Weigh Your Thoughts

I'm reading 'Soul-Full Eating' by Maureen Whitehouse.  Working through this 400+ page book slowly as I have much to think about.  It fits nicely with my Word for 2011, Be Mindful.

Her chapter on "Weigh Your Thoughts" starts with Galatians 6:7, 'As ye sow, so shall ye reap.'

"The most powerful way to affect your outer world is to be mindful of your inner world.  Your mind is like a field into which you can plant any seed and it will grow.  That is why it is of utmost importance that you notice what kinds of thoughts you consistently think and then weigh them to see if they are life-seed-thoughts of compassion, joy, accomplishment, acceptance and love, those things will appear in your life abundantly.  Conversely, if you choose to plant a briar patch of negative, doubtful and fearful thoughts, they too will grow.  Choose wisely. "

image from Garden Web World

It reminds me of scripture in Deuteronomy where God says "I put before you Life and Death, Blessings and Curses.  Choose Life, that you and your children may live."

We have choices.

Are you Choosing Life???

Jack LaLanne

A health icon has died, at the age of 96.

A great role model for a lot of Americans, and the creator of one of our favorite juicers (for citrus juices) Jack LaLanne died after a short illness.  Full of life until the very end.  What a great example of Living Life.

Edited: to add a Natural News link honoring the man.

Regrets of the Dying

I look at this list as a guide as to how I might chose How to Better Live.

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. Disconnecting somewhat from my religious upbringing has helped in this area.  Fear is another common issue.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard. I think I have a fairly good grasp on this one.  And learning to live more minimalistic helps Everette not live with such pressure to produce.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Not so good at this.  People-pleasing is an issue.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I have few friends, but some close friends.  And my family truly are my friends.  But sometimes I think I have bailed too often.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.  A real issue with me these days and has led to many discussions with Everette.  I understand "that happiness is a choice."  
"The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives." 


Yup, I can identify.

Remembering Samuel

It's been a year now since Samuel was born....still.

Some moments still choke me with tears welling up.  My arms are empty.  My milk is dry.

There's an empty spot in my heart.

And yet I am rich with an experience. Although short, it was bitter-sweet to have Samuel growing and then lingering within my womb.  I longed for the fluttering, the kicks to mama that said "I'm okay".  I could only identify one kick that I knew was definitely him.  Just one strong flutter to mama.  But that memory is a gift he gave me.  Something from my little boy to the mama that carried him. 


Today we remember (as we do all the other days, too).  You are loved and missed by your whole family.

Highway of Heroes Tribute

I picked up a book at the library earlier this week called "Highway of Heroes" by Kathy Stinson, because it looked like a fresh-off-the-press picture book I could use with the children Lest We Forget. And so I read it to them yesterday, and I learned something. Somethings. And one of them is how emotional I can get about those who have died so that I can live in a relatively free country.

The Highway of Heroes was not a staged event. It grew, from the respect that Canadians have for those who have given their lives to protect our country. When a soldier returned to Canada in a coffin and was being transported from CFB Trenton to the coroners in Toronto, people started to gather on overpasses to pay respect to the fallen soldier, and his family. And every time another soldier returns for a final convoy lead by the hearse they are travelling in, the people who stop to salute or fly their Canadian flags from overpasses increases so there are now crowds on each of the 50 bridges they pass under.

I don't care what country you are from, or what your political stance on The War is. But I do think there ought to be respect for their courage and commitment, and to show respect and compassion on their families at this time of loss.

This moved me to tears.



Lest We Forget.

In Flanders Fields

Class/Grade IV Cancer STINKS

I'd heard of stage 4, as in the last stages of cancer before one is expected to die.

But I hadn't heard of Class IV or Grade IV.

I enter a whole new arena, from a (unfortunately) personal position.  It isn't just somebody I know or have heard about.  It is my brother. My brother has Class IV brain cancer.

David with his wife and their sons.

Well, this isn't the first time cancer has touched our family.  My father had skin cancer, but it wasn't a big concern, and it was heart failure that took him (22 years next month!).  And my paternal Grandma (whom I didn't know) died of cancer.

