Transcendence! It's time to rise!

Writing this book on worship has given me an incredible focus on qualities that are essential in the life of a believer who is an OVERCOMER!  Taking your worship to another dimension, as it becomes a lifestyle and not just a song or act, opens up your world to a life that is incredible. 

The Spirit filling the life of the worshiper, places them in a supernatural position.  An infusion of the Holy Spirit has now consumed their very being.  Within the worshiper is a new source of life, a new substance of life, a moving source of unstoppable power, and the ultimate transforming passions of the all-consuming fire.  Life, as we once had known it, has been overtaken by the divine.  

While this is the eternal reality that dwells within us, our external life faces a continuous battle that runs contrary to this reality.  While some resign to living a sub-standard life, forfeiting the demonstration of this eternal reality, many have discovered the power of transcendence: the ability to transcend our earthly reality, and see the eternal redefine it!

Transcend (from dictionary.com) is to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed: to transcend the limits of thought; to outdo or exceed in excellence, elevation, extent, degree, etc.; surpass, excel; Theology. (of the Deity) to be above and independent of (the universe, time, etc.). 

Wow!  Now just hold on to that for a second ...

Whether we realize it or not, our lives contain three different dimensions.  Just as God is triune as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are triune as body, soul, spirit.   Daily we face the realities of physical battles, cravings of the flesh, pain, suffering, sorrows, and even the beauties of happiness, relationships, successes, and triumphs.  These are faced in the realms of both our body (our flesh) and our soul (mind, will and emotions).  

Professionals would all probably agree that our greatest battles are fought in the area of the soul: the processes of our thinking, the depths of our emotions, and the determinations of our will.   They may present that if we can win the battles in this realm, we will live an overcoming life.  But, they have missed something … the third dimension.

I would like to present to you today something even deeper, that perhaps our greatest battles are not won in the soul realm, but in the spirit realm.   As Ephesians 6:12 in the Amplified Bible states, “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.”  This is where the true battle is found.

Worship that flows from the dimension of the indwelling Holy Spirit, enforces the victory we ALREADY have in Christ to all the principalities and powers of the air.  Once we have the victory in that realm, it begins to redefine the other two dimensions of our lives.  In our Soul realm, our mind is renewed by the power of the Spirit, our emotions are transformed, healed and placed under subjection to the Holy Spirit, and our will is re-defined by the thoughts and intentions of the Spirit.  This second level of victory just oozes into the final dimension of our lives causing victory over every desire and ambition of our flesh!   You have transcended!

Could you open up your heart to a new dimension of worship today?  Think of it not as a song, but as a lifestyle of communion with the Divine ... even today, you can rise above, go beyond, exceed the limits of thought or circumstance; you can outdo, elevate, surpass and excel beyond any natural limitations, even to the point that your new life is operating so out of the divine, that you are now independent of the laws of earthly forces that would seek to bind you to a life of death and defeat!   TRANSCEND!

Tenacity ... a quality I seek!

Today, I have been working on a chapter of my upcoming book on worship.  In my writing, I have been taking a closer look at the word "tenacious."

When one is described as tenacious, what do you picture?   Images may come to mind such as a bulldog, a child determined to get what they want, a horse in a race, or perhaps even a story of a war hero or fireman on a rescue.  Many of you may remember an early forensic detective show called Quincy, starring Jack Klugman.  This morning, I  actually got caught up in an episode of it on a classic TV station here in Buffalo!  In that show his character was a prime example of tenacity, going above and beyond duty and even job boundaries to arrive at a 100% conclusion to each crime.  

Perhaps words like determination, grit, persistence, resolve, diligence, willfulness, and dedication may also come to mind. Stubborness maybe ring-a-bell with ya? It sure does in my home! Phew!

My first-born strong-willed child at age 2!

She is 16 now and still has that "tenacious" look on her face!! 

Yes, you can pray for me!!!

Or maybe for the glass-half-full people out there, you immediately thought of the opposite qualities such as indifference, idleness, weakness, indecision, mediocrity, or even one who is paralyzed out of fear.  

Both sides of this coin are both true and valid.  And I think we could all agree that when it is focused on something worthy of reaching, tenacity is something we all should exemplify.

There is another dimension to this quality that I’d like to identify.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines tenacious as, “persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired.”   It goes on to describe it as, “not easily pulled apart; tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance.”  This describes one that is holding fast, retaining what is in their possession.  They don’t let go, give in or part with what they have gained.  Tenacious people are adhesive, they are described as clinging to another substance; sticky, gummy, attaching, even glutinous.

With this in mind, my mental picture of tenacity changes some.  It isn’t just one that is in “hot pursuit” of something they want, it is much deeper.  The tenacious one literally attaches themselves, as if glued to the object of their desire.  

Wow, so how does this tenacious quality relate to the worshiper?  Let’s look at the totality of these definitions and see how a worshiper is on path to becoming a portrait of tenacity.

