A Measure of Faith

"Whether I see, or whether I don't see, it takes a measure of faith to believe", is what I have been singing lately.

"Though sometimes it seems as if He's hiding, we can be confident in Christ when we build on faith alone. With faith as our foundation, we invest everything in God." - Brother Lawrence

I've been reading Practicing the Presence (Thanks @gregsimas) as a daily devotional and this quote has been echoing throughout the last several weeks. It began in September when I was listening to a Jon Thurlow set streaming in the prayer room at IHOP-KC. I was actually meditating on the audacity of God's love, asking for revelation. It seemed I kept hitting walls, blocks in my heart, where I 'knew' in my mind all about God's love, but the heart was not processing. (I go through this about every other month)

The worship team on the IHOP-KC stream began to sing prophetically and something opened up inside of me. A singing "oracle" was released, which basically is a spontaneous "song from heaven".  The song unraveled layers that had been built up around my heart which took me on a new journey into a dance with the word "faith".

 The revelation I received can not be expressed, but a few bullets I can resolve here, hopefully, that will inspire you on your faith journey. 

1. Our hearts must become like little children. 

"but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 

Have you ever experienced taking a newly walking baby to the beach? Remember when their bare feet first touched the sand? Or grass? You experienced it all over again through watching them. The wonder of a child exploring the world is the wonder the Lord expects us to have about discovering the Kingdom. 

We need to be on guard that we do not end up dull hearted looking at the things of God as, "ya, ya, ya, been there, done that." The more excitement and belief we hold in God to do wondrous things in our midst, the more wondrous things we will see in our midst. 
    Children are:

• weak
• humble
• always learning
• free of bitterness
• free of offense

 How many of those can you say you are "like"? Ya, we need to become more like little children, I'd say.

2. Faith comes first.

We do not get to see, then believe. God asks us to believe in what we can not see. 

"Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Some will see, and some may never see. Seeing is not a per-requisite to faith. However, faith is a per-requisite to seeing. In Matthew 9:22, Jesus told a woman that it was her "faith" that made her well. Then in verse 29, Jesus healed two blind men "according to their faith".  [more passages on faith to believe]

Here it is, whether I see, or whether I don't see, it takes faith to believe. Just to believe there is a God, who is invisible, sitting there listening to me when I pray takes a measure of faith. 

In fact, what is more? Faith to believe for someone to be healed of disease, or that when you confess Christ as your Lord your soul is then saved from eternal damnation? That the miracle you need for a job or finances will come through, or that someone will be raised from the dead? See, its all the same faith. We all have a measure of faith, or we wouldn't be reading this devotional right now reaching for some spiritual words to unlock our hearts. 

3. Put fire on that fire.

So we have a measure of faith, like we have muscles. Some people have muscles like me, small, and flabby, but muscles none the less. They just need working out so they will be more powerful. So how do you get more faith? 

        Pray 

In Luke 17:5, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith, and so should we. God puts fire on our fire. After all, He is the source of all power.

        Act

A familiar verse to many, James 5:14-16, says the prayer "offered in faith" will make the sick person well. If we are not stepping out and praying for people, circumstances etc. and we are just taking this stance, "why pray, when God is just going to do what He wants anyway", then we are not doing our part- acting. We need to act to increase our faith. We need to step out when we are not "feeling it", when our faith tank is "running low". God will meet you! And as a result, your faith will increase, and your history in God will have new pillars standing. 


What are your believing God for in 2013? Are you on a personal fast to start out your new year? What are you believing God for during your fast? I want to encourage you to keep that fire burning!

- gina

In Flight

"If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea..." Psalm 139:9

Lately I have had so much going on- just busy life stuff- but also spiritually, so much happening in my heart, I just have not had the time to really sit down and write here- but my heart does not lack for revelation content to share. When I realized how long it had been since I posted, I really wanted to sum a bit up of what the Lord has been doing in my heart over the last few months.

