Jesus Take the Helm

“And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch...And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.”  Luke 5:4,6

Dear Lord,  As the Deeper Still leadership seeks you for your plan for them for 2015 and beyond, will you show them where to cast their nets?  We thank you that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in you Jesus Christ.  We're asking that you reveal to Deeper Still those treasures of wisdom, strategy and power so that they can be fishers of men; bringing the good news of salvation, healing and deliverance from abortion wounded hearts.  Amen!

Deep water has always caused me hesitation.  Whenever I go to the beach, I tend to stay where my feet can touch and where I can see what lies below the surface of the waves.  When I can see, then I know where to step.  It takes faith and courage to go out to the deep. 

A few years ago, my husband and I went to Key West for vacation.  While we were visiting, we went on an excursion out into the middle of the ocean, to the deep.  The captain of the ship knew where he was going and had taken multitudes of tourists to this familiar destination.  He knew where it was safe to go.  He knew the route.  He knew what lie beneath the surface of the deep. 

He led us to a reef full of beautiful fish.

Because I had confidence that our captain would not lead us into unsafe territory, I had no fear when diving into the deep to snorkel.  The beauty of the reef was the focus of my attention rather than fear.

Peace covered any hints of paranoia.  At one point a barracuda was only about 4 feet away from us!  However, even in the midst of lurking peril, I felt peace. 

  

We can be confident that our Captain will lead us safely to our destination.  He knows the deep.  He sees below the surface.   Our Captain knows where the dangers are and He knows how to maneuver us to the areas of beautiful reefs.  And yes, there may be many pointy teeth within feet of us.  But when we rest in His guidance and care, peace can prevail even in potential dangers.

When Peter went out into the deep, it was on faith.  He was the captain of his fishing vessel.  It did not make sense to Peter to go back out after fishing all night and catching nothing.  He had already been out there. However, he couldn’t see what Jesus saw.  Jesus saw below the surface. Jesus saw the fish.

   

But Peter said, “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down my net.”

Peter had faith to go even when he couldn’t see into the deep.  Peter was willing to relinquish his captainship to a Higher Captain.

We have a Captain who leads us safely through the waves to a predetermined location full of beautiful fish.  All we have to do is let down our nets and get ready for a catch. 

Jesus, take the Helm. 

Back to the Manger

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light: those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined…For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9: 2, 6

Father, we pray that You would use Deeper Still to help those who have been in darkness to see Your great Light.  We pray for You to use Deeper Still in the lands of intense darkness to shine Your Light.  We thank you for Your precious Son, Jesus, the Light of the world, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel. Amen. 

My kids were in a Christmas musical at church last weekend called, “Back to the Manger”.  It was humorous time travel skit reminiscent of the 1980’s hit movie “Back to the Future”.  We need to go back to the manger.  If it wasn’t for the Babe in the manger that night long ago, this world would be nothing but darkness.

 I want to mentally take us back to the manger that first Christmas long ago to a time before Christmas trees, before Santa Claus, before stockings hung by the fire.  There were no Christmas lights.  In fact, there were no lights at all.  It was dark.  The only illumination lay in the sprinkling of the stars and hints of moonlight.  How ironic that the Light of the world was born in darkness.  Or is it?

“And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:7

A familiar verse.   But, I want to unwrap this verse for a moment and perhaps discover something unfamiliar under the paper.

Swaddling clothes.  Mary wrapped her newborn child, the Savior of the World in swaddling clothes.

To swaddle means to restrain or restrict.  Swaddling clothes are meant to impose limitations or restrictions in movement.  

Do you ever feel restricted?  Do you ever feel restrained or limited?  In bonds?  Could it be that in the middle of the dark, that even in the manger, Jesus was experiencing limitations in human form?

From the moment Jesus was born into this world, He emptied Himself, by taking on the form of a servant and was born in the likeness of men.  He would become the great high priest that could sympathize with our weaknesses.  Even from the manger wrapped in restriction the promise was released that one day this baby would pay the highest price possible so that we could live free and unhindered by our sin.

And there was no room for him in the inn.  Really?  Seriously if God wanted to He would have logged onto Travelocity or Hotels.com and found them a room faster than a millisecond.

God had reason in the rejection.   Rejection is always wrapped with reason.

Let’s go back to the manger again.   Are you there with me?  Are you mentally at the stable, in the dark?

Hay is crunching.  The bellow of sheep and cows play on the surround sound.  The night air fragrant with barn animals.  A man and his wife cuddle together while she gives birth to a Son.

That night in the dark, God birthed new Life.  Out of darkness, came the Light of the world.

Can I suggest that birthing new life out of darkness is not unfamiliar to our God?  He oftentimes births new life in dark places.   The Lord brought forth Jesus, our Savior, in utter darkness to give us Light.

