40 days of encounter journal

Bethel Church is doing a 40 days of encounter, which began just before Thanksgiving Day. I began this encounter after reading James Goll's book. Bethel is doing it according to James Goll's book as well. I like having others to do this with. Papa loves family efforts :) I noticed an increased awareness of details in my encounters. Neat :) Let's see if I can remember to record my encounters here.

Orphan spirit

Papa has been teaching me much about human behavior of late. I'm perplexed with the way believers have conducted themselves in and outside of the church. I'm attached to a group of churches that shared the same Heavenly vision and Word back in the '90's. I'm too far from any of them to be part of their amazing ministries, but I find that it is enough to attach myself to the nearest one, and let them minister to me by internet. I'm so blessed. I am confirmed that I belong with them (Bethel Church, Redding, CA), as I dream similarly and in great detail, Papa's visions for us, one to one and as a church family. I've prayed for its leaders, burdened for mistakes I see being made, and then relieved and joyful as they publicly declare that that is changing now (wondering why they hadn't seen it until now). This is my ministry to Bethel Church. To intercede on their behalf. Really, this is the first time I've felt unity in any church I've belonged to the last 36 years. It's all good. And there's a great benefit to having a shepherd who comes from a long line of shepherds who knows how to be a father shepherd to a flock of sheep. He knows how not to be an orphan, but sometimes he forgets.

As I prayed that my shepherd would stop traveling so much, would pay attention to his flock himself, instead of leaving them to others not born for this fathering role, I felt so heavy with the burden. I had breakthrough this month. The busyness has been declared as a problem. People who are insecure and overwhelm themselves with busyness are those running from the cries of their orphan spirit. Even this shepherd admitted it. He has something to compare it to, and he doesn't like what he sees. Two weeks ago, he declared that he was stopping his travels by at least 30%. He gathered his flock together and encouraged them. The electricity was exciting amongst the flock who was hearing it. They were so excited about this. Gee, do you really think us that important?

Papa keeps things simple. Anything out of proportion is corrected and balance restored. Even a man of a long line of shepherds can forget who he is.

Papa, help me to not run from the cries of an orphan spirit. I belong to You. Thanks for clarifying the weirdness of disunity in the church. I like knowing it isn't my fault :)

Continue in these things

No matter what results, we continue working out all things. We pray healing for a sick one, and stop when they are healed, or else when their life is over here. We don't get disappointed nor discouraged from doing it again and again, when it is in our faces. We do life with joy in trouble and trouble in joy. Others' troubles are about us. Will we continue in these things, no matter what? Especially in the mystery of endings and answers.

I've seen cynical writings on believers' walls at FB. I first saw it in a young sour person. Apparently, his parents share his sour cynicism. I didn't see that coming. Papa, I break it in Jesus' name.

Heartbreak, heartshake

Company, lost opportunities long-awaited; sabotage, betrayal, and then the reality check. My own ducks are all in a row, and count for a united Papa front (Papa, Jesus, Holy Spirit and me) as the rest of my human team pursues continually the vain life.

Consequently, I felt usurped, discounted, ignored and pushed out, in favor of the vain, time-consuming blatherings of displaced, ill-timed work passion and reminiscings. The labor force is a practical task which exists to finance life; it partners unequally with the real, exciting life Papa asks us to live out with Him.
As I tried to express the wrongness over this most recent spectacle, I saw in a vision little blue hamster balls with people in them in a rush; sharing in common work pursuits. Their balls knocked together, people inside them that Papa loves never ever coming into contact with one another; the knocks of their balls launching themselves in random directions. Relationships never made, people engagement starving to happen.

How could this scene have played out right in front of me?

All preparations for this good event came to naught. I was there to prepare, all doors open and welcoming. My house is safe, demon-free. Except for the ones welcomed in by others.

What bad can happen if one lets work obsession sin be? It's not okay. It's not okay to have an almost clean ministry and let one sin thrive. In fact, why call work sin sin? So much pleasure is derived from it; so much time invested in it.