First, I want to say, that with the New Year just 48 hours away, I am gearing up to post at least once a week. I don't want to lose track of what God is doing by spending all my time in the living that I don't take the time to stop and meditate on what He has been saying through it all.

This photo was taken recently when Johnny and I went away up the California coast to Point Arena for our 15th Anniversary. It was an amazing time for us to connect, rest, and regroup. With five kids you can imagine, we don't get to date a whole lot. So every year my AMAZING mother in law stays with the kids and lets us take off for a night or two, or three, or four...

Anyhow...

I have taken time over the years meditating on different parts of Psalm 139, and I am sure if you are familiar with this passage of scripture, you probably read right over the "wings of the morning" part, but I think it is one of my favorite verses in this Psalm.

      No matter where I am, He is with me.       No matter what I am doing, He is close. 
      There is not a thought I have developed He didn't know before the words came together in my mind, let alone before it spilled from my lips. 

At the beginning of each day, I have made my plans, I know where Im headed and what I am doing, but He has the right to interfere, doesn't He? Aren't some of the best days of our lives the days that don't end up looking like we thought?

We set out each day, just as another day, but in the Spirit, He picks us up, like a cab to the Airport, and we fly away with Him. All through the day we are in flight with Him, if we tune into Him, what He is doing, what He is saying.

So ya, I will take the wings of the morning, I will fly with Him today, and let Him open my eyes, and show me things.

Dull Hearted? or Alive and Awake?

It seems like I hear the reference to being "dull" all the time. It was hard for me to understand messages and contexts due to the fact that I didn't really understand what "dull" meant. My main reference for "dull" was a knife that was dull. But what does it mean when a "heart" is dull?

"For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." Matthew 13:15

The definition for dull, is actually quite intense, with lots of layers, take a look:

KJV Dictionary Definition: dull

DULL, a. G.

1. Stupid; doltish; blockish; slow of understanding; as a lad of dull genius.

2. Heavy; sluggish; without life or spirit; as a surfeit leaves a man very dull.

3. Slow of motion; sluggish; as a dull stream.

4. Slow of hearing or seeing; as dull of hearing; dull of seeing.

5. Slow to learn or comprehend; unready; awkward; as a dull scholar.

6. Sleepy; drowsy.

7. Sad; melancholy.

8. Gross; cloggy; insensible; as the dull earth.

9. Not pleasing or delightful; not exhilarating; cheerless; as, to make dictionaries is dull work.

10. Not bright or clear; clouded; tarnished; as, the mirror is dull.

11. Not bright; not briskly burning; as a dull fire.

12 Dim; obscure; not vivid; as a dull light.

13. Blunt; obtuse; having a thick edge; as a dull knife or ax.

14. Cloudy; overcast; not clear; not enlivening; as dull weather.

15. With seamen, being without wind; as, a ship has a dull time.

16. Not lively or animated; as a dull eye.

Wow! Not one of those words would I want the Lord to associate my heart with! The opposite of "dull", is what I want to be!

5 Things I Want Said About Me by the Lord:

Sharp. I want to be quick to listen, ready, and standing at attention. Flowing with God, not stagnant in spirit!

Bright Light. I want to be the light that shines in the dark places, not a little flicker that no one can even notice or detect when Jesus is present!

Awake. I want my eyes and heart awake, hearing, understanding, and receiving the thoughts of heaven. I want my spirit to be fully engaged with the things of the realm of heaven now! I don't want to be in a stupor unaware of what is truly important or eternal.

Alive.  I want to be fully alive in my spirit man, living, breathing, and spiritually minded deep on the inside of my being! I don't want to be dead on the inside. What would the point be of Christ being ALIVE and living on the INSIDE of me if I'm dead?

Clear Minded. I want my mind completely focused on Jesus, the Great Reward. I do not want to live my live fighting through the clutter in my head to find a small speck of hope! But that the light of God would shine so brightly in my mind, that the battle would be won before a dark thought, hidden motive, or ounce of negativity attempted to enter the mind of this being!