If we read further in Luke, we come to Luke 23, where Jesus was once again laid in darkness.  This time it was not after His birth, but after His death.   Everything looked hopeless.  Jesus was dead.  He was laid in a tomb. A stone was rolled in place.  Sealed in darkness.   Until…

The darkness was transformed into glory!  Jesus was alive!  God birthed new Life again out of the darkness.

If you are in the dark today, I want to encourage you.  God births new life out of the darkness.  With Jesus,  death is never an end, it is an opening for a new beginning.  Your manger may be dark, but God is birthing NEW LIFE in it!  Run to Him and let Him take off those swaddling clothes and show you the new life He is bringing you!  He transforms darkness into glory.

Remain

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4

Blessed Father, I pray that the Deeper Still Ministry would abide and remain in you.  Lord, I pray that Deeper Still would stay connected to Your life giving vine, bearing much fruit for Your Kingdom. Amen.

Remain.

 

Remain: To stay in the same place or with the same person or group; to stay after others have gone (Merriam –Webster)

My friend, Lelia, shared on Facebook this week how she desired a permanent reminder to keep her eyes on Jesus.  Just this week, she had the word “Remain” tattooed on her wrist with John 15: 4-7 as her inspiration.   I asked if I could share part of her story.  With her permission, Lelia is post-abortive.

 

John 15:4-7 has been an area of struggle for my friend.  She loves Jesus with her whole heart and Jesus has brought beautiful redemption in her life. 

Below is what Lelia shared after having the word REMAIN engraved on her wrist:

“Standing in my kitchen looking at it, I didn't just see a tattoo, I saw how much time I've wasted trying to do life my way and I just lost it. The tears and praise came as I realized more than anything else on this earth I want God the most. I do. I'm sick of myself. I'm sick of the self-sabatoger in me. I want to remain in Jesus. “

Regardless of how you feel about tattoos, this isn’t about tattoos.  It is about men and women running after God with a whole and healthy heart.  It is about giving the Lord total access to every part of our lives, cleaning out the dead and allowing His new life to flow through every fiber of our being. 

It is about us dying to ourselves and abiding solely in His love.  It is about staying with the person of Jesus Christ, being one with Him and remaining in Him. 

Freedom only comes when we reach the end of ourselves and realize we are nothing.  Remaining is truly what leads to liberty.

Remain. 

 

Perseverance

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 

Father, we pray for faith to rise up in the hearts of the leaders in the new and budding chapters of Deeper Still.  We pray You would give them the strength and increase their faith to persevere to finish the good work you have called them to do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are probably familiar with the story of the 12 spies who went into the promised land to size up the land and report back to Moses (Numbers 13:2-14:10).

And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out saying,  “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.  There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight; and so we were in their sight.”  Numbers 13:32-33

I was listening to a Pastor recently who pointed out that Moses never asked the spies to size up themselves.  He only asked them to size up the land. 

When we begin sizing up ourselves against what God has called us to do, we will always size up ourselves on the measuring stick of doubt. 

God doesn’t ask us to measure ourselves. God sizes Himself up and He never comes up short.

What happens when we size up ourselves is that we size up the situation according to our weaknesses instead of focusing on the GREATNESS of our GOD. 

This faulty focus is where the ten spies failed.  Only two spies came back with a good report, Joshua and Caleb.

Caleb said, “ Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30

Joshua said, “…And the Lord is with us.  Do not fear them.”

Sadly, as we  know, the Israelites didn’t listen to Caleb and Joshua.  Instead, they shrunk back in fear and never entered the land God intended for them to enter and conquer. 

God said, “BUT, My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him, and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land where he went and his descendants shall inherit it.” Numbers 14:24 

Caleb and Joshua had a different spirit…a spirit of faith instead of fear. 

Caleb and Joshua persevered in their faith and the Lord gave Joshua the honor of leading God’s people into the promised land.   There were still giants to face.  The obstacles were still the same.  However, Joshua’s faith lent him the accurate perspective that God was bigger than any  obstacle. 

Joshua persevered in his faith, and won the battle.   However, the battle was never Joshua’s and he knew that truth.  That truth was how he had the faith to enter the land in the first place.  The battle was always the Lord’s.  And we all know how that story ends.  It ends in victory. 

Our story ends in victory also.  Whatever giants may be in the land, whatever battle you may be facing, God already has the story written and He never writes a bad ending.  “Go up at once and overtake the land, for [you] are well able to overcome!”  

Watch. See. Join

“Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power…” Psalms 110:3a

Father, thank You for sending volunteers with willing hearts to give of their gifts, talents and abilities to the ministry of Deeper Still.   Thank you for providing for every need of Deeper Still in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“Watch to see where God is working and join Him.” – Henry Blackeby, Experiencing God

Less than forty-eight hours had passed since I made the long ascent up the mountain to my Deeper Still Retreat.  Twenty-four hours earlier, I was still wondering God’s purpose for bringing me to the retreat.  Much can change in twenty-four hours.