The most involved I've been with a cancer patient was when Everette's Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer just over 5 years ago.  They figured he'd have about 2 years to live.  We buried him in 3.5 months.  And during those months we dropped most of our family projects (we were doing major landscaping) in favour of spending as much time with him as we could.  And when things suddenly turned for the worst we were so glad we hadn't banked on the two-years-we-didn't-get.  Danaka and Rauchelle had spent the last week staying with Grandma & Grandpa, memories they can always hold on to, knowing they were loving on them with their presence,  a held hand, a sip of water offered, a needed hug.

I believe in instantaneous and progressive miracles.  I do.  I've seen them.  My husband has been a part of them.  I WANT ONE NOW!!!  Yes, I'm yelling that.  My insides are screaming for that!  I WANT MY BROTHER HEALED!!!

Born on Christmas Day, next year we will be celebrating David's 50th Birthday.  It shall be a BIG CELEBRATION.  I say that in Faith for a great outcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tumor grade

The grade of a tumor refers to how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Cells removed by biopsy are used for grading. The following grading system may be used for adult brain tumors:

Grade I
The tumor grows slowly, has cells that look similar to normal cells, and rarely spreads into nearby tissues. It may be possible to remove the entire tumor by surgery.

Grade II
The tumor grows slowly, but may spread into nearby tissue and may become a higher-grade tumor.

Grade III
The tumor grows quickly, is likely to spread into nearby tissue, and the tumor cells look very different from normal cells.

Grade IV
The tumor grows very aggressively, has cells that look very different from normal cells, and is difficult to treat successfully.                            (from http://wiki.medpedia.com/Brain_Tumors)


I wish I had never had to know that.  I wish I didn't even know that Class IV existed.  Sometimes naivety seems more comfortable.  But that's not my option.  Unfortunately.

I know I will have much to learn as we walk this part of our journey.  Learn some things about cancer and health and the medical system.  But more than that, we have much to learn about relationships, about supporting one another in spite of personal view points, about patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc.....and self-control.  About forgiveness, about gentle answers turn away wrath, about preferring one another above ourselves.  Tough life lessons.

And about letting go.  Hopefully, we don't need to let go of David because hopefully he's stuck with us for a very long time.  But I probably have lessons to learn about letting go of my ideals, agendas, etc.

Class IV Cancer STINKS!!!!  but the lessons that surround it will be priceless.  This I do know.

Food Connection

I was just telling a friend this week about Genetically Modified Foods and Suicides in India by the farmers, and whether there is a connection.  Then Dr Mercola wrote this post, so I'm sharing it.  Maybe others of you are unaware of what's happening with our food supply in North America.

I still recommend you watch Food, Inc.  and Our Daily Bread.  I know there are other good documentaries out there, but honestly I haven't watched all of them so I can't personally recommend them.  But these 2 I can.  Our Daily Bread is without narration, so you form your own ideas completely by what you see the farmers and processors doing with the food.

Another great documentary is The Cove, about the dolphin slaughter.  Our family was appalled about this.

Animal Grossology & Remembrance

A trip in a Submarine, captained by Toveli!

And Factoids about barnacles, leeches, sea urchins, etc.  It was a fun & fact-filled morning when we checked out Animal Grossology at the Metropolis at Metrotown.  We know it's a hit when Anders asks "Can we come here tomorrow?"

Lots of info about dung and all other kinds of poops.  If Mitchell were a dung beetle, he'd be able to move up to 3,750 pounds of poop!!  50 times his own body weight.

The Slime Game, where you discover which creature makes the most slime in the world. 

Learn about the cow's digestive system.

And why do we always think of blood as being red??  And there's green blood, too!  Don't forget green in some caterpillars!

The morning was over (we also had a quick visit with Aunty Helen at her workplace) and we headed over to Central Park for a picnic lunch and a walk along the Terry Fox Circuit (not the whole thing), and reminisced about stopping east of Thunder Bay at the Terry Fox Memorial for where his run across Canada ended when cancer was rediscovered.

