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Keepsake Revival

When I think of a keepsake, I think of a cherished memento that brings a remembrance of what we hold dear, like people close to our hearts or special events, such as a wedding or birthing.

Dictionary.com defines keepsake as “anything kept, or given to be kept, as a token of friendship or affection; remembrance.” Some synonyms of keepsake are: favor, reminder, memorial, symbol and token (Thesaurus.com).

When searched in an online Bible, “keepsake” is associated with the word “token.”

Token in Hebrew, can mean a promise or a solemn pledge, such as words spoken from God’s heart or in the form of a sign of covenant, such a rainbow or a circumcision (Strong’s #226-oth).

Token in Greek means to have, hold or possess (Strong’s #2192-echó).

This brings to mind wedding vows and rings—symbols of covenant, where the bride is given to have and to hold, to possess God’s promises.

In seeking The Lord about “keepsake revival,” the message He revealed to me was this:

As we come more deeply in relationship with God, He will bring revival to family members we hold dear in our hearts and revival of our relationship with them. God’s desire is to re-set and re-establish family legacy for everyone’s benefit, including building next generations. God’s desire is to revive family members from false beliefs and dead ways as they reconcile more deeply with Him, then each other. The Lord will bring new life with a new perspective to old hearts and young attitudes. 

During visits with these family members, He will break open communication with one another to give us deeper understanding, lighter hearts and new memories we’ve longed for—a clearer connection, a refreshing. In doing so, God is giving us a “token of grace” (a keepsake) and a “second experience of grace” (2 Co 5:17) to hold in our hearts as treasure of His goodness. 

We will experience a renewed love and joy toward one another as we experience a distinctive before and after difference that will strengthen individual relationships and the family overall. It can happen to the extent that painful pasts will be washed away as if they never occurred. 

For those family members who are not so close, God is bringing reform that will foster deep reconciliation with Him and repair with us that will impress us with awesome wonder, knowing God alone brought the restoration.

I believe David experienced this when his family members met him in the cave of Adullam, where he was strengthened (fortified and multiplied) before moving closer to his promise of coronation (1 Sa 22:1-5). 

Let’s remember that God offers redemption and fruitfulness to even the hardest cases, like some of us. 

Think Jacob.

Psalm 44:4 NIV says, “You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.”

No one is too difficult for God to reach.

Hosea 12:3-6, 13 NLT reflect on Jacob’s journey. They say, “Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him—the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, the LORD is his name! So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him…the LORD brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt and…they were protected.”

God did the impossible with Jacob. The Lord enabled Jacob to come to the end of himself, then reconcile with The Lord, then reconcile with his brother, Esau (Ge 32:24).

This is God’s order of reconciliation.

And now, it’s our time to do the same.

We can extend the heart of gracious Esau and Christ, simply out of His overwhelming joy and a desire to not cause more pain.

We can experience the rich mercy of forgiveness as family prodigals reconcile with God and us. 

We can experience “better” in the form of a keepsake revival forward that God promises to extend beyond us (Ge 33:4-5).

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV assure us that “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 

May we be compelled by Christ’s love (2 Co 5:14) to minister reconciliation from a Spirit of Grace, being available to meet with family members as led by Holy Spirit. 

May we minister according to Isaiah 43:18, which reminds us to “Forget the former things;” and “not dwell on the past.” 

May we see that God is “doing a new thing.” And as it “springs up,” let us “perceive it” (Is 43:18).

Like Esau and King David, let us not stop short in the challenges, because victory is assured, just as it was for Jacob.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Obedience Strategy: Signposts – Part 2

One day, as I prayed for a prominent evangelist, The Lord showed me a vision in my mind’s eye. This evangelist was driving alone in his car along a four-lane divided highway. He was moving at a steady pace with his eyes straightforward; and there were no other cars on the road. 

Suddenly, he came upon a roadblock—an orange and white striped barricade—just before the end of the asphalt. 