   

My entire body sank deep into the soft leather surrounding me.  My relaxed posture reflected the peace of my soul.  Gazing out of the pristine windows, the mountaintops danced with raindrops signaling a fresh cleansing.  Joy oozed from my countenance like the morning dew announcing to all a new day was beginning.

My eyes connected with Emily, my dear friend and Deeper Still Team member.  My heart was alive, full of experiencing God in a whole new way, and on a level unlike anything I had ever known in the past.   No words could fully express my gratitude to her for telling me about Deeper Still.  Stricken of words, I signaled the American Sign Language sign for “Thank you” across the room to Emily. She understood.  Tears filled her beautiful eyes.

Overwhelmed with thankfulness, I marveled at all the Lord had done not only in me, but also in all the other Deeper Still participants sitting in the room.  It had only been a little under forty-eight hours.  How could this be?  I knew all the Lord had done in me.  I was forever changed.  However, it wasn’t just me.  In every seat, every face was shining and radiant full of the beauty and smitten with joy.

At that moment, I knew.  I knew I had to be a part of whatever God was doing in this ministry.  Never before had I seen or been a part of God moving in this way.  Henry Blackeby’s quote played like a symphony in my newly opened ears:

“Watch to see where God is working and join Him.”

God just shows up at these retreats.  He just likes this ministry.  I can’t explain it.

This ministry is special and if you are around it for any amount of time, it is evident.  To see the team working together with various forms of spiritual gifts and talents all for one common purpose --seeing the captives set free—is beautiful to witness.  What a blessing it is to be a part of this unique ministry where God is moving!  And you, my praying friends, are a part of that move of God.

 

Thank you for being a volunteer in the day of His power.  Thank you for joining Him in His powerful work of setting the captives free and transforming His sons and daughters into the image of His glory. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

Expectancy

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”  Psalm 18:6

Oh Sovereign Lord, we thank You that when we cry out, You hear us.   Father, this week 8 participants are going to the Illinois Deeper Still Retreat.  We cry out to You on their behalf.  We ask for You to deliver them from their strong enemy and for them to be set free.  In Jesus’ mighty and powerful name, Amen.

What parent does not go to his child when hearing him cry in distress?  No good parent would ignore his/her child’s plea for help.  God is a good parent.  He is our Father.  How much more will He answer when He hears His child cry in distress?

A couple weeks ago, we had the Deeper Still Retreat in Tennessee.  In one word…AMAZING!  Twenty-two participants were radically set free and transformed right before our eyes! When speaking to the Lord about these transformations and miracles on the mountain, I asked why we see so many miracles on the mountain.  The Lord answered…Expectancy. 

We expect to see those miracles on the mountain.  We expect lives to be forever changed.  We expect God to show up in amazing ways and do above and beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  We expect to see His glory.  And He never disappoints.

 

What if we lived life everyday with that kind of expectancy?

We can expect a mountaintop experience even when we are in a valley.

  

God is our Father.  He is a good parent.  He always hears us.  He always answers. 

The Lord will move heaven and earth to help His children.  His love is never failing.  Let’s run to our Father and expect Him to scoop us up in His loving arms and do above and beyond all we could ask or imagine in our everyday lives.

Miracles happen on more than just mountaintops. 

Our Kinsman-Redeemer

“For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.  They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,...their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.”  Jeremiah 31:11-12

Father, this weekend 6 men and 17 women will come to the mountain seeking freedom from the sin of abortion.  Father, thank You for rescuing and redeeming by the provision of Jesus on the cross.  We pray for a revelation of Your provision for these participants.  We pray they would come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, and become like a watered garden.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In the verse above, it says, “The Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.”  The Hebrew word for “redeemed” is ga’al.  It means to act as kinsman-redeemer.

A kinsman-redeemer in the Old Testament days was a male relative who acted on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger or need.  The kinsman-redeemer had mainly three duties:

1     1.  Restore land/property

       2. Buy back the family member sold into slavery.

       3. Avenge the slaying of a kinsman. 

In the New Testament, Jesus is our Kinsman-Redeemer. 

Sin separated us from our rightly inheritance in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus restores our inheritance and brings us back into right fellowship and standing with the Lord God.

Abortion clamps unshakable chains of slavery to those who latch onto its lie.   Our Redeemer unlocked the shackles from feet that were too strong for mere mortal hands to loosen. 

 

Jesus restores us to our portion forever, the Lord God.  He bought us with His blood.  We are His property, reclaimed for His glory.  He freed us from slavery and bondage.  And He avenged us by conquering sin and death.

I am using past tense because it has already been completed.  It is already finished. 

   

May we sing and rejoice in this truth, dance with unspeakable joy and without hindrance, and be radiant over the goodness of the Lord.   

