The Rescue!

My heart was broken and grieving........dreams shattered........emotions raw and empty..........hopelessness was settling within my heart and mind like an ominous, foreboding storm on the horizon - I was coming undone!   I will never forget that day.  A day when I cried out to God one more time with tears pouring forth from the deepest depths of my being.  "I trust you Lord. I trust you Lord and I know that somehow, someway You are going to get me through this storm."  I felt so alone, but I knew He was there and He loved me, but I still felt I was coming undone!

That was many years ago, but as I type this post I can remember it as if it were yesterday!  As I stood there in my kitchen reeling from the storm raging against my heart and soul a "God thing" happened.  One of those "things" that you know is totally Him!  At that moment the telephone began to ring and honestly I was in no shape to converse with anyone but as I picked up the receiver I heard the voice of a woman from my church -  a woman I barely knew and to this day don't know her name.

"Jackie, Jackie, I have a scripture for you" she said.  "You're probably familiar with this passage, but the Lord wants you to hear me read it to you........you must hear what the Lord is saying to you right now!"  As I stood there holding the receiver she began to speak words from His heart to mine.  Numb and emotionally disengaged I listened as she spoke this scripture into my ear.........

Thus saith the Lord that created you, Jackie

and He that formed you,

FEAR NOT

for I have redeemed you Jackie,

I have called you by name

you are mine;

When you pass through the waters

I will be with you, Jackie

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire,

you shall not be burned

neither the flame kindle upon you.

For I AM THE LORD your God

the Holy One of Israel,

your Saviour.

(Isaiah 43:1-3)

I could not speak or respond but I knew the Lord had moved upon that precious obedient woman's heart to speak over me Words from Heaven.....Words of Hope.....Words of Deliverance and Peace......Words of Love, Mercy and Grace.  And like a little girl looking on the horizon for her hero to come and rescue her wounded broken heart, He Came - My Rescuer Came!

It was not an instantaneous rescue, but oh, true to His word, He was with me through the waters and rivers and they did not overpower me.  He was with me through the fire and I wasn't burned or scorched!  I made it through the storm in victory with my Hero Rescuer - Jesus!

There's a reason you are reading this post today!  I don't know where you are or what storm is blowing across your heart, but He does.  Maybe you're right where I was - feeling completely broken, alone and "undone".  Don't cave in, don't quit but hold tight to Him and His Promises.  Maybe like the woman who telephoned me, I'm the woman "blogging"  you today to say.......Thus saith the Lord that created and formed you, FEAR NOT..........YOU ARE MINE.......I WILL BE WITH YOU THROUGH THE STORM.......I WILL RESCUE YOU......IT WILL ALL BE OK......FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOUR SAVIOUR!

One of my most favorite songs of praise and worship is by Israel Houghton "If not for Your Grace".  I have it playing almost constantly in my car and find myself singing it to the Lord all through the day.  One of the lines says "Where would I be if not for Your Grace, carrying me through every season....You came to my RESCUE and I want to thank You for Your Grace".

Please take a few minutes to watch the entire video of this anointed song (link below) and enter into His Presence - Thank Him for His Grace, Thank Him that He came to your rescue!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN2Y99GBYDE

Sweet Blessings!

Out on a limb with Jesus - it's all good!

Ok, if you've just checked the news media this morning (at least Fox News.com) you've already been totally disgusted and dismayed at the headline story regarding comedian Larry David and his over the top bash and outright attack against Christianity!!  Apparently he and HBO on the show "Curb your Enthusiasm" (which I have never seen) find it "entertaining" to produce a skit with Larry urinating on a portrait of Jesus in an effort to de-bunk the idea that people who follow Christ believe He appears in the most miraculous ways and places!

Now I must say here, I realize my blog is new and that the purpose the Lord placed within my heart for this blog is to bring a fresh word of encouragement and draw us into a deeper walk with Him so I'm really stepping out of my comfort zone and out on a limb here but I feel so strongly about this that I just had to write this post.

At first, I was just flabbergasted and then that transformed into anger and I wanted to curse Larry David and send him to "h" - Hey, I'm human - I mean I'm just being honest here people - you just can't get a way with attacking my Jesus ............ He died for me and set my wounded broken heart free and made a way for me to be in right standing with the Father!!

BUT, as I sat here in front of my MAC  - I paused just watching the flashing cursor and awaiting the perfect vicious wording to attack this pathetic comedian and HBO once again.  And then it happened, my gaze refocused on the picture above and as I did so my heart began to soften and my emotions of rage were subdued by His eyes ..... those precious eyes of Jesus looking into the face of Larry David!  I melted (understatement), my heart softened, emotions no longer inspired by rage and disgust, but emotions touched by the Love of the One who loves Larry David just as much as He Love you and me!!