A Declaration of an Alive and Awake Heart:

Today I declare that I am awake and alive to the things of God. The Kingdom of God is my passion and desire, and I eagerly seek after Jesus and His ways in all I do. 

Today I will be clear hearted and clear minded. In the name of Jesus I receive the light of God which shines through the darkness and lights my way. Today I will think clearly, hear clearly, and see clearly by the will and power of Jesus. I declare that I have and will continue to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. 

Today I declare that Jesus has already paid the price for my heart, and He is my reward. Today I declare that nothing can keep me from His love, and I have everything I need to diligently seek Him with an ALIVE and AWAKE heart. 

Thank You Jesus for the love You put inside of me, that I can return love and adoration back to You. Thank You for Your desire toward me and keeping my eyes focused on You. 

In Jesus Name.

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 (Amp.)

In the Name of Love

The name "Love, has become a journey I am embracing in the perspective of seeing the Almighty God through new lenses. Many have embraced the idea, "God is love", but if "God is Love" than that would be a noun. "Love" would be a name of God. Take a moment to look at the list of names of God you may have, or perhaps just those that come to mind.

He is Holy.
He is Awesome.
He is Almighty.
He is Faithful & True.
He is All Sufficient One.
He is Alpha & Omega.
He is Love.

And so on... (more names here)


In 1 John 4:8 and 16, God is called "Love". This "Love" word translates "Agape" in Greek. You are probably familiar with "Agape", but here are some translations:

KJV (116) - charitably, 1; charity, 27; dear, 1; feast of charity, 1; love, 86;

NAS (115) - beloved, 1; love, 112; love feasts, 1; love's, 1;

Interestingly, the most common translation has to do with charity, or giving compassionately. Love gives. 

"And we have known and believed the [agape] that God has for us. God is [agape], and he who abides in [agape] abides in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16

So God being "Agape", has really changed my view. The audacity to believe that "Agape" could abide in me? That I could abide in "Agape"? What's more, is this:

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the [agape] of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5

So the Holy Spirit has already poured out "Agape" in us who believe in Jesus Christ, God in flesh, who was crucified, died, buried, and resurrected... and alive!

Ok... one more verse... as if it couldn't get better...

"...If we love [agape] one another, God abides in us, and His [agape] has been perfected in us." 1 John 4:12

Can you imagine? God's love perfected in us? Astonishing. 



This name of God has become such a new view for me, because it effects every area of my soul.  

My heart (emotions) needs to feel His agape toward me.
My mind (understanding) needs to be transformed by His agape.
My will (desire) needs to be for His agape in a focused manner.

Surely, if He sees me through the eyes of love, what an example that I should follow, and look at Him through eyes of love!

I encourage you, if you needing to know how God feels about you, to meditate on these passages, and pray in and to the God, whose name is Love.

- gina

The Power of a Focused Life

The Power of a Focused Life is not about being determined, or driving. In fact, its kind of the opposite. It's about living life on purpose instead of just letting life "happen" to you. One thing I learned early on in my life was that if I didn't schedule my time, someone else would.

This week I had the privilege of speaking to our interns at Convergence House of Prayer on the topic of the Power of a Focused Life. [Mike Bickle has some great teaching on it here.]

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from various leaders, and myself, on the topic:

"Money is Power, but Time, is Life." - John Maxwell

"If time is eternal equity, where are you investing it?"

"To squander time, is to squander destiny." - Mike Bickle

"What would you die for? Then why don't you live for it?"  Francis Anfuso

Remember the parable of the talents? This parable is a great picture of a squandered life. In fact, Proverbs 29:18 says: "Where there is no vision, the people perish", or are "unrestrained". Casting off restraint, is like a ship floating around in the ocean, with no direction, no anchor, and no map! In other words, lack of vision, or focus, equals a squandered destiny.