What Does it mean to be "In Christ"

“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”  John 15:3

Father, thank you that we are already clean in Christ Jesus.  Father, I pray that the Deeper Still participants will have this revelation that they are already clean in Christ Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Last week I went on a field trip to the apple orchard.  The owner of the orchard instructed us on how apple trees are grafted to produce good fruit.  It was quite educational.  I didn’t realize if I plant the apple seed from an apple I eat, it will likely produce bad fruit.  He called this apple a “spitter”, rightly named because if bitten, you will want to spit it out.

To produce good fruit, a branch from a tasty apple tree is grafted onto the root of a bitter “spitter” apple tree.  He visually demonstrated how these two trees are brought together to produce sweet juicy apples.   The stem from the bad tree is cut and a notch is inserted into the cut.  A branch from the good tree is also cut and a notch inserted.  Then, like a puzzle, the two limbs are brought together. The bad tree meshes with the good tree and takes on the nature of the good tree, bearing good fruit.

 

This visualizes perfectly what happens when we accept Jesus into our lives.  Our roots are bad and we will produce bad fruit unless we allow Jesus to come into our lives.  Once Jesus lives in us, our old nature becomes new and we are able to bear sweet good fruit.  This is what it means to be “in Christ”.

 

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Now, let’s take a look at John 15:1-3.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

When reading verse 3 with the two verses above it, it goes perfectly with the apple tree demonstration.  We have been grafted in Christ.  We are a part of Him, His branch.  And because of who we are in Him, we are already clean.

 

I have heard some people say that God will take us away if we don’t bear fruit based on the verse above.  However, I don’t agree.  I read it as that God is constantly removing our impurities (bad branches) and purifying us because we are in Christ.

   

We are constantly in a process of sanctification and pruning so we will bear all the plump juicy fruit the Lord designed us to produce in Him.  No spitting or “spitters” here!  We are one with Christ and we are already clean.   

Letters of Recommendation

“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-4

Father, I pray that Deeper Still would be a letter of recommendation for You.   May every word written on Deeper Still’s heart reflect Your grace and glory.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When I was applying for graduate school, I had to have three letters of recommendation. 

The professors at the graduate schools read my letters of recommendation and determined if they wanted to accept me into the school.

 

The Lord needs letters of recommendation.  He doesn’t need a degree, but rather is working on getting accepted into the hearts of His creation.

He needs us to be His letters of recommendation for those trying to decide if they should accept Him.

 

Do you know Him well enough to write a good recommendation for Him?  Can others tell by your letter that you know Jesus well?  Are others looking at your letter and deciding that Jesus would be a good decision for them?

The questions above are important.  However, it is helpful if we read on to Chapter 5 in this passage…

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.”  2 Cor 3:5

We do want others to see Jesus in us, however, perhaps it isn’t in our good deeds or perfections where Christ is revealed.  Perhaps  Jesus is truly revealed when His glory and grace shine through our imperfections. 

As shattered glass shines forth beauty, grace soaked light shines beauty through our brokenness.

 

The Lord’s restoring power is what composes the letter of recommendation written on the tablet of our human hearts.  Without His Handwriting on our lives, our letters would be useless.  Our letters are written with the Spirit of the Living God.  It is not the carrier of the letter, but rather the Author that  causes our letters of recommendation to be powerful cases for accepting Christ. 

What is Revival?

“And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us as a remnant to escape, and give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage, but He extended mercy to us…to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.” Ezra 9:8-9

Father, we thank You for Your grace and for leading us to the way of escape into Your holy place.  Thank You for enlightening our eyes and giving us a measure of revival.  Lord, we ask that Deeper Still would be used to repair the broken and rebuild the ruins.  May You use Deeper Still to construct a strong wall of revival in the hearts of post-abortive men and women.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Being from the Northern US, the term “revival” was unfamiliar to me…until I moved to the South. 

It seemed as if the moment my foot stepped on Southern soil, I heard the word “revival”.  It was puzzling to me.  What is revival?  Why do we need it? 

I took four years of Latin in high school, and although I couldn’t tell you how to conjugate Latin verbs, I do remember that “viva” means “alive” or “living”.  “Re” is an English prefix meaning “again”. So, a “revival” literally means “to come alive again”.

Deeper Still Team Member, Deborah Corley, summed “revival” up best in these quotes she recently used at a prayer meeting for Deeper Still. 

"Revival awakens in our hearts an increased awareness of the presence of God, a new love for God, a new hatred of sin and a hunger for His word." Del Fehsenfeld

"Revival is that strange and sovereign work of God in which he visits His own people- re-storing, re-animating, and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing." Stephen Olford

"Revival is not some emotion or worked up excitement; it is rather an invasion from heaven which brings to man a conscious awareness of God." Stephen Olford

This Northern girl may finally be getting what “revival” is all about.  Revival isn’t about a meeting or a tent or an event at church.  It is about constantly keeping our hearts in tune to the heart of God and allowing Him to stir up His love in us. 

