How Does Your Garden Grow - July 31, 2009

Hello Friends!

Earlier this summer I bought some gorgeous deep-purple petunias and planted them in our front yard. As I took care to water them daily, each of the plants had numerous colorful blooms that were continually replaced by new flowers. But somewhere in the middle of the heart of the summer, I neglected to water them daily and although the plants still lived, the purple pedals were soon no longer present. Just watering them "whenever I got around to it" wasn't bringing the flowers back. So, I determined once again to water them daily. After day one of watering, no flowers emerged. After day two and three of watering, there were still no flowers. But some time in the middle of that week, a few glimpses of violet were making their way back, and it was then that the sweet voice of the Lord began speaking to me...

"My intent is for you to reflect and display My glory all of the time. But to do that, you must immerse yourself in My love and saturate yourself in My grace and commune with me every single day. If you have been dry for a while by living your life apart from enjoying Me, you will still live, because I am in you, but your life will not fully reflect the color of My Presence to the world around you. As you seek Me and spend time with Me in the cool of the garden, My life will begin to breath freshness into your spirit. Don't get discouraged if you meet with Me and don't see an immediate change. As you come and interact with Me day after day after day, the fullness of my brightness will shine brilliantly forth from you! It is inevitable! You will feel the assurance of My love and My pleasure for you and those around you will see the obvious evidence that you have been with Me. If you feel dry, come back to Me with all your heart! If you feel lifeless and colorless, remember that your First Love has never left you and that I am still waiting to pick up right where we left off. I AM your life! I AM the Living Water that refreshes and restores your soul! I AM your color! I AM the absolute only One who will satisfy the deepest longings of your heart!"

"Let's enjoy each other RIGHT NOW!! I can hardly wait!!!"

"How beautiful you are, my love, and how you delight me! Come then, my beloved, my lovely one, come!" (Song of Songs, 1:16; 2:10)

God's Presence is Enough! - July 24, 2009

Hello Friends,

Jesus is amazing! He is wonderful! He is beautiful! He is all that and so much more!!!

He is interceding for you at this very moment (Romans 8:34) and is your greatest supporter and encourager! He wants you to rise to the top, to soar into your appointed destiny, to finish strong in this race to receive your gold medal with him on the winner's stand!

And he knows that along the way, it can be very hard at times. Remember that he lived this life as a human and knows everything you are going through! This is why Jesus says to you, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me! Get away with me and you will recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." (Matthew 11:28, The Message Bible)

If you have been feeling overwhelmed, discouraged or disillusioned in any way, I want to bring you encouragement straight from the throne of God. First of all, I want to assure you that through the battles, the Father is strengthening your faith in ways that would boggle your mind, if you only knew! I also want to encourage you to run into the arms of your loving Father who has always wanted you and who will never, ever give up on you! Go to the that place of intimacy with God, no matter what it takes. Ignore the discouragements and enjoy the huge heart of the One who adores you! Lay your frustrations and anxieties on the One who has the broad shoulders to take the load and choose to fix your gaze on the Lover of your soul! He loves you so very much! He has chosen you to be His forever!

If you have been wanting to throw in the towel, listen to these words from the Lord to your heart:
"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace!"
(2 Corinthians 4:16, The Message Bible)

His unfolding grace! That is His astounding grace that keeps on presenting itself to you each time you require it! God's grace is enough!!! It is enough for you to make it through the difficult times! It is enough to give you hope when you are disappointed. It is enough to give you vision when you have lost sight of the goal of your faith. It is enough!!!!!

Earlier today, I heard these words from the Lord...

"Don't despair. I am still for you. My heart hasn't changed one little bit. I know you don't understand all my ways. I have not asked you to. But, one day you will see everything for the way it truly is--from my perspective. Until that time, know that I am with you and I am for you! I will be everything you need! I AM everything you need! Keep drawing into me. My presence will never disappoint you! My presence is everything you need! My presence is your ultimate destiny!!! Keep coming after me because I will never disappoint you!"

Lonnie Ellis Jr. Graduates to Glory - July 3, 2009

Beloved Friends,

Lonnie Ellis Jr. graduated to glory in the sweet embrace of Jesus just before 4 am this morning. These are not the words I wanted to be writing to you this morning--especially after the intercessory battle for his life that many of you so lovingly and powerfully engaged in. None of that, by the way, is wasted! In a way that only God truly knows right now, every prayer and declaration was heard and will be acted upon.

Lonnie is now part of the Great Cloud of Witnesses (Heb. 12:1) where he is fulfilling his destiny and prophetic promises from the other side of this paper thin division we call life after death. It is much more accurately Life after life as Jesus told us that we would never die (John 11:26), but we will go on from life to more Life!

For now, we trust our Papa as children who fully believe the absolute truth that He is good at all times in all ways! Our Father, who knows all things and all eventualities, who is outside of time and sees the beginning from the end, has chosen to do what He knows will bring the most people possible to Jesus and to glorify His name in the greatest possible way through Lonnie Jr.

Lonnie Sr. has conveyed to me that he and the family are not praying for Lonnie to be raised from the dead. While that may seem like a contradiction to some of you in a culture where we are believing for the impossible, it is really a matter of listening to the Father's voice. While Jesus did raise several people from the dead while he was alive as a man walking on this earth, he clearly did not raise everyone who died in that time span. Instead, he only did what he saw his Father doing (John 5:19)

Right now, Lonnie Sr. is getting some much needed rest since he has not slept much in the last several days. As much as you want to convey your love and concern for him, please give him a little time first, or write to him at lonnie@drmi.org. I will send out more information as soon as I receive it about the service celebrating Lonnie's life as well as ways that you can bless the family should you want to do that.

Tomorrow, July 4th, we will most certainly be gathering to worship God together (6 pm at Harvest Valley Christian Church, 3200 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton). I anticipate that it is going to be a very meaningful family time together and we are going to celebrate communion in complete agreement with the eternal truth of our union with Christ, now and forever! The last thing Lonnie Jr. told me when we were leaving his hospital room last night was, "When I beat this cancer and get out of the hospital this weekend, I'm coming to Blazing Fire to give my testimony!" My response was, "Lonnie, you can have the whole night--preaching and everything!" He joked back, "Not the singing part!" I believe that Lonnie's testimony will be heard on Saturday night and well beyond!

I declare God's grace and love-filled Presence to saturate each one of you in the glorious name of Jesus!