Banner of Worship…
“A Discussion with Jesus about the Will Of God”
January 1934, Julia Butler was born. She birthed 8 girls
(Judy, Deborah, Dee, Helen, Evon, Louies, Tina and my mother Leona) and 3
boys (Bill, Curtis and Joseph – an Uncle
who died in Vietnam war. ) With 11
children life was tough, but her and my grandfather (Elis) were blessed to raise an amazing family
of Kingdom Worshippers. With such a large family you can imagine the number of
grand children that Julia was blessed with. Which I am one of 30 grandchildren,
53 great-grand and 9 great-great-grand.
I knew her as “Madea”. And she wasn’t your average
grandmother. She is such an amazing
woman of God and yesterday, March 20, 2010, God called her home. Although I am
not with her, or the rest of my family during this season of grief, I’m
choosing to do the one thing that will bring glory to God and dismantle any
plans of the enemy. I’m choosing to lift my banner of worship a little higher.
I’ve been in the
field ministering to a lost and broken world for nearly a year now. My heart
has been emptied for the poor in Spirit and now is being filled again in the
presence of God because I am His beloved.
I thirst for more of Him and acknowledge His ways are above my ways. His
thoughts are above my thoughts. And His plan for my mother and grandmother are
greater than I could ever understand.
As I write there
is pain. There is anger. There is frustration. There is hurt. And there are a
lot of questions. Why didn’t you tell me I was running out of time? Why didn’t
you tell me her life would end? Why didn’t you warn me that before I left Texas a year ago to
barry my mother, that would be the last time I would see my grandmother? Why do
you hide your will from those even you call friend. I’m a friend, am I not?
They why? Why am I called to loose all of this? What is your will for me oh,
God what is your will?
Then I feel Jesus
whispering to my Spirit “I
understand. I feel your pain and your not alone. I am with you.” These are
His words of comfort to me. Then He says something else that opens up my heart
to be patient as His eternal will is being done in my life. ” God’s will
is for this to happen, so that you can go from where you are to where He wants
you to be. He is preparing you for great things. I know it may be hard. I know
that it doesn’t make sense. I know that you have questions that you can’t
answer. And I know your asking me, but I can’t tell you. It’s the hidden will
of God that brought you here and without your past, present and future
adversity bringing you to this place in life, you’d never be who He has created
you to be.
” For I consider
the suffering of this present time are not worth comparing with glory which
shall be revealed in us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the
revealing of the Sons of God.” (Romans 8:18).
“Your House
Shall Stand…”
Do you fear
calamity? You are only human if you do.
But have you considered my servant, the apostle Paul? In shipwrecks, in adversities, in distresses,
in physical privations, in persecutions, and the threat of death by wild
beasts; in all of these, he rejoiced in his God. He was more than victorious. He was given a supernatural joy in the midst
of all his distress. You may have it,
too.
Have you read the
testimony of my servant Habakkuk? And have you read the latter days of my
servant Job? There can be no permanent
loss in the life of my children, for out of the seeds of every calamity rises a
whole crop of new victories. It is the
way I have made it. The greatest
evidence of this truth is Calvary. By design of man, out of the cruelty of
wicked hearts, Christ was made a martyr.
But by the hand of a greater power, he was made to become a savior-even
the savior of the very men who put him to death.
No, my children,
do not fear. Remember the words of Holy
Scripture: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom”
Here you have it again-I am not simply preserving you, but I am doing so
for the purpose of sharing with you My Kingdom power. If you can catch the vision of what the days
ahead hold in store for you in my great kingdom, you will gain a whole new
perspective, so that as you view the present, transient scene, its true
dimension will come into focus in proportion to the whole panoramic
picture. I can give you this sense of
perspective, because I see the whole scroll of the ages as though it were
already unrolled before me-so that the future is as clearly in view as the
past. Look over my shoulder! Look at your own life from my vantage point.
My spirit will bring you revelation and understanding, light and wisdom.