My prayer for each of you today is that you will experience a personal revival and encounter with the Lord today. 

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for Deeper Still.

It's Ok

"[I pray] that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19

Father, your love is too wonderful for us to comprehend.  Your forgiveness and grace is too marvelous for words.  Lord, may Deeper Still be rooted and grounded in love and be able to share the love of Christ which passes knowledge and be filled with the fullness of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My heart pounded as I read the words on the page.  A friend had recommended the book and I reluctantly read it.  As I read it I knew the Lord had led me to read this book.  I won't mention the book because it was controversial and there are still some parts of it that make me squirm in my seat. 

However, there was a part of this book where the Lord had my utmost attention.   In this book, a girl had died and went to heaven and her father was able to see her in heaven through a vision.  My composure broke as I read this scene. Out of seemingly nowhere tears poured down my cheeks. 

"I am so sorry", I softly whispered under welts of tears. 

I repeated these words again and again until tears turned to heavy sobs, the kind where you can barely breath the pain is so intense.  

His voice gently crumpled me to my knees.  He spoke, "It's ok." 

I argued with the Lord. "No, it's not.  It's not ok!" 

Yes, I know I shouldn't argue with God, but that day He seemed so wrong in what He was saying. 

Again, He comforted, "It's ok."  

Again, I argued, "No, it's not ok.  How can you say 'It's ok'?  I had an abortion.  I took my baby's life.  It's not ok!" 

This exchange went back and forth a few times before the Lord gently and patiently spoke these loving words, "Sue, do you think you could have been a better parent than Me?"

Quietly with eyes down, I responded, "No, of course not."

Again I heard, "It's ok."

The extent of God's grace and love will forever elude me.  My mind cannot comprehend the depth of His love, grace and forgiveness.  It is too wonderful for me!  All I know is that it is in the quietness of His presence that I have found redemption. 

His whispers heal the deep and vast crevices of our hearts with His unfailing love.

Storm Turned Stunning

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Eccesiastes 3:11

Father, you can turn the darkest of nights into a beautiful sunrise.  Thank you for making everything beautiful in its time.  We pray for the hearts of the women and men touched by abortion.  Lord, we ask for you to use Deeper Still to take their storm and turn it into a stunning work of art through your love.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I stood on the balcony with my seven year old daughter, Sarah, while watching lightning flash in pulsating colors across the night-sky canvas.

The majestic light show was magnificent.  However, as I stood there gazing on God's beautiful beat of blazing beams, my mind was fixed on a different beat--a heartbeat silenced.

Tears filled my eyes.  My daughter noticed.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

"Sarah, I can't tell you right now, but I promise I'll tell you someday... Mommy made a bad decision."

"You made a bad decision?", she said with surprise.

"Yes."

She went on to confess that she too made a bad decision and had lied to someone.  It was a sweet moment. We hugged and talked and prayed.

In her mind, her sin was huge and she felt the weight of it.  However, knowing others fail freed her to find forgiveness.

This is why I share.  I share my story so others can find freedom and know that they are not alone in their heartache and pain.  I share so others will know there is forgiveness and restoration in Jesus.

I plan to share my story with my children someday when the time is right. It is a story of forgiveness and freedom. A story of grace and love. A story of restoration and redemption.

Just like the night-sky dancing with shades of light, the Lord can take darkness and make it beautiful. His Light overcomes darkness and reveals beauty.

The Lord can turn a storm into a stunning work of art.  That is my story.

Our Yes

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

Father, we thank You for Your promise of Jesus’ return and the hope we have in You.  Lord, I pray that Deeper Still would be about Your Kingdom work as we prepare the bride for Your Bridegroom.  Let Deeper Still and all called to Your mission of Deeper Still say “Yes” to all You would have us do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This picture is  the cover photo of the Deeper Still Team Facebook Page.

 

“Our yes hangs in the balance of a lot of people’s futures.”

 

A Deeper Still volunteer posted a similar picture that stated, “Our Yes Matters.”

Just 3 little letters can have a significant impact.  Our yes can be the difference between life or death, healing or heartache, and break-through or bondage.

This weekend, men and women from multiple states and even outside the US are coming to hear about the ministry of Deeper Still.  These attendees will be trained and equipped to take the message of Deeper Still back and perhaps begin a Deeper Still Chapter in their state or country. 

In addition, this training will be recorded on video so others around the world can be trained and equipped to effectively minister to abortion wounded hearts. 

Deeper Still needs your prayers.  Please pray for Karen and the Deeper Still Team, this training, the video-taping, those speaking, and for those attending. 

May our hearts be filled with His Yes. 