The children played Frozen Tag

and Hide 'n Seek (Laars is counting)

and watched a kazillion squirrels scoot here and there.  This pic shows how close they would come to our picnic.  Closer actually than viewed here.

Laars had a handful of huckleberries and you can see his excitement!

Lots of ducks and a few ducklings.

Two ponds.

We counted 14 turtles sunning here.  And there were some really big fish in this pond too.

Across the street from the park is Ocean View Cemetery where my father was buried almost 22 years ago, so we took the children there to see & remember.  Obviously, they don't remember Grampa.  None of my children do, unfortunately.  But we remembered, outloud, and shared about him as we do also about Grampa Johnson at times.

Gaelyn and Toveli place feathers at Grampa's graveside and have a peaceful moment there.  Wondering what he was like.  Imagining what he looked like in 3D. What he sounded like. 

Just wondering.

Stop Building Disease

I watched three videos (all <10 mins) of Thomas Lodi speaking about health and disease. He has a very simple, unique, and humorous way of talking about the strange behavior the human race is engaged in. I think you will find his talk enlightening. Here's Part 1 of 3

Our Son Samuel

His heart beat but a little while,



his body filled my womb for weeks longer.



Today he was born into my hands



Little but precious



Born still, but still born.



Samuel Xavier Douglas Johnson


Though my womb and hands are empty of him


My heart is full from him.

Is a Short Life God's Will?

I know that Jesus came to give God's children abundant life, and that its the adversary that has come to steal, kill and destroy. But when is death, particularly at an early age, a part of God's plan? I'm not sure. I'm a sojourner in a land that I don't understand. I wasn't really made for here, I was made for the glory (but I too have fallen from that place Rom 3:23) So there is alot of stuff I just don't get. However, I'm of the persuasion that we as His children accept death (particularly untimely death)far too easily. We've assumed that it must be God's will. When we don't understand it we say "God is sovereign, still in control. His ways are higher than ours, and we can never understand His will. We just need to accept it."

I agree that His ways are higher and better and beyond my pea brain. However, just because I can't explain an untimely death doesn't mean I need to accept that as God's will. Yes, He is the God of the Universe. Yes, He can do whatever He chooses (except He cannot lie). However, He has given us His children, responsibility and authority in running this world. Most of us just aren't doing a good job nor taking our responsibility seriously. He's given us a job to do. If we screw up or sleep on the job, we suffer the consequences because we haven't taken His mandates to us seriously.

By us I'm meaning both on an individual basis and corporately. We each have a mandate to fulfill as individuals, but we also work as and are judged as a whole universal body. The problems of this world are because of sin, yes, but as followers of Yeshua we have been given power to rectify situations. We aren't just victims of a fallen world. We are supposed to be armed warriors, trained to tear down strongholds, to set captives free, to be MORE than CONQUERORS.

I am not saying that if something bad happens to a certain individual that it is because they and they alone have done something wrong. Maybe they have, maybe they haven't. Maybe we as the body of Christ have failed them, too. Maybe we haven't entered the battle like the body should, and so although the outcome of the war is already decided, the particular battle might be lost.

On the other hand, we as individuals have to take more responsibility than most of us are comfortable with. Maybe we do have sin issues in our life that we haven't dealt with and we are suffering the repercussions. I know that is not a comfortable idea. I've been paying more attention in the last few months to how we humans seem naturally to pass the blame when it comes to our behavior. It's rampant. And it's been that way since the Garden of Eden. But the reality is that we are to blame. We've screwed up, royally, and continue to. (but thank God for His continued mercies that are new every morning without fail.)

One thing I have a difficult time with is when Christians use Romans 8:28 so flippantly. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


One thing is, many people stop at the All things work together for good. But the verse says, for those who love God. So this is directly for Christians, not for the population at large. It is clarified by to those who are called according to His purpose.