The person of
mature years has gained wisdom by experience.
You may gain wisdom, if you desire it, by drawing on my experience. I am
infinite and eternal, and though you may be unable to grasp it, I have
experienced both what you know about the past and what you refer to as the
future.
You live within
the confines of time. I live outside all
such bounds and limitations. Do not be
disturbed by your ignorance. Seek
diligently after my wisdom. It will
greatly enrich your life. Have I not
commanded you to do so? It will bring
you more tranquility than any other spiritual pursuit. It will bring you greater poise and sense of
values that you would never be able to gain otherwise. For you must profit either by your own
experience or by my experience. What a
contrast exists between the two! Seek my
wisdom and make it the guide of your life.
Let the winds blow and the storms beat.
Your house shall stand!
No matter how
painful, you’d never experience the blessing He has in store for you any other
way. This life that your living doesn’t require anything of you, other than
your willingness to trust in Him more than you trust in your circumstances.
Believe that He loves you so much that He chose to not show you the things to
pass for your good. For if He did, you would not be where you are, doing what
your doing, becoming who He’s created you to be. You would not be claiming your
inheritance.
Truthfully, If I
gave you the option of knowing that in order for you to get to the mission
field you’d have to loose many loved ones and many possessions to experience
the sick being healed, lame walking, blind seeing and demons being casted out,
I’m not sure you would have chosen My will for your life. Actually, I’m
positive that you wouldn’t have chosen Me.
During this season
of grief, I want you to do me one thing – worship. Worship God who made you.
Worship God your Father, your provider, your health and strength in times of
need, God who is your friend. Worship Him with everything you have inside of
you. He has plans for you the require you loosing everything you cannot keep so
that you may gain everything you cannot loose. The road less traveled has
crunchier leaves, and you My son are chosen to make some noise as you run after
Him. You must go this way, see this thing, experience this life in this way so
that you can be used in ways that no one
else can.
Everyone has a
destiny, and yours is this way..
I’m sure if it
were your choice, you’d probably ask if there’s another way. That is where I’m
asking you to trust in what His promise and plan is for your life and believe
that there is no one else. This is your season,
your time, your life, your inheritance.
Well, Jesus, if
this is my season of promise, I’m not sure I want it. It’s feels lonely, things
happen I can’t understand, and what I often pray hard for doesn’t happen.
My friend, I love
you. And although you may not understand right now, more will be revealed to
you – in time. Trust me, it’s better
this way. The loss of your mother, a relationship and a lifestyle filled with
possessions you held so dearly in the past, needed to be removed from your
path. Not so you can pity yourself and your circumstances, but rather so you
can clearly see what it is that He has predestined for you since the beginning
of time. Only so you can run the race
set before you. He wants to use you for His purpose and His design. I promise,
it’s better this way.
You will not
understand much, if anything. I’ve provided a comforter during this season of
loss. He will bring you inner peace. Grieve the loss, embrace the pain and
relate to yourself intimately continually asking the Father to reveal things to
you about His will for you. However, I want you to understand that you didn’t
loose anything. Your mother and grandmother are now with Our Father. No more
pain, no more sickness, no more hurt …it’s all gone. Julia lived a life and
served the Lord. She raised amazing men and women of God who have also raised a
generation that I will use to change nations. You are one whom I will use. That
is my promise to you.
You have a banner
of worship and just as your grandmother and mother have done..you are called to
do this and much more. Lift your banner of worship a little higher in faith
knowing He is for you and will never leave you. Choose to dance like David
danced no matter what the situation. Be a Worshipper! God has plans to restore
you if you just believe and praise Him. Worship Him and know that He is for you
and will continue to allow test in your life, giving you a sweet testimony to
share for His glory.
Will you raise
your banner a little higher today? I know you don’t have the strength, sanity
or even the desire, but I am here for you to help you. We will be worshippers
of Him together. Come now “Worshipper” while you still have time –
worship!