Mercy Multiplied

“Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.”  Jude 1:2

Father in Heaven, Lord, we ask for You to multiply the mercy, peace and love of Deeper Still.  We ask for you to expand Deeper Still.  We ask for You to multiply healing of those wounded from abortion to across the nation and the world.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sobs interrupted by gasps of breath filled the car as we left the event. 

We had just left a fundraising event for a local crisis pregnancy center.  The guest speaker was Pam Tebow.  The crowd listened intently as she shared her powerful testimony.  The doctors had encouraged her to abort her son due to health reasons.  She chose life.  As a result, Tim Tebow was born.  Tim Tebow is the famous football player known for writing scripture under his eyes and his bold kneel for Christ. 

I left the event broken and desperate.  Sobbing all the way home in the car.  That night I wondered the “what ifs” and the “what ifs” broke me. 

God had been leading me on a journey of healing my abortion wounded heart for the past 20 years and I have to admit, up until that night I felt pretty good and healed.  I didn’t see the need to go any deeper.  I thought, “I’m good right where I am.”

However, that night my heart whispered more.  God spoke to me during the event and said, “It is time.  It is time to go deeper.”

Three weeks later, He led me to the Deeper Still ministry through a friend and I attended the Deeper Still Ministry training two months later.  God led me deeper and drastically changed my life.

In a little over a week, Deeper Still will have a training meeting to teach others how to minister to those wounded from abortion.  People from across the nation will gather to learn how to start a Deeper Still chapter or will come seeking knowledge not knowing the end of their endeavor.

 

God is multiplying His mercy, peace and love.  Thank you for joining us in prayer as He multiplies His Kingdom.   

Between His Shoulders

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Deeper Still dwells in safety by You.  Thank you for sheltering Deeper Still and that the Deeper Still team rests between Your shoulders.  We also pray for all the Deeper Still participants, that You would shelter them and nestle them between Your loving shoulders as You work in their lives.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Today I watched as my seven year old daughter played with her seven month old cousin.  As he sat up, wobbly and unsteady, she went behind him.  She lovingly supported his back, his head resting between her shoulders.  She surrounded him to keep him from falling, protecting him.

 

What a beautiful picture of how the Lord also protects His beloved.   We may be wobbly and at times unsteady.  However, He envelopes His children with loving arms, and keeps us nestled safely between His shoulders.

 

Nestle up to the Lord and find rest, protection, comfort and care.  There is no place I’d rather be than resting between His shoulders, in His arms of love.  

The Lord is Our Battlement

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory;  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  Psalms 84:11 

Father, we thank You that You are Deeper Still's sun and shield.  Father, we thank you that you give grace and glory to the Deeper Still Ministry Team and that You do not withhold any good thing.  Thank you Lord that You protect the team members of Deeper Still and surround them as a battlement.   In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

"The Lord God is a sun and shield."   The word "sun" in the original Hebrew is shemesh and it can mean brilliant, shining, or battlement. 

Battlement?  

A battlement is the top part of a castle.  They were used as protective agents during attack.   On towers or building tops, the flat roof is used as the protected fighting platform. 

The Lord God shines brilliantly and surrounds us as a battlement and shield to support us and protect us especially during battle! 

In one week, the Deeper Still team will join together to fight the forces of darkness on behalf of the 10 participants coming for the summer retreat.  

Thank you for joining us in prayer in fighting the battle to regain the ground from the enemy in each of these ladies' lives. 

Thank you, Lord, for these prayer partners you have brought to support Deeper Still Ministry in prayer. Lord, I thank you that you are their sun and shield.  Thank you that you give grace and glory and withhold no good thing from them as they walk uprightly with you.   In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Restoring the Years

“So, I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust…you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.  And My people shall never be put to shame.”  Joel 2:25-26

Father, we thank You for restoring the years that the locusts have eaten for the participants coming to the Deeper Still retreat.  Lord, thank you that you restore that which has been destroyed, that you satisfy, give new life, and say that they shall never again be put to shame.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In the Spirit-Filled Life Bible commentary, it states that the only way these swarms of locusts are stopped is by a wind that drives the locusts into large bodies of water.  The water drowns the locusts.

 

The wind that will drive out the locusts is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit moves the locusts out into the deep waters.  

The deep areas of our lives are full of old dead locusts that can leave a stench if not removed.

The Lord brings the dead things in our lives to the surface so He can remove them properly and give us a new fresh scent of His Living Water inside of us. 

With the old gone, we are free to eat in plenty and be satisfied with the goodness and grace of our Savior. 

He has promised restoration and He will fulfill His promise. 

Hide and Seek

“And he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.'” Genesis 3:10

Dear Heavenly Father, there are many in hiding.  There are many who hide themselves and are afraid.  Father, we ask for those who are hiding to come out into the open and to not be afraid.  For we know that when we come out , you are there waiting with loving arms and a covering for our nakedness.  I pray for those who are in hiding, who are in need of more healing, to come to a Deeper Still retreat and find You waiting there with open arms of love and restoration.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When we are hiding, we cannot be free.