He stopped and pondered.

Then he backed up and turned onto an access ramp that he seemed to miss before. This access ramp led him onto a superhighway with many lanes.

Within seconds, the evangelist merged onto a new path with countless other travelers—all heading in the same direction and moving at a much higher speed than before. 

This superhighway was a perfect fit for the evangelist. He was happier in this momentum.

So, friends, what accelerated path does God have for you in this hour?

The Lord reveals His way to us so we can know and obey Him more for our benefit and the benefit of His Kingdom.

There is an inherent value in obedience. Where there is obedience, there is an alignment of authority, order and power—first inwardly, then outwardly.

Psalm 119:117 TPT says, “Lift me up and I will be safe. Empower me to live every moment in the light of your ways.”

Psalm 119:72 TPT says, “The words you speak to me are worth more than all the riches and wealth in the whole world!”

God’s revealed Words are “joyous treasure” when we love Him (Ps 119:111).

They are our heritage.

As we obey the revelation-understanding of God’s precepts, we become increasingly established in His ways to assert power over evil and take dominion—by His dominant Spirit.

Consider Joshua and Caleb, who were best known for their careful obedience and wholeheartedness, respectively.

These two leaders understood they needed to first reconcile with God’s truth before stepping out in great exploits.

They understood God’s Word to be a life guide to fruitfulness.

They understood God’s commands to be boundless and limitless and their adherence to them to be a requirement for Kingdom expanse (Ps 119:96). 

They understood “the regenerating power of God’s Word” works as a life preserver against degenerate forces, enabling them to overrule and accomplish divine purpose (1 Pe 1:23 NSFL Bible note; Is 55:11). 

They understood that to live and not die in battle, to be successful and prosper, to receive the fulfillment of God’s promise, they had to believe (cling to, rely on, trust in) God. They also had to yield the fullness of their hearts, their will to God at every signpost—His revealed and enduring commands for miraculous victory.

Joshua and Caleb knew there was protection in obedience and that they couldn’t lose when they obeyed God’s unique strategies for each battle.

From the beginning, The Lord instructed Joshua by saying (Joshua 1:7-8 MSG):

Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.”

So, friends, our prayer should be “Make me passionate and wholehearted to fulfill your every wish, so that I’ll never have to be ashamed of myself” (Psalm 119:80 TPT).

Every shared strategy from God to His beloved is a beacon that leads to an expanded manifest victory. We experience this when we abide in The Lord.

John 15:7 TPT says, “But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done.”

God’s straight teachings affect the flow of life we receive. And our every step in light will be a step toward greater wisdom (Ps 19:7, 119:105, 107).

Proverbs 8:33-35 TPT reveal this by saying, “Listen to my counsel, for my instruction will enlighten you. You’ll be wise not to ignore it. If you wait at wisdom’s doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I’ll say. For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord.”

So, for our sake and the sake of the Kingdom of God at large, let Psalm 119:56 NIV be our prayer. It says, “This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.”

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Obedience Strategy: Signposts – Part 1

A few months ago, my husband and I were faced with a pivotal decision. 

So, I pressed God for an answer, because our timeline was short. 

What should we do? Should we do this? Or should we do that?

God answered my prayer by showing me a vision of a road block in front of the way He directed us to go three years earlier. I could clearly see in my mind’s eye a barricade in front of a road with the Words “LIMITED TIME” printed over the scene.

God made His will clear to me that we were no longer to go that way and that the time for that track was over (Ps 119:110). 

God had something new. 

So, in continuing to seek and follow Him, we ultimately discovered He had a more beautiful, even loftier place for us than three years ago.

Friends, what better place does God have for you in this hour? What new beginning?

What is His next step for you?

Psalm 28:7 TPT says, “…When I fully trust in you, help is on the way.”

God’s way is a sure path of life, shielding us from every danger (Ps 119:25, 37, 114).