As an American my heart weeps about the distance we've placed between our land and God.  The callous flippant depths America has plunged away from the one and true Living God is staggering!!   What's happened to us!!!!!  I truly believe we're a nation that's in a state of slumber and it's within those shadowy moments, days, years and decades of slumber that the enemy has methodically obtained an "all access pass"with the sole purpose of "de-valuing" what made this nation so valuable - One Nation Under God!

I realize my statements above regarding America are not new or full of "fresh" insight but it's stirring within my heart this morning with overwhelming force.  We, as Americans, we as the Body of Christ must PRAY for AN AWAKENING to a supernatural move of the Spirit of God like never witnessed before!! The prayers of our forefathers that covered this land are still hovering over this great nation - God hasn't forgotten them or the plan He has for us and the foundation stones of faith in the One true and Living God are still here!  Wake Up America, Wake Up Body of Christ and call upon His Mercy and Grace for our homeland - There is nothing too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17)!

Oh, and as for Larry David.......As I look at the photo above my heart is stirred with similarities of Saul beholding Jesus on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-22).  It was in the midst of Sauls persecution of Christians and Jesus that he had a Divine Encounter  and the scales were removed from his eyes and he beheld Jesus the Savior for the first time and he became a new man! " Larry, I'm praying for a Divine encounter that sooo touches your heart that you bow before Jesus and proclaim "Yes Lord, once I was blind now I can see - You and You alone are my Lord and Savior!!!"

So there, I completed the assignment placed upon my heart - I feel refreshed.........I went out on a limb with Jesus and it's all good!

Sweet Blessings!

A GODLY LEGACY ~ PRICELESS!

The news media has compared it to the architectural wonders of the ancient pyramids and the Roman coliseums of old and a recent ESPN.com article called it "A Tribute to Excess".

It's an over the top dream of a wealthy business man at the cost of $1.2+ billion dollars. The new Dallas Cowboys Stadium wowed the sports world by setting the mind blowing standard for all future stadiums - it's absolutely beyond belief. The size - biggest ever! It seats 80,000+ and the ceiling and scoreboard dimensions like nothing else! My husband and I enjoy football (go AZ Cards!) and really enjoyed last months Cowboys opener game vs the New York Giants - great game in a beautiful venue. But after watching the game and enjoying the "grand premier" of the new addition to the Arlington, Texas skyline I recalled the story of another man who built a structure - a structure so out of the ordinary that to this day travelers still stop and experience it's "grandeur". Often passersby don't even notice it until they've driven past and feel compelled to make a u-turn and come back just to see and experience the creation of one mans vision and dreams.

It's a small structure which seats maybe a dozen or so (a far cry from 80,000+) and you won't hear the uproarious sounds of cheering sports fans within these crudely constructed walls. But what you will encounter is a hushed reverence upon entry - a place of peace. A place where people have quietly poured out their heart before God. A place where truly the Presence of the Lord can be felt. I love to visit this place and stop by every opportunity I can. Thousands of travelers on their way to the Grand Canyon on Highway 180 from Flagstaff zoom by there everyday not realizing that this little place may seem insignificant but is just as grand as The Canyon!

I've visited there in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter (when it's almost covered in snow) and love just sitting quietly inside on a bench facing the beautiful expanse of the San Fransico Peaks! It's just glorious! You ask, "What's the name of this place?".............."The Chapel of the Holy Dove" - a name so fitting, a name so perfect!

Upon entry you will immediately notice sitting atop the crudely formed alter is a box with a small sign "Place your prayer requests in the box - we will pray for you" - a church in Flagstaff oversees the Chapel and regularly lifts the precious prayer requests before the Lord. Also, laying on a small table next to the alter is a pencil and plain little notebook - nothing fancy or grandiose, just a simple spiral binder with a simple note encouraging passersby to write their prayers, thoughts and concerns. I must admit, every time I visit the chapel I take a moment to read their entries which usually almost completely fill the notebook. They're precious, straight from their heart! To me, the notebook is a written journal of hearts so moved by the Lord's Presence that their deepest response was to pour out their hurts, care and burdens upon Him - many of which are so dire and heart breaking that I've found myself immediately moved by The Holy Spirit to intercede on their behalf! Also, carved into the wooden a-frame walls are many declarations to the Lord proclaiming His Goodness, Love, Salvation and Blessings that are signed and dated - these passersby want their visit to be part of this building - forever remembered! They remind me of the carvings my husband and I have made over the years into trees with our initials encircled in a heart. It's what lovers do - make a declaration of their love. Those carved "love notes" in the walls of the chapel are love notes to Him - so amazing!

Let me share a little history of the Chapel of the Holy Dove.......the vision and dream of a man and what inspired him to build such a special place. I know it will bless you....

(Excerpts from handout available at the Chapel).......

The Chapel of the Holy Dove sits on a parcel of land originally part of a small ranch purchased by Watson M. Lacy, MD in 1960. He was the only physician at the Grand Canyon Hospital which he operated with his wife, Ruth. They came to this area for respite from the demands of the medical practice at the Canyon. The beauty of the Peaks affirmed the goodness and majesty of God. They wanted to give travelers the opportunity to share it. In the summer of 1961, with the help of his sons and some hired hands, the 41 year old Lacy, with no experience as a builder used explosives to create holes in the rock beneath the Chapel to secure the original a-shaped structure framing the San Francisco Peaks. The Chapel was completed in 1962.