My kids often play hide and seek in the house.   They find creative nooks and crannies all over the house to nestle themselves in waiting to be found.  They enjoy the hiding, but there comes a time when they realize that if they stay hidden, they are not free to do other things they would like to do.  If the seeker does not find them within a certain amount of time, they will most likely come out into the open to find freedom to move. 

God is constantly seeking and pursuing us.  However, if we don’t eventually come out into the open, we will be stuck in the same place.  And this place may be comfortable and safe, and we may be use to it, but our freedom is limited.  Oftentimes, we are not even aware of how unfree we really are because safe can be deceptive. 

Can I be bold enough to say today, that if you are hiding in fear, you are not free.  God wants to move you into a place of freedom in Him.  Will you let him?  There are a few spots left for our summer retreat.  If you are tired of living in fear, will you consider the alternative?  Freedom awaits.  In His presence, there is no fear, for perfect love casts out fear.  

When I Kept Silent

“When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.  I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin…You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. “ 

Psalm 32: 3-5, 7

Dear Lord, many are silent, living in a secret prison on shame.  Father, I pray for those who are harboring the hidden sin of abortion to have the courage to step into the light of Your saving grace.  Father, I pray they would trust You to cover their sin, preserve their life, and surround them with songs of deliverance.  Lord, the silence needs to be broken.  The truth needs to be declared so others can also step out into the light and be released from the shackles of darkness and for life to prevail.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Too many are silent.  If every voice was set free to speak the truth about the sin of abortion, there would be a great outcry that would do tremendous damage to the kingdom of darkness.

 

All day long the Lord has been prompting me to write this post.  All day long I have been busy with other obligations and duties.  At the end of the day, I lain in bed with the Lord’s hand heavy upon me and I knew I had to write about speaking out and being a voice for the voiceless.

 

Lifenews.com reports that 85% of women who have had an abortion, reported negative mental health issues.  (And I’d say that is low!)  This report contrasts drastically with Prochoice.org which states that negative effects from an abortion are a myth.

 

We are in a spiritual battle and the enemy doesn’t want the truth to be known.   Silence only fuels the fires of the enemy’s lies. 

For years I kept silent.  No more.  My heart breaks for those who believe that there are no adverse effects from abortion.  I pray our voices of truth would resonate loudly in every ear destroying the deceits of darkness and flooding the lines with light. 

Hold On

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. “  Ephesians 3:20

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask for You to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think in the ministry of Deeper Still.  We ask for you to provide above all we can ask or think.  We ask for You to pour out Your Spirit in ways above what we could ask or think.  We ask for You to reveal Yourself in ways that are beyond what we could ask or think.  To You  be all the glory and honor!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

On Sunday morning of the last retreat, we sat overlooking the mountains of East Tennessee.  A fifteen foot cross draped with red, white, and purple billows stood in the forefront, shadowing the awe-striking view.  A team member was passing out communion to the Deeper Still retreat participants.

   

 I could only see the back of him, the male participant who had come from Indiana.  This participant came as a result of a series of events that had taken place at the Illinois retreat,  where a man had received Christ (at an all female retreat—long story!) Now, this man’s friend was at the retreat in Tennessee and he too had received Christ during the weekend.

 

The team member passing out communion came to this man from Indiana and asked, “Is this your first communion?”  I saw the man nod , “yes”. 

Immediately, tears.  Tears turned into sobs as I reflected on how God went after the “one” from Indiana and brought him to Tennessee to hear the gospel and experience salvation in Christ Jesus.  All of it starting from a man going to the Illinois retreat, who wasn’t intended to be there, hearing the gospel and also coming into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  AMAZING!

    

The man from Indiana came to the retreat despondent and hopeless.  He left filled with hope and with a renewed life within. 

All of this was just too much for me.  Jesus had overwhelmed me and all the Deeper Still team members once again.  As I sat sobbing, I told the Lord over and over again that He was just too much.  There is just no end to His faithfulness and life transforming power!  And to think He let us even have a slight part in it all—again amazing.

 

The Lord answered me as I poured out my praise…He said with a smile( I could tell He was smiling),

“Hold on, you haven’t seen anything yet!”

Our God amazes me.  I don’t know all He has in store for Deeper Still or for the ones He loves, but I do know one thing…It will be exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think!   

Willows by the Watercourse

“I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.”  Isaiah 44:3-4

Father, we ask for you to pour Your waters onto those who are thirsty and flood the dry ground of those with abortion wounded hearts.  Father, as You know, the Deeper Still Ministry is needed beyond our borders, in other states and nations.  Father, we ask for You to pour out Your Spirit on the chapters that are emerging and bless the offspring from Deeper Still.  Father, we pray for the chapters to spring up like willows by the watercourses, fully nourished and fruitful.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

New chapters of Deeper Still are in the birthing process and many more haven’t been conceived yet.  God knows when and where these chapters will spring up.  As these new chapters are being planted, they will need to be nurtured and watered with the Spirit of the Living God. 