I used to think that when I received a dream from the Lord or a prophetic word than, "so let it be written, so let it be done." In other words, there was nothing left to do on my part. If God had a specific plan for my life, than it would just unfold before my eyes and bam! There I would be. It didn't quite work out like that for me, and then a few years ago I had to pull out my 15 years worth of journals and dig to find what promises God really had spoke to me. I began to lay out all the promises, dreams, and prophetic words I felt were really and truly from God, and pray into them.

This meant I had to take much time, process, pray, write, and evaluate my life. Were there things I was spending my time on that didn't "feed" my destiny? What things that are in my heart were really put there by God?

Personally, about every three months, I look at my schedule, evaluate how I am spending my time, and shift things that are not working for me. Perhaps I will specifically address that in another post, but for now I will leave you with those thoughts.

I am attaching a document I gave to our interns to help you take a look at where your time goes, what your life vision is, and how to make your weekly schedule "feed" your bigger picture life vision and goals.

I hope these tools are helpful to you!
Blessings!
- Gina


The Power of A Focused Life Processing Sheet

Bible Study Planning Worksheet

Weekly Schedule Worksheet

Parent Ponderings

My whole life I have noticed how children behave, I know you have too. Admit it, when you see a child  behaving in public, especially if the behavior is unruly, you can't help but stare. There is something about children that captivates us, we watch their every move. The cute little things they say, the way they look at the world, they are amazing!

It is funny though, before I had children of my own I use to think that kids were a reflection of their parents. That if a child acted a certain way, he must have been taught that behavior by his parents. Buuuuuttttttt... then I had kids of my own. When my kids were very small I remember thinking how embarrassed I was when they acted unruly in public, because everyone was looking at me thinking, "That mother doesn't discipline her kids!" Inside I was filled with worry and embarrassment about what people thought of my parenting.  It was not all in my head, I want you to know, I actually was un-invited to playgroups and one home-school co-op because of my children's behavior! That was so hard for us because we felt like we were really disciplining our kids and couldn't understand why they acted like they did in public.

Recently, I have been going through the book of John and meditating on the phrases of Jesus when He speaks of "His Father". This particular verse I have heard many times, but not in the context of what I had been meditating on.

"Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." John 5:19

Isn't it interested that Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing? Can I take this out of context for a minute, just for contemplation? Even Jesus imitated what He saw, and isn't that the point? Children imitate what they see, we can all agree on that. What I am not eluding to is that if my child is throwing themselves on the ground, that means they saw me do that!

What I am wondering though, is what does it mean? What about when you see a child with excellent behavior? Does that mean their parents are "excellent"? I know there are other contributors to child behavior, but my contemplation is specifically about what behaviors children get from their parents. What thoughts do you have on child behavior as it related to parent behavior?

- Gina

God is in the Theory of Music

Music Theory? Or God is the theory in music?

Are you as in love with the number seven as I am? There is just something intriguing about the number.

I always wanted to open a cafe and call it "Cafe Seven". I don't know why. Then I started finding 'sevens' everywhere.

Of course we know that God made the earth in six days, and rested on the seventh- creation=seven. 

In the Book of Revelation there are seven churches, seven spirits, He holds seven stars, the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and so on. Seven is used over 700 times in the Bible. It is used 54 times in the Book of Revelation alone! (more on that here) But seven in music? YES.

Piano Keys clipart
from Clker.com

Take a look at a piano keyboard. The first white key is the "C". This is the grounding for where form begins when positioning your hands on a keyboard. Your right thumb on the "C". If you count the white keys from "C" to "C" you get seven. There are seven white keys in an octave. There are also seven FULL octaves in a Full Size 88-key Keyboard!

When forming a Major Chord, place your thumb on the middle "C". Using your index finger, count (on the black and white keys) 1-2-3-4 then stop and let your index finger rest there. Then continue with your pinky, 5-6-7, and let your pinky rest there. You have a Major "C" Chord.

4+3 = 7. Every major chord = 7.

Do the exact same thing again, except rest the thumb on the "C" and count 1-2-3, then 4-5-6-7, and you have a C minor. 3+4 =7. Every minor chord = 7.

Isn't that fun?! God is so amazing!