Career threw up on Papa's clean house. That fight continues. It usurps opportunities to let Papa love overwhelmingly. It isolated two workaholics away from Him; instead, the passion and pursuit of career crash-landed on precious little time to share Papa, damming up the good channels of Heaven to them, and my heart was broken; shaken.

I'm soberly reminded that to pursue Papa is a daily choice. To love and care for His people correctly comes out of that choice to pursue Papa. There is no caring for people correctly when a life is consumed in the pursuit of vanity. Good News, life, freedom from the slave life explodes from a heart filled up with Papa's revelations, which are given as we pursue Him.

All that is important here on Earth is enormously clear to me. No one pursues vain interests in Heaven, to the neglect of our Papa. We all pursue Papa there. Together.

I have chosen Papa. He has shaped my life accordingly. So I am privileged to live, day by day, an incredibly blessed life. I travel to Heaven and back, ever full of Papa's stories and visions and words. I have shared these accounts with others, who think they're all pretty neat, and go back to vain pursuits. What is unattractive about this life of mine? Nothing. Yet they stand in the way of others I want to share it with; knowing, blocking my efforts, somehow ashamed of being privy to Papa's secrets via my life. What will connect Heaven to Earth for them?

More praying, more begging Papa to help. But He won't make us pursue Him. He never does. After all, what earthly papa wants to pursue potential sons and daughters who don't want to be pursued? Papa does. He knows who is hiding their hearts, sometimes long in life. He pursues them to the death bed. I guess I shall too :)

I share this kind of lifestyle with an amazing global family. What an amazing opportunity it is to be part of something so large! I'm glad I chose You, Papa. Jesus, my love, You made it all possible. Holy Spirit, You take me to amazing places in the Heavens, give me dreams and unite willing people from all locations in time and beyond; and beyond my wildest imagination, into a glorious, transforming Earth life.

Even as I write Mouse Trap 2, I've discovered that what I wrote last year (2009) about Papa's house, my visions about His Heavenly library, is being done on earth very similarly. Papa's projects are revealed in the dreams and visions of James Goll, one of my favorite people. Joy, bittersweet. I have no one to share this detailed confirmation of my own creative writing ministry in this place that I live. Patmos should be the name of this place. It is a Patmos for me.

Maria Clara

A prayer chain is formed for Maria Clara. It goes to Colombia, SA to different continents, so that she is covered. I feel especially close to her right now. Last night, I saw her mother's face in glory before my eyes, even as I brushed my teeth. My prayers are with her. Whenever I think of her, I pray. It is her time to heal :)

The cousins are all praying.

I love You, Papa. Come help.

Living the Life

I get so wrapped up in the awe of having my Papa by my side that I forget the everyday ministry that is my life. The best part is the everyday where Papa brings encounters. Jesus and Sarayu always with Him, remind me that encounters are the grand toppings, the ministries that bless all involved; the Good News of the gospel displayed. I'm living the life we are all called to live. Imagine if the world were filled with everyday people who know how to be :)

With that introduction, I'll try to remember to post my everydays.

Simplicity

We are not complicated. Fearfully and wonderfully made, but not complicated.

We haven't been given a heavy burden to carry out, but rather power to help Papa carry out His single, amazing plan within a time frame. Even that's a choice. And if it gets heavy, we're doing it wrong.

Stewardship is not a matter of tithing 10%, it is the way we handle the gifts Papa has handed us. Tithing is part of the OT law. Why is that so hard to accept? Papa is happy with us loving one another and loving Him. Passionately. The more we get to know one another, the more we appreciate the relationship. Sometimes that growth in friendship is misinterpreted as something quite evil by the very ones we invest in. Fear of intimacy. Get over it. Love is simply love. Papa's love. The entire message Papa has for us is love Him, love people. Imagine if we just did it. They will know we are His by the way we love one another.

1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter says it all. Just do it. It is simple. Papa loves simplicity.