Secondly, I don't understand this verse to say that all the things that happen are God's will. Yes, in His sovereignty He has permitted them, but that does not equate to them being His will. Like adultery. It is always wrong. It is never right. But in spite of that, God can restore marriages and relationships (and He loves to). He can even make them better than they were before. But only when we take action, take authority, choose to live according to His statutes & decrees and choose Life. So, a bad situation can be worked together for a good, bringing life out of what had brought death. But does that mean that the death was actually good, and was God's will? I don't necessarily think so.

Well, I can't say that I always know God's will, so I can't say that in a particular situation it was or wasn't God's will.

In John 12:24 (NIV) it says: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
So, sometimes death bears much fruit.

It does seems that a principle of scripture is that God will give His people a full life if we live in obedience to Him.

Ex 20:12 & Deut 5:16 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Ex 23:26 and none will miscarry (early death of baby) or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deut 6:1-2 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Deut 32:46-7 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

I believe God's intentions are that we live full lives of health and in years, but it is by our own choices that we make that shortens our lives.

The Choice of Life or Death

Deut 30
11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Question for You: Are you comfortable with your own thoughts and ideas about these issues, or do you still question it all?

The Lord is My Shepherd

From the Tanach:

A Psalm by David.
Hashem is my shepherd, I shall not lack.
In lush meadows He lays me down, beside tranquil waters He leads me.
He restores my soul. He leads me on paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.
Though I walk in the valley overshadowed by death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in view of my tormentors. You anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of Hashem for long days.

**************

I've heard this well known Psalm alot recently, and had a few thoughts to share about it. But first, I've never heard it quite like Princess Abby:




A thought:

Even though we walk thru the valley of the shadow of death ....the shadow isn't the same thing as death itself. Just like our shadow isn't actually us. It may resemble us, look alot like us, but it isn't us. So things in our life might look like death....physical death, or death of a dream, or death of a relationship, etc.....but it isn't necessarily death in reality. This might just be a season, a transition, a walking through a valley that we will soon exit into a land where we don't see those same shadows.

***********************************************************

Never fear shadows.

They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby."

~Ruth E. Renkel


Question for You: Are you presently feeling that you are in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Can you feel or even believe that there is a Light shining somewhere nearby?

Reducing Infant Mortality

I found this video refreshing, because these are mostly people who work/ed in hospital environments, and they see the stats that support less intervention in pregnancy, more education for mothers, and the great need for midwives to help the medical system be relieved of some of the work load so they can deal with those that are in need of surgery and more specialized care due to disease and such.


The comment is made that only in America is a surgeon there at non-complicated births, when somebody not trained in surgery could have done the same work. Canada, too. Sad. No wonder our systems are overloaded and failing.



Again, pregnancy, labour and delivery are not inherintly dangerous. They are miraculous moments where families are born or enlarged, and generally don't require medical intervention.

Yes, it can be great to have medical technology and trained hands to help when/if a problem arises. But to assume that problems will arise is foolishness.

Near the end of this video a lady talks about the public thinking that midwifery is only for use in the home environment, when it is also available for in-hospital. And yet here in Nova Scotia, as I shared in a previous post (Midwifery in Nova Scotia : I'm Irked!) the midwives can't do homebirths but ONLY hospital births. It's unfortunate. At least in British Columbia you can use a midwife for either a homebirth or a hospital birth. You get to pick the place.



Question for You: What's your views on midwifery?

Freedom

A few weeks after I had heard 'Life' spoken to me from the Lord, I was putting laundry into the washing machine when I clearly heard the word 'Freedom'. Nobody else was in the room with me, except the Holy Spirit. I know it was The Spirit talking to me.

I accepted that word from Him, and immediately recalled the verse in John 8:36 "So if the Son sets (or 'makes' NASB) you free, you will be free indeed." (NIV)

So, He was pointing out to me that I hadn't been living out my freedom, the freedom that Christ the Son had died to give me. I had taken on self- or man-inflicted bondage, often touted as 'holy' or 'righteous'. I was living a 'good Christian life', had a nice family, doing what many saw as Biblical, but yet my heart was not truly living in freedom. Those were only outward actions that were admired by many, and my intentions were to be pleasing to the Lord, but my heart wasn't living in freedom.

