which way?

I remember being a little kid sitting at the kitchen table with a blank piece of paper and some crayons.  I would sit there and think about all of the things that I could draw.  I would think of possibility after possibility, and I would have a really hard time actually deciding on something and starting the drawing.  I feel the same way that I did then as I do now about this blog.  I can think of lots of things to write about, but I have a hard time choosing something and then starting to write.  I also feel that way about the direction of my life right now.  I have lots of different paths that I could go down, but it is hard for me to pick one and go with it.  Choosing one thing is kind of choosing against another, and I guess you could say that I like having multiple possibilities.  But on the other hand, all that keeping my options open does is put off the inevitable decision.  The trick is, when you put it off long enough, circumstances eliminate some of the options, and eventually the decision gets made for you.  Like a process of elimination by procrastination.  This actually has something to do with why I went to college where I did, but that’s another story. 

My dad has this theory that, as he puts it, “It’s better to be moving forward in any direction than sitting there spinning your wheels.”  In other words, it doesn’t really matter which road you take because the endpoint (your destiny) was set by God, and some routes may be better/quicker/more direct/less rough/whatever than the rest, but as long as you are moving forward and trusting Him, He will help you get where you are supposed to be.  Frustrating as it seems sometimes when we wonder if we are lost or even going the right way, it is actually kind of beautiful because God lets us choose our own way. 

And as easy as it would be to find the right path if we already knew where we were going, that would defeat the purpose of trusting God and having faith that you will get there someday.  Which brings me back to Matthew 4:35.  And of course this reminds me of my favorite Emily Dickinson poem, “Faith is the Pierless Bridge”, which I wrote about once before, and the message that if you could see to the other side of the bridge it wouldn’t take faith to walk across it.  I guess I haven’t mastered this lesson yet since it keeps coming up, but it seems like it might be one of those that we have to keep being reminded of along the way, because the further along that we get the more faith we are going to need to keep going. 

So, I guess my problem is that I know that I need faith to step out, but which direction should I step out in?  Back to that whole choices thing that is so hard for me.  I think in a lot of cases, I would rather obey than choose:

Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk.  Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation.  I have no hope except in you.  Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord!  Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness.

The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray; he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him.  And when we obey him, every path he guides us on is fragrant with his lovingkindness and his truth.

Psalms 25: 4-10

These verses are my prayer right now.  Lead me, teach me, guide me, entice me with the scent of your goodness, Oh Lord.  As long as you are with me I will know I am going the right way. 

L’shanah tovah

Last year in November I was hired for a new position at work.  After I was hired it was almost two months before I got to move into my new job, so I didn’t actually start until after the new year.  I was impatient to start, but not surprised that it took so long.  I felt like God had told me that a new chapter of my life was going to start, but the page wouldn’t be turned until after the new year had begun (2007).  I also knew that whatever changes were coming they were bigger than that new position and that those changes, the focus of this new chapter, wouldn’t really come for 6 to 9 months.  So, at the end of May, which was almost to the six month mark, I made the decision to quit my job and move with my parents to a new city.  Since being here I haven’t figured out what direction to take next, but I have had confirmation that this is where I am supposed to be… for now.  I have been looking forward to this September because it is 9 months down my timeline.  I don’t know what is coming, but I want to be ready and watching for it with my eyes wide open. 

In last month’s Elijah Rain magazine, it seemed like almost every article was about the prophetic significance of the coming new year.  Of course we realize that in a few months we begin 2008, and 8 symbolizes new beginnnings.  But what caught my attention was that tomorrow (Sept 12) at sundown starts Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year of 5768.  In an article written by Chuck Pierce (read the whole thing here) he says:

The Hebraic year 5768, which will encompass the Gregorian calendar’s, Year of the Lord 2008 A.D., is the “The Year of Samekh Chet!” That means we are coming into “The Year of the Full Circle of Life–A New Beginning Is Yours!”  …

You are being positioned to make a transition into the next realm of glory. Here are eight key issues that we can look forward to as we enter the Hebraic year 5768 and mature through the year ahead! First of all, the last two years actually come together to form this year’s momentum. The two symbols of Vav and Zayin come together to form the symbol for Chet. In other words, the staking your claim and the sword with a crown actually join together to produce your new beginning.

You will begin something new! Even if you refused to shift into a visible new dimension, your present state is your new state. With God, He will meet you where you are and cause you to start new if you yield! You can catch up quickly and gain momentum even if you have resisted change. If you do not yield, your new place will be your old cycle with the old structures reinforced seven times.

The number eight is always linked with “new beginnings!” This Hebrew word is linked with life and being hot! We are entering into a year where we must choose to be hot, filled with passion, so we conceive our future! Choose the fire and the zeal of God!

1. This is a year of manifestation! There will be a physical manifestation of what you have been watching and waiting to see!

2. You can supernaturally transcend your limitations and begin your new era.

3. The land and the Heavens align to create a new Divine Presence in your atmosphere.

4. “Dominion” will be the key word for this year! Rule where you have been positioned. Rule or watch the “wild beasts” gain ground in your land.

5. This is a year that God’s people will have great authority over their enemies. The nations against you can be driven out of your land! All squatters must go from your inheritance or they gain “squatters rights” and their encroachment will remain another season. Land is equated to the state of our mind. Therefore, this is the year to transform the mind so we have a new victory mentality in the war season we are living in.

6. Subdue your “animal impulses.” Find your place of deliverance and do not let any wild beast enter your highway. Be aggressive to overthrow all poverty mentality! “A lion is on the road, I will hide myself,” should not be your theme. Stand firm and face any transgression so you can move down your path! Isaiah 35 is a key for us this year.

7. Exodus 23 is also key this year. God forms His covenant with us to advance into our future destiny. This applies to families, regions and nations. If we have forgotten and rejected His covenant in areas, that will not be a part of our future. We must return and review our covenant roots and realign now!

8. Fasten yourself to the Lord. Don’t let the enemy’s hook drag you off the stage of your future! Break your orphan spirit! Return to a place of innocence! The secret place calls you forth. Stay in the secret place so you can be sent forth on key missions. The book of John and all of his Epistles are key for our transition this year.

I know at our church many of us are looking forward to the fulfillment of a word over our church that this September we will begin a new season of having “William Branham” type manifestations of healing and prophecy.  I think Pierce’s article offers great encouragement for that.  Personally, I know for me that this time coming up is something that I have been waiting for and something that I have been being prepared for.  As Mr. Pierce says, we must yield to God and choose to be hot and filled with passion to bring forth what is coming, which is never bad advice.  So, Happy New Year everybody, or L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem which is may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

easy living

Charlie’s summer so far.  He misses his yard and playing football with Jeffrey, but he’s surviving.  They broke ground on our new house finally, so hopefully it won’t be too long until he can have a yard with room to play again.  He likes visiting Jeffrey’s house, but he decided he would rather be on the raft than in the pool.