A worshiper is one who determined to discover more and more of the Presence of God in their lives.  They are persistent to search out the mysteries, resolved to find the depths of truth; diligent to align their lives with the Holy, willful and dedicated to the purposes of God in every aspect of their heart.  Worshipers don’t give in to the human tendencies to be indifferent, idle, weak, indecisive; nor do they cave to mediocrity.  Fear does not control or limit them, for the Spirit of God indwells their very being and “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!” 2 Corinthians 3:17

Furthermore, the worshiper has discovered the personal, intimate Presence of God as reality in their lives.  This is where the next portion of our definition kicks in!  The worshiper is persistent to adhere to the substance of His glory.  Once we have found ourselves in the very chambers of the King of Kings, we can’t bear the thought of living one moment without Him!  Our worship glues us to His tangible Presence, we come alive as we join ourselves with Him!

Wow!  What are you joined to today?  I pray you have the courage to sever any damaging and unhealthy ties, and strengthen your adherence to the Presence of God, with the "gorilla glue" of your worship!

Why "Chosen Path"?

Years ago, my husband Jay & I were on a ministry trip to the California where I was preaching and leading worship at a conference.  During some of of our free time, we took a drive up the coast heading down the beautiful scenic highway, driving through those quaint beach communities.  On the way back to LA, we stopped in Sunset Beach because a beautiful horse picture an artist had on display had caught my eye when we drove by earlier that day.  It was a picture of horses galloping through waves along a beach. There was something about that picture I couldn't let go of all day!  Of course, if you know me, you know I love horses, in fact we have 4 of them in our little stable in our backyard!

Here's our babies playing in the winter snow a few weeks ago!

Ok, I know you want to see more ... Here's our baby Bella with her Mama, Patches!

This was taken a month after she was born in 2012!

Here she is last fall!  So majestic & beautiful!

So, a love of horses is just in my blood!  It was the only sport I had any ability in growing up, and I threw myself into it!  I guess I just have always had very little desire to compete in sports (other than a few horse shows) and just developed a love for this incredible animal and all a relationship with a horse has to offer!  Riding was my love, but not for the sport of it, for the oneness you feel when you work together with a horse & soar over fields and obstacles!  It's truly amazing!

I guess this is the first reason why the painting I had seen on Sunset Beach was stuck in my head all day!  As we returned later in the day, I walked up to the painting and looked closer ... the title the artist gave it was "The Chosen Path".  Something just hit me at that moment.  It was if the Holy Spirit just "smacked" that phrase on my heart with His glue and it has been there ever since.  

Of course, we bought the painting that day almost 18 years ago, and it has been in my eyesight ever since ... no matter what room I have moved it to! Ask my husband, I am always rearranging and redecorating!  lol  

Though it is a painting for decorative purposes, that phrase "The Chosen Path," has become the theme of my life and obviously, the name of our personal ministry.  I have made so many choices everyday that have shaped my life.  Choices like: 

• forgiving someone who has betrayed me so the effects of bitterness never take root
• pursuing the tangible Presence of God everyday so I never become disconnected with the reality of His Person
• diving deep into the word of God so its revelation can continuously flow in me
• staying put in my post when everything in me wanted to run, so God could use me and unfold His purposes in such a powerful way
• choosing covenant even when it was broken so I could see God's redeeming love unfold
• never budging on my faith to be able to have children, so I could see a miracle (two in fact ... so far!!!)
• standing in His grace in the midst of criticism and intense opposition so I could see His promises come to pass
• choosing homeschooling after a few years of public schools to see whole new side of me come out and an incredible relationship with my kids develop

The list could go on & on & on, cuz every right choice we make under the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit prepares the path of our lives.  Not that there haven't been SEVERAL bad choices in between, but through a humbled heart, God's grace is always stepping in to rectify the matter!  

"The Chosen Path" ... my crazy life ... but one I have chosen, through the calling of my Savior and my heart to see His glory everyday, in every way!  

What's your path of choice today?  It's never too late to start a new road!!!!

Staying Connected

Hello everybody!

I have started this blog to continue to share hearts with all of those I have met & have yet to meet, who have connected with my family and me through ministry circles or otherwise. There have been times on my journey where I have received such beautiful stories of how your lives were touched and transformed by something the Spirit of God did during our meetings or through a TV show, video or worship music.   It is an incredible experience for me to just step out of the way & let God "show up" in all these settings ... quite humbling actually ... knowing that if I just let go of all that I prepare and do, and let His Presence come, people's lives truly are impacted in a miraculous way.

Every-time this happens, we feel so connected to the people in these circles.  Even though I have been the preacher, teacher or minister at that moment, we had an encounter with the living God that bound our hearts together! Over the course of the last 15 years or more, I have wanted to keep connected to so many of these fantastic people and while Facebook & Twitter are great, they don't afford the best way to share the heart of all that God is doing and showing us in the on-going course of our lives.  Thus ... this blog!

Here, my intention is to draw from my personal quiet-time journal, studies, writing, and personal daily experiences, to write an inspirational blog that will keep us connected and draw you deeper into the Presence of God!

I hope that God will meet you with a new dimension of His heart as you take this journey with me .....