Galatians 2:19 in The Message kind of sums up much of where I had been.

"What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily."

The way I see it is, if I choose to succumb to "rule-keeping, peer-pleasing", then basically what Jesus accomplished on the cross isn't effective as far as it pertains to me. Jesus gave up His precious life and blood for not only my sins, but to set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). If I don't live in that freedom, then I am basically rejecting what God's gift to me is. (I challenge you to read thru Romans 8, at least thru verses 1-6. But much of the rest of the chapter talks lots about Life & death, Freedom and bondage.)

Galatians 5:13(AMP) says, "For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another."

We were called to live in Freedom. Not lawlessness (see 1 John 3:4). "You say, “I am allowed to do anything”-—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial." (1 Cor 10:23)

When I talk about Freedom I am not at all saying, "Anything Goes!" because it doesn't. Scripture is clear about particular things that are sin. But past that, much of what the church sees as 'sinful' is simply religious-spirited opinion. Take drinking wine, for example. Hot topic in some circles, but I dare to bring it up. Scripture makes it clear to "Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Eph 5:18) In 1 Tim 5:23 Paul admonished Timothy to use wine medicinally, and Jesus' very first public miracle was turning water not just into wine, but really really good wine....the BEST! (see John 2:1-12)

Nobody will convince me that drinking wine under all conditions for a Christian is a sin. That is just opinion. It often becomes bondage forced on others. But it is not supported by Scripture. Therefore, according to Scripture, drinking wine is permissable. It may not be beneficial, but that's a different issue. It is allowable. But many times we take our opinion that because it might not be beneficial in my situation, it therefore mustn't be beneficial in your situation, either.

I heard a story by Bill Johnson who was traveling with a fella, and Bill offered him a candy. He turned it down, saying that God had told Him that he wasn't supposed to eat candy. Turns out that a couple years previous God had asked this man to sacrifice or fast from eating candy. He hadn't imposed the 'no eating candy' on anybody else, but he had imposed that candy-fast on himself for years, without having asked God if he could now eat candy. He had actually put himself in a type of bondage because he had assumed that what God had once asked him to do, was still the 'law' for him. He hadn't thought to inquire of the Lord about the issue.

I urge you to honestly ask the Lord to reveal to you what bondage you may be under, and then ask Him to set you free from it. Inquire of the Lord in all matters, and don't accept man's ideas blindly. If the Son has set you free, then YOU ARE FREE! Live in that freedom. Make the cross applicable to your life.

Question for You: Do you feel under obligation alot, or do you feel free most of the time?

More about Life

I can look back over previous years and see particular relationships from a different perspective now. I recall going into some new 'friends' houses, and almost feeling as if I was being squeezed and restricted at every visit. We could talk about the Lord, but it was as if I needed to do more to be more righteous & to measure up. It felt like the big burden on Christians back ('Pilgrim's Progress'), but instead of personal sin, it was more religious-spirited baggage. I had put myself into a relationship that brought a form of death. They had a form of godliness but didn't seem to really be walking in the grace of God, or the power of the gospel, nor the abundant life of Jesus.

I have received emails of reprimand towards myself or my friends because of somebody that we had received teaching through. People thought they could us the scriptures to prove their point, which was actually to defraud others. But usually within the first couple of sentences I could feel in my spirit-man that these words were giving death. It wasn't really whether they had any truth or not in what they had to say, but I could easily tell by what spirit realm it was written. Remember, satan knows scriptures and can certainly use them to his advantage, but that brings death. It robs us of joy, for he comes to steal, kill and destroy. But when those words bring Life to our soul, then we know that the source is God.

I recall hearing Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries talking about a time that she was all excited, pushing ahead on a project. But then she had a vision or a dream (I can't remember) in which she was running really really fast, and then she stumbled. God picked her up, twirled her around excitedly, and then said, "You Go Girl! Just slow down a little!"

I love that picture. To me, its such a gentle Daddy excited over the same things that His child is, but there to pick her up, play a bit, and encourage her on. Within all of that is a gentle reprimand or correction, cloaked in love and delight.