His signposts are revelatory clues that He uses to bring clarity and help direct us along His best path. When we know God intimately, we know His voice in ways that align with His Word (Jn 10:27). We have eyes to see and ears to hear His truth (Matt 13:16, Ac 28:27 AMP).

Our level of obedience to His ways largely determines the level of life we experience on earth.

Abundant life is there for those who choose to receive it (Pr 11:19 TPT). 

God promises!

And it’s for His glory.

Psalm 31:19 NIV says, “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

When we love God deeply, we revere Him, run to Him, and put His everlasting Word before us. When we know Him, we trust that He will authoritatively direct and establish us in His will and ways as we set our hearts upon Him.

He is the Word, and He is Love (Jn 1:1, 1 Jn 4:16).

Revelation of His Word is His light of understanding to us. This revelation-understanding is the signpost that guides us to our next step (Ps 119:97, 100).

Psalm 119:140 TPT tells us, “all Your promises glow with fire.”

So, just like the pillar of fire (and a cloud) that guided the Israelites closer to their promised land, God’s illuminated Word guides us into His promises to us as we set our whole hearts on Him and seek Him for understanding (Ps 119:130, 2, 80).

Righteous God goes before us and shows us the way, according to His Word (De 1:32-33).

He reveals these secrets to us not only so we can have an understanding heart, but so we can obey Him (Ps 119:34). This postures us to favorably complete assignments and receive enduring rewards to better help others.

When we love God more than anything (or anyone) else, we will follow Him more than those other things.

Friends, that’s when life gets amazing.

Psalm 119:127 TPT says, “Truly, your message of truth means more to me than a vault filled with the purest gold.”

Psalm 119:129 TPT tells us, “Your marvelous words are living miracles; no wonder I long to obey everything you say.”

So, God’s Word as miraculous, valuable treasure makes us wiser than our enemies and protects us (Ps 119:98, 92-94).

Holy Spirit teaches us along His straightforward way and directs the flow of our lives by His teachings.

Proverbs 21:21 TPT tells us, “The lovers of God who chase after righteousness will find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction.”

Conversely, compromise of His Word diminishes life.

So, we are to look for and obey God’s signposts of illuminated Word passionately, setting them ever before us.(Ps 119:130-131).

We are to be like the psalmist in Psalm 119:112, who determined in his heart to “fully and forever” obey whatever God said.

Friends, the more we come into alignment with God’s Word, the more we come to experience the revelation of His heart and the increased flow of His power to help others.

Proverbs 11:30 TPT tells us “…a life lived loving God bears lasting fruit, for the one who is truly wise wins souls.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 TPT say, “Generosity brings prosperity, but withholding from charity brings poverty. Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.”

Friends, these are spiritual laws that work on our behalf and prove true in our lives.

So, do you love and trust God at His Word? Are you willing to follow Him and His ways?

If so, in light of all this, our prayer should be Psalm 119:29-32 MSG, which reads:

Barricade the road that goes nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner. I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; God, don’t let me down! I’ll run the course you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

Friends, join me next week for Part 2 of Obedience Strategy: Sign Posts.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Faith Time – Part 2

The Lord revealed to me that He is completing some assignments to bring His beloved into a higher perspective—one where wholeness resides—a beautiful, anticipated end to longings of the heart (1 Co 15:24). 

The image He gave to me was of a choir director bringing a choir to the close of an impactful song, where the glorious power of harmony comes to a punctuated end to position us anew. 

God is opening doors to places of beauty, revealing His greater goodness, the abundance of John 10:10. And there is such deep appreciation of these manifest opportunities, because they have felt like a long time coming. 

God has been breaking us into these places step-by-step, giving us a new perspective little-by-little; and in so doing, has increasingly made us insiders.

Suddenly, where we used to walk and wonder what it would be like to be in “that” position—in “that“ company, in “that” home or family or on “that” level—God is fulfilling a multiplicity of promises that He placed in our hearts. 