In verse 3 above, God says He will pour water on Him who is thirsty and floods on the dry ground.  Water and floods are often used in Scripture to depict abundant blessings and are also used to denote the influence of the Holy Spirit (Bible Hub-Barnes Commentary). 

God is saying that He will pour out His Holy Spirit on those who are thirsty and bless them abundantly! Amen!

 

In verse 4, the He says, “They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.”

Willow trees in our western culture symbolize grief, such as in the weeping willow.  However, in the places where the willow originated (China), it symbolizes vitality and growth.  This symbolism comes from its ability to reproduce easily from cut branches. 

Interestingly enough, I found 5 more facts about willow trees that I thought mirrored perfectly the heart of Deeper Still as it is beginning new chapters. 

       1.  Willow trees not only sprout easily, they are fast growers. 

       2.   Willows have medicinal properties that alleviate pain and bring healing.

3     3.  Willows are used to build.

       4.  Willows need to have the proper soil and need an abundance of water (Holy Spirit).

       5.   Willows help prevent erosion. 

As Deeper Still grows and becomes all God has for it to be, may the new chapters grow in vitality, may the pain of the past be shed as hearts are healed, may the ruins of many desolations be rebuilt and restored, may the roots be ever in the right soil and watered abundantly, and may Deeper Still help prevent the erosion of our culture, our nation, and the world.  Amen!  

Ruins to Redemption

“They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works.  Oh God, Your ways are holy.  Is there any god as mighty as You? You are the God of great wonders!  You demonstrate Your awesome power among the nations.”  Psalm 77:12-14

Oh Lord God, You are constantly in our thoughts!  Your mighty works are constantly on our mind.  Your ways are holy and there is none as mighty as You.  This past weekend at the Deeper Still Retreat, You demonstrated once again Your awesome power.  You amaze us.  You are the God of great wonders.  We praise Your name.  Amen.

 

In the book of Nehemiah, we find that Jerusalem had been lying is waste for about 150 years.  That is a long time and no doubt the Israelites had almost given up on rebuilding.  I know from personal experience that when something has been in ruins for a long period of time, the task of rebuilding can seem daunting.
 

Perhaps, they adapted to seeing the bricks lying around and didn’t think much of it after a while.  After all, it is just the way it has always been.

 

Many of the participants that come to the Deeper Still Retreats might be able to relate to these Israelites.   From years of having the enemy beating them down, the task of rebuilding might seem overwhelming.
 

However, the city walls of Jerusalem that had laid in ruins for 150 YEARS, were rebuilt in only 52 DAYS!  When God decides it is time to rebuild, it doesn’t have to take a long time.  God is never overwhelmed with our mess.

 

At the Deeper Still retreats, participants come with 20, 30, 40, 50 plus years of living in ruin. I am continually amazed at the transformation from ruins to redemption that basically takes place in a little over 24 hours!  And He did it again this past weekend (of course He did!)

 

Will you praise the Lord with us today as we celebrate His glory and redemption in the lives of His sons and daughters who were restored and rebuilt this past weekend!!  Oh Lord, You are indeed a God of great wonders!  We praise Your Name!

Wheat, Wine, and Oil

“For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord—for wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. “  Jeremiah 31:11-12

Father, we thank You that You have redeemed Your sons and daughters.  Lord, as we just celebrated the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, we thank you for sending Jesus as our Ransom and that He rescued us from the power of death and sin.  Father, we sing and praise You for the work You will do in the lives of all the participants coming this week to the Deeper Still retreat.  We praise You for the wheat, new wine and oil in their lives.  We thank you that their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As I was reading the verses above, the words “wheat, new wine, and oil” caught my eye.  After doing some research, I found the following very interesting:

Wheat represents harvest or seeds sown in a field along with what is produced from those seeds.

New wine represents life (or new life), joy, celebration, and abundance.

Oil is representative of the Holy Spirit.

 

God’s people received wheat, new wine, and oil. 

 

This weekend, I pray for the participants to receive a harvest in their lives and that they would then be free to plant seeds and produce fruit for a harvest.  I pray they would leave with new life full of joy, celebration and abundance through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The next verses say what will happen next.

“Then shall the virgin (pure and unspotted) rejoice in the dance.  And the young men and the old, together;  For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow.  I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:13-14 (parenthesis added)

God calls His beloved, “virgins”.  Because of His Blood, we are pure and unspotted in His sight.  He alone turns mourning into joy, saturates our souls with abundance, and satisfies us with His goodness.   He alone is our Randsom and Redeemer.  Lord, we thank You for all You will do this weekend in the lives of every participant and that they will rejoice and praise Your name!  We praise Your name.