That's how I see the Love of God, bringing LIFE to me even when correction is needed. If it feels like death, then it likely is. And I know who authors that! No matter how holy or right it might appear, if the source is not from God, then in the end it will bring death.

Our family can honestly say, that in the 5 months we were hanging out with Extreme Prophetic, and we took in many many meetings (from small informal house meetings, to big conferences), there wasn't even one meeting where we didn't leave there feeling more life, more love for God, more desire for His Word. There was always Life, always encouragement, always support, always God.

Deuteronomy 30:19

" I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants."

John 10:10

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."


Be Blessed and above all, be filled to overflowing with the Life of Jesus.


Question for You: Do you have a simple way to practice discernment?

Choose Life

Shortly after we arrived on Cape Breton in the fall of 2007, it seemed like Everette and I entered into our own kind of Discipleship Training School with God. We had all of our previous support gone and we had begun a new journey. The process had started at some point before we left BC, but it was very clear and intense when we were here on Cape Breton and especially once the cold eastern winter set in. We were home much of the time, engrossed in the Word, online teachings thru podcasts or videos, and reading books. We each had our own journey, but they were overlapping quite often.

I was seeking to know God better, and to clear my mind and heart of all the religious things I'd grown up with. I had put God in a pretty small box, and had limited Him pretty much to my experience. I was wanting to serve a powerful BIG God. I was on the search to find Him.

I started to hear a voice. I don't know how to explain it, but it was clear and precise. I suppose it was in my head that I heard it, but it wasn't like the flurry of thoughts that seem to be constantly going around in this females head. It was loud, and everything else stopped. It got my total attention, although it was just one single word. It stood out like a beacon amidst a storm.

LIFE!!

How simple was that? Of course, I choose life. I wasn't considering suicide. I don't agree with abortion or euthanasia. Of course I choose life.

But then God brought me to Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."

As I pondered this verse and started looking into blessings and curses, it became more apparent to me that through ignorance and/or naivety I was living with a form of death and with curses in my life, considering it a normal part of living in a fallen world. But when I became aware of the life and the blessings that God has for His children, and I recognized that as a citizen of the Kingdom I don't live under the rulership of this world (unless I'd choose to), then I really started to LIVE!

I started to evaluate my thoughts, and wonder if they were bringing life to my soul and spirit. If they weren't, then I would "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:3-5
I would reject lies for I recognized that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Jesus came and died for me, that I would not only have life, not only eternal life, but abundant here-&-now life. He sent His Spirit in fullness to live in me, that I can have a very different life than those that are without Him. But I must constantly be choosing life, not death and the ways of the thief.

I started to see things more simply. Life....or death. Blessings......or curses. No brainer, of course I wanted the Life and the Blessings. So, how did that look in my daily life? (You can check out Deut 28 for a list of blessings and curses)

I would choose to think thoughts of Life. This isn't the same as being a positive thinker. This is thinking thoughts or words that originate from God, and from Jesus, since He is the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

Bill Johnson says, "I can't afford to have a thought in my head about me that is not in His." Chew on that for awhile. That was a biggie for me. It was a turning point, actually.

So, by choosing Life I was definitely choosing Jesus who is the Life, and I was choosing His thoughts about me. Thoughts like.....

I am a new creation in Christ; old things have passed away and all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. (1 Cor 6:17)

I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2Cor 5:21)

I am righteous and holy. (Eph 4:24)

I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)

I am more than a conqueror through Christ. (Rom 8:37)

I am a child of God who always triumphs in Christ and releases His fragrance in every place. (2 Cor 2:14)

I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Eph 1:3)

If I sin and confess it, I now stand righteous before God. (1 John 1:9)

When I started to decree the truths God gave in the Bible, I was choosing words of LIFE over the lies of death that my spiritual enemy tried to feed me. I was working at doing what Bill Johnson said......not having thoughts about myself that God doesn't have. I find LIFE the more my thinking truly lines up with God's Word. There is really no other way to have LIFE than from the Life-Giver.


Question for You: Have you ever audibly heard the voice of God?