He is turning our reality.

Instead of being on the outside looking in, in a moment, we will find ourselves positioned on the inside looking out. With deep calm and gratitude in our hearts. 

We will experience a gentle exhale of “finally.”

God is bringing us onto His mountain to experience the solidity of His holiness, His glory and goodness. We will experience what we have prayed for for so long.

As we continue to fasten the gaze of our hearts on God, He will re-seat us higher with a firewall of protection around us (Ze 2:5).

Zechariah 2:5 NLT says, “And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.”

Psalm 91:9-10 MSG say, “Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.”

So, friends, in God bringing us up higher, things that used to pull us down will not even phase us. They will simply become a nonissue.

Drive-bys intended to harm will turn into by-passes as evil is turned away.

Are you willing to exercise the faith God put in you for His resurrection life to stream like a fountain upward and out of you?

If so, we must remember, too, that as we transition into these higher places with God’s perspective, we have to entrust Him, as our rear guard, with what’s behind us (Is 52:12).  

We must believe, by faith, as we take hairpin turns with Him, that He has better forward.

It’s time. And it’s right in front of us. 

We can renounce all lies of the evil one and continue forward, no matter what. Because when our assignments are complete, evil departs from those assignments (1 Co 15:24, 1 Sa 30-31).

Here are a few Bible characters who took a hairpin turn toward God and His will and, as a result, received a great harvest of restoration:

Ruth and Naomi, who returned to Naomi’s beloved Bethlehem (and God), received the security of a new husband and a new son, respectively (Ruth 1:16, 4:13-17).

Elijah, who sought God on Mt. Horeb when he was greatly troubled, heard from God; then returned the way he came, with a fresh victory-strategy and three new assignments from God that were destined for victorious outcomes (1 Ki 19:15-18).

David, who sought God before returning to Ziklag, the place of his assignment, recovered all (1 Sa 29:4; 30:3, 8, 18-20). Then, immediately afterward, when he shared his plunder generously, the evil assignment against him (through Saul) cancelled out (1 Sa 30:21-31; 1 Sa 31).

Notice, in each of these Bible character’s lives, their livelihoods were threatened. But they were led by The Lord into exponential new life; and they became conduits of new life for others.

Each of these Bible characters chose to seek God and a path of victory. 

Life didn’t end in tragedy, even though the enemy of their souls would have them believe otherwise. They kept going until they received their manifest victory.

They were surrounded by large and wide-open doorways of opportunity. They had to make pivotal decisions in a moment that would set their course higher in resurrection life. 

This should encourage us to make room for God’s truth and grace when making life-impacting decisions. He will be faithful.

Everywhere God leads us, we can walk on higher ground, because of the higher level of holiness God has brought us into by His Spirit and His dominant strength over His promises to us. 

The way these Bible characters got there was to turn to God first to seek and know His will for themselves and their circumstances. Then walk it out.

Their steps for a victorious outcome could be summarized like this…

  1. Seek God. Receive His strategy. Take the path of victory by obediently walking out your assignment, His way, until it’s complete. 
  2. When the fiercest part of the battle is over, do the right thing and share your plunder-blessings with others. Despite opposition.
  3. The attacks that come against you will be cancelled out when your assignment is completed in victory. In other words, the stronghold against you and your assignment will be broken. So, no matter what, don’t stop until you cross the finish line.

Friends, it’s time for God’s multiple promises to come into fruition in our lives.

And, not just one promise, but many over time, especially in the next five to six years.

By the dominant strength of His Spirit, our Lord is bringing them into place.

We will see them come to pass when we open our eyes and see it God’s way. Then choose to believe by faith for our longtime heart’s desires to come into fruition beginning right now. And exercise our faith to move forward, trusting and relying upon God (Jn 3:16, 3:36).

Psalm 34:8 MSG says, “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.”

Friends, let us taste and see and come to know that God is better than we’ve ever known.

