to himself, complaining about how hard it was on his back. Jeff was a human, and like most humans, he’d lost sight of the wonder of winter.

Aditi had previously attempted to reach him, convince him to open his eyes and see but he was deaf and blind to her presence. With a deep sigh, she floated up to her place above the cabinets. She was preparing for spring. Her work was to make the flowers more colorful, and the animals more playful. She did her job well for the past 3,000 years. She’d avoided humans for the most part, but Jeff was an exception. There was something about him that made her happy and sad at the same time. She knew Yah had a plan for this one, but he just couldn’t see it.

So she set up her shop in his cabin and watched over him. She saved him from countless times he’d left the stove on, forgotten to close the door during bear season, or the time he was distracted and nearly walked into the street while a garbage truck was driving through town. That was harder because she had to get his attention, which was so hard to do. She finally pinched his neck. She didn’t like hurting him but it was better than seeing him run over by a garbage truck.

Having completed her preparations for the day, Aditi put on her warmest outfit, fluttered her wings, and took off through the vent in the ceiling. She made her way outside, past Jeff and his grumbling shovel, and went to find more supplies. This would be the best spring she’d ever put on. The other elves would be so happy or jealous, she wasn’t sure which!

TBC...

By Darrell Wolfe

Storyteller | Creative | INFJ | Intellection | Ideation | Input | Learner | Achiever | Multipotentialite

    Saturday, January 7, 2017

    2016 - 2017 - The Winds of Change (I Love my wife!)


    2016 was the worst year of my life. I almost went back to an old life, partially did.

    Earlier this week, I came within a breath of making decisions that would have led to the destruction of a family, and ultimately my spiritual then physical death.

    But God....

    Last night (Friday night), God used Flavia (my wife) to break through the walls.

    For the first time in my 36 years on planet earth, I know I'm going to be OK. I'm OK with not being OK, and now I'm going to be.

    He used her to heal me. And now I have to help heal the pain I've caused her for 14 years.

    It will be a journey, but one worth taking with her by my side.

    I am "In Love" with Flavia A. Wolfe, and I want the world to know it.

    I'm looking forward to 2017, really really looking forward to what miracles God has in store for this family this year.

    **

    PS: I'm open to anything, even the call to ministry. I surrender all. I'm willing to pay it forward, use me.


    So, broken or whole, "right or wrong", that's what I'm thinking about today,

    Darrell W.

    2016 - 2017 The Winds of Change


    2016 was the worst year of my life. I almost went back to an old life, partially did.

    Earlier this week, I came within a breath of making decisions that would have led to the destruction of a family, and ultimately my spiritual then physical death.

    But God....

    Last night (Friday night), God used Flavia (my wife) to break through the walls.

    For the first time in my 36 years on planet earth, I know I'm going to be OK. I'm OK with not being OK, and now I'm going to be.

    He used her to heal me. And now I have to help heal the pain I've caused her for 14 years.

    It will be a journey, but one worth taking with her by my side.

    I am "In Love" with Flavia A. Wolfe, and I want the world to know it.

    I'm looking forward to 2017, really really looking forward to what miracles God has in store for this family this year.

    **

    PS: I'm open to anything, even the call to ministry. I surrender all. I'm willing to pay it forward, use me.


    Darrell G. Wolfe


    Story Teller | INFJ | Futuristic | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Command | Input | Focus | Multipotentialite

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