The building was dedicated in memory of Dr. Lacy's brother, George, and nephew, Randy Lacy, who drowned in a boating accident in California in 1957. The original memorial plaque read "In Memory of George and Randy Lacy whose great love in life and great courage in death made known the Glory of God". Lacy's profound grief resulting from the loss propelled great soul searching which led to a personal faith in Jesus Christ. Once an agnostic, he discovered "...the Way, the Truth and the Life" was to be found only in Jesus"........It is our prayer that all who visit the Chapel of the Holy Dove would experience God's love and power. Dr. Lacy died October 1991.

On March 8, 1999, the Chapel was destroyed by a transient's campfire but the stone walls remained.

Shortly thereafter, local volunteers from Flagstaff raised funds and rebuilt the chapel in honor of Dr. Lacy and his dream and reopened this wonderful place in April 2000.

So many things about the life and story of Dr. Lacy speak to my heart. It was the witness of his brother and nephew, even unto death, that touched and melted Dr. Lacy's agnostic heart and led him to Jesus. It was their Godly legacy that impacted and inspired him so deeply to build a simple chapel that years later is still impacting so many for the Glory of God! Lastly, the history of the chapel tells us that even a fire couldn't put an end to his Godly legacy........I love this part "but the stone walls remained". The "foundation" Dr. Lacy built his life upon is a remaining and lasting foundation - Jesus!

So, as I'm pondering, I sense my heart deeply stirring in prayer and ask that you join me...

Lord, I lay my life before you and ask that by your grace and power and the strength of the

Holy Spirit I would live each day altogether pleasing to your heart.

That my actions and accomplishments point others to

your goodness and saving Grace.

May my life be built upon the lasting foundation of
You and Your Word.

A foundation this is sure and remaining for the Glory of God.......
a legacy of Eternal Value!

In Jesus Mighty Name - amen!

May we ever be mindful that it matters not how much or how little we have amassed or accomplished or how simple or grandious the things we’ve “built” around us are – if it has no eternal value, it has no value all!

There is nothing more to say, but......A Godly legacy - Priceless!

Sweet Blessings!

(Photo Credit: Cowboys stadium - ESPN.com)

IT'S TIME TO LAUNCH! WELCOME TO FRESH OIL TODAY!

WELCOME to the launch of the Fresh Oil Today blog!  I am so honored to have you stop by and hope you'll visit often.  My heart's passion is to grow closer to the heart of God and share this amazing journey together with you!  The purpose of this blog is to stir within your heart the strong desire to KNOW Him MORE!  Together we will journey through everyday life, with it's ups and downs and receive encouragement and strength from His Heart and a fresh anointing to rise up and go forth as mighty sons and daughters of the Most High God!  Every moment of everyday He's drawing us to that place - that secret place within His Heart that He's reserved just for you and just for me.  It's in that secret place He will settle us with His love, encourage us with His promises, strengthen and empower us to victoriously rise above the stresses and messes of everyday life.

You ask "why Fresh Oil Today"?   The Word of God declares........

"I shall be anointed with fresh oil".

Psalm 92:10b

I love that!  We, as believers, don't have to live in yesterday's anointing - our God is all about "fresh and new" - no yesterday's "leftovers"!  Each day we'll discover a new day filled with new mercy, new encouragement, new direction, new hope and strength and a fresh new anointing as we seek Him and His presence!

Let's take a look at Psalm 92:10b once again and dig a little deeper and learn what this scripture really means for you and me...

The Hebrew word for anoint "balal" means

   to be poured over

   to smear

   to flow

(No "little dab'll do ya" - His fresh oil anointing is poured, smeared and flowing over our lives!)

The Hebrew word for fresh "ra'anan" means

   new

   luxuriant - rich and profuse in growth

   green and flourishing

The Hebrew word for oil "shemen" means

   richness

   fruitful

   perfumed

   become fat - rich and fertile

Wow!  As we daily seek Him, He will abundantly pour upon us newness, rich growth and we will become flourishing, richly perfumed, fruitful and fat! Let's take this one step further - The Hebrew word for flourish "parach" means to break-forth, breakout, as a bud, bloom, to spread to fly as extending wings, spring up!  I don't know about you, but I NEED His fresh oil anointing, every moment of everyday.  Living in these turbulent times of great turmoil and uncertainty is the time to run into His presence and receive His unfailing Love and protection, comfort and a fresh oil anointing!  He longs to pour the fullness of His anointing upon His children - And the results?  We will flow into His rich fruitful, always new and fresh anointing and break forth, extend our wings, spring up and soar with Him!

The deepest part of His Heart is calling to the depths of our heart - it's time to launch!! 

Sweet Blessings!