It’s time to receive God’s priority and perspective that He has waited patiently for us to grow into.

So, if you’re willing…

  • Look up (to seek His heart and face). 
  • See Heaven above earthly things, even above the practical things He used to help build you so far along the way. 
  • Receive Him as the true revealer of mysteries who fortifies you. 
  • Praise Him for His rich mercy and patience, which He has also gifted to you as the fruit of His Spirit. 

He is wonderful, awesome God!

Lord, thank You for changing our perspective to see more of You and Your goodness in our lives. Enable us to receive all you have for us as we trust in You (Jn 3:16, 3:36; 1 Co 2:5). In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Faith Time – Part 1

During the first couple of days of August, The Lord revealed to me that it’s “faith time.”

In other words, this is His timing for His faith in us to begin to be worked out of us into His manifest promises. It’s time to step forward with Him in faith to complete divine assignments that He will use to help bring a generous harvest for His glory—one that will affect generations.

What might this specific assignment be for you?

For me, it’s a book re-write.

God revealed that, as we do a hairpin turn back to these assignments, our experience will be better and more efficient than before. His promised blessings are still waiting for us, and we will be on a new, more powerful trajectory as we let go of old mindsets and operate from more of His freedom and focus.

The projects God will have us complete are ones He will use to help re-set us on top of previous challenges and will even use to restore others, including people the enemy used as perpetrators against us. 

That is … when we keep the right attitude and they become willing. 

We all have the option to “run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus” (Phil 3:14 TPT).

We will get there through seeking Him, receiving from Him and carrying out His commission His way. 

This will, of course, require honesty and devoted time in His Presence, as well as operating in the authority He has given us.

He will release direction and wisdom to us as we go. 

He will reveal mysteries to us as revelation understanding.

God even promises to answer our cries for help every time we ask. He promises that we will feel His Presence in our times of pressure and trouble (Ps 91:15).

Psalm 91:14 TPT says, “For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you have delighted in me as my great lover, I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face.”

Psalm 91:11 TPT says, “God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm.”

So, friends, we don’t have to worry about difficulties during the completion process of our assignments when we can declare Psalm 91, knowing that God is on our side. 

We can step forth believing God will favorably answer our Jabez prayer, requesting blessings that include an enlarged territory and divine protection to remain pain free (1 Ch 4:10). 

If the journey has been difficult for you already, and you’re tired and don’t want to return to your assignment, Romans 12:12 TPT offers some direction and encouragement by saying, “Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.”

Friends, God is not finished.

And neither are we.

1 Corinthians 16:13 TPT advises us to “Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage.”

So, I encourage you to hold onto the promise God gave you as He brings it to completion through you, by His Spirit. 

This means that, while we move forward with The Lord, you and I will prevail over opposition by the power of His dominant strength, as He works His faith in us.

God will honor His Word as He fiercely fights with us and helps us gain the upper hand. 

God will give us everything we need to pursue and overtake that which comes against us and His plan, no matter how big the threat or mess.

Remember, too, that just because a battle may ensue, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us. It means the One who gives us victory and authority loves us enough to strengthen our relationship with Him. It means that, as we seek His face and obey His will, He instructs and protects us to the end.

So, we can choose to believe that the rewards will be worth the effort as we stay the course and God further establishes us and takes dominion through us.

God promises us that we “will be satisfied with a full life and with all that” He does for us. We “will enjoy the fullness of” our “salvation” (Ps 91:16)!

Friends, we are in a season where our long-held dreams are beginning to come to pass. Where the abundance of John 10:10 is coming into fruition. 

It’s time for the completion to come into place for the sake of a better, greater, more abundant Kingdom harvest.

Are you ready to give it one last push?

If so, pray with me…

Lord, help me to know You more and comprehend Your ways. Enable me to receive all that You have for me and nothing that’s not of You. For Your glory. In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.

Join me next week for Part 2 of Faith Time. 

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.